2008 Denver Black Arts Festival - “A Vivid View”
July 11-13, 2008 Denver City Park
Parade: starts at 11am.Assembly: at 23rd and York, City Park, at 10 AM.
EVENT DESCRIPTION: The Denver Black Arts Festival 22nd Annual Celebration Parade.
Dance for Barack Obama at "VIBE" THE BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL PARADE
Do the Cupid Shuffle with Campaign Staff and Volunteers,Learn the shuffle on July 7 or 8 at 999 Bannock St. office, Denver, at 6PM or March alongside the dancers with the Obama Banner
A community awaits our support and celebration as we gather together with harmonies of sound, color, and a living history to proclaim the power and joy of our movement for change. Let's assemble as many volunteers as possible to walk our walk with the promise of Barack, blending our heritages and our hopes with the floats and bands, drum and drill teams, students and leaders, assembled to honor African contributions and traditions. Let's show all that we can boogaloo too, and march with Obama gear and Obama che ers! .... Yes We Can! .... Obama '08!
More info at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44hlf
SGT Jennifer M. Hartman, 21, of New Ringgold, Pa., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 14, 2006 of injuries suffered when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated in the vicinity of a West Baghdad Substation where she was located. Hartman was assigned to the 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
SGT Jeremy E. DePottey, 26, of Ironwood, Mich., died on Sept. 11, 2006 in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a single vehicle accident. DePottey was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
SPC Matthew E. Schneider, 23, of Gorham, N.H., died on Aug. 28, 2006 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, from a non-combat related cause. Schneider was assigned to the 141st Signal Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Wiesbaden, Germany.
CPT Jason M. West, 28, of Pittsburg, Pa., died on July 24, 2006 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when he encountered enemy forces using small arms fire. West was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.
SGT Roger Pena, 29, of San Antonio died in Musa Qulah, Afghanistan, on June 14, 2006 when his convoy came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations. Pena was assigned to the 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
PFC Stephen Snowberger, 18, of Lopez, Pa., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 11, 2006 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat patrol operations. Snowberger was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
SPC Ronald W. Gebur, 23, of Delavan, Ill., died of injuries sustained in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 13, 2006 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Gebur was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Sgt. Aron C. Blum, 22, of Tucson, Ariz., died Dec. 28 at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif., of a non-hostile cause after being evacuated from Al Anbar province, Iraq, on Dec. 8. Blum was assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
CPT Shawn L. English, 35, of Westerville, Ohio, died Dec. 3, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations.He was assigned to the 577th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
LCpl Mike Scholl, 21, of Lincoln, Neb., died Nov. 14, 2006 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
LCpl Nicholas J. Manoukian, 22, of Lathrup Village, Mich., died Oct. 21, 2006 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Menoukian was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Cpl David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kan., died Oct. 18, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Unger was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Staff Sgt. Ryan E. Haupt, 24, of Phoenix, Ariz., died Oct. 17, 2006 in Baqubah, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Haupt was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
MSG Robb G. Needham, 51, of Vancouver, Wash., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept.20, 2006 of injuries suffered when his patrol came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. Needham was assigned to the Army Reserve's 1st Battalion, 356th Regiment (Logistical Support), 4th Brigade, 91st Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Sgt. Ronald L. Coffelt, 36, of Fair Oaks, Calif., died July 19 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Master Sgt. Randy J. Gillespie, 44, of Coaldale, Colo., died July 9, in Herat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered during small arms fire outside of Camp Stone. He was assigned to the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
Lance Cpl. Juan M. Garcia Schill, 20, of Grants Pass, Ore., died July 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Staff Sgt. Michael L. Ruoff Jr., 31, of Yosemite, Calif. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. He died July 1 in Ta'meem, Iraq, of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire.
Pfc. Justin A. Verdeja, 20, of La Puente, Calif., died June 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by insurgents using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Spc. Alexandre A. Alexeev, 23, of Wilmington, Calif., died May 28 in Abu Sayda, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey D. Walker, 21, of Macon, Ga., died May 14 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
US soldiers in Iraq mark Fourth of July with focus on work, thoughts of home
MAYA ALLERUZZO
AP News
Jul 04, 2008 12:25 EST
It's Staff Sgt. Edgar Covarrubias' second Fourth of July in Iraq. No family barbecue, no fireworks, but Covarrubias says he'll call his mom, wife and kids to share the day anyway.
Across Iraq, America's Independence Day was a normal work day for most U.S. troops. But the military threw in a taste of home at larger bases with ribs, corn on the cob and red, white and blue cake.
The holiday is even leaner at smaller outposts closer to the violence, where it comes with a can of meat, some cookies and a job not yet done.
"We are not going to stop our operations to celebrate the Fourth of July," said Sgt. Mark Johnson, 26, at a small joint U.S.-Iraqi outpost in the city of Iskandariyah, some 30 miles south of Baghdad.
"Nothing special is planned for today and that's OK because we didn't expect anything," added the 3rd Infantry Division soldier from Waterport, N.Y.
He heads home later this month on his mid-tour break to be with his girlfriend when she gives birth to their first child.
At least things were quiet Friday at the outpost, giving the men who weren't on duty time to watch movies on their laptops and instant message with friends back home.
Read More » 
Cpl. Joshua C. Blaney, 25, of Matthews, N.C., died Dec. 12 at Forward Operating Base Curry, Afghanistan. He died in Afghanistan from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy.
Spc. Hugo V. Mendoza, 29, of Glendale, Ariz died of wounds sustained when he came in contact with enemy forces using RPG, machine gun and small arms fire during combat operations on Oct 25, in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.
Sgt. 1st Class Matthew D. Blaskowski, 27, of Levering, Mich., died Sept. 23 in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.
Spc. Thomas L. Hilbert, 20, of Venus, Texas, died Sept. 7 in Mosul, Iraq, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations Sept. 6 in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Maj. Henry S. Ofeciar, 37, of Agana, Guam, died Aug. 27 at Forward Operating Base Naray, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit during combat operations in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Sgt. Stephen R. Maddies, 41, of Elizabethton, Tenn., died July 31 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire. He was assigned to the 473rd Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar Platoon, Tennessee Army National Guard, Columbia, Tenn.
Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo, 20, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., died July 22 in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.
On Friday, our country will celebrate July Fourth, or Independence Day.
So fred started thinking about patriotism and what that means. What can kids do to be good citizens, year-round?
Fred decided to chat with a local expert about this: Alison Mansfield, 13.
You might have heard about Alison, who will be an eighth-grader at Summit Middle School this fall. She started a project called “Operation Socks for Our Troops” last year – she collected more than 5,000 pairs of socks and sent them to soldiers in Afghanistan.
“These small things we take for granted … can help. It’s really good for them to know they’re appreciated. They’re protecting our freedom every day,” she says.
She’s doing it again this year, and she needs your help. She’ll have a booth at the Allen County 4-H Fair, if you want to drop off warm socks in adult sizes. She’s also collecting letters, snacks and personal care products, like toothbrushes and soap. She’ll send the items to troops she finds on www.anysoldier.com.
The project involves a lot of time and organization, but Alison plans to keep it going for as long as it’s needed.
“As long as people are willing to donate supplies, I’m willing to take them,” she says. Right now, she organizes the project on her own, with some help from her parents. Maybe someday she’ll turn it into a non-profit organization.
She also plays volleyball and is a member of 4-H. Alison was a semi-finalist for Build-a-Bear’s “Huggable Heroes” contest. And she placed third in the 2007-08 Patriot’s Pen essay contest in which she compared herself to Paul Revere, because “he delivered important supplies to the military and supported them.”
If you want to start your own project to help others, Alison has some advice: Find a cause you really like and follow through. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from others, even by asking for donations of supplies or money. Start small; one letter can go a long way.
“Every little bit can help,” Alison says.
Helping outTo donate socks, send them to Operation Socks for Our Troops, 7136 Pine Lake Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814. For information, call 312-3916. Features
Laura J. Gardner | The Journal Gazette
Alison Mansfield sent more than 5,000 pairs of socks to soldiers in Afghanistan.
Here are just a few that have given their life in War.
Spc. Ryan J. Connolly, 24, of Vacaville, Calif., died June 24 in Khogyani, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck a suspected landmine. He was assigned to the 173rd Special Troops Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Bamberg, Germany.
Staff Sgt. Christopher D. Strickland, 25, of Labelle, Fla. died June 25, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Staff Sgt. Chad A. Caldwell, 24, of Spokane, Wash., died April 30 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained while conducting dismounted combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
Spc. Keisha M. Morgan, 25, of Washington, D.C., died Feb. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat related cause. She was assigned to the Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
The circumstances are under investigation.
Staff Sgt. Jerald A. Whisenhunt, 32, of Orrick, Mo., died Feb. 8 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Sgt. Reno S. Lacerna, 44, of Waipahu, Hawaii, died Dec. 31, 2007 in Al Qayyarah, Iraq, of a non-combat related illness. He was assigned to the 87th Corps Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Sgt. Peter C. Neesley, 28, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., died Dec. 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, of an undetermined cause in a non-combat environment. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
This undated photo released by Obama for America shows Barack Obama and his father. Photo: AP
Barack Obama’s dad was such an important but absent figure in his life that he devoted his first book, “Dreams From My Father,” to the search for details about his father’s life and how the quest helped forge a son’s identity.
Now, a long-forgotten essay written 43 years ago by Obama’s father has surfaced, and its contents reveal much — not only about the senior Obama’s grasp of economic theory but also about the iconoclastic politics that, his son would later write, sent him into the spiral of career disappointment that concluded with his death in 1982 in his native Kenya.
Parts of the article, titled “Problems Facing Our Socialism,” have been making the rounds on several small blogs over the past week, but Politico.com is now, for the first time, reproducing the entire piece in its original form.
The scholarly eight-page paper, credited to “Barak H. Obama,” is never mentioned in “Dreams From My Father,” nor has the candidate discussed it in any of his many public speeches. (Politico brought the article to his campaign’s attention late last week, but aides did not respond to a request for comment from Obama.)
The paper’s substance, though, offers insight into the mind and the political trajectory of a man described by his son largely through his emotional life, his family and his traditions.
Published in the esoteric East Africa Journal in 1965, the year after Kenyan President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta took power and the country declared independence from British rule, the paper takes a gently mocking tone to the Kenyatta government’s key, controversial statement of economic policy, titled “African Socialism and Its Applicability to Planning in Kenya.”
Sen. Barack Obama's campaign apologized Wednesday for asking Muslim women not to stand or sit behind the candidate at a rally in Detroit this week out of concerns about the appearance of traditional Muslim dress in published and broadcast visuals of the events.
The incident is one of a series involving the use of Islam as a symbol throughout the presidential campaign, and Obama has been dogged by false assertions that he is Muslim.
"This is of course not the policy of the campaign," spokesman Bill Burton said. "It is offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run. We sincerely apologize for the behavior of these volunteers." Obama's campaign also pointed to a number of published and broadcast images that include women in hijab, a traditional Muslim head scarf intended to signify and promote modesty, as part of the faith.
But, Sharif Aref of Bloomfield Township, a law student at the University of Detroit-Mercy, said the incident occurred when he and friends attending the rally Monday night at Joe Louis Arena were invited to stand behind Obama on the stage
"We said OK, but that we had to bring my sister with us," Aref said. "But, when we told the woman that my sister had a head scarf, she was immediately denied and we were told she was not allowed to come sit there."
About an hour before the event, Aref said, a friend, Shimaa Abdelfadeel, who works at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in an office that encourages diversity, called from outside Joe Louis Arena to say she also was approached by an Obama volunteer and told she could stand behind the candidate, but only if she removed her scarf.
Abdelfadeel's experience was reported Wednesday morning on Politico.com.
"I was saddened," Aref said. "I just thought it was a very unfortunate event to take place at an Obama rally, of all places. Obama is sitting there and teaching new politics and change and saying he is going to gather people of every faith and race and ethnicity, and going to bring us all together as one, and at the same time, you have discrimination tactics against Muslims taking place at the same event."
But, Aref said he, his sister and those involved in the incident, remain supporters of Obama and intend to vote for him.
"We just want to make it clear, we still support Obama," Aref said. "We don't have any negative agenda other than we just want to get the story out because it is an important issue to acknowledge.
"I highly doubt that Obama was aware of what was going on, and I think he just needs to know what goes on at his rallies so he can correct it."
Aref said he and the others involved had been contacted by "right wing groups, including Sean Hannity and the Fox News network," and they had decided not to cooperate with them.
"We don't want this to be used by anyone with a far-right or far-left agenda," Aref said.
Read More »Thank you for your donation
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:18 pm
Dear Jan,
Thank you for your generous donation of $25.00.
Your gift will be immediately put to work building a campaign to change our
country and our politics for the better.
Looking for more ways to get involved?
Head over to My.BarackObama.com where our growing set of tools puts the future
of this campaign in your hands:
http://www.barackobama.com
On My.BarackObama.com you can...
... build your own profile and connect with supporters near you
... find or create your own local or national group
... create your own personal fundraising page and track your progress
... find events near you or plan your own
... chronicle your campaign experience on your own blog
There will be much more to come in the weeks and months ahead thanks to your
support.
Thank you again for your donation.
Obama for America
http://www.barackobama.com
This week the Senate Republicans stopped a Democratic proposal that would have hit the big oil companies with a windfall profits tax and taken away billions of dollars in tax breaks. Their reasoning was it would punish Big Oil, making them angry and causing them to increase gas prices. The energy package would have imposed a 25% tax on any “unreasonable” profits of the five largest U.S. oil companies and rescind 17 Billion Dollars in tax breaks. Together they made 36 Billion Dollars during January, February and March of 2008.
Republican Bob Schaffer, a former Colorado U.S. Congressman who helped give many of those tax breaks to Big Oil is now running for the retiring U.S. Senator Wayne Allard’s Senate seat. In fact, Bob Schaffer has now taken over $190,000 from Big Oil and gas companies just for this election to help him gain that seat. This is the third of the Bob “Big Oil” Schaffer series.
Even if you don’t read the article, watch these three very short and to the point you tubes on Big Oil Bob Schaffer and Big Oil Bob and one more Why Spoil Beauty?
Denver: With Vice-President Dick Cheney due to arrive in Colorado tomorrow for a fundraiser for Bob Schaffer, ProgressNowAction launched a multimedia campaign to raise public awareness of Schaffer's personal ties to big oil and war profiteering. The group called on Schaffer to immediately disclose how much he and his oil company are making from an oil contract Schaffer lobbied for in Iraq.
Here is the link so those of you that do not have cable can watch the proceedings. This page also has the pdf files of the Delegate Selection Rules, Call for the 2008 Democratic National Convention and the RBC regulations. It has the schedule of the meeting and I believe will post updates.
As a reminder, television coverage will be on C-Span, MSNBC and CNN starting at 9am. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9:30 am est, 8:30 cst, 7:30 mst and 6:30 pst.
Rules & Bylaws Committee Streamlined on DNC
The Name's of The Fallen / Part 14 / Total Count as a today 5/25/2008 4082 Soliders are Dead / Names In Reverse order from: 4082 to 4055
4082 5/18/2008 Private Howard A Jones Jr (35) Chicago IL
4081 5/18/2008 Private Branden P Haunert (21) Cincinnati OH
4080 5/15/2008 Sergeant John K Daggett (21) Phoenix AZ
4079 5/14/2008 Staff Sergeant Victor M Cota (33) Tucson AZ
4078 5/11/2008 Corporal Jessica A Ellis (24) Bend OR
4077 5/10/2008 Sergeant Joseph A Ford (23) Knox IN
4076 5/9/2008 Specialist Mary J Jaenichen (20) Temecula CA
4075 5/6/2008 Private 1st Class Aaron J Ward (19) San jacinto CA
4074 5/6/2008 Specialist Alex D Gonzalez (21) Mision TX
4073 5/2/2008 Sergeant Glen E Martinez (31) Boulder CO
4072 5/2/2008 Corporal James F Kimple (21) Carroll OH
4071 5/2/2008 Corporal Miguel A Guzman (21) Norwalk CA
4070 5/2/2008 Lance Corporal Casey L Casanova (22) McComb MS
4069 5/2/2008 Private Corey L Hicks (22) Glendale AZ
4068 5/1/2008 Specialist Jeffrey F Nichols (21) Granite Shoals TX
4067 4/30/2008 Sergeant 1st Class Lawrence D Ezell (30) Portland TX
4066 4/30/2008 Staff Sergeant Chad A Caldwell (24) Spokane WA
4065 4/7/2007 Sergeant Jerry L DeLoach (45) Jackson GA
4064 4/30/2008 Specialist Ronald J Tucker (21) Fountain CO
4063 4/30/2008 Captain Andrew R Pearson (32) Billings MO
4062 4/29/2008 Staff Sergeant Bryan E Bolander (26) Bakersfield CA
4061 4/11/2008 Sergeant Merlin German (22) Manhattan NY
4060 4/29/2008 Staff Sergeant Clay A Craig (22) Mesquite TX
4059 4/28/2008 Sergeant Mark A Stone (22) Buchanan Dam TX
4058 4/28/2008 Sergeant Marcus C Mathes (26) Zephyrhills FL
4057 4/28/2008 Private 1st Class Adam L Marion (26) Mount Airy NC
4056 4/27/2008 Private 1st Class William T Dix (32) Culver City CA
4055 4/28/2008 Corporal David P McCormick (26) Fresno TX
Total Count as a today @ 8:59 PM 5/25/2008
More Information please viist our data base:
The Name's of the Fallen : Link
Percy H Florez
Follow the money.
http://opensecrets.org/pres08/toprecipQ1_2008/toprecip.asp?cycle=2008
Interestingly the top recipient in FL and MI was John McCain even thouth the Democratic candidates recieved the most contributions with identical 51/49% margins. Obama raised the most in primaries lost to Clinton such as California, Texas and New York. To those that aregue Obama is winning only because of the 'Black vote' think again. And study more carefully his donor base. As the saying goes, "Money talks, BS walks".
(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)
Finally. We’re finally at that point where we are actually electing delegates to serve our Party in Denver. Until Saturday, we’ve only known who our “superdelegates” in Denver will be. But this messy process of democracy that started on February 5 in schools, churches and homes across Colorado is finally winding down this month with the final selection of the National Convention Delegates representing Colorado.
Our first stop on this final leg was at Dakota Ridge High School. On Saturday, Democrats from across the Sixth Congressional District gathered there to put candidates on the ballot and, yes, to elect our national convention delegates from that district.
Now, one of the reasons you haven’t heard much from DemNotes is that I’ve been very busy on two tracks. First, I’ve been busy preparing for the State Convention on the 17th. The planning committee in Colorado Springs has been furiously and steadfastly working to prepare for a massive influx of people like we’ve never seen before at a State Convention. I’m sure there will be hiccups — there always are — but I’m convinced that the planning for this State Convention is going as well as it possibly could.
The second reason I’ve been so busy is because I’ve been working with the Obama campaign and the Party in preparation for these delegate selection meetings. It’s been a somewhat stressful time, one that’s involved more than a little yelling and cursing, and lots of back and forth among Party staff, the Obama campaign and the Clinton campaign. In any event, what I’ve been doing has mostly been things that I can’t really write about. Even with all of the stress in our Democratic family leading up to Saturday, Saturday was (mostly) civil, especially once it was underway (there was a lot of tension early in the morning, resulting in at least one inexcusable instance of mild assault by one campaign volunteer on another campaign’s volunteer).
What made me proud, though, was the civility that I saw among the delegates. Clinton delegates respected Obama delegates, and vice versa. As I’ll explain below, it was a long day, and things could have easily gotten over-heated. But they didn’t. Folks kept their heads and the day went pretty smoothly.
The day started with a great influx of people. We arrived just after 7 am — the time that campaign volunteers and staff were told to arrive. However, there were already lines snaking to the doors — one for delegates and one for alternates. People were in a good mood, and it was a pretty sunny, if chilly, morning. Campaigns were handing out donuts and other snacks and drinks to keep delegates and alternates happy. Candidates for national delegate — there were over 300 in the 6th CD alone — were busy campaigning for votes to all of the different people out there.
Inside, preparations were going pretty well. The Sixth CD was a kind of test case — the State Party has put a lot of new plans into place to process the record numbers of delegates. Credentials were bar-coded and sent out beforehand. Problems with credentials were sent to a separate area, and were dealt with quickly. Once registration opened, the lines — that weaved all the way to the street — moved fairly rapidly and orderly. There were separate lines for Obama alternates and Clinton alternates. Most everybody agreed that the Party had a pretty clean registration operation.
The biggest snag of the day was the seating of alternates. Due to some issues with numbers and lists, alternates were not seated until about Noon (the assembly was supposed to start at 10 am). While delegates went into the gymnasium, where the Convention and Assembly was to be held, alternates were sent to wait in the auditorium. There, we did our best to keep alternates energized and engaged. I spent about an hour to an hour and a half emceeing an impromptu program which included speeches by just about every candidate for the State House, some county commissioners and county commissioner candidates, and various other dignitaries and candidates. When I ran out of folks to speak, I asked candidates for national delegate from both campaigns to come up and speak about themselves briefly. We alternated between Obama and Clinton candidates until we were visited by Jennifer Herrera, who is the Chair of the 6th C.D. She asked that the alternates have some more patience, as the alternate seating was about to begin, and encouraged folks to talk amongst themselves and to get to know each other as they waited.
Not long after that came the process of seating and credentialing the alternates. Party staff came in with credentials and called names. It was a longer process than most had anticipated, and I know that the Party staff and representatives from the Congressional districts will be working over this next week to streamline the alternate seating process for the three Congressional districts holding conventions and assemblies next weekend.
Once the CD Assembly started, people were happy to get down to business. While there were three candidates for Congress on the ballot, only one of those three ended up with the 30% necessary to make it to the ballot: Hank Eng. Eng did a great job organizing his supporters, and it apparently paid off. He’ll be a great nominee for us in the 6th CD, focusing on the issues facing the voters while the Republicans focus on beating each other up in their own primary.
Another nice surprise was the unopposed nominee for C.U. Regent — A.J. Clemons. Clemons is bright, personable, and an extraordinary speaker. Her presentation brought laughs and cheers — I can’t imagine a better candidate to represent us in the 6th C.D. than Clemons.
After the balloting for the Assembly, there was another brief period while the Convention alternates were seated. After introductions of the Presidential elector candidates, the convention split up into caucuses for the two candidates — Clinton delegates went across the hall to the auditorium while the Obama delegates stayed in the gymnasium. After all of the candidates for National Delegate were introduced, the two groups voted. Voting ran pretty smoothly, even though they were presented with ballot “booklets” several pages long due to the number of candidates.
What was very interesting was that after all was said and done, after all of the positioning and re-positioning of the campaigns, nothing changed. The delegate count was just what everybody thought it would be — 3 delegates and 1 alternate for Obama; 2 delegates for Clinton. Senator Clinton received 262 votes to Senator Obama’s 481 votes.
And, yes, we finally elected delegates. So, congratulations to our first pledged delegates: for Senator Clinton: Rebecca McClellan and John Petty; for Senator Obama: Robert Kihm, Marzette Bedford-Billinghurst, and Paula Noonan. And congrats also to our first pledged alternate: Carmine Iadarola for Senator Obama. By the way, Don Strickland was selected as the Presidential Elector for the 6th CD, as well.
Next weekend: we take what we learned from the 6th CD and apply it to three more CDs: The Seventh, the Second and the First. If you’re a delegate or an alternate to those meetings, be sure you show up!
Mathematically is literally impossible win the nomination or finish at least as a front runner.
Then she appealed to the division of the party, she appealed to antidemocratic solutions, like ignore the VOTE OF THE MAJORITY!
Wow sound hard but it is true:
First at all, she said, the votes of MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA should be counted. But she only talks like that because she knew that count give her the advantage, but she do not deserve this advantage, at least in that way, because that collide with the rules of the party. The same rules she previously accepts. (That FLIP â€" FLOP is nothing estrange on her)
She knows keep running her campaign give some advantage to the Republican Party and his candidate in the general election. May be she want this because is clear that the Republicans al helping her in this primaries. (Pennsylvania exit poll show a lot of republican voting for her â€" Why? â€" Simple â€" actually the scenario of confrontantion between democratc gives McCain some advantage facing the general election)
Them this is the most important key:
Hillary knows she couldn’t finish these primaries as a front runner â€" Them she appealed to the decisions of the SUPER DELEGATES â€" WHY? - Because in her mind she really do not WANT to respect the VOTE of the majority of the people who participate in this primaries â€" Yes â€" HER EXPECTATION is that, the SUPER DELEGATES REVERSE THE DECISION OF THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION giving HER THE NOMINATION â€" no matter if she finish trailing the front runner ho has and earn THE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY.
This is HER REAL INTENTION OF HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON!
This is the DEMOCRACY IN WHAT SHE BELIEVE!
Yes Hillary Rodham Clinton, think the VOTE of the majority is NOT IMPORTANT â€" and if the SUPER DELEGATES decide GO AGAINST the VOTE of the majority of the people and give her THE NOMINATION â€" that is OK for her! After all her primary intention is get the White House at any cost in any way.
That is why she still and persist in this race â€" BECAUSE SHE DO NOT WANT to recognize the VOTE of the MAJORITY.
And that claim about the VOTES IN MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA is only part of her HYPOCRISY. And all of this rhetoric’s is part of HER GAME OF BUYING VOTES.
Percy H Florez
The Name's of The Fallen / Part 12 / Total Count as a today 4/21/2008 4039 Soliders are Dead / Names In Reverse order from: 4039 to 3896
4039 4/17/2008 Staff Sergeant Jason L. Brown (29) Magnolia TX
4038 4/14/2008 Specialist Arturo Huerta-Cruz (23) Clearwater FL
4037 4/14/2008 Sergeant Joseph A. Richard III (27) Lafayette LA
4036 4/14/2008 Lance Corporal Dean D. Opicka (29) Waukesha WI
4035 4/14/2008 Corporal Richard J. Nelson (23) Racine WI
4034 4/12/2008 Sergeant William E. Allmon (25) Ardmore OK
4033 4/9/2008 Specialist Jacob J. Fairbanks (22) Saint Paul MN
4032 4/9/2008 Sergeant Jesse A. Ault (28) Dublin VA
4031 4/9/2008 Sergeant Shaun P. Tousha (30) Hull TX
4030 4/9/2008 Tech Sergeant Anthony L. Capra (31) Hanford CA
4029 4/9/2008 Specialist Jeremiah C. Hughes (26) Jacksonville FL
4028 4/8/2008 Staff Sergeant Jeffery L. Hartley (25) Hempstead TX
4027 4/7/2008 Major Mark E. Rosenberg (32) Maimi Lakes FL
4026 4/7/2008 Sergeant Timothy M. Smith (25) South Lake Tahoe (CA)
4025 4/7/2008 Sergeant Michael T. Lilly (23) Boise ID
4024 4/7/2008 Specialist Jason C. Kazarick (30) Oakmont PA
4023 4/7/2008 Sergeant Richard A. Vaughn (22) San Diego CA
4022 4/6/2008 Staff Sergeant Jeremiah E. McNeal (23) Norfolk VA
4021 4/6/2008 Major Stuart A. Wolfer (36) Coral Gable FL
4020 4/6/2008 Colonel Stephen K. Scott (54) New Market AL
4019 4/6/2008 Staff Sergeant Emanuel Pickett (34) Teachey NC
4018 4/6/2008 Specialist Matthew T. Morris (23) Cedar Park TX
4017 4/6/2008 Captain Ulises Burgos-Cruz (29) No Data Available - Puerto Rico
4016 4/6/2008 Private 1st Class Shane D. Penley (19) Sauk Village IL
4015 4/16/2004 Staff Sergeant Keith M. Maupin (24) Batavia OH
4014 4/3/2008 Staff Sergeant Travis L. Griffin (28) Dover DE
4013 3/31/2008 Sergeant Dayne D. Dhanoolal (26) Brooklyn NY
4012 3/30/2008 Sergeant Terrell W. Gilmore (38) Baton Rouge LA
4011 3/30/2008 Sergeant Jevon K. Jordan (32) Norfolk VA
4010 3/29/2008 Major William G. Hall (38) Seatle WA
4009 3/29/2008 Specialist Durrell L. Bennett (22) Spanaway WA
4008 3/29/2008 Private 1st Class Patrick J. Miller (23) New Port Richer FL
4007 3/28/2008 Specialist Charles A. Jankowski (24) Panama City FL
4006 3/27/2008 Corporal Joshua A. Molina (20) Houston TX
4005 3/26/2008 Corporal Steven I. Candelo (20) Houston TX
4004 3/26/2008 Specialist Gregory B. Rundell (21) Ramsey MN
4003 3/25/2008 Staff Sergeant Joseph D. Gamboa (34) Yigo - Guam
4002 3/23/2008 Private George Delgado (21) Palmdale CA
4001 3/23/2008 Staff Sergeant Christopher M. Hake (26) Enid OK
4000 3/23/2008 Corporal Jose A. Rubio Hernandez (24) Mission TX
3999 3/23/2008 Private 1st Class Andrew J. Habsieger, (22) Festus MO
3998 3/22/2008 Sergeant Thomas C. Ray II (40) Weaverville NC
3997 3/22/2008 Sergeant David S. Stelmat (27) Littleton NH
3996 3/22/2008 Sergeant David B. Williams (26) Tarboro NC
3995 3/21/2008 Private 1st Class Tyler J. Smith (22) Bethel ME
3994 3/19/2008 Sergeant Gregory D. Unruh (28) Dickinson TX
3993 3/17/2008 Staff Sergeant Michael D. Elledge (41) Brownsburg IN
3992 3/17/2008 Sergeant Christopher C. Simpson (23) Hampton VA
3991 3/15/2008 Specialist Lerando J. Brown (27) Gulfport MS
3990 3/15/2008 Corporal William D. O�Brien (19) Rice TX
3989 3/12/2008 Staff Sergeant Juantrea T. Bradley (28) Greenville NC
3988 3/12/2008 Specialist Dustin C. Jackson (21) Arlington TX
3987 3/12/2008 Private 1st Class Tenzin L. Samten (33) Prescott AZ
3986 3/11/2008 Staff Sergeant Laurent J. West 32 Raleigh NC
3985 3/10/2008 Sergeant Phillip R. Anderson 28 Everett WA
3984 3/10/2008 Specialist Donald A. Burkett (24) Comanche TX
3983 3/10/2008 Captain Torre R. Mallard (27) Oklahoma OK
3982 3/10/2008 Sergeant 1st Class Shawn M. Suzch (32) Hilltown PA
3981 3/10/2008 Staff Sergeant Ernesto G. Cimarrusti (25) Douglas AZ
3980 3/10/2008 Staff Sergeant David D. Julian (31) Evaston WY
3979 3/10/2008 Corporal Robert T. McDavid (29) Starkville MS
3978 3/10/2008 Corporal Scott A. McIntosh (26) Houston TX
3977 3/7/2008 Corporal Jose A. Paniagua-Morales (22) Bell Gardens CA
3976 3/4/2008 Staff Sergeant Christopher S. Frost (24) Waukesha WI
3975 2/25/2008 Corporal Kevin S. Mowl (22) Pittsford NY
3974 2/24/2008 Specialist Orlando A. Perez (23) Houston TX
3973 2/24/2008 Specialist Micheal E. Phillips (19) Ardmore OK
3972 2/22/2008 Specialist Keisha M. Morgan (25) Washington DC
3971 2/21/2008 Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver (20) St. Charles MO
3970 2/20/2008 Captain Nathan R. Raudenbush (25) PA
3969 2/20/2008 Staff Sergeant Bryant W. Mackey (30) Eureka KS
3968 2/20/2008 Sergeant Conrad Alvarez (22) Big Spring TX
3967 2/20/2008 Corporal Albert Bitton (20) Chicago IL
3966 2/20/2008 Specialist Micheal B. Matlock (21) Glen Burnie MD
3965 2/17/2008 Corporal Luke S. Runyan (21) Spring Grove PA
3964 2/17/2008 Corporal Chad D. Groepper (21) Kingsley IA
3963 2/14/2008 Staff Sergeant Javares J. Washington (27) Pensacola FL
3962 2/10/2008 Sergeant Corey E. Spates (21) La Grange GA
3961 2/8/2008 Private 1st Class Jack T. Sweet (19) Alexandria Bay NY
3960 2/8/2008 Corporal Michael T. Manibog (31) Alameda CA
3959 2/8/2008 Sergeant Timothy P. Martin (27) Pixley CA
3958 2/8/2008 Staff Sergeant Jerald A. Whisenhunt (32) Orrick MO
3957 2/8/2008 Sergeant Gary D. Willett, (34) Alamagordo NM
3956 2/7/2008 Petty Officer 1st class Luis A. Souffront (25) Miami FL
3955 2/6/2008 Staff Sergeant Bradley J. Skelton (40) Gordonville MO
3954 2/5/2008 Sergeant Timothy R. Van Orman (24) Port Matilda PA
3953 2/5/2008 Sergeant John C. Osmolski (23) Eustis FL
3952 2/5/2008 Corporal Miguel A. Baez (32) Bonaire GA
3951 2/5/2008 Staff Sergeant Rafael Alicea Rivera (30) Bayamon Puerto Rico
3950 2/4/2008 Specialist Christopher J. West (26) Arlington TX
3949 2/4/2008 Chief Petty Officer Nathan H. Hardy (29) Durham NH
3948 2/4/2008 Chief Petty Officer Michael E. Koch (29) State College PA
3947 2/2/2008 Staff Sergeant Chad A. Barrett 35 Saltville VA
3946 1/31/2008 Sergeant Matthew F. Straughter (27) Charles MO
3945 1/31/2008 Captain David E. Schultz (25) Illinois IL
3944 1/31/2008 Captain Michael A. Norman (36) Killeen TX
3943 1/28/2008 Sergeant James E. Craig (26) Hollywood SC
3942 1/28/2008 Staff Sergeant Gary W. Jeffries (37) Roscoe TX
3941 1/28/2008 Corporal Evan A. Marshall (21) Athens GA
3940 1/28/2008 Specialist Brandon A. Meyer (20) Orange CA
3939 1/28/2008 Private 1st Class Joshua A. R. Young (21) Riddle OR
3938 1/27/2008 Sergeant Mikeal W. Miller (22) Albany OR
3937 1/27/2008 Major Alan G. Rogers (40) Hampton FL
3936 1/26/2008 Staff Sergeant Robert J. Wilson (28) Boynton Beach FL
3935 1/25/2008 Corporal Duncan C. Crookston (19) Denver CO
3934 1/25/2008 Sergeant Tracy R. Birkman (41) New Castle VA
3933 1/22/2008 Sergeant Michael R. Sturdivant (20) Conway AK
3932 1/19/2008 Staff Sergeant Justin R. Whiting (27) Hancock NY
3931 1/19/2008 Lance Corporal James M. Gluff (20) Tunnel Hill GA
3930 1/19/2008 Specialist Richard B. Burress (25) Naples FL
3929 1/19/2008 Specialist Jon M. Schoolcraft, III (26) Wapakoneta OH
3928 1/16/2008 Private 1st Class Danny L. Kimme (27) Fisher IL
3927 1/16/2008 Private 1st Class David H. Sharrett II (27) Oakton VA
3926 1/16/2008 Specialist John P. Sigsbee (21) Waterville NY
3925 1/12/2008 Private 1st Class Keith E. Lloyd (26) Milwaukee WI
3924 1/11/2008 Lance Corporal Curtis A. Christensen Jr (29) Collingswood NJ
3923 1/9/2008 Corporal Todd E. Davis (22) Raymore MO
3922 1/9/2008 Staff Sergeant Sean M. Gaul (29) Reno NV
3921 1/9/2008 Sergeant Christopher A. Sanders (22) Roswell NM
3920 1/9/2008 Sergeant 1st Class Matthew I. Pionk (30) Superior WI
3919 1/9/2008 Staff Sergeant Jonathan K. Dozier (30) Rutherford TN
3918 1/9/2008 Sergeant Zachary W. McBride (20) Bend OR
3917 1/8/2008 Sergeant David J. Hart (22) Lake View Terrace CA
3916 1/8/2008 Private 1st Class Ivan E. Merlo (19) San Marcos CA
3915 1/8/2008 Private 1st Class Phillip J. Pannier (20) Washburn IL
3914 1/7/2008 Private 1st Class Timothy R Hanson (23) Kenosha WI
3913 1/6/2008 Specialist James D Gudridge (20) Carthage NY
3912 1/5/2008 Corporal Jason F Lemke (30) West Allis WI
3911 1/4/2008 Petty Officer Second Class Menelek M Brown (24) Roswell NM
3910 1/3/2008 Captain Thomas J Casey (32) Albuquerque NM
3909 1/3/2008 Major Andrew J Olmsted (37) Colorado Springs CO
3908 1/2/2008 Staff Sergeant Ryan D Maseth (24) Pittsburgh PA
3907 1/2/2008 Specialist Joshua R Anderson (24) Jordan MN
3906 12/31/2007 Sergeant Reno S Lacerna (44) Waipahu HI
3905 12/31/2007 Petty Officer 1st Class Victor W Jeffries (52) Honolulu HI
3904 12/30/2007 Private 1st Class Joseph R Berlin Jr (21) Chelsea AL
3903 12/26/2007 Sergeant Benjamin B Portell (27) Bakersfield CA
3902 12/26/2007 Captain Rowdy J Inman (38) Panorama Village TX
3901 12/25/2007 Sergeant Bryan J Tutten (33) St. Augustine FL
3900 12/25/2007 Sergeant Peter C Neesley (28) Grosse Pointe Farms MI
3899 12/21/2007 Private 1st Class George J Howell (24) Salinas CA
3898 12/20/2007 1st Lieutenant Jeremy E Ray (26) Houston TX
3897 12/17/2007 Private 1st Class Juctin R P McDaniel (19) Andover NH
3896 12/15/2007 Sergeant Austin D Pratt (22) Cadet MO
Total Count as a today @ 4:39 PM 4/21/2008
More Information please viist our data base:
The Name's of the Fallen : Link
Percy H Florez
(Cross-posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)
I haven’t posted to DemNotes since the end of the county assemblies and conventions. That’s been a few weeks now, so I’m sorry that I’ve not gotten any more posts out since then. In the interim, I have been busy on a number of things, including preparations for the State Convention and Assembly in Colorado Springs, working on delegate selection, the national convention, and a few other things.
I’ve also taken some time to get some work done at my “real” job that had been piling up.
The one thing I did that I really do want to write about was emceeing the announcement for Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack, who is our candidate for Congress in the 5th CD. There was a great turnout at the Penrose Library in Colorado Springs a couple of weeks ago — well over 100 people showed up in the middle of a weekday to witness a great American announce his candidacy for Congress. Hal is a wonderful candidate — smart, funny, personable — and he will really make a run at this seat, building on the foundation set by the great run of Jay Fawcett in 2006.
State Chair Pat Waak was there, as was Mark Udall’s niece, Taryn Udall (who announced Congressman Udall’s endorsement of Hal). There’s even already a “Veterans for Bidlack” group out there working to build up support for Hal throughout this military-minded district. Many Republicans are realizing their mistake in electing Doug Lamborn to Congress, and they’re coming over — most for the first times in their lives — to support Hal Bidlack in his bid for this seat.
Hal could use some help all across this state. Take a second to go over to his website, and if you can afford to, drop him a donation or two:
http://www.bidlack2008.com/
——————————-
On a completely other note, the Denver 2008 Host Committee announced tonight where the fun spots will be for the Sunday night immediately prior to the National Convention. The Host Committee is responsible for the delegation welcoming parties for each delegation. I’ll post the full list below, but here are some highlights:
– In one of the worst-kept secrets around, it was confirmed that Colorado’s delegation party will, appropriately, be at the Governor’s Mansion.
– If you’re interested in rubbing elbows with those closest to the nominee, you will need to find a spot near the Denver Art Museum (Illinois) or the Pinnacle Club (New York).
– Or how about a party at Red Rocks? If you’re in the delegations from North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia, you’ll get it!
– Gov. Dean is likely going to be at the Phipps Mansion, where the Vermont and New Hampshire delegation parties will be.
– Want a world-wise atmosphere? Check out the Blair Caldwell Library, where the Democrats Abroad (as well as the Virgin Islands) will be hanging out.
– The District of Columbia has a pretty large delegation due to all of the At-Large (and influential) superdelegates they have (think Donna Brazile); they’ll be at the Museo de las Americas.
– Only twelve states have their own welcoming party: The aforementioned Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, and New York, as well as South Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, Iowa, California, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas. The rest of the delegations share parties with other delegations.
Now here’s the full list from the Host Committee:
List of State Delegation Party Venues:
Belmar Center - Alaska, Indiana, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee
Blair Caldwell Library - Democrats Abroad, Virgin Islands
Botanic Gardens - South Carolina
Center for the Visual Arts - Georgia
Colorado History Museum - Arkansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin
Denver Art Museum - Illinois
Denver Chophouse - Kansas
Denver Public Library - Iowa
Denver Zoo - Alabama, North Dakota, South Dakota
Downtown Aquarium - Connecticut, Delaware, Missouri
Exdo Event Center - California
Grant Humphries - Minnesota
Governor’s Mansion - Colorado
Hudson’s Gardens - New Jersey
The Lab at Belmar - American Samoa, Guam, Idaho, Hawaii
Museo de las Americas - District of Columbia
Museum of Nature & Science - Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
Palazzo Verdi - Nebraska, Oklahoma
Phipps Mansion - New Hampshire, Vermont
Phipps Pavilion - Mississippi, Montana, Wyoming
Pinnacle Club - New York
Red Rocks - North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Wildlife Experience - Texas
Wings Over the Rockies - Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Oregon, Washington
Le