Regardless of the hype and armchair punditry, the U.S. Senate might be a long shot for John Hickenlooper. His second choice for the prom, Colorado could say \u201cthanks, but no thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Democratic governor of Colorado ended a run for his party\u2019s presidential nomination Aug. 15 under pressure to run for the Senate. Democrats nationally consider Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner the most vulnerable Senate Republican seeking reelection, given the landslide victories of Colorado Democrats in 2018. Hickenlooper is their favored candidate to take him on in their quest to win a Senate majority.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve heard from so many Coloradans who want me to run for the United States Senate,\u201d Hickenlooper said in a video announcing his drop from the presidential race. \u201c\u2026 I intend to give that some serious thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper should think seriously about what he said and did while seeking the presidential nomination. He made a fool of himself Aug. 9 during an interview with veteran Denver radio host and attorney Dan Caplis.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s say that an infant is born alive after a failed abortion. At that point, should it be required that the infant receive medical care?\u201d Caplis asked.<\/p>\n
The answer should be simple for any grown man with a conscience, let alone one hoping to run the country. No civilized society leaves a fully birthed infant to suffer and die of neglect in a health care facility. That is barbaric.<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper \u2014 desperate for the approval of extreme abortion-rights groups \u2014 refused to answer. Rattled, Hickenlooper pretended he was late for a meeting. He told Caplis he had scheduled only 2 minutes, then walked away from the mic. In truth, Hickenlooper\u2019s staff had scheduled a full 15-minutes with Caplis.<\/p>\n
If Hickenlooper gets past a large field of primary Democrats, he will enter the general election as Coloradans catch on to his California dreamin\u2019 scheme that could change what they drive.<\/p>\n
As few paid attention, Hickenlooper signed executive order B 2018-006 in June 2018. He effectively handed off regulation of Colorado auto emissions to environmental bureaucrats in California. The order requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to establish an emissions program \u201cwhich incorporates the requirements of the California (Low Emission Vehicle) program, and propose that rule to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The order quickly led to Colorado embracing California\u2019s zero emission vehicle standards, as Hickenlooper told The Gazette\u2019s editorial board in 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe electric vehicle guys went and lobbied to have the Regional Air Quality Council (of metro Denver) to go ahead and add (ZEV) to things to look at,\u201d Hickenlooper told us. \u201cI don\u2019t tell RAC what to do. I never have. I don\u2019t want my finger on the scale.\u201d<\/p>\n
From that beginning, we have the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission ready to rubber-stamp California\u2019s extreme emission standards and impose them on Colorado. No public vote. No legislation. Just a mandate by fiat that benefits \u201cthe electric vehicle guys\u201d at the expense of consumers.<\/p>\n
The California rules will force Colorado auto dealers to sell high percentages of costly battery cars. Prices for conventional pickups and SUVs will rise by thousands. Colorado and California have different climates and terrain, which explains why consumers choose four-wheel drive pickups and SUVs 25% more in Colorado than in California.<\/p>\n
Other obstacles between Hickenlooper and the Senate include:<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper became his worst enemy during his presidential campaign. He tried passing himself off as a party wing-nut we barely recognized. Refusing to accept the label \u201ccapitalist\u201d on a TV interview, we wondered what happened to the businessman who made a fortune revolutionizing craft beer.<\/p>\n
Desperate for the White House, Hickenlooper routinely assured the country he is not a good choice for the Senate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not cut out to be a senator,\u201d Hickenlooper said in February, as quoted in Politico. \u201cSenators don\u2019t build teams. Senators sit and debate in small groups, which is important, right? But I\u2019m not sure that\u2019s my \u2014 I\u2019m a doer. That\u2019s what gives me joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Colorado\u2019s two Senate seats cannot be the consolation prize for Hickenlooper\u2019s failed presidential bid. Indeed, as he insisted in recent months, this could be a bad fit.<\/p>\n