News Flash: Ritter Discusses Legislation!

Me thinks

the Republicans are just that slow. They keep forgetting everything that has been discussed, everything that has been disclosed, and everything that has printed in the open-media.

Me thinks the Republicans are just that slow. Should I repeat it again for them?

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:25:07 AM CDT

Sirota slams sloganeering Harsayni

David, once again, I couldn't agree more.
http://www.coloradop...

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:44:48 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

With Ritter's 60% approval rating

The Rs are just desperate for something to make a dent.

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by: f.sage @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:17:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

60%?

where did you get that number? The private numbers that I saw were much higher. Over 70%

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by: Steve Balboni @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:58:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Rocky?

One of the dailies ran an article claiming as much, but yes I too have heard higher numbers from private sources.

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 13:52:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

thanks...

Muchas Gracias

btw - if you're a Michigan fan, my condolences

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by: Steve Balboni @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 16:09:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well then

I stand corrected.  I think I read it in one of the Denver papers a few weeks ago. In any case, the voters don't seem to be suffering any buyers remorse.

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by: f.sage @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 20:04:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Brad Jones

isn't he the guy that came up with that story about Merrifield and charter-school supporters deserving a "special place in hell"? And didn't he get ahold of that through FOIA?

Seems to me Jones should be getting paid by Wadhams directly...

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by: john @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:28:06 AM CDT

He might be

http://www.coloradoc...

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by: Colorado Pols @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:35:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Riiiight

You'd hate to have a ridiculously offensive statement like that made public!

"Kevin and I will keep them out somehow -- even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!"  

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by: Laughing Boy @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:05:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Meanwhile...

... my secret sources tell me that state Republican legislators are in hush-hush meetings with representatives of "Big Business" devising strategies to defeat the pro-union legislation.

You heard it here first!

In other astonishing news, the Pope is Catholic and bears relieve themselves in the woods.

Many were increasingly of the opinion that they'd all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place.  And some said that even the trees had been a bad move, and that no one should ever have left the oceans. - Douglas Adams

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by: GeoGreg @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:40:36 AM CDT

The big problem with Ritter

Is he makes governing effectively look effortless. Because of this the Repubs seem to think any lame excuse will trip him up and the Dems just assume he'll continue to improve the state with no assistance.

He should screw up on something just to make everyone happy :)

- dave

Tea party support in the primary.

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by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 14:09:25 PM CDT

Why is Rocky helping?

Its not surprising that the Republican extremists would be looking for any kind of "scandal" to discredit Ritter, but why is the Rocky playing going along with the Republican talking points?  Is Chris Barge some kind of hack?  Lyn Bartels is ususally a reliable reporter, but this is way off the deep end.

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by: JustUs @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 14:37:06 PM CDT

Am I missing something?

How was this bad news? Ritter is talking to the workers of this state as to what they want. He talks to everyone! He talks to all the Chambers, the Enviro's, the Insurance Agencies, the Contractors, the Nurses... and list goes on.

This is how legislation is created... through talks! And this is news? Sounds more like the R's are throwing spagehtti at the wall hoping for something to stick. They are so desparate to create a controversy, that they have forgotten that they have NO AGENDA (other than kicking old women and puppies).

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 22:18:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pretty much what I thought...

...as I glanced at The Snooze this AM.  Ho hum.

People talk, other people are offended.  Giving and taking, that's the political system as it should be. 

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 22:37:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

bottom line collective bargaining is DOA

State employee collective bargaining is DOA.

Killed by the Republicans and a Governor who is afraid to stand up to them

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by: Iconoclast @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 17:30:54 PM CDT

why?

why do you say that?

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by: Steve Balboni @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 18:12:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

There's a propensity for righties...

...to announce a hope or an opinion as fact.  As if clapping hard enough will change what happens over the next year plus.

Dr. Dobby might have been the brightest star doing this.

And then, they are always wrong in the end.

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 19:50:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just like...

eqaully funding public schools was DOA. Just like fixing TABOR was DOA. Just like creating a Prescription Drug Purchasing Pool was DOA. Just like creating a renewable energy economy was DOA.  Just like everything hollow promise the Cons throw out there, believe the opposite.

Unlike the Cons who sat on their hands in between elections, the Democrats are keeping their promises to voters. It's as simple as that.

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 22:09:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Is Iconoclast

the blogger formerly known as "Something is Brewing?" That individual posted items that sounded like (and usually proved to be) little more than rumors, and Iconoclast does the same.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

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by: Aristotle @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 19:20:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This was a typical Wadhams stunt.

Yes, it is old news to people who track all things political but not to everyday folks.  Wadhams sees an opportunity to cast the D's, especially Ritter, as being secretive and in bed with the dastardly unions. 

All in one scoop he blasts unions, punches Ritter's popularity, puts the Dem legislature on the defensive and makes the R's look like they are standing tall for the people.

He may be off the Hill but he's not over the hill.

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by: puddin @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 20:31:37 PM CDT

All true...

But I wonder how many Coloradans read this and say, "And what's wrong with workers sticking together?" Catch a few, lose a few.

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 20:33:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Let's point out the differences, shall we?

So let me get this straight. While Democrats have an agenda to help workers, fix the health care crisis in our state, fund our education system so that all children have an opportunity to go to school, the Republcan's Chairman and his lacky's in the Senate, House and Outside organization paid by annonymous sources (perhaps Multi-Millionaires?) are going to stick to the worker class, their school children, and their parents who can't afford health care?

Wow, if that's compassionate conservatism... I'm glad Ritter is our Governor.

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 22:14:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I am SO glad...

Too bad I'll be leaving CO as it becomes a truly great state with foresight and keeping its eye on the middle class. 

Maybe I'll come back when they get universal health care so that I can drive the righties nuts, "proving" that people will move here for "free" health care.

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 22:40:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What does collective bargaining offer state employees

I just don't see the need. 

Add it up-

Existing Condition-

Retire at 55, with 75 percent of your salary as pension, and 3.5% annual Cost of Living Increases

No social security deduction.

It's virtually impossible to be fired.

Salaried workers get compensatory time after 45 hours per week. (Highly unusual in the United States)

Wages and salaries that track private industry via a LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED salary survey.

9 holidays per year, and a generous vacation package.

As I see it, the classified system is cushier than most collectively bargained contracts.

Proposed condition-

Same as above, except pay a couple hundred bucks a month to union dues; and be forced to strike when the goldbricks and malcontents who lead the union decide to wield their influence every decade or so.  A month or two of strike pay and any possible theoretical gain to the employees via collective bargaining is wiped out. 

This ain't Harlan County.  These idiots trying to organize need to get a job where they are truly being exploited.  Their efforts to paint a picture of woe only serve to tarnish the memory of union leaders who truly fought for human rights.

Bill Owens was no friend to State Employees-but neither is the AFL-CIO.  They just view Colorado Public Employees as low hanging fruit to bolster their bottom line.

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by: HardrockMiner @ Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 22:10:13 PM CDT