Democracy for New Mexico

Guest Blog: Albuquerque Women for Obama Rollout/Voter Registration Rally

(Note: To hear audio of Michelle's entire speech today, check out this post at Peter St. Cyr's blog, What's the Word. And there's no waiting.)

This is a guest blog by our friend Rachel N. Rodriguez of Albuquerque who attended today's rally with Michelle Obama at the UNM SUB Ballroom:

61 days until the election - we need to work hard, and women can get the job done.

That's the message Michelle Obama brought to the energized crowd today at the Women for Obama Rally, held at UNM. Of her own reaction to the short time between now and the election, Michelle said she thinks, "Yeah!" and then "Is that it?!"

This rally kicked off the 30/30 push of the Obama campaign in New Mexico to register 30,000 people in just 30 days. The call to action - to not just encourage a vote for Obama, but to first get voters registered - came not only from Michelle but from a long string of people who spoke before her, among them Chris Van Holland, Congressman from Maryland; Mrs. Richardson, wife of NM Governor Bill Richardson; Martin Heinrich, candidate for Congress; Patsy Madrid, former NM Attorney General; and Diane Denish, NM Lt. Governor.

As I waited in line outside the Student Union Building before being let into the ballroom, much of the talk among the mostly female crowd was about McCain's running mate Sarah Palin and her speech last night. Strong and smart reactions were flying, including shock at Palin's severe cuts in the Alaskan budget for special education. One woman said she wanted to come to hear Michelle Obama to get "that speech" out of her head. I even heard a woman promise to move out of the country if McCain is elected - an idea my husband and I have been throwing around as well. For now, I'm going to do all I can to help make sure Obama is in the White House come 2009...I signed up to volunteer for the Obama campaign and register folks to vote.

Once we got inside the hall, the crowd filled one-third of the room a few minutes after the doors opened. Shortly afterward, hand-made signs were passed forward, reading, "Mujeres para Obama," "Students 4 Obama," "Lobos for Obama," "Kids for Obama," and "Chicana Mama for Obama." The energy grew as the hall filled and the advertised 4 pm start time neared. To keep us occupied, a lucky Obama staffer chose a medley of energetic, if somewhat cheesy, patriotic rock ballads (including Neil Diamond's "Coming to America" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA") with a rap song thrown in the mix for good measure. The crowd grew antsy and alternated between chanting "O-ba-ma" and clapping. Finally, some time after 4 pm, the show began.

Some of my fave words spoken by the opening acts to Michelle Obama:

• Obama understands what is important to women. - Mrs. Richardson

• Michelle Obama has influenced millions of people across the country. - Chris Van Holland

• This is the politics of hope versus the politics of fear. - Martin Heinrich

• Hope + Action = Change - Martin Heinrich

• Sarah Palin = the brunette Ann Coulter - Patsy Madrid
  

Finally, to the crowd's huge delight, Michelle Obama took the stage. Ever poised and "real," she thanked all those who spoke before her, including a young woman, Juanita, who gave Michelle the hand-made bracelets off her wrist when Michelle complimented her on them - upon which Michelle jokingly told Juanita she liked her shoes! Michelle also thanked Hillary Clinton for her speech at the DNC and said that because of Hillary Clinton, her husband is a better candidate.

Never making any direct attacks or put-downs of her husband's opponent, Michelle noted that Barack chose Biden as his running mate because he wants a "real partner" and noted that the Bidens are a "decent family." Of the DNC, Michelle asked the crowd, "Did you see the Convention?" remarking that it was an amazing experience to be in that place with 80,000 people who "looked like America."

Michelle also addressed the issues head-on. She assured the crowd that she knows the struggle of women in the US who are doing it all (and trying to look good, too)! She noted that American women are just asking for government to understand that real struggles exist in our lives. She promised that with Barack as president, we won't just have talk about family values, but we'll actually have policies that value families. Admitting that the campaining is tough, she expressed appreciation for all the Americans, especially the women, who pray for her, think about her, and even "get mad" for her. She reminded us that in 61 days, Barack could be president - and that there is so much at stake.

Finally, Michelle Obama reinforced the fact that New Mexico is an important state - and promised that the campaign will be back here, including Barack and Biden themselves. She stepped down from the podium dancing a bit to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." Michelle Obama rocks!

Rachel N. Rodriguez
rachelnrodriguez AT yahoo.com

Photos by Rachel N. Rodriguez

This is a guest blog by Rachel N. Rodriguez. If you'd like to submit a post for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand side of the page.

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Tonight: Former Hillary Delegates Host Watch Parties for Palin Speech

Sarah (center) and some fans

Looks like the GOP gimmick to try and attract former Clinton supporters to vote Repub by putting any old woman on their ticket isn't working too well in Dem circles generally, and certainly not in New Mexico. The Democratic Party of New Mexico has announced that former Hillary Clinton delegates and supporters will be hosting watch parties for Sarah Palin's acceptance speech at the Republican convention. Priscilla Chavez of Las Cruces and Kristine Jacobus of Albuquerque are two former Clinton delegates who will gather around their TV sets with friends tonight at 7:30 PM. I imagine they'll will be doing a lot of talking back to their TVs during the speech. I know I will.

"If the McCain campaign thinks women who supported Hillary Clinton will vote for Palin simply because she is a woman, then they are sorely mistaken," said Conchita Cruz, spokeswoman for the Democratic Party of New Mexico. "Women who voted for Hillary Clinton did so because she shares their values. These same women will vote in November for change, with the issues that impact their lives in mind, like equal pay for equal work, the squeeze on the middle class, high gas prices and the war in Iraq. By promising more of the failed policies of the Bush Administration, John McCain represents more of the same, no matter who he puts on the ticket with him."

Still, I guess we should consider ourselves lucky to be seeing Palin at all tonight. She's been kept incommunicado in St. Paul since the start of the GOP convention, reportedly practicing rote memorization of McCain talking points and generally being schooled in how to pretend she's ready for the national spotlight. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall.

As prep for tonight's performance, you can read the lastest laundry list of revelations about Palin that call into question her qualifications, honesty, judgment and ethics. And be sure to check out her campaign's bogus claim that Sarah's refueling stop in Ireland constituted a "visit" there. These Repubs are going all out.

Palin photo from GrizzlyBay.org.

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Convention Coverage: Here Comes DFNM on Politics Blue on Zannel and Beyond

The Pepsi Center podium unveiled

Democracy for New Mexico is one of twelve blogs (see below fold) from around the country chosen to help launch the group Politics Blue on Zannel, a new and exciting vlogging service you can access via your cell phone or computer. All the blogs on the Politics Blue channel at Zannel are members of the DNC State Blogger Corps and, like DFNM, have credentials to be seated with their state delegations on the floor of the Pepsi Center in Denver next Monday thru Wednesday, and on the field at Mile High Stadium on Saturday for Obama's acceptance speech.

Mary Ellen and I will be using Zannel to post video clips, photos and short text messages from the 2008 Democratic Convention. The DFNM blog has its own channel within Politics Blue, as do all the other blogs. We've installed a widget at the top of the main DFNM page where you can quickly access our latest uploads. (To see it you must be at www.DemocracyForNewMexico.com, not one of our subpages.) There are arrows you can use to move from upload to upload. Our material will also be shared on the aggregated Politics Blue group channel on Zannel. Right now, we've just got test-type material uploaded to Zannel, but soon we'll be putting up the real deal. Check back often.

Of course we'll also be posting longer pieces right here, and you can also check out our stuff on Rootswire (widget on left sidebar). We also understand that C-SPAN's Convention Hub, the DNC's Convention website and other sites will be aggregating State Blogger Corps posts. Visit the links on the left sidebar for those sites, plus our Convention videos on YouTube and photos at Flickr and more.

Thanks to all of you who donated so generously to help cover the costs of our Convention trip. And gracias to our intrepid house sitters as well, who'll be holding down the fort at our place. Onward to Denver ....

Other Zannel Politics Blue participants:

Florida: Florida Progressive Coalition - https://flaprogressives.org

Georgia: Georgia Women Vote – https://georgiawomenvote.blogspot.com

Kentucky: Blue Grass Roots - www.bluegrassroots.com

Mississippi: The Natchez Blog - www.natchezblog.com

New Hampshire: Blue Hampshire -

South Carolina: Crack the Bell - www.crackthebell.com

Utah: The Utah Amicus - https://utahamicus.blogspot.com

Vermont: Green Mountain Daily - www.greenmountaindaily.com

Wisconsin: Uppity Wisconsin - www.uppitywis.org

Democrats Living Abroad: Yanqui Mike - www.yanquimike.com.ar

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Udall, Teague to Speak at Dona Ana County Labor Day Breakfast; J. Paul Taylor to be Honored

The Doña Ana County Democratic Party is set to host their biggest event of the year -- the Sixth Annual Labor Day Breakfast. The popular annual event will take place on Monday, September 1st, at 9:00 AM at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.

U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall (right) will deliver the keynote address. Harry Teague (left), candidate for U.S. Congress in the Second District, will also speak.

"Labor Day is the perfect time to celebrate the American labor movement and its ties to the Democratic Party," said Melinda Whitley, chair of the Doña Ana County Democratic Party.

"We are also delighted to honor J. Paul Taylor's years of service to the people of New Mexico during this event." The National Education Association (NEA) has chosen J. Paul Taylor (right) as this year's honoree. Taylor was a representative in the New Mexico State Legislature for nearly 20 years. Additionally, he served as a teacher, a school principal, and a tireless advocate for those in need.

Tickets for the event are $40 each, or $360 for a table of ten.  Please contact 575/532-1780 for more information.

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(Updated) Reminder: Howard Dean & Register for Change Tour in NM Tomorrow

As I posted previously, DNC Chair Howard Dean will be in New Mexico tomorrow, Thursday, August 21, with the Register for Change Tour bus. He'll be joined by Jill Cooper-Udall (Tom's wife), Derek Fisher of the LA Lakers and actor Kal Penn. Come on down to greet Howard and company, register to vote if you haven't yet done so and pick up some good vibes from an excited crowd of Dems:

Dean & Register for Change, Thursday, August 21:

• Santa Fe, NM: 10:15 AM, Casa Solano Shopping Center Parking Lot, Alameda Street & St Francis
• Sandia Pueblo, NM: 1:00 PM,Sandia Library
• Albuquerque, NM: 3:15 PM, Albuquerque Campaign for Change Office Parking Lot, 3523 Central Avenue

Click for flyer (doc). Unfortunately, the stop originally scheduled for Santo Domingo Pueblo has been cancelled. The Tour will stop at Sandia Pueblo instead.

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Personal Countdown to Denver

Denver Auditorium, site of 1908 Dem Convention,
the last time Denver hosted it

I'm finding it difficult to keep up my posts on local politics when there's so much preparation and planning to complete before heading off to Denver this Friday for the Democratic National Convention. We're expecting chaos no matter how much we manage to nail things down, and we're way behind on nailing things down.

I'm beginning to think that delegates have it easy. All they have to do is show up and allow themselves to be shepherded around, from the Albuquerque Sunport to DIA to the direct shuttle to their hotel, to the official events and parties. They're handed info packets and vouchers, maps and schedules, and they're all staying together at a hotel not far from the Pepsi Center, Convention Center and Mile High. They can focus on enjoying the events they attend. That's their job. Of course the downside is that they won't have anywhere near the freedom we'll have in Denver. We can go almost anywhere, anytime, following our curiosity wherever it leads. Or we can just sit still and watch the crowds passing by.

Still, it can be daunting to consider the challenges to be faced by the blogger contingent. We'll have to solve a myriad of technical and logistical problems, find the events we want to cover among a confusing array of calendars and listings, shoot the video and photos, take the notes and come up with story ideas. We'll have to write the stories and take the time to get everything uploaded with a variety of tools, some of them fairly complicated and new to us. We'll be dependent on phone and net connections that might be overwhelmed because so many other people will be trying to do the same thing at the same time. We've even been warned that Denver may experience brownouts because of the massive increase in power usage, especially if the weather is hot.

Quite a difference from the Pepsi Center,
and no TV cameras or net access

Blogger Logistics
As members of the DNC State Blogger Corps, our status is rather ambiguous. We're not delegates, yet we'll be sitting with our New Mexico delegation on the floor of the Pepsi Center. We're not really press either -- we don't have the support of any media outfit -- but we'll have media credentials and we've been receiving numerous emails that pertain to things that have nothing to do with bloggers. I'm still not positive we can ride the shuttles that will carry delegates to and from their hotels and around town, because we aren't delegates.

The NM delegation will be staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Denver. We'll be staying where the DNC housing office assigned us -- about 35 minutes away (in normal traffic, which we won't have) in something called the Crosslands Economy Studios in Aurora out towards the airport. That means we really can't go back to our room during the day to rest, drop stuff off, change clothes, write, recharge batteries for our gear or upload files. We've been encouraged to attend and cover NM's delegate breakfasts -- which start at about 7:00 AM each day -- so we'll have to leave our room at some ungodly hour and we won't return until late at night. That means we'll have to lug everything with us all day and into the night.

At a minimum, Mary Ellen and I will each have a laptop, digital camera, Flip Video, cables, battery charger, spare batteries, extension cord and cell phone. Probably a jacket or sweater, rain poncho, water and munchy food. Of course we can't take the water or munchy food into the Pepsi Center -- there's a page-long list of items that aren't allowed.

We've seen schedules that claim the official events in the Pepsi Center will begin anywhere from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM each day. We still don't know which is right. To get in, we'll first have to work our way through several layers of security perimeters we've heard will begin a couple blocks out. We have to pick up a new credential each day downtown. The delegates get theirs each day at their hotel, where they also will receive various info and tickets for other events and parties. We're on our own in that regard. We hear the media will have access to a bunch of gatherings, but we don't know which ones yet. Almost no parking. Many major streets, and even I-25, will be closed at times. Cabs will be scarce.

We're Anxious, But Really, Really Excited
I know, it sounds like I'm whining, and I guess I am to some extent. We're leaving in a couple days so we're feeling just a bit nervous and overwhelmed. But make no mistake about it, we're also incredibly excited and feeling really lucky to be the recipients of blogger credentials that will give us unprecedented access to the action. We still have to pinch ourselves at times. And I guess that's part of the pressure we're feeling too -- we want to do a great job of providing coverage to you and people, literally, around the world. We've been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we want to perform at our very best -- but still leave time to have some fun.

I wish we knew more about the conditions under which we'll be operating. I keep having this dream that all the power goes off in Denver and stays that way for a good long time, causing fumbling and confusion galore. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

I'm glad we purchased passes to what's known as The Big Tent, created by bloggers for bloggers. It'll probably serve as our main sanctuary when we aren't at other events. It's a couple of blocks away from the Pepsi Center and will be filled with geeks and writers from all over the country who will certainly know more than we do if our equipment goes haywire. The Big Tent will offer daily food, drink, camaraderie, moral support, wi-fi, speakers, panels, entertainment, live feeds from the Convention and workspace all week -- for the measley sum of $100 per person. They even have yoga in the mornings.

As part of the DNC's state blogger corps, we'll have more connection with our delegation, more deals and more access to official events than others who are going up there independently, either for blogging, protesting or side events. We should be counting our blessings instead of venting our anxieties, right? Well, there's a time for everything. The anxieties are coming out now; the awe and joy will come later. No doubt about it.

Check in Often
Keep coming back for video, photos, stories and anecdotes about the Convention from now until Obama is offically nominated before 75,000+ people at Mile High Stadium on Thursday night, rain or shine. If we can work out all the technical, geeky details as we go along!

Support Us If You Can
If you still haven't donated to help us cover our expenses, I hope you'll click on the orange "Donate" button on the upper left-hand side of the page. We have to cover more than a week of hotel bills, food and gas. We each paid $100 for Big Tent passes. We've purchased Flip Videos, a new digital camera, extra memory cards, a MacBook to replace my olden Dell PC, extra cell phone service, various wires, cables and gizmos and a few bags to carry it all in. Our time and energy is donated too.

If you like reading our blog, please support us financially, either by donating or purchasing ads, and please do the same for New Mexico FBIHOP. Matt has been running up gas bills like crazy covering the campaigns, and he's also heading up to Denver this weekend. We need your help now. Big shout out of thanks to all of you who've already contributed -- or who'll click that button now.

Click on photos for larger images. Click to see additional Convention photos at the DNCC website.

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(Updated) Thursday: 3 NM Stops for Howard Dean and Register for Change

Dean for Prez rally, Santa Fe Plaza, June 3, 2003

It's been more than five years now since many of us got more active in politics than we ever dreamed we would. The involvement of many of us dates back to Howard Dean's 2003 presidential campaign. Because The Doctor (Is In) is visiting New Mexico later this week, I thought some of the old Deaniacs out there might enjoy seeing a few photos from that era. If it wasn''t for Howard, much of what we're involved with today would never have become a reality.

I know, you've been bored because there hasn't been much happening of late in New Mexico in the way of political dramas and events. Wait, that was just a bad dream I had last night -- nothing could be farther from the truth.

We've go the exciting campaigns of Barack Obama, Ben Ray Lujan, Martin Heinrich, Harry Teague, Tom Udall and a flock of legislative candidates going full throttle, and the convening of the oddly timed and confusing Special Legislative Session in Santa Fe. There are the controversies being fed by desperate backlash against highly respected nonprofits and progressive candidate victories, and an abundance of events organized by a diverse bunch of groups like the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and Wellstone Action-- not to mention the countdown to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Political junkies, activists and this blogger have barely had a chance to take a deep breath. And the pace can only accelerate as we move closer to November 4th.

Dean walks with supporters to Prez debate at Popejoy, September 2003

So I almost hate to tell you that there are three more fabulous events set for next week in New Mexico. DNC Chair (and grassroots hero) Howard Dean will be visiting Albquerque, Santa Fe and Santo Domingo Pueblo with the DNC's Register for Change Tour bus:

Dean & Register for Change, Thursday, August 21:

Santa Fe, NM: 10:15 AM, Casa Solano Shopping Center Parking Lot, Alameda Street & St Francis

CANCELLED: Santo Domingo Pueblo, NM: 1:00 PM. New location being sought.

Albuquerque, NM: 3:15 PM, Albuquerque Campaign for Change Office Parking Lot, 3523 Central Avenue

West Side Dean Meetup group and Ken Harper and their Dean Van

Come on down to hear 50-State-Strategy guru Howard Dean's always rousing words -- and if you aren't registered to vote you can do it right there, no sweat. If you have friends or neighbors who need to register, bring them along too. The more folks we get registered, the better chance we have to win all up and down the ticket.

Onward to Denver
Howard and the Register for Change Tour will be heading up to Denver next as Dems pretty much take over the city of Denver to officially nominate Obama and his VP choice at the Convention. We'll be there too, reporting from the Convention Floor, seated with the New Mexico delegation as part of the DNC State Blogger Corps. So we've been spending a lot of time trying to raise money for our expenses (hint, hint), buying better equipment to cover the events and trying to get everything set up so it works right (grrrr). If some of our coverage on the multitude of events happening here this week isn't as comprehensive as usual, you'll know why.

also needs donations, as he'll be heading up to Denver on his own to cover events using The Big Tent as his HQ (we'll be popping in there too). I understand Dave Maass of Swing State of Mind, Peter St. Cyr of What's the Word, David Alire Garcia and Tracy Dingman of the New Mexico Independent and who knows who else will also be in Denver sending back stories, video and photos from lots of different angles.

A multitude of national bloggers will also be on the scene, either inside the Pepsi Center (and Mile High Stadium) or in other places, so your blog reading should be quite an experience starting Saturday or Sunday, when folks are traveling to Colorado. Wish us luck!

Click on photos for larger images. Photos from New Mexico's Dean for America Meetup collection.

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ABQ McCain Staffers Trash 'Happy Birthday Social Security' Cake

Politico has the story and so does . But where are the pictures and videos? Isn't it time for someone at the Dem Party and all the campaigns, third-party groups and unions to start carrying around a very reasonably priced Flip Video, or at least a cheap digital camera, to record debacles like this? Come on folks, your local blowgowsfeer bloggers can't be everywhere, cameras at the ready. Think how many events are going on daily now, and then think how much synchronicitous action will be going on post-Labor Day. We need help in documenting the scene. Help! A video of the McCain staffers getting all chanty and destructive would be valuable indeed. Why don't we have one?

Saturday: Udall, Heinrich, Lujan Join Chairman Colon at Rio Rancho Dem Party Office Opening

The DPNM has announced it will be celebrating the opening of its Rio Rancho office on Saturday, August 16th, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. The new office is located at 4100 Southern Blvd, Suite 7; Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (map). Come on down and meet U.S. Senate Candidate, Congressman Tom Udall; NM-01 Congressional candidate and former City Council President Martin Heinrich; NM-03 Congressional candidate, Commissioner Ben Ray Luján; and DPNM Chairman Brian S. Colón.

"This is an historic election year, with unprecedented excitement surrounding not just the Presidential election, but New Mexico's Senate and Congressional campaigns," said Brian S. Colón, Chairman of the DPNM. "As a party, we have responded to this excitement, opening offices in all corners of the state, including this one here in Rio Rancho, to ensure we send an all-Democrat delegation to Washington in November."

Thursday: Celebrate 73rd Birthday of Social Security & Protest Privatization

You're invited to join with other Dems tomorrow to celebrate the 73rd Birthday of the most successful anti-poverty program in history, Social Security. The Democratic Party of New Mexico will join with concerned New Mexican voters to reject the Bush-McCain privatization plan.

WHAT: Singing Happy Birthday to Social Security; Protesting Republicans' Privatization Plans

WHO: Deputy Secretary of Aging and Long Term Care, Patsy Trujillo, State Senate District 10 Candidate Victor Raigoza

WHERE: John McCain's Office: 5643 Jefferson NE; Albuquerque, NM

WHEN: Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 12 Noon

The Enduring Value of Social Security: A recently released report from the Institute for America's Future estimates that without Social Security, more than 35 percent of Americans aged 65 and older would be living in poverty. In New Mexico, over 300,000 individuals count on earned Social Security benefits each month. Social Security privatization threatens their lives and each of our futures, as it would cut benefits by almost half a million dollars, making millions of senior citizens vulnerable to poverty.

"With the foreclosure crisis, soaring energy and food costs, we all know how little Republicans have done to help the middle class," said Brian S. Colón, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. "I think New Mexicans will agree, we don't want Republicans like John McCain or Darren White getting anywhere near our social security."