Posted on 01/04/2006 10:29:35 AM PST by Millee
U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., visited Boulder Tuesday as part of a series of statewide town meetings and a heavily liberal crowd disagreed with the conservative Allard early and often.
Allard gave a brief introductory statement to a nearly full-house crowd of perhaps 150-200 about issues he's likely to address in the near-term, including the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito.
“Hopefully we'll have a vote on him pretty quickly,” said Allard, and opened up the meeting to questions from the audience.
Allard faced numerous questions about U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first came from a man who asked why funding for the actions has largely been done through supplemental appropriations instead of being appropriated in yearly budgets.
For example, President Bush requested an $82 billion supplemental in Feb. 2005 to fund operations through the end of the year.
Allard said the current “War on Terror” won't last forever, and said appropriating funds through the fiscal year Pentagon budget would create a situation where Congress would need to cut ongoing or “base” spending once the conflict ends.
“Many of us like the idea of supplemental funding,” said Allard.
The questioner was not satisfied with Allard's answer, saying “But it's been going on for three years.”
R.C. Lloyd, like several attendees, asked Allard a series of questions, including asking for Allard's stances on drilling for oil in ANWR and why he was one of nine Senators to vote against an anti-torture amendment proposed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Allard said he does not actually support torture, in part because known U.S. torture would make enemy forces more likely to torture U.S. troops in retaliation. A different attendee later questioned Allard's post-McCain vote statement that the amendment would “tie the hands” of the U.S. military during interrogations.
“The military has a vested interest in that torture does not occur,” said Allard, and a number of attendees spoke aloud about Abu Ghraib and made comments criticizing Allard's response.
Boulder City Council member Andy Schultheiss asked the crowd not to disrespectfully interrupt Allard while speaking.
Allard said he supports exploring ANWR because the U.S. has recently faced high gasoline prices and could face supply shortages in the future. He said the “footprint” of oil operations would be “very, very minimal,” and said he supports moving forward with alternative energy programs as well.
“But we're not doing enough (with alternative energy) to sustain the energy needs in this country,” said Allard. “We need to look at ways to increase supplies.”
Despite occasional catcalls, Allard had some fans in Tuesday's audience.
Marty Neilson, chair of the Boulder County Republican Party, gave Allard kudos for receiving an “A” grade from the National Taxpayer's Union, and Allard received a smattering of applause.
Several women including CU-Boulder Provost Susan Avery lauded Allard for his continued support for federal research funding, in part benefiting the Boulder-area federal laboratories such as NOAA and NIST.
But those in disagreement with Allard dominated the day.
Andrew Harrison, vice president of the CU College Democrats, asked Allard why he is opposed to increasing the federal minimum wage when the increasing cost of living has made “minimum” not a livable wage.
Allard said, in general, salaries have increased as the cost of living has gone up, eliciting groans from the audience.
I bet there were a lot of ponytails in that crowd.
Bully for Allard going into the lion's den. I certainly wouldn't expect Pelosi or Dirty Harry to ever to the same (go before a heavy Republican audience).
Ponytails on the men, crew cuts for the "ladies". Yep, that's Boulder.
It's highly unlikely that Andrew is an economics major.
A "livable wage" in Boulder would probably be about $100k/ year.
My first thought as well.
You beat me to it.
AKA "Little Cuba".
I think he got the info he wanted from his audience.
Your comment made me LOL! Thanks. I needed that.
There are Republicans and conservatives even in liberal Boulder. I've been to several townhall meetings with Sen Allard and he does a pretty good job with the audience. Allard does need to get out in front of the issues. After the last election cycle and the election of Democrat Ken Salazar to the Senate, the CO-GOP better not be asleep at wheel in 2006 and 2008, not if they ever hope of getting back control of the state legislature.
The difference is, in Cuba, there is a lot of opposition to communism.
Now here's the rest of the story. Allard was questioned by a moonbat about how the 9/11 airliners were a fraud, a fake, brought on by the U.S. Government. Crowds of people in the room cheered and clapped in agreement. I wonder why the Boulder journalist didn't mention that, the most interesting part of the meeting. Hmmmm, can't imagine why she omitted that. A lapse on her part. The Daily Camera is the saddest joke of a newspaper I've ever seen, outside of the NY Times. These people need mental health counseling.
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