Reaping what was sowed
Well, the citizens of Colorado are now reaping what they sowed when they voted in a Democrat-dominated government.
Am I the only one that was surprised when I read that Gov. Bill Ritter decided to throw out the painstakingly developed plan drafted by Moffat County to responsibly drill for natural gas there (“Governor takes heat for stand on drilling,” July 26)?
According to the article, Ritter had a “spiritual experience” while touring the area with Sen. Ken Salazar, essentially forfeiting close to $400 million in future revenues to the state. What a mature way to govern!
Lowell Whitney, Arvada
I've come to believe that building bridges, working with locals, compromising, etc., is very important, and my yield the best return for the environment in the long run. But to go see the place for himself, rather than just look at a map, to set down on a mountaintop, take in the vista, and finally say, "It's too beautiful. We can't drill here," -- is that naive and idealistic, or brave, clear sighted, and true?
If I recall, it was a Moffat County commissioner who promised to buy a backhoe, the better to bury any endangered wolves that make their way into Colorado, after he shoots them. I question whether their drilling plan was really as environmentally sensitive as they claimed in the article.
I'm impressed that Ritter took such a stand.
Posted by John Giezentanner on August 2, 2007 03:21 AMRitter fits right into the liberal/democrat "can't do" enviro-nut mold:
About 85% of the energy-rich outer countential shelf is out of bounds, ANWR is out of bounds, building new nuke power plants have been out of bounds for 30 years, building new crude oil refineries have been out of bounds for 30 years and our 250 year coal supply is largely unexploited. Unforrtunately, that same liberal enviro crowd hasn't figutred out how to put $5 per gallon at the pump out of bounds too.
So the guy visits a barren moon-scape, is awe-struck by its intrinsic beauty, has a religious experience and sees the very face of God Almighty in the sand ...and then puts that out of bounds too.
Cuckoo...cuckoo...cuckoo...Nurse Ratchet, get the gov's straight jacket, please.
Posted by Hank on August 2, 2007 07:06 AMChao/McConnell V. J.Salazar/K.Salazar (fiscal bipartisan "fleecing" of America). America's 1st family is America's worst family, a close 2nd are these families. Am I the only person in America that realizes US DOL/Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs-OFCCP Secy. Chao is the wife of (R-KY) US Sen. McConnell (US Senate Minority Leader)? Chao controsl "ALL" federal contracts disbursed in both the private and public sectors. In other words, a single family controls the vast majority of our funds.
The Salazar clan (treason/traitors) is just as bad. CNN reported yesterday Rep. Salazar pocketed $484K in federal farm subsidies. Sen. Salazar is just as guilty as brother in "fleecing" American taxpayers. Flying under the radar, is the Slazar family made even more $$$ because they hire criminal illegal Mexicans (cheap labor), to work on their farms, illegally displacing qualified American workers.
It is more than just a conflict of interest, these 2 brothers are pushing criminal illegal alien INS legislation, that they stand to profit from. These 2 BOZOS are also guilty of pimping and exploiting these illegals for the financial gain of the Vatican, Mexican gov't, Wal-Mart, ag industry, etc. In addition to congressional ethics violations, the Salazar's have violated a host of INS laws and they both should be impeached, and tarred and feathered.
Posted by 40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies on August 2, 2007 07:44 AMRight on Hank..lets rape the land, rape America and keep our Lexus SUVs running
Posted by shanibug on August 2, 2007 07:47 AMhankie,
Selling out future generations for short-term profit is REALLY cuckoo...unless you're a selfish conservative who doesn't give a damn about the future generations.......Oh, I guess I just described conservatives. Are you from Texas? Did you vote for W? I thought so.
dmz you should get a life and learn to think for yourself and not repeat the dnc logic all the time.
you dont like the way people think if they dont think like you but what would happen if everyone did think like you? who would you tax to pay for your food stamps?
Don't you just love it when some wingnut advises someone else to " think for themselves" all the while speaking in the RNC-approved unka Karl composed catchphrases of which "thinking for yourself "is one?And always the snide accusation of " food stamps" or other government largesse from a supporter of the ideology that's never seen a tax break or other subsidy for corporations it could not embrace.
Posted by patrick on August 2, 2007 09:02 AMdnz
You're as bad as Bill O'Reilly, only from the other side. Like O'Reilly goes to the White House to find out his talking points for the day, you go to your Dems or anti white House for your talking points.
How about some original thought in place of the party line?
dnz want a cracker...
Posted by on August 2, 2007 09:02 AM40acres makes an excellent point. Regardless of which party a politician belongs to they are serving the own agenda and the special interests that got them nominated, financed and elected.
The Salazar family, in addition to drawing large federal farm subsidies for family operations, are advocating for themselves and other farm operations when they push so hard for amnesty for cheap illegal labor.
Until the electorate takes their collective party blinders off, seeks out and votes for the individuals in lieu of a party line, we're going to keep an unresponsive government who's main priority is taking care of themselves.
Posted by Trinity on August 2, 2007 09:16 AMI'm not sure how Ritter opposing the rape of our land for a few more MCF is proof that a Democratic led government is bad for the state. Must be that the greedy Republicans are panicked that they can't sell or consume every natural resource in this state.
Mr. Whitney is probably also outraged that this governor also supports the development of renewable energy. "Must have my fossil fuels now. Screw the kids and their children. Must have all for me now. No want anything left for tomorrow." Typical Republican consumer wanting his material world without any trade offs.
Posted by Wes on August 2, 2007 04:10 PMGovernor Ritter is exercising sound market-based policy. While energy prices continue to skyrocket, he's waiting until they reach a peak before authorizing the drilling. He's a Republican in sheep's clothing. He's awe struck by the profits soon to come, you'll see.
I had the same epiphany during the vote for the Iraq war. I invested in minerals used for munitions and several refining companies, and am making a fortune. There's more where that came from, I assure you. We'll be there for years.
Posted by Marketwatcher on August 2, 2007 04:17 PM8:48 & 9:02 nobody.
No, if I was like Bill O'Liely it would be
"Billy want a hooker?"
You guys make it too easy.
God has blessed Liberals with logic, morals and compassion , but thank you anyway for your concern for my food supply.
These 2 BOZOS are also guilty of pimping and exploiting these illegals for the financial gain of the Vatican, Mexican gov't, Wal-Mart, ag industry, etc. In addition to congressional ethics violations,
Posted by 40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies on August 2, 2007 07:44 AM
I have to wonder why 40acres doesn't accuse George Bush of being an agent for the Vatican, Mexican Gov't also. It is obvious that Bush was in on the plot to grant 12-20 million people amnesty and if anyone needed illegal help it would be George Bush to take care of his Texas photo op center. 40acres seems to omit the white folks in these accusations of treason. I also wonder where his evidence is that the Salazar brothers have done anything illegal. The Republicans had twelve years to do away with agriculture subsidies but didn't. So when a fat rich white Republican gets government subsidies well that is just greasing the economy but when a Hispanic Democrat does then that's illegal.
Lets call a spade a spade here. 40acres is a RACIST liar who makes false accusations without any proof. This is what the Republican Party has devolved into a bunch of RACIST liars.
Thank God the country is waking up and realizing that there are more important functions for government to perform than policing the bedrooms of two hairy guys. The state will be fine with Democratic leadership and we will pass on to our children a Colorado that still contain areas of natural wonder and awe.
Posted by on August 2, 2007 10:26 PMDMZ = demilitarized zone, the 38th parell between north and south Korea. One of the hotest flash points in the world. Madness rules there as on a daily basis shots are fired across it. Propaganda from the north is defening. Axe weilding murderers attack unarmed military personel. Civilians fleeeing to freedom are shot and or tortured heading south. The south has trained artillery pieces on the norths positions. Waiting to pull the lanyard.
Hmmm, an insight into our local leftist koolaids drinkers mind
Posted by on August 2, 2007 10:31 PM10:31 PM
More an insight into the desperate attempts by New Age conservatives to try and divert the conversation away from the issues of a sustainable future where nature and the economy are both cared for.
The DMZ was also the boundary between North and South Vietnam and US troops who patrolled near the DMZ were the best troops in Vietnam. Take your pick.
Posted by Wes on August 3, 2007 11:41 AMThank you Wes,
Since I've been using dmz as a nom-de-plume for quite a while, I've been wondering if one of our less than honorable friends from the pro-war factions would ever get it.
It took a LONG time. I gave them way too much credit, as I've made it no secret that I'm a proud Liberal , as in liberty, and my distain for the Bush cartel has also been evident.
War is not, nor has it ever been an adventure or a game to be observed from a distance like the gladiators of ancient Rome.
War should ONLY be used as a last resort and the citizens who are paying the costs should NEVER be lied to nor it's troops used as cannon fodder.
Unfortunately, both instances have occured under W Bush's watch. Multiple times.
Fortunately, our citizenry is finally waking up to the fact that our would-be-Emperor indeed, has no clothes.
Peace,
from the demilitarized zone.
Mr. Whitney,
They're doing exactly what I wanted them to do when I voted for them. If "reaping what I sowed" is a bad thing in this case, I'm failing to see why...
Do you even remember what the issue was in the first place your so busy fighting over who's oppinion is right.
At least Ritter saw what the other residents of Moffat County see. There is Beauty in Verrmillion Basin, I live here I know.
I personally don't want to see it dotted with oil wells. I'm glad that Ritter gave me a voice, because the commisioners obviously don't believe any one else could possibly have an oppinion.
I'm just wondering how many people here posting, regardless of their political agenda, are actually from Moffat County. If you're from the front range and you haven't even been out here... well, I can't say much for you.
Let me just say that we have plenty of gas pads on the western slope. We really don't need anymore. America is consumed with their consumerism, and have no idea how to look back (i.e. reduce their consumption) rather than constantly looking for new development opportunities.
Moffat County is rare in that we have vast amounts of "wilderness" and wildlife. Strangely, while Craig and Maybell feast off of the revenue from the hunting licences and all of the out of towners coming in to hunt the bullies that feast off of this so-called wilderness (it really isn't though... we have too many roads), Craig also has vast amounts of resources.
Most of the people I know who work here are either in one of three major coal mines in the area, natural gas exploitation, or the in the power plants either here or in Hayden.
But looky here, despite my political opinion or yours, you can't have both. Sadly, people in the natural resource extraction fields... they really have no keen eye on what's healthy for the land, it's people or the other inhabitants.
Take a trip up to Pinedale Wyoming. If you like the looks of that... well then have fun watching the pads and the roads destroy the wildlife habitat here in Colorado.
Props to Ritter for standing up to the Commissioners here. Someone has the nerve to stand up and tell em they're not the only ones here. Two of the past commissioners are lobby suck-ups. Dickenson (who continues to inflitrate policy)was one of the BLM's biggest "cowboy welfare" users, taking advantage of the best tax dollars available on public lands (ranching). Raftopulous is an oil and gas suck-up, and has only gone further to the darkside. Apparently they didn't do so hot for the county because they were voted out.
Unfortunately Moffat County only votes for the lesser of two evils within the Republican Party. Or at least the one that sounds the best. Now we've got a bar owner (Mathers), Tayyara and Gray, I have no idea but I'm sure they fall into the same category as all the others... in the best interest of some kind of industry or business. I fully support beneficial economic growth, as it brings taxes to much needed sectors of public life.
However, Moffat County has no idea what to do with that kind of money even if it was a plus and not a negative. Instead we have a boom of industry workers who raise housing and rental prices beyond what most people should have to pay, we have a junction of highways 13 and 40 bringing more truck traffic than I've ever seen since I've been here, and we have one of the worst meth problems in Colorado. Yippee for more transient workers and all their problems!!
Public lands are looking like crap in Powderwash (Where the majority of it is going on around here). There's trash and rustymetal and roads and weeds everywhere by these pads. More dead animals (hit and shot) on top of that. I can't say that this boom has been anything but a nuisance. With coal, it's steady, taxes, jobs, etc. With oil and gas, it's a boom and then it'll be a bust. And we're left with the side effects.