Trending Tweet "Today we are all Iowans."

Today we are all Iowans. Media seems unaware that 50% of Iowa Caucuses will be GOP https://t.co/eoYDJlNnjx #COPolitics #IowaCaucus #IACaucus #IowaCaucuses #Iowa #DNC #GOP #2020election https://t.co/IDmmdf7plo

— Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc (@IDEACafe) February 3, 2020

Madam Secretary

Great television show, but tonight's episode and the reelection story line of previous episodes have created the impression that an unaffiliated candidate for president could be elected. Not true. We hope to publish knowledgable articles about this over the next week or so. Stay tuned.

Trust and appreciation.  #MadamSecretary pic.twitter.com/8Gom6Urhi0

— Madam Secretary (@MadamSecretary) April 15, 2019

Under Construction!

We are making a change but not a pivot, we are changing our sails to catch the wind, but our mission remains to strengthen the grassroots in business and politics.

Watch this video, and watch this site next week. We welcome your ideas and questions. Thank you.

Good Morning Grassroots!

Good Morning Grassroots with John Wren live at 10 a.m. Mountain, 9 Pacific,  available for worldwide syndication. 

Check it out now: www.Facebook.com/John.S.Wren 

Help to start a new neighborhood group:

The Small Business Chamber is creating a new Job-Aid for startups. For a copy attend an SBCC meeting in Denver. For more see www.SmallBizChamber.org 

If there was a healthy small group in every neighborhood it would restore the grassroots. Watch for more here about this soon.

Are you a good neighbor? Do you want to be?

PLEASE SHARE OR TELL US WHY NOT,
CALL (720)495-4949 WE DON'T READ EMAIL.

Do you live in a good neighborhood?

 Whether it is good or not, do you want to help make it even better?

If you do, we invite you to join us in this new effort.

We are forming a network of people across Colorado who want to be good neighbors by taking a couple of hours each month to:

 #1) greet newcomers as they move into your neighborhood; and  #2) email all your neighbors each month to help them learn, initially about our wonderful Colorado Caucus. (What's that? Search on Google or on Wikipedia.org click here.)

As you may know, our Colorado Caucus is the best chance for your neighborhood to be represented by the best people, very often the average, ordinary person who reads the newspaper and votes, but other than that may not have had much if any partisan political experience.

Colorado Caucus Article in Wikipedia

Colorado Caucus article on 3/21/17
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Caucus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Colorado Caucus is the electoral process used in the state of Colorado to appoint candidates for certain political offices and to start the process of electing new leaders for political party leadership.[1] It takes the form of a series of precinct caucuses, meetings of registered electors within a precinct who are members of a particular major political party.[2] The purpose of precinct caucuses is to elect precinct committee persons and delegates to county assemblies, including those that elect delegates to the presidential nominating conventions.

History

The caucus system was adopted by the Colorado legislature in a special session called by Gov. "Honest John" Shafroth in August, 1910 as part of a package of progressive reforms. It was seen as a way to limit the power of party bosses and to attract more grassroots involvement. The caucus system was abolished in favor of presidential primaries in 1992, but restored in 2002 with the defeat of Amendment 29[3] and co Clerk.[5]
Strengths and weaknesses

Research carried out in Iowa indicates that a well-designed caucus system "brings candidates’ arguments, strengths, and weaknesses into the open".[6] However, it has recently been claimed that the system "is a poor way to begin the party nominating process in Colorado",[1] in that it "is complicated and often disenfranchises all but the most politically motivated participants."[7] Others feel that the Colorado Caucus is the best tool for the common person, the average, ordinary citizen, to be able to serve in elected public office.[8][9] The late Sue O'brien, Editorial Page Editor of the Denver Post, who some called "the conscious of Colorado" was particularly fond of the Colorado Caucus because it creates repeated opportunities for average, ordinary people to take the first steps toward become political leaders.[10]

Regulation

Caucuses are held in 3,000 neighborhoods across Colorado and are open to the public. Some now meet in homes that are accessible to disabled people, but many meet in public spaces such as schools.

The Colorado Secretary of State is charged with the responsibility of providing information about the system. Caucuses are regulated by Colorado law, but expenses for it are paid by the major political parties that use the system. At this time only the Republican Party and the Democratic Party have enough registered voters to use the caucus-assembly system.
The 2016 Colorado Caucus

On March 1, 2016 (Super Tuesday), each of the two major parties (determined by number of votes in previous election) held a caucus in each precinct. Members of both the Democratic and Republican parties chose delegates to represent their precincts at the county conventions. Additionally, Democratic party members participated in a presidential preference poll which determined the allocation of delegates based on their stated intent to vote for a given presidential candidate. Regardless of party, delegates are bound neither to their stated intent nor to the preference given by the population they were chosen by.[11] On the weekend before March 1 caucuses both major political parties had state chairs who unilaterally announced they wanted to see an end to the Colorado Caucus, the system that had been entrusted to their care.[12] Partly as a result of poor leadership, the Colorado Caucus this year was chaotic.[13] st considerations, the fully restored Colorado Caucus was in 2004.[4] To find your precinct number contact your Colorado County Clerk.

For citations see this article on Wikipedia.

Holy Simplicity

From today's Give Us This Day, free print copy or app at http://www.GiveUsThisDay.org

Reflection

Single-Minded Simplicity

Simplicity is vitally important nowadays, because people are so complex, so filled with fears and inhibitions, so fragmented. The dictionary tells us that simplicity means consisting of one thing; sincere, artless, and free from affectation, which correlates with innocence rather than sophistication. Apply this to the spiritual life and we see a person who is single-minded, whose mind goes to the essence of things without embellishment and complicatedness. It conjures up a person innocent of guile, truthful and direct, who—psychologically speaking—lives directly, which is a sign of maturity.

Now “holy” simplicity is the state of mind and soul that is totally occupied by God. The colloquial word for holy simplicity would be childlikeness and would bring us immediately to the Gospel verse, “Unless you become like children (single-minded, uncomplicated, humble, trusting) you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven!” To be simple also means being emotionally or psychologically simple, in the right sense of the word. It does not mean being naive or foolishly ignorant. Intellectual simplicity should blend with this psychological simplicity, and be practiced in a way that will help us to become spiritually simple—or childlike—as Christ wants us to be.

Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Grace in Every Season

Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896–1985) was a Russian-born aristocrat who dedicated her life to “the gospel without compromise.” Author of numerous books, she established the Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario.

Encourage your state electors!

Monday state electors across the country will cast their ballot for who they believe in their heart should be president. That's what they are told to do in the constitution. Any state law that interferes with that obligation, any pledge that has been made to blindly vote for who the masses wanted, for this one office the founders saw there needs to be a safety valve.

LOTS of media stories on this, you've see some. To make sure you've seen the best be sure to check out Electoral College News (click). It's free.

PLEASE get this information to your state electors, please thank them for their service, and please encourage them to vote their conscience.

Repurposing this site. Watch for new. For now, Dec 19!

Anyone but Clinton and Trump! Electors, do your duty! For more see our Facebook Page, then use link there to join our Facebook Group so you'll get invitations to all the upcoming events: http://Facebook.com/Dec19DumpTrump

Powerful forces are trying to kill our wonderful Colorado Caucus. They know a Presidential Primary kills the Colorado Caucus, that's just what it did when we experimented with it before in the late 90's. Save the grassroots! Vote NO on 107 and 108!

Vote, but don't vote early!

#VoteNov8 Day 1: Ballots delivered, but wait! Lots more news to come out, don't vote without it! Today: https://t.co/JDm2ylmTzm RT Share! pic.twitter.com/VStrdbGNxF

— John Wren +++ Start! (@JohnSWren) October 19, 2016

Help us Save the Caucus! Now!

It's only too late if we don't start now!

The Colorado Caucus provides the best chance for the common person to serve in elected public office, that's why the rich and powerful have tried to kill it since it was created as part of the Teddy Roosevelt progressive reforms. If you are willing to help us Save the Caucus, call John Wren. (303)861-1447

Save the Caucus is a Colorado political committee, registered agents are John Wren and Scott Shires. 1881 Buchtel Blvd #501, Denver, CO 80210 (303)861-1447

Join us! New Colorado Caucus Clubs.

Lisa Jackson, Colorado Caucus Culture

Every two years Colorado has the opportunity for a state-wide civic lesson. This year it was a disaster. 

John Wren will talk with culture change expert Lisa Javkson on the Startup Show, see http://www.SmallBizChamber.org then join us for the organizational meeting for Caucus Club August 9, more about it on today's show. 

A message to Gov Gary Johnson

Some one nearly everyone agrees was at least a prophet told us to give our government what it is due. Give what?-- nearly 2000 years later Ignatius and Martin Luther both helped us all as they taught us to each: Love God, Love (thru Good Work) Those in Our Life (Jesus said Neighbor, Adam Smith explained the same process of doing Good Work with the Invisable Hand. For more about the Ignatius/ Luther common teaching see: http://www.lnkd.in/eU56YrY )

Gov. Gary Johnson, please read this powerful article, it describes a path that your spiritual trail blazer Martin Luther and Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, both followed that I believe is open to you with an institution today much in need of reform. We certainly don't need a new constitution, we need renewed citizens, which I believe God is calling you to teach us all as President.

God bless you Gov. Johnson. Please pray for me as I will be praying for you. Please let me know what you would like me to do to help you. John Wren, Denver cell (720)495-4949

Would you help us?

We are about to announce a new concept, hyper-local chambers of commerce, each autonomous and self governing, that will work with both major political parties to increase informed participation in the 2018 Colorado Caucus.

IF YOU WOULD BE ON OUR VOLUNTEER STEERING COMMITTEE, please call John Wren (303)861-1447

An educational program of Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. www.SmallBizChamber.org (303)861-1447

Why save the Colorado Caucus?

Don't let them shut you up!  Support candidates who support our 

Colorado Caucus-- where the voice of the common person makes a real difference.

The room is buzzing with conversation. Neighbors who may only have shared brief greetings in the past are now discussing pressing public policy issues and presidential candidates who will shape the nation for decades. 

Neighbors connect with each other at levels of nuance and depth that is nonexistent for passive subjects watching the nonstop chatter of today’s news media. They discover common ground that is translated into political action by their representatives at the local, state and federal levels.

This is the wonderful Colorado Caucus..  This is the grassroots of our representative democracy at its very best. In some 6,000 gatherings across Colorado citizens interact in an iron-sharpening-iron forums that challenge, enlighten, clarify. 

This is usually the Colorado Caucus, the wonderful grassroots system that has served us well since 1912 until recently. It was almost killed with a misguided experiment with a Presidential Primary for three election cycles, the test ended in 2004. It was never fully restored to health, and it has been under attack by powerful forces ever since 1912.

These forces are united by a single idea: to dupe Colorado citizens into reverting back to the pre-reform days, with party bosses having almost no oversight from rank-and-file party members.

If the Empire, in StarWars terms, fools enough people, our wonderful Coloradan grassroots will once again be replaced with the astroturf of a Presidential Primary. This is not a new fight.

Save The Caucus, a Colorado political committee, was first formed to do precisely that, to save the Colorado Caucus, which would have been killed by Amendment 29 in 2002. Despite being outspent 1400 to 1, Amendment 29 was defeated 60% to 40%.

The committee was formed by John Wren, Phil Perington, Frank & Sylvia Sullivan, Sharron and Ben Klein, , JoAnne & Dan Gray, Ruth Prendergast, Bill Armstrong and many others to fight Amendment 29, which would have killed what was left of the Colorado Caucus that had almost died trying to co-exist with expensive Presidential Primaries that were tried in 1992, 1996 and 2000. We fully re-adopted the caucus system in 2004.

Wren recently reactivated Save the Caucus with the Colorado Secretary of State and listed himself as registered agent. “Our intention was to be ready if a ballot initiative arose that would have the same impact as Amendment 29 in 2002, and that has now happened, and we could be taken back 100 years to the corruption that existed then that finally stopped with the progressive reforms adopted by states across the country," said Wren.

Why is the Colorado Caucus worth saving? Here's what CU political scientists very familiar and experienced in it's operations before our experiment with the Presidential Primary has said:

“…(The Colorado Caucus— the unique Colorado system adopted in 1912) permits citizens to run for office even though they may not be the ‘pets’ of the party organization, and at the same time it discourages persons without any real stature and public standing from becoming candidates,” wrote Curtis Martin and Wallace Stealey of the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1967.

Caucuses are held every other year in 3,000 neighborhoods across Colorado, often in public spaces such as schools, and also in homes that are handicapped accessible. This is the start of a process that ends up with delegates going to the Democratic and Republican national conventions, where they will vote for a nominee for each party to represent the voters in the general election. 

At each neighborhood caucus, members of one of the major political parties vote for delegates to their county assembly. At the caucus and assembly citizens have the chance to persuade their neighbors about why their preferred candidate should be elected. A candidate must garner a minimum number of votes to be presented at the next level. At the county assemblies, some of those delegates will be chosen to go to the seven congressional district assemblies and others to represent the candidate at the state assembly. From there, delegates are chosen for the national convention, where they will have a chance to choose their political party’s nominee for President of the United States of America.

Some say our Colorado Caucus is too complicated. It is true that to be a self-governing citizen takes time. The obsession our culture has with instant gratification is not healthy for our society when it comes to important matters such as who represents us politically. 

"I love the caucus process," Chuck Broerman, El Paso County clerk and recorder, told the Colorado Springs Gazette in February. "I really enjoy the fact that grass-roots people can get in and participate in the process and make a decision about who the candidates are going to be."

If there are bad leaders in the party or among elected representatives, the Precinct Caucus enables concerned citizens to begin a powerful process to set a new direction.  A Presidential Primary only allows the quick pull of a lever or check of a box, the opportunity to easily correct problems is lost, which is exactly why dictatorial party leaders hate our wonderful Colorado Caucus. 

People complain that our nation’s elections are dominated by monied interests. Our 6,000 Colorado Precinct Caucus gatherings are a powerful corrective to this domination. The Colorado Caucus enables those who feel powerless to have a voice and enter the political process. Apathy about governance disappears when the politically-poor find their voice and connect with neighbors. Many, many of these formerly silent citizens over the past 100 years have subsequently been elected to public office. 

“We're systematically replacing ‘social capital’ with plain old monetary capital (with primaries),” wrote Sue O'Brien in 2002. “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.”

Those screaming “Kill the Caucus” say the 6,000 neighborhood gatherings for a couple of hours every two years creates radicalization, but the opposite is true. When they are well led, which they were not this year, face to face discussion helps citizens realize the people they share their votes with are real human beings with similar life struggles, experiences and desires. 

Washington State has estimated changing from a Presidential Primary to a caucus-assembly system like the Colorado Caucus would save $11 million. Political parties pay for the caucus.

Cost of Presidential Primary— $Millions. The experience of shared humanity lost— Priceless. That is why it is so important that we once again Save the Caucus. Support candidates who support the Colorado Caucus. 

For more see Colorado Caucus News (click here) or call John Wren at (303)861-1447. 

John Wren is registered agent for Save the Caucus, a Colorado political committee. 1881 Buchtel Blvd #501, Denver, CO 80210

Join us, Save the Caucus!

Join us, get an invitation/agenda for 2nd Colorado Caucus Day at the Capitol. How do you join? Just "Like" and "Share" our Facebook Page, http://Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News 

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