Democracy for New Mexico

Today's Suggested Reading: Feingold on Iraq

Ratcheting Up the Pressure by Senator Russ Feingold. Indeed.

Gov. Richardson Touts DFNM's Paper Ballot Effort in Iraq War Message to DFA

"I don't support leaving a residual force in Iraq. We should get out lock, stock, and barrel." - Governor Bill Richardson

Democracy for America has asked the presidential candidates to respond to a request for a statement about their positions on Iraq. Here's the video response from Gov. Bill Richardson. In addition to strong statements about the Iraq war, Gov. Richardson comments on how much he enjoyed working with Democracy for New Mexico members on the successful paper ballot initiative passed during last year's legislative session. As I'm sure you recall, many of us worked hard on gaining passage for that landmark legislation (introduced by NM Sen. Linda Lopez) along with the wonderful grassroots election reform groups United Voters of NM, Verified Voting NM, Voter Action and others. (Click for post on bill signing.)

Here's what DFA's Executive Director, Tom Hughes, has to say about Gov. Richardson's message:

From Democracy for America:
Watch Gov. Richardson's Response "I agree." That is just one of Governor Bill Richardson's responses to DFA members who wrote comments in our Presidential Primary Petition on Iraq. We asked each of the candidates to oppose any escalation of the Iraq War, demand a swift end to the occupation, and propose a plan that brings our brave men and women home. I'm excited to make his video to you available today.

https://www.democracyforamerica.com/richardson

Governor Richardson has a long history in American foreign policy, including negotiating the release of two American prisoners in Iraq directly from Saddam Hussein during Bill Clinton's presidency. The Governor believes "we need to get out of Iraq this calendar year." He supports diplomacy that brings "a reconciliation of the three religious groups into a coalition government" and "surrounding powers in the region to deal with future security." What he doesn't support is leaving a residual force in Iraq. "We should get out lock, stock and barrel."

This isn't the first time Governor Richardson has worked with DFA members. Last year, he worked with a local DFA group in New Mexico (Democracy for New Mexico) to pass verifiable paper ballots. According to Governor Richardson, "It's the law of the land here in our state and we did it together."

DFA members will continue to work together and pressure the presidential candidates on the most important issues. Our voices will be heard and our actions will continue to move America forward.

Thank you for everything you do,
Tom Hughes, Executive Director, DFA

P.S. Governor Richardson made this video specifically for Democracy for America. If you like what you see and hear, I encourage you to sign up for his campaign and help in any way you can:

https://richardsonforpresident.com

That said, this message should not be construed as an endorsement of Governor Richardson's candidacy. In the months ahead other candidates for president will be reaching out to Democracy for America members too, because you have the power to shape the presidential primaries in a way no one else can.

Editor's Note: John Edwards has also responded with a short video to DFA's call for a message on his position on Iraq. Click to read our previous post with his video.

Democracy for New Mexico is loosely affiliated with the national group, Democracy for America, which has its origins in the presidential campaign of Howard Dean when it was known as Dean for America. Click to learn more about DFA.

DFA-Democracy for New Mexico Meetups are held on the first Thursday of the month in Albuquerque. To become a member and join our email list, visit our Meetup site. You should also register at Democracy for America so you can be kept informed of their actions on the national level. Once registered, you can also join our DFA Link group. Although we still use Meetup for our meeting organization, members are urged to also register at our DFA Link page so they can receive important information from the national group.

2007 Peace and Justice Awards Dinner Set for 4/21

From the :

Saturday, April 21
Doors Open 6 PM - Dinner 6:30 PM - Program 7 PM
Saint Timothy's Lutheran Church
211 Jefferson NE at Copper, ABQ
Your Donation: Fifteen Peaceful Dollars
NM Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino
Kief Henley and Peter Conhein of Guild Cinema
Keynote speaker Col. Ann Wright
Make your reservations today by calling 505-268-9557

State Senator and Lifelong Activist for Justice, Jerry Ortiz y Pino
Jerry's work for peace with justice spans many years and issues, from solidarity with Central America to improving the lives of New Mexico's youth. Many of us got to know Jerry a little better this year when he sponsored numerous pieces of Peace and Justice Legislation, including Impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney, and balancing military recruiters' messages in schools. Even in the midst of a busy legislative session, Jerry continued to enlighten 'Burque with his Weekly Alibi columns.

Kief Henley and Peter Conhein of the Guild Cinema
Kief and Peter are the latest proprietors of the Guild Cinema, which has served Albuquerque as the only independent, single-screen theater around, and celebrates 41 years in 2007. The Guild brings the latest independent documentaries, classic movies, and great music to the big screen. With Kief and Peter at the helm, the Guild Cinema is a true community partner, helping to get the word out about important issues and providing space for local organizations working for peace and social justice to reach a larger audience with their message.

Keynote speaker Ann Wright was the deputy chief of mission in several U.S. embassies. She has also been a U.S. Army colonel, with twenty-six years of military experience. She resigned March 19, 2003 due to her disagreement with the decision to go to war on Iraq without UN Security Council authorization.

Editor's Note: Col. Ann Wright will also be speaking the following evening, Sunday, April 22, at the Mennonite Church in Albuquerque, on the topic, "Iraq Now - Iran Later?" Click to read our previous post on this event.

Reentry from the Red Rocks

Sedona red rocks, Springing cottonwoods along Oak Creek

I have to admit I'm finding the reentry from our week away in the Sedona, AZ red rocks (and a stop at the Grand Canyon) to be more than a little labored. Too much stacked up email demanding attention. Too much news already past tense but still news to me. I found being away from the political fray to be calming, centering, reinvigorating. A tense regimen of news scouting and instant reaction happily eroded into an unhurried absorption of astonishing earthly beauty and timelessness. I experienced a reopening of my senses, a reemergence of a proper sense of proportion. Time expanded, measured in eons in the rock. Brainwave frequencies slowed. Imagination and spontaneity replaced logic and planning. Faced again with information overload, I find myself shying away, retreating back to the images of cobalt skies and uncountable shades of red and orange and tan and green in the ever changing light and the warm, sweetly scented air of Northern Arizona in the Springtime. Ahhh.

Sedona from Airport Mesa. Can you see the coffee pot?

Okay, I admit I read the Sedona Red Rock News a couple of times and caught a few minutes of what passes for news on CNN while we were gone but, for the most part, I vegetated on the rocks and the vistas and the sunsets and the fluid energies within us and without us. I watched the Gambel's quail on their morning and sunset rambles near our room. I dipped into the local history books I picked up on outings. I studied photos of the area from eras past. I strolled along Oak Creek and meandered through the interwoven sycamores of Tlaquepaque in the brilliant sunshine and the respite of the cool, cool shade. I scuffled along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and delighted in seeing two massive, rare, endangered California condors rise up in front of us, soaring on a powerful updraft from the canyon's depths.

California condors at Grand Canyon & Northern AZ

The closest I got to real political thought was pondering Arizona's flawed (and very right wing) water and development policies whenever I saw "luxury" sprawl threatening to overwhelm the landscape, and the water supply to boot. There've been 11 straight years of official drought in the Sedona region, and miles of new water pipes layed in that time span. Slurp.

Grand Canyon shadows deepen as sun starts slow descent

But despite Sedona's exploding Californication, its beauty and dramatic setting still manage to outweigh the growing blemishes on its public face, at least for now. It was downright shocking to see an aerial photo of the area taken in 1971, when unsullied open space, fruit trees in their orchards, large working ranches and Western red dirt movie sets surrounded a sparsely populated, truly Western town. Most of the orchards are gone now, the filming moved to less developed areas, the spas, "boutiques," strip malls and condos filling in the spaces one by one, month by month -- crowding some of Sedona's most notable rocks, interrupting some of the town's most vivid vistas. Faux elegance and corporate blandness replace funkiness and natural textures. Mostly empty trophy houses take the place of bunkhouses and cabins. People wear sandals, not boots. They lunch on delicacies where once they grabbed some grub. The mules, burros, horses and cattle have given way to herds that carry Lexus, Toyota and BMW brands. But the rocks and caverns and creek beds and mesas whisper: this, too, shall pass.

Clearly, the red rocks will someday preside over yet another set of human-made ruins, like those of the Sinagua. Over-development fueled by the BushCo tax cuts and real estate bubble will stand silent in the gathering dust. Eventually, floods will wash away the evidence of 21st century greed and dishonor from the place. Perhaps a more transcendent breed of humans will rediscover its true essence. We take comfort in that. Like I said, spend a little time here and an appreciation of the vastness of geologic time -- and the changes and cleansing it brings -- tends to replace the concerns of our little moment in time. BushCo be damned.

Sunset nears in Sedona

(All photos by Mary Ellen. Click on images for larger versions.)

Col. Ann Wright to Discuss Iraq Now - Iran Later?

"IRAQ NOW - IRAN LATER?"
A Presentation by COLONEL ANN WRIGHT
Army Colonel (Ret.), Foreign Diplomat

Sunday, April 22, 7 to 9 PM
Albuquerque Mennonite Church
1300 Girard N.E. (2 blocks north of Constitution)
Albuquerque NM
Suggested $10 donation at the door

Colonel Ann Wright served 29 years in the Army and then later worked in the State Department. In 2003, she resigned from her State Department post due to her disagreement with the decision to go to war on Iraq without U.N. Security Council authorization.

"I have served my country for almost thirty years in some of the most isolated and dangerous parts of the world. I want to continue to serve America. However, I do not believe in the policies of this Administration and cannot --morally and professionally -- defend or implement them. It is with heavy heart that I must end my service to America and therefore resign."

Sponsored by the School of the Americas Watch - New Mexico. For more information, contact Judy Bierbaum at 268-1040.

Editor's Note: Click to read Col. Wright's resignation letter to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. Wright was most recently the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She helped open the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, in January 2002.

Your Turn

I'll be back posting regularly on Wednesday but in the meantime, it's your turn. Think about it, pace about it, then have your say in the comments of this Open Thread. You must have SOMETHING on your mind.

New Mexico Becoming Key Battleground for 2008?

Read the Election Insider by the National Committee for an Effective Congress that makes a case for the competitiveness of New Mexico's 2008 races. You can discuss this topic in our comments section and/or use this as an Open Thread. Type away.