Dear Congressman Tancredo:
Many Coloradans and liberty movement individuals respect you for your courage and honorable service to this state. But, we ask what really has changed, and how your High Noon ultimatum issued July 22nd reflects the principles and values you have long stood for? This ultimatum seems out of character and completely contradicts the sage advice you offered us in an open letter on December 21, 2009 and reiterated again passionately at a joint 9-12 Project/Tea Party event on January 16, 2010.
We would like to remind you of this particular section of your open letter, which continues to resonate with us even today:
Yes, over the last decade, many individuals left the Republican Party because George Bush led the national party to abandon its principles and support several big government programs. But leaving the party is not the answer. Fighting for your principles and reshaping the party is the answer.
Throughout our nation's history, third parties have never succeeded in taking power and running the government. They have sometimes succeeded in pushing a major party in a new direction, but just as often, they succeeded only in electing the more liberal candidate after many conservatives waste their votes on a third party candidate. Remember 1992? Ross Perot never had a chance to be president, but he did help elect Bill Clinton.
Here in Colorado we have an uphill road in 2010, but the good news is we have the opportunity for a broad resurgent victory if we work together. - Tom Tancredo Over 800,000 Coloradans or 33% of likely voters, including almost 550,000 or 64% of likely Republican voters in our state, have joined the "Tea Party* movement in the past 17 months. We clearly demonstrated at the precinct causes and state assembly a significant portion of the 9-12 Project, Tea Party and other pro-liberty grassroots individuals have worked tirelessly for more than a year championing our principles, becoming engaged and informed, learning the political process, vetting candidates at all levels, and also reshaping the Colorado Republican Party as you advised. We trusted and listened to you among others; but, now you do not trust the Republican voters of Colorado to thoughtfully and logically evaluate the choices before us. You want to impose your personal choice and will over the will of the people. You are subverting the process and our will. This is the opposite of the liberty movement and what we are about.
Since your ultimatum, several liberty groups have queried their members and found about 2/3 (66% of 754 responses - over 250 more than used in Rasmussen polls for Colorado) of the responders to this non-scientific internal survey would not vote for you in the Governor's race. This does not foretell a conservative victory, but rather an impending disaster, assuring victory for Mayor Hickenlooper and the liberal agenda in Colorado for at least four more years. Congressman Tancredo, together our groups strongly urge you to reconsider, withdraw your ultimatum, stay in the Republican Party, let the process play out for the Governor's race within the rules already set forth, and continue to help us improve this party, its candidates, and the process - in other words to trust and respect the newly awakened, energized and informed voters of Colorado.
Pledging our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor to Colorado and our Constitutional Republic, the United States of America -
9-12 Pikes Peak Patriots
9-12 Project Liberty Circle
Broomfield 9-12 Project
Cherry Creek District 9-12 Project
Colorado 9-12 Project (Including Denver metro area, Front Range communities & Eastern I-70 corridor)Elbert County Tea Party
Four Corners 9-12 Project/TEA Party Patriots (Cortez)Four Corners Liberty Restoration Group (including Bayfield & Durango 9-12 Project/Tea Party)Greeley 9-12 Project
Longmont 9-12/Tea Party
R Block Party
South Denver 9-12 Project
The 9-12 Project Colorado Coalition
The912Project.us Network - Colorado Chapter
The Constitutionalist Today Editorial Board
Tri-County 9-12 Project (Delta/Montrose/Ouray)Two Rivers 9-12 Project
Vail Valley 9-12 Project
We Will Not Fall - Fort Collins 9-12 Project
Western Slope Conservative Alliance
Windsor 9-12 Project
###
Monday, July 26, 2010
9-12, Tea Party Groups Won't Support Tancredo, Ask Him To Reconsider
Lu Busse, Chair of the 9-12 Project Colorado Coalition, sent out an open letter to Tom Tancredo, urging him to reconsider his ultimatum of joining the gubernatorial race as a 3rd party candidate and thus assuring defeat for Republicans. If Tancredo wants a real shot at this, he'd need 9-12 and Tea Party groups behind him as a base, and it's clear that not even these conservative/libertarian groups want him in the Governor's race.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Ryan Frazier For Congress
Ryan Frazier is the clear conservative choice in CD-7. Ryan balances strong qualities and experience of powerful public speaking, a fiscally common sense conservative record, naval background and having been elected on the city council at-large in Aurora to make him the most electable conservative to face Ed Perlmutter. There is no one more passionate in the republican field for Congress than Ryan Frazier. Ryan has traveled the state and the district talking to people who know and feel the problems of a burdening government, of high taxes and of limited freedoms and liberties. Ryan knows Colorado, he knows what must be done in Congress.
Ryan not only focuses on the short term problems, like our current economic situation, but also the extended long term problems that are driving our nation into unbelievable debt that can and will cripple our nation if we do not act now like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Ryan knows we have to work with every aspect of the problem to create a sensible solution. As life expectancy rises, it is ridiculous to push forward a plan to lower the retirement age, its common sense ideas like this that makes Ryan Frazier the right guy to send to Washington. Ryan knows it won’t be easy, but he knows it must be done. We must cut our budget, we must cut government programs, we must pay off our debt and close the deficit completely and we must pass a balanced budget because he knows and believes that we owe it to our children for a better America.
Ryan is a very unique candidate. It is not often you get a candidate with such a rich, diverse background who is a conservative and also has the funds and election knowledge and history to take on a liberal democrat with a large war chest. 2010 will be the Republican’s best shot to win CD-7 for the next decade and Ryan Frazier the best candidate that could possibility go up against Ed Perlmutter and the best man to do the job in Congress.
We need accountability, we need integrity, we need experience and we need common sense conservative values. That is what Ryan Frazier brings to the table. I encourage all CD-7 Republicans to cast their ballots for Ryan Frazier.
Ryan not only focuses on the short term problems, like our current economic situation, but also the extended long term problems that are driving our nation into unbelievable debt that can and will cripple our nation if we do not act now like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Ryan knows we have to work with every aspect of the problem to create a sensible solution. As life expectancy rises, it is ridiculous to push forward a plan to lower the retirement age, its common sense ideas like this that makes Ryan Frazier the right guy to send to Washington. Ryan knows it won’t be easy, but he knows it must be done. We must cut our budget, we must cut government programs, we must pay off our debt and close the deficit completely and we must pass a balanced budget because he knows and believes that we owe it to our children for a better America.
Ryan is a very unique candidate. It is not often you get a candidate with such a rich, diverse background who is a conservative and also has the funds and election knowledge and history to take on a liberal democrat with a large war chest. 2010 will be the Republican’s best shot to win CD-7 for the next decade and Ryan Frazier the best candidate that could possibility go up against Ed Perlmutter and the best man to do the job in Congress.
We need accountability, we need integrity, we need experience and we need common sense conservative values. That is what Ryan Frazier brings to the table. I encourage all CD-7 Republicans to cast their ballots for Ryan Frazier.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Tancredo Factor
Tom Tancredo recently announced his intentions to run for Governor on a third party ticket.
Tancredo called for Dan Maes and Scott McInnis to both announce if they win the primary, they will drop out so the GOP executive board can pick a replacement. 2 years of grassroots, tea party, 912, and activists movements for nothing then.
Tancredo would definitely be a threat to Republican's chances of winning the Governor's race. However, if he did run, history would remember Tancredo screwed the GOP's chances, not Maes' clerical error or McInnis' plagiarism scandal. While Tancredo would have some momentum at the beginning of his campaign and shortly after the primary, we predict the campaign would sink a few weeks out to the extent that Tancredo wouldn't even be able to win a single county.
Tancredo is mostly a single issue, anti-immigration type of guy. This represents a small minority in the GOP. There is a strong difference between caring about the illegal immigration and only caring about the illegal immigration problem. While some would suggest that McInnis would be a stronger pick for Republicans in this scenario, we see the exact opposite. Since McInnis has been viewed to be more moderate than Tancredo, a larger portion of the far right would break off to Tancredo, while if Maes was the nominee, he would keep much more of the party base and there is no chance Tancredo would move to the middle to win this.
While Tancredo says the choice is in the hands of Dan Maes and Scott McInnis, we all know that neither are going to drop out easily this far in, and surely both would not drop out, therefore if Tancredo is serious this time, he will run, and he will lose.
Tancredo called for Dan Maes and Scott McInnis to both announce if they win the primary, they will drop out so the GOP executive board can pick a replacement. 2 years of grassroots, tea party, 912, and activists movements for nothing then.
Tancredo would definitely be a threat to Republican's chances of winning the Governor's race. However, if he did run, history would remember Tancredo screwed the GOP's chances, not Maes' clerical error or McInnis' plagiarism scandal. While Tancredo would have some momentum at the beginning of his campaign and shortly after the primary, we predict the campaign would sink a few weeks out to the extent that Tancredo wouldn't even be able to win a single county.
Tancredo is mostly a single issue, anti-immigration type of guy. This represents a small minority in the GOP. There is a strong difference between caring about the illegal immigration and only caring about the illegal immigration problem. While some would suggest that McInnis would be a stronger pick for Republicans in this scenario, we see the exact opposite. Since McInnis has been viewed to be more moderate than Tancredo, a larger portion of the far right would break off to Tancredo, while if Maes was the nominee, he would keep much more of the party base and there is no chance Tancredo would move to the middle to win this.
While Tancredo says the choice is in the hands of Dan Maes and Scott McInnis, we all know that neither are going to drop out easily this far in, and surely both would not drop out, therefore if Tancredo is serious this time, he will run, and he will lose.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Ken Buck For U.S. Senate
Ken has proven to be the grassroots, conservative choice for Colorado. If you want strong conservative leadership who is not afraid of a fight, Ken Buck is your man. Buck stood up to Jane Norton as well as Washington and lobbyist interests when she got in the race to give republicans a choice between independent thinking and fiscal responsibility against a record of increased spending, support for increase of taxes in Ref C and a shady past.
Jane Norton has attacked Ken Buck for increasing the DA budget in Weld County by 40% (before they claimed 50%), Jane needs to look at the facts. Spending from 2005 to 2009 increased by only 30% when the office expanded its district and county courtrooms while the population increased by 41% and crime decreased by 50%. Buck’s predecessor’s budget increased by 32% over an equal four year period and without equally praised results or drastic changes in Weld County. There’s a difference between cutting bad government and cutting good government. Ken Buck knows this difference and will use it effectively in Congress by cutting wasteful spending, overregulation, wasteful programs and push for efficient, effective and much needed reforms in all aspects of government.
Ken Buck is not afraid to stand up to big government and special interest groups to protect the people. He proved that when he protected Weld County social security numbers and cracked down on illegal immigration while many officials pretend the problem does not exist. There is a reason tea party groups around Colorado are endorsing and helping elect Buck in an overwhelming majority, because he is a true, fighting conservative. It is one thing to be a conservative and another to be an active voice, to have both is what we need in Washington and that is the option Ken Buck gives us.
I have watched Ken grow over the past year from events, forums and assemblies and he has proven to be the most electable candidate. Ken Buck is not only the most conservative choice for Colorado, but he is also the best bet for a senate pick-up against either Andrew Romanoff or Michael Bennet and the polls back that up.
Now more than ever, we need leaders we can trust, that we can count on, who have integrity and will do the right thing for Colorado. It is disappointing to see Americans have to choose between corrupt politicians to represent them in Washington or political puppets who have been chosen in closed door meetings by big lobbyists and big names. Ken Buck is neither and in fact the exact opposite of that. Colorado can count on Ken Buck 100% to vote with a conscience and for the state of Colorado. That is why I support Ken Buck and encourage everyone else to do the same. We need sensible leadership now.
Jane Norton has attacked Ken Buck for increasing the DA budget in Weld County by 40% (before they claimed 50%), Jane needs to look at the facts. Spending from 2005 to 2009 increased by only 30% when the office expanded its district and county courtrooms while the population increased by 41% and crime decreased by 50%. Buck’s predecessor’s budget increased by 32% over an equal four year period and without equally praised results or drastic changes in Weld County. There’s a difference between cutting bad government and cutting good government. Ken Buck knows this difference and will use it effectively in Congress by cutting wasteful spending, overregulation, wasteful programs and push for efficient, effective and much needed reforms in all aspects of government.
Ken Buck is not afraid to stand up to big government and special interest groups to protect the people. He proved that when he protected Weld County social security numbers and cracked down on illegal immigration while many officials pretend the problem does not exist. There is a reason tea party groups around Colorado are endorsing and helping elect Buck in an overwhelming majority, because he is a true, fighting conservative. It is one thing to be a conservative and another to be an active voice, to have both is what we need in Washington and that is the option Ken Buck gives us.
I have watched Ken grow over the past year from events, forums and assemblies and he has proven to be the most electable candidate. Ken Buck is not only the most conservative choice for Colorado, but he is also the best bet for a senate pick-up against either Andrew Romanoff or Michael Bennet and the polls back that up.
Now more than ever, we need leaders we can trust, that we can count on, who have integrity and will do the right thing for Colorado. It is disappointing to see Americans have to choose between corrupt politicians to represent them in Washington or political puppets who have been chosen in closed door meetings by big lobbyists and big names. Ken Buck is neither and in fact the exact opposite of that. Colorado can count on Ken Buck 100% to vote with a conscience and for the state of Colorado. That is why I support Ken Buck and encourage everyone else to do the same. We need sensible leadership now.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Primary Endorsements
This week we will be coming out with primary endorsements in the following races so stay tuned in.
Republican US Senate Primary
Democratic US Senate Primary
Republican CD-7 Primary
Republican CD-3 Primary
Republican Treasurer Primary
Republican US Senate Primary
Democratic US Senate Primary
Republican CD-7 Primary
Republican CD-3 Primary
Republican Treasurer Primary
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Scandals In The Race For Governor
Scott McInnis just apologized for plagiarizing work for water rights articles he "wrote". McInnis was paid $300,000 for the articles and when the story broke, the campaign blamed it on an aide to McInnis at the time. So McInnis is saying that he was paid $300,000 when his staffer plagiarized and "wrote" the articles for him?
Dan Maes recently agreed to pay a lowered fine of $17,500 for campaign violations including improper mileage reimbursement, improper intake of a corporate donation of free fliers (which only cost around $500) and for not putting the occupation of nine donors (a volunteer's mistake after filing hundreds). Maes called the reason for the fines were simple clerical error.
Now there isn't anything on Hickenlooper, but I can just about guarantee the gloves will come off after the August 10th primary, for now Hickenlooper is laying low and out of the line of fire while campaigning across the state.
Our prediction is that McInnis' articles will hurt him a lot more than Maes' meager fines for a couple of mistakes after never being a candidate before. To get polling on the race go to http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/ and vote for Colorado.
Dan Maes recently agreed to pay a lowered fine of $17,500 for campaign violations including improper mileage reimbursement, improper intake of a corporate donation of free fliers (which only cost around $500) and for not putting the occupation of nine donors (a volunteer's mistake after filing hundreds). Maes called the reason for the fines were simple clerical error.
Now there isn't anything on Hickenlooper, but I can just about guarantee the gloves will come off after the August 10th primary, for now Hickenlooper is laying low and out of the line of fire while campaigning across the state.
Our prediction is that McInnis' articles will hurt him a lot more than Maes' meager fines for a couple of mistakes after never being a candidate before. To get polling on the race go to http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/ and vote for Colorado.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Fundamental Education Replacement, Not Reform
Today, America’s children are stuck in a situation of 13 wasted years of school. Now does this mean that every second spent in the classroom was a waste? No. However, the way our current education system is set up wastes the most of it. Should students not direct themselves and choose their own futures? Shouldn’t they be allowed to start looking at different options, different career paths, and different areas of study through these 13 years? Now school boards, teachers and politicians will say that students can choose their futures, they can direct their own path in high school and middle school with electives and that in high school there is even more freedom. I’ve been told this numerous times, yet it is not the truth of reality. In reality students know exactly what they must do to get into a specific college, to graduate, etc. Now if you want to be a scientist, it makes since to take a lot of different science classes and start to look into what particular field you should enter. However, why should one’s focus be on science classes to get into a college that looks closely at your science classes and grades when in that college you want to major in English or Liberal Arts? I’m not saying no one should have to take science, I’m saying no one’s priority should have to be science when it makes no since that a student waste time on extra AP and honors science classes when their direction is nothing near science.
The potential excitement and energy we could create would be enormous if students could choose what would best benefit their own lives and futures in school, especially high school. The opportunities would be immense for students to be able to look into every direction of what they might want to study in the future and in college or in life and work. Forcing students to take certain classes to only graduate at the top of their class is extremely stupid when in the long run, they’ll get to college and the real world and know absolutely nothing of what they’d want to do, then be forced to eventually choose a major and direction and then realize too late, they absolutely hate what they are doing. Nobody cares about our current failed curriculum in the real word and there is no use for it. If you want to be a scientist, learn science. If you want to do something with math and physics, take those courses. If you don’t know, try out as many things as possible. But there is absolutely no logic in requiring students to take 13 years of science when they don’t want to be in the direction of science.
Are basic fundamentals important? Yes. Is forced diversity in the subject choices important? To an extent. There is need to throw new things at students, to challenge them, to open up doors, but there is no need at all to require them to take years and years of something that will not pertain to them in the future and if they decide much later on to switch directions, then they can learn it then. If you’re going to be an engineer, you will learn all you need going through your engineering major and in the real world. There’s no point though, in moving every student on the track to become an engineer. For every student, somehow and somewhere in their lives as a student, teaching and class time will be a waste for them in some area.
Think of the possibility of a more productive, more caring world with time much better spent. With energy high and the want to learn high. Think of how much more likely it would be to bring a kid out of the darkest alley and on the road to success if he or she had the ability to choose their future and a drive to actually want to their what they choose to learn. It is amazing to think how much more advanced our society and each one of us could be when maximizing these 13 years to the best of our abilities.
There is a number of things we can do from the government’s side, from the teacher’s side and the community’s side to benefit students in education.
*School choice
*Updated technology
*Qualified and caring teachers
*Greater choice and variety of electives
*Merit-based bonuses
*Parent, Teach, and Student communication
*Well used time and a meaningful core curriculum
However, the one key element that will keep America from being the top in the world education wise, is the drive and heart of the students. Government, teachers and the community can reach out a hand, but unless students hold on to that hand, we can never be the best. No matter how much we spend wisely, no matter how much effort is put into the system, if students do not care to learn, it is all a waste because that motivation is the difference from failure and success.
As a nation, we should owe it to the students to give them every tool they need to succeed, as well as the opening of the door of motivation. And as students, when that door of motivation is open, it is the student’s duty to use it to the best of their ability. Together education can be replaced and put back on the right tracks. Alone, no one can do the task that faces us.
We are running out of time. Countries all around the globe are getting smarter and more efficient much faster than us. We need replacement of our current education system now in both K-12 and higher education. Students, parents and teachers must work together as well as higher and lower education systems. If one of those elements is missing, fundamental education replacement will not be possible, and we must have replacement. Starting right now, we need replacement; because it is long overdue.
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
The potential excitement and energy we could create would be enormous if students could choose what would best benefit their own lives and futures in school, especially high school. The opportunities would be immense for students to be able to look into every direction of what they might want to study in the future and in college or in life and work. Forcing students to take certain classes to only graduate at the top of their class is extremely stupid when in the long run, they’ll get to college and the real world and know absolutely nothing of what they’d want to do, then be forced to eventually choose a major and direction and then realize too late, they absolutely hate what they are doing. Nobody cares about our current failed curriculum in the real word and there is no use for it. If you want to be a scientist, learn science. If you want to do something with math and physics, take those courses. If you don’t know, try out as many things as possible. But there is absolutely no logic in requiring students to take 13 years of science when they don’t want to be in the direction of science.
Are basic fundamentals important? Yes. Is forced diversity in the subject choices important? To an extent. There is need to throw new things at students, to challenge them, to open up doors, but there is no need at all to require them to take years and years of something that will not pertain to them in the future and if they decide much later on to switch directions, then they can learn it then. If you’re going to be an engineer, you will learn all you need going through your engineering major and in the real world. There’s no point though, in moving every student on the track to become an engineer. For every student, somehow and somewhere in their lives as a student, teaching and class time will be a waste for them in some area.
Think of the possibility of a more productive, more caring world with time much better spent. With energy high and the want to learn high. Think of how much more likely it would be to bring a kid out of the darkest alley and on the road to success if he or she had the ability to choose their future and a drive to actually want to their what they choose to learn. It is amazing to think how much more advanced our society and each one of us could be when maximizing these 13 years to the best of our abilities.
There is a number of things we can do from the government’s side, from the teacher’s side and the community’s side to benefit students in education.
*School choice
*Updated technology
*Qualified and caring teachers
*Greater choice and variety of electives
*Merit-based bonuses
*Parent, Teach, and Student communication
*Well used time and a meaningful core curriculum
However, the one key element that will keep America from being the top in the world education wise, is the drive and heart of the students. Government, teachers and the community can reach out a hand, but unless students hold on to that hand, we can never be the best. No matter how much we spend wisely, no matter how much effort is put into the system, if students do not care to learn, it is all a waste because that motivation is the difference from failure and success.
As a nation, we should owe it to the students to give them every tool they need to succeed, as well as the opening of the door of motivation. And as students, when that door of motivation is open, it is the student’s duty to use it to the best of their ability. Together education can be replaced and put back on the right tracks. Alone, no one can do the task that faces us.
We are running out of time. Countries all around the globe are getting smarter and more efficient much faster than us. We need replacement of our current education system now in both K-12 and higher education. Students, parents and teachers must work together as well as higher and lower education systems. If one of those elements is missing, fundamental education replacement will not be possible, and we must have replacement. Starting right now, we need replacement; because it is long overdue.
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)