Subject: Barack Obama

• Focus on the Family doesn't blame Obama for layoffs -- yet

  Lord save us. News that Colorado Springs' Focus on the Familiy is eliminating 202 jobs -- the biggest single cut in the ministry's history -- naturally raised the question of whether Focus reps would lay the blame at Barack Obama's door. After all, prior to the November 4 vote, Focus published a "Letter from 2012 in Obama's America," which imagined a country where the Boy Scouts ceased to exist and pornography would be openly displayed in every grocery store -- read the remarkable document

  November 18, 2008

• Denver Post headline red meat for the liberal-bias crowd

  Weeks before Barack Obama takes on the mantle of the presidency, conservative critics are already in full cry about media coverage they feel is biased in his favor -- and headlines like the one stretched across the top of today's Denver Post bolster their argument. The article itself, by Washington Post staffers Michael D. Shear and Peter Slevin, is a rather straightforward account of Obama's public remarks yesterday in connection with his naming of Timothy Geithner, Lawrence Summers and Chris

  November 25, 2008

• Wake-Up Call: Refinishing the Obama cabinet

   Fresh from his ten-day eco-devo trip to Asia, Governor Bill Ritter is now off on the East Coast, attending a Democratic governors' conference, talking with the Obama team -- and definitely not interviewing for a spot in the cabinet, insists his spokesman, Evan Dreyer. Shortly after the polls closed on November 4, politicos were speculating about which Coloradans would be tapped to go to D.C. As noted in the November 26 blog "So Far, Obama's Snubbed Colorado For His Cabinet -- But Why Go

  December 2, 2008

• Denver Blogs: She's alive!

  We're scouring the web for Denver-related stuff that blows our mind, or at least 15 seconds of our time. Send your tips via Frisbee.Well, at least we know Marilyn Musgrave is alive ... unless there's some Weekend of Bernie stuff going on in Georgia. (Colorado Pols and Channel 7)Mayor Hickenlooper could be in line for an Obama appointment, according to rampant, sourceless speculation (the best kind!).  (Colorado Independent)Who will fill Senator Ken Salazar's giant hat in 2010? Will they loo

  December 2, 2008

• Still wishing for $1.85 per gallon gas?

  Saw this sticker on the back of a truck the other day and couldn't help thinking how quickly its message has dated. Not the oral sex part, of course: That's timeless -- although I suspect that people of all political persuasions would be disturbed by thoughts of an intern giving Barack Obama a hummer. But mere months ago, when we were paying around $4 per gallon, the prospect of $1.85 per gallon gas seemed as unlikely as the Broncos playing consistently. This morning, however, the King Soopers

  December 4, 2008

• Denver dailies didn't see possible John Salazar cabinet post coming

  As noted in this morning's blog "Wake-Up Call: Mr. Salazar goes to Washington?," Colorado Representative John Salazar has confirmed that he's in the running to become Secretary of Agriculture in the administration of president-elect Barack Obama. This news likely came as a surprise to readers of the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post. On numerous occasions since Obama's election, both papers have floated the names of Coloradoans who might wind up in the cabinet -- among them, Governor Bill Rit

  December 4, 2008

• Jack FM: Barack Obama's choice?

  Is there anything Barack Obama's name can't be used to sell these days? This question arises as a result of a Jack FM promotion I stumbled upon the other day. Those of you with cars manufactured during the past few years know that many radio stations include a signal with their broadcast that causes song names or assorted messages to scroll across your radio's info bar. While driving my wife's 2002 Chevrolet Venture van, I switched to Jack and saw the following message: "Barack Obama nominate

  December 8, 2008

• Carpool the Obama way

  Heading to D.C. for the inauguration? The last thing you'll want to do is help usher in the Obama presidency with your supersized, Bush-era carbon footprint. The solution, according to TripVerde, an Austin, Texas (ironically)-based company with offices in Denver and Palo Alto, is ride-sharing, and TripVerde's RideJockeys are now pairing people with fellow travelers from the same regions. "Four million people are expected to make the trip to Washington, D.C., for the January 20, 2009, inaugura

  December 23, 2008

• Diana DeGette's "chattering class"

  Diana DeGette wants to be Colorado's first female Senator - maybe - but Denver's U.S. Representative has gone about making that known in a strangely blunt and abrasive way, namely by calling out Governor Bill Ritter, who will choose a a new one, and by bashing the "chattering class." In a video posted in various places on the Internet, DeGette says, "Colorado has never had a woman senator or a woman governor, and so, in a way, this is the perfect time... And the other thing I will say is I don

  December 24, 2008

• Kenny Be's Worst-Case Scenario: Cool Obama Inauguration Souvenirs for You

  Bottomless Obama Bank Coins fall into a change tray to remind that as long as we have Barack, we won't go ba-roke!

  January 14, 2009

• Take stock in Barack

  Artist Cassandra Cole made the rounds during the Democratic National Convention, selling posters, mugs and other gifts with copies of her unmistakable, farmer-hat-clad portrait of Barack Obama to celebrate his visit to Denver. Now Cole is back with a more dignified -- dare we say more presidential -- image of the soon-to-be president, clad in a suit and tie rather than a denim shirt. Her earlier message, "Denver Takes Stock in Barack," has also been modified to "America Takes Stock in Barack,

  January 19, 2009

• Night and Day: Obama Inauguration parties in Denver

  This morning's Martin Luther King Day march took to the streets with an historic edge: Denver celebrated one African American who helped make it possible for another to become president all these years later. The elated nation that elected Obama Commander-in-Chief will be bumping the clouds tomorrow, from coast to coast, and hey, it would be almost un-American not to join in the celebration. Not all of us can squeeze into the public festivities while freezing our buns off in D.C., but there

  January 19, 2009

• Leftovers

  Michael Harrison celebrated his Martin Luther King Day trying to sell stuff he wasn't able to sell during the DNC. Namely, Obama In a Bottle. It didn't matter that the water bottles - which are stuffed with an American flag, an Obama lanyard, a cardboard party horn, an Obama button, a bracelet and a pair of sunglasses - are emblazoned with the now-outdated moniker "Democratic Nominee for President." People in Civic Center Park for the MLK Marade were feeling the Obama love, Harrison explained

  January 19, 2009

• Barack's semen going for $2,500 a pop in Denver

  The livestock exchange at the National Western Stock Show in Denver this week is the last place I expected to find a political advertisement. So when I spotted a stack of glossy blue fliers on a hay bale with the name "BARACK" printed in huge lettering, I had to take a closer look. Barack, it seems, is a huge, jet black Simmental bull from rural Illinois. "Barack was producing flush quality semen at 11 months of age," reads the flier. "One semen share contract includes 50 units of semen in t

  January 21, 2009

• Catch the inauguration at Cora Faye's Cafe

  The coffee's already on at Cora Faye's, the soul-food restaurant that Jason Sheehan raved about back in July 2007. The TV's on, too, making this restaurant at 2861 Colorado Boulevard one of the best spots in the city for watching the inauguration of Barack Obama.Channel 31 host Shaul Turner is on hand to greet diners, and owner Priscilla Smith will keep the coffee flowing. For details, call 303-333-5551.

  January 20, 2009

• History being made in Washington, D.C. -- and the Super Bowl

  During his regular midday show yesterday, KOOL 105 midday host Hollywood Henderson (pictured) talked about two impending events that he never thought would occur in his lifetime: today's inauguration of Barack Obama as America's first African-American president -- and the perennially laughable Arizona Cardinals advancing to the Super Bowl. Kinda puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

  January 20, 2009

• Those George W. Bush countdown clocks are going fast

  Stopped by Twist and Shout yesterday to paw through vinyl 45s for my vintage jukebox, and when I arrived at the counter shortly thereafter to pay for my excellent finds, I couldn't help noticing a stack of George W. Bush countdown clocks -- small devices that ticked off each day until Dubya's term of office expired. Since that happens today, I asked the woman cashing me out if there'd be a big clearance sale on the doodads once Barack Obama took the oath of office. She laughed, then asked a ne

  January 20, 2009

• Jay-Z sadly missing from inaugural soundtrack

  So I just flipped on the inauguration, a few minutes before Obama took the oath, and who do I see playing to usher in the 44th President, our first African-American president, the first president who acknowledges having Jay-Z on his iPod? Let me give you a hint. It wasn't Jay-Z. It wasn't Kanye (although I doubt he will claim this president doesn't care about black people). Hell, it wasn't even MC Hammer. Nope, it was a cellist named Yo Yo Ma, if I am not mistaken, and while I can't hate on his

  January 20, 2009

• A nation gathers, watches, listens, hopes

  Like millions upon millions of Americans, I just took a break along with my co-workers to witness Barack Obama taking the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States and then delivering a speech that was simultaneously serious and stirring. And as I looked around the conference room in Westword's offices, where the largest television set can be found, I realized that the last time staffers at the paper gathered on that spot to follow a breaking-news event was 9/11. I enjoyed thi

  January 20, 2009

• Obama's inauguration ceremony much better planned than his DNC acceptance speech in Denver

  The inauguration ceremonies for President Obama seem to have gone smoothly yesterday, with no arrests and only a few small logistical mishaps reported. Quite a feat, considering the record two million people who flooded into Washington for the event. It all serves to illustrate the ways local and national organizers screwed up when planning how to get a comparatively piddling 60,000 people into Invesco Field for Obama's Democratic nomination acceptance speech at the closing of the DNC in Denve

  January 21, 2009

• Denver Blogs: Obama becomes first black president to help save cute wolves from extinction

  Send worthy bloggage here. Obama snuffs last-minute Bush proposal on oil-shale royalties and hooks up endangered wolf in process. I guess he's saving walking on water until day four. (Colorado Independent) Accomplishing nothing is a slow process for the Colorado Legislature. (Face the State) But they are finding time to debate some important feline legislation! (Colorado Pols)

  January 22, 2009

• More proof that Democrats will buy anything Obama-related

  As if all the Obama-related crap that was sold at the DNC in Denver wasn't enough, we recently spotted Barackti Chai at the Whole Foods in Boulder. (Tyler Nemkov poured out the story here.) We knew that Obama's face was the new Che, but the new Paul Newman, too?

  January 28, 2009

• Did Barack Obama hypnotize the nation during his Denver acceptance speech?

  As you may have heard, Barack Obama recently became the president of the United States. However, his enemies continue to portray him as a smooth but dangerous character whose rhetorical skills mask evil motives. In this recently posted video, for instance, Obama is accused of using "the techniques of neurolinguistic programming (NLP), a covert form of hypnosis," to put America under his spell -- and his Invesco Field speech during August's Democratic National Convention is used to illustrate t

  February 5, 2009

• Top ten songs that should be renamed after Barack Obama

  Excise "Back." Insert "Barack." The campaign by several Boulder High School students to rename their facility after President Barack Obama was dropped yesterday due to a lack of support, but not before inspiring our satirical blog "Ten More Things That Should Be Named After Barack Obama Other Than Boulder High School." Frankly, though, our attempt at comedy pales in comparison to the contributions of a commenter named George, who posted a roster of songs rechristened in Obama's honor that deser

  February 13, 2009

• Does Barack Obama see Colorado as his (stimulating) good-luck charm?

  White House photo by Pete Souza. Stevie Wonder, one of President Barack Obama's favorite performers, famously sang, "When you believe in things that you don't understand/Then you will suffer/Superstition ain't the way." Nonetheless, Obama seems to have a superstitious streak, especially when it comes to Denver -- and that could prove to be a good thing for Coloradans. As we all know, Obama accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidency here, and the electoral coalition his team

  February 16, 2009

• Obama visit eats into press time for Denver Restaurant Week

  Denver Restaurant Week doesn't start until February 21, but it already looks like a hit, with more than 224 restaurants signed up to participate and over a hundred chefs slated to attend the scheduled February 17 press conference to hype the event.But once Barack Obama's noon visit to Denver that same day was announced, DRW week sponsors recognized that there would be some significant no-shows at the press conference: mainly, the press, which will be out in force at the Denver Museum of Nature &

  February 16, 2009

• Denver Blogs: Obama won't secure border, according to guy who makes s#@t up

  Courtesy of Flickr Below lies the booty from our daily local-blog treasure hunt. Send tips here. KOA's "Gunny" Bob Newman distorts Obama's view on immigration, which goes to show you: Never trust a guy named Gunny, unless he's making you waffles or changing your oil. (Media Matters) Quick: Guess how much coin a CU chancellor pulls in. Sorry, but you're gonna have to guess a little higher... (Face the State) Take a tour of the new Spire tower, downtown's soon-to-be half-empty condo developmen

  March 5, 2009

• David Sirota carries no water on AM 760

  David Sirota. Jay Marvin, the morning host for AM 760, Clear Channel Denver's progressive talk outlet, has been out of commission of late, after undergoing gall bladder surgery. He's on the mend and expected to be back at the microphone next Monday. In the meantime, however, his most frequent fill-in, syndicated columnist David Sirota, has acquitted himself well due in part to his willingness to speak his mind even if he's got critical things to say about figures on the liberal end of the polit

  March 17, 2009

• Denver Blogs: "Whoa, guys, you're taking this bipartisan thing a little too far, aren't you?"

  Michael Bennet.Our daily cruise through the blogosphere. Send tips. Is Senator Michael Bennet already turning on Obama? (Square State) In the Rocky's absence, the Post has gone commie. Allegedly. (Face the State) A random lesson on how to survive a wild animal attack, which sent us spiraling into thirty minutes of daydreaming about whether we could handle a mountain lion. We settled on no. (5280)

  March 18, 2009

• Even Obama's dry-erase board became a piece of history at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

  March 5, 2009

• Barack the bull's coming-out party

  January 22, 2009

• War is heck in the battleground state of Colorado

  November 6, 2008

• More on Obama's mustard preference

  Because nothing in the blog world ever really dies until it's been milked of every erg of usefulness or grim humor, may I humbly present this: The letter that the Grey Poupon people actually sent to President Barack Obama (and copied to me) in response to the teacup tsunami caused by his choice in cheeseburger toppings. Bon appetit. The Honorable Barack H. Obama President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006 Dear Mr. President: We applaud you, Mr. President,

  May 13, 2009

• Jared Polis makes the NYT with anti-Obama health care message

  It looks like Boulder Congressman Jared Polis has taken the lead as one of the Democrats to cross party lines and thumb his nose at President Obama's health care proposal. But his concerns don't have to do with health care itself. No, a letter he wrote that was signed by 21 other Democratic congressmen, is concerned with the fate of the wealthy, according to today's New York Times report:

  July 20, 2009

• To defeat the evil health-care legislation, Republicans will target a lawmaker near you

  They're coming for you, Betsy Markey.​Politico reports this morning that the battle over President Obama's health care-reform bill will be waged, and won, during the upcoming August recess. And Republicans is already identifying Colorado Democrats it believes it can persuade to stiff-arm the president come vote time. From Politico's piece: "There's a reason why they wanted to pass this before the August break, and that's because the president continues to see his popularity slowly come d

  July 27, 2009

• The Westword.com blog shortcut, July 29 edition

  estheraseNo amount of tickling will bring him back to us. ​ Why isn't my dad Obama's adviser? Today in The Latest Word: -The sad, graphic world of roadkill. -What standards? -Michael Vick really shouldn't ever be a Bronco. -Trapeze in Westminster. -Denver is OK for singles. Today in Cafe Society: -The stupidest breakfast foods. -Defend our food honor. -Blue Moon in the White House. -Get baked. Pizza. Pizza that's baked. What did you think we meant? Today in Backbeat Online: -Indie 1

  July 29, 2009

• Could Colorado be the engine that drives the electric-car revolution?

  ​Ever since I gave up on my dream of a flying car, I've been waiting for the next best thing: an electric one. Sure, it lacks the sexiness of a my Jetsons-fueled childhood fantasy. But on the other hand, I don't have to learn to fly and my kids may actually inherit a planet that's livable -- so it's a trade off I can live with. Now, given the push to alternative energy by the Obama administration and the stimulus funds behind it, that dream inches ever closer to reality, right here in my o

  August 6, 2009

• Headlines with a keen grasp of the obvious

  ​Today's Denver Post includes an article topped by the banner "Businesses Like Their Tax Breaks" -- a revelation that few observers would have guessed (unless they were awake and paying attention). Here are ten other similarly shocking headlines: 10. "Most Men Find Angelina Jolie Attractive" 9. "Rush Limbaugh Not Expected to Vote for Obama in 2012" 8. "Getting Punched in the Face Hurts" 7. "There's a Moon in the Sky Called the Moon" (Thanks, B-52's.) 6. "Keith Olbermann Probably Will

  August 11, 2009

• Flipping off Obama in Grand Junction

  President Barack Obama's Saturday appearance at Central High School in Grand Junction was a consistently civil event, particularly compared to healthcare town halls like the one staged by Representative Ed Perlmutter earlier this month. But predictably given the number of national media representatives in town to cover the get-together, there was plenty of hubbub outside the gymnasium where Obama spoke -- and no lack of grandstanding. Above, check out a clip of a man who proudly gave the finger

  August 17, 2009

• Barack Obama digs Denver author Kent Haruf

  Book 'em, Barack.​Hard to imagine the press minions who worked for the previous administration releasing a list of books George W. Bush planned to read on vacation -- probably because those liberal smartypants types would bring their overt prejudice to bear against titles such as The Pet Goat. In contrast, Barack Obama's handlers seem excited to let everyone know what the Prez plans to peruse during his week of R&R, and that makes sense, since he seems to have fine taste in popular literat

  August 24, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: The Obama promise, stuck in line

  ​Denver looks golden in most memories of last year's Democratic National Convention -- including Barack Obama's acceptance speech, which was delivered on August 28, 2008, exactly 45 years to the day of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. But then, there are the memories of trying to get into that speech, moved from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Field at Mile High at the behest of the Obama team, with that crew (and the feds) taking over arrangements from the city. Which meant

  August 28, 2009

• Sick response to Obama's speech to kids

  A banner from the Independence Institute's "Ed Is Watching" website.​ Our item yesterday about a Douglas County school allowing parents to opt out of letting their kids watch a Tuesday speech to the nation's schoolchildren by President Barack Obama has been followed by plenty of mainstream coverage on the topic, including a front-page story in today's Denver Post and an extended segment on Channel 4 this morning featuring Gloria Neal raising her eyebrows at the kerfuffle. Still, the real a

  September 3, 2009

• Obama speech doesn't turn Boulder students into zombies

  News that President Barack Obama would deliver a speech to the nation's schoolchildren caused plenty of parents (and talk-show hosts) (and cable-TV pundits) to freak out -- so much so that the event itself couldn't help being an anticlimax. Obama's text was about as controversial as an endorsement of motherhood, and students at Foothill Elementary captured in the Boulder Daily Camera video above reacted to it with mild boredom. Now can we go back to dealing with some real issues? Please?

  September 9, 2009

• Colorado delegation doesn't tweet during Obama's healthcare speech

  ​Last night, Colorado's representatives and senators actually paid attention during President Barack Obama's healthcare address to a joint session of Congress -- or at least they resisted posting their comments about it while the speech was taking place. Not all of the state's federal officials have a Twitter account: Indeed, Betsy Markey's lack of one is the subject of a petition from an organization called TweetCongress.org. But none of those who do (Jared Polis, Mark Udall, Michael Benn

  September 10, 2009

• Denver's Liberty on the Rocks' NObamacare message goes national, with a chaser

  An image from Liberty on the Rocks' website.​News outlets probably worked up a powerful thirst while looking for Denver naysayers to hate on President Barack Obama's speech about healthcare reform before a joint session of Congress last night. Perhaps that's why both National Public Radio and Channel 31 went to Darcy's Irish Pub & Bistro in the Tech Center to chat up local members of Liberty on the Rocks, which describes itself as "a non-partisan, non-profit, social organization that seeks

  September 10, 2009

• Denver Blogs: Game changer?

  "If anyone asks, that speech killed."​ Our daily cruise through the Colorogosphere. Did Obama's healthcare speech really change some Colorado minds? (Colorado Independent) Climate-legislation: The next empty promise for thousands of new jobs! (5280) What Josh McDaniels is saying about Sunday. (It's not much, but at least he's talking!) (Mile High Report)

  September 10, 2009

• Denver Blogs: I need fuel!

  We read local blogs so you don't have to, although you should, 'cause many of them don't suck. Turning trash into electricity: Yet another way that life imitates Back to the Future. (Colorado Independent) Malcom Glenn doesn't think you should be surprised by Obama's endorsement of Michael Bennet. (Which you weren't, because you're not an idiot. But he's just saying...) (Huffington Post Denver) Dave Cullen's Columbine, reviewed. (Scholars and Rogues)

  September 18, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: The joy of text?

  ​President Barack Obama just signed an executive order banning federal workers from text-messaging when they are driving government cars, or driving their own cars on government business, or using their on government phones while driving their own cars on personal business. The ban was announced at a transportation department meeting called to discuss "distracted driving." And it's a smart move. Now, can Obama just extend this crackdown to anyone texting while driving? That's the kind of

  October 2, 2009

• Do you need to impersonate Barack Obama to get a gig these days?

  November 12, 2009

• Is this anti-Obama billboard racist? You be the judge

  Obama meets Sambo? Click the photo to enlarge the image.​So... whaddya think? Is this billboard, on display outside Wolf Interstate Leasing & Sales, 4855 Miller Street in Wheat Ridge, a bold (and legitimate) statement of displeasure with the Obama administration that has the guts to link the shootings in Fort Hood, Texas, with Islamoterrorism? Or is it an offensive throwback to the Little Black Sambo imagery that typified race baiting for far too much of the 20th century? The general mana

  November 20, 2009