Polis To Piss Off Alex Cranberg

Thata Boy J.P

I will certainly be sure to personally thank my newly elected House Rep for standing up for all of the working families in his district

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by: Blue Day Colorado @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 23:34:44 PM UTC

wow - i am impressed

now for Udall, Bennet, (Romanoff)?

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by: wade norris @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 00:22:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised

between this and Jared's understanding of seniority from the column/blog interview, he is proving me wrong.

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by: Doppleganger @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 23:47:51 PM UTC

Didn't he already announce his endorsement of this?

Thought I had seen it somewhere before here.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 23:55:20 PM UTC

He did indicate support for it earlier,

But in this story they are mentioning that he is now a co-sponsor, a much more public form of support.

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by: Justin.Henceroth@gmail.com @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 23:56:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Right, that's what I was thinking of

And actual cosponsorship is indeed a bigger deal.

Getting some kind of Blue Dog representing Boulder would have been more painful than I could tolerate for two years. Good for Polis, for taking the right side on this.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 06:45:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rep Polis continues to show good judgment.

I commend his decision.

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

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by: Ray Springfield @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 01:13:23 AM UTC

Follow the money...

Who is suprised here??  

I wonder how much cash org. labor threw his way?  Wow!! cant believe a freshman congressman fell in line behind Pelosi, the White House, and org labor...This is big news!!!

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by: Bipart @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 01:34:32 AM UTC

Oh that's right!

I forgot how cash-poor Polis is.  He will do anything for a buck.....cuz he needs it in the worst way, especially considering how vulnerable he is in his district.

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

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 01:43:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

No doubt

What's a millionaire liberal from Boulder to do????? (Extra question marks added because extraneous punctuation is always a sign of wisdom and sanity.)

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

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by: Aristotle @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 02:02:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ha

Trying not to type "LOL," even though that's what I'm thinking.  

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 06:30:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

yet another concern troll

from a right-wing boiler room.  Did they give you a list or did you find coloradopols all by yourself?

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by: bobster1 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 02:06:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Uhhhhh none

Jared took no PAC money from any Unions or anybody else

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by: tylarsoma @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 16:59:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Does Cranberg care about unions too?

I thought he only cared about decimating public education.

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 Mar 10, 2009 at 02:21:25 AM UTC

Cheap shot . . .

You can disagree with Cranberg on policy in order to tow the education union line, but keep in mind Cranberg has invested millions of dollars of his own money to provide scholarships to disadvantaged kids.  More sophisticated Democrats know his passion for these kids, and that's why several of them in the legislature work with him on certain issues.

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by: Karate Kid @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 15:12:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I guess I must be unsophisticated

Because I believe in public education.

Then again I'm not a Democrat.


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 Mar 10, 2009 at 15:32:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why is helping disadvantaged kids . . .

threatening to the teachers unions?  Are they that insecure?  Then again, you have a point.  Alex works to oppose much of the selfish agenda of the teachers unions.  He doesn't oppose public education to my knowledge.  Only among the far left and the teacher union bosses is opposing their selfish agenda synonymous with "decimating" public education.

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by: Karate Kid @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 15:36:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

sorry, but nobody in this district gives a rat's ass about labor or the EFCA

as far as this being a political play, it's for national exposure amongst national organized labor.  it does nothing for his voting base

In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy

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by: indipol @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 03:41:11 AM UTC

Speak for yourself

Do some research on the Second Congressional District. It's not just Boulder smart guy.  

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by: Blue Day Colorado @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 06:32:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

obviously

and how much organized labor exists in this district, smart guy?  if you think the voting base in CD2 would put organized labor issues above #10 on their priority list, you either don't live here, haven't worked the polls here, or are delusional.

In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy

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by: indipol @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 15:56:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Uh, sorry, back up one second there cowboy

I'd be furious at Polis if he didn't support EFCA, and I'm a somewhat hardcore Democratic activist in his district.

Polis has made clear he wants to be distinguished from the "automatic Democratic" types who never make a controversial stand. But on the other hand, he has to remain a pretty reliable Democratic vote, since otherwise we'll totally primary him.

I haven't agreed with Polis on everything, and occasionally I've gotten pretty damn pissed with him, but he's still doing a lot to make constituents like me happy.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 06:34:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

see my response to BDC above

no doubt the activists want EFCA.  the voting base doesn't even know what it is

In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy

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by: indipol @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 15:57:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I live here, have worked the polls here, and am hopefully not delusional

and yes, people in this district want EFCA to pass. Rachel Maddow did a long segment on it last night, and district 2 is pretty much her target audience.

If you have evidence otherwise, that people don't care about it, feel free to show it. Your "proof by vehemence" has no real effect on me or anyone else.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 16:21:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i'm not vehement at all

in fact, couldn't care less about where this bill goes.  i generally support labor, but am agnostic on EFCA.  but i am a political realist more than anything.  labor issues are not driving politics in CD2.  if they were, Jared wouldn't have wiped the floor with Joan.  i am not talking about the Dem base in CD2 - the base that actually goes to meetings and whatnot, I am talking about the voting base. they are two very different groups.  The people who actually came out to the polls last November and voted for Jared.  If labor even makes the top-10 list of more than 20% of those voters I'd be shocked, and as you well know, people only vote on their top 2 or 3.  if anything, my sense is that Joan's deep ties to labor did some damage to her amongst a not-insignificant part of the voting base (and no, I have no numbers on that, just gut instinct based on being fairly active in the election).

far as the call out to Maddow, that's pretty funny.  CD2 may be Maddow's target audience, but she lives, and all her producers live, in NYC.  i lived there too for a long time.  I also lived in DC, deep inside politics.  nobody working, living, commentating, etc. from NYC or DC has one iota of a clue what anybody in Colorado thinks, wants or needs.  As far as NYC media is concerned, the country ends west of I-287.

In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy

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by: indipol @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 16:59:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wait one sec

Polis is doing what the dems need to do. He took no PAC money so the unions do not hold power over him as you keep hinting.

He understands the dems owe the unions some help but also is very supportive of the unions. I know first hand that he is a very strong supporter of labor.  

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by: TheDeminator @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 03:56:10 AM UTC

Why would this earn him chits in his district?

Every poll I've seen on the subject shows overwhelming opposition.  EFCA is politics at its worst.

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by: Karate Kid @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 15:08:20 PM UTC

His district is mostly Boulder

which is known to most Coloradans to be somewhat liberal. If you didn't know that, well, now you do.

As for every poll you've seen, um, can you find even one to cite? I looked it up, and I see overwhelming support.

http://www.uawvotes.com/defaul...

Support for the Employee Free Choice Act stretches across demographic and geographic lines. Democrats (87 percent) and Independents (69 percent) support EFCA. Even among Republicans, nearly half support the legislation. Opposition is further confined to Republicans who identify as conservatives (36 percent support). Three-quarters of moderate/liberal Republicans favor passing EFCA.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 15:42:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bogus Burger

Here is the wording for the poll you site:  Do you favor or oppose legislation that allows employees to have a union once a majority of employees in a workplace sign authorization cards indicating they want to form a union?  Heck, I would vote for that.  But that's not what the mis-named EFCA does.  Bottom line: there would be an unbelievable backlash against the Democrats if they move forward with the bill.  So part of me says, go for it.  I'd love to see the crazy left agenda exposed for what it is: gaining more control over the economy and Americans' lives in order to reward certain constituencies.  But the consequences of its passage on the nation are too great to just sit back and let it happen.

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by: Karate Kid @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 16:25:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's exactly the point of EFCA

If you think it's not, you are woefully and tragically misinformed. Thanks for your support on card-check, though.

Do you have other polls that contradict the one I cited?

Corporation managers and large stockholders are very much opposed to it. Workers are very much in favor of it. Who do you think there's more of?

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 16:55:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sure. Here's a poll. Found it in 46 seconds.

http://www.mclaughlinonline.co...

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by: Karate Kid @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 19:00:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Uh, it took you four hours

And the question they asked was

There is a bill in Congress called the Employee Free Choice Act which would effectively replace a federally supervised secret ballot election with a process that requires a majority of workers to simply sign a card to authorize organizing a union and the workers' signatures would be made public to their employer, the union organizers and their co-workers. Do you support or oppose Congress passing this legislation?

I am shocked that when you mislead people about what the bill does (it's still easy to request a secret ballot election if that's what the workers want) and suggest that the bill will lead to intimidation, people tend to oppose the legislation.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 19:37:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

For the record . . .

It does eliminate the secret ballot.  It allows union thugs to show up at your house, church, bar, etc., and ask you to sign a card.  The thug would know right then and there whether you signed it or not.  Ergo, no secret ballot.

And yes, I found it in 46 seconds.  I don't monitor this website 24 hours a day, so that's why I didn't post it in 46 seconds.

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by: Karate Kid @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 02:23:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're wrong

Workers could easily have a secret ballot using the exact same process as they use now.

If you really believe "union thugs" wander around bars with baseball bats looking for rogue workers, I have to believe that
a) you've never been in a bar
b) you've never seen a baseball bat
c) you've never held a job.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 05:59:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The crazy left agenda?

Well, KK, why does it frighten you if workers have a level playing field?  It should be no harder to join a union than to join the Chamber of Commerce.  The right to form or join a Union is a basic human right (according to Amnesty International)  

As I've said before, a CEO would not set foot in the workplace (or highrise corner office) without an iron-clad contract.  Why would any regular worker not want that?  

It's not just the pay-check, "just cause" and "due process" are aften more valuable.

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by: tylarsoma @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 17:09:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Right to Work

Now that should be a fundamental right.  No one should be required to join an organization with which they have a fundamental disagreement.  I agree that everyone should be able to join a union if they want.  Why shouldn't people be allowed to opt out, eh?  Look, unions served a purpose in our nation's history.  Probably still do in some cases.  But not among government workers.  The reality is unions are now an extension of the Democrat Party.  They are designed to coerce money out of employees to advance a political agenda that gives them more control over employees (and employers).  By unionizing state employees, thus driving up the cost of employing government workers, so that he could shower the Colorado Democrat Party with millions more in confiscated union dues, Bill Ritter has proven once again that he is the nation's worstest governor!

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by: Karate Kid @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 19:05:19 PM UTC

This post is why you're not taken seriously. n/t

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 19:38:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Huh?

How is anyone supposed to take a comment like THAT seriously.  It's kind of like the Seinfeld episode when George says, "Oh yeah, well the jerk store called and they ran out of you!"  C'mon.  You must have something serious to say there sxp151.

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by: Karate Kid @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 02:25:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Worstest" - Bestest word ever! n/t

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by: Justin.Henceroth@gmail.com @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 00:14:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You know how dumb "right to work" sounds?

If we all had the right to work, that would mean we'd all have jobs all the time. Just like in the Soviet Union! (Check it out sometime - they really did have the right to work - it was in their constitution.) I thought you guys hated socialism.

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

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by: Aristotle @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 05:49:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]