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November 21, 2008 08:53 PM UTC

Going Commission Crazy

  • 35 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Governor Bill Ritter has gained a reputation for being a big fan of forming the “commission” to study things (sometimes in place of making actual decisions). The latest commission is, um, a little less important than some of the others. Click below for the full press release.

GOV’S NEW LINCOLN COMMISSION TO BEGIN WORK TOMORROW (NOV. 21)

New commission to study the significance of Abraham Lincoln Presidency in preparation of 2009 bicentennial celebration

Gov. Bill Ritter recently issued an Executive Order to create the Colorado Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.  The purpose of the commission is to lead Colorado’s efforts at understanding and appreciating the significance of Abraham Lincoln and his presidency to our nation and on Colorado’s history, and to encourage dialogue about the “unfinished work” of democracy and equal opportunity in our own place and time.  

The Commission will: recommend and initiate programs to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth throughout 2009; promote awareness of how the West shaped Lincoln and how he shaped the West; and encourage dialogue about and civic engagement with the challenges to democracy and equal opportunity that Lincoln faced in his time and that we face in ours. The commission will begin their work tomorrow, Nov. 21, 2008 at 1:30pm; 1560 Broadway, Suite 1550, Denver, CO.

“As history will attest, Abraham Lincoln is considered one of America’s greatest president’s and his legacy has special importance to Colorado and the West,” Gov. Ritter said.  He drew a line against the expansion of slavery in the West and he held that line, and he labored long and hard to keep Colorado out of the Civil War.  That kind of presidential leadership shaped the development of the West and Colorado for years to come.”

In February 2009, the nation will celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.  In recognition and anticipation of this anniversary,  Gov. Ritter created an Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission to encourage participation in the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.  The overall goal of the Commission is to increase knowledge and awareness of Lincoln in the United States and abroad.

The twenty-person commission will be made up of from individuals from all across the state.  Members are:

·         Honorable Nancy Todd of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives, appointed in consultation with the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives, appointed;

·         Honorable Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, to serve as a member of the Colorado Senate, appointed in consultation with the President and Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate, appointed;

·         Eugene Hainer of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Colorado Department of Education and as a representative of the Colorado State Library, appointed;

·         William J. Convery, III of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Colorado Historical Society, appointed;

·         Brent K. Wagner of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Denver Public Library, appointed;

·         Margaret A. Coval of Elizabeth, Colorado, to serve as a representative of Colorado Humanities, appointed;

·         Wendell Pryor of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a Co-Chair of the Commission, appointed;

·         Dr. Sydney Nathans of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a Co-Chair of the Commission, appointed;

·         Thorvald A. Nelson of Aurora, Colorado, appointed;

·         Susan E. Hotz of Greenwood Village, Colorado, appointed;

·         Barbara Lovell-Reid of Fort Garland, Colorado, appointed;

·         Pamela P. Osborne of Denver, Colorado, appointed;

·         Eric Love of Broomfield, Colorado, appointed;

·         Edward R. Crowther of Alamosa, Colorado, appointed;

·         Michael L. Perry of Fruita, Colorado, appointed;

·         Christopher L. Dill of Greeley, Colorado, appointed;

·         Susan Schulten of Denver, Colorado, appointed;

·         Brooke D. Talmachoff of Westminster, Colorado, appointed;

·         Thomas P. Hagan of Golden, Colorado, appointed;

·         Shane “Kato” Crews of Monument, Colorado, appointed.  

The twenty-person commission consists of up to twenty (20) members, they are appointed by and are serving at the pleasure of the Governor through December 31, 2009.

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35 thoughts on “Going Commission Crazy”

  1. But really? I mean, aren’t we in a budget crisis?

    If the cost to the taxpayers is $0, I’m all for it. If it’s anything more, it’s a weird thing to be spending money on in a time when we have real problems to fix.

      1. We were well on our way to statehood until The Sand Creek Massacre. Colorado had been granted the right to a state government in 1864. After the massacre in November 1864 and subsequent investigation then President Johnson, in July 1865, stripped territorial governor Evans of his position and Colorado’s entry into state hood was delayed.  

      2. And he realized that it would have been a Union state, which would have provided two more Senators to help him get legislation passed. Buchanan made it a territory, but Lincoln pushed hard for statehood.

        Were it not for his assassination, Colorado would have become a state much earlier than 1876 (not 1872).

    1. Instead of a commission how about just encouraging students to research this?  It would be fun like when students learned about the legislative process by pushing  legislation to make the box turtle the state reptile and Doug Bruce was the only one to vote against after giving a 15 minute oration on why he doesn’t believe in wasting the the legislature’s time.  But he didn’t kick any of them.

      1. I’m all for encouraging students, but if you went to school in this state you’ve already done it.  Even the Western angle.

        Did you actually ask the students if they’d been kicked?  Maybe they were taught not to tattle.  I feel completely confident that Dougie is an equal opportunity kicker.

    2. I didn’t realize that our legislators and governor were so bored.

      I kept waiting for the punch line as I was reading that. I guess the joke is on the people of Colorado.  

  3. By applying to be Secretary of State Buescher, Fawcett, Gordon, Romanoff and Rodriguez  may lose out on the chance to obtain an appointment for one of the many Federal jobs opening up in Colorado.  Obama and his cabinet will want people who are ready to start working now. Waiting to see if another job comes through is not the best way to obtain a job from an administration that is moving quickly to fill every job now held by Bush appointees.  

    2. of the Lincoln Commission be available for federal jobs, or will it be seen as too much sucking-up to Obama (the comparisons with Lincoln have got to be old by now)?

    3. .

      asking to be appointed SOS doe not take any one of them out of consideration for federal political appointments.  

      Willis will get the SOS gig, and the 20 others who applied all sense that, so they continue to pursue other options.  

      I think many are angling for an appointment to the Minerals Management Service.

      .

      1. Probably the Committee will only submit one name by acclamation: DAN WILLIS to be the next SOS.  Dan actually knows everything there is to know about election law and procedure.

        Yes, technically you can apply for a federal job and SOS. Practically speaking you cannot aggressively lobby to be both SOS and to gain a Federal appointment from the new President.  

          1. .

            To Dan, it’s a career capstone position, where he could make needed improvements that he’s been preparing for all his life.  

            Only through an appointment, which doesn’t happen very often, can we get a non-politician in that office, which needs some process remodeling done.  

            I don’t mean to speak for him, but I assume he would not run for election to the office after his appointment ran it’s course.  I think he would implement the changes he’s discussed here, and step down.  

            .

              1. I was a travel agent until 9/11 when the industry was all but destroyed with the towers. The company I worked for at the time was one of many to go under in the aftermath.

                I spent the next two years at Frontier Airlines, but that job was flexible enough to allow me to pursue several election-related positions which are of course very seasonal in nature.

                After Frontier I worked mostly elections, and also other temp positions during non-election periods.

                I did spend one year again as a travel agent but was again laid off a year ago. During that time I still participated in discuscuions surrounding dismantling the Denver Election Commission. For the past years it has been nearly all election-related work.

                So saying “my whole life” was Barron’s exaggeration (I am older than that), but there has been signacant portions of my life devoted to the issues faced by the incoming SoS.

                1. …I joke!  But, in truth, your resume doesn’t sound stellar.  Especially considering others who’ve applied.  I know, I’m a hater and a meany and what-not, but let’s be serious here.  

                  I must concede, of course, that you give the impression of a nice guy who has the public interest at heart.  

                    1. Every time someone makes a comment or asks a question about Colorado Election Law or Regulations Dan Willis always knows the right answer.  Plus he is fast to respond.  Dan may not be appointed but the Governor could and probably will do a lot worse.  

  4. I’m a little offended here.  I like Lincoln as much as the next guy, but let’s give Teddy Roosevelt his due!

    Teddy Bear Roosevelt Commission.

    – T. Roosevelt actually visited Colorado.  Don’t think Lincoln ever made it here (granted he was busy at the time and then he got shot).

    – T. Roosevelt made his mark on this state.  We have a forest named after him after all! Nice place Roosevelt national forest. Lot’s of people like to shoot dem guns up dere.

    – Teddy boy also created Mesa Verde National Park!

    Geez, not only is the Governor wasting time, he’s studying the wrong dude!

      1. I was thinking more of another commission to study T. Roosevelt and the Governor could endorse that one too since he’s into commissions and all.  

        But, I do appreciate the creative comment.

        1. .

          when was he born ?

          Though the TR commission may have just missed commemorating the sesquicentennial last month, that gives us almost 50 years to get ready for the bicentennial.

          .  

  6. Is Ritter creates a commission for everything. Pretty soon we’ll see a commission to determine why we have so many commissions. If he didn’t create a commission every other day then this would be no big deal.

  7. …governor created a commission for people to study something you wouldn’t otherwise be interested in.  Not new, not wise, but par for the course.  If this costs a dime, I’d be surprised.  But it’s priceless for agitating those government-watchers who like to bitch about every little thing.

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