Former CO Gov. Hickenlooper Enters Presidential Race

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Mon Mar 04, 2019 at 02:45:58 PM EST
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Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. a moderate Democrat, today announced he will run for President.

“I think it’s probably the worst period of division we’ve had in this country since the Civil War,” he said. “Ultimately I’m running for president because I believe that not only can I beat Donald Trump, but that I am the person that can bring people together on the other side and actually get stuff done. The division is keeping us from addressing big issues like climate change and the soaring costs of health care.”

I think Hickenlooper did a very good job as Governor here. He works hard, listens to both sides, takes risks when he needs to, doesn't bow to pressure and isn't an egomaniac. I'd support him as the candidate if he gets that far. I also like his campaign logo.

In other 2020 news, Eric Holder is not running. That's a good thing because he is very polarizing - the right hates him. Whenever the race turns personal rather than focusing on differences on issues, the voters lose. We can't avoid that with one candidate (the carnival barker with the desk in the oval office) but we can with whoever opposes him. Don't dismiss Hickenlooper, he might be the one if primary voters split between the more well-known candidates and cancel each other out.

< Trump's Most Deranged Speech Yet? | CO Gov Jared Polis Says He'd Sign Bill to Repeal Death Penalty >

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Former CO Gov. Hickenlooper Enters Presidential Race | 23 comments (23 topical)

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I was really (none / 0) (#1)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 04, 2019 at 02:53:09 PM EST

impressed with his rollout. Thanks for putting your take on Hickenlooper up. I was hoping since he was your governor you would.

Another Governor, (none / 0) (#2)
by KeysDan on Mon Mar 04, 2019 at 03:59:33 PM EST

Jay Inslee on the View. Brings attention to climate issues and corrects Miss McCain on Green New Deal. Also, on Rachel Maddow tonight.

Meg is such an awful, terrible... (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Mar 04, 2019 at 04:28:42 PM EST

horrible excuse for a human being. I really don't understand why she is still on the View.

I thought Inslee did a pretty good job of countering her willful stupidity.


: Responding to (none / 0) (#7)
by KeysDan on Tue Mar 05, 2019 at 11:45:59 AM EST

McCain's distortional presentation of the Green New Deal as not being rational, Governor Inslee politely said "it doesn't sound rational because those are the things Donald Trump said".

Don't dismiss Hick... (none / 0) (#3)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Mar 04, 2019 at 04:17:17 PM EST

because all he does is win elections. He's quirky and off-beat and people seem to like that. He's proved, as both Mayor of Denver and Govenor of Colorado, to be a competent leader. You can't argue with the economic and cultural progress that both Denver and Colorado have achieved under his leadership.

On the other hand, he's still a geologist at heart and has a soft spot for the extraction industry. That's how he got the "Frackenlooper" moniker. I don't see him as a Green New Deal kind of guy.

Then there is the marijuana legalization. He fought legalization tooth and nail. Some people speculated that he didn't want the competition with his beer business.

He was my boss for eight years and didn't have any major issues except IMO, we were a little easy on the insurance industry. Again, I don't see him supporting a single payer healthcare system.

He can be a little milquetoast and at times, has a tendency to shy away from taking on controversial issues. I would rather he ran against Cory "Con Man" Gardner for the US Senate seat, but he wants to be the Boss.

Bottomline like J, I would certainly vote for him if he gets that far.

: BTW... (none / 0) (#5)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Mar 04, 2019 at 04:32:07 PM EST

Hick has been working Iowa hard for some time now. He's got a pretty good staff put together there.

: He may be in (none / 0) (#6)
by KeysDan on Mon Mar 04, 2019 at 04:58:55 PM EST

ideological competition with Joe Biden--sort of center right. Maybe John Hickenlooper with give second thoughts to Joe's candidacy. But, probably not.

I like Hick's Wyncoop Brewery. (none / 0) (#8)
by fishcamp on Tue Mar 05, 2019 at 12:50:14 PM EST

Governor Hickenlooper (none / 0) (#9)
by KeysDan on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 11:23:11 AM EST

was interviewed by Lawrence O'Donnell last night. Lawrence indicated to the Governor that he would be limiting his questioning to policies as he has been doing with other Democratic presidential primary candidates.

My impression was that the Governor needs to bone up on policies and, perhaps, be more imaginative--he seemed unsure on tax policies, particularly the likely question on tax rates (e.g., AOC/Elizabeth Warren).

On others, such as his position on Medicare for All, he affirmed that health care is a right, but preferred to think of the goal as the more generic, universal health care, and different ways to achieve that, such as Obamacare, which in Colorado has covered about 90 percent of the population (leaving about 600,000 uncovered).

And, he would not be in favor of eliminating private insurance that may occur in a Medicare for All program, since he says those who get insurance through employment are satisfied with their insurance program (which may not be entirely true, along with issues of portability and the take what is given).

Gov. Hickenlooper was more comfortable with climate/environmental questions, noting that he has a master's degree in geology, setting him apart from other candidates.

Having been mayor of Denver and then governor, he probably has been focused on administration, which is a strength that was not delved into during this policy-oriented discussion. He does come across as being among the more conservative Democrats in the declared primary field.

I wouldn't say (none / 0) (#10)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 04:24:59 PM EST

that all employees are satisfied with the insurance they get through their employer but probably enough are where getting rid of private insurance would make them vote against a MFA bill that banned private insurance.


Banning insurance (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 04:30:22 PM EST

In a case of Medicare for all would make 0 sense.

If it works like regular Medicare

I have Medicare and I have private insurance.


Us, too (none / 0) (#12)
by Zorba on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 04:35:18 PM EST

As did my parents, as do my older friends and relatives.


20% (none / 0) (#13)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 04:39:27 PM EST

Of a medical bill can be ruinous


This is why (none / 0) (#16)
by Zorba on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:17:15 PM EST

Those of us on Medicare who can afford to do so, have supplemental insurance.


I can't afford (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:20:00 PM EST

Not to


: It's surprisingly affordable (none / 0) (#19)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:21:05 PM EST

165 a month I think. I have a separate prescription plan that 11 dollars a month

The approach (none / 0) (#14)
by KeysDan on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 04:46:58 PM EST

Might be along the lines of Medicare Advantage programs, or a buy-in at earlier ages of traditional Medicare along with Medicaid. I think some advocates of Medicare for All do not fully understand how Medicare works. Maybe, they are really advocating for a Medicaid for All. Again this would impact private insurance which was the big reason for the Obamacare strategy for political feasibility. Kamala Harris did walk back the private insurance comment on reflection


I would never get (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Zorba on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:20:59 PM EST

Medicare Advantage.
It sounds great, but I have friends who are on it, and they are not happy with the limitations.
If you like HMO's, with their strictures on who you can see, then maybe you wouldn't mind Medicare Advantage.


: I have Medicare Advantage (none / 0) (#21)
by KeysDan on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:48:40 PM EST

and it is great. Not an HMO. It pays all that Medicare provides for, as well as that which it does not (equates to Traditional Medicare plus supplemental, plus some preventative care). It is a benefit through my former employer.
However, aside from present Medicare Advantage programs, what I meant in terms of an approach to universal health insurance coverage, private insurance that encompasses traditional Medicare may assure private coverage for some part and management of the entire program by private insurers. A blend that may be more political feasible.

: Medicare Advantage (none / 0) (#22)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:51:24 PM EST

probably works in areas like where I am where there are lots of doctors, it's a transient area and so no one has any particular thing about "my doctor". I was on an HMO here and I really had no problem with it. So was a coworker who had heard such bad things about HMOs that she was afraid of it until she actually used it.
That being said I have lived in a smaller area and had an HMO and it was very difficult to get care. Too few doctors accepted it and you were forced to go out of network for almost everything costing you a ton of money. They did not even have some specialties represented at all.

Canada (none / 0) (#15)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 04:54:59 PM EST

Has private supplemental medical insurance just like mine and Zorbas


I have (none / 0) (#20)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:46:57 PM EST

had this discussion with people and truly MFA means different things to different people. Basically they define it by their own wants not by the reality of what Medicare currently is.

A friend of mine told me that she wanted MFA because it was single payer but said she does not like Medicare because "it's not all that great". I did not even touch that one I have to say.


And, my comment (none / 0) (#23)
by KeysDan on Thu Mar 07, 2019 at 05:56:20 PM EST

related to Gov. Hickenlooper and his ill-defined answer to questions about Medicare for All, which is a topic of Democratic candidates. He believes there are various means of achieving universal coverage (which is true) but he had no real thoughts, other than Obamacare...which is good, but the candidates are talking of building upon that in some manner. He needs to sharpen his thinking or he will be left in the dust by those fluent in policy, like Senator Warren. Better ideas have been discussed here at TL.
