I've been loath to comment on the intraparty Republican squabble brewing over Governor Bill Owens' compromise budget agreement with the Democrats. But things are heating up, reports the Rocky Mountain News today. Apparently the governor is unhappy with the House Minority Leader's public opposition: "When the next volume of Profiles in Courage is written, there won't be a chapter about Joe Stengel," Owens said. "I was amazed. He knew exactly what was in it. There were no surprises." Sorry, governor. I have to state my firm conviction that what you are doing is neither fiscally nor politically sound. I say that as a conservative and as a Republican, respectively. The former tells me that approving this deal means $1,500 more in … [Read more...]
Search Results for: democrats
Delusions Continue
The Curious Stranger, a New England Democrat import to Colorado politics, has written to clarify his views on the change of power in the state party: Don't be misled by those with points to score, these comments don't imply a lack of confidence in Pat Waak, just an aversion to change in the wake of success. That's all well and good. Though he may not worry as much about Waak's hard-core left-of-center ideology - not a nice fit for Colorado - he does recognize the inherent dangers of trying to fix what "ain't broke." And perhaps the dangers of such a closely divided and disputed vote, as well. I'm going to be frank here. The Republican Party in Colorado has its share of problems and divisions, too. But moving leftward … [Read more...]
“Go Left… Go Left”
From today's Denver Post: sour grapes and contests of election results inside Democrat party headquarters. Permit me just a moment longer to chuckle gleefully.... "Progressive" environmentalist / ecofeminist Pat Waak won a narrow victory over incumbent Chris Gates to become the new chair of the Colorado Democratic Party on Saturday, and things are looking up. It appears the lesson Colorado Democrats learned from their statewide electoral victory was simply: "Go left." The party's substantial body of left-leaning grassroots activists gave Waak the needed support to outballot Gates, 187-184. Reports indicate they were angered at the way US Senate candidate Mike Miles was treated during the primary. Maybe somebody should tell them … [Read more...]
This Calls for Bob Schaffer
The State Central Committee Meeting of the Colorado Republican Party is fast approaching: on March 19 delegates from across the state will decide on a new party chairman and a new national committeeman. Bob Martinez, completing a successful stint as Colorado's national committeeman, has already stepped forward to fill the role of party chairman. Unfortunately, current state party chair Ted Halaby wants to swap roles with Martinez, having declared his candidacy for the committeeman position. In a letter he recently mailed out to delegates, Halaby cited among his accomplishments a couple of gems: "Outraised the Colorado Democratic Party by a ratio of nearly 30 to 1": That fundraising certainly didn't translate into electoral … [Read more...]
Outsourced
Still think there's no difference between the Republicans and Democrats at the State Capitol? Chew on this: Republicans understand economics; Democrats understand feel-good policy platitudes. For those who need an economic refresher to see why the Democrats are so misguided on the outsourcing issue, please read this publication from the Heritage Foundation. And bookmark Joshua's site for further continuing economic education. … [Read more...]
Democrat Priorities: Unions over Taxpayers
Even the Denver Post had to chide Colorado's Democrat legislators this time. A pointed editorial in today's Post calls on the House Transportation Committee to kill Senate Bill 61, which has already passed the Senate floor. Regrettably, Republican Senator Norma Anderson abandoned the party's principles to join the unanimous Democrat caucus and give SB61 a 19-16 victory on Feb. 14. The main problem with the bill, as the editorial indicates, is its proposed reduction of private contracting services in the Regional Transportation District (RTD). The result is $143.5 million more in taxpayer costs over the next 12 years to maintain existing services. Rather than searching for ways to provide services at more efficient costs, the … [Read more...]
Quick Friday Jottings
The Democrat majority in the Colorado legislature revealed their close affinity to the abortion absolutist lobby Thursday. The six Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee killed a bill that would have held medical doctors liable for the abortions of viable human fetuses. It was a moderate measure designed to curb the uncommon but barbaric practice of killing an unborn child that could otherwise survive outside the mother's womb. But we know where the Democrat legislators stand on this issue, beholden as they are to a certain lobby. In less startling news, Ward Churchill is now under investigation for artistic copyright fraud. The habits developed in his professional life carry over into his money-making hobbies, as well. Should … [Read more...]
For Old Times’ Sake
Ever get nostalgic for the 2004 Colorado US Senate race? It played a big part in putting the Rocky Mountain Alliance on the map. Time marches on in the political world, and those who were the fodder for such discussion less than a year ago have moved on in their endeavors. It's kind of like skimming through your high school yearbook and wondering, "Where are they now?" While the new Senator Ken Salazar has been hard at "bipartisan" work on Capitol Hill pulling weight for new Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and urging a block to funding of Army chemical transportation studies, some of the other political actors from the recent campaign season have popped into the news today. … [Read more...]
Making Progress?
A key Colorado Senate Democrat hints that his party will give ground on the budget plan: Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, said the limit on government growth will be lowered to address Owens' concern that it is meaningless. Democrats are hoping to win Owens' support.... "We're going to have a cap where we'd see refunds in the near future," he said. Is this making progress? Is this hope for a genuine acceptable solution to the budget crunch? Or just more posturing? The proof will be in the pudding. … [Read more...]
Webb Out; Dean All but a Lock
Anyone surprised at this "breaking news"? I know it's been sad to see Terry McAuliffe go, but the mood is greatly alleviated knowing that the screamer is a virtual lock to take his place. At one point not much more than a year ago it also looked like Dean had a virtual lock on the Democrats' presidential nomination, so don't count your chickens before they hatch. Yet it seems that the worst thing now that could happen to Dean is that Tim Roemer might pick up a little "Joe-mentum," a la failed presidential candidate Joe Lieberman. But let's wait and see... … [Read more...]