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Storm Mountain News
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Editorials,
Comments & Letters
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Amendment
I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression.
Ratified 12/15/1791.
Congress
shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. |
“Something's in the Works” to Trigger a
Police State...
by My space User, “Humpty Dumpty Was
Pushed”
Thom Hartmann began his program on Thursday
by reading from a new Executive Order,
which allows the government to seize the
assets of anyone who interferes with its
Iraq policies.
He then introduced old-line conservative
Paul Craig Roberts -- a former Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury under Reagan who
has recently become known for his strong
opposition to the Bush administration and
the Iraq War -- by quoting the "strong
words" which open Roberts' latest
column: "Unless Congress immediately
impeaches Bush and Cheney, a year from now
the US could be a dictatorial police state
at war with Iran."
"I don't actually think they're very
strong," said Roberts of his words.
"I get a lot of flak that they're
understated and the situation is worse than
I say. ... When Bush exercises this
authority [under the new Executive Order]
... there's no check to it. It doesn't have
to be ratified by Congress. The people who
bear the brunt of these dictatorial police
state actions have no recourse to the
judiciary. So it really is a form of total,
absolute, one-man rule. ... The American
people don't really understand the danger
that they face."
Roberts said that because of Bush's
unpopularity, the Republicans face a total
wipeout in 2008, and this may be why
"the Democrats have not brought a halt
to Bush's follies or the war, because they
expect his unpopular policies to provide
them with a landslide victory in next year's
election."
However, Roberts emphasized, "the
problem with this reasoning is that it
assumes that Cheney and Rove and the
Republicans are ignorant of these facts, or
it assumes that they are content for the
Republican Party to be destroyed after Bush
has his fling." Roberts believes
instead that Cheney and Rove intend to use a
renewal of the War on Terror to rally the
American people around the Republican Party.
"Something's in the works," he
said, adding that the Executive Orders
needed to create a police state are already
in place.
"The administration figures themselves
and prominent Republican propagandists ...
are preparing us for another 9/11 event or
series of events," Roberts continued.
"Chertoff has predicted them. ... The
National Intelligence Estimate is saying
that al Qaeda has regrouped. ... You have
to count on the fact that if al Qaeda's not
going to do it, it's going to be
orchestrated. ... The Republicans are
praying for another 9/11."
Hartmann asked what we as the people can do
if impeachment isn't about to happen.
"If enough people were suspicious and
alert, it would be harder for the
administration to get away with it,"
Roberts replied. However, he added, "I
don't think these wake-up calls are likely
to be effective," pointing out the
dominance of the mainstream media.
"Americans think their danger is
terrorists," said Roberts. "They
don't understand the terrorists cannot take
away habeas corpus, the Bill of Rights, the
Constitution. ... The terrorists are not
anything like the threat that we face to the
Bill of Rights and the Constitution from our
own government in the name of fighting
terrorism. Americans just aren't able to
perceive that."
Roberts pointed out that it's old-line
Republicans like himself, former Reagan
associate deputy attorney general Bruce
Fein, and Pat Buchanan who are the diehards
in warning of the danger. "It's so
obvious to people like us who have long been
associated in the corridors of power,"
he said. "There's no belief in the
people or anything like that. They have
agendas. The people are in the way. The
Constitution is in the way. ... Americans
need to comprehend and look at how ruthless
Cheney is. ... A person like that would do
anything."
Roberts final suggestion was that, in the
absence of a massive popular outcry,
"the only constraints on what's going
to happen will come from the federal
bureaucracy and perhaps the military. They
may have had enough. They may not go along
with it."
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To the editor:
For years, individual businesses and homeowners have used solar power to generate electricity. Now it’s time for Congress to provide incentives to create commercial solar power systems. A bill now in the U. S. House, HR 2337, has a pilot program to construct solar power plants on federal lands in the West, each of which would produce at least a full gigawatt (1 GW) of power by concentrating solar energy. Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine, so it is a natural place for one or more of these demonstration sites. I’m writing to encourage our Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave to support this important bill.
The pilot program will fund the development of these solar facilities for the advancement, development, assessment, and installation of commercial solar power energy systems, which use solar radiation to produce electrical power. These systems are clean and a proven technology, but they need more research to reduce the costs and improve their reliability. This federal project would provide a model and incentives for privately funded systems in the future.
Commercial solar power systems have operated in California since the mid-1980’s, providing 354 megawatts of the world’s lowest-cost electric power. When local power companies like Xcel and Platte River Power Authority move to construct new power plants, it would be great if they could choose renewable solar power over coal or natural gas.
I encourage Ms. Musgrave to support HR 2337 to fund pilot programs to make solar power technology commercially viable.
Barbara Liebler
710 Mathews St.
Fort Collins 80524
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A Couple Of Things...
By:
Darrell E. Spangler
A couple of
things. First, a recent poll shows much of
America supports the impeachment of the
Bush & Cheney. The village idiot Bush, Mr.
4th branch of government Cheney and others in
this corrupt, despicable administration have
in my opinion committed high treason by
presenting false evidence to Congress, lying
to the American People and showing extreme
disregard for the laws of our land. They have
violated their oaths of office by attacking
and violating the very US Constitution which
they were sworn to uphold. I say impeach them
all now! It is good to see others waking up
and seeing what has been happening and calling
for proper action. Now if only the deadbeat
Dems would do something. Grow some balls
fellows and show us you have even an ounce of
courage!!! Maybe if these criminals are no
longer running shotgun over America problems
like the Iraq quagmire, immigration, health
care, energy reform and global warming can
finally be solved. But it will never happen
while the foxes are running loose in the hen
house, or White House in this case. Read more
below:
Much
Of US Favors Bush Impeachment
Second,
I am
confused. All members of our US Armed
Forces take an oath of honor:
I, ___________________________________, do
solemly swear (or affirm) that I will
support and defend the Constitution of the
United States against all enemies, foreign
and domestic; that I will bear true faith
and allegiance to the same; and that I will
obey the orders of the President of the
United States and the orders of the officers
appointed overme, according to regulations
and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So
help me God.
So what happens when the
President asks soldiers to work against the
US Constitution? Wouldn't he then be the
domestic enemy that they swore to
defend the Constitution from? If not,
what then exactly is a domestic emeny?
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Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
By Lee
Iacocca with Catherine Whitney
Had Enough?
Am I the only guy in this country who's fed
up with what's happening? Where the hell is
our outrage? We should be screaming bloody
murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos
steering our ship of state right over a
cliff, we've got corporate gangsters
stealing us blind, and we can't even clean
up after a hurricane much less build a
hybrid car. But instead of getting mad,
everyone sits around and nods their heads
when the politicians say, "Stay the
course."
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding.
This is America, not the damned Titanic.
I'll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums
out!
You might think I'm getting senile, that
I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have.
But someone has to speak up. I hardly
recognize this country anymore. The
President of the United States is given a
free pass to ignore the Constitution, tap
our phones, and lead us to war on a pack of
lies. Congress responds to record deficits
by passing a huge tax cut for the wealthy
(thanks, but I don't need it). The most
famous business leaders are not the
innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While
we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East is
burning and nobody seems to know what to do.
And the press is waving pom-poms instead of
asking hard questions. That's not the
promise of America my parents and yours
traveled across the ocean for. I've had
enough. How about you? Read
Entire Article...
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Confusion, Suspicion & Doubt...
By:
Darrell E. Spangler
I have
been thinking about the 2008 Elections and I
am wondering which of the current candidates
would be best for our country. I know the
elections are a long way off, but this is a
serious decision effecting the futures of my
children and grandchildren and there is an
awful lot to consider. I have done, and am
still doing, extensive research and now I am
faced with an overwhelming amount of
confusion, suspicion and doubt. I will
explain...
I am a fairly intelligent
man by most standards and have been three
times assessed to have a genius level IQ. My
understanding is that it is around 172. So I
can understand the basics in life. I am not
well schooled nor do I profess to be smarter
than anybody else. Having a high IQ doesn't
mean I know a lot, just that I have a good
ability to learn. But you get the general
point, I am not an idiot.
For as long as I can
remember I have had a deep interest in
science. All areas of science intrigue me. I
have a good working knowledge of chemistry
and physics and a passion for astronomy. My
schoolboy dream was to become an astro-geophysicist.
My hobby is mineralogy, the study of
minerals. So I do know quite a bit about how
the scientific laws as we know them work
together to create physical changes in our
world.
I am also a very
practical man. I don't believe in weird,
off-the-wall ideas. I think in a logical,
sensible way almost to a fault. I am not an
extremist but actually quite moderate. I am
not an activist nor am I affiliated with any
political party or religious organization.
All that being said, I am pretty much just
your average guy with a good ability to
learn, who happens to enjoy the many wonders
of science and our world. This often shows
in my photography.
Ok, so now back to my
dilemma. When I consider the 2008
Presidential Candidates I am totally lost on
many things. I am confused as to why not one
of the candidates has questioned the
official 9/11 story. If it is true, then why
not prove it with the facts? If all of the
so-called conspiracy theories are lies, then
why not prove them as such with the facts?
Seems a simple enough issue to resolve.
The current official
story just does not hold water at all. It is
so full of holes and inconsistencies that it
borders on fantasy. It completely defies
several laws of physics as we understand
them today. It is 100% impossible for what
they claim to have happened to have occurred.
The official story is simply, just not true.
So why is the truth not told? Why is this
not questioned by those aspiring to lead our
great nation? Why isn't it questioned by the
media? Why isn't it questioned by every
American citizen?
I am full of suspicion as
to the candidates' integrity, intentions and
true loyalties. Are they sincere in their
stated desire to lead this nation to higher
ground? Or are they in it for their own
personal gain or the gain of their cronies?
Are any of them loyal to another entity?
Corporation? Secret Society? I am very
suspicious of all of this. Why doesn't any
of the candidates mention the root of all of
our problems on this planet, overpopulation?
I just don't get it.
I am also full of doubt
as to their ability to do anything
constructive. I have watched a dead Congress
for the past decade or so and am not sure
any one of the current members is capable of
true action and/or leadership. They all seem
to run on smoke and mirrors. Just lies,
deception and empty promises. I also have
serious doubts about our entire government
today and the way it now functions. Or
perhaps the way it fails to function is a
better statement. It was my understanding
that they, our elected representatives and
leaders, were empowered by the people to
represent the people's will. But they have
ignored the will of the people repeatedly
for many years, yet are still re-elected and
retain power. Again, I just don't get it.
So what does one do to
quash these feelings of confusion, suspicion
and doubt when they are so strongly
supported by the facts and actions
documented in history. It's not that I don't
want to trust anyone. More than anything at
all I wish there were a person I could in my
heart believe in and trust. But I see nobody
like that anywhere on the political scene
today. I am not some kind of conspiracy nut,
but I cannot just close my eyes to the facts
of the matter either. Nothing adds up and I
am truly baffled at what is going on in
America.
As I sit here today, I
have no idea which of the current candidates
would be best suited to lead our country. I
have to question all of the candidates'
motives. For history and the facts point
toward a hidden group that is actually
running the show and to the frightening
reality that our Democracy, of which we
claim to be so proud, is nothing more than a
sham or illusion to keep the sheep quiet and
calm in the masters' fields.
All of this confusion,
suspicion and doubt could be removed with
the truth. How unfair this all is. And again
I say, I just don't get it. Doesn't anyone
else see this or feel this way? Why does
most everyone, including the media, ignore
the facts and just blindly accept their
preposterous story about 9/11 as being true?
Am I going crazy or becoming senile? All I
want is just a little bit of honesty and
truth about what is, and has been going on.
Is that really too much to ask???
So as
it stands right now, I am not sure who, if
anyone, will actually get my vote. For at
this point they are far too many unanswered
questions and all of the current candidates
are hiding far too much for me to trust any
of them.
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Drafting Of Americans Ages
18-42...
By:
Darrell E. Spangler
Unless I am mistaken, this
bill sets the stage for the largest draft of
citizens into the military in American
history!
2007 State of the Union Address:
"A second task we can take on together
is to design and establish a volunteer
Civilian Reserve Corps. Such a corps would
function much like our military reserve. It
would ease the burden on the Armed Forces by
allowing us to hire civilians with critical
skills to serve on missions abroad when
America needs them. It would give people
across America who do not wear the uniform a
chance to serve in the defining struggle of
our time."
Universal National Service Act of 2007
(Introduced in House)
HR 393 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 393
To require all persons in the United
States between the ages of 18 and 42 to
perform national service, either as a
member of the uniformed services or in
civilian service in furtherance of the
national defense and homeland security, to
authorize the induction of persons in the
uniformed services during wartime to
meet end-strength requirements of the
uniformed services, to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the
favorable treatment afforded combat pay
under the earned income tax credit, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 10, 2007
To read the
complete bill click on link below.
H.
R. 393 Draft Reinstate Bill
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What Propaganda Looks
Like...
By:
Darrell E. Spangler
I ran across this
headline(?) on Drudge Report and saw this as
a prime example of what I consider to be media propaganda.
"NBC NEWS confirms a secret U.S.
military report that says 'Iranian Agents'
may be behind a deadly ambush in Karbala,
Iraq that left five American soldiers
dead."
What a total bs headline. They confirm
that it may be true. Couldn't
anything be confirmed as possibly being
true??? I can 100% confirm that reports of
UFO's recently visiting Earth may be true. I
can 100% confirm that a report that a select
number of people can fly without any
mechanical aid may be true. I can 100%
confirm that a report of monkeys flying out
of my ass may be true.
Does not confirming
something may be true also confirm that it
may not be true??? To use the word confirm and the words
may be in the same sentence is about
as phony, useless and deceptive as it gets.
However, this is now commonplace in the
major media. Many will see this so-called
headline, and assume confirmation of Iranian
involvement is a concrete fact. This is
absolutely false at this time.
I find it very disturbing how the media now
skirts the real facts and yet freely prints
such useless crap as this. I am getting
tired of the media thinking we are all fools
and that they can keep the truth from us
forever. This too, is absolutely false.
More and more Americans are opening their
eyes daily and no longer buy into this type
of media propaganda. WE THE PEOPLE are not
fools, nor are WE blind. Watch the news and
see how many times they confirm the maybes!
What happened to integrity in our media???
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Letter to the Editor:
I’m “Terry J. Hokanson.” A U.S.
born engineer, living under a deadly
copyright and patent theft ring that looks
an awful lot like the Florida, Polk County
Sheriff’s Department running a St.
Valentines Day Massacre operation.
Since no one bothered to arrest me and
charge me for a crime greater than
possession of a marijuana cigarette, back in
the 1970’s -when the expensive furniture
designs I was working on disappeared as the
Florida, Miami Dade Sheriff’s Department
cuffed my hands behind my back, leaned my
head out of a police car and beat me about
the head with a night stick, behind a
billion dollar a year furniture store chain-
it’s hard to believe a police surveillance
crew was allowed to knock me down and
conduct a long term strip search on me
without at least railroading me through a
serious felony conviction.
I need to support myself. Since my
previous business plans, to generate well
over a million dollars a year for myself,
were intentionally choked off as fraudulent
police files and death threats are whispered
in my ear, I’m forced to go public with my
huge energy conservation project. Of course,
the whole idea behind muckraking me under
these hooded police SWAT team, extortion and
murder games is to produce an extremely low
budget version of “Howard Hughes,” who
developed biological warfare voices in his
head that not only turned him into a
neurotic recluse but also made his finances
easy to manipulate on many levels.
Doubling The Worlds Oil Supply
For the northern regions of this planet,
I have a design for a combination home
heating system and electric generator that
will cut home fuel bills by as much as
seventy five percent. On the transportation
front, an advanced version of this basic
design will power a hybrid automobile while
achieving a hundred miles per gallon of
gasoline, while just as easily burning
hydrogen, bio-diesel and other alternative
fuel sources.
Since there’s talk of curbing global
warming by first adding hydrogen to all the
U.S. gas pumps, and then eventually fazing
out gasoline sales altogether. And
electricity separates hydrogen from water.
My small footprint, hybrid generator designs
will easily produce all the hydrogen every
corner gas station on the planet can sell.
Of course, until alternatives such as
'Hydrogen Producing Algae' are perfected,
this gas station fad would involve burning
the cheapest fuel the oil companies can
produce, while completely filtering
undesirable exhaust emissions by employing
industrial strength CO2 scrubbers which
produce air quality that no government,
automotive 'Catalytic Converter' legislation
can possibly achieve.
Come visit my website and
view my demonstration video, on the home
page of the following URL:. http://home.earthlink.net/~terry.hokanson
Sincerely,
Terry J. Hokanson
Lakeland, FL 33809
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Editor Pays Up:
A while back I made the somewhat asinine
statement that if the United States did not
sustain a terrorist attack prior to the
November Elections, that I would waddle and
quack like a duck that I was wrong. The time
has come to pay up. So sit back and have a
laugh on me!
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Letter to the Editor:
Senator Wayne Allard refused to support the1964 Wilderness Bill, giving Rocky Mountain National Park permanent status as wilderness.
A letter they wrote to Estes Park newspapers defending their refusal, stated that in the case of fire fighting, large machinery couldn't be introduced into the park. They also argued that the pine bark beetle would not be dealt with.
Park service officials refuted what they had written. The park has been operated as a wilderness since the first request to make it a wilderness was filed in1964 under a law that says that the park will be operated as a wilderness until a bill is passed.
Now Musgrave and Allard have introduced their own bill allowing for privatization, protection for the ditch company that is presently being sued for polluting, and permitting mineral exploration. Their bill makes it easier to build dams inside the park. It also reverses a policy of buying up private holdings within the park, and does not hold corporations responsible for pollution. This isn't a wilderness bill at all.
Marylyn Musgrave has no intention of voting for wilderness status for Rocky Mountain National Park.
Sincerely,
Pat Maslowski
Drake, CO 80515
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Letter to the Editor:
Oftentimes people make random claims that they know or understand something when they truly do not. This is the case with my husband’s opponent, Ms. Liebler.
When she first announced, you may recall that she admitted not knowing anything about the assessor’s office or even real estate. In fact, she even stated that she has had no interaction with the assessor’s office – not one protest – ever.
Lately Ms. Liebler has claimed that she knows multiple regression analysis but has not yet explained to voters when she has ever used this statistical analysis data. I can assure you, the answer is never.
The same could be said of my husband. He claims, if given the opportunity, he could scrapbook. It looks simple enough, we have all of the necessary tools, anyone could do it.
In all honesty, he could never figure out how to use a brad, an eyelet, or a notch and die kit. He just couldn’t. But he truly does know multiple regression analysis and he knows the assessor’s office. I would appreciate your vote for my husband, Steve Miller.
Cheryl Miller
Fort Collins CO 80526
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Letter to the Editor:
Colorado has extensive education, experience, and testing requirements to become a licensed real estate broker. The same is also true for the different levels of real estate appraisal licensure. These requirements were put in place so that the public could have some degree of confidence when hiring a real estate professional for any transaction.
The assessor's office deals with this on a much grander scale and to assume that education and experience are not needed for this position is simply preposterous. The office is not only required to value all property, but also works each transfer of ownership, reviews every new development to create new parcels and accurate legal descriptions, audits businesses to account for personal property, and much more.
Why settle for less when Steve Miller is clearly the best choice for assessor? As an appraiser working in the
assessor's office, a homeowner, and a taxpayer I support Steve Miller for assessor.
Alexis M Smith
Certified General Appraiser
Loveland CO, 80538
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Taxpayer Rights:
By:
Steve Miller
Property taxes have been with us in one form or another for thousands of years. In early Middle Eastern empires, as well as in Egypt and in Greece, assessors where held in high esteem for their knowledge and their important role in funding the work of early civilization. In Rome, assessors were reviled – largely because so much of the tax revenue went to toga parties, I suspect.
Property tax protests have been around for a long time, too – Lady Godiva was protesting taxes when she rode through the streets of Coventry a thousand years ago.
Things are better now. Assessors who filled royal coffers were accountable to the King. Today, assessors are accountable to the property owners, or they should be. That’s why we elect the assessor in Larimer County – to ensure that the assessor’s accountability is properly focused...Read
Complete Article
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Letter to the Editor:
It is important that the Larimer County Assessor be a strong innovative leader. Voters don't want speechifying about problems - they want solutions and more than just grand ideas, they deserve specifics. Steve Miller is the only candidate who has a plan and the experience and skills needed to make it work. Property owners need an assessor who is ready to take responsibility for our 2007 property values. To end the outsourcing now, not just sometime down the road; vote for an assessor who knows how to do the job. Steve Miller for Assessor.
Allan Miller
Fort Collins, CO 80525
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Letter to the Editor:
Steve Miller is running for Larimer County Assessor, a position he held for 13 years before being term limited. Miller has broad-based knowledge of the tax system and laws, modeling, appraising, and real estate.
There is a vast amount of information you must know in order to serve as assessor. It’s a highly technical position. If you visit Miller’s website, you will see that he has new and credible ideas for making the assessment process user friendly.
With Miller as our assessor, we can regain the confidence we once held in the office, knowing that the values on our homes makes sense. In addition, we will have an assessor who is approachable, accessible, and actually knows how to answer the tough questions. Vote for Steve Miller for Assessor. It just makes sense.
Bobby Dorris
Fort Collins CO 80526
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Letter to the Editor:
I am not surprised at the number of endorsements Steve Miller is receiving in his bid for Larimer County Assessor. He has been endorsed by the Loveland-Berthoud Board of Realtors and the Loveland Reporter-Herald, who said he was experienced and approachable. Both groups said he was the clear and obvious choice to serve as our assessor.
We need an assessor who can bring stability and good values back to the assessor’s office immediately. No outsourcing and no excuses. Steve Miller for Larimer County Assessor.
Jennifer Cullor
Fort Collins CO 80526
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Letter to the Editor:
Isn’t it about time we felt confident in the value put on our homes? Wouldn’t it be great to have an assessor who actually knows how the assessment process works? Imagine being able to call the assessor’s office, actually speak to the assessor, and know you are getting a straight answer!
Can you even imagine what a relief it would be knowing that your property was valued by someone who actually lives in Larimer County and not in Littleton? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have one less thing to worry about when it comes to your property values?
There’s no question about it. Steve Miller for Larimer County Assessor.
Jon Cullor
Fort Collins, CO 80526
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Letter to the Editor:
Oftentimes people make random claims that they know or understand something when they truly do not. This is the case with my husband’s opponent, Ms. Liebler.
When she first announced, you may recall that she admitted not knowing anything about the assessor’s office or even real estate. In fact, she even stated that she has had no interaction with the assessor’s office – not one protest – ever.
Lately Ms. Liebler has claimed that she knows multiple regression analysis but has not yet explained to voters when she has ever used this statistical analysis data. I can assure you, the answer is never.
The same could be said of my husband. He claims, if given the opportunity, he could scrapbook. It looks simple enough, we have all of the necessary tools, anyone could do it.
In all honesty, he could never figure out how to use a brad, an eyelet, or a notch and die kit. He just couldn’t. But he truly does know multiple regression analysis and he knows the assessor’s office. I would appreciate your vote for my husband, Steve Miller.
Cheryl Miller
Fort Collins, CO 80526
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Letter to the Editor:
Republican Steve Miller has based his campaign for Larimer County Assessor on his experience as an assessor in 1984 and again from 1989 to 2002. An in-depth assessment reveals Democratic opponent Barbara Liebler indeed has less experience than Miller.
Liebler has never experienced being disciplined by an employer for engaging in a sex act in her office with a married subordinate. She has never been reprimanded for sending a series of sexually explicit emails to another co-worker on a company-owned computer. Nor has she been accused of sexual harassment by her staff.
Liebler has been cited, however, for her experience with the broader aspects of land-use and economic development issues. As a business owner, she has extensive experience in good management. And she has a wealth of experience working within Larimer County's governmental system.
During Miller's time in office, Larimer County had the highest protest
numbers of any county in Colorado. County residents shouldn't have to pay for Miller's many mistakes.
Keith Gilmartin
Fort Collins, CO 80521
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Letter to the Editor:
Recently, I attended the forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Fort Collins. I have great respect for anyone who decides on running for political office. The amount of scrutiny and questioning is something to be admired in our potential leaders. All of the Assessor candidates are to be congratulated for their thoughtful ideas and responses.
Although the Libertarian Candidate – Jesse Herron is interesting, he lacks any specific knowledge about the property tax system or the implementation. His ideas about changing the “entire tax system”, is more suited for a State Legislative position than applied at a more practical “local level”, as much of the Assessors Office is dictated by State Law.
The Democratic candidate – Barbara Liebler also lacks specific knowledge and has declared an end to outsourcing Residential valuations, currently performed by a Littleton – based consultant – Value Check. I personally attended an earlier citizen meeting by Ms. Liebler in Fort Collins and she stated that Value check would remain after she was elected. She gave no time-line as to when they would actually be off of the County Payroll, and what specifically she would do.
One candidate stood “head & shoulders” above the others – the Republican candidate, Steve Miller. Not only does he have the prior experience as County Assessor, he can explain the “entire” property tax system clearly and concisely. If you want an Assessor who will actually “roll up his sleeves” and not just talk a good game, you’ll elect Steve Miller for County Assessor.
Sincerely,
David Muse
Senior Commercial Appraiser
Larimer County Assessors Office
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Letter to the Editor:
STEVE MILLER FOR LARIMER COUNTY ASSESSOR
Yes! Positive change will take place by electing Mr. Miller back to office. Facts are facts! He has years of past experience and management skills! We can count on all of these personal virtues in voting for Mr. Steve Miller. He will have a well-trained staff that truly cares for the welfare of the Larimer County taxpayers. Remember he has been there-done that. Vote for Steve Miller! My ballot has been mailed! Has yours?
Ron Kerr
Ft Collins
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Letter to the Editor:
PARTICIPATION WILL BE WELCOMED
By electing Mr. Steve Miller on November 7th to the office of Larimer County Assessor there will be an open door policy at the Assessors Office. Concerned citizens will be encouraged to contact the office, as they always were, before his leaving (due to the legislated "term limit" law). The number of protests were not an accident, they were encouraged! That policy will no doubt be continued, we will have the opportunity to discuss our property values and be welcomed to visit with our Assessor and his staff. Vote for Steve Miller for County Assessor. I have mailed in my ballot, have you?
Farice Bruce
Ft Collins
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Letter to the Editor:
If you believe that experience is not important for an Assessor to have, just take a look at what the Loveland Reporter Herald and Loveland-Berthoud Board of Realtors have to say in their recent endorsements of Assessor candidate Steve Miller.
The Reporter Herald states: In the Larimer County assessor’s race, Steve Miller has shown he has the knowledge, background and motivation to ensure county residents have a transparent assessment process. His four years outside of government should be a wake-up call to the professionalism that is expected of the public sector.
Challengers Barbara Liebler and Jesse Herron have some interesting ideas, but not the experience voters should expect for this highly technical position.
The Loveland-Berthoud Board of Realtors stated that Assessor candidate Steve Miller was the most qualified candidate, has a good track record, and is more knowledgeable about the job than the other two candidates. They also cited his approachability when working with property owners who have issues with their evaluations.
Doesn’t this speak volumes? A vote for Steve Miller is the obvious choice.
Ed Kerr
Ft Collins
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Letter to the Editor:
Have you seen Steve Miller lately? He has been everywhere through out Larimer County… Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes, Wellington, Red Feather, Berthoud… he has taken part in many a function, from parades, festivals, celebrations, to forums and meetings. Why has he done this you ask? Well, not because he likes to stay busy. No, because he has worked endlessly to be accessible… to meet and answer the questions of all Larimer County residents. Have questions or want more information go to
www.stevemiller.org. Join me and others who want to participate in accountable, positive change for the Assessor’s office. Vote Steve Miller for Assessor.
Genie Bruce
Ft Collins, Co 80525
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Letter to the Editor:
Have you seen those commercials on TV where someone becomes an expert at something overnight because they slept in a particular hotel? One guy saves the day by averting a nuclear disaster while touring the plant after a restful stay. It's a cute idea for advertising but everyone knows that isn't how things work in the real world. Experience and education are essential for technical positions and neither can be gained overnight.
Property valuation is just such a technical field and the task of valuing over 100,000 properties from the Boulder County line up to the Wyoming state border requires a great deal of expertise. I encourage everyone to participate in the process now by supporting the only candidate for assessor that knows what needs to done and how to do it. I've sent in my ballot and encourage you to do the same. You also have an opportunity to hear each candidate answer tough questions at the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum in Estes Park on October 26th - attend to see for yourself which candidate can best serve Larimer County.
Make a difference - vote for Steve Miller for assessor.
Dawn Arzuolaitis
Loveland, CO 80538
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Letter to the Editor:
Assessor candidate Steve Miller recently received the endorsement from
the Loveland-Berthoud Board of Realtors. They stated that he was the
most qualified candidate, has a good track record, and is more
knowledgeable about the job than the other two candidates. They also
cited his approachability when working with property owners who have
issues with their evaluations.
Having the endorsement of the realtors speaks volumes about Miller’s
qualifications. Vote for knowledge, experience, and a return to good
values! Vote Steve Miller for Assessor.
Annie Lutton
Fort Collins CO 80525
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Vote Early - Use Paper
By:
Darrell E. Spangler
In light of the recent
ludicrous decision by the Colorado courts to
allow the use of potentially rigged voting machines, I
strongly urge citizens to vote early and to
demand a paper ballot. This is the only
possible way to assure your vote counts and
to minimize the effect of these inaccurate machines on our democracy.
To allow the use of faulty
or even questionable voting equipment is in
my opinion nothing less that criminal. It is
like an airline inspector saying, "Yes,
I know that there is only one rusty bolt
holding the engine on the wing and that it will
most likely fall off in the air, but there
isn't time to fix it now. We will
repair the problem after our cross-country
flight. Load the passengers up!" Would
you get on that plane with the knowledge of
inevitable mechanical failure resulting in a
crash? Of course
not. But that is exactly what voting on the
faulty machines would be doing. Except
instead of a few hundred doomed passengers,
it is 300,000,000 doomed Americans and the
plane destined to crash is our democracy.
So I again urge each and
every registered voter to vote early and to
cast your vote on paper. Colorado Elections
Officials have stated that paper ballots
will be available for those who choose to
use them. Stand up and make that choice and
do not let election fraud deny you of your
vote. We owe it to our children and
grandchildren to be responsible and to take the time to do the right thing for
America and for their futures.
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Letter to the Editor:
Barbara Liebler will bring sound business practices to the office of County Assessor and correct the many
inaccuracies that have plagued that office. She has fresh new ideas on how to calculate fair and accurate assessments, like training or hiring a
statistical analysis with assessment modeling, instead of outsourcing this most important task to an outside company.
The last two assessors both had some of the highest number of property value protests in the state, and forced many homeowners to do the work themselves, find
comparable home prices and go through the protest process to point out the mistakes. I can speak from
personal experience that the past assessment systems have not worked and are a waste of everyone's precious time and money. Those who did not do the research themselves and protest their assessments might now be unfairly paying too much property tax. This places the burden of proving the accuracy of the valuation on the property owner and opens up the whole process to even more inaccuracies. It makes one wonder how many county properties are
truly either over or under valued and for how many years?
We need a new management and direction in the Assessor's Office. We need to elect Barbara Liebler.
Connie Ohlson
Fort Collins
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Letter To The Editor:
We need Barbara Liebler for County Assessor.
I recently checked valuations for some properties in Estes Park. This is now easy to do at Larimer.org. What I found was distressing. In my area, almost all lots have either of two values. The values are unrelated to lot size, location, desirability, or sale prices, which may be as much as six times the valuation.
For the dwellings, I found that some valuations correspond to their sale price 20 years ago, some seem realistic, and others are obviously grossly undervalued. Official assessments are used not only to calculate taxes, but also to establish the values of the property for refinancing and for sale. Internet sites that tell your home’s worth get their numbers from assessors valuations. We would all benefit from realistic property valuations.
We need competent management in the Assessors office. Larimer has more questioned assessments than any other county in the state. It is time for change. Fortunately, an excellent candidate is running, Barbara Liebler. I am very impressed by her expertise. She knows how to make fair valuations. Leadership, expertise, and competence are essential qualifications for an office as important as County Assessor and Barbara excels in these attributes
William W. Hay
Estes Park, CO 80517
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To the Editor:
President Bush sent me an e-mail claiming
that the GOP is promoting “...our agenda
of hope and optimism...” Which hopeful and
optimistic agenda items is he talking about?
The hopefulness of torture? The optimism of
Halliburton scamming more money from the
hard-pressed American (middle-class &
poor) taxpayers in a new war over Iran? The
hopefulness of more and bigger tax-cuts for
the richest among us? The optimism of power
being concentrated in Emperor Bush’s hands
to exclusively decide what is right for all
Americans? The hopefulness of the phrase,
“I don’t recall...?” The optimism of
“more of the same” (corruption) after
the Abramoff scandal “blows over?”
(Don’t even mention Cunningham, DeLay, or
Hastert) The hopefulness of political
prosecutions no longer having to deal with
those pesky “civil liberties?” The
optimism of concealing child predators among
their ranks? The hopefulness of corporate
control over American politics (the best
government money can buy)? The optimism of
non-accountable voting on electronic
machines that have been pledged to “help
Bush win?”
This is hardly an exhaustive listing. But if
you still cling to the notion that the GOP
“moral fiber” is superior, then our
country is lost! Musgrave is Bush’s
handmaiden: vote her out!
J.K. Peterson
Ft. Collins, CO 80526
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Letter to the Editor:
If you think as a renter, you don’t pay property taxes, think again. When property taxes go up, so does the cost of renting. Having an assessor that can accurately value property in Larimer County is essential for all residents. Steve Miller is the positive choice for assessor!
This is not an office about political policies. It is an office that all voters should be able to have confidence in because the leadership is skilled and knowledgeable enough to answer the tough assessment questions. Steve Miller can answer your tough questions. He served well as our assessor for 13 years.
Steve welcomes your participation in the process!! Taxpayers deserve and need a change! You now have a unique opportunity to participate in changes that can positively affect your property values. Vote for Steve Miller – a positive change for a positive valuation!
Mendi Enterkin
Ft Collins, CO 80525
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Letter to the Editor:
There is a big difference between knowing how something is done and being
able to do it. Larimer County needs an assessor that recognizes the
complexities of this county and has the true expertise needed to set fair
values for the taxpayers. That person is Steve Miller!
Join me in supporting a candidate that knows what needs to be done and
invites you to participate in getting the job done! Don’t think for a minute
that knowledge and experience don’t matter.. they certainly do! Vote for
Steve Miller for Assessor.
Angie Scalise
Ft Collins, CO 80525
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Letter To The Editor:
I recently viewed the League of Women Voters’ candidate debate. If you have any serious doubts at all about who to vote for for Assessor, you should watch this program. It has been airing regularly on Channel 14.
Steve Miller handled the questions with great aplomb. His answers were knowledge-based, self-assured, concise, and professional. When he previously served as our assessor, his staff was confident in his abilities as a leader and manager.
If you look at Miller’s website (www.stevemiller.org), you will see that he has a plan, a vision, and the ability and knowledge to articulate his vision. The office of assessor is technical, and it does require experience to meet the needs of taxpayers. Without a doubt, Steve Miller is our most competent candidate for assessor.
Sincerely,
M. Lynn Kelly
Fort Collins, Colorado
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Letter To The Editor:
One of the Assessor candidates advocates that experience is not necessary to serve as Assessor. When has that ever been true? Experience is key to any job… anything less would be absurd. Can you recall when experience has not been a positive factor in a position? I can’t.
Before being term limited, Steve Miller served as our county assessor. For the last four years he has been working on the outside as an advocate for Larimer County taxpayers.
Steve Miller won the primary against the incumbent and current Assessor Johnson. Since the primary, Steve has advocated working alongside taxpayers in the assessment process. He encourages taxpayer participation. The process needs to change and taxpayer participation is key in correcting the wrongs in the valuations during the last four years.
Steve Miller has a vision that encompasses taxpayer participation every step of the way in the assessment process. In Larimer County, we are fortunate to have a knowledgeable and experienced assessor candidate. Steve Miller will bring assessments back to Larimer County taxpayers! Join me in voting for Miller for Assessor!
Kae Kerr
Ft Collins, Co 80525
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Letter To The Editor:
Leadership is the issue in the election of a new county assessor. Good leadership insures accurate property value assessments. Accuracy leads to fairness to property owners in the county. Barbara Liebler has a proven track record in leadership as a member of city council both Fort Collins and Loveland, several other leadership positions, and CEO of her own business. She has a detailed priority plan to achieve assessment accuracy once elected to office:
end the relationship with the Littleton-based company, Value Check, and instead use current professionals in the assessor’s office. Correct missing or incorrect data, tighten neighborhood definitions (fairness in comparables), and account for age and condition of property. Barbara will cooperate with the real estate community for cooperative data gathering and smooth out the process between the assessor’s office and the county GIS Mapping Dept. Liebler will run assessment models in advance to correct assessment values before taxpayers receive their notices. She will also start a process to invite property owners to communicate throughout the year with assessment concerns instead of the typical one month
crunch. These plans show her leadership qualities for the Assessor Office. Please elect Barbara to lead as Larimer County Assessor.
Bill Jenkins
Fort Collins, CO 80524
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Letter To The Editor:
Don’t blow it. We dare not hire an apprentice when we can hire a master. Steve Miller is the only answer that makes sense. Thinking you can handle a job is not enough when an expert is available to fill it. Steve Miller is the only answer that makes sense. If we hire anyone other than Steve Miller for Assessor, we will throw our tax dollars down the drain and throw away a golden opportunity. Be wise—choose Steve Miller for Assessor.
Bobby Dorris
Fort Collins CO 80526
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Are Our Current Leaders Liars?
By:
Darrell E. Spangler
Over the past six years
Americans have been told many things by
our current leaders that
have been construed my some to be
purposeful lies. But are they lies? Maybe
our leaders are just blind to reality and
truly believe what they say. Or perhaps
they are just incompetent and lack the
intelligence to understand the complicated
world of today.
Either way, the People of
America have been told untruths for the
last six years. Untruths about everything
from weapons of mass destruction, to
the current situation in Iraq. Reality and the facts
however, do not support these
untruths and America is suffering from our
leaders' blind arrogance.
Whatever the reasons for
the inability of the current
administration to speak the truth, be they
simply reality challenged or treasonous
calculated liars, they are irrelevant. The
bottom line is that the current
administration and members of Congress
have proved themselves as 100% incapable
of serving our Nation in an honest
truthful manner, representative of the
People's will.
This November, “We The
People”, have a chance to correct the
problem currently plaguing America by
removing many of those who, for whatever reasons,
are unable to tell the truth. I urge every
person who considers themselves an
American to vote in our upcoming Mid-Term
Elections, and send a bit of reality to
Washington. Vote the incumbents out of
office. They are responsible for the
untruths and have
failed to represent the people, and
“We The People” are responsible for
correcting that problem.
To allow our Nation to be
operated on the ludicrous whims of a few
neo-con maniacs is insanity. We deserve,
demand and will empower leaders with
integrity, who will pursue actions based
on reality and the facts, replacing
the deceivers, whose agenda is
based on fantasy and lies. And above all,
leaders who will represent the people who
empower them and pay their salaries.
Leaders who do not make arrogant
statements like the President's recent
comment of, "I will not change
course even if Laura (wife) and Barney
(dog) are the only ones in America
supporting me".
Hey
George, wake up buddy. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY
NOT YOURS!!!
Larimer
County Election Information
Sample
Ballot [pdf]
- sample ballot for the 2006 General Election
Vote
Center Locations - Vote centers for
the 2006 General Election
Special
Election - The City of Fort Collins is
conducting a Special Election on Tuesday
September 12, 2006.
Final
Official Primary Election Results
Persons who voted by Provisional Ballot in the
2006 Primary Election may call (970) 498-7820
to determine their ballot status.
Absentee
Ballot Status - Check the status of
your Absentee Ballot
The
New AccuVote TSx DRE Touchscreen System
Important
Election Dates
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Letter to the Editor:
Why isn’t Steve Miller
promising to cut protests in half? Because
he is thinking like an assessor – not a
politician, that’s why. He knows that the
protest period was set up by the State of
Colorado to streamline a process for
property owner objections. In fact it was
under Miller’s leadership that office
hours were extended during the protest month
to help accommodate more homeowners. He was
also the first assessor to send
representatives to Estes Park to hear
appeals, so that area residents didn’t
have to drive to Fort Collins to speak to an
appraiser. I suppose you could say Miller
encouraged people to protest. Why? Because
if corrections needed to be made, the month
of May was the best time to make them.
Miller always worked to ensure that the tax
rolls that he certified were as accurate as
possible. He recognized that a homeowner is
the best source of information. Not every
property value protested was changed –
many did not need to be, but the taxpayers
with questions have a right to be heard.
Steve Miller listened then – and will do
so again. Protect your rights as property
owners – vote for Steve Miller for
Assessor.
Robb Smith
Loveland, Colorado
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Letter to the Editor:
THANK YOU STEVE MILLER
THANK YOU STEVE MILLER for your desire and dedication to again serve the Larimer County property owners as Assessor. Your qualifications; past experience, education, knowledge of Colorado Assessment laws and your sincere concern for fair appraisals is outstanding! Our homes, families and businesses are the heart of our community. Property tax is a large budget item for each of us. NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR NOVICE LEADERSHIP IN OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. Steve, you and your qualifications have already been proven. Larimer County voters, please join me now in supporting Steve Miller on November 7th. We need Steve Miller now as our next Assessor!
Farice Bruce
Concerned citizen
Ft. Collins, CO
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Letter to the Editor:
Steve Miller has been
called a "detail-type" guy. How
important are details to you? Do you care
what kind of home you have or how big your
home is? How about whether or not you have a
garage, bathroom, bedroom or even how much
or many of these? Steve thinks these details
are important to the correct valuation of
your home.
Details that may be
important to you are the opponent’s
self-proclaimed knowledge of them. How many
properties has she valued in the past either
in the private/public sector? Some of the
details concerning her service on city
councils might interest you. Ask her how
many months total were served, how she came
to be on the councils, and if she was ever
elected in a regular election to one of
those councils. These are important details
as well. The answers may surprise you.
Join me in November
electing an assessor who has proven to know
the job. If you’ve owned property from
2002 and prior, you have Steve Miller’s
signature on your Notice of Valuation from
each of those years. He cares about the
details that directly affect you. Vote for
Steve Miller for assessor.
Jody Masters
Certified General Appraiser
1825 Lowell Lane
Fort Collins CO 80524
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Letter to the Editor:
Some people’s concern
about my candidacy for Assessor is my lack
of experience as an appraiser, real estate
agent, or assessor.
But look at the record – Steve
Miller was an assessor for years before he
produced the state’s highest number of
assessment appeals in 1999 and 2001, and the
same with Larry Johnson’s record appeals
in 2003 and 2005.
Yet other counties where the assessor
did not come from appraiser/assessor
experience had a much lower percentage of
appeals per parcel (the worst record was
Eagle with 6.55% appeals per parcel compared
to Larimer’s 8.05%).
Assessor,
appraiser, and CPA are extremely detailed
occupations.
The department leader needs to see
the big picture, to define the goals rather
than personally accomplish the ends.
For example, the model as developed
by these two failed assessors is inadequate
in considering age and condition of a
property.
A humble mountain cabin has the same
age/condition rating as its fancy “mountain
retreat” neighbor because the current
model assigns age and condition to whole
geographic areas rather than to individual
houses.
I can see this problem and how to fix
it – why couldn’t Miller or Johnson?
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