Denver Tea Party: Monday Update; Rallies Scheduled Around Colorado On April 15

**UPDATE 3 April 13, 2010: People's Press Collective and Denver Tea Party will have complete coverage and listings/info from around the state, and will be providing LIVESTREAMING of the Denver Tax Day Tea Party this Thursday.

**Scroll for Tax Day Tea Party dates, times, and locations from around Colorado . . . more updates/information as rally approaches

**Update 2--An avowedly non-partisan Tea Party in Denver says organizer Brian Campbell, who appeared on Neil Cavuto's Fox News show on Monday:

Campbell emphasized that the "Tea Party" movement is non-partisan, especially in Denver, where hundreds of protesters turned out in February, representing all sides of the political spectrum, and at least four different political parties.

"[At the first rally] we had people from every party and non-affiliated," said Campbell. "It's definitely not a partisan event...we've made sure that party will not be mentioned at this [rally] and that speakers will not stump speak. It's definitely grass roots and it's going to stay that way."

Organizers predict 3000-5000 will attend Denver's rally alone.

**Update 1--developing--more information on Tea Party "crashers" and backlash from the Left including charges that Tea Parties are nothing more than "the white man's protest":

Tomorrow, my husband and I will be venturing into the wilds disguised as a news crew to do some in person interviewers with teabaggers here in Rhode Island (if we can find any). We’ve got some questions lined up to ask, but I’d love to get suggestions!

The great thing about owning professional video equipment is that armed with it, you can pass yourself off as being a professional news crew pretty easily.

So tomorrow, “WSFR” is going to send a cameraman and on air news personality out into the field to cover this “teabagging” phenomenon.

We’re going to ask open ended questions that seem to have a slight conservative bent to (hopefully) get them to open up and just start ranting. Then, we take any examples of racism, hatred, ignorance, and stupidity that we catch on camera and make a little movie out of it. Probably a YouTube special.

Here’s the list we have so far

* What are you celebrating (The Boston Tea Party), and can you explain its historical relevance? [We're hoping to get some hilarious flubs from this one]

* Is this your first time teabagging? [OK, so, a juvenile one, but worth it]

* Do you approve of Michael Steele’s plan to expand the GOP through a “hip-hop urban-suburban marketing strategy”? [hoping to get some juicy racist stuff from this question]

* (as an intentional misunderstanding/follow up, presuming that someone complains about wasteful government spending) “So you disapprove of your tax dollars going to the Iraq War?” [should elicit some confusion]

Anyways, it’s a start… but I’d love to have some suggestions for questions that sound fine, but should prompt an outpouring of crazy.

Thanks in advance, and I’ll be sure to post a link to the finished video when it’s available!

Forewarned is forearmed.

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Extensive April 15 Tax Day Tea Party blogging--touching on speakers, themes, and leftist attempts to hijack, sabotage, infiltrate, discredit, and smear Tax Day Tea Party efforts. Michelle Malkin has an update on the expected "race card" trope, and another blogger notes that the left really does feel the "threat" of pro-liberty crowds eager to demonstrate on behalf of limited government, freedom, and the free market, and are breaking out the Alinsky playbook to knock the movement down. Heck, the Tea Parties are the new "Weather Underground"--a "dangerous terrorist network."

There are at least 500 rallies planned nationwide. Michelle Malkin and Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit have led the way in Tea Party-related reporting and blogging on the rallies that have recently transpired, as well as comprehensive coverage of those planned this week.

Where will you be on April 15?

Not a "grassroots" movement? Take a look at "tea party"-related sales.

Tentative Denver schedule and signup:

Denver, west steps of state Capitol on Lincoln:

10:00 Volunteers arrive, Setup
11:00 Speaker Meet & Greet
Bubbafly Barney performing early American patriotic song
11:00 Tea Bag Sign Up Begins, Send a pink slip to your officials, Join Hear US Now! sign up!
12:00 Greeting by MC Brian T Campbell, Sr
12:05 Pledge of Alegiance - Led by Brian T Campbell, Sr.
Castle Capella's Patriotic Singing
Guest Speaker - Gunny Bob
Guest Speaker - Tom Lucero
Bubbafly Barney performing early American patriotic song
Guest Speaker - Jon Caldara, The Independence Institute
Guest Speaker - Mike Kopp, CO State Senator
Bubbafly Barney performing early American patriotic song
Guest Speaker - Rob McNealy
Special Guest Speaker - Josh Penry, CO State Senate Minority Leader
Bubbafly Barney performing early American patriotic song
Guest Speaker - Keith Peterson
Guest Speaker - Ken Buck, Weld County District Attorney
Bubbafly Barney performing early American patriotic song
Additional speakers are in the works, we will update you
as they are confirmed!

Not everyone is in the Denver metro area, and many other rallies have been scheduled (note--not all are scheduled for Wednesday):

Archuleta County
City: Pagosa Springs
When: April 15, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Where: Victoria's Parlor

El Paso County
City: Colorado Springs
When: April 15, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Where: Acacia Park at 225 N Nevada

Routt County
City: Steamboat Springs
When: April 15, 12 noon
Where: County Courthouse Lawn

Mesa County
City: Grand Junction
When: April 15, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Where: Soccer stadium at 12th Street and North Avenue, corner across from Mesa State College

Larimer County
City: Fort Collins
When: April 15, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Fort Collins City Hall, 300 Laporte Avenue

City: Loveland
When: April 15, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Where: 205 E Eisenhower Blvd, Loveland, CO 80537

Weld County
City: Greeley
When: April 18, 11am – 2pm
Where: Bittersweet Park at 35th Ave. and 11th St.

Pueblo County
City: Pueblo
When: April 15, 4:00 pm
Where: Pueblo County Courthouse, 215 W. 10th St.

Fremont County
City: Cañon City
When: April 11, 12:00 pm
Where: Veterans Park

Other cities as of Monday include (note--not all are scheduled for Wednesday):

Craig
When: April 15, 12:00pm
Where: In front of the County Court House

Delta
When: April 18, 12:30 p.m. until …
Where: on the front steps of the county courthouse

Durango
When: April 15, 12:00 Noon
Where: Rotary Park, 1565 E. 2nd Ave Durango, 81301

Walsenburg
When: April 15, 5:00 pm
Where: Huerfano County Courthouse, 401 Main St.

Woodland Park
When: April 15, 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm
Where: 12 Noon — In front of City Hall (220 W. South Ave)
4PM — In front of the old Martini Hut (209 E. Midland Ave)

Denver Museum's Solar Panels, Touted As Part Of A "Green Economy" During Obama's Stimulus Tour, Won't Pay For Themselves For 110 Years

Todd Shepherd, the Independence Institute's investigative reporter and co-founder of CompleteColorado.com, has an outstanding followup to President Barack Obama's vaunted Denver visit in February to sign the "stimulus" package:

Before signing the $787 billion stimulus package into law on Feburary 17, 2009, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden toured an array of solar panels on top of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The photo-op allowed the President to once again extol the virtues of the coming “green” economy.
. . .
A 2008 article in the Denver Business Journal sheds further light on the subject. The article notes the total price of the solar array was $720,000. And Dave Noel, VP of operations and chief technology officer for the Museum, was quoted as saying, “We looked at first installing [the solar array] ourselves, and without any of the incentive programs, it was a 110-year payout.” Noel went on to say that the Museum did not purchase the solar array because it did not “make sense financially.”

Additionally, most solar panels have an expected life-span of 20 to 25 years.

The article really is worth your time--the obstinacy from the DMNS on transparency surrounding the solar array is really quite unsurprising.

Shocker.

Party On The Platte: Denver Tea Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


Right on.


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


A frequent reference and theme throughout the rally.


A popular sentiment.


The tea bags added a nice touch to this poster.


Wait, capitalism is still popular with Americans?


One of my favorite quotes.


President Obama's policies weren't popular.


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


Heh.

Denver Anti-Stimulus Rally: Photo Essay

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

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

"No More Pork!"

Can't put lipstick on a pig . . .


An unexpected guest of honor!

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

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

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

Change we aren't too sure about.


Independence Institute President and featured speaker, Jon Caldara


The roasted pig waiting to be unveiled

Mortgaging our children's future, another popular theme.

You can say that again.

Before long, they'll want that too!

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

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


We agree.


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


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


The roasted pig unveiled!


Former Rep. Tom Tancredo








Dumb and Dumber--Reid and Pelosi


Nathan the pig, about to bring the house down.


State Sen. Kevin Lundberg


State Sen. Josh Penry


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


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


Here, here!


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


"Come and get it!"


Michelle Malkin serves the masses.


Not good change, that's for sure!


To the tune of at least $787 billion


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

More to come . . .

Why We Protest Obama And The Stimulus

Some of the Colorado MSM finally notices a protest afoot:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, and dissent is patriotic, right?

Final Stimulus Bill: Your Nest Egg

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



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

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

**Update 4: Pig Roast!

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

From Jon Caldara at the Independence Institute:

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

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

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

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

WHERE: WEST STEPS of the State Capitol.

WHEN: NOON

WHO: A coalition of concerned groups and citizens, including

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

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

**Update 2: West steps of State Capitol:

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

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

Confirmed attendees:

Former Cong. Bob Beauprez

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

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

Dick Wadhams, Colorado Republican Committee Chairman

Invited Attendees:

Congressman Doug Lamborn

Congressman Mike Coffman

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

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

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

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

Confirmed:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**Update--Welcome Michelle Malkin readers!

Local Democrat dignitaries "ecstatic" at pronouncement:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It never is.

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Baracky Mountain High, Colorado.

"Stimulizing?" Yes. Open to the public?

Oh hell no.

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

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

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

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

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

More details as they become available.

Why Denver to get "away" from DC?

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

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

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

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