Mount Virtus

"Happy to come back to Michigan, but I miss the mountains!"

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Mount Virtus?

Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.

Colorado Ballot Reviews

Sometimes the choices are daunting or confusing, sometimes they're as clear as a Mile High view.

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Bill Ritter, AFL-CIO, and HB 1072: Deal Broken?

So today the AFL-CIO has officially threatened Governor Bill Ritter with throwing its weight around to move the Democratic National Convention from Denver, just because the Governor vetoed HB 1072. A bill Ritter once described as "not a big deal" is certainly much more than that to labor union leaders. Here is the statement in full: AFL-CIO Executive Council Statement March 8, 2007 Las Vegas, NV COLORADO’S WORKING FAMILIES For a decade, working families in Colorado have fought to build a stronger, more unified labor movement and create a more balanced political and economic environment – an environment responsive to working people’s needs and concerns. This extraordinary effort has produced significant progress and … [Read more...]

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Report from Baghdad

While I work on investigating more carefully a couple of issues in the world of Colorado politics, I decided to take the easy road this morning and link to an article that will challenge the defeatists in this country to keep an open mind about events in Iraq. To add a little dose of perspective to your mainstream news intake, I recommend you read Notes from Baghdad, from yesterday's Opinion Journal. (HT: Conservative Grapevine) Now is not the time to pull the rug out from under our military operations - a la the Democrat leadership in Congress. Let's not be afraid to give success a chance. … [Read more...]

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Democrats: Paroled Felons Vote, No Proof of Citizenship Required

More substantive blogging later, but it's always instructive to open up the Denver Post and read that the Democrats' idea of cleaning up elections is giving paroled felons the right to vote. Of course, the Post article omits mention of a basic fact in the Senate Bill 83 debate. You have to read the Rocky Mountain News to learn that Democrats defeated an amendment requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Not that any of us should be surprised by these revelations. On the point of paroled felons, the Rocky reports: But Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, had a different view. Groff, who amended the bill to allow parolees to vote, argued that state law bans anyone confined behind bars from voting. "When you look at moving people from prison … [Read more...]

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Senate Bill 61: A Topsy-Turvy Education Battle

Three Republican state legislators made a statement by walking out of yesterday's House Education Committee meeting yesterday, and the least this blog can do is shine the light on it. Here's the thumbnail of the ongoing story. Senate Bill 61, devised by Senator Sue Windels (D - Arvada), was written to empower the education bureaucracy at the expense of parents who want to exercise the option to start a charter school. That's right: empower educrats, distrust parents. Yes, ignore the fact that there are thousands of kids in this state on waiting lists to get into charter schools. Ignore consumer demand. The all-wise educrats need to keep a tighter thumb on charters, according to the logic of Windels' bill. Well, after weeks of … [Read more...]

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“Good Guy. Needs to blog more to be included.”

A new professional-looking, self-styled Colorado Republican blog has emerged today to encourage its cohorts to engage in more clear, direct, factual, and systematic attacks on the state's ruling Democratic majority: Colorado Index. The site's proprietor also seems keen on keeping a tight and selective focus on bloggers who consistently focus on state issues. So what does (s)he say about Mount Virtus? "Works for one of my favorite organizations. Good Guy. Needs to blog more to be included." Okay, okay. I admit I've slacked off lately. Consider the fire lit. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased to see the new site, even if it's sure to reinforce the opinions on the Left that we are connected cogs in Colorado's Vast Right Wing … [Read more...]

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Welcome Aboard, Wadhams

An official welcome from Mount Virtus to the new chairman of the Colorado Republican Party: Dick Wadhams. You know the state Republican Party may finally be getting its act together when the Left goes unhinged with slanderous attacks. Putting up a tough front can often be a way to cope with fear. Let the mud fly! You can almost hear the Left in Colorado hearkening back to their great hero of 2004 ... "Bring it on!" I may actually start looking forward to the 2008 election cycle. It could be fun. … [Read more...]

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Iron Shrink to Debunk Anti-Conservative Studies on Rosen Show

Ever been told that your conservative views are a result of stupidity, emotional insecurity, or a defective upbringing? Ever seen such puerile claims shrouded in scholarly robes to give them an aura of credibility? Then you should read the well-reasoned responses of Colorado's own Iron Shrink (here and here) to some recent "academic" studies that appear to be guilty of one of the worst sins in the liberal PC pantheon: stereotyping. You also will want to listen to the Iron Shrink (aka Shawn Smith) during his guest appearance during the 10 AM hour of Thursday's edition of the Mike Rosen Show. Memo to those on the Left: I hope you don't take these studies too seriously. After all, I believe some of you can have intelligent debates with … [Read more...]

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Education Reform in Colorado: Watershed Day

Yes, I'm back from my long hiatus - family visits and a general sense of tedium with passing affairs are among my excuses - for the few of you who have visited often enough to notice. But I'm back blogging now, because today was a noteworthy day in Colorado's path toward meaningful education reform. The desperate attempt of most legislative Democrats (led by Senator Sue Windels) to undermine the charter school movement took a blow when four members of their own party voted to turn the attack upside down. At the apex of their power in Colorado, enough Democrats have gained sense on K-12 education to deeply dampen the dreams of educrats who are trying to regain control of areas of the "system" lost to consumer empowerment and common … [Read more...]