“Everything happens for a reason but sometimes the reason is that you’re stupid and you make bad decisions.”

Hmm.  Ironic, eh?  Needless to say they promptly deleted it after I made a comment. 

Oops! Whoever maintains the county's Facebook page should pay attention to who they are logged in as.

President Obama's effort to piggyback on the accomplishments of previous presidents is asinine. Here he is with JFK and RFK discussing the Bay of Pigs.

The White House’s website is one of the most informative government sites, particularly for its historical information.  This however has taken a new twist as President Barack Obama has taken the liberty of inserting himself into the official biographies of previous residents of 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Word of the changes to biographies of virtually every president from Calvin Coolidge to George W Bush broke on the Internet yesterday, initially by Rory Cooper of the Heritage Foundation.  It seemed like a pretty farfetched tale, one likely to turn up as false on Snopes.  However, it turns out to be true.

The biographies of 13 of the last 14 presidents now includes a “Did you know” section where President Obama ties to his own ‘accomplishments’ with those of a predecessor.

Some samples:

• While George W. Bush was the first president to stream an address on the Internet, President Obama’s included a “enhanced live stream version.”  Big f’n deal.
• Ronald Reagan made Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday and today the Obama’s and Biden’s spend the day doing service projects.  Who cares?
• John F Kennedy created the Peace Corps and President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation honoring their 50th anniversary.  Um, ok.
• Along the same lines as the entry under George W. Bush, Calvin Coolidge’s bio mentions how he made the first presidential address via radio.  President Obama notes that he is not to be outdone by his predecessor because he uses social media.  Whatever.

To be sure the current occupant of the White House should use the site to inform American citizens of what is being done by their government.  However, to manipulate and as one other writer put it – vandalize – the historical biographies of previous presidents is reprehensible.

The biographies of previous presidents should be considered historical and factual documents.  They should not be used as an Obama campaign commercial.

The statements appear to be Barack Obama’s way of trying to one-up previous presidents but in the end once again show the childish ego of a man too small for the office.   Why stand on the merits (or lack thereof) of your own failed policies when you can instead piggyback on those that did actually do something worthwhile?

On the net:

• Twitter #ObamaInHistory
• Obama in History on Tumblr
• Heritage.org: President Me

From WhiteHouse.gov:

George W Bush – In 2002, President George W. Bush’s State of the Union was the first to be live broadcast on the Internet. In 2011 and 2012, President Obama’s State of the Union speeches were available in an enhanced live stream version that featured infographics, charts and data side-by-side in real time with the President’s speech.

William J Clinton – Continuing his work as a lifelong public service, Clinton created the Clinton Foundation in 2001 to improve global health, education, economies and environments. Affectionately calling him “Do-Gooder-in-Chief”, President Obama has worked with Clinton to make buildings in our country more efficient—announcing a $4 billion investment in energy efficiency upgrades for commercial buildings.

George H. W. Bush – President Barack Obama awarded George H.W. Bush the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his commitment to service and ability to inspire volunteerism throughout the country, encouraging citizens to be “a thousand points of light.” The administration continues to promote service and civic engagement, honoring heroes of local communities as “Champions of Change” and fostering civic participation.

Ronald Reagan – President Reagan designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday; today the Obama Administration honors this tradition, with the First and Second Families participating in service projects on this day.

In a June 28, 1985 speech Reagan called for a fairer tax code, one where a multi-millionaire did not have a lower tax rate than his secretary. Today, President Obama is calling for the same with the Buffett Rule.

James Carter – In 1977, President Jimmy Carter created the Department of Energy; today the DOE works with the Obama Administration to drive towards innovation in energy and reducing reliance on foreign oil with an “all of the above” approach.

Richard Nixon – In 1973, Richard Nixon created The President’s Export Council, which was expanded and reconstituted under President Jimmy Carter in 1979. Today the PEC continues to work towards reaching President Obama’s goal of doubling the nation’s exports by 2014’s end.

Lyndon B Johnson – President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare signed into law in 1965—providing millions of elderly healthcare stability. President Obama’s historic health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act, strengthens Medicare, offers eligible seniors a range of preventive services with no cost-sharing, and provides discounts on drugs when in the coverage gap known as the “donut hole.”

John F Kennedy – President John F. Kennedy famously suggested the American people: “Ask what you can do for your country.” In 1961, the Peace Corps was created, facilitating service among citizens working toward peace in developing countries. In 2011, President Obama celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps with a Presidential Proclamation.

Dwight D. Eisenhower – President Dwight Eisenhower established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness on July 16, 1956 (now known as The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports) after learning from a study that American youth were less fit than European youth. Today the Council is still going strong—with Olympians and professional athletes on board—working in conjunction with the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to help promote healthier lifestyles.

Harry S. Truman – In a 1946 letter to the National Urban League, President Truman wrote that the government has “an obligation to see that the civil rights of every citizen are fully and equally protected.” He ended racial segregation in civil service and the armed forces in 1948. Today the Obama Administration continues to strive toward upholding the civil rights of its citizens, repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, allowing people of all sexual orientations to serve openly in our armed forces.

Franklin D. Roosevelt – On August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. Today the Obama Administration continues to protect seniors and ensure Social Security will be there for future generations.

Herbert Hoover – President Herbert Hoover signed the bill founding the Department of Veterans Affairs July 21, 1930. President Obama is committed to making sure that the VA, the second-largest cabinet department, serves the needs of all veterans and provides a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life, and has directed his Administration to modernize the way health care is delivered and benefits are administered for our nation’s veterans.  First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.

Calvin Coolidge – On Feb. 22, 1924 Calvin Coolidge became the first president to make a public radio address to the American people. President Coolidge later helped create the Federal Radio Commission, which has now evolved to become the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).   President Obama became the first president to hold virtual gatherings and town halls using Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, etc.

Is there hope for Adams County? Guest writer Kevin Raines thinks there is a good reason for optimism.

By Kevin Raines - In the movie Apollo 13, there’s a great scene about crisis control.  As the emergency begins, systems are failing and gauges are dropping and there’s a tinge of panic building in the air.  Ground control members are calling out problems nonstop when Gene Kranz steps in and changes the direction of the entire event.

“…let’s look at these things from a… from a standpoint of status.  What have we got on that spacecraft that’s good?”
~ Gene Kranz, NASA 

What do we have on the spacecraft that’s good?  It’s the perfect line to begin solving the problem.  In order to survive a catastrophe, it’s natural to ask what’s not working, but in the end it’s more important to inventory the still-functioning assets you have to work with, because those are what will bring you home.

Perhaps we should apply that logic to Adams County government.

For much of the past decade, Adams County has been a shambles, to put it kindly.  The sheer number, variety, and diversity of scandals is so remarkable that it marked Adams County as not just the worst run county in the state, but quite possibly the worst run local government in the nation.  Colorado Ethics Watch stated it well in their recent report “2011 Ethics Roundup:  Top Ethical Failures of 2011”, when they said…

“Adams County was the unquestioned epicenter of ethics problems in Colorado during 2011, with multiple scandals rocking county government and leading voters to demand reform”.
~Colorado Ethics Watch 

And truth be told, we’re not just talking about 2011.  Adams County government’s ethical breaches and competency failures have been rampant for much of the past decade now.

So…Adams County government is hurtling toward the moon and there are explosions and gauges are zeroing out and we all know that it’s badly broken.  So what can we do?

In following the example of Apollo 13, let’s start with an inventory.  What do we have in the county government that’s working, and how do we get that taxpayer-funded organization back on the road to being a respectable institution?  I’m going to analyze this issue in detail in a series of guest articles over the coming months, but let’s start with the basic question:  What do we have to work with?

I’ll put on my white Gene Kranz vest and start, and readers are welcome to comment as well.

Asset #1 – County Commissioner Erik Hansen. 

Let me start by saying that I’m not affiliated with a political party.  I’m a classic unaffiliated swing voter who has cast votes for Democrats, Republicans, and third parties.  I think that political party affiliations overly simplify complex voting choices, so I studiously ignore party affiliation wherever possible.

With that disclaimer out of the way, any reasonable person can see that Hansen’s work has been nothing short of spectacular.  He walked into a virtual Chernobyl of ethics, and has systematically begun instilling order out of anarchy.  He has provided leadership where there was none, ethics where there was less than none, and has begun systematically putting into place systems and policies that are decades overdue.  If you ever see Erik Hansen, thank him.  Right now, he’s the single greatest asset that Adams County has.

Asset #2 – Two Vacant County Commissioner Seats 

It’s sad to say that the second-greatest asset in the county right now is two empty seats, but let’s face it.  The past decade or so has been a complete implosion in Adams County government, and when the collapse is that comprehensive one looks first at the people holding the reins.  And while all of the scandals certainly can’t be blamed on Alice Nichol, Skip Fischer, and their long-gone partner Larry Pace, that trio bears significant responsibility for some of the worst ones and for some reason steadfastly refuses to take action even when problems can be fixed.  It’s a mystery.

The impending vacancy of these two commission seats is a huge opportunity.  When one sees the progress that Hansen has made almost singlehandedly after parachuting into the midst of the very group that created the crisis, imagine where we can be with two professional, ethical, and competent commissioners.  Or if I dare dream, three?  The commissioner election in 2012 is a watershed moment in Adams County, where we either turn the corner towards respectability or slide back into the darkness.

In the next installment I’ll talk about the attributes we need in our two new commissioners, but right now the good news is that there will be two new ones.

Asset #3 – Pockets of Ethical Management

As I’ll talk about in a future installment, the facts indicate that Adams County government has suffered a complete collapse of senior leadership during the past decade, in both the commissioner role and in key “process” departments and executive departments.  As a result, individual departments and managers apparently had little or no oversight as they went about their business.

The bad news is that a power vacuum will inevitably get filled, and anarchy lends an advantage to bad guys over good guys.  There aren’t a whole lot of benevolent and ethical Somali warlords, are there?  And because of this, we end up reading lots of stories about paving and office furniture and shady land deals.

But the good news is what you haven’t heard about.  Despite the widespread reports of incompetence and corruption, there are likely departments that have been quietly run by ethical managers who have shielded their employees from the worst effects.  In an organization the size of Adams County, it is not just a probability but a certainty.  Under the current regime these good leaders are likely hunkered down and riding out the storm, but they’re out there, and they will flower once good leadership returns, forming the foundation on which the County can rebuild.

Asset #4 – Easy First Steps Toward Redemption

It’s a relatively easy logic puzzle to identify the specific breakdowns in leadership and ethics that caused the collapse of government in Adams County, and the problems are probably not as widespread as you think.  I will identify in future installments three specific departments that need overhauls, and whose re-creation will solve 90 percent of the problem.  Stay tuned.

Damaged Asset #5 – Low-Level Staff

This is a damaged asset based on what I’ve seen and heard, but it’s an asset nonetheless.

When we read about the scandals and incompetence and waste in Adams County, we often overlook some interesting details.  Go back through the Denver Post and re-read the stories, and you will often see snippets of low-level employees attempting to do the right thing.  Whether it’s questioning why the County is providing equipment to a paving firm, or earnestly picking the most qualified firm for the office furniture contract, the County has low-level employees who know right from wrong and have often attempted to do the right thing.  And someone has been leaking these stories to the press, right?

So why do I call this group a damaged asset?  Well, go back and re-read those stories again and read how ethical employees have been treated.  Unfortunately, many Adams County employees have been exposed to an environment where unethical behavior was exhibited, condoned, overlooked, ignored, or protected by some of the County’s senior leaders.  Are you going to report your boss for unethical behavior when you know that his boss will protect him?  Again, why do you think stories were leaked to the press instead of being reported internally?

That type of environment can have a lasting impact on workers.  It damages morale, it damages professional development, and it instills an environment of fear and distrust among ethical employees.  I have talked to Adams County employees in my research for these articles, and have consistently heard embarrassment, shame, and have even seen an “ethical brain drain” as principled employees gave up and left in frustration.

With the implementation of new systems and an elimination of the “Culture of Corruption” that has been in place over the past decade, will the employees bounce back?  Can we recover to the point where people are actually proud to say that they work for Adams County, and more importantly, where they’re not afraid to stand up and point when they see the occasional bad apple behaving illegally or unethically?  I think so.  I’m an optimist, so my hope and indeed my expectation is that they will welcome professional, ethical, and competent leadership with gusto.  Remember the liberation of France in World War II?  That’s the reaction we will likely see among employees when Adams County’s leadership turns over in the next year.

Asset #6 – The Seeds of Good Processes

Adams County has existed for 111 years.  Why they do not have good processes in place for things like purchasing is a mystery, but instead of going there, let’s inventory what works.  Under the leadership of Commissioner Hansen, the seeds of some good processes have been planted, such as the Transparency Portal.  There’s a long way to go, but the first bits of green are starting to sprout from the dirt.

So What’s Not Working?

The list above is a good starting foundation for rebuilding.  But now that we know what’s working, what’s wrong with the spaceship?

By process of elimination, and by reading the newspaper, you can probably identify the problem areas in general, and as we delve into more detail in future installments, we’ll identify specific problem areas and how to repair them.  As I mentioned earlier, the addition of two strong commissioners, the introduction of some policies and processes, and the overhaul of three specific departments will lay the framework for repairing the damage.

However, it’s too simplistic to say that this is only the problem of a few people holding the wrong jobs.  The challenge is not those people in particular.  The challenge is the culture that those people created, and its residue that will linger even after they depart.  This “Culture of Corruption” and its impact on the employees who remain is what we need to focus on, and it is the core issue to be addressed.  Turning around a dysfunctional culture, and allowing Adams County’s many ethical employees to come out of hiding and shine, is the ultimate end goal.

I hope you’ll continue reading as we discuss the solutions to this vexing problem, and feel free to offer your own opinions and reactions.  I am hoping that this series will serve as a forum for improving our local government.

Kevin Raines is the owner of the 2009 Denver Metro Chamber Small Business of the Year and a 2011 Finalist for the Colorado Business Ethics Award.  He joined the movement to reform Adams County government when his firm won a county contract that was redirected to the friend of an Adams County manager.

Editor’s note: Tony’s Rants very rarely features postings written by others but when presented with this article, I knew this had to be put out there.  Mr. Raines does an extraordinary job of distilling where Adams County has gone wrong but just as importantly, he spells out what is right and what can be done to fix the rest.

A Colorado state representative recently told teachers that if they didn't want to join a union they should find another job.

Lost in the flurry of activity in the closing days of the Colorado legislature’s session was a fiery floor speech by State Representative John Soper, D-Thornton, denouncing teachers that dare to think for themselves and opt out of labor unions.

The National Education Association (NEA) and its Colorado affiliate, the Colorado Education Association (CEA), spend big bucks to protect their self-serving interests at the expensive of students.  Much of the hard-earned money these groups take from their members is paid to politicians in the form of campaign contributions to protect the unions’ interests at the capitol.

House Bill 12-1333 would have allowed teachers to opt out of union membership and its heavy fees at any time.  This is in contrast to the ridiculous three week window that they are allowed to do so now.

While the bill passed the House, it was sent to its demise in the Democrat controlled Senate.

During the debate in the House, Rep. Soper took the floor ripping into professional educators that would like to keep their money rather than send it to union overlords.  He told these teachers that if they wanted out of the union they should find someplace else to work.

The entire speech makes for a rather sad but important statement on the influence of labor and the mentality of unions and their leadership.  It was a somewhat incoherent rant from a state leader telling teachers that they should choose another line of work if they don’t want to join a union.

 “I rise and want to discuss a little bit about this bill we’re talking about: Are we going to empower teachers, or are we going to empower labor organizations?  My stand is on this – you know what the rules are going in. If you don’t want to go to work for an organization, you do not have to go to work for an organization. You can go to work for anybody you want to go to. Teachers always got the power. {They don’t say], ‘This is the school you got to teach in.’  You teach where you want to teach.  If you don’t like the rules, go somewhere else. But as long as the rules there, let’s abide by ‘em.”
~ Rep. John Soper

Rep. Soper asks, “Are we going to empower teachers, or are we going to empower labor organizations?”  The clear answer is that teachers should be empowered and that is exactly what HB 12-1333 would have done and yet the representative doesn’t want to allow that.

The fact is that many teachers would like to exercise their rights and separate themselves from the political biases of the union.  The opportunity to do so is rare however and not even publicized.

Further, if they must withstand this type of bullying from their elected leaders, imagine what they must endure within their own leftist school districts.  Teachers should be free to make their own decisions about union membership on a timetable of their own choosing and they should be able to do so without being browbeaten by politicians and coworkers.

The good news for teachers is that for the time being, they do have that opportunity to opt out of the union. Further, other organizations such as the Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE) provide many of the benefits of unions to teachers without the politics or the hefty price tag.

I would encourage teachers to take a stand, be brave and exercise your rights to get out of your union.  You do not have to be beholden to  organizations that are more about supporting their high-paid officers than they are about doing what is right for you and your students.

• H/T WhoSaidYouSaid

Editor’s note: John Soper is a union member himself and he has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from labor so perhaps his union cheerleading isn’t such a surprise.  We have generally found Rep. Soper to be a reasonable man not entirely bound to his leftist overseers and willing to sometimes take positions unpopular with other Democrats.  This was however a reprehensible display and needlessly aggressive toward those who educate our children.  They deserve more and we certainly expect more from Rep. Soper. 

Adams County's assessor, already an admitted criminal, faces new charges.

Adams County Assessor Gil Reyes, one of the biggest crooks in county government, faces a new round of legal woes as he has been charged with nine counts of official misconduct.  The new charges once again highlight the disastrous governance provided by local Democrat politicians.

Filed Friday, the charges accuse Reyes of lowering the property values of a campaign donor’s warehouses in return for contributions.  Reyes faces nine charges, one for each of the nine warehouses owned by Majestic Realty Co. that Reyes aided.

As has been well-documented, Reyes accepted $14,000 in campaign contributions from Majestic.  In return he lowered the property values by $23 million reducing the company’s tax bill by $800,000.  The Colorado State Board of Equalization had already determined Reyes activities were illegal but did not have the power to take action.  Now someone has.

The criminal assessor previously pleaded guilty to charges of having accepted gifts from Randall Hertel, a Majestic executive.  Each of new charges could send Reyes to jail for a year and cost him a fine of $1,000 each.

Adams County District Attorney Don Quick told the Denver Post, “He didn’t follow the rules and regulations that govern his office.  He just instructed his assistant to put in values that were significantly different from his commercial appraisers’.”

The end result was the county lost a significant amount of tax revenue all so Reyes could fund his election campaign.  Just as bad, Adams County taxpayers face yet another embarrassment at the hands of a Democrat elected official.

Adams County residents have been screaming for Reyes to resign but he has thus far ignored those calls.  We can only hope he will do at least one honorable thing and step aside.

To be fair, Reyes was only playing a game with rules laid down in recent decades by previous county Democrat leadership.  Corruption in Adams County government is not new although the light is finally being shed on the rats in taxpayer-funded offices in Brighton.

Virtually every political office in the county has been rocked by scandal over the past five years.  In addition to the assessor, the coroner, sheriff, treasurer, RTD director and even some of the county commissioners themselves have been shown to be unworthy of residents’ trust.

The one common factor among them all – they have a (D) for Democrat after their names.

My dad used to state his voting philosophy as simply, “Vote the bastards out.”  That tactic is one that Adams County voters should certainly apply to most of those in office today.

Residents have started to wake up to the corruption and voted some of those responsible out of office in 2010.  Far more house cleaning needs to happen and voters have their chance this year.

There are going to be some ethical, reform minded, non-Democrat individuals on the ballot that are finally worth voting for.  Further, we have the opportunity to expand the Board of Commissioners to five, a much-needed step in preventing these types of things from happening.

On the net:

• Denver Post: Adams County Assessor Gil Reyes charged with misconduct

Colorado taxpayers will foot the bill for Governor John Hickenlooper’s call for a special legislative session.

Under Colorado’s state constitution, the governor has the authority to call the legislature into a special session “on extraordinary occasions.”  In exercising this power to force the legislature to consider seven non-pressing measures, Governor John Hickenlooper has stretched the limits in our state’s governing document.

Section 9 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Colorado states:

Governor may convene legislature or senate. The governor may, on extraordinary occasions convene the general assembly, by proclamation, stating therein the purpose for which it is to assemble; but at such special session no business shall be transacted other than that specially named in the proclamation. He may by proclamation, convene the senate in extraordinary session for the transaction of executive business.

Yesterday Gov. Hickenlooper issued an executive order forcing the legislature into session.  He wrote in a press release, “The ramifications of the General Assembly’s inability to take up the business of its people will negatively impact the State of Colorado and hamper its ability to serve its people. These extraordinary circumstances require a special session of the General Assembly.”

My goodness!  The State of Colorado must be in absolutely dire straits indeed for the governor to take these actions.

What ‘extraordinary circumstances’ occurred to justify such action?  According to Gov. Hickenlooper such important measures as cleaning up obsolete provision in the Constitution and spending more taxpayer money on water projects are among the items the legislature absolutely must address right now.

The seven items on the governor’s list:

• Funding of Colorado Water Conservation Board projects.
• Penalties for persons who drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Authorization of civil unions.
• Administration of the unemployment insurance program to stabilize unemployment insurance rates, facilitating the issuance of unemployment revenue bonds and accelerating the creation of the Division of Unemployment Insurance in the Department of Labor and Employment.
• Creating “benefit corporations” in Colorado.
• Registering Special Mobile Machinery Fleets.
• Submitting to the registered electors of the State of Colorado an amendment to the Colorado Constitution repealing provisions deemed obsolete.

It is almost comical that Gov. Hickenlooper justifies his actions based on the supposed importance of these measures.  There is not one on the list that is critical to the operation of the state or important for preserving the life and property of Coloradoans.   Certainly none justify citizens being forced to pay $23,500 per day to keep the legislature at work.

Even in the governor’s press release he fails to make the case that this is an ‘extraordinary occasion.’  He simply says the items were ‘good legislation.’

‘Good legislation’ dies in the legislature each and every year – this is not unusual and certainly not ‘extraordinary.’

After the show of crocodile tears Gov. Hickenlooper put on the other day, you would think he would have the strength of conviction to simply say what the real agenda is.  His goal is to enact social engineering legislation against the previously clearly stated will of the people.  Period.

Contrary to what he and his supporters would have Coloradoans believe, Gov. Hickenlooper has revealed himself to be nothing more than a typical grandstanding politician seeking to push his own, personal agenda on his constituents.

Since he started his political career President Obama has been publically evasive about his position on the issue choosing a politically safe path.  He has lately been saying his position was “evolving” in hopes of placating the far left although it is hardly a secret he does not respect the sanctity of marriage.

In an interview with ABC News yesterday, the president said, “I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.”

Why make this announcement now?  Simply because President Obama is desperate to shift the national discussion to anything but the economy.  The campaigner-in-chief only made the announcement for political reasons – not because it offers anything new or because he has any truly strong feelings on the issue.

His hope is of course to energize the younger voters that helped to elect him in 2008 – the same reason he made a big deal out of the non-issue of student loan interest rates.

Ed Rogers appropriately stated the point on The Washington Post saying, “Obama manipulated gay voters, kept them at a distance and hoped they would settle for the occasional wink and a nod. But he has found himself in a campaign with dwindling enthusiasm and a narrowing electoral map.”

That key constituency however has grown older and wiser in the past four years.  They know that real change on social issues won’t happen at the national level.  Further, they are all too aware that their job prospects are nothing short of pitiful as long as President Obama remains in office.  If anything, President Obama’s time in office has given these folks a cold, hard dose of reality.

Gov. Hickenenlooper’s crocodile tears

Closer to home, a teary eyed John Hickenlooper announced he would be calling the Colorado State Legislature into a special session to address civil unions.  His crocodile tears were a rather ridiculous display by the governor who has sat by in recent years and ignored the issue until it became politically expedient to say something.

The current civil union legislation died in the State House Tuesday night as it should have.  Democrats in the Senate sat on the measure for the past three months giving the House no time to properly debate the issue.

Further, as Colorado Peak Politics pointed out, when Democrats controlled both chambers of the legislature from 2006 to 2010, they ignored the issue.  Now, when it is convenient, they and the governor try to drive a wedge between Coloradoans to score political points in an election year.

While some Coloradoans cheer on the governor, it is critical to note that his actions and those of the legislature willfully and purposely seek to dismiss the stated will of the people.

In 2006 Coloradoans soundly rejected Referendum I which would have allowed “domestic partnerships.”  That same year voters also approved Amendment 43 which clearly defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

The state legislature passed on the issue six years ago giving the people the final say on the issue and the decision was made.  If Democrats want to allow civil unions, they need to send it to a vote of the people – they have no right to overturn our say on the issue.

Coloradoans should be alarmed at what the governor and the Democrats appear intent on doing.  If successful, the precedent will be set and those at the capitol will have written themselves a blank check to dismiss the will of the people whenever they see fit.  No matter which side of the civil union issue you stand on, this is troublesome.

From the Democrats in the legislature to Gov. Hickenlooper and President Obama, this is all political pandering.  None have any true sympathy nor have they had the strength of conviction to stand up – until they thought they could score political points with a small minority.

Joe: A Real Story is a biographical story of World War II veteran Joseph LaNier II and how he overcame racism to become a shining example of our nation's veterans.

According to the Veterans Administration, the United States is losing 740 World War II veterans per day.  As the time these heroes have left grows short, it falls upon all Americans to not only honor them but also to take advantage of that time and learn from them before it is too late.  One local newsman is seeking to do just that with a new book about one such hero.

Joseph LaNier II grew up in segregated Mississippi and endured the hardships of poverty in a nation not willing at the time to truly believe in the promise that ‘all men are created equal.’

Seeking a way out for him and his family, Joe joined the Navy during World War II.  As a Seabee he arrived in Iwo Jima and while his contributions to the war effort were notable, he was still ‘just another worthless black man in a lily-white Navy.’

Like many of the Greatest Generation, Joe returned home after the war and began a new life, one filled with promise.  He graduated high school, then college and would go on to become the Director of Pharmacy at National Jewish Hospital in Denver.

Now 86 years old, Joe’s is an extraordinary story that should be heard; a story that MUST be heard.

850 KOA newsman Steffan Tubbs has long been a huge supporter of our nation’s military and its veterans.  He devotes countless hours to The Greatest Generations Foundation and other causes, all to ensure that men and women like Joe are not forgotten and receive their due honor.

Tubbs is now writing a book about Joe LaNier and needs help raising the funds to get the project off the ground.  “Joe: A Real Story takes a look at an amazing life of a black man in a white world – a world at war on more than one level.”

Please visit Joe: A Real Story on KickStarter to pledge to the project and help tell this uniquely American story. 

President Obama certainly deserves credit for making the call to go after Osama Bin Laden but it isn’t appropriate for him to exploit it for political gain.

It is difficult for a Democrat to lay claim to being strong on national security and foreign policy, particularly for Barack Obama whose list of failed policies is long and far from distinguished.  His effort this past week to turn the killing of Osama Bin Laden into a campaign issue has backfired on him supremely and only serves to highlight his failures overseas.

Certainly the president deserves credit for ordering the mission to kill bin Laden.  As I wrote at the time, “President Barack Obama, his national security team and the U.S. military should be applauded for their actions in sending bin Laden to hell.”

The problem comes when President Obama, who famously refused to ‘spike the football’ afterwards, does an about face and attempts to garner all the credit for himself solely for electoral gain.  The “One Chance” advertisement released by his campaign is a sad and desperate attempt to rescue his reelection campaign.

It is somewhat amusing that the campaign chose to have Bill Clinton narrate the video.  President Clinton of course presided over the failed mission in Somalia and the disastrous ‘Blackhawk Down’ incident.  He also failed to take real action when Saddam Hussein was killing hundreds of thousands of Kurds and Shi’ites launching impotent cruise missile strikes instead.

In truth, ordering the mission against bin Laden was truly a ‘no brainer’ if ever there was one – as Mitt Romney said, even Jimmy Carter would have made the call.  For the president to act as if this was some extraordinary act of heroism on his part is disingenuous and self-aggrandizing, both traits that I suppose Americans have come to expect from the man.

Making matters worse, the president’s continual reference to himself in describing the mission only reinforces the view that this is a man with a monstrous ego.  “I said that I’d go after bin Laden if we had a clear shot at him, and I did,” President Obama said on Tuesday.

If Obama Got Osama, Who Did The SEALs Get? (Right Stuff)

Disgusting.  Last time I checked, it was the Navy SEALs that went after bin Laden.  Further, as TIME Magazine revealed, the go / no go call on the mission was made by Admiral Bill McRaven.  A memo from then-CIA head Leon Panetta put the “timing, operational decision making and control” in McRaven’s hands.

The episode shows what a small man the campaigner-in-chief really is.  Ever the political opportunist, he is exploiting his one foreign policy success in four years for his gain while minimizing those who do the hard lifting to protect our nation.

Former SEALs, former Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and even leftist Arianna Huffington are lambasting the president.

As Huffington told CBS News, “To turn it into a campaign ad is one of the most despicable things you can do”

On the net:

• Admiral Mullen Worried About Bin Laden Politicization
• SEALs slam Obama for using them as ‘ammunition’ in bid to take credit for bin Laden killing during election campaign
• Obama’s Bin Laden ad a low blow
• Arianna Huffington: Obama ad ‘despicable’
• What Romney said about bin Laden

The video is loosely based on Paul Harvey’s essay, “If I were the devil” which was originally published in 1964.  In 1965 he read a slightly modified version on his radio show and then updated it in 1996 for print.  All three versions are so prophetic it is chilling to read and listen to, much like the new video.

You can watch and read the old and the new below.  Take the time to think about them.

Paul Harvey, If I Were the Devil (1964)

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;

I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man’s effort, instead of God’s blessings;

I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around;

I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;

I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership;

I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;

I would make it socially acceptable to take one’s own life, and invent machines to make it convenient;

I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals are valued more than human beings;

I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit;

I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them;

I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the mind of every family member for my agenda;

I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation.

I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation;

I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movie screens, and I would call it art;

I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;

I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically correct;

I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the Bible is for the naive;

I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;

I guess I would leave things pretty much the way they are.

Paul Harvey, If I Were the Devil (1996)

If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.

I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree.

So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States.

I would begin with a campaign of whispers.

With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whispers to you as I whispered to Eve, “Do as you please.”

To the young I would whisper “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that “man created God,” instead of the other way around. I would confide that “what is bad is good and what is good is square.”

In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be “extreme” in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct.

And the old I would teach to pray — to say after me — “Our father which are in Washington.”

Then I’d get organized.

I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting.

I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice-versa.

I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me.

I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could, I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the Devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let those run wild.

I’d designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I’d get preachers to say, “She’s right.”

With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of pornography.

Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress.

Then in his own churches I’d substitute psychology for religion and deify science.

If I were Satan I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg

And the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the Devil I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. Then my police state would force everybody back to work.

Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.

If I were Satan I’d just keep doing what I’m doing and the whole world go to hell as sure as the Devil.

Paul Harvey, If I Were the Devil (1965)