Commentary

A new party for Colorado

All this bloviating about the future of the Republican Party and how it should reinvent itself reminds me of a family finally acknowledging that an aged relative has crossed the bar into dottiness: What should we do with the Grand Old Party?

50,000 Watts of Hate: Calling out Colorado’s radioactive talk radio

A cynic could argue that the invective sputtered on right wing talk radio is simply entertaining shtick designed to create controversy that attracts listeners and advertisers. Yet to hear the noxious rantings of those most targeted on the AM dial — women, lesbians and gay men — is especially disturbing in context of the 2008 election cycle that broke race, sex and gender barriers on both sides of the political spectrum.

Obama the visionary minimalist

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help and I will be your president too.”

Obama’s T-shirt offer a mad election capper

Ack! It hasn’t even been a week since the election polls closed, and Barack Obama’s people are already asking for more money. And they won! The latest arrived in my inbox on Monday, asking for 30 bucks for a “commemorative 2008 Victory T-shirt.”

Obama shows us where we’re headed, where we’ve been

Whether you’re Democrat, Republican or Mugwump, you look at Tuesday night’s remarkable election results and the nationwide reaction and can’t help but wonder at how far our young country has come — and, at the same time, how long it’s taken.

Why a misinformed election worker kicked me out of the polls

Colorado voters had a relatively smooth ride in the polling places on Tuesday. But not so for this reporter. I was ejected from a Ruby Hill voting site in Denver, with one election worker threatening to call the police. Why? Because I was trying to do my job.

Dick Wadhams and the politics of mouthwash

Two things jump to mind when thinking about the outcome of the Colorado vote:

1. Rep. Doug Lamborn — two years ago a freshman trying to find the Capitol bathroom — is now the Dean of Colorado’s Republican delegation in Washington.

2. Dick Wadhams’ threat to shove a bunch of 30-second ads up Democrat Mark Udall’s ass over a missed vote might just have marked the Macaca moment of his failed effort to get his old pal Bob Schaffer elected to the United States Senate. Such trashy talk underscores what went so utterly wrong for Republicans in Colorado on Tuesday.

Election Day resources for voters

Having trouble at the polls? Election experts are standing-by to help. Click on the images to directly connect to election checklists, polling place finders, voter guides, legal assistance and poll video sites.

The view from inside a campaign

Tomorrow people across the country will go to the polls and select the next cadre of leaders for our great nation. As a former campaign junkie — I’ve worked as Communications Director on two congressional and two gubernatorial races, as well as odd jobs on every election since 1998 — I thought I’d offer my insight into the final days of a campaign from a staffer’s perspective. We’re a rather neurotic group, so it ain’t pretty, but from my experience here’s what happens.

Wadhams lowers expectations

Colorado Republican Chairman Dick Wadhams has pre-emptively conceded both houses of the state Legislature to the Democrats in what looks like an effort to drastically lower expectations for Election Day Tuesday. Leading off a Thursday interview with Channel 4, Wadhams said of his party’s chances this year: “We’ve recruited some great candidates … and I’m very optimistic about our chances. I don’t believe we will win either house.” Instead he said the goal has always been to “win control in 2010.”