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Wednesday, June 28, 2006
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Murtha lesson
Don Surber: "If it looks too good to be true ... it probably is too good to be true.
"Righties who fell for this, remember this the next time lefties screw up."
"2008 pres"
8:17:42 PM 
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North Side Croquet Club: Game 11
North Side Croquet Club: "Great game last night y'all. For the last few weeks there's been a mean-spiritedness in the air, for which I'm in a large part responsible for fostering, and for which I apologize. I will refrain from the excessive abuse of other players, if for no other reason, because it only seems to make Dom stronger. But last night everyone put grudges and the shit-talking and such aside and played croquet, and my eyes are watering up as I write this, but everyone was a winner. It was like the Special Olympics but drunk. Somebody give me a hug...
"Jeff continued his winning streak, scoring his 3rd point in 4 weeks. He also extended his taking me out streak to two weeks in a row. I think that there's something in his O'Doul's which heightens his perception, because he's the only one drinking it, and he seems to be much more alert at the end of games then everyone else."
7:38:09 PM
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Leno on President Bush
Jay Leno: "Heavy rains caused so much flooding in Washington, D.C. they had to close down the National Archives where they keep the Constitution. Luckily, the Bush administration's not using the Constitution anymore." Thanks to NewMexiKen for the link.
"2008 pres"
8:12:30 AM
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War on drugs
Jessica Peck Corry (via the Denver Post): "I hope my daughter will never smoke marijuana. Regardless of whether she does one day, I know one thing for sure: Keeping it illegal can only harm her future.
"Since 1998, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has spent more than $2 billion in taxpayer dollars on twin advertising campaigns seeking to discourage marijuana use. The first speaks to parents, calling them the "Anti-Drug." It fails before it begins. Good parents are going to talk to their children about drugs. All the feel-good ads in the world aren't going to get indifferent parents to engage in such an awkward but essential dialogue.
"The second campaign fails as well. In these, youthful but sophisticated graphics tell kids not to use marijuana. If there is one sure way to get adolescents to smoke pot, tell them that the government and their parents don't want them to. In fact, a recently published national study indicates that after viewing commercials for this campaign, young people were more likely to exhibit positive responses about the drug.
"Politicians whisper quietly behind closed doors about the insanity of the drug war. Neither party, however, has had the courage to take a stand against prohibition publicly. Just imagine if the $2 billion invested in these ads - or the billions more spent prosecuting peaceful marijuana users every year - had been diverted instead into tuition grants for needy students or back to taxpaying parents who could directly invest in college funds."
"2008 pres"
7:59:44 AM
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Flag burning amendment
The Denver Post editorial staff is blasting the U.S. Senate for election year pandering. They write, "Leaders of the U.S. Senate, desperate to divert voters' attention from a deep deficit and an unpopular war, made time yesterday to take up a constitutional amendment to outlaw flag burning.
"Fortunately, the proposition fell one vote short, no thanks to Colorado Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar. They joined in voting for what would have been the first time in history that the U.S. Constitution was changed to restrict the freedom of expression enjoyed by Americans.
"This exercise in election-year demagoguery wasn't necessary. There is no epidemic of disrespect for the flag - supporters conceded there were just four such episodes all year.
"As Gary May, Chairman of Veterans Defending the Bill of Rights, argues, constricting the First Amendment would not honor veterans; 'it would instead attack the very principles that inspired us to serve our country.' May lost two legs in Vietnam serving his country. Unlike Allard and Salazar, he did not lose sight of the principles of the republic for which our flag stands."
Check our Mike Keefe's cartoon on the subject today.
Al Knight weighs takes on the subject in his column in today's Denver Post. He writes, "Would it really be a step backwards, would it really ruin the First Amendment (let alone the Bill of Rights) to return to enforcement practices that were once taken for granted? If that isn't reason enough to pass it, how about this: Think what it would do to the ACLU."
"2008 pres"
7:53:17 AM
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Watering restrictions
From today's Denver Post: "Morrison - Water-plant limits spur summer curbs Outdoor watering will be restricted beginning Saturday because the water-treatment plant is operating at peak capacity. Town officials said there is substantial water storage in the reservoir and they don't anticipate a water shortage this summer. Consumption has increased because of the lack of rain. Watering will be limited to 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for odd-numbered addresses and the same hours on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays for even-numbered addresses. An initial warning will be issued for violations, with fines for repeat offenders.
and ... "Thornton - Watering restrictions to begin Saturday. Starting Saturday, Thornton residents may water a maximum of three times a week. The restriction seeks to reduce overall water use by 30 percent for the remainder of the lawn-watering season. Residents can water up to three days per week based on the following schedule: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday: watering for even-numbered single-family and duplex addresses. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: watering for odd-numbered single-family and duplex addresses. Sunday, Tuesday, Friday: watering for multifamily, HOA nonresidential and others. For more information, call Heather Lammers at 303-538- 7238."
"colorado water"
7:41:55 AM
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English immersion?
Denver Post: "A proposal to immerse students who don't speak English into intense English-instruction classes for a year before they return to mainstream classrooms is not educationally sound and could be harmful to students, educators and critics say. 'This (proposed state constitutional) amendment is one-size-fits-all, regardless,' said Sheila Shannon, a professor in the School of Education at the University of Colorado. At issue is the 'Education of English Learners' ballot initiative proposed by a Weld County-based committee, English for Colorado. It calls for placing kids learning English into language classes for a year, without lessons in math, science, social studies or other topics. After that year, the student would return to mainstream classrooms, said Weld County Commissioner William Jerke, who is leading the initiative effort. Parents of students 10 or older can request a waiver."
"denver 2006"
6:31:29 AM
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State legislature special session
Governor Owens will call a special session to resurrect the Defend Colorado Now initiative for the fall ballot, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Gov. Bill Owens said Tuesday night that he would call a special legislative session in the next 10 days after backers and opponents of a ballot measure to limit services to illegal immigrants reached a compromise that could tamp down contentious election-year debate on the issue. He made the announcement several hours after Defend Colorado Now and Keep Colorado Safe - groups led by former Gov. Dick Lamm and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, respectively - issued a joint news release Tuesday afternoon saying they had made peace on the issue. The groups said they had agreed to seek new laws cracking down on illegal immigrants rather than a constitutional amendment...
"The compromise, modeled after a Georgia law, blends aspects of the proposed constitutional amendment that was wiped off the November ballot earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court and a Democratic- backed proposal to get tougher on employers who don't verify the legal status of their workers. Their proposal would list the state services that would be denied illegal immigrants. It would also require employers to verify workers' legal status....
"The governor, who has authority to dictate the terms of the special session, is expected to detail his plans this afternoon. 'House Republicans want the citizens to have this debate, and we want to have a vote,' said May, adding that he is drafting a proposal that could be put on the ballot. Owens also said Tuesday that he supports giving the people a chance to vote on the issue in November. With control of the governor's mansion and statehouse at stake in November, Republicans and Democrats have been jockeying for the political upper hand since the Supreme Court ruling...
"On the downside for Republicans, hauling lawmakers back to the Capitol could touch off a nasty inquiry into how much money the Owens administration has allowed to be spent on illegal immigrants during the past seven years. At the same time, Democrats could use the session to drive a wedge between Republicans and key constituents in business - a wedge that could influence this fall's governor's race. On the downside for Democrats, a special session could allow Republicans to claim that they are driving the debate on an issue that has passionate followers seeking to limit state spending on illegal immigrants. Republicans hope a special session would expose Democrats as soft on the issue."
"denver 2006"
6:23:21 AM
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Oil and gas drilling
Yesterday U.S. Senator Ken Salazar warned the administration about a possible backlash from western states over oil and gas drilling, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Sen. Ken Salazar accused the Bush administration Tuesday of running roughshod over Westerners' concerns about the region's oil and gas boom, saying fears about pollution, wildlife and property rights could spark a 'revolution' against drilling. 'With the rush to lease every acre of land as quickly as possible, we're seeing local communities start standing up against it,' said Salazar, D-Colo. 'We are seeing a potential revolution against oil and gas development.' Salazar cited the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's decision to allow drilling in the watershed of Grand Junction and Palisade, its refusal to release a plan for drilling on top of the Roan Plateau and the push for a state ballot initiative to bolster landowners' rights as proof of discontent in normally pro-development Western Slope communities. BLM Director Kathleen Clarke denied ignoring local concerns, but said her agency must also help the nation meet its energy needs."
"colorado water"
6:03:24 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 8:20:01 PM.
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