Here's a way to change politics in Mesa County, once one of the state's more conservative areas: buy the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel newspaper.

On Wednesday, Jim Kennedy, Cox Enterprises chairman and chief executive, announced the company was selling the Daily Sentinel and its other newspaper holdings in North Carolina and Texas "as part of an ongoing strategic review of our portfolio and enables us to maintain our strong and stable financial performance by further paying down debt." Meaning, in non-biz wiz-words, Daily Sentinel profits have been declining so Cox wants to dump it.

There were warnings that something was amiss. In July, the Daily Sentinel's new publisher Alex Taylor -- and great-grandson of the Cox Enterprise founder -- put the kibosh on plans to build a new facility. And it has been no secret, noting that Denver may soon be a one-paper town, that the newspaper industry in general has been blindsided by the Internet.

However, let's go back to how Republican fortunes could change in Mesa County should the Daily Sentinel fall into the wrong, or should we say, "left" hands. Certainly, over the years, the Daily Sentinel has well served its conservative political base. Yet overnight, attitudes have begun to change in Mesa County ("drill anywhere, drill forever" probably had something to do with it…) leaving the Daily Sentinel and its conservative venue -- and revenue -- stuck in a rut.

It will be interesting to see if the new owner(s) recognize that conservative and pro-industry stances no longer reflect the local readership nor help the bottom line in Western Colorado.

More on the Cox sale: http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/08/13/8_13_www_GJSentinel_sale.html