Is Doug Lamborn History?

Did the voters in the GOP primary decide they have had enough of Doug Lamborn, incumbent congressman D5 Colorado? We will know at about 7:30 tonight.

I am not much for predictions but I have not been this confident about an outcome in a long time. I believe the GOP voters in CD5 have had enough of politics as usual and are ready for real change. Not the kind of change Obama talks about but the kind of change the Tea Party talks about. Accountable, smaller, and more efficient government.

Doug Lamborn has shown he is just another politician willing to fit into a broken system with no real plan to fix the problems we can all see so clearly from afar. The congressman has become too close to the people that run this dysfunctional system that needs to use earmarks to fund even the most basic needs of our military like armor. Our congressman is suggesting through his ads that the only way to get armor for our troops is by using the broken process of earmarks. If that is how Washington works and the people there have no interest in fixing it then we need new people representing us.

Elections are determined by fundamental aspects of each candidate. Core values, positions on issues, abilities and experience, and likability. On core values both candidates are good family men that value their families. They both believe in the constitution and to be fair Doug Lamborn has voted the way most of us would have on legislation. When it comes to abilities and experience the two men part ways.

Robert Blaha hands down has the practical experience and a proven ability to lead. He has been building teams to improve efficiencies in a number of different companies. He has proven he knows how to be successful in the private sector. And he has definitely shown leadership in his past and as a candidate. I have interviewed Robert twice and his “likability factor” is very strong.

Our congressman has shown that he can vote. His private sector experience is almost nil and we definitely know he can take directions from his supporters and donors. He has been accused of “deceptive campaigning” in every contested election which makes you wonder about his character. His leadership is lacking and his judgment is horrible as displayed in his determination to crush the free exchange of ideas by interfering in the candidate vetting process of the Gazette. He does not take criticism well and lashes out when challenged. This all makes for a very low "likability factor.”

That is why today at some time this evening we will be looking at a new representative for Colorado CD5. My prediction is a close race within 3 – 4%. But I have little doubt that the winner will be Robert Blaha. Even with the special interest arm bending that is going on behind the scenes, I believe there are enough voters willing to throw out “the most conservative” voting congressman in Washington for a leader that will proudly fight for conservative principles in DC. Oh, and yes he will vote conservative but we can expect so much more…

Doug Lamborn: Unhinged…

As a congressional representative you have to have thick skin. It can be brutal out there and you put yourself on the firing line of criticism where everyone has an opinion. But that is the nature of the job and every candidate knows the pros and cons of running for elected office.

It seems that Doug Lamborn has an unusual propensity for making bad decisions when he is under fire or perceives to be under fire from criticism by his opponents and constituents. It tells us a lot about the type of individual he is and the way he feels about voters in general.

This entire incident with Gazette TV is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding Doug Lamborn.

First: Doug Lamborn insisted he would not participate in a simultaneous appearance with Robert Blaha on GTV. What was his reasoning? That is a very big question in my opinion when you consider the nature of his job in congress. Are we to believe that a representative that can’t handle a simple interview facilitated by the local newspaper can handle the big issues in congress? Or do we believe he has the fortitude to move an argument forward if he can’t even face a local businessman running for congress? How can we have any confidence in his abilities? Where is his self-confidence and competitive nature?

Second: The original line-up was Robert Blaha at 10:00 AM and Doug Lamborn at 9:00 AM. The congressman again balked and said he would not participate unless he was guaranteed the second slot. What was the reasoning? Doug Lamborn wanted to respond to any criticisms that might be suggested by his opponent in his interview. Is Doug Lamborn that sensitive or concerned about his record that he has to have the last word? What does this say about his confidence in his own record? It strikes me as childish to be so concerned about what an opponent will say that he refused to show up unless the time was changed.

Third: He believes he was treated unfairly by the Gazette. I watched both interviews and the interviews were anything but unfair. The congressman was treated fairly. It wasn’t the Gazette that chose to stick their foot in their mouth about former rep Joel Hefley. It wasn’t the Gazette that spoke so highly of himself as to sound arrogant. It wasn’t the Gazette that suggested no conservative should be challenging his seat in congress. The other unfair issue? He stated he wasn’t told Robert Blaha would be able to respond in writing to the Lamborn interview. Who is Doug Lamborn to control what the Gazette chooses to do when exercising their responsibility to cover the race?

Finally: Getting other candidates to boycott the Gazette is despicable. I have to wonder about the candidates that agreed to do that but that’s another story. Who is Doug Lamborn to shut down the proper vetting of candidates for the voters? Who is this man that wants to shut down speech? Who is so unsure of himself that he plays these silly games of punishing the Gazette for doing their job?

This entire Gazette issue is a window into the man Lamborn is. He is not a man that deserves to represent anyone in congress. He can’t even take care of a simple thing like expressing his views in a campaign. Where does he get off thinking he speaks for any of us?

More than a “Knucklehead” Lamborn is out of touch…

If you look at the reason Joel Hefley, former representative in CD5, chose to address Lamborn as a “knucklehead”, it was the casual comments made by Lamborn that I am sure he thought no one would question. Typical of career politicians who think they can say things and get away with it Doug Lamborn probably never expected Joel Hefley to respond, but he did and Joel called Doug Lamborn a “knucklehead.”

The more important statement former representative Joel Hefley made was his comment about Lamborn’s past campaigns: “We know, and it’s documented, that Doug is very casual with the truth in campaigns, and I don’t like that” and neither should voters. Hefley also stated “It showed me that Doug is either ignorant or dishonest” and as voters do we want either of those traits in our congressman?

I was really disturbed during the Gazette TV interview when Doug Lamborn stated he was really “surprised” that anyone would have the gall (my taste of the tone) to run against “the most conservative member of congress” as if voters were somehow stupid to want a real leader in congress that understands the real issues of business and the economy. He was dripping with the arrogance of a career politician entitled to his seat.

I am so tired of politicians on both sides that think they have any “entitlement” to serve beyond the will of the people that send them there. If nothing else, the voters of CD 5 in Colorado can send a real conservative message which is we are quite capable of self- governance. We the people can determine who the best representative is to send to congress. And we certainly understand when someone is getting a bit too big for their own good. It is obvious from Doug lamborn’s actions to accept lobbyist money for travel, his attacks on the businesses in our community, and his lack of ability to move the conservative debate forward but references sitting on committees as an accomplishment that he has gotten too comfortable with the way things get done in Washington DC.

So if we don’t like the way things get done in DC, why would we send someone back that seems to be falling into the trappings we as voters deplore? We have a choice and many of us have made it already, and that choice is Robert Blaha.

If you haven’t voted I urge you to send a message to Doug Lamborn that we know what we are doing when we vote for our representative. His view of the voters as too stupid to realize what a good thing he is for us is enough to send him packing for me…

Lamborn: Surprised by Competition…

Today on Gazette TV, Lamborn acted surprised that anyone would challenge “one of the most conservative members of congress,” questioning Robert Blaha’s gall to challenge him. I have to tell you Lamborn drips of arrogance. He has palpable contempt for the voter.

The good news is the Lamborn campaign must be worried because the ads are getting more and more desperate - distorting the Robert Blaha story. But the light Lamborn is shining is one that shows the lack of leadership and effectiveness he has shown as a 3 term congressman. It shines the light on his cowardice to face his challenger and constituents.

My guess is that most CD5 GOP primary voters have made up their mind and already voted but it could come down to a few votes. So if you haven’t voted yet you need to know our current representative did not answer the charge of lobbyist funded trips or his use of earmarks in a direct answer. He also continues to lie about his challenger in ads instead of facing him in person.

We don’t need a follower in congress that is being told how to vote and who to talk to and when. We need a citizen that has a passion for this country and knows the challenges we face. I encourage you to vote Robert Blaha. Doug Lamborn does not deserve another term.

Lamborn; Leader or Follower?

Have you seen this article yet? It is an article in the Gazette about the upcoming GTV show featuring the two GOP primary contenders for congressional district 5, incumbent Doug Lamborn and challenger Robert Blaha. It seems that the man that keeps touting himself as a “leader’ with conservative principles, would not appear on the show unless he followed his challenger Robert Blaha. According to then article “The schedule for Blaha and Lamborn changed Monday at the request of Lamborn, who refused to appear on GTV before Blaha, saying he wanted an opportunity to respond to anything Blaha will say.”

This is akin to saying “I will tell you what I think once I know what you think.” If Doug Lamborn was a true leader, he would be touting his record of accomplishments and would not be concerned with any criticisms of his record. Unless they were false of course. But the problem for Lamborn is he has no concrete accomplishments beyond voting against legislation, which is fine but a voting record is not leadership. Voting is just what representatives do. Moving legislation and the conservative agenda forward is what leaders do.

Lamborn has used earmarks, he has travelled on the lobbyist’s dime, and stayed in luxurious hotels with his wife and if those are “attacks on his wife” then so be it. The earmark issue is being defended because it was to fund military expenditures. Again, leadership means eliminating corrupt processes and moving important legislation like armor for our troops through the legitimate process.

The “I am going to take my ball and go home” tactics of Lamborn regarding this GTV program is a great reason to send someone that has been a leader in the private sector to represent us in congress. Doug Lamborn can take his ball and we can send him home by voting against this kind of leaderless behavior.

I encourage you to do so by voting for Robert Blaha…

Doug Lamborn is in Trouble

Doug Lamborn is trying to justify his use of earmarks in a new ad saying how he used the process to fund military armor. If we need to use earmarks instead of up front legislation to support our troops we need to throw every current member of congress out. When is enough – enough?

These incompetent politicians have screwed up the system so bad that the most fundamental responsibilities of the federal government can’t be accomplished without a tainted process like earmarks? Who accepts this kind of garbage? Career politicians that’s who.

Doug Lamborn can justify all day long but he is no leader in congress. He talks about being a friend to the military but talk is cheap. Where is the conservative leadership to fight for the constitutional principles of this nation? Was he doing it on his lobbyist funded trips to luxurious hotels and resorts?

Doug Lamborn is a symptom of the problem in Washington. Instead of going there to fix it they end up going along to get along. Haven’t we had enough of that?

If you haven’t already voted in the Republican primary you should vote for the constitution and show career politicians that votes are not enough. We want real change in Washington and the only way to get it is to get rid of career politicians unwilling to make the waves necessary to change the corrupt culture.

Fill in your ballot for Robert Blaha…

Why We Need to Replace Doug Lamborn

The ballots for this year’s 5^th Congressional District race in Colorado have been showing up in mailboxes across the district. It may seem incidental in a year when our future is at stake in the presidential election but it is anything but incidental! It is critical.

Doug Lamborn has comfortably settled into his seat in Washington DC and has fallen into the trappings that have made voters so angry at Washington politicians. He has participated in the earmark process and although the funding he is supporting through earmarks can be defended, the process cannot be. The only way to fix a bad process is to stop it and replace it. If it continues to be used because “that’s the way it is in Washington”, then it will never change.

Doug Lamborn and his wife have been travelling on the dime of special interest lobbyists. Even if you agree with the positions of the lobbyists, the process is broken. And again, Doug Lamborn is participating in a process that most voters know is unethical. Doug Lamborn has been in Washington too long. The only thing worse than travelling on a lobbyist’s dime, is travelling on the taxpayer’s dime.

The most egregious activity our Congressman has participated in has got to be his demonization of private business. He has lied about the record of the businesses his opponent Robert Blaha has either run or created. Conservatives are the advocate for business and the bureaucratic nightmare that has been created by politicians in Washington should be the target of ridicule, not the businesses and business people that are trying to navigate that maze. Doug Lamborn would know that if he ever ran a business.

But you see Doug Lamborn has no experience in the real economy. He is content to be a career politician. Granted he votes in a conservative manner but he has never lived the way most of us do. Between being a state politician and federal representative Doug Lamborn can’t understand the difficult economic issues we face today.

God willing, Mitt Romney will be our next president and he will need the support of representatives that understand how government negatively impacts the private sector. Robert Blaha is that help that Romney will need to get things turned around.

So as you open and fill out you Republican primary ballots please think hard about sending Robert Blaha to congress. Don’t listen to the lies of a desperate career politician. Go with what your instinct tells you. It should be telling you it’s time for a passionate conservative businessman to represent us in Washington; Robert Blaha…

Would the Founders Support Doug Lamborn in CD5?

It has been the conventional wisdom that incumbents have an advantage over challengers in political races. That may have been true in the past but does it still hold true?

Doug Lamborn is making the argument he is a “tested conservative” and that voters need to send him back to Washington based on his consistent conservative record. He adds that the voters in Colorado’s CD5 should be careful not to trust his opponent Robert Blaha, a lifetime businessman who has no voting track record for the voters to evaluate. Trust the incumbent and question the challenger’s motives seem to be the foundation of his campaign.

The Tea Party activists have an inherent distrust of incumbents and have made it one of their signature issues to throw everyone out that wonders from their principles, without consideration of party affiliation. The Tea Party is more concerned about principles over party, imagine that! So the question in CD5 is whether or not conservatives, Tea Party activists, and republicans agree that Lamborn has acted in a principled manner or not. If not, do they believe Robert Blaha is a good alternative to the incumbent?

All of my principles in elections revolve around the constitution and the intentions of our founders. Was it the founder’s intention to have career politicians? Would the founders have agreed that earmarks as a policy should be utilized to pass legislation? Would the founders have sanctioned travel by representatives paid for by people that have an interest in receiving money from the US treasury? I think not. I also don’t want to overstate my concerns about Lamborn but in my opinion he also has a very low “likability factor.” Likability is simply the way people perceive you when they interact with you. Lamborn is caustic and abrasive which does not serve him well and especially when his positions are challenged. He comes off as an angry man.

The founders were by no means perfect and I believe would have analyzed each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses in context to the time and needs of the central government. There is no doubt that our central government is woefully lacking in representatives that have experience working in the private economy. Too many representatives are lawyers, and too many representatives have little firsthand knowledge of what small businesses need to be successful. It is a time in history where we need representatives that know business. Not simply voting for pro-business legislation but targeting and eliminating the regulations and departments that stifle private business growth.

The criticism Lamborn has leveled on Blaha’s businesses are partially related to the complex maze and unclear rules that so many government departments put on businesses. Businesses today have to spend too much time managing regulations rather than managing business. So when Doug talks negatively about private companies that struggle keeping up with the mounting regulatory burdens I have to ask him: what are you doing to make it easier for businesses to operate? Blaha has created many jobs, how many has Doug created? Blaha has run many companies: how many companies has Doug Lamborn run?  

Is Doug Lamborn a “safe bet” for conservatives, Tea Party activists, and conservatives? Maybe, but if you’re looking for leadership and someone that understands the private sector he is not your choice. Term limits can be imposed this June and are supported by Blaha. I am voting against the incumbent because I believe in this election the founders would agree with me. Do you think the founders would support the incumbent in CD5?

What is Doug Lamborn’s Excuse?

You might expect democrats to travel on the dime of lobbyists but for conservatives there is no excuse. The fact that Doug Lamborn has now been exposed for taking trips with his wife, staying at top notch hotels is a telling tale of a man that has forgotten the conservative mission and values of the movement. He is the perfect example of how everyone gets sucked into the out of touch normality’s of DC politicians, lobbyists, and federal workers.

In DC it is normal to be wined and dined by people that have an interest in getting to know you for the sole purpose of getting legislation passed for their group. They do that by gaining influence with congressmen and women who vote on the legislation they are promoting. No matter how you slice it, “education” junkets, “fact finding” junkets, a junket is a junket and they come with perks. The firs perk is the fact that congressmen and their spouses travel and eat for free. Nice perk if you can get it! The hotels, food, and transportation are the finest and nothing is left for chance. Every opportunity is utilized by the lobbyists to get face time with the representative to remind them who is paying and what the cause needs to move forward.

The thing Lamborn has forgotten is that it doesn’t matter if the cause is one that conservatives support, it is the fact that our congressman should not be flying around the world on the dime of an influence peddler. If the cause is worth the support it should get our support. If the congressman feels he wants to learn more about the cause he can spend part of the $175,000 salary we pay them to do so. The bottom line is Lamborn has been in DC too long and we need a fresh change of congressman.

Conservatives can’t say it is OK to fly around on a lobbyist’s dime when it is in support of a conservative cause and then criticize big spending democrats. The bottom line is we need a new direction in DC which is cuts in every department of the federal government including waste and abuse in the defense contracting process. There are no sacred cows when you are spending the incredible amounts of hard earned taxpayer treasure we are currently spending. We don’t need this much spending at the federal level.

Doug Lamborn can use all the excuses he wants but they all ring hollow to people that believe in constitutional government and true conservatism. The voters of CD5 will decide in about a month whether we send Lamborn back into a culture he seems to be getting comfortable in or send someone that wants to change that culture, Robert Blaha. It is a choice we should consider very carefully as conservatives.

A Passionate Conservative

If you are tired of conservatives that can’t seem to express the conservative message, I have a candidate for you. Here in Colorado Congressional District 5 we have the opportunity to send to congress not only a conservative but a VOICE for conservatism.

How many times have you been frustrated by conservatives that can’t seem to communicate our message? How many times have you been disappointed in the way conservatives frame the issues in Washington DC? How many times have you wished someone with the communication skills of a Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Michael Medved, Sean Hannity, or Mark Levin were representing you in congress? It is one of my greatest frustrations as a passionate conservative!

Last night I interviewed Robert Blaha, conservative candidate for the GOP seat in D5 Colorado. He is running against incumbent conservative Doug Lamborn. But just like what is likely to happen to incumbent Richard Lugar in the Indiana GOP primary, I suggest we have the same opportunity here in Colorado to oust Doug Lamborn. Too many conservatives have forgotten why they are in DC. We need to send fresh conservative blood willing to stand and fight for conservatism. As Robert says, “not just with a vote - but with a voice.”  With any luck we can send another businessman to help Mitt Romney repeal Obama Care and implement a business friendly federal policy.

Doug Lamborn is attacking Robert Blaha and his businesses and business record. I ask you; what conservative is anti-business? Why has Doug Lamborn decided to take to personal attacks like the current president is doing in his campaign? Attacking business is what democrats do, not conservative republicans. So I ask the voters of CD5, why would we send Doug Lamborn back to congress? Don’t we need a person who can articulate business principles but more importantly has lived in the private sector and has been extremely successful in business in congress?

I challenge you to listen to Robert in this interview and come to any other conclusion that it is time to send a well-spoken, passionate, conservative, successful business person to congress. Mitt Romney is going to be looking for help implementing a business friendly agenda when we elect him this November, and he will have to look no further for help and guidance than our own freshman congressman Robert Blaha - if we choose to send him.

It is not a time in our country’s history to be timid about doing what is right for this country. Sending back a congressman that has no private sector business experience, has little passion for engaging his constituency, and has no respect for the thriving businesses in this community for another term makes little sense. It is time for bold initiatives and action.

It is time to send someone that will be able to fight and communicate our message to the congress and the rest of America. It is time to send Robert Blaha to congress. I hope you will join me so we no longer have to hope a conservative can defend our message, we will have a spokesperson that can put us on the offensive and we can be proud to be part of the conservative movement in Washington DC and here in Colorado District 5…

What’s the Problem with Earmarks?

First let’s define what an “earmark” is. An earmark is “A provision in a piece of Congressional legislation that directs specified federal funds to specific projects, programs, organizations, or individuals.”

In 2010 according to EndingSpending .com, Representative Doug Lamborn inserted 4 (solo) earmarks for a total of $11,700,000, in combination with others (6) $16,020,000. With the current debt at $15,508,094,699,053 and growing every second (this figure is out of date the second you type it) earmarks are a big deal.

The bigger deal is that we have a congressman here in District 5 Colorado that touts his conservatism but then spends as if we have the money to do so. If this is conservatism it makes you wonder, what is the definition of conservative? The real problem is we no longer send people to congress that want to serve the constituency and the country; they are there to serve themselves. The founders of our nation would be appalled. “Bringing home the bacon” as was often the role of congress has never been a good idea or constitutional. It has been an accepted practice by inside Washington politicians that has simply been a way to pay for votes. It is a practice of taking one hard working individuals tax dollars and giving those dollars to a “preferred” constituent of the congressman. Think about that for a moment.

The practice of earmarks is appalling! The Tea Party is the result of concerned Americans gathering together to put an end to the federal government’s unconstitutional excesses. One of the goals is to rid the federal government of inside politicians and send citizen legislators to congress to end the insanity. And it is insanity. If you don’t realize that we are spending ourselves into oblivion, you are insane. If you continue to participate in these earmark practices as a sitting congressman you are supporting the fiscal insanity. That is not what conservatives do.

People do not want to hear about how their congressman has secured funds for pet projects in their district or state. The entire process has to stop. If a project impacts the country it deserves federal funds, if it impacts the state it should be funded at the state level. Most programs today would have been determined to be unconstitutional before the FDR administrations assault on the Supreme Court, and the willingness of the people to allow for the “redistribution of wealth” through social programs at a time of government induced crisis. The same atmosphere of government induced crisis is permeating the political climate today and is causing people to turn their heads away from the constitution. But not the Tea Party.

We must send a message to every representative regardless of party that the days of paying off your supporters are over. Abiding by the constitution is payment enough. If we can return to the original limited intent of the founders we will thrive again. We can only make that change if we change the people in congress. All of the people in congress that have shown a lack of commitment to our founding principles. Earmarks are not a founding principle of this great nation.


I will interview Robert Monday night at 6:00 PM Mountain

A Momentary Blip in the Polls?

Congressman Doug Lamborn has suggested the rise of Robert Blaha is due to a “momentary blip in the polls.” If I were Congressman Lamborn I would not be so sure about that. I discuss politics with anyone and everyone that will listen and I am promoting Robert because the career politician in my opinion is the problem and Doug Lamborn is the epitome of a career politician. He should not be so comfortable and may want to consider spending some money to tell us why we need to send him back to congress.

Here is my post from the other day for those of you that may have missed it:

A Fight for Conservatism in Congressional District 5

Why would a conservative Congressman be in jeopardy of losing (Blaha is gaining on Lamborn) his seat in a very conservative district? That is the question many conservative republicans, tea party conservatives, and Doug Lamborn are asking themselves today. Why would voters risk a “dependable” conservative vote at a time we need conservative votes in congress to roll back Obama Care and an out of control federal government?

I have asked myself this question as well as everyone I talk to that is active in politics. The answer is that votes are important but simply voting does not move the conservative message forward for future victories. As in business, people that speak for your “Brand” must be a great spokesperson. And believe me “Conservative” is a brand that needs better spokespeople. The people of this country live as conservatives but have learned to be embarrassed by the unending assault of the main stream media on conservative values. So conservatives tend to simply live their lives quietly and go to the polls to voice their opinions at election time. The mainstream media is continually baffled by the landslide victories conservatives accumulate and wonder out loud, “who are these people that keep voting conservative?”

I can tell you we are the “silent majority” but the Tea Party has given a more vocal component to the conservative movement. Conservatives are frustrated that their voices are muted by a bias media, and are extremely frustrated at the lack of leadership in the current crop of so called conservatives in congress and the senate. The reason Newt Gingrich received so much attention was his ability to voice the conservative message in a proud and positive manner. It is also why Reagan is so revered today by conservatives. The conservative movement wants a fighter to stand up for their values so they can stand proud and express their values without fear of mockery.

That is why we need a conservative voice and vote, not just a vote representing us in congress. A leadership position is more than simply voting. True leadership needs to influence others to support their positions, communicate the arguments with clarity and conviction, and fight back against the constant flow of lies and stereo types thrown at conservative principles. Conservative voters go to work every day and depend on the leaders they elect to voice their concerns in congress. Our congressman must have the ability to articulate the conservative message and argue for the moral high ground in Washington. The congressman should also be willing, able, and committed to being the spokesperson in our district for the conservative message.

We need to add a member in congress that will work with the freshman class from 2010 that were sent there by the Tea Party. We need to add to the voices and numbers of congressman and woman to form a coalition to offset the establishment “conservatives” who tend to value compromise over principle. We have been disappointed too many times by compromise of our principles.

I have heard conservatives say that Lamborn has been able to get on some influential committees in congress and that is true. But the way congress operates through these committees is broken and needs a new look. The status quo must be changed. Just because the Republicans control those committees today doesn’t mean the system works. I believe republicans will maintain congress in 2012 and take the senate so committee seats will continue to be controlled by republicans. Robert Blaha will be appointed and influential on the committees important to Colorado Springs. But we need someone committed to change and not just a go along to get along. We need someone that wants to decrease the influence of Washington not to just take advantage of it.

This is what we call in business a “win win.” We get a conservative in Washington that will work tirelessly to forward the cause of conservatism and Washington conservatives get an ally to reduce the influence and control of the federal government. The freshman class of 2010 need reinforcements to move the true conservative agenda forward; constitutional government and a reduction of power in Washington DC in the next congress.

Doug Lamborn has been a consistent vote I will give him that. But I for one (and according to the polls) I am not alone thinking we need a fighter in Washington to back those votes with passion and commitment to influence others of the positive results of conservatism. The founders intended congress to be an opportunity for citizens to serve and then go back to their communities to live their lives. They believed many different citizens with different backgrounds would step up to serve and represent their communities. Doug has done that and it is time to send another member of our community to Washington.

It is not that Doug has done a bad job but we need a new skill set for these challenging times. A skill set that includes a passionate ability to communicate and influence others around them. I think that guy is Robert Blaha. I think we have much to gain and very little to lose.

A Fight for Conservatism in Congressional District 5

Why would a conservative Congressman be in jeopardy of losing (Blaha is gaining on Lamborn) his seat in a very conservative district? That is the question many conservative republicans, tea party conservatives, and Doug Lamborn are asking themselves today. Why would voters risk a “dependable” conservative vote at a time we need conservative votes in congress to roll back Obama Care and an out of control federal government?

I have asked myself this question as well as everyone I talk to that is active in politics. The answer is that votes are important but simply voting does not move the conservative message forward for future victories. As in business, people that speak for your “Brand” must be a great spokesperson. And believe me “Conservative” is a brand that needs better spokespeople. The people of this country live as conservatives but have learned to be embarrassed by the unending assault of the main stream media on conservative values. So conservatives tend to simply live their lives quietly and go to the polls to voice their opinions at election time. The mainstream media is continually baffled by the landslide victories conservatives accumulate and wonder out loud, “who are these people that keep voting conservative?”

I can tell you we are the “silent majority” but the Tea Party has given a more vocal component to the conservative movement. Conservatives are frustrated that their voices are muted by a bias media, and are extremely frustrated at the lack of leadership in the current crop of so called conservatives in congress and the senate. The reason Newt Gingrich received so much attention was his ability to voice the conservative message in a proud and positive manner. It is also why Reagan is so revered today by conservatives. The conservative movement wants a fighter to stand up for their values so they can stand proud and express their values without fear of mockery.

That is why we need a conservative voice and vote, not just a vote representing us in congress. A leadership position is more than simply voting. True leadership needs to influence others to support their positions, communicate the arguments with clarity and conviction, and fight back against the constant flow of lies and stereo types thrown at conservative principles. Conservative voters go to work every day and depend on the leaders they elect to voice their concerns in congress. Our congressman must have the ability to articulate the conservative message and argue for the moral high ground in Washington. The congressman should also be willing, able, and committed to being the spokesperson in our district for the conservative message.

We need to add a member in congress that will work with the freshman class from 2010 that were sent there by the Tea Party. We need to add to the voices and numbers of congressman and woman to form a coalition to offset the establishment “conservatives” who tend to value compromise over principle. We have been disappointed too many times by compromise of our principles.

I have heard conservatives say that Lamborn has been able to get on some influential committees in congress and that is true. But the way congress operates through these committees is broken and needs a new look. The status quo must be changed. Just because the Republicans control those committees today doesn’t mean the system works. I believe republicans will maintain congress in 2012 and take the senate so committee seats will continue to be controlled by republicans. Robert Blaha will be appointed and influential on the committees important to Colorado Springs. But we need someone committed to change and not just a go along to get along. We need someone that wants to decrease the influence of Washington not to just take advantage of it.

This is what we call in business a “win win.” We get a conservative in Washington that will work tirelessly to forward the cause of conservatism and Washington conservatives get an ally to reduce the influence and control of the federal government. The freshman class of 2010 need reinforcements to move the true conservative agenda forward; constitutional government and a reduction of power in Washington DC in the next congress.

Doug Lamborn has been a consistent vote I will give him that. But I for one (and according to the polls) am not alone thinking we need a fighter in Washington to back those votes with passion and commitment to influence others of the positive results of conservatism. The founders intended congress to be an opportunity for citizens to serve and then go back to their communities to live their lives. They believed many different citizens with different backgrounds would step up to serve and represent their communities. Doug has done that and it is time to send another member of our community to Washington.

It is not that Doug has done a bad job but we need a new skill set for these challenging times. A skill set that includes a passionate ability to communicate and influence others around them. I think that guy is Robert Blaha. I think we have much to gain and very little to lose.