The Routt Report

Bellygate

  A friend of mine sent me a link to this Daily Kos blog posting. Without knowing how true the story is I will say it should be off the table. The trials and tribulations of the children of elected officials must be off limits. The intrigues of the personal lives of leaders is  a distraction from the important aspect of their persona, their policy positions. I acknowledge here the hypocrisy  of propagating the story in order to decry it, however the end that I am justifying is to make clear that I take serious exception with the following paragraph:

 

 "Calls that this type of information is muckraking and 'below us'. The truth is not below any progressive, nor any citizen of the world that is one heartbeat away from having Palin as leader of the free world. We simply ask that she be forthright, honest, and not waste our time with such juvenile games that anyone with eyes can see as fabrication."

    No this is certainly below progressives. The left prides itself on running elections based on facts. We have to often found our candidates and issues fall victim to this type of slander. And fact or not this story tells us nothing about Palin that is inconsistent with her policy platform. The personal intrigues of Bill Clinton robbed the American People and the world of the environmentally progressive presidency of Al Gore. All parents that are imperfect have had to at some point lie to protect the best interest of their children, however without any regard to the children who by accident of birth belong to great leaders we display their personal stories as if they are equally as important as their policy positions.

   Let's talk about Mrs. Palin's support for drilling in ANWR, Let's talk about Mrs. Palin's reversal on position on the bridge to nowhere for political expediency, Let's talk about Mrs. Palin's potential abuse of influence of her State Police. Let's plaster the airwaves with Mrs. Palin's inexplicable crusade against a women's right to choose.  Senators McCain, Obama, Biden and Governor Palin all have plenty of points of policy where they can and should be criticized. All four have made political mistakes that will come to light. All four have made personal mistakes that should not become campaign issues but they will anyway. I realize it is too much expect that four individuals who dared commit the offense of wanting to lead our country should be treated with any semblance of civility. I shouldn't expect the blogosphere on either side to refrain from decrying muckraking while slinging mud without a hint of irony. It's clearly too much to ask that this campaign focus on issue of energy, education and the economy.  While I believe these are urgent times that call for a serious discussion and deliberate action, many continue to believe that we have the luxury of pausing for side shows . . . FINE.

      Governor Patterson of New York in an extraordinary display of leadership at the helm of a state in the midst of Fiscal Crisis came clean about his personal foibles without prompting. It was a decision that was as wise as it was unfortunate. To own his story, and make it a uni-news cycle blip was a pragmatic decision so that he could return to the business of the budget. And  unsurprisingly when the Governor turned it into a non-issue the people of New York realized that they didn't really care about 20 years ago either in light of the states financial crisis. But in an election year this type of progress comes with 15 steps backwards.

    Barack Obama, is an Adult, John McCain is an Adult, Joe Biden is an Adult, and Sarah Palin is an Adult. They have survived challenges and adversity before and will again. They are driven professionals. But for the sake of human decency, let's please leave their children out of this.

The end of spectator sports . . .

  The mood at Mile High was that of a Rock Concert, or Midseason when the Bronco's are 5-0 and playing the Raiders! There has been plenty of punditry criticizing this event at mile high as "spectacle" "publicity stunt". I say, it was and so what? 

   IF this is what it takes to generate this kind of excitement about an election, then to paraphrase Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, Spectacle now, spectacle tomorrow, spectacle all day long!  It's easy to blame Washington, to blame our State Capitol's and City Council's for the current state of affairs in America. It's way easier than taking ownership of the situation. Democracy only works when people participate. 

   My two passions in life have been Classical Music and Politics. There are many similarities between the two worlds, The pay is lousy, You spend a lot of time figuring out how to spend other people's money, Both tend to blame the audience for not caring, but the most important similarity is that both tend to attract weirdos!

  There is nothing wrong with being weird. I'm all for individuality and I'm a kinda weird myself, not too many 30 year old Juilliard Graduates are used car salesman that would rather talk about the fine details of fiscal policy than just about anything else. 

   The problem with the marketing of the arts is the same as the problem with good governance. When orchestra marketing committees get together  they usually come away patting themselves on the back for a beautiful brochure, and perhaps a T.V. or Radio spot that appeals to them. The problem is that they are weirdos and while they are really fascinated, and perhaps people who where going to buy a season subscription anyway are mildly interested,  ABSOLUTELY NO ONE ELSE CARES! Both Classical music and Politics sing to the choir. And what finally happens is the choir gets smaller while the product and the audience drift farther apart.

   Believe me I get it. It feels good to sing to the choir, but our obligation as artists and leaders is to be communicative and provide leadership for the betterment of society. For the past 8 years certainly, but on a steady trend since about 1780 government whether through active exclusion, incompetence, or even through it's great successes has drifted farther away from the people it's designed to serve. Meanwhile not unlike Symphony orchestras, government has abandoned anything but the most meager attempts to re-connect. In both cases that is until now. 

  Many Orchestras have signed on to the  "blue jeans" movement. While the quality of the music has by and large improved, the event of a Friday night concert is evolving to become relevant again. Blue Jeans and Beer sells, it enhances the music, and is frankly back to the future of the first public concerts.  I don't think it's any accident that the public concert and the American Democracy evolved at about the same time, and the truth is both Beethoven and our System of Government are both still relevant, it's the performers that have changed.

   Not to say the audience is not partly to blame. We as Americans sometimes because things were going so well, other times because they were going so bad have been derelict in our responsibilities to our democracy. Government is like a talented conservatory student with a drinking problem, capable of great things but needing constant supervision. For government, the American People need to be that dedicated mentor/babysitter because if left to it's own devices government will invariably get fat, lazy and weird. 

  We have to remember that the people are the boss. This nation does not have just one Capitol it has millions at every kitchen table across this continent and it's time that we began to exercise our power, and when necessary find our veto pen. The foundation of democracy is personal responsibility.

  Spectacle or not, Senator Obama got 80,000 people to wait in long lines under a hot sun to nominate a Presidential Candidate. The energy in that stadium is what our founding fathers intended in the same way Mozart expected his audiences to have "knocked back a few" and applaud when they heard something they like, not just wait until the music  was over. (And yes i'm only talking about  late Mozart opera for you music historians ready to call me on it, and btw the fact that you thought of that detail is why you are part of the problem, lighten up, it's just rhetoric). 

   38 million viewers that we know about choose to watch history in the making, perhaps a positive fallout of reality T.V. but in any case people choose Barack Obama over whatever was "must see T.V." And the speech played in Bars, Events Centers and Churches all across America. This is what democracy is supposed to be like, and regardless of the winner of this election, if we can maintain this level of interest in the politics that shape our country, then I am sure that consensus and compromise, tolerance and compassion, in short a more perfect union are not far behind.

Final Breakfast

 Another double entendre title that you only get if you have ever been associated with Kinhaven Music School in Vermont. Perhaps it's because I came to the convention directly after teaching at Kinhaven's Junior Session Program, (I've been the Clarinet instructor there since 1996), but the end of the convention has this decidedly end of summer camp feel. Bittersweet, excitement about returning to normal life, yet preemptive nostalgia, the feeling that this ending is only a pause and "we'll see each other next summer and be sure to stay in touch", but mostly I think because there are a lot similarities between Pat Waak the Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party and Nancy Bidlack the Director of Kinhaven. Two women who have an uncanny ability to know exactly what's happening with everybody in their charge without breaking a sweat or feeling imposing. It would be impossible to ever fully thank Pat or Nancy for the work that they do to create these orderly yet exciting experiences, it's nothing short of magic, but in short to both Pat and Nacny, Thank You!
   Enjoy this clip from the final delegation breakfast featuring remarks fromPat Waak, Mayor Frederic Pe`na, and Congressional District 4 Candidate Betsy Markey. CD4 People it would be great to hear some commentary on how that race between Betsy Markey and Marilyn Musgrave is playing out!, Keep the comments coming this is an exciting election year!

Wednesday night at the DNC

I am so happy to have been wrong! Wednesday night was exactly the made for T.V. event the democratic party needed! Also for the record I totally called the way the role call vote played out! I called it when New Jersey gave all her votes to Barack Obama. With the combination of Senator Clinton and the State of New York sealing the nomination and then President Clinton giving the convention a pep talk in the way only he can, I am confident in the "Unity and Hope" of the Democratic party. Bill Clinton aside from the allussion he made with Unity and Hope also gave another Clinton quote which speaks volumes to the core difference in diplomacy between the Republican ticket and the Democratic ticket. He said "the world has always been more impressed with the power of our example than the example of our power" The biggest difference between an Obama/Biden adminstration vs. a McCain/Palin White House is that with the Democrats we will have a foriegn policy that focuses on trade and innovation, rather than punishment and theft.
The crowd has clearly ralliesd around our Nominee for Vice President Joe Biden. The cries of "We Want Joe" were defening! And the night closed with a surprise visit by Barack Obama a true movie script ending.
After the convention I attended a party Hosted by Union Pacific where I got the chance to hang out with out Governor Bill Ritter and his wife Jennie who are terrific people, a lot of fun to be around.
I then finished the night at the New Era Colorado party, what a great night!

Palin Comparison

We interrupt this DNC coverage for breaking news. I realize that this is exactly what the RNC wants but this is quite the bit of news. John McCain has chosen Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. 

  WOW, what a choice. Sarah Palin, young, charismatic, driven with an unshakeable ethic is as phenomenal a choice as it is politically savvy. Where as Senator Biden is the democratic answer to McCain's experience, Palin is the republican answer to Obama's claim to history. Ladies and Gentleman, we now have ourselves a election!

  Sarah Palin is WILDLY popular. Giving her the nod doesn't do much in terms of the electoral map as the GOP was likely to hold Alaska anyway because of Palin's popularity, (conversely Brian Schweitzer's  popularity in Montana will likely put that state in Obama's column) but what will be interesting to watch is will Palin be too much of a distraction from the top of the ticket?  The problem with picking a Governor (which is why Obama did not pick Kaine of Virginia) is that they are usually unknown on the national stage unless something goes wrong. There is the potential for Palin to upstage McCain. When the V.P. takes too much attention away from the top of the ticket in a close election (see Kerry/Edwards) that could spell trouble. Palin is a risky choice, but McCain could not afford to play it safe. And the dividends may not only be the temptation she gives to Clinton supporters, or how she offsets the history of the first black President by being the first female vice-president. The real danger for the Democratic ticket is that when people get to know Sarah Palin, they are going to like her. She is a great personality, ambitious and a great Governor. While I don't agree with her social positions, and am in no danger of voting the Republican ticket, I have to say I really like Sarah Palin. She is a fantastic executive, I believe she would make a great President if it came to that. She has done great things for her State in only 2 years, and She would be a real contender in her own right. 

   I have to give the RNC credit, with the announcement of Palin, and McCain's  t.v. spot congratulating Obama, they could not have done a better job of setting the stage for their convention. We have a race on our hands, it is still the Democrats race to loose but the Republicans have shown they still have some fight left so it will be on the American People to decide the direction we will take.

My favorite subject

Sore throat or not, Governor Ritter is singing my song. I am so proud of our Centennial State. The world turned it's eyes on us, and now they know what we have long known. Every person I have talked to has been gushing about our state and our Capitol city. The Colorado delagation led the cheer of "Ritter" which the rest of the crowd joined in. I think the Governor will be able to ride this wave into a decisive second term victory! Congressman Pearlmutter is bringing the heat! He's talking about getting rid of McCain's "Old" ideas, and we all know what he means. Is it below the belt? Yeah but that's what happens at parties and this one is rockin! I'll be sure to send the congressman a strongly worded letter . . .

Up and down I Wander again

3:15- I'm on line at mile high. As far as anyone can tell community credentials and delegate credentials are worth exactly the same, a very long wait! And you know what, in the spirit of this event, that's the way it oughta be. We delegates have been treated like minor gods all week (which I assure you I appreciate) but this event is about or commonalty as Americans. Of course a few folks, some delegates, some press and some "some dudes" cut the line. And of course folks in line and called names and try to block them unsuccsesfully. While I'm sure all the names were accurate descriptions, I'm also pretty sure those folks have been that way for quite some time and are unlikely to mature in the next 45 minutes so I see no real reason to talk about. 3:45- So apperently after the initial check point delegates get a short cut . . . SWEET! The rock concert atmosphere outside of Mile High gives me confidence the the Obama/Biden ticket will take Colorado!

I totally called it!

I should have posted this when I figured this out because no one is going to believe this post mortem but I totally called it. When New Jersey voted unanimously I told Jonathan who was sitting next to me "New York is going to close it" and everyone was like "no that's not going to happen" and them New Mexico yielded to Illinois who then passed again to the Great State of New York. I am proud of the State that raised me, and I'm proud of my mother and sister's Senator, start spreading the news, all across the country democrats are singing I Love New York!

From the floor

What a relief they are announcing vote tallies, a great compromise and the Clinton delegtes are not going to walk out!

 While it feels like I've spent the entire day blogging, probably because I have, from this chair however, I've been witness to a lot of goings on. This blog update however is not about what may or may not happen on the floor of the convention tonight, I will be blogging live on The Routt Report.  Today's delegation outside of that whole voting business was a pretty good pep rally!

  One of the speakers was a friend of mine from Boulder, Neal Lurie who is with the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) who talked about how well Colorado is doing in creating "green collar" jobs. 

  The big ticket speakers where Claire McCaskill, John Salazar and Mark Udall and Fomer Governor Roy Romer. On the stargazing Front I rode the elevator with Jon Murtha of Pennsylvania!