Broomfield and Boulder for Barack Obama 08

Colorado Surpasses the Goal

Jan CO — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:34:46 EDT

Dear Jan --

In the four days after Barack's acceptance speech in Denver, supporters like you helped us far surpass our goal of registering 4,000 new voters as Part of the Campaign for Change's 4K in 4 Days challenge.

With help from Forward Colorado volunteers, we beat our goal and registered more than 5,500 new voters. Supporters like you proved that when faced with a tough task, we can succeed by coming together and working hard for change.

As our momentum continues to build, Coloradans are more excited than ever to help Barack this November.

But you don't have to wait until Election Day to cast your vote for change -- there's a simple way you can take action right now to show your support for Barack.

Apply for a mail-in ballot and help Barack succeed in Colorado.

Mail-in ballots are the easiest way to vote for Barack and Democrats up and down the ballot who are working to bring change to Colorado.

The process is simple, and voting by mail will guarantee that you'll be able to volunteer on the most important day of this campaign -- Election Day, November 4th.

When you apply for a mail-in ballot, you'll also have the opportunity to make sure your voter registration is up-to-date. But the deadline is barely one month away, so you need to request your ballot now.

The Colorado Campaign for Change has all the resources you need to apply for a mail-in ballot, and staff can answer any questions you have about the process.

Make your voice heard today and apply for a mail-in ballot:

http://co.barackobama.com/COmailin

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin Puleo
Field Director
Colorado Campaign for Change

P.S. -- Our 4k in 4 days challenge was a great success, but we need to keep building our movement. Registering new voters is an easy and rewarding way to get active with the campaign in your community. Join us:

http://co.barackobama.com/COregister

Visit: CO.BarackObama.com | Email: Colorado@BarackObama.com

Now it's Really Official

Jan CO — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:05:33 EDT

From Obamaland - click the pic, it'll take you there

The Name's of The Fallen / Part 15 / Total Count as a today 8/20/2008 4082 Soldiers are Dead / Names In Reverse order from: 4146 to 4083

Percy H Florez — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:16:08 EDT

Russia vs. USA - A Power Alignment!

Percy H Florez — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:22:08 EDT

Very interesting article coming up from the opinion of a reader who is concerning about the situation in the Caucus. It seems to me finally the American opinion is taking conscientious about GEOPOLITICS and comprehends what the old fashion of politics of the 20th century is gone!

And for the sake and PEACE in this small rock called PLANET a new alignment of POWER will be welcomed soon rather than later.

Article published today in USA TODAY page 12A. on August 19, 2008

Superpowers flex muscle, but at what cost?

Earl Beal - Terre Haute, Ind.

In the power politics of international relations, superpower behavior is governed by the concept of geopolitical spheres of influence. When a superpower nation meddles in the internal affairs of another and attempts to exert undue political or economic influence in its perceived sphere, that's when trouble starts.

The trouble started when President Bush pressured Poland and the Czech Republic to establish a missile-defense system in their territories. This policy was then, and continues to be, seen by some as a direct threat to Russia, not to mention Bush's push for democratic reforms in former Soviet Republics still considered vital to Russia's national security interests.

Also, if Russia placed ballistic missiles in Cuba and/or Venezuela, this would constitute a direct threat to the U.S. Washington's hue and cry over such a move would be surpassed only by Bush's hypocrisy when he and his Pentagon took the "dramatic," "brutal" and "disproportionate" measure of invading a sovereign Iraq in 2003. As a result, what do we have?

The hemorrhaging of our national treasure in terms of lives lost.

Thousands of courageous people wounded.

A cost of more than $10 billion a month to finance this fiasco.

5 million Iraqi refugees scattered and without homes.

Percy H Florez

Another Reason McCain is Bad for Colorado: He Wants Our Water

Dan Slater — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:10:12 EDT

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

The Pueblo Chieftain today has quite an interesting piece on John McCain that — in one article — gives reason enough why Coloradans can’t afford to support John McCain. In the Chieftain, McCain supports opening up the Colorado River Interstate Compact to renegotiation:

The water compact that Colorado and other upper basin states have with California and Arizona should be renegotiated, U.S. Sen. John McCain said Thursday.
In a telephone interview with The Pueblo Chieftain, the presumptive GOP candidate for president said the water sharing agreement reached in 1922 between seven Western states doesn’t take into account increases in population and the changing water needs.

Here’s the folly with that argument: renegotiating likely means less water for Colorado and more water for thirsty growing downstream states like Nevada and California. Right now, the Interstate Compact truly provides protection for upstream users in Colorado. A renegotiation would only diminish those rights.

If Ken Salazar knows anything, he knows water law. Ken Salazar probably understands water issues better than any elected official in the United States; indeed, it was his work with water law and negotiating water agreements that was key to electing him as our Attorney General in the 1990s. And Senator Salazar knows exactly what McCain’s water proposal would do. Here’s Salazar’s response:

“Senator McCain’s position on opening up the Colorado River Compact is absolutely wrong and would only happen over my dead body,” Salazar said. “It’s an anathema to the fundamental principles of Colorado’s water rights and our compacts.”
The senator said that when the state’s compacts with the lower basin states were negotiated, everyone knew at the time that those states would grow in population faster than Colorado. As a result, the upper basin states’ water rights needed to be protected.
“We did not want California to gobble up all of the water supply on the Colorado River, and they would have done that under the doctrine of equitable apportionment,” Salazar said. “In my view the compact is sacrosanct. I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that it is not opened up.”

I know a little about water issues myself. And from my travels across this state, I can also tell you that Democrats and Republicans alike are highly distrustful with politicians like John McCain that play fast and loose with our water. The phrase, “Whiskey’s for drinkin’, water’s for fightin’!” has much truth for it in Colorado — especially in parts of rural Colorado McCain needs to win heavily in order to compete in Colorado.

John McCain either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care how important water is to Colorado voters. Either way, that is reason enough for many to vote for Barack Obama in November.

Hillary Clinton's name to be placed in nomination

Jan CO — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:25:08 EDT

Hillary Clinton's name to be placed in nomination

AP Photo: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., pauses for a moment while speaking at a campaign stop

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 28 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton's name will be placed in nomination along with nominee-in-waiting Barack Obama at the Democratic convention in Denver, an emblematic move intended to unite the party after a divisive primary fight.

Democrats will officially nominate Obama at the convention but the state delegations will do a traditional roll call for his vanquished opponent as well.

The arrangement — which the rivals-turned-allies agreed to after weeks of negotiations — is intended to help the Democratic Party heal after a bruising primary while mollifying still-disgruntled Clinton backers and acknowledging the former first lady's groundbreaking presidential run.

"I am convinced that honoring Senator Clinton's historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion," Obama, an Illinois senator, said in a joint statement.

Added Clinton, a New York senator: "With every voice heard and the party strongly united, we will elect Senator Obama president of the United States and put our nation on the path to peace and prosperity once again."

Some 35 million people participated in the Democratic primary, and Obama and Clinton said they wanted to "honor and celebrate these voices and votes."

Mark Warner, Keynote Speaker for Convention

Jan CO — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:26:07 EDT

RICHMOND, Aug. 13 -- Mark R. Warner, the former Virginia governor and a candidate for the U.S. Senate, will deliver the keynote address the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Democratic party officials announced Wednesday.

It was the convention's keynote speech four years ago that launched presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama to national prominence. Warner's address on Aug. 26 will be broadcast to millions around the United States.

Warner, who considered running for president, is competing against former governor James S. Gilmore III (R) for the Senate seat. He has taken his name out of consideration to be Obama's running mate.

Cero (0.0) In GEOPOLITICS

Percy H Florez — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:20:47 EDT

While the American media is bluffing about the “Invasion of Georgia” the Bush administration just receive a lap in his face as a consequence of his erroneous and horrendous mishandling of the situation in the Middle East; special remarks on his attitudes an action in the illegal war in Iraq.

Percy H Florez

Gas Prices

Jan CO — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:47:13 EDT

Bidlack: Raising Money and Raising Eyebrows

Dan Slater — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:39:20 EDT

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

They’re whistling past the graveyard down at Republican headquarters in Colorado Springs. They’ve got themselves convinced that the Fifth Congressional District is theirs, and there is no way the Democrats have a shot. Heck, they’ve even been successful in convincing some in the media that’s true, too. They’re so convinced, they may be about to nominate Doug Lamborn for a second term in Congress, even though he’s proven to be about, oh, 435th on the list of most effective members of Congress.

Don’t be surprised, though, if you hear the name “Bidlack” shouted out in anger by those same folks at GOP headquarters after November 4. Jay Fawcett certainly paved the way for a Democrat to be competitive here, and let me tell you, Hal Bidlack can win the 5th CD.

Friday night, we came up to Denver to attend a fundraiser for Hal, which I co-hosted. The primary host of the fundraiser was Senator Ken Salazar, and Senator Salazar was introduced by Mayor Wellington Webb. Senator Salazar was clear and unequivocal in his support for Bidlack, and pledged to raise several thousand more dollars to help Hal Bidlack win. The room was packed with several key funders from the Denver area (and beyond), and it was an impressive showing for Hal’s campaign. He even had several folks drive from Canon City and Colorado Springs attend, including El Paso Democratic Chair John Morris and Canon City Councilmember Pat Freda. State Chair Pat Waak was on hand to show her support, as was the Chair of the State Party’s Finance Committee, Frances Koncilja.

Hal gave a stirring and wonderful talk about his values and the key issues in the race — and while I’d heard much of what he said just a couple of nights before at a campaign forum in Canon City, it never gets old. His support for the Constitution alone (he does give President Bush credit for preserving the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution — none of us has had to worry about British soldiers quartered in our homes… yet) is reason enough to support Hal Bidlack.

I want to take this moment to encourage you to stop what you’re doing and donate what you can — even if it is only a few dollars — to Bidlack’s efforts. Here’s a few reasons why your doing so will help Hal win:

The 5th CD is Winnable in 2008:
The winds of change in 2008 are even stronger than in 2006. Just look at the results a couple of months ago in Mississippi, where a special election in the First Congressional District resulted in a lopsided Democratic win. In Mississippi’s First CD, President Bush beat John Kerry by a 62-37 margin — not too different from the margin of victory for the Republicans in Colorado’s 5th CD. More importantly, the victory in Mississippi wasn’t even close; Childers won handily by a 54-46 margin.

Fifth CD Voters Were Malleable in 2006:
In 2006, a couple of key independent polls about a month before the election showed Jay Fawcett and Doug Lamborn in a dead heat. And the internal polls of the Republican Party showed that, too. That’s why the RNCC — the national arm of the Republican Party focused on winning Congressional races — spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking Fawcett during the last month of the election. They even sent in Vice President Cheney to help prop up Lamborn. In the end, that effort worked primarily because Fawcett did not have enough money to respond to the grim attacks on him by the Republicans; while he’d raised more money than any Democrat before him in the Fifth CD, the RNCC simply drowned him with their ability to spend in this cheap media market. But I don’t think anybody doubts that the polls showing a tight race were real, and reflected that voters in the Fifth CD had serious doubts about Doug Lamborn.

The GOP Won’t Be Able to Buy This Race in 2008:
In 2008, the Republican Party had a lot of money to throw at last-minute races like the Fifth CD. This year, the Republicans have had immense difficulty keeping their heads above water financially, and are facing some pretty serious financial abuses in their organization that are under investigation. Meanwhile, their counterparts, the DCCC, have had an amazingly good cycle raising money, and will be able to protect last-minute attacks on challengers in a way they simply were unable to do in 2006. Just as important, a hard-fought Republican primary will leave Bidlack as coming out of August with more cash on hand than his Republican opponent (likely to still be Lamborn). In fact, when you count the loans and debts owed by campaigns, of all of the candidates for the Fifth CD, Hal Bidlack has the MOST cash-on-hand of anybody. His Second Quarter haul of over $100,000 surprised nearly every political observer in Colorado and across the nation, and people in DC are starting to whisper about the 5th CD as a possibility. Here’s the cash-on-hand of all four candidates (minus loans and debts), as of July 23 (the last reporting period):
Lamborn: 64,752
Crank: -20,588
Rayburn: -43,880
Bidlack: 68,368

Of course, if he can’t keep up that financial steam, it won’t matter. That’s where you come in. Go, right now, to Bidlack’s website and donate:
http://bidlack2008.com/contribute.php

If you’re still not convinced Hal can win, think of this. Even if Hal doesn’t win, every dollar spent in his race will result in a rate of return that helps everybody. It means that more Republican money has to go to help Doug Lamborn (or whomever is the GOP nominee). And it means that money won’t be going to people like Marilyn Musgrave, Bob Schaffer, or Republicans running for key State House and State Senate races. It also means that more money goes into organizing a field campaign in the 5th CD — a district where, if Barack Obama or Mark Udall can pull just 40%, it pretty much becomes mathematically impossible for the Republicans to win statewide. By motivating more Democratic-minded voters in El Paso County and the other counties in the 5th CD, it helps build a base that guarantees Democratic victories across the board.

So, once again, I implore you to head over and help Hal:
http://bidlack2008.com/contribute.php

——————————–

One other quick note: I want to welcome Matt Farrauto to the Colorado Democratic Party family. I’ve known Matt for a few years now; he’s been the Executive Director of the New Mexico Democratic Party for several years. His joining the CDP is quite a coup, and we are honored to have him with us. I’ve always been impressed with how Matt thinks and what he has done in New Mexico; his handling of our Communications duties is going to help put us over the top in November. Here’s some of the CDP press release announcing Matt’s new position with the CDP:

“Because Colorado is hosting the Democratic National Convention and has become a competitive battleground state, we are enjoying a new degree of media attention. I am pleased that we could find someone like Matt Farrauto, who brings a unique set of qualifications and experience to the job of Communications Director,” said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. “He has steady hand and a passion for Democratic politics.”
Matt Farrauto comes to Colorado from New Mexico where he served as the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico from 2005 until late 2007. Prior to being promoted to Executive Director, Farrauto served as spokesman for New Mexico’s Democratic Coordinated Campaign.

Welcome aboard, Matt!

McCain Shot Down by Nam Vet

Jan CO — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:05:32 EDT

I haven't been around in much the past few days so I'm not sure if this has been posted. Even if it has, it's great to watch again. This took place on Monday in Denver.

Vietnam Vet Challenges John McCain on Vet Voting Record

Oh, a side note, Bob "Big Oil" Schaffer is sitting right there in the front row, the 40ish man with glass in the suit sitting between two older men, one in a white shirt the other in a suit.

Schaffer, who is currently running for Colorado's Senate seat, is one of Colorado's former Congressman who went to bed with Bush and the oilmen, left after his term and went straight to work for Aspect Energy, one of the first U.S. companies to get oil and gas contracts from the KRG; Schaffer is also under investigation for his role in that. In fact, his campaign is financed almost entirely by the oil companies.

Mark Undall, one Colorado's current Congressman is also running for that Senate seat.

This, is partybuilder

Jan CO — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:24:27 EDT

PartyBuilder is a set of online tools designed to empower Democrats to take control of the future of their party. Through technology, we're moving people from email and websites to canvasses and rallies.

PartyBuilder isn't the typical online tool set. Individual users control most of the activity – from blogging, to setting up and managing groups or activists, to organizing and managing real-world events, to fundraising,

Democrats are entrusted to build the space and the Party.

Take a minute to explore the different features, then invite your friends and connect with each other to help build the Party for 2006 and beyond. PartyBuilder gives you everything you need to take online action for real-world results.

But Wait! There's More! With your FREE Membership you also get...

Analysis: Obama treated like a president on tour

Jan CO — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:54:46 EDT

July 26, 2008 Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - Maybe the foreign leaders Barack Obama met with on his mid-campaign overseas trip were merely hedging their bets and don't believe he will win the White House this fall.

But that's not how many of them acted.

Jordan's King Abdullah flew back early from Aspen, Colo., to host dinner at his palace, then personally took the wheel of the royal Mercedes to drive his guest to the airport.

"God bless you," Israeli President Shimon Peres greeted Obama the next morning in Jerusalem.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy virtually endorsed the man he called "my dear Barack Obama." He observed puckishly he wasn't meddling in the U.S. election when he suggested Obama follow his own lead by winning the top political office in the United States.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, himself an aspirant for higher office, rarely strayed from Obama's side during a photo opportunity-rich trip to the village of Sderot near the Gaza Strip targeted by Hamas rockets.

And Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced - twice - in the days surrounding Obama's visit to his country that he favors a timeline for the withdrawal of American combat troops that is remarkably similar to the one the Democratic presidential contender favors.

In London, David Cameron, head of the opposition Conservative Party, made sure British as well as American television cameras recorded him with his guest in three separate locations in less than an hour.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was something of an exception. No welcoming remarks for the cameras, no photos of the two meeting in her office. She did issue a statement calling Obama's speech before 200,000 people citing a need for a renewed U.S.-European alliance "a positive signal." But that was after she had embarrassed the presidential hopeful by making it known she did not think the historic Brandenburg Gate was a suitable venue for a political event by a traveling American.

Obama in the Scottish Press

Jan CO — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:57:42 EDT

Brown enjoys Obama effect following week he would rather forget

Published Date: 27 July 2008 By Jeremy Watson

AT LEAST someone was willing to take a walk with him – in public – yesterday. Gordon Brown took some comfort from basking in the reflected glory of the hero of Berlin as they strolled in the Downing Street rose garden.

Wearing almost identical dark suits, white shirts and purplish ties, Brown and Barack Obama smiled for the cameras, shook hands and settled down in basket chairs for a tete-a-tete. Given last Thursday's by-election result, the US presidential candidate may have been pondering that if he is elected to the White House in November, the British Prime Minister could well have changed.

The Democratic party hopeful seemed relaxed as he walked to No 10, pausing briefly to shake the hands of two somewhat startled police officers standing near the door. He turned to television cameras, smiled, waved and said "Hello" before walking in. Brown greeted him just inside the door.

Obama, who last week received a rapturous welcome from a 200,000-strong crowd in the German capital, said he and the Prime Minister discussed a wide range of issues, such as climate change, terrorism and financial markets.

"The Prime Minister's emphasis – like mine – is on how we can strengthen the trans-Atlantic relationship to solve problems that can't be solved by any single country individually," he said. Whether Brown asked him for advice on how to become popular again was not recorded.

Senate Gives Final Approval to Sweeping House Bill

Jan CO — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:54:25 EDT

Sunday, July 27, 2008

by: David M. Herszenhorn, The New York Times

By a vote of 72-13, the Senate passed a bill on Saturday that grants broad authority to the Treasury Department to spend tens of billions in federal dollars to prevent the collapse of mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and raises the national debt to $10.6 trillion. (Photo: Getty Images)

Washington - Hoping to stretch a safety net under the nation's tumbling housing market, the Senate voted overwhelmingly on Saturday for final approval of a huge package of legislation that includes an ambitious program to save hundreds of thousands of families from losing their homes to foreclosure.

The housing legislation is the latest in a series of extraordinary interventions this year by the Bush administration, Congress and the Federal Reserve as they seek to limit the risk that shockwaves in the housing sector will ripple across the American economy and the world financial system. In the process, the central bank and taxpayers have taken on what critics warn are incalculable liabilities and risk.

The bill grants the Treasury Department broad authority to safeguard the nation's two mortgage finance giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, potentially by spending tens of billions in federal money to prevent the collapse of the companies, which own or guarantee nearly half of the nation's $12 trillion in mortgages.

To accommodate the rescue plan for the mortgage companies, the bill raises the national debt ceiling to $10.6 trillion, an increase of $800 billion and the first time that the limit on the government's credit card has grown to 14 digits.

The Senate, convening for a rare Saturday session as it neared summer recess, approved the bill by a vote 72 to 13. The measure now goes to President Bush, who has said he will sign it, perhaps early next week, to send a reassuring message to the credit markets.

Is John McCain trying to lose?

Jan CO — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:17:25 EDT

By Greg Saunders:

When it comes to political campaigns, a lot of effort goes into making sure the candidate is presented well, but it seems like the McCain campaign is asleep at the wheel. For example, take a look at this photo of Barack Obama appearing before a crowd of 200,000 today in Germany :

It’s a striking image that really captures the enthusiasm Obama has generated not only here in America, but throughout the world. John McCain, on the other hand, chose to make an appearance today...

Before

Jan CO — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:57:09 EDT

AND AFTER

Obama in Germany

Jan CO — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:33:58 EDT

Over 200,000 in Germany

Jan CO — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:44:22 EDT

Oil-shale debate moves West

Jan CO — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:14:54 EDT

Oil-shale debate moves West By Anne C. Mulkern
The Denver PostArticle Last Updated: 07/23/2008 06:07:07 AM MDT

WASHINGTON — With six months left in office, the Bush administration moved Tuesday to accelerate oil-shale development across the Rocky Mountain West.

Shale deposits in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming could provide 800 billion barrels of oil, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said, enough to meet U.S. demand at current levels "for 110 years."

"We need to be doing more to develop our own energy here at home," Kempthorne said. "Public lands have a significant role to play in meeting our domestic energy needs."

Tuesday's release of draft rules for shale exploration by the Bureau of Land Management was the latest shot in the growing battle of politicians pointing fingers over $4-per-gallon gas and oil as high as $147 per barrel.

Oil shale, along with drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is part of the solution, Republicans say.

Democrats counter that none of those actions would lower energy costs in the short term and that more must be done to develop alternative energy. In the case of shale, some argue, too many uncertainties exist to move forward aggressively.

"The administration is trying to set the stage for a last-minute fire sale of commercial oil-shale leases in western Colorado, despite the fact that we are still years away from knowing if the technologies for developing oil shale on a commercial scale are even viable," said Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar.

In a conference call with reporters, Kempthorne said it would be 2015 before shale development produced oil. Even so, he said, that could affect gas prices by signaling to the futures market that the U.S. is ramping up domestic production.

For now, the Interior Department is limited in what it can do. Language inserted in a spending bill by Salazar bars the department from issuing final rules on oil-shale development. That moratorium expires Oct. 1. Kempthorne and Republicans want to prevent Salazar from extending that through 2009.

Kempthorne said he plans to move swiftly if given an opening.

Issuing the preliminary regulations started the clock on the final regulations, which could be published in about two months if the moratorium dies.

Environmental groups that oppose oil-shale development said the 235- page BLM document with preliminary rules is unnecessary. In it, the BLM states that "currently, there is no oil-shale industry and the oil-shale extractive technology is still in its rudimentary stages."