Project 2025 puts public lands in peril

Project 2025 is a 920-page manifesto for a potential second Trump administration that has something (bad) for everyone, but our great public lands estate is put in particular peril. Like most elk (and other) hunters in western states, I depend on public lands for hunting and outdoor recreation. But more importantly, wildlife species like elk, deer, turkeys, and many others need that habitat for their survival.

Recently I was interviewed by Marshall Zelinger from 9News about the potential impacts of Project 2025 on public lands in Colorado. “David Lien, a Colorado hunter-conservationist  … is concerned about the elk herds in Colorado,” Zelinger said.[3] Former Trump administration Bureau of Land Management Acting Director William Perry Pendley was interviewed too. He wrote the Department of Interior section of Project 2025.

 A July 19, 2024, High Country News story (“Project 2025’s extreme vision for the West”) noted that Pendley is “a vociferous opponent of protections for public lands and wildlife.” In a July 9, 2024, Colorado Newsline op-ed (“Project 2025 is coming for our public lands”) I added, “Pendley is an anti-public lands zealot and a dire threat to our great public lands hunting and angling heritage.” The Department of Interior section of Project 2025 (written by Pendley) starts on p. 517 and includes, for example, the following proposals.

---

---

Restoring mining claims and oil and gas leases in Colorado’s Thompson Divide (p. 523); Reviewing national monument designations and reducing their size (p. 532); Seeking repeal of the Antiquities Act of 1906 (p. 532). And that’s just the tip of a very rotten iceberg that would decimate public lands habitat.

If you’re a hunter, angler, hiker, climber, mountain biker or anyone who recreates on or values our great public lands estate, beware. Pendley, Trump, and Project 2025 are coming for our public lands.

---

---

David A. Lien, Colorado Springs

Trump should switch his vice president pick

As someone who has been with the MAGA movement and former President Trump since the Golden Escalator ride, with receipts to prove it, Donald Trump should switch his choice for vice president.

I support nearly every policy and decision of Trump and rarely question his remarks and decisions because they are almost always correct or turn out to be savvy.

However, after letting the VP decision marinate and with Kamala Harris entering the race, Tulsi Gabbard as VP will be most beneficial to his campaign. I always wanted him to choose her, but there were many good options. JD Vance is a decent option, but only because of his movie on Netflix, which is humanizing and endearing.

Tulsi single-handedly eliminated Harris from the 2020 campaign, highlighting Harris’s career of putting minor marijuana offenders behind bars. Tulsi also has military service, is kind-loving, and appeals to many independent voters.

Unfortunately, I also point out that JD Vance once compared Trump to Hitler. Anyone who regurgitated this talking point from the hope-to-hate Dems is unqualified for this position.

Although it would cause a few ruffles, there is plenty of time to make the correct choice.

It’s halftime. We are up big. The other team is putting in their backup quarterback to generate momentum (Thankfully, it’s not Michelle Obama). I want to run up the score and have the safest ticket possible for Trump in November. Let’s keep the best players in and not worry about any positioning for 2028.

Heck, I hope that the people of Colorado will support Donald Trump in response to our state laughably trying to keep him off the ballot. President Trump should pick Tulsi Gabbard for Vice President to make that happen.

Austin O’Connell, Glenwood Springs

Who is really fanning the flames of hate?

In her Dems column on June 21, Debbie B. writes a headline saying: “Everyday Americans stronger than MAGA hate.” She just doesn’t get it and neither does Philip R. in his Project 25 letter of July 24. Everyday Americans ARE maga. In other words, everyday people are not cultists, they are simply people of every race, creed, color, sexual orientation, etc. They simply love America and want to make it great again!

For four years, the Biden Administration and Democrats have deliberately tried to destroy America. The Post Independent and Debbie should be ashamed for running that column on Friday during the weekend of the 125th annual Strawberry Days festival. I’m sure that all of the visitors to our wonderful area really appreciated that image of hate in Garfield County, even though there is almost no hate in Garfield County!

There are people and groups on the left that try to create hate in our county, but everyday Americans love our county and our country and people of all races, creeds, colors, and orientations. There is opportunity for everyone here, and we should thank God for our county and our country. Democrats are the ones fanning the flames of hate.

I wrote several years ago that their hate would destroy them. I prayed at the time that they would not destroy our country along with them, but that is exactly what they are doing. On the world stage, America is now a joke. No one respects us. Truly there is a battle of Good v.s. Evil going on in the world. We are literally on the doorstep of World War III. Remember: Evil=Devil=Hate and Good=God=Love. Stop the hate! Start the love! Let us do good, unite before it is too late, and return to peace and prosperity!

Mark Barritt, Glenwood Springs