Colorado (P)regressives 2018

Another Colorado specific political rant.  Looking at some of the (P)regressive contenders.

Dave Young. The State Representative from my district is running for State Treasurer. He is in full bore (P)regressive political speak which puzzles me for someone running for state bean counter.  Does he think he can fund anything differently than what the Legislature has approved? He makes noises like he can. What he can influence is the Public Employees Retirement Account. Since he is a beneficiary he should recuse himself IMO. PERA was set up with a major flaw. It was assumed the invested funds would return an annual yield of 8%. Hasn’t happened and none of the board members want to bring the plan back to reality. 

For Secretary of State the (P)regressive contender is one Jena Griswald. A talking point she stresses is the state has never had a female Secretary of State and it is time for one. Echo, anyone? She has secured the endorsement of every Democrat of note in the state, going on thirty endorsements. She stresses she will fight President Trump and pledges to ensure all Colorado residents can vote. That is (P)regressive speak for anyone, living or dead, in the state regardless if legally qualified to vote IMO.

Candidates for Governor is a crowded field headed by the Congressman for the Peoples Republic of Boulder running a self funded campaign from his inherited, not earned, fortune. Jared Polis by name, the attendance at his events has been embarrassing. In response, only a few chairs are provided. This allows him to claim standing room only crowds. Pathetic.

Next up is Cary Kennedy. She is the only one with a solid resume. A former State Treasurer and current CFO of the City of Denver, she has picked up the endorsement of the state teachers union. For what passes for a Democrat in Colorado she is a moderate. In her various positions she has done a creditable job.

The GOP? If Harry Truman were alive and living in Colorado, he would say, “Hell no, I’m not part of an organized political party. I am a Republican”.

Colorado is a mix of red rural counties and blue urban counties with the trust funder infested ski counties going blue. Enormous sums of outside money pour into the campaigns. Shillary won the state but President Trump won Pueblo county, home of old school Blue Dog Democrats.

The State Senate is in the hands of the Republicans and the House in the hands of the Democrats. Gridlock – no budget passed. Speaking of gridlock, the roads are going to hell. I’ve heard Cali transplants yearning for the “405”. This will probably be a campaign hot spot.

One is reminded of a William F. Buckley, Jr. quote.

“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views”.

One wonders if these (P)regressives realize they will need at least a few Deplorable votes. Probably their focus is winning the primary then ‘soften’ their positions to appear more moderate. Who knows, it could work.