For many years, I was a temp.  It has been hard to find work in this economy and I have seriously been tearing my hair out over the issues I was having.    Finally a little over 2 months ago, I got lucky.  I got hired by the Colorado State Government.  I was interviewed for this job the day that I (and all other temps) got let go from a land title company where our job was to process land titles.  

I was checking up on this race.  The Open primary was tonight, but if someone gets over 50%, they will go on to Congress without a general election.  I have seen no news on it.  And I was wondering what was going on with it.  From what I read, this is a very Democratic Seat, so we should be fine.  However, it's unusual to hear nothing on a special election on Daily Kos.  

I would describe myself as a very cynical person.  I don't always feel very much hope in the world.  I've been disappointed in my personal and professional life.  I hope that at least the nature of certain battles in my life change, but they just don't seem to.  I am fearful of a lot of things.  The thing that drives me is that on some level, things have to get better, because if they don't we're totally fucked.  Honestly, I have been starting to feel burned out on many things.  I have hated the Republican party for a long time.  Why?  Because of all the people that they nominated for the Presidency in 2000, they nominated Bush, who in the most polite terms can be described as obtuse.  Even if you don't think he's pure evil, he comes off as so clueless.  When faced with the prospect of $4/gallon gas, Bush has said, "Well the Dollar isn't worth what it used to be so you're really not spending that much."  I can't even tell you how angry that makes me.  McCain may have been the Republicans' best candidate, but he's following suit with Bush on everything, especially the war.  I could never vote Republican.  Certainly not for President.

Just after the last out of the World Series, Tom Tancredo announced that he would not run for his Congressional seat again, regardless of the outcome of his Presidential bid.  Apparently, he has lost the fire in the belly.  Or so he says.

More below the fold.

Yesterday, I have attended an idea raiser training for Mark Udall's senate campaign.  I Need to say, this is probably one of the best ideas that has come out of any campaign for a long time.  It ranks right up there with Congressman Perlmutter doing Government in the Grocery Stores.  I like it when a campaign goes to these ideas.  If we could spread the word to enough people, we might be able to dispell the notion that politicians on both sides of the isle don't care what We The People think.  I got to tell my story, where I discussed my issues.  Since some of this was being filmed and my part didn't get filmed, they wanted to film me telling it since they didn't film it the first time.  I was very impressed with the way the representatives of the campaign handled everything.  It inspires my confidence that we will do everything possible to win this seat.  If you live in Colorado, and have a chance to attend one of his idea raisers, please do.  This may be the best chance to be heard in a way that someone who is and most likely will be in an important position will hear us.  Also, I write this to underscore how important it is that we get Mark Udall elected to the Senate.

For events, check out www.udallforcolorado.com

Bob "Shifty Schaeffer" hasn't been talking a lot.  He hasn't been discussing his feelings on Pinon Canyon, the Roan Plataeu, or even his stance on SCHIP.  Some would say that this is a smart strategy, however I disagree.  How can he expect to win a senate race when he is almost totally invisible?  

THis is a quick and dirty diary.  I know that the special election was supposed to be held today and I was wondering if anybody here had any info on it.  People were making a big deal about the polling and that the Republicans might actually have an outside shot at this seat and I haven't seen any announcements on it here.  But I know it is after 7:00pm in Massachusetts and the polls should be closed now.  

In the state house in Colorado a Republican entering her last year has decided to switch to the Democratic party.  This now leaves the majority in the state house here with Dems at 40 and Republicans at 25.  Debbie Stafford's state house district is one that is considered pretty Red including Elbert County, which is a very conservative farming county in eastern Colorado, and the more rural parts of Arapahoe County including some parts of Aurora that are more on the outskirts.  The motivation behind the switch would indicate that while Stafford herself is pretty conservative, she may not be conservative enough for the current Republican party of Colorado.

I have been really angry over the last few days because of what happened with the vote on the FISA bill.  It angered me that this bill infringes on our Civil Liberties and it bails out Bush and his cronies.  Including the Phone Companies.  I have walked the middle ground with Senator Salazar, but he completely alienated me with this vote.  I'm done defending him.  I then tried to take a step back and ask myself what is important to me and why I am a Democrat.

Today in the sweltering heat that is the Colorado Summers, Marylin Musgrave pumped Gas for residents at a Fort Collings Gas Station between 1:00 and 2:00 pm MDT today.  Appearently, many subjects were discussed between the various residents of Colorado's Fourth Congressional District and it's representative.  However, she did not discuss the issues people are having with the cost of Gasoiline.  

Honestly, I am going to tell you that this disappoints me.  I did not vote for Mike Coffman for SOS.  I voted for Ken Gordon, his Democratic opponent.  But I seriously thought that overall, even if I disagree with Coffman, he was a good man who could be entrusted with this job.  Which is a sacred duty due to how fundamental it is to the health of our country.  At first, I thought, well, I need to hear compelling evidence before I make a judgement, but it seems as though there is some.  This scandal has been going on for a month in this state.  I haven't seen a diary here, but there are a few on Square State.

Story first, commentary later:

CRAWFORD, Texas -        President Bush warned Congress on Saturday that he will use his veto power to stop runaway government spending.

"The American people do not want to return to the days of tax-and-spend policies," Bush said in his radio address. (Emphasis: Mine)

The House passed a $37 billion budget for the        Homeland Security Department on Friday, but Republicans rallied enough votes to uphold a promised veto from Bush.

The measure — one of several annual spending bills that Congress began to consider this week — exceeds Bush's request for the department by $2.1 billion.

Democrats on Friday defended the extra money in the homeland security bill, noting it contains money to hire 3,000 additional border agents, improve explosive detection at airports and provides money to double the amount of cargo screened on passenger aircraft.

http://news.yahoo.com/...

I Read the "Audacity of Hope" and I have to say, as much as I dislike Republicans in general, he had some good points.  Ultimately, most, if not all, of us need to work together.  I don't see him as a triangulater the way HRC is.  I remember when he came to Denver to stump (mainly for Now-Congressman Perlmutter) but also ultimately for all of our belived Colorado Democrats at an event in western Aurora.  Man, the energy was palpable.  If you have ever seen my right hand, that is the hand that shook Obama's.  I decided to go because someone said that he is a Rockstar and a Wordsmith the way JFK and MLK are.  He isn't a triangulater like HRC.  He is a Progressive dream.  He knows how to resonate with people.  I respect HRC for being a very smart woman.  But, she is unable to resonate.  In truth, I am still torn between him and John Edwards (among the declared candidates), but I like this guy.  If he's not our Presidential candidate, he should be our VP candidate.  I truly feel that he is the key to the future of our party.  

Okay, so I have been citing Pols a lot, but it is getting entertaining.  I know this has been said before, but Tancredo has decided not to run for Senate and appearently is tired of his old house seat, especially since the GOP is in the minority.  I'm guessing he doesn't think that will change anytime soon.  I don't get it.  He breaks his term-limits pledge because (in theory) he feels that he is needed for true immigration reform.  But now he's sick of congress?  And now, he has decided to run for President, even though he is almost certain to get wiped out in the primaries.

First off, it seems that every year, another million people become uninsured.  4 years ago, it was 43 million people and now it is 47 million according to an AARP article on the subject.  It's for January 7, 2007. I'm not old enough to get this catalog.  I'm borrowing my Dad's.  

Most of the country is sick of all of this shit (even many Republicans) and yet many still keep chugging that kool aid.  What makes them stay loyal to this guy?  

Gingrich wants to campaign for God instead, because suddenly, he's righteous.  

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he can't be bothered with campaigning for the presidency right now, because he's on a mission to save American civilization from the gravest crisis it has faced since the Civil War.

Moreover, he told the New York Times that he's seeking nothing less than to restore God to a central place in American government and culture and is putting aside running for president for the time being.

That however, does not mean that he's ruling out a run for the White House in 2008 -- it's a just that it will have to wait while he concentrates on his mission. Gingrich says he thinks politics is a distraction from what he insists are mortal challenges facing the United States.

Two-term incumbent Sen. Wayne Allard is a folksy former veterinarian. Democrats have under-estimated him in the past and may do so again.

But Colorado, like Minnesota and New Hampshire, is trending Democratic. The Democrats won both this year's governor's race and an open House seat; they also gained seats in the state legislature.

Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli predicts that Allard, who said he'd serve only two terms, will not run for another term, even though "he'll get an enormous amount of pressure" to do so from GOP leaders.

"He hasn't raised a lot of money and he is just not acting like a candidate for re-election," Ciruli said. As of the beginning of October, Allard had only $120,507 in cash, a pittance for a Senate candidate.

In contrast, likely Democratic candidate Rep. Mark Udall had a cash reserve of more than $1.3 million for his House race. Assuming he has most of that money left, Udall can transfer all of the remaining cash to his Senate campaign fund. Udall cruised to re-election to his House seat, with 67 percent of the vote.