Mount Virtus

On Friday Ken Buck was ready to bow out of Colorado’s U.S. Senate race. By Sunday he had received a new boost from more than 200 emails and calls from “activists in Colorado” urging him to stay in — a figure he shared with me in a short phone interview he was gracious enough to give this afternoon.

“Everyone who called has been positive and supportive and encouraging,” Buck said. When asked if he was surprised by the outpouring, his single-word answer was “overwhelmed.” Not much else came out of the conversation except that Buck’s campaign is looking beyond the October reports. “I have a longer term goal than quarter-to-quarter fundraising,” he said.

Colorado Independent blogger John Tomasic gives me too much credit for helping to light the fire that switched the course of Buck’s campaign. Tomasic says that the Weld County District Attorney:

may now have new wind in his sails. He’s the populist Washington outsider who’s also now clearly been reverse-coronated by the losing state GOP establishment. Buck’s people couldn’t have planned this wild narrative any better than it turned out, perhaps.

Perhaps. A “reverse-coronation” is no more appealing to me than any other kind of coronation. But only time will tell how crucial a moment in the campaign this proves to be. Who will fare better? (more…)

Word is spreading about the new online petition calling for the National Republican Senatorial Committee to butt out of Colorado’s primary election and call for a fair and open process. Night Twister makes a strong statement.

Yesterday I reported that Ryan Frazier has decided to stay in despite the pressure to bow out. And now I’m learning that early reports of Ken Buck’s announced departure from the field may be premature.

Buck is getting many calls from his supporters urging him to stay in, too — apparently enough to give any candidate pause. I’m not sure that many people expected the outrage from Colorado’s grassroots to be so instant and loud. If the people want to ensure they have a strong voice in a fair primary electoral process, they need to continue speaking out.

For my handful of fans out there, yesterday morning I was honored to appear as a guest on the Jeff Crank Show to discuss developments in Colorado’s governor’s race and the U.S. Senate race. The podcast of the August 29 episode is available compliments of AM 740 KVOR in Colorado Springs. I join the show at the 12-minute mark.

Thanks to Jeff and Laura for setting up the appearance — I truly enjoyed myself! You can tune in to the Jeff Crank Show for entertaining conservative political commentary every Saturday at 8 AM local time.

With word spreading that Ken Buck will drop out of Colorado’s U.S. Senate primary on Monday, there is very good reason to believe the NRSC’s effort extends to trying to push Ryan Frazier out of the race as well.

However, a trusted source has directly contacted the Ryan Frazier campaign this morning and tells me that Ryan is in it to win it. In fact, Frazier and his team are working hard today at the State Fair in Pueblo. The state of the race is changing quickly, but I am heartened and reassured by the news that it still looks like the people of Colorado still will have the choice of a credible pro-liberty candidate.

In related news, Joshua weighs in on developments in the Senate race and notes:

I spoke with Dick Wadhams yesterday and he said that he hadn’t seen any indications that the NRSC was getting ready to jump in. They do usually coordinate this sort of thing with the state party chairman in question, and he hadn’t heard anything.

My skepticism isn’t yet cured, though. You also can keep up with the latest at Complete Colorado.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is distancing itself from rumors that the national group is planning to intervene in the Colorado U.S. Senate primary on behalf of Jane Norton, reports the Denver Post this afternoon (H/T People’s Press Collective): (more…)

The morning of this week’s deplorable attack that shattered windows at the Democratic Party Headquarters in Denver, state Democratic chairwoman Pat Waak took advantage of the occasion to launch an outrageous broadside against Obama Care opponents:

“We ought to be having a serious, conscientious debate about what’s best for the country,” Waak said. “Clearly there’s been an effort on the other side to stir up hate. I think this is the consequence of it.”

Complete Colorado has posted audio from yesterday’s edition of Colorado’s Morning News on 850 KOA. Listen to the interviewers give Waak an opportunity to retract her remarks: (more…)

What justifications will the NRSC offer for backing Jane Norton for Colorado’s U.S. Senate seat over a series of Republican primary challengers (e.g. Ryan Frazier and Ken Buck? A major one will be an alleged fundraising prowess that her rivals supposedly lack.

Of course, Norton has never won election on her own. The only time she ran for statewide office was on the coattails of popular incumbent Bill Owens in 2002. But she did have her own committee “Friends of Jane Norton” (search the Secretary of State website, be sure to check the “Include Terminated?” box). She edged out the Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Bill Thiebault in total fundraising: $99,471 to $90,085.

But put her modest advantage in context. In a race that Owens ultimately won with more than 62 percent of the vote, the incumbent Republican governor outraised Democratic challenger Rollie Heath on the order of $5.6 million to $1.25 million — by more than 4 times. Meanwhile, Norton barely outraised her counterpart Thiebault. (more…)

Update, 5:00 PM: Complete Colorado has uncovered evidence of the NRSC registering web domains for Jane Norton, which unfortunately would seem to confirm the rumors. Writing at the People’s Press Collective, El Presidente echoes my sentiments and notes that the popular outrage from grassroots Colorado conservatives is starting to build.

A well-placed rumor is circulating that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is planning to endorse former lieutenant governor Jane Norton upon her official entry into Colorado’s Republican U.S. Senate primary in the next few weeks. I sincerely hope the rumors are unfounded.

The NRSC has no business coming into this race so early in the process to endorse anyone. It wouldn’t matter if they endorsed Ken Buck, Ryan Frazier, or even Cleve Tidwell. Any such reckless action by the NRSC risks a backlash that could turn their well-placed intentions upside down. (more…)

Local blogger Zombyboy is organizing a counter-protest this Friday evening (August 28) at 5 PM at the Tivoli Commons on Denver’s Auraria campus as the pro-Obama Care crew buses into town. Richard Combs plans to attend, and is drumming up more support.

If you can make it, remember to take the opportunity not only to say No to the Obama Care government health care takeover, but also Yes to consumer-centered, pro-freedom health care reforms.

Hold on to your shirt (and your wallet), as you read new Heritage Foundation research by Brian Riedl:

The Office of Management and Budget has released its annual mid-session review that updates the budget projections from this past May.[1] They show that this year, Washington will spend $30,958 per household, tax $17,576 per household, and borrow $13,392 per household. The federal government will increase spending 22 percent this year to a peacetime-record 26 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This spending is not just temporary: President Obama would permanently keep annual spending between $5,000 and $8,000 per household higher than it had been under President George W. Bush.[2]

Driven by this spending, America will run its first ever trillion-dollar budget deficit this year. Even worse, the President’s budget would borrow an additional $9 trillion over the next decade, more than doubling the national debt. By 2019, America will be spending nearly $800 billion on net interest to service this large debt.[3] [emphases added]

This isn’t CHANGE we can believe in — especially since the only spare change coming into my household likely will be taxed to pay off Obama’s mounting debt. This is much more of the SAME of George W. Bush’s fiscal policies (minus the across-the-board income tax cuts) … only on steroids.

Astounding numbers, when you let them sink in.

If you are a concerned citizen (Left, Right, or anywhere in between), and you only get the opportunity to read one article this week, I highly recommend David Goldhill’s new piece in The Atlantic titled “How American Health Care Killed My Father” (H/T We Stand FIRM).

It’s lengthy, but very insightful and thought-provoking. If you or any of your loved ones ever has had to make use of American medical services (or paid for them in many cases without thinking about it), then you are the intended audience.

Do I agree with every conclusion and proposal the author offers? No. Most of them? Yes. (more…)

I’ve been a member of the Stupid Party for most of my adult life. And when I say the Stupid Party, I mean the Republican Party. Has the Republican National Committee learned anything from the recent election disasters? If anything, the wrong lessons.

I’m talking about today’s Washington Post op-ed by RNC chairman Michael Steele that actually pits the GOP as the pandering “Party of the Entitlement Status Quo” (H/T Jon Henke).

The tide has turned against Obama Care’s government health care takeover, and what do we get? The Democrat-light “seniors’ health care bill of rights,” rather than a serious proposal that injects more freedom and portability into the debate. (more…)

Colorado Democratic State Party headquarters on 8th and Santa Fe in Denver was vandalized last night. Windows broken out, etc. Not good. Obviously the work of someone without respect for private property, and without respect for an honest, healthy debate. A criminal act that should be dealt with appropriately.

However, initial reports quoted the Democratic state party chair trying to frame the incident as the responsibility of opponents of the Obama Care government health care takeover:

“We ought to be having a serious, conscientious debate about what’s best for the country,” [state Democratic party chairwoman Pat] Waak said. “Clearly there’s been an effort on the other side to stir up hate. I think this is the consequence of it.”

The problem? (more…)

What does it say about a primary candidate that his two primary messages seem to be:

1. The incumbent is wrong; and
2. I’m ahead in the polls.

Well, those are the messages I’m getting from the Scott McInnis for governor campaign. The first message is obvious: no complaints there. The point to ponder is why #2 is one of the primary messages .

It isn’t surprising to any serious political observer that the former 3rd District Congressman has greater name recognition than his rivals. So why keep touting two polls — at least one of them commissioned by the McInnis campaign — that say exactly that? (more…)

Update II, 6:10 PM: Within the past hour Bob Beauprez has sent out and posted an official announcement:

Not every opportunity is the right one though, and having been presented with the potential to serve in the United States Senate, Claudia and I considered it very carefully. However after significant reflection, I will not be a candidate for the Senate in 2010.

Recently, we started a new family business, raising buffalo on a ranch in Colorado’s mountains. I’m enjoying working with our son, Jim, who is managing the ranch, much as I worked side-by-side with my own father in the dairy business. And most personally, Claudia and I love being grandparents as well as spending more time than we’ve ever had with our grown children….

Guest-hosting for Dan Caplis, Beauprez also made the same announcement on air on 630 KHOW. Reading between the lines, I’d guess with a fair degree of certainty that he plans to endorse Jane Norton when she rolls out her campaign in the next few weeks.

Update, 3:15 PM: Caplis and Silverman said an announcement from Bob Beauprez is coming before today’s show ends at 6 PM. Looks like the KHOW co-hosts will be second to break this story.

As of this afternoon I have it on very good word that former U.S. Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez will NOT be running for the U.S. Senate seat against the appointed incumbent Michael Bennet.

There may or may not be a direct connection with the news I broke on Saturday that former lieutenant governor Jane Norton is in the race (an official September announcement is pending).

No word at this point on whether Beauprez plans to endorse anyone in the unfolding U.S. Senate primary, or if so, whom. But I can safely assume he will rally his support around the eventual Republican nominee. There’s a lot of time left in the process for grassroots Colorado Republicans to have their say who the nominee will be.

Today’s breaking news comes following last week’s poll results showing Beauprez as the most favored and well-known potential candidate and most likely among those tested to beat Bennet.