Democracy for New Mexico

Brand Democrat

Oliver Willis has created something called the Brand Democrat blog, and is producing a sort of ad campaign aimed at creating and disseminating positive images of what Democrats are all about. Here's one example:

You can check out many more examples by .

Willis is encouaging folks to use these free-for-the-taking "ads" on our websites, as posters and in any other manner that will help spread awareness of the "brand." He's even developing ways for people to create their own ads in this series. The idea is to use only positive statements about what the Democratic Party stands for, and to get them moving across the nation. The campaign is getting alot of buzz all over the blogosphere. Pass it on.

You can even get CafePress teeshirts, bumperstickers and other gear featuring several of the ads by clicking here. Proceeds will go toward forwarding the brand.

Any ideas for "ads" to add to the campaign?

Help Our Troops and Vets

I've added "Help Our Troops"  links on the right-hand side of this page for those who would like to support our troops and veterans in tangible ways that are a little more effective and personal than the yellow ribbons you often find on massive SUVs.

If you explore the sites, you'll find organizations dedicated to helping you to provide active duty troops and veterans with phone cards,  books, care packages, frequent flyer miles, family support, letters and more.

I got this forwarded email today that details the need that's out there, and points you to one of the organizations dedicated to helping:

I am the wife of a soldier currently stationed in Iraq and have heard the stories of some soldiers that don't have families or receive any mail. Well the reason for this e-mail is for those that would like to adopt a soldier. There are many needy soldiers that ask for the simplest things like chapstick, or gum. I am looking to possibly adopt one for the holidays b/c I know what it feels like to feel alone so if I could put a smile on someones face by sending them some beef jerky than I'm all for it. Here is the link www.anysoldier.com.

Here you read through it to know how you send the package and things that could be sent, then you will go to their list of soldiers that are in need. There you will get their names, address, the date of their expected return home, maybe photo and a list of some things they would like. I would like to thank you all in advance speaking for myself and the soldiers. Sometimes its the little things you do that make the world a better place. Thank you all and God Bless. --Shirley Lindsey

Fiscal Conservatism

From Yahoo News: "Republicans whisked a $388 billion spending bill through the House on Saturday, a mammoth measure that underscores the dominance of deficit politics by curbing dollars for everything from education to environmental cleanups.(...)

"Also enacted during the postelection session was an $800 billion increase in the government's borrowing limit. The measure was yet another testament to record annual deficits, which reached $413 billion last year and are expected to climb indefinitely.(...)

"A potential boon for Bush himself, $2 million for the government to try buying back the presidential yacht Sequoia. The boat was sold three decades ago, though its current owners say the yacht is not for sale."

Meanwhile, according to UPI , spending on the war in Iraq has risen to $5.8 billion a month, nearly a 50 percent increase above the $4 billion-a-month benchmark the Pentagon has used so far.

How the Democratic Party Works

Smart Campaigns, created by folks who are active in the Progressive Democrats of America, as well as Dean supporters, is compiling information on DNC members in all states, along with contact information. Click here.

The Democratic National Committee Membership Roster for 2004-2008 compiled by the Office of the Secretary as of November 8, 2004, lists these names for New Mexico:

John Wertheim, Albuquerque, Chair
Annadelle Sanchez, Espanola
Mary Gail Gwaltney, Las Cruces, Executive Committee Member
Hon. Raymond Sanchez, Albuquerque

The website pdf includes their mailing addresses and phone numbers. The Daily Kos list on the Smart Campaigns page has a somewhat different list of DNC members from our state, but it's based on delegates to the 2004 DNC Convention.

A number of us are working on assembling information on the national and local infrastructures of the Democratic Party, as well as on local meeting dates and how to become a precinct or ward chair or a member of various committees that vote. If you have any information you'd like to be included, please note it in the comments section of this post.

You'll see a link category for the Democratic Party in the upper left-hand sidebar of this website where I've included links to information we've managed to obtain so far. Our next DFA/DFNM Meetup in Albuquerque, which is set for Wednesday, December 1st at 7:00 PM at Page One Bookstore, will feature a presentation by a former Democratic Party ward chair, explaining how the Party works in Bernalillo County at the ward and precinct levels.

People interested in participating in the Party in order to improve how it serves the progressive grassroots are urged to attend this Meetup and link up with other like-minded folks. We'll be building our information base about how the Party operates and facilitating people's participation in significant numbers at the local level. Our next Meetup will also feature a presentation by Dr. Miles Nelson on his SeedPAC, which will raise money for local progressive candidates.

To join our Meetup group or RSVP for our next meeting, click here and enter your zip code.

The next general meeting of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County is set for Thursday, December 2nd, at 6:00 PM at UNM Law School. County Clerk Mary Herrera or a member of her staff will discuss the election and its immediate aftermath. It should be noted that these meetings are usually on the third Thursday of every month at UNM Law School. This one was postponed because of vote counting and canvassing. Open to all registered Democrats.

To receive the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County's weekly email newsletter, send your name and email address to dpbc@att.net. You must be a registered Democrat to be on this list.

Kerry Asks Us to Cosponsor Healthcare Bill

Have you gotten the new email from Kerry? Excerpt:

Normally, a member of the Senate will first approach other senators and ask them to co-sponsor a bill before it is introduced -- instead, I am turning to you. Imagine the power of a bill co-sponsored by hundreds of thousands of Americans being presented on the floor of the United States Senate. You can make it happen. Sign our "Every Child Protected" pledge today and forward it to your family, friends, and neighbors: https://johnkerry.com/EveryChild.

You can read the entire email from Kerry by clicking to the continuation page. You can also see a video that explains his plan by clicking on the link above.

How do you feel about this move by Kerry? Grandstanding or effective opposition party effort?

Dear Supporter,

I want to thank you personally for what you did in the election -- you rewrote the book on grassroots politics, taking control of campaigns away from big donors. No campaign will ever be the same.

You moved voters, helped hold George Bush accountable, and countered the attacks from big news organizations such as Fox, Sinclair Broadcasting, and conservative talk radio.

And your efforts count now more than ever. Despite the words of cooperation and moderate sounding promises, this administration is planning a right wing assault on values and ideals we hold most deeply. Healthy debate and diverse opinion are being eliminated from the State Department and CIA, and the cabinet is being remade to rubber stamp policies that will undermine Social Security, balloon the deficit, avoid real reforms in health care and education, weaken homeland security, and walk away from critical allies around the world.

Regardless of the outcome of this election, once all the votes are counted -- and they will be counted -- we will continue to challenge this administration. This is not a time for Democrats to retreat and accommodate extremists on critical principles -- it is a time to stand firm.

I will fight for a national standard for federal elections that has both transparency and accountability in our voting system. It's unacceptable in the United States that people still don't have full confidence in the integrity of the voting process.

I ask you to join me in this cause.

And we must fight not only against George Bush's extreme policies -- we must also uphold our own values. This is why on the first day Congress is in session next year, I will introduce a bill to provide every child in America with health insurance. And, with your help, that legislation will be accompanied by the support of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

There are more than eight million uninsured children in our nation.

That's eight million reasons for us to stay together and fight for a new direction. It is a disgrace that in the wealthiest nation on earth, eight million children go without health insurance.

Normally, a member of the Senate will first approach other senators and ask them to co-sponsor a bill before it is introduced -- instead, I am turning to you. Imagine the power of a bill co-sponsored by hundreds of thousands of Americans being presented on the floor of the United States Senate. You can make it happen. Sign our "Every Child Protected" pledge today and forward it to your family, friends, and neighbors:

https://johnkerry.com/EveryChild

This is the beginning of a second term effort to hold the Bush administration accountable and to stand up and fight for our principles and our values. They want you to disappear; they are counting on that. I'm confident you will prove them wrong, and you will rewrite history again.

Here is what I want you to know. I understand the strength, commitment, and passion that are at the core of what we built together -- and I am determined to make our collective energy and organization a force to be reckoned with in the weeks and months ahead.

Let's roll up our sleeves and get back to work for our country.

Future of MoveOn House Parties This Sunday

From Adam, Eli, Hannah, James, Laura, and the whole MoveOn PAC Team: In the years to come, our secret weapon is the creativity of millions of MoveOn members like you. This Sunday, join us for our most important round of house parties yet, on the Future of MoveOn. We'll discuss the election, celebrate our incredible accomplishments this year, then you'll help determine our direction going forward.

We're always amazed by what's unleashed when people think together. We have some good ideas of our own, but we fully expect some of the best ideas for the next few years will come from Sunday's house parties. We hope you'll be there to set our priorities and contribute new ideas. If you can host a house party, please do -- we'll guide you through every step of the process.

Can you attend a Future of MoveOn house party? Sign up now at: . . . . In the spirit of MoveOn, the house parties will take place in your neighborhood, but we'll join together on a special online conference call. Adam Ruben, other MoveOn staff, and I will report back to you on the work we've done together this year. Then we'll ask you to evaluate our options for the future. With our unique online tool, you'll be able to share your conclusions, and see what other parties think, in real time.

Your friends are welcome to join us for this discussion, even if they haven't been involved in MoveOn before. We'll need every interested person for the next years' efforts. I hope you'll bring your experience and intuition to this Sunday's house parties.

P.S. If you can't make it on Sunday, we have a neat way for you to contribute to the conversation. Our member-moderated discussed forum, the ActionForum, gives you a chance to share your thoughts, read the viewpoints of others, and help us find the best new ideas. What do you think is the most important goal for MoveOn to pursue in the next four years? Tell us now by clicking here.

November 3rd Theses

From John McAndrews: My apologies if you've already seen this, but I think it's worth risking the duplication to make sure this succinct, pointed assessment of where the Democratic Party is and needs to go is widely distributed. Read in conjunction with Garrison Keillor's Homegrown Democrat and George Lakoff's Don't Think of an Elephant.

The November 3rd Theses were developed by a group of Washington DC activists concerned about the future of the Democratic Party:

They hung the poster on the door at their local Democratic Party office. You can check out their website and blog here, which tells the story.

What do you think about the theses presented? What are your thoughts about the future of the Democratic Party? Some of our DFA/DFNM Meetup members are thinking about forming a reading/discussion group and perhaps featuring the George Lakoff book to kick things off. What are your thoughts on this? Would you be interested in such a group?

Come on, be brave and comment on this post!

Noted Journalist and Writer at UNM Today

Steve Coll, managing editor of the Washington Post and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, will give a lecture on "The Politics of Terrorism" at 5:30 PM today (Thursday) at UNM's Student Union Building. Coll is the author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to Sept. 10, 2001. His lecture is the keynote address of UNM's International Symposium, which is focusing this year on terror and human rights.

Keep Ohio Recount Non-Partisan

From Common Cause: Ask Secretary Blackwell to Step Aside

We need to make sure that any recount process in Ohio is totally free of the taint of partisanship. For an Ohio recount to be purely non-partisan, a state official such as Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, whose partisan decision in this election drew comparisons to Katherine Harris, and who led President Bush’s re-election efforts in Ohio, must excuse himself from the recount process.

This is why we are asking you to join us in signing our nationwide petition requesting that Mr. Blackwell remove himself from any and all recount- related procedures. We must ensure any recount is pure and not left open to accusations of partisanship, which tainted the process in Florida in 2000.

With all the problems with voter registration, provisional, and absentee ballots, it's extremely important to our democracy that we protect the integrity of our election process and make sure every vote is counted as cast. Please take a look!

HAPPY 56th, HOWARD DEAN!

Our own Page S. created a diary at Daily Kos where everyone who has the power (You've Got the Power!) can write Howard Dean a birthday wish on his 56th birthday today. Click here.

If you want to reminisce about the presidential candidate who almost was, check out Howard Dean-iabilia.

Was it really just a year ago that these buttons were around?