By Chris Holbert Eight years ago, Colorado Democrats implemented the Blueprint. That plan is not just about how huge amounts of funding flow into Democrat campaigns. The plan was and is built upon the fact that a simple majority is all that is required in order to have 100% control of Colorado state government. While Colorado remains fairly close to evenly divided Democrat, Republican, Unaffiliated, and ~4% minor party, Colorado Democrats recognized then and still do today, that they did not and do not need to convert 100% of voters to a 100% liberal perspective in order to hold 100% of the political power and to govern from a 100% liberal agenda. Nope. All they need is a simple majority. In Colorado, 50.1% of the seats = 100% of the power. In the state House, 33 of the 65 seats are a simple majority. In the state Senate, 18 of the 35 seats are a simple majority. And, the one Governor is obviously a majority of that one seat. Since the 2006 election cycle (2007 swearing in), there have been eight legislative general sessions and eight years in the term of Governor. Take the three majorities and multiply those by eight years. Thats 24 increments of power. The House, Senate and Governor times eight years equals 24 increments of power. Over those eight years, Democrats have held 22 of those 24 increments of power. Thats 92% of the political power within our state government. Nope, Colorado isnt 92% liberal, but Democrats figured out that it doesnt NEED to be... all they need is a simple majority in each of those three positions of power in order to govern from a 100% liberal agenda. During the past eight years, Republicans have held 8% of the political power within Colorado state government. As a result of the 2010 elections, the first mid-term Tea Party wave, Republicans were able to gain a one-seat majority (33 seats) in the state House. YES, there WERE some disappointments that year. Senate Bill 11-200 (Amycare) being the most obvious example... I voted No as did many other Republicans. But, once one Republican joined the 32 Democrats in supporting it, there was no mathematical to stop it. In 2012, Colorado Democrats regained control of the state House and have held 100% control of the law-making process (Legislative Branch, plus the signature of the Governor). In fact, they have held that total control for six of the past eight years (75%). Colorado isnt 100% liberal. It isnt 92% liberal. It isnt 75% liberal. It isnt even 50.1% liberal. It doesnt NEED to be. In order for the far left to govern our state, they dont NEED 92 of 101 seats (65 + 35 + 1). They dont need 75 or 76 of those seats. All they need is 52 of those 101 seats. Once the voters hand them at least 33 of the 65 House seats, 18 or more of the Senate seats, plus the one Governors seat, they control 100% of the power and, under the Colorado Constitution, statutes, and legislative rules, there is NO WAY to stop them from passing bills into law and administering the Executive Branch based on a purist liberal agenda. Please dont default to a recall perspective. Were in the process of CALLING (electing) all 65 House seats, 18 of 35 Senate seats (a majority), and the one Governor. Advocating for a do-over (recall) in the future isnt an effective answer to DOING (calling) today. So, if you are tempted to take the view that Democrats and Republicans are effectively the same, then please ask yourself, HOW YOU WOULD KNOW? Are you making that judgement based on a ratio of 92 to 8 or 75 to 25? Maybe youre not basing such a perspective on Colorado state government and looking to Congress and the President in Washington, DC. Yep, thats fairly common... and rather the same as establishing your opinion of the Denver Broncos based on the performance of the New York Yankees. Not the same, not comparable. Some of my fellow Republicans have criticized my tolerant words and perspective when it comes to Libertarians voting for Libertarians or unaffiliated voters voting for an Unaffiliated candidate. Thats YOUR CHOICE and I have not, am not, and will not argue that you are wrong for voting for whom you choose to vote. Thats your decision. I do, however, challenge you to base your decision on fact - what is true - not fiction, what is convenient. Look at the reports from Principles of Liberty and Colorado Union of Taxpayers. Recognize that, since 2010, liberty-oriented legislators have INCREASED IN NUMBER within the Colorado General Assembly. No, we are not yet a majority, but we ARE increasing in number. Thank you for that increase. You have seven who scored 100% with CUT this year. Several more were just one vote away from that perfect rating. All are Republican, zero are Democrat. There are no third party members of the General Assembly and that wont change heading into the 2015 and 2016 sessions. The Governor for the next four years will either be named John or Bob. As one of those 100% CUT scores, I would be grateful to not have John sitting on the first floor for another four years. No, Bob isnt perfect. I havent suggested such. No, Im not preaching Party over principle. Im simply asking that you - everyone - recognize the math in Colorado. In our state, there is no provision for the Minority party to shut down the process. There is no refuse to vote, theres just being counted as Absent or Excused. Only when a Party holds at least one of the three Majority seats of power (House, Senate or Governor) does the ability to stop the process exist. Please dont make your personal voting decision on Colorado state House, Senate or Governor races based on the fabricated perspective that Democrats and Republicans are all the same. No, we are not. Dont wish for a legislative tactic that may be possible in another state that is impossible here in Colorado. Please, please, please, recognize that the imbalance of political power over the past eight years was and is by design. Please dont help one Party continue to hold all of the power. Please help bring balance to Colorado state government by helping to elect a Republican Majority in the state Senate. It would also be helpful if we could elect Bob instead of John to be our Governor for the next four years. Golly, imagine getting to 2016 with a ratio of power since 2006 of 80% Democrat to 20% Republican. It wont be a 50/50 all the same comparison for a very long time. But then, if enough voters hold to the all the same perspective, then liberals can continue their domination and well get to 2016 with the ratio of 93.25% Democrat control, 6.75% Republican, and zero other. Please choose wisely and thank you for considering my perspective.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:24:41 +0000