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Michael Bennet Gets Some Small Redemption from SEIU Endorsement

A good reminder that not only is Big Labor anything but monolithic but also that the Democrats potentially face a very competitive primary for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat: The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has endorsed the Appointed One, Michael Bennet. While rival Andrew Romanoff has won backing from the Teamsters and UFCW, Bennet at least finally has gained something for putting his neck out to try to ram Obama Care through Congress. Interestingly, The Atlantic (edited by Michael Bennet's brother) reports the same story about the SEIU endorsement and then selectively notes: … [Read more...]

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A Good Week for Jimmy Lakey: GOP Three-Way Race in Colorado’s 7th CD?

It's been a big week so far for GOP 7th Congressional candidate Jimmy Lakey. On Sunday he won a plurality of votes from viewers of the North Denver candidate forum. Then today, word broke on the liberal Colorado Pols blog that Tom Tancredo is endorsing Lakey -- though no confirmation as of yet has been published by the candidate himself. Finally, Jimmy Lakey was introduced to a national audience in a one-segment appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show. In general, Lakey came across well on the interview, though the format was too tight to be very informative to the general listener. My gripe is with the interviewer, and reminded me of why I had stopped listening to Hugh's drive-time program for many weeks. Tom Lucero isn't the only (or … [Read more...]

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Bill Ritter Signs Tax Hikes Into Law, Clock Ticking on State Democrat Rule

This day was coming sooner rather than later: Governor Bill Ritter retreated to a private room to sign into law nine anti-business, job-killing tax hike bills. This action completes the trifecta of Democrat one-party rule under Colorado's Golden Dome. On February 1, all Democrats in the state house voted to push through at least one of the tax hikes (and all but one voted for a majority of them) -- including vulnerable incumbent Representatives Sara Gagliardi, Dianne Primavera, Dennis Apuan, Christine Scanlan, Jim Riesberg and Randy Fischer. Then on February 10, all but one Democrat state senator jumped on board to support the "dirty dozen" -- including Bruce Whitehead, Linda Newell and Lois Tochtrop. Two weeks later to the day we … [Read more...]

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Lobbying Groups Want Taxpayers to Underwrite Their School Funding Lawsuit Against the State of Colorado

About four months ago the Colorado Supreme Court decided that judges have a role in deciding how the state's public schools are funded. In a Colorado Daily column I explained why this decision in the Lobato case was bad policy and a dangerous precedent. You also can listen to Professor Joshua Dunn bring his expertise to bear for an 8-minute iVoices podcast we recorded last October -- click the play button or follow this link: One of the big takeaways from Dunn's conversation is that most states realize the bad policy and bad consequences of adequacy lawsuits and are moving away from them. Colorado is out of sync for its courts to be sanctioning such action. So why am I bringing up the Lobato case today? It seems that the … [Read more...]

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A Remarkable Political Year to Talk Seriously about Candidate Dan Maes

In case you hadn't noticed, this isn't a normal election year. If it weren't 2010, a political outsider like Dan Maes arrayed against the political establishment, tons of money and a campaign organization would be little more than a nice guy also-ran, and yesterday's Denver Post piece would be pure fantasy:Although Maes had no previous political experience, a cultural movement was forming across the country with a focus on pressuring the Republican Party to return to its core conservative values and principles. That movement played a substantial role in elevating Maes' campaign from a "no chance" to a "what if." "My base emerged while I was looking for a base," Maes said. "I had a message and they had a message, and it was the … [Read more...]

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North Denver Candidate Search 2010: Your Don’t-Miss Weekend Event

This event Sunday is one you don't want to miss:North Denver Candidate Search 2010 Forum A forum hosted by the people, for the people. Sunday, February 21, 2010 Doors open at 2:00 p.m. Forum starts at 2:30 p.m. The Pinnacle Events Center 1001 West 84th Avenue Denver, CO 80260 (Located 10 blocks west of I-25 on 84th Avenue. It is on the north side of 84th Avenue, and has more than ample parking) $5.00 admission fee. There will be door prizes. Seating is limited - consider registering earlier rather than later. … [Read more...]

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Tea Party Movement Still Rising One Year After Rick Santelli’s Famous Rant

A quick retrospective on a crystallizing moment for the still-nascent Tea Party movement that looms so large over the Colorado and American political landscape today. The grassroots upswell against Washington D.C.'s big government bailout and spending sprees already had started to take shape and pick up steam, when one year ago today CNBC's Rick Santelli delivered his famous rant on the floor of the Chicago Merchantile Exchange, delivering a name that has stuck to a movement -- and has been embraced with pride: … [Read more...]

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Anti-IRS Domestic Terrorist Suicide Attack Time for Moral Clarity

So today we have the sad story of a frustrated nutcase named Joseph Stack who committed suicide by flying his plane into an Austin, TX, building that houses some IRS offices -- after leaving behind a rambling manifesto. Hopefully a singular outlier, and not an inspiration or the start of a trend in these trying economic times. Hot Air's Allahpundit deconstructs Washington Post contributor Jonathan Capehart's column, which insinuates some sort of connection with the Tea Party movement and omits key passages and phrases that show the suicide attacker was anything but a lockstep Right-winger. Closer to home, we have John Tomasic at the Colorado Independent. To his credit, Tomasic notes that Stack "was not right or left." But then he … [Read more...]

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Mr. President, Welcome to Denver

One year and one day after President Obama came to Denver to sign away hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars into generational debt for the creation of some government jobs (and in the process, taking out some in the private sector), he's coming back. This time Obama will be here to help save another job: the political career of the Appointed One, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Republicans and liberty-loving Coloradans aren't frightened by the visit. Probable GOP nominee and Bennet challenge Jane Norton shows as much, taking to the airwaves. Can anyone say Chris Christie? Scott Brown? Hey, CNN polling now shows even the President's own political future in jeopardy with the American people. The more public the appearance, the more Obama … [Read more...]