CNN continues disservice to second-tier candidates

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In what is apparently a continued attempt to prop up the three frontrunners in the race to be the Democratic Party’s 2008 presidential nominee, CNN co-hosted a forum yesterday on faith that only involved Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. The others were interviewed later on another CNN show, but they weren’t given as much time or attention. You can read about the CNN/Sojourners forum by clicking here. You can read a transcript of Paula Zahn now, where the others got to speak, by clicking here. The move came the day after CNN held a Democratic candidate debate designed to center around the Big Three, who got more time to speak, were asked more questions and took up more camera time even when they weren’t speaking. Continue Reading

House Democrats won’t keep promise of openness

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Since Democrats took control of Congress in January, the news has continued to be bad for the Bush Administration and GOP. The pendulum is bound to swing eventually, and the past few days have been bad ones for the Democrats. Remember Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., touting his vote in January for new ethics rules designed to “make this Congress the most ethical Congress in history?” One of those new rules required the clear identification of earmarks – requests by lawmakers for funding for projects in their districts – in time for lawmakers to debate their merits. Such earmarks are negotiating tools that many say lead to corruption. A lawmaker will often vote for a bill he opposes if funding for a project in his district is slipped into it. Continue Reading

AG King to talk about ethics in Las Cruces

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Attorney General Gary King will talk about ethics in government at Southern New Mexico Common Cause’s annual luncheon in Las Cruces next week. Last year, Gov. Bill Richardson announced the creation of his ethics task force during the group’s annual event. King will speak about ethics in state and local government, according to a news release from Common Cause. The event will be held June 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn. Tickets for the lunch are $15 each. Continue Reading

Developer says he isn’t helping pay Theus and Martin

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Las Cruces developer Philip Philippou isn’t giving any money to the New Mexico State University Foundation to help pay basketball Coach Reggie Theus or President Michael Martin. Philippou contacted me this weekend to make that clear. His comments came in response to an article I ran Friday questioning whether the foundation’s donor list should be public. The university recently gave Theus and Martin significant raises in compensation that are paid by the private sector. The money is funneled through the foundation, a non-profit that keeps its donor lists secret. Continue Reading

Richardson’s campaign declares debate a success

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s campaign was pleased with his showing in Sunday’s Democratic candidate debate. Richardson “firmly established himself as the candidate with the strongest positions on the key challenges facing this country and showed that he is the most qualified to be the next president of the United States,” the campaign declared in a news release after the debate. “The other candidates have policy positions, and Bill Richardson has real-world experience dealing with those challenges,” said David Contarino, Richardson’s campaign manager. “Tonight, he separated himself from the other candidates and showed voters in New Hampshire and across the country that he will be a strong and effective president that can bring this country together and restore America’s standing in the world.” Reactions from political pundits were mixed. The Albuquerque Journal spoke with three political observers. Continue Reading

Udall gets approval in non-scientific poll

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said they approve of the job being done by U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M. Of 102 voters, 55, or 54 percent, said they approve, while 34, or 33 percent, said they disapprove, and 13, or 13 percent, said they’re not sure. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Richardson holds his own in second debate

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Gov. Bill Richardson followed a poor showing in the first Democratic presidential candidate debate in April with a better performance tonight. Though he held his own, the format of the debate wasn’t conducive to helping second-tier candidates, and he did have a few poor moments. Barack Obama and John Edwards rose to the top in the debate, with Hillary Clinton not far behind. Joe Biden stood out among second-tier candidates, and was followed by Chris Dodd and Richardson. No candidate had a poor showing. Continue Reading

Richardson unveils new ad highlighting energy plan

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Gov. Bill Richardson has unveiled a new television advertisement that highlights his energy plan. Richardson is continuing his focus on Iowa and New Hampshire by running the new commercial there. It comes on the heels of his humorous and popular job-interview ads and significant gains in polls in both states. The job-interview ads will continue to run in those states alongside the new commercial. The ad touts New Mexico as a state that has done the most to “promote renewable energy and fight global warming.” “We’ve made New Mexico the clean energy state,” Richardson says at the end of the commercial. Continue Reading

Check out wooden Richardson on YouTube

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This video of Gov. Bill Richardson talking about his energy plan is interesting because it illustrates what an unconvincing job he often does when talking to a camera. Richardson is brilliant in one-on-one settings or crowds. He’s mediocre in debates. When he’s talking to a camera, he’s often horrible. I’m assuming that’s because Richardson takes so many cues from the facial expressions and other non-verbal communication of those around him. Continue Reading

Giuliani to hold fundraiser in Albuquerque

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Republican Rudy Giuliani is set next week to become the first 2008 presidential candidate besides Bill Richardson to hold a fundraiser in New Mexico. Giuliani will hold a fundraiser at a home in Albuquerque on June 9, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. The event will include a roundtable discussion for donors who contribute the maximum of $4,600, a VIP photo opportunity for those who give $2,300, and lunch for $500. The hosts are Eclipse Aviation President Vern Raburn and Albuquerque car dealer Ken Zangara, according to the Journal. Continue Reading

Endorsement of developer’s project raises further questions about how Aggie coach is being paid

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In light of a recent increase in his compensation, a few eyebrows went up when New Mexico State Aggies’ basketball coach Reggie Theus showed up at a Las Cruces City Council meeting last week to speak in favor of a controversial development. The university announced three weeks ago a $100,000 increase in Theus’ annual compensation, bringing it to $446,000. The raise is contributed entirely by the private sector and, because the donations are funneled through the NMSU Foundation, the university won’t release the names of the donors. The Board of Regents also approved three weeks ago a restructuring of President Michael Martin’s contract that includes deferred compensation and an optional housing allowance paid by private donors. I wrote at the time that both moves were controversial because the secrecy has the potential to hide impropriety. Continue Reading

Brunner says he isn’t running for Congress

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Terry Brunner, state director for the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., has decided he won’t run for Congress next year. Brunner had been considering running against U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., but said he is happy with the other candidates considering the race. The only Democrat to officially be in the running is Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich. “I see some great people stepping up and getting in to the race, and I think the important thing is that we have a great candidate,” Brunner told me. While we’re on the topic, the Rothenberg Political Report has a new analysis of New Mexico’s First Congressional District race. Continue Reading

In wake of tragedy, Anthony considers incorporation

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The impoverished community of Anthony, fresh off two tragedies that have galvanized residents, is talking seriously about incorporation, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting. A month ago, a 13-year-old boy was killed in a car crash that was caused by a missing stop sign. More recently, a teen trying to clean up his life was murdered in a gang-related shooting. Many residents are bitter at the only government they can blame, Doña Ana County. In some ways, they’re justified: In the late 1990s and early part of this decade, some commissioners worked for political and other reasons to encourage businesses that looked at Anthony to instead locate in Santa Teresa, where the county has worked for years to try to build a new city. Continue Reading

City wants transparency to keep up with technology

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The City of Las Cruces, in an effort to ensure its transparency keeps up with technology, is exploring whether councilors should be allowed to use cell phones, laptop computers and other communication devices during council meetings. Coming from a council whose illegal action led several years ago to the formal definition in New Mexico of a “rolling quorum,” it’s a valiant effort to tackle an interesting and difficult issue. In 2002, then-Mayor Ruben Smith met with five of six councilors separately and convinced them to sign a letter asking the city ethics board to investigate possible violations by then-Councilor Bill Mattiace. The letter led to an eventual reprimand. The Las Cruces-Sun-News sued, arguing that the mayor and a majority of councilors, though they didn’t physically meet in one place, made a decision, as a group, outside the legal forum of a public meeting. Continue Reading

Richardson to meet with Jesse Jackson’s group

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A day after participating in CNN’s Democratic presidential candidate debate on Sunday, Gov. Bill Richardson will head to another event that should earn him some attention. He will be in Chicago on Monday morning to address the RainbowPUSH Coalition, led by Rev. Jesse Jackson. After the event, he’ll hold a news conference with Jackson, according to a news release from the Richardson campaign. Maybe he’ll secure some high-profile endorsements in the black community to make up for the fact that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, one of the most visible Hispanics in the nation, announced yesterday his endorsement of Hillary Clinton. Richardson plans to spend Monday afternoon and evening fundraising in Phoenix. Continue Reading