Gates Throws in the Towel

Well, it looks like it may finally be over. Chris Gates has announced that he is not going to challenge the State Chair Election. See below for the press release.

I actually talked with a representative from the DNC when I was in Washington, DC recently. The rep did a good job of being very neutral and said that no challenge had been submitted at that time. However, I was told that the proxy rules (the key in this dispute) are VERY CLEAR, so I'm not sure why Gates was told that a challenge would have been successful. Sounds a bit sour-grapish to me.

Regardless, I'm sure we'll all be glad to move on.....

Denver, CO - Since the Democratic State Central Committee meeting was held on March 5th I have asked for a verification of the vote in order to remove the shroud of uncertainty that currently taints the election for State Party Chair. Specifically, I have asked that the ballots in the ballot box be cross-referenced with the State Central Committee registration list in order to certify the election's validity. Six members of the State Central Committee who attempted to vote by proxy have raised their concern as to why their votes were not counted that day. (If those proxy votes would have been counted, the result would have been Gates-190 and Waak-187.) Others have raised issues about how proxy votes and alternate votes were counted. Because of all of these uncertainties, US Senator Ken Salazar formally asked Pat Waak to allow an impartial committee to review the vote but she has refused. In a party where secret ballots are officially banned, and where the DNC By-Laws guarantee the right to inspect ballots, it is unsettling that we cannot abide by the party rules and verify the vote.

I have been urged by numerous party leaders and elected officials to move forward with a formal challenge directly to the Democratic National Committee. Throughout my conversations with DNC staff two things have become evident: First, if I were to challenge the election to the DNC I have been advised that my challenge would likely succeed. But second, and more importantly, the challenge process itself would take several months, and would no doubt further divide an already divided party.

Therefore, I have decided that I will not formally challenge the state chair election to the Democratic National Committee. While knowing that my challenge would likely prevail, I fear that challenging the vote would be too great of a hindrance to our party as we prepare for the 2006 elections. In light of our party's historic victories in 2004 it is important to me that the party not be distracted from the opportunities that that await us in 2006. While I have chosen to not challenge this election, I will continue to play an active role in promoting the Democratic Party's agenda both here in Colorado and throughout the nation.

Sanctity of Life - heh

President Bush said we should "err on the side of life" in his posturing over Terri Schiavo. I wish I could believe he meant it.

From AP: Commanders again plead for armored Humvees:

WASHINGTON - "For the fifth time in the past year, U.S. commanders running the war in Iraq have told the Army to send more armored Humvee utility vehicles to protect U.S. troops." (emphasis mine)

Maybe he just forgot to tell Rumsfeld how precious life is. The President is erring, and it's not to the benefit our troops.

The Gazette Luvs Wal-Mart

Boy, the Gazette really luvs Wal-Mart - elitists they are not, and anyone who dares criticize the giant retailer now trying to invade Woodland Park are "parasites that live off the host called capitalism." These parasites include environmentalists, labor unions, and academics. I guess people who want to preserve the environment, people who fight for living wages and health care for workers, and the people who study our society and teach our children have a hidden agenda to "collectivize" our economy. Helpful Hint from the G: they're commies!

Here are the wonderful benefits to society that Wal-Mart gives in which the G can find no fault:

• unfettered free trade (translation: $147 billion trade debt with China)
  
• union free work place (translation: low wages and workers forced onto Medicare)
  
• 100,000 square foot box architecture reduces "sprawl". (At least they have a sense of humor - one of those will look great in Woodland Park!)
  

Call it communism if you want, but the desire to keep local businesses alive and their profits here in Colorado is a worthy goal. The school yard insults and disdain for the middle class that the Gazette exhibits is getting old. If being a Wal-Mart greeter at poverty wages with no health care is such an awesome job, the Gazette's editorial writer should take it, and experience the power of unfettered capitalism firsthand. Oh, and don't complain to the Gazette, or the Walton family, they don't care.

Republicans divided among themselves.

NYTimes.com > Washington
Frist Isn't Following Republicans on Criticism of Judges
By CARL HULSE
Published: April 6, 2005

WASHINGTON, April 5 - The struggle over the relationship between Congress and the courts intensified on Tuesday as Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, broke with fellow Republicans calling for new judicial accountability after Terri Schiavo's death. Democrats accused Republicans of undermining the separation of powers.

Disagreeing with Representative Tom DeLay, the Texas Republican who is the House majority leader, Dr. Frist said he saw no need to examine why federal judges chose not to intervene in Ms. Schiavo's case after Congress had passed an emergency law that let them do so.

"I believe we have a fair and independent judiciary today," said Dr. Frist, who declined to comment directly on Mr. DeLay. "I respect that."

Dr. Frist, of Tennessee, moved quickly to separate the emotionally charged case of Ms. Schiavo from the politically charged possibility of a showdown over Democratic filibusters against President Bush's judicial nominees. Opponents are linking the two, calling them examples of how Republicans, stymied by resistance, take extreme steps to advance their ideology. That tie could complicate Dr. Frist's push to change Senate rules.

The Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said the Republicans were guilty of an "arrogancy of power."

"The Republican legislative leaders in Congress have forgotten what our Constitution's all about," Mr. Reid said. "If they don't get what they want, they attack who's ever around. Now they're after the courts."

Mr. Reid cited Mr. DeLay's comments last week that suggested potential retribution against the judges, as well as a speech on Monday by Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas and a former state judge. In his remarks on the Senate floor, Mr. Cornyn said he wondered whether recent court-related violence could be connected to public frustration with an unaccountable judiciary.

On Tuesday, Mr. Cornyn said that he did not share Mr. DeLay's view on examining the judges and that his own comments were being misconstrued for political reasons. He also said judges should expect to have their work scrutinized.

"I don't think the judiciary is immune from criticism when they decide cases in a way that reflects more of an ideology or political agenda," Mr. Cornyn said.

Democrats condemned Mr. Cornyn's comments, coupling them with Mr. DeLay's, and said Republicans were determined to curb the independence of the judiciary...

"The presumption that somehow we are going to threaten judges or demand certain outcomes from judges is antithetical to a free people under law," said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House.

If you Are In District 1, VOTE Today!

It's Election Day - get your buns in gear! You want the dish? One grrl's servin' it here*:

Candidates for the office of Councilmember District 1

Incumbent: Scott Hente (a developer backed by the CS developers' interests. They already control most of the City Council, and get huge gulps of your tax and utility dollars as a result.)

2760 Brogans Bluff Dr.,
Colo. Springs, 80919
593-0942  599-3770  slamhente@adelphia.net

Challenger: Al Brody (you've probably seen him riding his bike everywhere in downtown CS. Sometimes he rides a tandem with his wife, Tamara. Retired USAF LTCOL, but green-oriented and very active in good deed groups in the community. He actually believes in open spaces and livable cities. Will he give away our water to the developers and raise our rates in exchange for campaign dollars? Naaaw, he has very few campaign dollars and what there is doesn't come from the developers.)

978 Allegheny Dr.,
Colo. Springs, 80919  266-6846     info@electalbrody.com
www.electalbrody.com

*That means, nobody else on this site is responsible for me saying what I think about these two public personages running for office.

From the Colorado Springs Independent, "Developers again fill the election till" ( http://www.csindy.com/csindy/2005-03-24/news4.html ):

"Early voting for the April 5 election began Monday. Seven candidates are running for four open seats. In addition to Heimlicher, Councilman Darryl Glenn is running unopposed in District 2. Council members Scott Hente and Margaret Radford face challengers in Districts 1 and 4, respectively."

"Five candidates have raised a combined total of more than $40,000, according to campaign-finance disclosures filed at the city clerk's office. The money goes toward billboards, yard signs, mailings and schmoozers -- all meant to attract the attention of voters and establish name recognition."

"The amount contributed by developers and related special interests constitutes at least 40 percent of the total campaign money in the election. This year, as was the case two years ago, the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs is so far the single biggest contributor, giving a total of $7,500 to Heimlicher, Glenn and Hente."

The New York Times > Editorial: Moralists at the Pharmacy

The New York Times > Opinion > Editorial: Moralists at the Pharmacy:

"Scattered reports suggest that a growing number of pharmacists around the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives or morning-after birth control pills because of moral or religious objections. Although the refusals are cast as important matters of conscience for self-described 'pro-life' pharmacists, they have the pernicious effect of delaying, and sometimes even denying, a woman's access to medications that may be urgently needed. This is an intolerable abuse of power by pharmacists who have no business forcing their own moral or ethical views onto customers who may not share them. Any pharmacist who cannot dispense medicines lawfully prescribed by a doctor should find another line of work."

None less than the editorial board of the NYT is echoing my call. I must say they are rather soft in reality, they point out the hazards of going down this road and say these pharmacists are in the wrong line of work, but they do not call for the revoking of their license to practice as I do. This is a problem I have with progressives at the moment, they are too gentle. While the regressives are out in full force proposing ludicrous and radical bills and getting away with it, the progressives cower and simply say that is a bad idea and we shouldn't do that.

It is like the same sex marriage issue. We watch as state after state gets an amendment through initiative that prohibits the consideration of same sex marriage. The progressives oppose these amendments, but where are they putting initiatives on that would actually promote equal marriage rights. Progressives seem too scared to lead strongly in promoting progressive views, instead seemingly waiting for the courts to hold back the unconstitutional onslaught or the regressives. While we for the moment can trust the judiciary to keep things somewhat sane, we must not rely on them for progress, even if it isn't activism as the right claims, there is much more power in creating change through the legislative/initiative process.