Another year has come and gone. Today Mount Virtus is 6 years old, which perhaps puts me in the ranks of Colorado’s political blogging ancients. I have a few graying hairs to show for it. My blog’s 6th birthday also means 99 years ago today one of our greatest Presidents — Ronald Reagan — was born. It’s also Waitangi Day in New Zealand. But that’s neither here nor there.

Tonight (Friday) at 8:30 PM on Denver’s KBDI Channel 12, you can watch me make a guest appearance on Independent Thinking with host Jon Caldara. The topic? Jefferson County Public Schools’ new, front-of-the-pack financial transparency website. For more — including my podcast interview with fellow guest, Jeffco CFO Lorie Gillis, and my new paper on the topic of school financial transparency — please visit Ed Is Watching.

The lonely Friday crowd can make your popcorn in plenty of time for tonight’s 8:30 showing. For everyone else, get your TiVos/recorders ready or watch the episode re-air on Monday, 1:30 PM, on KBDI.

This post will stick to the top until February 12. Please scroll down for newer postings.

Time flies, so here comes another edition of the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature. The deadline is next Friday, February 12, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time. What are you waiting for?

Click here to take the February survey

The February edition has even fewer issue statements, but introduces some interesting new items:

• Polling questions and head-to-head matchup on the 3rd Congressional race to challenge Rep. John Salazar
• Questions about your plans to participate in the upcoming caucus and assembly process
• Detailed question about your sources of local political news and information

Throughout the 2010 election year, the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature will re-appear the 1st Thursday of each month. So once you complete this survey, you can start counting down the days until the March edition is unveiled.

Check back here by Tuesday the 16th for February’s results. Meanwhile, here’s the official release announcing the new survey (as always, click fullscreen for a closer look): (more…)

This Sunday evening from 5 PM to 8 PM I will be guest co-hosting Backbone Radio on AM 710 KNUS with fellow bloggers Joshua Sharf and the Peoples Press Collective’s Tom James (not only local bloggers, but Leadership Program of the Rockies Class of 2006 takes over).

With very few guests, it should be a good three hours of enlightening discussion and entertaining political banter. Go here to listen live.

I hope you enjoy one or more of the following:

• David Freddoso at the Washington Examiner points out that Senate Democrats very quickly have killed President Obama’s very modest “spending freeze” proposal before it barely had a chance to get going.
• Speaking of Obama, my PPC friends are licking their chops at the prospect of The One coming to Denver to stump for our appointed junior U.S. Senator Michael Bennet.
• Speaking of arrogance, guest writer Don Rodgers at Reclaim the Blue calls out Democrats in our state legislature for their hubris, after shoving through four of the Dirty Dozen tax bills on Wednesday (and are scheduled to hear the rest starting this morning) as a prelude to their dying political majority.
• Speaking of death, the New Ledger’s Benjamin Kerstein gives Howard Zinn, the very recently deceased Marxist historian of A People’s History infamy, a harsh critique more grounded in reality than the one Zinn gave to the United States to manufacture his own career.
• Speaking of harshness — yes, as Lynn Bartels blogs for the Denver Post’s The Spot, the Independence Institute is having its own “Biggest Loser” weight-loss competition — no, I’m participating in the “Biggest Gainer” competition instead.

Have a great Friday!

Update, 9:00 PM: They fixed it. That’s responsive, same-day government service for you!

First of all, I have to commend to you the Secretary of State’s work in creating the new TRACER campaign finance website, which is a more user-friendly, valuable tool than its predecessor. On the lighter side, while it’s imperative for candidates and committees filling out important disclosures to cross their t’s and dot their i’s, someone should have checked on TRACER’s main page to ensure the same level of accuracy: (more…)

A startling statistical development emerged last Friday, that you may have missed if you weren’t paying attention too closely. New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that for the first time in U.S. history there are more union members working in government than working in the private sector.

I sat down yesterday for a 9-minute iVoices podcast conversation with Brian Johnson, executive director of the Alliance for Worker Freedom, to explore the effects of the changing labor movement on the fight for liberty and limited government. Follow the link here or click on the play button below to listen: (more…)

Update, 1/26: The correct answer is Mitch Daniels. Sadly, no one guessed the correct answer by 6:00 PM. “Why did I pick Daniels?” you might ask. At this point in the game, all I can say is: “Why not?”

John Hawkins at Right Wing News earlier today released the results of his conservative blogger survey “on which candidate they’d support if the 2012 Republican primaries were today.” Yours truly was one of 69 to cast a vote.

Sarah Palin won a 29 percent plurality in a crowded field of 12 candidates, while Mike Huckabee edged out Ron Paul for last place and 0 votes. The latter finding is especially interesting in light of the first poll to show a Republican candidate beating Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 general election matchup: Huckabee 45, Obama 44.

Of course, similar to some unnamed surveys, the Right Wing News polls are essentially “worthless” at predicting anything, but they are valuable in generating interest in political races and sparking conversations. Now it’s your turn to guess whom I voted for on the list of 12 candidates.

First person to correctly guess the answer in the comment section below (either Mount Virtus or PPC) before 6:00 PM MST on Tuesday, January 26, wins a free month of advertising on my sidebar (subject to basic decency standards) — of course, you have to leave an email address where I can reach you, a live person.

Last Thursday afternoon I testified before the House Education Committee at the State Capitol on House Bill 1036 and what effective public school financial transparency should look like. The best coverage came from the Colorado News Agency:

HB 1036, called the Public School Financial Transparency Act, contains many of the same provisions as last year’s all-GOP effort by Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Colorado Springs, and Sen. Ted Harvey, R- Highlands Ranch. That bill died on a party-line vote in the same committee. Stephens, who also is a co-sponsor on the new bill, and Harvey have reintroduced their bill again this year as Senate Bill 91, which they say would provide an easier way for people to search for and use data in a more meaningful way while including more descriptive characterizations of line items.

Stephens, however, said she would be happy to see HB 1036 pass to achieve increased transparency.

(more…)

One day after a refreshing U.S. Supreme Court victory for free speech, today we mark the 37th anniversary of Roe v Wade — a somber occasion for our nation. I recommend to you a well-written “In Memoriam” by Red State’s Erick Erickson. A couple key passages:

The truth that these children are biologically human and biologically distinct from their mothers is beyond question to anyone who believes in the most basic tenets of science. Why, then, are they declared so totally bereft of rights in our society? The fact that a woman can, with the protection of the law, kill her child on the day of its planned full-term delivery, indicates clearly that the only answer to this question is “physical location within their mother’s womb.” If a child is in this place, it may be killed with impunity; if it is in another, to kill it is murder….

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Update, 1/25: If you missed me on the air this weekend, you can listen to a recording of the discussion on the Face The State website.

In most places across Colorado, you can tune in and listen this Saturday or Sunday to the Face The State Weekend Edition — locally, here in Denver on AM 710 KNUS on Saturday at 5 AM or Sunday at noon. During part of the show I will be discussing with host Brad Jones the latest results from the survey of Colorado’s political temperature — an independent project co-sponsored by People’s Press Collective managing editor Michael Sandoval and yours truly.

I’m excited to be able to share the news that conservative Republican Libby Szabo — one of my favorite people — has announced she is running to be my next state representative. She will be a formidable challenger to incumbent Democrat and Ritter disciple Sara Gagliardi in a very winnable race.

Below the fold is a copy of Libby’s press release announcing her campaign: (more…)

Everybody knows about the devastating earthquake in Haiti, so I don’t need to recount If you can find it in your heart and the means to provide, will you please join me and thousands of other generous Americans in giving to one of the worthy organizations out there that provide urgent relief? Two of the causes I recommend:

• World Vision provides “life-saving relief supplies – including food, clean water, blankets, and tents — to children and families devastated by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.”
• Project C.U.R.E. delivers “much-needed medical relief.”

And, of course, please keep the victims, rescue workers and families in your prayers.

Yesterday evening the Colorado Republican legislative staff hosted a blogger round (or square as the case may be) table discussion on some of the looming issues on the eve of the legislative session. Topics of discussion ranged from public employee pensions to medical marijuana to government transparency.

Rather than provide a recap, I’ll point you to the thoughts of liberal blogger David Thielen — whom I finally met in person and sat next to during the discussion. Though he was outnumbered about 15 to 1, Thielen held his own and was treated well. His Colorado Pols essay reviewing the event was honest, fair-minded and lighthearted — which: (more…)

A friend brought my attention to this story on CNN about people who have watched the blockbuster movie Avatar developing depression:

James Cameron’s completely immersive spectacle “Avatar” may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.

My first and only reaction was to recollect one of my favorite quotes:

If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world. – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Profound but true. A realization that marks one of the first steps on a fallen soul’s journey into the arms of his holy Creator and loving Savior.

I am probably one of a handful of people in the metro Denver area who has yet to see Avatar, but if James Cameron’s visually stunning moneymaker awakens some people to begin inquiring about their eternal spiritual state, then it will have done some good in spite of itself.

It’s up to those of us who follow Christ to faithfully share the good news.

This post will stick to the top until January 15. Please scroll down for newer postings.

Okay, you political junkies out there: Come on, admit it. You’ve missed the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature since we announced the last results in November.

Well, the survey is back and better than ever — with fewer, better-organized issue statements, as well as the opportunity to predict head-to-head general election matchups in all the different Colorado races. You only have until next Friday, January 15, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time to get it done. You know you can’t resist. What are you waiting for?

Click here to take the January survey

The best news of all is that with the 2010 election year upon us, the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature will re-appear the 1st Thursday of each month. So once you complete this survey, you can start counting down the days until the February edition is unveiled.

Check back here by Monday the 18th for January’s results. Meanwhile, here’s the full press release announcing the new survey (as always, click fullscreen for a closer look): (more…)

There’s no stopping the forward press of time. I’m not so sure about turning 33 today, but at least my name isn’t Josh. A few months ago the combination of age and name seemed so charmed. They were a pair of Colorado wunderkinds: one 33-year-old Josh making strides towards one of Colorado’s most powerful positions, the other 33-year-old Josh newly occupying the other.

Josh Penry was making giant strides toward the Republican nomination for governor. Then one day in November the plug suddenly was pulled on his campaign. Now he isn’t even running for re-election to his own state senate seat in 2010. What’s going on?

But he’s on Cloud Nine compared to Josh McDaniels, who yesterday felt the bitter sting of missing the playoffs in his first season as an NFL head coach, losing 8 of the final 10 games after starting 6-0. Add in the turmoil with Brandon Marshall and other Bronco players, and it looks like the bandwagon is emptying for the time being. Where does he go from here?

I still have high hopes for 33. After all, so far it doesn’t seem much different than 32. The year’s work has just begun. I’m back in the fight.

In his latest offering, former state legislative leader Mark Hillman praises the “freedom nationally, virtue locally” National Freedom Initiative of Colorado’s own Kevin Miller — not the first time it has crossed my path. It was last year about this time I wrestled a lot with the role social conservatism should play, and something that never strays too far from my mind.

Therefore, I’m very intrigued by this initiative — which, of course, is not altogether new, but rather a very sensible clarification and reformulation for our current political context. The opportunity definitely is there:

• To educate many social conservatives on the vital and wholly compatible value of liberty and limited government
• To build a strong bridge between the Right-leaning faith-based community and the Tea Party & 9/12 movements (where I’m sure a lot of overlap already exists)
• (At the least) To have ongoing, important debates that can help hone views and broader strategies heading into the 2010 election and beyond

Just maybe, Miller is vying to be the Frank Meyer for a new generation of the conservative movement. For more, watch Miller and state senator Ted Harvey hash out the issues on a recent episode of Independent Thinking with host Jon Caldara (parts 1 through 3): (more…)

Three days ’till Christmas, this will give you some holiday cheer. PJTV’s Steven Crowder takes an up close & personal look at Detroit, the once proud Motor City a mere hollow shell of what it once was (H/T Red State).

The recent Clint Eastwood flick Gran Torino gave you a glimpse of what Detroit has become. But Crowder goes even deeper into the hollowed-out blight, pervasive poverty and unemployment, and the worst schools in America in his didactic tale concerning the fruit of decades of welfare state policy, Big Labor cronyism, and corrupt city government: (more…)

For having an outside perspective, Red State editor Erick Erickson makes one of the most insightful observations about Colorado’s Republican Senate primary:

Why exactly must we support Jane Norton in Colorado instead of Ken Buck? I’m not saying I am or am not, but why must I? Lots of people think we must because the same guys in Washington who said Charlie Crist was our best hope in Florida say she is in Colorado….

…Ken Buck has a very real shot and Norton is about to suffer some very serious high dollar blows about her support for suspending TABOR a while back. We need not go with the inside the beltway wisdom just because the beltway wisdom wants us to go with Norton. We should watch, study, observe, and see where things are heading before going with either Buck or Norton.

Could hardly have stated it better myself.

With posts like the recent one I wrote highlighting Ken Buck’s momentum in head-to-head matchups with Michael Bennet, I have been pegged as a Buck sympathizer. Not so. I am nowhere close to choosing a candidate to back in the primary. Norton’s campaign has received most of the pomp and national establishment backing. From time to time I may take the opportunity to add a little balance to the coverage.

Like Erick, I firmly believe the pro-liberty grassroots and bloggers “should watch, study, observe, and see where things are heading before going with either Buck or Norton.” At least that’s where I am these days.