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Bennet Hits West Slope After Stimulus Vote

by: Colorado Pols

Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 13:17:05 PM MST

Sen. Michael Bennet is again visiting Western Slope communities today, introducing himself to voters and local officials and taking questions on the recently passed economic stimulus plan. He's also appearing as his own headliner on this tour, notably getting out from under Governor Bill Ritter's wing.

After a town hall in Ridgway that just got underway a few minutes ago, Bennet will host another forum in Delta at 3PM before heading to the Museum of Western Colorado in Grand Junction this evening. Yesterday, Bennet appeared in Durango to a large crowd and directly addressed criticism of the plan, as the Herald recaps:

"It's only the first step," he told about 175 people gathered for a town hall-style meeting at the Durango Public Library. "It's not even close to being the final step."
For about 45 minutes, he talked about his work before being appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter to replace Sen. Ken Salazar, who was tapped by the new administration to head the Interior Department.
Bennet had been the superintendent of Denver Public Schools, making him something of a dark horse for the position because of his lack of political experience. But he said his experience reforming a dysfunctional institution made him well-qualified for the job.
Opening the floor for questions, he was asked about everything from creating green jobs to closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay...
To a question about an apparent lack of emphasis on alternative energy in the stimulus package, Bennet said, "Don't give up to soon."
He said developing a new energy economy remains a priority in Washington.
"This is a great opportunity for our country to create jobs that can't be shipped overseas," he said.
With the country hemorrhaging jobs and every sign pointing to continued recession, Bennet took pains to emphasize the limitations of what even a $787 billion stimulus bill can accomplish.
"Maybe the best we can actually hope for is that it slows the decline," he told an Editorial Board meeting at The Durango Herald.

Colorado Pols :: Bennet Hits West Slope After Stimulus Vote

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Bennet Hits West Slope After Stimulus Vote | 35 comments

Not a slogan to run for re-election on

"Maybe the best we can actually hope for is that it slows the decline," he told an Editorial Board meeting at The Durango Herald.

Voters rarely reward someone who presides over a declining economy. Yes it would certainly be worse if the GOP was still in charge, but voters want success, not "less bad."

Tea party support in the primary.

by: DavidThi808 @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 14:46:26 PM CST

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Yeah

That's a long way from "Yes We Can!"

When I use lots of words, they always form an analysis (and, while producing high volume, also produce high information-density).
--Steve Harvey, 2009

by: Ralphie @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 14:57:42 PM CST

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Yes we can = heli-skiing with Gayle Schwartz at Snowmass

Now that or a high-dollar campaign cocktail party are the kinds of constituent outreach I expect will result.

by: Libertad @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 15:17:32 PM CST

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Well the first step IS slowing the decline

Anyone who thinks we can fast forward to happy days are here again over night is deluded. We are presently losing thousands more jobs every day. Maybe it's time to stop assuming we are a bunch of childish morons and start dealing in truth rather than catchy slogans.

by: BlueCat @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:15:00 PM CST

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What BlueCat said n/t

I want a nickel every time someone uses the "We are all triguardian" joke, or I start posting more naked pictures of politicians.

by: sxp151 @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:17:31 PM CST

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The recovery won't be a

U shaped recovery, and certainly not a V shaped recovery. Indeed, the more I look into it, the recovery looks like an L shape for a while, while we undo some 40 years of poor energy policy, poor debt/credit policies, massive military spending and adventurism, and poor public/social policies especially as they relate to wages where the middle class has virtually disappeared.

The next few years will be very difficult.

"In short, we eat oil" ardy39

by: Sir Robin @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:26:12 PM CST

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How refreshing

to have a politician actually speaking the truth about a problem. It might throw voters for a loop but I bet they're smarter than David gives them credit for.

"Please don't eat any peanuts out of anyone's crap." - LaughingBoy

by: RedGreen @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 15:24:23 PM CST

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I think they're even smarter than that

The problem is not saying it will be rough as we work on turning this around, but by doing A, B, C we will turn it around. The problem is all we hear is it will keep getting worse. That's not going to sell.

What people want to see is a clear credible plan that will get us out of this mess, and then they want to see us hit the milestones on that plan. So far that is lacking.

Tea party support in the primary.

by: DavidThi808 @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 18:01:18 PM CST

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that is lacking

Not really. Obama has been clear that this stimulus package is just the first step. Auto industry plan unveiled this week, foreclosure plan hits Wednesday from Phoenix, and TARP II has been rolling out (admittedly not as coherently as everyone wanted, but you've got Lindsey Graham saying nationalization of banks is an option). Already there's talk there might be another stimulus this summer.

What's emerging is a clear, "credible" plan to take on the biggest financial meltdown in modern history.

If you want some rigid, inflexible plan all laid out in bullet points with "milestones," that's not this administration's style and I don't believe that's what voters want either.

"Please don't eat any peanuts out of anyone's crap." - LaughingBoy

by: RedGreen @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 18:26:45 PM CST

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Fair point

but I think they would be well served to talk about how & when they see the economy turning around.

Tea party support in the primary.

by: DavidThi808 @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 23:06:34 PM CST

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I think it's too big to be easily predictable

It's one thing to say we're going to create a certain number of jobs; some of that is automatic from the infrastructure projects. But then there are a bunch of multiplier effect things, which have some empirical evidence behind them but are still somewhat theoretical.

To say the unemployment rate will e.g. be at 5% by October 2009 seems unreasonable and arbitrary to me. What other sort of benchmarks are reasonable? I think most people won't even start doing the comparison until the 2010 elections, and they'll likely have an intuitive idea whether things are better or worse.

If you have some better idea of how to quantify this in the minds of the average voters, please suggest it. I just don't see how it would work.

I want a nickel every time someone uses the "We are all triguardian" joke, or I start posting more naked pictures of politicians.

by: sxp151 @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 23:53:45 PM CST

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It's complicated

and I think Americans (maybe not the House Republican caucus) understand that. Here's a good McClatchy story on all the moving pieces:

http://www.miamiherald.com/new...

"Please don't eat any peanuts out of anyone's crap." - LaughingBoy

by: RedGreen @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 18:48:23 PM CST

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Too complicated to know yet

Looking at what is going on all over the country and in other countries (Japan, China, Europe) I don't think it is possible to have a plan or talk about success right now. We can try to fill in some of the demand gap and cushion some of the blow with jobs and unemployment insurance, but we are a long way from the end of this.

by: Emma Anne @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 18:57:24 PM CST

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Where's Romanoff?

Is Andrew Rommanoff still talking about running against Bennet?

I think that Romanoff lacks the guts to challenge Bennet. It would sure make for a lively 18 months if Romanoff does run.

by: hula hoopsters @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 15:39:06 PM CST

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Surely Romanoff was scared off by the lopsided Facebook numbers

...the Recruit Andy Facebook group is dwarfed in size by the Bennet for Senate group. These truths are irrefutable and irresistible.

by: Jambalaya @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:03:25 PM CST

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until i hear Bennet come out

solidly on an issue, then he deserves a primary, if only, to find out what his positions are.
Run Andrew.

"What's the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?"
Henry David Thoreau
PRAER.org

by: wade norris @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 17:36:18 PM CST

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these calls are coming dangerously close to...

...Run, Forrest, Run!

by: Jambalaya @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 17:45:06 PM CST

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can you make the video?

that would be 2 funny

"What's the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?"
Henry David Thoreau
PRAER.org

by: wade norris @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 17:49:55 PM CST

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can I make the video?!

Please. Most days I can barely log onto these here internets.

by: Jambalaya @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 18:04:16 PM CST

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So far Romanoff has not begun talking about challenging Bennet.

But there are lots of others alking about Romanoff challenging Bennet.

Let's remember who is saying what.

Andrew has been going around talking about issues in a general sense, not about his future plans.

by: Dan Willis @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:11:38 PM CST

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Not what I hear

I hear that Romanoff is angry at being twice passed over by Governor Ritter. So angry that he his openly talking about a primary challenge to Senator Bennet.

Maybe he is going around the State to Central Committee meetings only to kill time which is one thing he now has a lot of.

by: hula hoopsters @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:33:10 PM CST

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Lots of options

Talk to anyone Andrew is visiting with and you get the same response -- he is considering challenging either Bennet or Ritter in the primary; but also is looking at many other options and is getting as much good advice as possible before deciding his next career move.

by: Genius @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:37:51 PM CST

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Usually Dan Willis is the genius

Genius seems to have the latest info on former Speaker Romanoff.

Romanoff will talk about running but not too loudly. Romanoff knows that he lacks the guts to run and he will not do anything that might offend the Governor or the Junior Senator. This is a fun thread but there is zero chance of Romanoff actually challenging anyone in a primary.

by: hula hoopsters @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 17:01:25 PM CST

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Talk to anyone Andrew is visiting with

I'll believe that when I see it on the record from a reliable source.

Andrew is telling people he's trying to decide what to do next -- if wishful thinkers whipped into a frenzy by Dick Wadhams' attempts to sow dissent among Democrats want to project their own bruised feelings into that open-ended comment, then no one's stopping them. But it doesn't take a genius to see what's going on here.

"Please don't eat any peanuts out of anyone's crap." - LaughingBoy

by: RedGreen @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 17:06:42 PM CST

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what is going on here?

So RedGreen you are saying that Romanoff is not running for anything in 2010 and the rumors are the work of noted trickster Dick Wadhams?

by: hula hoopsters @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 17:17:41 PM CST

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Whether Romanoff plans a primary challenge

to Ritter or Bennet in 2010 is what we're talking about. Who knows whether he might run for "anything" in 2010? But Dick Wadhams isn't the only campaign veteran wishing it were still campaign season.

"Please don't eat any peanuts out of anyone's crap." - LaughingBoy

by: RedGreen @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 18:29:08 PM CST

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Thank You Senator Bennet

Not that I'm a huge fan of Bennet - but always good to see our Senator on the Western Slope

TABOR4LIFE

by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 16:00:25 PM CST

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It's a little bit of a tangent

But have you all seen the ads thanking Bennet and Udall for passing SCHIp? Saw it three times on Springs TV today.

by: Justin.Henceroth@gmail.com @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 20:29:49 PM CST

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Haven't seen any

But I've seen the Rocky's commercial with the weird rationalization of "Obomber" about sixteen dozen times. Is this organization buying serious media or just public access stuff?

I want a nickel every time someone uses the "We are all triguardian" joke, or I start posting more naked pictures of politicians.

by: sxp151 @ Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 23:56:31 PM CST

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They are bizarre

And they were in between 24 tonight.

We are all triguardian, but some of us are more triguardian than others.

by: redstateblues @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 00:39:27 AM CST

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this organization

Seriously, you guys haven't noticed the obnoxious, very silly Rocky's Auto ads for the last dozen years until they make fun of a regular character's odd pronunciations? I'd take a step back and relax. The Rocky's crew is crass and flippant about everything and everyone.

"Please don't eat any peanuts out of anyone's crap." - LaughingBoy

by: RedGreen @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 00:58:12 AM CST

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Also

They called B-ball player Obama O'Bomber in High School because of his long jumpers. I doubt there was ever an intended serious anti-Obama message in Rocky's Auto ads.

by: BlueCat @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 12:11:23 PM CST

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God bless the shagman

I love those idiotic Rocky's ads. They do stick in my head - I keep asking my 2 year old son what hes going to do with his tax refunder from Obamer.

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement" - Jim Horning

by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 14:44:40 PM CST

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Bennet had a tough crowd in Junction

of course Mesa County voted for Wayne 'Who?' Wolf over John Salazar 2:1. Mr. Hanky could win Mesa County if he had an R after his name, or in the case of Janet Rowland, after her name.

"Sen. Inhofe thinks global warming is debunked every time he drinks a Slushie and gets a brain freeze" Jon Stewart

by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 08:45:37 AM CST

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Meant to include the link...

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/c...

"Sen. Inhofe thinks global warming is debunked every time he drinks a Slushie and gets a brain freeze" Jon Stewart

by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 08:46:13 AM CST

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Bennet Hits West Slope After Stimulus Vote | 35 comments