Presidential wannabe and sometimes Colorado Senator Michael Bennet has egg on his face after convincing his fellow Democratic candidates to join him in a letter to try and oust BLM acting director William Perry Pendley.
Bennet’s blunder came right after the Western Slope celebrated the official move of the Washington agency to Grand Junction during Club 20’s recent fall meeting.
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner was there, so was the Interior Secretary himself, David Bernhardt.
Hell, even Gov Polis made it this time.
But Bennet skipped the big Colorado event because he’s forgotten he still represents us.
Bennet’s too busy trying to land the veep spot, maybe secretary of education —whatever the consolation prize would be for a presidential candidate who’s polling average is 0.8%.
And that’s a big IF a Democrat won the 2020 presidential election.
Bennet managed to convince two of his presidential opponents to sign the letter with him — U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris.
What were they thinking asking a true westerner like Bernhardt to fire a legendary westerner who has a record fighting for everything that is important to us?
It’s true Pendley opposed abuses of endangered species laws used to hurt farmers and ranchers, and the wild misuse of the Antiquities Act to stop energy development.
And let’s not forget Pendley’s defense of western liberties in the long-forgotten War on the West and Sagebrush Rebellion.
Westerners used to be proud of their heritage and they fought for it. They didn’t give in to political whims of the desirable spoiled voter bracket of 18 to 34 year olds.
And neither did Bernhardt.
He told the Senators to pound sand, and extended Pendley’s tenure with the agency.
With the agency’s move to Colorado, now is not the time to play politics with leadership.
If Bennet were a true westerner, he would know that.