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LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:26 PM Jun 2014

I want to put a name out here and get your thoughts on this possible candidate - John Hickenlooper

I like what's happening in Colorado. He was smart to get Marijuana legalized because it's bringing in big cash into his state. I also like that he took on the gun nuts after the mass shooting in Aurora Colorado.

I know he's in the middle of a divorce not sure if there is anything there that might hurt him.

Thoughts on Hickenlooper for President?

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I want to put a name out here and get your thoughts on this possible candidate - John Hickenlooper (Original Post) LynneSin Jun 2014 OP
Until he became a fracker's best friend, I liked him... joeybee12 Jun 2014 #1
I would rather Governor Martin O'Malley yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #2
I love O'Malley. He's my first choice. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #4
I heard he may run....later even if Hillary runs yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #10
I wouldn't think there'd be much strategic advantage for O'Malley on the ticket given Maryland's... Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #20
For that reason I do NOT like O'Malley.... LynneSin Jun 2014 #5
There was some grumbling over the gambling yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #11
Awwww don't be a stranger - come back and visit us!!! LynneSin Jun 2014 #18
YAY US! elleng Jun 2014 #6
Until and unless Hillary announces she's not running, there's going to be no air for anyone else. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #3
Nothing against Hillary, I'm a supporter if she's our gal LynneSin Jun 2014 #7
Same here. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #13
Right. elleng Jun 2014 #8
I think she's screwing us by not declaring; that if we wait for HRC, we lose the WH. Chan790 Jun 2014 #21
Gov. Frackenlooper? No. nt truebluegreen Jun 2014 #9
See this is stuff I don't know LynneSin Jun 2014 #12
I get it. truebluegreen Jun 2014 #23
I live here in Colorado Timez Squarez Jun 2014 #14
Ummm. He was strongly OPPOSED to marijauna legalization, though he's overseen the process hlthe2b Jun 2014 #15
I like him. He really handled all the natural disasters that Colorado has had TwilightGardener Jun 2014 #16
Didn't know he had an oil background but that figures. Laffy Kat Jun 2014 #29
Hickenlooper opposed legalization.. Upton Jun 2014 #17
No governor really wanted to be the pioneer on MJ, let's be fair. TwilightGardener Jun 2014 #19
You mean he was dragged kicking and screaming by the people of Colorado.. Upton Jun 2014 #22
I expect that attitude, it's no different than anybody else in state or national TwilightGardener Jun 2014 #25
He should run for the Senate somewhere. We need the numbers in the Senate. nt kelliekat44 Jun 2014 #24
Correction on "He was smart to get marijuana legalized." LordGlenconner Jun 2014 #26
Lived in Colorado since 1981. Laffy Kat Jun 2014 #27
I like Hickenlooper, however I'm not too crazy about Frackkenlooper. Autumn Jun 2014 #28
Yep. +1 nt Laffy Kat Jun 2014 #30
Have lived in Colorado since 1975 locks Jun 2014 #31
 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
1. Until he became a fracker's best friend, I liked him...
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:29 PM
Jun 2014

No more...I'd never vote for him...as for his role in pot being legalized, he's doing everything in his power to block the law and did everything to make it hard to implement.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
2. I would rather Governor Martin O'Malley
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:30 PM
Jun 2014

He brought gambling to the state and bringing in tons of money. We are the number one state in education. Best public schools in the nation. We have the highest income in the country. We are just the most incredible state in the United States and Governor O'Malley has made it that way.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
4. I love O'Malley. He's my first choice.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:32 PM
Jun 2014

But the same goes for him. Unless Hillary decides she's not running, no one else is going to get any attention whatsoever.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
10. I heard he may run....later even if Hillary runs
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:36 PM
Jun 2014

but the intent would be to get on the ticket as VP. I have no idea if that is true or not.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
20. I wouldn't think there'd be much strategic advantage for O'Malley on the ticket given Maryland's...
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:45 PM
Jun 2014

....solid blue status. But then again, there wasn't much strategic advantage for Obama picking a guy from Delaware, either. So who knows. I'd love a Vice President O'Malley. Hopefully he'd turn out a hell of a lot better than the only other Vice President from Maryland.

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
5. For that reason I do NOT like O'Malley....
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:33 PM
Jun 2014

he took money from Delaware Casinos when he opened them up in Maryland



I chatting with some folks in Maryland who were totally against gambling in their state. I just had to laugh and agree with them. I mean Delaware is so close by we wanted all the Marylanders driving over to our state and gamble and giving us that extra revenue!!

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
11. There was some grumbling over the gambling
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:38 PM
Jun 2014

But I think since it came to the state, they embraced it.....it helped balance the budget.......I feel for Delaware...I really do because I would go to Dover Delaware all the time......now not so much....sorry.

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
18. Awwww don't be a stranger - come back and visit us!!!
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:41 PM
Jun 2014

Ironically when Delaware passed Sunday sales for booze we had the religious crazies all a tither.

I got a letter to the editor in the local papers saying how silly it was for us to keep the ban on Sunday Sales. Delaware is a small state and everyone in the state lives 30 minutes from the MD border where Sunday sales are legal. Why have all that tax revenue be sent over the border?

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
3. Until and unless Hillary announces she's not running, there's going to be no air for anyone else.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:31 PM
Jun 2014

That's neither a knock against nor an endorsement of Hillary. It's just how it is.

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
7. Nothing against Hillary, I'm a supporter if she's our gal
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:34 PM
Jun 2014

But I'm not ready to cast my vote until I see all the candidates.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
13. Same here.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:38 PM
Jun 2014

And frankly, if it's primary time and O'Malley's still in the running (if he's in the running), I'm voting for O'Malley. If not, I'm all in for Hillary.

But I don't see a Obama like dark-horse for 2016 to knock Hillary off her front-running status. Frankly, I wasn't all that shocked that Obama managed to grab the nomination in 2008--there was a huge amount of buzz about him ever since the 2004 convention. So while him winning the nomination over Hillary might have been an upset, it was a rather minor one.

 

Chan790

(20,176 posts)
21. I think she's screwing us by not declaring; that if we wait for HRC, we lose the WH.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:46 PM
Jun 2014

I also think there's a viable candidacy for someone to run against her (not Schweitzer!) if they throw in now, commit to running unfriendly and start hitting her on her non-declaration. Her candidacy would be dead before 2014 midterms...and we'd have a strong frontrunner with a solid campaign going into election season. Alternately, she'd have to jump in and we'd have a strong frontrunner with a solid campaign going into election season.

It's a no lose situation for someone to come out strong now running as a liberal against Clinton as the presumed centrist frontrunner for the nomination.

 

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)
23. I get it.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:51 PM
Jun 2014

As a native of CO, if no longer a resident ( a recent development), I'm familiar with the man. He has done some good things esp. on social issues but the fracking is a deal-breaker for me. I'm also not fond of his protege / former chief-of-staff, the current junior Senator Michael Bennet (to be fair, appointed by the previous governor). They are both too corporate for me.

 

Timez Squarez

(262 posts)
14. I live here in Colorado
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:39 PM
Jun 2014

Believe me you don't want him.

Biggest supporter of fracking.

We call him Frackenlooper and dared him to put the fracked water in his beer

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
15. Ummm. He was strongly OPPOSED to marijauna legalization, though he's overseen the process
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:40 PM
Jun 2014

in what I think was a responsible way. I like him and will certainly vote his reelection, like that he signed the gun legislation... He is, however, far too "FRACKER" supportive and has really obstructed those trying to reign in these opportunists. He was instrumental in passing laws that tie the hands of communities whose voters wish to outlaw fracking.

So, yes, I like him--compared to the RETHUGS here for sure, but like most Dems, there are major "cons" in addition to the "pros".

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
16. I like him. He really handled all the natural disasters that Colorado has had
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:40 PM
Jun 2014

very well (Waldo Canyon Fire, big flood up in Boulder last year) as well as the shootings. I think he's a competent manager, and I'd support him--yes, his weakness is that he's buddy-buddy with oil/gas, but he has a background in geology or petroleum stuff, I think--and fracking isn't going anywhere in CO. Edit to add: might be more of VP material, for now, but I think he's a solid guy.

Laffy Kat

(16,356 posts)
29. Didn't know he had an oil background but that figures.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 07:25 PM
Jun 2014

He ran a brewery before he became the Mayor of Denver. I've not been terribly impressed with him as Governor.

Upton

(9,709 posts)
17. Hickenlooper opposed legalization..
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:41 PM
Jun 2014
Gov. John Hickenlooper said Wednesday he opposes Amendment 64, a November ballot measure that would legalize limited possession of marijuana for adults in Colorado.

"Colorado is known for many great things — marijuana should not be one of them," Hickenlooper said in a statement. "Amendment 64 has the potential to increase the number of children using drugs and would detract from efforts to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation. It sends the wrong message to kids that drugs are OK."


Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper opposes marijuana-legalization measure

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
19. No governor really wanted to be the pioneer on MJ, let's be fair.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:43 PM
Jun 2014

He did his best to handle it responsibly, and respected the will of the people of Colorado about it.

Upton

(9,709 posts)
22. You mean he was dragged kicking and screaming by the people of Colorado..
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 05:51 PM
Jun 2014

And this BS: "It sends the wrong message to kids that drugs are OK." is right out of the drug warrior playbook..

To be fair though, Inslee In Washington state was just as bad as he opposed I-502..

The question is..why haven't the Democrats taken the lead on this issue?

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
25. I expect that attitude, it's no different than anybody else in state or national
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 06:06 PM
Jun 2014

office. Nobody wants to be the first to go out and yell, YAY WEED!! Nobody knew how it would turn out--and it's still early in terms of finding out how it affects Colorado as a whole. So no, he wasn't Hick the Brave, but he's handled it well.

 

LordGlenconner

(1,348 posts)
26. Correction on "He was smart to get marijuana legalized."
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 06:24 PM
Jun 2014

That's not at all how it happened. It happened because 55 percent (or more) voted for the amendment in 2012. He has said he was generally opposed to legalization, but wouldn't stand in the way if that was what the people wanted. That's different from saying he was a proponent of legalization which he was not.

I like the guy personally, but fracking is a non-starter with me. Especially in a state that has a lot to lose environmentally like Colorado. It's just a fundamentally bad idea.

locks

(2,012 posts)
31. Have lived in Colorado since 1975
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 08:12 PM
Jun 2014

20 years in Denver while Hick was mayor, 19 in Boulder while he's been governor. We Dems were elated that we kept Denver Democratic and he has done some very good things for Colorado. Problem is, as others have posted, he owned a brewery and bar and has helped open literally hundreds of new breweries in Colorado, making beer our coolest draw (before marijuana). This has hurt our young people, especially our great CU students. It is the reason he pushed hard against legalization of marijuana although he surely knows that it's a hundred times safer for our young people than alcohol.
He is a geologist and is in the pockets of oil and gas and has fought against local control of fracking and drilling in urban areas, suing some communities like Boulder, Ft. Collins and Lafayette.

But you can see our problem; Colorado has many very active rightwingers and some really crazy Repugs, particularly in Colorado Springs and northern CO (who want to secede). Denver and Boulder's reps are probably safe but our very good Dem senators Bennet and Udall have a hard fight to keep their seats. Hick usually goes along with the Dem majority but all of them constantly straddle the fence as the right owns the corporations, the money, and a lot of the votes.

Since this is the way the country is divided now maybe Hickenlooper would make as good a president as liberals could ever get!

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