CO-04 (Special Election)
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(R) Greg Lopez
(R) Trisha Calvarese
90%
10%
President (To Win Colorado)
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(D) Joe Biden*
(R) Donald Trump
80%
20%↓
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
90%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
90%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(D) Adam Frisch
(R) Jeff Hurd
(R) Ron Hanks
40%
30%
20%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert
(R) Deborah Flora
(R) J. Sonnenberg
30%↑
15%↑
10%↓
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Dave Williams
(R) Jeff Crank
50%↓
50%↑
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
90%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) Brittany Pettersen
85%↑
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(D) Yadira Caraveo
(R) Gabe Evans
(R) Janak Joshi
60%↑
35%↓
30%↑
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
June 30, 2008 09:04 PM UTC
18 Comments
I wonder how the framers of the Constitution would feel about free speech, peaceable assembly, and petitioning government for redress of grievances.
They probably would have said that these things need to be balanced with the right of those in power to make you stand in a cage and shut your hippy pie hole.
If I stand at the front of the stage and yell “SHUT UP” the entire time people are trying to talk, that’s not free speech, that’s restraining others from speaking.
I’d think you’d need a special pass to enter the Pepsi Center, otherwise it would be considered trespassing — or worse. No protester — unless it’s an unruly delegate — is going to be yelling in front of the stage.
If I’ve read the Denver Post article correctly, the issue seems to be the fence separating protesters from delegates before the delegates have entered the convention.
Is there a right to be within a certain distance of the stage door to protest? Because that’s what this is. A big politically charged show that some people would like to disrupt any way they can or see if they can’t grab a bit of the spotlight. Where near the red carpet would the protesters be allowed on Oscar night?
I do not know if this is close enough or not. I do not know what the exact security issues are. It could be a security issue or this could just be an attempt to control the spin. But if the goal is to get on the news wouldn’t it be better to be near the media tent rather than near the delegates?
Certainly people have the right to express their First Amendment views — but, as abortion protesters know, you can be kept a certain distance away.
There very well could be security issues, too, as you pointed out; I wouldn’t know the logistics, either. But apparently from the news article, some question the necessity of a fence; others support it.
Depends on what the individual protester’s goal is, I guess: “educating” delegates as they enter the convention or merely getting themselves directly in front of the news cameras.
If the protesters’ goal is to get in the face of delegates, there’s ample opportunity at the hotels where delegates are staying, and the Convention Center and other sites around downtown where the actual work of the convention takes place.
(the kind seen occasionally in Denver) in order to make the rounds of all the places you’re suggesting.
But the Convention Center and most of the delegation hotels are downtown, within walking distance (and closer than Civic Center or City Park). Easy enough to walk around with signs those places.
But let’s be real, they’re protesting to get camera time because of the thousands of news outlets that will be looking to fill reports from Denver. There are far easier and better ways to get information in front of delegates than waving a sign and shouting…. Posting on ColoradoPols, for instance.
I totally agree that face time in front of a camera would probably be the goal for most of the protesters. But I don’t pretend to know the motivations of all of them. There may be some sincere (possibly deluded) people who want delegates to be able to actually see their signs as the delegates walk into the convention, hoping that it will influence minds. In a spot, I might add, where they’re permitted (like, as in a “permit”) to protest. Now I’m no civil rights lawyer, but protesting in front of hotels may not be kosher because of that very reason: the permit process. But, again, I’m not sure of that.
And not to detract from ColoradoPols and its mission, but I question how many delegates from Colorado, let alone other states, actually read the posts here. Yes, yes, I know there are a few; but percentage-wise?
according to the PDF on the ACLU website, the space is almost half the size (27K sf) the city said it would be (50K), and is nearly 1000 feet away from the Pepsi Center entrance, with a big media tent in between.
http://www.aclu-co.org/dnc/dnc.htm
at their convention?
There’s nothing like meth and a little back rub after a full day of conventioneering.
His goal is to create a ruckus that will damage the Democratic Party and hand the election to John McCain and the GOP.
Just like the predecessors 40 years ago he’s seeking to “re-create” handed the election to Richard Nixon.
Thanks a lot, assholes!
That’s what Jake and Elwood sang behind in that unreceptive redneck bar in The Blues Brothers movie.
Put them in Elitch Gardens. Plenty of room and lots of fun stuff to do so they forget about protesting.
They can shout out their protests when they’re at the top of the roller coaster.