In Dan Maes' first month as Republican nominee and Tom Tancredo's first full month as an American Constitution Party candidate, Tom Tancredo outraised Dan Maes by four to one. During the month of August, Dan Maes raised a paltry $50,201 next to Tom Tancredo's haul of $200,485. Both lag behind Democratic candidate John Hickenlooper's take of $403,597 during the same period.

Notably, the Maes campaign spent nearly half ($22,500) of what it raised last month on Secretary of State fines and legal fees. Maes also paid himself an addition $2,287 in mileage reimbursements. Maes begins the month of September with only $19,786 cash on hand compared to $141,028 for Tancredo and $171,542 for Hickenlooper.

 ( - promoted by Rocky Mountain Right - )

So now what?

The Election

I'll share with you folks what I am going to do but I bet many of you have already guessed.  I'm going to vote for Tom Tancredo.  Tom entered the race at the behest of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Colorado.  He suspected dirty dealings but decided it would help the party.

Now there are a lot of folks out there that don't believe that.  Well, you are entitled to your opinions just as I am entitled to mine.  When I look at the cast of characters we have seen in this Tragedy, the guy that seems to have the cleanest hands and the most arrows in his back is Tom Tancredo.  For some reason I always lean towards the guy with the most arrows in his back.

I encourage each of you to go out and look at the issues and the standing of the candidates on those issues.  I encourage you to ignore party affiliation for one office in one election.  I hope you will vote for the person that you believe is best suited to lead Colorado and deliver principled, common-sense policies........who is on the ballot.

The Aftermath

Over at the American Spectator site I have been involved in a discussion.  I said that if this were ecumenical court, I'd vote to excommunicate the Pope or, in this case, Wadhams. Then I would examine the possible ways to pick up the pieces and salvage something for the people that support the Colorado Republican Party in good faith--because they have been SHAFTED by the folks that were supposed to be looking out for them and advancing conservative principles (again).

I would explore the possibility of throwing my endorsement behind Tancredo and then wooing him back to the Republican Party if he is elected.  The other possibility is to endorse the Constitution Party and encourage the Conservatives to go over there.  I think I'll propose both:

Vote for Tom and then watch the Republicans we send to represent us, at the State and national levels, this election.  If they do the same thing the Repubs did in '94, then join the Constitution Party or Libertarian Party (research both) and don't look back.  If they campaign on Conservative principles and then act like piggy prostitutes (selling themselves for money and setting up shop at the pork trough) then it is time to go looking for a party that will support our principles.

Political parties are formed by like-minded groups.  They are not groups of people who randomly joined together to vote, they are groups who share a belief in specific principles. It therefore stands to reason that if a political party abandons the principles that are core to a segment of its membership, in pursuit of the votes of a different group, or simply because they find it convenient, that segment should deprive that political party of its support. Failing to do so encourages the polticians to ignore the will of the very people who elected them.  Sound familiar?  Such nonsense is how citizens lose control of their government and one should question the motives of anyone that encourages party over principle.  I know it is hard to believe but we have some folks in the party that believe that our elected officials know best and we should just hush up and follow the leader.  They encourage elitism with their nonsensical advice.

It is time for some real, lasting accountability.  Tell the Republican leadership that the party is in an eight year job interview.  Hold them accountable.  We are responsible for the elitism in Washington, D.C..  We no longer expect our representatives to be as truthful and responsible as our employees--yet that is exactly what they are. If your child's teacher lied to you would you hold him accountable?  It is our failure to enforce the same responsibility for our representatives that we expect of ourselves and those around us that has allowed the "Grand 'ol Party" to not be so grand.  We, as Americans and as Republicans, are responsible for our party. 

When You Find Your Attention Slipping

Here are a few things to help keep your attention focused:

This political science paper examines the way the liberal elements of the Republican Party began to find success by lying about their beliefs to appear more conservative.  Many consider it a "how-to" manual: "The Impact of Intra-party Conflict on Electoral Outcomes: The Case of the Republican Party in the South, 1980-2000", Paige L. Schneider, Dept. of Political Science, University of the South.

The US Debt Clock: Watch it all slip away

Remember the anger, against our Republican piggy prostitutes,  that swept us out of power and swept Obama in.  Don't just be mad at Acorn.  Don't let it happen again.

( - promoted by Rocky Mountain Right - )

Do you hear that sound, Dan? That's the sound of the people leaving you. Do you remember that scene in the movie Old School when Frank (Will Ferrill) stripped naked and told everyone they were going streaking? Well, Dan, we're at that scene when it's dawned on Frank that he was alone and naked running down the street.

Not to worry, though. The car has pulled up along side you. You can either keep running and suffer the embarrassment or stop the race and head home.

We're proud of you, Dan. You qualified for the race and you were even a contender. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people counting on you but you have no chance of winning. It's time to step aside and get someone in there with fresh legs to carry this home.

Remember, we're counting on you to make the right choice.

 ( - promoted by Rocky Mountain Right - )

So, here I go touching the "third-rail" in Colorado politics right now.  It got me kicked off of redstate.com and even had folks saying things like "Stay far, far away from my state", not realizing I am in his back yard. :->

The reality is that Dan Maes is NOT going to win this.  I was really disappointed when, like a real man, Tom Tancredo offered to leave the race and allow another Republican to be nominated if Dan Maes would leave the race.  Like a real politician, Dan Maes said "No".

Now, we are all unhappy with the prospect of Hickenlooper becoming governor.  Let me remind everyone that we were all really upset about Carter being elected, Clinton and now Obama too.  Have any of you folks stopped to think about what the election of those folks did for Conservatives?  Candidates that espoused Conservative values were "shoo-ins" after those folks got elected.  Nevermind that most of those elected were really RINOs wearing Conservative clothing.  Nevermind that, as soon as folks weren't watching as closely, they did everything they could to stomp out the real Conservatives that got elected.  Nevermind that the folks that do the vast majority of the work at the grassroots levels are Conservative and nevermind that it is the Kenesian and inte(R)nationalist policies of Karl Rove and Bush I & II and the "moderate" wing of the big tent party that lost the majorities that the Conservative grassroots worked so hard to get.

What to say about political parties?  Oh, yea: (from http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/history/politics.html)

___________

Political parties did not exist in 1789. Washington despised the idea of political associations, formed in such a way as to pit one group of citizens against another. In his farewell speech in 1796 he said:
 

[While speaking on the subject -- The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established Government.]

"All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They [political parties] serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.

"However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

________

Conservatives need to break away from the Republican party and become a force of our own.  The antics of Steele and Wadhams as well as John "I was a POW" McCan't, "No, don't take Baghdad" Bush and "Go take Baghdad" Bush, Mitch "Moderate leftist" McConnell and the poor excuses for Representatives leading the House Republicans, etc. are excellent examples that CONSERVATIVES AREN'T WELCOME IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.  Bring your votes but leave your opinions at the door and don't say anything about it or we'll kick you out!

I was on Capitol Hill for the 104th Congress, a.k.a. the "Republican Revolution", with Newt "Gushing about Clinton's friend Alvin Toffler" Gingrich's "Contract With America".  I worked for a Conservative Republican freshman from Texas (No, I'm not from Texas).  I helped (B-1) Bob Dornan (California) take on the inte(R)nationalist wing under Gingrich by bringing an American "security consultant" named Giles Pace, working for the Bosnian Muslims in Tuzla, Bosnia, to the US to testify in front of the National Security Committee prior to the American entry into the Bosnian conflict.  It wasn't even a year after the sweep of the House by Republicans singing the Conservative Anthem that all of the REAL Conservatives were pushed to the side like so much trash, cut out of the debate and literally told to be silent in meetings and the elitist,     inte(R)nationalist, "neocons" were already complaining about how the "Contract" was chafing them and how they weren't going to do that again.  

The point is that we are going to be taken again if we are not careful.  We need to support principle over party EVERY TIME.  If we don't we will continue, on the State level, to have weak-kneed apologetic moderates that are then pushed out in favor of someone who actually has beliefs.  Since the Republican party is dedicated to stifling Conservatives the only folks allowed to run who have beliefs are the Progressives.  The result is a constant trend to the left with no ground re-taken by Conservatives.  On a national level we will have a repeat of the neocon death march with the resulting international entanglements, budget deficits, expansions of big government, elitist snobbery, pandering to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and anyone else with oil or money policy.  What we WON'T have is a principled, moral, Constitutional government that reflects the Will of the People.

The Republicans have had their chance.  They have ridden the Conservative horse for too long without giving it food, water or rest.  Now it is time to unseat these morally gray usurpers and strike out on a truly Conservative course.  Change will not come in days or months but in years.  Yes, anything worth doing takes patience and hard work but wouldn't it be nice, for once, to not have to want to kick yourself when you walk out of the voting booth?  Wouldn't it be nice to hear someone defend the Constitution the way you do and actually win a debate with the liberals as opposed to just giving in and constantly compromising with the left? The Republican moderates have shown, in no uncertain terms, that they are willing to compromise to strength.  They have been doing it for years with the Progressives.  Isn't it about time to start pulling this country back in the right direction? 

Stop letting the moderates own delivery of the Conservative message.  Let's make them compromise with us instead of the Progressives.

I support Tom Tancredo and Sarah Palin and I DO NOT apologize for it.

I was recently banned from my former blogging site, redstate.com.  I was banned because I took issue with the Republican party here in Colorado and their choices for guberrnatorial candidates.  I outlined the issues that led me to believe that neither Maes nor McInnis are a viable choice to represent me.

I went on to rail against the moderate Republicans that are currently taking issue with Tom Tancredo's entrance into the race.  I called them weak-kneed and cowards for being afraid to back a strong conservative and called-out the fact that this is not the first time that Conservatives have found themselves shunned by the "important" people in the party.  I also drove home the point that the Republican party is not Conservative but, rather, Republican.  I called out the fact that the inte(R)nationalist, so-called "neocon", wing of the party (formerly referred to as "country club" Republicans), have been responsible for the very things that caused us to lose the majorities in the House and Senate that we fought so hard for in the 1990-1994 timeframe.  I pointed out that they had brought us the Department of Homeland Security, Bailout I, Desert Storm, MFN for China, a huge debt, a huge deficit, restrictive rules of engagement for our soldiers on the ground, failed nation-building in Iraq and Afghanistan and, more importantly, Barry Soetoro, aka Barak Obama.

I called for Conservatives to stand up and vote their conscience.  I also declared the Kenesian-believing, inte(R)nationalist wing of the party to be my enemy and told them point-blank that I am coming for them--That I was "going to kick your butts our of the party leadership, so help me God".

I did a "what if?" excercise on the possiblity of Hickenlooper being elected and pointed out my belief that if we end up with a Governor that is a liberal in disguise and will compromise-away all of what we stand for then I believe that we are better off with Hickenlooper because the entire state would be likely to swing hard to the right afterward.

I expected that folks reading it would be able to tell, quite clearly, that I am thinking for the long game and would rather be very well positioned for the long term and poorly positioned for the short term than to be well positioned for the short term and poorly positioned for the long term.

Little did I realize how far the mainstream neocons had fallen.  I expected searing comments and significant amounts of debate.  I expected name calling and discussion.  I expected freedom of and the clash of ideas.

I did not expect heavy-handed censorship.  I did not expect a site advertising itself as "conservative" to completely ignore one of the founding principles of this country.  I, ignorantly, did not expect a repeat of history:

 These are the fruits of the policy of statesmen who have risen from beggary to opulence, from obscurity to distinction, whose private mansions are more splendid than our public buildings, and whose fortunes are exalted in exact proportion to the decline of the interests of the state. What is the cause of this change? The simple fact, gentlemen, that formerly the people, having the courage to act, and to see service in person, controlled our statesmen and was master of all our emoluments; and any of the citizens in general was content to receive from the people his own share of honor or office or advantage; whereas now, it is the statesmen that dispose of our emoluments; it is through their agency that everything is done; while you, the people, gentlemen, reft of all your strength, stripped of your treasure and allies, have become mere underlings and appendages, and are satisfied if your statesmen present you with a dole from the festival fund, and the manliest part of all! you are even grateful for receiving from them what is your own all the while. They coop you up in the city, and entice you to your pleasures, and make you tame and submissive to their hands. But it is impossible as I hold to have a high and noble spirit, while engaging in petty and mean pursuits: men’s pursuits must necessarily have an influence on their character. I should not be surprised if, for merely mentioning these matters, I were to suffer more than those who are themselves responsible for the state of things. It is not every subject on which you permit your boasted liberty of speech: I wonder that you have permitted it to-day.  But if, gentlemen, you would only renounce these practices and be ready to take to the field…you might, you might perhaps, secure some solid and important advantage.

The Greek Statesman Demosthenes (384–322 BC), in the Third Olynthiac 

 Unfortunately, the much-boasted-of "liberty of speech" has been denied to me on Redstate.  Not only that but my comments were even mis-charaterized by Neil Stevens, the editor that banned me and attempted to block my access to the site. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________

 [No, you don't get to promote the election of a Democrat, or shill for a Constitution party whack job, at RedState. Begone. – NS]

 He'll stay away from RS, too.

Neil Stevens Tuesday, August 3rd at 12:44AM EDT (link)

The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.
Ronald Reagan

Someone should  mention this to Scott McInnis.   Someone should tell McIsnt he needs to details his plans to "help is on the way" and "jobs, jobs, jobs".  I am so tired of hearing more worthless garbage coming from politicians mouths with out any real details to back it up.  Instead of "jobs, jobs, jobs" he should just say "lies, lies, lies".  Or after the recent allegations it would be "steal, steal, steal".

Dan Maes sent out a statement today telling Tom Tancredo he isn't going anywhere.

Evergreen, CO, July 23, 2010 - This morning Republican Designee for Governor, Dan Maes, responded to the July 22 ultimatum by ex-congressman Tom Tancredo which stated that Maes or his republican opponent, Scott McInnis, should step down from the race for Governor if they win the primary and are losing in the polls to John Hickenlooper.  "This is an arrogant and absurd position for Tom to take but it is certainly his right to do so.  I will not step down from this race at anytime, period." Maes declared.  "Tom thinks I am unelectable because of some bad press.  If he actually has the courage enough to step into the arena I suspect he to will get some bad press."  Maes claimed. "I am proud to continue our campaign with the state assembly victory, and polls showing us competing head to head with Mayor Hickenlooper at our back." Maes concluded.

No word yet from the McInnis campaign on whether or not he is backing out if Tom Tancredo gets in.

Republicans across the state know Scott McInnis and Dan Maes have their shortfalls.  There is no question about that.  But it seems the Denver Post began its tirade against Republican candidates for Governor once their beloved Denver Mayor jumped in the race.

Take Karen Crummy for example.  While asking Scott McInnis and Dan Maes questions about topics reaching back decades ago, she asks John Hickenlooper which sugary snack is his favorite.  (Crummy reported Hickenlooper enjoys Snickers.)

Hard hitting, fair and balanced journalism?  Hardly.  Regardless of who Republicans put up against the Denver Post’s chosen candidate for Governor we can prepare ourselves for more Hickenlooper fluff pieces and more anti-Republican stories.

So while Karen Crummy and the Denver Post writers dig deep to see what ice cream, soda and coffee the Denver Mayor prefers, Republicans should continue promoting their chosen candidate for Governor and stop attacking each other.

An example of the Denver Post’s fair and balanced approach to the Governor’s race can be summed up in this Saturday Night Live clip.

In 2006 - Bob Beauprez, arguably the worst candidate Colorado Republicans have ever fielded for any office until this point, was crushed by Bill Ritter in a 57-40 landslide. Having Bob Beauprez at the top of the ticket caused a drag effect on the rest of the ticket causing excellent candidates such as Mark Hillman to lose their races by narrow margins and extremely popular candidates such as Mike Coffman and John Suthers to end up in much closer races than they should have been in. Bob Beauprez's unpopularity surely contributed to handing his own 7th Congressional District to Rep. Ed Perlmutter (that district voted for both Ritter and Perlmutter by a wide margin). The carnage in 2006 in the state legislature can also be blamed on the disastrous top-of-the-ticket as local races are more insulated from the national mood.

As the last few years have shown , Bill Ritter is not exactly a skilled politician or a great campaigner. He won in a landslide because of Beauprez's implosion. In 2010, Colorado Republicans have even more damaged candidates than Bob Beauprez in the form of Scott McInnis and Dan Maes. On the other hand, Colorado Democrats are fronting a very skilled politician in the form of John Hickenlooper. In short, this is a recipe for an electoral blowout that will make it nearly impossible for Republicans to win back the Senate seat, the State Treasurer's office, the Secretary of State's office, CD-3, CD-4, CD-7, and countless local races that could be tanked by association.

There is no longer any doubt that Scott McInnis will not be on the ballot in November. McInnis may be able to scape by for the next few weeks and stand as a primary candidate. He might even be able to win the nomination against Dan Maes. However, McInnis does the party and the conservative movement a disservice the longer he remains in. This scandal has advanced to a point where it cannot be argued that it is "just politics" and every day that it rages on it tarnishes all Republicans.

On the other hand, a Maes victory in the primary would not be a legitimate victory. Maes would win not on his own merits but merely by the spectacular implosion of the McInnis campaign. Maes, who by all indications will still be unknown to the majority of the primary voters once ballots are dropped, could win by default. This scenario would leave Republicans with a candidate who has no resources to compete against John Hickenlooper, a tendancy to make 360-degree flips on issues when the situation suits him, and a questionable grasp of how the state operates. Maes is, simply put, woefully out of his depth.

Perhaps more damning to both candidates is the complete lack of confidence that is being shown towards both. Activists do not believe either can win (outside of small dedicated followings). Elected officials are running from them. Partisan organizations want no part of the Governor's race anymore. Colorado Republicans are about to be left with a gubernatorial candidate who has been disowned by their own party.

The only way out of this mess is for both candidates to step aside for the good of the party. Doing anything else will not only mean a certain victory for John Hickenlooper; but a probable victory for Betsy Markey, Ed Perlmutter, John Salazar, Bernie Buescher, Cary Kennedy, and Michael Bennet as well.

While many self-styled populists will rage against the idea of a party "establishment" vacancy committee selecting a nominee, the time to rage against them was when they were sweeping viable conservatives out of the way in favor of a race between Scott McInnis and whatever random people felt like slapping their name on the ballot. This is not an ideal situation by any means, but this is the only choice left.

Former State Treasurer candidate Ali Hasan chimed in on the Examiner's accusations that the Hasan Family Foundation was some how involved in the McInnis plagarism story.  Hasan had this to say.

To readers of Rocky Mountain Right -

I wanted to publicly share the comment I left on Ian Cerveny's article, the linked article above at the Examiner.com

"It is likely that the Hasan Family Foundation knew..."

Dearest Ian Cerveny - in running for State Treasurer in 2010, I never asked Scott McInnis for his endorsement, as I was upset with him over his public criticism of Bob Schaffer during the 2008 election, a criticism which cost votes for all Republicans. In turn, there is no vendetta if the endorsement was never requested - and if you think otherwise, I suggest you to produce proof - you will not find it.

Second, while I cannot speak for the Foundation, I am sure that no one on the Foundation Board "knew" of potential plagiarism - if you think otherwise, I suggest you produce proof.

Until then, this article is a complete mischaracterization and should be edited or deleted.

Love and peace -

Muhammad Ali Hasan
ali@hasan2010.com

We appreciate Ali Hasan posting this on Rocky Mountain Right to give his view on the issue at hand.

 ( - promoted by Hestons Ghost - )

Allegations are flying as to who was the driving force behind the plagiarism story against Scott McInnis.  The Denver Examiner reported today that it is possible the Hasan family played a role in this after watching the defeat of their son Ali Hasan by J. J. Ament at the Republican State Assembly. 

The Hasan Family Foundation released these plagiarism accusations through the Denver Post earlier this week, forcing McInnis to come clean on his sloppy partial authorship.

Not coincidentally, a member of the Hasan family entered into the 2010 race for state treasurer late last year. Ali Hasan, son of Hasan Family Foundation founders Malik and Seeme Hasan, was favored to finish strong in the assembly, but was instead routed by fellow Republican candidate JJ Ament. McInnis refused to endorse any candidates in that race, despite his close relationship with the Hasan family and the fellowship extended to McInnis by the Foundation in 2005 after he left Congress.

It is likely that the Hasan Family Foundation knew that McInnis was not entirely responsible for the articles published under his name five years ago, and they may have also been aware of the plagiarized content therein. The timing of these accusations smacks of a vendetta … one earned when McInnis failed to repay a favor by endorsing Ali Hasan for state treasurer.

Did the Hasan family really push this information because Scott McInnis refused to endorse Ali Hasan in his campaign for State Treasurer?  Stranger things have happened.

We Republicans in Colorado have a problem we have to face.  We have quite probably handed the governors race to John Hickenlooper.  We can't blame it on dirty tricks or voter fraud.  We have done it ourselves, by giving ourselves two flawed choices for the race.  Dan Maes little problem with his mileage reimbursment, resulting in a possible record setting campaign fine seemed to put the last nail in his electoral chances.

But then Scott McInnis tops him big time by getting paid $300,000 for a plagairized paper on water rights that he did not even write!  How much one-upsmanship can we take in this campaign?

As it sits right now, McInnis might as well bow out, there is no spin on this that won't lead somewhere he doesn't want people to hear about.  And the only saving grace for Maes is that his campaign finance problems now look like small potatoes compared to his opponent.  But both of them have handed the Democrats ready made campaign commercials for the general race, and barring some scandal coming up and biting Hickenlooper, he has been given a pretty clear road for November.

Just how the hell did we get to this?

( - promoted by Hestons Ghost - )

Mayor Flippenlooper can't decide whether or not climate change is a serious issue.  When in Copenhagen at a global warming conference, he tells the crowd that he wants to personally convince all the skeptics of how serious it is, and draws the comparison between climate change and slavery.  And yet back in Colorado when speeking to oil and gas executives, Mayor Flippenlooper panders to the crowd saying he's not 100 percent sure about climate change.

Flip on, Mayor....

( - promoted by Hestons Ghost - )

In the wake of GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes’ spending spree, I decided to take a look at how the frontrunners for that office are spending their money. Though it’s still somewhat early, the guv candidates will begin their burn rate soon. Obviously, voter contact and media should encompass close to 75% of the budget, campaign staff and fundraising costs are distant second and third.

( - promoted by Hestons Ghost - )

As if Dan Maes wasn’t having enough problems lately, he now has admitted to breaking countless campaign finance laws according to the Grand Junction Sentinel.

Republican gubernatorial contender Dan Maes is expected to be ordered to pay what could be the largest campaign finance fine ever levied against a candidate by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

In response to a complaint filed with the state by a Grand Valley voter, the Evergreen businessman has admitted to numerous campaign finance violations and agreed to pay nearly $27,000 in fines, according to his campaign’s response to a complaint filed last month by Grand Junction resident Christopher Klitzke. He could be ordered to pay the fines as early as today.

The complaint said Maes had improperly reimbursed thousands of dollars to himself for mileage expenses over the past year, had failed to note occupations on some donations, and received an illegal contribution from at least one corporation, said Klitzke’s lawyer, Grand Junction attorney Erik Grove.

The Maes campaign is not contesting any of these charges and they are not offering any comments to the press.  Maes was clearly playing fast and loose with campaign finance laws and got caught.

The Republican candidates for Governor seem to disagree on the issue of transparency, specifically on itemization of fees in the public and private sector, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. 

Dan Maes told the Sentinel "businesses shouldn’t itemize the things they include in their bills. Nor, he said, should public utilities.  Itemizing raises the ire of their customers."

Maes went on to say “If I itemize it separately, it’s an annoyance,” he added. "People say, 'Why am I paying this additional fee?' They’re aware of it, they’re informed of it, and it concerns them. If they roll it into the cost, nobody sees the extra cost, and they’re less likely to express an opinion one way or the other about it."

Scott McInnis on the other hand disagrees.  "Itemization brings accountability. So, the suggestion that [Maes] makes, I can’t imagine there would be one ratepayer in the state of Colorado, not one, who would agree with Mr. Maes’ position," McInnis said. "As governor, transparency has become more and more of an issue because there’s a general lack of trust. He’s wrong on this issue. He’s absolutely wrong."

Transparency in government is a huge issue among voters, especially in the Republican primary.  It is shocking that Maes would stake out this position.  This certainly gives McInnis some ammunition leading up to the August 10th primary.