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Thursday, February 15, 2007
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? for president?
Captain's Quarters: "Giuliani announces, mostly, and bashes Bush on war strategy: One of the more tiresome aspects of Presidential campaigns is the Kabuki dance performed by the candidates regarding their status. Rudy Giuliani has come in for more criticism than most, although he has shown clearly that he intends to run for the Republican nomination. He made it even more clear on the Larry King show last night on CNN.
The Right's Field: "Word on the street is that Ron Paul's speech on the Iraq war blasted Bush unlike no other. Paul is supporting the non-binding resolution to support the troops and oppose the escalation of the Iraq war. Beyond that, Paul is in favor of ending the Iraq war now."
"2008 pres"
7:19:21 PM 
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Hook and bullet crowd
New West: "Last year, I posted a column critical of the National Rifle Association's anti-habitat, anti-hunter policy, which is way different than anti-hunting policy. Other outdoor writers across the nation did the same. Now, I see a small sign that the most powerful lobby in America is starting to get it.
"Washington Post reporter Blaine Harden (with contributions from Juliet Eilperin) recently interviewed several NRA executives and in reading their excellent article, it sure looks like group's starting to hear the chorus from their four million members and hunters who refuse to join until priorities change."
"2008 pres"
7:07:35 PM
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Pipe bombs found in the California Aqueduct
U.S. Water News Online: "Authorities beefed up patrols and surveillance at critical points in the city's water system after pipe bombs were found in a portion of the California Aqueduct...Three pipe bombs were discovered near a valve in a portion of the California Aqueduct, which had been partially drained as part of a routine check for submerged objects. The California Highway Patrol said if the bombs had been triggered, they could have opened the valve and released water. A bomb unit detonated them in a safe area. It wasn't known if the bombs were placed in the aqueduct to intentionally disrupt California's water supplies, but Michaels said New York City wasn't taking any chances."
"colorado water"
6:52:54 PM
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Tele-town hall meeting
ZDNet: "Technology that can connect thousands of people on a single phone call is letting US representatives like Kansas' Jerry Moran reach out and touch their constituents without having to leave Washington, the AP reports. A 'tele-town hall meeting' lets lawmakers call up to 35,000 households in their district at random by using a special automated dialing system."
"2008 pres"
6:49:24 PM
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February 5th morphing into a national primary?
CBS: "After a handful of key contests spread throughout late January, a glut of states awaits on Feb. 5 -- a day that threatens to become the equivalent of a national primary.
"The list of states that are holding contests on that day is significant: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah. But other states -- California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Texas and possibly more -- are moving to join that club."
This is the first we've heard about Colorado on February 5th. Why not? Thanks to Colorado Lib for the link.
"2008 pres"
6:38:41 PM
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? for president?
Political Wire: "'The Republicans' first primary contest is next week, and it's not in New Hampshire,' reports Newsweek. 'It is in Orlando, at the annual meeting of the National Religious Broadcasters. GOP presidential candidates will be there to try to generate buzz that will translate into evangelical airtime -- and support in 'the base' in 2008.'"
Pollster.com: "Additional analysis from a recent Rasmussen Reports automated survey of 507 likely Republican primary voters nationwide (conducted 2/5 through 2/8) finds former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (at 32%) leading Sen. John McCain (18%), Newt Gingrich (10%), and Mitt Romney (8%)."
Pollster.com: "Additional analysis from yesterday's USA Today/Gallup national survey of 1006 adults (conducted 2/9 through 2/11) finds: Among 425 Republicans and Republican leaners, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani leads Sen. John McCain (40% to 24%) in a national Republican primary; Among 495 Democrats and Democratic leaners, Sen. Hillary Clinton (at 40%) leads Sen. Barack Obama (21%), former Vice President Al Gore (14%), and former Sen. John Edwards (13%) in a national Democratic primary; General election match-ups pitting Clinton against McCain (50% to 47%), Clinton againt Giuliani (48% to 50%), and Obama against McCain (both at 48%) are all within the margin of sampling error."
"2008 pres"
6:59:35 AM
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Iraq
Here's a short article about Colorado's U.S. Representatives and their comments on the Iraq resolution being debated in Washington D.C., from the Rocky Mountain News.
Captain's Quarters: "The new surge strategy has hit the streets of Baghdad, and thus far, it seems the Iraqi street has not hit back. The AP reports that the Shi'ite neighborhoods on which the new surge has concentrated has either welcomed the soldiers or shrugged at their presence."
Captain's Quarters: "As the new Democratic majority took control of Congress, bloggers across the spectrum generally agreed the Democrats had three options to satisfy their anti-war base and stage a meaningful objection to the war in Iraq. First, they could end all funding for the war, which would leave them with the responsibility for everything that followed afterwards. Second, they could issue no-confidence motions in an attempt to humiliate George Bush into withdrawing from Iraq. Third, they could run so many investigations into war management that it would force the Pentagon to use its resources on fighting political battles rather than wage war.
"Unfortunately, none of us considered a fourth option -- a slow bleed of funding that will allow Democrats to defund the war while blaming the White House for mismanaging the remaining resources."
Tom Schaller (via the Baltimore Sun): "President Bush's war of choice in Iraq has destroyed the partisan brand Republicans spent the past four decades building. That brand was based upon four pillars: that Republicans are more trustworthy on defense and military issues; that they know when and where markets can replace or improve government; that they are more competent administrators of those functions government can't privatize; and, finally, that their public philosophy is imbued with moral authority. The war demolished all four claims."
Thanks to Ed Cone for the link.
Daily Kos: "Slot this in the 'cry me a river' category: 'Mrs. Clinton's advisers do not relish the idea of someone bringing up her 2002 Senate vote at every campaign stop.' Clinton cast a vote that has led to one of the biggest foreign policy disasters in this nation's history -- a vote that even cursory skepticism would've counseled against. Most of the presidential candidates have gotten the 'I fracked up the vote' stuff out of the way last year. It's not the most compelling tack to take -- if their judgment was so poor as to vote for the darn thing, why should we promote them. We talk about DC being a place where people fail upward. Do we really want to encourage that within our own party? But in any case, pro-war Dems who have unequivocally admitted their mistake don't have to offer tortured justifications for their war."
"2008 pres"
6:39:42 AM
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Energy policy: Oil and gas development
From today's Denver Post: "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided a western Colorado wildflower doesn't warrant federal protection. Federal officials said the Debeque milkvetch, which grows in Mesa and Garfield counties, appears to be maintaining its presence despite environmental groups' claim that oil and gas development is threatening the flower's habitat. The agency on Wednesday cited the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's actions to help conserve the plant, including withholding some areas from oil and gas leasing. In 2004, the Colorado Native Plant Society and Center for Native Ecosystems asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to grant federal protection for the flower. 'This is a real blow to efforts to conserve this globally rare wildflower,' said Dave Anderson of the Colorado Native Plant Society."
"2008 pres"
6:35:30 AM
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Public policy that sounds good to the ear of the average American?
Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi blasts E85 fuel in his column in today. He writes, "In October, Consumer Reports reported that government 'support for flexible-fuel vehicles, which can run on E85, is indirectly causing more gasoline consumption rather than less' (aggravated emphasis mine). Worse, many critics also question whether ethanol is, in fact, any healthier for the environment than gas. Last year the journal Science reported that numerous studies illustrated that corn ethanol technologies produced 'greenhouse gas emissions similar to those of gasoline.' Experts say that anywhere from 5 percent to 25 percent of ethanol is 'renewable energy,' and the rest of ethanol's energy - applied to produce corn and process the corn into ethanol - is derived from coal, natural gas and nuclear power. So why would President Bush tout ethanol in his State of the Union speech? Why would Ritter be teaming up with GM to sell us on this alternative energy when many unanswered questions remain? It's about public policy that sounds good to the ear of the average American. As for GM, it's about the bottom line."
"2008 pres"
6:27:52 AM
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Energy policy: Renewable energy
Environment Colorado: "Legislation to double Colorado's renewable energy standard - the cornerstone to this year's clean energy agenda - was passed by the House Transportation and Energy committee today in a unanimous vote. The measure's sponsors include Representatives Jack Pommer (D - Boulder) and Rob Witwer (R- Genesee) and Senator Gail Schwartz (D - Snowmass Village). 'Today's vote is the product of a fruitful dialogue between Colorado's utilities, conservationists, labor unions, renewable energy companies, farmers and state leaders to create a new energy future,' said Will Coyne, Program Director of Environment Colorado. 'Doubling our use of renewable energy to 20% by 2020 will protect our air, cut global warming pollution, and increase our energy security.' The bill, HB07-1281 [pdf], increases the renewable energy standard to 20% by the year 2020 and also includes several key provisions designed to encourage local communities to develop clean energy development projects, including projects initiated by municipal utilities and electric cooperatives themselves. The bill is supported by renewable energy advocates, conservationists, farmers, and utility companies. The bill also sets the first renewable energy standard for all rural electric cooperatives. Under this legislation, all electric cooperatives would be required to get 10% of their electricity from renewables by 2020."
"2008 pres"
6:19:43 AM
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Lower South Platte River Symposium
From the Fort Morgan Times, "The 2007 Lower South Platte Water Symposium will be held March 7 at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. Cost for the symposium is $20 prior to Feb. 21 and $35 after that date. Lunch is included. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at the theatre in French Hall. Registration forms are available at the Morgan, Logan and Sedgwick Extension and NRCS offices. Those with questions or needing a registration form should call 970-345-0508 or 345-2287...
"Alan Berryman of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District will talk about the three-state agreement. Berryman has been involved with negotiations for Colorado with Wyoming and Nebraska. One the key concerns with water availability in the South Platte deals with the three-state agreement and the Endangered Species Act with protected species living on the Platte River system. Global warming and concerns over the potential for climate change have been in the news. What is the potential impact of climate change to Colorado and the Western United States water supply? Dr. Brad Udall, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at Boulder, will discuss the potential impact of climate change to the future of Colorado water supplies. Other topics will include changes in the river water supply, future of legislation regarding water, the regional impact of irrigation, Parker water and the Lower South Platte, a statewide water supply needs update and water conservancy districts and water rights."
"colorado water"
6:14:44 AM
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Tailwater fishery below Pueblo Reservoir
Here's an article about the tailwater fishery below Pueblo Reservoir from the Pueblo Chieftain. They write, "A local fly-fishing shop owner found dead fish and disappointed anglers on the Arkansas River last week after flows from Pueblo Dam were cut back. The problems have more to do with how fish were transferred and their adjustment to new conditions than lower flows, state wildlife officials say. In addition, a water lease with the Pueblo Board of Water Works will protect the habitat for fish in coming weeks, they say."
"colorado water"
6:04:43 AM
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HB 1132
HB 07-1132 made it out of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "The head of a Southeastern Colorado water district said Wednesday that although it's still very permissive and narrowly focused, a water quality bill approved by a Senate panel will go a long way toward protecting Colorado's rivers. John Singletary, president of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, told the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee that linking water transfers and water quality has been a long time in coming. 'It's time that Colorado shows a leadership role in water quality as well as quantity,' Singletary told the committee, which approved HB1132 on a 6-1 vote. 'The real benefit long term is going to be the ability to look at water quality as a necessary issue in Colorado. I think the precedent really is going to be the position that water quality should take and will take in Colorado because it is such an invaluable resource,' Singletary said...
"The bill, which is limited to permanent transfers of 1,000 acre-feet or more, requires a judge who chooses to consider that environmental impact to use standards set by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. Opponents to the idea in past years have come aboard this year, in part, because of fears that water court judges already have the ability to consider environmental damage and would apply their own standards to it rather than those set by the commission...
"This year's measure has won wide support not only because newly installed Gov. Bill Ritter has said he will sign it, but also because it's been narrowed to apply only to permanent water transfers. As a result, lawmakers such as Sens. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, and Jack Taylor, R-Steamboat Springs, who voted against it last year, favored it in Wednesday's committee hearing...
"Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, was the sole committee member who voted against the measure. The bill heads to the full Senate, but it is unknown when it will be scheduled for a debate. The bill overwhelming passed the House earlier this month."
"colorado water"
5:58:00 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 9:04:46 PM.
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