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September 14, 2010 08:11 PM UTC

Tancredo, Poundstone's Absolutely Vicious Anti-Maes Ad

  • 113 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Wow, folks.

Colorado Independent’s John Tomasic:

Freda Poundstone, well-known Colorado conservative political figure, appears in a Tom Tancredo campaign ad released Tuesday in which she calls embattled Republican candidate for governor Dan Maes a con and a liar.

“Dan Maes not only conned me out of my money, he lied to me about his background, and he deceived my friends and myself about his conservative principles,” says Poundstone, brimming with emotion. “I’ve had so many people call me and ask: What kind of a man would do that to an 83-year-old lady? and I don’t want that to happen to the voters of this state.”

Freda Poundstone, a longtime GOP activist and one of the principal figures in this year’s “Dr. Evil” initiatives, is of course no helpless old lady–but we’ll be damned if she doesn’t play one convincingly on television.

At the same time, it’s hard to see how attacking Dan Maes gets Tom Tancredo elected. This ad is going to hurt Maes, to be sure, but it also hurts all Republicans because Maes is at the top of the GOP ticket. Tancredo doesn’t have enough time or money to cripple Maes and damage Democrat John Hickenlooper and put out a positive message about himself.

If the only thing Tancredo accomplishes is to bash Maes (whose campaign was already DOA), and by association, the Republican Party, then what was the point of Tancredo getting in this race? And why are so many Republicans endorsing a guy who is openly destroying another Republican?

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113 thoughts on “Tancredo, Poundstone’s Absolutely Vicious Anti-Maes Ad”

  2. One, because he said he was only going to run ads attacking Hickenlooper. Two, because he knows very well that Freda is not an honest woman and he ran the ad anyway. And the sad fact of the matter is that voters are letting him get away with it. Welcome to politics as usual.

    3. “Freda is not an honest woman?”

      The fact that you simply don’t agree with her choice of a candidate?

      If you’re going to impugn someone’s honesty, you should back it up with facts.  Do you have any?  Let’s hear ’em.

    4. I’m no Fred Poundstone cheerleader, but I’ve watched her operate for years and never had the impression she was “dishonest.”

      In fact, wasn’t she the one who blew the lid of of Dr Evil’s secret plan to keep his role in the Dr Evil initiatives secret?

      You thought throwing down with Steve Harvey threatening legal action was bad, you should think twice about what you want to publish about Ms. Poundstone.

  6. What does she mean conned her out of her money? It suggests something other than not being the kind of candidate she thought he was.  

    Is there anything behind this ?

  7. …But I honestly wouldn’t want Maes anywhere near elective office.

    Admittedly, I’ve been a Hick supporter from the get-go, but I seriously think it would be dangerous having a clown like Maes in charge of things like…uh…the National Guard?

    I’m a big ‘party trumps person’ guy, but sometimes you have to call it like it is and be honest about the fact that he’s absolutely unqualified to hold a job like governor.  His shaky financial disclosures and the fact that it looks like the main reason he’s running is because he simply needs a gig are definite red flags to a solid R voter like me.

    1. But there’s no need for this from Tancredo. Maes is already done — his negatives are at 55 percent. He can’t win the governor’s race, and Tancredo can’t win by only ripping Maes. Republicans are supporting Tancredo, who is using his resources to rip apart another Republican rather than go after Hickenlooper.  

      1. to this bizarre Greek tragedy that is Colorado Republican politics these days.  His ego is big enough, I’m guessing, for him to imagine that something will happen at the last minute and he – Tommy Tancredo – will be elected Governor.  

          2. They have given up getting Maes out.  They are now down to the depress the Maes vote as far as possible so that he drains fewer votes from Tanc and makes his a more viable candidate who will draw contributions and votes.  This is exactly how Lieberman did it and exactly how the Republican “intelligensia” is doing it here in Colorado this year.  

  8. is the smiling “I approved this message” part. Generally the really nasty ads, and it doesn’t get nastier than this, are left to outside groups. Not that anyone would expect the high ground from the Tanc but, still, it’s odd to see anything quite like this straight out of the official campaign.

          1. It doesn’t strike me as being particularly mean-spirited or slimy.

            Maes apparently asked her for cash for his mortgage, and then lied about it being a campaign donation after he’d pissed her off by referring to “gun nuts”.

            I mean, all of it actually happened, so what’s so slimy about it?

        1. The plan, to get Maes down so far that Tanc becomes the only alternative and maybe wins this thing.  It’s brilliant and I think it could still work.  Why is Tanc going after Maes rather tha Hick.  This is why.  If you drive Maes down far enough, he becomes irrelevant, drops further and the race becomes competitive again, making Maes drop even more.  Delicious that this could make the Republican Party a minor party and the AC Party a major party, but republicans are willing to sacrifice party.  This new batch has never cared about the Republican Party.  I told all you that 20 years ago.  Believe me now?

          1. It’s not brilliant and Tanc doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell. He will, however get tons more time in the spotlight to enhance his money making career as a wacko right celeb.

            1. I have always hated Tanc.  Can’t stand the guy or his politics, and as everyone here knows, I used to be Jeffco GOP chair.  This has nothing to do with Tanc.  It only has to do with good politics.  They can’t get Maes off the ballot, so they marginalize him so to make it as close to a two person race as they can, and then they take on Hick.  It’s a perfect strategy, and I think it has a chance of working.  I don’t want it to work, but I think the Hick campaign is taking things way too cavalierly and that this guy might be a risk if they don’t watch out.  If Tanc becomes the de facto Republican candidate, this could be close and no one is watching.

              1. Who you are and who you hate or don’t isn’t relevant to your amusing fantasy of some well oiled conspiratorial piece of brilliance in evidence in all this. If you really think this is a carefully calculated strategy you must me mistaking all of the Colorado GOP leadership bozos, from Wadhams on down, for people still capable of finding their asses with both hands. You’re also mistaking Tancredo for someone who gives a damn about anything but his career as a lesser Palin style celeb. You think he doesn’t know he’ll never be bothered with actually having to be governor?  Pretty funny.  

                1. I am the former Republican Chair of Jeffco from 1989-1991.  I am also the former chair of Naral and Colorado Republicans for Choice.  I am a registered unaffiliate (though I registered Democrat in the primary to vote for Romanoff).  I have been on the steering committee for Ed Perlmutter.  I have given extensively to Democrats in the last few years.  I read DailyKos every day and don’t read RedState at all.  I hate the Republican Party of today.  I have been and will to the day of my death fighting for the death of the Republican Party as we know it today.  I warned the Republican “leaders” over 20 years ago that they were making a pact with the devil by legitimizing these kooks and I tell them all the time on this site that I told them this was going to happen.  If you will read my past diary posts, you will see who I am.  Ask the other Republicans on this site, hell, ask Dick Wadhams.  You’ll find out that I am and have been a pretty saavy political strategist.

                  To say that this is not a well cooridnated plan is just more ostrich head in the sand shit from the Democrats and why I am not a Democrat.  They are too stupid to know what’s happening to them and you just prove the point.  The Republicans have been coordinating for years everything from top to bottom.  That’s how they got control and that’s how they intend to get it back.  To suggest that they are not clever is again, just sticking their heads in the sand.  These people are very good at manipulating folks.  Just look what they did to Obama, and he let them.  Democrats and you are like Charlie Brown and the football, when will you ever learn that she always just pulls it away and leaves you on your back.

                  If you are what Hick (who has always been my first choice for Governor) and the others in the Democratic Party are listening too, the Democrats are in for a very bad year here.

                  Sorry, but I get to critize both sides and unlike most unaffiliates, I am not a low knowledge voter.  I am also not apolitical.  I have more than 35 years experience.  Ask around.  Ask Joan FitzGerald.  Ask Ed Perlmutter.  Ask any Republican who has been around more than 20 years.  I know my stuff, I have great instincts about elections.  Not saying Tanc will win, just that he could if Hick and his campaign keep acting like Martha Coakely.

                  By the way.  Who are you and are you working for Hick?  I dare you to be as honest as I have been.

                  1. Hickenlooper absolutely needs to avoid doing a Martha Coakley. He will – he’s smart and personable.

                    The one thing you hear over and over about Hickenlooper from everyone, left and right, is “I like him personally.” He’s the Ronald Reagan of Colorado, left-wing edition.

                    Meanwhile, the one thing that seems to unite both conservatives and liberals is their disgust with Tom Tancredo. Bill Armstrong hates him. Bill Owens hates him. Diana DeGette hates him.

                    We should thank Tom Tancredo for uniting our state behind something almost all of us can agree on. That Tom Tancredo is a total dick.

                    1. This ad works like a 3rd party attack but is more effective–it’s a real person with a specific gripe, no creepy music or threatening voice-over.  And at the end comes a benign Tanc, setting up his narrative as 1)conservative, 2)principled.  

                      Tactically it makes sense because Tanc may be ahead of Maes in polls, but he still has to convince those Repubs to actually vote 3rd party–this is why the principled-Conserv narrative is important.  Furthermore the main knock on Hick is that he’ll say anything to please anyone–Tanc is setting up as standing by his convictions, even against his own party.

                      By doing so, Tanc positions himself as an outsider in contrast to the “establishment” candidate Hick–another good move in the current anti-incumbent climate.

                      The best antidote to Tanc’s rhetoric is hard-hitting ads reminding people of Tanc’s past crazy statements–but Hick has already taken himself out of position to respond in kind with his “shower” ad.  He either has to reverse himself or else rely on 3rd party attacks, while Tanc will be under no constraints–and increasing Hick’s negatives will be imperative for a Tanc win.

                      My one disagreement is that this strategy need not be coordinated with Repub leadership–a simpler explanation is that Tanc sees the brass ring, and he is going all out for it.

                      I can’t guess if this will work (and goddess help us if it does), but Hick and the Dems underestimate Tanc at their peril–he is in it to win.

                           

                  2. and stand by everything I said. Just because you are a former R Chair doesn’t mean you aren’t without a clue.  The fact that you keep telling us how Tanc can still win and it’s all part of some brilliant plan proves that the two things, former Jeffco R Chair and cluelessness, can co-exist. As per the most recent news that Tanc can stay on the ballot and that if he reaches the 10% threshold the ACP gets major party treatment in at least the next four years worth of elections, do you still think this is all going according to some well oiled master plan?  The mystery of how the Colorado GOP has deteriorated to its present state has been solved to my satisfaction. I wouldn’t be bragging about being a past or present chair in your shoes.  I’d stick with Craig.

                  3. Allow me to address that. I’m just a harmless private citizen.  Don’t work for Hick or anybody else though I’m active and volunteer some time here and there for various campaigns. I enjoy the anonymity of posting, as is perfectly acceptable, under a tag and since I’m certainly not any kind of political operative there’s no need for disclosure.  

                    Over the years I’ve had at least a couple dozen letters to the editor published in the Denver Post and  elsewhere under my own name, maybe a few more, and signed numerous petitions and participated openly at caucus etc. but I reserve my right to be just BlueCat on line. So dare away.  

                    The assumption that Hick is going to blow this through over-confidence or any other way is so absurd I decline to join in the hand wringing of some of the Dems here who agree with your analysis. I’d rather worry about things that might actually happen, such as a tragic R take-over of congress.

                    If you know your stuff so well the proof will be in the pudding won’t it? What I see is a GOP that is losing control here in Colorado and in quite a few other states due to a failure to realize that the time when the GOP establishment could rule the party from the top down with an iron fist, potential candidates patiently waiting their turn and rank and file accepting the anointed ones, is over. The players have lost the ability to maintain control over the played. The Tea Partiers et al will do the GOP some good in the near future but are already creating some messes that benefit Dems and that will only get worse going forward.

                    A permanent Perot strength presence will begin to do for Dem candidates all over the country in all but the solid red states what Perot did for Clinton in ’92. If Tancredo gets 10% or more, the ACP will play the Perot role quite nicely here in Colorado politics going forward. They’ll get funding support from enthusiastic fellow party members all over the country as a reward for attaining major party status here.  It will be enough to allow them to make stabs at running more candidates in more races and give more Dems plurality wins. Just as Tancredo will give Hickenlooper the win.

                    If Dems here in Colorado keep the congressional delegation gains we’ve made (or even if we lose just one House seat) and the governorship and don’t lose too many seats in the state legislature, perhaps you’ll stop bragging about how much better you understand how it all works than an insignificant little peon such as I possibly can. But I wouldn’t count on it.  Not from someone as clearly deluded as you are about the real import of the Maes/Tancredo situation for the Colorado right.  

          2. The question is, how many? Let’s say Tanc pulls this off. Let’s say he’s able to drive Maes down, convert a bunch of republicans and some independents, and become a viable threat to Hickenlooper. Let’s even give him the benefit of the doubt and say he can go dollar for dollar with Hick on fundraising. No matter what, people will still pull the lever for the republican candidate. And those will be votes that Tanc will need. There’s no hope, so why do it.

            1. Only a very few of the insiders care about the Republican Party.  That’s not many.  The reality is that when the only thing Republicans and conservatives are seeing is Tanc saying he is the conservative candidate, what do you think they are going to do.  This scenario already happened in Connecticut (which I admit is not as Republican as this state).  But in the Lieberman race, Lieberman won and the Republican candidate got well less than 10% of the vote.  I’m just sounding the warning siren, not advocating for this to occur.  See my other post.

            1. Or more likely because they screwed it up in the first place by trying to clear the field for McInnis. Of course, Tancredo was involved in those little shenanigans as well.

      2. how unusual it is to see the smiling candidate himself approving the my-opponent-is-a-scumbag-who-cheats-little-old-ladies message, that’s all. He could at least have looked severe (more in sorrow than in anger) instead of so smiley.  It’s pretty jarring.

            2. 1. I wouldn’t underestimate Tanc – ultimately, the majority of Colorado (unfortunately) supports 1070, among many other hyper-conservative initiatives – Tanc has a shot at this

              2. While I don’t like this ad, I give credit to Tanc for doing the dirty work, rather than relying on a 527 to do it for him – there’s some honor in that  

              1. Now even Ali is saying nice things about Tanc.  The next thing we know, there’ll be an endorsement, even if backhanded like “I can’t support Maes with everything I now know.”  It’s all part of the process that is being very carefully coordinated.  

                1. .

                  Yes, Dick pulls Ali’s strings like a puppeteer manipulates a marionette.  I believe that.  

                  In fact, if you can keep a secret, the GOP has been taken over by the Constitution Party.

                  Me, I’m in charge of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.  

                  I’m thinking of having him wear a pink bow-tie tomorrow.  Whaddaya think ?

                  .

                  2. Ignore me at your own peril.  That’s what Martha Coakely did in Mass. and we all know how that turned out in the most Democratic state in the union.  Colorado ain’t Mass.

                  1. You are devious and very effective.  It’s the only reason that you have had any power in this state and nation over the past 20 years.  You have coordinated, you are devious, you can divide people and you don’t care about the “Republican Party.”  Don’t deny it BJ.  Just when you and I were agreeing.

                    1. I don’t care about the Republican Party, much like the rest of America. We care about conservative values.

                    2. Sounds good.

                      But wth do you mean by “conservative values”?

                      If you can’t answer without ideological one-liners, don’t bother.

                    4. Whatever those might be.

                      But are you firm (hee hee) in your values opposing science education beyond 7th grade and easy access to divorce of convenience?

                    5. I guess this means you think

                      – Medicare is a horrible, socialist idea.

                      – we should raise taxes to fight the deficit

                      – we should sell weapons to Iran and illegally divert the proceeds to some other war of choice

                      – we should have a massive federally funded “war on drugs”

                      – we should declare amnesty for illegal aliens living and working in the US

                      And do you recognize that there are other flavors of “conservatism” that confuse the issue?

                      You are quickly approaching the status of other useless posters to whom I never reply nor pay any attention at all.  I wish it was not so, but your willingness to deflect any question with glib, ideological one- liners coupled with your blind loyalty to wack job candidates and ideas,   suggest an inability to think for yourself.

                    8. Man I really outed that Steve Harvey guy… who’s screen name was steveharvey and who posted a link to his campaign website in his sigline. Please.

                    9. and the personal inf they reference or link to means they cannot be outed?  Please, do tell.  Because  thought that was exactly what Steve posted about you that got him booted.

                      I said out someone not SH or yourself.

                      I didn’t say you outed SH.

                    10. “out someone besides Steve Harvey” implying that I had outed Steve Harvey, genius. I never posted all of my personal information like Steve did.

                    11. If you inferred it, well, you should learn to read.

                      And, oh yes you did.

                      Dude, just form memory I could name a dozen personal or more facts about you that you posted.  Anyone who wanted to and had 30 minutes could link to them all. So, please, stop MSU and stop lying.

                    12. (I posted one to another thread)

                      This one seems to fit Beej to a “T”

                      Jeremy Hillary Boob, PhD.: “If I spoke prose you’d all find out / I don’t know what I talk about. “

              2. I think he’s doing a wonderful job of maintaining his rightie fringe celeb status which is his goal.  It pays the bills and feeds the ego. You don’t think he actually wants to be governor do you? That’s a lot of work for the money.  

                1. Congressman Tancredo is a friend of mine and I’m pretty sure he would LOVE to serve as a US Senator or Governor – I think he’s dead serious about this

                  However, my biggest criticism of his campaign would be his handling of the immigration and Mosque issues – its not just because I disagree with him on the issues, but EVERYONE in Colorado knows where Tom stands on immigration – with that said, the most intelligent campaign would’ve been to hammer Hick on tax cuts and spending cuts and leaving immigration and Mosques out – unfortunately, Tom has spent most of his time hammering Maes and the immigration issue

                  He is my friend and we disagree on almost everything – that said, as a friend, I would say that Congressman Tancredo isn’t running as great of a campaign as he could – if he does improve the above though, I say he gives Hick a serious run

                  1. I just don’t believe that Tanc deserves your esteem, Ali.  From his bomb Mecca to his most recent anti-Muslim remarks, I’m surprised that any Muslim would hold him in high regard. Happily, he’ll never be Governor but some day you’ll be older and  probably wiser.

          3. There’s no mention of Tanc. No bringing up the sunny music and having a few words about the great things Tanc wants to do for Colorado over a nice family shot.  Maybe the campaign could only get Poundstone to participate if they let her rip Maes with minimal connection made between her and Tanc’s campaign.

            Seems like this ad could be better for Hick than for Tanc. Dueling scummies, one without a clue and one without any particular plan to promote and there’s Hick, all sweet and sunny with positive messages and tons of endorsements from all over the map. Will more Rs and Us just stay home in disgust? Will that magic < 10%  actually be reached?

            Probably not but the cable networks would really have fun with the story: GOP loses major party status in Colorado altogether, at least for the next ballot, during year of widespread R comeback.  They’d all want Wadhams to come on and do some ‘splainin’ but he would, no doubt, not be returning calls.

  9. Frankly, I have known Freda for more than 35 years.  Even at 83 she is a force to behold.  No one, no one, pulls anything on that woman.  She clearly has all her faculties.  She is a tough woman.  This is the most demeaning anti-woman ad I have ever seen, and I always thought Freda was one of the most pro-woman examples I had ever seen.  Freda, my mother, Mary roiling the waters of the Pacific at this moment.  You have debased yourself and all women.  You should be personally ashamed of yourself.  Maes should run a counter-ad to show what a fake Tancredo is.  Freda, you weren’t swindled.  You just bet on the wrong horse, and shame on you for doing it.  You’ve known as long as I have that these folks are poison.  Shame on you.  Shame on you.  Most 83 year old women who had been hoodwinked would have the grace and the sense to fade into the background and be ashamed of themselves.  You try to use it for your political gain.  There is no way you were hoodwinked.  Shame.  I just can’t believe it.

    1. …with all due respect, how is this demeaning towards women?

      Are you saying that the only kind of ‘dignified’ woman is one who becomes old and “demure” and relinquishes all substance?

      Freda is a great person and a passionate advocate – we need more of that in Colorado politics

      1. Are you kidding?  She paints herself as a victim.  That’s what she intends and that’s what she does.  Otherwise, why mention that she is an 83 year old woman and that she was hoodwinked?  She’s making herself out to be an old lady who was taken advantage of.  You and I both know that is BS.  No one takes advantage of Freda, no one.  That is demeaning to women.  As for Freda, I agree with you and have for longer than you have been alive.

          2. Buying in to all this victimization crap.  It makes me mad because Freda was a role model for the strong Republican woman for years.  Now she’s playing the 83 year old victim.  Just show’s y ou how far Republicans have fallen.  If you knew Freda, you’d be insutled.  Trust me.

    4. You took away my opportunity to be the shallow one!

      I was going to go more the zombie route, or that old lady in Exorcist III that crawls on the ceiling, but the Crypt Keeper is good.

  13. is hardly a demure little ole lady…if you had just been run over and there was a $ in the street she would grab the dollar before she would check on you.

  16. Equally vicious. Some folksy old white dude, with patriotic muzak in the background, talking about how Dan Maes is horrible and terrible, and how this unnamed voice talent is going to vote for Tancredo.

    Now THERE’S an endorsement for you. One shallow unimportant loudmouth endorsing another.

  17. probably won’t remember this ad by election day or the day they vote early. Tanc won’t be able to afford to keep it up.

    The average voter, the uninformed voter, is going to think that the 3rd party has no chance so they won’t vote for him. After all Tanc is not half as smart as Nader nor as appealing as Ross Perot.

    I still think Tanc will beat Maes who will get more than 10%. The more informed R voter will hold their nose and vote for Maes so they don’t get minority status.

    Poundstone has always known what she is doing. She is pissed that Maes is gong to lose.

    Tanc, if he can’t be da man, would just as soon burn the house down  

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