Karl Rove said what?

According to the Denver Post

Karl Rove said Wednesday that young voters are natural Republicans because they are independent in nature and that "the generation that goes around with an iPod is not a generation that likes to be dictated to."

(See "Rove boosts GOP candidates.")

The implication being that the GOP does not "dictate" to people.

Say what?

The GOP has no problem dictating private consensual behavior of adults.

The GOP has no problem dictating what drugs a doctor can prescribe to patients.

The GOP has no problem dictating that your private phone conversations can be tapped without probable cause.

I could go on...

Sunday humor: Bill Owens declares "I am a strong fiscal conservative."

Like the good establishment Republican he is, former Colorado Governor Bill Owens is against lowering taxes and shrinking government.

His "Counterpoint" (See "Too good to be true? Effect is disaster") in today's Denver Post contains hysterical pronouncements of impending Armageddon if ballot issues 60, 61 and 101 pass in November. What pray tell will we poor serfs do if the Omnipotent State is not around to take our money and provide us with services we could not possibly provide without their benevolence?

Owens' immediately declares "I am a strong fiscal conservative." And Hello Kitty is the King of the Jungle. Owens campaigned long and hard for Referenda C and D while governor, two proposals to give government more money and allow it to grow.

The mourning didn't start in 2008

Good commercial, except for the implication that our failed government is Obama and the Democrat's fault. The GOP is complicit and should not be rewarded just because they aren't Democrats.

We used to have rebels in this country. Now, we just let the Rs and Ds play ping pong in DC and expect things to change. We accept two bad choices just because "that's the way it is" and we "must accept the reality of a two-party system."

Americans used to fight oppression and corruption. Now, we accept the Leviathan in the name of some misguided loyalty to political parties.

We get the government we ask for. Worse than that, we get the government we deserve.

I know, I know, "this time, it will be different."

Uh huh.

Better late to the dance than to miss it entirely.

I am amused at the tremendous amount of support many Colorado Republicans are giving a third party candidate for governor when they decide they don't like the GOP nominee.

Welcome aboard.

Some of us have felt that way for decades.

On the occasion of the death of Kenny McKinley

Second year Denver Bronco wide receiver and kick returner Kenny McKinley was found dead in his home yesterday, Monday, September 20, 2010, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He was 23 years old. (See Broncos' McDaniels discusses death of Kenny McKinley).

All deaths are sad, but when a professional athlete kills himself, the incident garners media attention. Since this death is in the news, it is an appropriate time to remind everyone that depression is a treatable condition.

If you find yourself in a downward spiral, talk to someone. If you find yourself withdrawing from social situations, talk to someone. If you find yourself not wanting to get out of the bed, out of your room, or out of your house, talk to someone. If you find yourself wanting to sleep so you don't have to think about how sad you are, talk to someone. If you feel isolated, alone and can't enjoy the simple pleasures of life, talk to someone. If you feel like withdrawing from society just until you feel better, talk to someone.

You do not have to "tough it out" alone. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. If one has a broken arm, there is never a thought of "handling it alone." Nor should there be if you are depressed - don't handle it alone. You don't have to.

If you have a friend that appears to be down, withdrawn, or not acting like himself, go to him. Let him know you are there for him. Ask him if he feels okay, and that you notice he might be a bit down. Let him know you are there if he wants to talk. Then call him the next day just to say "hello."

If you don't know where to look, you can start with the Colorado Department of Human Services. They have a FAQ that answers some questions about finding services. You can call your church and ask for some help.

Most importantly, however, is to talk to someone. Anyone. There is no shame in asking for help.

You can feel good again. You will feel good again. I know. I have been there.

Vote your conscience.

Barring a miracle just short of a virgin birth, John Hickenlooper will be the next governor of Colorado. You do not have to be concerned with your vote "spoiling" the election and "throwing" it to a progressive Democrat. The GOP has already taken care of that.

Republican nominee Dan Maes’ problems are well-documented. He has been abandoned by the GOP. Beauprez, Brown, Andrews and Wadhams made it official.

Tom Tancredo abandoned the GOP, the party that elected him U.S. Congressman, and joined something called the “American Constitution Party” so he could either force Maes out or ensure his defeat. He did not accomplish the former. He has accomplished the latter.

If either Maes or Tancredo satisfy you, by all means, vote for him. If neither do, you are free to vote your conscience. If you believe in small government - both economically and socially – vote for Libertarian candidate for governor, Jaimes Brown.

Vote your conscience. What a radical notion.

"Party over person?" Not according to Brown, Beauprez and Andrews.

Hopefully, Mike Rosen's utterly absurd "party over person" mantra can be put to rest.

Rosen and other GOP apologists have recited the line like a Buddhist koan.

Now that highly respected Republican patriarchs are calling for their duly nominated gubernatorial candidate, Dan Maes, to step down, will Rosen cling to his mantra like Louise clinging to the steering wheel in her final scene with Thelma?

First, former Senator Hank Brown withdrew his endorsement, and declared "I’m beginning to find that (Maes’) explanations are not adequate.” Brown is now "looking around" for a candidate to support.

Then former Congressman Bob Beauprez advised that “If Dan really is committed to doing the best for Colorado, as well as for the GOP, he ought to take serious inventory and see if this isn’t the time to do the noble thing."

Now former Colorado Senate President John Andrews has declared that "[a]s a conscientious Republican who earlier voted for Dan, I cannot support a manifestly unfit nominee." He said he will write in Jane Norton.

These respected Republicans have rejected the laughable "party over person" mantra. All principled people - regardless of political affiliation - should reject it.

I applaud and respect Brown, Beauprez and Andrews for their rejection of the mantra. However, I believe Dan Maes should abide by HIS principles and stay in the race. He won the GOP nomination fair and square. He worked hard to earn the nod. He has overcome numerous obstacles to attain the nomination. He played by ALL the rules.

He should make the GOP accept reality and ignore those calling for him to quit.

Refuse to eat entrails.

Imagine that the government mandated that everyone, from the age of 18 to death, only had two choices for dinner: tripe or chitlins. I think most of us would rise up and fight such a ridiculous situation. However, when it comes to the electoral process, we happily accept it as “just the way it is.”

Refuse the false choices.

Reject a ridiculous situation.

Starting now.

Mike Coffman must not be an Austrian.

"All economists, no matter how conservative, said deficit spending was necessary to shock the economy back into production."

--Republican Congressman Mike Coffman, 8/12/09, at a South Metro Chamber of Commerce event.

Really? He should have talked to some more economists.