Content Index: Bill Ritter

Follow this topic by RSS

Boom to bust: who's to blame?

January 6, 2009

"Colorado Governor Bill Ritter's one claim to fame, as he stands at the midpoint of his term, is his over-hyping of what he calls the "new energy economy" -- and the fact that another rising politico, a guy named Barack Obama, stole the phrase from him.

It's more appropriately called the "New Energy Baloney," in my view, since it's largely based on subsidies, mandates and other government interventions in support of niche energy technologies that aren't ready for prime time -- while regulatory and rhetorical war is waged against an "old" energy economy that actually delivers the goods."

Is the sun setting on Tancredo and Allard?

January 6, 2009

In the aftermath of a Denver Post report concluding that retiring Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Tom Tancredo are riding “off into [the] political sunset,” politicos are now questioning whether leaving Congress will bring the end on the political careers of these two public servants.

1/5: Who is Michael Bennet?

Colorado’s newest U.S. Senator is...Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet. If you don’t know much about him, you’re not alone.

Play audio - 1:30 minutes
More >

"The Buzz" on 1310 KFKA, 1/5 - Evaluating Michael Bennet, Ritter's budget flip-flops

FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA host Amy Oliver about the recent appointment of Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet to the U.S. Senate to replace Ken Salazar. Will Bennet be as independent-minded in Washington as he's shown himself to be in Colorado? Also: Gov. Bill Ritter's many flip-flops on the state budget.

Play audio - 18:43 minutes
More >

Timeline: Ritter Flip-flops on Budget

A Face the State Staff Report

January 5, 2009

Throughout 2008, Gov. Bill Ritter advocated for growing the budget and spent his summer campaigning for tax increases. He only more recently acknowledged the dire fiscal shortages facing the state.

- More

Ritter will run in 2010

January 4, 2009

"Today’s Denver Post provides the news that one of my New Year’s Day predictions was wrong. Bill Ritter will run for reelection in 2010.

Who could have guessed?

The article has some interesting quotes:

"On the average voter level, [ Bill ] Ritter is not in all that bad a shape," [ Floyd ] Ciruli said. "I think his problem is with the 'attentive public,' and that includes his own party."

Segment 5 - What does Michael Bennet stand for?

Gov. Bill Ritter has announced the appointment of Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet to replace U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar. Will Bennet's reputation as a reformer carry over into his new job?

Play audio - 3:29 minutes
More >

Bennet's vertical move means taking a pay cut

January 3, 2009

If Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet is appointed to the U.S. Senate later today as expected, he will actually be taking a pay cut while simultaneously moving to a substantially more expensive city.

FTS Humor EXCLUSIVE: FTS obtains Ritter’s State of the State Speech

Face The State Humor

January 2, 2009

By Andrew Ripemoff

Don’t ask me how, but I’ve secretly acquired a copy of Governor Ritter’s upcoming State of the State speech and have published it below. Make sure you drink a couple of Red Bulls before reading this, because as most of you know, there is nothing more boring on this planet than reading a Ritter speech, with the possible exception of listening to a Ritter speech.