Democracy for New Mexico

NM Sen. Ortiz y Pino to Call for Withdrawing Our Troops from Iraq

The New Mexico Senate Democrats have issued a press release announcing that NM Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino will introduce a Senate Memorial this session calling for withdrawing our troops from Iraq. Click to download a PDF of the document. Excerpts:

In announcing his decision, Senator Ortiz y Pino pointed to the service and sacrifices of New Mexico's National Guard troops who have been placed in harm's way by the federal government. The Memorial is designed to draw the attention of the public and the federal Administration to the difficulties US troops are facing both abroad and at home. Over 72 cities have endorsed resolutions of their own calling for an end to US involvement in Iraq.

... New Mexico has felt the heavy impacts of the war in Iraq. Because President Bush deployed New Mexico's Army and Air National Guard to seek nonexistent weapons of mass destruction and on the basis of a pretended link to September 11th, over 3,000 New Mexican Guardsmen have already served in Iraq -- some more than once. Nationally, the Department of Defense has reported that National Guard and Reserve troops are being called up at three times their sustainable rate.

... According to Senator Ortiz y Pino, "What was once paraded before the American public as the most serious threat facing our national security has now become a tar baby that needlessly threatens American lives and our national solvency." The intractable nature of the Iraq war has diminished the federal budget resources that could otherwise be employed to address other national budgetary priorities. In an attempt to control the resulting surge of deficit spending, the new Congress has decided to employ the continuing resolution process.

"It is time for us to forthrightly face the truth that confronts us and to bravely do what that truth calls for -- and so I am introducing a Memorial to do just that. And one that points out that the President may also have violated federal law by his actions" concluded Senator Ortiz y Pino.

Daniel Ivey-Soto Hired as State Elections Director

NM Secretary of State Mary Herrera announced Friday that she's hired Albuquerque attorney Daniel Ivey-Soto as the new State Elections Director. Ivey-Soto is also the Second Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County. He replaces Ernie Marquez. According to an Albuquerque Journal report:

Ivey-Soto, 40, earned a law degree and master's of business administration from the University of New Mexico. Ivey-Soto, who once served as general counsel for the state Democratic Party, unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for state auditor last year when the party's state central committee filled a vacancy on the ballot. As director of the elections bureau, Ivey-Soto will be responsible for running the state's election operations and administering election laws.

REMINDER: Tune in Eric Griego's New Radio Show Today at 3 PM on 1350 AM

A new radio talk show, ‘Insight New Mexico,’ produced by our frequent guest blogger Suzanne Prescott, premieres TODAY, January 13, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM on Clear Channel’s 1350 AM Talk Radio in Albuquerque. Host of the show, Weekly Alibi columnist and former Albuquerque City Councilman Eric Griego, says the show will help fill the need for in depth state and local New Mexico radio broadcast news coverage. Visit the show's website and blog at . See our previous post for more information on the show. Today's guests will include NM State Sen. Dede Feldman, Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse, Albuquerque journlist and radio personality James Scarantino and a Surprise Guest.

NM Sen. Ortiz y Pino to Introduce Impeachment Bill at NM Legislature

NM Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino plans to introduce a NM Impeachment Resolution at the NM Legislative Session that begins on January 16th in Santa Fe. Click to download a draft copy of the bill (PDF), which will be cosponsored by Sen. John Grubesic. The title of the bill is "A Joint Resolution Petitioning Congress to Commence the Investigation of and Impeachment Proceedings Against President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney."

A story on this effort in New Mexico is front-paged on Daily Kos today, and includes an excellent description of how the process works when a state legislature approves such a measure.

The proposed resolution also gets a mention in an article by David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.org:

In New Mexico, a leading light of that state's politics, State Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, will be leading the way on impeachment. He deserves the support of all the world, and you can thank him at jortizyp@aol.com or 505-986-4380. Let's help him make New Mexico the land of enchantment and impeachment.

If you'd like to urge your legislators to support this resolution, you can find contact information at the NM Legislature Website.

Expert? No. Yes Man? Yes.

Apparently a modern day Mad Hatter testifed at yesterday's Mad Tea Congressional hearings, as reported by the AP:

At one point [Defense Secretary Robert] Gates, just three weeks on the job, told lawmakers, “I would confess I'm no expert on Iraq.” Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was “no expert on military matters.”

And then there's this. You can't make this stuff up.....

Join Martin Sheen in Supporting The Elevator Nine

Some of the Santa Fe Elevator 9 peace activists during the reading of many of the thousands of names of dead civilians and soldiers in the Iraq War

UPDATE 1.18.07: The trial has been postponed. Click here for more information.

Editor's Note: The Elevator (or Santa Fe) Nine are being tried in connection with their participation in civil disobedience last September at the Federal Building in Santa Fe while attempting to collect the signature of Sen. Pete Domenici on a Declaration of Peace.

From Bud and the Elevator Nine:
PLEASE Come SUPPORT the Elevator 9 Trial on 1/25 and STAND UP against the war. Martin Sheen will be there. SHALOM!

Hello Friends, the Elevator 9 needs your SUPPORT!!! Please attend our trial on January 25th at 9AM at the Federal Court House in Albuquerque at 421 Gold SW (directions below). Please bring your family, friends, coworkers, fellow PEACE activists, congregation members, and anyone else who standsfor PEACE and is against the war in Iraq.

Activist and actor Martin Sheen will also be there to lend support and STAND UP FOR PEACE and AGAINST THIS WAR!

Because of Mr. Sheen's presence we expect both print and television media so please bring your signs and banners for PEACE and AGAINST THE WAR. Please let the media know visually about the 3,015+ American dead and the 655,000+ Iraqi dead. Please let them know of the 22,057+ Americans wounded and the countless Iraqis wounded. This should be a good venue for getting our PEACEFUL ANTIWAR MESSAGE (as well as some facts about the war) out to our fellow New Mexicans.

We know this is a work day but we could really use your SUPPORT!!! We hope you can make the effort to attend. We're not sure of the capacity of the courtroom or how long this trial will be, but we hope to have a rotating group (depending on the authorities) moving from inside the courtroom to back outside at the Demonstration for PEACE. Please remember to treat everyone working at the Federal Courthouse or any Police or Security with respect. If you are in attendance at the trial please don't be unruly as it may have negative consequences for the Elevator 9.

For Father John Dear's account of what happened read this article on Common Dreams. For more on the story and photos of some of us in the elevator visit the Pax Christi New Mexico website.

DIRECTIONS to the Courthouse:

• from the I-40 and I-25 Interchange in Albuquerque
• continue on I-25 South
• take exit 224B toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave/ Central Ave.
• at the 2nd light make a right turn onto Central Ave.
• continue west on Central past Broadway & underneath the Railroad trestle
• the Courthouse is located at 421 Gold SW at the corner of 5th & Gold, one block south of Central
• there are several parking lots around the Courthouse & metered parking on the street as well

PLEASE PASS THIS ON and thank you for your past support and your time and effort in Standing Up for PEACE & JUSTICE. Questions? Email bud@siochainworld.org.

Pace e Bene! Bud Ryan

Gallup Minimum Wage Heads to Voters

From NM ACORN:
Over 100 people packed the Gallup City Council Chambers Tuesday night, most of them supporting a proposal to give Gallup the strongest minimum wage ordinance in New Mexico outside of Santa Fe.

Supporters petitioned to bring the referendum before the city government, but the council chose, instead, to put it on the March 6 municipal ballot for voters to decide. The measure would raise the minimum wage to $6.75 within 60 days, then to $7.50 by January 1, 2008. The wage would rise with the cost of living annually. Small businesses with fewer than 15 employees are exempted, but teenagers are covered.

Unfortunately, the council also chose to put a weak alternative on the ballot, as well. If both measures are approved, the one with the most votes becomes law. The alternative raises the minimum wage to $6.50 July 1, $7.00 January 1, 2008, and $7.50 July 1, 2008, but it does not have cost-of-living increases and it does not cover teenagers. It does not, however, exempt small businesses.

Minimum Wage Lobby Day
The Gallup Minimum Wage Initiative underscores the importance of our Minimum Wage Lobby Day next Thursday, January 18, at 10:30 AM, at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Proposals to ban local ordinances as part of any state minimum wage bill have serious traction. Supporters of local measures in Gallup, Taos, or other cities that have not yet considered moving stronger legislation than what Congress or the State Legislature is entertaining should join us to speak up for Local Control.

For more information, please contact Matthew Henderson at nmacorn@acorn.org.

Escalating Against Iran and Syria?

Besides Bush's mention of the "bipartisan" mewlings of scabby Joe Lieberman (who will head up a working group that will meet regularly with the prez about "winning the war on terror"), I think the lines shown in this video were the most alarming in Bush's speech last night.  Seek out and destroy networks? Patriot air defense systems? Condi Rice has also upped her verbal attacks on Iran of late. Apparently nothing is beyond the pale for the Bushies now. Nothing. Cornered varmints are always the most dangerous of creatures.

Full audio and text of Bush speech, Sen. Durbin's response and other coverage is available at NPR.

Most outrageous press release on the escalation push? Try "Lieberman Applauds President for Pursuing New Course in Iraq."

Scariest article? Read Senators warn Bush against wider war at the Financial Times. Excerpt:

“When you set in motion the kind of policy that the president is talking about here, it’s very, very dangerous,” declared Senator Chuck Hagel, a Republican, drawing applause during the foreign relations committee hearing as a stoney faced Ms Rice looked on.

“As a matter of fact, I have to say, Madam Secretary, that I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam – if it’s carried out.”

He cast doubt on assurances she had given moments earlier to Joseph Biden, the Democratic committee president, that the US did not intend to mount cross-border raids into Iran. Mr Hagel recalled that the government had “lied to the American people” in 1970 when it denied taking the Vietnam war into Cambodia.

The president did not have the necessary congressional authority to invade Iran or Syria in pursuit of anti-US “networks”, Mr Biden said. “I just want to set that marker.”

Uh oh. Maybe they're reacting to this, reported by The Washington Note. Excerpt:

Did the President Declare "Secret War" Against Syria and Iran?

Washington intelligence, military and foreign policy circles are abuzz today with speculation that the President, yesterday or in recent days, sent a secret Executive Order to the Secretary of Defense and to the Director of the CIA to launch military operations against Syria and Iran.

The President may have started a new secret, informal war against Syria and Iran without the consent of Congress or any broad discussion with the country.

...Adding fuel to the speculation is that U.S. forces today raided an Iranian Consulate in Arbil, Iraq and detained five Iranian staff members. Given that Iran showed little deference to the political sanctity of the US Embassy in Tehran 29 years ago, it would be ironic for Iran to hyperventilate much about the raid.

But what is disconcerting is that some are speculating that Bush has decided to heat up military engagement with Iran and Syria -- taking possible action within their borders, not just within Iraq.

Some are suggesting that the Consulate raid may have been designed to try and prompt a military response from Iran -- to generate a casus belli for further American action.

BREAKING: Dems Choose Denver for 2008 Convention

Great News: After much ado, the Democratic National Committee selected Denver to host the 2008 Democratic Convention set for August 25-28, 2008. The only other city that made it to the finals was New York. Denver overcame many logistical and labor problems to win the bid. More info at Yahoo.

TODAY: Say NO! to More Troops

Say "No" to More Troops

Many activist and grassroots groups are joining together to convince Dems and others to say NO to Bush, including Democracy for America, CodePINK, NOW, Working Assets, MoveOn, TrueMajority , Sojourners and many others. Visit AmericaSaysNo.org, sign the petition and register for one of the protest events scheduled for locations all over the nation TODAY.

An Albuquerque event will be held at the downtown office of Sen. Pete Domenici at 201 Third St. NW at Noon on Thursday, January 11. In Taos, protestors will gather at Wholly Rags, 112 Alexander B4, at 4:00 PM today. In Los Alamos, a protest vigil is set for 1808 Central today at 6:00 PM. Type in your zip code at the America Says No site for more details and events around the nation.

Other Action
Click to sign Sen. Russ Feingold's citizen petition to redeploy the troops and be sure to read his op-ed on using Congress' power of the purse to stop Bush's escalation that was published today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Sen. Harry Reid has a petition at Give 'Em Hell Harry.