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In 2006, Senator Salazar supported the interests of the Americans for Better Immigration 20 percent.

Doth a pattern seem to emerge?

Now, Colorado conservatives such as myself were disappointed at Salazar's winning of his Senate seat -- but not nearly as disappointed as we were in the reason for his win. For truly, there was but one man who had earned the seat and would have made a superb senator, as opposed to the consummate political sellout and stealth far-lefter we obviously have in Salazar.

The reason Salazar won? The Colorado Republican leadership.

The man who should be holding that seat? Beer baron Pete Coors, who ran against him?

Nope. Bob Schaffer, the two-term former Congressman from Colorado's District 4, who was succeeded by Marilyn Musgrave.

Schaffer ran against Coors in the Republican primarily. In fact, early on he really didn't have any competition -- and then Coors suddenly announced his intention to run. Coors: who had never held an office of any kind, but who had lots of money and some name recognition.

Schaffer had an incredible reputation statewide, a stellar congressional record, and was literally loved by conservatives in Colorado for being -- well, a conservative; a man who'd fought his way up the state political ladder with integrity, who made positive changes while in office, and who did what he said he'd do -- including holding to his promise to only serve two terms in Congress (he served from 1997 until early 2003).

Schaffer was, by the way, the only one of the three who had held national office and knew how to get things done in Washington without actually selling his soul.

But the leadership in Colorado thought that perhaps Coors' millions and his name recognition would make him a shoo-in over Salazar. Perhaps some of them owed him favors. Big mistake. So they, along with Colorado Governor Bill Owens (a Republican but hardly a conservative) shivved Bob in the back and threw their support behind Coors, whom many Coloradoans saw as a bored rich boy who wanted to have the name "Senator" before his name -- and perhaps cut some sweet deals for brewing industry.

As you may know, I was raised in New York. If anyone is thinking Lew Lehrman versus Mario Cuomo in 1982, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I think Cuomo wound up serving through several cycles of cosmic incarnation as New York's Governor.

The conservative Republican base in Colorado was enraged, so much so that many literally did not vote out of spite. Independents at least wanted someone who was somewhat familiar with politics, so they went with Salazar, who wound up trouncing Coors soundly. Now we have yet another opportunistic Democrat senator who represented himself as "the people's man" (he came from a family of farmers, ya know), but whose political capital is all big city.

And now he's openly slandering his enemies and those of the far left along the lines of rhetorical terrorists like Charlie Rangel and Julian Bond. Heck of a way to make a name for yourself, but for Coloradoans to suddenly have a senator who makes insanely ridiculous and abusive remarks on a regular basis -- with no-holds barred, even against Christians and minorities... well, they've never seen the like!

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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