Schaffer, Udall Face Off At KBDI 12, 3rd Party Candidates Included

I liveblogged (in Word, no WiFi) today's KBDI Channel 12 debate between Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall that also featured appearances by Bob Kinsey of the Green Party, and Douglas "Dayhorse" Campbell of the American Constitution Party. Jim Benemann of CBS4 moderated, and Aaron Harber of The Aaron Harber Show and Lynn Bartels of the Rocky Mountain News provided the questions.

I'll have a bigger writeup later, but here is the information on where to see the closed set, recorded debate:
Colorado Decides, a joint production of KBDI Channel 12, CBS4 and RMN, will air on KBDI Channel 12 Friday Aug. 15 at 8pm. The debate will also be available online.

The pre-debate rally was loud and boisterous on both sides:

Doing Yourself a GIANT Favor

If you want to inform yourself as to the sleazy and frightening way that Bill Ritter's Climate Plan came into being, invest 30 minutes of your time to watch tonight's Independent Thinking rerun at 5:30 on KBDI.

Paul Chesser is Jon Caldera's guest.

It is scary when an agenda driven non-profit can come into Colorado and hijack the process to the point that our climate plan is a close cookie cutter version of the plans produced in 20 other states by this same non-profit. How does it serve the public when they produce a list of mandates that they want imposed without any requirement for cost-benefit analysis or any proof that their draconian mandates impact the climate in any way?

Is Bill Ritter so corrupted by the environmentalist extremists and so inept a manager that he sees no need for a cost benefit analysis on any of these proposals?

No matter your position on the political spectrum, this could be the most important 30 minutes you spend in 2oo8.

We stole this from Ritterwatch, a blog well worth visiting.

Bob Schaffer on Independent Thinking

If you want to know why Bob Schaffer is giving Mark Udall a really good run for his money, watch the repeat of Independent Thinking tonight on KBDI at 5:30.

The performance wasn't flawless, but it was close. We have yet to see Mark Udall in a similar format, but it is hard to see how Udall will be able to top Schaffer's effervescent personality and positive politicking style and message.

If Mark Udall comes across as a liar in the multiple posts that we have observed his untruthfulness, Bob Schaffer came across last night as totally honorable. Other than Wayne Allard, he is the only Federal Colorado office holder who kept his term limits pledge. It will be interesting to see if Udall can top that story. We'd bet that he cannot. We'd bet he won't even try.

Polis and Shafroth Will Debate, Fitz-Gerald Too Busy

KBDI's Independent Thinking will host a debate between Jarad Polis and Wil Shafrothto be aired at 8:30 on January 10th.

Former Colorado state senate president Joan Fitz-Gerald also is seeking the democratic nomination but declined an invitation to participate in the debate, citing prior commitments. A request for dates that would accommodate Fitz-Gerald's schedule went unanswered.

"We'll leave an empty chair, in case she has a change of heart or change of schedule," said Caldara who added that he intends to challenge the candidates on a variety of issues such as Iraq, climate change, ethics in government and campaign finance.

We will be watching.

We have no idea why Fitz-Gerald couldn't make time on her schedule. Jon Caldara is such a teddy bear. No kidding!

Looking at Hillary through the Newsum Prism

This week, on Colorado Inside Out, David Kopel offered the view that unless the Democrats nominated Bill Richardson, having the convention dominate the news in Colorado for so long will remind Colorado voters of the "leftyness" of the national party which will make it harder for Udall to try to move himself towards the center of the Colorado political spectrum.

Dani Newsum, who later in the program complained that Bill Ritter and the Colorado Legislature "aren't half as liberal as I would like them to be" claimed that it is an urban myth that Hillary is a "lefty." Newsum considers Hillary "right wing" on foreign policy and "in the mainstream" on health care. Of the front runners, Hillary is the most conservative, but you would never know it checking out "right wing blogs." "She's no Gloria Steinem."

One wonders when KBDI will pull the plug in the looney left commentary that Dani provides. It may never happen as she may be on the program to make the two other left leaning commentatiors seem centrist. It doesn't work, but nice try.