Rossputin has written an open letter to Wayne Wolf, the would-be primary challenger to Bob Schaffer for the GOP Senate nomination:

While I certainly appreciate the effort (and risk) that a person takes when running for office, especially an office as important as US Senate, I would like to suggest to you that unless your goal is to assist Mark Udall you should pick a different battle than challenging Bob Schaffer.

I do not intend to sound unkind, but I truly believe there is no chance you could beat Schaffer. On the other hand, you could cause him to waste time and money that could end up being the difference in a very close general election….

Consider this post a “ditto” to Rossputin’s letter (which you can read in full at his site), an electronic signature at the bottom of his letter, because he is spot on. Some reporter needs to fairly and candidly ask Mr. Wolf more questions about his intentions and motivations.

Wolf’s campaign will prove its relative worth soon enough, but the sincere political observer has to ask: Why the U.S. Senate? Why now? Why not run for a seat that lacks a qualified GOP candidate, like the 3rd Congressional District? More questions for reporters to ask….

Leading Colorado Democrats still don’t seem to understand how property owners paying a higher tax rate constitutes a tax increase, even though the new law signed by Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter will raise $114 million in new tax revenue:

But Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, who sponsored the House version of the school-finance bill, said Gardner doesn’t understand how the law works.

“It’s not a tax increase,” he said. ” . . . The money that comes from the school district never leaves the school district.”

He said the money was not going to the state budget and that all the local school districts affected by the law had held a vote to exempt themselves from the TABOR limits to keep the property tax revenues.

How else can Democrats justify their violation of the state constitution by refusing to ask the people of Colorado to approve a massive property tax increase? Pommer chose to stick to the retread argument that has been shot down numerous times. Most recently, the attorney general’s office clearly restated the case on the record:

But Deputy Attorney General Jason Dunn said that the Colorado constitution doesn’t allow the state to lean on past local elections as evidence of support.”The bottom line is that TABOR says if the state wants to change its tax policy to generate more revenue, the state must get voters’ permission,” he said.

In order for opponents to begin to make their case, the ballot questions from the local school district elections would have to include language stating that the district can keep revenues, “even if the state later changes tax policy.”

“Did voters really contemplate the state subsequently changing its tax policy? I highly doubt it,” said Dunn.

As I keep establishing the record of the Democrats’ failed and deceptive arguments to foist a property tax increase on Colorado, I invite readers to judge for themselves:

- August 2: “Ritter balks at Institute examining case for tax increase”

- July 27: “Democrats attempt to deceive about tax hike scheme”

- June 18: “Consequences of supporting a property tax increase”

- June 6: “Four weeks since Ritter hiked your property taxes”

- May 10: “Ritter signs property tax hike, sticks finger in taxpayers’ eyes”

- May 9: “Yes, it’s time to sue: arrogant tax hike leaves little choice”

- May 3: “iVoices: Hear AG Suthers explain need for vote on tax hike”

- May 3: “Harsanyi: Why not ask voters first?”

- May 1: “Colorado Dems ram through bill, snub voters, raise taxes”

- April 25: “Colorado schools keep raising funds from property taxes”

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, you can call it whatever you want: it’s still a duck. The same goes for Democrats and tax increases.

Having written about health care reform a few times in recent months, I would like to bring your attention to a FREE opportunity to see the Colorado premiere of an exciting new film: Free Market Cure by independent filmmaker Stuart Browning. The event is sponsored by the Independence Institute, home of my day job. Details from the press release:

The premiere will be on Wednesday, September 19, at the Shwayder in the Mizel Center for Culture and Arts at 350 S. Dahlia Street in Denver. The movies and Browning’s commentary will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by coffee and dessert. The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited so reservations are requested. Please contact Kay at 303-279-6536 or kay@i2i.org.

If you’ve been subjected to Michael Moore’s deceptive Sicko, either directly or indirectly, Browning’s Free Market Cure is just the remedy you need. Even if you haven’t, you need to equip yourself to respond to Colorado’s coming campaign for expanded government health care. Gov. Bill Ritter and company are preparing to unleash a costly plan full of government mandates (go here and here to get the picture).

Our health care system needs repair, but not a top-heavy socialized treatment that would be worse than the disease.

The last time our calendars turned to Tuesday, September 11, a day arrived that America will never forget. We reeled in shock and horror at the immense magnitude of human tragedy and the terrible spectacle of giant symbolic man-made structures toppled into dust. Soon, we would be moved by remarkable acts of heroism and sacrifice – firefighters racing into the stairwells of the Twin Towers, the nameless passengers and crew of United 93.

Six years have passed. Except for those whose lives or loved ones were touched directly by the evil al-Qaeda attack, the sting has largely worn off. Our resolve to defend Western Civilization and the American ideal against the Islamofascist ideology of mass murder has waned (look at what is taught in so many Colorado schools to commemorate today), yet thank God that many brave heroes remain to serve and to sacrifice. We are all truly indebted to them.

We do not know our nation’s future course, but on this Patriot Day we can be reminded to do our citizen duty: to do all in our power to defend American honor, to be firm “in the right as God gives us to see the right,” to cherish and to help preserve “the last best hope of earth.”

The last time our calendars turned to Tuesday, September 11, was a horrible, unforgettable day. May today be solemn and inspiring, but far, far less memorable.

I’m back (and feeling refreshed) from a weeklong blog vacation. My hope is that I have not lost my entire readership during that brief span.

While I was gone, Rocky Mountain News editor Vince Carroll highlighted the illogic behind Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter’s attempts to promote state employee unionization:

Reminder to Gov. Bill Ritter: You’re in charge. No fooling. So if you want to “strengthen partnerships with snowplow drivers, prison guards and the other men and women who make up the state work force,” as your spokesman says, then by all means, do so.

If they’re being overworked or mistreated, then put people in charge who’ll treat them right. If their suggestions and concerns are being ignored, find department heads who’ll listen to them.

If their initiatives are being suppressed, then do something about it.

What’s stopping you?

But your responsibility as governor is not mainly to state workers: It’s to all Colorado residents, including taxpayers who expect the most modern, efficient delivery of services that government can provide….

Good questions for Governor Ritter: 1) What about your obligation to the taxpaying voters of Colorado? & 2) Are you management or are you labor?

The labor unions, which have briefed the governor’s office, want collective bargaining. The governor’s office steers far away from the term:

Ritter’s administration has not called the draft bill collective bargaining; instead, it says such partnerships are a way to make government use taxpayers’ money more efficiently.

“The governor has been very open about his support for expanding opportunities to partner with state employees,” Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said. “He believes that stronger partnerships will result in more efficient and accountable state government.”

You can understand why our state’s Democrat administration is hesitant to admit they’re planning to hand over the keys of state government to labor union leaders. But deceitful rhetoric aside, campaign promises are campaign promises.

Proof that we conservative political bloggers along Colorado’s Front Range are too easily disconnected from what goes on in our state’s Western Slope, it took nearly 8 months for me to run across the witty, reliably conservative commentary of Gene Kinsey at Living the Grand Life. As I learned today, Kinsey is the former mayor of Grand Junction.

In addition to his writings on national and state politics (someone else upset by Gov. Ritter’s antics!), I’m most keenly interested in Kinsey’s regular postings on local political happenings in and around Grand Junction: needed for a more balanced Colorado blogging diet. Check out his site and add it to your blogroll.

If you haven’t contributed yet to Jim’s Project “Letters from Home,” let me encourage you again to participate. It’s easy to do, and a great opportunity to encourage our troops. Here’s Jim’s email update on the project:

I just wanted to take a minute and let everyone know how the project is going. Response has really fallen off the last week or so. After getting almost 400 emails over the first two weeks, I’ve only gotten 6 or 7 this week….

I can’t begin to tell you how important the success of this project is to me. I don’t want these men and women to have any doubt that we support them! Thank you so much for everything you’ve done so far to help. I truly couldn’t have gotten this far without your help.

Once again, the address to send the letters to is letters@thinking-right.com. We’re almost halfway there! Another 100 or so letters, and I can get the first batch in the mail to the Marines. Another 600 or so emails, and we’ll have the 1000 that we need to get one in the hands of every Marine and Sailor in the 1st battalion 1st Marine regiment.

What are you waiting for?