Caucuses aren't for ciphers by Sue O'Brien

My friend Sue O'Brien wrote this when our wonderful Colorado Caucus, our neighborhood system for nominating candidates to the primary ballot, was in danger of being killed by Amendment 29. Partly because of Sue's and The Denver Post's strong support of the Colorado Caucus, the misguided Amendment 29 was defeated.

Sue's wonderful column is still very much worth reading as a reminder of why the caucus-assembly system is worth preserving, warts and all. Please share it with your friends. 

Caucuses aren't for ciphers
Denver Post Editorial Page, October 6, 2002
by Sue O'Brien

cipher - a person or thing of no importance or value; nonentity

GROUP TO WORK FOR GOOD COLORADO CAUCUS IN 2018 AND BEYOND.

Save the Caucus

A Colorado political committee. John Wren, registered agent.

1881 Buchtel Blvd. #501, Denver, CO 80210   (303)861-1447.

For more contact: John Wren cell (720)495-4949

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2016

GROUP TO WORK FOR GOOD COLORADO CAUCUS IN 2018 AND BEYOND. 

“We are recruiting a state-wide network of volunteers and a steering committee,” says John Wren. 

Denver— A new Colorado political committee has been formed to do just what it’s name implies, Save the Caucus, according to John Wren registered agent of the new group. Information meetings will be held for those interested in helping. For more see http://www.COCaucus.org or call Wren at (303)861-1447

“Our focus now is 100% the Colorado Caucus, the best chance the common person has of serving in elected public office. We will recruit a working committee and then train over 3,000 volunteers across Colorado this summer. Each volunteer will work with both their Republican and Democratic precinct committee people and other neighborhood activists to make sure good leadership at the district, county and state levels for both major political parties make sure a this year’s fiasco doesn’t happen again.”

“Strong neighborhoods have good caucuses,” said Wren. Depending on local conditions, each PL (Precinct Leader) will welcome newcomers to the neighborhood, create and distribute a hyper-local newsletter, and hold neighborhood social events. Each precinct will be autonomous, Save the Caucus will provide training and other support.

“Our first jobs are to recruit a strong steering committee, raise money, and once an initial budget is approved to hire staff. We will fight to Save the Caucus in the elections next fall, fighting any Colorado Caucus killing initiative or legislation, then working to have a healthy 2018 Colorado Caucus. We expect to have a statewide event before the elections next fall, and if we’ve been successful it will involve leaders from similar efforts in other states,” said Wren.

###

John Wren is founder and CEO of Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and a long-time business consultant and community activist. He was one of the co-founders of the 2002 Save the Caucus that defeated the Caucus killing Amendment 29, despite being out spent 1400 to 1. For more see www.SmallBizChamber.org  www.JohnWren.com or call (303)861-1447.

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.

Startup Show: Colorado Caucus Chaos, What Happened?

Release: Save the Caucus Calls for Colorado Chairs of Dems, GOP to Resign.

John S. Wren, Registered Agent for

Save the Caucus, 

Registered Colorado Political Committee

1881 Buchtel Blvd. #501, Denver, CO 80210

www.JohnWren.com  (303)861-1447

For more: John Wren

(720)495-4949

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2016

Save the Caucus Calls for Colorado Chairs of Dems, GOP to Resign.

Tuesday’s statewide Colorado Caucus fiasco blamed on their bad leadership. 

DENVER__ “As I said before Tuesday, being a citizen rather than a subject requires participation, and the Colorado Caucus allows that,” John Wren, registered agent for Save the Caucus, a Colorado political committee said today., “but it requires good leadership.

“The leadership of both major political parties failed Colorado Tuesday, and those who publicly called for our wonderful grassroots institution, the Colorado Caucus, to be AstroTurfed with the Borg-like Presidential Primary should resign, starting with the Colorado Chairs for both major parties who were seen in the media over the weekend doing just that. 

“If the two state chairs don’t apologize and immediately resign, removal should be the first order of business at every county convention and, if they aren’t out by then, at the state conventions. 

“As Sue O’Brien, editorial page editor of the Denver Post when they endorsed the Colorado Caucus in 2002, said ‘We’re systematically replacing ‘social capital’ with plain old monetary capital (paid workers, ads of Presidential Primary). Colorado’s traditional caucus-convention system, in contrast, rewards the shoe-leather and diligence. It provides a low-cost way for aspirants to work the neighborhoods, investing energy instead of dollars.' We all miss Sue's great wisdom and common sense," said Wren.

Wren concluded, “The well organized precinct caucus  is a moderating force. Critics of caucuses say it creates radicalization, but the opposite is true. Neighbors get together with each other, and realize the people they share their votes with are real human beings with similar life struggles, experiences and desires. But it requires good leadership. Tuesday that leadership was missing for  Republicans or the Democrats here in Colorado. And then those trusted to lead blame the system. Outrageous!”  For more see www.COCaucus.org or call John Wren at (303)861-1447.

###

The original Save the Caucus was formed by John Wren, Ruth Prendergast, JoAnne Gray, Polly Baca, Daryle Eskin, Phil Perington, Frank Sullivan, Bill Armstrong, and others in 2002 to fight Amendment 29 which would have killed the grassroots system. Those  with questions are invited to contact Wren at (303)861-1447 or write John Wren, Save the Caucus, 1881 Buchtel Blvd. #501, Denver, CO 80210. www.COCaucus.org 

John Wren calls for resignations in Greeley Tribune.

 Do you agree, both state chairs should resign? Why? See: Http://Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News 

What happens now? Watch for media release posted here later this morning. 

Light a Candle March 1 for Colorado Caucus.

 For video and media release about this see http://wrensjournal.blogspot.com/2016/02/startup-show-save-caucus.html?spref=tw

PLEASE SHARE your spiritual way of living, next Tuesday (3/1) go and SERVE your neighbors. (Just sent out on Twitter to people in 12-step recovery programs.)

How can you be of service? Read through the info posted here on this site for some ideas right now.

What more ideas?  Ask someone who has gone to their precinct caucus, one good way is to go to an assisted living facility, as to visit someone who has had an interest in the elections, tell the nurse at the front desk the fact that you want to learn from their experience. 

Watch for more ideas here and especially on our Facebook Page where we are going to turn this into another contest later today, see http://Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News

Let your little light shine!

Why neighbors?

What issue? What candidate? In our representative democracy these are not the questions I ask myself very often, but rather I ask what good may I do today?

Some use their neighbors to advance their cause.

I prefer to help my neighbors learn about our Colorado Caucus, regardless of their political opinions, trusting that those neighbors  those who become block workers or precinct committee people or district captains will pick good representatives for us, or they will become candidates for elected office themselves and if they are elected they will make up their mind on particular issues. 

Ben Franklin told us we have a republic if we can keep it. Picking one issue and insisting on my way with it seems to be not in the spirit of what had made this such a great country until the late 60s to early 70s. We are a republic and not a democracy. 

And being selfish and self-centered, insisting on my own way is certainly not very neighborly. 

For more about this between now and the 2016 elections watch this educational (we hope) site sponsored by the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc 

We as an organization are not affiliated with any political party, issue committee or candidate, but we cooperate with all who love the United States of America and our radical experiment in self-government that began in 1776 and continues today to the extent that we continue to be free citizens in a republic. http://www.COCaucus.org