Colo. Springs Candidate Forum Goes to Ken Buck, Dan Maes, J.J. Ament

by Ben | 6:46 am, March 11, 2010

Tuesday night featured another in the latest of well-attended grassroots debate sponsored by conservative or pro-liberty groups: Candidate Debate 2010 in Colorado Springs. It got the attention of one Colorado Pols diarist, and made for a couple humorous anecdotes reported by the Denver Post’s Lynn Bartels.
After the forum — which included Colorado candidates for U.S. [...]

Kudos to Mike Coffman for Leading on New Balanced Budget Amendment

by Ben | 9:25 pm, March 10, 2010

Hats off to Colorado’s own Congressman Mike Coffman for stepping up to the plate and co-leading the effort to bring back the Balanced Budget Amendment. Coffman lays out the case in The Hill blog:

Adoption of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget is an enormous task and will take an immense amount of political [...]

Taxpayers for Liberty: Who Is This Group Playing in U.S. Senate Race?

by Ben | 5:42 am, March 10, 2010

Update: Scanned copy of the March 5 Taxpayers for Liberty letter posted below.
Yesterday I received a strange mailing from a group called Taxpayers for Liberty. (Many of my fellow conservative, politically-active Colorado friends likely received the same.) It’s a self-described 501c4 organization with a Denver P.O. Box and an executive director named Andrew O’Neill — [...]

Amazon Fallout for Colorado Dems

by Ben | 10:08 pm, March 9, 2010

Despite the best efforts of Colorado statehouse Democrats to turn around and point the fingers at the e-e-e-eeevil Amazon.com, they (with the exception of Sen. Gail Schwarz) are all responsible for paying no heed to the warnings and ultimately killing many small Colorado Internet businesses.
Speaking of difficulty in taking responsibility, WhoSaidYouSaid has posted a YouTube [...]

Rasmussen Poll: Best News for GOP Guv Hopeful Scott McInnis in Awhile

by Ben | 7:31 am, March 9, 2010

Yesterday’s Rasmussen poll is the best news GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis has had in awhile, and well timed to land a week before caucuses. Fellow RMA blogger Don Johnson notes that McInnis’ six-point lead over Denver mayor John Hickenlooper comes in spite of a distinct popularity advantage by the Democrat. Johnson says: “That’s not [...]

Which Colorado Candidates Have Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge?

by Ben | 9:10 am, March 8, 2010

Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge has reached iconic status, especially in Republican primaries. Politicians who sign the pledge are declaring their opposition to any and all future tax increases.
Below is the official updated list of all Colorado candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress who have signed the no-new-taxes pledge. Interestingly, the top [...]

Two Reasons Why We Could Use More Shawn Mitchells in the State Legislature

by Ben | 10:36 am, March 6, 2010

Two days, two stories, two reasons why I believe the Colorado General Assembly needs more legislators like Senator Shawn Mitchell fighting for us. First, Colorado Senate News reports a recent floor debate in which Mitchell assumes his usual role as bold and articulate spokesman for common sense and liberty, leading the vote against a heavy-handed, [...]

7th CD: Ryan Frazier in Wall St. Journal; Jimmy Lakey Hits Voting Road Bump

by Ben | 7:21 pm, March 4, 2010

A quick update from the Colorado 7th Congressional District GOP primary campaign trail (isn’t that a mouthful!) … First, the very strong fundraising quarter by Ryan Frazier was noted today in the eighth paragraph of a story by Wall Street Journal reporters Stephanie Simon and Ana Campoy about anti-Beltway sentiment fueling successful races across the [...]

Post Smacks Bill Ritter on Education Reform: What Did You Expect?

by Ben | 6:30 pm, March 4, 2010

Update, 3/5: Better late than never, I guess. At least Ritter has finally named members to his “educator effectiveness” panel, for whatever that’s worth.
I don’t mean to kick a man when he’s down, especially when he’s biked his way into the hospital with broken ribs. But it was quite the experience to open the virtual [...]

On Eve of Caucus, Here’s March Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature

by Ben | 8:57 am, March 4, 2010

This post will stick to the top until March 12. Please scroll down for newer postings.
Update, 3/8: With the news that CD 7 candidate Jimmy Lakey has withdrawn from the race (H/T Complete Colorado), his name has been removed as a possible selection on the relevant questions. I hope it wasn’t anything I said giving [...]

When Will Colorado Be Ready for a New Labor Model Rooted in Freedom?

by Ben | 5:31 pm, March 2, 2010

Is the United States ready for a new labor model, one more grounded in freedom of association and individual liberty? That’s the central thrust of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s new book — Sweeping the Shop Floor — for which I was honored to be a contributor.
EFF labor policy analyst Rachel Culbertson joined me and [...]

CO House Bill 1147: Police to “Ticket” Kids for Not Wearing Bike Helmets

by Ben | 6:11 pm, March 1, 2010

Now that the Democrats in charge of the State Capitol have solved the budget crisis by raising taxes and raiding cash funds, the Colorado News Agency reports the Dems have set out to solve a major problem that confounds us slow-witted peon parents:
House Bill 1147 would authorize law enforcement to issue an “informational” traffic citation–a [...]

Tell Colorado Legislators to Back off the Mary Kay Lady: Oppose HB 1248

by Ben | 5:02 am, March 1, 2010

Update, 3/2: Good news: HB 1248 is dead as a doornail. Three Democrats — Daniel Kagan, Su Ryden, and Sal Pace — crossed the aisle to help Republicans vote down the bill.
Update, 1:15 PM: Walter in Denver effectively takes down HB 1248 — a bad bill for Colorado’s small business women — here and here.
This [...]

Thanks to Obama Care, Nancy Pelosi is Generous with Other Dems’ Careers

by Ben | 12:26 am, March 1, 2010

You knew Democrats are very comfortable with the idea of appearing generous by spending other people’s hard-earned money. But you may not have known just how generous at least one liberal Democrat leader in Washington, D.C., is with the political careers of her minions, er, fellow members of her Congressional caucus:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged [...]

Colo. House Dem Leader Waging PC Fight against “War on Terror” Memorial?

by Ben | 5:40 pm, February 26, 2010

In case you’re like me and didn’t listen to the Peter Boyles Show this morning, then you’ve probably missed this gem from our state legislature. As reported by Colorado Senate News:

A memorial to honor soldiers that have sacrificed their lives fighting the War on Terror could be derailed following objections from one Democrat lawmaker.
“It is [...]

Bill Ritter’s Pitch for Cary Kennedy Shows Vulnerability of Treasurer’s Race

by Ben | 9:13 am, February 26, 2010

Just a reminder that Colorado Democrat State Treasurer Cary Kennedy’s re-election hopes are fragile this year. Yesterday I received a fundraising email from Bill Ritter. After touting the incumbent’s record, the message reads:

Cary Kennedy is facing a well-funded challenger who is related to George W. Bush and has tapped into his family’s national fundraising network. [...]

Health Care Summit Does Nothing for Vulnerable Congressman John Salazar

by Ben | 9:02 am, February 26, 2010

Say what you will about yesterday’s Health Care Summit. Obama and the Democrat leadership didn’t make the case for expanded government control of medicine and didn’t move the ball politically in any way to help ram through the Obama Care monstrosity.
In Colorado, that has to be especially unsettling for 3rd District Congressman John Salazar. Dick [...]

Michael Bennet Gets Some Small Redemption from SEIU Endorsement

by Ben | 6:54 am, February 25, 2010

A good reminder that not only is Big Labor anything but monolithic but also that the Democrats potentially face a very competitive primary for Colorado’s U.S. Senate seat: The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has endorsed the Appointed One, Michael Bennet.
While rival Andrew Romanoff has won backing from the Teamsters and UFCW, Bennet at [...]

A Good Week for Jimmy Lakey: GOP Three-Way Race in Colorado’s 7th CD?

by Ben | 11:51 pm, February 24, 2010

It’s been a big week so far for GOP 7th Congressional candidate Jimmy Lakey. On Sunday he won a plurality of votes from viewers of the North Denver candidate forum. Then today, word broke on the liberal Colorado Pols blog that Tom Tancredo is endorsing Lakey — though no confirmation as of yet has been [...]

Bill Ritter Signs Tax Hikes Into Law, Clock Ticking on State Democrat Rule

by Ben | 11:07 pm, February 24, 2010

This day was coming sooner rather than later: Governor Bill Ritter retreated to a private room to sign into law nine anti-business, job-killing tax hike bills.
This action completes the trifecta of Democrat one-party rule under Colorado’s Golden Dome. On February 1, all Democrats in the state house voted to push through at least one [...]

Dr. David Benke: Hero

by Ben | 9:40 am, February 24, 2010

Update, 3/1: Jeffco Public Schools has posted a response letter from Dr. Benke. I think it about says it all.
The story of the heroism of Deer Creek Middle School math teacher David Benke is a compelling one. A Jefferson County schoolteacher like many others who went to work yesterday, placed into an unexpected moment of [...]

Lobbying Groups Want Taxpayers to Underwrite Their School Funding Lawsuit Against the State of Colorado

by Ben | 5:16 pm, February 23, 2010

About four months ago the Colorado Supreme Court decided that judges have a role in deciding how the state’s public schools are funded. In a Colorado Daily column I explained why this decision in the Lobato case was bad policy and a dangerous precedent.
You also can listen to Professor Joshua Dunn bring his expertise [...]

A Remarkable Political Year to Talk Seriously about Candidate Dan Maes

by Ben | 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 [...]

North Denver Candidate Search 2010: Your Don’t-Miss Weekend Event

by Ben | 9:39 am, February 19, 2010

This event Sunday is one you don’t want to miss:

North Denver Candidate Search 2010 Forum
A forum hosted by the people, for the people.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Doors open at 2:00 p.m.
Forum starts at 2:30 p.m.
The Pinnacle Events Center
1001 West 84th Avenue
Denver, CO 80260
(Located 10 blocks west of I-25 on 84th Avenue. It is on the [...]

Tea Party Movement Still Rising One Year After Rick Santelli’s Famous Rant

by Ben | 9:20 am, February 19, 2010

A quick retrospective on a crystallizing moment for the still-nascent Tea Party movement that looms so large over the Colorado and American political landscape today. The grassroots upswell against Washington D.C.’s big government bailout and spending sprees already had started to take shape and pick up steam, when one year ago today CNBC’s Rick Santelli [...]

Anti-IRS Domestic Terrorist Suicide Attack Time for Moral Clarity

by Ben | 6:38 pm, February 18, 2010

So today we have the sad story of a frustrated nutcase named Joseph Stack who committed suicide by flying his plane into an Austin, TX, building that houses some IRS offices — after leaving behind a rambling manifesto. Hopefully a singular outlier, and not an inspiration or the start of a trend in these trying [...]

Mr. President, Welcome to Denver

by Ben | 9:29 am, February 18, 2010

One year and one day after President Obama came to Denver to sign away hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars into generational debt for the creation of some government jobs (and in the process, taking out some in the private sector), he’s coming back. This time Obama will be here to help save another job: [...]

Watch KBDI Tonight: LOTR’s Amanda Teresi, Rossputin Talk Tea Party

by Ben | 2:21 pm, February 17, 2010

Sick of the Winter Olympics? Looking for something to do? Here’s a show you should tune into tonight (and not just because two of my liberty-loving friends are on it):

Studio 12 “Tea Party Movement”
Wednesday, February 17 at 8:00 pm on Channel 12 / 12.1
Host Tamara Banks explores what’s brewing with the emerging Tea Party movement. [...]

Trusted Expert Dick Murphy Endorses J.J. Ament in Colorado Treasurer’s Race

by Ben | 6:46 pm, February 16, 2010

Quick update from the state treasurer’s race. Dick Murphy — former Deputy State Treasurer and one of the most respected and expert conservative figures I know in the area of school finance (and public finance generally) — has come out vocally behind candidate J.J. Ament (official campaign release touting endorsement below the fold):

Centennial – Former [...]

February Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature: Results Unveiled

by Ben | 1:41 pm, February 15, 2010

Thank you to the more than 400 people who participated in the February 2010 Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature. A snapshot of the results in headlines:

U.S. Senate: Ken Buck Still On Top, Norton and Tidwell Gaining
Governor: Dan Maes Widens Support Edge Over Scott McInnis
3rd Congressional: Scott Tipton Tops Bob McConnell Twice
4th Congressional: Cory Gardner Still [...]

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