100 Comments
Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Yes, don’t give up yet on Colorado District 3! District 4, which Ken Buck is leaving, is a +27 Republican district; District 3 is a +9 Republican district. District 3 is also more diverse, ethnically, racially and in other ways, than District 4. This district has good-sized Latino and Native American populations, with two large swaths of tribal lands located in the southwest area of the state. Governor Polis just implemented automatic voter registration for the Native American reservations in CO because previously there were impediments to getting them registered. The Native American Rights Fund in Boulder had an important part in getting this done. This is going to make a difference. Also, Adam Frisch has wide name recognition now, and has been driving around Western Colorado, north and south, in his red pick-up truck campaigning continuously. He was born in Montana, and raised in Montana and Minnesota, where he acquired a ranching background. When he moved to Colorado, he started a business. He seems to have a wide appeal to a variety of people. He’s the perfect moderate Democrat for this area. We can pull this off, even if the republicans run a more moderate candidate. Boebert saw the writing on the wall, but she will never make it through the primary in District 4. Her brief and ignominious career is almost over. 🥂🙌

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She can go back to her original career as a Professional Statutory Rape Enthusiast.

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Sadly, this is not at all far from the truth.

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Thanks for this helpful information, Janet. It adds to my understanding bigly!

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Boebert will be roasted. She's not one of them and that matters.

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Good news indeed on many levels. Thank you. I’ve been following Adam Frisch’s campaign and was very interested to hear your assessment.

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Congratulations on the late Christmas gift from Boebert Janet, and thank you for the detailed update.

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I'm from CO 4....feels more like a lump of coal to me.

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I know MJ, but the three or four men who are already geared up to run in that primary will overtake Boebert. It would take a miracle for her to win that republican primary. She may have name recognition because of her outrageous behavior, but she has no connection to that area of Colorado and she’s not well liked anywhere anymore, so I think she’s done. This is just a last desperate attempt to stay above water and relevant.

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Rats on a sinking ship often make sudden odd movements...eventually she'll drown along with the rest of that pestilent crowd.

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That is my wish.

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I have a good friend who recently moved to District 3 and has been working hard to unseat her; I suspect there will be some like her in D-4, and Jess Craven @ Chop Wood will likely include links to a targeted effort against her if she gets the nomination, and there seems to be any chance of defeating her.

I have great respect for you guys in purple or red states who have to fight at home; we're a little spoiled here in VT with all three excellent solid blue members of congress.Love your comments; keep up the good work - we're gonna win!

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She's looking for that life-long pension, IMO, which would be hers if she wins again.

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Yup, she has her own best interests at heart and it’s never been any other way. I’m so disgusted by her that I can’t even look at photos of her anymore, in the same way that it’s impossible for me to look at photos of Trump or to hear him speak.

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Um. She runs on T&A (tits and ass and a gun slung to her hip). IMO too many guys just love people like Sarah Palin and Boebert.

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That’s right, but women comprise a larger percentage of the voting population in many states. She will never make it through the primary in district 4 no matter how she dresses or how many guns she hangs from her body. She has too much competition there, because there are at least four other people running in that primary. The last election here in district 3 proved that she’s on her way out, so that’s why she switched districts.

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Thank you, and you’re welcome.

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The Native American Rights Fund, let's all donate -- https://narf.org/

Kick the bit-h to obscurity in District 3.

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Thanks for this reminder, Lauren. When I lived in Boulder County, I used to drive past their offices every day to go to work. I’ve donated to them in the past, and I’m going to send them another donation this week.

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Ah Geez- can someone plz tell me what +27 Republican means????

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What Dave said. 😊

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The registration advantage of on party over the other.

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founding

Janet, I agree with your observations. It seems her move is clearly a desperate effort. Given that she won previously by only 546 votes she leaves Frisch with a good lead over others. Since both her and Buck’s district were open, even winning one of them would seem to be a good opportunity.

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Thank you for that perspective, Janet. We will be hopeful!

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founding
Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

It's ok not to mention President Biden. He is on a well-earned break with Jill Biden in the Virgin Islands. Smart of him to take a break now. Has been a grueling year - more so than most presidents ever experience. To top all of his challenges, he is running against a fascist who actually enjoys support from too many Americans. This is the perfect week for President Biden to re-charge for the year ahead. Smart of him to take advantage of it! Shows how well-grounded and sensible he is. The more we see of this guy, the better he gets. I don't think any of us expected him to be so high-octane in his first term. The bargain he made with us was only that he would defeat Trump. Look how much more we got and are still getting. If we gain control of Congress and a second term for Biden we can begin to bend the course of history back to one nation, with liberty and justice for all.

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I keep telling people!!! Best Pres of my lifetime, which began the first summer of the Eisenhower Administration.

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So I am kinda enjoying Jack’s smooth moves circling the Trump & Co. wagon. He’s making those attorneys work for the peanuts they’re getting paid. Let’s hear it for JACK!🎉

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Dec 28, 2023·edited Dec 28, 2023

Yes, and the young attorneys working with him must be exhausted, and thrilled to know that they are living history and upholding justice.

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Thank you! I always think of the huge load shared by countless (and nameless, unless ya look 'em up) folks who're doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes - the research at all hours, the coffee cup cluttered meetings, the writing/rewriting/editing/rewriting again, and their tireless effort to do their best for their boss and the country. Definitely history.

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Today's thoughts on the Smothers Brothers....a slight digression

Tommy Smothers died today at 86 . Some of us grew up watching Tommy and his brother Dick host their own comedy variety show. They also were the first main stream performers who brought political commentary into their act in their unique and sometimes extreme way. Their reward was to lose their show as it became too edgy for CBS. Today, it might lose its spot because it didn't go far enough. Time changes. Thank you Brothers.

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I too was a devoted viewer of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Their humor was subtle sometimes, sometimes biting, and they could really sing well. They were influential in my becoming the progressive I still am all these years later. I urge Robert's readers to go onto YouTube and check out some of the clips of their shows and informative interviews.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmothersBrothersShow

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMm3j6MB5Ys

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Yeah, when I was a kid, their show was must watch tv - half of our 1-hour weekly allotment.

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I so loved the Smothers Brothers! They started a winery in Santa Rosa which isn’t far from where I live. They were so radical and yet hilarious. Their show featured Pat Paulsen who dead-panned deliveries were a knock-out. So much so, that he ran a fake campaign to run for president! https://youtu.be/Zn6-kAwM9Zc?si=6nOB7kG0wvfCPjya

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Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

This one minute video explains why Clarence Thomas must recuse himself from **all** cases involving Donald Trump and the Jan 6th insurrection. Ginni Thomas, his wife's involvement creates doubts about his impartiality to render a fair ruling. https://youtu.be/VExvN9EYpAA

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It is obvious beyond obvious that Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from Insurrection adjacent cases. I'd love to know what his SCOTUS colleagues actually think and what they have advise Roberts. Looking for decency to emerge from Thomas himself on this topic is a fool's errand.

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founding

Don’t hold your breath. Every news story about Justice Clarence Thomas points to how he was an incredibly bad choice to replace a legendary Justice Thurgood Marshall.

One wonders what happened in this man’s life that would have soured him so badly on so much that defines America. Could he be seen as a person hurt deeply by racial injustice that he lost all perspective on matters of the soul?

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Deepak, these are great!! Ginni is a gun-totin’ contrarian who tells Clarence everything and vice versa.

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Wears the pants in the family!!!

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Great < 1 minute video, Deepak ! Very effective as now those images are stuck in my head.😂

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Thanks for sharing but Thomas is an angry Judge giving the finger to the justice system without fear of retribution

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Who do we call/pressure to get him to recuse himself?

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We can contact our representatives and senators and ask them to sign on to the recusal request that someone already put out. I think fewer than 12 members of Congress signed this, and they were all democrats.

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Thanks, I've called my MOCs about general Supreme Court ethics but good to know that there is an actual recusal request. Unfrotunately, I have two Republicans for my senators.

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Here's a gifted article about Biden in case you need it. I just love the headline, kinda like the cavalry! "Everyone expected a recession. The Fed and White House found a way out."

https://wapo.st/3RWS0Ru

Happy New Year everybody!

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author

Thanks!!

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That was a good one 🙏

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Eventually, we’ll have a recession, and they’ll have been proved prescient.

:-)

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Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Robert, in your closing paragraph you list a number of important issues that affect voters. I know it wasn’t meant to be comprehensive, but there were a couple that I want to emphasize or add. First is what some of us call femicide, the ongoing slaughter of women by their domestic partners. Biden showed considerable leadership on this issue, and many families have been destroyed by lack of prevention or law enforcement. Similarly, millions are suffering under chronic illnesses, which need government funding and research. finally I’m not sure I saw climate change on your list. Few Democrats in elected office have been bold enough to tell the truth about how fossil fuels are destroying animals and human habitation but I believe the public would listen if they did and would vote accordingly.

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On femicide, check out Murder in Boston (podcast, HBO, Boston Globe articles) about the Stuart family murders in 1989. The stat that murder is the #1 cause of death for pregnant women in the US-wow. The fact that the police, the media ignored the obvious is what the series explores.

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Boebert's shift leaves us in CO 03 with

Democrat Adam Frisch the front runner, having $4.3 million on Sept 30 (and more)

Two Republicans: Financial Advisor Russ Andrews and Attorney Jeff Hurd -- who had, on the same date, $260,000 and $350,000. Andrews promises to meet with every member of Congress and to protect the 2nd Amendment. Hurd describes himself as a conservative committed to the Constitution, limited government, individual rights, free markets, and the rule of law

Boebert creates a CO 04 contest with her as an interloper, but an interloper with a lot of money. She had $1.4 million on Sept 30. None of the other Republicans reported money because Incumbent Ken Buck announced his retirement only relatively recently. We'll see if anyone can stand out.

The Democrat in the race, Ike McCorkle had $160,000. Consider sending him some money, bolster his chances. He may be the one facing Boebert. He is a retired marine, son of an army major (She made it through nursing school living in a trailer). He asks: What does it mean to be a leftist in today's America? It may mean facing down Boebert. Help him do just that.

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Outside the bigger population areas like Greeley and Loveland, CO 4 is not only very conservative but insular as well. She does have a lot of money but she's also got baggage. There are plenty of established residents in CO 4 with gravitas and credibility among their peers. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

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Thank you for this information, Leonard. I knew that Will Hurd was most likely going to primary Boebert. That might be another reason she did the switcheroo. I still think it would take a miracle for her to come out ahead in the district 4 primary.

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Dec 28, 2023·edited Dec 28, 2023

I'm in CO 4. I didn't know that Boebert had switched. What a carpetbagging sleaze. There isn't much hope for a Democrat in CO 4 but I do think CO 4 will rightfully spew her back to private life. She may have name recognition but she's not one of them.

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This only just happened late yesterday. I found out late at night because I was up with insomnia. She posted something on Facebook; then Colorado Public Radio picked it up and sent out an alert.

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I agree, and I replied to you above before I saw your comment here. She’s toast.

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Thank God for Robert, Joyce Vance and Heather Cox and a bunch of others who help us all understand what is happening in the Trump prosecutions. Without them I would be totally lost. I’m tired and I am exhausted by the everyday legal tactics employed by both sides. I don’t fully understand them and I am guessing most voters don’t either or just don’t care. I think the overall sediment is “ let’s stop screwing around and let’s go to trial and see the evidence. Trumps constant appeals and outrageous rhetoric might appease his base but in my opinion is wearing thin with the court of public opinion. I think that opinion is , we all don’t want him to get away with the crimes we in our hearts know he committed.

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Jay Kuo has an excellent piece today on the moving parts of the court cases right now and what it may mean going forward. Along with the others you mentioned, Jay is also part of my daily ritual of trying to understand all the bat sh*t crazy legal/political intersections going on around us.

https://open.substack.com/pub/statuskuo/p/election-factor-two-the-criminal?r=9aefk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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founding

Well Stephen, you got one thing right - we are all tired and want to move beyond the constant drumbeat of TFG. Let’s hope that fatigue gives a great many incentives to vote for our team.

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The most important things to know about Trump’s “defense” against the prosecutions – so obvious that they have to be repeated and repeated:

1). He might get lucky; some judge might somehow accept one of his lawyers motions.

2). The motions might chew up remaining time before the election.

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founding

They are two unsettling potentials. The entire circus continues to feel like a heavy burden for everyone who gives a damn. So, we’ll just have to keep our eye on the ball as any good tennis player will tell you.

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Dec 28, 2023·edited Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Just to note that Trump’s Colorado counsel [Correction: Apparently, the Colorado Republican Party's lawyers] are so ignorant that they can’t write a question grammatically. I have been taking small bites at the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, so I haven’t got to the end. It is very well reasoned. (My only cavil is that when the, majority deals with the question of whether Trump engaged in insurrection, their choice of words ( e.g. far right groups) reveals their feelings. Not that I disagree, but the language might provide an opening for the reactionaries on the Extreme Court.). Still, the decision will be hard to overrule with intellectual honesty.

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Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Janet is right about District 3 in Colorado and I would like to be optimistic. Adam Frisch ran a great campaign last time and has been making himself visible ever since. Plus, he has raised lots of money. However, the Republican establishment is supporting Jeff Hurd, a well-regarded Republican attorney from Grand Junction. The Republican party here may think this is the way to both save District 3 and maybe get Boebert out of politics entirely because she won't win in District 4 where half-a-dozen Republicans have already declared their intention to run. Meantime, Hurd is presenting himself as a moderate, not a MAGA follower and the district has more Independents than either Republicans or Democrats. Fingers crossed for Frisch and the Dems!

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Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Wow! Your background as a lawyer has come to the foreground today! Well done!

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Is it just me or are there other folks on this blog that are beginning to get aggravated because every time they open CNN website to get the news the first thing they see is the treasonous Donald Trump? I'm about to dump CNN over this. And if you're reading this CNN, please vary the criminals getting face time on your site. Try a few drug dealers, car thieves, check forgers. Thanks.

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Dec 28, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I dumped CNN as soon as I learned they were giving Trump a platform several months ago. Prior to this, I checked the CNN app on my phone quite often and watched that channel on TV. That is all behind me now. Shame on CNN!

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I also stopped watching CNN and deleted them from my Facebook feed when they gave Trump that first town hall meeting with the handpicked audience with the insipid reasoning that he was the apparent front runner. But that's when I started watching MSMBC and discovered many analysts I enjoy and their podcasts I started listening to, such as Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord and their podcast Prosecuting Trump, and Joyce Vance, Barb McQuade, Jill Wine-Banks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr and their delightful Sisters in Law podcast, which I listen to every Saturday morning. So all in all, the switch was a win in many ways.

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I wonder why Democrats and Independents are not organizing themselves to vote in the Republican primaries so they can vote against Trump. Collectively we could remove him before the general election.

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Dec 28, 2023·edited Dec 28, 2023

I love quoting the Constitution. The last sentence in the 14th Amendment, Section 3 regarding disqualifying any candidate from office who has been involved in an insurrection is: "But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability." It does not mention the rights of State Legislatures to overturn the Will of the People as decided in state courts, nor does it mention "enabling legislation" that is required by Congress before a candidate can be removed from office.

What is even more important, section 3 requires a 2/3rds majority of both houses before any removal from office can be nullified. In the Law, this is know as sicut patet in naso tuo - Latin for As Plain As the Nose on Your Face.

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author

Section 5 of the 14th amendment contains the enabling legislation / enforcement clause: "Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."

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Does the 2/3rds majority of both houses from Section 3 still apply? A 2/3rds majority for anything is just about impossible in this current political climate. And how does this conflict with section 3s reversal of removal clause?

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Yes; 2/3 applies to remove disqualification.

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