Thursday, March 29, 2007

Corruption Josh Marshall: "Sampson very, very carefully explains Karl Rove's role in the appointment of GOP oppo research Tim Griffin as US Attorney." TalkLeft: "Kyle Sampson contradicts Alberto Gonzales on PurgeGate." "2008 pres" 6:43:30 PM

Global warming: The Earth is a beautifully complex system Mojo Blog: "I love it: The conservative National Review is planning a cruise to Alaska. Of course, plenty of magazines do fundraising cruises -- but not a lot of them take a boatload of global warming deniers to Alaska, where glaciers are becoming puddles due to climate change." Thanks to NewMexiKen for the link. "2008 pres" 6:42:16 PM

War on terror Reuters: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday Congress should look for ways to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, but said any solution must ensure some detainees would remain incarcerated for life." Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for the link. "2008 pres" 6:31:12 PM

? for president? Colorado Confidential is running a tally of Colorado endorsements in the Presidential Election. Colorado Pols: "Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has consistently performed better in Colorado Pols Presidential polls than he has nationally, and that's no doubt due to the support he gets from high-profile Republicans in Colorado (including Romney's Colorado campaign consultants, Phaseline Strategies)." Mt. Virtus: "Dan Haley writes yesterday that the Colorado GOP's gubernatorial also-ran and former Congressman Bob Beauprez is raising coin for presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (I received the same email request). Of course, former Governor Bill Owens is a senior adviser to the Romney campaign, and perennial donor and former candidate Bruce Benson is also on board. No doubt many of the state's Republicans rank-and-file are going to find the support of the Benson-Owens-Beauprez axis as a reason to be skeptical of the former Massachusetts governor's candidacy." Political Wire: "In Iowa, Rudy Giuliani leads the Republican presidential field with 25% support, according to a new Zogby telephone poll. However, Sen. John McCain 'is within striking distance' at 19%, and Mitt Romney 'has moved into double[^]digits, almost doubling his support since January and earning himself a position in the top tier.'" Political Wire: "A new Time magazine poll shows John Edwards has surged among Democrats since he announced that his wife Elizabeth's cancer had recurred. In the national survey of registered Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton leads with 38%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 30% and Edwards at 26%. Edwards received just 17% in mid-March." "2008 pres" 6:28:26 PM

Iraq Washington Post: "The Senate today defied a White House veto threat and narrowly approved a $122 billion war spending bill that calls for combat troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq this summer. "The 51-47 vote fell mostly along party lines, with two Republicans -- Sens. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and Gordon Smith (Ore.) -- joining Democrats in support of the package, which would fund U.S. military activity in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Democrats also attached language that would start troop withdrawals within 120 days of passage, with a March 31, 2008, goal for completing combat operations in Iraq. Some troops could remain in Iraq after that deadline in order to conduct counterterrorism training and security operations." Thanks to TalkLeft for the link. Oliver Willis writes, of Glenn Reynolds, "This is supposed to be the guy lecturing the left about civility and not being crazy." Blogs for Bush: "Democrats have taken every last ounce of unity that came to life in the days and weeks after September 11, 2001. They have spent the past few years blindly opposing President Bush, even at the expense of the war on terror." "2008 pres" 6:22:02 PM

Corruption Josh Marshall: "Before Mr. Sampson goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow, let's get one big chunk of administration bamboozlement out of the way. In a much-quoted passage from the prepared remarks he'll deliver tomorrow, Sampson says 'The distinction between 'political' and 'performance-related' reasons for removing a United States attorney is, in my view, largely artificial.' This use of the word 'political' is at the heart of Sampson's and others effort to lie their way out of what happened here... Political Wire: "From the latest Evans-Novak Political Report: "The attitude of Capitol Hill Republicans toward President George W. Bush has reached a new low with Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales's incompetent handling of the U.S. attorneys matter. It is not just that there is so little GOP support for Gonzales, but that there is considerable distancing from the President. There is a consensus among congressional Republicans that Bush's policies -- starting with Iraq -- are at the heart of the party's problems.' "'While congressional Republicans are furious that a Gonzales aide is invoking the 5th Amendment before Congress, the Democratic leaders are interested in much more than embarrassing the GOP. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, is targeting the case of three deposed U.S. attorneys who were investigating major cases of public corruption. Emanuel is after what he thinks is a major story.'" "2008 pres" 7:00:43 AM

Economic Policy: Taxes Captain's Quarters: "House Democrats today will propose the largest tax hike in American history, one which will add more poor people to the tax rolls and which will further burden millions of small businesses. They will position this as fiscal discipline while refusing to trim federal spending, according to Robert Novak." "2008 pres" 6:54:00 AM

Coyote Gulch hits the big time Wow, Coyote Gulch has hit the big time. We were named the "Best Source of Water News" by Westword in their "Best of Denver 2007." Thanks! Here's what they had to say, "Colorado's water may dry up, but John Orr will keep pouring it on. Orr, who works for the city's wastewater treatment department, started Coyote Gulch in 2002 as a blog about local and national politics but soon started posting about his passion, water. Although he still comments regularly on topics like Barack Obama's campaign and the Iraq War, more often than not he's spouting off about all things hydrated in the Centennial State: well shut-downs on the South Platte River; the thirtieth anniversary of the Big Thompson flood; a proposed Cañon City whitewater park; sex-changing fish in Boulder Creek. If you thirst for knowledge, head to Coyote Gulch." Meanwhile Coyote Gulch turns five years old today. Here's the link to that post. Wow five years. Just to warn you, we're not tired of it yet. We've met so many cool people, in person and on the Internet. The water conversation alone keeps us going. Thanks for all the comments, emails and encouragement over the years. "colorado water" 6:51:21 AM

2008 Democratic National Convention Howard Dean is coming to down to rally the community and meet with the movers and shakers running Denver's operation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Dean is scheduled to spend April 12 in Denver to meet with host-committee members and other city officials to discuss convention plans. The former governor of Vermont and 2004 presidential-primary candidate also is expected to tour the Pepsi Center, where the convention is to be held, and to hold a public rally to promote the convention. But details of the event aren't complete, and the DNC only confirmed that the chairman would be in town on that date... "U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, says a secondary goal of the host committee is to use Dean's rally to stress that Front Range residents should feel encouraged to participate during the convention week, Aug. 25-28, 2008. During the Democrat's convention in Boston in 2004, traffic problems resulting from tightened security were blamed for keeping tourists away. DeGette said the host committee wanted to quickly dispel any notion that tourists and residents wouldn't be able to share the city with the 35,000 delegates, party officials, media and others who will be attending the convention." Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News. "2008 pres" 6:30:53 AM

Immigration From today's Denver Post, "Four U.S. senators, including Ken Salazar of Colorado, are working to pump life into immigration legislation that has stalled amid other priorities. Salazar, a Democrat, met Wednesday with Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; Mel Martinez, R-Fla.; and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to discuss the legislation. 'We are working to try to move forward,' Salazar said. The group plans to write a bill starting the second week in April, Salazar said. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he wants to pass the bill before August. Senators in the informal group largely agree the bill should include changes needed to make it more difficult to enter the country illegally and new methods for enforcing immigration laws, Salazar said. The toughest issue will be addressing the status of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country. 'The question is what kind of status do you afford to these 12 million people,' Salazar said. Some analysts and congressional aides have said the issue of the 12 million is the sticking point in the debate. Some Republicans oppose any path to citizenship, and some Democrats are unwilling to accept a bill that doesn't provide that path." "2008 pres" 6:27:15 AM

? for president? Jason Horowitz (via the New York Observer): "The stocky, voluble governor of New Mexico [Bill Richardson] had just finished a grueling day of stump speeches and political pitches to donors in six separate private fund-raisers around town. He capped that off with a speech, and then an hour-long question-and-answer session in a packed West Side bar full of young Democratic professionals. The next day, he had six more fund-raisers. On Wednesday, he was booked to appear on The Daily Show. Mr. Richardson, whose long and impressive résumé in government and foreign affairs has earned him enough attention to gain him thinking-man's-dark-horse status in the crowded field of Democratic nominees, is working hard to break into the elite club of front-runners, which includes Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. He served 15 years in Congress before acting as Energy Secretary in the Clinton administration and turning in a generally admired stint as U.N. ambassador. He is the first major Hispanic Presidential candidate, and his two terms as governor of traditionally Republican New Mexico are another asset -- especially because, as he informed the young crowd sipping pints of ale Monday night, 'We elect governors in this country.'[...] "'I respect Senator Clinton's record and her ability to raise money,' he added, 'but I just hope the American people don't vote on who has the most resources.' He has good reason to feel that way. 'You look at those four' -- Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, Mr. Edwards and Mr. Richardson -- 'and it's almost embarrassing, because he is clearly the most qualified to be President,' said Larry Sabato, a political-science professor at the University of Virginia. 'It has got to bother him that people with far less experience seem to be dominating the landscape. Richardson hasn't made an impression on people.'" Thanks to Colorado for Richardson for the link. Here's an article about James Dobson and Republican candidates for president, from US News & World Report. From the article, "Focus on the Family founder James Dobson appeared to throw cold water on a possible presidential bid by former Sen. Fred Thompson while praising former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also weighing a presidential run, in a phone interview Tuesday. 'Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for,' Dobson said of Thompson. '[But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression,' Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party's conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination... "While making it clear he was not endorsing any Republican presidential candidate, Dobson, who is considered the most politically powerful evangelical figure in the country, also said that Gingrich was the 'brightest guy out there' and 'the most articulate politician on the scene today.' Gingrich recently appeared on Dobson's daily Focus on the Family radio program, carried by upward of 2,000 American radio stations, where he made headlines by discussing an extramarital affair he was having even as he pursued impeachment against President Bill Clinton for his handling of the investigation into the Monica Lewinsky affair... "Dobson recently sat down with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at Focus on the Family's Colorado Springs headquarters, marking his only meeting to date with a top-tier Republican presidential candidate. While Dobson would not comment directly on the Romney meeting, he stood by comments he made late last year that many evangelicals would find it difficult to support Romney because of his Mormonism... "Dobson said that neither of the two other Republican presidential front-runners -- Giuliani or McCain -- has attempted to contact him. 'I do not believe that the current excitement over Giuliani will continue,' Dobson said. Dobson was a major force in the 2004 election, giving the first public presidential endorsement of his career to George W. Bush. Bush got nearly 6 million new white evangelical votes in 2004 that he didn't get in 2000, accounting for about twice his margin of victory. Dobson's national activist network led an unprecedented effort to get conservative evangelicals to the polls. Its greatest impact was likely in Ohio, the lynchpin to Bush's re-election, where Bush won by fewer than 120,000 votes." Denver Post: "Tom Tancredo isn't deciding any time soon whether he's going to leave his congressional seat in order to run for the Republican presidential nomination. The Littleton Republican said today that he doesn't intend to decide between the two. Election rules allow him to run for his House seat and the presidential primary at the same time." Political Wire: "'After six years of this administration, the last thing we need is four years of on the job training.' -- Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), quoted by CNN, making a 'veiled jab' at his presidential primary rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)." The Hill: "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions. In interviews with The Hill this month, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain's chief political strategist. Democrats had contacted Jeffords and then-Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) in the early months of 2001 about switching parties, but in McCain's case, they said, it was McCain's top strategist who came to them." Thanks to Oliver Willis for the link. Now for some fun. Here's the Rudy Giuliani cartoon doll from the Cartoon Doll Emporium. Thanks to The Right's Field for the link. "2008 pres" 6:16:19 AM

Snowpack: March has been a particularly devastating month Here's a report on the snowpack from the The Denver Channel. From the article, "With the current snowpack in the high country at 75 percent of average, snow survey experts warn that this summer's water availability is diminishing...USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service snow survey supervisor Mike Gillespie said Wednesday the month of March has been a particularly 'devastating' month. According to Gillespie, in a typical March, Colorado usually receives 20 percent of its maximum snowpack. This March, the state added no snow pack for the month. The good news is South Platte snowpack is 99 percent of average, which should serve Denver and much of the front range well." "colorado water" 6:05:11 AM

Fry-Ark space for Aurora? The Pueblo Chieftain caught up with 3rd Congressional Representative John Salazar, to get his opinion on the 40 year contract for Fry-Ark storage for Aurora. From the article, "A full environmental impact statement is needed on the proposed contract between the Bureau of Reclamation and Aurora, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., said Wednesday. The 3rd Congressional District's representative in Washington said the expanded look at the environmental, social and economic impacts is needed to get the full picture of how water transfers have affected the Arkansas Valley. 'I can't understand why people are sweeping things under the rug,' Salazar said. 'How can they say there's not going to be an economic impact on the Arkansas Valley by taking water out of it?'[...] "'They seem to be taking the cities' side in this,' Salazar said. What are people so afraid of? They're afraid we'll uncover the true impacts of moving this water out of the basin.' Salazar asked Reclamation to do a full EIS in his comments last fall, a move that was also requested by both the Lower Arkansas and Upper Arkansas water conservancy districts, Trout Unlimited and numerous citizens. Reclamation replied that the environmental assessment was needed to determine if a full EIS is needed." There you have it. This battle is really about moving water out of basin, water that Aurora has rights to, and can use to extinction if they can move it. From email from Kara Lamb (Bureau of Reclamation): "As the Final EA and FONSI on Aurora circulates, I've been receiving some good questions. An important one I thought might interest everyone has to do with the list of Reasonably Foreseeable Projects included in the cumulative effects analysis. "In that list, we named the original No Action alternative that was under consideration for the proposed Southern Delivery System, 'SDS.' At the end of last month, Reclamation accepted a revised No Action Alternative for Colorado Springs Utilities, one of a possible four participants in SDS. The revised alternative we accepted is different from the original No Action alternative included in the cumulative effects analysis for the Aurora contract that we released last week. "When we designed the model and the studies for the Aurora EA, we used the best information available at that time. Even though the SDS No Action alternative has changed, it changed after the conclusion of our studies. Consequently, the FONSI draws the following conclusions: "1. Beneficiaries and benefits of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project will not be negatively impacted by the Aurora Long Term Contract. "2. In-district entities continue to have priority for storage and exchange excess capacity in the Fry-Ark Project. "3. We found no significant impacts resulting from the Aurora Long Term Contract." "colorado water" 5:56:21 AM

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