Democracy for New Mexico

NM-01: New Heinrich Ad Goes After White's Dismal Record

Can we trust George Bush's favorite sheriff? That's the question asked of viewers in Martin Heinrich's new, hard-hitting TV ad in the NM-01 race. The ad's narrator accuses White of lying in his ads attacking Heinrich's record, and states that Heinrich is the only candidate in the race who has cut taxes.

The ad goes on to mention some of the bleaker moments in Darren White's career, when he was New Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety. Like getting caught misspending thousands of dollars of drug enforcement money for things like luxury cars and lawnmowers. How the wives of state cops accused him of endangering their husbands' lives. And how 89% of state cops voted for a no-confidence measure against White -- a development that ultimately drove him to quit the post.

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NM-03: Lujan Endorsed by All Indian Pueblo Council

Ben Ray Luján announced the endorsement of the All Indian Pueblo Council in his race for Congress in New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District.

"I'm honored by the endorsement of the All Indian Pueblo Council," said Luján. "I look forward to working with the pueblos and standing up for them in Congress."

Luján has been a strong ally of tribal governments. As a Public Regulation Commissioner, he worked with the commission to adopt a resolution for the PRC to officially recognize a government-to-government relationship concerning regulatory processes with sovereign Indian Nations. He also worked with a Native American liaison to establish open communication between state and tribal governments.

Prior to the endorsement, Luján delivered a speech to the All Indian Pueblo Council at the University of New Mexico.

"If elected to Congress, I will be a strong advocate to protect and sustain cultural diversity and tribal sovereignty," said Luján. "I am committed to supporting legislation that fully funds the Indian Health Service and to expand health services for Native Americans."

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Bailout Can Still Be Defeated: Call or Email Now

It's still up in the air whether the bailout bill has the votes to pass. I'm sure most of you reading this have seen and heard many convincing arguments against this fraudulent giveaway. Here are some more by David Sirota that provide useful summaries you can tap when contacting your members of Congress. It's not often we can see ourselves on the same side as the rightwing Republicans, but this is one of those times, isn't it?

Joshua Holland at Alternet provides a glimpse of what a progressive bailout would look like. Why aren't more Dems pushing for this kind of solution? They're certainly feeling pressured by Wall Street's clever extortion plot, but let's hope enough of them see through this ploy and vote for the interests of their constituents. We have to apply some pressure in the opposite direction if there's any hope for defeating this boondoggle.

Congress.org makes it easy to email the people who count on this. Or click here to find phone numbers and other contact info for New Mexico's Congressional delegation.

Concerned About Fair Elections? Become a Poll Worker for Democracy

From NM PIRG: Of course you'd expect NM PIRG to encourage you to get out and vote on Election Day. Casting your ballot is a big part of making your voice heard on issues that matter to you. But this year, we're encouraging you to take it one step further, and to make sure that everyone else gets to make their voice heard, too.

NM PIRG is partnering with TrueMajority and CREDO Action on the Pollworkers for Democracy project -- a nonpartisan effort to get more people involved in protecting our elections. We're asking you to help the effort by signing up to be a pollworker on November 4. We'll provide you with information to supplement your pollworker training, and also a system to report and track any problems on Election Day.

Your county still needs pollworkers for the November 4 general election. Signing up as a pollworker is easy. Plus, you support our democratic system ... and get paid. Click here to learn more and sign up. The fairness of this year's election is in your hands, and the best place to protect the election is at the polling location.

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Uh Oh.

Don't want to have to go through that kind of misery again? Get registered if you're not and request a vote by mail ballot using one of these tools:

Vote for Change

Vote Udall

Why vote by mail? It's easy. It's fast. It will allow you to work on GOTV for candidates or at a polling place on election day on November 4th. It will also stop those phone calls from candidates urging you to do it!

YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO VOTE BY OCTOBER 7TH TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

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A Real Liberal: Paul Newman, 1925-2008

The Newman Foundation Statement:

Paul Newman's craft was acting. His passion was racing. His love was his family and friends. And his heart and soul were dedicated to helping make the world a better place for all. Paul had an abiding belief in the role that luck plays in one's life, and its randomness. He was quick to acknowledge the good fortune he had in his own life, beginning with being born in America, and was acutely aware of how unlucky so many others were. True to his character, he quietly devoted himself to helping offset this imbalance. An exceptional example is the legacy of Newman's Own. What started as something of a joke in the basement of his home, turned into a highly-respected, multi-million dollar a year food company. And true to form, he shared this good fortune by donating all the profits and royalties he earned to thousands of charities around the world, a total which now exceeds $250 million. While his philanthropic interests and donations were wide-ranging, he was especially committed to the thousands of children with life-threatening conditions served by the Hole in the Wall Camps, which he helped start over 20 years ago. He saw the Camps as places where kids could escape the fear, pain and isolation of their conditions, kick back, and raise a little hell. Today, there are 11 Camps around the world, with additional programs in Africa and Vietnam. Through the Camps, well over 135,000 children have had the chance to experience what childhood was meant to be.

"We will miss our friend Paul Newman, but are lucky ourselves to have known such a remarkable person."

Obama's New Ad: Zero

Why didn't McCain mention the middle class a single time in last night's debate? Why was his main suggestion for the bailout plan that we should cut the capital gains tax? Why won't he admit that we got into this financial mess because of the damaging and deluded economic philosophy he and his party have been pushing for decades?

One of the best debate analyses I've read comes from the almost always on-target Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com. You really should read the whole thing, so I won't provide any excerpts here. Trust me. Unlike many of the "pundits," Nate looks at how Obama did on matters that are most important to the voters, as demonstrated by some post-debate polls. Hey Nate, stop making sense!

Dr. Strangelove vs. The Man of Reason and Restraint

First take: I don't know what you saw tonight, but I saw a markedly unstable, angry, unreasonable, stubborn, condescending, sneery, pompous, vindictive and ultimately unlikeable McCain being met and overcome by an eminently reasonable, tough yet gentlemanly, clear thinking and highly intelligent Obama. He ran cool, calm circles around McCain's huffing and puffing buzzwordery and let McCain's prissy self-aggrandizement stand out in contrast, for all the world to see. McCain couldn't even bring himself to look at Obama. Amazing, in a very sick sort of way.

If anybody is still undecided about what four years of McCain would do to the nation, I suggest they watch a replay of tonight's debate with the sound off. Make sure to watch a version that includes the split screen element. I know MSNBC had it, but I don't know if others did.

McCain's truly awful facial expressions and body language while Obama was talking were scary, indeed. I've never seen another presidential candidate with such a twisted, demented look on his or her face during a TV debate. Not even Richard Nixon. And that's saying something. There is real danger lurking there in McCain, and a rash, reckless disregard for others that was very apparent in his demeanor. I can't say it any other way.

As for the content, let's just say that McCain kept laying into Obama with less than honest accusations and proclamations and Barack came back with the facts and undercut him nearly every single time. I thought he made McCain look like a very small, sniveling, wise-ass of a man, too het up to think straight and too poisonous inside to be gracious in any way.

It was presidential grace and dignity vs. snotty digs and underhanded hits. Who do you think we need at the helm in the coming storms?

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Tonight's Debate: Daily Lobo Editor Will Be Online Panelist on The Caucus

The editor of the University of New Mexico's Daily Lobo will be a panelist online during the debate tonight on The Caucus - The NY Times Political blog. Damian Garde is a 21-year-old editor in chief of the Daily Lobo, Garde is a native New Mexican, born in Los Lunas. He is pursuing a major in political science with a minor in print journalism at UNM. The New York Times enlisted student newspaper editors from around the country to weigh in on the first presidential debate in real time. Look out for their remarks on The Caucus when the debate starts at 7 PM.

Saturday: Rep. Ken Martinez to Kick Off Campaign for Change "Votercade" on Enchanted Circle

The Obama campaign keeps coming up with creative ideas to connect with voters. I've never heard of this approach before, but I like it. What a great idea for a Saturday event up north when autumn is in the air -- and the Enchanted Circle is one of the most scenic routes in New Mexico.

This Saturday, September 27th, the Campaign for Change will host a “votercade” of cars and bikes with Obama-Biden decorations that will travel around the Enchanted Circle to encourage the community to register to vote. House Majority Floor Leader Ken Martinez will join the “votercade” and will drive one third of the circle, to stop at the Campaign for Change office in Taos to meet and talk with other participants.

Supporters will gather at three starting points--the Campaign for Change Taos Office, Brandenburg Park in Red River, and the Serenity Shop in Questa—at 10:30 AM to decorate their cars. At 11 AM, all of the cars will simultaneously start driving counter-clockwise, around the Enchanted Circle. Drivers are invited to stop at each location:

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