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Ritter Sworn In as Governor

by: Colorado Pols

Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 12:04:34 PM MST


It's official.
Colorado Pols :: Ritter Sworn In as Governor
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Ritter Sworn In as Governor | 91 comments
Told you so.
I knew it would come to this.

Hope you're happy Moonraker!

I'm estatic - does that help?


Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!
[ Parent ]
It is a sad day
in four years all will be right in the world, until then we must put up with the liberal agenda that the voting population doesnt realize will hurt our state.
Who Then?
Who will challenge Bill "I'm Dreamin of Promises" Ritter?
[ Parent ]
Not who you think it will be.
My money is on a newcomer.  Someone we haven't heard much from yet.  Steve Ward maybe?

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Rowland-Stafford '10
  To close the gender gap once and for all, and to totally appease its fundamentalist base, the GOP should run an all-female Christian ticket in 2010:
-Janet Rowland for Governor
-Debbie Stafford for Lt. Governor
-Gayle Haggard for Sec. of State
-Lauri Clapp for Treasurer
-Carole Chambers for A.G.
[ Parent ]
You left out Leslie Hanks


"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
I also left out the U.S. Senate seat.......
Marilyn "Musty" Musgrave can run against Ken Salazar (or against his successor, in the event he's elected V.P. in '08).  Yeah, that's the ticket.......
[ Parent ]
Alan Keyes.
There, I said it.

"But every Republican in the world is a lobbyist…" -- Bill O'Reilly
[ Parent ]
Unlike the Republican agenda?
In the big picture, the average American middle class voter has ALWAYS been better off under Dems.  In fact, REPUBLICANS are better off.  The stock market does better (think Gore and cutting our deficit), progressive programs help keep the playing fields level so that small businesses start up easier, and so on. 

And when we have universal health care, business will be relieved of that management and cost burden, equalizing all players.

Which president produced:

1. The highest growth in the gross domestic product?
2. The biggest increase in jobs?
3. The biggest increase in personal disposable income after taxes?
4. The highest growth in industrial production?
5. The biggest rise in hourly wages?
6. The lowest Misery Index (inflation plus unemployment)?
7. The lowest inflation?
8. The largest reduction in the federal budget deficit?

Done guessing? Okay, here are the answers: 1. Truman; 2. Carter; 3. Johnson; 4. Kennedy; 5. Johnson; 6. Truman; 7. Truman; 8. Clinton. A Democratic sweep.

Courtesy of http://makethemaccou...  which has many more myth debunkers on it.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
Oh my god - 4 years of compassion & investment in the future
What will we do, what will we do???

I guess we'll just have to suffer from a Democratic agenda that improves the state and improves the lives of the citizens in the state.

But don't worry, eventually us Democrats will have everything running so well that the voters will figure 4 years of Republican mismanagement aren't a big deal and you can get a Republican elected again.

In the meantime, just learn to live with a state government focused on making life better for all.

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

[ Parent ]
Government Can't Make Life Better
Maybe it's the primary difference between the Left and Right;  government can only effect change at the margins.  The government is best able to create misery.  My highest expectation for any level of government is for it to get the Hell out of my way!

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Pull your head out of the bucket of Kool-Aid, Les
Yes, you are right, us lefties do beleive government effects positive change in a democracy. 

"At the margins?"  Like the New Deal that saved America's capitalist ass from the commies and fascists?  Medicare?  Social Security, the world's oldest and scandal free anti-poverty program?  Rural Electrification? (Where were the capitalists on THAT?) Industy regulation? (Think CA and Enron for an example of non-regulation.)  Safe air travel? Organizing victory in WWII (Dem administration, I might note.)

Public health initiatives like clean water and air, TB and polio eradication, etc.? (Most of the increase in American lifespans in the last hundred years has been due to public health and workplace safety.  Oh yeah, there's ANOTHER one!)

Democratic and labor policies built America's middle class, and that requires cooperation, not clawing one's way to the top of the pile at the expense of other human beings. We all rise when we support one another.

That's just off of the top of my pointy liberal head.

Please don't run over any old folks in broken wheel chairs in your individualistic charge to libertarian glory, Les.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
What government program created Kool-Aide?
For the most part, I can't disagree with these programs.  Government should only do those things that we CAN'T do for ourselves.  But.....  The New Deal has outlived its usefullness; the War on Poverty has been a failure.  Medicare and Social Security have saddled our kids and grandkids with hugh debts and taxes.  Public education is failing far too many of our poorest citizens.  I can see better, market based solutions to these issues.  Frequently, government over reaches; including conservative governments.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Next!
Eliminate the G.I. Bill, too? That's considered New Deal legislation, as well.
[ Parent ]
Why not
There are plenty of was to finance a college education.  Besides, todays G.I. Bill is nothing like the one we had post-WWII.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
There goes the all-volunteer army...
Better bring back the draft, right?
[ Parent ]
I'm confused now
I thought it was you Dems who were proposing bringing back the Draft.
[ Parent ]
Any Dems want to respond?

[ Parent ]
Dem's take on draft
only bring it back to ensure that when America fights a war, all Americans fight the war together. One class of Americans should not shoulder the burden.
[ Parent ]
I like the sound of that.

[ Parent ]
spolied rich party boys........
....shouldn't dodge the draft and hide out in the Alabama National Guard just because their daddies happen to be Republican Congressmen.  (Hypothetically speaking, of course!)
[ Parent ]
Hell yeah.
Bring back the draft today.  It's the only honest way to staff up the military if this fight is worth fighting.

"But every Republican in the world is a lobbyist…" -- Bill O'Reilly
[ Parent ]
You need FACTS man, not wingnut platitudes!
There is no current New Deal, of course, I was using those policies as a creative effort that helped get us out of the depression.  The interesting thing is that FDR was not an ideologue about what to do.  He, in essence, was willing to try most anything that made some sense. And that's what we need so much in America now, let's TRY something!

The War On Poverty worked very well.  In a decade, poverty was cut in half. Check the stats, not right wing radio.

Medicare and Social Security have not saddled anybody with anything.  My generation (earliest baby boomer) is paying for both my parent's generation of SS and our own.  SS is solvent until at least 2040.  It can be made solvent forever by taking off the income cap so that Bill Gates payes the same rate as you.  Medicare is a great success, even if the cost is great.  It provides health care to the sickest portion of our population at a 3 percent overhead.  Compare that to 25-36% of private health care.

I agree public education is not so good these days.  But "market based" solutions are not solutions.  If the private schools are held to the same standards of accreditation and serving all children including those with physical and mental disabilities, they can't do it for any less money.

BTW "the Kool Aid" refers to Right Wingers acting like the people of Jonestown drinking the Kool Aid because their leader told them to do so. As a point of history, it wasn't really Kook Aid, but some off brand.  But no one knows that brand, so it became the well known Kook Aid.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
um..
Not that you've ever replied to anyone who challenged you, but  would you be so kind as to post which statistics bear out that 'poverty' (I'll even let you define it) has been 'cut in half'?
[ Parent ]
I'll get it...
I'm down at the capitol until dinner time.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010
[ Parent ]
Living in the past with your DNC talking points
By my estimation, the Great Depression ended in excess of 60 years ago.  When are we going to declare victory and take "the bridge to the 21st century"?  The War on Poverty is an abject failure!  It did nothing more than guarantee a permanete underclass that will reliably vote for their cash granting masters.  "Let my people go"!!!  You're deluded if you think we can just tax the rich to gurantee benefits past 2040.  Unless we change the law, benefits to the rich will have to increase along with their taxes.  Check it out.  Medicare is popular with everyone except the doctors; how many more have to refuse to accept Medicare patients before the whole thing collapses?  We seem to agree on the state of public education; why would you want to saddle private schools with the same ridicules regulations that are killing public schools?  Does No Child Left Behind really work?  Why not level the playing field by releasing public schools from the bureaucratic malaise?  Do we really need so many administrators?  Should the excellent teachers have their pay held down by those not as dedicated?  Again "let my people go"!  BTW, invectives don't contribute to the debate.  I've enjoyed jousting with you and appreciated you "Grammar Gestapo" comment below.  However, everyone who disagrees with the Dems is not a Right Winger anymore than those who disagree with the Repubs is on the Looney Left.  I understand the connection between Jonestown and the Kool Aide reference.  I was in high school at the time.  It refers to Zealots on BOTH sides of the political spectrum.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
The Somalia has the best government on the planet
None. And it is working so well for them.

When you say that the less government the better, can you find even one example to abck that up? One???

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

[ Parent ]
How about two
Great Britain under Thatcher and the U.S. under Reagan.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Reagonomics
Last I checked, the federal deficit ballooned under Reagan.  How is spending more of our grandkid's money "less government"?
[ Parent ]
History Lesson
Reagan spent billions re-building the military.  The Soviet Union couldn't keep up.  The Cold War ended.  Clinton heralded the "Peace Dividend".  The deficit declined.  Our kids no longer do "duck and cover drills".  End of lesson.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
You are contradicting yourself (how unusual)
First you claim that government can only make things worse.

Then you claim that Reagan, with his increased spending was a very good president.

Pick one please. Either government action makes things worse or Reagan's government actions made things better.

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

[ Parent ]
Contradiction, Really?
I clearly said that government should do those things we can't do for ourselves.  National defense is not an idividual activety, is it?

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Lets go through your quotes
First you said "Government Can't Make Life Better". You followed that with "government should do those things we can't do for ourselves" and those two statements do not conflict.

But the conclusion of those two statements is that while the government is doing those things we cannot do for ourselves it is not making life better.

Then when I asked you for examples of a government that did a lot less that was good you said "Great Britain under Thatcher and the U.S. under Reagan". Well first of all, the government grew under Reagan - a lot. And not just in National Defense.

So it's not an example of a government governing less. It is an example of a government talking about that a lot while not doing it.

But the big contradiction I see in your statements is that you say Reagan made life better yet he grew the government and your other statement is that growing the government can't make life better.

So which is it? Reagan grew the government - did he make life better? If not, we still need an example. If so, then a Democrat that grows the government could also make life better.

Finally you say "National defense is not an idividual activety, is it?" Well in Somalia it is. Or more of a clan (ie family) activity.

I really don't understand why Libertarians don't move to Somalia - it is truly a libertarian society. Why aren't you packing your bags?

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

[ Parent ]
America, Love it or leave it!
Okay, you've got me on the govt not making life better.  The Great Communicator DID make life better.  I stand corrected.

As for your fixation with Somalia; I'm a libertarian not an anarchist! Look at my handle again.  It doesn't read No F*****g Government.  We just have more government than we deserve; including Republican lead govenments.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan

[ Parent ]
I think everyone agrees with that
We can all find things the government shouldn't be doing. The problem is we disagree on what those items are...

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!
[ Parent ]
How about
if we start with things that people can do for themselves?

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Ok
But many people cannot afford medical insurance so that brings in single payer. Many people cannot afford private school for their kids so we have public schools. Many people do not have enough for retirement so that brings in social security. Add in the defense budget and that's what - 90+ % of the existing budget.

Looks like we agree :)

- dave

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

[ Parent ]
As Al used to say, "I don't think so Tim"!
I know you're Dave and not Tim, but it didn't seem to sound just right.  As much as I don't want socialized medicine, we'll have it sooner or later.  If we're going down that road, Massachusetts may have a solution that I can support.  Just because we have government financed K-12 education doesn't mean we have to have a government monopoly on delivering that education.  A lot of people who don't have enough for retirement seem to have enough for beer, cigarettes and, lottery tickets during their working years.  Looks like they set their priorities for retirement, didn't they? 

You bet we agree. Just like my ex-wife and I do! ;o)

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan

[ Parent ]
I got cheated...
Never once did we do "duck and cover drills" during my years in public schools during the administrations of Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan.

Maybe that was back when Lester Lanin was still a big-time big band leader...

[ Parent ]
Johnson and Nixon Administrations
I only remember duck and cover drills when I was in elementary  school and that was on the east coast and in Europe.  Maybe Colorado was not expected to be a target of The Evil Empire back then.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Elementary school in New Jersey...
Which had Nazi U-boats off the coast during World War II.
[ Parent ]
I was in New York
Maybe their superior attitude is deserved afterall. ; ) Not that I'm a New Yorker mind you!

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
I remember
duck and cover drills in elementary school in Denver in the late 60s.
[ Parent ]
Like I said...
I got cheated.
[ Parent ]
We were a target
They just figured with The Arsenal, Buckley and Rocky Flats were were already dead so why duck!
[ Parent ]
Eisenhower Era was Era of "duck and cover"
You should be gd grateful that good presidents before Nixon got a world to work without nuclear bombing. President Kennedy signed the testban treaty....went a long way to reducing nuclear tensions.....

"duck and cover" was not a joke...it was a totally futile exercise that detracted parents, teachers and children from the fact that in the event of a nuclear bomb, there was no defense.  Good men and women who knew that did their dammest to make it a joke by making the world safer....

And now it is a joke.....told by ignorant and ungrateful fools

 For politics, geezers are golden.
by: BlueCat @ Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 19:19:14 PM MDT

[ Parent ]
No joke!
Yes, it was my understanding that "duck and cover" was mostly an Eisenhower era phenomenon. But from the other responses, I see that the exercise continued on in some locales, although I never personally experienced it. I agree that it was "futile."

I think you added to the discussion by pointing out Kennedy's role in a test ban.

As for my sense of humor - or lack thereof - on the subject, blame Dr. Strangelove.

And as for whether I "should be gd grateful" about something…well, I take it that you never earned your bread and butter as a cognitive therapist.

[ Parent ]
Ha ha! Love your sarcasm!


"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010
[ Parent ]
VERY SAD DAY!
I agree with you it is a very sad day.  Coloradoans better hold on to their check books.  The Dems are in charge of them now.
Not so.
One of the nifty little features of Colorado politics is that even the Governor and the legislature working together can't raise taxes without a vote of the people.

They also have to balance the budget every single year.

Financially, Dems are on a very tight leash.

One of Romanoff's first statements to his caucus was that new ideas with zero fiscal impact will be greatly preferred to those with some fiscal impact.

Coloradans should still hold onto their checkbooks, but the nasty little scumbags in the private sector are the ones to worry about.

[ Parent ]
Think this through...
"Hold onto your check books."  Why?  Are you saying that TABOR has gone away with Bill Owens' administration? 

See my comments to Lester Government above.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
Oh, give it a rest already
Go buy some tissues in bulk at Costco and have yourselves a good cry. You'll feel much better.

"Thank you for putting your rank political motives on display." - ArapaGOP
I can't believe I'm about to agree with Ari!
But he's correct(I almost typed right, oh no!).  We've been here before and it made us better and stronger.  Stop your damned whining and get in the game!

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
I've been listening
to the Dems whine for years!  It's my turn, and in true Dem fashion I plan on taking advantage of the "program".
[ Parent ]
Why not join 'em
I'm thinkin about quitting my job, canceling my insurance, and joining the welfare team.
I would much rather stay at home, sleep in all snuggled letting someone else pay my bills.
All I need is a way to the El Paso County welfare office once a month. And the checks will start rolling in.
Hell, if I do this I might even join their Party.
From seeing the cars that the people drive that go in and out of that building each day, I wonder why I should be busting my ass 50 hours a week.
Iron Mike was right.
A year or so ago he wrote about how the libs sit around holding hands singing songs of peace. I think we should all quit and join them..........

NoBama .... NoBamaCare either
[ Parent ]
I don't see you joining the Leisure Class
We're too used to being productive.  A Republican can only watch so much Oprah before your ass starts to hurt and you just have to do SOMETHING!  It is tempting though to take a sabbatical at the expense of everyone else.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Go offer to trade with one
But ask them what life is like first. You might find that it sucks - big time.

There is a big difference between your stereotypes and reality. And the fact that you think something is so does not make it so. (Same problem Bush has.)

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

[ Parent ]
I'm SURE it sucks big time
That is why I get up and go to work every day.  We'd be doing them a big time favor by insisting they get jobs and go to work every day instead of having all of the responsibility of a family pet!

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Please do.
Morgan Spurlock took a minimum wage job and tried to apply for public assistance on his show 30 Days.  It was fascinating.

Average "welfare" benefits pay below the poverty line, less than any full-time job.  That's according to the GAO.  (Additionally, the GAO data shows most welfare recipients stop participating before two years is up.  That doesn't suggest there is any significant segment of "permanent" welfare recipients.)

And there's no blanket program called "welfare."  Instead, you can apply separately for federal housing assistance funds, for food stamps, and for Aid For Dependent Children (AFDC) funds.  Although if you succeed with the food stamp application, any AFDC funds you might receive are automatically reduced.  And so on.  In some cases, getting money from one program renders you ineligible for others.  And they're all time-limited.

Did you realize there are actually *no* Federal welfare programs for adults without dependent children?  So you'd better have a child around so you can be living large.  The vast majority of welfare funds still go to single moms.

So when the Cato Institute trots out a number that is supposed to make you scream, recognize that they've simply added up the average benefits for every government assistance program they can find and created a low-income straw man for you.

"But every Republican in the world is a lobbyist…" -- Bill O'Reilly

[ Parent ]
Didnt You say
That you havent had a raise in over 6 or 7 years at your job? I dont remember what you do, but I would have left that job and traded up. But I guess my progressive views extend to creating better opportunities for myself.
[ Parent ]
I haven't had a raise since 1999
but since I make $25.00 an hour, with zero college education but with benefits, I'm in no hurry to look elsewhere just yet.

NoBama .... NoBamaCare either
[ Parent ]
Yo Gecko
And on what basis would you claim that welfare check?  Are you totally disabled? Dying of cancer? A baby? Taking care of an infant? A senior citizen without social security? Mentally retarded? Born with developmental disabilites which prevent you from minimum wage employment? A kid under sixteen whose parents are gone or drunk or otherwise economically incapacitated? Are you mentally ill? And in addition to each one of those conditions,  are you virtually without financial resources?

Lost a lot of respect for you. Gecko...you can knock people posting here of various political stripes..hell, that is what this is all about....but knock off bullying those who are sick, old, young and poor....



 For politics, geezers are golden.
by: BlueCat @ Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 19:19:14 PM MDT

[ Parent ]
Can't you see sarcasm when it is spelled
out as badly as I did?
My point, through joking, is that in my job, I have had to work at many of these people's houses. By these people I mean the ones that sleep in till noon, then trudge off for their benefit packages at the El Paso County Building.
I see them everday. The ones I bitch about are the vast majority, young, healthy, able bodied, but obviously lazy.
This is not something that I have just jumped to conclusions on. I have worked my same service industry job for over 22 years now. Many, many of the people I have had to work "for" get their rent subsidized by the city/county. They pay next to nothing but expect the house to be perfect when they move in.
I have talked to the maintenance people that have to "clean up and repair" these same places when the bums move out. You should hear their sides of the story.
I have seen the drug sales going on to help supplement their own drug habits. I have seen the cars they drive, most of which are way nicer than mine.
I have had to wait until late morning to enter their places because they like to sleep in till noon.

And once again, I work very near the building where these poor souls go for their hand outs.
Very few of which are old, handicapped, disabled, etc.
You can say that just seeing these people for a short time does not tell their entire story. I'll say that having done this job for so very long, and talking to as many people as I have that also have to deal with it, I can safely draw an educated conclusion.
Anyone else have 22 years in the same service industry that can honestly claim otherwise?

Spend a few years doing what I do. You'll change your attitude toward the "welfare" lot.

NoBama .... NoBamaCare either

[ Parent ]
Hard to believe, but I'm agreeing with Gecko
I lived "in the hood" in NE Denver for six years, and worked at the Curtis Park Community Center for a year (I ran the computer lab.) 

I, too, have seen so many folks getting some form of public support that lived in far nicer quarters than myself.  The CPCC would do Thanksgiving food distributions, and many a car waiting outside was nicer than my beater Subaru.

We also did a "Santa's Workshop" with many gifts provided by American Baptist Churches through out the Rocky Mountain West. I'll never forget the couple with the one year old baby that came by to get gifts - because they had just bought a $250 DVD player (that's when they were new) FOR THE BABY!

The CPCC also had a program supported by the Mayor's Office of Employment and Training to get people "from welfare to work."  Sometimes learning computer skills would be part of their personal program.  An appointment would be made to come to the computer lab for help.  NOT ONE ever made it. 

Do I have a solution for this?  No, short of a social worker for every person receiving aid.  I just grudgingly accept that this is the shit that comes along with programs that help the truly needy.

Gecko, at least some of those funds wound up in your worn out working man's jeans! 

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
I don't know what you are talking about
If you see illegal activity, report it. Going into people's houses and making judgements about their lives makes my skin crawl....You don't like cleaning section 8 housing...don't take the job or the contract....our taxes support your work....

Cleaning up after anyone is a rough way to make a living.  I couldn't do it.
But, using your job to attack the people who make the job you have possible,
sounds like "burn out" to me. 

Privacy is privacy is privacy.  People receving public assistance don't have to pay for that by allowing other people to beat them up, figuredly, or assert that they don't have a right to private lives or spy on them.

If you see something illegal, report it.  You think the law is unfair, work to change it; hell...repubs have been in power forever..is the world you don't like????

Give it a rest.  The days of attacking "welfare queens"  because they are getting money "without putting out" are over.  Way over...

 For politics, geezers are golden.
by: BlueCat @ Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 19:19:14 PM MDT

[ Parent ]
Preach on, dwyer.
I couldn't agree more.  If someone is breaking the law, report it.  And judge not.

"But every Republican in the world is a lobbyist…" -- Bill O'Reilly
[ Parent ]
How to find the balance
I agree with Gecko and Parsing.

In a previous life I taught classes for welfare recipients.  This was during the welfare to work transition.

There continues to be a sense of entitlement among many of Colorado's poor families.  "I have five children", a pregnant single mother once told me, "I deserve the check".  My 'clients' would come to class so that they would get the 'credit' for 'work related activities' so they could get their check to get their nails done and shop at 7-11.

The US and Colorado do not do enough to help single mothers who can't afford a good car, good classes and a good home in a good neighborhood with good childcare.  Those are ALL things people need to break out of the poverty cycle (and a few more things IMO).

There remains much to do, and much of it needs to include tough love practices.

[ Parent ]
No, no!
Keep whining.  It's funny.

"But every Republican in the world is a lobbyist…" -- Bill O'Reilly
[ Parent ]
It is surreal in a way
for the last six years I've heard Republicans saying, "stop your whining", "get over it", "we're better off"...

now the Dems step in, the tables are turned and the words are the same.

whew, truly, the more things change...

Whou would have thought....
that one of the best parts of having Democratic controlled government in Colorado would be watching the whining of Gecko, Lester, et. al.?

What a glorious day this is!

"I've learned a lot of lessons being involved in politics. I also believe that when you are attacked, you have to deck your opponents." -- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

You don't read so good, do you?


"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
That's "So Well"


"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010
[ Parent ]
Well, Well, Well!
You don't funny so good do you?

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Good comeback
...signed, the Grammar Gestapo.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010
[ Parent ]
Thanks!
I figured it was your "inner school teacher" coming out.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan
[ Parent ]
Now that he's sworn in,
how long until he's sworn at?  All funning aside, the Dems have been telling us for eight long years how they will improve things if only they were in charge.  Now's their chance.  In two years they get a report card from us.  How will they handle the traffic problems from all the out of state immigration?  How will they handle the increased need for water and power?  Will the Denver area get all the attention as it did during the Romer era or will the rest of the state get attention too?  We await the answers.
Hell yes, it's been 8 whole hours - lets see some results!
And why are Republican's who claim that the state should do nothing and be smaller now clamoring for the state to take an active role?

Correct me if I'm wrong but immigration is primarily a federal issue and power is private enterprise. And water is mostly local (the state is involved there).

As to traffic issues from out of state immigrates - do Colorado residents not drive? Or is your complaint that with a Democratic state government even more people will want to move here because the state is so well run?

Maybe that is the real Republican policy. Fuck up the state enough that people stop moving here.

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

[ Parent ]
wha... ?
How will they handle the traffic problems from all the out of state immigration?

What are you saying - that illegal immigrants are responsible for traffic jams

ROFLPIMP...

Ah.... Thanks for the laugh. I'm guessing that you mean the problems caused when they get into auto accidents, an oft-trotted out talking point on these here blogs (how often does that happen, say, per 1,000 accidents in Colo?) but that's not how you phrased it.

"Thank you for putting your rank political motives on display." - ArapaGOP

[ Parent ]
When I say
out of state immigration, I speak of those who move here from other states, not illegal immigration (another topic entirely).  What I am talking about is the population growth that we have experienced over the last twenty years which has strained the infrastructure here in Colorado.  Or haven't you noticed all the new faces that have popped up in that time? (Unless, of course, you are one of those faces.} 

The recent improvements started on the interstate system in this state is a good start, though about ten years late. 

Water conservation and appropriation hase been a concern for over twenty years. Plenty of money spent on studies, plans, and lawsuits.  Not much else.

We are needing new power plants, both to handle new demand and replace older worn out plants.

I don't expect the Democrats to do anything about it today, but in six months we ought to have a solid direction from them on these problems.  I didn't give them eight hours to fix them, they have two years.  Everyone was talking about how much better Colorado would be under the Democrats.  It's now time to start the walking.  Government has it's place and purpose. Your contention is that government can fix these things.  There is not a single thing standing in your way from doing it.

Or you can continue to snark at legitimate concerns.

[ Parent ]
no snark
I saw the word immigration and thought "illegal," so mea culpa. Out-of-staters moving here aren't immigrants. Not sure what the actual term is, but the term immigrant specifically means someone coming to the USA from another nation.

Anyway, if anyone cares, I was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver in 1970, lived in Denver all the way to 1997 (except for 2 years in Boulder while at college - go Buffs!), and lived in Seattle until I came back in 2005 (nothing like affordable real estate to make the prodigal son return). Shit - there has NEVER been bad traffic in Denver. NEVER NEVER NEVER. Those who think so need to spend some time on I-405 through the "Eastside" (suburbs east of Seattle) or WA-520 across Lake Washington before they can complain about traffic anywhere in Colorado. And yes, I've been to every major population center in the state at rush hour, so I know what I'm talking about.

Whew! I feel better. Let's take a deep breath, okay? Now...

Yes, they've improved the freeways (under a Republican! Whoduthunkit?) and I'm glad I missed most of it (T-REX). Better yet they've started to build Rapid Transit (the true solution to traffic problems) here. Also this will help pollution. And I'm glad you're being sensible ("they've got two years") when it comes to givinig the Dems a chance (although 2 years is not long enough to affect true change, but that's another discussion). But note: My voice has not been among those singing that things would be better under Democrats. (I'm independent, albeit liberally so.)

"Thank you for putting your rank political motives on display." - ArapaGOP

[ Parent ]
It's truly relative
on the quality of traffic.  I spent four years in the Navy stationed in Norfolk VA.  I-64 at quitting time was one of the reasons I stayed in barracks rather than renting an apartment.

But as someone who started driving almost 30 years ago, I can remember when driving up from Colorado Springs to Denver was much less stressful.  I can remember people talking how the interstate was a boondoggle to allow the Teamsters to replace the railroads.  Not much chance of selling that notion now.  There's talk of starting a passenger line between the Springs and Denver, maybe including Pueblo.  Frex service seems to be a success but we'll have to see how much people will pony up for it now that the grant money to start it has gone away.  They are talking about increasing the fare between 15-30%.

As for how we refer to people who move here from other states, migrate is the base word and immigrate is used for the act of changing ones abode from one country to another or one region in a country to another.  So out of state migrates should have been the word I used.

You're right that two years won't be enough to fix everything.  But it should be enough to show us a direction.

[ Parent ]
Traffic
In the light of day I'll clarify my remarks about traffic. Yes, it was getting bad as in-state migration increased. Thankfully we had the room and political will to work on improving the roads before we had a real mess. OTOH, Colorado's Front Range (where the bulk of population and traffic are) has pretty flat terrain and a lot of space so there was room to improve. In Seattle, SF Bay area, and other congested hellholes the terrain is hilly and semilandlocked so they have few options to improve...

"Thank you for putting your rank political motives on display." - ArapaGOP
[ Parent ]
Terrain was the problem
in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads area too.  Not really hilly but a big body of water between where everyone was and where they wanted to go.
[ Parent ]
Yeah, this traffic ain't NUT-tink!
My sales work in California made me a "road warrior" there.  I know what bad traffic is.

Got slapped upside the head with that one last month when I drove to SF.  Everything was moving fine until I got to Berkeley, when it took at least an hour to get to the Bay Bridge, only a couple of miles farther. Fifteen lanes of merging, jockeying, swearing.

It's like people thinking that our "ghetto" is something like the Bronx.  NOT!

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
this Dem's take on the draft
only bring it back to ensure that when America fights a war, all Americans fight the war together. One class of Americans should not shoulder the burden.
that wasn't supposed to go there
picked the wrong day to stop sniffin' glue
[ Parent ]
John Salazar for Senate '08
John and Ken! Why the heck not? Put him on the Senate Line, at least. He has as good a Senate shot as Hick.
who do the Dems then run in C.D. 3?
there are some good possibilities.....Kathleen Curry?  or maybe Sybil's favorite, Bernie Buscher?
[ Parent ]
Two good options
Moderate D's with strong resumes for this district.
[ Parent ]
That would be interesting
Political dynasties are as old as the nation itself, but I wonder if there's ever been a case where both Senators from the same state were brothers or otherwise related?

"Thank you for putting your rank political motives on display." - ArapaGOP
[ Parent ]
Ritter Sworn In as Governor | 91 comments
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