U.S. Senate
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(D) J. Hickenlooper*
(R) Somebody
80%
20%
Governor
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(D) Phil Weiser
(D) Joe Neguse
(D) Michael Bennet
50%
50%
50%
Att. General
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(D) M. Dougherty
(D) Jena Griswold
(D) Brian Mason
60%↑
30%↑
20%↓
Sec. of State
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(D) A. Gonzalez
(D) George Stern
(R) Sheri Davis
50%↑
40%
30%
State Treasurer
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(D) Brianna Titone
(R) Kevin Grantham
(D) Jerry DiTullio
60%↑
30%
20%↓
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(R) Jeff Hurd*
(D) Somebody
80%
40%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert*
(D) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Jeff Crank*
(D) Somebody
80%
20%
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) B. Pettersen*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(R) Gabe Evans*
(D) Manny Rutinel
(D) Yadira Caraveo
45%↓
40%↑
30%
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
February 28, 2009 07:45 PM UTC
10 Comments
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I clipped this letter in the Rocky in late 2007 because it neatly (and cleverly) summed up the fundamental reasons Republicans found themselves in such a deep political hole.
With events involving Penry, Caldara, Renfroe and Shultheis over the past two weeks, not much seems to have changed.
It appears Wadhams is still congratulating himself and his national peers for the kind of principles and methods that resulted in the “accomplishments” listed below:
Until someone succeeds in wresting control away from Wadhams, et al, this letter will remain relevant for some time to come.
I live on the Western Slope and cannot understand why ColPols keeps pushing McInnis as a moderate alternative. When in Congress, he went right along with all of the wacky stuff the Republicans wanted to do. He loyally served Armey and DeLay. And I can’t remember him ever providing real leadership. Compare him to Ken Salazar. There is a moderate Dem who still does things that get approval throughout the state. My memory of McInnis was a loyal Republican. Please provide some instances of McInnis’ moderation.
Here in Mesa County we know a little something about the Republican political machine. The characteristic of demanding knee-jerk loyalty is pervasive in the party and is shared by the oil and gas industy lobby, from which the Mesa Co. Republican leadership is practically indistinguishable.
The local business community, as represented by Club 16 (or is it 15 now?) and the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce diligently squash dissent at every opportunity. Everyone knows what happens to those who step out of line. It is no secret.
The Republican party is headed for the dust bin of history if it doesn’t stage a mutiny soon and find some new leadership. There are many moderate and reasonable Republicans (Scott McInnis, not among them) with whom the Democrats and Independents can work effectively. Let’s hope they get it together and send the Rovians packing.
Wadhams hasn’t been on the winning side of a campaign since the beating Daschle in the South Dakota Senate race in 2004. George Allen’s Macaca moment in the 2006 Virginia Senate race shouldn’t have been fatal had Wadhams been more quick to grasp the concept of viral video and how to counter-punch in the digital age.
Wadhams was brilliant in 1996 when he came up with the “lawyer-lobbyist” tag for Tom Strickland, but the tactic seemed stale and outdated when he tried it again in 2008 with the “Boulder-liberal” label for Mark Udall. Wadhams is still always good for a quote, and the local media love him for it, but that’s just it-Wadhams offers style, not substance. He’s returned home to a state that has changed significantly and his old-school mentality, while comforting to many Republicans, is not what will lead the party back to power.
I know little about Tom Stone but Dick Wadhams is not the future
but he never had a prayer to remedy what is wrong with the Republican Party. As you mentioned, he was gone from Colorado and the state changed “significantly” while he was away and when he returned his only option was to go along with the radical-extremists (they’re certainly not conservatives) who control the party. If he would have suggested moving the party toward the center he would have instantaneously become ineffective within the party. At that point, all he could do was try platitudes and “style, not substance” to try and win elections. He went along with the radicals and all that is left are a few Republican strongholds around the state that continue to shrink.
I’d love to see Dick Wadhams’ Facebook page.
Friends: George Allen, Bob Schaffer, Dave Schultheis…
Dick Wadhams is: Working on losing another election.
The Western Slope is one of the few places in the state where Republicans still overwhelmingly win elections (with a little help from their oil-and-gas lobbyist friend$.) They are concerned that Wadhams represents a style of politics that no longer resonates with the voters and that his political cancer will spread over the Divide.
Stone is stepping up to the plate, knowing he won’t win, but he’ll give the WS Republicans a soapbox in which to voice their complaints.
What might become more evident at the Republican state re-org is that Scott McInnis is the wind in Stone’s sails.
With the fall in energy prices, the Western Slope has seen some pull-back from the oil and gas industry. The checkbooks maybe closing soon as well, leaving some west slope Republican seats slightly weakened just at the time the party is trying to mount a state-wide counter offensive.
The oil and gas industry has a specific agenda, and, to their credit, have done well getting what they want from sympathetic elected officials. As a whole, however, the private sector has seen little return on it investment for several election cycles in Colorado. Some very poor choices have been made candidate-wise on the state and federal level. Ritter and the Dems’ have drawn some distinct battle lines with the business community. This should provide a natural rally point for the Republicans-but who’s now willing to write a check to the current group of clowns on stage?
Wadhams vs. Stone may be just another front range vs. west slope conflict that characterizes Colorado politics. I hope I’m wrong.
Looking at what the state government is doing, not as a Democratic partisian, but as the CEO of a company what I want from the state I am more likely to get from the Democrats.
1) Come up with a way of handling health insurance where we don’t have to provide it. It’s fine if you tax me to cover it, but get me out of having to handle it.
2) Fully fund higher-ed so it’s dirt cheap or free.
3) Get true high-speed broadband rolled out across the state. And get Qwest to provide a decent service level.
Why on earth as a CEO would I support a Republican? I need the state making these investments and view my taxes as having a great ROI.