New Mexico Politics

Sheriff White: Policing by Press Conference

2006-03-24T06:14:00.000-08:00

As I watched the news last night and saw the level of activity surrounding the manhunt for accused cop killer Michael Paul Astorga (rewards, press conferences, dozens of police vehicles, armored tanks, etc. . . .) I wondered why the same level of interest wasn't leveled at Astorga after he shot a man last fall and went on the run?

It seems the Sheriff's office had no problem locating Astorga's home, his hang out near La Cueva High School and his relative's homes in the hours after the cop killing. Also, there were no shortage of neighbors that interacted with Astorga every day. A guy called in to a KKOB talk show and said that Astorga was well known by law enforcement for years and was a notorious criminal.

So, where was the Sheriff''s office the last few months? Where was the manhunt for Astorga after he shot and killed a man last fall? Do we only get a concerted effort by law enforcement in an extreme circumstance?

Could it be that Sheriff White, who's whole tenure as sheriff has been marked by his ability to use the media to draw publicity to him and his office, is creating a big stir about catching Asotrga now because they failed to catch him earlier? Will the unnecessary death of an officer create enough of a story to cover up the story that should be written about White's missteps? Some aggressive reporter should ask White the question: Where was the press conference and the manhunt after Astorga's first killing?

Some Questions for Wilson

2006-02-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

I could have predicted a few months ago that Heather Wilson would, in the Spirng of 2006 when she saw the competative race she had against Patricia Madrid, express outrage over something that the Bush Administration had done. It was bound to happen, it was just a matter of when and what topic. She's "outraged" at the US's spying operation and like her "outrage" over Janet Jackson or Firestone tires a couple of years back she's gone to the national media to express it.

So, I have some questions for Heather Wilson, that any reporter worth his salt should ask:

1. Didn't you serve at one time under the National Security Agency? Under Condoleezza Rice?

2. When you wrote a letter to the Attorney General in December about the spying issues, where was your "outrage?" Where was the press release?

3. How long have you served on the House Intelligence committee, which has oversight over the US's intelligence budget/operations and if this spying operation has been going on for a few years, where was your oversight?

4. You seem very concerned about the US screwing up it's intelligence gathering, so, when the Administration screwed up Iraq intelligence and Colin Powell embarrassed himself in from of the entire UN, were you outraged then?

5. How come you didn't use your position on the Intelligence committee then to question the US intelligence operations?

6. You have a Master's in international studies, went to Oxford, and worked in the millitary/intelligence community -- doesn't this kind of poor intelligence gathering that has been going on for 5 years offend you and members of your profession? Or do you think it is perfectly acceptable?

7. You seem smart and like being in Congress, but are you paying attention up there? Got your mind on something else?

Ex-Rep Duke Cunningham Very Good to Wilson, Pearce

2005-11-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

In a tearful resignation press conference reminiscent of, well, any of Heather Wilson’s forced crying episodes, Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham gave up his Congressional seat as he pled guilty to tax evasion, conspiracy and fraud.

And as another Republican Congressman faces the Courts, we start to hear about all the awful things they’ve done. And then we ask ourselves, hmm I wonder what their relationship was to our own members of Congress here in New Mexico? And if they, let’s say, contributed to our New Mexican Congresspeople -- were the funds they used to contribute to our members generated by their illegal activity? Hmm, we wonder . . . .

And now we know that ex-Republican Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham was pretty generous to our own New Mexico Members of Congress Heather Wilson and Congressman Stevan Pearce.

Duke Cunningham gave $1000 to Wilson in 1998 and his PAC, the “American Prosperity PAC” gave $3000 to Wilson in 2004 and $1000 to Wilson in 2000. So, Wilson’s campaign was the beneficiary of $5,000 from Duke Cunningham’s committees. Wilson and Cunningham also sit on the House Intelligence committee together (until Cunningham resigned).

Congressman Steve Pearce received $1000 from Duke Cunningham’s campaign in 2003 and $2000 from Cunningham’s PAC in 2002. So, Pearce received $3000 from Duke Cunningham sources.

It has been alleged that Cunningham traded favors for campaign contributors. Contributions from Cunningham’s accounts made it into Wilson and Pearce’s campaign accounts.

So, will Wilson and Pearce return the contributions they received from Duke Cunningham? Wilson sent back about a quarter of the money she received from indicted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Now that Cunningham has pled guilty, will she do the same?

Green Party Eyeing WIlson-Madrid Race

2005-11-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

Word comes that the Green Party is on a recruitment hunt for a candidate to run for Heather Wilson's seat. Are they running against Heather? Not really, they're running against Patricia Madrid. The Greens have a long standing vendetta against Madrid because she ruled against their party status a few years back.

Unfortunate that the Greens, who talk about being a party of principles, throw up a candidate against Wilson not because they disagree with her on the issues or with Madrid on the issues but becasue they want to get back at someone who crossed their party.

Sounds like old time politics to me. I'm sure Wilson is grinning like a chesire cat hearing this news.

David Iglesias, Meet Pat Fitzgerald

2005-11-03T21:31:00.000-08:00

Seeing US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (link) the other day on TV prosecuting Scooter Libby got me thinking. Who is our US Attorney and what has he been up to?

Then I realized it was David Iglesias who recently achieved some notoriety for prosecuting State Treasurer Robert Vigil and for starting a voter fraud task force in 2004 that failed to prosecute a single case. The Vigil case was a good catch (actually seemed to be a pretty easy one) but outside of that what has David Iglesias been doing the last five years ?

Makes you kind of want New Mexico to get its own version of Patrick Fitzgerald.

Wilson Congressional Staff Doing Politics?

2005-11-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

Congressional staff aren't supposed to do politics on Congressional time. They serve the taxpayers first and foremost.

So, when Heather Wilson's District Director appeared just for Patsy Madrid's speech at the MANA conference this week, took copious notes and left after Madrid's speech was she doing congressional work or political work?

Just wondering. . . .

Carraro Givin' Vigil a Hand Up

2005-10-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

On the eve of the impeachment of corupt State Treasurer Robert Vigil, one State Senator stood up, took a stand and found a way to help indicted State Treasurer Robert Vigil keep his job.

That man is Senator Joe Carraro (R-Albuquerque).

And I'm not sure if there is a soul in New Mexico that can explain why he tried to snatch Robert Vigil from the jaws of impeachment.

But corrupt politicians everywhere, to whom envelopes containing $10,000 case are not unusual, thank you for your effort, Joe Carraro, and I'm sure you're the pride of New Mexico Republicans (they're the one that are tough on crime, right?).

Read about Carraro's efforts to give indicted Treasurer Robert Vigil a leave of absence in lieu of impeachment: (link)

Wilson-Connection to Indicted Lobbyist Abramoff

2005-10-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

Jack Abramoff is a DC lobbyist who has been indicted for his involvement with laundering money for/from Indian tribes and conservative groups. Abramoff was notorious for sending members of Congress on junkets to Scotland with laundered money. Abramoff is associated with mobsters, Tyco execs and other nefarious characters. His scandal has rocked the DC lobbying world.

Basically, Abramoff has become emblematic of the corrupt culture in Washington and everything that is wrong with the way lobbyists conduct themselves in DC and try to wield their influence.

Abramoff’s scandal is, many think, connected to the Tom DeLay scandal in that Abramoff and DeLay did business together and they shared associates. DeLay called Abramoff “One of my closest and dearest friends.”

I’ve blogged about the amount of money that Congresswoman Wilson has taken from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but I didn’t look into the money Wilson has taken from Jack Abramoff.

In 2002, Wilson took a $1,000 personal contribution from Abramoff. In 2004,2002 and 1998, she took a total $2,500 in contributions from Abramoff’s lobbying PAC for the Greenberg, Traurig law form. Funny, no one else from the law firm contributed to Wilson—just Abramoff.

Again, this is another instance of Wilson taking money from Republican insiders that are alleged to breaking the law in their quest for power. Something is obviously wrong with the Congresswoman’s judgment or she has fallen victim to the corrupt culture in Washington DC.

This likely means that every year he contributed to Wilson, Abramoff probably showed up to a Wilson event and sought to contact her. Why else does a lobbyist contact a Congressperson.? They want something.

Makes you wonder. How many meetings did Abramoff have with Wilson? What did he ask for? What did he get in return for his contributions? Did he get what he wanted?

Who is Wilson associating with when she travels to Washington .. . .?

Wilson, the Plame Leak and National Security

2005-10-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

I apologize for blogging so much about Heather Wilson. But I think it must be a confluence of events: the entrance of Madrid into the Congressional races and the Republican’s struggles in Washington are focusing my attention on Wilson.

It occurred to me, on possibly the eve of indictments coming down that could involve White House staff, of the connection this has to Congresswoman Wilson.

Connection you say?

Yes, a connection. The investigation into the leak by the White House of a CIA agent’s name was representative of a larger effort by the White House to discredit those that doubted or sought to prove that the White House’s argument for going to war with Iraq was based on bad intelligence. Frank Rich wrote about this in the Sunday New York Times and identified a White House task force that was assembled with the purpose of marketing the war. Condoleezza Rice, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and others were part of that task force. What’s becoming evident these days is what we all feared—the rationale for going to war was weak and we’ve sacrificed 2,000 based on false information.

To date, there has been little outrage expressed by the Republicans in Washington about the serious implications of this situation to our national defense. I thought the Republicans were supposed to be the party of national defense? They were always the ones calling the dems “weak” on defense. What we are seeing now is embarrassing to the Republicans. Their much lauded defense apparatus was easily manipulated for political purposes. The cold, logical, rational approach of the American military was contortioned. Republicans should be outraged and they should clean up the mess.

Where are the Republicans calling for hearings? Calling for accountability? Where is Heather Wilson?

Indeed, where is Heather? If anyone should be outraged at this entire situation you think it would be Heather.

Let’s go back in time and recall Mrs. Wison’s background. Wilson comes out of the same White House Community that has become the focal point of the US Attorney’s investigation. Wilson, was not only an Air Force officer who worked at NATO, but served in the first Bush White House as the Director for European Defense Policy for the National Security Council. Condoleezza Rice served as a Director as well, on that very same National Security Council as Wilson under President Bush. Wilson is a product of the defense community surrounding President Bush’s father—the same group that stewed for eight years during the Clinton years and re-entered the White house with now President Bush. Part of this group are the infamous Neocons.

Wilson, who holds an impressive résumé, at the highest level of the defense community, should not only be outraged at the performance of the White House of late, but should also be doing everything she can to clear her name and disassociate herself from this renegade, politicized White House. You would think she would, at least.

But she isn’t. Instead Wilson has hoped that no one would bring this up, that no one would say, “Hey, Heather, you know these guys in the White House, you were at the NSC under the President’s father; aren’t you absolutely outraged about what’s going on? Isn’t this a complete embarrassment to the Republicans, the defense community? Since when do Republicans, who are supposed to be so pro-military, leak the names of covert CIA agents? Were the 2,000 lives lost worth it?”

We will see if Heather does anything to hold these guys accountable. She’s stood by and watched for 4+ years, let’s see if a tough congressional races gets her to do something.

The Wilson-DeLay Connection Gets Interesting

2005-10-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

After I blogged a couple of weeks ago that Heather Wilson should return the almost $50,000 that she has received from Majority Leader Tom DeLay's PAC "Americans for a Republican Majority" (ARMPAC) Wilson returned $10,00o received from DeLay's PAC this election cycle. DeLay is under indictment for two counts associated with his management of the non-federal Republicans for a True Majority" Texas state PAC.

I'm not sure how returning the $10,000 she received this year is satisfactory. Aren't the allegations against DeLay covering a period prior to 2005. Isn't that the tainted money more than the money from '05?

Check out www.tray.com and read about the connections between DeLay's PACs (and look at Wilson's contributions from DeLay). What is interesting is that the PAC that is the source of DeLay's indictments and the PAC that contributed regularly to Wilson were housed in the same office and had many of the same contributors. It only stands to reason that some of the violations dogging Delay in the Texas PAC troubles would appear in the management of the Federal PAC (ARMPAC). Jeez, they were housed in the same office.

Even more interesting is the amount contributed by Enron execs to DeLays' Federal PAC. Those are funds that made their way from DeLay's PAC to Wilson's campaign. Isn't that more reason to return the money?

Finally, Since she first ran for Congress in 1998, Wilson has received the maximum she was allowed to receive from DeLay's PAC. Heather constantly claims she is her own woman and that she is not the President's or Tom DeLay's gal. That's what she says but not what she does. It appears that not only does she take every penny she can from Tom DeLay, but she only returns it when she's caught.

How will Wilson react to the DeLay scandal? She's got three options:

1. Return ALL the DeLay money and disassociate herelf from this pariah, Tom DeLay.
2. Keep all the money and claim that returning $10,000 out of $50,0000 is somehow sufficient.

Wilson will probably take option #2. And with her usual attitude, she'll claim that the $10,000 is sufficient, she's independent and no one can tell her what to do becasue she's smarter than everyone else and voters back home don't understand Washington. That's the Heather we know.

Madrid to Announce Run Against Wilson

2005-10-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

2 term Attorney General Patricia Madrid will announce Monday that she will enter the race against incumbent Congresswoman Heather Wilson.

Madrid has already made calls to key finance people ready to fund the race.

This move easily catapults the 1st Congressional District race into the top tier of competative House races around the nation along with the plummeting approval ratings of the President and the general disapproval of Republicans in Congress.

Will Wilson Return $50,000 in DeLay Contributions?

2005-09-29T08:05:00.001-07:00

Republican House Majority Leader Tom Delay has been indicted by a Texas Grand jury over allegations of impropriety related to his fundraising activities in recent years. The focus of the investigation was DeLay’s state Pac “TRM PAC.” If DeLay skirted the law in his Texas state dealings, doesn’t it seem logical that the next shoe to drop is an investigation of wrongdoing with his federal PAC “ARM PAC”?

Let’s get back to New Mexico and our “independent” Republican Congresswoman, Heather Wilson. If you believe what Wilson tells the voters, she’s never met Tom Delay, doesn’t get along with him and she is the victim of his efforts to thwart her “independence.”

Since she first ran for Congress in 1998, Heather Wilson has received over $50,000 in contributions from DeLay’s Political Action Committee (she received $10,000 this year, while the investigation into DeLay intensified). Doesn’t sound like Tom DeLay is upset with Heather Wilson or thinks she is “too independent” does it?

I wonder, given the current trend towards returning contributions made to state candidates by Treasurer Robert Vigil and his associates, whether Heather Wilson will step up to the plate, show her real independence and return the $50,000 contributed to her by Tom DeLay now that he has been indicted. If you believe that Robert Vigil lorded over tainted money and the recipients of those funds should return them, doesn't the same reasoning apply to Wilson and DeLay?

If she was so independent, she would have turned down the money in the first place.

Will Wilson Return $50,000 in DeLay Contributions?

2005-09-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Republicans Propose Dramatic Budget/Agency Cuts

2005-09-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

A bombshell came out of the US House today as the Republican House Study Committee released a report today outlining their plans for cuts to major government efforts in the areas of health, science, manufacturing, foreign affairs and transportation to compensate for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts (or tax cuts, really).

Here's the report. It's a must read. (link)

essentially, Hurricane Katrina given Republicans the excuse they need to cut programs they hate. They seem to place no blame for a budget shortage on tax cuts for the rich but place the blame on programs for the poor and middle class.

If passed, this will devastate many programs in New Mexico and possibly stop funding for major transportation projects like Paseo/I-25, Tramway/I-25, etc. . . .

On the chopping block are the prescription drug program, Medicare, Medicaid, Peace Corps, energy conservation programs, transportation infrastructure, National Parks, Manufacturing Extension partnerships, school lunches, eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, Reduce environmental management, Agricultural research . . . . the list goes on and
It will be interesting to see if the State's Congressional delegation will support this.

Domenici is Running Again

2005-09-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

Much to the chagrin of aspiring US Senators from the state of New Mexico, Senator Pete Domenici is planning a run for another term in office. Domenici's seat is up again in 2008.

In Domenici's close circles he has made it be know that he is planning a run. Domenici reportedly shared this privately with supporters in Farmington that he plans to run again and Domenici's staff is buzzing with the news. Domenici has not slowed his fundraising pace either.

This is a bit of a downer for many in New Mexico politics who were planning a run or speculating on dream races to replace Senator Domenici: Congresswoman Wilson vs. Congressman Udall or Wilson versus Congressman Steve Pearce in a primary, or Patsy Madrid versus Mayor Marty Chavez in a Dem primary.

Those dreams and speculations might have to be put on hold.

Wilson--A Sanitary Existence

2005-09-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Just an amuzing fact. Congresswoman Heather Wilson's staff is made to carry hand sanitizer with them when traveling to meetings with Congresswoman Wilson.

Hand Sanitizer? What's even better is the story of her staffer that got chewed out by Wilson for forgetting the sanitizer. Where is the F---ing hand sanitizer, dammit!

Makes you think whether she really is in touch with her constituents or more likely, afraid to get close to them. Eeww! Wouldn't want to touch those unsanitary New Mexico voters!

Madrid To Take Another Look At Wilson Race

2005-09-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

Attorney General Patricia Madrid is taking another look at challenging Heather Wilson in the 2006 1st Congressional District election.

Madrid will travel next week to meet with the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rahm Emmanuel and with House minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Word is that with the Republican President's favorabilty rating falling, Congresswoman Heather Wilson's are sure to follow given her allegiance to the President and his agenda.

Democrats you may now start salivating.

Sheriff White, Looking for Political Points in New Orleans

2005-09-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

It's hard to find an honest politician these days, or even an honorable one .

If you watched the TV or read the papers, you would think that Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White took some of his deputies out to New Orleans to help out with recovery efforts out of the goodness of his heart.

But Darren White took some time out of his busy rescue efforts to call Joe Monahan, the political blogger to report from the scene (link). Huh? Joe's is a political website, and obviously the purpose of White's call to Joe was to spread the word about what he is doing on the state's political wires.

The fact that White is out hustling the press and the bloggers to write stories about his travels to New Orleans is another example of White trying to gain publicity for himself rather than doing what he's supposed to be doing: keeping law and order in Bernalillo County. In this case he's using a national tragedy to promote himself.

Shameful, shameless stuff.

Wilson Personal Ties to FEMA Make It Less Likely She'll Hold Them Accountable

2005-09-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

New Mexicans shouldn't count on Congresswoman Heather Wilson to do much in the Congress to hold FEMA accountable for the slow response in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Wilson's House Financial Disclosures and FEMA contract records indicate that her husband was recently awarded a contract of nearly $100,000 from FEMA.

I'm not sure what her husband, an attorney who works on personal injury suits on behalf of insurance companies, is doing getting a contract from FEMA. But it shows that maybe FEMA isn't spending their money in the best possible way if they are putting local attorneys on the FEMA payroll. Maybe that money could have been spent on a few bottles of water for the people suffering in New Orleans.

It does appear that Hone is involved heavily in the Boy Scouts. Perhaps the Scouts are being developed as part of FEMA's emergency response?

Another strike against FEMA and Heather Wilson and another example of Wilson's husband screwing up her political career (remember the secret Wilson CYFD file during the 1998 campaign?)

Katrina Disaster Shows Republicans' True Colors

2005-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Let's remind the folks out there that Republicans control the White House and the Congress and the entire Administration (including FEMA, and the Army Corps of Engineers).

It took a crisis like this to not only show the Republican's true colors when it comes to its treatment of minorities. But it also reveals the terrible Republican record on emergency funding during the Bushpresidencyy.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert commented that the entire city of new Orleans should be "bulldozed." Funny, I can't remember Dennis Haster responding that way when floods occur in his own state of Illinois or in his Congressional District along the Mississippi River. But then again, Hastert doesn't have a high percentage of African Americans in his district.

Army Corps

The President offered a FY 2002 budget with a 16.9% cut (from 2001) to the Army Corps of Engineers budget (Heather Wilson, Steve Pearce voted for this) (link). News media is starting to reveal Louisiana's Congressional Delegation's long time plight to fund the Corps of Engineers to repair the Levees in New Orleans. The Congressional members representing New Orleans are democrats and it's not surprising that a Republican President and a Republican Congress failed to hear their cries.

FEMA

The President offered a FY 2002 budget with a 20.2% cut (from 2001) in the Federal Emergency Management Administration (Heather Wilson, Steve Pearce supported this) (link)

The President's cuts in FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers (among other agencies) allowed for huge tax cuts, supported by the Republicans in New Mexico's Congressional delegation.

Watch Heather Wilson scramble to try to show she's doing something about this disaster after voting for cuts in the budgets of important emergency agencies over the last 4 years. (link) She has some explaining to do.

Her support for the President is her Achilles heel. Let' see if any dem takes advantage of it.

Santa Fe City Elections Could Get Hot

2005-08-31T14:53:00.000-07:00

Albuquerque's municipal elections always seem to overshadow the following Spring elections in Santa Fe. Santa Fe has not only four Council seats up for election but the Mayor's office as well.

The Mayor's race could be interesting. Santa Fe realtor Karen Walker jumped into race early but most expect her to do poorly having never ran for office before. Current City Councilor David Coss has also entered the race for Mayor and is seen as the liberal or progressive alternative to current Mayor Larry Delgado.

The big question is whether Delgado will run again for a 3rd term. If he does, he's the odds-on favorite, as he brings not only the Hispanic vote to the table but the development community as well (kind of like a Santa Fe version of Marty Chavez).

But there are rumors that a candidate that would represent the Hispanic community and be sympathetic to the development community waits in the wings should Delgado decide not to run. Could it be former County Commissioner Javier Gonzales?

Progressives seem to be organized in Santa Fe are are attempting to consolidate behind Mayoral and City Council candidates and trying to prevent multiple progressive candidates from entering the race and diluting the pogressive vote. But, not surprisingly, the pro-development community is organized as well. In the aftermath of recent, controversial Wal-Mart votes, the battle between progressives and developers continues.

Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger in District 2 should expect strong challenge from a progressive, eastside candidate. The race for David Coss' open seat could be interesting as well in District 3.

Old Folks, Boomers, Unite! Fight the Power! Let's Pack up the Metamucil and the Ensure and Head to Crawford, TX in the SUV!

2005-08-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

I know this will probably rile up the activists out there, but where are the young people in this anti-war effort? Here at UNM, they’re invisible. But you watch the protests in Crawford and all you see is our nation’s aged activists—with the inevitable subsequent footage from the networks of Vietnam protests (apparently this demonstrates that the same people are still protesting – just 40 years later). There are a few young people in Crawford that are young protesting the President, of course, but a good portion of them I see on TV are not only waving picket signs but using them as crutches too.

Hey, there is absolutely nothing wrong with aging activists. But you have to admit that we are witnessing something unusual. The nation’s 18-35-somethings must be at home, playing PlayStation and searching for dates on-line, while their parents (and grandparents) are trying to set up a neighborhood democratic party headquarters for the rest of the retired population to hang out at during the day to complain about the President.

But you look at other political movements around the world and you see youth and working people leading the protests. Youth in Northern Ireland are protesting the war and many of the newly independent Soviet states are experiencing protests let by youth--or working age people.

Meanwhile in Russia, President Putin seems to have a thriving a youth support movement (link). and here in the U.S the youth 0f our nation seem to either not care or actually enjoy the powers that be. Boomers did a great job of protesting back in the day, but they didn't seem to pass along the same spirit to their children.

Maybe you can argue that the youth and working people that are protesting in America are protesting: through the internet, email, etc. . . . I get that. But that takes very little sacrifice to march from the kitchen to the den to send out a few protest emails. And I believe there is a correlation between protest and sacrifice. But I don’t see many people, so passionate about their opposition to the war, quitting their jobs and heading to Crawford.

Just thought I'd make an observation.

Greens Silent on Judge Fran Gallegos

2005-08-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

The Green Party is remarkably silent about one of it's few elected officials in New Mexico, Santa Fe Municipal Judge Fran Gallegos.

Gallegos was suspended as a judge today by the State Supreme Court. Gallegos allegedly altered court records and sentences (link) of her defendants.

Gallegos was the pride of New Mexico greens as one its only elected officials in the state. Now the Green Party, which offered itself as a solution to the historically troubled elected officials offered by democrats, has a troubled elected official of its own and they have done little to distance themselves from Gallegos.

Check out the New Mexico Green Party's Call to action (link) and see if this vision of the Green Party matches Gallegos' actions.

Winter, Griego’s TV Presence Seems a Long Way Off

2005-08-23T17:37:00.000-07:00

Abuquerque Mayoral candidate Brad Winter is reported to have bought time (less than $100,000 worth) on Albuquerque TV the days before the election and from September 10th onward. Question is, will it be enough?

TV is certainly not everything in a Mayor’s race. Ground troops, mail, radio are all important.

Griego’s campaign has reportedly not made any inquiries with local TV stations about buying time -- making his presence on TV anytime soon less likely.

Wilson, Pearce: How's Your President Doin'?

2005-08-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

The Congressional seats held by Heather Wilson and Stevan Pearce have been considered competitive in the eyes of most naitonal political observers. Although, Pearce and Wilson have been able to fend off democratic opponents without too much difficulty.

But then again, they have run recently in what have been good years for the national Republican Party and George W. Bush. They have also been stalwart supporters of the President and his agenda. With the President's approval ratings in the tank and with the Iraq war slowly falling apart, what kind of effect will that have on contested Congressional districts held by republicans?

Pearce and Wilson should be looking over their shoulder, their races look more and more enticing to Democrats and the national democratic party as things for the President get worse.

What was supposed to be a boring year in New Mexico's Congressional races, may get a little more exciting.

Marty's Up On TV--Donde Estan Los otros?

2005-08-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

We are about 6 weeks out from the Mayor's race and Marty has been up on tv with a positive ad for about a week. His competitors are no where to be seen--begging the question: is this going to be a race for Albuquerque Mayor or not?

Despite what their egos may be telling them, Eric Griego and Brad Winter's name identification are probably at between 20 0r 30% each--meaning just about that amount of the electorate has heard of them.

People don't tend to vote for people they've never heard of.

No successful Mayoral candidate in recent memory has won without a significant television buy. Radio and mail are not an effective means of communication compared to television and don't let the other candidates tell you that they will get by on mail, yard signs, a field campaign or radio alone.

Maybe, just maybe they can keep Marty under 40% and force a runoff that would raise their name id via unpaid media.

I'm eagerly awaiting the results of the ABQ Journal poll on the Mayor's race that will come out post-Labor Day.

Also, where is the living wage campaign? When are they going up on TV? I bet about 15% of the electorate has heard about it. They need to get on the ball too.

Watch for Wilson Trickery on Valle Vidal

2005-08-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

Heather Wilson is rumored to be heading into the Valle Vidal this weekend. Undoubtedly she will proclaim what a magnificent site it is and how it must be preserved. Attempting, along the way to trying to enhance her environmental portolio (outside of her district, by the way).

But don't let Heather fool you, this is the same Congresswoman who voted more than twice to permit driling in ANWAR. In fact, saying at one point during the debate on ANWAR, “think of it this way: if all of Alaska were a 2-hour movie, then ANWR … 2,000 acres would be the blink of an eye."

Wilson also voted to expand drilling in Florida's gulf Coast, the California Coast and in our National Parks -- all votes during the summer of 2001.

Don't let Heather fool you.

Divisive Liberals Bringin' me down . . .

2005-08-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while. I'm depressed.

Liberals are bringin me down, making me depressed.

It's the "seeing the forest through the trees" issue.

I like liberals, democrats and that crowd, but at times, they just don't see the forest through the trees.

It has been decades since the Republican Party controlled the White House and the Congress. Decades. And democrats are somehow surprised that the GOP is stickin' it too them after they stuck it to the GOP for so many years.

So what's democrats' response to this? Go beat up on every democrat that's not in line with the vocal, liberal wing of the party. Instead of finding the issues they share in common to unite against the Republicans and develop a true difference in philosophies between the Dems and the GOP (that might be interesting for the rest of us to watch), liberal, lefty dems go off and try to litmus test their own. What a mistake.

It's as if somehow the more liberal wing of the party believes that 90% of their members read the New York Times. I'd like to see if any of the Deaniacs in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area realize that it might be difficult to receive the Sunday New York Times in Clayton, NM and maybe, just, maybe not everyone around the state is reading the "Daily Kos" or the latest tome by Arundhati Roy.

To use an old Nixononian political term, there's a "silent majority" of voters out there that aren't vocal but are mainstream and they want a political party that is interesting, innovative and has something to say. If Democrats are going to compete with Republicans on a national level, they have to join together and talk to the silent majority and prove they want to be in power. That's what the Republicans are doing--not wasting their time on eating their own.

President Bush to visit ABQ on 8/8

2005-08-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

You heard it here, Pres. Bush will be in Albquerque on August 8th for some Energy-related business. Friends at Sandia Labs say he will make a visit.

Journal "politics" headline today--what the heck was that?

2005-07-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

I love today's front page headline in the Albuquerque Journal.

"Politics Clouds Mayor's Race"

God, that's awful! Politics in the Mayor's race?

Look for tomorrow's Journal Business section headline "Investing Takes Over Stock Market"

Or their sports section headline "Running Dominates Marathon"

C'mon guys, Isn't the Mayor' race by nature political? God forbid politics should enter it. I chalk this up to another example of the petty disgust people have for politics. What do they want, non-competitive races for public office? It's crazy, and someone was asleep at the Journal Saturday night.

Griego Should Oust Espinosa from Mayor's Race

2005-07-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Albuquerque Mayoral candidates filed their petition signatures yesterday at city hall and all had enough to qualify at face value. But the Journal reports that the City Clerk has been dismissing many signatures as invalid.

Candidates Judy Espinosa and David Steele had barely met the number needed to get on the ballot and with the Clerk dismissing many invalid signatures from petitions, these two candidates run the risk of being booted from the race.

If the Clerk fails to find enough invalid signatures to remove Espinosa from the ballot, Mayoral candidate Eric Griego should consider challenging her signatures further and see if he can invalidate enough of her signatures. It might be worth his while to have Espinosa off the ballot and leave himself as the only viable democrat alternative to Mayor Chavez.

In fact, Griego might even want to make sure Steele stays off the ballot as well. A three man race is much more attractive to Griego than a four-man race. Assuming Winter and Chavez go toe-to-toe and raise each other's negatives, Eric could have a change of gaining votes as the alternative to the two nasty campaigners and could make it into a run-off.

What happens in the next few days and the construction of who is on the Mayoral ballot will have a big impact on the Mayor's race.

Brad Winter's Rovian Strategy

2005-07-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

On tonight's news, City Councilor Brad Winter attacked the Albuquerque Police Chief and the Mayor on the number and distribution of forces in the City.

Winter's attack could be a smart one.

Noted political advisor Karl Rove made a name for himself in campaigns by attacking his opponent's perceived greatest strength. One needs to look no further than Rove's strategy to attack Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry on his war record, which was always thought to be untouchable. As we all know, Bush's attacks on Kerry's war record were successful.

On a smaller scale, Winter (who is running for Mayor) is attacking Mayor Martin Chavez on his record on crime. Chavez won his 1993 Mayor's race based on his stance on crime. He road the crime issue to victory again in 2001 and that issue remains not only his strongest, but the one with the greatest resonance with moderate voters--the same voters Winter is vying for.

Chavez should learn something from John Kerry's campaign and fight back early and often and retain his advantage on the issue of crime.

Eric Griego's Calculations--How does he win?

2005-07-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

I’ve been pondering how city councilor Eric Griego can win the Mayor’s race. As far as I’m concerned, there are three real candidates in this race—candidates that have the money and the ability to communicate the message they need to win. Sorry, Judy Espinosa and David Steele, you just don’t have the money to get your message out or the manpower. Thanks for playing now please get out of the race.

Griego, Councilor Brad Winter and Mayor Martin Chavez do have the money (Winter may not now but presumably will) to get their message out by mail, TV or radio. Winter and Greigo need to spend a lot of those resources on pumping up name id, Marty doesn’t have to.

Marty has the name identification and incumbency helping him, Brad Winter has the Republican Party backing him up, but what does Eric have? How does he win this race?

I think the key for Eric is, obviously, forcing a runoff. If no one receives 40% of the vote on election day, it forces a runoff between the top two finishers. The only chance for Eric to get above 40% is for Winter and Chavez to so thoroughly destroy themselves and bring each other’s negatives to the point of no return. With Winter’s late entry in the race, the likelihood of reaching that boiling point is pretty slim.

So, how does Eric get in the runoff? Eric’s campaign hopes that Winter and Chavez battle it out -- with Chavez trying to steal Winter’s republican votes and Winter trying to retain republican votes and “out republican” Marty. Eric’s hope must be that while Winter and Chavez battle it out for Republicans and in the process start negative campaigning against each other, democrats, disgusted with Marty and his conservative leanings will turn to Eric, thus denying Marty his 40% while Marty is simultaneously denying Winter’s 40% by stealing Republicans. All this is moot if Winter succeeds in coalescing the Republican voters behind his candidacy and turns them out to vote.

If Eric can force a run-off with either Marty or Winter, he stands a good chance of staying competitive. If Marty or Winter enter the runoff battered and bruised Eric could slip in as an alternative to the nastiness fomented by Winter or Chavez during the first election.

Against Marty, Eric would make the run-off be a referendum on the incumbent and a campaign against the nastiness Marty showed towards Brad. If running against Winter, Griego could solidify the democrat base against the Republican base and fight with Winter for moderate votes.

There are, of course, a lot of subplots here that certainly can throw a wrench into any of this. For instance, will Judy Espinosa effectively steal away just enough progressive votes from Eric to make him miss the runoff? Also, what will Eric do during August to affect the inevitable Brian Sanderoff/Albuquerue Journal late August/early September poll that will let us know where the Mayor’s race stands? If Eric is below, say 15% in that poll, he’s in trouble and the media will focus on the two-man race b/w Winter and Chavez. Will Eric continue to raise money and can he run an effective campaign? Will this campaign reveal the truth about the effectiveness of the Soltari consulting firm? Who will run the best, most innovative, smart campaign? How will Winter run in a way to capture both the GOP faithful and moderate republicans? What will be the ultimate role of the NM GOP in the race—outside interest (attack) group or joined at the hip with Brad?

Just some thoughts on a lazy Saturday. ..

With Judge Roberts on the Court, I Guess We'll Have That Baby Now

2005-07-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

After the announcement that President Bush will nominate conservative justice John Roberts to the court the structure of the Supreme Court will certainly change and many national issues will be affected.

But closer to home, a friend of mine called with the news and showed why the nomination of Roberts to the Supreme Court has a direct, personal effect on many that we don't always realize.

"With this Roberts thing, my husband and I are are moving up the plans for the baby" my friend said in a panic. In her opinion, if she and her husband don't have the child they want to have in the next year they risk going through a pregnancy under the reality of a new Supreme Court that will change the choices available to young parents today. More conservative judges on the Supreme Court will result in the inevitable roll-back of laws that provide parents with any reproductive choices.

"What if there's problems, I mean, with the baby? These guys on the Court don't care." Her fears are valid. Conservative jurists like Roberts feel that there is no justification for the termination of a pregnancy at an point, despite the heath of the mother, despite the health of the baby.

Times are changing and intelligent, informed observers of the political atmosphere are in the position of making very difficult decisions. Welcome to the new reality.

Patricia Madrid-Running or Not?

2005-07-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

The speculation around whether attorney General Patricia Madrid will run or not run for the 1st Congressional District increased yesterday as invitations to a fundraiser for Madrid's Political Action Committee, "Justice for America" hit New Mexicans' mailboxes.

For someone planning to run for Congress, it is unusual to start raising money for their political action committee as opposed to raising money to run for Congress. Madrid had a total balance of $126,000 in her PAC account as of the end of May. So why does she need more?

More importantly, Madrid's PAC is a soft-money PAC that is not allowed to contribute or "play" in federal races. McCain/Feingold places strict limits on spending money like this in anything related to a federal race. So, clearly this is a PAC meant to be used in New Mexico state elections and not federal elections. If she runs for Congress and attempts to spend her PAC money to bolster her Congressional bid, she will fall under serious scrutiny.

Just looking at those factors seem to point to Madrid not running in a U.S. House race and limiting herself to in-state activities. Also affecting Madrid's decision is the Green Party's interest in getting involved in the 1st CD race, especially if Madrid is the democrat's nominee. The Green Party still harbors ill-will towards Madrid after, as AG, she opined against the Green Party in various situations that reduced their party status.

So, is Madrid focusing on another race?

Liberal talk radio catching on in Albuquerque

2005-07-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

Joe Monahan's blog posted the other day (link) some information on the "Arbitron" ratings for radio stations in Albuquerque. Arbitron surveys radio listeners and analyzes the percentage of radio listeners listening to particular stations. (link)

Joe correctly noted that KKOB talk radio is # 1 in Albuquerque and liberal talker KABQ 1350 AM is a surprising #2 in the talk radio market. KABQ features national shows like Al Franken and Randi Rhodes.

But looking deeper into the numbers you find that KKOB lost some listeners over the last few months while KABQ has doubled its listenership since the winter. Pretty interesting, one has to wonder what liberal listeners were tuning into before KABQ came along.

Newsweek Reports that Rove was the Leaker

2005-07-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

Newsweek Weekly has reported that White House aide Karl Rove was indeed the person who leaked the name of an undercover CIA agent to the press. (link)

So, in a time when national security is of upmost importance, The Republican White House is jeopardizing our national security by revealing the identity of CIA secret agents working on our behalf. Terrific.

Let's see how many Republicans dare to call for his resignation.

NM GOP/Winter Look Silly With E-Mail Story

2005-07-08T03:47:00.000-07:00

If there ever was a ridiculous, internal campaign story that doesn’t matter one iota to the voting public it is the story that ran for a few days in the Albuquerque Journal about the Sate GOP complaining that Mayor Martin Chavez’s campaign may have found a way to get the Republican’s email list. See "GOP Fear Database Breached" (link) Apparently, Republicans across the state are receiving emails from Chavez’s campaign, which in itself seems to be offensive to the State GOP and warrants a criminal investigation.

Whoa! Send in the National Guard! Maybe US Attorney David Iglesias should be brought in to prosecute the alleged copying-and-pasting of Republicans’ emails. . . .

Seriously, who cares? What’s next, allegations that Chavez is stealing Winter’s yard signs?

Chavez offered a completely plausible explanation for the fact that he has Republican emails—he has Republican supporters that are, presumably, on various republican lists and gave him those emails. The Republicans have offered no explanation and no reason to accuse Chavez other than he is emailing Republicans. Is that a crime? In the Albuquerque Journal articles, the State GOP seems to suggest that somehow there was hacking or breaking-in or something criminal involved, but no evidence was provided in public reports to substantiate that.

This represents the second attempt by the state GOP to attack Marty Chavez on behalf of City Councilor Brad Winter, who is also running for Mayor and is recipient of the State GOP’s support. The first being their attempt to defend Winter against recorded phone calls against Winter on the voter i.d. issue.

In an earlier post about Winter, I noted the fact that Mayor Chavez appears to really want to be Mayor and Winter seems to have been pushed into running by the State GOP and doesn’t really, really want the Mayor’s seat. Marty’s campaign effort, whether he lifted emails or not, looks more aggressive in these recent stories and Winter looks more and more like a whiner.

The NM GOP’s insistence on pursuing this story is hurting their candidate. They are further establishing the fact that Marty is an aggressive campaigner who seeks votes from members of all parties which, in turn, makes him look more independent and less tied to a Party. Meanwhile, the Republican Party’s effort to push this story hurts Winter’s moderate image and makes him look more and more like a pawn of the Republican Party. Maybe winter should stop complaining and show voters what he’s doing to draw votes from all political persuasions?

Better yet, Brad Winter might consider asking “experts” at the State GOP to stay out of his race.

Are we being set-up on the Gonzales nomination?

2005-07-07T05:57:00.000-07:00

Call me conspiratorial, but I 'm just wondering if we are being set-up by the President.

If you notice, hardly 2 hours after Justice O'Connor announced her resignation, conservative groups immediately denounced the potential nomination of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to the post on the basis that he wasn't conservative enough.

Is this a tactic of the White House? Make sure the message gets out that Gonzales is too conservative, so when the Democrats in the Senate accuse him of being conservative while considering his nomination, the Republicans and the White House can point to all the conservative groups that coincidentally have come out and said that he's not conservative enough?

Notice how Gonzales hasn't exactly come out and said, "I enjoy being Attorney General and what to finish the job I was just recently appointed to." He's left the door open to his nomination to the Supreme Court.

Given that the White House has planned out their Supreme Court strategy for months, do you think they aren't orchestrating this whole thing in concert with these Conservative organizations?

Something to ponder . . . .

Trouble Brewing for Pearce and Wilson?

2005-06-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

In this off-election year, many spend a lot of time reading the polls to try to figure out which party enters the upcoming election year with an advantage.

New Mexico Reps Heather Wilson and Stevan Pearce are probably already a little concerned that the President, to whom they successfully connected themselves during their reelections in in 2004, is facing serious trouble in his approval ratings with voters.

But even more worrisome for Pearce and Wilson are the polling numbers that show that voters around the nation are more likely to vote for a Democrat for Congress than a Republican. It's not unusual for Democrats and Republicans to trade-off or fare equally in the question, "if the election for Congress were held today would you vote for a Republican or a Democrat?" as they did in 1998 or 2004. In 2002, the GOP led in this question by a couple of points and in 2000 , the dems led by a couple of points on election day. Either way, this question is indicative of how much voters want to "throw 'da bums out" of Congress.

But recently, dems have broken away with 5-7 point leads over Republicans on the question over whether voters would support a democrat or a republican for Congress next year. Even more interesting, an ABC News/Washington Post poll shows, over time, that a majority of voters want to vote for someone besides their current representative.

It's hard to trust one or two individual polls, but when a bunch of them are all trending in the same direction, there tends to be some merit to their results.

For Pearce and Wilson, being an incumbent Repubican running in a competitive swing district is not not the best place to be when voters are looking for a change in Congress and are unhappy with the Republican President.

You can find a lot of this information on the Polling Report website that gathers polling information from around the nation. (link)

White House Pushes Domenici Around

2005-06-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

Senator Pete Domenici switched his position on an important amendment to the Energy Bill on climate change this week. After indicating he would support Senator Jeff Bingaman's amendment he suddenly switched his position at the last minute after meeting with Vice president Dick Cheney. (link)

Either Pete Domenici is pushover or the White House has absolute control over Domenici and Republicans in the Congress.

You be the judge.

Cummings Joins Other Republican Officials Lacking Moral Values

2005-06-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

I noted the other day the hypocrisy of the Republican Mayor of Spokane, Washington who allegedly tried to hand out jobs to potential gay suitors and at the same time supported an anti-gay agenda.

With all the talk of morality and such coming from the President and in the aftermath of the 2004 elections, it is always entertaining to reflect on the morality of the GOP's elected officials. Albuquerque City Councilor Tina Cummings was exposed for lying on candidate questionnaires about her past DWI. Not only did she lie, but she committed a crime and tried to hide it from voters. Not very moral. . .

Republicans who preach morality and run on moral issues often forget to bring themselves in line with the values they claim to promote. They've tried to tar democrats as immoral, when looking at the record, you see that modern-day Repubicans are morally challenged and are often the liars, cheaters and stealers. A list of prominent Republican national politicians who have shown themselves as morally challenged follows:

REP HENRY HYDE (D-Illinois):Hyde chaired the House Judiciary Committee which impeached President Clinton, and served as the chief prosecutor of President Clinton in the Senate trial. Hyde claims to be the "conscience" of the House, but concealed his own affair and called for an FBI investigation of the source when it was revealed. He claims to champion "family values", but his five-year affair with a married woman named Cherie Snodgrass broke up her marriage. Meanwhile, Fred Snodgrass, the jilted husband, told Salon: "These politicians were going on about how he should have been on the Supreme Court, what a great man he is, how we're lucky to have him in Congress in charge of the impeachment case. And all I can think of is here is this man, this hypocrite who broke up my family." Hyde called the affair a "youthful indiscretion," (although he was just about as old as Clinton). He supports the political "death penalty" for President Clinton's affair, but claims a "statute of limitations" for his own.

REP NEWT GINGRICH (R-Georgia):Gingrich just finished another divorce on charges of adultery and has remarried a former aide in Congress. This is nothing new. Although opposed to President Clinton on most issues, he does agree that "oral sex is not sex." According to Newt campaign worker Anne Manning, in 1977 she gave Newt oral sex while he was still married to his first wife. She told Vanity Fair, "we had oral sex. He prefers that modus operandi because then he can say, 'I never slept with her.'" In another example of "family values" he presented his first wife (his high school math teacher) with divorce papers in her hospital bed while she recovered from cancer surgery.

REP BILL THOMAS (R-California):This 11-term Republican is chair of the Ways and Means subcommittee on Health, and she is a powerful lobbyist for health-care companies. In June, the Bakersfield Californian reported that Thomas, who is married, was having an affair with healthcare lobbyist Deborah Steelman. In an "open letter to friends and neighbors" (voters), Thomas did not deny the relationship, but said during his legislative career, "I have never let my public decisions be influenced by any factor other than what I thought was best and right on your behalf ... Any personal failures of commitment or responsibility to my wife, family, or friends are just that, personal. I have never traded a public responsibility for a personal one and I never will."

Former REP BOB LIVINGSTON (R-La.):Livingston was chosen to replace Gingrich as Speaker of the House. But to the horror of fellow Republicans, Livingston turned out to be an even bigger public relations nightmare than Newt. While Congress plowed ahead in their investigation of President Clinton's infidelities and Livingston prepared to take over the Speakership, Bob suddenly admitted that he had committed adultery "on occasion." Then the press discovered there had been quite a few occasions. A day later he dramatically announced he would resign, saying he wanted to set an example for President Clinton to follow.

REP DICK ARMEY (R-Texas):Dick was the second most-powerful man in the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader. A former college professor, Dick has been accused by The Dallas Observer of sexually harassing female students.

FORMER REP BOB BARR (R-Georgia):House Judiciary Committee member Barr was the first Representative to call for President Clinton's impeachment - even before the Monica Lewinsky story broke. In 1992, Barr was seen licking whipped cream off the chests of two women in bustiers at a benefit for the Leukemia Society. [Source: The Washington Post - May 29, 1996 and May 30, 1996] As for his "family values," this sponsor of the Defense of Marriage Act has been married three times -- his second divorce involved a trial in which he lied about his long-term adulterous relationship with a woman named Jerri Dobbin, whom Barr eventually made his third wife. After the divorce, Barr's child support failings led his ex-wife Gail to provide details of her abortion to Larry Flynt. Gail reported that Barr, one of the most militant abortion opponents in Congress who would outlaw all abortions, actually paid for her abortion.

REP DAN BURTON (R-Indiana):The Chairman of the House Government Reform & Oversight Committee. He hates President Clinton so much that he publicly called him a "scumbag". Following an expose, Burton was forced to admit that he fathered an out-of-wedlock child, a fact he denied for years. Still, he has yet to admit that during 38 years of marriage he has committed adultery with dozens (or perhaps hundreds) of women, sexually assaulted others (including a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood), and kept mistresses on his campaign and public payrolls - to the tune of at least a half-million dollars.

REP CHARLES CANADY (R-Florida):Judiciary Committee member. A leading opponent of abortion, Canady lied to his constituents about his adulterous affair with Sharon Becker, which caused her divorce from Florida businessman Robert Becker.

REP HELEN CHENOWETH (R-Id.):In her 1998 campaign, Chenoweth admitted to a six-year adulterous affair with a married associate. In 1995, Chenoweth had denied the affair when asked about it by The Spokane Spokesman-Review, but now she claims a pardon from a higher authority: "I've asked for God's forgiveness, and I've received it," she revealed.

REP SUE MYRICK (R-NC):Myrick describes herself as a "devout Christian." In 1989, Myrick was running for a second term as Charlotte mayor when news reports revealed that she committed adultery with a married man in 1973. Myrick admitted the adultery and won reelection.

REP KEN CALVERT (R-Ca):Calvert is a champion of the Christian Coalition and its "family values." But he was sued as an alimony deadbeat by his ex-wife. He also said "We can't forgive what occurred between the President and Lewinsky." But in 1993 he was caught by police receiving oral sex from a prostitute and attempted to flee the scene.

REP JOHN PETERSON (R-Pa):Peterson has been accused of sexual harassment and creation of a hostile work environment by six women. Peterson has refused to admit a crime, saying only "I may have been an excessive hugger."

SEN. BOB PACKWOOD (R-Ore.):Less than three weeks after Packwood narrowly won a fifth term, the Washington Post on Nov. 22, 1992, reported allegations from 10 female ex-staffers that Packwood had sexually harassed them. The Post had the story before the election, but didn't run it as Packwood had denied the charges. With the story now out in the open, Packwood said that if any of his actions were "unwelcome," he was "sincerely sorry." He then sought alcohol counseling. But his longtime feminist allies were outraged, and with more women coming forward with horror stories, there were calls for his resignation. It wasn't until September of 1995 when, faced with the prospect of public Senate hearings and a vote to expel, Packwood announced his resignation.

Spokane Mayor Scandal Sheds Light on GOP hypocrisy

2005-06-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Spokane Mayor Scandal Sheds Light on GOP Hypocrisy

Here is a great editorial on the recent troubles of the Republican Mayor of Spokane, Washington who allegedly offered jobs and other perks to lure gay men.

www.anistonstar.com/opinion/2005/as-insight-0612-0-5f10q0232.htm

Not surprisingly, as a State Legislator, he offered a law to ban gays from working in schools or day care centers. Not only is this guy unethical, but appears to bash his own.

Wonder if we have any of these self-hating Republicans in New Mexico?

Wilson Continues Social Security Charade With Taxpayer-Funded Mailer

2005-06-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

Its not written about enough. The Journal, the New Mexican don't report it. For some reason it's accepted practice to the media but for taxpayers, it's outrageous.

You may have received Congresswoman Heather Wilson's mailer "A Report on Strengthening and Protecting Social security" in your mailbox today. Maybe, in the past, you've received one of Wilson's 4-fold, full color mailers that look like a campaign brochure. What you probably didn't realize is that you're paying for it. Heather Wilson has asked you to pay for tens of thousands of dollars for these mailers.

U.S. House rules allow members of congress to send mail to constituents printed and paid for by taxpayers as long as it appears to be important information for constituents on what's going on in Congress. When you think of it that way, its pretty benign--we send someone to Congress, they report back to us on what's going on in DC and we let them pay for that practice because it's a constituent service.

Back in the day, many of you will remember that former Congressman Steve Schiff sent mail from Washington to constituents informing them on goings-on in Congress. But that was nothing like Wilson's mailer. Schiff, ever the policy-wonk, printed his messages, single spaced on 8 1/2 x 14 letterhead--not on glossy, campaign-like mailers.

In the last few years, some congresspeople, like Wilson have decided to push, um, let's say, the edge of the enveope with these mailers by pushing an agenda instead of just informing constituents. Is there any reason Wilson can't try to save us some money and mail this information on a regular sheet of letterhead? Steve Schiff did it.

Today's mailer is a good example of a political mailer masquerading as an official government mailer. Heather's mailer is quite obviously an attempt to insulate herself from attacks on her Social Security position. Heather has flip-flopped on the privatisation issue and has, in the last few months, directly avoided answering the privatisation question--are you for or against the president's proposal? (See my earlier post on Wilson's Social Security position)

You'll notice in Heather's mailer that there is no mention of the word "privatization." Amazing that she can devote a whole mailer on the issue of social security and what congress is doing about it and not mention privatisation. . .

That's because she wants to avoid the issue, and the mailer is meant to persuade people that she really, really cares about social security and is really interested in the issue. But she says precious little about the current proposals before Congress. How is that informing constituents and how is this a worthwhile expense of taxpayer money? It's incredible that she can devote a whole mailer to Social Security and not mention her position or current proposals or what's she's going to do about it.

The real story on this is that Wilson has found a way, through the House rules, to send campaign mailers (that serve the same purpose of a campaign mailer--persuading voters) at no expense to her campaign and with the appearance of an official mailer from Congress.

It's deceptive, it's a waste of taxpayer funds and the mainstream media should do its job and report on this unethical practice.

For those of you who flow this blog or follow Wilson's terrible position on privatisation, you'll notice that she mentions in this mailer her same old line that "the Government should not invest Social security funds in the stock market." As you all know, this is smoke and mirrors--no one is talking about allowing the government to invest the funds in the market. The discussion in DC is about allowing individuals to invest their Social Security funds in the market. Its a big difference and the essentce of Wilson's deceptive position on the issue.

BRAC politics gets worse with Wilson

2005-06-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

Heather Wilson represents the 1st Congressional District, consisting of Albuquerque and a couple of its surrounding areas. Last time I checked she didn't represent Clovis, NM. Congressman Tom Udall represents Clovis.

But in the warm up to the battle to fill Pete Domenici's Senate seat in 2008 (when he presumably retires) Wilson is making frequent forays into Congressional districts that aren't her own to try to raise her state-wide profile.

She took it upon herself last Friday to head out to Clovis and let people know how she feels about the closure of Cannon Air Force Base and offer, basically, nothing new to the discussion on how to keep Cannon but to get her mug in front of Clovis community leaders. Read the article in the Clovis News (link).

Wilson almost looked disappointed the other day when the Defense Department announced that Kirtland Air Force Base wasn't on the list for closure: disappointed that she wouldn't have an issue in the upcoming congressional race that would profile her military background. So, she heads for Clovis. Somehow, I think there's enough for her to do in Albuquerque.

2nd District Congressman Stevan Pearce must be waiting for the inevitable Wilson trip to Alamogordo and Holloman Air Force Base where they will be the beneficiary of her, ahem, tremendous knowledge. Pearce, who has run for the U.S. Senate and is undoubtedly looking at the Domenici seat, is already stewing from a recent Wilson trip to Southern New Mexico and Las Cruces conveniently scheduled while Pearce was out of the state on vacation.

I can't think of another state where members of Congress travel regularly to other members' districts on Congressional business. But, I guess things are different in New Mexico.

If good taste and tact were issues in the 2008 Senate race, Wilson would already be at a disadvantage.

City of Santa Fe Elected officials' travel--is it really that big of a deal?

2005-06-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

The Santa Fe New Mexican ran a story on Saturday (link) regarding the travel budgets of Santa Fe's elected officials. It was a front page, above the fold type of story that the New Mexican played as some sort of miracle of investigative reporting on our horribly unethical elected officials.

Apparently Santa Fe's City councilor, Mayor and municipal judge traveled on City business to a variety of locales to promote the city, attend conferences, etc.. .

This might be a real story if the officials had spend $100,000 of taxpayer money and gone to Aruba or played Pebble Beach golf Course several times -- which is what you expect when you hear that there might be some intrigue behind the Mayor's travel.

But in this case, it's almost a laughable story. The Mayor, who was the big spender, has spend a little over $8,000 in travel since July, 2003. The highest spending councilor came in at about $7,500!

If there is any story here, it is how little these people are traveling. Isn't Santa Fe's economy based on tourism? Doesn't Travel and Leisure Magazine rank it year after year as one of the top 5 travel destinations in the U.S? I would imagine that the Mayor and Representatives of the City should be traveling around the nation promoting Santa Fe and all it has to offer.

The New Mexican also seems to dislike the fact that they are traveling to trainings and traveling to Washington to lobby for Santa Fe projects. What's so bad about that?

The New Mexican should be able to find better investigative stories than this.

Mayoral Candidate Brad Winter--or the art of talking without saying anything

2005-06-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

Is Winter the GOP’s Phil Maloof?

There’s nothing quite as distressing as listening to a candidate who’s dragged into a race trying to convince himself it is the right thing to do. But that’s what I did when I tuned into today’s 4:00pm KAGM (106.3 FM) interview of Brad Winter shortly after City Councilor Winter announced his candidacy for the Albuquerque Mayors race today.

Listening to Brad, who I earlier wrote lacks substance, brought back visions of Phil Maloof -- the former State Senator who ran against Heather Wilson for Congress in 1998. Phil was a nice guy, good looking, personable, but had a difficult time with articulating his position on issues. The same could be said for Brad. All hair, no substance.

You see, Brad is the GOP’s last ditch effort to run a candidate against Mayor Marty Chavez. From accounts on this and other Albuquerque blogs, Winter was coaxed into the race by prominent Republicans. It’s obvious they chose this guy for his profile, not for his views (or lack thereof).

Right off the bat, early on in the interview, Winter was asked why he’s running. Winter said, because “I’m an option” for voters and “I’m viable.”.

An option? Is that all you have to say? What happened to coming out of the gate with a platform, a new vision for the city, an issue?

This is Winter/GOP speak for “I’m not Marty”

Listen, you can’t win a major race on the concept of “I’m not the other guy.”

Most candidates will rattle off a couple of issues they care about or talk about their big plans for the city. Not Brad, he doesn’t seem to have any.

Winter goes on in the interview to discuss the problems with the recently passed City budget that the mayor pushed through council. As many know, the Council allegedly failed to meet a deadline for activity on the budget which automatically made the Mayor’s budget law, in a sense.

Winter then went into detail about how he was disappointed in the process didn’t like the Mayor’s budget, etc. . . . Even after being baited by the talk show’s hosts to complain about the current administrations behavior during the budget, when asked if Marty’s Administration mislead the Councilman, Winter said, “no”

C’mon Brad! Show us some spine, some passion, some actual emotion to show that you really care about this stuff!

Nobody wants a pushover for their Mayor. Complaining that the current mayor doesn’t talk to you enough, doesn’t involve you enough and doesn’t kiss your ring enough, doesn’t fly. Winter seems to forget that he’s President of the Council and needs to show some backbone and stand up for something. Also, is the budget entirely the Mayor’s responsibility? What does it say about a Council President that appeared to be asleep at the wheel when the budget sat on his desk? Mayors are, by their nature, hands-on. They deal with water, sewer projects, paving roads, neighborhood issues. They aren’t US Senators or diplomats. People like their Mayors to be proactive and aggressive.

Not to mention about the last thing that wins you votes is the discussion about something that bores voters like the budget.

Winter complained about funding the Balloon Museum and the Chinese Pandas at the zoo. Winter clearly doesn’t grasp the concept that maybe people want these things and that’s why Marty asked for them to be funded. Think about it, Winter, what’s more interesting to voters: the City Hal intricacies of the budget process or getting a new museum or a couple of cute pandas in town?

Winter and the NM GOP don’t seem to understand that they are running a guy with vague positions and good looks against Mayor Chavez who is going to rattle off every improvement project he’s helped with during eight years as Mayor and talk about some concrete plans for the next four. How do we know that, because he’s already doing it, and Brad isn’t.

Some other great winter vague, non-positions:

“I think we need good water program” You don’t say, Brad. Think you might have one?

“I’m not sure where I stand” on Councilor Mayer’s voter id bill. Isn’t this the Republicans' giant, big-time pet issue and you don’t have a position!!

Finally at the end of the torturous interview, Winter was asked why he was running and why he announced for mayor and given one last chance by the show’s hosts to put out his message.

Winter said he had three reasons:

1. Because I have relationships with people and I can work with people.
2. I’m a Neighborhood Guy.
3. I’m honest

That’s it, I swear.

Pretty light stuff, Brad.

Finally, to demonstrate even more that Winter’s campaign is not what it is cracked up to be, winter’s announcement didn’t even make the KKOB-AM news at 4 or 5pm. Not a good sign.

Why Isn't the Energy Bill the Talk of the Town?

2005-05-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

We’ve heard a lot during the last couple of weeks about the judicial nominations fight in the Senate, deals stuck between democrats and Republicans, and other issues. But why isn’t the energy bill the talk of the town? Why isn’t it on the front page of the Albuquerque Journal, above the fold? Why aren’t the tv news stations reporting what is a such an important issue?

New Mexico US Senator Pete Domenici, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and New Mexico US Senator Jeff Bingaman, Ranking Democrat on the Committee have joined forces in bi-partisan fashion last week to pass a comprehensive Energy Bill through committee almost unanimously. (link)

Isn’t that significant? Isn’t it important for New Mexico that its two Senators have managed to move a major, major piece of bi-partisan legislation through the U.S. Senate during a time of some pretty nasty partisanship?

Energy may not be as much of a publicity-generating issue as stem cell research or judicial fights, but it wasn’t long ago that California was experiencing major blackouts, Remember? We all are aware of the current oil issues. This bill will guide U.S. energy policy for the next 10 years and it's an acomplishment for these two Senators.

Energy is one of those things people don’t think about much unless something goes wrong. If Jeff and Pete pass their Energy Bill, we will hopefully have less to worry about.

Now,Brad Winter for Mayor?!

2005-05-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

I posted information yesterday from ABQ conservative blogger Mario Burgos' site (link) that former City Councilor Mike McEntee is running for Mayor of Albuquerque.

Now I hear, via Jim Scarantino's blog (link) that Councilor Brad Winter is being pushed into the race by people like Heather Wilson and Pete Domenici.

The popular opinion is that there are 4 or more Democrats (including the incumbent Mayor) running and the entrance of one Republican would bring that candidate a substantial number of votes just based on the fact that they are Republican (although, this didn't seem to work for republican Mike McEntee in the 2001 Mayors race when the NM GOP endorsed him and he only received 11% of the vote).

It's not that simple. Take a poll today, and Marty Chavez could be identified by 90% of the electorate. On the other hand, Winter could be identified by about 11%.

A quick quiz: name one thing Winter has done as a City Councilor . . . . . . . . . . . I think I made my point.

People know what they are getting with Mayor Chavez and they've liked it enough to elect him twice. Whether you like his personality or not. Marty has run on being a crime fighter and an administrator and he runs well with moderates in the near heights and the West side. Not to mention, he has spent a lot of time bringing Republican donors to his side.

Winter has to do the heavy lifting here. He has to bring his name identification up and let voters know who he is and has to hope that Marty and others don't define who he is first. He also has to tolerate people digging into his personal life and his record (or lack thereof). I wonder if Winter's heart is really in for a tough race like this. He's been the Republican's dream candidate for a while and apparently needed a lot of convincing to get into the race. So, is this guy really ready to run? Does he really want to be Mayor?

Who knows whether McEntee will enter the race or not. Certainly ultra-conservatives want him to. If he gets in and runs against Winter, it could get really interesting. . .

Great Guns! Mike McEntee is running for Mayor?!

2005-05-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

Break out the Constitution ladies and Gentlemen. . .

Mario Burgos, a radical conservative local blogger,(link) triumphantly proclaimed that Mike McEntee is running for Mayor. I guess this is something we are supposed to be excited about. Oh, okay, I'm game, thank god Mike McEntee has jumped into the race to save us all. .. . finally I will be able to walk the streets of Albuquerque with my assault weapon and my son can bring one to school!

Before Republicans begin patting themselves on the back or breaking out the champagne glasses (do Republicans even drink champagne? It is, after all, French…) let’s take a fond look back at a sample Mike McEntee’s record:

1. Law Breaker -- Violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that prevents public employees from entering partisan elections. Mc Entee appealed all the way to the Appeals court on this one, and lost.
2. Received 11% of the vote in the 2001 Albuquerque Mayors race, even after being endorsed by the NM GOP.
3. Was the lone dissenting vote on the Council against a provision that would allow the forfeiture of the homes of parents that host beer parties for teenagers at their home. (link)
4. Believes that school officials should be armed. (link)
5. Believes that “most people in Albuquerque would like to retain their constitutional right to carry a concealed weapon.” (link)

This is just a sample of Mike’s extraordinary record. Go on the internet and you’ll find that this guy is a favorite of the radical gun-nut crowd and the property rights crowd. The Gallery of Guns(link), the First Amendment Center (link)Freedom.org (link) But voters should be aware of McEntee’s far-out conservative perspective and be aware that extreme groups think this guy is their man.

If I was a republican political consultant, I would realize that crime is down in Albuqueruqe and it is doubtable that the Mayor’s race will be a debate about guns or private property rights. It wil be interesting to see how they try to package this guy (or soften him up). Most likely, they will talk about him being pro business, and showcase his kids and his family or something like that. This will be fun to watch.

ABQ Mayor's Race Using the Ballot Initiative

2005-05-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

I read with interest today's story in the Albuquerque Journal about ABQ City Councilor Sally Mayer's proposal to put an initiative on the fall City ballot to require voter id at City polls.

Along with that, Joe Monahan reported today that Republicans are trying to encourage Brad Winter to run for the Mayor's seat. (link)

Popular opinion is that the Albuquerque Mayor's race is a lock for Mayor Chavez because there is no candidate running from the right. All the candidates are clustered to the left. So, if you are a Repubican voting in the ABQ Mayor's race, the most conservative choice at this moment is Marty Chavez. So, Marty stands to not only capture Republican votes but should bring a certain number of dems to the polls.

Republicans have used ballot initiatives in other states to drive out republican voters to the polls. In other words, when the candidates alone cannot bring out the conservative vote, they put an initiative on the ballot against gay marriage, abortion or something like that and you may entice Republicans to the polls even more. Daily Kos has blogged to the contrary, that ballot initiatives didn't matter in '04 (link) but popular opinion after the election was to the contrary.

So, are Republicans doing work now to sway the Mayor's race in their favor? Mayer's ballot initiative on voter id is one of those clearly partisan issues the Republicans find polls well and makes the democrats look bad. There are few better scare tactics than telling voters that people are voting illegally around the state. Although, there were no reported cases of voter fraud in 2004 -- even with the Republican US Attorney, David Iglesias forming a highly-publicized task force on the issue. Scaring people gets them to the polls.

Republicans understand the populist appeal of ballot initiatives and are frustrated by restrictive New Mexico state laws that make ballot initiatives relatively difficult to get on the ballot. That's why Representative Greg Payne attempted to change our State's ballot initiative rules to make it easier to put initiatives on the ballot during the last legislative session.

Wal Marting w/Mario

2005-05-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

Mario Burgos, local conservative blogger has a post describing of abhorant activity between neighborhoods and labor unions to stop Wal Mart (link). Apparently, Mr. Burgos believes that anything that labor unions do is inherently wrong and they are not allowed to discuss the rights of people that work at Wal Mart or discuss the fact that Wal Mart is a bad employer.

Mr. Burgos' defense of Wal Mart couldn't be more timely as the Wal Mart who is fighting the community in Flagstaff, Arizona released a horrible nespaper ad comparing Wal Mart opposition to Nazi book burning. Bad taste for sure.

Here's the link on Wonkette's blog (link). and the story in the Washington Post. (Link)

Mario could maybe find some better industries to pimp for. If only things could be as simple for us as they are in Mario's mind: labor unions, bad -- big industry, good. Community organizing, bad--selfishness, good.

NM Republicans MIA

2005-05-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

The Repubican Party of New Mexico held their convention on Saturday. They re-elected Chairman Alan Weh. Apparently, they had no one else who wanted the job.

Weh was lauded up and down by Party faithful as a successful Chair. Success as defined by filing to win seats in the legilsture in 2004 and relying on the RNC to pull your party through the Presidential election and Heather Wilson's race with a strategy that didn't involve the State Party.

Even more laughable, or embarassing, was the Party's obvious lack of candidates for major races in the state, including Governor and U.S. Senator. The Albuquerque Journal reported today that the Party was thinking of running a physician, J.R. Damron, against Richardson (Damron has never held or run for public office) and David Pfeffer for the U.S. Senate. (link) I'm sure Democrats are eager to run a Senate race against a handle-bar moustached candidate with a mullet (or is that more of a Sammy Hagar hairdo?) that hangs out with the Minutemen. (link)

This is what happens when your party leaders are too old to run for anything, the party is fractured and your bench consists of: a bunch of right wing ideologues who can't get elected statewide (Rep. Dan Foley, Sen. Rod Adair, Bernalillo County Sherriff Darren White, US Attorney David Iglesias) guys who have been in trouble with the law (Representative Greg Payne, Former Rep. Joe Thompson) or former flight attendants (NM Gov. nominee John Sanchez). Where's the Republicans next Pete Domenici or former Gov. Gary Carruthers? Doesn't seem to be any one of that caliber around.

Good luck guys!

Pearce's Sweetheart Land Deal

2005-05-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

It's good to be a friend of Congressman Steve Pearce.

Read the Alamogordo News' story on the Pearce/Rabon Family land swap (link) The Journal ran a similar story, but put it on the last page of the "A" section where no one would see it. The Alamogoro paper will have a more extensive piece on the land exchange on Sunday.

The Rabon family gave thousands to Pearce's two campaigns for U.S. House. What did they get for it? A great deal on some great land near Holloman Air Force Base.

How much did the Rabon clan contribute to Pearce?

Randy $2,133
Jeff $2,583
Tim $2,633
Cheri $1,000

Grand total: $8,349 This info came from (link)

Hopefully everything will get out on this story.

Greg Payne--A bitter, bitter, expanding man

2005-05-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

Some guys don't know when to quit.

State Representative and former ABQ City Councilor Greg Payne now has a blog. (link) Lord help us.

I guess there are second acts in politics, as bad as those second acts may be. Payne's blog seems dedicated to name-calling, trashing elected officials and kissing ass with those he's trying to get in good with. Payne has taken to criticizing Councilor Martin Heinrich's wardrobe, his job, and his family. Nice guy, this Payne.

Anywhere outside of his safe ultra-Republican district, Payne the politician would be subject to a pummeling. Payne's rap sheet is a wonder to many and includes the now infamous coke-can throwing incident (when a drunk Payne threw a full coke can at an unsuspecting bicycle rider from a moving car), a restraining order, various calls to the police, unpaid debts, suspicious ethics as a City Councilor . . . you get the point.

But hey, I'm sure he has found God, and everything should be forgiven.

Payne is obviously bitter as he likely feels he was mistreated in the press during his council term for his various missteps. So, the blog is his revenge, of sorts.

I hope the Republican Party continues to back, support and develop its young leaders like Greg Payne. Democrats could only be so lucky if Greg Payne is what the Republican party has to offer for the future. Heck, The NM GOP should bring back former State Sen. Skip Vernon and former Bernalillo County Assessor Kirk Anderson and run those guys for some Republican offices with Payne. A real Dream Team! (for a prosecutor, at least).

Mad Props to Kate Nash

2005-05-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

Kate Nash is the bomb! It’s always good to have good vibes comin’ your way. Kate wrote about this blog and other fine blogs in her recent ABQ Tribune column. (link) Kate’s the new political reporter at the Tribune. Looks like she’ll do a great job over there too, she’s obviously astute enough to know the importance of these on-line forums. Kate Nelson, watch your back! Just kidding . . .

Pobrecita Heather, Social Security is catching up to you . . .

2005-05-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

Protectyourcheck.org has announced that they will begin running ads on Spanish TV against Heather Wilson’s stance, or lack thereof, on Social Security. (link) The Hispanic population is one group that the President has foun is somewhat responsive to his plans for Social Security.

This brings to the forefront again Heather’s ongoing saga with the Social Security issue that just seems to keep tripping her up, over and over again.

If you haven’t followed it, Heather was caught recently trying to pull a fast one on voters with her nuanced position on the president’s Social Security plan:

Josh Marshall, a noted blogger, (link) revealed that certain Republicans were using the same nuanced position as Wilson on Social Security. Which is, that she is opposed to the government investing Social Security funds in the stock market. This is of course, different from the President’s plan, which is to have individuals invest funds in the market. Having the government invest the funds is not even part of the discussion. But Heather has used semantic gymnastics to avoid the question.

In 1998, Wilson said that she does support allowing individuals to invest Social Security funds in the stock market. Now, apparently she doesn’t. (link)

Wilson got caught in a rhetorical dodge that she still uses today--her press seretary used it the other day on KUNM. No one, and I challenge anyone, can get Heather Wilson on record about the President’s plan. Josh Marshall tried and got into a pretty hilarious exchange with a Wilson press person.

Heather is in a bind because a good number of constituents in her district are seniors who oppose the President’s plans and she needs these seniors to back her reelection. Her revolving position on Social Security is much like her flip-flop recently on Medicaid (see below).

I have to admit I felt some sympathy for Heather while watching the President news conference the other day when he stated he would continue his fight for private accounts. Heather has to be hoping and wishing that this issue will die. I mean, for how long can she hold out using this bogus position?

The bad news for Heather is that now TV ads will begin and she will be asked her position on Social Security and the questions will get tougher as the issue gets hotter. Heather will have to fish or cut bait, as they say. She'll search for the perfect position that loses her zero votes but that can be tough with such a high profile issue. U.S. House Republican Bill Thomas hopes to bring a bill to a vote this summer. Cuidado, Heather.

Pearce feels the Pressure--evades responsibility for plagiarism

2005-05-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

As we posted on the blog the other day, Congressman Pearce did indeed lift material from the Hertage Foundation for his editorials around the state ironically called "Straight talk." The astute reader of the El Defensor Chieftain who unveiled the incident wrote another letter on May 4 recounting another incident of Pearce Plarigism.

From the El Defensor Chieftain:

Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Letters to the editor

Another faux pas
Editor:
This is a footnote to my April 27 Letter to the Editor regarding Rep. Steve Pearce's plagiarism of much of the text in his Defensor Chieftain article on the Republican energy bill.
It appears that his March (19) El Defensor Chieftain article on Social Security was also lifted en masse from other sources — in this case, either the Republican National Committee Points or the National Federation of Republican Women Political Briefing. (I imagine the latter stole it from the former.) Much of the text of the article is identical to text at those sources.
Jan Deininger
Socorro

Pearce appologized for the first incident (link), the Chieftain accepted it and Pearce tried to pass blame on to his Press Secreatry.

Of course this is an embarassment for New Mexico. The Pearce incident was covered in press around the nation.

Funny to watch these Republicans, who are so into "personal responsibility," take no responsibility. Especially when it comes to lying, stealing and cheating. Even better is watching the Republicans allow their staff to take the fall for them. Is Pearce showing a little vulnerability here?

Gimmie that Good 'Ole Independent Media

2005-05-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

KOB-TV BOSS DISMISSES JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY
Regular giver to Heather, Pete
KOB--Working for Who?

Call me old fashioned but I like my journalism and my news clean. There was and I think still is a belief amongst journalists that publicly revealing your political affiliation was taboo. Actually coming out in support of a candidate and aiding that campaign was also out of bounds. Even though their writing or coverage might be slanted they wouldn't tar themselves by actually coming out for a particular candidate. This is because news sources strive for the "independent" label and associating themselves too close to candidates and political parties diminishes that perception among readers/listeners.

This is especially true of political reporters, news directors, program managers and such. I mean, does it really look bad if the traffic reporter at Fox give $25 to a candidate.? No, but should a reporter that writes about politics come out openly by giving money to Senator Domenici?

Mike Burgess, the Vice President and General Manager at KOB-TV seems to have not only put aside professional integrity but has done it several times. Burgess, who is in charge of the programs on Channel 4 (and presumably decides what makes news, how news is formatted, what politician faces appear in news promos, which reporters/anchors are hired, etc. . . ) is a regular, heavy donor to Heather Wilson.

Burgess has donated $2000 to Heather Wilson and $1000 to Senator Domenici. His donations to Wilson go back to 2000. He donated in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections for Heather.

The source for this information is www.tray.com. Go to the donor look-up and search under Mike or Michael Burgess and you'll find it.

This is unusual in New Mexico journalism for sure. One has to ask, if Mike Burgess decides what makes news, does he do it through the lens of someone who supports Heather? I mean, if he's presented a story that speaks negatively of Heather does he choose not to run it, because he doesn't want to hurt someone he supports? Does Heather get special treatment? Does Heather get special access to KOB?

Does this explain why KOB has been so difficult to deal with on the subject of debates during Heather's congressional races.? Sure, KOB has begrudgingly aired debates, but it always appears that they hold them off to the last minute so that they don't reach the early voters and don't air but a few days before election day when their influence is minimal.

Before Michael Burgess writes in complaining, let me offer his likely counter-argument. "I'm just the General Manager/VP, I manage the station and have no impact on the news." alright, let's say we buy that, Mike. Then why do you give to Heather? Is it perhaps because Wilson sits on the House Commerce Committee and broadcasters are interested in influencing her vote on key decisions about communications/broadcast regulations?

That may be another story. Let me get back to the point--Is it ethical for Burgess to give to Wilson/Domenici? Burgess clearly is in charge of the station and he has put himself out not as the behind the scenes, aloof manager of the station but as the public face of KOB. He promos the stations "Working for You" campaign. As I argued above, the appearance of this stinks. Burgess needs to pull back.

Those who watch channel 4 should seriously think again about whether Channel 4 is "Working for You" or working for someone else.

Jeff Garner/Gannon/Guckert

2005-05-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

The ABQ Tribune's Conservative Shrill

Jeffrey Gardner, the Albuquerque Tribune Columnist, bears a striking resemblance in appearance and style to Jeff Guckert/Gannon. You remember him, the Republican operative who was given White House Press pass and lobbed a softball question to the Pres? (link)

His recent column on “Hapless Dems” is just the kind of dribble the White House ordered and Gardner seems to be more than willing to peddle the White House, conservative philosophy that the President is the man with all the great ideas and the dems are nothing but obstructionist. (Link)

If anyone buys this argument, they clearly haven’t given it any thought. Garner for his own part maintains a blissful ignorance of how our government works.

Dems have great ideas, creative ideas, hundreds upon hundreds of bills waiting to be heard. Do the Republicans in the Congress give them a hearing? Absolutely not. Why would Republicans want to hear about innovative health care ideas that increase access to services, cover the uninsured or enhance the quality of our medical services. Why would they want to increase funding to back up their under funded No Child Left Behind Act (that was passed with democrat, obstructionist support). Democrats want to address the deficit, create an economic plan to deal with downturns in manufaturing and shipping jobs overseas. Republicans don't want to talk about that!

Need more Jeff? Ok. Democrats, yes Democrats (Joe Lieberman, to be exact) proposed the Department of Homeland Security. The “obstructionist” Democrats joined the President to pass it.

What Garner and the White House need is a villain, and Dems are the villain. They can't simply get things accomplished on their own, they need to scare Americans and use the dems to frighten them into buying into the President's schemes. They seem to forget that republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House. They run the show! But the President still can’t get what he wants. That’s ineptitude for you.

By the way, what's a conservative like Gardner doing writing for the liberal Albuquerque Tribune? Jeff's column this week is about morality and self-indulgent Americans (link). Now, what can you say about a guy who hates the liberal media, but writes for a liberal paper? Talk about morality and self indulgence. Guess you can throw principles aside as long as someone's sending you a check.

Oh, and Dems have a plan for Social Security.

It’s called Social Security.

Plagiarizin' Pearce

2005-05-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

CONGRESSMAN PEARCE GETS CAUGHT CHEATING BY LOCAL NM PAPER

From Saturday's El Defensor Chieftain on Congressman Steve Pearce:

"To some, this may not seem important, but there are significant legal and ethical questions involved. Equally important, however, we believe his constituents expect the congressman to voice his own thoughts, not parrot someone else's."

What's wonderful about our right-wing politicians these days is their independence of thought, their ability to shun the confines of their party's agenda and strike out on their own and carve new paths into the ideological future.

Yea, right.

If you needed any more evidence that some of our Conservative elected officials (Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce for example), are tools of the conservative interest groups that put them in office, consider Pearce's latest rant he stole, ahem, borrowed, from the conservative Heritage Foundation, as exposed by the Socorro Defensor chieftain.

Here's how it happened .. . .

--Pearce read this Heritage Foundation article by Charli Coon entitled "Congressional Mandates Contribute to Higher Gas Prices" (Link)

--Pearce constructs a column to be sent out to the district (which he calls "straight talk" --no joke) containing paragraphs from the article, not quoted and not indicating that they were lifted from the Heritage article.

--Congressman Pearce Sends the column out to the district, it's picked up by the Socorro newspaper and they run it.

--The paper runs a letter to the editor from an astute reader (who is this person, by the way?) who noticed the verbatim similarities between Pearce's Column and the Heritage Foundation article (Link)

--The Socorro Defensor Chieftain runs their own admission that Pearce's Column was plagiarized, in their professional opinion, and expresses their disgust with the Congressman. (link)

. . . And we all join in and echo that disgust. How many local papers received this column about energy policy? How is it that a Congressman who is from a major energy producing district cannot even express his own original thoughts about a major piece of legislation like the Energy Bill? How lazy, or perhaps uninformed do you have to be? I guess we have the answer. . . Is this Pearce guy ready for prime time?

The real numbers behind the President's Social Security benefits cut

2005-05-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

At his new conference a few days ago, the President basically let the nation know that he's not dropping his fight for social security privatization. If you listened closely to his remarks, he announced that he supports a proposal to cut benefits cuts to Social Security and attempted to emphasize that his benefits cuts were something that would really only hurt high-wage earners. By emphasizing the affect on the upper class, the president sought to gloss-over the affect the cuts will have on middle class families (those that depend on Social Security far more than high wage earners).

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities has a great piece analyzing these cuts. (link) The Washington Post recently wrote about the report.

A worker now earning $35,000/year and retiring in 2055, would see a 21% cut in benefits; a worker earning $58,000 now would see a 31% cut by 2055.

So, how exactly do these cuts only affect the wealthy Mr. President?

Heather has a sickness

2005-04-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

This is just sick. Read Heather Wilson's newsletter talking about her efforts to "preserve funding for our nation's largest health insurance program, Medicaid." (link) Even worse, watch her trot out health advocates and the sick and disabled to front her scam.

This after Wison votes for a $20 billion cut in Medicaid and a $10 billion cut in Medicaid on Thursday.

What's even better is that Heather is spinning that she somehow restored cuts by voting for fewer cuts. So, instead of New Mexico losing $200 million in funding, we'll lose $100 million.

Thanks, Heather, for that.

Unbelievable.

Medicaid Cut, Heather Flops, fippidy-floppidy

2005-04-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

Heather, Heather, Heather,,,,,

The U.S. House last night passed its budget resolution, and , yes, Congresswoman Heather Wilson voted for it. Which means she voted FOR the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Let me say that again. Heather voted FOR the Medicaid cuts-- supported 'em, that's right, and don't believe otherwise. And that, ladies and gentlemen is not only a flip fop, but something like a flip-flop-flip, since she:

1. Voted for the Medicaid Cuts
2. Said she didn't support the Medicaid cuts in a letter to other House members
3. Voted for the Medicaid cuts

You probably won't read this in the Albuquerque Journal, but the Tribune got it: (link)

Heather voted for the original House Budget that contained billions in budget cuts. After she did that, she realized that her vote might be used against her in the campaign. So, then Heather authors a letter with her other House members opposing the cuts that she just voted for. Here's the letter: (link)

Heather used the letter in the media to claim her "indepedence" from the president. That got her a few positve press articles.

Not she's hoping we all didn't see last night's vote for the cuts.

Medicaid, by the way, pays for medical care for our nation's children and seniors. But why would Heather care about them? If you were here in 1998, you remember her claim to fame was putting poor children behind bars. But she's trying to get us to forget that.

What’s even more devious about Heather’s vote is that her vote plus one other would have defeated the Medicaid cuts, but she either didn’t have the guts to do that or doesn’t support Medicaid.

Now Heather is trying to sell to the folks that support Medicaid that she voted against the cuts in a “preliminary” vote . You can’t count heather as one of the independent Republicans that voted against it. Heather did make a chocked, teary-eyed speech on Medicaid on the floor last night. When in doubt, Heather, pull out the water works!

Here's the record:

--Voted for the cuts (H. Con Res. 95—Roll Call Vote #88)

--Issued a letter against the cuts (that she just voted for a few days earlier):If you want to actually read someone who is blatantly trying to pull the wool over our eyes, read Wilson’s letter: Everyone but 9 of the people that signed that letter voted against the Medicaid cuts! Read the letter above.

--Voted for the cuts (H. Con Res. 95—Roll Call Vote #149)

What does this woman believe in? For Medicaid? Against Medicaid? I might have more respect for her if she would just come out and say, “I don’t like the Medicaid program” and vote that way. She'll take the ambiguous path and say she wants to study it . . .

But she knows few people will go to any length to figure this out, most especially the New Mexico media. So, instead, she’s able to get away with it. In the process, she’s able to please everyone. Here's her political strategy on it:

--She pleases the President, the House Republican leadership and GOP activitst by voting for the GOP budget.

--She pleases the Health Care advocates (who support Medicaid) in New Mexico by letting them know (via her letter) how much she opposes these cuts and to ward off their criticism. They got the raw deal on this one.

--She pushes her message that she’s independent by citing her letter, which was in opposition to the GOP budget.

This has been her m.o. for years. Hopefully, people are catching on.

Finally, . . . .

2005-04-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

Cutting through the clutter, as they say, that is New Mexico politcs. I hope to give the reader some alternative perspective on politics in our great state and expose the horrors, praise the truth makers, abolish the spin, etc. . .

Now, let's get boggin . . .