Democracy for New Mexico

TypePad Trauma

If you visited here earlier today you may have noticed that the site had reverted to December 9th. TypePad, the blogging service I use for this site, had a major breakdown that caused this and other problems with all the blogs that use it. In addition, the application software itself was down until just now, so I couldn't inform readers of what was happening.

Some glitches remain, mostly with photos and other items uploaded recently, but at least I can let you know what's been happening. I'm sure it's been a hectic, anxiety filled day at the TypePad offices. I feel for them. Ironically, it's made for an easier day for me because I didn't have to create any new posts.

TypePad has informed us that everything should be up to snuff by the end of this weekend. Until then, you'll probably notice some continuing oddities on the site.

Like a Virgin

So, if Governor Richardson's plea to the NM Legislature for $100 million in starter money is approved, you and I will be building a spiffy new "spaceport" just south of Truth or Consequences, the community named for a popular 1950s TV show. Other local and federal tax receipts will be sought to cover the rest of the $225 million price tag for public financing, including a proposed gross receipts tax increase for Southern New Mexico. Virgin Galactic, zoom zoom! Space rides for rich people at $200,000 a pop!

What a deal. The people who benefit most from BushCo's tax cuts can use the tax dollars they didn't pay to buy tickets to the stratosphere. Most of the costs of this super ride facility will be covered by those unfortunate enough to still be paying significant taxes -- namely, those who work for a living rather than invest for living.

Ah, to be one of those wealthy, elite figures who focus so relentlessly on figuring out ways to lessen their own taxes so that others lower on the financial scale can pay them AND pay for their capitalistic, futuristic, profit-making schemes! Does it get any better than this? Make the public pay the project investment costs while the billionaire developers reap the profits. Slick.

Ah, you say, what about all those high-paying jobs that will be created in the process? According to Information Week:

Experts predict the project will bring into New Mexico thousands of jobs in technology and construction and hundreds of millions of dollars of private investment during the next 20 years as the private sector develops new commercial markets in the space industry.

A study by Futron, an aerospace industry consulting firm, reveals the annual economic impact of the spaceport in 2020 could exceed more than $750 million in revenue and more than 3,500 jobs for manufacturing, research and development, transportation services and tourism.

Maybe. It's certainly a nice thought. But if this is such a great idea, why can't the private sector make the investment in infrastructure on its own? Why do they need "encouragement" from taxpayers in one of the poorest states in the nation?

I admit the pioneering part of me that was thrilled by President Kennedy's race to the moon and the Hubble telescope can still be seduced by the excitement of outer space exploration. But space rides for rich people? Hard to get behind that pricey concept when pesky facts like the growing number of New Mexicans without health insurance keep rising to the surface. Whatever happened to first things first? Bottom line: it's a matter of priorities. Shouldn't Democrats be pushing harder to mitigate the festering problems of economic and social injustice before they start bankrolling the iffy projects of billionaires?

Maybe the Governor is right. Maybe this will be the start of something that will bring incredible opportunities and thousands of good-paying jobs to New Mexico. As we know, Governor Richardson thinks big, and often that's what's needed to get things moving in a state like New Mexico. And there is a certain logic to adding space rides to the balloon rides we're so famous for. Given the nasty behavior of way too many private sector operators, however, I can't help being a little cynical about all this. What about you?

Report: Yesterday's Election Reform Task Force Meeting

Editor's Note: The last Election Reform Task Force meeting before January's NM Legislative Session was held yesterday at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. As I'm sure you'll recall, voters interested in this issue were urged to attend to emphasize that there is widespread support for following through on much needed reforms in how we vote and how our votes are counted. Here's a first-hand report from someone who has attended every meeting of the Task Force since its inception, including yesterday's session. In addition, you can read an article on the meeting from today's Santa Fe New Mexican .

From Terry Riley:
How did it go?  I put out the call asking people to come with us to attend the final session of the Election Reform Task Force.  I offer this synopsis for those who were not able to make it.  I would also like to point out, since some people made some comments, that committee actions are not black and white and nothing moves quickly.  What you saw as an occasional observer may have looked frustrating.  This is what I saw.

The Task Force has a first draft of a bill that they are going to push through the legislature in this session.  The task force has asked all of the county clerks to submit realistic funding requirements so the legislature can ask for an appropriate amount of money to make this work!  The Task Force has committed to operate again after this legislative session.  This will ensure that more changes and improvements will be made. 

One of the most significant things that happened was the presentation by the attorney for the Attorney General.  He stated that the Attorney General was expecting to be able to vote on paper trail/ballot machines in this upcoming election and that presently that will not happen.  That is the right kind of pressure at the right time.  We also got committments from representative Mary Hellen Garcia from Otero County and Senator Ortiz Y Pino from Bernalillo County to introduce legislation requiring paper ballot machines in all of New Mexico.

We had more than 50 people attend the beginning of the session and that was noted by the Task Force co-chairs.  Though we were asked to not applaud the effect was just what we wanted and was duely noted.  This was a great event.

Thank you to everybody who came.  We are changing politics in New Mexico and planting the seed for change on the national level.  Count my vote - as I voted!

Shameless Shopping

Time to offer a few suggestions for holiday gifts with a positive spin. Unlike shopping at the usual corporate culprits, these choices support our friends or our causes.

First up, Buffalo Lights, a new book by John Farr -- writer, web designer, blogger, artist, musician and vibrant Taoseno -- who generously provides our luscious daily FotoFeed at the top right of this page:

If it's snowing in the sunshine, the devil is beating his wife." That's what the locals say, and after six years of struggle and adventure in the terrible beauty of northern New Mexico, writer John H. Farr is ready to believe in anything except complacency.

The eagle screams just before the new millennium, when John and his wife leave everything they know in Maryland to make a living via modem in what turns out to be the frontier, before the dot.com boom goes bust. Mud, fire, drought, and freezing cold are nothing compared to the inner landscape of the soul. Careening from perilous insight to joy and back again, he finds his own soul laid bare against the mountains and the clear blue skies.

Click for Buffalo Lights order info.

Tom and Meredith Hughes, creators of the infamous Food Museum and Potato Museum whom many of you know from their days as Foodies for Dean, have a new book out tracing the history of French food. Gastronomie! Food Museums and Heritage Sites of France is the first extensive exploration ever of French food historic sites:

No one else delivers you this kind of book, food-lovers, packed with colorful photos from our trek and from The FOOD Museum's collections. We traveled over 10,000 kilometers around France ( someone had to do it) to bring you the backstory of French food.

France, the mother country of Western cuisine, is the home of more museums about food, and more initiatives to preserve food heritage traditions and sites, than any other.

Explore the Saffron Museum in Boynes, the world food museum at Agropolis in Montpellier, the ruins of a huge Roman mill outside Arles, the Olive Museum in Nyons, the fig orchards of Sollies-Pont, the oyster beds of Ile d'Oleron, the turkey parade and festival in Licques, the village ovens of Bugey, the Chocolate Museum in Biarritz, the Newfoundland Fishing Museum in Fecamp, the Honey Museum in Gramont, the melon statue in Cavaillon, the truffle market in Lalbenque, and more. And sample a few choice recipes, as well.

Click for ordering information and more.

Another excellent choice is the latest CD from my good friend Liz Melendez, born and raised in Albuquerque and now one of the top blues and rock musicians in Atlanta:

Her guitar playing has been compared to everyone from Carlos Santana to Stevie Ray Vaughan and her voice has been compared to everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Janis Joplin.

A prolific songwriter and dynamic performer, Melendez has garnered a sizeable following touring the southeast and beyond. She has headlined major festivals such as Riverbend Music Festival's Bessie Smith Strut in Chattanooga (the only female headliner in Riverbend history besides Koko Taylor), and co-headlined major festivals such as the Cape Fear Blues Festival in Wilmington, N.C. and the Blues 2003 Festival in New York and been invited to open for artists like the Nappy Roots. She has performed on stage with such notables as Bob Margolin, Henry Butler, Francine Reed, E.G. Kight, and former Freddie King keyboardist, Dave Maxwell.

Her tasty electric guitar and vocals can be found on Sweet Southern Soul. She also burns up the tracks on her earlier CD, Mercy. Check out her website at www.lizmelendez.com and click for ordering info.

A few folks from New Orleans and beyond put together a website to help New Orleans help itself after the devastating hurricane.  They believe the surest way to rebuild the city, attract residents and bring back visitors is to rebuild the economy one store and business at a time. Shop New Orleans is geared to helping provide jobs for NOLA residents and tax revenue for the city and state. A couple favorites of mine from their site: photos of New Orleans musicians to benefit hurricane relief for New Orleans musicians; and Christmas in New Orleans ornaments and more at The Nostalgic New Orleans Collection Shop.

Other choices: gifts or memberships from the links under the heading Responsible Shopping. Scroll down and check out the right-hand sidebar on this page. And of course, shopping at locally owned shops in Nob Hill, Old Town or other locations in Albuquerque or other locally owned merchants around the state helps New Mexican small business owners and those they employ. Why support those who work against our causes when you can provide a few bucks to those who do?

Denish Fundraiser Thursday at Albuquerque's Slate Street Cafe

You Are Invited
To a Reception
In support of the Re-Election of
Lt. Governor Diane Denish

Hosted By
Samantha Adams, Shannon Bacon, John Blair,
Jason Bousliman, Elissa Breitbard, Ted & Sara Bonnell
Sonya Carrasco-Trujillo, Chris Cervini, Brian Colon,
Cristy Carbon Gaul, Claire Dudley,
Alicia Feil, John Fitzpatrick, George Heidke,
Jessie Keefe, Kathy Love, Lori Martinez, Doug Peterson,
Michael Puelle, Laura Sanchez, Westly Wellborn

Thursday, December 15, 2005
5:30 – 7:00 PM

At
Slate Street Café
515 Slate Street NE
Albuquerque

Suggested Contribution: $25
Individual, Corporate, Partnership, and PAC Contributions Accepted

RSVP to Steve Fitzer
(505) 270-4079 or sfitzer@dianedenish.com

1000 Days: Iraq War by the Numbers

From the London daily, The Independent, via :

$204.4 billion: The cost to the U.S of the war so far.

2,339: Allied troops killed

15,955: US troops wounded in action

98: U.K troops killed

30,000 : Estimated Iraqi civilian deaths

0: Number of WMDs found

66: Journalists killed in Iraq.

63: Journalists killed during Vietnam war

8: per cent of Iraqi children suffering acute malnutrition

53,470: Iraqi insurgents killed

67: per cent Iraqis who feel less secure because of occupation

$343: Average monthly salary for an Iraqi soldier. Average monthly salary for an American soldier in Iraq: $4,160.75

5: foreign civilians kidnapped per month

47: per cent Iraqis who never have enough electricity

20: casualties per month from unexploded mines

25-40: per cent Estimated unemployment rate, Nov 2005

251: Foreigners kidnapped

70: per cent of Iraqi's whose sewage system rarely works

183,000: British and American troops are still in action in Iraq.

13,000: from other nations

90: Daily attacks by insurgents in Nov '05. In Jun '03: 8

60-80: per cent Iraqis who are "strongly opposed" to presence of coalition troops

Another article in The Independent provides the narrative. The Christian Science Monitor provides additional statistics.

Join Call on Alito's America Today

From Alito's America and the Center for American Progress:
President Bush has nominated Samuel Alito, a judge with a long record of judicial extremism, to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, who has been the crucial moderate voice and swing vote on the Supreme Court. The Alito’ s America campaign is bringing CNN commentator Paul Begala together with other experts and writers to discuss the dangers of Judge Alito and his right-wing ideology to the future of all Americans.

Joining Begala will be prominent progressive bloggers Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft and Judd Legum of ThinkProgress, as well as David Halperin, the director of Campus Progress and a senior VP at the Center for American Progress.

Our guests will discuss Samuel Alito’s long history of judicial extremism, the implications his nomination holds for the rights of Americans, and strategies for progressives.

Alito’s America Conference Call
Wednesday, Dec 14
1:00 PM MST
Call Number: (888) 665-1701
Conference ID: 3461465

The Alito’s America campaign is a project of Campus Progress (www.campusprogress.org/) and the American Progress Action Fund (www.AmericanProgressAction.org). The campaign includes a website, www.AlitosAmerica.org, with information about Judge Alito’s record and a 90-second video unlike anything else produced in Washington, DC. The campaign also includes a Photo Petition, campus speaking events, and other grassroots activities.

Callers are encouraged to ask questions following brief remarks by:

• Paul Begala, the “voice from the left” on CNN’s The Situation Room
• Jeralyn Merritt, Creator and Principal Author, TalkLeft
• David Halperin, Director, Campus Progress, and Senior Vice President, Center for American Progress
• Judd Legum, Editor, ThinkProgress, and Research Director, Center for American Progress

We will also discuss developments in the Alito’s America campaign. Please take a look at the site, watch the ad, and join the call.

ACTION ALERT REMINDER: Election Reform Task Force This Wednesday

An important meeting of the Legislative Election Reform Task Force will be held Wednesday, December 14, at 9:00 AM, in Room 322 of the Santa Fe Roundhouse. Citizens should gather at the Roundhouse East entrance at 8:30 AM for a pre-meeting.

A large attendance is essential to emphasize the importance of this issue with voters. If you can possibly make it up to Santa Fe Wednesday morning for this last meeting of the Task Force, please do. Here's a special message from Terry Riley about all this:

Hello fellow activists,

We had a fantastic start last year with the action at the legislature on the election reform legislation.  Many of us were instrumental in pushing that through the legislature.  The success was from a coalition of several groups.

I have continued to work on election reform after the legislature finished by attending the Legislative Interim Election Reform Task Force monthly meetings.  Paul Stokes and I attended almost every meeting, not as members, but in the audience.  We feel that a lot of things have changed since the beginning of the 2005 legislature and a lot of those changes have been extremely good.  We have come to a point where the thoughts of the committee have to coalesce into legislation for the upcoming 2006 session.  The ugly reality of partisan politics is surfacing and what looked so hopeful is now not looking so good. 

I believe that a fantastic opportunity has presented itself.  I have seen how the legislature was encouraged to do the right thing last year by activism.  I believe that this can be the greatest year in New Mexico politics but this will only come about with action and commitment from citizens.  We all dream of writing a letter to the editor that forces the politicians to do what we believe is the right thing.  One opinion or one vote does not often bring about that kind of change.  Big changes should be of and about what the majority of the citizens want.  The way for the politicians to see what the citizens want is to petition. 

With time short and no money to support a statewide petition drive, that option is not real.  An alternative is demonstration.  The larger the demonstration, the more attention it will receive.  In today's political arena demonstrators are largely dismissed as radicals, nuts, and unemployed.  A demonstration that can work is one that is held in the chambers of the legislature, one that is measured, dignified, and organized.  What I am asking is for as many people as possible to attend the December 14th meeting of the Legislative Interim Election Reform Task Force.  The meeting starts at 9 AM and will go to at least 3:30 PM.  It is held in the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.  This will make a statement to the committee, and thereby to the New Mexico State Legislature, that we-the-people know what we want and that we expect the Legislature to act in our behalf. 

The legislation on the paper ballot issue that passed last year was weakened in the final writing.  The first reference in the law refers to a Voter Verifiable Paper Trail.  In fact, the law refers to paper trail and then to paper ballot.  That possible confusion can seriously weaken the law.  The legislation that passed also poorly defined how an audit should be performed and what the action should be when an irregularity is discovered.  This can be corrected easily enough and these problems have been discussed by the task force.  Attendance by a large number of citizens at the Legislative Interim Task Force on Election Reform will show all of the legislators of the state that there a lot of people who feel strongly that true election reform needs to be enacted now!

I would like to ask for every person who can to come on December 14th and to be there before 8:30 AM.  The task force meetings have typically started with everyone in the audience standing and giving their name and which county they come from and possibly which organization they represent.  A large turnout may prohibit this but having very LARGE nametags or signs, which include your county will be important.  The message needs to be that we INSIST on voter verifiable paper ballots, optical scan voting machines, and correction of the audit provisions to include a structured recount up to the entire state in the event that the sample finds an error rate above the rate of error defined by the current law.  I realize that the last part of that sounded long and confusing.  Do not worry, the task force members know exactly what we are talking about.

Please contact people if you need a ride, find a way to join us.  Feel free to send this announcement to anybody that you feel would like to attend and to work with us toward honest and accurate elections.  This action will remind our politicians that we are watching and we want fair and accurate elections and that we will accept nothing less.

Thank you,
Terry Riley
Terryactivist@aol.com
899-6275

Sunday Bird Blogging: Bring the Troops Home Edition

Bosco the peach-faced lovebird wants everyone to know he sides with Rep. John Murtha, DNC Chair Howard Dean and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on bringing the troops home from Iraq as soon as it's "practicably possible." Here he is contemplating peace and his collection of hippie beads.

Bosco grew quite agitated when I mentioned all the grief DLC-type Dems are giving Murtha, Dean, Pelosi and others for their realistic assessments of where we stand in the Iraq War and what we need to do to end the growing quagmire. Like most rank and file Dems, Bosco can't stand the endless cowardly posturing and fear of speaking truth to power that characterizes way too many self-appointed "leaders" in our Party.

Bosco got really het up (see above) when I mentioned Joe Lieberman's Bush-kissing remarks this week, which stopped just short of labeling anyone brave enough to speak out about the war as treasonous and against the troops. As Bosco knows, nothing could be further from the truth. "Lieberman should fly away to a new home in the Republican Party," said Bosco, flapping his wings to demonstrate. Bosco may be a bird brain, but even he knows Joementum is full of bird poop. (Click on images for larger versions.)

Bosco also highly recommends this video of Murtha's appearance on Hardball this week, and the Atlantic Monthly article, " If America Left Iraq," by Nir Rosen.

Rally at Nob Hill Saturday for Workers' Rights

From Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO:
All this week, all over the country, people are speaking out for the right to form unions and bargain for a better life. Unions and our allies are holding rallies, marches, town hall meetings and more in honor of International Human Rights Day.

This Dec. 10 is the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which lists the fundamental human freedoms, including the right of workers to form unions. But in America, that fundamental freedom is at risk. Workers are routinely harassed and even fired for participating in union activities. That’s why we are engaging in a massive, nationwide mobilization effort all this week in honor of International Human Rights Day.

In Albuquerque:
Rally March: 12/10/2005, 11:30 AM - 
Sponsor: New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Location: Nob Hill Business District
Description: Attend the March and Rally to support locally owned businesses and products. March assemblles at 11:30 AM at Washington and Central. Rally begins at noon with featured speakers and entertainment!! Contact Daniel Rivera, (505) 262-2629, dannyed@att.net

You can also take action right now by signing our Petition to Restore Human Rights for America’s Workers. State your commitment to our freedom to form unions as a fundamental human right. Click here to sign our petition. Click here to find an event near you.