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January 03, 2009 05:57 PM UTC

What They're Saying About Bennet

  • 33 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Selected quotes from around the state and nation this morning.

Fort Collins Coloradoan:

Poudre School District Superintendent Jerry Wilson said Bennet has displayed his political and negotiating skills in heading DPS, the state’s largest school system, which has faced years of performance issues.

“In urban districts, those political skills are vital to the success of the district,” said Wilson, who said he’s had “limited interactions” with Bennet…

Bennet’s position on teacher pay is a break from orthodox Demo-cratic policies, which generally have been resistant to merit-based pay for teachers, said Kirk Brush, chairman of the Larimer County Republican Party.

“From a Republican perspective, the fact that he’s willing to look at different options for education is encouraging,” Brush said.

Brush’s Democratic counterpart, Adam Bowen, said Bennet appears to be the type of moderate Democrat – like Salazar, Ritter and Rep.-elect Betsy Markey – who performed well in recent years in Larimer and Weld counties.

Rocky Mountain News:

“It is surprising, and hopefully he’ll surprise us,” said Ted Textor, political director of the Colorado Council of Teamsters, which backed another applicant.

“I think you’ve got people who are personally unhappy, but there isn’t a large faction that would be unhappy,” Denver City Councilman and former Democratic legislator Doug Linkhart said of the pick.

“If (Gov. Bill Ritter) had appointed somebody with a long track record – let’s say against labor, for example – then labor would have been mad. But Michael has never been in a position to vote on anything. That’s a plus for him. He doesn’t have a whole bunch of people who oppose him.”

Grand Junction Sentinel:

Bennet, superintendent for the Denver Public Schools, lacks legislative experience to truly succeed in Washington, according to Mike Hesse, a Republican political consultant.

Hesse said Bennet’s lack of statewide name recognition will leave him in danger at the polls in 2010.

“Even the average Denver resident, if you walk down the street, wouldn’t know who he is,” he said.

Mark Hillman, a member of the Republican National Committee and a former state senator, praised Bennet as “a sharp guy,” but said his lack of legislative experience will be a boon for Republicans.

“Bill Ritter is the governor that keeps on giving to the Republican Party,” Hillman said…

Former Congressman Scott McInnis, R-Colo., said unlike some of the other contenders for the U.S. Senate appointment, including Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Congressman Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., Bennet is a moderate.

“Mike’s very capable,” McInnis said. “I think he’s fairly moderate … and he’ll be pretty strongly seated two years from now.”

Denver Post:

“I think it’s an outside-the-box pick,” said [Senate President Peter] Groff, noting that Bennet was part of a new generation of public servants bringing a fresh perspective to Washington along with the 47-year-old president-elect.

“You have this new energy and this new idea of going to Washington and working outside of the beltway. And I think Michael brings that.”

But many state politicians within the Democratic Party were surprised that Ritter would pick someone with Bennet’s lack of legislative experience and his unfamiliarity with the state outside the Denver area.

“Our concern would be, ‘How well does he know our rural issues like agriculture and water?’ ” said state Sen. Jim Isgar, a Democrat from the southwest Colorado community of Hesperus.

…some wondered if passing over Hickenlooper had something to do with the mayor continually toying with running against Ritter in a gubernatorial primary two years ago. After Hickenlooper finally opted out, he didn’t endorse Ritter until two weeks before the November 2006 election.

…”Is Ritter just saying to John Hickenlooper, ‘You were going to run against me in the primary, to hell with you,’ ” said Denis Berckefeldt, a political organizer in Denver and spokesman for City Auditor Dennis Gallagher. “In my mind, this is a slap in the face to John Hickenlooper.”

AP (Paulson):

Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams said the seat already was being targeted in 2010 by both parties, but he said the choice of Bennet was “perplexing.”

“There are some admirable things Bennet did with Denver Public Schools, but he’ll be judged by what he does in the Senate. There are major issues coming up this year, and he’ll have to vote on tax increases and bailouts. Those votes will define Michael Bennet,” Wadhams said.

Political consultant Floyd Ciruli said Bennet is a risky choice for Democrats, who will have to spend millions of dollars defending that seat in two years.

“He’s the one candidate on the list who has the least political experience. I don’t think anyone knows his views on anything except education. This is surprising,” Ciruli said…

New York Times:

From the start as schools superintendent, Mr. Bennet did not behave like a traditional educator. He liked to ride the bus with students on the first day of class and made it a point to be the public face of the district in public meetings with parents over some of its most wrenching decisions, like school closings. But he also came armed with a weighty Rolodex full of highly placed friends to personally lobby city officials, state legislators and others for what the Denver schools needed.

“Having a fresh set of eyes for the issues D.P.S. faced, but also being able to call the right people and get the right people involved – both were very important to his success,” said the Speaker-elect of the Colorado House of Representatives, Terrance D. Carroll, a Democrat whose district is in Denver.

Politico:

Coloradans responded to the news Friday that Gov. Bill Ritter (D) had appointed Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet as their new senator with a collective “huh?”

“No one really expected this,” said one House aide from Colorado.

“Michael Bennet? Seriously?” said Seth Masket, an assistant political science professor at the University of Denver and an expert in local politics, after a reporter broke the news.

Colorado Pols, a popular political website in the state, put it more bluntly in a blog entry: “What the hell?!?”

…Masket said Bennet will “have to educate his constituents really quickly about who he is and quickly attach himself to issues important to the state.”

Appointed senators, he said, have “a tough road ahead,” when they run for election. “Less than half of them win,” he said.

Washington Times:

“The general assumption among the observant class is that there’s tremendous bad blood between Ritter and Hickenlooper,” Mr. Ciruli said.

At the same time, Mr. Hickenlooper is likely to throw his support behind Mr. Bennet because the two are friends — Mr. Bennet served for two years as the mayor’s chief of staff, and Mr. Hickenlooper enthusiastically backed him for the schools post.

Mr. Hickenlooper declined Friday to comment on the selection, noting that the governor had not yet made the announcement official…

Los Angeles Times

Bennet was viewed as a dark horse candidate in a field of Colorado Democratic luminaries. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, for whom Bennet previously worked as chief of staff, Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette all vied for the post.

Bennet, who has won broad praise for implementing merit pay for Denver teachers and keeping the district’s budget in line, would have to run for election in 2010 to keep the seat. Political analysts said that makes his selection a big risk.

“He has no name identification. He’s not well-known in Denver,” said Floyd Ciruli, a Denver pollster. “The Republicans are now probably pretty ecstatic.”

More Rocky Mountain News:

Among Romanoff’s supporters was Progressive 15, a coalition of 15 mostly rural counties in northeast Colorado.

The group had written a letter to Ritter on Romanoff’s behalf.

“We are disappointed,” said Cathy Shull, executive director of Progressive 15.

Bennet is such an unknown in rural Colorado that members initially thought Ritter had appointed one of Republican Sen. Wayne Allard’s former staffers, also named Michael Bennett, although it is spelled differently… [Pols emphasis]

Democrat Wally Stealey, a legend in Pueblo politics, said he called the governor’s office recently and asked who was being considered.

The reply: Romanoff. Hickenlooper. Congressmen John Salazar and Ed Perlmutter. Former Senate candidate Tom Strickland.

“Michael Bennet was never on the list,” Stealey said.

He said he fielded calls all day Friday from angry Democrats.

“We’re in total shock,” Stealey said. “We don’t think he can win the next election. We think he is the wealthy man’s candidate.”

Other Democrats hailed the choice…

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33 thoughts on “What They’re Saying About Bennet”

  1. Ultimately, it’s a good thing that Ritter looks beyond standard political calculations in a decision like this.

    Bennet has a narrow time frame to demonstrate the political and policy skills and get himself known to the public. As for the latter, however, I think the public is going to resonate to someone who brings to the table three things: a strong business background, a strong public service background, and a budget hawk record in both the public and private sectors.  

  2. I might need an ER visit and it’s all your fault!  (Trying out Republican responsibility.)

    All these over long front page posts recently, my gawd!  

    Enough already!  

    1. This really gets in your craw, doesn’t it?

      Do we need to chip in and get you a better mouse? Are you using a tiny monitor? Are you one of those obsessive touchpad dependents? We’ll try to cut them down a little, but we might want to start thinking cause over symptom here.

      2. There’s just no reason to have a ten foot long front page.  If a topic is interesting – and most are – the whole thing can be had with a click.

        Just to get to the Open Forum of the day yesterday meant a long hike down, down, down.  

        If there is a rational reason for the long front pages, tell me and I’ll back off.  Cuz you want to is not a good reason!

  3. I may disagree with Gov. Ritter’s selection, I’m willing to give both the benefit of the doubt for now, though I believe that a strong bullpen is lining up to relieve Bennet if he chooses not to run for election in 2010 or he proves to be less than effective.

    Wadhams shouldn’t get too excited yet, given the strength of the Democratic Party and the ideological infighting within his own party.

    I think we as part-time pundits should stand back and let things play out for now. We should at least look at it this way, Gov. Ritter didn’t try to sell the seat while knowing his lines were tapped.

  4. What they are saying about what Pols is saying about Bennet:

    The Politico

    Coloradans react to Bennet pick

    …

    “Michael Bennet? Seriously?” said Seth Masket, an assistant political science professor at the University of Denver and an expert in local politics, after a reporter broke the news.

    Colorado Pols, a popular political website in the state, put it more bluntly in a blog entry: “What the hell?!?”

  5. Bennet did NOT institute merit pay at DPS.  There was a four year pilot study funded by DPS,  the Union, and I think foundations, jointly. Then, teachers voted on the plan – when it looked like the teachers were not going to approve the plan, a “foundation” hired a PR group and promoted the

    plan. After the teachers’ union, DCTA, voted to approve the plan, the voters were asked to approve a $20 million annual tax increase to fund the thing, which they did.  

    ALL of this happened BEFORE Bennet showed up. BUT, Bennet is being described as the person who started merit pay…..great PR; great connections.

    When you have friends in high places, you can disregard the average citizen.  Bennet consolidated facilities when he was with Anschultz, closed some and laid off employees, if memory serves me right.  He applied the same strategy at DPS.  What pisses me off is that he treated students like laid off employees….goodbye and good luck. out of sight, out of mind….don’t let the door hit you on your way out…

    His authority has never come from persuading voters to vote for him.  His power has always been derived.  It makes me uncomfortable. It does make Udall, and even Schaffer, look a little foolish…all that work, all that fund raising.   when all you had to do was be a choir boy from back east and you could just waltz in…

    It would be good to take a second look at the DPS partnership with all those Foundations….how much did they contribute to the various DPS  campaigns? Who sits on their boards?  However, many are private and that information is not public.

    Sorry if this is too long pr.

  6. Clearly the Mayor is behind this selection.

    Ritter was forced to pick Hick based on the facts and data. But why would Hick want it, and certainly Labor couldn’t stand for it?

    From his perspective Hick didn’t need to be 1 of 100. He gets all the international & national level press he wants running his operation in Colorado.

    Hick and his emissaries talked the Guv into this position after the Dem Senate polling showed only Hick could be picked.

    This all leaves Hick free and clear to decide what he wants to do, his boy Bennet gets the bump to DC and Romo is left (unfortunately) out in the cold.

    Great guy Romo, hopefully there is something more then a regional department assignment for him. This move (coupled with SOS) was a real crap down for Romo politically.

  7. Perhaps the only requirement Bennet had to fulfill was the ability to raise $14,000 a day to finance his 2010 election, since he certainly doesn’t have enough time to tour the state and understand the myriads of issues facing Colorado citizens outside of Denver proper before he hits the Senate floor. And will two years will enough time for Bennet to win the hearts of the trench warfare Democrats willing to sludge through thick and thin, knocking on doors and beating the streets to get him re-elected?

    Bennet may be a smart guy, but he can’t put more hours on the clock. At least with some of the other candidates mentioned, they knew the territory and the Democratic army. Ritter got some lousy advice on this pick.

  8. Looks like the Stage is set:  Bennet v. Suthers.  Suthers has to be smiling today with this pick.  Should be a fun race.  Bennett will have the natural “incumbant” platform to raise his name ID, but this has to be a toss up at worst for Suthers at this early point.  Word is Suthers is already locking down a campaign team.  

    1. Suthers’ name ID statewide is within a point or two of Bennet’s.  He also will have to raise scads of cash.

      Isn’t former Gov. Owens the likely and most logical pick for the Rs?  High name recognition, loyal supporters, enough time passed to make his personal issues less relevant, etc.

        1. Is going to be AWESOME.

          I like Bennet – I really do, but Owens is a really brilliant guy, and has given a lot to this State.  

          I’ll pop the popcorn for that one…

  9. the thing that kept hitting me is that Bennet has worked at the level of the Masters of the Universe (top investment bankers). When people are in there testifying about what must be done to keep the financial markets running, he can call them on the B.S. I don’t think there is presently anyone in the Senate since Corazine left with this level of knowledge.

    In terms of what’s best for the country, and for our state, Bennet may very well be a superb choice. And even if we know that means the GOP will win this seat in ’10 (they won’t), I think having someone with this knowledge is more important.

    1. But then, David, Obama could have appointed him to some high spot in Treasury or Justice (which would have been perfect) or the council of economic advisors, etc…..

      Obama passed him over for all of those possibilities…

        1. Not the Senate. See, the Senate is part of the Legislative branch of the government. The SEC is part of the Executive. The president appoints people to the latter.  The kind of expertise you are describing is the kind of expertise which should be in the executive – policy formation or regulation.

          You sound like you think Bennet is going to do for the SEnate what he did for Anschultz….That is not how the SEnate works….

          Do you know that you seem to hero worship men with money…polis, bennet…i don’t share your infatuation…

          1. Do you know that you seem to hero worship men with money…polis, bennet…i don’t share your infatuation…

            I like people with successful experience in the real world. In most cases experience does mean they’ve made a lot of money.

            But money alone – no. If I did, I’d support Ali.

        1. What will be fun is listening to Mike “you did a hella job, Brownie” comment on the appointment….He goes on a great rant about accountability and responsibility in government…

          brass balls. maybe he will run against Bennet for the senate.

  11. On DailyKos we have Kos himself weighing in

    If Michael Bennet was considered a caretaker appointment, this would make more sense. But it doesn’t seem so. Bennet was chosen because he had the right pedigree and connections, not because he brings any relevant accomplishments to the table. Any appointment to an elected position should have, as a minimum, electoral experience (even of the losing variety). Instead, Bennet parlayed three years as schools superintendent into the second-highest elected office in the land. That’s a sweet gig if you can get it.

    …

    Well then, he’ll fit in right at home in the Senate. Meanwhile, I look forward to a competitive primary in 2010 in the great state of Colorado. For all we know, Bennet will be far better than Ken Salazar. The bar is set pretty low on that front. But this system of gubernatorial appointments needs to end in the states that maintain it. It is patently undemocratic.

    I wonder what Kos and David Sirota would say if Ritter had appointed someone very liberal, say David Sirota. I think in that case we would be getting a lot of “well done’s.”

    Appointments are a chance to send someone who, while they might not win an election, can do a very good job and win as an incumbent.

    As to a primary, I think Bennet will do well enough that there will be no primary on our side. But you never know…

    1. Hopefully the Kossacks didn’t watch the press conference.  Bennet was asked about NCLB and didn’t immediately go into a hissy fit about the evils of the Bush Admin.  He even pointed out its positive elements!  🙂

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