Tomorrow is Colorado Governor Bill Owens' eighth and final State of the State Address. The legislative session has once again kicked off under Denver's golden dome, and Owens is going to do what he can to set the agenda with a Democratic majority in the legislature. Mark Salley, Deputy Secretary for the Governor's Office, has invited members of the Rocky Mountain Alliance to sit down and chat with the Governor after his big speech tomorrow. A big thanks to Gov. Owens and to Mark for setting up this meeting for the second straight year. Please check back tomorrow for a report. … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2006
SD22 Candidate Files Complaint
Events in the Senate District 22 GOP intraparty contest to replace recently-resigned Senator Norma Anderson (see earlier posts here and here) just took another twist. Mike Kopp, one of the candidates who lost out to Kathleen "Kiki" Traylor in the Vacancy Committee's Saturday decision to replace Anderson (Barb Neville and Guy Heil were the others), has filed a formal complaint with the Secretary of State alleging the procedure was handled illegally. I obtained a copy of Kopp's press release, which is also reprinted in full at the Dead Governors' site: State Senate District 22 Candidate Mike Kopp notified the Secretary of State's office today that the vacancy committee for SD22 failed to meet its statutory requirements. According to … [Read more...]
Senate Candidate Responds to “Power Brokers,” Traylor Appointment
Well, it's official - no surprises, really. As I indicated earlier, inside sources knew that Kathleen "Kiki" Traylor would win the vacancy committee's nod to replace resigning State Senator Norma Anderson in south Jefferson County's District 22. The response from my friend and favored SD 22 candidate Justin Everett shows strength, confidence, and savvy - and I've reprinted it here in full: The Power Brokers have hoodwinked average citizens like you and me once again. Our outgoing State Senator was a key architect and top campaigner for Referendum C. During this important upcoming legislative session, she has left citizens of our District and the State of Colorado in a lurch by resigning and leaving us with an untested successor. This … [Read more...]
John Fund: Fiscal Discipline or Face the Consequences
Self-interested Congressional Republicans need to wake up to first principles and their own political future, and they need to heed the words of John Fund in today's Opinion Journal: It's fitting that Rep. Tom DeLay is returning to his seat on the Appropriations Committee now that he is gone for good as House majority leader. It was his years serving in that "favor factory" that gradually turned him into a purveyor of pork who last fall claimed there was no more budget fat to cut. His departure gives Republicans a chance to return to first principles. If they don't, they may face a political drubbing. Many Republicans have forgotten that as government grows, its increased power to grant favors or inflict pain attracts more people who … [Read more...]
Pat Robertson
I can only speak for myself, but I stopped listening to Pat Robertson years ago. As for his recently stated opinions? Not only does he falsely presume to know the mind of God, his remark lacked all sense of balance, tact, or compassion. Perhaps the televangelist has a "divine" interpretation of Ariel Sharon's "significant improvement" following brain surgery? Consider this post a permanent record of dissociation from Robertson's bizarre and presumptuous public pronunciations - and best wishes for Ariel Sharon's recovery. May God's will be done in the lives of both men. I ditto Michael, Guy, and the Mile High Rev on this point. But ScrappleFace has the best take on the story... hands down. … [Read more...]
Your Bucket of Cold Water
I'm probably not the first one to tell you to read Mark Steyn's new article, "It's the Demography, Stupid." Reading it may be the equivalent of having a bucket of cold water splashed on you while you're lying asleep in bed. But you may be glad you woke up when you did. Simply a must-read. … [Read more...]
In Rep. Larson’s Own Words
Yesterday, in a larger post about the attempt of moderates within the Colorado GOP to flex their political muscle, I highlighted a caustic reaction from State Representative Mark Larson ("Colorado is not a right-wing, neo-con state," he said). Today The Durango Herald has more on the intraparty debacle surrounding Larson's sudden withdrawal from the state senate race, which includes a harsh email exchange with a local GOP leader. The battle brews over Larson's alleged refusal to make amends for his 2004 endorsement of U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. As he weighed a decision to run for the State Senate back in May, Larson sought to explain himself in a local Cortez Journal news story: "I imagine I would get some Democratic votes and Jim … [Read more...]
Weaker GOP Bends to the “Moderate” Faction
The Rocky Mountain News follows up on yesterday's published announcement of senior Republican State Senator Norma Anderson's announced resignation in advance of her scheduled final legislative session. Term limits were set to end her nearly 20-year legislative career, but we also can get a little better picture why she decided to step down early. Four GOP candidates had already filed to take her place in the heavily Republican district in southern Jefferson County, but insiders know that one is the handpicked, surefire winner. The vacancy committee meets within the week to decide on the replacement among the following: Justin Everett: a native of the district, a credentialed & principled conservative with strong political skills, a 2004 … [Read more...]
Hail to the Lion… and JoePa
If you love a good college football game, I believe you saw one of the best last night... though for awhile it seemed like it would never end. Penn State's 26-23 triple overtime victory over the courageous Florida State Seminoles (after a combined 5 missed kicks) was one for the ages - literally. The Nittany Lions' 79-year-old coaching legend Joe Paterno - after a couple of truly abominable campaigns - won redemption with a Big Ten title, an 11-1 record, and the Orange Bowl crown, by defeating 76-year-old Bobby Bowden's squad. The two men have combined for 713 coaching victories (more than some Division I-A programs have earned in their entire history), but determining who would win No. 713 was in great suspense throughout as the Lions … [Read more...]