Let's head out to the media beat this brisk New Mexico Thursday....

The contrast in media coverage of the Martinez administration as we are perch on the doorstep of Campaign '14 was driven home this week.

The Santa Fe New Mexican came with a report on that early battle between State Senator and Dem Guv hopeful Howie Morales and Martinez political adviser Jay McCleskey. The lead read like this:

Two gubernatorial candidates are using the state Inspection of Public Records Act to bludgeon each other. Sen. Howie Morales of Silver City, a Democrat running for governor, and Gov. Martinez’s political consultant, Jay McCleskey, have filed formal public records requests seeking each other’s emails and other public information.

A McCleskey/Martinez political operative has already attacked the New Mexican for alleged bias in its early campaign coverage, but it's not an opinion that we're hearing shared by objective observers.

Longtime journalist Sherry Robinson writing for the New Mexico News Service also surfaced with some follow-up to that explosive National Journal portrayal of McCleskey and Martinez. Here's her take as seen in the Carlsbad Current Argus and other papers:

We do differ with Sherry's assertion that the power and control McCleskey has exercised over the administration is well-known. Up until now it has been only well-known among the political community. The only in-depth coverage it has received is on this blog and some references in the Santa Fe Reporter. The public at large has been in the dark. But that's now changing.

There has been no electronic media coverage of the relationship outlined in the National Journal and only sparse mention of it in the newspapers. We can think of only one story from the ABQ Journal  that examined the issue in the past three years. That's the one in which private political consultant McCleskey was dubbed "The Fifth Floor." But there was no follow-up in the coming years as to what that meant in terms of state policy and/or official government actions.

THE JOURNAL AND YOU

And about the ABQ Journal. While the New Mexican and columnist Robinson were keying off that National Journal piece and reaction to it, the Journal was reporting:

Gov. Martinez and her recent partnership with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was featured on the cover of a Republican insider magazine that touted the pair as “role models” for the GOP to win over Hispanic voters. That conclusion was featured in the “Ripon Forum,” a quarterly magazine of the Washington-based Ripon Society. The group is directed by an advisory board that includes about 60 current Republican members of Congress.

A "Republican insider magazine" is showcased, but nothing more on the National Journal piece?

Because of coverage like that the Journal has been subjected to increasing criticism among the political classes who believe Martinez is being sheltered and protected by the Journal. Blog reader Larry Brotman is an example, He gave us a copy of a letter he sent to the liberal media watchdog group Media Matters:

Is there any chance you can free some staff to do a little research on a state example of the impact of media bias and blackout? Please see Daniel Libit's story in the National Journal. Very little meaningful coverage of this has been present in the primary New Mexico newspaper or from the three network news stations. The only consistent source of information about this element of the state's gubernatorial administration has been on the blog NM Politics with Joe Monahan.

. . . At a time when a very poor and economically challenged state needs vision and leadership, we face eight years of "win at all costs" partisanship that serves only those with influence, power, and wealth.

HOWIE'S GAP

Mayor Berry's second term opened with the wrong kind of bang--another police shooting that left a suspect in critical condition.

Berry will soon have to decide whether the culture at APD is so damaged that it merits bringing in an outsider as the new police chief to replace Ray Schultz, but City Hall watchers say there are signs that Berry is leaning toward naming interim Chief Allen Banks--a 21 year member of APD--as the permanent chief.

Readers like Richard Flores want Berry to make a break with the past:

Although Allen Banks appears to be one of the "nice guys" at APD, and although he handled the recent shooting spree admirably, we should not forget that he is and has been part of the APD management team that has failed to effectively address internally the rash of police shootings we have witnessed, and will potentially pay for (with our hard earned tax dollars) as the courts continue to litigate lawsuits brought against the city. 

The mayor has hired a national search firm to recruit candidates to lead the troubled department which is under investigation for possible civil rights violations over the many police shootings--fatal and otherwise--that have plagued the department.

But Berry is getting lobbied by the African-American community to name Banks as the first African- American APD chief.

(We said in a first blog draft Tuesday that a Sunday police shooting had taken place a day after Berry was sworn in for his second term. Actually, it happened the same day.)

LOOKING AHEAD

We asked retired APD Seargent Dan Klein, who for a number of years has been watching APD matters for us, to come with his top recommendations for the mayor to have a better police department than he had in his first term:

 First, sign the order bringing back the veteran officer retention bonus. This will stop around 20 or more retirements slated for December 31. Second, do away with the college requirement, or amend it to allow another path for applicants. Allow a 25 year old with a solid work history and no debt to apply with APD. APD is looking for maturity and with age comes maturity. Amend the college requirement now.  Third, work something out with the APOA (union). If Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry can get a 22% raise we should be able to work with the APOA. 

Fourth, hold the command staff at APD accountable for the actions of APD. Look at the news reports and the lawsuits from the last few years. Clearly, something is wrong with the culture at APD and Mayor Berry needs to ditch the nice guy image and start playing hardball with people at APD who think adultery is just “nature at play” and crime scene security applies to everyone but them. Hold the command staff accountable..

Klein has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

SUSANA AND SEXISM

Trujeque

Push back now on Governor Martinez's assertion that the National Journal piece on her and political adviser Jay McCleskey was sexist and racist.

Democrat Duffy Rodriguez who worked for Martinez in the Dept. of Finance and Administration penned an op-ed for the ABQ Journal supporting the argument, but reader and Democrat Theresa Trujeque says the Governor needs to look at her own actions before leveling such charges:

As a Hispanic woman, I find it incredulous that Governor Martinez is saying that the article smacks of racism and sexism. Let me see, was it not Governor Martinez, the first female Governor of New Mexico who abolished the Commission on the Status of Women? That office helped low-income Hispanic women find good paying jobs and offered them the training to go out in the workforce. 

 Also, isn't she the Hispanic Governor who wants to abolish driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants? Was it not the Secretary of State--getting orders from the Governor's office--who claimed that the state voter file was full of those same illegal immigrants? They may not have said illegal immigrants but that was what they implied. 

 So racism and sexism? I think not. She needs to look at her actions before she starts laying those claims on others.

The Guv's office also called the National Journal article "a tabloid piece," to which we responded that the National Journal is not the National Enquirer. And a reader chimes in:

Joe, About your reference to the National Enquirer. Remember, it was the Enquirer that broke the love child scandal  about would-be President John Edwards. And long before that they broke the news of  the scandal about Gary Hart's extra martial affairs--another would-be president. Not bad for a tabloid. 

Not bad at all.

Reader Jeff Varela gets the final word on all this:

Does Duffy really think that we believe that Gov. Martinez was the creator of "the historic and complicated tax bill" passed in the 2013 legislative session? She also draws comparisons with President Obama and his use of political advisers. Please, Martinez is not on that stage yet! And if Jay McCleskey is "smart, honest, and provides invaluable insight" then he shouldn't need a government bureaucrat like Duffy Rodriguez to defend his prized pupil, Governor Martinez.

IT'S THE ECONOMY

It's not sexism the state's chief executive has to worry about. It is the incessant drumbeat of sour economic news that trails her wherever she goes. The latest:

According to CoreLogic, New Mexico was the only state to show a decline in home prices from October 2012 through October 2013. The firm’s Home Price Index said including distressed sales, New Mexico home prices fell 0.5 percent. Excluding distressed sales, the state’s home prices rose 3.1 percent. Nationally, the average home price increased 12.5 percent including distressed sales, and was up 11 percent excluding distressed sales.

Not much about economics is simple, but some things are. Decent paying jobs create demand for houses. Demand for houses increases prices.

You don't need a degree from the John Arthur Smith Deming School of Economics to know that.

TOUTING NM

Tourism Sec. Jacobson

The state may be looking unattractive to those seeking to move in here and set up businesses, but the Tourism Department says it is still attractive for those wanting a quick visit. The problem? Not many of those visitors want to come back a second time:

Just under 30 percent of New Mexico visitors last year said they intended to return. That’s compared with nearly 48 percent of tourists in Colorado, Arizona and Utah who say they intend to return to those states. These figures are based on surveys by Longwoods International. Two major sets of New Mexico tourists--young people and people from California--have low rates of “intend to return.”

We and others banged the table to get an increase in the state tourism advertising budget. We got it and it appears to have worked some, but we still lag neighboring states.

If an examination of the tourism department's numbers don't call into question their accuracy, tourism secretary Jacobson would seem in fairly good shape to win another increase in the state advertising budget. The hundreds of small businesses and their employees that depend on visitors are watching closely.

Meanwhile, what can the state do to assist in providing a better tourist experience so out-of-state visitors so they will want a second round of enchantment?

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2013. Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Berry & interim APD CHief Banks (Journal)

ABQ Mayor Berry's second term was ushered in on an ominous note. On the same day as his December 1 inauguration ABQ police shot and fatally wounded a suspect, bringing to the fore the issue that could haunt Berry in the years ahead and become an obstacle to his political ambitions--costly lawsuits over police shootings.

The Berry police department was so plagued with fatal police shootings the US Department Justice came to town to investigate. It is still investigating. ABQ police have been involved in nearly three dozen officer involved shootings--many of them fatal--since Berry took office in December 2009.

We have had a pause in the shootings--most of which took place in Berry's first two years in office--and the shooting this weekend involved a suspect police say has a criminal record--as did nearly all the other shootings. That helped keep the public in Berry's corner as he sought and won re-election in October.

But Republican Berry got a big red flag when in May an ABQ jury awarded $10 million in damages to the family of an Iraq war veteran who was shot and killed during a 2010 stand off.

How many lawsuits are ultimately filed and their final cost will be a lasting legacy of this Mayor.

DITCH "THE PLAN?"

Speaking of legacies, now that the Democrats have taken control of the ABQ City Council with a 5 to 4 majority, don't expect Berry's "ABQ: The Plan" to advance much. That's the word from a number of city councilors. The plan--never effectively branded for the public--has had lukewarm support even from Republican councilors.

At Monday night's council meeting Democrat Ken Sanchez was elected the council's president for the coming year, just as our City Hall Alligators predicted he would be. GOP Councilor Dan Lewis was named head of the budget committee. Neither councilor is especially close to Mayor Berry and both are eyeing mayoral runs in 2017. That should make things a bit more interesting than they have been.

As for that ongoing debate over the controversial roundabout proposed for the intersection of Rio Grande and Candelaria in ABQ's NW Valley, the Journal's Dan McKay reported from the council meeting:

The proposal to halt the roundabout at Rio Grande/Candelaria failed on 7-2 vote. So its future is unclear, but the council is not halting the project.

The final decision now appears to be in the hands of North Valley Dem City Councilor Ike Benton who has been wishy-washy on where he stands. But now it's time for him to stand up.

MORE FALLOUT

B Wayne Hughes Jr.

The fallout from the National Journal expose of Governor Martinez and her political adviser Jay McCleksey continues. It's like ash that slowly drifts from the skies after an explosion.

One of Martinez's more fervent financial backers took to his Twitter account to note his concern over the piece that showed McCleksey as a "shadow Governor" and Martinez his willing pawn.

What we and many of our readers have described as "breakthrough" reporting from the National Journal on the Martinez administration is being dismissed by the Governor's office as nothing more than "a tabloid piece. . . .an effort to push the offensive and sexist narrative that the first Hispanic female Governor in the country can't think for herself."

Let's take a deeper look.....

Well, the National Journal is not the National Enquirer. The lengthy piece describing the inordinate power Martinez has ceded to her political adviser Jay McCleskey and raising questions about how he may have misused that power is going to be the starting point for the national media if and when Martinez attempts to become a serious national political player--not just a symbol who raises millions of dollars because of her status of being the first Hispanic female Governor.

She may believe the revealing 5,400 word article is "tabloid" but one supposes Sarah Palin and Dan Quayle--other would-be vice-presidents who were also called to account--had similar feelings about similar articles about them.

No doubt the Guv was hoping that the mostly friendly local media would keep the National Journal article under wraps, but those days are gone.

The piece went viral on the net in New Mexico and in political circles around the nation, forcing the Martinez-supportive ABQ Journal to take a look. However,  it did not do so in a news story--but in an opinion column, sending the signal that for the local paper there wasn't any hard news in the piece.

In dismissing the notion that there was no news here, the paper's columnist said that when last year the paper asked Martinez about McCleskey's power "she bristled at the notion that he is running the state."

THE DIFFERENCE

The difference between the National Journal and the ABQ Journal is that the DC-based publication did not take Martinez's denial of McCleskey's shadow governor status at face value. They investigated and came up with new information, including about possible bid-rigging on the controversial Downs at ABQ racino lease.

The article also noted how most, if not all. of the Governor's political hires are close associates of McCleskey's and how McCleskey was said by a former Martinez fund-raiser to have set up shop in a small room right next to Susana's office. And there was much, much more--including new campaign finance information that raised numerous questions.

For the first time the mainstream media--via the National Journal--seriously raised the question of whether a private political operative is basically running the executive branch of the New Mexican government and backed it up by with evidence warranting continued investigation and journalistic inquiry.

As for that implied diss by the ABQ Journal that the National Journal used anonymous sources, what are they supposed to do when the political community ripples with fear at the mention of McCleskey's name because they justifiably fear retribution?

Also, the author of the article, Daniel Libit, pushed back against the Governor's office which claimed that "the former top aide" quoted four times for the story was Jamie Estrada, the short-lived campaign manager for Susana who has been indicted on felony charges for intercepting emails from Martinez's campaign account. Libit says Estrada was not the top aide quoted.

The last thing the ABQ Journal needs to do, as one of our Legal Beagles put it, is to "act like a sore loser."

How many sources does the Journal suspect it can get to go on the record if  it took the bold path and asked controversial questions about McCleskey and a shadow government? Will they try?

In this day and age no one entity controls the flow of information. The full story will continue to come out--perhaps slower around here--but come out it will.

UNANSWERED QUESTION

McCleskey

It was interesting to note the response of the Governor's campaign to the request by Dem Guv hopeful and state Senator Howie Morales for any and all emails and any other communications McCleskey has had with 14 state agencies and divisions.

Morales has filed that request under the Inspection of Public Records (IPRA). The Guv's campaign spokesman Danny Diaz had this retort:

The governor's office has been crystal clear that Jay McCleskey is an important member of the political team, is not paid with tax dollars and never had an office in the Roundhouse,"

But what of McCleskey's influence on official government policy? How engaged is the "political team" in that? Are there any emails or other communications from Jay to government agencies, Danny?

Since you and your boss have pledged the most transparent administration ever, why not just disclose any emails or other communications, or are there none? Can you be "crystal clear" about that?

It's not as if McCleskey is a government employee subject to transparency. His consulting firm can have any number of clients the public doesn't know about. Do they get a seat at the table of government by virtue of being clients of the "Shadow Governor?" That's a question not an accusation, one that begs for further examination.

It could be many months before Morales' IPRA request gets any attention, if history is any guide.

SUSANA AND SEXISM

It's annoying to see the Governor's spokesman assert that tough and fair reporting on the administration from a respected national publication without any apparent axe to grind is driven by sexism and racism and intentionally designed to make her look as though she can't think for herself.

The Governor and McCleskey have a deeply disturbing habit of  dismissing journalists, bloggers or nearly anyone (i.e. school teachers, legislators) who disagree with them as being driven by sinister motives and then attempting to discredit them by attacking their character and motives. Nixonian? You decide.

They may be biting off more than they can chew when they dish their dirt in DC to national media, but one supposes with the millions of dollars they have stashed away in their campaign accounts, a certain arrogance and invincibility surrounds their cocoon (as well as some fear).

If the Governor seriously believes she is a victim of sexism (and racism) and as a result is being wrongfully portrayed as some kind of airhead, why doesn't she stand for critical, no-holds-barred interviews? For example, why not sit down and show her stuff in a statewide TV interview with "New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan." Or NBC"s "Meet the Press" for that matter.

The problem is this Governor has wanted to pose as a national political figure, raise millions of dollars for herself and her party but not pay the price of scrutiny. Instead she deflects comprehensive reporting and questioning by suiting up in the convenient armor of sexism and racism.

That does put an Anglo dominated media in a blatantly unfair position but if the Governor thinks it is going to hold the dogs at bay, she's wrong.

Perhaps in response to her charges the national media will continue to turn their sights on McCleskey--who is neither Hispanic or female--but who does appear to be the quasi-Governor.

DUFFY'S DANCE

McCleskey trotted out former state deputy finance director Duffy Rodriguez--a Democrat--who worked for the Martinez administration--to try to debunk the reports that he is essentially running the executive branch. In an ABQ Journal op-ed piece, Rodriguez claims that other governors and presidents have had advisers akin to McCleksey. Yes, they have had advisers with lots of muscles--but in just about all the cases they are on the government payroll and subjected to transparency requirements. Think Dave Contarino, chief of staff and political adviser to Governor Richardson.

Then there was Duffy telling us that State Senator John Arthur Smith--one of the Senate's "Martinez Democrats" will vouch for Susana's intellectual agility on tax policy. As one of our readers put it, "I find it ironic that Duffy--who says Susana's critics are not giving her enough credit (because Duffy thinks Susana is strong and independent of McCleskey) feels the need to use a man to support her claims."

Rodriguez pointed to the disgruntled sources as guilty of sexism--not at the National Journal--which the Governor's office included in their indictment.

Political insiders are not unaware of Duffy's dancing with Jay and the gang. She left the administration a year ago. Here's some of what was reported at the time:

. . . .She also knew how to exercise her influence. Last November, Rodriguez sent an email from her Yahoo account to the private email accounts of Keith Gardner, the governor’s chief of staff, and Jay McCleskey, the governor’s political adviser, who is not a government employee. The email made references to New Mexico Public Education Department Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera and an “Abbey”—most likely Legislative Finance Committee Director David Abbey. “She hates me but that’s OK,” Rodriguez wrote of Skandera. “I made it clear my whole end game was to protect the Governor on all this kind of stuff and let the Governor propose what she wants and the way she wants and not have it dictated by Abbey et. al.”

So Duffy claims in a public opinion piece that Jay is just a run-of-the-mill adviser, yet she plays footsie with him about government policy on back channel email accounts?

 Duffy, like my friend Alley the Alligator says, "We heard you the first time."

FIGHT ON THE RIGHT

We noted last week the concern expressed by ABQ Pastor Dewey Moede about Governor Martinez's decision not to take a public stand on the recent ABQ election calling for a ban on late-term abortions. That anti-abortion referendum failed.

Moede's criticism of Martinez is answered by Martinez supporter and blog reader Kimothy Sparks:
Art Ortega loved radio and Albuquerque. We're not sure in what order because he did a great deal for both. His passing as the result of a heart attack Thanksgiving morning had both newcomers and old-timers coming out of  the woodwork to praise his lifelong dedication to broadcasting and his community.

Retired talk radio pioneer Mike Santullo, who worked with Ortega at KKOB-AM radio, said: "Art was the consummate radio professional. He was "old school" radio and a guy who literally lived and breathed radio. He was involved in every aspect of the business from air talent to advertising to programming."

Radio talker Jim Villanucci, a top ABQ talent who left KKOB this year for Oregon, remarked:

"He was a great mentor, he got me out of some tough spots. One of the funniest people I ever knew. A huge heart and one of the first people to call me when I was going through a tough time. 

Art held forth at 50,000 watt 770 KKOB-AM when that station was the unquestioned radio powerhouse. He was well-known in the political community for handling the station's political ads. He worked along side his wife Lynda, who also has had a long radio career. Ortega's father--Arturo Ortega-- -was a founder of the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Art Ortega was 67. Services are pending, with updated information here.

ROUND THE ROUNDABOUT

It's back/ The roaring controversy over the proposed roundabout for the intersection of Rio Grande and Candelaria NW is taken up yet again tonight by the ABQ city council. This is the new council, however, and one now controlled by Dems, not R's. Area resident, roundabout opponent and journalist Dan Vukelich says:

The Rio Grande roundabout debacle in my neighborhood is back before the City Council, possibly for the last time before asphalt starts being torn up to build it. The rationale is as specious as it was months ago. Many in the news media have seen the whole roundabout story as a pissing match among the members of the entitled North Valley elite. Maybe that's true, but it spells bad news ahead for how we justify spending taxpayer dollars. Sadly, this may be enough to drive me back into news and covering politics.

Come on back in, Dan. The water's fine...

THE BOTTOM LINES

A reader writes:

Joe, The altered audit report received by State Auditor Hector Balderas came from the New Mexico Human Services Department, not the federal "Health and Human Services Department" as you stated in your blog. The two agencies are often confused.

Yes, we did confuse them and have corrected the error. Also, we misspelled Pastor Dewey Moede's last name on the Friday blog. That has also been corrected.

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Hey, what's with all the news? Bloggers need time to have their turkey, too. Okay, we know we're blessed year round with abundant turkeys, courtesy of our beloved La Politica. So it's off to the action now as we all prepare to break for the holiday...

The religious right is taking notice of that harsh National Journal article about the Governor's political adviser Jay McCleskey. As a result they're creating some headaches for Susana.

Dewey Moede, the pastor of ABQ's For God's Glory Alone Ministries," sent the lengthy article to his followers, explaining his discontent with McCleskey this way:

. . . .As it stands right now I will vote for her in the next election. But I cannot help but wonder if McCleskey is one of, if not the the main reason, Governor Martinez did not take a stand against late-term abortion in Albuquerque, a tougher stand on same sex marriage and other conservative issues. 

Christians from all over America were saddened to hear that Governor Martinez, the one who they cheered at the Republican National Convention, failed to support the late-term abortion ban. This is an interesting read from The National Journal on McCleskey’s influence on the Governor. 

Five Dems are competing for their party's Guv nomination in the June primary. Martinez has no Republican primary challenger. It's expected to stay that way but the Guv has to be a bit on edge about the turmoil being reported over her and Jay in her own party.

Filing day for Governor is February 4th and until then Martinez and McCleskey will keep a close eye on not only the Dems but also on any wayward Republicans who might want to complicate matters.

BEATABLE OR UNBEATABLE?

In the aftermath of the fall-out over the National Journal piece, the Dems are trying to reverse the conventional wisdom that Martinez is unbeatable. They had the same problem with the re-election campaign of ABQ GOP Mayor Berry whose campaigns have also been run by McCleskey. While there was a buffet of bad economic news, voters who showed up did not blame it on the mayor. He was re-elected in a landslide.

Now a year before the election Martinez faces similar circumstances. The economy is stagnant and the state continues to draw poor reviews. The latest comes from the website 24/7 Wall Street. It says its "extensive" survey puts NM 49th on the list of "Worst Run States in America:"

New Mexico was among the worst 10 nationwide for violent crime, high school graduation rates among adults, and health insurance coverage. More than one in five residents lived below the poverty line in 2012, worse than all states but Mississippi. Last year, state GDP grew by just 0.2%, worse than all but a handful of states.

The Dem challenge, as it was in the mayor race, is to connect the bad news directly to the Guv.

We're picking up on some more of the threads left from that sprawling National Journal article on Guv political adviser Jay McCleskey. One of them takes us to the dark money group "NM Competes."

We were first to raise questions about it's relationship to the Governor and McCleskey--and for obvious reasons. The director is Sara Lister, a former deputy cabinet secretary for the Governor and its board of directors are all close associates of McCleskey's.

Under the rules establishing NM Competes--a nonprofit which is allowed to keep its donors and detailed expenditures anonymous--it isn't  permitted to coordinate with the Governor's re-election campaign run by McCleskey. Such coordination is notoriously difficult to prove but in the National Journal piece former Martinez fundraiser Andrea Goff says point blank that the Governor told her that McCleskey who does all her campaign media--would also be running the dark money group. From the article:

McCleskey has publicly denied any involvement with the group, but several sources say they've encountered evidence to suggest otherwise. Goff says that Martinez, in a telephone conversation earlier this year, specifically told her that McCleskey was launching it. (Through her spokesman, Enrique Knell, Martinez denied any involvement in the group.) 

And in early 2011, McCleskey sent an email to another former Martinez operative calling (c)(4)s the "vehicles we'll use." Sara Lister has a long history with McCleskey. Pat Rogers (the state GOP's national committeeman) and Rich Beeson (the former political director for Romney's 2012 presidential campaign) are both on the board. Beeson worked with McCleskey at the RNC; Susana PAC and the governor's campaign have routinely used the Minnesota-based voter-contact firm FLS Connect, where Beeson was a partner.

One other angle: we've received reader reports that the media should look at the physical proximity of the NM Competes offices and those of McCleskey's.

Another story we first broke also received treatment in the National Journal piece--Governor Martinez's snub of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer when she appeared at a NM GOP fund-raiser hosted by businessman Tom Tinnin and former NM GOP Chair Harvey Yates which she had a falling out with. The Governor denied our report that it was a "snub" and told the newspaper she had a scheduling conflict. But

 An email obtained by National Journal appears to be part of an effort by McCleskey to get the Republican Governors Association to convince Brewer to cancel. "He's not a uniter, not somebody who tries to bring people together," says the current state GOP chairman, John Billingsley (who did not leak the email), in his most direct public criticism to date. McCleskey declined to comment directly on the incident.

We saw that same email before we blogged the Guv's snub. Meanwhile, Martinez attended a fund-raiser for the Arizona Republican Party this month. AZ reader Kathryn Carroll notes that the photos released of the event had Jan Brewer nowhere insight.

WHAT NOW?

Lots of email and comments on our Monday blog on the big NM political story of Jay and Susana. What now? A number of readers came with a response to that question including reader Carroll:

Clearly there is now not just a little chink in the armor  and it may now be split wide open, How difficult will it be for Susana and Jay to put the genie back in the bottle? Bill Richardson is probably smiling from ear to ear.

As for "What Now?"---a few thoughts come to mind.  #1 is how will this be received by the national and local media, who have lavished Martinez with accolades. Until now, none took the time to do the real investigative reporting which Mr. Libit did. I have noted with interest that neither the Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo, or even Politico have picked up on it. It may be a little early, but each of those outlets will eventually reprint it in some fashion. But what will the pro-Martinez ABQ Journal do with it--ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist? The only major NM outlet to have referenced it so far is the Santa Fe New Mexican.

The big question, of course, is will the leadership of the NM Democratic Party and their candidates use it against her in the campaigns? Are there enough combined backbones among the whole lot to use it? While there have been a few responses from some who would like to have her job, there is still no significant response from the party chairman. I am beginning to think that the state chair, Mr. Bregman, is MIA, or doesn't read anything.

As for what the Governor will do, my prediction is that she will do nothing about her political operative. She will probably be highly impressed that she is perceived to have nabbed the next Karl Rove and consider it a brilliant move that she chose him to advise her. Like she has done in the past, she will blow it off as just another liberal hate piece because she needs him. 

Regardless of the reactions, pro and con, there is one thing I believe we can count on, and that is if she is still occupying the Governor's mansion and Jay McCleskey is still around in 2016, her name is not likely to be on the short VP list of whomever the Republican nominee is for President. The debacle of the McCain selection for his running mate will not be forgotten, and the reference to Governor Martinez being Sarah Palin with a Hispanic name would surface again very quickly.

Keen insights, Kathryn. Thanks for them.

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A 5,400 word missive on the life and times of the state's most controversial and powerful political player landed on the Land of Enchantment Friday, shaking the terra firma with such force that observers immediately wondered if it will permanently alter the political landscape.

It certainly changed forever the life of Jay McCleskey and perhaps that of his benefactor, Governor Susana Martinez.

The anticipated article from the National Journal on McCleskey--known variously as the "Shadow Governor," the "Fifth Floor" or the "Karl Rove of New Mexico"--lived up to its hype.

It was a smash hit in the political community where it began circulating in thousands of email boxes and on Twitter and Facebook accounts in the early morning hours. It was a bomb with McCleskey and his acolytes who have held power with a tight grip for three years, not hesitating to use a toolkit packed with the implements of intimidation and deployed without restraint on anyone who dared blocked their path.

If there has been a man more feared or loathed in New Mexican politics in the past 50 years, we can't remember it. You could almost hear the sighs of relief from his many foes as he was finally unmasked but in a fair and temperate manner that hung its hat on the raw truth. And, oh my, how the truth hurts.

The article from the venerable, nonpartisan DC-based National Journal--read widely and deeply among America's political leadership and intelligentsia--was so exhaustive and left in its wake so many political and legal threads--that it was like someone kicked over a basketful of snakes. You could only watch with wonder and amusement as they slithered in all directions. It will be impossible for the Governor and McCleskey to put them all back in the basket. The best they can hope for is to contain the most poisonous among them.

It's true--as a number of readers pointed out--that much of what was revealed to the nation about McCleskey and the state of New Mexico politics has been reported or alluded to on this blog. Obviously, we're pleased to see our rigorous and mostly lonely blogging on McCleskey's questionable activities and the unprecedented accumulation of governmental power by a political consultant confirmed and vindicated.

But this piece by Chicago-based writer Daniel Libit was chock full of new revelations, exhaustively researched and reported and packaged in a form that delivered the high impact that only American journalism practiced at its highest levels is capable of.

Now about those snakes. Let's start chasing some...

THE DAMAGE DONE

Let's start with the obvious. The article was extremely damaging to Martinez on the national level (as well as McCleskey). That it centered on Republican discontent with McCleskey--not Democrats--is  the blow that knocked her to the canvas.

That it is revealed that she is essentially a figurehead who has ceded just about all of her power to McCleskey is another sharp right to the jaw. And her Sarah Palinesque aura--not quite knowing all she should--completed the definition of her as a poseur--a pretender--not anywhere near vice-presidential. Heck, not even gubernatorial. The charade has ended. If she wants back in, she has mucho work ahead of her.

Even if the casual reader did not delve deeply into the content, they were greeted with this damning headline:

"The Man Who Discovered Susana Martinez Could Also Be Her Downfall"

That was surely enough to catch the attention of Governor Christie and his aides and that of Senator Rand Paul or any of the other would-be Republican presidential nominees. It also raised eyebrows and more questions for the national press gaggle that specializes in all things presidential. The story was widely distributed by national reporters via social media.

Suddenly, a small packet of pixels had Susana's place on the list of VP contenders dropping as fast as a penny thrown off the Empire State Building. She went into free fall and if she's going to reverse it, someday she will have to do something about her McCleskey problem. It's simply too bothersome for a possible president or his operatives to deal with.

Unlike her, the Prez contenders aren't joined at the hip with McCleskey. Susana would need a surgeon practiced in separating Siamese Twins to rid herself of Jay. But in Washington, dropping troublesome operatives is done as casually as bursting a pimple on a nose.

Many of you in the bleacher seats are saying, "So what, Joe?" Susana never really has had a chance to be on a national ticket. It's a fantasy manufactured by Jay."

You have a point if you feel that way, but if Susana doesn't share your view and believes in life after Santa Fe--and really has fire in the belly for some kind of slot on the national scene--she is going to have to do something about McCleskey. He's now so radioactive in DC that they'll grab for their Geiger counters when he rolls down K Street.

ROT AT THE TOP

Susana's national aspirations--fantastical or not--are not her immediate concern. What is, of course, is her forthcoming campaign for re-election next November. This article lighted up the skies far brighter than any of the five Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls have thus far and it's an open question if any of them will effectively use it and the revelatory information it contains to break out of the pack.

Gary King was first to react, condemning the McCleskey behavior detailed in the article as "unethical" and as proof that Martinez "had abdicated" her office to a "vindictive" McCleskey.

Dem hopeful Allan Webber dubbed the revelations in the National Journal as The Rot at the Top.

Lawrence Rael chimed in: "(It's) time for New Mexicans to look. . . closer at the man behind the myth of Martinez."

State Sen. Linda Lopez came with this:

Thanks to the article, we have sources close to her operation detailing how Jay McCleskey is empowered to dictate policy, influence contracts, and keep millions of dollars in dark money well-cloaked and at an arm’s length from the governor, who can, politically, legally and conveniently feign ignorance.

State Senator Howie Morales, also a Dem Guv candidate, did not make a statement on the explosive article.

Attorney General King also said the conventional wisdom that Martinez is unbeatable was trashed by the damning article. Maybe, but that's going to have to be put to the test. And it's going to take a lot of money--a commodity about as plentiful in the Democratic camp as snowballs in Palm Springs.

THE LEGAL PERIL

Andrea Goff

King did not call for a formal investigation of McCleskey's questionable handling of campaign money, the Achilles Heel that now seems to ache for attention. Maybe that's because there's good reason to believe there is an active federal investigation underway on that topic as well as one on the down and dirty lease deal for the Downs at ABQ racino.

Regarding the latter, former Martinez fund-raiser Andrea Goff dropped a bombshell in her interview.

She revealed that she received incriminating text messages from McCleskey after her father-in-law, Buster Goff, joined with other members of the State Fair Commission and voted to delay approving the controversial 25 year Downs racino lease.

"Buster screwed us. . . .He was supposed to pass it." McCleskey said in one text.

Buster Goff later switched his vote and the current Downs owners won the lease over a competitor.

That text and others that Goff turned over to the FBI sent our Legal Beagles barking. To them it was  damning evidence against McCleskey and meant that there indeed had been bid-rigging.

To the Beagles:

The text messages Goff  turned over to the FBI are direct evidence of wrongdoing and are admissible in court. McCleskey's own words implicate not just himself, but through his use of the word "us" the other conspirators in the rigging of the deal. . . .McCleskey's writing that Buster Goff was "supposed to pass it"--is proof of the rigging, and "Buster screwed us" of the conspiracy to rig. 

McCleskey also linked the reason that Goff needed to approve the deal to the impact his failure to do so would have on William Windham, the Martinez campaign donor and an owner of the Downs. That's evidence that the deal was a quid pro quo which is necessary for the prosecution of some but not all federal corruption charges.

McCleskey also discussed ways to conceal additional campaign contributions that Windham attempted to make, but did not because he did not have a vehicle in place to conceal the funds from public scrutiny (conspiracy to commit money laundering, efforts to derive personal benefit, wire fraud, etc).

In response to Goff the Governor's office said: "Andrea Goff is a disgruntled former consultant who is no longer affiliated with the governor, and her wild-eyed accusations have no credibility."

Perhaps a year or so ago that statement would look as strong as reinforced steel. Not today. Not when everyone can see the blood in the water and the steel looking like tin.

MORE LEGAL BEAGLES

We can't certify the certitude of the Legal Beagles, but their barking is noteworthy. Here's some more:

McCleskey's efforts to convince Andrea Goff to work on his behalf "off the books" could be used as pattern and practice evidence to conceal information from disclosure (reinforcing the money laundering). The texts--because they come from McCleskey--are as good from an evidentiary standpoint as if Andrea Goff had been wearing a wire.

The texts revealed by the National Journal from McCleskey to Goff reinforce the collusion in the administration that was depicted in the widely covered Downs emails. That is something the local media has not done. 

While the Feds can take years to bring charges, this article confirms that there is a strong chance that it will eventually happen. Corruption cases are often filed many years after the crimes were committed.

Thanks, Beagle.

JUST AN ADVISER

What stands out in the aftermath of all this is McCleskey's humble public moniker as the Governor's "political adviser."

He is not a government employee and has no official power but he has wielded more of it than anyone--seemingly even the woman elected to the office. He didn't get the nickname "Shadow Governor" for nothing. (Did you read the part where he sets up shop in a little anteroom next to Susana?)

But what of the real Governor--the one who took the oath of office that cold January 1 in 2011? She's an ambitious politician who unhesitatingly hitched her wagon to that of Jay's and now has to do some unhitching. Whether she has come to that conclusion or not, just about everyone else under the sun has. For our codependent Governor, the day of reckoning for the deal she struck with her Svengali draws near. Even Nixon had to dump Haldeman and Ehrlichman.

Will there be a breakup of this symbiotic political duo? It depends. Did the Governor read that National Journal article like a partisan or like the former District Attorney she is? We know she has to be fretting over what the piece did to her political standing among national donors and the national media when it comes to the VP prize. But does she feel threatened by something much more troubling?

There's the ABQ Downs racino wheeling and dealing. Then there's the millions of dollars that have flowed through her SusanaPAC, her re-election campaign and the 2012 Reform NM Now PAC. All of them were led by McCleskey who received hefty commissions from them and who--according to the National Journal--appears to be pulling in some $300,000 a year, not counting advertising commissions.

That's an astounding sum in a little state like ours. And the spending and expense records of these entities may be ripe for exploitation not only by her political opponents but by government and media investigators (We'll save the "NM Competes," the dark money nonprofit entity for tomorrow).

No matter how tight Jay and Susana may be, they are not husband and wife. If and when she sees that her survival interests conflict with his, will she just swallow hard and stay the course? Or will she start to slowly oar away?

Susana Martinez has needed Jay McCleskey in an almost desperate way, so much so that in the words of Harvey Yates, he was allowed to assume extra constitutional power. Now the worm has turned and McCleskey needs Martinez as much as she needs him--not just for a meal ticket--but for protection from the pack of wolves that has taken up residence outside of his "Fifth Floor"office.

THE FLOODGATES

The floodgates are now open in the NM Republican Party. It was not lost on anyone that all the named critics in the National Journal piece were prominent Republicans--and most prominently--former NM GOP Chairman Harvey Yates. And then there was that diss of McCleskey by current NM GOP Chairman John Billingsley. The argument by the McCleskey faction that it was a handful of disgruntled R's was not convincing. An untold number cower in fear.

The outing of McCleskey dilutes the potion he has relied on to keep everyone in line. That potion is equal parts fear and intimidation. Now with the national media--and we assume law enforcement--on high alert for any McCleskey mischief, disgruntled Republicans (and Democrats) have less reason to remain closed mouth in their dislike for the current regime. Not that Martinez is going to draw a Republican primary foe next year, but that prospect has gone from unimaginable to something like highly unlikely.

POSTSCRIPTS....

The perceived invincibility of what one of our readers dubbed "The Machine" has been dented--big time. How much so we will see by the aforementioned actions of GOP critics of Martinez and through any increased bravado by the Dem Guv candidates, at the next legislative session and any further inquires by the national media and law enforcement.

Several readers wondered if we will now get an investigation of allegations that law enforcement has been used to run checks on the license plates of political opponents as well as using the NCIC data base for political purposes. We know it's a story that one TV station was looking into....

Yes, it was strange that McCleskey posed for a series of pictures for the magazine article. The supposed #1 rule of a political consultant is not to become the story....

The author of the National Journal piece--Daniel Libit--was born and raised in ABQ. He graduated from ABQ Academy...