Salazar and DeGette

[AllyCat]

Just got my college bulletin and saw the report of Ken's election to the Senate (which I knew), but also that Diana DeGette was elected to the House. I haven't lived in CO in 15 years, but don't remember her. Has she been there awhile? The article says she is an advocate for stem cell research. Anything else we CO lurkers should know about her?

Looks like other alums are Marcia Johnson for Denver city council and Richard Skorman for Colo. Spgs. vice mayor. Does not say party for either...info? Anyone? I'd be stunned if the CS vice mayor was a Dem. Loved my school. Hated that town. Sorry if that offends anyone.

[donheld]

1. Diana Degette

was elected to the house in 1996 i believe replacing the beloved Pat Schroeder. She's kind of weak, but she's a democrat.

[paulk]

2. DeGette's voting record is one the most liberal in the House

but - like Donheld said - she's kind of a weak personality. Not a very good speaker - I'd really like to see her replaced with a more dynamic candidate.

[CODem]

4. DeGette is a leader

A weak personality? Did you see her rip into the Enron and Qwest executives at the corporate responsibility hearings? It was a beauty to behold.

Not a very good speaker? She gave a rousing speech on stem cell research at the Democratic Convention. Did you see her speech (covered in the Washington Post) attacking the Allard/Musgrave gay marriage amendment? Plus her recent speech on bioethics at Fordham was very well received. DeGette is the best speaker in the delegation and one of the few national-caliber Members of Congress from the West.

Why would you want to replace a member of the Democratic leadership (she's a Chief Deputy Whip) with a rookie?

Colorado's First C.D. is fortunate to have such a strong Democratic representative.

[paulk]

5. I would love to replace DeGette with someone who has more fire

and the times I have heard her speak in commitee on C-span I have been underwhelmed.

Sorry. I just don't agree.

[CODem]

6. Who you suggest?

I would be curious to learn which Denver Democrats you would support over Rep. DeGette (not that she faces any risk of losing in a primary).

[paulk]

8. I'm not interested in arguing with you

I'm sorry if I gored your ox -

[gingergreen]

3. Diana is a strong environmentalist

and passed the Wilderness Act of 2003 calling for more wilderness areas than any other senator.

I have lived in CO for 20 years and she is my favorite Dem in CO ever.

Check out her site:

http://www.house.gov/degette/about/index.html

Not sure about the others.

[AllyCat]

7. WTF was up with Salazar today???

He went on and on and on about the atrocities and lies of this administration and then said that because Rice was educated in Colorado, she should be confirmed? I was floored. I thought for sure he was going to oppose her.

[El Supremo]

9. I heard that "educated in Colorado" part too.

But missed the beginning. I can't wait to read it in the paper tomorrow. Salazar does not seem to be starting off very well for for the liberal Democrats who voted him in, does he?

[AllyCat]

10. Same as Illinois' Obama...

who has basically been trained in a few short weeks to not listen to his constituents. Randi Rhodes was going off on him today and many of the people on the Illinois board seem pretty upset about him.

We here in Wisconsin, have Tommy GOOP Thompson leaving DHHS and coming back to challenge Kohl in 2006. Kohl has never been all that progressive and basically just votes with the Repubs. most of the time anymore.

I think all the grass-roots people are going to rise up and split the vote in 2006 for these right-leaning Dems. They are going to vote for Indies and then, and only then will the DNC/DLC see the error of trying to be Republican lite.

[DearAbby]

11. I thought Salazar was a great AG here in Colorado

So I voted for him as well, thinking that he would listen to his constituents. I am disappointed in his work so far.

[AllyCat]

12. Lets hope Obama and Salazar just have freshman-itis and

are really going to make up for it with their next votes. But I'm not holding my breath. From the sounds of it, he was a great AG...maybe this legislative thing is so different that he hasn't quite figured out how to work it yet? Or has he held legislative office before now?

[bush_is_wacko]

13. Whoa there. Ever heard of good cop bad cop?

Obama and Salazar are both in very precarious territory right now. They have both spoken loud and clear about rice. The fact that both of them confirmed her was no really all that disturbing, she would have been confirmed with or without their votes. There are at least two bigger fish to fry. Gonzales and Rumsfeld NEED to go! I have written Salazar and Allard to let them know of my disappointment. Allard is a piece of crap anyway, but I faxed him the exact same information packet I will send Salazar. BTW, does anyone know why his fax (Salazar) isn't working on Saturday? I guess I'll have to do it on Monday.

Don't start kicking them out of office (Obama and Salazar)send them mountains of information ALONG WITH your disappointment letters. Jamming phones and faxes is a VERY effective way to remind our Senators they were ELECTED to office and they don't get to keep their jobs unless they represent the people that elected them. Salazar's pet interest happens to be energy/environment issues. He NEEDS to be informed on SEVERAL other issues before we start condemning him.

[CO Liberal]

14. Richard Skorman

He's about the closest thing to a Democrat that they have in Colorado Springs. The City Council and Mayor's seats are non-partisan, so they don't reveal their party affilliations.

From what I've experienced from hearing him talk on local talk radio and news broadcasts, Richard Skorman is one of the good guys.