Exposing Colorado GOP’s Political Good Deeds and Misdeeds 

A few weeks ago, El Paso County held its biennial organizational meeting to elect new leadership. Many of us watched with cautious optimism, hoping the newly elected chair would steer the Party back toward credibility and strength. That hope was short lived. The Central Committee chose Ken Davis, and within days, it became clear we were simply trading one ineffectual regime for another.

Ken may seem like a decent man, but let’s be honest, he doesn’t appear to grasp the meaning of leadership, let alone unity. Case in point: one of his first acts as Chair was to parrot the same tacky, embarrassing slogan “You are the life of the Party,” coined by his predecessor, Dictator Tonkins. That should’ve been our first red flag. The reappearance of that slogan in his inaugural communication screamed loud and clear that nothing has changed.

Then came the farce of a Bonus Member ballot recount. Rather than explain the purpose or necessity of this bizarre move, Ken proceeded in silence, later revealing that “some people” had requested it. Who those people were and why their request mattered remains unclear. Even more absurd, he allowed candidates who were actually on the Bonus Member ballot to participate in the counting. That’s not just a bad look; it’s a blatant conflict of interest. Worse yet, not all Bonus Members were even informed. This wasn’t a transparent process. It was cherry picking, plain and simple. A classic Vickie move, now executed under Ken’s clueless watch.

And then there’s the Gazette article. In it, Ken says he’s “reaching out to Republicans who have cleaved from the official party.” That statement is not only inaccurate, it’s insulting. These individuals didn’t walk away. They were pushed, censured, and shoved out by Vickie and her clique of control-hungry cronies. Ken’s gesture is not outreach; it’s damage control, and poorly executed at that.

Even more tone deaf is Ken’s remark that “some of the people at Peak Republicans are talented.” Some? Peak Republicans was co-founded by two powerhouse women. One is a Colorado State legislator with over 20 years of party involvement. The other is the most successful campaign manager in El Paso County. If Ken had an ounce of strategic instinct, they would’ve been his first call. Instead, he tosses out condescending half-compliments and continues to take cues from the very people responsible for this mess.

If Ken truly believes in unity, it’s time he stops playing puppet and starts acting like a Chair. If he continues down this path, surrounded by Vicki-ites, operating in secrecy, and alienating talent, the Party’s collapse will only accelerate. As a member of the executive committee, I’ll be in those meetings either way. But make no mistake, we’re watching. And we’re wondering who’s really running the show.

By D. Lee Phelan Sr., Las Animas County GOP Chair

ColoradoRINOWatch.com—where gossip, slander, and uninformed rage masquerade as political analysis. It’s a website that thrives on nastiness, pettiness, and a sheer ignorance of both the subjects they attack and the broader reality of Colorado politics.

Their approach is simple: take whatever divisive narrative they can drum up, throw it at the wall, and hope something sticks. Yet, for all their venom, they are an irrelevant distraction.

Their audience? A few hundred echo-chamber dwellers convinced that throwing insults from behind a keyboard is meaningful activism.

Their purpose? Manufacturing outrage—not advancing solutions.

The real work of winning elections and shaping policy happens far away from their digital cesspool of self-importance.

Democracy in America has never been clean or polite—it’s loud, messy, and at times, frustrating. It means tolerating those who stand on the proverbial street corner, screaming at the top of their lungs in favor of ideas you’d spend a lifetime shouting against. That’s the trade-off of free speech, and that’s what makes our system strong.

But here’s the reality: energy wasted on engaging with the likes of Colorado RINO-Watch is energy stolen from actual battles that matter. Elections aren’t won by playing defense against bitter critics who have no interest in building anything. They’re won by focusing on the future, engaging with voters, and standing on real principles—not by throwing punches at political shadows.

Colorado is in a fight for its conservative future, and there are real battles ahead: restoring election integrity, fixing the state GOP’s financial and structural disarray, and taking back legislative seats. Those are the fights that matter.

Meanwhile, RINO-Watch will continue hurling their tired, recycled accusations, hoping someone—anyone—cares. But the real players in Colorado’s political future will be too busy organizing, fundraising, and winning elections to notice.

Let them shout. We’ve got work to do.