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):

Hickenlooper, Tent State Meet To Discuss Protestors Camping In City Park

Closed-door discussions to resolve the issue of thousands of protestors congregating in City Park with nowhere to camp, since city law prohibits overnight camping in Denver's parks:

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper suggested alternative campsites and buses Tuesday to resolve a controversy over allowing thousands of protesters to camp in City Park during the Democratic National Convention, according to those involved in the closed-door discussions.

"We're open to any resolution," said Tent State University organizer Adam Jung, who is urging the city to allow anti-war demonstrators to pitch tents in City Park. He detailed conversations he had Tuesday with the mayor and other city officials.

The city issued an assembly permit for Tent State University in the southwest corner of the park as long as the group met certain conditions, such as appeasing the concerns of neighbors and the nearby Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

As many as 20,000 protesters are expected daily at Tent State University, Jung said. And he expects about 5,000 would like to camp overnight.

There's one hitch. City laws prohibit camping in the park.

The issue has roiled city officials, with some City Council members in favor of relaxing the camping ban and others saying doing so could create a dangerous mess for the park as well as set an unwise precedent.

Thousands of campers and hundreds of tents would be quite an unwelcome, and very likely unsanitary situation. Inclement weather would turn the park into a pit, and the availability of adequate security and facilities doesn't seem likely given Tent State's shaky reputation.

The precedent, however, would be enormous, but the city has itself to blame for granting the provisional park permit in the first place. Now Hickenlooper is forced to meet in private with protestors in order to figure out a way to accommodate the crowd expected in City Park. Suggesting buses and an alternative camp site raises questions about the city's commitment to being green--one that Jung points out--and where, exactly, the protestors would be bused from. It isn't likely that many suburbs would welcome thousands of protestors into their neighborhoods for the duration of the DNC.

And why is the Mayor meeting Tent State in private? It is not clear if a public hearing or some other procedure will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

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.

---

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."

---

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.

---

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.

---

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).

---

All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

20K Anti-War Protestors Plot DNC Camp Out At City Park

There's just one snag--they can't stay past 11pm--but first the moonbats from Tent State discuss the small city they are hoping will arrive in Denver:

Neighbors are bracing for 20,000 anti-war protesters planning a five-day camp in City Park during the Democratic National Convention.

The city issued an assembly permit for Tent State University to bring the tribe of college kids from across the country for an "alternative university" Aug. 24-28 in the southwest corner of the park.

"Come to Denver to end a war!" declares the Web site for Tent State University, which describes itself as "a a positive, youth-led initiative to fund education instead of war."

Tent State will be a staging area "to experience real democracy" and DNC protests and it will be a campus for "classrooms" teaching nonviolent antiwar tactics and strategies, the Web site says.

But organizers have to iron out some big kinks before they can pitch the tent city just two months from now.

While city statement said the permit is for "approximately 20,000 participants," chief Tent State organizer Adam Jung said he dreams of luring up to 50,000 protesters if he locks up hot music acts ranging from political hip-hop to Southern honky tonk.

Honky Tonk?

Now for that pesky city law that might put a crimp in their plans:

The hang-up: Overnight camping is illegal in the park.

That means each night, thousands of protesters could be forced to exit the park by 11 p.m., roaming the city for places to sleep. Jung says there's not enough nearby hotel rooms at prices college students can afford.

"It's not a camp out," said City Councilwoman Carla Madison, whose district includes the 314-acre park, home to Denver Zoo, a golf course, tennis courts, a lake with paddle boating, and popular music and arts festivals.

"The park closes at 11 p.m. and they have to be gone," she said.

But if you think that the city is planning a hard-line application of its laws, then think again. More negotiations and "dialogue" are planned:

"Now, don't ask me how it's really going to shake out," Madison added. "But that's the way it's going to be: that they can put their tents up, but they can't camp out in them."

Organizer Jung is hopeful that ongoing negotiations with city officials will allow the group to camp overnight at the park.

"We've met with the mayor and we've met with police officials and they're very reasonable people," said Jung, a 28-year-old, raised in a Missouri farm family who hopes to draw people from across the political spectrum to the tent city. I think the city is open to it.

"Our main argument is, if people are allowed to camp, is that we retain control over the entire event," he said. "We're bringing in professional security, so we can direct the energy and we can keep it safe and ... a very positive event."

But, he added, "If we have to figure out a way to remove all of these people at 10 or 11 at night, it becomes very problematic."

"That's what happened in Chicago," Jung said, referring to the 1968 Democratic National Convention's notorious clashes between Vietnam War protesters and Chicago riot police.

Recreate '68 in City Park.  At least it will be a scenic riot.

Also with "professional security." That should go well.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 10

DNC Countdown--10 days left (continuously updated) . . .

•Meditate, contemplate--"Instead of standing up and advocating any particular position, we're asking people to be quiet a little bit," said Meditate 08 co-chairman Don Morreale.

•Greening, greening, gone?--DNC Director of Greening "Andrea Robinson was forced out of any meaningful role because of ongoing conflicts with vendors and her co-workers at the Democratic National Convention Committee, several sources said Thursday."

•As if Tent State itself wasn't cool enough itself--"And it obviously gives an incentive for more apathetic youth to come out to Tent State," Adam Jung on Rage Against the Machine's appearance (includes ticket info) in Denver during the DNC on behalf of the Tent Staters; but will the 50k protestors come for Tent State, or RATM?

•LoDo to Tent State (E.T. voice)--"Be Good"--"These are college kids who will run our country. We could do a lot worse."

•Can you hear me now? Good!--"We know this convention represents the most digitally advanced ever," said Keri Hissim, operations director for AT&T, the official wireless provider. "We absolutely intend to deliver on that expectation."

•When in the course of DNC events--"One of the 25 surviving original copies of the Declaration of Independence will head to Denver after display Friday and Saturday at the Utah Capitol. It's on a tour of 17 cities as part of a voter-registration drive. After leaving Salt Lake, it will go to Denver for display during the Democratic National Convention."

•Off the beaten path--I-25 to be closed for Obama's Invesco festivities:

A 5.5-mile stretch of the busiest highway in the Rocky Mountain West — Interstate 25 past Invesco Field — will be closed to traffic on the evening Barack Obama accepts the Democratic presidential nomination at the stadium.

The Rocky first reported this nearly a month ago, but Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper confirmed today that state highway officials will close I-25 between I-70 and Sixth Avenue from 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, until after Obama's speech and other stadium festivities conclude.
. . .
The goal is to "meet Democratic National Convention needs while keeping Denver open and accessible" the statement stressed.

"We are grateful to our local, state and federal partners who shared our commitment to minimize impacts on the local community and to maximize ways for local residents to be a part of this historic event," Hickenlooper said.

Looks like DNC needs outweigh Denver's accessibility, you know, for the unwashed masses.

---

All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

Tent State Protestors Seek Shelter Outside City Park, Whine About Denver "Not Helping"

Awww, poor Tent Staters couldn't convince the city of Denver to toss out it's long-standing no-camping rule in city parks. Boo hoo--take your unhygienic, patchouli-laced nuttiness elsewhere:

A leader of a group that had hoped to camp thousands of protesters in City Park during the Democratic National Convention said he hopes to announce a possible alternative Wednesday.

Tent State University organizer Adam Jung said the group remained disillusioned over how city officials have handled the camping suggestions.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and other officials have said they will stick to the city's ban against camping in the park.

Tent State has a conditional use permit to use the park during the convention, but Hickenlooper and other officials have said protesters must leave the park at 11 p.m. Tent State still must submit detailed plans to city officials on Friday for final approval of the group's plans for the park.

Jung said the group now is coming up with alternatives that could alleviate the camping controversy, but he declined to give specifics.

"We're doing this on our own," he said. "The city certainly isn't helping us."

Take note. This is a window into the mind of the moonbat.

Protest the city, decry it's ordinances, whine about treatment. Then complain that that same city "isn't helping."

That's what years of moonbat indoctrination about the dependence on others, namely the government, results in--a complete uselessness of the individual. You are nothing without the all-knowing nanny-state. You can't think for yourself. You are dependent on others for everything. Whine about "oppression," and then whine about not being helped by your "oppressors."

Pathetic.

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.

Iraq: Change the Status Quo--A Tent City Teach-In

Comes complete with a campout (don't forget the deodorant folks), "slam poetry" (always tasteful), a "peace march" (de rigeur, of course), and anti-capitalist/anti-patriarchy/ anti-America/anti-hygiene (we did mention hygiene, didn't we?) "workshops":

Iraq: Change the Status Quo
A Tent City Teach-in
University of Denver Campus GreenApril 24-25
2000 E Asbury Ave.
duchangethestatusquo@gmail.com

Schedule of Events

Thursday, April 24
5pm: Begin creation of tent city
6pm: Keynote Speaker: Sheila Schroeder, Woodstock West [third picture] and Student Activism
8pm: Community Interactions – music, slam poetry, and the Soapbox
Overnight: Tent-city campout
Friday
8am: Wake-up
8:30am: Peace March
10am-12:30pm: Workshop Session (topics include peace and non-violence, WMDs and the Middle East, Faith Perspectives)
12:30pm-1:30pm: Break, conversations continue
1:30pm–4 pm: Workshop Session (topics include Discourse and Iraq, the PATRIOT Act, refugees, Tent State)
4pm-5pm: Big Tent gathering and tent-city clean-up
5pm: Keynote Speakers-Carl Bruning: Conservative Anti-War Perspectives- Ibrahim Kazerooni: An Iraqi Perspective

Information on Speakers and Workshops
Thursday, April 24
6pm: Sheila Schroeder, University of Denver Department of Mass Communications and Journalism Studies: ‘Woodstock West’ and Student Activism

Friday, April 25
Workshop Session 1: 10am
-Prof. Alan Gilbert: Peace and Nonviolence in the Context of Iraq
-LeRoy Moore, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center: Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Middle East
-Joel Edelstein, KGNU Community Radio: US Middle East Policy
-Anna Koop, Sisters of Loretta

1:30pm Workshop Session 2
-Prof. Sally Kwitkowski: Discourse, Iraq, and the ‘War on Terror’
-Doug Vaughan, former Woodstock West participant: PATRIOT Act
-Adam Jung, Tent State University: Tent State Activism and the Democratic National Convention

5pm: Closing Speakers
-Carl Bruning, Ron Paul campaign: Conservative Anti-War Perspectives
-Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni, Iraqi imam and refugee: An Iraqi Perspective

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 18

Adam Jung of Tent State will lead his minions on a daily "Long March" from City Park to "Freedomville Shantytown" at the Pepsi Center--stragglers and counterrevolutionaries will be shot, survivors will be shot again

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Thursday August 7, 2008--No. 18

•SP and Drunkablog humor exclusive--Top 10 Alternative Names for Recreate '68

DNC:

•Too bad--Judge says DNC security plans do not have to be altered to provide more accommodations for protestors, who had filed lawsuits arguing that the planned security provisions were too "restrictive" and that First Amendment rights won't be infringed

•Good news from the NY Times--Denver and the Secret Service are planning for the worst

•So much for transparency--Denver more tightlipped than St. Paul on convention expenditures

•Tent State, previously planning to camp out in City Park (illegal), has decided to take its traveling freak show to the Pepsi Center protest zone, now dubbed "Freedomville Shantytown"--but there's a hitch, they still won't be able to put up any tents--and will engage in what Drunkablog dubs a daily mini "Long March":

The Tent State University organizers say they believe they have resolved questions about what to do once the curfew strikes at 11 p.m. at City Park: Pack their belongings and tents and march every night to the Pepsi Center's protest zone.

While at the Pepsi Center's demonstration site, organizers said during a news conference Wednesday, they plan to continue to demonstrate against the Iraq war and then feign sleeping as part of their act of protest. The protest zone will be open 24 hours.

Adam Jung, an organizer for Tent State University, mocked the city's allocation of the protest zone for demonstrators at the southeast corner of the arena's parking lot, near Seventh Street and the Aurora Parkway. Nonetheless, he said, the demonstration site would be the location in which hundreds - or thousands - of protesters would converge on once they're booted out of City Park and they begin the more-than-two-mile trek to the Pepsi Center.
. . .
"But we were not seeing the big picture. The city of Denver does not oppose free speech. They love free speech so much they just want to protect and secure it with razor wire and caging. Because of their passion for the First Amendment the city has provided one place for demonstrators to be overnight - the freedom cage. Each night demonstrators will take the freedom cage and transform it into the 'Freedomville Shantytown.' "

By morning protesters plan to pack up their gear and head back to City Park where they will set up their camps, continue their anti-war messages and be entertained by music and speeches.
. . .
Sue Cobb, the mayor's spokeswoman, said structures, including tents, would be banned at the Pepsi Center's demonstration zone because of "security considerations and the need to ensure everyone's right to free expression." However, Cobb said that demonstrators wouldn't be violating any laws if they bring in tents into the public demonstration zone but don't erect them.

That's one heck of a trudge with all that stuff--its a couple miles between the southeast corner of City Park and the Pepsi Center. The view from the "Freedom Cage" digs--bedding down will include a stint on the ultracomfortable asphalt of Parking Lot A. Undoubtedly even a few hundred protestors walking back and forth each morning and evening would be a "parade" in itself. Expect more gridlock.

•"House of Urine" a rumor?

•Drunkablog deconstructs the radical moonbattery and utter uselessness of "Dialog:City"--including karaoke, an "Air Forest," and GLBT "unison readings" (which is good news, since the DNC, by the way, has more than exceeded its GLBT quota)


An "Air Forest," whatever the hell that is

•Why are you a Democrat? The DNCC asked supporters to answer that question with YouTube videos

•Still hoping to snag accommodations for the DNC? Better move fast . . .

•Coloradans should get preferential access to Obama's speech, though it is unclear if everyone is welcome (GOP, independents), whether volunteering will be required, and what people can and can't bring into Invesco Field on the big night; the Westword has a great recap of the hasty and ill-conceived announcement, and many more unanswered questions

•What's on the menu for Obama's Invesco Field appearance

•More DNC seen-and-heard--Clooney a no show, Obama at the Westin; DNC "dance card" rapidly expanding

•Focus on the Family to pray for rain during Obama's acceptance speech

•Seeking political power? This year's conventions say, "Go West, young pol!"

•"Denver for Darfur" concert with Willie Nelson planned for Red Rocks

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All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

Recreate '68 To Create "Free City" At DNC, Illegally Occupying Civic Center Park; Update--"Nude-In," "Free Love" To Be Featured

"We will be putting up a tent city here that's going to include space for homeless people, too . . . there will be a "nude-in," in which demonstrators will spell out the word "PEACE," using naked bodies . . . Free City is also free of borders . . . Free City is also going to free for political thought, free of commercialism, free of cages and prisons for political prisoners . . . And yes, one of the most fun ones, there will be free love - as long as it's consensual"--Recreate '68 and allies on "Free City"


Recreate '68 spokesflunky and shameless self-promoter, Glenn Spagnuolo







**Update--The adolescents protestors announced yesterday that "Free City" will include just about everything, from a "nude-in" and the word "PEACE" spelled out with naked bodies, free housing "Tent State," and "free love" (you can't "Recreate '68" and not have free love, man)--and the protestors will also have their own "security force" as well (video):

Spagnuolo and other activists have made numerous comments indicating they will not be placing great significance on who holds permits for which park the week of the convention - including Civic Center Park.

"Regardless of the city's claims, we're going to be having free housing here in the park," said Spagnuolo. "We are going to be having free housing here in the park. We will stay past the curfew, we will enjoy each other's company."

He also said, "We will be putting up a tent city here that's going to include space for homeless people, too."

Spagnuolo also claimed that at some point there will be a "nude-in," in which demonstrators will spell out the word "PEACE," using naked bodies.

The activists said "Free City" will operate based on a 10-point program that supports a life without authority.

Or logic/reason. And I didn't know they could count that high . . .

Other issues to be addressed/promoted/strangled in moonbat central "Free City":

"Free City is also free of borders," said Zoe Williams, a member of a group called Colorado Street Medics. "We welcome all people as immigrants, largely, to this country to be a part of Free City."

Adam Jung, representing the group Tent State, added, "Free City is also going to free for political thought, free of commercialism, free of cages and prisons for political prisoners.

"And yes, one of the most fun ones, there will be free love - as long as it's consensual."

The group said their week at Civic Center Park - or, "Free City" - will feature a free university, 5,000 free meals twice a day for whomever wants them, a free concert, free medical care, and other innovations that won't cost a cent.

Getting anywhere near Recreate '68 and "Free City" will, however, cost you your sanity.

Though the police and Mayor John Hickenlooper were silent, his office did release a statement and Councilman Charlie Brown took the opportunity to razz the protestors:

Police referred inquiries to Mayor John Hickenlooper's office.

Katherine Archuleta, a senior adviser to the mayor, issued a statement about the protesters' "intention to ignore the city of Denver's longstanding prohibition against overnight camping" in urban parks.

"We support and encourage people to express their views safely and in a manner that respects the rights of others along with the laws and ordinances of our city," Archuleta said in the statement.

Councilman Charlie Brown laughed when he heard that Civic Center had been christened with a new name, but then said Denver was going to have to be "firm and strong" with protesters.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're not going to back down," he said.

Brown said he was confident that police, the Secret Service and FBI would be ready to handle "what could be a very serious situation."
. . .
Brown said the Re-create 68 protesters need to grow up.

"They acted like children when they lost the lottery," he said. "We need to let some cooler heads prevail here and perhaps get some adults in on this conversation."

More like spoiled brats, but it is good to see a Denver elected official point out the sheer nonsense spouted by these moonbats.

---

The illegal occupation of Civic Center park will be called "Free City" (via Drunkablog):

A new city is coming to Denver, representatives for Re-create 68 and other anti-war activists announced this afternoon at Civic Center park.

“Free City” as the four activists renamed the park, will attempt to open the Sunday before the 2008 Democratic National Convention gets underway, set up tents and exist all the way through convention week, Aug. 25-28.

The activists briefly set up a sky-blue sign with the words FREE CITY in white. Yellow tulip-like flowers that bloomed in the shape of fists brightened the borders. Within seconds of the four’s attempt to hammer the sign into the ground, wind blew it over.

The residents of “Free City” will attempt to occupy the park beyond the legal rights R-68 affiliates have to the park, Spagnuolo said. Last month, in a blind lottery, R-68 and its affiliates won permits to use the park on Aug. 25 and 27, a Monday and Wednesday. By allowing camping in the park after curfew, Free City will also be in violation of city rules that forbid overnight stays.

R-68’s Glenn Spagnuolo last month angrily charged that Denver had “created a very dangerous situation” when it award a permit for the park – as part of the same blind lottery that gave R-68 its permits – for the Sunday to a party planner for the city’s convention host committee. Today he said Free City would be free of violence.

Ask what Free City would do if police tried to enforce the rules and tried to remove the occupants, Spagnuolo would only say that Free City’s occupants wouldn’t leave.

No, of course not. But that's what all that extra equipment and law enforcement personnel is for, right?

Plans, however, always change, and Spagnuolo and Recreate '68 are hedging their bets:

Spagnuolo has said many times in the past that the largest march of the protesters would be an anti-war march that started Sunday morning at Civic Center and made way for the Pepsi Center, site of the convention hall.

Today he said whatever happened Sunday would be organic and without leaders.

Except Spagnuolo, the symbolic martyr, who is merely a spokesflunky for the group. Drunkablog correctly notes that this is merely an attempt by Spagnuolo to preemptively exculpate himself should things, you know, get out of hand.

More from said spokesflunky (also via Drunkablog):

Glenn Spagnuolo says he and his associates have renamed the park "Free City" and plan to establish a tent city in the park to house demonstrators. He says he and his volunteers will provide free food, free love, free medical care and free housing for anyone who wants it. He also says his group will ignore the city's curfew.

Spagnuolo's group attempted to obtain permits for protest gatherings during the convention. The city set up a lottery process to handle all the groups applying for permission to stage demonstrations. Although Spagnuolo's group received two permits, they were not on consecutive days.

At a news conference in the park Wednesday, Spagnuolo outlined his political views.

"We're here today to formally reject societies and governments that celebrate greed and consumption. We reject a society that oppresses its own members and others and destroys its environment for profit. We reject a government that was built upon and commits genocide," he said.

And in case you were wondering, a political science professor helps distinguish between peaceable and non-peaceable assemblies:

Professor Norman Provizer, of the Metro State Political Science Department, says the Recreate '68 group's message may be a little vague. He looked over their Web site, which urges protestors to gather in Denver for the August convention.

"I think there's a recognition that the right to protest is extremely important. But that comes with limits," Provizer said.

Provizer says the government has a strong interest in making sure protestors do not incite violence or illegal behavior.

"That's why there's a right to peaceably assemble. There's a set of limits placed on that right by the Supreme Court referring to time, place and manner. There is no right to assemble in a non-peaceable manner," he said.

Illegally occupying Civic Center Park may force the protestors into the non-peaceable category, as they have no plans on complying with police orders.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 62

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Tuesday June 24, 2008--No. 62

MSM:

•DNC will be simulcast in Spanish for the first time ever, via Comcast.

Blogs:

•20K protestors led by Tent State will assemble in City Park (with permit), but no overnight camping (illegal) will be allowed.

•Protestors near Pepsi Center will be peering out through a wire mesh fence.

•Drunkablog--Younger generation of activists with plans for the DNC nauseatingly featured in the Post, with CodePink's Zoe Williams and Tent State's Adam Jung.

•Drunkablog--Students for a Democratic Society reaffirm their "non-violent" plans to disrupt the DNC.

•Drunkablog--Recreate '68 unhappy that new parade permits won't include routes of the group's own choosing.

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All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 16-15: Advice From 1968 "Chicago Eight" Moonbat Tom Hayden

Photo by Don Caspere © Chicago Tribune/1968--The Chicago Seven, who were charged with conspiring to incite the riots that erupted during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, are, in foreground from left: Lee Weiner; Rennie Davis; David Dellinger, holding his granddaughter; Abbie Hoffman; Jerry Rubin; Tom Hayden; and John Froines. The group was called the Chicago Eight until Bobby Seale's case was severed.

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Saturday August 9 and Sunday August 10, 2008--Nos. 16-15

•Awww--Tent State says no to daily "Long March" from City Park to the Pepsi Center, moves to the much-closer (but still off-limits to camping) Cuernavaca Park near Coors Field; Tent State nixes $1000/night digs (price for the whole group, not individually) at the Denver Coliseum

•Denver building managers prepare for the worst, including building lockdowns

•In part 1 of a project 10 part "Unconventional Wisdom" series, 1968 DNC "Chicago 8" arrestee and New Left moonbat Tom Hayden offers some advice to Denver--oh, and the FBI is evil, by the way:



•No bikes at the Pepsi Center or Invesco Field--security concerns trump "green" convention mandates

•Democrats plan a little old-time religion for "people of faith" with an interfaith service on Sunday, August 24 (you can grab some tickets by RSVPing for required tickets, the service is free and open to the public)

•Some very serious (and not so serious, though quite humorous) suggestions for visitors concerned with altitude sickness here in Denver

•Close, but no cigar--former President Bill Clinton will have to speak at the convention on behalf of presumptive nominee Barack Obama and not his wife Hillary; tentative line-up of potential A-list Democrat politicos speaking at the DNC

•What, exactly, is a delegate to a national party convention?; Delegates will see a "bolder" platform than the one put forth in 2004

•Other Western states aren't happy about the ticket arrangement for Barack Obama's Invesco Field speech

•DIA gets DNC makeover; Let 1000 DNC banners bloom

•Convention security "Fusion Centers?"

•Mason Tvert and SAFER--a different "green" for the DNC

•Good news for protestors--DNC legal observer training continues

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All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

Democratic National Convention Countdown, No. 40

Democratic National Convention Daily Digest and Open Thread
Wednesday July 16--No. 40

DNC:

•Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and representatives from Tent State met in private to discuss the possibility of thousands of protestors in town for the DNC camping in City Park (nope, illegal), or being bused in daily from campsites elsewhere in the city; Proposed alternative from Hickenlooper? The Denver Stock Show yard--ha ha ha; Tent State's Adam Jung rejects Stock Yard arrangement and, shocker, was unable to convince City Park neighbors to allow overnight camping, with 90% opposed


(click to enlarge)
•Road closures in Denver threaten to snarl traffic from Denver's western suburbs; more details released for residents of Downtown Denver and local businesses--full pdf here; no word yet on traffic plans around Invesco Field, but parking in surrounding lots will be banned--no tailgating, and no idea where 75000 people will park


•Massive anti-illegal immigration counter-rally scheduled for DNC

•Details of regional law enforcement assisting with security for the DNC, threaten to "overmilitarize" the community; Weapons purchased by police for DNC security could stay secret

•Denver courts expect long hours, extensive backlogs if mass arrests occur during DNC

•More celebrities slated for DNC concerts, fundraisers

•Dems' convention catering suggestions/requirements/guidelines "elitist and out of touch"

•Activists/protestors plan their own misinformation media campaign during DNC

•Michelle Obama in town for $1000-a-plate fundraiser

•Plans to limit homeless meals creates backlash, some charities refuse; city denies attempt to "hide" homeless

•DemConWatch has a daily roundup of other DNC news; Crosby, Stills and Nash sing "Denver," an update to their song "Chicago"

•Obama's fundraising raffle, with backstage passes to Invesco Field, is back on--legally

•Auraria's 3 schools, wireless system, will shut down during convention

RNC:

•Anarchist "Olympics" planned in Chicago to prepare for anti-RNC protests--"Workshops/Sessions include How to Form An Affinity Group, Armor DIY/Safety and Defense, Street Medic/Guerrilla First Aid, Blockading Tactics/Conditioning, Strategizing Sessions, Presentations from Bash Back!, UA, Anarchist Black Cross, and many more!"

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All previous Daily Digests can be found here.

DNC Protestors: Denver "Criminalizing Nonviolent Demonstrators" And "Overmilitarizing" The Community

In the battle over the security funding for the Democratic National Convention, former allies Adam Jung of Tent State and Glenn Spagnuolo of Recreate '68 wax hyperbolically over Denver's purchase of police equipment for the event:

Money isn't such a concern for protest organizers, but they say the purchase of police equipment for the DNC is wasteful.

"I'm worried about the message they're sending, but I'm not worried about it actually being used," said Adam Jung, an organizer with the protest group Tent State University. "It sends a message that they're trying to criminalize nonviolent demonstrators."

Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer with the Recreate 68 Alliance, another protest group, agreed.

"There's no need to overmilitarize our community and utilize these military weapons on a civilian population," he said.

But police are "planning for anything," said Linkhart, who added that he supports their efforts.

"It does sound like we're preparing for an invasion or something, doesn't it?" he said. "But hey, we get the equipment afterwards, so you never know what we might get to use it for."

Well, with the moonbats expected to gather in large numbers, I believe the word "invasion" is entirely accurate. Tinfoil will be in short supply.

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 . . .

GOP 2010: News From The Grapevine And Why Republicans Should Borrow A Page From The Democrats' Playbook

Face The State has a new report on the "rumor mill" making the rounds within the GOP for the upcoming 2010 midterm election.

The speculation is not unsubstantiated beyond FTS, as SP has heard good things about Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier beyond insider comments, with Frazer responding to FTS that "It’s fair to say that right now I’m considering where I can have the greatest impact going forward"--and SP is looking to candidates in the Frazier mold to step up and begin to refill the tattered GOP bench.

Why is this important? The GOP can't win in 2010 (just as the GOP didn't win in 2006 or 2008) by using the same candidates, political operatives, and electoral strategies that worked from 1980 to 2004 any more than the Denver Broncos were able to use the same coaches, players, and playbook from their back-to-back Super Bowl victories in the late 1990s. Just ask Mike Shanahan or Pat Bowlen.

The idea that the normal cursus honorum or "paying your dues" processes that produced the "Contract with America" class of GOP politicians is still viable will only doom a newer generation of conservatives and GOP-leaning libertarians (roughly those 25-45) to wait through potentially more disastrous election cycles in the near future, and forsaking long-term goals to rebuild the party locally and nationally by wanting to avoid stepping on the toes of those who believe that this is "their time." Incumbents of any age and viable candidates of all backgrounds should be given the opportunity to throw their hat into the ring, especially if the GOP wishes to mount anything approaching Howard Dean's 50 state strategy and fellow blogger Joshua Sharf's call to run in every district in Colorado.

Quick-fix celebrity recruits aside (the often-rumored John Elway, for example), every race should have a viable candidate, even in difficult areas where incumbency or voter registrations numbers are a disadvantage. GOP primaries should not necessarily be avoided, and multiple competing candidates at the bench level should see a wide variety of opportunities given the Democrat Party advantage in governorships, state legislatures, and Congress. There is no reason why the GOP shouldn't be anything but a national party and not simply a regional party of "get-out-the-base" voters, volunteers, and fundraisers. We haven't conceded anything on the core principles of the "big tent"--free markets, smaller government, and individual rights/liberty--so why concede districts just because they are held by Democrats?

The 2010 election in Colorado will feature several state-wide races--Governor, a US Senate seat, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. Voting in the aggregate matters, especially at the state level in midterm elections, and turning out GOP and GOP-leaning center-right and independent voters will be the key to victory. Renewed interest in local races in typically uncompetitive districts currently held by Democrats will play a huge role in reengaging those voters set adrift by strategies that look to maximize votes in supportive areas while ignoring others in the hopes that the GOP brand will be enough to get folks to vote. President Barack Obama's campaign presciently and effectively--obviously, he is the President--eschewed such a course. Even without him on the ballot in 2010, much of the party infrastructure and institutional knowledge will still be in place, and the Democrats are no doubt hoping that this built-in advantage will discourage any GOP efforts at revamping campaigns off-line or on-line. To do so would be to ignore (forgive the gratuitous Star Wars reference) Admiral Ackbar's admonition--"It's a trap!"

It is still too early in 2009 to endorse those candidates who have formally filed, those who have been mentioned or have shown an interest, and those whose candidacy is merely speculation. But it is not too early to begin reengaging the dispirited GOP rank-and-file, to propose bold new visions for the party, to toss out discredited strategies, to effectively communicate our principles, to avoid becoming a party of "NO!" by offering alternative solutions instead of whining about the other side of the aisle, or to turn into debased imitators of the most vitriolic smear-merchants in the Democrat Party.

Opportunities to perform a true house-cleaning and not simply rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic don't come very often. GOP elites, fundraisers, powerbrokers, political operatives and especially the bench itself is going to be put on notice (as if it hasn't already been in the two most recent electoral abbatoirs)--lead, follow, or get out of the way.

CU System To Be Smoke-free

Entirely smoke-free, indoors and outdoors! CU Regent Michael Carrigan is leading the charge to snuff out smoking freedom and personal responsibility throughout the entire CU system:

The University of Colorado could be the first college system in the state to go entirely smoke-free - inside and out - if CU Regent Michael Carrigan gets his way.

The measure, planned for introduction early next year after a survey on the issue goes out this week, would affect 75,000 people and would be the strictest smoke-free policy in the state.

The idea is to eventually ban smoking - and perhaps all tobacco - on nearly 2,000 acres of CU property. It would need the support of a majority of the school's nine-member governing board.

It would be the second multicampus university system in the country to make such a move.

"The university has an opportunity to be a leader in 21st-century health care, and I'm confident that 10 years from now, most campuses will have a smoking ban in effect," said Carrigan, who represents Denver.

About 25 percent of college- age students in Colorado smoke. That is higher than adults in the 25-34 age group, in which about 18 percent light up, according to a study by the Tobacco Program Evaluation Group among Colorado adults.

This week's survey will gauge the opinion of CU's 52,000 students, 20,000 staffers and 4,100 faculty members.

CU senior officials say they believe the response will be favorable toward the measure.

If so, Carrigan said he would bring the matter to his colleagues for vote next spring. It could take effect as soon as next fall.

CU's Regents have much better things to deal with than policing campuses and enforcing stifling bans on smoking. But that's ok, Carrigan has a method for dealing with student and faculty smokers:

Enforcement of the policy is still unclear, Carrigan said. He thinks peer pressure works best.

"The glowering looks from peers can be the most effective enforcement out there," he said.

Perhaps an informant system or some farcical show trials will also be used to enforce this--as one commenter put it--essentially "Maoist notion of control". Carrigan also claims to be working for the "rights of the majority" (video), but doesn't that conflict with CU's diversity mantra that not only encourages but enforces the views of even the tiniest minority?

Last time we checked it was that other vice of young and old--alcohol--that has consistently registered a more appalling record of hazard to the health of students, faculty and the community and no one, including us, has called for banning the consumption of alcohol.

Is smoking a nuisance? Sure, to the people who either don't smoke or the rabid ex-smokers who constantly remind everyone they know about the offensive nature of the habit. I don't smoke, though I do enjoy a cigar 3-4 times a year, usually for holidays and my birthday.

Author and Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi recently penned a book on what he calls the "Nanny State: How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children". In attempting to police the smoking habits of the state's largest campus system, Carrigan is telling the students (and faculty) that they can't be trusted to make their own decisions, and that it is the administration and the state's responsibility to regulate their lives and prevent them from using, outdoors, a legal and taxed product. So much for personal responsibility, let alone personal choice.

Allowing the moonbat mini-emperors and nanny statists to use the "non-smokers' veto" in any other situation--banning any legal act that one doesn't approve of--would be ridiculed for the assault on personal freedom that it represents at its core. If these people were intellectually coherent or honest, they would ban tobacco products altogether, rather than going about it peacemeal. But the regulatory moonbats enjoy control and the punitive taxes they place on tobacco consumption. Get the "nose in the tent" by banning smoking indoors, then in all public places, and now finally, outdoors as well at CU campuses.

It's not going to be long before the ban reaches state-wide. So much for those recent pro-marijuana initiatives (and CU's annual 4/20 potfest)--you won't be busted 'cuz its weed, but you will be for lighting up!