Miles miffed at party - Senate hopeful is snubbed on Dem website

[otohara]

Democratic Senate hopeful Mike Miles has a question for the party bosses: Where's the love?

First, the nation's top Democratic Party officials underestimated the little- known educator from Colorado Springs.

Then, when Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar got into the race in March, they tried to bully former U.S. Army Ranger Miles out of the race.

Now, they are simply ignoring Miles, who won the most votes at last month's Democratic State Assembly.

more....
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E64%257E2215032,00.html

This is maddening...

[RubyDuby in GA]

1. I feel your pain

I live in GA where the Party has completely written us off.
It sometimes feels like we're foreign nationals living here in Republicanland, but that's still no excuse for the party to forsake us.

[mstrsplinter326]

2. Indiana

has officially suceeded from the National party... but I don't blame the dem's; this state is solidly ass-backward

[salin]

8. What does Indiana have to do with this story? Miles is in Colorado

[mstrsplinter326]

13. what does georgia have to do with it

Or any other state ...
Read the parent post to mine before replying please.

[Nlighten1]

3. Interesting

"It's not a question of being fair or unfair," Woodhouse said. "It's a question of reality."

Can anyone shed some more light on this?

[denverbill]

12. What I understand from the papers is this.

The Colorado Democratic Party thinks Miles hasn't 'earned' his Democratic stripes by running for a lower office. If you ask me, Miles has earned it by working his ass off as a soldier, statesman, and educator. He was the ONLY Democrat announced, until Campbell announced he was retiring. After that, EVERYONE wanted in.

IMO, the US needs more ordinary citizens as Senators, and fewer professional politicians/wealthy beer barons, etc.

I'll happily vote for Salazar if he wins, but I'd rather vote for Miles.

[janx]

14. Well, I admire Salazar, but I'm voting for Miles on August 10.

Remember to vote!

[flaminbats]

29. Salazar is a nice fellow, but not worth the effort...

Didn't Miles run against Campbell in the primary in 1992, and the state party made the mistake of having a favorite who would betray them?

[paulk]

30. Campbell's primary opponents in 1992 were Josie Heath and

Gov. Richard Lamm.

I don't understand your remark that Salazar is a nice fellow, but not worth the effort. Could you explain? I find that a strange thing to say, since the overwhelming consensus among politicos here in Colorado is that Salazar will go into the race as a favorite and has an above average chance of giving Colorado Democrats their first Senator in 16 years (if you don't count Ben "Nightsoil" Campbell).

Getting a Democrat elected is not worth the effort? Having Colorado represented by a fascist like Pete Coors or a religious nutjob like Bob Schaffer is preferable?

[flaminbats]

36. NO, I would certainly support Ken over Schaffer..

But based on what I know of the two candidates, I would rather have Miles over Coors Lite any time! At least Miles gives voters some reasons to support him.

Thanks for the info on the 1992 race...it was the Gov. Lamm and Congressman Nightsoil Campbell primary that I was trying to remember.

[Nlighten1]

22. That is probably true.

I ran into similar such flack from the local Democratic establishment in my town when I told them I was going to run for a seat on the town council.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. I am OUTRAGED!

I'll be writing a letter to Julie DeWoody - the Colorado Dem Party.

I suggest you do the same.

Julie DeWoody [e-mail]

[Moderator]

5. Miles miffed at party - is the title of the article, pls edit subject line

Thanks

[otohara]

6. Done

but I did include secondary line to include the why "miffed at party" - ok or not?

[bemildred]

7. This is the Democratic National Committee sucking up to the Republicans.

Colorado is Republican turf. They are afraid to pick a real fight
by trying to take it for the Democrats.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. The Democratic National Committee hasn't gotten involved in this primary

[bemildred]

23. That was my point. nt

[paulk]

21. I wouldn't call it sucking up to Republicans

More like recognizing the realities of the Colorado electorate.

Who was the last Democrat to win a statewide election prior to Ken Salazar?

Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Who promptly switched parties.

Does that tell you anything about Colorado?

Salazar versus Coors will be "real fight" enough, considering the truckloads of money that Coors will be hauling around. Mike Miles has no chance. None.

On a national level the Democrats (we?) have been handed a golden opportunity with the retirement of Campbell - a chance to take back the Senate and provide President Kerry with at least a leg up on getting his policies implemented.

And, as usual, the Colorado left is willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[bemildred]

24. "the Colorado electorate"

It not a law of physics that Colorado has to be Repub or
Conservative, it was very progressive at one time. I do
get your point, I have in-laws that live there and I've been
there many times, but you don't need to treat it as a given.
You have to get credible candidates and run on issues that
matter and fight rather than play patty-cake. If you don't
win this time, at least you plant the seeds for future
success.

Say, what do you think about John Elway? Does he own all of
Denver yet?

[paulk]

25. I can't stand John Elway...

And every time I drive past Invesco Field my blood pressure rises.

There's been a huge flux of Conservatives moving to this state in the last 12 years - I used to have the numbers, but I can't find the link. When Clinton won CO in '92, there were more registered Dem. than Repub. - by about 200k, I think. Now there are 400k more Repub, and almost all of them can be accounted for thru immigration from So. California and Texas.

I think CO has more of a Libertarian tradition than progressive, but hopefully things are moving that way. Well, maybe not all the way progressive, but at least away from the fundie right that has dominated our politics this last decade.

[bemildred]

26. Pre-WWI it was pretty progressive, but not Democratic (Big D).

And the current fundy Republican situation is post WWII,
post family farm, and in part because you got a lot of our (CA)
defense bidness. Old style progressive was libertarian and
"isolationist", which is not a bad combination. Still, up until
about ten years ago California was a Republican state - you can't
know how depressing after Pat Brown and the excellent system we
had here in the 60s - and now its Dem and going more Dem all the
time, and its driving the national party organizations nuts. They
managed to shoehorn this idiot Schwartzenegger in on us, but he won't
last, it was only that Davis was such a "centrist". Anybody that
speaks up for liberal/libertarian/secular values will kick ass
statewide.

But anyway, the high plains are being depopulated as we speak, all
through these assholes farm policies that favor big agriculture and
high petroleum input in the food production process. There is a
story to be told there, all somebody needs to do is tell it, and
stick to the story, no sidetrips into gay rights and abortion and
all that crap.

[paulk]

27. Do you ever read Harpers Magazine?

There's an article in the May 2004 edition that's sort of about the trashing of the great plains by Republican policies -

Lie Down for America
How the Republican Party sows ruin on the Great Plains
Thomas Frank


It's not in their archive yet, but the library probably has it - it's well worth a read.

[bemildred]

28. Subscriber for years.

Saw that one, which I liked a lot. I have a lot of small
farm people in my background (I am not) and it drives me nuts
what has been done to US agriculture in the last 40 years or
so. My brother is a cow man, and he's had a lot of ups and
downs because of the nutty way things are run. The yeoman
farmer was the spine of the American republic, and that is why
he got trashed.

Lapham had an absolutely great OpEd leader on the Iraq War in
the current (July) issue named "Chasing the Pot".

[goodhue]

35. CO Democratic Leadership Council

has been shutting out Miles . . .

See
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1744541

Open letter from Mike Miles to the CO Democratic Leadership Council

Dear Mr. Gibson and the Colorado Democratic Leadership Conference,

I realize that you are struggling to explain our campaign’s victory (52% - 48%) at the State Assembly, but it is inexcusable for you to attack the very Democrats who care most about this Party. I myself am struggling to understand why you would accuse the majority of the Democrats at the Assembly of being out of touch with mainstream values.

Perhaps I can help you put your finger on the pulse of the rank and file: they are tired of politics as usual and want leaders to address their concerns. That’s why Howard Dean garnered so much support, why groups like MoveOn.org grew so quickly, why Dennis Kucinich still has a strong following, and why Democrats attended the State Assembly in record numbers and favored my team.

The DLC’s at-least-we’re-left-of-the-Republicans approach might be considered wise except that that approach is not working! The wages of our silence have been numerous failed policies, a less secure America, and an America that has lost its way.

My team continues to gain momentum for three reasons:

1) Our message resonates. Our supporters believe that if we are to solve the major problems of our time, politicians must fight not only the fights they can win, but also the fights that need fighting. They agree with our effective solutions in health care, education, foreign policy, the environment.

It is our positions that are mainstream. Most Coloradoans are opposed to school vouchers and almost anyone who has to work with NCLB understands that it is bad legislation. Coloradoans of all political persuasions believe health care is the number one domestic issue and that we need a systemic solution. More and more Americans believe we should have been slower to invade Iraq and most Democrats support my steps for reconstructing Iraq. No, Mr. Gibson, the Democrats at the State Assembly knew exactly which positions they wanted to support, and they are more in touch with the rank-and-file than the DLC.

2) Ours is a grassroots effort. Our team has been running a campaign of, by, and for the people – in deeds, not just words. We’re engaging ordinary people and recapturing the true spirit of democracy. Our tag line – be the change – comes from Gandhi’s “be the change you want to see in the world.” Our volunteers have taken this to heart. Every core team member believes the overall success of the campaign is dependent upon her actions – and it does. Indeed, at some point our campaign turned into a movement and people began to work not so much for the candidate, but for a cause.

3) Ours is a campaign of hope and of heart. Ours is a campaign of possibilities and a belief that ordinary people can make a difference. There is a longing among the people for the simplicity and heart of a Seabiscuit; of a campaign that will champion the causes of ordinary people; of a campaign that’s not too calculating or tied to a political machine.

You see, Mr. Gibson, it’s not so much that the Democrats at the assembly are out of touch, it’s that they believe in something larger than themselves.

For my part, I believe in them. I may have to run on your track and under the rules of the establishment, but I’m not running for you or for the people in the boxes – I’m running for the people in the infield. Be the change.

http://www.mikemiles4senate.com/new/

[bemildred]

37. Thanks, that is cool. nt

[davidinalameda]

9. poor baby

doesn't he know that politics is rough sometimes

[janx]

15. What? So you think that D.C. Democrats should have more

say than Dems in Colorado regarding who they are supposed to elect for their U.S. senator?

Are you kidding?!

[OutlawCorporatePolls]

10. just TRY it..

"Some people underestimated Mike Miles," Ciruli said. "He represents the (Howard) Dean faction in Colorado. ... You're watching a little revolt."

http://63.147.65.205/Stories/0,1413,36%257E27772%257E2167936,00.html


just TRY to keep the Dean supporters down. go ahead punks.

[OutlawCorporatePolls]

11. unbelievable.

http://www.dscc.org/Races/states_new?&layout=states&main.id=267&global.c1_id=254&main.ctrl=contentmgr.detail&main.view=states.detail

lets go colorado, rise and shine.

[paulk]

20. and Dean did so well in the primaries...

Moral victories won't do me a fuck of a lot of good with Pete Coors as my Senator.

[OutlawCorporatePolls]

31. youre right, immorality is the way.

candidates should be selected not elected.

cheating is cool.

[John_H]

32. LOL! Yeaaagghhrrrggghhhhgghhhh!

[HR_Pufnstuf]

34. HOW YOU CAN HELP MIKE MILES

How YOU can help Mike Miles
https://mikemiles4senatecom.terrasite.com/test/howtohelp/volform.asp


Free Mike Miles Benefit Concert This Weekend
Denver Civic Center Park
Sunday, June 20 - 2 PM
The House Band
The Raging Grannies

http://www.mikemiles4senate.com/test/
http://www.mikemiles4senate.com/test/press_release_page.asp?#4


Outlaw, thanks for calling me when things got rough!





Love,

HR

[paulk]

33. The primary hasn't happened yet

no one has been elected. No one has cheated. The CO Dem Party is under no obligation to support Mike Miles. Their only obligation is to get a Democrat elected to the US Senate, and they have decided that Ken Salazar gives them the best chance of achieving that goal.

Politics isn't about morality, it's about winning.

[JDPriestly]

17. Regime change at the DNC

How do we get regime change at the DNC? We are never going to have a government that answers to the people unless we can get a DNC that answers to Democrats. The DNC is oblivious to grassroots Democrats. No wonder so many Democrats stay home on election day.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. The DNC has not gotten involved in this race

[otohara]

19. DSCC Taking Ques From GOP Who Annointed Bush

as their candidate...I would have preferred John McCain had Al Gore not won