Melat Kiros is likely headed to D.C., and so are Bennet and Hickenlooper.
What an interesting primary election for the Democrats. Name recognition was supposed to give the victory to Sen. Michael Bennet, but it did not. He announced his campaign, saying he could get more done in Colorado than in Washington, D.C. So, I guess the honorable thing to do would be to retire from his Senate seat. Then, in an ironic twist, Phil Weiser could appoint his replacement.
Name recognition, and it would seem, name recognition only, brought victory to Jena Griswold. She’s an attorney with no courtroom or prosecutorial experience. Her future staff in the attorney general’s office are going to have so much fun at staff meetings.
Then there is state Rep. Sean Comacho’s defeat. Sean, we just wanted to know the source of all that dark money. Maybe you should go see Disclosure Day.
Finally, there is U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette’s defeat, which happened due to laziness and complacency. I’m not exactly sad to see DeGette go, but now we have a candidate for November who believes the state of Israel has no right to exist and should not have weapons to defend itself. Melat Kiros seems like a smart person. But if you can’t make a distinction between the government of Israel and its people, maybe not.
James Ronald LaFollette, Denver
Over the years, The Denver Post has run a goodly number of opinions I’ve submitted, and I appreciate it. However, I’ve submitted a few proclaiming my disapproval of the policies and actions of the state of Israel, which is not antisemitic. I harbor no animosity or prejudice against the Jewish faith nor its culture. Not one of those submissions was published.
It would seem the results of the Denver Democratic primary are an indication that I was and am not alone in this persuasion. I am anti-colonialism, as Israel is primarily an Eastern European colony. I am anti-genocide as this is clearly the aim of Israel’s campaign to eliminate both the Palestinian state and its people. Finally, I resent tremendously the use of my tax dollars to not only support but also promote both of the above.
Bill Starks, Arvada
I applaud The Denver Post Open Forum for its wisdom in selecting the op ed of Vivian Weinstein of Denver on the June 27 opinion page. Werinstein and I are both of the Jewish faith and support Melat Kiros, Colorado Democrat candidate for the upcoming midterm House seat long held by Diane DeGette. Having experienced genocide waged against her Ethiopian family, Melat Kiros has expressed sympathy for the Palestinians of Gaza.
To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023. Israeli Jews had every right to retaliate with great force. But what has followed has been nothing short of an all-out genocide against Gazan and Lebanese civilians.
Democratically elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu no doubt considers himself a peaceful leader, but he has waged brutal aggression against his perceived enemies on the West Bank and many parts of the Middle East. His aggression continues to this day. He is, in fact, an autocrat.
Netanyahu acts like a king, as does U.S. President Donald Trump. The two of them teamed up to bomb Iran in a war that, by all accounts, has been a dismal failure. War must necessarily be the last resort. Displaying humanity must be a moral imperative among the world’s leaders. But because of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, I find that in my old age, I am embarrassed to be a Jewish American. We must do better. We must not tolerate Kings.
Barry Sharcot, Denver
I feel sad for Michael Bennet that he doesn’t get to come home to Colorado yet, but we still need him in Washington. I believe Weiser is best in tune to Colorado’s local needs, and Michael has been a great advocate for Colorado for many years.
Unlike much of the outside funding of other campaigns, I suspect a lot of Michael’s reflected the respect he has from other parts of the country, especially the western states.
Thank you, Bennet.
Gail Ryan, Lakewood
To Monica Duran, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Britany Pettersen,
I was disappointed in you all and never understood your support for Michael Bennet. That said, please take note that Corporate Democrats who are supported by billionaire-funded Super PACs, which run disparaging campaigns against the people’s democratic candidates, are no longer winning in Colorado.
Louis Kolker, Lakewood
I voted for Julie Gonzalez for U.S. Senate in the June primary because I don’t believe that John Hickenlooper has the qualities that will be needed to meet the challenges that face our country in the years ahead. Democrats need a fighter, not a compromiser, to deal with Trump and the MAGA Republicans in Congress.
We need universal healthcare, but Hickenlooper is opposed to Medicare for All. He has a history of voting for Trump nominees. He’s too old (and I’m 79). I hope he will learn the right lessons from his pathetic 53% to 47% “victory” on Tuesday. People are sick and tired of politics as usual. So, if he wants to leave a meaningful legacy for his time in the Senate, I suggest that he scrap his centrist tendencies and concentrate his efforts on making the future brighter for our children and grandchildren.
Mike Dubrovich, Parker
The cost of wolves to ranchers is far more than just a number on paper
:“What’s really killing cattle in Colorado,” June 28, guest commentary.
Erik MMolvar’scolumn on the impact of the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado makes the point that the losses ranchers suffer due to those wolves are relatively minor in terms of the losses from other causes. I assume that Molvar hopes readers conclude that complaints about wolves are overblown.
However, my conclusion is that raising cattle is fraught with risks, and the presence of wolves has added yet another risk to ranching. Like all of agriculture, ranching is a risky but necessary industry subject to many variables outside of anyone’s control, stretching from weather to selling in a market that sets prices regardless of the costs incurred. Wolves add to the risks, minor or otherwise, and impact the profitability of ranching.
While the sstate’scompensation helps, I doubt that it fully compensates for the additional costs of having wolves in the environment. For example, does the compensation include a value for the time needed to go through the claim process rather than attending to other tasks or the extra diligence expended to minimize the losses? My observation is from the perspective of someone who has lived his life in urban and suburban areas and never worked in ranching or farming.
Shawn Thompson, Denver
1stBank to PNC transition has been rough
:“Rebrand sparks outcry,” “June 27, news story.
II’mone of the 1stBank customers leaving PNC. II’vebeen a 1stBank client since 1985. Their customer service was always fantastic. After the merger was announced, PNC sent me a self-praising letter promising customer service as good or better than 1stBank. We shall see, I thought.
Next, I read they are laying off almost 800 of their Colorado employees. Then, I get a thick transition letter with a task list for me, with a list of deadlines. I didn’t ask for this, and II’mnot your employee, so why am I doing your work for you? Concerned about a direct deposit, I needed PNC customer service. In the transition letter to Coloradans, customer service hours were given in Eastern Time because not a single person in this national bank could take the five seconds required to translate Eastern Time to Mountain Time. Rude.
Anyway, I called the customer service number printed on the transition letter. After 30 minutes on hold, I was told, “We are not allowed to answer transition questions. Here’s the number for that.”Put on hold again. I’m moving my accounts to Bank of Colorado.
Joan Jacobson, Lakewood
A bright spot in the blight of gambling
“Howsports betting became Colorado’s ticket to funding $140 million in water conservation projects,” June 18, news story.
Thank you for your coverage of the conservation projects that are funded by sports betting. I did not realize there was a bright spot in this cancerous activity that has become so popular.
C. Greenman, Lakewood
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