| |
|
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
|
|
Iraq
Josh Marshall: "I've seen a number of bloggers making this point. But let me join the chorus. President Bush has for years hidden behind the fairly transparently bogus claim that decisions about troop strength and deployment will be made based on the judgment of what the military brass thinks they need. That now seems to be a dead letter, though, as the Joint Chiefs are unanimously against the White House plan to 'surge' troops in Baghdad for at least the first half of next year."
"2008 pres"
6:02:42 PM 
|
|
Special election to decide Election Commission governance?
Dan Willis (via Colorado Pols): "On Tuesday, Dec. 26th, Denver City Council will be taking public comment on a proposal to hold a special election on Jan. 30th to get rid of the Electon Commission and go to an elected Clerk and Recorder...We are asking anyone who opposes this idea to please make the time to come to the City County Building on Dec. 26th, at 5:30 pm and express their opposition."
"denver 2007"
6:01:01 PM
|
|
Winter Solstice
Now this is cool. The Mercury Cafe is the place to be this Friday at lunchtime. From SquareState.net, "You are invited to celebrate the winter solstice and the installation of 2 wind turbines and several solar panels on the roof of the Mercury Cafe on Friday December 22nd at noon (corner of 22nd and California streets). If it is too cold to be on the roof we will be holding the ritual in the second floor ballroom."
5:58:48 PM
|
|
Clinton for president?
TPM Cafe: "Hillary Clinton has spoken out today against an increase in the American troop presence in Iraq, the Associated Press is reporting. The move appears to put Clinton at least partly at odds with Dem Senator Harry Reid, who yesterday agreed to a troop increase, but only if it were tied directly to a withdrawal in 2008. The AP story quoted Clinton as follows: 'I am not in favor of doing that unless it's part of a larger plan. I am not in favor of sending more troops to continue what our men and women have been told to do with the government of Iraq pulling the rug out from under them when they actually go after some of the bad guys.' We're not sure what 'unless it's part of a larger plan' means; it may put her closer to Reid than it looked at first glance. We're seeking clarification."
"2008 pres"
6:27:14 AM
|
|
Edwards, McCain or Biden for president?
Political Wire: "For now, at least 3 candidates are embarking on 2nd runs in '08: McCain, Edwards and Biden,' The Hotline notes. 'Not surprisingly, all three are trying new tacks for their second bids. McCain has evolved from insurgent to establishment; Edwards is going from fresh face to crusader; and Biden is vying for the seasoned veteran mantle (we're not even going to try to classify Biden's '88 theme). McCain's shift is the most historically viable. Republicans have nominated the second place insurgent three times since '80. The most risky change is the Edwards strategy. Not since McGovern have the Dems actually nominated the crusader. Then again, maybe Edwards had no choice. The establishment is with Clinton; the fresh-face crowd is with Obama and Edwards can't pull off senior statesman. Edwards better hope Gore doesn't block the crusade path.'"
"2008 pres"
6:25:17 AM
|
|
Disposition of severance taxes
Here's a nice rundown of the issues around the distribution of severance taxes and their future from Colorado Confidential. They write, "'Severance tax' may not a familiar phrase to most Coloradans, but by the time the 2007 Colorado legislature has wrapped up, many more will know of its significance. First of all, when severance tax collections for the state jump from $33 million to nearly $200 million in four years, it is not hard for any politician or special interest group to take notice. The Colorado severance tax is imposed upon nonrenewable natural resources that are removed from the earth. The tax is applied to gross oil (crude oil and condensate) and gas (natural gas, coalbed methane and carbon dioxide) income. Most of the increase in severance tax revenues in recent years has been from the explosion of natural gas drilling on the Western Slope, most particularly in the Piceance Creek area of Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. The revenues from the state severance tax collections are divided in half, with 50% of the funds going to the State Trust Fund and 50% to the Local Impact Fund. The Department of Natural Resources receives half of the State Trust Fund monies and the other half goes into a perpetual fund that loans money to Colorado Water Conservation projects.
"The Local Impact Fund is divided accordingly: 85% goes to Department of Local Affairs grant projects and 15% is distributed directly to local governments affected by oil and gas impacts based upon the number of oil and gas workers living in that particular town or county. Most of the localities eligible for direct severance tax funds are in rural Western Slope areas such as Rio Blanco, Garfield, Montrose, Delta, Mesa, LaPlata and Moffat, among others. With county roads in disrepair from oil and gas truck traffic and municipal services and schools slammed by an influx of energy workers and their families, rural town mayors and county commissioners have been pressuring their state representatives to increase the direct assistance portion of the severance tax. Revenues from the 15% share are not covering the cost of impacts, Western Slope government officials have stressed."
"colorado water"
6:22:31 AM
|
|
? for president?
Pollster.com: "'Is America Ready?' That's the question posed on the cover of this week's Newsweek featuring Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, a recent Newsweek poll, and other recent national surveys conducted by Gallup, Fox News, NBC/Wall Street Journal, Rasmussen Reports and Cook/RT Strategies. The question of whether U.S. voters are ready to elect a woman, an African American - or a Mormon for that matter - is something that political junkies will presumably continue to ponder for the course of the 2008 campaign. For those pondering such a question now, let me suggest a resource (and interview with Democratic pollster Celinda Lake) and one possibly overlooked point (about the candidacy of Harold Ford, Jr.)."
"2008 pres"
6:16:33 AM
|
|
Yampa River water to the Front Range?
The Northern Water Conservancy has big plans to move water from the Yampa River to the Front Range, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "The Yampa River, one of the last Colorado rivers with water to be claimed, could provide more than 97 billion gallons a year to the Front Range, according to a new study. The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District study found the $3.2 billion plan to withdraw Yampa water and send it through a 200-mile network of pipelines, pumps and reservoirs technically feasible. Ranchers, kayakers and northern Colorado municipalities have vowed to fight to keep the water in the Yampa River basin.
"The Yampa is considered one the West's last wild rivers because it contains only a few small-scale impoundments. 'The Yampa River is a relic of the past; it's a dinosaur of a river because its relatively free-flowing,' said rafting guide Kent Vertrees. 'We've got to ask ourselves what value we place on that.' District officials say the project would divert water at Maybell - only taking water that is currently leaving the state. Maybell could be a viable location, officials said, because it's far enough downstream to minimize impacts on municipalities that use the river...
"Northern officials say such a large project could benefit several Colorado river basins, including the beleaguered South Platte River basin, where up to 226,000 farmland acres are predicted to dry up by 2030. 'Because of the volume of water involved, even though the price tag for the project is large, the cost of the water per acre-foot is what folks are paying right now - and in some cases is much cheaper,' said Carl Brouwer, Northern's project manager. Northern water managers say they don't envision the district taking the lead on the project but do intend to shop the results around to interested Front Range cities in coming weeks...
"One challenge facing the project is ensuring that withdrawals don't shortchange water users in the larger Colorado River basin, which studies predict has about 500,000 acre-feet, or 162 billion gallons, of unclaimed water left."
"colorado water"
6:10:33 AM
|
|
Dem convention in Denver?
A pesky union official is hurting Denver's chances of landing the 2008 Democratic National Convention, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Denver's bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention hit a serious snag Monday after a union leader refused to sign a no-strike pledge, with a decision due anytime. City and union officials confirmed Monday that Jim Taylor, head of the local stagehands union, is refusing to sign a mandatory agreement with national Democrats pledging not to strike if the convention comes to Denver. Debbie Willhite, executive director of the host committee, said not having full union support is 'probably a deal breaker' for the DNC. But Denver's director of theaters and arenas, Jack Finlaw, said he was 'optimistic' that Taylor and the stagehands would sign on."
"2008 pres"
6:03:20 AM
|
|
Hickenlooper for mayor?
The Rocky Mountain News is running an article about the apparent lack of a candidate to run against incumbent mayor John Hickenlooper. From the article, "Hickenlooper, who has maintained favorable poll numbers in his first term in office, may end up running against himself. Pat Waak, chairwoman of the Colorado Democratic Party, said she hasn't 'heard a whisper' about anybody challenging Hickenlooper...
"In his fundraising letter, Hickenlooper said he plans to use his re-election campaign to "re-energize, recommit and refocus" the efforts of the city and his administration. 'Anybody with any sense would love to continue in the best job in America. I have at least a little sense and this is the best job in America,' Hickenlooper said in a statement read by his spokesperson, Sue Cobb. He also said he wants to 'mount an entertaining (and) enlightening campaign that builds support' around key issues in Denver and the region, including education, homelessness and infrastructure."
Coyote Gulch remembers fondly the eleven or so candidates that ran in 2003. We had a great time at the forums during the election. This time around the mayoral race looks to be pretty dull.
"denver 2007"
5:59:07 AM
|
|
Nevada: Early western caucus
Here's an article about the 2008 Nevada caucus to be held on January 19, 2008, from CNN. They write, "Forget Hillary vs. Obama. There's another question in the Democratic presidential race: Does what happens in Vegas really stay there, or can Sin City set the course for the nation? Nevada has a new prominence in deciding the party's next nominee. It will hold an early caucus January 19, 2008, sandwiched between Iowa and New Hampshire. The prized position is an attempt to bring more diverse voices into determining the Democratic candidate beyond the two overwhelmingly white, rural states that have traditionally dominated the process. The hope is that a Western state with a large population of Hispanics and union workers will bring fresh issues to the debate...
"The selection of Nevada is part of an effort to increase Democratic support in the West, once a bastion of conservatism. Democrats won several statewide elections in the West last month and the Democratic National Committee is considering holding its 2008 convention in Denver, Colorado."
"2008 pres"
5:46:35 AM
|
|
|
© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 8:54:23 PM.
|
|
|
