Four weeks have passed since Governor Ritter signed into law a bill that raises property taxes. As one dissenting elected official pointed out in yesterday's Denver Post: Gardner called Ritter's "defining bill" the mill-levy tax freeze that will let school districts keep an extra $64 million per year by freezing property-tax rates. "It sets the tone for his first four years as governor," Gardner said. "What do the people have to look forward to? Probably more tax increases." Since I agree that it's definitely the Governor's defining bill, I will continue reminding readers about it at regular intervals. Today seemed a fine opportunity to do so. To learn more, if you missed any of my observations and analysis the first time around: - … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2007
Welcome Back, Clay
My friend Clay Calhoun of the Rocky Mountain Alliance has returned to the blogosphere after an extended sabbatical that clearly included some time for reflection. It looks as though he brings a fresh perspective. I look forward to many engaging analyses and challenging insights. His prologue stirs a bit of my own ongoing reflections: There is a certain love-hate relationship with the political process that many believers in conservative values and limited government, myself included, possess. We need to build alliances while balancing principles with pragmatic compromises, yet we're often left jilted by representatives and officials we've supported who seemingly have lost their way. We understand that the allure of government power plays a … [Read more...]
Midway Remembered at 65
Exactly 65 years ago today raged one of the most significant battles of modern times - a critical victory by the United States Navy. The Battle of Midway (June 4 - 7, 1942) saved a key Pacific outpost and inflicted irredeemable losses on the Imperial Japanese Navy, including four aircraft carriers. After Midway, the Japanese were forced into the strategic defensive, and three years of bloody island-hopping followed that led to ultimate Allied victory. The battle is also the subject matter for one of the best war movies ever made, starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, James Coburn, and more. Key historical moments like this one deserve to be remembered on these important anniversaries. And God bless the U.S. Navy! … [Read more...]
GOP Senators Tell Boulder School Officials to Straighten Up
Update (6/5): Open blogging keyboard, insert foot. I clearly glossed over the problems with O'Reilly's reporting of the situation. Upon closer examination and analysis, he clearly has distorted the goings-on in Boulder (to be sensational? to fit the thesis of his book? I don't know). Boulder school officials aren't to be completely exculpated, but they have handled the matter more responsibly than the Fox News commentator has given them credit for doing. So, regretful apologies for my earlier misstatement, and hope this adds a little clarity. Republicans in the Colorado legislature have taken their turn now putting the heat on leaders of Boulder Valley School District for putting on a mandatory pro-sex, pro-drugs seminar for high school … [Read more...]