The Colorado Independent - Latest Comments in Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

Rerwbbecca — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:40:42 -0000

Rerwbbecca The corn of Poland, in the same degree of goodness, is as cheap as that of By the same law, too, the exportation of wheat is prohibited so

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

Amnpoanda — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:40:21 -0000

Amnpoanda fast as must necessarily produce a famine before the end of the situation, of the rich country. The silks of France are better and cheaper

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

Wendy Norris — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:13:01 -0000

point of clarification We, as well as many of the mainstream news outlets across the state, have doggedly been contacting Schaffer's campaign for comment to no avail.

If he's talking to anybody about substantive policy issues or taking stances on important constituent concerns, like Pi

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

a big fat burro — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:56:08 -0000

granted Okay, he doesn't have a web site and he should, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been talking about issues at all. And it's hard to see where this story is actually a "story" without at least TRYING to contact the Schaffer campaign and asking them why the hell they haven't put up a web site or been more active on issues.

My guess, personally, is that they know the Republican base is likely to rally around them, and Schaffer's concentrating on raising money right now instead of trying to prove to the independent voters (who are the true battleground here) why they should support him. Most of them won't make up their minds or even start THINKING about the race until sometime next summer, so his time is probably better spent wooing big donors and catching up to Udall in the money game.

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

Zappatero — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:18:50 -0000

an experienced politician and candidate for U.S. Senate? Sorry, he should have hundreds of position papers from which to choose, and the confidence to let all voters see them.

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

Andrew Oh-Willeke — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:00:50 -0000

Four months until the caucuses which are on February 5, 2008. If I were a prospective Colorado GOP caucus goer I'd like to have more to say about my candidate than that he is in favor of a war that even a majority of likely Iowa 2008 caucus goers oppose.

Neither Senatorial candidate will be at the top of the ticket. Studied ambiguity could be a strategy for Schaffer to avoid upsetting anyone enough to draw an opponent before then, or it could be a strategy to leave him free to agree with the party's Presidential nominee once that is a foregone conclusion.

Schaffer's silence could also be an attempt to avoid calling attention to his quite conservative voting record any sooner than necessary. The normal strategy is to move to the extremes for the primary, and move to the center for the general election, at least in public perception. But, offering red meat to the base at this point could hurt Schaffer in the general, so he may simply be asking GOP caucus goers to trust him and give him as much freedom as possible to sound moderate for the general.

Udall has both less ability to be ambiguous, since he is currently in Congress, and less need to be ambiguous, since all of the Democrats running for President agree on most of the core issues he has taken a position on, or have no opinion on those issues because they are local (allowing Udall to drive the positions taken by Presidential candidates so they can win Colorado support).

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

BoulderDem — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:01:07 -0000

Whatever I'm the LAST person on Earth who would defend Bob Schaffer, but I've gotta say the principle people affected by this shocking oversight are reporters and bloggers. Actual voters couldn't care less. IT'S 14 FRIGGIN MONTHS OUT!!!

Go ask him some questions (in person) and make an issue out of his lack of response. That's news. Not having a website 14 months away from an election isn't.

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

Allen — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:24:50 -0000

Really? I understand the issue with not having a web site. But is it really news that a politician is avoiding taking a stand on issues?

Re: Why Is Bob Schaffer Running?

davewolfusa — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:12:34 -0000

Is it possible that Schaffer ... is just a "placeholder"? Could DickWad be readying someone else to spring on us / Udall at the last minute? Kind of a Republican version of a Gore candidacy? Maybe someone who has some sort of pitfalls, but it would take us some time to get the messaging rolling on ?

Or is Schaffer just lazy and / or incompetent?