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Sunday, June 5, 2005
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Governors Race
Colorado Pols: "We've updated the Governor and CD-7 Lines, and here's how it looks..."
Here's an op-ed from the NY Times (read it quickly before it scrolls behind the paywall) about the decline of political discourse. Matt Miller writes, "The signs are not good. Ninety percent of political conversation amounts to dueling 'talking points.' Best-selling books reinforce what folks thought when they bought them. Talk radio and opinion journals preach to the converted. Let's face it: the purpose of most political speech is not to persuade but to win, be it power, ratings, celebrity or even cash. By contrast, marshaling a case to persuade those who start from a different position is a lost art. Honoring what's right in the other side's argument seems a superfluous thing that can only cause trouble, like an appendix. Politicos huddle with like-minded souls in opinion cocoons that seem impervious to facts."
The Moderate Voice: "If you carefully listen to politicians' promises it could make you thinner. The reason: American researchers have found that laughing can help you lose weight."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
9:32:43 AM 
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Bolton
Stygius: "Steve Clemons is keeping us abreast of John Bolton developments. The Senate's confirmation of Robert Joseph, Bolton's replacement as Undersecretary for Arms Control, leaves Bolton out of a job."
Category: 2004 Presidential Transition
9:17:22 AM
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Goodbye to the Snowpack
 Colorado's snowpack is melting away quickly, according to the Denver Post [June 5, 2005, "Some basins still low as snowpack melts away"]. From the article, "As of Wednesday, statewide snowpack was 72 percent of average, down from 99 percent of average on May 1, according to the Natural Resource Conservation Service...In the Yampa and White basins, snowpack is 52 percent of average. While that's slightly better than last year, the numbers pale in comparison with those recorded in the San Juan Mountains. Also trailing the rest of the state is the South Platte Basin, which provides water for much of the Front Range. As of Wednesday, the basin was 47 percent of average. Still, four out of Denver Water's five reservoirs are full."
The Denver Post editorial staff is praising West Slope interests and Denver Water for sitting down to talks with a spirit of cooperation, rather than the historic, "Guns on the Table" approach of the past [June 5, 2005, "Cease-fire in state water wars"]. From the opinion piece, "The ongoing negotiations between the Denver Water Board and Western Slope water interests is the latest sign - and a welcome one - that a cooperative trend is slowly replacing the water wars that have divided Coloradans for more than a century. The legislature did its part to foster this emerging spirit last month when it passed House Bill 1177 by Rep. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, and Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus. The bill created nine 'roundtables' representing the state's seven river basins and two significant sub-basins to pursue solutions on such issues as how to compensate basins that lose water, encourage conservation, and preserve minimum stream flows and recreational water uses. HB 1177 is probably the most significant step toward a rational statewide water policy in the past 50 years. The fact that it is also a modest step - one that in itself doesn't change the use of single drop of water or create a gallon of new storage - underscores just how little progress has been made on Colorado water issues during the past half-century."
Coyote Gulch considers native species as senior in rights to any water rights owner. Here's an article from New West about a recent court win by the white sturgeon.
Category: Colorado Water
8:51:04 AM
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Referendum C/D
The battle over Referendum C and it's companion measure, Referendum D, is heating up early in the cycle, according to the Denver Post [June 5, 2005, "Ballot battle over budget off to an early start"]. From the article, "A bipartisan coalition of politicians, business leaders and nonprofit officials supporting the plan has painted the question as nothing less than a choice between a modern, competitive state and a crumbling backwater. And they have already raised more than $350,000 to get out that message. Opponents, including fiscally conservative Republican politicians and taxpayers' rights groups, call it a blatant money grab that will destroy the incentive for more efficient government. Although the opposition campaign has not started raising money, Caldara's Independence Institute this weekend is airing a $30,000 radio spot suggesting Referendum C is not necessary. Referendum C targets $3.1 billion that would be refunded otherwise under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. A second ballot question, Referendum D, asks voters to authorize about $2.1 billion in bonds that largely will be used to finance road improvements."
Category: Denver November 2005 Election
8:47:11 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 7:33:51 PM.
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