Mount Virtus

Earlier today Joshua wrote:

Hugh, you know we’d like to have you here in Colorado, under the right circumstances.

But it’s hard to see how those circumstances include a dilletante’s knowledge of Colorado politics, and a studio build-out large enough for a swimming pool and in-studio parking. Then again, the Winter X-Games sponsorship possibilities are intriguing.

I second that motion. The right circumstances also might include a regular weekly segment on the Hugh Hewitt Show with representatives of the Rocky Mountain Alliance of Blogs, and a severe rationing (or outright ban) of pathetic cheerleading for Ohio State and all teams Cleveland.

Kudos to fellow Rocky Mountain Alliance member Randy Ketner (aka Night Twister) for taking the initiative to launch the Fort Collins chapter of Liberty on the Rocks. (Of course, you would already have known this if you were listening to Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio.)

The movement continues to grow.

For anyone interested, my latest op-ed contribution ran yesterday in the Colorado Daily, which starts as follows:

Given the significant debt future generations are now obligated to repay, President Barack Obama’s new “stimulus” package could be far better used to promote meaningful education reform in Colorado.

Rather than helping, the large amount of free-flowing federal funds may end up undermining efforts to improve educational opportunity in Colorado.

It too heavily subsidizes the status quo, while needlessly placing promising innovations at risk.

Hopefully it comes off as a little bit irritable and provocative, but ultimately one idea for helping to make the best out of a bad situation.

With too much time on my hands, here’s a fun set of rhyming couplets to recapitulate the week just passed from the perspective of a hypothetical Lefty Colorado blogger:

Do I write about Marostica,
Or the dude with the Swastika?

A Republican lawmaker mocking his peers,
Or some guy to abuse for a few Josh Penry jeers?

I must blog on one or the other,
‘Cause what is there really to say about Suthers?

Do I write about Marostica,
Or the dude with the Swastika?

One gives our free-spending values that bipartisan glow,
The other had fun stealing Michelle Malkin’s show. (more…)

State representative Don Marostica reportedly has apologized for yesterday’s bizarre comment that Mark Hillman, Jon Caldara, and other fiscally conservative Colorado leaders are “losers” and “has-beens”. The apology was a public sign of good behavior and good taste, and perhaps a political necessity.

In light of new developments, I conducted a follow-up ad hoc poll: “Are you clamoring to support Republican leaders who want to remove sensible limits on government growth, no matter how apologetic they may be for rudely calling names of those who disagree with them?”

Once again, completely silent. One respondent scratched his forehead, but insisted on clarifying he was not raising his hand as a Yes.

Don Marostica can go his own way if he wishes. But please, let’s not allow him to undo the work of those who are trying to restore limited government and fiscal responsibility to the Republican brand.

Selected Senator Michael Bennet to Colorado taxpayers: “The beatings will continue until moral improves”. So reports the Fort Morgan Times on Bennet’s visit yesterday:

Government has to find some kind of answer to the economic woes which are besieging the country, he said.

The stimulus package is just the beginning, but it can bring some relief, Bennet said. [emphasis added]

What’s next? The Obama housing plan? You know, rewarding irresponsible behavior, paying your neighbor’s mortgage.

Does Michael Bennet have a position on the Obama housing plan? Or maybe he just expects Colorado’s hard-working taxpayers to assume the position again (you know, hand in wallet)….

Is there anything Bennet will support or oppose without the White House’s permission?

From the Rocky Mountain News (via Complete Colorado)… So state representative Don Marostica, R-Loveland:

• Thinks removing limits on state government spending is the answer to our economic woes
• Thinks those who disagree with him are “has-beens” and “losers”

Hmmm, interesting. Just consider me another lovable loser.

I just did an informal poll of those around me: “Do you think elected officials who are rude and support bigger government represent the future of the Republican Party?”

Complete silence. Not a single hand raised.

Next, please.

Update: My friend and colleague Amy Oliver says Don Marostica is “off the reservation”. That’s one way of putting it.

A candid word from liberal Mickey Kaus about a major effect of the Pelosi-Reid-Obama Generational Theft Act:

But the reference to liberalism isn’t irrelevant, because the now-undermined welfare reform was the key to rebuilding confidence in (liberal) affirmative government. As Bill Clinton recognized, voters may well have been willing to let government spend, but they didn’t trust old style liberals not to spend in actively destructive ways, like subsidizing an isolated underclass of non-working single mothers with a no-strings cash dole. It’s a 75-25 values issue. Work yes. Welfare no. Even if welfare spending was only a tiny portion of the liberals’ spending agenda, it poisoned the rest of it. Only when Clinton’s New Democrats put an ostentatious “time limit” on welfare and required work did they regain the public confidence necessary to increase other kinds of spending (on work-related poverty-fighting benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, day care and Social Security, for example.)

A reemerging “welfare” issue is a potential killer, in other words, for Obama’s big remaining plans, especially health care. If Dems seem determined to reinstate dependency–or at the least blind to the dangers of dependency–voters aren’t going to trust them to spend trillions on universal health insurance and fortified pensions. It’s hard to believe Obama doesn’t realize this.

Even Kaus gets that his side has overreached with this destructive bill, though for reasons less dramatic than I and millions of other Americans believe.

But if serious fiscal conservatives are serious about restoring a Republican majority, they will have to do much better than say: “If you return us to power, we’ll stop the Democrats! And behave better!” (It appears that, by this calculus, new RNC chairman Michael Steele already is moving the party back in the right direction, though it’s still early.)

So are Republicans going to not only keep an eye on political opportunities, but also use the time out of power wisely and productively? We’ll have to wait and see. While the Congressional Republican caucus look to continue exercising its newfound backbone, a lot of the hard work will be done by their counterparts at the state level. State legislators making rousing speeches at anti-”stimulus” rallies, like the one here in Denver on Tuesday, or governors just saying NO (H/T Gateway Pundit) to the bloated federal largesse: These are positive, healthy signs, but only the beginnings of restoring trust.

We not only watch carefully, but also work actively in support of those who show a true commitment to liberty, limited government, and fiscal responsibility.

Everybody else has posted their pictures from yesterday’s anti-”stimulus” rally at the Colorado State Capitol:

• Michelle Malkin
• Slapstick Politics (photos)
• Slapstick Politics (complete video)
• Peoples Press Collective
• Face The State
• Ari Armstrong, Free Colorado
• Rocky Mountain Right
• Rossputin
• El Marco, Looking at the Left
• Roger Fraley

As for me, better late than never. Here are my photographic contributions, trying to avoid too much redundancy with the others above: (more…)

Tired of all the government bailouts? Then watch the great new video from my friends at Liberty on the Rocks:

Should Amanda’s fame continue to grow as a result of this video, it’s going to become difficult to avoid the inevitable comparisons with this comic legend.

Tune in starting at 8:30 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the 14th edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. The show will feature an extended review of President Obama’s visit to Denver to sign the Porkulus bill (aka Generational Theft Act) and the organized response at the State Capitol (please join us for the noontime event).

Tonight’s scheduled guest is Denver-based political activist Chris Maj, also an affiliate of Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty. Here is the bio he offered:

Chris Maj (pronounced May) is a self-employed computer programmer in the telecommunications industry, avid sportsmen and home brewer. After recovering from many different political parties back east in tax shackled upstate New York, he and his wife found amazing opportunities for economic, personal and spiritual growth in Colorado. Holiday dinner conversations back in Buffalo are often brought to a halt when he mentions that citizens get to vote on any and all tax increases in Colorado thanks to TABOR. That fiscally conservative approach led his libertarian leaning activism to the Republican party principles of Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, and Ron Paul. Now residing in southeast Denver, Chris Maj worked on George Lilly’s Congressional campaign last year and looks forward to working to get Republicans elected to office by focusing on less government, lower taxes and more freedom and liberty.

Don’t forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight’s show, you can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus.

You don’t want to miss this! From a note just sent out by the Independence Institute‘s Jon Caldara:

President Obama is flying his corporate jet to Denver to sign a bill putting my children into debt. I want to give him a proper mile high welcome. The Independence Institute, along with Americans for Prosperity and other groups promoting sanity, are organizing a protest tomorrow, Tuesday, at noon at the west steps of the state capitol, and I hope you’ll be there.

We’ll have over-sized checks you can sign to show your family’s $30,000 commitment to the bill. I’ll be joined by Michelle Malkin, Mike Coffman, Bob Beauprez, Jim Pfaff from AFP and many others. I’m not usually one for public protests, because like so many on our side, I have a day job. But I just can’t allow this huge push down the slippery slope to socialism be signed here in Denver without standing up and saying, “hell no.” I wish to go on the record. Let the world know there were at least some of us who didn’t want to put our kids into debt for a bill that spends more than has been spent in the entire conflict in Iraq

Please come to the $30,000 a plate pork roast! [Links added]

Night Twister also has the details posted here – with a lovely picture to whet the appetite. No word yet on whether kosher alternatives will be available. Amy Oliver has pertinent comments. Lots of details over at Slapstick Politics as well.

Follow all the developments on the President’s visit and the rally at the State Capitol in downtown Denver over at the People’s Press Collective. Please join me and other bloggers, activists, concerned citizens, officials, and community leaders and lend your voice.

Go here to search through the Porkulus bill – aka the Generational Theft Act of 2009.

Happy Valentine’s Day. I’m sick, and it isn’t lovesickness. It does include the nauseous feeling I got learning that Barack Obama plans to sign the trillion-dollar-plus Generational Theft Act right here in our own backyard. Yeah, just stick it in our eye. No thanks, Mr. President.

The symbolism of the action won’t be forgotten in our independent state, and should serve as a nice prelude to the Rally for Personal Freedom.

In this bleak moment of Congressionally-approved bloated government spending and stimulation, we did hear from the youngest member of Congress and doubtless a rising conservative star in years to come: Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois (H/T The Corner).

If I’m not mistaken, I believe he is the first member of Congress younger than myself – so it’s all downhill from here. Hot Air posted this video of this well-delivered zinger of a speech from the House floor earlier today:

Kind of fits with the politically conservative youth movement here in Colorado.

Last week I brought to your attention an organized labor power play at the State Capitol that shot down a simple effort to make school plumbing inspections more efficient. Today in the Colorado Springs Gazette, guest columnist Daniel Cole tells the story at greater length and offers a forceful conclusion:

The unpleasant reality is that Democratic campaigns in Colorado are often financed by unions, so only the strongest Democrats dare defy a union’s wishes. Union camaraderie means that a Democrat who votes against a single union can earn a reputation for disloyalty and untrustworthiness. Considering that unions gave [state senators Bob] Bacon and [Evie] Hudak $90,000 for their most recent campaign – [Senator Keith] King’s entire war chest was, by contrast, half that – it’s no shock that Democrats would vote against their own bill before risking the wrath of organized plumbing.

(more…)