Democracy for New Mexico

Revealed: Domenici Retiring Due to Progressive Brain Disease

Sad news. According to an , Sen. Pete Domenici is retiring because he suffers from a progressive disease that can cause dysfunction in the parts of the brain important for organization, decision-making and control of mood and behavior. The disease is said to be Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). A draft of his retirement statement supplied to the AP reveals that Domenici learned the disease is worsening when he had it checked in late September. Excerpts:

The progress of this disease is apparently erratic and unpredictable. It may well be that seven years from now, it will be stable," Domenici intends to say, according to a draft of remarks prepared for delivery.

"On the other hand, it may also be that the disease will have incapacitated me. I am not willing to take a chance that the people who have so honored me with their trust for 40 years might not be served as well as they deserve in the United States Senate."

... In his prepared remarks, Domenici said that as recently as April, "the disease had not progressed."

... "No cure for my disease exists, yet," he said. "But, if we work hard enough, we may be able to find a way to cure people with diseases of the brain in the future. That would be truly a wonderful thing."

In the draft remarks, Domenici also says he is confident he'll be able to serve the rest of his current term.

I've often been tough on Sen. Domenici for his political positions and actions. Right now, though, I want to express my compassion for his health problems and my hope that modern medicine can bring them under control. Whatever political views we have, I think we can honor Pete Domenici for his distinguished career in the public spotlight and extend our thanks for his decades of service to Albuquerque, the State of New Mexico and the nation.

Some milestones from the Pete Domenici's life, from his Senate website:

Personal History

• Born May 7, 1932 in Albuquerque, New Mexico
• One of five children, and only son, of Italian immigrants
• Worked in father's wholesale grocery business
• Graduated 1950 from St. Mary's High School, Albuquerque
• Earned education degree, University of New Mexico, 1954
• Pitched for Albuquerque Dukes—a farm club for the old Brooklyn Dodgers, 1954
• Left baseball to become math teacher at Garfield Junior High in Albuquerque, 1955
• Earned law degree, University of Denver, 1958
• Returned to Albuquerque, entered private practice, 1958
• Married the former Nancy Burk, 1958
• The Domenicis have eight children: two sons and six daughters

Political Experience

• Domenici elected to Albuquerque City Commission, 1966
• Elected Commission Chairman (equivalent then to Mayor), 1967
• First Republican in 38 years in New Mexico to be elected to U.S. Senate, 1972
• With re-election in 2002, Domenici became the first New Mexican elected to serve six full six-year terms in the Senate.
• Domenici has served longer in the U.S. Senate than any other New Mexican in history

"...Mr. Domenici enjoys a universal reputation as one of the Senate's hardest working, most intelligent and most intense members."—New York Times, May 1995

To read other posts on the U.S. Senate race in New Mexico, visit our archive.

Today at 2 PM: Join CHIP Veto Override Rally in ABQ

In response to Bush's veto of the children's health insurance bill yesterday:

Please Join
Americans United for Change
NM Voices for Families
Child Healthcare Advocates
To Implore Rep. Wilson and Senator Domenici to
Continue to Stand Up for New Mexico Families and
Vote to Override President's Veto of
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
Thursday, October 4th, 2:00 PM
Across the Street from UNM Children's Hospital on Lomas
RSVP Here

Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian S. Colón condemned President Bush's "reckless and irresponsible" veto of legislation that would have renewed the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – which currently provides health care coverage to over 6 million children nationwide – and improved it by expanding coverage for more children in New Mexico. President Bush's veto, which will prevent 27,900 uninsured children in New Mexico from gaining health care, comes despite overwhelming support of the American people for expanding SCHIP.

According to recent polls, 86 percent of the American people support reauthorizing SCHIP, with seven in ten saying they support the Democratic plan to expand SCHIP by $35 billion over five years. [Robert Wood Johnson Foundation release, 8/23/07; Washington Post, 10/2/07]

Not only have a bipartisan group of 43 governors called on President Bush to extend and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, but seven states filed lawsuits against the Bush Administration challenging proposed federal rules that would "force poor children to lose health coverage." [Associated Press, 10/01/07]

"With this reckless and irresponsible veto, George W. Bush has once again shown that he is more loyal to his extremist ideology than to the priorities of the families of New Mexico," said Colón. "He sees no problem spending over half a trillion dollars to keep our courageous troops mired in an intractable civil war in Iraq, but he refuses to compassionately extend to 27,900 New Mexican children the opportunity to see a doctor, receive preventative care and live healthier and happier lives.  Despite the fact that this bipartisan legislation would not add a dime to Bush's skyrocketing budget deficit, he still refuses to do the right thing for New Mexico's families."

More on Domenici Retirement: Announcement Set for 4 PM Tomorrow in ABQ

According to the Albuquerque Tribune:

Republican sources confirmed that the Albuquerque Republican plans to make the announcement at 4 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic School, where he went to school, and where his sister long served as principal.

... The sources say the decision is not related to an ongoing Senate ethics investigation of Domenici's phone call to former U. S. attorney David Iglesias last year about a local corruption report or publicly reported polls that showed his approval rating dropping.

Domenici has been plagued by shooting pains in his left leg that caused him to sit down frequently at press conferences and other public events. And he has appeared to tire from the strain of a hectic Senate schedule.

I wonder if the recent poll showing his approval rating at 41% has anything to do with it.

Brian Colón, who chairs the Democratic Party of New Mexico, today had this to say about Domenici's announced retirement:

"Pete Domenici has served the state of New Mexico with distinction over a long career. New Mexico Democrats will field a strong Democratic nominee who can wage a spirited campaign and win this seat."

Also see our previous post on Domenici's retirement. For our previous posts on the 2008 U.S. Senate race in New Mexico, visit our archive.

(With Updates) AP Report: Domenici to Announce Retirement Tomorrow

Big news. Tomorrow Sen. Pete Domenici will announce his intention to retire at the end of his current term according to "anonymous Republican officials" quoted in a short AP story released about an hour ago. The story says he'll make the formal announcement in New Mexico that he will end a 36-year career in the Senate next year. I'll be adding more as it becomes available.

Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post quoted sources close to the 75-year-old Senator saying "he will fly home to New Mexico tomorrow to make the announcement that he is retiring."

UPDATE: The top Dem contender in the Senate race right now is Santa Fe green developer Don Wiviott, who just happens to be scheduled as the keynoter at our DFA-DFNM Meetup in Albuquerque tomorrow night. Click for more info on that.

Wiviott is saying he's committed to the race regardless:

"We remain committed to moving forward in this race. The issues remain the same. When no one else was willing to get up and go against Pete, we were committed, and we remain committed now."

The possibility of other, more prominent Democrats jumping into the race, Wiviott said, is “certainly no more daunting than running against Domenici.”

“We jumped in early, we got committed and we got set up,” he said. “I’ve never backed out of a fight, and I won’t do it now.”

Domenici’s retirement, Wiviott said, is “a seismic shift for the agenda that we’re putting forward. What this means is that we have a much better shot of ending the war…”

Wilson and Pearce
The phones of Reps. Heather Wilson (R, NM-01) and Steve Pearce (R, NM-02), the most likely to run for Senate on the Republican side, must be ringing off the hook. Both have some problems. Wilson is implicated in the scandal surrounding the firing of U.S. Attorneys by virtue of a phone call she admits making to former USA David Iglesias and just barely won her race against former Attorney General Patricia Madrid last time out. Pearce is so far to the right that it's difficult to see him winning a statewide race. Both were recently named by CREW to a 22-member list of the most corrupt members of Congress -- Wilson for her admitted role in the Iglesias scandal, Pearce for failing to report a stock transaction and allegations having to do with BLM Otero Mesa oil leases and Yates Petroleum, Pearce's single largest donor. Domenici also made the list due to a phone call that Iglesias described as "pressuring" him to issue indictments in a pending corruption case.

If Pearce decides to run for Senate that would likely benefit Dem Bill McCamley, who's currently in the running, and any other Dems who would decide to enter the race.

Dem Senate Candidates
Besides Wiviott, there's speculation all over the net about the possibility that other Dems will get in the race now that Domenici's out of the way. Names popping up include Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03), Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, ex-Attorney General Patricia Madrid (who ran against Wilson last time out), Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez, State Auditor Hector Balderas, State Treasurer James Lewis and Gov. Bill Richardson. Candidates must declare for the race by February 2008, and any primary would be decided in June of that year.

If Udall decides to run for Senate, it's almost a shoe-in for any Dem that runs for Congress in New Mexico's liberal 3rd District up North.

Tomorrow: U.S. Senate Candidate Don Wiviott at DFA-DFNM Meetup

*** REMINDER ***

Attend the

Democracy for New Mexico Meetup

First Unitarian Church; SW corner of Carlisle & Comanche
from 7:00 to 8:30 PM

this week

Thursday, October 4

to meet Don Wiviott,

Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate from New Mexico

He has agreed to a full hour with our group and will have a question and answer segment with us. We can ask him the hard questions and express our concerns. We look forward to seeing you at our intimate conversation with Don Wiviott.

To join the Albuquerque DFA-DFNM Meetup group or RSVP for Thursday's Meetup click here. If you plan to attend, please RSVP so we can set up the room appropriately. Thanks.

(Updated) Follow the 2007 Albuquerque Election Returns

Here's the City's , which will continue to be updated as votes are counted.

UPDATE 2: As of 10:21 PM:

• O'Malley beat Martinez 72-28% with all precincts unofficially counted!
• Winter ahead of de'Pascal 81-19% with all but one precinct unofficially counted!
• Garduno 49%, Wilson 23, Griffin 20, Kaufman 9 with all precincts unofficially counted!
• Affordable Housing Bond up 53-47% with only two precincts outstanding!
• Pay increase for councilors down about 60-40% with all but two precincts counted. Aw, rats.

All in all, a bad night for Mayor Chavez and his acolytes and a good night for progressives. Rah! The most disturbing number? Voter turnout, which reportedly hovered around 10% of the approximately 280,000 registered voters in Albuquerque. Whatever happened to civics classes? Maybe we should require them to get any kind of license ....

UPDATE 1: As of about 10:15 PM, with all precincts unofficially counted, Councilor Don Harris beat back the recall effort against him by a margin of:

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 9 RECALL QUESTION Candidate Precinct Absentee Early Total Percent FOR RECALL 1,120 263 136 1,519 34.01% AGAINST RECALL 2,589 199 159 2,947 65.99%

(4,466 Total Votes)        (17 of 17 Precincts Counted) Mayor Chavez must be huffing and puffing.

***********
As of about 9 PM:

• O'Malley is beating Martinez 71-28%
• Winter is beating de'Pascal 78-21%
• Garduno is at almost 49% with Wilson at 23%, Griffin at 20% and Kaufman at 9%
• Recall of Harris stands at 59% against, 40% for it
• All the general bonds are winning with the affordable housing bond at 57-43
• All the ballot propositions are winning EXCEPT for Prop 4 to increase councilor pay which is at 57% against and 43% for it

ActBlue Fundraising Totals for NM Dem Congressional Candidates

As of September 30, 2007 via ActBlue online fundraising:

Don Wiviott for U.S. Senate: $60,698, including $644 from local blog effort Beat Back Bush New Mexico, most of it this past quarter.

Jim Hannan for U.S. Senate: $75

Martin Heinrich for Congress NM-01: $71,954 including $530 from local blog efforts Beat Back Bush New Mexico and $1000 from DFNM Netroots for Heinrich. About $40,000 of that was raised during this past quarter. Heinrich had raised about $181,000 from all sources through the second quarter.

Jon Adams for Congress NM-01: $4,801, all of it this past quarter.

Bill McCamley for Congress NM-02: $31,225, about $20,000 of that during the past quarter.

Al Kissling for Congress NM-02: $795

Rep. Tom Udall hasn't yet raised any money using ActBlue.

Official third quarter fundraising reports from all sources for these candidates are due by October 15, 2007 at the Federal Election Commission.

Air America's Thom Hartmann in ABQ 11.3.07

Thom Hartmann: “Human Relationship to the Environment”
Live in Albuquerque
Saturday, November 3, 1:00 PM!
Hotel Albuquerque, Old Town
Celebrated broadcaster, author, psychotherapist and commentator Thom Hartmann has written widely on issues related to the environment, politics and social justice.

Thom will give the keynote address during the Holistic Management International conference luncheon from 12:00 – 2:00PM. After Thom’s talk, the afternoon continues with dynamic Round Table Discussions on Global Climate Change, Creating a Sustainable Local Food System, Fire-Proofing the West, and much more. The afternoon winds up with an inspiring presentation by HMI Founder Allan Savory on Healing the Land.

Tickets are just $35.00. Don’t wait! Tickets are sure to sell out soon. Call (505) 842-5252 today, or click this link. Don’t miss this exciting afternoon – call today!

Thom Hartmann Booksigning: November 3, Hasting Books and Music at 5:00 PM. Talk and booksigning, 12501 Candelaria Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 (Northwest corner of Tramway and Candelaria), call 332-8855. Click for more info.

Iraq War Purple Heart Recipient Criticizes Rush Limbaugh for 'Phony Soldiers' Remark

In the not-letting-them-get-away-with-it department: VoteVets.org, the leading political group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, is today launching a hard-hitting ad that directly takes on Rush Limbaugh for his contention that those who served in Iraq, but oppose the Bush administration's failed policies, are "phony soldiers." (See our previous post.)

The ad (video above) will air nationally Wednesday and Thursday on FOX News and CNN, and a radio version of the ad will air during the Rush Limbaugh Show in Washington, DC and in his home market of Palm Beach, Florida. The total amount of the ad buy is $60,000. A broadcast quality radio version of the ad will be posted at VoteVets.org later this afternoon.

The ad features Brian McGough of Washington, DC, who was wounded in action when he took shrapnel to his head as a result of an enemy explosive. McGough received the Purple Heart for his traumatic brain injury.

In the ad, McGough says, "More and more troops and veterans of Iraq believe George Bush's military policy has been a disaster...I am one of them. Rush Limbaugh called vets like me "phony soldiers" for telling the truth about Iraq. Rush, the shrapnel I took to my head was real. My traumatic brain injury was real. And, my belief that we are on the wrong course in Iraq is real. Until you have the guts to call me a "phony solider" to my face, stop telling lies about my service." Text then reads, "Tell Rush Limbaugh to stop insulting our troops and veterans. (800) 282-2882."

Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org, said, "Maybe Rush Limbaugh and his ilk haven't heard, but there's a new sheriff in town - America's troops and veterans, who are not going to sit idle while people like Rush demean the service of those who oppose the President's failed policy in Iraq. Maybe Rush got away with smears like this in the past, but he's not going to on our watch. There's nothing phony about those who chose to wear the uniform and fight. And someone like Rush Limbaugh, who avoided service, is the one of the least qualified people on the face of the earth to pass judgment on us."

VoteVets.org is a pro-military organization committed to the destruction of terror networks around the world, with force when necessary. It represents the Voice of America's 21 Century Patriots - those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. It primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf of troops, veterans and their families.

Click to donate to VoteVets to help them support the troops and oppose the escalation in Iraq.

Resolution Introduced in U.S. House
Meanwhile Rep. Mark Udall of Colorado has introduced a in the U.S. House condemning Rush for his nasty remarks. If we want to see this bill brought to a vote, we need to contact the Dem House leaders and Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03).

Albuquerque Municipal Election Day 2007

You know you want to. You know you need to. You know you should. Polls open 7 AM to 7 PM today. Click for everything you need to know.