Blog from New Mexico Independent

Dems protest McCain's appearance

Matthew Reichbach — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:54:52 GMT

Before John McCain and Sarah Palin's rally on Saturday night, the Democratic Party of New Mexico and others protested at Civic Plaza, on the corner of 3rd and Tijeras, well out of sight of the long line for those waiting to enter the McCain rally.

Three elected officials spoke at the event. Albuquerque city councilwoman Debbie O'Malley was up first and gave an at times sarcastic speech about Palin's experience -- or lack thereof according to O'Malley. The city councilor recounted her own elected experience, then said, "How can that experience possibly compete with the former mayor of Wasilla?"

Her most cutting line was a parody of a Palin line at the Republican vice presidential candidate's speech. "There is a difference between Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin," O'Malley said. "Lipstick."

Former Bush speechwriter slams McCain's speech

benito aragon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:35:59 GMT

Michael Gerson, former Bush speechwriter and current Washington Post columnist, called McCain's policy specifics in his RNC speech "very disappointing."

Was RNC video tribute to 9/11 appropriate?

benito aragon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:32:56 GMT

There's a lot of strong reactions coming from the 9/11 video tribute that was played last night at the Republican National Convention. Even the folks on Sean Hannity's forum are saying they are disturbed by the partisan nature of the video. Keith Olbermann apologizes on air for the video in his RNC coverage. You decide...

How ad people can save newspapers

Barbara Armijo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Declining readership is not the only reason the stench of death is wafting through some metropolitan newspapers. Seems that journalists are not the only people in newspapers who have to adjust to the world of new media.

According to Online Journalism Blog, newspaper advertising sales people should start taking a good look at how they are relating to the surge in online media.
The report says that ad people are not adjusting to online advertising and that's hurting papers' bottom lines. It offers ad reps 10 ways to keep their jobs -- and probably their managers' jobs and those of the editorial staff at their papers.

ABQ charter review task force hears reasons for being

Marjorie Childress — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:20:07 GMT

Member’s of the Albuquerque city charter review task force heard from several city councilors last night about why the task force was formed. The Mayor also gave his thoughts to the group about Albuquerque’s form of government. It was the second meeting of the task force, which is just getting under way for what looks to be a lengthy process of twice-monthly meetings.

Formed by the City Council, the task force will analyze the charter and make recommendations for revisions by April of next year. Albuquerque adopted its current Mayor-Council form of government in 1974, and this task force will be the third convened since then, the other two being in 1988 and 1998.

Mr. 'Short, Bald and Honest' runs for county commission

Heath Haussamen — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:30:00 GMT

Remember Greg Sowards, the Republican who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money to spread his catchy slogan -- short, bald and honest -- when he was running for Congress earlier this year? Though he lost that race, many Las Crucens will get another chance to vote for him in November.

Medical marijuana hearing Monday

Denise Tessier — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:00:00 GMT

State public health officials will hold a hearing Monday in Santa Fe to gather public comment on proposed rules that will further streamline two aspects of the use of medical marijuana in the state: the licensure, distribution and manufacture of medical marijuana and patient identification cards.

More information about the hearing, which begins at 9 a.m. at the Harold Runnels Auditorium, 1190 St. Francis Drive, is available at this Department of Health site.

Heart's Wilson sisters say Palin in "NO WAY" represents them as women

Marjorie Childress — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:37:19 GMT

As John McCain wrapped up his speech at the Republican National Convention last night and was joined on stage by Sarah Palin and their respective spouses, I noticed that they were playing the song “Barracuda,” a classic 70’s rock anthem by Heart.

Not being up on every aspect of Sarah Palin’s life history, I couldn’t help but speculate on the meaning of that. This morning I found out: apparently Palin’s nickname as a star high-school basketball player was “Sarah Barracuda.”

I think that’s kind of catchy and can see the desire to use the song. But Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson aren’t having it, in fact they’re outraged.

Retired New Mexico general attacks McCain's judgment

Denise Tessier — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:30:00 GMT

While Michelle Obama steered clear of attacks on Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain during her visits to the state Thursday, that wasn't the case with retired Air Force Gen. Melvyn Montaño, who suggested that McCain's policy stemmed from a "lack of adequate psychological care" after his service in Vietnam.

In an Associated Press piece by Barry Massey that was picked up by the Air Force Times and numerous other outlets, Montaño, the former head of the New Mexico National Guard, recalled McCain's statement that U.S. soldiers could remain in Iraq for 100 years and said:

“I don’t understand his position. I can attribute it probably to some of the things we’ve talked about here — lack of adequate psychological care.”

TODAY'S TOP STORIES: State Fair opens today

Denise Tessier — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:21:24 GMT

"A Fair to Remember" is the theme of this year's New Mexico State Fair, celebrating its 70th anniversary as it opens today.

In addition to the state's finest and biggest produce, exhibits, Midway rides and rodeo entertainment, this year's daily "spectaculars" include Olympic diving and aerial feats at the Mermaids & Mariners show (Friday through Sunday).

The state Department of Health says New Mexico ranked 31 in the nation in child immunization rates, up from last year's ranking at 40, and says it has a plan to improve those rates, according to the Associated Press.

The switch from area code 505 to 575 will officially be complete a month from now, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports. On Oct. 5, 505 will no longer be in service for three-quarters of the state.

The New Mexico Gaming Control Board is investigating whether a Las Cruces Internet cafe was being used as a gambling operation, the Sun-News also reports.

No more tickets available for McCain, Palin event

Heath Haussamen — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:20:06 GMT

If you don’t already have tickets to see John McCain and Sarah Palin in Albuquerque on Saturday, you’re probably not going to get into the event.

The Republican Party of New Mexico announced late Thursday that there are no more tickets available for the 6 p.m. rally at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street NW. More than 6,000 tickets were handed out, which the state GOP said in a news release makes this “one of the most exciting campaign stops of this election.”

Agreement? What agreement? Oh, that agreement

Trip Jennings — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:18:29 GMT

A nonprofit at the center of an election-year controversy didn't miss a state-ordered Sept. 2 deadline after all.

That's because the nonprofit had an agreement with the Attorney General's office to stay the deadline. But that answer wasn't easy to come by. It took several phone calls placed by this reporter, a bit of confusion at the Attorney General's office followed by a moment of clarity.

The quest started with a story on the front page of the Thursday's Albuquerque Journal announcing that New Mexico Youth Organized has missed a deadline to register as a political committee.

Cheney's former Halliburton colleague admits guilt in bribery investigation

benito aragon — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:40:42 GMT

Albert Stanley, a former colleague of Vice President Dick Cheney, faces up to 10 years in jail and has agreed to pay $10.8 million in restitution as the result of a four-year bribery investigation by U.S. attorneys, according to a report from the Independent.co.uk.

The report goes on:

Mr. Cheney appointed Stanley to run KBR in 1999, when the subsidiary was created after Halliburton's acquisition of UK-controlled MW Kellogg, where Stanley had been an executive. There is no suggestion that Mr. Cheney knew at the time of the acquisition, or subsequently, that bribery was involved in the Nigerian contracts.

'Daily Show' illustrates pundit hypocrisy

benito aragon — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:43:12 GMT

Jon Stewart took to task some of the pundits on the right in their crying foul over the intense media scrutiny of Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Palin impresses

benito aragon — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:01:15 GMT

Some of New Mexico's top Republican lawmakers are praising Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Heather Wilson and Pete Domenici are both in Minnesota for the Republican National Convention and both had words of praise for the Alaska governor while talking to the Silver City Sun-News.

The New Mexico Independent also talked to delegates and found a similar sentiment among the party faithful in St. Paul.

A nonprofit at the center of an election-year controversy did not register as a political committee by a state-ordered deadline and the issue appears headed to court, the Albuquerque Journal reports.

Santa Fe Mayor David Coss spoke to nearly 300 people in his second annual State of the City address yesterday. The event took place at the soon-to-be-finished Santa Fe Community Convention Center, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican

A unanimous decision by the Albuquerque City Council struck down a "no-knock list" aimed at keeping unwanted door-to-door solicitors away, according to KOAT. "We just did not have a defined plan to enforce this legislation," City Councilor Ken Sanchez said in the report.

The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department is trying to give back nearly $110 million in unclaimed property at this year's State Fair, according to KOB.