GOP again in 2010?

"Republicans will come back" sooner rather than later, says John Andrews in the May round of Head On TV debates, and "2010 will be no fun for Democrats." Susan Barnes-Gelt taunts that the GOP may face permanent marginal status as "a minority, Southern party." John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month over the RTD follies and the US war in Central Asia. Head On has been a daily feature on Colorado Public Television since 1997. Here are all five scripts for May: 1. NO NEED FOR REPUBLICANS TO REBRAND

Susan: It's painful to watch the Republican food fight as they engage - locally and nationally in a massive rebranding exercise. Currently R's are at risk of becoming a minority, southern party. The food fight is on with progressive realists battling the Limbaugh wing-nuts. We'll see if pragmatism trumps.

John: Susan, you’ll spoil your makeup with those crocodile tears. Keep your sympathy. Your so-called “progressive realists” are liberals who care little for the Republican freedom agenda. Their rebranding advice is unneeded. Republican appeal will increase as big-government Democrats overreach. The pendulum always swings.

Susan: Do you mean overreach defined by 8 years of the free-spending, war-mongering, Bill-of-Rights violating Bush/Cheney government? An agenda that's over-reaching on behalf of human rights, a solid economy, affordable healthcare, quality education, and a sustainable environment ain't bad!

John: Wow, first crocodile tears, now streets paved with gold. The Democratic dream machine is in high gear. But eventually dreams meet reality. Obama, not Bush, now owns the recession. And two wars. And Guantanamo. And the crippling deficit. Republicans will come back. 2010 will be no fun for Democrats.

2. POWELL ALL WET ON LIMBAUGH

John: What a joke for all these Obama cheerleaders to be telling the opposition party how to do a better job. Who can take that seriously? Colin Powell was AWOL on supporting McCain or running for President himself. He has zero credibility in recommending a comeback strategy. Gimme a break.

Susan: Dick Cheney misfired again when he endorsed Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell as the future of the Republican party. Powell says Republicans needs to move toward the center, reaching out to growing black, Hispanic and Asian communities. Limbaugh articulates the opposite. Cheney has spent too much time in the bunker.

John: The future of the Republican Party isn’t any of those three guys, colorful and combative as they are. My side will start winning again when Obama’s European-style collectivism bogs down and people turn back to the GOP’s authentically American vision of freedom and opportunity. That day will come.

Susan: Ah the Grover Norquist approach - shrink government so small that it can be drowned in a bathtub. Fortunately a substantial number of Americans don't agree with you. Until the R's develop a positive agenda for the country - one that works for the haves and have-not's - Dems will dominate.

3. RITTER’S IFFY OUTLOOK FOR 2010

John: In 40 years of watching Colorado politics, Bill Ritter is the saddest puppy I’ve ever seen in the Governor’s office. Where’s the leadership? Where’s the accomplishment? He crashed the budget in spite of warnings. No wonder the polls show him with a disapproval rating of 49% to 41%.

Susan: Ritter is having a tough time getting his sea-legs in the Capitol's political swamp. He is naïve about how the game's played and poorly served by his senior staff. Term limits have dumbed down both sides of the aisle in the leg - making it even tougher for this governor.

John: Let the record show: Susan made no defense of her fellow Democrat when the Republicans opened fire. Ritter was an okay prosecutor. He should have stayed with that. Republicans have strong challengers in Sen. Josh Penry and Congressman Scott McInnis. This governor may be gone in one term, Jimmy Carter style.

Susan: Ritter will win a second term. McInnis lacks the fire, the finesse and the support of the conservative Republican base. At 32, Penry is too young, inexperienced and virtually unknown. Voters will stick with the devil they know, rather than gamble on the angel they don't.

4. HIGH STAKES IN AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN

Susan: Among the most challenging foreign policy dilemmas facing Obama's administration is the Afghani-Pakistan conflict. Leaders of both countries are weak, lacking the full confidence of their citizens. In recent meetings with US officials and Congress, neither demonstrated strong commitment to battle extremists threatening their countries - and ours.

John: Our inexperienced leftist president is learning that wishful thinking doesn’t win wars. It’s a good thing he went to his right in picking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and in retaining Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Obama is pushing hard in Afghanistan with more troops and a new general. Go get’em, Mr. President.

Susan: The man you dismiss as leftist and inexperienced has made better, tougher calls during his first months in office than Bush-Cheney made in 8 years. Replacing General McKiernan with Lieutenant General McChrystal further signals Obama's new policies, more focused mission and enhanced strategic agility.

John: America still faces a war on terror. Barack’s inauguration didn’t change that. Yet this inexperienced leftist president, this apologizer, plays word games with “overseas contingency” and “man caused disaster” as if that makes it all better. At least he’s willing to fight the jihadists over there in Asia.

5. DENVER’S RTD ON WRONG TRACK?

Susan: With Cal Marsella bailing out as RTD's general manager (with a bloated diamond encrusted parachute), agency directors must get back on track. The new leader must be an experienced builder with vision, backbone and political skills. Otherwise they are on a train to nowhere.

John: RTD spending plans are bloated as well, yet absurdly they want yet another tax increase to build their ill-conceived trolley system. Why did the empire-building Marsella suddenly exit? Why have a parade of Democrat legislators quit? What do they know that we don’t? Has Colorado progressivism stopped progressing?

Susan: Unless the state's and the region's political leaders develop a vision and an agenda to keep this region moving - transit, highways, bike-lanes, buses and bikes - Colorado will choke on bad air and congestion. At every level - city, region and state - leaders had better step up.

John: Highways, yes. Bike lanes, come on. Buses, yes. Choo choo trains, enough already. RTD is Colorado’s fourth largest government, but one of its least accountable and poorest run. We don’t need more taxes for light rail. We do need competitive partisan elections for the RTC board. Marsella left in defeat.

Obama as world leader?

"Barnstorming from one ungrateful, uncooperative country to the next, signaling weakness, apologizing for America’s generosity and sacrifice? That’s not my idea of success," says John Andrews of Obama's foreign trip in the April round of Head On TV debates. But Susan Barnes-Gelt argues the President was impressive abroad and later in the piracy hostage crisis. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month over carbon emissions, school reform, illegal aliens on campus, and a legislative scorecard. Head On has been a daily feature on Colorado Public Television since 1997. Here are all five scripts for April: 1. OBAMA AS WORLD LEADER?

Susan: Obama's European tour was a resounding success. His intelligent, calm and deliberate manner impressed leaders, the foreign press and public. If we are going to join with our allies and our foes to address problems than aren't defined by jurisdictional boundaries, we must begin with respectful listening and focus.

John: Barnstorming from one ungrateful, uncooperative country to the next, signaling weakness, apologizing for America’s generosity and sacrifice? That’s not my idea of success. The Messiah’s dangerous inexperience and pacifism were obvious for allies to manipulate and enemies to exploit. Scary!

Susan: Obama proved himself by the way he performed, as commander-in-chief during the recent Somali kidnapping. His decision to authorize the Navy SEALS to free Captain Philips shows he knows when to use military force and that he remains cool under pressure.

John: Remember Bin Laden’s description of America after 9/11 – “the weak horse”? That may become truer than ever under this president. People still seem to like him, but our enemies have other ideas. The hostage rescue was good, but Obama’s weakness toward Iran and North Korea is not good.

2. CAP & TRADE BILL IN CONGRESS

John: The last six quarters have seen a declining economy and the last ten years have seen global cooling. There couldn’t be a worse time to slam American industry and American taxpayers with a huge new tax on carbon emissions. Obama’s cap and trade bill should die a quick death in Congress.

Susan: The Dems were naïve to fast track Cap and Trade legislation. A comprehensive policy confronting climate change, emissions and smart energy is a 21st Century reality. Bold action entails working with the American people to educate and develop strong grassroots support.

John: Do Obama and the Democrats care more about prosperity American-style or socialism European-style? Their policy on energy will tell us. Punitive action on global warming will hurt everyone. Full speed on oil, gas, coal, nuclear, and renewables will bring back the good times. Which is it, Dems?

Susan: John, you are so smart - but very 20th Century! The choice is not black or white - combustibles and pollution vs clean and green. The answer is both - and - not either - or. Cap and trade is inevitable - the question is not whether, but when. You'll see.

3. GRADING THE 2009 LEGISLATURE

John: Democrats went on a tear in the legislature this year. First they raised car taxes on everyone. Then they ripped out another fiscal guardrail from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, never mind a vote of the people. Then they illegally targeted the worker’s comp fund. Don’t they know there’s a recession on?

Susan: Colorado's budget is a disaster, in large measure because of mandated constraints - TABOR, Amendment 23 and under - funded federal requirements. What does it mean when legislators must choose between educating the workforce or ensuring public safety? Colorado's fiscal challenges are epic.

John: The General Assembly gets an F for this 2009 session. F as in failure, F as in fake, F as in fiscal flop. Democrats bear most of the blame, they were in charge. Republican Don Marostica also flunked. Bill Ritter started things with his reckless budget a year ago.

Susan: Real budget authority rests with the Joint Budget Committee. The Gov is right to take cuts to higher ed off the table and I, for one, think he is smart to let the legislature come to consensus. My grade for the lege is short of a B - for BOLD

4. IMPROVING COLORADO'S SCHOOLS

Susan: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was in Colorado - along with Senators Udall and Bennet - visiting our public schools. If the state is going to compete for $44 billion in federal dollars for education reform, leaders must address longer school days, teacher accountability and school choice - just for starters.

John: If dollars translated into learning, kids would show more academic mastery after we doubled real spending per student in recent decades. Instead mediocrity in the government schools worsened. Forget the federal honeypot. To improve the 3 R’s we need the 3 C’s – charters, competition, choice.

Susan: We need federal money to fix up decrepit schools so that kids can learn in safe, healthy and well-resourced environments. Neither local communities nor the states have the money to address failed facilities. Then your 3 C's charters, competition and choice should be part of the equation.

John: Speaking of education, Susan, I have to praise Secretary Duncan and President Obama for tapping Peter Groff to coordinate faith-based school initiatives across the country. Groff did well as Senate President, where I once served, and he’s a tiger for educational opportunity. Colorado’s loss is America’s gain.

5. IN-STATE TUITION BILL FAILS

John: What do you know? Sometimes the system works. Illegal aliens won’t get favored treatment at state universities after all. The kid who snuck here from Mexico won’t pay a lower tuition while the veteran who commutes from Wyoming pays full tuition. Five Senate Democrats and 13 Republicans did the right thing.

Susan: Democratic Sens. Morgan Carroll, Jim Isgar, Moe Keller, Linda Newell, and Lois Tochtrop joined Repub's in defeating this bill,which had NO fiscal impact. Shame on them and shame on the partisan and mean-spirited myopia of the Republican minority.

John: Colorado’s hardworking, taxpaying, law-abiding families want no part of a college subsidy for scofflaw foreigners. You may call that mean-spirited. I call it common sense. Enough senators from both parties got the message from voters and killed the bill. The others, plus Bill Ritter, will pay the price in 2010.

Susan: Get a grip John.These kids are both law abiding and hardworking, hardly scofflaws. Any Colorado student who works hard enough to attend college ought to go and pay in-state tuition. It's in the best interest of every Coloradan to have an educated workforce.

Emotion vs. logic on tuitions

Susan Barnes-Gelt, "inspired by the intelligence, work ethic and generosity of spirit of the Mexican people" after a recent vacation down there, says Colorado should provide in-state tuition for illegal aliens. Firing back in the March round of Head On TV debates, John Andrews says that idea flunks, it's "flat wrong." John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month over Wall Street bonuses, the union card check proposal, road and transit funding, and Obama's mandate - if any. Head On has been a daily feature on Colorado Public Television since 1997. Here are all five scripts for March: 1. IN-STATE TUITION FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS

John: Something like 20 million individuals from Mexico and other countries are illegally present in the United States. Public policy should discourage them from staying here, not encourage them, especially at a time of rising unemployment and declining tax revenues. The proposal giving illegal aliens in-state college tuition is flat wrong.

Susan: Just back from 2 weeks in the Yucatan, I am again inspired by the intelligence, work ethic and generosity of spirit of the Mexican people. Ensuring the children of undocumented immigrants who depart their wonderful country to find work, are educated - is in America's best interest.

John: Stop the cameras, I’m getting verklempt. Seriously, Susan, our family has enjoyed Mexico’s hospitality as well, though today with the drug cartels I’m not so sure. But that has nothing to do with cheap college for immigration lawbreakers. On the rule of law and fiscal responsibility, that idea flunks.

Susan: These kids aren't criminals anymore than the offspring of a Klanner is a racist. There will be no fiscal impact to the budget, students must seek citizenship and the bill comports with proposed federal legislation. An educated workforce is good for Colorado. Republican opposition is - at best - myopic.

2. COLORADO TRANSPORTATION TANGLE

John: Everyone agrees Colorado needs safer roads and bridges, increased highway capacity, and better public transit. But the Democrats don’t have a clue about how to get us there. First they increased the car tax 250 million. Now they want to decrease existing funds 300 million. Colorado drivers end up worse off.

Susan: Colorado drivers are hampered by decades of inadequate investment in roads, bridges and transit. Thanks to a state budget crippled by TABOR, we lacked shovel ready projects and Colorado was 49th in dollars from the federal stimulus. That and RTD's utter incompetence put us way behind.

John: Forty-ninth in stimulus wasn’t TABOR’s fault. Ritter and Colorado’s DC Democrats pulled off that gem. Meanwhile in the state, as I said, Dems want to take away with one hand more road dollars than they gave with the other. And they want to double the RTD tax. How absurd.

Susan: RTD got legislative support to go to the ballot, prior to building consensus among the metro mayors. And until the agency makes key management changes and civic and political leaders get it together, the voters won't bite, This train's been hijacked by a ship of fools.

3. MICHAEL BENNET'S FIRST TEST

Susan: Senator Michael Bennet must navigate between Scylla and Charybdis. Bennet must chose between business and labor when he casts his vote on the Employees Free Choice Act, easing unionization of businesses by eliminating secret-ballots, allowing workers to sign a form prior to voting.

John: Free choice is the last thing this bill provides. It would force unwilling workers into unions, and drive up costs through arbitration. Harmful to prosperity and liberty. But Democrats love it as a pipeline for campaign funds. Is Bennet a party hack or his own man? This vote will tell.

Susan: If the issue were that clear - Bennet wouldn't be on the hook. Heavy handedness by big labor is matched by intimidation and bullying of big business. It's tough to organize a workplace where conditions, pay and benefits are fair. Both sides need a new model.

John: Come on. Labor bosses have had the advantage over employers under federal law for 70 years. Even with that advantage, fewer and fewer workers are choosing unions. Hence labor’s desperation for the easily manipulated card check instead of secret ballots. Card check will prolong the recession. Bennet should vote no.

4. AIG BONUSES & WALL STREET WOES

Susan: The Ain't I Greedy boys - aka AIG - are paying out $165 million in bonuses - nearly matching their $173 million federal bailout. The administration lacks legal authority to retract these payouts. Is nationalization of banks & financial institutions a better answer?

John: “Too big to fail” was never a good idea. Not last fall under Bush, not this spring under Obama. Nationalization of the big boys, whether in finance, automaking, or any industry, is absolutely the wrong way to go. Government should sell its shares, quit micromanaging, and let bankruptcy take its course.

Susan: I'm frustrated too by the behavior of the big boys - the banks, GM and Wall Street. However, if your house is built of wood and your neighbor, smoking in bed, set his on fire, you're going to call the fire department. Punishing the miscreant comes later.

John: It’s the American people who are getting punished by the economic incompetence of this president. AIG paid bonuses because the White House dropped the ball. The stock market erased trillions in wealth because investors have no confidence in Obama and his clueless advisors. This isn’t the change we were promised.

5. OBAMA'S FIRST TWO MONTHS

Susan: Obama inherited the worst economy since the 1930's and two wars. Despite the nattering nabobs of negativism - a majority of Americans continue to have confidence in his steady as we go demeanor. It took 8 years to get into this mess. It will take more than 90 days to get out.

John: Voters are giving Obama a honeymoon, but no greater than they gave other new presidents. Early mistakes have proved he’s all too human. Lobbyists, earmarks, a snub to Great Britain – the list goes on. Does he want to fix the financial crisis or just exploit it? Please, Mr. President: focus.

Susan: If Americans wanted 4 more years of the Bush agenda, McCain would be president and Congressional majorities wouldn't be so strong. The Dems won a mandate to change direction and implement their policies.

John: Voters gave Obama no mandate to body-slam the economy with a carbon tax. No mandate to roll back welfare reform. No mandate to give a billion dollars to Hamas with its agenda of exterminating Israel. No mandate to let Congress continue with earmarks. That’s not the change we were promised.

GOP shows some fight

"Thank goodness the Republicans are rediscovering their backbone under Obama," says John Andrews in the February round of Head On TV debates. Susan Barnes-Gelt scoffs that "tt's a new day and the Grumpy Old Partisans are tone deaf." John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month over Obama's honeymoon, Salazar's agenda at Interior, how to fill Senate vacancies, and the future of print journalism. Head On has been a daily feature on Colorado Public Television since 1997. Here are all five scripts for February: 1. GOP SHOWS SOME FIGHT

Susan: The Republican Party is not destined to oblivion. History tells us that no political party dominates forever. On the other hand, and sadly for the country - the R's in the minority role are disciplined - consistently putting petty partisanship above the needs of the country.

John: After a big victory like the Democrats had, sweeping the White House and the Congress, Republicans have to fight back for the sake of our liberties, our pocketbooks, and our children’s national debt. If someone doesn’t stand as the loyal opposition, Pelosi and Reid and Obama could go too far.

Susan: R's have been in charge for 6 of the last 8 years. Bush inherited peace and a budget surplus. The best thing about the first weeks of Obama's watch is the emergence of Congressional moderates - D's and R's. It's a new day and the Grumpy Old Partisans are tone deaf.

John: Partisan checks and balances are essential. Fiscal responsibility was much better with divided government under Reagan or Clinton, than with one-party rule under Jimmy Carter or George W. Bush. The budget was more steady. The economy was more healthy. Thank goodness the Republicans are rediscovering their backbone under Obama.

2. OBAMA’S EARLY WEEKS

Susan: Following an historic election and inaugural week, President Obama has been plunged into the miasma of Beltway disfunction. Despite the entreaties of Republican governors, the R's in the House and Senate are playing politics with America's economy. Obama is smart and tough. He'll prevail.

John: Our new young president is gifted as a politician but totally untested as an executive. The first hundred days are testing him in a big way. With ethics problems, a pork-laden stimulus bill, and shaky poll numbers, he hasn’t exactly aced the exam. It could be a very short honeymoon.

Susan: The economy is in free-fall, Iraq, Pakistan. Afghanistan and the mid-East are in peril and his appointees await computers and phones! The partisan bickering in Congress is a distraction they are fiddling while Rome burns. The President must do what's right for the country - and ignore the Beltway baloney.

John: Mr. Obama is the biggest question mark ever chosen to lead this country – ever. The answers emerging so far are not reassuring. Will he stand tough against our enemies in Russia and China, Iran and Venezuela? Why is he cutting our defenses? How far left will he take us?

3. PRIORITIES FOR SALAZAR AT INTERIOR

John: Who is the real Ken Salazar, under that phony cowboy hat? As a senator, he was pleasant but slippery. Now as Interior Secretary, he has to really deliver for the West. Blocking energy development is not the way. We need mixed use of public lands for everyone’s benefit, Mr. Secretary.

Susan: Smart, moderate and politically savvy Coloradan - Ken Salazar has the integrity, the will and the know-how to clean up the severely degraded Department of Interior. Aided by his chief of staff Tom Strickland, he will balance the environment, energy demands, water policy and restore public, to public lands.

John: Environmentalists say Salazar isn’t green enough. Let’s hope he doesn’t pander to them. The Utah oil and gas shutdown is a bad sign. The New York Times says he isn’t tough enough. Let’s hope they’re wrong. As Senate President, I found Salazar tough as nails. And Tom Strickland will be good.

Susan; Salazar won his senate seat in moderate, center-right Colorado because he reflects the values that will serve him well as Secretary of Interior. He is intelligent, thoughtful and moderate and will balance stewardship of the nation's assets with the demands of a 21st Century economy.

4. WHAT IF THE ROCKY FOLDS?

John: Although we both write for the Denver Post, Susan, there's no doubt the Rocky Mountain News has made Colorado a better place for the past 150 years. But this recession has put the brave old Rocky on borrowed time. Competing newspapers enrich a city. Denver without the Rocky is not a happy thought.

Susan: What's happening at the Rocky is symptomatic of a larger problem: the demise of the local daily newspaper. Without a vigorous local press, democracy is at risk. The internet, YouTube and bloggers can't possibly replace a trained, full time professional press corps.

John: Think about that word “media.” Who do you want mediating for you? To stay informed as consumers, we have to pay others for news-gathering. But to stay free as citizens, we must think for ourselves. It’s okay if electronic news gradually replaces print, provided First Amendment competition keeps the media honest.

Susan: The issue is not electronic v paper. The issue is who is reporting the news. A trained professional, or a biased opionator (like you or me), an invisible blogger or script reader. Yes it will be possible to get in-depth info - but much tougher especially at the local level.

5. LET VOTERS FILL SENATE VACANCIES

John: Governors in four states, deciding alone like absolute monarchs, recently appointed powerful new members of the United States Senate. In Illinois, New York, and Delaware, the process was a clown show. Here in Colorado, Bill Ritter's pick of Michael Bennet was clean but strange. Let's have special elections to fill Senate vacancies.

Susan: We agree on this one John. An open US Senate seat is too rare and too important. No single individual should be the sole decider. And - the re-elect rate of appointed senators is less than 50%, the public ought to decide from the get-go.

John: Under the 17th Amendment, special elections for Senate vacancies are the preferred option. State Sen. Mike Kopp wants to mandate them in Colorado. US Sen. Russ Feingold wants a similar change to the federal constitution. If Coloradans had voted right after Salazar left, dark horse Michael Bennet would not have won.

Susan: We don’t know who might have won in an open election. That's the point - candidates articulate a message, work to build coalitions work hard to earn support and then the voters decide. Not the newspapers, not the elites, not the governor. That's democracy.

Tax holiday a potent plan

"That's real economic stimulus," says John Andrews about GOP tax-holiday proposals in the January round of Head On TV debates. Susan Barnes-Gelt prefers the Keynesian approach, arguing that "shovel-ready projects need funding." John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month over Senate appointee Michael Bennet, state budget woes, the Bush legacy, and Denver schools. Head On has been a daily feature on Colorado Public Television since 1997. Here are all five scripts for January: 1. RECESSION REMEDY: WHAT’S BEST?

Susan: There was neither accountability nor strict guidelines attached to the $700 billion financial bailout. Shame on Congress and the White House. Ditto the billions given to automakers. Shovel ready projects need funding and may be a catalyst for economic recovery. But my confidence in the feds is shaky.

John: As far as guiding the economy, the very words “confidence in the feds” are an oxymoron. Both Washington and New York have forfeited our confidence with years of unwise policies. The best recession remedy now is real tax cuts. Not handing out checks. Not vast construction spending with long lead times.

Susan: Obama's swift action - separating himself from Bill Richardson when the threat of scandal appeared - is a good sign that he will not abide arcane and opaque Beltway practices. With state and local government strapped, the feds must inject significant resources into rebuilding the nation's failing infrastructure.

John: Every American could have a total tax holiday – no income taxes, no payroll taxes – for most of 2009 if Congress would simply pay for government operations out of the unused portion of last year’s $700 billion bailout and this year’s proposed trillion dollar spending spree. That’s real economic stimulus.

2. MICHAEL BENNET NAMED AS U.S. SENATOR

John: Educator and businessman Michael Bennet will be a capable senator. His appointment shows that Colorado Democrats have imagination, youth, and depth. He has many Republican friends, including me. But as an ally of Ritter and Obama, Bennet has a big government vision that’s wrong for America. My vote goes elsewhere in 2010.

Susan: I don't know that Bennet has a big government vision. Fact is, I don't know what Bennet's vision is. He's not a knee jerk liberal, may oppose card check and certainly is more center than left. Time will tell . . .

John: We don’t know, and that’s the problem. Appointive senators went out with the buggy whip. Ritter could have named Mike Miles, the Democrat runner-up to Salazar in 2004. Or an elder statesman like Dick Lamm or Roy Romer. Voters next year may prefer Bill Owens, Hank Brown, or Scott McInnis.

Susan: Why name a benchwarmer when the Dem's A-list is so good? Still - Bennet is an odd choice, particularly with the uber-talented Andrew Romanoff available - he has all of Bennet's assets - intelligence, thoughtfulness, a moderate, problem-solver plus a proven record and statewide support. Go figure!

3. LEGISLATURE FACES DEEP BUDGET CUTS

John: Weak revenues will force the legislature to find half a billion in painful spending cuts with half the fiscal year gone. Ritter and the Democrats did this to us. Dems ignored Republican warnings to create a rainy day fund years ago, or to reduce spending last spring. Bad show, liberals.

Susan: Colorado's budget, hamstrung by TABOR, makes it impossible to implement the type of investments in infrastructure and the social safety net the state needs going into this tough recession. Every state is hobbled by arcane budget regs creating even greater dependency on the federal government, something you, John, should abhor.

John: Without the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights as a guardrail, Colorado’s deficit would be over the cliff like California’s. TABOR spending limits are currently suspended anyway, Susan, and the problem right now is weak revenues from a soft economy. The 2009 state budget mess came from poor planning by Democrats.

Susan: You're half-right John - weak revenues and a soft economy account for Colorado's budget woes. But 2 years of Democratic leadership aren't to blame. Lack of flexibility, failure to invest in public infrastructure - roads, higher ed, health care - and myopic fiscal policy are the real culprits.

4. BUSH EXITS

Susan: Bush's feeble attempts to recast his legacy in the waning days of his term are pathetic. He took us to the edge of an abyss - economically, internationally, domestically. Who knows how long it will take to rebuild the nation's confidence, reputation abroad and fiscal integrity?

John: President Bush deserves the gratitude of all Americans for courageous wartime leadership against radical Islam. After 9/11 he kept the homeland absolutely safe for seven years. After Congress and the allies agreed Saddam must go, he persisted for victory in Iraq when others favored surrender. History will honor George W. Bush.

Susan: History will revile George W. Bush. His legacy will be defined by Katrina, the burning of Iraq, the re-emergence of a more violent Taliban, Abu Grahb, domestic wire taps, the collapse of Wall Street, Main Street, scandals aplenty and comprehensive incompetence.

John: Susan, Susan. Derangement syndrome does not become you. Take a deep breath. My guy from Texas had a mixed record in his eight years. So did your guy from Arkansas before him. And guess what, your new guy from Illinois will have a mixed record too. America will be just fine.

5. NEW LEADERSHIP FOR DENVER SCHOOLS

Susan: Michael Bennet's departure for Washington leaves Denver Public Schools without leadership at the top. The chief academic officer resigned last fall and there is no deputy or natural successor. The Board of Ed has its work cut out, given the unfinished initiatives on their plate.

John: Inner city kids continue to be cheated of a good education by a Denver teachers union that cares more about pay scales than learning performance. The answer is competition and market forces, charter schools and parental choice. Fortunately, that’s the agenda of Senate President Groff and House Speaker Carroll.

Susan: The Board of Education must consider the needs of its ever-diminishing and continually failing student body and identify leadership with strong credentials and a track record of improving achievement in urban school districts. A non-traditional superintendent may not be the right answer.

John: Denver citizens, especially the black and Hispanic community, should be outraged at a teachers union that recently played chicken with strike threats, like factory workers, while dropout rates remain high and scores remain low. Speaker Carroll and Senator Groff get it. So does Lt. Gov. O’Brien. Gov. Ritter does not.