Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.
Consequences of Supporting a Property Tax Increase
What happens when you vote to jam a property tax hike down your constituents' throats? People from the other major party can't move fast enough to file the paperwork that will enable them to run against you in the next election. Just ask Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction: Between six and 10 local Republicans are considering a run against incumbent Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, next year, according to senior members of the Mesa County Republican Party. Alan Farina, chairman of the candidate search committee, said his committee has attracted a series of serious candidates who could run against the two-term incumbent next year. “We actually have several people expressing interest,†Farina said, “some really, really … [Read more...]
SCOTUS: Individual Free Speech Trumps Union Free Speech
Michael at Best Destiny highlights yesterday's huge U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of individual workers' free speech rights (Davenport v Washington Education Association). More information available at the Independence Institute website. The big takeaway from the case? The First Amendment free speech rights of individual workers trump the First Amendment free speech rights of unions. If you want to use a worker's money for politics, just Ask First! Michael writes: The REAL question for us here in Colorado, is how to make use of this ruling. We can be fairly certain that this state legislature will NEVER pass a law saying that unions have to get permission to use dues for politics--Big Education would have a cow! So it is … [Read more...]
Verlander Tosses No-No
What a night for Detroit Tigers fans! The reigning American League Rookie of the Year put to rest any lingering rumors of a possible sophomore slump in dominant fashion, with a stellar Comerica Park performance. Justin Verlander, the 24-year-old pride of Goochland, Va., denied the Milwaukee Brewers a single basehit in an impressive 4-0 victory tonight at Comerica Park in Detroit. Here's the bottom line: a 99 MPH heater, a wicked Uncle Charley, 112 pitches, 12 strikeouts, 4 walks, only 3 balls hit outside the infield, and one spectacular double play in the 8th inning. Drafted by the Tigers in 2004, Verlander (7-2, 2.79 ERA) recorded only the sixth no-hitter in Tigers' franchise history, the last time coming on April 7, 1984, when Jack … [Read more...]
More Lefty Silliness
Colorado's Lefties are all atwitter with having discovered the initials of the Republican 2008 candidate for U.S. Senate. When their side is stuck with the tax-and-spend record of Boulder liberal Mark Udall, I guess you have to resort to silly, juvenile distractions like this one. Oh, well. As time wears on, more adults will be choosing to support Bob Schaffer. Behind the liberal snickers lurks a clump of anxious knots in many stomachs. It may be time for some of them to find more productive uses of their time. Cross posted at Schaffer v Udall … [Read more...]
Spotlight on Arrupe Jesuit: Innovative Denver School
A great story in today's Denver Post about the innovative program at the city's Arrupe Jesuit High School. It is a private parochial institution that predominantly serves poor and Hispanic students, with significantly higher attendance and graduation rates than surrounding public schools. The success of Arrupe Jesuit (also highlighted today at the Head First blog) is tied to its innovative Corporate Work Study Program, that requires every student to spend time working entry-level, corporate jobs to provide valuable experience and to offset tuition. Per-student costs are $7,500, compared to $10,000 or more for Denver Public Schools. The report "Rethinking High School" by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation highlights Arrupe Jesuit's … [Read more...]
Schaffer Website Up
It sure seems early, but the campaign for the most competitive 2008 U.S. Senate race in the country is underway. Republican Bob Schaffer has started rallying the party faithful and commonsense independents and Democrats to his cause with his new campaign website. Check it out, donate, sign up to volunteer, whatever you're able to do: and be sure to spread the word! The race against Boulder liberal Mark Udall is on. Cross posted at Schaffer v Udall … [Read more...]
Four Weeks Since Ritter Hiked Your Property Taxes
Four weeks have passed since Governor Ritter signed into law a bill that raises property taxes. As one dissenting elected official pointed out in yesterday's Denver Post: Gardner called Ritter's "defining bill" the mill-levy tax freeze that will let school districts keep an extra $64 million per year by freezing property-tax rates. "It sets the tone for his first four years as governor," Gardner said. "What do the people have to look forward to? Probably more tax increases." Since I agree that it's definitely the Governor's defining bill, I will continue reminding readers about it at regular intervals. Today seemed a fine opportunity to do so. To learn more, if you missed any of my observations and analysis the first time around: - … [Read more...]
Welcome Back, Clay
My friend Clay Calhoun of the Rocky Mountain Alliance has returned to the blogosphere after an extended sabbatical that clearly included some time for reflection. It looks as though he brings a fresh perspective. I look forward to many engaging analyses and challenging insights. His prologue stirs a bit of my own ongoing reflections: There is a certain love-hate relationship with the political process that many believers in conservative values and limited government, myself included, possess. We need to build alliances while balancing principles with pragmatic compromises, yet we're often left jilted by representatives and officials we've supported who seemingly have lost their way. We understand that the allure of government power plays a … [Read more...]
Midway Remembered at 65
Exactly 65 years ago today raged one of the most significant battles of modern times - a critical victory by the United States Navy. The Battle of Midway (June 4 - 7, 1942) saved a key Pacific outpost and inflicted irredeemable losses on the Imperial Japanese Navy, including four aircraft carriers. After Midway, the Japanese were forced into the strategic defensive, and three years of bloody island-hopping followed that led to ultimate Allied victory. The battle is also the subject matter for one of the best war movies ever made, starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, James Coburn, and more. Key historical moments like this one deserve to be remembered on these important anniversaries. And God bless the U.S. Navy! … [Read more...]
GOP Senators Tell Boulder School Officials to Straighten Up
Update (6/5): Open blogging keyboard, insert foot. I clearly glossed over the problems with O'Reilly's reporting of the situation. Upon closer examination and analysis, he clearly has distorted the goings-on in Boulder (to be sensational? to fit the thesis of his book? I don't know). Boulder school officials aren't to be completely exculpated, but they have handled the matter more responsibly than the Fox News commentator has given them credit for doing. So, regretful apologies for my earlier misstatement, and hope this adds a little clarity. Republicans in the Colorado legislature have taken their turn now putting the heat on leaders of Boulder Valley School District for putting on a mandatory pro-sex, pro-drugs seminar for high school … [Read more...]
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