Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

PARKER: Caldara puts his star sock puppets on eBay

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 28, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated October 28, 2008 at 12:43 a.m.

Text size  

More News Columns & Blogs

More stories »

Independence Institute boss and self-described "cranky conservative" Jon Caldara has put the stars of his YouTube "Amendment 49: The Ivory Tower Explanation" up for grabs on eBay.

Susie the State Worker, Bernie the Bureaucrat, and Larry the Lobbyist, the sock-puppet characters Caldara immortalized in the pro-49 video, are up for bid until Friday. As of Monday afternoon, the high bid stood at $102.50, but Caldara is convinced that number will climb much higher.

"I'm sure they'll go for tens of thousands," he said. "After all, my feet were in those socks."

Caldara is a strong proponent of Amendment 49, which would prohibit governments from deducting union dues or special-interest money from workers' paychecks. Following the popularity of the YouTube video - it's attracted more than 7,500 views - a colleague at the Lakewood-based think tank suggested the sock-puppet eBay auction.

"Quite simply, the massive amount of fan mail and interest, and requests (for the puppets) to appear at bar mitzvahs and weddings, I couldn't handle all the pressure," he joked. (He may be cranky, but he's funny!)

Caldara will donate proceeds from the puppet sale to the yes on Amendment 49 campaign. To see the two-minute video, go to youtube.com and type Amendment 49 in the search box. For the link to the eBay auction, go to RockyMountain News.com/extras.

HIGH FIVE: Panzano pasta princess Elise Wiggins has been selected one of five finalists for Chef Magazine's 2008 Chef of the Year. The award recognizes "your distinguished leadership in and out of the kitchen and advancement of the culinary arts, beverage and food-service community," according to the notification letter she received.

The finalists will be featured in the November/December issue. The winner will be announced mid-November, and his or her profile will appear in the January issue.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Spotted on a bumper sticker on a Subaru Outback - "I want a president that talks gooder."

THE SEEN: 9News entertainment expert Kirk Montgomery dining with former teen heartthrob Christopher The Blue Lagoon Atkins Thursday at Racines. Montgomery has a small role as an alien in the sci-fi fantasy indie film A Gathering of Heroes, starring Atkins. The movie, shot in Denver, has a DVD distribution and a possible play on the Sci Fi Channel.

* John Elway, fiancee Paige Green and friends at the grand opening party of The Tavern Wash Park, 1066 S. Gaylord St. (former Las Margaritas space), on Saturday.

* Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon, in town for a show at Comedy Works South, staying at the Ritz-Carlton last week.

EAVESDROPPING on a woman checking out at a Super Target with an iron and two bottles of champagne: "If I have to iron at least I'm going to try to have a good time doing it."

Comments

  • October 28, 2008

    6:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    TimeLord writes:

    Caldara IS a sock puppet, so time to auction him off to a state that needs more corporate tools.

  • October 29, 2008

    12:35 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bmenezes writes:

    Uh, Caldara is not just "a strong proponent" of Amendment 49. He is its author and the Independence Institute is its primary campaign engine (in addition to the donor of at least $50,000 to the campaign).

    If you're going to give him this type of puff piece, please at least get your background straight.

    Details here: http://colorado.mediamatters.org/item...