“Private” Public Schools and the Blatant Hypocrisy of School Choice Opponents

by Eddie | 12:29 pm, February 22, 2010

I guess some things in education you’re just not supposed to talk about. Hats off to the Fordham Institute for breaking one of the taboos and reporting on “private” public schools. What, you say? That doesn’t make sense?
It does make sense when you understand what authors Michael Petrilli and Janie Scull are getting at: the [...]

Mitt Romney is going on the campaign trail

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 12:09 pm, February 22, 2010

Mitt Romney will be stepping up his long campaign for the presidency when he launches a three-month tour this summer to promote his new book, No apology; the case for American greatness, Susan Page reports. He has a big backing in Colorado.

Colorado appeals court enforces Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 11:41 am, February 22, 2010

Would the four highly partisan justices on Colorado’s State Supreme Court have as much integrity as the three judges on the Colorado Court of Appeals, which, according to Aldo Svaldi, reversed a lower-court ruling that permitted the state to increase the severance tax on coal”? 

Keynote Speech CPAC – Beck

by Mr. Bob | 11:40 am, February 22, 2010

One of the best…must see TV
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/videos/?uri=channels/338018/788930

Obama wants to nationalize private health insurance companies with new regulations, price controls

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 10:20 am, February 22, 2010

President Obama today announced that instead of creating a public option, government run health insurance organization, he wants to effectively take over private health insurers by imposing price controls and regulations that would destroy the companies and eliminate any real competition in the health insurance markets. He’s going for all or nothing. Rasmussen Reports 54% of voters disapprove of the job Obama is doing, 61% think he should scrap the Senate and House health bills and 58% oppose ObamaCare.
By nationalizing insurers, Obama effectively would impose wage and price controls on physicians, 

Judging Colorado Supreme Court justices – more response to front-page news on “tough vote” in November elections

by CTBC Director | 7:47 am, February 22, 2010

This Sunday the “Letters to the Editor” section of the Denver Post was dominated by comment on last Monday’s Denver Post’s front-page, above-the-fold coverage of the “tough vote” facing Colorado Supreme Court justices in the upcoming statewide elections this November.
Much of the letter-writing was devoted to the obligatory rants bashing Jon Caldara and John Andrews, [...]

Top 10 Reasons Why Both Parties Are in Tea Party Hot Water – #1 Corruption

by Lu Busse | 7:30 am, February 22, 2010

1. CORRUPTION The Top Reason why both major parties are in Tea Party hot water is CORRUPTION. Its rancorous stench permeates politicians and the parties  in Washington DC and most, if not all, state capitols. Even if some individuals have managed to resist temptation personally, they have not taken a firm stand against it or actions to stop [...]

Is the Tea Party movement racist?

by Rossputin | 6:35 am, February 22, 2010

During my appearance on KBDI television’s “Studio 12″ program last week to discuss the Tea Party movement, the subject came up briefly during the show (and again after the show while we were talking with the moderator, Tamara Banks) of why there were so few non-white faces in the crowd at the rallies. Attentive reader of these pages, Mike R., who watched the program online (which you can do HERE), noticed this and offered the following comment which I think is good and important enough to serve as my blog note for the day…

Ross, I was watching the replay of your TV appearance on your local PBS station on the topic of the Tea Party movement and I noticed that even in this civil format the pernicious “racial diversity” (as in: The lack thereof) meme gets snuck in around the edges of the conversation by the moderator.

The king of the histrionic left, Keith Olbermann and echoed to a lesser extent by Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow as well as other print, blog and non-cable network media, has been hammering on this subject as one of his latest straw men and I suspect that this is part of an orchestrated “pushback” coming out of the White House. See this week’s Olbermann “Special Comment”: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0y4L_Ue5HY).

To me this seems a very dangerous tactic of racial division seeking to brand the entire movement as based in racism and may indeed lead to racially charged protests and more, around and against Tea Party gatherings/rallies this summer.

Since minorities, and specifically African Americans, have been co-opted and exploited by the Democrats and the left, they are extremely unlikely participants in an essentially anti big government, liberty based movement except where economic diversity and success has given way to individualism and enlightened self interest within various ethnic communities. In other words, the minority of minorities will tend to be small in number at such gatherings as simple logic would dictate.

They, African Americans, unfortunately represent one of the largest recipients of governmental redistributive largess, such that to become participants in a movement that would seem to rock the boat of state, would be against the interests of the majority who receive such government redistributive largess. Indeed, since the majority of the minority are not full and successful participants in the prosperity of the unassisted private sector, they have little or no stake in the defense of the private sector from the withering assaults of a redistributionist government.

[Note from Ross: Off the air, I said to Ms. Banks that “like it or not, a large percentage of African-Americans, especially in urban areas such as where most of these rallies are held, are recipients of government money. Therefore, they might see movements which rail against government spending as a threat to their “incomes."]

I wonder at what might be effective strategies to counter this sort of message coming from the left? I think the not-so-subtle message will emerge that Tea Parties and conservatives more generally, are seeking to ‘disenfranchise’ minorities and prevent the “long overdue and deserved remedies” for their plight that Savior Obama and the Democrats finally have the power to deliver.

Does this presage a civil war of sorts?

Given Obama’s singular ‘talent’ for oration and “community organizing” (read: rabble rousing) and the media’s willing complicity, I fear the power to motivate the reactionary ignorance of a large segment of our society and spur serious civil unrest or worse. Together with groups like SEIU, ACORN and powerful and exploitative voices on the left within the African American community like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson et al., this could develop rapidly and dangerously into racially charged class warfare.

In some ways the very strength of the Tea Party message becomes an even stronger foil for the left and Obama, especially in the worsening economic conditions. It is an easy formula, given all of the media and political power at their disposal, to use the Tea Party movement to motivate reactionary ignorance with the simple minded notion that the “long deserved emancipation” of the workers and minorities is being blocked or forestalled by the conservatives, Tea Parties, wealthy fat cats, old white men etc.  In short, real class warfare.

All of the strife, pent up dissatisfaction, fear and envy can be easily persuaded and motivated that “The One” has The Plan and the means to finally save them and give them what they deserve but the Tea Party, conservatives and Republicans, all characterized here as “fearful white people “are preventing Him.

“They” are preventing Him and the Democrats from doing “what is best” for the people (Read: TO the people) not because they vehemently disagree with His and the left’s policies but because He is a black president and “they” are afraid because “they” are all white people, ergo, ipso facto afraid of and opposed to, for that reason alone, his policies.

Note that no evidence of racism at Tea Party rallies or Town Hall meetings is ever offered in these arguments and diatribes, no evidence of exclusion in what are essentially grass roots movements which draw welcome strength from numbers and broad inclusiveness, virtually no evidence of violence of any kind except that directed against people of color and the elderly by union thugs and those who demand racial fealty on the left. The evidence instead offered is that a subjectively perceived under representation of minorities in a grass roots movement proves the movement has racist underpinnings. I wonder at the diversity of Obama’s now ex-parish on any given Sunday and what that might signify to these lofty thinkers/analysts on the left using this line of reasoning??

While the elites among the left may regard all of this as fair, if snarky, tactical sophistry to discredit a grass roots movement which surprised them and actually scares them, in reality it is nothing less than dangerous incitement. As the old saying goes, “play with fire and you will get burned”. I just worry about what and who will get burned if things get out of hand and who will be blamed for the mayhem.

A Remarkable Political Year to Talk Seriously about Candidate Dan Maes

by Ben DeGrow | 6:10 am, February 22, 2010

In case you hadn’t noticed, this isn’t a normal election year. If it weren’t 2010, a political outsider like Dan Maes arrayed against the political establishment, tons of money and a campaign organization would be little more than a nice guy also-ran, and yesterday’s Denver Post piece would be pure fantasy:

Although Maes had no previous [...]

CEI’s modern protest ballad against the hoax of manmade global warming

by Rossputin | 4:13 am, February 22, 2010

This what the global warming alarmist movement has come to – being the brunt of spoof protest ballads.

Great work by Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbmnODQPFcM

Liberty vs. Newt’s “Top 10 GOP” health care ideas

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, February 22, 2010

Last week the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by Newt Gingrich and John Goodman titled “Ten GOP Health Ideas for Obama.”  John Goodman is a great resource on health care policy, and I read his blog regularly. But this article is one example of how Republicans (given the article’s title) and principled defenders of [...]

Obama wants to impose price controls on health insurance; price controls won’t work

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 11:49 pm, February 21, 2010

President Obama wants to impose price controls on health insurance, according to Politico and the AP. What this would do is further distort the health insurance markets that have long been distorted by state and government regulations. Obama continues to show that all he cares about is passing his highly flawed spend and tax health bill. He doesn’t care about the providers or patients who will pay the painful price of living under price controls, which always fail. The unintended consequences will be huge.

Medical specialists save lives; politicians want to deny access to people who can save your lives

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 11:44 pm, February 21, 2010

Medical specialists save lives, but that’s not what’s important to politicians who are trying to control state and federal spending on health care services.
Nicholas D. Kristof is a lefty columnist for the New York Times. And in his column, “I 

Cleve Tidwell: Colorado 2010 Candidate Survey

by Ari Armstrong | 11:20 pm, February 21, 2010

Cleve Tidwell is a candidate for U.S. Senate. Questions are shown in bold. See the other replies to the survey at http://tinyurl.com/cosurvey10.SUMMARYIn a Twitter-length reply (140 characters maximum), please state why you are running for political of…

No (Tenured) Teacher Left Behind

by Brian T. Schwartz | 8:41 pm, February 21, 2010

From the Wall Street Journal:
School reformers generally agree that the most important education resource is the teacher. But one of the biggest obstacles to putting a good instructor in every classroom is a tenure system that forces principals to hire and retain teachers based on seniority instead of performance.
California grants tenure [...]

North Denver Candidate Search 2010–Live Video Stream; **Update: Live Text Results Posted

by elpresidente | 1:55 pm, February 21, 2010

Candidate Votes Percent Michael Deming 2 2.86% Ryan Frazier 20 28.57% Jimmy Lakey 27 38.57% Michael Sheely 4 5.71% Lang Sias 17 24.29% Total Votes 70 100.00% Candidate Votes Percent Stephen Bailey 29 54.72% Bob Brancato 1 1.89% Bill Hammons 2 3.77% Curtis Harris 21 39.62% Total 53 100.00% Candidate Votes Percent Steve Barton 0 [...]

Colorado Energy Jobs Summit – Clean Ideas On Wasting More Taxpayer Dollars

by Chuck Moe | 12:10 pm, February 21, 2010

A Colorado Energy Jobs Summit was held at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Friday, Feb 19, 2010. The organizers included U.S. Senator Mark Udall, the University of Colorado, Third Way, and the Keystone Center. The highlight of the event was Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s speech to the Colorado politicians and interest groups. As the Denver Post reported, Secretary…

Help Brad Beck Shave His Head for Cancer Research

by Ari Armstrong | 11:15 am, February 21, 2010

Brad Beck, founder of Denver’s Liberty Toastmasters, will be shaving his head to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for childhood cancer research.The Better Business Bureau lists St. Baldrick’s as meeting “the 20 Standards for Charity Accoun…

Backbone Radio: February 21, 2010

by Rossputin | 6:00 am, February 21, 2010

[Please see the info below about the new Instant Messaging service I’m implementing during the radio show!]

Please join me by listening to (and calling in to) this week’s Backbone Radio program from 5 PM to 8 PM tonight on 710 AM KNUS in Denver.

If you’re not in range of the radio waves, you should be able to listen to the show online by clicking HERE.

We’ll talk about news of the week, including Tiger Woods’ apology, Barack Obama’s “Debt Commission” and his visit to Colorado in support of Senator Michael “Who?” Bennet, the IRS-attacking suicide pilot, and more.  I’ll also be attending the ROAR (“Revive Our American Republic”) Candidate Forum in the few hours just before today’s program so I’ll fill you in on what I heard and learned there.

In the 6-o’clock hour, we’ll be joined by Jed Babbin, editor of Human Events magazine, to talk about the CPAC conference he attended in Washington DC this past week and to discuss the impact that the Tea Party movement is having on politics and on the Republican Party.

And during the 7 PM hour, we will be joined by Michael Boldin of the Tenth Amendment Center to discuss how states are pushing back against a federal government which seems intent on controlling everything from energy to health care to land use.

I encourage listener participation so please call, e-mail, or instant message me, and join in the conversation.

The studio call-in number is 303-696-1971.  Add it to your speed dial!

I have implemented an instant messaging “widget” on my website at Rossputin.com, so if you go to my main blog page, you should see the IM form on the right. (For now, I only plan on turning it on during the show, not having it on every day.)  You can shoot me a message during the show and if it’s relevant I’ll respond on air.

Also, I will check e-mail during the show, so feel free to e-mail me at rossputin (at) rossputin (dot) com (click on that text to open an e-mail to me!) and I’ll even try to keep an eye on my Twitter account so you can try “tweeting” to me…@Rossputin.  You can try THIS link if you’re logged in to Twitter, but I’m not an expert so I’m not sure it will work…

Is Scott McInnis in this much trouble?

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 11:35 pm, February 20, 2010

The “Fix” at the Washington Post has decided that Colorado’s Democrats will keep the governor’s mansion now that John Hickenlooper is their candidate. And at least one union-supported blog thinks it’s all over for Scott McInnis. I tend to agree with them, but it’s probably too early to write off McInnis.

Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) will survive constitutional challenge

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 10:30 pm, February 20, 2010

Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) looks very constitutional under Article 4, Section 4 in light of the history of the definition of “Republican” government as reviewed by Robert G. Natelson’s Texas Law Review article, A Republic, Not a Democracy? Initiative, Referendum, and the Constitution’s Guarantee Clause. Nateleson makes the case that the classics known to our Founders, the Federalist Papers, espec. Madison’s #63, and case law, notably Pacific States, show that Article 4, Sect. 4 was not meant to reserve law making to elected representatives in our “Republic”.  He notes the Constitution was ratified by voters, not by the 13 colonies’ legislatures.

Jane Norton promotes petition demanding Obama balance the budget; signs Mount Vernon Statement

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 7:02 pm, February 20, 2010

Jane Norton’s making a determined push to capture the votes of conservatives who fear President Obama is leading us to bankruptcy. After running a cunning TV ad mocking the president’s promise of change, Norton now welcomes visitors to her web site with her TV ad and, “Let’s stand up, Colorado! Sign the petition asking President Obama to pledge to balance the budget.” She also signs the Mount Vernon Statement, which her blog says “reaffirms the conservative commitment to the principles of America’s founding documents. Her announcement says: 

PPC Named Official CPAC Bloggers

by elpresidente | 5:08 pm, February 20, 2010

Jason Mattera: Brooklyn-Accented Racist?

by T.L. James | 4:54 pm, February 20, 2010

Oh brother.  This NYT blog attack piece on Jason Mattera by Kate Zernike as a “racist” is absurd – and shows the increasing absurdity of the left in its desperate attempts to paint anyone opposed to the Obama policy agenda as being motivated solely by the man’s race. As BigJournalism explains (and as those of us who [...]

Webcast of Ross on TV discussing the Tea Party movement

by Rossputin | 1:09 pm, February 20, 2010

For those of you who missed my appearance on Denver’s KBDI television to discuss the Tea Party movement, a webcast can be found here:

http://video.kbdi.org/video/1417590214/

The other panel members were Amanda Teresi of Liberty on the Rocks, Dr. Leland Baker, and Don Christenson.

McPheters: FBI Agent, Mormon Bishop

by Ari Armstrong | 9:12 am, February 20, 2010

Yesterday I dropped by the local Costco and was surprised to run across an author at a book signing. The author was Mike McPheters; the book is Agent Bishop, the account of his life as an FBI agent and Mormon bishop. I asked him if I could come back wi…

Corporate rats leaving climate change ship

by Rossputin | 3:52 am, February 20, 2010

One of the first groups of corporations which worked to get on the assumed “global warming” gravy train of government regulation was the US Climate Action Partnership (“USCAP”).

In the past week, three of its founding members, Conoco, BP, and Caterpillar Corporation have announced their withdrawal from the group.

It’s no surprise given the utter collapse of the “climate change” movement with each passing day bringing more news of cheating, lies, and even violations of law by the alarmists.

From scientists chasing government grants to former politicians chasing fame and fortune (and Nobel prizes) to corporations following the mantra “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”, the “global warming” movement has been a massive hoax from day one.

If the damage of the hoax were confined to the reputation of a few scientists or Algore, it wouldn’t be particularly important.  However, the left has used the issue to try to wrest control of the industrialized worlds’ economies away from mostly-free markets and into the hands of government.

Proposed “cap and trade” legislation, probably now dead due to Climategate, Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, and persistent cold and show in DC, was an attempt to tax everything that requires energy to produce or transport, i.e. every physical product in America. It was also a plan to redirect taxpayer money to notoriously inefficient “green energy” even though at least one major study shows that each government-supported “green” job actually eliminates more than 2 private sector jobs.

Now the USCAP rats are leaving their sinking ship.  Whereas they hoped to use government and the media to force regulations which would benefit them at the expense of taxpayers’ money and liberty, they now must just hope that people don’t remember the pro-government, pro-junk science, and anti-consumer positions they took.  Capitalist companies seeking profit is all well and good, but trying to use government to choose winners (themselves) and losers (everybody else) is unacceptable and un-American.

KDVR’s “The Political Page”: Tea Parties, Colorado’s Gubernatorial Battle, and the “Passion Pit”

by elpresidente | 2:23 am, February 20, 2010

 

New Interview on Values of Harry Potter

by Ari Armstrong | 11:45 pm, February 19, 2010

This past Thursday I went to the Independence Institute to join Penn Pfiffner for a interview about my book, Values of Harry Potter. (Be sure to read my FTC disclosures regarding the Institute, lest you be unduly influenced!)We discussed the theme of t…

Clear The Bench Colorado is the opening presentation at Sunday’s North Denver Candidate Search 2010 Forum

by CTBC Director | 3:03 pm, February 19, 2010

Clear The Bench Colorado will be giving the opening presentation at the North Denver Candidate Search 2010 Forum this Sunday (21 February) at the Pinnacle Events Center (84th Ave just W of I-25).  Doors open to the general public at 2:00 PM, and the event is scheduled to continue through 6:30 PM.
The event will also feature candidates [...]

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