A full-house of 9,600 delegates and alternates and another 400 campaign staff, party officials, mainstream media and so-called "citizen journalists" have made it inside the World Arena, site of the 2008 Colorado State Democratic Convention.
For a convention that normally draws about 4,000, the crowd is historic - and fired up.
And John, if you see Chuck Plunkett, don't yell at him!
I'm going to bed shortly so I can get up at ass-crack in the morning and drive back down to the Springs. Our SquareState SDC and Drinking Liberally tables are all set up.
When I first arrived around 3pm I first tried to go to the nearby Double Tree Hotel where several of the Congressional District assemblies were being held. Of course, I couldn't get into the parking lot. It was packed. It looked like almost every spot in the nearby Target was taken as well. Down the street there were still open parking spots at a movie theater and another hotel. Once in the building I simply saw a wall of people. These were delegates checking in early. I can't image what the line is going to be like tomorrow.
I ran into Leslie and Cara of Colorado Confidential. Susan the Neon Nurse was in the huge delegate line. State party chairperson Pat Waak and Congressman Salazar were also milling about the lobby. While I'm sure some people were grumbling about the sheer mass of people, I over heard that Waak was ecstatic about the turnout. Read full diary [2 Comments, 57 Words]
In the DenverPost story Wadhams pushes the error on their media consultant who swore the image was a stock photo of Colorado. Really? Then how come the actual stock photo shown here as mentioned at PoliticsWest is clearly labeled McKinley? And how can that be when it took us all of a few seconds to know the difference. If he proposed to his wife on the top of Pike's Peak shouldn't he remember what the mountain looks like?
I thought I'd take this opportunity to let people know that SquareState will be having a presence at this Saturday's state convention. I've arranged for a campaign table registered to the SquareState Small Donor Committee. There we'll unveil the new SquareState banner which uses the new upcoming site look and feel. While it's technically for the small donor committee, I'm sure those of us staffing the table will be happy to talk about the blog itself. The state party can't accept corporate donations so we had to do it this way. The great thing is this will give great exposure to fund raising for local progressives.
Another table on hand will be for Drinking and Living Liberally. Again, huge banner, and also buttons, other swag.
After the convention join us at the regular location of the downtown Springs DL chapter, the Coffee Exchange on 526 S. Tejon. Yes, they have booze too for you non latte sipping liberals.
At our DL table we'll also have info about our upcoming June 11th event, Save The Ales. We're celebrating 5 years of Living Liberally and making a big push to have chapters in all 50 states. Like the 50 state strategy, we're calling this the 50 bar strategy. At the same time we're also going to show that global warming affects even the making of beer. The folks in New York already had their big party last weekend to celebrate. For that Howard Dean recorded a congratulatory message for us:
Let's use this as an open thread to further discuss car pooling. Read full diary [9 Comments, 0 Words]
Just wanted to let regular readers in on a project I've been toiling away at for some time that's now coming to fruition. I am scheduled to have a piece in this Sunday's New York Times Magazine that deals with some interesting issues boiling up in key swing states, including Colorado. I'll have more to say about the article when it comes out, but that's all I'll say for now. Be sure to check it out when it comes out and send me your feedback. Read full diary [0 Comments, 0 Words]
Anyone can make up a user name (no registration needed) and toss a few questions into the mix that the moderators at RMN will pass to me for my typo-ing pleasure.
Help me set the record straight about the world of political blogging!
In a statement just released, Begich campaign press secretary Julie Hasquet responds to Colorado Republican Senate candidate Bob Shaffer's new television ad, which repeatedly uses images of Alaska's Mount McKinley:
"While Alaskans can understand why Bob Schaffer would promote our beautiful mountain, I hope he doesn’t expect Alaska to cede North America’s highest peak to the State of Colorado."
The original statement is on the Begich Blog. Disclosure: I am Alaska US Senate candidate Mark Begich's online communications director.
With just over 100 days left before the Democratic National Convention convenes in Denver, Colorado, the Democratic Party is fulfilling on its promise to make this the most inclusive gathering of its kind. Today, the DNCC has announced its list of state level blogs that will be receiving media credentials for the event. This is just the first round of credentials to be offered, and Colorado will likely see a large number of members of our internet media community inside the hall. This first round identified community blogs from each state and territory that would benefit most from close access to their specific delegations.
SquareState.net has been chosen as the official blog to cover the Colorado delegation. We will be joining bloggers from across the country bringing new eyes, ears, and voices to the final steps in the process of nominating the next President.
Democratic Party Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean, took the time to answer a number of questions I had about the convention, blogs, and about everything from Florida to American Samoa. The full interview, and the full list of credentialed State blogs, follows below.
My friends .. I'll be going to the state convention and was wondering if anyone wants to carpool.
I've gotten an email from JeffCo Dems that there will be a bus leaving early that morning, but Jeff Co is so big, that even getting to the bus will take me about 30 minutes. My wife and I share one car and I'd like not to leave her home alone all day without it. Plus she doesn't want to take me to the bus location since we'd probably have to leave the house around 5 am (she'd pregnant and needs her sleep). So if I took the bus, she'd still have no car .. although she said not having the car all day is okay.
So I'm looking to meet some of my fellow neighbors who are going to the convention and would like to carpool.
Oh I'll add that I'm an alternate for just the assembly (i.e. everything non-presidential) and I still would like to go, even if my chance of participating is small. I want to experience the convention for what its worth.
Finally, I'll add that I live near Stanly Lake High School (104th and Wadsworth) .. so if you're close and wanna do something good for the environment, just leave a comment and we'll work something out. Read full diary [14 Comments, 0 Words]
Because Schaffer sure didn't seem to do much looking while he was in Saipan. Here's his travel itinerary for that trip:
click for larger image. Source: CSU Congressional Archive
Now this page doesn't look so bad. After all, one might say this has nothing to do with Jack Abramoff. Well, look at page 2 - after the fold. Read full diary [12 Comments, 255 Words]
Hello and welcome back to Trivia Tuesday. Hey, before we get started, I wanted to give you all a heads up about a Democrats Work event I'm pulling together next month.
It is a forest restoration project that takes place Saturday morning, June 14th. The location is about 15-20 minutes outside of Boulder. More details to come later, but thought I'd mention it so you can consider participating (and check out other upcoming Democrats Work events). And yes, I will bring home baked chocolate chip cookies. Read full diary [25 Comments, 152 Words]
Jay Marvin just now announced this breaking news with ABC News as the source. Have fun with it:
"My reasons are that the party needs to get on right now with a lot of business, including figuring out what to do with Michigan and Florida," Romer told ABC News. "It's important to make known right now not only my vote but as many superdelegates as possible."
Rove and his proteges, like our very own Dick Wadhams, have been lying to the press for so long it never occurs to them that the press will actually check something out. Well, the Post did today, and it seems when Dick Wadhams says something, you better start looking for evidence of the exact opposite:
"He was so concerned about the labor abuses that he was silent and totally uninvolved . . . until he thinks he can use it politically in a campaign," said Dick Wadhams, Schaffer's campaign manager.
Although the Mariana textile industry has been effectively gutted by recent trade pacts with China, years of reports documented the abuse of workers.
Udall had co-sponsored Miller's initial reform bill in 1999 as well as two successive bills, but his interest appears to have increased this campaign season.
All of our interests have increased thanks to Bob "Sweatshop" Schaffer, Dick Wadhams, and their tone-deaf endorsements of horrible labor practices pushed by Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff on CNMI workers. President Bush just signed the law to fix something that Bob thought was great up until a few weeks ago. Maybe Bob should've stayed silent and uninvolved.
In less than a day the CD7 convention and assembly results went up on the Colorado Dems page. Where's the CD1 results? Read full diary [7 Comments, 0 Words]
Various notes and observations during the 1st Congressional District Convention and Assembly
If you're a delegate to any of the just passed or upcoming Democratic events, you, like me, have probably gotten a shit load of mail from people who want to be a delegate to the DNC Convention this August. Well, today I full frontal assault on that in person. To be honest I'm surprised no one spent the coin for Welchert and Britz to handle their campaign. ;-)
I'll keep this above the fold short, but will get to the news now. During her CD1 nomination acceptance speech Congresswoman Degette who has been a part of the Clinton campaign, announced that as a superdelegate she will vote with the majority of voters. She didn't technically say the majority of CD1 voters so while this technically doesn't mean she's shifting her support from Clinton to Obama, that is essentially what it means. Read full diary [2 Comments, 826 Words]
No justification remains for the existence of a top heavy music recording industry. It is no longer needed for production, packaging, distribution, or promotion, and there is no excuse any longer for artists getting pennies on the dollar for their work. It is also misguided to try and treat information, which actually grows in value as it is shared, like a physical product that the seller loses when the buyer receives. Still, through legislation and the courts, the industry is trying to keep a grip on what it could never hold in the marketplace.
The RIAA was born to intimidate music listeners, coerce universities, and pressure settlements out of those without the resources to fight the industry cartel. They often wound up in court advancing bizarre claims about the intent and reach of copyright laws. Until recently their lawyer was Richard Gabriel.
Gov. Bill Ritter today appointed three new judges to the Colorado Court of Appeals: Sean Connelly of Centennial and Richard Lance Gabriel and David Jay Richman of Denver.
...
Gabriel has been a partner at Holme Roberts & Owen since 1994 and was an associate at the firm from 1990-1994. His practice includes intellectual property and complex and commercial litigation.
2008 Democratic Convention Watch (Democonwatch) interviewed Colorado Superdel Debbie Marquez. She answered questions on democracy, delegates, and even gives a shout out to Squarestate.
How excited are you that Colorado is hosting the convention?
I am so excited!! It is a great opportunity to showcase our home state! I love my state, our culture, our traditions, our people. As with many SW Latino families, mine is from New Mexico and our 8 generations go back to the Spanish explorers to the 'new world'. I am very proud and excited for our state. The excitement generated by the Presidential candidates along with the national convention in Denver has generated an interest for Colorado Democrats never seen before. I can't wait to get past the state conventions, where my focus has been on re-election and nominating Senator Obama. Then I can focus on the DNCC and get out with the voters throughout the state.
2008 Democratic Convention Watch (