( - promoted by Hestons Ghost - )

Carl Bruning, candidate for Larimer County Sheriff, receives endorsement from former Sheriff Richard Mack

Carl Bruning is running as “Your Constitutional Sheriff” in Larimer County.  “It is time for the sworn protectors of liberty, the sheriffs of these United States of America, to walk tall and stand up for our Constitution and Bill of Rights,” he declared.

http://carlbruning.com/2010/06/carl-bruning-receives-endorsement-from-former-sheriff-richard-mack/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carl-Bruning-for-Constitutional-Sheriff-in-Larimer-County-Colorado/288284675755

The Cory Gardner for Congress campaign will be making a "major campaign announcement" today at 5 PM.

In light of last night's straw poll results in CD-4 which indicate that Gardner's closest competitor, Diggs Brown, will fall far short of obtaining ballot access via the assembly it is entirely possible that one of the candidates for CD-4 is dropping out to endorse Gardner.

If this is the case, it would also put pressure on minor congressional candidates in CD-7 and CD-3 to drop out.

UPDATE: Diggs Brown has announced his withdrawal from the CD-4 race and has endorsed Cory Gardner.

Q4 2009 Fundraising Totals (Incumbent in Bold)

Michael Bennet - 1,149,091
Tom Wiens - 725,000
Jane Norton - 550,605
Ken Buck - 39,850

John Salazar - 187,160
Scott Tipton - 109,981
Bob McConnell - 12,471

Betsy Markey - 227,442
Cory Gardner - 197,553
Diggs Brown - 61,174
Tom Lucero - 25,824

Ryan Frazier - 218,824
Ed Perlmutter - 215,201
Lang Sias - 30,931

U.S. Senate

Michael Bennet's fundraising continues at a monumental pace and it is starting to look as if he will have a massive advantage no matter who the Republican nominee may be. Jane Norton once again posted strong numbers, though many observers found it troublesome she did not improve much over the last quarter's take.

Though the Wiens campaign is declining to say how much of the $725,000 they are claiming to have brought in came from the candidate himself, it appears safe to assume that Wiens followed through on his previous statement that he would be investing $500,000 of his money into his campaign. Regardless of where the money came from, this means Wiens now has a very well-financed primary campaign.

Ken Buck had an extremely disappointing quarter. The sole consolation here is the massive ad buy by the Campaign for Liberty that can free up some money that may have been allocated by the Buck campaign for media and divert it into organizational costs.

CD-3

Scott Tipton had a strong showing for his first month in the race. If he is able to keep up the pace he should be able to place the seat into play.

CD-4

Cory Gardner had another strong fundraising quarter. Despite being outraised by Makey, CD-4's Republican voter registration advantage means that Makey would have to be raising even more than she is to make it up. Gardner is strongly positioning himself as the leading candidate in both the primary and general elections.

At $61,174, Diggs Brown has enough money to mount a primary challenge, even if it is a long-shot. He will at least be able to afford a working campaign organization, which is more than what most other underdog candidates in these Republican primaries can say.

Tom Lucero again had a lackluster quarter, but even more damaging to his prospects than his low fundraising haul is his astounding 200% burn rate. When a campaign spends twice what they raised in a given quarter, it is a sure sign it is on it's last legs.

CD-7

Ryan Frazier had a strong fundraising quarter and stands as the only Colorado Republican challenger for federal office to outraise the Democratic incumbent. While a narrow victory, Frazier's take places what was expected to be a safe Democratic seat into play.

Ex-Democrat and Mark Udall supporter Lang Sias, despite starting fundraising at the beginning of November and having most of the quarter to fundraise, came in with a dismal $30,931. Nearly half of his money came from Washington DC, as opposed to Frazier who blew him out of the water and raised funds mostly from in-state, and $5,000 of that came from John McCain's PAC. While Sias gave the illusion of being a strong candidate with his McCain backing and much-touted Washington connections, after raising only $30,391 it is hard to see how he is even remotely serious. Sias' funding problems will become even more severe as he is rumored to be planning to bypass the grassroots by running a costly petition campaign in the coming months.

Ken Buck, Ali Hasan, and Tom Lucero are an unlikely trio of underdog candidates that have the distinction of being among the first candidates for office to feature in campaign commercials.

"Campaign for Liberty" Spending $350,000 On Buck

An ad run on behalf of Senate candidate Ken Buck is the most important of the three developments. A group calling itself the "Campaign for Liberty" (this is not necessarily Ron Paul's group, C4L is a 501c4 and is barred from running candidate ads) has purchased $350,000 of ad time focusing on Ken Buck's candidacy. These ads reportedly began running during local news programs earlier this evening and we are seeking a copy of the commercial to upload as soon as we can.

While Buck's fundraising has faltered in the last quarter and Jane Norton (who was not without fundraising issues of her own) has a modest lead after Q4 2009, Buck is poised to have a great deal of cash spent on his behalf by outside groups. In addition to national groups such as the Senate Conservatives Fund eyeing the race, certain interests based in Northern Colorado are preparing their own outside efforts on Buck's behalf.

Hasan Goes On Radio

Treasurer candidate Ali Hasan began running radio ads today. Denver-metro area listeners can hear them on 850 KOA.

Lucero's Gambit

CD-4 candidate Tom Lucero has invested what is left of his campaign funds on a TV ad buy in which he looks very surprised by the camera.

ABC 7 ran an interesting report on transparency in congressional offices. The news station went around to members of Colorado's congressional delegation and made the seemingly simple request to see detailed expenditure reports. These offices spend quite a bit of taxpayer money and it seems reasonable to see where it is going:

Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, both D-Colo., as well as U.S. Reps. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., and Mike Coffman, R-Colo., provided all of the documentation 7News requested.

U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and John Salazar, both D-Colo., said the information is turned over to the House finance office and their offices did not keep copies. U.S. Reps. Jared Polis, D-Colo., and Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., refused to provide receipts, saying that they have a policy not to provide the information. U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey’s staff just stopped returning calls and e-mails.

Maybe Betsy Markey's Republican replacement will return ABC 7's calls and e-mails.

Whie Rep. Betsy Markey has been doing her best to duck her constituents, Rep. Mike Coffman from neighboring CD-6 introduces a novel concept: a Congressman who isn't afraid to face the people he represents.

         Who:       Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora)

·         What:     Elbert County town hall meeting

·         When:   Thursday, September 3, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  MT

·         Where:  Elbert County Public Health Building, 75 Ute Ave., Kiowa, CO
                  *The building is located at the North end of the fairgrounds.

(- promoted by Rocky Mountain Right -)

The U.S. House of Representatives finally released the text of the health care bill called ··America·s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009·· HR 3200 and it can now be read in its 1,018 page entirety. The bill's subtitle is " A Bill to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. All the bill's language was written to further this cause, i.e, to provide healthcare to everyone and to reduce the growth in spending. You can link to a pdf of the health care bill here.

Since the bill's public release, a lot of people have gotten fired up in support and in opposition to it. Each side has called the other liars, and worse. One part of the bill in particular has touched a nerve. That is Section 1233, ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION.

Although the section is only ten pages long, it is still hard to digest. Below is a condensed version of this Section with cites to page number and line number. In Section 1233, the person being consulted is an individual over 65 in the medicare program. The Consultant is called a "practitioner".

p. 428, l. 14-19 - A 'practitioner" is a physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. The practitioner is the one who consults on Advanced Care Planning with the individual. There is nothing in the health care bill that states the consultation is voluntary.

p. 425, l. 17-21 - The practitioner first gives an explanation of and counsels on advance directives, living wills, durable powers of attorney and health care proxies.

p. 426, l. 4-8 - The practitioner then explains and counsels end-of-life services, palliative care where they ease pain without curing the underlying disease, hospice programs for meeting the physical needs of the terminally ill and the benefits for such services. The practitioner does not have to explain any drawbacks of these end-of-life services such as death itself.

P. 426, l. 9-16 - The practitioner finally explains the Order Regarding Life Sustaining Treatment and why it is beneficial to the individual and the individual's family. The practitioner does not have to explain any drawbacks of this Order such as death itself.

After the consultation is over, the individual is not involved with any further parts of the Advance Care Planning Consultation. In no part of the process is the individual required to sign anything or execute any planning documents.

p. 427, l. 10-25 - Having a consultation in and of itself, allows the practitioner to formulate an Order Regarding Life Sustaining Treatment without any further input from the individual. The Order just needs to be signed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant to be in full force and effect. The Order is an actionable medical order designed to stay with the individual and to be followed by health care professionals for the remainder of the individual's care.

p. 430, l. 1-4 The only input from the individual for the formulation of the Order is that it communicate the individual's preferences regarding treatment. Since the individual doesn't have to sign anything or affirmatively state anything during the consultation, it is up to the practitioner to presume and interpret the individual's preferences.

p. 430, l. 13-24 The Order has the power to limit medical interventions, limit the use of antibiotics, limit nutrition and limit hydration. The Order can address whether an individual goes to the hospital or remains at a hospice or other nursing home.

So where does the language in the Order come from?

p. 428, l. 5-13 The Order is guided by a coalition of stakeholders including state hospice associations, home health association, etc. This is the section that has been decried as a "Death Panel" by Gov. Palin and others.

Since this house bill is written to reduce the growth of health care spending and people over 65 consume health care dollars at the end-of-life, it is pretty easy to see why Section 1233 was inserted into the health care bill.

Older Americans are not stupid. They can read and they can comprehend this health bill. No wonder so many older Americans are turning out in droves at town hall meetings. You would be angry too if the federal government was trying to kill you off.

If you want to vent, below are the phone numbers for our congress members and senators. Give them a buzz.

Dianna Degette - CD1 - 202-225-4431

Jared Polis - CD2 - 202-225-2161

John Salazar - CD3 - 202-225-4761

Betsy Markey - CD4 - 202-225-4676

Doug Lamborn - CD5- 202-225-4422

Mike Coffman - CD6 - 202-226-4623

Ed Perlmutter - CD7 - 202-225-2645

Mark Udall - Senate - 202-224-5941

Mike Bennett - Senate - 202-224-5852

Mike Robinson is Senior Partner at Robinson & Henry P.C., a Castle Rock, CO law firm.

You can get PPP to do polling in Colorado at by voting Colorado at http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/

We are only a few votes down from Arizona, let's get some match-up info for 2010. We need to update from Bill Owens and John Elway

The Journal Advocate reports:

The Republicans have to be the party of ideas and the party of knowledge in order to regain the trust in Congress, Gardner said. He pointed out several components of the change he feels they need to exemplify in their approach to the campaign such as individual rights and freedoms; to be responsible stewards of resources;  to have a strong sense of public virtue; lower corporate taxes to keep businesses in our country; improve transportation with increasing taxes or fees.
“To take this country back, we are going to have to be more than the party of nos; but the party of k-n-o-w, the party that knows; we have to lead with ideas,” he said. “With a platform of solutions instead of opposition.”
Gardner urged those gathered to share with others that, “This election really is the most important election of our lifetime.”
Gardner was named on Wednesday as one of 13 candidates in the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) new Young Guns program, which aims to help non-incumbents win in top races around the country.
The Republican Breakfast is held at 7 a.m., the last Thursday of every month at the Ramada Inn. The Aug. 27 speaker will be Sen. Greg Brophy.

 Politico says the anti-Obama backlash is brightening prospects for challengers to Democrats swept into office with the president.

This is good news in the making for challengers to Gov. Ritter, Sen. Bennet and Rep. Markey.

In New York, Gov. David Paterson faces similarly daunting numbers, and other first-term Democratic governors from Ohio to Iowa to Colorado have also seen their approval ratings move in the wrong direction.

Preliminary results are out for the extensive survey of over 600 Republican primary voters conducted by Ben DeGrow of Mount Virtus and Michael Sandoval of Slapstick Politics. The top-line results are below and detailed crosstabs and analysis will be released next week, so stay tuned.

July 2009 Colorado's Political Temperature Results

Politico reports:

Three House Democratic leaders who were whipping members on the climate change bill gave tens of thousands in campaign cash to party moderates around the time of the 219-212 vote on June 26, according to Federal Election Commission records.

It's impossible to tell if that torrent of cash was an attempt to schmear wavering Democrats -- or just part of the usual cash dump made by leaders on the eve of the June 30 quarterly fundraising deadline.

Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) doled out $28,000 to reps who eventually voted yes on June 24, two days before the big vote -- on a day when House leaders were doing some heavy-duty arm-twisting.

Clyburn recipients who voted for the bill included a who's-who of battleground district Dems: Steve Driehaus, D-OH ($2,000); Martin Heinrich, D-NM ($2,000); Suzanne Kosmas, D-Fla. ($4,000); Betsy Markey, D-Colo. ($2,000); Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH ($2,000), Baron Hill, D-Ind. ($2,000); Alan Grayson, D-Fla. ($2,000); Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa ($2,000); Jim Himes, D-Conn. ($2,000);  Mary Jo Kilroy, D-OH ($2,000); Kurt Schrader, D-Ore. ($2,000); Jerry McNerney, D-Calif. ($2,000) and Tom Perriello, D-Va. ($2,000).

Campaign finance announcements are starting to trickle out. Cory Gardner's campaign has announced it has raised over $200,000 in the first seven weeks he has been in the race. This is a strong showing that will surely outstrip his primary opponents. Betsy Markey raised $342,000 in the first quarter of 2009, so Gardner is raising money at a similar pace.

The campaign's release follows:

In the race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District, Cory Gardner has taken a commanding fundraising lead over his primary opponents by raising over $200,000 during his first seven weeks in the race.

"I am humbled by the outpouring of support that I have received thus far," Gardner said. He added, "In a targeted race that is going to require a strong campaign, this is a good start for us."

Gardner will file his first report with the Federal Election Commission on July 15th. The report will show a broad base of support with donors from each of the 4th Congressional District's eighteen counties. Gardner has also received donations from Democrats, Unaffiliated and Republican voters who have responded to his vision for a better Colorado.

Gardner is a fifth generation Coloradan from Yuma, Colorado. He graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University and holds a law degree from the University of Colorado. When not at the state legislature, he works at the family farm implement dealership and maintains a small private law practice.

Cory is committed to representing rural Colorado, small businesses and agriculture.  Representative Gardner is recognized as a leading fiscal conservative in the state and a strong voice for renewable energy and natural resources. He is a constant advocate for limited government and common sense principles.

Ryan Frazier and Cleve Tidwell, both candidates for US Senate, are trying real hard to pull a victory in this straw poll. Tidwell had been leading for days when at the last minute Frazier got out the word on facebook and as taken a lead. Over 1150 people have voted. Ken Buck has little support and Bob Beauprez has virtually none.

Update: Tidwell wins with 47% to Frazier's 45%. Ken Buck recieved 6% and Beauprez managed to win 1%.

The Cory Gardner for Congress campaign sent out this statement on the formation of their committee:

What has been rumored for weeks is no longer a rumor. State Representative Cory Gardner announced today that he is filing the necessary paperwork to run for Congress in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.

“My family has called Yuma home for almost 100 years; a lot has changed in that time but the common sense lessons of fiscal responsibility and honest pay for honest work that I grew up with remain the same.” Gardner’s great grandparents settled in Yuma in 1886 and started the family business in 1915. The business is still family owned and operated.

“After discussions with my wife Jaime, our five year old daughter Alyson as well as family and friends, I have decided that the time is right to run for Congress.”

In making his announcement Gardner cited the current state of politics in Washington as one of the reasons he is choosing to run. “Republicans and Democrats alike have ignored their duty to the American people. Our Government is not the root of America’s goodness. It is the American people, with our drive to prosper, our willingness to take risks and start businesses combined with our freedom that makes America great. When Government attempts to spend its way out of economic trouble by mortgaging future generations – our great country is at risk.”

As a champion for small business and agriculture, Gardner plans to bring a new vision to Washington DC with bold ideas to tackle the problems facing America. The Denver Post identified Gardner as the “GOP Idea Man” at the Colorado Legislature.

“My decision to run is based upon my love for this country and wanting to hold the line on the reckless spending in Washington. I am running to fight for rural Colorado and small businesses; to stand with farmers and ranchers, working for water solutions and to protect our faith and families,” said Gardner. “To lower taxes and take government away from the bureaucrats and fat cats whose iron grip on Washington is bringing our state and nation down.”

“Our campaign will focus on bold ideas and real solutions in a spirited debate about the direction of our country as we address challenges at home and abroad. My five year old daughter’s future has been mortgaged, along with that of every child in America.  Our campaign is ready to take our country’s future back, and we will start by reminding people about how great America is and that together, we will make it even greater.”
 
In 1997 Cory graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.  After graduation he attended law school at the University of Colorado, School of Law, where he earned his juris doctorate. Cory is licensed to practice law in Colorado and maintains a private law practice.”

( - promoted by Rocky Mountain Right -)

From the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090507/UPDATES01/90507006

Cory Gardner announces GOP challenge to Markey

Colorado staff

State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, will announce today that he'll run for Betsy Markey's 4th Congressional District seat in 2010.

Gardner is the second announced Republican candidate, joining University of Colorado Regent Tom Lucero in what is likely to be a crowded GOP field.

“I have always been a champion for rural Colorado, small business issues and been a constant warrior for fiscal responsibility,” Gardner told the online political publication Politico in an e-mail. “One thing’s for sure – the people of the 4th Congressional District will know where I stand and who I am fighting for.”

Other possible Republican candidates include former Fort Collins City Council member Diggs Brown, Larimer County Commissioner Steve Johnson and former Weld County Commissioner Bill Jerke.

Markey defeated three-term incumbent Marilyn Musgrave by 12 percentage points in 2008, becoming the first Democrat since 1972 to win a 4th Congressional District race.

More details in Friday's Coloradoan.

Magellan Strategies has conducted the first poll on the Republican primary in CD-4. The results are as follows:

The ballot test of potential candidates revealed State Rep. Cory Gardner (18%) with a 6 point lead over former 
Weld County Commissioner Bill Jerke (12%), UC Regent Tom Lucero (11%), and Fort Collins Councilmember Diggs 
Brown (11%).  Forty eight percent of respondents were undecided. 
 
The ballot test by region shows significant differences that reflect the local support of each candidate.  
Among Larimer County Republican primary voters, Diggs Brown leads with 19%, followed by Tom 
Lucero with 15%, Bill Jerke with 6% and Cory Gardner with 4%.  Among Weld County Republican primary 
voters, Bill Jerke leads with 34%, followed by Cory Gardner with 9%, Tom Lucero with 8% and Diggs Brown 
with 6%.  Among the 15 counties within the district that do not include Larimer, Weld and Boulder 
counties, Cory Gardner has a significant lead with 58% of the vote, followed by Tom Lucero with 7%, 
Bill Jerke with 4% and Diggs Brown with 3%. 

Favorability ratings were also polled for each candidate:

The image ratings of the potential candidates are as expected considering the early nature of the race.  
Tom Lucero’s image rating is 10 FAV/18 UNFAV, Cory Gardner’s image rating is 20 FAV/9 UNFAV, Bill Jerke’s rating is 13 FAV/11 UNFAV, and Diggs Brown image rating is 14 FAV/9 UNFAV.