Hey Eli, did you take note? This is what a real interview looks like. Kurtis Lee at The Denver Post finally got his shot at Gov. John Hickenlooper, and he didn’t miss. We can now see why Hickenlooper didn’t want to start with The Post. As Lee’s article clearly illustrates, Hickenlooper just really doesn’t have any good answers for his performance with the Colorado sheriffs:
“We’re better served looking forward rather than looking back,” said Hicklenlooper…
… But questions have remained since his June 13 comments to a group of mostly Republican sheriffs… [the Peak emphasis]
That’s reporter-speak for “you ducked my questions.”
Hickenlooper also noted at the meeting with sheriffs that because a staffer “made a commitment,” he felt compelled to sign the magazine limit.
“Yes, under my instruction,” Hickenlooper told The Post in regard to the staffer’s commitment. Still, the governor, when pressed for details, declined to offer a name and said he did not remember who received the commitment. Both state Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, the bill’s prime sponsor, and House leadership said no commitment was ever made. [the Peak emphasis]
Let’s try to unwind that logic there: Hickenlooper felt compelled to sign a piece of legislation because a staffer (still unnamed) made a commitment to someone (still unknown) somewhere at some time (both also unknown) that Hickenlooper would sign the legislation, but only because Hickenlooper told that staffer to do so; only, he can’t remember which one now. You say that village burned itself to the ground Mr. Viking? Well, we would doubt it, but if you say so, seems legit to us.
Sadly for Hick, Lee ain’t no TV reporter. Lee just isn’t buying any of it:
Moreover, Hickenlooper hasn’t provided details on his assertion to the sheriffs that he only learned after he signed the bill that “roughly 300,000 magazines that carried more than 15 rounds” were already in Colorado. Opponents of the proposal, including County Sheriffs of Colorado, widely voiced concerns over enforcement of the law. Also, Magpul, an Erie-based manufacturer of high-capacity magazines, vowed to leave the state if the law was enacted. [the Peak emphasis]
How novel, actually wanting a politician to back-up the assertions they make.
In a June 20 interview with Fox 31 Denver, Hickenlooper said he was being “candid” when he spoke to the sheriffs and that he didn’t know he was being recorded.
“I think I’m candid all the time,” he told The Post… [the Peak emphasis]
“…Except now, when I wouldn’t tell you about that staff member I threw under the bus, because to be candid would be sharing that with you. So, when I said ‘all the time,’ I meant not really ‘all the time.’ And when I said ‘candid,’ I meant not really candid whatsoever.” So concludes the Peak‘s lesson in Hick-speak 101.
You want to see how Hick really knows he’s in trouble?
And to his critics who have assailed the governor as wishy-washy…
“I think our record speaks for itself in a variety of ways. We had a flood, and two days after the flood, we made a commitment we would get every road open before Dec.1,”
Yep, PeakNation™, that was a pivot! Classic politician in crisis 101: if the topic isn’t good for you, try to pivot to one that is. What the government’s response has to do with guns or Hickenlooper’s comments to the sheriffs, we haven’t a clue. But, maybe the unnamed staffer could explain it to us if we could ever track her down.
And that Eli, is how real reporters do their job.