Monday Night Murder

I was producing the news and anchoring the newscast at Channel 7 on the night of the Saturday Night Massacre when Nixon fired all of the Justice Department and Special Prosecutor people who were investigating Watergate.  What a night!

It was not a massacre last night, just the murder of a career U.S. Justice Department official named Sally Yates.  She had the honor of standing up to the trump/pence/bannon triumvirate.  We should all stand up courageously as she has done.

Of course, 40% of the American population still sees trump and his minions as infallible.  I am at a loss to see how that changes.  You can't kill stupid.  Perhaps the only thing that would hurt him would be the release of his income tax returns.  We all know what they will say .  We now need a brave IRS clerk to serve his country in an honorable way.  But Hurry!

Beam Me Up

Simply speaking, trump and his aides really are not smart people. Do you remember that Star Trek Episode where a bunch of idiots had tried to operate a Star Ship but were so dumb they couldn't get anything to work? here is a script out take. Sound familiar?

 "This is Commander William Riker of the USS Enterprise."

"Uh-ha"

"We received a mayday message from your ship."

"Uh-ha"

"What is the nature of your problem?"

"We are far from home."

"Aren't we all. What was the reason for your distress signal?"

"We are Pakleds. Our ship is the Mondor. It is broken."

"What brings you so far from home?"

"We look for things."

"What sort of things?"

"Things we need."

"Can you be more specific?"

"Things to make us go. We need help."

P.S. My three and five year old grandsons attended their first protest last night at the Syracuse Airport.  I am proud of them and their parents.

Tsunami

A Tsunami of news.  Trump puts up a religious test for immigrants, i.e., Muslims.  He will reap the whirlwind on this one.  And don't forget the people who stand around him smiling when he signs these executive orders.  And Steve Bannon on the NSC.  What  could go wrong?

And then two wonderfully juxtaposed news stories on the front page of the ABQ Journal, thankfully with a new Editor coming on board.  The economic devastation that is the hallmark accomplishment of the Susana Martinez administration finally laid out in its entirety.  The headline is "EXODUS".  No job creation and no future.  The fact left out is that we have even less jobs than prior to the recession in 2008.  15,000 less jobs.  Go to the Journal website and read comments on the story for a real eye opener. trumpists blaming taxes and everything else.  Some natives saying we deserve it and aren't ready for better things.  That's religion working there.

And  then a tribute to the stupidity that is Susana in a story about the hopelessness of the state of children in the Land of Enchantment.  Susana's solution?  More tax cuts for her corporate friends and less money for Education and the Judicial system.  Frankly, she is having a day like trump.  Pretty soon I will not capitalize her name either.

Dear Legislators

Please read this Forbes report.  All of it.  Why do  the states with the best per capita incomes have the highest tax rates and economic growth?  New Mexico is in the bottom third of taxing its people and has the worst economy.  If this doesn't show the Governor for the stooge she is, I don't know what will.  Of course, it isn't just taxes.  Her lack of economic development strategies is a killer.

A Thankful Governor and Mayor

Susana and Richard should be overjoyed.  All the heat and intensity in the media is off of them for a while.  Our certifiably unhinged President is consuming all the ink and zeros and ones as he continues to deconstruct our Democracy.  Who knew that we could have such bad relations with one of our stalwart bordering neighbors in just ten days.  The question is will Canada be on that list too?  They have to be scratching their heads at the complete mental breakdown in DC.  Watch this.

And yet, Susana and Richard continue to do everything wrong in getting New Mexico out of the economic seventh circle of hell we find ourselves in.  Especially Susana.  Pretty soon Mayor Berry will exit office and ten or so candidates will want to be there as a replacement.  But unless they start talking specifics on how to improve the job market, then they will not get elected.

As far as the Mayor's race goes, I have a suspicion that the person who hasn't announced yet might well win it.  Some one out of the blue with money and some accomplishments under their belt could sweep all of this up.

And when Susana exits we can only hope that a reasonable Governor will be elected.  For all of the obvious economic reasons, but some political ones as well.  Our next Governor, and many others around the country, will have veto power over right wing attempts at gerrymandering after the next census.  We need to replace all of those ultra crazy republican Governors so they cant stop reform attempts in redrawing congressional districts.

Down Mexico Way

From a friend in Mexico.

Hi Jim:

There is general disdain for Trump here in Mexico ................ whether you are talking to the highly educated or to the working class of Mexico.

Mexico´s President, Pena Nieto, is highly unpopular here (12% favorability rating in recent polling) but not as unpopular as Trump.

They were supposed to meet next week to discuss border security, NAFTA and a host of other issues involving the US and Mexico but Pena Nieto was forced to cancel the meeting because of the severe distrust of Trump amongst Mexicans in general and the political unpopularity of even meeting with Trump. 

Amongst my many Mexican friends, they simply do not understand how Trump could be elected President. While they have been accustomed to looking favorably towards the US in the past, presently there are many, many suspicions and unconfirmed rumors about what is to come................everyone is simply uneasy about the future.

As you know, there are more than a few ¨illegals¨ in the US who have been supporting entire families in Mexico by sending home part of their wages. People, simply, do not know what to expect.

At the educated and economically comfortable level, there is much disdain for Trump´s heightened rhetoric aimed at Mexico and his claim that Mexico ¨will pay for the wall¨. Mexico, in their eyes, is the 11th largest economy in the world and should not be treated with such disrespect.

All of this is complicated by the serious devaluation of the peso in comparison to the dollar over the past several years

Macabre

A Game!  Quick, who am I thinking about?

Hint.  This man just released a seven paragraph energy policy for the USA.    Here is what my friend Ned  said about it.

In case you hadn't heard, there's already a new national energy plan!  Unlike Vice President Cheney's 2001 effort, its preparation didn't need months of secretive meetings and was posted as soon as the new team occupied the White House.  The "Plan" is seven paragraphs in its entirety and is posted first among policy issue statements on the White House website (https://www.whitehouse.gov/).  The connection between transporting Alberta tar sands oil via the Keystone pipeline - as touted by the President yesterday - and "America First" is counterintuitive.  There is no mention of renewable energy or climate change.  

Remember

Things to remember when the chickens come home to roost.

• Susana Martinez is now supporting trump/pence
• Every elected official who shows support for trump/pence
• Faces of everyman who stood around trump as he signed a bill controlling women's reproductive organs
• The republican party rallying around an insane trump for the purpose of the 1 percenters
• The state of education in this country that allowed so many people to exist without critical thinking skills
• trumps rather amazing ability to lie about releasing his tax returns

And this great Facebook posting from my wife Bobbi today.  It is in response to a female trump supporter who says women are equal with men.

I will respect anyone who didn't march as there are lots of reasons for not doing so, but I remember the equal rights amendment fight and Roe v Wade. I was happy to see so many generations represented on Saturday. With over 600 marches around the world not a single arrest. We can make our voices heard without vilifying others and without violence. The USA has always been behind other countries regarding women's rights which is sad. I remember my Dad going to the Fairfax County School board so I could take mechanical drawing, a class restricted to boys this was 1967. I can remember not being able to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute because they didn't allow women in there Architecture program in 1969. I can remember being less then a handful of women in civil engineering classes at UNM in 1983-86. I remember my African American college roommates at William and Mary in 1970. W & M allowed residential black students to attend beginning in 1967. These incredible women knew hat it was like to be black in a southern school. We have come a long way. So I am grateful and marched for all those who stood up for everyone's rights and fought so hard to where we are. The battle continues and we must not forget. Civility and respect, language and tone is important. I will do what I can to make sure the rights I have are not eroded and to work towards more equal rights. Equal pay for equal work, the Equal Rights Amendment, maternity and paternity leave, respect for all religions, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigrants, refugees, keeping healthcare decisions to those affected without judgement. Our work is cut out for us but we cannot slip backwards.

Misc.

My brother Tom withdrew his subscription from the Journal today.  After seeing the Women's March relegated to below the fold status in the Sunday Journal, he just couldn't take it any more.  This was a big issue around our breakfast table yesterday as friends and family were all incredulous.

I actually don't think the Journal was trying to downplay it.  I just think they are so poorly run now that no one can make a decision for fear of losing their job because of the right wing editor Kent Walz and his boss Bill Lang.  So, what happened was the biggest mass march in American history took second fiddle to sledding opportunities in the Sandias.

Councillor Isaac Benton, who I deride for screwing up Rio Grande Blvd. in so many ways, actually did something good.  He has introduced a two cent gas tax into  the city council.  I think it should be five cents since the Governor has vowed to veto any such statewide bill.  Come on Isaac, show some brass and put an amount in the bill that will make more sense.  Put a sunset on it if necessary.

Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force?  Did any one vet her at the White House?  Would this be a good thing for NM?  This is like that song, "The Cat Came Back."

Two of Millions

My wife Bobbi and sister Carlota at the Women's March in Santa Fe.

And be sure and read this.

Media

KRQE has been bought up by another giant media corporation that owns 170 TV stations.  I can remember the days when we had something called the fairness doctrine in broadcasting.  That was done in by right wingers years ago who now favor indoctrination.  Think Fox News here.

The general manager at the station says this will allow them an enhanced news gathering effort.  I didn't think they could be any more inane.  I watched in disbelief the other night as they did a story on a lost jacket with a name inked on the collar.  They  tried to make a story out of  this!  This really happened.

What this all really means is that they will hire an extra employee to run around law enforcement agencies to pick up lapel camera video.  That one guy will replace professional photographers who used to document the news on video that was watchable.

Suess

 HOW THE TRUMP STOLE AMERICA
• By John Pavlovitz
• 
• In a land where the states are united, they claim,
• in a sky-scraping tower adorned with his name,
• lived a terrible, horrible, devious chump,
• the bright orange miscreant known as the Trump.
• 
• This Trump he was mean, such a mean little man,
• with the tiniest heart and two tinier hands,
• and a thin set of lips etched in permanent curl,
• and a sneer and a scowl and contempt for the world.
• 
• He looked down from his perch and he grinned ear to ear,
• and he thought, “I could steal the election this year!
• It’d be rather simple, it’s so easily won,
• I’ll just make them believe that their best days are done!
• Yes, I’ll make them believe that it’s all gone to Hell,
• and I’ll be Jerk Messiah and their souls they will sell.
• 
• And I’ll use lots of words disconnected from truth,
• but I’ll say them with style so they won’t ask for proof.
• I’ll toss out random platitudes, phrases, and such,
• They’re so raised on fake news that it won’t matter much!
• They won’t question the how to, the what, why, or when,
• I will make their America great once again!”
• 
• The Trump told them to fear, they should fear he would say,
• “They’ve all come for your jobs, they’ll all take them away.
• You should fear every Muslim and Mexican too,
• every brown, black, and tan one, everyone who votes blue.”
• 
• And he fooled all the Christians, he fooled them indeed,
• He just trotted out Jesus, that’s all Jesus folk need. 
• And celebrity preachers they all crowned him as king,
• Tripping over themselves just to kiss the Trump’s ring.
• 
• And he spoke only lies just as if they were true,
• Until they believed all of those lies were true too.
• He repeated and Tweeted and he blustered and spit,
• And he mislead and fibbed—and he just made up sh*t.
• 
• And the media laughed but they printed each line,
• thinking “He’ll never will win, in the end we’ll be fine.”
• So they chased every headline, bold typed every claim,
• ‘Till the fake news and real news they looked just the same.
• 
• And the scared folk who listened, they devoured each word,
• Yes, they ate it all up every word that they heard,
• petrified that their freedom was under attack,
• trusting Trump he would take their America back.
• From the gays and from ISIS, he’d take it all back,
• Take it back from the Democrats, fat cats, and blacks.
• And so hook, line, and sinker they all took the bait,
• all his lies about making America great.
• 
• Now the Pant-suited One she was smart and prepared,
• she was brilliant and steady but none of them cared,
• no they cared not to see all the work that she’d done,
• or the fact they the Trump had not yet done thing one.
• They could only shout “Emails!”, yes “Emails!” they’d shout,
• because Fox News had told them—and Fox News had clout. 
• And the Pant-suited One she was slandered no end,
• and a lie became truth she could never defend.
• And the Trump watched it all go according to plan—
• a strong woman eclipsed by an insecure man.
• 
• And November the 8th arrived, finally it came,
• like a slow-moving storm but it came just the same.
• And Tuesday became Wednesday as those days will do,
• And the night turned to morning and the nightmare came true,
• With millions of non-voters still in their beds,
• Yes, the Trump he had done it, just like he had said.
• 
• And the Trumpers they trumped, how they trumped when he won,
• All the racists and bigots; deplorable ones,
• they crawled out from the woodwork, came out to raise Hell, 
• they came out to be hateful and hurtful as well.
• With slurs and with road signs, with spray paint and Tweets,
• with death threats to neighbors and taunts on the street. 
• And the grossest of grossness they hurled on their peers,
• while the Trump he said zilch—for the first time in years.
• 
• But he Tweeted at Hamilton, he Tweeted the Times,
• And he trolled Alec Baldwin a few hundred times,
• and he pouted a pout like a petulant kid,
• thinking this is what Presidents actually did,
• thinking he could still be a perpetual jerk,
• terrified to learn he had to actually work,
• work for every American, not just for a few,
• not just for the white ones—there was much more to do.
• He now worked for the Muslims and Mexicans too,
• for the brown, black, and tan ones, and the ones who vote blue.
• They were all now his bosses, now they all had a say,
• and those nasty pant-suited ones were here to stay.
• And the Trump he soon realized that he didn’t win,
• He had gotten the thing—and the thing now had him.
• 
• And it turned out the Trump was a little too late,
• for America was already more than quite great,
• not because of the sameness, the opposite’s true, 
• It’s greatness far more than just red, white, and blue,
• It’s straight, gay, and female—it’s Gentile and Jew,
• It’s Transgender and Christian and Atheist too.
• It’s Asians, Caucasians of every kind,
• The disabled and abled, the deaf and the blind,
• It’s immigrants, Muslims, and brave refugees,
• It’s Liberals with bleeding hearts fixed to their sleeves.
• And we are all staying, we’re staying right here,
• and we’ll be the great bane of the Trump for four years.
• And we’ll be twice as loud as the loudness of hate,
• be the greatness that makes our America great.
• And the Trump’s loudest boasts they won’t ever obscure,
• over two million more of us—voted for her.

Martin

Every politician screws up at some point.  Every single one of them.  Senator Martin Heinrich sure did on that Big Pharma vote which would have lowered prices for meds ordered from Canada.  He said he voted like that because of safety concerns.  Weak.  Those drugs coming in from Canada are often the same ones you buy here in the USA.  So that is a silly argument.  And he did gather in 150K from those folks for his next campaign.

But, unlike some of the extreme left wing professionals I know, that one disastrous vote should not determine Martin's future.  Think about his brave stands on women's rights, environmental protection, fair minimum wages and about a thousand other things I can think of.

No pol is perfect, and neither is Martin.  He screwed up this one vote completely and gave lip service to the reasons for doing so.  But, he is the kind of person we need as a Senator right now given  the disaster about to befall our nation on Friday.

Bobbi and I will be sending him a lot of money this year for reelection.  And we will urge him incessantly to separate himself from those greedy bastards who are Big Pharma.

Loss for Words

The oil, gas, mining and cow industry took out a full two page ad in the Journal today.  This is normal pre-legislative session propaganda in which they take credit for paying so many taxes and so "you should be nice to us."  The oil guys often lump royalties into their tax category, when in fact it is payment for oil and gas owned by the public or the State Land Office.

But, I am at a loss for words today.  They actually state that since New Mexico's education system is 'spotty', that we should depend on low skill jobs to keep us going.  Of course they want less regulation and government responsibility for the public health safety and welfare.  So, give them bigger profits and they will hire into their boom and bust industry, which by the way is destroying the planet.

I could not believe I read this.  These guys are like the plantation owners of the past who would probably enslave these workers if given the opportunity.

Steve Pearce

Congressman Steve Pearce is an immoral man.  He has a nice health insurance package unlike the millions of people he just hosed.  He has just voted to deep six the health insurance of a quarter of a million of New Mexicans.  He is a one man death panel committee for the state.

Is there no one in the media who will ask him to explain himself?  No one?  Oh, they would but they are spending to much time down at the local police department waiting for the latest lapel camera video of drunks and gangers.  Do the TV  stations even have photographers anymore?

But, I digress.  Seriously, how does Pearce and his ilk think this is going to play out?  After the first few children of poverty die for lack of healthcare, do they think the family is just going to forget about it?  Or will they show up someday seeking an eye for an eye?   It is coming.  Just wait and see.

LL Bean

So people are bailing out as customers of LL Bean because some of their owners are big trump donors.  When I saw this I thought it was silly and harmful to the employees of that company.  I have been a long time customer of theirs.

But I have changed my mind.  This morning I pick up the newspaper and see that the candidates running for Mayor of Albuquerque have already gathered huge sums for their campaigns and we don't even get to find out who the donors are until next July.  Except for hopefuls like Tim Keller who will take public financing.  The other candidates are probably taking money from the likes of LL Bean owners, and we don't get to know for six months.

By staying a customer of LL Bean I am aiding and abetting this kind of behavior.  Corporate America running everything through their profits.  And so I will look for a clothing supplier other than LL Bean from now on, even if it is more expensive.  I apologize to the employees of LL Bean, most of them in China I suppose, but many in the USA too.  But  you work for people who are endangering our democracy by sending their profits to rightwing and pliable candidates.

It might seem like a silly effort on my part.  But I will at least feel better about it all.

Hip

Okay, the hipsters have a candidate for Mayor of Albuquerque.  State Auditor Tim Keller, a strong contender, threw in his hat yesterday.  His news release had the term 'burquenos' in it.  Bleaahhh.   And he seemed to say his priority was reforming the Albuquerque Police Department.  I hope that might be a 2nd level priority, because any candidate who goes crime all the time is missing the real issue in this election.  That would be steaming up the jobs so at least a few young people remain in the region.  I like Tim, but he will have to do better than this to win.  I think he has it in him.

We sent and saw a great movie last night.  "Hidden Figures" is about African American women who used their incredible math skills at NASA to launch America into space.  All done amidst racism.  All I could think about was  the fact that we will have trump as president in the next few days.  And we know how he has set the tone for Mexican Americans.  It is damn depressing.

Misc.

President Obama's farewell speech last night is one for the ages.  What a class act.  I am beginning to panic at the thought of trump in the Oval Office.  Today trump twittered 'are we living in Nazi Germany'.  No, not until nine days from now.

Susana Martinez once again stuck it to the working folks and has decided that their money will pay for her disastrous handling of state government and the economy while she continues tax relief for the very rich and corporate America.  She will start her pogrom on state employees by giving them take home pay cuts.  You know, the guys who fix the highways, provide police protection, and look after the public health, safety and welfare.

Honestly, I can not think of a worse Governor in my lifetime, and that includes Gary Johnson.  I hope for a presidential appointment for her to get her the hell out of the Land of Enchantment.  They she can wind up with the rest of the lunatics in the trump administration.

They are lining up en masse to run for Mayor in Albuquerque.  It reminds me of the first time I ran for Mayor back in 1985 when we had 14 candidates.  Chaos and one liners mostly during the campaign back then.  Now it seems the same will happen.  We could well end up electing a Mayor who seemingly has no concrete plan for steaming up our economy because he wont be able to get the word out  to the public due to time constraints and a lack of decent journalism.  Oh!  Woe!

And if you were a fan of HBO's "Westworld", read this.

Pap

More candidates for Mayor are popping up.  City Councillor Dan Lewis and a retired cop, Michelle Garcia Holmes, announced on Sunday.  I would give Holmes a thumbs up because at least she got specific on some things she would attempt to do.  It seems Lewis fell back on the crime issue, fear and loathing in the Duke City.  A poor start.  I expected more from him.

I recently had an email from Brian Colon who will be entering the race asking me to attend his party.  I emailed back and asked him what he specifically had in mind for moving our city forward.  His only response was to come by and listen to him.  Weak.

I have a feeling that the person who might be Mayor hasn't announced yet, or even announced they are thinking about it.  It will be a pretty crazy campaign year for Albuquerque.  I will be looking for someone with specific goals and mileposts they want to achieve.  I am not looking for some one who is interested in 'being there.'

Campaign Money

Our supposed Democratic and Justice loving Congressional folks, Michelle Grisham Lujan and Ben Ray Lujan, voted to condemn the UN Resolution that criticizes Israel's settlement policies.  The injustices against the Palestinian people just keep rolling along and it is encouraged by our Representatives.  (Pearce too.)

So, why would Michelle and Ben do this?  Simple. Campaign donations from the pro Israeli lobby.  They have lots of money and are willing to spread it around.  Money trumps justice again.

No, I am not anti semetic and I support Israels existence.  I just don't support their xenophobia against the Palestinians any more than  I support the Islamic crazies that want to eradicate that Jewish state.

Michelle and Ben joined one of the tribes.

Profane Truth

Worth a read.   

Poli Sci 101

Again the Legislature will fight over tapping the state's 15 billion dollar permanent fund.  It is that high because I raised the oil and gas royalty rates in the 80's when I was Land Commissioner.  It hasn't been raised or altered since.

But, I digress.  This money is seen by the rightwing anti taxers as a way of not having to pay their fair share in funding education.  Don't forget that the Permanent Fund is made up of money paid for extracting publicly owned oil and gas on state lands.  It is payment for a resource.  It is not a tax.  But the longer the Permanent Fund remains fat, then taxes don't have to be raised in the future to pay  the cost of educating our kids.  So, now the rightwing GOP legislators and some cowardly Democrats who take money from the oil and gas boys don't want any extra money taken out to help with our 'rainy day' budget.  That was caused in great part by the tax cuts of Bill Richardson and Susana Martinez.  But during big Bill's reign there was effort made at improving our economic condition, unlike Susana's total failure to do anything.

I think there is nothing wrong with taking some extra money out of the fund.  Put a sunset clause of 5 years and revisit the situation then.  

Mob

The mob hasn't formed yet.  But it will.  52 US Senators just voted to do away with health insurance for almost 20 million Americans, while those same Senators kept their policies paid for by appropriations that they vote on.  Do they really think there wont be a backlash?   I am hoping for it, and at the age of 71 I will join in and do whatever is necessary.  But this will have to happen in the home states of those Senators who voted to screw over the people who need this insurance.

And now trump will ask congress to fund a wall between us and Mexico, since, surprise, they don't want to pay for it.  Billions could be spent that might otherwise fix our infrastructure.  We have entered a new irrational era in  America brought on by poorly educated and non critical thinkers.  But we have a chance to fix it before it is too late in the next congressional elections.

Adios

Say adios to short waits at an ER.  If the GOP actually pulls 17 million people off of medical insurance rolls, the only place for them to go for medical care are the emergency rooms.  They are already over burdened by the folks who couldn't even afford policies under Obama's plan.  And of course Obama gets all the blame when in fact it is the medical industrial complex and its profiteers who are causing these rampaging costs.

Case in point.  I went to my dermatologist yesterday for a check up and prescription for some of that face cream that would remove sun damage from my face.  Turns out I didn't need any, which is good.  It used to be that stuff cost anywhere from $9 to  $40 a tube.  Now it is up to $300.   That is big pharma at work.  If the revolution comes those CEOs should spend the rest of their lives emptying bed pans in Veterans hospitals.  (If the GOP doesn't close them too.)

Of course ABQ is one of the locales that Macy's will close one of their stores.  It is not a city that retailer sees a future in.  If there were good economic fortunes in store for the state and region, they would stay and make money.  But at this point Albuquerque and New Mexico look like a poor bet for any relief on the jobs and disposable income front.  Total lack of political leadership is the reason.

Recycling

The only thing our Governor can get in front of the media for is to say she wants tougher laws on DUI.  That is her overused fallback issue because she has no other policies that would deal with our State's dire financial and economic situation.

Soon, seven years will have passed in her rightwing administration.   Nothing, and I mean nothing has been accomplished by her or her minions in the Cabinets or the Legislature.  What a disastrous era for the Land of Enchantment.

We were sitting around after a round of golf the other day wondering if she would get the call as a token Latina to join the trump administration.  What position could she occupy that would live  up to her reputation?  I look forward to your comments.  My suggestion would be National Pizza Inspector.  Or she could be put in charge of making it easier to get a drivers license.

Misc.

There is a lot of talk on the budget crisis in Santa Fe as we suffer from the corporate tax cuts handed out to the 1 percenters.  The solidly Democratic House and Senate will probably try and do something about it, but our morally corrupt Governor will have the veto pen waiting.  However one easy thing to do would be to cancel the further corporate tax cuts scheduled for the next two years.  Does she have the clarity to see this small part of the solution?  Probably not.

We all sit worrying about trump.  But the real danger right now is the gerrymandered power of the rightwing in Congress.  They will greatly harm this country as they ride high on the cash largesse from corporate America.  This is where much effort should be expended and where civil disobedience in the home districts would do a lot of good.  Making life miserable for these rightwing Senators and Reps every time they come home would be a starting point.

And this is worth a read.