There are two kinds of people:

1)  Those who contradict themselves.

 

Okay, okay. Try this one. The three things I hate the most in this world: racists, Chinese people, and contradictions.

 

With Donald Trump's decisive victory, most every state in the nation saw a shift towards Republicans. But not Colorado.

 

In fact, by the numbers, Colorado had a sizable blue shift. When asked what his “secret” is to move a state even bluer when the nation goes in the opposite direction, our Governor took to X to take credit:

 

“Prosperity and abundance agenda. We have focused on saving people money through three income tax rate reductions (two at the ballot box and one through the leg: 4.63%>4.5%>4.4%>4.25%), cutting property taxes, free preschool and kindergarten for every child, eliminating sales tax on necessities like diapers and feminine hygiene products…”

 

We at Independence Institute found it satisfying that the Governor is taking credit for the tax cuts we brought to the ballot. From 4.63% to 4.5% to 4.4%. The 4.25% rate was signed into law by Polis, but just like the asterisks by Pete Rose’s baseball record, there's one here.

 

Unlike the income tax rate cuts Independence Institute passed through the Citizen’s Initiative, which are permanent, Polis’ 4.25% rate is only temporary and will evaporate soon.

 

When others take credit for your work, is it flattering, or is it just another politician acting like a politician? “Look, under my wise leadership the sun rose this morning.”

 

I do enjoy the schizophrenia incoherence in his quote - we increase prosperity and abundance by cutting taxes at the same time we raise taxes and give special interest groups payouts.

 

The quote does encapsulate the walking contradiction that is Jared Polis. Tax rate cuts are good for Colorado, with massive tax increases in the form of fee after fee, ending the Gallagher Amendment to increase property taxes, and a myriad of special interest handouts right down to diapers.

 

It would have made more sense if he said, “I never contradict myself, but when I do, I don't.”

 

In my latest column below, and don't hate me for this, I complement Kyle Clark of 9news. His vicious takedown of Secretary of State Jena Griswold may signal to other mainstream reporters that it's OK to report on the abuses of those in power even if they are progressives.

 

In the meantime, enjoy the leftist meltdown over Trump's victory. You could add to that meltdown by every time you say the word “Trump” you follow it with, “who won the popular vote.”

 

Practice at home with phrases like, “Did you hear what Trump, who won the popular vote, said today?” Then take it to your next social gathering.

In Complete Colorado, Sherrie Peif exposes Governor Polis is pushing the PUC.


Ari Armstrong extols the virtues of mail voting.


Finally, Sherrie covers the winner and losers in Colorado’s election.

Airing tonight on PBS channel 12 at 8:30 P.M.: Ed Warner is a scientist, environmentalist, and philanthropist to many conservation causes. He sat down to explain to me, somehow in language even I could understand, why nuclear energy is the future and how government incentives have screwed it up. Seriously, watch this episode or listen to the podcast, you'll learn a lot.


On YouTube:


A decade ago, our transportation expert Randal O'Toole told me that driverless cars will be coming soon. I asked him not to say anything that crazy in public. No one would take us seriously.

Well, as usual, he was more than right. So, when transportation expert Tim Jackson tells me in the next decade we're going to have flying cars, I thought I’d better listen. See if you agree.

Many renewable energy technologies rely on limited minerals and resources to manufacture. And with increasing legislation along with increasing demand, are  net zero goals even possible? PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke interview Sarah Montalbano, a policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment to find out.

Kyle Clark gives lefty press the okay to report on progressives

By Jon Caldara


Many conservatives in Colorado have a visceral distaste for Kyle Clark, the 9News anchor who effortlessly slides between reporter and editorialist. And I can understand their frustration.


Like most in the news media, Clark sees the world along the oppressed-versus-oppressor spectrum, which naturally lends itself to progressive story selections and opinions. As an aside, I dream of the day when news outlets have a sizable minority of reporters who see the world along the liberty-versus-coercion spectrum. Trust in media could be restored.


But it is not Kyle Clark’s world view that really angers conservatives, after all, Clark’s viewpoint is shared nearly unanimously among those in his industry. Conservatives are pissed Clark has a massive audience who trust him and follows his lead. He is, arguably, the most effective political opinion leader in the state. And that’s a maddening thing if you’re a conservative or libertarian.


But Kyle Clark’s megaphone on occasion blasts out something limited-government advocates, me included, can’t help but be impressed with. Case in point was when he threw the BS flag on Gov. Jared Polis regarding lying about Proposition HH. When Clark said, “Governor, you’re smart, but that doesn’t mean we’re dumb,” it opened the floodgates for an open public examining of HH, which then failed by 20 points.

This week, Kyle Clark might have ended Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s quest to become Colorado’s next governor before it could even officially start by asking her one lethal question: “Given your office’s repeated errors that have damaged confidence in our elections, which you say is paramount, will you resign?”


In case you hadn’t heard, Secretary of State Griswold’s incompetence was on display yet again when her office mistakenly released secret voting system passwords for nearly every county across Colorado. Not only was this information available for months right on the SOS’s official website, but it was also reported she planned to hide this from the public.


Clark mercilessly held Griswold to her own standards, reminding her of her statement condemning the Mesa County Clerk for her leaked voting passcodes, of her notifying voters who had already voted to get out to vote, and of her mailing voter registration material to 30,000 non-citizens.


But it was the question about resigning that changed Jena’s political trajectory.

The reaction on Griswold’s face when he asked it was priceless. Her eyes expressed befuddlement and the sadness only betrayal can bring, as if she was saying “Kyle! How could you do this to me. I, I thought you were one of us.”


For conservatives who have been skewered by Kyle Clark, it was sweet satisfaction. I could hear them all collectively think, “Yeah Jena, that’s what it feels like.”

This was Kyle Clark’s Sister Souljah moment (If you don’t know what that means, go ask your parents).


This was also a wrapped gift to AG Phil Weiser. In fact, it might be the largest contribution to his almost certain gubernatorial campaign, because it puts an anvil around Jena’s neck. She is his most likely primary opponent.

By the way, AG stands for Aspiring Governor.


Just like saying of Polis about Prop HH, “We’re not dumb,” opened the door to real scrutiny of the sly tax hike, Kyle’s “will you resign?” now makes it a fair question for any opponent, reporter, or citizen to ask. And they will ask until Griswold drops out of the race for governor or loses.


Like the recent report exposing Denver’s fire chief and his top deputies abusing comp-pay time to pocket tens of thousands of dollars in extra pay and benefits, this Griswold hot potato has the aroma of an inside whistleblower.


And, as a sign of encouragement, this whole episode could signal the news media is ready to report on the biggest story not told in Colorado politics: the growing civil war inside the Democratic party ranks.


Given their proclivities, Colorado’s reporters have instead focused on the delightful dysfunction of the state GOP. One could hardly blame them, it’s such an easy target. But it is reporting on the completely irrelevant. The super minority and shrinking GOP is a non-factor in government.


Kyle Clark may have signaled it’s OK to investigate and report on those in power in Colorado — even if they are progressives.