Democracy for New Mexico

Pompous, Self-Righteous, Self-Serving Statement of the Day on Iraq

You knew it had to be Joementum, the ex-Dem who constitutes a political party of one and is now the main apologist for the Bush escalation, regardless of party. Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, I, I, I. Lieberman wants Senators to "put the brakes" on resolutions disapproving the escalation in order to give our "160,000 troops a chance to succeed in Iraq." A chance to die for nothing attempting to carry out a misbegotten plan that, almost to a person, everyone with knowledge, expertise and logic says cannot succeed. To my mind, the blood of any and all troops and others that is shed because of what Lieberman calls our "last chance" will be on his hands now. As John Kerry once said, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?” Maybe Bush will give Joe another kiss tonight at the State of the Union speech. I guess he deserves it. More at TPM Muckraker.

Latest on NM Impeachment Effort

The effort to pass a resolution of impeachment against Bush and Cheney in the NM Legislature got front page coverage in the Albuquerque Journal this morning in this article. Quotes:

"Everyone says, 'This is symbolic.' So was dumping tea in Boston Harbor," Grubesic said. "We need to send a clear message to the rest of the world that we're not as insane as our administration is."

... It has been a hot-potato issue within the New Mexico Democratic Party: The party during its convention of more than 1,200 delegates last spring added a call for impeachment of Bush to its platform. But top-tier Democratic politicians, including Gov. Bill Richardson, were quick to distance themselves from that position.

...Both senators said they expect to take some heat for the proposed resolution but believe it can pass the Senate. "Politicians seem to last longer the less controversial they are— don't take on the tough issues; don't take a stand," Grubesic said. "With something important as this, I don't think you can just sit on your hands."

Also, the time of the press conference on the NM Impeachment Resolution has been changed:

From Gerald.Gonzalez@nmlegis.gov:
This Tuesday, January 23rd, at 2PM (not 1PM as previously stated), Senators Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-ABQ) and John T. L. Grubesic (D-Santa Fe) will introduce their resolution to impeach President George Bush and Vice-President Richard Cheney. Eight Senators in total have signed the Resolution including the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Cisco McSorley, and the Chair of the Rules Committee Linda Lopez. Based on a resolution crafted by Phil Burk of impeachbush.tv and the national impeachment movement, the resolution makes four charges, three of which are violations of the US Constitution.

The press Conference will directly follow the introduction of the excellent Joint Memorial opposing the creation of a National ID Card in New Mexico sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez and House Majority Leader Ken Martinez.

Who: Mother Media and Citizens from all over New Mexico
Where: The Capitol Building Rotunda
When: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2PM to 3PM
What: Senators Gerald Ortiz y Pino and John T. L. Grubesic to Introduce Impeachment Resolution in the New Mexico Senate

The charges in full:

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspired with others to defraud the United States of America by intentionally misleading congress and the public regarding the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 371; and 

WHEREAS, George W. Bush has admitted to ordering the national security agency to conduct electronic surveillance of American civilians without seeking warrants from the foreign intelligence surveillance court of review, duly constituted by congress in 1978, in violation of Title 50 United States Code, Section 1805; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspired to commit the torture of prisoners in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Chapter 113C, the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Geneva Conventions, which under Article VI of the United States constitution are part of the "supreme Law of the Land"; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney acted to strip American citizens of their constitutional rights by ordering indefinite detention without access to legal counsel, without charge and without the opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solely on the discretionary designation by the president of a United States citizen as an "enemy combatant", all in subversion of law.

*******
More info on Impeachment
https://impeachpac.org
https://impeachbush.tv
https://articlesofimpeachment.net

Mayor Marty: Big Plans for NM 10-50 Years Down the Road

According to an Albuquerque Journal article today, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez is already setting things in motion for a possible run for NM Governor in 2010. That's right, 2010, three years hence. We presume he'll be running as a Democrat, although he's been making nice with many Repubs during his last two mayoral campaigns. On Friday he formed a committee called 'Marty Chavez for New Mexico' to raise campaign bucks. Next week, ex-Ambassador to Spain Ed Romero, a powerful local Dem, is hosting a $2000 a person "exploratory kickoff event," although he's claiming he's not taking sides yet.

I guess Mayor Chavez is feeling threatened (or movitated) by current Lt. Governor Diane Denish's frequent announcements that she'll be running for guv in '08, as well as her accumulated $1 million campaign fund as of the end of '06. Denish, who's already well known and liked all over the state and is a past Chair of the Democratic Party of NM, will also have the advantage of increased media coverage when she''s in charge of running the store during Gov. Richardson's out of state trips to campaign for the presidency. Chavez had this say about his plans:

"It's pretty hard to deny I would like to be governor," he said, "and I've got very, very strong ideas about where I'd like to see New Mexico 10 years, 50 years down the road. But it's premature for those right now. I've got the biggest city in the state to run and that's my number one priority."

I don't know, isn't it customary for candidates to want to represent their CONSTITUENTS' ideas and viewpoints more than their own when expressing a desire to run for office? Not in this case. Then again, the Mayor has a habit of suggesting citizens take his way or the highway with issues like APS Board appointments, minimum wage raises for the city, roads through the Petroglyph National Monument, Downtown event centers and bars that offer fenced off areas for underage music fans. I can only imagine what he's hatching for New Mexico 10-50 years down the line. One thing we can be sure of is that the plans will almost certainly match the desires of big donor developers, some of his biggest contributors.

Recently, Mayor Chavez has also expressed an interest in running for Pete Domenici's Senate seat, but only if Domenici chooses not to run for another term in 2008. Of late, Sen. Domenici has been emphasizing he will, indeed, run again.

So far, Chavez hasn't had any success with running for statewide office. In 1998 he ran for governor, with Denish running for Lt Governor, but lost to Repub incumbent Gov. Gary Johnson by a margin of 54% to $46%, or 34,000 votes. Denish was also defeated, by Repub incumbent Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley.

Gift of Peace Project Comes to Albuquerque

Please Join Us! The Gift of Peace Project comes to Albuquerque, January 27th, 2007 at 8:00 PM:

The Friends Meeting House
1600 5th Street NW
Albuquerque, NM
January 27th, 2007, 8:00PM

With a world premiere performance and cross country tour of the play, The Gift of Peace, celebrities, activists, and a documentary film crew come together to educate people nationwide about the non-partisan bill to create a US Department of Peace and Nonviolence

The entire process will be documented by Emmy nominated, DGA Award Winning Director, Tasha Oldham. The film will explore whether everyday people can inspire a change in the direction of our country at this time in American history. A separate short film will be presented to all members of Congress during the National Department of Peace Conference.

The Gift of Peace tour will culminate in a Los Angeles show on February 28th with a group of high-profile performers, including Frances Fisher, Wendie Malick, Ed Asner, Dan Lauria, Esai Morales, Amy Smart, James Pickens Jr., Shiri Appleby, LaTanya Richardson, Ivan Sergei, George Coe, Kent McCord and Ed Asner, with direction by Tony Award winner John Rubenstein. Parts of the tour documentary will be previewed that night as we welcome home the touring production. The Greenway Court Alliance will host the evening, which will raise awareness, funds and media attention for the project.

The Gift of Peace Project
Co-sponsored by AFSC.org, Albuquerque, NM and
The Friends Meeting House, Albuquerque, NM
$5.00 Donation Asked
   
The Peace Alliance DOP Campaign
jodeeoyas@yahoo.com
https://thepeacealliance.org

Click to learn about current the New Mexico State Initiative in creating an Office of Peace within the Government of New Mexico. Click to learn about the National DOP Campaign.

Two APS Board Candidates on This Week's 'We The People'

WE THE PEOPLE: January 25, 2007 - 7 PM
APS School Board Candidates
Charles MacQuigg, Pauline Nunez
(District 4, Downtown, Albuquerque Highschool, Highland Highschool)
Live - Channel 27 ABQ! Worldwide On The Net! Click for Streaming Media: https://quote-unquote.org/

Join us on Second and Fourth Thursdays, 7-8 PM Mountain Time, Community Cable Channel 27, Albuquerque, NM. Call-in: (505) 346-1633. WE THE PEOPLE is an innovative call-in television show looking for TRUTH and TRANSPARENCY in local, state and federal governments. THANKS FOR WATCHING! Mickey Bock/Judith Binder - Hosts.

Editor's Note: Check out our previous post for more information on the 2/6/07 APS Board Election.

An Aside: Bear Down, Chicago Bears ...

Ex-Lobo Urlacher with George Halas trophy

Make every play clear the way to victory....You could hear the fans singing this song many times during the Bears victory over the New Orleans Saints yesterday for the NFC Championship and the (Papa Bear) trophy (named for the cantankerously historic Bears owner and coach). I have sung the old-fashioned song many times myself over the decades of masochistic pains and pleasures that constitute the loyal Bear fan's experience. So bear with me on this long, nonpolitical post.

This time, for the first time in 21 years, we could sing the song again during the playoffs with some hopeful joy. With the snow whipsawing into Soldier Field off the lakefront, the players' breath puffing out in steamy clouds, the turf torn, lumpy and slick, the uniforms dirty, the Windy City's skyline muffled by fog and eddies of snow. With victory pivoting on a Monsters of the Midway defense, a strong running game, a circus somersaulting catch into the end zone, a best of the best middle linebacker (Brian Urlacher this time, of Lovington, NM and UNM Lobo fame), romping with the ghosts of linebackers past like Bill George, Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary. With another fourth rate quarterback completing only 11 out of 26 passes for 144 yards. What other NFL team do you know of that could win its conference with a quarterback like Rex Grossman? It was classic Bears football at its quirky best. They stole the ball 4 times, totaled 196 yards running, experienced zero sacks, commited zero fumbles, threw zero interceptions and were penalized only once.

And what a truly righteous thing to have someone named Lovie Smith as head coach for the win, the very first African-American to accomplish that. How 'bout Dem Bears? And all those visions of our only Superbowl past, in 1986, when Jim McMahon, Coach Ditka, Mike Singletary, Wilbur Marshall, Walter Payton, The Refrigerator William Perry, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Willie Gault, Steve McMichael and Otis Wilson taking the honors and the Superbowl Shuffle playing in the background, big, dark Blues Brothers sunglasses all around:

Super Bowl Shuffle - video powered by Metacafe

I have to admit I'm not much of a football fan anymore. It's been almost 27 years since I lived in Chicago, where I grew up and lived until 1980, a decade past my college days. But when the Bears are in the playoffs, I can't help but watch. And sing that silly song. I spent a fair amount of time in my younger days in Wrigley Field and later Soldier Field, freezing in wet or arctic air and watching the Bears lose most of the time. My dad often got tickets through people he met via his job, mostly in the end zone and at the 50-yard line, about 25 rows up. Thrilling spots for a kid to watch the game. The end zone seats were an especially exciting location, in the days before nets to catch the extra points and field goals. People used to stand on the metal box seat dividers and dive to catch the balls zooming into the stands. The closest I ever got was a field goal that almost took my finger tips off, snapping and stinging in the cold.

We had to endure many losses, but were also treated to some of the most elegant, speedy and talented runners in the history of the game, including Willie Galimore, Gayle Sayers and Sweetness himself, Walter Payton. I got to see each of them run live, many times, with crowd noises exploding all around me. And we got to see some of the best defenses and linebackers ever, all big shouldered and blue collar tough, like Chicago was and sometimes still is if you look hard enough past the gentrification.

When I experience the rarity of a Bears playoff victory like yesterday's, I can't help but think of my long deceased father and how he must be rolling around happily in his grave singing Bear Down, Chicago Bears once more. After all, this was a man who grew up in the poor but proud, factory packed, immigrant neighborhoods near downtown Chicago. He had been at Wrigley Field on that incredibly frigid day (9 degrees) in 1963, long before Super Bowls existed, when the Bears beat the New York Giants for the NFL Championship, 14-10. This was not long after Kennedy was assassinated, when Mike Ditka still played tight end and when there were only 14 teams in the entire league. Bear fans were the same then as they are now. Long suffering, with a handful of joyous miracles to savor among the disappointments and defeats. But most of all, ever loyal.

The Chicago Tribune has voluminous coverage on the Bears and yesterday's game, including a set of videos documenting Football in Chicago. Even Barak Obama has Bear fever this year. Maybe it will be his year too. You never know what can happen when someone bears down ...

Support NM Effort to Impeach Bush and Cheney

Editor's Note: A press conference about NM Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino's impeachment bill will be held at the Rotunda in the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Tuesday, January 23. Meet at the ground floor of the Roundhouse at Noon for lobbying and then join the press conference at 1:00 PM in the Capitol Rotunda. All are invited and urged to attend! For more information contact legislative aide Desi Brown at (505)256-0668 or desibrown@comcast.net. Click for flyer (doc).

From Terry Riley:
Please act on this request ASAP. We have a chance to force our national legislators to do what they seem to be afraid to do. We need to show the world that we do not support Bush, especially since it is very likely that he will be attacking Iran very soon. We have to act NOW before the whole world acts against us.

There is a bill being presented in the legislature this Tuesday to bring impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheny. According to the Constitution, if a state legislature passes a bill like this and it is presented to Congress, Congressman Udall has agreed to carry it (I believe), the Congress has to put aside all other matters and begin impeachment proceedings. WOW! Please be a part of this very important action:

Please thank:
Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino: jortizyp@aol.com
Sen. John Grubesic, Rules Committee Vice Chair: john.grubesic@nmlegis.gov

Please ask these Rules Committee Members to cosponsor:
Sen. Linda Lopez, Rules Committee Chair: linda.lopez@nmlegis.gov
Sen. Cisco McSorley: cisco.mcsorley@nmlegis.gov
Sen. Dede Feldman: dede.feldman@nmlegis.gov

Send them a message something like this (change and expand as you like):

Please cosponsor, along with Senators Ortiz y Pino and Grubesic, the resolution to petition the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. If we go into the next presidency having established that a president can lie us into war, spy on us in violation of the law, detain without charge, and torture, we will be throwing away the democracy we've struggled to keep and expand for over 200 years. We all have a solemn duty to work for the impeachment of men who have made our executive branch of government into a monarchy. You are in a position to play a key role in making this happen. Please do the right thing. Make the choice you would want your great-grandchildren to be proud of.

More information: https://www.afterdowningstreet.org/nm

Thank you,
Terry Riley
Veterans for Peace
Military Families Speak Out

Editor's Note: Also see our earlier post.

NM Legislature '07: Equality NM Lobbying

From Equality New Mexico:
LEGISLATURE IN SESSION: The 2007 Legislative Session has officially begun!!! For the next 2 months, Equality New Mexico will be actively lobbying the legislature with a proactive agenda trying to expand the rights and protections New Mexico offers to its LGBT citizens. quality New Mexico is putting forward an aggressive agenda to procure new rights and benefits for LGBT families and to maintain the protections that already exist. 

Equality New Mexico will be pursuing the passage of four important pieces of legislation, all the while continuing our efforts to maintain New Mexico’s status as one of only four states that does not define marriage as solely between a man and a woman, by advocating for the defeat of any form of DOMA (Definition Of Marriage Act).

The four pieces of legislation that we will be advocating for are:

1) Domestic Partnership Legislation: this legislation would create a domestic partner registry allowing any two non-familial adults in an intimate relationship to form a domestic partnership.  This domestic partnership would provide the couple with all of the rights, protections and responsibilities available to married couples on the state level. 

This domestic partnership legislation is the center piece of our legislative agenda this year. EQNM will also be introducing marriage legislation (see below). We strongly believe that ALL New Mexicans deserve full equality under the law. However, we believe that domestic partner legislation has the best chance of passing this session. As the statewide LGBT advocacy organization, we are committed to obtaining the maximum rights and benefits for as many as possible, as soon as possible. While clearly domestic partnership does not give the LGBT community the equality we deserve, this legislation will provide many of the rights and protections so many of our families desperately need. 

2) Legislation to correct the disparity between state employees that are married and those that are domestically partnered: Currently, when a state employee retires, their domestic partner loses their insurance. This bill would allow domestic partners to maintain their insurance after their state employee partner retires.

3) Insurance Legislation: this bill would require that insurance companies offer domestic partner insurance benefits if an employer wants to offer them.

4) Civil Marriage Legislation:This legislation would amend the marriage license form to remove the gender specific language and would include a clear statement that the purpose of this legislation would be to allow same gender couples to enter into civil marriage.

Our agenda is aggressive, difficult, and also achievable, but we will need the help of the entire LGBT community and our allies. There are several things you can do to help:

• Sign up at our EQNM Action Center for regular e-blasts from EQNM to stay informed:
• Contact your legislators and ask them to support EQNM’s legislative agenda: https://eqfed.org/eqnm/leg-lookup/search.html
• Join EQNM at the Roundhouse on Lobby Day, March 5, 2007:
• Make a contribution to our lobbying efforts:

NEW EQUALITY NEW MEXICO WEBSITE LAUNCHED: Equality New Mexico has launched our new website!  The EQNM staff, board and volunteers have been working diligently to develop this new site to make it more user friendly.  With the launch of this new site, it will be easier for the community to get updates on what’s happening  at EQNM, in the legislature, and in the LGBT community in New Mexico and beyond. Please check it out at www.eqnm.org. This site will continue to be improved, but we would love your input. What do you want to see on the EQNM website?  What features will help you and the rest of the community?  Please let us know by e-mailing info@eqnm.org.

Special thanks go out to Board Member Michael Palmer and Administrative Manager Michelle Penson for taking on the bulk of this difficult task!

Please mark your calendars for these important upcoming events:

February 3, 2007:     Lobbying Training, sponsored by EQNM and Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance (Santa Fe, Location TBD)

February 11, 2007     Bubbly to Benefit Equality: Wine Tasting Fundraiser (Gruet Winery, Albuquerque)

March 5, 2007           EQNM LOBBY DAY AT THE ROUNDHOUSE:

April 28, 2007           2nd Annual Equality Ball (Sandia Resort and Casino)

August 8–11, 2007    Equality Federation Summer Meeting (Nativo Lodge, Albuquerque)

Gov. Bill Richardson Forms Presidential Campaign Exploratory Committee

Besides announcing the formation of an exploratory committee today on ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulis (includes video), Bill Richardson for President released a statement on his plans, reproduced in its entirety below. He's also released a video of his announcement in both English and Spanish, which can be found at RicharsonForPresident.com, along with a video about "The New Mexico Comeback." And here's Nedra Pickler's AP article on the story. This Week airs today at 4:00 PM Mountain Time on ABC Channel 7, KOAT, in New Mexico.

Barbara and Bill Richardson

Today's Albuquerque Journal has a ton of coverage, including Part I of a multi-part series that will run for consecutive Sundays on Gov. Richardson's life and experience. Click for:

• It's Official
• High Ambition: Richardson Eyes the White House
• Growing Up in Mexico: Inside, Outside the Walls
• Medical Deferment Kept Richardson Out of Draft
• A photo of today's front page of the Journal
• Online exclusive interview with Richardson by reporter Jeff Jones.

The Santa Fe New Mexican offers an editorial on his chances, a story on his "makeover" and a compilation of its stories on the Governor in the form of .

Richardson for President press release:

Richardson has unparalleled experience and proven record of success as a Congressman, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary, and Governor

SANTA FE, NM--New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced the formation of a Presidential campaign exploratory committee, with the clear intention of seeking the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.

"I am taking this step because we have to repair the damage that's been done to our country over the last six years," said Richardson. "Our reputation in the world is diminished, our economy has languished, and civility and common decency in government has perished."

"The next president of the United States must get our troops out of Iraq without delay. Before I became Governor of New Mexico, I served as Ambassador to the United Nations and as Secretary of Energy. I know the Middle East well and it's clear that our presence in Iraq isn't helping any longer," said Richardson.

"Our next President must be able to bring a country together that is divided and partisan," said Richardson. "It is clear that Washington is broken and it's going to take a return to bipartisanship and simple respect for each other's views to get it fixed. Most public policy solutions these days are coming from Governors and state government. On issues like the environment, jobs, and health care, state governments are leading the way. And that's because we can't be partisan or we won't get our jobs done. That's a lesson I've learned as Governor and that's what I'll do as President."

When New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson speaks about embracing diversity, the American dream, and public service, he speaks from unparalleled experience. Born November 15, 1947 in Pasadena, California to an American father and Mexican mother, Governor Richardson grew up in Mexico City before moving to New England, where he attended high school and college. He has dedicated his life to public service, as a United States Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy, and now as Governor of New Mexico.

This past November, Richardson won re-election to his second term as Governor of New Mexico with a resounding 69% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in state history. He was supported by Democrats, Republicans and Independents, winning in both urban and rural counties. New Mexicans overwhelmingly endorsed Governor Richardson's aggressive efforts to improve education, cut taxes, build a high-wage economy, expand health care access, invest in renewable energy and make New Mexico safer.

Bill Richardson's fiscally responsible governing style has allowed New Mexico to tackle important priorities, while maintaining a balanced budget and the highest reserves in state history. He cut $230 million in bureaucratic waste, invested in new opportunities for New Mexico's children and returned more than $1 billion dollars in taxes to working families. His innovative policies have turned New Mexico's economy around, with 84,000 new jobs, rising personal income and a growing high tech sector that includes manufacturing, aviation, and renewable energy.

As Secretary of Energy to President Bill Clinton, Bill Richardson implemented tough efficiency standards to save energy. And as Governor, he has made New Mexico the Clean Energy State by requiring utility companies to produce energy through renewable resources and reduce carbon emissions.

Before becoming Governor, Bill Richardson served in Congress for 15 years and helped President Clinton pass the economic plan that created millions of jobs and led America to its first balanced budget in 30 years.

Appointed by President Clinton as the Ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson worked with world leaders to build alliances and help prevent the development of nuclear weapons in North Korea. Bill Richardson has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the release of hostages, American servicemen and political prisoners in North Korea, Iraq, and Cuba. Governor Richardson recently negotiated a 60-day cease fire in war-torn Darfur following direct talks with rebel leaders and the President of Sudan.

As Chairman of the Democratic Governor's Association, Governor Richardson raised more than $28 million for gubernatorial candidates and helped elect the first Democratic majority of governors since 1994. Governor Richardson also served as Chair of the Western Governors Association, Border Governor's Conference and the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Bill Richardson has been married to his high school sweetheart, Barbara, for 33 years. Richardson received a BA from Tufts in 1970 and a MA from Tuft's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1971.

The Bill Richardson for President Exploratory Committee will be headquartered in New Mexico. Key staff will include:

• Dave Contarino: Contarino ran Richardson's first campaign for Governor, served as his Chief of Staff for 3 years and most recently was the Chair of his re-election campaign.
• Amanda Cooper: Cooper was Richardson's re-election Campaign Manager and Fundraising Director. Cooper oversaw raising $14 million for the Governor's re-election campaign and led the effort to raise $28 million for the DGA in Governor Richardson's two year term as Chair.
• Pahl Shipley: Shipley was most recently the Communications Director and Chief Spokesperson in the Office of Governor Bill Richardson. Shipley is a 25-year award-winning veteran of television news and prior to working for Richardson, he served as the News Director at KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Colleen Turrentine: Turrentine served as the national fundraising director for the Democratic Leadership Council. Before that, she worked for the 2004 Joe Lieberman presidential campaign.

Richardson's Senior Advisors will include:

• Steve Murphy: Murphy is a founding partner of Murphy Putnam Media, a premiere Washington media consulting firm. Murphy was Dick Gephardt's National Campaign Manager in 2003-2004 and managed his Iowa caucus campaign in 1988.
• Mike Stratton: Stratton has served in numerous senior roles in several Democratic Presidential Campaigns and has served as a long-time Senior Political Advisor to Richardson.
• Mark Putnam: Putnam, a founding partner of Murphy Putnam media, has been a media consultant and campaign strategist for over two decades. He's written, directed, and produced over 1,000 commercials for campaigns in 46 states, including helping elect five Governors, six U.S. Senators, and dozens of members of the U.S. House.
• Jeff Eller: Eller is the CEO of Public Strategies in Austin, and a veteran of the Clinton 1992 Campaign and the White House.
• Jennifer Yocham Poersch: Yocham Poersch, a former deputy finance director for the 2004 Lieberman campaign, will work with Cooper on national fundraising. Poersch worked for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, including a stint as senior adviser to committee chairwoman, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington
• Joe Velasquez: Velasquez is Richardson's advisor on Labor and Political Affairs. Velasquez was the Head of the Department of Community Service for the AFL-CIO. Additionally, he was a former member of the DNC staff and a Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President Bill Clinton.
• Calvin Humphrey: Humphrey has worked with Richardson for many years as his Foreign Policy Advisor, traveling to Iraq and most recently, Sudan on hostage rescue and other missions. Humphrey served as the Democratic Staff Director, Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives and previously was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of International Affairs.
• Andre Pineda: Pineda is the Founder and President of Pineda Consulting, a California-based, Latino-owned firm specializing in political polling and strategic communications. Pineda has over 15 years of experience working for some of the biggest names in the political consulting business - Peter Hart, Geoff Garin, Fred Yang, Rich Schlackman, and Stan Greenberg.
• Suzanne Cole Nowers: Nowers is the CEO of Nexus Direct, a top direct marketing firm, who worked for Richardson's re-election and whose clients include the DSCC to coordinate our direct mail fundraising.

To view Governor Bill Richardson's video statement in both English and Spanish please go to: www.richardsonforpresident.com

Contact: Pahl Shipley
505.982.2291 | pshipley@richardsonforpresident.com

Saturday Music Hall: California Dreaming Edition

Denny Doherty of the 60s group, the Mamas and Papas, at 66 of kidney problems following abdominal surgery, so I thought I'd feature some of their harmonic convergences today. Sweet harmonies. Besides filling a pop music niche before folk rock and psychedelia completely took over the music scene, the Mamas and Papas were also among the organizers of one of the very first rock music festivals -- Monterey Pop in 1967 -- that was the national launching pad for many including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Otis Redding. David Crosby of the Byrds sang with Buffalo Springfield. Other performers included the Mamas and Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankar, Laura Nyro, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Country Joe and The Fish, Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Canned Heat, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Steve Miller Band, and The Blues Project. During the Summer of Love.

The video above captures their lip synching of California Dreaming on the weekly rock music TV show Hullabaloo -- shot in perhaps the only era that could accommodate a music event with go go dancers springing out of old fashioned claw-foot bath tubs.

Here they are closing out Monterey Pop with a live rendition of Martha and the Vandella's hit, Dancing in the Streets. By the way, it was Mama Cass Elliot who first got the members of CSNY singing together. She passed away way too soon of a fatal heart attack, at age 30 in 1974. John Phillips died in 2001 at 65, so Michelle Phillips is now the only surviving member.

Here's a triplet shot of some of their hits -- California Dreaming, Monday, Monday and I Call Your Name, again with the bath tubs. I have no idea why the tubs were such a theme, but you have to admit the impact of the clothes ensembles bests that of even the tubs in this vid.

As we move deeper into a time of neocon danger and confusion, settle in and enjoy the light-hearted silliness of the Mamas and Papas as we did back in the day, before the more serious and cutting edge aspects of the era settled over us.

My memory bank on this band includes my freshman year at the University of Illinois, living in one of the women's dorms, sharing a small room with 2 other plaid skirt wearing, knee sock donning coeds. Champaign-Urbana had lots of infamous beer only bars on or near campus that served the students, regardless of whether they were 21 or not. Some of them had been in existence since the 1920s, when the U of I created the rituals of college Homecoming and The Galloping Ghost, Red Grange, played halfback for the Fighting Illini football team.

You weren't allowed to have a car on campus or live in off-campus apartments until you were 21, so there were few student DWI problems. Female students, however, had to be back in the dorms by 10:30 PM on weekdays and 1:00 AM on weekends. Male students had no hours. We also were required to wear skirts or dresses to class. And don't even ask about sleeping with rollers embedded in our hair. Ah, the changes to come.

Once in awhile, usually during election time, these student ghetto bars were "raided" by the cops, but only after we were forewarned they were coming. Underaged drinkers were instructed to put their beers to the center of the tables and to order cokes for sipping while the police strode about. They usually arrested one or two rowdies, then left, and the underage drinking continued, with the university's unofficial blessing. Seems scandalous indeed in this era of police state control and safety at any cost lawmaking.

Anyway, one of the traditions of my freshman year was returning to the dorm with a definite beer buzz, hooking up with like-minded returnees from the bars, and singing harmonies to the Mamas and Papas playing on mostly mono record players, candles burning. It was a time. And it changed quickly into something much more complex and layered. But for those couple of years when the Mamas and Papas were all over the radio, everyone I knew in the flat cornfields of downstate Illinois sang along and smiled, dreaming of California.