All's Quiet on the Western Front

hey! (0.00 / 0)

Great to hear from you Ralph!  Here's to hoping Steamboat's climate is more to your liking.

Hey, the only problem with posting to the front page is we can't recommend your diary.  How about a tip jar?

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by: johne @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 13:16:34 PM CDT

A minor quibble, (4.00 / 1)

Steamboat™ is the ski resort, Steamboat Springs is the town.  Kind of like Jackson Hole vs. Jackson, WY, although few people respect the distinction in either case...sigh.

(The town was founded in 1875 and named for a natural spring that made a loud "chugging" noise like a steamboat.  Blasting for the railroad in the early 1900s silenced the spring forever.)

Leadership and accountability: Vote for Hillary Hall and Claire Levy in Boulder County on August 8th.

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by: ubikkibu @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 13:40:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

For those that don't know (4.00 / 1)

Ralphie's the reason Denver has a Drinking Liberally.  He's the start of it all from his Colorado News Roundups on DailyKos waaaay back in '05.

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by: johne @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 13:18:34 PM CDT

My hometown. (0.00 / 0)

Steamboat Springs votes Democratic, hence Routt County as a whole does.  Oak Creek's a lot like Nederland if you make it down there--and I highly recommend you do.  And stop in Yampa and have breakfast before you take a hike in the Flat Tops, my favorite wilderness in the state.

There is a local Peace and Justice group that even has a building on Oak Street I think now.

It's a far cry from the very conservative town I grew up in.  At that time some ranchers still opposed the newfangled ski resort.  I could tell you some good stories about how my Dad and a colleague were fired from Hayden high school for counseling draft dodging during Vietnam.

There has always been a proud and fighting environmental streak in everyone I know out there, ranchers included.  It didn't get press like Aspen's development, but we stopped a major ski area there years ago, using every means necessary.

Steamboat Springs' big problem is and always will be lack of affordable housing.  Just like Boulder.

Put an Andy Gold yard sign out there!  Start a trend.

Leadership and accountability: Vote for Hillary Hall and Claire Levy in Boulder County on August 8th.

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by: ubikkibu @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 13:34:00 PM CDT

Great to hear from your Ralph! (0.00 / 0)

Be well!

Sounds like the Slope could use some New Energy Economy.

SoapBlox - the new blog framework.

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by: pacified @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 18:30:52 PM CDT

Democratic Libertarianism (0.00 / 0)

I think that's the phrase.  It has been mentioned a few times on DailyKos.  I'm on the Western Slope also and think that idea can go along way out here.  What do you think?

Also, we have a local Libertarian who has run for office a couple of times.  He's never come close but there is a pretty strong streak.  I don't know if self-described Libertarians would vote for Democrats in general but I feel pretty confident that they will vote for Ritter.  I think if they see a candidate as willing to raise taxes or find new sources of revenue they will be against that person.  But if we use the language of reinvesting current funds and putting them into more useful areas (renewable energy, prison alternatives) then we can get their attention.

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by: red moon dog @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 19:02:01 PM CDT

You guys could benefit from talking to real people... (0.00 / 0)

Steamboat Springs is to the Western Slope as, well, Aspen is to the Western Slope.  That is, they're both here, but nothing like it.

You sort of have to get out of the ski towns to understand it.
There's nothing you can make up over on the other side of the hill that will play well over here.  Trust me.  We're not ready for a "new energy" economy.  Not if it doesn't require truck drivers or other service workers.  No matter how much you think we need it.  Or whether we really do.

C'mon over for, say, the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival.  Or Dinosaur Days.  Or the Fruita Fall Festival.  You already missed Mike the Headless Chicken Days.  Talk to some real people.  You'll understand the Western Slope a whole lot better.

Salazar has a different problem over here.  It's that he's a Democrat, not that he's not Democrat enough.  Either way, it won't hurt him.  He's not running against anybody.

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by: rdandrea @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 21:22:45 PM CDT

Oh, dang it! (0.00 / 0)

I was looking forward to the headless chicken thing. It's really a fascinating story.

ad astra, per aspera // keep calm & carry on

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by: rnoboa @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 at 22:42:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Your point is a good one. (4.00 / 2)

I've lived in Craig, Durango, and Baggs, WY, and yes indeedy they're nothing like the ski towns.  Although I got to witness the transition of my home from ranching community to year-round-resort, which was fascinating.

But I take strong exception to this talk:

Talk to some real people.

My sister in Hayden, my mom and dad in Steamboat Springs, my brother in metro Denver, my aunt in Buena Vista, me in Boulder, my aunt and uncle in Hot Sulphur Springs...and for that matter my cousins in Tonganoxie, KS and my brother-in-law in The Castro district of SF: they're all real people.  They're all good people.  To suggest otherwise is elitist claptrap.

Read What's The Matter With Kansas? for background on why the "real people" rhetoric gets my dander up.

Leadership and accountability: Vote for Hillary Hall and Claire Levy in Boulder County on August 8th.

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by: ubikkibu @ Wed Jul 19, 2006 at 15:54:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

hiya Ralphie (0.00 / 0)

Good to hear from you, my cantankerous friend.

em dash outs herself! Take that NRO!

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by: em dash @ Wed Jul 19, 2006 at 17:35:01 PM CDT

Good to hear from you, BTW!! (0.00 / 0)

Let me echo everyone else by saying, welcome back, man!

ad astra, per aspera // keep calm & carry on

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by: rnoboa @ Wed Jul 19, 2006 at 21:51:32 PM CDT