 On Point Vincent Carroll, editor of the editorial pages, writes his On Point column most weekdays. He is also an author and freelance writer. Reach Vincent Carroll at carrollv@RockyMountainNews.com. |
Carroll: Pulling for Polis
I can’t help myself, I’m pulling for Jared Polis.
True, the super-rich Polis bankrolled Colorado’s problem-riddled Amendment 41, either out of ignorance of what this “ethics” measure actually says or, worse, because he genuinely agrees with its draconian mandates.
And yes, a few years ago Polis funded another ballot measure that might have been worse — it allowed people to register the same day they voted — which Coloradans wisely trampled at the polls.
Polis is also the fellow who bought himself a seat on the State Board of Education in 2000 to launch his political career, spending $1.2 million to campaign for a post that pays nothing and winning statewide by less than 100 votes. In effect, he’s been buying his way into prominence ever since — and out of trouble, too, by which I mean the legion of lobbyists, pollsters and spinmeisters he employed at the legislature to save his bacon on 41.
So why pull for a political dilettante like Polis? Because he’s potentially a more interesting Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District — which will elect another liberal in 2008 to replace Mark Udall — than the presumed front-runner, Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald.
And although Polis hasn’t officially announced his candidacy, most political observers are convinced it’s only a matter of time.
With Fitz-Gerald, unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine a position seriously at odds with any of her party’s major interest groups or an agenda that isn’t a cutout of the usual Washington talking points. But say what you will about Polis, he marches to his own drummer at times — on educational choice, to cite one example. He even established a string of charter schools for immigrants (The New American School, with campuses in Aurora, Northglenn and Lakewood, and a fourth to open this fall in Eagle County). Maybe he should give Fitz-Gerald a tour of them before they clash; she might hesitate before slamming charters again as a tool of “white flight.”
And Polis is a gifted entrepreneur. He made his biggest killing, with BlueMountain.com, because he was smart enough to sell before the dot-com bubble burst, but he’s hardly a one-shot marvel. Just last year he sold a company he founded at 22 for another jaw-dropping fortune. Meanwhile, his Techstars program helps seed other start-ups.
To be sure, success in business is no guarantee that a man understands economics. In Congress, Polis could still push for the growth-stifling policies so popular with his party’s left wing. Still, you’d hope that a fellow who understands the importance of an entrepreneurial culture would at least think twice before supporting policies likely to destroy it.
Vincent Carroll is editor of the editorial pages. Reach him at carrollv@RockyMountain
News.com.
Maybe Vince meant this to be tongue in cheek, but pulling for a candidate because they would be more interesting instead of best suited for the position is pretty lame.
Posted by on May 9, 2007 08:01 AMJared Schutz (his real name), an obscenely rich gay guy who is self-centered, intellectually snobbish, paternalistic, hypocritical (drives a huge Lincoln Navigator but decries global warming) and righteous, for Congress representing Boulder? Yep, that sounds like a good fit.
Posted by CC on May 9, 2007 12:27 PMYou really don't like Fitzgerald.
Posted by on May 9, 2007 03:19 PMWill Shafroth for Congress
Posted by CD2 on May 9, 2007 09:24 PMABBF (anybody but Fitz-Gerald). I would rather see "Popeye" get this congressional seat. Fitz-Gerald, Groff, and Ritter shafts disabled military veterans whenever they get the opportunity. Fitz and Groff are seasoned "vets" at doing this, because they were trained in the art by Owens (draft-dodger, whoremonger, etc.). Groff is my color, but not my kind.
Posted by jjtarheel on May 9, 2007 11:53 PM