August 20, 2015 03:57 PM UTC

Get More Smarter on Thursday (Aug. 20)

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

Happy World Mosquito Day–is that really something you wish on people? It’s time to Get More Smarter with Colorado Pols! If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example).

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► GOP presidential candidate Jeb! Bush is headed to Denver next Tuesday for a public town hall on “veterans issues.” Liberal group ProgressNow Colorado is asking their members to attend and ask such pertinent questions as:

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs is swamped with injured veterans of wars started by Jeb’s brother, former President George W. Bush. Will Jeb Bush continue to involve the United States in reckless wars, and if so, how will he take responsibility for the thousands of new injured veterans who will need care?

What about fellow Republican Mike Coffman’s failure to oversee the Aurora VA hospital project as chairman of the VA’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee?

Massive cost overruns for military weapons programs barely make the news these days, while a VA hospital running over budget is a nationwide headline. As President, would Jeb Bush continue to sink billions of dollars into unnecessary and expensive weapons, or will he direct that money to ensure veterans have the care they need?

Needless to say, getting Jeb’s answer on any of those would be newsworthy.

► Also, Jeb! says “anchor babies” is not an offensive term. Trump it up, Jeb!

In other Colorado presidential news, GOP operative Josh Penry will front Marco Rubio’s Colorado campaign, while Democrat Brad Komar will head up Colorado organizing efforts for Hillary Clinton.

► A new study from Stanford University, not exactly a liberal bastion, says that the real swing votes are unregistered, unlisted Americans who would vote Democratic if they cared to vote at all. Food for thought next time you hear the words “silent majority.”

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► The EPA announced yesterday that water quality in the San Juan River, of which Colorado’s Animas River is a tributary, has returned to pre-spill levels–even as the EPA deals with more bad press over rejected water shipments to the Navajo Nation.

► None of which excuses ridiculous conspiracy theories about the spill coming out of the Utah state legislature.

► Marijuana is legal in Colorado, which means the old school “Reefer Madness” style arguments against kids using it are in need of some updating. Colorado is rolling out a new approach called the “What’s Next” campaign.

► Lower energy prices are really starting to take a chunk out of Colorado’s oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, the town of Erie is tightening up fracking protections within their boundaries over protest from the industry.

► Sure, it’s legal for Chick-Fil-A’s upper management to hate on gays and lesbians, but that doesn’t mean Denver has to let them set up shop in our publicly-owned airport.

► Looks like the ACLU’s campaign to hold Greeley accountable on excessive panhandling restrictions is bearing fruit, with the city promising to work with them on changes.

► Did you apply to be the next Denver sheriff? Because some twenty-five people did.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Fort Carson 1st Lt. Shaye Haver is one of the first two women to successfully complete the U.S. Army’s daunting Ranger training school. We salute her best-of-the-best badassery.

► The corpse flower at the Denver Botanic Gardens is apparently not as corpse-y smelling as some tourists would prefer. We ourselves are cool.

ICYMI

► Castle Rock is fighting off the U.N. like Patrick Swayze fought the Russkies in Red Dawn. Or more likely they’re just being silly.

Get More Smarter by liking Colorado Pols on Facebook!