Denver, Colorado & The West: December 2003 Archives

Good mayor!

These days, you can find Hickenlooper, his security detail and his staff tooling around in a white hybrid-electric Toyota Prius, a low-emission vehicle that has been known to get more than 50 miles per gallon.

And although it's a small car, Hickenlooper - at 6-foot-1 ½ - and his staff have made do just fine.

"We all squeeze into it," said Hickenlooper's spokeswoman, Lindy Eichenbaum Lent. "It's amazing how many people you can squeeze into a Prius if you put your mind to it."

I'll have more to say on Mike Miles in the coming months I imagine but in the meantime, with Mark Udall bowing out of the race for Campbell's Senate seat, Mike Miles looks to be inheriting some establishment support.

Colorado's Democrats are learning to love Mike Miles.

No big-name Democratic insider has yet accepted the formidable challenge of sending U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Ignacio, into retirement in the 2004 election.

But Miles, an outsider, has been running hard for more than two years, and formally announced his candidacy last summer. He's traveled all over the state, raised $100,000 - in small donations from folks who know him, or have gotten to know him - and has slowly earned the regard of the party establishment.

"I'm nobody, and I am everyman. I'm an ordinary guy with some extraordinary experiences," Miles says. "I have no currency except for heart and honor."

In an era that's brought us Howard Dean, Governor Schwarzenegger and Mayor Hickenlooper, is Senator Miles such a far-fetched dream?

Christopher Gates, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, now ranks Miles on his list of credible challengers, on the strength of his grassroots campaign.

When Rep. Mark Udall, D-Boulder, announced last week he would not run against Campbell, he urged skeptical reporters to consider Miles a serious candidate, with a compelling biographical story.

I'm back out West and easing my way back into blogging while working on some year-end cleaning projects. I don't expect to do much posting until the New Year, but I spotted this article in the Post today and my Hicken-philia required pointing readers to it.

The Hickenlooper appointees are crusaders armed with calculators, neo-liberals with new ideas for running city government, policy wonks scrawling action plans on white boards. In a few cases, they are the millionaires next door.

Stan!

You're damn right

(Sorry, I just couldn't resist. The picture accompanies an article in the Post about Kroenke's plans for a Denver regional sports network to televise his empire)

The Denver Post has its yearly critics roundup of Best Of's. I particularly enjoyed the local music insights of Ricardo Baca and Bret Saunders and thought you might also. Local bands I've been meaning to check out: Mr Pacman, Devotchka, Dressy Bessy and George&Caplin.

Expanding a bit on the map I mentioned yesterday, here's an interesting conclusion drawn by the author.

El Norte presents the greatest potential for the Democrats to pick up electoral votes.

Of all 10 regions, EL NORTE presents the greatest potential for the Democrats to pick up electoral votes in 2004. It's also the only region carried by Gore that has above-average population growth, meaning that the Democrats can win several states by stepping up get-out-the-vote efforts. Florida is the most obvious target, and Miami-Dade County is where the Democrats are most in need of improvement. Gore won only 53 percent there, compared with 67 percent in next-door Broward County. One could make the case that Elian Gonzalez, the young refugee whom the US government sent back to his father in Cuba, cost Gore the election, since the only two congressional districts in Florida where he ran significantly behind Clinton's 1996 percentages included heavily Cuban-American sections of Miami. Still, the county is by no means predictably conservative. In 2002, a referendum proposal to reduce class sizes in Florida passed Miami-Dade with 68 percent, compared with only 52 percent statewide. The Democrats probably can't win Florida without also paying attention to the Southern Lowlands region (see below), but strengthening its base among the state's fast-growing Latino population is a good long-term strategy.

In the west, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada, are all split between the El Norte and Sagebrush regions, and every one went for Bush by 50 or 51 percent in the last election, putting them within reach for the Democratic nominee. In Arizona, the Democrats must hope for a near-draw in Sagebrush's mammoth Maricopa County (which includes Phoenix and its suburbs) so that El Norte's smaller but much more Democratic Pima County (which includes Tucson) can break the tie.

Similarly, in Colorado the Democrats must hope for a split in Sagebrush's suburban Arapahoe County (home of Littleton, site of the Columbine massacre) so that their margins in El Norte's Denver and Boulder aren't wiped out even before the returns from the state's rural areas come in. As for Nevada, it's all about Las Vegas's Clark County; it's the only county that falls in the El Norte region, but it casts more than 60 percent of the state's votes. Indeed, the Democrats haven't won a majority in any other Nevada county since 1976, so the odds are against them unless their nominee improves on Gore's weak 51 percent there.

While reading an article on Denver's booming indie rock scene, I came across this:

Hi-Dive owner Matt LaBarge isn't sweating the competitive high jinks. The Denver native hopes to avoid it all by changing the programming at his new indie bar, which occupies the old Seven South/Quixote's space at 7 S. Broadway.

Quixotes closed?!

Sure enough, I found this on the Quixotes message boards:

These masterpieces that we draw our inspiration from form the essence of the ballroom. It has culminated from the mistakes of Quixote's True Blue, which trudges along from failure to failure always seeing another grand adventure in the horizon. It is this sense of adventure, however, failable that keeps the spirit churning. And even as Don Quixote is sacrificed so that Cervantes' may prosper we grow closer to that elusive point of time which Bob Dylan holds in front of us like a carrot: "Someday life will be sweet like a rhapsody, when I paint my masterpiece" We are fast approaching that day, but God forbid we ever finish or complete anything because then the carrot will gone.

So thus ends another chapter of Quixote's True Blue, its star has shown brightly and it will shine again, but for now it must be sacrificed for the greater good. Its' force is stronger now and it will only get stronger as its spirit has been transferred into Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom. Quixote's is now imbedded in the fabric of our community as an integral part and it will not soon fade away. Its' physical manifestation may be gone, but its spirit lives on, grows and flourishesin all of us. The force is with you, please help us to continue this dream...

I don't know how I missed this - probably since I don't drive past it every day anymore - but there you go. Poor Quixotes. You were filled with dirty hippies, but I still loved you.

File this little tidbit away for the future.

[Colorado Governor Bill] Owens brought his own copy of Mao's Little Red Book for Sullivan to sign. Seems Owens is a Mao fanatic (he once spent a month studying in China) and has a bust of the guy in his office, along with a bust of Stalin. "I have a corner dedicated to failed Marxists," he told me over the din.

Good news for light rail fans.

RTD has begun the process of annexing the Park Meadows shopping center into the transit agency's tax district.

If successful, the Regional Transportation District's plan will raise the sales tax that Park Meadows shoppers pay, generate millions of dollars in new revenue for the agency and lead to the possibility of direct light-rail access to the mall.

Last month's decision by Lone Tree voters to bring their city into the RTD tax area means the transit district surrounds Park Meadows.

Because of that, RTD can conduct an "enclave annexation" of Park Meadows, RTD General Manager Cal Marsella said.

General Clark introduced us to his Turnaround Plan for America yesterday.

I, Wesley K. Clark, promise to show the leadership to achieve the following five goals by 2008, while reducing the budget deficit each and every year, and to ask the American people to hold me accountable for meeting these goals:

• The typical family's income will increase by $3,000.

• I will put in place policies that will prevent 100,000 premature deaths from environmental causes by 2020.

• 1 million additional students will enroll in higher education.

• 2 million children will be lifted out of poverty, bringing the poverty rate to lowest on record.

• 30 million people who currently lack health insurance will get it.
  

Every President should be held accountable for failing to improve the lives of American families, students, and children. President Bush has failed to lead. I will not. I will hold myself accountable and will provide the leadership and vision that will turn America around and get it moving in the right direction again.

The General will spend each day this week discussing a specific point of his plan. Today, in New Hampshire, he discussed Goal One of his Turnaround Plan: how he plans to improve family income.

Under President Clinton's successful economic strategy, the typical family saw its inflation-adjusted income rise $7,202 in eight years. By turning around President Bush's failed policies and restoring sound economic policies, the American economy will be able to generate the same income growth it achieved in the 1990s. Specifically, Wes Clark proposes:

1. Making job creation job one. Wes Clark has proposed a Job Creation Plan that will take back President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, those making over $200,000 annually, and use the money to jumpstart the economy and create jobs.

2. Restoring fiscal discipline. Wes Clark has proposed a "Savings for America's Future Plan" that will save $2.35 trillion over ten years to reduce the deficit every year and invest in priorities like health care and universal preschool.

3. Promoting economic opportunity for all Americans. Expanding economic opportunity ensures that all Americans will benefit from economic growth. Wes Clark's plans will make preschool universal, make health care more affordable, and invest in education and training.

4. Unleashing the power and ingenuity of America's entrepreneurial spirit. President Bush has supported industry instead of harnessing the power of markets to spur growth, create jobs, protect the environment, and defend the homeland.

5. Creating the conditions for long-run prosperity. Wes Clark's economic strategy is not just about jumpstarting the economy today. He also plans to put in place policies to sustain long-term growth: investments in research and technology, pro-growth tax reform and sustainable energy policies.
   

There's a breakdown of what this plan means to individual states here. Colorado, for example, would gain 18,000 additional college enrollees and 529,146 newly insured. This sounds like an ambitious undertaking, but one that The General is betting his reputation on - something I don't imagine he takes lightly. I'll keep updating as the details of the plan are unveiled this week.

Along the same lines, The General asks us to Imagine an accountable presidency in his new TV ad.

In local Clark news, Keith Trammell over at Colorado For Clark has the first installment of their Grassroots Organizing Manual and Caucus Kit. It has a great collection of information on the Colorado caucuses. While it's oriented towards Clarkies, it is a useful resource for all who are interested in participating. Remember, the 2004 Presidential Primary was cancelled in Colorado, so this is your only chance to have some input on who the Democratic nominee will be.

Lastly, General Clark will be appearing for the full hour tonight at 5 and 9pm Mountain on Hardball with Chris Matthews. This is a very important appearance, so don't miss it!

Bob Ewegen has an entertaining piece on the Post's Editorial page today.

His excuse for appealing Monday's Colorado Supreme Court decision striking down last May's notorious "midnight gerrymander" was as follows: "The issue is whether the people of Colorado will live under laws made by their elected representatives or by unelected judges. We're asking the federal court to clear this up."

OK. Look at that statement again again, then treat it with the respect it deserves. Ready? All together now:

Tee hee. Ha ha ha. Ho ho ho. Har de har har! Ho hoo, har ho, he hee, haargh!

His larger point is that the Republicans didn't really need the gerrymander to hold onto their advantage in the state, but it's the illustrations of Republican hypocritical whinings that I found most amusing. After pointing out that Colorado judges stand for retention in elections after 2 years and that the whiner-in-question above - Senate President John Andrews - was was not elected, but was appointed to fill a empty seat after his predecessor was elected state treasurer, he sums up the situation with this:

So we have an unelected state senator denouncing elected state judges as unelected tyrants. If that's not enough of a knee-slapper, please note that Andrews wants the federal courts to overturn this decision by our elected state judges.

I don't know how to tell you this, Senator, but federal judges ain't elected. They're appointed for life.

Hee.

Two Democrats in the General Assembly are proposing a nonpartisan redistricting commission to put an end to the gerrymandering silliness. The commission would consist of 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats, 2 unaffiliated, and one wild card chosen by those 6. Sounds like a good idea to me. Peter Blake at the Rocky thinks it stands no chance of getting past the legislature, but points out the success some of the groups behind the idea (Colorado Common Cause and the League of Women Voters are mentioned) have had in passing ballot issues. Blake also mentions that some consideration is being given to merging federal redistricting with the already existing Colorado Reapportionment Commission which draws up state House and Senate districts and consists of a combination of elected officials and judicial appointments.

[via Coyote Gulch]

This looks interesting.

Madstone Theaters offer a unique new destination for film lovers. The company strives to create a distinctive, community-oriented cinema experience through varied programming, engaging discussion and collaborative partnerships with local and national organizations. Each Madstone Theater features an array of exciting independent, art and foreign films, gourmet food & drink and a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Karl Rove is crying in his beer today.

In a decision with national implications, the Colorado Supreme Court threw out the state's new congressional districts today, saying the GOP-led Legislature redrew the map in violation of the state constitution.

Lawmakers can redraw congressional districts only after each census and before the ensuing general election, the court said in a closely watched 5-2 decision that followed party lines.

"Because the General Assembly failed to redistrict during this constitutional window, it relinquished its authority to redistrict until after the 2010 census," the court said. "There is no language empowering the General Assembly to redistrict more frequently or at any other time."

The justices chastised the lawmakers for claiming they should be able to redraw the maps "two, or even 10 times in a single decade." "If the districts were to change at the whim of the state Legislature, members of Congress could frequently find their current constituents voting in a different district in subsequent elections," the ruling said.

You can read the opinion here. There's still a federal case pending, but the chances of it being appealed are slim, since it focuses on Colorado constitutional provisions, and states clearly have the right to set redistricting standards. I'm sure there will be more analysis of this decision and it's national implications in the coming days, and if I come across anything interesting I will update.