Democracy for New Mexico

NM-03: Three Events This Weekend for Ben Ray Luján

Be sure to check out an interview with Luján conducted this week by Matt at NMFBIHOP, where Ben Ray talks about the current financial crisis, the green energy economy and more.

It's gonna be another busy weekend for Ben Ray Luján, Public Regulation Commissioner and Dem nominee for Congress in NM-03. Lujan's campaign has been a lively one, with lots of grassroots reach-out to voters, a slew of town halls, a bunch of candidate forums and lots of participation in community events. There's a reason Barack Obama referred to Luján as an "up and comer" during his speech in Espanola last week.

Ben Ray is definitely an action kind of guy with a can-do attitude and a winning way with people from all walks of life. There always seems to be an abundance of good ideas bubbling up in his conversations and, even better, he really listens when folks speak to him. I've had a chance to talk with Ben Ray on a number of occasions, hang out with him some at Netroots Nation and participate in some of his campaign events. I can tell you that from my perspective he's the real deal -- engaged, thoughtful, down to earth, enthusiastic and smart as a whip. You can see for yourself by attending any of these events this weekend:

Standing Up for New Mexico Town Hall
Saturday, September 27, 2:00 PM
Sabana Grande Recreation Center
4110 Sabana Grande Ave, SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Open to the Public

The town hall is part of Luján's Standing Up for New Mexico Town Hall Tour. Luján will visit every county in the 3rd Congressional District at least once before the November 4 general election to speak with voters and discuss New Mexico's most pressing issues. This is his sixth town hall of the series. He has already held town halls in Gallup, Farmington, Santa Fe, Clovis and Taos. During the primary, Luján held town halls in every county in the 3rd Congressional District.

Corrales Meet & Greet
Saturday, September 27th, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Snacks and Beverages will be Served
Home of Yasine and Kyle Armstrong; 250.6677
1 East Rachel Lane, Corrales, NM 87048
Directions: Off I-25 take the Alameda exit; head West on Alameda to Ellison Dr. Turn Right (N) on to Ellison Drive (turns into Loma Larga Rd). Continue on Loma Larga Rd until you get to Mission Valley Road. Turn Left (W) on to Mission Valley road; Veer left where it splits. Take a left on E. Rachel Lane; it is the last house at the end of the road.

For more information or to RSVP, call 505-459-5272. Donations are appreciated.
**********

Please show your support for Change in America!
You are cordially invited to join:
Kurt Young, Eric & Lisa Lujan, Cordy Medina & Kathy Thompson, Speaker of the House Ben Lujan & Carmen Lujan, Attorney General Gary King & Yolanda King, Rep. Jim Trujillo & Victoria Trujillo, Sen. Phil Griego & Janie Griego and Rep. Rhonda King for a

Rally for Ben R. Lujan
Sunday, September 28, 1:00 to 4:00 PM
The Gallegos Ranch, "El Rancho Capilla Vieja"
I-25 exit 271 (La Cienega exit), enter La Cienega and follow the road until it ends, then go left and follow the road to the Ranch.

Fajitas, dessert and refreshments
MUSIC: "Sol Fire"
Live Radio Broadcast: Que Suave 810AM Radio
Contact our office at 988-2442 for more information

https://www.benrlujan.com
People for Ben

Ben Ray Lujan is a True Blue New Mexico candidate. Please support his campaign by volunteering and donating to the cause.

Technorati Tags:

NM-02: Dem Party to Hold 'Change for Change' Lunch in Las Cruces to Benefit Tinsley's Poorly Paid Employees

Tinsley backs tax breaks for the rich but is against a living wage for workers

What are you doing Friday? One idea: Come on down to the "Change for Change" K-Bob Employee Fundraiser!

As Vice President Dick Cheney prepares for his high-dollar fundraiser for Ed Tinsley in Hobbs, the Democratic Party of New Mexico will be holding a "Change for Change" fundraiser in Las Cruces. They'll be asking guests to give what they can, even change, to benefit Ed Tinsley's employees, who work for low wages without benefits at Tinsley's K-Bob's Steakhouse:

WHAT: Democratic Party of New Mexico will be holding a "Change for Change" Lunch to benefit Ed Tinsley's employees at K-Bob's Steakhouse. They'll be serving K-Bob's food and donating the money raised in the form of a tip for the hardworking men and women who work at K-Bob's Steakhouse.

WHO: Mayor Miyagishima and other special guests will stop by

WHERE: Young Park, 1905 Nevada Ave., Las Cruces

WHEN: Friday, September 26th at 12:00 Noon

Might also be a good idea to donate some time and/or money to the Dem Congressional candidate in NM-02. Harry Teague believes in treating workers right, including those he employs at his local businesses. We can't let someone like Scrooge Tinsley get anywhere near the Congress, now can we? Especially at a time like this.

Caroline Kennedy to Kick Off Obama Volunteer Event in Santa Fe

Caroline Kennedy will be in Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque on Friday and Saturday for private fundraisers for Barack Obama. The Campaign for Change has now announced that she'll also be speaking to volunteers at an event in Santa Fe on Friday. Caroline will kick off a debate watch party and volunteer training at PC's Restaurant, 4420 Airport Road in Santa Fe on Friday, September 26 from 4:30 to 5:45 PM.

As Obama prepares to debate McCain, volunteers from northern New Mexico will receive training from Campaign for Change staff, followed by a Debate Watch Party. Of course, nobody yet knows if McCain will participate in the debate scheduled for Friday at the University of Mississippi. Obama has said he'll show up regardless, and would be happy to do a town hall meeting or a one-on-one interview with debate moderator Jim Lehrer if McCain doesn't show.

There are dozens of other debate watch parties and Obama campaign events all over New Mexico during the next few days. Click for a listing, pick one out and get involved. If not now, when?

C de Baca Quits as GOP Bernalillo County Chair

Peter St. Cyr has been all over this story, and he still is, including an interview with Ferdinand C de Baca right after he submitted his resignation today. The Word is that Bernalillo County Repub Party Treasurer Ryan Cangiolosi will take over as chariman.

This will likely end the media storm that's surrounded C de Baca and the New Mexico GOP since this past weekend, when his racially inflammatory statements to the BBC started coming to light. On the other hand, the battles within the NM GOP have just begun. You can see my previous posts on this story here, here and here.

Let's Play "Wall Street Bailout" (Not)

Must See: The truly Democratic and democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio speaks truth to power on the absurd bailout bill, and suggests a better plan.

Note that the Sunlight Foundation has counted so far this year sponsored by the financial services sector for (or featuring) lawmakers considering the bailout bill. Gee, I wonder why that is.

Go to votenobailout.org to express yourself via email. You can also call our Congressional delegation:

Domenici's office: 505 346-6791
Bingaman's office: 505 346-6601
Wilson's office: 505 346-6781
Udall's office: (505) 984-8950
Pearce's office: (505) 522-2219

Oh, and have you seen this one yet? Yes, it's a spoof but, sadly, it's so close to reality it hurts:

Dear American:

I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.

I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had a crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you.

I am working with Mr. Phil Gram, lobbyist for UBS, who will be my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As a Senator, you may know him as the leader of the American banking deregulation movement in the 1990s. This transacting is 100% safe.

This is a matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.

Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren to wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I will respond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.

Yours Faithfully Ministry of Treasury Paulson

(h/t to Terry Riley and TH)

Tonight: Campaign Fundraiser for Tim Eichenberg at O'Niell's Pub

Senator Dede Feldman
Senator-Elect Eric Griego
Senator-Elect Tim Keller
Representative Antonio ‘Moe’ Maestas
Senator Cisco McSorley
Councilor Debbie O’Malley
Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino
and
Representative Mimi Stewart
Invite you to support

Tim Eichenberg
Democrat for State Senate
in New Mexico’s 15th District

Thursday, September 25th, 5:00 to 6:30 PM
O’Niell’s Irish Pub
4310 Central Avenue SE
(Central at Washington in East Nob Hill)
Suggested Contribution $75
Click for Flyer(pdf)

For more information or to RSVP, please email TimForSenate@gmail.com.

NM-Sen: Submit Text or Video Questions Now for Udall-Pearce YouTube Faceoff

This week, YouTube News and Politics announced the latest match-up in their You Choose '08 Spotlight series (youtube.com/youchoose08). This time, it's our U.S. Senate race between Dem Tom Udall and Repub Steve Pearce. Both Udall and Pearce have agreed to answer questions from YouTube users, which can be submitted either as video responses or text comments to this call-out video.

The top 5 questions (based on rankings and view counts) will be posed to both Udall and Pearce, and their video answers will be presented side-by-side on youtube.com/youchoose08 on Tuesday, October 7th.

Both Udall and Pearce have their own YouTube channels at UdallForUsAll and PeopleforPearce, where you can get some background to help you come up with pointed questions. The DEADLINE to submit questions is this coming Monday, September 29th, so upload your video or submit your text question today.

Technorati Tags:

Obama Refuses to Delay Debate, SUSA Says Americans Agree

I like The Nation's take: McCain Cuts and Runs. Excerpt:

After calling for debates all summer, John McCain is cutting and running from the first one.

In one of the weirder political ploys of a long campaign season, McCain says he will "suspend" his campaign on Thursday. He is also pushing for a postponement of the first presidential debate. McCain says he is taking these dramatic steps because he wants to focus on congressional negotiations over the bailout. It's not clear how a national presidential debate -- the ultimate bully pulpit in this political season -- would detract from any effort to build national consensus on solutions for the economic crisis.

I wonder why McCain didn't come to this conclusion last weekend, or Monday, or Tuesday. Today it finally hit him, I guess, when he realized just how far his polling numbers were falling and how persuasive the hearings in Washington are in convincing people that Bush-McCain-style deregulation is the main culprit in this tragedy. Sure seems like a panic move to me.

Obama Isn't Biting
Here's what he said at a previously scheduled press conference this afternoon in Florida, where he's preparing for the debate:

"I believe that we should continue to have the debate," Obama said. "It's my belief that this is exact time when the American people need to hear form the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsibly for dealing with this mess and I think that it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once."

Obama said that unlike McCain, he will not suspend ads, or campaign events scheduled between now and Friday's debate.

"I think it's very important that the American people see the people who potentially could be in charge of this problem within the next couple of months and so my attitude is that we need to be focused on solving the problems, as I have been," Obama said. "It's also important that we communicate where we need to go in getting us out of the situation."

Obama said he will stay in Florida for the time being and will not return to Washington unless asked by Congressional leadership.

"I've told the leadership in Congress is that if I can be helpful then I am prepared to be anywhere at anytime," he said.

New Poll Shows Americans Agree with Obama
SurveyUSA just released a new poll that shows that most people agree with Obama:

SurveyUSA. 9/24. Adults. MoE 3.2%

The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama is scheduled to take place in two days. Should the debate be held as scheduled? Should the debate be held, but the format changed to focus on the economy? Or, should the debate be postponed?

Hold as scheduled 50
Hold with focus on economy 36
Postpone 10

Is the right response to the turmoil on Wall Street to suspend the campaigns for president? To continue the campaigns as though there is no crisis? Or, to re-focus the campaigns with a unique emphasis on the turmoil on Wall Street?

Suspend 14
Continue 31
Refocus the campaign 48

If Friday's presidential debate does not take place, would that be good for America? Bad for America? Or would it make no difference?

Good for America 14
Bad for America 46
No difference 35

Technorati Tags:

NM-01: New Ad Says White Too Much Like Bush

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has said they are prepared to spend $1.3 on ads in NM-01, where Dem Martin Heinrich is taking on Darren White. They've started airing their first one, called "Too Much Like Bush," which pegs White as "too big a risk" because of his close ties to King George over the years and his continuing support of the Bush agenda.

The DCCC is using this frame based, no doubt, on the still falling approval ratings for Bush (now down to 19% by one count). And because it's true: Darren White has long been one of Bush's strongest supporters. No getting around that fact.

Although White has taken to describing himself as "independent" these days, his positions and past argue otherwise. Both he and McCain are trying to run away from their own Party's positions and the horrendously unpopular and incompetent Bush presidency but it's not easy. There's too much evidence to the contrary, like the kind that's included in this ad.

New Mexicans are clearly fed up with all things Bushian including the failed economic policies that have brought the financial markets -- and millions of ordinary folks everywhere -- to their knees. I can't think of any reason they'd support a Bush clone over a candidate like Heinrich who's all about fresh ideas and looking forward, not back.

Martin Heinrich is a True Blue New Mexico candidate. Please donate whatever time and/or money you can afford to help him get elected -- and keep Bush cheerleader Darren White far away from Washington.

Technorati Tags:

Tonight: Obama Youth Vote Kickoff Party at Kelly's Brew Pub, ABQ

Click on image for larger version

Come join us kick off our youth vote outreach in Albuquerque! We will have a DJ, special guests and speakers, and food!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 6:30-9:30 PM
Kelly's Brew Pub, 3222 Central Ave., ABQ

THE EVENT WILL FEATURE CSI TV STAR HILL HARPER, STATE AUDITOR HECTOR BALDERAS, AND COUNTY CLERK MAGGIE OLIVER.

Meet and mingle with other Obama supporters and learn about how you can get more involved! All are welcome--young people, students, young professionals and the young at heart! The event is free!

Learn about how you can join the OBAMA STREET TEAM to help register young people to vote and engage them with the campaign on campuses, at concerts, clubs and other events. With just two weeks left before the voter registration deadline and six weeks before election day, WE NEED YOUR HELP to make sure that all young people have a voice in this election! Come party with us! Invite your friends!!

Co-Hosts: Mario Benavidez, Javier Benavidez, Ann Marie Padilla, Diana Montoya-Boyer, Bineshi Albert, Monica Cordova, Mimi Aledo, Lissa Knudsen, Danny Hernandez, Andrea Serrano, Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, Antonio Sandoval, Adrian Pedroza, Ana Delgado Mascarenas, Carter Bundy, Laurie Weahkee, Chris Catechis, Chris Salas, Mikie Pruitt, Monica Trujillo, Timo Alvidrez, Delilah Denorio, Celestina Garcia, Damian Otero, Nathan Waites

More info: 505-553-6860 or mhaney@nmforchange.com. See Albuquerque for Obama on Facebook.