The ‘Change’ of Obama’s Foreign Policy: Talk to Enemies; Insult Allies

By Julian Dunraven, J.D., M.P.A.

Honorable friends:

I think it is fair to say that when the American people elected President Obama, part of the ‘change’ they sought was in our diplomatic approach. Even I, struggling to find something to be happy about in this last election, told myself that at least Mr. Obama is unlikely to embarrass himself diplomatically as George Bush was so fond of doing. Perhaps, I thought, we would no longer have to suffer through articles about our President trying to massage the shoulders of Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel. That may have been wishful thinking given the recent diplomatic gaffes coming out of the Obama administration.

Take Hillary Clinton’s recent gift to Russia, for instance: a symbolic reset button. It was meant to represent a departure from the Bush administration’s confrontational attitude and effectively begin a new and friendlier relationship with Russia. The button read “Reset,” in English, but in Russian it apparently read, “Overcharge,” much to the embarrassment of Mrs. Clinton. Although I must say, “Overcharge,” seems to be a more accurate representation of what the Obama administration is doing, it is an appalling display of ineptitude on the part of our diplomatic corps. Even if the State Department is, for some inexplicable reason, suffering a shortage of agents literate in Russian, one would think they would at least have the presence of mind to go out and look at a Russian video game console, find the reset button, and copy the word. I dare say one of our adolescent gamers could have done a better job of it. Unfortunately, Mrs. Clinton’s error was quite minor when compared to the miserable display put on by Mr. Obama himself in receiving Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Great Britain.

During the Clinton and Bush (I & II) administrations, a visit from our closest and strongest ally’s head of government was marked with a joint press conference, a reception at Camp David, and a formal dinner. Not so in the Obama administration, which made no arrangement for any of these things. Unfazed though, Mr. Brown pressed on and presented Mr. Obama with a pen holder made from the wood of the HMS Gannet, a ship used in fighting the slave trade. Its sister ship, HMS Resolute, provided the wood to make just two desks: one belongs to Queen Elizabeth II, the other sits in the Oval Office. In return, Mr. Obama presented the Prime Minister with a set of 25 DVDs of American movies. As if this were not tacky enough, they are American DVDs and do not play in British DVD players. He also returned the bronze bust of Winston Churchill that has been in the Oval Office since Tony Blair presented it to us after the 9/11 attacks. As reported by the New York Daily News, the British People were incensed at the slights.

Not to be outdone, Michelle Obama’s gifts to the Brown children were in equally bad taste. The Times of London reported that Mrs. Brown presented the Obamas’ daughters with, “really nice presents. A bit of thought had clearly gone into choosing them: Top Shop dresses (with matching necklaces) and a selection of books by British authors.” In return, Mrs. Obama gave the Browns’ sons toy models of Marine One, the presidential helicopter. “Short of giving the boys Action Man models of her own husband smiting the evil forces of neoconservatism,” said The Times, “Mrs Obama’s gesture could not have been more solipsistic or more inherently dismissive of Mrs Brown.” The Daily Telegraph’s James Delingpole is now calling Mrs. Obama ‘Lady MacBeth.’

According to The Telegraph, The White House explained that Mr. Obama was simply too exhausted from dealing with the economic crisis to bother with the “diplomatic niceties of the special relationship” with Britain. The Telegraph quoted one American official who noted that, so far, Mr. Obama has failed to "even fake an interest in foreign policy." Most disturbingly The Telegraph cited a State Department official who articulated the new administration’s view of Britain by saying, “There's nothing special about Britain. You're just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn't expect special treatment.” If this statement true, it is a wretched thing to say of our strongest and most loyal ally. Glenn Beck may be correct in calling on us to write the British Embassy to apologize for our President’s appalling manners.

However, such an attitude may explain why The Times reports Britain is also finding it “unbelievably difficult” to deal with the Obama administration in planning the G20 summit or get clarity on what Obama wants to do to rescue the world’s economies.

Meanwhile, Mr. Obama has announced his plans to reach out diplomatically to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Do recall that the Taliban is a fundamentalist Islamic movement that supports Sharia law and a medieval view of human rights while endorsing Osama bin Laden and jihadist actions against the United States. This is apparently the ‘change’ Obama promised us with respect to foreign policy: hold talks with avowed enemies and insult our greatest allies. If Mr. Obama treats the Taliban leaders in the same way he has treated the Prime Minister of England, I expect they will be issuing a new fatwa against the United States in the very near future.

**Update--Barack Obama Returns To Denver, 100000 Pack Civic Center Park

**Update 2--100,000 packed Civic Center, according to police

**Update--9NEWS has the best live webcast

Total numbers won't be known (or overinflated by the MSM) until tomorrow, but with pleasant weather and no competition from the Denver Broncos, there should be 30-50K people in Civic Center Park, no doubt buoyed by the recent poll showing Obama with a double-digit lead over John McCain. Looks like that $5 million Greek temple and Obamessiah rally at Invesco Field to cap off the DNC in Denver really paid off!

Meanwhile Hillary Clinton drew a small crowd for her pro-Obama rally on Friday--Peoples Press Collective was on the scene, and has coverage.

Early vote totals (by party) appear to indicate that record or near-record turnout could be expected across Colorado, with 17.7% (570,000) of registered voters already completing their ballots.

And finally, shocking news from Boulder.

Colorado Democratic Delegate Thrown Under The Bus For Anti-Obama Remarks, Delegate Status Threatened

Change we can't believe in--and not just in Wisconsin. If you are or have ever been a supporter of Hillary Clinton, and just happen to be a Clinton delegate to the Democratic National Convention, you better keep your opinions to yourself:

An e-mail sent from the Political Director of the Colorado Democratic Party threatened the status of a national delegate, alleging she made "disparaging public remarks" about Sen. Barack Obama.

Sacha Millstone of Boulder told CALL7 Investigator John Ferrugia that her comments were critical, but they were not public.

Millstone acknowledged she was frustrated over how the Obama campaign was treating delegates who supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and told a fellow delegate, in what she believed was a private e-mail exchange, that she was not sure she could vote for Obama at the Democratic National Convention later this month.

The other delegate apparently filed a complaint with the state Democratic Party suggesting Millstone lose her status as a delegate.

Not a supporter of "The One?" That's a big no-no.

Perhaps Democratic Party officials should force delegate to sign a loyalty oath?

Apparently the Political Director of Colorado's Democratic Party, William Compton, took the suggestion very seriously and told Millstone via e-mail, "You are directed to come in to the Party Headquarters and explain your comments and why you should remain a national delegate..."

Millstone, who worked on the campaign for Hillary Clinton, considered the e-mail a threat.

"I think that one of the reasons I got this letter was to intimidate me," said Millstone. "It sounded very totalitarian. I thought it sounded undemocratic and I was completely shocked."

But that's benevolent totalitarianism. And the Democratic Party behaving undemocratically.

I know, I know. Shocking.

Millstone continued, "Having conversations on the pros and cons of those candidates, I don't think this is an unusual thing at all in the Democratic Party."

"Anytime we receive a complaint, we are required by our rules to hear that complaint and decide whether or not it should be taken to the rules committee," said Pat Waak, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party.

Ferrugia asked Waak, "If someone brings you private correspondence, you'll use that in investigating a complaint?"

Waak responded, "We have used documents, memos, other things in the past where complaints have been filed. We have used whatever comes to us. That does not mean it goes to the rules committee."

Ve have vays of making them talk!

Waak said the investigation and e-mail from Compton was not made public by the Colorado Democratic Party and regrets that it is in the public domain.

She also said, "I do think there are some delegates, on both sides, with some wounded feelings because this has been a very difficult, hard fought campaign."

Of course she "regrets" this story being in the public domain. The Democrats have staked this campaign on "hope" and "change" and a new political discourse. Millstone's opinions, and the revelation of this "investigation" end up discrediting the aura of party openness by restricting the ability of national delegates to have their own opinions on the party's candidate.

With Hillary Clinton's supporters scheduled to potentially throw a monkeywrench into Obama's coronation plans (Party Unity My Ass indeed!), this new story couldn't have come at a worse time:

About Millstone, Waak told 7NEWS, "From our point, it's over with. She's chosen not to come in and talk with us and so, we're two weeks away from the convention and we'll continue to work with the delegates who want to be worked with."

Millstone firmly believed the e-mail from Compton was a clear message to Clinton delegates nationwide to refrain from critical comments of Obama if they wish to attend the convention.

"I think that it was calculated to have an impact on other delegates and I think this kind of communication does have a very chilling impact on other delegates because people become afraid to speak up. They become afraid to say what they think."

Millstone added, "You can't get unity by telling people to shut up."

A sign of things to come under an Obama administration?

Unlike the situation in Wisconsin, where the delegate supported the GOP candidate, Millstone's concerns called into question her ability to vote for Obama, in what was a moment of doubt expressed in a private email. She didn't hold a press conference and trash the presumptive Democratic nominee. Millstone didn't switch parties. Reservations about the party's candidate, something expressed quite frequently among GOP voters, should hardly constitute grounds for dismissal as a delegate.

That the matter has been dropped (see video at link above) due to alleged time constraints with the impending DNC seems a little too convenient. Colorado Democrats just want to avoid a national headline, and it appears that had this happened earlier, a full rules committee investigation would have occurred.

**Update--earlier version said she hadn't made a declarative statement in favor of Sen. Clinton. She was, in fact, a Clinton delegate. Apologies.

HillRaiser--Hillary Clinton's Supporters Plan DNC Uprising, Ad Buys, Parades

**Update--Gateway Pundit has examples of the ad buys from Hillary's supporters

Hell hath no fury like Hillary fans scorned--things may not be looking so rosy for Barack Obama when he brings his campaign to Denver, ostensibly to accept the party's nomination:

Frustrated supports of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) are planning multiple rallies at the Democratic convention in Denver, coupled with television and print advertisements.

The disenchanted Democrats want to express their disappointment with the party’s presidential primary process.

The Denver Group, formed a couple of months ago by two Clinton backers, says it has filmed a television commercial and is looking to air it soon. The fledgling group adds that it has received such a strong response to its scheduled Aug. 26 reception in Denver that it had to book an overflow room.

Meanwhile, another pro-Clinton group called “18 Million Voices” is organizing a march on Aug. 26 in Denver “and nationwide to support Sen. Clinton and advocate for women’s rights worldwide.” It will also be holding “a celebration in a beautiful Denver City park during the day, and throughout the evening on Aug. 26,” according to the 18 Million Voices website.

Party Unity My Ass!

Some, shall we say, differences of opinion on how the DNC should play out:

For example, some of the Denver Group’s goals are contrary to the Democratic Party’s.
Its goals include: an open convention; Clinton's name placed in nomination with no symbolic roll call vote; speeches allowed by supporters of Clinton on behalf of her candidacy; a genuine roll call vote with Clinton as a legitimate candidate; and “no coronation.”

Asked about Clinton last week, Obama said, “As is true in all conventions, we’re still working out the mechanics, the coordination.” When pressed if he would favor a roll call for Clinton, Obama responded, “I didn’t say that.”

Heidi Li Feldman, co-founder of the Denver Group, said, “There is going to be a steady stream of activities for the first three days of the convention” and predicted thousands of Clinton backers will appear at the events.

Feldman said her group has raised between $30,000 and $40,000, enabling it to buy six print ads and produce one television ad. The TV ad is scheduled to run on CNN and during a local news broadcast in Denver the week before the convention begins. The ad strategy for convention week has not been finalized.

More delicious discord:

Regardless of any accord Clinton and Obama come to, the planned rallies could become a focus of the media’s attention instead of the heavily scripted themes of the convention.

The Denver Post recently reported that Clinton backers will hold signs that read, “Denounce Nobama's Coronation.”

Denounce! Denounce!

Glad to see that not only Republicans and unaffilliateds are being turned off by the emotionally charged Obama cultishness that appears more like idolatry than basic candidate enthusiasm. Perhaps the simple fact that Obama isn't the dull automaton (Al Gore) or the haughty elitist (John Kerry) of the past two campaigns, combined with his hopeymcchangeyhopinesschangiocity rhetoric, drives their imaginations and infatuations.

But can Hillary's supporters really raise a ruckus and get a roll call vote and upstage the presumptive nominee, or manage little more than a hot flash of indignant protestation that accomplishes nothing in the end (or even boosts Obama's image as a magnanimous candidate)?

The DNCC released the headline speakers lineup, and will be rolling out more convention speakers and events over the course of the next week.

Completely unrelated--Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may host charity event during DNC

Rush Limbaugh--"I'm Dreaming Of Riots In Denver" Causes Local Stir; Glenn Spagnuolo Responds

We know what he meant, but what he said has stirred the local political gadflys, including Recreate '68 Dear Leader Glenn Spagnuolo, who took his pot shots at Limbaugh's comments (and paraphrased Douglas Bruce to boot!--this story has everything):

Rush Limbaugh says he was not calling for a riot in Denver during the Democratic National Convention — he only "dreams" of it, to the tune of "White Christmas."

The conservative talker discussed the possibility of Mile High unrest this August his national show for a second day in a row today.

"Now, I am not inspiring or inciting riots. I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming of riots in Denver," he said mimicking the holiday tune.

He explained on-air: "Riots in Denver at the Democrat Convention would see to it we don't elect Democrats," Limbaugh said. "And that's the best damn thing (that) could happen for this country as far as anything I can think."

Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer with the protest group Re-create 68, called Limbaugh "a fool."

"We don't need another 5,000 illiterate Limbaugh listeners coming to Colorado," he said, mocking a comment this week by State Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, calling migrant workers "illiterate peasants" as he debated a bill to accommodate up to 5,000 guest workers in the state.

You can listen to the audio here.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper added this comment--"Anyone who would call for riots in an American city has clearly lost their bearings."

What Limbaugh was of course referring to were the implicit threats issued by Democrat firebrands like the Rev. Al Sharpton, and of course the agitation of the local moonbats, led by none other than Recreate '68:

On Wednesday, Limbaugh had been discussing comments by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who had warned of "trouble" at the convention if the nomination was wrested away from Barack Obama by superdelegates.

Local conservative talk show host and GOP activist John Andrews saw what he believes Limbaugh was getting at.

"Look, nobody seriously wants violence and civil disobedience at the Denver convention," he said. "Rush is just saying, 'Make our day'; if, in fact, the Re-create '68 hooligans or the Al Sharpton street toughs or anybody else wants to disrupt the convention, they're going to hurt Democrats' chances in the fall."

Aside from Sharpton, we have followed other calls to wreak havoc in Denver--including a plan to "destroy the party"--should Obama fail to capture the nomination.

And that doesn't include the Recreate '68 and affiliated groups' shenanigans that could easily devolve into angry mobs and worse--despite Spagnuolo's vehement protestations of a commitment to "non-violence."

Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown, however, rejected even the perception of "wishing" for riots:

Denver City Councilman Charles Brown, a Republican and Limbaugh listener, was outraged. Brown was a school teacher in Illinois during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. He recalled the injuries, chaos, lingering tear gas and national disgrace for Chicago as a result of the riots.

"What an insult," Brown said of Limbaugh's flippancy. "Regardless of political labels, for any radio announcer to wish a riot on a city so his party could win, that's disgraceful and it's absurd."

He said he has found Limbaugh to be a "great entertainer, but he's really gone too far. It's almost juvenile."

Brown said he did not think Limbaugh was speaking for Republicans when he made the comment.

"I don't believe there is a Republican in this state that would agree with his comment."

We certainly agree with Brown--no one wishes for a riot, for political or any other reasons.

SP and our allies, as well as our committed opposition, all call Denver home. I know I speak for many in the Denver area who would like very much not to see violence, mayhem, and property damage--a black eye for the lovely "Queen City of the Plains."

We continue to hope that groups like Recreate '68 keep their word. Protest, assemble, and demonstrate your First Amendment rights to the full extent of the law.

Just don't trash the city in the process.

Denver Convention Flop In The Cards For The Democrats?

Could be:

Banking on the whims of the superdelegates -- who aren't required to stick with the candidate they say they'll endorse -- could leave the party scrambling for a Plan B very late in the game. Clinton's campaign has predicted a summer-long battle to convince superdelegates to back her, which would drag the process out longer than previously imagined by most. So organizers in Denver are busy preparing backup plans for a nightmare scenario in which two potential nominees need to be accommodated -- with everything from the best hotel suites to the choicest Pepsi Center skyboxes split between the Obama and Clinton camps.

Informally, both campaigns are being kept in the loop as decisions get made about some convention details that will remain constant either way. No matter who wins, for example, expect to hear a lot about Democratic strength in the West, with governors like Arizona's Janet Napolitano and New Mexico's Bill Richardson taking prominent roles, regardless of the fact that both are backing Obama.

"We fully expect to have a nominee before anyone arrives in Denver," said convention spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth. "With that said, we would not be doing our jobs when you're planning an event of this scope and size if we did not plan for or build in added flexibility."

Ideally, planners want to be able to hand over a "turn-key" convention scheme to whoever winds up as the nominee. The idea is that everything but the content of the convention script will be developed in advance -- and then the nominee's staff would fit their own broad themes around that framework. Each night will already be divvied up into time slots for speeches, before the winner's aides need to figure out who will say what.

But that may all seem a little too easy. Modern conventions are carefully stage-managed affairs, with nothing left to chance; it is the prime opportunity for nominees to make a case to American voters who are tuning in to politics for the first sustained length of time. For example, in 2004, working nearly around the clock in a room in the Fleet Center basement, a team of speechwriters hired by the Kerry campaign vetted the text of everything anyone said from the podium at the Boston convention.

If the winner isn't clear ahead of time this year, Dean and the DNC would take over that critical management role -- meaning whoever wins won't have much input into the overall theme of the convention that nominates them.

"Nightmare scenario." Heh.

I thought all this partisan bickering was good for democracy?

Back in March, we detailed what could happen if Hillary gets the nomination over Obama--Democrat voters "duty bound" to destroy the party.

In Schaffer v Udall Battle, Coloradans Offered Clear Choice

"The two likely candidates in this year's U.S. Senate contest, Rep. Mark Udall, a Democrat, and former Rep. Bob Schaffer, a Republican, served side-by-side in Congress from 1999 through 2002. Over those four years, they cast 2,036 votes together, often on symbolic or non-controversial matters. And yet they still managed to disagree more than half the time - 1,078 times, to be precise"--Rocky Mountain News

As the Rocky Mountain News points out, Senate candidates Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall are as different as night and day:

If you think Rep. Mark Udall, a Democrat, and former Rep. Bob Schaffer, a Republican, disagree on 1,000 different things, that's close.

From 1999 through 2002, when they worked across the aisle from one another in the U.S. House of Representatives, they cast opposite votes a whopping 1,078 times.

That long and detailed record makes the 2008 contest a rarity in state politics. Not since 1986, when Democrat Tim Wirth faced Republican Ken Kramer, have two one-time House colleagues gone head-to-head in a U.S. Senate race.

"Talk about a paper trail. This is a paper trail that leads into the Rockies for this Senate race," said Norman Provizer, a political science professor at Metropolitan State College in Denver. "They represent two very differing views on all kinds of issues. If you look at it from an issue perspective, they aren't Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum."

The Rocky Mountain News analyzed all 2,036 congressional votes, big and small, that Schaffer and Udall cast during their four years together in the House. It's more than enough to keep the ad-makers on both sides busy in the run-up to November.

Fair use prevents a lengthier quotation (the article is quite long and extensively researched), but here are a few highlights:

Schaffer's stance is first, Udall's second

Military issues

* IRAQ WAR: Resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq. (Oct. 10, 2002) YES NO

* SPENDING: An amendment that would have imposed a 1 percent, across-the-board cut on military programs. (May 18, 2000) NO YES

* RECRUITING: Amendment to education spending bill that would have prohibited funds from being used to block military recruiting at secondary schools. (June 13, 2000) YES NO

Homeland security

* ANTI-TERRORISM LAW: The anti-terrorism law, the Patriot Act, first enacted in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. (Oct. 12, and Oct. 24, 2001)YES NO

* ARMING PILOTS: Legislation to allow airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpit as a defense against terrorism. (July 10, 2002)YES NO

Education

* SCHOOL CHOICE: Amendment to the proposed "No Child Left Behind Act" that would have allowed students from low-performing schools, or crime victims from "unsafe schools," to choose to attend private schools using public funds. (May 23, 2001)YES NO

Taxes

* BUSH TAX CUTS: Approval of White House-backed tax cuts of the "Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2001." (March 8, 2001)YES NO

* TAX LIMITS: A proposed constitutional amendment requiring two-thirds majority votes to approve new tax increases. (June 12, 2002)YES NO

Takeaways?

This contest pits candidates from rival parties that present a clear difference in viewpoints. The common charge that most candidates in any election are "basically the same" can simply not be applied in this case.

Schaffer-Republican-Conservative

Udall-Democrat-Liberal

The move to the "middle" where both sides believe the election will be won features an unaffiliated voting bloc poised to become the largest pool of registered voters in Colorado. Schaffer acknowledges that the state's tilt has been blue since 2004; Udall realizes that he is not the "moderate" that either Sen. Ken Salazar or Gov. Bill Ritter were (or purported to be) when they ran statewide.

The most recent poll shows both candidates within the margin of error (Udall leads 46-43), a clear toss-up, in spite of the MSM's continued meme that the seat is really Udall's to lose.

The votes revealed (or re-revealed, in some cases, for those political junkies who have been following this blog) will be the subject of campaign fodder, political ads, and 527 mudslinging for the next 7 months.

The only thing that can be agreed on--the stature and importance of this race. Republicans see the seat as an opportunity to roll back further losses due to retirement and a generally unfavorable political climate that has persisted since 2006. Democrats envision not only a pick-up, but an advance toward the potential 60 vote filibuster-proof supermajority.

Exit question: with Republicans settled on Sen. John McCain as their nominee, and the Democrats witnessing a fierce race rage on between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama, which candidate stands to benefit from their respective party's nominee? Who is helped more, or flipping that proposition, who is hurt the least?

**Update:
Ryan Sager is rather pessimistic about the GOP's chances in the "interior West" unless Sen. Hillary Clinton is the nominee, but Daniel Larison has a different explanation for the region's recent trend to blue, and asks--is it really a recent development, and can short term trends be extrapolated into long term outcomes?

Cross posted from Schaffer v Udall

Howard Dean Worried Clinton-Obama Battle Hurting Dems' Chances In November

**Update--by July 1st.

And he wants a nominee before the Democratic National Convention in August:

Democratic Party chief Howard Dean says Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and their supporters should beware of tearing each other down, demoralizing the base and damaging the party's chances of winning the White House in November.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Dean also said he hopes the Democratic nominee will be determined shortly after the voting ends in early June and that he will encourage the superdelegates who will play a role to make up their minds before the August convention in Denver.

Dean said the charges and countercharges between Clinton and Obama have gotten too personal at times. He declined to say how they have crossed the line, but he said he's made it clear privately when it has happened.

"You do not want to demoralize the base of the Democratic Party by having the Democrats attack each other," he said Thursday during the interview in his office at Democratic National Committee headquarters. "Let the media and the Republicans and the talking heads on cable television attack and carry on, fulminate at the mouth. The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat."

The only ones frothing with negativity right now are the Democrats--apparently Dean's theory that only Republicans and pundits are part of an attack machine is failing, miserably.

The demoralization has already begun. And telling supporters to "keep their mouths shut" so as not to create disarray?

So much for free speech in the Democrat party.

It's not gonna look good to have a Presidential loss on your resume, is it now Dean?

The Year 1968--Posturing Rebels And Moral Equivalency

Playwright Tom Stoppard on the whining rebels and the year 1968 (via Instapundit):

I was as aware as most people were that not everything in the gardens of the West was lovely and of course we didn’t know – one never knows – the half of it. But when in August 1968 the armies of the Warsaw Pact invaded and occupied Czechoslovakia, an act which was simply the ongoing occupation of eastern Europe writ bold, my embarrassment at our agit-prop mummers’ “revolution” turned to revulsion.

What repelled me was the implied conflation of two categorically different cases. The “free West”, God knew, was all too often disfigured by corruption and injustice but the abuses represented, and were acknowledged to represent, a failure of the model. In the East, though, the abuses represented the model in full working order.

A small incident which must have confirmed some people’s worst suspicions about me occurred when I was asked to sign a protest against “censorship” after a newspaper declined to publish somebody’s manifesto. “But that isn’t censorship,” I said. “That’s editing. In Russia you go to prison for possessing a copy of Animal Farm. That’s censorship.”

Communism’s “normality” relied on the distortion of language and my new hero, George Orwell, had long since diagnosed the disease in his own society, so I took this kind of thing very much to heart.

Awash in a sea of freedom, the youth of 1968 rebelled.

Some in Denver and around the nation want to "recreate '68" this election year.

And like all faux-revolutionary poseurs, they don't know the half of it--the price of freedom, or the responsibility for one's actions.

Just lashing out at the targets of their anger, labeling everyone and everything in their path as the enemy, and continuing the "conflation" of categorically different ideas/themes/messages in order to make a political point and win concessions through intimidation and manipulation of the current PC culture.

Why recreate 1968? For the leftist moonbats, nothing has changed. Everyone else grew up and matured. They seem captivated by their lingering insecurities and the thrill of (impotent) action.

And they're bringing their roadshow circus to Denver's DNC this August.

More discussion (Via Bob's Blog)--Caplis & Silverman on Recreate '68.

Dems' Denver DNC Could Backfire, Turn State Red; City Can't Handle DNC; Protestors "Duty Bound" To Destroy Democrats If Obama Not The Nominee

The great irony is that the choice of Denver was a political calculation to show a state that had turned (in the minds of the party bosses) from red to blue. The end result will likely be to to turn the state back to red...."--Campaign Spot

"It won’t be the chaotic street protest and battle with the cops that occurred in ’68: we’ve learned too much from that. It will be organized, Gandhian in its adherence to discipline and nonviolence, and more massive than anything maybe ever seen in the United States’ long history of social movements. If the party leaders choose to destroy democracy by denying the fair-and-square winner the nomination, democracy will then be duty bound to destroy the party"--Campaign Spot

First, the city's ability to handle the DNC is in question, says one observer from the Campaign Spot at NRO (h/t Ben DeGrow):

Regardless of whether the convention turns into a repeat of 1968, with filthy hippie war protesters camping out on the state capitol grounds and the large public park in front of the city and county buildings across Broadway Blvd. (which are, incidently [sic], only about two blocks away from the Pepsi Center and big hotels the delegates will be staying at)[--more like a mile, ed.], the whole experience promises to be a circus and a fiasco the city of Denver has never seen in its history. The flawed nominating process this year will play no small role in this. That is assuming it doesn't turn into Los Angeles 2000 for the Democrats, in which case it will be something far worse for both the city (and its Democrat mayor) and the state (with a new, supposedly law and order Democrat Governor). Denver is not equipped to handle any convention scenario other than a coronation, and certainly not the most (potentially) contentious national convention in 40 years.
. . .
Having lived in Denver, Seattle, and Los Angeles, I assure you Denver is a lot more like Seattle than it is Los Angeles. Perhaps the law enforcement officials and Democrat officeholders in Denver will rise to the occassion and find the magic formula to keep the city from breaking under the critical mass of the crush of media, Democrat delegates, liberal celebrities, left-wing activists, unions, and the teeming hordes of war protestors, but I would bet not.

At the end of the day, not only did the DNC make a hash of their nominating process, but they also chose a city that will be ill-equipped to deal with the convention circus to officially nominate the eventual candidate. Even the newly returning students for the fall semester from Boulder, Fort Collins, and the other assorted colleges in the area will be enough street activists in Denver to give the locals headaches that week.

The great irony is that the choice of Denver was a political calculation to show a state that had turned (in the minds of the party bosses) from red to blue. The end result will likely be to to turn the state back to red....

Read it all.

Denver Democrats and other civic leaders assured both the DNC planners and the citizens of Denver that the city was capable of handling a large gathering of political activists, party delegates, and national and international media.

What it didn't bargain for was the potential for a contentious, attention-amplifying, possibly brokered convention, or the onslaught of local and national protest groups, at least not to the level that perhaps my be encountered come August.

Denver's urban center is compact, but not as high density as the larger cities listed above. There is the clear potential for traffic bottlenecks, as I-25 and Speer/Colfax are closed, even temporarily and even if the convention was merely a coronation of the eventual party nominee. This doesn't account for the security zone established around the Pepsi Center, the various activist groups inhabiting the city's parks, and the general mayhem that might ensue should groups like Recreate '68 or the anarchists actually carry out their plans to effectively shut the city down.

Locals are already planning on avoiding Denver like the plague, scurrying to the area foothills, joining their friends in the suburbs, or taking a vacation. CU-Denver, where I am currently enrolled pursuing MBA/MS-Marketing degrees and which is located directly across from the Pepsi Center, will be completely shuttered for the entire week.

There was no city-wide referendum on bringing the Democratic National Convention to Denver, only promises made that we richly deserved it because of the state's trend to "purple," and its geographical potential to attract votes in the Mountain West. Those who aren't fleeing that week will be monitoring the situation up close--observing and documenting the moonbat protestors' excesses, fact-checking the city on costs/cleanup/damages, and keeping track of the MSM and international media's reaction to our great city.

---

As if all that wasn't enough . . .

If Barack Obama doesn't get the nod at the DNC, then Democrats and activists--outside of the moonbats above--will march on Denver:

Call it Plan Jericho: Like Joshua of the Old Testament and his troops who circled the halls of the city, marched around it silently for six days, on the seventh day marched around it seven times more and then, on cue, sounded a horn to end the silence and shout all at once, toppled the walls, entered the city, and “killed” (the Bible says so literally, but this time it will be politically, not mortally) every man, woman and superdelegate – including any imposter they might “nominate” by imposition – that did not participate in the certain walk-out protest that will occur under their scenario and instead chooses to remain inside the hall.

It won’t be the chaotic street protest and battle with the cops that occurred in ’68: we’ve learned too much from that. It will be organized, Gandhian in its adherence to discipline and nonviolence, and more massive than anything maybe ever seen in the United States’ long history of social movements. If the party leaders choose to destroy democracy by denying the fair-and-square winner the nomination, democracy will then be duty bound to destroy the party.

The narrative of this campaign has created an opening for the triumph of a radical, non-electoral, political narrative if the electoral path becomes blocked by a handful of insiders that think they know better than us. The big news is that, for the first time in decades, a black-white alliance from the street will be possible: Montgomery 1955 meets Seattle 1999 in Denver 2008.

Just what Denver needs--More angry people.

Slightly off topic--why Colorado may be a tough state to poll.

City Of Denver Asks Moonbat Groups Gaming DNC Permit Plan To Play Fair

**Update--Unsurprisingly, the City's plea for groups submitting multiple permit requests is "falling flat"--shocking:

The city of Denver scrambled Monday to fix a loophole that allowed duplicate applications to stage protests and other events during the Democratic National Convention in August.

On the eve of today's blind lottery to handle competing requests, the city contacted people and organizations with multiple applications for the same event at the same park on the same day and asked them to "voluntarily" withdraw duplicates.

The city's plea was falling on deaf ears.

"First of all, I can't tell people who are part of our organization who have submitted two applications not to apply," said Mark Cohen, an organizer for the protest group Recreate 68 Alliance.

"Even if I could, I would have no intention of doing so," he added.

No, of course not.

Though on the other side of the political spectrum, another group concurs:

Danielle Versluys, whose family and friends submitted multiple requests for using the same parks for an anti-abortion pray and worship service, said they don't intend to withdraw their requests.

"There is nothing wrong with submitting individual applications by interested citizens," she said. "If (other organizations) only submitted one, they should have been thinking ahead."

For those without the handbook, "How to Sleaze Your Way Into Just About Anything," it looks like there won't be much recourse, except for the lottery that occurs today.

The City of Denver, in its attempt to be "fair" and non-exclusionary, created a system that not only encourages but rewards such behavior.

But we shouldn't complain too much. Who else will provide bloggers and the rest of the world with such entertaining events as "Levitate the Mint" and "Ring around the Pepsi Center"?

A sampling of the groups applying for Denver park permits:

Christian Defense Coalition is an anti-abortion group that wants to surround the Pepsi Center with 1,500 people and pray for the Democratic Party to change its platform on abortion.

CODEPINK is a women's anti-war organization that wants American resources to be spent instead on health care, education and other efforts.

Democrats to Support Safe Access is a California-based group that advocates for medical marijuana.

Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options is a group that advocates for parental choice in education and vouchers.

Recreate 68 is a group that has promised demonstrations that will rival those at the 1968 violence-filled Chicago Democratic convention.

---

When the permits process for Denver's Democratic National Convention began last week, I reported on Recreate 68 and other activists' attempts to "game" the system by submitting multiple identical requests by different activist front groups, an official had this to say:

But Erin Trapp, director of the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, which is accepting the applications, said the city has told organizations to submit one request per event.

"We are taking them on their word that they're doing that," she said. "We can't police it and won't."

Now, the city of Denver is hoping that the groups who submitted multiple requests will--out of the goodness of their hearts--withdraw these requests to make the process more "fair":

The city of Denver is hoping a phone call will fix a loophole in what was supposed to be a fair process for issuing park and other permits during the Democratic National Convention this August.

City employees are contacting people and organizations that submitted multiple requests for the same event at the same venue or venues on the same day or dates to "voluntarily" withdraw any duplicative requests.
. . .
The city is making the 11th hour request "to enable all organizations that want to participate an equal opportunity for access," according to a press release.

Funny that the groups always complaining about access are the same ones gaming the system, and essentially denying access to others.

More wishful thinking:

"We hope organizations that submitted multiple applications to increase their odds of selection will act in good faith – helping to give all who want to participate an equal chance to do so," Katherine Archuleta, a senior adviser to Mayor Hickenlooper, said in the statement.

"Our goal with this process has always been to ensure fair, equitable and transparent distribution of permits and licenses so that we may allow applicants every possible opportunity for free expression and maximum participation in this exciting, historic event," Archuleta said. "The lottery is not the end of this conversation; it is actually the beginning of the application process."

The numbers:

The city received 215 individual permit requests for 204 available permit slots in 12 city-owned venues.

Permit categories include art installation, assembly, expo, festival, picnic/race/walk, and special occasion.

Three-quarters of the requests originated from [Recreate '68 and other moonbat groups] Colorado-based individuals or organizations.

Thought there seems to be only 11 more requests than slots, it is probable that there are in fact several requests competing for the high profile prime time slots like the Civic Center. This article, unfortunately, isn't more specific than that, and doesn't detail exactly which groups submitted duplicate requests for the same time and venue for identical events.

Pepsi Center Goes Green For Democratic National Convention

Pepsi Center going green, and not just for St. Patrick's Day (video):

Governor Bill Ritter was on hand at the Pepsi Center as he and other officials got into the St. Patrick's Day spirit with a very green announcement on Monday.

Ritter announced that the Pepsi Center is the first arena in the country to go 100 percent green. And it had nothing to do with new paint, rather it's about reducing the Pepsi Center's environmental footprint to zero.

New solar panels are being installed, according to officials.

Ritter also unveiled renewable energy and recycling programs for the Democratic National Convention, which will be hosted at the Pepsi Center.

Ritter's announcement Monday morning is part of an ongoing effort by city and convention officials to be environmentally friendly during the four-day August event. A spokesman for Kroenke Sports, the company that owns the Pepsi Center, says it will be the first sports arena in the country to operate completely on renewable energy through the wind energy they bought.

Nuggets coach George Karl, Kroenke Sports vice president Dave Jolette and officials with the regional Environmental Protection Agency attended the event.

Officials with the Pepsi Center also plan to announce a new major Play Clean fan recycling and energy conservation initiative.

Part of this initiative includes new recycling bins, a hybrid-only parking area and a "no idling zone" outside the arena, officials say.

There will still be plenty of smug, however.

Obama Propaganda

You too can own some, well, propaganda:



Easy to photoshop that one, and someone already has--with effective results (via Michelle Malkin).

One correspondent and tipster JD had this to say about the wilting power of Obama's propaganda platitudes message of hope and change, and the inability to explain it:

The banality of modern politics never ceases to amaze me. As I have said several times already, this election, and especially the candidacy of Obama, has left me feeling as if I have completely lost touch with the American people. He speaks in nothing but empty platitudes, and the people love him for it. He makes empty promises he knows he cannot keep, and they adore him for it. He blows his nose, and they cheer him wildly. I read articles that use the word ‘messianic’ to describe his campaign, and no one is screaming “Blasphemy!”

To compare the two Democrat candidates, Clinton, without question, has better policy—especially in the areas of foreign affairs, economics, and the military. While I may disagree with her, it is mostly of the sort where reasonable minds can disagree based on different policy preferences and values. Obama, on the other hand, has made many statements that are simply wrong in all of those areas. People seem to know this, but they love him anyway. I don’t get it.

The other day, I spoke to an old acquaintance of mine who happens to be a Democrat supporting Obama. I asked him why. He said it was because Obama was against the war. After conceding that I was not terribly happy about the way the war has been handled either, I pointed out that the fact of the matter is that we did go to war and we are in Iraq. I asked him what he thought we should do about it now. He acknowledged that he does not believe Obama can pull the troops out right away as the region would go to hell. He even believes that the eighteen month withdrawal would be a bad idea. Nonetheless, he likes that Obama is saying it.

I then asked him about some of Obama’s other policy statements: his insane belief that free trade is bad, his willingness to treat publicly with our enemies, and his desire to impose additional regulations on securities trading. All of this was acknowledged to be quite terrible and possibly unfeasible. I was flummoxed. So I asked him how, knowing all this, could he still support Obama, when Clinton is at least calculating and self interested enough not to screw up the country too badly by making such mistakes. He shrugged, and said “Change. I know it probably doesn’t mean anything, but I’m just so sick of calculating and self interested politicians. I guess I don’t really care all that much about policy. I just like hearing ‘change,’ and I really want to believe it’s possible.”

People will believe anything they want to believe enough or fear to believe enough. I had almost forgotten that basic truism. I am terrified of where it may take us though. Politicians do tend to respond to what people want. Thus, it seems that people like us and Christopher Hitchens, people who care about policy and substance, are now in the minority. The majority really does just want to hear empty platitudes that make them feel good. They don’t care whether or not they are true or even possible. They just want to believe they are.

And that is how populists come to power. After their downfall, when it becomes abundantly clear that things didn’t work out just because people believed they would—even when those beliefs are enforced at the point of a gun-- they are called authoritarians or dictators. We spend a great deal of time learning that these people are evil. We don’t seem to do as well in learning how they come to power in the first place.

I know I've seen some "artwork" like this before . . .

Here are two other world leaders known for bringing "hope and change":

Denver's Moonbat DNC "Cinemocracy" Film Entries Funded By Taxpayers; Crowds At Denver's DNC Raise Residents' Concerns

Drunkablog pointed directed me to a roundup of the horrendous anti-war, BDS, and moonbat infested "Cinemocracy" videos created for Denver's DNC film competition, whose theme is the question, "how do you define democracy?" Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper even kicked off the competition with a video of his own.

Here is one particularly moonbattish entry--as Drunka describes him--"A rapper who calls the Founding Fathers "terrorists" and wonders how long the "empire" can last" ("Checks and Balances"):



Here's the project's mission, brought to you by taxpayer funds, no less (Denver's Office of Cultural Affairs is a sponsor):

During a year of monumental change, the Denver Film Society and Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, invite you to share your definition of democracy. By giving you an outlet for your voice, we hope to come closer to our own definition of democracy!

Then there is the completely irrational "so were you", with children covered in blood, thanking God for turning their "plowshares into swords":



Drunkablog has more, including the city of Denver's press release.

---

Denver's Downtown residents will be even more concerned about their safety and their property once they get wind of the potential for violence in addition to the extremely large crowds:

When the Democratic National Convention comes to town later this summer, there will likely be more problems than your average convention.

The convention, scheduled for Aug. 25 - 28, promises to create headaches for those living downtown.

Thousands live downtown, and several thousand more will be coming downtown during the last week of August. There will be road blocks, Secret Service and protests and residents said now is the time to develop a plan ensuring they can get to and from home safely.
. . .
"But there's one piece that seems to missing and that's kind of this question about security for the residents and access," said Maslanik.

And with a red-hot race and the possibility of a brokered convention, downtown residents want a plan in place ensuring residential access and safety sooner rather than later.
. . .
The Colorado Rockies' recent run to the World Series brought hundreds of thousands to LoDo, numbers that could possibly pale in comparison to this summer's DNC.

The DDRO is planning a meeting in April with police and other community leaders.

The police have been meeting with the protest planners for over a year. Nice to see them finally pay attention to the residents who may suffer the costs of large crowds and vandalism/violence.

Violence At Denver's Democrat Convention If Clinton Beats Obama For Nomination?

We may not need the moonbats of Recreate '68! to recreate 1968 should the Democrats end up with a brokered convention that sees Hillary Clinton take the nomination with the help of those superdelegates--some are talking tough and threatening violence (HuffPo, via NRO's campaign spot):

If the Clintons push for the win in Denver, they're going to split the goddamn party down the middle. I read your chapter on 1968 Chicago, obviously. I'm of the generation who supports Obama. I know what we're like. Shit, I know what I'm like.

Rick, if the Machine tries to give the Clintons the victory at the convention, I swear to God, Chicago's going to look like a Sadie Hawkins dance. People my age are going to be throwing stones. We all have transportation -- cell phones -- disposable income -- the Internet -- free time -- and Seattle as our example. Part of me is scared of a riot. Part of me isn't. The nomination belongs to Obama. Do you think we're going to let the Democratic Leadership Council take it? "God gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water, fire next time."

Internet braggadocio, or a real threat?

As Jim Geraghty points out, "This could just be more look-how-tough-I-sound boasting. On the other hand, after yesterday's Times Square bombing, and the reports that it was tied to rambling anti-war messages sent to members of Congress... maybe threats of violence ought to be taken more seriously."

Survey USA Colorado Poll--McCain Defeats Clinton, Loses To Obama

First poll numbers are in with John McCain officially the Republican nominee:

McCain 48-Clinton 42
Obama 50-McCain 41

A poll in February had similar results.

From SurveyUSA, the electoral college math--McCain loses to both Clinton and Obama in close elections:





McCain clearly has some work to do to get Republicans of all stripes back into his camp, or these forecasts will be considered optimistic by the time November rolls around.

McCain will drop into town on March 27th:

Newly-minted Republican presidential nominee John McCain will be holding a fundraiser in Denver at the Denver Athletic Club on March 27th, 2008.
. . .
The event will be chaired by former Colorado Governor Bill Owens and almost former US Senator Wayne Allard.

The host committee includes Frances Owens, RNC Committee woman Lily Nunez, Senator Tom Wiens, Congressman Doug Lamborn, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, congressional candidates Wil Armstrong and Bentley Rayburn and Pete Coors amongst others.

Recreate68's Moniker, DNC Plans Draw Moonbats, Derision From Fellow Liberals

"I can’t figure out why, for the life of me, that somebody would want to re-create ’68," she said. "Is it the riots or tear gas — or perhaps the assassinations? Or maybe the election of a Republican president? I’m not sure the name was completely thought out"--Denver Democrat Representative Diana DeGette


As Drunka notes, why only dudes? Isn't Recreate68! supposed to be diverse? The photoshop possibilities are endless . . .

Drunkablog wanders into the cesspool over at Recreate68! to find out a bit of their planned "actions" during August's Democrat National Convention--including Shake Your Money Maker:

It's time to redistribute the wealth. Between security and corporate pay-offs, the DNC will cost over 100 million dollars for a party. We think the people deserve that money. Join us as we encircle the Denver Mint (where U.S. currency is produced) and use our collective power to raise the mint building in the air and shake the money out of it for the people. Don't forget a sack to put all of your loot in. Bring noise makers, energy, spells, magic, costumes anything that gives you power, we will need it!

Other highlights include the sure-to-be-joyous (and not destructive--well, maybe not) "Festival of Democracy" and a daily themed "Days of Resistance":

During the Convention, there will be five major protest, one each day. Each protest will focus on a symptom of the disease of an Imperialist, Capitalist, Racist system as seen in our communities. Some of the proposed themes are as follows:

Sunday - End All Occupations at Home and Abroad
Monday - Human Rights/Free All Political Prisoners
Tuesday - No Warming
Wednesday - No Borders
Thursday - No Racism/Imperialism

Advanced bongo, chanting, and dressing for activist success sessions will immediately precede each day's festivities.

Drunkablog also notes that Recreate68! is finally garnering some attention from the MSM in the Beltway. Moonbat favorites including Medea Benjamin of Code Pink will be there:

Re-create ’68?

“What’s the political calculation that speaks to them of the wisdom of civil disobedience — which means a massive media spectacle — on the brink of a Democratic campaign that could plausibly put a Democrat in the White House who’s committed to withdrawal from Iraq?” asked Todd Gitlin, an anti-Vietnam War activist who was at the Democratic National Convention in 1968. “If the objective is to put a belligerent Republican in the White House, they should keep up the good work.”

The “belligerent Republican” of whom Gitlin speaks will almost certainly be Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who spent the summer of 1968 as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Organizers acknowledge that their “Re-create ’68” moniker has been met with skepticism as they’ve toured the country to gin up support among fellow activists. “A lot of people of course associate it with the DNC of ’68 and react negatively,” said organizer Mark Cohen. But the point, Cohen said, isn’t to reproduce the violence associated with the 1968 convention, just the strong sense of countercultural protest that coalesced against the Vietnam War. “We don’t call ourselves ‘Re-create Chicago ’68,’” Cohen offered.

Leslie Cagan, head of United for Peace and Justice, an anti-war group that has organized large marches in the past, said her group has endorsed the planned demonstrations in Denver.

Cynthia McKinney, a former Democratic congresswoman now running as a Green Party candidate for president, will be expressing herself at the demonstration, said organizers. They also plan to reach out to Ralph Nader, who is running as an independent, third-party candidate. The coalition is seeking the support of ANSWER, an anti-war organization with a more radical approach to street protest than UFPJ’s.

A major march against the war on the Sunday before the convention will be followed by a week of action, some of which will include nonviolent civil disobedience.

"Nonviolent" as in "breaking things, trashing the place, and generally acting like goons--but peacefully."

Riiight.

Other liberals aren't so keen either on Recreate68's moniker, including Denver Democrat Representative Diana DeGette:

Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat who represents Denver, was only 11 in 1968, but she said that she’s flummoxed by the notion that anyone would want to re-create the dark days of that year. “I can’t figure out why, for the life of me, that somebody would want to re-create ’68,” she said. “Is it the riots or tear gas — or perhaps the assassinations? Or maybe the election of a Republican president? I’m not sure the name was completely thought out.”

DeGette added, however, that her husband is a top official at the American Civil Liberties Union and that she is pushing for the demonstrators to have a “robust right” to speak their minds.

Gitlin, a former president of Students for a Democratic Society, fears that the protests in Denver will be too much about people speaking their minds and not enough about obtaining the results that they want.

“In the ’60s,” he said, “there were competing strains: the desire for results and the desire for self-expression. This seems to belong squarely in the self-expression camp.”

Gitlin said that trying to re-create the feeling of another era “makes about as much sense as throwing a costume party. It’s absurd to think you can re-create the culture of a moment. History is a succession of irreproducible moments.

You can't recreate the moment--but the moonbat stupidity is eternal.

Rocky Mountain News Inquiry Prompts Clinton Campaign To Remove "Bill In Blackface" Event From Web Site

"We've hired some high-end comedic talent to ease the way into Primary Day! Want to see HRC in cat-scratch mode? Bill in blackface? How about Mark Penn doling out pizza crusts and doughnut holes to the volunteers? We've got it all!"--Cleveland campaign event for Hillary Clinton

Wayward supporter or Obama's revenge for those photos?



From the Rocky:

Inquiries from the Rocky Mountain News prompted Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign to remove a supporter's "Bill in blackface?" event announcement from Clinton's official campaign Web site.

The notice appeared in an "action center" section of www.hillaryclinton.com where average supporters are allowed to publicize local events that are not necessarily sanctioned by the campaign.

In this case, the notice promised "Laughter at NAFTA Rally!" on Monday in downtown Cleveland.

The description:

"We've hired some high-end comedic talent to ease the way into Primary Day! Want to see HRC in cat-scratch mode? Bill in blackface? How about Mark Penn doling out pizza crusts and doughnut holes to the volunteers? We've got it all!"

The event was listed at:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/actioncenter/event/view/?id=10076

An archived version of the announcement is available HERE.

Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee called the language of the announcement "inappropriate and offensive."

"Any one of our supporters can host an event using the action network on our Web site and post it up there," Elleithee said. "If we ever find anything objectionable and it doesn't reflect what our campaign is about, we remove it, as we did in this case."

Whoops! A little too late in this case--not what Hillary needed at this moment.

Campaigns in the digital age will be forced to scrutinize all content provided through open-forum, user-generated sources. Great for organizing grass-roots supporters, but subject to the potential for misguided supporters inadvertently damaging their own candidate, or hacking by the opposition.

Posted by Republican Princess.

More Speculation--State Democrats Support Sen. Ken Salazar As Potential VP

With the Democrat National Convention in Denver and the clear desire by Democrats to appeal to voters in the Mountain Time Zone (and combat likely GOP candidate Sen. John McCain's independent appeal), Sen. Ken Salazar's name has surfaced once again as a potential moderate VP candidate for either of the ultra-liberal Democrat frontrunners (especially Sen. Hillary Clinton), with leading Colorado Dems voicing clear support:

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) feels that as vice president, Salazar "would be a strong voice" for major issues facing the Rocky Mountain states, said DeGette spokesperson Kristofer Eisenla.

"She thinks with how important ... those issues are in the Rocky Mountain West, we think (a Salazar vice-presidential nomination) is definitely a possibility," Eisenla said.

U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, is on board, too.

"Mark knows Ken would make an excellent choice, both as a nominee and as Vice President," said Udall campaign spokesperson Taylor West in a statement. "In addition to the judgment and experience he'd bring to the job overall, he'd also be a strong voice for the West and for rural America."

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) is "not surprised that Senator Salazar is on the short list" for Democratic vice-presidental candidates, said Perlmutter spokesperson Leslie Oliver.

"The senator is a very moderate Western Democrat, and (Perlmutter) thinks that the senator would bring solid Western values to the ticket, whoever the (presidential) nominee is," Oliver said.

Sen. Salazar, for his part, would say "yes" if asked by either candidate to join the Dem ticket in November.

Super Tuesday Postmortem: Colorado Caucus Results

Update (1:30 pm)--Note to Sen. McCain-telling conservatives to "calm down" is no way to build bridges with GOPers like those in Colorado ready to bolt from the party or simply sit on their hands

Update (1:00 pm)--Eye-rolling "Dems are nonpartisan, Republicans are conservative" caucus analysis of the day:

"Obama's that creative-society, nonpartisan, new-advocate-for-change Democrat that we like here," said Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli, pointing to former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart, Sen. Ken Salazar and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Mitt Romney's win over John McCain, on the other hand, showed that Republicans were backing conservative, core-party values over more moderate views.

Update (12:00 pm)--Ben DeGrow links to the "trust but verify" scenarios that will offer McCain perhaps his only chance at mending fences with conservatives; more observations of "barely organized chaos" from Roger Fraley; Dem blogger Wash Park Prophet sees Democrat enthusiasm as providing coattails for Mark Udall and other Dem candidates this fall

Update (7:00 am)--voter turnout percentage, based on voter registration for each party and the closed caucus rules-13.6% of Democrats caucused vs. 6.4% of Republicans

Update (3:30 am)--record turnout in Colorado-8x for Democrats (120,000 in 2008 vs. 15,000 in 2004) and 65,000 Republicans

Initial thoughts--despite his Super Tuesday success, here are the image problems in a nutshell John McCain will face in the coming months in his quest to court conservatives in the GOP base (via the awesome Michael Ramirez):