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Senate 
Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 06:17:07 AM MST
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Nietzsche said"
"When we look into the abyss, searching for monsters, the abyss looks into us as well" .
Right now we are staring the abyss in the face and there are indeed monsters there. This abyss is the elections this fall. The chance that radical Republicans will take over the House and perhaps the Senate has grown. The affect of constant lies from Fox News and Talk Radio have energized the Republican base. The limp leadership from the White House and from Majority Leader Reid has demoralized the Democratic base.
The passing of many of the Lefts long term wish list items, barely and with tons of ridiculous and galling compromise has created a situation where the Right is fired up and the Left is angry at its own leadership. The conditions are in place for a wave election and the wave is not likely to go the way that we Liberals are going to like in any fashion.
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Fri Aug 13, 2010 at 19:11:16 PM MST
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( - promoted by Fong)
Don't let anyone tell you Mark Udall is going to play it safe for six years, make easy calls on bland issues, and undo the taint of the half-assed "Boulder Liberal" smear compliment Dick Wadhams tried to use against him ad nauseam in '08.
Nosireebob, this guy has Proud Progressive tattooed to the inside of his eyelids: "Thank you Al Franken, John Kerry, Mark Udall, and all other Senators who favor Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau! Thank you for putting Americans first!" Next from Mark: taking up for the Public Option where Michael Bennet petered out and calling out John McCain, if only privately, on his warmongering so we can rebuild our national parks.
Cuz we know they're going to call Mark the same thing no matter what he does, anyway.
Don't we, Mark?
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 at 06:41:25 AM MST
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A passionate and rancorous primary is behind us. A tough general election is ahead of is. It's time to rally behind our Democratic candidate for the U.S. senate.
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Mon Aug 09, 2010 at 10:08:23 AM MST
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This diary is serving to host a chain of emails specifially between School Board Member Jeanne Kaplan,Michael Bennet, Tom Boasberg, Theresa Pena and the rest of the school board. This is to expose the notion that the calls for an audit of the 2008 DPS banking derivative investment are being driven by 'politically motivated board members' - which the email chain below will prove to be factually wrong. In fact it appears Tom Boasberg's and Theresa Pena's opposition to providing an audit is politically motivated to protect themselves and Michael Bennet.
I have redacted the names and emails of everyone except former Superintendent Michael Bennet, current Superintendent Tom Boasberg, school board President Theresa Pena, and Jeanne Kaplan - however the names of the other board members are in the public record.
Everyone reading this diary on other sites will be redirected here to see the full list of emails.
The purpose of the emails is to get information on details of the finances pertaining to the Bank Derivative investment by the board in April of 2008.
The time line of these emails begins a full 15 months before there was even a primary and more astoundingly, 7 months before Michael Bennet was appointed to the Senate.
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Sun Aug 08, 2010 at 07:39:15 AM MST
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The last few days have been interesting to say the least in the Democratic senate race. Starting with the New York Times Financial writer Gretchen Morgenson's article, it only got more heated.
Bennet campaign spokesman Trevor Kincaid showed his Rahm Emmanuel ties by launching into a rather blunt response.
Fox News spoke with Bennet's press person, Trevor Kincaid. When asked if Bennet was going to issue a statement or hold a presser about the Times article, Kincaid said, "First of all the New York Times article is b******t." Kincaid went on to say the NYT reporter (Gretchen Morgenson) had obviously never attended a Denver Public Schools board meeting. As of this writing, the Bennet campaign has not issued an official response on the information contained in the article.
Somehow I'm guessing Mr. Kincaid has never been to a DPS school board meeting either, but it made for a headline grabbing fact-free response.
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Sat Aug 07, 2010 at 19:07:45 PM MST
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((guess this won't help win any popularity contests over at TOPB) - promoted by wade norris)
This Friday's New York Times investigation:
"Payback Time: Exotic Deals Put Denver Schools Deeper in Debt"
casts a laser focus on Michael Bennet's investment into a 'risky' derivative swap by as Superintendent of Denver Public Schools.
Pasts attempts by the Bennet campaign to deflect questions about this investigation are now laid bare and there are guilty parties involved.
Now, Colorado Democratic Representative Mark Ferrandino, Chair of the State Budget committee is calling for a bi-partisan audit by both the Colorado State House and Senate of this investment that has already cost Denver Public Schools 25 million dollars and counting.
Listen here on local Progressive Talk show host Mario Solis-Marich's Friday show at about 1/3rd through the podcast.
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Thu Aug 05, 2010 at 14:59:55 PM MST
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Felicia Sonmez of Washington Post's "The Fix" compares two Senators facing primaries: John McCain and Michael Bennet, talking about what is working and what isn't.
McCain took an early, aggressive approach to his primary opponent, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R), hammering him relentlessly...by the time Hayworth went up with his first television ad in July, McCain had spent more than $15 million slamming him and had already begun pulling away in the polls.
Sonmez's point is that this tactic clearly works: McCain was at risk of losing his seat but now Hayworth is falling back.
Compare that the Michael Bennet...
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Wed Aug 04, 2010 at 15:14:21 PM MST
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So if you've spent any time on twitter in the last day you might have noticed a handle "Romanofflies" that tweeted anyone imaginable with a link to this site:
http://princetonwritersgroup.org/
Is there more coming? Is that really bad photo it? Are these the same artistic geniuses that painted the god-awful looking Bennet short bus?
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Mon Aug 02, 2010 at 16:25:07 PM MST
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(with the week Bennet is having, this is not the time to give the impression that you are day dreaming in the Senate - promoted by wade norris)
Volunteers for Andrew Romanoff are busting their behinds day in and day out and Mr.Romanoff himself is crisscrossing the state connecting with voters and making his case for their vote.
What's Bennet up to? From the latest edition of the New Yorker
Michael Bennet, a freshman Democrat from Colorado, said, "Sit and watch us for seven days-just watch the floor. You know what you'll see happening? Nothing. When I'm in the chair, I sit there thinking, I wonder what they're doing in China right now?"
(crossposted at Huffington Post, Square State, Firedoglake and Ultimate Politics )
uh, what? You have a primary - Guess your day dreaming is happening on the campaign trail too and Andrew Romanoff is taking advantage of it - and is surging in the polls.
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Mon Aug 02, 2010 at 09:10:58 AM MST
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(sorry to mention the blog who shall not be mentioned:) - promoted by wade norris)
There is a new poll showing Bennet 'has a lead' (41%-37%) even though this is within the polls' own disclosure that it is within the 4% margin of error.
http://www.politico.com/static...
I am calling it now - that Colorado Pols will trumpet this as a big deal and Team Bennet as well.
The Denver Post was more even handed with its title about Romanoff going up by 3% - 48% to 45% in the Survey USA poll -
by saying "Romanoff pulls even with Bennet"
http://www.denverpost.com/elec...
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Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 01:41:39 AM MST
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Recent polling shows Bennet has lost almost a 20 point lead in the past 2 months.
Political Consultant Eric Sondermann says that Bennet is now officially "scrambling".
http://ultimatepolitics.net/20...
Romanoff and Bennet are about even - 48 percent to 45 percent, respectively - in the poll of 536 Democrats who have voted or are likely to vote in the Aug. 10 primary. The question has a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points.
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Fri Jul 30, 2010 at 12:10:48 PM MST
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Recently in the Colorado Democratic Primary, Senator Michael Bennet accused former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff of voting to "privatize Social Security."
Upon further review of the record, it seems that Senator Bennet is taking a page from the Karl Rove playbook. Rove was infamous for attacking a rival's strength and where his own candidate was vulnerable.
Case in point - let's take a trip back to the fall of 2009, when I first wrote about the letter Senator Bennet signed that would have gone a lot farther towards privatizing Social Security...
(Crossposted at Square State, Firedoglake, Huffington Post, and anywhere else possible, so that everyone will know just what Senator Bennet will do to get elected.)
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Wed Jul 28, 2010 at 12:00:02 PM MST
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Just when you thought the U.S. Senate couldn't do any less for clean energy and the environment than it's (not) done so far, we now face the real possibility of what would amount to a "stop-work order" on the 40-year-old, wildly successful (e.g., studies finding benefits outweighing costs at a 40:1 ratio), Clean Air Act. That's right: believe it or not, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is moving ahead with a sequel to Sen. Lisa Murkowski's nefarious attempt, earlier this summer, to gut the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s power to protect the public health from dangerous pollutants, including harmful greenhouse gases. Just as bad, Rockefeller's proposal would keep America addicted to oil and other old, polluting energy technologies, while delaying or derailing our switch to a clean, prosperous energy economy. Essentially, what Rockefeller is proposing would tell the EPA – at least for two years, although we know that justice delayed is often justice denied! - that it has to be asleep at the switch, that it must not hold polluters accountable, that it must look the other way whole Big Oil and Big Coal trash the environment. Is that the lesson the Senate learned from the Gulf of Mexico disaster? Really? Fortunately, not everyone is so clueless as the U.S. Senate appears to be right now. For instance, in yesterday's Politico, two energy investors – one Democrat, one Republican – explained what's at stake in clear, compelling language. We are not experts in vote counting or horse trading. But we do know how investors and markets will respond if Congress ultimately fails to put a market-based price on carbon. The response from capital will be brutal: Money will flow to places like China, Europe and India — and U.S. jobs will go with it. The path to creating more U.S. jobs is simple: Pass legislation that eliminates uncertainty and levels the playing field, and investors will fund projects that create good jobs here at home. Rules bring certainty, certainty spurs investment, and investment creates jobs. [...] Take it from investors: Removing the uncertainty, and taking a more thoughtful approach to energy policy by putting a market price on carbon, can bring home new investments and jobs — and ensure that America leads the clean energy economy. Instead, it now looks like the Senate not only won't be moving us forwards, but instead will be trying to move us significantly – and disastrously - backwards. What's truly stunning about this possibility is that, right now, the science of climate change is clearer and more disturbing than ever. Heat waves are getting worse, the ice caps are shrinking faster than ever, and scientists are telling us that the world is setting new temperature records almost every month, every year, and every decade. In addition, the results of our insatiable thirst for fossil fuels were demonstrated starkly and tragically, both in a West Virginia coal mine as well as in the Gulf of Mexico, on TV screens all across America in recent months. As if all this isn't bad enough, we also could run out of water. The American people know this situation can't go on. In fact, recent polls show large majorities supporting an energy bill that would "[l]imit pollution, invest in domestic energy sources and encourage companies to use and develop clean energy...by charging energy companies for carbon pollution in electricity or fuels like gas." In other words, this is a case where good policy – limiting greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing our national security, safeguarding public health, jumpstarting a clean energy revolution – and good politics – strong poll results for doing just that - appear to align. Yet, the U.S. Senate appears ready to ignore both good policy and good politics, and actually move to make matters worse by gutting the EPA and letting polluters like BP off the hook. Don’t let them do it. Call your Senators right now and tell them "hell no" to the "Let Polluters Pollute with Impunity Act." Also, while you’re at it, call the White House and tell President Obama that, if such a measure reaches his desk, he will veto it – no ifs, ands, or buts. Take action today for a cleaner, stronger, and more sustainable future. Join NRDC Action Fund on Facebook and Twitter and stay up-to-date on the latest environmental issues and actions you can take to help protect our planet. |
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Tue Jul 27, 2010 at 15:28:57 PM MST
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Lately in Colorado, the Republicans have pretty much gone crazy - with
Tom "bomb Mecca" Tancredo launching an independent bid in the Governor's race and Republican Senate candidates Ken Buck and Jane Norton having a standoff about wearing high heel shoes.
I was hoping that we were going to stay civil on the Democratic side of the aisle, but in the Senate primary, Michael Bennet's campaign and his supporters are trying their level best at matching the Republicans' insanity with their tactics against Andrew Romanoff.
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Tue Jul 27, 2010 at 06:42:05 AM MST
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My Mom is where I learned about public service. For 17 years she was a County Commissioner in the second largest county in Michigan by population. During that time she had opportunities to run for higher office, but stayed where she was because she though it was the highest level of public office where one could see the affect of the work one was doing.
It wasn't always an easy row to hoe. Being that it was Michigan there was always a problem with finding enough money in the budgets to fill all the priorities. There were times when she did what she thought was right, even though people complained. When she set up two health clinic where teens could get condoms without shame or hassle (in the '80's) there was a lot of out cry. Still Mom knew that with the 17% teen pregnancy rate in her district something had to be done.
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Fri Jul 23, 2010 at 14:20:50 PM MST
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The climate bill blame game has begun. When I first started writing this post about the so-called death of the climate bill, I literally pointed the finger at just about everyone, including myself. The anger poured out, and I was frank in my assessment as well as unforgiving in the motives behind this latest setback. After I was done with my self-loathing tantrum, the kids ran in the door from camp and I was swept up in the lovely reality of my family's banter. It is summer, so the pace in our home is a bit more relaxed in the evening. We aren't quite as quick to rush through dinner, toss the kids in a bath, and then march them off to bed. Ice cream and extra cuddles are relished, and I am reminded each year at this time why I do this job. Later, after progeny were tucked in, I went back to my draft blog post to spruce it up. I reread my rage, disappointment, and irrational ramblings and was embarrassed. And I asked myself "What good is all this blame going to do?" At the end of the day, it is my kids - and your kids - who lose when we implode. If you think kids have a lot to say about their parents now on Dr. Phil, can you imagine what our children will say in 50 years should we fail to get our act together? The country should be ready for this. The facts are on our side. As we witness the worst industry-caused environmental catastrophe in our history, the worst coal mining disaster in 40 years, and sweat through the hottest first 6 months of any year on record, it is clear that there's never been a more urgent time to move forward with a smart clean energy and climate plan. Unfortunately, the politicians just aren't there. At every juncture during this debate, a minority, led by the Republican leadership and supported by a few impressionable (I might say pathetic) Democrats, has obstructed the opportunity to solve America's energy problems, preferring to leave the worst polluters and the big petro-dictators in control of our energy policy, while tax-payers are forced to pay for their messes. Oopsy... there goes that blame again. Let's focus on what we can do next. Hope is not lost. Of course, the closer we get to the midterm elections, the more challenging passing a bill becomes. Still, it's not impossible. In fact, the Senate has passed almost every single bedrock environmental law in the fall of an election year or in the "lame duck" session following an election. Here are just a few examples: o Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) - 1996 Amendments: 8/6/96 o Food Quality Protection Act: 8/3/96 o Energy Policy Act of 1992: 10/24/92 o Clean Air Act of 1990: 11/15/90 o SDWA - 1986 Amendments: 6/19/86 o CERCLA (Superfund): House 9/23/80, Senate 11/24/80, POTUS 12/11/80 o Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA): 10/21/76 o Toxic Substances & Control Act (TSCA): 10/11/76 o SDWA: 12/16/74 o Clean Water Act: 10/18/72 o Establishment of the EPA: first proposed 7/9/70, established 12/2/70 o National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): 1/1/70 o The Wilderness Act: 9/3/64 As this list demonstrates, the Senate and the environmental movement are no strangers to passing major legislation right before - or just after - an election. I don't want to overpromise success. This is an uphill battle. But if you and I show up to every town hall, rally, spaghetti dinner, and other rituals of election year and fight for our kids... fight for our country... fight for our America... we can turn the tide. Without that kind of passion, we will all lose. That's an outcome we must try hard to avoid, on behalf of people, communities, large and small businesses - oh, and our kids, sleeping peacefully or playing happily around the country. In the meantime, we must also protect what we already have, like a plethora of state laws and the federal Clean Air Act. I recommend reading David Doniger's blog on Switchboard today that really outlines how we can make progress with the tools we have right now. In coming weeks and months, we must continue to push forward for a strong, clean energy and climate bill, just like we have done countless times in the past. I am done with blame. History is on our side. Are you? Take action today for a cleaner, stronger, and more sustainable future. Join NRDC Action Fund on Facebook and Twitter and stay up-to-date on the latest environmental issues and actions you can take to help protect our planet.
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Fri Jul 23, 2010 at 13:37:02 PM MST
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((sorry for the petty diary, but it had to be said) - promoted by wade norris)
Trevor, really dude? Even as Bennet's supporters are calling for civility between bloggers, ( http://www.coloradopols.com/di... ) you are poking your finger in the eye of civility.
And, that would not be so bad if you had not won an award for being one of the
"50 Most Beautiful People on the Hill"
who quote was
"Raised to be the quintessential Southern gentleman, nothing bothers Kincaid more than inconsiderate people..."
http://lcyd.blogspot.com/2007/...
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Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 08:06:10 AM MST
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Michael Bennet reveals shocking secret...that Romanoff has been talking about for a year.
Last night Michael Bennet lost the battle to control the message. While his previous ads had been positive talking about himself, Bennet made the mistake of engaging on the one issue people can identify with Andrew Romanoff: campaign contributions.
The Bennet campaign released a new attack ad telling people what Andrew Romanoff has been saying since he started the campaign: that he has learned from his years of legislative experience and no longer takes PAC special interest money
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