Teague Stays on Message as McCamley Levies New Attacks; and Obama Attempts to Put Wright Issue to Bed

Teague Stays on Message in Light of Harsh Criticism by Opponent:

With his recent $475,000 personal contribution to his Congressional campaign, Second District Democrat Harry Teague is looking to put the nail in the coffin on what has been a hard-fought race against the young and charismatic Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley. McCamley responsed today by holding a press conference to announce that he'd made a campaign contribution of his own, loaning himself $47.50 to fill his gas tank. Your humble blogger is many things, but a mathematician is not one of them. Still, I can safely say that Teague's donation outpaces McCamley's 10,000-fold. Point made.

However, while McCamley was quick to use the size and timing of Teague's hefty personal cash injection to make the point that the former Lea County Commissioner's campaign is both elitist and struggling to keep pace with his own more modestly funded effort, Teague continued doing what he's done this entire campaign--talk to voters about making progress on the issues they care about most.

In something of a concerning move, McCamley called a press conference to announce the $47.50 contribution and also take swipes at Teague's ties to, and funding from, oil executive. Lambasting Teague's money sources, McCamley said 'I don’t have that kind of money,” adding that 'every time you see a Harry Teague commercial, know that you are paying for it every time you buy $4-per-gallon gas'. Closer analysis, however, reveals that there's more to the story than McCamley's criticism would suggest.

While it is true that Teague is a millionaire, who has made much of his wealth in the oil industry, with which he remains close ties, he has also used his money to provide education and health care for his employees and their families. He said as much, claiming 'I provide health care for all of my employees and their families. I offer scholarships to help young people go to college, and I support dozens of causes. I helped create thousands of good-paying jobs as a county commissioner.' Clearly, Teague's comments are in-line with the developing 'real results' theme of his campaign. Whereas McCamley seems content to focus his energies on discussing everything Teague is not, the candidate from Lea County candidate seems focused on talking about what Democratic representation for the 2nd District should and could be.

A source from the Teague Campaign checks in with additional information regarding the long, hard, and undeniably compelling path the Hobbs candidate has taken to success. The fact that he does not revert to this story every time an insult is levied from the McCamley campaign indicates Teague's strong desire to stay focused on the issues that matter most to voters.

If he wanted to, Teague could remind voters that:

• the first time he had running water in his house was when he moved to hobbs when he was 9
• he dropped out of school during high school to work for less than $2/hour when his father, who could not afford health care, fell ill
• he has spent the majority of his career toiling in blue-collar type labor with which McCamley, despite his respectable non-profit work and time on the Dona Ana County Commission, has little personal experience

In sum, Harry Teague made himself. He scrapped for everything he has earned. However, instead of harping on the difficult of his rise, Teague has kept his nose down during this campaign, driving around the 2nd District to discuss what they want most in an elected official in Washington.

McCamley has provided this race with important energy and passion. Now, wouldn't it be nice if he took the same intensity to making good on his claim to want to run an issue-based campaign?

Obama Cuts Ties to Wright:

Senator Barack Obama, in an attempt to put further distance between his campaign and his fiery former Pastor Jeremiah Wright, called the pastor's comments given at a recent speech at the National Press Club, 'appalling'. Wright has been criticized for arguing that the United States deserved some of the blame for bringing on the brutal attacks of September 11th, 2001, and that the Federal government had done a good deal to bring on the AIDS crisis disproportionately afflicting black communities across the country.

Obama has had an intimate relationship with Wright for many years. Not only did he attend Wright's megachurch in Chicago, but both of his daughters were baptised by the religious leader. The Obama Campaign, which derives much of its momentum from a message of unity and stated desire to bring divided factions of the country together, has been undercut by the inflammatory tone of Wright's comments. It was this reality that inspired the Illinois to make a highly-touted speech on the role of race in U.S. politics last month, in which he refused to cut all ties between himself and Wright, but also argued that the pastor failed to acknowledge the significant progress the U.S. has made on the issue of race relations over the years.

Obama's comments Tuesday were more pointed. He claimed that 'moving forward, Rev. Wright does not speak for me, he does not speak for our campaign', noting also that Wright's rhetoric 'contradicts everything that I'm about and who I am.'

For his part, Wright characterized Obama's denouncement as disingenuous. He claimed that Obama waspandering to white, working-class voters, and questioned the integrity of his motives in distancing himself from his former pastor. 'If Senator Obama did not say what he said, he would never get elected," Wright offered. Others questioned the timing of Obama's attempt to put space between himself and Wright, claiming that the pastor had not changed his tune in any notable way in recent weeks from what it had been throughout the time he'd known Obama.

Still, looking to close the case and sever ties with Wright's fiery ideas, Obama claimed of the pastor that 'The person that I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate." It remains to be seen whether or not Obama's words carry weight amongst the white, blue-collar workers whose votes Obama needs to court to win his party nomination and again against John McCain in November.

Bingaman Endorses Obama

Bingaman Backs Obama:

Today, New Mexico's Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman threw his support behind Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama (see Bingaman's statement- http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGCpYk). With Obama locked in a neck-and-neck race for superdelegates with New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bingaman's support could not have come at a better time for the first-termer from Illinois, whose campaign has come under fire in recent weeks after a sizable defeat in the Pennsylvania Primary and a continued focus on his ties to controversial Pastor Jeremiah Wright.

Bingaman is seen by many as a quiet leader of the Democratic Party, whose thoughtful approach to shaping policy and willingness to work with lawmakers on the other side of the aisle embodies the devotion to progress on which Obama has based his campaign. Moreover, the New Mexico leader, who has served in the Senate for more than 25 years and won his previous election by a larger margin than any other Senatorial candidate in the '06 election, shows other long-time Democratic Senators with strong ties to the Clintons that bucking their party's first couple in order to back a candidate by whom they feel more compelled is an acceptable, indeed responsible, move.

Obama and New Mexico: A Winning Pair

Bingaman's support of Obama is also meaningful for New Mexicans. While nearly identical in terms of policy, Senator Obama possesses a superior ability than his rival from New York to bring lawmakers of different minds together to create forward-looking legislation that positively impacts people's lives. This statesmanship could play a major role in advancing the currently stagnated Congressional debate on immigration, an issue of particular significance to those in the Land of Enchantment.

Obama believes, as do many across our state, that the vast majority of immigrants who decide to make their home in the U.S. contribute meaningfully to our country's economic and cultural fabric. As key players in our diverse society, peaceful and productive immigrants deserve a path to citizenship without first having to return to their country of origin. Requiring them to do so, of course, would encourage many undocumented workers to remain in the shadows, continuing their inability to both pay taxes and receive critical services, which benefits nobody.

As the son of a Kenyan father, who himself traveled to the United States as an immigrant to take advantage of an academic scholarship, Obama understands the importance of creating safe and reasonable legal avenues for foreign nationals to enter and live in the U.S. However, what sets him apart from his New York rival is a personability and devotion to identifying commonalities in his and others' approaches to issues that would create the necessary consensus to advance effective and comprehensive immigration legislation.

Obama's ability to bring people together would also benefit New Mexico's children. Today, thousands of our youngsters live without access to quality health care. Not only has Obama voted repeatedly in favor of S-CHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), but his healthcare platform also mandates that all children across the country be insured. Clinton supporters would country that her plan features a mandate to insure all people, but only Obama has refused the conmtributions of powerful pharmaceutical companies, who make passing legislation like S-CHIP so difficult in the first place. How can we expect Clinton to win the delicate consensus necessary to pass much-needed universal healthcare legislation for our children, when her first attempt at doing so during her husband's administration was a disaster and she continues to welcome substantial contributions from pharmaceutical companies?

While Senator Clinton is seen by political pundits as perhaps the most polarizing figure in the Democratic Party, whose candidacy would be a boon for a GOP party struggling to find its voice, Senator Obama has proven throughout the primary season that he can attract the votes of Democrats as well as Republicans. In Iowa, where Republicans can switch their vote to participate in the Democratic Caucus and switch back immediately after, Obama captured the votes of thousands of GOP party members frustrated with business as usual in Washington. Indeed, across the country, Obama has proven time and again that his message of hope and change appeals to voters of all backgrounds, which bodes well for not only his prospects in November, but also his ability to forge consensus and pass meaningful legislation once coming to 1600 Pennsylvania. In his timeless wisdom, which has helped Senator Bingaman become one of the most popular and effective lawmakers in New Mexico's history, our state's soon-to-be senior Senator decided to cast his vote as a superdelegate for Senator Barack Obama. In less than nine months, these honorable leaders will have an opportunity to take their professional relationship to the next level in a way that will improve the lives of good folks across New Mexico.

Building Consensus: Obama's Proven Track Record

Richardson on the Diplomatic Charge in Venezuela

Governor Bill Richardson traveled to Caracas to hold talks with Venezuelan President, and Bush Administration boogeyman, Hugo Chavez this weekend. Big Bill was in the Andean country to discuss Chavez's role in freeing several hostages still held by the FARC, a Colombian revolutionary group that controls significant swaths of land in Southern Colombia. While Chavez successfully intervened to secure the freeing of six Colombian hostages earlier this year, FARC continues to hold dozens of individuals in captivity, including three U.S. citizens and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who also holds duel French citizenship.

Richardson focused his visit on encouraging Chavez to more forcefully engage in freeing the U.S. contractors, who have been held by the FARC in the Colombian jungle for more than five years. Interestingly, the New Mexico governor said his trip had been endorsed by the Bush Administration, with whom Chavez has had frosty relations. Richardson has a successful track record of working with adversarial leaders to secure the freedom of U.S. citizens or advance otherwise stagnated diplomatic ties in places like Iraq, North Korea, and Sudan.

Progressive Diplomacy Rewarded:

Richardson's active and innovative approach to diplomacy offers further vindication of the notion that honest and open dialogue more often than not engenders positive results. This blog discussed in a recent post the effectiveness of Jimmy Carter's talks with leaders from Hamas, in which the former president achieved more in one sitting than the current Administration has in over seven years of being in office. It should be, and has been, noted that this brand of diplomatic leaders such as these earn for themselves harsh and often biting criticism. With Carter's call for a more even-handed approach to U.S. policy vis-a-vis Israel and the Palestinians came charges of anti-semitism. When Senator Barack Obama claimed that, as president, he would hold unconditional talks with adversarial leaders in Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and other places to which Bush and other leaders have turned the cold shoulder, he was lampooned with charges of severe inexperience and naivete in regards to foreign affairs.

But what do we see in terms of results when we analyze the track record of those who have opened their eyes to the possibility of increased communications with hostile leaders abroad? Carter was a trailblazer in securing recognition of Israel's right to exist when, in 1978, he successfully brokered the Camp David Accords and a formal peace deal between Israel and Egypt. While each country still struggles with serious and confounding problems, the pact undoubtedly made them more secure and prosperous than they otherwise would have been (Israel and Egypt have been numbers one and two, respectively, on the list of the top recipients of U.S. foreign aid since 1979).

Democrats are not alone in this thoughtful approach to foreign policy. President Richard Nixon decided to go on a charm offensive (to the extent that that was possible for 'Tricky Dick', not exactly a maestro in the area of charisma) in, and open the door to relations with, China, which has made possible our still developing, yet improving political and economic relationship with that country (without which we'd have virtually no leverage in pressing for improved human rights for the Chinese people, or increased autonomy for Tibet).

More recently, Richardson's actions and Obama's pledges show us that the light of open dialogue and honest statesmanship has not been dimmed into non-existence. If more lawmakers follow suit and see that good things happen when our leaders lay their intentions on the table and ask for honest partners in creating a better world, the U.S. stands a real chance of regaining its respected position in the eyes of the international community. If not, we will reside ourselves to increased isolation, which bodes well for neither our political or economic might. Anyone who has traveled abroad knows that most foreign nationals are in no way inherently averse to the American people, but rather take issue with the way in which far too many its administrations have cockily waved the baton of U.S. power and coercively called upon other countries to acquiesce to its will. Sadly, no one truly wins in this scenario. But it needn't be so. Hopefully, openness and innovation characterize U.S. diplomacy in the political generation to come.

Fact and Fiction Regarding Carter's Recent Trip to the Middle East

In a recent piece entitled 'Carter's Heir: He's a Senator from Illinois', Matthew Continetti of The Weekly Standard lambasted former President Jimmy Carter's recent trip to the Middle East to hold talks with leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The article also argued that Democratic Presidential front-runner Barack Obama has maintained a contradictory diplomatic posture, saying that would not hold talks with Hamas but would sit down unconditionally with adversarial leaders in Iran, whom, Continetti argues, hold the same terroristic predisposition vis-a-vis Israel. Additionally, the author labels Hamas as an unacceptable partner in dialogue due to its refusal to accept Israel's right to exist or abide by the Oslo Accords.

What the article fails to mention, however, is that Israel, for its part, has walked a good rhetorical line on Oslo while failing completely to comply by its guidelines on the ground. Indeed, settlement activity in the West Bank, which the Oslo accord was supposed to halt completely, continues at breakneck speed, with the Israeli Knesset approving the building of over 600 new homes just outside of Jerusalem in early April just days after Condoleeza received assurances from Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that such activity would stop. Additionally, the expansion of Israel's security wall continues, reaching further and further into Palestinian Authority-controlled territory in the West Bank. Never mind that this process stands in direct conflict with United Nations Security Resolution 242, which was agreed by the United States and Israel, it also creates serious humanitarian problems for Palestinians in the West Bank, who find themselves cut off from basic resources like food and medicine.

Put that aside. The failure of Palestinians and Israelis alike to abide by the exact mandates of 242 are well-known. What is important is the future and looking to create a meaningful agreement that can alleviate the region's growing disorder. It was curious, then, for Continetti to label Carter's recent visit as 'a bust'. Not only did the former President get Hamas leader, Khaled Meshal, to agree a complete truce and cessation of attacks on Israeli communities if this move were approved in a referendum by the Palestinian electorate, he also engaged a party (Hamas) whose participation will be necessary in the creation of any future Israeli-Palestinian peace accord. For too long, skeptics have kidded themselves in believing that peace can be secured in this troubled region while keeping Hamas isolated. A legitimate political entity or not, Hamas will play a role in the Israeli-Palestinian dichotomy in the years to come.

However, policymakers have some choice as to what this role will be. Responsible leaders, like Carter, understand that tempering Hamas' brutal terrorism is by offering them a real chance to participate in peace talks. If Hamas rejects this well-intentioned offer, they will show themselves to be entirely uncommitted to peace, which would dry up support for them amongst many of its small, but stalwart supporters. Moreover, showing categorically that Hamas has no interest in peace would likely decrease its political support amongst the Palestinian electorate, whom, far more than waging continual and purposeless attacks on Israeli citizens, would support politicians that offer real solutions to their serious economic and political troubles. I witnessed this on a recent trip to the Middle East, during which citizens from across the West Bank in villages in which I stopped expressed a strong desire to have peace with Israel in return for their economic and political vitality, which has dwindled in recent years. It is critical to understand that Hamas is only powerful to the extent that Palestinians are financially and politically desolate. If Israel were truly interested in securing a long-term truce with the Palestinian Authority and winning real safety for at-risk communities like Sderot and others near the Gaza Strip, then its best play is to invest in increasing economic prospects for ordinary Palestinian citizens.

It is easy to portray all Palestinians as eager to carry out the monstrous attacks of suicide bombers and rocket launchers. Getting to the truth of the situation, however, requires thoughtful and innovative diplomacy, such as that recently employed by Jimmy Carter in his talks with Hamas. Palestinians want peace and security as much as their Israeli counterparts. Commentators like The Weekly Standard's Matthew Continetti, who has probably never traveled to the West Bank to experience the troubling daily conditions in which most Palestinians live, fail to understand this and content themselves in making convenient and, ultimately, unhelpful observations from the sidelines. Israelis and Palestinians deserve much better.

The Need for Educational Reform: A Teacher's Take

(Links to education platforms on New Mexico's Federal candidates in the '08 elections can be found at the bottom of this page- links to the candidates' websites can be found on the blog's main page)

Eleven months ago I was in college putting the finishing touches on an undergraduate degree in international affairs. Just seven months prior, I'd been moving full speed ahead with my study, which concentrated in international politics and Latin America. I'd taken the GRE examination (graduate school entrance examination) and submitted applications to top-tiered master's programs in my field. My plan was to spend my days working on the Hill as a staffer for a New Mexico lawmaker for whom I'd interned and worked during my time in college and spend my nights in the classroom. Through these positions, I'd take critical steps towards not only advancing my mind and ability to inform public policy in my country, but also play an active role of improving the lives of those in my home state of New Mexico.

In late October, things changed for me. I sat down with a recruiter from the Teach For America program and began to discuss ways in which TFA is taking steps toward bringing excellent leadership and instruction to schools in low-income areas across the country. I'd heard of TFA before but never considered it seriously for myself (as is the case for so many future TFA Corps members). During the interview, the recruiter mentioned three particular aspects of the program that transformed my mindset and, before the interview was out, reset my future plans.

Secondly, she informed that Teach For America operates in New Mexico. Before our talk, I'd not known that, thinking that, primarily, TFA only existed in urban settings. The NM program, she said, was based in Gallup and operating throughout a wide range of Northwestern New Mexican communities, including many on Navajo and Zuni Reservations. This immediately caught my attention, as the chance to contribute to my state in such a direct way was quite attractice. I felt young, energetic, and deeply committed to improving the state of education in the Land of Enchantment. Moreover, the opportunity to learn more about a part of the state about which I'd previously known little excited me quite a bit (I grew up in Las Cruces and spend most of my out-of-the-city time in Albuquerque or points along the I-25 corridor). Coming to know and contribute to my state in a new and powerful way was a second reason why, during this interview, I began to believe this program was for me.

Finally, my recruiter mentioned one of TFA's powerful goals: to have 100 former Corps Members become elected officials by 2010. Growing up, I'd always imagined myself a leader. I cared deeply about the issues facing my community in Las Cruces, had strong opinions on the political situation in the country and world, and, during college, had sought to improve the conditions and opportunities of my fellow students by running for and winning the spot of a student senator, representing over 2,000 of my classmates. Now, as I looked toward my adult future, I knew that one day, I hoped to serve in a leadership position that would allow me to represent the voice of everyday New Mexicans in the making of public policy at the highest levels in this country.

As such, when I heard that TFA had its sights set specifically on encouraging and offering significant logistical and financial resources to Corps Members who hoped to run for and
win office, I became very excited. Imagine a country in which a substantial portion of our Federal lawmakers had spent time in a low-income classroom. Where would our priorities be? Would we continue spending the same amount of money on our national education program (No Child Left Behind- $8 billion annually) in one year as we do for eight days of operation in Iraq? Would we continue to overlook the need of teachers to provide their students with a real and comprehensive education by continually requiring to requiring them to uphold rigid, one-size-fits-all standards that don't speak to the particularities of varying cultural settings across the country? And would we continue to deny millions of children in low-income communities the opportunity to earn a college degree and have a real shot to earn a satisfying, well-paying job that helps create a standard of life that one has reason to value? I think not.

Having concluded that my time to act had come, I floated out of the meeting and promptly began my application to the Teach For American program. For my state, for my country, my mission had changed. I was going to be a teacher and do my part to directly improve the educational opportunities available to the young people in New Mexico who needed it most.

Eleven months on, I can say without hesitation that teaching is at once a challenging and rewarding experience. I am more convinced today than I was last October during my interview that improving the educational conditions in our most at-risk areas represents the most important and effective way to ensure a better future across our land. However, I have also observed the many things that make it difficult for teachers, administrators, and parents to help their students achieve a high level of education. Indeed, my main reflection at this point in my teaching career is the most mind-blowing one: the hideous crime of educational inequity in this country is a multi-faceted problem, and its solution requires a comprehensive approach that involve factors as much outside as they are inside the classroom. A wholistic approach to education is what our current leaders and Federal legislation lack. In my school and community, I've observed parents, teachers, and principals who are bursting at the seems with excitement about helping their children learn but extremely limited in their ability to do so. The problem, then, does not rest with anyone party, and there certainly exists no silver bullet for rescuing the disastrous condition of education in our country. Rather, there exist a slew of issues, which must all be addressed by a Federal plan for education in order to finally unlock the tremendous academic potential we know is inherent within every child.

As New Mexicans, with an educational system that faces particularly severe education challenges, we must keep this in mind as we head to the ballot box to elect our Federal lawmakers this coming November. Specifically, when considering the candidates and their education platform, we should elect leaders who:

• support the establishment of a $40,000 minimum annual salary for public school teachers

Recruiting the best, brightest, and most capable of our young people into the profession of teaching requires a salary sufficient to achieve a secure financial situation. We can neither hope nor expect to lure the next generation of leaders away from lucrative careers in law, business, and the sciences if we do not offer a comparable salary, or at least one that allows them to live comfortably.

• work to lower drastically reduce classes in public schools

As a teacher in a classroom with 28 students, it is virtually impossible for me to independenrly accommodate all the unique learning styles and performance levels of my youngsters. I do not argue against classroom diversity. Indeed, combining in one classroom students who learn in different ways and are performing at different levels can significantly enhance the learning environment. However, when teachers are stretched too thin in trying to work with an unreasonable number of students, it becomes extremely difficult to provide quality instruction to each person. Creating smaller class sizes would go a long way in allowing teachers to adequately meet the needs of each student.

• fully fund pre-K and Head Start programs

Every child, especially those in low-income areas and underperforming school deserves a chance to be performing on or above grade level by the time they enter kindergarten. Unfortunately, right now, pre-K and Head Start programs across New Mexico and our country are vastly underfunded. We need lawmakers who understand that the first three years of a child's life represent a crucial period in the formation of that child's impressions of the world and academic development. As such, struggling school districts require capable early-education leaders to ensure that their young students do not enter kindergarten performing below grade level.

• supports eliminating the punitive measures of No Child Left Behind and the creation of a more thorough notion of accountability

People have many takes on the best way in which to reform NCLB, but one thing on which nearly all critics can agree is that the program is drastically underfunded and has not been given a real chance to succeed. With annual funding running at a palty $8 billion/year, it is no wonder that schools, particularly those in low-income areas, have had an impossible time meeting its standards. No good teacher will tell you that accountability is a bad thing. Indeed, all teachers committed to fully educating their students want to know just how far their work is coming. However, tying all forms of progress to results on a standardized state test does a grave disservice to hard-working teachers and the students they mean to educate. We need lawmakers who will rework NCLB (or a new Federal educational initiative) to create a system of accountability that factors in things other than state test scores when deciding on a school's level of progress: These factors might include:

1. results on quarterly and short-cycle assessments
2. student attendance
3. school communication with parents and other community members
4. level at which schools comply with district-level systems, reading and math development programs (Linda Mood Bell, Accelerated Reader), and staff development standards
5. efficiency in utilizing resources (including technology, staff development funding, classroom resources such as textbooks, and library facilities)

These five things represent just a few key components of a more thorough, telling accountability system than the one currently employed by the NCLB framework. We need elected officials who understand this and would work to implement a more fair system of measuring teachers and schools.

As we look ahead to the critical elections of 2008, New Mexicans have a choice of how they want to educate the next generation of our state's leaders. We have a moral imperative to do all we can to ensure that our young people, particularly those in underserved communities, have every opportunity they need to achieve the tremendous academic potential inherent in every child. As a teacher, I believe in my students, and I know they can achieve whatever it is they set out for. However, they need the help of a concerned and committed populous, as well as thoughtful and passionate lawmakers to do so. In November, we have an opportunity to ensure that the latter piece to this puzzle is in place. Vote responsibly, New Mexicans.

Education platforms and, or voting track records of New Mexico's Federal candidates:

U.S. Senate:
Rep. Tom Udall (D)- http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Tom_Udall.htm#Education
Rep. Heather Wilson (R)- http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Heather_Wilson.htm#Education
Rep. Steve Pearce (R)- http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Steve_Pearce.htm#Education

U.S. House-Congressional District 1:

Democrats:
Michelle Lujan Grisham- http://www.michelleforcongress.com/issues/education.html
Martin Heinrich- http://www.martinheinrich.com/issues
Rebecca Vigil-Giron- http://www.rebeccaforcongress.com/inner.asp?z=17
Robert Pidcock- http://www.robertpidcockforcongress.com/issue_education.php

Republicans:
Darren White- http://www.darrenwhiteforcongress.com/index.php?page=issues
Joe Carraro- http://www.peopleforjoe.com/

U.S. House-Congressional District 2:

Democrats:
Harry Teague- http://www.harryteagueforcongress08.com/issues_education.html
Bill McCamley- http://www.billmccamley.com/issues/index.php?id=10

Republicans:
Ed Tinsley- http://www.edtinsleyforcongress.com/on-the-issues/
Aubrey Dunn, Jr.- http://www.aubreydunn.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=28
Monty Newman- http://montyforcongress.com/issues
Greg Sowards- http://www.shortbaldhonest.com/ (website undergoing 'complete redesign')


U.S. House- Congressional District 3

Democrats:
Ben Ray Lujan- http://www.benrlujan.com/Issues/education.htm
Don Wiviott- http://www.donfornewmexico.com/issues/education
Benny Shendo- http://bennyshendojr.com/bio
Harry Montoya- http://www.montoyaforcongress.com/content.php?contentid=14
Jon Adams- http://www.jonadamsforcongress.com/

Late-night international post and food rationing in the U.S.?

Hamas Offers Truce:

Coming on the heels of talks with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, has proposed a truce to Israel to quell violence in the Gaza Strip. Though Israeli officials remain skeptical as to the offers sincerity, it seems misguided for the Jewish state to dismiss the pledge offhand. Terms of the deal, as stated by Hamas, include a lifting of the Israeli blockade between Gaza and Israel proper, as well as a cessation of attacks by Israeli soldiers on Hamas officials and Gazan civilians. In return, Gaza would end all rocket fire on Northern and Western Israel. Some interpret Hamas' proposal as an attempt by the group to remain, or take steps toward becoming, relevant in the peace process. However, recent reports indicate that Israeli and Hamas leaders have been holding negotiations through an Egyptian conduit for some time and that Carter's trip may have tipped the balance in terms of a truce offer.

Walmart Braces for the 'Silent Tsunami':

In a worrying sign of the world food crisis' growing severity, Arkansas-based Walmart, the world's largest retailer, began limiting the sale of rice in selected locations to four bage per customer. New restrictions placed by rice-growing countries in South and Southeast Asia on their exports have sent global rice prices skyrocketing, fueling worries of scarcity amongst supermarkets abroad. Perhaps, from the grave, Milton Friedman is furiously penciling possible responses to the breakdown of his shock economic doctrine that has, in large part, resulted in the 'silent tsunami' of the food crisis. World Bank Chief Robert Zoellick claims that, if conditions do not drastically improve in the form of huge new amounts of food aid to indigent groups across parts of Africa and Asia, 100 million new people risk falling into extreme poverty. How can we accept this as, in any circumstance, acceptable? There do exist certain growing pains, which develop in economies as they transition to a freer, market-based system, but the absolute subjugation of .1 billion people to unbearable poverty seems, in any reckoning, unconscionable.

23 April 2008: Teague Launches New Education Ad. In CD-2; Dems Crash the Keystone State; McCain's Telling Misstep on Foreign Affairs

Teague Launches New Education Ad.:

2^nd CD Democratic candidate and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague hit the airwaves Tuesday with a new commercial promoting his education platform. The former Lea County Commissioner is campaigning to defeat Democratic challenger and Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley for the chance to become the first Democratic Congressman from the 2^nd District in more than a generation. In a conference call with reporters yesterday afternoon, Teague stressed the connectivity between education and other critical issues facing the country, such as economic development and creating a healthier, more sustainable environment.

Specifically, the commissioner called for a reduction to class sizes, a substantial rise in teacher pay (his website issue paper on education calls for a state-wide minimum annual salary of $40,000 for teachers), and increased scholarship opportunities. Joining Teague on the conference call was Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, who praised Harry’s real results in improving education and noted that he had provided college scholarships for the children of his employees. Both Teague and Denish stressed that it is real results such as this that distinguishes Teague from his competitors in the race for Congress.

Energy and Education:

Teague, who has spent years working in the oil and gas industry, also voiced excitement about taking his knowledge of the industry to the effort of creating renewable energy options. He said that in Washington he would serve as a liaison between lawmakers and leading oil companies and hope to bring both sides together to create sensible solutions to energy issues. The Hobbs native also stressed that New Mexico stood to benefit substantially from an upsurge in support for wind and solar energy research and production and that state school’s should work to educate children in a way that makes them competitive for new jobs in the new ‘green’ economy. Learn more about Harry Teague’s education platform by visiting http://www.harryteagueforcongress08.com/issues_education.html. Also, take a look at Bill McCamley’s plans for education by visiting his site at http://www.billmccamley.com/issues/index.php?id=10.

Clinton Scores Key Pennsylvania Victory:

After six weeks of campaigning, Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton concluded a long and hard-fought campaign battle in Pennsylvania, with Senator Clinton earning a solid ten point victory. Pundits had concluded that nothing short of such a convincing margin would have been enough to keep the former First Lady’s hobbled campaign afloat. Advisors for the Obama Campaign reckoned that a surprise victory could have pushed the Illinois Senator over the top. Though an average of polls showed Clinton holding a five point advantage going into Election Day, her effective close secured a win that had the beaming New Yorker claiming in her victory speech that the ‘tide [of the Democratic contest] was turning.”

A Fundraising Surge:

Looking to capitalize on the immediate momentum of her Keystone victory, Clinton appealed on her website for a rush of $5 donations. With many of her key contributors already tapped out at the Federal $2300 contribution limit, courting new donors is seen as instrumental to Clinton’s ability to remain competitive throughout the remainder of the Primary season, which concludes on 01 June with voting in Puerto Rico. Still, raising $2 million in one night and nearly $10 million over the course of one day since her victory certainly bodes well for the New York Senator’s chance to stay afloat.

Harsh Tactics Criticized:

Still, Clinton’s victory did not come without its critics. In a New York Times editorial this morning, the newspaper criticized the Senator for using tactics that were detrimental to voters, her party, and the 2008 election, more generally (take a look at the editorial, ‘The Low Road to Victory’- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/opinion/23wed1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin). The Times rightly claims that each contest in the race to secure the Democratic nomination seems to become more mean-spirited and representative of exactly the type of divisive politics that each candidate claims to oppose so strongly. Citing everything from the Cuban Missile Crisis to 9/11, the article argues, Clinton has looked to up the ante on Obama and portray him as inexperienced at best and insincere at worst. At a time when the Democratic Party needs to come behind one candidate to mount a successful campaign for the White House and get to work in undoing some of the disastrous wrong done by the Bush Administration, Hillary Clinton seems to be playing petty politics in order to claim victory. Kudos to the Times- for her party and for her country, Clinton must change her campaign approach or step aside for Senator Obama.

Aside from citing her questionable campaign tactics, pundits also pointed out that Senator Clinton has little chance of catching Obama in the race for pledged delegates (see MSNBC Political Chief Chuck Todd’s thoughts on the delegate race- http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/). Indeed, her only hope of securing the nomination is winning the overwhelming support of so-called ‘superdelegates’, which include party leaders and office holders from each state. Amongst these officials, too, Clinton’s margin has narrowed. At the outset of the race, it was a foregone conclusion that superdelegates would swoon to the Clinton campaign out of loyalty to the party’s ‘first family’. However, the recent defections of Governor Richardson and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, both of whom served in the Clinton Cabinet and have had close ties to the former president and Hillary for years, Senator Clinton’s lock amongst superdelegates has become anything but secure. Just today, Obama announced the addition of two superdelegates to his total (Audra Ostergard of Nebraska and Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry), while Clinton added Rep. John Tanner of Tennessee.

Democratic Split?

Pundits speculate, and some Democrats worry, that if Clinton somehow won the support of enough superdelegates to overturn Obama’s still commanding lead amongst pledged delegates, it would earn the wrath of Obama diehards and split the party heading into November. While it remains to be seen whether or not such a turn of events would lead some Democrats to turn their back on their party’s nominee and risk another four years of a GOP White House, the idea of party elites reversing the will of the common voter would certainly reflect poorly on the party and its claims to represent the will of everyday citizens.

McCain’s Misstep:

If you didn’t catch news of Republic Senator and presumptive president nominee John McCain’s recent foreign policy blunder, I’m not surprised- further confirming the media’s adoration of the maverick lawmaker, news of the event went largely uncovered. Speaking to reporters during a recent trip to Iraq, McCain stated three times that it was common knowledge that Al Qaeda (Sunni) was receiving significant support from the Iranian government (Shia). Never mind that the comment was woefully inaccurate (animus between Shia and Sunni extremists is on par with that held by both sects towards the Western World), it came in McCain’s alleged area of expertise: foreign affairs.

Looking toward a potential Obama-McCain match-up in November’s general election, many have voiced concern over Obama’s perceived inexperience on the issue of foreign policy. Indeed, the Clinton Campaign has cited this issue as a powerful example of an area where the Illinois Senator would get pounded by his elder colleague from Arizona. The reality that McCain made such a basic, eye-opening mistake on three separate occasions before being corrected by Senator Joseph Lieberman, who is a McCain supporter and accompanied on his trip, indicates that the presumed advantage the Arizona Senator has over Obama on foreign affairs is much thinner than previously imagined.

Carter Strikes Accord with Hamas; McCamley Gaffes on Fireworks; Oil Hits Record High

President Carter's Progressive Diplomacy Triumphs in the Middle East, Casts Dark Shadow on Bush Zero Dialogue Policy:

Over the course of a single meeting, former President Jimmy Carter achieved more in the way of Middle East peace than President Bush has in over seven years in office. Speaking with 12 leading officials from the Palestinian militant cum political group, Hamas, Carter secured a statement from the group saying that it would be willing to agree to a 10 year cease fire with Israel if the Jewish state returned to internationally recognized borders established before the 'War of 1967' (also knows as the '6 Days War'). The move is significant as, for the first time, Hamas frontman Khaled Meshall publicly offered a 'truce if Israel withdraws to the [internationally recognized] 1967 borders, a truce of 10 years as an alternative to recognition." While the agreement comes up short of Hamas' official recognition of Israel's right to exist, it goes a long way in clearing the way for a two-state solution, which is something that President Bush's policy of zero dialogue with Hamas has failed to secure.

Speaking to NPR reporters early on Monday, Carter humbly described his role in the process, deflecting praise and claiming that all he had done was sit down for an open and honest discussion with Hamas, which controls a majority of seats in the Palestinian Authority's parliament. Carter posed his questions to the group in writing, so as to avoid any ambiguity in their meaning. He also criticized Israel and the White House for their unwillingness to negotiate with Hamas. 'The problem is that Israel and the United States refuse to meet with someone who must be involved,' Carter said, speaking to the Israel Council on Foreign Relations.

The White House's response to Carter's announcement was less than ecstatic. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino offered little praise, saying in reference to Hamas that 'actions speak louder than words' and the group has a long way to go in proving its commitment to the peace process. Israeli Prime Minister's response was even more frosty, and the leader refused to meet with Carter in Jerusalem upon the former President's return from Damascus, where he held talks with Hamas leaders.

Despite the chilly response from Washington and Jerusalem, Carter's commitment to open dialogue is admirable, and the results speak for themselves. Hopefully, Hamas' stated desire for a truce with Israel is more than rhetoric and Israel uses this offer as a building block in the quest for a more peaceful Middle East.

McCamley Offers Shortsighted Policy on Fireworks Sales:

More locally, in an op-ed published Sunday in the Las Cruces Sun News, Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley voiced his support for a measure that would allow vendors in the county to sell fireworks to individuals who could prove they lived outside Dona Ana and would use their purchases outside of county limits. McCamley, who is also locked in a tight race with Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague for the Democratic nomination in the race for the open seat in New Mexico's Second Congressional District, said that the measure would directly raise $45,000 for local businesses and that the indirect amount would come near $100,000.

What Commissioner McCamley failed to include in his piece was a reasonable solution to ensure that out-of-towners did not simply purchase fireworks for use by Dona Ana residents, or how to stop sales to those who have recently moved to the county but retain a driver's license from another location. While McCamley is good to point out the important things that over $90,000 in revenue would do for the Dona Ana community, the prospect of ineffective fireworks regulation coupled with a dry, blazing hot Southern New Mexico summer could spell disaster for the area in form of brutal wildfires, which, by the way, would cause damage worth far more than the revenue gained from fireworks sales in the first place.

Oil Prices Reach a New All-time High, Voters Feel Pain at the Pump:

Prices for U.S. light, sweet crude hit a new high today, soaring to nearly $118. With U.S. consumers headed to the polls in just over six months, the skyrocketing cost of gas has become a top concern amongst voters. Candidates who piece together a sensible, far-reaching energy policy, which includes an expanded role for renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric, will likely enjoy success on Election Day. The Land of Enchantment stands to benefit substantially from a new focus on wind and solar energy, and New Mexican voters would be well-advised to support candidates who stresses their platform.

Reporting live from Gallup, this is the New Mexico Progressive. Your comments are, as always, welcomed and encouraged.

An Introduction to the ‘New Mexico Progressive’ and Vision towards Election 2008

Introduction:

This blog is, at its heart, about New Mexican politics. However, its mission is far broader than covering the day-to-day political highlights from the Land of Enchantment. In sum, as its name suggests, this blog will offer commentary on how voters from across our state can begin to take a more active role in the political process that governs their lives and begin to successfully demand more effective, responsible political leadership.

What is Progressive Politics?

The word ‘progressive’ has come to mean many things to many people. Perhaps most commonly, the word has attained a misleading and inaccurate association with liberalism. While it is true that most people who identify themselves as progressive also hold political values that would be categorized as liberal, for this progressive, it means something quite different. To me, progressive means an unrelenting pursuit of the truth, a desire to fully understand all issues and, most importantly, a willingness to work with anyone, regardless of party affiliation, to uncover the realities behind the problems we face and craft real solutions that positively and meaningfully impact people’s lives.

We have come to a disastrous stand-still in terms of our country’s political discourse. In the halls of Congress, lawmakers have stopped truly listening to one another, and, more regrettably, to their constituents. Instead, political leaders make robotic speeches dictated by special interests largely responsible for their continued reelection. Indeed, our elected officials have, in large part, become less interested in crafting good policy than their continued political survival. Politics, in sum, has become more about the elected than those they were elected to serve.

However, we must not, and, for the betterment of our future, cannot, believe that our current climate represents the inevitable and unchangeable evolution of the political process. In fact, there do exist responsible lawmakers amongst us at all levels of government. There are a select few charismatic leaders who transcend the bonds of special interest patronage and speak nobly and passionately for their constituents and their concerns. In order to ensure the election of more of these responsible leaders, who seem to understand the intended purpose of responsive government, we simply must open a more honest discussion about what is going on in our country. In short, progressive leadership requires a progressive electorate. We are the answer we need!

Being a progressive citizen, contrary to popular belief, does not require you to be a left-wing liberal. It simply requires a sincere commitment to bettering your own life and the well-being of those around you. If this sounds like something that you can get behind, then this blog is for you.

A Political Turning Point: New Mexico Approaches Election Day

New Mexico stands at a crossroads. Much like the rest of the country, critical political issues challenge Gallupians in the northwest to their counterparts in Hobbs in the southeast. Folks in the Land of Enchantment struggle daily with the worrisome state of the economy, inability of low- and even middle-income citizens to afford quality health care, a continuing debacle in Iraq, which has claimed the lives of some of our bravest daughters and sons, as well as an ongoing battle over how to best address the country’s immigration issue, which, of course, is of particular importance to our state. As Election Day nears, we seek bold leaders with innovative solutions to our most vexing problems. In truth, however, the best route to creating the political process we desire and deserve rests with us. Indeed, if we begin to hold our candidates and elected officials to a higher standard, a standard that demands of them nothing short of a mastery of the issues about which we care most and a commitment to dialogue with constituents regarding these important issues, then we will finally win the political future that many have dismissed as wishful thinking, but that we know is our rightful prize from effective government.

For these important reasons, I, the ‘New Mexico Progressive’, have launched a blog devoted to inspiring New Mexicans from all backgrounds to care and become better informed about the political process at the local, state, and Federal level. This blog also seeks to empower New Mexicans with a new desire to demand more of elected officials and those running for office. I believe that, for far too long, our political leaders have received a free pass from their constituents. When people become disenchanted with the political process and resolve that there is nothing they can do to make government work for them, elected officials gain the ability to act primarily in their own interests, as well as those of well-paying lobbyists unconcerned with the welfare of the public writ large. This, of course, can and must stop. We have the power to create great political change in New Mexico just by gaining a better understanding of the issues that most impact our lives and learning more about how our elected representatives address them.

On 04 November, 2008, New Mexicans will head to the polls to cast their votes in one of the most important votes of our time. Each of the Land of Enchantment’s three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one of its U.S. Senate seats will be up for grabs. It is no overstatement to assert that the very direction of our state’s political future hangs in the balance. Add to this the critical presidential election, which, after eight years of the Bush Administration, an administration that has created immense political, economic, and military issues that will require nothing short of brilliant political stewardship to remedy, will in many ways decide whether our country becomes an effective and willing partner in the international effort to create a better, sustainable future, or continues to drift off course into a secluded, reactive stance that bolds poorly for our liberty, security, and ability to carry out the very dream upon which our Union was founded.

In these serious times, the urgency of our good judgment is at hand. We must come to know both the issues and candidates that will move us forward, understand how our lives are and can be impacted by government, and use this information to make an informed decision in the best interest not only of ourselves, but of our communities and state.

This blog hopes to play an important role in this process. It will offer commentary on developing political news from New Mexico, as well as across the country, with an aim to help those in our state keep up with issues and leaders important to them and, ultimately, decide responsibly in November. Moreover, this blog will serve as an open forum and offer readers the opportunity to share their opinions, comments, and questions on the issue of the day and your humble blogger’s thoughts thereon. Hopefully, the open exchange of ideas produced by this blog will represent a microcosm of the more open, solution oriented political environment it hopes to create.

The Role of Young People in the Progressive Movement:

Young people, people of my generation, have a special role to play in creating a more progressive political process. For far too long, we have been left out, or, more accurately, left ourselves out, of the highest level of governmental decision making in this country. We are at once deeply concerned with the problems that plague our world, but unwilling to engage in exactly the type of political activism necessary to assuage them. Many folks wrongly assert, however, that young people, in order to increase their say in U.S. politics simply must vote more. While voting represents an absolutely essential element in winning for ourselves more political might, we must also develop better communication with our elected officials and let them know our demands, as well as the issues about which we care most. Issues like the environment, dwindling Social Security, and an educational system on the ropes will all, and, in many ways, already do, critically impact our lives, and we need to take action now to ensure that our elected officials are doing all they can to address these issues effectively.

Join the Ride:

With that said, I enthusiastically invite you to take part in what I hope will become an exciting and influential addition to New Mexico’s political discourse. Read and respond while drinking your morning coffee, or as you slowly drift off to sleep in the evenings. Whatever the case may be, stop by often, and always leave your honest thoughts at the door. The New Mexico Progressive values your opinion and the positive change they can engender. The power of many begins with the power of a few. Off we go!