Dave Gruber

Look closely at this picture. That’s former Aurora councilman Juan Marcano, now sitting on Colorado’s Transportation Commission, proudly wearing the socialist red rose on his lapel. This isn’t just an Aurora problem anymore — it’s a Colorado problem.Marcano-Rose.jpg Marcano built his brand as a far-left Democratic Socialist on the Aurora City Council, then tried to take that agenda citywide by running for mayor — and voters turned him down. Losing that race didn’t slow him down; it made him more determined and, frankly, more spiteful, looking for another avenue to push the same radical ideas. Now he’s been rewarded with a powerful statewide post that helps decide how our transportation dollars are spent. Even some moderate Democrats were uneasy about giving him that kind of influence, but his socialist allies at the Capitol pushed him through anyway. The red rose on his jacket isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s a warning label about the kind of ideology that took root in Aurora and is now reaching across Colorado.Marcano-Rose.jpg

Meet Juan Marcano who just before this tirade was confirmed to serve as gov appointee on the powerful Colorado Transportation Committee that oversees Colorado Dept of Transportation (CDOT). Ironically the Colorado Senate Transportation & Energy Committee recommended Juan NOT to be confirmed. Remember Juan proudly wore the Socialist rose pin on his lapel when he was an Aurora City Council Member. Now he’ll bring his Socialist values to Colorado’s transportation system.

Look closely at this picture. That’s former Aurora councilman Juan Marcano, now sitting on Colorado’s Transportation Commission, proudly wearing the socialist red rose on his lapel. This isn’t just an Aurora problem anymore — it’s a Colorado problem. Marcano built his brand as a far-left Democratic Socialist on the Aurora City Council, then tried to take that agenda citywide by running for mayor — and voters turned him down. Losing that race didn’t slow him down; it made him more determined and, frankly, more spiteful, looking for another avenue to push the same radical ideas. Now he’s been rewarded with a powerful statewide post that helps decide how our transportation dollars are spent. Even moderate Democrats were uneasy about giving him that kind of influence, but his socialist allies at the Capitol pushed him through anyway. The red rose on his jacket isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s a warning label about the kind of ideology that took root in Aurora and is now reaching across Colorado.

Aurora, watch this clip from last night’s City Council meeting. While the progressive/socialist majority pushed through the new Rob Andrews “gag rule” — with Rob Andrews himself voting yes — a hostile crowd lined up to yell, threaten, and personally attack the four conservative members. Not over policy details. Simply for fighting your safety from criminals. The progressive majority sat silent. No call for civility. No pushback. They let the room get ugly, then called it “listening to the community.” This is what the conservative minority on council endures every time they stand up for your wallet, your neighborhood, and basic order. It’s not debate — it’s designed to make good people think twice about serving. Reasonable Aurora residents shouldn’t have to watch their city hall turn into this. Is this really the tone we want deciding our taxes and safety? Would you feel safe in that room?

Aurora isn’t being led by voters right now, it’s being bullied by a loud mob that shows up to shout down anyone who disagrees. This is how you get laws like the “Rob Andrews Law.”

This is part of the mob that has taken over Aurora. They are intimidating the spineless council members to vote for their anarchist policies. This is your new Aurora. I will post another one tomorrow.

Aurora’s “Rob Andrews Law” passed 6–4 — a gag rule making it harder for @AuroraPD to share crime info. Mayor Pro Tem Alison Coombs, wearing her socialist red-rose pin in the photo, led the charge. Aurora needs transparency and safety, not political filters on our police.

Aurora’s “Rob Andrews Law” would force all @AuroraPD posts through City Hall, ban most suspect names/photos, and gag officers on key issues. After a councilmember blew a 0.252 and worried about “the public not knowing about it,” this looks like damage control, not transparency.

@MCCCANM I agree that clubs used to be a lot of fun. I have stories from the Hickam and Pearl Harbor clubs as well as Maxwell, Langley, Moody, Yakota, Osan and others. Shame the traditions have died.

In the movie “Top Gun”, Maverick picks up Kelly McGillis by singing in the Officer’s Club. The “O Club” – as it’s known – was a thing, but died a slow death. I missed most of it in my career. In the day, Mom got pissed at the Nellis AFB O’ Club for “Lingerie Night” where models came in & showed off lingerie for sale. It was an early memory for me, seeing those women cross the hall…Mom was beyond pissed & went on a crusade w/ the other Officer’s wives, ending up in the General’s office. They won, but I wish they hadn’t. Before 9/11, the Air Force allowed busses of women to come onto the base on weekend nights, headed to the O’ Club. My Dad was the commander of Security Forces at the time; it was a thing he allowed & for a reason. Seriously, busses full of women, all going to the O’ Club…it was a hot spot at any base. The O’ Club could be a wild place. Once, at Nellis, Dad got a call on a Saturday (I think, but definitely a weekend). It was “Red Flag”, with fighter pilots from all over the world attending to do simulated air war against each other…they’d gotten drunk in the O’ Club & started actually fighting, smashing things up. Shit show. He told his troops to go get all the dogs…Nellis was a center for military dog training & he had turned the “Squadron” into a “Group”, then made “Silver Flag” in the desert, where SF got to play war. It was now not just a place SF could be stationed, it was the home of SF. Anyway, he recalled all the troops, went to the club & locked all the doors except one. Then they let the dogs in…nobody escorting, just release the dog with the command to go fuck things up. One by one, the pilots came out in surrender. He loved that story…wish I could hear him tell it one more time. Anyway, the Tailhook Scandal happened & that was the death signal. Now, Commanders counted the amount of drinks you had. Instead of being a place you could relax, you had to be on duty still. You had to pay to be a member of the O’ Club. It became a place where your career was in jeopardy, so membership declined. The Officer & Enlisted Clubs eventually merged to try & survive, but I don’t think it has gone well. Some Commanders would hold mandatory meetings there, and you had to be a member to attend, which generated some memberships, but that was received poorly. The Pilot Training Bases still have a decent club scene. They don’t allow civilians to come anymore, but it’s a bunch of young trainee pilots trying to flex on each other, playing a very physical game called “Crud”. You’ll have to google that. I helped a Major refit the Club at Vance AFB around 2000. He knew what to do & it was great…he managed to get an ejection seat & a stick from the T-37 right at the bar. Then he wired it so that if you pulled the “Trigger” on the stick, it set off alarm lights & sirens in the club, and now our brand new, naive student who fancied himself a steely-eyed killer owed the whole club beers when the lights & alarms went off. I had a few good nights at O’ Clubs. Vance AFB could get wild on Assignment Night. Randolph AFB was still kicking… the AF Nursing program was based nearby & it had a basement Crud room w/ sandbag walls, so things could get wild when the nurses showed up to have fun. My buddy may make General, but I remember him passing out on a General’s lawn as a Lieutenant after a good night at Randolph & being woken by the sprinklers. We lost something. Some of it was worth discarding, but not all of it was & it built relationships in a way we lack today. The Clubs were good, and it makes me sad they are in such a bad state today.

@JohnE_Fabb @RepPettersen Thanks John

Lies! There are 1,900 unaccompanied alien children in HHS/ORR care right now. The reason Biden had lower numbers is that his administration released kids to horrific situations and to the actual people who smuggled them within days of entering ORR care. Biden released and lost over 400,000 kids!!! I was appointed to come back out of retirement to help find the Biden lost children. We found kids in horrific situations, dead kids, sex-trafficked kids. The Trump administration is trying to keep kids safe. The admin is working with foreign countries to repatriate these kids back to their families. Trump is demagnetizing the draw that causes older teens to come to the US (over 80% of the UACs that enter are over 14).

Since Trump took office, his administration has detained more than 6,200 children. And the conditions for those kids are reprehensible – we're hearing reports of no edible food, no access to drinking water, and no medical care. As a mom, I truly cannot fathom the pain these mothers are experiencing by having their children ripped away, their fate completely unknown. Our kids shouldn't be put behind bars – it's beyond immoral. themarshallproject.org/2026/04/06/ice…

@BuzzPatterson Agree!

It looks like peace with Iran is imminent. Stocks are way up, and oil prices are way down. The US Navy controls the Strait and the EU countries will take it over at some point. Iran lost everything and they are no longer allowed to enrich uranium. They’ve significantly damaged their relationships with their former Gulf allies. The US military won. They just executed the most flawless and historically unthinkable military operation in my lifetime. We are back! It’s over. The US won. Trump won. And, by extension, the American left lost. They, once again, chose the wrong team. Let their gnashing of teeth and prehistoric animal screeching commence! And I’m here for it! What are your thoughts? Agree or disagree? Please reply. I read ALL responses.

@KofC Robert Prevost has always been left-wing Chicago priest. Just because his name has changed does not mean his left-wing US politics has changed.

Statement From Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly: In recent days, many Catholics and other people of goodwill have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo XIV by the President of the United States. The Successor of Saint Peter is not a politician — he is the Vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding souls. The Knights of Columbus has always stood in solidarity with the Holy Father, recognizing in him a spiritual father who calls the world not to division, but to unity, not to conflict, but to peace. In this moment, we reaffirm that commitment with clarity and conviction. At the same time, we recognize that faithful Catholics can and do engage vigorously in the public square, and that nations have a right and duty to safeguard the security of their own people — always in accordance with the demands of justice and the pursuit of peace. The Church does not ask Catholics to withdraw from civic life, but to engage with and elevate it — bringing to our civic dialogue the light of truth, respect for the dignity of every human person, and a steadfast concern for the common good. Pope Leo XIV has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and restraint in a world marked by war and suffering. The Holy Father’s words are not political talking points — they are reflections of the Gospel itself. Whether one agrees or disagrees with particular policy judgments, the Holy Father’s prophetic voice deserves to be heard with respect and engaged seriously. As Knights, we are called to be men of unity, as followers of Christ and patriotic citizens. I encourage all Knights of Columbus to pray for the Holy Father, to pray for civic leaders, and to pray for peace and those working to achieve it. And let us recommit ourselves to charity in our public discourse. May we be known not for echoing the divisions of our time, but for healing them. In a moment of tension, the path forward is not louder conflict, but deeper fidelity — to truth, to charity, and to the Gospel.

15,000 years ago, the American West held massive inland seas... Lake Bonneville and Lake Lahontan. Today, they’re mostly gone. No industry. No emissions. Just natural climate variability driving huge changes. Climate has never been static, and pretending we can fine-tune it with policy is not science, it’s hubris. Worse, those policies often restrict affordable energy… keeping billions in energy poverty. Reliable energy means clean water, food, medicine, and resilience. Denying that in the name of “climate stability” isn’t just misguided... it’s immoral.

@KyleClark I talked to his boss instead.

@gruberforaurora You gotta tag him here, Dave, or he won't see your concerns

Denver's Archbishop says President Trump's rant against the Pope is "not acceptable" and "does not serve the common good" after Trump unleased a diatribe against Pope Leo and shared a photo depicting himself as Jesus Christ.

@Hickenlooper How many people were just taken off the voter roles after losing the State's court case?

Colorado didn’t just make mail-in voting accessible. We made it secure. Trump is on a mission to end universal mail-in voting – whether that’s through his so-called SAVE America Act or by signing an illegal executive order. We’re not giving in to the bully in the White House. We’re fighting this voter suppression at every turn.

@denverpost Very disappointed in the Pope. Where is his condemnation of the killing of Christians in Africa. The murder of protesters in Iran. Catholic charities funneling illegals into the USA. His support of catholic politicians who advocate for abortion till birth. He simply hates Trump.

Denver archbishop speaks out against Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV mrf.lu/vcvV denverpost.com/2026/04/13/don…

@PatrickMaryOP @KatiePMcGrady You can’t talk about the political aisle while at the same time implying the Pope is not playing politics.

The support for Pope Leo across the aisle demonstrates, among other things, that the revival of faith we’re seeing in the US and elsewhere is not a political movement.