Politics, Money and Grassroots Democracy.

The End the Occupation and Reclaim the Streets party greeted our arrival in downtown Denver—indicating that the Democratic National Convention week here includes more than promotional speeches, smiling politicians and lavish corporate parties. This bubbling mix of politics, money and grassroots democracy roils around the streets of the mile-high city. Outside the Sheraton—delegate central for the convention—smiling, young Talley Spiller handed out literature for Project Vote Smart, a group that has begun “A battle to protect all of us from the selfish interests that strip us of the most crucial component in our struggle to self-govern.” Their website provides US citizens with knowledge about the true nature of our political landscape by outlining special interests financing politicians and their voting records on key issues.

Meanwhile, down at the Pepsi Center, where delegates and politicians will spend four days in a long political ad for their presidential candidate, a 20-foot banner thanking their corporate providers greets everyone as they go from their seats to the main entrance. Wall-high corporate ads greet people throughout the facility. VISA and US Bank logos festoon the water bottles given to the 15,000 credentialed media.

Massie Ritsch and Sheila Krumholz from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) have come to Denver to keep the world reminded that these corporate donors are funding not only the conventions, but also the politicians running our country. I caught up with them down at the Big Tent where Massie told us that the Democrats and Republicans “are raising more than 112 million dollars from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals who are putting up money for a multi day infomercial for particular political candidates…(which is) part of a larger lobbying strategy these corporations and other interests pursue once everyone gets back to Washington.”

The big tent, where we found the CRP contingent, is a project of the Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado. It is a two-story hub of activity Downstairs a beehive of new media journalists, bloggers, reporters and non-profit leaders are putting out their own coverage of the Democratic National Convention. Up stairs Google and others are putting on a host of public forums covering politics, the environment and new-age media.

Meanwhile out on the streets, a plethora of groups are carrying on a constant barrage of street theater. Code Pink dressed up its legions as sheep and led them to the vacant, dry free-speech zone, out of sight of the delegates, fenced on all sides, occupied only by the police and notable for its absence of either water or toilet facilities. Here they protested the demise of free-speech in a land built on the power and strength of all citizens being able to communicate their thoughts and opinions openly and effectively.

Iraq Veterans Against the War carry out actions daily. Their Operation First Casualty recreates the streets of Baghdad where participants in full military uniform—less the weapons—secure an area complete with hooded and hog tied citizens. From delivering letters to Senator Obama to leading marches to the Democratic Convention, their intent is to bring attention to the ongoing illegal occupation of Iraq and all the horrors that entails.

Rage Against the Machine, Critical Mass Bike Rides, shaking hands with John Kerry and corporate promoters of Clean Coal spreading their propaganda makes up the roiling mass of politics, money and grassroots democracy that will continue to inundate the streets of Denver this week.