Republicans Agree with Udall on NSA Spying

Sen. Mark Udall

The Republican National Committee today passed a resolution condemning surveillance programs of the National Security Agency, a move that will certainly make for a nice TV advertisement for the re-election efforts of Democratic Sen. Mark Udall. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Udall has been in front of the efforts to pull back on the NSA's domestic spying programs, and the RNC's agreement on the issue will help Udall supporters cast him as a bipartisan leader.

It doesn't hurt that the RNC's language in their resolution is remarkably similar to Udall's messaging. From The Hill:

The committee criticized the government’s bulk collection of records about all phone calls, which emerged as one of the most controversial programs revealed in leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. That NSA effort “is in itself contrary to the right of privacy protected by the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the RNC said in the resolution.

Now here's Udall speaking about the issue with NPR a few weeks ago:

"We shouldn't codify a program that violates Americans' privacy, raises questions about the Fourth Amendment and is, in the end, not proven to be effective. … It violates Americans' privacy and may well be unconstitutional."

It looks like we know where the eventual GOP Senate nominee will be on the NSA spying issue…just maybe with a little different language.

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Sen. Udall Raises Another Million Dollars

You’d be smiling, too, if you were outraising your opponents this much.

The campaign for Democratic Sen. Mark Udall won't officially file its fundraising report for another few weeks (end-of-year reports have longer deadlines than quarterly reports), but news about another strong quarter is already leaking out. Udall raised more than $1.1 million in Q4, ending the year with a hefty $4.7 million cash on hand. Udall finished 2013 by raising more than $1.1 million in every single quarter.

For comparison's sake, Republicans Ken Buck and Owen Hill didn't raise $500,000 combined in Q3, and both need to have had a much better Q4. Fundraising numbers from Q4 will also be the first look at the potential strength of state Rep. Amy Stephens, who entered the Senate race in October.

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New Q-Poll: Obamacare Hurts Udall (For Now), Christie Gets Love

From the latest poll from Quinnipiac University out today, looking at approval of President Barack Obama, his signature health care reform law, and upcoming races for U.S. Senate in 2014 and for President in 2016:

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall gets a split 44 – 44 percent approval rating, but voters say 47 – 41 percent the Democratic incumbent does not deserve to be reelected. 

In the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Colorado, Sen. Udall gets 45 percent to 42 percent for Republican District Attorney Ken Buck. In other possible matchups:
Udall over State Sen. Randy Baumgardner 44 – 39 percent;
Udall tops State Sen. Owen Hill 45 – 39 percent;
Udall at 43 percent, with 40 percent for businessman Jaime McMillan;
Udall leads State Rep. Amy Stephens 45 – 38 percent;
Udall tops businessman Mark Aspiri 45 – 36 percent.

"Though running even or ahead of six possible Republican challengers, Sen. Mark Udall must be pulling for a quick fix of the Obamacare website and a change of heart by Coloradans who dislike the Affordable Care Act by a wide margin," [Q-pac assistant director Tim] Malloy said. 

Colorado voters disapprove 59 – 36 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, his worst approval rating in any state or national Quinnipiac University poll since he was elected. Even women disapprove by 52 – 41 percent, while men disapprove 66 – 31 percent. Disapproval is 98 – 2 percent among Republicans and 65 – 27 percent among independent voters, while Democrats approve 78 – 15 parent. 

The Durango Herald's Joe Hanel has a good summary up on today's poll:

The poll found the popularity of Democrats in general plummeted since the last time Quinnipiac surveyed Colorado voters in August. But Republicans don’t have much to cheer about. Their popularity ratings remain even lower.

Colorado voters have unfavorable views of the Democratic Party, with 39 percent approving and 54 percent disapproving; the Republican Party, 34 percent to 56 percent; and the GOP’s tea party faction, 34 percent to 48 percent.

First of all, there's no question that the disastrous rollout of the federal health insurance marketplace has severely impacted polling numbers for Democrats. The numbers for both Sen. Mark Udall and President Obama undeniably have taken a major hit, and Obamacare is the obvious explanation. The only ray of sunshine in this bad news for Democrats is that nearly a year remains before the next election. This week, the narrative on the rollout of Obamacare has begun to shift as news reports finally show appreciable numbers of signups through the marketplaces. Whatever the polls show today, once the story of Obamacare changes from dysfunction to hard-won success–you might say 'if,' but we believe it will happen–these numbers should turn around.

On the GOP side of the 2014 Senate race, we see, much like the numbers for Gov. John Hickenlooper yesterday, a total inability to capitalize on Democrats' self-inflicted wounds. Udall's lead over all GOP challengers is significant, but even more noteworthy is the failure of Rep. Amy Stephens to differentiate herself from a weak pack of Republican candidates. As the only woman in a field of generally underrecognized GOP contenders, we truthfully expected her to outperform in a head-to-head matchup against Udall. Instead, she's one of the weakest.

Lastly, and though it's far too early to meaningfully poll the 2016 presidential race, the evident popularity of Republican Gov. Chris Christie in Colorado shouldn't be overlooked. On a number of occasions, including Christie's cooperation with Obama on Hurricane Sandy relief efforts just before last year's elections, as well as Christie's very public chastisement of Colorado Republicans for their hypocritical disaster relief votes, he has distinguished himself as the kind of pragmatic statesman local independent voters love. There's a lesson in that for Republicans and Democrats in Colorado, but with our local GOP lurching ever rightward, we doubt they can follow the example.

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Udall, Bennet Land Flood Relief Dollars In Shutdown Settlement

UPDATE #2: The over two week-old shutdown of the federal government and accompanying debt ceiling crisis ends, for a couple of months anyway, as FOX 31's Eli Stokols reports:

In the end, all but one member of the Colorado congressional delegation voted in support of the legislation to re-open the government and avoid a potentially catastrophic default on the nation’s debts, which passed both the House and Senate Wednesday night.

Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, voted against the legislation, which passed the House on a vote of 285-144, with nearly all Democrats and roughly half of the House Republicans voting yes.

You'll recall that Lamborn had allegedly given up the fight well over a week ago, but with passage assured, it looks like he took the safe-seat opportunity to cast a protest vote. No doubt the 18,000 federal employees in his district appreciate his conviction. And please try to be understanding next time Lamborn's district catches fire.

Having voted to reopen the shuttered federal government and extend the debt limit, with only the most token of concessions compared to their original strident demands to "delay or defund" the Affordable Care Act, we'll leave our readers to debate the extent of the GOP's failure tonight. We'd say somewhere between epic and total.

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UPDATE: Sen. Mark Udall's statement a short while ago:

Mark Udall welcomed the passage today of a bipartisan deal to avert a destructive government default and end the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has hurt Colorado communities, Main Street businesses and middle class families for more than two weeks. The bipartisan agreement includes a Udall-championed provision to help Colorado rebuild flood-ravaged roads, bridges and highways.

"One of Congress's top duties is to support job creation, strengthen our nation's economy and help middle-class families thrive. But for several weeks, an extreme faction of one political party in one house of Congress manufactured a crisis and held our economic recovery hostage," Udall said. "It comes as no surprise that Coloradans overwhelmingly have rejected this extremist brinksmanship and instead implored members of Congress to collaborate on a bipartisan path forward. I’m proud that this bipartisan agreement finally will reopen our federal government, avoid a default on our nation's obligations, and deliver much-needed aid to Colorado's flood-ravaged communities — a provision I fought for."

"In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address issues that I've pushed for years: reducing our nation's debt, passing immigration reform and a farm bill, putting in place more sustainable energy policies and making the federal government more accountable to taxpayers. But we must responsibly tackle these issues in inclusive ways that reject brinksmanship and political games."

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Image via Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden)

9NEWS' Raju Chebium:

A Senate deal aimed at ending the partial government shutdown and averting a debt default includes a nice chunk of change – $450 million – to help Colorado fully recover from the recent floods.

Aides to Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet say the Democratic lawmakers worked to include language in the deal to lift the $100 million annual limit on emergency highway funds Uncle Sam is allowed to provide to help states recover from natural disasters…

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the deal later today but the House's plans are unclear.

9NEWS omits this detail, but this is the same money that the entire Colorado delegation sought prior to the shutdown in the wake of last month's devastating Front Range floods. You'll recall that officials from both parties, including New Jersey's Republican Gov. Chris Christie, hammered Colorado Republicans for their "hypocrisy" (Christie's term) in seeking these funds after voting against relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy in January. The Washington Post reported that New Jersey Sen. Jeff Chiesa blocked the funds until given assurances that they would not be paid from the Hurricane Sandy relief money Colorado Republicans voted against–which they originally would have been. Local officials will be greatly relieved to see these funds fast-tracked as part of the deal to reopen the government, as opposed to waiting for another vote down the road.

There is still a chance, of course, that some or all of our Colorado House Republicans will vote against the Senate's bill to end the shutdown. The deal isn't expected to garner much conservative support, and will likely pass the House with the support of Democrats.

Given everything that's happened, we would strongly recommend Colorado Republicans swallow their ideological pride (or shame as the case may be) and vote yes. And then apologize to New Jersey.

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Udall Announces Bipartisan Domestic Spying Reform Bill

Sens. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Gannett's Raju Chebium reports in today's Fort Collins Coloradoan:

A proposal unveiled Wednesday by Colorado Democrat Mark Udall and three other senators would end sweeping surveillance operations like the ones revealed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

Under legislation being pushed by Udall, Democrats Ron Wyden of Oregon and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, the government could only access telephone and Internet records of those suspected of terrorism or espionage.

The bill also would require a civil-rights advocate to be present during secret proceedings of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to safeguard the constitutional rights of millions of unsuspecting Americans whose communications have been monitored by the NSA…

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

More from Sen. Mark Udall's press release yesterday afternoon:

“There is growing, bipartisan sentiment in Colorado and across the country that the way the NSA and our intelligence agencies are balancing Americans’ privacy rights and our security is fundamentally out of whack. We need to end the NSA's collection of millions of innocent Americans' private phone records and focus on the real problem: terrorists and spies," Udall said. "These aren't vague or abstract threats to our liberty. These dragnet searches are happening right now. I am proud to lead this bipartisan push to protect Americans' privacy rights and ensure that our pursuit of security does not trample our constitutional liberties."

"The overbroad surveillance activities that have come to light over the last few months have shown how wide the gap between upholding the constitutional liberties of American citizens and protecting national security has become," [Sen. Ron] Wyden said. "The effect can be felt not only by the significant erosion of civil liberties domestically, but in the reduced credibility of the American government abroad and the significant impact on American economic interests. These reforms seek to close that gap and avoid the false choice of protecting security over the preservation of personal liberty."

"Reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act must restrict the executive's expansive powers to seize private records in secret and without probable cause," [Sen. Rand] Paul said. "I support reforms on the way to a full restoration of our Founders' idea embodied in the Fourth Amendment."

The controversy this year over continued large-scale domestic surveillance by the National Security Agency, which began under Republican President George W. Bush but has continued and even been expanded by President Barack Obama, has proven a morale boat-anchor for the Democratic base. Sen. Udall's early and vocal criticism on this issue, now validated in the wake of the Edward Snowden leaks, should insulate him from the base's anger over domestic surveillance being continued by a President that was at one point trusted to reform these abuses. It's anybody's guess whether President Obama will support this legislation–we would recommend that–but even if Obama doesn't, Udall is doing the right thing ethically and politically by taking on this fight.

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Udall Afraid of Hill, Unnamed Source Probably Named Hill Tells Hill. Donate to Hill!

UPDATE: According to the Denver daily paper, Ken Buck has filed paperwork with the FEC to run for Senate in 2014, making Owen Hill debatably, by a slim margin, the second-least laughable of the 2014 Republican US Senate primary candidates. I'm quite sure that the lessons Buck learned from losing his last Senate race have prepared him to lose this one much better.

Owen Hill, by a slim margin the least laughable (so far) of 2014 Republican US Senate primary candidates, informed supporters of some important breaking news today. A fundraising email dated August 7 breathlessly declares, "Breaking: Inside source says Udall only fears Owen Hill." 

Only? Could it be that Udall recoiled after detecting a case of Hill-itosis? Did Udall have a bad experience with pastel striped ties during his boyhood? Let's dive a bit deeper and see what's so frightening to the well-funded and popular incumbent, shall we? In Hill's words:

 I just received some very important inside information I must share it with you first.

 After 17 years as a career politician… U.S. Senator Mark Udall is scared for his political future.

Those aren't my words. Those words come from someone deep inside Mark Udall's operation, and he isn't just scared of anyone. According to insiders familiar with this race, there is only one announced or even potential Republican candidate Democrat Mark Udall doesn't want to run against… and that is me.

(The glaring proofreading error in the first sentence is Hill's, not mine, and was included in the final-draft email.) 

I can't be too hard on the rookie state senator for his ridiculous fundraising pitch. After all, down on their luck Dilbert characters need work, too…

Read on for the full email and a Pointy Haired Boss worthy use of the word "innovating." 

Full text of Hill's silly fundraising pitch — only the link to donate has been removed. You can find it, if you feel moved to give to Hill's Home for Unwanted Hyperbolic Copywriters:

I just received some very important inside information I must share it with you first.

After 17 years as a career politician… U.S. Senator Mark Udall is scared for his political future.

Those aren't my words. Those words come from someone deep inside Mark Udall's operation, and he isn't just scared of anyone. According to insiders familiar with this race, there is only one announced or even potential Republican candidate Democrat Mark Udall doesn't want to run against… and that is me.

Show your support for my campaign; make a donation of $20, $50, or $100 to help me show Udall to the door.

Moreover, Mark Udall's political ally and fellow Colorado Senator, Mike Bennett head of the hyper-partisan Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), is already spending thousands of dollars digging into my conservative record. In fact, I'm the only Colorado candidate for U.S. Senate that Bennett is looking into.

And it's no wonder. Of course a career politician with a record of bankrupting our country with wasteful boondoggles like Solyndra and empty "stimulus" give-a-ways would be wary of defending his abysmal record against an independent conservative like me.

You see, I don't fit the political mold that Udall and national Democrats are used to running against.

I'm part of a new generation of conservative leadership responsible for innovating better ways to reach swing voters. I have dedicated my entire career to helping others, through non-profits, fighting to protect citizens as a military veteran, and now, as a State Senator. My goal is to stand up and speak for those without a voice. My faith in a loving God and devotion to my wife Emily and our four children spur me to lead the charge in fixing our broken government.

The only thing standing in the way of defeating the Democrats and Mark Udall is his massive multi-million dollar war chest.

And that's where you come in. While we don't need to match Udall dollar for dollar, this campaign can't succeed without your immediate help.

Will you support my campaign with an important contribution today? Chip in a donation of $20, $50, $100, or what you can afford right away please.

Udall's afraid and should be. He knows the era of big tax and spend government is coming to a close. But rather than grumble about Udall, join me to bring new leadership to advance our conservative values.

Warmly, 

P.S. There's a reason Udall doesn't want to run against me. He can't defend his wasteful record and he knows my leadership can restore the Republican Party in Colorado. In addition, on a tele-townhall last week Udall admitted to supporters that Republicans have a "5-6 point advantage" in the 2014 midterm elections. Your support is crucial to showing Udall he is right to be afraid. Please, make a donation of $20, $50 or $100 right now.

"Responsible for innovating better ways to reach swing voters?"

Well. Okay. I suppose making shit up and attributing it to unnamed inside sources is perhaps a "better way to reach swing voters," but I think you're supposed to earn their support, not just "reach" them, if you want to win. 

However, Senator Hill, you may have a bright future in political comedy, should you fall short in your current aspirations. Have you considered an internship on Colbert?

Colorado native, young professional, progressive cowgirl. 4-term FPE (aka masochist).

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Udall Fundraises Off Potential Buck Senate Run

2010 GOP Senate nominee Ken Buck.

Can you blame him? A fundraising email blast from Sen. Mark Udall today:

In 2010, outside groups like AFP spent a combined $30 million to influence the Colorado U.S. Senate race. We have to be prepared to fight back…

It’s not just the Koch brothers and outside spending coming back to Colorado from 2010.

Now the media’s reporting that Ken Buck, Weld County district attorney and failed 2010 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, is itching for a second shot at bringing his extreme views to the U.S. Senate. [Pols emphasis]

In 2010, the Year of the Tea Party, Buck blazed the trail for future extremists. Before Todd Akin explained his theory of “legitimate rape” in 2012, Buck told a rape victim she was simply experiencing “buyer’s remorse” and refused to prosecute her case.

While Buck’s views are outside of the mainstream for most Coloradans, it’s par for the course for today’s right-wing ideologues. And any Republican candidate will be helped by millions of dollars in outside money.

Although Weld County DA Ken Buck lost to Sen. Michael Bennet by a relatively small margin, the underlying demographics showing a collapse in support for Buck among women voters has been studied intensely by Democrats since 2010. Buck's defeat after a campaign focused on highly offensive remarks about a victim of rape whose case he refused to prosecute, along with other hard-line social issue positions Buck proudly took as a GOP primary candidate, has evolved into what's known nationally as the "Michael Bennet strategy."

If we were Mark Udall, we'd be talking about Buck a lot too. And privately, hoping.

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At Long Last, Mark Udall Has a GOP Challenger…Sort Of

State Sen. Randy Baumgardner.

FOX 31's Eli Stokols:

State Sen. Randy Baumgardner, a rancher from Hot Sulphur Springs, will officially launch his campaign for Udall’s seat this Friday in Grand County, the Denver Post’s Lynn Bartels reported Sunday.

Baumgardner, known as the “Capitol Cowboy” at the Capitol, has been hinting that he planned to enter the race.

FOX31 Denver has had Baumgardner on its list of likely GOP Senate candidates for months; others considering a run, including state Rep. Amy Stephens of Monument and Sen. Owen Hill of Colorado Springs, are likely to announce their intentions in the coming weeks.

State Sen. Randy Baumgardner of Hot Sulphur Springs is perhaps most famous, excepting the powerful facial hair for which he is most famous, for his defeat of Sen. Jean White in the 2012 GOP primary for Senate District 8. White, a moderate Republican woman who had voted in favor of civil union legislation, was defeated in a bitter primary that saw much attention focused on morality issues–even after it was disclosed that Baumgardner was harboring a sex offender in his own home. More recently, Baumgardner claimed that "hammers kill more people than guns"–in fact, guns kill about 17 times the number of people that hammers do.

Bottom line: we can't even list all the reasons we seriously doubt that Baumgardner will be the GOP's U.S. Senate nominee. If by some chance he does win the nomination, that will be the clearest indication possible that Republicans have forfeited the race to incumbent Sen. Mark Udall–even to the abandonment of the name ID-building opportunity the race could represent for a young candidate like Owen Hill., or an upwardly mobile state legislative veteran like Amy Stephens. As great as it would be for Democrats, we have to believe Baumgardner's campaign won't last beyond the entry of someone–anyone–more credible.

In the meantime, he should make for a few entertaining news cycles.

Full story: At Long Last, Mark Udall Has a GOP Challenger…Sort Of

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Then There Were Two, Sort Of: Owen Hill Files To Challenge Udall

State Sen. Owen Hill.

Once again, FOX 31's Eli Stokols reports:

Sen. Owen Hill, after just one year as a state lawmaker, is running for the U.S. Senate, FOX31 Denver is first to report.

Hill, R-Colorado Springs, will announce Monday that he is seeking the GOP’s nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Mark Udall next year…

“We’ve been looking at it for a while,” Hill told FOX31 Denver Monday morning. “The Republican Party in Colorado does not have an answer for what the Democrats are doing. It’s time for some new ideas and for a candidate who will focus on innovation. both on policy and within our politics.

“There’s no one on our side who’s bringing that message of innovation and a focus on the freedom of the individual.”

Certainly freshman Sen. Owen Hill, 31, is a more formidable contender than Randy Baumgardner, the fellow state senator who is announcing his own bid this week for the GOP nomination to run against incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Udall in 2014. But that's principally because Baumgardner is, to put it charitably, laughably unqualified. In Hill's exceedingly short span as a state lawmaker, he has established a reputation as a circumlocutory and reasonably eloquent orator. To be clear, we're using the word "circumlocutory" because we know Sen. Hill knows what it means–even if none of you all do.

We can't call Sen. Hill an appreciably more competitive candidate for this office than some of the other names that remain out there, but a run for U.S. Senate in 2014 might make sense for Hill personally. For one thing, it's a safe race to run–he doesn't have to give up his state Senate seat. Even if he can't win, a well-fought placeholder effort against a safe Democratic incumbent could be the ticket to bigger things for Owen Hill down the road.

Bottom line: today, in this race, Hill evokes the GOP's weak bench in Colorado. In ten years, it may be different.

Full story: Then There Were Two, Sort Of: Owen Hill Files To Challenge Udall

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Udall Banks $1.3 Million In Q2

Raising money like his pants are on fire (they aren’t)

FOX 31's Eli Stokols:

Colorado Sen. Mark Udall had perhaps his best month of press since taking office in June, when a government surveillance scandal he’s long hinted at came to light.

The Democrat, who faces reelection next fall, also finished up another strong fundraising quarter, bringing in $1.3 million in contributions between April 1 and June 30.

Udall’s campaign now has $3.4 million cash on hand, his campaign tells FOX31 Denver.

Now he just needs an opponent…

Stokols reports that one of the more consistent mentions as a possible opponent to Sen. Mark Udall in 2014, failed 2006 gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez, is in decline as a likely candidate, and mentions three state legislators, including former Majority Leader Amy Stephens and freshman state Sen. Owen Hill of Colorado Springs. We were the first to report the possibility of a Stephens run, and Stokols says of Owen Hill:

Owen Hill for U.S. Senate: It’s Not Like You Have a Choice!

Keep an eye on Hill, who has just one year under his belt as a lawmaker but has impressed political observers at the Capitol with his speaking prowess; just in his early 30s with a young family, Hill is exactly the kind of fresh face the Colorado GOP is looking for…

…That his name is even in the mix to challenge Udall this cycle underlines his potential — and just how short the Republican bench is in the state. [Pols emphasis]

As eloquent as Hill may be–we find him a bit hammy–this has every appearance of the search for a placeholder. We won't argue that Hill may have the makings of a bright political future (mainly because he just got elected) but the mention of his name for U.S. Senate is entirely about circumstance and timing. The only reason Hill's name has even made it into discussion is because the GOP really has nobody on their bench; that's Hill's good fortune, perhaps, but you can't extract further meaning from the correlation.  

Full story: Udall Banks .3 Million In Q2

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