14 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

1. From The Bulwark:

   When it comes to the art of politics, one of the differences between Republicans and Democrats is this: Republicans figure out what motivates voters and then campaign on that. Democrats usually campaign on what they think is important and then spend their time trying to convince voters that they should care about it, too.

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   1. or Republicans find the most batshit crazy person in the universe and then try to convince people that they are normal.

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      1. Well, you're both correct.

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   2. Increasingly, the distinction between Republicans and Democrats in Colorado is quite different. 

      Republicans aren't figuring out what motivates current voters and campaigning on it.  They have developed appeals to groups of voters and now are continuing to use those in campaigns. Despite having state-wide candidates and abortion propositions lose, there is still a strident "pro-life" Republican orthodoxy.  They continue to campaign for "more secure" voting when people have made it clear they LIKE vote from home.  They continue to want to loosen regulation on oil, gas, coal, and other extraction industries when Colorado has made it clear they LIKE less disturbed green space. Republicans wanted small government and lower taxes in the 1980s — and continue to make that case, despite the MANY votes to "de-Bruce" in order to have more of some government service.  Despite the popularity of gun controls, Republicans continue to advocate for abolishing government control on weapons.

      Those who have attempted to be responsive to the actual conditions and vary from Republican truisms don't seem welcome in the party councils. 

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      1. Also correct.

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      2. "don't seem welcome….." Kevin Priola is Exhibit A for that. Had he been able to secure the Republican nomination for Cong. District 8, it's a good likelihood he'd be the first congress person from that district. But he wouldn't be able to break through the bat-shit crazies.

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         1. They really are trying to thread the needle in CD 8 with Kirkmeyer who isn't overtly as crazy as Lori Saine but at the same time won't be accused of being as RINO-ish as Priola.

             

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            1. The horrifying part is that it might work.

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               1. or Kirkmeyer is in way over her head trying to appeal to a diverse district and is going to commit some huge gaffs before election day.

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                  1. "… and is going to commit some huge gaffs before election day."

                     Probably but not nearly as many as Lori Saine would have made.

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2. Something Heidi Ganahl is 100% correct on – Rescue' puppy mills betray dog-loving public

   “Retail rescues” present themselves as honorable players in the animal welfare space in our state but are covers for million-dollar schemes. These nonprofits prey on people’s love of animals to make big money, charging high dollar amounts to “adopt” puppies brought in from out of state.

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   1. I would have to agree.  Having volunteered with rescues, and recently adopting a puppy with my wife, we are aware of these issues.

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   2. I'm amazed she took on such a controversial and divisive issue. A profile in courage if ever I saw one.

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   3. Ganahl built a successful enterprise that had an effort in place:  “We did it for no “fees” — for over 10,000 pups — with the help of our passionate franchisees while I led Camp Bow Wow.”She led the organization from 2000 to 2014, from one location to 150, so let me use a WAG of an average of 75 locations times 14 years — which would work out to 1050 location years.  Or 10 pups per location per year. Great that she and her firm did something.  But “rescue” of a dog a month doesn’t seem like much of a reach. 

      So, after getting out of the private sector and seeking office, what would she recommend as aa  “policy” for solving the problem?

      “Why do we not have a [disciplinary] system of this nature for state-licensed rescues? What does it actually take for a group to have their license revoked?”

      “The governor-appointed officials at the Department of Agriculture should answer these questions. Then do something to fix this growing travesty.”

      “shame on the Department of Agriculture for not holding these groups accountable — another example of a bloated government agency not doing the job they get our tax dollars to do.”

      No analysis of what the present law would allow.  No analysis of what the resources of the Dept. of Ag actually are.  No consideration that regulations on dogs might ALSO need to be applied to other animals & the consequences of that.  Just a sneering jab at an agency “not doing the job”. 

      I work with high school debaters and public speakers who do more sophisticated analysis than what is in this article.

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