had been influenced way too much by Focus on the Family IMO.

they're the county seat of el paso and here are the results from the last election

http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/county/el-paso/2012/

absolutely beautiful country, but, between focus and the air force, not a place i'd ever live.

Pretty right-wing, but I've seen worse.

Consider that Republicans tend to outvote Democrats in terms of turnout....

Mostly "fairly sane" right-wingers in Colorado Springs. I have encountered some "religious nut jobs" and racist "teabillies" ...... but they don't quite make the majority.

A lot of folks are those who are/were associated with the "military industrial complex" and just vote for their self interests. These are the folks who pull the political strings (jobs).

The Springs is not quite "dueling banjos" stupid......... yet.

From what I've seen that usually means more conservatives.

Not only do you have the Air Force Academy, you have Ft. Carson, Peterson AFB, NORAD, and the Olympic Training Center. There is also Colorado College which is pretty conservative. The local government is definitely pro business. The congressman for the district is Doug Lamborn whose infamous ‘Tar Baby' reference to Obama. Still, liberals are there and are probably as annoyed as I was with the local christians.

... but they shout very loudly. Usually through the Gazette, which is an appalling Koch-sucking rag that attacks working people, unions, renewable energy, progressive taxation, gay marriage, gun regulations, and anything else Karl Rove / James Dobson / Grover Norquist / Wayne LaPierre disapprove of.

The city is run by a bunch of AFP-backed loons who take a pride in de-funding and degrading public services, particularly those that help the neediest of us. They even closed the public toilets in our parks a couple years ago, along with a whole bunch of essential bus services to and from poorer areas of the city.

On the bright side, we do have a thriving arts scene downtown by the rail yard, a terrific arthouse cinema (Kimballs), Colorado College, UCCS, and there's always Manitou Springs just to the west, which is a little town that embodies pretty much everything the right hates.

Wake up in the morning, look out your window to the west, and the view of Pikes Peak is absolutely breathtaking. I've been here a few years now, and still think that our Rocky Mountain backdrop is spectacular. If hiking, biking, climbing & running are your thing, then this is one of the best places in the world to live.

Then drive out west into those mountains on Hwy 24, and you'll find Woodland Park... where Sarah Palin is still adored.

I took this picture in Woodland Park late Oct. 2008.

A.K.A. - Glennbeckistan!

'nuf said.



I live in Nederland, which I think of as the antithesis of Colorado Springs. We probably have more pot shops than anywhere else in the state Anyway, sometimes I read the CS newspaper just to see what the idiots are up to. And sometimes I just can't stomach it. It truly is that bad.

Bad.

Colorado Springs is dominated by Republican types. The local paper - Gazette Telegraph - is so far to the right that it makes the tea party appear moderate by comparison. The strong military/defense plus the large number of evangelical outfits which have located there ensure that the population is largely made up of right wingers. People who are liberal/progressive often decide to live in Manitou Springs - a hip little town right to the west of the Colorado Springs city limits. But other than the oasis of Manitou, the Springs is an epicenter of tea party insanity.

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Didn't see your welcome message to me until just now - still trying to figure this place out!

Nice to be welcomed.

Go to the tab above "Forums & Groups". The Lounge can be fun.
Just a gentle suggestion . . . stay outta Meta or just read until you know your way around.
Meta is not very forgiving. Interesting.

Posters have done a good job telling you about the Springs; it has a long and sad history of powerful conservatism. But most of the faculty and students at Colorado College are liberal and and many of its graduates are working in the government and are active progressives. Somewhat true also of CUColorado Springs. And of course there are many good Democrats who work hard but seldom get any Dem elected because the military, the religious right and elected officials have much louder voices backed with up money. During the 2008 campaign Sarah Palin was in constant contact with James Dobson and his prayer warriors who believed she was sent from God. Read the Gazette and Michelle Malkin who lives there if you can stand to (they believed the huge wildfire last year was somehow caused by Obama.) You couldn't live in a much more beautiful spot and you can drive to Boulder in about an hour and half.