VOL. 01 NO. 201 | DECEMBER 8, 2016 | COLORADOSTATESMAN.COM/THE-HOT-SHEET | ©2016

DENVER – Good morning holiday shoppers … Just two more weekends of manic buying before Christmas Day. Yippee! Of course, it’s also the time of year when we’re over-scheduled with office parties, block parties, decorating parties, school parties … every kind of party. AGAIN, yippee.

We do want to thank the members of Colorado’s Lincoln Club for a look into their Christmas party this week. (We appreciate the e-mail and pictures, you guys.) How do political insiders celebrate the holidays? Why talking state politics, of course!

The First Shot

“BTW, you say ‘Hamilton Electors,’ we say faithless electors.”

– Colorado Secretary of State spokesperson Lynn Bartels

Who you like – EARLY – in the guv race?

Call it informal polling or possibly a new drinking game for the holidays … “Who do you like for the 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race?” Don’t be a kill joy. Yes, it’s (very) early but – when the eggnog is flowing – why not?

The Lincoln Club of Colorado took their politically savvy members to task this week. During their annual holiday party, attendees were encouraged to pick their Republican candidate for the 2018 race. Of these names – Walker Stapleton, George Brauchler, Cynthia Coffman or Jack Graham – who would you back?

As you can see, Colorado Treasure Walker Stapleton had a far better night than Jack Graham. Early support for Stapleton may be due in part to speculation that he will excel in fundraising. To keep things in perspective, Jeb Bush – cousin Jeb – looked like a shoo-in to many a casual and professional observer just 18 months ago.

Colorado Secretary of State: “Faithless Electors”

And “The Beat Goes On …” The debate continues concerning the validity – or motivation – behind the recent legal challenge filed by the so-called ‘Hamilton Electors.” The suit is an attempt by a handful of electors to derail the election of Donald Trump.

Colorado SoS Wayne Williams hasn’t minced words over the legal wrangling saying in a release, “Make no mistake, this is not some noble effort to fight some unjust or unconstitutional law; rather, this is an arrogant attempt by two faithless electors to elevate their personal desires over the entire will of the people of Colorado.”

Lynn Bartels, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office, tweeted (because apparently that’s how the government speaks to us now) echoing the contempt for the recent law suit.

So if you’re wondering why the HAMILTON Electors and not the WASHINGTON or LINCOLN Electors … Politico and ColoradoPolitics.com explain:

Supporting their lawsuit, the challengers cite Alexander Hamilton’s initial conception of the Electoral College in the Federalist Papers, in which he argues that the body should be deliberative to ensure the election of a highly qualified candidate.

What if Trump won’t take a toke?

Despite liberal statements “campaign Trump” made concerning Colorado’s constitutional amendment making medical and recreational marijuana legal (Amendment 64 for all you insiders) … Some pro-pot groups are concerned that the president-elect may have more restrictive policies in mind.

One clue: Donald Trump’s selection for Attorney General, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, a strong opponent to the magic green stuff.

Though we are sure she doesn’t wake up everyday itching to chat about legalized pot, Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman has weighed-in. Speaking to 9News, Coffman said, “It’s difficult to anticipate. I think we’ll be doing a lot in reactionary mode.”

The feds have restricted Colorado’s grand pot experiment in many ways in the past. The most restrictive might be not allowing businesses that sell pot access to the nation’s banking system.

Government transparency … Expect for our Courts?

Colorado’s judicial branch has famously pushed back against several efforts by the press and the public to peek into the inner workings of our courts.

Our judicial branch is – apparently – exempt from the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) because of two court rulings, including the Colorado Court of Appeals’ 2012 decision in Gleason v. Judicial Watch. The standoff between the courts and the media and citizens of Colorado has given heartburn – not only to them – but also some state lawmakers.

In blog post Wednesday by the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, Rep. Polly Lawrence of Douglas County announced that she was going to renew her effort to make the judicial branch more transparent (and accountable) to their employers … The citizens of Colorado.

“It’s just so interesting that one branch of government thinks they should be held to a different standard,” Rep. Lawrence told the CFOIC. “We don’t let the executive branch write their own rules.”

Denver beating the swim trucks off Miami

In closing, as you bundle up this morning in layers of wool, or cotton … or synthetics – or whatever tickles your stylistic fancies – take heart: More vacationers would trade Miami for Denver. Yep, more tourists say they’d take the snow capped mountains of Colorado before the sandy beaches of Florida.

Allianz Global Assistance conducted the survey of would-be travelers. The travel company said they reviewed nearly one million plans made by Americans for travel during Christmas, December 20-28, with New York having 113,326 booking intents, Denver with 53,748 and Miami with 53,175. Read more in the Denver Business Journal.

So, take that Florida! (Now go scrape the ice off your windshield.)

Just for Laughs

Calendar

12/10              Douglas Executive Meeting

12/12              Larimer County Republican Breakfast Club

                       HD 41 Holiday Party

12/14              Aurora Republican Women Luncheon

12/15              Colorado Hispanic Republicans Meet n Greet

                      ACDP Executive Board Regular Meeting

12/16              CRBA Monthly Meeting

12/19             ACDP Executive Board Regular Meeting

1/19               ACDP Executive Board Regular Meeting

Today in History

2010 – With the second launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 and the first launch of the SpaceX Dragon, SpaceX becomes the first private company to successfully launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft.

1987 – The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is signed.

1980 – John Lennon is murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota in New York City.

1953 – U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers his “Atoms for Peace” speech, which leads to an American program to supply equipment and information on nuclear power to schools, hospitals, and research institutions around the world.

1941 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares December 7 to be “a date which will live in infamy”, after which the U.S. declares war on Japan.

1927 – The Brookings Institution, one of the United States’ oldest think tanks, is founded through the merger of three organizations that had been created by philanthropist Robert S. Brookings.

1813 – Premiere of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.

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