Democracy for New Mexico

Dean on Meet the Press Sunday

UPDATE: Click to view some video and read the transcript of Dean's appearance.

DNC Chair Howard Dean will be on Meet the Press this coming Sunday. In Albuquerque, see it on NBC channel 4 at 9:00 AM and on cable channel MSNBC at 11:00 PM. Let's hope he gives 'em hell!

An Interview with Greg Palast

Just in time for investigative journalist Greg Palast's appearances in Albuquerque and Santa Fe Friday and Saturday:

The Last Iconoclast: An Interview with Greg Palast, by Tim McGivern, alibi.

Click on the event links under Coming Events on the right-hand sidebar of this page for more info on Palast's events to benefit Voter Action NM.

Council to Hold Special Hearing on Living Wage Ordinance

Editor's Note: This is THE event in support of fair wages in Albuquerque. We need a very large turnout to counteract the misconceptions about this initiative to put the matter to the voters in October and show that the people are in support of Council Martin Heinrich's efforts. If at all possible, please attend, urge your friends to attend and sign up to testify on behalf of the bill.

From Albuquerque Living Wage:
Next Wednesday, May 25, the City Council will hold a meeting just to debate the proposal to let voters approve an increase in the Albuquerque minimum wage to $7.15.  Please join us! 

We need citizens, business owners, and people who believe that we should reward work with a Living Wage to join our crowd of supporters in person and testify to counteract the alarmist business organizations that are fighting the resolution. The meeting will start at 5:00 PM in the City Council chambers in the basement of 1 Civic Plaza.  In order to testify, one must sign up before 5:30 PM

See you there!

Common Cause NM Asks for Our Help in Leveling the Playing Field

From Common Cause NM:
We have been working for publicly financed elections in New Mexico for many years.  Now, we are bringing this fight to the City of Albuquerque to make sure campaign spending does not spin out of control in citywide elections.  To do this, we need help from Common Cause members in the Duke City.  On Monday evening, City Councilor Eric Griego introduced the Open and Ethical Elections Ordinance.  The bill calls for an initiative to be placed on the October 4 citywide ballot that, if passed by voters, would provide for publicly financed mayoral and city council elections.

It is important that we get this initiative on the October 4 ballot so that the residents of Albuquerque can decide how their elections will be financed in the future.  Please contact your city councilor today.  Find your councilor by entering your address and then ask for them by calling the city council office at 768-3100.  Tell them you support letting Albuquerque residents weigh in on public financing for citywide elections.

October's election will be the first without spending limits in over two decades and Albuquerque's mayoral and city council races are on pace to be the most expensive in history.  We believe the Open and Ethical Elections Ordinance is the solution to this problem.  Here's how it works: like public financing mechanisms we've advocated for at the state level, the Albuquerque system would require candidates aspiring to serve on the council or as mayor to demonstrate public support by gathering low-dollar qualifying contributions.  Candidates would agree to voluntary spending limits and agree to spend only publicly allocated funds during their campaigns.

The Open and Ethical Elections Ordinance would level the playing field, allowing ordinary citizens from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to run for office in Albuquerque.  Raising money is a time consuming task that prevents candidates from having more contact with voters.  With public financing of elections in Albuquerque, candidates would be less beholden to big money special interests and have more time to spend talking to voters about the issues.

The Open and Ethical Elections Ordinance is about returning power to where it belongs, with the voters of Albuquerque.  Find your city councilor, call them at 768-3100, and urge them to support this ordinance.

In the coming weeks, you can track the progress of the Open and Ethical Ordinance by visiting our website.

Thank you for all that you do for democracy in New Mexico!

Sincerely,
Matt Brix, Executive Director
Common Cause New Mexico

'We the People' to Focus on Religious Liberty Tonight

WE THE PEOPLE
May 19, 2005 -  Channel 27 - 7 PM

HOST:     Mickey Bock
TOPIC:    Religious Liberty

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, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It is our country's government--based on law and not tyranny--that grants us FREEDOM.

Watch us every Thursday 7-8 PM
Community Cable Channel 27
Albuquerque, NM

Call-in (the number will be flashed on the TV Screen).
Or
E-mail us and we will try to answer your questions and concerns.

Please, forward to Albuquerque area friends and tape the program if you can't be present.

www.1776wethepeople.com
mickbo@earthlink.com\

THANKS FOR WATCHING
Mickey Bock/Judith Binder

Quote of the Day

From Think Progress:

Frist Implodes on Senate Floor

This morning on the floor of the Senate, Sen. Chuck Schumer asked Majority Leader Bill Frist a simple question:

SEN. SCHUMER: Isn’t it correct that on March 8, 2000, my colleague [Sen. Frist] voted to uphold the filibuster of Judge Richard Paez?

Here was Frist’s response:

The president, the um, in response, uh, the Paez nomination - we’ll come back and discuss this further. … Actually I’d like to, and it really brings to what I believe - a point - and it really brings to, oddly, a point, what is the issue. The issue is we have leadership-led partisan filibusters that have, um, obstructed, not one nominee, but two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, in a routine way.

So, Frist is arguing that one filibuster is OK. His problem is that several Bush nominees have been filibustered. This position completely undercuts Frist’s argument that judicial filibusters are unconstitutional. (Which is, in turn, the justification for the nuclear option.) If judicial filibusters are unconstitutional there is no freebee.
**********
There's more on Frist's hypocrisy at the Center for American Progress. These folks are shameless, aren't they?

Also, here's a link to a audio clip of Senator Harry Reid's conference call with Democratic activists today at Kicking Ass .

Governor's Office Responds

From Amanda Cooper, Political Director, Governor Bill Richardson:

Governor Richardson is committed to the Democratic Party of New Mexico and to grassroots organizing.

After reading Barbara Wold's blog entry from May 10th, she and I had a good conversation that I would like to share with everyone. I called her immediately after I read the entry because I was so disheartened to learn that people don’t know how much this Governor has done on exactly the issues Barbara discusses, and I want to make sure you all know as well so that maybe this won’t happen again. Barbara and I have agreed to have better communication so everyone can and will be informed about Bill Richardson’s commitment to this party.

I believe it is important for the Democratic community to understand just how committed Governor Bill Richardson is to the Democratic Party in New Mexico and across the country.

Governor Richardson has taken the lead here in New Mexico and across the country when it comes to the importance of investing and strengthening the Democratic Party. New Mexico is the first state in the country to put grassroots organizers on the ground.  The grassroots organizer program was conceived, developed and funded by Governor Richardson and his organization.  Governor Richardson not only placed the organizers at the Democratic Party, he continues to raise and donate the money for them to work in communities around the state in an effort to help move the party forward.  This is not a DNC program.  The DNC is planning on implementing a similar idea in states, but has not done so in New Mexico as of yet. Many of you have met some of Governor Richardson’s organizers that he has placed at the Democratic Party.  They live in communities all across the state and are spear heading an effort to organize the Party earlier than ever.  Meredith Dixon, Jason Loera, Carlos Trujillo, Irene Parra, Michelle Frost, and our state field director Joaquin Guerra are each committed to building the Party from the ground up.  Governor Richardson is committed to support the party and making it strong in every county.

Moving America Forward was started by Governor Richardson almost three years ago. This organization worked in 5 states as well as many other states where we also ran campaign trainings or held Native American empowerment trainings. Moving America Forward registered 150,000 new voters and turned out almost 1 million people to the polls in 2004.

Governor Richardson was focused last cycle and will be again on encouraging people at the local level to become candidates to run for office at all levels…from School Board, to the Legislature, to County Commissioner, to Mayor, to DA, to Congress, to Land Commissioner.  His political organization invested heavily into the campaigns of Democratic candidates such as Bill O’Neill and John Hooker in Albuquerque, Bob Frost in the Eastern part of the State, newly elected state Representative Hector Balderas in the North, County Chair Jeff Steinborn in Las Cruces, and Dr. Janice Kando in Corrales.  This is just to name a few of the candidates he supported. The Governor helped these candidates as well as many incumbents including Rep. Tom Swisstack in Rio Rancho, Rep. Al Park in Albuquerque, and Rep. Kandy Cordova in Valencia County to name just a few. His political team designed and paid for mail, radio, and cable television ads, helped with campaign plans, targeting, messaging, research, polling, GOTV plans, provided canvassers to go door-to-door, identified supporters, and ran absentee and early vote programs.  The Governor also held fundraisers for numerous candidates and legislators.  This Governor invested over a half a million dollars in helping candidates run for office here in New Mexico just last cycle, over a million dollars registering people to vote, holding campaign trainings, and turning out people to the polls. In addition to New Mexico this same program was run in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Florida.

This Governor raised and spent millions to help others and strengthen the Democratic grassroots in 2004 – when he was not on the ballot.

Election Reform is another example of the Governor’s commitment to making things better here in New Mexico and setting a standard the country can follow. We worked closely with the progressive community, the Legislature, the Secretary of State and many other community activists who care about this issue. Voter verifiable paper trails, a uniform set of criteria to qualify and process provisional ballots; uniform training for all presiding judges and election workers statewide; and a new receipt for the voter when you register to vote.

New Mexico will make voting more user-friendly by placing maps at all polling places so voters can find their correct precincts; allowing voters to drop off their absentee ballots at their polling locations on election day; and providing funds to redesign ballots and election materials to make them easier to understand and complete.

He invests resources and money into strengthening our party from the grassroots up and developing New Mexico talent for future candidates and campaigns. New Mexico should never have become a red state and for all of our energies in 2004, we as a party must regroup, refocus, and rebuild. The Governor has recognized the importance of rebuilding the Democratic party, not just nationally, but beginning on our front-lines with our precinct and ward chairs and county parties.  He has invested in a program with long-term goals and a vision for a strong Democratic Party led by effective leaders with a message that is carried to our voters by committed volunteers at the precinct and county level.

I serve as Governor Richardson’s political director, and can give you the full scoop on this man’s convictions and dedication to this party, this state, and this country. Let me tell you a little bit about my background. I come from a long line of public servants, Congressman Tom Udall is my father, Stewart Udall is my grandfather, and Mo Udall was my Great Uncle. I have worked on and run over 45 campaigns in New Mexico. Let me say that I look forward to working with all of you as we move this state and this party forward.

We must support each other and work together. Although we may not agree on everything, it is important to keep a strong line of communication open.

Sincerely,
Amanda Cooper
Political Director
Governor Bill Richardson
Amanda@tashmoo.com

Nuke 'Em

In (tentative) memorium for Senate filibustering, a 200+ year democratic tradition soon to be challenged with the "nuclear option" by ruthless 2008 presidential candidate Bill Frist in his race to the bottom of the barrel:

Click image for larger version.

Daily Kos has a useful post on all the Senate rules Frist and his sheep will have to break in order to, in essence, destroy the rights of the minority in Senate parliamentary procedure.

MoveOn is organizing a call-in to convince Republican Senators that the nuclear option is nothing more than a damaging power grab:

The "nuclear" countdown has begun. Frist will move 4 rejected judges to the floor of the Senate today – meaning the final showdown could begin at any moment. Please call your senator right now and ask them to put our democracy above party lines and oppose this abuse of power.

Senator Pete Domenici
Phone: 202-224-6621
District Offices:
    Albuquerque: 505-346-6791
    Las Cruces: 505-526-5475
    Roswell: 505-623-6170
    Santa Fe: 505-988-6511

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

Suggested script:

"My name is ________ and I live in _______.  I'm calling to ask Senator ___________ to stand up against getting rid of the filibuster – I think that preserving the rules of the Senate and the rights of the minority are important to everyone in our democracy."

(Thanks to Nancy G. for the heads up. Click for more cartoons.)

Terrell on Palast: Investigating NM Voting

PALAST IN SANTA FE by Steve Terrell
As published in the Santa Fe New Mexican, May 17, 2005
Read the entire article on Terrell's blog.

Excerpts:
In a telephone interview last week, Greg Palast said he’s coming to New Mexico to investigate what he and several progressive activists in the state say are problems with the presidential election here last November. President Bush beat Democrat John Kerry by less than one percent here according to official results.

“I’m coming here more to investigate than talk,” Palast said.
********
Then last year, Palast created a noisy Internet buzz in a widely circulated article published only days after the election. There Palast wrote, “... it's my job to tell you who got the most votes in the deciding states. Tuesday, in Ohio and New Mexico, it was John Kerry.”

The culprit, Palast argued was “spoilage” — ballots from old punch card machines that were unreadable and provisional ballots that were cast but never counted.

“Hispanic voters in the Enchanted State, who voted more than two to one for Kerry, are five times as likely to have their vote spoil as a white voter,” Palast wrote Counting these uncounted votes would easily overtake the Bush ‘plurality.’”
********
Palast said last week he wants to look at why there was such a high “undervote” — ballots that were cast but showed no choice for president — in this state and why so many of those tended to be in high Hispanic or American Indian areas.

The statewide undervote rate was 2.45 percent. According to a study for a national organization advocating a recount, Indian precincts in New Mexico had an undervote rate of 6.7 percent , while Hispanic precincts had a 3.5 percent undervote rate.

According to a report by Scripps-Howard News Service New Mexico was one of only four states with an undervote of more than 2 percent in 2004.
********
Editor's Note: Greg Palast is scheduled to speak at 5 PM Friday at the IBEW Hall in Albuquerque and at 5 PM Saturday at Cloudcliff Cafe and Art Space, 1805 Second Street in Santa Fe. Tickets are $15. For more details click on the event links under Coming Events on the right-hand sidebar on this page.

Ecumenical Voices for Democracy First Forum on Religion and Politics Set for Sunday in ABQ

Citizens take action to prevent misuse of religion in politics: Ecumenical Voices for Democracy, a group of New Mexico citizens organized to combat the misuse of religion in politics, is presenting its first forum on Religion and Politics, "The Use and Abuse of Religion in Politics." The event will take place on Sunday, May 22, at 2 PM at the TVI Main Campus, Smith-Brasher Hall Auditorium, corner of University and Coal in Albuquerque.

Have the Democrats ignored and alienated people of faith? Has the Republican Party misused religion and people of faith to gain power? The forum will utilize a panel composed of religious, academic, and civic leaders to discuss if there is a place for religion in politics, what it should be and how politicians should approach people of faith.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Reese Fullerton, a recognized expert in conflict resolution whose experience includes defusing conflicts in Beirut, Macedonia, and Northern Ireland.

Panel members for the forum include:

• Rev. Brian Taylor of St. Michaels of All Angels*
• Prof Rich Wood, Director of Religious Studies, UNM* 
• Rev. Curtis Brinkley, Assoc. Pastor Hoffmantown Church*
• Prof Andy Schultz, UNM School of Law, and ACLU Board Member*

(* Titles for identification purposes only.)

Ecumenical Voices for Democracy believes that its mission can best be achieved through a balanced dialogue and by exploring a broad range of topics. Future forums will focus on:

• Religion, Civil Rights and Individual Liberty
• Religion and the Sanctity of Life
• Poverty, Heath and Education Policy
• Religion's Role in Economic Justice, Labor Policy and International Trade 

The series will present quarterly, moderated forums. The format will include Opening Statements of fact and opinion expressed by panel members. Questions will then be posed by a moderator, and by members of the Audience. The forum will end with closing remarks by the panel members.

A reception will follow in which audience members are encouraged to engage in civil discourse with one another and panel members.