Off To Denver!

Hello, and welcome to everyone who is just as excited about the 2008 presidential election as I am. We are indeed living in historical times, and I am blessed to be smack dab in the center of all the action here in Denver, Colorado. The Washington Center has gone out of their way to organize this presidential academic seminar series, and they have done a fabulous job. Upon arrival to Regis University, where myself and the other 500+ students involved in this program will be residing, I was overwhelmed with the endless opportunities I may have the chance to experience while in Denver for the next week and a half. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK...that's all they keep telling us, and for good reason. The list of speakers who will be coming to Regis University to help guide us in our studies during this election and convention process is quite impressive. We will be hearing from people such as Ricky Kirshner, the executive producer of the Democratic National Convention, Travis Dredd, DNCC Deputy CEO for Inside the Hall Operations, Cameron Moody, DNCC Deputy CEO for Outside the Hall Operations, Paul Lhevine, Denver Host Committee Cheif Operations Officer, Wally Podrazik, DNCC Director of Media Logistics, Elbra Wedgeworth, President/Chair Denver Host Committee, Agent David O'Connor, Special Agent in Charge, Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado, Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former governor of Vermont, Donald Fowler, Ph.D., former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Ambassador Dominique Struye, Belgian Ambassador to the United States, Bob Schieffer, CBS News Anchor, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Ambassador Nancy Rubin, former U.S. Ambassador to U.N. Council on Human Rights, Reg Weaver, President of the National Education Association, Michael Dukakis, former governor of Massachusetts and 1988 Democratic nominee for president, and Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO). In addition to this list of speakers, we will also have the opportunity to hear from several political scholars who will offer us a wealth of knowledge about the American political system as well as analysis on a variety of complex issues that surround this election. What makes this list of people so beneficial for our learning process is that they all hold different positions, some in very different fields, and with that, they will be able to offer us a wide range of perspectives and thoughts in regard to the convention and election processes. I look forward to sharing their stories with you, as well as my own impressions and reflections which will be acquired in the days to come.