Nausea

It has happened. I am starting to get nauseous from listening or watching to much NPR, CNN and MSNBC. I am overdosed on politics and I just want it to be over. I know it all will turn out okay and that I will be a happy camper on Wednesday after the election, but I just want it over with.

Last night we had the choice of three hours of punditry or trying out my new blue-ray dvd player at the house. We opted for watching "Juno" in blue-ray format. It was good. I had seen the movie at the theaters but had forgotten my hearing aids and couldn't hear it well. Last night I got more chuckles from the lines I missed first time around.

After the election on Wednesday Bobbi and I will begin preparing for our three week sojourn to New Zealand and Australia. I can't wait to get away and will admittedly sign in to the internet from the ship everyday to see how the transition is going.

In the meantime here is a Washington Post story about what bush is doing in his last few days in office. Yours truly is quoted.

Stuck in the Past?

The news for Newspapers in America is not good. Their circulation continues to decline and revenues in this recession will cause a real weeding out of marginal publications. This is not good for any of us even if we disagree with the editorial stands of most of these papers. I often disagree with the Albuquerque Journal. Some say they kill good trees to make a bad paper. But frankly, I don't know what I would do with out them informing me of real news every day. Their editorials mostly turn me off, but not always.

I have to say that I am bewildered that they are waiting so long to endorse in the major races this year. It makes no sense to endorse after 40% or 50% of the folks in their area of influence have already voted. Why is this happening? I have no clue. It is kind of weird.

I predict they will endorse the following people when they get around to it. Barack Obama, Tom Udall, and Darren White. I don't know if they will endorse in the other congressional races, but if they do I predict they will go with Tinsley down south and Lujan up north.

I am probably wrong on all of this but I will remind everyone of my predictions after they endorse.

The Low Point

Apparently republican Darren White has hit the low point in his campaign. He now has a TV spot up accusing Martin Heinrich of 'paling'' around with eco-terrorists. White has learned nothing from his friends above him on the ballot. He has also lost any respect I ever had for him, and I did have some.

When you stack this newest ad on top of the news of the lawsuits against the GOP in New Mexico this week, it makes one think that their party is really wandering into the wilderness and probably wont return to civilization for a decade. Pat Rodgers, bush, cheney, Justine Fox Young, Palin, McCain, Allen Weh might wish they knew some eco minded people as they sojourn into the back country of politics. No one will know or care about their exile and they will need better wits than they have shown this year to come back into the decency of the mainstream.

Dreams

I don't know what it is about the week before elections. I have all these weird dreams and wake up several times at night. I toss. I turn. I get up and drink water. And usually, I am a very sound sleeper.

This all happens whether I am a candidate, supporter, or tuned out during a particular election cycle. I think it harkens back to my first involvement in politics. I was working for Bruce King in his second Governor's campaign. He was running against the late Joe Skeen. On election night when the vote counting was over we were only a couple of thousand votes ahead. That lead held, but no one slept until the canvassing was done three weeks later.

The next election I was involved in was my first run for State Land Commissioner. I was the underdog in the Democratic primary against the oil and gas candidate. At midnight I was 8,000 votes behind and thought there was no way to make up the numbers. Bobbi and I went to bed about 1:30AM and I laid awake wondering what was next. As a new father I was worried about finding a job. Then at 3:00AM I was roused by a ringing phone. It was the Associated Press telling me that the final numbers were in and I surged ahead by 700 votes. I was incredulous. It was really simple though, the North had counted their votes. I didn't sleep for the next three weeks until the canvassing was done.

Now the sleeplessness is just a tradition I guess. Although there is more at stake in this election than ever before. Actually, someone told me that the most important election in their lifetime was in 2004. And that we Americans blew it. I think he is right.

Some Math

The early voting stats for Bernalillo County are lopsided. 34K Democrats have voted to 16K Republicans. The absentee voting is closer with 20K Democrats vs. 15K Republicans.(This is not how it usually works as Republicans always seem to win the absentees) It shows the ground game of the Obama, Udall and Heinrich campaigns are working.

But as an astute friend of mine points out this may turn around on election day a little bit. If the Democrats continue the heavy early and absentee vote there won't be as many going out on election day. So, the Republicans could actually win the balloting on November 4th. (This is the reverse of what usually happens.)

However, the Republicans have to be a little dismayed right now by the polls and the fervor of the Democratic campaigns. Maybe they will throw in the towel and just stay at home to await what seems to be the inevitable.

A Phenomenon

I have lived my whole life in New Mexico, except for my time in the military and in Washington, DC. As a young reporter many years ago I routinely attended or observed political rallies. Nixon, Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Ford. I saw them all and was able to shake their hands. In my political years I got to speak at political rallies. The biggest one was for Clinton when 15,000 showed up at Civic Plaza. I think any chance I might have had at shaking hands with Obama was doomed at Johnson field because of the sheer mass of humanity that showed up. . Never, ever, have I seen a politician be able to turn out the crowds that Obama attracts. His rally in Albuquerque on Saturday was attended by 45,000. In Denver on Sunday 100,000 turned out. And these people didn't just have an easy time of it. They had to wait for many hours in long lines. It was a grueling experience. Yet there they were waiting to hear from a man who they think can provide the leadership to make this country great again.

These New Mexico political crowds are something we might not see again in our lifetime. In a way it must be frightening for Obama to see these masses lining up behind him. He now has to deliver.

The 1000 or more stalwart Republicans that attended the McCain rally were the real hardcore loyalists. I tip my hat to them for showing up. But, what can they be thinking now? To be so out gunned just a few hours after they showed up at a small venue they couldn't fill. It must be disheartening to say the least.

The Signs Stayed Up

There were no fist fights or shouting matches as a result of leaving my political signs up. Everyone had a great time including the McCain supporters. Until we tied them up and locked them in my garage until November 5th. Just kidding.

It was mostly a great nostalgic evening in which you recognized some folks but didn't recognize others. But, we had it all figured out by the end of the party. We expect more folks to show up tonight at Gardunos on the Green. Bobby Box, the 60's DJ will be spinning oldies.

63 + 63

I have a dilemma. Tonight I am hosting a reception in my home for my St. Pius X High School Graduating Class. We are now 63 years old and we graduated in 63. It is our 45th Reunion Year. Groan. It should be fun and we have a good crowd showing up including some of the faculty.


My yard is peppered with Obama, Udall and Heinrich signs. All pro choice candidates. I kind of wondered if that would offend anyone but I decided to leave the signs up. I am almost certain that politics will probably come up tonight so my preferences should be known immediately.

Just for fun. Here is my graduation picture.

NRA

The National Rifle Association, which I belonged to as a young man, has said Barack Obama is a threat because he does not like concealed weapons. They are of the opinion that having a person with a concealed weapon at your kid's soccer match is a good idea. Well, it isn't. Make that person wear it out in the open so everyone can steer clear.

I have been opposed in my political races by the NRA because I opposed concealed weapons as Mayor of Albuquerque. It didn't matter that I own lots of guns and believe it is fine to carry one in your car and have one under your pillow. I just don't want them concealed out in public. This is a place where I don't agree with Governor Richardson. We have opposing views on this issue. But that never made him call me a threat or made me not support him. It is not an all or nothing thing with us.

So, as the NRA always does, they now attack Obama as a threat. Think of that. An organization that exists to now support mostly right wing causes and gun owners are saying Obama is threat. This kind of idiocy is why I quit the NRA years ago. It used to be they were proponents for gun safety, now they are proponents for the likes of bush and cheney. Disgusting.

Great News

The early voting continues heavily Democratic in Bernalillo County.

A BIG Favor

The Republican Women’s Club official in Alamogordo who sent a fundamentalist and racist letter to her local newspaper did us all a BIG favor. She called Barack Obama a ‘Muslim socialist’. It really exposes the underbelly of American right wing politics and is at the same time a call to arms for all of us to remake America as an all encompassing nation.

This incident is really indicative of the bankrupt Republican Party and its tactics. Leaders of that hapless political organization should resolve to throw themselves out of power for the good of the country and let some new moderate types take over. It would be better for everyone.These tactics need to be placed in the dust bin of history.

Let’s start by repudiating the TV commercials of bush supporter Darren White against Martin Heinrich. Heinrich has more integrity in his little finger than the Darren White campaign has in it entire organization. I know Martin well. His wife Julie worked for me when I was Mayor. I visited Martin’s non profit organization, ‘Cotton Wood Gulch’ and raised money for him to introduce disadvantaged kids to the great western outdoors. I supported his candidacy for Albuquerque City Council where he did a fantastic job in bringing together a coalition to pass a minimum wage law for Albuquerque. The list of great things he has done could go on for quite a while.

I actually agree with a friend of mine who says that White’s commercials at this point will have little effect. It is just too late to throw out such charges. It should have been done months ago before people got comfortable with Martin’s candidacy. And if seventy percent of the voters cast their vote before Election Day then White is wasting his money anyway.

House Full

Starting tonight we have a full house around here. Our good friends Rachel and Booth from Austin will be arriving to stay with us for two weeks. They voted yesterday morning in Austin, Texas where they live and are coming in to help the Obama campaign in New Mexico. We already have one other political visitor, Attorney Eli Poupko is also from Austin, and is here helping Martin Heinrich's campaign.

All these good progressives love their native state of Texas but they don't see their efforts in Texas for Democrats being as productive as coming to a 'Battleground' state. I actually think they will be happy with the outcome here.

One still has to marvel at how campaigns continually run nastier and nastier ads and rhetoric. John McCain was a guy who I always kind of liked. But, no more. He has moved to the dark side and seems comfortable there. This tactic has lost him support, but this race is not over yet. It does look very difficult for him to win the electoral votes he needs.

I think it is really important that Obama wins both the popular and electoral votes. Sometimes I think that if bush had won both eight years ago there would not be strong feelings that he cheated to win. Oh, that's right. He used the Supreme Court to win. Two weeks and counting.

Vile

Republican and bush supporter Congressional Candidate Darren White has been sending out the vilest direct mail pieces I have ever seen to independent voters. A friend of mine brought them over including one that shows his opponent Martin Heinrich as a weasel. The pieces are slick and constant and it will probably shave some votes from Martin.

At the same time, after the endorsement of Barack Obama by Colin Powell, it may be there can be diminishing returns to such nauseating tactics. Powell pointed out that the nasty campaign advertising by McCain turned him off. Bigtime.

I saw the story on Darren White in the Albuquerque Journal this morning. I thought both stories were fair on White and Heinrich. However I was surprised to see that White was mustered out of the Army before his enlistment was up due to a 'knee' injury. Did he get a disability? Then he goes through a tough police academy? Just thinking that it is kind of strange.

Back to Powell. This endorsement was just the kind of momentum kick that the Obama campaign needed at this point. The stars are aligning.

Biden Rally

We had a nice quick trip down to the Joe Biden rally in Mesilla, NM yesterday. About 1500 people crowded into the Plaza to listen to the VP candidate. In the background anti abortion fundamentalist types paraded around with signs and horrible photos.


It was a mixed crowd of old and young looking for hope.

Same

Just like clockwork the Republicans are screaming that election fraud is taking place. They say they have found some bad ballots from the last election and that it proves things are corrupt. This is a different kind of corruption than we all experienced when the Supreme Court gave an election to bush about eight years ago.

This happens every October before a general election. Every time the media falls for it. Every time.

It is laughable. I will laugh about it all the way down to Las Cruces to see Joe Biden today.

Debate Sponsors

Bobbi and I split up our debate watching parties last night. This is a picture of her at Rodger and Connie Beimer's home. She is chatting with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. This debate party was mainly for females with Rodger being there in charge of dishing out the Frito Pie!

I attended the party thrown by the New Mexico Conservation Voters. Of course Obama came out on top. McCain's anger showed through and hurt him. I witnessed that anger one time while dining in the Senate dining room in Washington. McCain was sitting nearby with Don Imus and he went ballistic over something. He turned red as a beet.

Anyway, I was astonished at how much advertising on CNN and MSNBC that was bought by the oil and gas and coal industries. These dirty energy companies are trying to turn themselves into good guys and saviours. I sure hope that no one falls for it. Well, they actually are falling for it when you see many people thinking its okay for them to drill and mine anywhere. Last night I was happy to see Obama call McCain out on the fact that the oil boys have 68 million acres of public land leased that they have not bothered to drill even though they want more sensitive lands put on the block. This is just one issue a new Interior Department Secretary will have to deal with.

Votes

I will try and update Bernalillo County vote stats every couple of days. Here is what County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver has sent for today.

Ballots Mailed:
Democrats 32414
Republican 25469
Other 8905

Ballots Received:
Democrats 2298
Republicans 1808
Others 411

Early Voting
Democrats 1827
Republicans 584
Others 360

Justice

The final curtain is falling on the Metro Courthouse scandal. Former State Senator Manny Aragon is pleading to charges that he received kickbacks on the Courthouse construction. He and others, including former Mayor Ken Schultz, will most likely be in prison for a while. Others will get away with fines and probation.

I have known Manny and Schultz for many years. They teamed up against me when I ran for Mayor in 1985. I lost to Schultz after an extremely nasty negative campaign waged against me. Manny helped with that. They had accused my lovely wife of racism because she kept her last name and said my children kept her name so they would not be identified as Hispanics. That of course was not true, but it worked just enough to beat me in the valley areas. I never much liked Schultz because of that.

I grew to like Manny though because he usually voted for the little guy in his Senate votes through the years. However, he did betray them by taking this illicit money. Money that could have been used for some good purpose or to lessen taxes for low income people.

Will prison time mean much at this point for Manny and Ken and the rest of the crew? I think it won't serve much purpose and it will cost an additional 150K a year to incarcerate them. Maybe more. After some time in Federal prison they should send them to halfway houses. At any rate, Justice is being served.

Mischief Afoot

While we all wallow in angst over the value of 401-Ks and the possibility of job losses, the bush administration is stealthily getting ready to do great harm to the west's great landscapes. A case in point is Utah's magnificent Red Rock Canyon Country.

I know we have a lot on our plates right now but the damages that can occur on our public lands is permanent. The economy can heal, the bush war can be ended, but the pillaging of our great landscapes can not be fixed once it is done.

The bush administration is getting ready to implement something called BLM Resource Management Plans in Utah. These plans have been condemned by just about every one including the EPA. But the bush team in Utah under the leadership of Utah's Bureau of Land Management Director Selma Sierra, a former republican operative in New Mexico for Senator Domenici and Representative Joe Skeen (RIP), is doing a last "Hail Mary" pass to the oil and gas, coal and off road vehicle industries. This is malfeasance. It may be we will need to address this in the next administration and I hope everyone will do so for the sake of the land. In the meantime the only solutions seem to be lawsuits.

I serve on the board of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

Peak

So, now all of us are wondering if Obama is peaking 4 weeks early. It is okay if people are early voting and absentee voting. However, the rudderless McCain campaign might blunder into some new issue that grabs people for a short time......Say three or four days before election day. We would like to think that folks are not that fickle. But, they are.

My friend who was in New York this last week took a ride to the airport with an African American taxi driver who said he was voting for McCain because Obama's good buddy was a terrorist. No matter what my friend said to the cabbie, he could not get him to change his mind. So, as you can see this process of throwing mud against the wall really does work many times. So, get everyone you know to the early voting locations as soon as you can. Besides, it is bound to save a lot of time for everyone on election day if many people have already voted.