You'll be there, right?
August 2008 Archives
For opposing FasTracks from the beginning, rightly observing that the project would run way over budget. FasTracks, for you out-of-towners, is a massive expansion of rail service provided by local public transport service RTD, for which voters approved a sales tax increase in 2004.
Today's Denver Post front page headline: FasTracks price tag jumps
The price of the FasTracks rail expansion — if it is to be completed by 2017, as promised to voters — has jumped from $6.1 billion to $7.9 billion, according to officials familiar with RTD's latest analysis of the program.
It was less than a month ago when the cost was reported to have jumped from $4.7 billion to $6.1 billion, so the Post is still minimizing the cost increase over the promised price.
If a private company were so shoddy with its finances it would likely not survive. Sadly since RTD is a government program we are stuck with it, and forced to pay for it.
But what's a few billion among friends?
Mark Paschall, former Republican state rep and Jefferson county treasurer will not see corruption charges persued against him. He was accused of asking for a kickback from an employee and twice juries failed to reach a unanimous verdict. I have no opinion about the merit of the charge against him, after all, I assume politicians are corrupt, but I did take interest the statement made after the latest trial:
Former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall was fielding calls of congratulations Wednesday after Monday's news that criminal charges against him had been dropped.But it was a hollow victory.
"It's not like he went out and celebrated," said defense attorney David Lane, whom Paschall asked to serve as his spokesman. "From his perspective, an innocent man had to live under this nightmare for two years."
[...]
"In the eyes of the public, you're as good as convicted when you're accused," Lane said. "It's a nightmare. Accusations can ruin anyone and people only remember the accusations. They never remember the vindication. It's been a long, hard road to clear his name and he has been vindicated by two juries."In Mark's case, I hope people remember the vindication," Lane said.
The experience has caused Paschall to re-examine his political beliefs, Lane said.
"I think Mark Paschall now realizes that a police state is a very real concern in America, which is quite a turnaround for a very conservative Republican," Lane said.
Paschall believes the prosecution was politically motivated, Lane said.
"This case demonstrates the incredible power the state has to ruin the lives of citizens," he said. "Our society has given far too much power to prosecutors. The only thing that separates this country from Iran or China is the jury system. This was a huge eye-opening for Mark Paschall."
Lane said newspapers gave front-page coverage to the indictment but less space and prominence to his acquittal and even less or no space to the dismissal of charges.
For those of us who pay attention to these things he's only stating the obvious. If Mr. Paschall can find a way to turn his new found perspective into productive political action then some good can come of this.
Jon Caldara nails it. He names names, but really the antis are interchangable so I'll leave the names out...
...[_____] and [_____] worked to pass Amendment 23 back in 2000, promising the spending mandate was written to work with TABOR. Now they admit it doesn’t. The same two pushed Referendum C in 2005 saying it would cost us about $3 billion. It’s now costing us almost double that.
[...]
Now they are selling an initiative, #126, that “fixes” their mess with 23 and takes away our TABOR refunds, forever. When will taxpayers learn - every time these folks buy a taxpayer a drink, he wakes up the next morning in a bathtub full of ice and missing a kidney.
Go to the original to fill in the blanks.
We're getting word now of how the Obama coronation ceremony tickets will be allocated, and the details of how to pick them up-
Tickets must be picked up in person on Saturday or Sunday at one of 13 Obama campaign offices across the state. Those picking up a ticket must show a photo ID then activate their ticket online, by phone or in person by Aug. 19.
There's some irony. As Richard Combs observes;
These are the same liberal progressive community-organizer types who've fought tooth and nail for years against requiring voters to present IDs. They're the same people who denounce every attempt to fight vote fraud — the kind facilitated by all the fake registered voters created by ACORN, the far-left activist group for which Obama worked — as voter intimidation, discrimination, and the chilling of political expression.More audacity of arrogance. More leftist self-righteousness. The standards that they want to apply to everyone else don't apply to them. Because, after all, they're noble and good and have only the best of intentions. They can do whatever they want because they're doing it to make this a better world!
It might not be a double standard, though. They might be just be signaling the importance of the occasion. Seeing Obama is more important than actually voting.
That night I plan to be in downtown Denver, taking in the tear gas ambiance with a large group of bloggers. You are also invited. It's the Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash 5000, Donkeys Over Denver! All you need to do is go here and leave a comment.
Back on April 4th Denver policemen arrested John Heaney, charging him with criminal mischief and second degree assault for fighting with the officers. Problem: The scene was caught on video and it looks like it didn't go down the way the cops say it did.
Mr. Heaney was facing a minimum of three years in prison. Those charges have been dropped. The remaining question is what sort of charges will the policemen face.
