Democracy for New Mexico

500+ Turn Out for Kucinich in Albuquerque

Dennis Kucinich campaigned for president in Albuquerque last night, drawing a crowd at Smith-Brasher Hall on the CNM campus that numbered more than 500 according to the AP. An Albuquerque Journal article, not surprisingly, downsized that number to 300, although the article admitted the hall was overflowing. Some Kucinich quotes:

"Go into your own hearts for a second ... This war has been responsible for the deaths of over a million innocent Iraqi people ... It's all been based on a lie; it's being done in our name ... Somehow, war and strength became equated. But now, war and stupidity are being equated."

Kucinich said it was "astonishing" that Hillary, Obama and Edwards refused to promise to bring all the troops home from Iraq by 2013 in a recent Dem debate, especially since the Dem Party's main message during the 2006 election was ending the war. "With a message of 'Vote Democratic: We'll keep you in Iraq till 2013,' I don't think we would have won, frankly."

Kucinich also said he differs from Bill Richardson on Iraq because, "I'm five years ahead of him. There's only one person running for president who saw five years ago what a disaster this was and spoke out loudly. People, I think, want presidents who have vision and clarity."

Kucinich wore a small red chile pepper pin on the lapel of his brown sport coat during his Tuesday-night speech. "That's out of respect for the state vegetable. I'm a vegan. And you know the real question in this election is, 'Red or green?' ''

Dennis' wife Elizabeth will be campaigning for him in New Mexico for the next few days, including an appearance tonight in Albuquerque at Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall at Zuni and San Pedro at  6:30 PM. On Thursday, October 11, she'll be attending events in Taos and Las Vegas. More info here.

Shout Out: I couldn't attend last night's rally because I was at another event. If you were there and have some photos, video or feedback you'd like to share, let me know in the comments and I'll post it.

Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich to Campaign in NM Next Week

From Kucinich for President:
Presidential candidate, U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich will speak on Tuesday, October 9 at 6:00 PM at Smith-Brasher Hall on the (TVI) CNM campus at the SW corner of University and Coal in Albuquerque. Kucinich supports ending the occupation of Iraq, universal, single payer health care and impeaching Bush and Cheney.

Elizabeth Kuncinich will continue on in Albuquerque the following day, and will be giving her first campaign speech on behalf of her husband Dennis at Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall, Zuni and San Pedro at  6:30 PM on Wednesday, October 10. That same day at 9:30 AM she'll be holding a press conference with at the Center for Peace and Justice, 202 Harvard SE, Albuquerque.

Elizabeth will also be campaigning in Northern New Mexico. She'll participate in a tour and a small reception at Noon at Taos Pueblo on Thursday, October 11th. She'll also attend a reception at the Kachina Lodge in Taos from 2:00 to 4:30 PM that day and plans are being finalized for an appearance in Las Vegas, NM around 7:00 PM that evening.

For more information, contact  Tony Isaacs, NM Volunteer Coordinator, at campaign@kucinichnewmexico.org, 505-776-2108, or Charles R. Powell at crp66@juno.com. Click for the national Dennis for President website and Kucinich New Mexico 2008.

Mario Cuomo on Dems, War, Constitution

It's about time a prominent and well-respected Dem called on Democratic members of Congress and the Dem presidential candidates to take their Constitutional responsibilities seriously and quit passing off their power to Bush. I've always been a fan of Cuomo and wish he'd run for president, but I suppose he isn't bought off enough by the war profiteers to pass muster. Maybe we should send a link to this video to every Dem member of Congress and every Dem presidential candidate. Of course that action might have more clout if we attached a pledge to raise big money for their campaigns. You know how it works. Maybe we should add a link to Why We Fight so they know we know what they're doing.

Richardson Gains National Blogger Support for Iraq Position

The Bill Richardson campaign has released a new 4+ minute online video (above) stressing that he's the only Democratic candidate for president among the top four who is advocating removing all the troops from Iraq. The video contrasts his stance with with the positions of Clinton, Obama and Edwards in no uncertain terms. The video also features appearances in support of his Iraq position by national bloggers Chris Bowers and Matt Stoller of OpenLeft and Christina Siun O'Connell of Firedoglake. A shorter version of the video will be used as Richardson's next TV ad in New Hampshire.

The campaign has also established a web page entitled where visitors can submit links to their own videos, upload photos or leave messages to tell those in power in DC to end the war now and bring all the troops home.

You can read why Chris Bowers decided to appear in the ad and video here. Excerpt:

One of my greatest frustrations as a Democratic and progressive activist has been finding prominent Democrats who will take up popular progressive positions and messaging, and make the case for those positions nationwide. In 2002 and 2003, this frustration was centered around finding Democratic leaders who would speak out against the war before it began, even though a large percentage of America was yearning for someone to take up that mantle. Thus, Howard Dean emerged. In 2005, this frustration was centered around finding Democrats who would speak out in favor of withdrawal, even though a majority of the country favored withdrawal. Thus, Ned Lamont emerged. Now, for over five months, I have tried to push for a more prominent public debate on Democratic plans for residual forces in Iraq. This time, is has been Bill Richardson who has shown leadership on this issue. Not only has he repeatedly pledged to have no residual forces in Iraq, the largest focus of his campaign to date has been trying to force a public debate on residual forces in Iraq. He has deservedly risen in Iowa and New Hampshire polls as a result.

I am thrilled to be working with Bill Richardson on this issue. While this ad is not an official endorsement of Bill Richardson's candidacy, it is an endorsement of his no residual forces plan for Iraq. It is an endorsement of his leadership on the issue. It is an endorsement of the need for a public debate on how many troops Democrats plan to leave in Iraq, what those troops will do, and how long they will stay in Iraq. Every Democrat should be aware of all candidate plans for residual forces in Iraq before they decide who to support in the primaries. Just because a candidate says he or she will end American military involvement in the war in Iraq does not mean that he or she is actually proposing to end American military involvement in the war in Iraq.

Here's Siun's post about appearing in the Richardson ad. Excerpt:

While the candidates all say they will “end the war,” the frontrunners have ducked the question of residual troops every time they are asked - and they have been asked often by Gov. Richardson in the debates and by several of us privately and in numerous posts.

... While none of us are endorsing a presidential candidate - and Firedoglake has a policy of non-endorsement - Chris, Matt and I all agreed that this question must be answered. We support Bill Richardson’s plan to leave no troops behind - and we support his effort to get the other candidates to step up and answer.

"I believe we should bring all of the troops home with no residual forces left behind," Richardson says in the video. "This is critically important. This war is a quagmire, it is endless, and the time has come to bring the troops home."

The video cites chapter eight of the U.S. Army Field Manual, as noted in the Center for American Progress report "How to Redeploy: Implementing a Responsible Drawdown of U.S. Forces from Iraq," to support that "standard military procedure calls for non-combat troops to withdraw first, so they can be protected by combat forces."

"Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards would leave tens of thousands of non-combat troops behind in Iraq," campaign manager Dave Contarino said. "An estimated 97,000 American non-combat troops are in Iraq. Leaving behind up to 97,000 American troops does not end this war. As President, Bill Richardson will withdraw non-combat troops in tandem with combat troops to get them all out of Iraq safely."

My Take
What do I think? I certainly support how Richardson is continuing to assert pressure on the three top-polling Dems in the prez race to come clean about how many and what kind of troops they'd leave behind -- and for how long. And I strongly support the position he's taking on removing all the troops now. I believe anyone making clearcut statements like these about the occupation should be applauded at a time when too many Dems are afraid to speak out clearly (and afraid to be seen with anyone in the netroots or activist community doing so). If we have any chance to be successful in convincing the DC Dems, especially the Senate, to take meaningful, courageous action NOW regarding bringing the troops home, we need to band together with anyone and everyone willing to call their bluff. With this effort, Richardson is definitely doing just that. I hope he's doing it for the right reasons and not just to differentiate himself from the pack.

HOWEVER, it still bugs me that Gov. Richardson couldn't seem to refrain from criticizing MoveOn, thus helping the Repubs pump up the fake media frenzy on the ad. I know, his criticism was mild compared with many others and at least he didn't appear on almost every major news outlet to make a point of bashing MoveOn like Hillary Clinton did, but still. If Democrats want us to have their backs, they need to  have ours, you know?

(Updated) Edwards Buys TV Time to Counter Bush's Speech Tonight

UPDATE: Above is the message the Edwards campaign aired after Bush's speech tonight.
***********************

Edwards at YearlyKos Q & A in August

In an innovative and bold move, the John Edwards campaign has purchased several minutes of TV time on MSNBC tonight right after Bush makes his latest TV plea to the nation to stay the course in Iraq. Edwards will use the time to rebut the Bush spin on the Iraq occupation and urge Congress to implement a firm timeline for withdrawal. Bush's speech is scheduled for 7:00 PM Mountain Time on all the major networks and cable news stations. Be sure you're tuned in to MSNBC (Albuquerque Comcast channel 30) immediately afterwards to see Edwards. Here's the message from Joe Trippi of the Edwards campaign about the move:

Tonight, after President Bush makes yet another argument for continuing the war in Iraq, John Edwards will speak directly to the American people in a nationwide address on MSNBC.

Our campaign has bought airtime on MSNBC immediately following the President's address at 9 p.m. (Eastern Time), and John Edwards will challenge the President's remarks with a strong call to the nation to end the war now.

Please watch in that timeframe—and forward this message to your friends, asking them to watch as well. Each of us has a responsibility to make sure that President Bush and Congress understand that the time for excuses has run out. John Edwards will deliver a strong message tonight on our behalf. It's time to end this war and bring our troops home.

Buying this kind of airtime is expensive. But we believe that President Bush's address must be countered with a strong voice in opposition to the failed policies that have kept our troops in harm's way for far too long. Tonight, John Edwards will continue to lead, and make the case to the nation that we cannot wait for an election to change course in Iraq—we as citizens must make Washington understand that the time to end this war is now.

Don't miss John's address tonight on MSNBC, immediately following the President.

President Bush will be on every network for free tonight. Our campaign will have to pay for the time on MSNBC so that John Edwards can challenge the President's failed policies. Please consider making a contribution to the campaign—to help us meet the costs of paying for tonight's address—and to help John's campaign continue to grow.

www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/iraq-address

Thanks for all you do,

--Joe Trippi
  Senior Advisor, John Edwards for President
  September 13, 2007

(Click on photo for larger image. Photo credit: M.E. Broderick.)

ABQ Fundraiser with Gov. Bill Richardson Set for Sept. 21

From the DPBC E-News: There will be a fundraiser with Governor Richardson in support of his campaign for President on September 21st at 5:00 PM at the home of Joe and Kathy Duffy, 6364 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance by calling the campaign office at 828-2455 or at the door the day of the event.

Tonight: Univision Dem Prez Debate in Spanish & English

Spanish-language TV station Univision is hosting a Dem presidential candidate debate tonight from 6:00 to 7:30 PM Mountain Time. Albuquerque viewers can tune in to the live broadcast from the University of Miami on KLUZ-TV, channel 41, or on Comcast cable channel 15. The broadcast will also be available on Radio Cadena Univision and online at Univision.com. It's the first presidential debate to be broadcast entirely in Spanish, as well as the first to specifically address Latino issues.

Seven of the eight contenders for the Dem presidential nomination will participate. Sen. Joe Biden will miss the event to prepare for next week's Senate Foreign Relations hearing with Gen. Petraeus, which he will chair. Only two, Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Chris Dodd, speak fluent Spanish, but that actually shouldn't be much of a factor in the debate.

Univision anchors Maria Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos will ask the questions in Spanish but the candidates will hear them translated into English via the UN-style earpieces they'll be wearing. Their answers in English will be translated into Spanish be an interpreter for the TV viewers. English-speaking viewers can watch using the closed caption service on their TVs.

Expect glitches and delays. Plus, I can't imagine that Richardson and Dodd will refrain from showing off their prowess in Spanish at some point, even though the rules say they must speak English during the debate. Why? Univision claims it's to give everyone a level playing field. Both Richardson and Dodd have objected to the rule.

Labor Day Weekend: Remember the Meaning

I'm finding it hard to believe that Labor Day Weekend is here already. Where did the Summer go? Thankfully, New Mexico usually has absolutely exquisite Fall weather so our outdoor activities will actually pick up here as the monsoon rains start fading. As we celebrate the holiday weekend at fun events, let's remember the real meaning of Labor Day. For starters, check out a handful of posts on the AFL-CIO Now blog that examine the origins and history of Labor Day.

This Labor Day, I find myself thinking about these historical quotes and, unfortunately, how much they apply to today's situation:

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron. -- Dwight Eisenhower 1953 speech

No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country. By living wages I mean more than a bare subsistence level–I mean the wages of decent living. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

If any man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he is a liar. If any man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool. -- Abraham Lincoln

Workers of the world awaken. Break your chains, demand your rights. All the wealth you make is taken, by exploiting parasites. Shall you kneel in deep submission from your cradle to your grave. Is the height of your ambition to be a good and willing slave? -- Joe Hill, from the song “Workers of the World Awaken”

While at YearlyKos in Chicago this month, we attended a rally sponsored by the Teamsters union designed to encourage the forces of the netroots and labor to work together in a big way. Check out the video to hear Markos and Teamsters General President James Hoffa underline what we have in common and why we need to work together for change -- including holding every Democratic candidate accountable to working people. Gov. Bill Richardson was one of the Dem presidential candidates who spoke at the Teamsters rally and you can see that here.

I can't help but ponder the damage done to the interests of working people by the Bush administration as discussed in a piece by AFSCME's international president Gerald McEntee on Huffington Post. Excerpt:

From the time George Bush was appointed by the Supreme Court in 2000, college tuition has shot up 56 percent. The cost of gasoline has gone up 107 percent. Forty-seven million Americans -- nearly 16 percent of our nation -- don't have health insurance. Almost 37 million Americans live below the poverty line. Corporate profits have gone up, while income for working Americans has gone down. Home foreclosures are increasing at a record rate. Pensions are at risk as employers break their promises to employees. Bush's tax cuts have not benefited those most in need of them -- working families -- but the billionaires who are his loyal supporters.

The fact is that the people whose labor has fueled our nation's economy have suffered greatly under George Bush.

The latest outrage? Action prompted by the Bush administration to allow Mexican trucks to carry goods on American roads. That way, we can put even more people out of work or at least lower their pay, concepts to which Bush seems supremely dedicated.

Conservation Community-at-Large Hosts Richardson Campaign Fundraiser 8.30.07

From the DPBC E-News: Please join

Sen. Cisco McSorely, Rep. Elias Barela, Rep. Gail Chasey, Rep. Joni Marie Gutierrez, Rep. Mary Jane Garcia, Rep. Antonio Lujan, Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, Rep. Rick Miera, Rep. Jeff Steinborn, Rep. Jim Trujillo, and Rep. Peter Wirth
With
Jim Baca, Sandy Buffett, Stephen Capra, Ned Farquhar, LeRoy Garcia, Gregory Green, John Horning, Lisa Jennings, Jenny Parks, Tom Robey, Michael Robinson, Oscar Simpson, Bill Schudlich, and Tom & Connie Young
and other members of New Mexico's conservation community-at-large on a late summer evening in the scenic canyon lands surrounding the beautiful, historic La Capilla Vieja Ranch
at La Cienega
With Honored Guest Governor Bill Richardson

The event is intended to bring together clean energy advocates, animal protection advocates, conservationists, hunters, anglers, and elected officials involved in a myriad of environmental issues and legislation to thank Governor Bill Richardson for all he has done to ensure that New Mexico remains enchanting and to wish him well in his aspirations to become President of the United States in 2008.

Hope to see you at the ranch for refreshments, food and music from 6 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, August 30th. Gates open at 5:30 PM. Suggested contributions of $1000, $500, $250 and $100. No minimum contribution.

Persons making the maximum contribution of $2,300 are welcome to join other members of the Bill Richardson Leadership Circle for a private pre-reception with Governor Bill Richardson from 6:00-6:30 PM.

Please RSVP to Tiffany Deinzer to 505.828.2455 or by email: tdeinzer@richardsonforpresident.com

Please make checks payable to Richardson for President, Inc. and mail to: P.O. Box 26208, Albuquerque, NM 87125-6208, or bring with you to the event. Contributions to Richardson for President, Inc. are not tax-deductible for Federal income tax purposes, and are limited to $2,300 per individual ($4,600 per couple) per election. Federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute $5,000 per election.

Richardson Counters Bush: Surge Has Failed, Withdraw All Troops

There's a big PR push coming from Bush, the White House and their surrogates to convince us that the "surge" is going well and that we are making "progress" towards a "victory." There's even a new Bushie front group called Freedom's Watch, led by Libby trial witness and former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. It's launching a $15 million TV ad campaign targeting Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson, to pressure them to stand with Bush on Iraq instead of standing with the nation and our troops -- kind of a Swiftboating of their own. "Freedom Watch's" first ad buy in New Mexico will total $254,190.

And today Bush , drawing exactly the wrong lessons. It wasn't long ago that Bush was demeaning Iraq War critics for bringing up Viet Nam, remember? And the main lesson we learned from Nam? That the last four years of the war brought huge numbers of deaths without affecting the outcome one iota -- while Richard Nixon diddled for political gain. Sound familiar?

Governor Bill Richardson was one of the first out of the box today to call Bush on his distortions, while on the campaign trail in Nevada. He reiterated that he has the most effective plan to end the war and that the surge has failed. He again called for a withdrawal of all our troops leaving no residual forces. Here's his statement:

RENO, NV -- Governor Bill Richardson, campaigning in Nevada, today released a statement in response to a speech by President Bush comparing a withdrawing of U.S. forces from Iraq to America's withdrawal at the end of the Vietnam War.

"The correct conclusion to draw from our experience in Vietnam," said Governor Richardson, "is that dragging out the process of withdrawal will be tragically worse in terms of U.S. lives lost and worse for the Iraqi's themselves in terms of the ultimate instability we will create by staying longer."

In 1968 Nixon ran on a platform of ending the war with honor. It took 7 years to get the last American soldier out of Vietnam. In the meantime, tens of thousands more Americans died. The costs in terms of tragedy in Southeast Asia itself are a matter of historical record. Millions of civilians ultimately died in Vietnam, in Cambodia and the killing fields and millions more ultimately had to flee their homes.

"We have now been in Iraq longer than it took to win World War II," Governor Richardson continued. "My plan for Iraq is designed to end this war with the least possible number of U.S. casualties and with the least damaging effects of Iraqi's reconciliation process. This means getting all of our troops out as quickly and safely as possible. Leaving residual troops in Iraq as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have suggested will only drag out the process to the detriment of all involved. Reconciliation can only occur when the U.S. has completely withdrawn. Everyday, more and more experts are coming to the same conclusion I drew seven months ago. My position has been consistent and unwavering. A fast, safe withdrawal with no residual troops."

In addition, Governor Richardson reiterated his belief that the so-called "surge" in U.S. forces in Iraq has been a failure, and responded to Senator Clinton's change of heart regarding the lack of progress in the war.

"I am pleased that Senator Clinton, today, recognizes that the surge has produced no progress of any long term significance to the Iraq debacle. That is different from what she said yesterday to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. But, it is that audience, who has sacrificed more than any of us, who deserves to hear a clear statement that our sons and daughters and mothers and fathers are not going to be sacrificed because of an irrational commitment to a failed strategy.

The President is asking the country to wait for next month's progress report from General Petraeus. The chances are that report will be just another White House spin job and attempt to justify this war. This has been the bloodiest summer yet -- our troops have done an admirable job at trying to make a bad idea work, but the surge has failed, the war has failed, Bush has failed. It is time to end this war and bring all of our troops home as soon as possible. I'm glad Hillary Clinton has retracted her comments yesterday and has declared the surge a failure today -- but I still haven't gotten an answer to my question -- a peace in Iraq will fail as long as we leave troops behind -- how many would you leave behind? Every other major candidate would leave thousands of US troops in Iraq for an indefinite. I will leave no U.S. forces there. Zero.

The only way out of the Iraq mess is to remove all U.S. troops, and to use that leverage to get the warring parties to resolve their differences, and surrounding Muslim nations to help stabilize the country. Any residual U.S. force reduces the chances for success, and exposes our troops as targets. Our brave troops, and the American people, deserve better."

(Photo Credit: AP /Charlie Neibergall)