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National Guard suits up for the convention

By Carrie Porter, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 23, 2008 at 3:55 p.m.

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Pfc. Nick Mathic,left, and Specialist Edward Washington,with the Colorado National Guard, stand guard at an entrance to Johnson and Wales University on the corner of 17th and Quebec Streets in Denver Saturday afternoon.

Photo by Joshua Duplechian © Special to The Rocky

Pfc. Nick Mathic,left, and Specialist Edward Washington,with the Colorado National Guard, stand guard at an entrance to Johnson and Wales University on the corner of 17th and Quebec Streets in Denver Saturday afternoon.

NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW - Dressed in army fatigues, members of the National Guard were splayed on the lawn outside outside the National Western Stock Show building Saturday afternoon. The soldiers began training at 5 a.m. this morning and were enjoying a breather after their lunch of cold cuts and chips.

Carl Johnson, a staff sergeant and member of the security unit, said he arrived at the headquarters on Thursday. The resident from Firestone, joined the National Guard in 1995.

"Everybody seems to be in high spirits," Johnson said. "It's always good for Denver to be in the limelight and it is good for the economy here."

Yet Johnson also said he was most looking forward to the week being finished. "We're just all kind of waiting for it to be over," he said.

Photos were not permitted of the troops training outside, but personnel were willing to discuss their outlook for the convention.

Inside the headquarters, Col. Dana M. Capozzella finished a round of meetings and sat down at her desk to take a few questions, mug in hand.

"I'm feeling really good about this week because the soldiers are always training and they are ready to help," Capozzella said. "We hope we can just continue to train."

The commander also said she considers the National Guard special because soldiers "are truly the friends, family and neighbors" of Americans.

The soldiers will stay on site 24-hours-a-day until next Friday.

Comments

  • August 23, 2008

    4:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    Go Guard!!!! Kick some hippie arse... lol.

  • August 23, 2008

    5:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HopiMedicineMan writes:

    Demographic assessments of the visitors necessitated 800 armed military. And Obama is already getting a bounce after picking a pro-abortion Catholic. This country makes no sense.

  • August 23, 2008

    5:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    KarlCheney writes:

    SL,
    You are a great American, kick the asses of those you disagree with. Comments like that are what make an American democracy great!!!

  • August 23, 2008

    6:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    Karl, thank you for your comment. I had served this country proudly so people like you and me can speak their mind without breaking the law doing so. But to the law breakers who wish to infringe on those rights aka hippies, trouble makers, terrorist, etc. I say kick their arse.

  • August 23, 2008

    6:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Uno writes:

    Drugged-up hippies descending on this town like locust, with the only goal is to make trouble has nothing to do with democracy. People who support democracy goes to the polls and vote. These “hippies” or Weatherman leftovers or whatever else have no interest in other people's rights, they would break every window and overturn every car in downtown if we let them, just to make the news. Most of the time they don't even know what exactly they protesting.

  • August 23, 2008

    8:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Sundog writes:

    Hang on to your mess kits, the poopadoop has been released toward the fan. Dodge City would have made a better location.

  • August 23, 2008

    8:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Sundog writes:

    Notice how the Muslim with the Poison in the Fancy Hotel story vanished into thin air? Nice going, MSM. No sense in finding anything at all about that, especially when we can wallow in enjoying considering the Veep wannabe losers, like many of the "real life"- who-gets-rejected-next programs for all the voyeurs.

  • August 23, 2008

    10:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    angryman1n writes:

    SL... Unfortunately our great military leaders failed to properly assess the enemy order battle. The DNC hasn't yet fully deployed the hippie task force yet. They are still in garrison up in Boulder. In line w/ current administration policies, I suggest a preemptive strike. They may take over Denver when the reinforcements arrive, but Intel suggests they'll mass at Invesco between 1700-2100L on the 28th.

    Collateral damage estimate is high, but sometimes sacrifices must be made. This should save munitions in the end.

    ************** I'M JOKING **************

  • August 23, 2008

    10:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    angryman1n writes:

    KarlCheney.....

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~) HA! I GIVE YOU RAZBERRY! HA!

  • August 23, 2008

    10:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Shadow writes:

    Why 800 national Guardsmen? Simple, plan for the worst and hope for the best.

    Should an event arise and there is not enough personel to aid, how many of these nay sayers to the presence of the National Guard will cry foul and demand to know why there wasnt enough personel.

    Its a no win situation for the authorities in this one with the left.

  • August 23, 2008

    10:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    angryman1n writes:

    Why are they on college campus? Buckley has plenty of space. This sounds like a prime opportunity to practice setting up encampments.

  • August 24, 2008

    1:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hstowell writes:

    angryman1n do you smoke crack or something? The Guard needs to be in a position to make a rapid response should something happen where they are needed. Buckley AFB is not nearly close enough for that and contrary to what you say there is not housing on the base for them. Also the Guard has been called up by the state and not the US government. You should know what you are talking about before you start talking.

  • August 24, 2008

    4:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    MileHighPatriot writes:

    Army Leads the Way. Bow before Zod!

  • August 24, 2008

    8:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SanctuaryCity writes:

    Now, start rounding up the illegals & start shipping

  • August 24, 2008

    9:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    SweetRevenge, take your meds partner. We in the military would love to give you a crash course on who actually runs the military. That person is the President of the United States. Do not blame the men and women who served with honor and fought the wars that Presidents ordered and controlled. We in the military obey orders of our superiors. So, back off blaming us for lost wars or what not. Blame the Presidents of those wars instead.

  • August 24, 2008

    10:13 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Thewiseman writes:

    So why hasn't Rush Limbaugh (Mr Viagra not married) been arrested for inciting riots across state lines? He is no different than these people that are here demonstrating! KOA you carry his program and the morning report is total trash. I get better news from BBC. Your station has turn to trash!

  • August 24, 2008

    10:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ourtownusa1 writes:

    Any American who votes for this muslim is insulting not only the memory of all those who perished on 9/11 but every American Military Man and Woman who risk their lives daily for this country.
    www.ourtownreport.com

  • August 24, 2008

    11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    demmud writes:

    Seems with the guard, and all the local police forces available to deter any violence, we may have a great convention.

    By the way, I am a born again christian saved by the Blood of Jesus, who votes and believes in the common people party of Mr Obama and Mr. Bieden. In the immortal words of Mr. Lincoln: "goverment of the people, by the people, for the people,shall not perish from the earth."

  • August 24, 2008

    12:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    ourtownusa1, Obama IS NOT MUSLIM. Get your facts straight. Geez.

  • August 24, 2008

    1:19 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wow writes:

    These links are fun, and (mis)informative. If your mind is already made up, based on loyalty to your party, and you watch the political ads to *find facts*, you might as well just get your opinions here. These are about as real and as accurate as any of the genuine ads from our candidates.
    Enjoy.....
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nREIkk...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOPVvO...

    I'm wow, and I never approved of any of this $#%@.