Democracy for New Mexico

Mayoral Endorsement Featured at Tonight's DFA-DFNM Meetup!

Tonight's DFA-DFNM Albuquerque Meetup will begin with an exciting announcement of our group's endorsement for Albuquerque mayor. The candidate selected by Albuquerque's active membership will be on hand to accept the endorsement and say a few words to attendees. Come on down!

DFA-DFNM Albuquerque Meetup
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 PM
First Unitarian Church Social Hall
Carlisle and Comanche

Click to RVSP or to join our Albuquerque Meetup group and get on our email list.

Our endorsement process began with a mayoral candidate forum in May and culminated in an email vote by our active Albuquerque Meetup members. Candidates were evaluated based on criteria that included their dedication to socially progressive, fiscally responsible positions, grassroots campaigning and core Democratic values.

DFNM will recommend that our national group, Democracy for America, founded by current DNC Chair Howard Dean, follow suit and add the candidate to their endorsements on the DFA-List Candidates for America. Democracy for New Mexico is loosely affiliated with DFA and supports its goals for grassroots organizing and electing socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates at all levels of government. Click to learn more about DFA.

Mightier Than the Sword

Download a pdf of this.

DFA Meetups Today and Tomorrow

DFA - Democracy for New Mexico Meetups will be held in Santa Fe and Las Cruces tonight, and in Albuquerque Thursday night. Click on links in the Coming Events section of the right-hand sidebar on this page for event details or to RSVP.

Our Albuquerque Meetup will feature visits from Mayor Martin Chavez and District 7 City Council candidate Marianne Dickinson, as well as our honoring of citizen activists and NM legislators who were involved in the passage of the election reform bill, including Sen. Cisco McSorley, Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Rep. Danice Picraux and Rep. Ken Martinez. (Although Sen. Linda Lopez was invited, she'll be unable to attend because she's celebrating her mom's birthday.)

We'll also be hearing from Matt Henderson of ACORN about how we can help with their Living Wage project. State Democratic Party Resolutions Chair Mel O'Reilly will be reporting on events at the State Central Committee and Resolutins meetings this month and his views on where the Party should go from here. And of course we'll be hearing a number of announcements, including info on upcoming election reform fundraisers featuring investigative journalist Greg Palast. Come on down!

DFA-DFNM Meetups Today and Tomorrow

DFA-DFNM Meetups will be held tonight (Wednesday) in Santa Fe and Las Cruces and tomorrow evening (Thursday) in Albuquerque. Click on the meeting links on the right-hand sidebar of this page under Coming Events to find out more, to RSVP or to join one of these groups and get on the mailing list.

Most DFA Meetups across the nation will be focusing on a project to help defeat Bush's attempt to privatize Social Security and cut benefits. Hundreds of people all over America will be meeting with their members of Congress on April 12th to tell their personal stories about the benefits of Social Security and urge their Representatives and Senators to oppose Bush's plan. Click to see a video about this effort produced by DFA.

In Albuquerque, we'll be planning a meeting with Rep. Heather Wilson and forming working groups to coordinate various aspects of the project.  Our Albuquerque Meetup will also feature announcements on actions and events from a variety of progressives, a visit from mayoral candidate Eric Griego and Eli Lee of Soltari, and a celebration of the progressive community's highly successful effort to get people elected to precinct, ward and State Central Committee positions.

If you plan to attend one of our Meetups and haven't yet RSVPed, please go to the links noted above let us know you are coming so we have a good idea of how many people we'll be accommodating. Come on out and attend a Meetup!

Sound Off: HIP, HIP, HOORAY!

From Mary Ellen Broderick:

CONGRATULATIONS TO US ALL!!!

WOW what a lot of work to get the results we did for the precinct and ward elections and the state central committee slots.

To me it was a sure test of all the progressive groups coming together, working together and getting people in.

What we know is this:

The county convention was totally chaotic -- but we can and will work on that to improve the next one.

We filled possibly 12 out of the 41 Ward chair slots -- 25% now filled by progressives.

We filled possibly 40 precinct slots.

We filled 25 of the 119 state central committee slots -- a whopping 21%!!!!!!!!

Now I know there are many other great local progressive people who did not get on the as yet unofficial state central committee list, including Jeanne Carritt, Andrea Sterling, Nancy Galloway (possibly), Tom Soloman and Don Schiff.  These people are now our dear friends and I would gladly give up my seat for any one of them.  Because we are all in this for the long haul, maybe the rest of our lives . . . because we all know that the country is ours too and we can take it back.

As Rosie the Riveter says: “ WE CAN DO IT.” And “WE ARE.”

And one more thing:

Linda Lopez -- if you come to this site and read it -- I am one voice speaking out for myself:  I AM A BIG FAN!!!! You have really gone to the fight for us and with us. We greatly need you, your brains, your gentle political way!!

Thanks to all . . . the work has just begun!

See you on Thursday nite at the DFNM meetup for a bit of a celebration!

DFA's Social Security Radio Ad Runs in ABQ

Democracy for America's Social Security Ad Hits the Airwaves: Radio Ad Highlights Real Stories from Real Americans - Listen to the Ad: Click for mp3

BURLINGTON, VT - Starting today, Democracy for America (DFA) will air a radio ad titled, "Gina and Josephine" in three media markets -- Albuquerque, New Mexico (KABQ 1350AM, Air America) , San Diego, California and Seattle, Washington. It will air in all markets through next week.

"It's important for people to understand the positive impact Social Security has on the lives of millions of Americans -- and these stories, along with the thousands of others that we collected depict that," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. "We must protect this vital system from the destruction of privatization."

The radio ad features true stories from real Americans whose lives have been changed by Social Security. These are just two of the thousands that Democracy for America collected over the past month from activists nationwide. The ad will be complemented by a grassroots action plan among DFA Meetup groups in each city. All the stories are available at Democracy for America's website .

"Gina and Josephine" Script

(BACKGROUND MUSIC) GINA: Hi, I'm Gina. My father died tragically when I was only 7 years old -- leaving my mother to raise me, my younger sister and brother on her own. If it weren't for our monthly Social Security checks for dependent care, my family would not have made it through. Because of Social Security, my sister and I have become productive members of society. I was even able to go to college.

(MUSIC ENDS) ANNOUNCER: Tell your story and learn how you can protect Social Security from privatization, visit: democracyforamerica.com.

(BACKGROUND MUSIC) JOSEPHINE: I am Josephine, one of thirteen siblings. My father was killed in a working accident when I was about eight. My mom died too when I was 12, so my older sister took care of us all. The monthly Social Security checks helped keep our family together. We were poor, but I never knew it - we always had food on the table, clothes on our backs, and blankets to keep us warm during cold nights. Please don't let the elected Republicans take Social Security away from our children. (MUSIC ENDS)

Democracy for America, which was founded by Governor Howard Dean in March 2004, is a political action committee dedicated to building a grassroots network of socially progressive and fiscally responsible activists and candidates running for all levels of office. Through the use of grassroots tactics, coalition building strategies, activist trainings and on-line support, DFA is giving ordinary people the power to reform their own political system.

Many Victories for Progressives at Bernalillo County Ward & Precinct Elections

Results and responses from Monday's Bernalillo County Ward and Precinct Meetings have been streaming into my email box. Many of the meetings were reportedly well-attended and full of energy, while a few were somewhat chaotic, confusing or more sparsely attended. But almost to a person, folks seemed to be very happy to be participating.

Candidates from the DFNM community were incredibly successful in winning ward and precinct posts, especially considering how new we are at this. I haven't received all the results yet from our folks, but so far it looks like we may have wins for:

• 8-10 Ward Chairs
• 3 or 4 Ward Vice Chairs
• about 20 Precinct Chairs
• around 5 Precinct Vice Chairs
• about 5 precinct treasurers and secretaries
• a few extra delegates to the County Central Committee and
• a handful of folks serving on the Credentials or Resolutions Committees

It will be terrific to see so many familiar faces who are new to the process at the Bernalillo County Central Committee Meeting this Saturday morning at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

I guess this is what Howard Dean meant when he encouraged us to Take Back Our Party (and also to work with the good folks already there)! It seems clear that the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party is on a roll here in New Mexico. Let's all give ourselves a pat on the back for this one. Whether you were a candidate, a winner or a participant at the ward and precinct meetings, YOU have the power:

You have the power to take back the Democratic party and make us stand up for what's right again, allow us to fulfill the dream of Harry Truman in 1948 that he laid out when we would no longer be the last industrial country on the face of the earth without health insurance, allow us to stand up again for the rights to organize for ordinary men and women, allow us to stand again for the principles of equal rights under the law for every single American. You have the power to take our country back so that the flag of the United States of America no longer is the exclusive property of John Aschcroft, and of Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh and Jerry Falwell, that it belongs to all of us again. --Howard Dean

DFA-DFNM Workshop on Lakoff Set for 3/24

George Lakoff Workshop:  Thinking Like a Liberal
Coordinated by Janet Resnick of DFA-DFNM
March 24, Thursday at 7 PM - 9 PM
First Unitarian Church Social Hall
Carlisle and Comanche
(same location as our Meetups)

This workshop is based on the content of two books by George Lakoff, "Don't Think of an Elephant", and "Moral Politics." It will consist of a 25-minute DVD featuring Lakoff, a slide presentation, a personal view of Lakoff's work presented by Miles Nelson, MD, and a workshop session designed to help us connect our progressive moral values to progressive politics.

It will be assumed that you have already read "Don't Think of an Elephant" prior to attending this workshop. A basic understanding of Lakoff's principles will enable you -- and others in the group -- to gain the most insight from the experience.

Bring a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil with you.

For logistical reasons, participation will be limited to the first 60 people who sign up. A confirmation email will be sent to you if you are among this group.

Send an email to dfnm_albq@comcast.net to sign up. You must include the following information for each person:

Name
Email address
Phone Number

ABQ DFA-DFNM Meetup Tonight

Our monthly Albuquerque DFA-DFNM Meetup is set for 7:00 PM tonight at the First Unitarian Church Social Hall at Carlisle and Comanche.

John Wertheim, Chair of the Democratic Party of NM and DNC Executive Committee member, will be talking about plans for the Party, nationally and locally, and how we can get involved. Stephen Capra, Executive Director of the NM Wilderness Alliance, will be presenting a short film about Otero Mesa and discussing how we can help fight planned oil and gas drilling in this pristine area.

In addition, we'll be learning about a new DFA national and local project to frame the issue of social security using personal stories submitted by Meetup attendees and their friends and neighbors.

Action items and reports will include information on a DFNM trip to the Legislature later this month, the upcoming Bernalillo County Democratic Party Ward and Precinct elections, the coming DFNM workshop on George Lakoff's framing strategies, Saturday's Election Reform Rally at the Roundhouse,  fundraising for a DPBC ad, the Defend Democracy group, and more.

If you plan to attend, please be sure to RSVP at the DFA-DFNM Meetup page. You can also join our Meetup group there, and you'll receive Meetup notices and be added to our email list.

Sign Up for DFNM Citizen Lobbying at NM Legislature - This Friday 2/11

LET’S HIT THE LEGISLATURE! TOPIC: VOTER-ELECTION REFORM & PROBLEMS

Senator Linda Lopez has invited DFA-DFNM Albuquerque members to come and speak before her Senate Rules Committee on 2 voter ID bills, on Friday, February 11, 2005, 8:00 AM, in Santa Fe, at the Roundhouse.

I will be setting up car pools to leave Albuquerque around 6:30-6:45 AM on Friday, 2/11/05.  People can go for a half day or the full day on Friday, if car pools allow. I will fill you full of information about how the legislature works and how to make your way around when you are up there as a citizen lobbyist.

Please let me know ASAP if you can go on Friday and please provide a phone number where I can reach you to discuss car pooling and plans.

Other activities planned for the day:

10:00 AM – Joint session of legislature (Senate & House) – for African American Day at the legislature

Afternoon:
- Going to the Governor’s office – voter & election reform/problems
- Going to the Secretary of State’s Office - voter & election reform/problems
- Visiting with our individual legislators
- Going to other committee meetings

Contact:  Dory Shonagon, dshonagon@earthlink.net