Preside over the fastest recovery-of-infrastructure I have EVER seen following a natural disaster. Grow Colorado's economy. Be a rational, reasonable voice for any issue. Stand on principles and ethics when it's deemed unpopular to do so. Really, there isn't much to not like about Gov. John Hickenlooper (D - CO). Even his campaign style, his direct campaign not running negative ads and focusing on progress, is even a thirst-quenching drink of cool water in the cesspool of lies and deceit that is politics.
Thankfully, Gov. Hickenlooper retains his position as Chief Executive of Colorado. But by an "asshairs" margin. Yes, I said it: asshairs. Why?
You'd think that with the way Hickenlooper has managed Colorado, people would be falling over themselves to keep him in office. Well, first off: mid-terms. Arapahoe County alone is reporting approx. 50% voter turn out. Half. Half of the county deciding issues that effects everyone is embarrassing, but it also explains why Hickenlooper didn't win by an apocalyptic landslide. It's why Beauprez isn't crying over his Crown Royal after getting bitchslapped in the polls: there were not enough people showing up to do that.
Who showed up? Republicans. They showed up to post a referendum against Obama. They showed up still pissed off over the sensible gun control measures that were passed by the Democratic Legislature. They're still pissed over renewable energy requirements on rural utilities. And generally they're pissed off over, well, anything they can wrap their tiny minds about.
But enough of them remembered Gov. Hickenlooper. However, Sen. Mark Udall, the man who tried to counter the NSA within the boundaries of his role? Yeah, this state just told him to go eat some Rocky Mountain Oysters and elected Cory Gardner, who will prove to be shittastic in the end.
In the end, half of the registered voting population in at least one county failed to vote. I should point out that this was AN ENTIRELY MAIL-IN BALLOT. Seriously, voting couldn't be any easier. And yet HALF of the registered voters decided it was not in their best interest to take 10 minutes, fill out the ballot and drop it in the mail.
So, while I'm here looking at an all-republican County leadership, a Republican Senator, and as of right now, a narrow lead of a Republican challenger over Danial Kagan for State House Dist. 3; I'm depressed for having to spend the rest of my time in Colorado in a Red County, but I'm pissed that half the people of this county didn't even bother to speak.
Colorado, and especially Arapahoe County, when the Republicans ultimately screw things up (and they will), you have no one to blame but yourselves.