Backbone Radio

Radio, June 4: Draining the Swamp

Join us on radio every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, DenverTo listen online from anywhere, click 710knus.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello from Seattle, where the TABOR Truth Tour rolls on. Evergreen Freedom Foundation, marking 15 years as a conservative think tank for Washington State, had John Stossel for their June 1 conference. The all-day event opened with a panel where I spoke on "Draining the Swamp: How to Reduce the Size, Scope, and Cost of Government."

I said the swamp, a harmful concentration of power and money, develops when civic responsibility hits a sinkhole. But citizens can replace that depression with a divide, a backbone to define the political watershed. A constitutional tax and spending limit is one way to slow (if not reverse) the growth of government.

Colorado's TABOR does this to an extent, I told the Evergreen conference. Yet our experience with TABOR-evading politicians, judges, and special interests is a reminder not to expect too much from any one reform. You can't people-proof political power. Only a citizenry who understand freedom is a trust, not a toy, can ultimately drain the swamp.

Rallying citizens to that understanding is our mission at "Backbone Radio with John Andrews." Our show this Sunday, as usual, will feature a spectrum of guests and topics with one thing in common: dedication to America's founding principles -- political, moral, and spiritual.

** Rick O'Donnell, Republican candidate for the 7th congressional district in suburban Denver, will update us on his race, one of the most closely watched in the country.

** Wendell Cox, an expert on market solutions for transportation, will discuss why Denver's traffic congestion is so bad -- and how toll roads could help.

** Bishop Harry Jackson, a Maryland pastor, will report on the hard-hitting Black Contract with America on Moral Values.

Plus another visit with our friend, Prof. James Humes of UC-Colorado Springs, speechwriter for five presidents, along with my recorded interview with syndicated talk-show host Dennis Prager, postponed from last week when we ran long with Iraq Purple Heart winner BJ Jackson. (If you missed the BJ interview, one of our best ever, read about him at saluteheroes.org.)

Tune in as we cover all of this -- plus the latest setback for Holtzman in his battle with Beauprez -- from 5-8pm this Sunday, June 4, on 710 KNUS in Denver and 710knus.com around the world. Call in with your two-cents at 303-696-1971. Or comment by email, during the show or right now, at backboneradio@aol.com.

There's nothing else quite like Backbone Radio, the most principled, most patriotic, most faith-based, most Colorado-proud spot on the dial. Tune in for another lively Sunday evening of fact, opinion, and insight.

Yours for self-government, JOHN ANDREWS

Radio, May 28: Memorial Day Edition

Join us on radio every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, DenverTo listen online from anywhere, click 710knus.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let the time never come when "we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." That was the goal of the first Memorial Day proclamation by Gen. John Logan in 1868.

And it's our goal on the next edition of "Backbone Radio with John Andrews," this Sunday, May 28, on the eve of Memorial Day 2006. I invite you to listen in and call in. Our guests and topics will help give this holiday weekend the patriotic significance it deserves.

Radio, May 21: Crunch time for Republicans

Join us on radio every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, DenverTo listen online from anywhere, click 710knus.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our show this Sunday will look at the sea of troubles currently facing the Republican Party, and how the GOP can take up arms against them for a winning strategy this fall.

Coming off their test of strength at the Republican nominating assembly on Saturday, Colorado gubernatorial candidates Marc Holtzman and Bob Beauprez (represented by his campaign manager, John Marshall) will preview the August primary.

Coming off a very disappointing (to most conservatives) immigration speech by the President last Monday, with basement poll numbers for both Bush and the GOP Congress, State Rep. Dave Schultheis will outline ideas from the conservative legislators caucus he chairs, for better policies on illegal aliens and other issues.

Radio, May 14: Honoring Mom

Join us on radio every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, DenverTo listen online from anywhere, click 710knus.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Mother's Day theme on a political talk show? You better believe it, bucky. Individual liberty is impossible without individual responsibility, of which America's moms are among the best examples and teachers. Limited government is impossible without a strong civil society, of which the cornerstone is family and marriage.

Besides which, my own mother Marianne, rest her soul, and our children's mother Donna, who's stood by me for so long, deserve this guy's homage all day long on May 14, and have it they shall -- even during the three hours I will be spending on the air with listeners.

You're invited to be a listener this Sunday, 5-8pm, when "Backbone Radio with John Andrews" leads off with special guest Frances Owens, Colorado's First Lady.

Another special guest will be Hugh Hewitt, the nationally syndicated radio host whom many Coloradans enjoy every weekday on 710 KNUS. His new book about the 2006 and 2008 elections, "Painting the Map Red," will give us plenty to talk about.

Radio, May 7 * Sea to shining sea

Update, May 8: Juan Botero cancelled his appearance on last night's show, stating that his campaign against Congressman Tancredo is suspended until May 10. Taxpayer advocate Douglas Bruce appeared instead, explaining his tax and debt limit proposals in Colorado Springs (see cityreforms.com) and urging passage of the Petition Rights Amendment (pra2006.com) by statewide voters this fall.---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join us on radio every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, Denver To listen online from anywhere, click 710knus.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's been a bicoastal week for your friend John. Wednesday and Thursday I was in Ontario CA for meetings at the Claremont Institute and a speech honoring May 4 as the National Day of Prayer. Then on Friday and Saturday, out to Washington DC for the Salem Radio Network talk show hosts conference.

Did you know that the first speech ever given by an American president, George Washington's inaugural address in 1789, contains three extended passages of prayer? Did you know that talk radio's power in politics today was made possible by President Reagan's repeal of the anti-free-speech "fairness doctrine" back in the 1980s?