If you haven't heard, something big just happened in Colorado. Joe Neguse, a 23-year-old former CU Student Body President and current CU Law Student, is running for CU-Regent in the 2nd Congressional District. He's also a co-founder of New Era Colorado.  And if you haven't heard, he did pretty well this weekend at the CD-2 District Assembly.  By pretty well we mean that he cleaned up...

Joe received 84% of the vote, meaning that his opponent didn't receive enough votes to even get on the August Primary ballot. In all likelihood, Joe will breeze through the Primary and then secure the seat in the General Election in November. 

To some, this may seem like a normal process; one candidate beats another.  But, in my opinion, it is much larger than that.  I think it's a sign that Colorado is ready for something big to happen here.  We're starting to forget the divisive and old-fashioned politics that often paralyze us from addressing the real issues.  We're ready to look past the things that often distract us--age, race, party, gender, etc.

The 2nd Congressional District just nominated a 23-year-old, electric bull-riding, 1st generation student and son of immigrant parents from the war-torn nation of Eritrea in Africa.  Why?  Because they believe Joe has the passion and energy to solve the higher education crisis and come up with forward-thinking solutions for Colorado. 

I wonder what will happen next... 

Some of you may have heard of Senator Clinton and McCain's idea to place a moratorium on the gas tax this summer (about 18 cents would be taken away at the pumps) that would make it cheaper for truckers, vacationers and college road-trippers to...truck, vacation and road-trip.

Almost every economist has come out of the woodwork on this, with Bloomberg even claiming that "it's the dumbest thing". How does this effect Colorado?

Well, here's what Congressman Udall has to say about the proposed gas tax moratorium...

When Sam Brasch, a senior at Denver Science & Tech High School, came to us with this idea, we thought, "Hey, this kid might be onto something here."  And then we sorta forgot about it because we generally don't like to be bothered by young people coming up with innovative and forward-thinking policy reforms for Colorado (what a drag, huh?)

And then we realized Sam Brasch actually is what we are all about--giving young Millennials the tools to reinvent a new kind of politics for Colorado.  Not a politics that advocates for bigger government or smaller government, but one that advocates for better government. 

Sam saw a problem and we think he's gonna fix it.  On Super Tuesday, Sam realized that he wasn't eligible to vote in the Colorado caucus because he was 17--even though he will be 18 by November and fully intends to vote in the General Election.

So, as a senior project, Sam is creating a campaign to pass legislation in the 2009 Legislative Session to allow 17-year-olds that will be turning 18 by Election Day to vote in the Colorado Caucus and Primary process.  According to the language in his petition targeted at Colorado Legislators:

There are two easy ways you can help us help Sam with his campaign.  Sign his petition and send a pre-written letter to your Colorado representatives using our simple action alert that we put up on our site. 

Remember the news stories the morning after the 2004 Elections?  Every mainstream media outlet was saying how young voters let us down, that they didn't vote once again.   Even though, as we found out later, young voters showed up at the polls in record numbers that year (an increase of 11 percentage points).

Many of us have just accepted the fact that the mainstream media has a thing against young voters.  And then 2008 happened...

We could be bitter that they pick and choose what to report.  But let's not be.  Something amazing is happening in this country right now.  More power to them for waking up.

Here is a quick list of a few articles and worthwhile efforts that we've noticed in the last few days:

• 'Millennial Generation' set to rock the vote, SFGate
  
• Mobilizing Millennials, The American Prospect
• The League of First Time Voters, CNN.com
• The Boomers Had Their Day. Make Way for the Millennials, Washington Post
  

So, the GOP has sponsored a poll in our great state of Colorado and found out that John McCain beats Hillary Clinton 52-40 and Barack Obama 51-39. And here I thought no one supported John McCain except for the old man sitting on his porch with a shotgun (Who Joe Lieberman also whispers sweet nothings to).  

But, I'm not too sure how much stock I want to put in party-sponsored polls, as this is the same GOP, headed by our hero, George W. Bush, that said Iraq had WMDs.

John McCain. World class. 

The campaign for Bob Schaffer's US Senate bid seems to be attracting some attention from groups outside of his campaign.  Although one is serious and one a little less so, frankly, they are both pretty hilarious.

And now let us all thank Bob for those other times that he saved other greedy little children... by watching this video.

WILL SHAFROTH FOR U.S. CONGRESS CONCERT
w/ Buckskin Stallion, Meniskus & Soundrabbit
A free signature gathering event and musical celebration featuring Colorado's own Buckskin Stallion, Meniskus & Soundrabbit.   

    Take a look at Will's website.

JARED POLIS

CU IRAQ Town Hall Meeting

Weds April 23, 5:30pm 

Museum Collections, CU Boulder

For more details visit Jared's website!
 

JOAN FITZ-GERALD

Joan will be visiting events across congressional district 2 and doing lots of phone banking and knocking on doors to talk to voters! If you are interested in getting involved with her campaign, contact the campaign through Joan's website !   

  
"The millennial generation is poised to have a transformative effect on American politics. Read Michael Connery's crisp, well-researched book Youth to Power to understand how and why this is likely to happen."

Author and Future Majority blogger Mike Connery is coming to Colorado to talk about his new book Youth to Power!

April 15 - Tuesday (7:30pm)
The Tattered Cover in Denver

April 16 - Wednesday (7:30pm)
Boulder Bookstore in Boulder