Will legislative Dems go along with Gov. Ritter's property tax increase in these final days of the 2007 session? Will the raid on petition rights, HCR-1001, succeed? Will the Governor sign a stack of bills on fringy social issues belying his moderate campaign promises? Your voice could make the difference. Click here for our action links and contact directory -- and please do your part!
By Dave Petteys (dpetteys@comcast.net) John Edwards’ response to the question in this week's debate, “What would you do if the nation were attacked?” was quite revealing: He said in effect “I would determine where the intelligence breakdown was, and find where the Homeland Security had failed, and punish those responsible.” Note that it didn’t even cross Mr. Edwards' mind to strike back at the enemies: only to find scapegoats and crucify them! Very much a lawyer’s response.
Obviously, Mr. Edwards doesn’t understand the nature of the problem. On one hand our Wahabbist enemies together with Iranian sponsored terrorist organizations such as HAMAS are hatching plots of ways to kill us. On the other hand, they are lobbying with Mr. Edwards’ Democratic Party itself to tie the hands of our defenders by cutting back on the Patriot Act and shutting down the monitoring of terrorist communications in the interests of “Civil Rights”. This guarantees that very soon, one of the terrorist plots will go undetected and succeed. And when a plot does succeed, Mr. Edwards is standing by to crucify the valiant men and women who, as we speak, are frantically trying to defend us.
Mr. Edwards doesn’t understand that our defenders have to be right 100% of the time, but our enemies only have to slip through the net once! Mr. Edwards’ approach is reminiscent of congressional meddling and micromanaging during the Civil War: Jacobean hearings would excoriate experienced Officers after each military reversal, placing the blame everywhere except on Congress itself.
In my humble opinion, Mr. Edwards’ legal mind renders him incapable of defending this country, disqualifying him to be a Commander in Chief.
A black American reflects on the Imus affair By Joseph C. Phillips (joseph@josephcphillips.com)
When I was a boy, my father charged me with cleaning up a mess in the bathroom. Thoroughly disgusted, I tried every way I knew how to avoid touching anything. The delay angered my father until finally in exasperation, he hollered, “You are going to touch much worse than that in your life!” He was correct. I have in my life touched much worse. The lesson learned was in all things we must keep our perspective.
Following an off-color joke about the Rutgers women’s basketball team that fell terribly flat, radio host Don Imus was fired from his program at MSNBC and a short time later was also released from his contract with CBS radio. One need not like Don Imus or approve of what he said in order to wonder if perhaps the punishment and the accompanying hysteria didn’t exceed the crime. On the other hand, we are living in a nation whose moral equilibrium has been turned topsy-turvy. And the culprit is not hip hop music or the hypocrisy of the post civil rights establishment. The moral offense that supersedes all other considerations is white racism and the guilt and victimhood that accompany it.
A woman in Seattle is caught on video tape in a drunken, profanity laced tirade in which she calls an Arab convenience store clerk “un-American” and “Gandhi.” She then grabs him by the throat committing a battery. Once sober and facing charges, she releases a statement assuring the witnessing public that she is not a racist. No matter that she is a sloppy drunk, with a mouth like a sailor and a batterer, she must make it clear that she is not a racist.
A sitting United States senator must defend himself against charges that 20 years ago he used the N word. Imus hasn’t changed his act in 15 years. For Leslie Moonves, CBS CEO, to feign surprise at the content of the Imus in the Morning program strains credulity. What did change is the now very public possibility of being tagged with the label of racist.
The exploitation of that fear is what is known as the race hustle and few are as adept at it as the reverends Sharpton and Jackson. But hey, don’t hate the player, hate the game! Both men are free to pass judgment on issues of race in spite of their own transgressions because their blackness makes them immune to charges of white racism. This immunity along with the amazing ability to be in front of every microphone in sight is the only source of their power.
A nation blind to race and focused on character and virtue is frightening to men like Sharpton and Jackson. The only virtue they possess is their rather deft wielding of the sword of white racism. Disaster for Sharpton and Jackson would have been if the Rutgers team had issued a statement along the lines of, “We don’t know who this clown is, but we are not going to allow his ugliness to distract from the beautiful women we are and the positive things we are doing.” But the power of white racism was too strong and they were lulled into victim hood replete with emotional hand wringing, claims of lives scarred and seasons ruined and appearances on Oprah.
They will in their lives experience much worse.
This sword, of course, cuts both ways. The Teflon that shields the race hustler offers similar protection to the rap artist. The real irony is the very thing that accuses whites is the same thing that makes the identical language in much of the popular culture intractable. As deplorable as we may find the language, our protestations gain little traction because they do not carry with them the weight of white racism. The black community cannot bring to bear the same deadly weapon on members of its own community. That is the real sad and unfortunate realization of this entire affair.
For our own sake, the conversation that will happen following the fall of Don Imus must at some point include the end of white racism. At some point, we must find a way to assuage our guilt over America’s original sin without destroying the foundations of our culture and falling further into the multi-cultural abyss. That is not an argument in favor of incivility or ugliness. It is, however, a plea for some perspective. ----------------------------- Denver native Joseph C. Phillips is a Hollywood actor, a syndicated columnist, a regular on Backbone radio, and the author of He Talk Like a White Boy, available wherever books are sold.
Followup directory & links for John Andrews'legislative countdown special on 710 KNUS
Thanks for your willingness to get involved as the Colorado General Assembly decides critical issues in these final days of its 2007 session. Matters awaiting decision are a moving target, but the property tax hike may still arise as a late bill, the Iraq war resolutions aren't yet finalized, and social issues such as the sex ed mandate (HB-1292) and gay adoption (HB-1330) await Ritter's signature or veto. Your voice can make a difference -- see below for relevant links, along with our convenient directory of legislators with email addresses and phone numbers.
For information on bills awaiting action, click here. For a listing of committee members who will hear a specific bill you're interested in, click here. To search bills by subject matter, click here.
To get the name of your own state senator and representative, use this link, then click on the map to reach your county clerk and there find your polling place, where elected officials are listed. To call legislators through their switchboard, ask for any House member at 303-866-2904, for Senate Democrats at 303-866-4865, and for Senate Republicans at 303-866-4866. Reach Gov. Bill Ritter at 303-866-2471. Or to email him, click Governor.Ritter@state.co.us.
Directory Key: Leaders are listed first, then alphabetical by last names. H for House members, S for Senators, followed by their district number. Then counties represented, then R or D for party affiliation, then office phone number. Finally, email address, which you can click to send an email to that member.
Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald S16 D 303-866-3342 Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Summit joan.fitzgerald.senate@state.co.us
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff H6 D 303-866-2346 Arapahoe, Denver romanoff@coloradohouse.org
Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany S12 El Paso R 303-866-2318 andymcelhany@pcisys.net
House Minority Leader Mike May H44 Douglas R 303-866-5523 mike.may.house@state.co.us
Sen. McElhany (R) & Rep. May warned of Gov. Ritter's plan
to increase property taxes on the Call to Action special.
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Balmer, David G H39 Arapahoe R 303-866-2950 david.balmer.house@state.co.us
Benefield, Debbie H29 Jefferson D 303-866-2950 debbie.benefield.house@state.co.us
Borodkin, Alice H9 D 303-866-2910 Denver, Arapahoe aliceb321@aol.com
Buescher, Bernie H55 Mesa D 303-866-2583 bernie@buescher.org
Butcher, Dorothy H46 Pueblo D 303-866-2968 no email
Bacon, Bob S14 Larimer D 303-866-4841 bob.bacon.senate@state.co.us
Boyd, Betty S21 Jefferson D 303-866-4857 betty.boyd.senate@state.co.us
Brophy, Greg S1 R 303-866-6360 Cheyenne, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan Morgan, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington, Yuma greg@gregbrophy.net
Cadman, Bill H15 El Paso R 303-866-5525 bill.cadman.house@state.co.us
Carroll, Morgan H36 Arapahoe D 303-866-2942 morgancarroll@webaccess.net
Carroll, Terrance H7 Denver D 303-866-2909 terrance.carroll.house@state.co.us
Casso, Edward H32 Adams D 303-866-2964 no email
Cerbo, Mike H2 Denver D 303-866-2911 mpcerbo@yahoo.com
Curry, Kathleen H61 D 303-866-2945 Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison,Hinsdale, Pitkin kathleencurry@montrose.net
Fischer, Randy H53 Larimer D Cap: 303-866-2917 randy.fischer.house@state.co.us
Frangas, K.Jerry H4 Denver D Cap: 303-866-2954 kjerry.frangas.house@state.co.us
Gagliardi, Sara H27 Jefferson D 303-866-2962 sara.gagliardi.house@state.co.us
Gallegos, Rafael L H62 D 303-866-2916 Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache rafael.gallegos.house@state.co.us
Garcia, Michael H42 Arapahoe D 303-866-3911 michael@michaelgarcia.info
Gardner, Bob H21 R 303-866-2191 Fremont, El Paso bob.gardner.house@state.co.us
Gardner, Cory H63 R 303-866-2906 Adams, Cheyenne, Crowley, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Morgan, Washington, Yuma cory.gardner.house@state.co.us
In leading off the Call to Action special, Rep. Cory Gardner (L)
warned of "leap to the left" by this year's legislature.
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Gibbs, Dan H56 D 303-866-2952 Eagle, Lake, Summit dan.gibbs.house@state.co.us
Green, Gwyn H23 Jefferson D 303-866-2951 gwyngreen@yahoo.com
Gordon, Ken S35 D 303-866-3341 Arapahoe, Denver ken@kengordon.com
Groff, Peter C. S33 D 303-866-4864 Adams, Denver peter.groff.senate@state.co.us
Hicks, Stella Garza H17 El Paso R 303-866-3069 stella.hicks.house@state.co.us
Hodge, Mary H30 Adams D 303-866-2912 maryhodge@aol.com
Hagedorn, Bob S29 Arapahoe D 303-866-4879 SenBob@msn.com
Harvey, Ted S30 Douglas R 303-866-4881 ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us
Isgar, Jim S6 D 303-866-4884 Archuleta,Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel isgarsenate@frontier.net
Jahn, Cheri H24 Jefferson D 303-866-5522 ceri.jahn.house@state.co.us
Judd, Joel H5 Denver D 303-866-2925 joeljudd@aol.com
Johnson, Steve S15 Larimer R 303-866-4853 steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us
Kefalas, John H52 Larimer D 303-866-4569 john.kefalas.house@state.co.us
Kerr, Andrew H26 Jefferson D 303-866-2923 akerrhd26@earthlink.net
Kerr, James E H28 Jefferson R 303-866-2939 james.kerr.house@state.co.us
King, Steve H54 R 303-866-3068 Delta, Mesa steve.king.house@state.co.us
Keller, Maryanne "Moe" S20 Jefferson D 303-866-4856 moe.keller.senate@state.co.us
Kester, Ken S2 R 303-866-4877 Baca, Bent, Crowley, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Pueblo ken.kester.senate@state.co.us
Kopp, Mike S22 Jefferson R 303-866-4859 mike.kopp.senate@state.co.us
Gulf War veteran Mike Kopp (L) debated Senate Majority Leader
Ken Gordon (C) about the latter's anti-Iraq War resolution
in one segment of the Call to Action special.
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Labuda, Jeanne H1 D 303-866-2966 Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson No email
Lambert, Kent H14 El Paso R 303-866-2937 kent.lambert.house@state.co.us
Levy, Claire H13 D 303-866-2578 Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin claire.levy.house@state.co.us
Liston, Larry G H16 El Paso R 303-866-2965 larry.liston.house@state.co.us
Looper, Marsha H19 El Paso R 303-866-2946 marsha.looper.house@state.co.us
Lundberg, Kevin H49 R 303-866-2907 Larimer, Weld kevin@kevinlundberg.com
Madden, Alice H10 Boulder D 303-866-2348 alice.madden.house@state.co.us
Marostica, Don H51 Larimer R 303-866-2947 No email
Marshall, Rosemary H8 Denver D 303-866-2959 rosemary.marshall.house@state.co.us
Massey, Tom H60 R 303-866-2747 Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Park, Pueblo, Saguache tom.massey.house@state.co.us
McFadyen, Liane "Buffie" H47 D 303-866-2905 Fremont, Pueblo buffie2006@hotmail.com
McGihon, Anne L. H3 D 303-866-2921 Arapahoe, Denver anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us
McKinley, Wes H64 D 303-866-2398 Baca, Bent, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers wes.mckinley.house@state.co.us
McNulty, Frank H43 Douglas R 303-866-2936 No email
Merrifield, Michael H18 El Paso D 303-866-2932 michael.merrifield.house@state.co.us
Mitchell, Victor H45 R 303-866-2948 Douglas, Teller victor.mitchell.house@state.co.us
May, Ron S10 El Paso R 303-866-2737 senatormay@ronmay.org
Mitchell, Shawn S23 R 303-866-4876 Adams, Broomfield, Weld shawn.mitchell.senate@state.co.us
Morse, John P. S11 El Paso D 303-866-6364 john.morse.senate@state.co.us
Peniston, Cherylin H35 Adams D 303-866-2843 cherylin.peniston.house@state.co.us
Pommer, Jack H11 Boulder D 303-866-2780 jack.pommer.house@state.co.us
Primavera, Dianne H33 D 303-866-4667 Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Weld dianne.primavera.house@state.co.us
Penry, Joshua "Josh" S7 R 303-866-3077 Garfield, Mesa joshpenry@gmail.com
Rice, Joe H38 D 303-866-2953 Arapahoe, Jefferson joe.rice.house@state.co.us
Riesberg, Jim H50 Weld D 303-866-2929 jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us
Roberts, Ellen H59 R 303-866-2914 Archuleta, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan ellen.roberts.house@state.co.us
Rose, Ray H58 R 303-866-2955 Delta, Dolores, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel ray.rose.house@state.co.us
Renfroe, Scott W. S13 Weld R 303-866-4451 scott.renfroe.senate@state.co.us
Romer, Chris S32 D 303-866-4852 Denver, Jefferson chris.romer.senate@state.co.us
Solano, Judy H31 Adams D 303-866-2918 judy.solano.house@state.co.us
Sonnenberg, Jerry H65 R 303-866-3706 Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Weld jerry.sonnenberg.house@state.co.us
Soper, John F H34 Adams D 303-866-2931 john.soper.house@state.co.us
Stafford, Debbie H40 R 303-866-2944 Arapahoe, Elbert debbie.stafford.house@state.co.us
Stephens, Amy H20 El Paso R 303-866-2924 amy.stephens.house@state.co.us
Summers, Ken H22 Jefferson R 303-866-2927 ken.summers.house@state.co.us
Swalm, Spencer H37 Arapahoe R 303-866-5510 spencer.swalm.house@state.co.us
Sandoval, Paula E. S34 Denver D 303-866-4862 paula.sandoval.senate@state.co.us
Schultheis, David C. "Dave" S9 El Paso R 303-866-4835 dave@daveschultheis.com
Schwartz, Gail S5 D 303-866-4871 Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Saguache gail.schwartz.senate@state.co.us
Shaffer, Brandon C. S17 Boulder D 303-866-5291 brandon@brandonshaffer.com
Spence, Nancy S27 Arapahoe R 303-866-4883 nancyspence@qwest.net
Todd, Nancy H41 D 303-866-2919 Arapahoe, Denver nancy.todd.house@state.co.us
Takis, Stephanie S25 Adams D 303-866-4855 stephanie.takis.senate@state.co.us
Tapia, Abel J. S3 Pueblo D 303-866-2581 abel.tapia.senate@state.co.us
Taylor, Jack S8 R 303-866-5292 Eagle, Garfield, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt No email
Tochtrop, Lois S24 Adams D 303-866-4863 lotochtrop@aol.com
Tupa, Ron S18 Boulder D 303-866-4872 ron.tupa.senate@state.co.us
Vaad, Glenn H48 Weld R 303-866-2943 glenn.vaad.house@state.co.us
Veiga, Jennifer S31 D 303-866-4861 Adams, Denver jennifer.veiga.senate@state.co.us
Weissmann, Paul H12 Boulder D 303-866-2920 reppaul@aol.com
White, Al H57 R 303-866-2949 Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt al.white.house@state.co.us
Witwer, Robert E H25 Jefferson R 303-866-2582 rob.witwer.house@state.co.us
Ward, Steve S26 R 303-866-4846 Arapahoe, Jefferson steve.ward.senate@state.co.us
Wiens, Tom J S4 R 303-866-4869 Douglas, El Paso, Lake, Park, Teller tom@tomwiens.com
Williams, Suzanne S28 D 303-866-3432 Arapahoe, Denver suzanne.williams.senate@state.co.us
Windels, Sue S19 Jefferson D 303-866-4840 senatorwindels@comcast.net
Young conservative cartoonist with a sharp new pen Editor's Note: Ben Hummel of Denver is a newcomer to editorial cartooning, but his strong art skills and right-leaning outlook show much promise. BackboneAmerica.net is honored to show off Hummel's work while he hunts his first newspaper gig. See more from this sharp penman at BenjaminHummel.com.
Please click on cartoon image to view full size & detail.
