January 28, 2021 11:40 AM UTC

Two Ostriches Talking Through the Sand

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• by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Right-wing Republicans in Colorado have seen the blue clouds coming for years, slowly engulfing them in a fog of powerlessness.

Now fully engulfed, you’d think they’d see that something has to change.

And they do, but it’s not anything substantive. It’s just their words and stories that must be altered. That’s all.

Get ready to fall on the floor, because that’s where you’ll go when you hear this conversation between KHOW’s Ross Kaminsky and state Sen. Paul Lundeen (R-Monument).

It’s like Lundeen and Kaminsky are two ostriches talking through the sand underground.

“What is it about the voters of Colorado that is causing them to put the Democrats so much in charge?” Kaminsky asked Lundeen on Tuesday. “…Why is it, Paul, that we are suffering through…electing a swarm of locusts to come through and destroy all our crops and seed corn?”

“It’s a question of delayed gratification,” replied Lundeen. “Do I want to strip the seed corn bare? Or do I want to do what the reality of history tells us… the forces of the free market, enlightened self-interest. Those are the proven processes to help. Democrats, communists, socialists, all say, ‘Give it to us now. I’ll eat my seed corn,’ instead of giving everyone an opportunity.”

Free market principles, said Lundeen, is what has lifted humanity.

But much of the state, Kaminsky lamented, isn’t like Lundeen’s district.

Republicans need to “come up with a better way to tell a story” about how “Democrats are ruining your life even though they say they are helping,” said Kaminsky.

Until they can tell that story, Republicans will continue losing, the two agreed.

“We need to figure that out,” said Lundeen, who’s a state senate leader.

“I don’t think the people believe Republicans care,” said Lundeen, “because we get wonky.”

“I do care!” exclaimed Lundeen.

He claimed to have “solutions that are sustainable and help more people.”

“We just need to do a better job connecting with people, one-on-one,” said Lundeen to an approving Kaminsky.

But the radio airwaves were void of specific plans to show people that Republicans care.

Lundeen and Kaminsky forgot to talk about how Republicans will help people. Instead, they laughed about how wonky and principled they are, and how they oppose a bill to mandate safe storage of firearms. And how they need to translate their thoughts into language that the common person will love to hear.

But as GOP pollster David Flaherty has said many times, voters want responsible plans addressing bread-and-butter issues.

Lundeen doesn’t bring up those types of plans on the radio but earnestly says, “It’s about connecting with people. We need to do a better job of that.”