Politics and commerce experience mostly co-existed peaceably along the sixteenth Street Mall promenade in downtown Denver.
During the Democratic convention, the permanent and generic assortment of contemporary American retail and restaurant outlets -- Ann Taylor Loft, Chili's, Radio Shack, Starbucks, Athlete's Foot, Jamba Juice, Subway, an H&R Block office -- is augmented by a partisan, pro-Democrat street circus.
Dozens of law -- on foot, bike and horseback -- proceed the peace. Conflict is rare, as most folks tend to be on the same side for the upcoming election. But occasionally a dissenting part cries knocked out.
One of those voices belongs to Steve Horner.
In shorts, shades, a T-shirt and baseball game cap, Horner marched up and down the sixteenth Street Mall on Tuesday with a hand-drawn sign reading, "Democrats are Crybabies who penury government favors." He yelled about the prospect of "more crime in the streets' and "higher taxes" to anyone who would - or would not - listen. His elementary beef is with what he sees as the Democrats' "entitlement mentality."
A few listeners embraced his message; near didn't. "There's been heaps of thumbs up, and there have been very rabid attacks," he aforesaid. "Those amaze extinguished by the law. There's been some cursing, some glibness. 'Go to hell' -- there's an intelligent response."
He was especially poorly received at an "Official Obama Store" tent, where a $3 contribution to the Obama Victory Fund secured a pin depicting the candidate's famed fist-bump with his wife Michelle.
Undeterred by chants of "O-ba-ma," Horner - wHO said he makes his living marketing books and coaching corporations on how to balance work and family -- pressed on.
"This is the most fun a person can have in a democracy," he said. "To be of all time vigilant, to get out there and speak his or her mind, and profess the judiciousness of the Constitution."
After a long day of spreading his message, he planned to board a light-rail direct and head home -- where he felt entitled to a beer.
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