Coyote Gulch

Saturday, June 5, 2004

R.I.P. Ronald Reagan
A picture named rreagan.jpg Denver Post (AP): "Ronald Reagan, the cheerful crusader who devoted his presidency to winning the Cold War, trying to scale back government and making people believe it was 'morning again in America,' died today after a long twilight struggle with Alzheimer's disease."
Washington Post: "Ronald Wilson Reagan, 93, a movie actor who became one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century, died today at his home in California. As 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989, he redefined the nation's political agenda and dramatically reshaped U.S.-Soviet relations."
Curious Stranger: "The final Ronald Reagan legacy."
John Kerry: "Ronald Reagan's love of country was infectious."
Update: Juan Cole: "Reagan's policies thus bequeathed to us the major problems we now have in the world, including a militant Islamist International whose skills were honed in Afghanistan with Reagan's blessing and monetary support; and a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which the Reagan administration in some cases actually encouraged behind the scenes for short-term policy reasons. His aggressive foreign policy orientation has been revived and expanded, making the US into a neocolonial power in the Middle East. Reagan's gutting of the unions and attempt to remove social supports for the poor and the middle class has contributed to the creation of an America where most people barely get by while government programs that could help create wealth are destroyed."
"Reagan's later life was debilitated by Alzheimer's. I suppose he may already have had some symptoms while president, which might explain some of his memory lapses and odd statements, and occasional public lapses into woolly-mindedness. Ironically, Alzheimer's could be cured potentially by stem cell research. In the United States, where superstition reigns over reason, the religious Right that Reagan cultivated has put severe limits on such research. His best legacy may be Nancy Reagan's argument that those limitations should be removed in his memory. There are 4 million Alzheimers sufferers in the US, and 50% of persons living beyond the age of 85 develop it. There are going to be a lot of such persons among the Baby Boomers. By reversing Reaganism, we may be able to avoid his fate."
6:47:27 PM

Denver November 2004 Election
The Republican State Assembly is on for today. The Denver Post editorial staff thinks that the assembly may make or break Peter Coors campaign [June 5, 2004, "Coors faces key test at GOP convention"]. From the editorial, "Conservative activists, who seem to favor Schaffer, likely will be disproportionately represented at today's convention. While that elicits questions over the value and relevancy of such conventions, it also presents a good opportunity for Coors to surprise some people. It's his chance to flex some of the organizational muscle he's rallied since announcing his candidacy seven weeks ago."
7:20:21 AM

Colorado Water
Back in 1977 the 'Ol Coyote, Mrs. Gulch, and several other friends took a little hike down the Escalante River in Utah (exiting the canyon by way of Coyote Gulch ). The canyon, back then, was an easy hike mostly along the sandy shores of the river. Nowadays Tamarisk chokes the shores of the river making hiking difficult, elimnating the sandy beaches that we enjoyed, choking out Cottonwoods and other native flora. The noxious weed is now showing up in Northeast Colorado, according to the Denver Post [June 5, 2004, "Thirsty trees spread into N.E. Colorado"]. From the article, "A mature tamarisk can produce 600,000 seeds a year, which can be spread by air or by water. Unlike native cottonwoods or willows, tamarisk can sink its roots to groundwater level and a single plant can consume 200 gallons of water per day."
The town of Fowler is facing a serious water shortage this year, according to the Denver Post [June 5, 2004, "Town weighs options amid water shortage"]. From the article, "Fowler, 30 miles east of Pueblo, has 1,200 residents. Some of its 13 wells are producing at half of capacity because of low groundwater levels...and there is less than 120 acre- feet in storage...He (Town Foreman Ron Rein) blames the high prices on Aurora's purchases and leases of area water. Over several years, Aurora has bought and leased water in the Arkansas River valley, primarily from farmers."
6:54:09 AM

2004 Presidential Election
Taegan Goddard "New state polls: Michigan: Kerry 47% Bush 43% (Survey USA); Connecticut: Kerry 46% Bush 36% (Quinnipiac); North Carolina Bush 48% Kerry 44% (Rasmussen); Virginia: Bush 47% Kerry 45% (Rasmussen); Pennsylvania: Bush 45% Kerry 44% (Rasmussen); Georgia: Bush 49% Kerry 32% (Insider Advantage).
Nationally Senator Kerry leads President Bush 48% to 46% (statistical tie) according to a recent American Research Group poll.
The Daily Kos has a rundown of state polls from Rasmussen Reports. Many of the polls are from March and April so...
Daily Kos: "The undecideds continue to shrink," and West Virginia - presidential poll.
Update: Here's a link to some recently released presidential polls from Political Wire. From the post, "Maine, Kerry 49% Bush 39% (Critical Insights), Washington, Kerry 49% Bush 44% (Survey USA), Minnesota, Kerry 48% Bush 43% (Rasmussen); Alabama, Bush 57% Kerry 36% (Rasmussen)."
6:20:07 AM

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