2-4 NM Dems Attract Last-Minute Heavyweights

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist
SANTA FE -- New Mexico Democrats have ended up doing fairly well attracting candidates and celebrities to the state prior to our presidential primary.
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy all showing up in the past few days ain't bad.
How did little New Mexico with its 26 delegates manage that? Part of the secret was that local supporters of both candidates were immediately on the phone after Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew telling campaign staff that if their candidate personally visited the state, they could win it.
Also having an effect was a possible endorsement by Gov. Bill Richardson. Paying a personal visit to the state couldn't hurt those chances.
Richardson had said he might or he might not make an endorsement before the Feb. 5 New Mexico Democratic primary. "It's going to be a gut feeling and not based on statistics or past ties," he has been quoted as saying.
Part of that gut feeling likely involves the effect his endorsement might have on future employment opportunities in Washington. Some sort of assurance from either candidate could produce a significant effect on his gut.
Since all the four-corners states, plus California are holding Super Tuesday Democratic primaries, visits to New Mexico are not out of anyone's way.
With Richardson's exit from the race, he doesn't have the interest in the turnout to New Mexico's caucuses that he had four years ago or one month ago. Turnout this year may be only about a quarter of the 102,000 tallied in 2004.
The possibilities of getting on a ticket as a vice-presidential candidate don't appear strong for Richardson. Both Clinton and Obama likely will feel the need for a white, Southern male, although John Edwards couldn't deliver a single Southern state for John Kerry four years ago.
Although Obama has taken most of the black vote away from Clinton, he is doing very poorly with Hispanics. Richardson could help solidify those votes, except that his presidential bid never seemed to catch on with Hispanics nationally.
Many fantasies about dream tickets have surfaced recently. Obama recently told comedian Dave Letterman, with a straight face, "Get used to saying Vice President Oprah."
Suggestions of former President Bill Clinton as Hillary's running mate have been made. It sounds ridiculous but the guy will be into everything anyway. Might as well give him a job.
On the Republican side, many pairings are suggested for John McCain. Most recently, Mike Huckabee has been advanced as the Southern influence McCain must have. But isn't any Republican ticket likely to carry the South? McCain needs his help from Huckabee now.
Rudy Giuliani has been suggested for McCain's ticket. Evidently he has good organizations in several large states. But, as with Huckabee, his help is needed now in order to beat Mitt Romney's money and staying power.
For the past month I have been hearing GOP dreams of a McCain- Joe Lieberman ticket. That one would be guaranteed to pick up independents, as well as some Democrats. But would conservatives not even bother to vote?
The Lieberman idea isn't too far fetched. He's now an independent. He supports McCain on the war. And it would get back at the Democrats for all the times they tried to convince McCain to be on their ticket with Kerry in 2004.
Media dreams of a primary season extending all the way to the late summer national party conventions are fading fast. The famous brokered conventions of the past, in which party bosses huddled in back rooms to put together a ticket would again produce the intrigue that talking heads could analyze 24 hours a day.
But Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and John Edwards had to win an early primary to make that happen.
My guess is that the days of brokered conventions are over.
MON, 2-04-08

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

 

2-1 Legislature Not Bad, But Could Be Better

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist
SANTA FE -- As I begin this column, it occurs to me that most of what I say about the New Mexico Legislature is negative. There are so many things they need to do that they can't seem to get done.
But I must admit that after visiting other states' capitols and after talking with visitors to our capitol, we really aren't so bad., A warm, friendly atmosphere permeates the gathering spaces where amateur and professional lobbyists mix with those who have come just to take a look.
Access to legislators is extremely easy, especially if you happen to be a constituent. New Mexico's lawmakers are not full of themselves. They have not built an imposing Capitol Building. It is so unimposing, it is hard to find. But once inside, it turns into the most beautiful state capitol in the nation, full of artwork, all by New Mexicans.
Our capitol is user-friendly, with information booths, electronic kiosks for the younger generation, and good signage. Committee hearing rooms are comfortable, although sometimes crowded. And committee chairmen are nearly always gracious to guests. If you have something to say, chances are you will get to say it.
Our lawmakers also are nice to each other. They don't hurl accusations as you see on televised congressional hearings. But a word of warning, if you get an opportunity to say something, don't you make accusations either.
With so much to be proud of, then, why doesn't the New Mexico Legislature want to show it off? For three years lawmakers have been promising to televise legislative sessions, but every year it gets postponed.
For over a decade, bills have been introduced to open up conference committees, not to television cameras, just to the public and reporters -- and to other legislators.
That's right. Except for the six lawmakers who form a conference committee to iron out differences between the House and Senate, the other 106 lawmakers don't know what is going on behind those closed doors. They are as much in the dark as the public is.
Openness, disclosure and transparency give the public more confidence in the people they elect to represent them. More confidence, that is, in the ones who are playing it straight.
My experience from 30 years of representing school employees before governmental bodies convinced me that the vast majority of our elected officials are straight shooters.
So why don't ethics reform bills, as they are called, pass with similarly large majorities? There may be some valid reasons but it makes the good guys look like they have something to hide also.
The answer likely is that it is quicker and easier to work behind closed doors and reveal only what you have to. No one ever said democracy is simple. Dictatorships are much more efficient. The only question is "efficient at what?"
Our legislative chambers have large galleries where citizens, lobbyists, reporters and school children come to watch. So why not a television camera too? Lawmakers are well-behaved. They don't do anything to embarrass themselves. They are even given time to introduce constituents who have traveled to Santa Fe to witness the proceedings.
Some legislative leaders argue that C-SPAN has caused unfortunate changes in the operation of Congress. The reference usually is to members watching floor proceedings from their offices, rather than being present in the chamber. But there are ways that could be controlled in our statehouse.
Ethics reform has been a priority of Gov. Bill Richardson. He appointed a task force that has worked two years on ethics reform proposals of all shapes and sizes.
But not much has happened. New Mexico ranks down at the bottom in studies of government transparency. One of our few good marks is for requiring campaign financial reports to be submitted electronically so they can be quickly accessible to the public.
But the secretary of state's office has dropped the ball on its Web site disclosure section. And we're still in the dark.
FRI, 2-01-08

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

 

1-30 Standardize Presidential Primaries

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist

SANTA FE -- Presidential primaries get more quirky with every election cycle as states jockey to gain influence over a future president and to make as much money and attract as much media attention as possible.
New Mexico never has done well in this political game. Gov. Bill Richardson convinced the Democratic Party to move up its presidential primary four years ago. The effort attracted candidates but scant media attention.
Iowa and New Hampshire remain the undisputed national champions in gaining influence and media attention. Every four years, many residents of these two states are willing to transform into the hokey stereotypes Americans have of those two states in order to please the media, which is everywhere.
Not surprisingly, the day after these primaries are over, the residents of the two states again begin trying to convince the world they are sophisticated and up-to-date.
New Mexico didn't even begin attracting Democratic presidential candidates until Gov. Bill Richardson dropped out of the race. By then it was too late to get much attention. Republicans, with their June primary, will get our state no attention at all.
Only once did Republican candidates ever flock to New Mexico. In between the 1988 Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, then-Gov. Garrey Carruthers hosted a national Republican governors conference in Santa Fe. One day was devoted to listening to the GOP's presidential candidates.
Sen. Bob Dole was walking on air after winning Iowa. He jokingly promised amnesty for those governors who already had endorsed Vice President George Bush. Amnesty wasn't a bad word back then but Dole still went into a tailspin and lost New Hampshire to Bush.
Even though the vice president was down in the delegate count at the time, he acted very much as leader of the crop of presidential hopefuls that day.
At noon, the governors had a private luncheon. So Bush led the presidential candidates out the door and to the Santa Fe plaza, where he knew the favorite noontime custom was to order Frito pies from the sidewalk window at Woolworth's. The meat and chile were poured into the Frito bag, which one then took across the street and found a plaza bench to sit and eat.
It was quite a sight, for the few of us who covered the event, to watch some of the top leaders of our country sitting alongside the regulars on the plaza with their plastic spoons and Frito bags.
It could never happen again. Today there would be staff members, security details and a huge press corps. Security likely wouldn't allow such an unprotected situation. And everyone already would have been in New Hampshire, anyway.
The trick to getting attention for a state is to be one of the first to hold a primary. Iowa and New Hampshire have laws requiring public officials to insure that theirs is the first caucus and primary in the nation.
The other states that scheduled their primaries in January did so through political maneuvering within their national parties or by breaking party rules and loosing some or all of their national convention delegate votes.
Are we looking at the primary season beginning in December next time? It could happen. The only other answer is the unlikely event of Republican and Democrat national committees getting together and developing some standard rules.
Even the "experts" on television can't keep it straight. Each party in every state has different rules. In New Mexico, closed primaries prohibit independents from voting. In some states, independents can vote in either primary. In other states, anyone can vote in either primary.
Democrats require that delegates be awarded based on primary results. But Republicans allow winner-take-all primaries. Both parties have super delegates, which include all members of Congress and various other political and party leaders, depending on the state.
As they say, it's time for a change.
WED, 1-30-08

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

 

1-25 Lawmakers' Favorite Sculptor Is Back

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist
SANTA FE -- Imagine my delight earlier this month to open a Happy New Year card from Santa Fe sculptor Glenna Goodacre. On the cover was a portrait of her grandson Joe Goodacre, dated November 24, 2007.
That could mean only one thing. Glenna is recovering. Last March, she suffered a fall and severe head injury at her home in Santa Fe. She was rushed to the hospital where surgery relieved the pressure to her brain. She lay in a coma for 10 days. Doctors didn't think she would survive.
Goodacre did regain consciousness but was paralyzed. She was transferred to a center for brain injuries in Colorado. But her condition worsened. In May doctors inserted a shunt into her head to drain excess fluid. And she began to recover.
It was at that point I lost track of her progress. She remained in the hospital for three months receiving therapy before returning home to Santa Fe in August to continue her recovery.
By Thanksgiving, Goodacre was able to sketch her grandson. As soon as I looked at the drawing, it was obvious her magic was back. That special style of expression and emotion was unmistakable.
Goodacre is not back to work yet. More therapy lies ahead, along with treatment for aphasia, a result of brain damage in which patients lose their ability to stay focused and concentrate.
But friends and admirers are betting Goodacre will be back. Her fighting spirit has always brought her through. She says one of her biggest blows came in college when a professor told her to stick to painting and never try sculpture because she couldn't see in three dimensions.
Now hailed by many as America's greatest sculptor, Goodacre says success is the greatest revenge. She certainly would rank at the top of the favorite-artists list with New Mexico lawmakers.
Back in the early '90s, when New Mexico was remodeling its state Capitol, one percent of the cost was to be used for artwork. Lawmakers wanted to be sure it was art that pleased them so some encouraged favorite artists to temporarily loan some of their work for all to admire.
Glenna Goodacre sculptures began to blossom everywhere. At that time, legislators were meeting in the Public Employees Retirement Association building, a block east of the Capitol.
Directly across Paseo de Peralta was the Nedra Matteucci Gallery, which featured many of Goodacre's sculptures. So getting them across the street was relatively easy. Not only were Goodacre's pieces representational, they are alive with movement and expression. It was exactly what lawmakers wanted.
Two pieces were purchased immediately and Rep. Bob Light personally bought another, as I recall, for a park in Carlsbad. In addition, Goodacre donated an edition of 99 small bronzes of Indian women with pots to underwrite the purchase of other works of art.
And thus was the Capitol Art Foundation established. It is an all-volunteer effort with members from throughout the state, which has helped produce the Capitol Art Collection, a first class collection of works by New Mexico artists.
Our state Capitol building and grounds truly are like none other in the United States. Visit any other state capitol and you will see manicured lawns, a dome and statues of dead men, usually on horseback.
New Mexico has none of that. Visitors are greeted with desert landscaping, a kiva-shaped capitol and monumental sculptures that truly are art. First and most prominent among them is Glenna Goodacre's Water Bearers, an arrangement of Indian women with pots, standing at the corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta.
And inside is an astounding collection of New Mexico art, from traditional to innovative representing every segment of the state.
Glenna Goodacre can be very proud of what she helped get started. And New Mexicans can be very happy that we may soon have her back to delight us with her creations.
FRI, 1-25-08

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

 

1-23 Treasured Building Escapes Harm, For Now

By JAY MILLER
Syndicated Columnist
SANTA FE -- One of New Mexico's outstanding monuments to the New Deal appears to have escaped harm, at least for now.
The former regional office of the National Park Service, on Old Santa Fe Trail in our capital city, was built in 1939 by workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps and then decorated and furnished by artists employed by the Works Progress Administration.
The building was designed to be uniquely New Mexican, a masterpiece of Spanish-Pueblo revival architecture, ranking among the finest examples in the Southwest. It is the largest known adobe office building, conceived and designed in 1939 as an artistic entity, with its exterior and interior a single artistic creation.
The adobes were made by native craftsmen with earth dug from the site. The furniture and artwork were designed by mostly-Hispanic artisans to be an integral part of the building itself. Much of the furniture was created within the building.
It was the only National Park Service regional office built specifically for that purpose, a building for which it could be supremely proud. But that pride faded in the '90s as the regional headquarters of the Park Service was moved to Denver along with many of its employees.
Other NPS functions have been housed in the building and now a leased facility in Santa Fe has been vacated with employees transferred to the Old Santa Fe Trail building.
NPS employees were told about this move a month ago. What they were told raised many fears that the interior of the building would be severely compromised. Publicity about the Park Service plans has now caused the NPS regional administration to step back and make some major assurances that no harm will come to the important structure.
But those assurances did not come without significant effort by many organizations vitally interested in the preservation of our state's treasure. NPS retirees were first to put out the call that present employees could not do without fear for their jobs.
This quickly brought action by the State Historic Preservation Office, with which the NPS was required to consult before announcing any planned changes. Also quickly joining the effort were the National New Deal Preservation Association, the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance, other preservation groups, the city of Santa Fe and neighborhood association representatives.
In addition, the offices of Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall expressed concern. They likely are the most important components of the effort to preserve this valuable piece of our state's heritage.
The building already has been declared a national historic landmark. Much talk over the years has centered around the possibility of elevating it to a national monument. It is evident that now is the time to act. And congressional action is what must happen.
Construction of the building and its furnishings were extremely well documented through words and pictures. I am told that such a degree of historical integrity does not exist for many sites that already have been declared national monuments.
The assurances that the building will not be harmed by the addition of numerous employees provides some breathing room to work on national monument status which will further protect the property.
Those familiar with operation of the current National Park Service feel it is only a matter of time before further steps are taken to downgrade the building and the status of the National Park Service in our state.
Mike Snyder, the regional director in Denver seems to be the heavy in this effort to wipe out the last vestiges of the regional office in New Mexico. Inside sources say this will involve abandoning the Old Santa Fe Trail building.
Snyder's deputy, Tony Schetzsle, has been carrying the water, making assurances that everything will be fine. The groups mentioned above attended a recent meeting with Mr. Schetzsle and vow to hold him to his words.
And all this is happening during the 75th anniversary of the New Deal. Communities throughout New Mexico with public buildings constructed by New Deal programs will be joining in the celebration during the year.
WED, 1-23-08

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

 

1-21 Little Green Men Beat Governor

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- It appears likely that New Mexico will enter a float in next year's Pasadena Rose Parade. Reactions of those who visited the float decorating or watched the parade in person were so positive that tourism officials are excited.

      And of course, winning the coveted Grand Marshal's Award considerably raised everyone's spirit. The award recognizes excellence in creative concept and design.

      A final decision apparently awaits a review of inquiries from potential visitors and hits on the state tourism Web site, www.newmexico.org.  After New Mexico's first float two years ago, the numbers were considerably increased so experience would indicate that this year's numbers will look even better.

      Volunteers working on float decorations report that the busloads of people who paid to stand in line to see the floats being decorated seemed much more enthusiastic about this year's entry.

      New Mexico's first float featured a mission chapel. California has every bit as many Spanish missions as New Mexico and has spent considerable money developing a mission trail. So how likely were Californians to come to New Mexico to see more missions?

      Apparently California, which is behind only Texas in sending us visitors, doesn't have nearly as many little green men running around as New Mexico does. So it is very possible that California visitations will increase.

      It also seems worth noting that having Gov. Bill Richardson on the float didn't win us anything but the little green men did. The governor just can't win for losing these days.

   And it also helped that Miss New Mexico 2007, Jenny Marlowe, also was on this float. Marlowe made numerous appearances around the Los Angeles area, ably assisted by Miss New Mexico 2005, Ane Romero, who now lives in the L.A. area.

   In addition to the 37 volunteers who signed in to help with float decorating, many more volunteers drove to Pasadena in an antique car caravan and held New Mexico rallies along the way.

   Then there were the sponsors who contributed around $75,000 toward the nearly $200,000 cost of the float. These included Isleta Resort and Casino, Value Options, New Mexico State Parks, the City of Roswell, Caddies and Vettes in Roswell, El Pinto Foods and Santa Fe Brewery.

   The delegation from Roswell was headed by Chamber of Commerce President Greg Neibert. The first information I sent out contained an incorrect name. Fortunately the Roswell Daily Record caught it.

   One other correction also is in order. I mentioned that Raul Rodriguez is the creative genius who designs and engineers the floats. Tim Estes is the engineer, who makes the designs work. He also is the owner and the person who worked with our Tourism Department on the concept for the float.

   Many New Mexicans weren't able to see our state's float, which was placed very near the end of the parade. The network channels that carried bowl games already had switched away to their games. Some people were able to surf around and find independent stations still carrying the parade.

   For those of you who never got to see it, I have asked the Tourism Department and Joe Micalizzi, a Hollywood filmmaker who created www.newmexicoroseparadefloat.com to put a clip from the parade on their Web sites. As of this writing, that hasn't happened yet but both sites have some good pictures of the float.

   I had some questions about my Jimmy Buffett paraphrase about spending four dreary days in a brown L.A. haze. In subsequent versions of the column, I changed that to four busy days, but I won't back down on the brown haze.

   It began affecting several people almost immediately. Tourism Secretary Mike Cerletti quickly developed laryngitis, as did others. I'm still nursing something from there.

   But the day of the parade was beautiful. And Cerletti didn't have to go to Iowa to campaign for the governor.

MON, 1-21-08

 

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

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

 

1-18 Expect More Civility and a Little Action

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- And they're off. Gov. Bill Richardson delivered a brief opening address Tuesday and the 2008 Legislature was on its way. Predictions vary widely as to what will happen.

      We do know that Gov. Richardson hasn't been around recently to work on selling his ideas to lawmakers. We do know that the budget is tighter so it will be more difficult to fund priorities. There will be much less money left over from the current budget so there will be much less pork for local projects.

      And one of Gov. Richardson's chief critics in the Senate has now been elected president pro tem. What will that mean?

      Here's my guess. Lawmakers will get a little, but not much, done and they'll do it with a minimum of strife. Despite some hot-button issues on the agenda, lawmakers will buckle down to business because this is an election year.

   And it's not just any election year. Once every four years all 112 legislators must seek reelection if they want to stick around. Most of them do, so they will be on their best behavior.

   Even the stubborn Senate will find some room for compromise. Back in the days when Sen. Manny Aragon was running the show, the rowdy Senate calmed down once every four years. Aragon was president pro tem back then and Jennings was majority floor leader.

   It was Jennings who was the mature, even-tempered influence. He proved himself working with Republican Gov. Gary Johnson, who drove Democrats and many Republicans crazy. Bet on him to deal sensibly  with Richardson and get a few things accomplished.

   Less certain is how Gov. Richardson will fit into the equation. He claims not to be running for any office right now, so will that mean he's bored and will want to pick fights? And if he is running, will he want to push lawmakers to pass resume-building legislation as he did last year?

   For now, we must take the governor at his word. He told legislators that he realizes his top priority of health care is complex and he doesn't want to burden them with many other requests. He stressed bipartisanship and civility in his address and he congratulated Sen. Jennings on his election as Senate president pro tem.

   Lawmakers began their session by indicating positive feelings toward the governor. When he said it was good to be back, he received a standing ovation. When he said he appreciated their support of his candidacy, he received enthusiastic applause. And when he complimented Sen. Jennings, they responded.

   So they're getting off on the right foot, as they usually do. But this time it looks even better. Not as good as when Richardson first assumed office five years ago. But this ranks second.

   The critics who noted his absences during the session last year when he first started running, essentially have quieted. Everyone realizes he was put through quite a wringer and see no need to pile on now.

   It won't be a honeymoon, as it was during his first session, however. With a tight budget, the governor's two huge spending initiatives, a commuter train and spaceport, are sure to come under scrutiny again. Both impact on highway funds, which lawmakers like because they are spread around the state. But now the fund is about a half-billion dollars short.

   For their part, lawmakers tried to make themselves look better when their leaders voted  before the session to not build their proposed $30 million addition to the state capitol. They claimed it was to give the public bigger hearing rooms but it mainly would house an increasingly large staff.

   Ethics reform again will get short shrift. A little something will pass but not the comprehensive proposals a task force has been developing for two years.

   And there isn't likely to be time for a health care package to be developed. We're more likely to see long term goals and a task force.

FRI, 1-18-08

 

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

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

 

Fw: [Inside the Capitol] Revisions to 1-16 column

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Talk about life imitating art. Gov. Bill Richardson's first campaign commercials seemed like masterpieces of ironic humor. In them, Richardson applied for the job of president and was found to be overqualified by a disinterested interviewer and later by a disinterested panel.

      Richardson paid for the ads in Iowa but national news shows also ran them as an example of really clever advertising. Bill got a big bang for his buck.

      The problem is that it was true. It really happened. After 40 years of building a nearly perfect resume, Richardson decided to submit his application for president at exactly the wrong time. Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire had grown disinterested in substance and were more interested in style.

      And that was a playing field on which Richardson couldn't compete well. Voters liked his sense of humor but he didn't have the flash and quick-thinking smoothness of the three front runners. 

   And that is all-important in an era of an expanding number of interview shows and televised debates. Bill's performances unfortunately didn't measure up.

   Actually his one-on-one personal style works well only in small states like Iowa and New Hampshire, so if he couldn't compete there, he had no hope.

   It is too bad that Richardson couldn't have stayed in the race until it got out West. Nevada was next on the list and he had invested significant effort in the state, even telling Nevadans that it was his most important state.

   But he couldn't go there without money. Disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire cut that flow to a drip. In retrospect, using the Rudy Giuliani strategy of ignoring Iowa and New Hampshire might have worked better for him.

   But as events developed, the casino workers union, which Richardson had courted, went for Obama as a result of his Iowa victory. Obama's endorsement is a little ironic since he was the only Democratic candidate to ditch the first debate of the year, in Nevada, in order to concentrate on Iowa.

   At that debate, Richardson appeared to receive the second most enthusiastic support. The winner clearly was Hillary Clinton, who since has received a cold shoulder from the casino union, whose members formed the majority of that audience.

   Richardson's chances for selection as a vice-presidential running mate don't appear strong. He just isn't a good balance for a ticket that includes either Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama. A woman and a minority or two minorities on a ticket is just too far out of the political mainstream.

   He's from a small state that can't deliver many electoral votes. He already has tapped New Mexico heavily for campaign contributions so likely couldn't help much with fundraising. His primary election performances didn't prove he will do much for a ticket. And he never emerged as the choice of Hispanics.

   In one of the debates, Richardson asked Clinton if she wouldn't agree that former governors make good presidents. She smiled and answered that they make good vice presidents. The implication seemed to be that she thought of him as vice-presidential stock and that she might choose him as a running mate.

   The answer may not have been one she had thought much about. The last time a former governor was elected vice president was nearly a century ago. It is much more common for a governor to run for president  with a U.S. Senate running mate.

   Richardson and Clinton had a flare up on caucus day in Iowa when evidence indicated he and Obama may have cut a deal on delegates. Richardson denied it and says he has smoothed that over with Clinton. But sources say Bill Clinton still is furious.

   As for secretary of state, that would require a Democratic victory. There may be some chance for an appointment to that or another post by Clinton but look for Richardson to finish his term as governor and become a high-powered Washington lobbyist afterward.

WED, 1-16-08

 

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

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

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Jay Miller

To: insidethecapitol@hotmail.com

Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 10:36 AM

Subject: [Inside the Capitol] Revisions to 1-16 column

I may soon be issuing as many revisions as Bill Richardson's press corps.

--
Posted By Jay Miller to Inside the Capitol at 1/13/2008 10:36:00 AM

Revisions to 1-16 column

I may soon be issuing as many revisions as Bill Richardson's press corps.

Life Imitated Art in Richardson Candidacy

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Talk about life imitating art. Gov. Bill Richardson's first campaign commercials seemed like masterpieces of ironic humor. In them, Richardson applied for the job of president and was found to be overqualified by a disinterested interviewer and later by a disinterested panel.

      Richardson paid for the ads in Iowa but national news shows also ran them as an example of really clever advertising. Bill got a big bang for his buck.

      The problem is that it was true. It really happened. After 40 years of building a nearly perfect resume, Richardson decided to submit his application for president at exactly the wrong time. Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire had grown disinterested in substance and were more interested in style.

      And that was a playing field on which Richardson couldn't compete well. Voters liked his sense of humor but he didn't have the flash and quick-thinking smoothness of the three front runners. 

   And that is all-important in an era of an expanding number of interview shows and televised debates. Bill's performances unfortunately didn't measure up.

   Actually his one-on-one personal style works well only in small states like Iowa and New Hampshire, so if he couldn't compete there, he had no hope.

   It is too bad that Richardson couldn't have stayed in the race until it got out West. Nevada was next on the list and he had invested significant effort in the state, even telling Nevadans that it was his most important state.

   But he couldn't go there without money. Disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire cut that flow to a drip. In retrospect, using the Rudy Giuliani strategy of ignoring Iowa and New Hampshire might have worked better for him.

   But as events developed, the casino workers union, which Richardson had courted, went for Obama as a result of his Iowa victory. Obama's endorsement is a little ironic since he was the only Democratic candidate to ditch the first debate of the year, in Nevada, in order to concentrate on Iowa.

   At that debate, Richardson appeared to receive the second most enthusiastic support. The winner clearly was Hillary Clinton, who since has received a cold shoulder from the casino union, whose members formed the majority of that audience.

   Richardson's chances for selection as a vice-presidential running mate don't appear strong. He just isn't a good balance for a ticket that includes either Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama. A woman and a minority or two minorities on a ticket is just too far out of the political mainstream.

   He's from a small state that can't deliver many electoral votes. He already has tapped New Mexico heavily for campaign contributions so likely couldn't help much with fundraising. His primary election performances didn't prove he will do much for a ticket. And he never emerged as the choice of Hispanics.

   In one of the debates, Richardson asked Clinton if she wouldn't agree that former governors make good presidents. She smiled and answered that they make good vice presidents. The implication seemed to be that she thought of him as vice-presidential stock and that she might choose him as a running mate.

   The answer may not have been one she had thought much about. To find the last former governor who became a vice president, I believe you have to go back to the Woodrow Wilson administration. It is much more common for a governor to run for president  with a U.S. Senate running mate.

   Richardson and Clinton had a flare up on caucus day in Iowa when evidence indicated that he and Obama might have cut a deal on delegates. Richardson denied the deal and says he has smoothed that over with Clinton.

   As for secretary of state, that would require a Democratic victory. There may be some chance for an appointment to that or another post by Clinton but look for Richardson to finish his term as governor.

WED, 1-16-08

 

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

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

 

1-14 Bill's Back

By JAY MILLER

Syndicated Columnist

      SANTA FE -- Gov. Bill Richardson answered a number of questions when he withdrew on Thursday from the presidential race.

      Among them were whether he would be around the following Tuesday to address the opening of the 2008 Legislature, whether he would be spending much time with the 30-day session and whether he might still be considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retirement of Sen. Pete Domenici.

      On the night of the New Hampshire primary election, Richardson told supporters it would head our West to continue the fight. But within the hour he was on his way back to New Mexico and the following afternoon the Associated Press announced Richardson would be withdrawing.

      That answered the question about whether Richardson would be present to address the Legislature on opening day. But what about the rest of the session? Would the governor endorse another candidate and be out stumping for him or her?

      At his Thursday withdrawal rally in the rotunda of the state Capitol, Richardson announced he would not endorse anyone at that time. He urged his supporters to independently choose another candidate to back.

      And the question of whether he would jump into the Senate contest alongside Rep. Tom Udall was answered when Udall stepped to the podium to introduce Richardson. Udall's remarks centered around their joint experiences as he accompanied Richardson on the campaign trail.

      That should put aside the ceaseless speculation that Richardson would decide before the Feb. 12 filing deadline to run for the U.S. Senate. It should also be noted that Richardson's deputy presidential campaign manager is Udall's daughter, Amanda Cooper.

      Other questions remain unanswered. Richardson will remain on the New Mexico Democratic caucus' Feb. 5 ballot. It is too late to withdraw. Will he run as a favorite son? Will he throw his support to another candidate? Or will he let politics take its course? It's hard to imagine that Richardson would not want to gain whatever bargaining advantage he can with the other candidates.

      What sort of a mood will Richardson be in after seeing a year of tough campaigning go down the drain? He has always had the presidency to work toward as his ultimate goal. Will he be demoralized now that his dream has been dashed?

      Several of the hundreds of Richardson appointees to top government posts have complained to me about how demanding he has been about them taking leave to campaign for him in Iowa and New Hampshire.

   Their worries are summed up in the phrase "Bill's coming back. And he's mad." The concern is strengthened by reports that Richardson chewed out his staff and volunteers the night of the New Hampshire election.

   The upcoming legislative session may not make Richardson any happier. He still has his good friend Rep. Ben Lujan running the House, but Senate majority leader Michael Sanchez has always been a thorn in his side and now Sen. Tim Jennings of Roswell appears to be the new Senate president pro tem, replacing Sen. Ben Altamirano who died recently.

   Even with that battle setting up, the session should run more smoothly than if the governor was not present. Lawmakers have been basically understanding about Richardson's long absence. But that absence began before the end of the 2007 Legislature when several lawmakers known for their opposition to Richardson's initiatives, complained that Richardson wasn't present to provide them guidance.

   In his withdrawal speech, Richardson pledged to return with an optimistic spirit and devote his full efforts to the 2008 Legislature. He has to be hurting from his losses but there are big issues here in New Mexico to face.

   He fought a good fight and brought attention to our state. It is unfortunate that his claim to being the most experienced of the candidates was trumped by calls for change. You can bet that with Big Bill in the White House there would have been plenty of changes, also.

MON, 1-14-08

 

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

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

 

1-11 Party Bosses Pick Their Favorites

FRI, 1-11-08


SANTA FE - When four of New Mexico's five congressional seats opened as a result of fallout from Sen. Pete Domenici's retirement, political hopefuls around the state were ecstatic. But such was not necessarily the case with party leaders.
There would be too much chaos. Everyone and his dog would want to jump in. And the strongest general election candidates weren't likely to emerge from such a situation.
At first, it appeared the races would be wild and wooly with many choices for voters. But then the dropouts began. More "family problems" emerged among state politicos than even Dr. Phil could imagine. One by one, promising candidates with political experience and the ability to raise money began to note complicating family situations.
Many, perhaps all, could be true. Uprooting a family and moving to Washington, D, C, is a shock. Commuting from New Mexico is even worse. Those are major decisions the family of any young aspiring politician must face. One might have thought that more would have considered those decisions earlier and reached a conclusion one way or the other.
We political junkies like to consider the distinct possibility of party officials manipulating races, making decisions about who fits where best. We know that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez was told by top Senate leaders to stay our of our U.S. Senate race. There may have been no deal for Marty because he now is challenging the term limit ordinance that prevents him from immediately seeking another mayoral term.
And we know Rep. Tom Udall was talked into leaving the safe seat he had decided to keep in order to enter the Senate race. And might GOP leaders be trying to convince either Rep. Heather Wilson or Rep. Steve Pearce to keep their safe seat and not leave two seats open?
In the 1st Congressional District, a Republican state legislator, interested in seeking the seat being vacated by Rep. Heather Wilson was told he would receive no party support if he won the primary. Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is the choice of party leaders in that race.
The hand of party leadership is not yet visible on the Democratic side of the 1st Congressional District. Michelle Lujan Grisham is a major question mark in that race. Obviously it was not awarded to Mayor Chavez as a consolation prize even though he has won essentially the same district three times in mayoral races.
Martin Heinrich appears to be a reasonably good candidate but the party hasn't indicated a strong affection for him yet. Could Democrat leaders still be looking? Prize-winning author Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez also has indicated an interest and says her success in fundraising will determine whether she enters.
Since GOP leaders have picked a favorite in the 1st Congressional District, maybe they would like to talk Rep. Steve Pearce into keeping his 2nd Congressional District seat. He could keep it easily and party brass don't seem to have picked a favorite in that district's primary contest.
The 2nd Congressional District poses the most wide-open primary races of any of New Mexico's congressional contests. Until recently, it appeared both parties were keeping their hands off the races. But the recent departure of state Rep. Joseph Cervantes, of Las Cruces, has political observers whispering.
For several years, Cervantes has been considered a rising star. He is bright, articulate and has family money that could be helpful in a race. He's also the only Hispanic in the Democrat primary. And therein may lie the problem. Hispanic Democrats have not fared well running for that position.
Among the unsuccessful Hispanics were two retired high court judges who had always carried the district in their judicial races. Another problem seems to be that candidates from the west side of the district do not fare well either. Cervantes pled family considerations but might there be more to that story?

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word change in Rose Parade column

If you haven't puyblished this one yet, I'd appreciate your changing four dreary days to four BUSY days in the first sentence. Sounds more positive.
 
Thanks,  J

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1-9 Remembering the Fun of Past Legislatures

WED, 1-09-08


SANTA FE - A fondly remembered chapter of New Mexico legislative history became a bit dimmer with the recent death of Betty Palermo, part of the trio that ran Tiny's Restaurant and Lounge in Santa Fe.
Tiny's has been a favorite watering hole for legislators, other public officials and those who would like to influence them since 1950. At that time it was located in downtown Santa Fe. Now Tiny's is in the Pen Road Shopping center near the corner of Cerrillos and St. Francis. It is still in the family, run by son, J.R. Palermo and his wife Pam.
Betty Palermo and her husband Jimmie, along with Betty's mother Lucille, made Tiny's into a Santa Fe institution. Tiny's was named after Walter "Tiny" Moore, which produced no end of confusion. Tiny was a big guy, who always was out prospecting for uranium. No one ever saw him, but they always saw Jimmie, who was a little guy.
Jimmie also was seen at La Fonda Hotel, where he played accordion with Billy Paloue and his orchestra. In addition, Jimmie worked as an assistant House sergeant at arms for the Legislature in the 1950s and '60s where he was a member of the renowned House Cat Trio.
Palermo played accordion. Rep. Hi Overton of Yeso played guitar and Rep. Alva Parker of Elida was a mean left-handed fiddler. The three performed at every opportunity, often dragging out their instruments immediately after a floor session to serenade in the House chambers, the House lounge or in the hallways and lobbies of the former Capitol, now known as the Bataan Building.
The trio also played for "100th Bill Parties" sponsored by the House and Senate. In those days, only a handful of lobbyists trolled the Capitol hallways. They weren't bankrolled as well as today's lobbyists, so there weren't many fancy parties. That meant lawmakers had to entertain themselves much of the time.
The tradition was for the unlucky senator or representative whose bill was the 100th to be submitted during a session to throw a party for lawmakers and staff. Lobbyists who helped with the financing were welcome to attend but not talk business. Often an excuse would be found to have a 200th bill party, also.
When the House Cat Trio played at big parties, the trio often was joined by other musically inclined members of the Legislature and staff. Rep. George Blocker of Jal played the piano and Rep. Harry Allen of Farmington brought his tub.
Rep. Roberto Mondragon of Albuquerque strummed guitar and sang. He often was joined by singers Hal Thornberry of Eddy County, who was the Senate chief clerk, and Rep. Ed Rael of Taos.
And Jimmie was always at Tiny's in the evening, where with very little effort he could be talked into pulling out his accordion for some Italian serenading to go with the best chile in town.
Betty was the matriarch of Tiny's. She loved children. Our kids always looked forward to a dinner there at which they would be treated to special drinks and little gifts along with a trip in Betty's arms to see the fish tanks behind the bar and maybe even a chance to feed them a little snack.
The tradition continues. When our grandchildren come to Santa Fe for a visit, they can't wait to get to Tiny's and feed the fish. Betty loved the restaurant and made it her life. Jimmie and Lucille also have passed on but J.R. and Pam are carrying on the tradition.
Many have wondered how the Pen Road Shopping Center got its name when the state penitentiary is many miles south. But until the '50s, the penitentiary was approximately where the intersection of St. Francis and Cordova Road is now located.
The "100 Bill" parties continue but they aren't the cozy get-togethers they once were. Legislative staffs have grown tremendously, lobbyist numbers have exploded and the move to lavish entertainment has weakened the camaraderie that once existed.

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1-7 Let's Not Forget Fillmore

MON, 1-07-08


SANTA FE - January 7 is former President Millard Fillmore's birthday. Many people have trouble remembering that, but here's a tip to remind you. It's my birthday too. It's that easy.
Why is Fillmore important? Actually he isn't. He's jokingly called our most forgettable president. He's also called our most mediocre president. He never did much of anything right or wrong. Fillmore has no library or museum. If fact, no books ever were written about him or his administration. He also was unlucky enough to be our 13th president.
None of this bothered Fillmore much. Following his administration, he traveled in England. Oxford University wanted to present him an honorary degree, but Fillmore declined, saying he was unworthy of such an honor.
The most important moves made by President Fillmore involved New Mexico, which was made a territory about the time he assumed the presidency upon the death of President Zachary Taylor in July 1851. Taylor reportedly ate too much ice cream at a 4th of July picnic and did himself in. Fillmore sometimes was referred to as "Your Accidency."
Anyway, Texas didn't want the New Mexico territory to become a state. It wanted all our land, at least as far west as the Rio Grande and maybe as far as the Colorado River. At that time, present-day Arizona was part of New Mexico.
Fillmore disagreed, saying New Mexico had a culture and history dating back to a time when the population of Texas consisted only of snakes and scorpions.
But Fillmore knew that Texas would stop at nothing to get its hands on New Mexico territory. It already had tried trade missions, diplomacy, politics, guile and even invasions.
So he had a fort built just south of Las Cruces to stop any further invasions. Previous invasions had come from the east, but Fillmore had a hunch that eventually Texans would figure out that coming up the Rio Grande was much smarter than crossing the dry eastern plains.
And he was right. In 1862, confederate troops from Texas invaded from the south. Unfortunately, the 750 troops Fillmore had ordered to man the fort, which was named after him, had shriveled to 500 and were headed by a commander who was a Southern sympathizer.
Fort Fillmore was easily overrun and the rebels took brief control of southern New Mexico and southern Arizona, with headquarters in nearby La Mesilla.
Although that claim didn't last long, Fort Fillmore didn't either. No trace of it remains in what is now a pecan grove just south of the intersection of Interstates 10 and 25.
That's the way Millard Fillmore's life went. Even when he did something right, circumstances developed that resulted in his actions becoming inconsequential.
Fillmore was a member of the Whig Party, which boasted many distinguished and influential political figures of the early 1800s, but he turned out to be the last Whig president.
At least three attempts have been made over the years to recognize Fillmore's unique importance to New Mexico. In the early 1970s, Dave Townsend and Peter Hendrickson, then history professors at the New Mexico State University branch in Alamogordo, began an effort to get a Millard Fillmore Day proclaimed.
Then in 1983, Phil Arkow and a group of Fillmorons prevailed on Gov. Toney Anaya to issue a proclamation calling for our state to honor President Fillmore yearly on Jan. 7. But no celebrations ever were held.
Finally, in 1997, a group of my friends decided to pick up Arkow's banner and try again. With the fine cooperation of Dan Hill in Gov. Gary Johnson's office and Joe Thompson in Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley's office, we got the original proclamation reissued and actually held a celebration.
Among those present were state GOP Chairman John Dendahl and television reporter Stuart Dyson, who was proclaimed our official librarian, entrusted with the safekeeping of all records generated on behalf of President Fillmore.
I trust he has kept them safe these past 11 years, because one never knows when another celebration will be held.

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Alien Float Wins Big Award

FRI, 1-04-08


PASADENA - Some 100 New Mexicans spent four dreary days in a brown L.A. haze decorating our state's Rose Parade entry in Pasadena, California. But it was well worth the minor inconvenience as their effort was rewarded with recognition for excellence.
The proud history of the Rose Bowl and Parade tells us that it all got started over a hundred years ago by some transplanted Midwesterners, who missed Big Ten football and wanted to show off their great weather. So they invited their old friends out West for a New Year's football game and parade.
Obviously the weather here is a far cry better than in the frozen Midwest right now. But sunny Southern California doesn't compare very well with the crystal clear weather in most of New Mexico. Of course, 100 years ago Los Angeles didn't have the smog it has today, but New Mexicans who remembered the soggy parade experience two years ago still weren't particularly impressed with this year's weather either.
On the day of the parade, however, the skies cleared, the wind held off and the weather cooperated. It didn't hurt that, as the parade was beginning, Tourism Secretary Mike Cerletti received word that New Mexico's float won the Grand Marshal's Award for most creative concept and design.
It was further confirmation of the Tourism Department's decision to go with a space theme despite sniping from some communities back home. The split-pea-clad aliens were a hit from the first day media and visitors were allowed into the float-building tent. The float appeared on the evening news every night.
New Mexico's float-decorating volunteers distinguished themselves once again. Some 37 of them paid all their own expenses to spend several days on the job. Most other floats were decorated by youth volunteer groups from the area.
Although tasks were divided into four-hour blocks, New Mexico's volunteers often had their job finished in less than an hour and went looking for other floats to help with. Some floats still weren't finished when it came time to be judged.
Several New Mexico communities pitched in with volunteers and materials. Most notable among them was Roswell, which provided gift bags stuffed with Roswell promotional materials to be handed out to the thousands of visitors who came to view the floats during the decorating process.
Roswell's Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Nawrocki brought workers, as did T or C's tourism director Gina Deeter, Taos' Don Francisco Trujillo and former Santa Fe Mayor Larry Delgado. Ruidoso also had a contingent present. Tourism Commission Chairman Al Lucero came along with commissioner Diedre Lujan from Albuquerque.
New Mexico's volunteer coordinator Betty Watson, of Santa Fe, kept her fast-moving crew working smoothly. While volunteer coordinators for other floats had to crack the whip to keep their charges moving, Watson's main problem was finding enough assignments for her eager workers.
Unfortunately, in this type of operation, improvising or getting ahead is not allowed. Supervisors, working for Fiesta Parade Floats, have manuals of directions timed for each step of the operation. Materials are not available until the manual calls for them. Supervisor Eli Bartholemy, assigned to New Mexico's float, had the enviable problem of keeping worker enthusiasm in check. He did a good job of working with Watson to keep nearly everyone happy.
The genius behind the design and engineering of the nine floats built by Fiesta Parade Floats was owner Raul Rodriguez. Not only is Rodriguez creative, he also is as colorful as they come. He wanders among the floats under his charge with a huge blue macaw on his shoulder, amid a sea of admirers seeking a picture with him.
It was a great experience. New Mexico made many friends. The California tourism market is huge and largely untapped. Viewers who streamed by our float while it was being decorated, frequently made comments indicating their lack of awareness that only one state away, there is something between Arizona and Texas.

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NM's Alien Float Takes Big Award

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NM float

won Rose Parade Grand Marshal's Award for best design

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