Democracy for New Mexico

McCain Will Reward Supporters Who Plant Comments on Blogs

You can't make this stuff up. The McCain campaign is now using online tactics similar to those reportedly employed by the Chinese government. They're rewarding supporters who plant comments on designated blogs that echo Johnny's talking points:

On McCain's website, visitors are invited to "Spread the Word" about the presumptive Republican nominee by sending campaign-supplied comments to blogs and Web sites under the visitor's screen name. The site offers sample comments ("John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan . . .") and a list of dozens of suggested destinations, conveniently broken down into "conservative," "liberal," "moderate" and "other" categories. Just cut and paste.

For each positive, verified comment they post, McCain's citizen spinners earn points that count towards prizes like books autographed by McCain, preferred seating at campaign events or a ride with the MCain on his bus. The campaign suggests posting on the liberal blogs ColoradoPols, Crooks and Liars, DailyKos, MyDD and Think Progress. I guess McCain's pollsters are especially worried about Colorado.

Mario Burgos in the Mix: Believe it or not, under the category of "Other," the campaign suggests that comments be inserted at the Albuquerque right-wing blog, Mario Burgos. Okay, what I wanna know is why no suggestion to plant comments at Democracy for New Mexico? I'm feeling a little left out. Get it, LEFT out.

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NM-01: Candidate Forum/Debate Schedule

Mark your calendars for these candidate forums and debates scheduled for our NM-01 Congressional candidate, Martin Heinrich, and his Repub challenger, Darren White. Click on the links for available info or contacts for the events.

Friday, August 22nd - 11:00AM
WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy) Forum
Marriot Pyramid North, ABQ

Saturday, September 6th - 12:00PM
NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees) Forum
Palo Duro Senior Center, 5221 Palo Duro NE, ABQ

Sunday, October 26th - 9:30AM
Congregation Albert Debate
Congregation Albert, 3800 Louisiana Boulevard NE, ABQ
Tickets that include brunch available in October
Debate open to public first come, first served

Sunday, October 26th - 4:00PM
KOAT / Albuquerque Journal Debate
KOAT Channel 7

Thursday: Rahm Emanuel in NM to Raise Funds for Congressional Candidates

Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel will be in New Mexico tomorrow, Thursday, August 7th, to help all three of our Dem Congressional candidates raise funds. Rep. Emanuel formerly chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and is the current Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He'll be at fundraisers on Thursday for NM-01 candidate Martin Heinrich, NM-02 candidate Harry Teague and NM-03 candidate Ben Ray Luján.

In addition, Martin Heinrich will host a press conference in Albuquerque with Emanuel -- the fourth-highest ranking member of the House Democratic Leadership -- as well as members of New Mexico's law enforcement and first responders. Sheriff Greg Solano will be attending as well as representatives of Sheriffs John Paul Trujillo and Rene Rivera. The event will be held at 3:30 PM at Highland Park, located at Silver SE and Elm SE. Emanual and law enforcement will stand side-bys-side to support Heinrich.

In Santa Fe, Emanuel will host a fundraiser for Ben Ray Lujan at Gabriel's Restaurant on U.S. 84/285 north of town. Emanuel will also appear with Harry Teague on Thursday. Details are still pending on these.

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Friday: Gov. Richardson Wants to Hear Your Ideas for EXPO New Mexico

Governor Bill Richardson has announced he'll hold a community meeting at 1:30 PM on Friday, August 8, in the auditorium at the African American Performing Arts Center on the State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque. He wants to hear directly from New Mexicans who have ideas for redeveloping EXPO New Mexico (see aerial photo).

“I want to hear from the public, including the private sector and neighborhood associations, to explore every option for renovating the state fairgrounds,” said Governor Richardson.

The Governor will be accompanied by EXPO officials, Finance Secretary Katherine Miller and local legislators, who will be available to the public for questions and comments about the state fairgrounds. The event will be moderated by Tim Keller, Senator-Elect from District 17, where EXPO New Mexico (the fairgrounds) is located.

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Griego and Keller Release Statements on Lawsuit by Incumbent Primary Losers; Robinson Talks Melodrama

Eric Griego tells it like it is:
"I thank voters once again for electing me as the Democratic nominee to the State Senate in District 14 with a wide margin, 62% to 38%. I am confident their vote for change in the June Primary will not be undermined by the unfortunate lawsuit filed Friday.

My team and I ran a strong, ethical, issue-based, grassroots campaign that spoke to real concerns.  Along with over 100 volunteers, I knocked on over a thousand doors and spoke to hundreds of voters.  I raised almost $90 thousand from nearly 500 contributors, many of whom gave $50 or less, all of which was timely and thoroughly disclosed.

I was endorsed by numerous community organizations including: New Mexico Professional Firefighters Association; Albuquerque Area Firefighters Local 244; National Education Association, New Mexico; American Federation of Teachers; Albuquerque Teachers Federation; Sierra Club; Conservation Voters New Mexico; South Valley Regional Association of Acequias; Democracy for New Mexico; and, Hispano Round Table. 

The voters and their desire for change determined the outcome of the election.  I am confident the Court will not overturn the will of the majority of the voters. I look forward to representing District 14 in Santa Fe as state senator."

Tim Keller speaks truth to power as he did in his campaign:
Having recently lost the June Democratic Primary election in Senate District 17 by a two to one margin, Shannon Robinson filed on Friday, August 1, 2008  in District Court to contest the election results claiming that voters were defrauded and a new election should be held. Robinson is also representing defeated incumbent legislators Rep. Dan Silva and State Senator James Taylor.

"The substance of this case is baseless. We are prepared to let the legal system take its course. We expect the case will be dismissed and the will of voter's decision will be upheld," says Tim of the lawsuit. "Our campaign followed the rules and spirit of campaign finance."

"I received the support of respected leaders like Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino, City Councilor Rey Garduno, former Congressional candidate and State Senator Richard Romero; and longstanding pillars of the community like the Albuquerque Teachers Union, Albuquerque Fire Fighters Union, Albuquerque Journal and the Sierra Club.

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McCain Shows His True Colors: Thinks Cindy Should be Miss Buffalo Chip

The McCains at Sturgis, and shots from the "beauty contest"

The trad media loved Johnny and Cindy at the Sturgis SD biker rally:

As the senator made his way through a sea of motorcycle enthusiasts, shaking hands with the many veterans in attendance and accompanied by his wife Cindy and Sen. John Thune, he was surrounded by scores of beer drinking men and scantily clad women, many of whom were as thrilled to see the war hero candidate as they were to watch Kid Rock perform later in the evening.

... Indeed, McCain felt so comfortable at the event that he even volunteered his wife for the rally’s traditional beauty pageant, an infamously debauched event that’s been known to feature topless women. “I encouraged Cindy to compete,” McCain said to cheers. “I told her with a little luck she could be the only woman ever to serve as first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip.”

I guess Mr. and Mrs. Family Values don't know what really goes on in Sturgis during the annual biker gathering. Or maybe they do. Some of the debauchery so prevalent there has more than a little in common with the drunken, womanizing behavior of "Top Guns" like McCain back in the day -- the era so many right-wingers yearn for. I wonder what the "moral majority" types think about the McCains hanging with the nasty, damned sinners. I wonder what straightlaced (at least in public) GOP Senate candidate Steve Pearce and oh-so-holy NM-01 candidate Darren White think about it. Law and order! The hypocrisy on the right side is almost beyond contemplation at times, isn't it?

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NM-02: Teague Announces Strong and Deep Support from Hispanics

Harry Teague, the Dems' NM-02 Congressional candidate, released the names of more than 50 prominent Hispanic leaders from across Southern New Mexico and the nation who have publicly endorsed his candidacy. The campaign reports that Congressman Joe Baca, who's a native of Belen, NM and serves as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, visited Las Cruces on Sunday to formally endorse Teague.

"I am flattered to receive the support of so many representatives of the Hispanic community," said Teague. "I am running for Congress to change Washington so that it works for working families in New Mexico, including the hundreds of thousands of hard working Hispanics in Southern New Mexico."

The list of endorsers includes notable Hispanic leaders from almost every county in the 2nd District -– from Governor Richardson, to county commissioners, to state senators and representatives, to school board members.

"Harry Teague understands the needs of Hispanics in Southern New Mexico," said Congressman Joe Baca. "Education and immigration are especially important issues to many Hispanics and I know Harry will fight hard to improve education and establish a workable immigration policy."

Partial list of Hispanic leaders who have endorsed Harry Teague for Congress:

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NM-Sen: Pearce's First TV Ad Shows Backward Thinking Extremism

I won't post a copy of the first TV ad being aired by the GOP's U.S. Senate candidate in New Mexico. Let him pay to get it shown using his meager campaign funds. No free rides here for the backward thinking right-wing extremist. I don't want Pearce to follow in the footsteps of John McCain, who makes small media buys and then has the media and blogs show his ad for free. Let 'em pay.

I will say that the ad attacks "far-left environmentalists" and ties them to Tom Udall. Far-left, to Pearce, apparently means anything other than drilling everywhere no matter the impact and putting a nuke plant in every town. Some in Pearce's party at least pretend to be interested in significantly increasing alternative energy production and getting in on the ground floor in terms of developing green economy jobs.

Not Pearce. He doesn't mention anything except drilling and nuke plants -- so I take it that those two items constitute his entire energy plan. In fact, the ad seems to imply (at least to me) that nuke power can solve all our problems, maybe even cure cancer! I know that even many environmentalists think that some additional nuclear power may be necessary in the short-term, but Pearce seems to view it as a cure-all. He doesn't mention where all the poisonous waste would go.

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Moderators for Prez & VP Debates Released

The Commission on Presidential Debates just the moderators for its three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. The CPD had previously the dates and sites of the events. Unfortunately (and inexplicably), not one event will occur in the Mountain West or on the West Coast and no-one from ABC News will be participating:

First presidential debate:
Friday, September 26
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Jim Lehrer, Executive Editor and Anchor, The NewsHour, PBS

Vice presidential debate:
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Gwen Ifill, Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator and Managing Editor, Washington Week, PBS

Second presidential debate (town meeting):
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Tom Brokaw, Special Correspondent, NBC News

Third presidential debate:
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Bob Schieffer, CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Host, Face the Nation

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NM-01: Heinrich Talks About Issues Important to Working People

Martin Heinrich, NM-01's Dem candidate for Congress, talks about the Employee Free Choice Act, health care and his work with the labor movement in a video from the AFL-CIO posted on NM Labor 2008. Numerous labor unions have endorsed Heinrich. An article on the NM Labor 2008 site has this to say about Martin as part of a series called Meet Our Endorsed Candidates:

Martin’s past work with the labor movement includes leading the fight to raise the minimum wage in Albuquerque. Thanks to hard work from Martin, AFSCME, CWA, OPCM, UFCW, and the Building Trades unions, Albuquerque is one of only three cities in the U.S. in which the minimum wage is higher than both the federal and state minimum wages.

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