Democracy for New Mexico

ACTION ALERT: Urge Sen. Domenici to Support Children's Health Insurance Bill

Editor's Note: If you care about expanding health insurance coverage for children in New Mexico and around the nation, now is the time to contact Sen. Domenici and urge him to support the SCHIP bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee. There are at least 86,000 children in New Mexico who lack healthcare coverage and many more who are underinsured. The link provided below makes it easy to contact Sen. Domenici (and our other members of Congress). You can also call Sen. Domenici's office toll free by using 1-800-861-5343. Please do either or both TODAY.

From the Children's Defense Fund:
As you probably already aware, right now the future of children’s health insurance is being decided on Capitol Hill. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – a program that provides health coverage to poor children – is being considered for reauthorization and Congress is deciding whether or not they will renew the program and if they will expand it to include more children and possibly improve the program as well.

Taking this opportunity to renew, expand, and improve SCHIP is critical because although SCHIP has been effective at reducing the number of uninsured children over the past 10 years, nine million children are still uninsured (86,000 in New Mexico) and millions more are underinsured. That means millions of children in America are not getting the care they need to lead healthy and happy lives.

Late last week, the Senate Finance Committee approved $35 billion expansion that would be financed through tobacco taxes that now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. At the same time, President Bush has proposed his own plan with a mere $5 billion expansion and has threatened to veto the Senate compromise. Additionally, the House is considering SCHIP legislation in the next few days, before the August recess. As you can see, this issue is front-and-center this week and next on Capitol Hill. Since Senator Domenici plays a key role in getting this Senate bill passed and in providing enough votes to override Bush’s veto, we thought you and your readers would be interested in this issue.

The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has been working hard over the last few months to raise awareness of the nine million uninsured children in America and pushing to better fund (at least $50 billion in new money) and improve the program by getting people to contact their Members of Congress through our website (www.childrensdefense.org) and through our Elect Susie Campaign website (www.electsusie.com). Although CDF’s ultimate goal is to provide health coverage to all nine million children this year, we know that this reauthorization is a great opportunity to make important inroads into the problem by expanding and improving the program to cover as many children as possible.

For more information, check these articles:

Bush’s proposal: “Bush: No Deal On Children's Health Plan,” July 19, 2007

Senate proposal: “Senate Panel OKs Child Health Bill,” July 19, 2007

House proposal: “House Democrats Offer Health Plan,” July 24, 2007

Hiroshima Commemoration: August 3-4, Santa Fe & Los Alamos

Launching lanterns at Ashley Pond as sunset nears, 2005

From Pax Christi NM:
Please join Pax Christi New Mexico, Vets for Peace and Dragonfly Sanctuary for our Annual Hiroshima Commemoration on Friday and Saturday, August 3rd and 4th. In the spirit of love and respect for all life, join us to vigil, pray and witness for peace in Santa Fe and Los Alamos, New Mexico on the 62nd Anniversary of the nuclear bombing of HIROSHIMA, Japan. Click for flyer (PDF).

Santa Fe, Friday, August 3rd: Come hear Fr. Roy Bourgeois, founder of the School of the Americas Watch, speak at 7:30 PM at El Museo in Santa Fe about galvanizing a Peace Community. There will also be a Mass for Peace at 4 PM at Santa Maria de la Paz with Fr. John Dear.

Santa Fe and Los Alamos, Saturday, August 4th: From 9 AM to Noon, there will be a Non-Violence Training at Santa Maria de la Paz in Santa Fe. We are lucky to have Judy Bierbaum and her husband Keith running the training. Anyone who has taken a Non-Violence Training with Judy knows that it is a moving event in one's life. We are ALL in need of Non-Violence Training to counter the 24/7 barrage of violence that we are fed in OUR country.

Also, on Saturday August 4th at 2 PM, gather at Ashley Pond in Los Alamos for Pax Christi New Mexico's Sack Cloth and Ashes action. At 4 PM there'll be various speakers, musicians and poets including Fr. Roy and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss. At 7:30 PM the Lantern Floating Ceremony on Ashley Pond will begin. For updates, go to www.paxchristinewmexico.org. Questions? bud@siochainworld.org

Random Thoughts on the Dem CNN-YouTube Debate

(OK, I've reposted this after it disappeared due to the TypePad power outtage. Now you may get it twice.)

These are my off-the-top-of-my-head, personal thoughts on last night's debate and the Dem candidates. What are your thoughts?

Some questions were more pointed than those usually posed by the MSM, but others were plain silly. It's unfortunate that the poobahs at CNN provided the screening as I'm sure there were many great video questions that CNN wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.

CNN is completely biased putting the perceived "frontrunners" at the center of the stage with Kucinich and Gravel at the ends.

CNN is completely biased in giving the perceived "frontrunners" way more questions and way more time than other candidates.

When not every candidate gets to talk about some of the most important issues of the campaign -- like health care reform and environmental degradation -- the format is not serving the interests of voters.

No questions on campaign finance reform, the death penalty, "free" trade, labor issues, the increasingly evil role being played by hedge funds and private equity outfits, military spending, the silencing of real journalism, Iran or many other issues I wanted to hear about. But we did get questions on Hillary's gender, whether Obama is "black enough" and favorite teachers of the candidates. Go figure.

Anderson Cooper obviously doesn't know much about the issues and seemed most concerned with getting all the video questions aired rather then getting comprehensive answers. Let the candidates talk! He gave certain questions to certain candidates without regard to their experience. For instance, you'd think a question about nuclear power would go to Richardson given his experience as Energy Secretary and the fact that NM is so entangled in all things nuclear.

Gay Marriage: The answers from most of the candidates (except Kucinich) were weasling, confusing and just plain wrong. Civil unions or domestic partnerships DO NOT provide the same benefits as civil marriage as they omit hundreds of rights provided by federal civil marriage, like all the rights married couples get regarding Social Security survivorship, portability between states and nations, etc. Gay couples are already getting married in select churches -- it's the civil rights provided by civil marriage , which have absolutely nothing to do with religion or spiritual matters, that are unavailable. I did like that Richardson talked about what's "achievable" instead of talking about how "conflicted" he is about gay marriage, like Edwards did.

The Word Liberal: It really irked me that Hillary couldn't bring herself to respect the word "liberal." She claimed she's a "modern progressive," whatever that is. I guess it means you've abandoned the needs of those living in poverty, the working class and the middle class, and refuse to push for such things as single payer health coverage, in order to please the deep pocket donors from Wall Street and big corporations. But you don't hate gay people, African-Americans or Hispanics. Big whoop. DLC allegiance all the way, just like with Bill.

Health Care: Despite this issue generally being number 2 with the public behind Iraq, it got very little play. They crammed three questions on this into one and then didn't give many candidates a chance to answer. The health reform plans of every candidate except Kucinich preserve the role of for-profit insurance companies, brokers, HMOs etc., when it's clear that a majority of Americans want single payer NOW.

Say It Loud: As in previous debates, Kucinich and Gravel spoke the truth in no uncertain terms on a number of issues, making Cooper and the other candidates uncomfortable. How dare they not stay inside the box of accepted spin talk! They must be crazy! I especially liked Gravel calling out the others on the big donations they take from those connected with global finance and global corporatism. I liked Richardson's clear answer on No Child Left Behind: "I'd scrap it. It doesn't work."

The Dem Field: At this point in the race I have to say that no Dem candidate inspires me enough to get excited. Each one seems to have a gap where they need more substance and/or courage. Maybe I'm just too cynical or I'm still pining for the excitement and status quo challenges of the Dean campaign in 2004. It seems to me we need an incredibly high degree of wisdom, boldness, genuine leadership, passion, creativity and ethical purity if we're even to begin solving the profound problems we face.

Do you see those qualities in any of the current candidates? They all still seem so business as usual to me. Platitudes and spin. Of course, any one of them would be an incredibly better president than any of the Repubs. I'm just not very pumped up by any of them. Craving more charisma and truth! I also wonder if any of them realize we have a constitutional crisis going on ....

Hillary Clinton: The more I see her, the more I think she'll win the nomination based on her toughness, her ability to recite calculated talking points perfectly and her incredible intellect. What I question is what, exactly, she'll use that huge intellect to try and achieve. I don't trust her. Her links to corporatist forces are just too strong and many. Given that the Wall Street and big media forces are aligning behind her, I have a hunch she'll win the nomination hands down. She also uses her "first woman president" schtick to great advantage.

Barak Obama: Very good at using many words that sound substantive on their face but actually communicate little specific meaning. Yes, we're all for "hope" and solving problems and "turning the page." The devil is in the details, not the generic slogans. I tend to mistrust any politician who seems to entirely lack anger at what's going on in America and who seems to view anti-constitutional neocons as being amenable to bipartisan negotiation.

John Edwards: I like his wife much more than I like him. Although he voices positions that are often strong, creative and focused on the real problems we're experiencing as a nation, he doesn't seem tough enough to me to win against the Repub machine or to take on the powers he'd have to confront to achieve his stated plans. He often comes across as too slick and packaged. His populism is attractive but it's anyone's guess how sincere he is about it.

Bill Richardson: Too often, the Governor still seems not ready for prime time in his presence. I question many of his statements about what he wants to do in terms of education, health care and other issues. If he's being sincere, why hasn't he done more in New Mexico to achieve these aims? You have to wonder what he's promising away to raise the funds he's raising. I always get the sense he's really the DLC-oriented politico he's always been with some liberal, anti-war frosting added by consultants to make him more palatable to the Dem base. While he's done some very good things in NM, there's always that lingering sense that he does everything with an eye toward political gain rather than deep-seated values.

Joe Biden: Ever since he badgered Anita Hill at the Clarence Thomas hearings I've had a negative view of him. He often comes across as a bully to me. I don't believe his claim that he prays the rosary every day. He has deep connections with the financial and military establishments.

Chris Dodd: I like many things about Sen. Dodd, but he voted for the war and repeats Repub talking points like "I believe marriage is between one man and one woman." Given the power of corporate players and the severe economic inequalities within his home of state of Connecticut, he's got some 'splainin' to do. Not enough charisma.

Dennis Kucinich: Great positions on many issues coupled with a very weak record of successful achievements in the Congress and beyond. He lacks any degree of pragmatism or realism on many issues. Still, I like that he's on the stage saying what the majority of base Democrats believe on the important issues. Somebody has to do it.

Mike Gravel: I like his ferocity, even if it can be a little over the top. I like his freedom to say things like all the troop deaths in Nam were a complete waste. Almost everyone knows that, but few will say it out loud. He did some really important things that I respect when he was a Senator in the Nam era, like filibustering against the draft and standing up for the release of the Pentagon papers. While he expresses a number of fringe views, I think he should be given his due instead of repeatedly being cut off and dissed by pundits, candidates and debate organizers.

See for yourself:

• Debate transcript Part 1 and Part 2.
• Complete video of debate.
• Video clips from PoliticsTV.

TypePad, where I have this blog, experienced some sort of power outage for most of the afternoon. They're back up now, but there may still be oddities happening within the blog. Bear with us (them). For instance, I notice that the post about my responses to last night's Dem debate is missing, and the comments feature is still down.

Thursday: Michael Cadigan on 'We The People'

WE THE PEOPLE: Thursday, July 26, 2007, 6 PM
Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan will discuss 'Government via Clean Elections: Do policies behind our current election system affect society?'

Live on Albuquerque Cable TV Channel 27! Worldwide On The Net! Click for Streaming Media: https://quote-unquote.org/. Call-in: (505) 346-1633. We The People is broadcast every Second and Fourth Thursday at 6-7 PM MDT. It's an innovative call-in television show looking for TRUTH and TRANSPARENCY in local, state and federal governments. THANKS FOR WATCHING, Mickey Bock/Judith Binder - Hosts

Join Rail Runner Adventure with Dem Women of Bernalillo County

From the Democratic Women of Bernalillo County:
RAIL-RUNNER ADVENTURE
SATURDAY * JULY 28, 2007
$20.00 /person, Includes Train Fare & Lunch Buffet
For Reservations, Call Margaret Garcia 877-1043

Itinerary:
11:00 AM:  Arrive @ downtown station
11:25 AM:  Board train and depart station
11:50 AM:  Train arrives @ Bernalillo station
12:00-12:20 PM:  Board shuttle to Santa Ana Casino
12:20-1:30 PM:  Lunch  @ The Feast Buffet
1:30 - 2:30 PM:  Free-time
2:30 - 2:45 PM:  Board shuttle to Train Station
3:10 PM:  Board train-return trip to Alb.

Dem CNN-YouTube Debate Today at 5PM

The first of six presidential "debates" officially sanctioned by the DNC starts today at 5:00 PM MDT at The Citadel military college in Charleston, SC. It's a joint presentation by CNN and YouTube, with more than 1300 3000 video questions being submitted by the public. Candidates reportedly reviewed 600 of the 30 second clips, and about two dozen will be used in the forum tonight. Anderson Cooper of CNN will moderate. The debate will be shown live on CNN TV and streamed live on CNN.com. I'm sure there will be repeats on the cable news channel and clips available online.

Candidate websites will be hosting chats and other debate companion features, including Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign online. You can join their live chat with campaign staff and other supporters from around the country at 4:30 PM MDT. You can also submit your feedback on the debate to here.

Pete Domenici: Running Scared

According to the scuttlebutt that's making the rounds, Commander Bush will be in Albuquerque on August 27th to squeeze wealthy Repubs to donate cash to Sen. Pete Domenici's campaign coffers. The usual Repub contribution requirements will apply: $1000 to eat lunch in the same room as King George. $5000 to have  your picture taken with The Decider. Everything's "private." No ordinary citizens allowed.

Very telling that Domenici's campaign is willing to risk a visit by the incredibly unpopular president in order to drum up funds. Obviously, they're worried about Pete's drooping approval ratings, his ethics problems connected to the firing of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias and his chances in the 2008 election. Why else would they bring in a failed president with an Iraq occupation strategy so misbegotten that even Domenici himself has been critical? After all, it's difficult and essentially hypocritical to be distancing yourself from Bush's dismal and damaging position on Iraq while welcoming an appearance by The Decider on your behalf.

Pundits and Repubs alike are poo-pooing the Dems' chances at winning Domenici's Senate seat come November 2008, but I think they're dead wrong. The throw-the-Repub-bums-out mood of New Mexicans matches the strong backlash against Bush rubberstamps that characterizes the mood nationally. This will be what's called a "change election" -- the kind of presidential contest year where the policies of a failed chief executive and his bootlickers are rejected wholesale, and the opposition party's favored presidential candidate can be expected to have long coat-tails indeed.

Big sweeps are often the norm in such years -- and the anger and profound disapproval erupting against Bush, his party and his apologists are at record levels with no end in sight. Anything is possible, especially when an aging, long-time incumbent Senator like Domenici has clearly lost his edge and much of his clout on The Hill with a Dem takeover of Congress. Moreover, there's a growing anti-politics as usual movement that favors creative, common sense candidates ready to challenge the status quo over Beltway insider, conventional wisdom politicos.

If you want to help get Domenici out of the way of our forward progress, a good place to start is supporting one of the candidates for the Dem nomination who want to take him on in 2008. Sign on as a supporter and/or give a few bucks to the New Mexico Dem Senate campaign of your choosing:

• Don Wiviott
• Jim Hannan
• Leland Lehrman

See our previous post on Bush's trip to New Mexico on behalf of Domenici. For more on the 2008 race for the Senate in New Mexico, visit our archive of posts on the topic.

Grassroots Group 'Drilling Santa Fe' Sets Up Online Petition Drive

On the heels of a packed and highly successful organizing event held in Santa Fe earlier this month, the grassroots group Drilling Santa Fe has created an online petition page in support of its mission. By signing the petition, residents of Santa Fe County can join a growing list of citizens and local organizations urging county government to defer action on all oil and gas drilling permits until effective regulations are created with citizen input to protect the land from environmental degradation and other negative impacts. To learn more about the issue, the group's actions and how to participate, visit DrillingSantaFe.com.

As reported on the webiste, oil and gas explorers have leased hundreds of square miles of mineral rights from south of Galisteo through the Ortiz Mountains to the outskirts of Santa Fe, and are taking action to launch widespread and potentially damaging new drilling projects in response to rising energy prices. Landowners south and southwest of Santa Fe are now learning that the mineral leases under their property take legal precedent over their surface rights.

Drilling Santa Fe wants citizens to know that there is an opportunity now to urge Santa Fe County to strengthen their regulations to prevent some of the damage and health hazards that this level of oil and gas exploration and production has inflicted on communities and land owners in northwestern and southeastern New Mexico. Ultimately, the state government must enact the environmental protections afforded residents of other states.

Tax deductible donations [501(c)3] for Drilling Santa Fe should be made to the Concerned Citizens of Cerrillos for the Drilling Santa Fe Fund, P.O. Box 23921, Santa Fe, NM 87502. Santa Fe County residents can sign the petition here. The group's website is at https://www.DrillingSantaFe.com.

ACTION ALERT: Join 'Iraq Summer' Rally Tuesday, Noon, ABQ

I'm passing this along from Americans Against Escalation in Iraq -- the Iraq Summer activists. Please come if you can and pass the info on. We need some street action to keep the pressure on to stop the Iraq occupation:

• New Mexico "Iraq Summer" Holds Solemn 'Chaos is Not Progress' Rally in Response to Bush Administration's So-Called "Progress Report" in Iraq
• Great Visual: Campaign to Mimic Bob Dylan's Classic Subterranean Homesick Blues Video (above) By Dropping Cards on Busy Albuquerque Intersection with statistics of American casualties and taxpayers' money spent on the war in Iraq
• "Iraq Summer" Continues to Implore Domenici, Wilson to Break with Bush and Vote to Bring War in Iraq to Safe and Responsible End

With more than 70 percent of the American public calling for the withdrawal of nearly all U.S. troops from Iraq by April, the "Iraq Summer" campaign alongside dozens of concerned New Mexicans will hold a solemn 'Chaos is Not Progress' rally on the Corner of San Mateo Blvd, NE and Montgomery Blvd, NE on July 24, 2007 at 12 Noon in response to the Bush administration's so-called 'progress report' in Iraq and in response to U.S. Senator Pete Domenici's and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson's ongoing support of the President's costly, irresponsible and failed Iraq war policy.

New Mexicans will mimic music legend Bob Dylan's classic video Subterranean Homesick Blues (above) by dropping cue cards with statistics of American casualties and taxpayers' money spent on the war in Iraq. The rally comes on the heels of Rep. Wilson's vote on July 12 against the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act [HR 2956] and Senator Domenici's vote on July 18 to obstruct an up-or-down vote on the Reed-Levin amendment to the Defense Authorization bill ? both meaningful pieces of legislation to begin safely and responsibly winding down the war in Iraq.

WHO: Americans Against Escalation in Iraq

WHAT: New Mexico "Iraq Summer" Holds Solemn 'Chaos is Not Progress' Rally in Response to Bush Administration's So-Called "Progress Report" in Iraq

WHEN: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 12 Noon

WHERE: Corner of San Mateo Blvd, NE and Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque

www.noiraqescalation.org