 Host Committee Chair, Elbra Wedgeworth, promised a convention that would be an environmentally friendly showcase, and she announced that 10,000 people have volunteered to help the 35,000 visitors expected to attend the event.
Gov. Ritter said that the Host Committee will be driving $70 Million in economic benefit to the region, and Mayor Hickenlooper promised the national organization, "We will be ready." To do this, a December 15th deadline is approaching. The host committee is required to raise $15 Million by that point. Hickenlooper described fundraising so far as, "Not quite enough."
Wedgeworth, a former Denver Council Member, introduced Convention Committee Chair Leah Daughtry, a veteran of three prior conventions who has been transplanted to Denver for the next year. Daughtry welcomed the Forty Five representatives from Twenty states who have come to look at Denver hotel accomodations this week, and welcomed the City to take part in the "12 month sprint" to the convention.
Daughtry spoke about the efforts the Committee was making to include local views and input. She spoke of the listening tour that will create forums around the region where citizens can make themselves heard. For the instant gratification crowd, she pointed out the roaming videographers who were interviewing anyone who cared to step forward and pass along a video message to the DNCC.
"From regional synergy to Milie-High energy, this will be a convention like no other!"
~Mayor John Hickenlooper
Hick' said that the secret to Democratic gains throughout the West lay in, "...having innovation, creativity, visionary leadership for consensus and collaboration across all boundaries."
If this was a call to the political moderation, it may have been echoed by a statement from Governor Ritter who gave credit in this way for Democratic victories; "We are willing to tackle big problems and work on big problems in a pragmatic way."
Ritter stressed that he wanted to bring this view of Democratic success in the mountain West to the country and to the world, and hoped to use the convention as a showcase to spread that message.
Governor Dean counted off the Democratic success stories, beginning with the electoral victories of Pelosi, Reid, Ritter, and Hickenlooper. There were 22 Congressmen from areas Bush carried, and Dean looked towards a near future that could contain a Democratic Wyoming Representative.
Dean went on to refer to Democratic legislative successes, but I was less convinced of the progress in that area. In addition to a clear victory for college loan interest rates, he claimed more dubious victories in fighting K-Street corruption, and in passing the 9-11 report into law where, "the President can't ignore it any more."
As far as I know, the real estate rates on K-Street seem to be insulated from the housing crunch, and Bush still ignores any damn thing he pleases.
Dean claimed the Democrats had done more in 6 months than the Republicans did in 6 years, but unless he is talking about damage to FISA or pushing forward the end of the Iraq war, I am not sure that is right. It will be fair to say we did as much as they did when our rights, our planet, the distribution of wealth and power, and our standing in the international community are back to 2001 levels. We're not there yet.
I thought Dean was much more on track when he said the differences between the Republican and Democratic candidates was more stark this year than in prior years. And I agree with him when he says that when the differences are clear, Democrats win. We are not winning because we are blurring the partisan line. We are winning because they support the Libby pardon, and our candidates don't. We are winning because they want the war to go on for 50 years and our candidates don't. We are winning because we support health care for kids, and their candidates don't.
I don't think that Senator Salazar heard the speach. I ran into him about a half hour after it was over and on his way into a meeting with the Governor, he was talking about FISA:
"We had to do everything in our power to make sure this country is safe."
I tried to get him to repeat that on camera and ask him exactly how giving Gonzales personal spy powers made this country safer. He said he was busy. Which I am sure he was. I hope he did more listening than talking when he got inside the room with Chairman Dean.
Dean said we had to not just say things differently, but we had to also act differently; on the economy, on global warming, on a raft of issues. We needed to be more than the party of non-Republicans but a party hope, a positive message, and achievement.
 At a post-speech press gaggle, Dean was asked about several issues including Universal Health Care, which he said expected to see as a Democratic plank in 2008.
Gov. Ritter was asked about Union issues surrounding the convention, and said that there was "an ongoing dialog."
"We're in a position where we can have a constructive relationship."
That sounded to me like there might still be some work to do on that front, and I checked in with Sheila Lieder the Legislative Director of the CWA who was standing nearby. She insisted that she didn't speak for all Labor on this, but when pressed by a reporter for her perspective she said,"So far so good. I am waiting to see. Actions speak louder than words."
Actions do speak louder than words. Obviously, there are not a lot of actions to form a judgement yet on the work of the DNCC, but what I have seen so far is encouraging. Today's event went smoothly. Their office seems to be moving forward in a competent and professional way, and the access they have given to new media has been appropriate and proactive. They seem to be truly partnering with the community and the region while importing good talent where needed.
A good start, but the Colorado altitude can do funny things over twelve months of sprinting, we'll see how they hold up as the marathon progresses.
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