Coyote Gulch

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Hunter's Kitchen
Aspen Daily News: "The 67-year-old writer's 40-year-old son, Juan, told investigators he found his father lying in the kitchen of the fortified compound known as Owl Farm..." Thanks to the 5280 Weblog for the link.
6:19:49 PM

Martian Sea
Science Blog: "The discovery, by an international team of scientists led by University College London (UCL), the Open University (OU), and the Free University of Berlin, of a frozen sea close to the equator of Mars has brought the possibility of finding life on Mars one step closer. This is the first evidence of there having been recent liquid water on Mars. Higher levels of methane over the same area mean that primitive micro-organisms might survive on Mars today."
6:14:55 PM

Iraqi Election
Juan Cole: "The Shiite religious coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance, will hold a secret ballot within the list to decide on a prime ministerial candidate, according to AP. This move is a sign that neither Ibrahim Jaafari nor Chalabi could win by consensus. Jaafari should have had enough votes to prevail by consensus, given that he heads up the Dawa Party, one of the two major forces in the UIA, so this development is unexpected."
Update: Juan Cole: "Well, the United Iraqi Alliance held its internal vote among the 140 party members who got seated in parliament, and just announced that Ibrahim Jaafari has won against Ahmad Chalabi. Jaafari's victory is not a surprise, since he was backed by the two core parties in the UIA, the Dawa Party and the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq."
6:17:35 AM

Social Security
Josh Marshall: "In any case, despite claiming this vast membership, this article from last year in The Washington Monthly makes clear that United Seniors Association is basically a slush fund through which pharmaceutical companies make huge donations to the Republican party." Ouch.
Update: El Paso County Democratic Party: "Resolution in support of Social Security."
Update: DemNotes: "As I've gone around the state over the past few weeks, I've heard a lot of negative comments regarding Senator Salazar's recent votes; in particular, on Alberto Gonzales and on class action'reform.' But before you retire Ken Salazar to the same place as Ben Nighthorse Campbell, please read these excerpts from his recent visit to Pueblo."
6:15:43 AM

2008 Presidential Election
Western Democrat: "I've been skeptical about the possibilities of Bill Richardson running for President, but this archived TV spot from his 2002 campaign for governor provides a glimpse of the foreign policy credentials and 'real guy' credentials that the Governor of New Mexico would bring to a presidential run. It's a rare thing - a governor with foreign policy cred. And he's a Western Democrat."
6:12:05 AM

Denver November 2006 Election
Colorado Pols: "We're happy to bring you our third Q&A today, and this time we move to the Democratic side of the fence. State Democratic Party Chair Chris Gates has answered our 11 questions and has agreed to answer your questions throughout the day. To ask a question, click on the comments link at the end of this post and ask away; Chris will check in periodically throughout the day on Tuesday to answer your questions."
6:09:39 AM

Denver May 2005 Election
Peter Chronis has an opinion piece in support of the new Justice Center in today's Denver Post [February 22, 2005, "Ka-ching! Jail cost worth it"]. He writes: "Opponents don't want the new Denver jail downtown - the real estate's too expensive, they say. Well, the law says a county jail has to be within the county's boundaries, and there's no cheap real estate left anywhere in Denver. The old Denver jail on Smith Road is crowded, more than a half- century old, and dangerous for staff and inmates alike. Transporting inmates to the courts downtown by bus is an expensive, risky business and a made-for-TV movie waiting to happen. Prisoners awaiting trial would be held in a new, 1,500-bed downtown facility and taken to court through underground tunnels - away from the public in the City and County Building."
5:53:40 AM

Colorado Water
Here's an editorial from the Denver Post about potential water legislation winding through the halls of the state legislature [February 22, 2005, "Be picky with water bills"]. They write: "There's a promising new approach to Colorado's chronic water disputes in Rep. Josh Penry's House Bill 1197, which would set up nine "water roundtables" to seek cooperative solutions to the state's water needs. But there are two other bills that seek to put the water wagon before the horse of responsible policy. One is House Bill 1296 by Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction. It would impose potentially crippling restrictions on diversions of water from one area of the state to another. The other dubious proposal is Sen. Jack Taylor's Senate Bill 62, limiting water rights for kayak courses."
More detail on the bill that would establish a South Metro water authority from the Denver Post [February 22, 2005, "Water plan to include south-metro use limits"]. From the article: "After a news conference discussing the bill Monday, its Senate sponsor, Denver Democrat Dan Grossman, said he will inject doses of environmentalism and Western Slope wishes into the Front Range issue. While noting the water-use limits, Grossman also will cap the size of the water district and its authority, 'so it doesn't become the big monster people on the Western Slope fear,' Grossman said."
Also from today's Post: "Richard MacRavey, executive director of the Colorado Water Congress, announced his retirement effective March 2, 2006. When he leaves, MacRavey will have worked as executive director for 26 years."
Update: Howling at a Waning Moon: "American Rivers' river policy update - Week of February 14, 2005."
5:48:25 AM

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