Denver Open Acupuncture
a sliding scale community acupuncture clinic
1345 East 22nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80205
303-837-8166 email
Jennifer Gross, L.Ac., M.Ac.O.M.
Elisa Gitan, L.Ac., M.S.O.M.
Dennis Herzog at the Grand Junction Sentinel details what it's like to be on the receiving end of the more bark than bite attack poodle that is Dick Wadhams:
Early in the week Democratic Senate candidate Mark Udall proposed the government quit stockpiling gas in the strategic petroleum reserve.
Reporter Mike Saccone, as any good reporter would do, called Udall's opponent to get a response. Republican Bob Schaffer is very seldom available. He called Dick Wadhams, Schaffer's campaign manager. I don't think he ever even got to tell Wadhams why he was calling. The minute Wadhams got on the phone he launched into Mike, telling him he was a biased reporter, that he's taken cheap shots at Schaffer and asking when we were going to do the same thing to Udall. I listened to the tape of the conversation. Mike seldom got to complete a question. Every time he tried Wadhams interrupted with yet another complaint about Mike and/or our coverage. He did manage to ask Wadhams for specific instances of biased reporting or cheap shots and Wadhams provided none.
The exchange was amusing. I don't know what Wadhams was trying to accomplish other than to try to get our reporter to go easier on his candidate in future stories. Whatever it was it will have no effect whatsoever on how we cover the Senate race. We'll continue to cover it as completely and fairly as possible.
(Who needs recs when I can just front page a well written find. - promoted by johne)
A constitutional lawyer has found an egregious error rammed through the Republican congress back in 1999, which has put thousands of patents and billions of dollars of ownership in doubt.
John Duffy, George Washington University Law School professor, has discovered that there is a constitutional flaw in the appointment process over the last eight years for judges who decide patent appeals and disputes. He has written a short paper [pdf file] documenting the problem, which may undo thousands of patent decisions concerning claims worth billions of dollars.
His basic point does not appear to be in dispute.
The Constitution says that some government officials may be appointed only by the President, the courts or "heads of departments" like the Attorney General or the Secretary of Commerce. The Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences hears appeals from people and companies whose patent applications were turned down by patent examiners, and it decides disputes over who invented something first. Until 1999, the Secretary of Commerce appointed those judges. The 1999 law changed that, empowering the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office to make the appointments. The problem is that the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office is not a "department head"; he is actually the Undersecretary of the Department of Commerce. "That method of appointment is almost certainly unconstitutional," Professor Duffy wrote in his paper, first published last summer on a patent law blog. Every legal scholar seems to agree.
Square State readers will not be surprised to learn that it was none other than Colorado's heroic congressman Mark Udall who had the common sense and courage back in 1999 to fight against the change that delivered this potentially disastrous outcome. To Mark Udall, "Dark of night" legislation is usually bad legislation. That's just common sense.
Congressman Mark Udall ca. 1999:
Mr. Speaker, I want to explain why I voted the way I did on this bill.
First, I had very serious concerns about the way in which this bill came before the House. It was a far-reaching measure, rolling into one oversize pile not just five appropriations bills but also several important authorization bills. It was filed in the early hours of this morning. I am confident that very few if any Members were able to read it all. Yet that is how it was, and we had to vote it up or down, with only limited time for debate and no chance to change it.
This is not the way we should do our work. While we are already more than two weeks late, today we passed yet another continuing resolution to keep the agencies covered by this bill operating. So we had some time--and we should have taken the time to do things the right way.
However, the majority's leadership decided to reject that more orderly way of proceeding. We had to choose a simple yes or no. And, after careful consideration, I decided to vote against this bill.
... "Peekaboo" is something that's fun to play with toddlers, but I don't think we should be trying to pull it on the taxpayers.
Republican "Peekaboo" is not a game to play with taxpayers. That's Mark Udall. It's the kind of short-term common sense that avoids long-term disaster, and it's the kind of leadership Colorado voters will put to work for them when they elect Mark Udall to the US Senate this November.
Cry, "Donate!" and let slip the hounds of fundraising!
I am going to update the links on the sidebar this weekend.
Link me to your favorite progressive Colorado campaigns and we will provide those yummy inbound referrals that the search engines so love. (And feel free to make a pitch for why we should vote for Morgan Middlelowerandino.)
I see Johne was not up late last night posting a random 10, so I'll do one. How much Death Cab For Cutie can we handle, anyway? ;) You know the rules - hit "random" or "shuffle" on an MP3 player, and write down the first ten tracks, no matter how embarrassing. Here's mine for this week:
I received an email from Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriots Fund earlier this morning. A second installment has opened up allowing votes for House candidates. Betsy Markey, running for CO-04's seat, against the odious Marilyn "Mad Cow" Musgrave, is on the list!
Whoever garners the most votes by next Wednesday at 5P will receive $5,000 from the Fund. Every little bit helps and the visibility would do wonders for Betsy's campaign, I'm sure.
The big story this week is CAP4K, Governor Ritter's cornerstone education reform package, which quietly passed and awaits the Governor's signature. The legislature adjourned one day early, having failed to reform TABOR and having failed to implement some minor policy changes the governor asked for. Now, the insurance bill was pretty major, but is this session a win or a loss for Colorado Democrats?
So long to some big names in Colorado politics:
The session also ended on a sad note for some lawmakers because they won't be returning next year. Among them include several leaders from both chambers on both sides of the aisle.
In addition to Romanoff, they include House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder; Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver; House Speaker Pro Tem Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge; and Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs.
With the primaries effectively over, every Colorado Democrat is asking the same thing: What is Mark Udall waiting for? Is there a Udall-Ritter-Salazar axis angling for something in return? Are they just trying to prevent any Denver unpleasantness? There are at least 5 superdelegate votes hanging out there from Colorado (Udall, Ritter, 2 Salazars and Waak). What's more, Obama NEEDS Colorado.
The Reverend John Hagee is a staunch backer of John McCain. He's also a nutjob that claims that the Catholic Church is the "whore of Babylon." What effect will this have on Colorado Latino/as, already sore from Douglas Bruce's "illiterate peasants" jibe? Is this an opening for Colorado Democrats? Are they bold enough to use this opening?
Yesterday the Protect Families, Protect Choices campaign kicked off on the capitol steps:
Mary Fairbanks, a doctor who teaches general-practice physicians at St. Anthony's Family Medicine Residency, said the amendment was vague and deceptive.
" 'The moment of 'fertilization' is not a medical definition and is almost impossible to determine outside a petri dish," Fairbanks said. "I believe this would endanger the lives of women in Colorado."
Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood, one of 20 state legislators in the coalition, called the amendment "dangerous and misleading."
It could trigger governmental investigations into miscarriages, restrict in-vitro fertilization by couples trying to conceive and limit birth-control methods, Boyd said.
On that same day I received an email with a link to a song on the Colorado Right to Life website. If you want to hear something clearly made with a 1980s Casio department store keyboard with lyrics reminiscent of a bad 80s hair band power ballad follow along.
Read what the Republicans Wish You Wouldn’t I'm on the run today, but want to get the latest from the DNC research department out there. Today's Daily Flipper has the following stories: Sen. John McCain is all mixed up on his wars He needs to go back to health care 101 McCain Gets White House Sign Off Before Criticizing White House McCain Wants World To Look The Other Way On Shady Connections How Much Does McCain Love Nuclear Power - Billions of Giga-Bunches Giuliani Having Trouble Raising Money for McCain Read the full report in the Daily Flipper at the Big Orange Blog.
Consider this an open thread. What's on your mind?
Legislators supported the FAIR Act (Fair & Accountable Insurance Rates) which aims to drive down health insurance companies' rising rates. The final version of the bill passed out of the House on a 42-22 vote and now awaits the Governor's signature.
The bill, sponsored by Representative Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) and Senator Paula Sandoval (Denver,) will empower Colorado's Insurance Commissioner to watchdog proposed insurance rate increases. Insurers will be required to justify rate increases before they can take effect.
In explaining House Bill 1389, Rep. Carroll said: "If it seems like we are paying more for less, it's because we are. Consumers are unhappy with ever-increasing rates and ever-declining coverage. The FAIR Act begins to address that by making sure that our health care is the insurance industries' bottom line."
Hello again and welcome to another edition of Trivia Tuesday. Today I'm blogging from that quiet, provincial town of Las Vegas, Nevada. I was meeting up with a few expat YearlyKos organizers as we plot to take over the world. Oh wait, I've said too much already. Let me distract you - look at the pretty kitty!
Whew, that was close. Okay, on to today's questions. And as always the rules: No looking up the answer on the internet and you can add your own questions below.
FYI, I'm traveling back home today, so I might not be able to respond as quickly to your answers. I'll get to them as soon as I can grab a connection.
Thousands of people die from a "hurricane." Apparently, no one can turn up the President of the United States to say a few words on the subject, so the White House dispatches...Laura Bush!
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US First Lady Laura Bush accused Myanmar's military rulers of failing to warn their citizens in time about a killer cyclone and pressed the junta to accept US aid in the disaster's wake.
"Although they were aware of the threat, Burma's state-run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storm's path," Bush said Monday in an unusual appearance at the White House briefing room podium.
Laura goes on to tell us that this is "the most recent example of the junta's failure to meet its people's basic needs." Now here is some global leadership--the kind of moral authority the family of nations has been looking for.
Governor Ritter suffers two minor setbacks this week. First of all, the $50 car tax increase is, evidently, DOA. The Governor originally wanted a $100 fee increase to fix Colorado roads and bridges, but late this week lawmakers from both parties rejected any increase.
(Hillary Clinton - 262 votes 35.262% (2 National Delegates) :: Barack Obama - 481 votes 64.738% (3 National Delegates) - promoted by Aaron Silverstein)
I could post a long diary about the CD6 Assembly and Convention, but I am just too tired. Instead, I will post the results that I know and some pictures. AJ Clemmons was selected to run for CU Regent(CD6). For congress, we had Ivan Botvin, Steve Clark, and Hank Eng nominated. Hank Eng was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot. Steve Clark still has the option to petition onto the ballot. The final results for Elector, national delegate and presidential preference will posted on the state party website later tonight.
Now for the pics (click on the pic to go to the photo album):
My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East, That will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East.
Said a mouthful, didn't he? And nothing out of context. That's it. Clear enough? Enough for you to remember next time you hear that high-minded crap about Iraq being the "central front in the war on terror," or that the fight for our "freedom" is being waged "in the streets of Baghdad," et cetera: that is, any moral basis offered for the United States having invaded and occupied Iraq?
Thanks to John McCain's "candor," we're done with all that.
You just got the real reason we're at war in Iraq, the reason we've always known but been called traitors for pointing out, shocking only in its unvarnished delivery. And there we are. It's a war for oil. I mean, obviously--and j'accuse, Senator.
2008 Lincoln Dinner FEATURING Political Cartoonist: Chuck Asay (Yuck!)
AND
Speaking for Senate Candidate Bob Schaffer: Dick Wadhams
Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at the The Antlers Hilton Reception at 5:30pm, Dinner at 6:30pm
Make your reservation online by filling out the form below.
Make your reservation by phone at 719-578-0022
Ticket Start at $80 per person
Big Oil Bob has shown he doesn't want to take a stand on anything if he doesn't have to. But this is not a good sign if you're a Republican trying to replace Wayne Allard in the Senate with another rubber stamp Republican. Or maybe that is the problem.
Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Senate in the energy-producing state of Colorado, issued this scathing statement in response to Hillary Clinton's demand yesterday that all lawmakers support her pathetic, McCain-style gas-tax pander:
"Senator Clinton claimed yesterday that I either stand with her on this proposal or stand with the oil companies. To that I say: I stand with the families of Colorado, who aren't looking for bumper sticker fixes that don't fix anything, but for meaningful change that brings real relief and a new direction for our energy policy. We can't afford more Washington-style pandering while families keep getting squeezed.
"It is exactly the kind of short-sighted Washington game that keeps us from getting real results to our energy problem. Experts across the ideological spectrum agree that it will increase the deficit, drain money away from Colorado roads and bridges, and hurt the environment, all without actually making prices lower for drivers."
Udall, to date, is an undeclared superdelegate, and - to my knowledge - has not endorsed in the presidential race.
To understand why this is such an important statement, don't bother confirming that it supports exactly what most economists say. Understand that Colorado is a major oil and gas state, with a politically aggressive energy industry. So here we have one of the state's highest-profile politicians running for higher office, and taking courageous step to confront a major politician of his own party (and, by extension, her donors) and to challenge one of the most ruthless industries in his state. And he's doing it for three damn good reasons: Because the gas-tax holiday will do nothing to solve the energy crisis (and probably exacerbate it), and because his state's infrastructure funding - which gas tax revenues contribute to - have already been gutted by the right-wing's so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Udall, in other words, is taking a side. He had to choose between taking the side of Clinton panderers and the oil industry in his state, or taking the side of the rest of his state's population that has been suffering through crappy infrastructure thanks to Republican policies. He chose the side of the people.
Kudos to Udall - this is about the toughest statement he's issued so far in his campaign, and it's a great step.
Okay so it's not really that late, but I just know I'm not going to crawl out of bed tomorrow all that bright eyed and bushy tailed so, let's start this off with a random 10 a little early, this time from the selection on my old decrepit pc.
ABBA - Take a Chance on Me
Sister Sledge - We Are Family
The Damned - Neat Neat Neat
Liz Phair - Gunshy
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You into the Dark
Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
Christina Aguilera - Get Mine, Get Yours
K'S Choice - Dad
George Michael - Kissing a Fool
Smashing Pumpkins - Sheila
For those who think they're seeing a different side of me, this is also Julie's music, but I'm still rocking it out.
She hasn't co-sponsored the 2008 GI Bill that's been developed by Senator Jim Webb. Even the new and improved Marilyn Musgrave felt the need to co-sponsor the House version. What gives, Diana?
Read what the Republicans Wish You Wouldn’t I'm on the run today, but want to get the latest from the DNC research department out there. Today's Daily Flipper has the following stories: Sen. John McCain is all mixed up on his wars He needs to go back to health care 101 McCain Gets White House Sign Off Before Criticizing White House McCain Wants World To Look The Other Way On Shady Connections How Much Does McCain Love Nuclear Power - Billions of Giga-Bunches Giuliani Having Trouble Raising Money for McCain Read the full report in the Daily Flipper at the 
Thousands of people die from a "hurricane." Apparently, no one can turn up the President of the United States to say a few words on the subject, so the White House dispatches...
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