Democracy for New Mexico

The Latest Polling: Does Corruption Matter?

New Mexico Matters is doing a great job of tracking polling data in response to the current corruption scandals. What they come up with as a result may surprise you. Or not. See Part 2 of their series on "Does Corruption Matter? Taking a Look at the Numbers," based on the freshest polling data released late today.

P.S. New Mexico Matters is also an excellent source for the local headlines of the day from around New Mexico, including story links broken down by categories like Politics and Money, Railroading NM and Letters to the Editor. They usually post headlines from all of the New Mexico dailies by 8 AM, Monday thru Friday, and put up analysis in the afternoons.

Abramoff: A Republican-Only Scandal

Republican talking points about the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal claim that Democrats, as well as Republicans, are involved. It's evident that many media pundits are picking up on this highly inaccurate characterization. Here, DNC Chair Howard Dean and CNN's Wolf Blitzer discuss the Abramoff story with Wolf trying his best to assert that Dems also took money from Abramoff. Dean flattens him:

BLITZER: Should Democrats who took money from Jack Abramoff, who has now pleaded guilty to bribery charges, among other charges, a Republican lobbyist in Washington, should the Democrat who took money from him give that money to charity or give it back?

DEAN: There are no Democrats who took money from Jack Abramoff, not one, not one single Democrat. Every person named in this scandal is a Republican. Every person under investigation is a Republican. Every person indicted is a Republican. This is a Republican finance scandal. There is no evidence that Jack Abramoff ever gave any Democrat any money. And we've looked through all of those FEC reports to make sure that's true.

BLITZER: But through various Abramoff-related organizations and outfits, a bunch of Democrats did take money that presumably originated with Jack Abramoff.

DEAN: That's not true either. There's no evidence for that either. There is no evidence...

BLITZER: What about Senator Byron Dorgan?

DEAN: Senator Byron Dorgan and some others took money from Indian tribes. They're not agents of Jack Abramoff. There's no evidence that I've seen that Jack Abramoff directed any contributions to Democrats. I know the Republican National Committee would like to get the Democrats involved in this. They're scared. They should be scared. They haven't told the truth. They have misled the American people. And now it appears they're stealing from Indian tribes. The Democrats are not involved in this.

BLITZER: Unfortunately Mr. Chairman, we got to leave it right there.

Notice how quickly Blitzer ends the exchange when his take on this is completely refuted. You can watch a video of this exchange on Crooks and Liars.

We need to repeat these facts every chance we get. The Abramoff corruption web is entirely a Republican corruption web. Period. This isn't to say that all Democrats are lilly-white in the money for influence department. Far from it. But in what may well be one of the biggest illegal money for influence schemes in our history, it's Republicans and Republicans alone who set up Abramoff to create the intricate web of illegal payoffs and tradeoffs, and it's Republicans and Republicans alone who benefited from the huge sums raised and paid.

Here's a comprensive post on Daily Kos that includes excellent suggestions for effectively countering the Republican spin on this.

As the Senate hearings on the Samuel Alito appointment to the U.S Supreme Court begin today, forewarned is forearmed. It's obvious that Republicans are prepared to do almost anything to change the subject from the Abramoff mess. According to a detailed Time Magazine cover story on the White House reaction to the crimes:

Republican officials say they are so worried about the Abramoff problem that they are now inclined to stoke a fight with Democrats over the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court in an effort to turn the page from the lobbying investigation. Outside groups plan to spend heavily, and the White House will engage in some tit for tat with Democrats as the hearings heat up.

Judge Alito: Bad for Civil Rights, Bad for Fairness, Bad for America

With the Senate hearing on Judge Samuel Alito's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court about to begin, People for the American Way has released its comprehensive report on his legal background, The Record and Legal Philosophy of Samuel Alito: "No One to the Right of Sam Alito on this Court" (PDF). You should also check out Alito's America, a site put together by the American Progress Action Fund and Campus Progress for information about the disheartening record of this nominee to the highest court in the land.

DNC Chair Howard Dean is calling for at least one million to sign a petition being organized by the Democratic Party as well as a coaltion of organizations calling themselves IndependentCourt.org, recommending that the Senate reject Alito. So far, more than 750,000 signatures have been obtained. Sign up NOW to be a part of it. Excerpt:

Our courts are the last line of defense against abuses of power ... and every judicial nominee must demonstrate that they will honor their most important responsibility: protecting our rights and freedoms.

Samuel Alito will not.

During the course of his judicial career, Samuel Alito has compiled a record of looking the other way when abuses of power threaten our basic freedoms. He has deferred to unscrupulous prosecutors who constructed all-white juries to try black defendants. He repeatedly failed to protect our right to privacy. He was even the lone judge voting to uphold the illegal strip-search of a 10-year old girl.

You're urged to sign the petition now and stay tuned for further action alerts as the hearing process begins. Other groups opposing Alito's appointment include:

ADA Watch / National Coalition for Disability Rights
Alliance for Justice
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Association of University Women
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Asian American Justice Center
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Change to Win Coalition
Communications Consortium Media Center
Communications Workers of America
Congressional Black Caucus
Earthjustice
Feminist Majority
Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace USA
Human Rights Campaign
Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Lambda Legal
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Legal Momentum
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
MoveOn
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Abortion Federation
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund
National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Women’s Organizations
National Council on Independent Living
National Environmental Trust
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
National Lawyers Guild
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Senior Citizens Law Center
National Women’s Law Center
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
People For the American Way
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
SEIU
The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.
The Shalom Center
Sierra Club
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association
US Action
Violence Policy Center
World Association of People With Disabilities

Time

Like the old song says, "another year older and deeper in debt." Well, the lyrics actually say another "day" older, but what the hell. It's gonna be 2006 in another few hours. and think back fondly to those millenium survival kits and New Year's around the world coverage on all the TV stations SIX years ago now.

Time is of the essence: time flies. Remember when Orwell's novel "1984," Prince's party like it's 1999 and Clark's 2001: A Space Odyssey sounded so futuristic?

Ah, Those Were the Days My Friend when Richard Nixon and Ronnie Ray-Gun seemed like the worst that America could produce in terms of leaders.

I don't know about you, but I kind of miss Guy Lombardo doing Auld Lang Syne at midnight every year on TV. No one else does it with as much corn, and I think a song like that should be corny, above all. Guy died in 1977. Never fear, you can download his traditional version or spiffier versions ala Tex-Mex polka, freestyle disco or country. I kid you not.

Oh my, Time, Time, Time, See What's Become of Me ... as the Bookends Theme says, "Time it was, and what a time it was, it was, A time of innocence, a time of confidences, Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph, Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you."

Then again, Turn, Turn, Turn, To Everything There is a Season. And some believe that Time Has Come Today, a song, by the way, that was the first I ever listened to on headphones -- those massive clunky ones that preceded ear bugs by decades. My conciousness wasn't the only thing altered.

Some try to save Time in a Bottle. Personally, I think Time is on My Side.

It's good to remember that >The Times They Are A'Changin -- again. At least we hope they are, and for the better. still doesn't know what's happening, but perhaps we can use Lakoff-style framing to tune him in to the truth, no?

If you need to determine the EXACT time so you know precisely when the New Year hits in your part of the world, check out the Time Ticker. Or take a Walk Through Time. Remember, the New Year will arrive one second later this year. Tick tock.

Here's how the New Year is celebrated around the world. You can watch the ball fall at midnight tonight at NYC's Times Square, as well as celebrations around the globe via 25 live Earthcams.

Finally, cap your celebration with some Faith-Based New Year's Toasts by Ward Sutton. Holy sacred cow, it's almost twenty oh six! Since I'm half Polish, I'll wish you "Szczesliwego Nowego Roku." See ya next year ...

Great American Dream in Reverse

I read an op-ed page article by Holly Sklar in the Albuquerque Journal this morning that nailed where we are economically as a nation, as we prepare to greet 2006. You can read it at The Providence Journal site via free registration. (You have to be a paid subscriber to read it at the Journal site.)

Using inconvenient FACTS, Ms. Sklar demonstrates how misbegotten our current economic policies have been, pushing America and most Americans down, not up. The only winners? A skinny slice of the most elite of the investor class at the top. We aren't "winning" in terms of global competitiveness or any other meaningful measure. We are rushing down a road to ruin, pursuing an unsustainable path characterized by humongous debt, trade deficits and losses of good-paying jobs. And yet the corporatists, regardless of party, continue to claim that bankrupting our middle and working classes, making education more unaffordable, refusing to make healthcare coverage a right and rushing headlong to become a low-wage nation are the only ways to progress.

Sklar's bottom line? "We will not prosper in the 21st Century global economy by relying on 1920s corporate greed, 1950s tax revenues, pre-1970s wages, and global-warming energy policies." Some excerpts:

... We are becoming a nation of Scrooge-Marts and outsourcers -- with an increasingly low-wage workforce, instead of a growing middle class. Even two-paycheck households are struggling to afford a house, college, health care and retirement. The American Dream is becoming the American Pipe Dream.

... The hourly wages of average workers are 11 percent lower than they were back in 1973 (adjusted for inflation), despite rising worker productivity. CEO pay, by contrast, has skyrocketed -- up a median 30 percent in 2004 alone, in the Corporate Library survey of 2000 large companies.

Median household income has fallen an unprecedented five years in a row. It would be even lower if not for increased household work hours. Americans work over 200 hours more a year on average than workers in other rich industrialized countries.

We are breaking records we don't want to break. Record numbers of Americans have no health insurance. The share of national income going to wages and salaries is the lowest since 1929. Middle-class households are a medical crisis, an outsourced job, or a busted pension away from bankruptcy.

The congressional majority voted the biggest cut in history to the student-loan program, at a time when college is more important, and more expensive, than ever. Public-college tuition has risen even faster than private tuition, jumping 54 percent over the last decade (adjusted for inflation).

... Contrary to myth, the United States is not becoming more competitive in the global economy by taking the low road. We are in growing hock to other countries. We have a huge trade deficit, a hollowed-out manufacturing base, and deteriorating research and development. The infrastructure built by earlier generations has eroded greatly, undermining the economy, as well as public health and safety.

Households have propped themselves up in the face of falling real wages by maxing out work hours, credit cards and home-equity loans. This is not a sustainable course. The low road is like a shortcut that leads to a cliff.

We will not prosper in the 21st Century global economy by relying on 1920s corporate greed, 1950s tax revenues, pre-1970s wages, and global-warming energy policies.

... Contrary to myth, many European countries are better positioned for the future than the United States, with healthier economies and longer healthy life expectancies, greater math and science literacy, free or affordable education from preschool through college, universal health care, less poverty, and more corporations combining social responsibility and world-class innovation.

Among the world's 100 largest corporations in 2005, just 33 are U.S. companies, while 48 are European. In 2002, 38 were U.S. companies and 36 were European. CEO-worker pay gaps are much narrower at European companies than American.

The United States dropped from number one to number five in the global information-technology ranking by the World Economic Forum, whose members represent the world's 1,000 leading companies, among others. The top four spots are held by Singapore, Iceland, Finland and Denmark, with Sweden number six.

Instead of pretending the problem is overpaid workers and accelerated offshoring, we need to shore up our economy from below and invest in smart economic development. Let's make that our New Year's resolution for the American Dream.

Americans Who Tell the Truth

A friend up in Taos sent me a link to a powerfully creative and timely project called Americans Who Tell the Truth. At a time when speaking truth to power seems out of vogue even in many Democratic circles, it features courageous Americans past and present who are known for doing just that. The extensive website, including a suggested curriculum for using the project's materials for educational efforts, is well worth an unhurried and thoughtful visit.

The truth-tellers are heroes and heroines from the arts, politics, literature, music and many other disciplines. The diverse collection includes Rosa Parks, Rachel Carson, Howard Zinn, Cesar Chavez, Chief Joseph Hinmaton Yalektit, "Granny D" Doris Haddock, Wendall Berry, Studs Terkel, Jim Hightower and many, many more. Robert Shetterly, a Maine artist and peace and justice activist, has produced an evocative series of portraits of these brave Americans and coupled them with quotes and biographical information. Shetterly says:

I began painting this series of portraits --- finding great Americans who spoke the truth and combining their images with their words --- nearly three years ago [after 9-11] as a way of to channel my anger and grief. In the process my respect and love for these people and their courage helped to transform that anger into hope and pride and allowed me to draw strength from this community of truth tellers, finding in them the courage, honesty, tolerance, generosity, wisdom and compassion that have made our country strong. One lesson that can be learned from all of these Americans is that the greatness of our country frequently depends not on the letter of the law, but the insistence of a single person that we adhere to the spirit of the law.

The portraits and biographical materials are designed to function as an educational and inspirational display of what Shetterly believes is hopeful and just about America. They form several traveling exhibits that are being hosted by schools, universities, churches, and various community groups around the country "to create dialogue that will help each of us figure out which truths we value most as citizens in a democracy." Perhaps now more than ever, we need to keep our uniquely American history of challenging the status-quo alive -- to ensure that Americans from all walks of life know this history and its traditions and can pass them on to their children and grandchildren. The preservation of real democracy demands it.

To support the project and keep it on the road, you can kick in a few tax-deductible bucks for operational expenses or purchase cards from several sets created from the portraits. You can also organize an exhibit of some or all of the paintings in your community. The artist's goal is to "share 'Americans Who Tell the Truth' with as many people in as many parts of the U.S. as possible." Looking for hope, inspiration and vibrant role models as the new year dawns? This is a good place to start. (Click on images for larger versions.)

Amnesty International: Make Some Noise!

The Black Eyed Peas, Avril Lavigne, and The Cure are joining Amnesty International in a ground-breaking musical venture using the works of John Lennon. Make Some Noise launched on 10 December -- International Human Rights Day -- and aims to inspire a new generation to celebrate and stand up for human rights.

The global launch of Make Some Noise features the release of the Black Eyed Peas’ rousing version of Power to the People, The Cure’s interpretation of Love, Snow Patrol’s recording of Isolation, and Grow Old With Me performed by The Postal Service. All four exclusive singles are available as online downloads via www.amnesty.org/noise. These will be followed in early 2006 by an array of iconic John Lennon tracks from further top artists. All single downloads will be available at $0.99 in the U.S. from www.amnesty.org/noise. All profits from music sales will be used to support Amnesty International – the world’s largest human rights organisation – in its global human rights work.

Amnesty International wants Make Some Noise to encourage a new audience to celebrate and take action for human rights and attract one million new supporters worldwide. All of the contemporary recordings will feature as either single downloads, over the course of the year, or as part of a download compilation album. Due for release in 2006, the compilation will mark one of the greatest music projects of the decade.

Make Some Noise follows Yoko Ono’s generous donation of the rights to John Lennon’s solo songbook to Amnesty International in 2003. “It’s wonderful that, through this campaign, music which is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation,” says Yoko Ono. “John’s music set out to inspire change, just as Make Some Noise does. In standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place.”

Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, says “Power to the People is the ultimate anthem! We had an incredible time recording the track for Make Some Noise, and hope the single will motivate people to truly stand up and be counted.”

Irene Khan, Secretary General at Amnesty International, says “We’re thrilled to be using John Lennon’s songs in our human rights work. We hope this music will bring an awareness of human rights to a new generation. After all, human rights are what make music possible - we wouldn’t be able to create music, listen to it or dance to it without freedom of speech, expression, and association.”

https://noise.amnesty.org/site/c.adKIIVNsEkG/b.1211391/k.AE8/Story_of_Make_Some_Noise__Make_Some_Noise.htm

Breaking: ANWR Preserved!

Hallelujah! An amazing gift! As told by CNN:

The Senate today blocked oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, rejecting a must-pass defense spending bill onto which supporters had added the quarter-century-old environmental issue to garner broader support. The vote was a stinging defeat for Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, who for years has waged an intense fight to open the refuge to drilling. Senate leaders were expected to withdraw the defense legislation so it could be reworked without the refuge language.

The vote: 56-44, four votes shy of the 60 needed to stop a threatened fillibuster. Go thank your Democratic Senator. Then revisit these astounding photos that showcase ANWR's unique natural bounties.

Here's one of them, as well as the Sierra Club's statement on this victory:

“To protect what is wild is to protect what is gentle. Perhaps the wilderness we fear is the pause within our own heartbeats, the silent space that says we live only by grace. Wilderness lives by this same grace.” -- Terry Tempest Williams

ARCTIC REFUGE VICTORY FOR ALL AMERICANS

Washington, D.C. -- In an against-all-odds victory for wildlife, wild places and all Americans, the Senate today rebuffed attempts to attach controversial provisions to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the Defense spending bill.

"Drilling proponents have pulled out all the stops, and tried every trick in their playbook to open up the Arctic Refuge to no avail," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director. "This is a tremendous victory for all Americans and proof positive that the fate of the Arctic Refuge must be debated on its merits, not as part of a sneak attack."

Drilling proponents have now failed to include Arctic drilling on energy, budget and defense bills. The deplorable effort to link Arctic drilling to funding for America’s troops and Hurricane Katrina relief, led by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and bolstered by intense lobbying from the Bush administration, failed in a cloture vote 44-56 (cloture requires 60 votes).

"We applaud those Senators who refused to let drilling proponents manipulate them and the democratic process," said Pope. "Today’s vote reaffirmed the Senate’s role as a deliberative body, not a place where unrelated and controversial issues are tacked on to any bill without debate and at the whim of special interests."

Senator Stevens -- the man who brought us the $450 million "bridges to nowhere" -- tried to bully the Senate into passing a bill that benefits his state and the oil industry at the expense of all Americans.

"This year the oil industry squeezed Americans at the gas pump to the tune of billions in record profits, carved out billions more in government subsidies, and then lied to Congress. Senator Stevens held defense spending and hurricane relief hostage to help Big Oil out," said Pope. "Today the Senate gave the oil industry and Stevens the lump of coal they deserved. We will remain vigilant as those who would plunder the Arctic Refuge for short-term gain are clearly willing to try anything regardless of cost."

"Americans want real energy solutions that protect special places like the Arctic Refuge. Today that message was heard loud and clear," said Pope. "Drilling proponents tried every excuse, but Americans know that Arctic drilling would not put a dent in our dependence on foreign oil, would do nothing to strengthen our national security, and would not save consumers money at the pump."

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s own Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that even 20 years down the road, when Arctic Refuge oil would be at or near peak production, gas prices would only be affected by about a penny per gallon. The United States sits on just 3 % of the world's known petroleum reserves. Government estimates indicate that there is less than a year’s supply of oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and even the oil industry admits it would take 10 years to make it to US markets.

Caught in the Act

of what Bush had to say about wiretapping in 2004 and what he has to say about it now.

Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires-a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so. It's important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution. -- George Bush - April 2004

Check out The Emerging Story Behind the Wiretaps (Daily Kos) and another theory offered in Talking Points Memo, as well as the debunking of Bush's excuses by American Progress

Support Rep. John Conyers and Censure Bush

Support the DNC petition to obtain BushCo legal opinions on the surveillance via FOIA

See how Think Progress effectively counters Drudge lies about Clinton and Carter ordering surveillance the same way

Scrooge of the Day: Senator Pete Domenici

The budget bill that makes significant cuts in things like Medicaid, Medicare, student loans, child support enforcement, foster care and more just passed the Senate. A 50-50 tie was broken only by the vote of the always draconian Dick Cheney. Our own Senator Pete Domenici voted for the bill that will ensure that some of the gigantic deficits produced by tax cuts for the rich will be paid for by whacking the poor, the sick, the elderly and those seeking help with obtaining a college degree.

All 44 Democratic Senators voted against this budget travesty, joined by one independent (Jim Jeffers) and five Republicans who have a conscience: Senators Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island

Quote:

Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) called it "an ideologically driven, extreme, radical budget" that "caters to lobbyists and an elite group of ultraconservative ideologues here in Washington, all at the expense of middle class Americans."

Miserly Pete, however, sided with those supporting the rich elites and the wealthiest of the investor class at the expense of ordinary Americans. Hats off to today's Scrooge of the Day -- good ole Pete Domenici. Click to let Pete know what you think about his enlistment in the Republican War on America's Poor, Seniors, Children, Sick and Students. And be sure to thank Senator Bingaman for hanging tough and voting against this abomination.