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Friday, September 15, 2006
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The Rocky Mountain News editorial staff blasts the State Legislative Council's Blue Book wording on Amendment 44. They write, "The Legislative Council and its staff have made a serious mistake that will cloud the reputation of the Blue Book for years to come, not to mention tilt the playing field so far against Amendment 44 that the angle resembles a cliff. Amendment 44 would have had an uphill fight under any circumstances, given its goal of legalizing the adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. But at least its backers had a fighting chance if they could appeal to Coloradans who harbor mixed feelings about the nation's drug war, and who resent how law enforcement often lumps pot together with harder drugs. But thanks to this Blue Book blunder, the task for Amendment 44 backers may be infinitely more difficult. Did we say blunder? Strike that: The line was deliberately placed in the Blue Book and is defended to this day by the Legislative Council as a legitimate interpretation...
"Unfortunately, the clear implication of that statement - that the amendment decriminalizes such transfers, at least insofar as the state is concerned - is simply false. It is a crime in Colorado to help any juvenile break any federal or state law, and under both federal and state law it will continue to be illegal for minors to possess marijuana even if Amendment 44 is approved. So someone giving a minor marijuana would be breaking the law as well. The Blue Book does acknowledge that 44 "addresses state law for possession only; enforcement of other marijuana laws would not change." But contributing to the delinquency of a minor is not a marijuana law, meaning the Blue Book fails to remind voters that such a law exists. Sponsors of Amendment 44 tried to have the offending language struck this week in court, but a Denver judge said he had no authority to do so. We understand the judge's reluctance to meddle in a legislative prerogative, but the result is that voters will be misled. And that's simply not right, whatever your opinion of the merits of Amendment 44."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
6:57:28 AM 
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Rocky Mountain News: "Three state religious organizations endorsed a ballot measure Thursday that would grant gay couples many of the legal rights and responsibilities of married couples. Among the groups backing Referendum I is the Colorado Council of Churches. It is the largest Christian coalition in the state, representing a dozen Protestant denominations and close to 1,000 churches, including the United Methodists, American Baptists and the United Church of Christ, according to Council executive the Rev. Jim Ryan. The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and Colorado Clergy for Equality in Marriage, representing about 200 clergy statewide, also announced support for Referendum I during a news conference on the steps of the Denver City and County Building. The endorsements add new religious voices to the debate. Until now, the highest profile group has been Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, which has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the effort to defeat Referendum I and win passage of a marriage amendment. The pro Ref I clergy members said they are backing the initiative because it supports the view that gay couples should be treated as equals under God...
"On Nov. 7, voters will decide on Referendum I and a related measure, Amendment 43, which would define marriage in the Colorado Constitution as a union only between a man and a woman. The Council of Churches will not take a stand on Amendment 43 because of disagreement on the issue, Ryan said. The Interfaith Alliance and the Clergy for Equality in Marriage oppose Amendment 43. Amendment 43 is sponsored by Coloradans for Marriage, a coalition of Christian organizations, including the Colorado Catholic Conference, National Association of Evangelicals and Focus on the Family. While Focus on the Family has been the most vocal opponent of Referendum I, other major religious organizations, including the Catholic conference and Evangelical association, have not yet officially announced their position on the measure. Supporters of Referendum I said religious community support is crucial."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
6:50:04 AM
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Bill Ritter leads Bob Beauprez by 17 points, according to a poll from the Rocky Mountain News/CBS4. From the article, "Democrat Bill Ritter has a remarkable 17-point lead over Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez in the race for Colorado governor, according to a Rocky Mountain News/ CBS 4 poll of likely voters. Fifty percent of voters surveyed said they were likely to vote for Ritter, versus 33 percent for Beauprez. Eleven percent said they were undecided. The poll, conducted earlier this week, showed Ritter with a huge lead in metro Denver, earning 56 percent support to Beauprez's 32 percent. Even more surprising, Ritter is leading in some of the state's most conservative areas. He holds a 22-point lead over Beauprez on the eastern Plains and a 5-point lead in the Colorado Springs/Pueblo area. Pollster Lori Weigel said a wave of anti-Iraq war and anti-Washington sentiment is making things difficult for Beauprez, who has represented a suburban Denver district since 2002...
"Ritter now has huge leads over Beauprez among Colorado's most important swing voters: political independents and women in the Denver suburbs. 'What you've got is a textbook case for how you win an election in Colorado,' said Weigel. 'You need independents, but only 16 percent of independents are choosing Beauprez.' The poll offers a snapshot of how voters view the race for governor just as the campaign shifts into high gear for the Nov. 7 election. The Rocky Mountain News/CBS 4 poll is based on statewide telephone interviews of 500 registered voters who said they are likely to vote in November. It was conducted Sept. 10 through Sept. 12 by pollster Weigel of Public Opinion Strategies, a firm that generally polls for Republican candidates. David Kenney of The Kenney Group, a firm that typically works with Democratic candidates, consulted on the questionnaire and the analysis. The sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percentage points.
"At this point in the race, according to the poll, voters have a much more negative impression of Beauprez than they do of Ritter, the former Denver district attorney. Forty percent of voters said they have a negative view of Beauprez, while only 18 percent of the respondents view Ritter negatively. Voters were also more likely to say Ritter was honest and shared their values...
"Most of the surveyed voters rated Ritter as better able to handle issues like the economy, education and health care. But Beauprez scored well on the issues of illegal immigration and energy prices, and voters who feel most strongly about immigration may be more likely to back Beauprez...
"Weigel said the wide lead Ritter enjoys in places like the eastern Plains was because of a voter backlash against Republican control at the national level and frustration with an unpopular war. 'This is what happens when you have a difficult environment and (Republicans) are in charge of both houses of Congress and the presidency and the governor. People get a bee in their bonnet and want change.' She said Ritter has also benefited from a perception that he is a fairly conservative Democrat."
Coyote Gulch suspects that this poll is an outlier and would warn the Ritter camp not to get complacent. Campaigns are funny things at times and one event can turn the tide.
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
6:41:20 AM
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© Copyright 2006 John Orr.
Last update: 10/1/06; 8:45:32 AM.
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