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I live in Garfield County, situated in that strange and bizarre place, AKA the Western Slope. The nether-regions over the Continental divide of white capped mountains. Wilderness to most Front Range Coloradoans - wild and exotic.
A place where the red rage Republican Tea Party brigoonies, ride around in their gas guzzling Hummers and dually pick-up trucks with male testicles dangling from the trailer hitch. A far away land where unemployed, under-educated, tobacco chewing, toothless wonders drive around country roads protecting oil/gas rigs, NASCAR, and their "Christian" God with loaded shotguns under the banner of anti-immigrant nationalistic pureblood "American" Patriotism.
No need for Progressive ideology in this section of the world, because it's a "Red District", right? So what, if the Western Slope swings right and left, as often as the testicles on Billy Bob's red pick-up truck?
With this metro-centric view of the Western Slope, I shouldn't have been surprised by our Democrat Governor's Republican picks to head up everything from Oil & Gas policy to Tourism. Let's face facts, nothing says, "Come visit", like fracking fluid run-off on the Colorado River. Or maybe, it's that old home feeling urbanites crave, wanting to see our pristine mountains covered in the same brown hazed gaseous glow they have in the metro area. Truly, our air is just too freaking clean to attract tourists used to breathing smog. Soot tinted bumped ski runs on the mountains are certainly easier to see.
The little town I live in, Glenwood Springs, was recently voted to be Rand McNally's "Fun Town, USA 2013". I guess it's fun if you're White, because being popped in an ICE raid because you look like a gang member - and tazed publicly at local family events - might not be at the top of everyone's list for 'a good time'. Since Colorado hasn't officially opted out of Secured Communities with our Latino community constantly under siege by an anti-immigrant vigilante Tea Party Sheriff, I'm wondering if the "Fun Town" thing will make it to 2013?
With all this "Red Rage' in our area - and our Governor's predisposition to appoint every GOP Tom, Dick, and NeoCon from the Western Slope to his cabinet - just imagine having a strong viable Democrat community leader ready to throw her hat in the 2012 campaign ring for Senate District 8. A proven progressive with several decades of human rights advocacy, support for environmental protection initiatives, and balancing economic policy on her resume. A candidate - totally pumped with an organized grassroots - ready to run on the Democrats platform against "husband appointed" GOP Sen. Jean White.
Having a candidate like this would normally have our Democrats flocking to her like proverbial flies on cow crap; wetting themselves hysterical to have a fine represent willing to bust her butt on the party's platform, right?
Just when I think the Democrats couldn't surprise me with their lack of strategic spine, here comes Senate Leader John Morse from Colorado Springs telling our premium Democrat candidate, "We won't be supporting a Democrat to run against Jean White in SD8". Seriously, no Democrat?! |
| No Democrat in SD8 on the ballot?! No support for a strong Democrat to beat GOP Jean White!? Senate Democrat Leadership doesn't want to challenge an appointed GOP who isn't even liked by her party?! I'm having a total "someone just threw a wet cat at me" moment here! Why the punt, asks this grunt?
Our district has a strong candidate, who served as BOCC in Garfield County. Has handedly won 4 out 5 tough contested elections. A candidate who was appointed to serve on Governor Ritter's CO Oil & Gas Commission, asked to DC on numerous occasions to discuss stronger energy policy and regulation. A prime platform candidate who is being deliberately overlooked by Senate leadership, so we can continue to have a GOP representative that doesn't even live in our District.
Democrat leadership wants to continue it's support for a GOP Senator that wasn't elected, but appointed by her GOP husband, and drives around in a car that has "Proud Tea Party Supporter" on the bumper. A Senator who was heard once when supporting her Gay nephews' right to a civil union - not marriage - but doesn't view her Latina housekeeper as equally worthy of citizenship. A Senator who spends most of her time looking like a "Deer caught in the headlights" avoiding any situation that would call attention to her lack of experience.
So I'm clear, the Democrats strategy after losing the House in 2010 is to throw out our State Senate majority in 2012? What happens when GOP Jean is primaried by an even more extreme Tea Party candidate? And worse, loses her primary? I suppose it will answer the question, why Democrats love gun control. Clearly our party leaders have a difficult time not shooting themselves in the name of solid strategy.
Our area handedly elected Democrat Sen. Gail Schwartz and HD61 Democrat Roger Wilson in a tough 2010 election cycle, despite the red rage. Statistically, a Democrat has strong potential to unseat GOP Jean White - and win against a TP crackpot - offering our our region opportunity to send a third Roaring Fork Valley resident to Denver.
As a grassroots grunt who spends a lot of time in the field, I'm beyond pissed that we're being dissed. As such, we're running our candidate with our without leadership support! Thank you Senator Morse from Colorado Springs, for reminding all, that sometimes we grunts have to save the party from itself. |
