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Voters in poll say Bingaman is most ethical

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U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman won last week’s non-scientific poll on this site asking which member of New Mexico’s congressional delegation is the most ethical. Of 256 voters, 87, or 34 percent, picked Bingaman, while 79, or 31 percent, picked Sen. Tom Udall. Forty-six, or 18 percent, picked Rep. Martin Heinrich; 34, or 13 percent, picked Rep. Harry Teague; and 10, or 4 percent, picked Rep. Ben Ray Luján. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Those political bait-and-switch schemes

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© 2009 by Michael Swickard, Ph.D. A political phrase being used often these days is “bait and switch.” It refers to political promises to create attractive government programs that then are switched to the detriment of the citizens. The health-care debate smells of bait and switch, just like past government betrayals. An example is income tax. Our current income tax came from the 16th amendment in 1913. That first year the federal income tax was paid by less than 1 percent of the population. Continue Reading

Martinez campaigns on ‘voter fraud’

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But was it voter fraud or incompetence that the district attorney’s office prosecuted in 2003?Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez claims in a news release sent today that, “on her watch” as Doña Ana County district attorney, the county clerk “was successfully prosecuted for voter fraud — convicted of five felony counts of violating the election code.” A look at the facts reveals a slightly more complicated situation. Then-Clerk Ruben Ceballos was removed from office in 2003 after being convicted of five felonies for violating the state elections code — failing to file voter registrations in a timely manner, failing to notify voters of precinct changes, appointing unregistered voters as poll workers, unlawfully changing a polling place, and failing to destroy unused absentee ballots. But are those problems proof of voter fraud or incompetence? In a Nov. 20, 2003 article published in the Las Cruces Sun-News, Martinez’s chief deputy district attorney, Susan Riedel, was quoted as saying this about what led to the charges against Ceballos: “There was no training of employees, no attention to detail. Continue Reading

For the GOP, education needs to be a top priority

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By Sarah Lenti So, let’s start with the assumption that the Republican Party actually wants to take on the responsibility of being the majority party (again). And I mean what I am writing here — the party is going to have to want, really want, to legislate, even if it means making hard choices and, god-forbid, leaning across the aisle from time to time. If the Republican Party is serious about rebuilding an effective majority over time, then education needs to be one of the top tier priorities. Why, you ask? Simple. Continue Reading

Colón is considering running for lieutenant governor

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Brian Colón, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, is seriously considering running for lieutenant governor next year and plans to make a decision in “less than two weeks,” according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Colón did not respond to a request for comment. He would be joining a crowded field of Democrats seeking the party’s No. 2 spot on the ballot in 2010. Already in the race are Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano and state Sens. Continue Reading

Controversial developer Philippou’s problems grow

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The problems for controversial Las Cruces developer Philip Philippou are growing. A new lawsuit accuses Philippou of fraud in promising a company he hired to help build a golf course in Las Cruces that water would be available for construction, when in fact it was not, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported today. You can read the lawsuit, filed by Golf Works, Inc., by clicking here. In addition, the Albuquerque Journal published an article about the City of Las Cruces taking steps to force Philippou to pay outstanding utility bills and deal with an exposed sewer line in one of his developments. The new issues come weeks after the city filed a lawsuit alleging that Philippou has failed to comply with building requirements in several of his subdivisions and asking a district court judge to force Philippou to complete the work he started. Continue Reading

Arnold-Jones says she is running for governor

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In a letter to supporters, Arnold-Jones talks about increasing transparency, says New Mexico ‘can be so much more’ State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, said today that she is running for governor next year and plans a formal announcement sometime in August. “I am running,” Arnold-Jones said today in an interview. She made her candidacy official in a letter sent to supporters on Sunday. “If you have not heard, I am running for Governor of the State of New Mexico,” Arnold-Jones wrote. “Why? Continue Reading

Public option and the free market (Part II)

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By Carter Bundy Many Americans, including myself, generally believe that strong, competitive, private free markets are effective creators of wealth. In our national health debate, a central question is whether such markets can also solve our access, cost and (to a lesser degree) quality problems. A key to analyzing whether markets can solve our health issues is to look at whether health systems inherently follow the assumptions necessary for markets to be efficient. Last column I noted that a major assumption about efficient, effective markets is that consumers have perfect information about themselves and their needs. But no matter how much genealogical research you do, you never really know what kind of health care coverage you and your family will need. Assumption No. Continue Reading

We must act as a community against corruption

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By Gary K. King We have come to the stage where my office’s investigations have resulted in indictments and prosecutions. One of the challenges of the attorney general’s job is to properly manage requests for information from the general public, legislators and the media about ongoing investigations. I have stated this many times but it is always good to repeat: For ethical and legal reasons, my office will have little to say about our investigations until and unless such information becomes public record, as in the filing of an indictment. This policy is utilized for everyone’s protection and the preservation of the legal process. When it is proper to do so, I will always provide updates. Continue Reading

Turner wins this site’s non-scientific poll

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Doug Turner won the last non-scientific poll on this site, which asked, if Heather Wilson doesn’t run, who will win the GOP gubernatorial primary next year. Of 2,660 votes cast, 925, or 35 percent, went to Turner; 797, or 30 percent, went to Allen Weh; 723, or 27 percent, went to Susana Martinez; and 215, or 8 percent, went to Janice Arnold-Jones. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Most would call me ultra-conservative

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This is one of several guest columns that were submitted in response to this question: How do you identify yourself politically (liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, independent, something else or none of the above) and what does that mean to you? By Shan Nichols Labels mean nothing to me when it comes to political descriptions. I describe myself, simply, as an American. America is under the most serious and vicious attack I have witnessed in my lifetime. This attack is not coming from another country but from within. Continue Reading

Vote for the person and the policy, not the party

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This is one of several guest columns that were submitted in response to this question: How do you identify yourself politically (liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, independent, something else or none of the above) and what does that mean to you?By Bob Coppedge I consider myself an independent, and that means to support and vote for the person and the policy, not the party. Over the years I have registered as a Democrat and as a Republican, and will register in a party when there is a candidate to support in the primary. No party has a monopoly on wisdom, and to vote the party line is to shortchange the mind all should cultivate. Frustrating indeed is the negative atmosphere that surrounds many campaigns. Respect is too often a rare commodity, especially respecting the right of others to have a different opinion, but it’s hard to respect someone who looks down on you for your different opinion. Continue Reading

A Hispanic Republican willing to work for change

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This is one of several guest columns that were submitted in response to this question: How do you identify yourself politically (liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, independent, something else or none of the above) and what does that mean to you? By Estevan Lujan You know you are a die-hard political junkie when you decide to voluntarily write an essay about your political affiliation. Ever since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed watching and participating in our nation’s democracy. I know that we are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to put our elected leaders on spot every two, four or six years so we can make the decision whether or not they should have (or continue to have) the privilege of representing us as a people. The political climate in New Mexico is truly a sight to behold, especially for those who are not particularly familiar with how things work here. Continue Reading

Progressive in the historical sense of the word

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This is one of several guest columns that were submitted in response to this question: How do you identify yourself politically (liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, independent, something else or none of the above) and what does that mean to you? By Stephen Jones Let me respond to your call for political (or is it philosophical) self-identification with the term progressive. I am a progressive. I identify most closely with the ideal of progressivism and notnecessarily with a political party, though in recent years I have voted, not surprisingly, increasingly Democratic. By progressivism I mean to say I believe in a democratic worldview that champions direct participation and action in citizenship. Continue Reading

I’m independent because I am pro-people

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This is one of several guest columns that were submitted in response to this question: How do you identify yourself politically (liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, independent, something else or none of the above) and what does that mean to you? By Rebecca Powell My standard for affiliation with any label is, how does this help me live in the world? Traditional labels (conservative/liberal, Republican/Democrat) have not helped me clarify my own stances, nor have they helped me have meaningful conversations about what it means to live in a democratic nation, to participate in government. In fact, most often accepting a traditional designation seems to close conversation. People, myself included, assume they know what a conservative or liberal thinks and feels about most topics. Continue Reading