DNC--First Morning

This morning consisted of our daily delegate breakfast where Sen. Salazar and Rep. Perlmutter gave us a great pep talk. Then I was off to a a meeting of the Network of Spiritual Progressives at St. Paul's Church where they spoke about Israel, Palestine, and whether we can avoid war with Iran. I'm now off to the Curtis Hotel to hear about a "Global Marshal Plan".

We just learned that the gavel will go down at Pepsi at 3pm instead of 4pm as originally planned. I have to be on the bus by 2pm for the short ride over there (they won't let us walk due to security concerns).

More later!

Governor Bill Ritter’s Reception for the Colorado Delegation

I just left the Governor Bill Ritter’s reception for the Colorado Delegation. There were many of our Democratic Elected officials there including Senator Ken and Representative John Salazar, and Congresswoman Diana Degette. From left to right is Laura Vanderschaff, Delegate Nate Vanderschaff, my wife Roxy Hart, State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien, and myself. It was a wonderful kickoff to the convention! Thank you Governor Ritter!

The Governor said the primary reason for the reception was to thank the Delegates for their participation in the process and their dedication to the Party and to the Presidential Campaign. He also said the West is representative of the type of change people in the country want and expect, as demonstrated by the many recently elected Democratic Governors throughout the Western States. The path and the opportunity for change in national politics is through the West! That is why the West will play a pivotal role in the election of Barack Obama!

Come With Me to the Convention!

Convention week is about to take off! It all begins with a reception at the Governor's mansion for the Colorado Delegation today at 11:30 a.m. Following that, my wife Roxy and I will be attending a 2 pm DNC interfaith gathering at the Colorado Convention Center's (CCC) Wells Fargo Theater (which is open to the public). Then it's on to another social event followed by a concert at Red Rocks including Earth Wind and Fire, Sheryl Crow, and Dave Matthews. Then, tomorrow, the real "work" begins :-) I really wish I could take you all with me. I asked for a couple hundred extra tickets, but they just smiled and shook their head :-) However, I hope you will join me "virtually".

I am so grateful to all of you from around the state that voted for me and allowed me to represent you at the convention this week! This is grassroots democracy in action, and I can' thank you enough for allowing me to serve you in this way! The best way I can thank you is to live up to my campaign promises. One of the things I promised during the campaign was to blog throughout the convention. Through this blog, you can ask me questions, give me your input, or just follow me during the week. Now I want to offer yet another way for you to join me at the convention

It's going to be an exciting week! If you want to track my every move during the DNC in "real time", you can do that on "Twitter". If that's a new term to you, it was to me too. This is how they describe it: Twitter is a unique approach to communication and networking based on the simple concept of "what's your current status". What are you doing? What are your friends doing—right now? With Twitter, you may answer this question over SMS, IM, or the Web and the responses are shared between contacts. To find out more about Twitter, visit the link below: http://twitter.com/i/deafe017142140db7044566433da2c1d176ca9b9

I Love Joe Biden on the Ticket!

I can't tell you how pleased I am that Joe Biden will be the next Vice President of the United States! I have followed him for many years, and have always liked him and his brand of politics. He was my personal choice for VP, and will make an outstanding addition to the ticket. I love his straight-talking style and common sense approach to the issues, and I know the American people will too!

More Meetings/Events Now Through the Convention

There are far more events, many open to the public, than one could ever hope to attend. For more events associated with the Democratic National Committee, please check out the city’s Event Guide

Also listed below are the primary speakers for each day of the convention.

Sat. Aug 23rd – House District 6A Monthly Meeting
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Wash Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St.

House District 7A Monthly Meeting
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Location: Montbello Rec Center, 15555 E. 53rd Ave.

House Distict 9 Monthly Meeting
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: New York Deli News, 7105 E. Hampden

National Stonewall Democrats Reception for Kansas Gov. Sebelius
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Renaissance Hotel, 3801 Quebec St.
Admission: free RSVP
This event is followed by NSC’s annual awards dinner (cost: $100)

Sun. Aug 24th – National Convention Interfaith Gathering
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Wells Fargo Theatre, Speer & Stout St.

Gala & Private Screening: “Golda’s Balcony”
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: St. Cajetan’s Church, Auraria Campus (park free in lot H)
Tickets: $100
RSVP: Michelle Ariel michellea@cottrellcompanies.com or Elaine Steinberg dsteinb105@comcast.net

Young Dems of America/CO Young Dems Convention Kick-Off Party
Time: 9:00 pm - ???
Location: Bar Standard, 1037 Broadway

Breaking Convention with Scott Blakeman: A Liberal Dose of Political Humor
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St.
Tickets: BrownPaperTickets.com/event/39035

(convention schedule is subject to change and only highlights are reported here)
Mon. Aug 25th – NATIONAL CONVENTION DAY 1
Theme: “One Nation”
Welcomes from Mayor Hickenlooper, Gov. Ritter, Chairman Dean
Principle speaker: Michelle Obama
Other Notable speakers: Nancy Pelosi, Jesse Jackson, Jimmy Carter
Tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy

Think Precinct Trainings
Times: 9:00 am and 11:00 am (90 minute sessions)
Location: The Judicial Arbiter Group, 1601 Blake St, Suite 400
RSVP: Register for Training Sessions

Think Precinct Training
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: LoDo Tattered Cover, 1628 16th Street
RSVP: Register for Training Session

Tue. Aug 26th – NATIONAL CONVENTION DAY 2
Theme: “Renewing America’s Promise”
Keynote Address: Virginia Gov. Mark Warner
Speech by Sen. Hillary Clinton

DENVER DEMS WATCH FEST ‘08 AT CITY PARK
Time: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Location: City Park, by the Shell Stage
Cost: FREE
For more details: http://www.denverdemocrats.org/

Canvass with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: SEIU, 2525 W. Alameda (canvassing in House District 2)
RSVP: Jesus Mata jmata@coloradoforchange.com

EMILY’s List Reception with Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (registration starts at 1:30 pm)
Location: Sheraton Hotel Downtown, 1550 Court Place (former Adam’s Mark)
To Register: https://emilyslist.org/images/register_dnc_event_kd

Think Precinct Trainings
Times: 9:00 am and 11:00 am (90 minute sessions)
Location: The Judicial Arbiter Group, 1601 Blake St, Suite 400
RSVP: Register for Training Sessions

Think Precinct Training
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: LoDo Tattered Cover, 1628 16th Street
RSVP: Register for Training Session

Hula Hooping for Peace
Time: 7:00 am – sunset
Location: Driscoll Green, University of Denver
Contact: Melody Moezzi http://www.melodymoezzi.com/

Breaking Convention with Scott Blakeman: A Liberal Dose of Political Humor
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St.
Tickets: BrownPaperTickets.com/event/39035

Wed. Aug 27th – NATIONAL CONVENTION DAY 3
Theme: “Securing America’s Future”
Tribute to Service Members and Veterans
Roll-Call Vote for Presidential nomination
Vice-Presidential Nominee’s speech

Think Precinct Trainings
Times: 9:00 am and 11:00 am (90 minute sessions)
Location: The Judicial Arbiter Group, 1601 Blake St, Suite 400
RSVP: Register for Training Sessions

Think Precinct Training
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: LoDo Tattered Cover, 1628 16th Street
RSVP: Register for Training Session

Breaking Convention with Scott Blakeman: A Liberal Dose of Political Humor
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St.
Tickets: BrownPaperTickets.com/event/39035

Hula Hooping for Peace
Time: 7:00 am – sunset
Location: Driscoll Green, University of Denver
Contact: Melody Moezzi http://www.melodymoezzi.com/

Thur. Aug 28th – NATIONAL CONVENTION DAY 4
Theme: “Change You Can Believe In”
Sen. Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech (at Invesco Field)

“I Have a Dream” Anniversary Celebration
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: New Hope Baptist Church, 3701 Colorado Blvd.
Presented by US Rep. DeGette and the Congressional Black Caucus

Think Precinct Trainings
Times: 9:00 am and 11:00 am (90 minute sessions)
Location: The Judicial Arbiter Group, 1601 Blake St, Suite 400
RSVP: Register for Training Sessions

Think Precinct Training
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: LoDo Tattered Cover, 1628 16th Street
RSVP: Register for Training Session

Breaking Convention with Scott Blakeman: A Liberal Dose of Political Humor
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St.
Tickets: BrownPaperTickets.com/event/39035

Fri. Aug 29th – Mon. Sep 1st: Take a long holiday weekend to recover!

What I’m Most Looking Forward to Next Week

Someone just asked me what I’m most looking forward to over the next week. The single thing I’m most looking forward to is Barack Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night at Mile High Stadium (as a long time Broncos season ticket holder, I just can’t bring myself to using the “I” word!). It will be an historic speech at an historic moment. It will be the first acceptance speech by an Afro-American major party Presidential nominee, and will be exactly 35 years to the day since Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. Isn’t that an exciting coincidence?

What I will be most interested to see, and will be watching most closely, is Hillary Clinton’s speech. I am hoping to hear her unequivocal and enthusiastic support for Barack Obama. I came to the conclusion about a week ago that the best way to ensure real unity would be to have her name be put into nomination, and her delegates to have the opportunity to vote for her on a first ballot. I’m glad that’s exactly what the two Senators agreed will happen next week.

I will also be hoping to hear her very clearly imploring her delegates to cast their final vote at the convention for Obama. Just as importantly, I will be looking for her to enthusiastically implore her delegates to commit to working as hard as they possibly can over the next two months to elect Barack Obama as President of the United States. I fully expect she will do this, and when she does, I fully expect her delegates to do as she asks. I expect that they will do this not just because she asks them to, but because she will have persuaded them, if they are not persuaded already, that he truly deserves their vote and their commitment. Ultimately, I hope they feel that they each came to this conclusion freely, and hopefully, enthusiastically.

And if there remains any doubt in any delegate’s mind after Senator Clinton speaks to the convention, I expect that when her delegates hear Senator Obama speak Thursday night, they, along with the 80 thousand people attending the convention that night, and the millions watching from around the country, will be forever transformed and moved to hit the streets and the phones to do the grassroots campaigning that will be necessary to elect Barack Obama in November.

It will be an exciting week, to be sure. But it is really only the beginning to the most exciting and perhaps the most important Presidential campaign most of us have ever seen! I hope you’ll choose to be part of it!

Denver Dem's City Park Fest '08

Don't have a ticket to join me at the DNC? Then join the Democratic Party of Denver and the Denver Young Democrats and celebrate Denver and Democracy in beautiful City Park!

Denver Dem's City Park Fest '08, Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 5-10 p.m., City Park Bandstand, Colorado & York St.

WATCH THE CONVENTION ON A GIANT SCREEN! They'll be showing all the great speeches and action live from the Pepsi Center including Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Mark Warner, Mayor Frederico Peña, and many more!

DANCE TO LIVE MUSIC! They've got a beat for everyone. Rock on to awesome local bands.

Chuck Pyle, The Zen Cowboy
The Reals
Acoustic Mining Company
Ten Pound Elephant

CHEER ON SPECIAL GUESTS & LOCAL OFFICIALS!(awaiting final confirmation)
Max Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy
A very special guest from the Obama Campaign - Stay Tuned!

EAT WELL & DRINK RESPONSIBLY WITH
Oskar Blues Brewery (available for purchase)
Kiva Restaurant (available for purchase)

VISIT WITH OUR FRIENDS & KEEP DENVER (AND COLORADO) BLUE!
The Democratic Party of Denver
The Denver Young Democrats
Mark Udall for Senate
BlueFlower Project
The DenverCrats (progressive merchandise)
PlayGreen Recycling
Denver may not host the Democratic convention again for another hundred years so revel in the excitement and join us in City Park!

VOLUNTEERS: Interested in helping out during the big event? Click here.

"The List" of Exciting DNC Activities

As you know, the Convention is just a week away. From August 25 - August 28, 2008, the Denver area will be center stage as Democrats from around the country will take part in the historic nomination of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States!

I hope you got your ticket, or “community credential”, to attend the convention Thursday August 28th when Senator Obama will accept the nomination. In any case, there will be many exciting opportunities to participate in Convention events for the general public, and I encourage you all to get involved and be a part of history. From caucus meetings, to presidential memorabilia, jazz & blues music to green energy and solar displays - there is something for everyone during this week.

The most complete list I have seen anywhere can be found at http://www.denverconvention2008.com/index.cfm?page=calendar. You simply won’t believe how many important meetings are open to the public, and how many other fun and exciting things are going on. You couldn't’t possibly attend them all even if you wanted to! Don’t miss out on being a part of this exciting time in history—for Denver, and our Nation!

First "Expanded Neighborhood" Team Meeting

26 enthusiastic Obama activists attended our first “Volunteer Team Action Meeting” yesterday, Saturday, August 9th, from 9-11 am at my home.

Several other Obama volunteer leaders and I accepted responsibility for about half of House District #6A. This "exapanded neighborhood" includes my own pct. #639 and 13 other precincts covering the neighborhoods of Cory-Merrill, Bonnie Brae, Belcaro, Stokes, Polo Club, and Cherry Creek (basically everything from Colo. Blvd. to Univ., and I-25 to 6th Ave.)

We listened to Julia Sanders from the Obama campaign, and then attendees left to canvass door to door, do some phone banking from home, or went to a nearby neighborhood music festival to do register new voters.

Everyone was clearly excited about taking action and making a difference for Barack Obama, the next President of the United States!

Obama Neighborhood Leadership Training

Karen Tomb, Margit Henderson, and I attended an outstanding Obama Neighborhood Leadership Training event Saturday at Overland High School from 10am-3:30pm along with several hundred other Obama supporters. Obama State Field Director Kevin Puleo and several other Obama campaign staff expertly led the training.

Karen, Margit, and I accepted responsibility for one of 5 "neighborhoods" within HD#6 including my Pct. #639 and 13 other precincts including the neighborhoods of Cory-Merrill, Bonnie Brae, Belcaro, Stokes, Polo Club, and Cherry Creek (basically everything from Colo. Blvd. to Univ., and I-25 to 6th Ave.)

The 3 of us each were given about 60 people to call to invite to an “Volunteer Team Action Meeting”, plus another 85 each to call as part of a separate "telephone canvass". So, that's about 435 total people in our "neighborhood" to call within the next several days.

We are holding our “Volunteer Team Action Meeting” this coming Saturday, August 9th, from 9-10 am at my home at 801 South Steele St. If you live within our "expanded neighborhood", or live somewhere else and would like to work with us anyway, please RSVP to jeffshart@comcast.net.

Our "core leadership team" will meet from 8:30-9:00 am with Julia Sanders, our new Obama campaign Field Organizer. All volunteers are invited to arrive at 9 am, we will meet with the whole group until about 10 am, and then attendees will be asked to canvass door to door or do voter registration for about 90 minutes, or do some phone banking for about 90 minutes.