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Denver's excellent week

Rocky Mountain News

Published August 30, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The week of the Democratic National Convention began on an uncertain note: Tornado sightings outside Denver on Sunday, then sirens filling the air in protesters' standoff with police on Monday. We couldn't even get out of the Rocky parking garage for a while that night, as police in riot gear processed detainees.

Then, it seems, on Tuesday the clouds opened, the sun filled the sky, and delegates, political junkies and curious onlookers alike just had a great time. Whether at one of the official venues, pumping up local business with a meal at a downtown restaurant or scooping up every Barack Obama chotchke imaginable from street vendors, the fears of all-out riot melted away for both visitors and locals.

Whether they were exploring downtown during breaks in the convention action or celebrating into the wee hours of the morning, our DNC visitors learned that, Cindy Adams to the contrary, there is a lot to see in the Mile High City.

Barack Obama's nomination could have turned into simply a party for the partisans, but it also became a chance for local residents to join in the great American convention tradition. It could have been a logistical and security nightmare, but it wasn't.

If you're an out-of-towner leaving, we hope the experience keeps you coming back. If you're a Mile High resident, you can exhale and drive downtown now. And if you're Cindy Adams, we hope you remembered to say goodbye to the Big Blue Bear before jetting off for the Big Apple.

Comments

  • August 31, 2008

    6:49 a.m.

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    me2 writes:

    Now where are all those people who said "Oh my poor city, they (the protesters) will burn it down. Oh woe is us. I'm leaving town for the mountains that week. Can't stand to see all those dirty, noisy hippies in town.

    Don't any of you feel a bit foolish now? Well you should.

  • September 3, 2008

    5:58 a.m.

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    Shadow writes:

    No I don't feel foolish at all. I think the DPD showd great restraint. I will admit that the lack of protestor turnout was the bigggest factor to the majority of the peaceful acts that went on. I personally laugh at the low numbers of protestors and the fact that they could not get the people to turn out for their demonstrations.

    The first night of the DNC could have turned out worse if not for the immediate response of the DPD, who took appropriate actions to keep things in line.

    You have to plan for the worst and hope for the best. This seems to be exactly what Denver did.

    I am very thankful we did not have the idiots here that St. Paul has. People throwing 90 pound bags of concrete off of overpasses, attacking a school bus load of cub scouts, the window breaking and over turning of cement trash cans. The raid on certain radicals who had bomb materials, gallons of urine and other nasty stuff ready for the RNC.

    Overall those who did come to Denver behaved in a gentlemans fashion. For that I thank them.

    To those "I told you so's" you have to be honest and admit. The lack of turn out has to be dissapointing to you. An expected 20,000 to 50,000 no shows in tent city. Thousands not showing up for the LaRaza Reconquista march. A huge lasck of support for the antiwar code pink crowd, and last but not forgotten no interest in Ward Churchills rewriten history.

    Again from my point of view, those who did turn out were surpriseingly well behaved and surprised me. I thank them for their good behavior.

  • September 3, 2008

    3:12 p.m.

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    popo writes:

    I thank the RNC in advance for the wonderful job they've done in light of all the scandals they will be doing they're best to cover up as usual,.................Is this a great country or what?

    France has nothing on us.

  • September 3, 2008

    3:35 p.m.

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    sheepherder writes:

    R68 Spag-Moron and his one friend were a very poor showing!

  • September 3, 2008

    11:06 p.m.

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    tfooq writes:

    "Barack Obama's nomination could have turned into simply a party for the partisans, but it also became a chance for local residents to join in the great American convention tradition."

    What Denver were you looking at? I was on the streets watching American citizens get beat down and pepper sprayed by a massive army of riot cops there to scare American (and Denver) citizens into staying home instead of protesting.

    I am frightened that the Rocky calls that an "excellent week". What does a bad week look like to you?