The Colorado General Assembly called an early end to the legislative session yesterday... and there was much rejoicing. Yay!!! All in all, it turned out to be an unspectacular session - thankfully - with less damage inflicted than we originally feared. Having Republican Governor Bill Owens in place played a significant role in offsetting the Democrats' new legislative advantage: with one key exception. And all state political focus now shifts to that notable exception - the November ballot's Referendum C, which is sure to provoke a costly campaign on both sides. As for me and my house, we will work actively to reject the folly of the "No Refund for You" Romanoff Rip-Off. Too bad the Democrat-controlled legislature couldn't come up … [Read more...]
In Seattle…
The fame of the Rocky Mountain Alliance extends a little further today... After being gone all day, I find that my good friend Jim has made a quotable appearance in a Seattle Times column on Internet blogging and the upcoming Supreme Court nomination process: Ordinary people such as Jim Cannon are hoping to use online blogs to amplify their cause. Cannon, 30, a truck driver from Denver, contributes to a conservative blog group called the Rocky Mountain Alliance. "We can get people to call senators, get people to talk to their friends and family on the issue," he said. "Blogs defined the last presidential election. If we have half as big an impact on this as we did on the election, I think it will do a lot." Way to go, Jim! … [Read more...]
Shameless Self-Promotion
My first opinion column ever to appear in the Rocky Mountain News runs this morning in the Speakout section: "Don't pay teachers for days on strike." With the labor dispute heating up between Denver Public Schools and the teachers' union, you'll want to get the taxpayer-friendly perspective on the issue. All right, all right. Even if the subject doesn't interest you in the least, you could at least humor me by following the link. … [Read more...]
“Not One Dime”: The Cyber-Echo
Captain Ed has spoken loud and clear about the Republican Party, its not-so-distinguished Senators, and the case of judicial nominations. Here's a snippet: Not. One. Dime. And when a vote does come, those Republicans who wind up supporting the minority's extortion over the majority in defiance of the Constitution will never see another dime from me -- but their opponents will, at every level of contest. Honestly, with Republicans like these in the Senate, we may as well have Democrats. Even before I read Captain Ed's post, I had already taken a very solemn "Not One Dime" vow. In fact, this week I mailed back a solicitation to renew my Republican National Committee membership with a big ZERO next to the contribution amount and a … [Read more...]
Cop-Killer Case Heats Up Immigration Issue
As the brother of a police officer, I am especially disturbed when I follow news stories like the one headlining across Denver this week: the 19-year-old firing shots without warning at two Denver police detectives, killing Detective Donnie Young. I can only send my condolences to his widow and two daughters and pray for God's will to be done in their lives. May they find true peace and rest in Him. As for Raul Garcia-Gomez, his punishment must be swift and certain and severe, and I pray that his capture comes quickly and without harm to anyone else. Those who would seek to kill uniformed police officers must be sent the sternest of messages. But now the revelations come out that Garcia-Gomez was an illegal immigrant who worked at … [Read more...]
Dead Governor Unveiled
(Yawn) Kudos to the Rocky Mountain News, for the insider political coup of the season. The Denver daily did some sleuthing homework, conducting a "DNA Test" on one of the Dead Governors to confirm the identity of freelance writer and registered JeffCo Democrat Jason Bane. The hot political site's contributors maintain that the rest of their identities will not be disclosed. The challenge is on. Since I discovered this site months ago, I've readily classified it as a center-left-leaning political blog with plenty of gossip and sometimes reliable information. Learning part of its little secret doesn't change any of that for me. (End Yawn) … [Read more...]
Opening Day Roar
It's days like this I miss being a sports editor. Without the broadsheet pages on which to print my thoughts, I hope you will kindly forbear as I indulge in a bit of nostalgia. We Detroit Tigers' fans have been in the doghouse for more than a decade. It's been a long, dry, painful spell for those loyal to the Olde English D - especially long to someone like me who was a junior in high school the last time the Tigs finished a season with more wins than losses, a prepubescent 5th grader the last time they went to the playoffs, and a mere 7 years old during that magical 1984 World Series run that seems like ancient history now. In 2002, hope that a true turnaround was coming started to take shape as Detroit hired Dave Dombrowski as … [Read more...]
The Pain of Wasting Education Dollars
From the case files of "Why Putting More Money into the Education System Doesn't Mean Better-Educated Students"... The Washington Times reports today on a high-ranking D.C. schools bureaucrat who is really raking in the dough: Robert C. Rice last year earned a $124,923 salary as the school system's assistant superintendent for standards and curriculum and acting chief academic officer, records show. When he was promoted to interim superintendent for five months last year, his salary rose to $175,000 a year. Mr. Rice stepped down from the interim job in September, but pay documents show he is still receiving his interim salary as a "special assistant to the superintendent" -- a position created for him. The newly created job makes … [Read more...]
An Enterpriser
The Pew Research Center has released its new assessment of "political typology," the first such report since 1999. Reading the report is an exercise for diehard political junkies, but anyone out there with some curiosity and a few minutes to spare should take the quiz to see where you fit into the scheme of things. A gracious hat tip to Michelle Malkin, a fellow Enterpriser: WHO THEY ARE: Predominantly white (91%), male (76%) and financially well-off (62% have household incomes of at least $50,000, compared with 40% nationwide). Nearly half (46%) have a college degree, and 77% are married. Nearly a quarter (23%) are themselves military veterans. Only 10% are under age 30. LIFESTYLE NOTES: 59% have a gun in the home; 53% trade … [Read more...]
Off to the Nation’s Capitol
Not that you'll notice much - yes, I've been that busy, and yes, I haven't had that much to say - but if I'll be blogging at all in the next few days it will be from Washington, D.C. My first trip there in six years. Maybe, in honor of the Roberts nomination, a trip to the Supreme Court would be in order. And I definitely have to visit the World War Two Memorial. Arlington Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial are must-sees. But since most of my time there will be taken up with business, I may not be able to catch much more than that. … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 208
- 209
- 210
- 211
- 212
- …
- 228
- Next Page »