Why "Political Pessimist"?
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." -- John Adams, 2nd President of the United States of America
President Adams addresses beautifully why I chose the name I did for my blog. While I would hope that reality would be the cause for optimism, more often it is the cause for concern. No amount of wishing or willing facts to change can make a difference as to their truth. The only difference that can be made is when I, and you along with me, rise up and make that change real. Won't you join me?
About the Author
My name is Sarah. I'm a born-and-bred Coloradoan. I was homeschooled as a child, and have been politically involved in a variety of capacities since 1998 (from volunteer to manager, on campaigns at all levels, and on both political races and issues campaigns). I make my home in the greatest state in this country with my husband, Matt, and our sons, Erik and Max. I own and run Dotsero Resources and Marketing, a political and business strategy consulting firm.
My political passions take a few different forms:
- Local races (state legislative and "lower")
- Data and analysis
- Colorado's uniquely engaging Caucus and Assembly process
- Training and learning
- Limited Government and Liberty issues
Since becoming politically engaged, I have worked on races ranging from city council up through Presidential level, and just about everywhere in-between. My true passions, though, are the oft forgot, but extremely important, "lower" level races. Remember, all politics is local. I spent my high school years as a State Capitol intern, from ages 14-17. I learned more there than I ever could in any classroom on how politics really works.
I have always been a 'math' girl. I love data and problem solving and figuring out puzzles. Almost on a whim, I decided to look through the data of the 2011 redistricting and reapportionment process and guess what might happen in 2012 based on that information. As it turns out, none of the prognosticators or polls came even close to predicting the results... except me. Based predominately on district performance and active registered voter numbers, I was able to have a 97% accuracy in predicting the results of 2012's election in Colorado, and a 94% accuracy in Colorado's 2014 elections.
Since 2007, I have travelled the state of Colorado conducting caucus training. I attended my first caucus in 2002. I love Colorado's caucus system. It isn't perfect, but there is nothing like it anywhere else. Colorado's grassroots has a real chance to make a significant difference that can't be bought. And for that to continue, we must educate out fellow citizens on this valuable process and fight any attempts to take away the caucus process in Colorado.
I love to learn. My mother, in homeschooling me, instilled a life-long curiosity and love of learning. I've travelled the country to attend campaign and political training classes, and have conducted some training of my own. One thing I was taught early on as well is not to hoard knowledge, so I am glad to pass on that which I know to others it may help.
Standing up for what is right is all too often controversial. Many of my friends and readers probably know me from the events of 2011 that lead to my censure by the El Paso County Republican Party for standing opposed to bringing Obamacare to Colorado. You can read some of this story here. For promoting Republican principles like limited government and personal responsibility, I was told that I was not really a Republican. I have always championed the Republican (and liberty) ideals of limited government, personal responsibility, the rule of law, and a free, unencumbered economy whether the GOP accepted me or not.
As of the acceptance speech by Donald Trump at the RNC 2016, I am no longer a registered Republican. It has been made pretty clear to me that the GOP is nothing more than the Getting Old Party, and hopefully soon the Goodbye Old Party. The Republican Party consistently betrays its "principles" and supposed values, and it's long overdue to just kick the can and join the Whigs in the political party graveyard.
Here's the bottom line for me. My motivation is to advance liberty, and that takes a variety of forms: from working on campaigns to training candidates; making predictions to crafting messaging.
Most importantly, I don't do it for me. I do it for my sons, and for any of their future siblings. I want my children to have more opportunities than I have had. I want for them to be proud of this country, not inherit so much debt it collapses. We live in the greatest country to ever exist, and it is slipping away from us. I fight to stop that slide so my sons can have the country we all know America should be.
- Local races (state legislative and "lower")
- Data and analysis
- Colorado's uniquely engaging Caucus and Assembly process
- Training and learning
- Limited Government and Liberty issues
I have always been a 'math' girl. I love data and problem solving and figuring out puzzles. Almost on a whim, I decided to look through the data of the 2011 redistricting and reapportionment process and guess what might happen in 2012 based on that information. As it turns out, none of the prognosticators or polls came even close to predicting the results... except me. Based predominately on district performance and active registered voter numbers, I was able to have a 97% accuracy in predicting the results of 2012's election in Colorado, and a 94% accuracy in Colorado's 2014 elections.
Since 2007, I have travelled the state of Colorado conducting caucus training. I attended my first caucus in 2002. I love Colorado's caucus system. It isn't perfect, but there is nothing like it anywhere else. Colorado's grassroots has a real chance to make a significant difference that can't be bought. And for that to continue, we must educate out fellow citizens on this valuable process and fight any attempts to take away the caucus process in Colorado.
I love to learn. My mother, in homeschooling me, instilled a life-long curiosity and love of learning. I've travelled the country to attend campaign and political training classes, and have conducted some training of my own. One thing I was taught early on as well is not to hoard knowledge, so I am glad to pass on that which I know to others it may help.
Standing up for what is right is all too often controversial. Many of my friends and readers probably know me from the events of 2011 that lead to my censure by the El Paso County Republican Party for standing opposed to bringing Obamacare to Colorado. You can read some of this story here. For promoting Republican principles like limited government and personal responsibility, I was told that I was not really a Republican. I have always championed the Republican (and liberty) ideals of limited government, personal responsibility, the rule of law, and a free, unencumbered economy whether the GOP accepted me or not.
As of the acceptance speech by Donald Trump at the RNC 2016, I am no longer a registered Republican. It has been made pretty clear to me that the GOP is nothing more than the Getting Old Party, and hopefully soon the Goodbye Old Party. The Republican Party consistently betrays its "principles" and supposed values, and it's long overdue to just kick the can and join the Whigs in the political party graveyard.
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