Radio, Oct. 2: Follow the money

BULLETIN FROM JOHN ANDREWSChairman, Backbone America Colorado Fellow, Claremont Institute ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join us on radio every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver To listen online from anywhere, click http://www.710knus.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Campaign for TABOR with Dick Armey and me on Oct. 4. See below or click here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Noboby can spend your money better than you can." That was the bottom line of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's case for limiting the growth of government, before an overflow crowd of conservative think tank leaders from 30 states in Charleston on Thursday.

"Our state needs a Colorado-style TABOR amendment," Sanford told the approving audience, to counter the power of well-organized interests that feed off tax dollars at the expense of unorganized taxpayers who foot the bill.

But after the banquet I talked with Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute, who is under intense pressure from lawyers for Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, invoking the campaign finance laws to derail Caldara's defense of TABOR in the Referendum C & D vote coming up soon.

What happened to the old Bill Owens, taxpayer champion? -- his onetime admirers from other states kept asking Jon and me. Neither of us had a good answer. But let me tell you, that room was full of well-wishers to the defeat of his C & D tax increase when Coloradans begin voting in a couple of weeks.

"Follow the money" will be one of our themes this Sunday on "Backbone Radio with John Andrews." Campaign finance laws are being used, or misused, by big-government forces hoping to take down not only Jon Caldara and Marc Holtzman in Colorado, but also Tom DeLay in Washington. Billions from the taxpayer are being promised to voters in the Rockies, as well as to victims on the Gulf Coast. What's it all mean?

** Jon Caldara will join me on the show for a report on the C &D battle. So will Doug Bruce, originator of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

** Former legislative candidate Kent Lambert, who just won a big fine in court against Democrats for campaign finance violations in his 2004 race, will also check in.

** Major (and Iowa State Senator) Chuck Larson will report on Operation Iraqi Hope... http://www.unitedforourtroops.com/... as our "Why Not Victory" effort continues in Backbone.

** Understanding the move to ban God from American public life... whether in the Pledge, the classroom, the Commandments... will be my topic with Denver Seminary Prof. Doug Groothuis, who's been on the show before.

710 KNUS is the broadcast in Denver and across much of Colorado. http://www.710knus.com/ is the online streaming website. 303-696-1971 is the phone number for your calls on the air. Backboneradio@aol.com is the email for all your questions and comments.

Liven up your Sunday evening with some backbone -- the most principled, most patriotic, most faith-based, most Colorado-proud conversation on the weekend radio dial.

We're the talk show that believes in America without apologies, that puts principle into politics, that's quietly recruiting citizen soldiers to help restore this Republic. Want to be one?

BACKBONE RADIO INVITES YOU TO LISTEN AND PARTICIPATE.

When: October 2 and every Sunday, 5-8pm MDT / 7 Eastern / 4 Pacific Where: 710-KNUS in Denver Listen on the web: http://www.710knus.com/ Studio line: 303-696-1971 Direct email: backboneradio@aol.com

Yours for self-government, JOHN ANDREWS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LUNCH WITH ARMEY & ANDREWS, also Treasurer Mark Hillman and Senator Shawn Mitchell, is on tap Tuesday, Oct. 4, 12 noon at Doug Kershaw's Bayou House in Greeley.

Featured speaker will be former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, campaigning across the state again that day to keep taxes down and TABOR strong as the guest of Colorado FreedomWorks.

You're invited to join me and Dick Armey for lunch down on the (Platte River) bayou, no charge, donations welcome to "No on Ref C."

Or have BBQ with Armey at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs at 7pm Tuesday. RSVP via this site or by calling 303-887-1883. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAXPAYER'S TOOL KIT is a good way to describe the online resources you can use to fight the nearly $6 billion in higher taxes and deeper debt called for in Referendum C & D. Sites to check out include...Defeatc.com... Taxincrease.org... Savetabor.com... Noonrefc.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNT US OUT was the message from 60 of 64 Republican county chairmen across Colorado when Backbone America invited them to join the few prominent GOP figures endorsing Referendum C & D. Answering our survey, only four county chairs said voters should pass the tax hike. The rest were negative (20) or neutral (40). Why board a sinking ship? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOW BLOGGING FOR BACKBONE are Owens alumnus Sean Duffy, former CU Republican activist Brad Jones, Claremont Lincoln Fellow Krista Kafer, theology wonk Jeremy Schupbach, and several other suspicious characters. Plus of course Dr. Matt, Skinny Beth, Cate Corry's mom, and me. Check in with us daily, right here at BackboneAmerica.net.

i