April 16, 2025 • 36 mins
In the first hour of today's edition of Ryan Schuiling LIve, Ryan looks at Michael Bennet's power play to control his senate seat despite his campaign for Governor of Colorado.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Democratic Senator Michael Bennett says that he is going to
stay in his Senate seat while he runs for governor,
and if he wins the race for governor, he's not
going to resign to the last second so that he
can pick his own replacement. Denver Post editorial board criticized
him for that recently. They said that him holding the
power of picking his replacement could keep other Democrats from
feeling like they could comfortably endorse his rival in the
(00:21):
Democratic primary. Attorney General Phil wiser I asked Bennett about
whether that's a smart idea given the last two times
in American history that a senator has become a governor
and picked their replacement. And Alaska Frank Burkowski picked his
daughter Lisa, and in New Jersey John Corzein picked Bob Menendez.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yikes, those guys.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Chose their own daughter and somebody who turned out to
be a convicted felon.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Like, not great, right.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I can tell you that my own daughters will tell
you that they are the last people that I would
ever pick for this job. But look, I was appointed,
as you know, to this seat, and it matters a
lot to me who's in it.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
And the thing that I believe is that we have
an unbelievable amount of talent in Colorado, an unbelievable amount
of political leadership. And I'm looking forward to thinking about that,
but not thinking about it until the selection is done.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Well, I neither of us believe that you haven't thought
about it. So I'm going to ask you, this is
your initial inclination that you should select, if you were
to be elected governor, the best person to hold that
seat long term, or a caretaker who would only serve until.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I could make the argument both ways, and I certainly
haven't made a decision.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Wow, when you've lost Comrade Kyle, and you've lost the
Denver post, you lost the plot. Good afternoon, It's like
I never left filling in for Michael Brown this morning,
back with you here again in my regularly scheduled time slot,
Ryan schuleing live, and this time I got Zach Seager
(02:00):
is riding along. But for Michael Bennett, these answers are
not answers, and they don't address the question, which is
and we'll get to this specific detail in a moment.
If the seat is important to him, and I'll believe him,
I'll go ahead and conceive that the seed is important
to him the Senate seat that he currently occupies, but
he's running for governor and he hopes to move over
(02:21):
to the governor's spot. But if he is so well
aligned politically with the current governor of Colorado, Jared Polis,
and all indications are he is, why not just resign
the seat, run for governor and allow Jared Polis to
(02:41):
appoint his replacement. I get it if it was a
Republican governor with whom you had stark disagreements on policy,
et cetera. That's not the case here. So what is
the justification for Senator Bennett holding on to his Senate
seat while also running in the other lane for governor
in Colorado? Like I said, this isn't just criticism coming
(03:04):
from yours truly, or Michael Brown or Dan Kaplis or
anybody else on the right here in Colorado, which likely
would be perceived as just partisan white noise. YadA, YadA.
This is from the Denver Post in an op ed,
And we'll get Senator Bennett's response to that in just
a moment. And Kyle Clark, who is of the left
(03:24):
and represents that political perspective in his news coverage on
his program nine News Next, et cetera. And in this interview,
I thought he did well to hold Michael Bennett to
account and to refute the notion that well.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
I superin haven't thought about it, so you would have
an elected governor. I'll think about.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
That's not true. And Kyle Clark called out for what
it was. Full credit to him. Now, Zach, you were
saying in the very intro as I was playing this,
you don't like this, give me your thoughts on it.
I think it's just skeazy.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
I think it's like to your point, it's kind of transparent.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I think, to me, yes, it's important to him.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
I think it's also important to every single Colorado who
is their senator, and it should be an elected representative
instead of I think appointed one in this case. And
it seems to me like it's clearly just a power
broker move. He is for the most part aligned with PULUS.
Maybe there's some finer details they disagree on, but for
(04:23):
the most part they're politically aligned. And so I think
the only reason you're doing this is to put Phil Wiser,
who I'm not a fan of, but to put him
at an unfair disadvantage during the primary process and to
maybe earn some political favor for who are from whoever
gets that Senate spot from Michael Bennett down the road.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It gives the appearance of impropriety. You're exactly right. It
sets up for that type of Rod Blogoyevitch corruption that
we saw as he was auctioning off Barack Obama's Senate seat.
He would later be pardoned by President Trump. Ironically, Blogoyevitch
was a Democrat in chicag one of the most crooked
political cities in the nation historically, along with Huey Long,
(05:07):
New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Democratic Party there. If you
notice Tammany Hall, all these historically corrupt political machines somehow
originate on the left. They're all Democratic Party machines. You
look at LBJ in Texas helping engineer a victory in
nineteen sixty. There were questions about shenanigans in that election,
(05:30):
very close election with Richard Nixon, both in Texas and Chicago.
Dead people voting in suburban Chicago. Then you also had
there were questions about this historically. Just go and check
it out for yourself, don't take my word for it.
The nineteen seventy six election between incumbent President Gerald R. Ford,
(05:51):
who would assumed the office after Richard M. Nixon's resignation,
and Jimmy Carter, and there were the same questions about
the same two dates Texas and Illinois. Historically, this is
the democratic shadiness of what goes on in the mechanics,
the logistics, the machinery behind the scenes. And it goes
(06:13):
back to my central point. If Senator Bennett is concerned
about who is going to be appointed to his seat,
then have a little confab with Jared Polis, the current
governor of Colorado, also a Democrat, ostensibly representing himself as
a center left Democrat the way Bennett tries to and
what Zach just mentioned, I'm trying to think of any
(06:35):
political daylight there might be between Polis and Bennett. I
can't think of any but motivation, personal motivation. This is
the finer point that Zach touched on. What is the
advantage to Senator Bennett holding on to his seat with
that power of appointment.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
Look, you know, if I'm appointed governor, if I win governor,
I can appoint you Jon of Goose, whoever you are.
If I haven't decided yet, like I told Kyle, Clark,
then I'll just wait, have you lobbied me for this?
Speaker 7 (07:07):
This opens it up to pure, simple, unfiltered, distilled corruption,
because now you're gonna have every Democrat and his brother
or her sister lobbying Michael Bennett for that Senate seat,
Jonah Goose and whoever else, maybe Jared Polus himself.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I don't know, but it's bait that Bennett can use
as an effective tool. Zach's exactly right to rig the
game in his favor, meaning any Democrat out there, a
leader in the party, maybe even Jason Crow foolishly believes
he's in the running for this Senate seat, and with
(07:47):
that simple flicker of hope, they'll agree to fall in
line back Michael Bennett offer their endorsement with the hopes
that they'll have the golden ticket Charley Bucket style from
Willie Wanka in the Chocolate factory, and they'll get the
Senate seat. This stinks, And again I'm not the only
(08:09):
one saying this. The Denver Post said it in a
not bed. Kyle Clark's calling him out on it. This
is not going away. And if Phil Nunn the Wiser
is actually all the smarter, he will use this and
he should. He should come right out. He should come
right out with a press conference calling on Michael Bennett
(08:30):
if he's going to run in the primary, he's already
announced his candidacy. Then, sir, you owe it to the
state of Colorado and your constituents who you serve, who
duly elected you twice to resign that Senate seat, allow
Governor Polos to appoint your replacement, and focus your energies
where they already lie, and that is running a campaign
(08:50):
in the primary for governor of Colorado. You cannot walk
and chew gum at the same time. Here. There is
no way compare this again on equal playing field. Let's
say Senator John Hickenlooper. He's not running for governor, but
he is a senator. All of his time, focused attention,
(09:11):
all of his staff's efforts, every motivation that he has
is focused on that Senate seat that he currently occupies.
This is not a defensive John Hickenlooper, but it's done
to illustrate a point. There is no way that Senator
Michael Bennett can devote one hundred percent of his attention
or I would say maybe even fifty percent of his
attention to his current term in the Senate, he is
(09:34):
obligated and owes it to the people of Colorado to
step aside. But why won't he try to break that
down come up with some logic and reasoning. I will
reflect personally on an interview. Senator Bennett did this very
morning on our sister station right across the Hall KOA
(09:58):
with Marty Lenz, who I might add did a really
good job, Bob himself and Chad Bauer filling in for
Gina Gondek, and they had Senator Bennett on for a
solid twelve to fifteen minutes somewhere in there, and he
was asked, Michael Bennett, what kind of job do you
think that Jared Poulis has done as governor? Here was
his answer.
Speaker 8 (10:17):
I think the Governor's done a good job. I think
Governor Polis has done a good job, and I think
Governor Hickenlooper did a good job before him, and Governor
River before him. But there's definitely more for us to do.
Housing has become completely unaffordable all over the state of Colorado,
and I think we need to build build more housing
all over the state. People don't have access to mental
(10:39):
health care and healthcare for their families, and I do
think there's much more we need to do with our
education system to make sure that young people, in particular
are prepared for the twenty first century economy. We have.
We've continued to see the income of people in their
twenties go down decade after decade after decade because we're
(11:00):
not preparing them well for the economy. And what you
earn when you're in your twenties is going to say
something about what you earned when you're in your forties,
your fifties, in your sixties. I think we can turn
that around.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I don't. Democratic policies have led to the unaffordable cost
of living here in Colorado period end of sentence. There
has been no Republican policy enforced here in the state
of Colorado over the last eight plus years. Eight plus
years it has been since the Democrats have had full
control of the Governor's office, the Senate, and the House,
(11:32):
and over a part of that time a super majority
in one of those bodies. Democratic policies have led us
here Governor Elect Bennett, as you'd like to think of yourself.
But I was trying to parse through that answer. He
was asking, you know, what, what do you feel? What
kind of job you feel that Jared Polis has done?
What would you do differently? That was the answer he gave,
(11:53):
but it didn't suggest that there was so much separation
between Bennett Poulis that he couldn't possibly resign his Senate
seat now and allow Governor Polis to make that appointment.
What would be different? What would be different about a
Governor Polis appointment to that Senate seat and anything Michael
Bennett might choose to do. Is it the person or
(12:13):
is it the reason behind the person, the motivation behind
the selection. Governor Polis would have no personal motivation. He's
leaving office now. Maybe he'll run for president, but this
is not a fight that he's participating in. Unless he
were to point himself, I don't see him doing that.
But Polis would not be in a position where a
(12:36):
favor done for him would benefit him in this specific regard.
This is a clear conflict of interest. If Michael Bennett
can't see that, or his idiotic handlers around him can't
sense that, but this is a problem both in terms
of optics, perception and reality, then they've already taken a
(12:56):
very wrong step out of the gate here in this
race for governor now. Michael Bennett was also asked about
the Denver Post editorial, and here is his response to
that in two parts.
Speaker 8 (13:09):
I just thought it was a it was kind of
a crazy editorial, to be honest. I mean, I've run
three tough reelection campaigns while in this tenate. While I've
run for reelection, I passed the expanded Child Tax fit
at which cut childhood poverty in half in this country.
I brought home billions of dollars of federal infrastructure funds
(13:30):
to Colorado and passed my broadband bill to Oh my God,
to create.
Speaker 9 (13:37):
Broadband all over the United States of America.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So that happened.
Speaker 10 (13:40):
Book.
Speaker 8 (13:40):
They know, and I know that I've never I've never
not worked hard. I'm going to just have to work
harder and harder and harder. And I know that.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Okay, let's start here. How many homes have been outfitted
with broadband access due to the bill that Michael Bennett
says he helped champion non zero despite all the dollars
dedicated to that in the so called Inflation Reduction Act.
That's insanity. He calls the Denver Post editorial crazy, it's crazy,
(14:11):
really been, but he doesn't address the core issue, which
is the inherent conflict of interest he has in running
for governor yet holding onto his Senate seat that he
would then appoint his own successor replacement for This is
the point that Kyle Clark hones in on, and it
falls upon deaf ears and Bennett doesn't really answer the
(14:31):
question directly, and this seems to be a pattern for him.
He's not good at this. He's not good at this.
I'm not still saying Phil Wiser is. But Wiser has
an opening here, he has an opportunity. You always look
at politics like a boxing match, and there's a cut
right now on Michael Bennett and Wiser would be wise,
(14:51):
although he's none the wiser, to hone in on this
and point out the corruption. Phil, Are you in it
to win it like iSER? Or are you not? Because
if you are, you've got to exploit this now or
drop out of the race. This is your opening, This
is your opportunity. Seize it, pounce on it. Don't let
(15:13):
it slip. As M and M might say, you only
get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow.
Opportunity comes once in a lifetime.
Speaker 8 (15:22):
Yo.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Zach knows that Carrie us again. How he tries to
explain why it's okay for him to kind of have
his skis in two different bodies of water. One ski
is running for governor here in Colorado, the other one
is continuing to be a Senator representing the state of Colorado.
See if you buy it, I.
Speaker 9 (15:42):
Will fulfill my responsibilities as I have to help lead
the fight against the wrecking ball that Donald Trump is
bringing to our democracy back there. But at the same time,
I think, you know, we have some very fundamental challenges
around our economy, around education, around on healthcare that we
also have to address, and I look forward to working
(16:04):
on all that with the people of Colorado.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Are you doing your job in the Senate or alternatively,
Senator Bennett, are you running for governor? Because you're not
even a week into this race and you're doing it
all wrong. You either dedicate yourself to the cause of
running for the people of Colorado, or you're half asking
it by putting your tone into the water in a
(16:28):
race that demands your full focus and attention, in a
primary which you hope to be anointed for because you
still hold onto the Senate seat that you could have
the power to appoint somebody succeed you and you hope
that it boxes out chill Wiser whoever else is running
in the Democratic primary. This is all political calculation and
game that Michael Bennett is playing, and I don't know
(16:51):
that he's fooling anybody with any of this. He couldn't
even answer this simple question from Caitlin Collins last night
on CNN, A Senator, are you saying that you will
not accept donations from billionaires? That's the question. Listen to
how she asks it, and then listen to his fumbling response.
(17:12):
It is breathtaking.
Speaker 11 (17:14):
You would not accept donations from billionaires going forward?
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Is that what you're saying?
Speaker 9 (17:21):
Well, I.
Speaker 10 (17:23):
Have.
Speaker 12 (17:23):
I'm one of the very few members of the Senate
who does not accept corporate pack money. For example, I
don't accept I don't, so I'm not if you're asking
about independent expenditures of billionaires, I haven't thought that through
because I'm not in a position to be able to
(17:44):
make a judgment about that. I'm not sure I'm missing
your misunderstanding your question.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I think it's arm a eddon because I'm about to
quote Comrade Kyle here. You and I both know, Senator Bennett,
that that's not true, that you haven't thought about it,
getting donations from billionaires. Give me a break. He cannot
handle this question. And then he says he can't understand
the question. The Caitlin Collins is asking, I'll play it
again for you, the listener, could you answer this?
Speaker 11 (18:12):
He would not accept donations from billionaires going forward?
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Is that what you're saying? Is that not a straightforward
question that demands a straightforward answer. Bennett has this tendency
and you heard it, just him stumbling and fumbling away
to try to pivot away. And this is not unique
to him as a politician. But does that sound like
a man of conviction of principle comparatively? And this is
(18:40):
a high standard, This is a high bar when you watch,
let's say, and this is not going to surprise any
of you. Governor Ron de Santis Florida, when he's asked
a question, does he twist in the wind, not understanding
the question or not addressing it directly? No matter how
you feel about Rond de Santis or his politics, or
whether or not you agree with them, does Ron DeSantis
(19:03):
answer questions definitively and with a firm purpose and principle. Yes,
he does. Even if Bennett were to do that from
the leftist perspective, I would acknowledge it, but he doesn't
do that. This is weak sauce, as is he as
a candidate. And if this is the best the Democrats
have to offer for the governor's racing Colorado, I'm telling you, folks,
(19:27):
it's wide open and then includes for Republicans.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Democratic Senator Michael Bennett says he wants to stay in
his Senate seat while running for governor, and if elected governor,
he says he'll resign at the last minute so he
can pick his own replacement. Denver Post editorial board is
called on Bennett to resign from the Senate while running
for governor, pointing out that he could use that appointment
as leverage to keep Democrats from supporting his primary opponent,
(19:57):
Attorney General Phil Wiser.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I asked why staying.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
In the Senate seat then picking his own replacement is appropriate.
I pointed out to him that the last two times
in America that a senator became governor and then appointed
their own replacement, it was Alaska's Frank Murkowski who selected
his daughter Lisa, and New Jersey's John Corzin who picked
Bob Menendez. The last two people to do this. Those
(20:22):
guys chose their own daughter and somebody who turned out
to be a convicted felon.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Like not great, right.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I can tell you that my own daughters will tell
you that they are the last people that I would
ever pick for this job. But look, I was appointed,
as you know, to this seat and sadly, and it
matters a lot to me who's in it.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
And the thing that I titled I believe is that
we have an unbelievable amount of talent in Colorado and
unbelievable amount of political leadership.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It will be a problem. I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Thinking about that, but not thinking about it, you known,
till the selection is done.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Of course, he has thought about it.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Bennett told me he has not decided whether it would
be more appropriate to select somebody that he wants to
hold the Senate seat long term or to pick a placeholder,
somebody who would only hold the seat until an open
election in twenty twenty eight. Bennett said he could make
the argument for either.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Option, couldn't anybody. I mean, that's comrade Kyle Folks nine
News Kyle Clark, and good on him for pressing Senator
Bennett on this. There's no logical explanation. Now Bennett runs
with the red herring argument, Well, you.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Know my daughter is the ill tell you I'm not
going to put them.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's not about your daughter's Senator Bennett, we know that
this is about the power and influence you have by
maintaining control of that Senate seat, dangling it as a
carrot as you enter a primary on uneven footing because
of that very fact against Attorney General Phil Wiser. And
(21:58):
as I stated early on program, if Wiser has any
kind of political sense about him, he jumps on this
with regard to Bennett, calls him out and puts him
on the spot immediately. Politics is a contact sport, and Phil,
you're not gonna win this primary if you lay your
(22:19):
gloves off of Michael Bennett. This is a prime opportunity.
He's cut Denver Post, Kyle Clark have come after him.
What are you gonna do? If Phil Wiser does not
capitalize on this opening, he is going to lose the primary.
And it's no I'm not a fan of his. It
doesn't really affect me either way. I'm just breaking this
(22:40):
down from a strictly political analytical competitive standpoint. Does he
want to win if phil Wiser's playing for keeps. Oh
he goes whole hog, full barrel in on Michael Bennett
right here, right now. If he does it, that tells
you all you need to know. He's not running to
win this race. He's running to elevate his name recognition
(23:01):
for who knows what. But he's either in it or
he's not. He's either in it to win it or
he's not. And now my eyes turned to Phil Wiser
because this is this is ridiculous buffoonery by Michael Bennett.
There is no logical explanation why he feels he needs
to hold on to that Senate seat. It's important to him. Fine,
(23:21):
Jared Poulis will appoint his replacement. He is of the
same party. There's no This would be like Marco Rubio.
Let me give you a direct comparison and why it
makes absolutely no sense. This would be like Senator Rubio saying,
hold on before I enter this race for president in
twenty twenty eight, I'm going to hold on to my
(23:41):
Senate seat because I don't want Ron DeSantis to appoint
my replacement. Why there's not a lot of political daylight
between Rubio and DeSantis. Now they might both run in
twenty eight in that presidential race. That's a very real possibility,
and they both be very strong candidates, But there would
be no pretense of logic from Rubio stating, well, you know,
(24:02):
if I hold on and I decide, well, I'm going
to run for governor of Florida, and then I'm going
to appoint my own replacement, that that choice would be
different from whoever Governor rond De Santis would appoint, which's
already done, which he's already done. And I didn't hear
anything from Marco Rubio. So why is Michael Bennett so
hesitant to have Jared Polis make that appointment? The answer
(24:23):
is he's not. That's that's a shallow end of the
swimming pool analysis. If you're like, well, I don't know,
maybe maybe Polis would do something kind of crazy. He
wouldn't Polus would appoint somebody from the Democratic Party that
was probably either very like minded with Bennett or even
to the left of Bennett. So what is Bennett doing?
What is his primary motivation? It doesn't take that much
(24:45):
to figure it out, and then we have your thoughts
at five, seven, seven thirty nine. But also Rob Dawson
had a chance to catch up with Senator Bennett, and
this didn't go well for Bennet either. We played the
earlier clip with Caitlyn Collins. I wouldn't call Rob Dawson
(25:08):
necessarily a friendly, but he's certainly on an adversarial media
presence at his announcement last week at the golf course,
and he got really hot onto the collar for a
very simple question that Rob Dawson asked him.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
Are your credits saying that you don't spend enough time
to stay and some people may not really.
Speaker 13 (25:26):
Know you if you feel like I think that's just
absolute nonsense. There isn't anybody who has spent more time
in Colorado that I have as a statewide elected official pss.
There is anybody who spend more time in rural Colorado
than I have said. That's been one of the greatest
joys of my public service and I look forward to
(25:46):
continue it.
Speaker 8 (25:47):
That is a ridiculous estatement.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
In my view. Do you speak a lot about fighting
treat but like Trump isn't, so why not let me
say one other thing.
Speaker 13 (25:55):
I also think there isn't anybody in Colorado who's better
situated to bring us all together, whether we're urban or rural,
whether we are on the Western Slope or the Eastern
Plains or in Metro Denver, to convene kyl roaddens to
have the important discussions that we need to have to
be able to build a future.
Speaker 12 (26:15):
Where all of our kids can stay here and where
people feel like they can work hard and get ahead.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
So that's how I answer your question. Bennett felt the
need to take two bites at the apple on that
answered a Rob, so much so that he trampled that
female reporter trying to ask him a layup question about
tru Are you going to fight Trumpism? Is that why
you're doing this? Sir? He ignored hers. I'm not done yet.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
I want to also say furthermore that there's nobody better qualified.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Sounds a little defensive. Does Michael Bennett exude confidence self
assured stances that he is resolute on and doesn't shy
away from. And you know this notion from Rob Dawson,
which is a viable criticism of you just haven't spent
a lot of time back carrying your home state, Senator Bennett.
That's a concern for a lot of people. Well, I
(27:09):
think that's ridiculous, is it?
Speaker 10 (27:11):
Though?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
One other thing right here, and this is more dangerous
the Detroit connection. Shannon Scott brought this one to my attention.
On Tabor. The Democrats are at war with Tabor. They're
looking at any way they can to undermine it, circumvent it,
do an end around it. Imposed fees like Governor Jared
Polis has as Leland Conway calls him Governor mcpheeeney, and
(27:35):
Marty Lens again, to his credit, ask a very good
question here, because Coloraden's, especially those that are unaffiliated who
decide elections in this state, they love them some Tabor
over and over.
Speaker 11 (27:48):
The Senator Bennett, the people of Colorado have spoken vociferously
on the notion of Tabor, and you've kind of said
you maybe have to look at that. But isn't that
a non starter when you talk about this is what
people have voted for. Whether you agree with the mechanism
or not, people are saying, don't touch this. This is
that third rail we always talk about here in Colorado.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Your response to that, well.
Speaker 10 (28:09):
I agree that the right of people in Colorado to
vote on tax increases is basically etched in stone and
it should stay that way.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
I do think that we don't need to be shackled
to every single word of some a part of our
constitution that's written forty or fifty years ago, and we
should be having a discussion about the best way to
fund public services in Colorado. We'll see what that discussion yields.
(28:44):
I think there are very strong feelings on both sides.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
See, here's the deal, Senator Bennett. We've had those discussions.
We've had multiple ballot initiatives looking to circumvent taborn. Every
time they've gone down in flames. The people have spoken,
the voters have decided on this. Marty lens is right.
There's no conversation to be had after that. You figure
out a way to present it to the voters and
(29:10):
have them approve that kind of spending. That's how it
works here. That's what makes Colorado so unique and special.
It's the one shining moment politically that we have here
in Colorado. As someone who is not a native here,
I cannot tell you how lucky you are to have
something like tabor. I don't know that it exists in
any other state in the Union where a legislature cannot
(29:31):
raise taxes on you without your consent directly, and it
drives the Democrats' nuts.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Well, I don't know how we're going to fund an
education all that.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
It doesn't matter. Figure out a way, convince the voters
win hearts and minds. That's the way you're gonna have
to do this, pal Now, I don't think you know
legislation is forty to fifty years old. Democrats are hung
up on this recently too. Just because a legislation's old
doesn't mean it's not valid. In fact, the the very
notion that it has stood the test of time and
(30:03):
not been overturned by subsequent legislation makes it, in my mind,
even stronger the more recent legislation, because it was so bad.
If Taber was terrible, it would have been overturned within
the last ten years, twenty years, thirty years. It hasn't been.
Why not, Because it's a very popular thing in this
state that you, as an individual taxpayer in Colorado, cannot
(30:28):
have your taxes raised without your direct consent. Democrats are
used to having their way and just raising your taxes
willing nilly whenever they want. To imagine, if democrats in
this state had that power, we'd have half the population,
all of us would have left done the right. I
think Taber's the one thing I believe keeping us here
(30:48):
is that right, that right of first refusal on any
tax imposed on us, and Bennett wants to circumvent it.
He's got a second part to this quote, and we'll
have that when we come back more on Michael Bennett's
candidacy flailing already out of the gate and your thoughts,
your texts five seven, seven, three nine, when we come
back here on Ryan Schuling Live.
Speaker 8 (31:13):
We are facing a real challenge when Governor Polis is
having to cut one point two billion dollars out of
the budget when we don't even have a recession, and
now we're going to have, probably will have a recession
in part because of the tariffs that we're all being
afflicted with, and then the cuts to medicate on top
of that. That's going to challenge our ability to deliver
(31:36):
very basic services. You may have read about the fact
that you know, there's a new study out about how
uncompetitive our salaries are for teachers in rural Colorado who who,
among other things, can't afford housing anymore in our state.
So I don't have all the answers to that, but
I do think it's a discussion and debate.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
That we need to have a discuss and debate that
he's talking about over tabor. It's been debated, it's been discussed.
People love it, they don't want to get rid of it,
and they don't want to vote in taxes they don't like.
That's your discussion, Senator Bennett. It's really a very boiled
down simple matter. But he predicts a recession. There's no
(32:17):
evidence of that it's going to happen. These Medicaid cuts.
The only thing being cut from Medicaid are those who
shouldn't be on it in the first place, illegal aliens
who are receiving those types of benefits that the average
American pays into over their entire lives, working a job,
getting their taxes withdrawn and withheld. I can't imagine that's, again,
(32:40):
anything less than an eighty twenty issue. Do you want
your Medicaid dollars for which you paid from your salary
working your job as an American citizen to be distributed
to those who are here illegally. I have got to
believe the hard, firm answer to that is no. There
are no cuts being made to Medicaid Otherwise. President Trump
(33:02):
has said that repeatedly now there might be some revisions
that somebody that's more of a fiscal conservative like yours truly,
or Thomas Massey or Ran Paul would like there to
be reforms like the privatization of Social Security that President
George W. Bush tried to get across the finish line,
but he got absolutely waylaid on. It's not a solvent
(33:23):
program any of these, and a lot of it has
to do because of these fraudulent payments that are being
expended to dead people, those who are illegal, those who
are miners that shouldn't be subject to receiving these payments.
That the fraud, the waste, the abuse, that's what we're
talking about in terms of Medicaid cuts, not cuts to
Grandma who should be getting Medicaid payments. That's ridiculous. Nobody's
(33:46):
suggesting that it's a fool's argument, and Michael Bennett is
playing the fool and doing it well. I might add
your text five seven seven thirty nine, Ryan, it's so
refreshing to hear you be kind to Kyle bad. You
only do it when you agree with him. That's not true.
What my problem is with Comrade Kyle as I call him,
(34:07):
is he is a leftist, just as I am probably
as far to the right as he is to the left.
I will acknowledge that. I'm telling you that right now.
People know that when I go over an anchor coverage
on KOA, well, Ryan's a conservative, one of the few
I might add over there in terms of the anchoring
of coverage, and it balances it out. People know. But
I'm analyzing something in real time, which I think Kyle
also does. He does that well, but all too often
(34:31):
his editorial opinion is buried in the content of his
news coverage. As an anchor, those lines are blurred. We
know he's opinionated commentator, We know that he has an
editorial view. If he would just come out and be
honest with that, to your point, Texter, I'd be fine
with it. Like Bill Maher, I'm fine with Bill Maher.
(34:51):
I don't agree with Bill Maher and a lot of stuff.
I agree with him on some stuff, and I find
him engaging and entertaining and intellectually on for the most part.
And I like that he's been upfront about his dinner
with President Trump, saying, you know what, I like the guy.
He was kind to me, He was honest about that,
just be honest about it. That's all I'm saying. If
(35:12):
you have an editorial view and it's left, that's fine,
but don't pretend like you don't have that opinion. Kyle
Clark would sell you a bill of goods like he's
shooting it right down the middle. He is not. He
absolutely isn't. He's one of these guys that participates like, uh,
Heidi ganall is a campaigning on the fact that there
are furrees in these schools. That's ridiculous. But then he
(35:33):
went from it's not happening and you're crazy for thinking it,
to well, if it is happened, is because marginalized kids
feel that way, we should be sensitive to their preferences.
If it is happening and it's actually a good thing,
to the fourth step, which it is happening. It's a
good thing, and if you don't like it, you're a bigot.
Follow Kyle Clark's logic on several topics, just like that one.
(35:55):
That's just one example, and you'll see that I am right.
Take this time out. My good friend Steven L. Miller
joins us next. He's been under the weather, but now
he's feeling a little bit better to join US Than
Ryan Schuling Live
Democratic Senator Michael Bennett says that he is going to
stay in his Senate seat while he runs for governor,
and if he wins the race for governor, he's not
going to resign to the last second so that he
can pick his own replacement. Denver Post editorial board criticized
him for that recently. They said that him holding the
power of picking his replacement could keep other Democrats from
feeling like they could comfortably endorse his rival in the
(00:21):
Democratic primary. Attorney General Phil wiser I asked Bennett about
whether that's a smart idea given the last two times
in American history that a senator has become a governor
and picked their replacement. And Alaska Frank Burkowski picked his
daughter Lisa, and in New Jersey John Corzein picked Bob Menendez.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yikes, those guys.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Chose their own daughter and somebody who turned out to
be a convicted felon.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Like, not great, right.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I can tell you that my own daughters will tell
you that they are the last people that I would
ever pick for this job. But look, I was appointed,
as you know, to this seat, and it matters a
lot to me who's in it.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
And the thing that I believe is that we have
an unbelievable amount of talent in Colorado, an unbelievable amount
of political leadership. And I'm looking forward to thinking about that,
but not thinking about it until the selection is done.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Well, I neither of us believe that you haven't thought
about it. So I'm going to ask you, this is
your initial inclination that you should select, if you were
to be elected governor, the best person to hold that
seat long term, or a caretaker who would only serve until.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I could make the argument both ways, and I certainly
haven't made a decision.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Wow, when you've lost Comrade Kyle, and you've lost the
Denver post, you lost the plot. Good afternoon, It's like
I never left filling in for Michael Brown this morning,
back with you here again in my regularly scheduled time slot,
Ryan schuleing live, and this time I got Zach Seager
(02:00):
is riding along. But for Michael Bennett, these answers are
not answers, and they don't address the question, which is
and we'll get to this specific detail in a moment.
If the seat is important to him, and I'll believe him,
I'll go ahead and conceive that the seed is important
to him the Senate seat that he currently occupies, but
he's running for governor and he hopes to move over
(02:21):
to the governor's spot. But if he is so well
aligned politically with the current governor of Colorado, Jared Polis,
and all indications are he is, why not just resign
the seat, run for governor and allow Jared Polis to
(02:41):
appoint his replacement. I get it if it was a
Republican governor with whom you had stark disagreements on policy,
et cetera. That's not the case here. So what is
the justification for Senator Bennett holding on to his Senate
seat while also running in the other lane for governor
in Colorado? Like I said, this isn't just criticism coming
(03:04):
from yours truly, or Michael Brown or Dan Kaplis or
anybody else on the right here in Colorado, which likely
would be perceived as just partisan white noise. YadA, YadA.
This is from the Denver Post in an op ed,
And we'll get Senator Bennett's response to that in just
a moment. And Kyle Clark, who is of the left
(03:24):
and represents that political perspective in his news coverage on
his program nine News Next, et cetera. And in this interview,
I thought he did well to hold Michael Bennett to
account and to refute the notion that well.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
I superin haven't thought about it, so you would have
an elected governor. I'll think about.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
That's not true. And Kyle Clark called out for what
it was. Full credit to him. Now, Zach, you were
saying in the very intro as I was playing this,
you don't like this, give me your thoughts on it.
I think it's just skeazy.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
I think it's like to your point, it's kind of transparent.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I think, to me, yes, it's important to him.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
I think it's also important to every single Colorado who
is their senator, and it should be an elected representative
instead of I think appointed one in this case. And
it seems to me like it's clearly just a power
broker move. He is for the most part aligned with PULUS.
Maybe there's some finer details they disagree on, but for
(04:23):
the most part they're politically aligned. And so I think
the only reason you're doing this is to put Phil Wiser,
who I'm not a fan of, but to put him
at an unfair disadvantage during the primary process and to
maybe earn some political favor for who are from whoever
gets that Senate spot from Michael Bennett down the road.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It gives the appearance of impropriety. You're exactly right. It
sets up for that type of Rod Blogoyevitch corruption that
we saw as he was auctioning off Barack Obama's Senate seat.
He would later be pardoned by President Trump. Ironically, Blogoyevitch
was a Democrat in chicag one of the most crooked
political cities in the nation historically, along with Huey Long,
(05:07):
New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Democratic Party there. If you
notice Tammany Hall, all these historically corrupt political machines somehow
originate on the left. They're all Democratic Party machines. You
look at LBJ in Texas helping engineer a victory in
nineteen sixty. There were questions about shenanigans in that election,
(05:30):
very close election with Richard Nixon, both in Texas and Chicago.
Dead people voting in suburban Chicago. Then you also had
there were questions about this historically. Just go and check
it out for yourself, don't take my word for it.
The nineteen seventy six election between incumbent President Gerald R. Ford,
(05:51):
who would assumed the office after Richard M. Nixon's resignation,
and Jimmy Carter, and there were the same questions about
the same two dates Texas and Illinois. Historically, this is
the democratic shadiness of what goes on in the mechanics,
the logistics, the machinery behind the scenes. And it goes
(06:13):
back to my central point. If Senator Bennett is concerned
about who is going to be appointed to his seat,
then have a little confab with Jared Polis, the current
governor of Colorado, also a Democrat, ostensibly representing himself as
a center left Democrat the way Bennett tries to and
what Zach just mentioned, I'm trying to think of any
(06:35):
political daylight there might be between Polis and Bennett. I
can't think of any but motivation, personal motivation. This is
the finer point that Zach touched on. What is the
advantage to Senator Bennett holding on to his seat with
that power of appointment.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
Look, you know, if I'm appointed governor, if I win governor,
I can appoint you Jon of Goose, whoever you are.
If I haven't decided yet, like I told Kyle, Clark,
then I'll just wait, have you lobbied me for this?
Speaker 7 (07:07):
This opens it up to pure, simple, unfiltered, distilled corruption,
because now you're gonna have every Democrat and his brother
or her sister lobbying Michael Bennett for that Senate seat,
Jonah Goose and whoever else, maybe Jared Polus himself.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I don't know, but it's bait that Bennett can use
as an effective tool. Zach's exactly right to rig the
game in his favor, meaning any Democrat out there, a
leader in the party, maybe even Jason Crow foolishly believes
he's in the running for this Senate seat, and with
(07:47):
that simple flicker of hope, they'll agree to fall in
line back Michael Bennett offer their endorsement with the hopes
that they'll have the golden ticket Charley Bucket style from
Willie Wanka in the Chocolate factory, and they'll get the
Senate seat. This stinks, And again I'm not the only
(08:09):
one saying this. The Denver Post said it in a
not bed. Kyle Clark's calling him out on it. This
is not going away. And if Phil Nunn the Wiser
is actually all the smarter, he will use this and
he should. He should come right out. He should come
right out with a press conference calling on Michael Bennett
(08:30):
if he's going to run in the primary, he's already
announced his candidacy. Then, sir, you owe it to the
state of Colorado and your constituents who you serve, who
duly elected you twice to resign that Senate seat, allow
Governor Polos to appoint your replacement, and focus your energies
where they already lie, and that is running a campaign
(08:50):
in the primary for governor of Colorado. You cannot walk
and chew gum at the same time. Here. There is
no way compare this again on equal playing field. Let's
say Senator John Hickenlooper. He's not running for governor, but
he is a senator. All of his time, focused attention,
(09:11):
all of his staff's efforts, every motivation that he has
is focused on that Senate seat that he currently occupies.
This is not a defensive John Hickenlooper, but it's done
to illustrate a point. There is no way that Senator
Michael Bennett can devote one hundred percent of his attention
or I would say maybe even fifty percent of his
attention to his current term in the Senate, he is
(09:34):
obligated and owes it to the people of Colorado to
step aside. But why won't he try to break that
down come up with some logic and reasoning. I will
reflect personally on an interview. Senator Bennett did this very
morning on our sister station right across the Hall KOA
(09:58):
with Marty Lenz, who I might add did a really
good job, Bob himself and Chad Bauer filling in for
Gina Gondek, and they had Senator Bennett on for a
solid twelve to fifteen minutes somewhere in there, and he
was asked, Michael Bennett, what kind of job do you
think that Jared Poulis has done as governor? Here was
his answer.
Speaker 8 (10:17):
I think the Governor's done a good job. I think
Governor Polis has done a good job, and I think
Governor Hickenlooper did a good job before him, and Governor
River before him. But there's definitely more for us to do.
Housing has become completely unaffordable all over the state of Colorado,
and I think we need to build build more housing
all over the state. People don't have access to mental
(10:39):
health care and healthcare for their families, and I do
think there's much more we need to do with our
education system to make sure that young people, in particular
are prepared for the twenty first century economy. We have.
We've continued to see the income of people in their
twenties go down decade after decade after decade because we're
(11:00):
not preparing them well for the economy. And what you
earn when you're in your twenties is going to say
something about what you earned when you're in your forties,
your fifties, in your sixties. I think we can turn
that around.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I don't. Democratic policies have led to the unaffordable cost
of living here in Colorado period end of sentence. There
has been no Republican policy enforced here in the state
of Colorado over the last eight plus years. Eight plus
years it has been since the Democrats have had full
control of the Governor's office, the Senate, and the House,
(11:32):
and over a part of that time a super majority
in one of those bodies. Democratic policies have led us
here Governor Elect Bennett, as you'd like to think of yourself.
But I was trying to parse through that answer. He
was asking, you know, what, what do you feel? What
kind of job you feel that Jared Polis has done?
What would you do differently? That was the answer he gave,
(11:53):
but it didn't suggest that there was so much separation
between Bennett Poulis that he couldn't possibly resign his Senate
seat now and allow Governor Polis to make that appointment.
What would be different? What would be different about a
Governor Polis appointment to that Senate seat and anything Michael
Bennett might choose to do. Is it the person or
(12:13):
is it the reason behind the person, the motivation behind
the selection. Governor Polis would have no personal motivation. He's
leaving office now. Maybe he'll run for president, but this
is not a fight that he's participating in. Unless he
were to point himself, I don't see him doing that.
But Polis would not be in a position where a
(12:36):
favor done for him would benefit him in this specific regard.
This is a clear conflict of interest. If Michael Bennett
can't see that, or his idiotic handlers around him can't
sense that, but this is a problem both in terms
of optics, perception and reality, then they've already taken a
(12:56):
very wrong step out of the gate here in this
race for governor now. Michael Bennett was also asked about
the Denver Post editorial, and here is his response to
that in two parts.
Speaker 8 (13:09):
I just thought it was a it was kind of
a crazy editorial, to be honest. I mean, I've run
three tough reelection campaigns while in this tenate. While I've
run for reelection, I passed the expanded Child Tax fit
at which cut childhood poverty in half in this country.
I brought home billions of dollars of federal infrastructure funds
(13:30):
to Colorado and passed my broadband bill to Oh my God,
to create.
Speaker 9 (13:37):
Broadband all over the United States of America.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So that happened.
Speaker 10 (13:40):
Book.
Speaker 8 (13:40):
They know, and I know that I've never I've never
not worked hard. I'm going to just have to work
harder and harder and harder. And I know that.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Okay, let's start here. How many homes have been outfitted
with broadband access due to the bill that Michael Bennett
says he helped champion non zero despite all the dollars
dedicated to that in the so called Inflation Reduction Act.
That's insanity. He calls the Denver Post editorial crazy, it's crazy,
(14:11):
really been, but he doesn't address the core issue, which
is the inherent conflict of interest he has in running
for governor yet holding onto his Senate seat that he
would then appoint his own successor replacement for This is
the point that Kyle Clark hones in on, and it
falls upon deaf ears and Bennett doesn't really answer the
(14:31):
question directly, and this seems to be a pattern for him.
He's not good at this. He's not good at this.
I'm not still saying Phil Wiser is. But Wiser has
an opening here, he has an opportunity. You always look
at politics like a boxing match, and there's a cut
right now on Michael Bennett and Wiser would be wise,
(14:51):
although he's none the wiser, to hone in on this
and point out the corruption. Phil, Are you in it
to win it like iSER? Or are you not? Because
if you are, you've got to exploit this now or
drop out of the race. This is your opening, This
is your opportunity. Seize it, pounce on it. Don't let
(15:13):
it slip. As M and M might say, you only
get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow.
Opportunity comes once in a lifetime.
Speaker 8 (15:22):
Yo.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Zach knows that Carrie us again. How he tries to
explain why it's okay for him to kind of have
his skis in two different bodies of water. One ski
is running for governor here in Colorado, the other one
is continuing to be a Senator representing the state of Colorado.
See if you buy it, I.
Speaker 9 (15:42):
Will fulfill my responsibilities as I have to help lead
the fight against the wrecking ball that Donald Trump is
bringing to our democracy back there. But at the same time,
I think, you know, we have some very fundamental challenges
around our economy, around education, around on healthcare that we
also have to address, and I look forward to working
(16:04):
on all that with the people of Colorado.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Are you doing your job in the Senate or alternatively,
Senator Bennett, are you running for governor? Because you're not
even a week into this race and you're doing it
all wrong. You either dedicate yourself to the cause of
running for the people of Colorado, or you're half asking
it by putting your tone into the water in a
(16:28):
race that demands your full focus and attention, in a
primary which you hope to be anointed for because you
still hold onto the Senate seat that you could have
the power to appoint somebody succeed you and you hope
that it boxes out chill Wiser whoever else is running
in the Democratic primary. This is all political calculation and
game that Michael Bennett is playing, and I don't know
(16:51):
that he's fooling anybody with any of this. He couldn't
even answer this simple question from Caitlin Collins last night
on CNN, A Senator, are you saying that you will
not accept donations from billionaires? That's the question. Listen to
how she asks it, and then listen to his fumbling response.
(17:12):
It is breathtaking.
Speaker 11 (17:14):
You would not accept donations from billionaires going forward?
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Is that what you're saying?
Speaker 9 (17:21):
Well, I.
Speaker 10 (17:23):
Have.
Speaker 12 (17:23):
I'm one of the very few members of the Senate
who does not accept corporate pack money. For example, I
don't accept I don't, so I'm not if you're asking
about independent expenditures of billionaires, I haven't thought that through
because I'm not in a position to be able to
(17:44):
make a judgment about that. I'm not sure I'm missing
your misunderstanding your question.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I think it's arm a eddon because I'm about to
quote Comrade Kyle here. You and I both know, Senator Bennett,
that that's not true, that you haven't thought about it,
getting donations from billionaires. Give me a break. He cannot
handle this question. And then he says he can't understand
the question. The Caitlin Collins is asking, I'll play it
again for you, the listener, could you answer this?
Speaker 11 (18:12):
He would not accept donations from billionaires going forward?
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Is that what you're saying? Is that not a straightforward
question that demands a straightforward answer. Bennett has this tendency
and you heard it, just him stumbling and fumbling away
to try to pivot away. And this is not unique
to him as a politician. But does that sound like
a man of conviction of principle comparatively? And this is
(18:40):
a high standard, This is a high bar when you watch,
let's say, and this is not going to surprise any
of you. Governor Ron de Santis Florida, when he's asked
a question, does he twist in the wind, not understanding
the question or not addressing it directly? No matter how
you feel about Rond de Santis or his politics, or
whether or not you agree with them, does Ron DeSantis
(19:03):
answer questions definitively and with a firm purpose and principle. Yes,
he does. Even if Bennett were to do that from
the leftist perspective, I would acknowledge it, but he doesn't
do that. This is weak sauce, as is he as
a candidate. And if this is the best the Democrats
have to offer for the governor's racing Colorado, I'm telling you, folks,
(19:27):
it's wide open and then includes for Republicans.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Democratic Senator Michael Bennett says he wants to stay in
his Senate seat while running for governor, and if elected governor,
he says he'll resign at the last minute so he
can pick his own replacement. Denver Post editorial board is
called on Bennett to resign from the Senate while running
for governor, pointing out that he could use that appointment
as leverage to keep Democrats from supporting his primary opponent,
(19:57):
Attorney General Phil Wiser.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I asked why staying.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
In the Senate seat then picking his own replacement is appropriate.
I pointed out to him that the last two times
in America that a senator became governor and then appointed
their own replacement, it was Alaska's Frank Murkowski who selected
his daughter Lisa, and New Jersey's John Corzin who picked
Bob Menendez. The last two people to do this. Those
(20:22):
guys chose their own daughter and somebody who turned out
to be a convicted felon.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Like not great, right.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I can tell you that my own daughters will tell
you that they are the last people that I would
ever pick for this job. But look, I was appointed,
as you know, to this seat and sadly, and it
matters a lot to me who's in it.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
And the thing that I titled I believe is that
we have an unbelievable amount of talent in Colorado and
unbelievable amount of political leadership.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It will be a problem. I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Thinking about that, but not thinking about it, you known,
till the selection is done.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Of course, he has thought about it.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Bennett told me he has not decided whether it would
be more appropriate to select somebody that he wants to
hold the Senate seat long term or to pick a placeholder,
somebody who would only hold the seat until an open
election in twenty twenty eight. Bennett said he could make
the argument for either.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Option, couldn't anybody. I mean, that's comrade Kyle Folks nine
News Kyle Clark, and good on him for pressing Senator
Bennett on this. There's no logical explanation. Now Bennett runs
with the red herring argument, Well, you.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Know my daughter is the ill tell you I'm not
going to put them.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's not about your daughter's Senator Bennett, we know that
this is about the power and influence you have by
maintaining control of that Senate seat, dangling it as a
carrot as you enter a primary on uneven footing because
of that very fact against Attorney General Phil Wiser. And
(21:58):
as I stated early on program, if Wiser has any
kind of political sense about him, he jumps on this
with regard to Bennett, calls him out and puts him
on the spot immediately. Politics is a contact sport, and Phil,
you're not gonna win this primary if you lay your
(22:19):
gloves off of Michael Bennett. This is a prime opportunity.
He's cut Denver Post, Kyle Clark have come after him.
What are you gonna do? If Phil Wiser does not
capitalize on this opening, he is going to lose the primary.
And it's no I'm not a fan of his. It
doesn't really affect me either way. I'm just breaking this
(22:40):
down from a strictly political analytical competitive standpoint. Does he
want to win if phil Wiser's playing for keeps. Oh
he goes whole hog, full barrel in on Michael Bennett
right here, right now. If he does it, that tells
you all you need to know. He's not running to
win this race. He's running to elevate his name recognition
(23:01):
for who knows what. But he's either in it or
he's not. He's either in it to win it or
he's not. And now my eyes turned to Phil Wiser
because this is this is ridiculous buffoonery by Michael Bennett.
There is no logical explanation why he feels he needs
to hold on to that Senate seat. It's important to him. Fine,
(23:21):
Jared Poulis will appoint his replacement. He is of the
same party. There's no This would be like Marco Rubio.
Let me give you a direct comparison and why it
makes absolutely no sense. This would be like Senator Rubio saying,
hold on before I enter this race for president in
twenty twenty eight, I'm going to hold on to my
(23:41):
Senate seat because I don't want Ron DeSantis to appoint
my replacement. Why there's not a lot of political daylight
between Rubio and DeSantis. Now they might both run in
twenty eight in that presidential race. That's a very real possibility,
and they both be very strong candidates, But there would
be no pretense of logic from Rubio stating, well, you know,
(24:02):
if I hold on and I decide, well, I'm going
to run for governor of Florida, and then I'm going
to appoint my own replacement, that that choice would be
different from whoever Governor rond De Santis would appoint, which's
already done, which he's already done. And I didn't hear
anything from Marco Rubio. So why is Michael Bennett so
hesitant to have Jared Polis make that appointment? The answer
(24:23):
is he's not. That's that's a shallow end of the
swimming pool analysis. If you're like, well, I don't know,
maybe maybe Polis would do something kind of crazy. He
wouldn't Polus would appoint somebody from the Democratic Party that
was probably either very like minded with Bennett or even
to the left of Bennett. So what is Bennett doing?
What is his primary motivation? It doesn't take that much
(24:45):
to figure it out, and then we have your thoughts
at five, seven, seven thirty nine. But also Rob Dawson
had a chance to catch up with Senator Bennett, and
this didn't go well for Bennet either. We played the
earlier clip with Caitlyn Collins. I wouldn't call Rob Dawson
(25:08):
necessarily a friendly, but he's certainly on an adversarial media
presence at his announcement last week at the golf course,
and he got really hot onto the collar for a
very simple question that Rob Dawson asked him.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
Are your credits saying that you don't spend enough time
to stay and some people may not really.
Speaker 13 (25:26):
Know you if you feel like I think that's just
absolute nonsense. There isn't anybody who has spent more time
in Colorado that I have as a statewide elected official pss.
There is anybody who spend more time in rural Colorado
than I have said. That's been one of the greatest
joys of my public service and I look forward to
(25:46):
continue it.
Speaker 8 (25:47):
That is a ridiculous estatement.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
In my view. Do you speak a lot about fighting
treat but like Trump isn't, so why not let me
say one other thing.
Speaker 13 (25:55):
I also think there isn't anybody in Colorado who's better
situated to bring us all together, whether we're urban or rural,
whether we are on the Western Slope or the Eastern
Plains or in Metro Denver, to convene kyl roaddens to
have the important discussions that we need to have to
be able to build a future.
Speaker 12 (26:15):
Where all of our kids can stay here and where
people feel like they can work hard and get ahead.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
So that's how I answer your question. Bennett felt the
need to take two bites at the apple on that
answered a Rob, so much so that he trampled that
female reporter trying to ask him a layup question about
tru Are you going to fight Trumpism? Is that why
you're doing this? Sir? He ignored hers. I'm not done yet.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
I want to also say furthermore that there's nobody better qualified.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Sounds a little defensive. Does Michael Bennett exude confidence self
assured stances that he is resolute on and doesn't shy
away from. And you know this notion from Rob Dawson,
which is a viable criticism of you just haven't spent
a lot of time back carrying your home state, Senator Bennett.
That's a concern for a lot of people. Well, I
(27:09):
think that's ridiculous, is it?
Speaker 10 (27:11):
Though?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
One other thing right here, and this is more dangerous
the Detroit connection. Shannon Scott brought this one to my attention.
On Tabor. The Democrats are at war with Tabor. They're
looking at any way they can to undermine it, circumvent it,
do an end around it. Imposed fees like Governor Jared
Polis has as Leland Conway calls him Governor mcpheeeney, and
(27:35):
Marty Lens again, to his credit, ask a very good
question here, because Coloraden's, especially those that are unaffiliated who
decide elections in this state, they love them some Tabor
over and over.
Speaker 11 (27:48):
The Senator Bennett, the people of Colorado have spoken vociferously
on the notion of Tabor, and you've kind of said
you maybe have to look at that. But isn't that
a non starter when you talk about this is what
people have voted for. Whether you agree with the mechanism
or not, people are saying, don't touch this. This is
that third rail we always talk about here in Colorado.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Your response to that, well.
Speaker 10 (28:09):
I agree that the right of people in Colorado to
vote on tax increases is basically etched in stone and
it should stay that way.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
I do think that we don't need to be shackled
to every single word of some a part of our
constitution that's written forty or fifty years ago, and we
should be having a discussion about the best way to
fund public services in Colorado. We'll see what that discussion yields.
(28:44):
I think there are very strong feelings on both sides.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
See, here's the deal, Senator Bennett. We've had those discussions.
We've had multiple ballot initiatives looking to circumvent taborn. Every
time they've gone down in flames. The people have spoken,
the voters have decided on this. Marty lens is right.
There's no conversation to be had after that. You figure
out a way to present it to the voters and
(29:10):
have them approve that kind of spending. That's how it
works here. That's what makes Colorado so unique and special.
It's the one shining moment politically that we have here
in Colorado. As someone who is not a native here,
I cannot tell you how lucky you are to have
something like tabor. I don't know that it exists in
any other state in the Union where a legislature cannot
(29:31):
raise taxes on you without your consent directly, and it
drives the Democrats' nuts.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Well, I don't know how we're going to fund an
education all that.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
It doesn't matter. Figure out a way, convince the voters
win hearts and minds. That's the way you're gonna have
to do this, pal Now, I don't think you know
legislation is forty to fifty years old. Democrats are hung
up on this recently too. Just because a legislation's old
doesn't mean it's not valid. In fact, the the very
notion that it has stood the test of time and
(30:03):
not been overturned by subsequent legislation makes it, in my mind,
even stronger the more recent legislation, because it was so bad.
If Taber was terrible, it would have been overturned within
the last ten years, twenty years, thirty years. It hasn't been.
Why not, Because it's a very popular thing in this
state that you, as an individual taxpayer in Colorado, cannot
(30:28):
have your taxes raised without your direct consent. Democrats are
used to having their way and just raising your taxes
willing nilly whenever they want. To imagine, if democrats in
this state had that power, we'd have half the population,
all of us would have left done the right. I
think Taber's the one thing I believe keeping us here
(30:48):
is that right, that right of first refusal on any
tax imposed on us, and Bennett wants to circumvent it.
He's got a second part to this quote, and we'll
have that when we come back more on Michael Bennett's
candidacy flailing already out of the gate and your thoughts,
your texts five seven, seven, three nine, when we come
back here on Ryan Schuling Live.
Speaker 8 (31:13):
We are facing a real challenge when Governor Polis is
having to cut one point two billion dollars out of
the budget when we don't even have a recession, and
now we're going to have, probably will have a recession
in part because of the tariffs that we're all being
afflicted with, and then the cuts to medicate on top
of that. That's going to challenge our ability to deliver
(31:36):
very basic services. You may have read about the fact
that you know, there's a new study out about how
uncompetitive our salaries are for teachers in rural Colorado who who,
among other things, can't afford housing anymore in our state.
So I don't have all the answers to that, but
I do think it's a discussion and debate.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
That we need to have a discuss and debate that
he's talking about over tabor. It's been debated, it's been discussed.
People love it, they don't want to get rid of it,
and they don't want to vote in taxes they don't like.
That's your discussion, Senator Bennett. It's really a very boiled
down simple matter. But he predicts a recession. There's no
(32:17):
evidence of that it's going to happen. These Medicaid cuts.
The only thing being cut from Medicaid are those who
shouldn't be on it in the first place, illegal aliens
who are receiving those types of benefits that the average
American pays into over their entire lives, working a job,
getting their taxes withdrawn and withheld. I can't imagine that's, again,
(32:40):
anything less than an eighty twenty issue. Do you want
your Medicaid dollars for which you paid from your salary
working your job as an American citizen to be distributed
to those who are here illegally. I have got to
believe the hard, firm answer to that is no. There
are no cuts being made to Medicaid Otherwise. President Trump
(33:02):
has said that repeatedly now there might be some revisions
that somebody that's more of a fiscal conservative like yours truly,
or Thomas Massey or Ran Paul would like there to
be reforms like the privatization of Social Security that President
George W. Bush tried to get across the finish line,
but he got absolutely waylaid on. It's not a solvent
(33:23):
program any of these, and a lot of it has
to do because of these fraudulent payments that are being
expended to dead people, those who are illegal, those who
are miners that shouldn't be subject to receiving these payments.
That the fraud, the waste, the abuse, that's what we're
talking about in terms of Medicaid cuts, not cuts to
Grandma who should be getting Medicaid payments. That's ridiculous. Nobody's
(33:46):
suggesting that it's a fool's argument, and Michael Bennett is
playing the fool and doing it well. I might add
your text five seven seven thirty nine, Ryan, it's so
refreshing to hear you be kind to Kyle bad. You
only do it when you agree with him. That's not true.
What my problem is with Comrade Kyle as I call him,
(34:07):
is he is a leftist, just as I am probably
as far to the right as he is to the left.
I will acknowledge that. I'm telling you that right now.
People know that when I go over an anchor coverage
on KOA, well, Ryan's a conservative, one of the few
I might add over there in terms of the anchoring
of coverage, and it balances it out. People know. But
I'm analyzing something in real time, which I think Kyle
also does. He does that well, but all too often
(34:31):
his editorial opinion is buried in the content of his
news coverage. As an anchor, those lines are blurred. We
know he's opinionated commentator, We know that he has an
editorial view. If he would just come out and be
honest with that, to your point, Texter, I'd be fine
with it. Like Bill Maher, I'm fine with Bill Maher.
(34:51):
I don't agree with Bill Maher and a lot of stuff.
I agree with him on some stuff, and I find
him engaging and entertaining and intellectually on for the most part.
And I like that he's been upfront about his dinner
with President Trump, saying, you know what, I like the guy.
He was kind to me, He was honest about that,
just be honest about it. That's all I'm saying. If
(35:12):
you have an editorial view and it's left, that's fine,
but don't pretend like you don't have that opinion. Kyle
Clark would sell you a bill of goods like he's
shooting it right down the middle. He is not. He
absolutely isn't. He's one of these guys that participates like, uh,
Heidi ganall is a campaigning on the fact that there
are furrees in these schools. That's ridiculous. But then he
(35:33):
went from it's not happening and you're crazy for thinking it,
to well, if it is happened, is because marginalized kids
feel that way, we should be sensitive to their preferences.
If it is happening and it's actually a good thing,
to the fourth step, which it is happening. It's a
good thing, and if you don't like it, you're a bigot.
Follow Kyle Clark's logic on several topics, just like that one.
(35:55):
That's just one example, and you'll see that I am right.
Take this time out. My good friend Steven L. Miller
joins us next. He's been under the weather, but now
he's feeling a little bit better to join US Than
Ryan Schuling Live
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