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Amanda Teresi’s Case for Free Market Health Reform: Not Just Provocative

A few weeks ago, Liberty on the Rocks founder Amanda Teresi made a provocative statement to an NPR reporter about health reform after Obama's big speech before Congress. Today Amanda provides an extended explanation of her remarks in a special guest column for the Colorado Springs Gazette. Here's a key excerpt:It is true that many people today with pre-existing conditions have trouble finding affordable coverage. But politicians, not a free market, created the problem. Just another provocative statement, you say? Well, check out the whole thing. And drop in on a Liberty on the Rocks near you -- or if there isn't one near you, contact Amanda to find out how to get a chapter started. … [Read more...]

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Thank ACORN: Subsidized by Federal Taxpayers, Teachers’ Union Dues

I'd like to take the opportunity this morning to thank ACORN -- Say what? Yes, thank ACORN ... not only for exposing your own corruption but also for helping to remind us that the federal government is overflowing in tax dollars far beyond any rational sense to redistribute the money in any sensible (much less constitutional) way and that one hand of the D.C. bureaucratic monster scarcely knows what the other is doing. From today's Washington Times:Nearly $1 million in Homeland Security funding typically earmarked for fire departments has been awarded to ACORN, despite a clear signal from Congress that it intends to cut off federal funding to the embattled group. … [Read more...]

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Bill Ritter Needs Public Shame to Ensure Ethical Disclosures from Cabinet

Yesterday I brought to your attention the fact that Colorado Governor Bill Ritter publicly thanked the Independence Institute -- and speaking of thanks, thankfully no one (to the best of my knowledge) was hurt from overreacting to the shock while driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery. Read Jessica Corry's new piece in the Denver section of the Huffington Post to find out exactly what sort of ethical shortcoming Bill Ritter had:Ahh, wouldn't it be nice? When you fail to comply with a law, just rewrite it. This is the strategy of Gov. Bill Ritter, a Colorado Democrat and former elected district attorney, who was questioned publicly this week after failing to enforce a major ethics executive order. Under the mandate, put into place … [Read more...]

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Luke Korkowski Out of U.S. Senate Race … Then There Were Seven?

Received a press release at noon local time, announcing that Luke Korkowski has withdrawn from Colorado's Republican primary for U.S. Senate. An excerpt:Unfortunately, it is time to call this campaign to a close and to wish all the best to the other Republicans in the race. We have some good and decent folks competing for the Senate position, and Colorado is lucky to have such a selection of choices. With your help, we'll see a solid conservative take office in January 2011, and I strongly encourage you to stay engaged in the race and to support your favorite candidate. … [Read more...]

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Restoring Some Substance to the Political Junk Food Menu at Mt. Virtus

With the nearly never-ending election cycle, those of us here in the trenches can sometimes too easily lapse into the day-to-day tussles of the news without enough time spent in more serious reflection. (Or maybe it's just those of us with small children whose attention spans are so easily distracted.) Earlier this year I wrote several more reflective essays, most of which have ended up ignored by now. But while I still plan to write about the immediate issues of the day and follow events leading up to the 2010 election, I am also interested in engaging once more in deeper discussions about the status and future of the conservative movement -- albeit, as dictated by the limits of my own time, occasionally. What (besides the … [Read more...]

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Bill Ritter Thanks the Independence Institute (No Pigs Seen Airborne)

More than one late-morning Denver metro area commuter nearly may have swerved out of their lane of traffic and into danger today, just from the shock of what they heard on the airwaves. What do I mean? During his monthly interview with 850 KOA's Mike Rosen, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter acknowledged that the Independence Institute's recent investigation into his administration's ethical shortcoming was right on: About 2 minutes into the clip, you hear Governor Bill Ritter say: "Thank you to Jon Caldara and the Independence Institute." Hope no one crashed their vehicle as a result. As for the office where I work, we're ready to frame the statement and hang it on the wall. Still no word from Colorado Ethics Watch, though. … [Read more...]

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John McCain Reshaping GOP in His Image? Jane Norton in His Shadow

As if Monday morning weren't bad enough, this Politico report (H/T Rocky Mountain Right) is a terrific way to make conservatives nauseous:Fresh from a humbling loss in last year’s presidential election, Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image.... Yeah, since this support includes ACORN friend Charlie Crist over conservative Marco Rubio in the Florida primary, "center-right" is a generous term. But beyond that, it's just plain disturbing. Whether he intends to or not, it seems to me that Senator McCain is preparing to take the GOP down the same path of irrelevance as his own failed presidential bid. But he seems determined:Erick Erickson, founder of the influential … [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...]