VOL. 01 NO. 202 | DECEMBER 9, 2016 | COLORADOSTATESMAN.COM/THE-HOT-SHEET | © 2016

DENVER – Happy Friday! Although, if you’re like most of us you’ll be working the second-shift this weekend attending parties, school plays and assorted holiday events. We wish you the best with that and God’s speed.

With 42 days before the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump, it’s kinda fun to ask which of your politically plugged-in friends are heading to the big doins in D.C. We’ve found quite a few have tickets in hand and have pressed the fancy duds. Most, looking forward to – in what can only be called a NANNA move – sharing taunting photos and posts of themselves on social media.

The First Shot

“This is Colorado’s law, this isn’t my law.”

– Arapahoe County DA George Brauchler

Here’s $3 million bucks… Now, go play outside

In what can only be seen as a bribe (OK – at least we see it as a bribe), the community of Lafayette has been gifted nearly $3 million. Will the three mill be spent to reduce traffic congestion? No. To improve education? No. To house the homeless or feed the needy? No.

The $2.8 million grant from the Great Outdoors Colorado will be spent in the HOPES of pulling our children away from television and video games and (hold your breath) to experience nature and actually play outside. (HEAVY SIGH)

The project appears to be targeting Latino children. According to the reporting of the Daily Camera: Approximately 200 youth and adults ages 5 to 40, 80 percent of whom are Latino, helped collaborators understand the barriers they face to connecting with nature and the outdoors and their ideas for removing these barriers.

Remember the days when your parents simply threw you out of the house and told you not to get hit by a car?

So, who’s thinking of running TODAY?

Each day, it appears that some seemingly well intentioned Coloradan graces the media with their – maybe, could be, sort of, mediocre – almost announcement of a possible run for elected office long down the road. Of course, these not quite announcements are intended to test the political waters.

The two more recent reluctant candidates hoping to earn your future votes are state Sen. Michael Johnston and Nicholas Morse.

Johnston, a Democrat hinting at a run for governor. While Morse – who failed in his campaign to oust U.S. Rep. Jared Polis last cycle – claims the Trump campaign has looked to him to run for state Treasure.

It’s interesting – these lukewarm, almost announcements. Because they are half-hearted and off the cuff, they require no vetting. Get ready, because as the days and months pass by, it’s likely the list of folks NOT running for something will be shorter than that of those who are.

Speaking of possible candidates for governor …

Possible (almost, sort of) Republican candidate for Colorado governor and Arapahoe County DA George Brauchler explains his views on capital punishment … again. Brauchler recently announcing that his office would seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing his 6-year-old son. This, a year after he failed to convince a jury to put to death Aurora shooter James Holmes.

Maybe not so obvious … If Brauchler does run to replace Gov. John Hickenlooper, his views concerning the death penalty couldn’t be more different. Now we know Brauchler’s views. We also know Hickenlooper’s. The current governor has blocked the death sentences of three murders sitting on Colorado’s “death row.”

As the Aurora Sentinel points out, two of these men were convicted of killing an Aurora murder witness and his fiancée. A third Aurora man, who killed four at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in 1993, had his death sentence indefinitely delayed by Hickenlooper.

This will likely be one of central issues in the 2018 campaign. So there we have it: a preview. Yay.

For God’s sake … Don’t drink and drive

As folks head out for their cute little holiday parties, let us rant. Please excuse the public service announcement here. There are few things less responsible then crawling behind the wheel after knocking back a few too many. So, we were glad to see that the financial cost for driving drunk has increased. Of course, the cost of the loss of life … incalculable.

The nonprofit “No DUI Colorado” has done the math and found the average cost of a first-time offense in 2016 is $13,530. That’s up nearly 32 percent from their previous calculation in 2008. We’ll slide off our soapbox now. As you were.

Ski lift speed dating … Naaaaaa!

And finally, how Colorado is this?  Because we guess that you might be cold AND lonely this time of year, we offer up for your consideration – “Chairlift Speed Dating.” Yep, singles bars and discos have long gone the way of the leisure suit. If you’re looking for love while enjoying your love of skiing … This is for you! (Oh, yeah … also, it’s generally best you be single.)

This weekend’s big event is being sponsored by dating app LuvByrd. According to 9News, LuvByrd matches adventurous Coloradans with others who are eager to find someone who loves hiking, camping, skiing and boarding just as much as they do. Apparently, “snow bunnies” looking for luv on a schedule now have a new option … Check out the story over at 9News to get discounted tickets.

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

2008 – The governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, is arrested by federal officials for crimes including attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

1979 – The eradication of the smallpox virus is certified, making smallpox the first and to date only human disease driven to extinction.

1965 – A Charlie Brown Christmas, first in a series of Peanuts television specials, debuts on CBS.

1958 – The John Birch Society is founded in the United States.

1953 – Red Scare: General Electric announces that all communist employees will be discharged from the company.

1935 – The Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, later renamed the Heisman Trophy, is awarded for the first time. The winner is halfback Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago.

1851 – The first YMCA in North America is established in Montreal.

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