Backbone Radio

Who owns the future?

Slated on Backbone Radio, March 30 Listen every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver.. 1460 KZNT, Colorado Springs... and streaming live at 710knus.com.

It's said that elections turn on voters' perception of which candidate and party owns the future, which message convinces us of a better tomorrow. In 2008, a rocky economy and an unpopular war would appear to favor the out party, the Democrats. Yet the message is only as good as the messenger, and right now both Barack and Hillary seem to be prisoners of their distasteful past. By contrast McCain, the old, crusty, uneloquent white guy, looks to an American future of strength, honor, opportunity, and common sense -- nothing flashy, but solidly mainstream and trustworthy compared to the Dems. Advantage GOP.

Big Mac wasn't my first choice for President, as you probably know. But on the test that matters most --backbone -- fidelity to what America means and character when it counts, he is light-years ahead of Slick Willie's wife or Rev. Wright's parishioner. Deciding between them doesn't require a second thought. Even so, November is still 200 days off: an eternity in politics.

We'll talk about who owns the future, this Sunday on Backbone Radio, with five of the most interesting guests I've had in a long time. I hope you will listen in and call in. The reason for all of this is you.

** Bob Schaffer joins me for a look ahead to his race for US Senate... and Prof. Bill Watson of CCU for a look back at why Western civilization matters.

** Plus Jonah Goldberg talking about his book "Liberal Fascism".... Ronald Kessler about his book "Terror Watch"... and the cheeky cartoonist liberals can't abide, Bruce Tinsley, creator of "Mallard Fillmore."

Why did the men of 1776 take as their emblem the eagle and not the hornet, the rattler and not the scorpion? Since either would have done for warning off enemies, I like to think they chose vertebrates, symbols with spine. Only as we keep our spine will our future hold hope. Are you in?

Yours for self-government, JOHN ANDREWS

Truth makes free

Slated on Backbone Radio, March 23 Listen every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver.. 1460 KZNT, Colorado Springs... and streaming live at 710knus.com.

This weekend we commemorate the greatest confrontation in history between freedom and oppression. The man who said, "If you continue in my word... you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free," was put to death by the political and religious authorities for no crime greater than saying such things. For a few days it appeared their word, not his, was the last word. But Christians believe Jesus reversed all that with his resurrection, laying the only true cornerstone for human liberty in time or eternity. Most of America's founders shared that belief, which remains near the center of our American identity today.

Backbone Radio is a political forum, not a religious show, so this Sunday we'll not be saying much more about Easter than what you've just read. Yet the world-changing news of "Christ is risen" will echo as we look at current headlines from the five-year Iraq war to Obama's raging pastor to the Colorado legislature. We hope you will join us if the day's plans permit.

I'll also be talking with Adam Schrager of 9News about his book on the courage of Gov. Ralph Carr... with Rev. Rudy Rasmus of Chicago about the new data on Americans' religious rootlessness... and with Rich Martinez of Young Americans Bank about the deficit of economic literacy in our schools.

Plus we'll air again my one-hour special from the State Capitol, featuring legislative leaders and conservative activists, that was heard Thursday night on 710 KNUS. Don't miss our Colorado Call to Action, March edition.

When you think about it, there's little difference between the Roman governor in AD 33 who shrugged about what truth is, and the intellectuals today who deny self-evident truths and God-given rights. Both would say freedom is their gift to grant or withhold, not inborn to each of us. We , however, beg to differ -- and we will not be silenced.

Yours for truth and freedom, JOHN ANDREWS

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