Guy running for the Wyoming Senate showed up at our place Saturday afternoon.

I was busy out back, mowing, but he left a slick campaign flier on our doorknob. It said all the stuff you expect to hear. Low taxes, small government, jobs, promoting “Wyoming values.”

Protecting “unborn life,” banning critical race theory, DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion), and “gender/sexuality indoctrination.” He likes vocational education, guns, cops, and doesn’t want illegal immigrants voting.

There was a picture of the candidate in a cowboy hat, with a horse. Gotta have that horse.

It’s easy to be cynical about candidates and the promises they make. I believe the expression is “Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.”

I was reminded, however, of an email I got the other day. Here’s what a recent transplant from Oregon had to say:

“As my wife and I approached the thought of, gasp, retirement, we pondered the idea of living elsewhere other than our home state of Oregon, which had been continuously invaded by liberals fleeing California, beings all the great ideas they voted for now had screwed up their beloved former state and now they were taking those same voting skills (or lack thereof), to their new home state, Oregon.

“We looked at Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming and ruled out each one other than Wyoming, based on WHY we were leaving Oregon and the chances in our lifetime of it happening to our new home state. Wyoming won that, plus as added bonus, less people, less taxes and a deep Red state.

“ Right?

“What we have noticed since moving here is a very large swath of lawmakers who ‘claim’ to be a Republican, wave the flag, pro 2A, etc. Their voting habits, or irregularities, show otherwise. What we have seen at a … county Republican forum, were all the lawmakers from the county there and all were on the same sheet of music voting-wise.” (He lists two exceptions.)

“When one gets onto the state’s site and starts seeing who votes for what and where they stand (or claim to) it gets rather disappointing, worse, how they traditionally vote along Democratic party lines almost always. Wyorino really drove this fact home for me. Then one starts seeing the ‘cliques’ in local politicians and who runs with who, then the light gets much brighter.

“It’s my opinion that unless things change and in quick fashion, Wyoming has all the potential of turning into another Oregon… Wyoming Republicans have no idea what they are up against and perhaps take things for granted that things will ‘Just work out.’

“Well, they won’t, and there is a whole lot at stake, in my opinion.”

 “Many do not get these dynamics,” he wrote in a followup email, “and to them I say, ‘Move to Oregon for a couple years and let me know how that works out.’”

Some will dismiss his thoughts as unsolicited observations from a newcomer, someone from somewhere else offering advice. But it’s a warning not to make mistakes made elsewhere.

Radio pundit Dan Bongino makes the observation that in Washington, “There are Republicans who are really Democrats, but there are no Democrats who are really Republicans.”

Same here. We hear plenty from the Wyoming Caucus that is critical of the Freedom Caucus.

I notice, however, that Freedom Caucus folks tend to stand up for issues I care about, like spending less, limited government, parents raising kids instead of schools raising kids, keeping X-rated stuff out of school libraries, and (for the love of Pete), not letting children make life-altering decisions on gender.

I side with the much-criticized Freedom Caucus, and look at the many folks in the Wyoming Caucus – who have been running things for many years – as the Weak Sauce Republicans.

Freedom Caucus folks have made strides in recent elections, and could find themselves in the majority if they win some key legislative races in November. Could go either way.

Keep that in mind when someone with a flier shows up at your door. If it’s an incumbent, check him or her out on the numerous voting record sites on the Web.

Find out if you’re looking at a Hatfield or a McCoy.

This is important. We don’t want to be like Oregon.

The Cheyenne Office of the National Weather Service says strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle today.

According to the agency, storms that could produce damaging winds, large hail, and even a tornado are possible in southeast Wyoming and especially the Nebraska Panhandle.

The agency posted the following on its website:  ”There is an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for Cheyenne County, including Sidney, and a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for a larger portion of southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska. All weather hazards are possible today (damaging winds, large hail, and a tornado or two), though large hail is the biggest threat. The strongest storms are expected in a several waves between 2PM and 11PM. Make sure to stay weather aware today and have multiple ways to receive warnings!”

Forecast For Cheyenne and Laramie

Cheyenne Forecast:

Laramie Forecast:

Sunday

LARAMIE — It’s officially “series season.”

This summer, with the help of some longtime Wyoming football followers, we will count down the Top 25 homegrown products in program history.

As always, what these guys did in professional football doesn’t matter. This is all about production in Laramie. A couple of the guys on this final list may not have been born here, but they grew up in Wyoming and graduated from an in-state high school.

Once we put a bow on these selections, we’ll move on to other states like Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, etc. You get the picture:

No. 20 – Frank Crum

Offensive lineman, 2018-23, Laramie, Wyo.

Résumé in Laramie

Frank Crum appeared in 56 career games at Wyoming after redshirting his true freshman season in 2018. The former walk-on earned First Team All-Mountain West honors during his final season in Laramie after making the switch from right to left tackle in the offseason. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Laramie native was a third-generation Cowboy, joining his grandfather Earl and father Gary. Crum turned down offers from rivals Utah State and Colorado State before accepting a PWO from then head coach Craig Bohl. Crum, who was also an all-conference honorable mention in 2021, helped pave the way for 1,000-yard rushers Xazavian Valladay and Titus Swen. He was part of four bowl teams during his six years on campus, winning a pair of Arizona Bowls and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2021. Crum finished with a 5-1 record against Border War rival CSU. The lone loss came during the Covid-19-shortened 2020 campaign. Last month Crum signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.

About Laramie

Home of the University of Wyoming, Laramie is home to more than 31,000 residents, making it the fourth-largest city in the state. The Gem City is nestled between the Snowy and Laramie Range and its elevation exceeds 7,200 feet above sea level. Laramie is roughly 50 miles west of Cheyenne on Interstate-80 and 25 miles north of the Colorado state line.

Pokes Football: Best of Wyoming series

* No. 25

* No. 24

* No. 23

* No. 22

* No. 21

(Cody Tucker and Jared Newland both work for Townsquare Media, which owns 7220sports.com. Kevin McKinney has been a color commentator of Cowboy football for five decades. Ryan Thorburn now works for the University of Wyoming in a sports information role after spending decades in the newspaper industry, most recently at the Casper Star-Tribune. Sally Ann Shurmur, the daughter of former UW football coach Fritz Shurmur, is also a veteran of the newspaper industry, working as a journalist, columnist at the CST for 43 years. She currently writes for Cowboy State Daily.)

– University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players