Possessing a right is separate and distinct from exercising that right.  I have a right to burn the American flag.  However, I choose not to exercise that right.

Colorado and the Nation as a whole face a significant turning point in the 2010 mid-term elections. 

The country yearns for elected officials with strong beliefs in limited government, lower taxes, individual responsibility, a strong national defense and a return to Founding principles.  But we also yearn for elected officials who understand the governing processes by which those principles can be implemented.

Campaigning is a separate and distinct process from governing. 

The 2011 Colorado legislature and Governor will face a monumental task of redistricting congressional, state senate and state house districts.  They will face crucial issues on spending, taxation, immigration, water, and a plethora of other issues that will determine the direction of Colorado for years.

I want someone in the Governor’s office who understands the intricacies of coalition building, trust, negotiation, the legislative process, and, most importantly, the ability to communicate to all Coloradans a basic understanding of the choices the state faces.

Mr. Maes has shown through his campaign that he lacks the ability to communicate under pressure, and, most importantly, has violated the trust of campaign contributors and supporters.  And, unfortunately, he has shown that when under pressure, he lacks the judgment to handle difficult situations, as evidenced by the sloppy and perhaps illegal attempt to categorize, re-categorize and ultimately, return what may or may not have been a campaign contribution or personal gift from an 83-year old woman.

I strongly criticized Scott McInnis on my radio show for the handling of the Rolly Fischer matter when he mistreated the elderly Mr. Fischer and attempted to shift blame to him for Scott’s own poor judgment.  Similarly, I criticized Mr. Maes on my radio show last night for his mistreatment of Freda Poundstone’s generosity and his bungling of that issue.

Judgment, or the lack thereof, is a trait that all voters should consider when looking at candidates trying to earn their votes.  Mr. Maes has evidenced a lack of judgment that will make governing very difficult, if not impossible, if he is elected.  His failure to understand the judgment issue itself is evidence of a lack of judgment.

Quick, what does it say?

“Use of Party newspapers and magazines as toilet paper is strictly forbidden.”

Draw your own conclusions.

The dispute over the Islamic center has tripped some deep national lunacy. The unbottled anger and suspicion concerning ground zero show that many Americans haven’t flushed the trauma of 9/11 out of their systems — making them easy prey for fearmongers.

Little did I realize that my opposition to the Ground Zero Mosque (a term I will continue to use despite the Associated Press' desire to change it to Park51 or something) was because I had failed to flush the trauma of the 9/11 attacks from my system.  Perhaps a new stimulus package would be for all opponents of the Ground Zero Mosque to get therapy for their trauma, then the world would be OK. Stuart Smalley (aka US Senator Al Franken) could introduce the spending bill to pay for all of our therapy.

Maureen, get serious.  This isn't about trauma.  I'm over the trauma.  But, I'm not over the fact we were attacked on that date in 2001.  I remember it well.  And, I don't claim that Islamists don't have a Constitutional right to build their mosque at 51 Park if they can get the appropriate permits for construction. Mosques, synagogues, churches, temples, are all denied building permits every day in this country, and no one complains.  My complaint is not that they don't have a "right" to build there, they do.  My objection is that it is not appropriate to build there out of sheer consideration for the victims.  

In case you've forgotten about those victims of that horrendous day, take a look at the following:

I say don't build the mosque for this reason, the falling man.  

Put yourself in the position of the family of this man, who has made the decision to take control of his death. He refuses to die in the heat and suffering of the building from the attacks of that day.  Instead, he chooses to control that death by leaping from Tower One. Do you call him part of the "herd" you refer to? 

No, Maureen, we're not herds, we're not reacting to fear, or ignorance, or some trampling of the First Amendment to the Constitution.  We're reacting to basic human decency.  Have you none?