Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Tancredo as spoiler? Political Wire reporting that Tom Tancredo may play the spoiler in the 2008 Presidential Election. They write, "Right-wing populists, like George Wallace and Patrick Buchanan, have 'bedeviled American political parties in presidential elections for more than 30 years,' reports Bloomberg News. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) could join their ranks in 2008. With his vocal opposition to President Bush's immigration overhaul proposal, Tancredo has 'has earned the enmity of Bush's chief political adviser, Karl Rove.'" Category: 2008 Presidential Election 9:40:12 PM

Roberts for Chief Justice? From Political Wire, "John Roberts 'is all but certain to be confirmed as the next chief justice, but the vote involves a host of political calculations for Democrats struggling to satisfy their liberal base and reach out to moderate voters,' the Wall Street Journal reports. Liberal activists are 'near unanimous in opposing Judge Roberts, who they say echoed the pre-appointment positioning of conservative Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. They are pressing Democrats to vote against Judge Roberts to send a message about the party's priorities. Those arguments likely will weigh heavily on Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who both have presidential ambitions and are trying to juggle the left-leaning voters in the party's primaries with general-election voters, who might favor a more centrist approach.' Meanwhile, Roll Call notes that 'despite announcing his own opposition to confirmation,' Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) declared that Roberts 'would be approved as chief justice of the United States.'" Category: 2004 Presidential Transition 6:04:30 AM

Holtzman for Governor? Marc Holtzman's involvement with the campaign against Referendums C and D is the subject of this article from the Denver Post [September 21, 2005, "Holtzman on hot seat over ads"]. From the article, "Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman has picked a smart political strategy by seemingly tying his campaign to the fight against November's budget measures, but he may run into legal trouble with how he's financing that fight, political observers said Tuesday. Donors close to Holtzman are funding anti- Referendums C and D television ads featuring him, prompting accusations that he is using this year's campaign over the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to collect big donations that would be illegal in a candidate race." Coyote Gulch is dazed and confused over the legality of Holtzman's strategy but we recognize he's managed to get into the spotlight. The Denver Post editorial staff weighs in on the Holtzman controversy [September 21, 2005, "Holtzman gift skirts state campaign law"]. They write, "Holtzman's gubernatorial campaign is struggling on all fronts. Not only is Holtzman forced to defend the campaign contribution that went to a front group that is airing ads against Referendums C and D, but he's flailing away on fundamental fiscal issues - undermining his persona as an astute businessman by proposing to sidestep Colorado's constitutional prohibition on deficit spending with a phony sale and leaseback scheme to mortgage state buildings." Category: Denver November 2006 Election 5:39:35 AM

Referenda C and D Coyote Gulch reminds all unregistered voters that October 3rd is your deadline. Here's the link to the Denver Election Commission's website. Governor Owens is stumping for Referendums C and D this week, according to the Denver Post [September 21, 2005, "Owens states case for C, D"]. From the article, "Gov. Bill Owens on Tuesday crafted custom-fit messages for tourism promoters, El Paso County residents and health care officials - part of an aggressive effort to recruit support for Referendums C and D. Owens this week is traveling the state, explaining to key voting groups why they should vote for the plan to suspend the state's spending limits." A coalition of clergy from mainline denominations have endorsed Referendums C and D, according to the Rocky Mountain News [September 21, 2005, "Clergy coalition backs ballot measures"]. From the article, "The Religious Right gets more press because of its sometimes inflammatory stances on cultural and political issues, said Allan Bjornberg, bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Church of America. But Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians and many other moderate Christians, Jews and Muslims are just as passionate about social and political issues, and about helping the poor. 'Many conservative Christians approach politics with a certainty that they know God's truth,' Bjornberg said. 'We're less certain. Our only absolute is to love our neighbors as ourselves.' Every church has an outreach program to help the poor or the homeless or the elderly, but can't do it without government providing a stronger infrastructure, he said." State Representative Andrew Romanoff and State Representative Joe Stengel debated the merits of Referendums C and D yesterday, according to the Rocky Mountain News [September 21, 2005, "2 lawmakers tangle"]. From the article, "The pair - two of the most powerful people in the legislature - presented starkly different visions of Colorado, with Romanoff portraying a state on the edge of radical cuts in public services and Stengel describing it all as much ado about nothing." Meanwhile the Rocky reports that Jon Caldara (Independence Institute) and Wade Buchanan (Bell Policy Center) debated the referendums at a meeting of the Stapleton United Neighbors [September 21, 2005, "Backer and foe argue at forum"]. From the article, "Colorado can cut its budget by eliminating waste, selling off state buildings, and bidding out government services, said Caldara. Buchanan said Colorado will become a much harsher place for average middle class families if the referendums fail." Al Knight uses his column in today's Denver Post to oppose to Referendums C and D [September 21, 2005, "Ad's use of students shameless"]. He writes, "The direct impact of C, should it pass, would be to allow the state to spend an additional $3.1 billion over the next five years that it would otherwise have to refund. The indirect impact would be bigger and last much longer. Once the higher spending base was achieved in 2011, it will, in the words of the legislative fiscal note, be in effect 'for each succeeding fiscal year.' In other words, the much-maligned downward ratchet effect of TABOR will have been replaced with an upward ratchet effect. That may please some, but it will surely surprise many others. So, on balance, while it is true that there is some risk in voting against C and D, recent history suggests there's a greater risk in voting for it." Category: Denver November 2005 Election 4:51:19 AM

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