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September 2
In marked contrast to the boisterous celebration of Democrats in Denver last week, Republicans in Minnesota’s twin cities began their convention in a somewhat toned down fashion due to the hurricane ravaging the Gulf Coast. But the Colorado delegation — 46 delegates and 43 alternates — didn’t allow the wind to totally deflate their sails.
August 28
Wednesday morning in Denver dawned bright and hot and highly political, which should be no surprise given that downtown has been overrun by Democratic National Convention delegates, protesters, merchants and fascinated onlookers. And one of the visitors to Colorado’s capital city yesterday morning was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who took time out of his schedule to help his old pal John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate.
August 28
Walking down Brighton Boulevard Wednesday afternoon during the Iraq Veterans Against the War march was Brian Vicente, the attorney overseeing the defense of protesters arrested during the Democratic National Convention.
He was one of about 10 lawyers sporting brightly colored hats saying “National Lawyers Guild Observer.” Vicente said he felt the week had gone fairly smoothly overall for police and protesters.
August 27
As of Tuesday morning’s Colorado delegate breakfast, the exact details of how the roll call vote to nominate Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday had not been determined. And Hillary Clinton delegate Sonya Lewis, of Boulder County, says the situation may be evolving.
August 27
One of Andrew Romanoff’s favorite political quotes comes from James Carville, the “Ragin’ Cajun,” who ran former President Bill Clinton’s first national campaign in 1992.
“‘There’s two kinds of politicians in this world—those who want to be somebody and those who want to do something,’” related Romanoff, the Democratic Speaker of Colorado’s House of Representatives. “(Hillary Clinton) made it clear tonight which one she is.”
August 26
After catching a shuttle to the Pepsi Center and inching along in heavy traffic, we slipped into the Democratic National Convention hall just in time for Dem Party Chairman Howard Dean’s 3 p.m. call to order.
At the very start of the four-day Democratic celebration nominating Sen. Barack Obama, the transformed sports arena offered two different environments.
August 26
“It’s like organized chaos.”
That was the sentiment from state Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, one of the lucky few to land a delegate slot at the Democratic National Convention. Carroll, who was speaking not long after the remarks of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (son of Rev. Jesse Jackson) was greatly enjoying his front row seat at the convention Monday night and promised that he’d be on the floor for every speech through the week, “even if I have to run on fumes.”
August 26
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon stopped to talk outside the Pepsi Center Monday night before going in to see Michelle Obama’s speech. Asked what he was up to these days, Gordon volunteered that he felt confident he would be appointed secretary of state, should Coffman, the current secretary of state, win the CD 6 election. Gordon said he had personally contacted Gov. Bill Ritter about his interest in the job.
August 26
After Sen. Hillary Clinton left the stage of the Hispanic caucus on Monday, she was enveloped by delegates and media — interrupting the caucus meeting for a good 10 minutes. Caucus chair Ramona Martinez pleaded from the microphone for calm and order, noting the DNC Chair Howard Dean still remained in the speakers’ lineup.
Martinez urged everyone to stay for Dean’s speech, so that “the leaders of our party understand the Latino vote should not be taken for granted. So please, have a seat!”
Still, about half the crowd left.
August 25
It’s not often you interview someone whose answers primarily come in the form of references to famous historical events where they’ve been present. Nor can many — if any — offer the perspective of having attended the last 12 Democratic National Conventions.
September 2
The first sign of “stops and starts” flashed when delegates checked into the Four Points by Sheraton in Minneapolis, and then waited hours for an available hotel room, Sunday. That was an omen of the stops and starts of the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Center.
As Hurricane Gustav roared across the Gulf of Mexico toward New Orleans, the John McCain campaign and Republican strategists sought solutions to a public relations nightmare — television images of Republican revelers versus victims of Gustav’s destruction.
August 28
Colorado delegate Nate Vanderschaaf sang along as Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” began to play after Sen. Joe Biden accepted the vice presidential nomination at the Pepsi Center Wednesday night.
Vanderschaaf was singing the same song that blared Aug. 23 in Illinois when Sen. Barack Obama introduced his running mate.
August 27
Walking down Brighton Boulevard Wednesday afternoon during the Iraq Veterans Against the War march was Brian Vicente, the attorney overseeing the defense of protesters arrested during the Democratic National Convention.
He was one of about 10 lawyers sporting brightly colored hats saying “National Lawyers Guild Observer.” Vicente said he felt the week had gone fairly smoothly overall for police and protesters.
August 27
Some years, it’s good to be a Democrat. Some years, not so much. Just ask former Colorado state senator Stan Matsunaka.
“Timing in politics is everything,” he said after Tuesday morning’s Colorado delegate breakfast.
August 27
Worst way to walk from the Capitol to the Pepsi Center: Walk west on Colfax to Bannock. Go south on Bannock to West 14th Avenue. Walk along 14th until you get to Speer. Walk northwest along Speer to Chopper Circle. Walk from Chopper Circle to the Pepsi Center. Total number of blocks: about 20.
Best way to walk from the Capitol to the Pepsi Center: Walk west on Colfax, continuing across Speer Boulevard to the 11th Street entrance to the Auraria campus. Walk through the campus to the Pepsi Center. Total number of blocks: about 14.
August 26
Coffee and a series of pep talks, including one from Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Wheat Ridge, should have woken up any sleepy Colorado delegates during a 7 a.m. breakfast Monday morning.
During a brief speech at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, Perlmutter said the George W. Bush administration has “reversed history to back before the Magna Carta.”
Several of the 70-plus delegates and alternates in the hotel’s Imperial Ballroom responded to the harsh claim with “ohs.”
August 26
At around 8:15 p.m. — an hour before the convention let out for the night — about 100 police were guarding the entrance of the Sheraton Hotel downtown, on the 16th Street Mall at Court Street.
About four lonely protesters were standing in front of them. Two CU students — James, wearing a red bandana over his mouth, and Eva, wearing a purple one over her mouth — couldn’t say exactly why seemingly so few protesters have shown up in Denver so far, considering that 20,000 to 50,000 were expected.
August 26
Congressional District 6 Democratic nominee Hank Eng — a staunch Obama supporter — stopped to chat outside the Convention Center on Monday morning.
Eng, the son of Chinese immigrants, was on his way to the Asian American Pacific Islander caucus, and said he probably will see a jump in fundraising during the convention because of his increased access to Asian-American donors nationally.
August 26
When it comes to the Democratic Party’s Hispanic caucus, Colorado political leaders could hardly be more hooked in.
August 25
At the opening of the two-story “Big Tent” at 15th and Wynkoop on Sunday — erected for the hundreds of bloggers at this year’s the Democratic National Convention — the founder of the liberal political blog Daily Kos, Markos Moulitsas, spoke forcefully about the need to push the Democratic Party in a more progressive direction.
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