http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/blog_rss/cocokirby03 Check me out in the Rocky... again! So my excitement about the political process hasn't waned since my first caucus training in January. If anything, I'm even more excited now. Like I keep telling people, it's never going to happen like this again... ever... I have no idea what was going on with parking or the fire lane because I was able to walk to my location (yay! local politics) and I was in the building from 6-9:30pm. My favorite parts were when people talked about their personal experiences with the presidential campaigns and with the house district candidates. And people even brought their own resolutions to propose. Ahh! I love democracy (when I get to participate)! http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqzC http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqzC/commentary#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:26:24 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqzC cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 2 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqzC/ Shout-out to me in the Rocky today... I am so excited about all this caucus stuff I can't even hold it in. Kudos to orgs like Latina Initiative and The White House Project for talking to people about being precinct captains, delegates, election judges... etc. This will be the second presidential election in my voting career and the first where I know anything about what happens before the general election. But I'm jumping right in there. I’m making my way to the top! National Convention... here I come... This whole situation reminds me of a magazine article I read a while ago that said US children are more interested in being famous than in being intelligent! Who says policy is not for the young and hip? http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqzY http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqzY/commentary#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:14:09 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqzY cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqzY/ I often wonder what I should put up on the blog, but then I just post anyway... The Denver Post recently reported on the many up-and-coming LGBT retirement homes and assisted living facilities. They offer the same bias-free and comfortable space that the queer babies (that's everybody else) look for in bars, parties, GSA's, and sometimes community centers. I often wondered, as I marched, danced, and worked to elect allied officials... what am I goind to do when I start "living out old age?"... especially considering the outside world is not as tolerant as I'd like... here's an answer...woo! On the other hand, I get to skip out on the agism prevalent in the LGBT community and dive into a potentially classist and racist situation. With homes going for $200k, who is this community really for?...hmmm... http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqbP http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqbP/commentary#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:10:20 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqbP cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqbP/ It seems the Denver Scholarship Foundation is working hard to help local students go to college. 2006 was the first year this (soon to be) citywide program offered high school seniors a few thousand $ to close the gap that financial aid leaves behind when they apply for higher ed in-state.  They're now changing the structure of the program so students will know how much they will contribute long before the week of registration. A stress reliever indeed. Now that you know your Foundation contribution before your financial aid, the question is... will there still be a gap at the end? This program seems a first step in really improving Colorado's education programs. There's much more to be done. Unfortunately, they're also stripping undocumented immigrant students from the beneficiaries list... So much for universal access to the American Dream....hmmm... http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cqb4 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cqb4/commentary#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:02:22 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cqb4 cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cqb4/ The last one, I promise... Surprisingly, one of the more tense and interesting sessions I went to was one entitled "A new generation sites environment is their #1 issue. What do they really mean???" I went to this session because, even though I don't consider myself a part of a new generation, I don't consider the environment to be even in my top 5... I'm actually quite tired of the environmentalist push to get everyone else to drop their issues. That's exactly what this "#1 issue" rhetoric sounds like to me. Anyway, that's what I was expecting from this and I wanted to talk it out. It just so happens that other people have similar opinions and came to talk about their issues with environmentalists and their orgs. So, in addition to how to take action on environmental justice in 2008, we talked about why those orgs need to be making organic foods and sustainable jobs and housing accessible. They can't just go into communities and try impose themselves on people... especially when the larger ones wont even consider acting on the issues those communities raise organically... The environment is not going to be a priority for me until I know that people passionate about the issue are a part of a larger movement that's not about ranking. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2x http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2x/commentary#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:24:11 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2x cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq2x/ After my run-in with the 2008 ballot issues, I decided to take a different turn. I attended a session entitled "Way beyond marriage: Queer Politics 101." The leaders, after seeing this void on the board, decided to inject RootsCamp with some sexual identity conversation. Were were a good sized group but we were able to do intros and talk about what "queer" means to us. (More on that below) I went there because I don't think a queer community exists in Denver. There aren't any spaces here for lgbt people to talk focus on community issues. I wanted to know if I was wrong. from what we talked about, the answer is no, despite there being groups on ProgressNowAction and Connexion. We've got to make some changes as a community if we're going to be considered part of the progressive movement...let's use the resources we have... http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2g http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2g/commentary#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:08:07 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2g cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 5 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq2g/ This past Saturday I arrived at RootsCamp just in time for the first session. I was tired of course (8am is not a progressive hour) but I was also really excited and hopeful. I was ready to meet people and learn about them, their efforts, and their successes. The beginnings of my first three sessions were actually a little bit scary. They were largely centered on some of the ballot issues coming up in 2008. People asked questions and got deep into the community opinions that would even allow for some of the ballot issues we're going to see. It was really hard to hear people talk about the intense media saturation by the right wing with anti- labor, anti-affirmative action, and anti-reproductive rights messages that are surely to come. Individuals and organizations also criticized our current messaging tactics and asked about how to take action in the approaching chaos that is 2008 I ultimately learned a lot about the talking points that the progressive community is going to use next year. I loved seeing all the (people) resources in the progressive community, how we can work together, and energize eachother. It was just a little bit inspiring…. But that's what RootsCamp is about right? Some relevant resources below… http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2C http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2C/commentary#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:22:58 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq2C cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq2C/ I paid attention to the 2004 election mostly because it was the first one in which I could vote. I gotta admit it wasn't that exciting. But yay for having a voice. Some people don't like that... Unfortunately the thing I remember most about the election was all the anti-gay rhetoric coming from the right wing. Parents, preachers, teachers, and community leaders galore were all over every medium talking about how Kerry was pretty much taking us to hell. I remember the intensity of it all in the weeks before the election. Apparently Romney is trying to get the jump on everyone else.  The week after the election I remember the cover of the advocate and the story about how Kerry could have dumped the LGBT community at the last minute but didn't... good times... PS.... don't shot at Walmart.... for many reasons including this one    http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqFG http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqFG/commentary#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:18:01 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqFG cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqFG/ I'm actually a little giddy. What bad can come from a group with the mission to change the way we test students to assess their progress, put more money into early-childhood education and attract and retain good teachers? I just read the recommendations put forth by the governor's education panel. Even though it's all over the news today (links below), I don't have all the details. My impressions at first glance...  I'm always interested in tracking...especially when it happens with a statewide ID# you get in kindergarden (but only if you enroll in the public program. I wonder who is most likely going to enroll... working class families maybe?) I want to know what this alternative teacher compensation is going to look like. I'm excited but also a little scared that disctricts are going to go with those instead of increasing teacher salaries.Wouldn't it sound fishy to you if your boss said "let's find some new and exciting ways to pay you!" In any case, all the effort seems amazing. I like this Governor the more and more I learn about him. But we'll see what happens to the recommendations  when they're put up against healthcare and trasportation reforms he is also calling for. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqFC http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqFC/commentary#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:38:19 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqFC cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqFC/ Now I haven't been following the federal helathcare debate very closely,  mostly because the one in Colorado is so hot right now... presidential candidates are trying to insure more people - republicans by giving you a pat on the back (in the form of a tax deduction or rebate) if you invest in private insurance, and democrats by increasing the scope of government programs. I'm guessing stories like this in the times are starting to get to everyone  Most of the republican rhetoric around healtcare is ineffective at best and idiodic at worst... but I'm also not a fan of the requirement stuff I'm hearing from democrats. Both Edwards and Clinton argue that's the only way to get everyone covered...We'll see how effective that is soon enough. eg. apparently you're going to jail if you don't vaccinate your children... Presidential Candidates' Plans are going to be fundamentally changed in congress just as the  208 plan will be here in Colorado so... yeah...yah relevant debate topics! http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqHK http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqHK/commentary#comments Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:24:57 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqHK cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqHK/ So No Child Left behind is soon to be up for reauthorization and I'm confused and a little scared about potential outcomes. I didn't know there were any supporters of the current law, let alone a heated battle over the future of the law. In my teacher circles, it's touted as an especially bad idea. I don't think I know anyone who thinks the current law is a positive step for the country. I do know that we are spending more money than we kno w in war... and less money than we should on educating the next generation. Does anyone know someone who likes NCLB? Why?  http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3G http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3G/commentary#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:20:09 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3G cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq3G/ It seems we didn't think everything through when we decided to carry out a troop surge. A recent study has brought to light a monumental cost we didn't anticipate. It seems expected long-term health care costs to assist injured and returning vets is $660 billion greater than the operational costs of the war, which is now at more than $500 billion. Ouch...  Are there any solutions in sight......?  http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3M http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3M/commentary#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:55:08 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3M cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq3M/ Never again will candidates have to get up the energy for a follow up campaign. Never again will voters have to journey to the polls more than once for the same issue. Never again will Aspen have to pay for that dreaded second election. Now voters can rank their choices from first to last. If no one wins outof the first choices, the seconds, come into play... and so forth. Considering recent trends in Colorado, I wonder which party this new legislation will benefit most...  http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQd http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQd/commentary#comments Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:20:23 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQd cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqQd/ New since my last post ... and as of this morning...  The House was to vote on ENDA today but it's been pushed back to Wed or Thu. In the meantime, civil rights behemoths are coming out in support of the non-inclusive version of the bill.  Groups like HRC, it's umbrella org The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the NAACP submitted a letter to congress encouraging them to "pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act even if it doesn't include protections for trans-workers." According to HRC director, it's "a pragmatic and strategic decision." Not only that, but HRC polled its members and concluded that " 70% of LGBT Community Supports Passing Non-inclusive ENDA " The plot thickens...  Check here for the article and for a list of non-inclusive ENDA supporting orgs. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQF http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQF/commentary#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:33:55 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQF cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqQF/ Rocky Mountain RootsCamp is coming...      12/1/07             What is Roots Camp ?                    How does it work ? http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQr http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQr/commentary#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:20:55 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQr cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqQr/ It seems Healthcare is dominating political conversation both federally and locally . A bipartisan town hall meeting in Fort Collins further exposed citizen and legislator concern about the state’s current system:  it’s to expensive for individuals and for the state – it leaves everyone on the brink of bankruptcy – it gives insurance companies far too much power (that’s just me) On the national level, the debate over SCHIP has really “become a poster child for the broader debate on whether government should guarantee coverage for people." Most say that “the larger argument, of how much the federal government is willing to pay for healthcare, will take place after a next president is elected." With all the outrage going around, something is going to have to change… soon…. despite the chair of the 208 commission saying that it may be too late . Things may not change as much as most progressives hope (*cough*cough*single-payer*cough*) but something is going to change for the better in Colorado and for our nationally. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQc http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQc/commentary#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:44:02 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQc cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqQc/ I just finished reading jared polis' post about ENDA on DailyKos. He basically says it's not strategic for the LGBT community to separate the bill nor can we be proud of divisiveness. Now I've seen every side of this argument: from people saying that nothing is going to be made into law so the community should at least push a symbolic bill  to over 300 orgs signing on to oppose anything but a trans inclusive ENDA  to Barney Franks's video chastising the community for punishing our hard earned political friends and refusing to "understand the broader political reality" to people thinking right wingers have infiltrated the left wing and have spurred the fires of controversy so nothing gets passed.  I don't know what the outcome of this fight is going to be but I know that the issue should be at the forefront of every LGBT org in the country right now.  It's on the front page of the Task Force website and I just got an action alert email from them. You have to do an extensive search to find anything about it (let alone a position) on the HRC website. Apparently they're staying neutral Here's a great article on the issue...and a current one http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQV http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQV/commentary#comments Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:22:37 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/CqQV cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 2 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqQV/ What country and at what time do the republicans think we are living in here? Our current president (R) is asking for an extra $46 billion for the war. More and More people are losing their healthcare benefits and coverage altogether. This is one of the biggest issues of the candidacy. What happened at this week's republican debates in Florida?  I'll tell you what. The candidates spent the whole time bickering, joking, and generally not addressing any of the issues important to this race.   What kind of question is "who is more conservative?" are you serious? This isn't the 6th grade class presidency we're talking about. That question would seem more ridiculous if it wasn't really the tone of the whole debate. (I just picture a " Mean Girls " style battle between the republicans over this issue.) Compilation of the topics covered - read below. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq37 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq37/commentary#comments Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:40:53 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq37 cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 3 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq37/ Right Wing Facebook is the funniest thing to hit politics since Youtube. The thing I like about it is the parody of candidates based on real actions and relationships that are already ridiculous. It seems a real effort to get young people to think about who's going to tell us what our rights are after 2008 On the other side, you have the " our women are better-looking than yours argument " spreading all over facebook ... classy. I have to say I'm a little bit scared about what's going to be out there in the days and weeks (not months and years) coming up to the election.   http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq32 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq32/commentary#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:03:45 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq32 cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq32/ Send a bold message to the city and to progressives that it is alright to support reform of our city's/state's antiquated marijuana laws. Wednesday, Oct. 24 12pm Noon In front of the Denver City-County Bldg 1435 Bannock St This is going to be a big press event with a longtime Denver Police Dept. veteran joining us to voice his support for I-100 and many more official supporters announcing their endorsement. We expect to have a ton of supporters out there, all wearing red YES on 100 shirts. Come and be among them. click here to sign up http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3b http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3b/commentary#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:35:25 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/cocokirby03/Cq3b cocokirby03 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/2d60ed59646767f309_e8plmvq5z.jpg cocokirby03 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq3b/