Email from Caucus Killers

Exciting news, John! Both of our Let Colorado Vote initiatives have officially qualified for the ballot. This is an important milestone in our work to strengthen our democracy. Reinstating a presidential primary and opening up primaries to Colorado's 1.3 million unaffiliated voters will make our elections more open and more fair for all Coloradans. We can’t let our focus slip, though, because qualifying for the ballot was just a first step. Now the real work begins: getting these propositions passed. That means building a dedicated on-the-ground team that will connect with voters to make sure they know what a “yes” vote will mean – especially unaffiliated Coloradans, who make up more than one-third of the electorate. With Election Day coming up fast, we don’t have time to make up for a missed fundraising goal. Can we count on you for a donation to restore fairness and increase participation in our elections? Donate now to help us go straight to the voters to enact these propositions and expand voter engagement in Colorado. We can’t thank you enough for helping make sure every Coloradan’s voice is heard. Now let’s go win. Jesse Hassinger Campaign Manager Let Colorado Vote 2016 Contribute   Paid for by Let Colorado Vote 2016. Let Colorado Vote · United States   This email was sent to John@JohnWren.com. To stop receiving emails, click here.  You can also keep up with Let Colorado Vote on Twitter or Facebook. Created with NationBuilder, software for leaders.

It takes a village...

New service to turn your neighborhood into a real village. Watch this: Yesterday's (Fri, 4/28) Startup Show, on Colorado Caucus.

Creator of the Colorado Caucus, best tool for the common person to serve in elected public office.

Creator of the unique Colorado Caucus, the best elements of the progressive reform, the caucus-assembly power to get those other than the choice of the powerful party bosses into public office.

John Franklin Shafroth (June 9, 1854 – February 20, 1922) was a United States Representative, Senator, and Governor from Colorado.

1 Early life
Born in Fayette, Missouri, he attended the common schools and graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1875. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1876 and commenced practice in Fayette. He moved to Denver, Colorado in 1879 and continued the practice of law.

2 Political career
He was city attorney from 1887 to 1891 and was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress as a Repre- sentative. He then joined other Colorado officials such as Senator Henry M. Teller, splitting from the Republicans to join the Silver Republican third party, on whose ticket he was reelected to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, and Fifty- seventh Congresses.[1] To the Fifty-eighth Congress, he presented credentials as a Democratic Member-elect. Thus, he served in the U.S. House from March 4, 1895, until his resignation on February 15, 1904, when he de- clared that, due to fraud in 29 electoral precincts, he was unable to legitimately assert that he had won the election, and requested that his opponent, Robert W. Bonynge, re- place him.[2] Subsequently, Shafroth was often referred to (sometimes admiringly, sometimes sarcastically) as “Honest John.”[3]
Shafroth was Governor of Colorado from 1909 to 1913, and was instrumental in bringing in Colorado’s ballot ini- tiative institutions. In 1912, he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, where he served one term from March 4, 1913, to March 3, 1919; he was an unsuccessful can- didate for reelection in 1918. While a Senator, Shafroth was chairman of the Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico (Sixty-third through Sixty-fifth Congresses), the leading Senate sponsor of the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 which granted citizenship to Puerto Ricans, and a member of the Committee on the Philippines (Sixty-fifth Congress).

3 Later life and death
After leaving the Senate, he served as chairman of the War Minerals Relief Commission from 1919 to 1921.
John F. Shafroth died in 1922 and was interred in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver. His personal and of- ficial papers are archived at several locations includ- ing the Colorado State Archives (gubernatorial papers), the Colorado Historical Society Library, and the Denver Public Library's Western History and Genealogy Depart- meant.

4 References

1. [1]  Hagerman, Frank (July 2004). “John Franklin Shafroth”. The Colorado Lawyer 33 (7): 15. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
   
2. [2]  VeryHonestManAstoundsLowerHouseofCongress,in The Tacoma Times (via Chronicling America); published February 15, 1904; retrieved 2015-01-03.
   
3. [3]  Leonard,StephenJ.;Noel,ThomasJ.;Walker,DonaldL., Jr. (2003). Honest John Shafroth: A Colorado Reformer. University Press of Colorado. ISBN 978-0-942576-07-8.
   

Honest John Shafroth: A Colorado Reformer http://www.alibris.com/Honest-John-Shafroth-A-Colorado-Reformer-Stephen-J-Leonard/book/23788507#.VvBa_AXmkXo.twitter

Why Save the Caucus is important:

It is a good idea to get rid of the Colorado Caucus from the perspective of a rich, powerful person like Donald Trump and some of the people pushing the Presidential Primary certainly fall into that category.

Political party leaders, now that they are in power, would like to kill the caucus because they know it would greatly increase their power, that was one of the primary reasons Colorado adopted it in 1912. Until then party leaders would just place who they wanted on the primary election ballot. The Colorado Caucus made who the party chooses to put on the primary ballot much more democratic.

That's why the state chairs of both major political parties have locked arms to kill the Colorado Caucus, they know it will greatly increase their power.

The person who benefits most from the Colorado Caucus is the average, ordinary person because it increases his or her political power many times over. 

The objection is sometimes raised, what about the elderly and others who might not be able to participate? Same as a jury trial, if they can't do it then they don't have to. Does it limit their political power? Only if they let it. Those who really care can get on the telephone, talk with their neighbors and remind them to go, and have a big, big influence on who their neighbor supports, way beyond the political power they have if they just go in a booth and pull a lever.

The poor benefit from the Colorado Caucus more than anyone. Without it they don't really have a voice at all. And that's just how those pushing the Presidential Primary would like it.

Save the Caucus!

Wikipedia and Colorado Caucus

The new Colorado Caucus listing on Wikipedia is getting lots of attention. If you've seen it a few hours ago it's probably different now. 

Suggestion: Could there be a official listing posted by Colorado Secretary of State? Maybe approved by legislature. Aren't citizens of Colorado entitled to clear, complete information, especially when the Caucus killers are gathering and distorting the Wikipedia listing?

Questions about the Colorado political process?

Information about the Colorado Caucus from the Colorado Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Candidates/FAQs/caucuses.html

Don't forget to affiliate with the major political party of your choice by January 4 to be able to participate in the March 1 Colorado Caucus in your neighborhood. For more see the video below:

Happy birthday Darryl Erskin!

would have been 67 today. Without his dedicated work, along with that of Phil Perington, Ruth Prendergast, Bill Armstrong, JoAnne Gray, Sharon and Ben Klein, Frank and Sylvia Sullivan, and many others, we would not be getting ready for the 2016 Colorado Caucus. 

Are you going? http://www.Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News

Be a reporter on the Colorado Caucus News team!

You are invited to a free online workshop for people who are interested in being certified as a Colorado Caucus News reporter. We intend to provide overnight reporting on the 6000 gatherings that will be held across Colorado the first Tuesday in March next year. To get more information see http://www.WrenCollege.org

If you'd be willing to be part of the leadership team as a webmaster, County Publisher or District Editor, please call John Wren at (303)861-1447. If you get voice mail leave a complete message, your name, phone number, and political and media experience. Thanks!

Coming soon! New online class, Colorado Caucus 201.

This class is free, but is only offered to newcomers to Colorado and those who are new to Colorado politics.

The prerequisite is completion of our Colorado Caucus 101, which you can see in the last 3 posts here below. When you've completed (start any time, take as much or as little time as you'd like) contact us for a free certificate of completion and to get on the invitation list for 201 when it is announced.

So read the last 3 posts here, once you've contacted your county and precinct leaders, contact John Wren at John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447. Also contact John if you have any questions or suggestions about what we are doing here.

Our wonderful Colorado caucus-assembly system is the best chance, possibly the last chance, the common person of ordinary means has of serving in elected public office. Thanks for being an active citizen, which the system requires for it to survive and flourish.

CO SB14-175 article: My comments, and my request to you (highlighted.)

Posted by John S Wren on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2014 7:23 PM (EDT):

It would be interesting to interview everyone who was involved in deciding to make this THE fight at this late date.

This amount of energy invested a few months ago would have made a huge difference. I attended a gathering at Mother of God Church here in Denver right after the last elections. Everyone was encouraged to write letters to those who had just been elected.

Whether by design or by accident, the timing of these education activities seem to me to be a real problem. Looking back at the Civil Unions fight, it would have been much better if Colorado Catholic Conference would have just not done anything.

Looks like a replay of that misguide effort unfolding here with
SB14-175. Hope I’m wrong. We’ll know soon.

Posted by John S Wren on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2014 10:53 PM (EDT):

Often wrong, never in doubt. :-)

Glad to be wrong this time. Maybe there was a genius at work in this I haven’t appreciated before.

Thank you Archbishop Aquila for your leadership, and to our brother Jesus for his walking with each of us as we did the little we could, trusting (most of trusting most of the time) that with God’s help it would be enough.

And thanks to NCR for this great story. I’m going to subscribe right now, and I’ll encourage readers of my educational effort COCaucus.org to do the same, so get ready for a flood of new subs. :-)

Read the article I'm praising in the above comment, link to subscribe and more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/archbishop-aquila-leads-rally-against-colo.-pro-abortion-bill/#ixzz2zA1PSxop

Inspired Archbishop Aquila Sets Us Free from SB14-175

Denver--Sensing defeat, those sponsoring the legislation that had been personally opposed by Archbishop Samuel Aquila was withdrawn tonight.

Consideration in the Colorado Senate as a committee of the whole was to have take place yesterday.

Clearly a lot of work was put into the rally yesterday, the largest some have said they've seen of that gatherings on the west steps of Catholics that are held from time to time, previously in the last couple of years rallies to oppose so called civil unions legislation that went on to pass.

The question now is how to extend a loving olive branch to those who are stinging tonight from the defeat and use this as an opportunity for evangelism.

Maybe the sunglasses were a good idea.

Story from Catholic News Agency (click), and John Wren's comment to it:

"The political party assemblies that choose major party candidates for the Colorado legislature have already met and designated candidates for the ballot. The delegates to these assemblies were chosen at neighborhood precinct caucuses across Colorado on March 4."

Good point. This is really the start of the 2016 Colorado Caucus. Yes, people can get involved and make a difference. But to leverage their power they should keep in mind the powerful process that puts candidates on the ballot for both major political parties.

Archbishop said yesterday he was surprised how many he spoke with didn't even know who their state representative are now. Here's an idea. How about one mass each year to honor our local representative in Federal, state, and local government?

SB14-175 boost for grassroots.

The rally at the Capitol yesterday against SB14-175 has already gotten more people involved in the Colorado political process.

If it passes, expect more recalls in Colorado, as voters whose representatives ignored the flood of phone calls and emails are targeted and those most vulnerable immediately see petitions being circulated to bring them home and replaced with representatives who truely represent the district.

This is more emotional than gun control.

Healing of our state.

Photo: Denver Post

Big turn out at the Capitol this afternoon, Archbishop Aquila's presence this afternoon at the Colorado Capitol sent a loud, clear signal to Catholic legislators who are now serving, and more importantly to those who will be inspired to serve in the future.

Here's a slanted story from main street media, but gives you an idea of what happened this afternoon, which may be too little too late for SB175 (click here.)

But I thanked Archbishop for making the effort, it was the right thing to do. In my opinion a primary task of every Catholic Church should be to teach how to take Christ’s love into the existing political system. Catholics need to be the leaven in both major political parties, and they should be better represented at all levels of government.

Neighborhood self-directed learning groups could be a powerful way to bring this about; groups formed to inform not reform on any particular issue.

Colorado has a wonderful political institution, the Colorado Caucus. Every two years we have the opportunity for a state-wide civics lesson. But new comers to Colorado and those just new to Colorado politics need to be better educated about how to participate. It's been said only 5% of Colorado residents even know the system exists.

Both major political parties need new blood in every neighborhood, and they need more every two years for our system to work well.

I'm thinking about forming Catholic Neighborhood Clubs across the state. With the Internet, leaders could be quickly identified. Then fill Mile High Stadium each fall in a civic education MOOC (Massive, Open, Online Class) lead by perhaps Archbishop Aquila and Gov Hickenlooper this fall, and Pope Francis and Pres. Obama the following year or in 2016 just before the elections.

If you'd like to help in your neighborhood, or if you'd like to help recruit and train neighborhood leaders, please give me a call. (303)861-1447. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Please do NOT email me until we've had a chance to talk on the phone. Thanks!