Marilyn Musgrave has raised over a million dollars in campaign funds. My thoughts on this were summarized perfectly by a commenter on the Tribune’s site.

I feel that our government is for sale when I see how much money is wasted in campaigning. We need lobbying and campaign reform. No honest person could succeed in the current system with the amount of money they need. This system bodes horribly for individuals without deep pocketbooks (you know, most of us). As Dillon said, “everything is broken”.

Why is it that a local representative needs a million dollars to plaster signs all over the place and run TV ads? Why can’t we just have some public debates and speeches where each candidate voices their views? The campaigns both for and against Musgrave in the last two elections have amounted to little more than flag waving (by Musgrave) and mudslinging (by her opponents). There was little discussion about any issues.

I watched Musgrave debate Stan Matsunaka on the UNC campus prior to her first successful election. She did little more than pander to everyone’s fear about terrorism and spout her dedication to the troops in the Middle East (which, if I remember correctly, included her son). To me she didn’t even come across as intelligent. Fortunately, Northern Colorado residents were concerned their homes woudl be blown up by terrorists, and Stan Matsunaka was ridiculously liberal, so she was elected.

Hopefully this year’s election will actually focus on actual issues. At least immigration has an impact in Greeley…

Greeley City Council is reviewing changes to our local public transit

Based on comments, it appears that the already bad system could get even worse:

“I can tell you right now we can’t afford everything we want,” Mayor Tom Selders said.

It is unfortunate that in these days of skyrocketing fuel costs and increased traffic congestion that this isn’t more of a priorty for our city government. I have never actually used our current public transportation system due to it’s inconvenience. It would take me three transfers and 45 minutes to travel from my home in central Greeley to my job in west Greeley. I could walk faster. Take a look for yourself and see if your morning commute could do better.

Over the last couple decades Greeley has become a bedroom community for many people employeed in the Loveland/Fort Collins area. As traffic congestion and commuter times increase the value of living in Greeley will further decrease. The City Council needs to focus on two things. Bringing more high-paying jobs to Greeley and improving commutes for residents working elsewhere in Northern Colorado. The time to improve public transportation is NOW, before we are completely mired in overcrowding and gridlock like Denver is. Over the long term a successful public transportation project will decrease road project and maintenance costs, provide a better quailty of life. If we don’t have the money, let’s put this on a bond issue. Seems like it would be a better use of money than a new police station.

Republican Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave and challenger Angie Paccione have some competition from an independent candidate. Fort Collins businessman Eric Eidsness is challenging Musgrave as a Reform Party Candidate.

Labeling himself as a traditional conservative, Eidsness supports reduced spending, withdrawl of troops from Iraq and strict immigration policy. While I believe his chances are slim against a republican darling like Musgrave, it is good to see someone that may run that isn’t just about flag waving. In the previous two elections, Musgrave has run on a fear based anti-terrorism platform. She probably wouldn’t have won if the local democrats could have fielded a better candidate than ultra-conservative Stan Matsunaka. With two viable candidates like Paccione and Eidsness, Musgrave’s re-election campaign should be interesting.

There is new drama surrounding state representative Angie Paccione. It seems that there was an email circulated that offered free trips to washington in exchange for contributions to the Paccione campaign and a Greeley man has filed a complaint.

This is just the latest shot in an ongoing war between current congressional representative Marilyn Musgrave and Paccione.

Here are a couple followups on previous articles:

Weld County Commissioners approved the new Ridgeview Farms development. Good to see our elected representatives are protecting property rights.,

Time’s up fro the noise petitions. Ufortunately it doesn’t sound like they got as many signatures as they needed.

LeRoy Johnson waives arraignment. Trial date is set for May 9. Guess we will have to wait a month to see if we have a lunatic in City Council.

Just a quick link to Weld County City Election Results.

Illegal immigrants. They are all the talk this week. From students walking out of class in protest to colorado politicians taking sides on the issue to Senator McCain’s plan receiving opposition in Congress.

I don’t understand why this is an issue at all. We already have laws concerning immigration and hiring of illegal immigrants that are being broken. Why do we not just enforce the existing laws. Illegal immigrants cross the US-Mexican border for one reason. Jobs. If these jobs, which are illegal, were eliminated we would have no immigration problem. Thing is, everyone seems to recognize that there are industries that need this low cost immigrant labor. So, what do we have for solutions. Currently there are two plans:

• Increase border security. Typically this idea is to spend billions of dollars to creat a 1951 mile long wall - smart
• Provide guest work visas so people that are here can stay and pay taxes

Let’s see, out of these two plans, the first will cost an exorbinant amount of money and will fail. There is no way we can secure and patrol nearly 2000 miles of border. It won’t help against terrorists, unless of course we build a wall across Canada too.

The second option allows low cost workers into the United States, generates tax revenue, stimulates local economys and drives down the cost of consumer goods.

Again, why is this an issue? If you want the immigrants out, demand that the immigration authorities shut down businesses that hire illegals. If you want to keep the costs of food, construction and any number of other things low, support the guest visas. Under no cirucmstances vote for ANY moron that thinks building a wall between here and Mexico is a good idea. It’s as dumb and undoable as the legendary ‘War on Drugs’ has been. Increased border security will just continue raising coyotes to the level of drug lord.

Appearantly Greeley City Councilman LeRoy Johnson has a little woman trouble. Councilman Johnson is innocent until proven guilty in our society, so unlike many of the commenters on the Tribune’s website, I won’t call for his resignation yet.

I do believe that this case should be watched very closely. If Johnson conducted himself in the manner described in these allegations he should definitely not be on our City Council.