Jared Polis spends 3.7 milion dollars of his own money

[blondie58]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/26/wealthy-democrat-spends-big-in-his-run-for/

I am not a Jared Polis supporter. As one of my union sisters said, "He is a Republican in Democrats clothing"- perhaps because he is openly gay he doesn't feel that he can run as a Repub. I am tired of candidates trying to buy the race.

[DavidDvorkin]

1. Doesn't sound very Republican to me

Here's his issues page: http://www.polisforcongress.com/issues

He wouldn't fit in the Colorado GOP at all.

[blondie58]

2. yeah, I must admit- we must be biased

he wrote a scathing editorial a few years ago about the post office and we're both postal workers. I have tried to find it, but with no success. I remember him wanting to break it up and perhaps privatize it to make it more effecient, which would be a huge mistake, imho.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. I'm on your side there

This country needs to nationalize, not privatize.

But is there more, or are you basing your statement that he's really a Republican on that editorial? What about the issues on his issues pages?

[blondie58]

4. you know, David- I really can't say

ever since I read that article, I have not had an open mind to him. And I find that as I get older, I am turning into a "reverse snob". I have met too many people who look down on us 'blue collar workers' and think that money makes you better than anyone else.
Well, money doesn't buy you character or integrity. I don't like that money can be used to buy an office. Did you hear the fiasco between Jay Marvin and Jared on AM 760 a couple of weeks ago? Jay has it on his podcast.
But on the positive side, his parents, Susan Polis-Schutz and Stephen Schutz, are people that I have always admired. I have been reading their poetry/screen art books for years. So, I'm sure that they raised a wonderful son. But money should not buy everything that you want. And maybe Jared is a savvy businessman that could bring a lot of strength to office. I am voting for Joan Fitz-Gerald, though.

[GardeningGal]

5. Funny that you should bring this up.

I've been trying to decide whether I should register as a democrat so I can vote in the primary to vote for Joan. (I'm currently registered as unaffiliated.)

[hendo]

6. I have little faith

in anything that the RMN prints. Back on topic though, if I were in his district, I would vote for him.

[paulk]

7. it does seem like he's trying to buy the office

I wouldn't call him a Republican, but there's something about the idea of this really wealthy guy basically buying his way to Washington that rubs me the wrong way. If I lived in district 2, I would be voting for Joan Fitzgerald. She's paid her dues.

[hendo]

9. so

would your prefer that his campaign is financed primarily by lobbyists?

[paulk]

10. it depends on who the lobbyists are...

At least there are some lobbyists that do speak for groups of people who wouldn't get heard otherwise. The whole "all lobbyists bad" argument is a lazy argument.

I would prefer a candidate's donations come from individuals - though competing that way against someone who can spend millions of their own dollars is a damn steep hill to climb.

If Jared Polis was so interested in government why hasn't he been involved (other than spreading his cash around) before this? He could have run for Boulder City Council or a seat in the state legislature. What he is doing is literally buying himself a seat in Washington DC, and that, regardless of your political affiliation, is wrong, IMHO.

[Democrats_win]

8. Got my ballot. This is really a hard choice between 3 good candidates.

Fitz-Gerald and Polis have sent a lot of mailers and they both speak my language on bush, the wars and oil. I'm just getting to know Shafroth. No final decision yet, but I'll need to decide soon. Here's are links to all 3 candidates home pages. They all have links to other pages that explain their views on issues etc.

http://www.shafrothforcongress.com/

http://www.shafrothforcongress.com/

http://www.polisforcongress.com/

Interesting, my Dad thinks that Polis is trying to buy the election too. I especially like Polis' mention of the credit crisis: foreclosures and credit cards. Since I can't find any mention of credit cards by Fitz-Gerald, this does tip the scales to Polis for me. I am concerned that Polis may be too pro-business. Then again, throwing all businessmen in jail isn't what any Dem candidate has proposed.
http://www.polisforcongress.com/issues/addressing-the-foreclosure-crisis-and-credit-crunch

Joan Fitz-Gerald does an excellent job of linking spending in Iraq to money not being spent in Colorado. She says, "The war has stripped Colorado of funding for roads and children’s health care. Coloradans paid $7 billion for the war last year that could have otherwise gone back into the economy. Instead it flows to the Middle East and to global private contractors."
I'm concerned that Fitz-Gerald is too much like the Democrats in Washington who didn't insist that bush be impeached.
http://www.joanfitz-gerald.com/issues

Shafroth's TV commercial talks about how politicians keep "tackling" each other like football players. This reflects Obama's idea about uniting the country. Either way, congress needs to do something. Shafroth will need to work hard to get my mind off of the Polis/Fitz-Gerald choice.