Subject: Andrew Romanoff

• All Aboard

  November 7, 2006

• Howard Dean v. The World's Largest Rubberband Ball

  August 22, 2007

• Howard Dean v. The World's Largest Rubberband Ball

  August 24, 2007

• Bruce on the Loose

  January 21, 2008

• Looking for Larry #4

  March 31, 2008

• Capitalizing on Capitol History Tees

  June 5, 2008

• Legislature Save Eagles, Attacks Beetles

  July 1, 2008

• Honk If You're a Shmuck!

  July 9, 2008

• Andrew Romanoff loses one, wins one

  November 6, 2008

• TV host Aaron Harber on why he should be Colorado's next Secretary of State

  Aaron Harber. At present, twenty people have submitted applications for Colorado's Secretary of State job, including several big-name politicos: Andrew Romanoff, the term-limited speaker of Colorado's House of Representatives; Ken Gordon, the majority leader for the state senate; Rosemary Rodriguez, the chairwoman of the Election Assistance Commission, Representative Bernie Buescher, a Grand Junctionite who was just defeated in a re-election bid, and more. However, there are some surprising

  November 19, 2008

• Wake-Up Call: Refinishing the Obama cabinet

   Fresh from his ten-day eco-devo trip to Asia, Governor Bill Ritter is now off on the East Coast, attending a Democratic governors' conference, talking with the Obama team -- and definitely not interviewing for a spot in the cabinet, insists his spokesman, Evan Dreyer. Shortly after the polls closed on November 4, politicos were speculating about which Coloradans would be tapped to go to D.C. As noted in the November 26 blog "So Far, Obama's Snubbed Colorado For His Cabinet -- But Why Go

  December 2, 2008

• Wake-Up Call: The week ahead, December 15-21

  While the Obama cabinet carousel -- Ritter! Salazar (Ken)! Salazar (John)! Michael Bennet! Salazar (Ken, again)! -- continues to go 'round, with a name thrown out each week (although now, with Ken Salazar back in the ring for Interior, we're on repeats) -- Colorado's top Dems will gather at the Governor's Office to help make Obama's win official, as the state's nine presidential electors cast their ballots. Then it's back to business -- or the lack thereof, which will become more co

  December 15, 2008

• Wake-Up Call: An open Senate seat means more musical chairs

  At parties and openings, all the talk is about who's going to take Ken Salazar's seat in the U.S. Senate -- it's a lot more fun than talking about the economy -- and what spot might then open up. If outgoing Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff gets the nod, there's no game of musical chairs, because he won't leave a vacancy. If Diana DeGette leaves the House for the Senate, there would suddenly be a slot open in the coveted 1st Congressional District, a safe seat for just about any Democrat.

  December 17, 2008

• Wake-Up Call: Ritter's vote is in for Colorado Secretary of State

  At 9:30 a.m. this morning, Governor Bill Ritter will announce Colorado's next secretary of state, the culmination of a six-week process that officially started on the night of November 4, when Mike Coffman was elected to replace Tom Tancredo in the sixth congressional district. Although Ritter had the power to pick Coffman's replacement at any time (and a good candidate: term-limited legislator and runner-up to Coffman for the secretary of state seat in 2006), he instead established a task forc

  December 19, 2008

• Wrong again! Ritter to announce Senate candidate tomorrow

  I haven't been so wrong about a political pick since I predicted that then-Lieutenant Governor Joe Rogers would lead a crowded pack in the Republican primary for the congressional seat ultimately claimed by Democrat Ed Perlmutter. Governor Bill Ritter just announced that he'll hold a news conference at 2 p.m. tomorrow (and not January 6, as I'd predicted this morning) to announce and introduce his appointee to the U.S. Senate. And that appointee won't be Perlmutter, or Andrew Romanoff, or John

  January 2, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: Batting clean-up before the legislative session

  Now that Michael Bennet has been named to take over for Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate (no cowboy hat required), Colorado pols can get back to the business of running the state (at least until it's time to start running for whatever seat may be in play in 2010). Today, the Denver Board of Education will start looking for a new superintendent to replace Bennet. Hey, Andrew Romanoff is still looking for a job -- if he hasn't already been tapped to become the next coach of the Broncos. And o

  January 5, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: New jobs for Andrew Romanoff

  On November 5, the day after Democrats scored such a stunning upset in Colorado, I spotted affable, outgoing Colorado House of Representatives speaker Andrew Romanoff at the Saucy Noodle, of all places. He was on the phone with Bernie Buescher, the Grand Junction rep who'd looked to be next in line as speaker -- until he lost his seat on November 4. Six weeks later, Romanoff was one of three finalists for the Colorado Secretary of State's job -- and lost it to Buescher. And last week, he lost

  January 7, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: An end to musical chairs

  Ken Salazar has been sworn in as Secretary of the Interior. Michael Bennet is now a U.S. senator. Tom Boasberg is taking over as superintendent of Denver Public Schools, promising to "accelerate reform." That leaves just one more chair to fill -- the U.S. Attorney's seat vacated by Republican Troy Eid -- and a tidy way to tie up a loose end. Last week, then-senator Salazar and Mark Udall sent three names to Barack Obama as their choices for the top federal attorney in the state. We're betting

  January 23, 2009

• Off Limits

  June 6, 2002

• Pop Quiz

  August 28, 2003

• Best Candidate for Colorado's Next Governor

  March 24, 2005

• A Louse in the House

  Doug Bruce stars in the newest reality TV show.

  January 31, 2008

• Who should replace Salazar in the Senate? Go straight to the Hart.

  December 25, 2008

• Play Bawl!

  Who's ready for some Fantasy Congress?

  October 26, 2006

• A Denver Daily Wouldn't Touch Michael Garcia

  February 7, 2008

• Photo Finish

  Sorry, but Denver has nothing to apologize for.

  March 2, 2006

• What's So Funny

  May 12, 2005

• Wake-Up Call: Romanoff on the range

  ​"What's he doing in the Senate?" "Why, it's an honorary appointment. He's an honorary stooge." Frank Capra's classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was on TCM yesterday afternoon -- just the thing to warm up the set (and the sofa) before Jake Cutler returned to Mile High, particularly given all the buzz that Andrew Romanoff, former Colorado Speaker of the House, might jump into the U.S. Senate race, challenging Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary for the seat that he's held for all o

  August 31, 2009

• An under-pressure Michael Bennet promotes his healthcare approach

  Senator Michael Bennet's brief stint as a United States Senator hasn't proven scintillating to date -- hence former Colorado House speaker Andrew Romanoff's reported eagerness to make a run for Ken Salazar's old seat himself. But at least his staff made a smart decision about promoting his Friday appearance in Pueblo to talk healthcare. Instead of waiting for opponents to post videos that made the event look like a grassroots uprising to prevent the return of Communism, as colleagues such as Re

  August 31, 2009

• Does a Romanoff run give aid and comfort to the enemy?

  Andrew Romanoff.​The Republicans seem to be in complete disarray when it comes to finding a U.S. Senate candidate for 2010. But that doesn't mean the Democrats will be able to cruise to victory. Although current office-holder Michael Bennet handled his latest healthcare summit well, he's been underwhelming during his first months in office -- so much so that former Colorado House speaker Andrew Romanoff, who coveted the appointment Bennet got, is reportedly on the verge of launching a prim

  August 31, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: Senator Bennet rolls up his sleeves

  ​Business boosters at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce didn't know what had hit them. On Friday, when Senator Mark Udall offered a healthcare briefing at the Chamber, there hadn't been a single member of the media. But on Monday, when Senator Michael Bennet did the same, the TV cameras were rolling from the moment Bennet got out of his car. What a difference a weekend makes. On Saturday, news had leaked that Bennet, appointed to fill Ken Salazar's seat back in January, might face a ch

  September 1, 2009

• Could Republican disarray lure Bill Owens into Senate race?

  Bill Owens.​With Democrats worrying about a possible challenge to Senate appointee Michael Bennet by former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff, Republicans ought to like their chances in the race for that seat, slated for 2010. Instead, they can't settle on a viable candidate. Announced contestants such as Ryan Frazier left the National Republican Senatorial Committee with such an empty feeling that the organization has registered a couple of domain names on behalf of Jane Norto

  September 1, 2009

• Andrew Romanoff sure looking like a senatorial candidate

  SquareState.netAndrew Romanoff perfecting his hand-shaking skills.​Former Colorado House speaker Andrew Romanoff hasn't officially announced his intention to challenge Bill Ritter appointee/fellow Democrat Michael Bennet in the 2010 race for the U.S. Senate. But the mere prospect that he may do so has prompted national media coverage -- and his activities this weekend will only fuel speculation about when, not if, he'll formalize his interest. As documented in SquareState.net's coverage of

  September 8, 2009

• Denver Blogs: Romanoff's Dem-olition

  He looks like an Andy, doesn't he?​Our daily foraging for edible bloggage. Are the Democrats sabotaging Andrew Romanoff? (Daily Kos via Colroado Pols). Which Post is right about Josh Penry: Washington's or Denver's? (Colorado Independent) And just like that, hockey season is back. Which is funny, because I'm pretty sure last season is still going on. (Mile High Hockey)

  September 9, 2009

• Andrew Romanoff ready to pull the trigger -- candidacy-wise, that is

  Andrew Romanoff in an image from his out-of-date website.​Over the weekend, Andrew Romanoff turned up at a union-sponsored Labor Day picnic where current U.S. Senator Michael Bennet was also glad-handing -- one reason why a Tuesday blog about his appearance was headlined "Andrew Romanoff Sure Looking Like a Senatorial Candidate." As a result, his decision today to file the paperwork required to explore a bid for Bennet's office -- a precursor to a formal announcement -- was wholly predicta

  September 10, 2009

• The Westword.com blog shortcut, September 10 edition

  Photo by Eric Syl GruneisenTalk about a Killers photo.​Someone told me about this show.... Today in Backbeat Online: • Last Night: The Killers at Red Rocks. • Monolith Q&A: Red Wire Black Wire. • Monolith Q&A: The Glitch Mob. • Monolith Q&A: The Thermals. • MTV reports on what's in 3OH!3's travel bag, tests their red-carpet skills. Today in Cafe Society: • Denver Food & Wine Classic, take five. • Happy Hour: Five for five at five at Bones. • Meet the other Candy Girls. â€

  September 10, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: Romanoff takes another step towards the Senate

  ​Apparently all the behind-the-scenes arm-twisting hasn't convinced Andrew Romanoff to abandon the idea of running for Michael Bennet's Senate seat. The former Speaker of the House hasn't been speaking to the press since word of his possible Senate race leaked out two weeks ago, but yesterday, he issued one of the shortest political press releases in memory, which follows in its entirety: "Former Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff has taken the first formal step toward a race for the Uni

  September 11, 2009

• Barack Obama's Michael Bennet shout-out

  Barack Obama, cast in a golden glow, with Michael Bennet.​With ex-speaker of the Colorado House Andrew Romanoff's entry into the U.S. Senate race merely a formality at this point, Michael Bennet, appointed by Governor Bill Ritter to fill the slot opened up by the departure (to the Department of the Interior) of Ken Salazar, needs to start playing offense. In that regard, he's gotten an assist from a certain President Barack Obama, who sent an attaboy e-mail about Colorado's really junior s

  September 11, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: And they're off!

  ​The 2010 election is still more than thirteen months away, but the race for the U.S. Senate season occupied (for the past eight months) by Michael Bennet really starts this week. On Tuesday, former Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton will formally announce her bid for the Republican nomination -- taking on Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier, among others. She's making three official appearances that day, starting at the Tech Center, moving on to C

  September 14, 2009

• Andrew Romanoff in the starting blocks

  Andrew Romanoff hopes to be house hunting in the near future.​As we pointed out in a blog last Thursday, former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff is on the cusp of announcing a challenge to Senate appointee Michael Bennet. To that end, he's made one minor alteration at AndrewRomanoff.com, an address that hadn't been updated for months. Now, there's a small note near the top of the home page that reads, "New Website Coming Soon." Soon like tomorrow, when he'll formally step int

  September 15, 2009

• Michael Bennet joins group edging away from public option

  Michael Bennet.​Even as Andrew Romanoff readies for a 2010 run for the U.S. Senate, Michael Bennet, the Bill Ritter appointee he'll be challenging, is upping his public profile. Hence, an appearance yesterday on KHOW for an extended conversation with host Craig Silverman and fill-in yakker Dan Haley, the editorial page editor of the Denver Post and fearless Broncos prognosticator. Naturally, the topic of healthcare reform was front and center, and Bennet, like so many other members of his

  September 15, 2009

• Michael Bennet's e-mail snafu amid terror-plot revelations

  Michael Bennet.​The "send" key: It's so easy to push -- and so dangerous when it's pressed prematurely. Witness the chain of events that followed an unwise forward inadvertently shared with assorted reporters by a member of Senator Michael Bennet's staff as information about a Colorado connection to terrorism-related raids in Queens, New York was surfacing yesterday. The thread, published in its entirety by Politico, doesn't contain anything truly embarrassing -- like, for instance, "As yo

  September 16, 2009

• Michael Bennet's plea for "a more rational conversation" about healthcare

  As Andrew Romanoff was announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate yesterday, Michael Bennet, the Bill Ritter appointee he's challenging for the position, was in Washington, D.C., doing his best to talk about other things. Here, Bennet appears at a small rally organized by PICO National Network, an assemblage of faith-based community organizations that want healthcare reform. In his brief remarks, Bennet doesn't take the usual tack of praising everyone on all sides of the issue for their passi

  September 17, 2009

• Andrew Romanoff more than a "nice Russian boy"

  During U.S. senatorial hopeful Andrew Romanoff's first official campaign event in Denver yesterday afternoon, he told a story related by Ken Gordon, the man he succeeded in the Colorado House. One of Gordon's constituents thought he was retiring from politics instead of moving to the Senate -- and when he asked who'd told her that, she said, "That nice Russian boy." The crowd gathered in Washington Park to hear Romanoff broke into laughter at the anecdote, as it had already done a couple of ti

  September 17, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: Frazier's congressional run no trial balloon

  ​Ryan Frazier made a smart move, even though his announcement last Thursday that he was switching from a run for the U.S. Senate to go for the 7th Congressional District seat currently occupied by Ed Perlmutter was completely overshadowed by a certain silver balloon. But someone took notice: The Colorado Democratic Party, which quickly sent out a release headlined "Democratic Party States Ryan Frazier Stoops To Blatant Political Opportunism:"

  October 20, 2009