Progress Now Action

How is it that voting, a basic constitutional right, is consistently such a problem for state's to figure out how to do well. You’d think that after the Florida election morass that happened in 2000, states would have be able to get their act together enough to create a voting system that efficiently works along with ensuring voter confidence in fair and impartial elections.  Apparently not…with Secretary of State Mike Coffman decertifying many of Colorado’s electronic voting machines it has created election turmoil over how to count votes next November.  Coffman’s decisions have put him at odds with many county clerks who want an all mail-in ballot next year.  However, this apparently was not the option Coffman preferred, because yesterday he recommended to the Legislature that paper ballots be used in the fall. 

 

The result of this mire of voting uncertainty is a showdown this legislative session over election procedures in the centennial state.  Legislators have expressed mixed reactions over the debacle.  According to the Grand Junction Sentinel:

Coffman's announcement on Wednesday followed one on Monday by state Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, calling for greater use of paper ballots. Gordon said he doubted the reliability of all electronic voting machines and called for legislation to avoid an election fiasco in November.

 

State Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, said he was all the more interested in carrying legislation this session voiding the requirement for state certification and allowing federally certified machines to be used, an effort that state Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, endorsed.

 

Thus a variety of camps are already forming over which is the best method to use.  While an eager group of county clerks are understandably looking to institute an easier all mail-in ballot approach.  It’s important to remember that this would likely severely hinder voting in the 18-25 year old demographic.  These are people who move frequently and often don’t update their voting address as promptly as they should.  Under the current mail-in scenario, ballots would be sent to their last registered address.  If they’ve moved and forgotten to notify their county clerk- then no ballot.   Lets hope this group is kept in mind when the leg. Reconvenes in a couple of weeks.

 

Check out the latest episode of the Colorado Progressive Pulse on iTunes!

If you haven't yet, check out the latest episode, published on Monday.

Also, we've had the blog up and running for a couple of days. A couple of the latest topics:
-John on the Dems Human Rights Campaign forum
-Jeff on Primary Shell Games
-John is cynical. No, really.
You can find it at coloradopulse.org/studentvoice.html

If you're interested in blogging for us, send us an email at coprogressivepulse@gmail.com

The Colorado Progressive Pulse is the student voice in the Colorado political conversation. The missing link in the political conversation in the state of Colorado is the student voice. In order to inject a new and fresh perspective, we recently launched a Podcast called The Colorado Progressive Pulse. As progressive student leaders at the University of Denver, we are uniquely positioned to provide candid discussion and debate in a format that appeals to students and engages them in the political process. We integrate engaging interviews, news, commentary, editorials, humor and community events. Previous guests have included Prof. Robert Prince, TJ Bowen of the Colorado Peace Alliance, Eric Kornacki from the Sustainable DU project, and Scott Wisor from the Sudan Divestment Task Force. Future confirmed guests include Seth Masket, a former White House staffer, and Democratic Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff. By using the volatile combination of humor and analysis while simultaneously providing focus to the progressive community, The Colorado Progressive Pulse reaches out to the untapped potential of university students. CHECK US OUT on iTunes (search for Colorado Progressive Pulse) or at our website, coloradopulse.org INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED? E-mail us at coprogressivepulse@gmail.com.

We had a little fun with 'Foxy' the fox today... NO, not That Kind of Fun!

We heard that Frontier was doing a Campaign Interview style promo for the 'Foxy' Frontier's Favorite Animal at the Civic Center today across from the City Hall. So we thought this would be great test of our Concept of Instant Vigils.

We flew downtown and did a 'one indian' to their 'circle the wagons' maneuver. The media types applauded my arrival but grumbled later when they had trouble getting a shot without our signs in the background.

Our sign on one side said.

Call Foxy and tell her to
Stop the Iraq War
and impeach Bush

and on the other side

Call Foxy and say
Stop the War and
impeach Bush.

Amazing the amount of eyeballs these signs got.

It was Fun...
you all shoulda been there.

Maybe next time, eh! Join Us.
Impeachment can be fun.

John

WeeklyVigilsToImpeach.Us
Link

ProgressNowAction Member
Link

We think the 'freezing' fog scared off the volunteers today. Actually the sun was out at DeGettes office and it was great.

It was just Ken and I today, but We got a lot of supportive honks and waves in reply to the big Impeach Signs. The people want this.

The Wednesday vigil at the State Capital this week was well attended and we really appreciate your support.

Hope we see you at
the Weekly Vigil To impeach Bush & Cheney and Stop The Iraq War,
at the State Capital on Wednesday next week at Noon....
bring your signs or use ours.

John Kennedy

Our group

Link
1stProtestinTheStreet.org
is having a MeetUp 7 pm TONIGHT at the Hooked On Colfax Coffee House (w/ Free Wifi ) at 3215 East Colfax Ave, Denver. Anyone interested in the possibility of holding Bush and Cheney accountable for their crimes is welcome to join us. We believe that we can put enough public pressure on our US Representatives we might be able to cause a Bill of impeachment. ( Yes..especially the Democrats we elected... the ones who dissed Bush/Cheney so, who now are Congressmen who have the power to Impeach).

We are doing two weekly vigils so far, one on
">Link
Wednesdays at Noon at the State Capital in Denver and on Link
Thursdays at Noon at US Rep. DeGette's Denver Office at East 6th & Grant. The purpose of the Wednesday and Thursday Vigils is to attract the attention of our State Legislature. our two Daily Newspapers, and the public. We hope that someone in the Legislature will carry a bill to ask the US House to begin proceedings on Impeachment (as New Mexico's Democrats are doing).

We hope the newpapers will consider that if Bill Clinton can be brought up on Impeachment for lying about sex... then perhaps the more serious offense of lying to Congress ( and Voters) just before a vote on War Resolution should require the same journalistic attention.

We hope the public will begin to see that this ( lying to Congress) is a more serious matter even than the Iraq War itself (if that is possible). The previous 'do nothing' Republican Congress was not much of a check on Bush's Imperial ambitions and our current Democratic Congress' Leadership would like to ignore impeachment and 'move on 'as they say, and hope it just goes away. What they are trying to ignore is the fact that all of Bush's lies and Signing Statements add up to a huge expansion of Presidential Power. We need to protect our grandchildren from the future Imperial excesses of the next President RunAmuck, regardless of which party they come from.

We need to put the Fear Of Impeachment into all future presidential candidates.

Bush doesn't think the Congress will call his bluff and impeach him, so he will push his supposed 'powers' to the limit. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are kidding themselves if they think he will back off. And even if he does, shouldn't he be held accountable for lying to Congress about a War resolution in the first place... to prevent this from recurring? And about the 700 plus Signing Statements. Saying he will ignore US Laws, after taking an Oath to Uphold them.

I'll stop now....

See you tonight at Hooked On Colfax,
and Wed. at the Capital,
and Thursday at DeGette's Office

PS... We've already started getting Push Back, from Democrats no less, about Vigiling in front of DeGette's Office. Why her they say... Well.. she is in a 'safe' seat, she now has powerful positions on very important Congressional Committees. She Can support this without endangering her re-election far more than other Democratic US Reps.

As a lifelong Democrat, I've voted for DeGette in every election and carried signs for her and probably will do so in the future. I think she is Super. However, I think she and all the other Democratic Reps will duck Impeachment if we let them. We will Vigil at other Colorado US Representative's offices as soon as we have the volunteers (all of them).
join us.

I've been interning with Maria this past week and a half, working to organize house parties all over the state, in support of Colorado's new minimum wage initiative. It's been a lot of work, and a lot of emails and voicemail messages, but the event is finally out of our hands. Tonight, at six o'clock, activists from all across the state will convene at seventeen different house parties, from Rifle to Pueblo to Greeley. At six thirty, these house parties will join a statewide conference call with Senator John Edwards, and many others will call in of their own accord.   Read More »