Bennett in the Senate, Ritter in the Shitter, Colorado all Atwitter
When Ritter appointed Bennett to the Senate, the above phrase popped into my head, and it wouldn’t go away. Democrats that I know were very unhappy with that appointment, thinking that Ritter should have chosen Romanoff instead. Ritter’s numbers seemed to be on a slow decline, for reasons I couldn’t quite fathom. The campaign funds rumored to go to Ritter from Anschutz (via 527) in return for his Bennett appointment seemed not to be forthcoming.
I bumped into the Ritter announcement of his withdrawal late last night. Searching for a reason (sorry, to spend more time with family just doesn’t make it) I found this at Red State:
Governor Ritter was embroiled in a separate controversy this year when he nominated his scandal-plagued chief of staff, who he is rumored to be having an extramarital affair with, to be the state’s top federal prosecutor. Stephanie Villafuerte abruptly withdrew her nomination to be Colorado’s next U.S. Attorney when the media exposed her role in illegally accessing a restricted database involving an illegal immigrant drug dealer who sexually assaulted a child after Ritter, then Denver District Attorney, gave him a probation deal.
I have no idea if this is true, but it does fit a pattern. Inside sources tell me that “there is a lot we don’t know about Ritter”.
Could this have been Romanoff’s rationale in starting his campaign early to oppose Bennett? Will Romanoff now change goals and run for Governor? I hope so.
Ritter’s 11:00 am press conference coming up - I’m all atwitter.
Read more here.
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Interesting dots to connect. Not sure how much credit to give it.
ReplyDeleteWell, if your source is correct, then Ritter's statement makes complete sense. Jeannie sez "take my road or the high road". Bill sez "I need to find a better balance".
ReplyDeleteThere are some factual issues in the Red State post that you quote that you should correct.
ReplyDelete1. Stephanie Villafuerte is not his the governor's Chief of Staff. She is one of a few Deputy Chiefs of Staff.
2. Ritter did not appoint her to the U.S. Attorney position. The President appoints U.S. Attorney's, traditionally upon the recommendation of the state's Senior Senator. Certainly Ritter was consulted in the decision but he did not make the nomination.
I would also quibble with the assertion that she withdrew after the media exposed her involvement in the Voorhies issue. Her involvement in that issue was well known (indeed I mentioned it the day she was nominated). Certainly there was heightened scrutiny of the record after her nomination but her involvement was widely known since 2006.
For the record I don't think that either of the two factuall issues impact the substantive point you are alleging, they should be corrected in the name of accuracy.
As to my other quibble, I don't think that that clarification undermines your assertion either. Indeed it may lend support to some of the more conspiratorial aspects of the story, ie. why would she suddenly withdraw over an issue she, the governor, and Obama were all aware of?