Eng Claims Tight Race with Coffman

SIGH..I hope it's true....

...but I believe the Bidlack/Lamborn race is closer than this one.

Even so, poll numbers have no sway with the DCCC - they targeted one race to pimp the Dem platform (Markey), and they took their toys and went home when they felt the race was won....

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." Calvin Coolidge

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by: SSG_Dan @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 15:56:13 PM UTC

As they should have

Once a candidate is clearly winning in the polls, use the money instead to help another that is borderline. The DCCC is a bunch of heartless bastards - thank god.

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

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:23:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

did anyone else see

Coffman running his congressional ads during the Rachel Maddow show last night?

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by: wade norris @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 18:06:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

As Well They Should Have

Neither race is winnable.  Dems have had much better candidates before for these seats and have always gone down.  A beer says Eng does about 43-45% only slightly better than has ever been done in that district.

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by: Craig @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:11:04 PM UTC

Craig is right

You don't have an unlimited amount of money so you have to focus on where it will do the most good.  CD-4 was it this time around and it should pay off nicely.

Maybe they could've spent less on 4 and more on 6 but whoda thunk it would actually be this close in 6 ?  Hindsight is 20-20.

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:17:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Online polls are worthless

Hank will be fortunate if he gets 43%

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by: mr science @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:37:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bill Winter got almost 40%

And he was a far superior candidate.

If Hank Eng gets over 100,000 votes, it will be a miracle.

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:42:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Too Right

I live in Denver now! I used to be out in Elbert county and with me and one of my friends gone I'm sure the rural gay vote in CD-6 was cut by a third.

Matthew

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by: Precinct854 @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:57:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Winter was superior for the district on paper,

military background, etc.  However his campaign was a disaster from the start.  This is a special year and I think it's possible that Eng will do better than Winter. Maybe by enough to get us some more attention in 2010, especially if  it's the only seat to strongly contest with CD4 in the Dem column and CD5 still hopeless.  

I remember the Conti ads.  They were both making fun of Tancredo for his anti- illegal stance, the point supposedly that he was a one horse pony.  I thought at the time they were silly because very few people are passionately PRO illegal immigration, no matter how sympathetic they may be to the need for comprehensive reform and workers in certain fields such as agriculture.

Winter kept trying to tell people that illegal immigration was a non-issue in Arapahoe County at a time when one rarely heard roofers, painters, the guys pouring your driveway etc. speaking English here.  At the time, the hysteria over this issue was high and Winter sounded out of touch. Many voted again for Tancredo on this issue alone.

Different time, different main concerns and Eng may profit from large Dem turn out and straight Dem voting, though winning would  probably require the proverbial dead girl or live boy in Coffman's bed.

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 17:38:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh, agreed, BlueCat. Well said.

I contributed to Winter's campaign and was initially impressed with him but by the end of his campaign, I became thoroughly convinced that he was running one of the worst campaigns in recent memory. Way too much time blogging, no time out canvassing or phone banking and a complete refusal to hire competent staff.

I don't think Eng is going to get much more, points wise, than Winter. But...I find it hard to believe he could run a campaign more incompetent than Winters did.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 19:19:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He's got a good campaign team. No drama like Obama

Winter had at least two major shake-ups and the out of town people wouldn't listen to the locals.

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 22:05:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bidlack is much closer to Lamborn...

...it's a winnable race for the Dems, since so many Repubs HATE Lamborn. No TV time for Hal has been the thing keeping him in the rear view mirror. $50K from the DCCC would put the seat in play.

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." Calvin Coolidge

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by: SSG_Dan @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 17:01:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hail Mary

I can picture the Eng campaign now, a week before the election:

-"Quick, we need to do something, even Hank's neighbors don't know who he is."

-"Hey let's commission an online poll, after all, they are super scientific.  Then we can say, after no one over the age of 40 participated in it, that we are even in Douglas County of all places.  That should make people get excited about Hank, because after all, he did just move from Wisconsin two years ago."

-"Yeah, then 'Hank the Crank' might finally not sound angry and sad, but positive."

But as a concerned citizen, I just hope that they didn't  spend too much of the money they don't have--or raised, considering Hank has loaned his campaign $150,000 on that online poll.

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by: Western Way @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:18:04 PM UTC

Amen

Good to hear the only election Coffman dosen't have to try to fix is his own, and also good to hear you could find at LEAST ONE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE to belittle this year.  They are few and far between !
Top shelf.

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:51:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hank the Crank?

Where does that come from?  I've never heard Hank sound angry OR sad.  Sunny and positive is more like it.

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by: BlueCat @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 05:09:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hank has a chance

I've seen, like, 6 yard signs for him in Douglas.

Did they poll the entire state to get these number?  

I hear Starin has pulled withink 45 points of Polis.

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by: Ben Stein's $$ @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 16:19:06 PM UTC

WTF.....

   If the Eng poll were in fact, it would mean that the same folks who repeatedly and overwhelmingly re-elected a bigoted, right winger like Tancredo have suddenly decided to reject a moderately conservative Repub like Coffman and vote Democratic?
  That's a bit too much to fathom.  I'm not saying it's impossible, just extremely improbable.  

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 17:17:19 PM UTC

Conti was hot.....

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

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by: parsingreality @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 17:30:39 PM UTC

How old are you?

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 17:39:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

what's wrong with that ?

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 17:44:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just thought Parsing must be getting up there to find Conti "hot", that's all.

Not a complaint about sexism or anything, Fidel. Hooray for hotness, I always say.

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 18:23:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Hooray for hotness"

You rock Blue Cat !

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 19:28:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Way past Clearasil....

I've mentioned any number of times that I am an Official Old Man.

Women in their thirties and early forties are at their best.  Women, not girls. I knew when I was those ages, I know it still today.

See "Mrs. Robinson."

http://media.westword.com/1046...

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

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by: parsingreality @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 00:40:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Maybe it's not the age, Parsing

Plenty of people are hot far beyond 40. I guess I'm having trouble connecting "hot"  with those conservative boxy suits. But hey, whatever.  

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by: BlueCat @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 05:16:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, that's different.

The Madam Librarian Effect?

I never noted her suits......Never got that far.....

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

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by: parsingreality @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 13:05:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lame

Sorry, but the Hank Eng people are starting to get as annoying as the typical Ron Paul supporter.

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by: Haners @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 18:37:05 PM UTC

From your lips to Harold Stassen's ears, Haners;-)

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by: bob ewegen @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 18:46:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It seems to be that district

The Winters people were the same way.

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

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 19:18:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amen.

And in complete denial, to the bitter end.

Eng has as much a chance to win this election as I do. He's probably about as well known as I am, come to think of it.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 19:20:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

With that said

Someone running, just like someone starting a company, has to be over-optimistic and unrealistic. Because logically, you're going to fail - but sometimes you do succeed.

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

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 21:42:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I disagree.

Being unrealistic is a recipe for disaster. I own my business and if I hadn't been pragmatic,I would have lost it by now. Just as with any other career choice, you have to realistically face and acknowledge the challenges before you start.

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 21:56:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wait a minute MOTR

You own your own business and you're voting for Obama? Haven't you heard of this Joe the Plumber fellow? He seems to think that Obama is bad.

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 22:00:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

:)

Whatever am I thinking?  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 22:59:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Pragmatic yes, but also way over optimistic

In terms of what to do, yes you have to be very pragmatic. But the whole idea of opening a business vs what you get working for someone else takes an immense amount of optimism.

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

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 00:11:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Okay, David.

I disagree. We see it very differently and that's cool.

Peace.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 00:34:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'll say this...

I go around CD-6 a lot (well, the Arapaho portion anyway) and I see a hell of a lot more Hank Eng signs then I would expect. And there is that report that there are now more registered Dems in Arapaho County than 'pubs.

Will Hank win? No, of course not, and this poll leak is certainly good proof that he won't. But I think he might get 45%, especially with Coffman's SOS troubles and Obama's coattails.

Does that mean that CD-6 is competitive? It just might be getting that way... If once solidly red regions like Jeffco and CD-4 can start turning more blue, why not CD-6?

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

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by: Aristotle @ Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 06:34:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree with your entire comment.

If CD4 can go blue, so can CD6. But, and I stand by this point, to unrealistically claim that he has a legitimate shot at winning is counter productive. I saw it happen in 2006 with a couple of Colorado races--I remember Bill Winter's, right up until election day, adamantly shouting down anyone that mentioned that CD6 was a lost cause and to turn your attention to either Perlmutter or Paccione's race.

He lost by 20 points.

Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me twice...

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 18:10:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

partly agree

Winter definitely did himself no favors doing what he did. But based on this, I don't think Eng is doing that. I think he's just trying to generate a little press, some excitement, and maybe a few votes. Unless he's being a blowhard about insisting that he's got a real chance, I'd say that he's doing no harm.

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

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by: Aristotle @ Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 20:52:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well thank goodness somebody is willing to put all that time and money and energy into it

It would be pretty embarrassing to have NO Dem in the race. One of these days the time and the candidate will be right to break through.  

It would also be very helpful if we could get one close, get some name recognition and then have the same person try again the next time.  But few people are sufficiently masochistic to go through it more than once in such a tough for Ds district. Sorry you find these generous people who give there all in a such a thankless task so annoying.

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by: BlueCat @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 05:26:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oops my pet peeve

I meant "their" all.

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by: BlueCat @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 05:29:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh man BC

You just described Stan Matsunaka. Each time he ran I thought that was going to be the time Musgrave lost.

You're optimistic, I appreciate that, but understand how hard it can be to see that awesome candidate lose...twice.

However, Stan did pave the way for Betsy Markey, so maybe you're on to something here.

We'll see on 11/5.

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by: redstateblues @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 05:31:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm not being overly optimistic

Just saying let's give these standard bearers some credit for holding up our end in these elections.  

Also, times  and demographics change.  What's happening in 4 could happen in 6 one day.  I'm not saying it's going to happen today, mind you. It just irks me to hear complaints about how annoying these people are who sacrifice so much to run campaigns they pretty much know they can't win.  They probably couldn't do it, couldn't get out there every day, if they didn't indulge in a lot of overly optimistic borderline magical thinking.  

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by: BlueCat @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 15:52:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not Stan.

Angie Paccione. However you felt about her or her campaign in 2006, she really is the one who deserves some acknowledgment for paving Betsy's way. She lost her race by 2 1/2 points and softened Musgrave up big time for 2008.

The DCCC really felt they had blown an opportunity in 2006 and were determined to be a player this time around. And, we lucked out by getting a truly outstanding candidate in Markey who ran a solid campaign.

I imagine even Betsy would be the first to admit that Angie opened the lid on CD4. Stan sucked as a candidate. Nice guy but crappy campaigns. And even he cut his deficit by half in his 2nd race. So I guess I'd give Colorado Democrats a whole lot of credit, too, for continuing to put up strong candidates every cycle. I guess the motto is keep chipping away.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 18:14:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree Middle

And you're right abut Angie. I was so proud to vote for her and to work for her campaign in '06.

I brought up Stan because of BC's comment about someone being masochistic enough to run more than once in a "solid R" district.

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by: redstateblues @ Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 04:37:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Me, too. I was very proud to work for her and know her.

I learned so much and although I haven't been involved in CD4 this time around, I really think we ended up with a great candidate in Betsy, too.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 17:19:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I was going to post this news two days ago...

when I received the e-mail. But I thought that I'd just keep quiet in order not to hurt (even more) Hank's standing here.

Interesting to see that the proprietor didn't have such misgivings.

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by: MileHighDaredevil @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 19:26:56 PM UTC

funny guys

Take a look at http://www.zenmango.com/  Nice try Hank but no one thinks you are going to Congress.

Now let's get serious.

Who will Governor Ritter appoint to replace Mike Coffman as Secretary of State:

Rosemary Rodriguez, Ken Gordon, Andrew Romanoff, Joan Fitz-Gerald, Peter Groff, Abel Tapia or none of the above?

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by: Hugh Jorgen 2008 @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 19:32:17 PM UTC

Ken Gordon for SoS

Since he would've won the election outright, had it not been for the voting machine fiasco in Denver County.

Added plus that he gets along with Coffman, as well as the majority of the Senate.

I see Romanoff stepping in for Degette in CD1 when she runs off to the HHS position in DC...

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." Calvin Coolidge

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by: SSG_Dan @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 20:03:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's possible

I don't see DeGette getting offered the position though.

I would be overjoyed if it did happen, because Romanoff in the U.S. House would be a perfect fit. That man is going places I tells ya!

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 20:08:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There's more than cabinet positions

Obama will end up appointing 50 or so people from Colorado to positions in the federal government. And a lot of them are very compelling for soemone like DeGette and/or Romanoff. In fact, as the cabinet officers spend a boatload of their time on meet & greet stuff, the next level down can be more interesting.

I think Romanoff is a slam dunk for something in Washington and DeGette & Groff a strong possibility. Maybe JFG too. Term limits means we actually have a nice bench of possibilities.

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

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 21:45:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I know Dave

I was just skeptical about the HHS appointment for DeGette. I don't see it.

Wait so Obama is going to raid all of our good Pols for his Administration??? Can't we have one or two to stay and help out Ritter in 2010?

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 21:50:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Score one for term limits, I guess.

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by: BlueCat @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 05:31:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

why would DeGette be offered that post?

   Ritter is going to want to name someone who can hold that office in '10.  DeGette's political shelf life runs out east of Monaco, south of Hampden, and west of Wadsworth.
  And why would she ever consider accepting it?  She's got a House seat she can keep for the rest of life, she vice chair of Commerce Committee, and she deputy, assistant, regional whip (or some such title) for the majority Dems.
  She would be out of her mind to give that up to serve two years as Sec. of State.

 

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by: One Queer Dude @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 00:45:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

disregard my last post......

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by: One Queer Dude @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 00:48:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

one little problem or two or three

DeGette supported Clinton.  Obama is not going to appoint her to HHS or anything else.  

My personal opinion is that Rosemary Rodriguez will be the next SOS.

For a good laugh go to the website of Hank Eng's "online pollster".  Hank may get a higher percentage of the vote than Winter or Conti but won't be headed to Congress.  

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by: Hugh Jorgen 2008 @ Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 21:02:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Eng is a good man

I don't live in the District.  But Hank Eng was in the Peace Corps, years ago, and so i do want to put in a good word for him...

Plus, I am so sick of Coffman and his nasty tricks to make it more difficult for people to vote...just really pisses me off......I can just imagine what kind of crap he will try and pull in Congress...

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

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by: dwyer @ Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 16:19:02 PM UTC