Democracy for New Mexico

Rep. Sanders Headlines 4/10 Social Change Forum in Albuquerque

All are invited to:

A Forum
Acting Together for Social Change

Bernie Sanders, U.S. Representative from Vermont
The Only Independent Voice in Congress

Sunday, April 10, 2-5 PM
First Congregational Church (Corner of Lomas and Girard NE)

Sponsored by:

The Coalition To Take Back Our Government
Gray Panthers
The Social Action Committee -1st Unitarian Church of Albuquerque
Community Coalition for Health Care Access
Quote...Unquote/Channel 27

Call 275-0597 or 463-3774 for more information

DPBC Meeting Highlights

Last Wednesday's special meeting of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County at the UNM Law School began with State Senator Linda Lopez, who is also the current Bernalillo County Democratic Party Chair, being presented with a bouquet in appreciation for her stellar work in negotiating the election reform bill and getting it passed at the Legislature. Here's Terry Riley presenting the flowers to Senator Lopez on behalf of DFNM, NM Democratic Friends and others. That's County Vice Chair Marvin Moss at the podium.

Senator Bingaman then spoke about Social Security and the severe problems that would result if President Bush's privatization plan were adopted. Afterwards, he graciously answered questions for more than an hour on a variety of topics. Regarding his recent vote for the very controversial bankruptcy bill, Senator Bingaman admitted it might have been a mistake given the fact that important amendments to improve the bill did not pass. He said the issue might well have to be revisited in the near future to make it more fair to ordinary Americans. (You might say.)

Marvin Moss welcomes the Senator to the meeting above.

Senator Bingaman takes numerous questions from the overflow crowd.

Tell Your Social Security Story

The debate over the Republican plan to dismantle Social Security involves a lot of big numbers and far-off dates. But Social Security impacts lives every day in a deeply personal way.

When you click on our Social Security graphic, you can read stories from other DFA members across the country. By telling those stories publicly we can shore up support for the most successful social policy in history. You can also tell your Social Security story, sign a petition and access a special section of the DFA website that features resources you can use to help save Social Security.

We'll be focusing on actions we can take to support Social Security and using our Social Security stories to create and frame our arguments at the next DFA-DFNM ABQ Meetup on April 7th. We plan to create a straetegy for media and activist actions here in Albuquerque. So when you submit your story to DFA, please keep a copy to use at Meetup.

If you haven't joined our DFA-DFNM Meetup group, visit the Meetup website and register. You'll be placed on our email list to receive updates and news of interest to our members.

DFA is also collecting donations to run two radio ads based on the thousands of personal stories from ordinary people whose lives have been changed by Social Security. They're ready to go on the air in the same markets as the USA Next anti-Social Security ads that will begin appearing in the coming days.

You can hear the 30-second and 60-second ads at DFA's Blog for America.

But they can't go up without your donation. Click to make a contribution.

REMINDER: Udall Social Security Town Hall Schedule

From Rep. Tom Udall's Office:
NEW MEXICO – U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., is holding a series of town hall meetings next week on Social Security.  The federal lawmaker said he wants to hear from New Mexicans about what they value most in Social Security.

“Social Security has been one of the most successful federal programs in this nation’s history. It has protected millions of elderly from living in poverty, and has been the backbone of every American’s retirement plan. It is a guarantee that we can all count on in our old age,” Udall said. “I hope New Mexico residents will attend these meetings to let me know their views on what changes, if any, should be made to Social Security.”

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005
Rio Rancho
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Meadowlark Senior Center, 4330 Meadowlark Blvd.

Albuquerque
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
T-VI’s Montoya Campus Auditorium (Juan Tabo and Montgomery)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman also attending

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2005
Española
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Rio Arriba Senior Center, 410 Hunter Street

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2005
Taos
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Taos Senior Center, 601 Lovato Place

Last week Udall voted against the House-passed budget that raids the Social Security Trust Fund of more than $1.1 trillion over the next five years.

In New Mexico, the percentage of Hispanic seniors living in poverty today is twice that of non-Hispanic seniors at 22%.  More than half of Hispanic women age 65 and older depend on Social Security for 100% of their income.  Social security payments have reduced the poverty rate of seniors from 45.6% to 12.1%, pulling an estimated 80,000 seniors above the poverty line.  There are about 29,000 seniors living in poverty in New Mexico.  Without Social Security, an estimated 109,000 seniors would live in poverty.

Approximately 295,000 – one of six New Mexican residents – receive Social Security benefits, either as a retiree, a disabled worker, a widow, or child. Almost 1/3 of those beneficiaries are under the age of 65.  More than 30,000 are widows, and 28,000 are children.

“President Bush’s plan to establish private accounts requires borrowing nearly $5 trillion, largely from foreign countries, and increasing our debt for the next 50 years, threatening rising interest rates today, and raising taxes on our children and grandchildren tomorrow,” Udall said.

McCain Tags Along on Bush ABQ Visit

From the Santa Fe New Mexican:

There's another showing Tuesday of the good-cop, bad-cop routine featuring President Bush and Sen. John McCain, Bush's one-time presidential rival who has become a big booster of the president's Social Security plan.

The Arizona Republican accompanied Bush on Monday to the senator's home state and Colorado to try to help sell the public and Congress on the president's proposal for a major Social Security overhaul.
[. . .]
It all went so well that McCain, perhaps enticed by a day riding around in the presidential limousine and aboard Air Force One, decided to accompany Bush to an event Tuesday in Albuquerque, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. McCain had been scheduled to drop off Bush's itinerary after Monday's last stop in Denver.

The original reason for the Albuquerque stop was to give a boost to New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee that will have a hand in any Social Security changes.
****************
One has to wonder what levels of independence, self-esteem and pride McCain has given how Bush and his minions spread inaccurate smears about McCain and his family during their primary battle before the 2000 election.

I guess a ride in the presidential limo is enough for an alleged "straight shooter" like McCain to forget about past indignities. I'm wondering how McCain would explain the wonderful benefits for younger workers that he's touting when the trilllions of dollars in debt the creation of private accounts would generate are taken into account. Oops, don't mention that! And I'm sure no-one will at the Albuquerque Bush rally or any other rally. After all, no Democrats allowed in the Republican elite clubhouse!

Latest on Bush Protest

From Stop the War Machine news:

1. W is visiting Albuquerque in order to have a "conversation" about Social Security tomorrow, Tuesday, 3/22 in the Convention Center at around 9:30 AM.

You are invited to do the following:

Plan A: Go to Civic Plaza by 7:30 AM.  Bring signs...

Plan B (if you are unable to do plan A): Meet at the Federal Courthouse at or as soon after 7:30 AM as possible.  Bring signs...

If you have any questions or you hear any further details of when W will arrive and where he will be, please call 933-6600.
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I understand that a third alternative being promoted for a gathering place is Robinson Park at 8th and Central. It's difficult to know beforehand where they will allow people to congregate given all the street closings and other "security" measures that keep the people away from Bush.

Bush reportedly arrives in Albuquerque today at 7 PM, and will stay overnight at the Hyatt Regency, catty-corner from the Convention Center Marriott at Louisiana and I-25.

Shutdown for Bush Visit

From Stop the War Machine:

Traffic Alert: Presidential Visit to close freeways and local roads, impact airport, on Monday night and Tuesday morning (3-21, 3-22)

The President will arrive in Albuquerque on Monday night. Expect short but sudden complete road closures at and around the airport and on I-25 that evening, as Air Force One arrives at the Sunport and the Presidential Motorcade goes by. He will spend the night in town, at a secure undisclosed location. Previously, the President has stayed at the Marriott North at Paseo & I-25 or the Hyatt Regency Downtown.

Tuesday morning rush hour - expect lots of road closures on the freeways and downtown (2nd St NW, 3rd St NW, Tijeras Av NW, Marquette Av NW, Dr. Martin Luther King Av NW) around the Convention Center, where the President will speak at 9:30 am.  City Buses will be on detour routes downtown. Expect I-25 (MLK to Sunport) to close later that morning for the Presidential motorcade as the President leaves Albuquerque to fly to Crawford TX. The event is for ticketholders only.

Dems & AARP Hold Social Security Events

From the Democratic Party of New Mexico's Victory Line:
If one wants to hear the real deal on Social Security, Senator Bingaman will be speaking at the University of New Mexico law school on Wednesday, March 23 at 7 PM in room 2401. 

Earlier in the week we mentioned the AARP forum in Alamogordo on Tuesday, March 22, at 1 PM at the Otero County Fairgrounds County Extension Building, and at 7 PM at the First National Bank Atrium, 414 10th St.

Congressman Udall is doing his part too with the following Social Security town-halls:

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005
Rio Rancho - 10:30 - 11:30 AM - Meadowlark Senior Center, 4330 Meadowlark Blvd.

Albuquerque - 7:00 - 9:00 PM - TVI's Montoya Campus Auditorium (Juan Tabo and Montgomery) Sen. Jeff Bingaman also attending

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2005
Española - Noon - 1:00 PM - Rio Arriba Senior Center, 410 Hunter Street

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2005
Taos - 12:30 - 1:30 PM - Taos Senior Center, 601 Lovato Place

Uh Oh

Just my personal opinion:
I wonder if the state Democratic Party will ever get it on progressive candidates and politics. Although many in the top echelons of the Party are claiming to be a "progressives" now that Howard Dean is running the DNC, the same old same olds seem to be their choices when push comes to shove.

We are now hearing that the powers that be are pushing Attorney General Patricia Madrid and/or Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron as possible candidates to run against Rep. Heather Wilson in CD1 in 2006.

I guess we'll be very busy working to get a candidate from the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party to run against one or both of these insiders in the primary for this race.

Over at Joe Monahan's site:

I interviewed with the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call (subscription) recently about the 2006 race and they threw out the names of Attorney General Patsy Madrid and Secretary of Sate Rebecca Vigil-Giron as potential Heather challengers. Both high-profile women would not rule it out, but Madrid sounded more interested, if not giddy, than Vigil. Freshman State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino also had his name bandied about as a possible, but political junkie Brian Sanderoff said he doubts Pino will get in.

From the website of the State Party:

Democrats urge AG to consider running in 2006
By James W. Brosnan, Scripps Howard News Service

WASHINGTON - Top Democrats, still angling to oust Rep. Heather Wilson in 2006, are talking to New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid about launching a campaign.

State Democratic Chairman John Wertheim said Thursday he is urging Madrid to run against the Albuquerque Republican and that Madrid was in Washington, D.C., for a meeting Wednesday with the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Rahm Emmanuel, an Illinois Democrat.

Madrid, who by law must leave office next year, is reviewing her options, including a race against Wilson, and will make a decision in a few months, said Caroline Buerkle, special projects director for the attorney general.

Buerkle said Madrid's primary reason for being in Washington was the annual meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Sarah Feinberg, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Wilson is one of the group's top targets and "we expect a lot of Democrats to be very interested in the seat."

Wilson first won her seat in a 1998 special election, followed by a general election. Both times, she beat Democrat Phil Maloof. In 2000, she beat Democrat John Kelly. In 2002 and 2004, she beat Democrat Richard Romero.

That record has convinced Wertheim his party needs to nominate a woman.

Wertheim said Madrid would be an "extremely formidable" challenger, because she has impressive credentials and an established record.

Greg Graves, executive director of the New Mexico Republican Party, said Madrid would probably be a tougher challenger to Wilson than Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, who also is barred from seeking re-election. But, Graves added, he's not sure Madrid can win a Democratic primary.

Planning Meeting Set for Social Security Protest at Bush Event

Bush will be conducting a pseudo-town hall meeting dubbed  "A Conversation on Strengthening Social Security" on Tuesday morning, March 29, at the Kiva Auditorium in the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Santiago Juarez, who heads NM PACE from Espanola and Revisioning New Mexico in Albuquerque, is coordinating a planning meeting to discuss plans for a demonstration to counter Bush's visit and his Social Security plan. The meeting will be at Noon at the Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center at the corner of Harvard and Silver. All activists are welcome.