U.S. Politics

Joe Garcia will continue as Colorado's coolest lieutenant governor

Joe Garcia, Colorado's coolest lieutenant governor, won't be going to Washington, D.C. -- not now, at least, and not as the head of the Department of Labor. Yesterday, the White House announced that Tom Perez, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, will take that post. Like Garcia, ... More >>

Marijuana: John Hickenlooper-Eric Holder A64 call still a mystery despite activist's efforts

Editor's note: Medical marijuana critic William Breathes's latest review, which is usually published at 4:20 p.m. on Thursdays, has not quite finished curing; look for it in this space soon. In the meantime, we share the story of a marijuana activist and his efforts to discover what was said during ... More >>

Marijuana: Governor's counsel sees alleged Amendment 64 conflicts of interest as diversity

In mid-December, we shared complaints from a marijuana activist about alleged conflicts of interest in regard to one member of the governor's Amendment 64 task force. More recently, the activist raised concerns about another task force member -- and this time, a guv rep responded with an e-mail sugg ... More >>

Governor Hickenlooper grills lamb and eats crow

The final tally from last weekend's NFL playoff game goes beyond the scoreboard for Colorado: Colorado also lost twelve prime lamb chops that Governor John Hickenlooper shipped across the country to Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley to pay off a bet debt. But first, he ate a little crow on the steps ... More >>

Flags are at half-mast in Colorado today...as they have been so often this year

Flags in Colorado will fly at half staff today, as they have been since December 14, to honor the children and adults who were killed in Newtown, Connecticut. They'll be raised again to their full height on Wednesday -- unless of course there is another tragedy, another senseless death in Colorado o ... More >>

Marijuana activist objects to Amendment 64 task force member calling for fed crackdown

As we've reported, the first meeting of the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force is slated for noon today. But even before that initial session, a marijuana activist is protesting the inclusion of one task force member, Colorado Concern's Tamra Ward. Why? Because her signature is the first on lett ... More >>

Amendment 64's Christian Sederberg upbeat about being named to marijuana act's task force

Word that Governor John Hickenlooper had signed Amendment 64 into law necessarily overshadowed the announcement of members assigned to a task force that will guide implementation of the act. But Christian Sederberg, who'll represent the A64 campaign in the group, thinks the process is off to a posit ... More >>

Amendment 64 is now law: Governor John Hickenlooper quietly signs measure

Ever since voters approved Amendment 64, Governor John Hickenlooper's office has been evasive about saying when he would ink the measure. But this morning, he quietly signed A64 into law -- an action followed by a strangely worded announcement on view below.

Move to Amend to cheer Amendment 65, argue corporations aren't people at Denver confab

The election may be over, but the campaigns continue. While pot proponents celebrate the passage of Amendment 64 at a national marijuana convention in Denver, backers of another successful initiative, Amendment 65, will also be gathering in town for a 2012 Grassroots Democracy Convergence to push fo ... More >>

Amendment 64: Attorney General/marijuana critic John Suthers would defend it in court

In announcing the passage of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, during a newscast this morning, National Public Radio floated the possibility that the measure could wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court owing to pot's illegality at the federal level. And if the proposal wound up ... More >>

Debate 2012: Stephanie Cutter, Obama's deputy campaign manager, on debate and Colorado

Inside the University of Denver's giant press filing room -- where reporters in town for the presidential debate are already typing away -- we had a chance to sit down with Stephanie Cutter, President Barack Obama's deputy campaign manager. We asked her about the latest attacks on the president as w ... More >>

Photos: John Elway's love for Mitt Romney (and every Republican presidential candidate)

Last night, the Mitt Romney campaign got a lot of bounce from announcing the endorsement of John Elway -- and having Elway introduce Romney at a Wings Over the Rockies rally. In truth, though, Elway's declaration of support is about as surprising as Tim Tebow taking a knee after scoring a touchdown. ... More >>

Campaign ad spending: How much are Romney and Obama spending per electoral vote?

As part of this week's feature "Purple Haze," we take a dive into the millions of dollars used for advertising in Colorado by the presidential campaigns and a handful of very wealthy super PACs. Based on the latest numbers, more than $25 million has been spent in this battleground state as of August ... More >>

Red or blue, all eyes are on Colorado this election

Ryan Call, GOP chairman, on women's issues and Todd Akin: Democrats are desperate

In this week's feature, "Purple Haze," we outline how the close fight for Colorado's nine electoral votes could determine the next president of the United States. And a key part of that battle, nationally and in Colorado, involves the women's vote. Here's more from our interview with state GOP Cha ... More >>

Mitt Romney will win Colorado and the election, says CU forecast

Mitt Romney will win key swing states like Colorado and become the next president of the United States. So says a new study released this morning by the University of Colorado -- and the researchers behind the forecast say they have a solid methodology that ensures their predictions will probably ... More >>

Paul Weissmann will continue to serve the public as Boulder trustee

In the latest installment of a long-running saga, yesterday Governor John Hickenlooper reappointed five of the ten public trustees who resigned last month -- at his request. And he appointed three new trustees in three counties, including one who really puts the "public" in public trustee: sometime ... More >>

John Hickenlooper and wife Helen Thorpe announce their separation

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and his wife, journalist and author Helen Thorpe, have just issued a joint statement revealing that they are separating. The announcement notes that their parting isn't acrimonious and stresses their devotion to their young son, Teddy. Here's the statement:

Pro-Romney group launches major Colorado ad blitz attacking Obama

Correction: A previous version of this post referred to Crossroads GPS as a super PAC, when Crossroads GPS is in fact a nonprofit group that is a sister organization to American Crossroads, a Republican super PAC. They didn't waste any time. Just hours after the latest unemployment statistics came o ... More >>

Eva Longoria and Obama campaign team up to promote women's issues in Colorado

The Obama campaign is hoping to make news in Colorado for something other than today's presidential visit to the Waldo Canyon fire zone in the Springs. The fight for swing state votes will hit Wheat Ridge Sunday, when Obama staffers will join former Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria for the lau ... More >>

Obama campaign outspending Mitt Romney's for Denver TV ads

Editor's note: This election cycle, Westword is exploring the public records of television stations for information on how candidates are spending money on ads in Denver. So far, Barack Obama's campaign is spending more money than Mitt Romney's on Denver TV ads. A lot more.

Photos: Mitt Romney backers bash Obama at campaign HQ opening

Mitt Romney's in town! Well, actually, he's not. But his campaign is -- and the Colorado team is officially in full swing with the official opening of the presidential candidate and presumptive Republican nominee's offices in Lakewood on Saturday.

Lower North Fork Fire started by prescribed burn, Forest Service apologizes

The U.S. Forest Service is now admitting that the Lower North Fork Fire near Conifer, which appears to have led to at least two casualties (one woman is still missing), was started by a prescribed burn that got out of control. Meanwhile, Governor John Hickenlooper has suspended such burns until aft ... More >>

American Constitution Party faces major headaches as a major Colorado party

The Colorado Republicans held their caucuses last month. The Colorado Democrats have launched a caucus locator to help members find their caucus sites tonight. And the American Constitution Party, the state's third major party? "We're going to do the best job we can," says Doug Campbell. "Let the ch ... More >>

John Hickenlooper: If he can become governor, there's no limit to Colorado's future

Governor John Hickenlooper met with newspaper reps in town for the Colorado Press Association's annual convention at the Governor's Mansion yesterday. There, he talked about Iowa, Christo, the coolness of Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia...and how Westword was a very good neighbor during the Wynkoop B ... More >>

Videos: Top five glitter bombings -- and how Peter Smith's attack on Mitt Romney stacks up

Mitt Romney​Cops and Secret Service agents who protect Republican presidential hopefuls are dealing with a new kind of threat -- one that sparkles. Last Tuesday, Denver got into the act when Peter Smith, a college student and politics intern, was arrested after he tried to throw blue glitter o ... More >>

American Constitution Party has a major problem preparing for own caucus

Doug Campbell​The American Constitution Party has a major problem in Colorado. Because Republican renegade Tom Tancredo, who ran for governor on the ACP ticket in 2010, got more than 36 percent of the vote in 2010 in the race against Republican Dan Maes and Democrat John Hickenlooper, the ACP ... More >>

Marijuana initiative can't force John Suthers to sue feds over enforcement, his office says

In our post yesterday about the progress of Legalize 2012's Cannabis Re-legalization Act, proponent Laura Kriho noted that a section had been added to the proposal directing Colorado Attorney General John Suthers to sue the federal government if it attempts to enforce its marijuana laws here. But AG ... More >>

Newt Gingrich joins Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum on pre-caucus campaign trail

When last we spoke with Colorado Republican Party head Ryan Call about the February 7 Colorado caucuses, he noted that Newt Gingrich had not scheduled any state events. But that's changed. At this hour, Gingrich is scheduled at a west-side rally, with another assembly juxtaposing him and Rick Santor ... More >>

Ron Paul blasts Newt Gingrich as serial hypocrite in advance of Colorado appearances

Ron Paul isn't the only presidential candidate in Colorado today; Rick Santorum is slated to speak at the Lone Tree Golf Club Lounge at 10 a.m. But Paul will certainly make a bigger splash, with three events on tap. And in advance, his surrogates are taking shots at one of his principal opponents, N ... More >>

Mitt Romney plans CO caucus visit, Ron Paul likely, but what about Newt?

Earlier this month, Colorado Republican Party chairman Ryan Call argued that this year's Colorado Republican Caucus will mean more than ever, in part because the date was moved up to February 7. When Mitt Romney looked poised to sweep Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, this claim looked suspect ... More >>

Give ’Em Heller

Tim Tebow and Ron Paul: A point-by-point comparison

Tim Tebow.​Tim Tebow's stock as a quarterback may be falling -- ESPN's Mike and Mike have less confidence in him than any other QB in the playoffs this weekend -- but he remains a cultural lightning rod. Note that even The New Yorker's Ben McGrath is weighing in on him, albeit by suggesting t ... More >>

Reader: Honk if you support Ron Paul

​Last Friday morning, metro area highways were almost as crowded as a Republican presidential debate when supporters of Ron Paul unfurled banners, slowing traffic along the routes. And although the Colorado Department of Transportation says such advertisements are against the law, Paul propone ... More >>

Ron Paul banners on overpasses slow traffic across Denver

Ron Paul.​Shortly after Texas Governor Rick Perry invoked Tim Tebow at last night's Republican presidential debate, followers of another candidate, Ron Paul, delivered a message to Denver-area drivers -- one that may have pissed off as many of them as it inspired. Unknown Paul supporters hung ... More >>

Marijuana: 2 guvs petition feds to reclassify pot, but John Hickenlooper not ready to do so -- yet

This week, governors in Rhode Island and Washington asked the federal government to concede that marijuana has medical uses. A Colorado official is required to send a similar message by year's end -- but would John Hickenlooper consider following the lead of these fellow governors and do the deed hi ... More >>

Carol Harvey out as Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs' executive secretary

Carol Harvey.​If Thanksgiving is approaching, it must be time for another controversy at the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, which is overseen by the state's lieutenant governor. Back in 1988, then-lite guv Mike Callihan created a ruckus with his plans for a feast in a Mayflower moving ... More >>

Occupy Denver asks John Hickenlooper to allow camping, invites him to general assembly

John Hickenlooper.​Earlier today, a Colorado State Patrol spokesman said the law-enforcement approach to Occupy Denver's tent city is evolving, and could be finalized soon. But rather than waiting to see how agencies might try to enforce Governor John Hickenlooper's apparent wish to end overni ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Does U.S. Attorney John Walsh's letter signal end of federal MMJ truce?

John Walsh.​HB 1043, a bill sponsored by Representative Tom Massey and Senator Pat Steadman to clean up last year's medical marijuana regulations, seemed to be quietly moving toward passage -- but no more. A letter from U.S. Attorney John Walsh attacking aspects of the legislation call into qu ... More >>

Medical marijuana letter from U.S. Attorney worrisome to business, says Sen. Pat Steadman

Pat Steadman.​Earlier today, we shared a letter from U.S. Attorney John Walsh attacking elements of HB 1043, a bill intended to clean up aspects of last year's medical marijuana legislation. Senator Pat Steadman, who's co-sponsoring the measure with Representative Tom Massey, confesses to bein ... More >>

John Hickenlooper has more fun at reunion than dealing with billion-dollar budget shortfall

Hickenlooper.​Fresh from another round of eco-devo meetings and a quick side trip to a Craig hospital to get five stitches after he bumped his head in his state car, John Hickenlooper landed back in Denver in time for a reunion party at El Diablo with campaign staffers and supporters who worke ... More >>

Photo finish: John Fielder's photographs will spruce up John Hickenlooper's office

Colorado's GOP hopes to strike while the irony is hot

Dick Wadhams's exit from Republican chair race to help Ted Harvey and party conservatives?

Ted Harvey.​The Colorado Republican Party didn't just lose the governor's race in November -- it also lost over a hundred bonus members of the State Central Committee, which will vote for the new party chair next month. Incumbent chair Dick Wadhams was going for that slot again -- until his M ... More >>

Sole looking for some Tea Partiers to help film a video this Saturday somewhere downtown

​Sole, aka Tim Holland, is looking for a little help from fans to fill the streets with Tea Party extras this weekend for his newest video, "White Rage." The filming will be going down Saturday at a currently undisclosed location downtown around 2 p.m. Click through for full details if you're ... More >>

John Hickenlooper off to a fast start with three executive orders

HIckenlooper.​The inauguration ceremony was cold, but Governor John Hickenlooper is off to a blazing start. Hickenlooper issued three executive orders in the first few minutes of officially holding office, taking aim at economic development and improving the efficiency of state government.

John Hickenlooper making appointments fast -- but only half as many as when he was mayor

Hickenlooper.​John Hickenlooper is moving fast to build his administration. Since December 31, he's announced more than a dozen appointments, including three yesterday alone: Barbara Kelley will remain as director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, Larry Trujillo will continue as head o ... More >>

Facebook and John Suthers, Colorado attorney general, make nice, clearing way for state pages

John Suthers.​Colorado Attorney General John Suthers is embracing Facebook nearly a year after the state essentially unfriended the massive social network. The agreement between the AG's office and Mark Zuckerberg's operation means state agencies, including Suthers's, can belatedly join the 21 ... More >>

John Hickenlooper will walk from city to state office a week from today

John Hickenlooper, governor-elect​A week from today, at 8:30 a.m., John Hickenlooper will resign his job as the mayor of Denver, then leave his office at the City and County Building (where he had a stripe painted around the top of the room at a point exactly a mile high) and walk across Civic ... More >>

Scott McInnis, 2010 Shmuck of the Year nominee

​Westword is asking readers to help us select a Shmuck of the Year by rolling out a new candidate each week throughout the month of December. The winner -- loser -- will be announced on January 3. Our first candidate was the newly fired Josh McDaniels. This week, say hello to Scott McInnis ... More >>