Author Archives: ColoradoPeakPolitics

The latest Democrat jumping into the primary race for state Senate District 32 has a criminal record, and he’s proud of it.

Glitter Bomber Peter Smith made his entrance into politics when he was arrested for “throwing a missile” at Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, and tells Colorado Politics that he is still driven by the same passions, but without the glitter.

Smith’s competition to take the seat being vacated by state Sen. Irene Aguilar of Denver because of term limiting includes Robert Rodriguez, Zach Neumann and Lance Wright.
Sounding the siren call of the entitled millennials, Smith says he should be elected because it’s his turn.

“I’m running mainly against a wealthy entrepreneur and an established party insider who is the son of an established party insider,” Smith said, referring to Neumann and Rodriguez, respectively. (Rodriguez is the son of Colorado Democratic Party Deputy 2nd Vice Chair Mannie Rodriguez, a former Democratic national committeeman for Colorado.)

“I think it’s time to turn the page and pass the torch and let a new generation take charge,” Smith added.

After his stint as a glitter bomber at age 20, Smith decided he should be a state Senator after working in the failed campaign of Morgan Carroll against Mike Coffman for Congress.

Democrats including Gov. Hickenlooper are criticizing for Republicans for writing health care legislation behind closed doors. Not because they believe in transparency, they are accusing Republicans of being hypocrites because the GOP criticized Democrats for crafting Obamacare behind closed doors.

But here’s what’s really ironic.

Republicans weren’t upset because some legislative aide at a computer was not put on public display while actually typing up the law, it was why Democrats were being secretive.

Remember MIT Professor Jonathan Gruber who was promoting Obamacare for the administration

In the first, most widely publicized video, taken at a panel discussion about the ACA at the University of Pennsylvania in October 2013, Gruber said the bill was deliberately written “in a tortured way” to disguise the fact that it creates a system by which “healthy people pay in and sick people get money”. He said this obfuscation was needed due to “the stupidity of the American voter” in ensuring the bill’s passage. Gruber said the bill’s inherent “lack of transparency is a huge political advantage” in selling it.

Remember when Democrats refused to let Republicans actually read the bill before voting on it?

Hickenlooper seems to have completely forgotten about that when he criticized Republicans this week. Or he’s just nervous that Republicans act like Democrats.

Jason Crow

Last night’s stunning loss by Democrat Jon Ossoff in Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District does not bode well for Democrat Jason Crow in Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District. Neither Ossoff nor Crow live in the districts they hope or hoped to represent. Like Crow, Ossoff downplayed the fact that he doesn’t live in the district and couldn’t vote for himself. From the Washington Free Beacon:

“Ossoff has downplayed his inability to vote for himself, saying that he lives just ‘down the street’ from the district. When his campaign was told by volunteers that a big voter concern was that he didn’t live in the district, it directed them to say that ‘he lives three blocks away from the district.'”

The Free Beacon also found that Ossoff doesn’t live a mere three blocks from GA-6, but six miles and it took the reporter two hours to walk into the district.

But where Ossoff lives is now the least of the Democratic Party’s problems. This was the most expensive House race in history, with an estimated $30 million spent by Ossoff or on his behalf and $18 million spent by Handel or on her behalf. That means that Democrats (largely out of state) spent almost twice as much as Republicans did to end up with a nearly four-point loss.

Even worse, in the New York Times‘ election coverage, in which all their political reporters and editors were salivating at the idea of a referendum on President Trump’s agenda, deputy editor Jonathan Weisman said this:

“If Handel wins by more than two percentage points, I think Democrats will in fact be pretty demoralized. There are A LOT of districts that are closer than Georgia’s Sixth, but they will still be asking, man, what do we have to do?”

Yes, demoralizing.

But here’s the worst part. With such a so-called righteous and so-called compelling message for the people (allegedly), why can’t Democrats find a candidate to run within the boundaries of these districts. Is the Democratic bench that shallow?

As soon as we read that Enron hedge funder John Arnold and his wife Laura were paying for a $4.5 million lab at the University of Denver to study good government, we had to ask – what’s in it for Democrats? The grant is technically from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and will pay for the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise at DU. The purpose of the so-called lab, according to Colorado Politics:

“The government research partnership will help state official more fully evaluate policies and come up with ways to improve existing programs, as well as other new ways to benefit Coloradans, according to the governor’s office.”

So, this is an extension of Governor Hickenlooper’s TBD? Either way, if the Arnolds are involved, there must be a liberal campaign angle.

Over the past few years, Arnold and his wife have given over $500,000 to liberal causes here, which includes $300,000 to the pro-Amendment 66 campaign and $150,000 given to the despicable Mainstream Colorado, which reached a new low by using the murder of Jessica Ridgeway to score political points. Nationally, the Arnolds have funded some exceptionally liberal projects, including:

• $200,000 to uber-liberal Wendy Davis‘ gubernatorial sacrifice (she lost by 20 points to the Republican candidate)
• $2 million to ProPublica, which is a left-leaning media organization
• Up to $5 million to each of the following organizations: ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
• $117,800 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (compared to about $1,100 to all Republican Party organizations in total)
• Arnold donated an amazing $1.5 million to support an effort to change the primary electoral system in Oregon to the top two vote getters in each election.
• Up to $100,000 each to NARAL, Obama Victory Fund, and Kick the Can Telluride (a local soda tax – so odd for a libertarian to support?)
• Up to $50,000 each to the Colorado Coordinated Campaign, and the Democratic National Committee
• Up to $50,000 each to an assortment of left wing political candidates, including Annise Parker (the Houston Mayor on a witch hunt against pastors who disagreed with her), Rahm Emanuel (Obama’s former Chief of Staff), and more.

This is a project worth keeping an eye on PeakNation™. Seems less good government and just more government, period.

We don’t blame Republicans for being a little cautious after last week’s shooting at the GOP congressional baseball team practice by a former Bernie Sanders volunteer.

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton has moved his town hall to the telephone for a conference call with constituents on June 26.

“I think last week was a big wake-up call for members,” said Tipton spokeswoman Liz Payne. “I’m not sure if Capitol police have warned members against in-person town hall meetings, though. As of now we haven’t altered our plans for future meetings, but I think all offices are paying more attention to their security needs in the district.”

Before Democrats start accusing Tipton of using the tragic shooting to avoid town halls, we will remind in advance that Tipton has been holding public town halls this year, and even showed up at the faux town hall meeting staged by national Democratic activists in a failed attempt to shame him.

Democrats’ own Jared Polis used Reddit to announce his candidacy for governor last week, before the shooting.

It’s only wise that Republicans take extra precautions for now, until Democrats tone down their violent rhetoric.

We respect a Denver dad’s dilemma to get kids off the cell phones and back into the real world, but a ballot measure making it illegal for parents to buy phones for their kids is not the answer.

Maybe it’s because this dad is a doctor that he thinks that moms and pops in Colorado can afford to buy expensive smartphones for their kids younger than 13.

Truth be told, most kids are playing with their parent’s cell phone. And those that do own their own are probably at the 13 year mark, and traveling far distances to school, or have other extracurricular activities, and their parents just want to keep in touch.

But the proposed law doesn’t go after parents, it targets retailers.

The ban would require cellphone retailers to ask customers about the age of the primary user of a smartphone and submit monthly reports to the Colorado Department of Revenue on adhering to the requirement.

Retailers who sell a phone for use by a youngster could be fined $500, after a warning.

Ballot supporters will be out in force soon to get the 300,000 signatures needed to make the ballot next year.

Despite the intention, it’s literally nanny government and a terrible idea. We think parents will agree.

OK, so Mike Coffman bears little resemblance to Brad Pitt (sorry Congressman), but it kind of feels like when Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston divorced. Except in Colorado. And among Republicans. This afternoon, power couple U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman issued a joint statement saying that they planned to divorce. Here’s the statement the dual electeds issued, according to a Joey Bunch scoop on Colorado Politics:

“After much soul searching we have made the painful decision to get a divorce. This has been a difficult choice for both of us and we ask our friends and supporters for their understanding. We have a great deal of respect for each other and will remain each other’s strongest supporters in whatever we do in our continued service to the people of Colorado.”

It’s always sad when a staple of the political world comes to an end, and the Coffmans have been together since 2005 – a long-time fixture. But both are ambitious and talented political animals and this should do little to tarnish their shine. Mike Coffman is a leader in U.S. House of Representatives and seems unbeatable as he has defeated Democrats’ prize candidates over and over again without breaking a sweat. Cynthia Coffman is eyeing a gubernatorial run in 2018, according to sources.

Next year will be a big year for both and soon this will be in the rearview mirror.  Who knows – maybe Cynthia will find her Justin Theroux.

Some local officials and a conservation group went to Washington to talk to the government about the Gold King Mine.

We’ll cut to the chase, they went begging for money, not accountability.

According to the Durango Herald, it was La Plata County Commissioner Brad Blake, San Juan Commissioner Scott Fetchenhier, Durango City Councilor Dean Brookie and Ty Churchwell of Trout Unlimited.

Not a word was mentioned in the article about money owed to the affected communities for the actual spill, the EPA’s unfulfilled pledge to take responsibility, the recent inspector general report, or criminal charges.

Nope. All they wanted was to be shown the money to keep the region in Superfund purgatory.

“We wanted to make sure the EPA continued to provide a revenue stream for this particular Superfund,” Brookie said. “It was great to talk to each one of those folks and get a resounding yes.”

It’s shameful really, how quickly some people can forgive and forget, so long as a massive government boondoggle keeps pouring money into their backyard.

In case you thought Democrats were the party of tolerance, we are here to relieve you of that misconception. On Sunday, the Denver GOP walked in the Gay Pride Parade and handed out literature to parade attendees. Sadly, in Cheesman Park, the group was definitely verbally assaulted, potentially physically assaulted, by liberal activists in black masks. Watch the video below – warning, the language may offend your delicate sensibilities, PeakNation.

No clue what she’s saying, but her aggressive actions pretty much say it all. Good thing Republicans actually respect the First Amendment. Here’s what Denver GOP Chairman Jake Viano had to say about the attack, according to Facebook:

“I am deeply saddened by the events that happened this morning at Denver’s pride parade. I would really like to see the American people come together to work in conjunction with all to move this country forward. Republicans and Democrats equally love their country they just have different ideologies. It’s worrisome to see the divisive polarization that is happening in our great country.”

To the best of our knowledge, nobody from the left has condemned the attack. This was a disgusting attempt to intimidate and silence a political party that was peacefully participating in a parade. The fact that neither parade organizers, nor leadership within the LGBTQ community has condemned the attack is disgusting. It’s this willful ignorance about the hate the left spews by its members that provides clearance for the left to attack Republicans.

The left, the event organizers, and the LGBT community that is standing by in silence should be ashamed of itself. If anyone affiliated with the parade or on the left wants to condemn this ugliness, we gladly will update our story.

Who announces a statewide campaign behind closed doors?

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis does, with limited and amusing success.

Polis told the Denver Post he decided to join the race for the gubernatorial candidate of the Democrat Party, then made his official announcement on Reddit.

Yes, that’s a news aggregation site, a compilation and discussion of articles posted elsewhere.

Yes, we also thought Reddit was a thing of the past, but since that’s where all of Polis’s followers live, in the past, turns out it was a perfect fit for him.

Just look at some of the questions posed, and some of his answers:

Q. why does cdot drive snowplows around in june?

Q. Boulder County here. I’m glad to see you are running. My question is, do you think you can manage to not say something stupid every time you open your mouth like Hickenlooper does?

Q. If you were a color combination in MTG, which would you be?
Polis: i used to use a red-black deck

Q: Jared, what are your thoughts on the TV show “South Park”?

Q. Do you have plans should show up at a Rockies game? It’s a good political move.
/r/coloradorockies can help, stop by some time!

Q. Can you make sure John Elway stays the GM of the Broncos?

The next day, Polis took his campaign to Colorado Springs and met with constituents at a grocery store. By most accounts, it looks like about eight people turned out to greet him.

Thank you Colorado Springs!! Great reception for my plan on growing an economy that works for everyone pic.twitter.com/6PLSstL1dG

— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) June 12, 2017

Instead of public functions, we expect to see a lot more of Polis’s campaign run from social media apps on his cell phones. When he’s not too busy playing games.