I thought CO was a conservative state? (Denver, Colorado Springs: house, military)

[One Thousand]

Both our Senators are Republican. Why in God's name are they both supporting the Farm Bill? I called the offices and an Allard staffer was trying to say that it's because it's so pork laden that it's a free for all that everyone gets on board with.

I thought this was a pro-small-gov state? Instead, our Senators are jumping on board the spending spree.

Man, I'm so angry...

[SheridanL]

Soooooo, it suprises you????? Why??

Does ANYTHING the government says/votes on, makes you "wonder"??

It is, after all, a FREE AMERICA!! NOTHING, and I mean, NOTHING, is beyond reason or, needs an explanation.

That is the very reason we have a "free election" and governing body.

Lies you say,.....whatever it takes I say!!

Do NOT be shocked...it is as it IS!! YOU voted for it after all...didn't you?????

Sorry, I just had to tell it like it is as far as I am concerned!!

[suzco]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

Both our Senators are Republican. . . Instead, our Senators are jumping on board the spending spree.

Man, I'm so angry...

Both of our senators are not Republican. Ken Salazar is a Democrat.

[One Thousand]

Sheridan, You're not involved with politics, are you?

suzco, LOL. You've got me! My Rep is a Republican also. That's embarrassing

[tfox]

Sadly, I've found that profligate spending is a bipartisan trait.

[jazzlover]

I am a former agriculturalist, but I opposed the farm bill as it was written because it was clearly biased toward massive subsidies to the farmers who needed it least. And, of course, there is the whole ethanol debacle.

It should be noted that both of Colorado's Senators have strong ties to agriculture. Senator Salazar, himself a lawyer, comes from an agricultural family in the San Luis Valley. Senator Allard practiced as a large animal veterinarian before he became a full-time politician.

As to Colorado being a "conservative" state, I wish somebody would shoot that "myth" dead once and for all. Colorado had a long reputation of being a "Republican" state, like most Rocky Mountain states, but Republican in Colorado didn't necessarily equate with "conservative" in the modern definition. Colorado tended toward fiscal conservatism and social moderateness. As an example, which I have cited before, it was a Republican Colorado Legislature and a Republican Colorado Governor (John Love--in my opinion, probably Colorado's best governor of all time) who made Colorado the first state to legalize abortion.

During World War II, it was Republican Governor Ralph Carr who stood alone against the sentiments of almost the whole country to take an enlightened position against the internment and stripping of citizenship of Japanese-Americans. It is recounted in his biography on the State of Colorado website and briefly quoted here:

One of the few voices of reason during wartime was Governor Carr, who continued to treat the Japanese-Americans with respect and sought to help them keep their American citizenship. He sacrificed his political career to bravely confront the often dark side of human nature. "If you harm them, you must harm me. I was brought up in a small town where I knew the shame and dishonor of race hatred. I grew to despise it because it threatened the happiness of you and you and you." Carr's selfless devotion to all Americans, while destroying his hopes for a senate seat, did in the end become extolled as, "a small voice but a strong voice."

Colorado has had a long tradition of voting for the person, and splitting tickets. In most cases, its politicians from both parties have tended to be moderates. Until recently, splitting control of the Legislature and the Governorship between Democrats and Republicans was pretty common. It has also split its US Senate seats very frequently--often with a Republican and Democratic Senator concurrently both being very popular with the electorate.

As to Colorado being pro-"small government," it must be remembered that, in good ol' Colorado, about the biggest employer is the Federal government. Colorado feeds deeply and fully at the federal pork-barrel trough; and Federal spending in Colorado includes the taxpayer dollars dished out to the military in Colorado, which--of course--though pork in many cases, is sacred to a lot of neo-conservatives. One of Colorado's great contradictions is that one of its most "conservative" areas--Colorado Springs and El Paso County--is also the area of Colorado most dependent on federal taxpayer largess.

So, it certainly is true that Colorado is becoming more of a "blue" Democratic state, but it never was the pure conservative hotbed that some of the ultra-conservatives would like people to think it was.

[fast_eddie_72]

Colorado is a pretty purple state at this point. As noted, Salazar is a Democrat, the State legislature is controled by Democrats, the Governor is a Democrat, and Obama is ahead of McCain in the polls here. I'd say Colorado is a traditionally Republican state that is becoming a Democratic state. Like many places, the rural areas are generally Republican and the urban centers are Democratic.

You did know the Democratic National Convention is being held in Denver this summer?

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by fast_eddie_72

You did know the Democratic National Convention is being held in Denver this summer?

Who doesn't? You might be interested to know that the last time the Democratic convention was held in Denver was in 1908, and their nominee was William Jennings Bryan, who enjoyed considerable Colorado support. He got trounced in the general election by Republican William Howard Taft. Despite Bryan's Colorado popularity, he did not carry Colorado, either. So much for any "coattails" there might have been in having the convention in Denver that time around.

[One Thousand]

Originally Posted by fast_eddie_72

You did know the Democratic National Convention is being held in Denver this summer?

Only found out since it's been on the news... I don't exactly keep up with them... and I'm not aware of the requisites for a city or state to be selected.

I researched the Springs pretty thoroughly before coming here... but, truth be told, I have found this area also to be church-oriented than conservative. Even Lamborn, the U.S. House Rep for this district is a liberal in Republican clothing.

I imagine it's time to start looking for the next move... I was totally under the impression that it was just Boulder... but even the Springs has socialist leanings. It's crazy.

[TropicanaRose]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

Only found out since it's been on the news... I don't exactly keep up with them... and I'm not aware of the requisites for a city or state to be selected.

I researched the Springs pretty thoroughly before coming here... but, truth be told, I have found this area also to be church-oriented than conservative. Even Lamborn, the U.S. House Rep for this district is a liberal in Republican clothing.

I imagine it's time to start looking for the next move... I was totally under the impression that it was just Boulder... but even the Springs has socialist leanings. It's crazy.

Maybe you and Doug Bruce could share a U-haul.