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Sunday, December 4, 2005
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Western Primary?
Here's an article from the Arizona Republic on the subject of a Western Primary. From the article, "Lobbying by Western Democrats could spur the party to embrace a proposal for an eight-state Western regional presidential primary in 2008, a move that many say would elevate regional issues onto the national agenda during the next presidential campaign...The regional proposal calls for simultaneous primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5, 2008, in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. It would fall shortly after the Iowa and New Hampshire events, yet early enough that presidential hopefuls would have to visit Western states and tackle issues of interest there to win support, said Mary Gail Gwaltney, a New Mexico DNC member representing the Western Caucus on the party's executive board."
Wired: "The spectacle of the world's top stem-cell scientist resigning from a major research center in disgrace over an ethical lapse offers an object lesson for those who worry this fledgling science is running out of control. But it's not the lesson that opponents of stem-cell research believe. South Korean stem-cell pioneer Hwang Woo-suk last week admitted he knew about ethically dubious payments to women who worked in his lab for eggs he used in his research, and later lied about it. The incident is a black eye for a field that raises deep questions about the moral limits of science and the sanctity of human life, however it is defined. But it should not be taken as proof that scientists can't be trusted to responsibly handle the raw material -- human eggs -- that's the crux of the controversy and the essential ingredient in their research. In fact, it's easy to draw the opposite conclusion. The response to Hwang's missteps among scientists internationally shows that ethical self-regulation is alive and well in the world of stem-cell research."
Blogs for Bush: "McCain-Lieberman '08?"
Left in the West: "To begin with, Berman absolutely hits the nail on the head when he portrays McCain as inimical to progressives on the vast majority of issues. On foreign policy, he was the true neoconservative in the Republican primary in 2000. His roots in neoconservative thought are deep. His pro-life credentials are as shored up as they could possibly be. When it comes to tax policy, his only real strength from a progressive viewpoint is that he'll back off on tax cuts when it comes to budget deficits. Unfortunately, his preferred method of cutting the deficit is the two-pronged approach of targeting pork (good) and gutting America's safety net (bad). He has endorsed intelligent design. On immigration, he is only marginally better than the mainstream in his party. He is opposed completely to same-sex marriage. And the only real bright light in his foreign policy is his staunch opposition to torture (that said, I think the proposal he and Hillary share of supporting increased troops in Iraq is too late and unrealistic, but still much stronger than the Bush Administration[base ']s simply continue-the-course approach). To be sure, a McCain Presidency could provide a few Nixon-in-China moments. He is notably better than his party on global warming and, as a result, on some issues like CAFE standards. He doesn't just oppose pork in word but in deed. And, of course, he is his party's firmest voice for good government and campaign finance reform. Additionally, he is one of the few people in his party who has repeatedly expressed a willingness to truly take on the powerful corrupt leadership of the GOP. This is eminently clear in Berman's profile. Even though it is quite obvious that McCain's conservativism should not be in doubt, Berman does find a handful of voices willing to say he needs to shore up his conservative positions."
Juan Cole: "The Bush administration naively believed that Iraq was a blank slate on which it could inscribe its vision for a remake of the Arab world. Iraq, however, was a witches' brew of dynamic social and religious movements, a veritable pressure cooker. When George W. Bush invaded, he blew off the lid. Shiite religious leaders and parties, in particular, have crucially shaped the new Iraq in each of its three political phases. The first was during the period of direct American rule, largely by Paul Bremer. The second comprised the months of interim government, when Iyad Allawi was prime minister. The third stretches from the formation of an elected government, with Ibrahim Jaafari as prime minister, to today. "
Captains Quarters: "Kevin Brock, the Deputy Director of the new National Counterterrorism Center, told the AP that al-Qaeda has not established a 'significant operational capability' in America since 9/11 -- and the only attempted AQ operation since then fell apart due to the incompetence of its cell leader. Brock also said that while the American effort to secure itself must remain vigilant due to the changing nature of the Islamist threat, the actual effort of terrorist operations have been directed elsewhere."
Howling At A Waning Moon: "At the United Nations climate talks in Montreal, there are two delegations from the United States. The official one is from the Bush Administration and it opposes the Kyoto Protocol. But a less-organized delegation, composed of hundreds of politicians, scientists, and environmental activists, emphatically disagrees with the U.S. President. If this unofficial delegation has a de facto head, it is Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who on the day the Kyoto agreement came into force this year, decided to do something about climate change, even if his government would not. He committed his West Coast city to meet or beat the 7-per-cent cut in greenhouse-gas emissions the United States is supposed to make under the protocol. Because 141 countries had ratified the international climate pact, he challenged that number of mayors to join him, a symbolic gesture to prove that not all Americans think like President George W. Bush."
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
7:49:47 AM 
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Southern Delivery System
The Pueblo Chieftain is running an editorial today on Colorado Springs' proposed Southern Delivery System. They write, "What the bureau should consider as it goes through the process of an environmental impact statement on SDS, bureau officials were advised, are third-party costs, public opinion and environmental impacts. If the bureau were only to consider what Colorado Springs wants, the impact statement would be shamefully lacking. Terry Hart of the Pueblo District Attorney's Office noted that the third-party costs assumed by Pueblo County residents have not been addressed. These include erosion of private property along Fountain Creek caused by what Colorado Springs already sends down that waterway in the form of sewage effluent and surface runoff. A 66-inch-diameter pipeline doubling Colorado Springs' water supply could not help but increase those third-party costs. Additionally, Colorado Springs has dumped 73 million gallons of raw sewage into the Fountain since 1999. Property damage and raw sewage flows are reasons enough why public opinion in Pueblo on Colorado Springs' plans is so negative. Additionally, the base flows down the Fountain which have quadrupled in recent years have increased scouring of the creek, causing heavy sedimentation to reach the Arkansas River where it affects water users downstream in the Lower Arkansas Valley. The best way to ameliorate this situation has come from Ray Petros, a Denver water lawyer who consults for Pueblo County. He has proposed a flood-control dam on the Fountain which would double as a forebay through which Colorado Springs could capture and further treat its effluent and runoff, then recycle the water through its distribution system."
Here's the second part of the series on the proposed pipeline from Lake Powell to Cedar City Utah. From the article, "Rep. Mike Noel, District 73, said the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which granted the state its water rights, divides the river basin into two areas. Utah is included in the Upper Colorado Basin along with New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. Nevada, Arizona and California make up the Lower Basin. It's possible, Noel said, that Nevada and California could become involved in the pipeline project because the water would be coming from the Lower Basin. 'I don't believe that issue is going to be a major issue, but you never know with the great demand for water in California and Nevada,' Noel said. Another obstacle could be that the pipeline would go through Arizona and American Indian lands. Noel said the tribe that owns land in northern Arizona wants to receive some of the water, but that Arizona opposes. Also, several groups have voiced concerns that the pipeline will take water from already dropping levels in Lake Powell. Noel argues that the primary reason for creating Lake Powell was to store culinary water and to protect Lake Mead. As for environmental impacts of the pipeline's path, it will follow roadways as it comes across state, federal, private and tribal lands. Noel believes people in the area - even the American Indian tribe that is considered a sovereign nation - will allow the easements for the pipeline."
Category: Colorado Water
7:36:48 AM
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First Initiative for next year's ballot certified
From today's Denver Post, "Secretary of State Gigi Dennis certified the first initiative for next year's ballot on Friday, a measure that would ease restrictions on petitions for ballot measures in Colorado. Dennis said petition supporters turned in 121,317 signatures. State law requires 67,829 valid signatures to qualify for next year's ballot. Dennis Polhill, a sponsor, said the measure would condense thousands of pages of conflicting statutes, charters, court opinions and regulations, allow petitions to all local governments, reduce lawsuits and protect petitioners from government campaigns against their using public funds. 'It's not easing the restraints, it's returning the rules to how they are defined in the constitution,' Polhill said."
Bob Beauprez was stumping in Cañon City Friday, according to the Cañon City Daily Record. From the article, "Citing the rural foundations of Fremont County, Beauprez said rural agriculture is not only a living, but it is a culture and a lifestyle, one that he wants to see preserved into the future. A major agricultural concern is water rights, Beauprez said. 'We have got to start storing more water in this state or we will be playing Russian roulette in this state,' Beauprez said. He said he believes jobs will dry up and blow away without a better plan for water in the state. He also discussed the importance of energy - both renewable resources and fossil fuels - to Colorado, and cited wind farms in Lamar and oil shale in Rio Blanco County as being significant energy sources vital to the future of the state."
Colorado Pols: "Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Congressman Bob Beauprez today announced the permanent leadership of his front- running campaign for Colorado Governor. Beginning January 3rd, Jack St. Martin will assume the duties of Campaign Manager. Beauprez also announced that current Campaign Coordinator, John Marshall, has been promoted to Deputy Campaign Manager / Communications Director."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
7:06:28 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 7:53:11 PM.
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