Principled Politics and the Battle for Colorado’s Future

On this Friday broadcast, Kim Monson welcomes Allen Thomas to discuss his thought-provoking essay examining the Colorado Republican Party’s internal struggle over Amendment 7 and the question of open versus closed primaries. The conversation explores how principled conservatism must guide political strategy rather than desperation-driven tactics that undermine the very values Republicans claim to champion. The GOP’s Amendment 7 Controversy Start listening at 31:23 – Hour 1 Allen Thomas breaks down the controversial Amendment 7, which proposed changing abstention votes to automatic yes votes for closing Republican primaries. Thomas argues that regardless of one’s position on open primaries, forcing votes on representatives violates core Republican principles of individual rights and self-governance. He traces the issue back to 2016 when Colorado passed open primaries, noting that the 75% threshold for opting out was deliberately designed to be nearly unattainable. The discussion reveals a fundamental tension within the party between those who want to close primaries at any cost and those who insist the means must align with principled ends. Thomas emphasizes that Republicans advocate for individual rights and self-reliance, making it hypocritical to force automatic votes on party representatives. “I can’t find an example anywhere of forcing members of a representative government into a yes vote just by them not showing up or them voting by absentia. I can’t find an example of it pretty much anywhere that I’ve ever looked.” Allen Thomas, Political Commentator Culture Change Over Political Force Start listening at 75:20 – Hour 2 Thomas argues that Republicans must focus on winning hearts and minds rather than using force to achieve political goals. He draws parallels between the abortion debate and election integrity, suggesting that simply passing laws without changing underlying culture leads to repeated defeats. The discussion turns to voter turnout data, with caller Data Jeff providing statistics showing Republican primary turnout remained consistent while unaffiliated voter participation surged 134% between 2018 and 2022. The conversation addresses the uncomfortable reality that unaffiliated voters break for Democrats roughly two-thirds of the time, yet Republicans struggle to articulate a compelling message that wins these persuadable voters. Thomas maintains that the solution lies in principled messaging and grassroots engagement rather than procedural manipulation. “I’m pretty convinced that it takes a moral courage to allow physical courage to happen. You don’t do these heroic acts without having that moral and ethical fortitude behind them. That’s why you see a lot of these same men who were so courageous in battle be courageous in their personal lives as well.” Allen Thomas, Political Commentator Local Activism Takes Center Stage Start listening at 14:58 – Hour 1 The broadcast features caller Kim Wright, who is running for Englewood City Council amid a contentious recall effort against council members pushing high-density development through Code Next zoning changes. Wright describes how hundreds of citizens opposed the changes, yet four council members formed a consensus to override public input. The recall effort succeeded in gathering signatures against four members, with one resigning rather than face voters. Wright’s story illustrates Thomas’s broader point about the importance of local engagement. The discussion highlights how battles...