For U.S. Senate, I will be voting for whomever emerges the winner of the primary between Libertarian candidates John Finger and Maclyn Stringer.
Looking at the Republican primary, however, is interesting. The contest, for practical purposes, is between front-runners Jane Norton and Ken Buck. I could not support Norton. She supported Referendum C as Lt. Governor of Colorado and she has John McCain’s support. She is a certified Big Government Republican.
Buck says all the right thing concerning small government. I hope he has the fortitude to back up his words. The problem is, however, he does not have a record to critique like Norton does. He is a District Attorney, not a legislator. He has not had to make tough votes on tough issues. He can make promises, but he has no small government resume. As a DA, he has not had the opportunity. That is not his fault, but it is a fact.
I am generally wary of DA’s in political office. They come from a “law and order” background, and tend to support government intrusions into our Constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. There is a tension between the peoples’ Fourth Amendment rights and the government’s legitimate need to preserve order. I personally would like to see the tension resolved in favor of the Fourth Amendment. Law enforcement types generally – and I said “generally” – do not.
Buck has lots of Tea Party support, and I understand why. He talks the talk – but he’s never had to stroll the stroll. Forgive me for being cynical about another Republican making small government promises. Talk is like Ramen Noodles: Cheap and unfulfilling.
Republicans have not been faithful to their purported love of liberty. Republicans have betrayed liberty more frequently and with more partners than Tiger Woods has betrayed Elin. I will no longer be a cuckold.
Others are willing to believe that, this time, the Republican candidate actually means it when he promises to be true. I hope Buck is up to the task of resisting the temptation.
Unfortunately, it probably will not matter. The Big Government Republican Politburo has annointed Norton the candidate – and she will be annointed. Buck outnumbers Norton in grassroots activists by a lot. Norton, however, outnumbers Buck in bucks. According to the Denver Post,
Norton has four times the campaign money that Buck has.
The power of the politburo’s pocketbook will prevail. This is part of the systemic problem with out political process. We do not need “campaign finance” to keep people (including the people that form unions, corporations and other organizations) from making donations. We need a new voting system. We need to strip the two-party duopoly of its power by giving people more than two choices for such important offices.
Approval voting meets both of these goals. With approval voting, small government candidates would not be forced, as a practical matter, to run under the Big Government Republican banner.
Under our current system of plurality voting, Buck is going to lose the Big Government Republican primary. Buck supporters will then be told by the politburo that they can either vote for Big Government Republican Norton or the Democrat. Any system that results in such a choice is not worthy of existence.
I invite all the Buck supporters to abandon the Big Government Republican Party once Buck is officially discarded by the politburo. Yes, that will help the Democrat win. But we have to look beyond 2010. We have to look ahead to the next generation and the next. If we really want our grandchildren to live under a free nation, we must reject the current failed system and its process. We can, and must, replace it. We can not enable the process, even if the withdrawal might be painful
If we enable the current broken process, we are part of the problem. In fact, anyone that votes for another Big Government politician just because they have an “R” by their name IS the problem. You will have given your sanction to Big Government by voting for a Big Government candidate.
Don’t waste your vote like that.
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” –John Quincy Adams
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The same analysis applies to the Tea Party support of Dan Maes for governor. The Big Government Republican politburo has annointed Scott McInnis. McInnis will be the Big Government Republican candidate.
She explained her vote in favor of the Colorado Referendum C tax increases, referencing the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. “Referendum C was TABOR in action. I was part of an administration that cut taxes 43 times…. But when revenues fell by 17 percent and we instituted across the board spending cuts, froze capital expenditures– all the things the governor knew would be important to get our budget on track and balanced, he decided to go to a vote of the people, and that’s the beauty of Ref C: It allows you to do that. So the people spoke on that… I’m a strong supporter of TABOR… unlike what’s happening with Gov. Ritter in circumventing the people’s will.”
What she says is accurate. TABOR allows for increased taxes if the voters approve of the increase. Ref C asked the voters to let the state government raise taxes, and it passed.
Her criticism of Ritter is also accurate. He is trying to raise taxes without seeking voter approval in violation of TABOR.
She dodges the important point, however. By supporting Ref C, she supported higher taxes.
And that, my friends, is the point.
I attended an R Block Party event this evening at the Old Mill Brewery in Littleton.
The highlight of the event was the fireworks provided by former U. S. Representative and Republican presidential candidate
Tom Tancredo. He railed against recent Republican presidential nominee
John McCain as a big government, liberal Republican.
But he did not stop there. He painted former Lt. Governor and current Colorado Republican candidate for U. S. Senate
Jane Norton with the same can of paint. Tancredo professed his belief that McCain is doing his best to recruit big government Republican candidates throughout the country, including Norton, in an effort to continue his failed statist legacy. Tancredo said Norton fits the McCain mold, and that he could not support her candidacy.
Tancredo made it clear he thinks neither McCain nor Norton believe in conservative principles.
Tancredo said he supports Weld County D.A.
Ken Buck in the Republican race for the Senate nomination.
Of his failed bid for the Presidencey, Tancredo told the crowd of about 60 activists that he never for a second thought he would win. He said his presidential campaign was a tool to educate the country on the problem of illegal immigration.
Nikki Mata and Lori Horn, as usual, did a tremendous job organizing the event, which was focused on educating activists on the caucus process. Several people had the opportunity to speak, including the candidates in attendance.
Dan Maes, candidate for governor, Polly Lawrence, candidate for state House District 44,
Derec Shuler, candidate for state Senate District 34, and
Lora Thomas, candidate for Douglas County coroner, were among the candidates who addressed the audience.
Nikki and Lori were even kind enough to give me, as the President of the public advocacy group the Gadsden Society, the opportunity to say a few words about the Colorado legislative process and how to keep advised on pending bills. I recommended everyone follow state
Rep. Kent Lambert on Twitter for his updates on the state budget process.
The Republican power brokers in DC have spoken: The annointed Norton shall prevail. Buck and Frazier can take their feeble attempts to storm the castle and go home.
All independent and libertarian-minded Colorado Republicans can remain supplicant and accept the status quo or….. not.
It’s up to you.
