Fiscally Conservative Kevin Lundberg Merits Nod for State Senate Seat

by Ben DeGrow | 8:10 am, January 3, 2009

I see the upcoming showdown over the appointment to replace state senator Steve Johnson as a real testing ground: Do Republicans want well-qualified and proven fiscal conservatives of class and character – regardless of their views on social issues – or do they just want to toss officials overboard for their socially conservative views?
Estes Park’s [...]

Senator Who? Gov. Ritter Appoints DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet To Replace Salazar

by elpresidente | 9:40 pm, January 2, 2009

“Bennet for Senate.”

Has a nice ring to it.

Wait a minute.

As I heard again and again today–who!?!?!?

RMR posits a variety of plausible theories on the nature of the Bennet appointment by Gov. “Blue Ribbon” Bill Ritter. The reaction from both sides is complete bafflement–both GOP State Chair Dick Wadhams and the folks at ColoradoPols are in the WTF? boat. Other reactions include everything from Bennet as “dark horse superstar” to the harbinger of a new age of political aristocracy in America.

The only constant: that the appointment is risky, especially given the failure rate of appointees to be elected on their own in subsequent elections.

Todd Shepherd of CompleteColorado.com argues that the appointment of Bennet could not have transpired without the blessing of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, widely perceived in recent days to be emerging as the frontrunner among a trio of well-qualified and well-positioned Democrats that included Hickenlooper, former State Rep. and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Rep. Ed Perlmutter-CD7.

Whether or not that is the case, following Ritter’s official announcement and confirmation of his appointment, Bennet will face the formidable task of raising his own personal ID and building the apparatus for the statewide election in 2010, or providing a capable caretaking role should this be an unlikely placeholding appointment.

Either way, the state GOP can only be licking their chops at the opportunity provided by the Bennet appointment. Not only will the seat Bennet occupies be a top target simply because of the appointment itself, a mediocre performance by Bennet not only puts the seat more clearly into toss-up territory, but disheartens the Dem base (see the aristocracy and WTF? argument linked earlier) and calls into question Ritter’s own executive judgement. By appointing Bennet and not a more qualified/quantifiable Democrat from the deep bench on the left, Ritter has drawn an even bigger target on his own reelection and the Dems in general in the locally focused 2010 elections.

Complete Colorado Offers Up Top 10 Political (& Non-Political) Stories of 2008

by Ben DeGrow | 5:06 pm, January 2, 2009

On New Years Day, CompleteColorado.com’s Todd Shepherd (also a colleague of mine at the Independence Institute) shared his respective lists of Colorado’s Top 10 political and non-political stories of 2008 with AM 740 KVOR guest talk radio host Jeff Crank (H/T El Presidente).
A few of Todd’s entries may take you by surprise, or trigger [...]

Ed Perlmutter “Working for Change”–Congress Doesn’t Deserve Pay Raise

by Ben DeGrow | 4:51 pm, January 2, 2009

Today I received in the mail a colorful brochure with the following written on the front: “Ed Perlmutter is On the Job, Working for Change”. Franking privileges being what they are, I’m not generally surprised to receive these sorts of notices.
But at first I was a little offended by the thought that my Congressman [...]

Cooler Heads: Barack Obama’s “Energy Czar” a Card-Carrying Socialist

by Ben DeGrow | 4:29 pm, January 2, 2009

For those who may be laboring under the misconception that President-elect Barack Obama is leaning exclusively to the political center in his administrative appointments, Cooler Heads notes that the new “energy czar” Carol Browner is a card-carrying Socialist. Our work is cut out for us.

Michael Bennet in U.S. Senate Creates GOP Chance–Not to Be Taken Lightly

by Ben DeGrow | 4:18 pm, January 2, 2009

Most likely one of the final big stories broken by the Rocky Mountain News: Gov. Bill Ritter names Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet to replace Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate. Honestly, I never gave this possibility serious consideration.
My initial impressions? Fresh and outside-the-box, obviously. Bill Ritter definitely outperformed his Democratic gubernatorial colleagues in [...]

Federal Health Board could extend government-controlled insurance

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

Tom Daschle’s proposed Federal Health Board could regulate health insurance companies such that they are effectively all selling the same government-controlled product.  Consider the following from Robert E. Moffit:
While the health board decisions would initially affect enrollees in government health programs, Senator Daschle says that Congress “…could, for example, link … [visit site to read [...]

Face The State Interview On Colorado Internet Political Commentary

by elpresidente | 12:10 am, January 2, 2009

Recorded a few months back, Peoples Press Collective members Ross Kaminsky of Rossputin.com and yours truly were interviewed by Kate Melvin of Face The State on the state of political commentary on the Internet in Colorado, and you can listen to these comments on FTS’ Weekend Edition (first segment).

Go Charter Schools & Go Nittany Lions!

by Ben DeGrow | 7:02 am, January 1, 2009

An interesting sidelight to one of the football games I plan to watch today. This came in the Colorado League of Charter Schools newsletter:

While ‘SC and Penn State have their fans, Rose Bowl Game sponsor Citi (Citigroup) has picked its favorite for the big game on New Years Day: Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Public [...]

Happy New Year 2009

by RMR | 1:56 am, January 1, 2009

What better way to send off 2008 than with a brief look at biggest and most pointless political event of the year in Colorado: the DNC protests. Here are some highlights set to the tune of the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the spirit of Abe Simpson:

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