Another rocky swing through Colorado for John McCain

[angka]

John McCain's latest trip through Denver and Aspen Friday might be better called the "chickens coming home to roost" tour.

The Denver Post:

McCain speaks in Denver


Photo by ProgressNowAction

...McCain's appearance set off a small protest outside the hotel, including Carol Kreck, the 60-year-old librarian who received a trespassing ticket for protesting outside a McCain event two weeks ago.

Holding the "McCain = Bush" sign that sparked controversy at the earlier event, Kreck said she would continue to protest McCain's candidacy.

"I don't want eight more years of the same policies," said Kreck, standing on a public sidewalk in front of Denver's Grand Hyatt and flanked by about 15 other people holding identical signs and one that wore a shirt saying "one nation....under surveillance."

As she spoke, other protestors chanted her name.

Kreck also joked about the criminal charges facing her and her court date next week.

"I'm not paying a fine," she said. "And I have no interest in rehabilitation or diversion."

Although some urged Kreck to try and go into the event, she said she didn't want to make any trouble.

"And I don't want to be ticketed again," she said. "I still don't even know who the police were acting on behest of."

After speaking to the veterans group, McCain headed to the mountains to meet with the Dalai Lama in Aspen...

Where, as the Aspen Daily News reported,

Protesters turn out in force for McCain visit

Aspen resident Blanca O'Leary says she's "a positive person." But that didn't stop her from taking to the streets with a protest sign in hand on Friday.

"I never protest against things. I always protest for things. I'm a positive person. But today I'm infuriated," said O'Leary, a vice chair of the local chapter of the Democratic Party.

O'Leary joined approximately two dozen other local residents in protesting Republican presidential contender John McCain's visit to Aspen to meet with the Dalai Lama. She said she is offended the senator from Arizona accused Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama of choosing to lose the Iraq war over winning an election. "That's out of bounds," she said. And, like many of the protesters who joined her, she cited McCain's vote against a waterboarding ban last winter as hypocritical for a former prisoner of war and crusader for prisoner rights.

Most of the protesters came out after an invitation from local Democrats was e-mailed to dozens of residents. Progress Now Action, a Denver-based advocacy group, also helped galvanize anti-McCain politicking.

But at least one other man took it upon himself to let his feelings be known. Friday's first protester was Conrad Deblocsch, 22, of Carbondale, who stood alone at the edge of Aspen's roundabout holding a sign that read "Abandon All Hope All Ye Who Vote For Bush" and another that read "McBush '08."

Deblocsch began his vigil at about 11 a.m. -- two hours and 45 minutes before McCain would arrive. "I read the newspaper this morning and saw McCain was coming to town. I had nothing else going on right now," he said, explaining that he was on his way to do some rock climbing.

Passing motorists honked horns, waved in support and shouted words of encouragement as Deblocsch got the anti-McCain momentum moving. He noted that while motorists were receptive to his message, he did encounter some resistance. "One guy told me to get a job. So I told him to quit his," he said.

Cross-posted at ProgressNowAction