1203 Richardson Again in Ascendancy

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Are the anonymous       U.S. Senate petitions being circulated for Gov. Bill Richardson a dirty trick? He thinks so and has wasted no time disclaiming them.

      Dave Contarino, the Richardson for President campaign manager and Amanda Cooper, the deputy manager, are looking into the matter, as well they should. It's always wise to know what is lurking in the bushes as long as it doesn't detract too much time from the campaign's primary mission.

      There's always the chance it isn't a dirty trick. As the Albuquerque Journal suggests, it could be wishful thinking by a fan hoping the governor will change his mind. And, gosh, it might even be advantageous to the petition gatherer in bargaining for a job.

      Or, as blogger Joe Monahan suggests, it could be a prank by someone with any number of non-hostile motivations.

      But most likely it is a dirty trick similar to many we've seen in campaigns the past 40 years.

      It could have been an effort to discourage Rep. Tom Udall from getting into the Senate race. The anonymous letters and petitions were mailed several days before Udall made his official announcement.

      But most likely it was an effort to weaken Richardson's presidential campaign chances. Casting doubt on his commitment to the presidential race would steer voters in Iowa and New Hampshire away from him.

      Who would most benefit from the dirty trick? John Edwards is the most likely possibility. One poll has Richardson statistically tied with Edwards in New Hampshire. Edwards has 13 percent and Richardson 12 percent, well within the margin of error.

      Richardson and national pundits seem in agreement that he needs third place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire to continue in the race. That analysis puts Edwards in the crosshairs.

      Our governor still is below the radar in national polls but he has been hitting Iowa and New Hampshire hard for almost a year. He was first with television ads in both states and moved into double digits in both states by June.

      But then he began a gentle slide throughout the summer. By October, the pundits were forecasting his demise and citing any number of reasons why.

      That's when Richardson began moving staff out of Nevada, South Carolina and other states into Iowa and New Hampshire. The governor is great at retail politics and that's the game in those two small states. Soon, he will have every hand shaken in both states. And that's where the extra staff help comes in handy.

      Richardson is now climbing back up over 10 percent in Iowa and New Hampshire while the big three are beginning to slip a little as they start attacking each other.

      And the sages are beginning to notice. They now are back to talking about Richardson's strong points, some predicting that Barak Obama will be next in his sights.

      So maybe Obama supporters in New Mexico should receive a little scrutiny from the Richardson camp.

      There still are clouds on the horizon, however. Joe Monahan has a You Tube blooper reel on his Nov. 29 posting that has combined all of Richardson's televised stumbles.

      It won't help. But it may not hurt that much. One poll shows Richardson ranking higher on trust that any other candidate. It may be that people figure he has no secrets because he'll probably blurt out everything he's thinking sooner or later.

      That isn't particularly desirable in a president who is expected to protect our interests with foreign powers. But then Richardson has by far the most stellar record of any candidate in dealing with the enemy. Maybe his style is disarming and despots also figure he's not hiding any secrets.

      Anyway, Richardson is again in ascendancy and doing well in polls ranking candidate characteristics.

   And he's doing well enough that he's becoming a threat to someone.

MON, 12-03-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-30 The Aliens Are Back

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Oh, no. First, aliens invaded New Mexico's Rose Parade float and now they have taken over the state's tourism ad campaign.

      Suddenly aliens from outer space have become a bigger problem in New Mexico than aliens from south of the border. Inside sources tell me there is a move to declare space aliens illegal also.

      Or so it would appear from listening to those from inside and outside the tourism industry. Some are even calling for state Tourism Secretary Michael Cerletti's head.

      Actually, there is concern that Cerletti was abducted on a trip he thought was to Abu Dhabi. Possibly he was taken to the mother ship and implanted with a chip that put him under alien control.

      Sources inform me that the alien intent is to soften up earthlings by making aliens seem so commonplace that we won't give them a second thought when they come to take over.

      My impression  of the Tourism Department's alien campaign is that it is a fun, unique, imaginative way to catch the attention of a public that is inundated with television, cell phones, text messaging, blackberries and bluetooths.

   It's hard to cut through all that clutter. Other Rocky Mountain states can advertise most of the same attractions as we do. And they have much bigger advertising budgets to do it with.

   So here is a way to attract attention to New Mexico's beautiful landscapes. Put an alien in the foreground, riding a bicycle, kayaking or golfing. We not only get the point across that New Mexico is enchanting, we can claim to be the best place in the universe to visit.

   Since the railroads came in the 1880s, New Mexico has been advertising its scenery, history and cultures. And still about half the nation thinks we're a foreign country.

   It might be time to do something different. It has become embarrassing to say we are from New Mexico, USA. It's mighty unique to have a context in which we can say we are New Mexico, Earth.

   For those who complain that New Mexico's ads benefit only Roswell, you should know that Roswell is never mentioned in an ad. It doesn't have to be. The world knows that the Army Air Corps reported capturing a flying saucer at Roswell, making it Earth's UFO capital.

   In modern parlance, that is called a brand. Companies spend billions trying to establish a brand. The government unwittingly did it for Roswell -- free of charge. Roswell is beginning to cash in on that brand. And New Mexico is getting in on the act.

   And it fits. New Mexico officials have talked about branding the state as the world's commercial space capital. Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson has pledged to help with the effort. The renaming of Spaceport America is a step in that direction. Many other communities with space activity can be included in that theme.

   The alien ad campaign was managing to slip under the radar fairly well until the Rose Parade float design was released, followed by the announcement that our television ads have won a prestigious award from an international sales and marketing organization.

   But instead of bringing praise to the state Tourism Department, the award has turned up the volume of criticism, including from local tourism organizations in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and maybe other cities. Evidently they don't see enough benefit to their own communities.

   So lighten up New Mexico. No one likes a grouch. Many communities throughout the nation do quite well with light-hearted celebrations.  The Deming Duck races get more than their share of publicity because they're fun.

   Snobbery really doesn't become New Mexicans. It's time to stop the negative thinking and give the Tourism Department some credit for trying something new and different. And for having the courage to stand up to criticism much more severe than it deserves.

FRI, 11-30-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

WED, 11-28-07


SANTA FE - I'm not sure how most columnists keep track of what they want to write about. But I imagine, like me, they jot down ideas in a notebook or on a legal pad and then look them over when they get ready to write.
Even during the 15 years when I was writing six columns a week instead of the three I am now, I always ended up using less than half the "great ideas" I intended to write about. Friends ask how I ever come up with enough ideas for that many columns. My answer always is that the problem is having too many ideas.
The reason some of the ideas get rejected is that they just don't develop into an entire column, even though they were thoughts I really wanted to talk about. Thus it was that toward the end of a recent trans-Atlantic cruise, I looked over my pad of notes at all these great ideas I was about to waste and decided maybe I could present them in the form of questions people might like to think about.
So I listed them and called them "Great Thoughts" or some such thing. It was satisfying to get them all out there in print. But I wondered how such disjointed thoughts would be received.
And sure enough, it was just as I might have expected. One reader said he had taped the column on his bathroom mirror so he could think about a different question each morning as he was shaving. And another reader confided that he thought it was the worst column I ever had written. It was disjointed and he didn't learn a thing. It was a waste of his time to read it, he said.
Other responses fell somewhere in between. And some of my questions actually were answered.
A letter to the editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican explained that the California wildfires really do stop at the border with Mexico. He said Fox News interviewed a wildfire expert who explained that despite warnings, California residents landscape their property with plantings that provide fuel for the fires, while Mexican residents don't.
I listen to all news channels since I detect a point of view in all of them and like to hear all their views before making up my mind where reality exists somewhere in the middle. But I never had heard an explanation of why wildfires aren't reported south of the border. I had surmised that news directors either were oblivious to the unusual situation or that they didn't care that Mexico also was burning.
I'd even wondered if it was our border fence that wasn't keeping out immigrants but was great at stopping fires. I'm pleased that Fox was on the ball and got me straightened out.
I also had wondered about Bill Richardson political director Amanda Cooper operating the hiring hall for her stepfather Tom Udall's senatorial campaign. What could the two candidates be thinking to have that close a tie-in?
A source, who wishes to remain unnamed, e-mails suggesting this may be a golden parachute for Cooper if Richardson doesn't make it past Feb. 5, the first Super Tuesday" primary.
The source also suggests that it can be seen as a way to keep Richardson staffers from jumping ship by suggesting that they will have jobs with the Udall campaign if they play their cards right.
The intimation, from someone in the know, is that Feb. 5 will be the limit of Richardson's ability to hang onto his presidential hopes. After that, he will have to return to being just the lame duck governor of New Mexico, with no need for continuing his political committees.
It is difficult to imagine Bill Richardson in that situation, although he still will spend time working for the presumed Democratic presidential nominee with the hope of getting a nod for vice president or some other high office.

---

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Over the river...

to PHX to see a new grandbaby and celebrate another one's birthday. Am taking laptop and cell phone 505-699-9982. Will drive back on Mon.

Steinborn

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist
SANTA FE -- Contests for New Mexico's three U.S. House seats are beginning to take shape. My thanks to blogger Heath Haussamen for keeping track of the long list and for his frequent updates.
In the 1st Congressional District, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White may end up all alone on the Republican side. State Sen. Mark Boitano, who expressed interest, reports he was encouraged not to run and told he would receive no national support if he were to win the primary election.
That has not discouraged state Sen. Joe Carraro, who often seeks higher office while in the middle of a four-year Senate term. Carraro says he is considering running.
Also pondering a run is state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, a bright, new face in the GOP firmament. Even without outside help, White will be a formidable candidate. Word is that the national GOP would like to conserve scarce resources by discouraging primary election competition.
As usual, Democrats are piling into every contest they can find. In the 1st Congressional District, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich was in the race back when it appeared he would be challenging Rep. Heather Wilson.
Also in are former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan-Grissom, attorney Jon Adams and teacher Jason Call.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Republicans appear to have another one-candidate contest. Rancher and restaurant-chain owner Ed Tinsley is the only announced candidate. He ran a strong race against Steve Pearce for the seat vacated by Rep. Joe Skeen in 2002.
Still expressing interest in the race are Sierra County GOP chairman Earl Greer, who has run for the post before; former Roswell Mayor Bill Owen; rancher Aubrey Dunn; Pete Domenici staffer Clint Chandler and former Bernalillo County GOP executive director Bob Cornelius.
Congressional District 2 Democrats in the running include Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, who originally was in the race to challenge Rep. Steve Pearce. McCamley's head start has enabled him to visit every county in the district and line up considerable support.
Also in the race are retired Presbyterian minister Al Kissling, who was Rep. Pearce's Democrat opponent in 2006. After the election, Kissling vowed to be back for another try.
Other Democratic entries are state Rep. Joseph Cervantes, former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague and Roswell businessman and retired teacher Frank McKinnon.
Considering the race are state Rep. Jeff Steinborn of Las Cruces and state Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming. Smith was the Democrats' entry against Pearce when Rep. Skeen retired in 2002.
The GOP hasn't come up with a candidate yet for the 3rd Congressional District slot being vacated by Rep. Tom Udall. Los Alamos National Laboratory engineer Ron Dolin says he's considering another run. Dolin challenged Udall in 2006 and ran an extremely low-budget campaign.
Although it is a heavily Democratic district, Republicans may try to recruit a candidate with some fundraising potential since it is an open seat.
After all, the last time the seat was open, when Bill Richardson left to become United Nations ambassador, Republican Bill Redmond won the special election over Eric Serna, a Democrat with too much baggage.
So far, only two Democrats have definitely announced their candidacy. They are Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya and green developer Don Wiviott, who previously had announced against Sen. Pete Domenici and pledged to spend up to $1 million of his own money to win.
Others, who say they are awaiting Udall's official announcement, are former Santa Fe County Commissioner Javier Gonzales, Public Regulation Commission Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, former state Rep. Patsy Trujillo, Espanola Mayor Joe Maestas, Farmington City Councilor Jason Sandel and Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano
MON, 11-26-07

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505
(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

In most recent column, I identified Jeff Steinborn and Jeff Steinberg. Corrected copy attached.

11-26 U.S. House Races Beginning to Take Shape

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Contests for New Mexico's three U.S. House seats are beginning to take shape. My thanks to blogger Heath Haussamen for keeping track of the long list and for his frequent updates.

      In the 1st Congressional District, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White may end up all alone on the Republican side. State Sen. Mark Boitano, who expressed interest, reports he was encouraged not to run and told he would receive no national support if he were to win the primary election.

      That has not discouraged state Sen. Joe Carraro, who often seeks higher office while in the middle of a four-year Senate term. Carraro says he is considering running.

      Also pondering a run is state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, a bright, new face in the GOP firmament. Even without outside help, White will be a formidable candidate. Word is that the national GOP would like to conserve scarce resources by discouraging primary election competition.

      As usual, Democrats are piling into every contest they can find. In the 1st Congressional District, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich was in the race back when it appeared he would be challenging Rep. Heather Wilson.

      Also in are former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan-Grissom, attorney Jon Adams and teacher Jason Call.

      In the 2nd Congressional District, Republicans appear to have another one-candidate contest. Rancher and restaurant-chain owner Ed Tinsley is the only announced candidate. He ran a strong race against Steve Pearce for the seat vacated by Rep. Joe Skeen in 2002.

      Still expressing interest in the race are Sierra County GOP chairman Earl Greer, who has run for the post before; former Roswell Mayor Bill Owen; rancher Aubrey Dunn; Pete Domenici staffer Clint Chandler and former Bernalillo County GOP executive director Bob Cornelius.

      Congressional District 2 Democrats in the running include Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, who originally was in the race to challenge Rep. Steve Pearce. McCamley's head start has enabled him to visit every county in the district and line up considerable support.

      Also in the race are retired Presbyterian minister Al Kissling, who was Rep. Pearce's Democrat opponent in 2006. After the election, Kissling vowed to be back for another try.

      Other Democratic entries are state Rep. Joseph Cervantes, former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague and Roswell businessman and retired teacher Frank McKinnon.

      Considering the race are state Rep. Jeff Steinberg of Las Cruces and state Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming. Smith was the Democrats' entry against Pearce when Rep. Skeen retired in 2002.

      The GOP hasn't come up with a candidate yet for the 3rd Congressional District slot being vacated by Rep. Tom Udall. Los Alamos National Laboratory engineer Ron Dolin says he's considering another run. Dolin challenged Udall in 2006 and ran an extremely low-budget campaign.

      Although it is a heavily Democratic district, Republicans may try to recruit a candidate with some fundraising potential since it is an open seat.

   After all, the last time the seat was open, when Bill Richardson left to become United Nations ambassador, Republican Bill Redmond won the special election over Eric Serna, a Democrat with too much baggage.

      So far, only two Democrats have definitely announced their candidacy. They are Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya and green developer Don Wiviott, who previously had announced against Sen. Pete Domenici and pledged to spend up to $1 million of his own money to win.

      Others, who say they are awaiting Udall's official announcement, are former Santa Fe County Commissioner Javier Gonzales, Public Regulation Commission Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, former state Rep. Patsy Trujillo, Espanola Mayor Joe Maestas, Farmington City Councilor Jason Sandel and Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano

MON, 11-26-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-23 Does Bill Still Have a Chance?

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Does Bill Richardson still have a chance to become President Richardson? Well, as they say, "Hope springs eternal…" There are some hopeful signs but they aren't sparkling very brightly.

      Howard Dean still was out in front at this time four years ago when his campaign went into a screaming flame out. John Kerry suddenly emerged from the middle of the pack to win Iowa and become the overwhelming favorite.

      After dropping back from his early summer surge, Richardson is again moving into double digits in Iowa polls as Sen. Hillary Clinton slips amid mounting criticism from her closest rivals.

      Sen. Barak Obama and former Sen. John Edwards also are having their problems. Obama's decision not to always put his hand over his heart when the national anthem is played completely baffles me.

   As I understand, protocol doesn't require it, but when your father is Muslim and your middle name is Hussein, I don't care how patriotic you are, you don't give detractors the opportunity to question your loyalty.

   Another encouraging sign for underdogs is the emergence of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee from the Republican pack in Iowa. Rev. Huckabee should be the favorite of Christian conservatives throughout the country but has been ignored up to now because they don't see him winning.

   Richardson hasn't been short of ideas to move his campaign along. His Mi Familia organization, targeting Hispanic families seems like an especially good way to tap into a system that can multiply his effort.

   And getting himself nominated again for a Nobel Peace Prize further emphasizes his reputation as a diplomat. But somehow none of his efforts have caught him on fire yet.

   One recent good sign for his campaign is Rep. Tom Udall's announced intention to run for the Senate seat that many of us felt Richardson would decide to seek.

   Udall's entry into that race makes Richardson's intent to stay out of it as definite as I can imagine. Amanda Cooper, Richardson's assistant presidential campaign manager, is Tom Udall's daughter.

   Cooper has managed past campaigns for both Richardson and Udall. And now Udall has put out the word that applicants for staff jobs with his campaign should apply to Cooper.  You can't get much more tie-in than that.

   Maybe with the state gearing up for four congressional campaigns there aren't enough people for all the skill positions and we're going to see some doubling up.

What we do know is that the intensity we saw last year in the 1st

Congressional District battle between Rep. Heather Wilson and Attorney General Patricia Madrid can be multiplied by at least four.

   That's probably a low estimate because U.S. Senate campaigns involve much higher stakes than House races.  There won't be enough television time in a 24-hour day to run all the negative political ads the candidates will want to buy.

   People in my business are salivating at the thought of New Mexico becoming the center of the political universe for the next year. But if I were you, I would first investigate the possibility of investing any loose change in a local TV station and then never watching one of those stations for the next year. Stock up on DVDs and plan to see every movie ever made.

   I mentioned during last year's nasty 1st Congressional District fracas that half-hour interviews of Heather Wilson and Patricia Madrid conducted by KOB-TV anchor Carla Aragon convinced me that Aragon was the only one of the three for whom I would want to vote.

   That comment got a fair amount of play around the Albuquerque area. Aragon, of course, did not jump into the race. But now she has announced her retirement from the news business and I'm wondering about the timing of that announcement.

   Do you suppose Carla might have something else in mind? After all, KKOB's Larry Ahrens went that route a few years ago.

FRI, 11-23-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-21 Thanksgiving More Than Just Another Holiday

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. One of the reasons is that Americans still remember why we celebrate it. Thanksgiving isn't just another holiday, to which we give not one thought other than that it is a day off work.

      Nearly all of us truly remember to give thanks and truly celebrate the holiday. Unlike Christmas, there is no stress around giving and getting presents. The purpose of celebrating Thanksgiving is very simple and very easy to observe.

      We're told that all cultures observe some sort of day to give thanks. It seems to be a basic human need to back away from trouble, stress and daily commotion and reflect on one's blessings no matter how meager they may be.

      In this part of the country, where we can boast a European presence that predates English settlements on the East Coast, we have some fun claiming that America's first Thanksgiving occurred near El Paso in 1598.

      That's when Don Juan de Onate and his band of settlers paused on their journey northward to feast and give thanks to God for getting them through the desert and providing them with a river crossing. But it will never replace the story about Squanto and the Pilgrims.

      The observance of Thanksgiving is so comfortable. Family gathers, often from afar. Sometimes good friends without family are included. Generations of cooks gather in the kitchen to discuss and prepare old recipes.

   The smell of turkey and the trimmings begins to fill the air. Old stories are told, getting better every year. And after dinner, generations of males step outside to toss around a football. And sometimes grandpa is taken to the emergency room after aggravating that old shoulder injury.

   Which brings us to those who can't take off for the holiday: the nurses and emergency room workers, police and firefighters, airline employees and truckers, and most of all, those who serve and protect us around the world.

   For some, this will be the first Thanksgiving away from home and loved ones. Many of those will be New Mexicans serving in National Guard units called to active duty in locations far, far away. For them, the taste of turkey will have a very special meaning.

   Here's some more reasons Thanksgiving is special. It's a four-day weekend for most people. Who works on the Friday after Thanksgiving? Most employers don't even expect it. Employees trade it for a vacation day or for a non-observed holiday like Presidents' Day.

   Of course, mall employees work on the day after Thanksgiving, because it is the beginning of the holiday season, the busiest shopping day of the year.

   Thanksgiving also is a day when it is acceptable to stuff oneself and grudgingly permissible to watch sports on television all day. Well, almost all day. Do we really have to turn off the Cowboy game during dinner?

   And the Cowboys' Thanksgiving game is nationally televised, so it's possible to go anywhere and not miss it.

   Many of us in the newspaper business especially like Thanksgiving. It allows us to write clever things about politicians for whom we are thankful. And it allows others to write about everyone they want to label as turkeys.

   Thanksgiving is another holiday with which American Indians have trouble. As with Columbus Day, they can't see much need to celebrate the beginning of a hostile takeover of their land.

   Some teachers try to add the Indian point of view to the romanticized version of the first meetings between Indians and White settlers. Usually parental concerns put an end to that and schools leave it to families to interpret the holiday in their own traditions.

 

   Regardless of how you celebrate Thanksgiving, please enjoy it and be happy that in this part of the world there's usually green chile in the stuffing and red chile in the gravy.

WED, 11-21-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-19 Could Democrats Find Themselves With No Candidates?

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- As predicted, politicians throughout the state are rushing to take advantage of New Mexico's four open congressional seats.

   But voters will not have to wade through a ballot full of unfamiliar names on election day. Preprimary nominating conventions held by each party next March will whittle the hopefuls down to about three in the crowded races.

      Candidates must receive at least 20 percent of their convention vote to get on the June primary ballot. Theoretically four, or even five, candidates could garner the required 20 percent but those chances range from unlikely to nearly impossible.

      Until this year, candidates not making the cut could secure additional nominating petition signatures and squeeze in on the bottom of the ballot.. But the 2007 Legislature eliminated that possibility.

      If a large number of candidates are still vying for a ballot spot next March, it could be possible that none of them will receive the required 20 percent.

      The situation is most likely to arise with Democrats in northern New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District, but it could happen anywhere in either party. It would be a disaster in the north, where Democrats reign supreme, not to have a candidate make the ballot.

      The Legislature has time to change the rules in the 2008 short session before the preprimary conventions. But it would take a two-thirds majority to allow it to go into effect immediately.

   In the 2007 sessions both parties voted overwhelmingly to tighten access to the ballot. But this time, Republicans might not be so willing to loosen them again if it might mean a huge Democrat embarrassment.

   Complicating matters further, House Speaker Ben Lujan has told blogger Joe Monahan that he doesn't think legislation is needed. That has raised some eyebrows since Lujan's son, Ben Ray Lujan, a member of the Public Regulation Commission, will be one of the stronger candidates in that race.

   But Speaker Lujan's comment may not be motivated by favoritism so much as a belief that a messy legislative battle can probably be avoided.

   Several candidates are likely to eliminate themselves by the time of the convention. And it may be possible that the parties themselves can establish a rule for run-off elections among the top candidates.

   It isn't really necessary to get as many candidates on the ballot as possible. They are ranked according to the number of votes they receive at the convention and usually the candidate in the first position wins.

   I can't remember a single time that a candidate who got on the ballot by submitting extra petitions ever won a race. It mainly has been a face-saving opportunity.

   A candidate denied ballot access by a nominating convention could go to court and attempt to overturn the law. But why spend the money when the combination of prevailing in court and then winning with the voters is such an extremely long shot.

   The law on ballot access gets changed often. At one time, filing fees were high enough to discourage all but the most serious of candidates. Not surprisingly, it became a civil rights issue.

   It was replaced by a high amount of signatures, which were later lowered and combined with a preprimary nominating convention. The conventions have bounced in and out of the law. Actually they are a service to voters because they winnow the field for the ballot.

   The 1972 Democratic senatorial primary showed us what happens when there are no rules for ballot access. The seat was open as the result of Sen. Clinton Anderson's retirement, so 25 Democrats filed for the office. It was chaotic. The eventual winner of the seat was a Republican named Pete Domenici.

   Equally as interesting was the Democratic primary for the northern district House seat. A group of lawyers at the Bull Ring, next to the Capitol filed for their bar maid. Sparkle Plenty received 3,470 votes.

MON, 11-19-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-16 Don't Discriminate Against the Aliens

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

 

      SANTA FE -- "Surely you must be joking." That's what 62 percent of the respondents to an Albuquerque Journal readers' poll said regarding the outer space theme of this year's New Mexico entry in the Rose Parade.

      Most of those respondents likely were from Albuquerque. If the float had balloons on it, their assessment may would have been far different.

      The Journal ran its appraisal of the float design at the top of its front page with a big colorful picture of the artist's rendering. It was the second time in a week the paper ran the picture with an article at the top of the front page.

      Hmmm… Do you suppose the picture is eye-catching and helps sell newspapers? Do you suppose the theme is fun and causes people to want to read the article? Do you suppose the float might have the same effect on viewers?

      It seems to have had that effect on the recruitment of volunteers willing to pay all their own expenses to spend up to a week in Pasadena helping decorate the float.

   Recruitment was running a little behind the number that worked on New Mexico's first float two years ago. But after the design appeared in papers around the state a week ago, the numbers jumped by over 20 people.

   And maybe the parade's judges will like it better too. Parade winners often are the whimsical entries, many of them sponsored by cities in the Los Angeles area that enter every year and have learned what people like.

   The Journal called it spacey. It's readers used words like embarrassing, ludicrous, obnoxious, insulting, absurd, loony and weird. Eleven years ago, when Roswell began its UFO festivals, community feelings there were much the same.

   For some, those feelings remain. But for many, it's no longer a joke. They're laughing all the way to the bank. This year's UFO Fest saw every room in Roswell booked weeks before the event. And the state has now appropriated $245,000 to Roswell to plan a multi-million-dollar UFO theme park.

   Tourism Department head Mike Cerletti says he has been getting many responses similar to those in the Journal article. Many feel New Mexico should stick to promoting adobe churches, Indian dances, Spanish senoritas and green chile.

   We do relatively well in tourism but lag far back in economic development. Maybe it's time to start thinking outside the sopaipilla and start emphasizing the future.

   New Mexico is the cradle of rocketry and atomic energy and we're still a leader in both. It isn't just Roswell that profits from a new focus. Alamogordo has the Museum of Space History. Dona Ana and Sierra counties will soon host Spaceport America. The X-Prize Cup and the Rocket Racing League will be holding their events in the area. And numerous space companies plan to move there.

   The rocket museum at White Sands Missile Range has a display of every missile it has fired since the 1946 V-2 rockets. And Roswell has the Goddard Museum with the rockets he developed in the 1930s.

   Some of the problem may be that none of this promotes Albuquerque. But it already is economically healthy. And New Mexico's previous Rose Parade float promoted the Rio Grande culture. It's time to spotlight other areas.

   Fortunately Cerletti is adept at creative thinking and is not unaccustomed to criticism of his big ideas. I'm reminded of when he made New Mexico a sponsor of Al Unser Jr.'s race car in the Indianapolis 500 in 1992. Cerletti received much heat for that but New Mexico received much publicity. And it didn't hurt that it was Little Al's first victory at Indy.

   So let's have a little respect for our aliens. They've done so much for us, let's return the favor by featuring them.

   Maybe I'm one of the weirdoes. I'm willing to grant that. But let's give 'em a chance, huh?

FRI, 11-16-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-14 A Reprise of the Four Freshmen

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- What's wrong with the Four Freshmen? They were a great vocal group. More than one of my high school girlfriends back in the '50s swooned over them.

      But if you happen to be talking about 80 percent of New Mexico's congressional delegation, that's another matter. We're going to have trouble fighting for our share with that sort of representation..

      Not since statehood will New Mexico ever have had a congressional delegation so green. With Rep. Tom Udall's decision to join Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce in taking a shot at the seat being vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici, New Mexico is assured of having a new senator and three new members of the House.

      All four vow that they will continue to work vigorously during the remaining year in their terms to represent New Mexico, but the three House members face tough primaries next spring and an even tougher general election is in store for the winners.

      And let's not forget. The Four Freshmen will be preceded by the Four Lame Ducks. New Mexico's congressional delegation is weakened already.

      One can't criticize the three House members for their decision, however. Being a senator is much nicer than being in the House. The term is six years instead of two, meaning there actually is time to concentrate on issues rather than constantly being in campaign mode.

      And being in a group of 100 is much more comfortable than the House's 435. The Senate is more of a club. Senators live in Washington, enabling them to get to know each other and develop some working relationships. House members spend a good part of their week traveling to and from their districts.

      It wasn't too difficult to predict the GOP primary face off between Wilson and Pearce. The Democrat race was more of a surprise. Like Pearce, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez has eyed the 2010 gubernatorial contest. But when the Senate opportunity presented itself, it was difficult to take a pass on.

      Chavez has been a strong three-term mayor. The only mayor to be elected three times. He got beat up in the city's recent mid-term elections, but mid-terms usually are rough on chief executives.

   For Chavez, the timing of Sen. Domenici's retirement announcement couldn't have been worse. Polling data showed him to be weaker than he actually is. But also working against him is his statewide loss in the 1998 gubernatorial race.

   What Democrats were hoping and what I was predicting, was that Gov. Bill Richardson would decide to run for the Senate. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish's decision not to jump into the Senate race appeared to be an indication Richardson still was thinking about it.

   Then when Richardson insiders began telling top Democrat donors to "keep their powder day" when Chavez announced his finance committee, it appeared our governor was headed for the Senate race.

   But maybe he was wanting his big donors to wait for Udall. As this column has previously advised, behind-the-scenes activity is intense at top levels of the national Democratic Party.

   Richardson may have received some assurances before his decision to stay in the presidential race. Udall must have received some before his decision to leave the House. And Richardson and Udall likely talked.

   Udall's departure from the House came as a blow to many New Mexicans who had hoped he could use his newly-gained position on the coveted House Appropriations Committee to wield some power for our state.

   It would have meant that along with Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman in the Senate, New Mexico would have some firm clout in both houses of Congress.

   But it won't happen. Filing day for federal offices in New Mexico is February 12. Anything could change before then. Gov. Richardson could still come back. But the die appears to be firmly cast. Further changes may be a hard sell to voters.

WED, 11-14-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-12 Oh To Be a Fly On the Wall

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Wouldn't it be great to know what is going on inside the Democratic Party right now? Maybe nothing is happening and the party is as unorganized as ever.

      But my guess is that the air is heavy with intrigue. Something happened to cause 3rd Congressional District Rep. Tom Udall to take another look at whether he should run for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici.

      Udall says top Washington Democrats are encouraging him. Does that mean Gov. Bill Richardson has decided to bet his entire stack of chips on ending up somewhere at the federal level rather than taking  an almost guaranteed Senate seat?

      Does it mean Richardson and Udall have talked and Udall is taking over the headlines for awhile and to relieve the pressure on Richardson  to reveal whether he still is a serious presidential candidate?

      Are top Democrats scared that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez can't beat a Republican in the Senate race? Hasn't Chavez won three four-year terms as mayor by sounding a lot like a Republican?

      Is Udall endangering the automatic re-elections to his House seat by his reconsideration of the Senate? The 3rd Congressional District was designed to be Hispanic. But when a Hispanic lost the seat when Richardson resigned to join the Bill Clinton cabinet, Democrats decided to go with their strongest candidate to win it back.

      Has Udall now lost that Hispanic goodwill? No less than eight Hispanics have jumped into the race to replace him. If Udall decides against a Senate run, will all eight drop out of the House race?

      New Mexico's two living Hispanic former governors, Jerry Apodaca and Toney Anaya, have both endorsed Martin Chavez and have made pointed remarks obviously aimed at Udall. A Senate primary against Chavez will not be a cakewalk for Udall.

      So what did Senate Democrats offer Udall to entice him to give up sure re-elections every two years and his newly-won seat on the House Appropriations Committee? Did they promise to bypass the Senate seniority system and assure him a committee assignment as good as the one he would be losing?

      And how come Bill Richardson is the only presidential candidate talking about getting out of Iraq immediately? Isn't that what voters said they wanted in the 2006 election? Are all those candidates who are senators trying to save face because they haven't had the courage to make it happen?

      Or is there a much deeper strategy to let the president keep his troops in Iraq, and even increase them, in order to make voters even more upset with Republicans in 2008?

      So when will we be learning any answers? Udall has given himself another week or so to make up his mind. Richardson is moving nearly all his chips from New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina to Iowa for its January 3 caucuses. After his monumental effort, it would be a shame not to at least see what it has produced in one state.

      If Richardson decides against a Senate run, he may stay in the presidential race a little longer to see if he can pull off any surprises.

      Absent any good showings, money will dry up and he will be looking for any deals he might cut with frontrunners. Hillary Clinton appears his best shot. Those, who claim to be in the know, say he is on a short list of three or four possibilities for selection as a vice-presidential running mate.

      Richardson would be a good draw for the growing number of Hispanic voters and he likely could deliver the state's five electoral votes that went Republican last time.

      But a better bet might be the governor of a bigger state, such as Ohio, who might be able to deliver enough votes to make a difference.

      Would Richardson be willing to give up a shot at the big time for a much more likely opportunity to be a senator from New Mexico. I still think so. He'd be able to stay there as long as he wants.

MON, 11-12-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

correction to 11/7 column

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist

SANTA FE -- Hold onto your hats. The 2008 congressional elections will be like none other in the history of the state. Three, and possibly four, of New Mexico's five seats in Congress will be wide open awaiting a decision by voters.
This is the best opportunity New Mexico politicians have ever had to nail themselves a seat in Congress. For those who have been biding their time for years, waiting for just the right situation, it has arrived.
U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici's surprise retirement announcement set the action in motion. When the two Republican members of the U.S. House quickly jumped into the race to move up to the Senate, their seats became vacant. If our third representative, Democrat Tom Udall, jumps into the Senate race, he vacates his seat also.
In that case, the only congressional incumbent New Mexico will have is Democrat Sen. Jeff Bingaman who is happily watching, having swept to a new six-year term a year ago.
Sen. Domenici had no more than announced that he was about to make an announcement when the speculation began. And soon after that came the beginning of official entries into the three races.
First to jump into the Senate race were U.S. Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce. Republicans try to keep those sorts of things from happening but this was the chance of a political career for both.
Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation normally remain in office until they die or become severely infirmed. Sen. Bingaman is a very healthy 64. He runs every day and leads one of the cleaner lives of anyone I know well.
Wilson has seniority over Pearce and has been Domenici's protégé ever since he cleared a path for her to Congress after Rep. Steve Schiff's death in 1998.
Wilson appeared to have some advance knowledge of Domenici's decision before he announced it. Early in the year, she began finding reasons to make appearances all over the state. And just as when Rep. Bill Richardson began straying from his congressional district in the '90s, it didn't take long for folks to become suspicious.
But Pearce jumped in quickly after Wilson. He has the personal wealth to finance anything he can't raise, so expect an all out campaign from him. He is a rock solid conservative and a better team player than Wilson, who always has shown an independent streak, but more so during her narrow victory against Patricia Madrid last year.
National Republican leaders are having an easier time keeping order in the 1st Congressional District that Wilson is vacating. Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is their choice to replace Wilson. He also serves as Bernalillo County GOP chairman and has headed up President Bush's presidential campaigns in New Mexico.
Two Bernalillo County legislators have expressed interest in the race, but one of them announced publicly that he has been told to stay out and that if he does win the primary, he will receive no national party assistance next November.
That is extremely unlikely since every seat counts in a Congress as evenly divided as our present one. Both national parties will be in New Mexico big time next year. TV stations already are licking their chops.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Democrats had already been lining up to take on Rep. Pearce. Now that he is gone, the race will get fuller. Expect heavyweights Rep. Joseph Cervantes, of Las Cruces, and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague to jump in this week. And there will be more.
Republicans have been a little slower to get on the merry-go-round, but they are starting to come. Ed Tinsley, owner of K-Bob's Restaurant chain, is expected to announce this week. He gave Steve Pearce a good race five years ago when Rep. Joe Skeen announced his retirement for health reasons.
And in the 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Tom Udall's decision to reconsider the Senate race has a half dozen hopefuls anxiously awaiting their chance.
WED, 11-05-07

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505
(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

In penultimate graph, Joe Skeen preceeded Steve Pearce, not Harold Runnels.

 

Corrected column attached

11-9 Vets Day is Celebrated on Nov. 11, not 12th

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Veterans Day is a very special day for many reasons. First, it recognizes the end of  "the war to end all wars." This year we celebrate the 89th anniversary of that treaty.

      Second, it recognizes our living veterans who served in the defense of our country.  And finally, it falls into the very special category of not being on a movable Monday.

      It once was. In 1971, Congress came up with a great idea for three-day weekends. It applied to all federal holidays but Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day and Independence Day.

      But our veterans had something to say about that. How could a treaty signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month be rescheduled to any other date?

      It made sense. But why should that matter? What brought the change was the outrage of millions of veterans. In 1978, Congress retreated and restored Veterans Day to its proper place on the calendar.

      Oh sure, if the day falls on a weekend, those who don't work on federal holidays get off on the closest work day. But the official observance is held on November 11.

      As with most other federal holidays, Veterans Day doesn't get celebrated much anymore. For some, it produces a three-day weekend, this year. But there isn't much one can do with three-day weekends in November. Many people trade it for the Friday after Thanksgiving.

   We're all thankful to our veterans for having given us a safer world, but most of that is forgotten history. The most memorable Veterans Day I'm sure I will ever have occurred four years ago. Faithful readers of this column have heard me tell before of that experience.

   We were in Brussels, Belgium. We'd never been there before and were anxious to see the sights. But we were told it was a very important holiday and we were unlikely to find anything open.

   Fortunately we were at a downtown hotel so we decided to just walk around to see the sights we could. We weren't disappointed. Following our walking tour map, we found the famous maneken pis fountain, a brass sculpture of a little boy doing what little boys do.

   It represents something from ancient history of the area, but now it is dressed in many different costumes appropriate to the time of year. On Nov. 11, it was clad in an American Legion uniform and holding an American flag.

   We expressed our surprise, loudly enough that a local overheard. She had figured out that we were Americans. We're easy to pick out of a crowd, anywhere, for many reasons.

   She proceeded to tell us how much the Belgians appreciate Americans for what we did for them in both the first and second world wars. She said she hoped we would stay for the parade and ceremonies down the street.

   We did. I haven't seen that many American flags in the United States on Armistice Day. We didn't stay long because the ceremony was conducted in Dutch and French, the country's two official languages. But people on the street also spoke English effortlessly. It was nice to feel appreciated.

   As I think back on my readings and writings about World War II, I remember that the average age of our brave troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy, Anzio and Iwo Jima was 19.

   When I look at today's 19-year-olds, I wonder how they would cope with being the front lines defending our country. I realize that a few of them are in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I realize that many others would make us very proud.

   But when I think of all those I see slouching down the street with sloppy clothes and body piercings, sullen because life isn't giving them enough, I wonder if could they rise to the occasion if they were drafted to go defend us against the world?

   Let's be very thankful that when we needed that generation, it came through, not like gangs, but like gangbusters.

FRI, 11-09-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11-7 Now Is the Time for All Good Politicians...

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

 

      SANTA FE -- Hold onto your hats. The 2008 congressional elections will be like none other in the history of the state. Three, and possibly four, of New Mexico's five seats in Congress will be wide open awaiting a decision by voters.

      This is the best opportunity New Mexico politicians have ever had to nail themselves a seat in Congress. For those who have been biding their time for years, waiting for just the right situation, it has arrived.

      U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici's surprise retirement announcement set the action in motion. When the two Republican members of the U.S. House quickly jumped into the race to move up to the Senate, their seats became vacant. If our third representative, Democrat Tom Udall, jumps into the Senate race, he vacates his seat also.

      In that case, the only congressional incumbent New Mexico will have is Democrat Sen. Jeff Bingaman who is happily watching, having swept to a new six-year term a year ago.

      Sen. Domenici had no more than announced that he was about to make an announcement when the speculation began. And soon after that came the beginning of official entries into the three races.

      First to jump into the Senate race were U.S. Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce. Republicans try to keep those sorts of things from happening but this was the chance of a political career for both.

    Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation normally remain in office until they die or become severely infirmed. Sen. Bingaman is a very healthy 64. He runs every day and leads one of the cleaner lives of anyone I know well.

   Wilson has seniority over Pearce and has been Domenici's protégé ever since he cleared a path for her to Congress after Rep. Steve Schiff's death in 1998.

   Wilson appeared to have some advance knowledge of Domenici's decision before he announced it. Early in the year, she began finding reasons to make appearances all over the state. And just as when Rep. Bill Richardson began straying from his congressional district in the '90s, it didn't take long for folks to become suspicious.

   But Pearce jumped in quickly after Wilson. He has the personal wealth to finance anything he can't raise, so expect an all out campaign from him. He is a rock solid conservative and a better team player than Wilson, who always has shown an independent streak, but more so during her narrow victory against Patricia Madrid last year.

   National Republican leaders are having an easier time keeping order in the 1st Congressional District that Wilson is vacating. Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is their choice to replace Wilson. He also serves as Bernalillo County GOP chairman and has headed up President Bush's presidential campaigns in New Mexico.

   Two Bernalillo County legislators have expressed interest in the race, but one of them announced publicly that he has been told to stay out and that if he does win the primary, he will receive no national party assistance next November.

   That is extremely unlikely since every seat counts in a Congress as evenly divided as our present one. Both national parties will be in New Mexico big time next year. TV stations already are licking their chops.

   In the 2nd Congressional District, Democrats had already been lining up to take on Rep. Pearce. Now that he is gone, the race will get fuller. Expect heavyweights Rep. Joseph Cervantes, of Las Cruces, and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague to jump in this week. And there will be more.

   Republicans have been a little slower to get on the merry-go-round, but they are starting to come. Ed Tinsley, owner of K-Bob's Restaurant chain, is expected to announce this week. He gave Steve Pearce a good race five years ago when Rep. Harold Runnels announced his retirement for health reasons.

   And in the 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Tom Udall's decision to reconsider the Senate race has a half dozen hopefuls anxiously awaiting their chance.

WED, 11-05-07

 

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505

(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

 

11/5 correction

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist
SANTA FE -- While traveling across the pond to trace Columbus' route back to the New World, I had time to contemplate many deep questions.
Not only have I never heard answers to these questions, I've never heard the questions asked. Maybe there is good reason such queries haven't been made. Maybe I'm not smart enough or discreet enough not to ask. But here goes.
How come California fires burn all the way to our border with Mexico but seem to stop there? In past years I figured it was insensitive U.S. reporters who didn't care about our neighbors to the south.
But this year, I was in Europe watching television reports from all over the world. The California fires were reported, but never a mention of the tragedy extending into Mexico.
The only conclusion I can draw is that the fence protecting our southern border against immigrants is also fireproof. So shouldn't Mexico be helping us build that fence?
While we're on the subject of immigrants, aren't they the answer to keeping Social Security afloat? Baby boomers fret that when they all retire, there won't be enough workers to support them.
Also, if an illegal immigrant uses a fake Social Security number, doesn't he pay into the system but never receive benefits?
We need some new high wage earners paying into the Social Security system too. That means we need to ease immigration restrictions on skilled workers from all countries who want to come to the United States. And giving the children of immigrants a good education would seem like a good idea too.
Hasn't anyone figured out that wildfires are wildfires because we don't know where they will go? Every time one occurs the news media seems mystified that flames can completely consume one property while leaving its neighbors untouched.
Is it possible that those blasted prairie dogs may be a savior for New Mexico taxpayers? It is hard to imagine how the RailRunner commuter train can be worth the $400 million or so that the state is going to pay for it.
Taxpayers from throughout the state already have shelled out plenty for people in Albuquerque's northern and southern suburbs to get to work. But we may be spared the cost of extending it to Santa Fe because lovers of the cute little rodents vow to keep their furry friends from being displaced. Go, dogs.
Every time the weather in Florida causes a problem for the space shuttle, I wonder if NASA is aware that the weather in southern New Mexico would not have caused that problem.
Why is Bill Clinton raising money for Emily's list? The group, which supports female political candidates, usually doesn't use men to promote it. And Bill should have his hands full helping Hillary.
A Halloween survey found that 34 percent of Americans believe in ghosts and the same number believe in UFOs. The survey also noted that 31 percent of Americans believe President George Bush is doing a good job with Iraq. But why didn't they tell us whether those are the same people?
Speaking of Iraq, why do public officials and reporters pronounce it e-ROCK and the military pronounces it I-RAK?
A news release announced recently that the military is experiencing the highest suicide rate in 26 years. What happened in 1981 to make the rate even higher that year?
The last two times President Bush came to Albuquerque a motorcycle policeman lost his life escorting the motorcade. Has anyone investigated the cause of those tragedies and recommended how they might be avoided in the next time the president visits?
Recent figures show that Texas barely edged New Mexico for the title of biggest pecan producer in 2006. It was noted that when the pecans are shelled, New Mexico is the biggest producer because our pecans have more meat.
Could someone please do a study of whether the basic personalities of Texans and New Mexicans bear the same relationship?
FRI, 11-02-07

JAY MILLER, 3 La Tusa, Santa Fe, NM 87505
(ph) 982-2723, (fax) 984-0982, (e-mail) insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

Tauna Gallagher caught an omission in the 11/5 Deep Thoughts column.

 

Children of immigrants would need "a good education"

 

Corrected copy attached.