Ritter Hopes Primary Won't Split Democrats; Also Wants a Unicorn

Excellent analysis on the primary from Rogue Staffer today

(two days of a sanity from Square State in a row! A new record!)

"Isn't Romanoff a popular guy with Democrats, though?"

Sure! No one's saying he's not. I'm certainly not! He was a decent - not great, decent - Speaker.

Here's the thing. The whole time that people have known him, Romanoff's been the insider. He's been the top dog, the darling of the establishment. In other words, it's been easy to like him. Nobody's ever gone wrong by being associated with him.

Now? Now he's the outsider, implausibly enough, running against The Powers That Be - powers that were once in his corner are now arrayed against him.

Pay attention to that. Pay close attention. Over the next year, the sun, the moon, the planets and all the stars will take a crap on him. Calls will go unreturned, allies will suddenly be absent.

Is Romanoff the guy you want to take a bullet for? Why are you taking a bullet for him? Is it for his ambition? Or is it to advance the cause of progressive politics in Colorado?

I mention this for a simple reason - if you line up with Romanoff, you had best be beyond certain he will win. Because if he doesn't, you'll be forfeit in this state's politics.

In other words: if you strike at the king, you must vanquish the king, else he and his retainers vanquish you.

http://www.squarestate.net/dia...

SO yeah, Romanoff might be the de facto leader of the party if he wins (though he'll be off in Washington, and Bill Ritter will still be able to do whatever he wants if he wins) but if he doesn't, then there are going to be a lot of unhappy campers.

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by: redstateblues @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 16:18:04 PM UTC

That's true

Which is a big part of why it was such a mistake for Romanoff to wait so long to make a run at this. While Romanoff waited, lots of folks got on board with Bennet.

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by: Colorado Pols @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 18:03:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

this threat

I mention this for a simple reason - if you line up with Romanoff, you had best be beyond certain he will win. Because if he doesn't, you'll be forfeit in this state's politics.

sounds an awful lot like the threats many people got from Team Clinton if they dared to support Obama (or Edwards)

"you go work for them, and when Hillary gets in, your through and no soup for you!"

Obama's folks did not back down and neither will others here.
By the way, who here supports Specter over Sestak, even though the DSCC and Ed Rendell support Specter?

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by: wade norris @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 19:27:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I support Specter.

But why does that matter? Last I checked, I can't vote in Pennsylvania.

"Oh Lord, are there really people starving still?"

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by: Littletonian @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 23:37:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This isn't a threat from one side or the other

it's an analysis of the facts. Don't think that everyone in the universe is out to get you.

And not every race is analogous to Obama v. Hillary. Though you could make the argument that it was Obama's magnanimous nature that kept the Democratic Party from falling apart in the wake of his nomination, Colorado state politics is a lot different than national Democratic politics.

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 13:34:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Did Governor Ritter really promise to appoint Andrew Romanoff Lt. Governor

It was reported that Governor Ritter promised to name Speaker Romanoff Lieutenant Governor and than reneged. Is this true? It seems an odd thing for the Governor to have done if true

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by: ArdentAdmirer2 @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 17:36:56 PM UTC

Governor 'ODD"

Most of what this governor does is odd and makes no sense.

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by: Roger D @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 18:06:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lt. Gov. O'Brien decided to run again

Besides that there are several questions Mr. Romanoff needs to answer:

1. Did he ever indicate he would accept nomination as lieutenant govenror?

2. What about the other positions he was offered (i.e. at the federal level) that he turned down?

3. What about the private positions he was offered (Executive Director of The Childrens Fund) that he turned down?

Bottom line: He wants to be a U.S. Senator. Nothing else matters.

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by: Republican 36 @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 18:16:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

what do you know?

The Governor selects his running mate. It is not Barbara O'Brien's decision to make it is Bill Ritter's.

Was Speaker Romanoff actually offered the Children's Fund job or a Federal Job? Was he actually offered the Lieutenant Governor's job?  

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by: ArdentAdmirer2 @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 19:27:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

the governor DOES select the lieutenant governor

   And if O'Brien wanted to leave, he may have selected Romanoff to run with him next year.  But I don't think that Ritter would have thrown O'Brien "under the bus" just to keep Andrew from challenging Bennet.

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by: One Queer Dude @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 20:42:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

my question is?

Did Governor Ritter promise Speaker Romanoff that he would be his choice for Lt. Gov in 2010.

Romanoff says such a promise was made.  Does Ritter agree that such a promise was made?
What are the facts?

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by: ArdentAdmirer2 @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 21:29:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Who does this primary hurt?

It hurts Ritter.  Everyday.  

I would not assume Ritter is re-elected.

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by: johnpauljones @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 19:30:37 PM UTC

Gotta come up with a good candidate to run against him first

n/t

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

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by: Ralphie @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 19:44:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why...

...air your dirty laundry to Mike Rosen?

A woman's health decisions are a private matter between her priest and her husband.

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by: DaftPunk @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 19:43:45 PM UTC

Heavy Handed

Received a pro Bennet email today signed by Ritter, Udall and Buescher. Can Bennet survive the bear hug from the unpopular Ritter?

Ritter has been banking on a better general election profile by dissing the Democratic base through out his first three years in office.  Painful but not a bad play given the make up of the general electorate in Colorado.

Now Ritter is trying to woo the Democratic base he has alienated by design to help Bennet in a Democratic primary.

If Ritter's history is any guide, he will end up pissing off both sides like he has done with business and labor. This could end badly for team Ritter.

Throw Udall and Buescher in the mix and you have the makings of a one big fat target for a grass roots Dem uprising.

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by: silverandblue @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 21:31:38 PM UTC

since when do the roots of the grass..

..oppose Udall?  On what basis, exactly?

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 00:03:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ritter played Romanoff

In a conference call Ritter(or an aide) asked most of the county party chairs who they recommended, almost all said Romanoff and no one mentioned Bennet.
Then after nominating Bennet, Ritter told a lot of people that he was going to give Romanoff a job, stalled him until it was very late in the game to enter before stiffing him.  It was clear to Bennet and Ritter that the major challenger was Romanoff and they are trying to freeze him out.  

The nomination process is first though caucus and county conventions, then a state assembly.  If you get less than 20% (I think) of the vote you are off the primary ballot.  If you do not go through this process, you can petition your way onto the primary ballot.  Then you can buy all the TV you can afford and win with money.  I am betting if Romanoff stays in the race, Bennet will bypass the caucus process and petition onto the ballot. There is too big a risk that he will get less than 20%.  That is the rank and file party activists, the base, will support Romanoff as will most of the county chairs but the mostly out of state money will buy the primary for Bennet.

After that, Bennet will be the lesser of two evils and all the activists will be told to STFU and go out and bust their butts.

crossposted http://www.squarestate.net/sho...  

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by: marc sobel @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 22:08:49 PM UTC

30% caucus for ballot

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by: Danny the Red (hair) @ Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 22:26:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

all of this is great fodder for gossip columns

...but what has it to do with anything?  Romanoff is owed something here?  Dammit, I'm simply lost when it comes to royal succession!

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 00:35:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He's got a justified sense of entitlement

... since Colorado's House speakers and Senate presidents have always gone on to higher-profile elected office.

-- oh, wait, what am I thinking? Leadership in the General Assembly has never been a stepping stone in Colorado, except maybe to a Denver Post column or a seat on the PUC. The last House speaker to go on to higher office was John Vanderhoof, who got to be governor after John Love took a job with the Nixon administration.  

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by: RedGreen @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 00:57:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

IIRC, Love was crowned Energy Czar

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by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:40:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

and wasn't Vandy shown the door in his first election?

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:28:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Right, he lost to Dick Lamm

and OQD is also right -- back when Republicans liked having czars to handle problems!

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by: RedGreen @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 05:20:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What are the facts?

Romanoff says he was offered the Lieutenant Governor's job?

Is this true?

Has Governor Ritter confirmed or denied that this happened.  

It is not about entitlement. Was a promise made and broken by the Governor? Or to put it another way is Andrew Romanoff too gullible to be a US Senator

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by: ArdentAdmirer2 @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:06:55 AM UTC

For Bill Ritter

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 15:04:27 PM UTC