Wandering out to the Western Slope on his cross-state jaunt with his U.S. Senate protege Michael Bennet, Governor Bill Ritter yesterday sat down with the editors of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. When asked about his reckless anti-TABOR remarks ("the straightjacket") in his State of the State speech, here's reporter Mike Saccone's retelling of how Ritter defended himself:He started by saying that if Colorado has taken all the money it has refunded under TABOR and kept it in a rainy-day fund, Colorado would not have had to make massive budget cuts in the last recession and an estimated $600 million worth of cuts this year. Here's the problem, though. Bill Ritter already chose to pass up a legitimate chance to put money from Referendum … [Read more...]
Josh Penry: Rising Colorado GOP Star
There's no need to recount the many woes and difficulties Colorado Republicans have faced in recent years, dethroned and demoralized by a well-funded and well-planned onslaught from the Left in the 2004 and 2006 elections. Thanks especially to the principled and savvy work of several key lawmakers in the caucus, the Republicans finally held their own this year. They have set the table for a comeback in Colorado, but the road is still arduous and uphill. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel shines the light on one of the most prominent - if not the most prominent - GOP rising stars: Senator Josh Penry. The Sentinel reports on the growing speculation that their 32-year-old hometown hero will lead the Senate Republicans next year:Sen. Greg … [Read more...]
Backlash from Doug Bruce “Illiterate Peasant” Comment Needs Closer Look
When I read this Grand Junction Sentinel story this morning - via the Dead Governors - I was disturbed:Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, said after she gaveled down Rep. Doug Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, for calling Mexican immigrants “illiterate peasants†during a Monday debate, she was bombarded with threatening messages via e-mail and telephone. “The hate mail is off the charts, and there’s issues with people in terms of this response,†Curry said. “It has really bothered me.†She said hundreds of threatening, acerbic messages have clogged her cell phone’s voicemail and her e-mail inbox. Since the news report leaves little sense of the exact nature of the phone calls and emails, it is difficult to comment … [Read more...]