Membership Update

Quick updates...
We welcome two new Colorado blogs to the Rocky Mountain Alliance and invite you to check them out and add them to your regular blog reading (if you haven't already):

• The Business Word by Don Johnson
• Mom 4 Freedom by Michelle Morin

Also, Steve Nielson's The Liberty Republican (fka The New Conservative), having relocated to Washington State, has resigned from the RMA. Though in a different part of the country he still has interesting things to say, so feel free to keep him on your blogroll.

Getting Connected in Colorado

The Rocky Mountain Alliance's own Randy Ketner (aka Night Twister) has created an invaluable resource for conservative activists in our state: Check out "Getting Connected in Colorado".

Listen to the Rocky Mountain Alliance Every Tuesday on Blog Talk Radio

The Rocky Mountain Alliance of Blogs hosts a weekly Blog Talk Radio program. Tune in Tuesdays at 8:30 PM local Mountain Time. You will find a complete listing of past episodes below.

Various members of the Rocky Mountain Alliance host the show -- including Joshua Sharf, Michael Sandoval, Randy Ketner, Ben DeGrow, and Michael Alcorn.

Guests regularly join us to share in some lighthearted and penetrating discussion of the week's events in national and Colorado politics from a right-of-center perspective. You are welcome to join in the conversation.

Click the icon to listen to our latest episode and to find links to previous editions:

Episode History

2009

June 9: (Episode 30) Becoming the show's first-ever repeat guest, Jim Pfaff of the Colorado Judicial Network explains why and how conservatives should actively challenge the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. Due to the second consecutive unscheduled absence of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes, the hosts discussed concerns about his stated issue positions while also taking on three recent Denver Post opinion pieces.

June 2: (Episode 29) The hosts discuss major Colorado political races, tough decisions for Governor Ritter, the General Motors takeover, President Obama's trip to the Middle East, and the NRSC's meddling in the Florida Senate primary. Colorado Republican U.S. Senate candidate Cleve Tidwell talks about some of the issues in his campaign, including the online astroturfing controversy that reached the Denver Post this week.

May 26: (Episode 28) Longtime GOP political consultant Patrick Davis dissects the state of play in Colorado's major statewide races for 2010, as fields of Republicans seek to challenge Governor Bill Ritter and appointed U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. The Independence Institute's Jessica Corry talks about the ongoing budget controversies at the University of Colorado.

May 19: (Episode 27) Local businessman and community leader Tim Ghaemi gives his informed insights into the upcoming national Iranian elections. State representative Kent Lambert of the Republican Study Committee recaps the recent legislative session and crucial budget issues.

May 12: (Episode 26) Republican Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck makes the case for his U.S. Senate candidacy and takes on issues both foreign and domestic. Scott Gessler, the GOP's first candidate for Secretary of State, explains his qualifications and his plans to clean up Colorado elections.

May 5: (Episode 25) Blogger extraordinaire Ken Marrero (the Blue Collar Muse) talks about his extensive involvement in the national Tea Party movement, the emerging American Liberty Alliance (of which he will be the new executive director), and a little of his home-state Tennessee politics.

April 28: (Episode 24) Colorado's first announced Republican candidate for state treasurer Walker Stapleton highlights his qualifications for taking on Cary Kennedy, while dissecting the challenges of public pension reform and other fiscal issues at the state level.

April 21: (Episode 23) Matt Arnold from Clear the Bench Colorado explains his grassroots campaign to vote out four sitting state supreme court justices. Senator Greg Brophy joins the hosts to talk about the ongoing budget debate at the State Capitol.

April 14: (Episode 22) The hosts discuss the Tea Party movement and upcoming Tax Day Tea Party events in Denver (and Fort Collins) with grassroots organizer Brian Campbell. Face The State political reporter Kate Melvin discusses Colorado higher education spending and the exchange between CU President Bruce Benson and the Independence Institute.

April 7: (Episode 21) The hosts review the results of the Fort Collins city council elections. Prospective state treasurer candidate J.J. Ament outlines his qualifications and his ideas to restore fiscal responsibility to state government. Independence Institute education analyst (and part of the RMA extended family) Marya DeGrow explains the need for homeschoolers in Colorado to remain vigilant.

March 31: (Episode 20) Arapahoe County clerk Nancy Doty talks about a potential run for Secretary of State. University of Denver law professor Robert Hardaway brings his expertise to bear on HB1299, the bill to replace the Electoral College with a National Popular Vote.

March 24: (Episode 19) The hosts review the results of the recent state GOP organizational meeting. Boulder County GOP chair Scott Starin weighs in with his ideas about the future direction of the Party. David K. Williams explains the work of his newly co-founded Gadsden Society of Colorado.

March 17: (Episode 18) State Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry discusses Senate Bill 228 and the Democrats' attempt to lift the state spending cap. Nathan Chambers talks about his candidacy for Colorado Republican Party state vice chair.

March 10: (Episode 17) Colorado Republican Party Chair Dick Wadhams looks at the party's past and future fortunes. Iranian-born political freedom advocate Hassan Daioleslam explains what the Iranian mullahs' lobby is up to in the United States.

March 3: (Episode 16) Two candidates for Fort Collins City Council, Aislinn Kottwitz (District 3) and Andrew Boucher (District 5), discuss their agendas to change city government. Tom Stone explains why he is challenging Dick Wadhams for the state Republican Party chairmanship.

February 24: (Episode 15) Evan Coyne Maloney elaborates on his film Indoctrinate U, shown at the inaugural Liberty on Film. Nadeem Esmail of the Fraser Institute discusses the dangers of single-payer (socialized) medicine from firsthand experience.

Two special editions of RMA Radio: The Pork Roast/anti-stimulus rally edition from the steps of the State Capitol (February 17) and extensive coverage of the Larimer County Lincoln Day dinner (February 21).

February 17: (Episode 14) Denver-based political activist Chris Maj explains why he got active in Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty. The hosts reflect on the day's Pork Roast/anti-stimulus rally at the State Capitol.

February 10: (Episode 13) State Representative Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, probable candidate in the CD-4 GOP primary, talks about key transportation and other issues at the State Capitol. Republican activist Leondray Gholston discusses his candidacy for state GOP vice-chair.

February 3: (Episode 12) Daveed Gartenstein-Ross from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies shares his compelling story. Mike Saccone, ace state political reporter for the Grand Junction Sentinel, gives his insider's perspective on issues unfolding under the Golden Dome.

January 27: (Episode 11) Elections expert Jan Tyler highlights the need for greater integrity in the administration of elections. State Senator Greg Brophy, R-Wray, discusses energy issues at the State Capitol.

January 20: (Episode 10) Independence Institute investigative reporter Todd Shepherd talks about the changing local media scene. Mark Hillman, Colorado Republican National Committeeman, previews the elections for RNC chairman.

January 13: (Episode 9) State Representative Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, discusses important judicial and water issues in the new legislative session. State Senator Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, makes a cameo appearance.

January 6: (Episode 8) CU Regent Tom Lucero, expounds on higher education issues, his recent successful Amendment 54 campaign, and his own newly-announced candidacy for CD 4 in 2010.

2008

December 30: (Episode 7) Members of the Rocky Mountain Alliance reunite to take a look back at a dismal year in our 2008 year-in-review episode.

December 23: (Episode 6) Jim Pfaff of Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Opinion Times discusses the AFP Colorado report "Keeping Colorado Competitive" and bridging the Christian/libertarian gap.

December 16: (Episode 5) State Representative Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, talks about key proposals he plans to introduce in the upcoming legislative session. The hosts discuss the Ken Salazar appointment as Obama's Secretary of the Interior.

December 9: (Episode 4) Aurora City Councilman and rising Republican star Ryan Frazier talks about his vision of liberty, his support of right-to-work in the recent campaign, and plans for his own political future.

December 2: (Episode 3) Todd Bensman of the San Antonio Express-News gives insight into the well-acclaimed investigative series he authored "Breaching America: Examining Illegal Immigration from the Muslim World".

November 25: (Episode 2) Michael Kerr from Red County highlights the need for focused citizen blogging at the local level.

November 18: (Episode 1) Seeme Hasan, founder of Muslims for America and latest recipient of the Independence Institute's annual David D'Evelyn Award, discusses her philanthrophy, political activism, and related issues.

The Rocky Mountain Alliance is Back

In 2004, the Rocky Mountain Alliance of Blogs was formed - a loose collection of Colorado conservative bloggers who combined forces to grow new media influence in our state.

Times change. New blogs come. Old ones go. 2008 brings the birth of the Rocky Mountain Alliance, version 2.0. To the right you will find not only links to each of our sites but also a feed you can scroll through to see our latest posts.

Some of the original cast remain, strengthened by the fresh blood of some high-quality newcomers. The goal of the Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0 is to promote our shared conservative vision of limited and accountable government, freedom, and personal responsibility - in Colorado and in our nation, the result of the most brilliant and noble political experiment in human history.

You are invited to visit each of our sites and leave your comments.