Last night, a group of us from the DNCC made our way out to the National Western Stock Show for the Draft Horse and Mule show, which included the Democratic National Convention donkey mascot contest.

See more about this by clicking Read More below.

After much anticipation, a panel of judges will choose tomorrow the official donkey mascot for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. 

Our own Leah Daughtry will join Senator Ken Salazar, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp, Elbra Wedgeworth of the Denver Convention Host Committee and National Western president and CEO Pat Grant to make the selection during the National Western Draft Horse and Mule Show.

In preparation for the big event, Daughtry shares her thoughts on marrying Western values with a traditional Democratic Party affair such as the Convention and the inside scoop on her trip to Sheplers to buy her first pair of cowboy boots (which are still being broken in). And be sure to check back for photos and video of the winner on Sunday!

Earlier this week, we posted here about our first experience and impressions of the annual parade in downtown Denver to open the National Western Stock Show. Now, we’re back with of the big event — a parade of longhorns marching down one of Denver's busiest streets followed by tractors, stage coaches and a menagerie of color and spirit. 
 

“A visual manifestation of our West and our Western culture" is how National Western Stock Show President and CEO Patrick Grant described the parade. Click below to hear more of what he had to say, including his thoughts on the opportunity presented by the Democratic National Convention in Denver, as well as comments from Hall of Fame Pitcher and Parade Grand Marshal Nolan Ryan, who spoke to the impact of both agriculture and the Convention on the Colorado economy.

Governor Bill Ritter even paused from his saddle to offer a greeting to our DemConvention.com visitors!

Earlier this week, the DNCC announced the team that will help craft the overall look, sound and execution of the Convention program, including the stage and podium design for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The team, made up of Bruce Rodgers, Lisa Geers, Bob Dickinson and Pat Baltzell, will work with Executive Producers Ricky Kirshner and Mark Squier to make look and feel of the Convention a most memorable event.

We had the opportunity to ask Bruce Rodgers, Convention Production Designer and creator of Tribe media a few questions about his personal history, his take on stage design, the Rocky Mountain West and the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Click “read the full post” to read the Q&A.

 The West has a unique culture that has been passed down through the generations. Even though farmlands have given way to sprawling suburbs and exurbs, the West is still a place where traditions hold strong.

This week, the National Western Stock Show returns to Denver. It is tradition that on the Tuesday before the show begins,

the residents of Denver are treated to a parade that begins with longhorns, followed by horses and carriages and lots and lots of pageantry. With Gov. Bill Ritter commanding a horse, the longhorns set out down 17th street. 

Earlier this week, we posted here about our January DNCC Service Days outing at Manual High School with Governor Dean and the DNC Executive Committee. Watch this video to learn more about Manual and see how the DNCC staff worked with the local community to make this school with such a rich history an even brighter place.

As reported on our blog Wednesday, DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry packed an overnight bag this week and headed to Las Vegas for a Convention Conversations forum with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. In this video, you’ll see some of the great sites of Las Vegas and meet some of the people who came out to learn more about the Democratic National Convention and how they could get involved in the historic regional opportunities of 2008.

Today, the Colorado Democratic Party sponsored its second annual Faith and Politics Conference at the Iliff School of Theology. I had the honor of delivering the opening keynote.

The topic was Engaged Spirituality, and I chose to share with the audience much of my personal path. For me, politics was the path by which I could bring concrete change to the community I call home. And it was in the Democratic Party that I found a mirror to my own values. I talked about the founding of the Faith In Action Initiative - my baby - which is not about helping elected officials quote scripture or go to church and clap on the beat but about encouraging them to talk about their values and what drove them to public service.

Staff at the Democratic National Convention Committee put on our old jeans and our matching gray DNCC Service Days t-shirts today and headed over to Denver’s Manual High School to paint the teacher’s lounge and help students prepare posters for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Every month, the DNCC staff volunteers time on projects in one of three areas: youth, greening and the combined issues of homelessness and hunger. This month, the DNCC teamed up with the Colorado branch of Volunteers of America to lend a hand at Manual High School.

While in town for the Democratic National Committee’s Executive Committee meeting, DNC Chairman Governor Howard Dean joined the DNCC — even sporting a DNCC t-shirt of his own. Wasting no time, Gov. Dean was given a paint tray, a brush and climbed up a ladder to do some painting. Proving he was well qualified for the job, the Governor’s first question: "Is this paint latex or oil based?"

Greetings from Las Vegas, where the sun is shining and the enthusiasm for our Party is running high. Ten days out from the early caucus in Nevada and 229 days out from the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, we took our "Convention Conversations" series to the Silver State. This was the first in our community forum series outside of Colorado.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was our gracious host as we gathered members of the community at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 525. The first question out of the box: what are the dates of the Convention? A good reminder that our jump start in Convention planning is giving us a unique opportunity to get people thinking about and engaging in the Convention earlier than ever before. For folks in Nevada, that process starts with the caucus on January 19th - and runs through the Convention and all the way to election day.

Just as we’re seeing incredible enthusiasm in Denver and around the region — at these forums, in our service projects and for the Convention in general — we’re seeing incredible enthusiasm for our Party all across the country. Just look at the record turnout in our early voting states.

We came to Nevada to listen — bringing our videographers to record thoughts from attendees on what it means to them to have a Convention — and an early caucus — in the West. We want to know what the people in Nevada care about. And we want to share those thoughts and ideas with our nominee and our delegates. We want to map them into our Convention program. We heard from a number of folks today, and we’re taking all of it back with us to Denver — meaning not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Oh, and I would be remiss if I failed to note three very special guests in attendance today. The parents and aunt and uncle of our own Cameron Moody, Deputy CEO for Outside the Hall Operations, came out to show their support (and have the chance to get all the dirt on Cameron from his colleagues). Charles, Christella, Doby and Lorraine: it was wonderful to meet you!