( – promoted by Colorado Pols)
Sen. Obama will speak in Grand Junction, Colorado today, September 15, at 11 AM MT.
It will be streamed at www.nbc11news.com.
This is Grand Junction (which Dalton Trumbo referred to as Shale City in Johnny Got His Gun), financial hub of the West Slope’s energy boom.
Mesa County (with GJ as the county seat) and the Western Slope is not Democratic turf. Or it didn’t use to be.
More-
(Cross-posted at DailyKos.com)
Senator Obama is speaking at the Cross Orchards Living History Farm, where they have had to move the event out into the parking lot due to the overwhelming public interest.
With a voter registration of 37,911 Republican, 29,741 Unaffiliated, and 18,890 Democrat, Grand Junction is well known as a conservative stronghold. The far-right Republican Janet Rowland just won her re-election primary (which pretty much ensures her win in the general).
Rowland gained some notoriety during her run for lieutenant governor with Bob Beauprez, when she compared gay marriage to allowing people to marry sheep. Some Coloradans have been making the comparison of Janet Rowland and Sarah Palin, but there is no doubt that Rowland remains popular in the county. (No, this is not a Palin diary).
Beyond Mesa County, in the state as a whole Democrats have made substantial gains in the last two cycles. Part of that success is attributable to western Colorado.
In 2004 voters put Democrats in charge of the state legislature, and in 2006 they elected Democratic governor Bill Ritter. Senator Ken Salazar was elected in 2004, winning back a seat long held by Democrats Until Ben “Change Horse” Campbell switched parties.
In a small, rural town of coalminers, farmers, and (farmer-)hippies, we mostly get along but we don’t run around much in the same circles either. Yet at the caucus I attended, all of them were there, and they overwhelming had one thing in mind–to nominate Obama. The impetus for change is here, in the mountain communities and small cities, among members of the ‘New West’ and descendants of early Coloradans, and scattered among seemingly everyone in between.
Sen. Obama can connect with the people of western Colorado. In addition to the main national issues, certain specific issues, like water and energy, play big on the West Slope, and differently than on the Front Range.
Since 2000 the conflict has been growing over encouraging energy development and avoiding poisoning our home, and it has become particularly intense this cycle–with the Udall-Schaffer race, Roan Plateau and a state rule-making in the news, and a couple of ballot measures.
In 2004 western Colorado voted mostly for Bush and favored Pete Coors in the Salazar-Coors senate match up. But in 2004, when John Salazar won the 3rd CD (after Scott McInnis retired and went to work as a lobbyist, for oil and gas companies among others), natural resource issues were a driving factor.
Salazar’s opponent, Greg Walcher, carried too much baggage as a proponent of a badly failed 2002 ballot measure, Referendum A, that was widely seen in Colorado as a Front Range water grab, and for his draconian management as Gov. Bill Owen’s Department of Natural Resources.
2004 was also the year that Amendment 37 passed, setting a mandate for 10% renewable energy in the state by 2015. And in 2006 the results from the Western Slope were mixed in the race for governor, although Ritter carried several, until then, reliable Republican counties.
In 2006, Rep. Salazar was returned on a comfortable margin and he is expected to soundly win his race against an unknown and uninspiring candidate, Wayne “Who?” Wolf-a former Delta County commissioner.
While on the Western Slope, Sen. Obama should touch on the issues that really resonate in western Colorado, what Sen. Salazar called “the Land, the Water, the People” because those are things that unite many of us out here, across many ideological lines. Obama should talk about the need for a new energy economy, even as we ensure that we do it right and safeguard some special places altogether, protecting our traditions of hunting, fishing, and public recreation.
Broadly speaking, Colorado is a diverse place in terms of geography, local issues, and economics–from the Plains to the Four Corners region, from the Western Slope to the Front Range, including Colorado Springs-home to Doug Lamborn, Doug Bruce and James Dobson. But on the Western Slope–and probably across the state–Obama can connect to a basic populism, cherished independence, and common sense and fairness.
And while Obama should talk about hope and working together, and the critical national issues we all face together, he should also highlight the particular issues western Coloradans care about, because we can help win the state. Grand Junction presents the perfect location to talk up a new energy economy and would be an ideal place for Sen. Obama to talk about his public lands legacy.
A strong showing on the West Slope–even short of a win–can really help ensure the margins in the suburbs of Denver, where everyone agrees the swing votes are decided.
A lot of folks in western Colorado get that things are heading badly off course, and that a few well-connected people and powerful corporations are doing well, but that everyday people find life an increasing struggle. Sen. Obama’s speech tomorrow presents an ideal opportunity for the campaign to really put Colorado, and the election, over the top.
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When he leaves Grand Junction, Obama will be in Pueblo at the State Fair Grounds. We’ve had calls from all over the state. Looks like another big event.
We’ll have to compare the two/three events later today. Hopefully we’ll have some live blogging or post event blogging.
Here is the key to this election:
they like being called a “nation of whiners” when they lose their jobs and prices are through the roof either.
That sounds like the Union inspired economy, crush your right to choose and drive that business to put the plant somewhere else.
I now see Bill Owens is backing Amendment 47.
http://www.abettercolorado.com…
of Trailhead, Western Skies, Ref. A, oil-and-gas lobbyists, Texan fame? More reason to oppose.
Are you actually blaming the economic crisis on unions? Just wondering.
As I recall Colorado has only 8 in 100 workers unionized, excluding of course the public sector. Our taxes have not risen nearly as much as those in MI, of course the state tax revenues have risen, but that is another matter. Certainly Colorados rural areas have boomed over the last decade with agri-business, tourism and oil/gas.
Here is the Michigan forecast … home of free bargaining.
your analysis is half-baked, and your propensity to post 99% on a single issue regardless of the subject is tiresome.
so I’m going to have to take your advice and stay on the topic. Thanks for the reminder.
like to cling to your guns and religion, right?
No, that’s around 13%.
we’d have to add in the Government roles of Union members (@30-40-68% depending on your cut
That fans takes the U.S. workforce to @12.1% unionized. Just like France, low teens.
And to imagine government workers, who have the Right-to-Work, up to 68% stay as dues paying members.
What is to fear with Amendment 47, choice?
http://unionstats.gsu.edu/
of unregulated capitalism Libertine. We wouldn’t want to blame the meltdown of our economy on a failed philosophy of greed is good. While your at it make sure you don’t mention the record deficits racked up by Bush and his buddies while they proclaimed how they could run government without tax revenue. They have borrowed so much money (5 trillion during the last eight years) that they can’t absorb these bank failures without simply printing more money and making it worthless.
But hey keep blaming the unions and the working man. Good Republicans always protect the rich.
The dude is a spend thrift. I agree we are headed for a rough patch of 2-3 years, maybe more. The 44th president has been dealt his hand.
The union impact is seen state by state. MI is an abortion and failed experiment. One in which labor rules, taxes have been hiked and jobs have been lost.
So what’s your point?
n/t
about 99.7% of the time.
That wasn’t John McCain, that was former Senator Graham, who is no longer part of McCain’s campaign.
“Clingers” however was a comment directly from Senator Obama, who is still involved in Obama’s campaign.
Not exactly apples to apples….
that Graham still advises the campaign. It’s just no longer “official”. Oh, and he repeated the whiners line a few days ago to a group of (…wait for it…) bankers.
Karl Rove is advising McCain, too, and it shows.
Or you have a link? Because the last story I saw said he was no longer part of the campaign.
Regardless….a comment from a former advisor vs. the candidate themself isn’t the same thing, right?
ex Texas dude, not Graham, who is S.C., if an aging memory serves.
Certainly better then my spelling.
Thanks Bob-I meant Gramm, but said Graham.
is winning enough states to win enough electoral votes, including winning places like Colorado. Throw all the mud you want, parrot the talking points, attack, attack, attack.
Both Obama and Udall are ahead in Colorado, and nationally McShameful is back on the decline, while Obama’s far superior ground game is picking up steam.
Washington Post:
Who’s your candidate again Laughing Boy?
I passed the JeffCo fairgrounds this morning, and I’m guessing she pulled better attendance than McCain. However, she isn’t pulling nearly the crowd that Obama pulls here in Colorado. The traffic wasn’t backed up beyond the deceleration “lane” on I-25.
800-273-TALK, keep it in your pocket in case of an emergency
The Sentinel is reporting that:
Most of you probably already know this, but after gaming every possible electoral vote scenario, here’s the simple math:
Assuming the Democrats hold Michigan and carry New Hampshire, they must win one of 3 toss-up states to win the election and the GOP must win all three (barring major swings in the electorate, the other states either can’t swing the outcome or are pretty much accounted for):
Ohio, Colorado and Virginia.
(If the GOP holds New Hampshire, we’re facing a likely 269-269 tie!)
And, frankly, it appears that Obama’s best chance is in Colorado. I’d like to think that someone was bright enough to have gamed this a long time ago when the Democrats chose Denver as their convention site. But I doubt it.
(FYI – So yesterday Broncos beat their second West Coast team in as many weeks…and this one actually knew how to play! Have to admit I chose against them in my pool. And I suffered the consequences. Looks like they and Buffalo may be the sleeper teams of the season.)
The latest polls in the Granite State show McCain ahead. They like him a lot there, as shown by the fact that his campaign gained the resurgence he needed after Iowa.
I’m not sure what polling you are referring to, but I think most of the polls that may show McCain ahead are polling “likely voters”. The Dems have made great headway registering independent and first-time voters in NH and the polls of REGISTERED voters almost uniformly show Obama leading McCain by pretty substantial margins.
See, for example, CNN/TIME poll of registered voters on 9/10 showing Obama ahead by 6 points:
http://www.time.com/time/polit…
But this is not a good trend for Sen. Obama. 18 points lower than he was in NY.
This is NEW YORK we’re talking about.
From the Sienna poll – link later – server is too busy at the moment.
for 2012. He handed McCain’s ass to him on the blatant lies they’ve been espousing.
When is that clip from?
I think you might be right, sounds like it might have come from the primaries.
I saw it in the open thread, may have jumped the gun a bit.
Listen to the LIES told by the left about….
Ok, just kidding.
No biggie, and it may turn out to be real, but I’m guessing Romney is smarter than that.
After reading the dumb troll comments of Nancy this weekend, I can appreciate an honest conservative even though a lot of my tribe consider that term an oxymoron. I’ve also noticed some cracks in that closed mind so who knows maybe one day we can openly discuss the issues in a good natured way.
Just kidding. Thank you. I’m honestly very flattered.
Plus, we’re probably neighbors. My family has had a cabin in Wedgewood for 35 years.
is probably one of my favorite views of the Continental Divide. You can see from Longs down to Pikes from that crows nest above the 1st buttress. It is like Panorama Point in Golden Gate Park but 1,000 feet higher and no tourists. The old CCC trail on the north side is also a gem.
Better get your hikes in while you can because all the old trails are going to get obliterated with down timber. The beetle epidemic exploded in Gilpin this summer. I’ll be cutting down fresh infected in my subdivision all fall.
But I assume threadjacking about trails and beetle kill is better than shrieking at each other. So kiss it if anyone’s upset. 🙂
The old firetower was on Thorodin, right?
Again, likely voters. And it’s pure comedy to suggest that a state like New York is even in play.
Actually, if you look at (meaningless) national polling, McCain is ahead by LESS THAN 1 point on average when polling REGISTERED voters. Dems really should settle down. The panic is contrived.
Think about that — even though the red states are getting redder (with the Palin pick), that is barely enough to overcome broad support of Obama nationally.
you’d better pray they come out in unprecedented numbers, or the election is over.
New York might not actually be in play, but an 18-point swing is not good news.
Well, for me it is.
Washington Post reported today that the Dems had registered 222,000+ new voters in Virginia and the election commission had to order hundreds of thousands of more voter reg cards be printed because they had run out. Somehow I don’t think that’s all the youth vote.
Still, even with an 18-point swing McCain doesn’t have a prayer of winning New York and you call that GOOD news for you?
Republicans are funny. Not funny ha-ha. But funny.
And that’s voters of all parties, not just Dems.
Cars were lined up onto 6th avenue. The Repubs. are definitely excited about seeing Bush 2.0.
have their kids decked out in the CCM, Easton and Bauer gear?
nice one
Even though the Front Range has 80% of the state’s population, Obama gets nearly as large a crowd in GJ as Palin got in Golden…
Updates shortly.
he really had the crowd going. He talked about a lot of the issues that rural Coloradans care about.
That’s HUGE for Obama! Golden is right in the middle of the population… Obama spoke in GJ and rocked the house!
link here
the average intelligence on the West Slope is considerably higher than here in the Front Range 😉
They’re bitter, don’t you know.
They like to GASP hunt and fish. And go to church, even!!!
I just hope The OneВ® was able to speak down to those rural folks enough to the point where they could understand the true nature of his omnipotence.
that’s why folks were jazzed! We like to hunt and fish. McShameful wants to steal our water and turn over our best hunting lands to Big Oil. We get it. That’s why Colorado’s going blue this year, don’t you know?
GO Blue already has to buy me a Ribeye at Elway’s.
(Well, maybe not yet, but he will.)
Colorado goes for McCain this year.
You know the rest of the Western US doesn’t give a crap about that compact except that it set a precedent to give them access to it. It may be the law, but it can be changed.
We in Colorado better start getting smart about our water management, because at some point the rest of us (western US citizens) are going to start asking about our (Colorado) management skills.
It is a compact by the seven states , i.e., a legal contract among them. Congress must ratify interstate compacts, which they did in 1922. But congress can’t “change” the compact any more than it can abrogate any other legal contract. The only way to change it is by unanimous agreement by the parties, i.e., all seven of the member states. See, if you were a union member, Libertine, you’d know this!
From 2001 to 2006, Right-to-Work states increased payrolls by 6.4 percent.
Non-right-to-work states increased payrolls by only 2.9 percent from 2001 to 2006.
Right-to-Work states also have lower unemployment rates and show faster income growth.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that an average worker in the 22 states with right-to-work laws earns about
$7,131 a year less than workers in free bargaining states ($30,656
versus $37,787). Nationwide, union members earn $9,308 a year more
than non-union workers, $41,652 versus $32,344.
Now, go clear it with Sidney.
From 2001 to 2006, Right-to-Work states increased payrolls by 6.4 percent.
Non-right-to-work states increased payrolls by only 2.9 percent from 2001 to 2006.
Right-to-Work states also have lower unemployment rates and show faster income growth.
All them molly-cules working together as a team under a contract with various governments.
but am I the only person on the Western Slope that gets tired of the “they want to steal our water” and “they want to destroy our rural way of life” mantras? Caw caw. If 10% of that crowd has ever been on a tractor, I’ll eat my straw hat. The only thing missing were the banjos.
Humans have always lived and made decisions by the mythologies of their cultures. And, yes, we have plenty of them right here in the 21st century.
Did you ever move to Texas or are you still here?
It’s been so lonely here without you!
I should say, the other LB:) I’m glad you’re holding down the fort!
I resemble that!
Especially about McCain’s blunder on the Colorado River Compact? (I put this question on the wrong thread earlier.)
and mentioned that JS McCain wants to renegotiate it.
McCain seems genuinely unaware that the seven governors did recently review and modify the compact, obviously not to gut it, but they made some mutually agreed improvements. Gail Norton started that process when she was Secretary of Interior. For a senator from a Compact state, McCain seems to know shockingly little about it.
for Obama
I recall something where Nevada was considering taking the whole mess to federal court. The other states were so afraid that the compact would get thrown out that they finally hammered out some revisions to the agreement that kept NV happy and didn’t leave anyone too parched.
that California was using more than its allotment. I didn’t follow it closely but maybe that is where the alleviation for Nevada came from. Of all the compact states, Nevada is the one that has grown the most beyond the original expectations of the compact.
…I sort of recall that CA’s attitude for a long time was sort of, “Well, if no one is using this water running by at this time, I’ll just borrow some.” Of course, it was the Mexicans that were the losers on that.
Now, of course, everyone’s scrabbling. I remember not too many years ago some flack for Las Vegas, the water wasting capital of the world, told Colorado that they really need more water to keep their development going. Boo hoo.
We’ve got the crowds for Obama, we’ve got McCain inspiring no one, we’ve got Palin’s numbers dropping, and we’re getting a very clear picture of what kind of economy Republicans give us.
it’s been the best two weeks since I started posting here.
🙂
…and it ends with a 500 point drop in the market (bye bye mutual fund!…it was nice thinking about what could have been), McCain declaring the fundamentals of the economy ‘strong’ and record viewership for SNL’s Fall premier where Tina Fay skewers Sarah Palin.
Ha! Only Republicans…
I work with inner city kids at a non-profit, and two other jobs that would rat out my identity.
You’d actually be amazed that I’m a Republican if you met me.