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Second Chance for McCain?

Yesterday, immediately following his successful Super Tuesday showing, I wrote that McCain needs to woo conservatives. A few hours later, we got this:Republican John McCain, buoyed by Super Tuesday wins that pushed him closer to the nomination, told his conservative critics Wednesday to dial back the animosity and focus on issues where they agree. ''I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there's areas we can agree on,'' McCain said at a news conference in a Phoenix airport hangar. [emphasis added] Not exactly a great start. In fact, it sounds a lot like the same old patronizing bit conservatives are used to hearing from Sen. McCain. … [Read more...]

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Mount Virtus Turns Four

I launched Mount Virtus four years ago today. On February 6, 2004, I was a complete neophyte in the world of blogging. Today, I am practically a blogging grandfather, but far from the bigtime. A lot has changed in four years. My how heady those early days were - ready to change the world, waiting for the 1,000th visitor, thrilled to receive a link or comment from anyone. (Someone noticed what I wrote?) Over the years, I've taken occasional breaks (never too long) from putting up posts here, and once or twice even contemplated letting it go. But here we are, two election cycles later, still hovered over my laptop, wearing my pajamas, typing away, trying to share a serious thought here and there. Okay, time to ditch the sentimentality … [Read more...]

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McCain Needs to Woo Conservatives

Since last night's results make it increasingly apparent that Sen. John McCain is not only the Republican front-runner but its putative nominee-to-be, here are some thoughts. Exit polls confirm the obvious - that McCain has a lot of work to do to woo conservatives. Mary Matalin (via KJ Lopez at the Corner) has some concrete ideas for what the McCain campaign can do to make it happen: … [Read more...]

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Arvada West Republican Caucus: Romney Territory

From my own little corner of the Colorado caucus: I've just returned from a gathering of six Republican precincts held at Arvada West High School. The turnout of 141 shattered all records from recent memory, though probably was outdone by the Democrats who met on the other half of campus. If our six precincts are anywhere near representative of the state of Colorado, it's a lock for Romney. I confirmed this unofficial vote tally with the district captain: Mitt Romney - 94 (67%) Mike Huckabee - 20 (14%) John McCain - 12 (9%) Ron Paul - 10 (7%) Uncommitted - 5 (4%) In a night across the country that looks to be less than decisive for any candidate in either major party, Colorado should go into the Romney column. We'll wait for … [Read more...]

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Caucus Confusion

Given the timing and popularity of this year's Presidential race, combined with the almost arcane political caucus process in this state, news like this is hardly surprising:State GOP chair Dick Wadhams reported this afternoon that the party had been beseiged with phone calls today, most from people trying to determine where they can caucus. One last time, the story provides helpful reminders for those looking to get involved this evening:Wadams [sic] said the party was expecting "very big attendance," at its caucuses which, as a reminder dear reader, begin at 7 p.m. Caucuses are run by political parties, not counties, but the good news is voters still have time to get to the right place. All Colorado caucuses are tonight. Those … [Read more...]

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Super Tuesday Post

Today is Super Tuesday and Caucus Day in Colorado. And that's why I find it surprising that my local blogging colleague Steven appears to be planning to sit out the Presidential vote:Politics as usual does not cut it for me. I need a candidate with true compassion, true conscience, true understanding, and the ability to reason. No candidate for President has demonstrated all these things that I can see. Not that these characteristics comprise anywhere near a complete resume for our nation's highest office. And trying to compare Hugh's show last night to push-polling? Not only absurd - I wouldn't say the MSM is push-polling for McCain - but sounds desperate, too, a lot like Huckabee's rhetoric of late. He's run as good a race as anyone … [Read more...]

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Harassing Union Tactics Unleashed by Ritter’s Executive Order

From the University of Colorado newspaper comes a story about union organizers accused of harassing state employees:Last week, human resource directors from many state agencies met with leaders from several unions to voice their concerns about union organizers' tactics, which some called over-aggressive. One union organizer, employed by Colorado WINS, was arrested in downtown Denver in November for allegedly trespassing on Regional Transportation District property after attempting to distribute leaflets in an adjacent private building where a state agency is located. In a more recent incident, a union organizer who visited a Department of Corrections (DOC) employee at home, found himself on the business end of a gun. (The DOC could not … [Read more...]

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Attend Your Caucus Tomorrow

Colorado's registered Republicans and Democrats, don't forget that tomorrow evening is caucus time - your chance to pick a Presidential candidate, make your voice heard, and elect the delegates to the county and state assembly. Looks like there will be unusually high interest in 2008. The Denver Post has the basic information here:Colorado voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can participate in Tuesday's party caucuses, as long as they were registered before Dec. 5. Here's how: Process: At a caucus, state political parties hold presidential preference polls and conduct other party business. Democrats require a candidate to receive at least 15 percent of the available votes. Republicans hold a straight vote. Schedule: Caucuses … [Read more...]

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Rasmussen: Romney 30, McCain 30 … Where’s the Momentum?

Any fellow Romney for President supporters (or anyone not too excited by the prospect of McCain at the top of the GOP ticket) looking for a little good news heading into the Super Tuesday showdown, look here (H/T Michelle Malkin):In the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination, it’s John McCain at 30%, Mitt Romney at 30%, and Mike Huckabee at 21%. Ron Paul is supported by 5% of Likely Republican Primary Voters....Romney leads by sixteen percentage points among conservatives while McCain has a two-to-one advantage among moderate Primary Voters. Considering the "no-bounce" trend of this race over the past month, the McCain momentum meme may be mostly a myth (how do you like the alliteration?). This race isn't over yet, and may … [Read more...]