Colorado Legislature Considers Additional Honors For Fallen Navy SEAL Danny Dietz

Memorial statue for Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, the subject of much heated controversy two years ago.

The Colorado Senate (in a joint resolution with the House) will be considering another honor for the fallen hero, Danny Dietz, on Friday--"Navy SEAL Danny Phillip Dietz, Jr., Memorial Highway" (video):

Colorado lawmakers are expected to designate part of Santa Fe Drive after one of the state's most honored military members killed in the war on terror.

Senate Joint Resolution 33, which will be discussed on Friday at the Capitol, would set aside the part of Highway 85, from I-25 to C-470, in memory of Danny Dietz, the Navy SEAL from Littleton who was killed in 2005 in Afghanistan.

"It shows that they have gratitude," said his father, Dan Dietz. "That means a lot. They're recognizing true courage."

Danny Dietz was shot 16 times and kept fighting Taliban soldiers in an effort to establish communications with headquarters. He earned the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross among other decorations for his actions on June 28, 2005 which was the single worst day of American casualties in the war in Afghanistan.

The legislators sponsoring the resolution are both neighbors of the Dietz family in Littleton and both have military service in their backgrounds. Sen. Mike Kopp (R-Littleton) and Rep. Joe Rice (D-Littleton) say the memorial is about recognizing Dietz's service to a cause greater than himself and to his parents and family for continuing to share his story, to inspire that service in young Coloradans as well.

"One of my own personal values is to make sure that the generation that sends its sons and daughters to war is the same generation that honors them," Kopp said. "It's important to remind ourselves what heroism and patriotism looks like."

"It's not just to recognize him, but it's the lessons his life teaches us all," Rice said. "This country does need people like Danny Dietz."

Discussion about the highway designation will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday inside the Senate Chambers at the State Capitol before heading over to the House. Dietz's family members are expected to attend. The discussion will be open to the public.

If you live in the area, I encourage you to attend. Pending work arrangements, I will try to be there in person.

Extensive previous coverage of Danny Dietz' story and the controversy over his memorial statue in the SP archives.

Colorado Blizzard 2009 Photos And Timelapse Video

Wheat Ridge received at least 15.1" from Thursday's storm, producing these drifts by the time I returned home after a snow day(!) was declared:





Around the 2:00 mark of the following timelapse shot from my office this morning, the blizzard really kicked in:



I turned the camera to catch the intersection of 14th and Larimer--the snow was collecting so quickly, that the tire tracks from each successive turn of traffic disappeared:

Electoral College Redux: HB 1299 Seeks To Overturn Founding Fathers, Negate Colorado's Votes

Or, how to achieve a national popular vote through the back door.

Amy Oliver leads the way:

The Electoral College stands as another example of the political brilliance of our Founding Fathers. It demonstrates their commitment to the protection of minority rights, and the diverse interests of the entire nation–not just the biggest cities or states.

So why hasn’t the Electoral College been changed in over 200 years? The answer is simple: because the system works. Just because some politicians still are bitter about the outcome of the 2000 elections doesn’t mean that the system should be changed, not in Colorado, nor California, nor New York, nor Florida. Without the Electoral College, all a candidate has to do is win a plurality of the popular vote, even if that plurality comes mainly from a handful of mega-cities on the coasts.

Ross Kaminsky adds to the case against this disenfranchising fraud:

The genius of our Founders was specifically NOT to implement the type of mechanism for presidential selection that HB 1299 proposes. We are, for good reasons, NOT a Democracy but instead a Constitutional Republic. The bill is an attack on probably the most fundamental aspect of our government, or at least on the most fundamental aspect of the executive branch as conceived by Madison, Hamilton, and Jefferson.

The current electoral college system is intended to protect the rights of minorities, and to recognize that a free society must be free of a tyranny of the majority. The Founders wrote about this frequently, including in at least two of the Federalist Papers. It is essential to our Republic and it is shameful to see a politician toy with it.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel calls it "electoral nonsense" and "illogical." The Loveland Reporter Herald condemns the bill in a similar fashion.

HB 1299 means the permanent session of Colorado's political voice to the will of voters in larger states on the coasts, rendering this part of the United States permanent flyover country when it comes to the state-by-state election of the President. Swing states would become meaningless, as the get-out-the-vote campaigns focused exclusively in the highly condensed population centers to win a plurality/majority of the votes and ensure that a national popular election was enforced through the gerrymandered and worthless Electoral College. In other words, the only "swing" states would be the politically suicidal ones who signed to this atrocious piece of populist legislation.

Amendment 36 was handily defeated in 2004, despite a well-funded campaign by out-of-state interests.

If the Democrats (or anyone else who would sponsor such a ridiculous bill) were truly interested in thwarting the Founding Fathers by eliminating the Electoral College, why not simply call for a Constitutional Amendment calling for a popular vote to elect the President instead of this disingenuous legislation? Why cede the ability of this state to determine its own future in a meaningful and balanced way against 49 other states?

The Founding Fathers, as the above authors mentioned, wanted to create a neutral and more fair playing field when it came to choosing the candidate for the highest office in the land. The Electoral College sought to balance the interests of the minority against the majority, the rural interests against the urban, and smaller states against the bigger, more populous ones.

If Colorado is to have an objectively relevant say in the outcome in 2012 and every subsequent presidential election thereafter, HB 1299 and its insidious intentions must be defeated soundly.

Again.

Face The State Interview On Colorado Internet Political Commentary

Recorded a few months back, Peoples Press Collective members Ross Kaminsky of Rossputin.com and yours truly were interviewed by Kate Melvin of Face The State on the state of political commentary on the Internet in Colorado, and you can listen to these comments on FTS' Weekend Edition (first segment).

Counting Colorado: Voting Results May Take Time; Sarah Palin Makes Final Stop

**Update--Colorado called for Obama/Udall, more election night results and analysis

Oh goodie!

More than 200,000 mail-in ballots poured into county clerks' offices across Colorado over the weekend, easing tonight's ballot- counting burden.

But with nearly 300,000 mail-in ballots still left to be turned in and potentially as many as 1 million people statewide voting today at the polls, clerks still expect a late night tallying results.

"The days of finding out the results at 10 p.m. are over," said Alton Dillard, a spokesman for the Denver Elections Division. "There are too many moving targets in an election these days."

We can, however, expect half of the results from early voting and mail-in ballots to be announced shortly after the polls close in Colorado at 7pm.

Meanwhile, GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin is hoping her campaign's targeting of Colorado in these last few weeks will pay off.

Battleground Colorado--2008 Electoral College Scenarios

With the polls all over the map for any number of states, here are a few of the possible Electoral Vote outcomes, with the battleground of Colorado as the focus. The first two involve John McCain retaining Colorado by the smallest of margins--say 1-2%. As I'll be discussing national and local races on CBS4 on election night, here are the key states I'll be watching as the evening progresses (poll closing times, EST):

7 p.m. Indiana, Virginia
7:30 p.m. Ohio, North Carolina
8 p.m. Pennsylvania, Florida, Missouri
———————————–
9 p.m. Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, North Dakota
10 p.m. Nevada, Montana

With the exception of Pennsylvania, McCain must basically win the states above the line to have a snowball's chance in Phoenix. Or, as Allahpundit advises, begin drinking immediately.

Using CNN's interactive calculator, here are a few of the possible outcomes, with a focus on the retention or loss of Colorado.

First, the proverbial "nightmare" scenario resulting in an Electoral College tie at 269-269 (2004 results, minus Iowa, Nevada, and New Mexico--all Bush states):



The "best case" scenario for John McCain--the same map as above, plus Pennsylvania (290-248):



Barack Obama wins 311-227, peeling off 5 states that went to Bush in 2004--Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia.



McCain could still win without Colorado if he manages to flip Pennsylvania (281-257), and doesn't lose any other states east of the Mississippi (Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina). In this scenario, McCain could lose Missouri (along with Iowa, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada) and still eke out a 270-268 win.

What are your Electoral College predictions?

Final Push: McCain In Grand Junction On Election Day; Schaffer Tightens Against Udall

One final campaign swing for Sen. John McCain, in a state that has clearly felt its status as a "battleground" in the 2008 election.

Apparently he isn't ready to concede Colorado until after the actual votes have been cast. And there will be a ton of votes here and across the country, perhaps at record levels.

Meanwhile Bob Schaffer has begun to close against Mark Udall in the state's expensive race for Senate. But will close enough be enough to put him over the finish line?

Close Race In Colorado?--Barack Obama To Return To Battleground State

On Saturday in Pueblo.

Perhaps the race is closer than the polls, the MSM, and Obama's campaign would like to admit.

John McCain Concedes Colorado By Campaigning in Denver, Durango On Friday

**SP's Colorado election results and analysis

The McCain-Palin ticket is clearly giving up on Colorado by announcing a two-stop McCain visit on Friday:

McCain will start his day Friday at the National Western Arena. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with the program starting at 9 a.m. Free tickets are required and may be picked up at the campaign office at 6334 S. Racine Circle in Centennial.

He'll speak at the Durango High School football field at 5 p.m., with doors opening at 3 p.m. To get a ticket, RSVP online at www.johnmccain.com.

The Durango stop will be the first one by a major party presidential candidate since John F. Kennedy campaigned there in 1960, according to the Durango Herald.

Does McCain face an uphill battle in Colorado? Yes. But the actions of the campaign have clearly indicated a move to retain Colorado and its 9 electoral votes--despite the many wishes of Democrats and the compliant MSM.

Sarah Palin In Colorado--Loveland Rally

**Update--Palin's rally in Loveland--complete video of Palin's appearance; Palin does one-on-one interview with 9NEWS

SP will be at the Sarah Palin rally at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado as she kicks off early voting in Colorado. I'll be there as a member of the superior secondary media.

Tickets are already sold out, and the venue holds 7200 for a normal event. As with most ticketed political events, there are often more tickets distributed than the capacity of the venue. Turnout should be excellent, just like in New Mexico on Sunday--she's already an SNL star!

Palin's event info for tomorrow (from earlier Sunday):

Governor Sarah Palin
Road to Victory Rally Schedule Update
For October 20th

Governor Sarah Palin will be making THREE Road to Victory rally stops in Colorado this Monday, October 20th. The Governor begins the day in Colorado Springs, continues north to Loveland and then heads west to Grand Junction

Road to Victory Rally in Colorado Springs
Security Services Field - (Home of the Sky Sox)
4385 Tutt Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Doors open at 6:00 am
Program begins at 8:00 am
Please call 303.952.4670 for ticketing information
Tickets are still available for this event and seats are at a first come first serve basis

Road to Victory Rally in Loveland
Budweiser Events Center
5290 Arena Circle
Loveland, CO 80538
Doors at 10:30 am
Program begins at 12:00 pm
Tickets are no longer available for this event
Standing room attendance may be available for those without tickets

Road to Victory Rally in Grand Junction
Suplizio Field at Lincoln Park
12th Street and Norht Avenue
Grand Junction, CO
Doors at 4:30 pm
Program begins at 6:00 pm
You may still RSVP online and seats at the event are at a first come first serve basis
Please RSVP by Clicking HERE
There will not be tickets issued for this event

Attendees to all events must pass through airport-like security. Please prepare accordingly.

Thank you,

McCain-Palin Team Colorado

Sarah Palin In Colorado Monday--Colorado Springs, Loveland, And Grand Junction

**Update 2--Coverage of Palin's Loveland rally (including video)

**Update--Loveland rally already sold out!

Palin-mania is back in the Rocky Mountains:

Gov. Sarah Palin will rally her party's base and try to capture key swing voters during campaign stops in Colorado Springs, Loveland and Grand Junction on Monday.

The Republican vice presidential candidate's visit will coincide with the first day of early voting in Colorado.

Palin will speak at Security Service Field, home to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, at 8 a.m. Doors open at 6 a.m.

At noon, she'll address a crowd at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

At 6 p.m., she'll speak at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Free tickets are required for the Colorado Springs and Loveland events.

Ticket info at the link.

Palin will be accompanied by Hank Williams Jr.:

Gov. Sarah Palin will be joined in Colorado on Monday by country music singer Hank Williams Jr., who has retooled his classic Family Tradition into an ode to Palin and Sen. John McCain.

Williams has been performing at campaign events recently, singing the national anthem and then firing up the crowd with the new version of his song, McCain-Palin Tradition.

2008 Colorado Election Information And Voter Registration Deadlines

**Updated and bumped--staying open until 7pm to register in Denver

Monday, October 6: Last day to register to vote

Monday, October 20: Early voting begins

Tuesday, October 28: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot if mailed

Friday, October 31: Last day of early voting

Tuesday, November 4: ELECTION DAY

Turnout on the final day for registration is quite large . . .

No Love For Sarah Palin At State Capitol

Drunkablog has the photos--no love from the local feminists/Code Pinkers.

60,000 Floridians might have to disagree . . .

Colorado Rockstar: Sarah Palin JeffCo Rally Photos And Recap

Standing room only--scores of supporters donning their hockey
jerseys--the Westernaires Arena filled with an enthusiastic crowd.

Photos to follow . . .

(Crossposted at PeoplesPressCollective)

The Daily Blogster was also there this morning, with pics and a recap of the Palin speech.

Gateway Pundit has an MSM roundup, including words from the opposition.

All in all, a solid post-convention stump speech, delayed for a few minutes while President Bush addressed the financial crisis on Wall Street.

It is clear that Palin's draw isn't the policy positions staked out in the speech itself, though they are not throw-away lines either. Palin discussed the need for reform and oversight in the financial sector, the inseparability of energy independence from our foreign policy and the imperative to produce our own energy here, and the "walking the walk" of actually doing the hard work. About her running mate Sen. John McCain, Palin spoke effusively about the only man in the race who "actually fought for you."

But in the end the rally really exhibited the incredible magnetism of the candidate herself, who struck a chord in the center-right/GOP, especially right-leaning women, in a way unmatched by any recent Republican candidate, and overshadowed only by Barack Obama's similar adulation, though in less-than-messianic terms. Palin is a Mom--like the many Moms in the crowd--and the "hockey mom"/lipstick/small business owner experience was indeed a change from the career politician/lawyer/haughty elitism that permeates the Democrat ticket.

Palin is a political rockstar seeking the support of voters in an effort to turn the tide on liberal-creep that has put Jefferson County not only in the national spotlight as the county that could decide Colorado and ultimately the entire national race, but reclaim some of the faltering GOP brand in the suburbs of areas like Denver that were once GOP strongholds and rebuild the grassroots ground game that has been damaged (rightly or wrongly) by the Bush administration since 2004.

Judging by her reception at JeffCo Fairgrounds, the enthusiasm necessary for proper volunteer recruitment and voter engagement has hit a fever pitch in Colorado, something unthinkable just three weeks ago during the Democratic National Convention. Palin's selection the day following Obama's coronation at Invesco Field changed the dynamic of the ground game here in Colorado, and will make this swing-state an even more sought-after prize.


It was really, really early.


The line snaked around the parking lot, with hundreds outside the Westernaire Arena before the doors opened at 7am.


Buttons, get your buttons!


Security was tight, though certainly nothing like the DNC (Secret Service? Yes. Riot gear? No.)


The teleprompters were covered in anticipation of Sarah Palin's speech.


A continued theme of the McCain-Palin campaign--"Country First."


Talk radio show host Dan Caplis kept the crowd going while Sarah Palin made her way to the JeffCo Fairgrounds.


The enthusiasm was palpable.


Easily the best sign of the day.


Women held their lipstick up and waved it like lighters at a rock concert--Palin was a rockstar for the eager crowd.


Former Governor Bill Owens gave a brief introduction, nearly inaudible due to the roar of the crowd.


A pitbull with lipstick!


"Real change."


Not a "Washington insider."


Palin was clearly caught up with raucous reception--"thanks Colorado!"


Palin greets the crowd after her speech.


"First Dude" Todd Palin.


The MSM photographers couldn't get enough of Palin-mania either.

Colorado GOP Convention Video Wrap

It was a pleasure liveblogging with Ben DeGrow of Mount Virtus (extensive coverage--with humor!) and Night Twister (great wrap up analysis). Complete video from the convention--including Rep. Tom Tancredo, Sen. Wayne Allard, and Bob Schaffer's nomination acceptance speech--can be found here.

I'll have more thoughts later, but first, here is Gov. Mitt Romney's stump speech on behalf of Sen. John McCain, followed by a press conference held with Bob Schaffer:

Mitt Romney addressing the Colorado GOP convention, Part 1:


Part 2:


Press conference with Mitt Romney and Bob Schaffer at the conclusion of the day's events (part 1):


Part 2:

Liveblogging The Colorado GOP Convention

Welcome to SP's liveblogging coverage of the 2008 Colorado GOP Convention . . . scroll for updates and live video/liveblogging . . . joined by Ben DeGrow of Mount Virtus and Night Twister

Night Twister is liveblogging the convention, and Ben DeGrow and I have joined his running commentary over there.

Bob Schaffer accepts the nomination for US Senate for Colorado (part 1):


Part 2:


Sen. Wayne Allard addresses the convention attendees (part 1):


Sen. Allard, part 2:


Rep. Tom Tancredo addresses the convention attendees:

Colorado Democrat Party State Convention

“We are going to mop the floor with John McCain”--Rep. Diane DeGette, D-Denver

If you're interested in what our friends across the aisle are doing at the Colorado Democrat Party state convention, the folks at Colorado Confidential are team-blogging the event:

Day 1

Day 2

They also have some photos, a roundup of the invited state party bigwigs (Gov. Ritter, Congresswoman DeGette, Rep. Salazar and Sen. Salazar, Senate candidate Rep. Mark Udall, Rep. Perlmutter, and Clinton groupie and campaign manager Terry McAuliffe-stirs a bit of controversy with Clinton vs. Obama speech), and an update on two anti-war protestors arrested for leaving the "Free Speech Zone".

Not My Tribe, the blogging home of one of the arrested protestors, features a local Colorado Springs news bit on the anti-war protestors' plans on using this weekend's festivities as a "dry run" for Denver's Democratic National Convention in August.

There was also a moment of silence in Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-MA) honor.

Other highlighted quotes (via The Rocky Mountain News):

Even before the event opened at 10 a.m. today, the crowd was on its feet as various slogans ran across huge TV screens at the World Arena:

“Right now, Marilyn Musgrave is shopping for moving vans.”

“Right now, Bob Schaffer is still trying to figure out what a Colorado mountain looks like.”

But the loudest whoops and hollers were reserved for this one:

“Right now, Tom Tancredo is serving up his last term in Congress.”

In the Denver County area, three Clinton supporters held up signs that read “Yes” “She” “Will.”

The euphoric atmosphere of the state convention no doubt elicited one of the more interesting comments of the day:

“We are going to mop the floor with John McCain,” promised Rep. Diane DeGette, D-Denver.

Late Friday Roundup 050208

As I wait for the McCain video to process and load, here is a Friday blog roundup--

Hot Air-"The aroma of desperation has begun to hover over Denver, and over Dean, and over the Democrats"

Drunkablog--Colorado lawmakers express "grief" over treatment of Indians

Schaffer v Udall--SvU launches "Udall Watch" tracking Udall's superdelegate indecision; Udall Rejects Gas Tax Holiday, Offers No Meaningful Solution To Energy Dependency

Iraq War Anniversary--Colorado Recruitment Levels Remain High, "Duty To Country" Cited As Top Reason

Of course, there are the famous soldiers like Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, killed in Afghanistan and remembered in the excellent book "Lone Survivor" by fellow SEAL Marcus Luttrell, whose commemorative statue caused a stir last year when moonbats felt that the representation of the brave Coloradan using the last known photo of him "glorified violence" because he was holding a gun.

But the sacrifice has been felt by many others less well-known, but equally deserving of praise and thanks, including Marine Jon Lujan, injured the first week of battle:

Colorado has lost more than 50 of its own since the war in Iraq began five years ago and Fort Carson has lost more than 200, according to the Department of Defense. The DOD says nearly 500 Coloradans have been injured.

Lujan is among those that were injured, but his wounds started to heal over time.
. . .
Five years after he went into Iraq, Lujan looked back on the protests, the reunions, the battles and the funerals.

"It's a day with mixed emotions. I woke up today and realized what today was and there's anxiety, there's sadness, there's a whole gamut of emotions," he said.

He says the best thing anyone can do for any Iraq War veteran is just to say "thanks."

"I don't want 'em to react any different than they would for anyone else," he said.
Lujan says he has no regrets.

"For me, I was just doing my job," he said.

Despite the MSM's best efforts, Coloradans are signing up for what seems a very old-fashioned reason--a sense of honor and duty--but the MSM wants you to believe it is only for economic reasons that recruitment remains high:

A sense of "duty to country" is cited as the top reason for enlisting, but a struggling economy back home makes Army jobs look attractive. Cale Margheim, 40, lost his banking job and has a wife and child.

"They're supportive," Margheim said. "Of course they don't' want to see me deployed, but they are supportive of me."

The Army is meeting recruiting goals in part by offering big incentives -- up to $73,000 for college, up to $65,000 to pay off existing student loans, up to $40,000 in sign up bonuses and family medical benefits.

"I needed to get out of debt and I started paying for school," Army enlistee
Justin Owens said.

At the recruiting office in Denver, quotas are not only being met, but exceeded.

You don't exceed quotas merely with a flagging economy.

But then that doesn't fit their neat little narrative of our soldiers, now, does it? Coloradans are not alone, as reenlistments across the nation continue to soar.

The hardest job at home--casualty notification--follows Marine Maj. Steve Beck and the families of fallen soldiers.

Fort Carson has seen a lot of loss, including Staff Sgt. Michael D. Elledge:

Elledge, 41, of Brownsburg, Ind., and Cpl. Christopher C. Simpson, 23, of Hampton, Va., died Monday during an operation to locate and clear insurgent bombs from a road in northeast Baghdad.

Their unit, 1st Battalion, 68th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, is working to police neighborhoods near Sadr City.

Their deaths bring the number of Fort Carson soldiers killed in Iraq to 235, including eight members of the brigade who have died since the unit left in December for its third tour in Iraq.

Elledge was considered an old man in his company. The two-tour Iraq veteran was a teenaged Marine, left the military, but joined the Army a month after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

"When 9/11 hit, he felt a real need to re-enlist," his sister, Marsha Johnson, said by telephone from Detroit. "He was a real patriot."

While he loved his country, Elledge managed to put his wife and three children first in his life, Johnson said.

"The biggest thing for him was his family," she said
. . .
His dedication to duty had earned him the Army Commendation Medal.

And a reminder of the folks who hold "peace" vigils and claim to support the troops by wanting to "bring them home":


Link: sevenload.com

Not Just JeffCo--Concealed Carry Permit Requests Up Across Colorado

Two days ago we reported on the jump in the number of people seeking concealed carry permits in Jefferson County, citing personal safety and the control of the legistlatures by the Democrats at state and federal levels.

Well, its not just a county trend:

Applications for concealed-weapon permits have skyrocketed in Colorado, with the increase fueled by everything from heavily publicized mass shootings to routine renewals, according to the state's sheriffs.

In 2007, 9,880 people statewide sought permits, compared with 6,649 people in 2006 and 6,670 people in 2005, according to the County Sheriffs of Colorado. And the surge has continued into 2008 in several counties.

Law-enforcement experts have different ideas on why more people want to carry concealed weapons. Some believe it is due to a rash of violent outbreaks at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University and a mall in Utah.

Some sheriff's offices believe churches concerned about protecting their flocks are seeking concealed-carry permits. Another official believes many of the initial batch of five-year permits in the state are expiring soon and that people are simply renewing applications. Those seeking permits are not required to explain why they want to carry a weapon. Whatever the reason, the trend is real.

"People want to defend themselves," said Doug Davis, president of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition. "That's why they get permits."

At least we have that right--to defend ourselves--at least for the present.