Just One Thing: Kamala vs the filibuster (another political miscalculation?)
Kamala Harris said yesterday that she would eliminate the filibuster in order to pass federal protection for abortion. I think that’s dumb of her for a few reasons. First, she already has, enthusiastically, every voter for whom supporting a Roe v Wade-like law is their top issue. Second, it’s better than 50/50 right now that the GOP will control the Senate so eliminating the filibuster would be bad for Dems in the short term even if there’s a Dem president to veto stuff and REALLY bad for Dems if Trump wins the election and the Senate has a GOP majority that takes her up on killing the filibuster. Third, a lot of normal people don’t like changing the rules when you can’t win the game the way it’s usually played. All in all, seems like another boneheaded move by the Harris campaign.
Harris Calls for Senate to Eliminate Filibuster to Codify Roe v. Wade | National Review
Harris backs eliminating filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade (axios.com)
Today's Guests
Since retiring from being the CEO of a Fortune 500 company (DaVita), Kent Thiry has spent a lot of time, energy, and money trying to remake Colorado's political system in ways he believes tends to restrain the furthest fringes of the left and right. He was largely responsible for opening our primary elections to unaffiliated voters, for example. His current effort is Proposition 131 which would radically change the way we elect people to federal office (except for president) and to most offices in state government (but not DAs and not city/county governments unless they do their own local reforms.)
In particular, Prop 131 would replace party primaries with one big primary containing all candidates. The top 4 finishers (who could all be from one party or any blend from 0-4 to 4-0, or something else if a non-Democrat or non-Republican is a top finisher) make the general election. And then the general election is decided by Ranked Choice Voting. A voter would not be required to rank, however; he or she could just "bullet vote" for one of the four candidates and express no preference among the others. If no candidate has over 50% in the first count of all general election ballots, the candidate with the lowest count is eliminated and the voters who picked that candidate first have their ballots re-checked for their second choices who now get those votes. That process proceeds until a candidate has over 50% of the vote.
I'm leaning toward supporting this in part because both political parties hate it and because our parties are doing great harm to this country. When our results have been so bad for so long, I'm likely willing to try almost anything that sounds modestly reasonable to see if the results are better. There are arguments against this system, particularly its complexity, and some conservatives think it's a recipe for Democrats to win more, but I think that's because conservatives are really bad at playing any new game.
One thing worth noting: A sleazy move by Dems in the state legislature included provisions in a new law that could potentially make it difficult or impossible to implement Prop 131 even if it passes. If it does pass there will surely be massive legal challenges to Emily Sirota's shenanigans. Jared Polis should have vetoed the bill that included the stuff but he didn't even though he opposed these particular provisions.
Text of the initiative: 2023-2024_310vbb.pdf (colorado.gov)
Jake Kubié is Director of Integrated Communications (whatever that means) for the Denver Zoo or, its new name, the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. He's gonna tell us about this year's Halloween fun, Boo at the Zoo, and I'll have a handful of family-packs of tickets to give away!
More from Jake:
Back by popular demand and designed with feedback from guests and members, Boo at the Zoo is back at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) on select evenings (Oct. 4-5, 11-13, 18-20 and 25-27) with mysterious cryptid creatures, seasonal snacks and libations and nine stations serving up wildlife-friendly candy (all palm oil-free or using sustainably sourced palm oil). DZCA is also hosting a special sensory-friendly edition of Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 31 for families living with sensory processing disorders with reduced crowds, low-volume music, quiet rooms and more; and for a limited time, new members and current members who renew their membership receive two free tickets to Boo at the Zoo.
Other Stuff
Read the headline then read the story and tell me just how misleading you think the headline is: Shots fired into Harris campaign office in Arizona (axios.com)
Trump's very worst issue (though his lack of care about national debt/deficit/spending is close): Tariffs become Trump's miracle cure: "Greatest thing ever invented" (axios.com) In fact, I think this insanity by Trump is so dangerous that it makes him about an equal economic risk to that posed by Kamala Harris, not that we know exactly what she would do.
Since Trump might win and since he won't stop talking about tariffs, I urge you to educate yourself so you're protected against the many myths and lies, especially coming from Trump, about tariffs: Tariff Myths, Debunked - The Dispatch
I owe you this from yesterday:
As a radio host I'm not sure I should talk about this but I'm going to, because I share some degree of the exhaustion. Probably not as much as many people because I have long enjoyed politics as a spectator sport. But as much as I love the NFL, for example, I don't want to only watch football. But there's another difference: People have imbued politics with a sense of impending doom if "the other side" wins. There's a LOT wrong with this but it's also not entirely without some basis given how far left and right the Dems and GOP, respectively, have shifted in the past generation.
I note that the feelings expressed in the article are much of the reason why my show is only partly political though, to be sure, it gets a little more political as we drift inexorably toward the election of a terrible president.
Exhaustion and stress: How politics are affecting society | Politics | denvergazette.com
And this is related: Silent majority's role in combating polarization (thehill.com)
I'm not really surprised: Bret Baier: Trump, not Harris, the ‘holdup’ on Fox News debate (thehill.com)
And I owe you this too: Will California ever stop being a caricature of California? California to ban all plastic shopping bags at grocery stores after Newsom signs bill (axios.com)
Gavin Newsom signs California plastic grocery bag ban (thehill.com)
I sure wish Trump weren't so bad on economics generally (though he's still better than Harris) and on trade specifically. Trump could talk about this better if he didn’t also have a manufacturing-job fetish, but at least he’s good on energy policy: The Biden Manufacturing Boom That Isn’t - WSJ
As if to prove my point: Trump Issues Fresh Trade Threats, Targeting Deere - WSJ
A bunch of lighter topics:
If I were retired, I might try this for fun (and for profit): A Treasure Hunt Is Unfolding on the East Coast (newser.com)
I thought this was interesting until I read where the study was done: How a woman's voice inspires men to risk their lives: study (nypost.com)
Welcome home, Rayne Beau: Missing cat in Yellowstone National Park travels nearly 800 miles back home to Salinas, California - ABC7 Los Angeles
I'd pay $10: 124-year-old half-eaten chocolate bar to be auctioned for $1,000 (nypost.com)
Please don't park there: Unusual Sight: Car found parked on top of dumpster in Fort Myers (nbc-2.com)
I see it reported (but have not verified) that Denver is looking to buy broken-down or nearly-broken-down RVs from the homeless (houseless?) to give them YOUR money for a downpayment on traditional housing. Ugh.
City of Denver may buy broken-down RVs from homeless (newsbreak.com)
Imagine what Bastiat would say about this: Election 2024: Ohio city reshaped by Haitian immigrants lands in unwelcome spotlight | AP News
(I mean the seen "potential increase in economic activity in the town" versus the unseen "potential decrease in economic activity elsewhere or in the future as the poor immigrants are financed with other people's current or future earnings."
I encourage you to read the introduction and section one of Bastiat's famous essay (and read the rest if you want to): That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen; by Frederic Bastiat
So many things to say about this, including "wait, HOW MUCH for outdoor speakers?!?": Exclusive | Secret Trusts, a Bitter Divorce and the Battle Over One of America’s Biggest Homes - WSJ
And the end result is….they get more money? Secret Service failures 'directly contributed' to Donald Trump assassination attempt: Senate probe - Washington Times
Republicans question proposal to boost Secret Service funding in spending bill (thehill.com)
Just the latest in the "she won't tell us what she believes" saga: Harris won't say whether she still wants to end death penalty (axios.com)
One day after this: Harris mum on supporting new "Dreamers" protections (axios.com)
Obviously you know this already, but not all small cities/towns are inexpensive: Home prices in Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs rival major metros - Axios Denver And in case you're saying, "Wait, Aspen and Vail are way more expensive than Breck and Steamboat", this survey was of towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000, and Aspen and Vail are both below 10,000.
Today's Videos
OK, THAT's funny!
At the beginning you know where this is supposed to go. I'm curious: after you watch it, would you still do what the guy did knowing the woman's story? I'm not at all sure I would have.