April 2007 | Main | June 2007
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Bilingual signs
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Lisa Bornstein & baby boomers
Brent Green of Denver writes:
An Open Letter to Lisa Bornstein, re: “Move along, you Boomers …”
Many people of your generation are very good friends of mine; we work well together and get along. Nevertheless, your antediluvian and tiresome way of thinking divides society generationally into “us” and “them,” fomenting useless animosity between age groups.
So, once again, on behalf of the 78 million members of the Baby Boomer generation, I apologize for myriad transgressions we’ve imposed on your Generation X. Although we can never make up for decades of perceived injustices, I encourage you to look on the bright side.
Being part of a younger and smaller generation will soon have economic advantages. According to Merrill Lynch, our nation will confront a 10-million worker shortfall by 2010. That means lots of available jobs for younger people to fill.
Further, you can expect Boomers to help make America a better place to grow old. Just as Boomer women helped force the workplace to become more accommodating for young columnists who prefer not to work as “Gal Fridays,” we will challenge ageist claptrap such as that which dominates your op-ed piece.
Boomers have a longevity bonus of 25 to 40 additional years, thanks in part to their contributions to science (15 of the 16 honorees in TIME magazine’s “America’s Greatest in Science and Medicine”). Thus, we have some time to make America a better place for you to age. We even have time for forgiveness.
As for Boomers’ historic dominance of popular music, I can’t offer much solace except to point out that many artists near your age — many of them influenced by classic rockers — are contributing brilliantly: Sarah McLachlan and James Blunt, for example. Plus, Boomers buy a majority of the CDs being sold today; even artists near your age really appreciate it.
One final point: Your jeremiad appeared in the best medium to reach us. According to the Newspaper Association of America, over 60% of newspaper readers are Boomers. Also, 80% of the Fortune 500 CEOs are Boomers and thus have substantial authority over national advertising budgets.
I hope you value the financial support for your bully pulpit!
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The English language
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Littleton Wal-Mart
As a citizen of Centennial, I am watching closely the debate about whether a Wal-Mart should be built in Littleton. As I, along with others, wait to find out what will happen, I wonder: Do we really need another Wal-Mart in Colorado?
What I know about Wal-Mart is that they do not treat their employees fairly. Their employees earn minimum wage and sometimes have to work overtime for no pay. The only good thing I can think of about Wal-Mart is that they offer jobs to people who need them. But even though these people are employed, they still don’t get paid enough to survive on. And the lack of health care benefits means that most of the employees and their families cannot pay for medical care in order to stay healthy enough to continue working.
I think Colorado does not need another Wal-Mart, and I hope Littleton residents vote
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Illegal immigrants
I’m supposed to feel pity for this kid? Is he crying for any of the American kids out there who who have to pay the higher tuition? Is he
Rather than sitting in his room, surrounded by his gloomy paintings and whining that nobody’s going to pay for his education, here’s an idea for Rodriguez: go out and get one of those jobs “Americans won’t do” and pay your own way through college. Just like my kids who were born here of American citizen parents will be doing.
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Education
With due respect to Penry, Witwer and interested and concerned parents, Merrifield, in addition to being a legislator, is a retired teacher. Thus, he probably has more expertise on such matters. Are nonprofessionals allowed to regulate bridge construction, emergency rooms, court procedures, etc.? Of course not. Yet, many politicians and parents feel qualified to regulate curriculum. Again, with due respect, unless they are also trained as educators, they are not.
Since Colorado still ranks in the bottom ten states in per pupil expenditures, I suggest these politicians and parents focus their attention on the persistent problem of under funding of public education in this state and leave the teaching to teachers.
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Health care
Only a free market can achieve this.
The commission thinks it knows best, discarding the only free market proposal (named FAIR), and recommending the very government interference that caused our present problems in health care — more people in Medicaid, and more restrictions on consumers, doctors, and insurance companies. Colorado would then scramble to contain costs by restricting access to health care, i.e., bureaucrats would allow access only to certain approved providers, treatments, and drugs.
These recommendations won’t work because they violate the rights of every person involved. You have a right as an individual to choose exactly how you spend your own health care dollars. Regulation and control by any government violates this right. But the 208 Commission thinks it knows better than you and your doctor what kind of health care is appropriate for you.
To learn more about how government interference caused the problems we face in health care and health insurance, visit www.WeStandFIRM.org
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Borders
George Lilly of Denver writes:
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George W. Bush
Does that compare to George Bush skipping out on his reserve duty to avoid going to Vietnam while currently sending American soldiers for their 2nd, 3rd and 4th terms to die in Iraq? Of course the records of Bush’s absentia cannot be proven because the information has been hidden by the Bush administration.
SO, they can’t prove me wrong either!!
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Congressional Democrats
The allies created a web of deceit, disinformation,
Had this deception not been successful, the D-Day invasion would have been a failure and for a lot of reasons, ultimately Hitler would have won the war.
The Democrats in Congress appear to dismiss Churchill’s advice and wish not only to advise the enemy that we will withdraw our troops from IRAQ, but provide a timetable for doing so.
As Goethe said, and it is so appropriate for this Congress,
I can only assume the Demo crates want to save secrecy and deception for use only on the American public, but be up front and truthful with our enemies.
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Race
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Sen. Ken Salazar & Alberto Gonzales
At the time Sen. Salazar escorted Mr. Gonzales to the Senate for confirmation, the senator already knew that Mr. Gonzales had authored the infamous “torture memorandum
When dealing with an individual who does not balk at war crimes, how can one be “disappointed” or surprised in any way when that individual turns out to be a scoundrel in other aspects of his behavior?
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Illegal immigration
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Immigration bill
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Depleted uranium & Piñon Canyon
This may explain the suffering by Iraqi and Afghani children from birth defects, tumors, respiratory, gastrointestinal and skin diseases in areas where Americans attack with DU munitions.
Soldiers are training with U238 munitions in Piñon Canyon, the US Army live fire range near Trinidad CO. How many tons of U238 are ‘lost’ in Piñon Canyon weekly? ‘Lost’ is an army term for how U238 evaporates on impact in a 10,000 deg plume of nano-particles. Every projectile vaporized produces trillions of nano-particles, each of which is the seed for a tumor. This likely is prompting the Army’s desire to expand Piñon Canyon.
Why do we allow this highly mobile, unimaginably toxic, radioactive, heavy metal, nano-particle loose on our children, on ourselves, on anyone? Please call your representative in the U.S. House and Senate (switchboard: 202-224-3121). Ask that we stop using U238 munitions.
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Mike Littwin & illegal immigration
They are not immigrants: they are intruders. Not one of the previous immigrant groups (one of which I am a member) had the chutzpah to demand that Americans must adapt to us: we were only too happy to do the adapting ourselves. Sixty years after I left, I still speak my mother tongue well enough that I can go to the city of my birth and pass for a native who had never set foot outside of that city’s boundary. But I would not dream of asking to have every sign, every government publication and every ballot translated into my native language. I’d be proud to match my knowledge of English with any U.S. college graduate.
Above all: the illegal invaders are the only group who are born Reconquistadores. If you ever saw immigrants carry a Czech, Hungarian etc. flag, it was once a year to remind their fellow Americans of the then persisting Soviet occupation of their native country. Unlike the sea of Mexican flags at the intruders’ demonstrations. Their leaders openly advocate the return of U.S. Soutwest to Mexico.
All this in addition to the inability of the U.S. to accomodate some 35 million new illegals (in addition to other legal immigrants) by 2027 (as spelled out, black on white, in the scheme Washington punks concocted). Not when farms along the North Platte are forbidden to take water out of their wells because the cities had pre-empted their water rights.
The last two points modify Littwin’s headline (
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Teenage mother
Objecting to U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, letter writer Mike Smith wrote, “The terrorists declared war on us!” and “If funding is cut ... the terrorists will appear in numbers on Main Street USA, taking up where they left off in Baghdad” (“Pullout talk only encourages ‘maniacs,’” May 18). Michal Kucera, Indian Hills Iran is one of only two countries in the Middle East that has the four prerequisites to become a power in the region: wealth (oil), water, a substantial land mass and a large population. The other country was Iraq, now headed by a U.S.-dominated government. James Duncan, Denver There’s plenty of controversy over of the panel discussion at Boulder High (“Organizers defend sex talk at Boulder High,” May 16), particularly the sex aspects, various conflicting moral views, etc., but I have a different question. Mark Hill, Boulder The city of Denver plans to open an “emergency shelter” to clear the streets of homeless people during the Democratic Convention. Robert Wheeler, Highlands Ranch Legal immigrants to this country have always been welcome. That people who have come here illegally expect to have the privileges of citizenship is outrageous. Susan Malone, Castle Rock While our tax dollars support illegal immigrants in their health, education and welfare, let us not forget who benefits from these workers. The companies who hire illegal workers benefit. Rowena Collins, Colorado Springs “Gunny” Bob Newman’s anti-Muslim rant is merely the latest attempt to use fear and bigotry to justify the dehumanization of people of color (“Host’s tirade affects KOA,” Business, May 18). Crystal Middlestadt, Denver Can we simply work on taking care of the problems we have? Let’s work on reducing population through population control (birth control and abortion). Let’s live and let live by not telling our brothers how to live their lives. Ray Coffman, Morrison This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. Kathryn Gray’s online letter of May 15, simply headlined “Abortion,” illustrates the thinking of many abortion champions. Gray wrote that unless you have experienced an unwanted pregnancy, adopted or fostered a child, you are not entitled to an opinion on abortion. James Jones, Littleton I commend Greeley Mayor Tom Selders for his principled stand on calling for an end to immigration raids in his community (“Greeley mayor’s call for end to raids ignites firestorm,” May 17). Obviously the raids have been destructive to families there, as well as businesses, and that has been their only practical effect. Michael Worrall, Denver Those illegal immigrants who complain that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids tear families apart should stop blaming everyone one else and take responsibility for the consequences of being in this country illegally. Greta Johnson, Commerce City Until the borders are fully secured, the rest of the schemes are for naught. Frederick C. Sage, Boulder A recent Associated Press article called the bickering between Congress and the president over Iraq a “showdown.” After I peeled away the layers of hyperbole by Democrats, I realized that the agendas of President Bush and Congress regarding Iraq are in fact very similar. Gregory S. Robles, Longmont U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter was the only sane and decent person from the Colorado delegation to vote against giving the Bush administration another blank check on Iraq. Thank you, Rep. Perlmutter, for having the courage to vote against funding more bloodshed and destruction. Tracy Abell, Lakewood The state of Colorado should hold the social workers assigned to the case of Chandler Grafner accountable for his death (“Denver officials determined Grafner boy was healthy,” May 12). They are just as responsible for the child’s death as the two people who have been charged. Sharon Nuanes, Centennial In reading “$1.5 billion, found,” the May 22 Rocky Mountain News editorial about all the cost-saving changes the Regional Transportation District wants to impose on its FasTracks plans, nothing was mentioned of any input by the people who voted for the original plan. Of course, the claim is that you can present a plan to the people, get their confidence and their tax dollars and then change the plan. I truly hope that this is not the new standard for bond issues in Denver and the Front Range — representing one set of facts and then doing it differently because of so-called lack of funding and underestimating. It seems to me that the Southeast Corridor along Interstate 25 got double tracks and now the West Corridor — with a lower-income population — gets the leftovers. As a resident of the West Corridor, I resent such thinking. When a governmental agency gains the confidence of the people by presenting its plans on a bond issue, the agency should be credible enough to fulfill its plans. During my tenure as RTD board chairman, I obtained the funds for the Southwest Corridor from the federal government and built it as promised. Apparently, the current RTD board has no backbone to stand up for the people and admit that it should build FasTracks as promised. Ben Klein is a resident of Denver. Tim LaBoria of Englewood writes: Really now Mr. Rudolph, arguing (hypocritically) that Jesus would condone “militant action in defense of the innocent;” the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ comes immediately to mind. With closer inspection, “He who is without sin...,” then of course, Jesus then forgave after his admonishment “Go and sin no more.” (“Clinic bomber derides victims/Supporter posts Supermax inmate’s essays on Internet,” May 15.) This letter has not been edited. Letter writer Lowell Whitney (May 16) claims, as do nearly all pro-war Bush supporters, that the Constitution was followed when Congress gave the president the authority to go to war against Iraq. Ben Anderson, Castle Rock A new study conducted by health policy researchers from Emory University shows that funding cuts to the Medicare Advantage program would cause 134,845 beneficiaries in Colorado to lose their coverage while half of all states would lose more than 50,000 enrollees each if Congress adopted funding cuts. Beatrice Madison, I found the Rocky Mountain News’not-so-thinly-veiled abstinence-only article on teen pregnancy grossly one-sided(“Teen pregnancy dilemma,” May 21). Lacking was any mention of holding the males responsible for these teenage pregnancies. Michelle Gutru, Englewood Hallelujah! I knew that I had made the right decision in signing up for “Team Rudy” and now my intelligent choice has been confirmed: James Dobson has declined to endorse Rudy Giuliani for president. Bobbie Chiles, Centennial In the rekindled debate over gun control since the Virginia Tech massacre, almost never discussed is, I submit, the single most important consideration. Tom Young, Castle Rock Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine wasn’t thinking of protecting the population when he tightened gun sales laws following the Virginia Tech massacre; he was pandering to anti-Second Amendment voters. Tom Graham, Arvada I was reading the Rocky Mountain News online last week when I saw a picture of Alicia and Tony Flores. The caption accompanying the photo explains that “Alicia and Tony Flores, both undocumented residents, are shown outside their former home in Aurora. They both lost their jobs at Safeway a year-and-a-half ago because they did not have proper documentation. They have been leaping from job to job since. Their home will be auctioned in July.” Pamela Williams, Broomfield Mike McGarry (“A declaration of war,” May 21) put it to us straight: “The U.S. Senate’s immigration bill [if finally approved] ... would put an end to America as we know it.” Charles King, Boulder Like all of the new metro-area courthouses, the new Denver courthouse will symbolize injustice and lack of transparency by having no windows in the courtrooms (“Justice taking shape,” Spotlight, May 19). Thomas K. Carberry, Denver Am I the only one with more memory than letter writer Tim Vronay (“Coincidence?” May 16) who remembers that gas was $1.24 when President Bush took office? Jane Stoddart,Greenwood Village In response to the Rocky Mountain News editorial “Casinos on the edge” (May 25): Our firm has been studying the Colorado gaming market for many years, and we have long argued that increasing the $5 wager limit would have a positive impact on revenues, especially for table games. They are significantly underperforming, due primarily to the wager limitation. Table game revenues can represent as much as 50 percent or more of slot net win in states such as Nevada, while in most other states the average ranges between 20 to 25 percent. Compare that to the 4 percent currently being generated at the Colorado venues. Moreover, extending casino operating hours — they must now close at 2 a.m. — could also further impel overnight patronage. That would support the development of additional hotel rooms. William J. Palermo is CEO of Gaming & Resort Development Inc. in Laguna Niguel, Calif. I am a Vietnam-era veteran who never got within 3,000 miles of combat. As a physician, though, I am aware of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. J. Bruce Laubach, Castle Rock On May 10, Gov. Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 199 containing a school mill levy freeze, “because it represents good government.” I disagree. Jim Everson, Golden The “Putting a little English on history” column by Roger Hernandez (May 17) is typical of some writers who have made a career of downgrading the English contribution to the formation of this nation while inflating that of the Spanish. Earl F. Dodge, Lakewood Now that we are considering an amnesty program for the illegal immigrants, I think it’s time to get serious. Ron Cooper, Centennial The cartoon on the Rocky Mountain News letters page of May 11 was disgusting and juvenile. It showed a bearded, turbaned Muslim blaming the Democrats for dividing the U.S. over the war in Iraq and offering congratulations to a caricature of Osama Bin Laden sitting under a “Mission Accomplished” banner. Margaret Cross, Evergreen Tom Tancredo for president! Why not? He is a good man, a family man from Colorado. His voting record in Congress is good, like a normal man or a woman would and should vote. He is for smaller government, fiscal responsibility and honesty badly needed in Washington, D.C. Aleksander K. Aloel, Littleton People say that Denver needs a healthy downtown. All I know about downtown is that I don’t like it. Yaakov “Jim” Watkins, Denver The Army’s attempt to appropriate a huge chunk of Colorado ranchland is grossly unrealistic. America is going to elect a Democratic president next year, and we will get out of Iraq, beat our swords into plowshares, and tackle global warming. They won’t need to train all those soldiers to fight in a desert climate because many of them will be sent home — alive this time — courtesy of We the People. S.P. Williams, Lakewood Regarding “A nuclear renaissance?” published May 19: The article mentioned “safety” as one concern, but it was silent about the biggest safety issue. The operators say that the 100 reactors themselves are safe from suicide airplanes crashing into them. But it’s the waste ponds that are unprotected and radioactive. Our skies are filled with uncontrolled small planes, easy to steal. If some were crashed into nuke waste ponds, the disaster would be immense. I believe the government has advised people living within 10 miles of nuclear plants to keep chemicals in their medicine cabinet to counter radioactive poisoning of their families. Small wonder the rest of us say, “Not in my backyard!” Dan Lyons is a resident of Fort Collins. How do U.S. Department of Defense officials think they will attract desperately needed military recruits following their decision to ban several Internet sites extremely popular with our nation’s youth? (“Military blocks MySpace, YouTube, citing security concerns,” May 15.) Most young people at or nearing the age range needed by recruiters commonly spend more time on these Web sites than they do watching TV. Michael Elder, Littleton The May 25 Rocky Mountain News article on the 7-year-old in Greeley, “Arrests made in death of emaciated 7-year-old,” concerned a tragic incident that without doubt should be thoroughly investigated. Jim Lott, Denver I noticed that the top line on the cover of the May 8 Rocky Mountain News proclaims in bold print: “ ... How eco-terrorists pulled off Vail attack ... ” Jennifer Golden, Golden As the state director for the Poker Players Alliance, I have to ask why the weekly column on poker was canceled? I’m told by the Rocky Mountain News entertainment editor that there wasn’t enough interest in it. Gary R. Reed, Denver It seems like every other day I read about lower circulation and job layoffs with both newspapers. Ron Deitchler, Broomfield Florence Michael’s May 15 letter to the Rocky, “Why illegal aliens are criminals,” hit the nail right on the head. Jim Dillie, Denver In the most recent Republican presidential debate, the loudest applause of the evening came when Rudy Giuliani rebuked Ron Paul’s suggestion that America’s long-term foreign policy of Middle East intervention might have helped to motivate the 9/11 attacks. Randy Braun, Denver Alberto Gonzales has lied under oath repeatedly, shown a blatant disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law, and been instrumental in turning the Justice Department into just another agency in the political service of the Bush administration. If Bush won’t fire him and he won’t quit, then he must be impeached. He simply is not fit to serve. Nicholas Couch, Englewood The May 20 Rocky Mountain News editorial (“What should frosh know?”) concerning possible action by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to revise the Higher Education Admission Requirements gave the impression that a decision has been made to relax all the requirements. There is no question that Colorado should have rigorous standards for college-bound students so they are prepared to meet the academic challenges of college. The 2008 HEAR standards — four years of English; three years each of mathematics, natural science and social science; and two years of academic electives — remain in place. The CCHE also has to consider the resources available to implement a worthwhile policy, and the problem arises with the second phase, the so-called 2010 standards, which require a fourth year of mathematics and two years of a foreign language. An ongoing review by CCHE staff indicates that for some school districts — typically small, rural districts — it may not be practicable to offer these courses. The foreign language requirement in particular appears questionable, given that only one state college — the University of Colorado at Boulder — has a foreign language requirement even for college graduation. CCHE staff members are consulting widely with education and business groups, reviewing how other states handle this issue and considering national research and the report of the Colorado Alignment Council. The results of this review and staff recommendations will be presented to the commission at a public meeting on July 10. The authority to revise the standards rests solely with the commission, and it would be inappropriate to speculate about their decision. David E. Skaggs is the executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. They gave us LBJ Then Jimmy. Along came “Slick Willie.” Ah, good ole Jimmy. It’s probably a good thing they gave him a hammer instead of a nail gun or he'd shoot himself in the foot about once a month. I hear those things hurt! This letter has not been edited. Dan Lyons of Fort Collins writes: Where has letter writer B. Swanson been the last few years? (“McLanguage barrier,” May 17.) James Bretz, Boulder May 1 was the breaking point for me. While trying to get a ballot to election officials in downtown Denver, I had to fight a crowd of illegal immigrants. Chris Crosier, Denver The Rocky Mountain News captured a great photo of Lisl Auman hugging her mom on Mother’s Day. It looked like it was truly a touching moment for each of them. It is just to bad that Bruce VanderJagt will never have the opportunity to hug his mother ever again because he was killed as the result of a crime that Auman set in motion. Don Stanley, Littleton More and more, partisans of the left are dismissing arguments against their positions by declaring the questions already resolved. Ambrose P. Rikeman, Aurora An item headlined “4 questions for state higher-education director David Skaggs” appeared in the May 12 Rocky Mountain News. Fred E. Hammer, Parker One of the ways people of goodwill show their compassion is through exhibiting some respect for the dead. Liberals like Rocky Mountain News cartoonist Ed Stein like to tout their compassion for all. Jon Rhodes, Lakewood In his May 16 cartoon about the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, Ed Stein forgot to include St. Peter’s retort to Falwell: “Doesn’t matter — you’re in the wrong place, anyway.” David Lampert, Denver Thank you, Rocky Mountain News, for putting Chandler Grafner’s story on the front page (“Cries for help went nowhere,” May 10). I cannot tell you how heartbroken I am over such a tragedy. My heart goes out to the little boy who is now dead and all the suffering he endured before his death. Christine Deines, Lakewood In her recent letter, Patricia Ulbrich asked if the “In God We Trust” motto being removed from the face of the new $1 coin was a subtle way of easing our country into an “undesirable” change. Jon Takata, Thornton Is Qwest really committed to getting cable-TV franchises? A recent Rocky Mountain News editorial commended the Federal Communications Commission for enabling Qwest to get franchises with cities more easily (“Leverage for Qwest,” May 15). But a recent article implied that Qwest was the one who should be on the clock, rather than the cities, because the company has been “dragging its feet” in local franchise negotiations, according to local officials (“Qwest to accelerate cable franchise talks,” Business, May 12). As the Rocky editorial points out, Colorado consumers already have four video choices: over-the-air broadcast, cable, Dish Network and DirecTV. Seems like there is nothing stopping Qwest from being the fifth option except its refusal to work cooperatively with local officials. I’d like to see Qwest work a little harder to find common ground with our cities rather than running to the federal government for special treatment. Cheryl Gallegos is a resident of Denver. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. Jay and This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. This letter has not been edited. Fewer people I meet these days have any knowledge or recollection of the past bloody conflict in Northern Ireland between Catholics and Protestants, Irish and English, and the IRA terrorists’ bombing campaign in London. Javid Djalili, Denver Congratulations to James Gambino, whose tender sensibilities were bruised by three letters of the alphabet used to name a hamburger (“Burger’s name stirs a beef,” May 12). The owners of the Blue Parrot Restaurant, having long used the name wopburger, should really have named it the owpburger or pwoburger, then Gambino would be fine. Right now his soul is bruised. Lisa Arata, Greeley For the 75 percent of his listeners who took part in the Tom Martino Show poll on May 16 and are not offended by the wopburger, try these on for size: spicburger, wetbackburger, kikeburger or n-----burger. I’m proud to be Italian and the word wop offends me now just as much as when I was a kid in the ’50s. Frank Ciardullo, Thornton Kudos to the mom who tested her own kid for drug use! It’s time for parents to take responsibility for their kids misbehavior. Sarah Ziesenis of Thornton writes: In her recent letter, “Time for president’s game of ‘Risk’ to end,” Mary Schumacher writes “ ... the Iraq war is based on lies. It is not even in dispute anymore.” John England, Denver Once again, a reader sends in a suggestion that the U.S. government should go by the letter of the law. Michael Franzen, Aurora For nearly 40 years, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s résumé included the claim that he had been drafted to play major league baseball. That ended about a year ago when Richardson was suitably humiliated by a skeptical reporter at a New Mexico newspaper who found it was fiction. Jacqueline Tumbarella, Littleton There have been many discussions recently about how easy it is to change the Colorado Constitution. I agree. However, judging by the statistics about the number of laws passed by the legislature this past session (“Legislation by the numbers,” May 8), it would seem that it is way too easy for the state House and Senate to change or add to the Colorado statutes (73.83 percent success rate this year). Steve Uretsky, Littleton Whoever said, “No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session,” must have been thinking of the Colorado General Assembly. Michael P. Lantz, Denver All that was missing at the press conference unveiling of the Senate’s version of immigration reform (amnesty) was the participants wearing sombreros. Steven Page, Lakewood As I was driving home last week, National Public Radio acquainted me with the news that several senators had reached agreement on legislation that would move the 12 million to 20-plus million illegal aliens into citizenship. That 12 million to 20 million becomes 60 million to 120 million in one generation. Think the environment is stressed now? Michael C. Zink, Denver A recent front page of the Rocky Mountain News asks the $8 million question: “How could so much money vanish without state noticing?” Bill Jevons, Boulder Contrary to the Rocky Mountain News’ view (“User fees on aviation,” May 18), nobody wants to modernize the U.S. air-traffic control system more than the nation’s air-traffic controllers. The Government Accountability Office, in recent testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee, reaffirmed its long-held view that failing to involve controllers in the technology development process has led to costly reworks and delays. Patrick Forrey is president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. He writes from Washington, D.C. The Senate with input from the White House has come up with a new “comprehensive” immigration bill which would grant an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants a path to citizenship once they’ve jumped through enough contorted hoops. Tom Melrose, Highlands Ranch Last week’s decision by the Senate to give in to the illegal alien lobby is just another nail in the coffin of the middle class and in the very heart of this great republic. Todd Knurr, Aurora The U.S. Senate’s immigration bill is a declaration of war on America and all American workers by the political and financial elites and by the race-identity invaders. It would put an end to America as we know it. I urge all American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq to desert the field and return home to fight the real enemies of America. Mike McGarry, Aspen Many won’t remember, but 20 years ago we had an immigration crisis. Joe McGloin, Sheridan I’m always concerned about the way political perspective is portrayed in the so-called “mainstream media.” Deryl Sabin, Lakewood Many lives have been lost because of false information on the Iraq situation. Bring our fighting men and women home and let’s not be afraid to admit we made a mistake. Easy to start a war, but difficult to stop it. William H. Greene, Denver Environmentalists know, but don’t frequently publicize, that if they are going to be successful in cleaning up the atmosphere the government will need to make it financially painful for the general public to continue their polluting ways. Mike Hagan, Greeley Comments by Democratic leaders of the Colorado legislature that the 2007 session was “characterized by conflict between big oil and gas companies and ordinary Coloradans” and “the ordinary Coloradans won” was at best a gratuitous slap at the 70,000 employees who work for the oil and gas industry in Colorado and the companies that pay $500 million in taxes and contribute $20 billion to Colorado’s economy every year. Since 1973, the left has sanctioned the extermination of more than 40 million unborn children through various forms of abortion. One of their taunts over the years has been, “The Supreme Court decided it, and that makes it the law of the land!” Jim Kiel, Aurora The Rocky Mountain News recently featured a photograph of a teacher attending a rally for higher wages (“Teachers hold noisy rally,” May 9). He was carrying a sign that said “Professional $ for Professional Work.” Oh please — a bad teacher gets the same pay as good teacher. When the teachers union accepts true merit pay, perhaps they can lay claim to the title of professionals. Until then, they may as well be Teamsters. John Pilon Sr., Denver A recent Rocky editorial (“A redundant hate law,” May 13) expressed opposition to a new federal hate-crimes law, but as usual on this issue, the big problem with this kind of legislation wasn’t addressed. Steven Flanders is a resident of Denver. I laughed reading the headline about the state employee ripping off the state for millions (“Data glitch set off alarm bells,” “ Every American citizen needs to read this! In every story I see about illegal immigration, in either the print or electronic media, the estimated number of illegal immigrants is 12 million. Charlie Reynolds, Denver I first came to Denver from London in the late 1970s. It was very different then from the city I rediscovered a decade later, and, over a series of visits in the 1980s and 1990s, I have watched the downtown area grow and expand at an astonishing pace. Ivan March, London Editor's note: An abbreviated version of this letter appears in May 19 print editions of the Rocky Mountain News. I was appalled by the photo of the anorexic model published in The Denver Post’s USA Weekend magazine of April 22. At first, I thought this was a follow-up to the article published in the Post magazine section several weeks ago decrying the glamorization of anorexic young girls by the “fashion industry.” I liked the policy of Spain, mentioned in this article, that fashion models must have a healthy minimum of body fat and must be at least 16 (I think 18 would be more appropriate). Then the Post turns around and carries a piece of junk like that picture. G. Hart, Englewood I just want to thank the Rocky Mountain News for its front page photo and accompanying story of May 8, “Grandma, Satan’s in the wall.” Sandra J. Damron, Colorado Springs If the Fort Dix military reservation had been attacked by jihadists, would it have made the front page of the Rocky Mountain News? Why, then, was the foiled plot to do so relegated to Page 34? Doesn’t a terrorist plan to kill as many American soldiers as possible deserve the front page? Dianne Moyers, Centennial In the spirit of Paul Campos’ ridiculous May 8 column, “A look back from 2017,” in which he imagined the military refusing to follow the president’s order to attack Iran, I offer this continuation: M. Hout is a resident of Arvada. Extremist Glenn Morris’ bullying and name-calling of Italian-Americans who support the Columbus Day national holiday, has now expanded to include state leaders who dare to disagree with his opinions (“‘Cowardice’ cited in Columbus fight,” May 9). Richard SaBell, Denver While it may be true that Columbus and his fellow Europeans killed thousands of Native Americans, these same Indians caused the death of millions of Europeans by giving them tobacco! Instead of protesting, these Native Americans should be celebrating because they got the “last laugh”! John P. Cardie, Broomfield Here is a shocking truth for the liberal pundits who want to cut funding and force our troops home. Listen carefully: The terrorists declared war on us! We didn’t start the war with them. Mike Smith, Golden Once again President Bush has failed the American people by continuing to follow his failed policies at the expense of our brave brothers and sisters. Michael Lamontagne, Aurora Gov. Bill Ritter is thumbing his nose at the law, i.e., the constitution, the part that says that a change in tax policy that results in increased taxes in any district of the state must have the approval of the voters (“School funding plan approved/Ritter gets way on tax rate freeze; GOP sees backlash,” May 2). John Chavez, Westminster In the May 9 issue of the Rocky Mountain News, I noticed a very interesting correlation between two seemingly different articles. On Page 5, there was a story about American Indian Movement member Glenn Morris and his continuing struggle to do away with the Columbus Day holiday and the annual parade that accompanies it. Neil Haverstick, Lakewood Doesn’t Glenn Morris understand that if it hadn’t been Columbus, in time it would have been someone else? (“‘Cowardice’ cited in Columbus fight,” May 9.) It could have been a Viking, an Englishman, a Frenchman — some other European. And where does he think the American Indian population would be today if some European, or eventually perhaps, an Asian, hadn’t “discovered” America? Corinne Hunt, Denver The recent articles in the Rocky Mountain News about the city of Denver’s plan to revitalize downtown have been exciting. As a native, I would love to see downtown Denver a gleaming place of activity and renown. Dave Brown, Englewood Has the language of choice at McDonald’s restaurants become Spanish? B. Swanson, Aurora Sounds like our sales taxes are going way up again. The Regional Transportation District is unwilling or unable to build light rail to Denver International, so now it is looking to magnetic levitation technology. Richard Weber, Denver I would like to extend an invitation to Stephanie Rossi, the teacher who was “disturbed” by the fact that the Spanish did good things during the early days of European exploration and settlement of North America (“Little to champion about conquistadors,” April 20). Jack Martinez, Wheat Ridge Regarding the recent letter from teacher Stephanie Rossi about what the Spanish conquistadors did to Native Americans (“Little to champion about conquistadors”), I have just one question: Who put Native Americans onto reservations and took away their land? Erminda Martinez, Denver I read again on May 6 about the huge profits the oil companies are making. It’s really hard to believe, so I got out my dictionary and looked up the word greed. It said “Selfish desire beyond reason.” Kevin Watson, Golden This Congress has voted on a bill to cut off funding to our troops in the middle of a war they voted for, and have handed the terrorists a schedule for our defeat. Brenda Winberg, Littleton Like a flag over a coffin, there is a pall over our nation. What sense does this make? The Los Angeles Police Department has become notorious for beefing up their arrest rates the easy way by planting drugs and closing cases the easy way by coercing confessions. C. Dugan, Denver While letter writer David Eichenberger is entitled to his opinion, it is flatly inaccurate (“Bush should brush up on Constitution,” April 30). Congress did give President Bush the authority to go to war against Iraq. This is in accordance with the Constitution, as is the president’s role as commander-in-chief to conduct the war. Lowell Whitney, Arvada I was quite amused by the tidbit in the May 2 Rocky Mountain News concerning the woman brandishing several poisonous asps in an attempt to elude arrest (“Assault by deadly asp”). Judy Reilly, Centennial I have a question I wish someone could answer. Charla Colson, Centennial Am I the only one who has noticed that when the GOP was in control of the U.S. Congress, the price of gas hovered around $2 per gallon, but now that the Democrats are in control, the price of gas has climbed over $3 and does not appear to be coming down any time soon? Tim Vronay, Clifton Kathleen Doherty Brooks (no hometown provided) writes: I am writing to bring to your attention that Congressman Mark Udall has failed the people of Colorado by paving the way for the Army to receive funding in 2008 for its plan to expand the Pinon Canyon training site in southern Colorado. He is in direct opposition to the Colorado House and Senate, the Governor, as well as the “will of the People” he serves! It is truly unbelievable to me that he can thumb his nose at what his constituents and the people he is supposed to be serving in his state have voiced. It is time we declare all out war on his elected position! He no longer is our elected official but one who is a puppet of the government system. We cannot afford to reelect people with that dangerous mentality. This letter has not been edited. I hear the illegal aliens claiming they are not criminals. Perhaps they do not understand what a criminal is and someone can translate this for them: A criminal is someone who breaks the law. Florence Michael, Denver Early generations of immigrants came to this country when all it had to offer was freedom to dream and hope for the future. Through their struggle and toil we now live in a wealthy nation and have so much more than they ever did. Lisa Albro, Castle Rock The suspension of habeas corpus concerning those deemed “enemy military combatants” in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, should be viewed as a disgrace to the standards to which we hold ourselves as Americans. Natalie Johnson, Denver Only a couple of days after the tragedy of Virginia Tech, people were already blaming the media, video games and Hollywood for the “cause” of the massacre. Jon Penk, Northglenn Letter writer Geri Stutheit (“Practically speaking, handguns are not the answer,” May 2) dismisses the possibility that a gunman might give second thought to his cowardly plan if he knew some among his intended victims had guns as well. Arch Heller, Centennial I was disappointed to read that Gov. Bill Ritter decided not to renew Bruce Benson’s board position at Metro State (“GOP angry at ouster of Benson from board,” May 3). Alex Burney, Denver I was just wondering —who wants Iraq to succeed more, the U.S. administration or the Iraqi people? The answer is clear to me, and regrettably it is the U.S. administration. Dave Beer, Denver Reading K. Sawyer’s letter to the editor of May 7 about the Iraq war, “An enormous fraud,” a famous quote from World War II came to mind: “Nuts!” A.A. Galke, Castle Rock I find much to disagree with the Rocky Mountain News about regarding Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers (“A volatile DA,” May 7). Robert W. Meyer is a resident of Aurora. Regarding syndicated columnist George Will’s Rocky Mountain News column of April 29, “Apocalyptic Dust Bowl era was the real thing”: If this 1930s event occurred today, the proponents of catastrophic events happening because of global warming would have undeniable “living proof” that our robust activity since the Industrial Revolution caused global warming which caused the dust bowl to occur. Richard E. Bennett, Denver I followed the Rocky Mountain News series on DPS, “Leaving to Learn,” and I feel that one important voice is missing — the voice of parents like me who are thrilled with their Denver public school. Erica Stetson, Denver Global warming is a common- sense reality. Mark Hermanson, Aurora I read an article recently about 15 Air Force Academy cadets who were expelled from the academy for cheating. Perhaps the Aurora City Council should obtain a copy of the Cadet Code and enforce it upon themselves and the top administrators of the city. Mark A. Golden, Aurora President Bush’s prompt veto of the Iraq spending bill signaled his willingness to play politics with the future of our armed forces in Iraq. Of course, he has accused Democrats of doing the same. Mark D. Benner, Anton I am very tired of hearing the spin masters and media members complain that we have lost or are losing the war in Iraq. This is so far from the truth. Anthony Edwards, A wave of sadness swept over me upon reading that Denver International Airport is replacing Pete Smythe’s voice on the trains there (“New voices coming for DIA trains,” May 7). Donna Harrison, Centennial Congratulations to the Rocky Mountain News on its thorough and thoughtful exposé, “Leaving to Learn.” Jim Schwartz, Centennial P.S. — In reading Denver Classroom Teachers Association President Kim Ursetta’s defense of the Denver Public Schools (“Let’s work together for the sake of children,” April 27), it is apparent to me she is a graduate of Denver Public Schools. How else can one explain her deflecting, spinning, sanitizing and euphemizing the abject and repeated failures of this school system? Dr. Eric Fuller of Denver writes: Though I disagree with syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin on most issues, I have to agree on her recent column regarding the stupid, racist and boneheaded remarks from Don Imus, “Imus shot just a drop in the bucket”. This letter has not been edited. The Associated Press story of April 28, “Guns on campus give students edge, Utah says,” Mark Liveris Congratulations to the winning team from Poudre High School for their victory in the National Science Bowl! (“Quick, hire these guys!” Extra!, May 1.) Martha Dyckes, Denver Based on their performance at the first Republican presidential debate May 3, MSNBC’s Three Stooges — Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermman and Joe Scarborough — should really be hosts on Comedy Central. Jan Herron, Evergreen I have found The Denver Post’s new, downgraded TV Week magazine to be much more difficult to use, and it provides much less information. Everette McCully, Erie Someone please tell me that the article about the memorial ceremony for fallen Colorado peace officers wasn’t really buried on Page 17 of the May 5 Rocky Mountain News (“3 officers' names added to memorial”). Donn Kraemer, Golden Brian Stuckey of Denver writes: Talk radio host and Rocky columnist Peter Johnson of Longmont writes: I found Amy Goodman's column, "Spanish Civil War Veterans Have a Lesson for America", to be a tad one-sided, and hence not as valid as it could have been. Yes, she correctly notes that Hitler and Mussolini supported Franco, but neglects to tell us why Franco was able to gain power and a popular political base. The reason was that a majority of the Spanish public had by 1936 come to realize that Stalin and the Communist International had gained the upper hand in the Loyalist/Coalition government, and were threatening to turn Spain into the first of the Soviet client-states like those that came into being after 1945. In the Battle of Barcelona in 1936, some writers have suggested that the Communists were shooting more Anarchists and Socialists behind the lines than were being shot by the Francoists at the front. This letter has not been edited. Words cannot express my horror and disgust at reading of the abuse, neglect and death of 7-year-old Chandler Grafner (“School officials, grandmother reported concerns about boy,” May 10). We can only imagine Chandler’s tears and terrors as he huddled in that locked closet, starving. It’s not a pretty picture. Robert Gunnett, Morrison I have been following the never-ending political pressure being placed on President Bush by the Democrats. I have been trying to determine if the Democrats actually have a strategy to exit from the mess in Iraq other than to “cut and run” which I will not support. Michael J. Mee, Westminster President Bush keeps referring to the Iraq war as a winnable possibility, but it is not. We went into Iraq on false pretenses and now he is not going to let us get out of there. Marlene Brunner, Yuma I am writing in regard to the incident that took place during an immigration rally at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. Police Chief William J. Bratton said that a police order to disperse probably wasn’t effective because it was in English and given from a helicopter (according to The Associated Press). Michele Tall, Denver We are a country of laws. Those who enter our country illegally disrespect our laws and take advantage of our generous immigration system. We should no longer be passive about deportation. Larry Rerucha, Loveland Gov. Bill Ritter is a coward for pushing SB 199 — a property tax increase — without a vote of the people. Why is he afraid of a vote of the people? Bill Huffor, Woodland Park Watching the first GOP presidential debate on May 3, I was struck by the diversity of the candidates. I saw 50-year-old white guys, 60-year-old white guys, and even a couple of 70-year-old white guys. The message was equally diverse. Jeff Smith, Denver I read with interest the item about Time magazine’s 100 most influential people (“No time for Bush,” Globe, May 4). Jeanine MacDougall, Aurora Grant D. Cyrus of Boulder writes: Sniff. This letter has not been edited. R The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is mistaken in issuing warnings about traces of mercury found in walleye and other fish. (“Mercury-tainted fish found in two more Colorado lakes,” May 4). David Martosko, Washington, D.C. Regarding the April 27 Rocky Mountain News story, “Despite slips, Hick feels the love,” former Denver City Councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt is off base — it’s not just white businessmen who love Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. The guy has a 90 percent approval rating. Everybody loves him! I’d like to thank the Rocky Mountain News for taking on the issue of Denver Parks and Recreation Department Manager Kim Bailey (“Parks and Recreation boss is MIA,” May 1 and “Her noble ‘sacrifice,’” On Point, May 2). Marcia A. Whitcomb, Denver Parks and Recreation Department Manager Kim Bailey is a disgrace to the city and county of Denver (“Parks and Recreation boss is MIA,” May 1). What kind of an example is she setting for city employees? And where is the administrative oversight? William Brewer, Denver “The case against stay-at-home moms,” Mary Winter’s Right at Home column of May 5 on Leslie Bennetts’ new book The Feminine Mistake is a vital and timely message, and not just for women. Anne Culver, Denver The letter that appeared in the April 25 Rocky Mountain News, “Congress sending us another Vietnam,” contains some characterizations that are accurate and many that are not. Certainly the comparison of Iraq to Vietnam is quite accurate. Richard Chuvarsky, Denver Our governor is bypassing the TABOR Amendment by calling this tax increase a freeze (“School funding plan approved/Ritter gets way on tax rate freeze; GOP sees backlash,” May 2). This is fiscal deception and all property owners should be calling for our representatives to take action to challenge this increase in our property taxes. T.J. Weddell, Lakewood I think Sen. Hillary Clinton just made a big mistake. She wants her husband to campaign for her. Fred L. Eblen, Centennial An animal rights group in Vienna wants to have Hiasl, a 26-year-old male chimpanzee legally declared a “person.” They want to give him basic human rights, except the right to vote. Frederick L. Peal, Centennial Isn’t it amazing how these illegal Mexicans can demonstrate and demand this and that from the United States, but do not demonstrate in their “beloved” Mexico? Patrick Cipolla, Estes Park George Lilly of Denver writes: Letter writer Ed Ramsey of Thornton writes: Given its content, the headline over Ellen Goodman’s April 28 column — “Only women know needs in motherhood” — is deceitful, because the right to choose to kill one’s child isn’t motherhood. It’s not for the good of the child. It’s bad for the fetus. It’s homicide — even if legal. Walter Smetana, Highlands Ranch I could barely believe my eyes during the first Republican presidential debate when three hands shot up in response to the question “Who doesn’t believe in evolution?” Raising his hand high was our own Tom Tancredo, cementing his position as Colorado’s biggest political embarrassment. Charles Buchanan, Denver In his Rocky Mountain News column of May 2, “Marchers seek dignity, recognition for efforts,” Bill Johnson quoted Cinthya Palma as saying “You are never going to see an American scrubbing toilets, picking up trash and humiliating themselves ... ” Karen Robinson, Loveland Please have ABC News’ Tom Bell George Lilly of Denver writes: John Johnson of Littleton writes: K.A. Skala of Denver writes: Bill Horton of Fort Collins writes: The Lower Downtown Neighborhood Association strongly supports the efforts of the Revitalizing the Core Task Force to push for action to clean up blighted properties in the center of Denver. Jack Tone, Denver Isn’t it hypocritical that the U.S. endorsed the color-coded terror alert system that blatantly manipulated the fears of the American public while the much bigger threat to all human survival and quality of life, climate change, is virtually ignored? Leslie Titheridge, Denver Let Alberto Gonzales stay on as U.S. attorney general and make a mockery of his office, even if about the only thing he could remember in Senate testimony was his name. Let Paul Wolfowitz stay at the World Bank, an example for the World of American cronyism and lack of scruples. Let the president veto the Iraq funding bill. Mark Dunn, Golden The contention that illegal immigrants fill jobs that Americans won’t do is simply not true. Michael D. Smith, Lakewood Although it seems too little and too late, many of us hope many Immigration and Customs Enforcement substations spring up to fight this illegal invasion (“ICE expansion?/Report sees need for sub-offices in Greeley, Springs,” April 28). A. Kitchens, Littleton This is in response to Maxwell Elementary School parent Monica Moore’s highlighted quote in the April 24 Rocky Mountain News story, “DPS chief runs race to revitalize.” Michael Jones, Aurora The tiny Rocky Mountain News item of April 28, “All tapped out” (Extra!), says that no water flows into Colorado, it all flows out. Collier Smith, Lafayette Cathy Hazouri, Colorado ACLU executive director, in her April 22 Speakout commentary, “Giving parolees voting rights will make us all safer,” urged enactment of Senate Bill 83, which includes an amendment to extend voting rights for parolees. Rod Roesch, Castle Rock It would make more sense to replace the federal income tax with a state consumer tax that would allow each state to collect taxes on all purchases and remit a fixed percentage to the federal government with no exceptions. Jack C. Tanner, Broomfield Earle Wilson of Wellington writes: This letter has not been edited. ‘I guess I thought it couldn’t happen to me.’ ”
Ms. Rodriguez is still in school. That is good that she is trying to complete her education and wants to become a Nurse.
I have some questions about the whole story.
Who paid for the prenatal care?
I am not going to believe for one second this family is not getting some sort of aid paid for with our tax money.
Now you can argue her mother works and pays taxes too.
There is no way this family is getting by or Ms.
There lies the problem and the devil in the details.
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Posted by denver-admin at 11:35 AM
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RTD
One can only wonder, in an audit of RTD’s management of Fas
If not, or placed incompetently, then the onus is on Mr. Marsella’s tenure as well as the board’s for it’s oversight failure.
I am for mass transit - but against mass incompetence.
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Shock jocks
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It’s our actions that have fueled terrorism
Smith’s connection between Iraqi insurgents and terrorist attacks on the U.S. are the epitome of the ignorance plaguing the Bush administration and the American political right. Warmongers like Smith are quick to use these scare tactics, but seem to forget that we declared war on Iraq, not the other way around, and it was our invasion of Iraq that created or brought the terrorists there.
Had we not invaded, we would not be fighting Iraqi terrorists in Baghdad or Main Street USA.
The same mindless rhetoric will undoubtedly be used to justify an attack on and/or occupation of Iran. Once we topple the Iranian regime, insurgents will emerge on the streets of Tehran to engage U.S. forces and Smith will argue that if we don’t fight them in Tehran, we will find them on Main Street USA. The reality is that our own military adventures create these insurgents and terrorists.
A long-term stop to terrorist attacks against Americans will require a critical look at our own international behavior.
Just say no to an attack on Iran
There are serious reports from high-level government sources that the Bush administration is planning to launch a pre-emptive, illegal and sustained air and naval war against Iran. The reason? The Bush administration wants exclusive control of the Middle East’s huge oil reserves and they view the current Iranian regime as an impediment to that goal.
When Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to include a prohibition against an attack on Iran in the Iraq supplemental funding bill, she gave Bush the green light to go ahead with his plans against Iran.
Members of Congress will not be able to undo the profound and lasting effects an attack on Iran will have on the entire region. And they will not be able to dodge the shame of shunning their oversight responsibilities yet again. Call and tell them to prohibit Bush from attacking Iran.
Controversial panel forgot the jail part
A psychologist on the panel said, “I’m going to encourage you to use drugs appropriately. And why I am going to take that position is because you’re going to do it anyway.” Does the panel and the school board have the blessing of Boulder’s (and all neighboring communities’) police departments? Because no matter the context of that statement (and others encouraging drinking), drug use and underage drinking remain illegal.
I can’t believe the superintendent or anyone else is attempting to defend that. Next year, the panel might as well add, “Go ahead, because we know you’re going to end up in jail anyway. Tell your parents to wait by the phone with bail and an attorney.”
Hiding the homeless
We want the country to get a really good impression of Denver, so let’s hide our homeless under the red carpet we’re rolling out so no one thinks we have “big city” problems like other big cities.
Perhaps we’ll be able to attract more people to Colorado to join us on the freeways every day and form a longer line up to the mountains every weekend.
What other things can we sweep under the carpet? Tax increases? Crime? Water restrictions? Honesty?
Nothing to fear
My daughter-in-law from Europe is going through a five-year process to legally gain U.S. citizenship. She isn’t marching in the streets.
Every person illegally in the United States can make the choice to return to their country and go through the process like my daughter-in-law and others who respect our laws.
True lawful immigrants have nothing to fear from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
Corporate welfare
Isn’t our tax support of aliens a form of “corporate welfare” then?
What policies would support these companies in the hiring of citizen workers instead?
Talk-show host’s rant
I applaud business owners such as Peggy Beck for taking a stand against Newman’s hateful language.
When will we wake up and realize that imprisoning, torturing and discriminating against entire communities, such as Muslims, does nothing to strengthen or protect our country?
The root of all our ills
Let everyone have the opportunity to help reduce population, the root of all our problems.
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Lisa Bornstein & baby boomers
I have 2 daughters in their 20s, so have been open to good music of all kinds, and they have embraced the music of my generation the same way I embraced the swing and bebop of my parents’ youth. But in the 60s there were about 7 genres of popular music to get into, and now there are about 700, in other words, something for everyone! I despise hiphop but it’s not very hard to ignore. The punk movement of the late 70s and early 80s was the last great “sound,” which is still being carried on by new bands, as much as the neo-psychedelic or neo-folk groups of today. And “Rolling Stone” magazine began in 1967 so is obviously skewed toward the “boomers,” but there are dozens of other music magazines on the stands, many probably compiling “greatest heavy metal albums", “greatest alt-country songs", “greatest emo bands", etc.
TV? It’s gotten neither better nor worse since I was a kid. I don’t watch series like I used to, but the ones I like, I like just as much.
Movies? The 70s did seem to be a kind of cinematic renaissance, but just like all of these pop culture art forms, there have been truly great artists and masterpieces in every decade of the 20th century, and art lovers of all ages have an immense treasure to mine if they so desire. Generational differences are much more negligible than they used to be, so you can stop trying to perpetrate the gap. We’ll die off soon enough, as will your generation, but the art we leave behind, as well as our commitment to peace, love, and understanding (still nothing funny about them!) will live on.
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Cabrini shrine
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Social Security
Communism in the old Soviet Union lasted 70 years, 1917 to 1987. Social Security in the USA lasted 70 years, 1935 to 2005, That is to say SS was dead in 2005 but somehow, like El Cid, continues to live.
Let there be a program set in motion to phase out SS completely over the next 70 years. The cut-off age should be 21. The young workers pay nothing in and no benefits accrue.
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Fort Collins war protesters
Not quite true. Those of us on the west side of College, who oppose the continuation of the war, frequently carry a sign which states, “GOD BLESS THE WHOLE WORLD, NO EXCEPTIONS.” I believe that God does not bless the evils that many nations do — and instead condemns those evils. I also believe that God approves of all efforts to end all wars and promote peaceful relations between all of God’s children.
If some 2/3rds of the American people oppose the war, as polls indicate, why does the war continue? If more of the 137,000 population of Fort Collins were distracted and cared enough, there would be a lot more than the some 20 people who gather on both sides every Saturday. I admire those on the east side (the war supporters), since they, at least, are not part of: “the apathetic throngs, the cowed and the meek, who see the world’s great wrongs, and dare not speak” (author unknown to me}.
The war continues primarily because too few people care enough to raise their voices in anger. The 3,300 dead and 24,000 wounded Americans, and the 655,000 dead Iraq civilians — and their grieving families have not aroused the consciences of the American public sufficiently. The lack of a draft, the silence on this issue by most religious leaders and the failure to impose heavy war taxes have also contributed to the nation’s apathy about the war.
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Iraq war
If we attacked Iraq to save lives here, then we went in for the wrong reason, we have now lost more lives there than we lost in the 9-11 attack on us. Not only have we lost close to 3,500 soldiers in Iraq, we have also had tens of thousands of our soldier wounded and mentally scarred and hundreds of billions of dollars wasted. That does not include the perhaps hundreds of thousands of families that have suffered physically and mentally because we made up some reason to go to war.
If we attacked Iraq for any reason related to oil then it was also for the wrong reason because our gas prices are now sky high. Could be that we attacked the wrong country. With the mentality that has existed in the White House here lately, all those people probably look alike in long gowns.
Perhaps our soldiers aren’t supposed to know who they are fighting. They have spent four years wondering around in the dessert accomplishing nothing but stepping on bombs and occasionally getting shot at. It just seems that after four years of failure someone in Washington, D.C. could have come with the idea that all those hundreds of thousands of soldiers would have looked mighty good and it would have been much safer policing our borders and assuring that no one could harm us. It is never too late, however, look at all the damage and the hurt that has been brought to us because soneone did not know his butt from a hole in the desert.
Elected officials
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Lisl Auman
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Immigration
“20 million people becoming legal is NOT enough. Not all are Mexican and that is the problem. We need more Mexican people to become citizens so that the Republican Party can be done away with and America can have a ONE PARTY system of government. America will be better off with a ONE PARTY system of government.” Javier Rodriguez founder of the May Day Marches:
Both Mr. Morones and Rodriguez are American citizens but swear allegiance to Mexico.
Pro immigration Activists agree with the following: America is an oppressive country to minorities.
Americans are “imperialist pigs” and “slave holders” The oppressive government of the United States must be dismantled.
War was declared on the United States on 4/29/06 at 7PM with a “new National Anthem
They want
This is not about human rights or immigration. These people do not want to be part of America. They want to take America from within for
We, the people, have an obligation to our children and future generations to insure that they will live in freedom and prosperity under the Constitution of the United States of America. We must stand united and stop this invasion of our country and way of life. We must insure that the government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth. We can be silent no more!
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Jerry Falwell
Despite “The Good,
How many “Bibical Sins", did he violate?
Where do I start?
Stealing from the Poor and ignorant?
Taking their money and his position of power and fostering Hate.
Doesn’t the “Golden Rule” count for Anything?
Mr. Falwell was sent away at the “Gates of Heaven”
In my mind...God was not pleased to see him.
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Health care
Bringing more government involvement into health care “reform” is not a solution. It is a recipe for disaster. Of the proposals considered, only one reflected my views: the “FAIR” proposal, which has been cast aside. Only by reducing government involvement in health care will we get the kind of justice that will bring about the best care for all at the best possible price. We must remember that health care is not and cannot be free: the skills of doctors, researchers, technology companies must be fairly compensated. The alternative is slavery: of the few taxpayers who will foot the huge (unworkable) bills, and of the providers of health care who will ultimately leave the profession in order not to be enslaved by it.
This is not regulation on some dispensable part of our lives. This concerns everyone’s survival to some degree; nobody will be untouched by the outcome of this process. We have a lot to lose!
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Secretary of state
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Immigration plan
But what do they do? They add more insanity.
They are allowing illegal alien gang members to become citizens by simply declaring their desire to leave the gangs.
The lawyers hired by the illegal’s for their “application” will be paid for by the legal citizens of this great Republic through our tax dollars.
What about illegal aliens that have been sentenced by a court of law to be deported and have absconded? They get to stay too!
And all of these aforementioned, educated and skilled illegal aliens get to cut in line ahead of all those already going through the legal process!
But we’re not done yet Bob, they get to bring their extended family!
When Rome fell, it fell from many causes. One of the causes centered on a deal struck with a certain “barbarian tribe.
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Greeley mayor & immigration
Mayor Tom Selders of Greeley is a brave person. In urging an end to immigration raids in his community, he is speaking for the children who have no voice, children whose parents were arrested and deported because they are in this country without documentation. Let’s face it, the immigration system wouldn’t be a mess if our government hadn’t given so many mixed messages for so many years—we want your labor, cheap, and we don’t want you to make any demands like fair wages or safe working conditions, and when you’ve given us what we want, please go back to Mexico or Peru or Nicaragua. Oh, and don’t forget to leave your spouse and children at home. My reply to Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, who asks if we’re demanding that the government stop enforcing the law when we ask for an end to immigration raids, is ‘If it’s a broken law, and folks who know the issue know that it is, put your efforts into fixing it, not enforcing it.’ We can only hope that our legislators listen to the majority of people who, like Mayor Selders, want comprehensive immigration reform that is fair to those who do the labor as well as those who hire them, and that includes keeping families together.
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I-70 corridor
The Owens administration’s selection of a highway-widening-only option ignored the overwhelming call of Colorado citizens for a balanced approach for transportation in the mountain corridor that includes transit. A widening-only approach was a 20th century solution to our 21st century problems, would devastate the livelihood and environment of our mountain communities, would increase the consumption of ever-more expensive and scarce gasoline and the production of dangerous greenhouse gases, and after 15 years of construction-induced gridlock would reach capacity 5 years after completion. What kind of a solution is that?
Taking a step back in the process, as Mr. George has called for, will allow us to develop a 50-year, not a 5-year, solution. Efficient, environmentally-friendly transit would offer Coloradans and visitors to our beautiful state an option other than endless miles of brake lights, choking exhaust fumes, and highway shutdowns due to accidents or bad weather. Imagine instead a fast, quiet train ride after a weekend of skiing or camping while sipping a hot cup of coffee, reading a book, and zipping past highway traffic.
Because of Mr. George’s sensible decision, developing an economically and environmentally sustainable solution to our mountain corridor transportation problem is once again within our grasp. It is vital that we take advantage of this opportunity and make our voices heard.
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Mike Littwin
Littwin asks how do we know they don’t want to speak our language? Because people who have been here 15 years still can’t speak ENGLISH! How do we know?!!! Is he really that stupid? Go anywhere and listen to all of them speaking Spanish. They don’t want to learn. Somehow they think we owe them to learn Spanish!!!! I for one am tired of molly coddling them and having to pay for these illegals. Littwin must not care how over crowded our country is becoming- driven by illegal immigration and chain migration. He must believe that if a crook steals a car and gets caught- if he pays a fine he can keep the car and there’s no consequences for his actions. If someone breaks into his house and then pays a fine- he’s allowed to stay in his house. I guess that’s ok with Littwin.
The man is not wrth reading. He constantly bashes Tancredo and anyone who believes as Tancredo believes. He couldn’t make a pimple on Tancredo’s backside!!!! I’ve noticed he’s removed his email address so we can’t tell him what an idiot he is so please forward this to him.
In the mean time, please give the man his walking papers cuz his writing isin’t worth the space it takes up!
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Controversial teacher
Next I would like to talk about the issue of the pictures of drugs and kids getting arrested in the yearbook. The press has made it seem that Conifer High School is turning into a school of druggies and that it not the case. Not everyone does drugs and not everyone is getting arrested. One of my teachers this year explained to use in class that Conifer High School is not a bad school, because he use to work in the city and it was much worse there. He proceeded to tell us that when he taught down there one student would get suspended every day. Up in Conifer we only have about one student suspended per semester or year. We are not a bad school! I live in Lakewood and go to Conifer High School, because I don‘t want to go to any of the schools in the city. The city schools have more drug, gang, and kids getting arrested and that is why I drive about 20 extra minutes so I can go to a good high school. That great school where teachers listen to what we have to say and we are all one big happy family is Conifer High School. I am a high school senior and I believe that Conifer High School is not going bad.
Now you know first hand that Ms. McTague is not a horrible teacher as she has been made out to be. You also now know that Conifer High School is not full of bad kids. Just compare the city schools to it and you will see the big difference that Conifer High School is just a great place to attend.
Lisl Auman
If the thug (who killed the policeman) Auman was riding with had not killed himself, he would have been found guilty of first degree murder and Auman may have been spared the felony murder trial because there would have been a murderer to try in court.
The facts of the case also indicate Auman did not legally commit burglary but broke into and entered a house to retrieve only her own property (which is not burglary per se) so there was no underlying felony.
I’m in disagreement with two points of Colorado law or how it is conducted. Felony murder should be restricted or limited to apply to those persons who actually form an evil intent to kill and not people who are in police custody at the time of the murder.
Second, I believe that anyone who kills a policeman should face the death penalty and not face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The only reason a murderer should escape the death penalty is actual innocence.
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Iraq war
Thanks also, Congress, for financing the continuing blood and mayhem, death and indignity - the coward’s way out instead of doing the right thing and ending this national embarrassment.
I guess we’re just not done building our obscenely grotesque embassy in Baghdad - I guess we’re just not quite done building those 6 American military bases, which will contribute immensely to the well-being of the average Iraqi - guess we are just not quite done STEALING from the Iraqi people, and leaving this region in an unholy mess
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Air traffic controllers
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association shares the concern of the editor for the need to modernize the air traffic system. In the early 90’s, the FAA tried to implement ISSS* without including NATCA’s participation. This ended up costing the taxpayers in excess of $3 billion dollars and the project was never implemented. It was a complete failure. Since then, the FAA has included NATCA’s participation in numerous modernizational projects with great success.
The FAA’s current mission is to cut costs, no matter how much it jeopardizes the lives of the flying public. Air traffic control facilities throughout the country are severely understaffed forcing controllers to work longer hours with a constant increase in air traffic. There are ways to cut costs without jeopardizing safety, however, the FAA does not want to hear these ideas. Unfortunately, this came to light in Lexington, KY, where innocent people fell victim to the FAA’s “staffing to budget” policy.
So, for the editor to say, “This could eventally put passengers at risk” regarding involving a third party arbitrator to resolve contract disputes is a statement made by someone who simply does not have the facts. A change in the law is needed to stop the FAA’s current mission before it is too late. There are no guarantees when you present your case to a neutral third party arbitrator for resolution.
Both sides present their case and the arbitrator gives a fair ruling.
The most important mission for NATCA has always been, and will continue to be, the safety of the flying public!
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Eugenics drives many abortion defenders
If we ignore Gray’s bizarre notion of how the franchise should be limited in a democracy, we are left with her argument that abortion is necessary as birth control.
Gray’s logic argues that a healthy mother has the right to abort a healthy fetus simply if the mother thinks that the child’s life would be a burden or, in other words, would be an unwanted life.
Gray’s position hearkens back to the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, who reasoned that society would be stronger if the surplus population of the unfit or unwanted were weeded out prior to birth.
A small percentage of the 800,000 or so abortions that occur in the United States annually are related to health concerns. And yet many proponents argue for abortion not as birth control but for health. This is a diversion that is used to confuse the question.
Gray’s letter is helpful in that it brushes away the rationale of health and reveals the unvarnished motive that truly animates the abortion industry — eugenics. Apparently that is true even in the Barbara Davis Center at Children’s Hospital with whom Gray made a point of identifying herself.
Greeley mayor lauded
Reform of our broken immigration system needs to happen in Washington, D.C., not through arbitrary raids across our land. To this end, Selders is thankfully taking a leadership role.
It’s a shame that there is such enmity and ill will toward the mayor and working families over this issue. Just think what could be accomplished if even a small bit of that negative energy expressed in e-mails to the Greeley Tribune were used for something positive.
Don’t shift blame
It is their choice to come here. They know what can happen if they get caught. Parents everywhere know that the choices they make will not only affect them but also their children. Those here illegally have no right to blame anyone but themselves.
Sine qua non
Dems’ anti-war actions ‘anemic’
Both are committed to maintaining U.S. empire and controlling Middle East oil, but with some slightly different strategies. The Democratic budget was a “war as usual” bill.
What did the Democratic bill do? The bill fully funded and continued the war for another year and left tens of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq for years to come. Dates for withdrawal of troops were totally nonbinding and the bill lacked any enforcement measures.
Of course, the Democratic leadership wants the people to believe that their anemic actions demonstrate important steps to end the war. But I, for one, can see through their deception and their efforts to make their pro-war actions look anti-war. Unlike Congress, 65 percent of the people want the war to end.
The fastest way Congress can do this is to stop the funding and bring the troops home now.
Perlmutter sole glimmer of hope
The majority of people in the United States want the United States out of Iraq, as do the majority of Iraqis, but those democratic facts don’t matter to spineless politicians more concerned with their political futures than ending this humanitarian catastrophe. Shame on Sens. Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard, Reps. Mark Udall, Marilyn Musgrave, Tom Tancredo, John Salazar and Doug Lamborn — blood is on their hands. I look forward to the day they’re all removed from office.
I’m proud to call Perlmutter my representative and I pledge my support to him. His vote was the one glimmer of hope in what was a very dark day for this country and Iraq.
Charge social workers
As taxpayers we should ask for a complete investigation into the qualifications of these so-called social workers who keep dropping the ball.
A DIFFERING VIEW: FasTracks should be built as promised
Suppose you suggest to your daughter, wife or girlfriend that it’s not safe to walk alone through certain parts of a city late at night. Does this mean you’re excusing the actions of would-be rapists and robbers? Likewise, is it wrong for the police to look for motives for a murder, because doing so implies that the dead person deserved to die? Of course not!
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Gun control
After many months of discussion and re-wording, the amendment was finally agreed to by both camps as: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This amendment has everything to do with the right of States to defend themselves against a federal government trying to wield too much power. This is an important right to protect; the behavior of the current administration being a good example of why. However, I do not see the logic of invoking this amendment to secure unimpeded access to automatic and semi-automatic weapons like the Glock 19 used by the Virginia Tech mass murderer of 33 people. The Second Amendment was created to protect the People but is being used inappropriately to literally kill us. Cho Seung-Hui was not who James Madison had in mind when he declared the necessity of “a well regulated militia”. Nor was the Glock 19 what our fore-fathers had in mind when they ratified “the right of the People to keep and bear arms”.
The irony is that a majority of America ’s gun defenders are also supporters of the current administration, an administration that has done more than any other in our entire history to erode the rights and powers of its states, citizens, and lawmakers.
This administration is purposely seeking sole discretionary power for the executive branch. If there was ever a time in history to train the sites of those Second Amendment guns on the federal government, this would be it. And yet, those guns continue to kill innocent, law-abiding citizens, students and children at an alarming rate. The current administration loves to say they are making America safer. I have never felt as unsafe as I do right now knowing that domestic terror is alive and well in America with an endless supply of guns to feed it.
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Health insurance legislation
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President Bush
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Mike Littwin
Oh wait, am I generalizing and stereotyping too much here? Perhaps, but maybe Littwin needs a taste of his own medicine, after proclaiming Ron Paul as “from the anti-war, out-of-the-Middle-East, isolationist wing of the party.” Nice work modern-day journalist! (oops, there I go again). What Littwin fails to realize is Paul is the only candidate who can’t be stuffed neatly into a pre-packaged, mass-produced, wet-finger-in-the-air box. He tells the truth, no matter how difficult that truth is to swallow, including the fact that many years (more than 10) of an American foreign policy of ‘our- way-or-the-highway’ attitude has its consequences. And by the way Mike, neutrality (i.e. entangling ourselves in foreign disputes) is not isolationism. Paul and other citizens who value our freedom and liberty understand the huge benefit of trading with others around the world.
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The wopburger
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Immigration plan
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Evolution vs. creationism
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John McCain
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Ward Churchill
It is time for trust busting this CU Tenure Cartel - ending tenure and substituting contracts. The findings of the self dealing corrupt CU’s Priviledge & Tenure Cheaters Cartel Committee on Churchill is an abomination of the concept of academic integrity and meritocracy.
Ghandi said, ‘be your message.’ The message from CU’s Priviledge & Tenure Committee - academic integrity is mere assertion - “cheat students, we do!”
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Mike Rosen & education
He didn’t say, or tell how many graduates can’t speak English.
He didn’t
After condemning one legislator for remarks about charter schools, he never explained why charters have the liberty to design themselves as competitive schools, when legislators and the Administrative/EdSchool Complex won’t let public school faculties and parents do the same.
He never explained why, after forty years of failure, legislators and the Complex should continue wasting monies by burdening schools while never improving them.
And finally: a teaching profession is illegal here. Teachers may not influence teacher training or school standards. A union is the only kind of association they may have, to protect them and students from Education’s unimaginative “upper class” leaders.
Mike Rosen needs some schooling about schooling.
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Cat experiments
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has a videotape it says was provided by a technician, showing that a cat was not anesthetized properly—the experimenters were using an old drug—and was conscious throughout the procedure, going into spasms and throwing up.
Whether or not PETA’s videotape is authentic, the fact remains that these experiments are being conducted, under the aegis of our state university. These cats live miserable lives in fear, loneliness, and captivity, and then suffer a painful death. Treating these intelligent, sensitive animals as if they are objects simply to be used up and thrown away is barbaric. I thought experiments on cats (and monkeys) were part of the Dark Ages and no longer done. It appears, unfortunately, that they ARE still being done at UCDHSC.
It is time to stop experiments on cats, dogs, and monkeys. It is a blot on the human species generally, that we feel we have the right to do such things. In particular, it gives UCD a black eye. The experimenter is a sick man and his “work” should not be conducted in UCD’s laboratory.
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Teen accident victim
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Abortion clinic bomber
Please understand me, abortion should not only be considered a crime against humanity, it should also be a sin only God can judge. Ever heard of “passive resistance?”
Human violence, innocence notwithstanding, is never an alternative for social justice or even free speech.
Affirmative action
Ms. Hackett purports to be against racism, calling it ‘heinous’, however she outrageously states in her article that if written examination standards are not changed for minorities, and blacks in particular, it may be a decade before another black firefighter is hired in Denver. That is not just insulting to all blacks and minorities, it is a morally indefensible position that I would expect to be spouted by the likes of David Duke. She scoffs at those riding the “affirmative action is racist” bandwagon, alleging there is not one scientific study proving reverse discrimination.
However, you do not need a scientific study to know that treating applicants differently based upon their race is the definition of racism. Whether or not a white applicant has been denied a job due to affirmative action is not the point. Racism is either wrong or it is not. Apparently, Ms. Hackett does not believe it is wrong.
Ms. Hackett goes on to attack as racist supporters of a proposed ballot measure that would prohibit government from using race, sex, color ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting. Yet, she then applauds President Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 decree to federal contractors to take ‘affirmative action’ to ensure applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin. Ignoring the fact that is was not President Johnson who issued this decree in 1965, but President Kennedy who issued it by Executive Order 10,925 in 1961, the wording of the proposed ballot measure and the decree are almost identical.
However, under Ms. Hackett’s muddled reasoning, one is racist while the other is benevolent.
I agree with Ms. Hackett about one thing though, we do have a long way to go before racism is ended, not because of ballot measures that would seek to prohibit differing treatment of people based upon their race, but because there are still people like Ms. Hackett who continue to want people to be judged based upon the color of their skin. I, for one, am content to judge them by the content of their character.
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Lisa Bornstein & baby boomers
I never once thought that my parent’s generation needed to get out of the way. They had it rough, with the depression and war. They wanted their children to have it better; they moved us to the suburbs.
But after pondering further, I find that you and your generation and those younger are the most inconsiderate, mean and unsophisticated than any that have gone before. 30 is the new 12. You have children to accessorize with them, like your dogs, dragging them here and there and breaking laws that “don’t apply to you".
I’m fairly well sick of your generation’s “cool” goatees and obscene muffin tops. You have no manners and civility is obsolete.
You have never lived in a military draft and wear camouflage only because it’s fashionable Your music, if that’s what you call it, stinks. But you all want to share the tripe with your Volkswagen-sized car speakers Do you like being lumped into a whole generation? It never happened to me, but most of my friends were rather grabby, like you, when they were pushing menopause.
Your frivolousness will be the undoing you your generation and your freedoms, which will be gone with because of your attitudes. Pushing the envelope is your generation’s only exercise.
Life is short; maybe you should turn off the television, start living and stop being so mean.
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The wopburger
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Nuclear power
I became an anti-nuclear activist in 1976 because of the waste issue - I decided that I could not morally leave behind toxic waste for up to 24000 years just to have less expensive electricity today. I became part of the Amendment 3 campaign in Colorado that put to the voters the question of whether Colorado should allow more nuclear powerplants than the St. Vrain plant operating at the time - the amendment simply stated that the state legislature would need to certify that the waste issue had been solved before allowing more plant. The amendment enjoyed a substantial lead in the polls until a scare campaign by the industry turned around less informed voters, and it was defeated. In retrospect, the waste provision would have prevented more nuclear plants since then because the waste problem has bedeviled the federal government and is still not solved. And what is not “solved” is storage of the wastes in a geologically- stable area - not the moral question of what we should, or should not leave behind for future generations.
I suggest you continue to promote intelligent discussion of nuclear power’s future, but you must include the waste problem, including the moral, economic and technological aspects, first and foremost. A friend of mine, a climate scientist, believes we must use nuclear as a bridge technology to eliminate coal-plants around the world to give humanity half a chance to successfully deal with global climate chaos. His point is valid - we need to look at all options. But we need to look at all aspects of all options.
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Controversial mural
will never be seen in Englewood again for the caterpillar there also smoked a hookah. The movie, as well as the mural was based on a book written by Lewis Carroll that described the very scene. Now what the complaints and Englewood is basically suggesting is, in a way, catamount to the Nazis burning of books they disagreed with or felt “Advocated Bad Morals". The removal of a mural, described in one of the greatest children’s books ever and also shown in a Disney movie is very much a different example of book burning. You shall not have Mark Twains books for it is insensitive to people and racist, ignoring the plain FACT that life was that way when it was written. Also with J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series for they advocate “witch craft” yet al I have seen is they advocate reading. So Englewood, best beware, it’s a slippery slope you face. It indeed maybe a mural, but Hitler was only a corporal.
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Health care
I know the Democrats and the left are desperately attempting to provide us a health care system that operates with the efficiency of the DMV and provide us the same abysmal results we get from our pathetic public school system. Please count me out.
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Water quality
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Surveillance program
Testifying at a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this past Tuesday (May 15), then-acting Attorney General James Comey explained that he and other senior Justice officials, including Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, decided they would resign rather than certify the surveillance program at that time because, “...the administration was going to engage in conduct that the Dept. of Justice had said had no legal basis.”
Mr. Comey suggested in his testimony that the surveillance program had operated for some time before the annual recertification was denied and that it may have continued without any changes for some weeks after the recertification deadline passed.
Mr. Comey
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Congress ceded its authority to Bush
This is false.
Congress unconstitutionally transferred its power to declare war to the executive branch. After all, the president may have decided not to go to war. If Congress had issued a declaration of war, the president would have had no choice but to begin the war.
During the hearing on the authorization resolution before the war, Rep. Ron Paul (currently a Republican candidate for president) introduced a motion to declare war, even though he said he would vote against it. His motion was denied. Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., said, “There are things in the Constitution that have been overtaken by events, by time. Declaration of war is one of them. There are things no longer relevant to a modern society. Why declare war if you don’t have to? We are saying to the president, use your judgment.”
Why would Congress do this? Because declaring war would have left Congress open to blame if the war went badly — as many of them probably suspected this one would.
Help preserve Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage is the lifeline for the 8.3 million beneficiaries it covers. The program acts as a single entity providing coordinated care for beneficiaries with multiple chronic diseases, many of whom are low-income or minority beneficiaries. Private-sector coverage options such as Medical Advantage strengthen the safety net for low-income Medicare beneficiaries and help expand access to critical health-care services.
We owe the seniors of today, as well as those of tomorrow, reliable, quality health-care coverage. Let’s urge Congress not to look at Medicare Advantage as a piggy bank but, instead, preserve funding for this successful program which as so effectively provided health care for more than 8 million Americans.
Colorado Springs
President,
Colorado/Montana/Wyoming NAACP State Conference
Teen pregnancy piece ‘grossly one-sided’
The article reflects society’s view that females are still responsible for keeping a check on the sexual behavior of themselves and the males. Is it legal for an 18-year-old to be having sex with a 15-year-old? I applaud Monique Rodriguez and her mother; however, are the fathers of their children helping support their offspring?
We all know the abstinence- only mantra doesn’t work as even the Rocky reported several months ago.
Until men start holding men more accountable, women suffer the burden of proof of their sexual activity while the men remain unscathed. It would’ve been nice to see the Rocky step up to the plate and make mention of the responsibility of the fathers or lack thereof.
Made right decision
Giuliani is intelligent, courageous, self-confident and has demonstrated great leadership skills and will make a truly great president. He is also the only candidate on the GOP side who can beat any of the Democrats. In my opinion, Dobson does not even come close to demonstrating any of Giuliani’s skills, but he is a dangerous demagogue and the sooner the GOP drops him and those of his ilk the more elections it will win. Go, Rudy!
If cops can’t protect us, what’s Plan B?
There have been a number of court cases on a number of levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court, that have established the precedent that the police have neither legal responsibility nor moral obligation to provide individual citizens with protection from crime.
Their obligation is only in the general sense to the community as a whole.
This was reiterated some months ago by a Supreme Court case originating right here in Castle Rock. Of course, that is the way it must be. Otherwise, any time someone had a rock thrown through his window, he could sue the police for failing to protect him.
What this means to you and me is, if the worst case occurs and you dial 911 only to find yourself No. 3 in line ... what is Plan B? Simply running for your life may not be enough.
Pandering governor
He knows that if Seung-hui Cho had been rejected by a gun dealer, he could have bought guns from the guys who hang around the parking lot at a gun show, or any common illegal source.
Shortly before the episode, a ban was enacted that prevented people holding concealed weapons permits from carrying guns to protect the campus. Had the rights of responsible people not been removed, the killer would have been discouraged from his murderous rampage.
As an alumnus of Virginia Tech, I am disgusted with the exploitation of the tragedy for this type of agenda.
Mortgage mystery
I want to know how they ever obtained a mortgage. If they are undocumented, how could they buy a house on credit? No wonder hard-working Americans are ticked off!
In cahoots with Bush
President Bush and all the congressmen who support the bill are indeed, as McGarry implies, “the real enemies of America.”
Clearly we no longer have a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” but one “of the Congress, by the Congress, and for the Congress” — in cahoots, we sadly add, with President George W. Bush.
A prison state
The present courthouse has large windows that let in the light of day as all human spaces should have. By contrast, the new courthouse symbolizes what America has become — a prison state where our constitutional rights have become mere platitudes.
Try to remember
A DIFFERING VIEW: Higher limits, longer hours would help casinos
Sixty years ago, millions of veterans of a vastly bloodier war than the present conflict came home. Many of them, undoubtedly, suffered what we now call PTSD.
I consider it passing strange that those veterans became what is now known as “The Greatest Generation” without mass individual counseling or group therapy.
Their being unaware of their victim status didn’t seem to hinder the vast majority from resuming their lives and apparently succeeding.
What was then known as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue” would appear to be a temporary inconvenience for most. There were, doubtless, some who needed help, and some who never recovered.
Simply knowing what PTSD is helps us understand the potential problems of modern combat veterans. What doesn’t help is forcing thousands of mentally healthy veterans into a template of victimhood.
Advocates can always find a cause. An important distinction to be made is: Does the advocacy identify and address the right problem?
Assessor finds levy freeze poor policy
To shore up mandated Amendment 23 spending, the mill levy freeze shifts $1.7 billion in taxes over the next decade from the state general fund to local property taxes. This is bad public policy.
The state general fund gets 95 percent of its revenue from income and sales taxes.
Income taxes you pay increase as your ability to pay increases. Sales taxes can be managed by limiting purchases. But property taxes rise based on the increased value of real estate you own, and citizens have no control over those value increases. Even if one’s income is static or goes down, property taxes go up as property values increase. This is why property taxes are so harsh on seniors with fixed incomes, small businesses and working families.
As a county assessor, I see people in my office daily struggling with their property taxes and seeking some form of relief. They are senior citizens who don’t want to leave their ever- more-valuable homes, small business owners with declining revenues and increasing property tax payments, and families whose monthly house payments are going up to pay property taxes.
If the state really needs an additional $1.7 billion, shifting that burden to local property taxes is certainly a poor way to get it.
Jefferson County assessor
Anglo heritage can be claimed by all
The settlements in Santa Fe and St. Augustine were not connected in any way with the founding of America. Our nation officially began in 1776.
Florida became part of our nation in 1845 and New Mexico entered the Union in 1912.
The Pilgrims in 1620, others coming to Massachusetts in 1629 and 1630 and more Englishmen and women who followed made up 80 percent of the European settlers here when we fought for our independence.
American citizens who bear Spanish surnames have every right to claim America’s great heritage as their own. Paul Revere (French), George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, etc. (English), can be their heroes too. They do not need propagandists who distort history by making the cruel Spanish conquerors of Mexico and part of what is now the American Southwest into American pioneers.
Time to merge U.S., Mexico into Mexicus
First, we could merge the U.S. and Mexico and create a new nation — Mexicus. We would use small case ‘us’ letters to represent the former United States, but Mexico would be given priority since they are smarter than us.
Government headquarters would be in Mexico City and the current Mexican president would be the new Mexicus president. Congress would be disbanded, but we would have the Mexicus Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. The new court would be appointed by the new president, requiring no approval by anyone. I recommend we keep one former U.S. judge, but it would be a tough sell.
Second, we could stop building the border fence and give all remaining funding to illegal immigrants to help them with their $5,000 amnesty fee.
If this is not what you would like to see happen, a letter to your congressman requesting a “no” vote on the amnesty bill would be in order.
Cartoon polarizing
The cartoon could just as easily have read: “The Republicans have mired the U.S. in an endless, bloody, costly war ... alienated much of the world and recruited Muslims to the extremist cause ... bankrupted the government ... and the country is hopelessly divided. Congratulations! Mission accomplished!”
It is easy to be divisive, easy to sling mud, easy to blame others, but a lot harder, apparently, to work together for the good of all Americans and our world neighbors.
Please think twice before publishing such hateful, polarizing, mean-spirited junk.
Why not Tancredo?
Tancredo believes in defending our borders and keeping our sovereignty. He is from the so-called middle class — he knows about jobs, wages and the loss of industry.
He is a trustworthy person, not like the other politically correct candidates who rely on special interests. For whatever reason, the Colorado media are not giving a little boost to Tancredo! Are they really going to help us again have another president like Bush, Clinton, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, etc.? I hope not.
Downtown? Yecch!
Accessing suburban shopping malls is easier. I resent having to pay $8 in parking when I go to a city office. When I use the bus, it takes three times as long, even if the buses are running when I want one.
The last time I attended a show at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, someone stripped on stage, which was not what I wanted to see.
If Denver is going to subsidize businesses and cultural activities, then nightclubs, expensive restaurants, “adult” shows and high-priced shopping areas should not be our first choices.
Land won’t be needed
A DIFFERING VIEW: Another nuke threat
Concerns about security are exaggerated and could be resolved with training and guidelines that already exist. If security were really the causal issue, then e-mail and letter writing would also be prohibited.
Concerns with bandwidth usage are easily resolved with equipment that is affordable and commonly available. I’m sure Congress would be willing to support the troops and increase funding to resolve any bandwidth need.
This decision is clearly about censorship. It is an attempt to control and limit the messages and images that are increasingly contrary to how this administration wishes to portray the situation in Iraq. Military recruiting is hard enough with the war growing increasingly unpopular.
Giving potential recruits another reason not to volunteer and serve is as shortsighted as still expecting “victory” in the Iraqi quagmire.
Girl not ‘emaciated’
But based on the reports the Rocky has written, the victim has gone from underweight (May 24 and earlier stories) to emaciated. A 7-year-old weighing 35 pounds is not emaciated. Having worked in the medical field for 30 years, part of that time in pediatrics, and having a healthy 7-year-old myself (tipping the scales at 43 pounds), I have a hard time understanding the need to go that route with the story.
The girl died, but definitely not from malnutrition, that I can assure you. Please refrain from these unnecessary tactics and using terms such as emaciated to sell papers. It insults my intelligence and lessens your credibility.
President, NurseCorps Inc.
Eco-insurgents?
I have one question: Why are they not eco-insurgents? The Rocky refuses to use the term terrorists when speaking of people who actually are terrorizing the world, yet it doesn’t hesitate to use the term while referring to a couple of “radical environmental activists” who torched a few buildings in Vail.
I don’t know who the Rocky thinks it is fooling, who it is trying to protect or who it is trying not to offend by not calling terrorists what they are; but all terrorists are terrorists and you have to call a spade a spade.
He’s not bluffing
I’m willing to bet that there are far more poker players in the Rocky’s audience than there are bridge players or chess players, yet both of those columns continue unabated. Not that they shouldn’t be included, but why is the genuine “America’s Game” excluded?
Could it be that poker isn’t as “politically correct” as the other two?
Why not lower the price?
Time after time “the changing habits of newspaper readers and the changing audience” is the main reason this is occurring.
Did the Denver Newspaper Agency ever think that maybe the reason for this is the high cost of subscribing to the newspaper? I have been a newspaper reader my whole life, but this year when my subscription expires, I have to think twice about paying $125 a year.
Maybe if the agency lowers its subscription rates, it will get more readers and it can sell more advertising. Just a thought.
Missing British child
But to go to another country and leave your child alone in a hotel room while I go out to ear is just plain stupid, foolish and dangerous. This all seems not right.
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Penalize those who hire illegals — big time
Illegal aliens are criminals. And they remain criminals as long as they reside in the U.S. Now the question is what do we do with these criminals? Put them in jail (all 20 million) or send them all back to their country of origin? How do we do it? State Sen. Ted Harvey suggested (on Channel 20’s Your Show), and I agree, that the employers should be severely punished for hiring illegal aliens. If there are no jobs for the illegal aliens, they won’t have any incentive to stay in the United States (unless they are illegally on welfare, etc.) nor will they cross the deserts to come here.
The employers should be fined $1 million and be required to serve one year in prison for each illegal who is hired or used on the job. This should be severe enough to deter the employers from hiring or using illegal aliens.
Ron Paul’s point valid
Why is that such a far-fetched idea? Yes, I know it’s nicer to think that in playing our self-appointed role of “global cop,” we are on the side of God and justice. But many people in the world hate us, and it’s not simply because they oppose our money and freedom. Many European countries also enjoy money and freedom yet mind their own business. Why don’t we see more terrorist attacks in those countries?
Gonzales unfit to serve
A DIFFERING VIEW: Too soon to speculate about requirements
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Starved boy
People blame everything on someone else. I say that the problem starts at home and more people should be involved in the care of family members. No a man states of being his biological father has come up. Where were these people before his death.
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Abused children
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Illegal immigrants
What’s humane? What’s in this country’s best interest? How’s this for a start?
For those already in the country I say let them stay if and only if they do the following:
2. Swear a loyalty oath to the United States of America. No more flying of the Mexican flag.
3. Pay a fine equal to the cost of establishing each individual’s residency. Make this program self-sufficient.
4. Show proof that the cars they have are registered and insured. Only after proof is given would they be able to get a driver’s license. Also, make them take the driver’s test (in English, of course).
5. All males under age 35 must register with the military. Personally, I would not mind a mandatory 2 years conscription requirement, as well.
If this was done, would we not all benefit from having millions of newly registered and legal residents that we could now call Americans? By the way, a law requiring mandatory jail sentences for employers that hire illegal aliens would be established. I’d say 1 year in jail for each count. For the managers of the Swift plant in Greeley, we’re talking a couple hundred years in jail. Scary, huh? But, what a deterrent!
Just daydreaming on a Springtime day.
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A good teacher
He makes sure the students understand the subject and if they have problems he will spend extra time they need until they get it.
He is a great mentor. Yes, as seniors, we get out of hand. He takes charge of the classroom and gets everyone on the same track.
Many people dread going to school, but he makes it enjoyable. He is a “peoples person”.
He can talk to all levels of students. Yes, we have many “clicks” in high school. There are not many teachers that can gain the trust and respect from all of them.
As an 18 year old, I now have a voice. Cherry Creek School District always had a reputation for having an excellent school system but today they lost one of their best! I urge other students to let there voices be heard. If you think something is wrong, let your voices be heard too. Our student body has already started a petition; we have over 300 signatures already. I hope the Cherry Creek School District will listen to the majority.
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9/11 conspiracy
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Postal rates
About 20 years ago I hosted two students from Switzerland studying English. They became very dear to me. I have visited them a couple of times and they have visited me many times since. After they completed their studies I asked each of them what magazine they would enjoy receiving as I wanted them to have something in English to read after they returned home.
>For the past 20 years I have been sending the magazine of choice to each of them, but I won’t be able to any more. It would now cost me $10 a month to mail a magazine to Switzerland, and since I am retired on a limited budget I won’t be able to afford it. Also, the mailing cost would be far greater than the cost of the magazine itself.
This is a tremendous loss for many of us who can no longer afford to buy gifts for loved ones abroad because the cost of mailing them now will exceed anything affordable.
Something should be done to prevent this from happening. It’s not right!
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Bicyclists
It will probably stay with them for life. When they get behind the wheel of a 4
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Jimmy Carter
Wonder who the Dim-o-crats will offer up next? Is it too late for Rosie or Michael Moore to get in?
I’m scared, no matter!
TV Week magazine
Please bring back the readable format. If you must condense do it only for the daytime and overnight programming, which is, perhaps, more repetitious than what is shown during prime time/evenings.
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Iraq war
So why not pull out right away?
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Episcopal Church
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Tommy Thompson
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Iraq
So let the Shiites take over, which ( the administration knows ) had to happen when Saddam Hussein was overthrown. Maybe the Saudis will come in to support the Sunnis, and then the Iranis and Syrians, to support the Shia.
Should they get involved in Iraq
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Get used to hearing more Spanish
McDonald’s is certainly not the only fast-food restaurant where you will find Spanish-speaking workers. McDonald’s has actually been gearing its TV commercials toward the Hispanic (and black) community for quite a while.
Economically, it all fits in: Fast-food restaurants, once a roadside novelty where a traveling family of four would stop for a lunchtime break, has become, for many, a source of daily sustenance, attracted by the variety and the low prices. You can feed a whole family much cheaper at McDonald’s and other similar restaurants than you can practically anywhere else. Low-income customers will naturally gravitate there. It’s been an evolution, of sorts, over many decades.
Swanson had best relax and get used to the changing cultural climate, as this is simply a first step toward the assimilation of many into this country. We cannot deport 12 million illegal immigrants, so the laws will be changing, and rightfully so, to accommodate these new neighbors. We will be seeing a lot more Spanish-speaking workers from here on out.
The breaking point
I wish somebody would explain something very basic to me. We incarcerate and prosecute our own U.S. citizens when they break the law. Why on earth would any patriotic American citizen think it is OK to grant such an honored and privileged status as citizenship to anybody who so blatantly and arrogantly violates our laws?
I understand that families are being broken up, but it happens every day to U.S. citizens who break the law. I don’t hear judges looking the other way when criminals commit crimes but have a family at home. They are then separated from their loved ones just like every other criminal.
Auman is no hero
Auman is not a hero, victim or even a crusader — she is a murderer and belongs in prison for the rest of her life.
It was very interesting that she dedicated the song she sang to the people she served time with and — as an afterthought — rededicated the song to the victims of crime (“Woman freed in cop killing speaks for juveniles in prison,” May 14).
Please excuse me if I refuse to feel sympathy for people who decide to murder.
Best not to dismiss arguments out of hand
At least once a day, letter writers, columnists and politicians will proclaim “It is now beyond dispute that ... ,” “There is no longer any question that ... ” or “The vast majority of scientists (or educators or voters) now agree that ... ”
This tactic has been used to “prove” that Bush stole the election in Florida, or Bush lied about Iraq, or global warming is a man-made phenomenon. It would be nice if the zealous promoters of these agendas stopped to contemplate that the healthiest thing for a democracy is a reasoned debate on all issues.
Declaring many of them off-limits is a prescription for experiencing the days of the ’60s in China when all the information one had to know was explained in Mao’s Little Red Book.
Wrong emphasis
It states that “(Gov. Bill) Ritter and Skaggs will host a higher-education ‘summit meeting’ June 8-9 in Colorado Springs to discuss how to increase funding.”
Why will the summit focus only on increasing funding/spending? Why not have substantial time devoted to reducing costs and operating more efficiently?
Compassion lacking in Falwell cartoon
But they demonstrate again and again their compassion is reserved for certain “approved” groups: illegal immigrants, gays, environmentalists, feminists, Democrats, unions and the like.
Stein demonstrates once again that liberals’ compassion for these groups is so overwhelming, there is no room for compassion toward the religious, the conservative, or anyone who stands on principles not enumerated in George Soros’ handbook of political thought.
Jerry Falwell was a man who stood on principles many can neither understand nor appreciate, but he influenced millions in ways far beyond the narrow confines portrayed by Stein in his cartoon of May 16. Nor was he the kind man who would place conditions upon the God of his beliefs, or make fun of Stein upon his death.
If Falwell demonstrated his compassion by attempting to bring others around to his way of thinking, he and Stein have something in common, right?
Disagreement on principles should not be an excuse for lack of compassion, except, of course, for those whose view of compassion is limited to self-proclaimed victims.
St. Pete’s parry
Heartbroken
God and mammon
Undesirable for whom? For those who really believe in God, our currency, if anything, should say “In The USA We Trust” that this currency has value! I’m not even sure if God has anything to do with our currency.
A DIFFERING VIEW: Qwest too readily seeks government relief
I have always kind of dug the British (truly it ‘twas forced upon me) way of doing things and still trust the common man’s informed political common sense over there. My older sister has been revisiting her high school in Kent, England for the past 30 plus years and confirms that this remains true. Common people have a common sense about this war and recognize above all how unnecessary, expensive and tragically wasteful in terms of the thousands of lives lost, it is. Tony Blair started out as a promising star of British labor until he succumbed to Bush and Cheney’s thirst for American Empire or International Manifest Destiny/Pax Americana.
His popularity, like Bush’s, is at an all time low and I’m sure people there, are as relieved to get rid of him, as we here, are to see him go. Good riddance mon.
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Aurora
Let’s see what that brings to light. The next burglar who is caught in Aurora should be allowed to go home while the City pays him about $10,000 a month. The arresting Police Officer should be fired for catching him. The Attorney who will prosecute the burglar will be transferred to a different assignment. A few days later the City will give the Burglar a life time retirement of about $78,000 a year and pay him in excess of $50,000 over the next 6 months to continue burglarizing the Citizens of Aurora.
Only in the minds of the City Council and the City Administrators does this even make sense.
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The Clintons
No more please!
'Gunny Bob’
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Aarone Thompson
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Anti-conservative media
Because of their anti-Republican, “flog-conservatism” approach, little choice remains between the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News.
Almost any public figure who believes in fiscal, religious or social conservatism is fair game for hostile reporting. (Coverage of Archbishop Charles Chaput, Dr. James Dobson, Rep. Tom Tancredo comes to mind.) At the Rocky, reporters sometimes even import comments from left-leaning “political scientists” to get their point across.
The Post has slid almost completely into the liberal ditch and the Rocky is headed there. Even the Dot.Com freebie that both papers ship into Longmont carries a political column by a local socialist, nothing for conservatives.
One bright aspect of the Rocky: Vincent Carroll still has charge of the editorials and commentary. Although he, Linda Seebach and Mike Rosen champion conservative causes, running amok are left-wingers such as columnist Paul Campos whose ideas are so shallow he has to invent history (“A look back from 2017”) as he emulates the Post’s Ed Quillen, who uses fake interviews to prop up his writing.
(“The judgment of politicians.”) Garrison Keillor who has turned nonprofit PBR into a personal gold mine hates conservatives. Also wearing thin is columnist Nat Hentoff’s obsession with Guantanamo as he ignores Islamic militants who flout the Geneva Conventions. This is America and nobody has been suicide-bombed at Guantanamo.
The Post’s editorial section sports token-Republican Bob Ewegen, who has rarely seen a Democratic tax increase or liberal policy he didn’t like. A bone has been thrown to John Andrews, but mainstay conservative Al Knight apparently has been shipped off to outer Slobovia.
In the Rocky’s news pages, Mike Littwin poison-pens conservatives while Jim Spencer plays the role at the Post. Management at the Post at least had the decency to offset its news-pages hit man with a moderate column by David Harsanyi.
Obviously the Denver dailies don’t think conservatives buy goods advertised in their publications and enjoy driving them away.
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Commerce City & NASCAR
Fallen veterans
The following attended this memorial; the Honor Guard Chaplain, a Navy Officer and a Navy Petty Officer, The All Veterans Honor Guard firing squad, a Bugler and Bell Ringer. Wreaths for each military service were appropriately placed. Also, there were over 40 Veteran members from a local Motorcycle Club with American Flags and about 30 civilian family members and friends of the deceased. The name of each deceased Veteran was read aloud and the bell was sounded.
The VFW, American Legion & DAV feel that it is a truly great privilege to pay the final respect, honor and salute to our comrade Veterans and pledge to do this memorial once a month in addition to our usual requests.
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Ed Stein & Jerry Falwell
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The homeless
Now mind you, I am not pretending to ignore the fact that most of those who are homeless are not homeless because of Mr. Ritter’s doing.
Mr. Owens was intrinsic in the cause for many of the homeless he and Mr.
The judicial system has been absolutely deaf to any evidence we have attempted to give on our behalf. I am sure that you can tell by my vocabulary that I am not a slouch in the I.Q. department, and I am also educated. I am a third generation native of the state and a house I inherited free and clear was mortgaged to a predatory lender. We did’nt get in over our heads with the loan either; leaving about $40,000 in our equity. That was our mistake you see the lender saw that they could force a foreclosure and gain $40,000 in equity. After not posting our timely payments, they raised our mortgage payment twice in 2 yrs., then stopped accepting our payments. We have our records and Colorado’s injustice system didn’t even want to see them.
I guess what I am getting at is that I am not sorry at all for any politician who has to deal with the unsightly aspect of looking at a wretched homeless person or even many of them. After all I may be joining their ranks myself if someone doesn’t do what they should to stem this predatory lending scam that so many of us have had to deal with. This is why the people of our nation are angry and the law makers and politicians and the corporations need to wear their shame. They have perpetuated the situation so why make the homeless move? Shouldn’t those who are supposed to be taking responsibility for running the country deal with reality?
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Denver’s homeless
So whats Denver think of Illegal Alien’s during the Democrat’s Convention?
Why not hide them in Mexico?
I’m sure they will just hire them and let the rest of us foot the bill?
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Cat tests
—Sarah McLachlan, “Shelter”
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Lisl Auman
She can protest “excessively harsh sentences” all she wants, but under the law on the books at the time she decided to commit the crime, her sentence was just and correct. It was only “harsh” because she had to do the time. Remember, if you don’t have the time, don’t do the crime. Lisl, you may not have pulled the trigger, but without your “voice”, this tragedy would not have occurred.
Sounds to me like she spoke a little too much. Had she kept her mouth shut, the family of Denver Police Officer Bruce VanderJagt would still have a husband and father around.
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Jerry Falwell & abortion
Quote the Apostle Peter writing in 1Peter 2:4 ..."you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house .... “.
Quote the Apostle Paul writing in 1Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you are God’s Temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s Temple God will destroy him for God’s Temple is sacred and you are that Temple".
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Mike Littwin
Information about the three was reported Wednesday by FOX— a day before Litwin’s column was published. Mike was lying or willfully ignorant. He either way, he must believe that all News readers will buy his spin without question.
The News should do all of its readers a couple of favors. Never send Littwin out to do a news report and keep his column in the back of the paper
Iraq war
Iraq
Islamist let their children and their women blow themselves up in order to kill a spattering of Americans. The U.S., if it wanted to, could erase not only sacred sights like Mecca and Medina, but all major Islamic cities. We could, if we were fanatics like them, erase Islam from the map. Why don’t we?
Our first President, Washington, when after winning the Revolutionary War, was offered by his command, the chance to be king. He turned it down. His personal character and respect for the rule of law, made this land. It was the strength of his character that was the glue that allowed the creation of the Constitution. The reason that Iraq is not a sea of atomic glass is not because we can’t do it. It is because we choose not to do it. The reason we need to get out of Iraq is because Iraq has no Washington.
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Climate change
That’s the opinion of Prof. Reid Bryson, Emeritus Professor and founder of the Department of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, according to the British Institute of Geographers “the most frequently cited climatologist in the world.”
Anyone who prefers science to Gore’s smarmy hysteria can read Bryson’s opinions on-line at: http://www.wecnmagazine.com/2007issues/may/may07.html or http://www.colo-earthfriends.org/bryson.htm
Missing lawyer
“Using psychic intuition, the woman said, she felt from the animal that Daniel is alive but was taken under duress.”
Authorities now suspect that “Scoop” is in Brazil with millions entrusted to him.
What I would like to know is: Was the woman wrong or was Ben lying?
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Embezzlement
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Hope for solutions to world’s conflicts
It’s wonderful to see in the news that previously hateful antagonists are now amicably sharing power in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The same can be said of past struggles against racial apartheid in South Africa, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the uniting of West and East Germany, and the end of tyrannical communism in Europe: past problems happily resolved.
So, if those seemingly intractable conundrums have been solved, isn’t it therefore not too much of a stretch to be optimistic about our present, remaining conflicts, such as in Iraq, the Middle East and Darfur, which, experience tells us, will be also be solved in time by our collective efforts?
Bruised feelings
This is not New Jersey, Mr. Gambino. You’ve just brought a little bit of it here with you. Thank you very much ... not! You’re now in league with the Indian community that wants to get rid of Columbus Day, which also hurts tender feelings that mean more than others’.
When will people learn to live and let live? You didn’t help. Can I sue you for a lack of the Italian joy of living?
Wopburger offends
The nation’s experts think it’s a bad idea. Why? Because drug counseling and treatment programs are a multi-billion dollar industry, and they don’t want parents interfering. The prison system needs to keep growing, and the vast majority of people in prison these days are drug offenders.
The White House thinks it’s a bad idea. Why? Because the CIA is the largest most powerful drug dealing agency in the world, and moms, you better not shortchange them! They can get very vicious.
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Islam
Now I am sure that many belonging to the ACLU and liberal left will praise this ultimatum, however I want to know, how come there are not protests of Muslim communities against this. Why? It is simple, Islam does not accept or condone peace in any form, all those who are NOT Muslim must die. At least that’s the feeling I get when they ignore the deaths of innocents but decry the deaths of Muslims.
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Lisl Auman
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Veterans Affairs
Nicholson violated the number of political appointees that Boy-George is authorized by the U.S. Congress. In the Pelosi and Reid vernacular (appropriations), this is called fraud, waste, and abuse of federal funds. Denver VA Hospital director Lynnette Roff is a GOP “Brownie” hire. In violation of federal VA hiring laws, Roff isn’t a vet of any sorts. Denver VA Customer Service manager, Kathy Malin, falls into the same category. They both conspired with Nicholson to steal blood-loot (jobs/contracts) from those who served America, faithfully and honorably. Gonzo must have trained Nicholson in GOP federal job pilfering.
Vets like Nicholson and Gonzo, sometimes “eat their young". This was highlighted during the Swift-Boat Sailors for the non-Truth campaign. The VA is supposed to be a sanctuary for disabled vets. A bigger lie was never told. Nicholson and his predecessor, Principi, turned VA operations into a cash-cow for their GOP cronies, at the expense of vets, and their families. I am simply flabbergasted that Denver disabled vets with Purple Hearts, can’t get jobs with the VA, despite their federal 10 point hiring preference, however, corrupt VA contractors will hire these vets through the back door, with low-balled wages and benefits. The “delegater", can’t delegate his vets hiring responsibility and accountability to head-hunters and other contractor’s. I pray, ProgressNowAction, will encourage Eid to comply with his sworn oath of office. By the way, I did apply for the hospital director’s job, but like Rev. Al, I too flunked Nicholson’s hue-test.
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Iraqi Christians
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Embezzlement case
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Iraq
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Barack Obama
I was having a conversation with my mom this afternoon, when together I think we stumbled on the most interesting theory on some of the success of Barak Obama. My mom’s in her mid-eighties now, Italian and Native American (Creek) interracial and can dispense that ‘don’t try me boy’ evil eye one the one hand and some sound wisdom on the other. In any case it occurred to us that there are numerous, numerous White or more accurately European Americans that honestly to God DO NOT SEE Barack Obama as Black, American African, a ‘Brother’ or anything else even remotely connected to these terms. They actually see him as having transcended the race thing altogether. That he’s half WHITE not half BLACK. Now that’s a pretty neat trick if you think about it.
I’m convinced that there are some Superstars that completely transcend race and this cat Obama is apparently one of them.
He joins the Michael Jordan’s, Oprah Winfrey’s and Ernie Banks’AND Michael Jackson’s of Americana. This must certainly be one of the most unique and exclusive racial clubs in the country/in the world.
Interesting, very interesting. The question remains though, are there really enough ‘liberal’ or Progressive European Americans in the country to elect the Obamamon or not, that’s all.
And if not the man walks away having gained an incredible, absolutely incredible amount of influence and political power. One hopes he uses this wisely mon.
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Enemies of the people
Without a doubt it is owing to organizations like the ACLU
It’s time we recognized these groups as enemies of our democracy and our way of life. We will NEVER be able to defend our interests and yet please the lawyers and the media moguls who are working with our opponents. It’s time we stopped trying. In fact, what we need is sweeping legal protection for our troops.
We have allowed our concept of the “Rule of Law” to grow to a tangled thicket of legalisms that would prohibit even the very survival of our society. It’s time to prune them all away and restore prudent basic common sense.
There is this concept of “aiding and abetting the enemy” as treason. This is what these groups are committing. Treason Laws need to be invoked to shut down these groups and to convict and imprison its members. Ask yourself these questions: * Are these terrorist organizations signatories to the Geneva Convention? If not, why do we need to grant terrorists the rights?
It’s time the American people recognized that if this continues, the American Democracy with its precious gift of liberty and prosperity will be completely lost forever.
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Bush administration
I’m revolted to learn of the details of the White House Counsel (Alberto Gonzales) and the White House Chief of Staff (Andrew Card) visiting/intimitating a seriously ill Attorney General Ashcroft. They came to Ashcroft’s hospital bed to object to then-acting Attorney General James Comey’s refusal to sign an extension of Bush’s warrant- less wiretapping program. These are the men who have helped lead a political party into becoming the most morally reprehensible group of human beings.
Another thing that is sticking in my throat is the way congressional Republican Party leaders are acting all surprised this has happened. Maybe they didn’t have a direct hand in the dictating and deciding, but they are members of the group who decided and dictated their way into this horrendous and morbid quagmire that is the government of The Untied States of America.
Half of you are asking ‘How did we get here?’. And the other half know how it happened. Maybe we ought to listen to moderate reason instead of polarizing hogwash, America needs common sense right now.
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Commerce City & NASCAR
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Vincent Carroll
First, Colorado Media Matters repeatedly has called for a public conversation about the bigoted remarks made by “Gunny” Bob Newman and made or promoted by Peter Boyles on Clear Channel’s KOA-AM and KHOW-AM, respectively. We believe it is important for Clear Channel and its on-air personalities to take responsibility for how they use - or abuse, in many cases — their right of free speech over the public airwaves. By omitting this element, Mr. Carroll makes it appear that we’re offering criticism without a concurrent solution or call to action, which is not the case.
Second, Mr. Carroll omitted an important element of the anecdote regarding Peter Boyles’ promotion of - as he calls it - “an ugly YouTube video.” While Boyles later claimed never to have watched the video, in the audio of his April 25 broadcast he calls the video depicting attacks and slurs against Hispanics “really something to see.” Knowing Boyles said that perhaps makes it a bit less “plausible” that he had not actually seen the video as he claimed. The remark at least raises the question of why - if he had not seen it - Boyles would blindly promote a video that depicts physical attacks and obscenity-laden slurs against Hispanics. Clearly he and his producer were aware of its content, hence the “background” warning for Boyles not to play it on the air.
With the right of free speech comes a great responsibility. Mr. Carroll apparently is happy with the status quo that allows some of the state’s most powerful radio stations to call for persecuting members of a specific religion, to baselessly smear the governor and to promote violence against a specific ethnic group. We, however, are not.
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Central City
Newly married that May, my husband Brian and I were privileged to be members of the Carte and to take part in that wonderful summer season.
We stayed in a little mustard-yellow house that belonged to the University, I believe, and several times a week a very pretty girl named Claudia came to whisk round the place for us. Not that it needed much housework - we spent much of our time riding in the hills with the Deputy Sheriff, Eldred Cole, and afterwards drinking coffee and orange juice -( honestly!!) - in the Red Bandana, before dashing up to the theatre!
Despite visits to the States over the subsequent years, we have never managed to get back to Central since 1968, nearly forty years ago.
Until now, that is. In just under four weeks’ time I shall be in Denver, staying with a very dear friend in Lakewood, and I shall make it a priority to revisit Central City. As all of the members of the D’Oyly Carte were granted Honorary Citizenship of Central at the end of the season, for me it will be like briefly coming home.........
Sadly, ill health prevents Brian from coming with me, so it will be up to me to repeat the slogan of the season that summer: The British are coming !! It was an experience second to none, that unbelievable summer of ‘68..........We still reminisce, after nearly forty years, and I cannot wait to be back in the mountains again. I am sure there will be changes; nothing stands still across such a long time. But I have been told that Central City has changed less than some other places, such as Black Hawk, so perhaps the shock will not be too great!
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Vincent Carroll
Studies of the Roan natural gas reserves have found that over two thirds of the economically recoverable reserves can be accessed from along the bottom of the Plateau’s rim, in part by directional drilling via existing technology. A recent article in Business Week magazine highlighted brand new technology developed by Shell Oil for its oil field in the sultanate of Brunei on the island of Borneo.
Here, Shell will be drilling under the sea bed using a principle called “snake wells” that stretch horizontally for up to three miles.
The top of Roan Plateau has many other natural values besides access to gas reserves. If technology can allow for directional drilling for as much as three miles now, what might the technology look like in, say, ten years? Or to put it differently, why the big rush now to drill the top of Roan when normal technological progress may eventually rule out zny need to drill at all on top of Roan? Or maybe it’s just another attempt to transfer the public’s federal lands into the private hands of energy development interests.
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Teaching
I am an experienced DPS teacher who does not believe the district
I have two families my family at home and my students at school. These students depend on the stability of a school for their lives; often this is the only stability that they have. Many people have said that we, as teachers, need to step up to the plate and spend as many hours each day and as many days a year as it takes to raise our students to grade level. We already do this. Very few teachers I know spend only 8 hours at school each day and work only 181 days a year. Most teachers stay at school long hours, bring work home, and work throughout the summer to keep their classroom a safe, secure, and healthy learning environment. Most teachers are constantly honing their craft, making sure they are up to date on the latest in teaching practices, much less in their content area.
We do it for the students.
Our administrators count on that dedication to run their schools. They know we will do it for the students, no matter the pay or workload. The students are our priority and we make sure they get what they need to succeed to the best of their ability, no matter what that may be. Unfortunately, this is teachers best and worst attribute. Many times teachers will discuss working only an 8-hour day, to show administration what would happen, but no one can commit, it might hurt the students. What if a student asks for help on an assignment, needs a caring person to listen, or a safe place to
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Value of math
Also on Saturday May 12, The Rocky presents the Megamansion story about”
The story notes on page 6 of the May 12 Wall Street West Section, that among the features of the “ mello megamansion” is a “Brazilian Mahogany Library.”
Nowhere in the story is any mention of the math skills that made it possible for Mr. Anthony to achieve the kind of success that enables him to purchase a $12 million home. Nor is there any mention of Mr. Anthony’s plans to spend long hours in his “Brazilian Mahogany Library” reading and studying advanced math.
On page 18 of the News Section of the May 12 Rocky, is the “State may not raise bar for college” story.
“Two of the more controversial requirements a fourth year of math and two years of a foreign language —- probably will be eliminated in revised standards being drafted now, state higher education director, David Skaggs said Friday. Those requirements, the Commissioner says, are “too expensive.”
For the sake of our young students, the press needs to emphasize that the heroes of the young have achieved their success and big paychecks through hard work in advanced math classes.
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State judicial system
At the other end of the scale was Ivan Moreno’s unquestioning use of Legal Profession propaganda in his story on the “Attorney’s Client Protection Fund”
Here are some facts:
2. While many professions are required to carry liability insurance at a cost measured in the thousands of dollars per year, lawyers pay $20 a year into their fund in lieu of insurance. They regularly pat themselves on the back for doing so.
3. The fund does not cover individuals who are not clients of the attorney who damaged them. An attorney can intentionally create unethical havoc to damage a litigant and intentionally run up his bills, and, unlike an insurance company, the fund wouldn’t pay a cent. I have an uncollectable judgement against an attorney for doing just that, so I know first hand.
4. Even for those covered, the limit of pay out is $100,000, an amount only exceeded by the good graces of the Chief Justice. Her decisions cannot be questioned in court.
The Colorado Bar Association regularly argues against any judicial accountability, claiming to the gullible that it threatens judicial independence. They spent $1.3 million to defeat Amendment 40. The quid pro quo is that they are essentially unregulated by the courts. Thus, they can avoid paying for insurance and pay $20 a year instead into a fund that provides very little protection to the public.
“Judicial Independence” has some real down sides. When citizens begin to connect the dots of the costs of judicial unaccountability, they will decide that putting judges up for retention election more often is a good idea. Even better would be the creation of an Attorney Regulation Office that is independent of lawyers and the Courts and actually did protect the public.
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Gas prices and Iraq
What’s it going to take for the U.S. working Joe to stand up and say ENOUGH!!!
We’re tired of the lies that got us into this mess, we’re tired of the lies that are keeping us there, we’re tired and ANGRY that our voluntary military has been used to protect Big Oil’s interests while they rake in record profits at the expense of our troops lives (also Iraqi women and childrens lives) and wasted tax dollars that have been diverted from other programs for health care, education ,and infrastructure repair projects, to name a few.
What ever happened to “This war will be paid for by profits from Iraqi oil money?
We have seen disasters that have destroyed peoples lives and property go unfunded and under-maned because our National Guard and Reserves resources are stuck in the Middle East, and I guarantee you, it’s only going to get worse.Hurricane season hasn’t yet begun.
So, next time you fill up your tank , just remember all the money you saved with that last tax cut,and try to NOT remember that Osama-Bush-Laden is still on the loose, and laughing all the way to the Mosque.
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Public education
Mr. Schwartz knowledge of public schools in general also seems to be lacking. Prior to circa 1850, most schools in this country were private and accessible primarily to the wealthy. The Industrial Revolution required a more educated populace.
Horace Mann and other educators advocated for the establishment of public schools. As public schools became widespread, literacy increased and society benefited as a result.
To be sure, society’s maladies are evident in our nation’s public schools. While they may be prevalent there, they did not originate there. Yet, educators are blamed for not solving them. With adequate funding and innovative programming, certainly education can provide some solutions.
To be sure public education is desperate need of reform. That might happen when we recognize that we’ve been under funding education in this state for over 30 years and then move to correct it instead of bashing public education as does Jim Schwartz.
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RTD cost-cutting
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Facts don’t support the ‘Bush lied’ mantra
No longer summarily dismissed as wackos, the “Bush Lied People Died” crowd surely feel emboldened. Unfortunately for them, the facts do not support the assertion.
It is firmly established that almost every national and international leader who was involved with the decade-long struggle to get Iraq and Saddam to comply with restrictions, mandates and sanctions imposed on him by the (useless) U.N., agreed that Saddam was stockpiling and producing WMD. Sounds like a long list of liars from many political backgrounds.
Granted the WMD were highlighted as the president and many others pressed for action against Iraq. True, little evidence of post-1991 WMD has been discovered. Nonetheless, the list of reasons we and a host of other countries went to war was long and — most agreed at the time — credible.
What has changed? Well, obviously, war is long and horrible. Just as many of our enemies have said all along, we do not have the stomach for it. Those like Schumacher have been undermining it from the very beginning and now they are salivating at the prospect that our mission might fail. If this political environment existed in 1941, I suspect that German or Russian would be our national language by now!
If Pelosi broke law, Bush did so in spades
This is referring to Marvin Taxar’s letter, “Pelosi violates Logan Act,” suggesting putting Nancy Pelosi on trial. OK, I’ll go along with that. If that’s the case, I suggest handing an indictment to President Bush for invasion of Iraq. He authorized the invasion of a sovereign nation without provocation.
As a result, thousands of Iraqis and American troops are dead — and are dying every day.
Bush went against the United Nations vote, and basically said we are America, we can do what we want, when we want, we don’t care what the rest of the world thinks.
Incidently, our signature is on the United Nations charter, so we are bound by international law, just like everyone else.
So, Mr. Taxar, you want to hand down indictments to politicians who break the law? Let’s get serious and hand down indictments.
Richardson’s not-so-great boast
In a recent Richardson puff piece in the Rocky Mountain News (“Richardson’s plus,” April 27), syndicated columnist Frank Gomez repeated another of Richardson’s boasts: that he has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize. That may be true, but so was Crips street gang founder Tookie Williams, according to published reports before the State of California executed him in 2005. Nobel Peace Prize rules are so liberal that there are likely a million or so people in the world (professors and the like) eligible to nominate.
Only a dedicated self-promoter like Richardson would demean real Nobel Prize winners by bragging about his nomination(s).
Too many new laws
It is hard to imagine that in one legislative session it is necessary for the state to have almost 500 new laws (474 to be exact). The statistics are probably similar for legislative sessions over the past 30 years. It makes me wonder if our legislature should meet every two years. I can’t imagine we would be any worse off if we had 500 new laws every two years instead of every year.
Our legislature
Immigration bill: same empty promises
The focus could have been Ken Salazar conducting the press conference in Spanish while draped in the Mexican flag.
Nothing said was to the benefit of the American citizen. They didn’t unveil how many more immigrants (poor and uneducated) would be able to enter the country (some estimates are 40 million to 60 million) and at what cost to the American taxpayer and worker (my guess is it will be in the trillions of dollars).
The American citizen is getting the same rhetoric and empty promises that were made in 1986. And guess what? Today’s promises are being made by a number of the same characters (i.e., Edward Kennedy, John McCain, etc.). Congress granted amnesty but didn’t provide enforcement and now they are trying to sell the same bill of goods.
This is not reform, this is amnesty cloaked as reform. We don’t need reform — we need the enforcement of the existing laws!
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
No confidence
This government demands a vote of no-confidence and immediate ouster.
Competition needed
Is this really a big mystery? I can give you a one-word answer: government. The people who make up the government are not managing money they earned through their own hard work, so they tend not to care.
But doesn’t government, like a business, earn its income by providing various services? No, because government is a monopoly that extracts its income by force, and doesn’t have to worry about losing customers to competition.
What we really need is competitive governments that people can subscribe to like cell phone service.
A DIFFERING VIEW: Air traffic controllers want safer skies
Controllers worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration from 1997 to 2002 developing, testing and successfully implementing new air-traffic control equipment and procedures. But the current FAA leadership sent all of our technical experts home, refused our requests to be involved in modernization and implemented a “sit down and shut up” attitude toward collaboration with controllers on anything.
Despite this prisoner-like treatment, controllers are optimistic about talk of a next-generation air traffic system and want to be involved in making it happen.
In the meantime, what controllers are asking from Congress is a fair collective bargaining process. We do not have a contract. The FAA unilaterally imposed pay and work rules on controllers last September that the Department of Transportation inspector general says fueled a surge in controller retirements. This has made an unsafe staffing situation critical, including at the control tower at Denver International Airport and the major FAA radar control centers at both the airport and in Longmont.
The FAA’s iron-fisted rule has forced controllers to work longer than ever before, raising a serious safety concern expressed last month by the National Transportation Safety Board. The FAA must be held accountable before we are talking about lost lives instead of lost dollars.
During the intervening years, the illegal workers would be granted “Z” visas to continue working and receiving medical, educational and other benefits at our expense, the cost of which is as much as $20,000 per year for each family and paid by us. The illegal workers who have committed numerous felonies such as document fraud and, in many cases, identity theft, would pay a token “penalty” of $5,000. This would put a small dent in transfers to Mexico, which currently is the largest beneficiary of American funds. Keep in mind that most of the transfers by illegal workers from all countries have not been taxed in this country.
Meanwhile the employers will probably not be penalized, or at best receive a slap on the wrist, and be allowed to continue employing these “Z” visa workers without complying with all our labor laws.
If the 1986 immigration law attracted illegal immigration because of its total lack of enforcement, this will be an even greater incentive. So much for our culture and national security.
Middle class attacked by immigration bill
The huge influx of illegal aliens has driven many communities in our country to near bankruptcy trying to pay the massive increases in public education, health care, etc.
We, the middle class are fighting to keep our collective “heads” above water, struggling with rapidly rising costs on nearly every item purchased. Then you look at the decrease in job availability and, at best, stagnant wages; it sure looks like a planned death.
Add to this malevolent mix, a massive tidal wave of 11 million to 25 million uneducated, low-skill illegal aliens who refuse to integrate and you have the recipe for disaster.
At some point the middle class must stop talking and start doing.
A declaration of war
A familiar solution
There were an estimated 2 million people in this country illegally. The congressional parties “solved” the problem by finding a compromise: citizenship for those already here, and more money for the Border Patrol.
Today we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Congress wants to “solve” the problem with another compromise: citizenship for those already here, and more money for the Border Patrol. Sound familiar?
In another 20 years we can go through this all over again. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Why heed those who got so few votes?
For instance, right now, some of the new leaders of Congress are being given equal or greater credence than the president when it comes to running the country and making decisions on behalf of all American citizens. Because of the arcane seniority system within Congress, and the power brokering that goes on, this scenario is not so far-fetched.
It occurred to me to compare the numbers of American voters who actually voted for various individuals and placed them in their current influential political positions. Here are some of the interesting examples I found:
President Bush (2004): 62,040,610
Sen. Harry Reid, Nev. (2004): 490,232
Sen. Patrick Leahy, Vt. (2004): 216,972
Sen. Joseph Biden, Del. (2002): 135,253
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Calif. (2006): 110,989
(By way of comparison, Denver Mayor Hickenlooper received 69,526 votes in his 2003 election.)
I understand the way our representative government works, but these results point out a seriously distorted allocation of power that is not necessarily correlated with the popular vote of the people.
Hard to stop a war
Put ‘the Donald’ on the subway
Case in point is the environmentalists’ backing of a congestion pricing plan proposed by Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City. This plan would impose an $8 fee each day an individual drives his or her car into Manhattan, excluding the weekend. The plan’s aim is to force people out of their cars and onto public transportation.
In all likelihood Bloomberg’s plan would work. Paying $8 a day is a considerable cost for the masses such as a doorman or waitress. However, $8 to a Wall Street stock trader or to Donald Trump is chump change. What this plan does is put the working class on buses and subways and allows the wealthy to continue their polluting ways.
A more equitable plan is to bar the operation of all private automobiles, including limos and taxis, within Manhattan. Then, who knows, maybe the next time you’re in New York City you’ll bump into “the Donald” or even George Steinbrenner on the bus.
Disappointed by Dem policies, attitudes
The Colorado Petroleum Association and its members were especially disappointed since we worked hard and constructively with members of both parties to promote responsible energy policies to help assure reliable supplies of energy to help power the state’s growing economy.
“Ordinary Coloradans” will be the ultimate losers if the policies and attitudes of these politicians drive down supplies and drive up prices — making gasoline, natural gas and electricity more expensive — and drive investment and jobs out of Colorado.
Stan Dempsey, Denver
Colorado Petroleum Association
The law of the land
Recently, the Supreme Court decided that the law banning partial-birth abortions was constitutional, and, while you can still get an abortion, you can’t get this kind during the last trimester, when the skull-stabbing, brain-sucking procedure is carried out.
Guess what, lefties — the Supreme Court decided it, and that makes it the law of the land!
Team-chers
A DIFFERING VIEW: Equal protection at risk in hate laws
It’s not that we shouldn’t have different punishments for similar crimes based on different perpetrators’ motives, or else the distinction between first- and second-degree murder, basically that of premeditation (the criminal’s internal state of mind), would be senseless.
Additionally, the fact, as bemoaned in the editorial, that the federal law duplicates state law is a problem, but so common in so many areas of law that it’s not of great concern.
No, the big objection I have to our hate-crime laws, even after we agree that the premeditated nature of victimizing someone for belonging to a certain group makes the crime worse, is that only certain specified groups receive such protection, and the rest of us don’t. This is intrinsically repugnant to the principle of equal protection of the law. What is most concerning is that by putting us in different legal categories, it is extremely divisive to us as a people.
Give me a break!
Large thefts like this occur because some employees are crooked and their employers are lax in employment practices like background checks or other hiring procedures, protecting sensitive data, and/or not locking up the cash box. Crediting a computer glitch, or touting a new system that could detect fraud, misses the point completely.
Indeed, bigger crimes against Colorado taxpayers are the recently purchased computer systems that don’t work and the previous administration’s dismantling of the civil service system
The real crooks are politically appointed department heads swearing they must buy new computer systems or their agencies will be unable to function. Meanwhile, state employees, who really make the system work, are no longer hired and promoted based on merit, but on how well they cheer for new computer systems.
Likewise, it is meritless to say a computer system helped expose a fraud because it didn’t work. (Co-workers detected the fraud in this case, but has the chief selling point for a new system boiled down to “It doesn’t work”?)
I think voters elected the new governor partly because they were tired of
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Illegal immigrants
Minor premise: Illegal aliens ignore or break the immigration laws.
Conclusion: Ergo, illegal aliens are criminals. Q.E.D.
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Immigrants
Being an American in 1907 Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an
— Theodore Roosevelt,1907
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Mike Pearson
To cavalierly use such comments bolsters the already held view of Muslims worldwide that Western civilization has little or no regard for their person or dignity. There are hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide who don’t offend anyone, and
Imagine if mention of
Patriot Act
The laws now in place could allow an unthinkable nightmar
What if in the balance of 2007, there were more acts similar to Virginia Tech? And then let’s say in late fall 2007 there is an act of violence that has loose, but evident ties to Islam
The general public would panic and demand the government do something protect them. And the government would be more than happy to oblige.
Under current law (namely the Patriot Act), the President could declare martial law, federalize all National Guard troops (the few that are not in Iraq) and Congress cannot, by law, review the declaration of martial law for six months!
The elections would have to be “postponed” because of the millions of people who cannot vote because the infrastructure in their communities has collapsed.
What if. .
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Where does this number come from?
According to a recent story in one of Denver’s newspapers, the Border Patrol has caught between 800,000 and 1 million people sneaking across the border every year from 2000 to 2006 inclusive. Using an average of 900,000 caught per year, that means if they catch 50 percent of the people trying to cross the border we have added 6 million illegal immigrants since the beginning of 2000.
I seriously doubt that they catch half the border crashers. If they catch 25 percent, we have added 19 million illegals. I think 25 percent is a little high, don’t you? If you use a more believable 10 percent catch rate, we have added a whopping 57 million illegal immigrants in this century alone.
In light of these numbers, I think some enterprising investigative journalist should look into this 12 million illegal immigrant estimate and get back to us. I doubt it will happen. If the American people knew the actual numbers involved, the immigration debate might take a different course.
Shulgold’s writing erudite, perceptive
Of course there are many natural assets to make Denver the attractive place it is today, not least the magnificent mountain backdrop, and the weather (with all those hours of sunshine), while LoDo and the delightful Cherry Creek are splendid shopping venues, even if The Tattered Cover — the best bookshop in America — has moved to Colfax.
And in winter the snow in the mountains makes for the finest skiing anywhere, while the weekend Ski Train from Union Station offers the perfect way to reach it.
But it is in the expansion of the arts, the symphony, the ballet, the opera, the Santa Fe arts district, and more recently the chamber and instrumental concerts in the beautiful Gates Auditorium that have turned Denver into a major international arts center.
First the Colorado Symphony which discovered and nurtured Marin Alsop, whose career has now swiftly blossomed. She has made a sensational debut in England where the major London orchestras love working with her, and is already a key recording artist with Naxos. Make no mistake about it, she is already set to become the first great international woman orchestral conductor — a true successor to Leonard Bernstein, her mentor. Meanwhile her much loved Denver orchestra is in good shape under its new maestro, Jeffrey Kahane, and, according to Marc Shulgold, its 2007/8 season promises well.
On my present trip I managed to experience the latest jewel in Denver’s artistic crown, one of the piano recitals presented by the Friends of Chamber Music. As it so happened the pianist was English, Stephen Hough, a virtuoso and artist of the highest order. The Gates venue is not only handsome and very comfortable, but has wonderful acoustics, perfect for solo recitalists and small instrumental groups. It is not unlike London’s Wigmore Hall, only it holds twice as many listeners (900 and every seat was taken), and it will surely not be too long before, like the Wigmore, and Carnegie Hall in New York, it will be an essential debut visit to establish any budding new artist’s career.
The planned program for the coming season includes an astonishing galaxy of illustrious names — Angela Hewitt, Krystian Zimerman, Christian Tetzlaff, Marc-Andre Hamelin, and Piotre Andrewski. Wow!
Moreover, Wes Blomster’s program notes for the Hough recital were among the best I have ever encountered, precise and very informative. But I should not have been surprised, for the strength of the writing in the arts coverage of the Rocky Mountain News is equally and consistently impressive.
I always turn first to Shulgold’s column and I often wonder if the paper’s readers realize that his comments and reviews show a standard of erudition and perception that are by no means inferior to the writing found in the East Coast papers, in New York and Boston, yet are more reader-friendly and readily communicative.
Of course I include Kyle MacMillan (Shulgold’s counterpart at The Denver Post) in these remarks, but I particularly enjoyed the recent Rocky Mountain News weekend survey of 2007-’08 symphony season — “The symphony aims to please every taste” — breaking it down as Popular Favorites, Bold New Music, and Unfamiliar Music by Composers We’ve Heard Of, Sorta (I like that).
So Denver’s press coverage of the arts — a vital ingredient of any city’s culture — is in good hands.
Editor, The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs
and contributor to The Gramophone
Post’s glamorizes too-thin young girls
When the Post carries photos like this and suggests that this wretched, head-shaved, starving young girl is the ultimate in fashion, it joins in the exploitation of young girls and women who crave acceptance and search for it by attempting to imitate the “in” look.
How many stories do we need of young girls and not-so-young women (e.g., Karen Carpenter) starving themselves literally to death in an attempt to be “fashionably” skinny? Shame on The Denver Post, USA Weekend and on the “fashion industry.”
Satan made her day
I’m sure the Rocky will get lots of comments from folks who think that it “shouldn’t waste space on animals when there are so many problems in the world, and aren’t people more important than animals?” My take is that there’s plenty of time (and space in the paper) to get the bad news. It’s nice to get some good news. The Rocky’s photo and story started my day with a smile, and I appreciate that.
Skewed coverage
Unfortunately, when Iran demonstrated its nuclear capability by detonating a 75-megaton nuclear bomb in Tel Aviv in late September of 2007 causing eventual direct fatalities of 900,000 in the city of 1.2 million, the former state of Israel immediately retaliated with its own nuclear blasts in the cities of Tehran and Esfahan.
Although we will never know for sure, estimates of fatalities range between 8 million and 12 million Iranian souls and 150 million to 175 million deaths and casualties from the resulting war. The Greater Mideast War has now raged for more than 10 years and still shows no sign of abatement.
Oil prices have never dipped below $200 per barrel and the Great Worldwide Depression has caused global GNP to decrease by 62 percent since the impeachment of George W. Bush.
Historians theorize that if only the limited military strike President Bush ordered had occurred, the uncounted millions of worldwide deaths and economic collapse could have been avoided.
Glenn Morris should start moving forward
Rather than rise to the bait, the governor’s office responds in a positive and progressive way that is focused on legitimate issues of health care, education, civil rights, etc.
Morris should adopt a similar perspective, moving forward rather than backward. Rewriting history to suit a political agenda has a certain allure (see Ward Churchill), but the truth is that Columbus was a navigator and an explorer. He was not in the military, not a soldier, and not in command of soldiers. Accusations to the contrary are not only unfounded and defamatory of a brave historical explorer, but, here in the present, are an unnecessary destructive and divisive force that threatens the constitutional rights of Americans.
Indians’ payback
Pullout talk only encourages ‘maniacs’
Think back to the Iranian hostage crisis, the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, various embassies bombed, the first World Trade Center bombing and, of course, 9/11. Many more attacks have since been thwarted. Since terrorists declared war on America and her values, thousands of innocent lives have been lost ... even more than the attack on Pearl Harbor, which brought us into World War II.
Now, the left-leaning Congress and our state legislature have forced a nonbinding vote to stop troop funding and just retreat home. How very simple.
Unfortunately, this is not a TV show that has a happy ending after the last commercial has aired. Political antics such as this just encourage these maniacs and their terrorist activities. These embarrassing left-wing tirades are shown all over the world and just serve to encourage our enemies.
Conversely, it demoralizes our own troops. If funding is cut, we will definitely need these troops back home, as the terrorists soon will appear in numbers on Main Street USA, taking up where they left off in Baghdad.
Wisdom, not weapons
How dare he and his party attack the patriotism of so many of us, including myself and my four brothers who have served this country from the Korean conflict through Vietnam and today.
He has deliberately kept the same soldiers going back time and time again so that all Americans do not feel the pain that the soldiers and their families face each and every day.
Iraq is a mess now and will be for a long time because our president chose a war that our soldiers cannot win. They won the military battle but our soldiers and their weapons cannot defeat a mind-set. We must defeat them with our wisdom.
Ritter choosing to ignore the law
This is not really an issue of spending money for education or any other government program — this is an issue about choice. Who gets to choose whether property tax policy should change — the voters or the governor and the legislature?
The governor’s lawyers have come up with all sorts of “sleights of hand” and twisted interpretation of the plain language of the law. The plain truth is the voters are supposed to choose any new tax policy change and the governor would deny the voters that choice.
As a former prosecutor, one would think that the governor would uphold the law; instead, he is choosing to ignore it.
Then, on Page 42, there was an editorial, “Russia’s frightening insecurity,” which said “After World War II, Stalin set out to erase Estonia’s language, culture and any sense of ever having been independent,” and later mentioned Russia’s “thuggish tactics” in that regard.
Well, I think a good case can be made that the Europeans who followed in Columbus’ path attempted to do the same things to the Indians that Stalin did to the Estonians (and other countries as well). And I think this is exactly what Morris and AIM have been trying to get people to see for many years.
So what puzzles me, given the extensive historical documentation of the destruction of tribal cultures, why is this so hard for people to understand?
Get with it, Mr. Morris
I’m sorry, but Morris is just using Columbus to keep his own name out there. There are so many other things he could be doing to help his people. He’s wasted a lot of years that he could have been helping them in so many ways. Get with it, Mr. Morris. There’s still lots to do.
Skyscraper limits limit revitalization
However, one thing bothers me: the City Council’s restrictions on skyscraper height. Before the new airport was built, the restriction was 720 feet because of airspace at Stapleton. Now, the height restriction is the same, but the reasoning is that tall buildings restrict views of the snowcapped Rockies.
We all know a straight line is not natural in nature.
Standing in the huge west window of the Museum of Nature and Science, looking at the mountains, I also see the downtown buildings in the foreground.
The tops of the highest buildings are all the same height, and, because of the Denver City Council’s restrictions, future buildings will always be that same height. All I can think of is how unnatural it looks. The downtown buildings, no matter how beautiful individually, have become a line of strait-laced restrictions against the grandeur of the soaring snowcapped Rockies.
If there were no height restrictions and downtown buildings truly scraped the sky, they would still be dwarfed by the mountains. Both would soar together to make people gasp in awe.
McLanguage barrier
On the way to visit my son and his two dogs recently, we stopped at a McDonald’s in Parker to pick up a couple of hamburgers for the pets (they’re really big). Normally we use the drive-through, but it was backed up enough that a trip inside was the better choice. I don’t recall the last time I took this route, but ... wow!
The majority of the communications between workers was loud and definitely Spanish with the person who appeared to be running things (manager?) doing so in that same language. I observed several of the customers conversing in Spanish as well, and my presence necessitated a change from the language of the business to broken English. The unwelcome feeling that came over me brought back memories of checking into a hotel in Paris.
Yes, the language of choice at McDonald’s (at least this one anyway) has become Spanish.
Mag-lev an excuse
Nowhere do they say how much it costs. Having attended mag-lev workshops all over the nation, nowhere is it being built. Not New York to Miami, not Boston to Washington, not Los Angeles to Las Vegas, not Dallas to Houston. Of course, common sense is missing around here, so we will be in for costly, time-consuming, endless studies. It is a good excuse for not building a line to DIA.
Early Spaniards offer much to be proud of
The Spanish Knights of America is a nonprofit organization that offers a presentation that focuses on “positive” aspects of Hispanic history. We are invited to history classes by teachers who want to show their Hispanic-American students that they, too, have something to be proud of.
If Rossi had attended our presentation, she would have experienced something very different and exciting. The two fifth-grade history classes at Stevens Elementary were excited to see living history, especially the Hispanic kids who make up half the class. They were told how their forefathers from Spain financed George Washington and the patriots to the tune of $1.2 million dollars to help defeat the British and win our independence, and how Spain financially backed the Continental Currency Note. And how the “blue” coat was given to the American Army from Spain, along with buttons, boots, belts, hats, blankets, cannons, ammunition ... the list goes on.
They were told they have something to be proud of. As a teacher, Rossi has a responsibility to be “sensitive” to all of her students and not condemn and associate their forefathers with Hitler.
Today’s Hispanic school-age kids need positive things said about their heritage and culture.
Colonial Infantry of Albuquerque and the Spanish Knights of America
The other conquistadors
Greedy oil companies
Fortunately, I am still able to pay these increasing gas prices, but there are many who will be greatly affected by them.
We live in a great country, but I have come to the conclusion that 90 percent of the problems the United States faces are rooted in greed. The oil companies fit this category; they are disgusting and should be ashamed of themselves.
Defeat on two fronts
At the same time they are doing all they can to fully fund illegal immigrants with my tax dollars, claiming they represent “the American people.”
If Americans truly want defeat in Iraq and unlimited illegal immigration, I fear for our future as a country.
A pall over the nation
In the name of “fighting terrorism,” Bush unapologetically condemns countless souls to slaughter.
Lost lives, lost minds, lost limbs, lost families, lost faith, lost hope.
Phyllis S. Weller, Lakewood
The sort of people in attendance at the Los Angeles May Day rally (“Top cop criticizes officers’ use of force at immigration rally,” May 3) are exactly the sort of people the LAPD is accustomed to brutalizing with routine impunity — poor, nonwhite noncitizens, lacking the knowledge of their rights, and lacking the financial resources to defend those rights.
And the LAPD would most likely have gotten away with it once again had they not made the mistake of also knocking around a few white journalists for good measure. Were it not for this misstep, the incident in MacArthur Park would very likely have been reported as yet another “Rally turns violent” story making it sound as if victims of police violence were to blame for it all.
Constitution is followed
Indeed, it is Congress’ role to fund the war or not, and it is the president’s role to accept Congress’ recommendation or veto it, again according to the Constitution. Finally, Congress can override a veto, but only with a two-thirds majority.
The Constitution does not allow the “people” (in the 2006 election or any election) to subvert this process. This country is a republic with elected representatives, each of whom must follow the Constitution. And the Constitution is being followed, contrary to Eichenberger’s opinion.
Slippery subject
I was so amused, I clipped the story and showed it to the proprietor/boy genius of my local herpetological shop.
He was dismayed by two blatant inaccuracies. First, rattlesnakes are not asps, but rather pit vipers.
Second, the snakes are not poisonous. That implies that ingesting them would be dangerous. Not true. They taste like chicken after all!
These snakes are venomous, meaning they inject venom into the bloodstream, which is very problematic.
What security?
We hear about fighting terrorists and about homeland security over and over and over. What we hear is that we must fight terrorism abroad — Iraq/Afghanistan.
We want to keep our country safe and the killing elsewhere.
Here is my burning question: If we are so concerned about homeland security, why are we leaving our southern border wide open? If I were al-Qaida, I would have operatives going to Mexico and coming across that border in numbers. We seem to have lost all common sense in this country.
Coincidence?
Since then we have lived through new understandings brought about by Copernicus, Neuton, Einstein, and Quantum Physics. The new understandings brought about by these scientific advancements, as well as advances in enlightenment and rational thinking, should have brought about a corresponding evolution of faith. Instead we are still stuck with a concept of the Divinethathaspatriarchal connotations. If there is a Divine, it can now be best described as an evolutionary force related to our being and the universal dynamics of self-organization. To treat a force as if it is a being is a category mistake. We might honor the historical use of the word God, but it should be retired from public sight-everywhere.
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Piñon Canyon expansion
My family has had a operating ranch near Trinidad for over 125 years, my father has been ranching for over 60 years and continues to ranch with my brother and nephews. We and all of the people who oppose the Army's take over of productive ranch and farm land, whole towns, whole communities, schools, churches, businesses .. . “historical groups, conservationists, Native America Nations, archaeologists, cattlemen’s groups, private property rights groups, labor unions, paleontologists, religious groups, counties, cities, towns. Museums, scientists, artists, etc.” will not sit still while our Army “bullies” its way into stripping communities and people of their livelihoods, roots, homes, schools, churches, history. They have NO right to take our land! Already the army helicopters are beginning to fly overhead! As many as 20 at a time! Would you like someone to TAKE your home without your permission?
To seize your business? To intend play war-games in your town and in your schools and in your churches? Put the shoe on YOUR foot!
This has nothing to do with Patriotism. Many of the people in our community are veterans and have served their country! This has to do with taking over land and homes and communities! There is LOTS of unused and unusable land in this country for the Army to use! Go play war games there!
We ask you as people of Colorado to RISE UP with us and take a stand against eminent domain by the Army and against Congressman Mark Udall who needs to lose his job! He no longer can be trusted with the State of Colorado issues! Please write or call him today!
Evolution & politics
Mr. Buchanan apparently “knows” that among the unspecified inorganic molecules that came from either nothing or an unknown but material source (itself from nowhere), some were the fittest to evolve into the as yet nonexistent life by a proces
It figures. When you insist that a hypothesis is a fact without having any proof, d
An educated person isn’t averse to saying “I don’t know.”
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Abortion
Of Mr. Smetana I would like to ask: How many unwanted pregnancies have you experienced?
How many children have you adopted?
How many children have you fostered?
As you are so deeply concerned for the lives these unwanted and aborted children I am curious what you have done for the ones who were born and unwanted?
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Border security
Let’s get that fence built now!
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Al Sharpton
Sharpton is today quoted as questioning presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s faith as a Mormon, by saying “Romney does not believe in God as I believe in God".
Maybe I missed something, but isn’t dismissing a view that differs from your own the essence if not the very definition of intolerance? I am not a Mormon, but I respect Romney’s right to believe whatsoever he chooses.
I am deeply offended, and I demand that Al Sharpton retire from public life immediately, and be henceforth silenced from making any media statements whatsoever. Tolerance demands it.
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Teachers
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Columbus Day
First of all, the Indians claim that we are celebrating a man who is guilty of rape and genocide. The Indians need to look at their own history. Many tribes were violent, often warring with other tribes. In the process, they wiped out entire villages, raped women, and took children as slaves. How is that any different from what the Europeans did? Also, these white protestors forget that if they are of European decent, their ancestors are also guilty of rape and genocide. I have one message for all the protestors of Columbus Day and the parade: Get over it.
Many people in America celebrate Mardi Gras- a FRENCH “holiday.”
Many people in America celebrate Cinco De Mayo- a MEXICAN “holiday.”
Why are these people allowed to celebrate without criticism from other ethnic groups? The answer is simple- it’s an excuse to get drunk and party. I’m sure if Columbus Day included enough alcohol, there would be no problem with our parade.
In closing, I ask that the protestors take a good long look at their ethnic history and exactly why they’re protesting.
Nuclear weapons
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Rocky Flats workers
Now, the federal government has the chance to step up and do something right for the little guy, but suddenly, it is counting pennies instead of billions. I refer, of course, to the Rocky Flats workers who got sick working there.
Why won’t the government step up? Because the government didn’t keep accurate enough records so the workers could PROVE that radiation was the cause of their illnesses! Those tight-fisted bureaucrats have saved a few million dollars so that money can go, instead, to George’s and Dick’s friends by the billions.
There should be a 2 tier test. One, did the person work there? Two, is the person sick? Acknowledge that our job was to keep records and we didn’t, so they should not have to suffer further. Then give ‘em medical benefits. It was such a dangerous job that we shouldn’t even be discussing whether the aid is deserved.
And what if we give money to some who do not deserve it? I can live with that easily, knowing that the ones who really needed help got it. Under all circumstances, it is better than with the billions and billions going to the rich and the big who never deserve it.
The actions by the government denying medical benefits to Flats workers is disgusting and shameful and is beneath us as a nation.
Sounds like the way we treat our veterans, doesn’t it?
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Evolution & politics
To answer the question, it should be have been defined by Matthews.
Evolution means different things to different people. . Matthews either revealed his ignorance of evolution or made a vile attempt to influence the so-called “debate” by asking the question in this unqualified way. Many people, perhaps the majority of American voters, think of evolution as opposed to God as the Creator. To most scientists evolution means that organisms and species have over time developed naturally to their present condition. Tancredo summarized his position after the debate iin one short, succint sentence. He believes in evolution as development, but in creationism as the work of a transcendent almighty Creator, not chance.
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Uranium mining
Powertech’s Richard Blubaugh initially stated that in-situ mining is “safe”.
In an interview with Channel 4, he now says “there is a risk of everything”. Hmmm—first it was safe and now it has risks. The in-situ process, by its very nature, has risks. For example, in the last 18 months, the Smith Ranch site near Glenrock, Wyoming has had 37,941 gallons spilled! In a two-year period, 69,891 gallons were spilled! This is more than fill a 30 ft X 50 ft X 6 ft swimming pool! And this is just one site!
Blubaugh also states, “with good engineering and good management, the possibility of any kind of release or contamination is highly unlikely.” This does NOT describe Powertech’s leadership. In fact, there is a path of abandoned reclamation projects (Moab, UT) and soil and water contaminations (Highland Uranium Project, Smith Ranch, Kingsville Dome, Rosita, Moser, etc).
Powertech boasts that its Director, Wallace Mays, was the first member to be inducted into the “Uranium Hall of Fame.” This must be a one-member organization because we only found one very old reference to it!
Powertech is trying to operate under the radar. Why? If this is such a low risk process, why not be more open. They talk about in-situ mining but don’t talk much about the open pit mining they will be doing. They have the option of waiving the confidentiality clause of their exploration permits—they haven’t. What else are they not telling us?
Write your county, state and federal representatives now and tell them that Colorado would rather promote tourism than mining radioactive uranium!
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RTD in Weld County
I live in Dacono and catch the RTD bus at Wagon Road Park & Ride on 120th. Why do the people who run RTD presume to know where I shop? I shop in downtown Denver on my lunch hour and in Thornton or Westminster on my way home at night…..not in Weld County! This includes my grocery shopping and other shopping like at Lowe’s, Home Depot, K-Mart or any large store. If I need to go to K-Mart, Kohls’s, any similair type store or mall on the weekend, I go to Longmont or Thornton…..why would I drive 45 minutes to Greeley (the closest place in Weld County for any of these stores) when I can be in Longmont or Thornton in 20 minutes? The only shopping I do in Weld County is at the Family Dollar in Dacono and an occasional stop at the Safeway in Firestone. 99% of my purchases are made in cities that charge RTD sales tax and now RTD wants to bilk me out of $4.00 a day on top of the sales tax simply because of where I live! I am sure there are plenty of other RTD riders who live in my area who do the same thing. RTD is being very unfair to it’s ridership with this plan.
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Abortion
First, consider the euphemisms used to describe abortion such as “induced termination” or “arresting the development” or “cessation of growth” of a fetus. We might even consider the “failure of a plan” except that one smacks of religion which, obviously, the GMT’s reflexively reject. In every case, the assertion is that something ends with an abortion. The ineluctable conclusion is that the only thing that ends is the life of the fetus. In fact if the fetus were not alive, the procedure would not be termed an abortion. Therefore, the fetus must be alive.
Second, we know that no wart becomes a human being. We also know that no human being was once a wart. That means that there must be some interesting distinction between a human embryo and a wart in determining if, in fact, the embryo is entitled to the rights of a human being. Consequently, failing to distinguish between a wart and a human embryo is illogical.
I hope this demonstration helps the GMT’s so we can move to the question of whether the fetus is a person endowed with unalienable rights.
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Starved child
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Immigration protests
Wake up America.
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Columbus Day
We’re supposed to care about a protest of societal mores in the 15th century? Should we also consider the South American Indians who carved up live young virgin girls as offerings to their false gods around the same time? Or should we Google ‘Indian Atrocities’ and see what their ancestors were up to as late as the 19th century?
The White Man came with a superior force and a superior culture and won the land. As Jimmy Carter said, “Life is unfair” but that’s the facts.
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Columbus Day
Italian-Americans were long persecuted in Colorado; the KKK was founded largely because Italians were immigrating to Colorado. At one time, not long ago, Italian-Americans were the most hated minority in this state. Italians have much more in common with our Native Americans brothers and sisters than we do with the white supremacists of Colorado or with Christopher Columbus.
In 1937 FDR declared Columbus Day a national holiday and Italian-Americans rose up with pride because they felt that they had finally been given their due after decades of being persecuted by white racists. But for anyone living in 1937, were Italian-Americans proud of being recognized for their contributions or were they happy that Columbus was being honored? Make no mistake, it had precious little to do with Columbus, and the holiday quickly transformed into more of a celebration of Italian pride.
History has shown that Columbus was a veteran slave trader who used his experience to start the genocide of the people who were here before the Europeans. Every October, we celebrate the first illegal immigrant and a man who started the mass genocide of Native Americans. What other holiday celebrates a murderer? Are Italian-Americans comfortable with joining other white racists who have constantly closed the door on Native Americans? Imagine sending your children to school and telling them the first holiday they’ll celebrate in school is for the man who started the genocide of 85% of your people? I’m in favor of having an Italian Pride Day to replace Columbus Day. I’m in favor of having holidays that celebrate all immigrants and their contributions.
But Goodbye, Columbus.
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Public schools
This week we read that the Teachers Union is in negotiations with DPS over a new contract. They actually want to increase the wages of teachers.
Obviously, there are many really good teachers but the union wants DPS to increase ALL teachers’ wages.
Any businessperson will tell you that if his employees are causing a serious loss in productivity that severely threaten his company’s existence, he will not reward the cause of his firm’s failures.
Two years ago, my son and I were discussing the poor school performance of his 10-year-old son. My grandson, who was about to enter the fifth grade was reading at about the second grade level. Further, his peers at school were tormenting him, calling him “dumb.” He could not spell and his math skills were very poor. We decided that I would home school the boy. He has just turned 12 and is finishing the 6th grade. He is now reading close to grade level and his math skills are much higher than his sister’s who is just finishing her first year in high school. While his self-esteem was poor before, he now has confidence that he is a very bright kid.
The school system failed my grandson and obviously, it is failing many other Denver kids.
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Why illegal aliens are criminals
These people broke the law by coming here illegally. They break the law by working illegally. If they bought false papers in order to work, that is fraud, and the person who made the false papers is guilty of forgery. The person who bought the false papers is guilty of conspiracy to commit forgery. If those papers happened to include a valid Social Security number belonging to someone else, that is ID theft. If they are paid in cash, off the books, that is tax evasion. When they drive without a license and insurance, that is breaking the law. When someone breaks that many laws, that makes them criminals.
I also hear the moans about “breaking up families” when someone is deported. I don’t know how many people currently residing in our jails and prisons are parents, but they are suffering the consequences of their actions, and the kids are paying too. At least these people who are deported have an option to take their kids with them; those Americans in prison for fraud, conspiracy, forgery, etc., don’t have that option. It is not the law that “breaks up families” it is the lawbreaker. Let’s get real.
Users, takers resented
With this wealth, we have created a social structure that is appealing to a different type of immigrant. Many — not all — come here to benefit from our free social services and schooling, but they don’t love this country and don’t want to become citizens. They protest on our soil, flaunting the flag of their country and demand rights as if they were citizens of the United States.
Americans resent the users and takers, but welcome those who want to commit to, and become contributing members of, American society.
It’s all about the intent of those who come here.
Must we add America to list of ‘terrorists’?
The United States is the most powerful nation in the world and should stand for integrity, justice and equality. Allowing our government to strip away the rights of prisoners of war for protection from our own malice should not only be considered unacceptable, it should enrage citizens who believe that America must uphold U.S. constitutional rights under all circumstances.
For years, the U.S. government and citizens have been using the word “terrorist” loosely, considering anyone who poses a threat to fall under that label. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary provides the following definition for “terrorist”: “an advocate or practitioner of terror as a means of coercion.” This exactly defines the tactics the U.S. military has used on the prisoners of Guantanamo Bay. Perhaps we should consider adding America onto the long list of “terrorists.”
Broken families
I say we need to look at the fact that more than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. I say we need to look at the fact that many of our kids grow up without their fathers to model what a real man is. I say we need to look at the fact that many of our kids don’t grow up in a solid family where marriage is the bedrock, but where the mom and dad are just “boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Sure, the media, video games and Hollywood might contribute to the thoughts and feeling of anger. But they only water a seed that was already planted by the broken or nonexistent family.
Second thoughts
His plans would become immensely more complicated and certainly more difficult to execute. Pun intended.
Ritter’s Metro State decision misguided
I am not a Republican, but I am a father of four with a significant stake in Colorado’s education system. I am also a grateful recipient of business mentoring from the likes of Benson and others — all talented and tireless contributors to Colorado on countless fronts.
Accordingly, the arbitrary decision not to renew Benson could only be matched in abject stupidity if the Avalanche decided there are too many Canadians on the team, and used that reasoning to trade away Joe Sakic.
With more experience, I’m sure Ritter will learn that partisanship and education should not ride together if actual education is the goal. In time the governor might also realize that the state needs more volunteerism and resources from people like Bruce Benson, and not less.
Iraqis must want success more than we
I say this with despair because the administration will not (or cannot) make the Iraqi government stand up to its responsibilities and duties.
Instead we send more troops and bullets, and won’t hold the Iraqi government accountable for its many, many failures over the last year. When they want their country more than we do, they stand a chance, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon, even though we have told them we are gone soon if they don’t clean up their act (please see the Iraq supplemental bill).
Pithy response
A DIFFERING VIEW: DA Chambers’ actions commendable
Regarding her “threats” toward any judge “showing overt hostility” to her prosecutors, I say “Brava!” Judges who are hostile to either side have not the proper judicial demeanor and do not belong in any courtroom.
She also must face voters in a real election. Not so with our judges, who only stand for retention.
As for the salary issue, she was given about 15 percent less than her predecessor for no good reason. Her responsibilities are at least as great as the former district attorney’s. Please keep this in mind the next time the Rocky parades its views on equal pay for women for equal work.
As for using her office to help an acquaintance, the Rocky knows quite well that the friend involved was a victim of identity theft, harassed by a lawyer who knew she did not owe the money. Lawyers and editorial writers can take advantage of others, and need to be called to account.
Finally, if the Rocky wishes to crusade against an erring district attorney, why not go after the one in Boulder who was so reluctant to bring charges against the only people who could have broken so many bones in a young infant? The result was death, not just a few hurt feelings. Ah well, we all have our priorities.
Public schools are best hope for social justice
I would challenge any parent who has enrolled their child in a private school to show me a teacher who is more skilled and caring than the teachers my daughter has at our community public school. It is the staff at her school that makes it great, but following close behind is the parental involvement.
Parents who say they “would like” to enroll their children in public school should get involved. If you think there is too much emphasis on state tests, talk with administrators. If you think there should be more resources for the arts, start fundraising.
Public schools offer our best hope for social justice, but it takes the public’s support to make it work.
Everything we do heats up atmosphere
An article in the paper recently showed the average yearly temperature in the U.S. is higher than ever before and the warm air continues to move northward.
When you have a constant increase in population, how can things not get warmer. Take the temperature of an empty room. Then fill it with people. Wait 30 minutes and take the temperature again. Adding thousands of 98.6’ers to our planet every day adds heat.
We are constantly losing oxygen-producing landscapes and covering the Earth’s open spaces with houses, businesses and roads. All of which create heat.
American automakers don’t want to build cars that run on something other than fossil fuels. Gas-burning vehicles create heat.
What, if anything, does man do that doesn’t cause heat? What do we do that doesn’t damage the atmosphere? It’s not what the sun puts out. It’s what our damaged atmosphere is letting in.
It doesn’t take a lot of common sense to see reality.
Aurora officials need code of conduct
Then we might have fewer chiefs playing golf, having affairs, trying to coerce the Civil Service Commission or fewer council people assaulting school officials who are just trying to enforce the rules fairly and without selective favoritism.
But, alas, you must have honest people willing to judge and demand compliance. Oh well, so much for any honor code in Aurora.
Now Bush is playing politics with troops
The Democrats should refuse to send anything but the same bill (maybe with special projects removed) which would force the president to begin planning the withdrawal of troops now. We could implement the rest of the Iraq Study Group’s suggestions, establish diplomatic talks with neighbors in the region about planning the security of Iraq, and a solution that will guarantee that Iraqis maintain control of their national resources, and the right to govern themselves without outside influence, including that of the United States.
We could get about the business of establishing responsibility and accountability for the deceit and corruption involved in our invasion and occupation of Iraq. After the Bush administration is removed from office, we can return to being a nation governed by our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as our Framers intended, and truly be a nation of the rule of law, liberty and justice.
It would be the perfect end to this nightmare of deceitful madness.
Signs that war is lost
However, I will provide them with a few signs of how to know that we have lost the war, as they claim.
You will have to buy a prayer cloth and turn and pray several times to the east. The only thing that you will see when watching women walk by on the street is their eyes. Our police officers will drive around with four or five of them in back of a pickup truck holding AK-47s. Christian and Jewish houses of worship will be things of the past. Eating a good BLT will be a capital crime.
Until these things happen, do not tell me that we lost the war.
Commerce City
So long, Mr. Smythe
My mother, known as Kaytee Ellen, also an early Denver radio pioneer, worked with Smythe many times. Hearing his voice at DIA always brought back memories of the times I met him as a child and of listening to his radio program.
I will miss this last remaining presence of sweet memories from my childhood.
Time has come for universal vouchers
Denver Public Schools officials’ mea culpas and desires for radical reform is 30-plus years late and a dollar short (though billions are already down the drain).
Some things should stay as is, others should be reformed, and the Denver Public Schools from top down should be chloroformed.
More money, incremental reforms even radical reforms in the face of tenure (which can cost $150,000 just to get rid of deadwood) isn’t going to cut it. (And paying a $1,179-per-student bounty/bribe for a kid who comes back from a charter or a private school is proof positive of the abject failure of the Denver Public Schools model.)
No, mea culpas, more money, so-called “radical reform” ... this is a recipe for continued educational Ebola, truly the enemy within.
Like it or not, it is time for universal vouchers.
As stated in the article, the Institute of Medicine released a study finding that only half of the ER visits were true medical emergencies. There are other venues currently available for non- life threatening urgent care situations. Urgent and walk- in medical care clinics are now operating in the Denver area, with qualified physicians and staff ready to take care of patients with non life - threatening illnesses and injuries. Those patients complaining of sinus pain, minor burns, lacerations, flu and allergy symptoms, sprains, bug bites, bone breaks, fever, headaches, panic attacks, urinary tract infections, and animal bites could all be treated at the local urgent or immediate care clinics. Many of these clinics are staffed with physicians who have trained and worked in the emergency departments of local city hospitals.
These clinics are open seven days a week, most with extended evening and weekend hours. The long waiting time that patients associate with an emergency room visit is not the norm for these urgent care clinics. This is because the serious life threatening situations that consume Emergency Department physicians and staff does not occur in an urgent care. (Examples of life threatening injuries and illnesses would be heart attacks, loss of limb or eyes, gunshot or stab wounds, compound fracture, stroke symptoms, loss of consciousness, severe difficulty in breathing, etc) Please, let your readers know that the loss of a downtown hospital does not mean the loss of urgent medical care in the downtown Denver area. There are many wonderful clinics open and available now that can help take care of the people of Denver and their urgent medical needs.
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D.C. statehood
The residents of Washington D.C. are too modest in seeking statehood. Have some ambition! Go for nationhood! Now that’s a movement I could really get behind.
Teachers
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Iraq war
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Paul Wolfowitz
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Illegals & education
Hmm. It is a puzzler. I imagine the Rocky and Denver Schools looked pretty hard to find Beach Court Elementary, with its 95% “Hispanic” (to you and me, that’s “children of illegal aliens”) population but with a 78% reading proficiency rate. Good for them.
I wonder though: if I were to sneak across the border with my kids and enroll them in a Mexican school, would that school bend over backward to make sure my kids are tested in English, as 89% of those “proficient” readers
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DA Carol Chambers
Colorado judges commit felonies on an industrial scale because they can, and the Rocky’s editors candidly explained why: “Judges run our courts … [AND]have their little ways of bringing prosecutors to heel.” While in theory, judges are as accountable to the law as the rest of us, there isn’t a single prosecutor in the state who has the courage and character to prosecute[1], because they know that retaliation by the judges’ guild will be swift and terrible. Our Commission on Judicial Discipline is equally feckless. A former judge can even be caught red-handed stealing a laptop computer; the State invariably turns a blind eye to black-robed crime.
Back in America’s glory days, we could count on the Fourth Estate to keep a close watch on our judiciary. Sadly, “investigative journalism” has become the exclusive province of the blogs, as all that passes for “news” in the corporate press is insipid wall-to-wall coverage of JonBenet, Natalee, and Anna Nicole. The Rocky has become scarcely more than a local Sports Illustrated, and I am often forced to get my news from New Zealand.
Kudos to District Attorney Chambers for showing the kind of character and professionalism not often seen among that subclass of craven invertebrates otherwise known as lawyers. Pity that our modern journalists and newspaper editors don’t have any more of a spine.
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Episcopal Church
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Theology & science
For those people who are so certain in the correctness of Darwinism, I would ask them to read “The Science of God” by Gerald L. Schroeder. In his book, Schroeder points out the noisy dichotomy between evolutionists and creationists comes from theologians who don’t understand science and scientists who don’t understand theology. I would add it is worsened by those who understand neither. Schroeder is both scientist and theologian and points out that theology and science are not mutually exclusive.
Recent scientific discoveries have shown evolution by random mutation to be mathematically impossible in the necessary time frame. In other words, Darwin was wrong. I’m not so ignorant as to claim I know how it all happened, but I would caution those who think they do to slow down and educate themselves, and not be so quick to discount the views of others.
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TV Week magazine
. .
What possible justification can there be for this “streamlining” other than to save
One would think
Please bring back the previous
Denver Public Schools
Whether we consider economic needs, social/emotional needs, or academic needs, the gaps are reality for many of our students. The trick is to prevent them from using that as an excuse.
The Rocky Mountain News series “Leaving to Learn” described the gap between what Denver families need from schools and what’s available. The numbers/reasons regarding students leaving DPS tell a compelling story. But who can tell the story underneath that, the enormous challenge of educating a diverse population with multiple needs? What’s more, can we tell the story without using the difficulties as an excuse? What if the story included the role of poverty in language/cognitive development? What if the story included the developmental battle between the pleasure principle and the reality of schedules, accountability and rigor? What if the story included evidence of social/emotional health as key to academic success, and the time and funding constraints that restrict the delivery of social/emotional supports consistently enough to create a culture where everyone is valued? Telling that story begins with credibility. When I (or any adult) call a student on their behavior and subsequent excuse, the student measures whether I have enough depth to be credible. When we discuss big-picture education, it’s still those with credibility – the families and professionals who have used public schools to get over the wall and are willing to throw the rope back over – who must acknowledge the limitations and excuses, stand up for schools as essential in the shaping of the mental health, character and intellect of every generation, and offer hope.
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Colin Powell
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Veterans
Sure- STDs make for attention grabbing press. But that kind of writing does nothing to further the national discussion on how vets should be compensated for the sacrifices they have made, are making and will make. Write about the role of the VA and the intention of creating a Veterans disability compensation system independent of Social Security or other government disability programs. Ask the VA how the average annual death rate of WWII and Korean War era veterans (approx 600,000/yr) will affect adequacy of resources for the 700,000 returning Iraq and Afghanistan vets.
Especially in an an era of a volunteer military, but in now way discounting the service of all the drafted veterans, the United States should think carefully about what it means to be a vet and how we as a nation choose to value military service. Of course the Commission should review how and why veterans are compensated for disabilities. But the discussion should be conducted in a context of facts and historical evidence, not sensationalistic baloney.
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Tom Tancredo
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Bigotry
The reason the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are not raising a stink about the lyrics in rap songs is because it’s not in their interest to rock the boat. To them it’s easy to fan the flames when Imus, Howard Stern and others put their prejudiced feet in their mouths.
Where’s the consistency? If it’s wrong for Imus to spew his bile, then it’s just as wrong for Mims, R. Kelly and others to spew theirs.
TV Week magazine
TV Week magazine
Etta Hulme cartoon
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Gun control
Most long guns are easy to cut to concealable size. Dobbs knows this, but ignored it. Why? Two reasons: intent to deceive and contempt for his audience.
Most states have liberalized concealed
The theory behind gun control is that criminals are the first group disarmed, when in practice they are the last. Dobbs knows this, but ignored it. Why? Two reasons: intent to deceive and contempt for his audience.
Dobbs’ entire case rests on the premise that all gun owners are murder
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Climate change
What nonsense. First of all, it is far from established fact that we are doing anything to the planet and ourselves. Certainly pollution was something we were responsible for, but human caused global warming despite Al Gore’s “consensus” claim is not even remotely a proven fact.
We don’t have the formulas that come with understanding to be able to predict the future or even understand all the competing factors that create our environment. So her claim we know how to “correct it” is equally as foolish.
We do know that global warming is happening..on Mars, on Jupiter, and on Pluto as well as the Earth. Leslie and other alarmists claim that this is simply a coincidence. I guess it is a comic coincidence.
We also know that the rise of CO2 and temperature is a fact. However, we also know that temperature goes up and then CO2 goes up. In fact, despite Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth graph, this relationship is the opposite of what he claimed and there is as much as an 800 year lag between rising temperatures and rising CO2. Again the true believers acknowledge this, but state, CO2 doesn’t start global warming by it will accelerate it.
We also know that the “solution” that Leslie and others recommend either not solve the problem they believe in or would condemn the poorest nations on earth to the greatest harm. Starvation and misery surely will follow Leslie’s solution, and that would be the real “greatest crime imaginable.”
Al Sharpton
Do as I say, not as I do?
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Straightening out a few firearms facts
In a different article in the same edition, “A family’s last stand,” the
Is there not one single person working for the
Lost opportunity
It would have been great morning to see a Rocky Mountain News front page with the smiles of young people who have worked hard and accomplished much. Instead we had another picture of a Denver Nuggets loss. Too bad.
MSNBC trio flopped
Matthews showed favoritism to Sen. John McCain many times in letting him go past the time limit, but he twice cut off Rep. Tom Tancredo and asked him silly questions. MSNBC should be called on it.
For Matthews and Co. to moderate a GOP debate is laughable. It was a waste of time and money for MSNBC. Hopefully, future debates by CNN and Fox News will do a much better job.
Cutting the meat
I assume it was downsized to save on printing costs. But the Post is not cutting the fat, it’s cutting the meat out of this TV schedule magazine.
Rocky misses chance to honor fallen officers
Assist me in understanding why no photos accompanied the article — considering that there were several hundred officers and numerous government officials and broadcast media in attendance — and why it was relegated to a mere four column inches.
Help me to fathom why other news — with photos — of the Kentucky Derby, Boulder Humane Society, graffiti, and Trail Ridge Road rank higher in priority than the lives of local law enforcement officers killed in 2006. Even a two-page, full-color ad for furniture and an article on tainted chickens was deemed more important than the line-of-duty deaths of these public servants.
The Rocky missed a sterling chance to highlight an event that annually memorializes Colorado’s lost police officers. Why?
Chairman,
Colorado Law Enforcement
Officers’ Memorial
Iraq war & Congress
Mercury in fish
First, what was the level of mercury measured in the fish? What were the species of fish and the level in each of these species? Second, what is the recommended maximum level of mercury allowed by the State and Federal agencies for these species of fish? What level of mercury is typically measured in fish? You may want to visit the web sites
And third, what is the level of mercury found in other foods and over-the-counter supplements? If you want to compare these fish to other foods you should have a basis of comparison. You may also want to visit http://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.asp?Id=1852&xcntr=1 for medical information on the amount of mercury in foods and in our body and where it comes from.
If your paper is going to give you 13½
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Bush administration
Iraq war
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Campaign 2008
Then again, Madonna wears a cross on a regular basis and the $400.00 haircuts by Senator John Edwards don’t seem to fit my conservative beliefs.
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Driving in Denver
Xcel Energy & enviros
I collect firewood. Frankly though, unlike Excel Energy executives and trust-fund Boulder enviros who might collect expensive wines, or numbered John Fielder prints, I’m not terribly discriminating. After all, it’s not as if I’ll be showing off my collection to Donald Trump or proudly mounting my favorite piece over my fireplace mantel. To be sure, a fireplace is involved, but not the mantel so much. Since I scavenge my “collection” whenever I spot a neighbor taking down a tree or run across some forgotten pile of cut logs moldering in someone’s back yard, let’s just say my collection’s provenance, leaves something to be desired. I won’t be passing any of it on to my heirs. Last winter, during our Christmas-to-yesterday bout with “global warming,” probably two-and-a-half cords of my collection went up in smoke and prevented my family from either freezing to death or starving after getting our Excel bill.
No doubt enviros and Excel execs are aghast at my hobby, if for different reasons. The enviros view my belching chimney with as much horror as they do my belching pick-up truck. How much wood can a Prius haul, though? And I’m no help at all with those execs’ Mercedes payments! But until they make my hobby illegal, they’ll get my log splitter from me when they pry it from my cold
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School massacres
b. You are significant, loved, and he has a wonderful plan for your life
b. You’re insignificant, a savage who will slaughter or be slaughtered
c
Now, which one of those worldviews do you think is responsible for the slaughter? If you still are not
And that is what your kids will be force
“
Illegal immigration
When will ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION cease to be the 800 pound gorilla in the room?
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Rocky Flats workers
This decision is an absolute stab in the back to the hard working people that did what needed to be done. Scientists, machinists, chemists all did their part and received not so much as a handshake from our government for ‘helping to win the cold war’.
Now that we have gone through the clean up, (oh by the way saving the taxpayers millions of dollars) we are being discarded like the waste we cleaned up.
It is amazing that the same government that requires businesses to keep records of their employees’ occupational exposures are now saying that they are not going to require exposure records from Rocky Flats employers. Then deny any claim from ailing former employees for illnesses that may occur 15 or 20 years after an exposure.
We worked with chemicals and mixtures, radiological processes that were cutting edge in the field. Where was the documentation of the hazardous materials we worked with, a.k.a., an MSDS? These data sheets are required for all other businesses, but they don’t exist for nuclear materials.
We used the best safety equipment and techniques known at the time. We did not know they would not be good enough, because no one knew what low dose, long-term exposures would do. No one. Now that the results of those exposures are coming to light in many of the workforce, our government is denying any accountability. It is sickening. So for anyone to say that we knew the risks speaks from ignorance.
We took the nuclear bullet for our country. So come on America, step up to the plate and help those that stepped up to the plate in the name of defense.
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Iran
Like Iraq in 2003, the claim that Iran is building nuclear weapons is being used to get the U.S. population to support this unjustified and illegal attack. Both the CIA and the International Atomic Energy Agency have stated recently that they have no evidence of a nuclear bomb program in Iran. Iran has a legal right to pursue a program for nuclear power.
Despite repeated requests from thousands of citizens to prohibit the President from attacking Iran, Congress has not passed any legislation to stop the President in his moves toward this military disaster. It is urgent that Congress put on the brakes on Bush’s bellicose ambitions, or the U.S. will face serious economic, military and political repercussions for decades to come.
Contact Congress at 202-224-3121 and tell them “no war on Iran".
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Darfur
Now, I get back to my request to you. I hope you too will speak out against the genocide. Please advocate for funding and direct action from U.N. Forces to enforce the no-fly zone in Darfur. Also, call for increased funding for the U.N. peacekeeping force, and encourage all U.S.
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President Bush
He has lost the respect of the whole world and that has to hurt our country, i.e., if we can start illegal wars why can’t we pay more for the gas and oil we use, if we can start unprovoked wars why shouldn’t we pay more for everything we import. If we survive this hellish war it won’t be easy for the most powerful country in the world to lead anywhere in the future. It is just making it easier for the likes of Chavez and Castro and their friends through out South America, Asia, and most of the rest of world to isolate us. How about President Putin from Russia and his “cold war” looks now that our military is scrambling.
With the likes of what we now have as President, perhaps we should be isolated. We now have enough confusion in almost everything in this country to keep us busy in a state of perplexity for decades. And that is not counting what a punishing, grim looking mother nature has in store for us.
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Immigration
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DA Carol Chambers
In the Jonathan Steiner matter, Ms. Chambers told this attorney
Yet who does disciplinary counsel go after? The uppity woman, of course.
Now, several male defense attorneys
My experience with Ms. Chambers, in one matter involving election fraud in Castle Rock, was a monumental improvement over her predecessor, who, when presented with my affidavit detailing hundreds of election offenses committed by the Town Clerk, the Douglas County clerk and recorder, and operatives working for real estate developers, simply let the statute of limitations expire. So here is my take on this constant focus on Ms. Chambers: the defense attorneys are upset because their clients are actually being prosecuted; and some of the defendants themselves are powerful. For the first time, they’ve got to deal with a district attorney who is doing her job.
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Teachers
These voices will never be lost because the public school system belongs to them. I am also a proud member of my professional organizations: NEA, CEA, and DCTA. Amid all of the voices of the people and groups that I work for, these organizations help preserve my voice in the complex and necessary conversation about how to improve public education, especially for our neediest kids. Lately, the media seems to be one of my biggest adversaries by promoting the idea that without my contract, my union, or my voice, schools will improve. Remember: whatever new policies, procedures or curricula come about in the inevitable reforms of Denver Public Schools, I will be the one in the classroom, implementing these changes and changing the lives of kids, because that’s my job. As a teacher, I make the ultimate difference. Don’t take away the voices of those of us who are working so hard for all of you. P.S. I love my job and I love your kids.
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Mike Rosen
Brilliant! I’ve heard
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Hanging Lake tunnel
The tunnel is NOT 105’ long its 8/10’s of a mile. That 105’ is whats being worked on. Its Mountain Man Welding and Fabrication and Concrete Works doing the actual work, NOT CDOT.
The whole article was full of inaccurate statements.
Those were just the two that bugged me the most.
And why did he not take a pic of the ignorant folks giving the fellas who are busting their butts to get the work done to reopen the tunnel , THE BIRD. That is so ignorant of those folks. Its being worked on for their safty, not just to mess up their day. The tunnel needs work people, repairs etc.
Oh and the next time you all go blasting through the canyon may the policeman who can see you by the way, busts your butt for speeding.
Have a nice day but please get the facts right next time mate.
May your next trip to the tunnel be more accurate.
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Amy Goodman & the Spanish Civil War
Say what you like about Franco, and there is much to despise, but a case can be made that had he not prevailed, the Spanish political landscape would have looked even worse, as the joys of Stalinism would be given free reign. Franco did not side with Hitler or Mussolini during the war, save for a volunteer-only Spanish division that fought on the Russian Front. During Franco's "fascist" reign, Spanish citizens were free to come and go, leaving the country at their own will. The same could not be said of a Soviet Spain.
Also, I think it puzzling that the "lesson" we are supposed to gather from those who fought fascism early on is not to confront it in its Islamic incarnation now, but rather focus on the home front. Tain't funny, McGee . . .
Social ‘services’ let down a little boy
Now, how do we deal with a social “services” department that allowed this to happen? If Chandler’s grandmother told a caseworker of her fears — and his — why was he not removed from this home? The man was not related to Chandler. Did no professional social worker investigate that home and family before the placement? Does the law not state a preference for
placement with family? Was the child not interviewed by a professionally qualified social worker?
Teachers contacted social “services” but their concerns were ignored. Why?
Where was the supervision?
What needs to see the light of day is the pattern of inept behavior that likely exists by people paid to safeguard children. How many other families and children are now suffering or have suffered from this unprofessional, inhumane treatment? How many more must suffer? These are not minor questions and I think we all deserve the answers.
Democrats should suggest alternatives
If the Democrats think the overall slaughter is unacceptable now, just wait until we leave with our tail between our legs. I guarantee that the streets of Baghdad and other cities in Iraq will run knee-deep in the blood of all those innocent Iraqis who supported our troops.
I can only guess that the Democrats did not learn from Vietnam or they choose not to remember the aftermath when the last helicopter lifted off from the roof of the American Embassy. I, for one, do not want to see history repeat itself.
My message to the Democrats is to stop their complaining and present a clear exit strategy that will not result in a bloodbath. Generally speaking, if someone doesn’t like how something is being done, alternatives should be suggested, otherwise the complainer is only part of the problem and not part of the solution.
We Democrats want our own nation secure
We have already lost too many lives of our men and women, leaving wives here at home without husbands, husbands without wives, and children without their parents. We need to stop letting our innocent citizens die for a cause fostered on lies and misinformation.
We Democrats want to bring our service personnel home and secure our own country. I do not appreciate all the lies the Republicans are spreading about us Democrats and our endeavors to do what is right for all American citizens.
Our own country is suffering financially on many levels because we are sending so much money over to Iraq so they can pocket it or use it blow up buildings we are replacing.
It is time we take care of the citizens of the United States of America for a change.
A sad example of why English is so vital
This is just another reason why it is imperative that immigrants here — whether from Mexico or Armenia — speak English.
No one is saying that people can’t speak another language, but English is the language in which all affairs are conducted here in the United States.
If you want to live here and obtain all the rights and obligations that come with living here, then please learn to speak English. How in the world can you demand citizenship when you don’t care enough to learn the language of the land?
Embrace deportation
Ritter’s cowardly act
The legislators who supported Ritter on this are also cowards, and are his puppets.
Mr. Ritter, don’t you think we pay enough now? Please answer yes or no. We don’t want a long answer full of a politician’s gibberish.
Folks, don’t think this will be the last tax or fee increase. These puppets like the word “fee” instead of “tax.” As you read this, don’t think the Democrats aren’t thinking of new and higher fees and taxes. God help the property owner 5, 10, 15 years down the road, as stated in Vincent Carroll’s On Point column item of May 3, “A slap at taxpayers ... ”
GOP ‘diversity’
If one of these jokers gets elected I will truly fear for our country’s future.
Passing Time
Frankly, I gave up reading Time years ago because what they write is old news. President Bush should be happy that he was not included with the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. Some people might think these are important people, but there are a great many in this country who don’t!
First, the lie that “immigration authorities are breaking up families.” No, the families are breaking up families – self-inflicted wounds. The families enter the U.S. against our laws, knowingly putting their families at risk. When deported, the adult family members split their own families, dumping their children on American taxpayers for free education, medical care and other social benefits.
Second, the glorification (Cinco de Mayo) of a foreign nation on U.S. soil. What other prominent foreign political celebrations are permitted in our country? Yes, some foreign religious or cultural celebrations are informally observed (St. Patrick’s Day, Highlands Days, etc.) but not political celebrations, and not to the extent that miles of traffic are disrupted, blocking emergency vehicles and other legitimate traffic. Why do our elected representatives tolerate this political insult within our borders? Are U.S. expatriates or visitors in Mexico allowed to celebrate Independence Day or any other U.S. political holiday? Don’t be ridiculous – it’s absolutely forbidden.
Third, the May 5th Rocky/Post headlined a story “Immigrant groups plan Western Union protest.” The rally is to protest fees charged by Western Union to transfer funds to families back home. An important factor for any local or national economy is the internal recirculation of funds. Mr. A earns X dollars and returns many of those dollars to the community to pay B for groceries, C for clothes, D for gasoline, etc. This process is repeated by B, C and D, and so forth, thereby multiplying the economic value of earnings. However, we’re told billions of dollars are siphoned from the U.S. economy every year to support distant economies.
Transfer fees are legitimate (Western Union is not a charity), and, further, transferred funds should be heavily taxed to offset the loss of the recirculation economic multiplier benefit.
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College drinking
This stereotype is just that
Our country has had great success with anti-tobacco campaigns including the
It is time for us to step up and recognize most alcohol problems begin earlier in life than college, and that we have the power to change this statistic for the better. It is time to show this nation that we care about alcohol abuse, recognize its detrimental affects on our children, and do something to stop it.
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Bill Johnson
If he would have had the probationary firefighter that was the subject of the column proofread it before it was printed, he surely could have told Bill that firefighters do not carry “hundreds” of pounds of equipment to train with and that there hasn’t been a DFD fire station on South Broadway since 1974. By the way, Station 25 is located at 2504 S. Raleigh St. in SW Denver.
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Stossel’s challenge
Iraq & the war on terror
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Ed Stein & the war on terror
By contrast, Pat Tillman’s celebrity service stands nearly alone in the annals of today’s military. And today’s ‘drive-by’ Media seems to relish, in diminishing his ultimate sacrifice, by prominently featuring his accidental ‘friendly fire’ death and our Military’s desire to keep the legend of his service positive.
The U.S. Military, trying to downplay the specific circumstances of Tillman’s death or Jessica Lynch’s rescue (hoping to keep our Nation focused on the true threat of Islamo-fascism) apparently was too tempting for Rocky Mountain News political cartoonist, Ed Stein. His drawing (4/28/07) showing the Pentagon shooting and killing ‘the Truth’, equates those faulty Pentagon propaganda efforts with Al Queda’s stated desire to indiscriminately kill average Americans. The biggest challenge, to defeating Al Queda, is for Americans to take seriously the continuing threat posed to us by the Islamo-fascists. For Stein to suggest that our own Military poses a comparable threat is unconscionable and clearly shows Stein’s contempt for the very soldiers who fight and die to preserve (his) freedom and his right to free speech. Ed Stein’s cartoon is neither funny nor truthful and it is unworthy of Pat Tillman’s legacy.
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Iraq & President Bush
Congress sent the President a bill that would have funded our troops and veterans while bringing a responsible end to this war...something desperately needed by the troops.
He wants a blank check for the war in Iraq without any accountability.
By vetoing this bill, he made this clear, eliminating benchmarks for success.
The President has also repeatedly ignored public opinion. The 2006 Congressional elections showed where the electorate stands.
Yet, the President continues to ask the American people for an open-ended troop commitment.
After four full years and thousands of lives lost, how many times must we s
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Vincent Carroll
General lesson: When the Republicans are in power, personal liberty is under attack. When the Democrats are in power, economic liberty is under attack. Which is why lovers of liberty vote Libertarian.
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Iraq war
There was no eminent threat to the United States It is hard to believe that the newspapers, and TV reporting, did not elaborate on the fact that Saddam had no delivery system. If they had, we may not have gone to war. The President and the Vice-President started this war with lies and with con and subtrafuge, and they should stand accountable for this.
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Teachers
In Ms. Tournai’s letter, 7 May, (Now DPS teachers must step up to plate), the writer asks that she needed to hear from the DPS classroom teachers, well my response is based in the realities of one who is such a teacher. DPS teachers have, and do step up to the plate every day, and we have been despite the lack of a voice for some time now, if Ms.
Tournai had ever been inside a DPS classroom she would have known that.
Sadly, like many who sit from the side lines and complain about DPS, this is just another example of the ignorance exhibited by those who have little or no idea about the work involved for a classroom teacher.
Despite all of the outside influences and internal issues that are part of the DPS educational experience overall those who teach in this district are committed to the profession, and to the students we serve.
What would spending more hours in the process of education really do?
If one could add up all the hour’s teachers spend with our students and in trainings now it would be obvious that we spend many, many hours at our job already. I can’t help but wonder if Ms. Tournai is part of that small community of people who only see teachers as nothing more than an extension of a free babysitting service.
With the issue of charter and private schools consider that evidence shows that charter does no better in CSAP scores on average than public, and as for private this comparison is faulty, as the two environments are completely different, class size, resources, etc. Ms. Tournai shows ignorance in offering “sage advice” to DPS teachers on our preparedness, abilities, and timeliness when it’s obvious that she has little idea of what goes on in the classroom, and in the generalized nature of her unfounded arguments. Next time teach in a district before you comment on what should go on there.
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TV Week magazine
I get both the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post. Your new skinny format for the TV listings on Sunday has crossed the line. It’s virtually unusable. Now you’ve reduced most listings to the single line format with no description, removed the channel listings (you have to cross reference in the front), and consolidated the weekday daytime shows. Does the savings of a few pages really amount to that much? A few years ago you did a survey and clearly the TV listings was important. OK, so you can claim you still have them, but making them as awkward as you have done .. we’ll you might as well just elminate it.
Here is the consequence of such a move; Now I’m going to have to subscribe to something like TV Guide so I, and my family (with kids) can read the listings with ease. This will undoubtably be funded by my reducing my subscription to only one of the papers.
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Tainted food
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Tom Tancredo
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Governmental laxity
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John McCain
I’m not sure about anyone else but personally I really use to like the senator from Arizona John McCain, particularly before Bush and his operatives submarined him in the 1980 South Carolina presidential primary.
The man seemed so genuinely funny, so honestly humble, for real and earthy an alternative to the well-packaged and deadly Bush that you couldn’t help but kind of like him. Of course I wouldn’t allow myself to be so impressed that I’d actually vote for one of these faux Republicans (ask William F. Buckley what he thinks of Bush and those who support him and his policies) but at least this was one Republican politician that seemed pretty human and reasonably well connected to the rest of us.
Unfortunately as of a few days ago this whole perception was altered permanently for me. Senator McCain was a guest on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show recently and it was absolutely painful to watch. Pathetic and painful. What has happened to the man? Jon Stewart opened the interview is his normal teasing way asking McCain if he wanted to discuss his recent well publicized shopping trip in Baghdad or any of a number of other gaffes and miscues that have occurred in the last couple of weeks. An obviously uptight, frustrated, nerves frayed, actually scary McCain tells Stewart that he’d been shopping and had bought/brought him an IED or Improvised Explosive Device he’d planned on putting under his desk. This is supposed to be funny? But then it’s been said that Conservatives aren’t funny. Four words, Glenn Beck, Russ Limbaugh. No, they aren’t funny, are they? John McCain and his support of this self-destructive war is no longer very funny either. Boy am I glad that he’s continuing to fall in most polls across the country and that it’s less and less likely we’ll be forced into dealing with him as a serious presidential contender in the future.
Whew! That was close.
Neo-cons
A: That is defeatist, unpatriotic question that supports terrorism and undermines our troops, and anyone who says we need a new lightbulb now, just as the surge is beginning to make progress, without completing the mission, is unacceptable.
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Republicans & climate change
Surprise, surprise – Republicans are skeptical of global warming claims. First, Rep. Lundberg speaks of more political science than hard science. If all he listens to are the republican talking points and the usual talking heads, then no wonder.
There is plenty of science not only in Gore’s works, but many, many other places. If he cannot see it, then he is simply not opening his eyes, ears, or mind.
Next, Rep. Harvey says this is attack on capitalism and America. I have known many environmentalists through the years, and none of them would remotely fit this description. I have also known many anti-environmentalists such as Mr. Harvey who repeatedly misrepresent other peoples positions by use of this and other self-serving deceptions– find an extreme and make it seem mainstream. It rarely seems to occur to such people that this is an economic opportunity. Green is the new red, white, and blue as columnist Tom Friedman has said. Too bad Mr. Harvey fails to see this.
Most sad is that a man of Dr. Gray’s stature and accomplishment has bought into some of the hot air of conservobabble, namely that modeling is a “religion.” Next we will hear that we cannot teach global warming in schools because it is a “religion” In the article, Dr. Gray fails to mention that his famous and successful hurricane forecasts use complex models as well.
Finally, a Mr. Lewis acknowledges the reality of anthropogenic global warming, but then tries to minimize the results – not having shown how or why he concludes this. How would we know whether his predictions are any more accurate that Al Gore’s?
Whatever your preconceived notions, the answers to your questions lie in good science, not in the ramblings of politicians. Please do your research and critical thinking - there is plenty of available and accessible science that is much more real, not to mention interesting, than the blather of republican political operatives.
Mr. Hartmann’s article ends with the observation that hardly anyone had read Gore’s book. Surprise, surprise.
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Amy Goodman & the Spanish Civil War
Yet had not General Franco reluctantly accepted the aid of Germany and Italy (the US and Britain later allied themselves with Stalin who had recently killed 10 million Kulaks), Spain would have become the first Soviet captive nation. And by afterward spurning them, Gen. Franco kept his country war free for the next 35 years allowing it to heal. Had he not done so, Hitler might well have been the master of the Straits of Gibralter and thus the Mediterranean. (Hitler and Stalin were allies on 09/01/1939.) May I recommend that you read: “The Last Crusade” by Dr. Warren H.
Carroll, or “The Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War” for an alternative view of that tragic era.
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Declawing cats
Declawing lowers the standard of the medical care for all cats: The AVMA can’t see that declawing has led millions of cats to illness, peeing, biting and homelessness - what other important aspects of cat welfare don’t they see? What other research has cat suffering gone unnoticed? I’ve called several AVMA “leaders” private practices. They don’t know how to train a cat to use a post. When I asked about cost to declaw a cat, they asked, “Both front and back?” They told me declawing has no side effects.
But declawing affects all of us: One New Jersey animal shelter destroys 80% of declawed cats surrendered to them, due to “behavior problems.”
“Euthanized, surrendered, behavior problems” . . . all the things the AVMA claims declawing was supposed to stop.
But Colorado shouldn’t have to make declawing illegal city by city. Under current Colorado Animal Cruelty Statutes, “unnecessary mutilation” [OF ANIMALS]is already illegal. Declawing is amputation of bone, tendon and ligament to the first knuckle of each joint. Declawing is not performed in three continents and is illegal in most industrialized countries.
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Deroy Murdock & moderate Muslims
Mr. Murdock states in his first paragraph that moderate Muslims are not on PBS. I guess he missed the 11-hour series, “America at a Crossroads” which aired on Channel 6 in April. Some of the hour-long films were produced by Muslims where they “represented themselves", something Mr. Murdock says PBS won’t allow.
Perhaps PBS programmers are planning to air “Islam vs. Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center” at a later date to diversify programming. Or maybe the documentary really isn’t very good. Just because a film is made doesn’t mean PBS is obligated to show it.
And that crack about tax money being used to make the “Islam v. Islamists..” film. Ha! Neocons loath Public Broadcasting which is why they have tried to starve it of funds. Kind of like the oil and gas companies Mobil and Texaco claiming they just couldn’t afford to support programs like Masterpiece Theater and Saturday afternoon live broadcasts at the Met on Public radio while they recorded record profits? As a contributor to both Denver PBS stations, I wonder if Mr. Murdock supports his Public Television station.
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Graffiti
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Aurora crime rates
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Democrats & taxes
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Gun control
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! devoted an entire show to pushing gun control, bringing an old interview with Michael Moore of “Bowling For Columbine” fame into the bias. Moore doesn’t know it yet, but he owes Charlton Heston, a better man and patriot than himself, a sincere apology for his attempt to belittle Heston. One day Moore may realize his mistake and feel deeply ashamed of himself for what he did. One can only hope.
As many clear thinking minds have written, the second amendment to the U.S. Contitution was put in place by the founders for a very good reason.
Grassroots TV Channel 12 in Aspen will be airing the award-winning documentary “Innocents Betrayed,”
“Innocents Betrayed shows how licensing and registration were key elements to disarming populations, leaving them vulnerable to methodical slaughter. It shows what happens when the government alone has all power.” — from Innocents Betrayed website “Innocents Betrayed ... shows why gun control must always be rejected.” —
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Fish-mercury alerts by state are alarmist
The department is using a mercury standard of 0.5 parts-per-million (ppm) to determine whether fish are safe to eat. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s standard is only half as restrictive, allowing fish up to 1.0 ppm to be sold. And the FDA writes that this 1.0 ppm “Action Level” is actually “10 times lower than the lowest levels associated with adverse effects” to human health. That means the department’s mercury standard has a twentyfold safety cushion built in.
Worse, the department is ignoring the best science on the subject. In March, the prestigious medical journal The Lancet published a major government-funded study that found no justification for government fish-mercury warnings. Of the thousands of young mothers in this research, those who ate the most fish during their pregnancies — mercury and all — gave birth to children with the highest IQs.
Serious mercury science is finally moving past the activist sound bite.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shouldn’t be giving fish the skull-and-crossbones treatment.
Director of research, Center for Consumer Freedom
Likable Hick stands on giants’ shoulders
Why? The funny ads in his first campaign, with the scooter and the parking meters. In his first two years in office he tamed a budget crisis and reformed the messed-up city personnel system. Time magazine anointed him one of the 10 best mayors in the country. There’s the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, the new Justice Center, Greenprint Denver, the partnership with Denver Public Schools and the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
His missteps? Just one with snow removal this winter. And Hick is a true extrovert, a charismatic, energetic and witty charmer.
Moreover, as former Mayor Federico Peña noted, Hick did not have to deal with the difficult issues surrounding DIA. DIA was the great challenge to both the Peña and Webb administrations. They laid the foundation on which the current mayor is building.
Saying that Hick is the darling of the white elite is unfair. But we also have to admit, he stands on the shoulders of giants.
Vic Smith, Denver
Parks and Rec chief a poor fit for Denver
My 77-unit condo building backs up to Cheesman Park, and a construction project about a year ago prevented access to both parking garages for several days. As HOA president, I requested permission from the Parks and Recreation Department for some of our homeowners to park their cars in Cheesman Park at night, with identification and early-morning removal. Disregarding the needs of our elderly, handicapped, and single working women returning home after dark, and with a total lack of parking options in this part of the inner city, Bailey denied our request.
It seems Bailey also forgets that our taxes furnish her education as well as her drop-in moments in the office. She doesn’t seem to be a good fit with the goals of the Hickenlooper administration.
Bailey a disgrace
John Hickenlooper is quickly turning into the Paris Hilton of Denver — famous for being famous.
Men must share load of work in the home
First, like it or not, no person can afford not to carve out her or his own autonomy and financial independence. Control and power over one’s life is to be found in economic solvency, not housework and child-raising.
That being said, we must all put our homes and our children first. Work should exist to serve this greater good. But we have to change the culture that says “home work” is “women’s work.” It’s everyone’s work! And women have to face this reality and debunk the myth that says they must stay home. Somebody’s got to be home, when needed, and it doesn’t always have to be mom. When everyone shares the load and the rewards, everyone benefits.
Forget Mother’s Day and Father’s Day — let’s hear it for Parents Day!
Vietnam mauling overlooked
The statement that we “never lost a single major battle” is dead wrong. Just ask Lt. Clark Welch or 1st Sgt. Bud Barrow of Delta Company of the 28th Infantry “Black Lions” Division, concerning the battle of October 17-18, 1967. Alpha and Delta companies were massacred. The Army characterized it as a “victory.” Those who were there saw something very different.
The parallel to the spin put on by the Army concerning that battle and the spin put on Pat Tillman’s death or Jessica Lynch’s rescue would indicate we have not learned much in the intervening 40 years.
Tax ‘freeze’ a tax hike
Whatever they call it, it is an increase, not a freeze. If properties values decrease and we are unable to realize the decrease in value — it is an increase, governor; that’s simple math. We will be taxed twice over when property taxes are assessed again and again. This is wrong and irresponsible.
Hillary’s big mistake
Does she think that the public has forgotten that her husband was impeached for lying about his affair with that young girl? He lied about it. It was proved that he lied. He dirtied the Oval Office forever.
President Clinton was impeached, but he was not convicted and served out his term.
When this happened, a lot of Democrats became Republicans. This is why President Bush was elected. I want to thank President Clinton for that.
The political zoo
Two thoughts come to mind.
First, I’d love to see the people this group runs around with and, second, considering what the voters did last November, locally and nationally, I say let the chimp vote here. He couldn’t do any worse.
Fix Mexico, not U.S.
If they love Mexico so much, why don’t they stay and try to change their country, not ours?
I am sorry that Yoland lost her husband, but he totally brought it on himself. His son watched as his own father put himself in danger simply because Michael II wasn’t man enough to stand up and take his just punishment like a man. Any person with a spare part of iintelligence would know that where two or more are implicated in an illegal act, that one of them will turn on the other. Had Michael II had any brains, he would have told the sheriff’s department the truth about his buddy Johnson and gottenn the better deal for himself. As it is now, he and his mother are bemoaning how unfair our government system is. Yah, right! I’m sick and tired of people who break the law and then try to put the blame on someone else.
I, too, believe in the right to bear LEGAL arms and to protect myself from persons intent on doing me bodily harm - so long as it’s NOT a law enforcement officer. I have a legal concealed weapons permit for that very reason - to protect me from the BAD guys - NOT those who are sworn to protect me. Sorry, Yolanda and Michael II, you will get no sympathy from me. Tell your son to come back and take his deserved punishment.
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Virginia Tech massacre
How short our memories are!
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Christians & health care
Modern day Philistines and other hypocrites, with their restrictive moral codes, would amend that to say, “Life, providing you can pay for the doctors, the treatments and the medicines to maintain your health...”
Those who clamor for the U.S. to become a Christian nation seem to be the same ones who would ignore the core principals of Christianity that Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount. Not only are the Beatitudes a guide for living a righteous life, but the Gospel of Matthew clearly advocates turning the other cheek and the application of The Golden Rule. Unquestionably then, we are our brother’s keepers, obliged to care for the needy, feed the hungry, forgive our debtors and do unto others, etcetera.
Now, joining the chorus of un-Christian Christians, here come American medical doctors to add their lamentations that universal health care would “enslave” them, requiring them to - oh, the horror! - give free care to the poor, the needy and the indigent.
Forget the Hippocratic Oath, ignore the Ten Commandments, or that a child under five years old dies every three seconds, a victim of poverty. What’s really important is that doctors, as well as upright Christians, keep their portfolios polished and their material estates healthy and protected by obscene fees, wages and stock market profits, while millions more Americans slide into poverty.
While they’re at it, the righteous folks and the good doctors might want to avoid Matthew’s rendition (19:24) of Jesus’ words: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus must have said it because it’s reported in the Gospels of Mark (10:25) and Luke (18:25), as well.
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Employee Free Choice Act
Working people in Colorado are finding it harder to make ends meet. Health
For decades, unions have helped workers and their families gain economic stability.
Unfortunately, too few ever get that chance. Every day, corporations deny employees the freedom to decide for themselves whether to form unions. One out of five union activists is likely to be fired when trying to form a union, according to a new study by the Center for Economic Policy Research.
The Employee Free Choice Act wouldn’t eliminate union elections. If workers want an election, the
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War on terror
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Marijuana
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James Dobson
I am a Colorado native and I am gay. My parents were born here, my grandparents were born here and this is my home. I will no longer tolerate your misguided, hateful, divisive, anti-Christian attack on good people like myself. Not in my home.
While you are busy obsessing about what I am doing in my bedroom, we are trying to solve poverty and homelessness. While you are trying to deny me my basic civil rights, we are trying to end child abuse and domestic violence.
While you are worrying about my love life, we are working at protecting our beautiful rivers and mountains.
If you would like to join the rest of us working on these important issues facing this great state, you are welcome to contribute. But I will no longer allow you waste our time, divide our communities, and take focus from the real issues facing Colorado. I will no longer let you spew your hate to fill your pocket book. I will no longer allow you to tarnish the good name of Colorado. I will not allow you to use the word of God to attack good honest people. This is certainly NOT what Jesus would do.
This David has had enough of Goliath. It is time to behave like a good neighbor or go back to your home of Tennessee. This is my home and this ends now.
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Callous dog owner
Just to show what a sick world we live in the car coming the other direction sped up to try to hit the dog. He missed. After pulling the grey dog off the road I went to the Fall River road exit to use the yellow CHP phone to report the dog down and that I was going to look for the other dog. After driving around awhile with no luck I circled around back to the scene where the police where and told them I couln’t find the other dog. Unfortunately the officer said he did find the other dog. He got hit too. I was crushed. I wanted so much to save that dog. Instead I saw him pancaked on the hiway on the way to work today. Why would you do this when so many shelters would’ve taken them for free. Instead you murdered your dogs and caused emotional destress for three inocent people. You know no matter how bad what you did to these dogs was. These dogs still loved you uncondtionaly, and would keep on loving you indefinetly.
But don’t let this go to your head because I know me and two other people HATE YOUR GUTS.
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Governmental accountability
When a parole board releases a prisoner who immediately goes out to commit another crime, the members should be held personally responsible to the families of the persons harmed by the recent parolee. Lawsuits should be allowed by the families and the parole board members held personally responsible. Not the state. We, the people are the state. We, as tax payers, should not bear the cost. How many persons would the parole board release if they would bear the consequences of the actions of the parolee personally?
When a legislator introduces a bill ( many of them are lawyers ) that is challenged in court to be unconstitutional, that legislator and those who voted for it should bear the court costs. Don’t you think they would write the bill better in the first place? That’s provided they just didn’t submit a bill written by a lobbyist. Maybe they would read any bills handed to them first.
Recently a magistrate allowed a man with a history of drunk driving to be released on a lower bail than recommended by the county attorney. The man proceeded to drive drunk again and kill two college students. The families of the two students should be allowed to sue the magistrate personally. He may make a different decision the next time a high bail is recommended.
Many people who work government jobs are spared personal responsibility because their employer ( the government, meaning you and me) have to pay for their mistakes.
I speak from jealousy. I am a self employed business man. I have to pay if I make a mistake. I do have insurance that I pay for that will cover large mistakes. I have to pay for smaller ones. But I am very careful not to make any large mistakes. We all make mistakes every day, hopefully only small ones.
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Don Imus
What a lot
So, a good person who said a bad thing is gone.The rac
Christo
Numerous signs are posted in Big Horn Sheep Canyon (the site for OTR) by the BLM, Colorado Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State Parks. Various other groups take an active role in protecting the river environment for their own specific causes.
Statements on these signs are all meaningful, but none more concise than the following: The Arkansas River is a nice mix of ‘wild’ areas and sights, as well as residential and even town sites. In other words, people and wildlife all make the river their home.
Please recognize wildlife and homeowners privacy by not invading their space, whether on public lands or private property.
Respect their space and don’t chase the wildlife or the people out of their own habitat.
Remember, excess noise is a form of trespassing if it disturbs wildlife and homeowners’ environments.
Many folks may have thought that the old fashioned ideas of caring for the environment and the rights of privacy for wildlife (and people) and respecting their space etc., came from the mouths of some rabid environmentalist group. It’s gratifying to see that our own local, state and national government agencies have found it important to continue to post and, in some cases, enforce these ideas for visitors and residents alike. These guidelines apply to everyone.
Let’s face it, a 2,000 page ‘plan’ that means 3 years of disruption to peoples’ lives, involves hundreds of tons of concrete, steel rods and cable, flies in the face of reasonable use of the Big Horn Sheep Canyon.
We’re proud to speak out when faced with threatening issues, we’re eager to be the voice for those who cannot or will not do it for themselves and we’re eager to show the world that our Western Hospitality is there for anyone adhering to the ‘cowboy way’ . . . respecting our people and our land. Please, Just Say No To Christo.(roarcolorado.org)
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Virginia Tech massacre
How much pain will we have to endure before we give the God who made us our attention? Our society has banned the Bible in school. We disallow our children to pray in government schools.
We are in the final stages of destroying God’s plan for marriage and are now working on making the family meaningless by allowing everybody to make his or her own family.
We cluck our tongues and wonder how someone else could kill so many at Virginia Tech, but fail to honestly look in our own hearts and see how deceitful we really are. We say we m
Our answer of nurturing each other overlooks the historical reality of man’s inhumanity to man. Rather, we seek our own pleasures
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Public vs. parochial schools
Our youngest son is currently enrolled in private school. Yes, we are one of the 12% who opted out of Cory. But not because we thought Cory was a bad school or because we had lost faith in DPS. We opted out because we wanted our child to be schooled in a Christian/Catholic school. Parents of the Catholic faith have been opting out of public school for more than a hundred years. Public schools can’t give our children the faith-based education we wish them to have. Like many families we still pay our property taxes and support the public schools, but we choose to pay tuition to send our children to faith based schools. In essence we pay for public education our children never receive. I have friends of other faiths who also choose to send their children to faith-based schools and it isn’t because they don’t have faith in DPS. They just want their children to have religious knowledge that DPS can’t provide.
I, too, would like to see the newspapers in town consider covering events that public and private school students participate in, that shows the positive things happening in our community.
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Iraq war
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Computer systems & fraud
Indeed, bigger crimes against Colorado taxpayers are the recently purchased computer systems that don’t work and the previous administration’s dismantling of the civil service sytem these past eight years. The real crooks are politically appointed department heads swearing they must buy new computer systems or their agencies will be unable to function. Meanwhile, state employees, who really make the system work, are no longer hired and promoted based on “merit,” but on how well they cheer for new computer systems. Likewise, it is meritless to say a computer system helped expose a fraud because it didn’t work (co-workers detected the fraud in this case, but has the best selling point for a new system boiled down to: it doesn’t work?). I think voters elected the new governor partly because they were tired of the same old business as usual. I hope the legislature will realize computer sales pitches are the problem and use their oversight authority and power of the purse to fix the problem and end this wasteful spending spree.
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Road rage case
Don’t blame the other kids. Don’t blame the schools. You must love them unconditionally. You must not make excuses for their behavior but teach them right from wrong and to accept the consequences of their behavior.
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Illegal immigrants
Why don’t they protest in their country for their rights? Simple they don’t have me paying for the kids school and free medical and car insurance to pay for an illegal to hit me so they are covered.
These people seem to think our laws wrecks their familes yet they dont give a damn about their famiys using my resorces to destroy US citizens familes, they dont care about anybody but themselves and they dont care what it cost me and mine to support them!
Any politican that votes for any Amnesty is done in this counrty, he or her swore a oath to the American Citizen to Protect My Rights not to hand our country over to a Foreign nation who has made it clear the American Flag will be below the Mexican Flag.
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Illegal immigrants
How many more laws will they break to enable them to send our dollars to Mexico?
How many more hospitals will they force to close in this country? Where will the money come from to continue bilingual education? To continue incarcerating those illegal’s that selectively choose what laws they will obey? To birth and support babies that have smuggled the refuse of the overly abused 14th Amendment? To pay for medicare, medicaid and welfare abuse by illegal’s? To eat and play and purchase goods from jobs that have been GAT and NAFTA’ed down to sub-American pay scales?
That job of paying for all the above will be done by Americans that do the jobs illegal’s will not do.
Goodman’s deceitful abortion stance
Motherhood means having and raising a child, not aborting her or him.
Goodman uses the term “so-called” when referring to partial-birth abortions. What more precise term does she have? If she could label it euphemistically, or in technicalspeak, does that make it less horrific, violent, bloody and miserable?
Another Goodman deceit is that pro-abortion folks care about women’s health, or more so than abortion opponents. Of 30 million humans slaughtered in the womb since 1973, a large percentage have been female. It’s treacherous waters to use “women’s health” as a way to justify convenience or preference killings.
Evolution naysayers
I wish they’d asked follow-up questions such as “Who doesn’t believe the world is round?” or “Who doesn’t believe the Earth revolves around the sun?”
In the eyes of rational people, a belief in ghosts and magic at the expense of well-established science should disqualify one from serving, but these are Republicans we’re talking about, so no doubt their stock has risen.
Nothing shameful about being a janitor
My husband is an American. He is a janitor. He scrubs toilets and picks up trash, and sometimes I help him. We do not humiliate ourselves. It is honest work that provides a useful service.
The women who come in for prenatal care at the building he cleans have a safe, clean environment because of him.
I am getting tired of hearing him insulted in the newspaper by people who think there’s something shameful about being a janitor.
There is nothing shameful about scrubbing toilets.
What is shameful is how some companies exploit poor people who can’t fight back by paying them slave wages. My husband is paid a decent wage for his job. If other companies would do the same, they would find that there are plenty of Americans willing to do the work.
A DIFFERING VIEW: Pay up, Mr. Stossel
In the May 2
I know for a fact that the government does corrections (prisons) better than the private sector. I’ve seen documentation that supports that fact.
When the private sector jail in eastern Colorado had a big riot, who did they call? The Colorado Department of Corrections. They got the job done when the private guards couldn’t hack it.
Stossel owes me $100. When he researches this, he will find I am correct and he is wrong.
Pay up, Stossel.
If we get rid of our borders, then what law will rule in the United States? Maybe it should be fascist internationalist big business corporation, or survival of the fittest or even a Communist dictatorship of the proletariat. Hey who cares about America anyway? Certainly the media doesn’t as they sell us down the river.
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Campaign 2008
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Elected leaders
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Automobile registration
Thank you.
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Israel
The nonstop subversion of our governments
Abraham Foxman
I do not think it is in the interest of Jews to be perceived as a brutal, arrogant people who feel the law and civilized behavior is for everyone else but them. If being pro-Semite means supporting the use of terror to brutalize helpless women and children in order to grab their land illegally, count me out.
Gun control
2) The anti-gunners always think in terms of armed defenders taking the time to fumble in their backpacks, and then converting the place into an OK Corral, with bullets flying all over the place. That is not the way it works.
The would -be attacker knows that he might be able to fire a round or two before somebody pulls a gun from a readily accessible holster and stops him before he had the time to reach the hoped-for glory, so he gives up the idea and the shooting doesn’t even start.
3) There were now some thirty or so massacres all over the world where a deranged individual picks up a place where a number of innocent people are guaranteed to be defenseless. The rest of the country where this guarantee does not exist has been relatively safer. So the goal of our anti-gun dreamers is to disarm the rest of the country so that the territory where such massacres are likely would now be the entire country.
The anti-gunners are irrational sponsors of crime.
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Virginia Tech massacre
“I don’t fit in and girls won’t talk to me” is probably the core reason behind all of these tragedies. I hope that any kid who thinks that these pathetic boys are cool in some way will talk to others about it. What they will find is that we barely remember their names, or whatever whiny explanation note they left behind.
I’m sad for the victims, but
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Iran & Iraq
When the generals suggest that Shia Iran is arming the Sunni insurgents who are slaughtering hundreds of Iraqi Shia, keep that thought in mind.
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Iraq war
Is it, as the President maintains, primarily an action against Al Qaeda, or is it primarily a civil war between religious sects that our very presence there incites, as the Democrats maintain?
The Bush administration believes that the wonton killing of civilians on all sides is being perpetrated by Al Qaeda to illicit violent reactions among all groups against one another, giving the impression of a civil war as Al Qaeda would have everyone believe. In support of this view, the top U.S. General in Iraq, David Patraeus, recently testified to Congress that Al Qaeda was indeed the primary instigator of sectarian violence.
The even more recently reported killing of the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu al-Masri, by the forces of local Sunni leaders is an indication that the Bush administration and Patraeus may well be right. It must be noted that Al Qaeda is a Sunni organization in a country where sixty percent of the population is Shiite. So, when minority Sunni leaders start going after members of their own brand of Islam, it strongly indicates that they, too, believe that Al Qaeda is the enemy, and not the Shiites.
Long-ago intercepted communiqués from Al Qaeda’s top leader Bin Laden to the organization’s leaders in Iraq instructed that fomenting civil war should be the strategy there. The February 2006 bombing of the Shiites’ holiest site, the Al-Askariya “Golden Mosque” in Samarra, is most likely only one of many examples of these instructions being followed. More recently it has been reported that Al Qaeda has targeted Sunni civilians for the purpose of flaming sectarian violence, thus leading to the killing of al-Masri by Sunnis.
Apparently none of this impresses the Democrats. From the time of the North Vietnamese Tet Offensive in 1968, the Democrats drove the Vietnam War agenda to defeat, even though U.S. and South Vietnamese forces dominated the conflict from that point on. They never paid a price with voters for pushing us to that defeat. Why should Democrats now think that they will pay a price for doing the same in Iraq?
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Liberal Democrats
For example, you have to advocate stricter gun control laws, but ignore that school campuses, post offices, and New York City are gun-free zones.
You have to claim there is global warming, when snow covered Colorado from before Christmas to early April.
You have to deplore Don Imus as a racist, while honoring the Revs. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakan, who are in the racism business..
You have to deplore the “Religious Right” political influence, while approving the political activities of the above-named “Reverends.”
You have to call President Bush a liar for claiming Iraq had WMD, when intelligence services of several nations claimed they had, and Iraq had used such weapons against Iran and their own people.
You have to favor Congressional control of the Iraq War and forget the record they had controlling the Vietnam War.
You have to favor Choice regarding abortion, but oppose Choice of schools via voucher systems.
You have to explain how killing a day-old child is murder, but deliberately killing a child in the process of being born is not.
You have to claim the economy is awful, and ignore that IRS receipts and the stock market are at record highs, and unemployment is near record lows.
You have to oppose ANWAR and offshore oil drilling and building refineries, while deploring the cost of gas and gasoline.
You have to claim Valerie Plame was a covert CIA agent, when she commuted daily from home to her CIA office.
Life is tough for Democrats, but hypocrisy makes it easier.
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Public schools
When you have a high percentage of kids who come out of families where education is not a priority you will have problems. A big effort should be made to get people, not only literate, but articulate, in English. I know that people are considered to be racist who think that those who live here need to be able to use the language of the country but, so be it.
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Denver mayor
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Virginia Tech massacre
Shocked at how someone could have such disregard for human life, when we live in a country that allows us to kill our unborn.
Shocked th
Shocked that someone could be so angry, when the ACLU would have us believe that our civil rights are being violated when someone looks at us cross-eyed.
Shocked that this behavior was not monitored more closely, when we become enraged that the Patriot Act is violating our privacy and how dare the government spy on us.
Saddened, yes that is obvious. But maybe what should be shocking is that this doesn’t happen more often.
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Immigration & Cinco de Mayo
We are blessed with several family members who are from Mexico and they too get upset that they follow the rules and so many refuse to put the effort forward to be here legally. My uncle, from Mexico, stated that they deserve the capture and deportation that they get and they should have their whole family go with them. While growing up, my family was extremely insistent that we, my siblings and I, learn English well in all it’s aspects, speaking, listening, reading and writing. Even in my later years, I still hear my elders primarily speak Spanish, but they also state that knowing the American language, English, is extremely helpful in life.
Last year my family took a trip to Mexico during the Cinco de Mayo week and we discovered something that was both sad and astonishing. They, the Mexican Citizens in Mexico, DO NOT celebrate Cinco de Mayo. They call it the Cake War that was not a war but a resistance to France over the closing of a Bakery. The skirmish didn’t last more than a week and as such didn’t warrant even a flag waving ceremony of any kind. They are amazed that this minor issue is so highly celebrated in the U.S. As a taxi driver stated to us, “It can’t be more than a money making party that has no significance".
We were surprised to hear this. The Independence Day that is celebrated to the same degree as our 4th of July is their 16th of September.
For those immigrants who are here legally. Welcome. For those who break our laws, Adios.
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Democrats & Iraq
Yet, Nancy Pelosi, Democrat Speaker of the House, could not walk the safe halls of Congress to attend General David Patraeous’s hearing regarding the strategies and funding needs for the Iraq war. She did, however, have time to recently fly half way around the world to meet the leaders of a terrorist county, our enemies.
Then there was Harry Reid stepping up to declare that the war is “lost.” If the war is lost, Harry, who won? Your friends?
Precious time has been wasted by the Democrats’ grandstanding as they prepared a bill they knew would be vetoed by the President. Now, they are embracing a tactic they are fond of calling “SLOW BLEED.” You understand SLOW BLEED - political stonewalling, no more funds, no supplies, no ammunition, no armor and no armored vehicles for our troops serving in Iraq; placing them in even greater danger.
SLOW BLEED, doesn’t that sound like a terrorist treatment; like a slow sawing off of an infidel’s head with a dull knife? SLOW BLEED, is this what our troops deserve? SLOW BLEED, is that what passes for leadership today?
In the event of a terrorist attack, Pelosi, ranking public servants and their families are among the highest priorities for the best protection by those same uniformed military men and women. Today, the children of their countrymen, the youngsters who fill those military uniforms are subject to SLOW BLEED tactics by Democrats! Obviously, they believe SLOW BLEED is good enough for our children.
The security and safety of our country depends on the strength of our volunteer military, NOT the scrawny shoulders of Pelosi and Reed! How vile to turn their backs on our military! Whose children will choose to serve in the future if this is deemed acceptable treatment? SLOW BLEED isn’t good enough for our families! Let your Senators and Representatives hear that loud and clear - take care of our kids or send your own! Give us a clean bill! Fund our troops!
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Gun control
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Gas prices
I have learned that each spring the refineries shift production from winter blends to summer blends, in time for the warmer weather and driving season.
As production is slowed to allow for this production shift, inventories are drawn down and prices temporarily rise. Also, these summer blends are more costly to produce because
The ethanol mandate in the 2005 energy bill is also contributing to higher prices, as ethanol has less energy content and higher transportation costs than gasoline. So
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Fashion vs. ecology
The whole point of fashion is that it changes quickly; “a mode of appearance so ugly we must change it every six months,” as Oscar Wilde put it (I am quoting that from memory, so it may not be exact).
If “green” is out of fashion in six months or a year, how many people will really recycle their clothes, or even (horrors!) keep wearing them, instead of just throwing them away?
The impression given is of conspicuous consumption, not
Illegal immigrants
If a person enters this country illegally you are fair game for deportation whether you have children born here or not.
Why should our laws be null and void because a parent decides to break the laws of our country,many laws at that.
There are prisons for women who break the laws.A lot are just drug,forgery,and bad checks,etc...convictions.I’ve never heard our citizens say you can’t enforce the law against someone with a family because you would be breaking up the family.
Illegals need to understand no matter how long you’ve been illegal you are in this country and subject to our laws not yours. You can’t have different laws because you are a different nationality.It doesn’t work that way.
I saw a story on the news last night about 2 girls living with relatives because their parents were deported.I felt some sympathy,but the parents broke our laws.The parents were here 18 years illegally.They interviewed the mother in Mexico.She couldn’t speak English.All sympathy went out the window.
I hope ICE keeps up the raids,deportations and enforcing our laws regardless of whether the law breaker has children born in this country or not.Either take the children with you or leave them here with legal relatives.
You don’t have the right to break our laws because you have kids.
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The Rocky
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Cleanup of city’s center urged
As concerned citizens living in downtown, we urge the city to take action with owners of property that, year after year, refuse to improve the conditions of their buildings. Vacant storefronts and crumbling facades, undeveloped space, and poorly maintained alleys and sidewalks detract from the quality of downtown life.
Residents of LoDo embrace the vitality of downtown by supporting businesses, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Denver Art Museum. Blight in the core is a lost opportunity for additional retail, restaurants and mixed-use properties. This delinquent core area acts as a wasteland separating LoDo from the rest of downtown.
Residents moving to LoDo include singles, young families and many retired couples. Residents look to the vitality of downtown and how it affects their lives. The impact of dilapidated buildings is a negative and ruins the image of Denver. It also gives a perception that downtown is unsafe not only for our residents but for the increasing numbers of downtown visitors.
LoDoNA urges action to improve downtown now.
President,
Lower Downtown
Neighborhood Association
To do nothing about climate change a crime
I was embarrassed and distressed that the U.S. government successfully softened the language of the international climate change report; I continue to be baffled that President Bush refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocol. If we continue to put short-term consumerist priorities ahead of long-term human welfare, we will be committing a greater injustice than I have ever read about in any history book — not only because of the scope of the issue and the fact that all will (and are) suffering, and not only because it is predicted that the poor of the world will suffer most, but also because we already have the scientific knowledge of the causes and effects of climate change.
We know exactly what we are doing to the planet and ourselves, and we also know how we can correct it. To do nothing at this time would be the greatest crime imaginable.
GOP setting up its own crucifixion
Republicans already own the war, started on manufactured evidence to fit their purposes. Veto the funding bill and the president and Republicans will own it twice over. Things like this will be the cross on which Republicans will be crucified in the next election.
Loyalty might be nice, but a country doesn’t run well on ineptness, stubbornness and cronyism. Is it too much to hope that the next administration will have great competency, ethics, common sense, and no wars?
Illegals canard
If there were no illegal immigrants to fill the less desirable jobs, employers would have no choice but to offer more money until those same jobs became more appealing. That’s the law of supply and demand.
Naturally, the cost of goods and services would increase as a result, but, then again, the same thing happens every time the minimum wage is increased. Besides, instead of paying more for goods and services, Americans are right now paying more for health care, infrastructure and social services.
Welcome, ICE
If only ICE had been in the picture more than 10 years ago, perhaps this massive influx of illegals would not be so out of hand.
Welcome to the neighborhood, ICE, and good luck! If you need volunteer help you could recruit area residents to help with this out-of-control problem.
Una lengua ‘nifty’
Moore is quoted as saying, “We have signs now on stores in Spanish. It’s the fastest-growing language here. It’s going to be the second language. Why not start offering it at the elementary school age?”
If Moore thinks that Spanish is such a nifty language, she should seriously consider relocating to Mexico. I understand that Spanish is spoken widely there. In fact, I believe it is the official language of the country.
Water does indeed flow into Colorado
However, a quick glance at a state map shows that there are at least six rivers and creeks flowing into the state, one (the Green River) being of very substantial size.
They are (listed clockwise from the northwest corner of the state):
Green River in northwest Colorado, which flows for 40 miles out of Utah, through our state, and back into Utah; it is the largest tributary of the Colorado River.
Vermillion Creek in northwest Colorado, which flows out of Wyoming into the Green River.
Little Snake River in northwest Colorado, which flows from Colorado into Wyoming and back into Colorado, where it joins the Yampa River.
Crow Creek in northeast Colorado, which passes near Cheyenne, Wyo., and then into Colorado at Hereford, and then on to the Greeley area where it joins the South Platte River.
Cimarron River in southeast Colorado, which cuts across the corner of Colorado from Oklahoma to Kansas.
Costilla Creek in southern Colorado, which leaves New Mexico near Garcia and flows to the Rio Grande at the border south of Alamosa.
There may well be other smaller streams that would qualify as well.
ACLU’s parolee-voting link questionable
She asserts that “there is a proven link between parolee voting and public safety.” That’s a stretch.
She bases this on a study that “indicates that released prisoners who voted were half as likely to be re-arrested as those who did not vote.” Does Hazouri not understand cause and effect?
There is evidence to suggest that people who regularly floss live longer than those who don’t. But to conclude that flossing alone will lengthen one’s life is ludicrous. It’s simply that people who floss tend to live a more healthy lifestyle than those who don’t.
Likewise, the opportunity to vote, or even the act of voting, does not a good citizen make. Rather, people who vote are more likely to lead lives of civic virtue than those who do not.
I suspect the ACLU would not be interested in a study of how many of those released prisoners voted before they were convicted vs. voters in the general population, and how that correlated with the study Hazouri cites.
Consumer tax plan
This would require no personal tax returns and each taxpayer would pay his fair share of what he consumed. Each state would receive a fair share of taxes collected based on the consumption of its population.
Leading the charge were Rep. Kevin Lundberg, Loveland, Senator Ted Harvey, Highlands Ranch, Mario Lewis, a senior fellow at the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute, and William Gray, the CSU hurricane forecaster and global warming skeptic. All attacked the current scientific consensus of global climate change and Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth documentary. (Farcically, when Lewis asked how many had NOT seen the documentary,
How does he (Gore) know more than I do?
The debate is over. Let’s get on with the daunting challenge of mitigating the carbon effluence of six-and-one-half billion of us. We need scientifically literate representatives at all levels of government to lead us; others, like Lundberg, Harvey, Lewis, and Gray, need to move out of the way and follow.
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Public education
Was if due to attending two one-room schools where two teachers managed six grades? Were the teachers inefficient? If so, we passed from grade to grade on required subjects through grades in spite of that. Can you imagine how we suffered when threatened with a thick, wooden paddle with holes drilled in it to allow no resistance from air impeding the delivery to our backsides? If we failed, we were required to repeat grades too.
Maybe it was because all students had personal desks, instead of wallowing on the classroom floors. Did that have an influence on graduation through 12 grades? If so, they were collective mistakes on our part.
Perhaps my mind is blocked due to benign dictators demanding we study required subjects: Reading, writing, arithmetic, geography English, history. Unfortunately, we had teachers that were highly qualified to keep us in line by demanding correct answers to our tests. Our parents did not help by insisting on completing homework first, other activities later. We had no choice in passing grades and steady attendance because of collaboration between those people
I’m sure you can realize the discrimination and abuse inflicted on our generation by uncertain and experimental education issues.
Perhaps Roy Romer is capable of helping me to understand what went wrong.
Iraq war
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Iraq war vs. Virginia Tech massacre
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The Denver Post & Iraq
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The Welch family
Further, the story is brimming with so many red flags about judgment and behavior that I wonder why we would want these people back in the United States. They feel deeply wronged and they have found attorneys who agree - but I know there are attorneys who would defend the most vile behavior imaginable and find a twist or a loophole to enable a client to wriggle out of the vortex that their aberrant and abhorrent conduct had gotten them into.
There are undoubtedly reasons of law that demand that the remaining Welches and their cohorts be extradited and face the consequences of the “ bloody chaos “ of November 2, 2004. But isn’t having them gone to Canada a sufficient resolution? Just imagine if they came back with all of their pop guns and a grudge.
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Democrats & national security
When Clinton ruled by public opinion this Terrorist mess went unanswered.(Lets play nice) Hence 9-11.
True leaders don’t listen to a “Public” that thinks it’s Ok to abort millions of unborn Americans, but not see the valor in our volunteer army protecting everything we cherish as Americans. (The fight remains in Iraq not mainland USA) World War Three is closer than you think. Democrats will not have the guts to disarm Iran, they will send Pelosi over to play kissy face with Amadinejad as he plots his American/Israel Holocaust. (History repeating; Hitler, Chamberlin 1935) I am terrified what will happen if the Party of Defeat is in control of the White House in two years. Lets see how Liberals will blame the Bush administration as their children and families are incinerated at the hands of a Nuclear Iran they bowed down to.
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Hispanics in World War II
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Democrats