Anarchists, Liberal Moonbats Plan DNC Massive Protest Rallies, Riots (Chicago '68 Style) For Denver

**Update--video of Glenn Spagnuolo:

The 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago ignited riots, violence and arrests.

9NEWS Political Analyst Floyd Ciruli says similar problems in Denver could cause problems for a candidate supporting peace.

“If they actually do turn Denver into Chicago, there’s a very good chance they will turn off the voters,” said Ciruli. “It could be directly counterproductive to what they would like to do.”

Who could ignore the protestors in Boston in 2004, haranguing John Kerry from his left--although this sort of political grandstanding has become so common that most will simply yawn at their presence, unless things really get out of hand.

Here's their plan (via Colorado Confidential, who first broke the story):

People who log on to Web sites with such names as DenverDNC.org or 2008DenverDNC.org will find themselves directed to the site of Recreate68.org, a Web site "created for all the grassroots people who are tired of being sold out by the Democratic Party."

The site goes on to promise demonstrations that will rival those at the notorious 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, which was accompanied by street battles between police and anti-war demonstrators. There's even a form that allows out-of-town anarchists to reserve a room.

"We got the idea six months ago. We were surprised by the Democrats' lack of planning in reserving the site names. We took advantage of that. The Republican conven- tions are easy to get people to come out for. The Democratic ones are harder."

Here's the moonbat website Recreate68.org:

R-68 agrees with the proposition, POTESTAS IN POPULO, "all power comes from the people." What stands between the people and power are the party machines. The parties were devised as a means to represent the people. Today they represent nobody, not even party members, but only party bureaucracy. The people have been left without appropriate institutions for their representation. We intend to create those institutes!

Join us in the streets of Denver as we resist a two-party system that allows imperialism and racism to continue unrestrained. We will demand change by making the Democratic Convention of 1968 look like a small get together in 2008!

The list of sites purchased to redirect traffic looking for the actual DNC site:

DenverDNC.org
2008DenverDNC.org
Denver2008DNC.org
Denver2008DNC.com
2008DNCDenver.org
2008Denverconvention.com
NoDNC.org
ChangetheDNC.org
ChangetheDNC.com
Stopthe2008DNC.com
Stopthe2008DNC.org
NoDNC2008.org
NoDNC2008.com
Recreate68.com
Recreate68.org

The actual site for Denver's Democratic Convention: denverconvention2008.com

The "activists" are evasive when questioned about potential violence and destructive behavior:

Asked whether the Recreate ’68 will bring a repeat of the rioting and violence that gripped Chicago during the ’68 convention, Spagnuolo said: "That will be up to the Denver Police Department. Any violence would be at the hands of the Denver Police Department."

True to form, the police are preemptively established as the fomentors of violence, as they are probably just a bunch of "fascist pigs" anyway.

Organizers include Glenn Spagnuolo, a liberal moonbat defender of CU Professor Ward Churchill and annual Columbus Day Protestor:

"Obviously the name of the site has a message in of itself," said Spagnuolo, a well-known Colorado activist who is a key organizer of Denver’s annual protest of Columbus Day "We see a lot of parallels of what will happen in ‘08 to what happened in ’68. Forty years have passed and we still don’t have the government we need. To demonize the Republicans, and say ‘it’s all the Republicans’ fault and hold up the Democrats as the salvation to the Republicans is foolish. The Republicans couldn’t have accomplished what they did without the assistance of the Democrats."

About a dozen core organizers have been meeting for about six months in anticipation of Denver being the likely site of the convention, including a fairly "extensive" amount of outreach to African-American, Latino, Native American, anti-war, labor and civil rights activists, said Spagnuolo.

Others who have been involved in the efforts include longtime peace activists Barbara and Mark Cohen, who were plaintiffs in Denver’s famous Spy Files lawsuit after police targeted them as "criminal extremists," and Larry Hales, who has helped organize local CopWatch efforts. In addition to protesting at the convention, organizers are also envisioning a four-day "counter convention" for youth. The group plans to have its first public meeting in March, to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.
. . .
"I don’t think the message will come down to crack skulls," he said of Denver’s ’08 convention. "We’ll try our hardest to negotiate, but we won’t be having protest zones — you can’t cage democracy."

Not that the Democrats don't deserve their share of protesting.

Holding peaceful, massive rallies is one thing--coordinating anarchists and other "activists" more interested in publicity and destruction of private property (just google any previous large gathering of moonbat protestors, starting with Seattle in '99), not to mention the waste of taxpayer money on police presence, which will be required for the Convention anyway. Unnecessary distractions for security forces, potentially hundreds of arrests, damage to businesses, blocking traffic, etc. are sure to be a part of the activists' "peaceful" plans. Protest signs, puppets, and speeches are one thing; masked hooligans (no doubt in Che gear), property damage, and riots are another.

Early estimates on the number of potential protestors--100,000--should yield at least 20,000 to 30,000 (after figuring the usual moonbat exaggeration factor of 3 or 4 times).

Professor: Groups Protesting 2008 Denver DNC "Peaceful, Creative"

A political science professor (University of Florida) has met the activists planning to disrupt Denver's DNC and says their agenda is, like, totally "non-violent":

Despite threatening words from one of the groups planning to protest during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, most of the anti-war protesters eyeing Denver this summer are peaceful and creative, an expert says. [Riiight--ed.]

Glenn Spagnuolo of Re-create 68 said Thursday that city officials were "creating a very dangerous situation" after the convention host committee was selected by lottery for a Civic Center park permit for the eve of the convention. He said his group would not "give up" the park for its demonstrations, which he hopes draw 50,000.

R-68 has been meeting with groups such as United for Peace and Justice, which organized 500,000 protesters for the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, and CodePink, a women's movement against the war that is another top-tier organizer.

"None of the mainstream organizations have any agenda like property damage," said Michael Heaney, a political science professor who has studied the anti-war movement since 2002 and who was in Washington, D.C., last week observing the many protests marking the fifth anniversary of the war.

No agenda for violence or property damage? Then why "Recreate '68"?

"What they are planning on doing is peaceful protests," Heaney said. "Basically their objective is to get media attention for their issues. They want to demonstrate to the Democratic Party that they have support for their positions."

Wow. You need a PhD to come to that conclusion? Thanks Captain Obvious.

R-68 organizers were furious Thursday when a party planner for the Denver committee hosting the convention won — in a random lottery — the right to a permit for Civic Center on Aug. 24, the Sunday before the convention starts. The convention runs Aug. 25-28.

The organizers want to start an anti-war march at the park and continue to the Pepsi Center, which is to serve as the convention hall.

Heaney met Spagnuolo and R-68 organizers Mark and Barbara Cohen in Atlanta this summer during a convention of progressives, and found them serious and well-organized. He said he thinks that, depending on the nominee and whether the convention will be brokered, Denver could expect between 10,000 and 50,000 anti-war activists.

Plus the assorted moonbats who have other agendas. Denver's DNC won't just be a target for the anti-war crowd.

Anti-war organizers say that if Sen. Barack Obama is the nominee, they expect much lower protester turnout at the Democratic convention. Heaney, who has surveyed the movement, says four of five anti-war activists support Obama.

CodePink's co-founder, Medea Benjamin, greatly doubts the 50,000 figure and says an Obama nomination could reduce interest to but a couple of thousand. Then again, Benjamin said: "We don't feel that either of the candidates will get us out of Iraq without strong pressure."

"(House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi will be the queen bee at the convention, and she has really disappointed us," Benjamin said.

Benjamin met with Spagnuolo in Denver several weeks ago and toured Civic Center and other sites. She said Denver's host committee shouldn't get the park and agreed with R-68's plan to occupy the grounds, but stressed CodePink would do so without violence.

Determining numbers this far out is pure speculation. The Democrats' own intraparty squabbles and the evolving campaign itself will only play one part in determining protestor levels. Given the activists' proclivity to inflate their own numbers, and the MSM's eagerness to play along, just a few thousand protestors could easily become "tens of thousands" in media reports.

And besides, it only takes a handful of crazy moonbats to stir up trouble.

Splitsville--Tent State Severs Ties With Recreate '68 Over "Violent Imagery" And "Heated Rhetoric"

**Update 2--this is getting personal:

Glen Spagnuola, an organizer with Re-create 68, described the split as a mutual one. Spagnuola said that his group had concerns over the images that the name Tent State seemed to convey, because it suggested Kent State, the university where four students were shot to death by National Guardsmen during a Vietnam War protest in 1970.

"There's been so much confusion over the last couple of months. People keep insinuating that we're going to be violent when we've been organizing for a nonviolent protest," he said. "We don't want the image of dead students on a lawn being associated with the positive message that we're putting forward."

Pease countered that Tent City's name has nothing to do with Kent State. It's so named because students taking part in the protest sleep in tents.

She called that fact that tent rhymes with Kent an "immature argument" and said it was not an issue that had come up between the two groups.

First, it's Glenn Spagnuolo. Second, who knew the bad blood between the groups would devolve into attacks--Spagnuolo calling Tent State "hypocritical," and Tent State firing back with charges of "immaturity."

Geez, can't we all just, you know, get along?

**Update--two weeks ago, Adam Jung of Tent State offered this defense of Recreate '68 and Glenn Spagnuolo, over charges from a Truther group about potential violence:

We work with Recreate 68, and we've attended most of the meetings, and I know for a fact nothing of this sort is being discussed. For one thing, our organization has a strict non-violence commitment.

Scroll for more . . .

"Tent State University, a national group represented locally by Adam Jung, says it is having trouble organizing support and bands to perform because of the violent imagery associated with R-68's name, and with recent heated rhetoric from R-68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo, who has been the face of the local effort to date"--Denver Post

Recreate '68 doesn't play well with others on the left, and now a schism has formed:

A close ally with the local war protest group Re-create 68, which is organizing for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, is severing its ties, the group told R-68 today.

Tent State University, a national group represented locally by Adam Jung, says it is having trouble organizing support and bands to perform because of the violent imagery associated with R-68's name, and with recent heated rhetoric from R-68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo, who has been the face of the local effort to date.

From the outset, Spagnuolo's group has attracted criticism because of its name, which suggests for many the violence outside the convention hall in Chicago in 1968.

"We don't feel that Re-create-68 is working well with the anti-war left," Jung said.

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the national group CodePink, seconded concerns over R-68's message and image, saying she wanted to portray the anti-war message as positively as possible. But Benjamin didn't rule out working with R-68, as long as the group's message conformed with CodePink's.

Geez, Glenn. Couldn't hold it together until the convention?

Good lord, making Medea Benjamin sound like the sane one in the room is quite a feat.

It was, however, the fault of the darn conservatives--conservative liberals that is:

Spagnuolo, in anger weeks ago, said the city was creating "a very dangerous situation" because it had given a permit - in a blind lottery - to the committee hosting the convention for use of Civic Center park on the Sunday before the convention. He has since vowed the group would be peaceful.

"We feel like a more positive message would be more attractive to people and we prefer it to be a more positive message," Benjamin said. "We fully intend to work with all the groups, but we want our message to be more positive."

Spagnuolo said Jung's call today was "disappointing."

"This is typically what happens when you have these conservative liberal groups who come in and pressure the smaller groups with their resources," Spagnuolo said. "It's a shame. It's not going to stop us from what we're doing. We have upwards of 40 groups working with us."

When asked to elaborate about what he meant concerning the "conservative liberal groups" Spagnuolo said he would rather refrain from further comment and work to resolve any issues internally.

After reading a press release that Tent State issued Monday afternoon, Spagnuolo said he thought Jung's decision was "hypocritical," because the name "Tent State" conjures up images of college students who died at Kent State during protests of the Vietnam War.

"They really need to look in the mirror," Spaguolo said. "This is something we talked about for quite a while. ... We look at this as a mutual split."

So is Tent State "hypocritical" or is it a "mutual split?" Hmmm.

Not even two weeks ago, on this very blog, Jung publicly defended Spagnuolo and Recreate '68 from accusations of violence by Truther groups:

After reading the smear piece written by jonathan, I was of course
concerned. But upon reading the full text of the article, not only the parts some bloggers are using to create this picture, I saw this as the best example of fabled Cointelpro tactics I've personally seen.

We work with Recreate 68, and we've attended most of the meetings, and I know for a fact nothing of this sort is being discussed. For one thing, our organization has a strict non-violence commitment.

Other things that stood out: "Code Pink was not radical enough for them." What? Code Pink is part of Recreate 68. I also noticed the racist disdain the author held for immigrants and the anger over not having his conspiracy march allowed to displace the peaceful plans already organized.

Tent State University will continue to work with Recreate 68 and others and will rightfully ignore this obvious smear piece. I'd encourage others to do a little research themselves before jumping in with the likes of "jonathan."

Adam Jung,
Tent State University

Thoughts: either the move is strategic--overtly "severing" ties to better diffuse the scrutiny associated with the groups ahead of the convention (although this places Recreate '68 and its head honcho Spagnuolo on the hook should anything go down at the convention), or actually represents a conscious attempt to distance peaceful moonbat groups--the ridiculous but relatively harmless Code Pinkos--from the increasingly suspicious and potentially agitating groups like Recreate '68. Despite protestations of non-violence, it appears Spagnuolo's well-broadcast propaganda message isn't being well-received, even among his erstwhile allies on the extreme left.

Exit question--any other possibilities? Conflict of egos amongst the chief moonbats? Not enough exposure for non-Recreate '68 groups? Something in the patchouli?

Bonus video--Spagnuolo sat down with Politics West (Denver Post) and reiterated the group's "non-violent" intentions just this past weekend (May 2, 2008):

Denver Police Department Stocks Up On Security Equipment For DNC, Recreate '68 Worried

[to] "Successfully implement the security and safety surrounding the Democratic National Convention"--from Denver's Department of Safety

In what is sure to be a developing story about security measures and tactics surrounding the Democratic National Convention, activist groups including Recreate '68 are worried about police expenditures ahead of August:

The Denver Police Department is using taxpayer money to buy new security equipment in preparation for the Democratic National Convention in August but is refusing to disclose exactly what the purchases are, saying that revealing the information would be "contrary to the public interest."
. . .
Detective John White, a spokesman for the police department, confirmed the Denver police were buying new equipment to "enhance the safety" of convention attendees. White declined to say exactly what and how much was being purchased. He said the total amount of taxpayer money used to buy the equipment might not be known until after the convention.

Colorado Confidential sent an open records request to the Denver Police Department in March, seeking any and all purchase orders, award papers, and contracts regarding security equipment for the convention. A response from the city's Department of Safety (the parent organization for the police department) denied the request and stated that such information would disclose "tactical information" that is not in the public interest.
. . .
While the police department is declining to release the purchasing orders, city budget documents offer some clues but no certainties.

Denver 2008 budget documents for the Department of Safety show that one of the police department's missions will be to "successfully implement the security and safety surrounding the Democratic National Convention."

There is certainly an argument for some disclosure, insofar as specific details that might jeopardize the convention itself are not revealed, for obvious reasons.

What worries the protestors--but is no doubt a reaction to their strident calls to "Recreate '68" and is, in essence, a product of their own making--is that police are taking steps to deal with any threat to the DNC's security, and also deal with any protestor violence, in spite of their claims of "non-violence":

Mark Cohen, a member of the organizing committee for the Recreate 68 Alliance, a coalition of groups that plan to demonstrate at the Democratic convention, released a statement saying that the group is very concerned about so-called "crowd control" and "less than lethal" weapons and equipment the police department may be purchasing in anticipation of protests, including Tasers and other sonic weapons that can be used to disperse crowds.

"Contrary to [the police department's] statement, it is very much in the public interest for the people of Denver to know whether the Denver Police Department -- which should be subject to civilian oversight in such matters -- is planning to purchase such equipment with public funds for use on peaceful protesters," said Cohen, who contended that Recreate 68 is planning to engage in peaceful and nonviolent protests during the convention.

Sonic weapons?

You mean like the angry bongo drumming and repetitive chanting that will come from the protestors?

Don't want any police confrontation? Fulfill your promise of "peaceful and nonviolent protests." That way there will no need to say "don't tase me, bro!"

Recreate '68 Splinter Group "Alliance For Real Democracy" Promises Non-Violence, Won't Discuss Split

The non-violence is in their bylaws--take that Glenn Spagnuolo!

A new coalition of protest groups promises free concerts, art displays, classes for activists and a "massive" anti-war march during this summer's Democratic National Convention.

The Alliance for Real Democracy is made up of 12 groups, many led by activists in their early 20s and 30s.
. . .
"This is as much a part of the process as going to a very formal convention," said Jojo Pease, an organizer with Students for a Democratic Society.

Some of the groups were previously affiliated with the Re-Create 68 Alliance, but split off after a disagreement over tactics.

Re-Create 68 has promised demonstrations that will rival those at the notorious Democratic convention in Chicago held in 1968, which was accompanied by street battles between police and anti-Vietnam War demonstrators.

Members of the Alliance for Real Democracy wouldn't talk Tuesday about Re-Create 68 or the split.

But they released bylaws that say the group "will not use or return violence - verbal or physical - toward any person or other creature," and will not damage property, bring weapons to protests or use illegal drugs or alcohol during events.

Re-Create 68, meanwhile, has said that if confronted with violence by police, members will defend themselves.

Who they are and how they party:

The Alliance for Real Democracy includes groups such as CODEPINK, the Green Party, Tent State University, the Denver International Socialist Organization and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Members declined to say how many people they are expecting at their events, and some details - such as dates and locations of concerts - have not been finalized.

The anti-war parade is scheduled for the Sunday before the convention, which starts Aug. 25 and runs through Aug. 28 at the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver.

The concerts will include a guitarist who played in protest of the Vietnam War during the 1968 convention in Chicago, as well as a local hip-hop group, according to organizers.

Among other events planned is an "aerial image," in which thousands of people will use their bodies to form a message to release detainees at Guantanamo Bay and to stop torture, said Zoe Williams, a member of CODEPINK, an anti-war group whose name is a play on President Bush's color-coded terror alert level.

Alliance for Real Democracy--the kinder, gentler version of Recreate '68.

Same moonbats, minus the heated rhetoric. And bodies, lots of bodies, apparently

**Update--Drunkablog has another Recreate '68 roundup, and asks the question no one else would (or wants the answer to, really): But will they be naked?

My eyes, MY EYES!

Sen. Ken Salazar Calls For "Public Reprimanding" Of Rush Limbaugh Over DNC Riot Comments

"As I read Mr. Limbaugh's comments about riots at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, they appear to me to be a clear exhortation that those riots are exactly what he wants to happen. For that kind of incendiary comment, I ask Clear Channel to reprimand Mr. Limbaugh.

It is wrong to have political partisans of any stipe suggesting that violence is somehow an acceptable outcome of our political conventions"--Sen. Ken Salazar on Rush Limbaugh

From an 850KOA email:

Citing Rush Limbaugh's 'incendiary comments' about a riot in Denver, Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) has called for a public repimanding of the controversial talk show host.

In the letter, addressed to Lee Larsen, Senior VP of the Rocky Mountain Region of Clear Channel Radio, Sen. Salazar complains about what he sees as a 'clear exhortation' of rioting and violence in the streets of Denver in the wake of the Democratic National Convention.

Sen. Salazar will join Dave Logan and Lois Melkonian on The Ride Home at 4:10pm today, make sure to tune in, and come talk about the Rush-troversy in our forums.

850KOA.com Webmaster,
Matthew Quane

Sen. Ken Salazar is on 850koa.com at the moment (listen live at the link). More to come--including archived link. Here is a transcript and audio of Rush Limbaugh's comments from two days ago.

**Update--The full text of the letter (pdf):

Dear Mr. Larsen:

I was disappointed to hear the incendiary comments made this week by Rush Limbaugh, one of the voices on your station. As I read Mr. Limbaugh's comments about riots at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, they appear to me to be a clear exhortation that those riots are exactly what he wants to happen. For that kind of incendiary comment, I ask Clear Channel to reprimand Mr. Limbaugh.

It is wrong to have political partisans of any stipe suggesting that violence is somehow an acceptable outcome of our political conventions. Political commentary on our public airwaves - heard by millions of Americans every day - should speak to the great strength reflected in the peaceful exercise of democracy at the national conventions in Minneapolis, Minesota and Denver, Colorado.

Please call me if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

Ken Salazar,
United States Senator

Given that Sen. Salazar is a Democrat Superdelegate, there is an added dimension to the whole scenario--any potential political violence/riots/disorder will be greatly diminished if the nomination is decided before the Democratic National Convention.

**Update--Sen. Salazar rejects Recreate '68.

The hosts challenged Sen. Salazar on freedom of speech issues and censorship, and whether or not the Senator had actually listened to the comments within the context of the call and Limbaugh's subsequent explanations.

Like all citizens of Colorado, and Denver in particular, no one here wants anything but a rhetorical "war of words" at the convention. We find it interesting that an uncommitted superdelegate would expend efforts to blast Limbaugh instead of asserting some leadership--presumably why he was given the superdelegate status in the first place, on account of the office he held.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 68, 67

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Wednesday June 18 and Thursday June 19, 2008--No. 68, 67

MSM:

•Abortion opponents announce their DNC protest plans:

Abortion opponents plan eight days of prayers, demonstrations and rallies surrounding the Democratic National Convention - and Wednesday they challenged Denver officials to respect their First Amendment rights.

In all, the groups expect as many as 1,000 out-of-town protesters to hit Denver for the convention scheduled Aug. 25-28 at the Pepsi Center, and they've already gotten permission to use Denver parks for gatherings.

They also plan to hit the 16th Street Mall, "encircle" the Pepsi Center, and maintain a presence outside the hotel of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, a Washington-based group.

His organization and Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust announced plans for their demonstrations during the convention.

Mahoney said he hoped an afternoon meeting with Denver City Attorney David Fine would pave the way for an amicable co-existence between abortion opponents and law officers.

The group plans its encircling prayer vigil two days before the convention opens, and has no plans to enter the designated protest area:

Mahoney said that his group had filed lawsuits in New York in 2000 and in Boston in 2004 to win the right to demonstrate, and he indicated that it could pursue that strategy again if it fears that its First Amendment rights are being threatened.

"To the city of Denver - demonstrators are not terrorists," he said. "Don't treat us like that."

Among the events announced Wednesday was a prayer at the Pepsi Center on Aug. 23, two days before the convention starts, in which Mahoney envisions demonstrators circling the building and laying hundreds of roses in protest of abortion.

He also said his group would not be present in the demonstration area set aside in a parking lot adjacent to the Pepsi Center.

"I would never go to a protest pen," he said. "It is absolutely despicable. As far as I'm concerned, the First Amendment applies everywhere that I can see."

•Video--DNC parade route controversy, the Rocky interviews Glenn Spagnuolo, discusses the route and its effects on Denver traffic, businesses.

---

Blogs:

•Recreate '68 splinter group "Alliance For Real Democracy" promises non-violence, won't discuss split with erstwhile allies:

Members of the Alliance for Real Democracy wouldn't talk Tuesday about Re-Create 68 or the split.

But they released bylaws that say the group "will not use or return violence - verbal or physical - toward any person or other creature," and will not damage property, bring weapons to protests or use illegal drugs or alcohol during events.

•Spagz and co. urge everyone (along with band Freedom Kage) to "Come Up to Denver"--yet another protest group planning a little DNC action:



•Enviromoonbats are planning a "Green Frontier Fest" the Sunday before the convention that will include human-powered carnival rides and the groove-a-licious "Consciousness Carnival."

---

All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

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.

DNC Protestors Facing A Crackup As Recreate '68 Struggles To Retain Power; DNC Sponsors Bring Money To Politics

"The conflict was over R-68’s unfortunate name – a reference to the bloody 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago – and the rhetoric of the group’s leadership, interpreted by many as needlessly aggressive and reckless. Despite this blatant rift, Spagnuolo and the Cohens stuck with their assertion that their group would be playing host to “tens of thousands of protesters” this August"--Westword

Things aren't going well for Glenn Spagnuolo and his allies at Recreate '68--seems a rift in the movement has developed as power struggles plague the groups preparing for the Democratic National Convention:

So Tent State University is on the outs with their protest brethren at Re-create '68. What gives? Last Friday, when the ACLU held a press conference to declare it had filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Denver and the Secret Service, it seemed that all was well in the land of DNC protest. On hand at the confab were representatives of Re-create '68 – Glenn Spagnuolo and Mark and Barbara Cohen – as well as those of Tent State University, Code Pink and Escuela Tlatelolco and the American Indian Movement of Colorado. But more significant were the additional groups listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit: United for Peace and Justice, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, and the American Friends Service Committee.

This list was important because all three of the pacifist outfits had told Westword last October that they were NOT interested in working with R-68, which had pronounced itself the umbrella organizer for DNC protests as early as January 2007. Leaders of the Colorado Progressive Coalition, the Colorado Green Party and the national ANSWER Coalition expressed similar sentiments about R-68. The conflict was over R-68’s unfortunate name – a reference to the bloody 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago – and the rhetoric of the group’s leadership, interpreted by many as needlessly aggressive and reckless. Despite this blatant rift, Spagnuolo and the Cohens stuck with their assertion that their group would be playing host to “tens of thousands of protesters” this August.

So the fact that orgs like United for Peace and Justice – a national network of 1,400 groups – had signed on to the ACLU lawsuit suggested that R-68 and the peaceniks had resolved their differences. But appearances can be deceiving. In advance of the lawsuit filing, apparently critics of R-68, as well as some of their former supporters,had been quietly lobbying Spagnuolo and the Cohens for weeks to back off their leadership roles -- but the trio declined to transfer organizing authority.

Now it seems that the shit has hit the fan for R-68. Sources within the DNC protest movement say that assorted organizers are meeting today at an undisclosed location to discuss building a network outside of R-68. But things could get tricky when it comes time to divvy up the park event permits that Spagnuolo and company hold after winning them in a city-sponsored lottery. Will R-68 go quietly into the good night? Stay tuned.

So despite all the protestations of non-violence and the assertion of working together to achieve their radical left goals, they continue to face inequalities of power within their own movement.

Apparently the moonbats have their eyes on the prize--and it isn't fighting against imperialism, capitalism, or any other -ism. The prize is the coveted media spotlight, and the preeminence available to the group who asserts authority first. Spagnuolo and company have attempted to seize control for themselves, and it now appears that that tactic is beginning to backfire.

How exquisitely ironic. Radical socialists and anarchists facing internal turmoil because of power struggles.

Meanwhile, Drunkablog takes a look at modern convention financing and corporate sponsorships for the DNC:

Everything is for sale, and this summer's Democratic National Convention in Denver is no exception.

More than four dozen national corporations have signed up as sponsors of the convention - everyone from Allstate to Xerox. And almost all of them have the same thing in common: They either have business with the federal government or they lobby on pending issues.

And that prompts a myriad of questions.

Are the big companies simply being good corporate citizens? Or are they looking for access - maybe not to the presidential nominee, but to members of Congress and party officials who can help make sure their issues get heard?

The answer is simple, said former Denver City Councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt: "It's always about access."

"Here's the reality," Barnes- Gelt said, "and this comes from the experience of an old fundraiser: The first people you go to for money are people who have an interest in making sure you're in a decision-making position. And that's true whether you're the DNC, the president of the United States or the local city council person."

Seems that even Democrats aren't immune to having money in politics.

Shocker.

And conflict is arising between the city and the DNCC, over fundraising priorities:

The committee staging the Democratic National Convention is concerned that Denver's fundraising efforts have been hampered because local officials also are raising money for several cultural events that are expected to be part of the week-long event.

The host committee was about $5 million short of its March fundraising goal of $28 million, and is supposed to have about $40 million raised by June. Meanwhile, the city is planning and trying to raise additional money for several cultural events.

"Every host city can and should develop a plan to showcase its culture, diversity and attributes on the international stage that a political convention offers," the DNC Committee said in a prepared statement Friday. "Numerous host cities from conventions past have had tremendous success in this regard, and we think that's a good thing.

"But to ensure a successful convention for all parties, fulfilling the contractual obligations that brought this convention to Denver in the first place must remain the top priority.

"Given all the host committee and the city have to support during convention week, we would hope they would be very selective in limiting both the number and costs of any auxiliary events requiring their support."

The DNCC's concerns have raised some internal conflict.

"They should call me and talk to me about it," Mayor John Hickenlooper said. "I'm happy to sit down and explain to them that obviously we understand the importance of putting on a good convention.

Obviously! Can't have those Democratic delegates and the media thinking this is some sort of cow town . . .

DNC Protester Dos and Don'ts Released

**Update--Jeralyn Merritt at 5280.com has posted a pdf of the pamphlet.

We're waiting for a fuller report including the pamphlet itself, but law enforcement has announced that a pamphlet will be distributed to protesters reminding them of their rights--and their legal obligations--in conducting themselves during the DNC:

Police have issued some advice to protesters at the Democratic convention about what they can and can't do.

A pamphlet tells protesters they can be arrested if they refuse an order to disperse, even if they aren't breaking any law. Other grounds for arrest include blocking streets, sidewalks or parades and disrupting public assemblies.

Police say it doesn't matter if those actions are civil disobedience or symbolic actions.

Police also remind protesters of their rights. They can protest on public sidewalks without a permit as long as they leave enough room for others to pass and obey traffic signals. Speech that angers other people is protected, but speakers can be arrested for advocating violence or breaking the law.

Glenn Spagnuolo of Recreate '68 was quick to reject the pamphlet:

It was put together with the help of the city's Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations and modeled after reminders issued by other previous convention cities, such as Los Angeles, said Lucia Guzman, the agency's executive director. She said thousands of copies have been printed and they'll also be available after the convention leaves town.

Glenn Spagnuolo, co-founder of protest group Recreate 68, said he thinks it's the police, not protesters, who need a reminder about the First Amendment.

"We have a pamphlet called the Constitution. A lot of us have read it already," he said.

Spagnuolo also thinks the pamphlet's arrest warning is intended to discourage people from protesting at the convention, which starts Monday.

Guzman disagreed.

"We've always meant it as a supportive document. I'm sorry people are looking at it the other way," she said.

It is doubtful that any such document, whether well or ill-intended, would do much to sway protesters from their self-appointed demonstrations.

Just as the protesters began issuing their preemptive "law enforcement is to blame" for any violence meme months ago, Denver's law enforcement is trying to do a little preemption of their own by giving protesters advanced warning.

It's gonna be a fun week.

More from Spagz and Unconventional Action:

"We are making a commitment to non-violence," said Glenn Spagnuolo of Re-create '68, a group planning protests for a variety of progressive causes.

"We'd like to see minimal show of force by the police unless necessary," Spagnuolo said. "They could stage out of sight from the protest and be called in case they're needed at a protest."

Asked for a successful example of a mass protest marked by mutual respect between protesters and police, Spagnuolo pointed to a large anti-war rally outside the Republican National Convention in New York City in 2004.

"When people said, 'OK, we're being allowed to protest, we're being allowed to march,' there's no reason to get in that kind of confrontational, adversarial role, and it went off without a hitch," Spagnuolo said.

Ben Yager of the activist group Unconventional Denver hedged when asked if activists planned to be arrested and incarcerated during DNC protests. Asked to define success for his organization, he defined disruption.

"Everything's pre-decided, everything's preplanned," Yager said. "They have a script of everything they're going to say and making them deviate from that script, making them step outside the box of what they are comfortable doing and address what democracy really is."

Still, Yager says he did not see any point in antagonizing police into violent confrontations.

"I don't think anyone gets satisfaction out of getting beat up," Yager said.

Of course, some of the law enforcement buildup and planning stems from the earlier heated rhetoric from protesters like Spagnuolo.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 45

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Friday July 11, 2008--No. 45

•The DNC "Greening Director" is mocked by no less than the Washington Post--"Greening Director? Is that like, Dancing Instructor? Or Tanning Protector? Or Programming Selector?"--more like moonbat wrangler

•Anarchists meeting this weekend to plot strategies and practice tactics in advance of the DNC send mixed messages about violence (Drunkablog covered it, oh, only a month ago):

Numerous anti-war groups have announced their intention to demonstrate in Denver during the Aug. 25-28 convention, but most have promised peaceful actions. The language of the anarchist groups is more confrontational. Unconventional Denver is part of a national group of anarchists planning to descend on Denver.

The group says it will engage in nonviolent direct action and has called for protesters "to engage in a broad variety of tactics to disrupt fundraising events and prevent Democratic delegates from putting on the spectacle they claim as democracy," according to the group's website.

Unconventional Denver wants to shut down, disrupt or delay the convention; storm events; and "ensure that the DNC is a thing of rowdy beauty."

Even bloggers on the left don't buy the "non-violence" claims, and that is saying something.

•Colorado GOP chair Dick Wadhams stays quiet on the opportunities that the DNC presents:

Who knew that Dick Wadhams could be so coy?

The outspoken, doesn't-hold-anything-back chairman of the Colorado Republican Party is staying mum about the GOP's plans when Democrats arrive en masse in Denver in August.

"We've got a lot of things we're talking about and putting into motion, but that's not something I want to telegraph right now," Wadhams said.

A national pundit who tracks U.S. Senate races said when she talks to Wadhams about Denver hosting the Democratic National Convention he sounds downright "giddy."

"There is a sense that this is only good for Colorado Republicans," said Jennifer Duffy of the nonpartisan Cook Report in Washington.

That's because Republicans are counting on traffic woes, uber liberals and protesters to turn off unaffiliated voters, the largest voting bloc in the state.

Some things just don't need to be explained, do they?

•Drunkablog has an update on the artist hoax punking Recreate '68 with flyers/emails threatening a beatdown; D-blog takes a look at the people looking to the heavens for signs of DNC chaos (and some DNC recycling news); DIA's new carpet in time for the DNC

•Odds in favor of pleasant weather for Obama's speech at Invesco Field

•What's in a name--the real reason why Invesco Field was chosen over Coors Field?; A peek inside Invesco Field as Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry go over plans

•Invesco Field headache for area residents?

•Denver's Auditorium Theater--and site of the 1908 Democratic National Convention--turned 100

---

All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 29-27

**Tons of links, scroll for updates . . .

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Sunday July 27, Monday July 28 and Tuesday July 29, 2008--No. 29-27

DNC:


No, but Glenn Spagnuolo of Recreate '68 should feel right at home

•DNC protestors, including Recreate '68, pledge in court that they will be non-violent and don't need to be caged--the city argues that a manual of "street tactics" indicates that violence may be a foregone conclusion (witness list); the protestors entering the Public Demonstration Area (the cage) will not be searched, and the new parade route to Invesco Field has been revealed



•Anarchists from Unconventional Action issue "sincere" ultimatum to Denver--use the $50 million for security to "invest" in the community, and they'll avoid shutting down the city (w/video):

"As anarchists, we feel the greatest problem with government is how its primary interest is to protect the profits of those in power, even when it comes at the expense of the general public," Clayton Dewey, an organizer with Unconventional Denver, said in a statement.

"Spending $50 million on weaponry to attack people voicing their opinion and flooding the streets with riot police while schools close down, children go without health care and people lose their homes is exactly the problem with the corrupt two-party system we're opposing this August," he said.

I'm guessing this "offer"--extortion, in my opinion--will be ignored by the rest of the MSM, and UA will get to say "we warned you" should things go bad during the convention; UA/DNC Disruption's latest DNC "plans"

•**Update--threat of sprinklers made "in jest" but curfew still applies, Adam Jung of Tent State says that protestors may camp elsewhere--Rocky says Tent State should have permit yanked if it can't meet conditions; Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to Tent State--Denver will use sprinklers to enforce the no camping policy after 11pm; a surplus of protestors arrested (not necessarily from Tent State) during the DNC could spend some time in tents if there is no room; more info here, and an update on the Civic Center profile series (today's segment); more observations and analysis from Drunkablog

•Denver still in a mere $10 million DNC fundraising hole--and criticism is pouring in, including Mayor Hickenlooper's love/hate relationship with the convention:

The host committee is as much as $10 million short in fundraising, and financial difficulties have forced it to cancel two dozen parties for delegates. Denver officials are scrambling to deal with the logistical challenges of Barack Obama's acceptance speech being held at an outdoor stadium instead of in the arena where the rest of the convention will take place. Even special daisies that the city bred partly to show off for the convention are failing to sprout.

Criticism has been so harsh that this month the host committee felt compelled to issue a news release defending its much-mocked catering guidelines, which recommend organic produce and color-coordinated meals and discourage fried food.

"It's an embarrassment, particularly for the political class," said Floyd Ciruli, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party who is now an independent pollster unaffiliated with the convention effort. "At this point, everybody's thinking about the burdens rather than the benefits."

Local political leaders and the host committee insist everything is fine, and that any bumps along the way will be overshadowed by the attention showered on the city next month.

"That's a little bit of white noise around the perimeter," said Mayor John Hickenlooper. "Did we ever dream we'd have a candidate of this historic magnitude? Did we ever dream we'd have a candidate who'd make his acceptance speech in front of 80,000 people and have to turn away another 80,000?"

Nonetheless, at a conference on Western issues last week, Hickenlooper referred to the event as the "blasted convention" and compared it to a summer he spent painting a house for which he was never paid. "If we'd known back then what we know now, we'd never have done it," he said, before quickly adding, "and what an incredible shame that would have been."

Yes, what a shame. It's called denial, Mayor Hickenlooper.

•Just bizarre--a beaver and a cat (hand puppets) explain protest plans for the RNC and DNC in a fake news conference, via the Unconventional Action "audio-visual cell":



•Preliminary plans for Barack Obama's Invesco Field speech outlined--will address the crowd from the 50-yard line

•In a follow up to last week's story about DNC vehicles using city pumps to avoid paying fuel taxes, more investigation reveals that at least 61 vehicles had been involved

•Greenest convention ever? Oh yeah, about that . . . the carbon credit wind turbines don't work, and the delegates don't seem to care about the "green delegate challenge"

•Pro-life groups intend to hold prayer vigil near Pepsi Center during DNC, and threaten a lawsuit if the city balks

•Construction cranes dominating the Denver skyline in recent months and initially considered a security risk will not come down for the DNC

•Union vs. non-union at the Pepsi Center

•DNC community forums continue (click for schedule)--Denver residents questions DNC logistics

•How the DNC affected Colorado's Homeland Security plan, and will put it to the test

•Native Americans bless Pepsi Center for DNC

•DNC volunteers begin convention training

•It's been a tough stretch for the DNC's "Greening Director"

---

All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

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.

DNC Meme In Action--Law Enforcement, Not Protestors, To Blame

Drunkablog and SP have been detailing the extent to which the anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-American moonbat protestors led by Glenn Spagnuolo, Recreate '68, and others at this summer's Democratic National Convention have denied any violent intent--they claim to be pursuing the First Amendment freedoms they are guaranteed (and rightfully so).

If there is any violence, it will not be the protestors, but law enforcement cited as the instigators of the resultant mayhem, mass arrests, and possibly worse.

So today, at the Colorado Democrat party state convention in Colorado Springs, two such protestors engaged in a "dry run" to test police reactions--claiming that they were completely unaware of any such plan, and were instead the helpless victims of a twitchy law enforcement "dry run" instead:

Reporters kept asking me if the local Colorado Democratic State Convention was going to be a “dry run” for groups planning something big at the national convention in August. Perhaps their curiosity was peaked* by our mention on Michael Moore’s list of DNC dry run opportunities. I told them I was aware of no such plans, but it became clear to me today that my callers had been on to something. There was a dry run in the works, and it was being carried out by law enforcement.

I was arrested today, through no planning of my own. There was confusion over where the First Amendment applied and where it did not. The police seized upon the chance to arrest, process and hold us, until our opportunity to be heard had passed. We were mighty confused at the time, but in retrospect the police maneuver was carried out like clockwork.

Yep, those dastardly law enforcement officers went out of their way to personally target the two moonbats who were merely confused about what was going on, and where they could and could not protest.

It is a certainty that similar arguments will be leveled at the security detail surrounding the various venues of the Democratic National Convention. Claims of ignorance (on the part of protestors), lack of consultation with the protest groups, ill-defined "secure" areas, etc., are sure to be the order of the day. "Provocative" acts will be redefined as tests of freedom, and outright refusal to obey lawful police orders recast as the usual illegal oppression, silencing alternative viewpoints, yada yada yada.

Spagnuolo himself has stated, "if there's going to be violence, it will be instigated by the police." Even the law suit filed by the ACLU on behalf of the protesting groups positions the muddled moonbats as preemptive victims of a conspiracy by law enforcement and the Secret Service to keep them intentionally ignorant of the exact security parameters as a way of justifying the protestors' subsequent arrests.

Riiight.

*By the way, it's "piqued" not "peaked."

**Update: DNC Permit Lottery Awards Parks; Recreate '68 Whines, Threatens A "Dangerous Situation"

**Update--Recreate '68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo threatens City of Denver over loss of Civic Center space:

Denver could face a "dangerous situation" on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, war protesters said Thursday, after losing a coveted permit for Civic Center to the convention host committee.

"When things blow up because the police have to enforce a permit that the Democrats got, don’t blame us for that," said Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer for the Re-create 68 Alliance.

"Blame the Democrats for trying to silence dissent in the city of Denver."
. . .
But when Jenny Anderson, event planner for the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, won the permit for Civic Center for a kick-off Aug. 24, Spagnuolo accused the committee of creating a "very serious, dangerous situation . . . for everybody."

Re-create 68 - which has promised demonstrations that will rival those at the bloody 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago - will be at Civic Center on Aug. 24, with or without a permit, he said.

The group, which is expecting up to 50,000 protesters from across the country, plans to march from Civic Center to the Pepsi Center, where the convention will be held, on Aug. 24, even though a parade route or a security zone hasn’t been announced.

Thus, the meme of violence and mayhem laid at the hands of the City of Denver--because of a lottery snafu Recreate '68 calls evidence of bias against the group--and the police sent in to enforce permits. Expect a planned occupation of the Civic Center by Recreate '68 and its allies for the duration of the Democratic National Convention, and the moonbats agitating for engagement and media exposure.

Don't be fooled. They want this. Peaceful, boring protests get little or no attention. Recreate '68 (its name should explain a great deal about their mentality) craves the spotlight, and confrontation and mayhem are the best avenue for achieving their moonbat goals.

The Denver Post has more details on the park allocations.

---

Glenn Spagnuolo said it was unfair, since the group already had control of the Pepsi Center. He warned that protestors from around the country are coming to Denver and will ignore the permitting process.

He said his group was willing to make Denver "ground zero" for the fight over freedom of speech.

Guess it doesn't always pay to stuff the "ballot box" by submitting multiple identical permit requests in an attempt to game the system (video):

Mark Cohen got there early. He's with Recreate '68 and wanted to make sure everything went smoothly because the group was left out on Tuesday due to a problem with the sorting process.

"We did come early to double check because the last time, the city said they had safeguards in place," said Cohen.
. . .
In all, the city received more than 800 requests from groups who wanted their claim at some 12 parks around Denver for the DNC.

"We're hoping to get Civic Center Park for all the days that we applied for," said Cohen.

About an hour into the lottery, the process appeared to be working as intended, but it didn't all go Recreate '68's way.

The group wanted to hold all of its demonstrations at Civic Center Park since it has the largest capacity, but the luck of the draw only granted them half of their requests.

"That's the problem with this process is a group brings tens of thousands of people and you have somebody who doesn't have an audience who wants to show there art somewhere and they are getting the same amount of space in the city," said Glenn Spagnuolo, also with Recreate '68.

The city says it is willing to work with applicants who didn't get their first pick.
. . .
Recreate '68 says it's been patient and it is going to make a statement, permit or not.

The city estimated that only 50 percent of the dates available would be filled today due to the number of applicants so groups could have a shot at different sites and dates than what they originally requested.

It's called fair and equal access, Glenn, no matter what the size of your group. Quit whining.

Not that you're likely to honor the City's regulations, or properly distributed permits to rival groups, in any event:

Glenn Spagnuolo said it was unfair, since the group already had control of the Pepsi Center. He warned that protestors from around the country are coming to Denver and will ignore the permitting process.

He said his group was willing to make Denver "ground zero" for the fight over freedom of speech.

Meanwhile (via the Drunkablog), the Democrats have declared the Hyatt Regency Denver their official hotel, and the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post will be hosting a "media party" for over 15000 members of the decaying MSM, 6000 delegates, and other Democrat "VIPs":

Held on the Saturday night before the Aug. 25-28 convention, the party kicks off a week of reveling. Denver's host committee is responsible for arranging the fete, as well as parties for the delegations. Private parties also will abound. In all, more than 1,500 parties, large and small, are expected in and around convention week, but none approaching the scale of the media party.

On the other hand, if you are not into Easter, but would still like to go on a "hunt" of sorts, then join "Revo the Rabbit" and Recreate '68 on the "Great Camera Hunt":

Join “Revo the Rabbit” and Recreate 68 as we search downtown Denver for hidden spy cameras that have been installed by the City to keep an eye on activists! Come with a group or join-up with one and see if you can win the Great Camera Hunt! To win, your team needs to locate the most spy cameras in your designated area. Meet back with R-68 at Civic Center Park for a potluck picnic. Celebrate the resurection, the resurection of a revolutionary spirit.

WHEN: SATURDAY - MARCH 22, 2008 CAMERA HUNT 1 - 3 PM
PICNIC 3-5PM
WHERE: STARTING POINT: SKYLINE PARK AT 12:45pm
PICNIC: CIVIC CENTER PARK

All intelligence gathered will be used to develop an
interactive map for the community.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING AND WE
HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHERE!

Photo of flyer swiped shamelessly from the Drunkablog

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 38-35

**Tons of links from a weekend playing catch-up--scroll for RNC related links

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Friday July 18, Saturday July 19, Sunday July 20 and Monday July 21 2008--No. 38-35

DNC:

•With 5 weeks left until the convention, serious questions remain about the DNC, despite Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's persistent optimism

•Whew--FBI declares "no credible threat" of terrorism for DNC, isn't sure about hygiene, whining . . . (cool side note--Denver's FBI special agent in charge helped process Saddam Hussein after his capture in Iraq); Denver spending $25 million on law enforcement to ensure that the FBI is right; 500+ rooms to be rented for the Colorado National Guard during the DNC

•Recreate '68 "revamps" site to appear less hypocritical about professed "non-violence"--more "hippie," less "militant"--same BS, different style

•Shocker--Mayor Hickenlooper's senior advisor for the DNC ridicules protestors at community impact meeting by questioning their ability to draw they numbers they claim, protestors reliably outraged

•What is most worrisome to Mayor Hickenlooper--riots? Protests? Economic impact? Nope. Just the locals abandoning Denver and turning the city into a "ghost town"; Hickenlooper hopes to avoid a confrontation over overnight camping in Denver's parks by asserting that no one camped out during those protests in the 1960s

•Denver's homeless plan--giving them a little "culture" with free tickets to the Zoo--hasn't been very well-received by national media; Denver denies attempt to "hide" the homeless, hopes to "engage them" in DNC activities and help them "escape from the heat"

•Barack Obama's campaign convention planner declares importance of delivering a "convention speech well," Obama speech a "hotter ticket than Springsteen"

•DNC CEO Leah Daughtry--bringing black liberation theology and religion to the Democrats?

•Democrats seek input on their party platform for the DNC--what would you recommend?

•Unconventional Action has released its most updated plans for the DNC and RNC, with maps produced by a "professional radical cartographer" (I missed that one on career day!)

•Why are the protestors protesting exactly? One moonbat offers an explanation

•Hand-wringing alert--The Denver Post is beginning to feel sorry for the protestors, expressing "concern"

•Not to worry though, legal assistance and training for protestors has already commenced, with classes also scheduled the day before the DNC for the procrastinating anarchists; Denver power attorney David Lane (Columbus Day protestors, Ward Churchill, etc.) says that "ill-trained" law enforcement just might lead to recreating '68

•Will there be a Clintonista revival at the DNC? The "Denver Group" hopes there will be

•The shirt off her back--Rep. Diana DeGette will provide 300 matching shirts for the DNC to her House colleagues

•Wanna be a trendy DNC "fashionista"? Try these shirts on for size

•Delegate/media "swag" bags revealed--with "Coke" logo (in the Pepsi Center)

•Denver churches claim they have been largely ignored in DNC planning

•More info on CNN's planned DNC coverage; the Pepsi Center gets "wired" for the convention

•Denver Open Media hopes to be the indie alternative source to the MSM for TV and radio for independent journalists and bloggers, liberal and conservative

•Flower power or Daisy dud for DNC?

•The latest update on Hollywood's "brain trust" that will attend the DNC

RNC:

•:RNC hopes 3000 law enforcement officers will be enough for event

•RNC still behind in volunteers for convention, timing (Labor Day weekend) and politics (less enthusiasm for Sen. John McCain)

•Protestors' manifesto on shutting down the RNC

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All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 61-56

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Wednesday June 25-Monday June 30, 2008--No. 61-56

Featured story:

•DNC protestors have filed an even bigger lawsuit, seeking additional concessions from the city.

---

Monday June 30
MSM:

•More on the ACLU lawsuit and security fence around protestors at the DNC:

The fence around the public demonstration zone outside the Democratic National Convention will be chicken wire or chain link, authorities revealed in U.S. District Court today.

That may allow protestors to be seen and heard by delegates going in and out of the Pepsi Center during the convention.

But the American Civil Liberties Union and several advocacy groups have filed an amended complaint to their lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service and the city and county of Denver that says protestors and demonstrators may have their First Amendment rights violated by security restrictions.

Blogs:

•Hillary Clinton will decide if, when Bill Clinton will speak at the DNC.

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Sunday June 29
MSM:

•Careful where you take those photos--181 "terrorist liaison officers" are watching for suspicious activity, including shooting photos and video with "no apparent aesthetic value" (which would be true of all coverage of moonbats)--and will, no doubt, be in operation during the DNC:

Future terrorism "is going to be noticed earliest at the most local level," said Robert Riegle, director of state and local programs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington.

Civil liberties watchdogs warn of unprecedented new threats to privacy.

"The problem is, you're drafting individuals whose job isn't law enforcement to spy on ordinary Americans and report their activities to the government," said John Verdi, director of the open-government project at the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

In Colorado, TLOs report not only illegal but legal activity, such as bulk purchases along Colorado's Front Range of up to 150 disposable cellphones. TLO supervisors said these bulk buys were suspicious because similar phones are used as remote detonators for bombs overseas and can be re-sold to fund terrorism.

Taking photos or videos can be deemed suspicious because "surveillance is a precursor to terrorist activity," said Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Steve Garcia, an analyst in Colorado's intelligence fusion center south of Denver, which handles TLO-supplied information.

•Rocky Mountain News--city should hold Tent State to the 11 conditions set forth in its "conditional" permit to hang out in City Park:

Denver needs to take a firm stand in negotiations with the anti-war group Tent State University.

The student-run organization recently received a conditional assembly permit to bring potentially thousands of protesters to Denver and set up a tent city in a corner of City Park during the Democratic National Convention. But one of their leaders seems less than thoroughly committed to abiding by the terms of the deal.

How many protesters might participate isn't clear. The permit sets aside space to accommodate 20,000, but Tent State organizer Adam Jung says he wants to bring 50,000 here. Such talk may be nothing more than PR, but that's why as negotiations move forward, "conditional" is the term to remember.

The city expects - as it should - the Tent Staters to abide by all 11 conditions set forth by the Parks and Recreation Department in an order it issued June 20.

Among them: No camping. No alcohol. Get the approval of neighborhood associations, the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Make sure PA systems for music and other performances don't disturb the neighbors. Provide portable toilets, drinking water and trash collection for the site.

In other words, satisfy the same expectations any group hoping to bring a large number of people to occupy a major portion of a Denver park would have to meet.

We're not confident Tent State can meet those goals. Indeed, Jung told the Rocky that he hopes for flexibility. Perhaps the city could provide outhouses and churches and nearby residents could offer their showers, he said. As for camping, which is prohibited by ordinance in City Park: "If we have to figure out a way to remove all of these people at 10 or 11 at night," Jung said, "it becomes very problematic."

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Saturday June 28

Blogs:

•Drunkablog--apparently not even DNC delegates are buying into the convention's moonbatty "carbon credit challenge."

•Drunkablog--AP's writers can't count; Recreate '68 still "not exclusionary" despite everyone's reluctance to discuss the group or plans for the DNC (and everyone has a "little bit of magic inside them" according to R 68's Glenn Spagnuolo--oh, and fluffy bunnies, colorful rainbows, and unicorns)

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Friday June 27
MSM:

•Barack Obama responds to Ralph Nader's comments; rules for Denver city workers released--what they can and can't do during the DNC; Denver cabbies promise "smooth ride" for DNC.

Blogs:

•Drunkablog's daily DNC roundup--non-credentialed DNC bloggers will have a second opportunity to rub elbows with the high and mighty in the Leftosphere--including Kos--at "The Big Tent"; MSM types are quite unhappy about their proximity to the unwashed masses of protestors in Lot A next to the Pepsi Center; some moonbats are worried about CIA plants and government infiltration into groups like Recreate '68 for the purpose of promoting violence and discrediting the protestors; the Colorado delegation to the DNC has a little politically correct quota management to take care of--wait for it--too many men!

•More on "The Big Tent"; proximity of protestors and MSM types (including pictures, maps); DNC "podium guy" retires.

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Thursday June 26
MSM:

•While the DNC has been bombarded with volunteers in Denver, the RNC is having some difficulty rounding up volunteers in Minnesota.

•Ralph Nader: Obama trying to "talk white."

Blogs:

•Drunkablog--no "pointed sticks," gas masks, projectile launchers, or, um, "giant puppets" in Arapahoe County, with possible plans to extend a similar prohibition in Denver for the convention; Denver submits to ACLU's request releases a "redacted" copy of its inmate torture handbook jail manual.

•Drunkablog's daily DNC roundup--you can have organic or unionized products at the DNC, but not both.

•DNC "Convention Captains" announced.

•Denver Congresscritter Diana DeGette launches series of online videos--"Denver's Finest"--to assist attendees and delegates to the DNC.

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Wednesday June 25
MSM:

•Barack Obama's sister stumped for the Dems' candidate in Denver.

Blogs:

•Drunkablog's daily DNC roundup--Tent State's leader is just a humble Missouri farm boy; the city will be getting $50 million from the Feds to offset security costs (including some very specialized equipment; and more on the "cultural events" planned for the convention.

•More on the $50 million for DNC security (it took Boston 2 years to be reimbursed).

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All previous Daily Digests can be found here.