Democracy for New Mexico

Bush Returns to Crawford in Shackles and Chains

(Click on images for larger versions.)

From the Backbone Campaign:
AMERICA DECLARED AN ACCOUNTABILITY ZONE! Military Tribunal Sentences Bush & Co. to Hard Labor

CRAWFORD, TX- After Last week's ruling on NSA domestic spying, members of the Bush Administration were rushed before one of their own military tribunals and quickly found guilty of treason and conspiracy to undermine our Constitutional Republic. The judge took mercy on the criminals, and spared them the guillotine in favor of a life of hard labor and humiliation along the roadsides of America, "May they serve as a warning to all against hubris and greed for power" said a spokesman for court.

They are pictured above at their first stop in Crawford, Texas, formerly the vacation residence of G.W. Bush. The old Crawford City Jail has been re-opened to house the . The Bush Ranch will be auctioned next week, as will his other assets and the assets of the Vice President, Karl Rove, Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld to pay reparations to victims of their crimes.

Work Release Tour Greeted with Cheers and Cameras!
Well OK, we were just tickling your appetite for a little accountability, as the Bush Chain Gang "Work Release Tour" has done all around the country this summer. You probably don't know that there are now three sets of Chain Gang costumes, one based on the East Coast in D.C., another in the Mid-West, based out of Chicago, and a third on the West Coast, based in Seattle. All three sets were created at an "undisclosed location" near the Backbone Campaign's Headquarters on Vashon Island. And our dedicated volunteers are building more!

The Chain Gang has gotten coverage on CNN.Com, New York Daily News, Rueters, AP, YahooNews, The Seattle Times, multiple television stations across the country and now in the Lone Star Iconoclast. Nobody can seem to keep their camera in their pack or there cell phone locked when these characters show up. Crowds in restaurants or in parks often erupt into spontaneous standing ovations as the characters pass by. Many of the people who have volunteered to wear the costumes have raved that it was the "most fun" and "most powerful" political experience of their life!

Friends we are on to something here, but WE NEED YOUR HELP! It has cost the Backbone Campaign thousands of dollars to commission these masks, organize appearances, and ship them all around the country. We know that most of you appreciate this and the other creative work we do. Now we need you to show it. Please, go to the Backbone Campaign website and make a donation.

We'd love to send you a sticker or shirt to show our appreciation. You can now support all the work we do by becoming a member of the Lumbar Club, an easy way to spread out your contribution, and be sure that we have a budget we can count on. Another way to help is to donate a frequent flyer coupon to send an organizer to an event like Camp Democracy. Join us today and please tell your friends about us too.

Right now only 5000 people across the country are signed up to receive our emails. The picture above is worth a lot more than a thousand words, so visit our website and sign up on the right-hand side of the page and encourage friends to do the same. Ask them to sign up and support our work, get a shirt, a sticker or just a good laugh at seeing Bush and Co. wearing the stripes that suit their characters.

Ironically, the Backbone Campaign is not really an "impeachment organization," but with abuse after abuse, violation of national law after national law, and the systematic disregard for the balance of powers, the congress, treaties and international law, finally it just becomes irresponsible not to urge the use of the tool the Constitution provides, while we still have one. It's not negative, it's not "political," it's an affirmation of the document that provides the very foundation of this country. Thanks to the Bush administration, impeachment has become an indispensable component of a positive progressive agenda, and don't listen to the spineless, calculating, scared of their shadow politicians who tell you otherwise.

Finally, a big "Thank you" to Doug Skove and Tara Meehan who made the Crawford trip possible, as well as all the other volunteers, coordinators, providers of hospitality. You all are the backbone of our campaign!

Bill Moyer, Executive Director
Backbone Campaign
206-408-8058

National Blogs Front Page the NM-01 Patricia Madrid vs. Heather Wilson Race

Coverage of Democrat Patricia Madrid's challenge to incumbent Republican Rep. Heather Wilson is heating up both here and nationally. In the past 24 hours, two of the most popular Dem blogs have featured the NM-01 race on their front pages. See yesterday's post by Chris Bowers at MyDD and today's frontpager by kos. Both are of the opinion that we have an excellent chance for a Dem pickup here. Both have high praise for Madrid's latest ad that raises the issue of the Iraq occupation. We agree!

Watching Heather Wilson

Also check out the new WashingtonWilsonWatch.com, filled with info about the REAL Heather Wilson, not the sugary confection concocted by her strategists. Local blog New Mexico fbihop is also providing excellent coverage of this race. Check 'em out.

A Day on the Streets in Albuquerque

From guest blogger Terry Riley:

A day on the street!

The battle is over. No blood was let. No shots fired. No fists bruised. Where could this be you say?  It was on the streets of Albuquerque at noon. A showdown between a sign carrying street demonstrator and three soldiers in uniform. I bet your picture of this is a bit scary. Mine is, and I was there, and I wasn't one of the ones in uniform.

I was standing on the corner of a busy intersection holding my sign high. The top of the sign read, "Heather independent?  Bush says she is loyal!" This is followed by a photo taken at a fundraiser in Albuquerque where the Wilson campaign netted approximately $375,000. The photo shows Wilson looking at President Bush in a devoted look, almost loving. This is followed by two more messages, "Wilson supports corporations!" and "Madrid supports New Mexico!" In the traffic somebody yelled out, "Traitor! You stupid SOB! etc."

As the car rounded the corner I noticed three soldiers in uniform and they were still yelling. I hoped that they would keep driving, I feared that they were too angry to deal with. I looked up and they came, dodging cars, crossing eight lanes of traffic. This did not look good. They came up to me and began yelling in my face, all three at once. As they ran out of steam one of them finished with the
oft repeated line, "I fought over there so you could be free to do this."  He said something else, I don't remember exactly, I think it was possibly that he hated me for what I was saying.

I spoke up and though they interrupted a little, they allowed me to finish. I said, "Nothing about your service affects my being on the street or my feeling of my right to do what I am doing or to say what I am saying. My right to be here comes because my father served in the occupation of Germany, I served during Vietnam, my brother served during Vietnam, my older son served during Gulf I and my younger son served in Afghanistan. I thank you for your service but I earned ALL of my rights!"

Two of the soldiers immediately extended their hands and thanked me for my service. One of the soldiers said that when we stand with signs that say things against the war that they are hurt because they are at great risk doing what they do. I pointed out that my sign said nothing about the war but that when I do carry signs against the war I also always state, "Pro-Soldier, Anti-War." They weren't ready for that. I believe that they will look more carefully at signs that demonstrators carry from now on.

We spoke for about fifteen minutes. They were in full support of the Bush administration and their policies, including Congresswoman Wilson. I pointed out many of the lies that have gotten us here, lies that they did not try to argue with me on. They tried that old, "We have to stop them over there before they come over here." I asked if they knew that none of the hijackers were from Iraq OR Afghanistan. I pointed out that they were from Saudi Arabia and Egypt. They were surprised by that. They challenged me that Improvised Explosion Devices (IED) are terrible and dirty fighting (not their words). I asked if they knew how many IEDs were constructed from American explosive devices. One was very aware, he had served in Iraq.

They talked about the future of Iraq if we pull out. I pointed out that we are going to leave Iraq eventually and that we will not be able to "fix" their government no matter what. We need to get out as soon as possible so we will no longer be responsible for keeping Iraq in a mess. We agreed that what is happening is a mess and that when we do leave it will become a bigger mess, but it will be their mess. I suggested that when we are not there, the people of Iraq will take control of their country and develop a government of their liking and they will go about their lives. They do not have the time to come over here, we have leveled their homes, shut off their economy, their water and sewer, etc. Their families are not safe and they have no prospect of jobs. With us gone they can get to work fixing what they want fixed, not what Bush wants fixed.

Two of the soldiers seriously seemed to come around. The third appeared to have never considered these thoughts and had a long way to go yet. I really enjoyed that encounter. I believe that two of those soldiers are on the first level of being friends. I am happy for that. There are many many people who are unaware of the truth as these soldiers were unaware. We have to stand up and speak out daily so that when the next election takes place there are enough people who have heard the truth.  We know that the TV (news?) and talk radio (news?)  do not give balanced perspectives. Please come and stand with me to bring these stupid military adventures to a close and to bring Democrats into Washington. 

Guest blog by Terry Riley, who can be contacted at terryactivist@aol.com.

Editor's Note: If you'd like to submit a guest post or Sound Off for possible publication on this blog, please contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand corner of the main page.

County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta on 'We The People' Tonight

From Mickey Bock & Judith Binder, Hosts of We The People:

WE THE PEOPLE, August 24, 2006: Deanna A. Archuleta
Thursday 7-8 PM Mountain Time, Call-in 346-1633
Community Cable Channel 27, Albuquerque, NM

Bernalillo County Commissioner Deanna A. Archuleta was elected in 2004 and represents District 3. She was instrumental in the implementation of a substance abuse program at Metropolitan Assessment Treatment Services; she is focused on economic development, education and health care.

View TV Channel 27 Live! Worldwide! with https://quote-unquote.org/ at left, link to CHannel 27; in center of screen Click for Streaming Media

WE THE PEOPLE is an innovative call-in television show looking for TRUTH and TRANSPARENCY in local, state and federal governments. THANKS FOR WATCHING.

Breaking: New Madrid Ad Takes on Wilson's Unquestioning Support for Iraq War

Democrat Patricia Madrid calls out NM-01 Republican incumbent Rep. Heather Wilson for abdicating her responsibilities to hold President Bush accountable: Click. Now it begins.

UPDATE: Now you can also view the ad on YouTube :

Latest Poll: Dead Heat in Madrid-Wilson Race

Madrid (center) with supporters.

Great news in an announcement from the Patricia Madrid for Congress (NM-01) campaign. Despite weeks of sleazy negative advertising by Republican incumbent Heather Wilson, the latest polling results show the two locked in a statistical dead heat. The district-wide phone survey of 400 likely voters conducted by Lake Research Partners between August 17-20, 2006 shows Madrid at 44% and Wilson at 46% -- within the poll's margin of error.

It's a political rule of thumb that incumbent candidates are in deep trouble if their support is under 50%, as Wilson's is in this poll. No wonder the Wilson campaign is grasping at straws and using Rovian tactics to try and change the momentum away from a Madrid win. All the mojo is with Madrid, and it's apparent that likely voters are seeing through the deceptions that constitute the bulk of Wilson's campaign tactics so far.

Wilson's Job Approval Under 50%
Other results from the poll show more for Wilson to worry about. Only 47%  like the job Wilson's doing, with 50% registering a negative opinon. Meanwhile, 57% of independents, who just may determine the outcome of this race, said Wilson is doing "just a fair job" or a "poor job."

Bush Approval Ratings Also Poor
Heather Wilson's close association with President Bush can't be helping either. The CD1 survey showed that six of ten respondents, or 60%, aren't satisfied with the job Bush is doing. And with independent voters, two-thirds (or 67%) disapprove of Bush.  Such low job approval ratings for a president that Wilson has supported more than 90% of the time can't be creating any smiles at her campaign office.

Help Madrid Seal the Deal
Clearly, Wilson is being tarnished by her supportive relationship with the Bush administration and their misguided and failed agenda. The data show that the district's likely voters aren't buying Wilson's attempt to run away from Bush and claim she's a "moderate" and an "independent." They know better. And they seem ready to give Democrat Patricia Madrid a chance at representing the genuine concerns of New Mexico's first congressional district and working to solve the problems of ordinary people. Patricia Madrid can seal this deal, but she needs our help. You know what to do!

And if you're not yet registered to vote, do it now. To vote in the November 7th mid-term election, you must be registered at least 28 days before election day. The clock is ticking.

Communities United to Strengthen America: Two Events This Week

From the Albuquerque chapter of Communities United to Strengthen America:

August 24th, 2006 @ 6:30 PM: Communi-Tea
Health Security & Retirement Security:
Connecting the dots of who is on your side
Featured Organization: Health Security of New Mexico

August 26th, 2006 @ 10am - 1:00 PM: Canvass
Saving New Mexico Higher Education Petition Drive

Come to our Albuqurque Resource Center for both events: 2111 Wyoming Boulevard NE. Call 505.237.0120 for more information.

Editor's Note: If you attended the last DFA-DFNM Meetup, you'll recall the enthusiastic presentation by this nonpartisan group. Visit their website to learn more and attend one of their events if you can. These folks are doing great work on issues in the Albuquerque area.

Open Thread: What's On Your Mind?

(Click on image for larger version.)

So what are you thinking about as Summer 2006 drifts away, the mid-term election is 77 days down the road and Bush's war spending tops $300 billion? What are you up to? What are you feeling passionately about? What irks you? What makes you happy? What's going on in your corner of the planet? Click on the Comments tab and let it all be known. As for me, I'm wondering where we put our rain ponchos since we'll be attending the George Benson - Al Jarreau concert tonight at Sandia's outdoor amphitheater. Let's hope we won't need them!

Madrid-Wilson Debate Set for 9/17

I just noticed notice of the first scheduled debate between NM-01 Dem challenger Patricia Madrid and Repub incumbent Heather Wilson. According to Kate Nash's blog, Roundhouse Report:

Heather Wilson and Patsy Madrid have confirmed: they will debate Sunday, Sept. 17 at 10 am Congregation Albert. The pair have agreed to speak at a breakfast at Albuquerque's oldest reform Jewish congregation. The audience can ask questions, so start up your mind. But get there early. Seating is first come, first serve and the forum is likely to be popular.

Congregation Albert is at 3800 Louisiana Blvd. NE. Tickets for the breakfast are $8.00 for congregation members and $11 for non-members. Call 505-883-1818, ext 3023 to make a reservation.

The War is THE Issue: Losing a Battalion a Month and $250 Million a Day

(Click on image for larger version.)

Gen. Barry McCaffrey, U.S. Army (Ret) on the Iraq War on Friday's Hardball:

... The place is a mess. It`s going in the wrong direction. There are thousands of Iraqis being killed or injured each week. *We`re losing a battalion a month killed and wounded*, 500, 600, 700 soldiers and marines and we`re spending $7 billion a month and it`s going in the wrong direction."

... There were 563 wounded and 39 killed in action last month, for god`s sake. This is not an arguable point. We`re losing a battalion a month killed and wounded in Iraq. 22,000 killed and wounded during the war."

Meanwhile, the death toll of Iraqis in their raging civil war has risen to more than , averaging about 100 deaths per day, with untold numbers wounded. Let's keep standing in the middle of that chaotic sectarian violence. Sure. That will help.

We can talk about issues to do with the environment, economy, education, healthcare, labor, energy or justice but before we can do anything to address problems in those areas, we must get out of Iraq.

To date there are more than THREE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS in known war costs.

We are spending about TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS A DAY for the war.

With that kind of outlay, there's nothing left to spend on any other priorities, period. And it will stay that way unless we get out of Iraq and start running the finances of the government with some reasoned sanity. We are in dire need of more checks and balances on the neocon wet dream. If we allow the Republicans to continue running the entire government, nothing will change. I repeat, nothing will change.

To have any chance of changing course we need at least one House of Congress, and preferably both the House and the Senate. That's why the upcoming mid-term election is so incredibly important. We need to demonstrate how strongly the nation wants change. Republicans don't represent change. They mean more of the same, without regard to the consequences we'll be paying for years to come.

If we don't get out and vote to oust Heather Wilson in favor of Patricia Madid for Congress in November, we're part of the problem, not the solution. I can't say it any plainer.

Volunteer, donate, get more info: Madrid for Congress.

Register to vote: Bernalillo County Clerk or visit the NM Secretary of State website to get contact info for your County Clerk.

Talk to your friends and neighbors.