Quickly working to establish himself as the Republican frontrunner to challenge Bill Ritter for governor in 2010, Josh Penry — whom I am not ashamed to admit I support — once again is drawing attention in the national press. Take a minute to check out yesterday’s Christian Science Monitor piece: “The 33-year-old who would be Colorado’s next governor”.

Need more reason to read the article? Find out what Josh Penry has to say about Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal. Gotcha, didn’t I?

Update, 9/25: From this morning’s Denver Post: Sean Tonner said CPI “is not for elections” and “is going to be here long past 2010.” However, Tonner has a long track record of working on elections, and CPI has absolutely no track record as an independent organization. So despite the obvious explanation that there’s no formal relationship between CPI and these campaigns, the claim is dubious. Gulp — I even agree with the Dead Guvs on this one.

I’d been wondering when the new Colorado Policy Institute (CPI) would come to life and do something. So what did they finally do today? Publish a white paper? None of those yet. Post an item or two on their “Issues” page? Nope, still waiting for that to happen. One more guess, readers….

CPI published the results of a survey of issues and candidates (PDF). And what a bizarre, irony-rich survey it is.

The Colorado Springs Business Journal picked up on the finding that 55 percent of Coloradans favor “repealing TABOR, which requires all tax increases to be approved by voters.” And support for repealing TABOR is higher in the Colorado Springs-Pueblo media market. Are we supposed to take this seriously? Is CPI “a heck of a bigger deal” than yours truly? (more…)

I spend very little time on this page analyzing foreign affairs, but I just want to take the chance to go on the record now before returning to my regularly scheduled blogging on state and national domestic policy and politics….

For those who believe America primarily has been a force for evil in the world and should kowtow to foreign dictators, leave no doubt Barack Obama is your man.

It’s hard to find any rationale for yesterday’s pathetic U.N. speech, other than Obama might be trying to build up former president Jimmy Carter’s self-esteem or that possibly he’s trying to rewrite history to make Woodrow Wilson look like a foreign policy realist. If Obama believes what he said, it’s scary about where he wants to take our nation. If he doesn’t believe it, it’s scary that he would project such weakness just so some tinhorn dictators can slap his back.

But have no fear, children. We shall continue to praise The One in song, er, rap.

Dangerous on domestic policy, weak on foreign policy. How long ’til 2012? (Now back to your regularly scheduled blogging….)

Westword blogger Michael Roberts reports on the results of our survey of Colorado’s political temperature released yesterday.

The flattering comparison that titles the post, which comes from Scott McInnis for Governor spokesman Sean Duffy, now adorns my “Who Writes This Blog?” page. After all, fame is fleeting….

For the latest and greatest comprehensive polling data out there, check out Rasmussen Reports.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our September survey of Colorado’s political temperature. We had 500 people take the survey — down somewhat from last time, but still a very strong showing. We appreciate it very much.

Some already have started to ask about the release of the results, so let me share the (tentative) plan. Here goes:

1. Over the weekend we will compile and organize the top-line results for public display, and I will post them here first thing Monday morning. This should include how the candidates fared (and compared to the July survey), as well as which issue statements received the strongest expressions of agreement or disagreement
2. We have outsourced some cross-tab analysis to see how support with some candidates correlates with some other key questions. At this point, we anticipate rolling out this more in-depth analysis toward the latter part of next week. If you have any burning desires to see any certain questions broken down by demographic or some other issue, please leave a comment or send an email today, and we’ll take it into consideration

Thanks again for all your participation. And don’t hesitate to share any feedback about this survey that we might be able to use as we look ahead to crafting the next one.

First, it was Michigan-Ohio State football. Then it was the whole litany of Cleveland sports. The near-weekly disembarkation into the world of popular and classic movies. Of late, national radio host Hugh Hewitt has shown another entire topic about which he would be better served staying silent as opposed to demonstrating his ignorance: I speak of Colorado politics.

Memo to Hugh — Get away from the coasts, get out of the Beltway and the smog, and visit Rocky Mountain flyover country again. In the meantime, read up on Josh Penry, and watch this national video clip from Fox News: (more…)

I’ll admit it. I’m a fool for baseball. And one of the greatest reasons I love the game so much walked out onto the field at Comerica Park this evening — Ernie Harwell, 91 years young, diagnosed with terminal cancer, but as optimistic and gracious and gentlemanly as ever — to say thank you:

“It’s a wonderful night for me,” Harwell said. “I really feel lucky to be here, and I want to thank you for that warm welcome. I want to express my deep appreciation to Mike Ilitch, Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers for that video salute and also for the many great things they’ve done for me and my family throughout my career here with the Tigers.

“In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey, and the blessed part of that journey is that it’s going to end here in the great state of Michigan. I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they have. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all, no question about that.

“And I certainly want to thank you from the depth of my heart for your devotion, your support, your loyalty and your love. Thank you very much, and God bless you.”

It’s just like Ernie Harwell to say thank you to all of us, when all of us should be saying thank you to Ernie Harwell. As Ernie’s last season as the voice of the Detroit Tigers began in April 2002, I penned a column as Hillsdale Daily News sports editor — a column titled “Ernie Harwell reminds us what baseball is about”.

Simply one of the best, and a personal hero of mine. All the best to Ernie Harwell, his wife Lulu, and their family.

When you are in the bottom tier of candidates in the crowded primary field for Colorado’s Republican U.S. Senate primary nomination, you have to do what you can to attract attention. Enter the physically fit and environmentally responsible grassroots candidate Luke Korkowski, who today announces: (more…)

Update: Michael at Best Destiny and Rossputin share their separate recollections of 9/11/01 and where our nation is eight years later.

Eight years ago today, with no substitute teaching job awaiting me, I slept in. My dad woke me. The TV was already on with scenes from the World Trade Center. The horror unfolded before my eyes. Minutes after I started watching the second plane hit the South Tower. Everything changed in a moment. It was a long day that grew into a long week.

Looking back, I can only think: Never forget. Stand strong. Never falter. Never surrender.

In that spirit the Colorado State University College Republicans are making a special commemoration today: (more…)

The Sam Adams Alliance presents a lighter look at the rough life of a government health czar and the new Moolah for Medicine program. I think you’ll find it four minutes well spent — I can tell you the cute and feisty Baby Virtus sure got a kick out of watching this video: (more…)

We’re back at it again. After the results and analysis from the July 2009 survey in which we are grateful that more than 600 of you participated, we’re at it again.

Yes, El Presidente and I have commissioned and fashioned another survey that we hope you will take 10 minutes or so to complete — especially if you’re from Colorado.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill quick-hit polls. Once again we’ve gone a little more in-depth. Some of the questions are the same. Some are new. One interesting added follow-up is asking what the most important factor is for you in choosing to support a Republican primary candidate for governor and U.S. Senate.

Click here to take the September 2009 Colorado online political survey

Your opinion counts. Take a few moments to make it happen. Not only show your support for candidates, but also let us know where you stand on key issues and give us some honest prognostication about the 2010 elections. The survey won’t be there forever, only until next Thursday, September 17, 5 PM local Mountain time … Thanks for participating! We’ll get back to you with the results soon. Stay tuned.

Below the fold is the “official” release announcing the survey: (more…)

Last week former state senator Tom Wiens announced the opening of an exploratory committee to join Colorado’s large and growing Republican primary field for the 2010 U.S. Senate race. On Friday I had the opportunity to interview Wiens by phone. Below are some highlights of our conversation (please note that the quotes are transcribed and may be slightly paraphrased in places): (more…)

The Denver Post this morning has up a story by Jeremy Meyer filled with local reaction to the news of Obama speaking to school children next Tuesday. Meyeer quotes several people in the story, but my remarks to him yesterday didn’t make the cut. Here’s more or less what I said:

This has all the signs of the Obama cult of personality. Parents who don’t want to subject their children to the organized hero-worship of a controversial political figure certainly can’t be blamed for wanting to pull them out. The decision should be made at the local school level, but in any case the parents at least should have the opportunity to opt out. That’s perfectly appropriate.

(more…)

For the baseball fan, September is a sweet (or bittersweet) time of the year. As a Detroit Tigers fan, I’ve been accustomed to more of the latter. But the pennant race is on, and both my Tigers and my Colorado Rockies are in the thick of things.

An interesting tidbit today from a Rasmussen survey of baseball fans:

Fans of the Detroit Tigers are now the second most confident fans, with 68% who think their team will win a World Series title this year. Overall, only 4% of all baseball fans think the Tigers will win. The Tigers currently lead the AL Central division by 3.5 games.

(more…)

At a well-attended Monday Independence Institute event, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann gave a rousing speech about the rapidly growing specter of socialism coming from Washington DC, and how liberty-loving Coloradans can fight back.

Lefty blogs have fixated their derision on one comment, prompting the Peoples Press Collective’s El Presidente to respond: “Stay classy, lefties.”

Those who want to see the context of Bachmann’s full speech and Q-and-A session can find the videos posted on Jon Caldara’s blog.