GOP state convention gears up with less drama, likely nominee Republican crowd probably won't match Democrats'
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published May 19, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Now, onto the Republicans.
The Colorado Republican Party will hold its state convention and assembly in two weeks, but the gathering is expected to lack the drama and chaos that prevailed at the Colorado Democratic Party event in Colorado Springs over the weekend.
Republicans likely will draw a smaller crowd, in part because their presumed presidential nominee, John McCain, was decided three months ago,and because they had a smaller turnout at the precinct caucuses Feb. 5.
Democrats enjoyed a record turnout and packed the DoubleTree Hotel on Friday and the World Arena on Saturday. Some waited in line as long as three hours to register. They waved Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton signs and cheered whenever a speaker talked about Democrats taking back the White House in November.
"This is what success looks like," state Democratic Party Chairwoman Pat Waak said as she surveyed the scene.
More than 1,500 people ran for election for the few slots available as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. The state Democratic Party is expected to announce the winners by today on its Web site at colorado dems.org.
In addition, Democrats nominated U.S. Rep. Mark Udall as their candidate for the U.S. Senate. In two weeks, Republicans will nominate former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer as their Senate candidate.
Udall talked about his Western heritage and his ability to push for bipartisan solutions when he addressed the crowd of about 6,000.
"This election is not about the right or left - Republican or Democrat - Boulder or Fort Collins," Udall said. "It's about the future and not the past."
Various signs adorned the arena. They included "Vets against all wars" and one featuring a picture of President Bush with the message "Worst President Ever."
A slew of Democratic officials, from Gov. Bill Ritter to House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, addressed the crowd, touting their successes and promising more.
Congressional hopefuls, including Betsy Markey, of Fort Collins, who is running against U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a Fort Morgan Republican, gave brief speeches.
Markey was nominated officially at the 4th Congressional District assembly Friday. It was expected to conclude around 10 p.m. but was delayed by earlier assemblies that ran long. It wasn't over until after midnight.
"Everybody was still really pumped up," she said. "I think Democrats are really excited this year."
bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327
May 30-31 meetings
* The Colorado Republican Party holds its state convention and assembly in two weeks. Meetings are set for May 30 at the Westin Westminster Hotel and for May 31 at the Broomfield Event Center. The GOP will nominate candidates and elect delegates to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in September.
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May 19, 2008
9:35 a.m.
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jbowen43 writes:
These days it isn't cool to be a member of the republican party, the party of greed and hate.
May 19, 2008
10:40 a.m.
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mordred1980 writes:
I am still a proud member of the republican party.
Bring on the hate.
May 19, 2008
10:45 a.m.
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freethought writes:
I hate to kick anyone when they are down... but if you are so proud, why don't you use your real name? Kiss your red state a-s-s goodbye!
May 19, 2008
11:18 a.m.
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*** VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 47 *** VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 47 *** VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 47 ***
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SHOULDN'T BIG UNIONS PROVIDE ALL THEIR MEMBERS THE SAME CHOICE GOVERNOR RITTER GAVE STATE EMPLOYEES WHEN HE HANDED THEM OVER TO THE UNIONS.
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May 19, 2008
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truth_teller writes:
The Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific just north of Guam lost its 20 year fight to remain exempt from U.S. immigration and labor laws.
Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in 2006 and was sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
President Bush signed into law the "Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008," which forces the Northern Mariana Islands to fall under U.S. immigration and labor laws, among other things. The law also gives the protectorate, which includes Saipan, a nonvoting delegate to the House.
Officials in the islands had long sought to retain exemptions from U.S. laws in order to import cheap Chinese laborers that could make garments labeled "Made in the U.S.A."
Human rights groups and labor unions complained that the commonwealth's lax rules -- which were negotiated as part of a 1986 covenant with the federal government -- resulted in exploitative working conditions.
The Washington Post's was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2006 among other prizes, found that Abramoff took on the islands as a client in 1995 and lobbied Republican lawmakers, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), heavily on its behalf.
Abramoff, who has helped prosecutors in a string of investigations into wrongdoing by lawmakers and aides, is in federal prison in Maryland serving time for the Florida fraud conviction. He is also awaiting sentencing on separate charges of mail fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion.
The former lobbyist's work with the North Marianas Islands and DeLay remains under investigation by the FBI and the Department of the Interior.