Writing at The Corner on National Review, former Colorado state representative Rob Witwer sounds a note of caution for his fellow Republicans about the new political landscape surrounding the governor's race:When [Denver mayor John] Hickenlooper first ran for office in 2003, the geologist-turned-restaurateur was dismissed by some as a political neophyte. But his humor, approachability, and business savvy helped him dominate in a field of seasoned, longtime Denver politicians — he cruised to victory without breaking a sweat. Since then, he’s enjoyed perhaps the longest honeymoon in Colorado political history. Whether or not Hickenlooper’s longstanding popularity in a one-party city will translate into success in a competitive state race … [Read more...]
Rasmussen’s First Post-Ritter Reaction: McInnis Leads All Three Dem Hopefuls
While Coloradans casually wait to see if Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will use his White House permission slip to run for governor in Bill Ritter's place (though Marc Ambinder says it's a no go) -- or leave it to Denver mayor John Hickenlooper or someone else to pick up the slack -- Rasmussen weighs in (H/T Campaign Spot) with the first hard polling data on likely post-Ritter match-ups for Republican frontrunner Scott McInnis: … [Read more...]
2010: Time to Take the New Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature
This post will stick to the top until January 15. Please scroll down for newer postings. Okay, you political junkies out there: Come on, admit it. You've missed the Survey of Colorado's Political Temperature since we announced the last results in November. Well, the survey is back and better than ever -- with fewer, better-organized issue statements, as well as the opportunity to predict head-to-head general election matchups in all the different Colorado races. You only have until next Friday, January 15, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time to get it done. You know you can't resist. What are you waiting for? Click here to take the January survey The best news of all is that with the 2010 election year upon us, the Survey of … [Read more...]
Flashback: Diana DeGette says Hickenlooper “at least as liberal as me”
Sometimes a look back into the recent past can help glean some important insights into the present. Such is the case with Colorado politics and the potential slate of candidates to replace Governor Bill Ritter as the 2010 Democratic nominee for the state's chief executive. Do you remember a little over a year ago when so many Democrats were angling for now-lame duck Ritter's appointment to the U.S. Senate? Like liberal Denver Democrat Congresswoman Diana DeGette -- who has a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 3.64 out of 100, lower than Barack Obama. In December 2008 she told the Denver Post that mayor and prospective gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper is "probably at least as liberal as me": … [Read more...]
Three-Way GOP Race for Treasurer: Stay Focused on Cary Kennedy
Overshadowed by the big breaking news of the evening, a third Republican has thrown his hat into the ring for the state treasurer's race: Ali Hasan. Rocky Mountain Right reported it six days ago, but the official announcement came by press release earlier this afternoon, with news of a key endorsement:Avon small businessman Ali Hasan will formally announce his intention to be Colorado’s next State Treasurer in seven cities, over two days, starting in Colorado Springs. Republican Minority Leader Mike May will be on hand in Colorado Springs to endorse and introduce Ali Hasan. The 3-way Republican primary for state treasurer still leaves me undecided, but hoping that the primary stays clean and remains focused on unseating Cary "drive a … [Read more...]
Imagine How Many Shoddy Websites Taxpayers Could Buy for $1 Trillion
In November I did a cursory search on the Obama administration's Recovery.gov website and found that my own Jefferson County is spending $1.1 million in stimulus money per job created. A couple weeks later, we learned about the phantom congressional districts that could make the $1.1 million figure wrong on the low side. Then, last month, we were treated to a humorous introduction to Connecticut's Fighting 42nd Congressional District. Now today, my Independence Institute colleague Todd Shepherd has uncovered Colorado spending reported on Recovery.gov that has been sent to zip codes that are out-of-state or don't exist:For example, the breakout shows that zip code 87420 has received $5,267,621 in ARRA funds. That zip code corresponds to … [Read more...]
State-Level Education Tax Credits Merit Place Near Top of Pro-Liberty Agenda
While we're busy waging battle on the defensive fronts against Obama Care and cap-and-trade and card check, pro-liberty forces also would be wise in 2010 to continue looking for opportunities to go on offense. Writing at the Washington Examiner, Michael Barone makes at least one point that deserves the attention of activists, strategists and officials:[Tech entrepreneur Jim] Manzi, citing models in Sweden and the Netherlands, calls for "the creation of a real marketplace among ever more deregulated publicly financed schools -- a market in which funding follows students, and far broader discretion is permitted to those who actually teach and manage in our schools." Democrats are prevented by their teacher union paymasters from pursuing … [Read more...]
Recent Plights of Penry and McDaniels Give Me a Little Pause about 33
There's no stopping the forward press of time. I'm not so sure about turning 33 today, but at least my name isn't Josh. A few months ago the combination of age and name seemed so charmed. They were a pair of Colorado wunderkinds: one 33-year-old Josh making strides towards one of Colorado's most powerful positions, the other 33-year-old Josh newly occupying the other. Josh Penry was making giant strides toward the Republican nomination for governor. Then one day in November the plug suddenly was pulled on his campaign. Now he isn't even running for re-election to his own state senate seat in 2010. What's going on? But he's on Cloud Nine compared to Josh McDaniels, who yesterday felt the bitter sting of missing the playoffs in his … [Read more...]
Night Twister Comes Through Again with Colorado Political Analysis 2010
Randy Ketner, aka The Night Twister, has outdone himself once again. He started off the year back in January with an encyclopedic blog post for political activists titled Getting Connected in Colorado. Now, to close down 2009, on the eve of a most crucial election year, he has created the thorough and aptly titled "Colorado Political Analysis: 2010". Red State's Erick Erickson describes the analysis as "masterful." Once again, we agree wholeheartedly. Anyway, read the post from cover to cover. Skim it for specific information. Follow the links you find useful. Jump into the conversation in the comments. Whatever you do, recognize that Randy has performed a valuable service. … [Read more...]
Josh Penry Closes Out 2009 with Good News … and a Head Scratcher
As 2009 winds down, some half-good, half-headscratching Colorado political news reported by the Grand Junction Sentinel:State Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, said he isn’t interested in joining the ticket of his onetime rival, Scott McInnis, as the candidate for lieutenant governor. “If I were hell-bent on being on the ticket, I’d still be in the race,” Penry said last week when asked about reports that he might be interested in the lieutenant governor slot. Penry, however, didn’t tip his hand on a question that has five Republicans watching closely — his decision whether to run for a second term in the state Senate. … [Read more...]
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