NSRF February 2012 Newsletter

8/3/2019 NSRF February 2012 Newsletter

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If you have a smart phone, use a bar code app for the QR code on the left,

it will take you to our web site,

www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com

Table of Contents:

y Colorado Republicans have chance to be heard in caucuses Tuesdayy GOP caucus infoy Republican Party participation from the ground upy List of north metro candidates so fary Adams County Elected Officialsy Joe Coors Makes It Official for CD-7y Adams 12 board chief appoints new membery Vande Krol seeks House seaty Candidates crowd aboardy Commerce City resident Donnia Howell announced intent for AdCo Commissioner seaty Jan Pawlowski announced her bid for the Republican candidacy as Adams County

Commissioner in District 2y Colorado State Representative Ramirez rips President Obama on failure to leady Businessman seeks county posty How the Elephants Died an essay on the broken Republican partyy NSRF membership application

Colorado Republicans have "chance to be heard" in caucuses Tuesday

By Sara BurnettThe Denver Post

Colorado Republicans will get their chance to weigh in on who should be the party's nominee for president

when they gather in schools, churches and neighbors' homes for GOP caucuses Tuesday night. "If you

have a preference, it's your chance to be heard," said Republican political consultant Katy Atkinson.

Whether you're an old hat or a first-timer, here's what you need to know:

Who may attend?

Participants must be registered to vote, be affiliated as a Republican for at least two months (as of Dec. 7,

2011) and have lived in their precinct 30 days. If you are not a registered Republican, you may still attend

the caucus, but you may not participate in the presidential straw poll or precinct

When and where is my caucus?

All caucuses start at 7 p.m., though participants are encouraged to arrive by 6:30 p.m. to complete

registration and sign in. To find the location of your caucus, go tocaucus.cologop.organd type in your

address and ZIP code. Registered Republicans can also preregister for their caucus at the site. Remember

to bring identification when you go to your caucus.


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What will happen at the caucus?

Participants will elect a chairman and a secretary to run the meeting. If representatives of the presidential

candidates are present, they will each be given 30 seconds to one minute to make a pitch. A straw poll will

then be held and the results announced. Attendees also will elect two precinct committee people and

delegates to the county assembly or higher-level assemblies. Resolutions for the party platform also will be

considered.

What happens next?

Delegates will move on to county assemblies and conventions. The county convention will choose

delegates to the congressional district assemblies and the state convention, which is scheduled for April

14. At those meetings, 36 delegates and 33 alternate delegates will be chosen to attend the Republican

National Convention in August in Tampa, Fla. For more information cologop.org

Sara Burnett, The Denver PostRead more:Colorado Republicans have "chance to be heard" in caucuses Tuesday - The Denver

Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_19900892#ixzz1lckEstnURead The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

GOP caucus info

Everything is different this year! Republicans (and Democrats, too) need to know that, because of reapportionment, itis almost certain that their precinct number has changed. If you want to attend your caucus, which is held by eachprecinct, you need to know what new precinct you're in. The Republican caucuses will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday,February 7. (The Democrat caucuses will be held March 6 at 7 p.m.)

For Republicans: In order to vote at your caucus, you need to have been registered as a Republican at least 60 daysprior to caucus AND registered at your precinct address for at least 30 days. If you are a Republican and fit that bill,here is how to find your new precinct number AND where your caucus location is: Go to www.caucus.cologop.org.Follow the step-by-step instructions, and you will get answers to both questions. If you don't have a computer, please

find a "computerized" friend who can help you. (If you call the County Clerk, they can tell you what precinct you're in,but not where your caucus will be held.)

If you desire to become a Republican Delegate or Alternate to the County Assembly, either by itself or also to theState Assembly/Convention and/or Congressional Assembly/Convention, bring your checkbook to caucus. (Cash isalso acceptable, but a check is best.) All money $20 to be a County Delegate, $15 to be a County Alternate, $20 torun for State Delegate and $10 to run for Congressional Delegate must be paid at your caucus. The CountyDelegates and Alternates will be directly elected at the caucus level. State and Congressional Delegates will be electedat the County Assembly on March 17. You must be a County Delegate OR Alternate to be eligible to run for Stateand/or Congressional. (If you are elected, you will owe no further fees. The fees to run for those posts are non-refundable.)

The Republicans have online training for the caucuses, one a general training for citizens, the other for anyoneinterested in being a caucus leader. Go to the Adams GOP website www.adamscountygop.com for the links to both of

those courses or directly to the training site http://react.MDL2.com.

A final note: We do conduct a presidential straw poll at our caucuses. It should be understood it is just that, a strawpoll. Colorado does not have a primary election for president. Instead, at the State and Congressional Conventions,Delegates and Alternates to the Republican National Convention are elected. They are the ones who decide howColorado votes for the presidential candidate. The straw poll does not bind any National Delegate to a vote for anyparticular candidate(s).

Patty McCoy, Adams County Republican ChairJanuary 26, 2012


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Heres the list of north metro candidates so far:

Adams County Commissioner District 1: Gary Mikes, Kaarl Hoopes, Jeffrey KraftAdams County Commissioner District 2: Jan Pawlowski, Donnia Howell, Larry FordAdams County District Attorney:

HD-22 J Loren Bauman, Justin EverettHD-29: Robert RamirezHD-30: Paul Natale, Mike SheelyHD-31: Beth Martinez HumenikHD-32: Al JacobsonHD-33: Dave PigottHD-34: Jodina WidhalmHD-35: Brian Vande KrolHD-56 Kevin PriolaHD-63: Lori Saine, Bruce Sparrow, Gene Stille, Michael Mazzocco

SD-14 Syndi AndersonSD-19 Lang Sias

SD-23 Glenn Vaad, Vicki MarbleSD-25: John Sampson

CU Regent: Matt Arnold, Brian Davidson

CD-1: Danny StroudCD-2: Kevin Lundberg, Eric WeissmanCD-3: Scott TiptonCD-4: Cory GardnerCD-5: Doug LambornCD-6: Mike Coffman

CD-7: Joe Coors


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Joe Coors makes it officialCongressional campaign launched at college

by Linda Detroy

February 02, 2012

With the message that he will push for free enterprise with limited government, Joe Coors announced

Tuesday that he will seek the District 7 seat in Congress. "My campaign will be based on jobs, theeconomy and responsible government spending," Coors said during his remarks. "I will champion the

rights of the individual and the spirit of the Constitution."

Coors, 69, of Golden, will run against Ed Perlmutter, who is currently in his third term.

Perlumutter said he is looking forward to a spirited debate with Coors. "There couldn't be a more

stark contrast," Perlmutter spokeswoman Leslie Oliver said in a statement released after Coors'

announcement. "You will have an ultra-wealthy, highly partisan candidate who fights for billionaire

tax loopholes and personhood amendments against a man who holds meetings in local grocery

stores, fights to create and save thousands of jobs in the district, and has the least partisan

congressional voting record in Colorado."

Coors is the great-grandson of Coors Brewing Company founder Adolph Coors. He was president and

CEO of CoorsTek, a Golden-based company that manufactures technical ceramics, engineering plastic

and specialized metal components. Coors announced his candidacy with his wife, Gail, sons Brad and

Douglas, and daughter Holly in attendance. He stood in front of a full house in the Community Room

at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood. He said he chose to announce his bid to represent

District 7 at Red Rocks because the college's foundation was the recipient of funds raised last year by

the Rolling Hills Country Club, of which Coors is president.

"I am running for Congress because the American dream is rapidly vanishing as government expands

its intrusion in our daily lives," he told the crowd. After his announcement, Coors said he felt called

to seek the seat in Congress. "I am so frustrated with what's going on in Washington, D.C.," he said,

"with more socialism and more totalitarianism."

He said his first actions would depend a lot on the committee to which he is assigned, but he would

"take a scalpel to the government budget." He said he would work to consolidate programs and

eliminate duplication. Mark Tomko, of Highlands Ranch, was there to support his friend. He said

Coors has what it takes to get elected because he brings a fresh perspective and good ideas.

"What he said about the American dream, that's true. When was the last time we thought about

that?" said Tomko, the head of Metco Landscape. "I opened my business in 1987, and I have 200

employees now. Would I start the business in today's economy? I don't think so."

http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2012-02-02-223751.114125-sub-Joe-Coors-makes-it-official.html#print

Adams 12 board chief appoints new memberFeathers were ruffled in deadlocked voting

by Ashley Reimers

January 19, 2012


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Community advocate Enrico "Rico" Figueroa has been named to the Adams 12 Five Star Schoolsboard. Figueroa, who lives just south of Thornton in unincorporated Adams County, wasappointed Wednesday morning by board president Mark Clark. Clark's action followed theboard's inability to reach a majority vote on an appointee.

Figueroa is taking the place of Heidi Williams, who gave up her board position after winning thejob of Thornton mayor in November's election. Figueroa served eight years with STARS, an

after-school mentoring program that helps students learn life skills and character development.Currently he is part of Cold Weather Care, a ministry at Northern Hills Church that hostshomeless families at the church during cold-weather months. Figueroa is an overnight host toensure families can spend an evening in a warm building.

His oldest child will start attending Adams 12 schools this fall. Three people applied for theschool-board position and were interviewed at the Jan. 11 board meeting. The applicants wereFigueroa, Amy Speers and Ash Mahajan. When it came time to vote, board members Clark andNorman Jennings voted for Figueroa, while board member Max Willsey voted for Speers andboard member Frederick Schaefer voted for Mahajan.

According to state statue, the board had 60 days to fill the vacant position, and after the 60-daydeadline, which was Tuesday, the board president could appoint anyone he chose, said FrancesMullin, executive assistant to the board. "I'll make the decision, but it's a tough one to make,"Clark said during the board meeting. "I just hope whoever I choose will be treated like an equalon this board."

It was obvious during the meeting that Schaefer was not happy with the decision. He said hebelieved Clark orchestrated the entire situation to land in Clark's favor. "I don't think much ofyou (Clark) right now," Schaefer said. "You've (Clark) done a very good job at getting things to

go your way."

Figueroa will finish out the term until November 2013, when at that time he can choose to run

again for his position. During his interview he said he ran because he wants children to succeedand wants to be a part of that. He is the program manager for The Center for RelationshipEducation/The Colorado Healthy Marriage Project. As a school board member he hopes toconnect the district with the Hispanic community, improving the relationship between the districtand Hispanic parents.

"It's important to draw in the Hispanic community and find a way to work with these kids," hesaid. "I hope to find ways to get through the language barrier and equip teachers with strategiesto better reach these kids." Figueroa said he is excited about the new position and if all goesright, he plans on running after his term is up.

"It just lights me up to see students succeed and this position is long-term for me," he said."This is what I want to do and I look forward to working with the great schools, students andteachers." As for Schaefer, he is unsure of the future. He said he is heartsick that the positionwas not filled by Mahajan.

"The idea that Ash Mahajan isn't qualified to take on this position is like saying Einstein isn'tqualified to teach physics," he said. "If anything he is way overqualified. All of this was just away for Clark to have the person he chose in advance to be on the board. I'm not sure how wego forward from here." Clark, who said all the candidates were highly qualified, stands by his


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decision 100 percent.

"It's a tough decision to have to make after just 20 minutes with the candidates, so I made myselection based on the resumes," he said. "It would have been nice to have a unified vote, but itcame down to me as the tie-breaker and I think Rico will do a great job." Clark does not believehe orchestrated the decision to fall in his favor. He said each director had the right to vote for acandidate, and he disagrees with how Schaefer handled the situation.

"The meeting was probably not the right place to say those kinds of comments," he said. "Itwasn't professional, but I'll get over it and I hope Fred can work with me and we can agree todisagree and be professional about it, because at the end of the day we will have to worktogether."

http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-Education-c-2012-01-19-223584.114125-sub-Adams-12-board-chief-appoints-new-

member.html#print

Vande Krol seeks House seatby Ashley Reimers

January 19, 2012

As a business owner for more than 20 years, Westminster resident Brian Vande Krol is hoping to brinhis business knowledge to the state government level, running for House District 35. This is his

second go at a position in the House, running for House District 34 in 2010. That year he fell short toRep. John Soper, the Democratic incumbent, by just under 300 votes.

Vande Krol is hitting the pavement during his Republican campaign, talking one-on-one with voters."This is a local race and I'm here to win the votes for the people I want to represent," he said. "I knowhow to talk to them, and I plan to be accessible to the people." Vande Krol kicked off his campaign

for the House on Jan. 6 after consulting with his family and friends.

"As a small business owner for over 20 years, I have the personal experience and understanding of

what's needed to create jobs and to get Colorado back to work," he said. "People in Westminster arehurting and have been for a while now. It's time they are represented by someone who understandstheir struggles and has the real-life experience to promote job growth through effective regulation

reform and other pro-job public policies."

Vande Krol grew up in Nebraska and quickly learned the importance of hard work. He started workingwith his father at age 11, learning the construction trade. During high school he managed a drywalland lawn maintenance business. Vande Krol maintained his work ethic, working a full-time job duringcollege while earning a degree in construction management. Since then he's been successful in

several construction projects.

In 1990, he opened Paradise Gym in Adams County, a rock climbing business, which he sold in 2000.

He now owns a floor installation business and swimming coach business. "Over the years I haveowned businesses, but not every one of them was easy to start," he said. "People need the economicfreedom to pursue their dreams and things have to change at the House to allow us to do that, to get

out there and get to work."

Other issues at a glance:

Funding education


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Vande Krol said funding education is a must, but it needs to be done within the means of what peoplecan afford. "There are lots of things going into the education budget that don't necessarily producethe outcome we are looking for," he said. "We need equal opportunity education for everyone."

FasTracks

Vande Krol said people in the metro north area are particularly in a difficult position, saying, "We arethe low man on the totem pole, and our area is last in line to build and eventually RTD will be askingfor a double in taxes to fund the project."

Medical marijuana dispensaries

Vande Krol notes that the voters of Colorado allowed a certain amount of economic freedom in thisindustry, saying, "The failure was on the part of the Legislature and the local government, and as aresult, people like the owners, employees and customers invested time and money in these

businesses and now the government wants to take that away, after these people have invested theirlives in the business without any compensation in return."

Health care

Vande Krol believes there are two issues: One is the idea of a limited government versus an unlimited

government and Medicaid in Colorado. "Obamacare is the epitome of an unlimited government,therefore if they can regulate health care, they can regulate anything," he said. "Medicaid isconsuming a huge and ever-increasing part of the state budget and we have got to ask the federalgovernment for labor."

http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2012-01-19-223578.114125-sub-Vande-Krol-seeks-House-seat.html#print

Candidates crowd aboardJanuary 26, 2012

It is still January and it's early in the county election process, but we see strongmovement in Adams County. We could say there is blood in the water, and the sharksare zeroing in. Or we could say there is simply healthy competition for the Districts 1 and2 races for the Board of County Commissioners.

In District 1 we have Republicans Kaarl Hoopes, Jeffrey Kraft and Gary Mikes, andDemocrats Kenneth Ciancio and Mark Kaiser. In District 2, we have Republicans DonniaHowell and Janice Pawlowski These are the candidates who have filed affidavits to run fooffice at the Colorado Secretary of State Elections Division. We just learned thatincumbent Democrat Skip Fischer will not run again in District 1 and incumbent DemocraAlice Nichols has not announced whether she will run in District 2.

So, no offense intended to the candidates nor to sharks but we see the dorsal finscircling. The county has been gouged by the Quality Paving court cases that continue aswe write and are revealing how county funds were mismanaged lining pockets ratherthan paving streets. There have been other problems ethical and otherwise in thecounty that we hope are prompting the best and brightest in the county to come forward

We want to encourage competition in election debates about what is best for the county.Leadership and attention to detail are at a premium. And to be frank, a strong backbone


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in ethics is a quality at the top of the list. Thinking aloud we might even arrive at thethought that the way decisions are carried out is more important than the decisionsthemselves, but of course, the two responsibilities should go in lockstep. That is whatcounty residents desire and should expect.

The process for the political parties will be gaining steam as the county assemblies grownear. Both parties will meet at separate locations Saturday, March 17, at the AdamsCounty fairgrounds. The Republicans will meet in the Waymire Dome and the Democratswill meet in the Exhibition Hall. We think Adams County has a lot going for it despiterecent problems. We want to see a strong competition among candidates to help votersselect the best to lead the county.http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-Opinion-Editorial-c-2012-01-25-223680.114125-sub-Candidates-crowd-

aboard.html

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012

Commerce City Resident Donnia Howell Announces Intent for ADCO

Commissioner Seat

Donnia Howell, resident of Commerce Citys northern range, is announcing her bid for the Adams County Commissionerseat in District 2 in the November 2012 election. Donnia recently graduated with her Juris Doctor from the Universityof Denver, Sturm College of Law. She is the wife of Byron Howell. They have been married for twelve years.

Donnia is not a career politician but is aware of recent issues in Adams County that havemade us all wonder about our governments integrity. She wants to be the change that weall want to see. As a ten year resident of Adams County and a mother of a five year oldson, Donnia believes that the choice she has in front of her is to either sit back andcomplain about what is happening, or take a stand and do what she can to change it forthe better, for all of us.

She is very concerned about wasted tax dollars, lack of transparency, and accessibility forcitizens so that their voices are actually heard. She believes that the county governmenthas a large impact on the quality of life in our community and wants to be the breath offresh air that most voters are hoping for in the upcoming election. Donnia is a wife,mother, daughter, sister, voter, tax payer, and neighbor just like all of us. She believesone does not need to be a career politician in order to effect a change in government. Shewants what is good and right. She wants the county run with integrity, and she wants tomake sure as things from the past are overcome, that they stay on the right track going

forward. Donnia is confident her education and experience will aid in facilitating a clean, transparent, and accountablegovernment.

Donnia is originally from Holland, Michigan and has a B.S. in Business and an M.A. in Gerontology from the University ofNorthern Colorado in Greeley. Her father is a retired pastor and her mother is a counselor. If you would like to share

your concerns with Donnia, please feel free to send her an email at [email protected]://gatewaynews-politics.blogspot.com/2012/01/commerce-city-resident-donnia-howell.html

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012


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But President Obama has not stopped. Every State of the Union has been a campaign speech. The speech the other night about, Oh, lets

just work and put America back on trackits not about America being on track to him. Mr. President, its time to get the engine started, its

time to stop planning, and its time to start doing. Now. You have made nothing but mistakes. You have done nothing but spend taxpayer

money and put us farther in debt. And I, for one, as an American, as an Hispanic American, am not proud to say you are my president.

http://www.whosaidyousaid.com/2012/01/colo-state-rep-ramirez-rips-pres-obama-on-failure-to-lead/

Businessman seeks county postRepublican runs for commissioner

by Tammy Kranz February 02, 2012

If the Adams County commissioners had been doing their job right, the county wouldn't be strugglingfinancially the way it is, says businessman Jeffrey Kraft. Kraft, a Republican, is vying for the District1 seat up for grabs in the November election. He said he believes the commissioners could manage

their services better, such as trash collection. "If Adams County provided their own trash service, it

could control the costs, create more jobs, lessen the impact on landfills and turn Adams Countygreen," he said.

Kraft excluded fellow Republican Erik Hansen from his criticism of the board. Hansen was elected tothe board in 2010. Kraft did think the board's effort to be transparent and accountable was a good

move in the right direction, but said it took more than just one person on board to make that work.

Being accessible as a commissioner would be a goal for Kraft, who said it wasn't good thatcommissioners seem to only be available via email to the public. "Don't get me wrong. I don't wantsomeone knocking at my door at 2 a.m. to talk to me about a stop sign in front of their house.There's a time and place for everything," he said.

A pet project of Kraft's would be establishing community action groups to help those in thecommunity who are elderly, poor or have other needs. "Right now we have resources to help," hesaid. "They are just regular citizens, church groups and volunteer groups. They try to do the bestthey can." He said he didn't think the government should step in and run the organization, but thatit could provide structure and guidance.

One of the things Kraft would like to see is people helping other people more often. He said he wasnostalgic for the time when needing help from others wasn't thought of as being weak. Kraft ownsand runs A Little Patch of Heaven, assisted living for the elderly. Kraft lives in unincorporated AdamsCounty near Thornton with his wife, Tabitha, and their five daughters, ranging in age from 3 to 13.

OTHER ISSUES:

Municipal inmate jail cap

Kraft, who supports the county's decision to implement a cap, doesn't think the commissioners actedsoon enough and was upset that the implementation date kept getting pushed back. He pointed out

that housing an inmate cost $88 daily and he said, "Every day they sat around was more money thatcould have been used for something else."

County image


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Kraft said he thinks the ethics reform and audit will help to clean up a lot of the mess with thecounty. "People of Adams County are desperate for help. They need to be able to believe in their

government again."

Expanding board to five members

"I think it could be a benefit, but there may be drawbacks," Kraft said. "I guess it depends on whothe five on board were if they are like the members before Erik (Hansen), I would say it's a bad

idea."

FasTracks

"I agree we need to have a more economic transportation system. We need to look to see if we canfind another way to do it (besides a sales tax), if there's no other way then go about (placing a tax

increase on the ballot). Adams County is a business and a business is meant to make money. AdamsCounty has the space, the people and the resources to make money without creating a sales tax."

http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2012-02-02-223814.114125-sub17478.114125-

Businessman-seeks-county-post.html#print

How the Elephants Died - an Essay on the Broken Republican PartyIn 2008, after eight years of George W. Bush, after having

lost the House and the Senate, after having lost many State

houses and Governorships, the Republican Party teetered

on the edge of becoming a long term minority party in the

United States. It was not because the Democratic Party

had necessarily done anything special to change

themselves, nor had they damaged the GOP in some

manner as to deal a death blow. Quite the opposite,

actually. It was the Republican Party that had been faltering

from within.

After the crushing losses of 2008 the pundits began to ask

the question, What now for the GOP? What they were asking had less to do with strategy and more to do

with message. What did the GOP stand for? Who were the GOP leaders? The horrible primary set-up a GOP

ticket which fronted a liberal Arizona Senator and a half-term unknown Governor from the 3rd least populated

State. The GOP was deeply divided after the primary, and there was a large lack of enthusiasm for McCain as

the leader of the party, or the nation. During the election, the GOP ticket seemed to be splitting as well, with

the Governor of Alaska Going Rogue in defiance of the leadership of the Arizona Senator. After the election

the depth and breadth of the divide was so obvious that to ask the question about the future of the GOP was

not uncalled for.

The state of the Party at that time was one where the party leader and outgoing President, backed by the Party

itself, had drastically veered from the small government/limited government doctrine which defined its surging

success in recent years. No, the Party had lurched so far to the left that figure heads within the party defended

the constant erosion of liberties and the perpetual borrowing and bail-outs as staples to the values of the party

itself. Perpetual war, Patriot Act, wireless taps, bail-outs, federal healthcare/prescription drugs, No Child Left

Behind. The party of limited government was responsible for the largest growth of the (non-essential)

government in the history of the United States. After losing power in the executive and legislative branches, the


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party was at war with itself for what it had done, suffering from a crisis of identity.

During this crisis, however, there was a splinter group within the party which had laid the groundwork for the

coming election cycle. The energetic and overly enthusiastic supporters of Ron Paul in 2008 had effected a

tone within the party discussion, raising the issue of liberty. The big government GOP leaders were so put off

by this message that Paul and his supporters were actually blocked from the national GOP convention. This

group of the small Libertarian wing of the Big Tent Party splintered from the GOP, holding their own Liberty

Convention, where they put in place a long term strategy to retake the Republican Party.

As the Republican establishment selected new leadership and tried to scrape together a message, there was a

movement already underfoot, planning Liberty Rallies on Tax day. The general message of the rallies was

Liberty, low taxes, and a change to the monetary system. It was the Tea Party. The newly elected left was so

afraid of the quick organization and the multitude of rallies across the nation that they immediately went into

panic mode, claiming that the Liberty minded rallies were racist or terrorist in nature. The GOP establishment

was so disconnected that they did not claim affiliation with the organizations spreading their message across

America on Tax Day. This radical element was the organization of the Libertarian movement, the Campaign

for Liberty. The success of the Tax Day Tea Parties did not belong to the established GOP, however, after the

movement began to swell in numbers the GOP began to approach the rag-tag leadership with an offer to take

the Liberty movement under the wing of the Republican Establishment. As such, the GOP rested its

momentum heading into the 2010 elections on the Tea Party. The strength of the Tea Party was brought intoquestion on primary election day, and overwhelmingly the GOP establishment candidates were ousted in favor

of the Libertarian Tea Party Conservatives. The narrative of 2010 was, then, that the GOP was now being led

by the Tea Party, and as such the Republican Party could only retain the established leadership under the

banner of this liberty movement.

After the unprecedented resurgence of the once dead GOP in 2010, the strategy of the established Republican

leadership was to retain the talking points of the movement while dismantling the structure and ability of the

Tea Party to splinter from the Big Tent. It was, after all, floated as an idea that the Tea Party itself could

actually become a formidable third party, challenging the Republicans for top-tier status against a unified

Democratic Party. Such a move, of course, would have ensured Democratic majority in 2012 and beyond. So

the GOP establishment took the Tea Party congressmen and senators into their fold, and moved quickly to

marginalize the Tea Party movement itself. By mid-2011 it was clear that the Tea Party had been so over-runby the mainstream GOP that the movement was dead under the moniker Tea Party. What began as a liberty

movement quickly became a social conservative movement with no clear message of opposition. The

message of small government, lower taxes, and individual liberty which defined the Tea Party became talking

points for established moderate Republicans. The waters were so muddied that the mention of the Tea Party

no longer represents a sect of the GOP, rather some ambiguous affiliation from within the Republican Party.

You no longer hear about Tea Party candidates heading into the 2012 election cycle, rather you hear about

whether voters identify with the Tea party. But I ask you, what does it mean to identify with the Tea Party in

2012? What is the partys message? You are unable to answer because the GOP successfully dismantled the

movement while simultaneously absorbing their talking points. The movement was no longer deemed a threat.

The fractures of 2008 began to reappear in the GOP during the selection of the presidential candidates in2011. As the party began the process of identifying the next generation of leadership, so returned the

animosity of the 2008 election cycle. The media scrambled to identify the leader of the Tea Party movement

while the GOP establishment held their breath hoping none would arise. Sarah Palin was the media darling,

mostly because of her atypical moves after losing the election in 2008. Michelle Bachmann was a very vocal

member of the Tea Party, but lacked the excitement of Sarah Palin, and who could not get her endorsement

for the female amongst the males spot in the 2012 run. Other first term names were favored by the media,

such as Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. It was becoming clear that the incorporation of the Tea party into the

GOP had so diluted the movement that when the time came for the Tea Party to front their leader as a


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challenger to the GOP establishment candidate, the movement found it had been so love-struck with the

recognition of the GOP that it was no longer a movement unto itself. It had no leadership. It had no message.

Seeing a sign of weakness from the Tea Party movement, who had developed into an active staging ground

for the social conservative wing of the GOP and less of a true liberty movement, the Conservatives began their

quest to identify and run a True Conservative candidate. Large bands of Conservative Republicans attempted

grassroots draft campaigns for Governors from Indiana, Texas, New Jersey, as well as a fleet of Senators and

Congressmen. Each draft campaign attempted to sway opinion in favor of their candidate as the Truest True

Conservative. As the field winnowed, however, even the definition of a True Conservative was sullied,tarnished by conservative talking points that do not actually resemble the left-moderate actions which they

were being used to describe. The Conservatives, as well, had been marginalized.

Then there are the 2008 hold-overs. Most notably Mitt Romney, who made a calculated decision to yield the

2008 race to McCain after South Carolina, and go directly into 2012 campaign mode. Mitt Romney, who

maintained the campaign presence in the early voting states, was identified as one of those who was expected

to run and was identified as an early front-runner. His campaign represents the ideas of the moderate-left lurch

of the established GOP, and a continuation of those ideals of the Neo Conservative era of the Republican

Party.

The second hold-over is Texas Congressman Ron Paul, the Libertarian who was blacklisted from the GOP in2008. Pauls brand of Republicanism is the Goldwater/Jeffersonian Libertarianism. His strategy was much the

same as Romneys: stay in the early voting states and build a movement with which to roll through them in

2012. He was hated by GOP establishment and feared by the media. His followers were branded, as he was,

as being out of touch. But then came the economic collapse. Then came the continued wars under Obama.

Then came the financial disasters of the fiat currency system. And the media turned to the one man who had

not only predicted the downfall, but was actively building a movement of educating the public to the extent of

the failings. His movement, the Campaign for Liberty, gave life to the Tea Party and the GOP wins in 2010.

Pauls decision to enter the Presidential race gave the Liberty Movement a validated and tested leader, and

this put fear back into the heart of the GOP. Pauls early numbers and successes were dismissed as Paul-bot

anomalies, and he was written off as a candidate out-of-touch (again) and unelectable. He was targeted by the

media for blacklisting, and painted as outside of the party norm by the GOP. But Pauls numbers continue to

grow, his Campaign for Liberty continues to reach the voting bloc in charge of the future of the party theyouth vote. Where the Tea party movement failed, the original campaign for liberty strategy devised by Paul in

2008 had succeeded, and the Libertarians have a movement underway within the GOP.

We turned the calendar to 2012, the election year. We are under the thumb of an unpopular President, a

Democrat who is easily beaten should an organized opposition show itself. Herein lies the rub. The fractures

made visible in 2008 were never truly fixed, and now we see a Republican party so broken that it is becoming

ever impossible to repair, re-establish, and retake the battlefield. The GOP is not organized. It has no

leadership. The Tea Party has failed, and the message marginalized. The Social Conservative movement has

failed, and the message marginalized. So what is left is a bloody power struggle between the Neo-

Conservative elements of the establishment, both sides fighting so viciously to implement their brand of

moderate leftism under the brand Republican. We see a Republican battle in which the majority has beenfooled by the talking points, by the stolen message of the Liberty movement and the Conservative movement.

The leaders of the GOP promote a continued growing of the government, increased erosion of liberties (such

as the NDAA, SOPA, etc), increased spending, and perpetual war while at the same time using talking points

about increasing liberty, reducing debt, cutting spending, and securing Americans by not backing down from

saber rattling. The message is unorganized, it does not make sense. The Republican brand has somehow

become no different from the Democratic brand, save a few minor means to the ends but in both cases the

end is the same.


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When Republicans act like Republicans we win. When we act like Democrats, they win.

As the infighting intensifies, all eyes are on Ron Paul and his growing Campaign for Liberty. There is daily talk

about Pauls brand of Libertarianism splintering from the GOP. With it, Paul will take a national 10-15% of the

GOP those who learned the lesson from his movement and those who are simply tired of the heated divide in

the Party. A Ron Paul third party run is the Tea Party splinter nightmare held by the GOP after the 2010

groundswell. But this time the GOP has no control. The movement has a leader. The leader has a brand. The

brand has a following that transcends party lines, drawing support from the fiscal right and the anti-war left as

well as liberty minded independents. The big story of the 2012 election is going to be the political landscapeleft behind by the Ron Paul Campaign for Liberty and the lasting effects of a movement within the GOP or

established as a third party.

The GOP cannot contain the core of this movement, the Libertarians.The atmosphere is ripe for a fracture of

the party. The stress of an undefined party to define itself, a party who is historically on the conservative-right

but who has recently lurched moderate-left, a party who has largely gone without a notable figurehead, without

any true leadership for too long is the stress that continue to fracture the party from within. The squelching of

the conservative right and the ignoring of the libertarian movement threaten a party so divided against itself

that it will not beat this sitting President nor will it retain control of the either chamber of congress, no matter

which Moderate-Leftist you prop up on Election Day. What we are witnessing may be the end of the Big Tent

GOP, where libertarians and social conservatives need not apply, where they are catered to during electionsbut ignored while in power. The minority blocs of the GOP are growing wise to the new Republican brand.

They are growing less patient with the lurch and less tolerant of the lip-service. The Party has moved past the

crossroads and is heading full-speed toward the political cliff. This may very well be the narrative on how the

mighty elephant died.

Brought to you by:Steven M Nielson

Kitsap County, Washington, United States

A conservative minded individual, always questioning and challenging the establishment of power. A leader in thecommunity, and rebellious in spirit. "The thoughts of many are usually summarized by those brave enough to taketo the pen"

http://stevenmnielson.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-elephants-died-essay-on-broken.html


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Poll WatcherReporting Polling & Voter DataA poll watcher is assigned and certified by a political party or a candidate to travel to polling places toobserve the election process and gather information on behalf of the party or candidate. The poll watchermust be certified, in writing, and have a Poll Watcher Certificate to give to each polling place that theyvisit. Please see the election office or your political party representatives if you are interested in serving asa poll watcher and wish to obtain the required certificate.

What Information Can Be ObtainedA poll watcher may gather information such as:

y How many of each political party have voted in a primary

y How many people have voted at given times during the day

y What the names of the persons who have voted are

y Whether or not the polling place is being supervised by the election judges according to law

What Poll Watchers May Not Do

y A poll watcher is not allowed to handle any poll books, ballot logs, ballot supplies or ballots.

y A poll watcher may not conduct any kind of electioneering within 100 feet of the polling place asposted with signage.

y A poll watcher may not interfere with the voters or the duties of the election judges in any way.

Contact UsIf you see a poll watcher performing any activity not in accordance with the above stated duties, please

contact the Adams County Elections Office immediately at 720.523.6500.

Election Judge

Promote Democracy - Serve as a Pollworker on Election Day!Election Judges must meet the following qualifications:

y Registered electors who reside in the political subdivision, unless otherwise excepted, and are willing to serve knowing that Election Day runs from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;

y Be U.S. citizens by the date of the election at which they are scheduled to work;

y Be physically and mentally able to perform the duties of an Election Judge;

y Attend a mandatory Election Judge class prior to each election at which they work;

y Never been convicted of election fraud, any other election offense, or fraud; and

y Neither a candidate whose name appears on the ballot in the precinct that they are appointed to serve nor amember of the immediate family, related by blood or marriage to the second degree, of a candidate whose nameappears on the ballot in the precinct that they are appointed to serve.

y Get involved and assist voters on Election Day. Earn extra money** (stipend varies by county).

Contact yourcounty elections official for more information. If you are a registered voter, you may serve as apollworker!


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NSRF Board of Directors Email Address TelephoneJohn Lefebvre President [email protected] 303-451-5558

Dana West Vice President [email protected] 303-280-0243

Jan Hurtt Treasurer [email protected] 303-451-0934

Phil Mocon Secretary [email protected] 303-427-5453

Brian Vande Krol Membership [email protected] 303-466-4615

Gary Mikes Membership [email protected] 303-252-1645

Leonard Coppes Membership [email protected] 303-287-9145

Wanda Barnes Membership [email protected] 303-373-1521Kevin Allen Membership [email protected] 303-319-3011

Join the North Suburban Republican Forum on the Internet and Facebook:

http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95611986640&_fb_noscript=1

Yearly membership dues are $20, while a couple is $30. Make checks payable to NSRF. It onlycosts $3 per person to attend the monthly meeting and a continental breakfast and beverage(coffee, tea, orange juice or water) is included. A membership application is located on thelast page. Fill it out and bring it along with you.

To subscribe or unsubscribe from our monthly newsletter, send an email with your name andsubscription instructions in the body to: [email protected]


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Politically, is there really a difference? Here are the facts:Democrat platform Republican platform

y Bigger government y Smaller government

y More onerous rules and regulations y Less onerous rules and regulations

y More government control over your life y Less government control over your life

y More government spending & higher tax rates y Less government spending & lower tax r

y Anti-business policies y Pro-business policies

y Gun control & weak national defense y Gun rights & strong national defense

y Obamacare

y

Equality of outcome

y Social justice

y Liberal/Progressive

y Community and social responsibility-based

y Private health care choices

y

Equality of opportunity

y Personal responsibility

y Conservative

y Individual rights and justice-based

y The U.S. debt is due to a revenue problem y The U.S. debt is due to a spending proble


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The North Suburban Republican ForumNSRF Membership Application

We meet on the second Saturday of each month to discuss politics from 9:15-10:45am at Gander Mountain

(9923 Grant St, Thornton, CO, 80229) in the employee training community room. A continental breakfast isprovided with coffee, tea, orange juice and bottled water.

Http://www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________Address: _________________________________________________________________________________City: ____________________________________________________________Zip: _____________________Best phone number to reach you: H/W/C______________-________________-________________________Email: __________________________________________________________@_______________________How did you hear about the NSRF? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature: ______________________________________________________________________________________ New member______ Current member renewal

______ Individual Membership $20 per calendar year______ Family Membership $30 per calendar year for couples______ Deluxe $56 individual/$66 family per year includes 12 monthly fees + yearly dues

Paid via __________ cash__________ check #__________

Todays date: _____________________________________________________________________________Received by NSRF board member: ____________________________________________________________

If you have a smart phone, use a bar code app for this QR code. It will take you to our web site.

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NSRF February 2012 Newsletter

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