Democracy for New Mexico

Obama to Officially Announce for Prez Tomorrow

He'll do it in Springfield, Illinois, Land of Lincoln, tomorrow morning at 8:55 AM Mountain Time. It will be webcast live at his website at https://www.barackobama.com/. Here's the preview video and invitation to watch the live feed tomorrow. He's off.

Albuquerque Activists Respond to Richardson's Call for Disarmament

From Stop the War Machine:
On Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, Bill Richardson is quoted as saying the United States must lead the way by reducing its nuclear weapons. Disarmament activists in Albuquerque, home to the largest concentration of nuclear weapons in the world, were surprised to hear this.

“Governor Richardson could lead the way himself by calling for nuclear disarmament right here at home in New Mexico,” said Jeanne Pahls of Stop the War Machine/Nukes Out of Duke City. “We met with Governor Richardson last year on this topic and gave him a petition signed by 7,000 people that called for the dismantlement of the nuclear weapons at Kirtland. We asked the governor to call for their dismantlement as well, but we still have not received a response from him on this issue.”

Bob Anderson of Stop the War Machine/Nukes Out of Duke City said, “Governor Richardson’s choosing to address this issue of non-proliferation is due to the tremendous grassroots effort around the world for no more wars and nuclear weapons. Richardson has recognized, since last November, the electoral superpower of the peace movement. It is time for action now, not sometime in the future!”

Governor Richardson could act on his call for disarmament by supporting a memorial written by State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino’s office this past week, a memorial calling for the dismantlement of the Kirtland nuclear weapons. As home to 2,000 nuclear weapons, which constitutes roughly one-fifth of the US nuclear arsenal, Albuquerque has a unique role to play in disarmament.

On Friday morning, February 9th, at 7:30 AM Albuquerque citizens will gather at the Albuquerque Peace Center (202 Harvard SE). They will depart for the Roundhouse together in order to spend the day lobbying their senators and representatives on the issue of dismantling the nuclear weapons at Kirtland. They will be taking the petition to have the Kirtland nuclear weapons dismantled, which has 8,000 signatures at this point in time.

It would be nice if the governor would sign on to a local disarmament effort!

Questions? 401-4808

Editor's Note: Check out our previous post on Gov. Richardson's call for a halt in U.S. nuclear weapons production as well as an earlier post on the memorial to dismantle the nuclear weapons at Kirtland Air Force Base.

Video of Today's Foreign Policy Speech by Gov. Richardson at CSIS

You can watch video of Gov. Bill Richardson's major foreign policy address given today at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC at his presidential website. Here's the direct link to the video. (Photo left: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Here's what the Washington Post is reporting. Excerpts:

"This administration's lack of realism has led us to a dangerous place. So America needs to take a different path -- a path based on reality, not unilateralist illusions."

... He also called for the United States to join the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on curbing such emissions "and then go well beyond it."

He said that would mean sacrifice to cut oil imports from 65 percent of fossil fuel use to 10 percent in 15 years. He said it would require a massive public and private investment in renewable technology and a drastic increase in automobile fuel economy standards. "This has to be led by a president," Richardson said.

... Richardson said other countries will not take the nuclear nonproliferation treaty seriously until the United States leads a global effort to reduce nuclear weapons, "including our own."

See my previous post on the speech.

Gov. Richardson to Call for Halting New U.S. Nuke Weapons Programs

On Thursday, Governor Bill Richardson will make what his presidential campaign is calling a "major address" on foreign policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. According to the Campaign News Advisory (see below), Richardson will include among his proposals "halting new American nuclear weapons programs." Quite a compelling announcement considering the roles New Mexico's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories play in the nuke weapon industry. In fact, Los Alamos is one of two labs to have submitted a design to build what's being called the next generation of nuke bombs, the very controversial "reliable replacement warhead."

According to a January article in the Santa Fe New Mexican:

... last month, the director of Los Alamos National Laboratory listed the new warhead design among the lab's accomplishments. "I think our team did a great job," director Michael Anastasio told employees in a December speech.

At least two watchdog groups in New Mexico -- Nuclear Watch New Mexico and the Los Alamos Study Group -- are opposed to the project, saying it will further nuclear proliferation.

Greg Mello of the study group said the program is primarily about keeping the nuclear weapons complex alive.

Reportedly the Bush administration is considering combining the designs submitted by Los Alamos Lab with that proposed by Lawrence Livermore National Lab in California.

CAMPAIGN NEWS ADVISORY
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to Outline Bold, Strong Foreign Policy Vision for America

US must address threat of nuclear terrorism, should stop new nuke programs

Governor Bill Richardson on Thursday will deliver a major address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC.  In the speech, entitled “The New Realism and the Rebirth of American Leadership”, the Governor will outline his vision for a renewed and strong American foreign policy and his detailed philosophy to confront world challenges.

Governor Richardson believes that under the Bush administration the country’s foreign policy has been guided more by “wishful thinking than by reality”.  He believes the United States must take a different path in foreign affairs, “a path not of hard words, but of hard work.” The Governor will offer his assessment of the true challenges facing America and the world, and his plan on how to deal with them.

Governor Richardson will also discuss ways to make America and the world more secure, specifically by addressing the threat of nuclear terrorism and the need to secure the world’s existing nuclear materials.  He will also propose halting new American nuclear weapons programs.

Bill Richardson is uniquely qualified to discuss foreign policy, having served as a US Congressman for 14 years, Ambassador to the UN, Energy Secretary, and as the two-term Governor of a border state.   

What: Governor Bill Richardson major foreign policy address to CSIS

Where: 10 am Thurs. February 8, CSIS offices, 1800 K Street NW, Washington, DC

Site Contact: Andrew Schwartz, CSIS (202) 775-3242 aschwartz@csis.org

News Advisory: February 7, 2007
Contact: Pahl Shipley, Santa Fe (505) 982-2291

New Short Film Released via the Internet Reveals Truth about Senator John McCain

From Brave New Films:
Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films released John McCain Vs. John McCain today — a hard hitting short documentary, being distributed for free via TheRealMcCain.com and across the country via You Tube. The three minute short reveals the Senator's flip flopping on key issues such as the Iraq War, Gay Marriage and the Religious Right. The film uses McCain's own words to destroy the myth of the Senator as a "straight talking" politician. John McCain Vs. John McCain shows the Senator as politician prone to frequent contradictions on key issues. The website TheRealMcCain.com is home to the video and a blog about the Senator, as well as other videos focusing on the McCain myths.

"This short illustrates that John McCain is not a 'straight talker' but a double talker. As a filmmaker and concerned American, I felt it was important to reveal this side of John McCain since this aspect of his leadership has not been portrayed in the press" said the film's director Robert Greenwald. The length of the video allows for it to be distributed virally for free across the Internet. Blogs and websites around the world are picking up the video and You Tube users and concerned citizens are forwarding the short to friends.

Cliff Schecter, veteran campaign strategist and political commentator is blogging at TheRealMcCain.com about the how the Arizona Senator's opinions change to suit his political ambitions. Schecter, who is writing a biography of McCain, said the project is important because "many journalists still treat McCain's every utterance as if it came down from on high, while the truth is that there is no policy McCain won't sacrifice, no position he won't change if he thinks it will further his presidential ambitions. The people have a right to this information."

More information is available at TheRealMcCain.com, which is an educational project by Brave New Films and is not authorized by any political candidate. Also see front page LA Times story.

Editor's Note: I also like this recent Newsday story on McCain's falling popularity and credibility. Excerpt:

It's official: Chuck Hagel is the new John McCain, getting the glowing treatment from glam publications such as GQ. And John McCain is the new Bob Dole - and we know what kind of press Dole got.

... Once upon a time - say, five years ago - the liberal media were infatuated with McCain. Yes, the Republican senator from Arizona was a hard-line conservative on most matters, but he was sufficiently unorthodox on a few issues (campaign finance, global warming, tax cuts) to be newsworthy. In addition, McCain was enough of a George W. Bush basher to keep reporters interested in what he might say next ... But the Mainstream Media's affection for the senator has come to an end.

Guest Blog: Richardson Running for President a Breath of Fresh Air

This is a Guest Blog submitted by Stephen Fox of Santa Fe:
What wonderful news. Sorry to say, but Hillary, Obama, John Edwards, et alia., seem like recycled hacks to me, and the alternative with Bill Richardson is much more interesting. My focus is international, almost entirely international, and Richardson and his lengthy international resume is a breath of fresh air, after the inanities and ghastly absurdities evidenced thus far by Bush/Cheney/Halliburton/Rumsfeld and the reign of plutocrats.

Let's face it: we are going to need an internationalist Democrat, if there will ever be any hope of rebuilding the USA's image internationally! Can the USA ever really recover from them and what they have perpetrated nationally and internationally? Gouging the USA's expenditures into weapons and deployment and grudge matches and another $160 billion to waste in Iraq and in Afghanistan, regardless of the loss of markets and esteem for the USA in Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America due to these depravities and depradations?

Bill Richardson could lead such a recovery, even through the course of the candidates' dialogue, if given the chance he will get as a viable presidential candidate. I welcome his presence in the ostensibly crowded field of Democratic candidates. He won't be one to perpetuate the kind of international idiocy and unavoidable resultant decline, both internally and internationally, from which we have suffered from during the past 6 years.

Let us New Mexicans help him win by talking with our friends, family, and colleagues in other states.

Podemos esperar, que non?

Guest Blogger Stephen Fox is an art dealer from Santa Fe, founder of New Millennium Fine Art, an eclectic Santa Fe gallery since 1980. Active in international and Legislature Democratic politics, he is working towards a ban on Aspartame and the establishment of a New Mexico Nutrition Council, with powers to question and even challenge the FDA. He was a "snowball-in-hell" candidate for the US Senate in 1978, and has been deemed by a Taos newspaper as a "professional idealist," from the M.K. Gandhi/Eleanor Roosevelt wing of the Democratic party. Beyond the Legislative Session, Fox is focusing hope that the World Peace Conference May 16-17 in the Capitol will turn into an eventual Peace University in Santa Fe.

Editor's Note: We periodically publish Guest Blogs submitted by readers. If you'd like to submit a Guest Blog for possible posting here, contact me by clicking on the Email Me button on the upper left-hand corner of DFNM's main page. Guest Blogs specifically represent the views of the writer of the post and do not necessarily express the views of DFNM or others who write here.

Gov. Bill Richardson Forms Presidential Campaign Exploratory Committee

Besides announcing the formation of an exploratory committee today on ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulis (includes video), Bill Richardson for President released a statement on his plans, reproduced in its entirety below. He's also released a video of his announcement in both English and Spanish, which can be found at RicharsonForPresident.com, along with a video about "The New Mexico Comeback." And here's Nedra Pickler's AP article on the story. This Week airs today at 4:00 PM Mountain Time on ABC Channel 7, KOAT, in New Mexico.

Barbara and Bill Richardson

Today's Albuquerque Journal has a ton of coverage, including Part I of a multi-part series that will run for consecutive Sundays on Gov. Richardson's life and experience. Click for:

• It's Official
• High Ambition: Richardson Eyes the White House
• Growing Up in Mexico: Inside, Outside the Walls
• Medical Deferment Kept Richardson Out of Draft
• A photo of today's front page of the Journal
• Online exclusive interview with Richardson by reporter Jeff Jones.

The Santa Fe New Mexican offers an editorial on his chances, a story on his "makeover" and a compilation of its stories on the Governor in the form of .

Richardson for President press release:

Richardson has unparalleled experience and proven record of success as a Congressman, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary, and Governor

SANTA FE, NM--New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced the formation of a Presidential campaign exploratory committee, with the clear intention of seeking the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.

"I am taking this step because we have to repair the damage that's been done to our country over the last six years," said Richardson. "Our reputation in the world is diminished, our economy has languished, and civility and common decency in government has perished."

"The next president of the United States must get our troops out of Iraq without delay. Before I became Governor of New Mexico, I served as Ambassador to the United Nations and as Secretary of Energy. I know the Middle East well and it's clear that our presence in Iraq isn't helping any longer," said Richardson.

"Our next President must be able to bring a country together that is divided and partisan," said Richardson. "It is clear that Washington is broken and it's going to take a return to bipartisanship and simple respect for each other's views to get it fixed. Most public policy solutions these days are coming from Governors and state government. On issues like the environment, jobs, and health care, state governments are leading the way. And that's because we can't be partisan or we won't get our jobs done. That's a lesson I've learned as Governor and that's what I'll do as President."

When New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson speaks about embracing diversity, the American dream, and public service, he speaks from unparalleled experience. Born November 15, 1947 in Pasadena, California to an American father and Mexican mother, Governor Richardson grew up in Mexico City before moving to New England, where he attended high school and college. He has dedicated his life to public service, as a United States Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy, and now as Governor of New Mexico.

This past November, Richardson won re-election to his second term as Governor of New Mexico with a resounding 69% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in state history. He was supported by Democrats, Republicans and Independents, winning in both urban and rural counties. New Mexicans overwhelmingly endorsed Governor Richardson's aggressive efforts to improve education, cut taxes, build a high-wage economy, expand health care access, invest in renewable energy and make New Mexico safer.

Bill Richardson's fiscally responsible governing style has allowed New Mexico to tackle important priorities, while maintaining a balanced budget and the highest reserves in state history. He cut $230 million in bureaucratic waste, invested in new opportunities for New Mexico's children and returned more than $1 billion dollars in taxes to working families. His innovative policies have turned New Mexico's economy around, with 84,000 new jobs, rising personal income and a growing high tech sector that includes manufacturing, aviation, and renewable energy.

As Secretary of Energy to President Bill Clinton, Bill Richardson implemented tough efficiency standards to save energy. And as Governor, he has made New Mexico the Clean Energy State by requiring utility companies to produce energy through renewable resources and reduce carbon emissions.

Before becoming Governor, Bill Richardson served in Congress for 15 years and helped President Clinton pass the economic plan that created millions of jobs and led America to its first balanced budget in 30 years.

Appointed by President Clinton as the Ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson worked with world leaders to build alliances and help prevent the development of nuclear weapons in North Korea. Bill Richardson has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the release of hostages, American servicemen and political prisoners in North Korea, Iraq, and Cuba. Governor Richardson recently negotiated a 60-day cease fire in war-torn Darfur following direct talks with rebel leaders and the President of Sudan.

As Chairman of the Democratic Governor's Association, Governor Richardson raised more than $28 million for gubernatorial candidates and helped elect the first Democratic majority of governors since 1994. Governor Richardson also served as Chair of the Western Governors Association, Border Governor's Conference and the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Bill Richardson has been married to his high school sweetheart, Barbara, for 33 years. Richardson received a BA from Tufts in 1970 and a MA from Tuft's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1971.

The Bill Richardson for President Exploratory Committee will be headquartered in New Mexico. Key staff will include:

• Dave Contarino: Contarino ran Richardson's first campaign for Governor, served as his Chief of Staff for 3 years and most recently was the Chair of his re-election campaign.
• Amanda Cooper: Cooper was Richardson's re-election Campaign Manager and Fundraising Director. Cooper oversaw raising $14 million for the Governor's re-election campaign and led the effort to raise $28 million for the DGA in Governor Richardson's two year term as Chair.
• Pahl Shipley: Shipley was most recently the Communications Director and Chief Spokesperson in the Office of Governor Bill Richardson. Shipley is a 25-year award-winning veteran of television news and prior to working for Richardson, he served as the News Director at KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Colleen Turrentine: Turrentine served as the national fundraising director for the Democratic Leadership Council. Before that, she worked for the 2004 Joe Lieberman presidential campaign.

Richardson's Senior Advisors will include:

• Steve Murphy: Murphy is a founding partner of Murphy Putnam Media, a premiere Washington media consulting firm. Murphy was Dick Gephardt's National Campaign Manager in 2003-2004 and managed his Iowa caucus campaign in 1988.
• Mike Stratton: Stratton has served in numerous senior roles in several Democratic Presidential Campaigns and has served as a long-time Senior Political Advisor to Richardson.
• Mark Putnam: Putnam, a founding partner of Murphy Putnam media, has been a media consultant and campaign strategist for over two decades. He's written, directed, and produced over 1,000 commercials for campaigns in 46 states, including helping elect five Governors, six U.S. Senators, and dozens of members of the U.S. House.
• Jeff Eller: Eller is the CEO of Public Strategies in Austin, and a veteran of the Clinton 1992 Campaign and the White House.
• Jennifer Yocham Poersch: Yocham Poersch, a former deputy finance director for the 2004 Lieberman campaign, will work with Cooper on national fundraising. Poersch worked for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, including a stint as senior adviser to committee chairwoman, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington
• Joe Velasquez: Velasquez is Richardson's advisor on Labor and Political Affairs. Velasquez was the Head of the Department of Community Service for the AFL-CIO. Additionally, he was a former member of the DNC staff and a Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President Bill Clinton.
• Calvin Humphrey: Humphrey has worked with Richardson for many years as his Foreign Policy Advisor, traveling to Iraq and most recently, Sudan on hostage rescue and other missions. Humphrey served as the Democratic Staff Director, Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives and previously was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of International Affairs.
• Andre Pineda: Pineda is the Founder and President of Pineda Consulting, a California-based, Latino-owned firm specializing in political polling and strategic communications. Pineda has over 15 years of experience working for some of the biggest names in the political consulting business - Peter Hart, Geoff Garin, Fred Yang, Rich Schlackman, and Stan Greenberg.
• Suzanne Cole Nowers: Nowers is the CEO of Nexus Direct, a top direct marketing firm, who worked for Richardson's re-election and whose clients include the DSCC to coordinate our direct mail fundraising.

To view Governor Bill Richardson's video statement in both English and Spanish please go to: www.richardsonforpresident.com

Contact: Pahl Shipley
505.982.2291 | pshipley@richardsonforpresident.com

Edwards Campaign: Congress Has Power to Stop Escalation

I rarely post these kinds of messages from campaigns, but John Edwards has been speaking out so strongly against Bush's Iraq escalation that I thought their request merited your attention. Quote:

"If you're in Congress and you know this war is going in the wrong direction, it is no longer enough to study your options and keep your own counsel. Silence is betrayal. Speak out, and stop this escalation now. You have the power to prohibit the president from spending any money to escalate the war — use it."  --John Edwards, speech at New York's Riverside Church on MLK Day (Visit the John Edwards 08 website to see the whole speech.)

From John Edwards 08:
It's an honor to send my first note to you as John Edwards' new Campaign Manager. I'll take more time to introduce myself soon, but right now I'm writing you with an urgent call to action. This weekend, President Bush claimed on national TV that Congress does not have the power to stop his proposed escalation of the war in Iraq.*

That's bull. I served in Congress for 26 years, and I can assure you that Congress does have the power to stop this escalation -- and it has used that power many times before, including in Vietnam, Lebanon, Nicaragua and Colombia.

The test for today's Congress is simple: will they step up to the plate and use their power to stop the president from escalating the war? I can tell you one thing -- they're only going to do that if they hear from you. That's why we're going to run a full-page ad in Roll Call -- the newspaper all of Congress reads -- with John Edwards' petition against the escalation, listing the tens of thousands of us who have signed it. The petition demands that this Congress use its power of the purse to stop this president from escalating the war in Iraq -- and that's what we're going to put in the ad.

Can you pitch in $25 or more to help get this critical ad in front of Congress A.S.A.P. and support our grassroots campaign?

As I write this, both houses of Congress are considering how to respond to Bush's plan. Some are calling for symbolic statements that do nothing to stop the escalation. If you hear a member of Congress say "non-binding resolution," then you're really hearing them say "pass the buck."

Others -- like John Edwards -- are calling on Congress to stand up and take responsibility by using its power to prevent this war from getting any worse. And some members of Congress are waiting for -- well, we don't know what they're waiting for. It's time to speak up. And it's up to us to let Congress know where the American people stand.

Your contribution -- of any amount you can afford -- will help us rush this ad into production and get it on the desk of every member of Congress and their staff before they make this historic decision. And your contribution will help keep this grassroots campaign for change going strong in these critical early months.

Please chip in to help stop this escalation today.

It's an honor for me to work alongside so many dedicated folks like you who aren't willing to wait to make this country a better place. Together, I know we'll accomplish great things.

David Bonior, Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President

P.S. - If you haven't yet signed the petition calling on Congress to block the escalation, click here. And please forward this email to your friends and family, and ask them to join you in speaking out.

Sources:
*"Bush: Congress Can't Stop Surge," U.S. News and World Report Political Bulletin, January 15, 2007 (link)

Edwards Joins Dem Prez Field, Hosts Live Online Town Hall Today

John Edwards officially announced his candidacy for president at a news conference this morning in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, a fitting spot to launch a campaign that will focus on poverty and economic justice. CSPAN has the announcement video. My favorite line from the very informal speech: "Americans have to be patriotic about something besides war"

His new campaign website is at JohnEdwards.com/, where they'll be hosting a live online town hall meeting with Edwards today at 4:00 PM Mountain Time. He discusses his plans in this video, and here's a citizen vlog shot by one of his supporters at a clean-up event Edwards organized and helped with in the Ninth Ward yesterday.

Edwards joins two other Democrats who have formally announced they're running. Click for the campaign websites of Iowa's Tom Vilsack and Ohio's Dennis Kucinich. It's expected that a number of other Dems will jump in formally over the next couple of weeks, including our own Governor Bill Richardson.