In Colorado's history, one of our most famous defections occurred in the 1990's when Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell switched from Democrat to Republican and become a true back stabber to many fellow Democrats. Now it seems that John Hickenlooper is doing the same thing - acting as a Republican after being elected a democrat.
Comments on local blogs are speculating that he is posturing for a potential switch and Presidential run as a Republican.
See here
Wed February 27, 2013 at 10:44 AM MST
Is he our next Ben Nighthorse Campbell? In other words, is Hickenlooper next year's Republican candidate for Governor? Or does he just change parties after Dems get him re-elected?
If he did that now he'd imediately jump to the top in R Pres sweepstakes
Salon highlighted the DINO moves in a piece
Not all Dems are Elizabeth Warren
The recent actions of two of the party’s rising stars — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren — tell the deeper tale of that crisis. It is a microcosmic story, suggesting that the 2016 election may be a decisive turning point in the party’s history....
Corporatism, of course, is a vague label, but in Democratic politics it typically refers to helping campaign contributors bust unions and dismantle environmental regulations, with the expectation that servile labor and environmental leaders will sit by as their movements are decimated.
Hickenlooper’s actions this month show how the formula works.
read on to see how Hickenloopers deceptive actions are not just hurting the people of Colorado, but are moving to a national stage and going to hurt everyone everywhere.
More from Salon:
On labor issues, after a summer of staging media events to thank firefighters for combating wildfires, the Colorado governor publicly threatened to veto legislation that would enshrine the right of those firefighters to choose to form a union. Of such basic legal protections, Hickenlooper flippantly declared that he does “not believe it is a matter of state interest.”
On environmental issues, it is the same story. Hickenlooper this week testified against federal legislation that would compel energy companies to disclose what toxic chemicals they use when fracking for natural gas. His testimony made headlines after he insinuated that fracking fluid is so harmless that Americans can safely drink it.
While Hickenlooper’s claim was later debunked, few observers were surprised he would utter such a pernicious lie. After all, with Hickenlooper’s electoral career bankrolled by fossil fuel firms, he has not just ignored the scientific evidence that shows fracking is dangerous; he has also denied that climate change is happening, offered to back corporate lawsuits to overturn municipal drilling regulations and appeared as a spokesman for the oil and gas industry in its political advertisements. Additionally, the Denver Post reports that Hickenlooper’s regulators “rarely penalize companies responsible for (drilling-related) spills.”
If you find this repulsive, then you are probably on the other side of the Democratic Party divide, the one personified by Warren.
So do you find this repulsive?
The bold text above about Hydraulic Fracturing or Fracking fluid has really proven to be the issue making Progressives in the state lose their freakin' minds. This past year Longmont, Colorado passed a ban on Fracking. In response, the Governor said he'd sue Longmont to overturn the ban and to force Fracking to expand.
A solidarity rally for Longmont was held in December, with activists such as Josh Fox of 'Gasland' and Bill McKibben of 350.org.
Here is the video we shot of the speech and article in
Huffington post.
Josh Fox:
I don't think (Governor) Hickenlooper doesn't win this state without the people like you going to bat for him. And if he is coming out there and saying to you 'Well were going to sue you for defending your health.' (boos) I mean this is an outrageous position for a Governor to be taking. For citizens to be democratically organized and standing up for your rights and saying 'We don't want the Fossil Fuel Industry, the chemical contamination and the lies of the 19th century... and 20th century in our future. We are going to defend our sanctity of our health, defend the character of our homes, defend the character of our towns... and then the Governor takes sides against the citizenship and sues them!?! (BOOS)
After the rally, we were pumped up and energized.
What did our 'Democratic' Governor do in response?
He flew to Washington and testified that he drank fracking fluid with Haliburton Executives.
The response was so loud, the Governor sent out a mass email saying
Despite what you might have heard, I much prefer drinking beer to frack fluid
This attempt at humor has not stifled the Environmentalist's uproar. But we took that mass email as a sign that he had heard us and our concerns and was recognizing the political reality of siding with the Oil and Gas industry over a key part of the Democratic base - the Environmentalists.
Sadly this is what happened next.
Governor Hickenlooper sat down ON CAMERA on the news and re-stated that he would SUE any town or city that passes a ban on Fracking.
So here is your multiple choice question:
What impact is the threat of being sued by the Governor having on local city councils?
a) it is undermining efforts to introduce similar measures in other towns.
b) it is giving political cover to wishy washy city council members and politicians with the defense of 'but we will get sued, so why even try?'
c) it is scaring actually good intentioned city council members and politicians who are already facing strapped budgets with the prospect of 'but we will get sued, so why even try?'
d) it is causing Fort Collins' city council members to start to waver on their commitment to the ban upon the second reading and ratification of the ban leaving Longmont as the sole target against a bully Governor to 'make an example of'
e) all of the above.
And how could this hurt YOU even though you may not live in Colorado?
Colorado Pols listed just some of the newspapers AROUND THE COUNTRY who have quoted Hickenlooper's testimony about drinking fracking fluid - and how industry shills are using that statement to hammer down any opposition from scientists and environmentalists about the dangers of Fracking.
"[O]ther states in the region sitting on shale reserves are forging merrily ahead. At a Senate hearing on February 12th John Hickenlooper, Colorado’s Democratic governor, staked out his position by announcing that he had once drunk a glass of fracking fluid."
"Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper drank fracking fluid to prove a point to ecological groups who consistently express their reservations over how safe the fluid is"
"Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) recently told a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that he drank a glass of fracking fluid to demonstrate safety advances by the oil and gas industry."
""You can drink it. We did drink it around the table, almost ritual-like in a funny way. It was a demonstration. … they've invested millions of dollars in what is a benign fluid in every sense," said Hickenlooper to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, according to the Examiner. He said the fluid is made up of ingredients sourced from the food industry."
"Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper told a Senate committee on Tuesday that he’s so comfortable with how his state regulates the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing that he once drank a glass of fracking fluid produced by energy company Halliburton."
"Hickenlooper also told the committee that he once took a swig of fracking fluid to see how safe it was."
"Yesterday morning, an ad in the Des Moines Register warned [new York] Gov. Cuomo not to OK fracking in New York. Hours later, the state announced that it will miss a key deadline and the fracking-review process will have to start over from Square One…A state agency is still reviewing fracking’s health impacts. Even though another state agency reviewed the impact two years ago. Even though the federal government and other states have deemed fracking safe. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said yesterday he even drank fracking fluid to show how safe he believed the process to be."
What you'll find, in these and dozens of other stories on Hickenlooper's comments, is the complete lack of the disclaimer "this is not to imply that anyone would drink the frack fluid being used today." As you can plainly see, Hickenlooper's claims are being used across the nation in the contentious debate over "fracking" to undermine critics of the practice as it exists today.
This is the part of the story where I'd give you the Governor's number to call and complain - however,
after reading this email from a fellow organizer and tireless advocate for the Environment, I changed my mind.
"We presented 14,000 Colorado voter signatures and comments on our moratorium to do the science and assess costs petitions
to his staff last week and got no comment. That was quite a group effort, involving also a call in day. I don't have the energy to do organize another mass effort right now, esp when he is unresponsive."
He has shown that he is willing to ignore the voices of 2 mid size cities, prominent National environmental activists and the key base of his party.
So what I will suggest is this:
Support a candidate in our state who is Colorado's version of Elizabeth Warren -
State Senator
Morgan Carroll
Capitol Phone 303.866.4879
morgan.carroll.senate@state.co.us
I know Senator Carroll and she has taken tough stances against Republicans and her own party. She's tough and already considered a statewide potential candidate for Attorney General - a natural springboard to the Governor's office. So why not just give her the boost - say the Daily Kos bump?
Oh, and then call Governor Hickenlooper's office, and let him know how you like to see the Governor drink this:
John W Hickenlooper, Governor
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792
Phone
(303) 866-2471
or toll free to his Citizen's Advocate's office
800-283-7215
Please retweet or share this story.
I am not sure how the whole hash tag thing works, but how do you like these?
#MorganCarrollforGovernor
#PrimaryHickenlooper
I too am somewhat exhausted, so I will let you tell me what you think in the comments and get back to you.