Democracy for New Mexico

Last Day: Gov. Richardson's Triple Your Contribution Fundraiser for DPNM

Today is the final day for Governor Bill Richardson's Triple Match fundraising campaign for the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Every dollar raised will be matched 2-to-1 by the Governor and donated to the Democratic Party of New Mexico to give them the resources that they need to Get Out the Vote and fight back the smears that are sure to come from the GOP. For instance, if you give $1 that will turn into $3 for the Party.

So far, $20,030 from 483 small donors has been raised. They're almost there, and need to raise less than $5,000 more. With your help it can be done: click on the graphic to make a donation, large or small:

While you're at it, check out Gov. Richardson's new blog -- The Plaza -- where readers are encouraged to sign up for an account and post diaries of their own, as well as catch up on the lastest political news.

ACTION ALERT: Help Needed NOW on Returned Voter Registration Cards

From Terry Riley:
A couple of weeks ago I saw a news report on Channel 13 where Bernalillo County Clerk Mary Hererra claimed that 200,000+ voter ID cards had been returned as undeliverable.  In that same report Secretary of State Vigil-Giron stated that those voters would be purged from the voter list.  The New Mexico voter list is something over 1,100,000 if I am correct. That is close to one-fourth of all of the registered voters in New Mexico whose cards were returned. I know that the news always reports that a very low percentage of the eligible voters actually vote but some of these 200,000 voter IDs must belong to otherwise eligible voters. 

Paul Stokes and I contacted Mary Hererra and Ernie Marquez, Director of Elections in the Secretary of State's office and asked for confirmation of the story. Everything was accurate EXCEPT that the voters would not be purged. They would be marked inactive and if they fail to vote in the next two elections then they will be purged. That was good until he said, most likely! I asked for clarification and it ended with probably.

To shorten this story I will say that the best possible things are being done to solve this potential problem. The Secretary of State is running public service announcements on TV explaining that if you did not receive your plastic voter ID card that there may be some problem with your voter registration and that you should contact your county clerk as soon as possible and correct any errors.  The Republican Party and the Democratic Party have both asked for and received copies of this list. Governor Richardson's campaign is calling all Democrats on that list and notifying them that they need to check with their county clerk as well as adding this list to their state wide walk list.

HELP!
Now that we have support on contacting the people whose voter ID cards were returned we have been asked to help. I guess that is reasonable. I know that many people are volunteering at different campaigns to help candidates get their message out.

We need people to volunteer to Ana Canales at Governor Richardson's campaign to call people who were affected by the returned voter ID cards. This is really important and it is important that it is done ASAP, because the deadline for new registration is 10 October. The Governor's campaign phone number is 828-2455. Please call and PLEASE VOLUNTEER!

Terry Riley

Editor's note: If you'd like to submit a guest post for possible publication on DFNM, please contact me by clicking on the Email Me link at the upper left-hand corner of the blog's main page.

Another Dem Cave-In Sullies Our Liberty, Our Nation and Our Party

What a debacle. What a shameful display. Once again, I rely on Greenwald:

Final passage of the torture/detention bill was 65-34. Without necessarily planning to, I live-blogged the Senate proceedings here.

Twelve Democrats voted in favor, 1 Republican and 1 independent voted against (there may be one or two errors because I compiled the list while listening to the vote):

Democrats in favor (12) - Carper (Del.), Johnson (S.D.), Landrieu (La.), Lautenberg (N.J.), Lieberman (Conn.), Menendez (N.J), Pryor (Ark.), Rockefeller (W. Va.), Salazar (Co.), Stabenow (Mich.), Nelson (Fla.), Nelson (Neb.)

Republicans against (1) - Chafee (R.I.).

Jeffords voted against.

I don't understand why Harry Reid made a backroom deal with the Repubs where he promised not to lead a filibuster if they "let" there be a few hours of "debate" and "permitted" 3 amendments, which Reid had to know would fail. A filibuster would have shown Americans that this bill is THAT BAD. What this does is show that Reid has no idea how to keep control of the Dem caucus. We need another Lyndon Johnson in that regard, don't we? To me, Reid is as bad a leader as Daschle was, and the stakes are much higher now.

Senate Dem Statements On Torture & Detainment Bill

Several Senate Dems have given their floor statements on Bush's horrendous torture and detainment bill. Here are excerpts from a few of them:

" ... the trials conducted under this legislation will send a very different signal to the world, one that I fear will put our own troops and personnel in jeopardy both now and in future conflicts. To take just a few examples, this legislation would permit an individual to be convicted on the basis of coerced testimony and hearsay, would not allow full judicial review of the conviction, and yet would allow someone convicted under these rules to be put to death. That is simply unacceptable. We would not stand for another country to try our citizens under those rules, and we should not stand for our own government to do so, either." --Sen. Russ Feingold (full statement here)

"Mr. President, the Administration and Republican leadership would have the American people believe that the War on Terror requires a choice between protecting America from terrorism and upholding the basic tenets upon which our country was founded -- but not both. This canard has been showcased in every recent election cycle.

"I fully reject that reasoning. We can, and we must, balance our responsibilities to bring terrorists to justice, while at the same time protecting what it means to be America. To choose the rule of law over the passion of the moment takes courage. But it is the right thing to do if we are to uphold the values of equal justice and due process that are codified in our Constitution." --Sen. Chris Dodd (full statement here)

"We must start treating our moral authority as a precious national asset that does not limit our power but magnifies our influence. That seems obvious, but this Administration still doesn't get it. Right now - today -- they are trying to rush a bill through Congress that will fundamentally undermine our moral authority, put our troops at greater risk, and make our country less safe.

"Let me be clear about something--something that it seems few people are willing to say. This bill permits torture. It gives the President the discretion to interpret the meaning and application of the Geneva Conventions. No matter how much well-intended United States Senators would like to believe otherwise, it gives an Administration that lobbied for torture just what it wanted." --Sen. John Kerry (full statement here)

Gov. Richardson & Diane Denish Reception to Benefit Statewide Coordinated Campaign

Event Chairs Frances Ray • Marie Sedillo • Mary Molina Mescall Invite you To Join

Governor Bill Richardson & Lt. Governor Diane Denish

For A Reception Benefiting the Statewide Coordinated Campaign

Monday, September 18, 2006
5:00 –  7:30 PM
Hotel Albuquerque
800 Rio Grande Blvd.

Suggested Contribution:  $50 per person or $500 per table. Contributions should be made payable and can be sent to: DPNM Coordinated Campaign, 1301 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110

RSVP to Steve Fitzer: (505) 270-4079 or sfitzer@dianedenish.com. Or RSVP online 

Event Hosts: Alex & Yvone Abeyta, Mary Ann Armijo, Linda Barth,  Frank Chavez, kathy Chavez, Darva Chino, Francine Cordova & Jennifer Romero, Michelle Garcia & Earl Holmes, John Garcia, Lala Trujillo Garcia, Giant Industries, Janis Harkleroad, Hazel Herrera, Mary Herrera, Nancy Higgins & Cindy Dixon, Marilyn Hill, Terri Holland, Suzanne Jacobi, Kooch Jacobus, gary King, James Lewis, Nancy Laflin, Lt. Colonel Anna Lucero, Fred Mondragon & Connie Vance, Claudine Montano, Montgomery & Andrews David Montoya, Plumbers and Pipefitters, Patricia Rogers, Giovanna Rossi,
Dan Serrano, Kim Smith, Christine Trujillo, LaNelle Witt

Help Diane Denish Support State Rep Candidate Jeff Steinborn

Click on image for larger version.

From Terri Holland, Democratic Party of Bernalillo County:
You may not be aware, the District 37 election is one of the top 3 races in the State Legislature and one of the most important battlegrounds in New Mexico this year. It’s an open seat, and Jeff has a good opportunity to win but the far right politicians and special interest are starting to fund Jeff’s opponent. It’s critical Jeff has our support so he can win and we can benefit from his leadership in the State Legislature. It’s also critical that we win this seat so that Democrats retain and expand a strong majority in Santa Fe. We’re hoping we can count on your support in this important race.

I encourage all of you to support Jeff in his fight to win this important southern district.  Jeff has been  a county leader and active member of the Dona Ana  County Democratic Party and will be a valuable asset for us in the state legislature. I hope to see you there!  Terri

Guest Blog: I Remember Patsy Madrid

This post was submitted by guest blogger James Nathan Post of Albuquerque:

When I was a boy in the early 50's, my family lived in married student housing at New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) in Las Cruces. Those crumbling recycled sheetrock army barracks would not pass today as migrant labor housing, but we appreciated the opportunity the school offered to my father, a young rocket engineer.  My best buddy and next door neighbor was Charles Madrid, whose little sister Patsy today is running for our Congress. Between living on the edge of the desert on the campus of an ag school and watching the V-2's go out at White Sands, it was a great place to be a kid, and I had no idea at all how little our parents had with which to start a post-war life and build a family.   

Patricia's father comes from one of the oldest Tiwa families in the valley, and her mother from one of the old Hispanic families, including a northern European line. A combat veteran WWII SeaBee, Mr. Madrid was studying agriculture, following in the footsteps of Fabian Garcia, of the little state college's first graduating class, who more than any other individual is responsible for creating our state's chile industry with the hybrids he created there. Patricia represents in person an authentic tri-cultural heritage here in this most tri-cultural of states. 

Over the years, I have watched the Madrid family build themselves a good and successful working-class American life, through their own hard work, intelligence, education, courage, honesty, and family solidarity.  Among her brothers and sisters are Vietnam veterans, teachers, farmers, businessmen, a research engineer, and a doctor. None of these accomplishments has been the result of privilege or special assistance. Every step has been earned. Their religious backgrounds run the spectrum from Catholic to the Born Again to the Native Church, and even with such differences, they are a spiritually strong and loving family, with the faith to accept each others' ways of worship.  From her family she has inherited strength, integrity, and open-mindedness that are very rare and precious today.

I remember well when in High School, Patsy attended Girls' State, and came home with a burning passion for law and statesmanship which has been the inspiration and drive of her life since.  I remember when she married a man with all the fine qualities her family had taught her to respect, and have watched as they have proved their worth and family values as parents and kin, while pursuing the most demanding of careers. She is certainly my favorite "kid from back home makes good" story, and I am thrilled to see her run for this office. 

I do not wish upon her the life of Washington DC.  I know how much more pleasant it would be for her to stay here with her family and friends in New Mexico, and to enjoy all the daily blessings that we have here, and to enjoy the rewards of a successful private practice, which would certainly be greater than the office affords.  I am sure she would be the first to agree, and so certainly the least likely to be motivated to run for office by desires for comfort or social and financial gain, even less to cheapen the integrity of her office for such gains. She is willing to undertake all the hardships of living there instead of here, and of daily dealing with our nation's most demanding problems, because she still burns passionately about serving the law with honest statesmanship.

I personally know of no one in our state's political arena whom I would rather see go there to represent us in today's multi-cultural, class-spanning, religiously diverse, history-honoring, forward-looking America than Patricia Madrid.

Heather Wilson's Campaign
Until recently, I have been pleased to say about this upcoming election that I considered it a win/win situation for New Mexico, as both she and Heather Wilson would be good for the office, whatever their particular positions might be on the issues. As a former military officer and veteran combat pilot, I have respected Wilson's military record as an Academy graduate administrative officer. As a Libertarian with some right-wing leanings, I've had no great problem with her strongly partisan role as a voice for the right, and supporter of the current administration's agenda.

I have become terribly disappointed in Wilson with this campaign, however.  It is no surprise she has the great advantage of national fundraising support through the help of President Bush, and so should be expected to have a well-funded media campaign.  It is a shock to me, however, to see she has apparently also been taking her campaign strategy from the president's advisors as well.  Perhaps I have missed something, but so far I believe one hundred percent (that's 100%) of Wilson's campaign on the tube has been not just negative, but simply crude and utterly untruthful muck-slinging.

There is not a word in any of Wilson's ads about what she herself offers to the voter as opposed to Madrid's position.  Each of those shameful ads has consisted entirely of deliberately unflattering pictures of Patricia, and the almost-libelous (wink wink) insinuation that she abused her office as Attorney General as party to cheap financial corruption which in fact she was largely responsible for exposing in the state recently.  For the fund-raiser's dollar, the voter gets shown a smarmy little fingerwagging at the crudely crafted image of a stupid and corrupt local Mexican girl in over her head -- and nothing else.   

I find it tragic (as I did when my jet-jock hero Cunningham shot himself down in flames for mini-bling chump-change recently) to see Wilson lower herself to being used by partisan manipulators to conduct a cheap, shallow, and dirty-dealt campaign, especially knowing that having worked with Patricia for several years, she is well aware the sneaky allegations are wholly unfounded, as well as the image, and her own participation in such low-grade character assassination is dishonest, unjust, and reprehensible.  I find it tragic for Heather Wilson, whatever partisan tactic or personal trophy might be motivating her, because even if she wins the election, she knows she has sacrificed something very precious in herself, exactly that which she has almost-accused (wink wink) Patsy Madrid of lacking.  Personally, I thought Wilson had more class.

Who Should Get Your Vote?
If the issues matter to the voter, I would say vote for the one who represents your position on the issues, whatever you think about their character.  If your views on the issues sometimes span both sides of the political aisle, and you are more concerned about the personal integrity and character of the person holding the office, then as one who has known Patricia and her family for half a century, I could not more highly recommend you vote for her.

Editor's Notes:

This is a guest blog by James Nathan Post, who describes himself this way:

"I graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1961, spent two years at NMIMT in Socorro, then entered the service first as a Marine jet pilot, and then an Army helicopter gunship pilot in Vietnam in 1968. As a pilot, actor, and writer, I lived in California, Arizona, and Costa Rica, and spent five years as member of a Las Vegas sportsbook gambling team. I now live and write full time in Albuquerque, and have more than a dozen books in print, available on my website and other online booksellers: www.zianet.com/postpubco."

Democrat Patricia Madrid is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Heather Wilson for the Congressional seat in NM-01

If you'd like to submit a post for possible publication as a guest blog, please contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand corner of the main page.

Another Auditor Candidate in the Mix?

According to a Kate Nash article in today's Albuquerque Tribune, Vince Baca will be tossing his hat in the ring to run for State Auditor on the Dem ticket. He joins Hector Balderas, Daniel Ivey-Soto and, perhaps, Jeff Armijo. As noted in previous posts, Jeff claims he's still on the ballot and he may or may not put his name before the Dem State Central Committee again, depending on whether he gets a court ruling and what the court decides. Excerpt regarding Saturday's SCC meeting:

"It's going to be interesting," said Vince Baca, one of at least three Democrats who are expected to present themselves as candidates at the meeting.

If Armijo attends - which Baca expects - he would be the fourth candidate. Committee members will select one as their official candidate for auditor.

Baca, a 44-year-old president of a strategic planning and resource development company, is looking forward to introducing himself to committee members Saturday.

So is Daniel Ivey-Soto, a 39-year-old Albuquerque lawyer and former chief counsel for the Democratic Party who wants the job.

Add state Rep. Hector Balderas, a Democrat from Wagon Mound, to the list.

Hector Balderas Continuing His Run for State Auditor

Click for a PDF of the announcement released yesterday by State Rep. Hector Balderas (D-Wagon Mound) of his run for state auditor on the Democratic ticket. An announcement letter from Rep. Balderas to the State Central Committee will reportedly be arriving today or tomorrow in SCC member mailboxes. Rep. Balderas will continue to seek the Dem nomination for state auditor, after talking by phone and in person with many Democrats around the state.

Ken Sanchez has officially dropped out, but Daniel Ivey-Soto is still in the race. I haven't seen any additional info on what Jeff Armijo intends to do as the Saturday SCC meeting date nears. Clearly, the State Democratic Party intends to hold an SCC election to fill what they see as a vacancy in the state auditor race on the Democratic ticket. The office of the Secretary of State has stated the matter is now between Armijo and the Party.

Latest on Armijo Ballot Battle

This afternoon's Albuquerque Tribune has a story on Jeff Armijo's claim that he's still on the general election ballot as the Democratic candidate for state auditor. It mostly rehashes info that's already out there. However, the story does reveal that Albuquerque City Councilor Ken Sanchez, who was testing the waters for a run at replacing Armijo on the ballot, has decided to stop his efforts because of legal considerations:

Albuquerque City Councilor Ken Sanchez, who spent Labor Day weekend working to line up votes for Saturday's meeting, said his understanding is that he cannot run.

"Based on what I've heard, (Armijo) is officially on the ballot, so I can't run against him. He won the Democratic primary, and I don't think I would have any legal standing." +

Meanwhile, Hector Balderas, the much-liked progressive Dem who is the state rep from Wagon Mound, has said he's continuing his quest to replace Armijo on the ballot, at least for now:

At least one of several Democrats who aimed for the auditor's job after Armijo announced his withdrawal, state Rep. Hector Balderas, said he's still interested in running.

"I'm still planning on participating in the convention unless a greater authority tells me that's no longer the case," said Balderas, a Democrat from Wagon Mound.

"His representation was that he was withdrawing."

Here's the latest take on the legalities of the situation from the NM Attorney General's office, again quoting the Tribune story:

But Sam Thompson, public information officer with the New Mexico Attorney General's Office, said the law doesn't state that Armijo's announcement counts as a withdrawal.

Nor does the law require a written notice of withdrawal for a candidate to be removed from a ballot, she explained.

"The law does not state a requirement for how this process needs to be done," Thompson said. "The issue appears to be between the candidate and his party."

If there's a quorum at Saturday's scheduled State Central Committee meeting, the proceedings should be compelling indeed.