Former state senate Republican leader Mark Hillman, an indisputable and articulate conservative, as well as a respected friend, has written a piece for Backbone America titled "If Principles Matter, So Does McCain." Follow the link to follow his reasoning, but most notable is his conclusion:Conservatives generally recognize short-sighted self-indulgence when practiced by others. Now many conservatives are in danger of practicing a suicidal self-indulgence of their own. We must put aside self-pity and frustration and do what we always have done: choose the right and responsible course for our country. If instead we purposefully withhold our votes to gratify our personal pride and prejudice, the surrendered freedoms, suffocating tax … [Read more...]
Scandal Alert: Disturbing Allegations about State Lawmaker
Face the State was first to report it:Assistant House Majority Leader Mike Garcia, D-Aurora, is facing accusations that he exposed himself to a female lobbyist while making lewd comments after a political fundraiser earlier this month. Quickly followed by the Denver Post:A lobbyist is accusing House Assistant Majority Leader Michael Garcia of exposing himself to her and making lewd comments at a bar. Garcia did not return calls seeking comment, and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff refused to answer questions today about the allegations. The allegations are disturbing. Politically speaking then, the responsible approach would be for Rep. Garcia to refute them quickly, firmly, and clearly, or to resign both from his leadership position … [Read more...]
Teachers Union Getting Ready to Ask Permission to Run Its Own School
Following the Bruce Randolph and Manual HS episode in Denver, the teachers union now says it has a proposal coming to run its own school:Denver's teachers union plans to submit a proposal this spring to create its own school, hoping to launch a teacher-led demonstration site for how to improve student achievement. "Teachers are supportive of reform," Kim Ursetta, president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, said Tuesday. "We have ideas how to improve student achievement and we want an opportunity to put our ideas forward." More power to them. Given an ideal public education system guided by parental/consumer choice where the money followed the child based on need and local schools had autonomy over employment, curriculum, … [Read more...]
The Democrat Primary Goes On…
Hillary Clinton bests Barack Obama on Super Tuesday Part II. Though still trailing in the delegate count, she has the momentum and the talking points. Meanwhile, Obama is weighted down all of a sudden with scandal and controversy. Both still have plenty of money to continue their brutal internecine political fistfight at least until Pennsylvania in April 22 - and probably beyond. Can't say it makes this blogger feel bad. Two points: 1. Many are going to overestimate the effect conservative cross-over voters had on Hillary's win in Texas. She won anyway, though with maybe a one-half to one percent increase in the final margin. 2. Attempts by Rep. Ed Perlmutter and other Colorado Democrat leaders to assure Democrat voters about the … [Read more...]
Bipartisan Education Reform Proposal a Threat to Union Power
The Denver Post reports today that Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver, has filed a piece of legislation that already has started to cause shockwaves among the education establishment:A bill that would give traditional Colorado schools the flexibility to operate more like charter schools and allow them to be removed from union agreements was introduced into the legislature Thursday. Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver, submitted the "Innovation Schools Act of 2008," which would give schools control over their budgets, hiring decisions and length of the school day and calendar. The bill would relieve schools from, among other things, having to follow state statutes regarding teacher pay and hiring. "There is a laundry list of … [Read more...]
Here’s Your Chance to Hear the Scoop on Unions in Colorado
If you missed my live online radio interview earlier today on Gov. Ritter and Colorado union issues, you can still listen to the show. The one-hour edition of RighTalk radio's "Leave Us Alone" program will replay every hour up to noon local time tomorrow (Thursday, February 21). So you can head over now to RighTalk and hear what you missed. I'm on from about 5 minutes past the hour to 42 minutes past the hour. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Moloney: Look to the History of American Teacher Unions
Why did the Denver teachers union throw itself in the way of a request sought by teachers and school leaders for autonomy? In a column today for the Rocky Mountain News, former state education commissioner Dr. William Moloney adds some badly needed historical perspective:As this tragedy unfolds, observers sigh and say, "Oh, that's just the way all teachers unions behave." Not so! It's just the way American teachers unions behave, and it is profoundly important for public policy-makers to understand this critical distinction. The whole article is worth a perusal. It will help explain union opposition to the new Innovation Schools Act, too. … [Read more...]
Democrats Kill Scholarship Bill for Special-Needs Students
The party of compassion (aka Democrats) shows one of its true weaknesses - more compassion for the established interest groups that run our education system than for kids with special needs and their families:Waving off pleas to give parents more educational options for children with special needs, majority Democrats on a Senate committee today thwarted a Republican bill offering tuition assistance so those kids can attend private schools. Senate Bill 142--authored by assistant Senate GOP leader Nancy Spence, and sponsored in the House by Republican Rep. Spencer Swalm--would have started a pilot program in Denver Public Schools granting $3,000 in public funding toward the private-schooling of any child who isn't being well served by a … [Read more...]
Corry Calls Huttner to Higher Plane of Political Discourse
In her latest "Mad Voter" diary, my friend and colleague Jessica Corry launched a witty and skillful rebuke of Michael Huttner's radical gutter politics, which she cites as demeaning to the women she has invited to join her "Blonde Republican Activists" club:Indeed, the vast majority of women live in an incredible era of limitless choices. And it is men we should be pitying, especially those like Huttner who dream of building their power base by promoting hostility, self-victimization and rage. I won't suggest that Huttner "hates" women. He just believes we're so stupid and so incapable of thinking for ourselves that we need men to stand up for us. Perhaps he can explain himself at BRAs first organizational meeting. She ably … [Read more...]
For Those Still Interested in Donating to Republicans, Announcing…
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has created a new user-friendly Web feature that enables online political contributors to give to any or all of the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in one stop. It's called Two Seats. For conservative Republicans with limited resources who want to give strategically, I recommend campaign donations not only to Bob Schaffer, of course, but also to incumbent Sen. John Sununu (New Hampshire) and Norm Coleman (Minnesota), and to challenger John Kennedy (Louisiana). … [Read more...]
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