ACLU: Undercover Cops Staged Confrontation Amid DNC

Repeat after me, "2008 not 1968". I just don't get this mindset, I mean, what's so scary about a bunch of DFH's? They don't believe in guns, rarely indulge in physical violence and are usually yelling about peace and love.

DENVER -- The American Civil Liberties Union says undercover police officers posing as protesters staged a violent confrontation with another officer during the Democratic convention in Denver.

The ACLU told The Denver Post it obtained a use-of-force police report that showed the undercover officers pretended to struggle with a police commander so they could be removed from the crowd without blowing their cover.

(snip)

"The actions of the undercover detectives on August 25, 2008, may have had the effect of exacerbating an already 'tense situation,' as their feigned struggle led nearby officers and the public to believe that a commanding officer was being attacked by protestors and that the situation necessitated the use of chemical agents," stated staff attorney Taylor Pendergrass in the letter requesting the investigation.

No Poop For You At The Democratic Convention!!!

Sounds like someone's yard is going to be green, green, green this year!!!

DENVER -- The Denver City Council has passed an ordinance barring protesters from carrying buckets of feces during the Democratic National Convention.

Three protest groups say they've already promised not to toss, smear or spray feces, and they call the new ordinance insulting and excessive.

The council approved the ordinance 12-0 on Monday. It also bars protesters from possessing chains, locks or other materials they could use to create human barricades or cause other disruptions.

Democratic Convention Tidbits

By Paddy


Couple things I came across in my travels-

The Obama campaign has not released how tickets to the Invesco Field speech will be distributed. But Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak says she’s already received requests from 9,000 people, from as far as Virginia.

An unscientific poll of the homeless suggest they aren’t going to be leaving during the convention “unless they are giving away free booze and marijuana at the movies.”

There’s a sizeable gap in Bruce Springsteen’s tour plans this summer -- just large enough to suggest the Boss may show up in Denver.

"Dozens of protest groups are planning a full schedule of classes, concerts, marches and other actions during the Democratic National Convention, hoping to capture the world's attention and recruit new activists," according to the Rocky Mountain News.

"They are both energized and organized, and most insist they are not looking for trouble."

The groups will also post videos of their protests to show people an "unfiltered" view of the action outside the convention center.

PS- If you know anyone who is going to the Convention, I have a non drinking, non smoking really boring (like in not annoying or rowdy) female friend who needs someplace to stay/someone to share a room with.

Surveillance Cameras To Keep Watch During, Following DNC

By Paddy


First they take away our tailgating, then the city lets the Feds survail the protesters to their hearts content. I'm surprised they're even bothering since we all know that the true DFH's will be inside the convention center.

DENVER -- When the Democratic National Convention rolls into Denver next month, a string of electronic eyes will be tuned in to any problems.

"We're using the cameras in a very targeted way during the convention and potentially after the convention," said Denver City Councilman Doug Linkhart.

(snip)

A Denver police lieutenant in charge of the program would not comment on the number or placement of the cameras, citing security reasons.

"We're able to not only utilize those cameras, but dispatch officers to where we see events occurring,” said Lt. Ernie Martinez.

The cameras will be installed throughout Denver in time for the DNC in August. Federal money will eventually be used to repay the city.

No tailgating before Obama's big speech

But, but where will I grill the kielbasa?

If you're planning to be one of the 50,000 people attending Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field, don't think of holding a Broncos-style tailgate party beforehand.

Security-related transportation plans to be disclosed today include a parking ban in the huge stadium lots for the closing night event that is the highlight of the Democratic National Convention.

Officials also plan to announce other measures, including any street and transit detours, closures and restrictions, according to Ron Perea, special agent in charge of the Denver office of the U.S. Secret Service.

72 v. 47

By GottaLaff

About that notion of cutting the convention short, or should I call it, the Republicans trying to rain on Obama's parade? There is an upside to the intrusion of J Sid on the Democrats' big day -- Happy 72nd V.P. Pickday, John Sidney McNewWrinkle:

With all of the talk about John McCain unveiling his running mate immediately after the Democratic National Convention to alleviate Barack Obama’s bounce, there could be a wrinkle in McCain’s potential plans: his birthday.

McCain turns 72 years old on August 29, the day after the Democrats’ convention. So while the Arizona senator could swipe some media attention from Obama by announcing his vice presidential choice during the time between the conventions, the senator’s birthday and age will be a prominent media story. And it will be contrasted even further with the age of his running mate.

There's always a silver lining.

Obama's birthday is August 4th, in case you were wondering. Lots of birthday stories in August (mine's the 17th, but I have a feeling it won't affect the campaigns), but the McCain one is my favorite. I can't wait to see the side-by-side images of the two birthday boys.

Obama Considers Cutting Convention Short

By Paddy


I'm wholeheartedly for this.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign and the Democratic National Committee "are toying with a convention scheduling change that has been broached before in theory but never seriously considered: cutting the party's conclave in Denver short by one day to give Obama an extra day of post-nomination bounce in the crowded August calendar."

"Adding to the Democrats' calculation is the growing speculation that McCain will announce his running mate in the brief intermission between the two conventions -- a good way to seize the spotlight from the just-nominated Democrat."

$50 Million Approved for Convention Security

By GottaLaff

Want some good news? Here's some now! And it's all about money and Democratic conventiony things!

Federal officials have told the city they approved the $50 million in federal funds to offset any security-related costs for hosting the Democratic National Convention, a top aide to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said Tuesday. [...]

The money will be used to reimburse expenditures related to providing security for the convention, Aug. 25-28. Because the Republican and Democratic national conventions are deemed national special security events, federal funds are provided for security, and the expenditures are approved by the Department of Justice. Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul, home of the GOP convention in September, each will receive $50 million.

It took 2 years before Boston was fully reimbursed for security at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

I think today should be designated "Good News for Dems Day". And there should be no Bad News stories at all. Do I hear any "nays"? Good. Motion passed.

Democratic National Convention To Be Streamed In Spanish

By Paddy

I keep on telling you, these people are smart. If the R's tried this, Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs and their ilk would implode.

DENVER -- The Democratic National Convention Committee said it will partner with cable TV provider Comcast Corp. to provide Spanish Web coverage of its Denver convention.

The committee said Tuesday the bilingual coverage will be streamed on the convention site, demconvention.com.

The committee said Comcast will also run parts of the convention on its On Demand service.

Convention Co-chairwoman Leticia Van de Putte said bilingual coverage will make the 35 million Spanish-speaking Americans feel more welcome.

DNC Volunteers Nearly Triple Needed Number

By Paddy


I'm really trying not to get giddy about all this, I hate getting shot down. These numbers combined with all the polls and stats that have been coming in the past few months are really eye-openers.

DENVER -- People from all over the country are vying for volunteer opportunities when the Democratic National Convention sets up shop in Denver this August.

Twenty-six thousand volunteers have already signed up to help with the DNC. The Convention Host Committee said 10,000 were called for in the bid to secure the event.

Elbra Wedgeworth, President and Chair of the Board for the 2008 Denver Host Committee, said the numbers top any other Democratic convention in history.

“About 9,000 of those people are from outside Colorado,” Wedgworth said.

(snip)

It’s a different story in Saint Paul, Minn., where the Republican National Convention is still calling for volunteers.

Of the 10,000 volunteers needed, only 4,000 have signed up to help in the Twin Cities, starting Sept. 1.

Rachel Maddow continues to say John McCain will win

By GottaLaff

On my drive home, I listened to Rachel Maddow. She explained what the DNC Rules Committee can and cannot do, as does TPM:

In what could potentially be a blow to Hillary's electoral hopes, such as they are right now, the Democratic National Committee's lawyers have declared that the Rules and Bylaws committee lacks the legal authority to seat the full Florida and Michigan delegations.

The DNC's lawyers sent a memo late yesterday to members of the committee telling them that the two states must lose half of their convention delegates for skirting party rules and holding earlier elections.

Rachel went on to say, "Nobody listened to me when I said Hillary would take this to the convention... Only the Credentials Committee can decide to seat all the delegates. And when do they meet for a vote? In August... Democratic convention time!"

One way the delegations could end up being seated in full is if the Credentials Committee takes up the matter in late June -- but this would mean that the fight would drag on to the convention, because any Credentials Committee ruling would go to the convention floor for a vote.

Rachel went on: "Hillary's hoping to change some minds at that time, and this means we won't have a candidate until the convention. And that means John McCain wins."

I remember the last time I posted about Rachel's take on this, a Commenter (Clancy, maybe?) said that Rachel tends to panic. However, Rachel also tends to be right, as she has been so far on this topic. I sincerely hope she's wrong, because if she's not, then I'll be the first one to panic.

DNC beats Hannah Montana

By GottaLaff

Oh...em...gee! I so totally wanna go to the DNC thingy!

[T]his Saturday’s Washington meeting to debate the seating of the Florida and Michigan delegations is officially the toughest ticket in town.

The members of the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee – the panel weighing how both states should be represented at the convention in Denver – will meet very publicly, at a hotel site ringed with protesters and satellite trucks. Inside, they’ll be joined by a swarm of political journalists – and a few rank-and-file Democrats. Only about 300 people – including RBC members, press and public — will be allowed inside.

I gotta get ungrounded. Like, now. Like, immediately. Ooo! Maybe I'll wear my sister's new tank top and shorty shorts! This is like, so kewl. I hope they let me take cell pix. I am majorly into rules and bylaws and junk.

But hundreds of Democrats eager for a front-row seat to history found themselves out of luck today, as the party’s online registration system for the spots available to the public was overwhelmed at 10 a.m. ET, when it opened. All available seats were claimed in about a minute.

No way! This so sucks! They were out of tickets in, like, a nanosecond!

(By comparison: the Hannah Montana concert earlier this year at the Verizon Center – granted, a much larger venue – took roughly 12 minutes to sell out.)

Hannah Montana is way cooler anyway. I so wanna be just like her instead of some old Democratic guy with hair plugs and a flag pin. Gotta go. Someone's texting me.

Hillary And Her People Are Going All The Way

By Paddy


They're pulling out all the stops. Three headlines in a row-

Clinton camp: Uncommitted Mich. voters should not go to Obama

Florida delegates file lawsuit to get delegation seated

Clinton supporters to swarm DC over Florida and Michigan

What a cluster****.

Beer Waste Donated To Democratic Convention

By Paddy


But, but, what about the beer?

DENVER -- Some corporations donate dollars and others donate services. But Molson Coors is donating fuel made mostly out of beer waste to the Democratic National Convention.

The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee said Wednesday that Molson Coors will donate all the ethanol-gasoline fuel blend for the convention's fleet of flex-fuel vehicles.

(snip)

The ethanol is made from beer lost during packaging or rejected on a quality basis at the company's brewery in Golden. The Denver company began converting it to ethanol in 1996 and today produces about 3 million gallons of ethanol per year.

Molson Coors, one of the world's largest brewers, also will provide beer for some events during the convention.

Thank g-d.