One sentence from this Rocky Mountain News story jumped off the page: [Governor Bill] Owens has endorsed [Kiki] Traylor in the Tuesday primary. What is a sitting Republican governor doing endorsing a candidate in a competitive primary? Or more specifically, what is he doing endorsing the least conservative (by far) of the candidates in a three-way race for a safe Republican seat? The anticipated answer is that only the conservative wing of the GOP can be divisive - and frankly, I'm sick of hearing that fabrication. So let's dispel that argument right here and now. None of the three candidates (Traylor, Mike Kopp, and Justin Everett) has ever won an election, though Traylor was appointed by a hand-selected insider committee of … [Read more...]
NYT Memo to Romanoff: An Education Reform to Consider
Recently, Colorado Speaker Andrew Romanoff announced his intention to convene a task force to look at the recommendations for transforming the education system made by The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce and propose a plan for Colorado. One other eminent source for ideas may be the New York Times editorial board, which today has advocated for the abolition of union-protected teacher seniority rights that often keep the most effective instructors from the neediest schools and students (H/T Edspresso): Talented novices, with no seniority rights to protect them, often quit the field after being shunted from one place to another. Others give up on the urban school systems where the bumping process is most prevalent … [Read more...]
Primary Night: A Mixed Bag
A mixed bag of results, mostly good, from my point of view. Everyone has heard by now that Joe Lieberman lost to Ned Lamont and the left-wing nutroots of the Democratic Party. John McIntyre of Real Clear Politics explains why this is a disastrous path for the Democrats to follow. Over in Michigan (a nice place to be from, let me tell you), the Club for Growth and fiscal conservatives scored a significant victory as Tim Walberg unseated one-term incumbent Republican Congressman Joe Schwarz in the 7th District primary. Two years ago Schwarz won 29% in a crowded field with five conservative opponents. Last night, he went one-on-one against a conservative and lost. Even the endorsement of President Bush and John McCain couldn't get him … [Read more...]
I’m Back … Ritter, Wadhams, a Crazy 2007 Comes
First of all, the break is over. I come back to blogging older (literally) and wiser (my wife may disagree), and ready for the trench warfare of Colorado politics that commences today - fully aware that our side is outnumbered in the local blogosphere but undaunted by the challenge. Kudos to our new governor Bill Ritter. I wish him good health and personal happiness, though not so much political success. This blog will do its part to hold him to account and to make sure he and the legislature are doing what's best for the people of Colorado, not special interest groups. On Ritter's big day, the Denver Post gives a little space to report that earlier rumors indeed were true: Dick Wadhams has his eyes on the state party … [Read more...]
Beauprez on Track on Education
Overlooked due to the timing of Bob Beauprez's announcement of a lieutenant governor running mate this week, the Congressman from the 7th District also has sponsored an important piece of education legislation, as highlighted by Dan Lips of the Heritage Foundation: It's been said that everything old becomes new again. This is proving true in the federal education reform debate. A conservative congressman has introduced new legislation based on an old idea: local control over education. In July, Representative Bob Beauprez (R-CO) introduced the Partnership for Academic Success in the States Act, or PASS Act, to restore greater state and local control in education. With bipartisan frustration with No Child Left Behind growing, the PASS … [Read more...]
Ritter’s Education Message Left Wanting
In yesterday's State of the State address, newly-minted Governor Bill Ritter's remarks came with little suspense and offered no surprises. But supporters of freedom and parental choice may demand answers yet. Congratulations are to be given for the positive tone and the ambitious goals, such as cutting the dropout rate in half. But the general outline for how to get Colorado there is where some problems are going to arise. First, what did he say? "We're going to align our educational programs with today's competitive global marketplace. We're going to prepare our students for 21st century industries - 21st century opportunities - like renewable energy, aerospace and biomedicine." Sounds like the preface to this new national report, which … [Read more...]
On the Rosen Show
I will be on the air with guest host Jon Caldara at 11 AM today to talk about the Colorado Secretary of State's new rules that recognize individual rights to determine whether their dues money should be spent on political campaigns. The information is highlighted on the Independence Institute's new educational Web site - TheyMustAsk.com. You can listen live to the radio show by going to the 850 KOA Web site. For the most recent developments related top this story, please read Peter Blake's column in Saturday's Rocky Mountain News. Then ask yourself: what can you learn about a group whose leaders would protest having to ask your permission before spending your money on the political campaigns they choose? You decide. … [Read more...]
Colorado Dems Repaying Favors to Union Bosses?
The newly expanded Democrat power base in Denver stands poised to repay the union bosses who joined ultraliberal benefactors Tim Gill and Pat Stryker in helping to buy their recent elections. Introduced this week in the Colorado state legislature is House Bill 1072 by Democrat Rep. Michael Garcia, which would eliminate the requirement that a majority of workers has to cast a ballot to approve a union agreement to create a closed shop and collect agency fees. That's right: in other words, union bosses and their Democrat allies just want to assume the financial support of the average working man without even holding an honest election first. Of course, federal law as it stands now would supersede the state legislation, keeping the majority … [Read more...]
In Case You Missed It…
...And really want to hear me talk with Jon Caldara on yesterday's Mike Rosen Show about the Secretary of State's new rules, the podcast version is up on the 850 KOA site. Go to the Rosen Replay page and look for the following description: Misleading ads try to prevent union members from having ability to refuse to have their dues go for political causes. I share this announcement not because I think readers will be enthralled with the dulcet tones of my radio voice but that you will latch onto this important information and pass it on. … [Read more...]
Paula Noonan Clarifies
Thank you to Democrat Senate District 22 candidate Paula Noonan for taking the time to respond to my post on her heated election campaign with some clarifying comments. I responded to some of her remarks in the comment box. Additionally, some of her claims could not be independently verified and may deserve further scrutiny (e.g., I can find no evidence that Sheriff Ted Mink has withdrawn support from Mike Kopp's campaign). Of course, it is a little late for the purposes of this election to unearth these claims, unless one of my readers has a source. Or what does anyone think about invoking the name of Ted Haggard to attack Mike? … [Read more...]
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