I couldn't quote him, but I recall Jimmy characterizing Michael's very persistent discussion of the sheriff’s race as "a joke." I agree with Mr. Ibotson. What aspect of pre-election political posturing is not a joke?

For the greater part, I appreciate the tenor of comments on this thread, for I think they seek an honest evaluation of Braudis' performance on drug law enforcement. I see merit in this form of evaluation, merit that, if valued, may result in constructive changes in the local political landscape. This thread, along with others on this same subject, function as a definition of expectations, and some of these expectations are very well-reasoned.

Cheers,

I'm no double degree totin' mit graduate, but to me there is a discrepency of some sort - if the 'problem' really is that out of control as the stats 'prove'. Last dui related death I recall in the paper was this Summer. I'm more concerned about people speeding on 82, and dumptrucks, than I am about drunk drivers or gun toting drug dealers. Those hard fact stats are cute and all, but does the picture really represent the landscape? Michael's fact searching was a tireless effort no doubt, brilliant? Wharf Rat was the only one with a cogent argument against them. so I'm in the 'yeah - what he said' boat.

Anyway, that's my only real observation from mt. knownot.

But who cares, he is still not being held accountable, Deputy Joe is due to take over as under sheriff this month as they forced Mrs. White out and Uncle Bob will likely ride off into the sunset without so much as a whisper of a change leaving us with "Sheriff Joe" to continue down that same ol dusty trail.

Meanwhile could City Council members be getting ready to line their pockets with a "new" system of kick backs with regards to building in Aspen? Time will tell, but lets keep a close watch on it shall we...this should be an exciting year!!

Let's not get kittenish now.

The blogging about the Sheriff's race is absolutely a high point for me and for Aspen Post. An issue that was ignored by the mainstream media was brought front and center by a new medium that presents an unedited and unfiltered view of what matters to people most.

That goes for both sides--not just mine. The other day I saw the wife of one of the pro-Braudis bloggers--someone I've never met--and told her how much I appreciated his contribution, and how I hoped he would come back and blog some more.

On the blog, my viewpoint is the least of it. It ain't about me--it's about us.

Without us there's no real discussion of the Sheriff's ways and means. With Aspen Post, it turned into the issue that everyone was talking about this summer and into fall--with good reason.

As for the gross canard about dissing the Sheriff during Christmas week, I specifically chose to highlight a Brylawski blog that was full of hard data comparing Pitkin County to other municipalities. A brilliant job by Brylawski, if you ask me, far more valuable than a kilo of opinions about "victimless" drugs and crime.

This was never really about Rick Magnuson, in my opinion, but about the 20-year record of a man who had never been challenged, who had come to feel that he was indeed the law incarnate. Had Braudis's position been anti-drug--and had he disappeared during high season--I would have been equally outraged. For me, it was always about accountability far more than drugs.

Keep the faith, Con Man

that's alot to ask, i know. gotta give the conman some credit for posting the sherrif topic on top of his page three months after the election during christmas week. kinda like re-gifting.

looks like the conman is drinking my coolaid now - HA! the ignorant (with their ahs diplomas) dopes won!

the crap dosen't stick and has no shelf life? pot - meet the kettle.

I don't really feel that calling the election issue a bunch of crap is that far off base. It was a joke to begin with and it still is. That was my take all along and it still is. The efforts that the conman went through to drag the sherrif and all his deputied throug the mud was an insult at best.

I'm over it. call me ignorant, because I am and can admit it. I simply was asking the conman if he had any regrets. Sorry michaelB - nothing personal - you always came across to me as genuine. and we even exchanged a couple of friendly emails if I recall.

I think there was far more enlightened dialogue about the issues than you might realize.

I think the stray and stupid "crap" comment outweighs ten more constructive comments.

I think the good people like yourself have to hang in there and not be surprised when people who have nothing new to offer hit you hard.

I think I've learned this the hard way myself on Aspen Post. The crap doesn't stick and has no shelf life.

I think you're one of the best bloggers we've ever had and if you step away then you let the dopes win.

Keep fighting the good fight, Michael!

But I like community dialogue, and playground ranting such as Sailor's is enough to get me back to post a thing or two.

What was crap about this or my other posts? That Magnuson lost? What does that have to do with the data or analysis?

If data were determined by popular vote, then evolution would be a "bunch of crap" and we'd be certifiably created by god 5000 years ago

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/printable965223.shtml

I'd love to see ANYONE other than Wharf Rat--who brought up some seriously good points on the analysis--actually show substance in this (or many other) Aspen debates.

We have a very smart, 'blue', well-read, Paekpe-inspired populace, but much of our important issues and debates descend rapidly into emotion, name calling, rhetoric...

While the Sheriff's race never transcended this, fortunately the national elections did, and I'm personally excited that we have a balanced Federal Gov't. So in that case, election day was very fulfilling for me.

My only regrets was that the type of deep dialogue and back-and-forth that people like Wharf Rat engaged in was not more prevalent--just basic ignorance and name calling from bloggers like yourself--and that the election did not become more than a simple referendum on 'the Sheriff we know' versus a challenger portrayed as an unethical freakshow.

I like Braudis (and said so numerous times), think the Deputies are great, but I thought democracy and elections were about holding power accountable (I actually learned this from reading Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 in High School). I think an "audit" once every 20 years is pretty fair in a free society.

I wish we all took this discussion a lot more seriously and didn't pare the election down to sound bites, propaganda, and what pretty much was a one-sided press avalanche against Magnuson.

Those are my regrets...blog or email me back if you have something interesting or constructive to say.

and michael - have you had any regrets about how you handled that?