Complete Colorado has broken a story on Democrat state senate president Brandon Shaffer using state email resources to endorse John Hickenlooper for governor. As noted:State resources cannot be used to conduct or further political campaigns for office. Last fall Colorado Pols spent a lot of energy making hay out of the fact that then-gubernatorial candidate Josh Penry sent a campaign email to some unwanted state government addresses, noting:And it's not against the law to send electioneering emails to a government address, sending electioneering emails from one would be the problem. I'm sure Pols will be equally zealous about criticizing Brandon Shaffer for this obvious wrongdoing. Right? More importantly, what will Shaffer do? And … [Read more...]
Archives for 2010
Rasmussen Shows Massachusetts GOPmentum: Coakley 49, Brown 47
While I agree with Don Johnson that Republican Scott Brown is still the underdog in the Massachusetts special election to fill Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat, the latest Rasmussen poll showing some powerful Brown momentum against Martha Coakley (shaving the lead from 9 points to 2 in less than a week) gives me greater hope. And I'm not alone. The conservative gang over at Red State is fired up with confidence (apparently Democratic internal poll numbers are plummeting, too, and signs of panic in the Coakley camp are growing evident). Less than a week now to see how this plays out and affects Obama Care and sets the stage for the 2010 national elections. No doubt this is an important race, and one I'll continue to keep a close eye on. … [Read more...]
Colorado GOP Leaders Show Serious Face Entering Legislative Session
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: … [Read more...]
Avatar Movie Might Do Some Eternal Good in Spite of Itself
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 … [Read more...]
Treasurer Candidate Ali Hasan’s Approach Misguided, Attacks Unserious
It was disappointing to see a copy of the latest Colorado Statesman and read the headline: "Hasan opens treasurer's race by attacking his foes." Just last week I welcomed Ali Hasan to the Republican state treasurer's primary and re-issued the admonition to stay focused on incumbent Cary Kennedy. Not that Hasan or any other candidate has any special need to defer to my wishes. But in a potentially promising year for Republicans and fiscal conservatives, with an incumbent Democrat at the end of the tunnel, the advice is very sound. So seeing the newcomer to the race blasting fellow Republicans J.J. Ament and Walker Stapleton as "fiscal liberals" in the first paragraph of the story just about made my head spin. Reading the substance of … [Read more...]
Pick Your Dem Guv Nominee: Hickenlooper? Romanoff? Kennedy?
Who can keep up with the rumors flying around Colorado as far as which Democrats will step up to the plate to run for governor? If this National Journal posting by Erin McPike is to be believed, we're down to the possibilities of: Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, everyone's odds-on favorite at this point to actually get into the race Former state house speaker Andrew Romanoff, who is being lured from his U.S. Senate primary challenge of the appointed Michael Bennet and may take on Hick head-to-head State treasurer Cary Kennedy, who apparently "may be interested" Of course, if you want to sound off on who may or may not make a more formidable opponent for the GOP, please feel free to sound off on our new survey before Friday, January … [Read more...]
GOP Candidate Ryan Frazier to Report Strong 4th Quarter Fundraising
If nothing else, Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter's timing is pretty good. He officially pulled the plug on rumors that he might step up and run for governor, so he can focus on a tough race to keep his seat. Today word has leaked to Mount Virtus that Perlmutter's top Republican challenger Ryan Frazier had a strong fundraising quarter to close 2009: More than $215,000 brought in from October to December with more than $275,000 cash on hand. But deeper inside the numbers, the more telling information is that 90 percent of Frazier's contributions came from in-state sources, and more than 98 percent came in as contributions from individuals. Compared to incumbent Ed Perlmutter, who through the previous fundraising period has raked in … [Read more...]
Come to Defend Colorado from Obama Care Rally on Tuesday, January 19
There are multiple fronts in which to fight the increasingly unpopular Obama Care legislation being hammered out behind closed doors in Washington, D.C. One is still somewhat of a longshot: to win a 41st vote in the Senate in the January 19 Massachusetts special election. On the same day, Coloradans can help fight Obama Care on another front. Right now headlining the Independence Institute website (disclosure: my employer) is an important announcement: Next Tuesday, January 19, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol will be the "Defend Colorado from Obama Care" rally. Featured speakers so far include I.I. president Jon Caldara and state representative Cindy Acree, with more likely to come. Be there … [Read more...]
Scott Brown “Massachusetts Miracle” Could Spell Doom for Michael Bennet
So I take a weekend away from blogging, and the national political landscape quaked with a Democrat-sponsored poll showing Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown in a statistical dead heat with Democrat Martha Coakley. Yes: in Massachusetts! Now let's be honest: odds are still against a GOP win in the Bay State, but the fact that victory is in the sights a week before the special election to replace Ted Kennedy sends a loud message in itself. Now word leaks that the Democrats actually are considering delay of seating Brown, should he win, to take another step toward cramming Obama Care down our collective throats. Redstate blogger Dan Perrin aptly describes the political consequences of such a tactic as "lighting a torch while standing is … [Read more...]
Dem Legislator Edward Vigil on Party’s Likely Nominee: “What the Hick?”
Some Right-leaning bloggers have raised concerns that the likely new Democratic nominee for Colorado governor -- Denver mayor John Hickenlooper -- may be too liberal to win a statewide election. But it took fellow Democrat state lawmaker Edward Vigil to question Hickenlooper's familiarity with rural Colorado and ask: "What the Hick is going for governor? Does he know there is a rural Colorado? Has he been past Colorado Springs?" I'm not exactly taking notes here. It's not like the thought hadn't crossed anyone else's mind. But sometimes discerning observations speak more loudly when you consider the source. … [Read more...]