Headlines evoke biblical echoes

By Dave Petteys (dpetteys@comcast.net) In Ecclesiastes it says somewhere “Nothing is new under the sun”. Reading Scripture and looking at current politics, one can see this is true. For example:

“..the Pharisees began to press him hard, and to provoke him to speak of many things, lying in wait for him, to catch at something he might say.” (Luke 11:53). The Democrats, like the Pharisees, are not willing to embrace the “New Covenant” of free markets and individual responsibility. And like the Pharisees, who thought killing Jesus himself would solve their problem, so do the Democrats and their allies in the media demonize the President and comb the landscape for any scandal.

The Democrats search desperately, hoping to find (or in some cases create) something that will give them the election without having to change their “Old Covenant” of continually trying to build heaven on earth with big government programs.

As for murderous fantasies, the George Soros’s of the world probably would not finance a contract killing of a President of the United States, (though some may have thought about it). They know they could never get away with such an action. But ominously, financing a movie depicting their desire MAY motivate someone somewhere who would try. This would sever any link and give them plausible deniability.

Rep. Foley should have heeded Jesus’ warning in Luke 12: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms (these days the IM chat rooms) shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Every Republican that holds office should put this passage on a 3x5 card, carry it, and read it often.

But there’s hope, for as the Bible also states: “ A wise man’s heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool’s heart toward the left" (Eccl. 10: 2).

Ten reasons I'll vote for Beauprez

(John Andrews in the Denver Post, Oct. 15) Political crossovers are in. Rick O’Donnell, Republican for Congress, says his hero is the late Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. His opponent, Ed Perlmutter, boasts the endorsement of our former state Senate colleague, Republican Dottie Wham. Bill Ritter, the Democrat currently leading in the race for Governor, has some Republicans backing him. So I’ll cross over and predict that Bob Beauprez, the GOP nominee for Governor, might become this year’s Harry Truman. Notwithstanding the recent Denver Post poll showing Ritter ahead 50% to 35%, this thing’s not over yet. What Truman, the scrappy underdog, did to his favored challenger in 1948 could be the template for a come-from-behind Beauprez win. Bill Ritter as a latter-day Thomas E. Dewey: imagine that.

Now I’m no odds-maker. This is a guy who thought the Beatles were a flash in the pan. I never play the lottery, and my little boy used to beat me at Go Fish, which his four-year-old may soon do also. Yet I have this hunch about a potential Beauprez upset.

Winner or not, Battlin’ Bob gets my vote for at least ten reasons. Immigration, judges, jobs, taxes, education, health care, highways, water, values, and qualifications – that’s the deciding decalogue in Beauprez’s favor. Here is my case for the Republican nominee:

1. Curbing illegal immigration. Beauprez’s commitment to secure borders was clear from the day Tancredo endorsed him in the GOP primary. Ritter’s embrace of sanctuary and amnesty is evidenced by his outrageous plea bargains to help felons avoid deportation.

2. Appointing good judges. Whether judicial term limits pass or not, the next governor will get to name a lot of new judges. On their backbone will depend both public safety and the rule of law. The conservative Republican is the clear choice here.

3. Creating jobs. Beauprez has done it as a businessman, and he’s equipped to do it as Colorado’s CEO. With attorney Ritter will come overregulation, worker’s comp rollback, favors to labor unions and trial lawyers, minimum wage hikes, the whole job-killing liberal agenda.

4. Restraining taxes and spending. Ritter will fatten the budget with every dollar of revenue that comes in. He’ll probably advocate waiving the TABOR growth limits forever. Beauprez will squeeze the bureaucracy and fight for the taxpayer.

5. Excellence for classrooms and campuses. Ritter’s union friends include the teachers in government-monopoly schools and the professors in Ward’s World, our leftist university system. Figure education reform is DOA with Bill. Score this one for Bob as well.

6. Untangling the health care mess. Beauprez understands that consumer choice and market efficiencies are the only answer to a broken health insurance system and a Medicaid budget that is draining the state treasury. Ritter, as a Hillary-minded liberal, doesn’t.

7. Highways for freedom and mobility. The Sierra Club extremists who want you out of that SUV and into denser housing will present their IOU’s the first day Ritter is governor. Transit will be in and pavement will be out – as will energy development. If you drive, vote GOP.

8. Water for the new century. Density is just phase one for the Democrats’ environmental utopian allies. Ultimately they dream of returning the West to buffalo and beaver. Developing Colorado’s water for PEOPLE is better entrusted to Republicans.

9. Values for children and families. Beauprez unequivocally supports protection of the unborn child and traditional marriage between one man and one woman. Ritter, in contrast, has done the both-ways thing on these core values. To make sure, choose Bob.

10. Qualifications for leadership. Bob Beauprez (about whom as a friend I’m admittedly not objective) is superbly prepared to lead our state from his record in government, business, and civic life. The Democrat, a good and decent man himself, is simply less ready.

While I’m too young to remember “Dewey Wins,” the headline waved by a beaming President Truman, I’ll never forget how the upset stunned my parents. Will Ritter’s rooters get a similar shock on Nov. 7 as Beauprez wins at the wire? This Republican hopes so.

TV, October: Vote Republican, vote conservative

The “Head On” debate between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997, began its October series this week. Andrews argued for a Republican vote in races for Governor and Congress, along with a conservative vote on ballot issues. Other topics this month include the controversy over voting machines and photo ID, along with Denver's new art museum addition. 1. WHO SHOULD CONTROL CONGRESS?

John: When you vote, remember: the US Congress is the world’s most important elected assembly. It not only holds in trust the liberty, prosperity, and human dignity of 300 million Americans, but also the future of freedom everywhere. To ensure a strong defense and protect the Constitution, we need a Republican Congress.

Susan: Republican Control got us into this mess – record deficits, unleashed insurgencies around the globe, out of control health care costs. We need a Democratic Congress to slow down the Bush White House. Gridlock may put us on the road to recovery. Vote Perlmutter, Paccione, and Fawcett et. al.

John: Turning Congress over to left-wing Democrats would lead to weaker defense, fewer jobs, and higher taxes. Who wants that? Republicans will just take better care of America, period. Voters should send Rick O’Donnell, Doug Lamborn, Scott Tipton, and Rich Mancuso to Congress. They should reelect Marilyn Musgrave and Tom Tancredo.

Susan: Conservative Richard Viguerie,, quote: Republican House leaders do whatever it takes to hold onto power. Whether it means spending billions of taxpayers’ dollars on questionable projects or covering up the most despicable actions of a colleagueThey’ve lost their moral rudder” End quote. VOTE DEMOCRATIC.

2. WHO SHOULD BE GOVERNOR OF COLORADO?

John: Election time is often confusion time, and that’s not right. Television doesn’t always help. Too many slogans, too much mud. Donna and I are going to cut through the fog and vote Republican for governor – vote for Bob Beauprez. More jobs, lower taxes, safer neighborhoods, better roads and schools. Bob Beauprez will deliver.

Susan: The Post and the Rocky endorsements got it right. Bob Beauprez’s campaign has been a solid vote of NO Confidence in his ability to lead Colorado. His voting record in Congress is mediocre. He’s done nothing to address immigration, healthcare or the deficit. Bill Ritter is the solid choice.

John: Colorado Inc., a 15 billion dollar enterprise, should not gamble its chief executive job on a mediocre ex-prosecutor. Behind Bill Ritter’s moderate mask is a Denver liberal, with another Denver liberal for a running mate. Bob Beauprez is a proven leader in government, business, and civic life. Beauprez gets my vote.

Susan: A $15 billion enterprise should not gamble it’s future on a guy whose policies have the consistency of a burnt waffle. Beauprez wasted four years in Congress following a herd of Republican sheep, lying to the public and covering for misguided colleagues. Bob Beauprez – all hat, no cattle.

3. BALLOT ISSUE PICKS & PANS

John: Colorado Public Television has debated the 2006 ballot issues at length. Now we’ll now debate them in brief. I’m voting yes on 38 for petition rights, yes on 39 for more dollars to the classroom, yes on 40 for tougher term limits and better courts, yes on 43 for traditional marriage.

Susan: It’s foolish to expand petition rights, and give more power to special interests or to further limit local control of school funding or politicize the courts. No on 38, 39 and 40. I don’t need my committed relationship defined by the State. I am not sure who does. Neutral on 43.

John: 43 is needed -- traditional marriage helps to nurture children, protect women, and civilize men. Continuing down the ballot, I’m voting no on 41 to protect minorities from a job-killing minimum wage, no on 42 to protect citizen access to public officials, and no on 44 to discourage the potheads.

Susan: Yes to increasing the minimum wage, Amendment 42. No to 41 - an overreaching ethics code that doesn’t belong in the state constitution. The current take whatever you can, anytime – but Amendment 41 isn’t the solution. Yes to Referendum I - recognizing the legal rights of domestic partnerships.

4. CAN WE TRUST THE VOTING PROCESS?

Susan: I don’t know about you John, but I’ve applied for an absentee ballot. I’ve no confidence in the electronic machines and even less in the local, state and federal election officials. And as for a national ID card – isn’t that why we fought WW 2?

John: Honest elections are a Colorado tradition. Secretary of State Dennis is working hard to keep it that way, as would Mike Coffman if he succeeds her. Voting machine conspiracy fears are exaggerated, but ballot security should not be sacrificed to convenience. Photo ID at the polling place is just common sense.

Susan: The reliability of electronic voting machines is questionable. Gigi Dennis’s partisan behavior is troubling. Denver’s election commission opted for vote centers –despite poor performance in the August primary. If you want to make certain your vote counts and you live in Denver County – use a mail ballot.

John: Elections are a sacred trust of American self-government, not a matter of casual convenience. Vote centers are a bad idea. Photo ID to prevent fraud is a good idea. Democrat Ken Gordon doesn’t understand that. Republican Mike Coffman does. Coffman gets my vote for Secretary of State.

5. THE LIBESKIND MUSEUM WING

Susan: What’s the difference between and Icon and an I-sore? That’s the issue under discussion by art lovers, critics and citizens now that Daniel Libeskind’s addition to the Denver Art Museum is open. I think time and wear will be the jury. But for certain – our charm bracelet is overloaded.

John: So you give two cheers at most for Libeskind’s multimillion dollar pile of crumpled titanium? I give no cheers at all. Architecture, like art, is supposed to ennoble the human spirit by celebrating beauty and grace. The new museum wing flunks that test. Transgressive novelty does not define a great city.

Susan: A great city is measured by the health and safety of its residents, the beauty of its park and civic spaces, the mobility and transparency of connections – streets, roads sidewalks and – the beauty and durability of its built environment. One, two, three or a dozen interesting buildings – do not define a city.

John: If the new museum gets more of us engaged with thinking about great art, that’s good. But the building itself is not great architecture. It’s a mere attention-grabber, designed by a clever showman. Denver shouldn’t let Libeskind near the renovation of Civic Center Park.

Bully boy Bill Winter embarrasses himself

By Brian Ochsner (baochsner@aol.com) Let me get this straight. Bill Winter isn't afraid of a local critic - Dave Kopel of the Independence Institute - but he's worried that Osama bin Laden will make the 6th Congressional District more of a target because Tom Tancredo speaks his mind about Islamofascism. Makes perfect sense to me... if you're using liberal logic, that is.

He sent an email to Kopel in 2004 calling him a "rabid attack dog for Bush and Cheney." He finished his email with the line: "When the revolution comes, I'll be looking for you, brother!" This sounds like something a steroid-fueled pro wrestler would say before a match. Not a congressional candidate who wants to be taken seriously as Tancredo's Democratic challenger.

Both Ways Bill seems to pick his fights pretty carefully. If he can bully someone locally, he’ll do it. But if a global terrorist can hit him back, he’s not quite as feisty. It’s a free country, and Americans have the right to have dissenting opinions. As Oliver North aptly said, “You can disagree without being disagreeable.”

However, when someone comes ‘over the top’ like Winter did with Kopel, I have to question his judgment and temperament to be considered for high elected office.

Knifing of Lamborn bodes ill for Colorado GOP this fall

Editor's Note: Hefley had to file for his write-in by 5pm Tuesday, and did not do so, ending the maverick comeback bid, according to an update on the Gazette website. But the outgoing congressman's spite for his duly nominated GOP successor, quoted in the update, only validates the concerns expressed below.

By Dave Crater (crater@senate9.com)

Today’s Colorado Springs Gazette carries an article outlining why Joel Hefley, with many in the Colorado Springs, Denver, and Washington Republican establishments who are encouraging him on, is considering a write-in bid for Congress against Republican nominee Doug Lamborn.

We should all understand this development with crystal clarity: this behavior by Republican political insiders, and its history in Colorado that has lasted for most of the Bill Owens administration, is why the Colorado GOP lost dazzlingly throughout the state in 2004, losing both houses of the state legislature for the first time in 40 years, a congressional seat, and a Senate seat, and why it is now -- in my opinion -- headed for dazzling defeat this coming November.

Here is a link to the Wall Street Journal’s report on national gubernatorial races, which, based on polling data from nationwide sources, shows Bill Ritter leading Bob Beauprez by 8 percentage points. This lead by Ritter over Beauprez has been consistent throughout the summer and from every source. The Journal notes, “Colorado is unusual: despite a GOP registration edge, the state has been kind to Democrats in recent elections.”

Translation: A political party whose elite class persecutes its best grassroots heroes, while at election time posturing righteously in defense of everything those heroes have personally sacrificed to advance, is a party destined for ruin. If you are a Colorado Republican, what the state’s Republican elites are doing to Doug Lamborn should concern you. If it doesn’t now, it is sure to concern you in November, when, in addition to the governor’s mansion and the state legislature, the GOP already stands to see its Congressional delegation reduced by another seat if Rick O’Donnell loses his tight race with Ed Perlmutter to replace Beauprez in CD 7.

The Republican edge in Colorado’s congressional delegation was 5-2 in 2004. It dropped to 4-3 after the 2004 elections, when John Salazar won CD 3, Ken Salazar won the Senate race, and Republicans lost both the state House and Senate. That number stands to drop to a 3-4 Democrat majority if O’Donnell loses, and if Joel Hefley, Peggy Littleton, and the Republican establishment are successful in opposing or deposing Doug Lamborn as the Republican nominee in CD 5, handing Democratic candidate Jay Fawcett a gift, the Democrat majority would rise to 2-5.

To recount the history for you: Doug Lamborn has been a conservative hero in the state legislature for 12 years. Many Republican insiders do not like this, just like many in the British political establishment did not like Winston Churchill in the years leading up to WW II, and helped get Churchill defeated immediately after the war in 1945, and just like many in the Republican establishment did not like Ronald Reagan challenging Gerald Ford for the GOP presidential nomination in 1976, and helped get Reagan defeated on the way to their own defeat by Jimmy Carter in November of 1976. In the process, the GOP establishment blamed Reagan, and the British establishment blamed Churchill, for everything from dishonesty and sleaze to naked personal ambition -- the very things of which they themselves were self-evidently guilty.

So the situation is very simple: if you want to see the Colorado GOP continue to collapse, help the GOP establishment attack Doug Lamborn in CD 5 and other conservative heroes around the state while calling for party unity when it is their turn or their buddy’s turn to stand for election. On the other hand, if you want to see the Colorado GOP regain its philosophical and moral roots without having to endure another November drubbing to learn that lesson, now might be a good time to contact Republican leaders and tell them to stop working against a 12-year Colorado hero and their own party’s nominee.