Gov. Huckabee loves taxes

As former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee begins to challenge former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney for the lead in the Iowa Republican caucuses, his big-government past continues to haunt him.

Huckabee, a hundred pounds ago, practically begs the Arkansas legislature for a tax increase:

Ken Salazar = partisan hack

US Senator Ken Salazar (MoveOn - CO) has intentionally ignored Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave's leadership in the fight for private property rights in Pinion Canyon.

From the Fort Collins Coloradoan:

Salazar gives credit to brother for Musgrave work?

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave is taking a page from the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield’s playbook today saying “I don’t get no respect!”

Although Musgrave most certainly uses better grammar, her office said this afternoon they are unclear as to why Sen. Ken Salazar, failed to give her the political props – a.k.a the credit – she deserves on brokering Pinon Canyon legislation.

In a press release sent by Salazar’s office, the first-term Colorado senator passes praise onto his little brother, Rep. John Salazar, a Democrat from the Western Slope of Colorado, for his efforts to stop an army expansion of Pinon Canyon in El Paso County. The senator failed to mention Musgrave at all, even though the Fort Morgan Republican authored the legislation he was praising.

Musgrave authored a House amendment that blocked the Army from moving forward for one year on any plans to expand the Pinon Canyon site. She enlisted John Salazar as a House co-sponsor.

Colorado's two senators, Democrat Ken Salazar and Republican Wayne Allard. initially balked at supporting the amendment but later came on board when the Senate considered the issue.

On Goldwater and the legacy of the conservative movement's enigmatic father

The American Conservative's Daniel McCarthy has a superb essay about Barry Goldwater's legacy, and the current strain of liberal revisionist history of the man Pat Buchanan called "the father of us all."

I highly recommend this weekend reading.

Highlight:

...But if the Republican Party is full of pretenders, where does one look for Goldwater’s true heirs?

To answer that question, one has to look to the sharpest division that split the Goldwater movement of the ’60s. It wasn’t the division between libertarians and traditionalists, it was the division that separated idealistic libertarians and traditionalists alike, the campaign amateurs, from the campaign professionals. The conservative movement still pays lip service to economic liberty, social order, and military strength—but on all three points, Republicans have become hollow men who have preserved the rites of Goldwaterism but who long ago lost its spirit. That was an amateur spirit—in both the best and worst senses of the word—and it drew together in common cause traditionalists and libertarians as different as Brent Bozell and Goldwater speechwriter Karl Hess.

...The conventional wisdom overvalues politics and undervalues the philosophy of the movement: it overlooks the ways in which Goldwater succeeded far beyond the electoral success of a Johnson or a Nixon—or a Bush. The Conscience of a Conservative continues to be read today because it isn’t a political tract, a soulless campaign book of the sort generated by every other modern presidential effort.

The idealism and amateurism of the Goldwater people inspired a movement in a way that political professionals never could: indeed, the cynical professionalism and win-at-all-costs mentality of today’s conservatives, best represented by Karl Rove, has had the opposite effect. Goldwater galvanized America’s youth—Young Americans for Freedom grew directly out of Youth for Goldwater. Under the professional Republicans of the past decade, on the other hand, conservatives have lost whatever momentum they had with the next generation...

Harvey announces campaign for CO-6

Today, on the steps of the state capitol State Senator Ted Harvey announced his intention to run for congress in Colorado's 6th Congressional district.

Harvey was surrounded by supporters, including:

State Senator Greg Brophy
State Senator Mike Kopp
State Senator Josh Penry
State Senator Scott Renfroe
State Senator Dave Schultheis

State Rep. Cory Gardner
State Rep. Kent Lambert
State Rep. Kevin Lundberg
State Rep. Mike May (House Minority Leader)
State Rep. Frank McNulty
State Rep. Ken Summers

UPDATE: Here is Harvey's announcement press release:

Conservative Republican State Senator Ted Harvey Announces Candidacy for 6^th Congressional District

Denver , CO: Conservative Republican State Senator Ted Harvey announced his candidacy for the 6^th Congressional District today on the steps of the State Capitol.

In announcing his candidacy, Senator Harvey touted his conservative experience on issues important to the district. “As an elected legislator for the past 6 years, I’ve worked hard to reduce taxes, shrink government, as well as pass legislation to protect life and crack down on illegal immigration,” said Harvey. “As a Member of Congress, voters know they can count on me to continue my proven record of conservative leadership on the issues most important to them.”

Senator Harvey was joined by several Republican State Representatives and Senators at the event. Already, the Ted Harvey for Congress campaign has earned support from half the Republican delegation in both the State House and State Senate as well as numerous county officials from across the district.

Initial support for Harvey among Colorado legislators includes:

Rep. Rob Witwer (R) Sen. Mike Kopp (R)

Rep. Ken Summers (R) Sen. Scott Renfroe (R)

Rep. Steve King (R) Sen. Josh Penry (R)

Rep. Jim Kerr (R) Sen. Greg Brophy (R)

Rep. Mike May (R) Sen. Shawn Mitchell (R)

Rep. Ray Rose (R) Sen. Dave Schultheis (R)

Rep. Cory Gardner (R) Sen. Ken Kester (R)

Rep. Kent Lambert (R) Rep. Frank McNulty (R)

Rep. Kevin Lundberg (R) Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R)

Rep. Amy Stephens (R)

“I’m proud to have the support of so many of my colleagues and grassroots leaders because they know I will work hard to champion conservative values in Congress like Tom Tancredo has,” Concluded Senator Harvey.

-30-

Wiens out of CO-6

State Senator Tom Wiens won't run for CO-6.

From his press release:

Colorado state Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, announced today that he will seek re-election to a second term in the Colorado State Senate and will not be a candidate for the sixth congressional seat being vacated by retiring Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo.

"I believe I can have a more positive impact on the future of Colorado by continuing to serve in the State Senate than by being a member of Congress," Wiens said. "This has become even more clear to me given the events of the last several days in which we have seen our Democrat governor practicing government by fiat, ignoring the best interests of the people and bypassing the entire legislative process. Governor Ritter is clearly placing the interests of his political benefactors above the interests of the people."

Wiens said Gov. Bill Ritter's controversial executive order last Friday, granting labor unions bargaining power over state employees, will increase the costs of government in Colorado and reduce its efficiency and our competitiveness as a state. He went on to say, tax payers expect real and tangible results from their state government "Instead, we are now are in an environment where special interests are the only ones getting results."

Greeley Trib endorses militant lesbian

From TheGreeleyReport.com:

The Greeley Tribune announced their endorsements for Greeley City Council spots. Of course we all know that our community has waited with bated breath to know the unsearchable mind of the all-wise Tribunal staff, because after all, this is the election season and we need them to think for us.

In Ward 1, their adulation goes to candidate Denise Hall. In their words, she is an impressive candidate...one who is “smart, articulate, and thoughtful. She brings diversity to the council personally and professionally.” In short, the Tribune think tank believes that Hall is best qualified to grasp the issues and articulate change, which is needed on city council.

However, as reported on www.greeleyreport.com, what they fail to detail is Hall’s history and alternative lifestyle…one which undoubtedly serves as a foundation for her political agenda waiting to be imposed on Greeley if elected. You see, Hall is a proud and radical lesbian with a history of activism in the gay pride movement. In 1994, while assisting with the organization of an interfaith service for the annual gay pride parade in Oklahoma City, she apparently sought out input from the queer pagans group but was not able to find their organization. In her own words, “I was unable to locate the queer pagans group. Unfortunately, I had to plan the service without their input”.

Yet despite her adherence to moral views that many find to be perverse rather than diverse, according to the Tribune, this is the missing ingredient needed on our city council, and Denise Hall is the answer we’ve all been looking for. But it makes many stop and wonder this: If Denise Hall IS the answer, are we even asking intelligent questions? Perhaps the missing ingredient in our annual 4^th of July parade is an appearance by the queer pagans group along with our veterans and Christian organizations which do so much to build family values rather than attack them.

Or perhaps, maybe what’s missing is a news source in Greeley that is fair and balanced…one which won’t omit relevant facts in order to promote its own agenda.

The only city we will have is the one we build, and if we find that we’re riding a dead horse, logic dictates that at some point we should dismount.If we want Greeley to be a 1^st rate city, it’s incumbent upon the voters to choose their candidates wisely. Prosperous cities don’t just “happen” by chance, they’re built by good decisions and principled leaders…something we desperately need in Greeley.

Ron Paul raises $4.2 million in 24 hours

Congressman Ron Paul (R - TX) raised $4.2 million dollars in last 24 hours for his Presidential campaign. This represents the single largest fundraising day by any Republican this cycle.

From AP:

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, aided by an extraordinary outpouring of Internet support Monday, hauled in more than $4.2 million in nearly 24 hours.

Paul, the Texas congressman with a libertarian tilt and an out-of-Iraq pitch, entered heady fundraising territory with a surge of Web-based giving tied to the commemoration of Guy Fawkes Day.

Fawkes was a British mercenary who failed in his attempt to kill King James I on Nov. 5, 1605. He also was the model for the protagonist in the movie "V for Vendetta." Paul backers motivated donors on the Internet with mashed-up clips of the film on the online video site YouTube as well as the Guy Fawkes Day refrain: "Remember, remember the 5th of November."

Paul's total deposed Mitt Romney as the single-day fundraising record holder in the Republican presidential field. When it comes to sums amassed in one day, Paul now ranks only behind Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton, who raised nearly $6.2 million on June 30, and Barack Obama.

Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said the effort began independently about two months ago at the hands of Paul's backers. He said Paul picked up on the movement, mentioning in it speeches and interviews.

"It's been kind of building up virally," Benton said.

The $4.2 million represented online contributions from more than 37,000 donors, fundraising director Jonathan Bydlak said Monday night.

Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul

RINO's run together

Liberal Loveland Republican Don Marostica, famous for spending $100,000's to beat conservative Kevan McNaught by a few hundred votes in 2006, is supporting fellow RINO Rudy Giuliani.

From the Loveland Reporter-Herald:

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani will stump in Loveland and Windsor next week. He’ll spend the night in a Loveland hotel room on Friday night, then sip his Saturday morning coffee in a Loveland cafe shortly before meeting with local supporters at a Windsor country club.

State Rep. Don Marostica — a staunch supporter of the presidential bid of the former New York City mayor — said he had to make the commitment to host Giuliani’s campaign here on short notice. “They called me last Friday (and) said you have 11 minutes to make a decision, or else we’re going to take him to Lincoln, Neb.,” Marostica said. ...

The big spenders are mostly business people who will want to discuss business issues, Marostica said.

The Colorado representative expects to far exceed the $60,000 minimum required by the fundraising committee. “I don’t want to say it was easy,” he said, “but it was pretty easy.”

Ritter is a "Hoffa" style union "toady"

The Denver Post pulls no punches in it's Sunday editorial lambasting Ritter for signing an executive order to allow unionization of state employees.

Despite the bitter wailing and gnashing of teeth from of axe-grinding liberals like Jim Spencer and Jason Bane (who attempt to masquerade as journalists for ColoradoPols.com and Colorado Confidential.com) the Post's editorial is spot on.

The piece attacks both the means and the ends of Ritter plan.

A Colorado promise broken

By The Denver Post Editorial Board

When Coloradans elected Bill Ritter as governor, they thought they were getting a modern-day version of Roy Romer, a pro-business Democrat. Instead, they got Jimmy Hoffa.

Ritter campaigned under the guise of a moderate "new Democrat" but now we know he's simply a toady to labor bosses and the old vestiges of his party — a bag man for unions and special interests.

The governor on Friday unveiled his plan to drive up the cost of doing business in Colorado by forcing collective bargaining on thousands of state employees.

We're concerned this may be the beginning of the end of Ritter as governor.

By pandering to unions, and the ever-shrinking 7.7 percent of the electorate that belong to unions, he's broken his "Colorado Promise" to voters. His promise to usher in a new era of collaborative government — where business and labor, Democrats and Republicans, would all be at the table — was nothing more than a sham.

It's unconscionable for the governor of a state that's limped through lean budget years to knowingly drive up the cost of government. And for what? Political payback to unions?

He's even doing an end-run on the legislature, controlled by his own party. Instead of introducing a bill in the legislature that could be debated and fine-tuned — the collaborative process he promised — Ritter junked what has worked for Colorado for decades with the flick of a pen. He didn't even have the guts to stand before the public and announce his plan. Instead, he sent out a press release late Friday afternoon when he hoped no one was looking.

It's government by fiat.

Ritter sailed into office with an unusual but strong coalition of business and labor backing his bid. But he has now corrupted that relationship with business, and the bulk of his agenda is at risk. He also has damaged his party, which enjoys power in Colorado partly because of that moderate face they painted for themselves in recent years.

Without business in his corner, we fear Ritter won't be able to effectively shepherd a comprehensive health care solution through the statehouse. And any plans he may have for a new revenue stream for higher education are dangling by a thread, too.

Perhaps more importantly, we're concerned he's lost whatever business support he had to reform Colorado's budget process. And that could very well doom his governorship. Gov. Bill Owens was able to pass Referendum C, which freed up money for five years from the state's tight revenue caps, because he had a strong coalition of business leaders helping to win support from GOP voters, who happen to be the largest block of Colorado voters.

Ritter will be rudderless if he tries to convince voters to approve an extension of Referendum C.

Experts say collective bargaining can add as much as 30 percent to the cost of doing business. Tell us, how does that make sense for a state that can hardly pay its bills and plans to come to voters as soon as 2009 with its hand out?

Ritter's two Democratic predecessors, Dick Lamm and Romer, were able to govern for 24 years, collectively, without introducing collective bargaining.

State employees are paid well, and treated well. In fact, by one estimate, they already earn 25 percent more than workers in surrounding states and their pay is 9 percent higher than the national average. We're ninth best in the country in paying our state employees, but not long ago we were 49th in the nation in K-12 spending as a percentage of personal income. Strange priorities, indeed.

Had Ritter thought employees were somehow getting a raw deal, he could have waved his magic wand and changed all that. He is the governor, after all. Instead, he's decided to prop up unions.

Now, he runs the risk of becoming Colorado's first one-term governor since Walter Johnson in 1950.

Coloradans bought the Colorado Promise, but may end up with a trail of broken promises.

A governor with such early promise has squandered his future in order to keep his backroom promises to a few union bosses.

And Colorado is the loser.

The Denver Post's editorial board operates independently of the paper's news coverage.

Greeley Mayor attacked

The Alliance for a Better Greeley has been flogging RINO Mayor Tom Selders for his tacit support of the drug and gang problems that result from illegal immigration.

TheGreeleyReport.com has the story:

Alliance for a Better Greeley spokesman John Hagen earlier today expressed outrage regarding Greeley’s gang-related percentage of homicides and methamphetamine distribution, declaring that the city’s policies - and its current mayor – “have put out the welcome mat” regarding gangs and crime, which hurts economic prosperity.
“Tom Selders went to D.C. and put Greeley on the map in front of the nation as a city that’s lax on law and order. Greeley’s citizens must now spring into action to save the city from continued crime, deteriorating quality of life, and economic decline,” said Hagen. “Gangs victimize cities perceived as weak on crime and law enforcement.”
“The housing revenue boom is over, and criminal gangs are consolidating in cities like Greeley. It’s vital every opponent of gangs & crime turn up the heat on elected officials in Greeley.”
The group stands behind the charges it made in a previous mailing, and on Saturday, a large wave of the same postcards were received by residents across Greeley.

Badda Boom, Badda Bing; Democrats Front Felon To Challenge Maristoca

As reported at ToTheRight

We know the seat is hopeless for Democrats, but couldn’t they find someone without a criminal record to run in this race?

From the Fort Collins Coloradoan:

Democratic state House challenger Crusificio “Cross” Gambino pleaded guilty to class 5 felony theft charges last year stemming from check fraud and was sentenced to three years probation, according to court records.

Gambino, 30, who Tuesday announced his intention to run for House District 51 - which covers north Loveland and the southern edge of Fort Collins - could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Phone numbers for Gambino obtained by Coloradoan public records searches were not active, and knocks on the door of his Fort Collins-based marketing firm, Gambino and Associates, were not answered.

Gambino would face Republican incumbent Rep. Don Marostica in 2008 if he runs for the seat.

According to court records, Gambino pleaded guilty to class 5 felony theft charges Jan. 12, 2006, and was sentenced to three years probation March 3 the same year.

Gambino can still run for the office with a felony conviction, a spokesman for the state Secretary of State’s Office said Wednesday.

“If you are a felon serving a prison sentence or on parole, you cannot vote,” spokesman Richard Coolidge said. “As it relates to a candidate for an office, if you’re on probation, there is nothing that would (preclude) you from running.”

Gambino said Tuesday he has been a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party. A check of voter registration records showed Gambino as a registered unaffiliated voter in Weld County.

Calls to Larimer County Democratic Chairman Adam Bowen and a late afternoon call to Marostica were not answered.

Dick Wadhams needs to stop insulting conservatives

The Colorado GOP has a long history of making poor choices when it comes to Republican primaries (Think Randy Graff) and they've done it again.

So-called "political genius," and state party Chair Dick Wadhams publicly insulted a sitting member of Congress from his own party.

From The Politico.com:

“The most lethal charge against Doug [Lamborn] is that he just doesn’t have the personal and intellectual strength to be the congressman for the 5th District.”

If Wadhams truly wanted to stay out of the CO-5 primary, he would have sat on his hands and said nothing. Given Wadhams willingness to push around Wayne Wolf, Bob Schaffer's primary opponent, he has shown he IS willing to support primary candidates.

Wadhams is wrong to publicly attack a conservative member of congress.

Shame on Dick Wadhams, shame on the state party.