Colorado 2010 US Senate Race Update: Ryan Frazier's Ascent

**Update--Buzz from Douglas County Lincoln Day dinner indicates that Frazier won the night's straw poll--exact numbers to follow this evening.

From Chris Cillizza's "The Fix" at the Washington Post:

9. Colorado (D): Appointed Sen. Michael Bennet has made a solid debut so far although his wishy-washiness on the Employee Free Choice Act has turned him into something of public punching bag on the right and the left. Bennet, a virtual unknown before he was named to replace Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, is clearly vulnerable in 2010. But, there doesn't appear to be a serious primary challenge in the offing (does former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff really want to risk his "rising star" status on a race against a sitting senator?) and the Republican field has been slow to take shape. The most likely GOP candidate seems to be former Rep. Bob Beauprez but his disastrous 2006 run for governor raises questions about his political strength. Some within the GOP are excited about the possible candidacy of Ryan Frazier, a 31-year old African American member of the Aurora City Council. (Previous ranking: 10)

The seat could quickly become a real toss-up as Frazier's visibility within the party increases. GOP grassroots activists, many of whom supported Leondray Gholston's successful vice chair candidacy at the state level (Gholston served as Frazier's reelection campaign manager), have identified Frazier as a strong contender for the GOP's 2010 U.S. Senate nomination. They believe that Frazier carries none of the negatives of the other potential candidates whose names have been bandied about for the seat, and argue that he has a greater potential for reestablishing and mobilizing a "big tent" for conservatives/GOP/libertarians in the state. His main task will be in establishing brand awareness across Colorado in the coming months, along with building a sufficient campaign war chest to tackle a contested primary and Sen. Bennet in 2010.

SP has been tracking Frazier's potential candidacy for months.

"Senator Who?" Michael Bennet Facing Possible Primary Challenge

From twice-passed-over Andrew Romanoff, ex-Speaker of the House. And he may not be the only one.

But them's the breaks for Senator "who the hell are you?"--whose selection by Gov. "Blue Ribbon" Bill Ritter has befuzzled everyone from Democrat insiders to political observers of all stripes.

Should Bennet face a primary challenge, real doubts about the electability of Ritter's selection will become clearly evident, and the rifts within the party structure from disgruntled constituencies and passed-over contenders will only serve to weaken Ritter's own reelection bid. Bennet's possible primary failure will only highlight Ritter's shortcomings, and a stronger Democrat running for U.S. Senate will force more attention onto the Governor's own race.

Senator Who? Michael Bennet And Russ Feingold's Planned Constitutional Amendment

As Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Who?) continues his whirlwind "Getting To Know You" tour of Colorado, state Dems are busy propping up the still-puzzling choice of appointee:

"He's doing everything he needs to do," said Colorado Democratic Party chair Pat Waak.

"He is really treating this like it is a campaign." she said. "He is spending every single available moment he has meeting and talking to people. He understands he needs to appeal to everyone in this state, not just Denver. He is making personal connections with people and that's how you get elected in Colorado, so I think it's great."

He'll need those connections if he is to buck the rather daunting historical odds of winning election on his own in 2010.

So what does this have to do with Russ Feingold (D-Campaign Finance Reform)?

Looks like he plans to introduce an amendment to the Constitution barring gubernatorial appointees and mandating elections for all future Senate replacements:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, issued the following statement today on plans to introduce an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to end appointments to the Senate by state governors and require special elections in the event of a Senate seat vacancy.

“The controversies surrounding some of the recent gubernatorial appointments to vacant Senate seats make it painfully clear that such appointments are an anachronism that must end. In 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution gave the citizens of this country the power to finally elect their senators. They should have the same power in the case of unexpected mid term vacancies, so that the Senate is as responsive as possible to the will of the people. I plan to introduce a constitutional amendment this week to require special elections when a Senate seat is vacant, as the Constitution mandates for the House, and as my own state of Wisconsin already requires by statute. As the Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, I will hold a hearing on this important topic soon.”

Just last week, Colorado State Sen. Mike Kopp announced plans to introduce a bill that would achieve the same objective for the state (and which would have a much lower threshold of passing) in calling for special elections to fill a vacant Senate seat. The lefties at ColoradoPols called it a "gaming" move of "political expediency" that is ultimately "self-serving."

So, what will they think of Feingold's proposed Constitutional amendment?

The widely discussed appointments in Colorado, Illinois, and New York--all three in which Democrat governors appointed Democrat replacements--have elicited reactions from puzzled bewilderment (Senator Who? in Colorado) to scandal (Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Highest Bidder) to entitlement (you know, New York, you know). After these well-publicized fiascos, why not require special elections for open Senate vacancies?

Colorado's newest Senator was appointed by an indecisive governor predisposed to calling for "blue ribbon" panels for just about everything, and even soliciting the public's input on who should replace the outgoing Sen. Ken Salazar, who had been tapped for President Barack Obama's cabinet. Apparently that input went largely ignored.

Exit question: Will the fact that the party responsible for bringing so much attention to this generally infrequent procedure diminish or augment public support for such a measure?

Senator Who? Weekend Edition

Word on the streets--can Bennet woo Hispanics?

Bennet faces the anti-war, anti-Israel crowd on his introductory tour of Colorado.

Bennet "political"--inflating his own record?

Bennet a "blue dog?" EPIC FAIL.

Or is he already "saying all the right things" in his first policy speeches?

Senator Who? Makes His Debut

“Michael Bennet is exactly what we need in Colorado. Michael will bring a fresh, new approach to the economic crisis. He knows we can’t fix our 21st-century problems with 20th-century solutions”--Gov. Bill Ritter, after tapping DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet to replace Sen. Ken Salazar

As more confused reaction on Gov. "Blue Ribbon" Bill Ritter's appointment of DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet pours in--everything from a startled "seriously?" to "perplexing" to Bennet being a "risky" choice--Dem royalty come out swinging for the newly minted Senate appointee, including President-elect Barack Obama, outgoing Sen. Ken Salazar, and friend and possible benefactor Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper:

"I congratulate Michael Bennet on his appointment as Colorado's next United States Senator, and Governor Bill Ritter for making a splendid choice. Michael Bennet perfectly reflects the qualities of the ruggedly independent state he has been chosen to serve. An innovator in the public and private sectors, he has shown himself willing to challenge old thinking and stale policies. His breakthrough work at the helm of Denver's schools has reflected that commitment, and established Michael as one of the nation's leading education reformers. He will be a breath of fresh air in Washington."

President-elect Barack Obama

"If I am confirmed to serve as Secretary of the Interior, Michael will bring to the United States Senate an impressive background and a wealth of experience - both as an accomplished public servant and a successful businessman - that will help us tackle the many challenges we face as a state and a nation. If I am confirmed, I am confident Michael will serve the people of Colorado well as our next United States Senator."

Ken Salazar

United States Senator

"Michael Bennet brings intense personal commitment, intellectual rigor and innovation to any challenge. In addition to his diverse experience in law, the private sector, government and public education, Michael's strong character and dedication to public service will serve Colorado well in the U.S. Senate."

John Hickenlooper

Mayor, Denver

Like many in the blogosphere and the public in general, Bennet's DPS bio and recent profile have become go-to sources for information on the "darkhorse" appointee.

Senator Who? Gov. Ritter Appoints DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet To Replace Salazar

"Bennet for Senate."

Has a nice ring to it.

Wait a minute.

As I heard again and again today--who!?!?!?

RMR posits a variety of plausible theories on the nature of the Bennet appointment by Gov. "Blue Ribbon" Bill Ritter. The reaction from both sides is complete bafflement--both GOP State Chair Dick Wadhams and the folks at ColoradoPols are in the WTF? boat. Other reactions include everything from Bennet as "dark horse superstar" to the harbinger of a new age of political aristocracy in America.

The only constant: that the appointment is risky, especially given the failure rate of appointees to be elected on their own in subsequent elections.

Todd Shepherd of CompleteColorado.com argues that the appointment of Bennet could not have transpired without the blessing of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, widely perceived in recent days to be emerging as the frontrunner among a trio of well-qualified and well-positioned Democrats that included Hickenlooper, former State Rep. and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Rep. Ed Perlmutter-CD7.

Whether or not that is the case, following Ritter's official announcement and confirmation of his appointment, Bennet will face the formidable task of raising his own personal ID and building the apparatus for the statewide election in 2010, or providing a capable caretaking role should this be an unlikely placeholding appointment.

Either way, the state GOP can only be licking their chops at the opportunity provided by the Bennet appointment. Not only will the seat Bennet occupies be a top target simply because of the appointment itself, a mediocre performance by Bennet not only puts the seat more clearly into toss-up territory, but disheartens the Dem base (see the aristocracy and WTF? argument linked earlier) and calls into question Ritter's own executive judgement. By appointing Bennet and not a more qualified/quantifiable Democrat from the deep bench on the left, Ritter has drawn an even bigger target on his own reelection and the Dems in general in the locally focused 2010 elections.

Gov. "Blue Ribbon" Bill Ritter Vows Own Decision On Salazar Replacement By Asking For Your Input

Yesterday, it looked like Gov. Ritter was finally up to the task of making his own decision on who to appoint for open Senate seat left by Sen. Salazar's appointment to Obama's cabinet:

"In the coming days, I will work thoughtfully, deliberately and quickly to identify a successor," Gov. Ritter said. "With the economy in crisis and many other important issues facing the next Congress and the new Obama administration, Colorado must have the best talent at the U.S. Capitol."

But this is Gov. Ritter we're talking about, so of course there will have to be outside input--from all of us:

Gov. Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) wants to hear from you on the topic of who he should select to replace Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colorado). Salazar will be resigning his seat shortly to become the country's next Secretary of the Interior. Colorado law gives Ritter the sole power to select a replacement senator who will then be up for election in 2010.
. . .
The e-mail address for people who want to send in their suggestions is: ussenate.comments@state.co.us.

"He wants to be able to see what people are saying and thinking," said Ritter's communications director, Evan Dreyer, in a telephone interview with 9NEWS. "This is an important position at a very important time in our state's history and in our nation's history. The economic challenges alone are daunting and it's important to Governor Ritter that all people, all across Colorado, have an opportunity to provide their thoughts and opinions."

Governors have been given the power to appoint replacements to the Senate, unlike the need for special elections in open Congressional districts (which we could see if either Rep. Ed Perlmutter or Rep. John Salazar are tapped for Sen. Salazar's seat). The governor will obviously be appointing a Democrat, so who should non-Democrats favor in the short-term going into the 2010 election? In other words, who is the weakest Dem candidate in the field?

Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Official: Salazar At Interior

With an ambitious set of goals:

Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar today was nominated to be Interior secretary by President-elect Barack Obama today.

"I look forward to serving as a strong voice for the West and the nation," Salazar said in his acceptance speech.

"I look forward to serving as we take the moon shot on energy independence," he said.

Salazar said as Interior Secretary he would also, "make sure we make wise use our natural resources, including coal, oil and natural gas."

"I look forward to investing in our nation's young people by implementing Barack Obama's youth programs," Salazar said.

Obama noted that one of the priorities for Salazar's tenure would be improved relations between Washington and tribal nations.

"We need more of a nation-to-nation relationship," Obama said. "Ken and I will work to together to make sure tribal nations have a voice in this administration."

Color fellow RMA blogger Steven Nielson unimpressed on that last goal. We can also expect that "wise use" of natural resources, including the vast quantities of Colorado oil shale, will probably mean "unused"--as the numerous articles discussing Salazar's appointment point repeatedly to his opposition of oil shale exploration and production.

The Rocky posted odds on the most likely replacements--including Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CD-7), and former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.

The GOP sees an opening in 2010 with the Salazar departure, but will still need to figure out who exactly remains viable on the extremely short Republican bench for both Salazar's Senate seat and a run against Gov. Bill Ritter, and how to avoid the type of ineffective campaigning seen most prominently in Bob Beauprez's failed gubernatorial bid in 2006.

Sen. Ken Salazar In At Interior?; **Update: Salazar Accepts

**Update--Denver Post reports that Salazar has accepted the offer, and speculates on the Dems that could line up to replace him:

Names floated as possible successors include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper; U.S. Reps. John Salazar, Ed Perlmutter and Diana DeGette; Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet; outgoing state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff; and former U.S. Attorney Tom Strickland, among others.

A Hickenlooper, DeGette, or Romanoff appointment would mean no trouble for the Democrats, given the skew of Denver, CD-1 or, in Romanoff's case, no seat in question. Appointing Ken's brother John or Perlmutter would open up CD-3 or CD-7 to a hotly contested race. Bennet is less well-known, and Strickland is a two-time Senate loser (to outgoing Sen. Wayne Allard, 1996 and 2002).

Pols offers its own Salazar replacement analysis, arguing the case for Perlmutter or Romanoff.

---

Earlier:
Question mark because he hasn't been publicly offered the position and hasn't, it appears from the sources, formally accepted the offer yet.

From the Rocky:

Sen. Ken Salazar has been offered the position of Interior Secretary in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet and could accept it within a matter of days, sources told the Rocky Mountain News on Monday.

Salazar has long been considered a leading candidate for Interior Secretary, based in part on his past work leading the state Department of Natural Resources.

On Monday, three Democratic sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Salazar had been offered the job, and there were conflicting accounts about whether he had yet officially accepted the position.

Although one source said an announcement was a "done deal," two others said he was still wrestling with a difficult decision as of Monday night.

"He's a very thoughtful guy, and this is a big decision," one source said. "It's a great opportunity, but so is being in the Senate."

Fellow RMAer Rocky Mountain Right has been following the rollercoaster yes-he-is-no-he-isn't for Sen. Salazar's potential appointment to Barack Obama's cabinet.

Was Salazar worried about a possibly difficult primary and general election in 2010?

Should he take up Obama's offer, we should expect Gov. "Blue Ribbon" Bill Ritter to create yet another panel/committee and ask for applications from any and all to be Salazar's replacement. Question to Democrats--is Ritter really capable of making any decision without the assistance of others? You know, actually "governing"?

This also makes the 2010 election a virtual open seat. The competition for the GOP side just ratcheted up a notch, now that the Dems will be without a true incumbent. Looks like another expensive Senate race--and an extra seat for the Dems to defend without the Obama effect to help the ticket.

Secretary Ken--bad for oil shale.

Sen. Ken Salazar Facing Potential Primary Challenge?

Sen. Ken Salazar's probable 2010 campaign has enemies--from within the party.

One of the more principled and less vitriolic statements on Salazar's record at SquareState (debating whether Salazar is "liberal or conservative"):

I won't vote for Salazar at any stage in the 2010 elections. He might not have principles, but I do. Democrats' acceptance of Salazar's voting habits is putting the party before everything else.

That sounds familiar . . .

Will the Democrats actually manage to stage a primary battle against the incumbent, mounting a Netroots-style insurgency? Or will this simply be progressive overreach, as party hard-liners reject Salazar's "centrist" appeal for a more palatable candidate (to Dems and progressives) as a result of what they perceive as Colorado's shift from red to blue?

**Update--civil war in the lefty blogosphere erupts over Salazar

Sen. Ken Salazar Fundraisers A Hot-Button Issue in LA Senate Race

Complete Colorado has the details (you should bookmark this Colorado online news source ASAP!), as Sen. Ken Salazar becomes a campaign issue for Sen. Mary Landrieu against a feisty GOP challenger in John Kennedy.

Colorado Democrat Party State Convention

“We are going to mop the floor with John McCain”--Rep. Diane DeGette, D-Denver

If you're interested in what our friends across the aisle are doing at the Colorado Democrat Party state convention, the folks at Colorado Confidential are team-blogging the event:

Day 1

Day 2

They also have some photos, a roundup of the invited state party bigwigs (Gov. Ritter, Congresswoman DeGette, Rep. Salazar and Sen. Salazar, Senate candidate Rep. Mark Udall, Rep. Perlmutter, and Clinton groupie and campaign manager Terry McAuliffe-stirs a bit of controversy with Clinton vs. Obama speech), and an update on two anti-war protestors arrested for leaving the "Free Speech Zone".

Not My Tribe, the blogging home of one of the arrested protestors, features a local Colorado Springs news bit on the anti-war protestors' plans on using this weekend's festivities as a "dry run" for Denver's Democratic National Convention in August.

There was also a moment of silence in Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-MA) honor.

Other highlighted quotes (via The Rocky Mountain News):

Even before the event opened at 10 a.m. today, the crowd was on its feet as various slogans ran across huge TV screens at the World Arena:

“Right now, Marilyn Musgrave is shopping for moving vans.”

“Right now, Bob Schaffer is still trying to figure out what a Colorado mountain looks like.”

But the loudest whoops and hollers were reserved for this one:

“Right now, Tom Tancredo is serving up his last term in Congress.”

In the Denver County area, three Clinton supporters held up signs that read “Yes” “She” “Will.”

The euphoric atmosphere of the state convention no doubt elicited one of the more interesting comments of the day:

“We are going to mop the floor with John McCain,” promised Rep. Diane DeGette, D-Denver.

Sen. Ken Salazar Calls For "Public Reprimanding" Of Rush Limbaugh Over DNC Riot Comments

"As I read Mr. Limbaugh's comments about riots at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, they appear to me to be a clear exhortation that those riots are exactly what he wants to happen. For that kind of incendiary comment, I ask Clear Channel to reprimand Mr. Limbaugh.

It is wrong to have political partisans of any stipe suggesting that violence is somehow an acceptable outcome of our political conventions"--Sen. Ken Salazar on Rush Limbaugh

From an 850KOA email:

Citing Rush Limbaugh's 'incendiary comments' about a riot in Denver, Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) has called for a public repimanding of the controversial talk show host.

In the letter, addressed to Lee Larsen, Senior VP of the Rocky Mountain Region of Clear Channel Radio, Sen. Salazar complains about what he sees as a 'clear exhortation' of rioting and violence in the streets of Denver in the wake of the Democratic National Convention.

Sen. Salazar will join Dave Logan and Lois Melkonian on The Ride Home at 4:10pm today, make sure to tune in, and come talk about the Rush-troversy in our forums.

850KOA.com Webmaster,
Matthew Quane

Sen. Ken Salazar is on 850koa.com at the moment (listen live at the link). More to come--including archived link. Here is a transcript and audio of Rush Limbaugh's comments from two days ago.

**Update--The full text of the letter (pdf):

Dear Mr. Larsen:

I was disappointed to hear the incendiary comments made this week by Rush Limbaugh, one of the voices on your station. As I read Mr. Limbaugh's comments about riots at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, they appear to me to be a clear exhortation that those riots are exactly what he wants to happen. For that kind of incendiary comment, I ask Clear Channel to reprimand Mr. Limbaugh.

It is wrong to have political partisans of any stipe suggesting that violence is somehow an acceptable outcome of our political conventions. Political commentary on our public airwaves - heard by millions of Americans every day - should speak to the great strength reflected in the peaceful exercise of democracy at the national conventions in Minneapolis, Minesota and Denver, Colorado.

Please call me if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

Ken Salazar,
United States Senator

Given that Sen. Salazar is a Democrat Superdelegate, there is an added dimension to the whole scenario--any potential political violence/riots/disorder will be greatly diminished if the nomination is decided before the Democratic National Convention.

**Update--Sen. Salazar rejects Recreate '68.

The hosts challenged Sen. Salazar on freedom of speech issues and censorship, and whether or not the Senator had actually listened to the comments within the context of the call and Limbaugh's subsequent explanations.

Like all citizens of Colorado, and Denver in particular, no one here wants anything but a rhetorical "war of words" at the convention. We find it interesting that an uncommitted superdelegate would expend efforts to blast Limbaugh instead of asserting some leadership--presumably why he was given the superdelegate status in the first place, on account of the office he held.

Tuesday Colorado Senate Update--U-Turn Udall Breaks Earmarks Pledge

Boy, that didn't last long:

U.S. Rep. Mark Udall on Monday wouldn't agree to extend to the Senate his promise of forgoing requests for special-project funding, or "earmarks," should he win the seat he's campaigning for in November.

"This is a one-year moratorium," Udall spokesman Tara Trujillo said.

A timeout is needed, she said, to review the practice.

"It's not that earmarks are bad, it's that the process for securing them is broken," Trujillo added. "He may go back to securing earmarks if some additional reforms are enacted and if we can make progress on reducing the federal deficit."

Why the flip-flopping?

If Udall wins in November, he will bank his first term and first reelection campaign in 2014 on the amount of "pork" he brings home. This phony 1-year moratorium is just a campaign ploy--and a cheap one at that.

As ToTheRight points out, "A person who thinks they’re bad for only one year, when previously he supported them and in the future he will support them, is a person who isn’t serious about earmark reform."

Agreed.

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For more on Colorado's Senate race:



Nighthorse Campbell Will Remain Neutral In 2008 Senate Race

More Deception From Mark Udall

More Speculation--State Democrats Support Sen. Ken Salazar As Potential VP

With the Democrat National Convention in Denver and the clear desire by Democrats to appeal to voters in the Mountain Time Zone (and combat likely GOP candidate Sen. John McCain's independent appeal), Sen. Ken Salazar's name has surfaced once again as a potential moderate VP candidate for either of the ultra-liberal Democrat frontrunners (especially Sen. Hillary Clinton), with leading Colorado Dems voicing clear support:

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) feels that as vice president, Salazar "would be a strong voice" for major issues facing the Rocky Mountain states, said DeGette spokesperson Kristofer Eisenla.

"She thinks with how important ... those issues are in the Rocky Mountain West, we think (a Salazar vice-presidential nomination) is definitely a possibility," Eisenla said.

U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, is on board, too.

"Mark knows Ken would make an excellent choice, both as a nominee and as Vice President," said Udall campaign spokesperson Taylor West in a statement. "In addition to the judgment and experience he'd bring to the job overall, he'd also be a strong voice for the West and for rural America."

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) is "not surprised that Senator Salazar is on the short list" for Democratic vice-presidental candidates, said Perlmutter spokesperson Leslie Oliver.

"The senator is a very moderate Western Democrat, and (Perlmutter) thinks that the senator would bring solid Western values to the ticket, whoever the (presidential) nominee is," Oliver said.

Sen. Salazar, for his part, would say "yes" if asked by either candidate to join the Dem ticket in November.

VP Salazar?

Hillary Clinton's high negatives in the Rocky Mountain West prompt Sen. Ken Salazar's being mentioned again as a possible vice presidential candidate.

Sen. Salazar Feels Nutroots' Heat For Not Being A "MoveOn" Democrat; Update: 2010 Primary Urged

**Updated and bumped (9/28):

I think the time is NOW to start talking about finding a progressive Democrat primary candidate. Mr. Salazar can't be described as either progressive or Democrat at this point, and there is no reason to think he'll change. He's a name-only Dem. What to do, any ideas? I want to know, because I'll start working now.

Colorado is quite the home for timid, middle-of-the-road Democrats.

---

"Kiss Ass Ken"

The 2008 Senate election is still more than a year away, and already the hard left in Colorado are bailing out on "moderate" Sen. Ken Salazar.

For not being a moron MoveOn Democrat:

Salazar apparently is NOT a MoveOn Democrat.
. . .
bed wetter salazar cowers again
. . .
I feel like Salazar just kicked me in the nuts while I was looking elsewhere and took off like a frightened child.

What a spineless JERK!

What must we do with this sad excuse for a Democrat?
. . .
I would like to remind Sen. Salazar that a majority of Americans (not just liberals) want the troops redeployed from Iraq - the sooner the better. They have expressed this time and time again. When will you and your colleagues hear us and respond appropriately?
. . .
And to think I was actually starting to be bamboozled by his line of bullshit about how he might think about voting to de-fund the war.

Ah well, Senator. What's a few thousand more casualties, when you can enjoy the continued warm fuzzies of "bipartisanship"?

I will not vote for this man again for any office. I will not trust any candidate for President who is ignorant enough to put Salazar on the ticket.
. . .
One more reason to show that "centrism" isn't a principled political position but a strategy: allow other people to set the terms of the debate, then split the difference. Like I've said in other threads, by 2010 when Kiss Ass Ken is up for reelection the real question will be who will do the least damage: (a) a senior senator in the majority party who behaves in a destructive and demoralizing manner (Salazar) or (b) a junior senator from the minority party. At this point I'm thinking (b).

If the moonbats in the "MoveOn" wing of the Democratic Party had any intellectual consistency--or guts, for that matter--they would primary Sen. Salazar in 2010.

Perhaps they could convince one of the Democratic millionaires in the "Gang of Four" to become their champion.

Sen. Ken Salazar Impugns Military Leaders

Sen. Ken Salazar appears to have called our nation's military leaders, including Gen. David Petraeus, untrustworthy and disingenuous:

Asked if he could trust the reports military commanders are giving him, he said, "I think of that question all the time because as you know when you meet with the military commanders they will give you the line that they want you to hear." Salazar said he seeks out lower-ranking soldiers and talks to them in the corner.

You can watch video of the entire satellite feed, but unfortunately the questions are inaudible.

Sen. Ken Salazar On 9NEWS' "Your Show"

Colorado's Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar addresses questions on 9NEWS' "Your Show"--

Part I--Iraq, Pinon Canyon, and Social Security

Part II--renewable energy, immigration and Mexican truckers

Around The Colorado Blogosphere 080407

The Daily Blogster has an update on his deployment, reiterates his sense of duty, explains life at sea, and could some words of encouragement from all of us--go leave some supporting comments!

Best Destiny has an update on adult stem cell advances, and a good way of evaluating Colorado's CSAP scores.

Even with Ward Churchill's departure, CU is still full of radicals.

Ruh-roh--the leftist moonbats at ProgressNow are not happy with the Salazar brothers!

John and Ken need to be given a serious dose of corporeal punishment for their capitulation to the fear mongering, power mad president who believes he is a king. How do the Salazar brothers act when it comes to protecting the Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights? Just like the Blood King Bush treats the Constitution as a "goddamn piece of paper".

There can be no other reason when they both vote for gutting the Fourth Amendment and giving a freehand to a lying president to spy on anyone in America without any judicial oversight.
. . .
Both of them need to see that their donors will not put up with "yes" men to a president that believes Congress and the Courts are there to serve his whims.