Columns

As news begins to trickle in about improvements to our economy, the political implications about who will benefit most will have both high stakes for the interests who will battle for the increased resources a better economy makes available, and high drama as our state’s leaders decide where to dedicate the newly found money.

A national Gallup poll now shows Rick Perry in third place among GOP presidential candidates, behind Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. The Republican nominating convention meets in Florida a long nine months from now, and many unforeseen fireworks, and much unloaded candidate “baggage,” could shift popular opinion dramatically. Thus, in spite of some gaffes this fall, Perry remains a tenacious contender, and might well emerge the victor in Florida.   

I recently read that 42 percent of Americans join the annual tradition of Black Friday, flooding malls and big-box stores to get a jump on the holiday shopping season. Many start well before the sun rises, standing in lines to take advantage of special deals for early risers.
I don’t exactly remember when the term “Black Friday” entered the American vernacular, but it wasn’t long ago. Now, it’s heard as often as other words that enjoy a much longer tradition — words like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Now that we’re into the holiday season and near the end of the year, many Coloradans are preparing to make a large part of their charitable gifts for 2011. For the second year in a row, we have the opportunity to make many of those gifts through Colorado Gives Day.