Silence is Broken

Because Doug Bruce is out of jail. He received early release for good behavior (oh joy). The ex con says he plans to sue the jail over deplorable conditions. Hey Doug-its jail you idiot. He ranted and raved about a variety of things including having his life threatened twice. And he plans to appeal his conviction, which I think is a good idea because it will keep him occupied.......The low unemployment report for May could not have come at a worse time for Barack Obama. It will be a key campaign battle issue for the President and Mitt Romney. Many polls are now showing the two are virtually tied in the race for the White House......Had a great time at the Van Halen-Kool and The Gang Concert. An unusual pairing yes, but great music all night long, although David Lee Roths better days are perhaps behind him. Its a heck of a year for concerts in Colorado. Red Rocks has more acts booked than ever before, which is certainly a good sign for the economy.

Long Time No See

Random Thoughts.....A politician recently asked the head of the Secret Service what he thought the agents caught in the Colombia Prostitution scandal were trying to accomplish. Really? Really? I think the answer is sex, but don't quote me since I wasn't there.....I don't like stupid and I don't do stupid.........I'm already tired of the Blaha-Lamborn race because every ad I hear from both is just bashing the other. Here's an idea, why not tell me why I should vote for you instead. In a Blaha spot Lamborn is ridiculed for staying at a nice hotel. C'mon, really? Really? I like politicians less and less after hearing ads like that.......Watched the Air Force Academy Graduation online at KVOR.com, and say what you want about President Obama. He shook hands with every graduate and had a personal thing to say to each and everyone one. Thought that was very classy....I've always believed where there's smoke, there's fire, which is why I tend to believe the men coming forward accusing John Travolta of sexual advances toward them. That rumor about Travolta has been going around in Hollywood for years....Saw something the other day on Facebook-complaints about bicyclists in the area. I've always said, "Move at my speed or get out of my way." As crazy as people drive here in the springs if I were riding a bike I would stay on the side of the road and not be in the middle of traffic. Just sayin'.

Fire

I am not an expert on vegetation, forests, farmland, undergrowth, brush, or anything related. I say that because of what I am about to write concerning the Colorado State Forest Service and their decision several weeks ago to have controlled burns to eliminate undergrowth and vegetation in Jefferson County. According to officials a controlled burn supervised by the State Forest Service may have re-ignited some 4-5 days after being put out, which could be the cause of what we know as the Lower North Fork Fire. There's been a lot of talk about how people were notified, failures in the notification system and the deaths of 3 people. What I am struggling with is how the Colorado State Forest Service, in the midst of a long long dry spell throughout Colorado, could make the decision to have a controlled burn to begin with. It's been dry in Colorado since the end of February. Extended weather forecasts at the time of the controlled burn suggested dry and windy conditions would continue over most of the state. Yet somebody with the Colorado State Forest Service signed off on this. I'm not a big fan of controlled burns to begin with. Its like saying, "Hey let's rob this bank so when there is a real robbery the bad guys will have less money to take." And when a controlled burn takes place during a dry spell like we have had.......C'mon, really? Really? I'm no expert, however I could have told you it was a bad time for a controlled burn. There may be studies and reports that show controlled burns have slowed wildfires. I would like to see one. But isn't there a common sense element that should have entered the decision making process? Thankfully Governor Hickenlooper stepped in with a common sense idea-to suspend controlled burns until further notice. Sadly he was not consulted prior to the burn. The Colorado State Forest Service has a lot of explaining to do, especially if its proven that indeed one of their controlled burns led to the Lower North Fork Fire.

I was a victim of credit card identity theft several weeks. Somebody got my number and started spending from Colorado Springs to Alabama. Thanks to the great folks at Visa I will not be charged and I already have a new card and number. But its a reminder to please, please be careful with your card. I would love to find surveillance tape of the creeps that used my card and track them down......The Trayvon Martin Case is sad all the way around, no matter what you believe and no matter how it played out. The only thing I keep coming back to was George Zimmerman was told by a 911 dispatcher he did not have to follow Martin, but he continued to do so, although he lost him, and according to Zimmerman, Martin came upon him as Zimmerman was going back to his car. And you know Reverand Al Sharpton wore out his welcome when the NAACP told him to stop his ranting and raving in Sanford Florida.... Hard to believe its already April, but the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination drags on. It looks like its Mitt Romney's nomination, although Rock Santorum still believes he can pull off a convention stunner. Reality is, its not gonna happen.

Red Light Cameras

Recently Colorado struck down a measure that would have banned any kind of Red Light Cameras in the state. The decision was made in order to allow cities and towns to to make their own decision on if they should use the device. Good Move. However I have a problem with people who say Red Light Cameras are simply used to help Police Departments and city agencies
collect fees. Yes, that's a byproduct of what comes from someone BREAKING THE LAW!!! Look,
if you don't like red light cameras catching you breaking the law, then DON'T BREAK THE LAW!!! I despise people who break the law and get pissed with ramifications of doing so. Red Light Cameras do increase safety. That's the goal. If you speed, and get caught, you lose points on your license and get fined. We all know that. So what is your problem? I hate idiots who seem to think they are above the law. Look, cities and towns are suffering from lower tax collections. I have no problems with Red Light Cameras, or with police setting up additional speed traps around Colorado Springs. It is a way to increase revenue. If you don't like that don't speed, and it won't affect you. Speed, and get caught, and tough tootles. Grow up and take responsibility for your actions!!!!!

My name is Doug Bruce, and I'm Guilty of a Crime

Dougie.........they gotcha. The long time tax activist was found guilty on state charges of income tax evasion. Bruce received 6 months in jail and a strict 6 years of probation in which all of his financial transactions must be reported to his probation officer. Hell, he may have to check in if he puts a quarter in a gumball machine. How the mighty have fallen. And now there are reports the Internal Revenue Service is taking an interest in what Doug may or may not have done with his taxes. The Feds, should they pursue the case, and win, could put Bruce in jail for several more years.........Does anybody want to win the Republican nomination for President? Rick Santorum has a bit of momentum and is pushing front runner Mitt Romney. Newt Gingrich has been very quiet for the last several weeks, and has anybody seen Ron Paul? The problem for Republicans is, can they find a candidate strong enough to defeat Barack Obama. The economy is rebounding, and very slowly more jobs are being created. And rightly or wrongly, Mr. Obama will receive credit for that. Which means come November the Republicans may have a tough time against the President.

Lee Douglas

The phone rang Sunday morning while I was in Denver. A friend told me he had bad news: Lee Douglas died. I felt everything draining from me, and I said, "What-Say that again" Lee Douglas had died. Lee was the longtime sportscaster at KOAA TV Channel 5 in Southern Colorado. I had worked alongside Lee the last 7 years calling Air Force Football games on KVOR. I just had lunch with Lee on Monday. He looked great and said he was feeling good. But this past Saturday, after waking up Lee was not feeling well. He drove himself to the hospital, and was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection. Then his kidneys shut down and he passed away early Sunday morning.

I remember suggesting Lee would be a great color analyst for the Air Force Football Network. I knew him professionally but did not see him very often because of my schedule. We hit it off right away. He always greeted everybody with a warm smile. Lee had a hearty laugh, one that reminded you of Ed McMahon from The Tonight Show. He always had fun in life-serious when he needed to be, always a professional. He worked hard and played hard. Lee was from Pueblo and never forgot that, delivering stories about Pueblo sports with as much enthusiasm and professionalism as he would a Broncos recap. Lee did more than give a score. He showed us people and their personalities and their hearts. His warm delivery jumped through the TV, which is hard to do. He made you feel like a member of the family the first time you met him.

Lee loved covering Air Force Football. He had covered it as a reporter for years, and the last 7 did so as a color analyst. We had so much fun on Air Force road trips. Both Lee and I love music so anytime we jumped in the the rental car we listened to songs and challenged each other. This past year we were at Notre Dame and there was a blimp overhead providing live shots for TV. Lee was so excited. I kidded him about it. he said, "How often do you do a game and have a blimp there?" He was right.

Southern Colorado has lost a friend. I have lost a friend. Lee was fun, gently, happy and always a pleasure to be around. Lee never had a bad thing to say about anybody. The world is a sadder place today with Lee no longer with us. Heaven just got one heck of a sportscaster. I'm sorry Heaven needed him more. Rest in Peace my friend.