Schaffer critics climb all over misplaced mountain
By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 11:00 p.m., May 14, 2008
Updated 01:30 p.m., May 15, 2008
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They say faith can move mountains. Apparently, so can political campaigns.
But when a television ad for Republican Bob Schaffer's campaign for U.S. Senate mistakenly switched Mount McKinley in Alaska for Pikes Peak in Colorado, the consequences were rugged and steep.
"I am very frustrated," said Schaffer campaign manager Dick Wadhams, who admitted the mistake and said a corrected ad was to be on the air by Wednesday night.
"What is frustrating about it is that when we saw the rough cut of the ad we asked the media consultant to check that," Wadhams added.
But after being reassured that the mountain was a "stock photo" image from Colorado, the ad ran.
It didn't take long for some mountaineering Democrats to climb all over the error. The Web site ColoradoPols.com posted the discovery, leading several activists to contend that the error says more about Schaffer than his media consultant.
"For Schaffer, who comes from Ohio, to not know the most important mountain in Colorado is just foolish," said Mike Huttner, executive director of the liberal group Progress Now Action.
Taylor West, a spokeswoman for Mark Udall's Senate campaign, said Udall and campaign manager Mike Melanson were among the first to notice the error. They are avid climbers and both have climbed Mount Mc- Kinley.
West noted that the ad ran in the Colorado Springs market, where residents have an everyday familiarity with Pikes Peak.
"To me, that speaks of a tremendous disconnect," she said.
Wadhams, however, defended the accuracy of the rest of the ad, which highlights Schaffer's having proposed to his wife atop Pikes Peak and the fact that his daughter attends the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
"I think the overall message isn't distracted at all," Wadhams said. "The message is still good."
He also noted that Udall also had to pull video off a campaign Web site in October. The C-SPAN video showed Udall speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives, which violated House rules.
Schaffer and Udall are competing for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Wayne Allard.
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May 15, 2008
6:21 a.m.
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JonBen writes:
The original ad with Denali can be seen on YouTube. The headline is "Bob Schaffer - Moving Forward (to Alaska)." It's a classic, especially when he nods back at the image of Denali behind him and talks about the mountain where he proposed to his wife.
May 15, 2008
6:32 a.m.
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danirobi writes:
Honest mistake! I can't believe this is a big deal, stuff like this happens all the time in political ads...really people focus on the issues
May 15, 2008
6:39 a.m.
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Gene writes:
Thank you Mr. Ensslin for checking in with Mike Huttner (or vice versa?) for pointing that out. Oh, by the way, you guys might want to coach B. Hussein Obamama on the number of states in the United States. He said he is now campaigning in 57 states. Is he talking about the 57 Islamic states, or the U. S.? If you had any thoughts on that Mike Huttner, or Mr Enssilin, for that matter.
May 15, 2008
6:47 a.m.
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John Boogert writes:
Thanks, JonBen, we'll add a link!
May 15, 2008
6:56 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
Here's the YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuZByA...
"I'm Bob Schaffer and I approved this message"...what a dork!
May 15, 2008
6:58 a.m.
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Raemid writes:
liekzomg is Shafer a terrurist too?????!?? Plz halp me figur this oen out Gene kthxbai.
May 15, 2008
7:07 a.m.
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Froward69 writes:
Schaffer needs to go back to Ohio. I have seen the youtube, it is actually tragic. as if no one called them on it, then they would run the add, reinforcing republican belief in just how stupid the electorate is. Like gene there trying to propagandize with misinformation about Barak Obama.
besides that in the add schaffer says he will fight to "control spending" that is code for eliminating spending on infrastructure while sending the dollars to his buddies in Big Oil.
and the change we need line... what change? bob schaffer is the same old neo-con who believes in perpetual war and fascism.
May 15, 2008
7:22 a.m.
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Jim_in_Erie writes:
Seems like a silly, albeit regrettable, goof to me.
But his opponents will, and have, make a lot of noise about it.
Much better then discussing any issue differences Udall and Schaffer might have, right?
May 15, 2008
7:32 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
Seriously, it's not a little goof. This is a true insult to every who spends time in the Colorado mountains, or cares about the history of this great state. If anyone thinks this is just a little oversight, they are probably a shut-in that spends all of their time inside the city limits of Glendale or Highlands Ranch or something.
It just shows how out of touch with reality most politicians are.
May 15, 2008
7:36 a.m.
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Gene writes:
I don't mean to harp on the subject of the Heize 57 states of Obamama, but I am just doing the job of the press. This little slip-up will not get the coverage of Dan Quayle's spelling error.
May 15, 2008
7:37 a.m.
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fairness writes:
Much ado about nothing. But, it is par for the course in elections over the last 20 years or so. Lets not talk about issues. Lets just attack silly stuff that has nothing to do about a candidate,s positions. Like Gene attacking Obama about his middle name. It is so childish. But, if that is what it takes to sway the simple-minded electorate, I guess that is what you have to do.
May 15, 2008
7:38 a.m.
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a_watcher writes:
Lets be fair. The Democrats ran an anti-schaffer internet ad that used as a backdrop a photo from the east coast.
Here is a quote from schaffer v udall describing an identical mistake:
http://schaffervudall.blogspot.com/20...
15 Seconds into the commercial (it moves fast) is a photo of Bob Schaffer standing beside a building with a large plaque. Curious minds that might want to know where in Colorado that building and plaque might be will be disappointed to see that a trianglur shaped haze with two embedded rectangles has been produced by the animator to make it unreadable. It is funny to see how clear and sharp the photo is to the left of Schaffer's image and how fuzzy it is where the plaque is located.
The triangle shaped haze is a simple white triangle and two rectangles made translucent by the animator and placed in front of the building image. You can see where both rectangles extend outside the hypotenuse of the triangle. This part is very sloppy and cheaply done animation.
The Washington based producers of this deceptive piece of animation couldn't be troubled to find a photo of a Colorado building and weren't honest enough to let the viewer see that. Going out on a limb, we would go so far as to suggest that this building might be located in Alexandria, Virginia, given the unusually large size of the brick and the round object at the top of the photo. In Colorado, brick buildings are relatively scarce due to the easy availability of quarried building materials. We've never seen a building built with oversized brick.
May 15, 2008
7:40 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
Imagine if some joker from, say, Australia wanted to come to the United States and be President here. He runs a national TV ad saying that he loves New York City and the Statue of Liberty, however he is standing in front of a HUGE picture of the Eiffel Tower towering over Paris.
That's what this is like to a REAL Colorado native.
May 15, 2008
7:48 a.m.
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Gene writes:
If we send Shaffer back to Ohio, do we have to send Udall back to Arizonia?
May 15, 2008
7:49 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
And we're not talking about some random brick building, we are talking about the biggest tourist attraction in the entire state of Colorado versus the biggest attraction in the state of Alaska. I mean "America the Beautiful" was written on top of Pikes Peak for hecks sake!
I could care less about politics, but I know that Rep Udall has actually been to the top of both of these peaks and would not make the same ridiculous mistake.
Sloppy!!!!!!!!!!
May 15, 2008
7:54 a.m.
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Froward69 writes:
enlighten us gene...
Ill start off with a dance mix showing the true nature of the political press you so trust, admire and regurgitate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2YDq...
May 15, 2008
8:04 a.m.
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Froward69 writes:
gene, I found the obscure reference you refer. (One gaff) that is nothing to McSames ignorance of the difference between sunni and shia. spoken (and recorded) no less than 4 different times. and you want that feeble old man making decisions for America? with bobble-head Oil executives like schaffer backing him up? Scary!
May 15, 2008
8:15 a.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
The biggest Blue? I thought the ski industry was the largest tourist draw in the State? Just asking...
May 15, 2008
8:19 a.m.
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Konyok writes:
This drooling idiot has just lost the election. The entire Colorado Republican party had put its hopes on this poster boy of *real conservatism,* even to the point that the party chair risks a major conflict of interest by serving as his campaign manager even before the primary.
(Reminder: it's a given that this is a hostile press environment. That means be extra careful not to make extra silly mistakes.)
All of y'all had better hope that John McCain has long and strong coat tails ...
May 15, 2008
8:29 a.m.
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Froward69 writes:
yes marine as an industry, Skiing is the largest draw. taken as a whole our mountains are what We are recognized for.
Using mt.McKinley to instill more drama to the add, is simply showing just how unattached schaffer really is to Colorado.
"Pikes peak or bust" mr schaffer? you've been busted.
May 15, 2008
8:40 a.m.
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danirobi writes:
OMG! Can we please make this election about a misplaced moutain?!? I'm a native to Colorado, 5th generation to be exact and honestly this isn't that big of a deal! I'd rather hear the candidates talk about the issues ie. taxes, energy, the war, etc not "oh thats Denali in the back ground not Pikes Peak!" Lets hear about how the Colorado Democratic party was going to tax citizens in Denver over the the Convention, oh wait they are now. Lets talk about how local police departments are not going to be helping with security because the DNC refuses to pay their overtime?
I misplaced mountain is very little in the bigger picture of politics! Really people, look at the issues!!!
May 15, 2008
8:43 a.m.
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Gene writes:
I just hope for equal time from RMN, if some sleezy 527 tax exempt group produces a commercial showing Obmama in front of that group of informed citizenry not flinching at all as he mentioned the 57 states of his campaign. I am hoping for a map of the United States, showing with arrows and pictures, all 50 states, then a comparision map of where these campaigned in 57 states may be. Title it, POLITICAL AD MOVED STATES. It would be real helpful. You might even show a red line with milage between the color coded states. It might be a little more difficult to place the line, but it realy wouldn't matter, if the impact of stupidity was there. their, there, their, whatever.
May 15, 2008
8:45 a.m.
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teblackman writes:
Wow. People truly believe that this is a big issue. A candidate with a rascist, "spiritual" advisor is not that big of a deal but an incorrect stock photo in an ad is more important? Who cares about their values or honesty or if they will raise taxes and destroy this nation's economy? Who cares if they believe this global warming baloney?
I am a Colorado native but I would not be able to identify Pikes Peak from a mountain photo line-up. Guess what, I don't care about this.
May 15, 2008
8:45 a.m.
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teblackman writes:
Wow. People truly believe that this is a big issue. A candidate with a rascist, "spiritual" advisor is not that big of a deal but an incorrect stock photo in an ad is more important? Who cares about their values or honesty or if they will raise taxes and destroy this nation's economy? Who cares if they believe this global warming baloney?
I am a Colorado native but I would not be able to identify Pikes Peak from a mountain photo line-up. Guess what, I don't care about this.
May 15, 2008
8:52 a.m.
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newshound writes:
I saw something above about a REAL Colorado native being offended. Give me a break. If this really upsets you, then you have some serious mental issues. The mistake was corrected, and it didn't harm anyone. If you are at home trying to critique campaign ads, you have too much time on your hands and are probably costing your beloved NATIVE State more money than you are making for it.
May 15, 2008
8:56 a.m.
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zivo24 writes:
Pike's Peak is the mountain that inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful".
Generally, I would take someone to task too much for putting stock footage in a commercial.
But if you're going to refer to a certain mountain in that commercial and talk about it wistfully as the site of your proposal...the footage should be of THAT mountain..because some people will know the difference. And they did.
It is still early in the campaign so its not like they did not have time to have it fact checked and corrected.
What this says about Schaffer is that he is only peripherally involved with making decisions on his campaign...to the point that he'll put his name and stamp of approval on something other people did without knowing whether it's true or correct.
Frankly, this gives some insight to the kind of man and politician he is and the kind of senator he'll be.
May 15, 2008
8:57 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
Hey Grunt, according to this, Pikes Peak gets 5.9 million visitors per year. WAAAAYYYY more than any of the ski reorts.
http://www.pikes-peak.com/Page/33.aspx
Go back to base, buddy boy.
May 15, 2008
8:59 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
He doesn't know which mountain he proposed to his wife on? What a loser!
May 15, 2008
9:03 a.m.
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zivo24 writes:
"We've never seen a building built with oversized brick."
Been to the U.S. Mint in Denver lately?
May 15, 2008
9:14 a.m.
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nicktaste writes:
"Pikes peak or bust" mr schaffer? you've been busted" - lol
Big Oil Bob Schaffer, another bush friend neocon
May 15, 2008
9:14 a.m.
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olsonmt writes:
This is a HUGE issue. A commercial backdrop is absolutely the most important issue facing Colorado. Rally the troops Dems, we finally have something important to use against the evil neo-cons. Puke.
May 15, 2008
9:20 a.m.
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Froward69 writes:
ok if one closes ones eyes and listens to the add. Big oil Bob touts his family, says he is for balancing the budget and controlling spending. ending the add with "this place needs some Colorado common sense."
one flimsy issue statement at a time.
1)schaffer does not remember what the mountain he proposed upon looks like.
2)everyone has some sort of family. Congressmen routinely get their children into service academies all the time.
3) during his terms in various state and federal elected positions he never met a cooperate earmark he did not like.
4)the "balancing the budget" and "controlling spending" is the same tired broken promises republicans have trodden about for the last 28 years.
5)what he does not mention is how much profit he has made from the blood spilled in the shameless war in iraq.
6)"stronger economy" like the one we have now?
7) change? he is the same old same old the only change we would get with bob is a different name on the lobbyist kickback checks.
May 15, 2008
9:22 a.m.
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zivo24 writes:
"This is a HUGE issue. A commercial backdrop is absolutely the most important issue facing Colorado. Rally the troops Dems, we finally have something important to use against the evil neo-cons. Puke."
Yep, it's right up there with things your pastor said in a sermon six years ago and then were slice and dice edited by the media for easy consumption.
May 15, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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indisbelief writes:
bluesled = juden_frei
May 15, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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olsonmt writes:
You're right zivo24, the add should have said "God Damn Pikes Peak" and the "Colorado of KKK" etc. etc. in the background and then you guys might cut him some slack.
Zivo, do you support Rev. Wright's comments? Sliced and diced? How about Rev. Wright's press conference in it's entirety. He reiterated everything. Obama's membership at that church was 100% a political decision. It was a way for him to connect with the black community in Chicago as he was starting his career. He contributed significant sums of money to support the church and Reverend Wright. That man and that church are hate-filled racists... uneless of course it's only a "little bit" of racism... that makes it ok. That association is as much an issues as if a candidate was a member of a white-supremacy group. Would you let that candidate off based on the fact that s(he) was only a member? Would you separate the candidate from the comments made by the group's leader?
May 15, 2008
9:41 a.m.
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Kevin Graves writes:
test
May 15, 2008
9:52 a.m.
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Tbone writes:
broprous-
Its called LOLcat speak. Check it out on wikipedia. Pretty good usage, too.
Nice work, Raemid.
May 15, 2008
9:53 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
bropous: "Sure, the ad agency screws up and all of a sudden all policy issues go out the window."
Well, considering Schaffer says at the end he "approves this message" that makes it HIS screw up. But, his campaign's defense that it's a media company's fault is quite telling. Always an excuse, always someone else to blame for what ultimately Schaffer should take responsibility for himself.
That's not the kind of person I want to have oversight of where my taxpayer dollars are spent.
But hey, if you want an over-aged fratboy corporate shill carpetbagger from the East as your Senator, by all means, vote for Schaffer.
My vote's for the true rugged Westerner in this race, Mark Udall - who actually works for Coloradoans AND the beautiful state we are so blessed to live in.
May 15, 2008
10:01 a.m.
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Shaggy writes:
OMG, You mean a different mountain was in the back drop.
Holy cow....we better call the nutters to the left of us to start squawking like a bunch of loons about nothing.
May 15, 2008
10:02 a.m.
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Shaggy writes:
Oops..too late..they already found out...
May 15, 2008
10:19 a.m.
MarineGrunt writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 15, 2008
10:19 a.m.
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Amy Burke writes:
comment
May 15, 2008
10:21 a.m.
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Danny DeBelius writes:
I love commenting.
May 15, 2008
10:23 a.m.
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opinionatedcolo writes:
got to love the Republicans and their double standard. danrobi says that the mountain is irrelevant and then goes on a rant about convention decisions that have nothing to do with Udall. Olsonmt raises Reverend wright, once again having nothing to do with Udall or his differences with Schaffer. Is which mountain it is important? not really. Are the Republicans, especially Super Dick Wadhams, who have mastered the art of attack through continuous petty lies and attacks in a position to complain? NO. This is hardly the last petty attack we will see in this campaign, especially as Schaffer tries to pretend that he is not a right wing hard core religious zealot.
May 15, 2008
10:24 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
WAAAAY more than any ONE ski resort. How can you compare a single place, Pikes Peak, to an industry. We are not comparing industries, r-tard.
May 15, 2008
10:25 a.m.
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Konyok writes:
The cardinal rule in Colorado politics is not to look like a flatlander carpetbagger.
Knowing that he is in an adverse media environment, Schaeffer should have been more strategic. Knowing that the state party leadership has effectively squashed any primary challenges, he should have been more humble and more respectful of the trust that he's been given.
Why didn't he have the moxy to proactively make his business experience in Iraqi Kurdistan an asset? Why didn't we see him using every media outlet to publicize the progress in Northern Iraq? He should have been working for the last year. Michael Huttner's attack was silly, but he got in the first blow without an effective response.
Sure, Schaeffer deserves some credit for honoring his term limit pledge, but he needs to work. It's not enough to be the *real conservative* golden boy. Udall is going to be a tough candidate and Schaeffer looks like a drooling idiot.
May 15, 2008
10:37 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Konyok: "Udall is going to be a tough candidate and Schaeffer looks like a drooling idiot."
Well, to me Schaffer just appears as someone who is ultimately disinterested and disengaged. He doesn't get to the bottom of things, he doesn't really stick with any job, private or public, and now we see he actually entrusts a media company's assertion over his campaign's first instinct to doublecheck the stock footage in question. (By the way, I hope the RMN subsequently publishes who this media agency is. I'm sure other outlets are going to beat them to this if they don't move on it quickly.)
Real leaders take responsibility, they have a sharp and astute eye for the critical details, and they stick with what they start until they get it done, no matter how bogged down in tedious tasks the project entails. I just see Udall as possessing these characteristics of real staying power and shrewd intelligence, while Schaffer has no demonstrated proof of embodying either.
May 15, 2008
10:40 a.m.
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PajamaPulitzer writes:
Libs know they can't win elections on issues. So they look for anything with which to play Gotcha. This story won't have legs come November, but Udall's tax and spend ways will.
May 15, 2008
10:47 a.m.
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angka writes:
So this discussion, while good for laughs, is getting a little off-topic.
This really isn't a huge deal, it was obviously a mistake made by DC consultants who, let's be fair, can't be expected to know one mountain from the next.
Of course, Bob Schaffer should, by all rights, have remembered what the mountain he proposed to he wife on looks like. Or Dick Wadhams who's from Southern Colorado, should have known what Pikes Peak looks like. In fact, this gaffe is interesting mostly because of the content of the ad, the whole "Colorado is my life!" schtick. Making elementary mistakes like this can rightly undermine your street cred with locals. And did I mention that Bob Schaffer was actually born and raised in Ohio? Would that even be relevant today if Schaffer hadn't screwed up this ad? Maybe a little, but NOW IT HAS A PUNCHLINE.
Dani says we should be focusing on the issues, and I have to agree. I think we were just discussing Bob Schaffer's complicity in suppressing labor rights and immigration reform in the Northern Mariana Islands, in apparent collusion with jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Now there's a story that keeps it real.
I just figured it out! That picture of Schaffer parasailing off "Saipan" was actually at Blue Mountain Reservoir...
May 15, 2008
10:47 a.m.
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Spencer writes:
some of you seem to think Schaffer is running against Obama. If you want to compare campaign gaffes you should use McCain. There is quite a bit to choose from.
May 15, 2008
10:56 a.m.
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ItsJustme writes:
It undoubtedly was not a "back drop," it was a green screen. He was standing in front a blank screen and the mountain was added in electronically. He didn't "not recognize" that the mountain wasn't Pikes Peak, it wasn't even there. He has no responsibility for this error by the producer of the ad.
May 15, 2008
11 a.m.
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kathyM writes:
mytwo, Westerners don't have a corner on the "rugged" market. If we follow your logic, then we should hire only Westerners to play for the Broncos, Avs, Nuggets, Rockies; hire only Westerners to staff Colorado hospitals; hire only Westerners to teach in Colorado schools, etc.
People living east of the Mississippi aren't exactly cream puffs. Spend a winter in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northern New York, or Maine. Join the crew of a carrier on the Great Lakes or a lobster boat on the New England coast. Work a midwestern farm in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity. Mine coal in West Virginia or pour steel in Pittsburgh.
A candidate's birthplace has as much to do with his viability for office as the tie he wears.
May 15, 2008
11:02 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
ROFLMAO.... anyone who thinks this is an issue is an idiot.
Anyone who would let a mistake by a media consultant in an ad to affect their vote is a bigger idiot.
Anyone who thinks this will affect the outcome of any number of voters, is the biggest idiot of all.
May 15, 2008
11:11 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
kathyM: "A candidate's birthplace has as much to do with his viability for office as the tie he wears."
I NEVER said it was a matter of where one was *born.* But, considering you're one of the most ultra-conservative posters on this forum, I'm not surprised you took their tried and true tactic to twist what I actually said into a way to turn a fictional point into a real one.
Udall knows our land, he had a deep understanding of the critical issues facing the West, many of which are issues related to our land (I know, that's not an ultra rightwing concern), not just from the corporate perspective like Schaffer, and that's what makes him a true Westerner.
May 15, 2008
11:13 a.m.
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Froward69 writes:
well ItsJustme, it IS just you... the republicans should have stashed some of that treasury plunder for real commercials. rather than this one on a shoe string budget, in a studio.
no one is giving to the rethugs. like they are to Obama, and the Democrats.
At least schaffer could have gone out and done the commercial on location. then this sort of "Washington oversight" could have been avoided. Between closed door energy policy meetings with Oil lobbyists and the no bid contracts awarded by neo-cons that need to be signed. This sort of thing happens. Same republican governance, what else does one expect from these clowns?
May 15, 2008
11:18 a.m.
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indisbelief writes:
bluesled = norsegod88
May 15, 2008
11:27 a.m.
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hikingartist writes:
It is funny that some non-outdoorsy advertising genius would underestimate the importance of the profile of a peak. I imagine they thought "you seen one mountain, you seen them all."
Such is the thought process of developers, the oil industry and those who exploit the wilderness for profit.
As someone who hikes around alot I probably have about 20 mountain profiles ingrained in my brain (longs, evans, sneffels, ucompahgre, maroon bells, snowmass, etc.)
BTW My wife doesn't get it, but she says she prefers my calendars with mountains over the calendars with underdressed women. Haha!
May 15, 2008
11:27 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
You guys quit picking on Bob Schaffer! Just because he's a woefully incompetent corporate shill who doesn't give a hoot in Hell about the problems of most Coloradoans doesn't mean he won't make an excellent Senator when it comes to fattening the hundreds of billions of surplus profits that oil companies are presently reaming out of the lot of you.
Bob Schaffer was only providing us with a glimpse of his Native American roots by putting the wrong mountain in his commercial. He's from the Fugawi tribe. You may remember the Fugawi tribe as those glorious nomads who wandered the length and breadth of our wondrous continent telling everyone "We're the Fugawi?"
May 15, 2008
11:28 a.m.
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fairness writes:
PajamaPulitzer: "Libs know they can't win elections on issues. So they look for anything with which to play Gotcha."
Yeah, like the "Cons" don't do this! Get a grip! What, don't remember Rev. Wright - not even something Obama said? What about Kerry and the swift boat attacks? Those were the "issues" related to the election?
These attacks happen from both sides. Don't act like they don't! Rove was one of the best for coming up with these stupid personal attacks.
May 15, 2008
11:32 a.m.
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TheDenverB writes:
if any of you conservative fools think you and your party wouldn't have jumped all over a gaffe like this if made by the other side, then you are truly lost individuals. (i mean, just look how you turned bill clinton getting a hummer into a political issue....)
this has nothing to do with one party or another, it's simply politics -- and many of you seem like the perfect little sheep to keep this game going on and on and on until november.
both sides are as bad as the other when it comes to things like this. get over it.
May 15, 2008
11:33 a.m.
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DenverDan writes:
Not surprised, seems like a typical Republican.
May 15, 2008
11:35 a.m.
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Charles_B writes:
PajamaPeabody projected:
"Libs know they can't win elections on issues. So they look for anything with which to play Gotcha."
Sorry to invade your delusions with reality but:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/publi...
May 15, 2008
11:39 a.m.
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DenverDan writes:
Charles_B
Do you mean stuff like a pin on a coat, or making people responsable for what other people say. Now that is real issues.
The media on the right make me sick!!!!
May 15, 2008
11:44 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Hikingartist: "t is funny that some non-outdoorsy advertising genius would underestimate the importance of the profile of a peak. I imagine they thought "you seen one mountain, you seen them all."
Such is the thought process of developers, the oil industry and those who exploit the wilderness for profit."
BINGO.
May 15, 2008
11:45 a.m.
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jay writes:
"Libs know they can't win elections on issues."
really???
what accomplishments of the republican track record of the last 8 years do you believe warrant a vote to continue those policies under mccain?
by all means...let's talk "issues"
May 15, 2008
11:45 a.m.
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pwern writes:
The fact that Democrats jumped so hard on this is further evidence that they are too intellectually bankrupt to be able to make an issue of anything that's actually important to voters.
Bring on the squishy Boulder liberal Udall. Coloradoans don't care how many mountains he can recognize - they're more interested in how high he'll raise our taxes.
May 15, 2008
11:50 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
pwers: "Bring on the squishy Boulder liberal Udall."
Ha ha! Nice try. You mean the "squishy" liberal who's actually climbed both mountains in question, as opposed to the corporate doughboy who just poses against fake backdrops in a glorified Powerpoint?
May 15, 2008
12:19 p.m.
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indisbelief writes:
So if he only posed in front of a powerpoint that someone else screwed up, what's the problem? Fire the ad agency. Problem solved. Now back to the issues...
May 15, 2008
12:25 p.m.
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danirobi writes:
Ok, if this is such a big deal how about this one and I quote...
"It is just wonderful to be back in Oregon and over the last 15 months we have traveled to every corner of the United States. I have now been in 57 states," he said to a smattering of laughter in the crowd. "I think one left to go. One left to go - Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it."
Barack Obama
57 States? There are 46 States and 4 Commonwealths...but I guess I mountain is more of an issues than a Presidential candidate that can't get it right.
May 15, 2008
12:41 p.m.
BlueSled writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 15, 2008
12:53 p.m.
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Gene writes:
danirobi,
In what year did we have 46 States and 4 Commonwealths?
May 15, 2008
1:01 p.m.
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farsidefan writes:
Hmmm..proposed to his wife on top of the mountain. Maybe he has two wives and now lives in one of polygamy compounds in Colorado that we have heard so much about.
May 15, 2008
1:01 p.m.
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danirobi writes:
Gene- Technically there are 46 states and 4 commonwealths. VA, KY, PA and MA are still considered commonwealths. I live in D.C. and everytime you cross into of Virginia, you're told you are entering into the Commonwealth of VA...yeah I went to school and I know there are 50 states, but if you really want to get technical we can. I just think it's funny that back in my home state, a mountain picture that was an honest mistake is generating this much news. We have had a Presidential candidate stating there are 57 states and he has one more to go?!? This guy wants to be President and he can't even get it right?
Personally I think there are far more things to worry about ie. education maybe!?!
May 15, 2008
1:05 p.m.
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Andy writes:
Much ado about nothing...
and I'm a Democrat.
May 15, 2008
1:12 p.m.
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urnfndbag writes:
Whatever stops him from being elected, colorado has enough elected conservative whackos who weren't born here.
May 15, 2008
1:24 p.m.
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kathyM writes:
Hmmm, mytwo, let us review your post:
"But hey, if you want an over-aged fratboy corporate shill carpetbagger from the East as your Senator, by all means, vote for Schaffer.
My vote's for the true rugged Westerner in this race, Mark Udall - who actually works for Coloradoans AND the beautiful state we are so blessed to live in."
So you didn't say born--I stand corrected. You ARE saying someone who isn't a "true rugged Westerner" can't possibly love Colorado as much nor understand it nor want to work for its people as much. That's a flying leap of a conclusion.
If I'm so ultra-conservative and so not concerned about Colorado, then it couldn't possibly be true that I and my family are members of Audubon, Trout Unlimited, and other nature organizations. It must be patently false that we have donated land as a bird sanctuary and money towards saving the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, and famous fly-fishing waters both East and West.
By all means, keep making flying leaps of conclusions about people. It enhances your credibility immensely.
May 15, 2008
1:29 p.m.
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Gene writes:
danirobi,
I will take your word for it that we have 46 states. However you do live in D. C.. If you were to further qualify that you work for the federal government, I may not believe a word you say. !
May 15, 2008
1:33 p.m.
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Gene writes:
kathyM,
Beware of the Ides of mytwosense!
May 15, 2008
1:48 p.m.
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mark79trans writes:
This is a Southwest, "...do you want to get away?" moment for the staffer who screwed up...nothing more.
I spent my whole childhood looking at Pikes Peak off the balcony of my parent's home. Now, as a much older adult, I look at Pikes Peak off the deck of my home. So, a staffer screwed up...what children we deal with in politics.
May 15, 2008
2:04 p.m.
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fairness writes:
The "57 states" thing is just another stupid non-issue. He probably meant 47 and just tripped up. I'm more afraid of the fact that McCain doesn't know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites - something material to the job!
May 15, 2008
2:13 p.m.
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Trythinking writes:
This is an ad agency problem. If they are in the world of creative ads, they are typically artistic, which means they are not hung up with facts. I lived in Seattle for 8 years in the 80s. The ad agencies were very fond of showing loggers and fishermen as the essences of the Northwest. They would have been great ads if they had been from the 1880s. Ad agencies use dramatic pictures to promote ideas. This same photo or one similar to it is used with virtually every story that discusses ANWR even though it has nothing to do with ANWR. Every photo used by the Sierra Club and other enviro group shows "smoke" coming out of cooling towers, when in fact the plumes are water vapor. The actual smoke stacks don’t have a dramatic plume.
May 15, 2008
2:24 p.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
Posted by fairness on May 15, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The "57 states" thing is just another stupid non-issue. He probably meant 47 and just tripped up. I'm more afraid of the fact that McCain doesn't know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites - something material to the job!"
Or have yet to turn over ALL requested doc (I believe this order came from a Fed. Judge) from the White Water thingy a few years back? MAYBE... even someone with ZERO international political experience... not to mention not much experience on the home front?
And if you could, without using google, inform all of us here on the major difference in the Sunnis and Shiites?
Brother.... I bet this one is tough!
May 15, 2008
2:25 p.m.
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MrCrush writes:
A reasonable mistake. What the hell is all the hoopla about. My god it's incredible what some people get upset about.
May 15, 2008
2:28 p.m.
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danirobi writes:
Gene-
I don't work for the federal gov't anymore, I saw the light and left. Colorado has and always will be my home state!
May 15, 2008
2:29 p.m.
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fairness writes:
MarineGrunt:
What does Whitewater have ANYTHING to do with Obama, "57 states", McCain knowing which group is which, etc? And what difference does it make what I know? I'M not running for president! I expect the man who IS running for president to know these things! How can I trust HIS judgment if he CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS?
May 15, 2008
2:31 p.m.
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danirobi writes:
Fairness-
The 57 state thing may not be an issue, but McCain does have a lot more experience than Mr. Obama does. Since Obama has been a U.S. Senator he has only shown up to work for 143 days. This congress alone he has missed 221 votes! Personally, I don't think he's ready for the job he currently holds.
May 15, 2008
2:31 p.m.
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Ashley writes:
Ohhh, thank you so much Holier! I really needed a good hard laugh and I appreciate it. And by the way, it is kind of a big deal because Shaffer's the one making the argument he knows and understands Colorado, not us.
May 15, 2008
2:35 p.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
Not much difference in the two groups... Both sect's followed one of mohammad's brothers. They have been trying to kill the other sect into compliance for a few 1000 years now. So.. what did you gain in this knowledge? Will it help you? Do you REALLY think its that big of a deal? Why don't we try and get the hajji's to stop trying to kill us and we can get to the details later?
As far as White Water, no Experience...
Give me a guy who we know a little something about over a power hungry ax-wound and a "kid", of sorts, ANY day!!
May 15, 2008
2:42 p.m.
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fairness writes:
MarineGrunt:
It is your prerogative to pick whoever you want to vote for. Yes, McCain has been around longer and has more experience. But a lot of the job is about who you surround yourself with. The dumbest person around could be a great president with the right people around him. Likewise, the most intelligent and experienced person can be the worst also due to the people they choose for important positions.
May 15, 2008
2:49 p.m.
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SirRealist writes:
So, this is what passes as honest and open discussion of campaign issues so that "informed" Americans can make decisions based on valid and important criteria? Very disturbing.
May 15, 2008
2:54 p.m.
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SirRealist writes:
Holier, could at least get the joke straight?
It's that they wandered the glorious continent asking everyone they met, "WHERE the Fugawi?"
May 15, 2008
3:05 p.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
Fairness... I agree 100%!! Well said.
May 15, 2008
3:11 p.m.
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Froward69 writes:
SirRealist, this is the type of discussion that under funding Public schools for years does. It produces this sort of a discussion.
Indeed "Very disturbing."
time to start weeping for the future.
May 15, 2008
3:16 p.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Nice picture...What are we talking about again?
May 15, 2008
3:22 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
kathyM: "If I'm so ultra-conservative and so not concerned about Colorado, then it couldn't possibly be true that I and my family are members of Audubon, Trout Unlimited, and other nature organizations."
That's great! So why don't you stop bashing candidates and citizens who dare to speak out for the environment? I have seen numerous withering remarks from you about pro-environmental positions, and about people who want to take conservationist measures and alternative energy approaches to solving our energy crisis and protecting our environment.
I have never, not once, ever read a single post from you that supported preserving and protecting our environment.
Now, if you can tell me you're voting for Udall and not Schaffer, THEN I will stand corrected and humbly make my apologies for mistaking your political beliefs as ultra rightwing and anti-environment.
May 15, 2008
3:46 p.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
Christ blue.. I have to show you how stupid you really are in front of all these folks? Here you are.. s-tard!
"we are talking about the biggest tourist attraction in the entire state of Colorado"
Really? Got a bridge to sell you for cheap! But, you can't smoke it.. so here is your crack!
May 15, 2008
3:54 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Say, kathyM...when you're through criticizing me for criticizing Sweatshop Schaffer, do you have any plans to jump on over to this thread and applaud Udall's efforts to protect trout in the Roan?
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...
Or are you just a Trout Unlimited member in name only?
May 15, 2008
3:59 p.m.
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Big_D writes:
I am more concerned with Schaeffer’s apparent ties to hate groups in La Porte. He always was a carpetbagger so who cares if he can’t identify a mountain he probably only visited once.
May 15, 2008
4:01 p.m.
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rckymtnprincess writes:
You libbies should go take another bong hit. It will help ease your pain.
May 15, 2008
4:30 p.m.
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nicktaste writes:
when it comes time to vote, remember its UDALL who best reperesents the PEOPLE of COLORADO
May 15, 2008
4:41 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Come on folks, give Bob Schaffer a break!
Occasionally, we have visitors come up here to our beautiful mountains and they get the mountains mixed up. Then they get lost. Personally, I don't understand that. After all, getting lost in the mountains is a bit like getting lost in a place that's full of distinct landmarks. So, you really need to have your head up your kazoo. But that's just my opinion. It doesn't matter to me when we saddle up the horses and go look for them.
Pike Peak and Mount McKinley (Denali if you're modern) don't look even remotely similar. Denali is higher at 20320-feet while the tree limit is lower because of the high northern latitude. Pikes Peak is 14115-feet, a full 6205-feet lower at the summit. To mistake one of these peaks for another marks you as a complete and utter fool if you've seen either one of them.
So, Bob Schaffer needs a guide if he sets foot in the mountains. Lot's of folks do. That doesn't mean he will be a bad Senator. What will make him a bad Senator are the following facts:
1. He's a religious nut who wants to impose religion on your science curriculum by inserting Creationist nonsense into the course materials.
2. He will gladly take away women's reproductive freedom at his first opportunity, except when he's on vacation complements of lobbyists like Jack Abramoff. The luxurious Marianas Islands resorts sit alongside factories that cruelly exploit workers who often get raped by the management. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04...
Then, of course, he has no problem with abortion so long as it keeps his friends out of hot water.
3. He's a fiscal nightmare. He'll cheerfully and quietly approve any tax cuts for the wealthy while moving the fixed costs of government onto the backs of working folks. He's happy to watch our country sink deeper into debt. Like all other conservatives who pay lip service to balancing the budget, he'll rob the bank to line his own pockets and those of his cronies with your tax dollars.
4. He's a warmonger. He works for Aspect Energy, an oil company. They're real patriotic because they develop oil in Kurdistan http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.a... . So, naturally they want our troops there to protect their investment. The real beauty of this particular prospect is that it helps to prevent unification of the Iraqi government. It makes it practically impossible to extract concessions from the Kurdish part of the country that would pacify the Sunnis.
Yea, Bob Schaffer...not only is he geographically illiterate, he's a real piece of work. So, let's give him a break, a permanent one from politics.
May 15, 2008
4:56 p.m.
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Vtwinman writes:
Let's see which is more idiotic, an ad agency using an incorrect photo, or a candidate thinking he's been in 57 states with 1 to go, Alaska and Hawaii. Which by the way I think are two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02...
May 15, 2008
6:59 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Support or voting for Bob Schaffer is clearly the most idiotic thing that anyone can do. See above.
It's one thing to be tired and misquote numbers. Candidates usually take time to pore over their commercials in nauseating detail before they "approve this message". Bob Schaffer watched it, studied it, and approved it. If not then he was sloppy like he is with his entire morality routine. That makes it more than just an off-the-cuff gaffe that we can ignore. It makes it an indelible mark of the kind of man that Bob Schaffer is.
May 15, 2008
7:03 p.m.
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nicktaste writes:
"Let's see which is more idiotic"
The Bob Schaffer ad because:
"he approves this message", that means he supposedly reviewed the ad before he allowed it to be distributed
Obama simply made a slip of saying "57" states in a live speech
(my guess is he meant to say "47" used in the context shown in the above provided video clip)
so I would have to say the Schaffer incident is more idiotic due to the fact that he had the opportunity to review it before it being distributed, as opposed to making a small slip in a live speech
Also the symbolic nature of the Schaffer Ad gives it a further edge in the idiocy comparison
May 15, 2008
11:03 p.m.
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AC writes:
The Obama comment is easy; he said "fifty" seven when he meant "forty" seven since he then said he needed one more to have campaigned in all but Alaska and Hawaii. Get over it.
May 16, 2008
7:21 a.m.
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Charles_B writes:
This is a good response ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w6LFN...
May 16, 2008
7:56 a.m.
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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
Obama said he had been to 57 and had one more to go. His staffer would not allow him to go to AK and HI. That makes 60 States.
I heard a rumor that there were 60 islamic States?
May 16, 2008
9:50 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Thanks Charles B! I got a good laugh out of that.
May 16, 2008
10:08 a.m.
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kathyM writes:
mytwo, Because I dare to disagree with the environmentalist orthodoxy, you declare me a sinner. And the only way I can be "redeemed" is to vote for Udall. Wow, if that isn't laying on the guilt, Mom! And it's not much of an argument, either.
No, I don't think we should stop using petroleum products starting today--with no reasonable replacement yet available! But contrary to your flying-leap conclusion, I do support finding a replacement.
Yes, I think humans have significantly affected the environment. But subordinating the value of a human life to a nebulous pollution measure ("carbon footprint") is barbaric. All these lives, according to your carbon-footprint logic, are wasteful polluters:
--A kid in a coma
--A terminal patient
--A person imprisoned for life
--A severely disabled person
--An unplanned child born rather than aborted
So how will you deal with these polluters?
May 16, 2008
10:22 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
kathyM, I have no idea what you're raving about. "Environmental orthodoxy"? A kid in a coma and born babies are polluters, according to my "carbon footprint logic"? Talk about making wild leaps as to someone's viewpoints!
I simply asked you if you support Udall's efforts in the Roan to, among other things, protect thousands of trout. An initiative that Colorado Trout Unlimited is in support of. As you are a member, I *assume* you are too.
Actually, I don't.
But once again, your last post convinced me by its shrill reactivity that you're one of the most diehard, ultra rightwing conservatives on this forum.
Now, excuse me, this liberal fascist has to go yell at her eight month old baby for being born and using up precious environmental resources.
--shakes head--
May 16, 2008
6:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
truth_teller writes:
The Colorado Republican party is dead. They are going to get destroyed. This month is the largest amount of money spent by the federal government in history. The spending increases since George Bush became President are the largest in the history of the United States by Democrats or Republicans. Meanwhile Tom Tancredo carps about illegal immigration and does nothing about it. Marilyn Musgrave carps about gay people. Her stupid amendment to the constituion to ban gay marraige can't pass either house. Wayne Allard is probably the worst Senator in the history of the United States Senate. He has accomplished nothing. The deficit is the highest in history. We are stuck in Iraq. The mortgage market and the stock market are destroyed and the he says nothing and does nothing. GAs prices are the highest in history. These republicans has passed the largest tax increase in history in four dollar gas. The Exxon tax-take from truckers and people and farmers and give to Arab countries and oil companies is the largest tax increase in history. Meanwhile None of the Republicans do anything. Colorado has gone through record gun violence while the Republicans have been in charge and they have done nothing. If the Democrats nominate Elmer Fudd he will win. If Bugs Bunny runs for the Senate he will win if he or she is a Democrat. Gale Norton and Italia Federici and Jack Abramoff sent the highest ranking administration official to prison. The Republican Revolution is over and the citizens lost. Now Dick Wadhams is trying to elect another Jack Abramoff chronie. I am sure he will get every pro sweat shop vote in Colorado. Thanks for nothing Owens, Allard, Wadhams, Shaefer, Musgrave and the rest of you big taxers. I hope the Exxon shareholders appreciate what you have done for the them. You are a disgrace.
May 20, 2008
8:08 a.m.
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SlouchingTowardBoulder writes:
This incident pales compared to Udall temporarily moving his far-left ideology to the top shelf of the cupboard only to reemerge after the election.