Author: Eric Sondermann
-
A bit of positive thinking for the holidays | SONDERMANN
—
by
These days, some out-and-out positivity is perhaps out of character for me. I tend to view our politics and the world more broadly with considerable alarm. My morning routine most often consists of reading for a solid 60 or 90 minutes, all online, all news and commentary from a variety of publications. As this period…
-
A not-so-special session | SONDERMANN
—
by
As legislators gather in the coming days for the special session called by Gov. Jared Polis to address a worsening budget shortfall, Coloradans can be assured of one thing. That being that the shots will be called – or already have been – by our Democratic governor and his party’s legislative leadership. Republican input will…
-
Six months of war and the Jewish tradition of questioning | SONDERMANN
—
by
April 7 is upon us. Subtract six months and we are back to the fateful, horrifying, game-changing day of October 7. For Israel and its neighbors, that is now a date permanently etched in blood and in the collective consciousness. In America, the date is instantly recognizable shorthand to go along with September 11 and…
-
The game-changing ballot measures soon to emerge | SONDERMANN
—
by
There is only so much political oxygen. Around here, attention is currently consumed by the final weeks of the legislative session, along with the perpetual oxygen-sucking machines that go by names like Trump, Boebert, and Williams. While all those command the headlines and clicks, the developments and machinations with the most potential long-term consequence for…
-
Democratic legislators and the jerk of the knee | SONDERMANN
—
by
It is called a Taylor Tomahawk Percussion Reflex Hammer. You know it as the tool your doctor uses to tap your knee, gently or not, to test your neuromuscular response. Such a device was invented in the 1820s by German doctor Max Wintrich. After many iterations, American physician John Madison Taylor in 1888 refined it…
-
Democrats no longer the party of the working class | SONDERMANN
—
by
What a difference a couple of decades can make. In 2002, journalist John Judis and political scientist Ruy Teixeira came out with their book, “The Emerging Democratic Majority.” In a nutshell, their thesis was that the growing cadre of knowledge workers would join ranks with the Democratic Party’s core constituents among minorities and working-class voters…
-
Eight hot takes to warm up the winter doldrums | SONDERMANN
—
by
So many topics; so little time. Let’s prioritize quantity this week without sacrificing quality-at least, that is the hope. Here are eight hot takes on recent news and developments. 1. Those of my generation think of Gemini as the NASA space program that followed Mercury and preceded the Apollo moon missions. Those now coming of…
-
In a world short on heroes, we just lost one | SONDERMANN
—
by
Sometimes, the best-laid plans can be disrupted by the news of the day. My queue of topics to address is long. For this week, I had in mind to write on the growing illiberalism of academia or the rethinking on the part of a retiring Colorado congressman or a coming ballot measure to revamp major…
-
Two candidates from the past in an election about the future | SONDERMANN
—
by
Over recent days, the mailbox has contained two distressing envelopes. One was our annual residential property tax bill. Yikes. The political temperature in many parts of the state is about to get markedly hotter. The other was my ballot for the upcoming presidential primary election on March 5th. As an unaffiliated voter of long standing,…
-
Focusing on the main event instead of the sideshow | SONDERMANN
—
by
Republicans in Colorado make it all too easy. The antics of Lauren Boebert, Dave Williams and such retrograde types practically write themselves as headline stories. These colorful characters provide no end of spectacle. Or of spectacularly bad judgment. These folks are the best friend a reporter or commentator ever had. They offer unlimited fodder. Their…
