Former Sate Rep. George Buffett pulled off one big political upset at the state GOP convention Saturday, ousting powerful Republican National Committeeman Mickey Barnett, who recently fielded a slate of candiates against fellow Republicans in the June 1 primary. Barnett's candidates scored well, but apparently his aggressive tactics backfired. Also, he helped lead the ouster of former GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham and bad blood was left over from that. Still, even Barnett's rivals expected him to prevail for re-election to the committeeman job which works closely with national party operatives as well as the Bush re-elect campaign.

"It was a revolt," a top Republican told me. "We had a lot of delegates take part. That big turnout hurt Barnett, whose support is a narrow part of the party. I hope this is the beginning of the moderate wing of our party taking things back under control and away from the Barnett faction. The fighting has really hurt us," said our on-the-scene insider.

Barnett lost to Buffett 239-185. Barnett was not at the meeting.

Our insider, speaking from the ABQ Mariott, where the convention was held, also told me that Ronald Reagan's "11th Commandment," 'Thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican,' was another reason for the rejection of the controversial Barnett who is allied with former state GOP chair John Dendahl, who was himself ousted by Gorham, and State Sen. "Lightning Rod" Adair.

Buffett takes over from Barnett after the GOP national convention in September.

We will have more on all this Monday.

The race for the White House in New Mexico remains nip and tuck, according to the latest Zogby interactive poll. It shows The Prez picking up 48.1%, Kerry with 47.7% and independent Ralph Nader at 2.1%. The first Zogby poll had Kerry leading Bush by five points, so Bush has closed the gap, but the race remains tight as the margin of error in the survey is pegged at 4.2%. Bush has a big lead among seniors, while Kerry maintains a large lead over the Prez among younger voters. In both Zogby surveys, the first of which was conducted in mid-May, Kerry is walloping Bush in vote-laden Albuquerque, while Bush maintains his strong lead in the rural areas.

Zogby Interactive respondents were invited to participate from panels of likely voters who have agreed to take part in online surveys. All surveys were completed between Tuesday, June 1 through Sunday, June 6.

PUBLIC TUNES IN TO COKE SCANDAL

U.S Attorney Iglesias
There was plenty of sniffing and snorting on New Mexico talk radio Tuesday, but the listeners were not high on coke. They were showing their anger and disdain over the cocaine scandal that has engulfed Bernalillo County District Court. 770 KKOB-AM Radio in ABQ, NM's largest news-talker, hammered away from dusk to dawn. Veteran Larry Ahrens lit up his phone lines and this web site as he quoted the questions we posed yesterday that cry out for answers.(see below)

Ahrens took a hard-line on Chief Judge John Brennan, arrested for coke possession and possibly DWI, saying Brennan, who has been on the bench for two decades, should lose his retirement benefits if he is convicted the crimes. Ahrens, and most of his callers, also urged a thorough investigation of Brennan and the other judges listed as coke users in a 1998 NM Department of Public Safety secret report which was leaked this week to KRQE-TV's Larry Barker. One caller said 'the feds" should do the job because other investigatory bodies here may be too conflicted. But U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, upon whose shoulders such an investigation could fall, along with the FBI, was not heard calling in to answer that one.

Later in the day, talk jockey Jim Villanucci continued the crusade urging listeners to call politicos and demand action. The
judges and defense attorneys said in that report to be regular cocaine users remain anonymous, except for Brennan who is now addressing his personal demons in rehab in California. One listener told me that an ABQ Metro Court judge called in to assure the audience she was NOT a drug-using judge. But official reaction, outside of GOP State Sen. Kent Cravens, remains eerily silent. Ahrens may have it right when he said voters have the ultimate power, and if officialdom doesn't use theirs, than the voters should and must use theirs.

We take a break here and will be back Monday. Be sure to join us as we are working on several stories you won't find anywhere else. Meanwhile, thanks for all your e-mails and news tips. Keep em' coming and we'll keep coming your way, Have a great weekend.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

You know the old story about cockroaches. If you see one there are sure to be many others hidden away. It takes the cold light of day to force them out. So it is with the widening scandal engulfing the Bernalillo County District Court system and threatening to destroy the credibility of the state's criminal justice system.

According to a state Department of Public Safety investigative report written in 1998 and leaked to veteran investigative reporter Larry Barker of KRQE-TV, at least four of the judges, including the recently arrested John Brennan, were reportedly snorting coke while passing judgment on criminals who came before them. The names of the other three have not been made public nor have the names of the defense lawyers who the report also names as regular coke users. The report, conducted by a task force looking into NM drug-dealing, also states these cocaine using officers of the court consorted with a businessman who was their coke dealer. To top it off, the report traces Brennan's coke use back several decades!

Since the report is six years old it is likely that some of those named in the report are no longer judges. At least hope so. But that doesn't nullify the need for a complete vacuum-cleaning of the district court.

None of this is hot news to the deep political insiders in New Mexico. The rumors have circulated for years and the names of the other judges are familiar to those close to politics. No, we won't speculate. Why? Because it is not our job. But whose job it is and what is going to be done is the job of those who held power when that report was issued in 1998 and those who hold it today and are paid to protect the credibility and fairness of the judicial system. Once again, I am turning this one over to the alligators who continue to surface via e mail with the tough questions facing New Mexico in light of this explosive report.

THE QUESTIONS SOME FEAR

--Will the Judicial Standards Commission do it's job and launch a thorough and independent investigation of the allegedly coke-addled ABQ court system?

--What about the State Supreme Court? It's the highest one we've got. Do the justice's have the courage to come forward and do something, or are they content with their cozy eight year terms and don't want to rock the boat?

--What about the sentences these apparently drug sniffing judges handed down to drug dealing defendants? How can such sentencing, or any of their sentences, be taken seriously? What are the ethical and legal implications?

--What about the judges who have NOT used cocaine while on the bench and were genuinely unaware of what was going on down there? Will they finally stand up and defend their profession by calling for the light of day to be shined on this festering mess? Or is it all about the power and the $89k a year salary?

--What about the District Attorney here? Will she call for a special prosecutor and also urge an independent outside investigation into the cocaine scandal? Is she uncomfortable with the lawlessness that has apparently infected our district court? If a DA ever had the chance to make a lasting mark for the public good, this is it. But it will take guts and the ability not to crack under pressure. Ditto for Attorney General Madrid, the state's highest elected law enforcement official.

--What about those who held power in 1998? The then head of the Department of Pubic Safety and then Attorney General? Were they told of the report? Did they read it? Did they decide to act on it or not act on it, and why?

--What about former Governor Johnson?. Did he see the report or was he briefed on it? Did his administration's support of legalized drugs have any bearing on why the report did not come to light for six long years?

--What about Governor Richardson? Will he step forward and force the rest of the political system to respond to the most serious allegations of criminal behavior leveled against sitting NM judges in living memory? He may be the only one with sufficient moral authority to do so, even though some of the judges and attorneys embroiled in the scandal will be Democrats.

--What about the State Legislature and its numerous attorneys exercising some good old fashioned oversight? How about lawyers Ken Martinez and Michael Sanchez, chairs of the judiciary panels leading the charge? Or, is that not the job of our elected lawmakers who appropriate the millions necessary to keep the courts funded?

--What about the media? Is Larry Barker a lone voice? As Senator Dole once said, "Where's the outrage?" And where's the pages of tough investigative stories that the scandal cries out for? Where are the eloquent editorials calling for steps to restore public confidence in the judicial system? Or is that a job best left to the national media which is unattached to the personalities involved? If so, come on down "60 Minutes," you are needed now more than ever.

--What about the president of the NM Bar Association and the other legal societies such as the Trial Lawyer's Association? Nothing to say? Why not?

WHO WILL LEAD NEW MEXICO?

Watch for more statements from district court judges saying: "That was then, this is now. Or, "He was a wonderful judge, he just had a little failing." If we continue to hear that, then we know the arrogance, the denial, the lack of respect for the voting public and the judicial process they are sworn to uphold and that has given them so much of what they have today is alive and well. It is that pernicious attitude that has been so in evidence in the wake of the Brennan cocaine arrest that so boils the blood of the public.

Ultimately, Governor Big Bill has a decision to make here. He promised sweeping changes in the state and he alone has the political capital and the public's confidence to address the problem and send a clear message that our enchanted land is ready to join the rest of the United States. If he does not, he will be on his way to perpetuating the devil-may-care, politics-as usual attitudes that have so damaged New Mexico's future prospects. That would not be much of a legacy and sure isn't a platform for higher political office.

Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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HARRIET & RAY
It was over before it began. The short-lived battle over who would get named to run for the State House seat left vacant by the untimely death of Ray Ruiz came to an abrupt end over the weekend when Dan Serrano dropped his challenge and endorsed Ruiz's widow Harriet. Insiders report Serrano was stymied in his bid when Bernalillo County Dem Chair Linda Lopez would not accept a handful of proxy votes for Serrano, who had argued that Harriet should get to fill out Ray's unexpired term running until the end of the year, but that the new two year term that voters in the ABQ Westside district will decide in November "belongs to the people."

Serrano supporters say even with the proxy votes he was still a couple of votes shy and decided a fight would not be worth it. Rumors circulated at the meeting of the Democratic Party Central Committee members who made the ballot decision about any involvement of Big Bill in the Ruiz-Serrano contest. But insiders say Bill did not work this one and that Harriet had enough votes from the get-go.

RAMSAY'S REPLACEMENT

One of the most closely watched state senate races in NM is already drawing some early buzz as friends of Republican John Ryan report he is just back from Washington D.C. with about $10,000 freshly raised for his fight against Democrat John Hooker. This one is for the senate seat held by Ramsay Gorham who resigned as chairman of the state GOP and declined to run again for her senate seat after a fierce intra-party duel.

A Republican who has run the numbers in the mainly ABQ North Valley district says the "performance" in that race should run 52 percent R and 48 percent Dem. That means Hooker, an architect who lost his recent re-election bid as Mayor of Los Ranchos, can keep the race in play. The Democratic consultant group, Soltari, is on the job for Hooker.

Ryan is a former legislative aide to Senator Domenici and ex-Congressman Skeen. He revived his old contacts to raise the 10 grand in D.C. Ryan, according to voters in the district, is working it. "He showed up on my doorstep in the Republican primary, even though he was unopposed," one said. Ryan is also a former executive director of the NM GOP under former state chair John Dendahl. Some politicos wonder if Ramsay, who was ousted from her chairmanship by the Dendahlites, will have anything to say in the race one way or the other. And if she does, whether it will have any impact.

OUR NEW SPONSOR SPEAKS: NM LEGISLATIVE REPORTS

Any self-respecting New Mexico political junkie needs to check out NM Legislative Reports. It is the insiders guide to all Roundhouse happenings, and an essential tool to anyone whose business is impacted by lawmakers. Here's a note from NMLR owner Beverly Garcia:

"New Mexico Legislative Reports (NMLR) is published daily during each regular and special session of the New Mexico Legislature. NMLR, New Mexico's leader in legislative tracking tools and services for 23 years, is proud to offer the very best legislative tracking services available anywhere.

Our state-of-the-art web site offers everything that governmental affairs professionals need to effectively monitor legislation."

Thanks Beverly and welcome aboard. I am pleased to have NMLR as our latest sponsor and urge all my readers to check out their offerings. NMLR is an indispensable tool for those serious about monitoring state government action. Just click on the logo to visit.

Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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Long before today's high drama in the state GOP, there was the famous Reagan-Ford split of 1976 that had the Reaganites practically throwing Senator Domenici and then-Congressman Manuel Lujan out of the party. Ford had taken over the presidency after Nixon resigned but Reagan had mounted a stiff challenge to him and the rubber met the road in New Mexico.

The Reagan forces were seen as "far-right" at that time and moderate R's like Domenici and Lujan resisted the conservative changes that were taking hold in the GOP. For their resistance they suffered the humiliation of being shut out as delegates to the state Republican convention.

The Reaganites eventually fell to the Ford forces, but New Mexico Republican Party politics would never be the same with Reagan taking power in 1980. Later, Domenici battled with the Reagan White House over the big budget deficits being piled-up, but the moderates were no match against this rising tide of "conservatism."

Today the battle over NM GOP power seems more about what wing of the party gets contracts and other lucrative opportunities. But back then it was all about ideas and ideology. Sure, there was money involved, but nothing like today. The battle of ideas was much more fun to cover, than the mercenary politics that has taken hold in today's State GOP.

REAGAN AND THE RADIO SCOOP

After 1976 Reagan was in the political wilderness. He had lost the prez nomination, but had his eye on 1980, so he signed up with the now defunct Mutual Radio Network to deliver commentaries. They were carried locally on KZIA radio where Mike Santullo was news director. I was with KRKE radio when I met up with Santullo at the Amfac (now Wyndham) hotel near the airport to take in a Reagan speech. Reagan spoke but was not taking any questions from reporters. But Santullo and I were determined so we chased down Reagan as he was getting into his limo and yelled questions, but he paid us no heed. That is until Santullo reached in his radio bag and whipped out a Mutual radio logo and stuck it on his microphone. Reagan eyed that and he immediately softened and gave us a brief interview. Reagan, a longtime spokesman for GE in his early days, obviously prized company loyalty. And on that day there were two young radio reporters who were glad he did.

ABQ TRIBUTE TO REAGAN

Bernalillo County Sheriff and longtime Reagan admirer Darren White tells us a memorial and tribute will be held Tuesday, June 8 to honor the late President. The ceremony will be held at 7:00 PM on Civic Plaza in downtown ABQ and will be open to the public. For more information, contact Darren at dpwhite38@msn.com.

MILES AND WERTHEIM: TAKE TWO

A campaign spokesman for congressional candidate Miles Nelson is shooting down a report (see June 4 below) that Democratic Party Chair John Wertheim used his persuasive powers on Nelson Election Night in order to get him to go over to the victory party of Richard Romero at La Posada in Downtown ABQ and raise Richard's arm in a victory salute.

According to Nelson's campaign: "Miles agreed to go to Romero's victory party before he gave his concession speech to a crowd of cheering supporters There was absolutely NO arm twisting involved. It took a while to get away from the supporters wishing him well, but finally we left."

A source close to the action maintained that Wertheim had to sweet-talk Miles into the endorsement. That was pretty believable since Nelson and Romero practically came to blows during a final joint radio appearance. According to the Nelson spokesman, that happened "because Miles did not like being called a racist." The two men are now scheduled to meet and make-up for good. The Nelson forces were nothing but confident telling me they would narrowly defeat Romero, instead they suffered a 16 point rebuke, but held Romero below 60 percent. Meanwhile, Romero is in Seattle vacationing and raising money.

Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author