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9/11 Plus 8

Update: Michael at Best Destiny and Rossputin share their separate recollections of 9/11/01 and where our nation is eight years later. Eight years ago today, with no substitute teaching job awaiting me, I slept in. My dad woke me. The TV was already on with scenes from the World Trade Center. The horror unfolded before my eyes. Minutes after I started watching the second plane hit the South Tower. Everything changed in a moment. It was a long day that grew into a long week. Looking back, I can only think: Never forget. Stand strong. Never falter. Never surrender. In that spirit the Colorado State University College Republicans are making a special commemoration today: … [Read more...]

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Help Reveal Colorado’s Political Temperature: It’s Survey Time Again!

We're back at it again. After the results and analysis from the July 2009 survey in which we are grateful that more than 600 of you participated, we're at it again. Yes, El Presidente and I have commissioned and fashioned another survey that we hope you will take 10 minutes or so to complete -- especially if you're from Colorado. These aren't your run-of-the-mill quick-hit polls. Once again we've gone a little more in-depth. Some of the questions are the same. Some are new. One interesting added follow-up is asking what the most important factor is for you in choosing to support a Republican primary candidate for governor and U.S. Senate. Click here to take the September 2009 Colorado online political survey Your opinion … [Read more...]

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Interview with Tom Wiens, Colorado Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate

Last week former state senator Tom Wiens announced the opening of an exploratory committee to join Colorado's large and growing Republican primary field for the 2010 U.S. Senate race. On Friday I had the opportunity to interview Wiens by phone. Below are some highlights of our conversation (please note that the quotes are transcribed and may be slightly paraphrased in places): … [Read more...]

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Obama Speaks to School Children: Sharing My Thoughts with the Post

The Denver Post this morning has up a story by Jeremy Meyer filled with local reaction to the news of Obama speaking to school children next Tuesday. Meyeer quotes several people in the story, but my remarks to him yesterday didn't make the cut. Here's more or less what I said:This has all the signs of the Obama cult of personality. Parents who don't want to subject their children to the organized hero-worship of a controversial political figure certainly can't be blamed for wanting to pull them out. The decision should be made at the local school level, but in any case the parents at least should have the opportunity to opt out. That's perfectly appropriate. … [Read more...]

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God Bless Us Detroit Tigers Fans, ‘Cause We’re Crazy Enough to Believe

For the baseball fan, September is a sweet (or bittersweet) time of the year. As a Detroit Tigers fan, I've been accustomed to more of the latter. But the pennant race is on, and both my Tigers and my Colorado Rockies are in the thick of things. An interesting tidbit today from a Rasmussen survey of baseball fans:Fans of the Detroit Tigers are now the second most confident fans, with 68% who think their team will win a World Series title this year. Overall, only 4% of all baseball fans think the Tigers will win. The Tigers currently lead the AL Central division by 3.5 games. … [Read more...]

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Watch Michele Bachmann’s Rousing Independence Institute Remarks

At a well-attended Monday Independence Institute event, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann gave a rousing speech about the rapidly growing specter of socialism coming from Washington DC, and how liberty-loving Coloradans can fight back. Lefty blogs have fixated their derision on one comment, prompting the Peoples Press Collective's El Presidente to respond: "Stay classy, lefties." Those who want to see the context of Bachmann's full speech and Q-and-A session can find the videos posted on Jon Caldara's blog. … [Read more...]

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Keep Pressure on Michael Bennet Against Very Costly Obama Care Plan

Next week Congress goes back into session. The public passion and heat of the townhall meetings goes away, and attention once again drifts back to Washington, DC. As that happens, though, Coloradans still need to remain engaged and informed. As the Patient Power blog explains, a new report published by the Independence Institute (my employer) highlights one major downside of the current Obama Care proposal:The study concludes that President Obama’s health care reform agenda will cost $4,156 per Colorado resident in additional federal and state expenditures over the next 10 years. In addition, the proposed government health care expansion will reduce economic growth in Colorado by 4.3% through 2019. In other words, an economic … [Read more...]

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Scott Gessler for Colorado Secretary of State Fundraiser, September 12

Colorado Republicans and others looking to have a Secretary of State's office under competent leadership, looking out for fair elections and an honest campaign process, will want to take note of a fundraising event coming up the Saturday after Labor Day in the Denver area. It's billed as "a great afternoon all-you-can eat BBQ featuring pints of Guinness & top Colorado microbrews to benefit the candidacy of Scott Gessler, Colorado’s next Republican Secretary of State." It starts at 3:00 PM on Saturday, September 12. The suggested contribution is $20. For more information on location and to RSVP, contact Shana -at- ScottGessler.com or call 815.790.1165. … [Read more...]

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Announcing Straw Poll Evasion Another Strange Scott McInnis Campaign Turn

What's the deal with Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis skipping out on this month's state party candidate forum and straw poll? And then making a big deal out of it? Apparently, the strange interviews weren't enough. The candidate touting broader polls he commissioned showing his own name recognition advantage won't stand next to Josh Penry (whom I support) and Dan Maes (whom I respect) to gauge the support of the party faithful. Who does he hope is going to elect him? In search of satisfactory answers, read Westword's account of an interview with McInnis campaign spokesman Sean Duffy. If the trajectory of this race continues to any extent in the direction it's going, it's not a long matter of time before Josh … [Read more...]