Democracy for New Mexico

'House Made of Dawn' Screening Saturday

HOUSE MADE OF DAWN: Film Adaptation from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by N. Scott Momaday Returns to New Mexico! Saturday, April 8, 1:00 PM – Albuquerque - In Person — Lead actor Larry Littlebird and director Richardson Morse present a long-lost 1972 classic! Southwest Film Center, UNM; UNM Student Union Building — Theater (South-side, Plaza Level, next to Popejoy Hall) Film: $15 / Film & Reception: $25

“Native Foods” Reception follows the screening at Fremont’s Fine Foods, 1100 San Mateo (Courtyard at Lomas & San Mateo, lower level ) Featuring Larry Littlebird – “A Voice in the Land”: living words, stories and songs for restoration of First Nations people. RSVP: WHITE DAWN HOUSE   505.899.6028

Adapted from N. Scott Momaday’s 1969 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and shot in New Mexico, HOUSE MADE OF DAWN tells the story of a Native war veteran (played by Larry Littlebird, Laguna/Santo Domingo Pueblo, actor, artist and storyteller) who crosses between his vast, slow-to-change Southwest reservation and a gritty, fast-paced urban Los Angeles, emerging from an intense inner struggle to reclaim his Pueblo Indian identity.

For more information about the film, visit the Smithsonian NMAI website. All proceeds benefit WHITE DAWN HOUSE, a Native non-profit organization, dedicated to healing historical wounds and restoration for First Nations people. For more info: wdh@myexcel.com

Santa Fe March in Support of Immigration Reform Set for Sunday

Editor's Note: There will be events that are part of the National Day of Action on immigration reform in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, in addition to this one in Santa Fe. Visit Swopblogger for more information.

From Somos Un Pueblo Unido:
In addition to the march, we are calling for a “Buy Nothing Day” on Monday, April 10th, in solidarity with groups mobilizing across the country for the National Day of Action. We are asking folks to wear a white ribbon on Monday to visually show their support. See you on Sunday! 

March in Support of Immigration Reform!
UNITED FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
Sunday, April 9th
TIME: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
The march will start at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Fe, NM (located on the corner of Agua Fria St. and Guadalupe St.) and will end in a rally at the Cathedral Park with community speakers and music.

• Please wear white
• Bring a white handkerchief instead of a flag
• Parking available at Warehouse 21, on the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Guadalupe St (by Site Santa Fe)
• To support the “Immigration Reform National Day of Action,” buy nothing and wear a white ribbon on Monday, April 10th.

For more information, call Somos Un Pueblo Unido at (505) 424-7832 or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (505) 983-8868. Click to download a flyer in English or in Spanish.

SUPPORTING  ORGANIZATIONS: AFSCME International, American Friends Service Committee, Archdioceses of Santa Fe, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Communication Workers of America Local 7076, DS1199NM-Hospital and Health Care Employees, National Education Association—New Mexico,  NM Association of Bilingual Educators, NM Conference of Churches, NM Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, PACE New Mexico,Santa Fe Living Wage Network, Santa Fe NAACP,  Somos Un Pueblo Unido,  and the Southwest Organizing Project.

Statewide Campaign to Fix Bush's Medicare Prescription Disaster Launches Thursday

From :
Americans United, New Mexico PACE, Alliance of Retired Americans Launch Statewide Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D Disaster, Release New Report on the Excess Cost of Rx Benefit in New Mexico

Seniors in New Mexico and nationwide are calling Bush’s Part D Disaster confusing, costly and corrupt and asking that the prescription drug benefit be fixed to make it simple, affordable and guaranteed. Despite the widely recognized failure of the Part D prescription drug plan, President Bush and his allies in Congress have refused to fix the disastrous law and the President has even launched a speaking tour to sell his failed plan.

Americans United, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment (NM PACE) are launching the statewide “Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D Disaster” at a press conference on Thursday, April 6, 2006 @ 11:00 AM at the Office of Heather Wilson, Member of Congress located at 20 First Plaza NW (the corner of Tijeras and Second Street) in Albuquerque, NM. These groups worked together in New Mexico and nationally to defeat the President’s Social Security privatization plan last year. The groups will also release a new report by the Institute for America’s Future that shows that Part D costs New Mexicans $5 Billion more than a direct Medicare benefit with negotiated prices.

Part D is a special interest law that puts drug and insurance companies ahead of seniors. It prohibits Medicare from negotiating for the lowest possible drug prices for seniors and denies seniors the choice of a simple prescription drug benefit directly from Medicare. New Mexico groups, led by the Alliance for Retired Americans and NM PACE, are launching the New Mexico Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D Disaster to send a message to the President and his allies in Congress: Part D must be fixed now to put seniors first, not drug and insurance companies.

The groups will be holding rallies, press conferences and speak-outs across the state to urge the NM Congressional delegation to fix Bush’s Part D disaster.

EVENT DETAILS:
Event: Kick off New Mexico Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D & Release Report Detailing the High Cost of the Part D Failure

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2006
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Office of Congressperson Heather Wilson
20 First Plaza, suite 603 (corner of Tijeras and Second Street), Albuquerque, NM

Sponsors:
New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment (NM PACE)
Alliance for Retired Americans
Americans United

Contact:         
Santiago Juarez, NM PACE (505) 927-2734
Rose Peters, ARA  (505) 400-2904

Sign Up for Dem National Canvass Day

Editor's Note: I signed up for the Albuquerque event and more than 20 others have joined me so far. This is an excellent opportunity to show our support for Howard Dean's 50-state strategy and renew our commitment to talk to our neighbors about the Democratic values we believe are important. This is how we make it OUR Party. Events are currently scheduled for El Dorado, Santa Fe, Taos and Raton as well. Or you can set up your own event where you live. Go ahead -- sign up!

From DNC Chair Howard Dean:
Are you ready to make history? Thanks to the overwhelming support from thousands of Democrats, who donated to get the literature for the canvass printed and shipped, we're on schedule and gearing up for the unprecedented Neighbor-to-Neighbor Organizing Day on April 29th.

On that Saturday, thousands of volunteers will recruit hundreds of thousands more Americans committed to changing the status quo this year during door-knocking events in communities across America.

Democrats have a clear vision for America, and we're going to get the word out by making personal contact with our neighbors. And along the way we will build new relationships among volunteers on the ground, a network that will have an impact beyond a single day.

Whether you've never volunteered or you're a seasoned door-knocking veteran, it is crucial that you take part in this historic organizing push. Please click on the image above to learn more and then RSVP for an event near you.

In many states, Democratic Party staff on the ground have already put together staging areas for massive voter contact events on the 29th. Thanks to donations from people like you, hundreds of thousands of pieces of literature are being printed and shipping in bulk to those locations right now.

If there isn't an event near you, don't worry. Some state parties will have canvassing events on alternate dates, or have other important events that planned for that weekend.

You can still plan your own canvass in your community. Our online tool makes the planning process easy, and if you create your event before April 10th, we will get doorhangers to you in time for your canvass on the 29th. You can create your own event here.

Whether you're attending an event or hosting your own, we have also put together materials on the web to help you make your canvass as effective as possible.

The online package includes tips on canvassing, a suggested script for when you get to the door, and the doorhanger itself in various formats for you to print extras on your own. Here is the online resource center.

Two-thirds of Americans reject this president and the Republican leadership -- and they are waiting to hear from us. We are all members of one American community and it's up to us to make sure that our country has a government as good as its people.

Democrats have a big task in November. We will only win if every one of us takes responsibility for the outcome of the election now -- while there is still time to build our operation.

Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary grassroots push.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Feingold Backs Equal Marriage Rights for Gays

I'm certainly finding much to like about the content of Sen. Russ Feingold's character. Today he took another honest, blunt position on an issue I believe all genuine Dems should be in agreement about: equal civil rights for all -- including the right to engage in civil marriage. According to a press release on Feingold's site today:

Responding to a question posed at his Kenosha County listening session over the weekend, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold said he strongly opposed the proposed civil unions and marriage ban facing Wisconsin voters this November. He also expressed his support for the right of gays and lesbians to marry.

... “The proposed ban on civil unions and marriage is a mean-spirited attempt to divide Wisconsin and I indicated that it should be defeated,” Feingold said. “It discriminates against thousands of people in our communities – our co-workers, our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. It would single out members of a particular group and forever deny them rights and protections granted to all other Wisconsin citizens. It would also outlaw civil unions and jeopardize many legal protections for all unmarried couples, whether of the same or the opposite sex. We shouldn’t enshrine this prejudice in our state’s Constitution.”

... “As I said at the Kenosha County listening session, gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy,” Feingold added. “Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue.”

Feingold noted that removing the prohibition against gay marriage would not impose any obligation on religious groups. He indicated that no religious faith should ever be forced to conduct or recognize any marriage, but that civil laws on marriage should reflect the principle of equal rights under the law.

Imagine. A Democrat speaking out for civil rights for all. Equal means EQUAL. No hemming and hawing. No yes but-ing. No fading. No faking. Each and every American deserves equality under civil law. Period.

As you know, the conventional wisdom punditry has been bad mouthing Feingold's censure resolution as a cheap trick to attract attention to a possible presidential run. Unfortunately, I bet they'll see this move as another link in that chain. Personally, I see both moves as courageous and sincere efforts by a caring and honest Senator to confront wrong-doing and injustice head on. AND they make me want to starting wearing a big blue button just like this one!

Politicos with their eyes on the prize generally don't take controversial positions in this era of spin -- they run from them, as has been evident with Hillary Clinton and others. They listen to the "strategists," "consultants," pollsters, Republican fearmongers and media naysayers. They shy away from anything that could possibly be seen as "liberal" or even traditionally Democratic, afraid to speak honesty and directly about so many of the critical issues of today.

For instance, here in New Mexico our Party platform was purged by the powers that be of any plain language on gay civil marriage, despite near unanimous passage of a resolution supporting it. And yet here we have Feingold -- saying it out loud and saying it just the way it should be framed. And to hell with the cowardly say-nothings. I, for one, intend to be wearing one of those Feingold for President buttons as we meander our way to the 2008 election. How about you?

PS: Click on the image below if you'd like to sign the HRC petition backing equal marriage rights for all:

Laura Bush Spills the Beans on Rubber Stamp Heather

Photo courtesy AP

Laura Bush snuck into Albuquerque Monday morning to raise bucks for Heather Wilson's NM congressional campaign at a thousand-dollar-per-plate breakfast meeting at the Marriott Pyramid. She also made a quick stop at an elementary school so taxpayers would be forced to foot the bill for what was essentially a campaign trip to benefit Republicans. Unlike Democrats who travel here to campaign, Republicans like Laura usually keep their wearabouts quiet until after the fact. I guess they fear the public showing up at their events to ruin the carefully choreographed photo ops.

Despite the secrecy about her activities, Laura managed to let the cat out of the bag about Wilson's authentic political leanings. Wilson has recently launched a campaign to publicly pretend that she's -- why shucks -- just your garden variety "moderate" and not a rubber stamp for the far right-wing agenda of George Bush. However, according to the Albuquerque Journal:

The first lady was in Albuquerque for about two hours Monday, headlining a fundraising breakfast for Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., before making the stop at Bel-Air Elementary and then flying on to Nebraska.

Wilson, described by Bush as a "clear, conservative voice in Congress," said she raised about $200,000 at the breakfast, which was attended by about 150 people. Wilson is seeking re-election this year.

A clear, conservative voice, indeed, given the fact she votes in lockstep with Bush and his radical agenda about 90% of the time, while pretending she's an "independent" out there fighting for truth, justice and the American way. A thank you is in order for Ms. Laura for setting the record straight and revealing the true conservative bent of Ms. Heather, a Bush fellow traveler if there ever was one. To celebrate, why not sign up to support Democrat Patricia Madrid in her challenge to Heather in New Mexico's first congressional district? Out with the Bush rubber stamp. In with a real representative of the needs of New Mexicans.

DeLay Scurries

Hell just froze over. Former Speaker of the House and pest control expert Tom DeLay is scurrying away at last, withdrawing from his race to keep his Texas Congressional seat. Mounting legal problems and an expanding probe into corruption within his office have made a fleeing cockroach out of the once powerful Hammer. Once again, Howard Dean was way ahead of the pack on this. Last May he said:

“Tom DeLay is corrupt. No question about it. This is a guy who shouldn’t be in Congress and maybe ought to be serving in jail.”

Despite DeLay's claim he's pulling out of the race because the poll numbers aren't good, it may well be a sign of the seriousness of his mounting legal problems. He announced his withdrawal about a week after a second close aide pleaded guilty on a corruption charge. According to ABC News:

Last week, former DeLay aide Tony Rudy pleaded guilty to conspiring with lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others to corrupt public officials, and he promised to help the broad federal investigation of bribery and lobbying fraud that already has resulted in three convictions.

It seems clear that Rudy will be telling what he knows about the DeLay pay-to-play machine in order to obtain a lighter sentence. Also on the way is the much anticipated squealing expected to come from Abramoff himself, who pled guilty in a recent Florida corruption trial and will face grave charges in another upcoming trial in DC. Pigs squeal. Cockroaches scurry to escape the light. The chickens come home to roost. The Exterminator gets hammered! (Sorry, I can't help myself!)

Say It Again Russ: Feingold on Fox

Sen. Russ Feingold was on interviewed Fox News Sunday yesterday. Click here for the transcript. If MoveOn wanted to do something truly helpful with an ad, they'd run this exchange verbatim:

MIKE WALLACE: Senator, in a hearing this week, you said that the president's wiretap program is, and I quote, "one of the greatest attempts to dismantle our system of government in history." And you called John Dean as a witness, who said that this is worse than Watergate. Senator, do you really believe there is any comparison?

FEINGOLD: Actually, I do think this is worse. Not in terms of personal misconduct. Our greatest priority in this country is fighting the terrorist elements that attacked us on 9/11. But when the president breaks the law and doesn't admit that he's broken the law, and then advances theories about being able to override the law on torture, and having a preemptive doctrine of war, what he's trying to do is change the nature of our government.

He's trying to turn our presidency into an imperial presidency. So this is one of the greatest challenges in our history, to Congress to stand up and make sure we still have the rule of law and checks and balances. That's actually why it's more significant than the very serious events that occurred at Watergate.

Crooks and Liars has .

Dem Secretary of State Forum Set for 4/11

All of the Democratic candidates for NM Secretary of State have been invited to appear in a candidate forum at the April 11th Sandoval Democratic Club meeting at 7:00 PM at the Rio Rancho Inn-Best Western, which is on Rio Rancho Blvd. at Sara Road. Each candidate will have 5 minutes to speak and then they'll answer questions from the audience. All are welcome.

The invited candidates include Stephanie Gonzales, Letitia Montoya, Shirley Hooper and Mary Herrera. Click to see how these candidates finished in the voting at the March 18th Democratic Pre-Primary Convention.

Powering Our Future: Nuclear or Renewables?

From Citizen Action NM:
A free public forum on the controversial topic of future energy resources will be held:

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 7-9 PM
University of New Mexico Law School
1117 Stanford Dr. NE, Room 2405

The forum will explore a number of views concerning how our world’s future energy needs will be met: “Powering Our Future: Nuclear or Renewables?”

What are the pros and cons of nuclear vs. renewable energy? The case for massive development of nuclear energy as the only technology fundamentally capable of producing enough energy to meet the needs of a burgeoning population and world economy will be made by Dr. Donald Petersen, a member of the Los Alamos Education Group. 

Dr. Petersen joined the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1956 and spent his career studying the health effects of radiation on workers. He retired from the lab in 1990, but has continued to work as an educator with his colleagues William Stratton and Glen Graves of the Los Alamos Education Group (LAEG), a non-profit organization formed in 1995. The LAEG’s current work is centered on providing verifiable facts and arguments to refute exaggerated or misstated claims in opposition to nuclear energy development.

The case for renewables as the only clean, safe, economical and reliable source of energy will be made by Ben Luce, Policy Director for the New Mexico Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (NMCCAE). Dr. Luce joined Los Alamos National Laboratory as a physicist in 1993. Three years later he became an advocate for renewable energy after becoming aware of global climate change and its potential impacts on the environment. He joined the New Mexico Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (NMCCAE) in 1998, an alliance of ten environmental and consumer interest organizations in New Mexico that advocates for clean energy policies. He has been on leave from the lab for the past three years to work full-time for the Coalition.

The presenters will discuss the scientific, political, economic, and emotional arguments for and against nuclear power vs. renewable energy. The forum will also touch on New Mexico’s current policies that incorporate renewable energy projects.

The public is invited to bring questions for both speakers and join the debate! For more information call Citizen Action New Mexico: (505) 262-1862. Citizen Action is a project of the New Mexico Community Foundation.