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Seriously Rich Obama Irony: Closed Door Meeting on Open Government

I've pointed out before the lack of transparency in the Obama administration's Labor Department. But this new Associated Press story about so-called Obama transparency takes the cake with a new level of irony:It's hardly the image of transparency the Obama administration wants to project: A workshop on government openness is closed to the public. Political cartoonists are probably already putting pen to paper now to mock this amazing self-parody. Imagine the scene: Citizen: Hi, I've come for the meeting on open government. Is this the right place? Security guard: Where's your invitation? Citizen: I, uh... W-what? This is about open government, right? Security guard: Right. Which is why President Obama says it's too important to let … [Read more...]

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Harry Reid Compares ObamaCare Foes to Pro-Slavery, Makes Case for His Own Post-Senate, Village-Based Career

Update, 5:00 PM: Witticism of the day goes to the Wall Street Journal's James Taranto, who observes that "[Reid's] success to this point seems something of a miracle--an inspiration to dour, foolish men everywhere." Was that one of the painful throes of sheer desperation we heard from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday?Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took his GOP-blasting rhetoric to a new level Monday, comparing Republicans who oppose health care reform to lawmakers who clung to the institution of slavery more than a century ago.... "Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all the Republicans can come up with is, 'slow down, stop everything, let's start over.' If you think you've heard these same excuses … [Read more...]

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Monday Quick Hits: GOP Unity, Church & State, Cold Fraud of Climategate

After a busy weekend, all I have to offer are a few worthwhile reads for a Monday: Last week Craig Steiner wrote an insightful piece titled "On GOP Unity in Colorado", especially worthwhile for those who have followed the intense controversy around the "Platform for Prosperity" and misappropriated Tea Party endorsements My Independence Institute colleague Jessica Peck Corry tackles the issue of church-state boundaries and public religious displays in a new Colorado Springs Gazette column, just in time for the Christmas holiday season Compliments of The Climate Realists, Marc Sheppard at American Thinker explains the now-infamous "Hide the Decline" in the Climategate fraud: simply a must-read that only adds to the sting of an … [Read more...]

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Thanks to Recovery.Gov, Time to Learn about Connecticut’s Fighting 42nd CD

It's Friday, time to lighten up ... Remember all those extra phantom congressional districts on the $18 million federal government boondoggle Recovery.gov? Well, apparently they provide a fabulous educational opportunity. Compliments of the Franklin Center and the Colbert Report, here's your chance to learn about Connecticut's "Fighting" 42nd Congressional District. Prepare to laugh: … [Read more...]

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Lang Sias Joins Crowded GOP Field in Colorado 7th Congressional Race

ARVADA--Add one more to the list of Republican candidates for Colorado's 7th Congressional District. This morning at DiCicco's Restaurant in Old Town Arvada, U.S. Navy veteran and former McCain presidential senior staff member Lang Sias told a crowd of about 20 supporters that he was officially throwing his hat into the ring to challenge incumbent Congressman Ed Perlmutter. Sias -- an Arvada resident and father of two (soon to be three) -- touted the need for "mature, commonsense, fiscally conservative principles" in Washington, D.C., as well as for bringing down the federal debt and reforming tax and trade policies. Calling on his national security credentials, he observed: "There is evil in the world, and we can't ignore it or charm it … [Read more...]

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Cold Weather Heightens the Amusing Irony of Climategate Scandal Fallout

Given yesterday's and today's weather here in the Mile High City, it only seems fitting to write about the latest in the Climategate fallout. Two quick Thursday reads: Our own hometown journalist David Harsanyi explains clearly why we have a reason to be skeptical The Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens says if you want to understand why scientists were so eager to quash dissent, and manipulate and throw out data: "Follow the Money" The Washington Times reports that a Competitive Enterprise Institute scholar is pushing hard for NASA to release its raw climate data, too While you ponder the obnoxious deception of it all and the opportunity for a backlash to help set things aright, don't forget to bundle up today. … [Read more...]

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Colorado 2010 State Senate Showdown: An Early Look at Hot Races

Colorado Republicans need to win four seats in the upcoming 2010 elections to win back a majority in the state senate. While such a development remains improbable at the moment, it's certainly not outside the realm of possibility. Of the 35 four-year seats in the chamber, 19 are contested in 2010 (including two for special election). Of those 19 seats: 4 are Democrat incumbents facing re-election to a second term 4 are open seats currently held by Democrats 3 are Democrat incumbents seeking their first election to the seat after filling a vacancy 5 are Republican incumbents facing re-election to a second term 2 are open seats currently held by Republicans 1 is a Republican incumbent seeking his first election to the seat after … [Read more...]

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Memo to Colorado GOP: Court–Don’t Co-opt–The Tea Party Crowd

Update, 12/2: More valuable insights from Joshua Sharf. First, the Denver Post's Dan Haley weighed in on the Republicans' "Platform for Prosperity." Today, the story went national with coverage from Wall Street Journal reporter Stephanie Simon, and a quote from from one of my favorite grassroots activists (in spite of her misplaced football loyalties):Republicans, however, said the platform would prompt voters to focus on the party's message, rather than their feelings about individual candidates. "People can vote for the agenda," said Tom Tancredo, a former Republican congressman who had been mulling a run for governor. But Nikki Mata, a conservative activist in suburban Denver, said that such a strategy misses the point of the … [Read more...]

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“Strange Method” of Cashiers Check Deposit Raises Questions for Stephanie Villafuerte, Ritter Inaugural Fund

You thought Governor Bill Ritter's ethical troubles with his inaugural fund were old news? You thought the saga of Ritter staffer and Obama US Attorney nominee Stephanie Villafuerte would only make one headline today? Well, my friends, things may have grown much more intriguing with the revelation in a new investigation from my Independence Institute colleague Todd Shepherd: … [Read more...]