The day before Colorado voters go to the polls (or at least the few that haven't cast ballots already) to decide Amendment 49 - the Ethical Standards initiative concerning the use of government payroll systems - the U.S. Supreme Court today heard oral arguments (PDF) in Ysursa v. Pocatello Education Association (H/T Liberty Live). What's the connection? The Ysursa case is reviewing a law known as the Idaho Voluntary Contributions Act. As I pointed out many weeks ago, Amendment 49 is a better version of this clean government payroll law. I previously discussed this issue with Mike Reitz of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation on an iVoices podcast: It likely will be several months before our nation's highest court renders a verdict … [Read more...]
Yes, I Am “Uncle Charley”
I am the pseudonymous conservative gadfly blogger on a local education new site. At least that's what 9News would have you believe:Not everyone agrees. An online blogger named "Uncle Charley" has written several entries for Education News Colorado trying to get readers to think about the need before they act. One blog is entitled, "More Tough Questions on DPS Bond," which talks in part about the individual items that would be funded by this bond issue and series of property tax hikes have agreed to in Denver over the past two decades. "Uncle Charley" is actually the pseudonym for Ben DeGrow, with the Independence Institute, a non-partisan conservative political think tank. DeGrow says spending $13 million dollars on athletic fields … [Read more...]
Resisting the Temptation to Obsess over Political Polling Numbers
The always erudite Phil Mella reminds readers of "the problem with polls", and why it's better generally to ignore them during the give-and-take of a long campaign. I understand the point he's conveying, but no matter which side of the political spectrum you're on, it is awfully tempting to take a peek at the daily poll numbers and read more into them than is actually there. Maybe there's a treatment program for political junkies.... The good news is that in 5 days we'll have the only poll that counts, and we can go back to life as normal. (Or the new socialist utopia that's promised to us. Cough. Sorry.) … [Read more...]
Krista Kafer’s New Face The State Column Brings Needed Perspective
My Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR) classmate, sometimes Backbone America radio co-host, and Independence Institute senior fellow Krista Kafer debuted a weekly Face The State column today. Here's the timely conclusion of this first installment:Special interests that have much to gain from the demise of Amendments 47 and 49 are funneling millions of dollars into the election. Slick campaigns from candidates and groups lure voters with the promise to “Protect Colorado’s Future.†The advocacy groups, leftist candidates, and sadly, even the media, are banking on the public’s fears for the economy to turn the election in their favor. Unfortunately, conservatives and libertarians have had trouble articulating what’s at stake. … [Read more...]
Crushing Last Shred of Media Credibility a Good Reason to Vote McCain
So you're a conservative and you're not that inspired by John McCain's record or the way he has run this campaign? Sarah Palin isn't enough motivation for you? Well, this snippet from Howard Kurtz's Washington Post column may just give you all the extra incentive you need to get out and vote for McCain-Palin (and the whole Republican team, of course):"If the mainstream media are wrong about Obama and the voters pull a Truman, that is going to be the end of whatever shred of credibility they have left," says Tobe Berkovitz, associate dean of Boston University's College of Communication. Stamping out the last shred of media establishment credibility? That sounds pretty appealing to me. … [Read more...]
Off to Denver Townhall Talkers Tour
I'm off to the Townhall Battleground Talkers Tour's first event this evening in Denver. Hope to see some of you there. What do syndicated radio hosts Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, and Dennis Prager have to say off air? Will they succeed in firing up the troops? Is the media's assessment of conservative and Republican voter enthusiasm on- or off-base? What do Colorado's grassroots leaders really think about the McCain-Palin's ticket to win Colorado and the national election? What other campaigns and figures will make an appearance? Check back later for a report. Sadly, the event comes on the same day as the passing of regular Hugh Hewitt guest host, Weekly Standard contributor, and blogger extraordinaire Dean Barnett. Rest in peace. … [Read more...]
My Young Free Market Friends Showcase New Online Political Activism
The Saturday edition of the Rocky Mountain News featured the proverbial quadrennial story about the energized youth vote. Do we have reason to believe that more young voters will cast their ballots this year? I don't know. But one of my young free market friends astutely suggests that the state of the economy has re-engaged many of them:Wesley Dickinson, a 30-year-old Denver engineer, thinks the economy is forcing people near his age to confront politics more so than at any time since the 1970s economic downturn created a generation of Reagan Republicans. Since then, people have been able to live relatively comfortably and didn't care so much about what the government did; that no longer is true, he said. "They haven't had to worry … [Read more...]
Time to Vote, Colorado
The Virtus household are casting our ballots today, finally getting it over with. If you live in Colorado and still need insights and/or suggestions on the statewide ballot issues, please check out my updated Colorado ballot guide 2008. And now a joint message from a group of local bloggers: AN URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL COLORADO REPUBLICAN VOTERS From the Colorado Coalition of Conservative Bloggers As you know, Colorado has been labeled a "swing"state in this year's elections, and will be one of the states that will determine the direction of our nation for the next four or eight years. Historically, the voters in Colorado elected Republican candidates, largely because of the higher numbers of registered Republican voters. This … [Read more...]
Discussing Education on Blog Talk Radio Tonight at 9 PM
This evening at 9 PM (local Mountain time), I'll join state representative candidate, long-time blogger, and host Joshua Sharf (and possibly another guest) for a half-hour discussion of the latest and greatest education issues in Colorado on Blog Talk Radio. Click here to tune in. The conversation is sure to be lively and informative. And if you miss it live, you can always come back later to catch a recording. … [Read more...]
The Denver Post and Me Both On Board for Campaign Transparency
In his Sunday column, Denver Post editor Dan Haley discussed "cloak-and-dagger" Democrats:The once-stealth cadre, united under the name Colorado Democracy Alliance, has not only heavily influenced state politics, it's become a model Democrats want to replicate nationally. Nothing they're doing is illegal, or at least it doesn't appear to be, but it has changed politics and policy-making in Colorado for years to come. Republicans last week could only stand by, slack-jawed and jealous. It was the type of operation they figured Democrats had. Only bigger. Politically speaking, the operation is genius, as it funnels money from wealthy donors — sometimes tax-free — to push political causes. But, ultimately, all of this skirting of … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- …
- 55
- Next Page »