Author: By Eric Sondermann
-
The through line from Donald Trump to Victor Marx | SONDERMANN
Over 10 years ago, before Donald Trump could ever defeat Hillary Rodham Clinton, he had to first engineer a hostile takeover of the Republican Party. Prior to his descent of that golden escalator, the previous seven Republican presidential nominees had been named Bush, Bush, Dole, Bush, Bush, McCain and Romney. Those names constituted something of…
-
25 lessons and wishes to celebrate America’s 250th | SONDERMANN
The 250th celebration of America’s birth is upon us. There is undoubtedly much to salute. Despite plenty of strife and discontent at home, America remains a beacon to much of the world. The wisdom of our founders has largely withstood the test of time. That said, we are living through a tumultuous period, certainly not…
-
Landlocked Colorado’s sea-change primary | ANALYSIS
Colorado’s primary elections held in the doldrums of early summer tend to be routine affairs, most often predictable and by the book. Tuesday’s battlefield was anything but. It is no exaggeration to call it a sea change. Its ripples will shape Colorado politics for many years to come. The choice of the next governor The…
-
Does character matter anymore? | SONDERMANN
The last few weeks have been illuminating in the manner of a headlamp pointing the way to some deep, dark, murky netherworld. Graham Platner, a hero to the populist set on the Democratic side, became his party’s Senate nominee in Maine. While across the fields of Texas, MAGA favorite Ken Paxton handily defeated an establishment…
-
Would you hire Jena Griswold to handle your case? | SONDERMANN
If you were in a child custody dispute with a former spouse, would you hire an attorney with experience in family law or would you trust your case to an operative with virtually zero mastery? If you were getting ready to sue your employer for unpaid wages or a toxic workplace, would you enlist a…
-
A mistaken commutation and an over-the-top reaction | SONDERMANN
It seemed an itch that Gov. Jared Polis just had to scratch. After months of hints and speculation, Polis put his signature on a commutation of the prison sentence of Colorado’s election-denying queen, former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters. True, Peters’s break was one of 44 commutations and pardons announced en masse by Polis late…
-
Colorado needs a sane, viable opposition party | SONDERMANN
If you are upset with the increasing regulatory burden in Colorado, the exodus of too many large employers, accelerating property taxes, the condition of the roads, and all of the funding for transit schemes with low demand, of course, you can lay the blame on Democrats who control all levers of state government. The same…
-
The need for a governor to say “no” to his friends | SONDERMANN
A wise man once remarked that the real test of a governor is his willingness to turn down and reject the pleadings of political friends and allies. That gentleman knew something of what he spoke. He occupied the corner-office executive chambers on the main floor of the State Capitol for three terms. For six years,…
-
The applicability of Hungary’s election to our politics | SONDERMANN
American conservatives, largely synonymous these days with MAGA save for a few lonely voices of courage and dissent, have plenty to lament. Their domination of the political landscape is waning. Various special elections hither and yon have presented bright, flashing caution signs. A very difficult, perhaps devastating, off-year election beckons. Major fractures have surfaced within…
-
A longshot, upset bid and a few quick takes | SONDERMANN
It is hard to keep up these days. The flow of news often seems overwhelming. Let’s focus today on an unusual congressional race before moving on to a few quick, supplementary observations. Since its creation 54 years ago, Congressional District 5 has been represented by a grand total of five people – Bill Armstrong, Ken…