Disqus - Latest Comments for Leslie Robinson

Re: Fast and Furious at Special Session

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 18:36:54 -0000

While undocumented workers debate heats up, loss of Latino labor could have chilling effect In the discussion of undocumented workers under the Dome, there should be more discussion about the economic impacts upon business should employers have to dismiss questionable documented or undocumented workers.

In the Roaring Fork region (Aspen to Parachute,) many industries such as construction, hospitality, retail, and restaurants depend upon Latino labor. With the workforce in Garfield County around 29,400 and an unemployment rate hovering a little over 3%, the loss of undocumented workers could be detrimental to conducting business in the valley.

In a region where "starter" single-family homes are selling for $350,000 and rents for two bedroom apartments-when you can find them-can range $1200-$2,000/mo, it is hard to recruit workers from other locales. In the July 10th Post Independent newspaper, there were 230 ads for employment alone. Many included multiple listings. Thus, any decrease of Hispanic labor would force many businesses to curtail hours of operation or eliminate services.

In theory, a crackdown on undocumented workers could also affect the production of natural gas. The oil and gas drilling around Rifle is very reliant upon the local construction industry, which in turn, is very dependent upon Hispanic labor. Last week, while testifying before legislators in special session, Glenwood Springs contractor, Mark Gould, substantiated the fear of losing workers under harsher immigration laws, fearing it could cause the construction industry to falter.

Bringing up the immigration debate may be the political hot button in Colorado for the day, but the real economics of removing undocumented workers from the workforce could ripple all the way to your thermostat.

Re: Fast and Furious at Special Session

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 19:31:27 -0000

Energy production and home construction increases Colorado's workforce A recent report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), which insures bank deposits, cited energy and construction as strong forces in Colorado's economy and employment growth. According to the analysis, rising oil prices have expanded the workforce in the mining, oil and gas industries and natural resources for seven straight quarters. The demand for housing has also kept the construction industry employment prospect bright. It states that one in five jobs in Colorado were associated to new home construction.

FDIC state profiles-Summer 2006

http://www.fdic.gov/bank/analytical/stateprofile/Dallas/CO/CO.xml.html

Re: Fast and Furious at Special Session

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:06:31 -0000

The Double Nickle Watch Legislator Bernie Buescher (HD-55) will again dance with the governor during this special legislation. His bill, now sitting on Owen's desk, directs the Colorado attorney general to pursue the federal government for reimbursements on the costs the state has paid for services to undocumented immigrants.

So far during the special session, it has seemed that Buescher and Owens have gone out of their way to step on each others toes--especially during the JBC hearing with state department heads. Buescher was Gail Schoettler's running mate in the tight race against Bill Owens in 1998.

Re: No Party for You

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 12:25:05 -0000

So many parties, so little time As a delegate to the last Democratic convention in Boston, my dance card was full of PR parties every afternoon and evening hosted by various nonprofits like NARAL to corporations like Qwest. Maybe it wasn't the big shindigs with the money boys, but who cares when you get free meals, drinks and goodie bags? BUT, you had to be an official delegate to get the invite. Or look like...well, let me explain that in detail....

One evening, I heard about the Bill Richardson/Burlington Railroad party, so I ventured over to their fancy hotel dining room only to discover it was one of those special VIP invite-only affairs. At the hotel bar, I struck up a conversation with a couple of ladies who were experienced in entertaining convention attendees.

Telling them of my disappointment of being turned away from the VIP party, they said, "follow us, we'll show you how to crash them."

I won't give away their trade secrets, but certain physical attributes are just as good as a invitation.

Re: Grand Junction Ballot Proposal Protects Watershed from Drilling Impacts

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 05:53:22 -0000

Palisade joins watershed fight Officials and residents of the Town of Palisade are not holding back from voicing their concerns about drilling in their watershed either. In today's (July 17) Denver Post story, it notes that Palisade is home to 18 wineries, a brewery and a distillery which are all reliant on clean water.

Thus, should a drilling accident contaminate Palisade's water source, it would be a blow to their economy as well as affect their drinking supply.

How would or could a drilling company come up with the funds to pay out damages should that happen? The answer is, "they couldn't."

That's the bottom line of this drilling in community watersheds debate.

Re: A Steal at $47 Million

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:30:16 -0000

But wait, that's not all... The average price of a condo in Aspen is more than $1 million and

the average price for single-family homes is $4.8 million, up from $3.8 million in 2005, according to the Aspen Board of Realtors.

Re: Don’t Blame it on the Immigrants; It’s Grandma’s Fault

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:42:29 -0000

It just better be there when us Boomers need it! Seniors usually do have more health issues, so they would naturally have more emergency service needs. But, there could be "cultural" reasons, too.

A lot of seniors these days do not necessarily live close to their family or have lost a partner and hence, are often by themselves. Any pain or sickness seems to magnify itself under these conditions. And if transportation is an issue, it may seem "easier" for the senior to call an ambulance than a taxi or neighbor.

Of course, most emergency room visits are an emergency. But, if you were an 80-year old widowed senior citizen with a tummy ache, where would you rather be? Home alone or at the hospital with nurses and orderlies to take care of you?

Re: State to Mesa Co: Trust Us on Watershed

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 07:49:44 -0000

Gas production in Rifle watershed A Rifle city councilman estimated that there are 80 gas wells in one of the city's watershed area south of town. How confident are city officials on keeping their water uncontaminated by drilling activity? "We're keeping our fingers crossed," the councilman said.

Re: Marathon Oil Joins Northwest Gas Boom

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:06:12 -0000

The Rig Count Climbs The company, Baker Hughes Inc. actually keeps a weekly track of oil rigs in the US. For the third week in July, the number of active oil and natural gas rigs rose by 15 to 1,683.

The highest level of oil rigs peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. Several record lows were set in 1999, bottoming out at 488, according to Baker Hughes.

Re: Bush: Uniting Republicans, Dividing Colorado.

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 06:37:40 -0000

On-the-wrong-way Bob With a public supported issue like stem cell research fresh in the voters' mind, will Bob Beauprez's vote against it in Congress come back to haunt him?

Re: White River Nat’l Forest to Release Draft Plan

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 06:50:16 -0000

Roan Plateau Amened Plan Still in Limbo A Glenwood Springs BLM official would not predict when the amended plan for the Roan Plateau would be released. There was an upswell of environmental concerns from local residents about gas drilling on top.

Re: DLC Members Mull Presidential Candidates

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 13:56:40 -0000

Hillary Hits a Single So how did Hillary Clinton do in her speech before the DLC membership today in Denver?

One DLC Coloradoan was unimpressed. "I was looking for something from the heart and spontanious--like Ken Salazar's style," she said. "But Hillary read from a prepared speech and it left me kinda cold."

Re: Motivation and Money Roadblocks to I-70 Expansion

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 10:46:39 -0000

Safe Trucks = Safe Mountain Traveling The Town of Dillon police force is cracking down on unsafe trucks to prevent accidents. According to Flo Raitano of the I-70 Coalition, Dillon law enforcement will be certified in truck safety and inspection, especially to target trucks hauling hazmat materials.

Re: Energy Companies Could Owe “Billions” in Unpaid Gas Royalties

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 17:04:44 -0000

Chinese Drillers The Chinese have been in the Parachute area for a year. From a report by "Explorer" last year.

"....Faced with a continuing shortage of drilling rigs in the Rocky Mountain region, Presco Inc., a small oil company based in Houston, imported a well from HongHua Ltd. in China.....Chinese engineers set up the rig near Parachute, Colo. It is scheduled to drill up to four wells this year.

"We had been searching for rigs since last fall and had trouble lining them up," Bennetts said. "The big companies had them all tied up...."

Just yesterday, an oil and gas official told me he had heard the Chinese drillers didn't work out so well. Perhaps labor and drilling rigs are in such short supply that EnCana will hire them anyway. The hard part--getting the Chinese workers and equipment into the US--is already done.

Re: White River National Forest Releases Draft Travel Plan

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:57:09 -0000

One draft plan in; one out The White River National Forest Travel Plan draft is finally out after a year's delay and now we hear the draft forest management plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests will be pulled back while officials review it for compliance with the Energy Polticy Act of 2005.

Well, I looked up the act and could not find anything to do with national forests.

The plot thickens and I'll have to investigate further.....

Re: Primary Race for Senate 7 Will Doom A Republican

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 04:43:16 -0000

Give a Guy a Break In July, Matt Smith filed a complaint with Attorney General John Suthers against a Brush-based group, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. The group sent an email to its members that was "packed with lies" according to Smith about his voting record on gun issues.

Smith would haven normally gone through the District Attorney, Pete Hautzinger, to file his complaint, however Hautzinger is Josh Penry's campaign co-chairman.

Re: Reality vs. Perception with Peggy and Ed

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:05:28 -0000

No Dem Win For CD 7 I don't see how either Democratic candidate will be able to recover from attacks during the primary to win in November. Dems gave the race away months ago.

The only civil Democratic primary of congressional or statewide stature in recent history has been between Ken Salazar and Mike Miles in 2004.

Instead of Dems blowing millions in the CD 7 (a habit way too familiar), why not spread that wealth around to Bill Winter and Jay Fawcett?

Re: Ballot Issue: Surface Rights Group Look to 2007

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 20:07:57 -0000

Issue Not Dead No doubt any statewide Democratic or Republican candidate that steps foot in GarCo will be asked of their opinion on the surface rights issue.

Re: Oil Shale, Part II: In 1980 Exxon Rocked

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 11:18:03 -0000

Some answers The "Rulison Project" is the atomic bomb experiment that the federal government sponsored in hopes of extracting gas out of the tight sand formation, way long before Halliburton's current new fracing (pronounced "frak-king) advances. The problems were first, the gas was radioactive and unusable (like duh) and second, the process didn't work very well.

Currently, the Garfield County commissioners have some say-so on gas drilling within the moratorium area and drilling is already approved in areas about two miles away, I believe. The gas industry thinks the gas is no longer radioactive, but no one knows for sure. The Post Independent (www.postindependent.com) has done a great job covering this issue from time to time.

I have not heard of any contamination from oil and gas activities to the Colorado River (don't know who's checking either), but some local water wells around Silt and Rifle have been affected. The City of Rifle has about 80 gas wells drilled in their Mamm Creek watershed and so far, no problems.

Re: County Employees Engaged in Deceptive Letter-Writing Campaign

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:09:25 -0000

Yes and..... I think government employees and their spouses/families should be able to voice political preferences as protected by the First Amendment. They should also expect the consequences of such: media interest, job insecurity and public scrutiny.

A political friend is married to a high profile state employee who was encouraged by her superiors to not voice any public political views. She told her husband that she was not permitted to put campaign signs out on the lawn, but her husband felt that was infringing on his rights.

So, they split up the "ownership" of the lawn: she owns the backyard and he's in possession of the front yard. This arrangement is well known by her superiors, political parties and the press. In hotly contested races, sometimes they even put a ribbon across the property to show the his/her territories.

Re: Gasoline Price Spike Alert

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 05:04:16 -0000

The More Natural Gas Drilled, the Higher the Gasoline Prices Great. Gas prices in the mountains are already among the highest in the state, if not the nation (excluding CA and NY). Vail was at $3.37 gallon on Friday and climbing. In comparison, Grand Junction jumped up from $3.03 on Friday to around $3.14 a gallon by the weekend. Rifle and Parachute prices at the pump were at $3.25 gallon yesterday, but are surely to be increased today with the pipeline news (you'd think we were importing gas from Vail.)

If you drive around in Rifle, there are at least nine different gas stations and all have the same price for regular. Price fixing? No, there is a lack of wholesale competition in a "captured" market. Some distributors even own competing brands of gas stations in this area, which is 60 miles away from Grand Junction--a competitive market.

At one point two weeks ago, Grand Junction's average gas prices were 20 cents lower per gallon than Rifle stations. Seems ironic that the oil and gas drillers in Rifle and Parachute are the captured market and are targeted to pay some of the highest gasoline prices in the West.

Re: Updated Ballot Issue Scorecard

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 19:16:46 -0000

More info Just to clarify the oil and gas intiatives...

The "surface rights" initiative that would have made the energy companies pay full compensation for impacts on surface owners did not garner enough signatures;

and the increase of severance taxes derived from oil and gas, coal, etc which would have been allocated to education also failed to get on the ballot.

Re: On the Campaign Trail: County Fairs, Country Roads

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 19:05:18 -0000

Kim Cook had something to be worried about.... Rio Blanco County Commissioner Kim Cook went down in defeat in the Republican primary. As of 10pm Tuesday night, the unofficial count showed challenger Joe Collins over incumbent Commissioner Kim Cook 574 to 364.

Re: Unions and Facility Problems Damage Denver Convention Bid

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 04:19:39 -0000

The story behind the story I covered the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) meeting held last month in Denver and heard some very positive comments about Colorado's chances for the Democratic Convention. With this confidence, I entered a discussion about conventions sites with some out-of-state Democratic associates who are closely connected to the Democratic National Committee.

No one was more surprised than me to find out that the problems with the Unions (more national than local) and facilities, including the convention center, had possibly knocked Denver out of front-runner position. As mentioned before, the final decision won't be made until at least November, and with a second site visit by the DNC committee, perhaps these obstacles have been resolved. The state convention committee recently announced that they had procured 19,000 hotel rooms for the event, about 2,000 more than requested.

I still cannot forget the comments from one DLC attendee from the Brookings Institution who said that party positioning, viewers, PR, media coverage, marketing, etc etc have as much to do about the convention selection as facilities. As John Kerry found out, if a presidential candidate and the party do not get a substantial "bounce" from the convention, that's a hell of a lot of money wasted and opportunities missed.

Re: Rowland Straight into Controversy

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 06:54:51 -0000

From a RItter Campaign press release: GRAND JUNCTION GROUP TO CONDEMN JANET ROWLAND COMMENTS

A Grand Junction group

Re: When Geography Teachers Fly Flags, Terrorists Win

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:21:11 -0000

There's something fishy about Grand Junction and Republicans Fish marriages explain why there's a diversified gene pool at Mesa State.

And how about the announcement of the first born from these unions. "Congratulations sir, you have a bouncing baby pollock."

If these marriages end up in divorce, there will be an easy way to divide the kids. "Heads," Dad gets them. "Tails," mom does.

First it was Janet Rowland picking on sheep. Then it was Bob Beauprez training elk. Today it's young Republicans marrying goldfish. Now, who has the fetish with animals?

Let's not forget to thank the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel for giving us this fish tale on the front page of the second section. Are "scales and tails" the new Republican mantra for the week?

Maybe already there is something strange in Grand Junction's water system. Janet Rowland lives there. Bob Beauprez made his "move elk not gas wells" announcement from there. And Mesa State is located there, too. You know, Grand Junction is downstream from a couple of old uranium mine sites....

Re: http://www.coloradoindependent.com/480/both-ways-candidate-may-now-be-no-way/

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:15:50 -0000

Defining "Cows" and "Cows" Bob Beauprez has mentioned that he grew up on a dairy farm. A female elk is also called a "cow," so perhaps Beauprez has gotten confused over this similar terminology.

Domestic dairy cows can be herded down a path into a barn or corral. However, a cow elk being a wild animal and everything, has a different opinion about enclosures and roadways.

Re: Lock Down

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 06:33:32 -0000

If We Grew Up Scared, So Should You I'm a "baby boomer." As a kid growing up in a suburb of Chicago during the 1950's and '60's, we had regular air raid drills at school. We learned about the effects of radiation. In our home like many others, an old windowless concrete-walled coal room became the "bomb shelter" stored with water and canned goods.

The end of WWII and the beginning of the atomic age was less than a decade old. The current events we learned about at school included the Cuban missile crisis with Russia and the "Cold War" with Communists. Our classrooms mourned en masse when President John Kennedy was shot.

My high school years were filled with the Vietnam War. (In those days, reporters were mostly free to mingle with military units so the evening news was filled with the real "blood and guts" of war and body counts.) At the senior prom, guys compared their draft numbers.

Baby Boomers for the most part, are today's leading politicians, educators and business owners. Are we transferring our fears from the past into current politics, policies and economic decisions?

Re: Real World versus Future World: The Gubernatorial Debate

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:56:08 -0000

Somebody in Congress is Not Keeping Time Hot off the web from the US National Debt Clock

The outstanding public debt as of August 29 at 08:46:04 PM MST was $8,512,788,346,718.00. The estimated population of the United States is 299,397,529, so each citizen's share of this debt is $28,433.06.

The National Debt has continued to increase an average of $1.74 billion per day since September 30, 2005.

Re: A Review of House District 54

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:03:02 -0000

Don't-Rock-the-Boat King Campaign Last week, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel asked house candidates their views on the morning-after pill being available over the counter. Rich Alward supported its sale. Steve King "wouldn't say."

Re: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid….And Prepared

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:10:28 -0000

Give Me Any Disaster, But Not the Flu Like most people, I have had my share of childhood diseases, hard bumps, bones cracked and minor surgery. But, never did I have a "Come to Jesus" moment until I had a bad case of the influenza about six years ago. I swear it took 10 years off my life, plus it left me with asthma. I'd rather deal with a super volcano exploding in Yellowstone than other bad case of the flu.

Re: Colorado 45th in Housing Appreciation

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:46:51 -0000

West Slope RE Booming Unless You've Got Gas On the Western Slope housing prices are zooming because availability is dropping and building costs are climbing. Yet, if you end up with a drilling rig in your backyard, your real estate value can take a dive. And there are places like El Jebel in the Roaring Fork Valley area that used to have affordable housing for workers in Aspen. Soon there will be new townhouses on the market starting at $600,000.

Re: Morse Ads Spark Criminal Inquiry

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:23:15 -0000

Where are the pollsters? Wouldn't it be interesting to find out:

1. Do voters recognize these ads as falsehoods?

2. Do voters respond negatively to the candidate under attack aka do they believe the Trailhead ads?

3. When the voters find out the ads were yanked because of the exaggerated claims, does that affect their attitude towards the candidate or his opponent the ad was suppose to help?

Re: Ritter Opens Up 17-Point Lead on Beauprez

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:31:22 -0000

Beauprez Only a Speed Bump Now Considering the mood of Coloradan voters these days, could have Bill Owens gotten re-elected in 2006?

Re: The “Fifth Estate” Emerges in Grand Junction

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 05:22:02 -0000

It's official The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel published the Ritter endorsement in Friday's paper. And one of the reasons to support Ritter? On the front page is an article headlined: "Large tracts of West Slope next on gas-auction block." Welcome to West Texas.

Re: SD Candidate Gail Schwartz Confronts Trailhead

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 09:05:55 -0000

Small correction The Schwartz's own a 2,000 sq ft home in Aspen and rent a small apartment in Denver.

Re: Suthers Approved Controversial Election Rule

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 05:31:58 -0000

What a way to rig an election How come with write-in candidates, their names had to be spelled correctly to count, but now the Secretary of State says you can vote for one person and it can apply for a replacement candidate. Can we use that rule for marriage licenses, too?

Re: Another Democrat Enjoys Daily Sentinel Endorsement

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:18:41 -0000

What's Yet To Come? Publisher George Orbanek of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel explained the process behind recent pro-Democratic endorsements in the paper his latest column. This paragraph may make the Salazar campaign sleepless for a few nights...

"...There has been a little more unanimity of opinion in our internal editorial board discussions this year than there has been in prior election seasons. For whatever it's worth, the sharpest internal edit board debates we have had thus far have been for the 3rd Congressional District race between Democrat John Salazar and Republican Scott Tipton and on Referendum I, the gay partnership ballot question, an issue that we still haven't fully sorted out...."

Re: Oh, You Mean THAT $100,000

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 05:52:59 -0000

Where's the Elk? We can hear the !@#&*# from 17th St all the way to the West Slope. Looks like the Republican "October Surprise" will be self-inflicted.

Re: Western Slope Turning Purple?

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 05:31:34 -0000

Election Results May Depend on the Unaffiliated Voters The unaffiliate voters are key to Western Slope elections and probably will have more say in determining who's elected in the Nov 7th election than partisan voters. In some counties West of the Divide, the unaffiliated voter group is larger than the Republican or Democratic ones. The good news for Democrats is the polling results for Rep John Salazar from unaffiliated voters: 64% to 20%.

Will the unaffiliated supporting Salazar mark "D" on their ballot for the rest of the slate?

Much of the get-out-the-vote efforts of the two parties will be targeted to unaffiliated voters. Since historically, voter participation in off-presidential election years is lower, both parties will have to put their GOTV machines into overdrive.

Re: Why Howard Dean Is MIA In CO

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 18:18:50 -0000

A Caveat* Granted, it is hard to ignore NYC for a couple of months since it's the Center of the Universe. No doubt he may have had to be in NYC for business ie. media interviews or meetings, but any current fundraising activities in NY have not been mentioned. His most recent public appearance was today at the Hispanic Leadership Summit held in Washington DC.

Re: Flamed Out GOP Star Arrested For Child Sex Assault

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:20:42 -0000

Timing? Isn't it interesting that the Rep. Barney Frank's story hit on a Friday? The October surprise looks like it's on the Republicans this year.

Re: Focus Blames Foley

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:58:15 -0000

Look Into A Mirror Foley's actions imply there is a new definition for the phrase: "focus on the family."

Re: Beauprez and the NRA

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 05:47:03 -0000

NRA Drowns Beauprez in Money Looking at the Secretary of State site for contributions, the NRA has recently poured money in support of Beauprez's campaign for a tune of $117,941.

Re: National GOP Not Targeting Colorado Governor’s Race

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:29:17 -0000

Birds of a Feather... Perhaps the growing legal problems in Trailhead financial affairs, including potential Trailhead tentacles into the Beauprez campaign, are driving the national committees away because of the fear of "guilt by association."

Trailhead problems could put a damper on Bill Owens' plans to run for president, too.

Re: Wild Horses And the Politics of the West

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 18:30:05 -0000

Wild Horses Make National Magazine Be sure to pick up this month's Vanity Fair. Although the article does not mention the wild horse round up in Colorado, it does follow the mustangs' fate in other states.

Re: Free Haircuts Can’t Dampen Denver’s Convention Chances

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 06:48:07 -0000

An Afterthought... ....that's going to get me in trouble with the Denver-based 2008 Convention Committee.

If the mayor of NYC, which is in the "Center of the Universe" when it comes to corporate headquarters, rich folks and special interest groups, is having problems raising $85-$100 million needed to host a national convention, it makes one wonder how the fundraising is going in Denver? That's a hell of a lot of money to shake out of wallet.

Re: Beauprez Keeps Digging Own Grave

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:32:40 -0000

Something's Certainly and Seriously Amiss Seems like the more the Beauprez camp stalls, spins, and spirals, the higher up the food-chain the secret source might have been. Otherwise, by now, a lowly campaign worker would have "offered" to sacrifice their career by falling on the scapegoat sword to end the speculation.

Re: Lamborn Stays the Course as Quakes Rock CD5

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:25:46 -0000

Drive A West Slope Republican told me that if they lose CD5, state party officials will be asked to do a "Thelma and Louise."

Re: How Focus on the Family Deals With “Difficult Guests”

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:31:51 -0000

Feeling Lucky Today? Then "Praise the Lord" and pass the ammunition!

Re: 50,000 Watts of Hate: Rant of the Day

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 06:27:17 -0000

If only the KKK had smoked dope.... Yet, it's the Focus on the Family-type groups that have the guns....and Hitler is purported to have favored "downers" just like Rush Limbaugh.

Re: Trailhead-Linked Group Sends Inaccurate Mail to Voters

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:32:32 -0000

Rove Campaign Playbook, Chapter 3 If the Democrats end up in control of anything in Denver/Washington DC, they are either going to have to legislate 527's more or learn how to play the game better and smarter than the Republican flavored 527's.

In politics, it's better to break the rules and win, than play by the rules and lose...and even if you break the rules and lose, the penalties are a speed bump, not a stop sign. Plus, you can always blame computer glitches, lowly campaign workers and the opposition for your problems with campaign regulations.

Re: Election Protection: Problems Voting? Report It Here

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:18:46 -0000

West Slope report Problems with voter files that have not been updated, missing codes to start up the electronic voting machines and many questions about provisional balloting seems to be popping up on the West Slope. Plus some people didn't pay attention to consolidated precinct voter centers and went to their former election sites.

There may be lines at certain locations, but almost half the expected voters had voted early. When voters are given the choice, most are opting for paper ballots. In Garfield County (Glenwood Springs/Rifle area) unscientific stats are 12 to 15 voting paper per one voting electronically.

Re: Soviet Style County Ballots

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 11:47:27 -0000

GarCo #1 in Something! Yeah for Garfield County! (Glenwood Springs/Rifle area on West Slope) We had the one contested surveyor's race in the state!

Re: Energy Development in the Headlines

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 12:32:16 -0000

They will first pass the buck.... The federal tax breaks have been icing on the cake. But with "increased costs," the energy companies will do what all businesses do, pass the cost onto the customer.

Most likely, it is the severance taxes on the oil, gas, coal, etc by the individual states that probably impact where and when a company decides to drill or mine. Colorado tax rates on energy production are some of the lowest in the nation and combine that with some of the richest reserves, the oil and gas boom is not likely to diminish in this state until the supply runs out or until a more cost efficient form of energy is produced.

Unfortunately, a lot of the best gas reserves are found in environmentally sensitive areas because no one has been able to drill there before until they were available under Cheney's energy policy.

Re: Looking Ahead to Another Campaign: 2018 Olympics

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:33:05 -0000

Colorado Best of Both Olympic Worlds What is interesting about Colorado is it is one of the few locations in the world, because of its climate and facilities, that could host both the summer and winter Olympics.

Re: Wayne Allard Expected to Retire

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:16:50 -0000

Only His Hairdresser Knows For Sure And another sure sign of Allard's retirement, according to today's Denver Post, is that he has quit coloring his gray hair. We better take a look at McInnis's current hair color to see if he's in the race. Blonde means "yes."

Re: Corporate Pledges Piling Up for Democratic Convention

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 07:58:12 -0000

Creamy or Chunky: How Money Comes Out of the Jar I agree with your observations.

It will be interesting to see what Republican-type corporations like Coors determine to do in contributing to the cause. Will they continue to play partisan politics or will their bottom line be more important? No doubt the donation rules are: no pay, no play.

If I were on the Denver Host fundraising committee, I'd be looking at the Trailhead corporate donors. Who needs to make nice now that the Democrats are in control?

Plus, it will be intriguing how many Western Slope corporations have been tapped. If I were Aspen Ski Company, "Sure, I'll donate to the cause; but what's in it for me?" The estimated $160 million economic benefits of hosting the Democratic Convention may have to be spread across the state like peanut butter on bread.

Re: Hush, Hush & On the QT: What!? No Fight Over Dem Chairmanship?

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 04:32:06 -0000

For the State GOP.... On the other side of the political coin, it isn't clear who wants the reigns of the Colorado Republican Party.

The current chair, Bob Martinez may run again, according to the party spokesman, Bryant Adams, but Martinez hasn't made up his mind. After losing about everything except the Secretary of State race, probably Martinez won't be a shoe-in.

Other names being tossed about are former House Speaker, Lola Spradley; Arapahoe Republican Party leader, Bruce Paterson; former state treasurer candidate, Mark Hillman; and former Congressman Bob Schaffer.

Re: Dead Dog Buttons, Slimy Photo-bioreactors and Bullets for Beauprez

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:12:35 -0000

Pit Bulls: Dangerous or Bad Rap? Local dog owners in Garfield and Mesa Counties react to judge's comments. What's your view?

Re: Immigration: Resort Areas Dependent on Latino Labor

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:37:42 -0000

Immigration in Roaring Fork Region on TV An hour-long documentary about illegal immigration in the Roaring Fork Valley will be featured on the NBC news program, "Tom Brokaw Reports: In the Shadow of the American Dream."

News crews spent eight months "reporting on the myths and truths about illegal immigration between Aspen and Vail." The program is scheduled to air Dec. 26.

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:39:15 -0000

Immigrants Shouldn't Be Short-Changed In Colorado law, a worker is entitled to be paid for a day's work. The courts do not discriminate against an undocumented worker regarding wages earned. Therefore, Swift should still compensate the workers being jailed by ICE for the work performed up to the time of incarceration.

Re: Hush, Hush & On The QT: The Democratic Convention Will Be At

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:53:40 -0000

Allard's Top Ten Even Republican Senator Wayne Allard and his office came up with 10 reasons why the DNC convention should be in Denver.

Re: There’s Been No “Immigration Debate,” Only Anti-Mexican Posturing

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:17:31 -0000

Time Will Change Our Attitudes Let us not forget that about 60 years after the Irish were on the bottom rung of the immigration ladder, we elected an Irish president, John F. Kennedy. Hopefully, our children will be wondering what the big deal about Latino immigrants was all about when they are our age.

Re: Tancredo the Frontrunner? Don’t Laugh

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 08:43:34 -0000

Please Tom, run About the best thing that could happen for Udall's senate race is for Tancredo to be the Republican senate nominee in 2008. Chances are Tancredo's congressional career will implode long before that, however.

Re: Nothing Says Merry Christmas Like Re-Gifting

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 06:16:46 -0000

Please Help Me Re-Gift There's a painted leopard-skin toaster I've been trying to re-gift for years. Recipients in my family and circle of friends laugh and hand it back every time I've thought it has finally been passed off.

So who may be the most deserving to receive this priceless item? Maybe the next time I am invited to a "roast" party for a Democratic politician, I'll make sure they are toasted, too.

Is there anyone on your list who may appreciate a toaster that would blend in at a zoo?

Re: A Very CoCo Christmas: Our Gifts to Colorado Politicians

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 19:18:13 -0000

Dear Mom: Send Cash, too To the Denver Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention: A Sugar Daddy

Re: Immigration: NBC’s Spotlight on Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 06:14:56 -0000

What Should Be vs What Is You are correct that employers should be paying a living wage in the Roaring Fork Valley. Estimates are that would be $20 to $25 an hour for an entry level position. What should be and what is are unfortunately two different economic worlds.

Increase the cost of building a house in the Roaring Fork Valley and naturally, the builder will increase the purchase price of that house. One might think there would be a ceiling to the value of that house, but as you are aware, the real estate market in Pitkin and Garfield County right now is defying all national trends. There is always an "elite" from California or Chicago willing to pay the price to live in the mountains.

Thirty years ago, the "ski bums" (most with a college education) provided the necessary slave labor pool. I was one of them. At least there was still affordable housing although you had to commute from Silt, Rifle or Battlement Mesa. Even as a single female back then, I was able to purchase a home in Rifle working in a middle management position.

Today, as you know, the oil and gas industry has impacted this down valley supply and cost of affordable housing. Rents in the Rifle area are just as high as those in Carbondale because a lot of the oil workers can afford to pay the inflated prices. Today, as a two income family now, we probably could not afford to buy the Rifle home we live in had we not purchased it 10 years ago.

So in a way, the oil and gas development downvalley has increased the need for a growing immigrant workforce upvalley.

Employers may be wrong to take advantage of the undocumented laborers, but this doesn't change the current situation: the immigrant workers are willing to work for less than a living wage while the Anglos are not. Immigrant workers are willing to live in "communes," but Anglos will not.

You raised enough unique health care issues in the Roaring Fork region for a following article. But I will touch on one interesting observation: yes, immigrants do impact the low income health care providers. However, most notably in the Rifle area, it is the contracted oil and gas workers (all mostly Anglo and without health insurance) that are increasing medical costs, especially in our emergency rooms. Because the Rifle hospital is supported by a tax district, the locals are picking up the tab.

Your paycheck and mine may be devalued by immigrant workers, but we are also subsidizing the labor costs in the richest industry in America: oil companies.

Re: Immigration: NBC’s Spotlight on Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:14:10 -0000

It Ain't Necessarily So You're right again. It is very difficult to discuss the immigration issue without name calling and questioning our current social mores.

Methuselah? Isn't that the Rolling Stones new album?

Re: UPDATED: Want to be a Convention Delegate? Read This.

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 06:38:38 -0000

Corrections Thanks to Dan Willis over at ColoradoPols: the date of the precinct caucuses has been changed from the 2nd Tuesday in April to the 4th Tuesday in March. So the Precinct Caucuses will be held March 25th, 2008. I'll make that change on my chart today.

Also, Dan correctly pointed out that the minority thresholds are not requirements, but goals which every Democratic state party works very hard to accomplish.

Re: Ms. Norris Goes To Washington

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 04:31:34 -0000

A Request Please check to see if our original Constitution is still intact under the safety glass. After six years under the Bush-Cheney regime, it certainly has been shredded in practice.

Re: 2008 Presidential Candidate Index–So Far

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 07:27:09 -0000

Photos That Would Break a Camera After opening all the presidential blogs, one observation came to mind: Except for John Edwards, none of these candidates would win a "beauty" contest. In fact, many had a face only a mother could love.

Those in product marketing knows that it's the packaging that sells the product and considering that the majority of voters get their candidate information from TV...well, let's just say that the national Republicans are behind already.

Re: Silence is Betrayal

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:15:53 -0000

Wag the Dog, Part II Today I heard a heartful account from an Hispanic mother fearing for her son's life in Iraq. He signed up to fight so that he could become a legal citizen. She asked why the war must continue. Will she ultimately lose her son in his quest to be an American?

This is one paragraph in the book of human tragedy happening on both sides of the Iraq War. Who, in their right mind, can say this war has accomplished anything?

Oh, yeah. The war did help re-elect Mr Cheney and Mr Bush. Ask the dead if Karl Rove is a political genius.

Re: “Corrected” Hush, Hush & On the QT: Designer License Plates

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:41:14 -0000

CORRECTION My friends want me to make an adjustment. THIS is the "Welcome to Rifle" license plate.

Re: Tancredo: Please Don’t Smoke ‘Em, If You Got ‘Em

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:01:53 -0000

Was it a Cuban? Tsk, tsk. Didn't Tancredo learn that cigars can get politicians in trouble?

Re: Bush’s Budget Defies Logic

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:53:24 -0000

For Sale: Public Lands Check this site for the info you requested. It's worth a look for anyone concerned about this issue.

Re: Democrats Feeling Good About Congressional Seats

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:10:19 -0000

Looking Ahead The US Senate contest between Mark Udall and Scott McInnis will be the race to watch. Udall will be out on the Western Slope next week as Scooter continues to call in favors and IOU's.

Josh Penry is a former McInnis staffer. How can he run for Congress when he's probably got a fundraising goal to meet for his old boss.

Re: Silt Throws Rocks at Gravel Pits

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:04:46 -0000

Thanks for the Comments! We met at the Base Camp in Rifle during a political strategy meeting for our new GarCo assessor. It didn't take long to capture the essence of your character. As you know, we still live in a "small town" when it comes to politics and as a writer, it's my business to know everyone else's business. I look forward to your comments on other local stories.

Re: Sympathy And The $15 Breakfast

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:03:03 -0000

Consider This... It would be very difficult to be a Western Slope legislator. You have to be separated from your family during the legislative session. You have to find part-time lodging. You have to commute hundreds of miles on weekends. Forget having a real job when you are gone for almost half a year.

Also, your constituents could be spread over hundreds of miles and several mountain passes.

We are fortunate that for the most part, our Western Slope legislators are "average folk." Those positions could easily be for only the rich and self-employed.

Some of you may be against any raises for rural legislators. But think of commuting to Grand Junction or Trinidad as part of your job for a couple of months and I think you will appreciate and support their request.

(I doubt that Democrat Rep. Kathleen Curry frequents the same establishments as Republican Sen. Jack Taylor.)

Re: Just Because We’re Not Listening Doesn’t Mean We Don’t Hear You

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 06:50:32 -0000

Shell presentation in Rifle Shell handed out comment cards at the Rifle presentation this morning and emphasized how they were listening to input from locals. Guess they read the Daily Sentinel.

Re: A Day in the Life: The Case of Mrs. Smith, Part III

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:05:36 -0000

Immigration Coverage Thanks! Luis's article can be found here and click on CoCo's front page immigration icon for additional stories.

Re: The More Guns the Merrier

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:22:03 -0000

RMN--Do Your Homework McInnis extended his stay in Congress way beyond his promised term limit and he has lived in Grand Junction for years. The "listening" bit is a PR ruse. McInnis has been concentrating on statewide volunteer recruitment and fundraising.

Re: Hush, Hush and On the QT: Ears on High, Lips on Spin

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:59:13 -0000

More Info to Come These are good questions. I am waiting for some political experts to get back with me on the correct answers.

I hope to have a story up soon about what happens when an election official leaves office before their term is up. When do vacancy committees, a special election or a governor's appointment take place from the county to the federal level?

Thanks for inspiring this discussion! I'll make sure to add the correction to this story.

Re: When China sneezes, the snowfall in Colorado disappears

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:23:48 -0000

China Dust In Western Colorado Strange as it may seem, the Western Slope can experience haze from dust storms in China. Usually this happens in the summer. Could this be contributing to our drought situation?

Re: In the Lens: Colorado Democrats

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:28:09 -0000

Ain't that the truth Who knows what will happen to the political parties in 10 years when the Baby Boomers starts dying off? There sure isn't anyone behind us to take our place.

Re: In the Lens: Colorado Democrats

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:45:14 -0000

Whew! Glad there will be someone around to memorialize us.

Re: Ritter Makes Top 10 of Power List

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:21:02 -0000

Gov. Ritter May Become...? Doesn't Gov. Bill Ritter look "presidential" standing next to Speaker Pelosi? <img width="150" vspace="12" align="left" hspace="8" src=" http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k309/Dotzero/... border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></img>

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:13:59 -0000

Dear Guv: The Potholes.... It seems that every state highway needs some type of road repair. The I-70 ski corridor is horrific. How will you work with CDOT to solve these problems and raise the funds necessary to fix our roads? And don't say "severance tax"--I live in Rifle and know how much we need those funds to help areas impacted by oil and gas.

Re: Melting Arctic Means Less Moisture in the West

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:48:08 -0000

This summer, the hills won't be alive with the sound of music It's been in the high 70's for over a week with very warm temperatures on the Western Slope since the first of March. Snow packs are now below average and ski season may be cut short.

Already locals are identifying signs that indicate a bad fire season. All one has to do is see all the pine beetle kill forests in Summit and Eagle and know that once a fire starts, it will be disasterous.

If any one is in doubt about the effects of global warming, come up up to the Western Slope this July.

Re: Sen. Salazar Makes a 180 on AG Gonzales

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:48:43 -0000

Thanks, eagle-eye!

Re: Sen. Salazar Makes a 180 on AG Gonzales

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:19:02 -0000

Thanks for your observation After reading the other press reports, you are correct to point out that Sen. Salazar did not make a "black and white" call for Gonzales' resignation.

I interpreted his muted "gray" quote "If Attorney General Gonzales has indeed crossed this line, then he has forfeited his right to lead the Department of Justice" as the strongest demand for departure that can be publicly spoken between "friends" in Washington DC.

Re: To Run Or Not to Run, When You Already Said You’d Run

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 07:58:38 -0000

Too Many Oil and Gas Regs? Don't Make Us Laugh Up Here! I wonder if any of the legislators calling for the delay of energy reform legislation have ever been in oil and gas drilling country on the Western Slope. Have they visited with folks who have been living with gas rigs in their backyards? Have they smelled the whiff of Benzene in the air? Gov. Bill Ritter has.

It is horse-hockey to say that the proposed legislation could adversely affect oil and gas industry production when natural gas prices are still very high and oil and gas companies have invested a lot of resources building the drilling infrastructure in the area.

It's all about profit and any legislation regulating the industry cuts into that profit. The industry is not going to walk away from the biggest land grab since pioneer days and while Cheney is in office, nor are they going to stop drilling in protest of following regs that are implemented in about every state but Colorado.

There are huge gas pipelines being built in NW Colorado tying into the California and Chicago markets. Even more profits are to be made. Who is going to believe that the gas development companies are going to walk away from supplying natural gas to these consumers because Colorado is adding a few cents to the cost of production?

Plus, a little slowdown would be welcomed by most communities overwhelmed by the impacts of this industry.

Apparently, the oil and gas lobbyists have found a handful of legislators willing to pass over the wishes of the many to serve the few.

Re: True Tests of Delegate Worthiness

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:15:32 -0000

How about.... --Any Democrat living in Rifle who's initials are LR is automatically a delegate.

--I heard the delegate swimsuit contest will be judged by Andrew Romanoff.

--This will start a fight. It's time to give new people a chance to become a delegate, so no former delegate will be allowed to run for the 2008 delegation.

--Since printed floor passes have been abused in the past, there will be a 20 minute chip imbedded into the visitor's head instead. Oh! Is that against the law now?

Re: Colorado: Where Dems Are Liberal And The GOP Is Not

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:21:24 -0000

Is There a Howard Dean Influence? Wonder how liberal Democrats were in 2003? It would be interesting to look at those figures right before the Howard Dean campaign picked up steam some four years ago. It has seemed that many Progressive Dean activists have since grabbed a stake in the state party, campaigns and have even run for office.

OK, OK, it's personal with me, but could Howard Dean as presidential candidate (an anti-war candidate, too) and then chairman of the Democratic National Committee, influenced these national Democratic poll numbers above as well? Have national party members on the whole leaned more left during the past four years?

Re: Hot Topic: Oil and Gas Legislation

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:36:28 -0000

An Additional Article to Read From the Colorado Springs Gazette:

HB 1341 would increase the size of the state oil and gas conservation commission from seven to nine members and require that its membership include three people with undergraduate degrees in petroleum engineering or petroleum geology, representatives of local government and agriculture, a person with expertise in environmental or wildlife protection, an expert in soil conservation, and the executive directors of the state's departments of natural resources and public health and environment.

Five of the board's seven members now hail from the fossil fuel extraction industry. Critics of state government's management of natural gas drilling have said industry has run roughshod over private property owners' rights.

The bill would reduce the commission's latitude in approving projects that damage the land, water and air.

Democratic proponents said the bill is essential to slow the impacts of oil and gas extraction on large swaths of the Western Slope and eastern plains.

"People whose property is affected by mineral rights want action, and they want it now," Rep. Liane "Buffie" Mc-Fadyen, D-Pueblo West, said.

Re: National Political Insiders Talk up Colorado as a “New Blue State in the West”

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 13:26:14 -0000

Over the divide.... On the Western Slope, counties of Eagle, Gunnison, Routt, Garfield and LaPlata have recently gone from red to purplish blue. Definitely the Unaffiliated are the majority "party."

However in Rio Blanco County (Meeker/Rangeley) even the sheep are registered Republicans.

Re: Billions and Billions Needed to Mitigate Energy Impacts

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 05:18:32 -0000

GarCo Needs Help From Eagle Perhaps it's Garfield County that needs to learn how to project costs...they come in lower than Rifle's! Read GarCo's excuses here about their lousy math.

Re: Western Slope News Round Up

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:03:30 -0000

Many Problems, Few Safety Nets The answer to all your questions is "Yes."

Tremendous growth in the oil and gas industry and second home owners have put a crunch on affordable housing. Housing construction costs and land values have put "medium cost housing," whether it includes home purchases or rentals, out of the reach of medium paid employees. Rental homes in Rifle now average around $1200 per month. A retail employee in Rifle probably takes home about $2,000 in monthly wages.

That kind of economic pressure certainly helps put mental health issues to the forefront and other social issues such as substance abuse and domestic violence.

Contruction and rental costs also squeeze the "mom and pop" retailers and service businesses such as child care. Plus, revenues hardly match the effort. Because of labor shortages, some larger companies have started employee child care services.

Cuts in state and federal support of human services have been the crulest of all because it has hurt the poorest in the community. For instance, in Garfield County there is a 100 year waiting list for mentally disabled clients to enter home care services because of funding cuts.

Re: Joan Fitz-Gerald Announces Run for Congress

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:30:13 -0000

The Chess Game Begins I imagine Joan Fitz-Gerald was waiting for Rep. Mark Udal to make an official move to US Senate and when that happened a few days ago, it gave her the opening.

It is interesting that Fitz-Gerald emphasized the war in her announcement---most likely for those Progressives in CD2.

Re: Former DOC Director Was Moonlighting

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:35:14 -0000

Double Dipping This guy must have graduated from the Paul Wolfowitz School of Business Ethics.

Re: Kernels of Truth

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:08:00 -0000

Betsy Good Choice If there's ever a go-getter in Larimer County, that would be Betsy Markey. She's well respected, smart, articulate and would have the "fire in the belly" to run a great race and win. Plus, she would represent her district well in Congress.

Re: Ritter Warns of Potentially Damaging Fire Season

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:59:09 -0000

Western Slope Already Drying Out <img width="150" vspace="15" align="left" hspace="8" src="http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k309/Dotzero/Fire.gif" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></img>This is a photo of a several hundred acre "brush" fire near Rifle last year. It consumed a house, several out buildings, hay, grass and scrub oak--yet it looked like a monster fire. Local firemen, oil and gas company water trucks and slurry bombers were able to contain it before it got into pine groves and a subdivision.

Imagine what destruction a fire in the beetle-kill forests around Summit could evoke....

Re: Older Coloradans Score Well on Health Report

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:37:33 -0000

Baby Boomers Beware! An enlightening department store chat turned into a hard cold truth: there are few mandated senior citizen programs on a federal or state level except for health services like Medicaid or Medicare. (Who under 55 is really counting on Social Security?)

A county or state does not have to provide special senior programs, bussing and handicap services, wellness classes, etc., etc. so all of these benefits can be drastically different from town to city, county and state.

Don't grow elderly on the Western Slope anywhere but Grand Junction either. With the short supply of assisted living facilities, baby boomers better start making reservations now-or build your own.

We may live longer in Colorado, but will we live better?

Re: Part I: Inside Look at the Democratic Convention with Dan Slater

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:12:27 -0000

Convention Will Be "Information Overload" There will be many public meetings on the topics of health care, immigration, veterans, the war, get out the vote, campaign training, etc etc. There will be so much happening that it will be impossible to go to everything you want to hear and see.

At the 2004 Boston Convention, I attended a health care presentation where Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, etc etc were there to discuss the issue. Kennedy especially had a very detailed talk about health bills in the Senate, past and present.

There will be many Democratic VIP's on the talk circuit around downtown Denver and at these special meetings, there's an opportunity to meet people with like interests. You won't be disappointed how engaged the Democratic Party members will be in current issues.

Re: How Did We Start the Iraq War? Watch This

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 07:52:54 -0000

Sheep Led to Slaughter Remember FOX's or CNN's musical drumbeat intro to their stories leading up to the Iraq War? What an incredible propaganda machine led by the Bush Administration and the media. Anyone searching beyond the CNN's, Washington Post, etc on the Internet for news didn't have much problem finding news sources that showed Saddam was more wind that WMP's. With Sept. 11th, 2001 firmly seared in Americans' memories, any hint that Saddam was not connected to the terrorists was basically unpatriotic or radically liberal.

Although Bush's popularity numbers had soared during 9/11, they had begun to sag again soon afterwards and the 2004 elections were around the corner. Karl Rove looked at history: the American people never failed to re-elect a president during the times of war. It proved to be true again.

Re: LIVE BLOG — Waak v Wadhams: The Party Chairs Face Off

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:12:42 -0000

Thanks... ...for the coverage! Couldn't get the program live in the Western Boonies.

Re: Ritter Says Suthers Broke Promise in Issuing Memo

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 07:51:50 -0000

Let's Not Forget Our Students The Republicans are putting a political spin on an attempt by Gov. Ritter's to help our state's schools. But a Rove-styled attack on the governor misses its target--it will hurt our childrens' education system instead. Let's look at Ritter's plan as an investment in our future to build the best school systems in the nation.

Re: Mitt’s Money: A Bit Here, More From Next Door

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:03:06 -0000

Re: Salt Lake A Mormon friend of mine noted Salt Lake was so generous to Mitt Romney because he saved their economic behind and reputation by taking over the Olympics amidst scandal and disorganization.

Re: Live Q&A with M.E. Sprengelmeyer

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:24:16 -0000

Does Iowa County Anymore? With new primaries in Nevada and South Caroline and "Super Duper" Tuesday, does that relagate Iowa into the "No Big Deal" category for the presidential race?

Re: Live Q&A with M.E. Sprengelmeyer

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:43:56 -0000

Ooops! Sorry for the typos Does Iowa count anymore with the additions of new primary states such as Nevada and South Carolina...?

Re: An Oil Shale Bust Survivor’s Story

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 03 May 2007 06:42:24 -0000

If it only did... Exxon's method was like an inverted garbage disposal. Crush the shale and the oil will bubble up to the top. Needless to say, that didn't work well.

Now Shell is experimenting with an in-situ process -- heat the rock underground hoping to draw out the oil plus, encase the mining activity with a frozen wall to prevent oil seeping into the water table.

Seems like solar energy would be a heck of a lot more easier, but remember, our world economy and our current government power structures are based on fossil fuel....

Re: How They Have Fun in Wyoming

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 05 May 2007 04:53:28 -0000

Rifle's Bulls-eye From time to time, Rifle Chamber of Commerce members have talked about building the world's largest working gun as a tourist draw. The problems were where would you shoot it and at what?

Re: Coffman’s Office Disciplines IT Manager for Database Sales

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 05 May 2007 08:53:16 -0000

Sign of Things to Come? Is Colorado being set up to be the next Florida or Ohio? It's not who votes--but who counts the votes that recently have determined the recent elections....and apparently, a new tactic may be who is controlling the voting lists could skew the outcome as well.

If an employee at SOS can obtain special access to the voting lists for political and financial gain, could they be tempted to reverse the process and put misinformation into the voting lists? Who is more knowledgeable than an IT person to do it?

Look what has happened with the scandal at the Department of Revenue -- it was an inside job starting with the software.

Re: The Continuing Saga of Oil and Gas

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 07 May 2007 08:11:14 -0000

Today's Gossip in NW Oil and Gas Country New storylines may be developing soon if these rumors turn out to be true:

--Escaped gas from a drilled well(s) may be bubbling up through a rancher's pasture south of Silt, near the area where gas contaminated local water wells about two years ago. There is always a possibility the gas is occurring naturally. COGCC inspectors have been on the scene.

--Over 800 employees for a pipeline construction company based near Meeker have lost their jobs when the firm was allegedly fired from the construction site. The word on the street for months has this gas pipeline project beset with construction delays from weather (yes, the ground really does freeze during the winter) and other mishaps.

Re: Live Q&A with Jay Fawcett

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 08 May 2007 11:34:09 -0000

Going two steps forward Once the board formulates policies, how do you propose to put these in action? How and when will the community buy into the process?

Re: CCEG Asks For Audit of SOS

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 09 May 2007 07:15:26 -0000

Where's the Beef? I wonder why Ken Gordon is so silent?

From Kerri Rebresh's earlier story:

Bipartisanship has rarely appeared so harmonious. Following through on their pledges to work together, Sec. of State Mike Coffman and Sen. Majority Leader (and former SOS candidate) Ken Gordon held a hearing Monday to discuss elections in the state. The new elections all-star team plans to work toward devising a legislative solution to the voting problems that occurred in November.

"In light of recent events and conflicting Federal and State law we are going to look at possible legislative action to improve the conduct and reliability of the election process," Gordon said in a press release.

Seems to me that to improve the election process, protecting the sanctity of the voting registration data base from unscrupluous use be one of an "all-star" team's top three goals.

Re: Western Slope Round-Up: Potties, Prisons and Pow-Wows Headline the News

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 13 May 2007 14:54:22 -0000

Interesting Ideas for Prison Locations You're correct to say Ca

Re: Western Slope Round-Up: Potties, Prisons and Pow-Wows Headline the News

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 14 May 2007 06:53:59 -0000

Archuleta, Archuleta, Archuleta, Archu..... Thanks for the correction! It's in my memory chip now.

Re: The Birds and the Peetz Wind Farm

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 17 May 2007 05:43:16 -0000

Beginning of the End Bird populations are being devastated by the West Nile virus, too. Honey bees colonies are inexplicably being decimated as well. Without the "birds and the bees" is the human race doomed for extinction in a generation?

At least we will have alternative energy to assure there will be electricity so the last person left can turn off the lights.

Re: Rulison Families Fight Drilling in Nuclear Test Zone

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:18:16 -0000

Just Dying to Live in Rifle <img width="150" vspace="15" align="left" hspace="8" src=" http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k309/Dotzero/... border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></img>The DOE was no friend of ours either. They flared off the radioactive gas for several years after the blast to "get rid" of it. I worked for the Rifle Telegram in the mid-70's and my editor, Ina LaMont, swore there was an increase of cancer rates during that time. Or was it from the old Rifle uranium mill left for the government to clean up, thank you Union Carbide.

Re: SOS Tightens Personnel Rules; Kopelman Still There

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:10:26 -0000

Coffman is Hot News and It Ain't Good The political blogs, even the conservative ones, are taking a hammer to Coffman's SOS coffin. Until Kopelman is gone from SOS employ, most likely the scrutiny will continue by the press. Coffman has a lot of explaining to do after denying he knew his friend (an association that supposedly goes back at least 10 years) still had his political consultant business after his lateral move from the Treasurer's office to SOS under Coffman's patronage.

Most likely, regardless of what rules have been broken, only a recall would end Coffman's brief SOS career and I believe that process cannot be started until at least six months into his term. Maybe someone in cyberspace can clarify those rules....

Re: Colorado Gas Prices Surpass National Inflation Adjusted Record

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 19 May 2007 14:36:04 -0000

Aspen's High and Highest Aspen hit $4.09 according to the Aspen Daily News which means to fill up a 20 gallon tank, it would cost $81.98.

Re: Coffman Playing By Own Set of Rules

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:50:25 -0000

Coffman: Do as I say, not as I do Remember when former SOS GiGi Dennis lent her name for Republican fundraisers such as for Bob Beauprez? Will Coffman be the same?

Re: Locals Respond To Transparency Problem

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:53:55 -0000

Denver and Who Else? I believe County Commissioners in the state also do not have to report gifts on a regular basis. Can someone clarify that?

Re: Western Slope Round-Up: Headless Chickens, Corn Cobs and Other Developments

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:30:58 -0000

Well? A deep subject, no doubt.

Re: We Like Our Bedrooms

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:55:48 -0000

I Know! Coloradans have a lot of stuff.

Clothes for four seasons; ATV's; skis and winter coats; rafting gear; cowboy boots and hats; extra bedrooms for visitors and relatives; fishing gear; outdated computers; boxes of clothes you are going to fit in again someday; golf bags; broken furniture that belong to a set; hunting gear; house plants; wedding dress; toys; record albums and VCR tapes; gardening equipment; pet supplies and bird cages; storage for air conditioners, fans and portable heaters; garage sale bargains; 5 pairs of Crocs; home office; art supplies; tools (his and hers); hand-me-downs from Grandma you can't bear to toss; kids' school projects; storing items for friends/family who are moving; saddles; antique furniture you will refinish someday; two refrigerators and a standup freezer; old pickup truck in the back yard that you're planning to fix or sell; cartons of paper, tax forms and letters you should go through some day; and the oldie but goodie, Christmas decorations.

Did I miss anything?

Re: Democratic Congress OK’s Iraq War Funding

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 26 May 2007 04:48:23 -0000

DeGette Was There in Spirit I read a comment on SquareState that said DeGette was attending her daughter's graduation in Colorado, but had her "No" vote made a difference in preventing the passage of the Iraq funding bill in Congress, she would have skipped the graduation.

Re: Romanoff Proposes “Time Out” on State Constitution

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:35:54 -0000

You've Got Your Opinion, But... You must be thinking of a different Andrew Romanoff than who is mentioned in this article.

Re: Romanoff Proposes “Time Out” on State Constitution

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:09:11 -0000

History in the Making No better place to look for the cause of the deterioration of the US Constitution than at the White House. There are a few people there who think they are above the law.

Re: On the Road with Gov. Ritter, Part II

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 29 May 2007 12:31:28 -0000

Time Got Away If this reporter had checked her watch, she would have realized that she ran out of time to go to Junction. However, there is a bill signing celebration tonight with Gov. Ritter as the guest, so stay tuned for more coverage!

Re: Opinion: The End of Mankind Will Start with “I’m sorry”

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 06:56:00 -0000

Got a Disease? Come to Colorado It just so happens that three days ago the Center for Disease Control opened an $80 million dollar state-of-the-art vector-borne (in layman's term, by insect) infectious disease laboratory at the Colorado State University in Fort Collins which will target diseases such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease, Plague, Dengue Fever, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and others.

Re: From Russia … Could It Be Love?

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:06:13 -0000

Comrades You would have thought that Douglas Bruce and Bill Owens could have found a more convenient place to meet.

Re: Pass/Fail: Colorado State Legislators’ Final Report Card

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:30:32 -0000

Kudos to the "Stat Sisters" Great work on this report! I can't even balance my checkbook, so I am in awe of your mathematical skills.

Re: Bye, Bye Roan Plateau

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:54:27 -0000

Don't Tread on Us Either <img width="150" vspace="15" align="left" hspace="8" src=" http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k309/Dotzero/... border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></img>I've been wondering that myself. When do state rights supercede a federal government agency's action?

Pinon Canyons is the same deal as the Roan Plateau. One cannot successfully sue the feds, but can the state put up "physical" roadblocks? Barbed wire and concrete walls are proposed to work on the border; let's fence the feds out.

Wouldn't it be interesting then to force the Bush Administration to bring in the National Guard when Colorado revolts (whoops, they can't, most of the Guard are in Iraq.)

Gov. Ritter and legislators like Mr Merrifield and to all Coloradans--maybe it's time to have a Mile High "Boston Tea Party!"

Re: A Week Of Newsroom Carnage

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 07:48:23 -0000

Newspaper Industry Has Changed More in 30 Years Than My Waistline When I helped start up a newspaper back in 1998, my fourth one in 20 years, I thought then there had to be a better way to get the news out and promote advertiser services. Now, as a hard news blogger, I am part of the change that has affected the print news media across the nation.

The Internet is less labor-intensive and once one gets the technical framework down, production costs are much lower than printing and distributing a physical paper on a daily basis. The advertisers like the Internet. Readers have changed, too, relying on the Internet or other electronic media for their news source. And if we want to capture the next generation of readers, the Internet is the only way to go.

On the Colorado scene, unfortunately, it is far easier to eliminate home grown columnists in favor of syndicated ones and to par down local reporters and replace them with AP and Reuters. Newspapers will surely go through a period of mergers, such as the Denver Post and Rocky Mt News, and acquisitions like Swift on the Western Slope. And the more they conglomerate, the more readership they will lose.

Where will those newspaper reporters and other staff go once they are escorted out of the Mainstream Media? Just like this old newspaper workhorse....to the Internet news blogs. And their former masters will probably be forced one day to purchase those blog news services in order to include some local coverage on their pages.

It is interesting to be a part of this media realignment. In my lifetime, hot lead linotype became extinct; Compugraphics came and went; and the "cut and paste" days became ancient memories. Computers changed the media industry as much as the invention of the printing press and now there is no comparison to how the Internet will impact the future of traditional newspapers.

There's an old saying about newspaper people having "ink in their blood." Like many others, my ink has morphed into electrons.

Re: UPDATED: Evidence Mounts Against Coffman, Kopelman

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 08:03:21 -0000

Looking ahead to 2008 elections The citizens of Colorado must remember this saying from Joseph Stalin: "it's doesn't matter who votes, but who counts the votes." Plus, if there is any conflict with the 2008 elections, guess who determines the court action? Suthers. Boy, aren't we confident now we will have a fair election?

Six months have passed since Coffman took office...has anyone contemplated a recall effort yet?

Re: WILDFIRE!

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:41:18 -0000

Press release from Congressman John Salazar "As the representative of Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, I stand by ready to help in any way I can. Meanwhile, I praise Colorado's brave firefighters, emergency evacuation crews, the local sheriff's department, and officials from both the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who are working together to calm these flames. Unpredictable winds

and dry brush could easily make this fight an uphill battle. But I have faith and a great deal of confidence that the courageous men and women who are on the front lines fighting this fire will be successful.

"My heart goes out to all of the families whose homes are in the path of these flames. These people know firsthand what damage can be done and how quickly acres of land can be charred and homes ruined by a relentless, and fast moving fire.

"Colorado summers are dry and long, and this is only the beginning of what could be a dangerous wildfire season. That is why I joined Congressman Mark Udall several weeks ago in repeating our request for a long-awaited, concrete plan from the Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary Mark Rey that modernizes and secures air tanker readiness to suppress threatening wildfires. A few years ago, there were accidents involving old, aging air tankers, but Under Secretary Rey has confirmed that our request for a long-term plan will be unveiled by the end of this week. I hope that is true, because Coloradans can't afford to wait much longer."

Re: Question: Are most journalists liberal? Answer: Yes.

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:41:00 -0000

In my opinion.... I think reporters initially come from a broad spectrum of political beliefs, but after covering the local social problems for a year or two, their political ideals shift.

How can you not believe the war is wrong after interviewing the wounded who return home? How can you turn your back on the poor when you've just taken a photo of a homeless person? How can you turn off your emotions about politics when you are covering the consequences of laws or funding upon the populace?

From my experience, reporters have a harder time hiding their cynicism than their political beliefs.

As ColoradoConfidential.com reporter Sandra Fish pointed out, more publishers tend to support conservative views. Why? If any media person says it's NOT because of advertising revenue, they are lying.

Re: Lamborn’s Porkchopping Targets The Arts

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:15:46 -0000

Hey, Doug! Here's an Idea to Save Taxpayers $$$$ If Lamborn wants to paint himself as a fiscal conservative, there's one way he can save us trillions of dollars--support the Democratic proposal to withdraw from Iraq.

Re: Coffman And Kopelman Try To Smoke Out The “Illegals”

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:21:44 -0000

Harass the Rich Undocumented residents hardly want to put the spotlight on themselves by trying to vote. Most of them are pretty skeptical of the U.S. political system because of their experiences back home.

I think the SOS should instead go after the second/third homeowners, some who vote where ever they have a home.

Re: Hush, Hush & On the QT: Aspen is Center of the Universe

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:54:29 -0000

Turn Your Radio Dial To... Listen to some of the Festival's speakers here. Especially don't miss Colin Powel's discussion on the Iraq War.

General Colin Powell says the Bush administration has mishandled and misjudged the Iraq war. But Powell defends his decision to help President George W. Bush make the case for invading Iraq. He spoke with PBS's Jim Lehrer at the Aspen Institute's Ideas Festival....

Re: Western Slope Under Fire

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:33:04 -0000

From the Glenwood Springs/Rifle area... In Garfield County, we have already set up two emergency evacuation shelters in the past 30 days because of wildfires. As a secondary emergency responder, I scan the sky constantly for that black mushroom cloud that signals a new fire--like last Friday with the Rulison blaze.

Right now, it looks like downtown Los Angeles here, but the "smog" smells like cedar.

From the local American Red Cross volunteers who have manned the shelters, to the fire fighters from all the multi-county emergency service districts...they all deserve a gold medal for their Olympic efforts to prevent property and human losses.

This year in GarCo, no one in emergency services is going to sleep well up until after the first snow flies.

Re: On the Run: An Early Look at the State Senate

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:37:27 -0000

One more name to add! When I interviewed Speaker Andrew Romanoff earlier this year, he indicated that he might consider running for the State Senate in 2008. He's in the same district as Ken Gordon.

Re: Western Slope Under Fire

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:56:02 -0000

More Fires...and Aspen Almost Gets "The Bird" Well, if we kept a running count of wildfires, this story would stay alive for several months.

Yesterday, a fire broke out in the town of Hotchkiss. From the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel:

HOTCHKISS - Flames that roared up to 80 feet over the Powell Mesa area near Hotchkiss on Monday evening left behind a hillside of charred pinyon and juniper and a home untouched by the fire that came within 15 feet of its walls.

By 8:30 p.m., fire crews had knocked down the Wolf Park Fire enough so the blackened hillside was illuminated only by flickering hot spots. The fire had burned about 175 acres and threatened five structures.

How dry is it on the Western Slope?

A smaller brush fire temporarily closed the main highway to Aspen yesterday. It was caused by an electrocuted crow. Yep, that's right. After a brief, but deadly encounter with a transformer, the crispy fried crow fell to the ground and ignited the grass.

Re: Hush, Hush & On the QT: Updated Sensory Overload at YK

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:09:41 -0000

YK Impressions Fellow reporters, Wendy Norris, Cara DeGette and Kerri Rebresh were also in Chicago along with other Kossacks from Colorado. Anything to add, folks?

Re: Schaffer On The Issues: Still A Mystery

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:15:26 -0000

Multiple Guesses Possible reasons why the Schaffer campaign isn't:

1. Waiting for Udall to list all his issues and then attack. Schaffer's campaign therefore does not have to say what he is for, just what he is against. That way, too, Schaffer can try to grab anti-Udall voters who may not necessarily be pro-Schaffer supporters.

2. Schaffer is just warming the bench until the real candidate comes back from wheelin' and dealin' in Russia--aka Bill Owens.

3. The national Republicans have already written off the race to Udall.

Re: Impeachment Starts at Home

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:14:24 -0000

The Countdown When the president took away a citizen's right to privacy, people complained, but I didn't care.

When the president put corporate profits before citizen's needs, people got poorer, but I didn't care.

When the president ignored the checks and balances of Congress, people protested, but I didn't care.

When the president declares marshal law, people will cry out in alarm, but I won't care.

When the president tears down my door and takes my family away without trial, only then will I care.

Will people come help me although I ignored their pleas?

They will fear they are next. No one will be free.

Re: Dear General Petraeus…

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:06:17 -0000

Not that the General will answer.... Is there a build up of US troop levels along the Iraq/Iran border?

Re: Hush, Hush & On the QT: Club 20’s Political Universe-2

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:56:08 -0000

Not enough coffee this morning Yeah! Thanks for the heads up on the corrections. I will triple check in the future and find my reading glasses.

Re: CoCo Finalist for Online Journalism Award

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 05:26:15 -0000

You're the Best Go team, go!<img width="100" vspace="15" align="left" hspace="8" src="http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k309/Dotzero/trophyphoto.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></img>

Re: Colorado’s Wild Horses: Too Many with Too Few Places to Go

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:24:16 -0000

Stayed Tuned! The perspective you support will be included in Part II. Your views on how to alleviate the horse overpopulation (both wild and domestic) are most welcomed.

Re: Hush, Hush & On the QT: Political Debate Goes Astray

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:47:31 -0000

Debate Revisited Dear Ali,

Thanks for your comments and I look forward to your next event.

You are correct - the debate Q&A; was evenly distributed amongst the participants. What I meant to imply was many of the audience members and media were there to see you, me included and you did not disappoint.

Some of our commonalities are that we can appreciate different points of view, we love discussion of the issues and invite critiques. Please feel free to add a link to last night's event.

Best regards, Leslie

Re: Colorado’s Horses: In the Stable or on the Table?

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:35:37 -0000

Additional Reading Click on the links of similar articles posted on Colorado Confidential:

Colorado's Wild Horses: Too Many with Too Few Places to Go?

Part I

Part II

Wild Horses and the Politics of the West -- a Look at a Bureau of Land Management Horse Sale

Sleeping Dogs and Horses

Re: Severance Tax Change Could Make Colorado $10 Billion Dollars Richer

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:30:14 -0000

Apples and Oranges Increasing taxes on energy companies adds to the cost of production. The cost of production affects business income and profits.

If it costs a company $10 to produce a barrel of oil and the market price is $70 a barrel, then the energy company makes $60. Should it cost $10.10 to produce a barrel of oil in Colorado, the company would make a $59.90 profit.

Your comment concerns the price of natural gas or gasoline to the consumer, who pays the wholesale/retail price for energy. Those prices are influenced by supply and demand in the marketplace.

You should promote renewable energy, worry about hurricanes in the Gulf and stop the Iraq War if you want to protect the consumer from higher energy prices.

Re: Ritter to Announce Major Climate Change Plan

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:26:24 -0000

Have It Your Way No problem. We can leave just enough polluted air and water to fulfill your legacy to your children and grandchildren.

Re: Stats Show a Self-Inflicted Slaughter - Part 1 of an Occasional Series

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:40:32 -0000

"For in that sleep of death what dreams may come...." It is easy now to say it's wrong for the elderly to control their mortality, but when we grow older and face the same challenges of age -- our values of today and perspective of life could differ a lot.

It should not be considered suicide; it is certainly not "self-slaughter;" a prescribed termination can be a welcome release from physical pain or a celebration of the fulfillment of life. The sad part is that some seniors have to go to extremes to finish their lives with a gun or car accident.

If we have the freedom of choice throughout our lives, why can't we own the decision to complete our existence when we are elderly? Most of us hope to meet our demise in our sleep. I would certainly prefer choosing the "when and where" of my eternal dreams instead of leaving it up to fate and Medicare.

My preferences of death may sound a lot like the climax of Soylent Green. However, I don't think I will taste that good in the end.

(Title quote from Hamlet)

Re: Live Q&A with Rep. Debbie Stafford

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:12:38 -0000

Welcome, Rep. Stafford I would like to add to Kerri's question: Now that you've had a few days to talk to your constituents, what feedback are you hearing about your new political status?

Re: Live Q&A with Rep. Debbie Stafford

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:28:57 -0000

Also, I wanted to ask... The Democratic Party and Gov. Ritter have not let their contradictory views on reproductive choices become an impasse.

Considering your personal feelings on this subject, were you encouraged by Ritter's successes in the Democratic Party that these differences were no longer detrimental for a Democratic politician?

Re: Senate 8 Race Headed Into Extra Innings

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:26:35 -0000

Re: Rippy I asked Gregg if he was interested in the 8th and he told me he likes being a civilian right now. Phil Vaughan a Republican from the Rifle area said he is looking into several races including SD8.

Re: Hush, Hush and on the QT: Republicans in Dilemmas; Democrats in Motion

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:31:44 -0000

More on the Zakhem Story From the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel:

At the behest of the Mesa County Republican Party, the Colorado Republican Party voted to censure its attorney, John Zakhem, for making a contribution to incumbent Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction.

Zakhem, whose law firm, Zakhem Atherton, represents the Colorado Republican Party, said he was surprised to hear about the central committee's vote to censure him.

Nonetheless, he said he was happy to hear a motion to terminate his service with the party, proffered by Mesa County Republican Party Chairman Gary Roahrig, was defeated in a voice vote.

"I wasn't surprised there was no support to terminate our representation," Zakhem said.

"I'm trying hard to do my job, and I'm just sorry the Mesa County Republicans were so irked over it," Zakhem said. "I regret how it looked for them, but there was no ill intent on my part. I am dedicated to my party, I would say, more than most."

Re: Hush, Hush and on the QT: Republicans in Dilemmas; Democrats in Motion

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:52:46 -0000

Brilliant Idea! I'll ask if the governor's office has figured out the mile-per-person rate yet.

Re: It’s Not about Taxes; It’s about Quality of Life

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:04:10 -0000

Thanks Dan for your series.... Very few people who are living in this Rocky Mountain region today experienced the 1980's energy bust and therefore, do not know this current energy boom is only temporary.

When Exxon was pumping jillions of dollars in their oil shale retort process and infrastructure 30 years ago, no one imagined the company would just walk away from it - but they did on May 2, 1982. Exxon locked the gate to their plant and that was it.

Thousands lost their jobs and homes and many local businesses failed. Northwest Colorado didn't recover from the economic repercussions from the Oil Shale Bust until mid-1990.

After barely surviving the bust in Rifle, where the value of my home dropped in half, I hope I will recognize the impending signs of an oil and gas bust and bailout in time.

Sounds like you went through the same thing in WY, so let's keep comparing notes, eh?

Re: Brace Yourselves: Super Volcanic Yellowstone National Park Is Getting Antsy

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:58:16 -0000

Just like in the TV Movie Should that area blow up, isn't Colorado in the second ring of destruction or something like that?

Re: Countdown to 2008 Presidency Could Start… When?!

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:12:14 -0000

True... Maybe I should have described it as the beginning of the end of the 2008 presidential primary race.

Re: Giving Thanks, 70s Style

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:17:06 -0000

Shock Value Wore Off 40 Years Ago When one grew up in the 1960's or 70's, it's hard to comment negatively to what teens wear today....although we did limit body piercing to only the ears at that time.

What I miss most from the 70's are men's mustaches.

Interesting that mini-skirts and bikinis are still going strong after 40 years. Recently, I found one of my old mini-shirts and it fit....on one thigh.

Re: Ritter Joins Mix of Presidential Contenders

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:28:42 -0000

If You Missed It.... No doubt, C-SPAN will have the video available on their website or will repeat this program. Gov. Bill Ritter's presentation is in the middle of the program.

Re: Did Someone Say Tax Hike? No, Of Course Not

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:38:36 -0000

Follow the Money Most taxpayers would be willing to invest in Colorado's future, for better schools, safer roads, etc., I believe, as long as a system of accountability is set up at the same time. People want to see their tax dollars cover the Black Hole, not fill it.

Re: Want to Help Select a President? Start Here

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:34:41 -0000

Why Change Your "U?" Four Colorado Representatives offer more reasons to register with a political party:

"Exercising your vote is the ultimate form of political participation in the democratic process. I encourage Coloradoans from Denver to Grand Junction to Alamosa to register to vote and become part of real change. With the 2008 Democratic National Convention being held in our own backyard of Denver, I hope Coloradoans will join together in both nominating and electing the next President of the United States."

--U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette

"Next Summer Colorado will have the attention of the nation and the world as we select our Democratic nominee to run for the Presidency of the United States. This is a unique opportunity to see democracy up close by participating in our democratic process. By registering to vote every individual has a chance to have a say in the direction of our country. Please register to vote and then register your opinion, together we can build a stronger America." --U.S. Rep. Mark Udall

"Our system of Democracy depends on all of us participating, and voting is the primary responsibility we have in being a part of a Democracy. I urge all of you to be a part of changing the way our country does business by registering to vote and then voting."

-- U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter.

"Each of us has an opportunity to be a part of American history as Coloradans gets ready to host the Democratic National Convention. In order to participate, make sure you're registered to vote by December 5th. Your vote is your voice; and your voice can help take America in a new direction."

-- U.S. Rep. John T. Salazar

Re: Live Q&A with Rep. Ed Perlmutter

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:39:38 -0000

What's It Really Like? Was Iraq what you expected or were there a lot of surprises? What was your mission?

Re: Live Q&A with Rep. Ed Perlmutter

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:48:08 -0000

And.... Any chance for a reprieve for the Roan Plateau slipping in?

Re: Hush, Hush & On the QT: Dance the Western Slope Republican Shuffle

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:12:38 -0000

Oh? I see; YOU did the arm twisting....

Re: Best Spot for Oil, Gas Investment? Try Colorado

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:24:39 -0000

From a West Sloper's Point of View... We already knew we were comparable to a Third-World country.

Re: Live Q&A with Pollster Mark Mehringer

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:13:14 -0000

Is the race on voter's radar screen? Has a poll been done on the senate race on name recognition among unaffiliated voters? Or how about regionally, grouping Western Slope or Eastern Plains voters?

Re: Live Q&A with Pollster Mark Mehringer

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:23:41 -0000

Isn't there a feeling of malaise anyway with Republican candidates? If we compared the Udall/Schaffer poll results with the poll of what Republicans feel about their candidates in general, would there be much of a difference?

Re: Live Q&A with Pollster Mark Mehringer

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:35:42 -0000

Another trick question As a Jane-on-the-street, it is hard to put credence on polling sometimes. I've been polled before and the questions were so slanted it was a joke. And also, people lie on their answers (I've done it.) So, are polls really just specimens for political pundits and the media to dissect?

Re: GM to Denver Convention: Drive my car

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:40:22 -0000

Delegate Mode of Transportation At the convention in Boston 2004, large Greyhound-sized buses were used to transport delegates back and forth from their hotels to the convention center. Most likely, this efficient plan will be used in Denver.

Re: Ask Tom Tancredo: Local talk show wants your questions

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:59:51 -0000

Now that you are an observer... What did you think of the Iowa results? Were you surprised at Gov. Huckabee's win? Any predictions on New Hampshire?

Re: Democratic Presidential Race: It’s All about Delegates

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:12:41 -0000

Further Clarification DNC officials emphazised delegates (excluding Super Delegates) should obey the "good conscience" rule that says delegates are to remain true to their candidate preference for the first vote on the floor. An exception would be when a candidate releases his delegates before the vote, like in the case in 2004 when Wesley Clark asked his delegates to support John Kerry. Therefore, you are essentially correct in your understanding of the rules, Matt.

But, there's an asterisk to that statement. No matter how much it is discouraged and regulated by the DNC, there is not a decree that absolutely chains the Democratic convention delegates to their original preference for the first vote. (State rules may be different.)

However, convention directives can be modified. A DNC official noted there is an active Convention Rules Committee that can tweak convention policies, if necessary.

The DNC also acknowledged that the number of convention delegates are still in flux, because bonus delegates, the Michigan/Florida problems and other situations have not been fully calculated. Currently, the number is around 4362 delegates.

Re: Unraveling the Mysteries of Colorado’s Precinct Caucus

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:30:01 -0000

Thanks for the info, PDT To be absolutely sure of your voter registration status, call your county clerk. Either refer to your local phone book for your county clerk info or link herefrom the Secretary of State website. The more commmon problems arise when people don't update their addresses after they have moved, or go to the wrong caucus location, or forget what their current party affiliation is.

Colorado has a "closed" caucus, meaning that only Republicans can participate in the Republican caucus, Democrats only in the Democratic caucus. Unaffiliated registered voters cannot show up at a caucus and declare a party affiliation; the deadline to registered with a party was Dec. 5, 2007.

Re: Doug Bruce for Vice President!

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:55:20 -0000

The Train Bell Clangs "Ding-Dong" Huckabee-Bruce has a nice ring...for a railroad line out of town.

Re: Harber Goes to Iraq; Invites Colorado Confidential Readers to Submit Questions to U.S. Leadership

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:34:57 -0000

Our Soldiers Deserve Better Protection The total number of U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq War is nudging the 4,000 mark and most have been killed by an improvised explosive devises. We just had another Colorado soldier die in Iraq this week by an IED's. Many more soldiers are languishing in our hospitals because of injuries caused by IED's. Why can't the U.S. government provide better protective gear (like what the private security companies give to their employees in Iraq) to prevent death and injury to our soldiers?

Re: Western Slope Legislative Races Starting to Gel

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:35:17 -0000

Thanks I'll make that addition.

Re: Moving on Sadly but Proudly

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:17:52 -0000

B'Bye Since there is ink in your veins, you'll be back! (I know, I've tried to leave the media many times.) Best of luck! Leslie

Re: Q&A with the Denver Post’s Dan Haley

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:55:01 -0000

Thank you for the insight.... Who is on your editorial board? Were the endorsements a unanimous decision?

Re: COMING: Live Q&A with Clinton and Obama State Campaign Directors

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:46:17 -0000

Thanks for joining us today! Question to the Clinton campaign:

The Obama campaign had a much better organized and funded campaign on the Western Slope; Obama's appeal to crossover voters wasn't lost on the caucusing Democrats either, who are a minority party up here. Did the Clinton campaign determine this trend early on and therefore decide to concentrate efforts on the Front Range from the start?

Question to the Obama campaign:

It was nice that Obama won many delegates from western states like Colorado, but the big prize was California, where Clinton was more successful. Wasn't it overkill when possible CO Democratic delegates got at least a half dozen mailings and calls before caucus? In hindsight, maybe these campaign resources should have been directed to CA instead?

Re: COMING: Live Q&A with Clinton and Obama State Campaign Directors

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:03:07 -0000

Add-on Another question for both campaigns: now that the CO caucuses are over, are your campaigns packing up and moving on to the other states that have upcoming primaries or caucuses? Or will both candidates keep CO campaign offices open while the delegate competition stays even?

Thanks!

Re: Q&A with Clinton and Obama State Campaign Directors

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:37:05 -0000

Thanks for your insight! Question to the Clinton campaign:

The Obama campaign had a much better organized and funded campaign on the Western Slope; Obama's appeal to crossover voters wasn't lost on the caucusing Democrats either, who are a minority party up here. Did the Clinton campaign determine this trend early on and therefore, decide to concentrate efforts on the Front Range from the start?

Question to the Obama campaign:

Also, what happens now with both campaigns in CO? Do you pack up your offices and go to the states where caucuses and primaries will be held?

Re: BLM Plans for Oil Shale Mining

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:40:20 -0000

Yep, Allen There really is a place on the Western Slope called Silt, about 25 miles west of No Name. If you pass Antlers, you've gone too far.

Re: Want to be a Delegate? Follow the Paperwork

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:01:17 -0000

Mr Oldbogus Possibly the delegates realized that they had a conflict for the county convention/assembly, so they might have wanted to give your wife, as alternate, a heads up. However, your wife won't officially be seated until the county convention/assembly delegate check-in is completed.

I'm sure you weren't the only spouse dragged into a precinct caucus. If your wife ends up becoming a delegate to the state convention/assembly, you can look forward to a nice drive to Colorado Springs in May.

Re: Locked and Loaded: Bullets New Addition to National Park Experience?

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:42:06 -0000

Brief CO Gun Law Summary From the Colorado State Patrol:

Colorado allows a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle, loaded or unloaded, if its use is for lawful protection of such person or another's person or property. [C.R.S. 18-12-105(2)]

Colorado law also allows a person to possess a handgun in a dwelling, place of business, or automobile. However, you cannot carry the weapon concealed on or about your person while transporting it into your home, business, hotel room, etc.

Local jurisdictions may not enact laws that restrict a person's ability to travel with a weapon. [C.R.S. 18-12-105.6]

Transporting or Carrying a Weapon in National Forests

While visiting National Forests in Colorado, you may carry a weapon. However, in addition to state laws, you must comply with Federal Regulations pertaining to the use of a firearm on National Forest System lands.

A firearm may not be discharged in the following National Forest areas:

1.Within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; or

2. Across or on a Forest Development road or an adjacent body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge; or

3. Into or within any cave. [36 CFR 261.10 (d)]

Some forest or distrcits have additional restrictions on discharging a firearm. You are advised to check with the authorities in the areas you will be visiting.

Transporting or Carrying a Weapon in National Parks

With rare exception (such as during times when controlled hunting is allowed), weapons are to be dismantled completely while traveling in National Parks in the United States. In order to transport firearms through National Parks, they must be dismantled and carried in the trunk of the vehicle.

Re: Spring Flood Threat Keeps Towns on Alert

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:58:00 -0000

I'm not a scientist, but..... ...Who said that global warming always constitutes a drought? Some areas will get drowned.

Plus, one year does not make a trend. Let's talk about the weather 20 years from now.

Re: Businesses Tax Themselves to Revitalize Aurora Strip

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:24:01 -0000

The Investment Will Pay Off The City of Rifle may have one of the smallest taxing downtown districts (about six small blocks) but it made an amazing difference in revitalizing the area after the oil shale bust when most of the retailers closed up.

The Downtown Development Authority hung up curtains in abandoned store windows, had western murals painted on empty buildings and planted mini-flower gardens on curb extensions. The dividends from taxes collected for the district have been many and rescued downtown Rifle from decay.

Re: 5 Years In Iraq: The Costs of War

Leslie Robinson — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:27:58 -0000

That's MY Money in Iraq!!!!! Oh, no! One day's read just cost us about a half-billion dollars!

Re: Flooding Readers with Facts and Omissions

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:18:08 -0000

When Experience Counts Thanks for your comment Richard. What caught my attention was the article noted 331 people have been killed by flood disasters in Colorado yet on its flood list, only 134 deaths were posted. Since casualties from the Big Thompson tragedy account for almost half the total number of flood victims in Colorado, it was probably a point worth mentioning regardless of what time of the year it happened.

Nitpicking, yes. Is seasoned editorial oversight missing at the RMN? Your call.

Re: Flooding Readers with Facts and Omissions

Leslie Robinson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:32:07 -0000

In Hindsight.... Thank you for being insistent, Richard. I have a call into the editorial department of the RMN which I should have done before writing my commentary to ask them what criteria they used for the list. For instance, June 29th seems very late to have a flood partly caused by snowmelt but who knows what kind of records were kept back in 1927.

Your criticism is right on: I was wrong to suggest that Colorado's most devastating flood was omitted from the list possibly because of editorial oversight without substantiating that opinion. A lesson learned the hard way.

Yet, I think I still have one valid observation: if one is going to quantify the 331 estimated deaths in Colorado from flooding, one needs to mention the Big Thompson.

The mountains continue to pile up with snow and you sound just as concerned about spring flooding in Boulder as I am up here in Rifle. Looks like we both are going to be busy covering the subject for months to come. I look forward to your continued comments on the subject.

And please don't hesitate to keep this journalist on her toes.

Regards, Leslie

Re: Salazar Brothers Team Up to Find Balance in Energy Development

Leslie Robinson — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:22:10 -0000

Sure They Do The Salazar family has been ranching and farming in the San Luis Valley for over five generations.

Re: Local Officials Rebuke Oil Companies Over Waste-Pit Spills

Leslie Robinson — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:28:23 -0000

An Sidebar from the EAB Meeting At March's meeting, a complaint was filed through a citizen representative on the EAB: an old rancher's windshield had been busted by a truck coming off a working drill rig pad. The retired rancher couldn't see a name on the truck or a license plate number but "it was a white truck so it had to be from oil and gas."

The citizen rep asked the industry guys around the table, "so, is this rancher out of luck? It'll cost $500 out of his pocket to replace the windshield because of his insurance deduction."

After the meeting, a hat was passed among the oil and gas managers and PR people -- out came the wallets and purses; they raised $500 to fix the old rancher's windshield.

At the April meeting - after the big lecture - an announcement was made: the old rancher appreciated the donation and thanked everyone for his new windshield.

There was a collective sigh in the room. Whew! At least the oil and gas guys did something right that night.

Re: Where’s Bob? U.S. Senate Candidate Schaffer a No-Show at Club 20

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:44:49 -0000

Thank you for your comments Yes, results about the transportation study have been out for a while. Yet, several months and tax proposals later, as discussed at Club 20, the issue has gone nowhere. The state's wheels are still stuck in a rut - I'm not sure what progressive spin to put on that. However, Russell George's comment about turning CDOT into a public utility is an idea that came from thinking outside the box.

Re: Where’s Bob? U.S. Senate Candidate Schaffer a No-Show at Club 20

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:24:03 -0000

Me? Snarky? My friends Will Defend Your Opinion to the End If we don't make a mountain out of the Mountains, politicians will forget how important we are up here on the Western Slope.

Re: Economic Stimulus: Good for individuals or the overall economy, not both

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:35:12 -0000

When I Can Find It.... I would like to buy some more time.

Re: Vail-area Superdelegate Urges Others to ‘Get Off the Fence’

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:24:30 -0000

Bill's a Salesman I wonder how many world leaders were able to say "no" to Bill Clinton when he was president?

Re: State Dem Convention: Some Delegates Selected; Clinton, Obama Invited

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:47:16 -0000

Additional info in DemNotes DemNotes went into detail about the seating of alternates that I did not include in my story:

The biggest snag of the day was the seating of alternates. Due to some issues with numbers and lists, alternates were not seated until about Noon (the assembly was supposed to start at 10 am). While delegates went into the gymnasium, where the Convention and Assembly was to be held, alternates were sent to wait in the auditorium. There, we did our best to keep alternates energized and engaged.

...It was a longer process than most had anticipated, and I know that the Party staff and representatives from the Congressional districts will be working over this next week to streamline the alternate seating process for the three Congressional districts holding conventions and assemblies next weekend.

Re: High Gas Prices Force People to Alter Lifestyles

Leslie Robinson — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:41:59 -0000

YIPES! Blink and prices go up. By Wed afternoon, Bradley in Glenwood raised Regular to $3.71 and in Rifle, prices jumped 10 cents to $3.89 a gallon.