President (To Win Colorado) See Full Big Line

(D) Kamala Harris

(R) Donald Trump

80%↑

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) V. Archuleta

98%

2%

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

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Marshall Dawson

95%

5%

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

(R) Jeff Hurd

(D) Adam Frisch

50%

50%

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

(R) Lauren Boebert

(D) Trisha Calvarese

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank

(D) River Gassen

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) John Fabbricatore

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen

(R) Sergei Matveyuk

90%

10%

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

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(R) Gabe Evans

52%↑

48%↓

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
June 04, 2009 03:43 PM UTC

Thursday Open Thread

  • 52 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

But sometimes it seems

I’m hopelessly just pushing for the world to elect me

–Don DiLego

Comments

52 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread

  1. Who’d a thunk it? Good ol’ Ludwig von jus’ knew way back then that there’d be a need, come 2009, so he went ahead and wrote the music so we could sing the lyrics to Ode to Joy lo! these many years later to celebrate Green Bill’s latest dramatic and effective move into (drum roll please) The Future!

    I refer to the DRAMATIC NEWS that the Guv, Mr. Green Himself, has encouraged employees of The State to wear shirtsleeves and even to go without ties in the summer, all in the name of saving buckaroos on air conditioning! Well, I declare! Yes, you’ll be outraged to see busy-as-bees state employees in shortsleeves–maybe even bare naked arms!–come the warm weather, assuming it comes, but hey! When we say Colorful Colorado, we’re talkin’ the color Green, brother. (Read All About It! in the Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/news… ) Whatever would we have done without Big Bill to give his OK?

    If that doesn’t change the minds of them rude anti-free-speech grocery workers, then I don’t know what will! (Oh, and LoopDeLoop is goin’ along with this bare arms stuff. Yikes! Gotta wonder if Mikey Bennet will show up in shirtsleeves one fine campaign day. Now that will be NEWS.)

  2. Yesterday, mysterio enlightened us by listing the tenets of what he considers “conservatism,” to wit:

       1. Belief in natural law

       2. Belief in established institutions

       3. Preference for liberty over equality

       4. Suspicion of power-and of human nature

       5. Belief in exceptionalism

       6. Belief in the individual

    Let’s consider these:

    1. Natural law. Such as evolution? Where is this “natural law” to be found, one wonders. Who wrote it? [Big Voice from the Sky…or was that thunder?]

    2. Established institutions, meaning, of course, social structures set up to maintain the existing social order, which is to say, to preserve the balance of distribution of wealth, however unjust or unequal.

    3. Liberty over equality. Might that include the right to rebel over the oppression of property? No, probably not. Better stated as “Preference for empty cliches over facts and reason.”

    4. Suspicion of power and human nature. Huh? You don’t think that “established institutions” are intended to convey “power” to owners of property? Isn’t “human nature” part of natural law? Now wonder cowboy boots come up so high!

    5. Exceptionalism. As in: “It’s okay for everyone else, except me. I’m different.”

    6. Belief in the individual. The Great Laugh-track of the Ages. The Lone Cowboy. Trapper Jethro, livin’ alone in the woods, nary another person in miles. Better translation: “When it benefits me, I believe in the individual, fuck everyone else.”

    Come to think of it, that’s conservatism in one law: “Benefit Me, Fuck Everyone Else.”

    1. I didn’t write those, just referenced them, and #3 is probably the closest to defining my internal politics.

      What’s funny, though, is that it was a post on how rude and condescending some people on this blog are to others who aren’t necessarily being aggressive or rude themselves.

      Is that the tone you want for this site?  Because no wonder there aren’t any rational opposing voices here if that’s the case.  

      1. …are oh, so polite and oh, so proper. No catcalls, please! And a coat and tie at all times whilst delivering a lecture on proper garden party manners.

        By posting that ridiculous list, should we assume you were putting it up for ridicule, rather than as a statement of your own set of sophisticated beliefs? Or just to practice your Control C Control V finger movements?

        Oh, I say old chap, excuse me for mentioning it at this lovely gettogether at the country club, but I really must marvel that most of the conservatives I’ve come across on that cheeky ColoradoPols blog are, how should I say this, a wee bit ignorant and a tad slow on the mental uptake, wouldn’t you say? Do you think they might be writing after a couple of extra drinks have impeded their reasoning? Speaking of which, another martini?

    2. It’s the premise for the Declaration of Independence, JO.

      Perhaps said as “The rightful order of things,” in this case meaning self-determination. Pretty damned radical 250 years ago.  Still radical. Still being fought for.  

      1. You make a good point about the philosophical notion of “natural law” as somehow reflecting “rightful order” or “morality” as opposed to “law of nature” which scientists seek to discover. “These truths are self-evident,” as Thos. Jefferson said.

        BUT. Who is to tell us when or whether laws written by men conform to the Natural Law? Does having a monarch conform to “natural law” so long as the monarch acts to guarantee “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”? Is private ownership of property part of “natural law”–or part of the all-too-human codification of “right makes might” that says “you peasants will do the work on ‘my’ land, I’ll take the harvest”? [Ditto factories when they came along.]

        From “natural law” flows all manner of notions once upon a time beloved by conservatives and abhorred by progressives. “Racial superiority” as justification for slavery, to cite one of the most odious.

        Although I am a great admirer of Jefferson, I am not one who swoons at every thought and jotting of the “Founding Fathers,” as if history stopped in 1776, or was it 1789, and inhabitants of the USofA should forever be governed by ideas about “natural law” prevalent at the time! By virtue of being unwritten and thus subject to interpretation, “natural law” serves as a convenient excuse for whatever serves the purpose of its interpreter at the moment.

  3. http://www.gjsentinel.com/news

    Seems frustration is running high with the Governor.  He cannot even send out his fluff jobs cabinet without getting slapped around.

    Booed off stage at a bill signing, Denver Post signs like mushroom story, and the jobs cabinet gets trashed.  

    Bad week is the result of a sorry administration.  

      1. I have wached this site for years.  I have noticed a trend that Ralphie and others own the site and do not want new voices.

        I thought today I will try this.  Sign up, participate, see what happens.

        Less than twenty minutes latter I get scolded by Ralphie.  Next time you all get together for drinks, I would suggest you have a discussion about blocking out new voices.  

        I am sure you want to keep the political hacks out, but you should worry about your goal of growing the voices on the site.  

        1. Stick around for a few days, and you’ll eventually earn respect. Most people who sign up and immediately post a comment trashing Ritter don’t stick around. If you’ve actually been reading the site regularly for years, you’d know that.

          1. I took as being holeyer than thou.   IT sort of has a “you can’t participate vibe” or we are exclusive.  Nice and welcoming, sort of like a Country Club.    

            1. there is a rigorous set of membership standards to be upheld and certain rights of passage (including the secret handshake).  Plus that whole creating an account thing weeds out like 99 % of would be applicants.

              Welcome (seriously).

            2. Drive-by posters have a long tradition of signing up and trashing some politico. But it’s not election season so you get the benefit of the doubt. Still, it’s up to you to earn everyone’s respect – it’s not automatically due.

              Welcome!

              1. My original point is the trend of coverage.  I forgot to mention the original article was front page above the fold.  The only news was the complete disrespect of the Governor’s jobs council.  

                This was a B6 story at best.  Of course the Sentinel does not have a B6 anymore.

                Will attempt to earn respect.  

    1. There was no supporting cast of thousands.  You almost sound like you wish there was, though, so you could win your long-lost argument.

      1. Except for the help he had from Operation Rescue’s senior policy advisor Cheryl Sullinger, whose number was found on Roeder’s dashboard, and who confirmed that she helped Roeder track Tiller’s movements during the trial hearings earlier this year.

        And except for all the people who speak in terms of stopping a “mass murderer” at all costs, to whom he listened.  All those people who he hung out with in anti-abortion circles, who shared his views, who knew he wanted to do something violent, but did not counsel against it.

        Tiller was undoubtedly on the violent fringe of the militia and anti-choice movements, but he was supported by and in contact with both.  He may (and this is not yet proven) have acted on his own, but his actions were supported by others by in-person contact as well as via hate radio.

        It’s always easy to say “he was just a lone nut” when the person is truly certifiable, but the fact remains that Roeder had frequent contact with the movement including both support and emotional/psychological/rhetorical encouragement.

      2. …but it doesn’t change the facts.

        As pointed out above, he had his supporting cast.

        How about that guy that stayed out in the woods of NC for over a year, summer and winter?  All on his own, too, I suppose.  

        1. Today the feds opened an investigation into any accomplices Roeder might have had. Obviously KK doesn’t trust the FBI — but that’s not unusual for anti-gubmint nut jobs, including the thousands who cultivated the culture that produced Tim McVeigh.

          1. you have to believe that hate movements which, in order to enjoy first amendment protections, for the most part refrain publicly from explicitly calling for violence but never-the-less implicitly promote it have no responsibility for the violence that inevitably follows. The point, in this case, is to use terror to compel the targeted people to comply with the terrorists wishes. Those who have employed this technique, and those who have implicitly encouraged them to do so, have had a fair amount of success at undermining the rule of law, much as the religious police in otherwise moderate middle eastern countries have had. The battle we find ourselves in the midst of is that between being a modern democracy and a medieval theocracy.

  4. A dedicated SEIU union boss was attending a convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels. When he got to the first one, he asked the Madam, ‘Is this a union  house?’

    ‘No,’ she replied, ‘I’m sorry it isn’t.’

    ‘Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?’

    ‘The house gets $80 and the girls get $20,’ she answered.

    Offended at such unfair dealings, the union man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionized shop. His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the Madam responded, ‘Why yes sir, this is a union house. ‘We observe all union rules.’

    The man asked, ‘And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?’ ‘The  girls get $80 and the house gets $20.’

    ‘That’s more like it!’ the union man said.

    He handed the Madam $100, looked around the room, and pointed to a stunningly attractive green-eyed blonde.

    ‘I’d like her,’ he said…

    ‘I’m sure you would, sir,’ said the Madam. Then she gestured to a 92-year old woman in the corner, ‘but Ethel here has 67 years seniority and according to union rules, she’s next.’

    Now you Know what’s wrong with Detroit and why the Union needed a BAILOUT.

      1. What’s wrong with it?  As I’ve often said, we need to laugh at ourselves, not just “the other side.”  

        No brothels in Clark County, BTW, but who’s picking nits?

      1. Actually, we’re both right.  According to Wikipedia…

        David Carradine played the adult Caine; Keith Carradine played the teen Caine, and Radames Pera played the young Caine in the original series.

        1. In the DavidThi808 tradition, I’ll admit I got the Carradine brothers totally mixed up. Thank God it wasn’t one of the Baldwins, can never keep them straight.

      1. Let’s see…if the Democrats turn on Ritter, they can pick from McInnis, Penry or others to be named later from the Republicans. And the Democrats would be better off how?

        And how would they talk Hickenlooper or Romanoff into running a primary against a sitting governor?

        1.    Hick almost ran against him 3 years ago.

            Romo went out of his way to support Ritter in ’06 when he colleagues in leadership (JFG, Alice Madden) were desperating looking for an alternative.  

          Romanoff’s decision to be the first legislative leader to endorse Ritter was rewarded when Ritter picked Bennet for the Senate.

            Although it’s speculation on my part, I suspect if you did any polling, either Hick or Romo would run better against McInnis or Penry in a hypothetical general election.

        2. that would have gone to Ritter at them?

          I’m getting the truly weird feeling that our Governor doesn’t care about the politics involved, he just does what he really believes is good for the state.  I can’t think of any other reason for the actions he’s been taking.

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

63 readers online now

Newsletter

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