Just in from a grand time at the Colorado State Convention. Got to sit in second row, directly in front of the podium. Allowed me to get in Terry McAuliffe's face.
Now we pride our Rocky Mountain selves on cooperation, accommodation and tolerance. But Terry pushed the wrong button in assuming we are Fox News-like sheep when he called out his phony equivalance of Obama vs. Hillary popular vote numbers (including Florida and Michigan numbers, of course).
This State Convention was, in general, a classic view of accommodating differing views, in a humorous, and understanding way. The World Arena, in sinister, Republican-dominated El Paso County, shook and rocked (with Hillary and Barack supporters, alike, grooving to the sounds) with a meld of John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" and 'Joe Walsh's LOUD "Rock Mountain Way!" Get ready for this in August!
Governor Ritter, Lt Gov. Barb O'Brien, State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, Senator Ken Salazar, and his brother Rep. John Salazar, as well as Reps. Perlmutter, deGette and Udall all made appearances, as did ex-Denver Mayors Pena and Webb. The democratic energy in our Blueing state leaders and assembly/convention participants, was HUGE. As a likely gain to the Democratic fold in an Obama matchup with McBush (although less with Hillary), we are getting some attention.
The standout of the show was CO Rep. Mark Udall (You remember his Dad, Mo), who is going up against "Big Oil Bob" Schaffer of Marianas Island/Abramoff shame, and his loyal sidekick, DICK (Macaca) Wadhams. The recurring joke was Shaffer's miscue of pointing out Alaska's Mt. McKinley (Denali) as Pikes Peak, which dominates the view to the West outside the convention hall. Mark Udall, who climbed most, if not all, of Colorado's "Fourteeners" (mountains above 14000 ft. and a big deal to us Coloradans) has no such problem.
Terry McAuliffe showed as a surprise speaker for the Hillary folks in the hall. He was doing well with his general positive "come together" descriptions and shots as Bush/McBush. We are tolerant, accommodating folk, and gave him respect and attention until he specifically called out the bogus "popular vote numbers" between Barack and Hillary. While the Clinton folks cheered, the Obama (majority shouted "No" and booed and erupted into a standing chorus of O-BA-MA that drowned out the Clinton supporters and clearly surprised T.M. in its exuberance, sincerity, and underlying anger. It was clear that the era of throwing out the casual lie or deception is over (at least in Colorado) and his tactic was viewed as Republican-like in its use. Terry responded (once the demonstration eased off) that that energy was appropriate for use in defeating the Republicans in November. I agree, and it will be so.)
Gov. Napolitano's presentation for Barack Obama was much more measured, well-received, and non-confrontational.
The numbers should be in on Monday on this as well as the Congressional District numbers from the Colorado conventions held Friday night. Hopefully we held our ground, or gained. We should have picked up Mayor/Secretary Pena as an "Uncommitted" (Read Obama) delegate.