Mount Virtus

In the long-term battle for liberty, limited government and Constitutional Founding principles, it is crucial to focus attention and energy on this year’s election for state legislative seats. Among other things, these candidates bring the opportunity to change majorities before redistricting begins and strengthen the bench for future runs at higher office.

Those who follow my writings here are familiar with my analyses of Colorado’s 2010 state senate and state house races. In the same spirit, I was very pleased to see my friend and Republican national committeeman / former state treasurer Mark Hillman start a new feature on his “Capitol Review” email updates:

This year, you’re hearing much about candidates for federal office, but reversing the course of our state is also vitally important in this pivotal election year. Between now and election day, please let me draw your attention to candidates for the State House or Senate who need our help – even if we don’t live in their district – because we need them to replace a tax-hiking, nanny-state incumbent Democrat.

The first feature candidate is Owen Hill, a candidate for State Senate against liberal Senate Majority Leader John Morse in El Paso County. Owen is an outstanding young man with a solid foundation rooted in liberty, responsibility, faith and family. In other words, he’s the polar opposite of his opponent!

Please take just a few minutes to visit Owen’s webpage and consider helping him – even with a small donation. Remember, he will be fighting against an avalanche of money from liberal billionaires and labor unions.

If you’re not already on Mark’s email list — from which you receive occasional messages with his insightful commentary — you really should sign up here. I look forward to his future state legislative candidate recommendations.

WHEREAS, on June 2, 2010, at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga masterfully pitched a game against the Cleveland Indians in which he indisputably retired each of the first 26 batters he faced in succession with exactly 80 pitches thrown (62 strikes, 18 balls); and

WHEREAS, Tigers centerfielder Austin Jackson made a tremendous, over-the-shoulder running catch off Indians second baseman Mark Grudzielanek for the first out of the ninth inning; and

WHEREAS, with two outs in the top of the 9th inning, the 27th batter, Cleveland Indians shortstop Jason Donald, grounded the ball to Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who in turn flipped the ball to Galarraga, who clearly touched the bag with his foot before Donald did; and

WHEREAS, veteran first base umpire Jim Joyce incorrectly ruled the runner safe at first; and

WHEREAS, thousands of the paying customers at Comerica Park could see immediately that the umpire blew the call at first; and (more…)

As many of you know, my Independence Institute boss has taken charge in leading a statewide ballot campaign to exempt Colorado from the kind of mandates imposed on us by Obama Care. What fewer people may realize is the immense challenge it can be to obtain 76,047 valid signatures (which typically requires collecting a much higher number of signatures to make sure you have enough valid ones) to reach the ballot in the first place.

The current legal strictures enacted by our state legislature — including not allowing paid circulators to collect signatures — make it extra difficult for citizens to petition their government. It’s even messier when you consider, as effectively documented by Ballotpedia, that the law contradicts itself in setting the deadline to turn in your petition signatures. If you go by the state constitution this year’s deadline should be August 2. If you go by last year’s law (HB 1326), the deadline should be July 13. (more…)