Author: Eric Sondermann
-
A summertime all-you-can-eat political buffet | SONDERMANN
We find ourselves in the doldrums of August with a complete dearth of political news. Yeah, right. These days, that train never stops moving. It is a 24/7/365 express amplified by 24/7/365 media. Let me respond with one of my occasional catch-all columns touching on a handful of topics worthy of comment but without the…
-
Democrats and their big roll of the dice | SONDERMANN
For Republicans on the ballot this fall, the hand they are forced to play is rather set. Even if so many of them had not so meekly submitted to President Donald Trump’s agenda, they would still be largely tethered to the President’s unpopularity and depth-charge-level approval ratings. On the other hand, Democrats, as the party…
-
The primary political reform and precondition for all others | SONDERMANN
In its current state, the American political system has no end of ailments. Far too many factors accelerate polarization and work against moderation and narrowing the differences. Media, and the way so many citizens limit themselves to agreeable, reinforcing sources, only dials up the division. Congress has become performative and is essentially crippled in carrying…
-
Democrats and the siren call of socialism | SONDERMANN
The political pendulum continues to swing, though its arc these days seems far more volatile and exaggerated. While there have always been outliers and more extreme actors on the political spectrum, the pendulum for many years was more of a steady, often predictable metronome. The country would experience periods of ascendancy on the left, followed…
-
Phil Weiser’s sudden need to find the brake pedal | SONDERMANN
Indulge me with a personal story at the outset. Trust me, it relates. Years ago, when our kids were young, we briefly had a small jalopy for a babysitter’s use. One morning, I discovered that the battery on this poor excuse for a car was dead. Our driveway sat on a bit of an incline,…
-
Giving credit to Polis where credit is due | SONDERMANN
It is an understatement to suggest that Gov. Jared Polis has had a tough couple of months. The bloom was already off the rose and Coloradans were paying far more attention to the choice of his replacement than they were to him. The June 30 Democratic primary will identify that near-certain successor and officially cement…
-
A primary brings out primal instincts | SONDERMANN
There are no Stanley Cup finals or NBA title showdowns involving local teams this June. In their place, we are inundated with primary election campaign ads. Coloradans can be excused for missing the diversion and alternate programming. But life can be cruel and reality bites. The primary elections are upon us. Ballots are now sitting…
-
Democrats rebounding without learning necessary lessons | SONDERMANN
“When we fight, we win!” That, reportedly, was the chant heard over and over again at the Colorado Democratic Assembly a week ago. It suggests that pugilism has been the piece missing from the Democratic toolkit. Perhaps it was just me, but I seem to recall Democrats exhibiting plenty of fight back in 2024. The…
-
The insular bubble of caucuses and assemblies | SONDERMANN
Nearly 30 years ago, then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan coined the term “irrational exuberance” to describe the overheated stock market. That descriptive phrase could also apply to much of the political realm. The hype in politics often grossly exceeds the reality on the ground. In that vein, let’s focus on Colorado’s precinct caucuses held earlier…
-
One small step for dialing back the partisanship | SONDERMANN
Much ink, including a good deal of my own, has been spilled on the excesses of super-charged, toxic partisanship in this current era. Except for true believers along with those who profit from this all-consuming poison, there is broad agreement that it needs to be toned way down and dialed far back. The nearly 51%…