CO-04 (Special Election)
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(R) Greg Lopez
(R) Trisha Calvarese
90%
10%
President (To Win Colorado)
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(D) Joe Biden*
(R) Donald Trump
80%
20%↓
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
90%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
90%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(D) Adam Frisch
(R) Jeff Hurd
(R) Ron Hanks
40%
30%
20%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert
(R) Deborah Flora
(R) J. Sonnenberg
30%↑
15%↑
10%↓
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Dave Williams
(R) Jeff Crank
50%↓
50%↑
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
90%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) Brittany Pettersen
85%↑
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(D) Yadira Caraveo
(R) Gabe Evans
(R) Janak Joshi
60%↑
35%↓
30%↑
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
January 11, 2011 07:09 AM UTC
32 Comments
I hope this doesn’t violate anything. It’s on their web site.
In a press release.
it’s a Pols diary and they can reference the DP all they like or don’t like.
When Laughing Boy calls you out on this one, I’m going to probably have to agree with him.
There might be stuff to take issue with in this, but you’ve obviously never been to Texas. At least not involving the law.
I worry that she’ll be convicted in the media with a Texas grand jury’s help before it ever goes to trial, and that’s a very real fear.
and less about Texas Grand Juries, but this whole accident leaves a lot to be explained and she is not doing a good job explaining it at all.
Changing into pajamas while driving down the highway? Is there any evidence this was true? If so, she’ll deserve whatever she gets. Someone died and others were seriously injured in this accident.
was that her son was changing the grandkids into PJs. It seems to have grown some with time and repetition.
rather that simply if it was being done in a vehicle moving at that speed on a highway, there is a huge culpability issue there.
from Rep. Nancy Todd, She has said that the day after the accident she spoke with Williams and that, while Wiliams has a “blurred memory” of the incident she did remember her son unbuckling his seat belt and climbing into the back seat to put the kids into pajamas. It is also clearly established that they were not restrained at the time of the accident. So it would appear that it isn’t just a rumor or gossip that has “grown some with time and repetition”. Whatever else occured, that in itself must be seen as pretty damaging.
Kids can sleep just fine in their clothes. One moment of lapsed judgement and…
I don’t mean to judge. I’m an ass and I would have insisted that the car stop if anyone removed their restraints. But the asshole part of me keeps screaming, “This is why!!” And the non-judgemental part of me doesn’t have a response.
Without commenting further on what the public knows and doesn’t know about this accident, I will say in general that I believe most drivers become so comfortable with the act of driving that they forget how quickly things can happen, especially at highway speeds.
I drive regularly on two-lane highways, some with speed limits of 65mph. I regularly see people coming toward me cross the center line, some times substantially – they’re probably distracted by something or someone in their car, or trying to deal with a cell phone, or adjusting a radio, or picking something up, or any one of dozens of other possibilities. There’s only so much you can do when you see a driver coming toward you in your lane, or partially in your lane.
Imagining the horrific details of this particular accident has reminded me once again to be as careful and attentive as I can be when I drive, and to be the best defensive driver I can be. And all I can do is hope that others on the road make the same efforts.
exactly right Realist. We are way too comfortable with dangerous things, and driving a car is chief among them. Easy to forget how deadly a moving vehicle can be.
there are possible explanations that could be in play here. For instance, what if Williams protested and her 41 year old son insisted? What if he just went ahead before she had any chance to pull over? What if she swerved because she was bumped into during the ensuing ruckus behind her? It is very understandable that a loving mother in these circumstances wouldn’t want to say anything in her own defense that would lay the blame on her seriously injured son and father of her grandchildren.
Of course that is all conjecture but until the process plays itself out we have no more than a few hard facts and a lot of conjecture which is why we should maintain open minds.
And I did not mean to judge Suzanne Williams. I’ve met her, and I understand she’s a very nice person. As I said, I am an ass. And I don’t expect other people to be assholes like me, I think I might not like that too much. But the asshole part of me is still screaming, “this is why.” The ass that is part of me will remind me of the Williams’ tragedy for the rest of my life.
With all due respect CP, I think she is probably doing exactly what she should be doing. Caring for her family as they recuperate, praying for the Gomez family, and only answering questions her lawyer and the police ask her. She does not owe the public anything at this point.
or any committee for that matter, owes the public and her constituents answers about a fatal car crash that at a minimum violated Texas law on seat belts.
your 5th amendment right to protect against self-incrimination has no bearing on public perception. Sure only answering police/lawyer questions is a better legal strategy, but there are political costs for doing so, because politicans do owe the public answers in these types of situations.
but there’s no way around the fact that it looked bad at first and it looks worse now. Doubtless due to the seriousness of William’s situation, her lawyers have told her and any friends she might have talked to about the incident to stop talking, the usual reason for not responding to questions under these circumstances. While we can know nothing for certain and everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt until the process plays out, it doesn’t look good for her at this point and it’s no surprise she won’t be chairing this committee.
Her not being assigned the chair of the Transportation Committee is politically correct and prudent. Partisanship should not be a factor here – if Williams were an R in a R majority Senate, the same decision would be in order.
Her “not responding to questions” from a PR stance implies a lack of candor on her part, and right or wrong, that will negatively impact her politically. The worst that would happen politically is that she resigns her seat. But at her age (65) and term limitations, there probably isn’t much of a political life for her beyond that of a Senator, except for an appointive position as a department head in State government.
That said, the bigger problem by far is whatever charges may be filed. Her non response to questions is no doubt upon the prudent advise of her attorney. You or I would be well advised to do the same thing if we were in her situation. In addition to criminal charges that may be filed, there must be consideration to possible civil complaints filed against her and her insurer.
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She was elected to public office.
That makes her different than just an ordinary citizen, with all that entails.
She owes the people of her District whatever level of accountability they demand.
Sometimes, when one’s family duties or responsibilities intrude too much on the duties and responsibilities of public office, a public official will step down, citing exactly that reason. They make a judgment that they cannot discharge both at the same time, and give each the attention it deserves.
Right after the crash, I predicted that she would resign before the end of the week. What was I thinking ?
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I’m really surprised by so many of your posts this week. You used to seem so much more balanced and rational to me. Now I wonder if you’re even the same poster.
What happened to the reasonable Barron-X I used to discuss things with rationally last year? You seem to have become much more strident.
I don’t want to speculate, but is it related to your electoral success as ACP candidate? (There! I just speculated anyway…)
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despite what you may have heard, 2% does not an election win.
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and I mean that sincerely. I have always respected your postings even when we were on opposite sides. I will hold this thought for you in my mind that whetever bad news it was you are able to transcend it.
Frequently not for the best. I wish her well.
Senator Williams really does not have a lot of friends left at the Capital. I predict a quick resignation with Nancy Todd taking her place. Of course no one knows what will happen at a vacancy committee meeting. Senator Morse deserves praise for starting the process of pushing her out the door.
What difference does it make?
Senator Williams is entitled to the presumption of innocence until pleading or proven guilty. Just as you or I would be. Much will depend on the outcome of the investigation and nature of any charge(s), (misdemeanor or felony).
That said, I’m sure her decision to resign or not and when will be based on the best interests of her constituents and her personal situation as advised by her attorney.
Have you ever met Suzanne Williams? She’s dumb as a post and narcissistic as she can possibly be. Suzanne Williams’s decision to resign or not will be based on one thing and one thing only: Suzanne Williams’ perception of what’s good for Suzanne Williams (even if that perception is based on no evidence or logical thinking whatsoever).
Your bias against her goes without saying. So what is her IQ? And has she been determined to have at least 5 of the 9 traits indicating a diagnoses of narcissistic personality disorder per the DSM ? Do you have the mental health care credentials to make such an evaluation?
She could be charged with nothing or serious felonies. Nobody knows, including you or I, until the investigation is done, grand jury presentments made, and charging documents so issued.
Williams has a bad habit of misreading, or just making up, facts and saying them loudly. In public. Not only is it frustrating if you’re working with her, it also makes her look dumb. Especially when the error is different or grows in the space of a twenty minute meeting.
That being said, our disagreements on her value to the legislature or her constituents are beyond moot. Neither being smart or dumb makes you guilty of a crime. Neither makes you automatically innocent either. I also doubt any of us are in a position to start a recall. And I doubt any of us are willing to threaten her. As far as I know, at this point, a recall or intimidation are the only ways to force a CO legislator out of office.
What I can tell you, without doubt, is that when the resignation comes (and it will) it will be Williams’ idea because it’s the best thing for her district. Or so she will say. I predict we’ll be having this discussion again at that time.
Being accused of being dumb, making shit up, and being a narcissist would clear out two thirds of the Legislature.
I also believe she will ultimately resign. My concern is she has a presumption of innocence until pleading guilty or convicted of a criminal offense, not because she is Senator Suzanne Williams but because that is what the law presumes for anyone.
I dig how you’re generous today. 🙂