Coyote Gulch

Friday, May 26, 2006

Beauprez or Holtzman for governor?
The Rocky is running a story about Bob Beauprez's strategy at last weekend's Republican State Assembly. All of you political junkies will enjoy the read.

From the article, "Like an army of Roman legions, 500 well-organized Bob Beauprez volunteers swept into Greeley last week and crushed gubernatorial hopeful Marc Holtzman's attempt to get on the primary ballot at the GOP assembly. Holtzman knew something was up. Every time he got done wooing a delegate, he said a swarm of high-profile Beauprez people would arrive and lobby the delegate about their candidate. Former congressman Bob Schaffer estimates he helped sway dozens of delegates to Beauprez's side, including, he said with glee, a contingent of Douglas County voters wearing Holtzman pins. 'It was a brilliant plan,' he said of the Beauprez blitz, which included 500 volunteers and the so- called 'Persuasion Team.' Holtzman conceded that their effort was 'pretty smart,' but he also said it was pretty disingenuous."

As expected, Marc Holtzman turned in 21,000 signatures yesterday, the next step in getting on the primary ballot, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Flanked by supporters in front of his campaign bus, Holtzman delivered his signatures to the secretary of state's office in spite of pleas by party leaders that he should drop out of the race and back his opponent, U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez. 'They are wrong,' said Holtzman, who failed to collect enough votes at the state assembly to automatically make the ballot. 'A primary strengthens the party.' The former University of Denver president was assisted by Denver lawyer Mark Grueskin, a Democrat who has a history of representing Democratic candidates and causes. 'I don't like it when party bosses tell people not to run,' Grueskin said. 'It rubs me the wrong way.' Although the petitions need to be certified, Holtzman said as far as he is concerned, the primary is underway. He said he plans to campaign across the state on his bus and said he would probably have new television or radio ads out by mid-June."
"denver 2006"
7:04:05 AM

Immigration
The U.S. Senate passed their immigration bill 62-36 yesterday, according to the AP via the Rocky Mountain News. Here's the link to the story. They write, "Senators are challenging House Republicans to give ground on their enforcement-only fix for the country's immigration problems and consider offering citizenship to millions of immigrants illegally in the U.S. Senate passage of its immigration bill by a 62-36 vote on Thursday sets up a confrontation with the House, where many lawmakers equate the citizenship offer with amnesty...

"Politics has been an undercurrent as the Senate has tried to write legislation that would satisfy unions, immigration hawks, businesses and advocates for Latinos, and other interests. Several leaders involved in the debate, including Frist and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are considering 2008 presidential runs. Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the electorate. Thousands, including some illegal immigrants, joined street protests to denounce the House bill and call for broader legislation...

"The House bill, which passed on a largely party-line vote last year, is generally limited to border enforcement. It would make all illegal immigrants subject to felony charges. It has no provision for either a new temporary worker program or citizenship for men, women and children unlawfully in the country.

"The Senate bill, in contrast, would mark the most far-reaching changes in two decades by: Urging the hiring of 1,000 more Border Patrol agents this year and 14,000 by 2011; Endorsing Bush's plan for a short-term deployment of National Guard troops to states along the border with Mexico; Calling for the construction of 370 miles of fencing on the border; The guest worker program would admit 200,000 individuals a year - they eventually could apply for a green card, which confers legal permanent residency; A separate program envisions admission of an estimated 1.5 million immigrant farm workers who also may apply for permanent residency; For illegal immigrants, those in the country for five years could stay, keep working and eventually apply for citizenship - They would have to pay at least $3,250 in fines and fees, settle back taxes and learn English; Illegal immigrants in the country for more than two years but less than five would have to travel to a point of entry before re-entering the United States legally and beginning the lengthy process of seeking citizenship; An immigrant in the country illegally for less than two years would be required to leave with no guarantee of return."

Here's the coverage from the Denver Post. They write, "The changes are the most significant overhaul of U.S. immigration laws in two decades. But they are not yet law and are far from guaranteed to become so. The Senate bill must be merged with legislation passed by the House in December that increased penalties for illegal immigration and emphasized sealing the U.S. border. The House measure did not offer legal status for undocumented workers. 'All the good work we've done here this week, it can be eliminated in a heartbeat when we go to conference with the House,' said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. 'We should know that dark clouds are forming on the horizon.' Already, lawmakers are talking about ripping up the House and Senate versions and starting from scratch in the conference committee formed to work out differences in the bills. Others predict the bills will be merged in a manner that keeps increased border-security provisions and requires illegal immigrants to leave the country before returning as guest workers."
"2008 pres"
6:56:58 AM

Congratulations Denver North High School class of 2006

Coyote Gulch was howling with the newly minted graduates of our alma mater, Denver North High School, last night. One of the Gulch cousins has completed their passage into adulthood. Congratulations to all 200+ who received their diplomas.

Celebrity sightings at the shindig- U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (daughter Andrea was a graduate), Michael Bennet, Councilwoman Judy Montero and Councilman Rick Garcia. Coyote Gulch ran into former principal Joe Sandoval. He worked so hard to help provide a quality education for the Gulch kids during their time at North.

The speeches by the students and faculty evoked emotions all around. Coyote Gulch was all teary, thinking about all of our family members that have graduated from North (3 generations).

The Denver Post was at the graduation ceremony last night dogging Senator Salazar who missed the vote on the Senate immigration bill to be with his daughter and to speak to the graduates. From the article, "'It was hard for me to leave,' Salazar said. 'I worked very hard on this bill and had to choose between casting the vote on the final passage of the legislation or my daughter's graduation.' Salazar said he waited so long to leave Washington, 'I got on the airplane with one minute to go before they slammed the door on me. I'm comfortable with my choice because I love my daughter very much ... and being a part of her graduation tonight, where she had anticipated she would be introducing me as her commencement speaker, was very important to me,' he said. Salazar told the more than 200 graduating seniors that there are serious issues facing the United States and the world, and he implored them to get involved."

6:34:22 AM

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