July 7, 2008
Governor Bill Ritter
136 State Capitol Building Denver, CO. 80203
Certified Mail No. 7002 2030 0000 0388 5347
Dear Governor Ritter,
On May 22, 2008, I sent you a certified letter regarding the criminal conduct within our judicial and legal system. I detailed how my rights, water, and land was stolen from me through corrupt judges and attorneys. I also detailed that I have been unlawfully subjected to the Summit County Court for more than ten years, and that the criminal conduct is allowed and protected by Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey, and all the Colorado Supreme Court Justices. Instead of answering my letter with concern over the criminal state of the people’s judiciary, and helping to put a stop to it, you answered my petition for an investigation and accountability through an unsigned letter from a Citizen Advocate dated June 18, 2008. I herein answer your letter:
1. You said, “the Governor has no jurisdiction over the Judicial Branch.” Yes you do. When corruption is involved as it is in this case, you, Governor Ritter, have the authority and duty to ask that the CBI and/or FBI investigate and bring charges. You also have the authority to convene the Legislature in order to impeach the corrupt Judges, Justices, and other public officials. Every day they are allowed to remain in office, is another day that all Coloradans are in jeopardy of losing their rights and freedom.
2. You said, “the Governor’s office cannot intervene in court cases, overturn decisions made by judges, or offer legal advice.” I never asked for that. Nowhere did I ask that you intervene, overturn a decision, nor did I ask for legal advice. I asked you to do your job as Governor and call for an investigation and accountability. Again, you not only have the authority, you also have the duty.
3. You recommended that I my petition the Colorado Legal Services, and the Colorado Judicial Department instead. A. Colorado Legal Services does not handle corruption cases, nor do they have investigative authority. B. The Colorado Judicial Department is the State Court Administrator. The State Court Administrator does not have investigative authority.
4. A Citizen Advocate, also does not have authority to demand an investigation, only you do.
Governor Ritter, do not dismiss my worth of your time, nor dismiss my grievances as insignificant. The corruption is real, and our offices of public trust have been turned into a network of organized crime for the super wealthy and connected. The information I sent you on May 22, 2008 evidences that I am not a disgruntled litigant, but rather a victim of the lawless corruption within our Judiciary and legal system.
On June 20, 2008, Judge David R. Lass announced his retirement. He will be allowed to leave public office unaccounted, and allowed to resurface somewhere else. Isn’t this the same as the pedophile priests were allowed to do? Once there were complaints, they were moved and allowed to continue the abuse. By not holding Judge Lass to account for his criminal conduct, he also is a threat to the unsuspecting public everywhere. The criminal conduct will continue, because if he allowed such criminal behavior at work, he’s allowing the same in private life. He has shown his true character, and just as any other criminal, must be brought to justice. It will also be found that Judge Lass did not act alone. There are many more elected officials involved in this criminal network.
Just as Judge Lass has shown his true character, so too have all the other corrupt public officials who today are allowed to interact with the unsuspecting public. How many more victims will there be? In my case, my mortgage company is also being defrauded. How much longer will you allow the corruption to go on? Eventually, all will be brought to light. When it is exposed, what will you tell the people when they find out you knew about the corruption and criminal conduct within our Colorado Government, and did nothing to stop it? What will you tell God? Our Laws are rooted in the Ten Commandments, so this corruption is not only against man, it is also against God. Is He not worth your time either?
On its face, the amount of the corruption is eighty million dollars, crosses State lines, has cost the taxpayers millions, and is being allowed to continue. Imagine what an investigation will uncover. Governor Ritter, I will be expecting that you will use your authority to call for an investigation into the corruption and abuse of power. If there is more information you need, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above address and phone number. Thank you for your time, and I will be expecting to hear from you soon.
Respectfully, Halena Lewis
Note: This letter and all future replies will be shared with the public.
Read this from the Tri-Lakes Tribune.....
06/12/2008
District 20 candidates sound off on key issues
By Danny Smith , Staff Writer
Health care, renewable energy and economic growth likely will be at the forefront of the race for the House District 20 representative slot this election year.
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Incumbent Republican Rep. Amy Stephens will again run against Democrat opponent Jan Hejtmanek, who recently announced her candidacy for the 2008 election.
During her two years in office, Stephens has helped pass legislation allowing spouses of active-duty military access to get unemployment benefits, eased transition process for military spouses working in education who move to Colorado and pushed through legislation creating a School Safety Resource Center - intended as a coalescence of security information at public schools in Colorado.
Hejtmenaek ran unsuccessfully against Stephens in 2006, and will try to turn the tide this November with a campaign focusing on sustainable growth, attracting new business, renewable energy and health care.
The candidates' views differ sharply on health care issues.
Stephens co-sponsored a health care transparency bill that passed this year, requiring hospitals to post prices for 25 of the most common inpatient procedures and insurance companies have to post the reimbursement amounts for their most common 25 inpatient procedures.
The bill, according to Stephens, follows her belief in consumer-directed health care.
"I want to continue drawing consumers in to make their own choices in health care, and [work] with insurance so we make that possible," Stephens said. "I really like to explore how we can give consumers more choice. Now, that is tough because your opponents are going to go 'well, do we need this mandate or that mandate?' The more mandates we put on health insurance, the more we are driving up prices and the tougher it is for people to get access."
A state-run health care plan is favored by Hejtmanek.
"Gov. Ritter's 208 Commission recently concluded its research of the top five most viable options for universal health care coverage in the state," Hejtmanek said, "by recommending a single-payer health care system as the most financially efficient means of providing health care for all Colorado residents. Though it is unlikely that any new health care program will be initiated this year, it remains a top priority for this governor and his administration, which I fully support."
Health care legislation would aid small business, Hejtmanek said.
"I think it would alleviate a lot of problems in small businesses," Hejtmanek said. "It supports small business by allowing them to be more competitive. It would be far more efficient and less costly in the long run."
During this year's legislative session, numerous energy bills were passed, many in support of renewable resources. While both candidates support the use of renewable energies, they have divergent views of how to go about supporting it.
"Redirecting the massive coal and gas industry subsidies into renewable energy development will ensure prosperity equaling that of the outmoded energy industries; nurture fledgling industries that have been long ignored; and cultivate the kind of innovation and entrepreneurship for which the United State is world renowned," Hejtmanek said.
Stephens said that redirecting the subsidies effectively means more regulation on energy companies and thinks that the cost of funded research gets balanced on the backs of citizens and individual energy efficiency and stewardship should be the initial step for citizens.
"I don't think there is any problem researching alternative energies as long as we look at how long it's going to take and what the end result is going to be," Stephens said. "When the average consumer looks at how they save energy in their home, what are the things on a personal stewardship level that we can do to make our homes more energy efficient? We don't have enough families who are doing everyday things on a stewardship level. I am not a proponent of the 'nanny state' I don't believe big government should be in every aspect of our lives."
The popular support of renewable energy use was touted by Hejtmanek who cited a Colorado Springs Utilities survey.
"The survey done last year by Colorado Springs Utilities indicated that people are very much in favor of developing renewable energies, and are willing to pay for it," Hejtmanek said, "More than 80 percent who responded were willing to pay more than $1 additional a month on their bill, and around 60 percent would be willing to pay more. I think there is a need, as well as support for it."
To encourage economic growth, Hejtmanek proposes revisions of the 1982 Gallagher amendment to the State Constitution.
"Though the amendment was fair and appropriate at the time, the formulaic complexities of the amendment, combined with a pattern of growth in the past 25 years, has caused business owners to carry an increasingly heavier burden of taxation that is both cumbersome and repellant to businesses," Hejtmanek said.
Stephens was on the Business Affairs and Labor Committee and considers supporting businesses a priority and she said that knowing all the consequences of legislation is of crucial importance when deciding what to support.
"I don't pick up haphazard legislation - that has been a motto of mine. I like to think how it will affect my district," Stephens said.
For more information on Hejtmanek, visit www.janhejtmanek.com. For more information about Stephens, visit www.amystephens4hd20.com/.
Well, here we go again...time for another Secretary of Veterans Affairs to resign. This time we find that another arm of the George Bush mis-administration has made a dubious legal interpretation, trampled on the rights and benefits of veterans and is denying any wrong-doing.
You have to read the entire New York Times story to believe the depths of this tragic scenario.
This is a bizarre and deplorable action on the part of the mis-administration of the current occupant of the White House. Refusing to facilitate voter registriation is definately not prohibited by the Hatch Act. It's really disappointing that former Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) remains silent on this controversy.
I realized that this is a very positive development. I'm looking for more "lasts" of anything and everything for the coWH. The case against the mis-administration regarding Iran is particularly damaging.
It's clear that since entering office that the coWH has acted against the best interests of the United States on relations and policies towards Iran; the jumbled focus of his European tour sound bite script. Rather than advancing the best interests of the US, the current mis-administration has consistently played to the advantage of Ahmadi-Nejad and the ruling Iranian radicals. Read More »
Heads-up Colorado Springs and Northern Colorado. Beyond the fact that I've been working pretty hard for months to get this off the ground, it's just gonna be great! This issue has been ignored (or at least danced around the edges) for too long.
A Conversation with Rand Beers Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Keeping Our Promises: Veterans, Soldiers and their Families
Rand Beers, President and Founder of the National Security Network, former senior White House national security staffer and Vietnam-era Marine, will be the featured speaker at two town hall forums on issues facing the military community: repeat deployments for members of the active-duty Armed Forces, Guard and Reserves, the needs of a growing new population of disabled veterans, and the burdens on military families. Beers combines front-line experience (Rifle Company Commander in Vietnam and 10 years in the White House) with years of briefing our nation’s political leaders and, with the National Security Network, trains and advises candidates and advocates on how to address these issues in today’s political environment. A question and answer session will follow.
1:00 – 3:00pm
UCCS: The Upper Lodge
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
6:30 – 8:30pm
Bill Reed Middle School
370 West 4th Street
Loveland, Colorado 80537
RSVP: rkeenan@nsnetwork.org
Read More »
A full explanation of the case of Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) is provided by the Hill's Jackie Kucinich in the extended text.
This is more than a corrective swing in the political climate. The radicalization of the GOP has depleted their candidate pipeline of all but the most marginal of fringe characters. Add to this the repeat scandals of GOP incumbents and the result is brand failure.
The retail/consumerism obsessed American populace is arguably on the verge of abandoning the GOP label. Precise issues and programs may not lead the reasons, but a failure in basic values and trust appears to be the key to independents and other voting groups casting their ballots for Democrats in even deeply red districts. Read More »
One of the more gut-wrenching depravations of the Republican Legislature and Republican Governor of 2003 was the agreement to raid the Colorado Veterans Trust Fund to the tune of $2.3 Million. With the benefit of reports from several sources I've pieced together an "oh really?" tale of the day this fund was restored, with interest. This boosted the Trust Fund by a total of $2.9 Million.
The Grand Junction Sentinel provided the best coverage of last Friday's bill signing. With the benefit of January to May hindsight any meddling or opposition to this legislation is questionable.
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/16/051708_3a_Vets_bill_signed.html
At the center of the drama are GOP representatives Douglas Bruce and Kevin Lundberg. Back on January 14, 2008 Douglas Bruce became an even greater historical curiosity during morning prayers. Two days later, January 16, it was Bruce who weighed-in as a benefactor of the Veterans Trust Fund cause in the House Finance Committee. it was through Bruce's amendment that approximately $600,000 in interest was added. And, Lundberg who failed with an amendment to paint the pay-back as a new general fund appropriation.
In an additional context of Douglas Bruce and John Kefalas acting in agreement on a bill the Fort Collins, Colorado Rocky Mountian Chronicle originally covered the event.
http://www.rmchronicle.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1872
By the end of the committee hearing Rep. Lundberg has flipped back to the supporter and cast a rare vote with the majority to pass the bill. While Bruce and Kefalas were consistent supporters of the bill, Lundberg's move for fiscal re-packaging is yet another dubious entry in his spotty record.
Still, there is soooo much work to be done correcting the damage he has done. America certainly does not deserve Bush McClone as the next President.
Reprinted from an admired source (with a few choice edits) with an encouragement to share.
The George W. Bush Museum is being planned at Southern Methodist U. DALLAS Methodists opposed to a George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum and Policy Institute at Southern Methodist University here are mounting a last-ditch effort to block a nearly completed deal by throwing the decision to a regional church conference in July.
Prominent features of the George W. Bush Library are:
1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which will be perpetually under construction.
2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you can't remember anything and practice the phrases "…yes Mr. President…whatever you want, Mr. President."
3. The Texas Air National Guard Room where you don't even have to show up.
4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.
5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.
6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
7. The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.
8. The Dick Cheney Room in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.
9. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.
10. Last, but not least, there will be an entire floor devoted to a 7/8 scale model of the President's ego. To highlight the President's accomplishments, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate them.
"They see a force stretched dangerously thin and a country ill-prepared for the next fight."
So much for national security and a competent effort to fight the "Global War on Terrorism." Here's the direct link to the story.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4198&page=0
I find it striking that such a high level of criticism and cycism would come out of this survey population. FP and CNAS turned to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) for the survey population and polled a very large number to build the data. MOAA is a moderate to conservative leaning group.
The seniority of the survey population largely makes the conclusions indisputable. So much for the health of the greatest military force on the face of the earth.
*More in the extended text.* Read More »
Every Congressional District nominating assembly/convention must take a closer look at candidates for CU Regent. Removing the GOP Regents currently representing districts of Democratic members of the US Congress should now receive higher priority. The holder of a CU Regent's seat does matter. Read More »
Democrat presidential candidates and the Reid/Pelosi-run-Congress have promised to repeal the Bush tax cuts, retreat from teh War on Terror and increase the size of government through their one-size-fits-all health care plan.
Plan your counter-agruments (AKA, the truth) accordingly. OBTW - I decided to support the USPS by stuffing the entire contents of my latest Val-Pack mailing into their postage paid return envelope (2 1/4 oz).
************ Original Post *********************
It's hard to tell what going on at the Republican National Committee (RNC) on December 5, 2007. While Robert M. "Mike" Duncan (RNC Chairman) was hoping to create a profitable fundraising campaign, it appears that he missed the mark and has provided dedicated Democrats and Progressives with a good laugh.
Holiday parties around the country are likely producing the same experience as a recent gathering of mostly Democrats in Larimer County. We went around the room comparing who did, and did not, get Mike Duncan's plea for donations.
Be it amazing, perplexing or even pathetic, a large number of us had that letter at home, or had even brought it to the party as a conversation piece. There was an abundance of humor and criticism available after many eyes picked through this correspondence. Read More »
So it continues to perplex me when I see piles of "User from, ????" as the name on so many member profiles and blog comments. All of the Groups seem to be over-run with legions of people named "User from, ????" (Oh, and Bobby and Michael and Alan and John K are always there too.) Can it really be that hard to create a pen-name - nickname - logon name, etc?
Consider that I'm so non-creative that I just use my real first name and last initial. I'm not even fun enough to be neon, or something colorful like that.
Point is folks, put a little effort and fun into this. I know your parents and grandparents didn't want to you to be known as "User from."
Pathways to Leadership appears to have gained Angie's undivided attention. I can't fault her for her decision, because it looks like my dream job also. But, it is yet to be seen if either Betsy or Eric can rise to Angie's level of voter support and volunteer dedication and enthusiasm. Read More »
Take a look - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/01/AR2007090100592.html?hpid=topnews
It makes good Sunday reading to see that GOP operatives are going annonymous/confidential in order to talk candidly about the 2008 Senate races. It's just too bad that we don't have a veto-proof and impeachment possible majority starting this week.
- 1,585/486
Surprise, surpise…After taking a call-in opportunity to a Faux Noise (Fox News) radio show to reassure the Right WingNuts that all is well in Iraq, General David Petraeus is taking a beating in the Washington Post. The text of his radio comments were reported in detail and those knowledgeable of military realities have “taken-off the gloves.”
Read the article -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/07/AR2007080701726.html
Then read how thousands are b****-slapping a 4-star -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/07/AR2007080701726_Comments.html
The weapons fiasco is a serious blow to the credibility of the entire military mission. It comes on the heals of the “…take yer guns home boys…” disbanding of the Iraqi Army, the failure to secure Saddam’s conventional weapons stockpiles, and the dumb-founded do-nothing policies during the rise of the insurgency.
It was just 1,560 days ago that the current occupant of the White House joyfully declared the end of combat in Iraq under the glowing “Mission Accomplished” banner. The war was won, but it is becoming more and more evident that the peace is descending rapidly into catastrophe.
There is no truthful “clerical error” that could have allowed 190,000 weapons to flow unchecked into Iraq. It was definitely a loss of accountability, a compromise of integrity, and an abandoning of professionalism on the part of General Patraeus.
The offenses and failures of the mis-administration just continue to grow. Today's Washington Post story, "Weapons Given to Iraq Are Missing: GAO Estimates 30% of Arms Are Unaccounted For" is yet more damning evidence of how badly the current occupant of the White House has bungled his adventure in Iraq.
Here's the story - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR2007080501299.html?wpisrc=newsletter
The GAO Report - http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07711.pdf
Read More »
The risk to the nation is extreme. We're facing the decline of one of the few remaining hometown, pre-Revolutionary War institutions. For many this is the core reality of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. For others it is a vital family and community fixture that embraces generations. The evidence provides facts that much of the mis-administration lacks the same sense of tradition and importance in the National Guard.
Simply put, this yet another charge against the current occupant that must be added to our list of offenses. The US Congress has long been the champion of the National Guard against the threats of the active duty military and the White House. This is no exception. Every member of Congress should act to counter this threat, and Governors should join the fray.
Read the source materials, and then consider my analysis in the extended text.
Presentation: http://www.douglasdemocrats.org/media/generalclark.ppt
Analysis: http://www.democracyinprogress.org/
Background: http://www.ngaus.org/ngaus/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000000457/primer%20fin.pdf
Mis-administration Policy: http://www.ngaus.org/ngaus/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000002633/chair06072.pdf Read More »
Yesterday the US House Democrats succeeded in an overwhelming bi-partisan vote that significantly undermines the neo-con agenda of a permanent US military presence in Iraq. In a VETO-proof majority (399 - 24) this House Resolution limits “…federal spending intended “to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq or to exercise United States economic control of the oil resources of Iraq.”
Read the entire New York Times story here
The perpetual pessimists and complainers continue their claims of inaction and a lack of courage on the part of the new Democratic leaders in the US Congress. Unfortunately, this shows up too often on the PNA blog linked to narrow, vindictive and obsessive rants.
This is an undeniable success that saves the US from decades of further disaster in Iraq. There could be nothing worse than a permanent US military presence in Iraq.
Take a look at Cara DeGette’s Colorado Confidential report on Colorado GOP demon-in-chief Dick Wadhams’ most recent speech in Colorado Springs - Link “Wadhams: Off the Mat and into the Game … Again.” Then we can try a basic lesson in opposition research, and what it means to beat “Dick-Wad” by studying his own speech.
There is no doubt that Wadhams has every intention to push the Colorado GOP into 2008 along his classic fear and smear line. This report gives clear indicators that he has begun to pick-out his favorite Democratic gaffes with full intent to twist and distort them to fit his warped ambitions.
The danger lies in the probability that what he released in Colorado Springs is only the start of his fear, smear and distortion campaign plan. Keep and eye out, and check your closets, that there are other stories that the Wadhams machine will twist to taint Democratic candidates and Progressive issues to mislead and manipulate the electorate. Or, at least the gullible media that seems so obsessed with his commentary.
Read More »Here’s another example of how the American media misses what is going on. From today’s (Friday, 20 July 2007) Financial Times, “DoJ’s ‘crippled’ command frees field to do the job.” The international press evidently has the low-down on how resignations at the top of the Rove/Gonzales Department of Justice have pulled back political interference to the point that the staff in some US Attorney Offices are now actually able to do their jobs.
Read the full story here - Link – and catch some of the appreciation I have for this news source. I get it delivered daily at home.
Read More »
Posts
Call for Bob Schaffer to Apologize for War Profiteering
Posted Jul 18, 2008 2:28pm
Comments (0)
Action Alert: Fri 7/25 House Juciary Committee Preliminary Impeachment Hearing
Posted Jul 18, 2008 9:43am
Comments (0)
An angry email from the....some part of the politcial spectrum.
Posted Jul 17, 2008 10:15am
Comments (1)
Michael Collins: Election Fraud & Tyranny - Part 2
Posted Jul 17, 2008 10:11am
Comments (0)
Obama leading McCain in . . . . Arizona???
Posted Jul 16, 2008 7:49am
Comments (0)
Mr. Schaffer can you please answer the question?
Posted Jul 15, 2008 12:33pm
Comments (1)
Interns wanted for Talkingpointsmemo
Posted Jul 15, 2008 8:01am
Comments (0)
Colorado Petition for Education Savings Account
Posted Jul 15, 2008 1:47am