Democracy for New Mexico

Video: Santa Fe Reporter Editor Interviews David Iglesias

As reported on the AAN Wire, Juliia Goldberg, editor of the Santa Fe Reporter, recently interviewed fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias at the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies' First Amendment Luncheon at the organization's convention in Portland, OR after Iglesias spoke to the group:

At Saturday's First Amendment Luncheon, the former federal prosecutor for New Mexico who helped sparked the scandal presently engulfing U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and the Bush Administration discussed loyalty, politics, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) with Santa Fe Reporter editor Julia Goldberg. "I'm still processing the damage that could be done to the rule of law [by the administration]," he said. Among other things, Iglesias also said that John Ashcroft's staff at the DOJ was older and more experienced than Gonzalez's, and that Gonzalez led a shift in the department from "working for the people" to "working for the White House."

We have three video clips available from the luncheon. Part one is embedded above; part two can be found here, and part three, here. MORE: Read bloggers' reactions (scroll down) to the Iglesias' speech at the convention.

Tuesday: Join the Call to Free NM Government from Corporate Grip

From Ben Luce, Break the Grip!:
Tired of the domination of New Mexico by big corporations like PNM, Qwest, Oil & Gas, Media monopolies, and others, but feeling helpless to do anything about it?

Break the Grip! is initiating a campaign to end the pervasive grip of corporations on New Mexico State Government. For more information on the origins of this campaign, see the Open Letter to Governor Bill Richardson. More information will be given at BTG!'s Campaign Initiation Gathering (supporters are encouraged to attend) and press conference:

• When: Tuesday, June 19th, High Noon
• Where: East Entrance of the Santa Fe Roundhouse
• Directions: Northwest corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail. Come early - parking close by can be hard to find. Parking may be available in the parking lots off the northeast corner of this intersection. There is paid parking near the St. Francis Cathedral downtown, about a 10 minute walk from the Roundhouse.

Supporters are encouraged to attend. (Detractors are encouraged to enjoy lunch instead at the Mission Cafe, located on East DeVargas Street near the Roundhouse.) Come prepared to sing! See the Lyrics to our theme song, "Let's Break Their Grip!"

An expanded version of the Break the Grip! website will be uploaded on June 19th and will contain history, calls for reform, calls to action, and more. Break the Grip! is a citizen's campaign that is not affiliated with any political party, election drive, nonprofit or for-profit corporation or other interest.

Editor's Note: Ben Luce is the former Chair and Policy Director of the New Mexico Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE). Mother Media has more on Luce's decision to leave that post and start Break the Grip!.

Granny D Speaks

Granny D at DemocracyFest 2007. Photo by .

You may remember Doris "Granny D" Haddock as the always eloquent and passionate activist who literally walked across America in 1999-2000 to advocate for campaign finance reform, and who coordinated numerous actions that helped gain passage of the McCain-Feingold reform bill two years later. In 2003 and 2004, she traveled 23,000 miles to encourage voter registration in poor neighborhoods in swing states. She also ran for the Senate in 2004, when no other Democrat challenged NH Repub Judd Gregg. Her activism continues. The now 97-year-old New Hampshire resident is still working to get pay-for-play money out of our election process, but she also has some noteworthy things to say these days about other issues, including immigration, agri-gangsters and "free" traders.

Granny D spoke recently about these issues at DemocracyFest, an annual grassroots conference organized by volunteers allied with Democracy for America, which was held in New Hampshire this year. Democracy for New Hampshire, one of the main sponsors of this year's Fest, provided the following transcript of her speech. Someone should tell Granny to stop making sense. She exposes the cowardice and corruption of all the bought-off politicos of both parties. How dare she!

Granny D's comments from Democracy Fest:
Thank you. It is normally expected that, when given an opportunity to speak, I will talk about campaign finance reform and, more specifically, about the public financing of campaigns as a way of cutting the threads of the big-money puppet show in Washington and in Concord.

But today I would like to talk about unauthorized immigration.

Of course, unauthorized immigration has nothing to do with the big money corruption of our political system. It is just a matter of people in poor countries trying their best to find their way to better opportunities in the north for their families.

It seems to be a big issue with our Republican candidates, as they are well-known to be the law and order party. That, after all, is why they are demanding that Scooter Libby pay the full price for his perjuries and obstructions of justice. They are the law and order party, with the normal exceptions of the Geneva Convention and the U.S. Constitution, especially its Bill of Rights. But we know what they mean: When they say they are for law and order, they are talking mostly about keeping down the uppity poor folk. They are certainly not talking about the big corporations, hotel companies, agribusiness giants, retailers who employ millions of unauthorized immigrants but who make up for that sin with large campaign donations.

But I do not come to talk about corrupting campaign donations and the need for public campaign financing. I come to talk of unauthorized immigration and a little about corn and something about tortillas. I call it unauthorized immigration, not illegal, because I don't want to use words that confuse Republicans.

In saying that the Republican candidates are more interested in the immigration issue, I do not mean to imply that it is less important for any of us.

If you will look around the check-out lines at the grocery stores and notice the widening measurements of our fellow citizens –we can hardly get through the aisles any more. We can certainly see for ourselves the problem of having too much cheap labor around to do all our yardwork and housework for us. By my calculations, the roughly 3 billion pounds of extra weight now being carried on the hips of working-age American citizens is roughly equivalent to the combined weight of the unauthorized immigrants now in our communities. The math is clear and persuasive. Cheap labor is bad for every…body.

But why are so many people risking their lives to come into our country now? When did this big rush begin?

It began when Mr. Clinton approved NAFTA – the North American Free Trade Agreement, and when he militarized our southern border at the same time. Prior to these combined actions, families crossed the border very commonly, especially during harvest seasons. After harvest, they would go home to Mexico or Central America because that's where they lived with their families in quite happy communities.

When the border was militarized, it became to risky to go back and forth. So they stayed.

Why did Mr. Clinton militarize the border? He did so because NAFTA was about to pull out the rug from under Mexico's small family farms. We flooded Mexico with cheap corn--exports that we subsidize to the tune of some $25 billion dollars a year by Congress to a handful of agribusiness giants. Of course, I am not here to tell you why Congress does that, and what might be done to stop it. But they do it, and Mexican family farmers cannot compete. In the years since NAFTA was signed, half of Mexico's small farms have failed. The only kind of farming that can now compete in Mexico is big agribusiness, which does not employ many people. Tortillas in Mexico now contain two-thirds imported corn, and they are three times as expensive at retail level than before NAFTA. The people have less money, and the cost of food is rising. We have done that. Our precious Senators and Congressmen and their corporate cronies have done that raw and cruel exploitation in our names.

The result of undermining Mexican farms, as Clinton expected, was a rising flood of poor people moving from rural areas into Mexico's big cities, which have become so poor and overcrowded that all one can do is dream of going north across the border.

Now, if any Democratic candidates for President would like to show a little courage and intelligence, let them address the real cause of our flood of unauthorized immigrants. Will Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama or Mr. Edwards or any of the other candidates face down the agri-gangsters that are behind this problem? Probably they will not, so long as Iowa has a major primary.

Let me say that I am not ranting and raving about these new Americans. When Mexico owned Texas and everything west, and when they cut off migration across their borders, our people kept coming –crossing illegally in search of opportunities for their families. When Mexico got upset by this, we trumped-up false reasons for a war, and we illegally took those lands. So let's not stand on any moral high ground.

The people coming across the border today, with the usual exceptions, are family people with an incredible work ethic. Personally, I welcome them. I congratulate them for their courage and their dedication to their families. I want them to stay and become citizens, or, if some prefer, to return to their homeland at a time when there is international justice and a decent chance for their prosperity at home.

I regret what the political corruption of our system has done to their farms and their communities back home. It is not the peoples' fault –it is the fault of corrupt leaders of both parties. We must speak this truth to these powerful people, even to those candidates that we otherwise admire.

So, candidates Clinton, Edwards, Obama and the rest: Do you understand the reasons why immigration numbers are growing? Are you smart enough to understand the situation? Are you brave enough to do something--to even say something--about it? Or is the truth too big for you?

I ask you all to be good citizens and good Democrats. And that means to ask the toughest questions so that the interests of the people –the people of our nation and of the world –will be served. Isn't that what we're here for?

And do you see why I do not need to harp on campaign finance reform, to cut the strings of the puppet show in Washington and in Concord that allows these cruelties to continue? I didn't have to say a word about that, because you understand it. You understand what must be done.

Thank you.

This transcript was distributed by:
Nancy Tobi, Co-Founder, Democracy For New Hampshire
Chair, Fair Elections Committee
Legislative Coordinator, Election Defense Alliance
nancy.tobi@gmail.com
www.DemocracyForNewHampshire.com

Editor's Note: You can read many other speeches by Granny D here, or check out her book, ""Granny D: You're Never Too Old to Raise a Little Hell," and how to get it here. Read our previous posts on Granny D:

• Listen to Your Granny, 8.21.04
• Granny D Hospitalized, 2.6.05

New Mexico Blog Radio, The Third Show: Heath Haussamen & Matt Brix

Guest Host Heath Haussamen & Featured Guest Matt Brix

From Suzanne Prescott: Tune in to the third New Mexico Blog Radio show on June 7th at 4:30 PM Mountain time. Blogger and journalist, Heath Haussamen, will guest host the show which features Matt Brix, who currently serves on the Governor's task force on ethics reform. Heath and Matt will discuss what's in store for the next legislative session for ethics reform and difficulties passing ethics reform in the past session.

You can hear the online radio show by tuning in at https://www.blogtalkradio.com/nmblogradio. Each show is recorded and saved so you can catch the show later by going to the link and listening to the archived version. But if you call in during the live show, you can talk with the show's guests and hosts. The live call-in number of the show is (718) 664-9717.

Editor's Note: You can find our previous posts on New Mexico Blog Radio in our media archive.

Garduño and O'Malley Kickoff Signature Drives

From frequent guest blogger Suzanne Prescott:
Rey Garduño (photo right), candidate for Albuquerque's District 6 City Council seat currently held by Martin Heinrich, met the May 31st City Clerk's deadline for signatures and $5.00 contributions in order to qualify to receive public campaign finance funds. As a result of meeting the deadline, on June 6th Garduno expects his campaign to receive a little over $27,000  of public campaign finance funds from the Albuquerque city treasury. 

On Saturday, June 2, a party of Rey supporters assembled at the Garduño household to kickoff the next phase of the campaign. Rey is now collecting signatures from 2% of the registered voters who are petitioning to get Garduño on the October ballot . According to Garduño 543 signatures are needed  in all. Tomas Garduño, Rey's son, is coordinating the petition gathering and has a little over 50 lists checked out. About a dozen have already come back filled. Rey believes that he already has 150 signatures. A report is due to the City Clerk's office by June 12th. Rey is asking for help in the collection of signatures. He can be reached at reygard@unm.edu or call (505) 266-4424.

Assistant City Clerk, Kelli Fulgenzi, in a comment made on the May 31st New Mexico Blog Radio show, believes that in subsequent years it may be possible to combine the signature/donation collection phase with the signature petition phase. New Mexico policy analyst, Matt Brix, who was also on the show, agrees that combining the two steps would be more efficient and save candidates time. 

District 2 candidate, Debbie O'Malley (photo left), who also qualified to receive public campaign financing, needs approximately  650 petition signatures. O’Malley is making copies of the signature petition sheets and will begin walking her district early this week. Debbie says she can really use help collecting signatures. Anyone who would like to help collect signatures can email her at debbie.omalley@usa.net or call 243-0832.  Debbie points out that each sheet only contains spaces for ten signatures and each sheet would be easy to fill quickly.

Editor's Notes: Speaking of Albuquerque's new clean election law, check out Suzanne's post at on a situation that developed with another City Council candidate who was trying to qualify for public funding. The City Clerk's office ALMOST allowed Katherine Martinez to turn in $5 donations and signatures AFTER the established legal deadline. Not a good way to start down a path of clean elections. Katherine Martinez works for The Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico. Hmmm....

Click to check out our archived posts on the Albuquerque City Council elections. You can listen to New Mexico Blog Radio's archived shows by visiting the online radio show's web page.

Albuquerque to Domenici: We Want the Truth - It's Time for You to Go

(Click on photos for larger versions)

At noon on Friday, June 1, demonstrators gathered in front of Sen. Pete Domenci's office to demand that he come clean about his actions pressuring U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to inject politics into indictments, and pushing the U.S. Justice Department and White House to fire Iglesias because he wouldn't play ball.

One protestor at the event was Evangeline Donkersly (above), a lifelong Albuquerquean who has grown disenchanted with Domenici. Donkersly, who worked on Domenici’s municipal campaigns in the 1960s, will not be voting to return the senator to Washington. “He’s not the same man he used to be,” said Donkersly. “He’s been in Washington too long and it’s time for him to come home to stay. We need someone else.”

Still unanswered is the letter sent to Sen. Domenici by Brian Colon, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. The letter demands that Domenici provide detailed information about contacts by the Senator and his staff with Monica Goodling and other Justice Department officials, and with Karl Rove and his staff. You can read Colon's letter to Pete and learn more about what prompted it in our previous post.

You can see more photos from the demonstration here.

You can read all our archived posts on the 2008 New Mexico Senate races here.

REMINDER: NM Blog Radio Streams at 4:30 PM Today

The topic of today's New Mexico Blog Radio show will be Elections Evolve: Democracy Wins, with guests Matt Brix, Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Kelli Fulgenzi. Visit the program page at 4:30 PM for a live stream of the show, or visit later to listen to an archived copy. See our previous post for more info.

Even though clean election and campaign finance reforms are extremely popular with Albuquerque voters -- about 72% voted in favor of the 2005 ballot referendum that established the public campaign funding option for City Council elections -- some rightwingers remain opposed to such measures. Check out that discusses Republican blogger Whitney Cheshire's opposition to public funding of campaigns, as well as comments by Matt Brix that contradict some of her key claims.

Cheshire calls the public campaign financing law a "travesty," deeming it a waste of taxpayer money. I guess she prefers that candidates get their money in large "donations" from special interests so they can be beholden to deep-pocket benefactors if they win office. Heaven forbid that City Councilors would instead be representing the interests of their constituents!

I'd love to hear candidates who refuse to use the public financing option explain why they prefer to take money from special interests, wouldn't you?

Help Rey Garduño Campaign at Saturday Petition Signing Party

Elect Rey Garduño – He Is Running A Clean Campaign
414 Vassar, Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505.266-4424, 505.688-6981 mobile
reygard@unm.edu
https://www.reygarduno.blogspot.com

PETITION  SIGNING  PARTY

When?  Saturday, June 2nd, 9 AM-1PM

Where?  We will meet at our house: 414 Vassar, Dr. NE (Just inside the UNM Campus – from Girard and Campus; go West on Campus into the campus, first right is Vassar, first house is 414 Vassar. If your having difficulties call 266-4424 or 688-6981 cell.)

Why?  To celebrate our accomplishments and to kick-off of our Petition Drive. Come to door-knock or if you don’t have the time, stop by for some refreshments and to sign the petition! 

Who?  All community members that support clean elections, and a strong community voice on the City Council. Especially people registered to vote in City Council District 6. 

We Did It!
Democracy Lives! Clean and Ethical Elections Supported by District 6 Voters.

Dear family, friends and supporters:

We have made clean elections a viable democratic process by gathering the required $5 contributions and signatures, 10 days ahead of time.  You helped me become the first candidate to qualify in this inaugural publicly financed election. We will now take this momentum to the next level, knowing that our support is widespread and just as important, community-based.

In order to be placed on the ballot for the October 2nd City Council Election we must now gather 542 petition signatures from registered voters in District 6. This is a task we can accomplish quite easily; witness the quickness with which we gathered $5 contributions.

Join us on Saturday, we will celebrate our victory, and launch our next one.

Rey Garduño

Editor's Note: To determine your City Council District, . To see our previous posts on candidates for Albuquerque City Council, click here. Anyone can help Rey gather petition signatures but only registered voters in District 6 can sign the petition.

Impeach Gonzales Part 2

A second short video from Brave New Films and Democracy for America. Psst ... do something. If you haven't yet signed the petition, now's the time. Visit ImpeachGonzales.com. Here's a link to an ad (pdf) that Democracy for America is running in select newspapers, including today's edition of The Hill and this week's New York Observer, and ads later this week in the Detroit Metro Times and Los Angeles Daily News. Click to donate to DFA to help them pay for their ad campaign. Pass it on.

The second phase of the Impeach Gonzales Campaign comes at time when the movement against Gonzales is building from the grassroots and as former allies like the League of United Latin American Citizens and La Raza distance themselves from him.

"Americans around the country are standing up to voice opposition to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and his politicization of the Department of Justice," said Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean. "Our message is clear: Impeach Gonzales."

"President Bush will not fire the Attorney General, but the American people can call for his Impeachment," said Filmmaker Robert Greenwald who directed the Impeach Gonzalez video. "The video shows Gonzales has no respect for the truth, for the rules of Congress and for the people of this country. How can he lead our U.S. Justice Department?"

The petition on the website will be sent to all members of the House Judiciary committee, who can begin the impeachment process as outlined in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. This massive impeachment call comes at a time when leaders in both houses are calling for No Confidence Votes against the Attorney General.

Founded by Governor Howard Dean in 2004, Democracy for America is a political action committee dedicated to campaign training, grassroots activism and supporting progressive candidates with a backbone at all levels of government - from the School Board to the Presidency. Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films uses film and viral video to create social change.

New Mexico Blog Radio: Program Archive and Next Up

If you missed the live webcast of the premier episide of New Mexico Blog Radio last Thursday, you can visit the show's webpage and listen to an archived copy of the show, or download it as a wmv file or a podcast (mp3). Also, when you visit the program's webpage, the last show aired automatically begins playing. The first show, co-hosted by the show's creator, Suzanne Prescott, and me, featured guests Rey Garduno and Debbie O'Malley, who are running for Albuquerque City Council and using the new public financing option to fund their campaigns. The topic was Public Campaign Financing in New Mexico - Is it working?

This Thursday: Matt Brix, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Kelli Fulgenzi: The second episode of the show will be webcast live on Thursday, May 31, at 4:30 PM and I'll again join Suzanne as cohost. Scheduled guests include Matt Brix, who worked hard for clean elections and campaign reform in his previous role as executive director of Common Cause NM, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, our current Bernalillo County Clerk, and Kelli Fulgenzi of the Albuquerque City Clerk's office. Our guests will be discussing election innovations that Albuquerque and Bernalillo County can be proud of and how they work on a show entitled Elections Evolve, Democracy Wins.

Listen live here on Thursday at 4:30 PM. You can also call in live during the show with questions or comments: 718-664-9717.

Blog Radio is a relatively new phenomenon on the net, and we're new to it too. Check out the show and let us know how we're doing! You can leave your comments on the Show Notes section of New Mexico Blog Radio.

You can check out our previous posts on New Mexico Blog Radio here and here.