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Friday, September 8, 2006
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Armey for president?
Political Wire: "The Washington Post reports that former House majority leader Richard Armey (R-TX) is headed to Iowa on Sept. 19, igniting speculation that he may be considering a 2008 presidential run. Armey denied he has interest in running but also left the door 'wide open.' The report notes one hurdle faced by Armey if he does run: the last successful House member to be elected president was George H.W. Bush, who also put CIA director and vice-president on his resume before he won the presidency."
"2008 pres"
6:58:16 AM 
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Immigration
The Cherry Creek News: "Regis University is pleased to announce a unique and rare display of photographs showing both sides of the immigration conflict. The Border Film Project features a collection of photos taken by undocumented migrants trying to cross the Mexican border into the United States, and by the American minutemen trying to stop them. The exhibit will be on display for the month of September in the Doyle and Margaret Hartman Exhibit Gallery on the second floor of the Dayton Memorial Library, at Regis University's Lowell campus."
"2008 pres"
6:57:15 AM
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Trailhead to amend ads?
The Cherry Creek News: "Misleading statements in attack ads targeting Bill Ritter by Trailhead, a Republican 527 political group spearheaded by big money Republicans Pete Coors and Bruce Benson, are being struck at the request of Denver media stations. The ads have asserted that Democratic candidate for Colorado governor Bill Ritter 'avoided' enforcing the death penalty as the Denver District Attorney. Ritter sought the death penalty for seven killers. The ads have been roundly criticized as misleading, including by media outlets carrying the Trailhead spots. KOA radio is nowing airing spots without the death penalty assertion. Sources indicate that at least one other television station is following suit."
"denver 2006"
6:56:16 AM
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Can Dems win on national security?
Political Wire: "When it comes to national security issues, the latest strategy memo from James Carville and Stan Greenberg says Democrats 'must not duck these issues, as some did in recent elections, and have no need to: unlike in previous years, there are few signs that Republicans come out ahead when Democrats contest them. At this point, the Bush focus on the war and national security is only pumping up his base rather than winning over contested voters or districts. By contrast, when Democrats join this debate and lay out their critique and plans, Democrats win across the broad electorate, particularly among Independents and other swing blocks.'
Keys to a successful Democratic strategy: On Iraq, stress that 'it is time to change course,' because Bush has mismanaged the war, has no real plan going forward, and has made America less secure through skewed priorities that deflect our focus and resources from other key priorities in the fight against terror; Lay out their own plan for protecting the nation's security, voters want to know that in addition to the critique on Iraq, Democrats have a positive program to combat terror and make America safer; As part of that plan, highlight the steps Democrats can take to cut America's dependence on foreign oil; This is the public's number one national security concern, and the public sides with Democrats overwhelmingly when they lay out steps to improve America's energy security; Describe how America can take stronger actions against the threat of Islamic extremism and terrorism, including implementing 100 percent of the 9/11 Commission's recommen-dations."
"2008 pres"
6:54:04 AM
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Amendment 41
Rocky Mountain News: "A bruising battle erupted Thursday over a ballot measure that would ban lobbyists and just about everyone else from giving gifts to public officials and their immediate family members. State lawmakers and measure proponents tussled for four hours over the official wording of Amendment 41. The measure would ban public officials and government employees or their family members from accepting meals, sporting tickets, travel, honoraria and other gifts and things worth $50 or more in a calendar year, except on special occasions, which is not clearly defined in the measure, critics say. Measure opponents complained that it would infringe on the rights of state and local government employees' spouses and children...
"The measure also would prohibit state elected officials from becoming hired lobbyists for two years after leaving office, prompting cries that it limits a former elected official's right to earn a living. Amendment 41 would create a controversial five-member ethics commission whose individual members would have subpoena powers to carry out an investigation into an ethics complaint, prompting fears of abuse. Backers of the measure called on lawmakers, who did little to hide their disdain for the measure, to refrain from slanting the Blue Book language to sway voters."
"denver 2006"
6:43:10 AM
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Amendment 43: Gay Marriage?
Rocky Mountain News: "The gay rights battle in Colorado is turning into a multi-million dollar production. Focus on the Family and its political arm has so far given $716,000 to support a ballot measure that would ban gay marriage and oppose a domestic partnership initiative, campaign finance reports show. The Colorado Springs evangelical group and its political action committee gave $216,000 between July 27 and August 30 to Colorado Family Action Inc., according to campaign reports filed Tuesday. Earlier in the summer, Focus on the Family and Focus on the Family Action each gave about $250,000 to Colorado Family Action, formed in June with the help of Focus staffer Jim Pfaff. That group plans to mount a media campaign on behalf of Amendment 43 and against Referendum I. And the group sponsoring the marriage amendment raised $244,188 as of July 26. Its latest finance report will be filed in the next week. Amendment 43 would amend the state constitution to say that marriage is a union only between a man and a woman. Referendum I would allow gay couples to register as domestic partners and obtain many of the same legal rights and responsibilities as married couples. Coloradans for Fairness and Equality, which supports Referendum I and opposes the marriage amendment, raised $256,138 between July 27 and Aug. 30, a spokeswoman said Thursday. That group will file its detailed report today. Earlier the group collected more than $613,000. Colorado Family Action has spent almost $584,000 on television and radio ads that are expected to be aired in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Pueblo and Denver in the weeks before the election."
"denver 2006"
6:39:31 AM
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Gordon for Secretary of State?
From today's Denver Post: "Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack came to Denver on Thursday to raise money for Ken Gordon's campaign for secretary of state. The fundraiser was held at the Denver Dry Goods Tea Room, a downtown loft owned by Rutt and Annie Bridges. The goal was to raise $100 a person. Vilsack said he has created the Heartland political action committee to help raise money for secretary-of-state candidates in four states and also in Florida, where the secretary of state is appointed by the governor. Vilsack, on the short list as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2008, said the group's other targeted secretary-of-state races are in Minnesota, Ohio and Nevada. Gordon has boasted that he doesn't accept contributions from political action committees, but Vilsack said his organization's website directs potential donors to Gordon's campaign. Gordon, a Democrat, is the state Senate majority leader. Republican Mike Coffman, the state treasurer, and Rick VanWie, a paralegal and the Green Party candidate, are also running for the post in November."
"denver 2006"
6:29:48 AM
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Fort Collins kayak park?
Fort Collins Coloradoan: "Long stalled in a veritable fundraising eddy, a Fort Collins kayak park could be a year away, thanks to private donations. Proponents of the water park, which would be located on the Poudre River east of North College Avenue, have raised enough money to launch the design phase of the park this fall and have enough pledged that the park could be built by next fall."
"colorado water"
6:17:06 AM
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Late season stream flow in the Colorado
Summit Daily News: "High water levels in Dillon and Green Mountain reservoirs helped sustain the booming local summer recreation industry this summer, but there is a downside for Grand County, just to the north, where Colorado River flows have dropped down to levels not seen since at least the drought summer of 2002. Between Granby and Kremmling, some gauges are measuring flows as low as 20 cubic feet per second, leading Trout Unlimited (TU) to raise an alarm. The cold water fisheries conservation group is concerned that the low flows could harm trout populations in the prolific fishery, and claims that the state is not trying to meet its obligation to maintain minimum stream flows...
"Summit County fits into the picture because water from the Blue River system, via Dillon and Green Mountain reservoirs, is currently being used to meet downstream demands, especially the crucial Shoshone water right. That means more available water in the Upper Colorado, above Kremmling, for diversion to the East Slope via the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. But operation of the Colorado-Big Thompson project is partially governed by a U.S. Senate document that requires the Bureau of Reclamation to operate the Colorado-Big Thompson Project in a way that maintains a live stream and satisfies irrigation needs. According to Whiting and other officials in Grand County, that is currently not happening. Grand County Commissioner James Newberry was on his way to Washington, D.C., Thursday to discuss the situation with top Bureau of Reclamation officials...
"While water levels in the Colorado are healthy below the confluence with the Blue, there is a gap in the flows upstream, between Kremmling and Granby, resulting from the diversions to the Front Range. Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) biologists said the flows are far from ideal for trout...
"Kirk Klancke, with the Winter Park West Water and Sanitation District, said the low flows in the upper Colorado River can mostly be attributed to Front Range demand. He said the state-owned water rights, held by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to meet minimum flow requirements, are junior to other rights currently being used...
"The bottom line, said Klancke, is there just isn't enough water in the river to satisfy all the competing demands. And he pointed out that both Denver Water and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy have plans to significantly increase diversions from the headwaters of the Colorado."
"colorado water"
6:04:13 AM
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Colorado River Cutthroat Trout: Endangered species?
Center for Biological Diversity: "In response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Native Ecosystems, Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, and Colorado Wild, a federal judge today threw out the Bush administration's April 20, 2004 decision to not consider the groups' petition to protect the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The court ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to complete a status review of the imperiled trout within nine months...
"One of the most spectacular of the colorful cutthroat trout, the Colorado River cutthroat has a crimson belly and distinct black spots covering the tail, sides and back and was historically found in portions of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and extreme northern New Mexico and Arizona. Today, the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout has been reduced to less than five percent of its historic range in small, isolated headwater streams, where it is in immediate danger of extinction. This reduction was caused by habitat loss due to livestock grazing, logging, mining and water diversion, and the introduction and spread of nonnative trout, such as brook, rainbow and brown, which compete or hybridize with the native fish...
"In overturning the administration's decision, the court determined that FWS had illegally and selectively sought information from state agencies that generally oppose protection, while giving the public no chance to comment...
"The Bush administration's denial of protection for the trout is typical of an administration that has only listed 56 species to date (always under court order) compared to 512 listed under the Clinton administration and 234 under Bush senior's administration."
"2008 pres"
5:58:09 AM
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Energy policy
The BLM has decided to open up the Roan Plateau to oil and gas exploration, according to the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "Federal land managers opened the door to drilling in one of Colorado's richest natural gas reserves Thursday, unveiling a compromise proposal that endeavors to reap the mineral riches under the Western Slope's Roan Plateau while protecting its wildlife and environment. The long-awaited proposal caps years of contentious debate among industry, green groups and numerous public agencies on how to go about extracting natural gas from underneath 115 square miles of federal land within the ecologically diverse plateau region north of Interstate 70, bookended by the small towns of Rifle and Parachute. The proposed 'resource management plan,' released by Bureau of Land Management and Colorado officials, comes with an array of conditions designed to limit the effect of drilling on wildlife and streams - even taking into consideration the views for drivers along I-70. A BLM spokesman described the proposal as 'one of the most restrictive BLM has written to date.' Even so, environmentalists and some politicians, including U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., expressed disappointment and anger that the plan will open up the top of the 9,000-foot plateau region to drilling...
"Under the BLM's preferred scenario, half of the plateau region would remain off limits to any drilling activity. Only small pockets of land - 350 acres - atop the plateau could be disturbed at any one time and wells would be clustered together on drill pads that would have to be at least one-half mile apart. In addition, BLM officials say development would be limited to higher ridges 'away from ecologically sensitive canyons and streams.' And, in an unusual twist, to better monitor and control disturbance atop the plateau only one company will be allowed to conduct all the work on behalf of all the leaseholders, the agency said. Leases will be available to any interested energy company but leaseholders will have to agree on a single firm to do the drilling and establish wells. Industry officials said they supported the efforts to protect the Roan's environment, but were critical of the components of the proposal they said would drag the drilling process out over decades, and reduce 'competitive interest' in acquiring leases to drill. Kathy Hall, Western Slope representative for the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, said her first look at the plan shows 'a lot is unknown. It's a new process.' She questioned whether a single operator doing the work for all of the companies that eventually obtain leases would be practical...
"'This is not a perfect plan,' said Russell George, executive director of Colorado's Department of Natural Resources and a man known for his ability to build consensus. 'In government, our obligation is to balance things for all citizens to accommodate as many interests as possible.' George, who hails from Rifle, said he assigned 13 people from various divisions of the DNR to work on the plan with the BLM and locals in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. He highlighted staged development 'one ridge top at a time,' clustering drilling facilities, setting aside more than 23,000 acres of wildlife security areas, forming a Parachute Creek Water Management Area to protect water resources and limiting development to one operator. Even with such restrictions, George said, officials believe industry can recover 90 percent of the natural gas under the plateau. That's important to energy advocates, who project that the nearly 9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas under the plateau could heat more than two million homes for 20 to 30 years in a time of rising natural gas demand and prices. Indeed, the Roan is estimated to be home to one-third of Colorado's natural gas reserves and represents more than 4 percent of the nation's 201 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, according to figures provided by the BLM."
Here's the coverage from the Summit Daily News. They write, "The public has until Oct. 15 to submit protests to the plan, and Gov. Bill Owens has 60 days to review the plan to see whether it meets state law. The BLM received nearly 75,000 comments on a draft of the management plan. The agency oversees 73,602 acres of federal land on the 9,000-foot plateau, home to elk, deer, mountain lions, peregrine falcons, bears, native Colorado trout and other wildlife. Town and city officials in surrounding communities have opposed any drilling on top of the plateau. Gas wells already have been drilled on private land there."
Here's the coverage from the Denver Post. From the article, "The area has become a nationally watched battleground between those who would preserve its unusual ecosystem and those eager to tap into its rich reserve of an estimated 9 trillion cubic feet of gas."
"2008 pres"
5:42:56 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 8:32:31 PM.
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