Democratic Convention Security in Denver -- Fact and Fiction

Several of Denver's Finest engaging in some friendly banter...with Kim, Raven and Morrigan of Team Blue Oasis in the background

I got this in the comments on my post about last night's media party:

angela said...

Hey CD

Gee what a nice post. Did you make it past the bracides, and is Blackwater manning them? Did your 'credentials' get you though the fences, the freespeech cages? Did you check you bags for those items that the Denver police class as weapons?

http://colorado.indymedia.org/node/857
These items include bricks piled in someone’s yard (I sure hope no one was planning to do any masonry, say fixing up that patio you’ve dreamed about for the past few paychecks), as well as baseball helmets and catchers’ safety gear (beware “soccer-moms,” the cops may accuse you of being a ‘violent protester’ if you should so happen to be driving a minivan full of baseball equipment on your way to pick up the team), and most certainly we can’t forget about bicycles – they already banned carabiners and U-locks through City Council – that’s right…now they are listing actual bicycles as items that ‘violent protesters’ use to “blockade sidewalks.” They are claiming that sticks used for mounting signs (a constitutionally protected form of free speech, not to mention a time honored American tradition) are some sort of weapon, and to top it all off…maps. That’s right, maps, not with any particular markings or anything specific…just plain maps. Maps are used to find your way around, and those who come from out of town – such as Democratic Party delegates and tourists – will likely be carrying maps. Hand held radios, cell phones, what’s the difference?

Will you even see any protesters? How does martial law feel? All safe and cozy? How about some pictures of cops cracking heads. Pictures of the cages, barbed wire and warnings about being tassed for protesting your arrest, wanting a lawyer?
I await your next post.

Does this look like the face of martial law????

First off, my suggestion would be to source the original article so that people can read the actual bulletin , not someone's blog post about the original article.

Secondly, it's important to note on the bulletin (easy to do considering it's bolded and underlined) where it says "be alert for medium and large numbers of these items that seem out of place for its location." A van full of sports equipment heading to a game isn't exactly a) laying around on the protest path or b) "out of place for its location." Neither are bricks in a yard. (P.S. My friends here in Denver also say that if someone can transport their yard full of bricks into downtown Denver, that would not only be a "concern" it would also be a helluva trick. This isn't Anchorage...their zoning laws are strict.)

Note the "Denver Police" patches

Thirdly, every bit of "security" I've seen so far (since I'm here, I'm actually seeing it) has been the Denver Police Department. Suggesting that "Blackwater" has anything to do with this event makes me think that you must be confusing it with the Republican National Convention. That's in September in Minnesota, FYI.

Peaceful protesters, peaceful police

Lastly, witness a protest in Denver and please let me know if anyone is hauled away for signs, maps or anything else they are carrying. I witnessed one today (Raven has much better pictures that she'll post later) that went round and 'round where the shuttles were supposed to run by the Sheraton (media credential hotel.) No one...no one was arrested that I could see. Huge numbers of police did follow them on bikes, horses and on foot but nothing happened.

However, the protesters did manage to shut down the shuttles so that a bunch of us (including disabled folks) were stranded and unable to go to the Big Tent or the Pepsi Center.

As a matter of fact, read some of the angry posts from the blogs that are here...blogs who are usually friendly to protesting. We all believe, however, that it should have a point...otherwise it's kind of embarassing. None of us understand exactly what your protesters are trying to do. There are signs regarding every conceivable issue out there (including the way-out-in-left-field issues) so there is no cohesive message. All they are doing is mostly making it very difficult for Democratic Delegates and Bloggers...you know, people who are on the same side as the protesters on most issues...to get to the places they are supposed to go and do the jobs they are here to do.

I hope you do continue to read, Angela, and I welcome your comments, whether I agree or not.

Obama Campaign Energy Teleconference--"Alaska features prominently in the Obama energy plan"

Sen. Obama's initial comments on his energy policy August 6th from Elkhart, Indiana

I'm a little teleconference-happy today.

9:00 AM Alaska time we had one with Diane Benson (as you can see in my previous post).

Then at 11:00 AM, we had one with two heavies in the Obama for America campaign: Pete Rouse, Senior Advisor for the Campaign (and Former Chief of Staff, Alaska Lt. Gov. Terry Miller) and Heather Zichal, Director of Energy Policy for the Campaign.

Heather started by describing the plan Barack Obama has been unveiling over the last several days in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

Zichal listed an "aggressive" set of measures both in the short-term and the long-term to "make the investments we need to break our addiction to oil". We can't solf this overnight but we need to start now. Short-term: This begins with the "emergency energy rebate" of $1,000.00 per family, because "American consumers need direct assistance and need it now," stop putting oil in the strategic petroleum reserve and "crack down on speculators." (During later questioning, Zichal clarified that the $1,000 rebate will be capped at families that make over $150,000 and will be paid for by a proposed windfall profits tax.)

Zichal focused on three points that are at the center of the plan:

1) Increasing automobile standards - 1 mil hybrids on the road 2015 increase investment commit to 36 bil gallons advanced biofuels by 2012. As Senator Obama described it in Indiana:

First, we’ll commit ourselves to getting one million 150 mile-per-gallon plug-in hybrid cars on our roads within six years. And we’ll make sure that the cars of tomorrow are built not just in Japan or China, but right here in the United States of America.

2) 25% renewable energy by 2025

Second, we’ll double the amount of our energy that comes from renewable sources by the end of my first term. That means investing in renewables like wind and solar power, and we’ll also invest in the next generation biofuels.

3) Efficiency standards-15%

Third, I will call on businesses, government, and the American people to meet the goal of reducing our demand for electricity 15% by the end of the next decade. This is by far the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to reduce our energy consumption – and it will save us $130 billion on our energy bills.

In the interim, the Obama Adminstration would continue with our domestic supply of natural gas and oil.

Also, resources are available that need to be developed and Zichal restated Obama's support for the Congressional Dems "use it or lose it" policy, as there are 68 million existing leases that need to be developed now.

Zichal also stated that a "cornerstone of the plan is a commitment from Fed gov't to build AK natural gas pipeline and bring resources on line."

Pete Rouse came on-line specifically addressing the energy plan as it effects Alaska and wanted to emphasize several points:

1) AK features prominently in the Obama energy plan (which was acknowledged by Governor in a press release earlier in the week).

2) There is a "sense of urgency in Barack's approach to the natural gas issue." While demand for gas is skyrocketing, gas development has been flat from 2000-2007. There is a great "potential for natural gas" as motor fuel, etc...

3) Barack Obama's understanding of the issue pertaining to Alaska has increased greatly through discussions with prominent Alaskans.

- He met one-on-one with Mark Begich in Miami and came back from that clearly on his mind that it needed to be highlighted even more.

- In the January op ed by Gov. Hickel, his "enthusiasm was not lost on Senator Obama."

- Tony Knowles is a good friend and close advisor to Sen. Obama--he has talked for several years to Senator Obama on this issue and will continue to do so.

Rouse also emphasized that the Obama Administration would look for a Federal Partnership with the State of Alaska to help move the pipeline project forward. (In response to my later question--establishing whether they were proposing to only work with the pipeline licensed by the state vs. competing lines--- Rouse stated that the idea was to first work with Governor Palin -- start from the leadership at the top we believe we can make real progress) He believes that Alaskans should share in benefits of project, which would include jobs and a reduction in the huge cost of energy in Alaska. According to Rouse, high energy prices in Alaska is "a fact underrecognized in the lower-48."

In a brilliant move on the part of the Obama Campaign, Rouse stated that in this "Federal partnership" with Alaska over the gas line, "Exxon should not have a disproportionate influence over the timetable for construction of this important national project." Rouse stated that Obama wants to move the project forward as what is best for Alaska and nation. Also, Rouse pointed out that "McCain opposed tax incentives to build the pipeline."

In response to the question as to whether Barack Obama will be visiting Alaska, Pete Rouse said that it is "still on the planning docket here and we hope that it happens."

HERE is the text of the remarks that Sen. Obama presented at the beginning of the Town Hall Meeting.

HERE is a link to the YouTube contributor with the eight videos of the entire Elkhart, Indiana Town Hall (starting in backwards order with Evan Bayh's introduction).