The former career .230 American League hitter who runs in Denver's liberal circles shares an interesting observation about Governor Bill Ritter's newly-appointed Senator:I've now heard the same concern raised about Michael Bennet by three different Denver political insiders. Namely, can he win the support of Hispanics in Denver? I'd say the growing conventional wisdom amongst some Bennet pessimists is that he stands little chance of wooing the Latino vote after his tenure at DPS. Not sure how much stock to put in this assessment. But if Republicans are paying attention and see an opportunity to win some more Hispanic votes (and ultimately a U.S. Senate seat) in 2010, Tom Tancredo most likely isn't the guy to carry the party banner. The … [Read more...]
Random Thought on New Broncos Coach: Being 32 and Looking 25
So it's 32-year-old New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. I relate perfectly to this observation:"If he were going to get the job, I would say without exception the players would be surprised when he walks through the door," former Patriots tight end Kyle Brady said in a Denver Post interview last week. "Their first thought will be, 'Who is this kid?' Because even for a 32-year-old, he looks 25. Yep. Pretty much perfectly. It goes without saying that McDaniels will be a better NFL head coach than I would be. The real question is how well he will do in the great Mike Shanahan's shadow? An interesting storyline for 2009. … [Read more...]
Bon Voyage: Kathleen Parker Set Adrift from All Conservative Moorings?
I have had to defend my critical assessment of a Kathleen Parker post-election column sloppily aimed with disdain at social conservatives. Within that debate, even I have been inclined to see what she wrote as part of an internal squabble within the larger conservative Republican movement. But if Parker's most recent writing is any indication, it would seem she has no real conservative moorings on fiscal issues, either. You simply have to read it all, as no excerpt sufficiently captures the overtones wrapped insider her ambivalent - and sometimes confused - rhetoric. I agree with Michael: Many messengers of the conservative movement are stuck on old themes, when a newly-crafted message is what's needed. However, as Kathleen Parker … [Read more...]
Needed Today: Rossputin’s Explanation of the New Deal’s Ill Economic Effects
Some cliches are just that because they pack so much truth, they become a frequent, handy reference. One of my favorites (originally attributed to conservative thinker George Santayana) is: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I can't think of anything more relevant to our current national political debate than this thoughtful and well-documented essay posted by Ross Kaminsky at Politics West: "The New Deal was a raw deal for the American economy". These days, the point can't be hammered home enough. As of yet, I've seen little signs that any significant number of our leaders in Washington - many Republicans and nearly all Democrats - have paid attention to this historical lesson. The ramifications may be … [Read more...]
Less than Independent Michael Bennet Invites Fresh, Articulate GOP Opponent
In his Rocky Mountain News column today, Vince Carroll points out that Bill Ritter's new U.S. Senate designate Michael Bennet hasn't shown much in the way of original, independent thought thus far:I've listened to Bennet speak about education issues often enough to appreciate his intelligence and what I sense is an independent mind. And I really didn't expect to see evidence of the latter in these early days. But if he's going to make a case across Colorado for his election in 2010, he'll have to prove he's his own man. And what better way to achieve this than for him to trample on a few of his own party's shibboleths? Once he's been safely sworn in, of course. Looking ahead, Colorado Republicans in 2010 need to rally around a fresh, … [Read more...]
Cooler Heads: Barack Obama’s “Energy Czar” a Card-Carrying Socialist
For those who may be laboring under the misconception that President-elect Barack Obama is leaning exclusively to the political center in his administrative appointments, Cooler Heads notes that the new "energy czar" Carol Browner is a card-carrying Socialist. Our work is cut out for us. … [Read more...]
Complete Colorado Offers Up Top 10 Political (& Non-Political) Stories of 2008
On New Years Day, CompleteColorado.com's Todd Shepherd (also a colleague of mine at the Independence Institute) shared his respective lists of Colorado's Top 10 political and non-political stories of 2008 with AM 740 KVOR guest talk radio host Jeff Crank (H/T El Presidente). A few of Todd's entries may take you by surprise, or trigger something lost in the memory banks. The entire broadcast is nearly an hour long, but any time you can give will glean some interesting perspectives: And if you haven't bookmarked Complete Colorado for regular stops, now is a good time to do so. … [Read more...]
Fiscally Conservative Kevin Lundberg Merits Nod for State Senate Seat
I see the upcoming showdown over the appointment to replace state senator Steve Johnson as a real testing ground: Do Republicans want well-qualified and proven fiscal conservatives of class and character - regardless of their views on social issues - or do they just want to toss officials overboard for their socially conservative views? Estes Park's Jon Nicholas gets it right: state representative Kevin Lundberg is the right person to fill Johnson's seat. Especially if Nicholas' observations (one technical error aside) about Lundberg's less well-known rivals indeed are correct: … [Read more...]
Upside of a Typically Cold Birthday
Another Christmas. Another New Year. Another birthday. Time marches on. Rare are the birthdays I've spent without ice, snow, and/or freezing cold temperatures. It's usually why I don't want to dwell here too long. Upside? The days are getting longer, and the hope for change lies around the corner. … [Read more...]
How Much Does It Cost to Pay the IRS a Nickel Owed for Federal Taxes?
Did you hear the one about the Internal Revenue Service, a trial lawyer, and loose pocket change? A true - and telling - story in today's Detroit Free Press:In mid-November, [Detroit criminal defense attorney James] Howarth received notice that his FICA account, even after an adjustment, was out of whack. He owed the IRS a nickel. And the IRS was serious. It advised him to act promptly "to avoid additional penalty and/or interest." Howarth started calculating how much that nickel was going to cost him. As he figures it, there is the 5 cents plus the cost of a check -- payment must be made by check or money order. Then there is his CPA's fee, an envelope, his secretary's time, his own time and a 42-cent stamp. "The costs are … [Read more...]
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