The New York Times > Magazine > How to Reinvent the G.O.P.: "As you look out at the delegates to this year's G.O.P. gathering, remember that these folks have fallen down a chute, and they have no idea where it lets out. When they nominated George Bush in 2000, they had no idea that Mr. Small Acts of Compassion was going to be transformed into Mr. Epic War Against Evil. They had no idea they were nominating a guy who was going to embark on a generational challenge to transform the Middle East.

They had no idea they were nominating a guy who would create a huge new cabinet department for homeland security, who would not try to cut even a single government agency, who would be the first president in a generation to create a new entitlement program, the prescription drug benefit, projected to cost $534 billion over the next 10 years.

They had no idea that a Republican-led government would spend federal dollars with an alacrity that Clinton never dreamed of, would create large deficits, would significantly increase the federal role in education, would increase farm subsidies, would pass campaign-finance reform and would temporarily impose tariffs on steel. ..

(What is needed is a new GOP philosophy)

"This sort of conservatism measures its success not by how big or small government is but by the habits it encourages in its citizens. Does it encourage dependence or self-reliance? Does it sap individual initiative or give it new forums to exert itself? As Jonathan Rauch wrote in The National Journal: 'Conservatives have been obsessed with reducing the supply of government when instead they should reduce the demand for it; and the way to do that is by repudiating the Washington-knows-best legacy of the New Deal. Republicans will empower people, and the people will empower Republicans.' "


Pres. Bush and our other current GOP leaders have a chance to articulate this "conservatism of the common caucus" at the convention this week.

Conservatism of the common caucus, empowering people, the grassroots, the common person, is what many of us here in Colorado have been talking about since our 60/40 defeat of Amendment 29. This week will determine what we here in Colorado (and specifically me here in District 5--The Heart of Colorado) need to do between now and November to advance the cause of the common man. John Wren

Seth Godin (author of "Unleashing the Ideavirsus" and many other fine marketing books) has started a website called "Change This". It's not a pulishing company, but rather is a vehicle for distributing what Seth calls "Manifestos". These are thought-provoking documents that address issues ranging from marketing to politics to computer programming.
If you have a moment, review my own proposal ("2nd Edition, Daring Mighty Things" at http://www.changethis.com/proposals). If you like it, please vote for it! The more votes my idea gets, the more likely it will be distributed as a ChangeThis Manifesto. Thanks!
And while you're at the website, the Art of the Start Manifesto (by Guy Kawasaki) is quite excellent. I agree with what he says about the early startup process, but while he focuses of the "Think Big" approach to startup, usually with the help of venture capitalists (like himself), my focus is on the "Think Small" approach, the "ready, fire, aim" that most entrepreneurs use to get to their first sale. The venture capital apporach preached by the Small Business Administration, SCORE, and others usually leads to paralysis from analysis; the Daring Mighty Things "think small" approach helps avoid that problem, while keeping risk to a minimum.

DenverPost.com - National Politics: "'Anyone who wonders what women are capable of need only look at American women business owners,' Bush said, speaking before about 80 people on the 84th anniversary of women winning the right to vote. 'Women are working hard to strengthen their communities and their country. ... President Bush knows that empowered women are vital to democracy.'"

DenverPost.com - LOCAL NEWS: "'For nearly 50 years, people's quality of life had been capped by a zoning ordinance that assumed they would disappear,' Montero said. But these families didn't leave. North Denver neighborhoods are occupied by third- and fourth-generation families who have stayed in the family home."

IDEA Cafe helps students build a strong foundation - UCD Advocate - News: "More and more aspiring entrepreneurs hungry for knowledge and thirsty for help are finding their way to a Capitol Hill bakery every Friday afternoon for discussion tips on pursuing the American dream. Led by Denver businessman and political activist John Wren, the IDEA Cafe is a weekly forum for people starting a new project, business, or career. With guest speakers like Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown making regular appearances, the function usually draws several young professionals, businessmen, students, and people just looking for new ideas. At the March 7 meeting Brown offered advice for mixing business and politics."

Unfairenheit 9/11 - The lies of Michael Moore. By Christopher Hitchens: "With Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11... an entirely new note has been struck. Here we glimpse a possible fusion between the turgid routines of MoveOn.org and the filmic standards, if not exactly the filmic skills, of Sergei Eisenstein or Leni Riefenstahl.

To describe this film as dishonest and demagogic would almost be to promote those terms to the level of respectability. To describe this film as a piece of crap would be to run the risk of a discourse that would never again rise above the excremental. To describe it as an exercise in facile crowd-pleasing would be too obvious. Fahrenheit 9/11 is a sinister exercise in moral frivolity, crudely disguised as an exercise in seriousness. It is also a spectacle of abject political cowardice masking itself as a demonstration of 'dissenting' bravery."

Inc.com "Forget VC Money, Fund Yourself": "Given the amount of attention venture capital gets, it's easy to assume that selling equity is the only, if not the best,way to raise capital. But the truth is, even if you one day do need to sell equity, put off that moment as long as possible."

ChangeThis :: ChangeThis: "Welcome to our new kind of media. A form of media that uses existing tools (like PDF files, blogs and the web) to challenge the way ideas are created and spread. Poke around, give it a spin and share the best parts with your friends. And don't forget to subscribe.
13-August | The Art of the Start
Guy Kawasaki | A former Apple Fellow and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Guy talks about up-starting a start-up. ... more "

This looks like a great idea. You won't agree with some of the manefestos that have already been posted. So respond with your own!

I'm going to start recommending that all my consulting clients and those who attend the IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop read Kawasaki's very short, very powerful The Art of the Start. Best way you could spend the next 20 minutes, in my opinion. I'm building my business model today!

Garage Technology Ventures: "we're looking for 'two guys/gals' in a garage who are building the next great technology company."

Guy is the author of The Art of the Start, after reading it this morning through ChangeThis I'll be recommending it to my startup consulting clients and everyone who attends an IDEA Cafe. I think the spirit of The Art of the Start applies to starting everything, political campaigns, projects, new hobbies, groups, etc. Especially helpful is are the first three concepts of mission, mantra, and just do it, avoiding the paralysis of planning.

The Daily Camera: Insight: "Instead of getting hassled by election workers and belittled by officials, Al Kolwicz should be thanked by all voters for his determined, relentless and detailed work to demand that voting be truly secret, accurate and verifiable. "

Welcome to H2CARSBIZ - Hydrogen Cars Business :: ZEES A/S! Powered by DreamAccount.: "The Hydrogen Cars Business Special Design Issue 2004 features the most innovative hydrogen and fuel cell powered cars, world leading initiatives on building hydrogen infrastructure, and leading architects visions of the future hydrogen economy. "

This special design issue of H2Cars just came out. These may be a better alternative to solve the energy problem, you can subscribe by clicking the button to the right here on my blog.

denver fitness, denver athletic club, denver personal trainer, personal trainers training athletic clubs, physical fitness nutrition counseling Tom and Dawn Terwilliger told their very romantic startup story at the IDEA Cafe yesterday. Tom had a TV show on Fox and covered a competition in Boulder, Colorado. "I saw Dawn and instantly knew she was the one. Why she was interested in me, I don't know," Tom laughed. "Since then we've be joined at the hip in everything we do," added Dawn.

Tom's decision to become a professional trainer came just as quickly. "I was working in a gym making $6/hour. I won the Mr. America competition in 1986 and was invited on the Regis Philbin show. He became my first client. I'd been working with individuals in the gym, but not charging. Others were doing the same thing, but no one else had the knack and joy for it that I did. I charged Regis because I knew he had the money. I don't think he came in expecting to pay!"

The Fox TV show also came quickly. "I was invited to participate because of being Mr. America. We made a demo in about 20 minutes and sent it to Fox." That lead to a 16 year run, until he met Mrs. Terwilliger.

"We worked at another studio as independent contractors and were happy until it changed hands. That lead to a kitchen table decision to open their own facility. It took about a year to find the right location and put it together. In 1999 they opened Definitions in Larimer Square, and 3 years ago they opened this.

Looking at their life together, their business, and the fact that a TV producer and actor who wants to start a fitness TV show that I'd met months ago by accident finally decided to attend the IDEA Cafe, Dawn said, "Every thing happens for a reason. I really believe that."

Kerry On Iraq: "'I urge Ed to show to every American because I think every American should see this...' -- Fmr. NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani"

Silicon Valley Biz Ink :: The voice of the valley economy: "Mayor John Hickenlooper today left the
first message on a voice mail system designed to help homeless people
communicate with potential employers, healthcare services, child care
providers, landlords and family. Homeless people are given their own personal
voice mail telephone number which takes messages. They can retrieve those
messages 24/7 from any phone or pay phone totally for free."

The new Highlands Socrates Cafe met for the first time last night at Common Grounds, 3484 W. 32nd here in Denver, about 5 minutes West of I25 & Speer. We had a very large turnout because of the front page story in the North Denver Tribune. Elisa Cohen, editor of the paper, will be joining us each week. She received a round of applause for her support.

Denver Socrates Cafe continues to meet each Friday at Panera Bread, 1350 Grant here in Denver, near the Capitol. For more about Socrates Cafe and how you can start one in your neighborhood see www.philosopher.org. If you start a new group in metro-Denver, I'd love to attend your first meeting and help you get the word out about it. Please send me an email at JohnSWren@aol.com. I think a network of independent Socrates Cafes across Denver could have a dramatic impact on the attendance at our 2006 neighborhood caucuses, see www.orgsites.com/co/cocaucus and could precipitate giant leap forward for the grassroots.

VSAC HomeAccessibility brown bag talk
VSA arts Colorado | http://co.vsarts.org/
Where: Access Gallery
2256 Larimer St., Denver, CO
When: Tue. Aug. 17, 11:30 - 1:00
Price: Free
Tix/Info: 303-777-0797

Hannah Kahn Dance Company: "?The Hannah Kahn Dance Company will present a Free Outdoor Peformance at the Denver Botanic Gardens, on Monday, August 16, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. In case of rain we will perform indoors. "

Denver Municipal Band: "Founded in Denver, Colorado in the 1860s,
the DMB is the oldest professional concert
band in the continental United States. " Free concert this coming Sunday August 15, 7:30 P.M. The Concert Band at Washington Park

SchmoozeIt!�: "'SchmoozeIt!' was created out of the need to connect those folks - whether it was for VC funding, new business partners, new clients or just building brand awareness - SchmoozeIt! quickly became one of the most anticipated networking events in Denver.



The 5th Annual SchmoozeIt! will be held on August 20, 2004 at the Westin, Westminster as a collaborative effort with Colorado Company Magazine's 1st Anniversary event - The Bold & The Bankrolled! "

The Mariott at I25 and Lincoln south of Denver was the site of the Schaffer for Senate election watch. Sen. John Andrews (shown here), Mike Coffman, Sen. Bill Armstrong, Ted Halaby, and many other GOP leaders gathered to watch the returns.

Everyone kept expecting the early results to change, they never did.

Scott and Bill await the election results.

Bob Schaffer and his family took the stage once the loss was conclusive. He thanked everyone for their efforts and congradulated Pete Coors who he said will be a good U.S. Senator. "We all now have to work just as hard to make sure Pete is elected," Bob said.

Rep. Nancy Spence and Bob.

Bob walked through the crowd thanking everyone for their hard work.

Primary election day! Here is my name on the ballot here in Denver District 5 for the Colorado House of Represenatives. I'm the GOP nominee from our district meeting, there is no one else on the primary ballot, so I'm heavily favored!

Inc.com | The Origin of the Entrepreneurial Species: "Inc. : So much of your research focuses on the difference between ordinary start-ups and those gazelles, or 'promising companies,' that go on to achieve significant levels of success. Could you give us an overview of how successful companies get started?
Bhide: Here it is in summary: Most successful entrepreneurs start without a proprietary idea, without exceptional training and qualifications, and without significant amounts of capital. And they start their businesses in uncertain market niches."

Mel Hilgenberg, candidate 2 years ago for the 1st Congressional District State Board of Education seat, and Randy Swan debated this morning (Wednesday) at the Denver GOP 1st Wednesday breakfast. Both are candidates for next Tuesday's primary election of the GOP nominee for CU Regent from Denver. Comment heard after the debate, "neither of them seems to understand that we have one on the best college presidents in the nation, Ruth Hoffman, and that the CU Regent's role is not to manage the University but to support her." Mel and Randy will debate again this Friday, 7a.m. at the Denver Pachyderm Club meeting at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant near the Capitol.

Tim Jackson, National Federation of Independent Business gave Rep. Ramey Johnson the groups "Guardian of Small Business Award" at a recent Denver Pachyderm Club meeting.

DenverPost.com - National Politics: "It was the smallest post-convention boost enjoyed by any challenger since George McGovern was nominated in the middle of the night by a divided Democratic Party in Miami in 1972, said Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll."

Wichita Eagle | 08/01/2004 | EDITORIAL: DREAM: "What kind of community will Wichita be 20 years from now? What kind of values do we want to live? What kind of improvements do we want to see?
The Visioneering Wichita process now under way seeks to answer these and other questions, and thereby create a master plan for Wichita's future.
Is that possible? It's hard to argue with the results in the scores of towns and cities across the nation that have conducted visioning exercises -- cities such as Memphis and Chattanooga, Tenn., and Spokane, Wash.
It makes sense: Individuals, households and businesses routinely take stock, brainstorm and develop long-range goals -- why not towns and cities?
Why allow something as important as our city's future to be left to the mercy of events or a handful of politicians?"

A nod to blogs: "As veteran Associated Press correspondent and beginning blogger Walter Mears puts it: 'Blogs are pamphleteers of a new age.'

These virtual pamphlets are a great equalizer, allowing recent college graduates 'with no connections' (as Taylor describes himself) as well as a cadre of other ordinary, articulate citizens unprecedented access to the national political proceedings...

'The presence of the Internet is changing democracy,' says Doc Searls, senior editor of Linux Journal and co-author of 'The Cluetrain Manifesto,' a book on Internet commerce. 'It's a place where the citizens actually have a chance to be involved,' he says, referring to the heated discussions that take place on blog message boards. 'You can't be involved in television.'"

CCA Grants Workshop: "Welcome to this online course in grant-writing . The Colorado Council on the Arts has partnered with the University of Massachusetts Arts Extension Service to provide this course free to the first 1,000 Coloradoans to use it. "

Contents: "9-11 Commission Report Online Searchable version provided by askSam Systems, Inc" Really helps use the report, which was published without an index.

JibJab "This Land is Your Land" with Pres. George Bush and John Kerry. Takes a few minutes to load, but worth the wait!