Democracy for New Mexico

The Party of National Security

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Sound Off Part II: Madrid's Madness by Peter Bafangazi

Editor's Note: This Sound Off was submitted by Peter Bafangazi as a follow-up to his original Sound Off on this topic, which can be found here. Sound Off is a sometimes feature of this blog designed to give our readers a chance to post their personal views. If you'd like to submit a Sound Off of your own, use the email link near the top of the right-hand sidebar on this page.

I'm sure that some of your readers will find my focus on the political machinations of New Mexico's political leaders to be inappropriate at a time of national emergency. And though Sen. Bingaman, Sen. Domenici, Rep. Pearce and Rep. Wilson believe that now is not the time for finger pointing, we do have to remember that the thousands of deaths that likely occurred as a result of the levee's breach and the government's slow and paltry initial response, could arguably have been avoided, or at the least lessened, had our elected leaders heeded the warning signs, listened to the experts and reevaluated their priorities.

I say THEIR (in reference to our elected leaders) priorities because we can't possibly hope to refocus our great nation's priorities away from terrorism, Tax Cuts, Social Security "reform", Religion and multi-billion dollar pork projects, if the first priority of our elected officials is political ascendance instead of national service.

Without carrying on too much, this brings me to Patricia Madrid, who previously I speculated was backing away from running against Heather Wilson in order to run against fellow Democrat Diane Dennish. I also speculated that Madrid's Madness may not stop at g/running for Lt. Governor, but may even include going after Big Bill himself by exchanging favors with perpetual presidential candidate and eventual primary opponent to the Gov, John Edwards. Well, sometimes being right doesn't feel good...It feels scary. Lo and behold, this showed up in my email box the other day.

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I swear I didn't know about this before writing you in late August. Presumably a scan of an actual mailed invitation and not an invite to yours truly. You can't make up amateur machiavellian crap like this. (And remember, funds donated to Madrid's PAC can't be used on a Congressional race.)

I'm sure that some out there are saying: "Hey, Peter, why do you care if Madrid challenges Denish? So what if she runs for land commissioner?," and "why do you want Madrid to run for Congress so bad?"  My answer is the following: I don't give a shit if Madrid wants to be governor or if she and our Democratic Party Chair have some sort of plan to further their own political careers to the detriment of the Governor and the Lt. Governor. I don't care that the Governor doesn't care that these people are screwing him. Although you've got to wonder if he's blind or if he just likes getting screwed from behind. What I care about is that all three branches of the federal government are in the hands of a Republican party that has proven itself time and again to be either criminally incompetent or criminally negligent or both.

It hasn't even been a year since the re-election of George W. Bush, we have 3 more years of his "leadership" ahead of us, the country is going down the god damn drain and we're sitting on our fucking hands while B team Democrats in the state are preoccupied with grinding personal axes and fulfilling egomaniacal ambitions that have no chance of being realized. For New Mexico to do its part in getting this country off its present collision course with reality, it has to replace Wilson and Pearce pronto. Swinging the balance of Congress in 2006 is America's only chance before 2008 to slow down the train wreck that is the Bush administration. Wilson and Pearce took the brakes off by signing off on every initiative of the Bush administration. New Mexico needs responsible leaders that understand that their job isn't only to garner favor with the President or even their own party leaders, but to represent the best interest of all voting members in their district, regardless of party affiliation, class, race or financial support.

So here it is: I don't know Patricia Madrid and I don't know if she could even beat Heather Wilson were she to run. I know that the DCCC wants her to run because they think she can take Heather down and I know that means money in the bank to finance the operation. I know that there are a lot of compelling reasons for Madrid to run for Congress, but I would hope the most compelling would be that she knows the country needs a change of direction. Being a public servant is a sacrifice. As we pass the fourth aniversary of September 11th and we witness the heroics of first responders in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf Coast region, we are reminded that being a public servant means making a personal sacrifice for the public good. Sometimes this means running in races you aren't guaranteed to win and against people you don't necessarily dislike.  If Patricia Madrid runs for Land Commissioner or Lt. Governor, she'll confirm what we always suspected -- she's a politician and not a public servant.

Instead, I hope that Patricia Madrid contemplates what another term for Heather would actually mean, draws on her emotions and takes seriously her responsibilities as a public servant. It is so critical that we have a change of direction in this country, and that Democrats like Patsy step up to the plate to strengthen our party, our state and our nation, rather than just trying to maximize their own personal political power.

Arts Alliance Hosts ABQ Mayoral Forum Tonight

From the Arts Alliance:

As in years past, the Arts Alliance is hosting a Mayoral Forum for the four candidates to talk about arts and culture in our community.  In light of the upcoming vote to ask residents of Bernalillo County to approve the Quality of Life Initiative (gross receipts tax), it is vitally important that the arts community delivers a clear message to the candidates by staging one of the best-attended forums this year!  It will also be an opportunity for us to learn about their position on this upcoming initiative.  Please forward this information to friends and relatives, and urge them to attend.

Mayoral Forum
Tuesday, September 13
5:30 -­ 6:30 PM
Albuquerque Little Theatre
224 San Pasquale SW

At the end of the forum there will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.  We look forward to seeing you TONIGHT.  Feel free to call the Arts Alliance if you have questions at 268-1920.

Thank you! PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE ON YOUR EMAIL LIST!

Voter Action Update

From Voter Action:

United Voters of New Mexico State Fair Booth Opened to Much Success and Interest
The State Fair opened Friday and with it the United Voters of New Mexico booth which has brochures and information regarding our work at Voter Action.Thanks to all the fabulous volunteers and in particular Laura Stokes and Sonja Elison for organizing all of this and making it happen. There are still many shifts available to fill!  Contact Laura at stokescorrales@comcast.net , subject line “state fair volunteer."  Provide your contact info, and you’ll receive an email with available shifts. Alternately, please call 505 328 1767. The more people who help the more successful it will be!

Depositions Allowed to Proceed
The deposition with Director of Elections Marquez was allowed to proceed and discovery has commenced. Additional depositions are scheduled the week of September 19, 2005. This is an important piece to understanding what needs to happen to improve the accuracy of the vote counting process. Stay tuned!

September 16, 2005 Voter Action Meeting in Albuquerque
Mark Rudd will be leading a discussion in Albuquerque at 2:00 – 3:30 PM Friday, September 16 at the Flying Star in downtown ABQ(8th and Silver SW) to encourage greater understanding about the issues and problems regarding the vote count of 2004 and think through ways to bring this information to the greater public. Space is limited so please RSVP if you would like to attend to info@voteraction.org , subject line “RSVP”.

Voter Action is a project of the International Humanities Center: www.voteraction.org

Sunday (Hurricane Relief) Bird Blogging

People have been asking how the parakeet babies born this Spring are doing. Here they are with Whitey, their albino mama:

That's Hambone, the eldest, on the right, followed by mama Whitey, Peanut, the youngest, and Jumbo, the middle chick. They are all very healthy and lively, but have been worried about their avian friends, as well as others pets and animals in the Gulf states following Hurricane Katrina.

Here are a few links where you can make a donation or volunteer to help the thousands of pets and other animals caught in the chaos that is the aftermath of Katrina:

The Humane Society of the United States

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

Noah's Wish (Unique animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to rescuing and sheltering animals in disasters throughout the United States and Canada)

Best Friends Animal Society

United Animal Nations

Donate for Radio Ads for Albuquerque's 9/24 End the War March & Rally

From Stop the War Machine:

The text below is a 30 second spot to be aired 20 times on Air America Radio AM, 1350 Progressive Talk Radio, here in the Albuquerque listening area. Background music: America the Beautiful sung by Ray Charles! Spots will run from 9/19 - 9/23. Your financial committment is needed by Wednesday, 9/15.  Make checks  to Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center/radiospots.

Please contact me, Dan Gips, at 867-4801 or  dangips@aol.com.  Thirty second spots are $17 each and we are hoping to buy about 20. I would also appreciate any additional names to contact for raising these funds.

30-Second Ad:

HAD ENOUGH OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION YET?

JOIN A NATION-WIDE MARCH THIS SATURDAY RIGHT HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS OF RACISM AND NEGLECT IN NEW ORLEANS AND THE GULF COAST.

STAND WITH CINDY SHEEHAN AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER MILITARY FAMILIES WHO DEMAND THE TRUTH ABOUT WHY OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

GET THE  RECRUITERS OUT OF THE SCHOOLS AND REBUILD OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, OUR HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM, AND THE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE.

VOTE WITH YOUR FEET, AND TOGETHER OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD BECAUSE WE ARE THE VOICES OF TOLERANCE, TRUTH, AND DEMOCRACY.

REMEMBER: THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH. THE MARCH BEGINS AT 11 AM AT GIBSON AND TRUMAN SE, FOLLOWED BY A RALLY BEHIND HIGHLAND HIGHS CHOOL ON JACKSON STREET.  PLEASE!  YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU.

CONTACT ALBUQUERQUE PEACE AND JUSTICE AT 268-9557 ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP.

Around the NM Blogs

Burning of Zozobra, 9/8/05, Santa FePhoto by: Karl Stolleis

Cocoposts discusses the mayoral race and money. Be sure to click on their link to a column in the Alibi by Jim Scarantino that includes an intriguing account of how Mayor Marty is raising all that money.

Marston Moore at Duke City Fix has the skinny on Eric Griego's comedy gig at Gorilla Tango to benefit the Albuquerque Living Wage Campaign, including Eric's hilarious take on David Byrnes' tune, "Once in a Lifetime."

Greg Burton's Albuquerque Blog displays the strange combo of counties that were included in Bush's first two emergency declarations for Lousiana.

Julia Goldberg's Blog takes on the significance of Santa Fe's burning of Zozobra last night (photo above), in terms of Katrina, while provides an obituary for Santa Fe's Burning Man.

Ex-Mayor Jim Baca's Only in New Mexico comments on Bush's declaration of a national prayer day, as well as Mexico's skirting of the minutemen patrols on the border to bring aid to Louisiana.

Soy Blue reports on Rep. Tom Tancredo's (R-CO) demand that aid to Louisiana be stopped, as well as the tanking approval ratings for Republican members of Congress.

There's a good rundown on editorials from Louisiana newspapers and others that point the finger at Bush and FEMA atTruth, New Mexico.

m-pyre has alot of excellent stuff on Katrina, including a report on a recent phone call from a Red Cross volunteer in New Orleans.

It's so good to see an expanding and quality blogosphere developing here. Visit their sites often by clicking on the links on the left-hand sidebar on this page under NM Blogs. And be sure to check out the always compelling photos generously provided by Taos' FarrFeed in the top right-hand corner above. Click on the FotoFeed of the day to see previous shots. Some respite from the storm...

When in Doubt, Cut Wages

From :

President Bush issued an executive order Thursday allowing federal contractors rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to pay below the prevailing wage.

In a notice to Congress, Bush said the hurricane had caused "a national emergency" that permits him to take such action under the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act in ravaged areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

I'm sure this is the first of many measures BushCo will take in the coming months and years to assure that the massive expenditures devoted to hurricane rebuilding will mostly go into the pockets of his cronies, including Halliburton, which already has secured several Katrina contracts. I wouldn't be surprised if they proceded to suspend all labor laws and return to forced slavery for the rebuilding work.

I'm sure Rep. Richard Baker (House Web site), Republican from Baton Rouge, would be all for it given the racism and immorality indicated by his recent statement on Kartrina's aftermath:

"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did."

The Booman Tribune has more.

ABQ Public Access Channel to Air Highlights of Election Reform Event

From Suzanne Prescott, Community Producer, Channel 27 - Albuquerque:

Greg Palast, Lowell Finley and John Boyd are featured in an hour show this Sunday, September 11, from 6-7 PM. The show will be on channel 27, the public access channel on Comcast cable in Albuquerque. This program will be repeated on Monday, September 19, from 6:30-7:30 PM.

The hour show includes only a fraction of the great information from the event [cosponsored by NM Democratic Friends and DFNM to benefit Voter Action NM] that May evening at the IBEW hall, but does include the major presentations by Greg Palast, Lowell Finley and John Boyd in their entirety.

My apologies in advance for the poor equipment, editing and not including more of the great information from that evening.  If you want to hear Greg Palast say as clearly as anyone has that this election was stolen, this is your chance.

Editor's Note: For background, click for related DFNM posts on the May 2005 events in NM with Greg Palast here, here and here. To learn more about the ongoing lawsuit by NM voters against NM Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and a number of county clerks, visit the Voter Action website.

For reports about discrepancies in 2004 vote tallies in New Mexico, click here, here, here and here or scroll down and click on the links under the heading NM Election Reports on the left-hand sidebar on this page.

Cheney Effed in Gulfport

Walking a hurricane-riddled street, Vice President Dick Cheney declared Thursday that much progress is being made in a disaster relief effort he termed "very impressive." (From CNN)

Un huh. Impressive. Apparently at least one Mississippian disagrees:

Vice President Dick Cheney, in Gulfport, Mississippi on a tour of the Katrina hurricane zone, was told to "go f**k yourself" twice on live television, RAW STORY has learned.

During a discussion on hurricane relief efforts, an off camera protester shouts, "Go f**k yourself, Mr. Cheney. Go f**k yourself."

The camera remains on Cheney while we hear scuffling in the background. Cheney continues speaking.

CNN's reporter asks Cheney, "Are you getting a lot of that Mr. Vice President?"

Cheney replies, "First time I've heard it., Must be a friend of John..., er, ah - never mind."

Video at Think Progress (QT) and Crooks and Liars (QT, WMP).