BackboneAmerica

Obama’s goals and record will make a stark contrast with those of Mitt Romney or whoever the GOP nominates, says John Andrews in the January round of Head On TV debates. Hardly, scoffs Susan Barnes-Gelt: Romney’s positions are vague and the overall Republican field is weak. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Fantasy presidential nominations for Ross Perot, Olympia Snowe, and John Hickenlooper, along with bouquets for Douglas County school vouchers and brickbats for the Denver police, enliven the air waves this month as Head On completes its 15th year (more…)

The Occupy movement is a childish tantrum that is taking on Brownshirt overtones, says John Andrews in the November round of Head On TV debates. Wrong, replies Susan Barnes-Gelt: it’s an authentic protest widely echoing that famous movie line, “Mad as hell.” John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Obama’s class warfare theme, learned from Alinsky and abetted by the Occupy Wall Street movement, won’t save him in 2012, says John Andrews in the October round of Head On TV debates. Don’t underestimate its Main Street appeal, replies Susan Barnes-Gelt. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

John Hickenlooper needs to accomplish a thing or two as governor before floating his 2016 trial balloon for president, scoffs John Andrews in the September round of Head On TV debates. Why not, replies Susan Barnes-Gelt, since America loves quirky, and Hick is quirk personified. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Coloradans had better brace to fend off the same bad idea as President Obama wants to impose nationally: higher taxes, warns John Andrews in the August round of Head On TV debates. No, replies Susan Barnes-Gelt, the idea is a good one and indeed doesn’t go far enough. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Conflicts of interest may discredit Colorado’s newly formed health insurance exchange, worries Susan Barnes-Gelt in the July round of Head On TV debates. Look closer and you’ll see the exchange concept itself is pure corporate statism, replies John Andrews, adding this is one more reason Obamacare must go. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Washington spenders are like drunks on a binge, says John Andrews in the June round of Head On TV debates. It’s bad, agrees Susan Barnes-Gelt, but she contends the solution must include tax hikes as well as entitlement reform. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Paul Ryan’s bold approach to federal deficits and debt will backfire, predicts Susan Barnes-Gelt in the May round of Head On TV debates. Not hardly, replies John Andrews; President Obama left a leadership vacuum on the fiscal debacle, and this lowly congressman has filled it. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Taxes in Colorado at this time of record unemployment should be reduced, not increased, says John Andrews in the March round of Head On TV debates. Maybe you’d prefer no taxes at all, replies Susan Barnes-Gelt satirically. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

Activist courts are at it again, this time siding with the right to strike down Obamacare, says Susan Barnes-Gelt in the February round of Head On TV debates. No, says John Andrews, Judge Vinson ruled as the founding fathers would have, and the Supreme Court may well agree with him. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

The assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is proof we need more gun control, says Susan Barnes-Gelt in the January round of Head On TV debates. Wrong, says John Andrews: gun rights enhance public safety, and the liberties of all shouldn’t be curtailed to deter a few lunatics. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

As Head On starts its 15th year on TV, there’s a friendly disagreement about whether Nancy Pelosi is one of the winners or sinners of 2010, but something closer to unanimity on Gov. John Hickenlooper’s continued quirkiness in 2011. Reviewing the old year in the December round of mini-debates, John Andrews lauds the American worker while Susan Barnes-Gelt pans the Tea Party. (more…)

The Republican congressional landslide resulted from a “failure to communicate empathy,” not a rejection of Obama’s policies, says Susan Barnes-Gelt in the November round of Head On TV debates. Okay, says John Andrews, if this shellacking was an empathy deficit, Katrina was a light breeze. (more…)

As the election nears, “voters are giving President Obama his midterm report card, and his grade so far is F,” says John Andrews in the October round of Head On TV debates. Maybe, rejoins Susan Barnes-Gelt, but people are almost as unhappy with Republicans as with Democrats. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)