November 05, 2008 10:03 PM UTC

ProgressNow's Election Night 2008 Winners and Losers

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• by: Alan

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

ProgressNowAction’s Election Night 2008 Winners and Losers below, in alphabetical order.  

Winners

Employees of Colorado

Due to the tremendous leadership of the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, CEA, and SEIU, Colorado employees will not have to work for less, be silenced, or be treated as second class citizens. Firefighters, teachers, and nurses joined forces to become a credible voice.  Their efforts appear to have killed 2 ballot measures, 47 and 49 that would have been horrible for employees throughout our state.

State Senator-elect Evie Hudak

Hudak is a true fighter and won this state legislative seat that was the most targeted by both sides.  Hudak speaks her mind.  She works tirelessly. She’s dedicated to children.  And with Republicans outnumbering Democrats by 6% in Senate District 19, Evie appears to be a huge victor over extreme right-winger Libby Szabo.

“Democracy Superhero” Carol Kreck

This 60-year-old librarian turned into a Democracy Superstar after standing up for free-speech with her “McCain=Bush” sign.  The video of her being escorted out of a McCain open town-hall in Denver got over 300,000 viewers on YouTube and a spot on “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.”

Congresswoman-elect Betsy Markey

Markey flipped the 4th CD that has a 35-year history of voting Republican.  She stayed positive even while her opponent Musgrave made-up an entire story to smear her. Ethical and hard working, Markey will deliver on needs sorely overdue in the district.  Hats off to her campaign and spokesman too.

The People of Colorado

Obama is the change we need. And the change doesn’t stop there: Colorado voters also rejected out-of-state special interests and right-wing extremists.  The world’s greatest democracy just took a giant leap forward tonight in restoring its credibility and global peace.

Governor Bill Ritter

Even though Amendment 58 didn’t pass, Ritter earned respect as the “David” in fighting for the people of Colorado against the “Goliath” of Big Oil.  Ritter stood up for taxpayers and higher education against out-of-state oil companies and endless personal attacks.  We applaud Ritter for his continued mission to make Colorado a national leader on renewable energy.

Colorado Youth Voters

Initial reports from  Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Greeley report that youth voters, 18-29 year olds, turned out in enormous numbers today. Credit goes to New Era Colorado for its unprecedented campus operations.

Ted “The Negotiator” Trimpa

Trimpa, more than anyone, preserved the balance between labor and business in Colorado.  He led the team that removed four destructive items from the ballot.  Well on his way to being a national player, he’s featured in this week’s Time magazine.   Truly Colorado’s answer to Karl Rove and then some.   Rock Star Energy Drink should hire him as their poster-child after he consumed them during his successful negotiations.

Senator-elect Mark Udall

Udall will continue to be a national leader in the fight for renewable energy, the environment and everything that is great about Colorado.  He works well with members of both side of the aisle, which is the sort of statesmanship that Colorado needs.  A shout out as well to Mike Melanson, who stayed calm and collected from the start, and who oversaw their top-notch campaign communications and online team.

Al “The Architect” Yates

Since starting in 2003, he earned the name the architect and a stellar national reputation by spearheading the independent operations leading to Colorado’s continued progressive success since 2004.  With a Markey victory over Musgrave, a race in which Yates deserves massive credit, he finally gives Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where he served as university president a congressional voice in DC.

The Losers

Big Oil

Last week, ExxonMobil posted the biggest US quarterly profits ever– nearly $15 billion for the energy giant. (AP, 10/31/2008)  At the same time Exxon and other out-of-state oil companies have spent millions of dollars trying to keep Colorado taxpayers on the hook for Big Oil’s $321 million-a-year tax subsidy. (Denver Post, 10/21/2008)  Their agenda to pillage Colorado’s land, water, and people is beyond any threat our state has faced.  Ritter deserves enormous credit for taking on Big Oil as they try to punish him for his dedication to promoting renewable energy. (National Journal, 10/11/2008)

Mike “Conflicts of Interest” Coffman

Even though he is going to DC, Coffman proves that you can win and still come out a loser. Coffman is the most corrupt Secretary of State in Colorado’s history…and we’ve had some bad ones.  Having said that, we were amused to see that Coffman was more concerned with personal ambition than with his own party or the people of Colorado.

James “His Irrelevancy” Dobson

Completely fumbles the presidential race, promising his Focus on the Family members that he’d “never vote for McCain.”    Once he realized he’d no longer get to have meetings with Karl Rove, he broke his promise and supported McCain:  but by then it didn’t even matter.

Jake “Screwing the Workers” Jabs

This guy is a complete hypocrite!  American Furniture Warehouse imports half of its items from China.  Now we understand why Denver Post Publisher William Dean Singleton stated, “I am not afraid to call Jake a bully, a liar and a deceptive businessman.” (Denver Post, 3/27/2001) Too bad for Jake, his Amendment 47 got thrown to the lions.

Scott “McLobbyist” McInnis

If Scott “McLobbyist” McInnis decides to run for Governor in 2010 we’ll remember how he unethically gave tens of thousands of campaign donations to his wife.  And we’ll never forget how he and Josh Penry worked with Big Oil to sell out water districts on the Western Slope under the guise of Amendment 52. (Grand Junction Sentinel, 10/24/2008)

Bill “Still Ineffective” Owens

Bill lost everything in past the past two cycles: Beauprez, O’Donnell in 2006, and Romney, McCain, and 47 in 2008.  His recent public attacks on McInnis are hypocritical and self-serving.  Kudos to State Senator-Elect Rollie Heath who finally will have more say at the Capitol than Owens.

Josh “Oil Pimp” Penry

Penry sold out Western Slope water districts to Big Oil under the guise of Amendment 52.  Amendment 52 was the worst idea since Ref A-the water stealing amendment.  Even Republicans are furious.  His support of 52 is a likely career ender for Penry.

Marilyn “Pink Lady Sings” Musgrave

A national embarrassment for three consecutive terms.   Musgrave made gay bashing her only issue despite the  massive foreclosure and pressing needs in her district. She completely fabricated her attacks on opponent Betsy Markey and should be sued for defamation.

“Big Oil” Bob Schaffer

Schaffer gave billions in tax breaks to oil companies and then war profiteered in Iraq for his private oil company. (RMN, 1/30/2008, Colorado Independent, 10/13/2008)  The photo of him parasailing in the Marianas Island during a trip arranged by Jack Abramoff was proof for voters that this right-winger is too corrupt–not to mention rude–to deserve public office.

Dick “Washed-Up” Wadhams

The biggest has-been of all,  Wadhams completely ignored the state legislature and forced the party to focus solely on Schaffer.  Wadhams showed he is more concerned about getting his own name in the paper than fundraising, strategy, or even keeping the doors of the Republican Party open.  A Republican insider predicts: “on Wednesday Republicans cry, on Thursday they get angry, and on Friday Wadhams gets the pink slip.”