A day when the GOP is worthy of our support again

There are moments when it’s important to make one’s intentions public. The 2024 Presidential election is one of those moments for me. I have worked thousands of hours to elect Republican candidates to office in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa and even Massachusetts. I served as a legislative aide and on two gubernatorial staffs. I have worked 100 hour weeks and walked parade routes in 100 degree heat, all for the GOP.

This election I will vote for Kamala Harris knowing full well she will promote policies with which I disagree. I have been part of making and advocating for public policy long enough to know poor decisions can be corrected.

The rules of this paper do not allow me to enumerate concerns about the Republican nominee for president. The risks he poses are objectively clear and significant. I know many who share my political roots straining to rationalize a vote for the Republican candidate. I urge those voters to consider the warnings and follow the lead of Dick and Liz Cheney.

I look forward to a day when a reborn Republican party is worthy of our support again. That day is not now.

— John Creighton, Longmont

‘Bullying is fire and bullying is smoke’

Elisabeth Williams said, “The common mistake that bullies make is assuming that because someone is nice that she or he is weak. Those traits have nothing to do with each other, it takes considerable strength and character to be a good person.”

Years ago I had a Lakota Indian boy in the seventh grade who was bullied for being nice and caring of other people. I learned a lot from Eddie and to this day am grateful for him being in my life.

We had an outdoor education program each fall for our seventh graders designed to learn cooperative skills through activities like building shelters without damaging the environment, finding food in the forest and other group projects that led to bonding, acceptance of others, and respect for others.

Eddie was in his element, but when the kids were told that they would have thirty minutes to find food in the forest, Eddie came alive and returned with pockets crammed with berries and nuts and his hands cupped over his belly with the fruits of the forest. All the other kids had nothing. So! We made Eddie the teacher that day. The bullying stopped and everyone wanted to be Eddie’s friend.

Benjamin Disraeli said, “Bullying is fire and bullying is smoke.”

— Joseph La Camera, Boulder