Democracy for New Mexico

A Long Train of Abuses and Usurpations ...

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford provides our Independence Day rant:

So there you have it. Bush shrugs and smirks and then commutes the easy soft-focus sit-on-your-ass-all-day-and-knit white-collar prison sentence of a hollow political lackey who, in turn, took a bullet for his sneering mafia thug of a boss, Dick Cheney, who in turn was complicit (along with lead flying monkey Karl Rove) in the appallingly illegal outing of a CIA operative, which itself was a tiny but particularly nasty link in the giant chain of lies and deceptions undertaken to lead our wary and tattered nation into an unwinnable impossible costly brutally violent war that will now last, if current estimates are correct, until the goddamn sun explodes.

You have to laugh. You have to laugh because if you do not laugh you will likely be overcome with a mad desire to stab yourself in the eye with a sharp feral cat and/or shoot yourself in the toe with a high-powered staple gun, over and over again, all while tearing out pages of the United States Constitution and crumpling them into tiny little balls and hurling them into the smoldering firepit of who-the-hell-cares as you shiver in the corner and swig from a bottle of Knob Creek and wail at the moon. Or maybe that's just me

... Bush actually ambled forth and said that, while he "respects the jury" in the Libby case, the 2.5 year sentence was simply "too harsh." Baby, if 30 months in a comfy well-stocked rape-free Martha Stewart-decorated facility for compromising national security is too harsh, I've got a draconian little thing called the Patriot Act to sell you, cheap.

Here's a swell side note: You know who gets harsher sentences than 30 months in white-collar prison, George? Pot dealers. That's right. The average sentence for a convicted marijuana dealer in California is 3.3 years. In real prison, George, not that namby-pamby Club Fed where Scooter would've played badminton and sipped tea for two years. Hell, in places like Oklahoma and Alabama, you can get a life sentence for possessing a single marijuana bud, which is ironic indeed, given how if you live in Oklahoma or Alabama, there is nothing that would serve your miserable id better than to be deeply and thoroughly stoned every single day and twice on Sunday. But that's another column.

Be sure to read the rest of Mark Morford's column, "Scooter Libby In Hell: What do Dick Cheney, Paris Hilton, "The Sopranos" and colon spasms have in common? Find out here."

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness ...

Full text

National Archives Declaration of Independence website

Wikipedia Declaration of Independence page

Joe Wilson: Bush & Cronies "Corrupt to the Core"

Keith Olbermann speaks to former Amb. Joe Wilson by phone.

Backlash is exploding against Bush's decision to become a part of the obstruction of justice plot for which Scooter Libby was convicted and sentenced. Unofficial online polls at news outlets are running 70-75% AGAINST Bush's decision to "commute" Libby's jail sentence, and everyone from Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to bloggers to prominent attorneys to Democratic leaders are speaking out strongly against the move. Of course Bush doesn't care. How much lower can his approval rating go? And there's always that intransigent 25% or so of our population that sticks with Bush no matter what he does or how he does it. They're enthusiastic about the commutation in that unreasoning, hypocritical way of theirs.

How would you answer this post on Firedoglake about the strategy of the Dems in the face of the belligerent stonewalling and criminalities of the Bush Administration? Excerpt:

Ask yourself this: suppose the Democrats had announced weeks/months ago that impeachment was “on the table,” that they were deeply concerned about the Administration’s abuse of power, that it was undermining the Constitution and the rule of law across the board. There’s lots more you could add to the list, but you get the idea. Suppose they had said that impeachment wasn’t what they’d planned, and they certainly didn’t need it to retake the White House in 2008, but that they had become so concerned about the Administration’s blatant lawlessness that they wanted to make sure a vehicle was in place before then, if it seemed needed to prevent irretrievable damage.

Suppose they had also said that the Administration’s very acts of stonewalling every investigation being conducted to uncover wrongdoing could be viewed as an abuse of power, a coverup and potential support for an article of impeachment. For example, take the inquiry into whether the Administration had been careless in protecting national security secrets and assets; were they still trying to coverup the lying? Suppose that had been the setting yesterday, just before the President slipped his commutation into the media.

1. Would the President have hestitated in his actions yesterday?

2. Would the President have paid a higher price for his actions? e.g., would the public be more likely to see yesterday’s actions as a confirmation of what the Democrats had been saying? Would that give the Republican’s pause in defending it?

3. Would Democrats be in better shape both politically and legally to respond to the White House tactics regarding subpoenas and other investigative actions?

4. Would the Democrats be in better or worse shape for making the argument that the regime does not deserve to be in office, and that hence, removing them from office was now a more legitimate question?

5. Would the Democrats be in better or worse shape for the 2008 elections?

6. Would the country be in a better position to use its constitutional mechanisms to defend the rule of law, in a way that would strengthen those mechanisms for the future?

That's a yes or better to all six questions, isn't it? As I've said before, someone needs to teach the Dems in Washington how to play poker .... and SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER!

Hurting?

YborCityStogie

Of course they mean the Republ version, not a REAL elephant!

Sisto Abeyta for YD President Fundraiser 7/5

From the Duffys: Joe and Kathy Duffy invite you to join them in their support of Sisto Abeyta for Young Democrats of America President. Sisto served as President of the New Mexico Young Democrats, has been a dedicated member of the Democratic Party, and has helped so many of us build a better Democratic Party.

Thurs. July 5, 2007, 6:00 PM til 8:00 PM
6364 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque 87105

Directions to Event: Drive west on Rio Bravo Blvd, left (south) on Isleta Blvd, left side of Isleta 6364 Isleta. Suggested Contribution: $25.00. Please make checks payable to: Committee To Do Something Not Be Somebody; 2023 Metzgar Rd SW; Albuquerque, NM 87105; (505) 304-4740.

Sicko Opens in Santa Fe Today

Michael Moore helps couple battle insurance company and save their house. Add your healthcare horror story here.

According to MrMovietimes:
UA DeVargas 6, Santa Fe
562 North Guadalupe | map | 800.326.3264 608
Accommodations for the disabled
Sicko (PG-13) 2hrs 00min  12:00, 3:30, 7:40, 10:25

Latest info on Sicko: https://www.michaelmoore.com/.

See what the presidential candidates are receiving as "campaign donations" from HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, physicians and other health industry people: Candidates for Sale.

No Jail for Scooter: Bush Commutes Libby's Sentence

As reported on TPMmuckraker, which also has Bush's entire statement from late this afternoon. Bottom line: Bush commuted Libby's original sentence of thirty months of prison, two years of probation, and a $250,000 fine by stripping the sentence of the 2 1/2 years of jail time. Bush said "I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive." As we all know, he's The Decider, the justice system be damned. Less than three years in jail for convictions on two felonies, as sentenced by a conservative judge? Yeah, excessive.

More at Raw Story, including reactions from Reid and Conures. By commuting Libby's sentence rather than pardoning him, Libby can still take the 5th if called before Congress to testify. Slick, ain't it?

I think of all those unmonied, unwhite people sitting in federal prisons doing time under mandatory sentences for relatively minor drug infractions and the like and this development makes me sick. How about you?   

07.07.07 Party for the Planet

You've got your choice of events related to Al Gore's 07.07.07 Live Earth concert. You can find or host your own Live Earth gathering via this page at the Live Earth website. You can also watch a live stream online at their website or tune in to a variety of TV and radio channels.

MoveOn folks are also organizing various parties around the nation focusing on their Online Climate Town Hall with all the Dem candidates for president, as well as concert viewing. To find a party near you or create your own, type in your zip code here.

Defenders of Wildlife in NM is also hosting a Live Earth Watch Party at Coaches Sports Grill, 1414 Central SE in Albuquerque, just west of University on Saturday 7/7, from 6-10 PM. Doors open at 5 PM. No RSVP needed -- first come, first served.

You can also enter their raffle to win some great green prizes, including Al Gore’s book, green products, outdoor gear and more! Anyone who walks, rides their bike, or takes the bus to the event gets a free raffle ticket! Contact Lisa Hummons for more info: (505) 248-0118 x5, or lhummon@defenders.org

Concerts start in Sydney, Australia on Friday night Mountain Time, and end in New York City on Saturday. There will be as many as five concerts taking place simultaneously at any given time, each from a different continent. Coverage will vary depending on where and how you're getting your feed.

Also see our later post with updated information.

DFA-DFNM July Meetup Cancelled; Dem Picnic July 4th at Elena Gallegos

As we mentioned at the last Meetup, we're cancelling our Albuquerque DFA-DFNM Meetup scheduled for July 5th due to the Independence Day holiday week. Our regular Meetup schedule will resume on August 2nd when our confirmed guest speaker will be Congressional candidate Martin Heinrich. He'll be talking about his campaign and platform, as well as taking your questions. Mark your calendars! If you'd like to join our group and email list, visit our Meetup page.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County's 4th of July Picnic and to invite your friends and neighbors. All are welcome:

Wednesday, July 4th
Noon to 3:00 PM
Elena Gallegos Picnic Area, Sandia Heights
Free food, nonalcoholic beverages, horseshoes, volleyball ...

Park entrance is near Tramway & Academy. If you're going North on Tramway, take the first right North of Academy, which is Simms Park Road. Go 1/2 mile to entrance and follow signs. Tell them you're going to the Dem Picnic and the entry fee will be waived.

Feel free to bring your own food or side dishes, salads, desserts, water, etc. The turnout was so good at the last picnic that the Party ran out of food!

Click for more info at the .

Public's Iraq War Support Continues Dive

77 percent: Number of Americans who believe the Iraq war is going badly, according to a new CBS News poll. The disapproval level is a new high, “up from 66 percent just two months ago. Nearly half, 47 percent, say it’s going very badly.” (h/t Think Progress)