What makes a grassroots protest authentically "grassroots"? When is a political rally a genuine expression of citizen concern and not a thinly-veiled front for evil out-of-state interests?
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: ProgressNow
Follow this topic by RSSHuttner: Conservative protesters are lemmings
July 29, 2009Show your outrage - and give us your e-mail address!
July 9, 2009Colorado liberals have mastered the art of building massive grassroots e-mail lists. Their most effective tool in doing so? Facilitating angry constituents in writing letters to political opponents, automatically capturing personal contact information in the process. It's a shrewd scheme, one honed through years of technological R&D that has largely left Republicans in the dust when it comes to online campaigning.
Liberal network steps up for grocery workers' union
June 1, 2009
An advertisement on the Denver Post Web site recently caught our attention. "Help grocery workers get a fair deal," it said, but just a click away was a link to ProgressNow's Web site, where visitors are asked to sign a petition in support of unionized grocery workers' quest for higher wages and benefits.
FTS on 1100 KNZZ: Colorado liberal non-profits
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1100 KNZZ weekend host Rick Wagner to discuss strategy of the state's liberal non-profit groups, including the Colorado Democracy Alliance.
Play audio - 7:21 minutes
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2009 brings changes to Colorado's liberal political infrastructure
A Face the State Staff Report
May 14, 2009
After successfully helping to shift Colorado from red to blue over the course of the last three election cycles, the state's liberal political infrastructure maintains a strong presence. Now, in preparation for the state's 2010 elections, parts of the model are shifting and even being exported to other states.
Segments 3 and 4 - Michael Lux on the rise of 'progressive' politics
FTS interviews Michael Lux, author of the just-released book The Progressive Revolution. How do liberals define "progressive" politics, and, in contrast, conservatism?
Play audio - 12:20 minutes
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Segment 4 - Protesting the federal stimulus package
Opponents of President Barack Obama's nearly $800 billion "stimulus" package gathered at the state capitol Tuesday. FTS brings you audio from state lawmakers who spoke at the event, plus analysis of the ensuing political fallout.
Play audio - 4:43 minutes
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Armstrong v. Huttner Round Two: Quit with the swastika hypocrisy
A Face the State Staff Report
February 20, 2009
Tuesday's anti-stimulus rally at the Capitol drew hundreds of people protesting President Obama's signing of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill. Among the protesters was an unknown man identified only by his "swastika sign" that likened Obama to Adolf Hitler.
No need to worry, Mr. Huttner; Allard is off to D.C.
February 6, 2009Wayne Allard's recent announcement that he is heading to Washington, D.C. as the newest member of a prominent beltway lobbying firm means more then just starting a new job. Allard was once rumored to be a candidate for CSU's chancellorship and is now effectively out of the running.
CORA: ProgressNow comments on SoS pick
January 12, 2009Gov. Bill Ritter's appointment of former state Rep. Bernie Buescher as Secretary of State was the product of a long process of public applications, interviews and public input. Ritter solicited comments from Coloradans via e-mail, the choicest of which are archived in the FTS Reading Room. But liberal activist group ProgressNow did one better, polling its members in an informal survey and bundling the results in a submission to Ritter.
Segment 1 - In the news: Babies named 'Barack'? Faux outrage over Allard?
Face The State's Kate Melvin visits with managing editor Brad Jones for a review of the week that was in Colorado news. Is the outrage over retiring U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard's interest in the CSU presidency simply fabricated?
Play audio - 12:21 minutes
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Documents provide window into Democrats' powerful "Democracy Alliance"
A Face the State Staff Report
September 29, 2008
Documents obtained by Face The State provide new insight into the secretive organization behind Colorado Democrats' historic takeover of state government in 2006. The Colorado Democracy Alliance, a membership organization that steers millions of dollars toward "progressive" organizations, brings together the state's most influential liberal politicians, consultants and fundraisers under a single umbrella. In a week-long series, FTS is making public for the first time internal documents outlining CoDA's structure, financing and deep connections with Colorado's top Democrats.
Liberal ballot 'education' event draws fire
A Face the State Staff Report
September 17, 2008
Representatives from Colorado’s liberal non-profits gathered for the first of several “educational” forums, during which speakers advocated for or against the different measures on this November’s ballot. The speakers went unchallenged and according to some campaign representatives, provided false information to attendees. While 35 organizations heavily promoted the event, only about 50 people came to forum held in Sturm Hall at the University of Denver Tuesday night.
Liberal non-profits band together to 'educate' voters
A Face the State Staff Report
September 15, 2008Colorado’s progressive non-profits have formed a coalition called the Colorado C-3 Roundtable and are organizing a series of statewide forums designed to “educate” voters about 11 of the 18 measures under consideration on this November's ballot. Many of the measures' proponents allege, however, that the roundtable is failing to include a balanced view on their efforts.
Lefties Go Corporate for a Spa-Like Day at the Convention
August 26, 2008
While protesters were unable to deliver the 50,000 people promised to unite in Denver, bloggers have come out in full force. Two hundred plus clicked away Monday, during the opening of “The Big Tent.” The temporary structure is set up outside the Alliance Center, the swanky LoDo digs of the city’s growing liberal organizations.
Liberal journalists hold court at the "Big Tent"
August 26, 2008
Here is a taste of what some of the nation’s most prominent liberal journalists told supporters at a Monday panel in "The Big Tent," a venue for bloggers in Lower Downtown Denver provided by a trio of liberal activist groups.
Lefty Love Palace adds a new tenant
July 29, 2008Looking for a liberal in Denver? Look no further than the Lefty Love Palace.
Hitman Huttner's Resume Excess
July 24, 2008Not only does ProgressNow Chief Michael Huttner continue to mislead the public about Senate candidate Bob Schaffer’s legislative record, but information on his organization’s Web site suggests that he is exaggerating his academic credentials.
Rocky Misses Mark on Coverage of Political “Watchdog Group” in Lakewood
A Face the State Staff Report
November 1, 2007A report carried in the Oct. 31 Rocky Mountain News recently labeled a group as a "watchdog," but mounting evidence shows that in fact the organization has consistently and repeatedly become involved in elections in order to advance a partisan agenda. Most recently, the group has involved itself in a hotly contested Lakewood city council here.