Democracy for New Mexico

Check Out New Defend NM Website

From www.DefendNM.org:
Who We Are, What We Want
An introduction to Defend New Mexico

A small group of New Mexicans is proud to introduce the first online news and analysis website devoted exclusively to New Mexico's congressional lawmakers.

But that's not all. We're stretching out across the state to bring you insight about the diverse culture we love and the desert philosophies we like to ponder.

DefendNM is both a source of information and a team of citizen activists ensuring honest and efficient lawmaking for all New Mexicans.

If you're interested in DefendNM, we encourage you to visit our website at www.DefendNM.org. There you will find the beginnings of what will become an influential, thought-provoking and progress-oriented institution.

We'd also like to encourage all New Mexicans to contribute to our site. Submit your ideas, events, news and commentaries to news@DefendNM.org.

Jerah R. Cordova, Defend New Mexico
www.DefendNM.org

Great TV on Albuquerque Community Cable Channel 27

From Nancy G (who is involved in the mechanics of this broadcast):
Another interesting new program on Public Access Ch 27 is:
EARTH ALERT NM's
"Preserving Enchantment"
It will begin this MONDAY, April 4th, at 7:30 PM
Topic: VALLE  VIDAL Please watch!

From Mickey Bock:
FYI and for any of the blogs, web sites, personal communications you care to include :

Mickey Bock is producing and hosting a live TV-call-in program on Community Cable Channel 27. It begins April 7th at 7 PM.

You can go to, or copy and paste:

https://www.1776wethepeople.com/

This is what it says, nothing fancy:

Your Country, Your World
"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate which would be oppression". (Thomas Jefferson, "First Inaugural Address," March 4, 1801

We The People is an innovative call-in television show looking for TRUTH and TRANSPARENCY in local, state and federal governments. We hope to remind viewers of their legacy and heritage coming from the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution--with the Bill of Rights that gives us our FREEDOM.

Watch us every Thursday 7-8 pm on Community Cable Channel 27. Albuquerque, NM. Call-in or e-mail us and we will try to answer your questions and concerns. Thank you.

https://www.1776wethepeople.com
Contact Information - Email: mickbo@earthlink.net

Preliminary Results of DPBC State Central Committee Election

Preliminary results that could still change are up at the website of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County:

So far, our progressive slate folks have won 23 seats out of the 119 shown for State Central Committee! Of course, as noted, the results are not finalized or official so we don't yet know for sure. But what we do know is that our people won a significant number of seats -- an extraordinary achievement given that many of us are novices in Party politics.

Congratulations to everyone who ran and everyone who helped! And special thanks to Barbara Grothus and Summer McKean for all the terrific help with strategy.

I'll be revisiting this topic when more complete results are in, but for right now I have to say we are cookin' with gas.

Summary of Approved Bernalillo County Resolutions

Terry Riley on the Saturday DPBC meeting and the resolutions that passed:

I tried to get as much information as I could as I attended the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County Central Committee Meeting on Saturday.  We voted on delegates to attend the state Central Committee meeting in Socorro and the results of that voting will not be ready for a day or so.  If you were there you would understand why that takes so long.  Sort of Instant Runoff Voting with no computers.

The following is a summary of all of the resolutions that passed the Central Committee.  These are now the county platform and can influence the state and national platforms.  I think that you will agree that they are refreshingly liberal.  Say it yourself, liberal, liberal, liberal.  Doesn’t that feel good?  I sure like it.

I hope to see you all at the next meetings of New Mexico Democratic Friends and Democracy for New Mexico.

(Click to continuation page to see resolution summary.)

1. Fully Fund New Mexico’s Medicaid program with no further cuts.
2. Support Universal Single Payer Healthcare, to be administered initially by Medicare and funded by an income-based tax levied on ALL citizens of the United States of America.
3. Support full funding of the VA Health Care System.  Provide VA benefits that provide health care at the same level that members of Congress receive.
4. Equal treatment of military forces, including activated reserve and national guard units, as to pay, benefits, medical care, travel, and service related benefits upon return from a combat zone.
5. Request an independent investigation of the Bush administration due to its failure to prevent sexual assault of military personnel and the subsequent retaliation against the victims when they report an assault.
6. Regulate profits from contracts for work and services associated with efforts of war such they do not exceed a reasonable fee;  insure that the awarding of the contracts be done on a fair bidding basis, and that timely audits by an independent body be conducted to insure the contractor is performing as stipulated in the contract.
7. Renounce the use of private contractors to perform military and intelligence functions on behalf of the country, and insist that all military and intelligence activities are performed by armed service personal and government employees.
8. Support our troops.  Oppose the continued military occupation of Iraq, and urges the government of the United States of America to plan immediately for the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq, specify a target date for the completion of the withdrawal which is no later than June 2006, initiate the withdrawal process as soon as possible to signal our good intentions, and announce that the US has no plans for a long-term presence in Iraq, except for that associated with normal diplomatic relations between countries.
9. Oppose any unilateral war against any nation which has not attacked or invaded our homeland unless the community of nations, through the United Nations, is in agreement, and the Democratic Party favors working with the family of nations through the United Nations and other treaties of which the United States is a party.
10. The Democratic Party upholds the obligation to provide to all its citizens a high quality and inexpensive vocational and professional education.
11. Support repeal of the portion of the No Child Left Behind Act that requires schools to allow military recruiters on school sites and provide them access to all students and their contact information.
12. Support mandatory proficiency in a second language as a requirement for graduation from any state-accredited high school in New Mexico.
13. Support of programs and funding for creating a permanent place for mental health professionals with the public school system in New Mexico.
14. Support the impeachment of Tom Delay and communicate this to New Mexico’s congressional delegation.
15. Support legislation, programs and initiatives geared at creating affordable housing, appropriate infrastructure and economic development opportunities for New Mexico Community Land Grants and their heirs.
16. Support the strengthening of the US rail passenger service as an essential part of the transportation system through restoration of the federal budgetary funding for Amtrak.
17. Commit to fill all Ward and Precinct positions by September 1, 2005, adopt a model and manual that instructs its officials and employees on how to supervise, manage and employ its volunteers and the resources which the volunteers bring to DPNM, and to have all county parties instructed in how to organize their volunteers.
18. Support the notion of protecting sustainable agriculture in the South Valley of Bernalillo County.
19. Affirm the true separation of church and state so religious entities are free from control by the state, the state is free from undue influence by religious entities, and the religious liberty of all may be preserved.
20. Oppose any definition of civil marriage that restricts eligibility based on sexual orientation.  Also the DPBC will work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and support the right of all citizens to civil marriage.
21. Proudly raise its collective voice, take a stand to pursue legislation regarding, not only to preserve our valued rights, but to fight on to gain those rights that have not yet been attained in the struggle for a living wage for all work, health care for everyone, beginning with the children), for an atmosphere that prized diversity as a gift rather than a threat, and for a society confident enough in its own strength and respected position among all nations that we can finally make war a sad and evermore distant nightmare.
22. Support the rights of all citizens to be treated equally under the law by supporting legislation which guarantees every citizen equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference, and by supporting legislation which outlaws discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual preference.
23. Call for an immediate and unconditional repeal of the Patriot Act.
24. Add to the platform a commitment that the DPNM will protect the citizens of New Mexico from interference by the President of the US and the US Congress with our right to privacy in our individual choice over our health decisions, i.e., the right-to-die issue and the women’s reproductive choices.
25. Call on all levels of government and our elected representatives at all levels to examine, in light of American ethos and tradition, the manner in which Americans (regardless of economic status of ethnic and religious heritage), foreign visitors, detainees of the War on Terror and prisoners of American jails are treated and to take steps to improve the environment for human rights.  Also that the United States should abide by the Geneva Convention on all issues of the conduct of war, whereas those of other nations (or as individuals) who do not will be treated as war criminals, nor will the US military or any of our nation’s intelligence agencies utilize torture of prisoners or detainees in any manner or at any time whatsoever.
26. Stand united to insure that Social Security will not be reduced, privatized or otherwise diminished, and will be maintained properly to insure a secure, guaranteed base upon which future generations can build a dignified retirement, and vigorously oppose any weakening of Social Security by allowing benefits to be liked to price indexing rather than wages and any diversion of Social Security contributions in to personal private accounts.  Further to support removal of the present income cap on FICA tax so that all citizens pay the same percentage without respect to their total income.
27. Work to enact National Voter Registration standard that ensures the uniformity of voter registration, establishes technology providing for voter-verifiable paper ballot trail as part of the voting equipment, eliminates barriers to voting by expanding the hours of polling, providing mail-in absentee voting and allowing election-day registration, and passes a federally-guaranteed right-to-vote act.
28. Request a special independent commission on election reform be empanelled by Congress that is charged with the examination of the 2000 and 2004 elections and the allegations of abuse, manipulation and voter suppression, and current electoral process-related deficiencies, and that they turn their investigative material over to a special prosecutor, and that such abuses be appropriately addressed with election reform legislation.  All government entities will take responsibility for informing voters of their responsibilities and their rights regarding voting procedures, locations, and any and all changes, not only in a timely manner, but also in a more direct process than the “legal-ads” of privately-owned and published newspapers.
29. Pursue legislation to eliminate the ownership of news media by corporations that sell anything other than news, prohibit the ownership of multiple media outlet by a single company, and require local ownership of newspapers, radio and television stations and to support funding and access for publicly owned multi-media in all areas of the country.
30. Increase the civil and criminal penalties against those in government who authorize the use of government resources to disseminate propaganda, and which categorically prohibits the use of government money and resources to support, in any manner, the creation and dissemination of propaganda.  Also that the FCC require that any government FYI video of film show the disclaimer as part of the film or video.  Further demand that the FCC pay more attention to the public interest and truth and the fairness than spending all of its power on indecency, and to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.
31. Require the Congress to rejoin the Koyoto treaty.
32. Support and establishment and enforcement of a living wage for all New Mexico workers.
33. Require the PERA committee, in no uncertain terms, to administer the investments of PERA in a socially responsible manner.
34. Support the preservation of Otero Mesa.
35. Support the preservation of Petroglyphs.
36. Support the preservation of Valle Vidal.
37. Support the enforcement of the clean air act as it pertains to mercury emissions.
38. Support the reinstatement of CAFÉ standards of 40mpg on all vehicles 1 ton and below.
39. Support the continued enforcement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and opposes the continued development of a new generation of nuclear weapons.
40. Make a concerted effort to conduct outreach and to advertise its annual Ward meetings in order to attract more and diverse citizen participation within the Democratic Party.

Sunday Fighting Illini Bird Blogging

Bosco the peach-faced lovebird is so amped up over the Fighting Illini's decisive win over Louisville yesterday in the NCAA basketball tournament that he insisted we bring him his new Illinois shirt, custom made by Andrea Sterling:

He got all excited about the Illiniwek turtleneck, and insists that it will bring continuing good luck to the U of I team:

Bosco, however, refused to try on the shirt at this point. He insisted that a bird-brain wearing orange and blue Illini gear before Monday's tourney final between Illinois and the North Carolina Tarheels might jinx the outcome. Since he's a big Illini fan (like me) he won't don the shirt until the final buzzer of Monday's game, when he can celebrate what he hopes will be the first Illinois victory in the NCAA tournament in 100 years of Champaign-Urbana basketball.

Bosco ended the shirt session by becoming more interested in the camera than anything else, and he ran toward the lens while peeping Oskee Wow Wow at the top of his lungs:

Old Princeton yells her Tiger,
Wisconsin, her Varsity
And they give the same old Rah, Rah, Rah,
At each University,
But the yell that always thrills me,
And fills my heart with joy,
Is the good old Oskee Wow-Wow,
that they yell at Illinois.

Os-kee Wow-Wow Illinois,
Our eyes are all on you.
Oskee Wow-Wow Illinois.
Wave your Orange and your Blue.  (Rah! Rah!)
When the team trots out before you,
Every man stand up and yell.
Back the team to victory,
Os-kee Wow-Wow Illinois.

He finished with renditions of the Illinois Loyalty song and Hail to the Orange:

Illinois Loyalty:
We're loyal to you Illinois,
We're "Orange and Blue," Illinois,
We'll back you to stand
'Gainst the best in the land,
For we know you have sand, Illinois,
Rah! Rah!
So crack out that ball Illinois,
We're backing you all Illinois;
Our team is our fame protector,
On! boys, for we expect a vict'ry from you Illinois!

Che-he! Che-ha! Che-ha-ha-ha!
Go Illini go!
Che-he! Che-ha! Che-ha-ha-ha!
Go Illini go!
Illinois! Illinois! Illinois!

Fling out that dear old flag of Orange and Blue,
Lead on your sons and daughters, fighting for you;
Like men of old, on giants placing reliance, shouting defiance
Oskee wow-wow!
Amid the broad green plains that nourish our land,
For honest Labor and for Learning we stand,
And unto thee we pledge our heart and hand,
Dear Alma Mater Illinois.

Hail to the Orange:
Hail to the Orange.
Hail to the Blue.
Hail Alma Mater,
Ever so true.
We love no other,
So let our motto be
Victory, Illinois, Varsity.

(And, yes, I really know all the words to these and sang them many times when I was in college at the Big Ten school, U of I. For a time I even sat in "Block I" where you hold up cards to form patterns and words to cheer on the team. Yikes.)

Moss Wins DPBC Chair Election

Marvin Moss, who has been the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County's First Vice Chair for the past two years, won yesterday's election at the County Central Committee meeting at the Albuquerque Convention Center, and will serve as County Chair for the next two years. Moss will take the reins of the County Party from State Senator Linda Lopez, who was unsuccessful in her attempt to retain her post.

The County meeting was packed and chaotic, with disagreements breaking out about how to handle resolutions and when and how to do the balloting for County Chair and membership on the State Central Committee. Registration tables were overwhelmed and credentialing was difficult. Ballots for State Central Committee had to be reprinted and replaced after people's frustrations at the registration tables prompted them to start grabbing ballots instead of waiting to receive them with their packets. There was confusion about rules of order and how motions would be handled on the floor.

Even refreshments were a problem with small bottles of soft drinks and water going for $2.50 from Convention Center vendors. The only food available came in the form of bagels with cream cheese in plastic, again for $2.50. With the meeting running very long, our progressive slate caucus members were starving and pitched in to get pizza brought in, only to have Convention Center staffers complain we weren't allowed to bring in food when the pizzas arrived. Thankfully, we managed to gobble some down before we had to move the pizzas outside the venue!

Still, alot of good exchanges and meetings happened despite the disorganization. Mayor Marty Chavez visited with his new dog, Duke. We heard from mayoral candidates Eric Griego and Judy Espinosa. Marianne Dickinson, running for City Councilor against Sally Mayer in District 7, was out meeting people and animated discussions were everywhere inside the meeting rooms and without.

The day started for us at 8:30 AM with a progressive caucus organized by SeedPAC, NM Democratic Friends and Democracy for New Mexico on the Civic Plaza. Thanks to SeedPAC for the donuts and juice! We ended up with more than 60 people putting their heads together to plan a strategy to win seats on the State Central Committee. A rather convoluted set of rules govern the voting on these seats, and it was a complex process to plan how to use it to our best advantage. I know that a number of our progressive slate members won seats, but we're still awaiting the release of the full list. We're keeping our fingers crossed and we'll put up the list of winners as soon as we get it.

If you attended the County Party meeting, what was your take on things?

Romero To Run for ABQ Mayor?

According to a story on Greg Payne's blog NoPayneNoGain.com, Richard Romero may be contemplating a run for Mayor of Albuquerque. Romero last ran for Congress in CD1 against Heather Wilson. Payne bases this on a phone survey he participated in recently. And here's an update on the story, which includes this paragraph:

Make no doubt about it, judging from the number of first-hand reports received, Romero is actively soliciting support for a mayoral bid -- despite downplaying his intentions in some quarters -- and is making calls to key constituencies pitching his candidacy.

So far, only City Council member Eric Griego has officially announced his candidacy for the mayoral race.  Others reportedly contemplating a run are current Mayor Marty Chavez, Bernalillo County Commissioner Alan Armijo and Judy Espinosa, former secretary for the state Transportation and Environment departments.

DFA's Social Security Radio Ad Runs in ABQ

Democracy for America's Social Security Ad Hits the Airwaves: Radio Ad Highlights Real Stories from Real Americans - Listen to the Ad: Click for mp3

BURLINGTON, VT - Starting today, Democracy for America (DFA) will air a radio ad titled, "Gina and Josephine" in three media markets -- Albuquerque, New Mexico (KABQ 1350AM, Air America) , San Diego, California and Seattle, Washington. It will air in all markets through next week.

"It's important for people to understand the positive impact Social Security has on the lives of millions of Americans -- and these stories, along with the thousands of others that we collected depict that," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. "We must protect this vital system from the destruction of privatization."

The radio ad features true stories from real Americans whose lives have been changed by Social Security. These are just two of the thousands that Democracy for America collected over the past month from activists nationwide. The ad will be complemented by a grassroots action plan among DFA Meetup groups in each city. All the stories are available at Democracy for America's website .

"Gina and Josephine" Script

(BACKGROUND MUSIC) GINA: Hi, I'm Gina. My father died tragically when I was only 7 years old -- leaving my mother to raise me, my younger sister and brother on her own. If it weren't for our monthly Social Security checks for dependent care, my family would not have made it through. Because of Social Security, my sister and I have become productive members of society. I was even able to go to college.

(MUSIC ENDS) ANNOUNCER: Tell your story and learn how you can protect Social Security from privatization, visit: democracyforamerica.com.

(BACKGROUND MUSIC) JOSEPHINE: I am Josephine, one of thirteen siblings. My father was killed in a working accident when I was about eight. My mom died too when I was 12, so my older sister took care of us all. The monthly Social Security checks helped keep our family together. We were poor, but I never knew it - we always had food on the table, clothes on our backs, and blankets to keep us warm during cold nights. Please don't let the elected Republicans take Social Security away from our children. (MUSIC ENDS)

Democracy for America, which was founded by Governor Howard Dean in March 2004, is a political action committee dedicated to building a grassroots network of socially progressive and fiscally responsible activists and candidates running for all levels of office. Through the use of grassroots tactics, coalition building strategies, activist trainings and on-line support, DFA is giving ordinary people the power to reform their own political system.