CO-04 (Special Election) See Full Big Line

(R) Greg Lopez

(R) Trisha Calvarese

90%

10%

President (To Win Colorado) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Biden*

(R) Donald Trump

80%

20%↓

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

90%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

90%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(D) Adam Frisch

(R) Jeff Hurd

(R) Ron Hanks

40%

30%

20%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert

(R) Deborah Flora

(R) J. Sonnenberg

30%↑

15%↑

10%↓

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Dave Williams

(R) Jeff Crank

50%↓

50%↑

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

90%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) Brittany Pettersen

85%↑

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(R) Gabe Evans

(R) Janak Joshi

60%↑

35%↓

30%↑

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

October 09, 2012 03:15 PM UTC

Big Wall Climbers for Obama

1 Comments
by: KippColorado

I knocked on the modest condominium door with my Voter Registration clipboard in hand, and a very fit looking and elderly gentleman answered the knock. “Good afternoon, sir, I’m volunteering with Organizing For America updating voter registrations today.” I offered. “Please come on in” the gentleman replied, and I entered his living room where he sat down on the sofa. He looked worried and tired.

“I just don’t understand how anyone in their right mind could ever vote for Romney”, he began after I had affirmed that he and his wife were currently registered. “He has no integrity other than his greed, and his behavior in the debate this week was so disrespectful to the audience, the moderator, and the President – I’ve never witnessed anything like it in my life!” “I’ve been depressed ever since that debate the other night, I know the President has to have had so many other things on his mind that we don’t know about, maybe a war breaking out in Turkey, who knows? But it was so hard to watch Romney lie to everyone and the President just not responding….”

“I know” I replied. “I haven’t been much of a prize fighting fan in my life”, I said, “but I was a big fan of Muhammad Ali in his day…and that Rope-A-Dope was really hard to watch as Liston would just pummel him on the ropes and you wish he’d take a swing back but he wouldn’t do it. And in the end Liston had punched himself out.”

“God, I hope you’re right”, said the gentleman. “I can’t imagine what our country would become under Romney and the Republicans.”

We talked a bit about my work with the campaign, that this is how I put the frustration and fear to work. We talked about what sort of responses I was getting from people as I worked, and I told him that as a now aging technical climber from the 70’s I am fairly recognizable around town, many of my close friends are the local mountaineers and guides, we go back 40+ years now. “Probably nobody will take a swing at me when I knock on the door supporting the President even though there’s a significant and rather obnoxious Tea Party faction in town.” The gentleman looked suddenly more intent and a gleam came into his eyes.

“I used to be a climber around here, back in the day”, he said as he looked into my eyes with intensity that I had not seen before. “I used to climb around here with a young man named Layton Kor.” I felt like someone had slapped me in the face – I was stunned. Layton Kor was one of the most legendary of all the pioneers of big wall technical climbing in America. “Excuse me sir,” I stammered, “but please tell me your name.”

I instantly realized who this gentleman was, this man who had invited me into his home to talk the politics of today. He is one of my climbing heroes, a man who in his time was at the very forefront of the courageous climbers who broke down the barriers of big wall climbing in North America, a man who established numerous first ascents of the vertical, blank granite walls of the Colorado Front Range. A man of unquestioned courage, honor, and achievement.

“Sir, it’s a true honor to meet you, I had no idea”, I said as I stood to shake his hand. The handshake was long and firm, the sort of handshake between two mountaineers who were to join forces and climb together. It was a handshake that established our common bond. We talked together as two old climbers for another hour or so. He told me stories of his introduction to and climbs with Layton Kor and others, about his pioneering the first technical climbs of The Diamond on Long’s Peak. I spoke of his original routes which I had admired and marveled at over the years. But soon it was time for me to leave.

“My friend”, I said as I stood to leave, “we’re at the crux of this (political) climb together, and it’s a really tough spot. But what have we always done at the crux of the climbs? We’re not gonna back off, we’re not gonna rappel down and try another time. We’re gonna surmount this problem and we’re gonna finish this climb together! “I’ll be knocking on your door again soon, and we’ll get this thing done.” He smiled warmly, his tired and concerned demeanor had now changed. The parting handshake lingered, and the hand which gripped mine was steady and strong. “You’re right”, he said, “come back anytime”. And I will come back soon, sir, because you are my new climbing partner.

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One thought on “Big Wall Climbers for Obama”

dukeco1 says:

October 9, 2012 at 6:02 pm

and well written, to boot.

I believe the rope-a-dope analogy to be a good one. Whether intentionally or otherwise, Obama has allowed Rmoney and the republicans to believe they have Obama down and out. They think they have already won.

I think not.

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