Is your "Tea" better than mine?

Or is your tea Kool-aid?

As someone who has been a "Tea-Partier" from way back when, I have to say I am more than dismayed at the current attitude by many Denver Tea-Partiers. The same people who, months ago during our caucuses and primary were urging people to vote "principle over party" are now shouting "party over principle". Astounding, I know. The crux of the matter of course is one Dan Maes, a man who got the Republican nomination via the tea-party wave. The problem of course is nearly nobody knew what a complete trainwreck this guy was until after the primary....talk about buyers remorse, except of course for the few hangers on whom I firmly believe fall into one of two camps; those who automatically choose Republican on the ballot and those who simply refuse to read for themselves and  take the news only from Dan's mouth in a very cultish Kool-aid manner. ( I have been told by them on facebook, Dan's press coverage is a conspiracy just like the downtown bike program....shhhhh pass it on.)

Enter Tom Tancredo. Tom, trying to help the GOP save face and the Governors seat, got into the race with the intent of getting Maes to drop out so the GOP could select a viable candidate. Maes in his hubris has refused even when it is apparent to everyone but him that he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell at winning this thing. (I have to wonder if he was the kind of kid who's parents made up ribbons and trophies for him coming in 15th place?)

So Tancredo is still in for the long haul and may just pull this off according to recent polling. I decided before the primary that I would donate money and time to the candidates I chose as part of my own effort to know that I wasn't supporting just another talking head. Thus far, I have been active with 2 campaigns, Buck and Tancredo. Both have tremendous momentum and both are men I feel I can stand behind, in clear conscience and with pride.

Today, was the last straw on this camels back. I received a new Maes YouTube video. The video spends the first 4 of its total 7 minutes trying to convince the audience that none of what we have read is true and that he is some sort of "victim"...Seriously? When you find your gonads please let us all know. The remainder of the video is spent, urging us all to remember what the Tea Party movement is all about. Saying no to dirty politicians, electing based on principles, on integrity. Hearing those words coming from HIS mouth made me want to vomit especially in light of the smarmy tactics he and his attorney tried using this week (read HERE )not to mention further reports of questionable campaign finance management (HERE).

I'm Voting Tancredo. It is in my never-so-humble opinion a very "Tea-Party" like thing to do, in fact, I think it really sums up the movement.

So with my tea in hand and my spine firm I will cast my ballot, and because I am determined to vote based on PRINCIPLE I will not be selecting all Republicans. When I select the box next to Tom's name it will be not only because I feel he is the best man for the job, it will also be me exercising my dissent, my disgust and my disapproval for the candidate who is taking my party back to pre Tea-Party standards.

So take your Kool-aid elsewhere, this gal is happily sipping her tea.

If you show me yours, I'll show you mine...

Get yer mind out of the gutter...I'm talking Character. 

Integrity? Honesty? How about trustworthyness?

As I watch the political commercials and advertisements for websites that flash across my field of vision, I am dumbfounded at the downright bold face lies spread in effort to gain political office.

Perhaps I oversimplify, but to me, these ads are job interviews with "we the people" but why do our candidates not see them as such? Can any of us imagine going into a job interview and pointing fingers at the last candidate or how about completely misrepresenting your experience? Sure we've all padded our resume at one point, but out and out make things up? (Think Dan Maes Serpico story) Personally, I would LOVE to see an applicant try the old tried and true, "I didn't....before I did"(Reference the many Democrats who claim they voted against heathcare and stimulus...before they did).

The websites are no better. During one of my recent rants about ObamaCare, a friend who's stance on the issue is the same as mine, sent me a link to a website whos url was seemingly altruistic  www.coloradodeservesbetter.com urging me to vote NO on a local proposition, 63 per the advise of this website. I clicked the link, but nowhere on the page was the proposistions language. The only explanation on the site was the following....

"This is a partisan constitutional amendment that will lead to endless lawsuits and drive up health care costs for Colorado families already struggling with their health care bills. At the end of the day, more uninsured means higher costs for the insured. This complicated amendment will lead to sky rocketing health care costs, as individuals and businesses are forced to absorb the cost of more uninsured, more public health care services, and more emergency room care. Colorado can’t afford rising health care costs that will come from this partisan political statement. It has no place in our constitution and Colorado deserves better."

So, I looked it (prop 63) up on a reputable website and found that lo' and behold, a YES vote keeps ObamaCare at bay, a NO allows its pork filled center into my state.  But seriously, reading the above text would YOU have been able to tell? Where is the honesty? Has politics really reduced us to trying to "trick" people into voting a certain way?

As I prepare to tick those boxes on my mail in ballot, know this....I am watching. I am reading. There will be NO party line vote. I am the new breed of American voter. Be afraid, your job is at stake.

I want a Hero....

Really. I do.

As we get closer to the upcoming election,  this phrase has been on my mind more and more. I am hoping I can articulate it properly and get it from my brain to the page where it might mean something to somebody out there.

Over the past 4 years or so, I have been what I like to refer to as a despondent republican. Registered as a Republican but feeling less and less like a member of that party as I have watched those elected stray from the basic principals they ran on. With the Tea Parties I have felt hopeful that perhaps this infusion of new blood will really make a difference. But really? It is still a crapshoot. Those we fill the legislative seats with will have obscene amounts of money thrown at them, which ones will resist? They will also have the pressure from the GOP to bring in money instead of concentrating on their job, a job that you and I pay them to do. Will they fall under pressure? Who's ego and greed will get the better of them, and as a result, of all of us?

The biggest issue weighing on my mind is how they will handle the legislative process. Where bills are introduced with good intentions and then earmarked and filled with pork stuffed into them until they are simply to large and cumbersome to read let alone understand. THIS my friends is where, in my ever-so-humble opinion there is true opportunity for heroism.

I want a legislator who will just say no, and say it loudly. When a bill comes up to fund our military (or insert whatever issue) and has a bunch of crap put in it, I want a legislator who will say NO, and then hold a press conference explaining to the American people WHY. I want them to point fingers and name names, even if they are members of their own party. I want them to call these people out and shame them. I want my legislators to begin holding each other accountable. That my friends is a contract with America I could get behind.

If we can get even a small group to start this, I truly think we may be able to take our government back without having to reinvent the legislative wheel.

So there it is. I want a hero. The question is, will anyone step up?

On Killing Kittens and Overspending...

For those of you here in Colorado, to say the present races in our state are tumultous is an understatement. Rife with scandal, name calling and now...Killing Kittens and Overspending.

I am of course referring to 3 ballot measures, dubbed the "Ugly 3", that have even the most experienced politicians running for cover and seeking respite in indecision. It basically boils down to this; If you are pro-Ugly 3, you are a horrible person who probably kills kittens for fun, if you are against you want to use MY checkbook to spend like a drunken sailor.

My goal over the next few days is to present each and let YOU decide. I should warn you though, I had a kitten for lunch yesterday. ;)

This is HUGE.

Ever watched the movie "Dave"? I have to say it is a favorite, Kevin Klein playing a lookalike of the president, and the awe inspiring scene where he sits down at the conference room table and forces his cronies to make meaningful cuts to the budget to save important things like homeless shelters.

I will admit, I have often fantasized about having such a President working on our behalf. Not that it is likely to happen, but hey, a girl can dream can't she?

I came across this site in my web trudging, and it seems to be based on basically the same concept. It opens up that mysterious crypt of unknown budget items in our Federal goverment allowing we the people a glimps at where we might push our legislators to start cutting, without hurting those who are "down and out".

Go ahead, click the link...explore it. Where do YOU think we should start? http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/

17th Amendment

My husband and I were watching TV the other night and an AD for the upcoming Colorado elections. The one in question was from the campaign of Michael Bennett slamming his opponent Ken Buck claiming "Buck wants to take away your right to vote!"

My husband and I , Buck supporters, were aghast. Ken Buck...what? No way. Surely they must be mistaken. So, being me, I did some research, which is more than most people who viewed the ad will do. Me? I am just nosey that way.

Trying to keep this "fair and balanced", I googled it and decided upon a more left leaning site, (snort...ok, waaayyy left site) Huffington post. The article can be found HERE. It quotes Mr. Buck saying, that the American public needed to be educated "about the populist nature of the 17th Amendment and how it has taken us down the wrong path."
 

"I don't know that we get [repeal] tomorrow, but I think we get there in the very near future when people understand just what a horrendous effect the 17th amendment has been on the federal government's spending."

So I decided to give myself a bit of a history lesson, and looked up the 17th. Wow...just wow.

In short, this amendment was put in effect in 1913. Prior to that time the US senators were chosen by the state legislature. I took a moment to chew on this, and then it hit me... if they are chosen by the legislature, then we the people have a better chance of our voices being heard in our state. Not so dumb. It's all about accountability folks. As the system stands now, anyone with a bankroll and a pretty face can get elected. It is in large part a popularity contest with candidates looking for snappy taglines and freshly scrubbed children in their ads. We don't know these people, but the people they work with do. To have your state legislature elect you requires not only intelligence and savvy, but respect and trust. Think about it.

If you would like to read more ( and I hope you will) please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment Petition

Proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment Petition

A very good idea. "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States".