U.S. Senate See Full Big Line

(D) J. Hickenlooper*

(R) Somebody

80%

20%

Governor See Full Big Line
(D) Phil Weiser

(D) Joe Neguse

(D) Jena Griswold

60%

60%

40%↓

Att. General See Full Big Line

(D) M. Dougherty

(D) Alexis King

(D) Brian Mason

40%

40%

30%

Sec. of State See Full Big Line
(D) A. Gonzalez

(D) George Stern

(R) Sheri Davis

50%↑

40%

30%

State Treasurer See Full Big Line

(D) Brianna Titone

(R) Kevin Grantham

(D) Jerry DiTullio

60%

30%

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd*

(D) Somebody

80%

40%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert*

(D) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank*

(D) Somebody

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(R) Gabe Evans*

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(D) Joe Salazar

50%

40%

40%

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
November 06, 2008 04:38 PM UTC

Thursday Open Thread

  • 82 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“In every age of well-marked transition, there is the pattern of habitual dumb practice and emotion which is passing and there is oncoming a new complex of habit.”

–Alfred North Whitehead

Tweet
Share

Comments

82 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

    3. .

      It shows the two announced candidates, with approximately the right odds.

      Maybe they could update the comment under Lamborn, since there won’t be any primary.  

      Or maybe they could update it to look like the Line for CD-1.  

      .

  2. and almost overwhelmed with the potential for our nation with a President Barack Obama. Not because he is African-American in the most accurate sense of the term, but because he really seems like the definition of what we always meant by “change agent”.

    On Election Night I emailed a friend in Germany that we may have saved America for the world. She replied, simply, “Thank you”.

    I don’t even want to think, right now, of the battles we will have with right wing bloggers. I do believe that our new President will deal with it as well as can be done. But, it will be nastier than anything we have ever seen.

    1. He is organized,  brilliant, confident, intellectually curious times ten, creative, disciplined, calm, steady, a decisive decision maker, a deal maker, a smart delegator and judge of quality advisers, a good man.   Another enormous plus, Michelle is going to be the most world popular, admired First Lady since Jackie. I can’t get over imagining the beautiful new first family in the White House.

      I believe that Obama will make history not just as the first African American President, huge as that is, but as one of history’s best American Presidents and perhaps our most transformational leader of the free world in a tough time.  He’s got it all. I have to keep telling myself it’s really true.  We really had the sense to elect him.  

        1. he’s Muslim or he hangs out with terrorists or he isn’t really one of us or his birth certificate is phony or his preacher is a wacko or his middle name is Hussein.  You were supposed to take that as permission to vote against him because he’s dangerous, not because he’s black, wink wink. Guess you missed it.

        2. There was very little mention of his being black between June and November 4, but on November 5, suddenly the only guests on TV to talk about the election are black (at least from what I saw on CNN). Suddenly it’s a big civil rights achievement. Which I understand, it’s just that everybody seemed to forget that it would be for six months.

          1. Remember Jesse Jackson who wanted to cut his nuts off a couple of months ago? And Tuesday night he has tears streaming down his face. Hell, I was crying when I realized what it meant. And when his and Biden’s families were up there at the end and what we say there was America, black & white.

            I think up till the win people were holding back, wondering if America really would elect an African-American. And when it happened, I think for most everyone it was a giant release because we had been holding back unsure of what would happen.

            So yes, it was suddenly major.

            1. But knowing Jesse he was crying for himself at his new irrelevance and that he won’t be able to shake anyone down like he used to.

              He (Jackson) turned from a superhero – an amazing man into a version of the men he used to so righteously fight.

              Sad.

  3. My best friend from my Infantry Days of the Cold War is still in, and has done 4 tours in Iraq. After his 3rd tour, they promoted him to 2nd LT, and he did this last tour as an Infantry Platoon Leader.

    He got back to “The World” on News Years Eve, and has since been promoted to Captain, and will be heading to school to finish his degree (he was supposed to finish 2 years ago, but this Iraq thing got in the way.)

    So, on election night, he was watching all the lines for voting, and we exchanged text messages on what we were doing and where we were. When I mentioned that we might get a 90% turnover this night, this was his reply:

    “About damn time people did their duty.”

    I would submit that the “new complex of habit” should be getting out the vote to the standard we just set.  

      1. all of our kids grow up with the idea that voting will be their most sacred duty as Americans and should be trained to be voters. They all need to be tought civics from kindergarten on.  Simple concepts first and building on that every year.  Every child should be taught to look forward to the first vote as a right of passage and patriotic responsibility. By the time they reach 18 they should understand the basics of how government works on a local, state and federal level. It should be an automatic assumption for every kid that he or she will grow up to vote and participate.

          1. Paying attention to what’s going on in the world, talking about it, whatching some news together, learning about what being an American means and how our government works from an early age the way we learn how to read and write and do some math makes it part of what you grow up expecting to do the way you expect to get your drivers license or graduate from High School.  

            We’ve always talked about that kind of thing in our family and we didn’t have to lecture our kid to vote. He’s always been interested in the larger world and it never occurred to him not to vote as soon as he could.

      1. in ways a great many of us don’t like. He has four years under his belt. I don’t see a need to wait to see what he’ll do for his last two. His first four seem to clearly indicate that already.  

        1. He was a junior Senator from a red state, and for two years he was in the minority party. With the political winds shifting, it’s quite possible that he will be able to vote in a fashion that will be more palatable to the left.

          Really though, he was trying to get re-elected, and if you look at his approval numbers it’s hard to say that it didn’t work.

          Assuming he doesn’t get appointed to any Executive branch positions, who is someone who you would deem progressive enough who could take him on in a primary, win, and then win statewide? I just don’t see that happening, but that’s what would have to happen. You can’t just “replace” Salazar.  

          1. Salazar is a centrist Democrat, gang o’14, and he is principled on his positions. Routing out leaders like Salazar and Blue Dogs will only undermine the Democrat agenda. Additionally, you don’t take out a U.S. Senator of this stature.

            progressivepartner.org should return to the cave and try to avoid reading Dobson’s Tactics for Political Change.

            1. Everyone knows that the first term of any politician is spent trying to put themselves in a situation where they can get re-elected.

              When I met him at the Big Tent during the DNC, I talked to one of his handlers–just shooting the shit. Anyway, he gave me his card and said that they’d been getting ready for 2010 since 2006.

              1. I sincerely thought you were saying he had been re-elected. I get you now.

                And frankly, I’m not sold on Salazar for a variety of reasons, particularly his votes on torture, his caving in on judges and his undying support for Lieberman and Gonzalez.

                I have no idea who would come along to primary him but frankly, I’d be halfway interested in getting involved in that campaign.

                Look, I’m not looking to actively shove him out but let’s be honest–there’s a healthy sized portion of Democrats that are not suffering from short term memory loss and know his record and are less than thrilled with it. I think that he has also built up some serious support with Dems and Independents and it’s unrealistic to think that he can be easily primaried.  

                1. I’ve definitely called his office a couple times to give him a piece of my mind for certain votes.

                  I just think it would be dangerous to primary someone who has turned an R seat into a safe Dem seat.

                2. Obama and friends are closer to the center than to the far left and Hispanic Dems like Salazar who so helped bring the Hispanic vote to Obama are highly valued. I’d say, after helping tun the west blue in this last election, a Colorado moderate Hispanic Dem Senator like Salazar has little reason to fear lefties in the party. I say this as a  Dem whose heart is more lefty.

            2. …or whatever it was that removed Habeus Corpus.  I think that was after the new shaft-the-consumer credid card act and the new bankruptcy act.

              He has, OTOH, taken many principled stands, and for a junior senator gotten amazing recognition and status.

              I’m glad I don’t live in CO and have to address this dichotomy.  

                1. What I think we get with Salazar is not really a blue dog, but instead someone who is looking for the compromise. And that is needed in the Senate. Add to that that he is effective and has a lot of influence with others for a freshman and I think we want to keep him.

                  We definitely need to see what he does over the next year with the Dems now in charge.

                  1. all in all, I think Salazar is a pretty good guy though I disagree with him on some important things.    With a more powerful Dem position, I’m pretty sure we’ll be less unhappy with his compromises. He’s a good fit to be serving under a President Obama with an enhanced Dem majority. He already has some good across the aisle relationships.

                    Those who voted for Obama expecting a take no prisoners lefty mirror of the Bush regime will not be happy campers. Neither Obama nor HRC have ever been very far from the center.   I’m very happy to have two Dem Senators. Delirious to have Obama.  Like to think of myself as a practical minded leftyish Dem.  

      1. Markos Moulitsas started that years ago when he tried to destroy the DLC and began his war with the Blue Dogs.

        You’re right though, it would be a huge mistake to try to thin out the ranks of our party when we just got our biggest victory since Lyndon Johnson.

        2. It doesn’t have to be “that way”.  There are reasonably conservative Democrats who’ve been elected and successful in recent years who don’t compromise on basic principles.

          We do not torture.  We do not deny habeas corpus to anyone.  We do not spy on citizens without a warrant.  We do not go to war under false pretenses.  And we do not try to sweep it under the rug.

          If you can’t hold to the very basics, then you’re spending too much time doing political triangulation and not listening to the voters.  Ask Senator Tester how hard it was to just hold steady to his principles.  It worked for him, and it’s worked for others in “red” districts.

          The DLC is dying; it’s triangulated itself to death.  The Blue Dogs will outlive it and rightfully so.  Kos doesn’t have any illusions of ditching every single Blue Dog – in fact, some current Blue Dogs have received significant support from his Orange To Blue list.  The goal is “more and better Democrats”.  “Better” is for people like Donna Edwards, who ousted the very staid Al Wynn in a very liberal district.  “More” is for candidates like Doug Schuler in conservative districts.

        3. He’s made clear how he feels about conservative Democrats several times, usually citing Ben Nelson as an example.

          http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…

          I have been saying the past two years that the big difference between, say, Brian Schweitzer in Montana and David Freudenthal in Wyoming is that the former isn’t afraid to say he’s a Democrat while the latter is. So one is branding the Democratic Party, using his popularity to build the party, while the other does nothing to build his state’s moribund Democratic Party brand.

          …

          I’ve always appreciated Ben Nelson, despite a voting record that joins Democrats maybe 50 percent of the time, because he’s never used his platform to trash the Democratic Party (like Joe Lieberman does). But he never did much, either, to build the Democratic Party.

          Joe Lieberman faced a primary challenger NOT because he was conservative (on a number of issues, he’s actually kind of liberal), but because he 1) trashed the party on Fox News all the time, and 2) was much more conservative than a state like Connecticut deserves.

          Salazar disappoints progressives, but he doesn’t trash the party, and Colorado is not a super-liberal state. Boulder Liberal Mark Udall notwithstanding.

      2. Don’t do the pee pee dance too hard after one election.

        Colorado is capable of being a red State again very quickly.  

        Go ahead and primary Salazar with a wacko.  We’d love to have that seat back.

        2. LOL!

          I’m with you LB. Please go after Salazar Progressive Partners.  Pick someone Moderate R’s and right leaning independents won’t like.  You have my full support!

    1. It seems like Balmer is going to be safe in his leadership role afterall after his would be challanger fizzled.

      But who is going to be whip?  Cory of Bob?

      1. I read over at 538.com that Nebraska’s second congressional district Electoral College vote is seen as probably going to Obama.

        Woohoo! 1/8 of Nebraska!

        1. nebraska has 3 cd, the elector representing them goes to whoever carries eaqch cd. the two reprsenting the senators go to the overall winner.  So, one out of 5 could go to obama. but since 4-1 yields three net for mccain and replaces  replaces 5-0 if nebraska were winner take all like everybody else except main, it’s a net gain of two votes.e

        3. I had an Obama over/under bet going with a friend and we set the line at 365 electoral votes. I guess it’s all down to Missouri. My chances are slim (I have over), but Missouri never chooses wrong, right? Come on Obama!

        1. I’d heard they weren’t expecting a recount to dramatically change the result, but it looks like Coleman’s lead is already cut in half.

          I don’t think we need to shoot for 60 anymore, but it would be very entertaining to see that smug jerk lose to Al Franken.

      1. It seemed like they already knew Weissmann was going to be majority leader considering they elected him by acclamation.

        I think Terrance Carroll will do a fantastic job as the new House Speaker. He is someone who can get both parties to work together.

  9. President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden To Hold Meeting With Transition Economic Advisory Board

    Press Conference Will Follow the Meeting

    Chicago – President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will hold a meeting with the Transition Economic Advisory Board tomorrow, Friday, November 7, 2008. There will be a pooled photo spray for the meeting. The press conference will be held at 1:30pm central at the Hilton Chicago following the meeting.

    The members of the Transition Economic Advisory Board are below and all will participate in tomorrow’s meeting.

    В·         David Bonior (Member House of Representatives 1977-2003)

    В·         Warren Buffett (Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway)-will participate via speakerphone

    В·         Roel Campos (former SEC Commissioner)

    В·         William Daley (Chairman of the Midwest, JP Morgan Chase; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Commerce, 1997-2000)

    В·         William Donaldson (Former Chairman of the SEC 2003-2005)

    В·         Roger Ferguson (President and CEO, TIAA-CREF and former Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve)

    В·         Jennifer Granholm (Governor, State of Michigan)

    В·         Anne Mulcahy (Chairman and CEO, Xerox)

    В·         Richard Parsons (Chairman of the Board, Time Warner)

    В·         Penny Pritzker (CEO, Classic Residence by Hyatt)

    В·         Robert Reich (University of California, Berkeley; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Labor, 1993-1997)

    В·         Robert Rubin (Chairman and Director of the Executive Committee, Citigroup; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Treasury, 1995-1999)

    В·         Eric Schmidt (Chairman and CEO, Google)

    В·         Lawrence Summers (Harvard University; Managing Director, D.E. Shaw; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Treasury, 1999-2001)

    В·         Laura Tyson (Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley; Former Chairman, National Economic Council, 1995-1996; Former Chairman, President’s Council of Economic Advisors, 1993-1995)

    В·         Antonio Villaraigosa (Mayor, City of Los Angeles)

    В·         Paul Volcker (Former Chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve 1979-1987)

    2. Financial gurus

      Banking (several of those, good emphasis…)

      Technology and IT

      Services

      Media

      Manufacturing (looks like Granholm gets to sit in as the manufacturing rep, mostly as the “suffering state” voice I’d say)

      There’s a lack of an “Energy” rep, though.  Curious, considering the diversity of the rest of the group.

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Gabe Evans
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

37 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!