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August 04, 2022 07:11 AM UTC

Thursday Open Thread

  • 37 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

–Leo Tolstoy

Comments

37 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread

  1. Soon May the Wellerman Come. Small Town Oregon Pride Event Out-organizes the Bigots.

    At Veteran’s Park, the only significant counterprotestors were the Rogue Valley Salt Shakers. A knockoff version of the Westboro Baptist Church, the Salt Shakers are a staple at LGBTQ+ events, abortion clinics, and even farmer’s markets in Southern Oregon. The Salt Shaker’s harassment of Keizer Pride contributed to that event’s cancellation in 2022, but as vile and obnoxious as they are, in Southern Oregon the group is somewhat of a known entity.

    While hundreds of Pride attendees watched performances, including the famed youth drag show, a couple dozen individuals kept the Salt Shakers occupied at the far end of the park. Local youth spent hours engaging the bigots, blocking their signs with pride flags while local police officers stood by doing nothing. When the Salt Shakers attempted to preach hatred through their megaphones, queers dressed in Renaissance garb overpowered them by singing “The Wellerman,” the sea shanty made famous by a TikTok meme.

  2. Looking at the races here in Colorado I see it as follows:

    • Governor – Polis has this sewn up. Highly respected across the board and arguably the most inept opponent ever.
    • AG – Weiser is viewed as competent and even handed. And like Governor, has an opponent that so far appears to be a non entity.
    • Treasurer – Young is not really thought of at all (it's an invisible office mostly). But he's running against a 4 time loser who clearly has no idea how to win a race. So gain, should be safe.
    • State House – ha ha ha ha ha we so have the majority here.

    Now the bad news:

    • Senate – O'Dea appears to be a competent candidate so far who is tacking back to the middle. This will be competitive. And previously Bennet was blessed with inept opponents so this will be a first for him if O'Dea does not self destruct. Bennet should win but he needs to do a good job.
    • Secretary of State – No fair, the Republicans nominated someone competent & sane. Griswold faces a strong challenger and for any voter who wants to ticket split, this is their Republican vote.
    • State Senate – This could go either way. To some degree it depends on the individual candidates but part of it is selling the great job Democrats have done running the state. But it will require selling what we want to do going forward because if there's nothing more to do, then a split legislature will sound good to a lot of independents. And retaining the right to an abortion is not the selling point – that will occur with a split legislature & Democratic governor.

    So Pols, stop wasting time/effort on Ganahl & the other easy targets. Instead focus on Joe O'Dea, Pam Anderson, & the state Senate.

    1. That's good advice, David. Unfortunately, Pols and its core people are totally addicted to Ganahl and Boebert. They need a far stronger intervention than either you or I can provide.

      1. Oh yeah, I don't even think of Boebert (and should have). When Coram was beat that bad it was a clear message – they want the insanity she peddles. Any time/money invested there is thrown away.

        1. As much as Boebert is complete worthless trash, I agree she's going to coast to victory and that resources are better spent on the down-ballot statewide races and on Bennett's re-election efforts.  

            1. And should, God-forbid, there be a contingent election in the House come January 2025, I would rather see Colorado with a 5-to-3 split casting its one vote for the Dem candidate than being unable to vote because of a 4-to-4 split.

              We need to win CD7 and CD8.

              1. Yep, Democrats need to win CO-7 and CO-8. 

                But any "contingent election" that goes to the House would be going to the House as elected in November, 2024.  So even if the Democrats lose this year, there's always next time. [unless our Constitution goes away, and there isn't a meaningful "next time" at all].

                And I naively think that among the elected Colorado Republicans, at least 1 in a 4 person delegation would reflect the state's popular vote [and sustain Constitutional conditions] rather than being a partisan uber alles.

                 

                1. Well, we could lose both and go r 5-3.

                  But say it is 4 4 and the House picks between the Orange Hitler and Biden.  Which Repub crosses over?

                  Reppy le Pew Pew?

                  Rhymes with *uck?

                  Doug Lamborn?

                  So, it’s Barbara Kirkmeyer you see riding in on a white horse to save our democracy?

                  Where can I get some of that stuff you’re smokin’?

                  It is powerful weed!

                   

                2. "But any "contingent election" that goes to the House would be going to the House as elected in November, 2024"

                  True, but I'd rather be defending a 5-to-3 split in November 2024, than trying to flip one seat from a 4-to-4 split.

    2. "Governor – Polis has this sewn up. Highly respected across the board and arguably the most inept opponent ever."

      The TABOR refund checks coming out this week and next are simply the frosting on the cake. Heard Polis this morning on NPR defending his letter to taxpayers accompanying the checks. smiley

        1. For barndance, that’s progress.  Yesterday he bellowed that state Treasurer Dave Young was stupid tp “print and mail checks” for the rebate when he, the very clever davebarnes, would have used direct deposit.

          Of course, the tiny problem with dave’s eructation is that the 

          treasurer doesn’t issue the tax refund.  By law, the 

           

          Department of Revenue does.

          like the bellowing boy, I too prefer direct deposit. But DOR cites increased fraud as the reason it is going back to paper:

           

           

           

          Didn’t Receive Direct Deposit

          If you requested Direct Deposit on your Colorado state income tax return and did not receive it, you should first contact the bank or financial institution to determine if they received your refund credit. Electronic transactions are posted daily, and may not be reflected on your latest bank statement. If your financial institution has no record of your refund, you can check the status of your refund by visiting our Revenue Online service.

          Direct Deposit Refunds Converted to Paper Check

          The Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) is responding to an increase in tax fraud cases by implementing enhanced security measures to protect state taxpayers.

          Some refunds that are requested as Direct Deposit may be converted to paper check and mailed to the taxpayer’s address as a method of verifying that the refund is legitimate. A letter will come with the refund that was converted to a paper check. The letter contains a phone number taxpayers can call. The number is just for those taxpayers who have not filed an income tax return yet or who are not expecting a refund — to report the unexpected refund to the Department. You may also Report Tax Fraud online. Avoiding potential refund fraud by sending paper checks outweighs taking the risk of sending a refund electronically to the wrong party. Responding to the request to contact the Department will help the state combat refund fraud.

          CDOR is asking taxpayers for patience while the state works to detect and prevent identity theft-related tax fraud. The Department takes taxpayer information and tax refund security very seriously and will take necessary precautions to ensure refunds go to the right person.

           

          That’s also their logic on the Tabor rebate.

           

          Unlike Bellowing Boy, they at least give a reason.

           

           

    3. "Secretary of State – No fair, the Republicans nominated someone competent & sane. Griswold faces a strong challenger and for any voter who wants to ticket split, this is their Republican vote."

      You're not holding out much hope for the recount changing the outcome of the GOP primary?   wink

    4. This seems like a pretty clear take. 

      My only quibble — I think Jena Griswold has done a good job in plain sight AND is a better than average politician/campaigner.  Beyond her election prominence, there have been some friendly changes to paperwork and fees from her office, so those small businesses and small nonprofits may well say nice things about her, too. Pam Anderson is undeniably capable, but she's fighting an uphill battle.  AND she's not going to get full backing from the RWNJs of the GOP, as she is campaigning on competence, not on vehement defense of the former *resident or the "Big Lie" proponents.  I just don't see Tina Peters & backers coloring in Pam Anderson's bubble on their ballot.

      So, GOP people in search of a "we gotta win SOMETHING" moment and the Unaffiliated who are not engaged but want "balance" in state government are going to gravitate to Lang Sias for Treasurer, IMHO. 

    5. Why on earth after all the complete horseshit we've seen from Republicans on elections over the past few years should anyone vote to put a Republican in charge of Colorado elections? Not a rhetorical question. Blind ticket splitting without looking at other factors is thoughtless at best.

        1. If they're here on Pols and looking to ticket split, I'm trying to very strongly discourage that, and I'm not trying to give this awfully bad idea any oxygen whatsoever. The whole Chuck Todd bothsiderism discussion is not as dangerous as full-out MAGA, but it might snare enough people to matter in a close race.

  3. Suggestion for candidates running in purple (and red) states that have heavily gerrymandered state legislative districts. Have the Democratic candidates as a group jointly issue a platform along the lines of:

    First, they will vote to make abortion legal in the state. And state the restrictions that likely will be more severe than we have here in Colorado, but a right that covers most cases and will be supported by a clear majority in that state.

    Second, they will vote to implement an independent redistricting commission, jungle primaries, and IRV. And sell it as a means for the voters to have the opportunity to select a candidate more in line with their views.

    Third, on any additional issues, promise to vote in line with the opinion of their district. Or if they strongly disagree, to abstain.

    In sort, they sell themselves as a one time thing to preserve abortion and to restructure districts & voting so voters can get someone more inline with their views rather than crazy far right legislators.

    Now hopefully some will be able to retain their seats upon re-election. And better districts/jungle primaries/IRV will give Dems a better chance. And where they lose, in some cases it will be to a sane centrist Republican.

    Probably won't be compelling enough to bring in a majority. But it might. And the present way of trying to get Republicans to switch to supporting the Democratic party hasn't worked.

      1. You mean this isn't the "go to" political site across the nation???

        I posted it here because if it makes sense, it'll get repeated and eventually make its way to those that matter.

        And if it doesn't make sense it'll die a quiet death here without taking up anyone else's bandwidth.

  4. The recount (DP is announcing it is complete) has been described as “the gold standard of stupidity” 

    No linky, but Peters blew her wad only to find the spread between she and Pam Anderson shift by eleven net votes (TeePee picked up four votes, Ms Anderson dropped seven. 

    1. In the Q-Anon World, isn't that sufficient proof that there was fraud?  

      And if they keep doing recounts for another 30,000 times, Peters made edge out Anderson.

      STOP THE STEAL!

      1. That was a head fake to see whether you or Barnes would catch it first!!  

        The spread is still Anderson plus-88k. At this pace they’ll only need another 8,000 recounts to get us within the margin where the following recount will be automatic 🙃

        1. "At this pace they’ll only need another 8,000 recounts to get us within the margin where the following recount will be automatic"

          An automatic and free recount. NO!!! That would kill off the cash cow!

          STOP THE STEAL! AND KEEP SENDING THOSE CHECK!

          1. Didn't she blow, like, a quarter-million on this charade? And there are still people willing to give her money? There's one born every minute, and two to fleece him.

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