Democracy for New Mexico

TONIGHT: Take a Stand and Demand that Domenici & Wilson Do the Same

Watch this video, listen to Iraq Vet John Bruhns (who has been blogging on AMERICAblog this month) -- and do what he says. Today, there will be over 700 "Take a Stand" events around the country. You can find one here. Take a Stand. In Albuquerque: UNM Continuing Education Auditorium, 1634 University Blvd. NE, 7 PM. If you can't make it, check in at AMERICAblog tonight for the live blogging on Take a Stand efforts. You might even get some right here.

Reminder: Iraq Summer Take a Stand Events Tonight

Take a Stand Day events coordinated by the Americans Against Escalation in Iraq's Iraq Summer campaign, MoveOn, TrueMajority Action, Working Assets and others are going around the nation today. Click to find one near you or set up your own. In New Mexico there are events set for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Los Lunas.

In Albuquerque, you're urged to gather at the 'Iraq Summer' Campaign Take a Stand Townhall:

WHAT: Hundreds of Domenici and Wilson constituents to attend ‘Take A Stand’ Town Hall Meeting to pressure the Senator and Congresswoman to break with Bush and vote to begin responsible redeployment of U.S. troops out of harm’s way in Iraq

WHEN: Tuesday, August 28th, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM

WHERE: UNM Continuing Education Auditorium, 1634 University Blvd, NE, Albuquerque, NM

SPEAKERS: Moderator will be Claudia Iglesias – Iraq Summer Campaign

• Major General Mel Montano (USANG, Ret.) – Former Adjunct General of New Mexico
• Martin Heinrich – Albuquerque City Councilor (Dist. 6)
• Bruce Clark – Marine veteran and father of two active duty soldiers, one currently serving in Iraq
• Judy Pratt – Activist, former State Senator and 1984 U.S. Senate Candidate against Pete Domenici

The New Mexico 'Iraq Summer' Campaign has been turning up the heat on Senator Pete Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson all summer to start representing their constituents by voting for a safe and responsible end to the Iraq war. The campaign will come to a crescendo on Tuesday, August 28th: 'Take a Stand Day' –- when the campaign will host a public town hall meeting on Iraq in Albuquerque featuring veterans, military families, and community leaders.

Invitations to the TAS town hall, which is already expected to draw hundreds of constituents, were ignored by Senator Domenici’s office and flatly rejected by Congresswoman Wilson’s. In response, the Iraq Summer Campaign will provide an empty chair for both Wilson and Domenici to highlight their disappointing lack of courage to face their constituents and explain their continued support for the President's costly and irresponsible policy of endless war in Iraq. With U.S. forces stretched the breaking point policing a religious civil war that has no end in sight, New Mexicans deserve answers from their representatives in Congress.

This historic forum comes on the heels of a startling pronouncement this month from Lt. Gen. Doug Lute –- a three-star general and President Bush's "War Czar" –- that a military draft is "on the table." This bombshell announcement followed recent statements by General David Petraeus -– the President's top military commander in Iraq -- that U.S. forces should stay in Iraq for another 9 or 10 years. In response, 'Take A Stand' participants will publicly ask Domenici, Wilson: Since you support Bush's endless war in Iraq, do you also support the draft needed to sustain it?

CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE
If you'd like to do more to help defeat Domenici and Wilson in the 2008 election, consider making a small donation at the BEAT BACK BUSH NEW MEXICO Act Blue page, a joint effort of the Democracy for New Mexico and blogs designed to counteract the fundraising machinery of Bush and the Republican right wing. Click to see previous posts on the effort.

Scenes from Demonstration at Today's Domenici-Bush Lovefest in Los Ranchos NM

Demonstrators were on both sides of Rio Grande NW

Mounted police blocked the road to the site of the fundraiser

The photos above were taken by Terry Riley at the demonstration on Rio Grande NW in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque on August 27, 2007. Click for more photos from Terry. Bush flew into Albuquerque for a few hours and attended an expensive private fundraiser for Sen. Pete Domenici at the home of Los Ranchos' "Independent" Mayor Larry Abraham. The Albuquerque Journal and demonstrated estimated the crowd at more than 100 at its peak -- in the hot summer sun of New Mexico at mid-day. Albuquerque Code Pink was much in evidence. Although the demonstrators didn't get to see Bush arrive, they did manage to "greet" GOP bigwigs arriving in their vehicles. (Click on images for larger versions.)

According to the Albuquerque Journal the event raised more than $430,000 for Domenici and the state GOP, and that close to 200 people attended. The minimum donation was $1000 and photos with Bush went for $5000. One protester had this to say:

Air Force veteran George Boersig, 67, said he believes the war is about oil and money. Boersig, a member of the local Veterans for Peace group, carried a sign with a picture of Bush and the words, "Impeach Me: Clueless but Evil.'' "The only way to stop (the war) is to cut the funding. That's what we did in Vietnam and we need to do the same thing in Iraq and Afghanistan,'' Boersig said.

To counter Domenici's windfall from Bush's fundraiser, visit BEAT BACK BUSH NEW MEXICO and donate a few bucks to the cause.

Watch your tax dollars go down the drain in this Albuquerque Tribune raw video as Bush's motorcade full of "security" heads to the fundraiser for Domenici on a cleared Rio Grande Boulevard this morning. As the host of the fundraiser -- Los Ranchos' "Independent" Mayor Larry Abraham -- has said, the village of Los Ranchos won't pay a penny for the extra cops and other security -- residents of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and other places will, by providing the extra details.

Here are videos of the protests and more from KRQE News 13 and KOAT 7 News.

Tragedy in the Motorcade
Very sadly, one Rio Rancho police officer riding a motorcycle in Bush's motorcade paid with his life. He crashed into a tree near I-26 as Bush was on the way back to the Sunport. Germaine F. Casey, 40, left a wife and two children behind with his passing.

More from demonstration and Bush visit to Albuquerque:

• Story and photos of Terry Riley and Bruce Barnaby from the Albuquerque Tribune
• Reuters photos here and here
• Yahoo News Photos
• Albuquerque Code Pink photos:

If anyone else has photos or videos from the day, I'd be happy to post or link to them.

To counter Domenici's windfall from Bush's fundraiser, visit BEAT BACK BUSH NEW MEXICO and donate a few bucks to the cause.

Dem Senate Candidate Wiviott Weighs In On Domenici's Embrace of Bush

Don Wiviott (center front) next to popular netroots WA-08 candiate Darcy Burner (right front) at the YearlyKos netroots candidate celebration earlier this month

There was an article in this morning's Albuquerque Journal about Bush's visit to Albuquerque today to raise money for Sen. Pete Domenici. Unfortunately, they quoted Domenici on his purported views on Iraq but failed to talk to the top Dem contender for the New Mexico seat, Don Wiviott. So I was glad to learn what Don has to say about Domenici still embracing Bush and dodging opportunities to change course on the war. Domenici may make some mild criticisms of the Bush strategy (or lack thereof), but he continues to vote with Bush 100% on the war.

Albuquerque - On the day that President George W. Bush came to New Mexico to raise money for Senator Pete Domenici, the Don Wiviott for U.S. Senate campaign criticized the Washington incumbent for failing to vote to get the United States out of the Iraq War, despite his stated intentions to do so earlier this year.

“Instead of standing up to George Bush, Pete Domenici has continued to vote with him 100% in support of the war and it is no surprise the President is now rewarding him with a million dollar fundraiser.” said Democrat Don Wiviott.  “Saying one thing and doing another is apparently a hard habit to break in Washington, DC.  I’m running to change all that.”

“I doubt the families of the 31 New Mexicans who have given their lives will understand why Pete Domenici is raising money with this President right now,” said Wiviott.  “Is Pete willing to explain to the members of the National Guard from New Mexico, who are stuck in the middle of another country’s civil war, why he continues to publically celebrate his relationship with a President who has mismanaged this war so abysmally.”

This year, Domenici has started talking about pulling our troops out of Iraq but has yet to start voting to do so:

On July 18, 2007, Senator Domenici voted against ending debate on the Levin-Reed amendment, which called for a phased reduction of U.S. troops and a transfer of authority to Iraqi state forces.  (Roll Call 252, 2007)

On July 11, 2007, Senator Domenici voted against a Republican amendment that called for limiting the number of troops available for deployment in order to increase the amount of time troops had between missions.  (Roll Call 243, 2007)

Wiviott highlighted a report that 50% of the New Mexico National Guard will be deployed to Iraq by 2010, if there are no changes in policy or reduction of troops. (Free New Mexican, Aug. 11, 2007)

“Leaving our National Guard in Iraq indefinitely is leaving New Mexico vulnerable to disaster,” noted Wiviott.  “Bring ‘em home.”

Note: If you agree with what Don Wiviott is saying, please contribute to his campaign TODAY to help counteract the Bush fundraising for Domenici. Support the local netroots' BEAT BACK BUSH NEW MEXICO campaign with a donation of any amount. We can't let Domenici be the only candidate getting campaign contributions on the day Alberto Gonzales resigned! Learn more about the BEAT BACK BUSH NEW MEXICO campaign in my previous post.

Photo Credit: M.E.Broderick

August 26-28: NM ‘Iraq Summer’ Campaign Comes to a Crescendo in ABQ

From Iraq Summer Campaign:

• August 26th – 27th: In advance of Bush visit, ‘Iraq Summer’ to Hold “Support the Troops, End the War” Vigil outside Senator Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson’s offices.
• August 27th: Scores of Albuquerque Veterans, Military Families, Domenici Constituents to Greet President Bush with Sea of “Support the Troops, End the War” Signs Outside Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Mayor Larry Abraham’s residence.
• August 28th: Nearly 200 Domenici and Wilson Constituents to Attend ‘Iraq Summer’s Flagship ‘Take a Stand Day’ Town Hall Meeting With or Without the Senator and Congresswoman

Albuquerque, NM – Starting Sunday, August 26th, at 8 AM, the New Mexico ‘Iraq Summer’ Campaign -- which has been turning up the heat on Senator Pete Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson all summer to start representing their constituents by voting for the safe and responsible end to the Iraq war -- will come to a crescendo with a flurry of grassroots activity leading up to the campaign’s flagship event on Tuesday, August 28th: ‘Take a Stand Day’ -- a town hall open to all New Mexicans, providing Senator Domenici and Congresswoman Wilson a golden opportunity to face their constituents and explain their continued support of the President’s costly and irresponsible policy of endless war in Iraq.

Invitations to the town hall, which is already expected to draw nearly 200 Albuquerque constituents, were flatly rejected by Congressman Wilson’s office and ignored by Senator Domenici. Just a day before the event, the ‘Iraq Summer’ campaign will be joined by dozens of local veterans, military families and Domenici and Wilson constituents to greet President Bush with a sea of “Support the Troops, End the War” signs as he arrives at the residence of Los Ranchos Mayor Larry Abraham Monday morning.

EVENT 1: August 26-27

• WHAT: In advance of Bush visit, Dozens of Domenici and Wilson Constituents Assigned Shifts for Solemn ‘Support the Troops, End the War’ Vigil Outside Senator’s and Congresswoman’s offices.
• WHEN: Starting Sunday, August 26th at 8AM and Ending Monday, August 27th at 12PM
• WHERE: Outside Senator Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson offices. Domenici: Albuquerque Plaza; 201 3rd Street, NW, Suite 710; Albuquerque, NM 87102. Wilson: 20 First Plaza, Suite 603; Albuquerque, NM 87102

EVENT 2: August 27

• WHAT: Scores of Albuquerque Veterans, Military Families, Domenici Constituents to Greet President Bush With Sea of “Support the Troops, End the War” Signs
• WHEN: Monday, August 27th at 8:30 AM
• WHERE: Outside Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Mayor Larry Abraham’s residence, Corner of Rio Grande and Green Valley

THE FLAGSHIP EVENT: August 28

• WHAT: Nearly 200 Domenici and Wilson Constituents to Attend ‘Take A Stand’ Town Hall Meeting to Pressure Senator and Congresswoman to Break with Bush and Vote to Begin Responsible Redeployment of U.S. Troops Out of Harm’s Way in Iraq
• WHEN: Tuesday, August 28th from 7:00 – 8:00 PM
• WHERE: Continuing Education Auditorium, University of New Mexico; 1634 University Blvd, NE; Albuquerque, NM
• Speakers:
• Moderator will be Claudia Iglesias – Iraq Summer Campaign
  • Major General Mel Montano (USANG, Ret.) – Former Adjunct General of New Mexico
  • Martin Heinrich – Albuquerque City Councilor (District 6)
  • Bruce Clark – Marine veteran and father of two active duty soldiers, one currently serving in Iraq
  • Judy Pratt – Activist, former State Senator and 1984 U.S. Senate Candidate against Pete Domenici

For more info contatt Greg Richardson, (512) 484-5990

“Iraq Summer” is a nationwide, 10-week long campaign with nearly 100 organizers in 15 states and 40 congressional districts to turn up the heat on members of Congress who have opposed setting a timeline to bring a safe and responsible end to the war in Iraq. The effort will culminate with a national “Take a Stand” day on August 28th, when Members of Congress will have the opportunity to explain their stance on the war to their constituents in a town hall setting.

CDA, AAEI, and Iraq Summer is a coalition including a wide range of political and nonprofit organizations that are working against our current policy in Iraq. Coalition organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC have not endorsed or sponsored this statement or the advertisement referred to therein, and no funds provided were used in producing or distributing this statement or the advertisement.

Editor's Note: For other events related to Bush's visit to Los Ranchos de Albuquerque on Monday, August 26th, to raise funds for "Pajama Pete" Domenici, check these previous posts:

• NM Democrats to Protest Bush's Support of 'Pajama Pete'
• Monday: Honk to Impeach Bush-Lights On for Impeachment
• Los Ranchos Mayor Brags Town Will Pay Zero for Bush Visit

NM Democrats to Protest Bush's Support of 'Pajama Pete'

From the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

Activists Will Launch Pajama Collection Drive
Albuquerque, NM - As New Mexicans brace for George W. Bush's fundraising visit, the Democratic Party of New Mexico will join with a coalition of organizations to call attention to Senator Pete Domenici's slumberous attitude concerning working families' priorities. 

Bring Pajamas
On Sunday, August 26 at Kelly's Brew Pub in Albuquerque, 3222 Central Ave. SE, Democrats will collect new and used pajamas for protesters to wear at a rally on the day Bush arrives [see below]. The pajamas will be donated to charity after the Monday event. 

"It's time for Senator Domenici to wake up and focus on the important issues that affect all New Mexicans, including jobs, health care, and ending the war in Iraq," said Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico Brian Colon.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2007, 1-3 PM
DEMOCRATS AND PEOPLE AGAINST PETE
PAJAMA COLLECTION DRIVE & SIGN MAKING
KELLY'S BREW PUB
3222 CENTRAL AVE. SE, ALBUQUERQUE

Petition to Demand Domenici and Wilson Come Clean
The pajama collection drive will be backed by a petition demanding that Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson come clean about their involvement in the U.S. Attorney scandal and testify under oath about the pressure they put on former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to push politically sensitive indictments into the courts just before the November, 2006, election.

Domenici is also known as "Pajama Pete" because he was spotted wandering the halls of Congress wearing clothes that closely resembled pajamas. He has tried to claim that he was wearing hunting gear.

Editor's note: More on the pajamas/hunting pants incident: from Raw Story.

(h/t Land of Enchantment)

Where's the Monday Pajamas Demonstration?
The rally against Bush's visit to the Albuquerque area for the big dollar fundraiser for Domenici in Los Ranchos on Monday, August 27th, will be at the corner of Rio Grande NW and Green Valley in Los Ranchos, just north of the Village Hall at 6718 Rio Grande NW (map). Ample parking available at the Los Ranchos Village Tennis Courts just south of Village Hall (north of Chavez Rd). Meeting at 8:30 AM.

What's the Iraq Occupation Costing New Mexicans?

MoveOn.org has released reports, using data from the National Priorities Project, for every Congressional District in America toting up what Bush's failed occupation in Iraq is costing us. To date, nearly a half-trillion dollars has been spent on an unwinnable civil war—money that could have improved our communities. On average, $275 million is spent every day on the war in Iraq—that is an average of $4,100 for every household in the United States over the course of the war. And those costs are continuing to rise with no end in sight.

Last month, Congress voted for an additional $100 billion in spending. That makes the total funding appropriated for the war in Iraq so far $456 billion. The cost to New Mexico taxpayers alone is $1.39 billion. Click highlighted text for reports on Iraq spending in each of New Mexico's three Congressional Districts:

(Albuquerque area): Taxpayers in the 1st congressional district alone are paying $519 million for the Iraq war. What citizens of New Mexico's 1st District could have gotten instead:

• Health care coverage for 153,012 people—or 203,224 kids, or
• Head Start for 74,180 additional kids, or
• 11,093 new elementary school teachers, or
• 132,540 scholarships to make college more affordable, or
• Renewable electricity for 812,254 homes, or
• 5,298 affordable housing units, or
• 13,788 public safety officers to keep the streets safe

(Southern NM): Taxpayers in the 2nd Congressional District alone are paying $395 million for the Iraq war.

(Northern NM): Taxpayers in the 3nd Congressional District alone are paying $473 million for the Iraq war.

The money being spent in Iraq could be used to improve the lives of Americans instead of putting them at risk. Congress must act quickly to rein in this reckless president and bring an end to this war. With the costs of the war expected to ultimately double, taxpayers in New Mexico cannot afford another $519 million to keep our troops stuck in an unwinnable civil war in Iraq—especially when our communities are paying such a heavy price.

Compare actual war spending vs. Bush administration projections: In late 2002, President Bush's Budget Director estimated that the cost of the war with Iraq could be in the range of $50 billion to $60 billion. When Bush's chief economic adviser, Lawrence Lindsey, publicly estimated that the war in Iraq might cost $100 billion to $200 billion, he was fired. [New York Times, 12/31/02; Time Magazine, 12/23/02]

Speak Up: Congress is currently on its August recess, but we want to make sure our representatives know we mean business. We want them to know what they must do when they return to work next month. Please contact your U.S. Representative and Senators and urge them to stop the war NOW. Congress.org makes it easy.

Quagmire: Let's Keep It Going Another 10 Years

... and toss in an attack on Iran. Deja vu all over again. See Democracy Now for another view. Sen. John Kerry issued a statement in response to Bush's speech yesterday before the VFW:

“Invoking the tragedy of Vietnam to defend the failed policy in Iraq is as irresponsible as it is ignorant of the realities of both of those wars,” Senator Kerry said. “Half of the soldiers whose names are on the Vietnam Memorial Wall died after the politicians knew our strategy would not work. The lesson is to change the strategy not just to change the rhetoric. We want democracy in Iraq, but Iraqis must want it as much as we do. Our brave soldiers can’t bring democracy to Iraq if Iraq’s leaders are unable or unwilling themselves to make the compromises that democracy requires. No American soldier should be sacrificed because Iraqi politicians refuse to resolve their sectarian and political differences.

“It is unfortunate that President Bush would want to invoke a false comparison of Vietnam to Iraq, but not surprising that he would oversimplify the differences and overlook the tragic similarities. As in Vietnam, we engaged militarily in Iraq based on official deception. As in Vietnam, more American soldiers are being sent to fight and die in a civil war we can’t stop and an insurgency we can’t bomb into submission. If the President wants to heed the lessons of Vietnam, he should change course and change course now.”

Remember that Kerry served honorably and bravely in Vietnam, and worked hard with other Vietnam vets to end the war after returning hoime. Decades later, we have Bush the drunken AWOL Air National Guard cokehead pretending to know what happened there and why. To me, the words "hypocrite" and "ignoramous" don't even begin to convey the depraved nature of Bush in using self-serving, distorted, revisionist history to defend his unyielding push for unending war. Obviously, there's no limit to how low he'll go to perpetrate the myths and bald-faced lies he employs to justify his madness.

Richardson Counters Bush: Surge Has Failed, Withdraw All Troops

There's a big PR push coming from Bush, the White House and their surrogates to convince us that the "surge" is going well and that we are making "progress" towards a "victory." There's even a new Bushie front group called Freedom's Watch, led by Libby trial witness and former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. It's launching a $15 million TV ad campaign targeting Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson, to pressure them to stand with Bush on Iraq instead of standing with the nation and our troops -- kind of a Swiftboating of their own. "Freedom Watch's" first ad buy in New Mexico will total $254,190.

And today Bush , drawing exactly the wrong lessons. It wasn't long ago that Bush was demeaning Iraq War critics for bringing up Viet Nam, remember? And the main lesson we learned from Nam? That the last four years of the war brought huge numbers of deaths without affecting the outcome one iota -- while Richard Nixon diddled for political gain. Sound familiar?

Governor Bill Richardson was one of the first out of the box today to call Bush on his distortions, while on the campaign trail in Nevada. He reiterated that he has the most effective plan to end the war and that the surge has failed. He again called for a withdrawal of all our troops leaving no residual forces. Here's his statement:

RENO, NV -- Governor Bill Richardson, campaigning in Nevada, today released a statement in response to a speech by President Bush comparing a withdrawing of U.S. forces from Iraq to America's withdrawal at the end of the Vietnam War.

"The correct conclusion to draw from our experience in Vietnam," said Governor Richardson, "is that dragging out the process of withdrawal will be tragically worse in terms of U.S. lives lost and worse for the Iraqi's themselves in terms of the ultimate instability we will create by staying longer."

In 1968 Nixon ran on a platform of ending the war with honor. It took 7 years to get the last American soldier out of Vietnam. In the meantime, tens of thousands more Americans died. The costs in terms of tragedy in Southeast Asia itself are a matter of historical record. Millions of civilians ultimately died in Vietnam, in Cambodia and the killing fields and millions more ultimately had to flee their homes.

"We have now been in Iraq longer than it took to win World War II," Governor Richardson continued. "My plan for Iraq is designed to end this war with the least possible number of U.S. casualties and with the least damaging effects of Iraqi's reconciliation process. This means getting all of our troops out as quickly and safely as possible. Leaving residual troops in Iraq as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have suggested will only drag out the process to the detriment of all involved. Reconciliation can only occur when the U.S. has completely withdrawn. Everyday, more and more experts are coming to the same conclusion I drew seven months ago. My position has been consistent and unwavering. A fast, safe withdrawal with no residual troops."

In addition, Governor Richardson reiterated his belief that the so-called "surge" in U.S. forces in Iraq has been a failure, and responded to Senator Clinton's change of heart regarding the lack of progress in the war.

"I am pleased that Senator Clinton, today, recognizes that the surge has produced no progress of any long term significance to the Iraq debacle. That is different from what she said yesterday to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. But, it is that audience, who has sacrificed more than any of us, who deserves to hear a clear statement that our sons and daughters and mothers and fathers are not going to be sacrificed because of an irrational commitment to a failed strategy.

The President is asking the country to wait for next month's progress report from General Petraeus. The chances are that report will be just another White House spin job and attempt to justify this war. This has been the bloodiest summer yet -- our troops have done an admirable job at trying to make a bad idea work, but the surge has failed, the war has failed, Bush has failed. It is time to end this war and bring all of our troops home as soon as possible. I'm glad Hillary Clinton has retracted her comments yesterday and has declared the surge a failure today -- but I still haven't gotten an answer to my question -- a peace in Iraq will fail as long as we leave troops behind -- how many would you leave behind? Every other major candidate would leave thousands of US troops in Iraq for an indefinite. I will leave no U.S. forces there. Zero.

The only way out of the Iraq mess is to remove all U.S. troops, and to use that leverage to get the warring parties to resolve their differences, and surrounding Muslim nations to help stabilize the country. Any residual U.S. force reduces the chances for success, and exposes our troops as targets. Our brave troops, and the American people, deserve better."

(Photo Credit: AP /Charlie Neibergall)

New TV Ad: Tell Pete Domenici to End the War

Just released: Here's the new TV ad by Americans United for Change aking that citizens call Pete Domenici and urge him to vote to end the Iraq occupation. Do It Now:  202-224-6621. Here's the text of the ad along with documentation on the points it makes. See my previous post for more info.