Thanking Koch Whores from Ohio and Elsewhere

by: Zappatero

Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 16:06:54 PM MST

Last night, Ohioans soundly turned back an assault on worker's rights, defeating Issue 2 with 61% of the vote, and repealing the anti-labor SB 5. And they did it with a broad coalition, which points to a total reversal of the voting bloc that brought Governor John Kasich to power in 2010. It could have long-lasting implications for 2012 and beyond.

Guy Molyneux of Hart Research did polling last night for the AFL-CIO on Issue 2. And he released some eye-popping numbers on a conference call. Independents favored No on 2 by a 57-43 margin. This group voted for John Kasich in 2010, according to exit polls, by a 59-41 margin, a reversal of 32 points. And the numbers were even starker among working-class white voters. They went No on 2 with 61% of the vote, the same share as the overall electorate. In 2010, that group voted 57-43 for Kasich, a 36-point difference. White working class voters only give Kasich a 41% approval rating. Overall, 66% of Ohioans favor collective bargaining.

That is a sea change in electoral politics in the course of just one year. Labor took over 90% of Democrats and 30% of Republicans in their broad coalition, along with 57% of independents.

Barack Obama won Colorado last time out, and he had some very healthy coattails. But the President and many or our local pols forgot very quickly what got them into office - and why voters put them there.

Ohio should be a very clear reminder of that very recent history for elected Democrats who have gotten elected on base Democratic principles - yet forgotten them once sworn in to office.  

Senator Bennet has earned $29,000 so far this year (w/Poll)

by: Zappatero

Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 10:44:04 AM MST

Botton line: he took to the insider DC game like a duck to water and was lucky enough to run against a schizophrenic Republican Tea Party to actually win a full-term as one of our state's most prominent civil servants.

The new Congress has now been at work for two months, and that distressing dynamic is now in play in Washington (do we reallllllly deserve what we vote for?), which leads me to this question:

Has Senator Bennet earned that $29,000 in salary* for January and February by working to diligently solve the problems of the nation and improve conditions for as many of Colorado's citizens as possible?

My short answer is "No".

A heed for Hick and a Ritter mini-postmortem

by: Zappatero

Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 11:29:56 AM MST

When will Democrats learn that running as a Democrat who hates Democrats doesn't really work all that well?

Too late as well for Markey. Salazar will need a reminder if he runs for Congress again.

Unpacking Republican Lies In Colorado

by: Bill Egnor AKA Something The Dog Said

Tue May 25, 2010 at 06:50:12 AM MST

In one way this is good thing. He had made several decisions that had alienated him from his base; failing to side with unionized grocery workers; the nearly inexplicable appointment of political novice Michael Bennet to the United States Senate; these kinds of things were going to make for tough sledding in a state where you must carry your base if you have a prayer of living in the Governors Mansion.