VOL. 01 NO. 208 | DECEMBER 19, 2016 | COLORADOSTATESMAN.COM/THE-HOT-SHEET | © 2016

DENVER – Happy Hyperbole (insert Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice … or whatever your holiday of choice is here)! More on that down the line.

But first, with just 31 days until the presidential inauguration, electors across the country head to their state capitols to cast their votes for president. Interesting (and disturbing) that many of the 538 have reported thousands of e-mails and even death threats in an attempt to sway the outcome.

Today, Colorado’s electors converge under the Gold Dome at High Noon. Those electors, as released by the Colorado Secretary of State’s office are: Michael Baca of Denver, Terry Phillips of Louisville, Mary Beth Corsentino of Pueblo, Jerad Sutton of Greeley, Robert Nemanich of Colorado Springs, Amy Drayer of Greenwood Village, Ann Knollman of Arvada, Sen. Rollie Heath of Boulder and former Sen. Polly Baca of Boulder.

And … because everyone in America apparently now has a sign, twenty or so anti-Trump protesters raged against 20 degree temperatures at the state Capitol yesterday – according to Fox31 – in hopes to change hearts and minds. (Did they know they were there on the wrong day? … or were they just weekend warriors who already had their holiday shopping done?)

The First Shot

“Though the presidential election result has caused uncertainty and grief, as a community we must continue to move toward an inclusive environment that is both accepting and safe for everyone.”

– U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Boulder)

The politics of saying “Happy Holidays”

We don’t know about you, but many of us just don’t know what to say come this time of year. Should Christians say Merry Christmas at the risk of offending the militant politically correct or possibly a good friend who celebrates Hanukkah?

Goodness, it’s almost not worth the trouble wanting to share a nice thoughtful greeting … who needs a political scolding from some ‘do-gooder’ at the mall?

First world problems, right? There’s a great editorial in the Gazette that outlines a compelling case for telling everyone to simply chill and stop over reacting. If someone wishes you a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or Awesome Kwanzaa … know that it’s most likely that person’s intent to simply share well wishes and the holiday spirit with you. Let’s not get so wrapped up in … the words.

The Gazette suggests Happy Holidays as a safe go-to place during the season … there, problem solved – but the call is entirely yours to make.

Or, you could just, you know, stop hanging out at the mall. 😉

Making an argument FOR pot

Pot in Colorado isn’t outsourced overseas, it’s not subsidized, it is a job creator and generates tax revenue. Have we forgotten anything? Just a few of the reasons the Denver Post Editorial Board took the space this weekend to encourage Donald Trump and the president-elect’s pick for attorney general to leave legalized marijuana alone.

Reminiscing for a moment … remember the days when people traveled to Colorado for the mountains, the skiing, awesome beer and food? Ugh!

Like legal weed or not, the legality of the potent green stuff is now built into our state’s constitution. The Denver Post suggests – our new reality – that an attack on Colorado’s legal pot could be an attack on state’s rights.

The bottom line: Colorado’s current haul helped fuel national estimated sales of $7.4 billion in 2016. Now that California voters have followed our lead, it’s possible that another $6.5 billion could be added to national tallies from the Golden State alone by 2020.

Rep. Polis: Trump “caused uncertainty and grief”

Boulder-based U.S. Rep. Jared Polis joined a growing list of Democratic lawmakers who have begun meeting with constituents in what can be described as “group therapy” following the election of Donald Trump. The lawmakers often promoting these events as attempts to lessen the “anxiety” of minority groups and undocumented immigrants.

With 31 days left until the president-elect is sworn in and takes office, those on the right might say it is too soon for a collective group hug.

According to the Daily Camera, Counselor Polis’s news release stated, “Though the presidential election result has caused uncertainty and grief, as a community we must continue to move toward an inclusive environment that is both accepting and safe for everyone.”

Grief? Our condolences …

It’s not personal … It’s all about ratings

Lampooning politicians is nothing new on late night television. We’re sure somewhere there are kinescopes of some late-night comedian taking shots at Abe Lincoln (excuse the use of language.) Some have done it better than others.

Yes, some of the 2016 presidential jabs might have – at different times – stung supporters of both Clinton or Trump. But the reality is television is still big business and when we – and boy did we watch – late night comedians get paid.

A big winner – as the Washington Post points out – continues to be Saturday Night Live. Preliminary ratings show that “SNL” is on track to surpass last year’s numbers. That makes sense given that political humor has long served as the show’s staple material, and its most defining moments – Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford, Dana Carvey as George H.W. Bush, Will Ferrell as George W. Bush or Tina Fey as Sarah Palin – have often come during election years.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt SNL ratings when the president-elect takes to Twitter to slam the show.

Just for Laughs

Calendar

12/19            ACDP Executive Board Regular Meeting

1/19               ACDP Executive Board Regular Meeting

Today in History

1998 – President Bill Clinton is impeached by the United States House of Representatives, becoming the second President of the United States to be impeached.

1986 – Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union, releases Andrei Sakharov and his wife from exile in Gorky.

1974 – Nelson Rockefeller is sworn in as Vice President of the United States under President Gerald Ford under the provisions of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

1972 – Apollo program: The last manned lunar flight, Apollo 17, crewed by Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt, returns to Earth.

1776 – Thomas Paine publishes one of a series of pamphlets in The Pennsylvania Journal entitled “The American Crisis”.

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