The center-right has been doing a lot of reflecting since Republicans were trounced in the November election, but the record attendance at last weekend's annual retreat for the Leadership Program of the Rockies indicates that conservatism in Colorado may be on an upswing.
The weekend, which drew a crowd of 470 to its Saturday night dinner at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, was headlined by speaker Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, an influential beltway magazine. “Cheer up,” Kristol said, adding that the vigorous internal debate Republicans have been experiencing is actually good for the party.
"The retreat was such a success is because conservatives understand that LPR is beyond election politics," said the program's president Shari Williams. "LPR is about the healthy discussion and debate of ideas, not politics. We see an opportunity for the country to understand why free-markets make a difference."
A number of bloggers showed up to cover the retreat, and participants included a handful of potential 2010 candidates, including former Congressman Bob Beauprez, Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier and Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. The three men have all admitted to considering a bid for the U.S. Senate to challenge Colorado's junior Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat appointed to the seat earlier this year by Gov. Bill Ritter. Other politicos spotted at the retreat include state Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, and Republican Congressman Mike Coffman.
"We're motivating a whole new generation of leaders that come up with the best public policy ideas," Williams added. "Of course people who are interested in public office would gravitate there."
This year's speakers also including best selling author Jonah Goldberg and leading terrorist expert Brigitte Gabriel.