Libertarian Party of Colorado: Official Positions on 2010 ballot issues.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 10:29 am, October 14, 2010

As directed by the Libertarian Party of Colorado Constitution, the Board of Directors has reviewed the 2010 amendments and propositions on the ballot for voter consideration. There are seven proposed amendments to the Colorado Constitution and two pro…

The Bag Man Cometh

by Rossputin | 7:30 am, October 14, 2010

By now, anybody interested in politics enough to be reading these pages has seen the pictures of Dan Maes at a December, 2009 rally, collecting campaign donations in a burlap sack.

(Pics taken by and used with permission of Tom James of the Peoples Press Collective)

 

Plenty of ink has been spilled and hot air squeezed from lungs over this, but I’m going to pile on:

First, it must be pointed out that Maes is obviously not collecting information from his contributors. Perhaps he thinks that by collecting only $19.99 or less, he doesn’t have to get the donors’ names, addresses, and employer information because under $20 the donation isn’t reportable.

However, that $20 threshold is cumulative. In other words, if I give a candidate $10 twice, the $20 total is then reportable.  This means that a candidate needs to collect the donor information from all these enablers of the Bag Man Who Would Be King.

Basically, for every donor who gave Maes a $20 and got a penny in return, Maes was setting up a potential campaign finance violation the next time that same person made a contribution.

That said, probably not very many people were silly enough to repeat the error of donating to the secret agent turned successful businessman, so perhaps there actually didn’t end up being campaign finance violations.  In any case, we’ll never know for sure – which is part of the problem.

It just occurred to me: Why is the definition of “bag man” so different from the definition of “bag lady“?  I mean, what do you call a female “bag man” or a male “bag lady”?

Let’s look at the two dictionary.com definitions.

Bag man: “dishonest official; a person who collects, carries, or distributes illegal payoff money.”

Bag lady: “a homeless woman who lives and sleeps on city streets or in public places, often keeping all her belongings with her in shopping bags.”

Looking at those pictures of Dan Maes collecting money which I’ll bet is already the subject of some head-scratching by federal law enforcement, Maes seems to fit the former.  On the other hand, given the fact that for financial reasons, he chose to pay himself “mileage reimbursements” rather than hire a campaign manager, one has to wonder whether he’s bordering on a male version of the latter.

Or maybe, like New Shimmer, he’s both!

I’d rather have the Shimmer Floor Wax and Dessert Topping salesman be our governor than a bag man/lady.  Dan Maes is simply an embarrassment.

It’s time for everyone to get off the Dan Maes train and, unless you like your government big and your taxes high, to support Tom Tancredo.  Again, I say that as someone who has substantial disagreement with Tancredo’s signature issue of immigration but who realizes that governors have precious little to do with that issue, particularly as regards legal immigration policy which is clearly and only in the federal domain.

This state cannot afford a Governor Hickenlooper.  Even the most obstinate Maes supporter must now admit that a vote for Maes is a vote for Hick. There is no decent principle to be served by voting for Dan Maes.  Voting for party over person has given us, especially at the federal level, several years of terrible government. So voting Maes just because he’s a Republican is saying that your “team” is more important than your state.  Voting for Maes because you don’t like the way Tancredo got into the race is saying that your sense of propriety is more important than your state, even though what Tancredo did was legal.

As I’ve said before, I can understand voting Libertarian in this race, and if I thought Tancredo had no chance, I would do so.  But given the critical nature of this race at this time, with upcoming redistricting particularly important, I’d urge some careful consideration of that decision.  Again, I say that as someone who considers himself essentially libertarian.

John Hickenlooper is Colorado’s own Barack Obama: a radical “green” leftist wolf in sheep’s clothing.  Beating him should be a top priority for all supporters of good government and a once-again-great Colorado.

Dan the Bag Man is not worthy of anybody’s vote despite having legitimately won the Republican nomination.  Really, is that a guy you want in charge of a multi-billion dollar state budget?  Puhleeze…

Prop 102 – Bail Bonds Debate

by Jon Caldara | 6:53 am, October 14, 2010

Check out this week’s Devil’s Advocate as I am is joined by Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson and Robert Trucker from Safe Streets Colorado to debate the controversial bail bonds initiative, Proposition 102, which is on this November’s Colorado ballot. That’s this Friday, October 15 at 8:30PM on Colorado Public Television 12. Re-broadcast [...]

Colorado Amendment 63 vs. the “endless lawsuit” argument

by Brian Schwartz | 5:00 am, October 14, 2010

A common argument against Amendment 63 is that it “will lead to endless lawsuits.” This is like opposing the First Amendment because of potential lawsuits from people seeking to use government to restrict your free speech.

Protect Our Culture?

by Elliot | 4:57 am, October 14, 2010

Just out of curiosity, why is it ok to have regulation for the purposes of protecting our culture when it comes to immigration, but not ok when it comes to government funding of art?  Both seem rather collectivist to me.

Entitlements Threaten American Prosperity, Economist Poulson Warns

by Ari Armstrong | 11:58 pm, October 13, 2010

Barry Poulson, an economics professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Senior Fellow with the Independence Institute, warned that out-of-control entitlement spending threatens American prosperity.

Mail-in Ballot Midweek Update: Clear The Bench Colorado, the Colorado Supreme Court, judicial retention elections in the news

by CTBC Director | 11:33 pm, October 13, 2010

The end is nigh…
Well, the end of this election cycle, anyway.  Mail-in ballots for the November elections – including the important question of whether to retain three incumbent Colorado Supreme Court justices facing “stiff opposition” as they seek an additional 10-year term in office – went out on Tuesday, and may have already arrived in your [...]

Rep. Lois Court to constituents: “…unfortunately it is a First Amendment right for political free speech…”

by Ben DeGrow | 10:06 pm, October 13, 2010

Public forums for political candidates can provide some elucidating moments. Take yesterday’s Windsor Gardens event with House District 6 rivals: incumbent Democrat Rep. Lois Court and Republican challenger Joshua Sharf. Joshua recounts some of the event on his blog: …what struck me most was my opponent’s claim that she votes how her constituents would vote [...]

Seng Center Radio Evening With Republican House Candidates on Thursday NIght

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 7:45 pm, October 13, 2010

Weknow all about the chaos in Colorado’s governor’s race and theincreasing likelihood that we’ll buck Michael Bennet back to Denver inthe Senate battle. Ryan Frazier and Cory Gardner just got major plugsin their endorsements for Congress by the Denver…

Oct. 18th Meetup Features the Spending Sleuth!

by redrocks | 6:03 pm, October 13, 2010

Amy Oliver — Up On The Roof!

Boo! Former President Bill Clinton is in town on Monday (scary?!) and the political ads will surely get you down, so run from the statists and head on up to the roof for our “stimulus” happy hour with Amy Oliver Cooke.

This week is sure to be a treat as [...]

‘Right to Earn a Living’ Author Sandefur Explains Work

by Ari Armstrong | 5:17 pm, October 13, 2010

When Timothy Sandefur visited Colorado last week, I caught up with him for an interview. A lawyer with the Pacific Legal Foundation, Sandefur is the author of the new book, The Right to Earn a Living.

The Cyberbullying of Gay Youth

by Julian Dunraven | 4:03 pm, October 13, 2010

Of particular interest is the relatively recent phenomenon of cyberbullying . . . The Post cited several methods of addressing this problem, ranging from additional tolerance education and awareness programs to school administrative punishments to new legislation criminalizing cyberbullying. Such legalistic outcomes, however, would render an already tragic situation truly ghastly.

The Right to Earn a Living – Video & Podcast

by Jon Caldara | 1:41 pm, October 13, 2010

Tim Sandefur, Principal Attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation and Adjunct Scholar with the Cato Institute, dropped by our offices last week for a iVoices.org podcast with fellow Hillsdale alum Ben DeGrow and a special presentation and book signing for his new book “The Right to Earn a Living.” In case you missed his fascinating [...]

GE receives 24.9m in stimulus funds, then cuts 18k US jobs

by Mr. Bob | 1:18 pm, October 13, 2010

#Stimulus #teaparty #hhrs #tcotWhile us free marketeers are shouting from the rooftops about stopping socialism we have companies out there hurting freedom another way…crony capitalism.Hat tip Moonbattery.comThe Obama administration gave corporate gi…

Colorado Succeeds Report Makes Case for Following Florida’s Reform Success

by Eddie | 10:25 am, October 13, 2010

An article in yesterday’s Denver Post brought attention to a new report by our friends at Colorado Succeeds that urges Colorado to follow Florida’s lead on education reforms. Where have I heard that before? Oh, yeah…

Jeb Bush’s Stellar Education Reform Record Worthy of Colorado Emulation (July 2008)
Bolstering the Case for Jeb Bush’s Education Reform Success [...]

Complete Colorado’s Real Gubernatorial Genius Takes On John Hickenlooper

by Ben DeGrow | 9:11 am, October 13, 2010

First it was Tom Tancredo. Today, Complete Colorado releases the second in its creative Real Gubernatorial Genius series, featuring John Hickenlooper — “Mr. Avoid All Controversy Until the Election’s Over.” Another minute well s…

Swiftboating Ken Buck

by Rossputin | 7:02 am, October 13, 2010

Over at National Review Online, Colorado’s own Michael Sandoval explains the connection between the ironically-named Colorado Independent and the far-left propaganda organization ProgressNow as the Dependent slithers out an old story about an alleged rape which Weld County District Attorney and Republican candidate for US Senate, Ken Buck, refused to prosecute.

Sandoval points out that the local newspaper, the local police department, and even the Boulder County District Attorney’s office determined that Buck likely made the right decision to refuse to prosecute a claimed rape of a woman who got drunk and invited a guy to her apartment.  Not just any guy, but her former lover.  The decision was clearly a difficult one, given that the guy said that the girl said “no” at least once, but Buck seems on solid ground to have believed that a conviction would have been very difficult to obtain.

Although the story is old and being spun in a way which would make Goebbels proud, it’s par for the course lately for the Bennet campaign and its supporters who routinely make wild, baseless accusations, hoping something will stick, such as suggesting that Ken Buck wants to get rid of Social Security or that he wants to eliminate the direct election of Senators.  (I wish he held both of those positions, but he doesn’t – and Bennet knows it.)

In the meantime, Michael Bennet pretends to be a moderate, pretends to support lower taxes, pretends to have been part of some sort of solution rather than the Obama pawn, and thus part of the problem, which he’s consistently been.

The media are parroting the idea that Bennet is doing relatively better in 2010 than many Democrat candidates, perhaps hoping to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, and suggesting that attacks on Buck, especially on the issue of abortion, are hurting Buck among women.

I continue to believe that Buck wins by a fairly wide margin, in part because I believe that women (and men) voters are not so stupid as (1) to believe Bennet’s charges, or (2) to think that abortion – or any other social issue – is really what this election is about.  Voting on social issues is a luxury reserved for people who have jobs, or at least feel economically secure.

That said, I’ve been disappointed in Ken Buck’s less-than-fiery rhetoric and his nearly passive debate performance on Monday night (brief summary and video archive HERE.)

Buck needs to wake up every day thinking about how he’s going to rip Michael Bennet’s throat out, rhetorically speaking.  Bennet has been a spineless disaster for the state of Colorado.  It’s unacceptable that Buck is letting Bennet get away with positioning himself as a moderate, or as anything other than the Senator from Obama.

I don’t know whether Buck is just too nice a guy or whether he’s getting this advice from his team, but I think his genteel style is a huge mistake at this time.  When I see headlines like “Bennet, Buck Soften Blows In 4th Senate Debate”, I just shake my head.

Ken, you’ve said you’d be a fighter for the people of Colorado.  I suggest it’s time to start.

“You can keep your health insurance…if you BEG hard enough for an Obamacare waiver.”

by Brian Schwartz | 5:00 am, October 13, 2010

That’s Michelle Malkin on ObamaCare (HR 3590), in her post titled “Obamacare waivers: Torquemada Sebelius spares McDonald’s, unions.”
(via Ari Armstrong.)

Ken Buck’s “Scott Brown” moment: “They will ignore us no more.”

by Kelly Maher | 11:14 pm, October 12, 2010

I’ve heard Ken Buck’s closing argument in the U.S. Senate debates in Colorado several times now, and it’s gaining power because it captures the energy of many, many citizens demanding that their government respond to the will of the people. It reminds me of Scott Brown’s remark this year about the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, “It’s the people’s seat.”

Tipton, Rankin, Maes to Speak at Restoring America Rally in Alamosa

by PerlStalker | 10:20 pm, October 12, 2010

Congressional candidate Scott Tipton, Colorado Senate candidate and Governor candidate Dan Maes are among those confirmed to speak at the Restoring America rally on Saturday at noon in Cole Park in Alamosa.

I have no use for Maes but I really like Sc…

Kaiser Permanente Hires Hickenlooper Deputy

by PerlStalker | 8:41 pm, October 12, 2010

Kaiser Permanente Colorado as has hired John Hickenlooper’s deputy chief of staff, Amy Mueller, to direct their government relations board.

Let’s see. Hickenlooper is likely to be the Governor come November thanks to the GOP collapse. Then there’s th…

Dump Morse

by Al Maurer | 8:15 pm, October 12, 2010

In the U.S. Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid is the target of our ire for running roughshod over our liberties and destroying the economy through reckless spending. He’s going to lose his job in a couple of weeks and good … Continue reading →

Union Making USPS Even Less Efficient Than it Is

by PerlStalker | 7:41 pm, October 12, 2010

No one holds up the United States Postal Service as a model of efficiency. Part of the reason is the American Postal Workers Union. A recent post on Cato’s Downsizing the Federal Government blog gives a good run down of the financial problems caused by…

Why I endorsed Tom Tancredo for Governor – 10/7 Pt 1

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 7:00 pm, October 12, 2010

The election for Governor of Colorado is unpredictable, but it remains critical – and winnable.

On 10/7, I officially endorsed TOM TANCREDO, a proven, electable conservative leader, for Governor of Colorado.  Here’s why I did – and why you should…

From Mothers Against Debt: Educational Programming Not Available on PBS

by Ben DeGrow | 5:35 pm, October 12, 2010

Yesterday it was the 30-second Amendment 63 animation of Obamacare-inspired jailhouse fear. Today, one of my Independence Institute colleagues did it again. Compliments of Mothers Against Debt, sit back and enjoy two minutes worth of educational programming you won’t see on PBS: Not on PBS, but it does have a little bit of that Schoolhouse [...]

Michael Bennet’s Election-Season Epiphany on Big Labor’s Card-Check

by Ben DeGrow | 5:26 pm, October 12, 2010

While it may be true that all good things must come to an end, that’s not necessarily the case for things that have been trapped in a state of crystallized indecision for many, many months. In the case of Michael Bennet and card-check, though, it was. On February 10, 2009, I first wrote about the [...]

Killer Commercial – Retire Barney Frank

by Mr. Bob | 4:24 pm, October 12, 2010

#barneyfrank #tcot #hhrsThis should be played in Massachusetts and all over the country every minute of every day…even after Barney loses so people remember what they did to themselves after voting for this clown and his friends. We need honest polit…

MAD About Contests and Debt

by Jon Caldara | 2:30 pm, October 12, 2010

Our Amy Oliver at Mothers Against Debt wants you to exercise your rights and vote for who you believe is the best citizen auditor in Colorado. Thanks to our investigative reporter Todd Shepherd, many of you now know how to file Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests and many of you did so brilliantly for [...]

10/7 Pt 2 – Interview with Troy Ard, chair of the Colorado Federation of College Republicans

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 1:10 pm, October 12, 2010

In Part Two of the 10/7 edition of Seng Center, host Jimmy Sengenberger talks with Troy Ard, chair of the Colorado Federation of College Republicans and conservative activist, about the current goings-on in Colorado politics.  What should we make…

Fair and Balanced?: Union Dominates Local TV “Waiting for Superman” Panel

by Eddie | 11:42 am, October 12, 2010

Look, I’m going to admit up front that little Eddie isn’t inherently balanced, not when it comes to discussions education issues anyway. I have a point of view. It’s no secret. I try to back up my arguments with evidence as much as I can, but in the end I have some pretty strong beliefs [...]

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