Colorado Constitutionalists are Puzzling

That’s as an incredible twist on freedoms promised by our Constitution as is the repugnant turn on Jefferson’s words where “Separation of church and state” are now used to infer meaning that is the opposite of that intended by our Constitution.  

I'm dense today. How does Jefferson's phrase in a private letter apply to the 1st amendment guarantee of right to redress? 

Tea Party 1 Year In

"On July 3rd, 2010, we held a Tea Party in Cole Park in Alamosa, CO. There were about 80 people there to enjoy the beautiful weather and a couple of truly inspirational speeches by local citizens and candidates. This marks the one year anniversary of the Tea Party movement in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley"

A year after its raucous inception, this is it? 80 people? 

I hear a lot about the "enthusiasm gap" between Republicans and Democrats.  The thinking seems to be the GOP's  numerical disadvantage will be overcome by a high voter turnout rate. Since midterms attract even fewer voters than quadrennial elections there is a possibility that the Tea Party energy may translate into more voter participation. 

But I wonder how that would play out. 

Take our Alamosa TP event. On the major political holiday an estimated 80 folks showed up. Assume better-than-average voter turnout in November, say 50%, which means 40 of these folks will actually cast a ballot. Will that translate into electoral victory? By any measure, the Tea Party types are a minority inside Republican ranks, ranks that account for less than one third of registered voters. The expectation that TP enthusiasm will somehow balance their numerical disadvantage seems unrealistic. Being excited about your vote is great, but it's still just one vote. There's not an enthusiasm dividend. 

Colorado Primaries are in a month, the general election in four. There's lots of time for event to unfold and minds to be influenced. Increasing voter participation may tip some balances, but it seems unlikely that the faux angry "I Am the Mob" faction will be a major factor. 

"When is a military service lie not a lie?"

Daily Kos: State of the Nation: "When is a military service lie not a lie?"

From my military experience 3 decades ago:

What's the difference between a fairy tale and a sea story?

A fairy tale begins with, "Once upon a time," and a seas story starts with "This is a no shitter!"

It Seems a Harmless Request

'99.9pc certainty' of Noah's Ark discovery on Mount Ararat | News.com.au

A documentary team is claiming fresh evidence of Noah's ark. As part of the group's report, they quote a 99.9% certainty that they have the authentic ark.

The interesting part?

Local Turkish officials would ask the central government in Ankara to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status so the site could be protected while a major archaeological dig was conducted,

Why not? Apparently it takes considerable effort to reach this location, it's described an uninhabited. So let someone be allowed to dig around in peace. If they find something, terrific for them, for science, for all of us. If not, well, at least it did create a few jobs and gave focus to a few careers.

It seems a harmless request.

Fake Cop Car? Check. Weapon? C heck. Innocent Name? Uh...

Man arrested after Obama leaves North Carolina – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs: "Police in Asheville, North Carolina, arrested a man they said was impersonating a police officer at the city's airport after President Obama flew out of town on Sunday.

Joseph McVey, 23, was being held on a charge of going armed to the terror of the public, according to the Buncombe County jail's booking office. McVey's bail was set at $100,000, Officer Donna Player told CNN."

Jesse Ventura: Catholic Church like the Mafia

The chronically-appalled christianists at Lifesitenews.com are up in arms over comments made on last Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher. Seems guest Jesse Ventura thinks the ongoing criminal enterprise operated by the Catholic Church deserves criminal investigation and charges under the RICO statutes.

Sounds reasonable to me.

However, the aghast agape-ons at Lifesite leap automatically and autistically to the defense, noting that, after all, Bill Maher has described the Pope as a "Nazi."

Well, he was. Hitler Youth membership counts, doesn't it?

To cap off their spirited defense of Papa Ratzi, the indignant writers at Lifesite quote the estimable Bill Donohue of the Catholic League (defined by Kathy Griffin as "some guy with a computer").

Well, that settled that, I guess.

Women with cancer can be denied Medicaid funding by going to wrong place - The Denver Post

Women with cancer can be denied Medicaid funding by going to wrong place - The Denver Post

As usual in this bizarre health care system, the poor and uninformed get left out of the system.

Funded by voluntary contributions from license plate sales, Colorado offers a program to pick up the tab for needy women diagnosed with breast cancer - but only if they are diagnosed at designated facilities.

The consequences of being correctly diagnosed at the wrong facility can be worse than economic.

"We do a good job saying, 'Go out and get your mammograms,' but then people pick up the phone and their insurance won't cover it," said Jill Fricker, director of mission initiatives for Komen in Denver.
The Komen mission is particularly important in Colorado, where one in seven women develop breast cancer — higher than the national average of one in eight.
Uninsured cancer patients are 60 percent more likely to die from the disease within five years, compared with people with insurance, Fricker said.
"Who lives and who dies depends largely on access to health insurance," she said.

Rep. Dianne Primavera, a Broomfield Democrat and breast cancer survivor, is sponsoring a bill before the Colorado Legislature to expand the program's eligibility rules and cover the cost of care for more Colorado women.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14833876#ixzz0kVQiIPYR