2nd Amendment Defense

by Mr. Bob | 4:53 pm, January 8, 2009

Whatever you think about the 2nd Amendment you should see this. It is old but worth hearing again, in an age that has set reason aside for political correctness.

Republican Leaders Respond to Bill Ritter’s State of the State Speech

by Ben DeGrow | 1:10 pm, January 8, 2009

From Colorado Senate News

Bill Ritter Publicly Endorses Posting State Check Register Online

by Ben DeGrow | 12:32 pm, January 8, 2009

Update: Colorado Spending Transparency has a similar response about the devil being in the details. Read the post to get a sense of just what some of those details might be.
Face The State’s report was correct: During his State of the State speech, just a moment ago, Gov. Bill Ritter announced he would back the [...]

Kneeling at the altar of the State

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 11:51 am, January 8, 2009

Obama is lighting the candles on the government altar, in preparation for his reign as the statist Pope of America.

Earlier today, he spoke at George Mason University, and preached the gospel of government power.

According to the Associated Press

The president-elect cast blame on “an era of profound irresponsibility that stretched from corporate boardrooms to the halls of power in Washington.” But he added, “The very fact that this crisis is largely of our own making means that it is not beyond our ability to solve.”

This is interesting logic: Since government created the problem, government can solve the problem. What if a contractor built a deck on your house, and the steps were uneven, the railings shaky, and the planks rotten? But not to worry, he assures you, since he created the problems, he can fix them.

That’s Obama’s logic.

His commitment to the power of the state can not be disputed. ”At this particular moment, only government can provide the short-term boost necessary to lift us from a recession this deep and severe,” he said.

The economy does not need a “short-term boost.” It needs permanent solutions, none of which the government can provide. Like an animal caught in a trap, his instinct tells him he must do something (something!) to get out. But the more the animal struggles, the tighter the trap gets.

If the animal had the capacity to reason, he would understand that doing nothing is superior to flailing about. But animals have no capacity to reason.

People do. Unfortunately, the native instinct to do something (something!) is hard to overcome.

Statist’s plans to get out of the trap are merely flailing about, but at least it is something (something!). Unfortunately, that something tightens the trap.

Sometimes, if you eat something bad and it makes you sick, the best course of action is to just let it pass. The best course of action is not to subvert the natural process. Those that insist on doing something (something!) might argue for a stomach pump or for surgery. Those people are wrong.

Let it pass naturally.

The government can do something (something!). The government can take money out of the private sector and spend it. The government can spend money on make work that does not produce value. The government can spend it on bureaucracy, waste and pork. None of these things produce value. None of these things help the economy. But it is something (something!).

The absurdity of the statist is summed up by the last paragraph in the AP article:

Obama also promised action to address the economy’s ills beyond the package, such as tackling a potential wave of home foreclosures, preventing the failure of financial institutions, rewriting financial regulations and keeping accountable the “Wall Street wrongdoers” who engage in risky investing.

Wall Street wrongdoers who engage in risky investing are accountable when they LOSE money. Except, of course, when the state bails them out because of that wrongdoing. The statist rewards the wrongdoers. But at least it is something (something!).

Obama and members of the Cult of Statism can keep lighting those candles on the government altar. Yet they can’t create enough light to find their way out of the darkness.

Mark Hillman Credibly Criticizes Dems for Failure to Save State Money

by Ben DeGrow | 9:15 am, January 8, 2009

Mark Hillman – former state senate majority leader and former state treasurer – once again has established himself as a leading voice of fiscal sanity in Colorado. In an op-ed in today’s Denver Post, he assails Governor Bill Ritter and his Democratic colleagues at the helm of the state legislature for their ongoing mismanagement of [...]

Debbie Does D.C.

by Eileen McGuire-Mahony | 2:15 am, January 8, 2009

Today, the silver screen is on my mind. Cinema as an industry and a reflection of the most salient aspects of our society, reproduced larger than life while reduced to the simplest possible presentation, is uniquely American. Other cultures set out to capture the human condition and come up with art house weirdness beyond description. [...]

More On Senator Who?

by elpresidente | 2:00 am, January 8, 2009

Last night’s RMA 2.0 Blog Talk Radio featured a discussion of the appointment of DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet by Gov. “Blue Ribbon” Bill Ritter, including theories on the appointment and analysis of his chances in 2010.

Ben DeGrow questions Bill Ritter’s judgement on the Michael Bennet pick–self-delusion or subtlety?

Rocky Mountain Right reminds us that Bennet has a very poor chance of winning election on his own in 2010 based on historical examples, and notes the similarities in experience (none) between Bennet’s selection and the Harriet Miers nomination.

Folks around the state are still scratching their heads over who Bennet is and what he might represent in the Senate–he has been called an “ardent” supporter of President-elect Barack Obama, and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) thinks he’s “got the goods”–but Bennet faces political reality when he sets out on his first tour of the state to introduce himself and try to get a handle on the “economy and other challenges.”

Good luck with that Senator.

Joe the Plumber Has a New Gig

by Mr. Bob | 5:31 pm, January 7, 2009

HT HolyCoast

Samuel J. Wurzelbacher (WUR’-zuhl-bah-kur) says he’ll spend 10 days covering the fighting (in Israel as a war correspondant for PJTV.

He tells WNWO-TV in Toledo that he wants to let Israel’s “‘Average Joes’ share their story.”
If you think the press hated him before, look out. The press did everything they could, in conjunction with various Dem operatives, to destroy Joe when he had the temerity to ask Barack Obama a tough question. However, joining the ranks of journalists will send them right over the edge. After all, he never went to journalism school.

I love it!

His Excellency?

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 3:46 pm, January 7, 2009

Are you kidding me?

The Colorado General Assembly convened today to start the 2009 session.

House Joint Resolution 09-1001 is

CONCERNING A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING A MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR BILL RITTER, AND APPOINTING A COMMITTEE TO ESCORT THE GOVERNOR.

I understand ceremony and tradition, but referring to the governor of this state as “his excellency” is absurd.

Our forefathers fought a war to break ties with a monarchy, and the use of “his excellency” is, frankly, mildly offensive.

Amendment 35: Up in Smoke

by Jon Caldara | 3:32 pm, January 7, 2009

It’s no secret that virtually any law, no matter how unpopular, can be passed if it’s “for the children.” This rule applies especially to laws that target politically unpopular groups like smokers. So it’s no wonder Amendment 35 was passed in 2004, which essentially put a sin tax on cigarettes with the proceeds [...]

An Interesting Development | SoapBlox = Dead?

by Jose | 12:40 pm, January 7, 2009

A little bird alerted us to this development and we thought we’d share. Read this Blog, P.I. post and then look at the SoapBlox site. Tell us what you think, post your comments. Post your comments…

Self-Delusion or Subtlety Behind Bill Ritter’s Assessment of Michael Bennet?

by Ben DeGrow | 9:24 am, January 7, 2009

As we chatted about on last night’s Blog Talk Radio program, the fallout from Bill Ritter’s appointment of Michael Bennet to the U.S. Senate continues. Liberal angst on behalf of the spurned former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff continues to grow. The latest is Susan Barnes-Gelt’s column “What Was Ritter Thinking?” in the Denver Post:
Bennet’s decade-plus [...]

Cutting tax rates would fund charitable programs to replace government charities

by Brian Schwartz | 1:01 am, January 7, 2009

From the Pacific Research Institute:

In 2005, Americans contributed $48 … [visit site to read more]

Dig into UAW Golf Course Hijinks Before Obama Ends Union Disclosure

by Ben DeGrow | 6:09 pm, January 6, 2009

Perhaps you have seen the story about the United Auto Workers-owned golf course in northern Michigan and the controversy about the value of its property and tax history. Well, local blogger Chetly Zarko has dug even deeper to try to figure out why the facility’s reported Pension Fund expenses are so high:

The only explanation in [...]

Dear Barry, Please Shut Up. Sincerely, Your Friends at the Whitehouse

by Jon Caldara | 2:25 pm, January 6, 2009

When senior fellow Barry Poulson phoned into the Whitehouse conference call concerning the auto bailouts, he expected to be greeted with the usual respect and reverence his comments usually receive. However this time was different. This time his comments were met with the same resistance and rejection requests for raises receive in my [...]

UN School Used by Terrorists As a Weapons Dump

by Mr. Bob | 12:38 pm, January 6, 2009

Middle East Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 9:52:12 am PST
The UN and the mainstream media are wailing and accusing Israel of war crimes (yes, again) after the IDF returned fire at a UN school from which Palestinians were firing mortars.
The explosives and booby traps installed in the school by Hamas then blew up, killing dozens of people.

And the world of course blames Israel.

30 reported killed in blast at UN school.

At least thirty people were reportedly killed and 53 wounded in an explosion in a UN-run school in the town of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinians. The IDF issued a statement saying the school grounds were used by terrorists to fire mortar shells at the troops.
The infantrymen returned mortar shell fire into the school grounds, the army said. Defense officials told The Associated Press that booby-trapped bombs in the school triggered the secondary explosions which killed scores of Palestinians on the site.
In 2007, the IAF actually filmed some of these terrorists at a Gaza school, firing mortars into Israel. Hat tip LGF

Disarming Americans

by zombiehunter | 12:16 pm, January 6, 2009

Is there a gathering storm in the Federal Government for an assault against law abiding gun owners? If there is, Alan Korwin at Page Nine outlines some of the details of their probable war plans. He highlights the Pro-Victims gun ban wishlist: “Under the proposal, the U.S. Attorney General can add any “semiautomatic rifle or shotgun [...]

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio with Tom Lucero Tonight at 9 PM

by Ben DeGrow | 8:48 am, January 6, 2009

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the eighth edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio, the first of 2009. Tonight’s guest is Tom Lucero – University of Colorado Regent, chairman of the recently successful Amendment 54 campaign, and already a declared Republican candidate for Colorado’s 4th Congressional race in [...]

Yo, Ho, Ho! A UAW Boss’s Life for Me…

by Ben DeGrow | 8:44 am, January 6, 2009

Here’s another small log to throw into the automotive bailout fiasco: A local Detroit TV news station tracks the well-paid lifestyle of a couple UAW union plant officials. See if you can count the number of stops at the liquor store made while on the clock, being compensated from their line workers’ mandatory dues funds. [...]

RMA 2.0: Rocky Mtn Blogs Radio Show #8

by elpresidente | 2:21 am, January 6, 2009

Every Tuesday–next show January 6, 9pm.

The Blog Talk Radio version of the Rocky Mountain Alliance. A weekly discussion about politics–national, state, and local.

**Tuesday January 6: CU Regent Tom Lucero, chairman of the successful Amendment 54 campaign and a candidate for CD 4 in 2010.

Next week: State Senator Mike Kopp, SD 21, R-Littleton.

Last Tuesday, RMA took a look back at a dismal year in their 2008 year-in-review.

December 23–Joshua and fellow commentators (including yours truly) hosted Jim Pfaff of Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Opinion Times. Pfaff discussed the AFP Colorado report “Keeping Colorado Competitive” and bridging the Christian/libertarian gap.

On December 16 we hosted State Rep. Kevin Lundberg (District 49), and discussed the Salazar appointment as the Secretary of the Interior in the Obama cabinet.

The December 12 edition featured Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier.

**Bookmark the new RMA Radio home page, with embedded player and calendar of upcoming shows and featured guests.

Stream the show live, or play/download the podcast at your convenience.

I’ll update co-host and guest info for each episode as it becomes available. Stay tuned . . .

RMA’s shows are archived–if you missed any of them, be sure to check out the archive page to stream or download, or scroll down this page a bit, for the embedded archive player.

For The Children

by T.L. James | 2:14 pm, January 5, 2009

In typical Washington fashion, politicians and unelected bureaucrats rushing to create the appearance that they are responding to a media-amplified “crisis” have neglected the obvious and foreseeable unintended consequences: The new toy safety law is sweeping, requiring testing for dangerous lead levels and banned plastics in everything sold to children 12 and under. Going beyond [...]

2 Months and 1 Day

by infinity3 | 10:15 am, January 5, 2009

The day Barack Obama was named the President Elect was the day I lost my job -a double whammy of bad news. I had been joking with my manager the day before about how I might just quit my job and go on Obama’s adverstised welfare plan of getting to be…

Don’t Confuse Me with the Facts

by wesley | 10:05 am, January 5, 2009

North Dakota reports just 2 murders in 2008. Curiously, both of these crimes were committed with knives. They were stabbings. Not a single firearm-caused murder in the state in 2008. The folks over at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Lawful Self Defense have been thwarted yet again by, well, reality. The Anti-Rights screwheads over at [...]

Three health care proposals to oppose

by Brian Schwartz | 2:00 am, January 5, 2009

Michael Cannon writes in the Washington Times that do avoid disastrous health care reform, we must oppose:

Government-run health care for the middle class (which Obama has proposed)
mandatory insurance
insurance price controls (e.g., community rating)

On point 1, Cannon … [visit site to read more]

How Much Does It Cost to Pay the IRS a Nickel Owed for Federal Taxes?

by Ben DeGrow | 4:57 pm, January 4, 2009

Did you hear the one about the Internal Revenue Service, a trial lawyer, and loose pocket change? A true – and telling – story in today’s Detroit Free Press:

In mid-November, [Detroit criminal defense attorney James] Howarth received notice that his FICA account, even after an adjustment, was out of whack.
He owed the IRS a nickel. [...]

Upside of a Typically Cold Birthday

by Ben DeGrow | 4:49 pm, January 4, 2009

Another Christmas. Another New Year. Another birthday. Time marches on. Rare are the birthdays I’ve spent without ice, snow, and/or freezing cold temperatures. It’s usually why I don’t want to dwell here too long. Upside? The days are getting longer, and the hope for change lies around the corner.

Habibi To Shiva – Just Keep Singing

by admin | 8:03 pm, January 3, 2009

I mentioned this to Shiva, over on FreeRepublic. Oddly, it started out as a discussion of Cynthia McKinney.

To: shiva

“The amazing thing is that the American Jewish community continues to vote overwhelmingly Democrat.
That has always puzzled me,too.”
And it’s not just Jews that seem to have displayed this enigmatic behavior. Consider the percentage of Catholics that were [...]

Senator Who? Makes His Debut

by elpresidente | 5:07 pm, January 3, 2009

“Michael Bennet is exactly what we need in Colorado. Michael will bring a fresh, new approach to the economic crisis. He knows we can’t fix our 21st-century problems with 20th-century solutions”–Gov. Bill Ritter, after tapping DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet to replace Sen. Ken Salazar

As more confused reaction on Gov. “Blue Ribbon” Bill Ritter’s appointment of DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet pours in–everything from a startled “seriously?” to “perplexing” to Bennet being a “risky” choice–Dem royalty come out swinging for the newly minted Senate appointee, including President-elect Barack Obama, outgoing Sen. Ken Salazar, and friend and possible benefactor Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper:

“I congratulate Michael Bennet on his appointment as Colorado’s next United States Senator, and Governor Bill Ritter for making a splendid choice. Michael Bennet perfectly reflects the qualities of the ruggedly independent state he has been chosen to serve. An innovator in the public and private sectors, he has shown himself willing to challenge old thinking and stale policies. His breakthrough work at the helm of Denver’s schools has reflected that commitment, and established Michael as one of the nation’s leading education reformers. He will be a breath of fresh air in Washington.”

President-elect Barack Obama

“If I am confirmed to serve as Secretary of the Interior, Michael will bring to the United States Senate an impressive background and a wealth of experience – both as an accomplished public servant and a successful businessman – that will help us tackle the many challenges we face as a state and a nation. If I am confirmed, I am confident Michael will serve the people of Colorado well as our next United States Senator.”

Ken Salazar

United States Senator

“Michael Bennet brings intense personal commitment, intellectual rigor and innovation to any challenge. In addition to his diverse experience in law, the private sector, government and public education, Michael’s strong character and dedication to public service will serve Colorado well in the U.S. Senate.”

John Hickenlooper

Mayor, Denver

Like many in the blogosphere and the public in general, Bennet’s DPS bio and recent profile have become go-to sources for information on the “darkhorse” appointee.

Come “together,” right now, it’s the law

by Brian T. Schwartz | 1:34 pm, January 3, 2009

As published in today’s Daily Camera:

Do you want politicians to put you “in it together” with others, or would you prefer to reserve that choice for yourself?

Last Tuesday guest editor Clay Evans wrote that one of President-elect Obama’s “great challenges” will be to “bring us together.” While defending Social Security, …

Prius Owners Have Home Generators

by Mr. Bob | 8:58 am, January 3, 2009

Prius owners looked pretty dern smart during the 4 doll hair a gallon run over the summer. These days I speed past them laughing in my cross-over GM vehicle that gets 18 mpg..maybe. But I am sure they will have the last laugh.
But now I have learned about a real good reason to own one, they can double as a generator for your house.

The New York Times wrote about this a year ago. The battery in the Prius is able to provide an uninterrupted power supply as long as the engine turns on and off periodically to recharge it. Any car battery can be used this way, but only hybrids start automatically when they need to recharge their battery. As long as the Prius has enough fuel, it can produce three kilowatts of continuous power. That’s enough to maintain the basic household electrical needs. READ THE REST

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