Bought Signatures, Sold Principles:Colorado’s Elected Officials

Oh, buckle up, fellow Colorado patriots, because if you thought my take on the clown show at the Colorado GOP's State Central Committee meeting was bad, the sequel here has cranked the absurdity to eleven. This past meeting gave us a crystal-clear view of who our so-called "representatives" really serve: themselves, their deep-pocket donors, and the Establishment Party machine that's been turning our primaries into a free-for-all for unaffiliated meddlers since 2016. And if you're one of the grassroots warriors in this state, you know exactly what I'm talking about: the spineless elected officials who voted against upholding the overwhelming will of the 2024 GOP State Assembly in Pueblo, where over 90% demanded we Opt Out of this semi-open primary disaster.

Let's dig deeper, shall we? My phone hasn't stopped ringing since 2:01pm when the SCC meeting ended. Most patriots are outraged at how these elected elites cast their votes, and rightly so. A majority of them (elected officials), though not all, mind you, but enough to make your blood boil, refused to certify the 2024 assembly directive. Why? Simple: self-preservation wrapped in hypocrisy. These folks don't want the hassle of caucusing and assembling like the rest of us peasants. No, they'd rather petition their way onto the ballot, waving stacks of signatures bought and paid for by big establishment sponsors. "Look at me, I have the people's support!" they crow, as if we don't know every one of those signatures came from paid petitioners loitering outside stores like King Soopers or City Market. A token appearance here, a photo op there, please, spare us the theatrics. It's all a sham to bypass the actual Republicans who show up, debate, and select candidates that truly represent us, not some shadowy donor class pulling strings from the shadows.

Take the vote tally from that chaotic scene: 226 in favor of following the assembly's opt-out resolution, 196 against, out of a 507-member committee. Supporters like Mineral County GOP Chair Eric Grossman are rightly claiming victory, insisting the body has spoken and it's time to remove the unaffiliated meddlers who dilute our voice. But the naysayers, led by Brita Horn and the Colorado GOP, are hiding behind that 75% threshold nonsense, pretending it didn't pass because it was "just" a ratification.

And don't get me started on our congressional delegation, state representatives, and county officials who sided against the Opt-Out. They're the same ones who've watched Republicans get trounced statewide since this semi-open farce began, with zero statewide wins to show for it. Why fight to keep it open? Follow the money, as always. These elites love a system where dark-money PACs can flood the field, buy signatures, and influence outcomes while ignoring the base. They whine about "disenfranchising" unaffiliated voters, oh, the horror! These folks could just register as Republicans if they cared enough. Most couldn't even name their own state and county officials if you gave them the first syllable. This setup just sustains the dysfunction: weak candidates beholden to donors instead of constituents, leading to more losses and more excuses.

I'm not thrilled about this, folks, I know, shocker, but I saw it coming from a mile away. The unofficial vote for elected officials is below. It's as accurate as we can get without Chairwoman Horn releasing the official count, which has about as much chance as a snowball in Hell. These people shouldn't have a say in matters like this, period. They're conflicted up to their eyeballs, and recusing themselves should be the minimum requirement. But no, they waltz in and vote to protect their easy path to power. It's like letting the fox decide on henhouse security upgrades.

So, what now? Campaign season is heating up, and it's the perfect time to challenge candidates at town halls, meetings, and coffee shops. Ask them directly: "Why did you vote to keep our Republican primary open to Democrats and independents when the Colorado GOP main body overwhelmingly voted to close it?" Watch their excuses, changing topics, and platitudes about "unity" or "inclusivity." Don't fall for it. One-on-one conversations? Useless; these egos only move when we unite and confront them together. We need to band together as a group, vote them out en masse, and show that we're fed up with subpar representation that serves their check-writers, not the citizens who naively marked their ballots.

If we let this slide, the Colorado GOP remains a losing proposition: divided, diluted, and controlled by the very elites who caused this mess. We need to remove them! Reclaim our primaries for true Republicans! That's the way to win back the state. Until then, these self-serving officials are just dead weight; it’s time to cut the rope and let them sink.