Rep. Jared Polis Wednesday was one of 65 House members supporting a resolution by Rep. Dennis Kucinich calling for U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan within 30 days or by year’s end.

Text of Rep. Polis’s remarks to the House Wednesday:

Floor Statement Supporting H.Con.Res. 248 – Afghanistan War Powers Resolution

Washington, Mar 10 – Mr. Speaker, this nation does face a very real and immediate terrorist threat. The terrorist threat stems from al Qaeda, which is a statelessness menace, a menace that is not rooted in any one location or has any dominion in one particular area. In fact, the two countries that this, our nation continues to occupy, namely Iraq and Afghanistan, are not significant bases of operations for al Qaeda. It has been recently reported that there are, in fact, only around 50 al Qaeda operatives in the entire nation of Afghanistan and there could be 10 times that number in nations like Yemen and Pakistan.

Yes, there is a very real threat, but the answer is NOT to continue to indefinitely occupy countries where we only breed more sympathy with those who would do us harm. The correct and more important way to leverage American military might to combat this menace is to have targeted and aggressive intelligence gathering and targeted special operations against the terrorists no matter where they are.

Some have expressed concerns that if we leave Afghanistan precipitously, al Qaeda could reassert itself there. The answer to that is to go after al Qaeda, in a targeted way, in Afghanistan if the need arises again. It is NOT to engage in an indefinite occupation of one or two particular countries. How many more countries would we need to occupy? If they’re in Yemen, do we occupy Yemen? If they’re in Pakistan, do we occupy Pakistan? If we weren’t already in and occupying Afghanistan, would we choose to go in there today? I would submit that the answer is no.

We need to continue our effort to battle terrorists wherever they are and focus on this stateless menace through intelligence gathering, targeted, special operations, and a refocused emphasis on homeland security—all of which our very costly and expensive operation in Afghanistan continues to reduce our ability to do, by soaking up our national time and resources, as well as costing the lives of American soldiers.

Most chose to start in 2002, when Democrats in Colorado held only two out of nine national seats and hadn’t controlled the Colorado Legislature in decades. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar began his “What Have We Done” speech with 1999, when he was elected Colorado’s Attorney General. Then, surrounded by elected and appointed GOP members every day, AG Salazar fought off a redistricting strategy that could have given the GOP a lock on the Colorado legislature for another decade.

17-year-old singer Meron Mengist

Senator Shaheen called on her colleagues in Congress to close ranks on passing health care legislation (House Bill H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act, or Senate Bill H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) in 2010, using the reconciliation process as necessary in the face of Republican filibusterers.

“Democrats know that reforming health care is an economic priority. Just this week we learned that the top five biggest insurance companies made $12.2 billion in profits last year and at the same time they dropped 2.7 million people from coverage.

“That’s outrageous. And that’s exactly why we need reform: to stop the insurance companies from making obscene profits on the backs of middle class families and small businesses. And that’s why we need reconciliation . . . because Americans cannot wait any longer for health care reform.”

A humble Sen. Bennet

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet gave a cordial welcome. “After getting shot out of a cannon and into this job,” Bennet’s humility was evident. He let his partner in the Senate, Mark Udall, and former U.S. Senator Ken Salazar sing his praises.

Those unstamped with Bennet and Romanoff stickers were wary of making delicate campaign endorsements. Andrew Romanoff and Bennet are vying for the Colorado Democratic Party’s nomination to be their candidate in the fall election. In an effort to tie down any high-kicking donkeys at the banquet, Secretary Salazar convoked unity, as had Ronald Reagan on the eve of the Republican takeover and domination of American politics for 30 years.

Salazar: “Here in this state have made great progress, and we celebrate it. We also know that we have a U.S. Senate race that we will be voting on this November. We have a great Senator and a great candidate in Michael Bennet. We also have a great leader and someone who has done a lot in the name of Andrew Romanoff. For those of you who support Michael Bennet, and for those of you who support Andrew Romanoff, let us make a covenant tonight, borrowed by Ronald Reagan, that thou shall not speak ill of another Democrat who is running for this state, that we will be united in our cause, that we have come too far in this state to let the politics of division break apart the opportunity that we have to keep this United States Senate in the hands of a Democrat. Can we covenant that together?”

Both Bennet and Romanoff campaigns made their presence known in the early evening, and candidate Romanoff pressed the flesh with the crowd throughout the night.

Black and White

It’s difficult to call anything black or white any more. But, on a critical note it, should be said that the most charismatic folks to take the microphone at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner were African-Americans. Reverend Rodney Perry silenced the crowd banter and the clinking of a thousand forks in a Jerusalem second, then a prayer.

Colorado Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll was honored with the Democrat of the Year Award, but said he wants more results in public policymaking.

And perhaps the highlight of the evening was 17-going-on-18-year-old Meron Mengist. Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher introduced the Legacy High School student to sing the National Anthem, and referred all to the YouTube videos of this rising Colorado recording star.

Check out these three videos featuring Meron on Youtube:

Feeling Good
If I Ain’t Got You
Somewhere over the Rainbow

For complete listening pleasure of 2010 and previous JJ Dinners since 2003, visit the Democratic Wing website.

It’s not easy being a City of Boulder Open Space planner. The planning professionals hosted the community Tuesday night, Feb. 9, at Foothill Elementary School on Hawthorne Ave. to discuss a local institution called the Goat Trail.

The controversial part of the Goat Trail is a steep run-up from just west of the head of Hawthorne connecting to the Mt. Sanitas trail system over the ridge to the west. It’s steep enough for a goat to love, or it may have got its name from an eccentric lady, Minnie Mae Cunningham, who had a rambling and rundown place, and numerous goats, just south of Linden and bordering the foothills. (She was most famous for driving around town with goats in her car.) Anyhow…

On Tuesday night, the planners were oh so professional and conciliatory and so respectful of the sainted “process” that governmental and nonprofit types worship so. They presented their opinion that the trail was too steep, erosion-prone and dangerous, and offered an option that would substitute an easier path from Hawthorne up and over the ridge.

Crowd demands vote

It didn’t go well for the planners. When it came time for “neighborhood input,” the assembled throng clamored, predictably, that they like the trail the way it is. One warned that a proposed less-steep route would stumble right into what he knew was mountain lion habitat. The crowd — very North Boulder, ranging from 30s to 70s and clad in decidedly unfashionable aging-outdoorperson drab — demanded a vote.

The option obviously favored by the planners, a looping path to the ridge running south of the existing steep trail, garnered, alas, one vote. The big winner was to keep the existing trail as is, with some minor modifications to some of its obviously dicey spots (the worst being a couple of small rock faces that require serious scrambling).

Possible mistake by planners: Those in attendance were not pleased that it was they who had to demand that a vote be held. They wanted to, and got to, go on record, in numbers. Make a note for future planning, planners: attendees not pleased by this aspect of the so-called “process.”

It’s not easy being a planner. You go to lots of trouble to invite a large swath of North Boulder to a meeting. You get your Powerpoints ready and prepare your talk, with all the right process-speak. You serve cookies. And the public hits you with a most resounding: No.

Some analysis

Want my opinion? I’ve lived in this neighborhood and used this trail for close to 30 years. My “noon fitness” group from North Boulder Rec Center used to run up it regularly (we also swam — don’t tell anyone — in Wonderland Lake sometime).

Ya know what? The Goat Trail is so steep and hard-to-navigate that we long ago took to giving it the more dramatic name of Suicide Trail. Frankly, we avoid it, instead opting to get in our car and drive to a couple of trailheads around Mapleton to get to Sanitas (I know, I know, we should be biking to the trailheads).

The planner-proposed less-steep option would actually give a lot of people access to Mt. Sanitas who don’t presently have it because of steepness of the Goat Trail. But it appears the neighbors don’t want the change. In fact, some even hinted darkly that the big motivation for change on the part of planners comes from money that needs to be spent, lest it be lost within a certain tight timeframe. Oooo, bureaucratic conspiracy.

We can’t support the conspiracy theory. It’s just about some well-intentioned and very professional planners being planners, and trying to create a more “sustainable” solution (which, let’s face it, they usually do). Them versus predicably staunch and vociferous fans of the status quo. It’s the kind of thing that makes local politics go round and round. Our hunch is that the status quo (plus some needed work on the existing trail) will probably win this round.

Go try it

An, oh yes, if you haven’t tried the Goat Trail ascent to Mt. Sanitas, do. If you’re in decent shape and have hiking boots, it’s really a piece of cake — the steep part taking maybe all of 10 minutes. A few dicey spots featuring rock-scrambles and steep, loose soil. All in all, gorgeous and a guaranteed heart-rate speedup. Just drive or bike to the head of Hawthorne and start walking. Upward.

7:30 am – 10 am
The Peloton
1685 38th Street (at Arapahoe)

Leading urban planning researchers have documented evidence that shows better-planned, less automobile-dependent urban growth is essential to limiting our community’s carbon footprint. What is Boulder’s role in ‘Growing Cooler’? How might plans to ‘Grow Cooler’ affect the way we think about affordable housing? Transportation? Redevelopment of underused sites? Economic vitality? How does this relate to regional and federal efforts such as the new “Obama Trifecta” partnership among HUD, DOT, and EPA to encourage smart growth?

This breakfast session will feature Jerry Walters, co-author of the 2007 ULI book, Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change. The book influenced climate change legislative proposals across the US, including Colorado.

Jerry Walters is a principal with Fehr & Peers Associates, a California-based transportation planning and engineering firm. He directs integrated land use/transportation research and planning throughout the US and abroad.

Other invited speakers
Rick Garcia, former Denver City Councilman and newly appointed director for HUD Region 8
Cynthia Cody, Sustainability Coordinator, EPA Region 8
Stephanie Gripne, Director, Sustainable Development Initiative, CU Real Estate Center

Moderator: Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner.

Sponsored by Bancroft Capital/The Peloton and Fehr & Peers. Program subject to change. Copies of Growing Cooler will be for sale at the event.

Saturday, March 13: Town Hall Meeting on Education with Senator Rollie Heath

10 am – noon
Chautauqua Community House
Grand Assembly Room (south of Dining Hall)
Free and open to the public

Guest speaker: Dr. Chris King, Superintendent of the Boulder Valley School District since 2007, and former principal of Boulder High School

Saturday, March 13: Forum: Health Reform: What Now!? Is Medicare for All the Only Conservative Solution?

Unitarian-Univeralist Church of Boulder
5001 Pennsylvania Ave.
(From Arapahoe, S. on 48th which becomes Eisenhower, which, in turn, becomes Pennsylvania.)
Saturday, March 13th, 1:30 pm – 4 pm

Moderator: Dr. Mark Laitos, President Colorado Medical Society
Panelists:
Dr. Irene Aguilar, Pres. of Health Care for All Colorado
Jim Hoffmeister, Clean Campaign for Colorado
Dr. Brea Bond, Peoples Clinic of Boulder
Special Guest: Andrew Romanoff, Candidate for U.S. Senate

Monday., March 15: “Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist” Author at Naropa

Naropa University Shambhala Hall
2139 Arapahoe
7:30 pm

Naropa University Religious Studies Department is proud to host Buddhist teacher, writer and scholar Stephen Batchelor for a book signing and talk in support of his new book, “Confession of a Buddhist Atheist.” The signing is scheduled for March 15 at 7:30 p.m., in Naropa University’s Shambhala Hall, 2130 Arapahoe Ave and is free and open to the public. For more information please contact the Naropa Religious Studies Dept. at 303-245-4744.

Published in March 2010 by Spiegel & Grau/Random House, “Confession of a Buddhist Atheist” traces the author’s thirty-eight-year engagement with Buddhism and recounts his inaugural trip to India at the age of 18, his first meeting with the Dalai Lama, and his quest to find what lies at the core of the teachings.

The journalist and author Christopher Hitchens praised “Confession of a Buddhist Atheist” for its boldness: “The human thirst for the transcendent, the numinous-even the ecstatic-is too universal and too important to be entrusted to the cultish and the archaic and the superstitious. In this honest and serious book of self-examination and critical scrutiny, Stephen Batchelor adds the universe of Buddhism to the many fields in which received truth and blind faith are now giving way to ethical and scientific humanism, in which lies our only real hope.”

June 16-20: National Co-Housing Conference

CU Campus

Early-bird registration ends March 31, 2010. For details visit the Conference website

The national cohousing conference is the place to be for aspiring cohousers, cohousing residents, cohousing professionals, and community experts. This year’s theme, Sustainability through Community, connects these two parallel movements. Coho U – two-day intensives June 16th -17th before the conference – will highlight the links between the two movements and will include a course on sustainability. During the main conference, all four featured speakers will explore sustainability and its relationship to community.

We’ll be walking the talk by making this conference more sustainable than ever before. We’ll provide non-disposable cups and use zero-waste plates and tableware. Our keynote speaker, Bill McKibben, will join us via video with live Q&A. And all of this will take place at the beautiful University of Colorado campus in Boulder, Colorado, a city renowned for its commitment to sustainability.

A couple of changes are in the works. First, space devoted to the “Daily Briefing” column will probably go to a more general short-item column. Second, we’re researching the advisability of eliminating “published on” dates to give the site more of a timeless, feature-oriented feel. Your feedback on these changes is welcome.

February 25, 2010: Dizzy with success

• Yes, we have returned to our original name. Our temporary name of “Boulder Express” was not playing well with the audience. They found it vague — not something you want when branding a product. Welcome back, Boulder Reporter, old friend.
• Also, since our last update we have added a “Daily Briefing” item designed to summarize for readers the most important stories from other media on a given day. This, like all of our format items, is under constant surveillance to see how it’s behaving and — more importantly — what kind of traffic it’s attracting. Verdict: unclear.
• Our lefthand front-page column has been renamed “Front Page” to designate a place for particularly important and/or readable stories. We want readers to develop confidence that material presented here will not disappoint. We also added a new middle column “loop” to display stories that, while important, were either short items or of narrower appeal than those in the lefthand column.

Who first used the phrase “Dizzy with success” for a historically important speech? First one to name him wins a trip to SeaWorld. And now, before we go to older updates on the Boulder Reporter, watch my dog ski!

January 20, 2010: recent developments

• New logo. The new logo, BoulderExpress.org, is our deployment of a new name and branding — intended to be more open and inclusive, “A community forum.” We think that the old name, Boulder Reporter, had too many associations to printed newspapers.
• Tax-deductible support. We’re also putting in place a deal so funders can make tax-free contributions.

January 14, 2010: recent developments

• Added Dan Culberson’s “Hotshots” movie reviews
• Welcomed new columnist Joe Richey
• Added two new “MediaWatch” standing features surveying media industry trends and underreported national stories
• Added slideout menu on top of front page to invite people to “Join Our Community“
• Created format for weekly e-mail to Community members highlighting new stories and Community Meetups (sample)
• Various layout enhancements: more columns and photos on front page, subheads on stories, front-page slideshow, etc.
• Sold and placed first advertisements
• Defined and posted specific opportunities for underwriting (investigative reporting, videography, etc.)

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Designer Dave Wright of stormlab.com shown reworking Boulder Reporter's front page graphics recently. (Reporter photo)

Dec. 17, 2009 update

– After a severe drought of new content, things are looking up. Part of the drought was due to a trip to Tulum and Akumal, Mexico (story and video – certain to convince you to plan a trip – coming soon). Part of it was due to lack of content from others. I used to be pissed off about that, but now I’m understanding: producing good content is hard work, and since we’re not paying and have a small audience for this “Beta” of the site, can I really blame those reluctant to make a similar commitment? My new conviction is that content providers will come on board if I do my part: keep improving the format, start promoting the site and community with PR, Meetups, etc., and maybe even pay people to the extent feasible. So now, I’m oddly confident.

– I’m starting to actually get Wordpress and CSS. This means I don’t have to run after elusive (and usually very busy) designers and coders in order to modify the site. Of course, some serious thinking at the prototyping and wireframing stage would have been better than plunging in and tweaking a packaged Wordpress Theme, but that’s water under the Boulder Creek bridge. We plunge onward. And, after all, there’s no deadline.
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Nov. 13, 2009 update

– We have just introduced a graphical facelift to our front page and typography, created with the help of Dave Wright of stormlab.com (the designer) and Mike Rinow (programmer).
– We’ve added a format feature to the site to support the display of advertising in small, square boxes. Details. We’re also planning to add a funding mechanism whereby underwriters can support specific enhancements we want to add.

– Thank you to people who continue to contribute content. Videographers…are you out there?

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Sept 27, 2009 update

Starting from virtually zero, we’re reached peak per-day unique visitors of about 70. Very modest, but a start. And the trend is encouraging. Our association with the newly launched Denver presence of  Huffington Post has clearly been helpful. (9/27/09)

– Through a new alliance, some of our news and opinion content will now be featured on HuffingtonPost/Denver.

– Longtime Boulder County marketing guru Thomas Krasomil has joined us as a Reporter, and Boulder journalist and publisher Jerry Lewis, formerly with the Denver Post and Boulder County Business Report, will contribute periodic columns. Lee Buric is advising us on incorporating more video into the site.

– We are in discussions with other potential reporters, columnists, videographers and web developers. We also continue researching business models.

– Your advice and offers to participate are welcome. Leave a comment below or call or e-mail me privately. In particular, we still need a strong web developer partner to improve design and add more features, especially “social media” enhancements.

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We’ve been discovered!

Our low-profile project has been discovered – and exposed! – by the mass media. See this totally accurate account in a column by Publisher Chris Wood in the latest Boulder County Business Report. Hmm…time to pick up the tempo of this otherwise rather languidly pursued project?

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For-profit or nonprofit?

I am agonizing over whether we should be a for-profit or nonprofit entity.

Argument for nonprofit status: I corresponded with a leading web-based city magazine, Voice of San Diego, about their nonprofit status (501(c)(3) is the IRS’s unwieldy designation) and received this reply:

Yes, we are a 501c3. It is really very similar to the idea of public tv or radio. … The only thing is if we sell advertising, we have to pay tax on that…otherwise, we are tax exempt. –Camille

That’s kind of encouraging, don’t you think? I think advertisers and content contributors might be more inclined to be involved with a nonprofit entity. Pretty strong case.

Argument against nonprofit status: I’ve been told that nonprofit Boards of Directors can exert actual control, if they wish, over the operation. Hmmm – remember when KGNU’s board tried to close the whole operation down? Also, my accountant cautions that gaining IRS nonprofit status involves lots of jumping through IRS hoops. (I do have a friend who has a nonprofit and said we could operate under it, but that has its own set of complications.)

Additionally, I like the idea that we could zealously pursue a good ol’ capitalist business model and not only gain enough revenues to pay the bills (and salaries?) but maybe even have a chance of creating a property that has some value – which is, after all, how actual money tends to be made in the aforementioned capitalist system.

Your comments on this issue are welcome.

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Mission Statement

An opportunity may be emerging for someone to create a platform for pithy, valuable reporting and insightful commentary about life in Boulder, Colorado. It would be directed at thoughtful, educated, mature adults who are involved in, and care about, the community. Its point of view would be Boulder-ish, which is “progressive” but certainly not doctrinaire leftist. In tune with the approach of our new president, the emphasis would be on problem solving and doing some good.

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Situation analysis

Our analysis is that certain preconditions probably need to be met before this project can proceed.

Precondition One would probably be the demise or further shrinkage of the Daily Camera. How likely is that? The Camera’s parent company, MediaNews Group, is not healthy financially, so the future of their properties (including the Camera, the Colorado Daily, and the Denver Post) is uncertain (see Postscript below). Insiders suggest that with MediaNews’s heavy debt load, and with all the publications probably losing money, business as usual can’t go on forever. The two other local newspapers, Boulder Weekly and Boulder County Business Report, serve niche markets (under-30s and the business community, respectively).

Precondition Two (perhaps an easy technicality) would be our ability to follow the example of other community websites in becoming a nonprofit (501c3) corporation so we can accept tax-deductible support from individuals and foundations. Others such as The Voice of San Diego operate this way, much the way public radio and TV stations do. We have quite a few ideas already about possible funding sources.

Precondition Three would be my ability to assemble a strong core of reporters, videographers, bloggers and editors to make the content happen. A key ingredient will come from Web developers and designers who can help us offer the latest in friendly, helpful technology (Wordpress plug-ins and gorgeous, dynamic design elements come to mind). Our intent is that content contributors will be paid, because creative work and reporting are inherently time-consuming. Those who don’t need the money and those able to dash off amazing opinion pieces breezily and fast will be asked to work for the good of the team. Investigative reporters in particular would presumably earn semi-decent money.

I’ll have more to report on my progress in researching the viability of this project, and enlisting allies, as we go along. If you think you have something to contribute, contact me at bobwells2 [at] me.com. And let’s get together soon to brainstorm — the pizza and beer at Laudisio will be on me!

Postscript: The San Jose Mercury News reported this about MediaNews Group on April 3:

Two newspapers are reporting that Denver-based MediaNews Group has reached an agreement with its lenders and bondholders to delay a principal payment on its debt. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, citing unidentified people, reported the company reached an agreement to pay only the interest on a payment due March 31 while it renegotiates with lenders.

Interesting note from somewhere…applies to what we’re up to:

In an online chat with readers earlier this year, New York Times executive editor Bill Keller deplored the “diminishing supply of quality journalism” at a time of “growing demand.” By quality journalism, he said, he meant the kind “that involves experienced reporters going places, bearing witness, digging into records, developing sources, checking and double-checking, backed by editors who try to enforce high standards.”

That’s just what we had in mind.

Since its founding in 2004, it has has collected and published testimonies from more than 700 male and female soldiers, with the goal of providing an accurate depiction of what it means to be an occupier and to control Palestinian citizens on a daily basis.

Dana Golan is their executive director. She served in the IDF as part of the mandatory military service that all young Israelis must complete. As an 18 year old, she served in the city of Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank, for seven months as part of her 2-1/2 year mandatory service. She spoke on KGNU’s “Morning Magazine” on Thursday March 4.

AUDIO:
Dana Golan of Breaking the Silence on KGNU, 3/4/2010 (MP3, 3 min 44 sec)
Click to play, right-click to download

Play all of the March 4 “Morning Magazine” program from KGNU’s website.