Backbone Radio

Little do they know

Slated on Backbone Radio, Aug. 10 Listen every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver... 1460 KZNT, Colorado Springs... and streaming live at 710knus.com.

Did you hear the one about Colorado's "popular governor" being in line for a summons as Obama's running mate on the Democratic ticket? That became one of the year's most short-lived news stories after Bill Ritter, he of the 41% approval rating, blushed and said thanks anyway. Colorado as we know it up close and personal isn't quite the same as Colorado seen from afar, and that's why I think some political surprises are in store for Dems bringing their convention here with hopes of a big sweep in the state this fall. Little do they know how resilient Coloradans' conservative beliefs are.

McCain for President, Schaffer for Senate, yes to a list of liberty-minded ballot issues, and no-way to those from the left, are not a cinch with voters in November, but I sense a tide in their favor. We'll talk about the reasons when I return to Backbone Radio this Sunday after a couple of weeks off. Hope you'll join us.

** We'll survey the political landscape with state Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, and former Education Commissioner Bill Moloney.

** Jeff Crank and Bentley Rayburn, trying again to keep Doug Lamborn out of Congress in CD5, will make their case, after Lamborn makes his.

** And speaking up from the authors' corner will be Robert Schlesinger, who wrote "White House Ghosts" (yours truly once was one), and Peter Schweizer, who wrote "Makers and Takers," a fresh new look at right and left.

Schweizer's book is succinctly subtitled: "Why conservatives work harder, feel happier, have closer families, take fewer drugs, give more generously, value honesty more, are less materialistic and envious, whine less... and even hug their children more than liberals."

I'm not sure about the huggy part, we'll have to ask him, but the answer to the rest of it is obvious, don't you think? Conservatives have more backbone. See you Sunday.

Yours for less whining, JOHN ANDREWS

Who owns hope?

Slated on Backbone Radio, July 27 Listen every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver... 1460 KZNT, Colorado Springs... and streaming live at 710knus.com.

In America these days, who owns hope? Barack Obama the apostle of it and Bill Clinton the native of it, dreamers of the left? Not on your life. Hope in America and America the hope of the world belong to those who have always cherished them: the patriots of liberty, the heirs of Lincoln and Washington. Since I can't talk with you on the radio this weekend -- taking a little time off -- let me invite you instead to read "American Hope 2050," my newly published manifesto on a conservative vision for the 21st century. It's posted just above under Andrews in Print.

** Sunday, July 27, on Backbone Radio, tune in for my pals Matt Dunn and Krista Kafer. Among many other topics they'll be talking about Gov. Bill Ritter's sagging poll numbers. But Krista's swoon of last week (over Jon Caldara, that hunk) will not be repeated in connection with Obama's world tour this week.

** Sunday, August 3, the Backbone microphone welcomes Ross Kaminsky and Joshua Sharf, bad boy bloggers of the right. Kaminsky, who writes at PoliticsWest.com, has Senate candidate Bob Schaffer scheduled as a guest. Don't miss that.

I'll return for the August 10 show and stay in the saddle right through the DNC and RNC convention weeks. What fun those will be. Meanwhile on Thursday, July 31, catch our recorded special at 7pm on KNUS... "Under the Dome: Battle of Ideas." It's a closer look at the lefty plan to lock up Colorado. Chilling stuff.

Yours for America without apologies, JOHN ANDREWS

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