VOL. 01 NO. 162 | AUGUST 29, 2016 | COLORADOSTATESMAN.COM/THE-HOT-SHEET | © 2016By TCS Editor and Publisher Jared Wright

DENVER – Good morning and HAPPY MONDAY! Too loud? Sorry. The weekend was full of canvassing, door knocking, phone calling, barbecuing and other campaign events across Colorado – including visits from two women in national politics carrying torches on opposite sides of the island, Carly Fiorina and Jill Stein. And, of course, there was the legislative BBQ at the Colorado State Fair, House Majority Leader Crisanta Duran‘s Annual Birthday Bash and the Independence Institute’s big yearly Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Party. Whoo! You’re no doubt exhausted – but alas, it’s another work day! With the kids back in school, we are now officially in the heart of presidential general election campaign season. All you campaign circus performing gypsies, enjoy those larger than average paychecks – or that peaked interest in your race for village dog catcher – while it lasts. OK, I understand you want to gallivant around the neighborhood throwing unruly animals in jail, but where do you stand on the Clinton Foundation? What about Trump’s immigration stance? Remember, it only happens but once a quadrennial. Good luck this week.

Best part this week, we are just one day away from the Colorado State Fair’s Junior Livestock Show in Pueblo. Watch for our world-class coverage as the Denver Rustlers make their way to the show tomorrow for their 32nd Annual event helping kids “earn their way to college.”

“Real change happens in our communities and our districts, so I think it’s really important we support servant leaders. Not everybody is a servant leader. Some people are in it for themselves … Mike [Coffman] is a servant leader. He’s demonstrated to us over and over.”

– Carly Fiorina

Now, your substrata feed straight from Colorado’s politics pipeline:

COFFMAN, FIORINA CAMPAIGN ON WOMEN’S ISSUES IN GREENWOOD VILLAGE AT ‘WORKING WOMEN’ EVENT – U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman had some female star-power backup at a women’s invite only invent in Greenwood Village Saturday as he continues to campaign against his woman opponent with a strong campaign, state Sen. Morgan Carroll. From the Aurora Sentinel’s Jeremy Johnson: “A lot of people think of me as having a military background, but I also have a small business background,” Coffman said, recounting his struggles to break into entrepreneurship coming out of the Marine Corps with no business experience to speak of. “I got so frustrated … I ended up taking my savings from having served overseas and put it down on a small business idea, where I learned how to balance a budget, meet a payroll and run an organization efficiently enough to make a profit – a quality not readily found in Washington, D.C.”

“I resent it deeply when people tell you as a feminist you have to agree with a certain position on issues,” Carly Fiorina said. “That’s not feminism.

“Here’s my definition of feminism: A feminist is a woman who has the opportunity and chooses to use all of her God-given gifts … any woman who chooses to live life on her own terms and has the opportunity to do so,” she added. “And nobody defines those terms for her. She defines them for herself.”

Not impressed, Carroll’s campaign spun together a statement on the Coffman-Fiorina event: “Mike Coffman is quite possibly the last person to give a talk on working women. Time and again, he has stood up against women in the workplace: voting against the Paycheck Fairness Act, paid family leave, and to slash funds for women’s healthcare. That he would campaign with Carly Fiorina, an extremist who repeatedly peddled lies about Planned Parenthood, speaks volumes to how out of touch Mike Coffman is with the women of this community.”

Full stories here and here

JILL STEIN BRINGS THIRD PARTY OPTION TO COLORADO, POSTS TWEET ABOUT HARAMBE WHILE TRAVELING THE STATE – Green Party candidate for president Jill Stein was in Colorado this weekend making campaign stops between Colorado Springs and Boulder, relaying optimism in the party’s chances to grow and her own odds of being elected.

While in Colorado, Stein yesterday marked the 3 month anniversary of the death of Harambe, the gorilla killed at the Cincinnati Zoo after a small child fell into its cage, by posting to her online blog, attacking zoos and calling for stronger animal rights in America.

“Other countries, especially in Europe, have begun to provide legal rights and protected status to primates as living beings. Non human primates should have the legal right to live freely or, when necessary, in sanctuaries only for medical rehabilitation or ecological assistance for endangered species,” Stein wrote. “Harambe was killed by a zoo which raises revenues by selling tickets to see captive animals, including primates. While good emergency staff training might have prevented such a catastrophic outcome, the Green Party believes that captivity for such entertainment is ethically wrong and fundamentally exploitive and should be illegal.

Supporters were on hand at the Colorado events to attest to why they are members of the small Green Party. “As an U.S. Army veteran, having deployed to Iraq, having lost friends, having to deal with all the PTSD issues coming home, I feel that both (major party) candidates would just keep us in a state of endless war, where someone like Dr. Stein is more along the lines of a peaceful non-interventionist, foreign policy, which I think America could really use right now,” said Iraqi War veteran Alan Pitts who was at the Colorado Springs event.

Full story here

GOV. HICKENLOOPER PREDICTS MEASURES TO LIMIT FRACKING WON’T MAKE BALLOT – Hickenlooper on the proposed ballot measures to allow local bans and other limits on fracking including 2,500 foot setbacks:  “I don’t think that either one of them will be on the ballot, and that’s a reflection of both sides listening to each other.” Full story here

HICKENLOOPER LOSES THIS YEAR’S GOVERNOR’S BEEF SHOW BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T ‘FIX IT’ – From the Denver Post’s Joey Bunch: Gov. John Hickenlooper “has competed in the Governor’s Beef Show four of the seven years it’s been put on at the State Fair by the Colorado Farm Bureau, He won in 2012, ‘the year they fixed it,’ he joked.

“The governor has two more tries, next year and in 2018 before term limits put him out to pasture. ‘I will win again, I guarantee you,’ Hickenlooper vowed.

“‘It’s great about the State Fair and the quality of cattle we have here,’ Hickenlooper said, just outside the pen. ‘But the real value is in these kids. I was just talking to this kid, Cal, and he knew everything, not just about the animal, but he knew everything about breeding, cross-breeding, and he knew genetics – the kid is 10 years old.’ …” Full story here

Both Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne will be in Pueblo tomorrow with the Denver Rustlers to attend the Junior Livestock Sale at the State Fair.

RUBEN GALLEGO RALLIES DEM TROOPS IN PUEBLO – Arizona U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-AZ7, attempted to bring a little Democratic Party star power to Southern Colorado over the weekend, campaigning for Hillary Clinton, alongside 3rd Congressional District candidate Gail Schwartz and state Sen. Leroy Garcia in Pueblo Saturday. Gallego also led a panel discussion on veterans issues in Colorado Springs and spoke to the Adams County Democrats. Firing up the Democrat crowd, Gallego threw some flames, saying that Republicans who support Trump should be “ashamed.” In Pueblo, he added, “When we say this is the most important election ever, we mean it.”

LONTINE: THANKS FOR SENDING THE ‘HOT TRACKER’ – Democratic State Rep. Susan Lontine, running for re-election in House District 1 publicly thanked conservative America Rising PAC for sending a professional tracker to follow and film her and other Colorado Democrats as they canvassed neighborhoods Saturday – a “hot tracker,” that is.

While she was perhaps thankful for the tracker’s being a looker, as opposed to, you know, just any old tracker, she was not as grateful for the fact she was being followed.  “#smacksofdesperation.” she tweeted.

“Thanks @AmericaRising for sending the same hot tracker to follow Colorado Dems #copolitics #smacksofdesperation“

HICKENLOOPER ANNOUNCES COLORADO, KANSAS, NEBRASKA REACH AGREEMENT ON REPUBLICAN RIVER COMPACT – Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Friday that Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska have established a consensus on a “longstanding conflict” over water from the Republican River basin. The Republican River Compact Administration signed two resolutions last week. “Representatives from the three states have been meeting monthly for over two years, in an effort to change the approach and improve how they manage interstate water matters,” according to a press release. “This effort has created a new focus on transparency and certainty as all three states work to serve their water users. The intent of these resolutions is to replace the need for annual reviews and instead provide long-term surety to water users.”

“We are proud to be part of this historic agreement,” said Hickenlooper in a statement. “For the first time since signing the Compact, the three states have worked together to resolve their issues without litigation and have brought certainty to the water users in the basin. This is how we do our best work in Colorado and defines our approach to addressing our water challenges – cooperation and collaboration.”

“Signing these resolutions shows the commitment from all three states to engage in open and transparent dialogue for the past two years,” said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. “This long-term agreement will ultimately improve water management for water users in Kansas as well as Nebraska and Colorado.”

Advocates say the resolutions signed this week will provide flexibility and greater certainty to all water users in the region, while remaining consistent with the terms of the Republican River Compact and the Final Settlement Stipulation of 2002. “The three states have been involved in various litigation and arbitration for the past 15 years over administration of water in the Republican River basin, and this agreement is a significant and positive step forward, with the next steps focusing on working with the basin’s water users to implement these agreements,” read a news release from Hickenlooper’s office.

The Republican River basin begins in the plains of eastern Colorado and flows through northwest Kansas and southern Nebraska, ultimately returning to Kansas. The Republican River Compact was negotiated during the early 1940s with participation by the states of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska and a representative of the President of the United States. The Compact was formally signed in 1942. Its purposes are to provide for equitable division of such waters, remove all causes of controversy, promote interstate comity, promote joint action by the states and the United States in the efficient use of water and the control of destructive floods, and provide for the most efficient use of waters in the Republican River basin.

YEP, CRISANTA DURAN’S BIRTHDAY BASH HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND – “Every year I am shocked by Democrat Crisanta Duran‘s birthday party,” Lynn Bartels said. “Such a who’s who. [The] event featured catered food, a band and a lot of really good people.” House Majority Leader Duran indeed had a large gathering of Colorado political stars at La Rumba in Denver. Gov. John Hickenlooper was one of many big names on hand to help Duran celebrate.

“New career goal: Have the Governor lead a round of ‘Happy Birthday’ for me!” tweeted an excited Gena Ozols, political director for NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado.

Watch for full coverage of the event in this week’s print edition of The Statesman.

ALCOHOL TOBACCO AND FIREARMS PARTY ANOTHER BIG HIT – This year’s event where conservative and libertarian minded folk from all around the metro area celebrate not only their rights to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco and use firearms, but to combine the three, was another big hit. But the event, hosted by long-time Independence Institute President Jon Caldara also caught the attention of someone from the progressive crowd – Alan Franklin, political director for ProgressNow Colorado. “I’m gonna totally crash one of these someday,” Frankln tweeted referring to this year’s ATF Party. “It’s on my bucket list.”

LEGISLATIVE BBQ DELIVERS ANOTHER YEAR OF BIPARTISANSHIP – Pictures speak a thousand words as does this one. This year’s legislative barbecue at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo was another great exercise in bipartisanship, putting the big election at hand aside for good food and good company. Nothing like a nice BBQ to bring people together!

CLINTON ATTACK DOG TREY GOWDY COMING TO TOWN – Conservative firebrand and lead attack dog on Benghazi and the Clinton email “scandal,” U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy will be in Douglass County tomorrow at a campaign event for Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-CO4. Most recently, Gowdy was in the news claiming Clinton staff used a special tool to scrub her email server. “She and her lawyers had those emails deleted. And they didn’t just push the delete button; they had them deleted where even God can’t read them,” Gowdy said Thursday morning during an interview on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” “They were using something called BleachBit. You don’t use BleachBit for yoga emails or bridemaids emails. When you’re using BleachBit, it is something you really do not want the world to see.” Full story hereGEORGE ATHANASOPOULOS, THE MAN WITH THE LONG NAME HOPING TO UNSEAT PERLMUTTER … ALLOWING THE PERLM TO LAUNCH HIS RUN FOR GUV A LITTLE EARLY? – Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District George Athanasopoulos has always had a commitment to something, save a period of more-or-less six days he says. “So, my entire adult life I’ve had about six days where I wasn’t in college, wasn’t in the Army and wasn’t a candidate, Athanasopoulos who is campaigning against incumbent U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter – a noted top-shelf Democratic contender for Colorado governor in 2018 – told the Westminster Window. Athanasopoulos went on record outlining several policy positions with the Window.

“I rely a lot on my experience in the military, but there are bad actors in the world. What we’ve seen these last few years is that the world has suffered because America has shirked its responsibilities to be a leader,” he said. “(The other candidates) support the deal with Cuba, support the deal with Iran, they are all for entering into bad trade deals with bad actors, and vote in ways that will endanger the security of the American people.”

Full story here

MARK YOUR CALENDARS … THIS YEARS ‘BIG DEBATE’ (ACCORDING TO CASPER STOCKHAM, AT LEAST) IS ON! – It’s officially happening. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-CO1, has agreed to debate her challenger, Republican Casper Stockham on October 4 at the University of Denver. “Ladies and Gentlemen SAVE THE DATE!” an excited Stockham posted on his Facebook page. Stockham has challenging DeGette – ruthlessly – over the past several weeks to debate him. While the electoral odds are seemingly insurmountably against him, no one can say Stockham, a Denver-area Uber driver, hasn’t been working hard.

“We cannot hear your conversations, and no one else can either. No exceptions.”

– The mobile app, Signal, reportedly being used by Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff

Birthdays:

Happy Birthday wishes today to Colorado Republican political operative Justin Prendergast!

Events: Town Hall Meeting in Boulder With Rep. KC Becker, Sen. Rollie Heath – Monday, August 29, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Boulder Chamber of Commerce, 2440 Pearl St, Boulder. Rep. KC Becker and Sen. Rollie Heath will host a town hall meeting focusing on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s activities in Boulder County and the US 36 corridor. The meeting will feature guest speaker CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt

Last day for U.S. Senate and U.S. House candidates to submit a voluntary term limits declaration form – Monday, August 29

Denver Rustlers 32nd Annual trip to the Colorado State Fair Livestock Sale – Tuesday, August 30, 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.. Trip starts at Del Frisco’s, 8100 E Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village. Register here and/or watch for the exclusive annual coverage in The Colorado Statesman!

Campaign Rally for Congressman Ken Buck featuring Congressman Trey Gowdy – Tuesday, August 30, 4:15 pm. Douglas County Events Center, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock, For more information or to receive complimentary tickets please click here to register or e-mail Info@BuckforColorado.com

Colorado Leaders Convene on Equity and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – Tuesday, August 30, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn St., Denver. This convening will bring together leaders in Colorado, including U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, Former Colorado state Senate President Peter Groff, Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO), NCLR (National Council of La Raza, NAACP of Denver, Climb Higher Colorado, Colorado Children’s Campaign and the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver to focus on inequities within our public education system for the purpose of leveraging the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) federal law to drive improved outcomes for low-income and minority students. Legislators, community organizations, and education stakeholders will develop shared principles, unpack challenges and opportunities and make recommendations for ESSA implementation in Colorado for the 2017-18 school year while ensuring educational equity is a priority.

Clean Energy Fair and Celebration hosted by Sierra Club and Google Project Sunroof – Wednesday, August 31, 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Denver Skyline Park (off 16th St Mall). RSVP here

House Republican Joint Republican Candidate Reception and Fundraiser – Wednesday, August 31, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., 1410 Grant St., Denver, CO 80203. Join the House Republican Caucus to support these candidates: Richard Bowman * Rep. J Paul Brown * Katy Brown  Chris Hadsall * Kimmi Lewis * Jessica Sandgren Host Committee: Assistant Minority Leader Polly Lawrence * Caucus Chair Lois Landgraf * Minority Whip Perry Buck * Representatives Jon Becker * Paul Lundeen * Dan Nordberg * Lang Sias * Kit Roupe * Cole Wist. $200 suggested contribution. Please RSVP to Boyd.SaraA@gmail.com. 

Young and Active Conservatives of Denver – Wednesday, August 31, 7:00 pm. Highland Tavern, 3400 Navajo Street, Denver, CO. HAPPY HOUR! We are conservative young adults in our 20s – 40s who enjoy talking politics and doing social activities. More information here.

Denver GOP First Friday Breakfast featuring special guest, former Sen. John Andrews – Friday, September 2, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Pete’s Greek Town Cafe, 2910 E. Colfax Ave. Andrews will be speaking on what to look forward to in the upcoming election. The title of his talk is “What Would Churchill Do?” Breakfast sponsor is Viano Construction.

Colorado Remembers 9/11, 15th Anniversary 9/11 Ceremony – Sunday, September 11, 1:00 p.m., Civic Center Park. Hosted by Gov. John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock. Free Tribute Concert. www.COremembers911.org.

Centennial Institute Issue Monday: Who wins the 2016 presidential election? – Monday, September 12, 7:00 p.m. Colorado Christian University. With the presidential election quickly upon us, who do the latest polls indicate will win? How does the electoral college factor into this year’s race? Join Centennial Institute for a special election day preview with pollster David Flaherty and a discussion on the role and history of the electoral college in choosing presidents with Dr. Vincent McGuire. RSVP here.

Evening Conversation to Re-elect state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush – Saturday, September 17th, 4:00 pm – 6:00pm. 171 Chaparral Road, Singletree in Edwards. Families are welcome!

General Election mail ballots drop – Monday, October 17

General Election polling locations open – Monday, October 24

General Election – Tuesday, November 8

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