BackboneAmerica

“Enemy fighters seized in a battle zone have no presumption of innocence. This is a dangerous decision,” says John Andrews in the June round of Head On TV debates. Wrong, counters Susan Barnes-Gelt; the court was right to rebuke Bush’s “abuse of executive authority.” John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

“This Republican is disgusted with my party’s record in Washington. Did GOP congressional leaders learn nothing from their drubbing two years ago?” asks John Andrews in the May round of Head On TV debates. “The Republican so-called brand needs a major makeover,” agrees Susan Barnes-Gelt, trying not to gloat. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

“Bush dishonors America’s commitment to freedom by unconditionally pledging that he will go to Beijing this summer,” says John Andrews in the April round of Head On TV debates. “Distraction,” counters Susan Barnes-Gelt, who says Tibetan human-rights protests shouldn’t derail the Olympics. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

“Bob Schaffer on the campaign trail is sounding more and more like our next US Senator; what a contrast to Mark Udall, the Boulder liberal turned Washington insider,” says John Andrews in the March round of Head On TV debates. “Hardly,” scoffs Susan Barnes-Gelt, who contends Schaffer is far from the mainstream. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month (more…)

“Business expansion is slowing right now, mainly from fear of Democrats taking the White House and rolling back the Bush tax cuts,” says John Andrews in the February round of Head On TV debates. “That would be a brutal job-killer.” Oh no, says Susan Barnes-Gelt, recession worries are the fault of a feckless Republican administration with its war and deficits. John on the right, Susan on the left, also go at it this month over teacher unions, misbehaving legislators, and the presidential primaries. (more…)

“The law is where the government controls the people. The constitution is where the people control the government. That specifically means the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights to restrain government growth. The DU recommendations are part of an elaborate scheme to destroy TABOR. Democratic legislators, Bill Ritter, and the spending lobby can’t wait.” So much for the ballyhooed University of Denver constitutional-reform plan, according to John Andrews in the January series of his daily “Head On” debate (more…)

“Thumbs up for the amazing Rockies, streaking into their first World Series and weathering defeat with dignity. Likewise for Peter Groff, the impressive new Senate President. Thumbs down on CSU for dumping Sonny Lubick and on Planned Parenthood for its culture of death.” That’s from John Andrews’ list of winners and sinners for 2007 in the December series of his daily “Head On” debate with former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), featured on Colorado Public Television since 1997. Besides handing out bouquets and brickbats for the old year, Susan and John issued their annual zany predictions (more…)

John: “Gov. Ritter is hell-bent to be green , even if it means tanking the economy. Overreacting wildly to alleged manmade global warming, he announced a sweeping plan to remake our industry, our agriculture, and your lifestyle. Plus, he climbed in bed with Big Labor. Recession, here we come.” So begins the November series of “Head On” debates between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997. (more…)

John: “With a recession coming, Denver’s proposal for half a billion in new debt on the November ballot is the wrong way to go. If your employer were threatening layoffs, you wouldn’t go out and run up your credit cards. You’d look at the job market. Hickenlooper’s package includes no job creation.”

So begins the October series of “Head On” debates between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997. (more…)

John: Hi there, fitness fans. It’s the sensibly slender Susan and John, here in the nation’s most slender state. To keep Colorado No. 1, follow these tips for avoiding political obesity. Walk door-to-door with a candidate. Watch C-SPAN on the treadmill. Fast at ice cream socials. And stop swallowing those sugary, fatty campaign promises. (more…)

The “Head On” debate between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997, began its August series this week. Andrews warned of a stealth move against the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. Other topics this month include State Capitol security, the Ward Churchill firing, and the 2008 presidential race. (more…)

The “Head On” debate between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997, began its July series this week. Andrews said Independence Day is mocked if our borders aren’t secured. Other topics this month include chaos in Gaza, dark horses for 2008, Denver’s “Greenprint” folly, and offbeat summer leisure ideas. (more…)

The “Head On” debate between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997, began its May series this week. John said the Senate’s immigration bill deserves to die; Susan, though more sympathetic to the plan, predicted it won’t pass. Other topics this month include gasoline prices, abortion in the courts, the presidential race, and pies in the face (huh?).

1. IMMIGRATION SOLVED IN SENATE?

John: America is a nation of immigrants, but we are first of all a nation of laws. Without laws, we are not a nation at all. Immigration reform has to start with demanding respect for our laws by those who want to immigrate here. That means no amnesty for illegal aliens.

Susan: The issue of undocumented workers is complex as the recent US Senate proposal reflects. In addition to the thousands of small and large businesses dependent on this reliable workforce, the reality of families and stable communities plays a role. We cannot export 12 million residents. (more…)

The “Head On” debate between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997, began its April series this week. Evaluating legislative performance so far in 2007, Andrews awarded Congress an F and marked the Colorado General Assembly at no better than C. Other topics this month include the Virginia Tech shootings, fallout from the Imus affair, and the woes of Denver’s mass transit project.

1. CONGRESS AFTER 100 DAYS

Susan: After the first 100 days, I give the Dem-controlled Congress a solid B. They’re addressing Iraq – the reason they won control last November. They are responding to tax cuts for rich people and higher taxes for the middle class. And they’re working to restore voter confidence in government.

John: Voters didn’t elect Majority Leader Harry Reid to declare the war is lost against a radical Islamist enemy bent on destroying us. They didn’t elect Speaker Nancy Pelosi to junket overseas kissing up to dictators. None of the Democrats’ campaign promises are anywhere close to becoming law. This Congress deserves an F so far. (more…)

The “Head On” debate between former state Sen. John Andrews (R) and former Denver councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (D), seen daily on Colorado Public Television since 1997, began its March series this week. Andrews took aim at the new governor’s appetite for revenue. Other topics this month include Bush’s second-term woes, the ho-hum election in Denver, US relations in the hemisphere, and Iraq yet again.

1. RITTER SEEKS NEW TAXES

John: Bill Ritter is going to become known as Gov. Tax Hike if he’s not careful. He recently floated trial balloons for additional millions from the taxpayer to fatten school budgets and additional billions for the highway system. State revenues from Referendum C are already two billion above estimates. How much is enough? (more…)