Why no signs at Dem Denver bash?

I'm on the mailing list for the 2008 Democratic Party Convention in Denver, which will take place about 100 miles from my home in Cheyenne. My e-mail became part of the list when I agreed to become a volunteer for the convention. I told the planners that I will be available to do any old thing, including disposing of discarded Mike Gravel placards, shuttling Dennis Kucinich and his lovely wife to the airport, spying on antiwar agitators, etc. Just kidding about that last one. I am an antiwar agitator and will not narc on the brothers and sisters, man.

I will be free for janitorial and chauffeuring duties because I am a Kucinich supporter and I'm pretty sure I will not be elected as a Kucinich delegate at the 2008 Wyoming Democratic Party state convention. It could happen. Kucinichites came within a few votes of snagging a single delegate at the 2004 state convention in Sheridan. Dennis conducted a conference call which was piped into the conference. It was great to have him on the phone, but I knew we were sunk when every single wall surface in the hall was plastered with John Kerry signs.

We'll try harder next year. You never know.

Meanwhile, Howard Dean will be in downtown Denver on Wednesday to attend the "Convention Countdown Kick-Off." Also attending will Dem Governor Bill Ritter, Dem Mayor John Hickenlooper, and Host Committee President Elbra Wedgeworth.

The festivities are Wednesday, August 22, 12:30 p.m., on the Pepsi Center Grounds, Grand Atrium (West) Entrance. This is the same place where the NBA Nuggets and the NHL Avalanche play their games. Tickets are free and you can pick them up at the Denver Downtown Partnership, 511 16th St., Suite 200; 16th Mall Kiosk (Skyline Park), 16th St. and Arapahoe St.; Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1555 California St., Suite 300.

Free event parking available in Lot A-South, at 9th Street and Auraria Pkwy.

According to the Dems' press release, "signs will not be permitted."

This last part bugs me. What's a Democratic gathering without signs? I suppose the national organizers are concerned that some passionate party member from Wyoming will bring a sign that mocks Dick Cheney's big head and small brain (or other body part). Signs could have cussing on them, which wouldn't look good on the national CNN feed (and might show up on FOX Noise or wingnut blogs). They also clutter up the landscape, which is pretty tidy in Denver. The 2008 convention is using the nifty Denver logo. It's possible that Dean and crew will want to give us signs with the logo which we can wave fervently in front of TV cameras.

I'm excited about the Denver convention. I hope the candidate choice is not all locked up by then. Much more fun to have a little drama. And if we're still waging the pointless war in Iraq, we may even see some excitement on the streets.