Denver police gear up for Democrat confab

You taxpayers, also known as the federal government, have put up $50 million for security at the Denver Democratic National Convention the middle of August.

The Denver Police Department will be augmented by all the suburban departments in the metro area, to the tune of several hundred officers, and specialized units in riot control, domestic terrorism, etc. from as far away as Colorado Springs (sending their horse mounted patrol) and the Wyoming National Guard's terrorism unit.

All kinds of riot control gear, sophisticated communication equipment and other high tech gadgets have been purchased for use by the combined force to control the expected huge crowds, and the demonstrators led by groups like Recreate '68, Tent State University and the Pink Brigade.

In the name of giving the Denver Police the tools they need to control the situation, the Denver City Council is passing an ordinance, allegedly to toughen laws to cover those arrested. However, some ultra-liberal ACLU types on the Council, led by Councilman Doug Linkhart, have more concern for the rights of the protestors than either the police or the citizens of Denver who pay them.

He is proposing to allow the demonstrators to wear gas masks and armor, allegedly to protect them from the police. Of course, this would allow the demonstrators to continue their civil disobedience, even as the police are trying to break it up and restore order. Such a bill is, of course, outrageous and we can only hope cooler heads prevail before the Council sends a bill to Mayor John Hickenlooper, who could then veto the wrong kind of ordinance.

Whether he would or not, is open to question, as Hickenlooper is a good liberal himself, and with only one Republican on the 13-member City Council, could get overridden if he did the wrong thing. Hickenlooper mainly likes to avoid controversy, so he has already removed himself from the state Democratic delegation to the convention. He's a "to get along, go along" type, so chances are better on the Council before they pass a bill, than to rely on Mayor Hick.

It ought to be a long, hot summer in Denver. And you'll get to watch the whole thing live on your television and computer, seeing first hand how it plays out.