The recent Colorado Republican Assembly in Loveland, CO, May 21-22, was both inspiring in scope and troubling in intent. This assembly represents my first experience in a long life to become engaged in the political process from local caucus to final appointment as a delegate in both the Republican 3rd Congressional District and State Assemblies. It is important for the reader to realize that more than 1/3 of the delegates at the assembly were there for the first time. I think this fact speaks volumes about the angst felt for our Republic at this point in history.
My support and vote was only for candidates who had never before been a part of politics, yet were eminently qualified for the position. My observations of the political machine in action left no doubt that its effort to elect candidates who would further the party line stopped at nothing. Any delegate displaying buttons or stickers outside the fold were shunned by party insiders and the supporters of the chosen few to the point of open hostility in some cases. This process is overseen and ruled by self-serving party officials and party insiders without integrity, honesty, honor, or any sympathy with the will of the electorate: it is all about them and their anointed candidates. It is little wonder that our flawed political process is rife with corruption at all levels of government, for it begins at this grassroots level.
Taken as a whole, the process is laughable at best and a travesty of democracy at the least. From caucus to assembly, it is the will of the party that holds sway. The people have no voice whatsoever, nor does most of the electorate have knowledge of what is ostensibly occurring in their behalf. Candidates are chosen by the party, not by the vote of the electorate. Many of the chosen candidates regard their candidacy as their due