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Hard to Overlook: Obama’s Glaring Broken Promise on Bill Transparency

It's very hard for the online political activist, much less the average citizen, to keep track of all the Obama deceptions and misdirections. And what about the broken promises? You know, like the pledge to post all bills online for five days for the public to read before the President signed anything. Well, the Cato Institute's Jim Harper lays it out in detail: A little over 240 days in, the Obama White House is 1-for-61 in keeping this basic promise. As Harper notes, "That’s a .016 average, baseball fans." In most cases, he notes that it would have been very easy to do. That kind of slump should put somebody on the bench ... and we're not talking the federal court system here. And besides, lately there have been more important … [Read more...]

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Boulder Teachers Prepare to Walk Over Strike Precipice … For What Now?

Update, 1:40 PM: Westword's Michael Roberts notes that the Boulder Valley Education Association president is sending different messages about the possibility of a strike to members and the media. (H/T Complete Colorado) The Daily Camera reports today that the Boulder Valley Education Association has filed official notice of the intent to strike. Which doesn't necessarily mean a strike will happen or will happen imminently, but raises the specter of crossing picket lines to get to classrooms. Colorado's Labor Peace Act (PDF) requires a 40-day notice in the filing of intent to strike. That puts us right into early November. In the meantime, the director of the state's Department of Labor is obligated to issue a ruling whether he … [Read more...]

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Jon Caldara Groupies of the World, Unite on October 8 at Golden Hotel

Pay attention, all you Jon Caldara groupies. Next Thursday is your big chance to schmooze with Jon and "the good folks behind our TV show Independent Thinking." A $10 donation to KBDI gets you into the Golden Hotel on October 8 from 6-9 PM for this special event. Come if you can (it won't be Friday night, so no need to be stuck in front of your TV set watching medium-brow local PBS public affairs broadcasting), and spread the word. … [Read more...]

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Wake Up and Check Out R Block Party’s Sept. 24th Candidate Enclave

If you're a concerned citizen who wants to get active in the political process and you're anywhere around the south Denver metro area tomorrow evening (Thursday, September 24), check out the R Block Party meeting at Littleton's Bemis Public Library. Not only will local candidates be featured but Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls Jane Norton and Tom Wiens are slated to be in attendance. RSVP to rblockparty@comcast.net. But don't just show up. Ask questions. Get involved. Because maybe -- just maybe -- (as my Independence Institute colleague Jessica Corry suggests) this could be the year the people woke up. … [Read more...]

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Josh Penry, Colorado’s Next Governor, Makes Another National Splash

Quickly working to establish himself as the Republican frontrunner to challenge Bill Ritter for governor in 2010, Josh Penry -- whom I am not ashamed to admit I support -- once again is drawing attention in the national press. Take a minute to check out yesterday's Christian Science Monitor piece: "The 33-year-old who would be Colorado's next governor". Need more reason to read the article? Find out what Josh Penry has to say about Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal. Gotcha, didn't I? … [Read more...]

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Friday Quick Hits: Two Coloradans Address the Perils of Obama Care

It's October, and the health care debate presses on. Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee joined Republicans to vote down the so-called "public option"; meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has adamantly come out stating that health care reform indeed will take the big step toward a government takeover. Against this backdrop of events are two great new columns you should read: My Independence Institute colleague Jessica Corry writes for Human Events on the human cost of Canadian socialized medicine Dr. Paul Hsieh eloquently explains "the real stakes" of the national health care debate in a new Denver Post piece Just two of the many Coloradans speaking up loudly and clearly for individual rights and medical sanity -- … [Read more...]

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Stephanie Villafuerte Nomination Resurrects Voorhis Affair for Bill Ritter

From today's Denver Post:President Barack Obama has nominated Stephanie Villafuerte to be Colorado's next U.S. Attorney. Villafuerte, currently deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bill Ritter, previously served as Denver's chief deputy district attorney. She worked on Ritter's campaign and has focused on community outreach as his deputy chief of staff. [emphasis added] Remember Stephanie Villafuerte? Still scratching your head? While with Ritter's 2006 gubernatorial campaign, she worked with the Denver DA's office as they accessed the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database to go after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Cory Voorhis. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation went after Cory Voorhis for accessing the … [Read more...]

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Just How Hard for Scott McInnis to Find His Way to the Governor’s Office?

Update, 10/5: At least one person has informed me they received a message with the incorrect address, followed more than a day later by a message with the correct address. As long as everyone can find the shining golden dome downtown.... Did anyone else out there get a robocall this weekend from the Scott McInnis for Governor campaign, announcing a Monday event kicking off a statewide tour? A friend who received the call told me that the voice on the message was from McInnis' wife: "Twice she stated that Scott will be speaking at the State Capitol located at 20th and Broadway." Say what? That would be only about five blocks off. I know that the early success of primary rival Josh Penry may have thrown McInnis off track a bit, but … [Read more...]

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Historic Hillsdale Homecoming Win: Chargers Down No. 1 GVSU Lakers

You'll grant me a few indulgences for posting this one -- after all, how often do I bother to write about my alma mater's athletic feats? Not too often, I can assure you. But what happened yesterday in the old Hills & Dales on homecoming rates among the most historic gridiron happenings on Muddy Waters Field: the Chargers toppled the number 1 team in Division II, the perennial powerhouse Grand Valley State Lakers, 27-24. Well, historic enough to make the Detroit News, anyway. The last time Hillsdale beat conference foe Grand Valley? Fifteen years ago, the year before I began my (non-athletic) college career. True, because it certainly didn't happen during my brief tenures as sports editor for both the Hillsdale Collegian (1997) and … [Read more...]