Latest Stories

Stopping distracted-to-death driving

By |

© 2009 by Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands.” – Marine Lt. Colonel Jeff Cooper While the legendary shooting instructor Jeff Cooper was talking about large-caliber pistols and his beloved Scout Rifle in the above quote, the issue of safety is the same for things that could distract you and others to death. Your safety is in your mind, not your hands. No one can make you any safer than you wish to make yourself. My favorite Jeff Cooper quote is, “One of the notable aspects of the democratic process is that one need not know anything about a subject in order to pass laws about it.” An example is municipalities that have banned holding cell phones while driving with no regard to the research about how cell phones potentially make drivers unsafe. According to the research, it is not physically holding a cell phone that is potentially dangerous as much as it is two other factors: first the visual distraction, which is the same for navigation screens, computer screens and texting; and second the effect of emotional conversation on eye refresh rate. Continue Reading

First and foremost I am an American

By |

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 W. Ron Camuñez I personally don’t like labels. However, your question is about how I define myself. Let me state from the beginning that first and foremost I am an American. When we try to place ourselves in a box of labels, we diminish who we are. Continue Reading

Both an idealist and a Democrat

By |

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 Ellen Wedum I confess I used to be rather apathetic about politics. I only voted in presidential elections and was barely aware of who my congressional representative was, let alone my state representative. As a graduate student at the University of Oregon I did campaign for Eugene McCarthy in the Oregon presidential primary in 1968 — which he won! He had a rally at UO, and I carried a sign that read “Welcome to Eugene, McCarthy!” Then in 1980 I campaigned for John Anderson, and was appalled when Reagan won (especially when he went on to triple our national debt). Continue Reading

Don’t surrender your principles: Be independent

By |

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 C.J. McElhinney I identify myself politically as independent. Should not every American, regardless of political affiliation, be an independent voter? I am independent because it gives me the freedom to exercise my political choice as I see fit and not according to the whim or pressure of a political party. When I cast my vote, I base it not on the letter next to the candidate’s name, but on what kind of person they are, what they have accomplished in their life, what ideas they have and how well they will lead. Continue Reading

Kokesh’s candidacy is interesting, but can he win?

By |

‘Revolutionary patriot’ takes to the campaign trail, but UNM professor says Ron Paul’s support won’t be enough to defeat Rep. Ben Ray Luján in 2010 Ron Paul and his army of supporters want Republican Adam Kokesh to be the next congressman from Northern New Mexico. Kokesh has been active for years in Paul’s Campaign for Liberty movement. Support from Paul and his group have already helped the Iraq war veteran turned antiwar activist raise about $55,000 — most of it from out-of-state donors — for his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M. next year. But does that level of energy and attention from outside New Mexico mean a libertarian-leaning Republican has a shot at unseating an incumbent Hispanic Democrat in New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold? Not likely, says Gabriel Sanchez, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. Continue Reading

Guv concerned about cost of health-care reform

By |

Dominating a weekend meeting of the National Governors Association was discussion about the health-care reform proposal being debated by Congress, with governors including New Mexico’s Bill Richardson expressing concern about unfunded mandates, according to the New York Times. The governors expressed fear “that Washington was about to hand them expensive new Medicaid obligations without money to pay for them,” the Times article states. “I’m personally very concerned about the cost issue, particularly the $1 trillion figures being batted around,” Richardson was quoted as saying. Continue Reading

Richardson doesn’t want another stimulus bill

By |

Gov. Bill Richardson said during a meeting of the nation’s governors this weekend that he doesn’t want another federal stimulus bill. He was quoted by The Associated Press as saying at the meeting if the National Governors Association that he believes it will take two years for the economy to see the full impact of the stimulus bill passed earlier this year. “I’m worried about the deficit and I think we’ve got to be careful about another stimulus package right now because I think the first stimulus package is working,” the news service quoted Richardson as saying. “I think we should let it run its course.” The article quotes other governors as agreeing with Richardson. The messages from the governors come as the GOP is attacking President Barack Obama’s massive stimulus bill, saying it hasn’t worked, and as some Democrats in Washington are beginning to call for another stimulus bill. Continue Reading

Kokesh tops Luján in this site’s non-scientific poll

By |

The vast majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Republican Adam Kokesh would defeat U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., in a potential general-election matchup next year. Of 951 voters, 749, or 79 percent, said Kokesh would win, while 202, or 21 percent, picked Luján. This was by far the most voted-in poll in the history of this site. Want to know how Kokesh won? Click here. Continue Reading

Martinez announcement draws bipartisan crowd

By |

Republican DA pledges to end pay to play, says winning in 2010 ‘is not going to be an easy task’ One of the most noteworthy attendees at Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez’s news conference announcing her gubernatorial campaign this evening was County Commissioner Oscar Vásquez Butler. Martinez is a Republican, and Butler is a Democrat — one who has been publicly critical of the district attorney’s office and others in law enforcement who are close to Martinez in the past. “I’m here to eat,” Butler said when first approached just before the start of Martinez’s announcement at Roberto’s restaurant in Las Cruces. Questioned further, he said he’s not supporting Martinez, and added, “I’m just here to hear what she has to say.” A moment later, Martinez walked in. She and Butler exchanged a handshake and a joke. Continue Reading

Zanetti withdraws from governor’s race

By |

After a year at Guantanamo Bay, the Republican says more time away from his family ‘is just not acceptable’ Republican Greg Zanetti, for months the only declared 2010 Republican candidate for governor, dropped out of the race today. The Albuquerque financial adviser and Army National Guard brigadier general recently completed a year as deputy commander at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Upon returning, he began considering running for governor and traveling around the state. “These travels only increased my love of New Mexico and my fellow citizens,” Zanetti said in a prepared statement. “But to myself and to my family these travels seemed like another deployment. Continue Reading

What’s up with Zanetti’s gubernatorial campaign?

By |

What’s up with Republican Greg Zanetti’s gubernatorial campaign? I’ve been asked the question by a few people this week, because, after getting off to a quick start with travels around the state several weeks ago, Zanetti has been pretty quiet lately. He was updating his YouTube page regularly until June 12, when all activity stopped. His Facebook page lists his last public event as being held on May 25. His blog had not been updated since June 17 until he wrote this on July 10: “I apologize for the long missive hiatus…a family vacation, coupled with some summer family-time and political obligations, filled the past few weeks,” he wrote in a posting. Continue Reading

Rattner leaves auto job as NY AG seeks settlement

By |

NY attorney general is pushing for a legal settlement with Rattner, who also has ties to the scandal in New Mexico Remember Steven Rattner? He’s the man who was heading President Barack Obama’s auto-bailout program and who had been linked to a New York pension scandal that has spread to New Mexico and beyond. Well, he resigned from the Obama administration job earlier this week. Then The Associated Press reported that the New York attorney general is pushing for a legal settlement that would allow Rattner to avoid civil charges for his role in the scandal. From the AP: “Rattner announced Monday that he was resigning his position on the White House’s auto industry task force, which led the restructure of General Motors Co. Continue Reading

Render not to Denish the things that are Richardson’s

By |

© 2009 by Michael Swickard, Ph.D. The New Mexico 2010 election is here. The “Guess-what-bad-things-the-(fill in the blank)-have-been-doing” gotcha ads are out. This Monday I got an e-mail from Lt. Gov. Diane Denish: “Dear Michael, It started as a pretty standard Sunday night around the Denish household. I was getting a little laundry done. But the Republicans had other plans for this weekend, namely, starting the earliest and most negative TV campaign in New Mexico history…” Would I rather do laundry or be attacked politically? Continue Reading

Pearce to hold rallies in Hobbs, Las Cruces

By |

Former U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce will kick off his bid to regain his old House seat on Tuesday with events in Hobbs and Las Cruces. The Republican Pearce will begin the day at the county GOP headquarters in Hobbs at 8 a.m., according to a news release from his campaign. And at 5 p.m., he will hold a rally at Rawson Builders Supply in Las Cruces. Pearce, who was first elected in 2002, voluntarily gave up the House seat in 2008 for an unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Now he’s trying to unseat Harry Teague, the Democrat who replaced him. Continue Reading

One more reminder to join the discussion

By |

Here’s your final reminder to submit your guest commentary 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? Commentaries should be 250-750 words. You must be willing to have your name published with your commentary, and include a 1-2 sentence bio at the end that indicates what city and state you’re from and any other information you want to include. The invitation is open to everyone, including politicians and political candidates. Submissions must be received by Friday and should be e-mailed to heath@haussamen.com. Continue Reading