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Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Health Care Reform Debacle: Meandering from Persuaders to Kabuki to What Comes Next
Two thought-provoking posts about how we got to this dreadful place in terms of the Senate health insurance reform bill, and what might help get us out of here, if that's possible. I'm not sure I entirely agree with either of these analyses, but I definitely think they provide pieces of the puzzle.
- No One Is Going To Save You Fools, thereisnospoon, Daily Kos
- The Kabuki Theater of Health Reform (Or, Kill the Bill), The Frankfurter School
I've been out and about among numerous Dems today and it was a stunning experience to learn that, almost to a person, they were devastated (more than angry) -- and almost speechless in an odd sort of way -- at the spectacle played out over the past couple weeks in Washington regarding the decades-old, signature issue of Democrats everywhere.
The folks I talked with ran the gamut -- from elected officials, to party people, to activists, from fairly moderate sorts to lefties. It didn't matter. It was like someone had kicked them in the stomach, or they had awoken from a dream, or someone had died. It occurred to me that what really had died was trust in our government, trust in our Democratic President, trust in the political process, trust in our institutions. This latest disappointment is like the straw that broke the camel's back.
We feel lied to and spun and used and ignored. We feel disrespected and confused. We feel more than a little lost. At some level, we can't believe it's happening -- even if, at some level, a little voice kept whispering it was coming all the time. This betrayal. It's hard to gin up hope after a long string of defeats and disappointments, so when folks manage to do it, it's hard to give up on. It's hard to let go of. It's hard to admit the hope was mostly in vain. But we feel it in our bones.
There is so very much at stake, so much at risk, so many problems swirling around us like a perfect storm. The very lives of our friends and family, the very lives of the poor and the working poor, the very life of the planet -- all are hanging in the balance. We need boldness and paradigm-strength changes and creativity, compassion, unity.
But over the past few weeks it dawned on many of us that mostly we'll be getting more of the same, more of the way things are, more of the powers that be that are gaining in wealth and power on a national and global scale. More of the kissing up to the owners of the casino. More of the profit before humans. More of the very behavior that brought us to this dangerous place where human beings -- really, all living things -- are viewed as mere widgets, perfect for buying and selling, for using and discarding, for polluting and destroying, for manipulating and abusing.
December 17, 2009 at 11:12 PM in Corporatism, Healthcare, Obama Health Care Reform | Permalink | Comments (8)
NM Delegation Announces $1.4 Million+ in Recovery Funding for Broadband Access
Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation released a joint statement today announcing that the New Mexico State Library has been awarded $1,457,488 in recovery funding to expand broadband technology and access across New Mexico. The “Fast Forward New Mexico” program, administered through a partnership with the University of New Mexico, Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship, and the , aims to increase statewide broadband adoption and promote computer literacy and Internet use in rural, Hispanic and Native American populations. The initiative will also reach out to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
The program will host small group trainings at public and Tribal libraries in 15 communities across the state. Additionally, programs will be developed for first-time computer users to address computer literacy and Internet usage. The New Mexico State Library will also provide training in computer and Internet use for small organizations and business owners. According to the Department of Commerce, Fast Forward New Mexico is estimated to result in 3,000 new household broadband subscribers, 1,000 new business and institutional broadband subscribers, and 3,200 new users at public computer centers.
Each of our U.S. House and U.S. Senate members weighed in on the importance of such funding:
Continue reading "NM Delegation Announces $1.4 Million+ in Recovery Funding for Broadband Access"
December 17, 2009 at 05:00 PM in Broadband, NM Congressional Delegation, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Harry Teague (NM-02), Rep. Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Sen. Tom Udall | Permalink | Comments (0)
Hank Hughes Announces Dem Primary Run for PRC District 4
Longtime community advocate, Hank Hughes, is running to bring renewable energy alternatives to New Mexico and integrity back to the PRC.
Hank Hughes, Executive Director of New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, announced today that he is running for the Public Regulation Commission in District 4. He is filing his papers with the Secretary of State this week. District 4 is primarily in the northwest segment of New Mexico including San Juan, McKinley and Cibola Counties, and parts of Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Sandoval, Bernalillo and Socorro Counties.
“This race is about the integrity of the Public Regulation Commission and about creating new green jobs in New Mexico,” said Hank Hughes in a statement released today. “My experience developing energy efficient, affordable housing proves that I can get things done for New Mexico communities. My 18 years of experience running two well respected nonprofit organizations that help homeless people demonstrates my commitment to hard work and to helping others.”
Hughes commented on two of the issues he believes are most important in this race:
Continue reading "Hank Hughes Announces Dem Primary Run for PRC District 4"
December 17, 2009 at 04:31 PM in 2010 NM PRC Races | Permalink | Comments (0)
Dem Party of Santa Fe County Passes Resolutions on Food Tax, Political Contributions
Bravo! Yesterday, the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County adopted two resolutions by unanimous votes that will next be taken up by the State Party for consideration. One resolution opposes taxes on food. The second bans political contributions from those doing business with government. Both support positions that are being advocated by the non-partisan think tank, Think New Mexico:
NOW THEREFORE, the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County supports the efforts of Think New Mexico and other organizations to keep the tax off food.
NOW THEREFORE, the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County endorses Think New Mexico’s proposal to ban political contributions and bundling by lobbyists, government contractors, and seekers of government subsidies.
Click for copies of the complete resolutions on the food tax (doc) and political contributions (doc).
For more information contact DPSFC Chair Richard De. Ellenberg at sfdchair@gmail.com or 505-992-1396.
December 17, 2009 at 11:39 AM in Democratic Party, Ethics & Campaign Reform, Food and Drink, Santa Fe Politics, Taxes | Permalink | Comments (1)
Videos: 5-Minute Presentations of Dem Lt. Governor Candidates at Straw Poll
Note: See our previous post on this event for a photo slideshow of the evening and a scorecard on the straw poll voting that took place after candidate presenations.
If you weren't one of the more than 130 Democrats who attended last night's Lieutenant Governor candidate forum and straw poll organized by Sandoval County Dems, you missed out on a chance to talk to five of the candidates and hear a 5-minute presentation by each of them. (The sixth candidate, Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano wasn't able to attend.)
We can't recreate the conversations folks had with the field of LG candidates, but we can provide you with videos of their timed presentations so you can get a feel for who they are and the issues that motivate them. Of course these candidates have much more to say about their candidacies than these short presentations allow, but I think they provide at least a taste of what each candidate is like.
If you take the time to listen to each of them, I think you'll agree that every one of the candidates is impressive in his or her own way. Democratic pre-primary convention delegates in March and primary voters in June of next year will have their work cut out deciding who best can represent us on the gubernatorial ticket with current Lt. Governor Diane Denish. In alpha order:
Representative Joe Campos
Brian Colón
Senator Linda Lopez
Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino
Lawrence Rael
To learn more about the candidates or get more involved in their campaigns, visit their websites:
All videos by M.E. Broderick.
December 17, 2009 at 09:40 AM in 2010 NM Lt. Governor Race, Brian Colon, Democratic Party, Joe Campos | Permalink | Comments (0)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Scorecard: Dem Lt. Governor Candidate Straw Poll in Bernalillo (with Photos)
Slide show of tonight's event
Note: Also see my later post that includes videos of the candidates' 5-minute presentations.
Here's the scorecard of the straw poll voting at tonight's Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate forum hosted at the Bernalillo Town Hall by the Democratic Women of Sandoval County and the Democratic Club of Sandoval County. I'll have more coverage of this event soon but I wanted to get the results up tonight. Well done Sandoval County Dems and all the candidates!
Click image for larger version
Vote totals:
Continue reading "Scorecard: Dem Lt. Governor Candidate Straw Poll in Bernalillo (with Photos)"
December 16, 2009 at 11:50 PM in 2010 NM Lt. Governor Race, Brian Colon, Democratic Party, Joe Campos | Permalink | Comments (2)
Just Published: Howard Dean's Op-Ed on Health Care Reform
You can read it all right here. I hope you do, especially his suggestions on going forward.
December 16, 2009 at 05:21 PM in Healthcare, Obama Health Care Reform | Permalink | Comments (2)
Obama Gets Health Reform Bill He Wanted, Lieberman Gets Thanks, Howard Dean Gets Insulted
Much has been revealed about the loyalties and governing style of President Barack Obama over the long months filled with battles over health care reform. Or should we now call it health insurance reform? Or, in the final analysis, should we call it by its rightful name -- the corporate health insurace and Big PhRMA bailout bill? Whatever you want to call it, we've been shafted. And according to Glenn Greenwald's latest article, that was planned from the git go by the President:
[There is] substantial evidence showing that, contrary to Obama's occasional public statements in support of a public option, the White House clearly intended from the start that the final health care reform bill would contain no such provision and was actively and privately participating in efforts to shape a final bill without it. From the start, assuaging the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries was a central preoccupation of the White House -- hence the deal negotiated in strict secrecy with Pharma to ban bulk price negotiations and drug reimportation, a blatant violation of both Obama's campaign positions on those issues and his promise to conduct all negotiations out in the open (on C-SPAN). Indeed, Democrats led the way yesterday in killing drug re-importation, which they endlessly claimed to support back when they couldn't pass it. The administration wants not only to prevent industry money from funding an anti-health-care-reform campaign, but also wants to ensure that the Democratic Party -- rather than the GOP -- will continue to be the prime recipient of industry largesse.
To Blame? The President Himself
Contrary to excuses being spun by some Obama supporters, Greenwald -- and Senator Russ Feingold -- pin the blame for the crippled bill on the President himself:
Obama supporters are eager to depict the White House as nothing more than a helpless victim in all of this -- the President so deeply wanted a more progressive bill but was sadly thwarted in his noble efforts by those inhumane, corrupt Congressional "centrists." Right. The evidence was overwhelming from the start that the White House was not only indifferent, but opposed, to the provisions most important to progressives. The administration is getting the bill which they, more or less, wanted from the start -- the one that is a huge boon to the health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. And kudos to Russ Feingold for .
Feingold said that responsibility ultimately rests with President Barack Obama and he could have insisted on a higher standard for the legislation. "This bill appears to be legislation that the president wanted in the first place, so I don’t think focusing it on Lieberman really hits the truth," he said.
Greenwald also counters the claims in defense of Obama provided by bloggers like Matt Yglesias, Ezra Klein and Steve Benen that Obama was incapable of applying any effective pressure on the Congress. He asks why the "centrists" weren't threatened like progressives were when Obama wanted war funding:
December 16, 2009 at 02:00 PM in Corporatism, Healthcare, Obama Health Care Reform | Permalink | Comments (2)
Thursday: Join BernCo Dems at Posole & Politics and Donate Items for Troops Overseas
The Democratic Party of Bernalillo County invites you to:
Posole and Politics
Thusday, December 17, 6:00 PM
Plumbers' and Pipefitters' Hall
510 San Pedro SE, Albuquerque
Click for FLYER (pdf)
Thank you celebration
From the County Party
We want to thank you for all your hard work so come join us for some good food and conversation. Meet our new State Party Executive Director, Scott Forrester. Our State Party Chair, Javier Gonzales, will join us as well. Come mingle with the candidates and of course, sign their petitions.
That night, we'll also be collecting items for the troops that are overseas as part of the Democratic Party of New Mexico's project with the Blue Star Mothers' Holiday Care Package Collection. Click to see the (pdf) that are needed. You can also call Marissa at 830-3650 for more information. Please help us with this project so that we may show our troops that we appreciate them.
We look forward to seeing you Thursday!
Ana, Victor, Pamelya, Millie and Steve
PS: It's FREE!!!!!!
December 16, 2009 at 12:05 PM in Democratic Party, Events, Holidays, Military Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Stephen Jones: Their General Welfare and Ours
This is a post by contributing writer, Stephen Jones, who is a progressive political activist and a resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Yesterday, some of us picked up our morning newspaper and learned that Steve Landerne, Executive Director of SpacePort America, was requesting from us, the tax-paying public of the State of New Mexico, the sum of $7.5 Million Dollars for the purposes of paving a road that would create a “faster” route into Las Cruces. He announced his intention to begin lobbying the next session of the New Mexico State Legislature in January for this “critical need,” as he termed it. Apparently Interstate 25 is not “fast” enough for our “friends” at the SpacePort Authority.
This boondoggle, now being assembled in Sierra County, midway between Las Cruces and Socorro, began as a Congressional earmark of Federal tax dollars of that born-again fiscal conservative, Senator Pete Domenici. It was further funded by the Governments of the State New Mexico, Dona Ana, and Sierra Counties.
All of these public monies have been spent to benefit the venture startup of Virgin Gallactic and its billionaire owner, one Richard Branson, excuse me, Sir Richard Charles Nicolas Branson, a British subject and resident of London, England.
Were Sir Richard to make such a request for public monies from the British Parliament, even under a Tory regime, he would, doubtlessly, be laughed out of Westminster before he finished his first bow to the Crown. Here, in the United States, however, we eagerly shower our would-be billionaire space travelers and playboys with all the tax money we can shovel their way, so long as the empty promise of “high tech jobs” is attached as a rider, just for laughs.
SpacePort America is one of thousands, or rather tens of thousands, of projects across the United States where public tax dollars are being funneled off to support private business enterprises; a professional football stadium or baseball park here, a parcel of land for a big-box superstore there; a private right-of-way set aside to promote trade and commerce.
Continue reading "Stephen Jones: Their General Welfare and Ours"
December 16, 2009 at 11:40 AM in By Stephen Jones, Contributing Writer, Corporatism, Las Cruces, Taxes | Permalink | Comments (1)
