A Family Fable and the Colorado Governor's Race

(Source: Backgrounds Ipod App)

I think it's time for me to share a fable, or a little story if you will, from my childhood.

My father, God rest his soul, was a good and decent man.  He drove quite a bit as his job as a traveling salesman for a number of companies over the years required it.  So he knew many of the "back roads" that were scenic and just downright beautiful whenever we would go anywhere.  It was always a pleasant experience to travel in this way.  However, if any part of the trip required use of what we called "the bypass" (or highway as it is more often defined) he became another man.  He had an intense sense of right and wrong when it came to highway etiquette.

This lead to many hair-raising encounters with very large trucks and tourists from out-of-state.  He would rarely "give in," insisting that "he was in the right and by goodness he was going to make sure everyone knew that.  Now, my mom was a woman of few words, but very talented at stern looks and heavy sighs.  I watched over the years as she tried to get my dad to be a little safer.  She told him, it is not that important, just let it go.  He did not take the hints.

One day after an especially scary encounter my mom looked at my dad.  I think she was on the verge of tears, but the anger in her voice came through.  She said to him, "Yes, Russ, you had the right of way.  There is no question about that.  So I suppose what we should do is arrange to have written on our tombstones is, 'He was right.  He and his family are all still dead, but by goodness he was RIGHT!"

I am reminded of this story after listening to all the various points and arguments about who to vote for in the Governor's race.  The only thing I am ABSOLUTELY positive about is that Hickenlooper, clearly a progressive that will take us further down that track, is not what we need.  That world view is disastrous for many many reasons.  The above link will take you to an article in which Hickenlooper  basically echoes Cass Sunstein calling us all "Homer Simpson" and Barrack Obama claiming people of principle are just "clinging to their guns and religion."  I do not want this man representing me or anyone else.

That said we have a choice: Maes, who won the primary "fair and square" or Tancredo who decided a third party run was the right thing to do.

We've debated the pros and cons of each of these candidates using 9-12 principles.  At this point it appears that Tancredo would have a chance of being our next governor if, as I said in an earlier post, he and Maes would put their egos aside in order to turn the train around I believe Hickenlooper would not win.  It still doesn't seem they are willing to do that.

There is much to dislike about either choice, but, to state it simply, "it is what it is."  I believe we need to turn the progressive train around and we need to do it soon.  If we don't do what is necessary to keep a progressive out of this office the train goes further down the track.  And if, by arguing about Maes is right or Tancredo is right, we insist on our being in the right at the expense of coming together more and more of our liberties will die.

Finally, we have a system that we can use to make our desires known to whoever gets elected.  We are awake now and will continue to use it to restore the integrity of our Constitutional Republic.  We don't have to agree on everything to join together.  You might be interested in reading my earlier post on "Divide and Control" to think about how keeping us divided gives the progressives more power.

I think I'll go fill out my ballot now. 

Related articles

• CO-Gov: Colorado GOP ready to cut off nose to spite face (dailykos.com)
• Tancredo Picks Up Pace in Colorado (blogs.wsj.com)
• Dan Maes: Political Suicide Bomber (redstate.com)

Applied 9-12 Principles

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I am going to address an issue in Colorado, but even if you do not live in Colorado you may find it useful.  In a previous post I addressed the nine principles that are part of the 9-12 concept.  I've decided to apply them specifically to the race for Governor of my state.

I've read a lot of things and some of them have contained a good analysis of some of the issues.  However, on our very own 9-12 Project--Colorado we appear to be destroying our chance to bring the government of our state closer to the Constitutional Republic we desire and pushing the Progressive train farther down the track.  We are busy arguing with each other about Dan Maes vs Tom Tancredo.  My bottom line?  We have to do what it takes to turn this Progressive train around and we need to start in Colorado.

The three people in this contest are Dan Maes, John Hickenlooper, and Tom Tancredo.  Let's discuss them one at a time.

Dan Maes recorded a video posted on youtube addressing some of the allegations made against him.  One of the issues is his time spent as a police officer when he was a young man. After records had been released Dan Maes stated that he hoped this would clear things up.  What he said exactly is, "...hope that this puts to rest any lingering doubt about the validity of his word."  The link to the NPR piece shows an article titled: "Dan Maes releases personnel records: Hopes past job confusion goes away."  (NOTE: I see a striking difference between wanting to dispel doubt about one's "word" and "hoping confusion goes away," don't you?  Did you see the movie "Inception/"  I think ideas can be planted in your mind even without the fancy techniques used in the film....but that's just me.)  There is also a blog entry at 360 Reports that gives you quite a few links to issues under discussion. (NOTE:  I have not vetted this site, but it provides quite a few links in one place.)  Should Dan Maes drop out of the race?  Is Dan trying to be a more honest person than he was yesterday?  You decide.  He clearly states his agreement with most of the other principles, but when honesty is an issue it can affect everything. 

Tom Tancredo has been characterized as "racist" by a number of people.  One of his most recent journeys into not choosing his words with care was during the Tea Party Convention in February.  I don't want to include too much of my "opinion" on individuals in this post, however, I think Tom should have chosen his words more wisely.  I think I agree with the premise that many people who are voting these days do not fully understand what they are voting for.  Hence my incessant urging for you all to educate yourselves so that you are making responsible and fully informed choices when you vote.  Tancredo has a history of speaking in a manner that has been characterized as "outrageous." Does he have any chance to win?  I encourage you to go to his website and read his statement about why he is in the race.

There is also a post on Facebook by Lisa Mills that does an excellent job using 9-12 principles and values to assess Dan Maes and Tom Tancredo.  It provides additional points to ponder.

Finally, there is Hickenlooper.  In an article from "Pragmatic Progressives" a prediction that is made that the Democrats (although it really means "Progressives") will hold on to the governorship of Colorado thanks to the conservative vote being spit between Maes and Tancredo.  They might be right, but I'm hoping not, because it is clear that he is a Progressive and, as I said at the beginning of this post we have to turn that train around.  His website contains his statements on the issues, as do the other two candidates.  The difference, though, is that his position statements are quite long.  While reading them (yes, I read every one) I was reminded of a saying I discussed with a friend recently:  "Verbosity is the last refuge for those who have little to say....or are trying to deceive."  The term "obfuscate" will also communicate what I think progressives often try to do.  Dissemble is another appropriate term.  Hickenlooper's solutions and plans for Colorado clearly have government in the starring role.  He gives some attention to the importance of the private sector, but clearly does not see the free market as a good thing.  He uses the word "global" a lot.  He never mentions the "free market."  Yes, he throws out a couple of tidbits about the private sector being used in creative ways by the government, but that is not the same thing.  I think he probably sees us as Marge and Homer Simpson.  You know, those people "too stupid" to have the freedom to make their own decisions and accept responsibility for those decisions. His statement on the issue of "Immigration" is, unlike the other issues, quite short.  I wonder why?  I am sharing my opinion in this case, because I believe that a progressive world view is not what we need.  I've come to know what that means and it is not compatible with restoring the integrity of our Constitution.  A progressive is, for the most part, totally incompatible with the 9 principles outlined in the 9-12 Project.

So, where does that leave those of us who believe we need to come closer to the nine principles and 12 values?

A survey of GOP county  chairs summarizes sentiment as "Maes won the nomination fair and square."  He did indeed.   Does Dan Maes measure up to the nine principles.  I would say in many ways he does not.  Does Tom Tancredo?  There is evidence that he does not measure up either.  However, as I said in an earlier post we are not charged with looking for perfection, we are charged with looking for someone who comes as close as possible to the principles and values we believe need to be restored. 

My personal opinion?  I believe egos should be put aside and people should come together to prevent another progressive governorship.  People will argue vehemently on the side of Maes or Tancredo.  Each side has valid points.  So, while we are calling each other names, speaking rudely, or just giving up because it is too hard to process, the progressive train gets closer to the station.  Honor?  Integrity?  I'd say someone has to be a big enough person to call a halt to this and put their support and ask their supporters to rally behind their opponent.  Should it be Dan Maes or Tom Tancredo?  Unfortunately that's only a decision the two of them can make.  If this does not transpire, I've made my decision and I'm guessing many of you have too.  I will pray that we can come together to fight the progressive agenda in this state and in this country.
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In a somewhat related article you might be interested in some discussion on how  the political game is played.  An article in Town Hall Magazine, "The Anatomy of a Smear" and "The 100 People the Left Hates Most" can give you more food for thought.  Some would characterize the statements against Dan Maes to be a "smear;" same with Tom Tancredo.  The statement in the article "Anatomy of a Smear" that jumped out at me was:  "Saul Alinsky's 5th rule for radicals says, 'Ridicule is one of man's most potent weapons.'  Against irrational ridicule, there is no defense and an enemy is forced into concessions."

What do you say we come together and make conscious, not forced concessions in order to unite to restore our Constitutional republic. 

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