OK. The Colorado State Open Thread usually tries to hit some topics that have been making the rounds of our square(ish) state. That, or we ignore the popular topics and I just go for something people probably have missed. This week, however, we seem to have hit many of the national news shows.
CO3’s soon to be moving Lauren Boebert got into an argument with her former husband Jayson in a restaurant in Rifle, Colorado (I’m glad they didn’t use any firearms) and reportedly the Congresswoman punched her ex- multiple times in the face. She denies she punched him (though there are multiple ways to connect a hand with a face that aren’t technically punching) and Jayson has reportedly asked for no charges to be filed (maybe he doesn’t want to be officially beaten up by a girl many times smaller than he is). The sheriff isn’t talking, there have been no explanations about why they were arguing, few people care, but yes, a Congresswoman (or man) isn’t supposed to be beating up constituents in this day and age. It comes as no surprise, given the multiple interactions with police from these two people over the years, but here’s to hoping she doesn’t get elected so she can fade away. Not that it’s going to happen.
CO4’s the district she wants to move to, since Congressman Ken Buck has given up on his sure re-election. He seems to have finally grown tired of Washington. Congresswoman Boebert apparently wants to run in the 4th district so she doesn’t have to face Democrat Adam Frisch again. Frish came within 600 votes of unseating the 3rd district incumbent in 2022 and he’s been collecting lots of money for the re-run of the battle, only to have Congresswoman Boebert cut and run off to this district instead. She would have had a battle just to get through the primary and Frisch had a primary challenger as well. In the 4th CD, there are multiple people from both sides running since this is an open seat for the first time in years.
CO5 became the other Colorado Republican district to be an open seat when Republican Doug Lamborn announced he also was going to retire. He is another Republican who has been occupying his seat for several years. I don’t believe I’ve heard a reason for him to quit, like the other two Republicans, but his seat is already drawing plenty of attention from people of both major parties. It’s expected to remain in Republican hands, but considering the core of the district, Colorado Springs, has been trending purplish, if not even a blueish hue recently, it may become interesting and competitive depending upon how crazy the Republican is who wins the primary. I wonder if Lauren Boebert is wishing she had just waited a week and found out she could have run in CO5 for that empty seat instead of having to carpetbag all the way out to Greeley, or Limon (and yes, I know CO4 has Aurora and Castle Rock, but Boebert may not know that).
All of these contests ought to draw lots of national money to Colorado, just in case the competition heats up.
Also, in Colorado this past week, we have had judicial action concerning TFG’s appeals of the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that he couldn’t be on the primary ballot because he violated the 14th Amendment when he supported an insurrection against the US government after having taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution. The Colorado state Republican party, broke and dysfunctional as it is, was saying they would do without a primary and just have a state caucus, which wouldn’t require him to be on a ballot and therefore they would stick it to the libs by making TFG their choice anyway. They even formally endorsed TFG, without bothering going to the caucus or ballot box. I know. It’s shocking. I didn’t hear a peep from any of the other Republican candidates who might have battled for the delegates. I guess they don’t care about Colorado, either. Naw. They want Trump to be the nominee as well. It appears that TFG will indeed be on the primary ballots anyway, since they had to go to the printers by now and SOS Jena Griswold didn’t have a decision (it was stayed) to keep him off the ballots. The US Supreme Court will hear arguments in the middle of next month, with a decision maybe by the end of February, if not by November.
Authorities on Tuesday arrested a man who allegedly breached the Colorado Supreme Court building, fired shots and tried to start a fire shortly after midnight, heavily damaging one of the offices.
Authorities said they do not believe the incident is related to previous threats the Colorado Supreme Court received after concluding former president Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state's presidential primary ballot.
The police said the man, identified as 44-year-old Brandon Kyle Olsen, crashed a vehicle in an adjacent street and then made his way into the government building, where he pointed a gun at security guard.
Those have been the major political talking points in Colorado. Other points could be that
- there have been some photos of the wolves let loose in Colorado, showing that at least one pack has stayed together and nobody has been eaten yet, though the ranchers sure expect bodies of people and livestock to show up any day now.
- the southern parts of the state have been getting more snow than the northern half, which is not what was predicted nor what has been happening the last few years. Ski areas and water managers are starting to get worried.
- I’m not going to be paying close attention to the open thread until probably about 9PM. My Michigan Wolverines are playing for the national championship in college football this evening. I know that’s nothing to do with Colorado, because the only Colorado football team worth anything is at the School of Mines in Golden, and Mines lost to Ferris State for the Division II championship last month.
I long, long, long for things to talk about other than Representative Lauren Boebert, which is why I hope she is not returned to Congress. I am thinking, however, that I shall have to create a DailyKos group either for CO 4, or the high plains, which could encompass eastern Colorado, western Kansas, as well as points north and south, just to prepare for whatever news may come from those areas. Please let me know if you’d like to hear news or items of interest from those areas.