Party On The Platte: Denver Tea Party

**UPDATE 6 April 13, 2010: People's Press Collective and Denver Tea Party will have complete coverage and listings/info from around the state, and will be providing LIVESTREAMING of the Denver Tax Day Tea Party this Thursday.

**Update 5 (April 15): Comprehensive coverage of Tax Day Tea Parties scheduled in Colorado (dates/times/locations) . . . People's Press Collective has a live video feed of the Denver Tea Party rally for those unable to make it down to the state capitol . . . photos/video following the Tea Party

**Update 4 (April 14): There are now at least 16 rallies scheduled this week all over Colorado; more "smear" tactics to be deployed by the Left

**Update 3 (April 10): The latest information on the Denver Tea Party--including speakers, rally tips, and notes on potential infiltration from the Left.

**Update 2 (April 8): Official April 15 Denver Tea Party organizational information (Facebook), including scheduled speakers and other arrangements

--more to follow from Slapstick Politics and People's Press Collective, including guides and expanded links

**Update: Gateway Pundit has an excellent roundup from around the country, and awesome pics of the 1500 or so who gathered at the St. Louis Arch Tea Party.

Here are the scenes from Denver, where 100-150 people showed up at 10am on a workday and braved chilly wind and flurries--and many more photos from Peoples Press Collective--and Michelle Malkin has photos from DC and around the country.

Video will process and be up shortly (YouTube won't load the video)--meanwhile, PPC's DC stringer has video from the DC Tea Party rally, and thankfully another participant at yesterday's rally captured a snapshot of the sentiments, video from Jenny Hatch.


A raucous crowd gathered on a chilly Friday morning, and had a clear message for President Barack Obama.


Right on.


The Gadsden Society will be holding a non-partisan, pro-liberty rally on Sunday on the west steps of the state capitol at 2pm.


A frequent reference and theme throughout the rally.


A popular sentiment.


The tea bags added a nice touch to this poster.


Wait, capitalism is still popular with Americans?


One of my favorite quotes.


President Obama's policies weren't popular.


Is it too late? These folks didn't think so.


Heh.

CPAC 2009 Live Feed

Here is the embedded live feed:

Live video chat by UstreamNot enough? Click for CPAC speaker archives and live chat session.

Rocky Mountain News To Publish Last Edition On Friday; Need For Citizen Journalists Explodes

Denver will be a one paper town starting tomorrow:

Colorado's oldest newspaper will publish its final edition Friday.

The Rocky Mountain News, less than two months away from its 150th anniversary, will be closed after a search for a buyer proved unsuccessful, the E.W. Scripps Co. announced today.

"Today the Rocky Mountain News, long the leading voice in Denver, becomes a victim of changing times in our industry and huge economic challenges," Rich Boehne, chief executive officer of Scripps, said in a prepared statement. "The Rocky is one of America’s very best examples of what local news organizations need to be in the future. Unfortunately, the partnership’s business model is locked in the past."

The GOP/conservatives/libertarians need to lock-and-load, as the potential for even more media bias without a competitor in the Rocky Mountain News will allow the Denver Post and other media outlets to proceed without that additional layer of fact-checking and watchdogging.

This is a unique opportunity. The Post, by all accounts, isn't doing that well either. Citizen journalists will represent a critical resource in combatting the misinformation campaigns from the paid hacks on the left here in Colorado. One less outlet means more competition for exposure and a fair hearing (as close to that as possible given the general left-leaning bias in the media).

Business considerations aside, this is a sad day for Colorado.

RIP Rocky Mountain News.

The Post has more, including the dwindling list of two-paper towns.

Ben DeGrow notes the balance that the Rocky brought to the Post's left-leaning bias, and Joshua Sharf points out the reality of the loss, given that access will be limited to only those with press credentials, as Colorado loses one more layer of transparency and accountability.

And Michelle Malkin has updates on the national level, with a ban of the Fairness Doctrine passing the Senate, but with more backdoor attacks planned against local media and syndicated shows.

GOP Clusterfark--Contagious Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome Spreads

The ghost of Douglas Bruce lingers on.

Don Marostica, Scott Renfroe, Dave Schultheis--Ben DeGrow follows up on these "has beens" and "losers" (Marostica's words, not Ben's), and applies the proper treatment.

Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi also takes these tools to the woodshed:

There is really no way around it: The Republican Party, no matter how many fresh or smart ideas it may have, isn’t going to get anywhere in this state — or nationally — if it continues to spew the hateful gibberish we’ve heard from Scott Renfroe and Dave Schultheis the past couple of days.

It’s not even a matter of their opposition to particular bills (one regarding the extension of health benefits to same-sex domestic partners and another one regarding HIV testing) or even the ruthlessly absurd arguments they offer in defense of their positions. It is about common decency and empathy. Either these two are unable to articulate a viewpoint without injecting some twisted lesson they learned at 12, or they aren’t smart enough to know when to keep quiet. Either way, the Republicans should do all they can to condemn them.
. . .
Are these the words of a person who should be representing anyone?

The Republican Party has to get rid of these people, pronto. They aren’t conservatives; they’re nihilists. Can anyone imagine a Ronald Reagan or Barry Goldwater claiming that a child should live with AIDS to teach the mother a lesson? (If that is what Schultheis meant. And I still hold out a slim amount of hope that this was a matter of incoherence.)

Republican majority leader Josh Penry can’t win. If he dictates to his membership what they should be saying, the Left will feed on it and accuse Penry of pulling puppet strings. If he doesn’t control them, however, you will be left with the barbarian wing of the party dominating news cycles. Republicans can’t afford it anymore.

The GOP is already mired in a three-cycle struggle in the wilderness. Continue this type of rhetoric, and it will mean forty years in the desert (a reference for those legislators prone to Biblical allusions).

There are cogent arguments for any number of issues that don't call for resorting to the type of inane, sloppy, and often incoherent rhetoric on display by these legislators in just this past week. This isn't mere soundbite, "gotcha" stuff either.

If the GOP can't argue with decorum and a modicum of decency and respect, in spite of often unbridgeable differences with the opposition, how can we expect the left to do the same?

Someone order the GOP delegation a stack of Dale Carnegie's "How To Win Friends and Influence People" stat!

The Liberty Movement Grows In Colorado, Nationwide

Folks around Colorado and around the country are fired up for liberty! Liberty on the Rocks is growing at an amazing clip--the original Denver chapter is hosting the first Liberty on Film this Thursday with a showing of Evan Coyne Maloney's Indoctrinate U. There are now four chapters in Colorado--LotR South Metro, Colorado Springs, and this Wednesday in Fort Collins. The "buzz" is booming, and there are already chapters in the Bay Area (CA), Washington, D.C., Portland (OR), with Nashville, Chicago, New Orleans, Vancouver and others looking to start soon.

That's not all. The Gadsden Society of Colorado will hold its first event--a "Rally for Personal Freedom" this Sunday, March 1, on the west steps of the state capitol:

"The Gadsden Society is going to focus on trying to change policy on the state level," Williams told Face the State. "A lot of the statewide organizations like the Independence Institute are prohibited from lobbying because of tax rules. We are filling that void as a non-partisan, non-profit, public advocacy group."

There will also be a Denver version of the national "tea party" movement here on Friday, building on the momentum of last week's anti-stimulus bill rallies here in Denver and in places like Seattle and Mesa, Arizona.

What are you doing for liberty?

RMA 2.0: Rocky Mtn Blogs Radio Show #15

**NOTE: New time and extended format--Every Tuesday--next show February 24, 8:30 pm.



The Blog Talk Radio version of the Rocky Mountain Alliance. A weekly discussion about politics--national, state, and local--featuring RMA members bloggers led by featured host and producer Joshua Sharf, with rotating co-host duties from Ben DeGrow of Mount Virtus, Randy Ketner of Night Twister, and Michael Alcorn of Best Destiny.

February 24 lineup--Evan Coyne Maloney of Indoctrinate U, whose film of the same name will be shown at the inaugural Liberty on Film this Thursday, and Nadeem Esmail of the Fraser Institute, to discuss the dangers of single-payer (socialized) medicine from first hand experience.

Indoctrinate U trailer:


We also had two special editions of RMA Radio last week--the Pork Roast/anti-stimulus rally edition from the steps of the state capitol, as well as extensive coverage of the Larimer County Lincoln Day dinner.

Last week (all shows archived): February 17 lineup--Denver-based political activist Chris Maj, also an affiliate of Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty, and a look back to today's anti-stimulus/pig roast rally at the state capitol.

February 10 lineup--State Rep. Cory Gardner (R-63), probable candidate in the CD-4 GOP primary, and Leondray Gholston, Republican activist and candidate for state GOP vice-chair.

Next week--TBD.

February 3 lineup--Daveed Gartenstein-Ross from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Mike Saccone of the Grand Junction Sentinel.

January 27--Guests included elections expert Jan Tyler and State Sen. Greg Brophy.

January 20--Guests included Todd Shepherd, Independence Institute, and Mark Hillman, Colorado Republican National Committeeman.

January 13--State Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango (HD 59) and State Senator Mike Kopp, SD 22, R-Littleton.

January 6--CU Regent Tom Lucero, chairman of the successful Amendment 54 campaign and a candidate for CD 4 in 2010.

December 30--RMA took a look back at a dismal year in their 2008 year-in-review.

December 23--Joshua and fellow commentators (including yours truly) hosted Jim Pfaff of Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Opinion Times. Pfaff discussed the AFP Colorado report "Keeping Colorado Competitive" and bridging the Christian/libertarian gap.

On December 16 we hosted State Rep. Kevin Lundberg (District 49), and discussed the Salazar appointment as the Secretary of the Interior in the Obama cabinet.

The December 12 edition featured Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier.

**Bookmark the new RMA Radio home page, with embedded player and calendar of upcoming shows and featured guests.

Stream the show live, or play/download the podcast at your convenience.



I'll update co-host and guest info for each episode as it becomes available. Stay tuned . . .

RMA's shows are archived--if you missed any of them, be sure to check out the archive page to stream or download, or scroll down this page a bit, for the embedded archive player.

Rally For Personal Freedom: March 1

Rally details:

THE GADSDEN SOCIETY of Colorado announces

A CELEBRATION
OF LIBERTY FOR ALL!

A RALLY FOR PERSONAL FREEDOM

Sunday, March 1, 2009
2:00 p.m.
On the West Steps of the State Capitol

Face the State interviewed the Gadsden Society:

The Gadsden Society is named after Sons of Liberty member Christopher Gadsden, the original designer of the yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flag that become a symbol of liberty during the revolutionary era. The society was founded by Dave Williams, legislative director for the Libertarian Party of Colorado, political activist and blogger Lenina Close, and Wesley Dickinson of the People's Press Collective. They are hoping to fill an existing void for a pro-liberty voice at the Capitol and provide testimony on bills moving through the legislature.

"The Gadsden Society is going to focus on trying to change policy on the state level," Williams told Face the State. "A lot of the statewide organizations like the Independence Institute are prohibited from lobbying because of tax rules. We are filling that void as a non-partisan, non-profit, public advocacy group."

The rally will be held Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. and will feature Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier, CU Regent Tom Lucero, and political activist Ross Kaminsky as keynote speakers. Williams' hope for the rally is to "let people who still believe in smaller government and liberty know that they aren't alone."

Denver Anti-Stimulus Rally: Videos

**Update: All videos locked and loaded (rally in 4 parts, chronologically ordered)

**Welcome Michelle Malkin readers! Thanks Hot Air! Scroll for videos . . .

Featuring Michelle Malkin, Jon Caldara, Jim Pfaff, Tom Tancredo, Dick Wadhams and many others . . .









Here's SP's photo essay of today's anti-stimulus pig roast, along with Peoples Press Collective, and the illustrious Michelle Malkin.

Denver Anti-Stimulus Rally: Photo Essay

**Update 2: Instalanche! Thanks Glenn! Hot Air too--thanks AP!

**Update: Videos are live (more on the way)

"No More Pork!"

Can't put lipstick on a pig . . .


An unexpected guest of honor!

Approximately 500-750 people showed up to the state capitol in Denver to say: "No More Pork!"

More from Michelle Malkin, the great El Marco, and wall-to-wall coverage from Peoples Press Collective. Face the State has a recap and slideshow, and Free Colorado has even more photos and audio/transcript of the rally.

While the videos are uploaded to YouTube (video of every speaker will be available shortly), here are scenes from the raucous anti-stimulus rally:

Change we aren't too sure about.


Independence Institute President and featured speaker, Jon Caldara


The roasted pig waiting to be unveiled

Mortgaging our children's future, another popular theme.

You can say that again.

Before long, they'll want that too!

The signs were varied, but unlike lefty protests, they actually made sense.

We'll our children will just pay it later . . .


We agree.


Michael Huttner of ProgressNow Colorado (you can Google the link) couldn't pass up the free publicity.


The most popular speaker of the day--blogress extraordinaire Michelle Malkin of MichelleMalkin.com and HotAir.com


The roasted pig unveiled!


Former Rep. Tom Tancredo








Dumb and Dumber--Reid and Pelosi


Nathan the pig, about to bring the house down.


State Sen. Kevin Lundberg


State Sen. Josh Penry


Colorado GOP Chair Dick Wadhams--the long road back begins now.


Jon Caldara leads the crowd in chants of "No More Pork!"--the obvious theme of the day.


Here, here!


Fascism/Communism--same state control, same awful results


"Come and get it!"


Michelle Malkin serves the masses.


Not good change, that's for sure!


To the tune of at least $787 billion


Just say no to the Fairness Doctrine--raging against government control of the airwaves

More to come . . .

RMA 2.0: Rocky Mtn Blogs Radio Show #14

**NOTE: New time and extended format--Every Tuesday--next show February 17, 8:30 pm.



The Blog Talk Radio version of the Rocky Mountain Alliance. A weekly discussion about politics--national, state, and local--featuring RMA members bloggers led by featured host and producer Joshua Sharf, with rotating co-host duties from Ben DeGrow of Mount Virtus, Randy Ketner of Night Twister, and Michael Alcorn of Best Destiny.

February 17 lineup--Denver-based political activist Chris Maj, also an affiliate of Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty and a look back to today's anti-stimulus/pig roast rally at the state capitol.

Last week (all shows archived): February 10 lineup--State Rep. Cory Gardner (R-63), probable candidate in the CD-4 GOP primary, and Leondray Gholston, Republican activist and candidate for state GOP vice-chair.

February 3 lineup--Daveed Gartenstein-Ross from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Mike Saccone of the Grand Junction Sentinel.

Next week--Evan Coyne Maloney of Indoctrinate U.

January 27--Guests included elections expert Jan Tyler and State Sen. Greg Brophy.

January 20--Guests included Todd Shepherd, Independence Institute and Mark Hillman, Colorado Republican National Committeeman.

January 13--State Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango (HD 59) and State Senator Mike Kopp, SD 21, R-Littleton.

January 6--CU Regent Tom Lucero, chairman of the successful Amendment 54 campaign and a candidate for CD 4 in 2010.

December 30--RMA took a look back at a dismal year in their 2008 year-in-review.

December 23--Joshua and fellow commentators (including yours truly) hosted Jim Pfaff of Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Opinion Times. Pfaff discussed the AFP Colorado report "Keeping Colorado Competitive" and bridging the Christian/libertarian gap.

On December 16 we hosted State Rep. Kevin Lundberg (District 49), and discussed the Salazar appointment as the Secretary of the Interior in the Obama cabinet.

The December 12 edition featured Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier.

**Bookmark the new RMA Radio home page, with embedded player and calendar of upcoming shows and featured guests.

Stream the show live, or play/download the podcast at your convenience.



I'll update co-host and guest info for each episode as it becomes available. Stay tuned . . .

RMA's shows are archived--if you missed any of them, be sure to check out the archive page to stream or download, or scroll down this page a bit, for the embedded archive player.

Haven't you heard? Spending limits were a "mistake"!

The big spenders in the state legislature and their supporters just will not drop their attempts to “fix” the “spending constraints” set forth in Colorado law. The Denver Post reported today that some members of the state legislature are now declaring that the legislature’s legal advisors made a “mistake” when they assumed that Arveschoug-Bird was a spending limit like TABOR. Arveschoug-Bird is a 1991 appropriations limit that sets a 6 percent cap on increases in general fund spending; some say that its passage was a last-ditch attempt to prevent activists from moving forward with TABOR. Sort of like saying, “See, we can police ourselves! No need for TABOR!” The voters were unconvinced and passed TABOR in 1992.

The latest outrage from the pro-spending spin doctors is that the legislature can simply declare Arveschoug-Bird to be something else, namely a law that tells lawmakers how to spend money, but didn’t set limits.

The issue with Arveschoug-Bird is that it now stands in the way of Colorado being able to “maximize” the federal “stimulus” dollars. Approximately $2 billion is slated to come Colorado’s way. Arveschoug-Bird’s limits mean that the General Fund appropriations can’t exceed 6% more than the previous year, or 5% of personal income, whichever is lower. So far, the 6% has always been lower. Arveschoug-Bird has its own ratcheting effect, which Referendum C eliminated on TABOR by setting new baselines for the 2011 fiscal year.

The drive to get rid of Arveschoug-Bird is nothing more than a prong of the larger movement to eliminate all spending restrictions. Liberals, and others with an agenda, are moving forward to kill Arveschoug-Bird, TABOR and anything else that stands in their way. They use phrases like “outdated constraints,” “leveling the playing field,” and “cannibalizing one priority for another.” They are masters at the old trick: repeat something often enough, and people start to believe it. The people of Colorado, however, have proven themselves to be pretty smart. Coloradans keep turning down the big spenders. This is why repeated attempts have been made to cloak spending limit gutting in flowery language and feel-good causes (the failed Amendment 59), or even to circumvent the people altogether (the Ritter property tax debacle, now tied up in court).

Most of liberals’ pet causes are funded by General Fund expenditures. The major things that fall under the General Fund include K-12 education, health care and human services, corrections and judicial, and higher education. If the 6% is exceeded, then the money is mandated to fill the General Fund reserve account (4%), and then excess goes into transportation funding and, in some cases, capital construction projects. If appropriations limits were removed, then Colorado’s lawmakers could cut the budget, use the stimulus money and not have to worry about constraining themselves to 6% over the cut figure when there are no more federal bonus dollars left.

It remains to be seen if the legislature will get away with following a constraint for 17 years, and then suddenly declaring this course of action to be a “mistake” and just voting the constraint away. Jon Caldara promises legal action if the legislature pursues this path. The spenders chose not to save during fat economic times. Now that we are facing down a couple of lean years, they still do not want to consider saving. It is easier to do away with spending limits.

More on the attempts to gut TABOR later.

Why We Protest Obama And The Stimulus

Some of the Colorado MSM finally notices a protest afoot:

"We're having a rally because we want to point out that there's another side to this issue, and we want to give some voice to that opposition," Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Committee, said.

Critics of the bill plan to voice their opinions at noon on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol building. The critics, which include Wadhams and a group called Americans for Prosperity, plan to deliver the message to Barack Obama, "You don't know stimulus."

"The bottom line...is that this thing is just a massive spending bill, saddling generations with future debt," Wadhams said. "It does nothing to create jobs in the immediate short term and it's merely expanding the scope, reach and cost of the federal government."

Aside from exercising obvious First Amendment rights--we believe that significant opposition to this bill extends beyond partisanship.

We don't agree with expensive economic boondoggles--a "generational theft act" of dubious long-term benefit.

We don't agree with the manner in which these measures are forced upon us--mostly through fearmongering and demagoguing.

Oh, and dissent is patriotic, right?

Final Stimulus Bill: Your Nest Egg

Just in time for Barack Obama's stimulus bill signing--and the Pig Roast protest planned for noon on the west steps of the State Capitol:



Lesson? Don't put all your economic eggs in one basket, or things could get messy!

Focus On "New Energy" As Denver Braces For Barack Obama's Stimulus Bill Signing; Protests Planned

**Update 4: Pig Roast!

**Update 3: Slapstick Politics along with colleagues from Peoples Press Collective and Rocky Mountain Alliance will be teaming up with Michelle Malkin, a featured speaker at the Denver event, to provide comprehensive live coverage of the anti-stimulus protest

From Jon Caldara at the Independence Institute:

$30-THOUSAND DOLLAR A PLATE PORK ROAST
Rally will highlight opposition to President Obama's “stimulus” bill
HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS SIGN OVERSIZED CHECKS REPRESENTING THEIR NEW DEBTLOAD

DENVER, CO – When President Obama signs his so-called stimulus bill in Denver on Tuesday, his stroke of the pen is equal to each American family signing over a $30-thousand dollar check to the government.

“At a time when tough budgeting decisions are being made around the kitchen table, each family in America will soon be 30-thousand dollars deeper in hock, thanks to this legislation,” says Jon Caldara, President of the free-market think tank, the Independence Institute. “Most of that spending should never happen at all, and much of that money will be spent on pork that won't even taste good.”

WHAT: INDIVIDUALS will sign their names to 4-foot wide checks, made out to the federal government in the amount of $30-thousand dollars.

WHERE: WEST STEPS of the State Capitol.

WHEN: NOON

WHO: A coalition of concerned groups and citizens, including

Jon Caldara of Colorado's Independence Institute
U.S. Representative Mike Coffman
Michelle Malkin, nationally-known writer, blogger, and columnist
Former U.S. Congressman Bob Beauprez
numerous other Colorado legislators and dignitaries

WHY: To voice opposition to a government measure that spends more in one bill than has been spent in the entire conflict in Iraq

**Update 2: West steps of State Capitol:

UPDATE: Event details are set. We will begin our press conference at 12:15pm on the West Steps of the State Capitol. Please begin arriving at noon. We have the West Steps until 2pm.

Many speakers have been invited, and we will let you know here when they can confirm. Confirmed attendees are as follows:

Confirmed attendees:

Former Cong. Bob Beauprez

Michelle Malkin FOX News Contributor and founder of MichelleMalkin.com and HotAir.com

Jim Pfaff, State Director of Americans for Prosperity in Colorado; several state legislators

Dick Wadhams, Colorado Republican Committee Chairman

Invited Attendees:

Congressman Doug Lamborn

Congressman Mike Coffman

Before Obama changed his plans to include signing the stimulus bill in Colorado, Colorado GOP Chair Dick Wadhams hoped that Obama would explain how the bill will actually work (via CompleteColorado.com):

---

**Update: Message to Obama--"You Don't Know Stimulus":

Americans for Prosperity in Colorado will be holding an event to put light on the theft bill–also known as the “stimulus” bill or the so-called American Reinvestment and Recovery Act–he will be signing in Denver on this Tuesday, February 17 between noon and 3pm.

Many speakers have been invited, and we will let you know here when they can confirm. Confirmed attendees are as follows:

Confirmed:

Former Cong. Bob Beauprez; Michelle Malkin FOX News Contributor and founder of MichelleMalkin.com and HotAir.com; Jim Pfaff, State Director of Americans for Prosperity in Colorado; several state legislators

We will be holding an event nearby at a yet to be determined location at approximately 12:15pm that same day. We will have details shortly, but if you would like to be informed about this important demonstration of force to show Obama to say to him, “You Don’t Know Stimulus,” go to the Americans for Prosperity webpage by clicking here. You will receive an email midday with details.

---

"New Energy" and jobs--President Obama is expected to tout these and other benefits during his visit to Denver for the signing of the stimulus bill:

Governor Bill Ritter says it's no accident the President chose Denver for the signing.

"Because of the work we've done in creating this new energy economy, and being able to create sustainable job growth, it provided this template for the administration to say this is what the package is about," said Governor Ritter.

9NEWS political analyst Floyd Ciruli believes President Obama will emphasize job projects. The visit will boost Colorado's political importance.

"It looks like with this opening Presidential visit, that it's (Colorado's) going to stay on the radar screen for the entire four years," said Cirulli.

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science was specifically chosen for its "green" efforts, and Denver chosen as a way to "get away" from the politics in Washington, DC.

Well, Obama may be away from the political battles in DC at an "invitation only" event, but it looks like those in Denver (and Seattle) opposed to this financial and political boondoggle won't let the carefully orchestrated media go unopposed:

I wanted to give the Coloradans some advice for gathering folks there, and believe me, you have the time. I got the permit for the park here on Tuesday, and now look, by Sunday, it is ALL OVER THE PLACE.

-I emailed everyone I knew. I emailed friend’s parents who I knew were Conservative, I emailed my parents’ friends, bloggers, etc.

-I called everyone I could think of, policy think tanks, “movers and shakers” in the Seattle Republican Party, Conservative organizations, college professors, etc. (From this I have forged a relationship with the Chairwoman of the National Black Republican Association who is going to write a statement for me to read, as she cannot get to Seattle on Monday.) I called local Conservative talk radio stations and they have been running it all week.

-I lived and breathed this thing for four days, which did cause me to miss a couple of things here and there, but it is totally worth it.

Basically everyone, you just have to do it. Call up your police station or parks department and ask how you can obtain a permit, and then just start advertising. The word will spread. I am only one person, but with a little hard work this protest has become the efforts of A LOT of people.

To the people who think this won’t help I say this: this protest will not stop the bill. I have no illusions that it could. I’m hoping for a few things though. One, that the Conservatives and Libertarians and Republicans in Seattle can finally meet each other and see they are not alone. There are actually quite a lot of us here, but we are very quiet, and that MUST STOP. We need to show that we exist. Second, we need to show support for the Republicans and Democrats that voted against the porkulus. If they think, for one second, that they made a bad choice, we have no chance to fight. Third, it sends a message to Obama and Pelosi that we are awake and we know what’s happening, and we are not going to take it lying down. It is a message saying, expect more opposition because we’re out here.

There are several different groups planning protests in the true spirit of the Founding Fathers, and we will be posting updates Monday and early Tuesday as those plans become more concrete.

Barack Obama To Sign Stimulus Bill In Denver On Tuesday--By Invitation Only

**Update 2--Denver protest, west steps of Capitol

**Update--Welcome Michelle Malkin readers!

Local Democrat dignitaries "ecstatic" at pronouncement:

"I am thrilled President Obama has chosen to showcase our state with its historic signing," said U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, a Boulder Democrat.

He said the growing green-energy industry and "cutting-edge scientific institutions" in Colorado make the state "uniquely situated" to highlight the bill's investment in renewable energy, science and technology.

Signing the bill here is "fitting" because Colorado "is a leader in renewable-energy development," said U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, an Eldorado Springs Democrat.

"The West has always been the land of opportunity, a place where anything is possible," said Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, of Denver. "It is fitting that President Obama has chosen Colorado as the site where our long and difficult road to economic recovery will begin."

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who left the Senate to join Obama's Cabinet, will fly on the president's plane to Denver. Salazar said through a spokesman Saturday that Obama "couldn't have picked a better place to highlight how the bill will create jobs and build the type of clean-energy economy that is already growing in Colorado."

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Golden Democrat, said in a statement, "By signing this bill in Denver, the president is signaling the importance that investments in alternative- and renewable-energy infrastructure will have in creating 60,000 new jobs in Colorado and transforming our nation to a new-energy economy."

U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, a Fort Collins Democrat, said the signing of the bill here sends a message that the road to recover "begins right here at home."

Catherine Mortensen, spokeswoman for Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs, said that while Lamborn "regrets" passage of the stimulus bill, "it is a great honor for the president to sign a bill in this state."

Colorado "is the perfect place to put the country back on track," said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper called the Denver bill-signing "a great compliment" to the city and state.

Note to Rep. Lamborn--there is no "great honor" in signing this albatross in Denver. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

Colorado politicians, municipalities, and counties have already lined up like pigs at the trough for their cut of the $1.97 billion directed to Colorado. And according to some, it is still not enough.

It never is.

---

Baracky Mountain High, Colorado.

"Stimulizing?" Yes. Open to the public?

Oh hell no.

Returning to the city of his coronation last August, President Barack Obama will be signing his stimulus bill in Denver--by invitation only:

President Obama will come to Denver to sign the landmark economic stimulus bill.

The bill-signing, an unusual event outside of Washington, will be Tuesday at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in City Park. The president also will give a speech about the economy.

Attendance at the midday event is by invitation only, and all invitations have been distributed.

CNN reported that a senior administration official cited a desire to get "away from the politics of Washington."

More details as they become available.

Why Denver to get "away" from DC?

Both officials cited a desire to get out of Washington — to go, in the words of one official, “out west in an area hit hard economically, away from the politics of Washington.”

The other official described Denver as “a place that will see the benefits of the bill in hiring workers.”

Obama's media marketing/branding campaign continues, secured by a lack of transparency or public access.

Glad to see that Denver's resources will once again be expropriated, this time for the purpose of showcasing Obama's stimulus boondoggle. Denver's Democrat dignitaries will be in line to gather their chunk of the gravy train, all while safely ensconced away from the public eye and potential protesters.

More Sanity In Colorado: No Expulsion For Marie Morrow, The Student With Fake Rifles

The adults--like Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier--have thankfully stepped in.

Background on the standout Cherokee Trail High School student, Marie Morrow from fellow RMA bloggers here and here.

Flawed zero-tolerance laws landed this student in hot water for possessing fake rifles--defined as "facsimiles" according to the law--but thankfully the decision was to punish with time served in suspension:

Seventeen-year-old Marie Morrow will be going back to school next week. The senior at Cherokee Trail High School was suspended for having fake rifles in her SUV at school.
Advertisement

Cherry Creek Schools Superintendent Mary Chesley ruled Morrow's six-day suspension will count as the expulsion mandated by state education law. Morrow is eligible to return to school Wednesday after the President's Day holiday.

School leaders said it was the least severe discipline option available under the law.

"I'm just ready to go back, glad to get back into school," Morrow said. "I'm glad they did the minimum that they could and I can go back."

The school district had the option to expel Morrow for the remainder of her senior year as allowed by law.

"I do not believe that the circumstances of this situation warrant the severe calendar year penalty that legislators intended when this statute was enacted," Chesley said in a written statement.

"They were just following the law in their eyes," Morrow. said "I'm mainly just mad at myself for making the mistake. I'm not blaming anybody."

Morrow is an exemplary student, taking her lumps and not complaining. Cherry Creek's Superintendent had little choice given the national coverage of the story.

Poorly written legislation often ends up punishing those it was never intended to harm, and will require yet more legislation to correct the absolutist language in the current statute:

Several members of the Colorado House and Senate met with Morrow and her family on Monday.

Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R-Berthoud) plans to introduce legislation to change state law to provide an exception for facsimile weapons being used by military-sponsored youth groups.

"There should be exemptions to this hard-and-fast rule so this type of thing doesn't happen again," Lundberg said in a written statement. "I am outraged that a student faces expulsion for participating in a drill team."

In addition to her meeting with lawmakers, Morrow has received encouragement and words of support on talk radio, on blogs and from viewers posting on 9NEWS.com.

"It's really great to have all this support," Morrow said on Monday. "It's just good to know who stands behind you when times get rough."

"It will be all right no matter how it turns out," Morrow added.

Morrow's case isn't the first nor will it be the last where unintended consequences precipitated by poorly written, knee-jerk, zero-tolerance legislation affect the lives of those the law should actually protect.

Just remember this the next time someone says "there should be a law." The "cult of action" embraced by those who wish to protect people from themselves and deny others their liberty tend to produce half-baked, "feel-good" laws that legislators tout as "helping the situation."

Attorney General John Suthers, addressing the story in a presentation at Auraria Campus on Monday, said legislators only have themselves to blame.

New Faces Launch GOP Efforts In 2010

Rising GOP stars Ryan Frazier, Josh Penry, and Cory Gardner highlight the new crop of Republicans vying for candidacy and a broader appeal to youth beginning in 2010:

Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier, 31, has wowed Colorado Republicans at county events in the past few weeks and just recently met with the National Republican Senatorial Committee about a possible run against newly-appointed Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. Frazier might not have a wealth of experience yet, but neither does Bennet, the 44-year-old former Denver superintendent of schools, a political neophyte.

Frazier has appealed to the party's business base, being one of the driving forces behind last year's failed ballot measure prohibiting mandatory union fees as a condition of employment.

The councilman, who is African-American, said the party needs to show voters it's diverse in "thought, ethnicity and socioeconomics" and make room for disagreement, especially on social issues.

"We need to let people know that we are the party that wants people to have more freedom in how they live their lives and spend their own money — live and let live," he said. "We can keep government involvement, even in people's social lives, to the lowest practical level."

How will the GOP accomplish that? Here's a start:

Brett Moore, political director of the Metro Denver Young Republicans, echoed Frazier's philosophy to focus less on social issues, noting his peers are concentrating on fiscal conservatism, free markets, jobs and other core GOP values.

"Everyone comes together on those issues," said Moore, 28. "On other things — gay marriage, abortion, the more socially charged issues — we need to find a way to work together while letting people have other viewpoints."

That's Denver Metro Young Republicans.

Messaging is one thing--message delivery in the digital era means adding more tools to the arsenal to do everything from fundraising to volunteering to getting-out-the-vote:

More attention on a Ronald Reagan-esque message of personal liberty and rugged individualism is critical in addressing younger voters, said state Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction. With a whole generation of voters, however, who weren't alive during Reagan's presidency, his themes may be more important to stress than the man himself.

"We have to keep things relevant. And those messages are no less appealing now than they were in the past," said Penry, 33, who is considering a run for governor.

Often joking that he is the first Republican Senate leader to own an iPod, Penry said the party must also do a better job at message delivery: Internet, text messages, e-mail, blogs, YouTube, podcasts.

But old-fashioned outreach is also critical, said state Rep. Cory Gardner, a 34-year-old Republican from Yuma who is expected to run for the 4th District congressional seat in 2010.

"In the past, we as Republicans have avoided the younger age groups," he said. "We can't be afraid to go to college campuses and other places and talk about things that matter."

Social networking is no replacement for pounding the pavement, but ignoring online activism, blogging, Twitter, YouTube, etc. rather than incorporating these new technologies has been disastrous to Republicans of late, especially in Colorado.

And no, the GOP doesn't need to be more "moderate" despite what Pat Waak says.

And it is not just technology:

"We have to project, frankly, what President Obama projected: the future. We must recruit candidates that appeal to younger voters. That's one of our greatest challenges," said GOP chairman Dick Wadhams.

But to appeal to younger voters, does the party need younger candidates? Not necessarily.

"We need a combination of those who have served and won in the past and the new blood that is clearly moving up the ladder," said former Republican Gov. Bill Owens.

The strongest possible statewide candidate should win the primary in contested races (Senate and Governor), and not simply be rewarded for "paying dues." Republican grassroots activists aren't interested in pouring time, money, and efforts into another double-digit loss statewide, and we're pretty sure cautious state donors and cash-strapped national organizations won't hesitate to pull back should the GOP candidate fail to build his or her own strong local base.

But until we have a primary in any race, the GOP should focusing on building the technological apparatus--the tools are the means, not the end--to give whoever emerges as the candidate next fall the best ability to run a grassroots, engaging, and invigorated campaign.

Students Say No To "Barack Obama High School" In Boulder

**Welcome Hot Air readers!



Obama-mania meets reality.

A follow-up on the moonbat Marxists at Boulder High School who tried and failed miserably to change the name of the school to Barack Obama High School:

When representatives of a Boulder High student activist group arrived at school Thursday, they were greeted with angry opposition to their proposal to rename the building after President Barack Obama.

Many of the activists’ peers wore Boulder High gear, made posters calling for an end to the Student Worker group, and mocked the notion of a Barack Obama High. By the time of an afternoon news conference, originally called to launch a petition for the name change, Student Worker President Ben Raderstorf had dropped the proposal.

“We have realized that we made a gross error in our understanding of the significance of the Boulder High School name,” Raderstorf said to a classroom packed with TV cameras, teachers, students and community members.

Many students said they learned about the proposal on the social networking Web site Facebook, where several people organized an impromptu spirit day Thursday. One of the Facebook pages titled, “Do NOT change the name of Boulder High School to ‘Barack Obama High,’” had nearly 600 members.

“It is ridiculous to throw away over 100 years of tradition simply because of Obama-mania,” the group’s organizer wrote.

Looks like more reeducation is needed, even in Boulder!



"No You Can't!"

Debating The Fairness Doctrine

Or, how liberals (including former President Bill Clinton) can't stand the preferences exercised by the public in the free market of ideas on the radio, and must force their rhetorical nonsense on others in the name of "fairness":

"Well, you either ought to have the Fairness Doctrine or we ought to have more balance on the other side," Clinton said, "because essentially there's always been a lot of big money to support the right wing talk shows and let face it, you know, Rush Limbaugh is fairly entertaining even when he is saying things that I think are ridiculous...."

The second half of Bill Clinton's quote hits the nail on the head--Rush is entertaining. Disagree or not, Rush has built a brand that has a rather hefty following, and has been rewarded with an enormous audience and a similar amount of compensation. Liberals have tried, and failed, to duplicate conservative talk radio's success. It is clear that there is a market for liberal ideas given that Barack Obama was just elected President. That the moonbats at Air America were unable to capitalize on the resentment of President Bush in a way that lefty bloggers were indicates that there is either a format issue (liberals not as interested in radio) or that the product is simply awful. Either way, the government should have no role in deciding who is and who is not on the radio, nor should it determine the length or availability of response time in the interest of "fairness."

Sen. James Inhofe agrees:

But Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe said radio programming should be based on what brings in listeners and advertisers.

"I can't think of anything worse than to have government in a position to dictate the content of information going over public radio," said Inhofe, a Republican. "The whole idea is that it has to be market driven. We have a lot of progressive or liberal radio shows but nobody listens to them and every time one tries to get on, they are not successful."

Local AM talk show hosts have debated the need and also the imminent prospect of a return of the "Fairness Doctrine"--not surprisingly, they disagree, with conservatives blasting the concept on principle, and liberals supporting the idea as a way to promote "balance" on the airwaves.

"Fairness Doctrine"? Why don't they just try it the old-fashioned way--entertaining radio talent with some semblance of coherence that people, even those who disagree, might be inclined to listen to?

For liberals, if you don't like outcome, don't approach the battlefield of ideas differently, simply change the rules of the game.