Democracy for New Mexico

You Say It's Your Birthday ...

Back from a few days celebrating my birthday, including a visit to Taos and other points in Northern New Mexico. Up near Pilar, the Rio Grande is rushing with a rowdy Spring melt-off (video clip-turn up sound) and the cottonwoods are just turning that singular shade of chartreuse they take on when their leaves emerge. It's lush and very green in many areas up North due to the heavy winter snowfalls. Mary Ellen engineered a special surprise visit from my oldest and best friend, who flew in from Chicago to join the festivities. Her birthday is the day before mine. Two peas in a pod in many ways.

We drove up I-25 to 84-285 to 68 along the river and over to Taos. On our return, we took the High Road through Las Trampas, Truchas and Chimayo. The peaks of the Sangre de Christos are still magnificently snow-packed. Political signs were abundant amidst the towns and Pueblos all over the North.

One of our best birthday presents was the news on the radio on the way back reporting Obama's big win in North Carolina and his holding Clinton to a squeeker in Indiana. I think we have our nominee. Finally. The only thing left for the Clinton campaign to decide is when and how to bow out. Let's hope she does it soon and gracefully.

Rio Grande Gorge bridge pointing towards Taos

The worst thing about going away is returning to my full-to-the-brim email accounts. Catching up properly will take a few days. Be patient. It can be so overwhelming to realize how much political activity is going on nationally and locally -- all at the same time.

Rio Grande Gorge Wes of Taos, NM

For the moment, I'd like to hang onto my natural birthday-mountains-rushing-water-with-friends-high for a few more hours. It was that good.

On Taos Pueblo

Technorati Tags:Rio Grande, New Mexico, Taos, Northern New Mexico, Obama, Clinton

Last Chance to Register to Vote for June 3rd Primary; Early Voting Begins

If you're not registered to vote in New Mexico, you have until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 to register if you want to vote in the June 3rd primary. You  must also be registered as a Democrat to vote in the Democratic primary. There have been some problems in the past with people thinking they were registered as Democrats only to find that they registered as Independents or undeclared as to political party.

You can see if you're registered by using the Voter View tool provided by the NM Secretary of State, but it doesn't tell you if you're registered under a political party or not. You have to contact your county clerk to check party affiliation on the your registration (or check the voter card that was sent to you). In Bernalillo County, call 468.1291. If you live in another county, get your County Clerk contact info here.

You can register to vote in person at your County Clerk's office. In Bernalillo County, that's at One Civic Plaza, NW in Albuquerque, 6th Floor.

Early Voting
Voting my mail-in absentee balloting starts on May 6th. You must request an absenttee ballot from your County Clerk. Early in-person voting also begins on May 6th at your County Clerk's office or, in Bernalillo County, at the County Clerk’s Office Annex in downtown Albuquerque – 620 Lomas, NW. The hours of operation for this location are as follows:

• Tuesday May 6 – Friday May 9:            8:00am – 5:00pm
• Monday May 12 – Friday May 16:         8:00am – 5:00pm
• Monday May 19 – Friday May 23:         8:00am – 5:00pm
• Monday May 26 – Friday May 30:         8:00am – 5:00pm
• Saturday May 31:                             10:00am – 6:00pm

Starting on May 17th, residents of Bernalillo County will be able to vote early at 16 polling places throughout the county. Other counties will also be holding early voting at satellite locations. Check with your County Clerk.

Voters in the June 3rd primary in New Mexico will be choosing their preferred candidate for Congress and other races, depending on their location. Click for a listing of candidates provided by the New Mexico Secretary of State. Also see the Bernalillo County list of for additional candidates at the county level. In other counties, check with your County Clerk.

See our previous post for more information on early voting.

Technorati Tags:voter registration, June 3 New Mexico primary, primaries, Bernalillo County , New Mexico, county clerk

Breaking: NM Dem Party Chair Brian Colón Endorses Obama!

The superdelegate momentum for Obama keeps building. Thank you Brian! I completely agree with your reasons. Now there are only two superdelegates who remain undecided -- Rep. Tom Udall and add-on delegate Laurie Weahkee (see below the fold).

Here's the release from the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

Albuquerque, NM - Today, New Mexico State Party Chair and superdelegate Brian S. Colón endorsed Senator Barack Obama, citing Obama's ability to bring new voters into the process as well as the positive campaign Obama has run.

State Party Chair Brian Colón said, "Barack Obama has proven to inspire a movement that has brought a record number of people into the process. He's proven to be a candidate who can compete and will fight hard to expand the Democratic Party's reach and put Western states in play in the general election. His message of change is resonating across all ages, races and economic backgrounds in New Mexico.

"As I talk to Democrats all over New Mexico they are increasingly concerned with the negative tone that the campaign has taken. I believe that Senator Obama has presented a positive message of change while continuing to focus on our real opponent; a John McCain presidency and another four year term of failed Bush policies.

"Barack Obama has run a different kind of campaign - one that goes beyond the things that divide us and is driven by a commitment to real change that starts at the grassroots level. Here in New Mexico, where we had a very close election on February 5th, the excitement I saw throughout the state is good for our Party and good for our State. While there are two very talented candidates in this race, I am proud to make this announcement today because I want to see Barack Obama's positive movement for change continue to transform the Democratic Party and this country."

The endorsement brings the total number of superdelegates to endorse Barack Obama to 254. Senator Obama is 278 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination. 

Update of New Mexico's unpledged (superdelegates) and their announced candidate affiliations:

Governor Bill Richardson (Obama)
Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish (Clinton)
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (Obama)
Congressman Tom Udall (Undecided)
DPNM Chairman Brian S. Colón (Obama)
DPNM Vice Chairwoman Annadelle Sanchez (Clinton)
DNC Committeeman Raymond G. Sanchez (Clinton)
DNC Committeewoman Mary Gail Gwaltney (Clinton)
DNC Committee Member Fred Harris (Obama)
DNC At-Large Member Mayor Martin Chavez (Clinton)
DNC At-Large Member Christine Trujillo (Clinton)

Add-On At-Large Unpledged Delegate Laurie Weahkee (Undecided)

Complete list of New Mexico's 42-member delegation is here. While you're there, explore the new DPNM website that launched the other day with a new logo, new tools and much better setup. 

Technorati Tags:Brian Colon, Barack Obama, Obama endorsement, endorsements, New Mexico, Albuquerque, Democratic Party of New Mexico, superdelegates

Leadership Roswell to Host Two-Day Candidate Forum

The Leadership Roswell Alumni Association candidate forum will be held on May 5 and 6 at 6:30 PM at the First Baptist Church, 500 N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Roswell. On May 5th the 2nd CD congressional candidates will answer questions, and on May 6th the two Republican candidates in State Senate District 33 (Rod Adair vs. Rory McMinn) and State House District 57 primaries (Dan Foley vs. Dennis Kintigh), respectively, will answer questions. Candidates in other local races will also be participating.

The candidates will answer questions prepared by the forum's committee they haven't seen ahead of time, taking turns on who answers first, and be granted two minutes each to answer. According to an article about the two-day forum in the Roswell Daily Record:

"Our ultimate goal is to educate the community so that when they go to vote they can make a knowledgeable choice on the ballot," said Rick Kraft executive director of Leadership Roswell. Kraft will participate as moderator for the forum.

"This is only the second time we've held a primary forum," he said. "With so many contested positions this year, we felt it would be a real service to the community."

This forum will mark the organization's 22nd candidate forum, said Toni Hall, chair of the Leadership Roswell Alumni Association Candidate Forum Committee.

"We're expecting excellent participation," she said.

Although candidates in uncontested primaries were not invited to participate in the primary forum, they are asked to participate in the general election forum to be held this fall, Hall said.

Seeking nomination for the 2nd Congressional seat, Democrats Bill McCamley and Harry Teague, along with Republicans Edward Tinsley, Monty Newman, Earl Greer and Greg Sowards, will participate in the forum on May 5. Republican candidate Aubrey Dunn will not be able to attend.

Seeking election to the position of district attorney for the 5th Judicial District, Republicans Janetta Hicks, and incumbent Terry Haake will also participate in the May 5 forum.

Republican candidates for state representative in District 57, Dennis Kintigh and incumbent Rep. Dan Foley, will participate in the May 6 forum, along with Republican candidates seeking the state senator position in District 33, incumbent Sen. Rod Adair and Rory McMinn.

Republican candidates for County Commission in Districts 2, 3 and 4, along with those seeking the county treasurer position, will also participate on May 6.

From District 2, Dr. Doug Gillies and Dale Haverland will be present. Kim Chesser will not be attending the forum. In District 3, incumbent Alice Eppers and opponent Kyle "Smiley" Wooton will be present, along with District 4 candidates, incumbent Richard Taylor and George Aho.

Republican candidates for county treasurer Steven C. Harris, Steve J. Staeden Jr. and Dara Dana will all participate.

Technorati Tags:Roswell, New Mexico, candidate forums, Harry Teague, Bill McCamley, Edward Tinsley, Monty Newman, Earl Greer, Greg Sowards

Tonight: DFA-DFNM Meetup with Maggie Toulouse Oliver

The monthly Albuquerque DFA-DFNM Meetup will be held at 7:00 PM tonight, May 1, 2008, at the Social Hall of the First Unitarian Church on the SW corner of Carlisle and Comanche. Click to RSVP or join the group and get on the email list.

The keynote speaker will be Bernalillo County Clerk MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER, who'll be discussing how her office is preparing for the June 3rd primary election, answering questions about voting and vote counting, and suggesting ways we can help make the election run smoothly. Following up will be an open discussion about local voting and election issues led by PAUL STOKES of United Voters New Mexico and BILL KASS, a Democratic ward chair in Bernalillo County. As always, there'll be plenty of conversation, information and visits from a candidate or two.

Technorati Tags:Albuquerque, New Mexico, DFA-DFNM Meetup, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, elections, voting, Bernalillo County, Bernalillo County Clerk

(Updated) NM Clinton Camp Challenges Election of Laurie Weahkee as Unpledged Add-On Delegate

John Wertheim (second from left) and Mark Fleisher (far right)
complaining about add-on delegate election at SCC Meeting last Saturday

UPDATE: Click for a copy of the letter (pdf) submitted to Chairman Brian Colón by John Wertheim and nine other members of the DPNM Executive Committee regarding the process used to elect New Mexico's unpledged add-on delegate to the DNC Convention.
**************
As I reported previously, the Clinton camp in New Mexico raised a ruckus over the way Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Brian Colón handled Saturday's election of the unpledged add-on delegate to the Dem National Convention. When Colón nominated two Native American women who hadn't endorsed either of the presidential candidates, former DPNM Chair John Wertheim and Clinton delegate Mark Fleisher led a rowdy effort to make an additional nomination from the floor, claiming Colon wasn't following the Party's Delegate Selection Plan.

The Clinton camp's attempt was eventually ruled out of order, and Laurie Weahkee was elected by the Party's State Central Committee to fill the NM delegation's last unpledged slot. Weahkee has said repeatedly that she hasn't yet made up her mind whether she will support Clinton or Obama for the presidential nomination.

Now Wertheim and others have submitted a letter to Colón complaining that he didn't follow the rules. The Clinton camp is saying there should be a run-off election for the slot between Weahkee and Heather Townsend, who received write-in votes from Clinton supporters on the SC-- despite the fact that she wasn't an official nominee. Townsend is an acknowledged Clinton supporter. According to an article in today's Albuquerque Journal:

In a letter this week to state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colón, 10 ranking party members— including four Clinton superdelegates— accused Colón of breaking the delegate selection rules. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, another Clinton superdelegate, told the Journal that she thinks Barack Obama backers put "tremendous" pressure on Colón about the selection plan.

"I don't think the governor personally would have done it," Denish said of Gov. Bill Richardson, who has endorsed Obama. "But people associated with him would have worked very hard at that on his behalf."

Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said Wednesday that no governor's associates put the heat on Colón, adding that Richardson played no role in the outcome of Saturday's election. Colón said Wednesday that backers of both Obama and Clinton were pressuring him heavily before his nomination of the 12th superdelegate, Laurie Weahkee, who has said she is still uncommitted to either Clinton or Obama. Colón added that the party broke no rules in the selection process, which led to Weahkee's election.

"The Clintons are fighting for every single delegate, and the Obamas are fighting for every single delegate," Colón said. "At the end of the day, what I did was follow the rules."

Here's what the Clinton camp is claiming:

Former state party Chairman John Wertheim, four Clinton superdelegates and several others said in a letter to Colón on Tuesday that he broke the rules in the nominating process by failing to meet with the party's executive committee before making his two nominations. The letter also called for a runoff between Weahkee and Townsend, who received five votes fewer than Weahkee.

"It is neither democratic nor Democratic to fail to hold the required runoff," the letter said, pointing out that none of the three received a majority vote.

I don't know what, if anything, happens next, but Colón and the Party's Executive Director are insisting that the election process followed the rules of New Mexico's Delegate Selection Plan:

Colón said he abided by party rules by consulting with several members of the executive committee before making his nominations. Party Executive Director Josh Geise said that, because Townsend was not nominated by Colón, she was not eligible to take part in Saturday's election and there will be no runoff. Shipley said Richardson backs the way Colón handled the election.

Click for the official listing of New Mexico's 42-member delegation to the DNC Convention.

New Mexico's unpledged (superdelegates) and their announced candidate affiliations are as follows:

Governor Bill Richardson (Obama)
Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish (Clinton)
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (Obama)
Congressman Tom Udall (Undecided)
DPNM Chairman Brian S. Colón (Undecided)
DPNM Vice Chairwoman Annadelle Sanchez (Clinton)
DNC Committeeman Raymond G. Sanchez (Clinton)
DNC Committeewoman Mary Gail Gwaltney (Clinton)
DNC Committee Member Fred Harris (Obama)
DNC At-Large Member Mayor Martin Chavez (Clinton)
DNC At-Large Member Christine Trujillo (Clinton)

Add-On At-Large Unpledged Delegate Laurie Weahkee (Undecided)

Technorati Tags:Democratic Party of New Mexico, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Laurie Weahkee, New Mexico, Brian Colon, Bill Richardson, Diane Denish, unpledge delegates, John Wertheim

Dem Women of Sandoval County to Meet 5/7/08

On Wednesday, May 7, 6:30 PM, with social time at 6:00, the Democratic Women of Sandoval County will meet in the Town Council Chambers at the Town of Bernalillo City Hall, 829 Camino del Pueblo, Bernalillo. Join us from 7 to 9 for a forum featuring the Sandoval County Democratic candidates for State Legislature and State Senate. All the candidates have been invited. Questions will be taken from the audience after all the candidates have spoken. Light refreshments will be served. The public is encouraged to attend. Guests are welcome. For info call Janice Saxton at 867-1139 or email jnjsaxton@msn.com.

NM-01: More Muddled Monahan Mush

For someone who prides himself on being politically savvy, Monahan doesn't seem to have any idea who supports Martin Heinrich for Congress in NM-01. In his latest silly knock on Heinrich (and Obama) supporters, he gurgles forth the usual canned, cliched mush that often emanates from those who haven't dirtied their fingernails in decades and don't hang out with anyone who does:

ABQ Dem congressional candidate Martin Heinrich, already the love-child of the Chardonnay sippers and the left wing of his party, made a swerve to where the election will be decided when he interviewed for the Sunday Journal's candidate profiles. Said the former city councilor of his Missouri parents:

"(They're) middle class, blue collar. They were the people who took a shower when they came home from work at night, not before they went to work."

Heinrich can capture his party's nomination by consolidating the Obama liberals, but it is working class (read Reagan) Democrats who have kept the GOP in control of the ABQ seat for 40 years.

Come Out Into the Light
Hey Joe, you really ought to venture beyond the haunts of monied lobbyists and leaking lounge lizards to mingle with the people who are supporting Heinrich and other common sense, reform-minded Democratic candidates.

Hint, hint: it's people who work hard for a living, it's people who don't have lavish expense accounts, it's people who don't have health insurance, it's people who are nearing retirement without hundreds of thousands of dollars in 401Ks, it's people trying to save money from their stagnant paychecks for their children's education. I'm one of these people and I'm among these people most of the time. I don't see much Chardonnay sipping, but I do see a lot of fretful and worried faces because ordinary folks know they've been getting the shaft from Republicans, and Democrats who vote like Republicans, for a long, long time now. And unless we work to elect candidates who know what it's like to be at the mercy of the fat cats, nothing will change.

Martin Heinrich and the Chardonnay sippers?

Who's Really Supporting Heinrich & Other Dems?
In Democratic grassroots political circles, I see people struggling and juggling to make ends meet. I see people who still make a decent living, but who are bothered in their souls because so many no longer can. I see people who care about the community, the common good, the future of the American middle class and the planet itself. When the price of groceries rise and their paychecks don't, they suffer, immediately and personally. They're not out gossiping at expensive watering holes with those who've been profiting from the misery of others; they're walking door to door to try and bring economic fairness and opportunity for all back to the halls of Congress and our Legislature.

Mr. Monahan, I suggest you venture out into the real world and see for yourself. Visit Heinrich's campaign office and see who's volunteering. Visit a local Dem Party meeting and see who's attending. Stop in at a grassroots political Meetup or candidate forum and see who's devoting time out of their busy, work-filled lives to help rebuild a level playing field for ordinary Americans. Check out who's registering voters and making small donations and licking envelopes. You'll see lots of people who teach our kids, deliver our mail, answer the phones, pound the nails and visit our senior centers. Who you won't see much of are the wealthiest bank presidents, CEOs, real estate speculators and VP-types -- who sip the expensive stuff -- because they're backing the GOP candidates and the GOP cause. Everyone knows that. They like things just the way they are.

Working Class LABOR
You say that Repubs have retained control of CD1 because of support from the working class. You know that's not true. For instance, has Heather Wilson EVER had the support of the unions that represent working class people? Heinrich does. Here's a list of unions that are supporting his campaign so far:

• American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• Albuquerque Federation of Teachers Local 1420
• Carpenters Local 1319
• Communications Workers of America (CWA)
• International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 823
• Iron Workers Local 495
• Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 251
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 49
• United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1564
• United Transportation Union (UTU)

Are you saying that painters, carpenters, janitors, grocery store workers, iron workers, fire fighters, teachers and the other hard-working members of these unions are elitist "Chardonnay sippers" without a care in the world? I guess they all drive Volvos and down lattes too (not that there's anything wrong with that). Come on down to any grassroots Dem political gathering and check out the cars in the parking lot, Joe. They'll look a lot more beat up than the ones you're used to seeing at your Alligator-GOP-filled soirées where all the liberal bashing goes on. And you'll see a lot more bikes. And people who take the bus. I guarantee it.

Who's Really Working for Workers?
Real working people know that Heinrich and other Dems are working on their behalf because they've witnessed it in the real world. It wasn't Heather Wilson or the lobbying class or the monied GOP investor class or the Darren Whites of New Mexico who've been struggling against those who have the most to get the have-nots a raise in the minimum wage. It's been Democrats like Martin Heinrich and Eric Griego and Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Tom Udall and Dede Feldman and Mimi Stewart and Debbie O'Malley and Rey Garduno and many others who've been fighting the good fights for better wages, health care for all, improving education and creating blue and green collar jobs for the future. In case you haven't noticed.

Cut the Mush
So before you write another shallow analysis of who's backing whom, remember that the key positions of genuine Dems and our candidates are those of mainstream Americans, as shown in poll after poll after poll about values. It's your pals who lean in the hallways of the Roundhouse and hang out with you in the dark corners of expensive bistros who are the real elitists. Clearly, their mockery and yours is meant to keep the working and middle classes right where they are -- under the thumb of America's most selfish elements. Cut the mush.

And check out the facts about how working people have fared of late. You'll see who's really been sipping the expensive Chardonnay thanks to the Bush agenda -- a set of regressive and greed-based policies that have been backed enthusiastically by Heather Wilson, Steve Pearce, Darren White and just about every other candidate running on the right side of the aisle. Not us.

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Domenici Admonished by Senate Ethics Committee for Calling Iglesias; More Serious Probes Continue

Amazingly, the overwhelmingly toothless U.S. Senate Ethics Committee deigned to administer a mild rebuke to Sen. Pete Domenici for the "appearance of impropriety” in connection with his call to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias demanding information about the timing of pending corruption indictments. The Ethics Committee has been mostly comatose for a number of years, reportedly due to an informal, mutual agreement between Dems and Repubs to refrain from taking any meaningful action on ethics complaints against Senators of one another's parties. Foxes guarding the henhouse and all that. One hand washes the other.

The Ethics Committee issued a three-page letter yesterday "admonishing" Domenici but claiming there was no "substantial evidence" of purposeful wrongdoing on his part and recommending no punishment for the infraction. As reported by the AP,

The committee finds no substantial evidence to determine that you attempted to improperly influence an ongoing investigation," the committee letter said.

"The committee does find that you should have known that a federal prosecutor receiving such a telephone call, coupled with an approaching election which may have turned on or been influenced by the prosecutor's actions ... created an appearance of impropriety that reflected unfavorably on the Senate."

Domenici and Iglesias Respond
Naturally, the Domenici camp is spinning that the letter clears Pete, while Iglesias says the Committee's action bolsters his claim that Domenici was trying to influence the outcome of the November 2006 NM-01 Congressional election between Repub incumbent Rep. Heather Wilson and Dem challenger Patricia Madrid. Domenici responded to the letter in a prepared statement, saying,

"I am gratified the Senate ethics committee has concluded its inquiry favorably without a formal adjudicatory review, confirming what I have always maintained: I did not attempt to improperly influence an ongoing investigation when I telephoned the former United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico.

"Nevertheless, as I said publicly last March when this complaint was originally filed, I regret the distraction this controversy has caused my colleagues, my staff, my family and, most importantly, my constituents. Now that this matter has concluded favorably, I am anxious to focus all of my time and attention on the business of the people of New Mexico."

So, Domenici is sorry only for the "distraction" he caused, not for the pressuring phone call itself. He refuses to acknowledge that what he did was just plain wrong. Ironic that Repubs are always droning on about "personal accountability," but never seem to believe the concept should apply to their own actions. Do as I say, not as I do. Domenici also failed to apologize for lying to the media by claiming he knew nothing about any call by him to Iglesias when the story first broke.

Iglesias, who will be making an appearance at Page One in Albuquerque next month to discuss his new book about the U.S. Attorney firing scandal, interpreted the letter as publicly admonishing Domenici for "improper activity" and said:

"I trust this will serve as a warning to other members of Congress that contacting United States attorneys in this manner is impermissible and unacceptable behavior.

"This official reprimand to a senior senator who knew better has revived my confidence in the rule of law and the sanctity of a prosecutor's independence."

CREW Criticizes Ethics Committee
The nonpartisan group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which filed a complaint against Domenici with the Senate Ethics Committee on March 7, 2007, had this to say about the panel's action:

The Senate Ethics Committee turned in its usual lackluster performance with its “qualified admonition” of Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) ... Adding insult to injury, the committee actually commended Sen. Domenici on his candor despite the fact that when Mr. Iglesias first revealed Sen. Domenici’s actions, the senator adamantly denied ever making the call, telling The Washington Post, “I have no idea what he’s talking about.”

CREW’s executive director Melanie Sloan stated, “The ethics committee may have been unable to wholeheartedly condemn Senator Domenici’s conduct, but we have no such compunction.” Sloan continued, “The committee’s effort to minimize its reprimand of Senator Domenici itself reflects poorly on the Senate. Little is more destructive to our democracy than an attempt to use political power to influence a criminal investigation and it should be distressing to all Americans that the Senate Ethics Committee does not appear to share that view.”

Domenici called Iglesias at home one evening in October of 2006 and asked him when the pending indictments would be issued. When Domenici didn't receive assurances from Iglesias that the indictments would be filed before the November election, he said he was "sorry to hear that" and hung up abruptly on Iglesias. Iglesias was fired about a month after the call, and he became one of the major players in a U.S. Senate probe into the firing of eight U.S. Attorney's across the country for what many claim were political reasons. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales eventually resigned in connection with the scandal.

More Serious Probes Continue
According to The Hill, more serious and wide-ranging inquiries into the U.S. Attorney firing scandal continue:

The Ethics Committee’s review is hardly an end to the firings of the U.S. attorneys. Both chambers are pursuing contempt of Congress charges against White House officials for refusing to testify on the matter, and the Justice Department’s inspector general and Office of Professional Responsibility have launched far-reaching probes. 

Several people close to that investigation told The Hill in January that the internal inquiry was looking at a wide-range of questions, including whether senior Justice officials lied to Congress, violated the criminal provisions in the Hatch Act, tampered with witnesses preparing to testify to Congress, obstructed justice, took improper political considerations into account during the hiring and firing of U.S. attorneys and created widespread problems in the department’s Civil Rights Division.

Rep. Heather Wilson also called Iglesias about the "sealed indictments" and that matter is still before the U.S. House Ethics Committee. I won't hold my breath waiting for any meaningful resolution of that case.

Technorati Tags:Pete Domenici, David Iglesias, Senate Ethics Committee, U.S. Attorney firings, New Mexico, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, CREW, Heather Wilson

Guest Blog: Bruce Barnaby for DNC Commiteeman

On Saturday, April 26, the Democratic Party of New Mexico's State Central Committee will be electing a DNC Committeeman and Committeewoman to represent NM Dems on the Democratic National Committee. The terms of those elected this Saturday will begin next year. Below is a guest blog by Dallas Timmons supporting the candidacy of Bruce Barnaby for DNC Committeeman. I want to personally second what Dallas has to say. I believe Bruce would work tirelessly on our behalf, as he has for years within the State and County Party. No task is left undone and no problem remains unaddressed if Bruce is around.

I first met Mr. Barnaby (right) when he agreed to help our group of mostly inexperienced grassroots activists learn the sometimes complicated ins and outs of getting more involved in the Dem Party and running for office within the Party structure. Bruce has been instrumental in helping many ordinary people become actively involved in Party affairs. He's also helped to improve how the Party operates through his service on the Rules Committee, as well as on the SCC and as a precinct chair. Very important to me -- he's a strong supporter of Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy.

From SCC member Dallas Timmons:
I know many of you as friends and many others through the SCC. I am taking this opportunity to ask you to support Bruce Barnaby to be our next Democratic Party National Committee Man from New Mexico. I have worked with Bruce over the last three years in the SCC and at the Rules Committee, which he now chairs. He is committed to a strong Democratic Party and recognizes that the party faces many challenges over the next four years. His FLYER (doc) outlines some of these as well as his commitment to maintain active communication with all of us and to seek our inputs on solutions.

Meet Bruce
Bruce will have a hospitality suite this Friday, April 26, from 5-7:00 PM at the Barcelona Suites (where the SCC meeting will be held on Saturday). Please come by and meet Bruce and take the opportunity to find out what his ideas are for this position.

Thanks for your commitment to the party and please consider casting your vote for Bruce this Saturday at the SCC meeting.

Thank-you,
Dallas Timmons
Ward 11A Chair (Bernalillo County)
State Rules Committee member
SCC member

Technorati Tags:Bruce Barnaby, Democratic Party of New Mexico, Democratic National Committee, DNC, DNC Committeeman, Albuquerque, New Mexico