The Democratic candidate for Senator in Colorado Michael Bennet:

Regarding spending during his time in office [Bennet] said, “We have managed to acquire $13 trillion of debt on our balance sheet” and, “in my view we have nothing to show for it.” Speaking of the debt, he said our debt almost equals the economy. Regarding the current job situation, Bennet said the situation has been dire for over a decade saying, “We have created no net new jobs in the United States since 1998” which were the last two years of the Clinton administration. Pointing to a slide showing budget expenditures, he said that currently 65 percent of the budget was for social security, Medicaid and Medicare expenditures and that we could not grow our way out of debt.

Regarding the expiration of the Bush tax cuts Bennet would not commit to a position on whether to extend them simply saying, “I hope we look at it comprehensively.”

(Emphasis supplied.) Hell of a progressive candidate we got there. Sheesh. Mark this one down in the "who cares if he wins or loses" column. And yes, I expressed support for Bennet in the primary. I regret that support right now.

Speaking for me only

In a very close race, businessman Dan Maes has beat Scott McInnis for the Colorado Republican Gubernatorial election in November. The Post says Tancredo will run against both Maes and Hickenlooper. Best thing that could happen. Maes and Tancredo will split the Republican vote and likable Mayor Hickenlooper will sail to victory.

There could be a required recount in the Maes-McInnis race.

There still remained a possibility the primary may drag through another week. If two candidates finish within the margin of half a percentage point, it triggers an automatic recount in Colorado. A candidate may also request a recount if the margin is larger, but has to pay for it.

At midnight, with 100% reporting, the votes were Dan Maes (196,560) 50.6
Scott McInnis (191, 209) 49.3

Maes "ran as the underdog, the non-establishment candidate, backed by Tea Party supporters but without much money." He explained his platform tonight:

He said that if he becomes govenor, he plans to "eliminate the influence of unions on state employees, stop subsidizing abortions." He added that he also will reverse Gov. Bill Ritter's increase in vehicle registration fees and will "enroll the state in a program that deports illegal alien criminals."

[More...]

Received by e-mail from the Bennet Campaign: Senator Michael Bennet's full speech tonight after his primary win:

Thank You, Colorado!

Aren't we lucky to have Mark Udall representing us in the Senate? Thank you, Mark.

It was just a week ago that the political pundits and Washington odds-makers started to count us out. They didn't think we were negative enough, that the way to win was to shout the loudest and angriest; to spend more time talking about our opponent than talking about what we stand for.

To the pundits and talking heads, I have a simple message: Welcome to Colorado.

[More...]

Update: Gov. Bill Ritter and Sen. Mark Udall are with Sen. Bennet at the Bennet celebration. Sen. Bennet made some gracious comments about Andrew Romanoff. At his election party, Romanoff expressed his support for Bennet and asked his supporters to do the same.

Ken Buck said voters will have a clear choice in November: "between conservative Ken Buck and Liberal Michael Bennet." He said the differences between Buck and Jane Norton were miniscule by comparison. Norton asked her supporters tonight to support Buck.

The Republican gubernatorial primary is still too close to call, between Scott McInnis, recently beset by plagiarism issues, and Dan Maes, the Tea Party-supported candidate. If McInnis wins, Tom Tancredo is waiting in the wings. The Democratic candidate, popular Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, should be shoo-in, particularly if McInnnis and Tancredo are both in the race, splitting Republican voters.

Update: Sen. Bennet's statement to supporters (received by e-mail):[More...]

Hotline on call says the Colorado primary battle between Sen. Michael Bennet and challenger Andrew Romanoff is going down to the wire. Turnout of mail-in ballots is really high -- the only election with higher turnout was 2008 when Obama ran for President.

But the question remains whether Romanoff caught fire soon enough to take advantage of CO's new mail-in only primary system. Ballots reached voters on July 20th, and a record number have already been returned to the CO Sec. of State. Bennet and Romanoff are neck-and-neck in the latest polls, and it's a real toss-up as to who will emerge the victory come Wednesday.

TalkLeft has endorsed Sen. Michael Bennet due to Romanoff's poor record on crime issues. I also think Bennet has a greater chance of beating the Republicans state-wide in November. But either would be far superior to the Republican choices. If you didn't mail in your ballot, please drop it off at a service center today. For Denver locations, go here.

In Colorado, it has been really hard for dispensary owners to get and keep a bank account. They don't want the business, fearing the tension between between state and federal law with federal law declaring all marijuana is illegal.

Wells Fargo was about the only one to buck the trend. According to the Denver Post, that's now changing. While it stopped accepting new accounts a while ago, this week it sent out letters to existing customers with dispensary businesses saying they needed to find another bank as it would be closing their accounts as well.

"It's based really on the complex and inconsistent legal environment across the country related to medical-marijuana dispensaries," said Wells Fargo spokeswoman Cristie Drumm.

Unless something is done, this will force the dispensaries to operate cash-only businesses, which is what states like Colorado, which have spent months drafting regulations for the businesses, are trying to avoid.[More...]

The Senate has confirmed the confirmation of John Walsh for U.S. Attorney in Colorado.

As I wrote here, it will be interesting to see what changes he makes in leadership positions within the office.

I've been following the Aspen Sheriff's race and rooting for Deputy Sheriff Joe Di Salvo, who has promised to continue the policies of long-time and much beloved Sheriff Bob Braudis, who is retiring. Last week I wrote about the candidates' debate on undercover activity in the county (DiSalvo, like Braudis, opposes it, saying it fosters mistrust in the community.)

Last night, the three candidates faced the local media for what is called "Squirm Night." It's just what it sounds like: the candidates are asked questions that might make them squirm.

What came out: Two of the three had been arrested, and all three had used illegal drugs, although one couldn't remember the last time and a second only admitted to smoking pot in Amsterdam six years ago. I think DiSalvo gave the most honest answer. He gave no excuses (like "it was legal where I did it" or "I can't remember") and said simply, "1984." [More...]

Charlie Sheen and the Prosecutor's Office have been working all month at arriving at a new plea agreement in his domestic violence case from Christmas.

Given the press release sent to the media by the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office (see below), it seems Monday is the day all will be resolved.

Charlie, wisely for someone with his background, had been trying to stay off probation. He offered to do 30 days in the Pitkin County Jail in Aspen on work release as a sentnce to the misdemeanor he would be pleading guilty to. That fell apart.

Reportedly, Charlie is now willing to do probation, as he wants more parenting time with his kids and to get back to work at his TV show.[More...]

Bump and Update: Tom Tancredo has announced he's running for Governor. NPR asks, "Can You Say Governor Hickenlooper?"

Original Post (Sun Jul 25, 2010 at 08:19:34pm)

Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo has given an ultimatum to Scott McInniss and Dan Maes: Either exit the Governor's race by noon Monday, or he'll run as a third party candidate for the American Constitution Party. He says his goal it to prevent Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, from winning. [More...]

Back in 2004, we reported on Thomas Mink, a student at the University of Northern Colorado who had his residence searched and computer seized following the publication of an online satirical editorial related to a professor. Charges were never filed. The search warrant was found to be invalid.

The case has gone back and forth through the courts regarding whether the prosecutors were immune from civil liability in lawsuit for violating his civil rights. Yesterday, he won another round.

The trial court had dismissed his case as to the prosecutor, and he appealed. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday issued an opinion, available here, reinstating his Section 1983 lawsuit against the former District Attorney who approved the search. [More...]

Via the Denver Post, The Hasan Foundation has issued a press release stating since Scott McInnis didn't perform the work he agreed to do and since he has admitted his work wasn't fully original, it is requesting he return the $300,000 it paid him.

McInnis says he has agreed to repay them.

"I apologized to the Hasans for this mistake, and I expressed my determination to make it right with my dear friends," the statement read. "I will be in contact with the Hasan family to make full payment arrangements."

McInnis insists he's staying in the Colorado Governor's race.

Since he's canceled a few campaign appearances, sounds like he's hoping this will blow over if he just lays low for a while. Meanwhile, he's losing support among Republicans, who seem to prefer Tom Tancredo

Update: For a good wrap-up of the day's events, see McJoan at Daily Kos.