eric sondermann
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The delicate, ever-changing dance between politics and religion | SONDERMANN
The dance, really a marathon that brings to mind the classic movie “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”, has been going on as long as there have been governments and organized religion. That is to say that this delicate tango has been with us since time immemorial. In ancient times, the state and the state religion…
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A cynical import Colorado doesn’t need | SONDERMANN
“But mommy, he started it.” Every parent, definitely those with more than one kid, has heard this instinctively defensive reaction to the point of exhaustion. It is the ultimate deflection or shifting of the blame. A similar rationale, often about as juvenile, has overtaken our divisive, dysfunctional politics. All manner of bad behavior is excused…
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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%…
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Michael Bennet and ‘the question’ | SONDERMANN
The train usually runs only one way. The route goes from the state Capitol to Washington, D.C. State legislators become members of Congress; governors become senators. See Hickenlooper, John. Including our junior senator, no matter his years, a total of 12 current U.S. senators arrived there after first serving stints as governors of their respective…
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The biggest accelerant of our political tribalism | SONDERMANN
In years past, my go-to word in describing our political condition was “polarization.” I used it endlessly and still do on occasion. But as time has moved on, and the divide has only grown in depth and toxicity, polarization no longer seems to fully capture the magnitude of what has overtaken us. In its place,…
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A bit of positive thinking for the holidays | SONDERMANN
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…
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Julie Gonzales’s long but not impossible odds | SONDERMANN
Allow me to start with a flashback. It was Thanksgiving 2024, just over 12 months back. For the first time, our son Clarke hosted the family Thanksgiving near New York City. It is a sign of our aging when the kids start to step into the role of host and convenor. The occasion was lovely.…