Erick Erickson:
"Many political analysts compare 2012′s Republican Presidential cycle to the Democrats’ go of it in 2008. Barack Obama deployed a delegate strategy while Hillary Clinton went for big state wins. It worked to Barack Obama’s favor. This year, it works for Romney.
Both took a while and had some ups and downs, but ultimately Barack Obama prevailed. After Ohio came in tonight, it is clear Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee if Newt Gingrich stays in the race. Gingrich is now only serving as a spoiler to Santorum.
The big difference between 2008 and 2012 is that in 2008, David beat Goliath. The base of the party rallied to the David who took out the machine no one thought could be taken out. In 2012, Goliath is beating David and no one ever really cheers for Goliath.
Barring a rapid Gingrich exit from the race — he cannot win outright given the states remaining, including Texas — which would suddenly reset the Santorum coalition for a one on one match against Romney, Mitt Romney is the nominee. Frankly, even if Gingrich exits, Romney will still most likely be the nominee.
He will be the nominee having lost the South, Appalachia, evangelicals, conservatives, and blue collar voters.
He will go into the general election deeply distrusted by his own base while having to woo independent voters. This is not a dazzling position to be in to beat an incumbent President.
Were I Mitt Romney I’d be wondering how I spent 5.5 times as much money as Rick Santorum and barely won Ohio...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
March 7, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Union Leader "How Republicans win by losing"
George F. Will:
"ON THAT EVENING 48 years ago — it was still summer, early in the presidential campaign — Buckley, whose National Review magazine had given vital assistance to Barry Goldwater's improbable capture of the Republican nomination, addressed the national convention of the conservative Young Americans for Freedom. Buckley told his fervent acolytes that “when we permit ourselves to peek up over the euphoria” of Goldwater's nomination, we see that it occurred “before we had time properly to prepare the ground.”
He then sobered his boisterous audience: “I speak of course about the impending defeat of Barry Goldwater.” He urged “the necessity of guarding against the utter disarray that sometimes follows a stunning defeat.”
Goldwater's doomed campaign should, Buckley said, be supported because it plants “seeds of hope, which will flower on a great November day in the future.” They did, 16 Novembers later.
Buckley understood the possibility of constructive defeat. He also understood the need to economize conservatism's energies...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"ON THAT EVENING 48 years ago — it was still summer, early in the presidential campaign — Buckley, whose National Review magazine had given vital assistance to Barry Goldwater's improbable capture of the Republican nomination, addressed the national convention of the conservative Young Americans for Freedom. Buckley told his fervent acolytes that “when we permit ourselves to peek up over the euphoria” of Goldwater's nomination, we see that it occurred “before we had time properly to prepare the ground.”
He then sobered his boisterous audience: “I speak of course about the impending defeat of Barry Goldwater.” He urged “the necessity of guarding against the utter disarray that sometimes follows a stunning defeat.”
Goldwater's doomed campaign should, Buckley said, be supported because it plants “seeds of hope, which will flower on a great November day in the future.” They did, 16 Novembers later.
Buckley understood the possibility of constructive defeat. He also understood the need to economize conservatism's energies...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Garfield County Public Information " The Garfield County All Hazards Response Team"
" On January 12, 2012, six members of The Garfield County All Hazards Response Team competed in the 22nd Annual Crisis Negotiation Competition at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
The competition included 17 crisis negotiations teams from across the United States. The teams were judged based on several categories during an eight hour scenario which included: Active Listening Skills, Team Communications, Intelligence Gathering and Crisis Management Skills. Judges were comprised of: New York FBI Negotiators, Former Army Negotiators, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Ranger Negotiators, just to identify a few.
The Garfield County All Hazards Crisis Negotiations Team brought home the 2nd place trophy overall, tying with Travis County Crisis Negotiations Team from Texas...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
The competition included 17 crisis negotiations teams from across the United States. The teams were judged based on several categories during an eight hour scenario which included: Active Listening Skills, Team Communications, Intelligence Gathering and Crisis Management Skills. Judges were comprised of: New York FBI Negotiators, Former Army Negotiators, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Ranger Negotiators, just to identify a few.
The Garfield County All Hazards Crisis Negotiations Team brought home the 2nd place trophy overall, tying with Travis County Crisis Negotiations Team from Texas...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Snowmass Sun "Skico accused of fraudulent actions in Base Village condo sales"
Brent Gardner-Smith:
"Attorneys for 29 condo owners in the Capital Peak Lodge claim in a lawsuit that Aspen Skiing Co. “participated in a joint scheme” with other Base Village developers to defraud condo buyers.
The suit claims that Skico, along with Intrawest, The Related Cos., Related WestPac and other corporate entities involved with Base Village, purposely overstated the size of the condos in the Capital Peak Lodge in order to charge buyers more and increase profits.
The lawsuit also claims that entities associated with Related later took steps to conceal the true size of the condos from buyers by failing to list the size of the units on an official condo map and by providing overstated figures to the Pitkin County Assessor...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Attorneys for 29 condo owners in the Capital Peak Lodge claim in a lawsuit that Aspen Skiing Co. “participated in a joint scheme” with other Base Village developers to defraud condo buyers.
The suit claims that Skico, along with Intrawest, The Related Cos., Related WestPac and other corporate entities involved with Base Village, purposely overstated the size of the condos in the Capital Peak Lodge in order to charge buyers more and increase profits.
The lawsuit also claims that entities associated with Related later took steps to conceal the true size of the condos from buyers by failing to list the size of the units on an official condo map and by providing overstated figures to the Pitkin County Assessor...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Officer’s intent crucial in drug case, attorneys say"
Chad Abraham:
".,..In the arrest affidavits for two defendants is an identical sentence that could prove pivotal in the separate case of an Aspen man charged with multiple drug felonies, say three of the state’s top defense attorneys.
They recently weighed in on the unusual case of Thomas Simmons, 22, of Aspen. He was arrested Feb. 4 for tampering with evidence after a police officer wrote in a warrant that Simmons was caught on surveillance footage trying to hide a baggie of MDMA, or ecstasy, at the Belly Up.
The tampering case was dropped a few days later when police realized the person on the footage was not Simmons. For Simmons, who allegedly had cocaine and ecstasy on his person when he was arrested, and ounces of those drugs, along with LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, in his Park Circle apartment, the police mistake may not matter.
Despite the faulty warrant that led to his arrest, the details in the second warrant to search his home remain “compelling,” Aspen prosecutor Arnold Mordkin said in a Feb. 13 court hearing.
But does the misidentification undermine the entire case?...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
".,..In the arrest affidavits for two defendants is an identical sentence that could prove pivotal in the separate case of an Aspen man charged with multiple drug felonies, say three of the state’s top defense attorneys.
They recently weighed in on the unusual case of Thomas Simmons, 22, of Aspen. He was arrested Feb. 4 for tampering with evidence after a police officer wrote in a warrant that Simmons was caught on surveillance footage trying to hide a baggie of MDMA, or ecstasy, at the Belly Up.
The tampering case was dropped a few days later when police realized the person on the footage was not Simmons. For Simmons, who allegedly had cocaine and ecstasy on his person when he was arrested, and ounces of those drugs, along with LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, in his Park Circle apartment, the police mistake may not matter.
Despite the faulty warrant that led to his arrest, the details in the second warrant to search his home remain “compelling,” Aspen prosecutor Arnold Mordkin said in a Feb. 13 court hearing.
But does the misidentification undermine the entire case?...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Colorado Springs Gazette "City spending millions on outside attorneys"
Daniel Chacon:
"Lawyers from the private sector have billed the city of Colorado Springs more than $7.5 million since 2010, an amount that new City Attorney Chris Melcher hopes to rein in.
In 2010, the city and two of its enterprises, Colorado Springs Utilities and Memorial Health System, spent more than $3.66 million on outside counsel.
The figure grew to $3.92 million last year, according to documents obtained by The Gazette under an open-records request..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Lawyers from the private sector have billed the city of Colorado Springs more than $7.5 million since 2010, an amount that new City Attorney Chris Melcher hopes to rein in.
In 2010, the city and two of its enterprises, Colorado Springs Utilities and Memorial Health System, spent more than $3.66 million on outside counsel.
The figure grew to $3.92 million last year, according to documents obtained by The Gazette under an open-records request..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Forest Service chief fields budget questions"
Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Intertwined concerns about overall forest health, bark beetles, climate change and wildfires took center state Tuesday at a full hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle questioned Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell about his agency’s ability to meet its obligations to address the multiple challenges.
U.S. Senator Mark Udall, a Colorado Democrat, said its critical to engage the private sector and encourage the use of beetle kill products by expanding markets for forest products. That requires streamlining contracting procedures and giving incentives to companies that use beetle-killed wood for construction, as well as wood pellets and biomass for energy production.
“The private sector is key to dealing with this epidemic,” Udall said. “In a state like Colorado, where there is a large need for forest treatments but few forest-management businesses, the Forest Service should tailor timber sales and stewardship contracts to fit this industry, and work to try to move at the pace of industry as much as possible,” Udall said after the hearing. See a video of the exchange at Udall’s website...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Intertwined concerns about overall forest health, bark beetles, climate change and wildfires took center state Tuesday at a full hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle questioned Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell about his agency’s ability to meet its obligations to address the multiple challenges.
U.S. Senator Mark Udall, a Colorado Democrat, said its critical to engage the private sector and encourage the use of beetle kill products by expanding markets for forest products. That requires streamlining contracting procedures and giving incentives to companies that use beetle-killed wood for construction, as well as wood pellets and biomass for energy production.
“The private sector is key to dealing with this epidemic,” Udall said. “In a state like Colorado, where there is a large need for forest treatments but few forest-management businesses, the Forest Service should tailor timber sales and stewardship contracts to fit this industry, and work to try to move at the pace of industry as much as possible,” Udall said after the hearing. See a video of the exchange at Udall’s website...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Caucuses signal tough Democratic primary season"
As anticipated, it looks as though 10th Judicial District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the race for the District 1 County Commissioner seat down in Pueblo are going to be tough races. Thiebaut surprisingly lost key support to Jeff Chostner at last night's Democratic Caucus.
Pete Roper:
"On the district attorney's race, Vincent Guerrero announced that he was supporting Chostner.
"I've found Jeff has been responsive to constituents," he said. "I'd like to see the DA's office going in a little different direction."...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Pete Roper:
"On the district attorney's race, Vincent Guerrero announced that he was supporting Chostner.
"I've found Jeff has been responsive to constituents," he said. "I'd like to see the DA's office going in a little different direction."...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Coloradoan "What did your tax dollars pay for? Keep Fort Collins Great sales tax sent about $20 million to city's coffers"
Conservatives are not always 'anti-taxes'. When it makes sense, when it is fiscally responsible and when the benefits exceed what's spent; they generally support an increase.
When Fort Collins passed the 'Keep Fort Collins Great' sales tax it was a bi-partisan effort.
One that looks like it is paying off. Kudos to the folks up, over and up again in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Kevin Duggan:
"Fort Collins officials say city residents are seeing the benefits of their willingness to raise their own taxes.
In 2011, the first year that revenue from the so-called Keep Fort Collins Great sales tax was available, about $19.9 million came into the city's coffers.
That spurred more than $14.2 million in spending on projects ranging from the resurfacing of major streets to keeping the water flowing in popular fountains in community parks. Another $19 million is budgeted to be spent in 2012.
Differences brought on by the fiscal boost around the community have been profound, City Manger Darin Atteberry said in an interview..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
When Fort Collins passed the 'Keep Fort Collins Great' sales tax it was a bi-partisan effort.
One that looks like it is paying off. Kudos to the folks up, over and up again in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Kevin Duggan:
"Fort Collins officials say city residents are seeing the benefits of their willingness to raise their own taxes.
In 2011, the first year that revenue from the so-called Keep Fort Collins Great sales tax was available, about $19.9 million came into the city's coffers.
That spurred more than $14.2 million in spending on projects ranging from the resurfacing of major streets to keeping the water flowing in popular fountains in community parks. Another $19 million is budgeted to be spent in 2012.
Differences brought on by the fiscal boost around the community have been profound, City Manger Darin Atteberry said in an interview..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times/Letters to the Editor " Playing with fire"
Tom Kilby, Carbondale:
"If our answer is “yes,” then we should put this facility on the plagued Crystal River Market Place site. It would be a brilliant monument to our stupidity.
DontTrashCarbondale.com encourages you to stay informed and tell others about the dangers of allowing Carbondale's sleeping “trash giant” to awaken...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"If our answer is “yes,” then we should put this facility on the plagued Crystal River Market Place site. It would be a brilliant monument to our stupidity.
DontTrashCarbondale.com encourages you to stay informed and tell others about the dangers of allowing Carbondale's sleeping “trash giant” to awaken...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Thompson Divide drilling wouldn't be all bad"
'SandBox Nanny' will just set aside still yet another letter written in commending the Garfield County BOCC for denying the alleged 'people killer' asphalt plant next to the 'organic farm that was never "in danger" in the first place' by stating again that Commissioner Mike Samson was right and both Martin and Jankovsky were shamelessly courting voters.
And instead toss up a letter from Stuart Cerise in Carbondale. His words of calm in a purposefully inflamed disinformation war over Thompson Divide make sense. Click title, it's a good read.
"A couple comments on Joe Mollica's letter of March 3. As someone who has recreated and worked in the Thompson Creek, Four Mile and Divide Creek area for more than 50 years, I concur that is a great area to do such in.
I do remember gas drilling and logging activity in the area many years ago, as well as loud gas-driven compressor stations, pipeline installations and all the related activity. Those drillers and loggers created trails and improved the old roads to a passable status. They harvested timber, reduced overgrowth, created trails for deer, elk and the cattle who summer there.
Yes, there were problems, but they were usually related to specific issues such as meeting a truck in a narrow section of roadway and each harping that the other was on the wrong side of the road. Everyone got along pretty well, and the entire area benefited from it...."
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
And instead toss up a letter from Stuart Cerise in Carbondale. His words of calm in a purposefully inflamed disinformation war over Thompson Divide make sense. Click title, it's a good read.
"A couple comments on Joe Mollica's letter of March 3. As someone who has recreated and worked in the Thompson Creek, Four Mile and Divide Creek area for more than 50 years, I concur that is a great area to do such in.
I do remember gas drilling and logging activity in the area many years ago, as well as loud gas-driven compressor stations, pipeline installations and all the related activity. Those drillers and loggers created trails and improved the old roads to a passable status. They harvested timber, reduced overgrowth, created trails for deer, elk and the cattle who summer there.
Yes, there were problems, but they were usually related to specific issues such as meeting a truck in a narrow section of roadway and each harping that the other was on the wrong side of the road. Everyone got along pretty well, and the entire area benefited from it...."
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Vail Resorts skier visits drop 14.6 percent"
Bob Berwyn:
"In its quarterly earnings statement, Vail Resorts said the decline in skier visits was offset by a 13.8 percent increase in season pass revenue, as well as increases in revenue from ski school and food and beverage sales.
“This has been one of the most, if not the most, challenging winters for the U.S. ski industry,” VR CEO Rob Katz said in a press release. “We have seen the lowest snowfall levels in over 30 years for our Colorado resorts and weather patterns in Tahoe that have not been seen since the late 1800s,” acknowledged Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz. “Given that backdrop, we are very pleased with the strength and stability shown by our operating model, as we reported only modest declines across our major revenue lines in what many would consider a worst case weather scenario, which followed last season’s record setting snowfall.”
Sales at the Ritz-Carlton Residence and One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge helped take the sting off the drop in skier visits, as real estate accounting for net cash proceeds of $23.8 million since the beginning of fiscal 2012 through March 5, 2012.
Katz said the company is hoping for that the final quarter of the ski season will bring the company’s bottom line close to last years, as trends for the Easter and spring break period appear positive.
Vail Resorts said it plans to spend about $75 million to $85 million on capital improvements this fiscal year, with $40 million to $45 million going toward maintenance projects including routine replacement of snow grooming equipment and rental equipment.
The centerpiece of the company’s 2012 capital plan is a new, 10-person, state-of-the-art gondola with heated cabins and Wi-Fi serving as the gateway to Vail Mountain through Vail Village, where almost one-half of Vail Mountain guests start their ski day. The new lift is expected to reduce wait times by increasing uphill capacity by 40 percent...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"In its quarterly earnings statement, Vail Resorts said the decline in skier visits was offset by a 13.8 percent increase in season pass revenue, as well as increases in revenue from ski school and food and beverage sales.
“This has been one of the most, if not the most, challenging winters for the U.S. ski industry,” VR CEO Rob Katz said in a press release. “We have seen the lowest snowfall levels in over 30 years for our Colorado resorts and weather patterns in Tahoe that have not been seen since the late 1800s,” acknowledged Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz. “Given that backdrop, we are very pleased with the strength and stability shown by our operating model, as we reported only modest declines across our major revenue lines in what many would consider a worst case weather scenario, which followed last season’s record setting snowfall.”
Sales at the Ritz-Carlton Residence and One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge helped take the sting off the drop in skier visits, as real estate accounting for net cash proceeds of $23.8 million since the beginning of fiscal 2012 through March 5, 2012.
Katz said the company is hoping for that the final quarter of the ski season will bring the company’s bottom line close to last years, as trends for the Easter and spring break period appear positive.
Vail Resorts said it plans to spend about $75 million to $85 million on capital improvements this fiscal year, with $40 million to $45 million going toward maintenance projects including routine replacement of snow grooming equipment and rental equipment.
The centerpiece of the company’s 2012 capital plan is a new, 10-person, state-of-the-art gondola with heated cabins and Wi-Fi serving as the gateway to Vail Mountain through Vail Village, where almost one-half of Vail Mountain guests start their ski day. The new lift is expected to reduce wait times by increasing uphill capacity by 40 percent...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Garfield County "2012 Air Show at Rifle Airport"
Set the date! The wildly popular Garfield County Air Show is on for July 13 and 14, 2012.
Garfield County:
"Western Colorado's best aviation event returns with amazing aviation acts, an expanded Merchant Village, a huge static aircraft exhibition and aircraft rides. The kid's space activity center is also returning, along with several new activities for teenagers, including a full motion flight simulator. Everyone in Garfield County is invited to attend this free admission event...." (Read more? See photos? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Garfield County:
"Western Colorado's best aviation event returns with amazing aviation acts, an expanded Merchant Village, a huge static aircraft exhibition and aircraft rides. The kid's space activity center is also returning, along with several new activities for teenagers, including a full motion flight simulator. Everyone in Garfield County is invited to attend this free admission event...." (Read more? See photos? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Durango Herald "Three generations of Seavey sledders"
Mary Pemberton :
"The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ended last year for 2004 champion Mitch Seavey when he nearly sliced off one of his fingers while opening a bale of bedding straw for his dogs.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ended last year for 2004 champion Mitch Seavey when he nearly sliced off one of his fingers while opening a bale of bedding straw for his dogs.
If the 52-year-old veteran Iditarod musher runs into trouble on the trail this year, he can count on family. His father, 74-year-old Dan Seavey, ran in the first Iditarod in 1973 and can provide inspiration.
Mitch’s 25-year-old son, Dallas, can provide a competitive push if he can catch him, which remains to be seen.
“My goal is to win the Iditarod,” Mitch Seavey said...." (Read more? Click title)
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