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Samsphere: Windy City Blogging

I have accepted an invitation to appear at a national conference of free market / limited-government bloggers. It's off to the 1st Annual Samsphere Chicago event this weekend:Samsphere is a new media forum, hosted by the Sam Adams Alliance, where bloggers and e-activists from across the country can gather together to network and share ideas. Samsphere will be specifically geared toward bloggers and e-activists who focus on local and state-level politics, and who are dedicated to the principles of individual freedom and limited government. For the hard-core Lefties, yes, Samsphere is the shadowy Vast Right Wing Conspiracy in action. For the rest of my readers, it's not so secretive as all that. It will be an opportunity to expand the … [Read more...]

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Union Bosses Act Like State Property Owners Under Ritter’s Order

Face the State has the skinny on "Colorado WINS" union bosses acting like they own state government property:An executive order, signed by Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, last November, empowered unions to serve as “exclusive representatives” of state employees for the purposes of forming “employee partnerships.” Days after the order, a coalition of three major unions – CAPE-SEIU, AFSCME, and the American Federation of Teachers – announced a cooperative agreement to organize state workers under the name "Colorado WINS." After hearing from state employees that Colorado WINS is aggressively trying to organize an election, Face The State attempted to attend an on-site meeting between the union and state employees. Face The State … [Read more...]

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Colorado Confidential Accuses U.S. Military Personnel of “Murder”?

Today Colorado Confidential published a story by Kate Bernuth about a controversy developing at a small private Denver school. It starts as a typical foray into agenda journalism for the heavily Left-leaning site:At a tiny international school in southeast Denver, a conflict is playing out that reflects, in a microcosm, the wider divisions in American society as the nation enters the sixth year of a bloody, unpopular war. A display of photographs and a statement by the Iranian artist in the halls of Colorado International School has caused a dust-up between administrators and an outraged parent who accuses the school of spreading "anti-American propaganda." Every month at this language-immersion school of 44 students, most of whom are … [Read more...]

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“Democrat” Label Featured Less in Scandal Reporting: More Proof

Any fair-minded and honest observer of political events knows that neither major party has cornered the market on scandals. Public officials elected both as Republicans and Democrats have been exposed for various types of corruption, malfeasance, and other prominent moral failings. So why are major media outlets so unbalanced in their presentation? Sure, anytime there is a salacious scandal or other revelation that results in the resignation of a big-city mayor, governor, or member of Congress, the news has to talk about it. But there has been a clear and measurable tendency on the media's part to ignore the party label far more when the story is about a Democrat. More proof emerges today: My Independence Institute colleague David … [Read more...]

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Good Friday

Serious reflections for Good Friday (all passages from the New American Standard Bible): Romans 5:6-9 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. I Peter 2:21-24 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He … [Read more...]

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Putting Iraq in Perspective

Today's lead editorial in the Wall Street Journal puts our five-year-long war in Iraq in perspective - surveying where we've come from, where we are today, and what the near future portends. The editorial, which deserves perusal from beginning to end, concludes:In our March 18, 2003 editorial on the eve of Iraq's liberation, we supported the war while noting that "toppling Saddam is a long-term undertaking" and "the U.S. has never been good at nation-building." We wish we had been wrong on both counts, but our view has always been that nations shouldn't begin wars they don't intend to win. And newspapers don't endorse wars only to walk away when the fighting gets difficult. The U.S. sacrifice in Iraq has been honorable, our soldiers have … [Read more...]

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Bracketology

When it comes to March Madness, the truth is I never learn. No matter whether I follow the season closely or guess at random, my picks are always mediocre at best. Yet each year I come back to the NCAA Tournament Brackets like a sheep to the slaughter. This year is no different. I filled out two different brackets on ESPN, made picks on Facebook's CBS and Sports Illustrated applications, and even decided to accept the McCain Basketball Brackets challenge. We're only a couple hours away from the first game tipping off. How long before my brackets implode in failure? It's just one more piece of the fun and entertainment of March Madness. … [Read more...]

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Passion Week: Thursday

Today we remember the Last Supper and Christ's betrayal. Though there are many passages to choose from, in particular I am reminded of the Savior's ultimate example of service and his incomparably fervent prayer (both from the New American Standard Bible): John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Luke 22:41-44 And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, … [Read more...]