Dear God. What has Colorado become?

[Buzz Clik]

I am a third generation native of Colorado, but I had to leave my home state for my job. That was in 1981. I returned over the 4th week for the longest visit in ages. I had the time to read the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph all week. Holy crapoli. Colorado has truly become a conservative sanctuary for knuckledraggers. How sad.

Kansas is starting to swing to the left. Why not Colorado?

[CrispyQ]

1. I think the Springs are especially bad.

Tainted by that zealot Dobson.

I'm fortunate to live in Boulder county. I think Denver & Ft Collins are going more progressive. However, I have a friend who lives east of 76 & it is very different out there! My little truck with it's anti-boosh bumper stickers is not always looked on fondly. I am not familiar with the western slope.

How does the weather seem to you? :hi:

[Turn CO Blue]

2. We have a Democratic state legislature

and in Colorado the state legislature is more powerful than the Governor. We have Ken Salazar, a (very) moderate Democratic Senator. We have several Congressional seats in major play in the November elections (which are being highlighted on Dem forums and blogs). Even Tancredo and Musgrave aren't necessarily safe anymore!

And Bush's approval rating are very, very low here throughout the entire state (see USA state surveys).

Colo Spgs is a hotbed of religious fanaticism (Dobson, Air Force Academy) - but they are just one flashpoint. There are more than enough angry voters in Denver county alone to counter their votes.

I say the glass is half full. I have a lot of hope for Colorado swinging blue.

[hlthe2b]

3. Colorado is purple and highly segmented...

Yes, CO Springs is the bastion of RW fundie nuttery and military conservatism and the latter extends into the southern Denver counties, where growth has been largely Southern Californians--a mixture of fiscal conservative/social moderates and downright extremist Freeper types. Denver is quite liberal as are many of the mountain towns; the western slope has always been libertarian and the Fort Collins-Greeley-Loveland area has swung rightward as a result of Repugs moving in from S. Cal and Down from Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas. But guess what? We are moving as a state to the left. You somehow missed the entire results of the 2004 elections: State Senate and House went Dem, we elected a moderate-conservative Dem to the Senate (Salazar) and his brother to Congress. THe GOvernorship is up for grabs, but it does look increasingly like a moderate-centrist Dem may take it (Bill Ritter).


I'm sure it is unintentional, but blanket statements like these are very hurtful to those of us fighting very hard to turn the tide. I know it must be eye opening to be down in the Springs, but that does not reflect the situation as a whole in Colorado. We made strides in 2004 and I expect more in 06. SLow progress, yes. Not as progressive Dems as I would like.. but we are making progress.

[Broken_Hero]

4. Colorado springs

is a nice place, I was there 6yrs back...Garden of the Gods was beautiful and Pike's Peaks was ...well, a knuckle gripping drive...:) I had good experiences in Colo Springs...but, people/places change...:(

[ProgressivePatriot]

5. The Springs is a fundie haven....

Boulder County is where I am and the repiglikkkans are bitching about it being too liberal....and want to make a new county, no less.

[Buddyblazon]

6. Uh...dude...

Colorado is swinging more than Kansas. Where ya been...Kansas?

[CanonRay]

7. Sadly, you were in the heart of the beast.

[otohara]

8. CS Home of Focus on Family Nutcase Dobson

it's always been right-wing due to military.

[TiredNow]

9. The belly of the beast

I can relate with that here in Lakewood. What is really shocking is how brainwashed and/or misinformed so many of my friends that I grew up with here are that they can no longer even listen to reason or have a logical debate about current events.
I try to be a voice of reason, moderation, logic and hopefully it'll start to set in soon.

Just found the "state" threads here at DU.

Brothers, sisters and neighboors, I look forward to getting to know you!

Peace,
Scott :hi: