VOL. 01 NO. 204 | DECEMBER 13, 2016 | COLORADOSTATESMAN.COM/THE-HOT-SHEET | © 2016

DENVER – Good Tuesday to you … And for those keeping tabs: 11 days until Christmas, 18 days until New Years and 37 days until the inauguration of Donald Trump. Or as detractors call it, the end of civilization as we know it.

Outside of a federal judge calling the lawsuit of two electoral defectors a ‘political stunt,’ the best story of the morning is continued speculation that Broncos superhero John Elway has sights set on being Colorado’s next governor. Elway is probably more likely to return as Bronco quarterback than run toward the gal of becoming Colorado’s next captain. But …  every year, like children waiting for Santa to squeeze his spare tire down the chimney, it’s fun for the GOP to dream, we guess.

The First Shot

“Part of me thinks this is really a political stunt to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president.”

– U.S. District Judge Wiley Daniel

A crybaby ‘political stunt’ is blocked

Not so fast … A federal judge striking a blow Monday to a long shot effort to deny Donald Trump the presidency through the Electoral College. U.S. District Judge Wiley Daniel refusing to suspend a Colorado law requiring the state’s nine electors to vote for Trump …

“Part of me thinks this is really a political stunt to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president,” Daniel said according to the Associated Press. FYI – Judge Daniel was nominated to the bench by Bill Clinton in 1995. Yeah, so take that all you crybabies.

An attorney for president-elect Donald Trump filed legal papers arguing a suspension of Colorado’s law could have sweeping consequences. If the Colorado electors had been successful, it could have signaled that similar laws in more than two dozen other states could also be overturned. The Aurora Sentinel has a different take.

Somehow – if we’ve learned nothing during #Election 2016 – you have to believe there will be more election legal challenges ahead.

Ready, set, litigate … Trump!

A coalition of more than 100 Colorado attorneys have joined forces to litigate – what they say – will be an “onslaught” of civil rights cases during the Trump presidency. That at least according to high-powered Denver civil right’s attorney David Lane. “…Every time he opens his mouth he attacks civil rights,” Lane told the Denver Post.

Known to be extremely skilled in manipulating the media – and being a soundbite machine – Lane’s role as spokesperson will no doubt give the group of lawyers a high-profile.

So far, the coalition is made up of attorneys from the Denver metro area, but Lane tells the Denver Post that he expects their reach to become statewide. The newly formed Lawyers Civil Rights Coalition and the ACLU of Colorado both seem to believe – according to a recently circulated petition – the election of Donald Trump has placed constitutional rights in serious danger … seems to be a recurring theme, like a bad 70s sitcom.

Drafting Elway … for governor?

The evil truth about modern-day politics is it takes money and visibility to mount a successful run for any higher office. And as we learned with Donald Trump’s presidential win, name recognition and a knowledge of how to run the media gauntlet has become almost as vital as oxygen and water.

So, who in Colorado possesses that secret sauce? Why legendary Denver Broncos Quarterback John Elway, of course! Haven’t we heard this somewhere like 100 times before?

Some in political circles are touting the resume Elway would bring to a race for Colorado governor in 2018 … Arapahoe County District Attorney – and probable gubernatorial candidate – George Brauchler going so far as to say, “If John Elway wants to run for governor, I would say, ‘What can I do to help.’ But other than him, there isn’t anybody that could keep me from running.” Smart man to step out of the way of such a freight train.

What are the chances Elway might take a run at Colorado governor? Not much according to the reporting of Coloradospeculation.com or Coloradowebsitetrafficbuilder.com … er, we mean ColoradoPolitics.com. Friends and colleagues close to Elway doubt that the “Duke of Denver” would mount a political run in the next couple of years.

Elway himself isn’t publicly discussing his political aspirations, but sources say he is preoccupied with exploring the possibility of putting together a group to purchase the Broncos. More from the Gazette.

Destroying Democrats ballots: Not funny

A Douglas County election judge has been sidelined after he allegedly said he destroyed all the Democrat ballots during the recent election. Yeah, not very funny in an election year when both Dems and Repubs are sensitive to possible voter fraud. Apparently, someone overheard the (now former) judge talking to someone else at a local gym and then filed a complaint.

The judge was given the boot despite reassurances by Douglas County election officials who say no ballots were destroyed. Exhibit A: 24-hour surveillance. Exhibit B: Every ballot is tracked by number.

“The fact that we received a complaint about the behavior of an election judge is enough to call into question that election judge’s ability to continue as an election judge in future elections,” Wendy Holmes, the director of public affairs told Denver7.

Congratulations on showing off your tough-guy status at the gym, buddy. “Ya fired.”

Educating or advocating?

The student’s notes are heartbreaking. There is no way to ignore the fear expressed by Carmel Russo regarding her 5th grade Annunciation Catholic School art class. Russo tells several news outlets that her students came to her asking to create an art project inspired by their fears over possible hard-line immigration policies soon coming down by the president-elect.

“I had to hold back tears for sure,” Ms. Russo told Denver7. “They wanted to build their own wall and their wall expressed their feelings toward Donald Trump.”

Ninety percent of students attending Annunciation are Hispanic, according to reports. The topic of immigration – legal or otherwise – is certainly a conversation that has been addressed in the classroom. A question that might need to be addressed centers around whether this exercise was more advocacy or education by some of the teachers.

The exhibit also highlights other problems the students see in their community like drugs and violence, and it is free and open to the public at Redline Art Gallery through December 30th. There’s more reporting over at The Westword.

Just for Laughs

Calendar

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

2013 – Arapahoe High School Shooting: Murder-suicide: A female student seeking the librarian is shot dead in a hallway by another student after the librarian had demoted him on the debate team. The shooter takes his own life shortly afterwards.

2003 – Iraq War: Operation Red Dawn: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit.

1972 – Apollo program: Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt begin the third and final extra-vehicular activity (EVA) or “Moonwalk” of Apollo 17. To date they are the last humans to set foot on the Moon.

1928 – George Gershwin’s An American in Paris is first performed.

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