Backbone Radio

Return to values

Slated on Backbone Radio, Jan. 11 Listen every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver... 1460 KZNT, Colorado Springs... and streaming live at 710knus.com.

If you like visionary liberalism, Thursday provided a double dose. Barack Obama spoke on his remedy for the recession, which resulted in a down-tick in the Dow and a Washington Post headline stating, "Obama bets big on big government." Meanwhile in Denver, Bill Ritter addressed the state with his 2009 agenda, asking legislators to "set aside partisan politics and work together as Coloradans" on goals with a decidedly Democratic flavor. Another instance when bipartisanship seems to mean Republicans caving in.

Backbone Radio, your Sunday conservative window on the week that was and the issues ahead, analyzes all this with great guests and listener conversation via phone or email. Don't miss our Jan. 11 show.

** Bob Beauprez, former congressman, Ritter's GOP opponent in 2006 and potentially again in 2010, joins me to talk about his new book, "A Return to Values: A Conservative Looks at His Party."

** Jim Gilchrist, Minutemen leader and a tireless advocate for secure borders, reports on the latest trends in immigration patterns, the policy outlook under Obama, and the pardons Bush has or hasn't granted.

** Dr. Neil Dobro, an organizer of Americans Against Terrorism and one of Colorado's strongest voices against jihad, brings a report on the 2pm Sunday downtown rally for Israel's self-defense against Hamas.

** Plus analysis from two of our regular contributors, David Harsanyi of the Denver Post and former education commissioner Bill Moloney, who now writes for BackboneAmerica.net.

Visionary liberalism is way overrated. Hazardous to your health, in fact. I'll take principled conservatism any day. We need not just a return to values, but a rededication to the self-evident truths America was founded on. That's the reason for this radio show. Join us.

Yours for the Republic, JOHN ANDREWS

Gonna be a good year

Slated on Backbone Radio, Jan. 4 Listen every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver... 1460 KZNT, Colorado Springs... and streaming live at 710knus.com.

"Whew, glad to have that over with," is the reaction by many of us as 2008 passes into history. It's true that conservatives won few political victories, and the year gave us a cold shower economically, vindicating yet again Kipling's realism in "The Gods of the Copybook Headings." On the other hand, 12 months ago our goals included winning in Iraq, keeping the Clintons from reclaiming the presidency, and defending TABOR against Colorado's spending lobby. None looked easy, yet all were accomplished. We're not without things to be thankful for. As for 2009, I'm bullish. It will be as good a year as we decide to make it. We're Americans, remember. We've got backbone. We don't melt in the rain. My hunch is for both the recession and the Obama honeymoon to be shorter than expected. Republican loyal opposition will be as feisty as the Founders hoped. '09 is gonna be fine if you and I just do our part.

Talk radio topics abound as always. Ritter "schools" the Dem governors of IL, NY & DE on how to pick a class act and fresh face for US Senate. Israel says enough to the Hamas thugs and their patrons in Iran. The Broncos seek a new coach and the sky doesn't fall. Sarah Palin runs away with Woman of the Year honors from Backbone Americans across the country.

My guests on Sunday, Jan. 4, to help explore all this will include... Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN)... former Senate candidate Bob Schaffer (R-CO)... pundits Mike Littwin of the Rocky and Joseph C. Phillips of Hollywood... plus Tom Trento, producer of two powerful documentaries on radical Islam, "The Third Jihad" and "Obsession."

Who ever imagined that just turning on your radio could be deemed a subversive act? But liberals, after losing the open competition with conservatives for AM listeners, would now suggest it's so, with correction needed from Big Brother. Sen. Chuck Schumer has even likened our free expression on the airwaves to "pornography." Was that a compliment? For more of the naked truth, tune in this Sunday.

Yours with optimism, JOHN ANDREWS

How about a Christmas truce?

What did 2008 mean for conservatives, and what will 2009 demand of us? Those are the questions our show has been exploring throughout November and December. This Sunday I'll discuss them with Claremont political scientist Charles Kesler... economist Larry Reed... civil rights leader Ward Connerly... former state Sen. Mark Hillman... and Federalist Society attorney Allyson Ho. The show is a "Best of Backbone" broadcast, recorded earlier to allow the Andrews clan some additional time together as Christmas approaches. I hope you'll be able to listen.

Speaking of Christmas, three things... we wish you a very merry one... we note my special column for the holidays, Why Christmas Matters (see item above this one on home page)...

and we conclude with a couple of favorite poems from the great G. K. Chesterton.

"The Truce of Christmas" was occasioned by a spontaneous ceasefire in the WWI trenches on Dec. 25, 1914, but I like its deeper message about the world's ingratitude to Jesus and his followers. Solution: keep faith with love and truth regardless.

"The Wise Men" warns of the barriers our own cleverness and self-sufficiency may put in the way of following the star and finding the manger. That's why the child's heart at this season will often see what the adult's brain tends to miss, as I said in my column.

Warmest wishes of the season to you and yours from all of us at Backbone Radio, John... Matt... Kathleen... Krista... Joshua... Karen... Matt again... and Joan

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AND NOW FOR THOSE TWO POEMS...

The Truce of Christmas By G.K. Chesterton

Passionate peace is in the sky — And in the snow in silver sealed The beasts are perfect in the field, And men seem men so suddenly — (But take ten swords and ten times ten And blow the bugle in praising men; For we are for all men under the sun; And they are against us every one; And misers haggle and madmen clutch, And there is peril in praising much, And we have the terrible tongues uncurled That praise the world to the sons of the world.)

The idle humble hill and wood Are bowed upon the sacred birth, And for one little hour the earth Is lazy with the love of good— (But ready are you, and ready am I, If the battle blow and the guns go by; For we are for all men under the sun, And they are against us every one; And the men that hate herd all together, To pride and gold, and the great white feather, And the thing is graven in star and stone That the men who love are all alone.)

Hunger is hard and time is tough, But bless the beggars and kiss the kings; For hope has broken the heart of things, And nothing was ever praised enough. (But hold the shield for a sudden swing And point the sword when you praise a thing, For we are for all men under the sun, And they are against us every one; And mime and merchant, thane and thrall Hate us because we love them all; Only till Christmastide go by Passionate peace is in the sky.)

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The Wise Men By G. K. Chesterton

Step softly, under snow or rain, To find the place where men can pray; The way is all so very plain That we may lose the way.

Oh, we have learnt to peer and pore On tortured puzzles from our youth, We know all the labyrinthine lore, We are the three wise men of yore, And we know all things but truth.

We have gone round and round the hill And lost the wood among the trees, And learnt long names for every ill, And serve the made gods, naming still The furies the Eumenides.

The gods of violence took the veil Of vision and philosophy, The Serpent that brought all men bale, He bites his own accursed tail, And calls himself Eternity.

Go humbly ... it has hailed and snowed... With voices low and lanterns lit; So very simple is the road, That we may stray from it.

The world grows terrible and white, And blinding white the breaking day; We walk bewildered in the light, For something is too large for sight, And something much too plain to say.

The Child that was ere worlds begun (... We need but walk a little way, We need but see a latch undone...) The Child that played with moon and sun Is playing with a little hay.

The house from which the heavens are fed, The old strange house that is our own, Where trick of words are never said, And Mercy is as plain as bread, And Honour is as hard as stone.

Go humbly, humble are the skies, And low and large and fierce the Star; So very near the Manger lies That we may travel far.

Hark! Laughter like a lion wakes To roar to the resounding plain. And the whole heaven shouts and shakes, For God Himself is born again, And we are little children walking Through the snow and rain.

===================================== Other wonderful Christmas poems by Chesterton, easily found with a Google search, include...

A Child of the Snows The House of Christmas The Nativity A Song of Gifts to God Christmas Song for Three Guilds A Word