Political Coverage Again

Someone once wrote, "Television news was once a vast wasteland,  now it is only half vast."

Even my friend, the veteran and politically savvy newsman Dick Knipfing cannot seem to convince his managers that it might be a better idea to cover political races from the standpoint of issues.  Rather, Channel 13, 7, and 4 cover the ads that are purchased at their stations by candidates behaving badly.  And the print media is not much better.  Their websites all have links to the commercials.  It is a really peculiar thing that has happened over the last few election cycles and it points out one thing to me.  There are few journalists left anymore that can do real political reporting.

 I mean, how hard is it to go into the production department of a TV station to watch a commercial and then report on how negative it is, versus going down to Dona Ana county and doing in depth research on the record of republican candidate for Governor Susana Martinez who took $450,000 from a radical right wing Texan for her campaign?

I don't know what the solution to this is.  We still must rely on the major daily newspapers with their dwindling circulations to provide us with some decent coverage.  At the TV stations we can only hope that the few veteran journalists left influence their news directors to do some work that is not shallow and meaningless.  The broadcasters after all use the public airways under a license and should have some responsibility at providing service to the citizens.

My Retirement Project

We all need to stay busy in retirement.  At least so we don't drive our still employed spouses to the straight-jacket store.  Bobbi is encouraging me to do more with my time and I concur.

I have started a new blog called Bridges on the Rio Grande.  It is my intention to take a photo of every bridge over the Rio Grande from the head waters to the Gulf of Mexico over the next few years.  Right now it is just in the experimental stage but I thought I would let people take a look at it and send suggestions on how to improve it.  I don't want to make a travelog out of it.  Just a little bit about each bridge and the communities nearby.  There will be plenty of links and photos.  I hope everyone will visit and suggest  improvements.  I will get seriously underway on this this summer.  This will require my short attention span to diminish.

Misc.

Have you noticed how much time the Albuquerque Journal is dedicating to coverage of County government?  I am glad for it because I have always complained they have ignored it.  A friend and I figured out that since there is now a republican Mayor that they will shift their focus to the county.  I am not convinced we are right about that paranoid conclusion, but the timing is interesting.

There was a story in the New York Times today about how a rich guy with a $9  billion dollar estate has died.  Because of a lapse in the tax law there will be no estate taxes paid.  I think this is horrendous, but what we really need are front page stories about is how little in taxes the rich are paying when they are alive.

I wonder if BP will claim tax deductions for their expenses from the Gulf disaster.  Congress should pass legislation that will not allow that.  In the meantime I am hearing ominous warnings that the surrounding formation in the Gulf blowout may have been possibly fractured by the 'top kill' attempt.  I  had wondered how much could be jammed down that hole before the casings might rupture in the formation running down to the oil.  This would be really bad.

And finally, when will some reporter start tracking the reorganization of the MMS at the Interior Department?  Is anything really happening?

Arturo Update

Arturo is doing fine.  The Surgeons decided he didn't need surgery on his hip after taking O.R. xrays.  They manipulated his hip back into place.  Home tomorrow for him.  Healing will take a few weeks.

Arturo Sandoval

I did a post late last week with a picture of my good friend Arturo Sandoval.  We were camping out up in Chacon, New Mexico.  A few hours after I traveled back to Albuquerque Arturo was seriously injured in a mishap while riding one of his horses.  Luckily, his son was with him and helped get him to the hospital.  He will undergo some surgery today.  I will let everyone know how he is getting along.

Questions for the Candidates

Here are some questions that need to be asked of our Gubernatorial candidates Diane Denish (my favorite) and Susana Martinez (Sarah Palin's favorite.)

1. Would you support deporting the illegal immigrant parents of American born children who are legal citizens by birthright?
2. Would you weaken the so called 'pit rule' enacted by the Richardson administration which is meant to protect New Mexico's waters and aquifers from the oil and gas industry?
3. Will you support legislation that extends incentives and tax credits for renewable energy?
4. Will you promise not take any campaign donation over $5,000 and return any monies that you have accepted over that amount from any entity or person?

That last question is important because after this election cycle that will be the law.  This might be the most important question to decide which candidate will be on the moral and ethical high ground.

The High Road

Yesterday I traveled the high road from Chacon, NM down through Embudo to Espanola.  I snapped this picture from the highway looking down towards Dixon, NM.  I had not been on the 'high road' for many years and am still bowled over by the natural beauty of our state.

I was thinking about the term 'high road' and the kind of politics we just witnessed in the republican primary for governor.  That was an example of the 'low road'.  It was all to familiar of a campaign where the best you will see is one candidate blatantly lying about the other on expensive TV commercials.  Both Susana Martinez and Allen Weh should get Emmys for their outrageous commercials.  If there is a category for 'disgustingly simple minded drivel.'

This will certainly spill over into the general election because as we all know that is what seems to work as American voters continue to dumb down via Fox news and rightwing talk radio.

Also, yesterday as I was burning fuel coming down to Albuquerque from the north I got to thinking about who is to blame for the BP Gulf fiasco.  It is easy to blame them or the government.  Very easy.  And they both own a large part of this mess.  But so does everyone who stops at the filling station.  Many have let the oil and gas industry sponsored "Drill Baby Drill' mantra convince them that oil consumption is a benign thing.  As we are learning every second of the day, it is hardly that.  Remember, that was the motto of the republican party, Sarah Palin, and now GOP candidate for Governor Susana Martinez who took huge donations from the oil boys in her primary.

Under the Bus

It looks like Diane Denish has inoculated herself and has thrown immigrants under the bus.  I was very disappointed to see the story in the Journal this morning about it.  Now she doesn't like drivers licenses for immigrants either.  Okay, illegal immigrants who most likely have children who are American citizens.  I hope this is as far as it goes but knowing the republicans I am sure they will continue scapegoating the Jews, oops I mean the illegal Mexican immigrants.

Memo to Governor's candidates:

There are a lot of important issues to be discussed in your upcoming race.  About 80% of the way down that list might be immigration.  Please remember that when out on the campaign trail.  Of course the media will try and get you to argue over immigration everyday, but do all of us voters a favor and don't fall for that.  You could talk about jobs, crumbling infrastructure, oil and gas pollution, watershed protection, education and dozens of other things before you get to the phony immigration issue.

Respite

I traveled up to Chacon, New Mexico for a day and night to stay with my good friend Arturo Sandoval.  Back in the 70's he purchased 40 acres of land so he could keep the memories of his family in the area alive.  He goes up there often.

He has two beautiful horses now.  Cafe con Leche is the Pinto and Adelita is the Gray.  These horses act like dogs.  They follow you around everywhere hoping for an oat biscuit.  This morning they knocked on the door at 6am sharp.

There are a lot of ruins  of old Adobes in and around Chacon.  The young people leave as soon as they can because of a depressed economy in the North and the lack of anything to stimulate them.

We visited some old cemeteries.  This stone is in the Presbyterian cemetery in Chacon.  It was made with native rock and has stood up well.  The Presbyterians were strong in the Chacon area rather than the traditional Catholics.

Prime Time

Is Susana Martinez ready for Prime Time?  Can she do anything but carp about alleged corruption in Santa Fe?  Can she handle the economy, the unemployment rate, the needs of education, public safety, a Democrat controlled legislature, and a Democrat Congressional delegation? It is a long way from prosecuting DWI cases to handling state government and all of its intricacies. And there is that whole thing about her taking 450 thousand dollars from one right wing guy and his wife from Texas.  One guy.  How does that stack up for ethics and influence peddling on her part.  Will she disavow this guy?  That unprecedented donation sort of takes the 'pay to play' issue off the table for her.  Will she disavow the now Gulf disgraced oil and gas industry and their heavy contributions?  Will she allow them to drill and fracture their way through valuable aquifers in Otero Mesa?  Will she get rid of the pit rule that protected our water?  I am sure she will be shined up and polished when the battle is joined this summer with Diane Denish, who actually has the experience and knowledge to tackle the job.  It is going to be an interesting five months.

Pena Blanca Memorials

I was out shooting photos today on a project, soon to be announced, as I traveled through the old family home turf.  I stopped by to check out the condition of my dad's gravestone.  As we entered into the Pena Blanca cemetery at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church it dawned on me that it was indeed Memorial day and that some folks had been decorating the family grave sites.  The memories showed in their own special way.

The Albuquerque Journal Again

I can only assume that the folks at the Albuquerque Journal never look at their newspaper as a informed reader would.  Well, they are all we have got these days, but here it goes.

The Journal spent several days with front page stories and an editorial on northern NM Democratic politicians who led with their hearts instead of their brains and had $5000 worth of paving millings sent to the parking lot of a catholic church.  It was dumb for Representative Ben Lujan and County Commissioner Harry Montoya to do so.  And probably it violated the state constitution and it should have been reported and their hands whacked by a nice Domincan nun.  (If there are any in existence anymore.  My old principal Sister Perpetua Maria could have made them regret it.)

Then in today's paper we see a story buried back on the state page about republican governor candidate Susana Martinez taking $450,000 from one ultra right wing fanatic and his wife in Texas.  His name is Bob Perry of Swift Boat fame.  He is so far right he is off the charts.  The story said Martinez 'collected' the money in contributions.  Collected!   Think if a NM Democrat had 'collected' $450K from someone like George Soros.  Do you think the story would have been on the front page?  You are damned right it would be.  Do you think they would have used the word collected?  I bet they would have used a different and more negative adjective.  Like 'amassed' or 'stockpiled.'

If Diane Denish had accepted such a large donation here is what I think the first paragraph of the Journal story would be.  "Democrat Diane Denish today denied that amassing a $450,000 donation from left wing George Soros will have any influence on her decision making.  Soros, an emigre from the Soviet Union, is known for supporting ultra liberal causes."  I am pretty sure this story would be above the fold on the front page.

I don't know if the editors at the Journal even know they do this.  Maybe they don't really understand how this hurts their credibility in political coverage.  I am simply aghast at the difference in the way these two stories were given coverage.  They handled the asphalt millings like a Obama Fox News story and the Martinez story like a Reader's Digest article.

Arghhhh!

P.S.  Ben Lujan and Harry Montoya will now get more votes for doing what they did for the church.

Expensive

So we all go mushy when we retire?  I keep spending money on kittens.  I went to get a supply of kitty litter and ended up buying them a jungle gym with a perch on top so they can look out the window in Noelle's old bedroom.  They took right to it.  I know I said no more kitten pics....but aww, they are cute.

Hermes was watching the roofers across the street.

All wasn't frivolity today.  I started volunteering at the Road Runner Food Bank this morning.  My job was to sort bread and pastries today.  I must have seen 10,000 donuts.....I did not eat any of them.

Misc.

A lot is being made of a robo phone poll that says republican Susana Martinez is beating Democrat Diane Denish in the race for Governor.  Certainly Susana will be a good right wing candidate for the republicans, but is she really ready for Prime Time?  Can she sustain her climb from the republican primary into a general election where you have to do more than scapegoat immigrants to win?  That really remains to be seen.  She has a very steep learning curve and will have to endure a lot of background investigations.

What is with the American public?  They say the want the government to stay our of their lives and the operation of private business, and then they say they cant understand why the government hasn't done more in the Gulf oil crises?  Some republicans want the military to take over!  I sometimes think everyone is paranoid.  I thought it was just me.  And then there are the crying congressmen from Louisiana who are upset about the Gulf pollution.  They would have thrown absolute tantrums if someone had suggested tougher regulations on the deep water drillers.

I went and voted yesterday.  The folks at the early voting site in downtown Albuquerque said it had been remarkably slow.  I am beginning to think that whoever has the biggest extended family will win the lower races.

Oil Industry to the West....The Gulf is Your Fault

An SOB, who was CEO of Shell Oil, said on CNN tonight that the Gulf disaster was the government's fault for not making more western public lands available for oil and gas development.  That means New Mexico amongst many other states.   It doesn't matter that they have almost all leaseable prospects already leased, they just want to go into wilderness and other pristine lands to get what they want.  In fact they have 32 million acres leased onshore that have not been developed, most of it in the intermountain west.  That is as much land that comprises the State of Wisconsin.

We have to be really vigilant that the oil boys don't get into Otero Mesa and places like it.  They could screw up an ocean of water in Otero's aquifer too.

I was so pissed off after seeing this  bloated ass say this that I forgot his name.  I would like to find out where he lives and have a few barrels of oil delivered to his front porch and back yard.   But that would be wrong.  Right?

At the same time, I am not happy with the response of the Obama administration so far, at least in the way it has presented itself.  They need one person, and one only, in charge of this effort.  Not a gaggle of Cabinet Secretaries who contradict each other.

And the folks in Louisiana and other states might want to take a harder look at protesting this kind of offshore development in the future.  They were not present with environmentalists before.  Now they probably are.

State Land Office Pick and Lt. Governor

I think Ray Powell might win the Democratic primary for State Land Commissioner.  Although, that race is not decided yet.  I still don't know who I will vote for.  I admire Santa Fean Harry Montoya because he stood up against the oil and gas industry in his county and he wants to open up debate on Land Office decisions to the public.  I personally like Sandy Jones and think he would make a good Commissioner as long as he doesn't fall under the sway of the oil and gas boys.  Ray Powell is a decent guy who will once again be a care taker and not a reformer.  In some ways that is worse than having some one you can apply pressure to politically.

I plan on early voting this week and will go into the booth undecided on the Land Office race.

I will be voting for Lawrence Rael for Lt. Governor.  I like all the candidates and have great respect for Jerry Ortiz Y Pino, but I think Lawrence will be the best person to draw votes for Diane Denish in November.  Jerry can do a lot of good in the Senate where he is a voice for progressives and compassionate policy.  He would be missed there.

I think Susana Martinez, and her newfound right wing ideology and love of the oil and gas industry, will probably win her republican primary.  Then she has some explaining to do on how far right she is prepared to go.

Facts

This is a pretty good read on facts surrounding the Arizona immigration issue.

Department of the Interior

There is a story out today that Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is moving to suspend employees of the MMS for graft and malfeasance on the job.  This is a good thing.  The Inspector General had tagged them from an investigation that was done in the bush administration.  This should have been done long ago and points out a problem at Interior that is not being solved.  That problem is all of the bush holdovers that are still working there.  Take for instance the former BLM Utah State Director.  Seventeen months after the new administration took office she has finally been moved out of the state of Utah where she did so much damage to sensible land protection.  Her actions were continually overturned by the courts.  She was a favorite of  the oil and gas industry and was a political appointment from the beginning.  She use to work for the New Mexico republican party and republican office holders.  She had no land management experience.  Normally people like her get 'political' jobs in the departments, not career ones.  She stayed in her job way to long after the Obama administration took office.  Now she has been awarded another job after her transfer from Utah.  She is heading up the BLM Eastern Offices HQ which is another career position and not meant for a political.

Now, if she had been a Democrat and bush had come into office she would have been out of there in a heartbeat.  Democratic administrations seem to be way to accommodating to the bad guys.  The results, as shown in the Gulf of Mexico, can be devastating.  So, hopefully the bush holdovers will now get more attention and be moved out of the picture.

Metaphor

Here is a picture that represents the historical relationship between the MMS and BP.  It is not representative of the New Mexico republican party gubernatorial candidates.  I promise this is the last picture of the kittens for a while.  They pretty much bonded so much that they won't play with me anymore.  Fickle Felines!  Dumped in one week!  Just like some candidates one week from tomorrow!

GOP Legend

A legend has been born in the annals of the New Mexico republican party.  The state chairman of that party has condemned the negative advertising by the Gubernatorial candidates Allen Weh and Susana Martinez.  But, he really lowered his sights on Weh by essentially saying his negative ads were outlandish and untrue.  This is coming from Party Chairman Harvey Yates, honcho at Yates Petroleum and big donor to all right wing candidates.  Well, maybe not Weh now. Never mind that Yates and the oil and gas industry fudges about how clean oil and gas development is.  I have to say though that this is a positive thing for a party chair to do.  Unprecedented really.

I was down on Susana's campaign manager Jay McClusky, last week for being the type who wants to scapegoat immigrants as a way to win the election for her.  She will pay for that later I guarantee if she faces off against Diane Denish.  But what on earth does Weh's advisor think she gets by putting forward such patently false charges against Susana?  That person I understand is Whitney Cheshire and she has worked for the party and right wing candidates for years.  She will have a bad week I think.  Usually, these folks don't get much scrutiny, but they are the main cause of the problems for many candidates because they move them into the fringe.

I think the GOP really needs a new generations of thinkers.

Pretty soon all the other statewide GOP candidates will be facing a hopeless situation as they try and run with the Governor candidate who helped cause a deflated turnout and lots of bad vibes.    If the turnout is much more than 25% I will be surprised.

Part Deux

We arrived back from DC with the good news we will be grandparents (first time) in November.  So naturally we went out and adopted another kitten.  Meet Ajax.

Hermes the Cat made it clear to him who is senior kitten.

Athena was wondering if they will divide into four cats next week.  I don't think so.

IN DC

I checked the Albuquerque Journal website this a.m. from Washington, DC.  It appears the republican race for Governor really is all hinged on immigrants.  So much for family values when Weh says no amnesty ever.  Parents would be ripped from American born children under his retrenchment. 

Hermes the Cat on Negative TV Ads

Mud slinging sucks.

DC

I am going off to Washington, DC for a couple of days to a Council meeting of the Wilderness Society.  I have served on that Council since 1991 and enjoy the three or four meetings a year that we attend.  We are starting to do a lot of work on sorting out the conflicts between renewable energy developments and wilderness land protection.  That is an issue that needs to be thought out very carefully by everyone involved.

The Scapegoats

The republican primary election for Governor in New Mexico will now turn ugly.  The losers will be immigrants as they will figure highly on who can generate the most hate for them between Allen Weh and Susana Martinez.  Martinez started with a new ad today saying Weh supported amnesty for immigrants.  Immigrants.  Now the cause of all of our problems, right.  Pile them right in there with Jews, Gypsies, and Armenians.  Native Americans and African Americans too!

Martinez's campaign is headed by a guy and his wife who are named McCluskey.  He is a long time rightwing consultant for candidates in New Mexico.  He ran the GOP for a time. He also ran Mayor Berry's campaign in Albuquerque last year and is responsible for Berry's step to the dark side in saying Albuquerque was a sanctuary for criminals who are mostly immigrants.   Now McCluskey and his wife have turned the scapegoating on for Martinez.  I can't believe she is really like this any more than Berry was.  But the grab for political power fogs up the humanity in some people.  That whole 'victory at any cost' thing.

I had a nice meeting with Mayor Berry last week.  I think he is a decent person.  His won his fight with the city council on his new policy for checking all arrested people for their immigration status.  However, he has probably lost his support among many potential voters next time around.  And he is toying dangerously with Albuquerque's image as a multicultural and friendly city.  That is not what he set out to do, but that will be an effect.

How the Universe Works

I am sitting here watching "How the Universe Works" on the Discovery Channel.  I decided to multi task and write my blog.  The title of the story made me want to talk about a conversation I had today with an elderly gentleman as we waited for service at Sears parts store.  He had recognized me from my term as Mayor and said he appreciated the job I did.  He asked me what I thought would happen in the republican race for Governor and I told him I thought Weh or Martinez would win.  He said he was supporting Weh because Weh had run a business and knew how to do things.  When I mentioned to him that Weh made much of his money from government contracts he was surprised.  He then went on to say that Obama had raised taxes, untrue, and that Obama caused the bailout of the financial system.  Also untrue since bush started the process.  The nice guy said it didn't matter because Obama was to blame.  Huh?

He then went on to say there should not have been a bailout and that a depression would have been better because it would have made people understand the value of a dollar.  I asked him how that would help his grandkids.  He shrugged.

He was a very nice guy.  And he was a Tea Party member, whether he knew it or not.  This conversation really happened and it enlightened me on how ignorance is really dangerous in this country right now.  I hope this isn't really 'How the Universe Works."

No Questions

Apparently, Susana Martinez refused to take questions at her news conference with Sarah Palin yesterday.  Why would that happen?  What is there to hide?  Would issue oriented questions be asked?(like why you are taking so much money from the oil and gas industry?)  Would she embrace the far right wing rantings of Palin and the Tea Party?  We may never know.  But she can't get away with this for long.

I hope Susana is not really a Tea Party type.  I have called them wackos because they ignore truth.  They think Obama has raised taxes, when in fact they are at the lowest level in decades.  The deficit raised its ugly head after the Clinton Administration had a surplus.  bush started an unnecessary war and lowered taxes instead of paying for the invasion.  At the same time lax regulation caused many of our current financial hardships which caused bush to come to the rescue with government bailouts that were continued by Obama.  Yet the Tea Party blames Obama who has been in office for 15 months.  They just don't deal with reality and they look just plain silly to many thinking people.

Blog Cat

As I was getting ready to do some blog work today, Hermes the Cat, stepped on the key board and dropped me out of the browser.  The cat wants his say and he will get it during the election cycle. He is worried about his cat food supply with the oil and gas boys ruining fisheries in the Gulf.  His first quote is, "Let them eat Tofu, and vote against any candidate they give big bucks too.  Save the Tuna!"

Republican Backlash

The fact that GOP Gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez is hard on the heels of candidate Allen Weh shouldn't be too great a surprise.  As I have said before she seemed to be the dark horse candidate who would give Diane Denish the best run in a general election.  So, why in hell does she bring in such a divider as Sarah Palin to endorse her?  Does this work for her in the general election?  That is where she should be putting her strategic efforts right now.

It is apparent to me that Weh, the war profiteer, is much disliked by the GOP operatives.  I hear he treated everyone very badly when he was Chairman of the GOP with his 'my way or the highway' attitude.  I think the trends are now working against him.  Now, in the last three weeks we can expect a different kind of media campaign from him.  I wonder if going negative on Susana will work?

Martinez used to be a democrat who switched to the republican party.  Why?  I don't know but she probably was edged out by the good ole boys in the party.  Now she has edged out the good ole boys in the GOP.  I love irony.  But, she has now embraced the 'dark side' by accepting the 'drill baby drill' crowds support and the Tea Party wackos.  This may backfire bigtime.

My next bet is that Martinez gets the endorsement of almost all news papers in her primary race.  That will help her.  And then it is on to the first all female race for Governor.  It will be an incredible race.

Irony Again

It seems ironic.  Here is movie star Val Kilmer having to defend himself as a white guy from the San Miguel County Commission for using his free speech guarantees under the Constitution while at the same time in Arizona the right wing-nut Sheriff Arpaio, Governor and legislature rounds up people for having brown skin.

This country is in a world of hurt.  What the hell is happening?  Has everyone gone stupid?  Well, some are stupid and others are mostly scared and they are being manipulated by politicians who see the Balkans as a role model for the future of the United States.  Look at this commercial that John McCain has running in Arizona.  Thank fate he wasn't elected.

If

If you need a friend in politics....get a cat.  Right now that would be good advice for the Democratic Lt. Governor candidates here in New Mexico.  Blogger Joe Monahan did a poll this morning that really shows that after a full year of campaigning the race is still a standoff.  So the knives will come out.  That is probably bad news for Brian Colon, but good news for Lawrence Rael.  The undecideds are still in control of this race.

I actually like all of the candidates.  Rael and Jerry Ortiz Y Pino both worked for me when I was Mayor of Albuquerque.  They are both decent and honest people and either one of them would make good light govs.  Jerry is probably closer to me in terms of political philosophy, but Lawrence would bring a moderate view to the office.  So, what is one to do?

This new cat Hermes has totally bonded to me.  I feel like I have a second head on my bloated body.  The only time he isn't there is when he is playing with a piece of wadded up tinfoil, or when I am walking around.  This cant be a good habit he is forming.  Right?

Misc.

Is there any truth in advertising anymore?  Especially by republican Gubernatorial candidates in New Mexico?   Today blogger Joe Monahan has an excellent article about New Mexico's so called pit rule hurting the oil and gas business.  His investigation shows that to be a lie.  GOP candidate Susana Martinez is perpetuating the lie on her advertising saying the rule cost New Mexico jobs.  Well, that is what happens when the GOP is run by a chairman who is the head of Yates Petroleum.  Also, Martinez got a donation of $117,000 from one oil producer.  And in the meantime the perpetrators of the Gulf oil spill will take no blame for their actions.

And then there is Allen Weh who continues to run a TV commercial that he knows is factually incorrect.  He said Lt. Governor Denish used stimulus funds to fly the state jet to some functions.  That is untrue but the TV stations are still airing the commercial.

The New York Times has a good article on how differently New Mexico and Arizona handle the immigrant issue.  It makes me proud to be a New Mexican.  As my son Justin said...."how can a human being be illegal?"

Issues

When will we devote more time to coverage of issues in the New Mexico Governor's race?  Right now, for the most part, the media coverage resembles Monday morning results of which new movie made the most money over the weekend.  That coverage says nothing about the stories or plot lines in the movies.  It just seems to say that who made the most money is what is important.

That seems to be the way political races are handled now. Who has the most money on hand?  Who raised the most money in the last quarter?  Who has bought the most television ads?  Shouldn't we demand of the media at least as much airtime or column inches on where the candidates are on the issues?

The Albuquerque Journal has done some issue work and I am glad for it.  I have seen absolutely none on television news.  I do see insipid and stupid promos for new news helicopters that have better cameras on their nose that can look both ways!  Channel 7 has a contest to paint the new helicopter.  How about a stork with its head in the sand?  Channel 13 is building up faux suspense on new scenery for their news telecasts.

How about some real journalism?  Who is giving the candidates their money?  Like Allen Weh who is giving his own money to fund his campaign from his war profits as a contractor with the defense department.

Low Rent

I have to agree with many people, including the Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board, that the action by a UNM professor in asking the UNM President to resign after the President awarded him a raise, new title, and a plaque honoring him is a strictly low rent thing to do.  He left the plaque and took the money and title.  We went to a large diverse dinner party yesterday and everyone agreed it showed little class.

It seems that the whole situation might have been a set up because the media never covers such honors awards at UNM.  The Journal had a reporter and photographer there who had probably been forewarned of the fireworks to be seen.  The Journal wisely chose not to make a front page article out of it.

I don't know if the faculty at UNM has lost it's common sense or just it's manners.  Academe, as my sister Carlota has pointed out to me many times, is often a mine field of back stabbing politics.  This time is was more like a shot between the eyes.

Hermes the Cat

Got a kitten today.  Named him Hermes.

Like a Business

New Mexico GOP primary candidate for Governor and supposed frontrunner Allen Weh says he will run government like a business.  Would he run it like the investment bankers and hedge fund quants ran their businesses in the run up to the financial meltdown several years ago?  Will he run it like the New York Stock Exchange ran itself yesterday when an error was made by a clerk somewhere and the computers kicked in with sell orders?  Will he run it like his oil and gas industry benefactors and create what may be one of the all time biggest environmental disasters on the planet?  And then try and put a teepee over it to make it all better?

Every time I see a Pol say he wants to run government like a business I know he is clueless about what the job he wants is about.  Simply, government is not a business.  It is government and it does not blindly think only about a quarterly bottom line.  If a candidate cant understand that he should get out of the game.

Misc.

The private instructor ass clowns who didn't complete training for over a thousand concealed weapons carriers but certified they did got off with nothing happening to them.  Their attorney said they did nothing wrong and the Albuquerque Journal called it a 'foul up' in their headline.  The instructors attorney said most of the poorly trained folks were military veterans and they knew how to shoot anyway.  What a crock!  In the military they would have been forced to retrain often and pass tests.

What would have happened if those were driving instructors?  Would there have been consequences?  I bet there would at least be a court date.

Check out the horrible comments on the Journal's web page this morning concerning the unspeakable sexual assault on a six year old.  The Journal pointed out that the suspect was an illegal immigrant.  You can figure out who the comments are coming from.  Truly, racism is growing again in this country.

Cats

My big job today is to go to the westside Albuquerque Animal Shelter and see if we can adopt two kittens we saw there on Sunday.  Today is the day you can put 'dibs' on them.  We were going to get just one cat to replace our beloved 'Jerry' who died last year.  But our son Justin and his wife said one must have two cats so they have playmates.  I wonder if that will drive our Beagle, Athena, to insanity.

These will be indoor cats.  We have had a lot of cats go missing recently in the neighborhood.  Our old cat Jerry was an indoor/outdoor cat who lived to 14 years of age.  It could be these new cats, if we get them, will out live me since they apparently survive a long time as shut ins.

I will use the Albuquerque Journal as a base for the litter box.  Especially after today's front page story pointing fingers at the Obama administration for not being quick enough on the oil spill in the gulf.  That is ridiculous and their partisanship is showing in their day to day coverage now.

Update:  Some one adopted the kittens just after their review yesterday.  We were led to believe today was the deadline.  Oh well, at least they got a home and if their new owners don't show up by Friday then we will get them.

Misc.

The front page story and picture about the science team from Albuquerque's Academy winning the National Department of Energy Science competition says it all.  Three of the four victorious team members are Asian.  I am willing to bet they are all sons of immigrant parents, grandparents, or great grand parents.  They too could be in trouble if driving through Arizona.

So I was wrong on thinking the attempted bombing in NYC might have been domestic terrorism.  At least it seems that way right now.  I am kind of waiting for the right wing to complain that the Obama administration took 48 hours to catch the suspect as he taxied out for Pakistan on an airliner.  It was impressive work by all law enforcement agencies involved.

This massive fuel leak that is moving to Albuquerque's ground water from Kirtland Air Force Base is really horrendous.  It wont get the national press coverage that the Gulf Coast is getting, but in the long run it could be very damaging to us Duke City residents.  The Governor and delegation in DC have to call for a giant clean up, and quickly.

In the meantime the oil and gas industry is showing their muscle in New Mexico as they have their republican candidates for governor railing against the state's strict environmental regulations.  I had thought that Susana Martinez, one of the candidates, was okay until she sold out to the oil boys.  Click on her name to see what I mean.

Damned If You Do, Damned if You Don't and NYC

I actually appreciate the coverage by the Albuquerque Sunday Journal on out of state contractors getting state building projects even though they cheat by saying they are local companies.  They just rent a small office somewhere so they can say that.  They are con men.  But, they are also the low bidders.

Now, if the Richardson administration were to give the contracts to higher legitimate local bidders inside the state instead of going with the low bid from outside, you would see stories about favoritism for locals especially if they had made a contribution to Democrat campaigns.

This is a no win situation for any administration.  In the end though you just should get what the taxpayer has funded, a well built project that will last and is efficient.

I can't wait until we see who planted the car bomb in NYC's Time Square.  I am pretty sure it will not be a foreign terrorist but a Glen Beck/Rush Limbaugh inspired red neck lunatic.  But, I could be wrong.

Coverage

Bernalillo County Government is usually somewhat ignored by the media in the metro area.  Today however there are two major stories in the Albuquerque Journal about employment issues.  Usually, the county gets away with ducking publicity because the media has no one to focus on, like a Mayor.  Instead they see five Commissioners and a County Manager and don't know who they should really approach.  So they blow things off.

That might be changing and lets hope so.  When you see an old politico like former legislator Al Valdez get a job in the midst of a hiring freeze at the county then you know the media will start asking questions.  If you believe that Valdez got his job on just merit, then you are pretty gullible.  That is not the way things work, especially in county governments around the state.

County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins is beginning to be the go to person for the media.  She is always willing to speak about issues and management at the County.  That is good.  Now, I would like to see some detailed reporting on County finances.  They are in pretty good shape compared to city and state government because of their stable revenue source.  That would be the property tax.  However, some scrutiny wouldn't hurt.

Misc.

I was reading the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper about Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar's speech to a right wing group in Utah.  Some of these people were responsible for passing a law in the legislature there a few months ago that essentially appropriates all public land in the state owned by Americans to the ownership of the state.  It is a stupid and unconstitutional law that was signed by the Governor there.  Why Salazar needs to appease these crazies is beyond me especially when Utah is the worst state for Obama in terms of support.

As I was reading the paper I noticed an Editorial about concealed weapons in Utah.  They have virtually no training requirements for those who want to 'carry'.  They cited New Mexico as having a reasonable training requirement but then said that two New Mexico trainers were arrested recently for conducting sham training in our state.  Most of the media missed this in New Mexico and it is worth reporting on.  Did the Public Safety Department in Santa Fe make this public?  Why do we read about it in a Utah paper? (or did I just miss it)  What has happened to the people who got their concealed weapons permits from these guys?

Are they sitting next to your kids in a movie theater?

Timing is everything.  Take for example President Obama opening up more offshore drilling sites and then a few weeks later having a disastrous blow out of an off shore rig in the Gulf of Mexico.  It reminds me of that 1970's movie "The China Syndrome" about the near meltdown of an American Nuclear plant.  Three weeks after the movie premiered we got to live through the Three Mile Island disaster.

Jets

The only thing that republican gubernatorial frontrunner Allen Weh can say in his TV commercial is that Lt. Governor Diane Denish shouldn't use the state jet to travel.  This is his solution to the economic crisis, joblessness, crime, war and a myriad of other issues that face us.

So, in fairness why does he not talk about all of his jets.  He charters them for a living through his company CSI Aviation Services and has made millions in war profits by hauling people and cargo to the war zone.  When will he give us an accounting of his profits from the Iraq war?  Were his aircraft charters used in extraordinary rendition?  Should he tell us these things so the voter can get a  measure of the type of person he is?

He won't do it, because it is so much easier to talk about the state owned aircraft.  It is a meaningless issue in the scheme of things but is something that can get people upset.  So I am sure he will skirt all the important things he could talk about and focus on this.

Memory

I am a great believer in 'institutional memory.'  Whenever an organization loses a long time professional and dedicated employee it will eventually cost big time.  Why?  Because there is not anyone around to see costly and stupid mistakes coming straight at them, especially when they have probably happened before.

That is why it is so sad to see two long term public servants leave their government careers.

First there is Bob White, the long time city attorney for Albuquerque.  He has seen in all.  He started his career as a city councillor back in 1979.  He served as President of the City Council.  After one term in office he was asked to serve in city government by Mayor Harry Kinney.  Over the years Bob rose to the position of city attorney in 1994 and he as been doing that job ever since.  He has been one of the most honest and hardworking lawyers the city has ever had.  He has walked the fine line of representing both the city council and the Mayor.  And that ain't easy!

Secondly there is Paula Tackett. She is retiring after 22 years as Director of the Legislative Council Service in Santa Fe.  She might be the most knowledgeable person in the universe on the workings of our State Legislature.  There probably isn't a piece of legislation passed in the last three decades that she isn't familiar with.  She started her career clerking for Appeals court judges, then went on to private practice and some lobbying work.  Then she went to work as an analyst for the Council service in the mid 80's.  She has always been respected by both sides of the aisle.  She was recently honored by the NM Bar as the Public Lawyer of the year for 2010.

Bob and Paula may be the last of a breed of long time public servants.  It is hard to see how many people could put up with 25 years of abuse in today's nasty Newt Gingrich and GOP inspired hate politics.  The public servants are the ones who catch hell while the politicos sail on into the next election cycle.  I frankly don't know how things will function without good people like them.

Let Me Count the Ways

How can one respond to the immigration law passed by Arizona?  I watched the Arizona Governor's news conference on TV just long enough to get the impression of an angry pissed off white woman backed up by a bunch of angry pissed off white guys, all republicans, trying to blame President Obama for the whole immigration mess.  At least that is how I perceived it.

But this new immigration statute is now the law and the fight in Arizona is only beginning.  How do people register their displeasure with it?  I kind of agree that a boycott of businesses in Arizona might send a message.  So I will do that in hopes that it adds a little pressure.

How do I do it?  I am not sure.  I will not buy gasoline or munchies on out trips anymore to Phoenix.  I will arrange the fill  ups of gasoline on the borders of New Mexico and stock up on the Cheetohs too.  I will take fixings in the cooler for good New Mexican food to prepare for Noelle and her beau instead of going to some Scottsdale eatery.

Will this make any difference?  Only if a lot of people do it.  I hope someone with a big internet presence at leasts suggests the gasoline purchase strategy.  I think that could actually work a little.  Truckers, tourists and others pour a lot of money into the highway funds and sales taxes for Arizona.  Maybe this would sting them a little.

Moab

I had a nice weekend in Moab, Utah.  I serve on the board of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.  The reason I do so can be summed up in these photos.

Misc.

The Journal ran a story this morning that said the Governor's office blamed the newspaper for the the Governor getting dissed as one of the worst Governors in the country.  Well, the Governor's staff allegation is true.  Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington rated the Governor '1 of the worst' in the country.  The Governor's office said that was due to the Journal's  repetitious reporting of stories on problems with the Investment Council.  It is still important to note that the Governor has never been indicted by any Grand Jury at any level of government.

Albuquerque Mayor Berry continues to be moved off the pages and screens of the media by his publicity seeking public safety chief Darren White.  Maybe that is the way Berry wants it, but I gotta believe that is not true.  I was happy to see Berry get riled up about the revolving door for criminals at the courthouses, but Mr. White is the one with his picture in the paper.

Former Governor Gary Johnson is on the drug legalization bandwagon again.  I am with him on that one, but only that one.  It was courageous for him to take that position when he was Governor.  It cost him big time but sooner or later these laws will fall and your homes will be safe from junkies stealing your flat screens so they can buy a fix.

I will be gone for a few days on a trip to Moab, Utah for a board meeting.  That is a beautiful drive and I am looking forward to it.

Flomax

I think there is a great conspiracy occurring.  The purveyors of Flomax are really behind the move in many states, now including New Mexico, to close highway rest stops.  This would be a  very bad move for people like me who just don't like to take any drugs advertized on TV every ten minutes.  Especially when the described possible revolting side effects take up half the commercial.

So, Governor Richardson must come to the rescue of all of us mid 60's guys and tell the state Transportation Commission to find another way to save money!

The Oil Boys

I don't think there is much doubt now that the republican party in New Mexico is actually just a subsidiary of the oil and gas industry. In terms of resources the oil boys, and especially the Yates Petroleum Company, are bankrolling the GOP here.  Yes, I know organized labor is financing the Democrats, but no where near the dollar amounts that energy producers are sending to the elephant crowd.

But there is a little more here than meets the eye.  I noticed that the Potash industry has given a $12,500 donation to Lt. Governor Diane Denish's campaign.  Why?  Probably because for years the oil boys have wanted to drill near the potash mines in Eddy county.  They  have been trying to get approvals for this since I was Land Commissioner in the early 80's.  I wouldn't do it because it could endanger the miners if methane gas escaped from the drilling into the mines.  And I hear that the oil and gas industry once again wants into those mining areas.  It would be a bad move to approve this on a lot of levels, especially mine safety, but also from the standpoint that potash is a valuable resource that should not be endangered.

Some Advice

The Governor, Judges, Public Defenders, County Commissioners, District Attorneys and Mayors of New Mexico have a great opportunity to do something for all of us.  With the revelation of a guy running free after 125 arrests maybe the Chief elected officers of local and state governments might want to take this opportunity to look at exactly, and I do mean exactly,  how this situation came about and who had a role in it.  And then, start making people accountable for allowing these kinds of things to happen.

I mean, how does a guy who gets arrested 125 times remain free?  Even if it is just for spitting on the sidewalk?  125 times.  And he is free again.  Shouldn't he just be chained to a post?  Or drag around a 50lb iron ball?  I know, as a liberal I shouldn't say such things, but frankly this guy and others like him are preying on all political persuasions.

So, the Governor should contact the Municipal League (the mayors) and the Association of Counties (the County Commissions) and others and say, "What do you think?  Shall we all get together and find out what is wrong with the system and fix it.  It might not even be that difficult."

I think the Governor could be a hero along with the Mayors if they take this effort on.

Indecision Finished

Well, I finally bought a car.  A Toyota Highlander 4WD.  Why?  Because I have a project coming up that I will need it for.  It is an ambitious undertaking that will take me a couple of years at least and I need a car that can go off road and has storage space.  The MPG isn't great but Bobbi is making up for that when she gets her Prius in a few days.  How is that for rationalization?  On my part!

Speaking of rationality, I have decided that the TEA party people, educated as they are, just really aren't rational.  There is nothing we can do about it except hope that their bizarre behavior doesn't turn violent.  As Hilary Clinton reminded us yesterday it was this same kind of irrational behavior that brought us to the Oklahoma federal building bombing.

Bewildered

So the Tea Party folks are rallying today against taxes.  Nothing wrong with that.  But I am truly bewildered by them when you look at the fact that they far outstrip the population in general when it comes to getting social security benefits.  I guess they think that money that funds social security benefits comes from God and not from taxes.  And these people generally have a better education than most Americans.  But maybe they never took a logic class.  Certainly, Social Security is the biggest user of tax money but what would happen to these folks if we just stopped those benefits?  Do you think they might be upset?

Intel

The big business news today is how well Intel is doing on its revenues.  That is good for Albuquerque/Rio Rancho.  It is also good for my daughter Noelle, age 25, who works for Intel in Chandler, Arizona.  She is a revenue analyst.  She is attending a two day conference in Santa Clara, California and got to have her picture taken with Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel.  Now, about that promotion Mr. Otellini!

Actually, there were others in the picture but I cropped them out.

Finance Reports

The candidates for this years primary election had to file their financial reports yesterday.  Most news outlets reported on the Governor's races and Lt. Governor races but not the rest of the contests.  One that was left out was the race for State Land Commissioner.  As I write this one thing is still obvious.  The special interests who run the land office under Commissioner Pat Lyons are now throwing their money at various other candidates.  Ranchers and oil field interests still control this race from a financial aspect.  This is their last time around as special interest financing of campaigns will become tougher in the next set of elections in 2014.

As of this writing not all of the candidates reports have been posted, but the biggest fund raiser right now is democrat Sandy Jones.  I have always felt he has a good shot at this if he doesn't let big oil run his life.

I have always liked republican Doug Turner as a person.  But yesterday he got on the big oil and coal band wagon by filing a court action against a carbon cap and trade policy from Governor Richardson.  Just like yesterday, I will again recommend that everyone read Paul Krugman's article on cap and trade in the New York Times magazine.

The sad thing is this move on Turner's part has turned off a lot more people than he will ever rally to him in a republican primary for governor.  And it shows he is not wise on climate change.

You can go to this new site to see the reports.  Just put in the office your are interested in to see how the candidates did.

Misc.

I have always felt having priorities was a good thing.  Some things are more important to get done than others.  So, why do we spend so much time at UNM worrying about the basketball coach while the Mathematics and Statistics Department melts down?  Shouldn't we put more money into that pot to attract and keep talent, rather than wringing our hands over the athletic program?  Just wondering here what the priorities are.  Thanks to the Journal for doing this story.

The lead story yesterday in the Sunday Journal was about how the chimpanzees at the zoo are getting along.  Leslie Lithicum did a great job on it as usual.  But the priorities of the editors make me wonder on its placement.

Everyone should take the time to read this New York Times Magazine Article by Paul Krugman.

I need to make a final decision this week on a new car.  My friends and Bobbi always marvel at how I agonize over what to buy and this time is no different.  I have leased my last five cars, but now that I am retired I will buy one so it has to be just right and last a long time.  I think I know what I want but maybe it costs to much.  What to do.....What to do.  This has been going on for six months.

Bobbi's Tulips

Bobbi's Tulips are great this  year.  Maybe the cold winter helped.  Who knows.  I sure don't study Tulips but I do like them.

Fray Angelico

My uncle, Jaime Baca, called me Friday and asked if I could drive him to Santa Fe for a symposium on New Mexico's prolific author and artist Fray Angelico Chavez.  My uncle knew him and I met him on several occasions.  He spent a lot of time in our family's home town of Pena Blanca where he painted he stations of the cross on the walls of the church using the villagers as models.

He is also well known for his 26 books and 600 short pieces of literature and history.

He was quite a man who left his Franciscan priesthood for a short time and became a full time Santa Fe bohemian until he returned to the church shortly before his death in 1996.

My sister Carlota met us at the event and gave us a tour of the new State History Museum.  I had not been there since it opened on the plaza a year ago. It is truly a world class facility and I urge everyone to visit for a day.

Duke City Finances

We had a great meeting in Boston and funded some solid environmental groups.  We have not had to cut back on our grant making during these economic times.  I think it is because of our focus and smart approach to getting real value for our expenditures.

Now as I return to Albuquerque I see that the budget crunch on city government is very real and decisions have to be made.  As a former Mayor I will put in my two bits worth.

I think there can always be waste trimmed in any government budget.  If elected officials who are in charge of the budget will look around they will find that waste and it will be easy to take care of it.  But I feel that cutting city services is not an option.  I am talking about basic services of public safety, environmental safeguards, parks and recreation and such.  That is why I would be against any permanent slashing of services that citizens have become accustomed too.  I think a furlough system for employees, much like the state is doing, is preferable to pay cuts.  This way employees will not see their long years of service being lessened when retirement comes around.  A three or four percent cut will really affect pensions and morale.

The city employees and their unions must understand that times are really hard and raising taxes to keep the status quo will not be accepted by the public taxpayers.  So the unions must approach this responsibly.  Level heads must prevail here.  This may just be a two or three year problem as there are a few signs the economy is adding jobs which means tax revenues will go up.  Since the city mainly relies on sales taxes for its revenues it will take a while for added spending to show up in city coffers.  In the meantime everyone should just be patient.

Boston

It is supposed to be 82 degrees in Boston today.  And  there is now juniper pollen around.  Good news for me for a day or so. 

Boston

The only thing that matters right now is that I will be where the Juniper pollen is not.  In Boston.  I am off to another meeting of the Wyss Foundation.  It will be an important meeting for us and I am looking forward to it.  And to the efficiency of getting oxygen into my lungs.

Blast from the Past

Rodger and Connie Beimer came over for dinner on Saturday night.  Rodger had been rummaging around in old boxes as he prepares to digitize many images and he came up with this newspaper ad from 1972.   (Notice the young Dick Knipfing.) The Albuquerque Press Club awarded Rodger and I "best news story  of the year" for coverage of  the crash of an RB-57 Air Force plane.

I was driving out of the Television station parking lot on the way to an assignment when I noticed some strange glittering flashes over the Manazno mountains.  I put the news car into the median of University Blvd. and jumped out with my Bell and Howell DR70 16mm news camera and started filming with the telephoto lens.  I wasn't sure what I was filming but it turned out to be the  break up of the aircraft in midair.  The back seat pilot had become unconscious because of oxygen deprivation and the command pilot put the plane in a severe dive to get to a lower altitude.  The aircraft, which had huge wings, broke apart.  Both officers died.  I wish I still had that film.  The USAF came out and took it for an investigation.

Misc.

So the poor students at UNM will pay for an 8% increase in tuition and fees while the football coach gets a two year extension and potential bonuses.  Add  this to the students burden of 7% interest on their loans from the lecherous bankers.  Why don't these people raise some hell?

These two simultaneous PR revelations from UNM are classic.  But not near as classic as what is going on in the Vatican's pedophile priest saga.  How could anyone be so stupid as to compare pedophilia criticism with the holocaust?  It just is something I can't fathom.

I have a book recommendation.   "The Quants" by Scott Patterson.  It is about the Math geniuses on Wall Street who brought us the latest economic disaster.  It is enlightening.  No doubt, these folks are so super smart that they scare the hell out of me.  But when they are wrong...watch out.  I told my mathematician friend Jim King he should read it.  Here is his reply..."A real mathematician, a pure mathematician, would have realized it was a waste of time and gone off to solve something really hard that nobody could use for at least a hundred years.  Applied mathematicians aren’t much better than physicists."      

Invasion

Someone with my name owes money.  I am getting called by every two bit collection agency in town and being interrogated about my real identity and my life history up to this point.  Halfway through the questions I use a profanity involving a deity I don't believe in and  hang up on them.  The only one who didn't give up was the University Hospital who kept calling until I got really nasty.

These collectors are about as welcome as Juniper Pollen.  Did you see the count today?  1200!  Normal would be 90!  Unlike bill collectors with the wrong number you can't curse away the pollen.  If you were to look outside today in Albuquerque you might think that all the crud in the air was dust from our spring time winds.  No, I think it is all pollen from every Juniper tree between here and Pacific Ocean.

I am in a benadryl stupor at night and tired during the day from lack of oxygen.  I thought we were so smart leaving for South America for a couple of weeks and that most Juniper poison would have blown over to Texas by now.  Wishful thinking.

Desert Rock Coal Fired Plant Dead?

Here is a good story on the Desert Rock Coal fired Generating Plant in Northwestern New Mexico.

Advice for President Obama

Okay, you have done something to make the oil and gas industry happy.  It may have been necessary to lease off shore federal holdings.  There are mixed feelings about it.  I am not totally happy with it but it might be something that has to happen in the short term.  But here is a bit of advice for you Mr. President.  The oil and gas industry does not like you.  This leasing program means nothing to them when the next election rolls around.  They will do everything in their power to see you are thrown out of Washington, DC.  They are republicans who could care less about your programs and policies so long as it doesn't affect their profits and subsidies.  I know you are smart enough to realize this but some of your folks may still be a little naive.

One thing I have learned in my political career is that the folks who depend on taxpayer owned resources on the nation's public lands really will never vote for any progressive, centrist, moderate or liberal.  They are for the most part ultra wing nut conservatives who vote for their pocket book only.  Their real attitude is "Give us you land, give us your money, and leave us alone."

City Screwed

I think Mayor Berry is right in calling the state Transportation Commission on their ban of the use of traffic light cameras on state roads.  Berry is now insisting that the state take over the law enforcement responsibilities on those roads in Albuquerque.  If the state doesn't do it then they are endangering lives and mistreating taxpayers in the city and county.  I don't like those cameras much myself, but they have had an overall positive law enforcement affect, if not exorbitant fines.  Sometimes state bureaucrats mindlessly do things that affect other governments.  So does the legislature.

I remember when the state highway department told the city to finish the job  on the new Big-I interchange.  They refused to landscape it and sure enough the city got to ante up the funds up to do it themselves under Marty Chavez.  (They did a good job) I am glad now to see Mayor Berry, a former republican legislator, pushing back a little.

Back in the USA

It is always nice to get home and take up a routine again.  Especially after a high energy vacation.  We pretty much lazed around all weekend and ate  home cooked meals.  We caught up on the news as much as possible.

We now enter the last 8 weeks or so before the political primary elections and things are shaping up pretty much as expected.  I had always felt that Governor  candidate Doug Turner on the Republican side would be the only threat to Diane Denish in the General election in November.  His wise early spending on billboards and TV is showing its effects.  Allen Weh, the Iraq war profiteer and bush worshiper is also expending money and is showing some strength.  He is the kind of candidate that needs the tea party types to get anywhere and they seem to me to be rudderless.  Their captain, Sarah Palin, thinks the world is flat and 6000 years old and she will lead them over the edge.

I had numerous phone messages from candidates seeking money.  I am retired now and won't be giving huge amounts any more.  I think the funding outlook for most of the candidates is not good because of the economy.  The big givers will be the oil and gas industry and they will work mightily against democrats.  Remember the New Mexico republican party is run by oil and gas executives who want no regulation and unbridled and untaxed profits.

Things didn't change a whole lot in the last few weeks while we were gone, except for the fact that Obama has found his stride, passed health insurance reform and got a victory.  Now, if he would just insist that the Department of Interior get rid of the bush appointed State BLM directors everything would be find.  Those directors are not following the wishes of the administration and they need to be transferred to other places.

Movie Show

Did you ever get invited somewhere and then be forced to sit through a slide show of a vacation?  It would be nice if there were an easy way out of enduring it.  So, if you want to have a choice on such a thing you can either watch this vacation movie or not and no feelings will be hurt.  Just scroll down to the movie section and click on the Jim and Bobbi's South American movie.

Last Day

We had a great time after entering the harbor in Rio De Janeiro.  We did not stay in the city to see the regular sites, like the Christ the Redeemer statue that watches over everyone.  He was currently wrapped in steel scaffolding since he could not redeem himself from mold and mildew in the humid tropics.  

We did go to Petropolis about 60 miles outside of Rio.  It was cool and pleasant there as we visited the “Imperial Museum” built by Brazil’s second King, Peter II.  It was a great museum.  

You had to wear special slippers which polish the floor as you walk around.

Finally, we say a fond good bye to our dinner mates on the cruise.  Greg, Beatrice and daughter Savannah were fine Canadians from Toronto.  They own a very successful trucking company.  They were fun to be with because like most Canadians they are rather liberal in their views.  They were constantly incredulous about the lack of  healthcare for Americans and were very congratulatory when Obama signed the bill this week.

This was a great cruise.  It was not for those who want to stop in world class ports on every shore leave.  Rio and Buenos Aries are fantastic, overcrowded and polluted but the small undeveloped towns we visited were rugged, basic, friendly and educational.

Buzios

This is our last stop before disembarking the Veendam in the morning.  We were on one of the first tenders off the ship this morning since it was already getting hot.  We walked around this jet set destination for a few hours.

This place was put on the map when it was a fishing village because Brigette Bardot and her Brazilian boyfriend came to tryst here.  They even made a statue of her to thank her.

Probably there will be no posts tomorrow as we tour Rio all day and then go to the airport for a red eye back to Atlanta.  It has been a great two weeks.