American voters remain firmly opposed to the health care monstrosity that President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are conspiring to ram through Congress.  Meanwhile, Democratic Congresswoman Betsy Markey faces even deeper opposition to the bill by voters in Colorado's Fourth District.

National pollster Scott Rasmussen and Democratic pollster Doug Schoen penned a Wall Street Journal column today explaining "Why Obama Can't Move the Health Care Numbers."  In short, "Most voters believe the current plan will harm the economy, cost more than projected, raise the cost of care, and lead to higher middle-class taxes."

Meanwhile, the respected national Republican polling firm, The Tarrance Group, which has done considerable work for Colorado candidates for many years, polled the health care issue in eleven targeted Democratic congressional seats including Colorado's Fourth District.

Remarkably, in the Fourth District only 33 percent favor the bill while 58 percent oppose it.  They also oppose the Obama-Reid-Pelosi scheme to use the tactic of "reconciliation" to ram the bill through Congress with only 26 percent favoring the scheme while 63 percent oppose it.  A massive 77 percent of voters say Obamacare will increase their taxes.

Betsy Markey played a cute game of not taking a position on the bill until the last minute when she got a pass from Pelosi and allowed her to vote against the bill last year.  Markey's vote was a cynical, politically calculated vote against the bill.  Regardless of how she votes next time, Fourth District voters who clearly oppose the Obamacare monstrosity essentially have no one representing them in the U.S. House of Representatives.

For more on this topic see:

The Wall Street Journal:  Why Obama Can't Move the Health-Care Numbers:  For every voter who strongly favors the plan, two are strongly opposed.by Scott Rasmussen and Doug Schoen

MEMO:  Tarrance Group Poll: Health Care Bill Deeply Unpopular in 11 Targeted Dem Districts

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Politico reports today that the accidental senator, Michael Bennet, increasingly is moving to the far left of his party as former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff challenges him for the Democratic nomination. 

Bennet has sold out to labor bosses and left wing organizations who--along with the vast network of wealthy friends he went to school with at the elitist, exclusive St. Alban's private school in Washington, D.C.--are lavishly funding his campaign. 

After initially claiming he was a moderate when he was appointed by the failed, lame duck Governor Bill Ritter one year ago, Bennet has now emerged as the ultimate liberal pushing the most extreme version of the health care "reform" monstrosity.

For more on this topic see:

POLITICO:  Michael Bennet reinforces his left flank 

In a remarkable admission that the Obama-Democratic agenda and record could be politically toxic to her candidates, Colorado Democratic State Chairwoman Pat Waak told Fox News this week that her candidates will be fine in 2010 because she was hopeful voters will not be voting on "what's happening, you know, 1000 miles away."

MICHAEL BARONE:  “A lot of the people that Obama brought to the polls in 2008 in the Western states don’t seem to be approving of his job performance now.”

ALICIA ACUNA:  “For example, Colorado:  On Election Day, Obama won by a 9-point margin — a higher percentage than the national average.  That popularity is now contrasted in the Rocky Mountain state with the President’s approval rating lower than many parts of the country.”

FLOYD CIRULI (Colorado Pollster):  “I think that Obama, by so committing himself to health care, is essentially telling Democrats, ‘you’re on your own.’”

PAT WAAK:  “People tend to …” [Voiceover by Alicia Acuna:  “Pat Waak who chairs the Colorado Democratic Party is confident voters here will ultimately focus on the candidates in individual races.”] 

PAT WAAK:  “And they’ll make their decision on that basis and not what’s – what’s – happening – you know – a thousand miles away.” 

(FOX News, “Special Report w/ Bret Baier,” 3/3/10)

Is there any other way to interpret my friend Pat's comment other than if voters focus and vote on what is happening in Washington, D.C.--the place she alludes to that is "1,000 miles away"--they will reject Democratic candidates?

Pat's interesting comments were part of a Fox News national story on how the Rocky Mountain West appears to be swinging towards Republicans after Democratic successes in previous election cycles.

I agree with my counterpart, Pat Waak, that if Coloradans cast their votes on what they see coming out of Washington, D.C. from President Obama and the Democratic Congress--the failed "stimulus" bill, the health care reform monstrosity, the "cap and trade" energy tax increase, massive increases in the deficit and debt--then she's got big problems in 2010.

To view the Fox News national story mentioned above click on the video link below:

Fox News:  Changes in U.S. political landscape

Governor Bill Ritter cowered in his office today while signing nine tax increases into law and notified the news media afterwards. 

Why would Ritter not want all the bells and whistles of a public event in the west foyer of the capitol building like he does when signing bills such as Colorado Cucumber Day?  And why wouldn't the Democratic legislators who sponsored and voted for these tax increases want to proudly stand behind their governor in full view of the cameras?

Today's secret tax increase signing evokes memories of a late, dark Friday afternoon in November 2007 when Ritter signed the executive order handing over state government to union bosses.

Ritter and his Democratic cronies are hoping Colorado small businesses and taxpayers weren't looking today as they cowered in all corners of the Capitol as these tax increases became law.

For more on this topic see:
Denver Post:  The Spot:  Ritter signs nine tax measures into law

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper trots off to the Copenhagen Climate Conference with President Obama to warn about the impending destruction of planet earth.  Gubernatorial candidate John Hickenritter appears before Colorado energy and restaurant leaders and says there is no consensus on the impact of climate change.

And he wonders how he has earned the name of "Hickenritter?"

For the past seven years, Denver Mayor John Hickenritter has been the class clown who was not held accountable for his words or his actions.  Just like Bill Ritter who campaigned for governor in 2006 as a moderate, pro-business Democrat but who has governed as anything but, Mayor Hickenritter tells whoever is in front of him what they want to hear.

Colorado voters were burned by the say-one-thing-to-get-elected-and-do-another-thing-once-elected Ritter and won't be fooled by the two faces of John Hickenlooper.

For more on this topice see:
Denver Post:  Republicans say gubernatorial candidate Hickenlooper flip-flopping on climate change

After more than a year of either being unwilling or incapable of telling Colorado voters where he stood on eliminating the secret ballot in union elections, our own accidental senator Michael Bennet yesterday finally revealed where he stands.

Bennet was one of 52 Democratic senators to vote for the nomination of labor union hack lawyer Craig Becker for the National Labor Relations Board.  Becker has a long history of advocating giving labor unions extraordinary power to intimidate workers into supporting unionization by eliminating the secret ballot.

I suppose that the prospect of tens of millions of dollars of union boss money--extorted from union members without their permission to be used for political purposes--that will be spent on his behalf in the 2010 campaign was the tipping point for the accidental senator to support Becker. 

Or maybe we're selling Bennet short, maybe he did make an attempt to vote against the nomination.  Perhaps he did seek permission from Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer to vote against the Becker nomination but this time was refused (unlike last summer when it was widely reported that Bennet sought and received permission from Schumer to vote for a pro-gun amendment on the Senate floor).

Regardless of the why or how, our accidental senator finally came out from hiding and revealed he does support intimidation of workers by union bosses and denying those workers the right to a secret ballot in union elections.

For more on this topic see: 
Craig Becker: In His Own Words: Record Of Obama’s Nominee To NLRB Shows He’ll Go To Any Length To Give Unfair Advantage To Labor Unions Over Job Creators

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is incapable of taking a position on his pal Bill Ritter's $130 million tax increas on small businesses but he's terribly decisive on where the blame lies when people lose their jobs.

"I think the recession is to a large extent, independent of taxes.  A recession like this is driven by people's mental state" he declared on 760 AM last week.

So buck up and get your head on straight all of you Colorado workers who have lost your jobs and listen to the great John "Hickenritter."

To listen to the interview with Denver Mayor John Hicken from 02/04/2010 click here

For more on this topic see:  Denver Post:  Greene: Hickenlooper's take on recession mind-befuddling

A transcription of the portion of the AM 760 interview referenced above is included below:

Host Question 3:  What kinds of tax reforms should we look at that would not necessarily hurt the economy?  Is there a political fear that the Republican anti-tax zealots that have been so successful electorally will become the central defining issue of this upcoming gubernatorial race?

Hickenlooper:  I think they’ll certainly try to make it that.

I think the campaign will come more back to…how can we make our way out of the recession?

I think the recession is to a large extent, independent of taxes.  A recession like this is driven by people’s mental state.

Both parties have a portion of their party that is about fearfulness and a portion that is about opportunity.  We have no less capacity today to create jobs than we did 3 years ago.

What we lost is our confidence.

Every radio and talk show host is saying “THE SKY IS FALLING!”

I think the campaign will come down to, how do we create a context where people will believe in themselves?

Host responds:  I hope I’m not hearing you say what John McCain’s advisor Phil Gramm had said controversially on the campaign trail. Phil Gramm said that “…we’re only in a mental recession,” and he ended up being fired for that.

Hickenlooper:  No, no I’m not saying that.

What I’m saying is that…people’s attitudes are connected to the economy.

It’s not just a mental recession, people have obviously lost jobs, can’t make car payments, divorce rates rising, domestic violence…There’s nothing that’s just mental about this, but the country’s attitude is very relevant.

Earlier today, Colorado Republicans called on Mayor John Hickenlooper to tell Colorado voters where he stands on the Ritter-Democratic tax increases passed last week by the State House and being debated this week in the State Senate.

Not surprisingly, His Honor the Mayor of Denver declined to reveal during two different radio interviews where he stands on these irresponsible, job killing tax increases.

The state budget shortfall is not only the hottest issue of the 2010 legislative session, it is a defining issue of the 2010 race for governor because it dramatizes the stark differences between the Ritter-Hickenlooper-Democratic approach from Republicans.  Also today, State Senate Republicans unveiled a bold plan to cut the state bureaucracy as opposed to the Ritter-Democratic tax increases.

We know that Mayor "Hickenritter" is a talented political entertainer who jumps out of planes and rides scooters plugging parking meters.  But Colorado voters deserve to know where "Hickenritter" stands on the issues and not just that he would be a great class clown.

For more on this topic see:

Denver Post:  The Spot:  Hickenlooper declines to take tax stance

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was incapable of naming a single policy enacted by failed Governor Bill Ritter that he disagreed with and would repeal if elected governor.

Appearing on the KUSA-TV Channel 9 program "Your Show" by Adam Schrager, "Hickenritter" was asked a direct question submitted by Colorado Republicans:  Is there an action or policy implemented by Governor Bill Ritter that you fundamentally disagree with?

After lauding Ritter's "courage" in withdrawing from the race--which had nothing to the question posed to him--he finally muttered something about there was a "better way to get there" in terms of enacting the Ritter energy regulations.  So he apparently has no disagreement with the substance of the job killing energy regulations, he only disagrees with the public relations in trying to sell them.

"Hickenritter" revealed the inherent weakness of his candidacy for governor.  He wants voters to focus on his quirky personality and ignore the real issues of this campaign.  There is no difference between Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and failed Governor Bill Ritter on imposing a massive property tax increase without a vote of the people, imposing huge vehicle fee tax increases without a vote of the people, releasing violent criminals early from their sentences, signing an executive order unionizing state employees, repealing state spending limits, and enacting job killing energy regulations.

Meanwhile, Colorado's accidental senator, Michael Bennet, is silently compliant on the latest bribe to pass the "health care reform bill."  Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi cut a secret deal with labor bosses that will require non-union working families to pay higher taxes on high end health insurance policies while union members get a tax break. 

The Denver Post called on Bennet to vote against the bill and editorials in the Wall Street Journal and Grand Junction Daily Sentinel also condemned the labor union bribe.

For more on this topic see:

9NEWS Video: YOUR SHOW: Colorado Gubernatorial candidate and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper answers your questions. (Part 1)

9NEWS Video: YOUR SHOW (Part 2)

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: One dubious deal disappears, but another takes its place

Denver Post: Dispatch health care reform bill

Wall Street Journal: Labor's $60 Billion Payoff: A health tax that hits everyone except the Democratic base