The Olympics Finally Started

The Olympics is mostly about and for the athletes and that is the main explanation for it finally starting after a one-year postponement and a continued pandemic. But, there is a lot of politics and economics, and the Crossley Center, working with the Japanese Consulate in Denver, presented a program explaining the history and extraordinary backstory of the Olympics movement. View it now.

Video Now Available on Sports and International Politics – Olympics and Tokyo

Nations fight to host an Olympics and Japan’s intent on its delayed event being a success. Hear a presentation from Professor Koji Murata of Kyoto, Japan, and Professor Tim Sisk from the Korbel School discuss what the Olympic Games mean for countries, athletes and the world.

The March 23, 2021 program was supported by the Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research, the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver.

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Blogs to view:
Tokyo Needs its Olympics
Sports and International Politics – The Olympics in Tokyo

Does Bipartisan Infrastructure Have a Chance?

The Senate and President Biden are both approaching a final chance to pass the bipartisan infrastructure package. Time is running out before Congress’ August recess, and in September competing priorities and the 2022 election begin to dominate.

Most importantly, this is the bipartisan movement. Along with Biden, the main Senate Republicans legislators leading the effort are retiring or have primaries. The replacements – Republican or Democrat – are not likely to be for compromise, but for partisan battle. Senator Rob Portman (Ohio) and Richard Burr (North Carolina) are retiring and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) has a primary.

The American people of both parties believe that infrastructure investment is a priority, they like the job Biden is doing on it and strongly support investments on roads, bridges, parts and water quality.

Infrastructure Investments

AP-NORC, July 22, 2021

• 59% improving infrastructure should be a high priority by Washington (50% Republican, 69% Democrat)
• 55% approve of Biden’s handling of infrastructure
• 83% support roads, bridges and parts as part of infrastructure package
• 79% support pipes that supply drinking water as part of infrastructure package

President Biden speaks outside White House with bipartisan group of senators
after meeting on infrastructure, June 24, 2021 | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

What Issue is the Top U.S. Priority? Depends: Immigration for Republicans and Health Care Access for Democrats.

A new AP-NORC survey highlights the public’s contribution to the lack of progress in Washington and the widely different emphases of the two parties. When the public was asked what should be the highest priority for the federal government, the party differences were dramatic.

There is some agreement on reducing crime, but disagreement as to how to do it, and general agreement that job and economic growth is a priority, but stark differences on control of borders, access to health care and climate change (see table).

Is Newsom in Trouble?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers his State of the State
address from  Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles California,
March 9, 2021 | Mark J. Terrill/AP

The conventional wisdom is that Governor Gavin Newsom’s recall had failed to attract sufficient support or even interest to remove him. He got an election date in mid-September assuming his popularity would be stronger than waiting longer, and importantly, he kept other Democrats off the ballot. In fact, the field has no one with any statewide popularity – Republican, independent or celebrity. Democrats had been able to label the recall a Republican-Trump strategy – deadly in a state with nearly two-to-one Democrat and Donald Trump lost by 29 points.

But a statewide poll from July 20 shows the recall has tightened from the mid-30 percent in earlier polls to 43 percent, with 48 percent against the recall in the new Emerson College/Nexstar Media poll.

None of the candidates on the recall ballot have significant support. Over half the electorate is undecided (53%), 16 percent list Larry Elder, a conservative radio host. Top Republicans John Cox and Kevin Faulconer received 6 percent each and reality TV start, Caitlyn Jenner, received 4 percent.

Newsom’s primary concern is to get his voters to return ballots.

No Consensus on Immigration

Americans are deeply divided on the right direction on immigration as the issue continues to bedevil the Biden administration. Gallup reports that the public is divided into three near equal camps concerning the amount of immigration: increase immigration (33%), decrease (31%) and keep at present level (35%).

It reflects change in the last ten years (see chart above, 2009-2021), with the “decrease immigration” group declining and reaching its lowest level in 2021 and the “increase immigration” trending upward. But, there is still no majority and extreme factions that want near open borders or zero immigration are camped in both the increase and decrease groups. Also, while Hispanic citizens are more in favor of increased immigration than most, there are still many in the decrease (25%) or keep same (33%) camps. Not surprising, the biggest differences are in party identification, with 50 percent of Democrats for increased immigration, but only 10 percent of Republicans. A majority of Republicans (57%) prefer decreased immigration (only 12% of Democrats).

“Denver Water Sues Boulder County” and “West is Baking, Burning and Drying Out”

Two recent Colorado Sun headlines explain the political conflict in Colorado that is hampering a storage project that would provide water to millions in the Denver metropolitan area. Boulder County commissioners have made clear that they oppose the expansion of Gross Reservoir regardless of planning, mitigation and public input. Denver Water has spent millions and years in preparing the project for federal approvals, which are eminent. The County, in a desperate attempt to stop it, is now simply delaying their decision by requesting more and more information. The Boulder County strategy is not unique. Several cities and counties attempt to use land use regulations to stop projects from even being considered for approval.

As the West and Denver area “bake, burn and dry out,” people should remember who stopped the water storage.

The parched landscape around Eads, Colorado, after an extended
summer of extreme drought | Marc Piscotty/COLab

Denver Water is planning major expansion of the reservoir that will increase
height of the Gross Reservoir Dam outside Boulder by 131 feet and water
storage by 77,000 acre-feet | Chris Schneider, Special to The Colorado Sun

Read:
The West is baking, burning and drying out. These numbers explain why and how.
Denver Water sues Boulder County, says slow walk of Gross Reservoir decisions threaten federal permits

Merkel Ends 16-Year Chancellorship; She Outlasted Them All

As Angela Merkel became chancellor in 2005, some of her G7 colleagues were George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Silvio Berlusconi. Eleven years later in 2016 during President Obama’s last year, many of her G7 colleagues were also about to lose office, including David Cameron, François Hollande and Matteo Renzi (see picture). And although this is her last year in office, she again was at the G7 discussion table with a new array of colleagues discussing China, climate change and the Western alliance.

She leaves office highly popular in Germany and as the most respected leader in the world. Merkel has had many outstanding moments, but actions, such as working hard to maintain EU unity, helping southern Europe in the Great Recession and welcoming immigrants during the crisis of 2015, were the most memorable.

An incredible record. As former President Bush just said, “she had character,” and we’ve become much more aware of how important that is.

See:

America is Back
Since 2016, Leaders of Western Democracy Have Been Turned Out
Four Years of “Make America Great Again” and Trump Running Out of Democratic Allies

Dictators Rally for Cuba

Russia, China and Iran have read out statements of solidarity with the Cuban regime. They all share Cuba’s view that any domestic problem is caused by the U.S. embargoes, not the government’s incompetence. The speed of the statements shows their sensitivity to protest as each has had threats of destabilization of their authoritarian rule.

Russia framed their support as striving for “normalization of the situation;” i.e., the pacification of the population. China went for the big picture citing the recent UN vote condemning the U.S. sanctions toward Cuba and claiming China supports upholding “social stability…” Iran said the U.S. is interfering in Cuba’s internal affairs. 

Generally, the media is not optimistic that anything will change in Cuba, but negotiating with the regime is probably off the table today. In fact, Florida politics and national Republicans are demanding more aggressive action from the administration.

See:
Cuba’s Unrest Frames World’s Big Struggle: Dictators vs. Democracies
How Cuba’s Communists Cling to Power

The Cuban Protestors Upset the Regime

Raúl Castro, former dictator of Cuba (90), was just rolled out to help the government suppress the street protests. Castro called for the faithful revolutionaries to confront the “counterrevolutionaries.” Framing any type of protest as a counterrevolution has been a regular Cuban strategy for 60 years. As of now, they have suppressed the protests with arrests, street thugs and shutting down all social media, internet and cell phone communication.

But the irony of their position is that for two decades the Castros and Cuba supported the Venezuelan dictatorship of Hugo Chávez. The utter failure of that government produced a flood of Venezuelan refuges that have entered south Florida. They have joined and reinvigorated the Cuban anti-communist movement, which had appeared tired and out of gas during the Obama administration.

Florida politics is now so anti-socialist/anti-communist that the Biden administration, which is reviewing its options, has very few that don’t promise a hardline on both countries.

What the Castros’ sowed, they now reap.

Regional Sales Tax Revenue Continues to Grow as Economy Surges

The seven-county Denver metropolitan area continues to rapidly expand as measured by sales tax revenue growth, which year-to-date is up 18.5 percent over collections for the first five months in 2020. During the same period, it was down 5.3 percent in 2020. The monthly increase of 23.1 percent over May in 2020 shows a slight tapering off, reflects a huge increase in revenue for local governments. 

Video on U.S.-Japan Defense Policy

As tension and competition in Asia increases, can China be deterred?

The Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research’s program on U.S. and Japanese diplomacy focused on defense and strategies for avoiding conflict in Asia while protecting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Join the Crossley Center for a discussion of the U.S. and Japanese defense issue with Tsuneo “Nabe” Watanabe of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Professor Lewis Griffith of Korbel School and Dina Smeltz of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The panel was moderated by Floyd Ciruli, director of the Crossley Center, and supported by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, the University of Denver and the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver.  

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See blog: Can China Be Deterred?

Is Bennet Vulnerable?

Is Bennet vulnerable? Not according to national pundits and Colorado has not been hospitable to statewide Republicans in recent years, but if the party is going to get reorganized, it needs to get in the game with new candidates and messages. No matter how down and out Republicans locally are, the senate race will be dominated by polarizing national issues and will attract attention and possibly resources. My view expressed in an article in the Colorado Times Recorder by Sean Price was that the biggest challenge is separating from former President Donald Trump.

Photo: Colorado Times Recorder

“The state has become more difficult for Republicans,” Colorado political analyst Floyd Ciruli said. “And Mr. Trump doesn’t help. I won’t argue universally, but this is one state where he is an incredible net negative.”

 “The usual dynamic is that there will be somebody representing the Trump wing and then one or more candidates representing the establishment,” Ciruli said. “So, I have no doubt there will be a lively primary. I’m just not sure the ultimate winner of that primary will be able to gain any traction.”

While the road to unseat Bennet is arduous, Ciruli said there is some hope for Republicans. National Republican groups will be funneling money into congressional races across the country, especially any Senate races that look even slightly up for grabs.

 “I definitely think there could be a race, I just don’t see one at the moment,” Ciruli said.

Video on Polling in 2020 and Its Future

Join members of OLLI in a program on the election polling in November 2020 and what it means for democracy in the U.S. Floyd Ciruli, director of the Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research, presented and answered questions on what happened to the polls in 2020 and the future of election polls. The program is part of the Crossley Center’s participation with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver (OLLI at DU) and other organizations to extend dialogue and public engagement for the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

The video begins directly with lecture and PowerPoint slides. If you would like a copy of the slides, contact the Crossley Center at: Floyd.ciruli@du.edu. 

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See blog: Polling in 2020: Worst in 40 Years?