By Sarah Laskow, Media Consortium Blogger

The next United Nations climate change conference is almost a year away, and health care is still dominating the legislative agenda in Washington. That means climate reform opponents, from the coal industry to the global warming skeptics, have plenty of time to work, out of the spotlight, to derail progress. Here’s a glimpse of the enemies of reform—and the companies and individuals that are still fighting for change in 2010.

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Cross posted at kos where you can live blog with Jay and Bill right now!

FIGHTING DEMS SPOTLIGHT ON COLORADO: Live Blogging with Jay Fawcett (CO-05) and Bill Winter (CO-06)
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Fighting Dems, Band of Brothers, Veterans for a Secure America,  Jay Fawcett, Bill Winter, CO CD 5, CO CD 6
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Colorado is a mixed bag, politically. Leaning Republican, there are three Democratic Congressmen to four Republicans. Despite a Republican Governor, there is the popular Democratic Senator Ken L. Salazar who campaigned in a cowboy hat with a populace message, and a respected Congressman in Mark E. Udall. Still, the state went 52% for Bush to Kerry's 47%, so why do two Fighting Dem Vets think they have a snowball chance in hell of winning in two Congressional districts now held by the GOP. Read on below the fold and find out.

Bill Winter and Jay Fawcett blogging live
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In the first place, a popular Democratic candidate for Governor, Bill Ritter, is rallying the faithful. Yesterday at the state Democratic Party's general assembly and Colorado Democrats railed against the national Republican Party as they nominated Bill Ritter for governor along with a slate of statewide candidates. Note the following AP report.

GREELEY - Vowing to fulfill the ``Colorado promise,'' former Denver district attorney Bill Ritter was picked as the Democratic Party's nominee for governor the state assembly Saturday. All of Ritter's competition had faded away months ago, but the party had to formalize his nomination at its state assembly.
The roughly 4,000 officials, delegates and guests welcomed Ritter with a standing ovation and waving up signs bearing his name as he made his way to the stage with Bruce Springsteen's ``Born to Run'' blaring from the speakers.

And Salazar and Fighting Dem Jay Fawcett had the crowd cheering according to the Denver Post:

The party's faithful roared as U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, clad in bluejeans and a white cowboy hat, described the Bush administration as "captives of the oil giants of the world."
And Jay Fawcett, the Democratic candidate for the 5th Congressional District, roused the crowd by vowing to put a scare into James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family.
"I believe in God," Fawcett said. "I own a gun. And if you're gay, you're covered by the Constitution of the United States of America."

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Just the other day I saw a movie called "Glory Road". You should go see it. It's why I coach and it's why I'm in this campaign.

Because in the end coaching isn't about the game. It's about what you learn about yourself from the game, and it's about the difference you can make in people's lives by being part of the game!

I'm inspired!

Just over two weeks ago I went to Washington for the first big event for the Veterans for a Secure America-the group of Veterans running for Congress as Democrats this year. There's been much written already about this group of patriots, and the word "hero" has been used many times already. But when I look at the photo of Senator Max Cleland and my friend, Karen Meredith, a gold star mom, on stage with me after the press conference, and the photo of Karen and I with John Murtha in the halls of Congress, I can't help but ponder what it really means to be a hero. And I come to the conclusion that I am not a hero, and that's okay. Let me explain.

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As a progressive candidate for the U.S. Congress I have read with great interest the various thoughts and opinions on the various blogs. I just finished reading Matt Stoller's piece on the Ciro Rodriguez campaign in Texas and Matt's cynicism toward candidates in general. I don't blame him. I've never run for a political office before in my life, and just two short months ago I was just now another opinion on the street.

Then I was recruited for and announced my candidacy for Colorado's 6th Congressional District against Tom Tancredo and overnight I gained a credibility I never had before. What a curious phenomenon. At any rate a couple of comments in Matt's post led me to some thoughts I hope to share here.

Let me first say that I am new to all of this and I don't know all the rules and protocols of blogging, so if I offend in some way, it isn't intentional. Unlike the current inhabitant of the White House, I have no problem admitting when I don't know something, or when I'm wrong. In fact, I view the ability to grow and learn and admit mistakes as character strengths, not character flaws.

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