Nothing Sticks

Mayor Berry is Teflon, the Teflon being applied by the Albuquerque Journal.  He says he has guided Albuquerque through tough economic times with a steady hand.  The Journal doesn't really question his lack of action.  Paul Heh, one of his opponents said it was 'bull shit' and pretty much lowered his expected vote from 5% to 2%.  Pete Dinelli didn't get in any killer shots in this last debate.  All of this is being fueled by incredible apathy on the part of the public who can't see that New Mexico and Albuquerque are falling further and further behind in economic growth compared to the other cities and states in the region.  So, we will get what we deserve where 'touchy feely' p.r. pumped candidates win elections.  All form over substance.

Dinelli tried to turn the race into a partisan one by touting his democratic party membership into an asset in front of the staunchly conservative and self serving NAIOP.  Those are the developers who love sprawl and erosion of the environment.  How did this help him?  Maybe it did, but I seriously doubt it.  While the Mayor is a republican supported by the right wing apparatus of the Governor, no one seems to know it or really care.

There has not been one really big original idea put forth in this race to lead New Mexico's largest city.  Dinelli wants to pump more money into the airport, but right after he announced that Frontier Airlines left.  Horrible timing that made Dinelli's campaign researchers look a little lacking.

And the Mayor?  If he has any sort of plan to help us climb out of our economic malaise he is keeping it a pretty good secret.  His like ability will soon disappear if he doesn't deliver some real programs.

And for all us cynics out there, one of my favorite authors, David Brin, opines for us.  Just scroll down to the section titled "an exercise for cynics.'