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 With the current debt at $15,508,094,699,053 and growing every second (this figure is out of date the second you type it) earmarks are a big deal.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 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.

A Focused Electorate

The pundits keep suggesting that the GOP Presidential field is weak due to the lack of any candidate’s ability to break away from the pack. Well I see it another way. I believe the fact that voters are “shopping” for the “perfect” candidate shows a determined interest in the ousting of the current President. I also believe “low turnout” in the primaries is actually the result of people that know that whoever is nominated by the GOP will be their choice because for them it is anybody but Obama.

To suggest the GOP and Tea Party voters are not energized is to suggest these people that reversed the course of Obama in 2012 have somehow given up? Are you kidding? This silent majority is chomping on the bit to pull a lever, punch a hole, or fill in a circle on Election Day to oust Obama. I predict voter turnout on the conservative side of the leger will be the largest in history. There is a pent up frustration and longing for change that will be realized if the conservative voter has the opportunity to do so.

If you compare this “shopping” for a candidate with your personal shopping habits it is much the same in comparison to the way you shop when you are buying a diamond engagement ring and something for the evening meal. The attention and discrimination you use to buy the perfect diamond shows a much more important purchase than choosing pizza or hamburger. This election has the voters shopping for a diamond ring. It is an extremely important “purchase.” This election is not a casual meal of pizza or hamburger. A choice for dinner that will have little impact on our life.

So as the pundits try to sort out what is happening in the electorate it is painfully obvious to us here in the electorate. We are going to defeat Obama any which way because this is the most important election in our lifetime. We are “buying” the diamond ring in the GOP primary. But in the end it will be a massive turnout for anybody but Obama.

The Tea Party…

The Tea Party movement is under assault and there is a concerted effort to define them as radical outsiders and hell bent on destroying the federal government. The attacks are coming from politicians that believe they know best about the things we need, and will take all the resource necessary to deliver on their grand promises. The Tea Party disagrees.


The founders of this nation were patriots that at the time were being defined in a similar fashion by the British establishment as Washington today is defining the Tea Party. It is amazing how history repeats itself when people fail to study their history. The Tea Party is simply asking the federal government to act within the constitution and live within the means we the people have set for them. There is no terrorism or radicalism in that philosophy. It is a simple request and it will be adhered to one way or the other. The government serves at the will of the people. The Tea Party represents the people.

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

The Tea Party is simply returning to the principles we were founded on and if we as a nation want to change those principles the constitution provides a mechanism to do so through the amendment process. The people that are intent on defining the Tea Party as terrorists are truly the radical element and need to be ejected from the leadership of our country. They know they are about to be sent home in 2012 so they have decided the only way they can survive is to undermine the credibility of the Tea Party. It will not work.

The Tea Party is not easily demonized because there is no one face that represents it. The faces are diverse and when you see a picture of a Tea Party gathering it is not easy to portray it as radical. The faces are young, old, black, white, brown, male and female. They are the faces of a nation that is realizing its history once again and asking simply to return to the principles that have made us a great nation; faith in God and the individual. We rejected royalty once and we are doing it again. It is not terrorism it is patriotism.

The Tea Party has the best interest of our citizens at heart. They do not represent corporations or special interests. They want a limited government and a balanced budget. They simply want their freedom and God given rights back…

Better Than Expected But Not Enough…

John Boehner did better than I expected but I am very concerned about the 2012 “budget.” Here’s why I am giving the GOP some slack. If the Democrats would have produced a budget in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the opportunity to cut would not have been an option. So from the democrat’s inability to pass a budget, the republicans were able to get a few incidental cuts that normally would not have been the case.


The republicans campaigned on larger cuts but in the end it what they settled on could have been worse. I have to disclose that I am from the school that wants to see a budget produced that balances in five years not ten. It can be done but from the whining we have seen over these meager reductions highlights how deceitful the democrats truly are. I addition, the fact that democrats can point to so many programs the federal government provides to so many people only makes this fight all the more important.

Too many people are getting some portion of their income from some sort of federal subsidy. That is dangerous and an undermining of our founding principles. The next budget must eliminate and reduce every federal program. No exceptions that includes the military. I am a conservative that supports the military but the waste is just as rampant in the DOD as anywhere else in the federal government.

Paul Ryan is being touted as this great conservative thinker but he has voted for TARP and other programs that make me uncomfortable and we can do better than his first draft.

The Tea Party is not extreme and everyone that considers themselves a patriot must get back in the game and not fall prey to the demonizing the democrats have put on display. They are using the Tea Party as a weapon to stop cuts and we must be proud to stand for constitutional government. Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Obama, and the main stream media will lie with no conscience about this upcoming battle and we must expose them and hold tight to our principles. It is our principles that are mainstream and are the reason for America’s success, not theirs.

Caps and reforms of entitlements, transition from government retirement programs to the private sector model, the end of duplicative programs, an end to Afghanistan and Libyan theatres, a continued reduction of troops in Iraq, end of Obama care, and a balanced budget amendment all need to be on the table.

And finally, we should not agree to a debt Ceiling adjustment unless a balanced budget and budget amendment are part of the deal. This is a war for our future. We need to fight it like one and if these are not the representatives willing to do it then we will fight to change it in 2012.

GOP Failure; Again…

The Grand Old Party is anything but grand. The freshman republicans that were sent to congress with a mandate to cut, cut, and cut the budget until it bled are being stifled by the Republican Party. Hugh Hewitt would say it is a leadership failure, I say it is a party failure. You see, party politics is about power. The power to control the process and purse of government where the purse is what is used to pay the supporters and voters for votes. Principle be damned.


In some ways the leadership is a problem but all too often party trumps principle. The GOP leadership has failed to deliver in the short term because they are strategizing to win a majority in both houses and the presidency in 2012. That strategy is a party first strategy. I am not sure the GOP will ever be able to act on principle. What is bound to happen is a rejection of the GOP because even though the party leaders think it is all about 2012, the voters that put them there are all about today.

We are at war with an ideology that is bankrupting this nation both financially and morally. The GOP has had two opportunities to slash the budget and they have failed. The debt accrues at a pace ten times the speed and amount the GOP is proposing to cut. The 54 GOP representatives that voted against these meager measures have shown principle but in the end they will be blamed for the mess the longer it takes to make the necessary cuts. There is no time to waste with the amount of waste that needs to be slashed at the federal level.

The total percentage of cuts is about 1% of the federal budget and is only focusing on the discretionary spending. If the GOP can’t even muster the courage to cut programs like NPR and Planned Parenthood and the $100 billion hidden in the bureaucracy of Obamacare, we are in for trouble.

I can’t even explain my anger at the GOP that considers we the people lacking in understanding the art of governing but I beg to differ. We the people understand what the ramifications of over spending have done to this country. We are living it and the folks in the beltway are living in some parallel universe.

They have a very short leash to do the right thing. Principled people will again in 2012 send conservatives to DC but none of this current leadership group will be among them. That I guarantee unless there is an immediate come to Jesus about the needs for deep spending cuts…

Tea Party; the New Party…

I don’t understand how any politician can look at the federal and a majority of state budgets and not see an impending disaster without swift and practical cuts in expenditures. I can’t believe that these people are this stupid to think that the course we are on is sustainable. There must be some sense of invincibility which is delusional. The United States can go into an economic tail spin destroying our current wealth and future American Dreams for generations of Americans. That is the reality of our circumstances and it is plain to see.


The federal workforce, programs, and entitlements must be trimmed. A recent GOA study on federal duplication reported finding hundreds of federal programs charged with the same mission, all housing their own bureaucracies with a total waste equaling hundreds of billions of tax dollars in the next few years. It is what we instinctively know about government; it is a monopoly that breeds inefficiency. Like the post office, department of motor vehicles, Amtrak, and the IRS, Americans know these organizations flush money down the toilet of inefficiency every year. I believe this report is only the tip of the ice berg.

So why are politicians unwilling to address this inefficiency to balance the budget? It seems these would be easy targets unlike Social Security. The bottom line is every program we eliminate is one less bargaining chip they have to get elected. The bottom line is that politics has been taken over by the most corrupt in our society. Self interested people that have no skills relevant for the private sector and a disposition that allows them to be useless to society and get paid handsomely for it. Corruption, corruption, corruption, is what stands in the way of a balanced budget. Both the Republicans and Democrats are showing an unwillingness to do what every adult knows must be done; be damned the re-election process. It is time to send Americans to congress not politicians. The Tea Party is going to have to replace every Republican or start their own party once and for all.

If there was truly a will, there is a way to balance the budget within five years. I know state and federal workers are crying about how they have become the target but the salary and benefit packages they garner from our tax dollars have become the envy of the private sector. And unlike the private sector their salary increases are not based on their improvement of services but rather union thuggery and political corruption. The fact is that a modest change in short term compensation and a long term cap on pay, benefits, and pensions is a reality whose time has come. A fair wage is one thing, but the public sector is long overdue for a correction. They have the option to join us in the private sector if they choose, but we can’t afford the current cost of the public sector anymore.

Balancing the budget is not a hard mathematical task; it is simply an exercise of political will. Caps on entitlements, elimination of the duplicative departments, closing a number of useless and unconstitutional agencies will quickly move us to a balanced budget. A constitutional amendment needs to be passed to secure the future. Many argue you will hurt the economy by adding to the unemployment rolls with laid off public sector employees. I believe it will be a very short term impact because once the private sector is unleashed by this fiscal discipline the job creators will be in full hiring mode. Public sector employees will see what the reality is in the wage, benefit, and pension arena of the private sector and understand why we are wild about limiting government and bureaucracy.

The Tea Party is about to abandon the Republicans in droves (my opinion) so the next step is to consider a strategy to take back control from the two parties. This is an important step and needs to be considered carefully but it is necessary. The Republicans are going to force our hand and if we are to survive as a Republic we need to be ready…

Debt Ceiling…

Does anyone really believe that the “concessions” Speaker Boehner is talking about will be realized? What confidence should we have with the republican leadership that has shown that they lack the fortitude to manage a budget by their past actions? They were very happy garnering the Tea Party vote to get another chance at the helm but the Tea Party has little patience for more budget shenanigans.


We just added a Trillion dollars to the budget deficit in the last year. We should cut a Trillion dollars this year. I agree we need to pay our bills but there are bills that if reduced now would make paying the debt service doable.

I am having a hard time understanding how we add a Trillion in debt but the answer is to cut a $100 billion? I am no mathematician but we added a thousand billion and we are cutting 100 billion and we are good? Something is not adding up on my calculator.

The federal “budget” is $3.5 trillion give or take a billion. First, a budget in the private sector usually bases its spending and investment on the revenue coming in the door. But the federal government doesn’t really care that taking in $2.5 trillion and spending $3.5 trillion doesn’t add up. They have our credit card to borrow the deficit so balance be damned. The math is easy so why can’t we just balance the budget?

The biggest problem is that about 60% of the budget is redistribution of wealth. That means that the federal government is taking dollars from some of us and giving it to others through Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, both personal and corporate, Education, Social Security (even though some have paid in - the way it is run is wealth transfer), and a million little programs that would take a thousand pages to list. What does it all mean? That 60% of the budget battle will pit one group against another.

Even if we balanced the budget in 2011, the debt that has been created by the federal government (yes under both republicans and democrats) has to be paid with the promised interest. But raising the debt ceiling is yet another temporary measure. It puts off a few more years the inevitable fact that we are spending too much on federal largesse.

The debt ceiling is being used as another tool by politicians unwilling to make the hard decisions they need to make. If the politicians offered up a balanced budget by making the necessary cuts, the debt ceiling would no longer be the argument, we would be able to pay the debt. The debt has an exponential effect and we need to get the deficit to 0 before we can dent our debt obligation.

The debt ceiling offers the politicians another escape hatch. It is time to face this crisis head on. Our children deserve a real solution and a balanced budget. We created this mess; we need to fix it…

First Step is Read the Constitution’s; Tenth Amendment…

South Carolina Governor elect Nikki Haley had a few challenging questions for the President during her two day visit to the White House.

It was extremely discouraging in my opinion as I read the quotes attributed to her; “In an exchange recounted by Haley and confirmed by White House aides, Obama rejected Haley's request to repeal the health care bill - but said he'd consider letting states opt out of its mandates if they ran exchange programs, banned insurance firms from denying coverage of pre-existing conditions and enabled people to pool together for better rates.”

"I asked him if the state of South Carolina gave solutions, so we're not just saying no, would he allow us to opt out or allow any other state to opt out should they choose," Haley said. "He said that he would consider an opt-out provision if it contained three clauses."

News for both the president and governor elect; read the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution.
“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”

And while you’re at it, find the enumeration that gives the Federal government the authority to force Americans to carry health insurance.

There is no need to ask the President to “allow” South Carolina to opt out of healthcare. Has he become King Obama? What is this? I had higher hopes for our new Tea Party candidates.
The Governor elect goes on to say:

"I think right now what's best for me is to go back to South Carolina, look at all three of these issues and then make a decision," Haley said. "I want to start to research on what it would take in order for us to do something to meet his provisions.”

"The goal is to make sure that we are giving choices to the people of our states and not mandating them."

Here is my advice; the first step in your research Governor is to read the Constitution and take particular notice of the Tenth Amendment.

My God what has happened to our country…

Slavery? Really?

The president has been invoking references to slavery to get his “base” ginned up for the November election. I find it extremely insulting to the people that actually lived in slavery to compare a grass roots political movement, grounded in financial prudence and limited government (Tea Party) to the struggles of slavery. He is minimizing the reality of slavery by comparing the plight of the today’s “poor”, youth, and unemployed. Is he suggesting that the people that are about to clean his clock at the polls are trying to return the country to slavery? I don’t get it? It is more like the people the president is fear mongering against are the people freeing people from the bondage of government programs. The true source of today’s “slavery”.

If the president was out there fighting against government programs that make people dependent, as being akin to being a slave to the system, I might cut him some slack. But to look at the kids he is talking to on University campuses across the country, even that would be a stretch. He is playing off the ignorance of today’s youth of their very own American History. Most kids on campuses today couldn’t even tell you what year slavery ended. This is an attempt to raise ignorant emotional responses. Ignorance is bliss for the democratic agenda. To be a conservative you have to really think about issues and get past the emotional argument to find the facts. And the facts are clear; this president’s agenda is destroying the American Dream for the youth, Black Americans, and us.

This is a desperate attempt to get his base to come to the polls in November. Unless he is giving away tee shirts and lollipops his base will be busy doing more important things like posting the latest meal they ate on Facebook…

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…

The Methodical Destruction of the United States and Could Guam Tip Over?

I couldn’t help but make a comment on this video that highlights the level of intelligence that is in charge of our country. Who votes for people like this? Watch congressman Hank Johnson from Georgia express his true concern to the Admiral about Guam tipping over due to an influx of additional troops, and the Admirals wonderful ability not to laugh and pile on the foolishness of this congressman. I didn’t realize Guam was a “floating” island. This is truly sad.

This is the real concern:

We have been taken over by people that hate America, our constitution, and freedom. The representatives in charge of the federal government no longer consider the constitution the law of the land. They are acting as if what we the people say does not matter. They are interrogating private firms for making a profit. They are forcing people to pay for the immorality of others. They are trying to make illegal immigrants legitimate citizens even when a large percentage of our violent criminals are here illegally. We have federal agencies to count the calories in our food, stealing our freedom to drive a car by destroying our energy economy, and taking state land at will. They have destroyed our children’s future by destroying the education system, borrowing an amount of money that may never get repaid, and undermining the principle of hard work under the guise of fairness.

Many stand by watching, discussing, and letting it happen. Our founders would be mortified. Individuals in this country that are outraged feel they have nowhere to turn. They know the entire political class is corrupt and when constitutionalists like me say the answer lies in the constitution, many people don’t know what that means. What has happened to “we the people?” Has it just been a slogan for all these years?

I listen to commentators say that America is not a nation that uses civil disobedience and I say; remember our history. We were founded through civil disobedience. When our founders were faced with the loss of freedom and liberty from an over reaching central government, what did they do? Sit around and wait for the “Republicans” to save them? Or did they stand up to the oppressors as individuals? There were many acts of civil disobedience before the revolution. The revolution was the culmination of many thwarted attempts to stop a central government’s tyrannical tendency through civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is not violence. Civil disobedience is refusing to accept government mandates, dictates, and unlawful uses of the government apparatus. The problem is when the government doesn’t listen to the people it serves; not when the people speak out against the government.

We have been in a pot of boiling water and we are about to be cooked. The pot of water has been heating up since the FDR administration. Social Security, welfare, Medicaid, Medicare, public schools, the assault on Christianity, free speech, free markets, capitalism, profit, the rich, life, our flag. We have been forced to accept, hyphenated America, holiday celebrations, lower standards of living, and now bailouts, takeovers, and oppression. And what we hear in the media is a concern about who the people are in the Tea Party movement. I have a question for the media to focus on; who is running our government? The Tea Party movement is America. Tea Party people stand as a barrier against tyranny.

We the concerned people of America are being targeted as radicals if we disagree with this administration. We are being marginalized when we defer to our constitution. We are being laughed at for raising red flags about a government headed toward tyranny. We are being categorized as radicals so that in the final assault on our freedom we will be targeted as the ones out of touch with American values. These people in charge plan to put a stake in the heart of individual freedom and our constitution.

Do I seem down today? You bet. But this is America and when I think about the efforts of our founders, and in particular George Washington, who lost so many battles but won the war under unimaginable circumstances, I smile and have faith there is hope and time to change this country's fate. I believe the people in the Tea Party, and all of the other Liberty groups are the answer, and must not back down in the face of these assaults. We must battle on even when we seem overwhelmed.

My prayer is that once again God blesses us with the courage and fortitude to stand up even when we are being marginalized. We remain true to the faith that has built the greatest nation in the world. And that we have the will to take back our country in November 2010 by supporting individual patriots in the honor of our civilly disobedient founders…

McInnis Vs Hickenlooper; where is Dan Maes?

Are the 9/12 and Tea Party movement going to take this as a done deal?

Politico has chosen your two candidates Colorado. It’s funny how politics work. For those of you that are fed up with the process, don’t fret, this is the MO of the big media players. I don’t know if it is going to work again in this election cycle but what I do know is they will ignore you too. I am used to it as a candidate, but as an activist in one of these liberty based grass roots organizations, doesn’t it tick you off? To be discarded; like trash on the side of the road.

I am the unaffiliated candidate petitioning onto the ballot so I expect to be ignored, but if I am Dan Maes, I’m steaming about this outright disregard for the last year spent on the campaign trail. I am sure he will respond.

What is it going to take to get these political pundits to wake up? The voters need to take this forgone conclusion they are trying to create and flush it down the toilet. Don’t let these pundits cast the race on their terms. This process will continue for the next eight months and you should be telling these pundits who you want to be your choices for Governor of Colorado. It may end up being the two in this current poll, but it should be your choice, not theirs.

The 9/12 and Tea Party movements developed because of the arrogance and elitist attitude of our political class, and lack of response from our elected officials. These pundits can’t help themselves, but you can. Nothing ticks off an elitist than someone like me or you getting in their way. I say let’s tick them off.

We have a long way to go in this race and Dan Maes is still in the race for the Republican nod, and I hope to be on the general ballot with your help. Let’s show the political power players who really has the power…

Tea Party, Grassroots, and Party Politics…

The Republican Party is aggressively courting the members of the Tea Party groups, 9/12 members and the many liberty based groups that have grown in number due to their frustration with the Republican Party and politicians in general. Many of the members in these groups are frustrated republicans that want their party back. Back to the principles many believed were the platform they signed on to support. Republicans are not the only people that are frustrated, there are many people that are new to the process and they want the current government intrusion into their lives stopped. These people are very worried about their children’s future, as well as their own. They represent a significant part of these grass roots efforts.

There is no general statement you can make about any of these group members because if you dig into the reasons people have joined there is a diverse pool of ideas and priorities. The common threads I have heard are; fiscal responsibility, founding principles, which is another way of saying constitutional government, and common sense. There seems to be little sense at all in government, never mind common sense. But these groups know that the system is fundamentally broken.

My campaign is about getting back to our founding principles and I am no different than many of the people that have chosen to get involved in all of these groups; I have just chosen to go toe to toe with the politicians promising another round of, well, promises. I would never question any of the wonderful people getting involved in these groups to show “credentials” for becoming politically active. So why would people question ordinary citizens like myself about why I “qualify” or what “experience” I have to be Governor? Has government been so efficient that we can’t try someone who doesn’t spend his day distributing taxpayer money, instead spends his day creating and nurturing business? Are we going to continue to support “experienced” politicians that are responsible for this mess?

There are a couple of qualifications that most elected offices require; proper age, and citizen status. I exceed the age by many years and I am a citizen. What I am discovering and what is really apparent is that the questions come mostly from Republican Party members focused on one thing, winning back “their” power. They have this notion that there is a proper protocol to become a candidate and if you don’t start at the bottom and work your way through their ranks, you are not worthy. I can understand their determination to win back power, but they need to understand they have had power before and people are upset with the way they utilized it. I was in the Republican Party for over 15 years and I believe that the reform has to come from the hard lessons an election can teach entrenched politicians. If we elect a Republican we must do it not because of the party but because of the candidate.

I believe it will be important to beat the Democrats this year, not because the candidate is a democrat, but because democrats mostly believe the government is the answer, and I also don’t believe the Republicans should be handed a victory because they are not democrats. The Tea Party, 9/12, and liberty groups have really stirred the political “pot” this year by taking away control of the election process from the two parties. Maybe it is time to send a strong message that we are not only going to take away the process; we will choose the candidate based on ideas and not on the letter next to their name…

Don’t Get Fooled Again!

I was listening to Bill Bennett’s radio show this morning with guest host, former Republican Senator from PA Rick Santorum; described why he believed term limits was bad with a caller. He actually said term limits of 12 or 20 years were fine, but really, why have them at that point. His logic was that if you have term limits the only people that will know what is going on, will be the staff of the politicians not the politicians. Here is the problem with that logic; government should not be so involved with our lives that politicians can’t figure out what is going on within a four, eight, or 12 year time frame.

I wish every American paid attention to politics, then there would be no need for term limits but unfortunately that is not the case. I am not going to make an argument here for or against but the fundamental problem with the two parties is they want to keep power. It is not about limited government, it is about what new and expanded government program can be delivered by each party. Republicans have their pet supporters and democrats have another set of supporters. Both parties foster special interest politics over constitutional government.

The Republican Party can’t be trusted. There are some republican candidates that have conservative principles but neither party even talk about constitutional government. Constitutional government is not “sexy” but it is the law.

So as you review your choices in 2010, remember the line from that great song by the rock group the “Who”; don’t get fooled again! I guarantee that if you simply vote republican you will be disappointed. And when you are considering the Governor races around the country, support the candidates that are talking about the Tenth Amendment and stopping the federal government at the state level.

If you do that, term limits will be less important at the federal level and you will not be fooled again. The parties have lost sight of the founding principles of our government. A party that has lost their principles can’t be trusted…

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?

Napolitano Needs to Go; Now…

Janet Napolitano is not qualified to protect this nation. Any person heading up an agency that is charged with protecting this nation cannot have such a fundamental lack of understanding and respect for our greatest protector of freedom, the military. These are the greatest assets (our veterans and soldiers) we have as Americans when it comes to our culture and way of life.

These men and women are volunteers that have a deep love for this nation. These are not draftees that are disgruntled Seattle youth forced into service for their nation. If we had a bunch of left leaning individuals forced into the military there would be some merit to the report. But that is not the case and she should step down.

This report of “Right Wing” groups was created by a group with a political agenda; to destroy liberty in America. Each and every American that went to a tea party yesterday demonstrated the great traditions of this nation. They are causing fear in this administration because they are now realizing how vulnerable they are to the people’s will. These “right wing radicals” that attended tea parties across the nation are groups of patriotic Americans that love our military, our soldiers, the constitution, free speech, the right to assemble, and most important they understand that the people in government work for us. This new administration hates all of that.

This is just one of a series of actions this administration is taking to change what they see as a threat to their agenda. The left is always talking about free speech and discourse but only if you agree. They have permeated our college campuses teaching kids about socialist utopias that will never work while neglecting to teach analytical thinking through constructive debate or our constitution. The left and these products of the left are incapable of defending their arguments because their arguments are flawed so they resort to name calling, disruption, and violence. But unfortunately they are now in seats of power to undermine our way of life.

People like Napolitano have no place being in charge of the security of our nation. She can insult our military at the same time turning her back on Islamic Terrorism which is the real threat to this nation. We are vulnerable to attack with this person in charge of security. She must go…

Profile of a Terrorist; you!

The Department of Homeland Security under Janet Napolitano has released a new profile for law enforcement to keep watch on and it’s YOU! Yes you. If you believe the federal government has gotten too big, or that states rights are an important aspect of our federalist form of government, or have been to Iraq or Afghanistan to fight for our country in the military, are concerned about the economic meltdown of our country, Homeland Security under the direction of the Obama administration is watching YOU!

So now if you disagree with this administration you are on the watch list of our government. Excuse me but we the people are the government and we need to get rid of this bunch (at the risk of being put on the watch list I say) and take back OUR government. These people have already trampled our constitution, disregard our freedom, and loath our military. Who are these people?

Well here’s an idea; let’s put them on our watch list and document every unconstitutional move they make and then prosecute them according to the laws of our constitution. These people are dangerous because we are on the brink of a government about to wrestle the power right out from under each and every individual citizen of the United States.

Today is Tea Party day and I am attending the one in Colorado Springs. You need to find the one in your area and get there. Yes you may be put on their watch list but the reality is if we are watching them and holding them accountable we can neutralize their impact. There are so many more of us than them. Go to a Tea Party and you will see; we are not alone, we hold the power, and we will get our country back from this group of anti American bureaucrats…