Here's the former Commissioner of Larimer County, Tom Bender, blowharding on the Coloradoan's Op-Ed page, a forum where he has a lengthy history of publishing shockingly divisive opinion. Anyone who isn't familiar with Bender's rhetoric might be surprised by the malignant intolerance he directs at those with whom he disagrees, but I can assure you that this, his latest letter (reproduced below, with the highlighting mine) doesn't differ at all from its predecessors. Which is my point, that Republicans – of which Bender is only a representative of the breed – feel free to poison the public square with their inflammatory partisanship.

Depend on GOP Leaders
As we Americans contemplate our many blessings, we are continually bombarded by liberal, doomsday, Democrat politicians and their media' existence.

In 2007, Democrat congressional and Colorado legislators intensified their social disorder and national polarization agenda to create the fertile ground necessary to coronate their socialist ruling class.

I don't remember in my lifetime the existence of any liberal media "popular" war where America surrendered to its enemies. But, they and their Democrat politicians even today remain committed to expressing their hate for America with their incessant demands for America's surrender.

Their credit, mortgage crisis resulting from liberal government policy demanding less loan and credit scrutiny by lenders is now hurting the best economy in American history and the working families who created it.

Their health-care crisis they created with government regulation is raising health-care insurance premiums making insurance less affordable for low income folks. Their legislative dictates to slowly nationalize, eliminate health-care choices, and take control of health-care providers and drug companies will only lead to increased costs, low quality, and rationing resulting from socialized health care.

We cannot ignore the 2008 congressional and Colorado Democrat legislative promises for more of the same.

But, we working, lower-income, seasoned citizens can depend on Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave and state Rep. Kevin Lundberg to continue their being champions for American values and limiting government intrusion in our lives.

Tom Bender
Bellvue, Colorado

It's remarkable (i.e., diametrically wrongheaded and not worthy of comment) that Bender blames Democrats for the crises in healthcare and housing... Nonetheless, by chance, Salon published today an overview of how Republican policies of deregulation fostered the housing crisis. The article may be short, but it dissects the last 12 to 13 years of Republican governance and the unfortunate consequences of it (Barney Frank on the regulation warpath by Andrew Leonard [14-Jan-08], Salon [online news magazine focusing on American politics and culture; based in San Francisco, California], online at salon.com).