Posted by
NOTLEGALROADKILLYET on Sunday, August 20, 2006 8:08:23 PM
Alex McClure made an interesting comment in Wizbang Politics that Colorado was drifting to the left.
My gut feeling is that is not true. Colorado is, and will remain for some time a Republican state, at least as far as a majority of the voters are concerned. It should reliably deliver two Republican Senators, five Republican Representatives, Republican majorities in both houses of the legislature, and a Republican Governor, as well as Republicans in the lesser offices.
That isn't happening for several reasons:
1. There are four Democratic Billionaires who are making a mockery of campaign finance with their 527 funding, usually at the last minute.
2. The the Republicans allowed a "Campaign Finance Reform" initiative to pass that they didn't understand, and which was designed not to take money out of politics, but to take Republican money out of politics. (One of the reasons I am, and will be making a pitch for out of state folks sending funds to Beauprez is that in state Republicans have no chance to keep up with the Dems)
3. I'd like to report that the Republican party is well disciplined in Colorado. Party discipline broke down when Coors ran and certain segments of the party undervoted Republican. If my summer's phone calls are any indication, many remain proud of withholding their vote. I think they believe they will see a more acceptable Republican candidate in 2010 and will beat Salazar then. My guess is that they will be calling Salazar "Senator" for decades, and that he will be actively opposing conservative judges when the Senate is more evenly balanced. Call me a cynic.
4. Colorado has an unusual reapportionment system that allows the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court to shift the balance of power. She is a partisan Democrat, and always tries to shift the balance toward the Dems. In 2002, she succeeded. For example, Colorado Springs is so Republican that it should not have any Democratic Representatives. I live in an 80% majority district. Believe it or not, the Dems found a way to selectively carve precincts in the central part of the Springs to create a marginally Democratic district. (One of the major reasons I began this blog is to draw attention to unethical conduct by judges and justices. It may not unethical legally, but it is morally unethical for a Chief Justice to do what ours has done. It takes time and consecutive wins by Republican governor candidates to replace enough Justices to turn out a Chief Justice, who is elected by her peers.)
5. The business community: Rather than vigorously supporting Beauprez, it is buying off the Dems. The Democratic Legislative leaders went out of their way to appear "moderate" because their hold on power is quite tenuous. If the Dems can consolidate their power, win the governorship to appoint replacement justices, and keep the legislature, the party will quickly drop the moderate mask. I can see a California like business atmosphere in Colorado in ten or fifteen years if Beauprez loses. I can see Colorado sending two Dem Senators and 5 Dem house members to Congress through 2022 and perhaps 2032.
I cannot overly stress the importance of a Beauprez win, and the importance of him receiving funds from concerned Republicans outside Colorado.
If you can send a check for up to $1,000, make it out to Beauprez for Governor, and if over $199, include your employer's name and address and your occupation. Send it to Beauprez for Governor, 5555 DTC Parkway, Suite B3000, Dept MO, Englewood, CO 80111.
Once again: This is my blog. These are my opinions. No one in the Beauprez campaign knows that this post exists, and I am not sure anyone knows the blog exists, let alone having had an opportunity to approve it.