Denver is a really cool city. I have to admit, I've enjoyed walking all over downtown, from 16th Street, along the river, to the Aquarium, and to the various hotels and convention sites. There are tons of local vendors selling mostly unlicensed materials. There are folks registering voters, though I really don't understand that, as I'm guessing that the delegates and press aren't so interested in registering to vote in Denver, regardless of how nice it is.
The mood seems to be positive, and I've really been amazed by the lack of protest or counter-action like there was 4 years ago in Boston. There have been a few complaints about lines and distance to get credentials, or to get to and from the hotels, but just being here overrides most of that.
The press seems hungry (especially tonight) to find the "wedge" story about Clinton delegates not supporting Obama or the like. A number of press have come by the Texas delegation which of course has a large Clinton delegation (though as we know, still smaller than the official Obama delegation as he won more national delegates here). I think the delegates from both sides are really looking forward to tonight (maybe for different reasons) when Hillary will address the convention and hopefully indicate what her wishes are. The roll call vote isn't until tomorrow and while I know there has been some chatter about how that vote will go procedurally, I'm willing to bet that it will become more clear after tonight's speech.
OK, back to holding up our big Texans for Obama sign in the crowd. Look for us on TV tonight! (Oh, and here is the line to get in....)
Matt and I here in Denver after the first day of activities for the Democratic National convention. We're posted the video above from yesterday and have posted a number of Sunday updates here.
This morning kicked off early with the 7 am delegation breakfast (and yes, even I got up that early for once). TDP Chairman Boyd Richie opened the breakfast and this morning's speakers included two Vice Presidential "nominees". Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Texas Congressman Chet Edwards spoke, sharing their thoughts on the new Obama-Biden ticket and calling for unity and support for a ticket for which they were honored to be considered.
State Rep. Roberto Alonzo gave his remarks and rising start State Senator Leticia Van De Putte spoke multiple times. She served (along with Gov. Sebelius) as a Vice Chair of the National Convention. While a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton in the primary, she urged the delegation to work towards the common goals of the party in supporting Barack Obama while continuing the work which Clinton and millions of women have fought for in this country.
We're on the train into town to pick up our media credentials (they are separate from the Texas delegation and our hotel is 30 minutes outside of Denver). One plus is that it allows for some uninterrupted time to blog.
Be sure to check our Zannel feed linked at the top of Burnt Orange Report throughout the day as we'll be uploading text, image, and video updates there first when we don't have time or access to write a full post. We have some posts up from parties and events last night.
We are here and getting situated in Denver. There are big tents, big parties, big delegations, and big energy needs. With such a huge party, the DNCC is doing something novel, providing cheap carbon offsets for convention goers and Democrats to purchase.
As part of the challenge, delegations with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon will be recognized in their seating section on the floor of the Pepsi Center during the Convention. Each delegate, alternate and super delegate from that state will also receive a limited edition "green" prize. Any delegate who offsets their travel will receive a unique wearable "green item" for Convention week, available only to these delegates, and be recognized individually on DemConvention.com.
Through the DNCC's partnership with Native Energy, delegates may obtain their carbon offsets from a number of domestic community-based clean energy projects including the community-owned, utility-scale Wray School District Wind Turbine in Wray, Colo.; a Focus the Nation Wind Turbine on a family farm in Rosedell Township, Minn.; a fourth generation family dairy farm methane project in Rockwood, Pa.; and the Des Plaines, Ill., Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project. During the coming months, the DNCC will add more carbon offset projects to include additional providers supporting domestic offset projects.
You can buy your offsets before August 1, and make the Denver convention the greenest convention ever. Purchase the carbon off-set here.
While this video was shot before Obama's announcement of Joe Biden as his running mate, check out Elise Hu's coverage of Austin area national delegate Ramey Ko and DNC member elect Rick Cofer.
Also, Blogger Mean Rachel is on her way to Denver already, same flight as delegate Rep. Mark Strama according to her twitter.
(Texas will be helping Cherry Creek State Park. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Democrats Work, Volunteers for America, Metro Volunteers and the DNCC are hosting "Delegate Service Day". Over 1,000 of the great convention delegates including Michelle Obama and President Jimmy Carter will be fanning out across Denver to give back to the city that is inviting them in.
The Texas delegation will be assisting Outdoor Colorado to revitalize and restore areas of Cherry Creek Park.
The DNCC has release a new video responding to the McCain/Gramm tax plan.
This is a year were there are stark differences between the two candidates. One thinks the recession is mental. The other things you are mental if you don't realize how bad our economy has gotten under George Bush and John McCain.
One candidate is working to make the tax structure fair. McCain wants to make a tax system that helps him and his donors more than average Americans.
McCain wants to drill our way to oil independence. Obama wants to create a new green economy with multiple solutions to one global problem.
Unless you have $5,000,000 or think the recession is all in our heads, it's time for something different. The McCain/Gramm tax plan, isn't right for the millions of people who need help from our government.
The convention is less than two weeks away and the tension is mounting. Who will Barack Obama select to be his running mate? It is starting to look like George W. Bush's congressman, Chet Edwards, is more and more likely.
Certainly, Pennsylvania will be key to victory. Women, older voters, and suburban voters will all be necessary to achieve this win ... Chet Edwards would help Sen. Obama win in swing districts like mine and in states like Pennsylvania...
Chet Edwards would provide strong support to the new administration by engaging Members of Congress to pass critical legislation: health care for all Americans; comprehensive energy policy; new tax policy; and an end to war in Iraq, bringing our troops home safely and responsibly..."
Even as national bloggers like Chris Bowers and some inside the progressive community remain skeptical, the likelihood that Edwards maybe the Senator's choice is increasing.
CQ Politics points to an interesting fact, most of the people rumored to be on Obama's short list are slated for speaking times already, and unless they are scheduled to speak twice, the list is either shrinking rapidly or way off base.
As of yesterday, the only rumored candidates not slated to speak in Denver were, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Evan Bayh, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Texas Rep. Chet Edwards, and Gen. Wes Clark. With today's announcement from the DNCC that both Joe Biden and Evan Bayh have been scheduled to speak at the convention on Wednesday, the list of 5 is down to 3.
This late afternoon announcement has led some to think Kaine is on the cusp of being announced as Obama's V.P., but something appears to be off in that assessment.
Virginia is already in play. Mark Warner looks to be the heir apparent to John Warner's vacated seat. Adding Kaine to the ticket doesn't look to get Obama anywhere. Clark would be a solid choice, looking at a geopolitical question, what states will Clark move? Clark will also highlight the fact that Obama's resume is focused on domestic policy. Plus, Clark is the only man in the world with a better title than President-Former Supreme Allied Commander. Why would you go from that to Vice President?
That leaves Rep. Edwards. He is a candidate who is a moderate. He is a Democrat who can win tough elections. He is dynamic and engaging. He appeals to independents and moderate Republicans. He expands the base and puts southern races in play on a state and congressional level. He can campaign in rural areas inside New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Georgia, Virginia, and Ohio. Not to mention the fact he would force the Republicans and McCain to dump money and resources into protecting Texas (a state Obama has been organizing in since March).
Mr. Edwards, 56, is a moderate, a respected voice on veterans and military issues and well regarded across the political spectrum. Colleagues describe him as a pivot between liberals and Blue Dogs - the bloc of budget cutters and gun rights backers - so he could help Mr. Obama reach swing voters.
As chairman of a subcommittee that controls billions in annual spending, he's already got more clout than most members of Congress. He's one of a dozen "cardinals" who serve under the even more powerful Appropriations Chairman, David Obey of Wisconsin.
Mr. Obey called Mr. Edwards one of the "top five or 10 House members" he knows in either party, "an incredibly nice, decent human being" who is "very, very tough minded. ... He is most definitely not a slashing partisan. He would be a very good salesperson for the president's legislative package."
Simply put, Edwards on the ticket would turn Texas purple in one cycle.
Now that one of the most remarkable primaries in our nation's history has concluded, attention is turning to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. In less than three months, the Mile High City and the Rocky Mountain West will host this historic event for the first time since 1908.
The Convention also coincides with Denver's 150th birthday - a
century-and-a-half of progress and innovation since its birth at the height of the Colorado gold rush. A hub of opportunity for people seeking new frontiers, people come to Colorado seeking much more than gold these days. The spirit of visionary zeal and limitless possibility is as strong as ever in the New West. So it's fitting that as the Democratic Party marches toward its own new frontier, it will do so through Denver.
A message to all of you in Texas: you don't have to be in Denver - or on the Convention floor - to get in on the action though. The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has organized two interactive ways for people anywhere in America to get involved. We're convening a national conversation about democracy and community and invite everyone to participate.
