Silly Season: Political Vandals Hit Obama, McCain Supporters

Equal opportunity vandalism and destruction of private property.

Grow up folks . . . just because you disagree with someone else's politics doesn't mean you have any right to destroy another's property.

Good lord.

Moonbat Convergence: CU-Boulder's Conference On World Affairs; Live Video Feed Available

**Update 2--live video streaming available from Macky Auditorium and the UMC Center Ballroom:

Macky:
http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/live/cwamacky.mov
Macky Audio Only:
http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/live/cwamackyaudio.mov

Macky1:
http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/live/cwa2008macky1.mov
Macky1 Audio Only:
http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/live/cwa2008macky1audio.mov

UMC Center Ballroom (SkyCam):
http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/live/cwa2008UMC1.mov
UMC Center Ballroom Audio Only:
http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/live/cwa2008UMC1audio.mov

**Update--M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell:

Mike Farrell -- an actor turned anti-war activist and humanitarian -- will speak on several panels addressing war and violence during his first trip to the University of Colorado's Conference on World Affairs. The 60th annual conference begins today.

"People don't get a full discussionof the issues anymore," Farrell said. "Conferences like this offer an opportunity for them to get in on a different point of view."

There will certainly be a great deal of viewpoints at the conference from being adamantly against the war to zealously opposing it, and all viewpoints in between.

---

Every spring for the last 60 years, moonbats from around the world have gathered at CU-Boulder's Conference on World Affairs to hold forth on a variety of subjects--from art to science to politics and even philosophy.

This year will be no different, as the following schedule "highlights" reveal. These represent less than a third of the overall schedule, and include some of the most clearly out-in-left-field panels topics and panelists. Even the most innocuous subject matter devolves into some sort of anti-conservative, anti-capitalist, America-bashing diatribe by the panelists themselves--heaped upon by the indoctrinated students (Ward Churchill produced some of the best and the brightest!) and Boulder hippies that comprise the audience, all while maintaining the appearance of intellectual earnestness under the guise of university sanction. This is Recreate 68's target audience, and chief recruiting station for Denver's Democratic National Convention.

Just try saying anything positive about America. Or capitalism. You may just be lucky and escape the room intact. Be prepared for copious name-calling (whenever they don't understand or can't refute your argument) and hissing. Lots of hissing.

So, who'll be attending? Among the most prominent this year, activists Jello Biafra and Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H):

Best known for his eight years on M*A*S*H and five seasons on Providence, Mike Farrell is also a writer, director, producer, and author of a memoir, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist.

Beyond his prolific work in the entertainment industry, Farrell has traveled the world for the last 25+ years as part of prominent international human rights and peace delegations. Destinations have included El Salvador, Nicaragua, USSR, Paraguay, Chile, Israel, the Occupied Territories, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Czechoslovakia, Somalia, Kenya, Croatia, Bosnia, Cuba, Rwanda, Zaire, Tanzania, Costa Rica, and Honduras. This work led to his helping establish the Southern California Committee of Human Rights Watch, where he served as co-chair until 2004. His opposition to the war in Iraq resulted in his having co-founded Artists United to Win Without War.

A life-long opponent of the death penalty, Farrell has “seen too many death rows.” President of the board of Death Penalty Focus since 1994, he speaks, debates, writes extensively, and coordinates campaigns for individuals across the country facing execution. He is currently involved in an international effort to establish a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty.

That included convicted murderer, "Tookie" Williams.

Who else will be there?

Columnists from The Guardian. A former U.S. Senator from Colorado, Tim Wirth. And tons of activists. Heck, you can't even get a speaking gig at this event without the word "activist" somewhere in your resume. The only Republicans or conservatives present (CU President Bruce Benson, former Congressman Bob Beauprez) have been allowed to moderate a panel or two. Don't be surprised if they become the focus of the panel's ire, and get trashed in the process.

This is the People's Republic of Boulder, after all.

Here are some highlights to peruse (full list of events by day//full list of speakers):

Monday, April 7:
1102 Bush Legacy: Too Early to Tell, Too Late to Matter
1103 Teste Women: Why We Fear Women in Power
1104 America's Reliance on Immigrant Workers
1105 Privatizing War: Blackwater, et al.
1500A PLENARY The New "New International Economic Order"
1504 College Athlete = Indentured Servants
1601 The Orgy of Corporate Greed
1602 Surviving Contact with Extraterrestrials--[so you too can exact revenge at the end of a movie, Independence Day-style]
1701 RADIO BROADCAST Metro - Cuba After "W" and Raúl
1702 Resistance to America's Cultural Colonization
1703 The Candidates on Iraq: The Silence is Deafening
1802 LIVE BROADCAST Air America The Rachel Maddow Show
1804A PLENARY Keep Your Grubby Mitts Off My Constitution

Tuesday, April 8:
2103 The EU: Dissing American Dominance
2106 Do You Believe in Magic?
2201 The Death Penalty on Trial
2304 Poverty American-Style
2402 Censorship: Who, How & Why
2403 Science: Who's Afraid of the Future
2605 Torture: When the Unthinkable Becomes Acceptable
2606A AL SMITH MEMORIAL PLENARY Exploring Dystopia: Nuclear Holocaust
2701 2008 Election: Don't Screw This Up, America
2702 Exporting Cookie-Cutter Democracy
2706 Waging Peace--[militantly, of course]
2802 Separation of Art and State

Wednesday, April 9:
3000 LIVE BROADCAST A Public Affair - The Obama Phenomenon: A Post-Racist America?
3101 Latin America: Viva Change!--[Guaranteed to be a Che t-shirt, somewhere in the room]
3104 Men, Sex and Power
3105 Republicans: It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To
3108 The Impact of the Religious Right
3202 Iraq: We'll Pull Out in Time. Honest.
3203 Mythologizing the Past: FDR, JFK, MLK, Reagan
3303 When Kids Go to Jail
3505 Bench the Eagle: The End of the American Empire
3506 Global Warming Is Eating Up Our Food Supply
3600A PLENARY wwjd (What would Jello do?): Magic Solutions to All the World's Problems
3705 The Real Reasons Iran Is the Next Target
3801 Three Billion Reason$ for Campaign Finance Reform
3805 Bill O'Reilly and Rupert Murdoch Can SoundByte Me
3807 North Korea: Small Place, Big Noise

Thursday, April 10:
4200A MOLLY IVINS FREEDOM FIGHTIN' MEMORIAL PLENARY Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran
4201 Hollywood: Setting or Reflecting American Values--[After yet another failure of an anti-war movie, I'm guessing neither]
4404 Hip Hoppers, Beatboxers and Punk Rockers: A Battle Cry for Social Change
4502 Post-Petroleum Economics
4503 Dude! Where's My Constitution!
4604 Film and the Aesthetics of Brutality
4702 National Service Should Be Mandated--[Bringing back the draft, moonbat style]
4704 Feminism: The New F Word

Friday, April 11:
5102 Energy Conservation is a Waste of Energy
5103 Every Joke Is a Small Revolution
5104 It's the End of the World as We Know It
5105 A Woman's Right to Shoes
5106 Democrats: It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To
5107 Gun Violence: The Madness Affecting America
5201 If the Rest of the World Could Vote for U.S. President...
5303 American Education: A Rising Tide of Mediocrity
5304 Advice for the Next President
5307 Evangelical Atheism
5403 Green Goes Nuclear
5501 Ban Tobacco, Legalize Marijuana
5502 Fundamentalism and World Conflicts--[how much you wanna bet this panel completely ignores Islam, or equates it to rabid Christian fundamentalists?]
5504 Death to Innovation: Patents and Copyrights
5507 Third Party Spoilers

If you've got some time, head up to Boulder for a little "reeducation."

But don't say I didn't warn you.

Titanic Battle Rages On As Democrats Race Toward DNC

No, not Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama. An identity battle.


“The Democratic Wild West at Denver”//Edward Windsor Kemble//Harper's Weekly//July 4, 1908, pp. 18-19

It seems that Democrats can't quite decide just exactly how the Democratic National Convention host city should be marketed:

How to portray the West?

For a party hoping to pick up the battleground states of Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, Denver's selection as host of the 2008 Democratic National Convention offers plenty of positives. But focusing on Old West symbols to appeal to rural voters risks alienating the many metro-area residents who are more at home on a bicycle or a scooter than on a horse riding the range.

"Yes, I sense a tension," said Mark Squier, the producer responsible for crafting the political messages displayed inside the Pepsi Center, where the convention is to be held. "It's going to be a bit of a tightrope walk, balancing off the new and the old of the West."

A crystallizing example of the tension occurred this month in a heated, behind-the-scenes dispute between officials with Denver's host committee — the locals responsible for bringing the convention to town — and the major sponsor of the event's biggest party, the so-called Media Welcoming Party.

Mindful of the power of Old West symbols, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver wanted to stage an exhibition rodeo during the party. U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, a ranch owner from the San Luis Valley usually seen in boots and a white Stetson, wanted a cattle-drive parade like the one that begins the annual National Western Stock Show.

William Dean Singleton, publisher of The Denver Post and chief executive of MediaNews Group Inc., one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, threatened to pull his financial support from the media party, saying he didn't want the media's first impression of Denver to be that of a "cow town," several sources familiar with the dispute confirmed.

And I thought that the Democrats had bigger problems to be worried about.

I guess not.

Besides, Westword has been using a cow on its annual "Best of Denver" issue for years.

When Howard Dean led the call for naming Denver the site of 2008's DNC, it was with an eye to repositioning the Democrat's "brand"--something distinct and in-touch with voters inside the more "metropolitan" coasts--and not a simple rehash of East and Left-coast liberalism or its associated imagery. This was to be the opportunity for choosing a candidate at the foot of those "purple mountains'majesty" in an increasingly "purple" state.

When the local hosting committee can't agree on what "message" will be conveyed--how the host city will be framed from a marketing viewpoint to the residents of that same city--one detects that like their rival candidates' struggle for the nomination, there is a battle raging within the party at a much deeper level, something they don't want to admit. Nice to see that it is not just the Republicans who are experiencing a bit of an identity crisis.

As we can see from the cartoon nearly a century ago, not much has changed in the way of perceptions in the 100 years since the city last hosted the Democrats' nominating convention. Denver may still be a "cow town" in many ways, but she won't be a one-trick pony.

Drunkablog has a similar take, and notes that Recreate '68 may do some "branding" all on its own.

BlogNetNews: Colorado's Most Influential Political Blogs

Having been busy since yesterday afternoon, I failed to spot the new political blog rankings unveiled by BlogNetNews.com late yesterday.

Slapstick Politics is #3!

The proprietary ranking methodology is being kept under wraps, but a combination of links and traffic help influence the weekly standings. Thanks for the hits, comments, and links.

Ben is at #4, and points out that 3 of the top 5 are right-leaning blogs, though congratulations are in order for everyone left and right on the list. Battle of the blogs--to the ramparts!

Of course, thanks once again to my guestbloggers who kept this place running while I was undergoing extensive reeducation in China.

Next stop, #1!

Udall Files For Senate Run

Rep. Mark Udall confirmed his much-anticipated but unsurprising intention to run by forming a committee for Sen. Wayne Allard's seat as the Democrat's candidate in 2008:

Democratic Congressman Mark Udall on Monday filed federal paperwork to run for the Senate and announced he has raised $1.5 million for the campaign.

Udall has made no secret of his intention to run next year for the seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Wayne Allard, who is retiring. Udall has not yet formally announced. Udall indicated that a formal campaign announcement would be set for later this year.

Udall said Monday he raised $334,882 for his Senate campaign in the first three months of the year, bringing his total cash on hand to $1.537 million.
. . .
"There's a lot of focus on this race," Udall said.

Some analysts have said candidates could spend a total of $20 million, which would make it the most expensive in state history.

Udall said Democrat Ken Salazar spent $10 million to win his seat two years ago and he expects to spend at least that much.

"It's too much money. It's a shame Congress costs that much," Udall said.

A shame, yes, but the reality in a bitterly divided nation.

Udall had more to say on his intended run:

"I intend to run a campaign that breaks the old mold of bitter and partisan politics, in favor of one that is about bringing Coloradans together," Udall said Monday. "Our country is facing deep crises at home and abroad. We must find a way to successfully end the war in Iraq and mount an effective strategy against terrorism, and we must build a safer, stronger and more prosperous America. We can only meet these challenges by working in new ways that reach across old partisan divides, and elevate our public debates. That is what I have always strived for in my political life, and it is my intention to build a campaign organization that matches the best expectations of Coloradans."

Colorado Confidential has more on Udall's "unity" platform, building bridges, "I'm not from Boulder" rhetoric, universal health care, etc.

Allard Endorses Romney; Giuliani In Town For Fundraiser

Sen. Wayne Allard's endorsement of Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had my head spinning:

Colorado Republican Sen. Wayne Allard is endorsing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president, the campaign announced Monday.

Allard praised the candidate as someone who could bring “a much needed breath of fresh air to Washington.” He is the fifth GOP senator to publicly back Romney.

“After reviewing Governor Romney’s impressive resume and having the opportunity to visit one-on-one with him about his vision of innovation and change for America, I am proud to announce my endorsement of him,” Allard said in a statement.

Romney noted the Colorado Republican’s commitment to fiscal conservatism and homeland security.

“Senator Allard’s record of leadership and commitment to change make him a valuable addition to my campaign team,” Romney stated. “In Congress, he has fought to restrain spending while working to ensure that Americans are safe at home and abroad. Senator Allard understands, as I do, that we must bring innovation and transformation to Washington if we are to meet the new generation of challenges facing our country today.”

Colorado Conservative Project sums it up nicely: Allard endorses Romney, conservatives weep

The Political Pale Horse asks, "What the hell?"

---

**Update--Giuliani fundraiser cancelled due to VA Tech massacre

Meanwhile, former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani is in town tonight to raise cash . . . but has also appeared to make a comment that marginalizes social conservatives in the GOP:

“Our party is going to grow, and we are going to win in 2008 if we are a party characterized by what we’re for, not if we’re a party that’s known for what we’re against,” the former New York mayor said at a midday campaign stop.

Republicans can win, he said, if they nominate a candidate committed to the fight against terrorism and high taxes, rather than a pure social conservative.

“Our party has to get beyond issues like that,” Giuliani said, a reference to abortion rights, which he supports.

Social conservatives prepared to make allowances for a moderate candidate like Giuliani can accept compromises, or are at the very least willing to entertain a candidate that will at least take them seriously. Ostracizing them with flippant comments dismissing the importance of the issues social conservatives hold dear will do nothing to endear him to skeptical GOP voters hesitant to countenance a socially liberal Presidential candidate.

John Kerry Visits Denver, Touts New Book

Sen. Kerry was in Denver Sunday, flogging his new book and talking politics with the (liberal) folks at the Tattered Cover book store, trying to capture some of the heat (pun intended) generated by Al Gore's Global Hysteria Tour:

Kerry said he wants to increase awareness about environmental issues and the things everyday people are doing to make a difference.

"This doesn't belong to a democrat or a republican or a conservative or a liberal," Kerry said. "These are just practical real things that every American needs to think about."

Kerry eventually opened up the room to questions which ranged from the current presidential race to America's role in Iraq.

"The consequences are obviously disastrous," Kerry said. "This is the most disastrous foreign policy choice made in any country anywhere in modern time."

Because nothing sells to the liberal/Democratic crowd like a little Bush-bashing. One can debate the merits of the Iraq War--but "worst foreign policy choice" anywhere since the French Revolution (roughly the start of the modern era)? Is he serious?

And what of talk about running for President again in the future?

"Could that change?" Kerry said. "It might. It may change over years. It may change over months. I can't tell you, but I've said very clearly I don't consider myself out of it forever."
. . .
When asked whether he expected that decision to change in time for the 2008 race, Kerry said, "If suddenly the field changed or the dynamics of the nation shifted, who knows? You might look at it differently, but I don't see that. I don't foresee that. That's not where I am today and that's not what I'm doing."

Kerry's one shining moment in the political sun came in 2004, when a rising wave of anti-war sentiment combined with the perennial anti-Bush rhetoric to produce . . . the second highest vote count received by a Presidential candidate ever. Of course, he lost to George W. Bush, who won both the electoral college (meaningful) and the "popular" vote (meaningless). He is unlikely to see that level of support again, as the majority of Kerry's supporters voted not for him, but against Bush.