Colorado GOP Hopefuls at R Block Party Candidate Forum

by T.L. James | 8:00 pm, September 28, 2009

Last Thursday, GOP candidates for statewide and local elections took part in a candidate forum hosted by local grassroots organization R Block Party. The event had great attendance, not just with a nearly-full room at Bemis Public Library in Littleton (there were another ten or so people standing off-camera to the right) but with a broad selection of candidates from [...]

The Big Korkowski

by Ari Armstrong | 11:25 pm, September 16, 2009

Dude. Can a bald, edgy lawyer from Crested Butte win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate? I wouldn’t bet the odds in Vegas. My early prediction is that Andrew Romanoff will take the Democratic nomination from Senator Bennet, then lose narrowly to Jane Norton in the general. But I’ve been wrong before with these predictions.

But at least Luke Korkowski is an interesting underdog. How many people running for Congress say they want to abolish the federal reserve and run “legislation that gradually brings Medicare and Medicaid to an end?” At least among major parties in Colorado, the answer is exactly one. But is Luke a force or a farce?

It’s no secret that I like Ryan Frazier. Unfortunately, he seems to think he can platitude his way through the nomination. I guarantee he will not be able to out-platitude Jane Norton. He might be able to express his platitudes more energetically, but that won’t get him very far. For example, what in the hell does it mean to “give people a hand up, not a handout?”

It would be pleasant if the various Republican candidates would actually spell out their positions at some point. For example, Frazier seems to be trying to ride the fence when it comes to abortion. According to a news story republished on Frazier’s web page, “Frazier is pro-life on abortion.” Yet Frazier told Westword, “I am not a fan of abortion, but I struggle with whether it is the appropriate role of the government to place itself there.” Still elsewhere, Frazier indicated that it’s a matter of state’s rights. So which is it, Ryan? Either you do, or you do not, wish to impose legal restrictions on abortion. I don’t want to hear about your struggles, I don’t want to hear empty code words, I want to hear what is your position on the issues.

At least I know, definitively, what Korkowski thinks about something.

I also wonder whether Frazier’s heart is really in the race. I saw him at the Denver 9/12 rally. He was speaking to a few people on the edge of the crowd. I talked to him for a while. But I wondered what he was doing there. Where were the college kids with “Frazier For Senate” T-shirts handing out flyers among the crowd? If you’re going to work a crowd, then for Reagan’s sake work the crowd! If you’re too worried about getting associated with cranks, then stay home or campaign elsewhere. But to go to a rally and chit-chat on the sidelines struck me as peculiar for somebody running for the U.S. Senate.

I had no idea who the bald guy standing on the chair was as he prepared to address Liberty On the Rocks Wednesday night. But then it struck me: “You’re the bike guy, right?” By coincidence, just that morning I had read Lynn Bartels’s article on the candidate’s upcoming bicycle trip from Salida to Keystone.

I noticed the article only because Korkowski called it his “Free Colorado” tour. (This struck me because, as the reader may have noticed, my web page is called FreeColorado.com. There is now also ColoradoFreedom.net and LiveFreeColorado.org. But there is only one, original FreeColorado.com.)

Of all the possible election scenarios, here’s one I consider particularly interesting. Josh Penry, desperate to overcome his “recognition gap” with Scott “His Wackiness” McInnis, successfully pleads with Frazier to run as his lieutenant governor — certainly a decent step up for a city councilman. This leaves open the Senate race for the establishment candidate to run against a scrappy underdog who doesn’t shy from principles. I’m not saying I’m for that, but I do think it would be an interesting scenario.

I’m still not quite sure why Korkowski is running for U.S. Senate. I’m definitely no fan of his national sales tax. But at least I know, specifically, what some of his positions are. And in today’s political climate of gloss and glamor, that’s worth a lot.

Another Republican Candidate Joins the Senate Race

by T.L. James | 11:40 am, August 1, 2009

Crested Butte lawyer Luke Korkowski has jumped in as the fourth GOP Senate candidate seeking Michael “Senator Who?” Bennet’s seat: Korkowski announced on Friday that he has filed the official paperwork needed to become a candidate. He joins Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, retired businessman Cleve Tidwell and Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier as GOP entrants [...]

Independence Institute 7th Annual ATF Party

by T.L. James | 10:03 am, June 21, 2009

As the joke goes, ”alcohol, tobacco, and firearms” is a lousy idea for an overbearing government regulatory agency but a great idea for a convenience store.   While we Americans are saddled with the former and prohibited (for our own good, of course) from having the latter, that doesn’t stop the Independence Institute from having an annual fundraiser where they enjoyment [...]

Do Your Part! (Mom says so!)

by right witch | 9:24 am, March 25, 2009

Do Your Part! (Mom says so!) I recently heard Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier say “My mother was my hero.” He noted, “She worked two jobs to provide for three boys. We didn’t have much, but we had each other. She instilled in me and my brothers a sense of ‘do your part,’ do what’s [...]

Ryan Frazier: Next Generation of Conservative Leadership?

by wesley | 8:44 pm, March 21, 2009

Politico.com had an article discussing the three potential GOP candidates seriously considering the 2010 bid for Colorado Senator.  The article discusses some of the opportunities and challenges each potential candidate would face in the primary race.  It juxtaposed the established former Congressman with a long resume of political offices to the young “fresh face” City Councilman [...]

Gadsden Society Rallies for Liberty in Denver

by T.L. James | 11:14 pm, March 1, 2009

What? Another rally in support of liberty, small government, and capitalism? Why yes – it seems to be a trend…

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