McInnis can ignore the issue and we can ignore him at the polls…

I wonder how many people that vote based on principle are going to enthusiastically support or even support Scott McInnis if he for some strange reason gets the Republican primary nod. I can’t imagine any republican that knows of the plagiarism will vote for Scott in the primary. But stranger things have happened in politics.

But this is Colorado where there is still some semblance of values, and too many people that refuse to hold their noses and vote for an unelectable candidate in the general election. Talk about dowsing the enthusiasm of the conservative voter in Colorado by making McInnis the candidate. He may think he can just dismiss this as a mistake and move on but principled people don’t move on so easily.

We have a conundrum and it keeps getting worse. Those boots are definitely made for walking, but they ain’t walking over the good people of Colorado. I hope we’re better than that!

Divided We Fall…

The two parties are at it again. The Republican Governors Association is running an ad against Mayor Hickenlooper, the democratic candidate for governor, trying to link him with the unpopular Bill Ritter, but do we really need this? What is the purpose of the ad? What will be the result of the ad in the end?

The purpose of the ad is simple, to paint candidate Hickenlooper in such a negative light that people will vote against him, therefore helping the republican candidate to win the election. But the democrats are going to respond, most likely creating an ad that will attempt to demonize the republican candidate. And so it will go, on and on, ad after ad, the good people of Colorado will be inundated with negative ad after negative ad, and they will be left to wonder; which candidate is the lesser of two evils.

That is our two party system in a nutshell. Demonize the other party’s candidate to the point that your candidate looks less evil than the other party’s candidate. All in the name of “winning”. I ask; what do we win in the end? No matter which candidate wins in the end, the people in both parties are left with the perceptions from the campaign pounding each has received. So we end up with a dysfunctional ability to govern. Democrats won’t listen or be open to anything a republican winner has to say, and the Republicans will not listen to or be open to anything a democratic winner has to say.

People are so disillusioned with the political process, and yet we are told that negative ads are an effective campaign strategy. These ads may be effective for the party that wins, but not for the people, and the ability to govern. Negative ads are an excuse and an easy way to campaign. The most effective way to win a campaign is to convince people through argument and debate that your positions are right for the direction of the state. Topic by topic, vetted in a forum, not bound by commercial time restraints, but real open and elongated debate. Where people have the opportunity to hear every issue discussed ad-nauseam to the point of conclusion. So why don’t politicians do that?

Simple; the people are not willing to sit and listen to it, and the media does everything in bits and bytes. We the people are partly responsible because we don’t do our homework and are not willing to invest in vetting candidates or protecting our freedom. The media is responsible because they play into the two party horse race, and never give anyone else a chance to be heard. They limit the debate instead of nurturing it.

So how does it change? I don’t know but the first step is for people to do more homework. My campaign is an example. I receive dozens of notes encouraging me and saying they respect and admire what I’m doing. But when it comes down to brass tax, people are not willing to take the effort to support alternative campaigns. We are lazy as an electorate and have been duped into believing what the two parties dish out. There are many alternatives to the two parties but the effort to make the change seems too much for most.

The two parties have been losing members for years and there are more people that find themselves unaffiliated than ever before. That’s a good thing, but leaving the party system is not enough. If you want to end the negative ads that divide us as a people, you need to punish the people that are doing it and support alternatives. Maybe I’m not the right candidate but there will be no change to this divisiveness unless we all get involved to change it...

I support “The Federal Healthcare Nullification Act” for Colorado…

I am a member and supporter of the Tenth Amendment Center and its founder Michael Boldin. He has partnered with WeRefuse.com to set in motion a constitutional repeal of the unconstitutional healthcare “reform” bill, forced through by an out of control congress, with this petition drive. If elected Governor of Colorado I will spearhead this process in Colorado.

Here are some excerpts from the press release:

"We recommend a different path, one advised by prominent founders such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison - nullification," said Boldin. Nullification, according to the Center, is the rightful remedy to an unconstitutional act, as it considers the recently-signed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be. When a state nullifies a federal law, it is proclaiming that the law in question is void and inoperative, or non-effective, within the boundaries of that state; or, in other words, not a law as far as the state is concerned."

"In partnership with WeRefuse.com, the Tenth Amendment Center has announced the release of their model legislation for such state-level action, the Federal Health Care Nullification Act. The Act would codify in state law that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act "is not authorized by the Constitution of the United States...is hereby declared to be invalid...shall not be recognized...is specifically rejected...and shall be considered null and void and of no effect" within the boundaries of any state enacting it. It also mandates that it "shall be the duty" of the State's legislature "to adopt and enact any and all measures as may be necessary to prevent the enforcement."

"It's time to remind the federal government that We the People are in charge and not the other way around," said Boldin. "Following the Constitution every issue, every time, without exceptions or excuses requires us to resist federal overreach and keeping our health care decisions where the Founders assured us that they'd be and where they belong...close to home."

We need to support the effort and stop this federal government.

A Place for Real Reform!

The “Tea Party” has encouraged many Colorado voters to get involved by showing up at rallies around the state to show their frustration against the actions of our current representatives. Most of the frustration has been focused on the federal government, but it is a comprehensive mistrust of all government. These “new” activists are really making a difference just by simply showing up and making the political class aware they are watching, and are ready to vote candidates in or out. I am concerned that the people in the Tea Party movement are being given a false choice; vote democrat or republican. Of course the republicans align more closely with the Tea Party concerns but are they the right choice?

I believe the people that are most frustrated with the process want the choice to elect people like themselves; not career politicians. But where can they find those candidates? There is a group out there that is helping “ordinary” citizens get on the ballot and make real change toward our founding principles, and that group is Get Out Of Our House (www.goooh.com). There are about 1000 members in Colorado. The goal is to get 500,000 members nationwide but it is the vision that attracted me.

The idea is to vet candidates through a process that promotes ideas not party affiliation. If the Tea Party movement is looking for a real process to make change, they need to consider GOOOH (pronounced go). There is no doubt in my mind that the republicans will disappoint again, and there will be no accountability until the next election. GOOOH is only supporting candidates that have signed a pledge and committed to the principles promoted on their website.
Get Out Of Our House is focused on congressional elections but I am trying to garner their support for my candidacy for Governor of Colorado. I believe it is an idea whose time has come. The founder Tim Cox is involved for seemingly the same reasons I am; if you don’t like the way things are going, get involved, and try to change it. I know the two parties will only change if they have real competition and GOOOH offers the voters real choice.

If you are involved in the Tea Party movement but believe they are getting too cozy with the Republican Party, check out GOOOH. I did and I like what they are trying to do. I think you will as well…

A Memo to the President

RE: Notice to implement the U.S. Constitution in the great state of Colorado

Dear: Mr. President

It will be my constitutional duty if elected to the office of Governor, to take charge and responsibility for managing the affairs of the citizens of the great state of Colorado. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly, so therefore I must prepare you for the changes you will encounter shortly after my election. My intention is to inform you of the changes so you can properly prepare for the impact those changes will have on your ability to manage the federal government.

As you know, the federal government was created by the states to carry out the limited functions that we agreed were better suited to be handled by a concerted effort of the states by an established agent; the federal government. We did not hand over unlimited authority to the federal government. As clearly stated in Article I section 8, the powers of the federal government are limited. It has been clear that over the years the federal government has been acting as a fully authorized agent of all of the affairs of state, without the authority of said states. This is a clear violation of the constitution. The Supreme Court has been an agent of the federal government’s pursuit to usurp the constitutional authority of the states, and therefore we consider Supreme Court precedence null and void for future considerations of our constitutional authority. We expect all constitutional arguments to be weighed against the original constitution and not the tortured logic we have seen utilized over the years, specifically the “commerce”, “privacy” and “supremacy” clauses.

As outlined in the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which we have both sworn to uphold it is clearly and brilliantly stated by our predecessors “"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." As Colorado Governor I will be working with our legislature, and the like minded Governors of the other 49 states, to reconsider all federal programs, and prepare for a responsible retraction of those programs to bring the federal government back into compliance with the original intent of our constitutional republic.

This process will take some time but immediately after my inauguration as Governor, I will be introducing an amendment to the Colorado Constitution to limit the maximum amount of federal taxation to 15% of personal and corporate income of the citizens and businesses in Colorado. This amount will be a sum great enough to pay the authorized powers we have granted the federal government through the US Constitution. We expect our military will be your first priority. We understand the Sixteenth Amendment granted you the right to tax our citizens directly but I don’t believe we ever agreed that the right, and amount of taxation, was unlimited. As a matter of fact it is limited based on the limited authority you have to create federal programs. We have been remiss of our responsibility in the states to enforce this limitation, but no more. We will now limit that authority to a percentage we believe will give you enough funding for constitutional programs like defense and border control. If you believe 15% is too much or too little, I will be willing to discuss that with you and will invite our state legislators to join us, as well as any other Governor, to discuss the right percentage to run the federal government. In the spirit of cooperation we welcome your suggestions.

I know you will agree, we have drifted from the law of our land, and it is each of our responsibilities to become once again compliant with the law of our land; the U.S. Constitution. Neither of us should knowingly be outlaws when we have both sworn to uphold our constitution. I understand we have been living as if there were no constitution to bind us from providing endless government services, but I am sure you will agree, if we want to pursue that course of action we must take the proper steps by convening a constitutional convention, or embarking on an amendment process that will give you the additional authority you need to maintain the current path of endless federal takeovers, healthcare, and environmental policy that you seem to believe some Americans want. I can assure you, in Colorado we will be more than capable of taking care of ourselves.

In the spirit of transparency and my prayer for a return to constitutional law, I hereby give you notice of my intentions if given the honor to represent Colorado as our Governor. This is the greatest country in the world because our leaders have always understood that individual liberty and state freedom trump any form of centralized control and authority. Our prosperity has been the result of an unwavering belief in God, compliance with the principles outlined in our Declaration of Independence, and respect for the United States Constitution. I am sure you share my concern and commitment to return our country to the principles that have given us unprecedented wealth and unbridled compassion that has been a beacon for the rest of the world.

With greatest respect for the office of our president.

I look forward to working with you.

In Pursuit of Liberty,

Rich Hand
Unaffiliated Candidate for Governor of Colorado

Take Back America; Start in Colorado…

On April 30th my petition campaign to gain access to the Colorado ballot as an unaffiliated candidate for Governor begins. It is a campaign to stop the federal government’s takeover of our liberty by reaffirming our Tenth Amendment rights and challenging the Sixteenth Amendment to reduce federal taxation that enables this unconstitutional behavior. More importantly this campaign is a campaign focused on individuals and not party politics.

My campaign is an effort to represent people that LOVE THE CONSTITUTION, believe AMERICA IS THE MOST COMPASSIONATE NATION IN THE WORLD, and a belief in INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY OVER COLLECTIVE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

The way to show support for these principles is to help get me on the ballot. I will need 1000 signatures from registered voters in Colorado. Here is how you can help. If you are a Colorado voter and want to get me on the ballot:


• Go to http://www.whoisrichhand.com/ on April 26th and download a petition. It will include instructions. Email me at rich4.hand@gmail to let me know you will be gathering signatures.

• Fill out the petition correctly and starting April 30th gather as many signatures as you can from family, friends, and neighbors. Try to get 3 signatures a day.

• On June 7th get the petition notarized. Notaries are everywhere. Ask a friend or neighbor and if you can’t find one I have one I can provide. Use the e-mail above.

• Mail them to the address on the petition.


If you are not from Colorado but have friends, family members, or colleagues in Colorado; you can help by forwarding this information to them!

Most campaigns and the two parties are asking for money, I am simply asking for your help. The unaffiliated voting pool is the largest potential voting bloc in Colorado. There are more potential unaffiliated voters (1,078,896) than Republicans (1,048,669) or Democrats (1,058,785) in the great state of Colorado! That is because party politics no longer represents the interests of the majority of voters.

We know we can do better if we elect people that live just like we do every day. Politics should not dominate our lives as it has. It dominates because political parties have an interest in showing you how much they are doing FOR you. The reality is most people want politics to be in the background not the forefront of their lives.

If you want a candidate for Governor that will put government back to its original intent at both the federal and state levels, help get me on the ballot.

If I do not get on the ballot I will consider it a message that unaffiliated voters are happy with the current process and gracefully bow out of the election. I don’t believe that is the case but I need to know that through your actions.

Get ready to take back America; it starts here in Colorado. It starts with you!

P.S Here’s how the numbers stack up according to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office:

Voter Numbers: Active + Inactive = Total
• Democrats: 800,648 - 258,137 - 1,058,785
• Republicans: 832,170 - 216,499 - 1,048,669
• Unaffiliated: 716,801 - 362,095 - 1,078,896
• Other: 13,159

A Half Trillion Dollar Mess…

The state of California pension funds are 500,000,000,000 (Billion) in the hole. How does a state get that far behind in their responsibility to fund state employees’ retirement, and how do they accept that type of liability on behalf of the taxpayers? Contracts for state employees have become a tale of bad political decisions. The first problem is politicians are in charge of negotiating complex employee contracts with unions that have been unwilling to concede the limitations of tax payer based compensation. The second problem is that employees of the state need to understand that tax payer based compensation has limits. One of the limits is balance. Tax payers are no longer willing to fund over reaching contracts. It is not personal toward state employees, it is personal in the sense that the tax payer feels like the state employee should be in line with the private sector. The private sector expects; a full days work, at a fair wage, with reasonable benefits, and the ability fire people for lack of performance. It’s that simple, and the same should apply to state employees.

The state and municipal employees need to be paid fairly and should be in a 401-K program just like the people paying the bills. I have been validated in this opinion by this Stanford University study of California state pensions. One of their recommendations is to implement a 401-K program and reduce benefits for new state employees.

The way to fix this isn’t through an “us and them” posturing, it is just “us”. We all utilize our police, firefighters, and teachers (to some degree). We can agree law enforcement and our firefighters are critical functions of the state, but the pay and benefits (where most of the issue lies) just need to be reasonable. We need to have that discussion in a collaborative way. Not the way unions and management have traditionally bargained. That is why so many states are in the same mess as California or are not far from it…

The possibility of High Speed Rail in Colorado…

I read the “High Speed Rail Feasibility Study; Executive Summary” and believe it was thorough and offered a great argument for Colorado citizens to consider. There are always major concerns with a project of this size and scope but these were the three major concerns I would want addressed:

• Federal involvement
• Funding
• Passenger Commitment

As I read the price tag I understand the instinct to involve federal dollars but why should New Yorkers pay for our high speed rail? Why would the federal government be involved beyond any right of way issues concerning federal land? There is no constitutional authority or responsibility of the federal government to support this project. If we are going to determine this is the right thing to do, then we in Colorado should do it. If we can’t figure out a way to pay for it, we should not do it.

Funding $21 Billion dollars is not an easy task but it is a 5 phase approach. The first phase (DIA to Denver to Colorado Springs) is approximately a $3.3 billion investment. It is also the most travelled route, and according to the study, will start generating operating revenue upon completion. This could be used toward reducing the need for debt for the additional 4 phases. Funding should be through the issuance of state bonds and a bidding process for operating the rail by a private entity should include payment back to the bond holders and a “dividend” to the tax payers of Colorado into a fund (preferably a private education fund) determined by the people through the legislature. If this is a viable and profitable project, the bonds would be paid back by the revenue collected from operations. We should have private corporations bid for the operations and include the amount of “dividend” they would be willing to pay for the contract to operate the railway corporation. The process would need to be designed to open up the operation of the railway to competitive bids every 5 years. Otherwise it could become a temptation for unscrupulous politicians and corrupt contractors. If private companies believe it can turn a profit, are willing to put their money where their mouth is, and the right safeguards are put in place, I could be convinced to ask the taxpayers to be collateral for the project.

The feasibility study makes the assumption that passengers will utilize the system at the necessary volume to support the investment; at 35₵ a mile. The fares are reasonable but not cheap. The service and convenience will need to be top notch to maintain passenger commitment to utilize the railway. We all know that people are fickle, and in order to meet financial projections the railway will have to operate with a strong profit incentive. We cannot expect a government bureaucracy to run anything of this magnitude efficiently. We can’t create another post office scenario. We need “stock” holders running the railway with an incentive to make money. Once the bonds have been paid back, the private corporation would need to be Colorado based and pay a continuing “dividend” to the taxpayers of Colorado. I don’t have details of the financial arrangement, but any framework needs to include ownership by the private sector with a commitment to the citizens of Colorado. The ownership, as in a stock held company needs to be able to make a profit and pay dividends. In the feasibility it must also be proven that private companies believe it is worth the effort to be involved with this project.

I believe in the free market system and would prefer a private company invest in the project because they believed it was a viably profitable enterprise. But I understand that taking on a project like this is a huge risk in the private sector. With the amount of land acquisition and regulation whirling around this project I would never put my personal money into it without certain guarantees.

A project of this size and scope is an opportunity and a risk for the state. That is why it needs free enterprise incentives tied to the operation and ongoing maintenance of the system. If the citizens of Colorado supported this measure at the conceptual level, I would work to create the details necessary to enable the public to benefit from the private sectors ingenuity and efficiency.

I know we could live very nicely not having high speed rail in Colorado as well. I love my car and the freedom it provides but I drive to DIA enough to know if I could get there in the same time, in comfort, have a drink in the bar car, and do some work on my laptop, for a comparable price to driving, without a subsidy from the tax payer, I could be convinced. It is worthy of consideration at the state level but the deals off if we need to include the federal government.

Nullification is only part of the solution…

Hats off to the Attorney General of Virginia who has vowed to challenge the Healthcare Reform Bill on constitutional grounds the minute it is signed into law by the President. There are also 36 States that have hinted at nullification of the bill at the state level. But that is only part of the solution.

“Nullification is a legal theory that a U.S. State has the right to nullify, or invalidate, any federal law which that state has deemed unconstitutional. The theory is based on a view that the sovereign States formed the Union, and as creators of the compact hold final authority regarding the limits of the power of the central government.”

“Under this, the compact theory, the States and not the Federal Bench are the ultimate interpreters of the extent of the national Government's power. A more extreme assertion of state sovereignty than nullification is the related action of secession, by which a state terminates its political affiliation with the Union.”

The dilemma with nullification is if a state deems Healthcare unconstitutional, the federal government is still going to tax the states to pay for the program. That is why in my platform as Governor we are taking the next step to truly reign in the central government’s power by cutting off the funding that allows the federal government to expand its power.

The Sixteenth Amendment was ratified February 3rd, 1913. It “allows the Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on Census results.” It reads, “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.” But all taxation to fund the federal government still must be for constitutionally authorized purposes.

The real solution to holding the federal government to its constitutional requirements is not only nullification, but a limit on what the federal government is allowed to tax the individual tax payers of the states. We have taken as a given, that no matter what the federal government decides to tax us, we must pay it. If the federal government chooses to tax us at 90% of our income will we allow it? Does the Sixteenth Amendment allow the federal government to ignore its constitutional limitation as stated in Article 1 section 8? Of course not, otherwise we have no constitutional limitations. But that is how the federal government acts today.

It is the role of the Governors and State Legislators to not only nullify healthcare but to limit the amount of taxation that can be imposed on the citizens of their states. The federal programs that are nullified must also include the provision that no additional taxation may be derived from the state for the purpose of the program. Otherwise the states are in the dilemma of paying for a program that the citizens of the state are being forced to pay for.

We need a constitutional convention among the states, not to change it, but to enforce it, and reset the power where it was intended to be; in the United States not in Washington DC…

Socializing Your 401-K…

As if the healthcare takeover isn’t enough for this administration, they have plans for everything from Cap & Trade (stop energy production) to Eminent Domain takeovers in our state (stop energy production), to the takeover of your 401-K account. That’s right, the hard earned money you have accumulated through sacrifice and hard work is the next target for this group. How else do you think they are going to fend off bankruptcy? The idea was floated back in 2008 but it is again under assault.

As you watch this administration bully through healthcare, they will use the same techniques to bully representatives to socialize your 401-K. What does “socializing” your 401-K mean? It means taking your private account that is in your name in a private fund and putting it in the Social Security “trust” fund. The key word is trust. There is no “Trust Fund” and you can’t trust the government to do the right thing with your money.

There are trillions of dollars in the market that is made up of your 401-K savings. Are you willing to give that money to the federal government? If you don’t vote for the right people in 2010 you may not have a choice.

As Governor I will fight for our constitutional rights and fight to limit the federal ability to socialize your 401-K. Is there any other candidate talking about this issue? Why not? Because too many polticians and state level legislators have given up the fight against our federal government. I believe the fight has only just begun…

TABOR; A Formula for decline?

The exact same arguments made in this obviously left leaning Blog, are the reasons TABOR is a good thing for Colorado. This sentence says it all, “TABOR pits state programs and services against each other for survival each year and virtually rules out any new initiatives to address unmet or emerging needs.”

The idea that the state has to decide on the priorities for tax payer funds, and God forbid reduce other programs in this process, is exactly what business and the private sector has to deal with every day. And the idea that the state can’t get the funding for “unmet” needs is a lie. All TABOR does is force politicians to ask the tax payer for the funding. It only takes away the blank check that government has become so used to in their daily operations.

Can you imagine how difficult TABOR must be for those politicians that believe in expanding the role of government? It must be so hard! I know it poses a dilemma for the political class that believes it is entitled to your money; having to ask the people that pay the bills to be part of the process. The nerve of the tax payer.

TABOR has not impeded economic growth in the state; it has only impeded government growth. The numbers tell the story. Since 1992 when TABOR was adopted the government coffers have grown, and grown, and grown. People have flocked to this state to escape the high taxes of California and other east coast cities because TABOR puts a check on government growth. To suggest that this formula is impeding any economic activity is to not understand economic activity. Every dollar taken from the private sector and given to the government impedes economic activity. It is simply a transfer of tax payer money from the tax payer that produces it to a handpicked member of a political faction. How is that increasing economic growth?

There are problems as suggested in this piece with the funding of K-12 education and Medicaid but the problems are again tied to government. Medicaid is being pushed down through the federal government, and K-12 inefficiency is a product of government controlling the education system. Both are broken and must be reformed.

The education “problems” are all tied to the funding. So we are 48th in ranking regarding pupil funding, average funding dropped by $600 relative to the national average, and teacher salaries have not kept pace with the nation. I have news for everyone that believes money is the problem; it isn’t. It is the fact we expect a political bureaucracy to efficiently educate our kids. If you believe this you are never going to vote for me. And I will not waste my time explaining why education, the most important gift we give to our kids, should be a personal family responsibility and state assistance should be tied to the family to choose their education. More flexible education programs should be embraced and encouraged so parents have more choice and teachers have more freedom to teach without the heavy hand of political correctness looking over their shoulder. To give up our kid’s success to bureaucrats is our first mistake. My kids are in the Colorado public system but with two motivated and educated parents helping guide the way.

“The failure to regain services and the quality of life during the suspension reflects the difficulty of generating enough annual revenue to improve services in the aftermath of so many years of revenue starvation. There would have to be very robust and sustained revenue growth to allow the state to go beyond maintaining its current, low level of services and begin to recoup lost ground.”

In the end TABOR is about values. Do we value our individual founding principles or do we value giving up those values to government bureaucrats. I will keep my freedom and personal accountability for the success of my family thank you. As we are seeing on the federal level, government greed can never be satisfied. Not only are they ruining the lives of our children in the inner cities by shackling them to government education and programs, they continue to perpetuate the myth that government is compassionate. Government programs if measured honestly are criminal. Look at the generational dependence and poverty tied to the people utilizing government programs.

Government has simple functions that should be adhered to like maintaining roads and infrastructure, security through police and fire services, support for truly needy members of our community, not those that have been convinced to count on these programs, and a sound legal system. Government is a framework to encourage and support people in the quest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government can’t give happiness to some by taking away from others. That is what TABOR stops these government advocates from doing. If government bureaucrats want something they must ask. Simple. And if funding is reduced due to the formula, make the necessary adjustments to programs or make the case for the value of supporting these programs with additional funding by asking the tax payer to increase the revenue. It’s really simple for those of us that aren’t addicted to government for our livelihood.

We don’t make our living taking other people’s money under the guise of government. TABOR gives us a fighting chance for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It’s that simple.

Why Republicans Have a Problem in 2010…

An excerpt from a great post at Town Hall by Armstrong Williams:

“This sounds to me like the same shenanigans Republicans pulled when they ran the show in Washington earlier this decade. I worry it signals they haven't learned their lesson: that good governing requires making hard choices and telling people "No" some of the time. And I also worry that Republicans actually buy into the idea that government spending, as long as it's done right, is good for the economy.”

This is one of the problems with being tied to a party. When the individual decisions are made by politicians the entire party is blamed. It works the other way as well. When the party takes a stand on an issue all individual party members are painted with the same brush.

Tonight in Colorado Springs two Republican candidates face off for the fight for their party’s nomination. They are two individuals that will govern differently if elected but they will be painted with the same brush by their opponents. They will also be expected by the party to tow the line when it comes to policy at the state house. We are a country that was built on individual liberty and spirit so why do any of these politicians need to belong to a party?

My question to the party supporters out there, who by the way are a minority of people eligible to vote; Why do we need a party candidate in the Governor’s seat? Why can’t a candidate with no affiliation execute that role effectively? My guess is the party supporters have no good answer for that question. The answers I have heard is party politicians have “experience”. Really? How has that “experience” been working for us as a country?

In the meantime we watch the political parties paint each other with broad brushes, make policy decisions to protect the party, and the citizens of Colorado and our country get shafted again with candidates that are shackled by party politics. I am confident the leadership I will provide will take into consideration one party; the individual citizen of Colorado.

It is time that we elect an individual not connected to the “power” players and the special interests that have given us the current mess we are in. We can do better. As suggested by Armstrong Williams; the Republicans will revert to the same old shenanigans once they have secured your vote. How do we know that? Just look at their records and our balance sheet…

I love teachers and learning; not bureaucrats…

Teaching is a calling and the people that do it well are a special breed. So why do we shackle them by creating schools through a government bureaucracy? Why do we expect teachers to be able to teach under such oppressing circumstances? Why do we trust our most precious gift to our children, learning, to two establishments that have nothing to do with education; unions and government?

Unions teach our kids that we believe mediocrity is more important than merit, and government encumbers the teaching process with rules that focus on so many things unnecessary to an effective education. Education is a passion we must teach our children to embrace. We do that by teaching kids to love learning. We need teachers to be able to be creative in the process of teaching. Teachers need to be set free to do the things that get kids interested in learning. And they don’t need bureaucrats second guessing them. Parents do that quite nicely, thank you.

Public schools in the cities of our country are a disgrace as so many things the government bureaucracy controls. It is not a teacher problem; it is a bureaucratic and control problem. We need to address it or we will watch generations of children continue to be left out of the American Dream.

Education is not simply a building, books, or classes. It is the key to a successful life. Why would any sane nation leave such an important responsibility to the government and unions? Teachers will be paid according to results and have nothing to fear being separated from a union structure that keeps the focus off the children, and on the work rules that impede flexibility and creativity. People are willing to pay for a quality service. But as long as teaching is tied to government and unions, it will be mediocre, and generations of children remain at risk.

I want to support our teachers and great educational practices. In my opinion that means allowing teachers and schools to be creative in the way they teach our kids. That means providing a smart and simple funding process and getting unions and bureaucracy out of the classroom. That’s the type of education I can get passionate about. Education reform is critical to the future of every child and family in this state and country. The only way to improve it is to get government and unions out of it, and parents and teachers back in control of it…

Ten Things Governors Can Do to Stop the Federal Government…

1) Read the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution and particularly the Tenth Amendment. Then read “The Real Thomas Jefferson” or “Samuel Adams A – Life.” If you don’t walk away from reading these books and documents and scratching your head wondering what happened to our republic, you are probably a progressive liberal and you won’t get elected anyway. Governors should walk away with a renewed passion to take back state control from the federal government with a renewed confidence.

2) Pass state constitutional amendments to challenge the Sixteenth Amendment. In Colorado I would like to see individual and corporate federal income taxes limited to 15%. Other states may want a different number. The sixteenth allows for direct taxation of income but a limit will challenge the ability of the federal government to borrow and spend beyond their constitutional authority. We need to challenge the federal government’s ability to take wealth at their discretion from our state.

3) Start the repeal process of the Seventeenth Amendment which will return the selection of federal senators back to the state legislatures. This will reverse the power out of Washington and away from the lobbyists back to the state government where accountability belongs. Lobbyists will have to convince 50 state legislative bodies that their ideas are good instead of centralized access in DC. No government structure is perfect but the closer it is to the people the easier it is for the people to change.

4) Audit all federal programs and determine their constitutionality and nullify all laws that are impacting the state budget that are determined unconstitutional.

5) Align all state wages, benefits, and pensions with the private sector in those states and strike federal employment regulations from the books.

6) Refocus the National Governors Association to work on a reform process to bring back all state responsibilities to the state like education, healthcare for the elderly and social programs. Hold federal government accountable for securing our borders and eliminate sanctuary cities. Take back the power vested in the states by the constitution.

7) Support a US constitutional amendment to limit terms of the US house and senate.

8) Support a US constitutional amendment to require a federal balanced budget.

9) Support a US constitutional amendment to open the Federal Reserve to congressional scrutiny.

10) Stop looking to the federal government for the mess that the states are in. Admit that our problems are not because we don’t have enough government; but that we have created too much government and pledge to reset our founding principles and sell it to our constituents.

This is a beginning to the process of real reform. The 50 governors need to reset the authority based on the constitution. The governors are the most powerful political leaders in the country; purposely protected in the constitution, but only if the governor’s exercise their rightful powers. We need to pledge we will no longer send money to the federal government for unconstitutional uses. We will no longer comply with federal extortion. We will fulfill our obligations and responsibilities to the people.

We have this as our weapon; “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Let the return to a prosperous and lawful United States begin…

Manufacturers Welcome in Colorado…

Manufacturing is not just about jobs, it is about national security, personal and organizational identity, and it is about moral responsibility. So why do we punish manufacturers with overwhelming regulation and taxes?

We as a country have forgotten why manufacturing is so important, and the role it plays in our ability to remain free and prosperous. If we give up our ability to produce heavy equipment, steel, rubber, and other products, we leave our destiny in the hands of people that may be friendly now, but what about the future? China comes to mind. If we no longer produce, or we are producing weapons, aircraft, and other sensitive technologies in countries like China, how vulnerable are we to the political tides in China? We need to produce our own products here, and continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

We have always been a country that values work and being connected to great products. Caterpillar, John Deere, Coca Cola, Levi Strauss, LL Bean, to name a few. As individuals we identify with the work we do and having products that the world loves is a great source of pride for those that are part of creating and building these great brands.

It is a moral obligation of the representatives of the people to support the citizens it represents by enabling and supporting policy that create economic opportunities for its citizens. The free trade proponents of which I am one have to balance economy and ethics. I believe in free trade but I do not believe in policies that favor nations that have communist regimes, using forced labor, and ignoring common sense environmental policies. The cost of doing business has to include all of these factors but our policy should put America first. Not with policy that forces people to buy American, it should be policies that free up American manufacturers to be able to compete in a global competition for human and capital resources. The United States has the second or third highest cost of doing business due to our tax and regulatory policy. That must change. Union and management must be brought back together to compete and support common sense policies to build up our manufacturing base again.

As Governor I will propose and support policy that welcomes manufacturers, supports free trade by reducing the cost to do business, and create incentives for unions and business to work together to improve our competitive position in the world. Corporate taxes, capital gains taxes, and burdensome regulations will be targeted for reform or elimination under my administration. I will fight the federal government as passionately as I would a foreign government trying to run our manufacturers out of the country. We need to make stuff again. We need to keep the manufacturers we currently have healthy and help them grow. There are economic groups talking about this right now in Colorado and they need to know they will have my support 100%.

Colorado is open for business; including manufacturers!

Notification to Withdraw from Voluntary Spending limits…

I was notified today that John Hickenlooper has filed to be a candidate for Governor of Colorado but has not filed the form, “voluntarily acceptance of campaign spending limits” for his campaign. I now have the option to withdraw my commitment to limit my campaign spending based on Colorado statute. By statute I can withdraw, on principal I cannot.

I believe if I have the ability to spend $2.65 million I could win, even if another candidate raises a billion dollars. Truth and principle always win when the message gets out to the people. $2.65 million is enough to get the message out.

With the Mayor’s refusal to accept spending limits I actually would have the opportunity to spend more than the $2.65 million if I chose to but why? Social media has leveled the field significantly and if you can’t manage $2.65 million to win a campaign, you don’t deserve to manage the state’s affairs.

Thank you Mayor Hickenlooper for giving me the opportunity to increase the amount of money I can spend but, I'm disinclined to acquiesce to the opportunity your campaign has given me. Good luck!

The Answer Lies With The Governor…

I will continue to herald the call to read our US Constitution and when you’re done, read the Tenth Amendment, twice. Continue to educate yourself on our founding and you will start to understand my consistent drum beat on electing a Governor that will stop the out of control federal spending and borrowing against our will.

The constitution and our founders were absolutely clear that the power remain with the states. The constitution was only ratified because the states insisted on the Bill of Rights and particularly the Tenth Amendment. Read it again "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." could it be any clearer?

Nancy Pelosi spent $101,000 of taxpayer money on booze and food just on her taxpayer paid airline flights (using military jets because she is so important) which totaled $2,001,000 for the use of the military jets. We know it is more than that but what it shows is a completely elitist attitude in the federal government. The federal government is now pursuing the College football bowl series because senator Hatch and Obama don’t like the way it is run. Many don’t like the way it is run but should the federal government be involved? Where do these federal government representatives derive the power to intrude on college football and don’t they have more important business? Terrorism comes to mind.

If we don’t elect Governors this election cycle to start the revolution back to our constitutional principles we will be bankrupt in 5 years guaranteed. Then it will be too late because the chaos will be leveraged by the federal government to take even more freedom for us. The founders argued about national government Vs. federal government and determined that federal form of government kept the government closest to the people. They believed by keeping the government close to the people the people would retain the power to keep it in check. They knew through history that the propensity of men to rule each other was best kept in check when the central government was limited and distributed. We are upside down today.

We need to turn the national movement back through reading and educating everyone on the constitution. We can turn back this pending crisis by electing Governors that will stand up to the federal government. The Governors have the greatest weapon of all to stop the federal takeover of our liberty; the Tenth Amendment. We need someone with the guts to use it.

The “tea parties” have begun and it was three years after the original tea party in Boston before we declared our independence. We are ready now with all of the grass roots movement afoot. We just need to combine our passion with the constitution and we can return to our founding principles. The men and women that have died for our cause deserve our commitment to the constitution they swore to uphold and protect.

We need a Governor that will do the same. I will be on the front line standing up against this out of control federal takeover if you give me the chance. We can do this if we all know our history and believe in our founding principles…

Looking For Change in All the Wrong Places…

We need to look within our own hearts if we expect things to change. Expecting change from people and organizations like the two political parties is simply unrealistic. The Tea Party movement is real change because that movement is made up of people that have decided to make change within themselves. This group has decided, and rightly so, that the two parties can’t be trusted, and they must look outside the candidate pool that has been traditionally dished out to them without their input. The tea party folks are not a GOP organization although many in the GOP are attracted to the movement, they are people that are fed up with the current political class, and the direction the country is heading.

My hope is that this group remains true to its core values and considers my campaign as an alternative to the two parties. More specifically as an alternative to the current GOP candidate. This group knows that any candidate has a chance to win if they focus on the core principles of this country; family, hard work, and individual opportunity. They are looking for someone that will not let them down; again. They are looking for someone to focus on reduction of government intrusion instead of candidates that believe government is the answer to all of our ills. They are looking for principle over party.

The GOP is courting this group of patriots but they know that even though they are a better choice than the Democratic Party, it is more disappointing when “one of your own” lets you down, like they have been doing for the past decade. The GOP is on egg shells with this group because they have lost the trust of the people due to their past actions. So what will be different this time around?

I know I am a long shot but I hope members of this group start looking closer at who has a better chance of delivering on their goals, a candidate connected to a party that continually disappoints, or a new candidate that understands the plight of small business, has spent his entire life in the private sector, lives what he preaches, and will have a Citizen Oversight Board that will include regular citizens with access to the activities I plan to pursue as Governor (see my 90 Day Plan).

The nation was looking for change in 2008 and boy have we been getting change. When the Republican Party was in control we also saw a change; another huge federal program (Medicare prescription), an effort to give amnesty to 20 million illegal’s, and a continual bloating of government spending that has put us in the critical spot we find ourselves today.

The change I propose is called constitutional government. It is an approach that supports the founding principles of freedom and individual liberty. It is a change to limited government as outlined in our founding documents. It is the belief that we are the greatest country in the world because we have nurtured individuals chasing their dreams. We believe in divine providence and that our rights are God given. We are proud to say God and country. Is this a change we should try? What is the alternative? Expecting change from the party candidates that have already failed us for the past decade?

Governor of Colorado; First 90 Days…

• I will appoint a group of citizens to be part of a Citizen Oversight Board to oversee my administration so they can communicate directly with the people. I will include members of the Tea Party movement, GOP, Democrat, Libertarian, and unaffiliated influences. These folks will be chosen by their respective organizations to insure they are represented properly. They will have access to observe all policy discussions involving my administration. The objective is to provide true transparency as I try to reform government. Building trust again with the people is priority one.

• Language created to introduce a ballot initiative for Colorado Constitutional Amendment to limit the federal government income tax rate to a maximum of 15%.

• Introduce a resolution that affirms our commitment to the U.S Constitution and specifically our recognition that it is the state’s responsibility to address all powers not enumerated and our commitment, and our full compliance to the Tenth Amendment.

• Introduce a plan to eliminate the corporate income tax for Colorado based businesses for three years. At the end of 3 years the program will be audited for effectiveness in creating jobs and new businesses in Colorado. Review federal regulations that are impacting small business and nullify the ones that are unconstitutional.

• Introduce a plan that will focus on adjusting all state pensions and benefits to the average of the private sector.

• Reduce the Governor’s executive budget by 30%

• Create a team that will audit all federal programs for the constitutionality, effectiveness, and possible process of nullification for those deemed unconstitutional.

• Introduce healthcare reform; make individual policies tax deductible, eliminate state mandates on health insurers, and eliminate income tax on doctors and hospitals that promote market based pricing to cover patients that choose not to purchase insurance.

• Review Medicaid and unfunded mandates to determine focus and reform.

• Reduce state income tax rates for veterans.

• Create group to consider K-12 education funding that promotes excellence and results.

• Create a media campaign to promote Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

I will be reaching out to the citizens of Colorado to become active in their government. It will be critical to include people in the process to build credibility and trust. Without credibility and trust we will remain divisive and paralyzed. We will never make the changes necessary to stop the out of control government unless we have the backing of our citizens. They will not be lobbyists, they will be chosen in ways that open up the process to everyone, not just the politically connected.

This is not comprehensive but a start to real change toward a truly constitutional government.

Free Colorado Survey

I filled out this survey from FreeColorado.com. It's long but it will give you an idea of where i stand. In case you missed it on their website:

SUMMARY

In a Twitter-length reply (140 characters maximum), please state why you are running for political office.
I am running to re-affirm our tenth amendment rights and keep Colorado money in Colorado supporting Colorado’s citizens. We must stop the federal spending and borrowing and the Governors are the last resort.


ECONOMIC ISSUES

* Should the federal or state government spend money in an attempt to "stimulate" the economy? If so, on what sorts of projects?
No. We need to limit the flow of money by challenging the sixteenth amendment through a constitutional amendment of the Colorado Constitution to limit federal taxation to a maximum of 15% of income. The federal “stimulus” kills jobs by undermining free market principles.

* Should tax dollars be directed toward energy projects, tourism, or any other form of business subsidies?
Tax incentives should be used at the state level to drive behavior. In Colorado we need to diversify energy development to use all sources of energy. We should not pursue energy policy based on a political “green” agenda. We need a practical approach that focuses on energy development that works in Colorado based on our resources and 300 plus days of sunshine.
We need to minimize the cost of doing business and reduce regulatory burdens to attract business. We need to stop imposing more and more barriers to business. We need to make healthcare costs deductable for individuals so small business is not burdened with the cost of healthcare. I will review and reduce mandates on health insurance policies so that these companies compete with flexible plans that fit the consumer not some state bureacrats vision of health insurance.

* (State-Level Candidates:) Should the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights be kept completely intact? If not, how should it be altered?
Absolutely! We need to hold government accountable and make the state communicate the value of programs and fight for funding if necessary. If the voters don’t want to pay for a service then we don’t provide it. I will look to separate funding so that Citizens understand what they are paying for in their taxes and determine if they believe it is worth supporting. We work for the taxpayer not special interests.

* (State-Level Candidates:) Should Amendment 23 be repealed, maintained, or modified?
Education is a key to success. We need to continue to encourage alternate education programs outside of public education. Amendment 23 represents the voters understanding of the importance of education and we need to continue to find the best ways to educate our kids. My plan to limit the amount of income taxes sent to Washington (challenging the sixteenth amendment) would help support additional funding for alternate education funding. We need to revisit the way we are currently funding education overall. We need to look at a stable funding mechanism that limits the fluctuation of the current tax program.
So I agree with the Amendment in principle but I have a problem with public education formulas for distribution, the amount of money leaving our state that could be used for education, and the inconsistency of the funding sources. We need to look at better ways and not be blinded by the current interests surrounding public education. It’s about educating our kids, not supporting union demands.

* (State-Level Candidates:) Should any particular state taxes or fees (such as the state corporate income tax or the subjects of the tax-cutting initiatives) be repealed or reduced? Should any be added or increased?
I would eliminate the state corporate income tax for employers that have their operations based in Colorado. We need to create jobs and stop punishing business for being successful. The more money business can make, the more they will put back into their business and the economy.

* Should state or federal spending (depending on which office you seek) be higher or lower than it is currently?
Federal spending needs to be tied directly to the constitutional limits of the federal governrnent. Colorado citizens and businesses should pay no more than 15% of their income maximum to the federal government. We need to reaffirm the tenth amendment and challenge the sixteenth and while we’re at it repeal the seventeenth amendment.
When people feel they have control of the process they are more likely to support the services needed. Government should not be growing at this point. We have too much already. We need to reduce or transfer funds to programs that have the people’s support. The reason ballot initiatives keep failing is that people are tired of the waste and fraud in government, especially at the federal level. We should not be sending our money to bail out GM, Chrysler, Financial institutions, while we lay off our police and firefighters. People are ticked off and are making that known where they have control; at the local level. We need to bring government closer to the people and start building trust again.

* Should the state or federal minimum wage (depending on which office you seek) be repealed, maintained, or increased?
Repealed. I am a small business man and let me tell you, you get what you pay for. Good business people know this and pay accordingly. Minimum wage kills jobs for our kids and entry level workers.

* Should college education be subsidized by tax dollars?
No. A college education should be earned and not an entitlement. We need to support students that are willing to invest in themselves with tax incentives to their parents and make loans available at fair interest rates. The current system encourages higher institutions to be less efficient because they know that government is under writing college educations. A college education is critical but that means every student needs to make the commitment of their own resources. We need to drive the prices down for college by introducing some market principles into the process. They operate in a bubble and have very inefficient business practices that is supported by the knowledge that government will keep subsidizing their institutions.
Colleges need to start looking at their courses and deciding if they keep a department of foolish studies. Too many college courses today would be better suited for some other venue and we need to increase true disciplines like mathematics, sciences, engineering, history, political science etc...
Education is a business with some unique drivers. I think we need to look at tax breaks and incentives for Colorado citizens to save for a college education. I would support helping individual students that deserve college rather than throwing tax dollars at the institutions themselves.
I expect a lot of push back here because there is an industry around colleges and they believe they should not have to “compete”. I would love to see every Colorado student graduate college, but every kid will want to go to college.

* Should antitrust law or its enforcement be changed?
No

* (Federal-level candidates:) Should Sarbanes-Oxley be repealed?
NA


SOCIAL AND CHURCH/STATE ISSUES

* What do you believe is meant by the "separation of church and state," and do you endorse it?
It is used improperly all the time. We are a Christian nation and I am proud to believe we are endowed by our creator with inalienable rights. As Governor or any politician for that matter can’t force people into any religion. The separation is simple; the state cannot infringe on people that want to worship God. The state can’t mandate a God. People need to read the founding documents and our history to reset their understanding of the first amendment. I am a man of God but I don’t endorse any particular church or religion.
You can’t have a free society without a moral foundation. God should be accepted and celebrated. If that offends people they need to get over it.

* Should religious institutions receive tax dollars for providing welfare or other faith-based services?
Definitely. Government has a horrible track record of helping people get off welfare. They actually have a self interest in perpetuating it. I trust private foundations to provide social services and I would want to insure auditing of the programs is in place but if we are looking for results to help people become productive we have to trust private organizations and churches to do the job government has shown it can’t.

* Should the teaching of creationism or Intelligent Design be subsidized by tax dollars?
I think all subjects that get kids thinking is good for students. I also believe there is no reason religion should not be discussed in the classroom. Are we afraid that knowing about God is going to ruin our kids? Insanity. No special tax dollars are needed we just need teachers that are willing to teach and get kids passionate about learning.

* Should tax-funded schools establish a period of permitted or required prayer?
Permitted prayer is fine. I believe with tax dollars tied to the student, parents can choose where to send their kids. That will eliminate the need for state bureaucrats to get involved. If the school prays everyday and parents don’t like it they move their kids. It is a local issue to be decided in school districts.

* Should government officials promote religiously oriented displays and comments on government property and at government events?
“Government official” is a loaded term. Is a teacher a “government official” just because they work for a public school? As Governor I would promote the Christian faith and Jewish religious symbols at Christmas and Passover. I would recognize the importance of these religions on our culture and history.

* Do you support gay marriage?
No but I do support individual rights. If two people want to enter into a contract with each other and share their resources that’s great. Marriage is an institution that creates the best environment to raise our kids. We need to respect that and also respect people’s individual rights to enter into contracts and call it what they wish. But not marriage.

* If you answered no to the question above, do you support domestic partnerships, civil unions, or comparable legal recognition of gay couples?
I will do nothing as Governor to promote the gay agenda. I will promote the rights of individuals protected under our constitution. The gay agenda is an agenda to promote acceptance of a lifestyle most people don’t agree or take part in. I do not have to accept their agenda but I will respect their right as individual citizens.

* Should gay couples be allowed to adopt children by the same standards as heterosexual couples?
This issue is more complicated for me. I believe and will support adoption of children by people with the right intentions for adopting children. First we want kids in traditional families, man and woman. But when any family is abusive and the choice is violence or no adoption I would support couples adopting these kids with the same vigorous background checks as heterosexual couples.

* Should government never, always, or sometimes mandate parental notification and consent before a minor may legally obtain an abortion, and, if sometimes, under what conditions?
Always notify parents.

* Should government mandate waiting periods or ultrasounds before a woman may legally obtain an abortion?
No

* Do you endorse the "personhood" measure that may appear on the 2010 ballot?
No

* Should abortion be legal in cases of fetal deformity?
See the one question on abortion for my stand on the issue
* Should abortion be legal in cases of rape or incest?
See the one question on abortion for my stand on the issue

* Should abortion be legal in cases of risk to the woman's life, as determined by the health professional selected by that woman?
See the one question on abortion for my stand on the issue

* Should elective abortion be legal?
As Governor this is my position on abortion. I will produce and support an education program that factually describes the procedure of aborting a child. A fetus is a life with a beating heart and with today’s technology we understand more clearly than ever what happens when an abortion is conducted. We see that life struggle to get away; we see the baby’s features and formation. Education will reduce abortion more than any government policy ever could. I will support laws that limit abortion at the point of the baby’s ability to survive without the support of the mother. Before that point we are in very dangerous territory to hand over authority to government. I am consistently suspicious of government in our lives and when it comes to the monitoring of our woman for the purpose of applying law, I can never hand over that decision to a government bureaucrat.
Conservatives are always talking about getting government out of our lives except in the arena of abortion. I am consistent. We will all be judged by our maker and we can only do what we can to convince people of the ramifications of abortion. I will never support the tax funding of abortion under any circumstance.
This is a divisive issue and this is what I can live with as Governor. I will not apologize or pander to either side on this. This is what I believe my maker will accept at judgment time for me. Others will have a different opinion. That is their right.

* If you believe that abortion should be legally restricted, what criminal penalties do you advocate for a woman and her doctor for obtaining or facilitating an illegal abortion?
See the one question on abortion for my stand on the issue

* Would execution ever be an appropriate penalty for obtaining or facilitating illegal abortions?
No

* Should types of birth control be legal that may prevent a fertilized egg or zygote from implanting in the uterus?
yes

* Should fertility treatments be legal that may result in the freezing or destruction of a fertilized egg or zygote?
Yes not government funded

* Should research involving the use of embryonic stem cells be legal?
Yes not government funded

* Should abortions or embryonic stem cell research be subsidized by tax dollars?
No


IMMIGRATION

* (Federal-level candidates:) Should the U.S. expand a legal guest-worker program or legal immigration, and, if so, by how much?

* (State-Level Candidates:) Should Colorado government force employers to verify with the federal government the legal status of potential employees, and, if so, what penalties should apply for failure to do so?
Yes and I would impose severe penalties for businesses that hire illegal workers.

* Should federal or state tax-funded benefits (depending on which office you seek), including K-12 education, be extended only to U.S. citizens, to legal immigrants and guest workers, or to everyone in the U.S. including illegal immigrants?
We need to get the federal government to do their job of enforcing and closing our borders and as Governor we will not be supporting any illegal immigrant with any services. By creating a severe penalty for business to hire illegal workers we will see a exodus from our state. I support legal immigration and work visas. I have no tolerance for law breaking.


PROPERTY RIGHTS

* What restrictions, if any, should be placed on the use of eminent domain?
Eminent domain must pass the test outlined in the constitution. As Governor I will never use it unless the circumstances are so clear that everyone is supporting the land taking and I am the last one standing.

* Do you endorse the use of eminent domain in the case of the Pinon Canyon military expansion? Do you support the military expansion if it does not involve eminent domain?
I support the tenth amendment and state’s rights. I stand by the ranchers and land owners of Pinyon Canyon. I could only support expansion if 100% of the land owners agree and there is a contract in place that protects Colorado from a future pullout of Army operations. That land is too precious from a state perspective regarding the economy and if the Army ever closes up and leaves the base, where are we? Overall I think the military has many options besides taking additional land.

* Should the Endangered Species Act be altered or differently enforced?
We need to have common sense here or we will end up like California, ruining human lives for a guppy. Unacceptable to me. As Governor our people will come first and we will be good stewards of our land. They can work together.

* (State-Level Candidates:) Should the smoking ban be maintained, expanded, or repealed? Should it apply to on-stage performances?
This is a freedom issue for me. I don’t smoke but I don’t think government should decide how business is run. If the business wants to ban or allow smoking I am good with allowing the market to dictate. In open air we just need to respect each other.


BILL OF RIGHTS

* Should McCain-Feingold and state campaign finance restrictions be repealed, maintained, or expanded?
Repealed. I support free speech and that includes organizations and individuals.

* Should the federal government control what radio or television stations may broadcast?
If I am Governor they will control very little here in Colorado. They should only control what is important for emergency response and military frequencies to keep us safe.

* Should the FTC's rules regarding blogger endorsements be rescinded?
I don’t like the FTC but I support people knowing where any information comes from and where the funding source is so they can make good judgments about the information.

* Should students with licenses be legally permitted to carry concealed handguns on the property of tax-subsidized colleges?
I support concealed, exposed, and the ability to carry a hand gun. Good citizens should be able to carry. At 18 I believe we all have adult rights and why limit that at college. I support the constitution of the United States and the second amendment is no exception.

* Should additional restrictions be added (or repealed) on gun ownership? Please specify.
No additional restrictions. I believe the more people that have guns in their homes the greater security we have.

* Do you believe that desecration of the U.S. flag should be outlawed by Constitutional amendment?
I hate the idea of our flag being desecrated because it represents the greatness of our country and veterans that have died for it. I believe the people that have died for our flag would be disgusted but would support the freedom to do so. So no I would not support an amendment although it would feel good to do so.

* Do you believe that pornography or obscene materials involving consenting adults should be legally restricted?
I think pornography is a cancer and needs to be eliminated. It undermines our woman and children and I would support throwing the bums in jail that produce it. The problem is that there are people that have come to accept this degradation of society and is not high on the minds of voters.


OTHER

* Should state or federal laws (depending on which office you seek) pertaining to marijuana be altered, and, if so, how?
I believe marijuana leads to more addictive drugs and undermines people’s motivation in life. I am not convinced it has medical purposes but if it does it should be in pharmacy outlets and not in separate places where we see criminals targeting them to steal the drug.

* (State-Level Candidates:) Should rules pertaining to petitioners be altered, and, if so, how?
I love that citizens can petition their government. I believe in our representative republic but I think people generally get the issues right when the information is clear.

* If there is any important issue that you believe we have missed, please state what it is and state your position on it.
I just want to emphasize that I will ask the voters of Colorado to amend our state constitution to limit the amount of money our federal government can take from our income. It starts there. When we reduce the scope of the federal government we can focus on the things that are most important here in Colorado like a job creation environment, individual healthcare reform, and a focus on education.
We must reaffirm our tenth amendment rights, challenge the sixteenth amendment, and repeal the seventeenth amendment. It’s that simple...