Democracy for New Mexico

NM-01: Heinrich Offers Free Pie Delivery to Lucky Donor

From Martin Heinrich:

This Thursday, I'm going to deliver someone a free Thanksgiving pie - and, it could be you!

Here's how it works. Everyone that makes an online contribution to my campaign between now and 6 PM on Wednesday will get entered into a drawing. We'll conduct the drawing at 6 PM sharp and announce the winner on the Heinrich for Congress blog (www.martinheinrich.com/blog). We'll contact the winner shortly after the drawing and arrange for a Thanksgiving delivery.

PLEASE, CLICK HERE, MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND ENTER OUR PIE CONTEST!

If you don't live in New Mexico's First Congressional District, you're still eligible to win! But, instead of getting a visit - you'll get a Thanksgiving phone call and a coupon for a pie. The only participation restriction is that you must meet the eligibility requirements to contribute to my campaign.

This is your chance. Help us turn this Congressional seat blue and win a free pie. What could be better than that?

PLEASE, CLICK HERE, MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND ENTER OUR PIE CONTEST!

Want to increase your chances of winning? Make sure everyone that's going to your Thanksgiving dinner makes a contribution to my campaign by 6 PM on Wednesday! Thanks so much for your continued support. And, have a happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,
Martin Heinrich
www.martinheinrich.com

Editor's Note: To read our previous coverage of the 2008 Congressional race in NM-01, visit our archive.

Reception Supporting John Blair for State Senate District 15 Set for 12.1.07

From Leslie Kelly:

Dear Friends:
John Blair is running for state Senate District 15 against a Republican incumbent. John can win, but not without our help.

Please join me and our host committee of Commissioner Deanna Archuleta, Judy Pratt, Nasha & Raul Torrez, and Patrick Hart for an informal reception supporting John Blair (suggested contribution $25) on Saturday, December 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.

Easy directions are: Head west on Indian School from the intersection of Indian School and Carlisle in Albuquerque. Turn north on Harvard. Turn west on Morrow. We are the third house on the left -- 2316 Morrow NE, tel. 268-0565. Click for FLYER (pdf).

NM-03: Wiviott Files Papers to Enter Congressional Race in Northern NM

Santa Fe small businessman and Democrat Don Wiviott announced today that he has filed the necessary papers with the Federal Election Commission to run for Congress in New Mexico’s third congressional district.

Wiviott released a statement today commenting on his entry into the race. “This summer, I announced my intention to run for the U.S. Senate because I believed that New Mexico needed another strong, progressive voice representing us. Congressman Udall is a good friend of mine and a great legislator—his decision to seek that Senate seat guarantees that a progressive voice will be heard. So I’m running in the tradition of Tom Udall to succeed him in the House of Representatives.”

Wiviott’s initial commitment to his congressional campaign is $325,000. Wiviott explained, “I am not a career politician, but another career politician is the last thing New Mexico or our country needs. As someone who is not a career politician, I understand that it’s going to take money to introduce myself to the people of northern New Mexico and explain why I’ll do the best job of fighting for them in Washington for better healthcare and a cleaner environment. I’ve personally committed to making sure my campaign has the needed resources.”

Wiviott continued, “Under George Bush, Washington has failed the people of New Mexico and we need a change. George Bush has gotten us involved in an endless civil war in Iraq—as the son of two veterans, I know the best way to support our troops is to bring them home and that’s how I’ll vote in Congress. George Bush has opposed providing thousands of New Mexico children with the healthcare they need—I’ll fight for quality, affordable healthcare for every child in New Mexico. And George Bush has put polluters in charge of protecting our environment—I’ve spent my life promoting responsible clean energy solutions and that’s what I’ll do in Washington.”

Over the last two decades, Wiviott has built a successful New Mexico-based business and established himself as one of the nation’s leading “green builders.” His projects in Santa Fe, like the Lofts, have helped create jobs, grow the economy and protect New Mexico’s precious natural resources. 

The Third Congressional District contains all of San Juan, Mora, Colfax, Union, Curry, Roosevelt, Los Alamos, Taos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel and most of Santa Fe, Sandoval, and McKinley counties. 

For more information about the campaign, please check Wiviott's revamped website at:

www.donfornewmexico.com.

To read our previous coverage of the 2008 U.S. Senate race click here. To see our past coverage on the NM-03 Congressional race, click here.

NM-Sen: Chavez Town Hall Provides Glimpse of Campaign Themes

Last week, the Marty Chavez for U.S. Senate campaign conducted a live online "town hall" with Mayor Chavez (right). It was obvious from listening to what Chavez had to say -- and what some of his obvious supporters typed into the comments screen -- that two of his main campaign talking points in the early going will be that "Udall cut funding for Los Alamos National Labs" and that Marty is proud to be a "native son" with longstanding Hispanic roots in New Mexico.

Of course Chavez also hit on this election cycle's mainstream Dem themes during the online event -- bringing the troops home from Iraq, providing universal access to health care, promoting renewable energy and finally getting rid of the incompetence and dishonesty of the Bush administration. Those are givens, where the devil is in the details and the real test comes if and when the candidate gets to Washington to reveal them. After all, anyone can say anything or promise anything during runups to elections, and they do.

But in trying to communicate distinctions between himself and primary rival Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03), Chavez has been focused on suggesting that Udall won't do a good job of representing the interests of New Mexico. Why? Because Udall voted recently against sacrificing more money to fund the on-its-last-legs plutonium pit nuke weapon mission of Los Alamos -- preferring to push a new mission of renewable energy development for the labs to increase their chances of survival. And because Udall wasn't born here in the state. Chavez spent the early minutes of the town hall describing his family's origins here and his experiences growing up in state.

Udall's Roots and Popularity in NM
Using this kind of spin against Udall is problematic at best. Udall is one of the most popular political figures in the state -- across the board -- and his family has pioneer roots that go back a long way. He has a distinctly Western sensibility -- reserved, low key and statesmanlike. While representing New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District, he's had strong support from Hispanics, Native Americans and Anglos alike.

As discussed by David Roybal of the Albuquerque Journal, "Elected attorney general in 1990, Udall got more votes than any other Democrat in a statewide race. In 1994, only Court of Appeals candidate Richard Bosson collected more votes. Democrat Jeff Bingaman, in his successful re-election bid for the U.S. Senate that year, got nearly 30,000 fewer votes than Udall." Contrast these results with Chavez's performance in his only state level race -- for Governor in 1998 -- when he lost to Repub Gary Johnson by a margin of 55% to 45% statewide, and by 58% to 42% in Albuquerque's Bernalillo County, where he lives.

Udall and Zia Pueblo members celebrate ribbon cutting for Ojito Wilderness Area

To the Left or Repub-Lite?
Even though Chavez continues to try and advance the notion that Udall is "too far to the left" for New Mexico voters, he isn't delineating how he significantly differs with Udall on the majority of the positions he's discussed so far. Does that make Chavez "too far to the left" too? Just asking. So far, on paper, the primary foes don't look that different in terms of their public expressions on major issues. However, in reality we all know that Chavez operates in Republican-lite land much of the time -- especially in terms of being what he calls "pro-business" and what others often call "in the pocket of big donors and sprawl developers." Since he doesn't want to dwell on that orientation much, at least in the primary race, Chavez will apparently stay with the lab cuts and native son mantras for now.

Green or Greenwashed?
Another theme he hit on a lot during the town hall had to do with his "green" achievements. Even though many see a number of Marty's claims in this area to be mostly "greenwashing" -- given his never-ending support for sprawl development and roads through where he wants them to go -- he likes to list off all the awards and top ten listings the city has received during the Marty years. He's been working on that front for some time now, building up resume material for his now abandoned 2010 run for governor. Again, what candiates look like on paper and how they operate in the real world is often at odds. Granted, Chavez has done some good things in this area, but they've often been offset by his actions to promote unlimited growth policies. For example, it's a positive thing to push for water savings, but that effort loses its luster when you are supportive of fast and furious growth that adds thousands of new users to the system.

Chavez may well encounter more problems in this area as time goes on. For instance, he boasts about his role in securing a new supply of drinking water for Albuquerque from the Rio Grande via the San Juan - Chama watershed. If he supports funding for expanded plutonium pit production and other nuke weapons work by Los Alamos labs, there's a real danger that radionuclides and chemicals used in such processes may travel into the Rio Grande and pollute Albuquerque's primary drinking water source. It's hard to have it both ways.

Regardless, it will be difficult indeed for Chavez to trump the reputation and achievements of Tom Udall and his family relatated to conservation and the environment, stretching back to Toms' dad Stewart and his Uncle Mo. The family's green credientials are impressive and long-standing, with an innovative environmental record that goes back to the 1960s and continues to this day with Tom, as well as cousin Mark, who's running for U.S. Senate in Colorado.

Fit for the Senate?
Not every native son (or daughter) has the right qualifications, skills and persona to be a strong and effective Senator, no matter how deep their roots go. After all, a Senate gig is primarily a collaborative and collegial post, where gaining the respect of your fellow Senators, working well with others and negotiating honestly and personably over time are necessities for success. Udall has been known for operating in this manner for years, earning high marks from almost everyone he's worked with both inside and outside the government.

Marty, on the other hand, is known for being relentlessly stubborn about getting his way, lousy at negotiating with people whose opinions differ with his, pushy to the point of rudeness in trying to advance his agenda and prone to avenging perceived slights along the way. I can't see his personal traits and habits being a good match for those valued in the U.S. Senate.

In a campaign visit up to Farmington last Friday, Chavez himself drew attention to his pugnatious style:

"I tend to get done what I say I'm going to do. I'm a bit of a bulldog in that regard. I believe strongly once you've made a decision, unless something unusual pops up, you stick to it and you stay on it like a laser. It tends to get done."

Chavez, who describes himself as being "pretty hard-headed," believes he can beat Udall during the primary.

We'll see, especially as the campaign trail brings out more of the nitty gritty in the candidates' personas and styles, as well as a deeper comparison of their records in the real world.

The Marty Chavez for Senate campaign just launched its new website, and celebrated the grand opening of its Albuquerque campaign office Saturday morning. has the story. A new , one of the founders of the Draft Udall movement, looks at another aspect of Marty's campaign website.

Rep. Tom Udall officially filed the necessary papers this past Friday to run for U.S. Senate and will formally announce his candidacy sometime over Congress' Thanksgiving recess.

To read our previous coverage of the 2008 U.S. Senate race in New Mexico visit our archive.

11th Annual Community Holiday Dance & Gala Celebration for Peace & Justice

From the : 11th Annual Community Holiday Dance and Gala celebration of solidarity for peace and Justice! For the 11th year at 7:00 PM on Saturday, December 8, at the Height’s Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE in Albuquerque, the Peace and Social Justice Community will gather to celebrate our diversity and solidarity as we work together for peace and justice.

Everyone is invited to enjoy and dance to the music of Wagogo. The Gala, a benefit for the Peace and Justice Center, will also feature New Mexican Holiday foods, fair trade coffee, arts and crafts, cooperatively and locally made gifts. Beginning at 7 PM enjoy great food and beverages, the finest home-baked goodies, locally made gifts, and dancing with old and new friends! The suggested donation is $8 – $10 for adults.

Sunday Bird Blogging: Einstein Edition

Shhhhh. Don't tell Sunny the sun conure or Bosco the peach-faced lovebird that I'm posting this video. They get a little jealouse about the ability of other kinds of parrots to talk and "parrot" sounds. Sunny and Bosco do communicate with humans and each other, but they use truly avian sounds and gestures, not words. Their species aren't known for vocalizing or mimicry. They're much better at acrobatics, odd noises, tricks and puzzle solving. We've learned the meaning of their many sounds and they've learned the meaning of a few of ours, but African Greys like Einstein take the cake. They're considered the most intelligent of the parrots. See for yourself. (Hat tip to Bridgett.)

(Updated) Rep. Tom Udall Files Papers to Enter U.S. Senate Race

UPDATE: Rep. Tom Udall will be the guest of honor at a luncheon on Tuesday, November 20, in Rio Rancho sponsored by the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho Chambers of Commerce. The luncheon will be from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1771 Rio Rancho Boulevard. During the lunch, Rio Rancho Regional Chamber President and CEO Debbi Moore will interview Udall. Visitors are encouraged to participate. The cost is $25 for members of either chamber and $35 for others. The event was scheduled before Udall announced his entry into the Senate race.
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From the Albuquerque Tribune:

U.S. Rep. Tom Udall has made it official: He is running for the U.S. Senate.

The Santa Fe Democrat had hinted he would make the move, and on Friday he filed a statement of candidacy, a staff member said.

A campaign kickoff is planned in New Mexico after Thanksgiving, his office said. Udall is campaigning this weekend in Iowa on behalf of Gov. Bill Richardson's race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

A New Era of Progressivism?

Progressivism is a term that refers to a broad school of international social and political philosophies. The term progressive was first widely used in late 19th century America, in reference to a general branch of political thought which arose as a response to the vast changes brought by industrialization, and as an alternative both to the traditional conservative response to social and economic issues and to the various more or less radical streams of socialism and anarchism which opposed them.

Progressivism historically advocates the advancement of workers' rights and social justice. The progressives were early proponents of anti-trust laws and the regulation of large corporations and monopolies, as well as government-funded environmentalism and the creation of National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. -- Wikipedia

From U-S-History.com:

... Progressivism was rooted in the belief ... [that humans were] capable of improving the lot of all within society. As such, it was a rejection of Social Darwinism, the position taken by many of the rich and powerful figures of the day.... Specific goals included:

The desire to remove corruption and undue influence from government through the taming of bosses and political machines;

the effort to include more people more directly in the political process;

the conviction that government must play a role to solve social problems and establish fairness in economic matters.

The successes were many, beginning with the Interstate Commerce Act (1887) and the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890). Progressives never spoke with one mind and differed sharply over the most effective means to deal with the ills generated by the trusts; some favored an activist approach to trust-busting, others preferred a regulatory approach. A vocal minority supported socialism with government ownership of the means of production. Other Progressive reforms followed in the form of a conservation movement, railroad legislation, and food and drug laws.

From :

Sound Familiar?
Progressive Movement: Concerns over abuses by business and the "robber barons" who exploited labor and the lack of government regulation of the marketplace ... was a prevailing theme of those seeking reform. The sharp rise in economic activity spurred by industrialization and cheap labor contributed to concentrations of economic power among large national corporations and the formation of huge "trusts" as companies sought to eliminate their prime competitors. Between 1897 and 1904, 4,227 firms merged to form 257 corporations, with the largest merger consolidating nine steel companies to create the U.S. Steel Corp. controlled by Andrew Carnegie. By 1904, 318 companies controlled about 40 percent of the nation's manufacturing output. A single firm produced over half the output in 78 industries.

An Early Version of the"Blogosphere"?
Progressive, "muckraking" journalists also played key parts in highlighting specific economic and social ills that led to government action. Jacob Riis exposed the poor living conditions of the tenement slums in How the Other Half Lives (1890), which led to significant legislation establishing minimum safety and housing standards in tenements. In The Shame of the Cities (1904), Lincoln Steffens exposed the rampant political corruption in the party machines of Chicago and New York, arguing that the political machines served the interests of businessmen who sought government contracts, franchises, charters, and special privileges. The Jungle, published by Upton Sinclair in 1906, traced an immigrant family's exploitation and the unsanitary practices prevalent in Chicago's meat packing industry. The outrage provoked by the novel contributed to the enactment of the and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906, the first legislation of its kind to set minimum standards for food and drug production.
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Progressive (and sometimes populist) changes continued on and off through President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, which in large part was designed to head off even more intense and dramatic changes springing from the Labor Movement and Communist revolutions. Some strains of the movement continued into the 1970s with the civil rights, women's and GLTB movements, as well as innovative programs like the GI Bill, Peace Corps and Medicare. Then Richard Nixon's infamous "Southern Strategy" of using opposition to the new civil rights legislation to turn the Southern bloc of states into a Republican stronghold.

Eventually, this led to "conservative" victories, with Ronald Reagan as President and a Congress led by the likes of Rep. Newt Gingich dedicated to turning back the clock on many of the reforms of the progressive and New Deal eras and returning to an unregulated market and corporate hegemony. This still wasn't good enough for Bush II and cronies -- who have worked for 7 years to literally bankrupt, cripple and dismantle the government and regulatory agencies.

The reliance on government to create a level playing field in a variety of areas was replaced by the view that government was the problem, not the solution. The negative results are apparent in virtually every aspect of American life, as well as on a planetary basis. The ravages of "free" trade, severe deregulation, privatization, militarization, anti-unionization and multinational corporatism are everywhere. The Robber Barons are back -- as truly global actors this time.

Unfortunately, too many of today's Dems are aligned with the DLC wing of the Party, or self-identify as so-called "centrists," "moderates" or "pro-business" Democrats. These politicos are dedicated to using "triangulation" to support global corporatist power and fight against "core" or "progressive" Democrats. The new progressives want to institute reforms similar to those implemented in earlier progressive eras to reinstate a level playing field where ordinary working people can prosper and community and environmental needs -- not just the corporate bottom line -- are a primary part of the value system.

From The 50 Year Strategy: A New Progressive Era (No, Really!), By Simon Rosenberg And Peter Leyden, Mother Jones magazine, November/December 2007:

A New Progressive Era?
A conservative president who is deeply unpopular with Americans. A country facing profound economic and security challenges. New technologies upending old media. A cohort of new immigrants and a bulging generation of young people ready to transform the political calculus.

2008? No, 1932, the tail end of the Hoover administration. And you know how that one turned out. FDR and his fellow progressives took on the challenges of their day and built the domestic programs and international institutions that ushered in an era of unrivaled prosperity and stability. They used a new medium—radio—to reach citizens, and fashioned a new majority coalition from the emergent demographic realities of their time.

Today's progressives face a political opportunity as great as any seen since. The election of 2006 may well have marked the end of the conservative ascendancy that began with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. George W. Bush now has the potential to do what Herbert Hoover did in the 1920s—tarnish his party's brand for a generation or more.

As in FDR's day, a new media is emerging, one that will ultimately replace the broadcast model of the 20th century. A new American populace is emerging, led by the arrival of the millennial generation and a new wave of immigrants, particularly Hispanics. And once again, the nation faces massive challenges—from climate change to health care in the era of biotech and preparing young people for a global economy. On the eve of the 2008 election, it's worth raising our sights beyond what it would take for a Democrat to win the presidency, and begin thinking about what it would take to bring about deeper, more lasting changes. The stars have aligned to give progressives a chance to permanently shift the conversation about the nation's values. The question before us now is, Do today's progressives have what it takes to do what FDR and his allies accomplished 75 years ago—seize the new politics, take on the big challenges, and usher in a new era?

Rise of the Internet and Participatory Politics
... This new paradigm represents a profound threat to the politics of privilege. Funding expensive broadcast campaigns forces political leaders to raise enormous sums of money, giving large corporations and wealthy individuals disproportionate influence. Republicans and Democrats have both played this game, but the Republicans consistently won; now, using Internet fundraising, Democratic Party committees consistently out-raise Republicans. The two leading Democratic presidential candidates raised $60 million in the second quarter of 2007—60 percent more than the $38 million for the two leading Republicans. By July, Barack Obama already had 258,000 donors to his campaign, more than any presidential campaign ever had at that point. Embracing this model has allowed the progressive movement and the Democratic Party to become much more authentic champions of the middle class, dependent as they now are on the financial support of average people.

NM Interim Health & Human Services Committee Endorses Health Security Act by 10-1 Vote

From the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign:
The New Mexico State Legislature's Interim Health & Human Services Committee endorsed the Health Security Act yesteray afternoon by a vote of 10-1, on a motion made by State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque).

This was the last scheduled meeting of the Interim Committee before the regular legislative session begins in January of 2008.

The Committee did not consider endorsing Governor Bill Richardson's universal health care proposal.

The Health Security Act has also been endorsed by 132 diverse organizations statewide, and by 27 New Mexico municipalities and counties, including Albuquerque and Las Cruces and Bernalillo and Dona Ana counties.

The Health Security Act sets up a health insurance cooperative that guarantees health coverage for most New Mexicans regardless of employment, economic or health status. It guarantees choice of doctor (even across state lines), a comprehensive benefit package, and would be run by an independent, non-governmental, geographically representative Commission.

The role of private insurance companies would be shifted to provide supplementary insurance, just as they did under the original Medicare.

Click to read more about the Health Security Act or Governor Richardson's universal health care proposal.

Live Online Saturday: First Presidential Forum on Global Warming

From Grist:
Los Angeles, CA – For the first time in history, presidential candidates will take part in a forum focused on the issues of global warming and America’s energy future this Saturday, November 17th at the Wadsworth Theater in Los Angeles. The forum will be webcast live beginning at approximately 3:00 PM MST, at: https://www.grist.org/webcast.

Senators Hillary Clinton and John Edwards and Congressman Dennis Kucinich are confirmed to attend the presidential forum sponsored by Grist and PRI’s Living on Earth. The candidates will present their plans to address global warming and energy issues in a series of interviews with journalists and experts in the field.  All candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties have been invited.

"Grist.org is pleased to be a sponsor to the Presidential Forum and provide the candidates a platform to spell out for voters exactly what they intend to do halt global warming. Most Americans recognize the seriousness of the issue and are looking to our political leaders for solutions," said Chip Giller, President of Grist.org.

"We are very excited about providing voters with the chance to hear, directly from the candidates, how they will address global warming and America’s energy future," said Gene Karpinski, President of the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

The forum will be presented in partnership with the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Center for American Progress Action Fund, NRDC Action Fund, and the Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will give the opening remarks.

"Californians know there is no time to waste in fighting climate change," said Susan Smartt, Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "We are extremely proud that California is hosting the first ever presidential forum on climate change and our energy future. We hope the nation will be taking notes."

"California has shown great leadership on this issue from emissions to alternative resources -- it's now time for national leadership to match our dedication and we're excited to hear the candidates outline their strategies," said Nina Hachigian, Director of the California Office of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

To watch the webcast live beginning at approximately 3:00 PM Mountain Time visit:

https://www.grist.org/webcast

Also see these interviews conducted by Grist.org and Outside magazine with participating candidates:

• Hillary Clinton
• John Edwards
• Dennis Kucinich

And here and interviews and factsheets on the positions of all the presidential candidates of both parties.