So we all knew it was going to be just a political side show.  Democrats can now say they’ve met with Republicans on C-SPAN.  Republicans couldn’t object or they would look like they were only politically, and not fundamentally opposed to the health care reform bills before Congress.  So today was the day.  Below are some of the best clips:

Skip to about 3:45 to see Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) tell one hell of a scary story about one of her constituents:

Lamar Alexander (R-TN) calls out Obama on the Democrats’ prior views on reconciliation.  As you can see, their opinions have changed dramatically:

Obama demonizes an insurance company for not covering his car:

The entire thing can be found in two parts on YouTube, but I’ll leave you with just one more good clip.  Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) calls out Obama over a dramatic disparity in time allotted for each party to speak:

I’m having trouble posting this particular video, but you can find it here.

The College Republicans, in coordination with the Boulder County GOP, will be hosting three caucus trainings on the CU-Boulder campus.  We only ask that you attend one.  If you plan to attend, please RSVP via e-mail or use our Contact page letting us know your name (first and last), phone number, and the date of the training you have selected.

At the training you will learn how to effectively participate in the caucus system, as well as what steps you should take if you are interested in becoming a county or state delegate.  It is not difficult to learn, but it is very important that you understand the process so that the events proceed smoothly and you are able to make an impact and contribute.

Date, time, and location information for each of the events is below:

The Boulder County GOP Executive Committee will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, February 25th.  It will start at 7:00pm, and last no more than two hours.  The meeting location is 619 Ken Pratt Blvd. in Longmont.  Click here for driving directions from the UMC.

The meeting will cover regular Executive Committee business, but will primarily focus on putting together the packets for next month’s precinct caucuses.  The College Republicans will be attending, so if you are in need of a ride or can give one to others, please e-mail us.  We will be leaving from outside the UMC at approximately 6:15pm.

Please check out our other events to find out when our caucus trainings are.  There will be three of them (2/24, 2/26, and 3/4) on the CU-Boulder campus.  You will learn how to participate effectively in the caucus process, as well as what steps you should take if you are interested in becoming a county or state delegate.

So sayeth the Pew Research Center, according to this article from FoxNews.com:

While young adults remain decidedly more liberal, the survey found the Democratic advantage among 18- to 29-year-olds has substantially narrowed, from a record 62 percent identifying as Democrat vs. 30 percent for the Republicans in 2008, down to 54 percent vs. 40 percent last December. It was the largest percentage point jump in those who identified or leaned Republican among all the voting age groups.

So the gap in party affiliation among young voters closed by 18 points in only a year?  Woa.  But wait, it gets better:

Young adults’ voting enthusiasm also crumbled.

During the presidential election, turnout among 18- to 29-year-olds was the highest in years, comprising roughly 20 percent of the voters in many states including Virginia and New Jersey, due in part to high participation from young blacks and Hispanics.

That percentage, however, dropped by half for the governors’ races in those states last November, where Republicans celebrated wins as black groups pushed Obama to do more to soften the economic blow from mortgage foreclosures and Latinos saw little progress on immigration reform. Young adults also were the least likely of any age group to identify themselves as regular voters.

The College Republicans, naturally, fit right into this story.  The goal of the entire organization is to convey the conservative message in an attractive way to bring young voters into the (R) column–for life.  The impact of ‘recruiting’ (for lack of a better word) young people into the party is significantly greater than the alternative.  It’s both more difficult and less rewarding to do the same with middle-aged and senior voters, as they are more entrenched in their beliefs and will participate in fewer elections in the future.  2010 must be about convincing and encouraging students and young voters across Colorado and the nation to vote their interests–to vote Republican.

Senator Mark Udall (D-CO)

As many of you are probably aware, Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) has recently launched himself to the forefront of the health care reform battle in Washington after penning a letter to President Obama that urges him to pass health care reform–public option included–via budget reconciliation.  This would allow Democrats to skirt the Senate’s filibuster rule, allowing them to pass a bill with only 50 votes.  In that case, the tie would be broken by Vice President Joe Biden in his capacity as President of the Senate.

As of right now, 20 U.S. Senators have signed Bennet’s letter.  The White House will get behind it if Harry Reid (D-NV) does.  Harry Reid will if 29 more of his colleagues do.  This is a dangerous, slippery slope.  As of right now, I don’t see this making any difference.  My belief since last June has been that health care reform, of any form acceptable to President Obama, will not pass the Senate.  I still believe that.  But if we don’t continue fighting back, they will steamroll us as they have so many times before.

Please contact Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) and tell him to stand with Coloradans on the issue of health care “reform” by coming out publicly against passing ANY measure or provision under budget reconciliation.  Don’t forget to leave a valid physical address within the state of Colorado.  If you don’t, your letter will go into the trash and not the “No” column of the tally his aides are surely keeping.  My letter is below–feel free to play off it:

Dear Senator Udall,

I urge you to come out AGAINST passing any version of a health care reform plan, whether it includes a public option or not, via reconciliation.  Do it publicly, do it soon, and do it with conviction.  Quash any momentum Senator Bennet’s letter to the President may have.  It has been made clear time and again that Americans, and Coloradans especially, do not support any of the proposals that have been put before Congress.  If we can’t trust you to vote our interests and our will in this case, there’s very little we can trust you to do.

Sincerely,

Colby Kamin

[Redacted], Boulder, CO 80304

From City Hall News:

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), one of the largest social advocacy groups in the country, has been forced to suspend most operations as of today.

The website was down on Monday morning, but the phone number for ACORN’s New York office was still connected, offering guidance on mortgage payments, first-time home purchases, general housing inquiries and ACORN housing maintenance. An operator was still answering the phones “ACORN, good morning,” and redirecting calls.

By noon on Monday, the phone message had been replaced.

Read the original article here.

At this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC 2010), conservative news commentator Glenn Beck was invited to give the keynote address.  I’m not sure if it tops the smackdown Rush Limbaugh put on liberalism last year, but it was a thing of beauty either way.  Check it out:

As President Obama comes to Denver today to rally support for Sen. Michael Bennet at various fundraisers, Jane Norton has released an ad challenging him to balance the budget by the end of his first term.

Transcript:

ANNOUNCER: The President’s coming to Denver and Colorado needs to send him a message.

JANE NORTON: Mr. President, as a candidate you came to Denver and promised to “go through the federal budget…eliminating programs that no longer work…”

You’ve done just the opposite – massive spending and debt.

It’s ruining our economy and it’s wrong.

Mr. President, you should pledge to balance the budget or else decline to seek re-election. That’d be change we could believe in.

I’m Jane Norton. I approved this message. Let’s Stand Up, Colorado.

On her Campaign Blog, she identifies several options to bring America back toward fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets:

* Cut discretionary spending by 20 percent and then freeze it for three years. This shouldn’t be hard to accomplish – all it would require is a return to 2008 levels.
* Use what’s left of the stimulus and TARP money to pay down the debt. It will show the American people you’re serious about fiscal responsibility.
* End your quest for a government healthcare takeover.
* Then cut taxes on small businesses. Ronald Reagan showed that it works. When small businesses can create jobs through a lower tax burden, tax receipts actually go up!
* End earmarks.
* Finally, do what you promised. Go through your budget line by line and eliminate wasteful programs until the federal government is not spending a dime more than it makes.

Me, in fact.  The CU Independent released an article yesterday entitled Are We Heading Right or Left? about the new study from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute which I touched on last week.  The study shows that higher education makes students more likely to be supportive of liberal positions on major social issues, while not furthering their civic education.

The CU Independent writes:

Colby Kamin, secretary of the College Republicans at CU, said he thought the results of the report were “disquieting, though not unpredictable.”

“[The report] shows students are establishing political beliefs without understanding why,” Kamin said. “This fosters highly ideological thinking, rather than independent thinking.”

Kamin said that although he thought the results of the test were disturbing, there remains a “silver lining.”

“The study goes on to show that, as any good conservative would expect, a greater level of civic literacy translates into a more positive view of America and more skepticism about government and market regulation,” Kamin said.

Read the rest of the article here.

President Obama’s chief terrorism adviser and member of the National Security Council John Brennan said today that it isn’t “that bad” if only 20% of terrorists released by the United States resume terrorist activities.

The worst part is that he made the remark in comparison with the 50% recidivism rate of common criminals who have left prisons in the United States.  Apparently nobody in the administration thinks there is a notable difference between shoplifting and taking down buildings that have over 2,000 people inside.

From my personal newspaper of choice, Investor’s Business Daily:

Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security & Counter-terrorism John Brennan

Brennan’s indifference is appalling, especially in light of the fact that some Gitmo releases are now heading al-Qaida’s operations in Yemen, where the crotch-bomber was trained. In fact, ABC News reported that two of the four leaders behind the al-Qaida plot to blow up the airliner over Detroit were released from Gitmo in 2007.

The White House is trying to justify more releases, which is riskier, because the prison population has dwindled to a much smaller and harder core. The remaining 200 detainees are the worst of the worst, and recidivism rates are sure to rise if they are released, too.

In fact, data show recidivism already creeping higher. A prior Pentagon review last April showed that 14% of former detainees had rejoined the jihad, up from 11% in December 2008. Now the share has grown to 20%. Yet this higher rate is entirely acceptable, according to the president’s top terror adviser. He may be able to live with it, but can the rest of America?

Read the rest of the article here.