Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Colorado Gun Elections Gives Conservatives Blueprint: Grassroots
Townhall.com ^ | September 15, 2013 | Mark Baisley

Posted on 09/15/2013 11:10:23 AM PDT by Kaslin

A delicious event happened in Pueblo, Colorado this week.  And forty-five miles north of Pueblo, a parallel phenomenon was unfolding in Colorado Springs.  Two Democratic state senators, including the President of the Senate, were recalled from office by a vote of their constituents.

Sure, this was big news across the country, covered by all the networks and all the radio talk show personalities.  But something far more significant than a recall had taken place in Colorado; something revolutionary.

The old guard watched and the grassroots won.  

In 2010, Rob Witwer and Adam Schrager wrote the book, The Blueprint: How the Democrats Won Colorado (and Why Republicans Everywhere Should Care).  Witwer, a former Colorado State Representative, and Schrager, a political journalist, forced smug Republicans to stare at the devastation of their former Shangri-La with a disturbing exposé.  In 2004, Colorado’s Governor and both United States Senators were Republicans and the GOP held the majority in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate.  In November of 2012, Colorado Republicans lost the last of those strongholds when the Democrats took majority control of the State House.

During the 2013 session of the Colorado State Legislature, the Democrats gorged themselves on a cornucopia of liberal utopianism.  They force-fed the system with irresponsible spending, social radicalism, voter fraud concessions, and gun control.  The only sign of scruples during this gluttonous frenzy came from the closet liberal Democratic Governor, John Hickenlooper.  During the first two years of his term, the Republican-controlled House prevented radical bills from reaching his desk.  But his moderate branding was rapidly sullied this year when he chose ideological loyalty over a comfortable re-election for 2014.

The gun control bills that Governor Hickenlooper signed were enough to invoke a Colorado boycott from hunters and to chase weapons manufacturer Magpul out of the state.  But the new laws were not enough to bring the disjoint Republicans together against a common enemy.  Internal factions of the party are readily discernible.  And far more energy is expended on internal positioning than on collective strategizing to defeat the Democrats.

But last week, the laws of attraction naturally came into effect for free radicals across the Rocky Mountain State.  People who had never before been involved in politics launched recall election efforts.  Colorado Springs resident Keith Coniglio actually sold two of his personal firearms to help fund the effort.  Eventually, these independents, Republicans, and even some Democrats coalesced to form a patriotic battle cry for their Second Amendment rights.

While this recall effort would be the natural province of the state Republican Party, the organization seemed to watch the grassroots effort as a passionless observer.  At one point, the Libertarian Party stepped up to the plate, providing much needed legal funding.  At the county level, the Pueblo Republican Party showed its moxie.  County Chair Becky Mizel led an army of citizens willing to brave the lopsided registration disadvantage to bring the victory home.

But the key component to the win was overcoming the Democrats’ expertise in creating opportunities for voter fraud.  The liberal party pulled out all the stops, leveraging their newly-passed law that allows anyone to vote who merely states his intent to move into the district.  Their tactics were sponsored by a $350,000 investment from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

But the outcome pivoted on the masterminding of vote integrity by crusader Marilyn Marks of Aspen, Colorado.  Her management of the legal challenges forced the hand of county clerks to hold the elections in polling places only.  Mail ballots were eliminated and along with it the standard opportunities for Democratic Party mischief.

Early returns in Colorado Springs foretold the abrupt cancellation of Colorado’s State Senate presidency.  Within an hour of closing the polls, Senate President John Morse conceded.  At the same moment, the Pueblo County Republican Chairman texted that they, “May not pull it off…”  But her stress turned to celebration as polling places added their returns toward a double-digit win over Senator Angela Giron.

The scrappy hyenas who brought down this wildebeest are satisfied in their victory.  They are enjoying the meal and sharing it with the rest of us.  But when a lion arrived after the hard work was done and claimed the kill for herself, the conviviality became strained.

A fundraising email was blasted out under the name of Republican National Committee Co-Chair Sharon Day with the subject line, “We won.”  Colorado Republican State Senator Kevin Grantham responded defensively to Co-Chair Day with this objection, “You mention that you gave support to the local grassroots – fine. But you say that it is ‘our conservative grassroots’. Not from what I saw. I saw conservatives, libertarians, tea-partiers, 9-12ers, constitutionalists, and union Democrats come together, most of whom have no use for the RNC, most of whom I know by name, and beat back Bloomberg’s money.  What I didn’t see was you.”  Ouch.

Patriots with no political title, no position in the GOP, and no aspirations for elected office pulled their personal talents and treasure together, got the job done and went home.  There is a lesson here, and it is an enormous one.  Where the jealousy is for power, the pledge is for centralized control and the effectiveness is anemic.  Where the jealousy is for liberty, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; guncontrol; secondamendment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

1 posted on 09/15/2013 11:10:23 AM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

We the People of the Occupied State of California watched with heartfelt admiration and were inspired to a renewed enthusiasm that this government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth.’ Thank you, Colorado - thank you, fellow citizens. Well done!


2 posted on 09/15/2013 11:18:50 AM PDT by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“We Won”, huh?

Yeah. Saw that email. Whatta laff. Like they had anything to do with it.

Mr. Tancredo - the man the RNC doesn’t want to be seen with - is currently LEADING Hickloopy for Governor.

The momentum is with him, but of course, once we let John Boner, Denise Prissy and Eric Cantdoit start saying things like “Well, Mr. Tancredo is a bit extreme in his views...”, that momentum will be completely dumped as we say in the aerospace biz.

So now is the moment in history. The serfs have arisen yet again, and Atlas is Shrugging. The professional parasites are sensing disaster and will soon coalesce to destroy the opportunity. Will Lois Lerner be re-instated? Tasked by both D.C. gangs to get rid of the uppity villeins?

Only if we let them.


3 posted on 09/15/2013 11:19:36 AM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

We have no media. We have no elected leaders. All we have is grassroots.


4 posted on 09/15/2013 11:19:41 AM PDT by GeronL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

Now it is time to go after the rest of them including Gov Chickenpooper!


5 posted on 09/15/2013 11:25:00 AM PDT by MtnClimber (0-Bomb-a-Nation. Resist we much!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

GOPe, as worthless a bucket of crap as exists in this country today. And yet, they have the temerity to “claim victory” here. The same forces that brought about the win here, need to go to work on the likes of Boner, Cantor, McCarthy, McLame, Linda Graham, and Rancid Prebus for starters. They are more of an enemy than either of these two RAT Turds from Colorado. With “friends” like them, we don’t need any enemies.


6 posted on 09/15/2013 11:25:17 AM PDT by vette6387
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

We have no media. We have no elected leaders. All we have is grassroots.

Worth repeating, GeronL.

Back to basics. Defense of individual liberty and non-totalitarian economics.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.


7 posted on 09/15/2013 11:26:30 AM PDT by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: vette6387

Blah blah blah blah blah


8 posted on 09/15/2013 11:29:42 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

We could have media if we in the grassroots would get busy and build our own.


9 posted on 09/15/2013 11:29:46 AM PDT by abb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“Where the jealousy is for power, the pledge is for centralized control and the effectiveness is anemic. Where the jealousy is for liberty, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

There is a corollary to this. Where there is no jealousy for Liberty, the forces of tyranny and kakistocracy triumph.

Let’s be honest here. If we as conservatives and gun owners had truly been on the ball, these turkeys would have never been elected to start with. And if they had been elected based on other political issues, they would have never dared to implement gun control. But they were elected, they did implement gun control, and chances are pretty fair that those gun restrictions will remain in place notwithstanding the summary ejection of these two tyrant wannabes.

To summarize: if even 10% of the Colorado population Open Carried on a regular basis, we wouldn’t have to worry about this silliness. What is that, maybe 1 in 5 gun owners in Colorado? 1 in 7? But they rarely Open Carry if they carry at all, the tools of Liberty remain hidden and mysterious to all but the already converted, and we lose the propaganda war.


10 posted on 09/15/2013 11:32:05 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

“We have no media. We have no elected leaders. All we have is grassroots.”

I disagree with you on some things, Geron. But on this one you’re right as right can be.


11 posted on 09/15/2013 11:33:18 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

RNC is dead, deader than a doornail

its members and candidates showed themselves to be greedy eliteist pragmatists who would not follow order from their constituents

When I went to an Elephant Lunch and said I was looking for conservatives I was informed” “well we are Republicans”. Maybe so, but IF THEY ARE, AND THAT IS A BIG IF, they should be conservative.


12 posted on 09/15/2013 11:33:46 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“Blah blah blah blah blah.”

Would you care to expand on that, Kaslin? Has there been something of worth that the gop as an organization has done for us lately? I will happily give credit where it’s due, but I sure haven’t seen much to credit them with at least at the national level.


13 posted on 09/15/2013 11:36:17 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
We have no media. We have no elected leaders. All we have is grassroots.

When push comes to shove comes to punch in the nose, we, the people are all we need.

14 posted on 09/15/2013 11:38:16 AM PDT by Standing Wolf (No tyrant should ever be allowed to die of natural causes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: abb

We have the bloggers.

Hopefully someday we will not give a de facto preference for “news” because it has appeared in the lamestream media versus a blog.


15 posted on 09/15/2013 11:38:51 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: RKBA Democrat

I am tired of third partiers bashing the republicans. As if their candidates would accomplish anything. They can’t even get elected into office


16 posted on 09/15/2013 11:40:25 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Standing Wolf

“When push comes to shove comes to punch in the nose, we, the people are all we need.”

Reminds me of a favorite quote:

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face”
(credited to Mike Tyson)


17 posted on 09/15/2013 11:40:41 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Standing Wolf

I hope so, but look how long the Soviet Union lasted


18 posted on 09/15/2013 11:46:07 AM PDT by GeronL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“I am tired of third partiers bashing the republicans.”

Does that mean I get a pass? I’m not a member of any party. I sort of hope for a viable second party to displace the gop/’rat uniparty. But if all the parties were to magically disappear into a black hole it wouldn’t bother me.

“As if their candidates would accomplish anything.”

Given that we haven’t seen a new party rise to prominence since the 1860’s, we really don’t know that.

“They can’t even get elected into office.”

Which is in large part a result of ballot access laws which force small parties to spend a disproportionate share of their resources to simply get on the ballot, let alone compete for attention and votes. The uniparty has feathered it’s nest very nicely.


19 posted on 09/15/2013 11:49:49 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Good article KAS...."masterminding of vote integrity by crusader Marilyn Marks of Aspen, Colorado. Her management of the legal challenges forced the hand of county clerks to hold the elections in polling places only. Mail ballots were eliminated and along with it the standard opportunities for Democratic Party mischief...If I understand this the 'Dems' couldn't steal this election because the mail-in ballots weren't ready in such a short time as scheduled. So should we not do away with all absentee ballots to prevent their fraud?
20 posted on 09/15/2013 11:55:55 AM PDT by virgil283 (When the sun spins, the cross appears, and the skies burn red)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson