Dear editor:

I am in agreement wholeheartedly with Robin Berry’s recent letter. This is a vitally important primary for the future of Wyoming. We are at a crossroads, and it is not hyperbole to emphasize our state’s future direction depends upon American citizens exercising their responsibility to stand up and be counted.

For far too long, the liberal Democrats have infested the Republican primaries with Republicans in Name Only (RINOS). Using phrases like “inclusiveness,” “serving all the people,” “representing all the people,” etc. Their candidates goad and misdirect people, attempting to position themselves as the intellectually superior with all answers to all problems the mere voters cannot understand or solve. RINOS common answers can all be found in one word — MORE. More government, more programs, more spending.

There is a classic example of this going on right now with the state senator’s race between candidates R.J. Kost and Paul Hoeft. In the April 16 edition of the Powell Tribune, candidate Kost chose to publish an advertisement. It encouraged residents to vote for Kost and listed information about registering to vote. The campaign message also described how to “change your party affiliation,” adding, “Be Aware: Many Primary Election ballots have only Republicans to consider, so your voting options are limited if you’re not a registered Republican.”

Mr. Kost likes to use the term “a proven conservative leader.” His “conservative leadership” did not serve him well when he lost this same Senate seat when he attempted to get reelected in 2022. It seems he realized that conservative Wyoming citizens did not view his voting record as he claimed it to be. So now he is attempting to appeal to the liberal Democrats, chastising the Republicans with his innuendo and positioning himself to be the candidate of “inclusiveness” and “represent all the people.” 

Funny how the democrats see “inclusiveness” and “representing all the people” as pro-choice, men in women’s bathrooms and sports, transexuals dressed in women’s clothes and makeup reading pornography to kids, open borders with free health care, housing and food, fighting ICE deportations of ALL illegal immigrants (they ALL broke the law who entered the country not properly vetted). Not prosecuting BLM rioters. Not prosecuting the millions stolen in the Somalian-controlled “learning centers” in Minnesota. (What indictments and charges that have been filed have come on the federal level. There has been nothing done on the Democratically controlled state level.) Not helping and ignoring those who served and sacrificed, along with their families, and actually contributed to this great nation.

Their goal is simple — unrelenting, incessant, adamant nudging into communism and Marxist socialism. For years, conservatives have been patient and consenting while the Democrat agenda continues to destroy this country labeling anyone who dares to speak up as racist, homophobic, Nazis, etc.

I, along with many others, are simply black fatigued, RINO fatigued, BLM fatigued, pride fatigued, Nazi fatigued. I no longer care what you call me. I no longer care what you think. Because I have lived with your actions and experienced with my own eyes what you are actually doing. And I, and others, are becoming more involved and standing and saying ENOUGH!

In the June 30 edition of the paper, there was an article that quoted candidate Kost as saying “the state and the Wyoming Business Council should help attract companies to help sustain the state." In other words, he is telling us it will be more government, more spending, more “leaders” controlling our lives while spending our money.

Mr. Hoeft, on the other hand, has a solid track record of conservative voting as our representative in the state House. In the same newspaper article, he stated in his reply to Mr. Kost’s position of spend more tax dollars to bring business into our state, he is “very pro-economic growth,” however, “I am very resistant on taxpayer dollars being used to invite people to encourage that growth.” In other words, what Mr. Hoeft is saying, and what Mr. Kost fails to either realize or acknowledge, is the companies are attracted to areas that are business friendly. They are NOT attracted to overtaxed areas where the so-called “leaders” attempt to micro-manage and pile on burdensome regulations to control the flow of the economy. Business will come, good businesses, when they can actually see beneficial business environment rather than just professional politicians who mislead while eagerly searching to find other avenues of revenue they can control with regulations. The choice is simple. It is yours to make. 

And it is time to take a stand. There may not be a next time if we do not stand up now.

Mike Tooke 

Powell