SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Kathleen Parker "

"...Meanwhile, Democrats' continued insinuation that the rich are robbing the poor is simply disingenuous. Who employs the poor if not the more prosperous? Who infuses charities with cash but the wealthy? Who grows the economy if not business, now too afraid to part with its money given the current uncertainties?

Mitt Romney was excoriated for saying that corporations are people, too. This sort of statement is easy to mock, but it is truer than the one that contends corporations are the enemy of the people.

Corporations are made up of people — some heartless, I'll concede — who nonetheless provide jobs and grow the economy. Capitalism, the ogre of those protesting Wall Street, has suffered a public relations crisis in the wake of the global economic collapse.

But any remedy to the systemic corruption that led to the collapse should not displace recognition that capitalism creates wealth. Capitalism, and no other economic system, has raised millions from poverty around the world...."
(Kathleen Parker)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Summit County Sheriff's Office marks 15 decades of service"

Congratulations to the Summit County Sheriff's Office!

SandBox thanks you for your service.  You're appreciated for all you do.

"BRECKENRIDGE — In 1859, Colorado was still the Wild West and Summit County was a collection of budding mining communities in search of someone who could bring law and order.

A miner, Ruben J. Spaulding, stepped up.

The Summit County Sheriff's Office was founded in 1861. In the decades since, the agency has had 30 sheriffs, two brushes with the Hell's Angels and only three line-of-duty deaths.

This year, the department is celebrating its 150th birthday by looking back at its remarkable history.

“The role (of the sheriff) has expanded over time,” said present-day Sheriff John Minor, who was elected in 2004. “But it's still a very complex job and still a lot of fun ... most days....”

(Caddie Nath)

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SandBox Comments: The Hill "US Army general fired for criticizing Afghan president"

And now there are two.

There are many things that SandBox Nanny finds unacceptable in Barack Obama's leadership.  So much so, he is the first President she has ever been unable to muster enough respect for to address him as President Barack Obama each time she speaks of him.  Her respect for the Office of the Presidency runs too deep to get her tongue wrapped around the title and his name except on rare occasions .  

The denigrating of America that Obama has done in the global community and the disrespect he shows to our military in even the simplest of gestures as knowing how to properly salute.

But when he fired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, that was a defining moment in our history.

And now, there are two such moments. 

It was not until Barack Obama that it became acceptable to undermine our military leaders, their authority and awareness of how to best perform their duty.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is unapologetic as more of a foe of America than he is an allie. 

Making no bones in his stance that he wants America and her allies out of his country, he won't help his people in a powerful enough manner to knock down rampant corruption and  considers opium a viable commodity in Afghanistans general economy.

Sort of makes you wonder what the price tag is on the lives of our men and  women on the ground over there when the men responsible for their safety can't speak up against their greatest risk.

SandBox thanks Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller, deputy commander of NATO for his service and apologizes to him on behalf of his Commander in Chief.  From the looks of the commentary on this story, her wishes are confirmed by others.

"A top U.S. general stationed in Afghanistan has been fired for recent criticisms of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller, deputy commander of NATO's effort to train Afghan forces, was terminated for an interview he gave Thursday in which he hammered Karzai as "erratic" and inarticulate, according to a statement issued Saturday by Lt. Gen. John Allen, the commander of the war in Afghanistan...."
(Mike Lillis)


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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: The Hill "Eric Holder has a gun problem"

"As the chief law enforcement officer Attorney General Eric Holder came out swinging in the first months of the Obama administration as he pushed to reinstate the assault weapons ban, pointing to the rising levels of violence in Mexico and increased presence of U.S. guns south of the border..."
(Jordy Yager)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Udall pitches measured approach to energy development"

In a similar manner as his announcement that he believes 'fracking' is inherently safe; Senator Mark Udall (D-Colorado) looks like he's set to stir up some angst in his own party with this new proposal.

Ever notice that liberal values often become palpable when they become inconvenient?

Ever notice how firm conservative values stand even in the most inconvenient and toughest times?

Look for more liberals to find ways around their political values and start finding creative ways to ka-ching the fossil fuel energy industry.  Why?  It's really all about the money.
 
"SUMMIT COUNTY —A new pilot leasing program for renewable energy projects on public lands could create a stable source of revenue for conservation and management of natural resources, and also generate some funds for stretched local and state government.

The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2011 (S. 1775) has early bipartisan support in the Senate, with co-sponsors including Senator Jon Tester (D-MT)Jim Risch (R-ID), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Dean Heller (R-NV).

“America — and Colorado, in particular — is blessed with bountiful renewable resources on our expansive federal lands.  This bill is in line with our Western tradition of a balanced approach to land use that supports the responsible development of our resources even as we conserve them for future generations,” Sen, Mark Udall said. “By directing a portion of the revenues from these leases to state and local governments, this bill will help support our schools and rebuild the infrastructure that our rural economies depend on.  At the same time, it will create clean-tech jobs and grow the clean energy economy in our state, while making sure that our public lands are still protected for all of us to use and enjoy....”
(Bob Berwyn)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Durango Telegraph "Dealing with an image problem"

One of those good reports out of a writer that obviously has chosen a side yet manages to convey a thought provoking read in a balance of opinion and facts.

From Allen Best.  Up on the Durango Telegraph.

A terrific article on the public perception of the oil and gas industry here in Colorado.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Offending killjoys since 1951"

lol.

Mark Thomas of Carbondale responds to the latest ego power-trip of  Aspen City Council.

Mark won the Winterskol slogan contest.  But our infamous 'Gifted Mayor' and his council rejected it.

Mark has some new submissions.  Up on The Aspen Daily News.

"...Must be off-season, when a lighthearted Winterskol slogan contest transforms into a local “controversy.” (Note to City Council: Please reconsider mandatory off-season medical marijuana permits for locals with too much time on their hands.)

Anyway, I wanted to publicly thank the Winterskol Slogan Committee for choosing my original submission (“It’s To Die For”), and allowing me to keep the prize...."
(Mark Thomas)

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "A multimillion dollar season"

"The finishing touches are being made to the several million dollars worth of on-mountain improvements that are about to come online at Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands.

The chairs have been hung on the new Tiehack lift and the renovation of the Merry-Go-Restaurant mid-mountain at Aspen Highlands is three-quarters complete. The new amenities will be ready for skiers and riders when the mountains open on Dec. 10.

A load test of the Tiehack chairlift is scheduled to be conducted on Wednesday, said Rich Burkley, Aspen Skiing Co. vice president of mountain operations.

Engineers from POMA, the lift’s manufacturer, SkiCo lift technicians and representatives from the National Tramway Safety Board will be on hand for the Nov. 9 load test.

“We fill trash cans full of water, representing people and we run the lift at absolute extremes in terms of speed and braking,” Burkley said.

The barrels of water will be strapped into the chairs and the line will be loaded to represent the average number of people who will ride the lift at any given time. The metrics of the chairlift will be tested multiple times — running backwards, forwards and at the fastest speed possible.

The $7 million high-speed quad will serve the only advanced terrain at Buttermilk, and replaces both the Upper Tiehack and Eagle Hill — aka lower Tiehack — chairs. Combined, those two lifts took 18 minutes to ride. They were built in 1969.

The new “Tiehack Express” will take skiers 1,640 vertical feet to the top in seven minutes on 71 chairs. The lift has a fairly low profile — the highest point is 48 feet, Burkley said...."
( Carolyn Sackariason)

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SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Travel: New flights for Colorado ski areas"

"SUMMIT COUNTY —It will be easier than ever to get to some of Colorado’s best ski areas this winter, as several airlines have announced new flights, including daily nonstop service to Aspen from Dallas-Forth Worth and Los Angeles, starting Dec. 15 on American Airlines.

Daily jet service from Texas to Durango will resume for the first time more than a decade, serving Telluride and Wolf Creek, along with Durango Mountain Resort.

United Airlines has added a second daily non-stop from Houston along with a fourth daily non-stop from Los Angeles and a 12th daily flight from Denver on peak days. These new flights are in addition to that airport’s four daily non-stops from Chicago/O’Hare and two daily non-stops from San Francisco, and bring United’s total frequency up to 24 daily flights in and out of Aspen/Snowmass this winter.

Internationally, Denver International Airport recently picked up year-round, nonstop...."
(Bob Berwyn)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Pool lifeguards save heart attack victim"

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SandBox Comments: The Blaze " Sure You Can Fly From Dubai to Baghdad on Lawn Chairs and 300 Helium Balloons"

"BEND, Ore. (The Blaze/AP) — Like a real-life vision of the movie “Up”, but on a smaller scale, lawn-chair balloonist Kent Couch boarded a plane Thursday for the start of a journey that he hopes will end in Iraq with a safe launch and landing beneath a huge cluster of party balloons...."
(Liz Klimas)

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SandBox Comments: GarCo Sheriff "Local Law Enforcement Agencies Uncover Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring"

Garco Sheriff releases the information on the multi-agency bust of  a local Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring:

"NEWS RELEASE
Local Law Enforcement Agencies Uncover Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring

Garfield County, Colorado: A series of motor vehicle thefts in Denver and on the western slope that occurred between October 25 and October 30^th, 2011 have been identified as gang-related.

After further investigations, it was determined the crime spree was a product of three gang members living in Garfield County.

All three juveniles are validated Sureño gang members. Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda, 14 years of age, is currently facing charges of aggravated motor vehicle theft (class 4 felony), theft (class 4 felony), carrying a concealed weapon (class 2 misdemeanor), possession of a handgun by a juvenile (class 2 misdemeanor) and first-degree criminal trespass (class 5 felony). Luis Jurado, 16 years of age, is currently facing the charge of aggravated motor vehicle theft (class 4 felony). The third juvenile is still under investigation and is not currently facing felony charges.
No further information will be released on his identity. I.C.E. Homeland Security Investigations is assisting inthe investigation of the gang members involved. I.C.E. has placed a hold on 14 year old Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda.

From what we know about the crime spree at this time, the three Sureño gang members are believed to have stolen seven cars total; five from the Pitkin/Garfield County jurisdictions, one from the Steamboat Springs area and one from the Denver area. They are also believed to have entered eight vehicles, stealing miscellaneous electronics and one handgun. The handgun was recovered from Gamez-Banda while attempting to steal another vehicle in New Castle, Colorado.

He was apprehended and held at gunpoint by the vehicle’s owner until officers from the New Castle Police Department and deputies from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office arrived and took him into custody.

During the initial stages of the investigation of Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda, by the Carbondale and New Castle Police Departments, the Carbondale Officer recognized what he knew to be gang related information. The officer immediately notified the Garfield County Sheriff's Office T.A.G.Deputy, who used his resources, database and informants to help identify the other suspects. This resulted in a joint investigation, which involved: T.A.G., Carbondale Police Department, Aspen Police Department, New Castle Police Department, Immigration Custom Enforcement and the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The joint investigation has led to the recovery of the previously mentioned stolen vehicles.

According to Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario, the outcome of this investigation demonstrates the importance of the cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies such as I.C.E. Homeland Security Investigations Operation Community Shield Task Force. It also demonstrates that dangerous criminal gang activity is present in our communities and how a cooperative law enforcement approach with our citizens is crucial to eradicate this criminal element.

Law Enforcement would like to remind its citizens to remove their keys and lock their car doors.

Recently documented vehicle thefts, including the above, involved unlocked vehicles, and some with the vehicles keys inside. In an effort to prevent these types of crimes, please remember to remove valuables and secure your vehicle. Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a location that is well lit and has high visibility.

November 4, 2011

SandBox Comments: Colorado Statesman "Controversial vacancy committee meeting gives Neville the nod to succeed Kopp"

"A Republican vacancy committee on Thursday night denied veteran state Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton, a promotion to the upper chamber by the narrowest of margins and instead chose activist Tim Neville to take over for retiring Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp. But the proceedings turned sour after the 60-58 vote was confirmed in a supervised recount as Kerr supporters charged that a handful of Republicans who should have voted hadn’t been notified of the meeting..."
(Ernest Luning)

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SandBox Comments: Red State "Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the Big, Bad Pipeline "

"But what makes Julia’s opposition to the pipeline and “Big Oil” so ironic is her very name, Louis-Dreyfus.

Louis Dreyfus, you see, is one of the world’s largest commodity trading firms. It is run by Julia’s bio-dad, Gérard Louis-Dreyfus..."

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Council critical of new library design concept"

What happened to all the new-found love between the Library District, Downtown Development and Glenwood Springs City Council for all these months?

All those glowing reports in the paper and during council meetings on how well everyone was talking together now, all tensions gone and the planning was 'going great!'?

Will these architects work for free as they go back and redo the entire plan?  How are we going to pay for this?

Anyone who is in construction (BTW, Councilman Gamba...where have you been to let it get this far and be totally wrong? You know better.) knows you can't put this many people together without somebody checking constantly for who's on first and what's on second.

Looks like it should fit at The Meadows?   Maybe that's a Freudian slip on the architects part because they may have it down in observation that all this fuss over the 'Eighth and Cooper Project' really wasn't 'going great!' after all.

Sorry, everybody but this one is way too hard to swallow.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today " Few details released about Steamboat Springs raid"

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Paul Nitze: Cases lost the day they were filed"

We aren't sure if Paul Nitze, up on The Aspen Times, is now a former prosecutor or not.

He’s always been a favorite of ours because in our view, he’s one of those unapologetic liberals who actually walks a sort-of, kind-of middle line.

Something always appreciated by Independent Conservatives. 

His columns have always been political based and only once before has SandBox seen Nitze comment on his profession.  It was the Secure Communities column. 

He appears every other Saturday, up on The Aspen Times.  His column is usually published here on SandBox when he writes.

You see, the reason he's a favorite is because rational, logical liberals are just so very hard to find. 

His columns are anticipated and SandBox wishes he would consider writing more often.    

His column today is written from his ‘prosecutor with a pen’ style.


"...It's actually worse than that. If you don't have a strategy, litigation is a game of chicken that you have already lost.  That lesson was not absorbed by Aspen's chief deputy district attorney, Arnold Mordkin, who lost his cases against Marlin Brown and Erik Peltonen on Thursday....

...Mordkin was quoted as being “disappointed,” after yesterday's ruling, but that makes no sense. That's like saying you're “disappointed” you lost a baseball game after walking over to the umpire and forfeiting....

...That is how you keep a case from turning into a game of chicken....

...You do all that work because you owe it to the taxpayers not to waste their money on a dead-end case. You do it because charging someone criminally can ruin his life no matter what happens to the case; the stain of a criminal indictment lasts forever. You do it for the victims, who deserve the best effort you can muster....

...Lawyers for the Feuerbachs and Rittenours, the surviving relatives of the Lofgren family, will try to obtain the grand jury transcripts and use them in their civil lawsuits against Brown, Peltonen and others. Even if it is completely inadvertent, criminal charges that were defective on their face will now provide ammunition in a civil lawsuit..."
(Paul Nitze)

 

There is always a culture present that grows out of elected officials in any community.

 

Election cycles change, offices change and the leadership culture of the day shifts and changes.

 

There is a great deal of talk lately on getting the politics and the money out of areas that bring security to the lives of the folks.

 

People seem to be just sayin that they want more predictable, secure lives and they’re bone weary of the sprint just to stay at the top.

 

They seem to say that they could care less about the culture of any politician, any leader or any social platform that is aimed at forcing them to join in any one given ideology.

 

Especially when that ideology is aimed at their day-to-day security and such ideology results in irretrievable actions or errors that affect their lives.  At this moment, $500 million dollars to Solyndra with a potential $1 billion that might have come along behind it comes to mind.

 

Citizens are the one dynamic that really does not ever shift nor actually change.

 

To moderate news commentary is to facilitate commentators, not the news story.  There is no ability in this 9th to deny that they have created a culture in the district that in part, demands front and center stage.  In the world of fighting crime that is not always seen as a bad thing.

The political dynamic of the 9^th is easy to spot.

 

District Attorney Martin Beeson arrived on the scene by crafting a strategic political campaign to toss Colleen Truden.  Basically amounted to shooting himself out of a cannon  and waging what ended up as a recall war.

 

He made no effort nor does he apologize for not making the effort to let the folks have a chance to get to know him first.  Is that  fault?  A strategic error?  Or is it just a good man who knows himself well and feels as though everyone else should automatically be able to know the same.

 

Or is it simply a man who saw that his particular and unique skills, his way of being were potentially needed?  So he stepped up into a leadership role.  Where his political credit is at now and coming back to haunt him, is that whatever it was that made him initially go down the path of becoming the most powerful elected official in a three county radius without anyone knowing the man is what people see first.

 

He then moved rapidly on to greater ambitions and set himself up to race for the third congressional. 

 

Conservatives began to feel some unease at this point.  Which is a publicly known fact as one of the reasons Beeson dropped out.  Lots going on.

 

Politics at that level of national race is a marathon and could their sprinting D.A. stay the course?  Remembering back to the tone of commentary around the state after he tossed Truden, there was a general consensus that it probably wouldn’t matter that he was pretty much still a stranger to most. 

 

What kind of law enforcement we ended up with was for sure going to be at front and center stage anyway.

 

During roughly the same time frame, Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario vaulted himself into another part of the district political stage.  Ousting Dalessandri, Sheriff Lou has chosen a culture of careful planning and attention to details.  In the eyes of the folks out here in commentary, the pace he brings to the culture of the 9th is more of a fast walk.  Sheriff Vallario has a style far different than Martin Beeson.  The Sheriff takes his time, making the time, to connect with the job better than anyone ever has before him.  Yet his issue politically is roughly the same as Beeson.  The majority of the folks don’t know him personally, he is definitely not a politician.  After brutal campaigns, Vallario has now changed that and things seem to be going smoother for him.  A compassionate man with a tendency to wear his heart on his sleeve while his bulldog tenacity is visible instead.  GarCo Sheriff has actually become a culture within a culture.

 

Pitkin County contribution to the now starting to simmer culture of this D.A. was to see a very, very similar to Martin Beeson leadership style in former Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis.  While at the same time these were two men so different from each other and worlds apart on ideology.  The icon that was Braudis enjoyed the same staff loyalty as Beeson.

 

If ever there was a connection not noted, it’s that one.  That they are two men who were really very much alike in many ways.  One of the ways that is proven is to observe the volatile degrees of attention from the public that both men command.

 

Insert newbie Joe DiSalvo to take over for that end of an era in PitCo as Braudis retired.  A new Sheriff who has a style that's somewhat hopelessly undefined at this time.  The question folks seem to have with DiSalvo is where does he fit in?

How does one sum up the political atmosphere of the 9th as we rapidly approach campaign declarations?

Again, Paul Nitze does that very well in his column today:

"...Building inspectors can face civil liability for failing their duties, but this may have been the first time in American history that an inspector was charged with criminally negligent homicide for this type of mistake. So it's fair to say that Mordkin was already swimming upstream when he decided to bring criminal charges.

And he doubled down by using a grand jury to bring the charges. These days, grand juries are more common on the big screen than in real life. In most states, Colorado included, grand juries are used sparingly. They have fallen into disuse because they suck up a lot of prosecutorial resources, but also because judges can view them with suspicion.

When a district attorney brings charges at the outer edge of the law via a grand jury, as Mordkin did here, it can look like he's bypassing normal procedure because he fears a judge might throw out the case. When a grand jury brings an indictment, the magistrate judge who would normally make a probable cause finding is cut out. It's also true that unusual cases are well-suited for grand juries, because they need the kind of preliminary investigation that grand juries provide, but it remains a risky business."
(Paul Nitze)

With that said, 'SandBox Nanny' observes a similar view as she had when the tragic case of little McKenzie Webster-Brown was in the news.  Her view at the time (now archived to hard copy) was the only public view in local media that spoke up reminding us all that we can't judge.  We can't know.  Not unless we have both sides to the story and know the heart of the people involved in order to know intent.  The elected seat of a prosecutor is held to the highest standard.  But that does not mean that prosecutors and law enforcement do not have the right to not be judged until the entire story is known. 

 

She can find nothing in the Nitze op-ed piece on Lofgren today that she disagrees with. 

 

Yet, she still finds a measure of wisdom in her commentary yesterday on the story itself.  Arnold Mordkin deserves privacy for his apology to the family.  The family deserves privacy as all move forward searching for peace.

It's good to hear in the Aspen Daily News follow-up today that D.A. Beeson is not going to allow this to move back into the courtroom and instead opt for letting the family move on.

Arnold Mordkin does owe an explanation to the general public in Paul Nitze' eyes.

SandBox agrees.

 

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: The Atlantic "Obama's Reelection Could Hinge on Greece"

"There is no Cannes primary on the U.S. political calendar. But what happens in the south of France over the next two days while President Obama is at the G-20 Summit may have as much to do with his political fate in 2012 as anything happening in Iowa or New Hampshire. From his first meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, which will happen a little after 4 a.m. EDT Thursday, until he departs for home Friday afternoon, the president will be focused on a worsening European crisis that threatens to complicate his own reelection...."
(George E. Condon Jr.)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Intellectual Conservative "Obama's DOJ Sues South Carolina Over New Immigration Law"

Jim Kouri:

"First the Obama administration sued Arizona over its illegal immigration law, then Alabama over its law. Now the administration is suing South Carolina.

The Obama administration, through Attorney General, Eric Holder, on Monday filed a lawsuit against a new immigration law, this time in South Carolina. The White House is accusing that state of interfering with the federal government's authority on immigration policy.

 

South Carolina now joins Arizona and Alabama in being civilly prosecuted for attempting to halt the flow of illegal aliens into the state. 

 

The Justice Department alleges that portions of the South Carolina's law are "unconstitutional," and the state should not be allowed to implement the popular new law that's scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2012.

 

As with the Alabama statute, the law requires local law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of everyone they detain, a policy that progressives, illegal alien supporters and Democrat lawmakers say will result in the harassment and detention of legal aliens.

 

"Today's lawsuit makes clear once again that the Justice Department will not hesitate to challenge a state's immigration law ... if we find that the law interferes with the federal government's enforcement of immigration," said Attorney General Eric Holder...."

 

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: "Aspen Daily News "Step up and represent"

(See related stories and comments here and here)

"Editor:

Let me get this straight: Our senators are actually telling the BLM to not make a decision on allowing SG Interests to create a prudent plan for oil and gas development so that there can be “robust and meaningful discussions?” Really? Why are Senators Bennet and Udall trying to insert themselves in the BLM’s operational procedures? Which in turn is delaying a routine decision by the BLM, putting SG at risk for not being able to develop the resources and setting a dangerous, uncertain, politicized precedent whereby any elected official could stop development of our oil and gas resources just because they don’t like it. Bennet and Udall, this project is in our best interest. And when I say “our” best interest I mean the public — you know, the people you are supposed to be representing. Step out of your political posturing mode for just one minute and do what’s in the best interest of the public. Allow the leases to move forward. Paula Scanlon,  Grand Junction"

How good it is to see folks speaking up in opposing voices to powerful environmental groups that have long held a monopoly on local press coverage.

It's not going unnoticed that they feel the most comfortable with either starting off on or just staying on The Aspen Daily News.  Our only locally owned and operated print news media.

Here's to the little guy.

Let freedom ring.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident." 

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Sales taxes in Sept. up by 6 percent"

What's up with this?

Where is the Aspen Daily's usual breakdown of sales tax rev's??

Nice job on the 6% increase but get back in the game on putting out info the small business folks rely on.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Glenwood's September sales up 2.6 percent"

Before you 'kids' jump all over John Stroud again, (rightfully so at this point) for his abject failure in reporting sales tax information that is of any use whatsoever except a feel-good moment, please try to notice that he has managed to break out his numbers a little bit this month and the report is better than it's ever been.

Take the high road, please.

Mr. Stroud,

In case you missed knowing their voices are out here:

http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2011/09/sandbox-comments-glenwood-springs-post_507.html

(and an example of what they are asking you to do):

http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2011/10/sandbox-comments-aspen-daily-news_3357.html

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Aspen teams with Steamboat, Winter Park to offer special ski pass"

Wish we could get excited on behalf of the Colorado Triple Play Pass.

Reality is that it still shows the overwhelming arrogance of Aspen Skico.

An arrogance that is not going to set well at all with the common man who depend on tourism revenues to put bread on the family table.

Good luck to the Skico on this new offering.

"The Triple Play Pass faces stiff competition from Vail Resorts for skiers and riders who hit the slopes often.

Vail's adult Epic Local Pass is $519. That provides unlimited access to Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, along with 10 restricted days at Vail Mountain or Beaver Creek.

The adult Summit Value Pass offers unlimited skiing and riding at Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, along with restricted access to Breckenridge, for $429.

The Triple Play Pass really isn't oriented toward hometown skiers and riders at Aspen-Snowmass, Steamboat and Winter Park, at least not those who already purchased passes. A Roaring Fork Valley resident would have to pay for two days here to get the two days at Winter Park and two days at Steamboat. There is no tweaked pass available to passholders at any of the three resorts.

This program is the first time in recent years that the Aspen Skiing Co. has teamed with another ski area to offer a pass. Intrawest owns Steamboat and operates Winter Park."
(Scott Condon)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Red State "RS Interview: Ovide Lamontagne (R CAND, NH-GOV PRI)"

"This should have been up yesterday, but the various technical breakdowns that I was having were fairly epic.  Anyway: you probably remember Ovide Lamontagne as being a NH Senate Republican primary candidate in 2010… and for graciously conceding the race when he lost the primary, which may have well saved the GOP that seat in the general election.  At any rate, he’s currently the only Republican candidate in the NH-GOV primary, and we spoke yesterday about the race and his plans for the campaign...."
(Moe Lane via Red State)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: SkyHi Daily "William Hamilton: College, Iraq, and Afghanistan: Who pays?"

"....That leaves Iran, which has the largest armed forces in the region and an abiding hatred for the United States. If, as many experts predict, Iraq becomes a vassal state of Iran, what are the options for an industrialized world that depends so heavily upon the oil of the Persian Gulf?

Despite our nuclear submarines in the Persian Gulf and our aircraft carrier task groups operating in the Mediterranean and in the Arabian Ocean, we really do not have any meaningful way of force projection into the heartland of Iran. So, unless the Saudis are willing to take on the Iranians, the industrialized world must make nice-nice with the Iranian regime..."
(William Hamilton)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Charlie Leonard: Greece is falling — are we next?"

"...Let's put the work of the Supercommittee in perspective. If you total up all the federal budgets of the next 10 years, we are on course to spend more than $40 trillion and borrow another $15 trillion to pay for it all. Yet we have a Supercommittee that is struggling to find ways to cut $1.2 trillion, or about 2 percent, of federal spending over the next 10 years. Even if the committee succeeds, we are still on a Greek-like path to financial ruin — we just buy ourselves a couple of more years...."
(Charlie Leonard)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: National Review/The Editors "Goodbye, Greece"

"How does one say “Goodnight, Irene” in Greek? Or “Show Me the Way to Go Home”? Or, if neither of those classic festivity-enders does the trick, “Hit the Road, Jack”? In any case, the message needs to be sent: The party is over, and it is time for Greece to be shown the door, if the Greeks cannot find it themselves, and exit the eurozone.

A Greek default appears to be imminent. The question is whether it is to be an orderly default or a chaotic one. At the moment, the odds are about even between those two possibilities...."
(National Review)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Scott Tipton "Tipton Stands Up For Private Property Rights"

"Tipton Stands Up For Private Property Rights

Washington, DC — Rep. Scott Tipton is taking a stand for private property rights by urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reconsider implementing a permit condition to require the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government in order to utilize National Forest System lands. Tipton expressed concern over the impact the requirement would have on water rights held by ski areas and ranchers.

In the letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Tipton writes, “Water rights established under state law are property rights for purposes of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Congress has not delegated to the Forest Service the authority to require permittees to transfer ownership of water rights to the United States as a permit condition…

“Likewise, the Property Clause does not give the agency the authority to use permitting conditions to obtain federal ownership of water rights that have been developed or acquired by private parties. In the absence of such authority, the agency cannot demand such a transfer of ownership without just compensation. Rather than unlawfully taking property from private entities, the agency must acquire and exercise water rights in priority in accordance with state laws.

“It has been a long-standing policy of the Department and the Forest Service to ensure that private property rights, including water rights, will be recognized and protected in the course of special use permitting decisions for water supply facilities. Secretary Madigan and Secretary Glickman provided assurances to Congress in the 1990s to recognize and respect the role of the States in water allocation and administration, as did Under-Secretary Rey in 2005. I have serious concerns that the agency intends to depart from this longstanding policy by virtue of its recent permitting decisions and related policies.

Because of the significant percentage of water that originates on National Forest System lands in the West, such a change in policy would pose a threat to the current system of state allocation and administration of water rights…"
(Scott Tipton Press Release)

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SandBox Comments: Colorado News Agency "GOP, guv to lock horns over senior property-tax break?"

"With Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s proposal for the budget now on the table, House Republicans today prepared to draw a line in the sand over a voter-approved property-tax exemption for senior citizens. Hickenlooper proposes suspending the senior homestead exemption for yet another year in order to hold onto approximately $100 million for the state’s strained budget...."
(Debi Brazzale)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: The Atlantic "How the Hashtag Became a Campaign Battleground"

Ah, yes.

Welcome to the world of 'hashtags'.

You know you've 'arrived' in the world of Twitter when you have at least one (sandboxblogs has 8 nearly exclusive to us that are used by tweeters daily....hooray for us!).

"One of the most contested battles in the online political arena in recent weeks was a fight over Obama's new push to make policy by executive order -- and which ideological camp could best define the hashtag that described it.

"We can't wait," proclaimed the president on Monday, Oct. 24, announcing that in the absence of congressional action on his jobs plan, he'd be advancing orders on mortgages, school loans, opportunities for veterans, and more.

Republicans had a field day. "#WeCantWait to make @BarackObama a one-term president," tweeted Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus that day. A flurry of tweets followed. By Tuesday afternoon, the White House, which, notably, initially hadn't bothered making use of the tweet-friendly mantra as a hashtag, made an attempt to reclaim it. Tweeted the White House: "#WeCantWait for today's Office Hours" -- a reference to an online chat with economic advisor Brian Deese on Obama's new initiative. Minority Leader Pelosi tried her own spin. "#WeCantWait for GOP to stop blocking #AmericanJobsAct & #ChinaCurrency jobs bill," she tweeted, adding a kick at the end: "PS to GOP: #HashtagsArentAJobsBill." Oh, snap...."

(Nancy Scola)

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "The sun doesn't shine on Aspen City Hall"

Another  great letter supporting the efforts of Marilyn Marks to bring transparency to our elections:

"....Aspen may not need transparent elections, but those of us in rural Colorado need all the oversight on government we can get. Please stop fighting against the sunshine in the rest of the state. Don't appeal the solid, citizen-friendly court ruling."
(Allen Jones, Villa Grove)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Judge unlikely to allow key evidence in pending cocaine case"

Evidence — including nearly 1.5 ounces of cocaine and a handgun — in the case against an Eastern European man will likely be suppressed today, according to a judge’s order released Wednesday.

Judge Gail Nichols of Pitkin County District Court wrote that Aspen police Detective Walter Chi unlawfully remained in the apartment of the suspect, Andrian Arapu, 25, of Moldova, after he was detained by immigration agents April 6. Nichols also cited the fact that other police officers and agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entered the defendant’s apartment without permission.....

......Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin declined comment when asked if the warrant would hold up without Chi’s observations.

If both he and Van Ness “agree that, without the tainted information, the search warrant affidavit does not establish the requisite probable cause, the court will suppress the evidence of the gun and cocaine seen by Detective Chi ... and will also suppress the evidence seized as a result of the search warrant,” Nichols wrote...."
(Chad Abraham)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: "Aspen Times "Aspen, other resorts plan joint announcement"

Interesting to see a tight-lipped Jeff Hanle.

The day after voters in Steamboat Springs and Winter Park area ratcheted up the Yampa Valley Regional Airport with their full support and the money to back them up.

The Aspen Skico has spent a lot of years trying to sell Aspen on the destination for the elite and wealthy.

The past year or so the Aspen Skico has also put forth a lot of finger-pointing propoganda that has a great deal of disinformation about Vail Resorts and Steamboat Springs.  There are no 'fire-sale prices' in either resort.  The only 'monopoly' that either resort has is their tourism marketing foresight to wisely spend their money building infrastructure that is able to house permanent draws and very large events.

While Aspen Skico has rested on its laurels.

Unless there is some very good money and revenue ability coming direct from the Aspen Skico to either of these resorts; both should begin to rest on their own laurels and not tie themselves to a 'flat' Aspen ski market.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Geothermal energy could easily replace coal"

SandBox Nanny is a big fan of both geothermal energy exploration and biomass fuels studies.

Both have great potential to solve many US energy needs.

Thank you for a very interesting article today goes to the respected voice for the environment, Bob Berwyn.  Up and over on The Summit County Citizens Voice.

"SUMMIT COUNTY — Geothermal resources in the U.S. could produce at least 3 million megawatts of power — more than 10 times the amount currently produced by coal-fired power plants today — according to a new report issued by Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Laboratory.

The study, funded by a grant from Google.org, used Google Earth technology to help map vast reserves of a renewable energy resource that is realistically accessible using current technology.

The estimated amounts and locations of heat stored in the Earth’s crust included in this study are based on nearly 35,000 data sites and will help pinpoint  locations for resources capable of supporting large-scale commercial geothermal energy production.

Based on the additional data, primarily drawn from oil and gas drilling, larger local variations can be seen in temperatures at depth, highlighting more detail for potential power sites than was previously evident in the eastern portion of the U.S. For example, eastern West Virginia has been identified as part of a larger Appalachian trend of higher heat flow and temperature.

Conventional U.S. geothermal production has been restricted largely to the western third of the country in geographically unique and tectonically active locations. For instance, The Geysers Field north of San Francisco is home to more than a dozen large power plants that have been tapping naturally occurring steam reservoirs to produce electricity for more than 40 years...."
(Bob Berwyn)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Antero temporarily pulls South Gravel Trend drilling plan"

Thank you, Antero!

For pulling off, well over a month ago, the drilling plan review that was on the COGCC schedule for December.

Knowing that long before John's poking Silt Mayor David Moore on behalf of the submission of public comments from the citizens of Silt...you were on top of things is a terrific feeling.

The citizens of Garfield County can remain feeling comfortable that their local oil and gas officials are looking out for everyone's interests.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Vail Daily "Group petitions EPA over air in 8 western states"

"DENVER (AP) — An environmental group has petitioned the federal government to reduce air pollutants in eight western states.

WildEarth Guardians says that by law, the Environmental Protection Agency has to designate areas as "nonattainment" areas if they violate certain air-quality standards and put them on the path to cleaning up.

The group's petition contends 15 areas should be labeled nonattainment areas for violating standards limiting particulate matter to less than 10 microns in diameter, or about one-seventh the width of a human hair. It said the EPA should declare six other areas "serious" nonattainment areas.

WildEarth Guardians also wants the EPA to call for Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming to revise their state plans for complying with the Clean Air Act.

The EPA had no immediate comment..."
(Vail Daily)
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SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Food: A classic French meal to share with friends"

"International travel sometimes presents language barriers. A trip to Nice in the south of France was no different. Going to the store always held a bit of a mystery. Sometimes I just had to take a chance on what I was buying. As my friend, Santos, would say, “At least I didn’t come home with roller skates...”

(Tom Castrigno)

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SandBox Comments: Commentary Magazine/Contentions "Energy Department’s Stimulus Crime Wave"

"Those pondering the question of where some of the more than $800 billion in stimulus funds spent in 2009 to supposedly boost the economy at the behest of President Obama went got a partial answer today from the Department of Energy...."

(Jonathan S. Tobin)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: The Blaze " Company Run by Obama Fundraiser Corzine Files For Bankruptcy, Feds Investigate Up to $700 Million ‘Missing’ Dollars"

"MF Global Holdings Ltd., the securities firm run by former New Jersey Governor and Goldman Sachs head Jon Corzine, is seeking bankruptcy protection one week after reporting its biggest-ever quarterly loss...."
(Becket Adams)

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SandBox Comments: Circle of Blue "Plumbing WikiLeaks: Saudi Arabia Fears Iranian Nuclear Meltdown and Potential Terrorism to Desalination "

"Classified cables show that Saudi and U.S. officials believe water supplies along the Persian Gulf are at high-risk for terrorist attacks and possible contamination from nearby nuclear plants. This is the first of a new series that will analyze the water-related U.S. embassy cables published by WikiLeaks."
(Circle of Blue, Brett Walton)

(Learn more about this incredible report?  Click title.  Comment to start discussion)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "County, Steamboat and Oak Creek voters OK marijuana dispensaries"

"Steamboat Springs Police Department Capt. Joel Rae, who publicly supported a ban of medical marijuana businesses, said he was disappointed in the vote.

“But I have complete respect for the democratic process,” he said. “We’ll continue working, doing our education efforts and working with the dispensaries with the regulations our Steamboat Springs City Council has set forth and the regulations the state has set forth....”
(Jack Weinstein)

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SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Palisade voters reject ban on medical marijuana dispensary sales"

The upside to Palisade losing the ballot issue banning all medical marijuana dispensaries and grow operations is that voters did pass mandatory flat fee on every transaction and an increase of MMJ tax.

Which should bring in another estimated $80,000 per year in revenue to the small town of Palisade as this is the only MMJ dispensary and grow operation fortunate enough to grandfather in prior to the closures in Mesa County.

"Voters OK marijuana fee
Patients who will be able to continue to receive medical marijuana from Colorado Alternative Health Care in Palisade will have to dig deeper to pay for their medicine.

Town residents Tuesday night approved a $5 transaction fee that will be added to each sale made at a medical marijuana center in town. Referred Measure 2A passed 480 to 398, or 54 percent to 44 percent.

Town officials have estimated the fee will generate $80,000 a year in revenue, a significant amount of money considering Palisade pulls in roughly $225,000 in revenue from its 2 percent sales tax annually."
(Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)

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SandBox Comments: The Right Scoop "Texas sheriff: Drug war violence spilling over "

"And this is only the beginning.  The longer our borders are neglected and drug cartels are subsidized by the United States government (thank you Mr. Holder), the more spillover.  For those of us living in Border States, it’s nothing new.  In 2009, The University of Texas at Brownsville (waaaaaay down south by the Mexico border) was forced to close due to stray bullets from a drug war shoot out – in Mexico. But no one was injured.

That is until yesterday…when a sheriff’s deputy got shot.  The Houston Chronicle has the story:

MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — A shooting that injured a sheriff’s deputy was the first indisputable case of spillover violence from the Mexican drug wars in Hidalgo County, the local sheriff said Monday.

Sheriff Lupe Trevino, who previously said there was no direct spillover violence in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, said the Sunday shootout erupted while one of his deputies investigated a reported kidnapping and drug deal.

"I have to say that with this particular incident, the way the witnesses and the information that we have gotten particularly in the federal system, this is the first recorded spillover violence event that we have experienced — and unfortunately got one of our deputies shot,” Trevino said.

One suspect was killed and two were wounded. In all, six people were taken into custody, including the alleged kidnapping victim, and are awaiting charges, the sheriff said.

The sheriff said a protective vest probably saved the life of Deputy Hugo Rodriguez, who was shot in the chest, abdomen and leg. He is recovering at a hospital.

Trevino said the reported kidnapping was a bid to recover marijuana stolen when the Gulf cartel’s reputed second-in-command, Samuel Flores Borrego, was killed in September.

“It started in Mexico, it had a violent confrontation in Mexico, that violent confrontation was spilled over here. This is the very first one that we can actually say, ‘Yes, here it is. It has happened,’” Trevino said.

“Now, there are more cartel members living in Texas, in the Valley, in the United States. I’ll guarantee you there’s a ton of them,” he said.

A message left Monday night for a Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman wasn’t immediately returned.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg…"
(Red via Red State)

(Comment to start discussion)

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Healthy Community Fund tax increase wins "

Andrew Travers:

"Pitkin County voters approved a renewal and increase of the Healthy Community Fund’s dedicated property tax in this fall’s mail-in election, which ended Tuesday.

Sixty percent of county voters cast ballots in favor of the measure, which appeared as Referendum 1A, according to unofficial results from the clerk’s office Tuesday night...."

There were two very worthwhile measures on the local ballots this year that passed with flying colors.

Proving that it's not the raising of taxes that is objected to.

It's the raising of taxes for failed or failing endeavors that have other means, if only folks will do the work to reach for those means, to sustain themselves.

Congratulations on the passage of the 'Healthy Community Fund'.  One of those very worthwhile measures.

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Cleverly’s letter out of line"

SandBox chose to not post up Michael Cleverly's 'Bend over ballots' Letter to the Editor off 'The Aspen Daily News' yesterday.


Why?


Michael Cleverly is the guy who wrote the now infamous "Aspen old-timers, drug enforcement and God" rant against the DEA bust in Aspen.


He's the guy who then branched out and contributed to this 'eventually headed toward infamy piece' by Rick Carroll: "Aspen Times:  DEA's trusted tipster not so confidential" .

Which then led him into meeting local hero DEA Special Agent Jim Schrant and a number of various barrels of local media ink dumped over his head. (Click all highlighted links in succession.  Yes, we know there were a lot more, but had to draw the line due to post space)

Her choice yesterday was based on the undeniable fact that there is no 'appropriate way' to respond to Michael Cleverly.  He is that repugnant.

But today, Steve Kaufman of Carbondale brings up a good point that makes it worth the effort to give Michael Cleverly more of that spotlight he so obviously craves.

If the DEA informant and Marilyn Marks were men, would Michael Cleverly be so brave and graphic?

BTW, what is going on with that Grand Jury probe into witness tampering?  We haven't heard anything more in public view.

Maybe that's because Michael Cleverly was made to deal with men who happen to be his own size.

Thank you for writing in to The Aspen Daily, Mr. Kaufman.  Women throughout the valley who happen to support Marilyn Marks and also have serious concerns over the bullying/gang mentality that flows under us all in The Roaring Fork Valley are likely very appreciative.


"Editor:

How can one appropriately respond to such an offensive letter, Mr. Cleverly’s “Bend over ballots,” published on Nov. 1? I fear a serious reply might elevate Mr. Cleverly’s letter out of gutter. Let’s try sarcasm.

I wish to congratulate Mr. Cleverly for the ingenious way in which he managed to incorporate violent, sexually offensive innuendo into an activist’s legal battle on behalf of a citizen’s right to a transparent election. It would be a shame if he did not send a copy to the hometown newspapers of the judges who unanimously ruled in favor of transparency or the local newspapers of the countless citizens throughout the country who are also fighting for these same rights. I’m appreciative of the fact that Mr. Cleverly was not cowered by political correctness and am certain he would have been as brave and graphic were his comments directed at a man.

The Daily News should also be congratulated for its tongue-in-ballot support of Mr. Cleverly’s sense of humor, as demonstrated by its clever title.

The framers would be delighted to see how well our First Amendment rights are being exercised and protected.

Mr. Cleverly and Daily News publishers, you should be proud of yourselves.
Steve Kaufman, Carbondale"

(Comment to start discussion)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Incumbents tossed from CMC board of trustees"

"..• Kathy Goudy over Stan Orr for the Eastern Garfield County District 2 seat, 10,885 to 8,737..."
(Heather McGregor)

 

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

 

SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "Voters support tax for winter air service program "

Aspen Skico needs to be very worried now.

Steamboat Springs has been moving steadily ahead, for over three years now, to take the second place seat under Vail Resorts as the best overall value for ski destinations in Colorado.

Yampa Valley Regional Airport just got a huge boost from voters who know that.

All across Colorado,  the vote of the common man can be seen this morning.

Informed voters turned out in record numbers statewide.  They passed the ballot issues that made sense.  And soundly defeated the majority of all requests to raise taxes and to continue putting money into the apathetic and systemic failure that is our public education funding.  Only a couple of school districts, still entrenched in either cronyism or through a spurt of energy from parents who rise up only when it's time to ask for further handouts; saw bare margins of success in passing mill rides.  However, even those districts saw a complete disintegration of incumbents making their way back in to keep that cronyism alive.  A clean sweep in most all school and post-secondary seats took place in Colorado yesterday.  Statewide.

Good job, Coloradans. 

But, this effort on the part of the folks over in the Routt County area is one of the ones that feels the best.

Congratulations!!

"Steamboat Springs — The sales tax rate in Steamboat Springs will go up a bit after voters here resoundingly approved Referendum 2B on Tuesday, a 0.25 percent tax increase that will help fund the winter air service program at Yampa Valley Regional Airport.

Referendum 2B passed with 61 percent of the vote.

Donning pilot hats and inflatable airplanes, about 40 supporters of the tax initiative celebrated its passage at Old Town Pub on Tuesday evening.

“We knew from the beginning that if everyone understood how important this was to our economy, then we had a good chance to pass it,” Yes 2 Air campaign manager Bill Stuart said. “It was a nonpartisan issue. People from all spectrums of life supported it.”

Referendum 2B was conceived by a group of community leaders to reverse the eroding ability of the business community to attract commercial airline flights to YVRA during the ski season. Without those flights, advocates of the tax fear the resort community’s ability to bring in high-spending winter vacationers would be compromised, further eroding the local tourism economy.

Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Diamond praised the air tax passage Tuesday night...."
(Scott Franz, Tom Ross)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Letter to the Editor "Politics isn’t patty-cake"

Oh....it was a barn-burner here in Colorado.

Election season 2011.

Just a taste of the 'mother of all wars' that's coming for November 2012.

SandBox Nanny always appreciates the viewpoint of Maurice Emmer of Aspen, Colorado.

But it was the title that gave Maurice a spot on The Box this morning.

"Editor:

Mr. Allen may be right that it is unpleasant to serve on City Council because council has critics (Aspen Daily News, Oct. 26). It sucks. Council could make its job more pleasant by rejecting efforts to get involved in contentious matters, but it seems to prefer the reverse. Purely as an example and taking no sides, no deity proclaims the city must be in the hydro business. An affirmative decision of council is putting us in that business. Are private citizens who believe their property rights are affected supposed to roll over just because council is a bunch of nice guys? Just because they might not have budgeted for the inevitable lawsuits? Council must expect pushback. This is politics. If it sucks to be on council just look in the mirror for an explanation.  Maurice Emmer, Aspen"

(Comment to start discussion)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Op-Ed: Wilderness needs bipartisan support"

Why do regional locals like The Summit County Citizens Voice as the spot to go for news on the environment?

Because they respect the journalistic integrity of Bob Berwyn.

Great op-ed piece this morning.

Up and over on The Summit County Citizens Voice.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: NewsBusters "Bill Gates Laughs At Buffett Rule: 'You Can't Raise the Taxes We Need Just By Going After That One Percent'"

Great video and photo of Bill Gates.

(Take a look?  Click title and comment to start discussion)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Con Games "The Social Security Story That’s Driving Liberals Crazy"

"The Washington Post's big Sunday piece on Social Security solvency starts from the premise that the program has crossed a dangerous line. Since 2009, the program has paid out more in annual benefits than it is raising each year in taxes, effectively meaning that the program's benefits are relying partly the $2.6 trillion in bonds in the program's "trust funds" to cover checks to senior citizens...."
(Con Games)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: MSNBC Powerwall "2007 vs. 2011: The Presidential Primaries Then and Now"

"Fear not -- Powerwall is here to put things in perspective. Click through to see how this primary season compares to the same time in 2007, and get a sense of what news bumps are worth paying attention to -- and what hype you can tune out...."

(Laura Blum)

(Take a look?  Click title and comment to start discussion)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Letter to the Editor "Justice is not just for the rich"

"DA Beeson’s comments were brought to my attention and I really feel compelled to comment on them. As far as his office “seeking justice” as opposed to the defense bar, I have to really think about this, and any citizen in your district should too. First, I am one of those “defense bar” attorneys he speaks of. I fight for justice every day.

I represent clients who are forced into plea deals without realizing the consequences because the DA’s office does not have an obligation to tell them what they really face. Clients of mine are forced to speak to the DA prior to applying for a public defender. This is found unconstitutional in almost every other state and even the U.S. Supreme Court has found it unconstitutional in Texas. Somehow Colorado feels differently.

I represent clients who have had law enforcement officers do shoddy investigations, used excessive force, and violate our most basic constitutional and human rights. My clients have no other voice.

Government no longer speaks for them, and I, along with many, many members of Colorado’s defense community seek justice for these clients. We seek justice and we demand that the government that brings charges against its own citizens do so honestly, and that the law is applied fairly. Justice is not just for the rich. It is for all. That is seeking justice."

Lynda Carter
Pagosa Springs, Colo.

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Drug dealer said he sold to protect family "

"DENVER — A Mexican national who admitted selling cocaine and marijuana on Pueblo streets claims he did it only because he was scared of a Mexican drug cartel that decapitated his half-brother as coercion.

Miguel Salais-Dominguez said last week he returned to Pueblo in 2009 from the state of Chihuahua, after being deported, to sell drugs for a cartel because it threatened his family there..."
(ROBERT BOCZKIEWICZ)

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SandBox Comments: Houston Chronicle "Texas civil libertarians oppose law-enforcement drones"

Pretty amazing technology.  Watch the video at the end of the article.

"As the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office gears up to employ an unmanned helicopter to hunt criminals and find missing persons, a civil liberties advocate said drones can hurt more than they help.

Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel of the sheriff’s office said the $300,000 ShadowHawk drone — purchased from Vanguard Defense Industries — will take to the skies in the coming months to provide another tool in the law-enforcement arsenal.

“It’s an exciting piece of equipment for us,” he said. “We envision a lot of its uses primarily in the realm of public safety — looking at recovery of lost individuals and being able to utilize it for fire(fighting) issues....”
(Robert Stanton)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: KKCO 11 News "Hartman reassigned, following controversial memo "

SandBox sends out a thank you to Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey for turning over the inappropriate and unethical letter (copy can be read here) written by now former Director of the Colorado Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division, David Hartman.

The folks have a lot to bear when it comes to the way our federal, state and local governments handle  'all things marijuana'.

It's not the medical marijuana businesses or the patients that carry the weight of all the problems in the medical marijuana industry.

It's the taxpayers.

To have someone in a position of trust, like Hartman, attempt to manipulate the voting process and add to that taxpayer burden was a huge disappointment.

Thanks to Sheriff Stan, David Hartman can now move on to another line of work.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "TDC appreciates all parties joining in talks"

Dorothea Farris, Vice President of the Thompson Divide Coalition, writes in to the Post Independent this morning.

The political diplomacy (and the shrewd timing of release) are duly noted and appreciated as part of the process.

SandBox Nanny is certain that commentators will be appreciative as well.

With that said, SandBox points out that once again it is the chatter out here that has brought the balance.  Not the politics of token acknowledgements.

Support Congressman Scott Tipton (R-Colorado) as he continues his path of bringing the first, true balance to the Thompson Divide controversy. 

His steady hand is in need of more support from the industry, more support from the folks and your continued encouragement in chatter.

Slow, steady progress is being made on political levels against radical groups on both sides.

The path to success that works lies in the middle.

Again, thank you to Dorothea Farris for her well-timed press release today.  It certainly has been very helpful.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."