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Colonel seeking seat in House
Steamboat resident brings his message to Herald board
Herald Staff Writer
McConnell
A retired Army Ranger colonel who bills himself as a Reagan Republican looking for practical solutions to real problems Tuesday brought his message to The Durango Herald editorial board.
Bob McConnell, a former lawyer and founder of the Everest Environmental Project, from Steamboat Springs, wants to challenge U.S. Rep. John Salazar for his 3rd District seat in 2010.
McConnell realizes his values may not strike a chord with everyone on the Western Slope, but he hopes to appeal to voters on a platform that calls for limiting government, creating free markets, slowing the search for health-care reform, securing the nation’s borders against illegal immigration and either winning the war in Afghanistan or bringing the troops home.
“I don’t have a machine, and I don’t have a war chest,” McConnell said. “But the good news is that I’m not a career politician.”
McConnell started his one-man campaign in mid-September after he heard U.S. Rep. Michele Bachman of Minnesota speak. The subliminal message he received, McConnell said, was:
“Bob, take your anger and go do something positive for your country.”
McConnell’s military experience dominated the conversation at the Herald. He spoke at length about the need to fish or cut bait in Afghanistan. President Obama has asked and been told by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander there, what is required to prosecute a war. But Obama continues to dillydally, McConnell said.
A defensive or containment war won’t work, said McConnell, who pointed to a similar strategy that failed in Vietnam in the 1970s.
Before he can challenge Salazar, however, McConnell must win the Republican endorsement over Martin Beeson, an attorney in Rifle who already has announced his candidacy for the 3rd District seat Salazar, D-Manassa, won in 2004.
McConnell said he would like to debate Salazar at some point.
“We share a love of Colorado and the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms),” McConnell said. “But we have a lot of differences.”
McConnell said he won’t attack Salazar, but instead point out contrasts that distinguish one from the other. Salazar hasn’t been diligent in following up on campaign pledges, he said.
“I will be true to my core values and apply them to issues that the country faces,” he said. “I want to be proud of what I do.”
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Durango Herald Calendar of Events
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 9:01:51 AM
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M. David says...
The right wing hates Obama for sure. They also blame him for all the spending but they forget that the GOP left the USA in an 8 trillion dollar hole and an economy on the brink of collapse. John has done a lot to reverse the destruction of the Colorado wild. I think he has my vote as long as he keeps focusing on preserving Colorado. Durango has a lot at stake in protecting our natural beauty.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 8:01:06 AM
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Chris Roberts says...
Mr. Bob McConnell, I'm a Viet Nam era veteran and a Colorado Republican that is distressed at the direction our Country is taking. I'm very much against lobyists and special interest groups running our Government and will not, I repeat, will not vote for anybody that has taken monies from ACORN or a similar groups.
My current "hot button" is the fact that our "elected elite" argue and argue while nothing gets done, but when a bill comes before them to increase their operating budget, it passes on the 1st vote without a single no vote.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 5:44:39 AM
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R. L. Oldham says...
Good luck on your endeavors, we need someone besides a YES man to represent us. I hope your platform will be to listen to your constituants and take their desires, as well as your own into consideration. It seems that John Salazar does not.