Does experience matter? Analysis reveals trends

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By Ben Glickler Ever since Sarah Palin joined the GOP ticket, those of us who get a kick out of following politics have heard some fantastic arguments coming from pundits and advocates on all sides. Sarah Palin has a lot of executive experience due to being a small-town mayor; alternatively, she governed a big-whoop state of 600,000 for a big-whoop two years. Obama has a lengthy record of serving the public due to being a community organizer; or, if you like, he spent two years in the Senate doing nothing before hitting the campaign trail. Each side is trying to make the case that their guy (or gal) is ready for the big job despite having a slim record in politics — but they’re also trying to make sure we know that the other side is completely unprepared because of their slim record in politics. Most people can’t walk that thin line, and the result is often unintentionally hilarious. Continue Reading

The media must put country and democracy first

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By Christopher M. Adams For the last week or so I’ve been watching the media grow more and more distracted by the Palin fever that has suddenly infected its 17-month and, at times, quite interesting campaign coverage. But in the past week I’ve seen the media, once again, fall “hook-line-and-sinker” to the Republican juggernaut of keeping the focus off the issues and on the “personality.” Just as I was beginning to think that the media was finally taking a turn for the better, to provide people with the knowledge and information as well as discussions necessary for us to be able to govern our own lives more effectively — swoosh! — All that was gone. Enter the distraction phase of political campaigning or, better yet, Karl Rove Part II. I know, I should have known it couldn’t last. Continue Reading

Electronic medical records: Why can’t NM get started?

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By Sen. Dede Feldman As anyone who has ever had a major illness knows, medical records can be a matter of life or death. An illegible prescription or a missing piece of paper about a previous illness can lead to the wrong treatment, a disastrous delay or unnecessary side effects. That’s why policymakers at both the feral and state levels are tuning their attention to health information technology as an important part of health care reform. Proponents of electronic medical records, like Newt Gingrich, see improved health information technology as a way to cut costs and improve the quality of medical care. In recent years, the Bush administration has been offering grants to organizations making the electronic transition, and has begun using the Medicare program to create an interoperable system. Continue Reading

McCain and Palin head to New Mexico

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By Pat Rogers MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Underscoring New Mexico’s place as a critical swing state, the convention ends and the election begins with the news of the Saturday visit to New Mexico by the “maverick” candidates. For John McCain’s speech last night, the New Mexico delegation was again very close to the stage. John McCain aimed at the heartland and the heart.“Country First” was the theme, and for Americans who are not employed by the Democratic National Committee or living in exclusive urban addresses, the “straight talk express” delivered. If competence, sacrifice, independence and experience count in the McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden race, it may be a walk-over for the unconventional ticket. Continue Reading

McCain couldn’t have made a better choice

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By Dan Foley I have to begin by telling you how excited I am to be a Republican today. Sen. John McCain has hit a home run, or better yet, a grand slam. His choice for a running mate could not have been any better; Gov. Sarah Palin is a superstar. I am excited to see this young, dynamic woman step up to the challenge of being second in command to run the United States of America. And I must say, listening to the left attack her has me rolling on the ground with laughter. Continue Reading

A front seat at history in the making

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By Pat Rogers MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — The reviews have been consistent and strong: “Fired-up Palin rocks arena, rips her foes: Under political fire and a media microscope, Sarah Palin served notice in her acceptance speech that she is ready and able to take on critics,” concluded the Minneapolis StarTribune. My favorite was the National Journal: “Sarah Barracuda Takes a Bite.” Good portions of the national media are not pleased. The first female vice president is going to be a Republican woman who believes in the Second Amendment and real reform. Morton Blackwell, the conservative legend responsible for mentoring many young Republicans, was sitting in the front row of the Virginia delegation at the Republican convention, right behind the front-row New Mexico delegation. Continue Reading

New Mexico — swing state

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By Pat Rogers MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — New Mexico is in the front row of the Republican convention. Will Cavin, the Chaves County Republican Party chair, and Phil Archuletta, the New Mexico delegate with the most seniority, insist that the TV networks want them close to the cameras for ratings purposes. Stu Spillar, the history teacher from Hobbs, talks about New Mexico’s history of close elections and our “swing state” status. No other state is bracketed by a neighbor president on one side and a presidential candidate on the other. Continue Reading

The fox is watching the hen house

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By Stuart Ingle Don’t you just wonder at times what and who is thinking in our state capitol, Santa Fe? Secretary of State Mary Herrera’s decision to hire the son-in-law of a candidate for the U.S. Senate, who is also the husband of the candidate’s campaign manager, to be in charge of New Mexico’s election has to be one of the biggest blunders in our state’s history. Is the public relieved that this job is filled? Did Secretary of State Herrera think we would all agree to her pick of a competent, qualified lawyer for the job and overlook the obvious conflict of interest? Did it really never occur to her, or any of her deputies, that it might — just might — seem a bit out of the ordinary, or just might raise a few eyebrows, or just might cause a touch of doubt that a job that should be performed by a nonpartisan professional, insulated from and indifferent to the political intrigue that runs thick every election year, would instead be filled by the husband of a candidate’s campaign manager and daughter? Continue Reading

Hurricane Gustav is the news

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By Pat Rogers MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — Hurricane Gustav is the news. Sen. McCain immediately asked the conventioneers to “take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.” Everyone has been watching the weather news. With the exception of the excitement about Sarah Palin and “real change” and “real reform,” the political talk has been very muted. It is difficult to tell someone who spent 5.5 years in prison for his country and a son at war that public service is not convenient. Continue Reading

Convention closing

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By Diane Denish Thursday’s events brought a close to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. More than 1,000 New Mexicans came to Denver for the final day of the convention. Gov. Bill Richardson added to the list of impressive and dynamic speakers focused on rallying Democrats around a common political platform. He spoke about the American experience and received rounds of applause when he said that McCain may spend hundreds of dollars for his shoes but we will all pay for his flip flops. Gov. Richardson’s charismatic delivery brought forth the first instance in which the audience stomped its feet, and a thunderous sound filled the stadium. Continue Reading

A celebration of women in politics

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(This posting is about events that took place on Tuesday, but technical issues prevented it from being sent for publication on this site until today.) By Diane Denish DENVER — It was standing room only at the EMILY’s List reception as I sat on the floor in my suit with other women state and national leaders. I was surrounded by nearly 2,000 attendees, a virtual list of who’s who in American women politics. EMILY’s List is one of our nation’s largest political networks and financial resources for Democratic women. We were all there to celebrate the power of women as candidates, contributors and voters to ignite positive change. I was wowed to see all of the female members of the Senate and Congress and felt a profound sense of pride as the first candidate helped by EMILY’s list, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, reminded us that we were celebrating the 88th anniversary of women’s suffrage. Continue Reading

Tom and the N.M. delegation take center stage

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By Jill Cooper DENVER — Today was all about the New Mexico delegation. They are staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Denver — a serious but reasonable walk to the Pepsi Center. Tom represented the delegation well with a series of speeches throughout the day. Then, later, New Mexico got to play its own little role in nominating Barack Obama to be president. The day started with the New Mexico delegation breakfast where Tom and T. Boone Pickens were the main speakers. Continue Reading

Emily’s List Gala, Hillary’s speech and more

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By Jill Cooper DENVER — We got off to a fine start this morning at the Albuquerque airport with lots of people recognizing Tom and guessing where we were going and wishing him luck. This is a good omen. Denver is convention-crazy. Delegates and convention groupies and souvenir sellers and media trucks are everywhere. We heard there were lots of demonstrators, but all we saw were the SWAT teams getting ready, just in case. Continue Reading

Convention reveals a united Democratic Party

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By Diane Denish DENVER — The first night of the convention painted an incredible representation of who the Democratic Party is. President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama were powerhouses, producing an indescribable hum of energy even before the speaking started. My daughter Sara and I boarded a shuttle to Pepsi Center at the Crowne Plaza. As we took our seats, the energy and excitement built higher and higher as folks from different delegations buzzed about the line-up of speakers intended to empower the party and stir solidarity. It was fantastic to share the experience with Sara. Continue Reading

‘Tax rebates’ are more appropriately called welfare

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By Dan Foley Having just returned from what will probably be my last legislative session, I have to tell you I was amazed at how well the Democrats can stay on message nationally and locally. We just finished a “special session” that was to deal with emergency issues facing our state. We actually did have one — the flooding that hit Lincoln and Otero counties. I was shocked, though, to see that a proposal to give some people a small check had been labeled an “emergency.” Furthermore, this proposal was given the name “tax rebate.” That nickname also seemed odd in that the idea of giving someone a “rebate” requires that he or she had to have paid something to start with. But many people who will receive the so-called rebate actually paid no taxes at all. Continue Reading