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October 18, 2006 04:17 PM UTC

Wednesday Open Thread

  • 58 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Get in, sit down, shut up, hang on.

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58 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

  1. Interesting comments on the Guv race from an unusual source.

    this from today’s Denver Post in the Outdoor section.

    http://www.denverpos…

    It is why the Western Slope and other rural parts of Colorado may not be as reliably Republican as they have been in the past.

    1. My apologies…having difficulty signing in with “new” post.

      Newt Gingrich argued yesterday that Republicans should remind the electorate that “Republicans are right to favor traditional American conservative social values, and the left is completely wrong to put San Francisco left-wing values third in line to be President by electing Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) to speaker of the House.”

      Nancy Pelosi’s “San Francisco left-wing values”:

      “Upon graduation in 1962, she married Georgetown University graduate Paul Pelosi.” “Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi, a native of San Francisco, have five children: Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul and Alexandra, and five grandchildren.”

      Newt Gingrich’s “traditional American conservative social values”:

      In 1981, Newt dumped his first wife, Jackie Battley, for Marianne, wife number 2, while Jackie was in the hospital undergoing cancer treatment. Marianne and Newt divorced in December, 1999 after Marianne found out about Newt’s long-running affair with Callista Bisek, his one-time congressional aide. Gingrich asked Marianne for the divorce by phoning her on Mother’s Day, 1999. [Source: New York Post, July 18, 2000, Newt’s Ex Wife Aiming to Pen Book by Bill Sanderson, available on lexis].
      Newt (57) and Callista (34) were married in a private ceremony in a hotel courtyard in Alexandria, Va. in August, 2000. . . .

      “He famously visited Jackie in the hospital where she was recovering from surgery for uterine cancer to discuss details of the divorce. He later resisted paying alimony and child support for his two daughters, causing a church to take up a collection. For all of his talk of religious faith and the importance of God, Gingrich left his congregation over the pastor’s criticism of his divorce.”

      The consistency in reasoning is at least impressive. Those who evaded military service during wars they cheered on are brave, courageous, resolute warriors. Those who fought for their country in combat are cowards and appeasers.

      Those who repeatedly dump their wives for new and better versions, and run around engaging in the sleaziest and most unrestrained sexual behavior, are stalwart defenders of traditional American and Christian values. Those who stay married to their original spouse for their entire lives and raise a family together are godless, radical heathens who represent “San Francisco values” and seek to undermine the country’s moral fiber and Christian traditions.

      Can anyone else recognize the hypocrisy of the Right?

    2. Charlie Meyers is one of the best kept secrets in Denver journalism in my opinion.  He consistently has his finger on the pulse of the interaction between state politics (legislature, Dept. of Natural Resources, Div. of Wildlife), commercial interests, sportsmen, and professional wildlife managers.  He has repeatedly pointed out the ways that the Owens administration and Republican legislature have pre-empted the wildlife management process to the benefit of extractive industries and commercial outfitters, and to the detriment of individual citizens and sustainable natural ecosystems.

      One of my major hopes if Bill Ritter is elected is that he will restore the balance among stakeholders involved in natural resource decision making; and in particular give more weight to input from professional wildlife scientists and managers.
       

  2.   Has anyone seen or heard from Moonraker in last 36 hours?  I wonder if he’s been Mirandized???  (“You have the right to remain blog-free  If you waive this right, any crap which you post on any political blog can and will be used against you in a court of law.  You have the right to an attorney. If you or Trailhead cannot afford an attorney (fat chance of that), one will be appt.’d for you.”)

    2. A real DA
      Here’s what a real DA can do if he or she wants to.  I’m sure she didn’t have any evidence like Bill Ritter never has any evidence to work with, but somehow, some way, she made it happen…

      Here’s what she wanted to do….
      http://articles.news…

      And here’s what she did…
      http://hosted.ap.org…

      In Nassau County you get 25 years to life.
      In Denver County you get 15 months…
      To you libs, this is armegeddon, I know.  Or maybe cold fusion.  But Kathleen Rice proved it can be done.
      ________________________________________
      by: Moonraker @ Tue Oct 17, 2006 at 20:09:39 PM MDT

      http://coloradopols….

    3. Rice had the option to plea bargain.  Quite a bit actually.  She didn’t.
      In the Dixon case, the driver- caught 2 days later (at a bar, probably blowing a 2.0, but I understand what you’re saying) was eligible to receive up to 12 years.  There were plenty of witnesses including her boyfriend who was in the car.
      ________________________________________
      by: Moonraker @ Tue Oct 17, 2006 at 21:01:18 PM MDT

      http://coloradopols….

      1. That ultra-liberal, criminal-coddling Bill Ritter would have sought a 15-month plea bargain for agricultural trespass for a case where a drunk driver is caught on videotape barrelling into a car returning from a wedding, and the mom ends up holding her dead daughter’s severed head.

        Don’t insult our intelligence. Get back to us next time you steal some more info from the FBI database.

  4. 1) The only accurate polling shows him with a commanding lead

    2) The 1970’s were a tumultuous time for America, as it searched for an identity. During this time, Doug Lamborn was here, in the USA, working to make the country a better place. His opponent, you ask? He actually LEFT THE COUNTRY during this time, soaking off the taxpayers by eating government meals and sleeping in government-paid facilities.

    3) I believe somewhere in the Colorado State Statutes Doug Lamborn has actually been given the statutory right to the CD-5 seat. Any law-types out there who can verify this?

    4) Doug Lamborn has a plethora of endorsements, including the following:

    Peggy Lamm
    All participants in the CD-5 primary, including all campaign staff and voters
    Ronald Reagan (posthumous)
    Colorado Pols website
    One Queer Dude
    The Bush Twins
    Phoenix Rising

    Note: Some endorsements are assumed

    5) Doug spelled backwards is “Guod” which is close to “God” the hero of a book called the “Bible.” Apparently this book was nearly as popular as Harry Potter. And if you think about it, Doug Lamborn looks a little like Harry Potter. Think about it.

    6) Watch the debates. (*) At one moment, Doug shouted down an audience member who had threatened to blow up the building. Doug leaped into the crowd and disarmed the man, then returned to his seat and made cogent argument after cogent argument.

    (*) Dramatization: May not have actually happened

    1. and if yard/corner lot signs are any indication of how El Paso County is going to vote, Lamborn will win easily and BB will carry this district handily. BB might not win the election but it will be close. No matter how much this web site tries to make him look bad. Wish in one hand and pee in the other….see which one fills up faster.

      Of course just as polls go yard signs don’t mean crap, but I’d bet I’m correct.
      IMHO
      Love,
      Gecko

      1. the ratio of signs in voter yards versus signs in public rights of way in the center and west side of town is significantly higher for D candidates than for R candidates. The Beauprez, Lamborn and Jones/Gardner campaigns have gone heavily for rights of way (I would say the ratio of voter yards versus rights of way decreases in the order shown). Suthers has a huge in yard presence versus O’Brien (no surprise there)all through the area. Hillman has a greater presence both ways than Kennedy and Coffman has a smaller lead over Gordon (mainly because there isn’t a lot of either). Ritter, Fawcett, Morse/Lord have a significant lead with in yard signs (except in the central Broadmoor area). Ritter was much earlier in large signs though Beauprez is catching up. Fawcett large signs are going up – haven’t seen as many Lamborn large signs (may just be where I drive – I seem to remember more Lamborn signs the further east I went). Jones/Gardner have focused their large signs along several major traffic routes. Morse doesn’t seem to have any large signs. Lord has place large signs in a wider spread around the district though probably not as advantageously.

        Fisk/Merrifield seems to be the one race where there are a lot of signs everywhere – many not even in their district. Fisk has made an obvious effort to get his name out EVERYWHERE. Would say Merrifield has an undetermined edge in signs in yards but Fisk has really gone after signs in a big way. Merrifield has the only billboard I have seen to date.

              1. The dead vote and ballot boxes occasionally end up in the river.  My friend’s great-grandfather died in 1962 and managed to vote three more times after that.  I miss Chicago.  The corruption is part of the attraction!

      1. Damn right, Jason…….Doug Lamborn is a stud!  I can’t wait for the RNC to put out the “Right Wing Nut of the Month” beefcake calendar featuring Doug, Tom Terrific Tancredo pumping iron, and Dr. James Dobson in a speedo!

        1. Especially in response to your post, that I wish we had emoticons on this site. That post, specifically Dobson, deserves some sort of emoticon gouging out its eyes, or vomting continuously. My stomach is now queasy, because of that. Im getting the chills. Thanks.

    4. I didn’t threaten to blow up the building.  That’s slanderous.  I did, however, blow up. 

      After Senator Lamborn disarmed me, I had a lot of trouble driving home.  I want at least one of my arms back. 

  5. Blake: Ritter reverses charges
    http://www.rockymoun…

    Ritter hasn’t yet refuted the substance of the charge, which is that he gave illegal aliens a break…

    Another local newspaper harrumphed editorially that Beauprez should reveal how he got his information – something it presumably would not have done had its own reporters obtained the Medina information and broken the story. Protecting sources is what newspapers are supposed to do, not politicians.

    All we laymen are supposed to learn when asking the CBI for information from the database (attach small payment, please) are actual convictions, not arrests or aliases.

    But arrests certainly should be public information, and usually are. If they weren’t, the government could grab you and hold you secretly for years – which, come to think of it, it has done on occasion in the Age of Terror.

    We’re only supposed to learn of convictions, not arrests or aliases? Law enforcement agencies can be highly selective in what they choose to make known.

    Go check the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list, for instance – it’s on the Web, even if it’s no longer tacked to the wall of your post office.

    Eight of the 10 now listed come with a string of aliases, including perpetual No. 1 list member Osama bin Laden (“the Prince, the Emir, Abu Abdallah, Hajj, the Director” and more). The others are alleged cocaine dealers, mass murderers, armed robbers, child molesters, prison escapees and the like. You get a lot more than convictions on these people.

    What is the NCIC but the 10 Most Wanted list writ large? If it’s not, it should be.

    1. when you give your check to the CBI with your request for information, does CBI also give information re:  future arrests which the defendant will some day face?  If not, how did the Both Ways campaign get that info.?

    2. As always, your comments are on point and substantive. Seems like you are always in a liberal firefight on Coloradopols.  I am still waiting for Riddle-Me-This Ritter to address a few ethical/management problems that he appears to have regarding plea-bargaining within the Denver DA’s office.

        1. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Cantwell today released the following statement:

          “The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was directed by the Governor’s office to determine whether the Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC) or the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) was compromised in the dissemination of confidential law enforcement records.  The CBI has thoroughly reviewed and researched the law enforcement databases and determined that the information regarding Carlos Estrada Medina (also known as: Walter Noel Ramo) was obtained by accessinge the federal crime information system known as NCIC.  The CBI held a meeting this morning with federal and state law enforcement officials.  Because this is a federally controlled and regulated system, CBI has requested the assistance of the FBI to further pursue the investigation.  The FBI and CBI will be working jointly to complete the investigation.

          “The state and federal agencies involved understand the time-sensitive nature of this incident and are proceeding as expeditiously as possible to resolve it.  As in any criminal investigation, it may be necessary to conduct searches, further interviews, and forensic analysis of evidence.  These procedures take time.  It is most important that the investigation be done thoroughly to reach a correct result with evidence that meets all legal requirements. Therefore, it is not possible to know at this point how soon the investigation may be completed.”

          During the course of this continuing criminal investigation, it will not be possible to provide updates as to the case status.

    3. I assume the law enforcement has some good reason – other than its ultra-liberal bias – for keeping NCIC information strictly confidential on pain of loss of your police job as well as criminal penalties.

      More hypocrisy from the supposedly “tough on crime” Republicans. Tough, unless it’s one of our guys.

  6. Since Moony seems to think plea-bargains and DUI’s are an issue that is connected to Ritter, let’s try this:

    Although we’ve had the Governor’s chair for eight years and it hasn’t been an issue, don’t lose heart — there’s still time.  The governor can appoint a blue-ribbon panel to determine whether plea bargains/DUI’s in Colorado should be addressed.  Let’s appoint Pete Coors to chair the illustrious commission, as he has a grand history in sales of the product, driving while under the influence and plea-bargaining as a result.  Let’s have a full report before election day. 

  7. Gwyn Green in what might be the comeback of the year has taken the lead against Ramey Johnson. Green knows her district and has turned a tough race her way. Three weeks ago she was behind by double digits.
    Sarah Gagliardi is going to be the Republicans worst nightmare in the State House. Sarah has taken the lead in her Jefferson County race. Sarah is a labor organizer and solid liberal who will not compromise. The Democrats will be making a huge push for her.
    Kyle Fisk may give Merrifield a run for his money. Fisk is working hard but Merrifield is one of the best campaigners around and should win by at least four points.

    1. Since you seem to have the pulse on Lakewood/Jeffco local races, what is your take on Boyd/Knoedler, Haberkorn/Summers, and can Gagliardi really beat out Crane? 

      1. Gagliardi is ahead of Crane and the Democratic caucus is going to spend big on this race to keep her ahead. Gagliardi and Green both have huge numbers of volunteers and are using them well. Labor has really turned out to help Sara. The only sad news for Democrats in this part of Jeffco is that Boyd cannot shake lose of Knoedler. This Senate race may be the tightest in the State in either chamber.

        1. Crane is such a wingnut – having his paranoia out of the legislature can only be a good thing.  Summers is scary too – is he going to walk away with it from Haberkorn?  I was surprised to see Summers getting some of the endorsements that he has…

    2. on debating Fisk.  He backed out at the last minute from a public debate downtown here in the Springs.  His rationale was that he wanted to have a 4-way debate with Ed Jones and John Morse from SD-11 included.  Apparently neither Jones nor Morse were interested in the format (though admittedly, Jones hasn’t shown any interest in debating Morse at all).
      I don’t know, I’ve seen tag-team wrestling, tag-team track events, even tag-team auto racing, never a tag-team political debate.  Anyone else?

      1. multiple candidates – for example, the Action 22 forum was serial debates. My expectation would be that the debate format would be a Jones/Morse debate and then a Merrifield/Fisk debate (I would do it that way to avoid an Ed Jones “I sprained my tonsils” moment right after the Merrifield/Fisk debate). I would hope they wouldn’t do all four at once – they did something similar up in Woodland Park with the candidates in Teller County and it was less than successful. We all agree that an incumbent debates only if they think they are in trouble. My reading is that Merrifield is willing to give up that advantage if he can get Morse the same leverage Fisk is getting. My bet

    1. My apologies…having difficulty signing in with “new” post.
      Newt Gingrich argued yesterday that Republicans should remind the electorate that “Republicans are right to favor traditional American conservative social values, and the left is completely wrong to put San Francisco left-wing values third in line to be President by electing Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) to speaker of the House.”

      Nancy Pelosi’s “San Francisco left-wing values”:

      “Upon graduation in 1962, she married Georgetown University graduate Paul Pelosi.” “Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi, a native of San Francisco, have five children: Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul and Alexandra, and five grandchildren.”

      Newt Gingrich’s “traditional American conservative social values”:

      In 1981, Newt dumped his first wife, Jackie Battley, for Marianne, wife number 2, while Jackie was in the hospital undergoing cancer treatment. Marianne and Newt divorced in December, 1999 after Marianne found out about Newt’s long-running affair with Callista Bisek, his one-time congressional aide. Gingrich asked Marianne for the divorce by phoning her on Mother’s Day, 1999. [Source: New York Post, July 18, 2000, Newt’s Ex Wife Aiming to Pen Book by Bill Sanderson, available on lexis].
      Newt (57) and Callista (34) were married in a private ceremony in a hotel courtyard in Alexandria, Va. in August, 2000. . . .

      “He famously visited Jackie in the hospital where she was recovering from surgery for uterine cancer to discuss details of the divorce. He later resisted paying alimony and child support for his two daughters, causing a church to take up a collection. For all of his talk of religious faith and the importance of God, Gingrich left his congregation over the pastor’s criticism of his divorce.”

      The consistency in reasoning is at least impressive. Those who evaded military service during wars they cheered on are brave, courageous, resolute warriors. Those who fought for their country in combat are cowards and appeasers.

      Those who repeatedly dump their wives for new and better versions, and run around engaging in the sleaziest and most unrestrained sexual behavior, are stalwart defenders of traditional American and Christian values. Those who stay married to their original spouse for their entire lives and raise a family together are godless, radical heathens who represent “San Francisco values” and seek to undermine the country’s moral fiber and Christian traditions.

      Can anyone else recognize the hypocrisy of the Right?

  10. From Rolling Stone:

    Tom Tancredo comes in 6th as “Mr. Bigotry” – just after future indictee Jerry Lewis and before Richard Pombo.

    Even the right has noted his unbridled looniness on the subject: In July, when Tancredo proposed that America respond to any future terrorist attack by bombing Mecca and other holy sites, the National Review came to an unavoidable conclusion: “Tom Tancredo is an idiot.”

    And Marilyn Musgrave makes 10th as “The Christian Soldier”.

    Musgrave has made regulating the bedroom behavior of her fellow Americans the focus of her entire career.

    [Barney] Frank notes one thing he admires about Musgrave: “If you’re going to have someone who’s a hater, it’s best that she’s not very bright. I appeared with her in a couple of forums to debate her bill, but she’s totally incapable of even explaining what it says.”

  11. Kyle Fisk is working harder than any other Republican and has dozens of volunteers. Merrifield may face his toughest race yet but should still win. Merrifield is lucky that the Republicans have not heavily targeted this race.Merrifield’s numbers have never been great and this is the first real strong opponent he has faced. Gagliardi is a winner and Green is surging when it counts. Riesberg has even picked up in the last two weeks and now has a dead even chance of beating Dave Owen the mediocre Senator who got roped into running in a race he never wanted to enter.

  12. Randy Fischer is going to win by 20. John Kefalas with his relentless idealism is in a tight race. A victory by Kefalas and Gagliardi would make the Democratic caucus more liberal than it was last session. Unfortunately Senatorial candidate LittleOwl is down by twenty plus. A Kefalas win will be a major upset for the Democrats and Fischer will likely win what has always been a tightly contested House seat.

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