Colorado: Barack Obama

As talk radio and the blogosphere blew up with claims that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is a racist, scholars of ethnicity and politics called for a quick truce.

A one-time poor choice of words on Sotomayor's part, perhaps, was their view. The New York appellate judge said in a 2001 speech, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

But Sotomayor's other, voluminous words — even in the same controversial speech — scream moderation, said academic experts who are following the debate.

It's just 39 steps to his new digs, but Brandon Shaffer carefully wrapped framed family photos in newspaper, placed them in a box and readied them for the short trip down the hall to the Senate president's office.

Twelve years in the Navy will do that to you, the Longmont Democrat said Wednesday as he packed up his office and conferred with the new chief of staff.

"After a while, it becomes a mind-set," Shaffer said, neatly lining up the contents of emptied drawers and bookcases. "You like things done with military efficiency."

The GOP admits it's not certain what to expect from Shaffer, known for being more precise and meticulous than his predecessor and who issued pink slips to some legislative staffers after becoming president.

Conservative activists plan to mark Tax Day with a protest at the state Capitol against President Barack Obama and the economic stimulus package.

The protest, part of a movement of similar protests around the country that organizers have dubbed "tea parties," is scheduled to get underway on the Capitol's west steps at noon Wednesday.

Expected speakers include local conservative talk show host "Gunny" Bob Newman, Independence Institute head Jon Caldara and several state elected officials.

The Denver Post

The U.S. House of Representatives — on its second try — passed a bill to preserve 2 million acres as wilderness in nine states, including 315,000 acres in Colorado.

On March 11, the bill failed, by two votes, to get a necessary two-thirds approval for a procedural vote.

Republican Reps. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs and Mike Coffman of Aurora voted against the bill then and voted against it Wednesday.

The two lawmakers said they objected to the sweeping nature of the legislation — a collection of 170 different bills — and its estimated $10 billion price tag.

"When there is a $9 billion maintenance backlog on the Park Service land that we already have, why are we spending $10 billion that we will have to borrow to acquire even more land?" Coffman said in a statement.