Mount Virtus

Oh joy, I’ve finally figured out who my Republican Congressional candidate is: John Lerew, not John LeGrew (how bad is it when your name gets misspelled in a key publication that introduces your candidacy to a key audience of activists?).

Longtime Colorado blogger Jack Ott, whom I met back in 2004, has posted information about Mr. Lerew. Certainly, he seems an ardent and passionate conservative, but it’s apparent the GOP went pretty deep onto the bench to bring him forward as the candidate. Or, as one Lefty blogger quite accurately put it, Mr. Lerew is “the sacrificial lamb” to run against incumbent Rep. Ed Perlmutter.

(I feel out of the loop to have taken so long to learn about this one. But it also speaks ill of the candidate’s credibility that he seemingly has no website to define his online presence, raise funds, recruit volunteers, etc. In 2008? A Congressional candidate, even a “sacrificial lamb” … no website? Sigh. We’ll learn eventually. Tune into The Next Right.)

Anyway, Jack Ott also has information about something hopefully of more lasting significance - that’s the new Denver metro chapter of the Coalition for a Conservative Majority - where incidentally, John Lerew evidently spoke at the last meeting. If you’re an ardent conservative looking to get involved as an activist, you should at least take a look at joining your local CCM chapter.

I’ve been meaning to post this one for several days now. But enough excuses. Without further ado, here’s a creative video that will make you laugh and put a catchy tune in your head: I give you the inimitable Mary Katharine Ham with “Obama on Your Shoulder.”

Depending on how you look at it, the video could either make you feel a lot more lighthearted or a lot sicker to your stomach. Or maybe a bit of both. But laughter is the best medicine, they say.

From the Denver Post’s PoliticsWest:

A heated labor disagreement over Denver’s teacher contract appears to be heading into late August and could reach a boiling point during the Democratic National Convention, reports Jeremy P. Meyer.

Teachers and the administration are at odds over changes to the district’s compensation system. It’s one of the issues that led union officials to warn teachers in their May newsletter to prepare for a strike.

Mediation with a professional arbiter has been set for Aug. 20-22, ending the Friday before the Democrats arrive for the convention.

This has the potential to be ugly. I will be keeping a close eye not only on the broader political ramifications but on what this potential clash could portend for education reform and labor relations in our own backyard.

“Four bucks a gallon”: it’s the catchphrase that hits home all across America. Even putting the best face on it that they can, even federal government officials admit that gasoline prices figure to remain high for the foreseeable future.

Yet on the same day, Democrats on a Congressional committee kill a proposal that would allow the United States to expand its domestic energy supply. I would say they’re stuck on stupid, but it’s far more likely that Nancy Pelosi, Mark Udall, and the Democrats are glad to see gasoline prices high, as they kowtow to radical environmentalist special interest groups.

To top it off, the Democrats’ Presidential candidate Barack Obama makes a ridiculous statement suggesting that rising gasoline prices is a good thing. Obama certainly is struggling to come up with an answer.

On the other hand, Republicans in Congress have come forward with an appealing economic proposal that includes increased domestic energy exploration. But those of us in fly-over country remain skeptical about how serious the GOP is about achieving such reforms. And even if they are serious, it’s not likely they can do much to move the ball forward, especially since the reins of power don’t appear to be theirs for awhile.

Meanwhile, the Republican at the top of the ticket, John McCain, is really struggling to articulate a credible message on the energy issue. Powerline’s John Hinderaker sees an opportunity for the Republican candidate and offers him some sound advice: Will he take it? Don’t hold your breath.

Unless something dramatically changes, the energy issue figures to drive this year’s election. Will Republicans seize or waste the opportunity? Just don’t wager a gallon of gas. It might be worth more than you can afford to lose come November.

It sounds like Republican Party ideals are not exactly in their heyday in Montana (H/T Volokh Conspiracy):

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bob Kelleher wants a “nonviolent revolution” to overthrow the foundation of American government. He favors enormous, FDR-style government work programs to reduce poverty; he wants to nationalize the American oil and gas industries and supports government-run, socialized medicine. He has little nice to say about President Bush or former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot.

Political scientists and the head of the Montana Republican Party say Kelleher, 85, isn’t really a Republican, at all.

And yet, two days ago, Kelleher beat five other, mostly conservative to mainstream GOP candidates to become the Republican who will take on Sen. Max Baucus in the fall.

Since John McCain is a strong favorite to win Montana’s three electoral votes, it looks like there will be a lot of vote-splitting this November in Big Sky Country.

But a socialist as the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate? Maybe one of my Montana conservative friends can fill me in. Craig? Charles?

Did you need a reason not to vote for Barack Obama? Perhaps need a reason to vote for John McCain? If I’m not convinced already, this press release from the National Education Association sure helps to push me in that direction:

National Education Association President Reg Weaver announced today that he will ask the 9,000 locally elected delegates to the Association’s Representative Assembly to take a formal vote to recommend that NEA’s 3.2 million members support Barack Obama in his bid to become President of the United States….

The contrast between Obama and McCain on issues that matter most to NEA members – the economy, education and health care – is indeed stark. Obama opposes using public tax dollars to provide financial support to private schools. McCain is already on record with votes supporting vouchers.

While I wouldn’t exactly phrase the issue the way the NEA does, such unsurprising rhetoric only evokes an equal and opposite reaction from me.

Union members in Colorado and across the nation stand to gain from newly proposed federal rules that would provide a clearer picture of how union leaders are spending their hard-earned dues money. If you’re a glutton for punishment, there’s the official 103-page document with the new rules.

For the rest of us, compliments of the Public Service Research Foundation, there is a layman’s version of the new pro-worker rules:

They require that unions specify the costs of benefits being provided to officers and employees.

Under the present system the cost of benefits is only reported as one big lump sum. The new regulations will allow union members to see how much they are paying in benefits for each officer and employee. This will discourage union officials from attempting to hide the cost of excessively generous benefits.

They also require that unions provide the identity of those to whom they sell assets.

This will allow union members to spot transactions where union officials are buying union assets at big discounts.

And, they require unions to report travel and entertainment expenses for union officers and employees that are paid “indirectly” by the union.

This will allow union members to get a much more accurate idea of how much the union is spending on this sort of thing and discourage union officers and employees from attempting to hide the cost of “business” meetings in luxurious resorts.

The public comment period is open through June 26. Whether you are a union member or just a concerned citizen you can find out how to share your comments on the PSRF webpage.

As much as Republicans are less than enthusiastic about their Presidential nominee, a video like this helps to confirm my suspicions that the Democrats have bigger problems:

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza has more details here on what exactly made this woman and so many other Hillary supporters angry. Clinton’s overwhelming primary win in Puerto Rico doesn’t add any more clarity - or confidence -to the Democrat nomination picture.

From the GOP Convention in Broomfield…

Balloting is ongoing from state delegates. One of the things they are deciding on is the slate of delegates to the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities. There is a list of nearly 400 candidates for national delegate in the Colorado Statesman along with their Presidential preference. About 40 percent have no preference listed - nearly the same amount (155) are pledged to John McCain. Poised to wreak havoc are 74 Ron Paul supporters, followed by a handful each listed for Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. State conventions can be strange things, though this is a particularly strange year.

On a different note, Sen. Shawn Mitchell just compared Bill Ritter to Jimmy Carter … ouch.

From my friends at the Evergreen Freedom Foundation …

Wouldn’t you like to see that during the break of your favorite television program?

Conservatives have been behind the curve on mobilizing activism on the Net, but as Patrick Ruffini points out at The Next Right, there’s a new opportunity to change the trend. I invite you to add your name to Newt Gingrich’s petition to increase domestic energy production - at “Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.”

It’s a commonsense issue that is catching like wildfire. Sign the petition and spread the word.

The Next Right is officially launched today. From the About page:

The Next Right is the place for wired activists to build a new Republican Party and conservative movement. As a community-driven grassroots action website for the right, we’ll feature in-depth political analysis, on-the-ground reports, and strategic discussion and debate.

The site’s founding editors are Soren Dayton, Jon Henke, and Patrick Ruffini.

Read each of their posts announcing this new venture here:

Soren | Jon | Patrick

These are the brightest minds in new media that our side has to offer. I encourage all limited government conservative bloggers and blog-readers in Colorado to sign up and join The Next Right network. Our state has been on the front line of the George Soros assault. Why shouldn’t Colorado give a major boost to the effort to rebuild the conservative movement and the Republican Party?

Two of Colorado’s most established center-right bloggers weigh in on what’s happened to the Republican Party brand and what can be done about it.

Michael at Best Destiny takes a look at a Face The State story on the Republican’s recent plight in Denver’s northwest suburbs and opines loudly about what needs to be done to overcome messaging problems:

. . . .TALK TO EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE BASE; TALK TO THEM ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, NOT GOP MEAT AND POTATOES; KNOW WHAT MATTERS TO PEOPLE like the economy, stupid; like education, stupid;…

Michael should get paid for his political consultant’s work. I concur that messaging is part of the problem, but in some ways the problem runs even deeper.

Meanwhile, Joshua at View from a Height goes more in-depth to contemplate the life cycle of political parties. While showing he understands the depth of the problem of a Republican Party unmoored from principles and reality, Joshua also advises against what he calls the “worse is better” approach:

The fact is, instead of cynically rooting for disaster, we would be better served to begin rebuilding the party brand now. We should be looking for candidates who stand for something, rather than being happy with the, “well, we’re better than them” line, which has been played out for several elections.

We should be looking for candidates who can begin pushing the Constitutionalist ideals which the rank-and-file expect it to. We should be supporting those candidates.

Agreed. While there may be a cathartic appeal to washing one’s hands of the mess and retiring to cheer for Republicans to be greeted by the electoral woodshed, it’s better to focus positive energy on candidates who have demonstrated a fidelity to “Constitutionalist ideals” - including candidates like Joshua himself.

Build for the future, without needlessly subjecting the nation to extended governance by the Left.

Powerline has the goods: Within less than 24 hours, the Obama messiah completely contradicts himself:

Barack Obama, last night in Portland, on Iran: “They don’t pose a serious threat to us.”

Barack Obama, today, in Billings, Montana, on Iran: “I’ve made it clear for years that the threat from Iran is grave.”

Powerline also has video.

So which is it: Is Iran a serious threat, or not?

Or is it beyond us mere peons to dare question the great Obama?

Linda Gorman from the Independence Institute (where I work), in a recent posting on John Goodman’s Health Policy Blog, highlights a myth from the advocacy group Families USA being cited as facts in the current health care policy debate:

Medicaid spending, the group says, creates jobs. By their reasoning, a law diverting the entire GDP of the United States to the Medicaid program would leave the U.S. awash in jobs. By contrast, the group claims the Bush administration’s efforts to rein-in Medicaid spending will leave tens of thousands of people unemployed.

Gorman quickly picks apart the assertion in four points, using a little fact-checking and basic economic analysis. First:

Roughly speaking, for every four jobs created by spending, five jobs (or their equivalent) will be lost by the taxes needed to finance that spending.

Then:

As it turns out, the Bush Administration has not proposed any Medicaid budget cuts!

Next:

Ignoring where the money comes from, if a 0.3% cut leads to a loss of X jobs, the administration’s 7.1% proposed increase must lead to a gain of about 24X jobs.

And finally:

…[E]xpansion of health care spending for the poor often comes at the expense of other services (food, housing, education) they may value more….

Check out the post for more facts and links to sources.

El Presidente has started the 100-day countdown to Denver’s Democratic National Convention, wrapping it up with this teaser:

We’ll see just how many “amateurs” cover the DNC, providing alternate content–the stuff they won’t show you on TV.

If you have any interest in the DNC and the moonbattery it attracts, you simply ought to be making regular stops at Slapstick Politics and The Drunkablog.

Earlier this evening I asked if the results of recent special elections had thrown enough cold water on Congressional Republicans to get them to wake up and return to their conservative senses. Well, the master satirist Iowahawk has painted the picture of the Congressional GOP’s downfall better than I can with a series of letters from fictional Congressman Jerry Bristol. Check it out.

The other good news to cheer up my day? Fred Thompson is back, with his inspirational and no-nonsense conservative commentary as a Townhall blogger (H/T Michelle Malkin). I was a loyal Fredhead for a couple months there, before the wheels came off his campaign. He wasn’t destined to be President, but perhaps he’ll do much better as an online conservative prophet. It gives me a little more hope.

Just another day of wilderness wanderings….

There’s a great editorial in the Wall Street Journal today:

If there is such a thing as a useful election defeat, then Tuesday’s Republican loss in a special House election in Mississippi would qualify. Maybe this thumping in a heretofore safe GOP seat will finally scare the Members straight, or at least less crooked.

Followed by a reminder that many members of Congress need to figure out what it is they stand for:

In the Mississippi race, the national GOP tried to link Democratic candidate Travis Childers to Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright. One TV ad declared: “Travis Childers: He took Obama’s endorsement over our conservative values.” But Mr. Childers was well known as a cultural conservative who favors gun rights and opposes abortion. In a year when Americans are mad as hell, such a negative attack strategy merely reminds voters that Republicans have run out of ideas.

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