Colorado Women Wear Blue Lipstick (OK, not really)

Make no mistake. Your powerful contributions to Colorado Women Against Palin were crucial to being able to wear ear-to-ear smiles today. You should feel great that you were an active part of history. Now we all have stories to tell our children and grandchildren someday.

It's been a wild ride, eh? As Jenn mentioned, that first protest in Golden seven weeks ago seems like ages ago. We've done so much: protesting Palin in Golden, Centennial and Loveland; protesting in wind and rain at McCain's "women's town hall" in downtown Denver and getting clobbered by McCain's supporters at the Western Arena rally; rallying at Babies R Us in Westminster and Belmar shopping center; two VP debate parties and then finally, the capstone at the Boulder Theater last night.

As you well know, last night was filled with tears attempting to express the thousand emotions we were all feeling. And how wonderful it is to be an American! When you look at the voting statistics of our precious state, know that it couldn't have done it without you.

Boulder 73%

Denver 75%

Broomfield 55%

Larimer 54%

Adams 58%

Arapahoe 55%

Jefferson 54%

Pueblo 56%

http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/states/colorado.html

We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and feel incredibly grateful to have gotten to know you intelligent, passionate and sassy women in this historic experience. And hang on to those "Lipstick" t-shirts. Our favorite Alaskan governor plans to run again in 2012!

Michelle, Mad, Kir, KC & Meg

VOTE!

Today's the day.

The polls are open from 7 to 7. If you haven't already voted, get out there and do your part to elect Barack Obama as our next president!!!

And if you have already voted, please give some time today to the Obama/Biden campaign and your local Democratic party. We still need people to make get-out-the-vote calls, shuttle refreshments to voters in (anticipated) long lines and to volunteers at the polling places, and handle other important GOTV tasks. Go to www.mybarackobama.com to find information about volunteering locally, or try www.coloradodems.org to find information on your local Democratic Party's efforts.

Let's turn Colorado blue, people!

PS: Hope to see you at the Boulder Theatre tonight - some of us won't get there until 8 or so, but we'll be there in our Co-WAP t-shirts!

The Mandatory Rejection of Sarah Palin

An excellent piece by Bob Cesca in the Huffington Post on our favorite VP candidate!

"Next Wednesday at this time, it's entirely possible that we'll see the last of Sarah Palin on the national stage. At least for now.

Sure, she's provided us with a bottomless cup of blogging material and, more importantly, she's a huge drag on the McCain campaign. And this week, with the Conga line of McCain campaign insiders dishing out leak after delicious leak about Palin, the slow-motion McTrain-wreck has been especially entertaining. But ultimately, the schadenfreude and the hilariously inexplicable interviews are merely distractions from the truly awful things that Sarah Palin represents.

...It turns out, the only thing that's actually working for the McCain campaign is the daily inciting of rage, fear and hatred among the easily-led gomers lined up outside of Sarah Palin's rallies. I repeat. The one thing that appears to be working nicely for Sarah Palin and John McCain right now is the really evil and divisive stuff.

And we simply can't allow Sarah Palin's fear-mongering -- her Neo-McCarthyism and her Neo-Southern Strategy -- to ultimately be the one successful thing about this otherwise laughable McCain campaign. We can't let this be the one thing that might win the election for the Republican ticket.

...So irrespective of what the polls look like, we have no choice but to show up en masse and unequivocally reject Republicans like Sarah Palin -- hurling them onto the slagheap of history next to Orange Alerts, HUAC and the Willie Horton ad. Imagine what an undisputed electoral victory would say to Republican strategists like Bill Kristol who suggested to John McCain that the easiest path to victory was the politics of fear. Imagine the eardrum-bursting shockwaves a massive Obama victory would send through the heads of the McCain operatives who fed the "domestic terrorist" attacks into Sarah Palin's empty dome."

Colorado is going to go Blue! and reject McCain and Palin's hate-filled campaign. But everyone needs to do their part. With only 6 days left, make sure you've voted! Volunteer to help with the big GOTV push. And donate through tomorrow! It's not too late! You still have a real chance to make a difference in this election!!

One Week to Go - Please Get Involved!

Reachout to your circle - it is not too late.

Co-WAP supporter Jill attended the McCain protest (and McCain's speech) on Friday. Afterward, she sent this letter to her circle of family and friends. It is a pretty powerful letter, and we encourage you all to reach out to those in your circle who might still be undecided, or who might still be open to changing their vote to Obama. We also really appreciate Jill's ultimate message - regardless of who you're supporting in this election, and regardless of who wins, we have our work cut out for us to heal this country.
_________________________

Dear Family and Friends,

http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/think/CQ8j

The above link is video of a John McCain rally I attended this morning in Denver. Before I went in to hear McCain speak, I stood outside with Obama supporters who were standing (completely lawfully of course) near the line of people going into the event (which was free and open to the public). I and the other Obama supporters were holding pro-Obama signs, and one person had a lifesize cardboard figure of Obama. Someone had a video camera and filmed the reaction we got - see the above link.

Some things you shouldn't miss on the video:

-- The family at the beginning with the young girl acting like a monkey. You have to listen carefully, but what the young girl says, referring to the cutout of Obama, is: "A monkey president. A monkey from Tarzan. That's a monkey from Tarzan."

-- The man punching the head of the Obama cutout.

-- The man calling the Obama figure: "Hussein. President Hussein" (followed by his wife saying to us: "You make me sick").

-- The woman saying (referring to the Obama cutout): "He needs a rag on his head."

-- The woman saying to us (the Obama supporters): "You need turbans."

-- The numerous people referring to the Obama cutout as "Osama."

-- The so-called Christian man saying: "The important thing is God may not be on my side, but Satan is on your side."

What the camera didn't capture was the man who came up to me and said: "You're white. Why are you voting for Obama?" Quite startled, I responded: "Well, sir, I'm not a racist." This set him off. And when I say "set him off" - I mean set him off. We ended up having to call 911. (The police, by the way, were extremely nice.)

The camera also missed the young man - with "Jesus Christ" on his t-shirt - who came up and said: "Obama is the closest thing yet to the Anti-Christ." (I don't attend church regularly anymore, but I know for sure such hatred is not what Jesus Christ was all about.)

I realize that some of these people were probably unstable. But they couldn't ALL have been (and if they were, we really need to increase public funding for mental health services)! The whole thing shocked and saddened me. The saddest was the young girl who was clearly being brought up as a racist. A close second were the so-called Christians citing their religious beliefs as they spewed hate and intolerance.

So why am I sending this (my first mass e-mailing ever)? Because I think people should see the ugly underbelly of America. I thought such people were few and far between. My eyes were certainly opened today.

If you're on this list and are voting for Obama, good for you. If you're on this list and are voting for McCain, good for you. I know you're voting for McCain for the right reasons (because you agree with him on the issues, like his background, etc.). If you were voting for McCain for the reasons of the people on the video, you wouldn't be on my e-mail list! But if any of you happen to run into McCain supporters who are like the people on the video, please don't stand by silently. Call them on their ignorance, particularly their racism. Whether it's Obama or McCain who wins in 11 days, fair-minded people like you and I know America is better than the ugliness shown on the video.

Videos from Today's Protest in Denver

Warning: these videos are awful. No, these were not filmed in the South. Right here in the heart of Denver, my friends. You'll see why we were so disturbed and disheartened afterward. The McCain/Palin supporters blurt out nasty, racist comments.

You'll see that they call us/him communists, socialist, turban-wearers, Muslims, etc. They even call Obama a monkey president - pay close attention to the kids doing the monkey dance. Spread this video around.

Here's another one too. If you watch and listen closely, you'll see me trying to get a guy to back off of us.

Fear or Hope - Election 2008

Wow. All I can say is wow. Well, maybe a little more...

My alarm went off at 5:15a. I pillow-hugged for another 15 minutes then jumped into the shower and started to think about the day ahead of me. Yes, I was going to protest McCain first then run off to start a busy day of work.

Even in the car with Mad I thought it would be just another peaceful protest. Just like the 8 or so we'd already had. Yeah, there'd be people who'd shout "baby killer" and slip snide comments in but these people were angry, nasty and down right vicious.

Hey, I'm not a experienced political protester; I'm not a paid activist. I'm a professional, educated businesswoman who just cares about this country and wants to do her part in making sure Obama, the right answer for this country, is rightfully elected.

Since I started what is now known as Colorado Women Against Palin five weeks ago, I've learned a lot about the process, our rights and how to activate people's passion productively. But what I've also learned is a frightening dark side to humanity and "real" Americans.

This election has gotten heated and as the McCain campaign continues to flails, the RNC and its supporters have gotten more and more desperate. Does desperation bring out the timid, hidden racist? Yes, I'm afraid it does.

Our previous protests have all been without incident. In fact, the police were very good at protecting us. But as you can see in the above photo, we were verbally and nearly physically attacked. Where were the police? (they never did help us) I called 911 to get this man off of us. He was grabbing at our signs and pushing us around; not understanding that this was not "his" rally as he kept saying but ours. We are all part of the process and that's what's (supposed to be) beautiful about democracy.

I still believe it's beautiful and I'm optimistic that America will one day be the true UNITED States of America that our forefathers wanted but Palin and McCain need to quit dividing us into "real" Americans and "anti-Americans". This crowd clearly bought into the GOP's rhetoric and repeated things like "Obama's a Muslim" or "Obama's a terrorist" or "he was born in Kenya", "socialist" (the new buzz word) and "communist" (retro buzz word).

They eat up fear like candy; stealing another bite whenever possible. The difference, in my opinion, is that those of us holding the signs embrace a completely different emotion than those standing in line - HOPE.

And that's what this election has boiled down to. Do you vote on fear or do you vote on hope?

Check out these media links. There are more to come, I'm sure.

http://cbs4denver.com/slideshows/mccain.rally.denver.20.848037.html?rid=31

http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/photos/index.cfm?xml=/photos/slideshows/102408mccain/102408mccain.xml

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/videos/detail/tensions-flare-outside-mccains-rally/

http://www.examiner.com/x-231-Denver-Womens-Examiner~y2008m10d23-Colorado-Women-Against-Palin-to-stage-protest-at-McCains-visit

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/24/183332/74/400/641321

http://www.coloradopols.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=78D71BB621E700CC5C7E7BEF47B3EFB7?diaryId=7896

http://coloradoindependent.com/12644/liveblog-mccain-rally-in-denver

http://coloradoindependent.com/12644/liveblog-mccain-rally-in-denver

[excerpt from the Colo. Independent's liveblog:]
9:44 a.m. - This reporter just spotted a woman wearing a t-shirt that read “Lipstick is not a vice-presidential qualification.” I wonder if the person wearing it thought this the Obama rally in Denver on Sunday? Maybe she is planning some type of outburst when McCain comes on stage. When McCain came to the University of Denver in June a number of protesters were escorted out after rising out of their seats and screaming for the end to the war in Iraq.

Priceless

The Palin Plunge

It's a big week for our favorite VP candidate! First, the RNC has spent $150,000 dollars on Mrs. Joe Six Pack's hair and clothing in the last 2 months. Clearly this is a woman in touch with the average American.

Next, Palin will give a deposition for the Troopergate investigation by the Alaska Personnel Board. Palin was already found to have violated ethics laws in her attempt to get her former brother-in-law fired.

Also in Pittbull news, Palin apparently charged her state for expenses incurred for her children's travel. Often to events where they were not invited, and sometimes to events which were not state business at all.

The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three
daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip
to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with
17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel.

In all, Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' 64
one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office in December
2006. In some other cases, she has charged the state for hotel rooms for the
girls.

This week, many newpapers and prominent figures, including Colin Powell have spoken out against McCain and Palin and thrown their support behind Obama/Biden. The Daily Kos has a great round-up of these stories. And The Huffington Post has a fantastic summary of the Palin Plunge!

From The Chicago Tribune:

McCain failed in his most important executive decision. Give him credit for choosing a female running mate--but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served. Having called Obama not ready to lead, McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin's exposure to the public. But it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country.

From the LA Times:

Indeed, the presidential campaign has rendered McCain nearly unrecognizable. His selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate was, as a short-term political tactic, brilliant. It was also irresponsible, as Palin is the most unqualified vice presidential nominee of a major party in living memory. The decision calls into question just what kind of thinking -- if that's the appropriate word -- would drive the White House in a McCain presidency. Fortunately, the public has shown more discernment, and the early enthusiasm for Palin has given way to national ridicule of her candidacy and McCain's judgment.

From The Oregonian:

Supporting her, McCain has offered the equally jaw-dropping claim that Sarah Palin knows more about energy than anyone else in the United States. Having Palin a heartbeat from the presidency makes our own heart miss a beat.

Ours too! Despite all these problems, Palin is still drawing HUGE crowds and has a ton of support from conservative voters. We're under the two week mark! Please do your part to make sure this woman is not our next Vice President! Come rally with us Friday when McCain speaks in Denver. Volunteer at your local Obama headquarters. Talk to your neighbors. And most importantly, VOTE! Early voting has opened and it's still not too late to request an absentee ballot!

Another Co-WAP Hero!

Jill, one of our active supporters, attended Todd Palin's "meet & greet" in Denver yesterday. Here's her account of the experience:

I met Todd Palin yesterday, who was appearing at the Bass Pro Shop in north Denver. I got there about 20 minutes early and joined the sparse "crowd" waiting to meet the First Dude (which crowd included royalty - "Mrs. Wheatridge" - complete with sash). A reporter from USA Today spotted my Obama button and wanted to know why I was there. I told her I was there to see if I could "learn something" (repeating what Sarah Palin had said the day before as security removed an Obama supporter from her rally in Loveland). I told her I wanted to learn more about SP's "associations," particularly her association with a former member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a radical anti-American group. Again using SP's own words, I said I wanted to "call her out" on who she "pals around with." I also explained why I was supporting Obama.

The big moment arrived, and Todd Palin descended the grand wooden staircase near the fish tank. Cameras flashed, dogs barked (really), and people cheered. As I told my good friend, Mad., he's better looking in person (very, actually) than he is in pictures. He gave a short speech, encouraging those present to be sure to "get all their huntin' and fishin' buddies out to vote for his wife." My favorite part was when he said he wished he'd asked his wife a few more questions before agreeing to get involved in the whole VP-candidate thing. But, he explained further, when his wife wants to do something, he just gets out of the way!

After his speech, he started signing autographs, and I went up to him. He smiled and shook my hand. I asked him if he still believed that Alaska should vote on whether to secede from the United States (the official goal of the Alaskan Independence Party; check out their website, if you don't believe me: www.akip.org). He was startled and shot back, "I've never believed that." Why then, I asked, had he joined a group that believed that? He looked down at the printout I had in my hand from the Party's website, and recognized what it was. He started jabbing his finger at the paper, saying, "Do you see my name on that? Do you see my name on that?" I said, "Well, the chair of this group says you were a member." Again he said (pretty agitated at this point), "Do you see my name on that?" Then he turned his back on me and resumed shaking hands with the more admiring members of the crowd. My only regret was that I hadn't thought to bring along the page from the website that does indeed have his name on it (acknowledging his former membership in the party). He never did explain why he had joined the Party if he did not agree with their clearly stated goal (again, check the website, if you don't believe me).

By the way, the website page I did bring along prominently featured the following quote from the founder of the Alaskan Independence Party: "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America and her damned institutions."

Pretty shocking who Sarah Palin pals around with!

We are still looking for media coverage of Todd Palin's event and will link to it when we find it!

Co-Wap's Heroes

Denver Post reports on Unknown Hero:

"Palin was speaking in Loveland when a woman behind her on the stage unveiled a white Barack Obama T-shirt and started heckling Palin. When Palin spoke about Obama's plan to tax and spend, the woman and her friend yelled, "That's not true."

The Alaska governor did not acknowledge her at first. Palin supporters tried covering the woman up with "Country First" campaign signs and the women attempted to push them away. She was then forcefully removed from the bleachers."Maybe it makes more sense for security to keep her in here for a little bit so she can learn more from all of you," Palin said as the woman and her friend were escorted from the event."

Click here for the whole slideshow. Lady, whoever you are, please email us. We have a free t-shirt for you!!

Monday Roundup

Thanks to all who braved the crowds and cold weather today to protest Palin's ridiculous "Road to Victory" rally in Loveland. Special thanks to Meghan from Golden who acted as our protest coordinator. When we heard media reports that people were camping out at the Budweiser Event Center last night waiting to see Palin, we started to worry about what the crowds would be like today. Palin's rallies, even more so than McCain's, seem to attract the wackiest of whackos.

But, Meghan reported back to us that the 50 or so brave souls were safe albeit chilly. Thanks for taking one for the team guys!!!

Saturday's Obama rally was also a success. There were several hundred people in attendance, most notably Sandra, the Hockey Mom for Obama. Her speech was fantastic! Co-Wap gave her a "lipstick" t-shirt. Her best line? I'm a hockey and soccer mom, too; I cart around my kids yet I still don't think that makes me qualified to be VP. Thanks, Sandra, for putting that in perspective.

Upcoming events:

If you're in the Greeley area, please give Joe Biden a warm Coloradan welcome!

University of Northern Colorado
Butler-Hancock Hall Gymnasium
501 20th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado
Media Pre-set: 7:30 am to 8:00am MDT
Media Access/Doors Open:10:00am MDT

And if you're in Eagle or Stapleton, tell Todd Palin to take hike!

Todd Palin, who is married to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will be in Glenwood Springs at 8:15 a.m., the McCain-Palin campaign said in a news release.

Todd Palin and former U.S Rep. Scott McInnis will be at the Village Inn Restaurant for a "meet and greet breakfast."

From there the pair travel to Eagle for a similar 10 a.m. event at the Eagle Diner.

After lunch Todd Palin will be in Denver on his own, with a 1:30 p.m. "meet and greet" at the Bass Pro Shop in Stapleton.

Thursday, we're hearing rumors that McCain will be back on Thursday. Stay tuned for protest details!!!

HOPEful

We here at CO-Wap headquarters (which is to say we're sneaking a few stolen moments at our day jobs or procrastinating changing that smelly diaper :) are feeling very uplifted today. The polls are looking very favorable for Obama and indeed, Colorado is turning blue, my friends!

As Mad told me last night over instant messenger, now is not the time to get complacent. We still have three weeks left. Please get out there and volunteer! Contact us if you want ideas on how to make a big impact. We'd be happy to help you (in between meetings and feedings, of course) find the right fit.

And don't forget about this weekend's rally and Palin's rumored Colorado visit on Monday (stay tuned for protest details).

In the meanwhile, have some fun with this tidbit. It's hilarious - just move your mouse around the room.

The Huffington Post: Protesting Palin Down the Road in Swing State Colorado

Mayhill Flower of the Huffington Post did a nice report on our Centennial protest. Excerpts below...and stay tuned! Palin will be in Colorado Monday and we will let everyone know the plan as soon as we get details!

Colorado Women against Palin are what you would expect: an educated motley crew of all ages for whom the Republican vice-presidential nominee calls forth wit and outrage in equal measure....

Dawn [Russel, a protester] returns to her contemplation of Sarah Palin. "There's this conflict she doesn't even realize she's in," Dawn says, speaking from the perspective of experience about disability. Across the road from us, a local TV videographer is moving in a crouch along the row of protesters. "KYGO! Oh yeah!" a ten year-old girl crows as he approaches her. Mothers Against Sarah Palin wave signs hand-lettered "Incontinence and Incompetence," "Unstable and Unable," "Abort Palin." A veteran carrying a heavy flagstaff walks the long row of women and children. His large American flag ripples in the stiff morning breeze. Colorado is an exceptionally windy state, as I've found during my sojourn here. Such a small discovery is one of the pleasures of the trail. Even more satisfying is heading out to get one story and finding in its place another.

Another Women for Obama rally in Denver on October 18

For all of us whose plans to rally at Crescent Park were foiled by bad weather, sick kids, and other mishaps, here is another chance to join hundreds of other women in showing our support for Barack and Joe!

What: Women for Obama rally
When: Saturday, October 18, 10am to noon
Where: West steps of the State Capitol, Colfax and Lincoln
Who: Everyone! Bring your kids, your partner, your friends, and your favorite home-made signs

See below for more details. Co-WAP intends to have a great showing at this event (and the forecast looks good, for now).

Women for Obama Rally

CO-Wap member, Danielle, and her lovely, bundled munchkin weathered the inclement temps yesterday to show her support for Obama.

With the general election so close, I think many of us are feeling a strong desire to do our part to ensure Obama wins.

Here are some ideas (most of this applies to Boulder County but I'm sure your county can use your help, too):

"Get Out the Vote (GOTV), we hope you can volunteer to help in precincts where we need additional volunteers. We have three different volunteer needs described below. Please sign-up for one or more if you can!

(1) Volunteers to call a list Democrats who attended the caucus this spring in precincts where we need additional help, and ask these Democrats if they can work on election day. (You will get a list of between 50 and 100 to call and will have a week to make the calls.)

(2) Volunteers who will do phoning on Election Day from a list checked-off at the polls to remind those who have not voted to vote, to see if they need assistance getting to the polls and to inform them of their voting location.

(3) Volunteers who will do poll watching on election day. (This is such an important election, we will need trained poll watchers at each targeted polling place all day.

Poll watchers must be certified by the County Clerk by October 29 and trained by the Democratic Party. Poll watchers will be asked to take a shift for two hours or more between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, when the polls are open, 1) to make sure that every eligible voter who enters the polling place has the right to do so and is not impeded for any reason and 2) to check-off the names of those who have voted from a list they will be provided by the precinct coordinator. (NOTE: You must be a registered Democrat to be a Democratic Poll Watcher.)"

Reply to killeen81@hotmail.com with the following:

(1) Phoning to get volunteers __________

(2) Phoning on election day (11/4) __________

(3) Poll watching on election day (11/4) ________ (List times you can poll watch below.)

AM from _________ to _________ or PM from __________ to __________


IMPORTANT, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

__________________________ Name

__________________________ Precinct (if you know it)

__________________________ Address (if you do not)

__________________________ Night Phone

__________________________ Day Phone

~~~

Also, don't forget that Colorado has a long list of very confusing items to vote on. Check out Kir's ballot recommendation post.

Ballot recommendations

The Boulder Democrats have published a fantastic guide to the many different proposed constitutional amendments and referenda on the ballot this November. Of course, we hope each of you will read through the ballot issues and make your own informed decisions, but with ballots over 10 pages long, we think this guide may be very helpful!

Here's a quick summary:

AMENDMENT 46 Anti-Affirmative Action VOTE NO

• 46 prohibits Colorado governments from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to any group on the basis of race, sex, color, or ethnicity.

AMENDMENT 47 So-called “Right to Work” VOTE NO

• Prohibits requiring an employee to join and pay dues to a labor union (non-defined)
  

AMENDMENT 48 Fetus as Person VOTE NO

• Defines the term person to include any human being from the moment of fertilization. We are strongly against this Amendment. This could easily lead to making all abortions illegal, as well as prohibiting emergency contraception and restricting stem cell research, among other impacts.

AMENDMENT 49 Public Employee Union Dues VOTE NO

• Prohibits public employee tax deductions except as required by law, tax witholdings, health benefits, retirement, etc.

AMENDMENT 50 Gambling Regulations VOTE NO(Colorado Democratic Party is Neutral)

• Allows residents of Central City, Cripple Creek and Black Hawk to extend gaming hours, increase limits and games and sets aside tax money from gaming for specific uses (Colorado community colleges and the gaming cities and counties)

AMENDMENT 51 Sales Tax Increase for Developmental Disabilities Services VOTE YES

• Increases State taxes by .1% to provide and increase services for those with developmental disabilities. Would enable thousands of people with disabilities who have been approved for services to actually receive those services - there are currently very, very long waitlists, due to insufficient funding.
  

AMENDMENT 52 Severance Tax Revenues for Highways VOTE NO

• Requires state legislature to spend a portion of severance taxes on highway projects. This money currently is available for water supply projects.

AMENDMENT 53 Criminal Liability of Business Executives -REMOVED FROM BALLOT (votes on Amendments 53, 55, 56, and 57 will not be counted)

AMENDMENT 54 Government Contractors’Campaign Contributions VOTE NO

• Restrictions and prohibitions on contractor contributions-inflexible and requires unreasonable monitoring

AMENDMENT 55 Just Cause for Firing -REMOVED FROM BALLOT

AMENDMENT 56 Employee Health Insurance REMOVED FROM BALLOT

AMENDMENT 57 Remedies for Workplace Disabilities REMOVED FROM BALLOT

AMENDMENT 58 Severance Tax Increase for Scholarships VOTE YES

• Increases severance taxes for oil and gas companies and directs monies towards college scholarships, wildlife funding and renewable energy projects

AMENDMENT 59 Ending TABOR Rebates and Funding Education VOTE YES

• Eliminates rebates taxpayers received on surplus and instead directs monies toward public education

REFERENDUM L Reducing Minimum Age for State Legislators VOTE YES

• Reduces minimum age to serve from 25 to 21

REFERENDUM M Striking Obsolete Language Concerning Property Valuation - VOTE YES

REFERENDUM N Striking Obsolete Language Concerning Alcohol - VOTE YES

REFERENDUM O Changing Rules for Citizen Initiated Constitutional and Statutory Changes - VOTE YES

(The Colorado Democratic Party is NEUTRAL on Referenda M, N, and O).

The Economists agree: pick Obama.

The Economist magazine recently surveyed members of the prestigious National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) about the presidential candidates' respective approaches to the Economy. The responders overwhelmingly said that Obama surpasses McCain in his grasp of economics, and that Obama's economic plan is superior to McCain's.




Here are a few significant excerpts from the Economist writeup:

Even among Republicans Mr Obama has the edge: 46% versus 23% say Mr Obama has the better grasp of the subject.

“John McCain has professed disdain for ‘so-called economists’, and for some the feeling has become mutual,” says Erik Brynjolfsson, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. “Obama’s team is mainstream and non-ideological but extremely talented.”

Mr Obama, says Jonathan Parker, a non-aligned professor at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, “is a pragmatist not an ideologue. I expect Clintonian economic policies.”

Twice as many economists think Mr McCain’s plan would be bad or very bad for long-run growth as Mr Obama’s. Given how much focus Mr McCain has put on his plan’s benefits for growth, this last is quite a repudiation.

For the complete article, click here.

Media Roundup

While McCain has unleashed his pitbull to launch public racist and personal attacks on Obama, CO-WAP has been hugely successful in sticking to the issues. We have been getting the word out to Coloradans that McCain and Palin are bad for women and working families with our activism focused in important swing districts and wherever McCain and Palin dare step foot in.

KC did a roundtable discussion that aired on Sunday night. Please check it out; she did an awesome job representing us! She had done another one on September 26^th as well but we don’t have the link for that interview.

Saturday’s rally/protest in Centennial was covered by Fox. Check it out here. We also got airtime on CBS and channel 2 over the weekend. There’s also an article that mentions us here. Daily Kos has us here.

The cameras, print reporters and radio reporters were at Thursday’s protest in downtown Denver where McCain had the gall to host a “women’s” town hall meeting. The Denver Daily covered us here. At the protest I did an interview with Colorado Public Radio but unfortunately can’t find any links to it.

If you see, read or hear about us in the media (including blogs), please let us know. We’d like to post them here so everyone can see the fruits of all our members’ hard labor. Thanks again for all your passionate contribution! It’s gonna be worth it, ladies, darn it! (wink smile wink)

Keep an eye out for details about what's next!!! And, if you're not on our email list, send us a note to coloradowap@gmail.com

McCain-Palin resort to lies, racist appeals.

Over the past few days, the McCain-Palin campaign has made clear that its "new" strategy involves ignoring the issues and attacking Barack Obama's character, primarily through repeating blatant lies and playing to racist sentiments. We want to make sure you are aware of some of the more disgusting examples of this strategy.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They're Turning Into a Lynch Mob
by NowAndZen
Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 07:01:23 AM PDT

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/7/92221/5295/879/622560

I hope yesterday was the low-water mark of civility in the MCain/Palin campaign, but I'm afraid that McCain and Palin may be heading down a dangerous path and that they do not know where it ends. They may actually be 1 step away from being the rallying leaders of a lynch mob. Their inflamatory speech is metaphorically asking their supporters to bring tar, feathers, pitchforks and torches.

Let's look at yesterday's scary developments.

- Palin supporters shouted nasty epithets at reporters and an African American AV technician.

- Palin made totally unfounded and inflamatory suggestions that Obama is a terrorist or is at least friendly toward terrorists and that he doesn't see the country the way you and I do (wink wink).

- In response to the obove comments, one Palin supporter yelled "Kill him!"

- Palin was introduced by a shaved headed sheriff who denounced what might happen on election day if Barack Hussein Obama is elected.

- McCain asked rhetorically and impregnated with pejorative meaning "Who is Barack Obama?" One McCain supporter yelled "A terrorist!"

See also: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/222324.php

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A McCain campaign staffer in Virginia penned and published a racist, inflammatory, and homophobic screed, supposedly a "humorous parody" of the early days of an Obama administration. (The staffer has apparently been fired in response to outrage resulting from this disgusting piece, which is excerpted in the link below).

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/5/113954/900/662/620727

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAN SHOT 3 TIMES for WEARING OBAMA SHIRT!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1070975/Man-shot-times-street-racist-gunman--wearing-Barack-Obama-T-shirt.html

A man told today how he was shot three times in a London street for wearing a Barack Obama T-shirt.

Dube Egwuatu was buying a mobile telephone top-up card in an off-licence when the gunman confronted him and glared at the top, which carries an image of the Democrat US presidential candidate underneath the legend 'Believe'.

The man then launched into a tirade of racist slurs, shouting 'I f***ing hate n*****s' and urging 36-year-old Mr Egwuatu to leave the shop with him.

Why I Oppose Sarah Palin.

Below, Co-WAP supporter Teresa explains what drives her opposition to Sarah Palin. We are very grateful to Teresa for sharing her story with us. A shorter version of this piece appeared as a letter to the editor of the Summit Daily over the weekend.

_________________________

It didn't take long after the announcement that Governor Sarah Palin had been selected to the number two spot of the Republican ticket for me to be appalled. Simply scratching the surface those first few days, I questioned her ethics, her experience, and her readiness. But what made my blood run cold was reading that she was opposed to abortion even in cases of rape and incest.

When I was in high school, some fifteen odd years ago, it was not unusual to find me in red-faced heated debate about abortion rights. In the locker room getting ready for cheerleading practice. Over pizza at the local hangout. During social studies class. I was young, opinionated and unbending in my views. I am quite familiar with Palin's stance, because it is one I espoused. I even opined on more than a few occasions that carrying a pregnancy, conceived of rape, to term would be 'healing' for the victim.

I cringe now imagining myself so pompously commanding to know what was best for all women. I was unaware at the time I so fervently argued against every woman's right to choose, including my own, that life had in store for me the unique opportunity to walk in the shoes I'd proclaimed to have so much insight into wearing.

In college I was raped and three weeks after the rape, a pregnancy test confirmed my worst fears. I had become pregnant as a result of the attack.

I found that, for me, rather than seeing the potential for 'healing' in continuing the pregnancy, I was debilitated by the mere thought of it. After much soul-searching and wrangling with my previous personal beliefs, I ultimately decided to terminate the pregnancy.

I no longer profess to know what is best for every woman in any case. Through the years I have shared my story many times in the hopes of protecting a right I so ardently fought to deny myself. It is the least I can do to thank those women and men before me who protected my right to choose, even as I railed against them.

I have not once abandoned the cause, even as I struggled through three miscarriages while trying to start a family with my husband. I shared my story at a State Senate Committee Hearing while 21 weeks pregnant with my daughter and facing the very real possibility that I might lose that pregnancy, too, due to pre-term labor. I cannot stress to you how important it is to me to keep abortion a safe and legal option for all women, but especially for those victims of rape and incest. Preserving choice has become my life's work.

Palin frightens me on numerous levels, but I am horrified by her position on this issue in particular. Palin has not walked in the shoes of a rape survivor. I hadn't either until, well, I did. I won't deny that I have an understanding of those who theorize about women and the shoes they wear. I have done that myself. But because I understand them does not mean that I won’t speak out against them. Women deserve better than the extreme Anti-Choice stance Palin represents.

Through the years, I have been touched by so many women who’ve shared their stories with me. They’ve approached me after rallies and sent me e-mails after reading my blog. I know that becoming pregnant after a rape is not so rare as we would like to think. A woman once e-mailed me and told me that she had been raped, became pregnant, and gave her son up for adoption. She went on to say how strong I am, how strong we all are, and she urged me to continue fighting the good fight. Rape survivors deserve a choice, she said. Whether it is the choice I made or you made or others have made. To this day I am encouraged by her. And I am simply compelled each time I look into my baby girl’s beautiful eyes and imagine her future.

Palin may have her lipstick. But I have my shoes. And in them, with my daughter on my hip, I will proudly continue to walk the path I’m on, preserving the rights of every daughter.

Tina Fey Fan Club

Did you get your t-shirt yet?

We had a fantastic turnout today to protest outside Palin's fat-cat fundraising breakfast in Centennial. Thanks to everyone who joined us - your energy and enthusiasm were so great. Photos and more to come very soon!

We sold all the great t-shirts we had printed, and we know many of you still want them. All you have to do is go to www.CafePress.com/ColoradoWAP! We've got lots of different styles and sizes available, including long-sleeves, ringers, men's shirts, maternity shirts, and even a onesie for the babies (my kid wore his to the protest today!).

All the shirts say "Colorado Women Against Palin" on the front and have our signature statement on the back (see the image to the left).

Centennial Rally!

Saturday's protest in Centennial went fantastically! Co-Wap leader, Kir, got there early and directed the troops from Starbucks (Co-Wap's favorite caffeine source and parking lots - they are very nice to us!) to the protest site.

Mad & KC led the first group from Boulder including the under 1-year old club. I started getting text messages from Kir saying there were already 50 rowdy people ready to protest and Fox News was looking for us.

There were more people willing to forego a Saturday morning of sleeping in than I could've imagined. They were fired up and chanting before I even got there. Thank you so much, ladies!


Mad & Milo did an interview with Channel 4



Our signature t-shirts Even Milo is wearing his!


So awesome that children are learning activism at such a young age!

Remember, under Obama's plan, 95% of middle class families will get tax relief; McCain gives his to the rich and big corporations


We were lined up down the block, in the median (before the police kicked us off) and across the street


The group, Obama Mamas, banded together with us!

Some signs that get straight to the point (wink) (smile) (wink) = Dunno, Joe, say it ain't so!

Denver Protest & VP Debate Yesterday - Protest Saturday in Centennial

To say that yesterday (Thursday) was a busy day for CO-Wap would be the biggest understatement of the year!

With the help of our extended network of members (thank you, ladies!), other organizations and our hardworking organizers, we put together a fantastic protest for McCain's "Women's" Town Hall Meeting in Denver.

Brave Stacy (below) was there to protest on her own. She soon joined forces with us. Gutsy, she even stood next to the 3 pro-Palin supporters loitering by the door and held her sign for peace proudly. Thanks, Stacy!

We were on Colorado Public Radio and Channel 4 news. Here's what the Denver Daily News had to say about us:

McCain draws more protesters? While Obama gave remarks in Westminster on Monday with only one protester present, dozens appeared outside the Sheraton Denver Hotel yesterday to voice their opposition to the McCain-Palin ticket.

Colorado Women Against Palin united with fliers, signs and plenty of roars. “If she is the best that the Republican Party has to offer as a vice-presidential candidate, everyone should be outraged,” said Anne Sneed, who said until this year, she had never gotten involved personally with politics. “If she is the most thoughtful, deep thinker — our country’s in trouble.”

After the protest, we held two simultaneous VP debate-watching parties, one at Hamburger Mary's in Denver and one at Redfish in Boulder. Both locations were standing room only. The vibe was great! We played debate bingo, drank beer and enjoyed the camaraderie.

Now we're gearing up for our biggest protest so far - tomorrow morning! Here's that info in case you didn't get our email:

PROTEST PALIN'S HIGH SOCIETY FUNDRAISER

Date: Saturday, Oct. 4th

Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Locations:Starbucks on the corner of Arapahoe and Peoria

Bring friends, kids, partners, parents!

Signs: We will have some signs, but please feel free to bring your own. We recommend using large, bold letters with simple slogans that can easily be read. PLEASE keep the signs positive, avoid personal attacks, and focus on the issues. Let us know if you need some suggestions for sign slogans.

CARPOOL FROM BOULDER

Time: 7:45 a.m. (sharp!)

Locations: Table Mesa shopping center, in front of Caffe Sole at 637R South Broadway Boulder, CO 80305

For more information, call Michelle at ColoradoWAP@gmail.com

Happy Anniversary, Barack & Michelle!

Lots more to come today - debate party wrap up, final details for tomorrow's protest at Centennial Airport, and more, but we wanted to take a moment to wish a very, very happy 16th Anniversary to Barack and Michelle Obama. Please consider donating $16 (or more!) to the Obama/Biden Campaign for Change today, in honor of the Obamas' wonderful relationship.

Demand the Debate (yep, again)!!!! McCain/Palin are trying to weasel out once more.

We just got this from the folks at Demand the Debate, who rallied legions of people to call on John McCain to show up in Mississippi on Friday. Looks like tomorrow's debate is up in the air now, as McCain and Palin are attacking the impartiality and journalistic integrity of moderator Gwen Ifill. Please read the message below and click on the link to add your voice to the demand for tomorrow's VP debate!
_______________________

We've been watching the news in disbelief and are appalled that McCain is
driving another wedge into tomorrow's debates. We're reaching out to you again
to help us send a message to the McCain-Palin campaign that we demand these
debates to move forward as scheduled.
http://www.DemandTheDebate2008.com

After last week's "suspension" of the McCain campaign just prior to the presidential
debate, they're at it again -- complaining about Thursday's debate moderator
Gwen Ifill, a respected moderator of "Washington Week" and noted political
reporter. The McCain-Palin camp suggests that Ifill may not be nonpartisan
enough to moderate the debate, since she authored a book on politics and race,
even though the McCain camp approved of her selection. Isn't that outrageous and
insulting? We are sending a big message to the McCain-Palin camp that enough is
enough.

Click on the link below to sign the petition and tell McCain that the
American public has the right to hear our candidates running for the highest
office in the United States discuss their views and policy positions on the
economic crisis, Iraq and foreign policy, education, health care, etc.
http://www.DemandTheDebate2008.com

Now, let's be clear. The McCain campaign agreed to the format, length, and
moderators for this year's slate of debates. They even agreed to silly details such as the height of the debate podiums.

We don't know what will happen overnight, but we want to make sure the McCain-Palin campaign knows that we care about the debates happening...but also about the debates being substantive and inquisitive. We hope that Ifill will ask hard questions of
both vice presidential candidates, and we hope that they will give detailed answers. We believe that both candidates deserve a chance to outline their views and that we deserve to hear their thoughts.

Many thanks from your "Demand the Debate" allies and please pass this on to your
friends, family and colleagues. -Allyson, Heather, Jason, Michael, and Tanya

P.S. -- One of your fellow "Demand the Debate" petition signers has created a Facebook Group to show support for Gwen Ifill. We like self-organizing, so we encourage you to check it out: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38684874551.

CoWap at Michelle Obama's Event & More

Check out fellow CoWap organizer, KC, and son Leo, at Michelle Obama's speak event! I'm so jealous, I wish I could be there!

In other news, Co-Wap organizer, Kir, reports via text message from Centennial airport where she's meeting with the Sherrif's office about where we can stand on Saturday. They sent 4, I repeat 4, cops to meet her and her infant son, Kaden.

We are a rockin' group of gals! I hope you'll do all you can to help us get the message out that McCain and Palin are bad for women and working families by protesting at Thursday's "women's" town hall with John McCain - you know the one scheduled at a time that so many working/middle class women cannot attend... and Saturday for Palin's $$$ fundraiser that the mere cost of maybe half your child's college tuition will buy you breakfast with her.

Ladies, I hope you're as fired up as we are. Please get involved and make sure these out-of-touch yahoos are not running our country come January! Contact us at coloradowap@gmail.com for ways to get involved.

Michelle, Mad, Kir & KC

URGENT: Need Protesters for Thursday's "Women's" Town Hall with McCain in Denver

Believe it or not, McCain has the gall to host a "women's townhall" on Thursday. We just found out. We NEED to be there to demonstrate that McCain/

Publish Post

Palin do NOT represent women's and working families' values!!!

Where: Sheraton Grand Hotel, 1550 Court Place in downtown Denver.
When: Doors open at 2:30 p.m. with the program scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m.
Who: Anyone who cares about women's rights

For more information, contact: Michelle W. 303-513-9589 or coloradowap@gmail.com

Suggestions for Signs:

• We'll have lots, but feel free to bring your own
  
• Use bold & large letters with a simple message so they can be read quickly
• Keep them issues-based, no personal attacks or use of foul language, please

Carpool:

• Please do your best to minimize our carbon footprint by carpooling to this event, contact coloradowap@gmail.com if you'd like help coordinating rides

Michelle Obama in Boulder on October 1

This Wednesday, October 1st, please join Michelle Obama for a rally in Boulder, where she will talk about Barack's vision for creating the kind of change we need.

Change We Need Rally
with Michelle Obama

Farrand Field
University of Colorado at Boulder
Main entrance at northeast corner
under the Farrand Field Arch

Wednesday, October 1st
Doors Open: 10:00 a.m.

http://co.barackobama.com/BoulderChange

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.

McCain retracts Palin's comments on Pakistan

Apparently, Sarah Palin's statements to reporters don't reflect her actual positions, and she shouldn't be held accountable for what she says publicly. According to John McCain, Palin's recent comments that appeared to support Senator Obama's call for unilateral strikes against terrorists in Pakistan were simply the result of "people going around and… sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that's—that's a person's position."

CNN's political ticker has the story HERE.

More Media Coverage of Colorado Women Against Palin

Co-Wap's own Jessica was videotaped by the Rocky Mountain News at yesterday's Belmar rally. See below.

Also, KC did a live interview on Fox 31 last Monday. We haven't been able to find that in digital form, unfortunately. Great job, ladies, on getting our message out there so eloquently!

They also had this to say:

No thanks, Palin

Jacylyn Zube waved a "Pro Family, Anti Palin" sign as cars turned the corner, honking in support or protest.

The 25-year-old Denver woman participated in one of two simultaneous anti-Palin rallies - in Lakewood and Westminster - designed to sign up voters and express disappointment in the Republican's vice presidential nominee.

"I just don't agree with her policies," Zube said as she and others waved signs near the Belmar Center.

"I would love to see a woman in office but not this woman," said Elisa Groh, who is visiting Colorado from Illinois.

"Anybody who can spend money on a Bridge to Nowhere is not the right one for me."

Weekend Roundup and Events This Week - Michelle Obama in Boulder!!!

Today's rallies were a huge success and we want to thank everyone who came out to proudly show their signs to passersby, spreading the message in the swing counties of Adams and Jefferson that Palin does not represent us!

Upcoming Events You Should Attend!

Wed: Michelle Obama in Boulder, no details yet Thurs: Meet other Co-WAPers at VP Debate parties in Boulder and Denver (don't forget to wear your "Lipstick is not a VP qualification" t-shirts!
Sat: Protest Sarah Palin's fundraiser on Saturday in Englewood, details to come!
Sun: Race for the Cure in Denver

Other Items of Interest:

• Couric's full interview with Palin
• David Letter rips on McCain relentlessly
• SNL, Tina Fey mimics Couric/Palin interview
• Really funny, must watch this!!!
  
• Conservatives are asking Palin to quit