Our report on the coup of ABQ Valley State Senator Linda Lopez as chair of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party has the Alligators pouncing high, telling me there are several angles and they want the story out. Not one to argue with these dangerous critters, here we go. First, a veteran Dem who says yes, supporters of former Prez candidate and current national Dem chair Howard Dean played a role in the Lopez upset, but they did not target her, it fell into their laps.

"The main thing that did her in was frustration with her repeated absences from the monthly party meetings and other events over the past year. Marvin Moss (who beat Lopez) ran the meetings in her stead and gave the impression that he was also taking care of the behind-the-scenes work, while Linda was MIA. The fact that Linda got as much support as she did with that history was a testament to her political support."

And another Senior Alligator who has been at these meetings for many years reports: "Linda ran Saturday's meeting and it was a five hour disaster. She lost control of the agenda, the audience, everything. By the time it came to vote for chair, delegates were outraged. It was a big reason she was defeated. Perhaps the Deaniacs benefited, but they did not orchestrate it."

FINALLY....

From deep within the mysterious regions of the fabled ABQ South Valley, we get this from a jaded practitioner of the ancient arts of La Politica:

"The Deaniacs did really do Linda in, but not as you think. They didn't know how the process worked. Deaniacs didn't get their proxies together and a lot of county central committee members didn't show up to vote. Linda's base was so upset with her inability to actually lead the meeting that she lost those votes on the fence. Linda can not actively blame anyone or group for her loss."

And the head Deaniac in the state emailed me to say she thought I was "Democrat bashing" by reporting the Deaniacs role, if any, in the Lopez defeat. Hey, we're just the piano player around here. You politicos write the music.

LETTING IT RIP

Just when you think he may be ready to hand in his liberal pen, veteran ABQ Tribune columnist V.B.. Price let's one rip and lets everyone know the left still lives. Here's his scorcher on the Schiavo case that will have our R friends frowning.

Thanks for all the contributions to today's blog. It's the readers who make this site ground zero for the inside scoop on New Mexico politics, so don't touch that dial.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
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Sen. Lopez
It would make a good name for a rock band: Linda Lopez and the Deaniacs. But the veteran Dem ABQ Valley State Senator is probably in no mood to joke about her whipping at the hands of supporters of onetime prez candidate and now Democrat National Chair Howard Dean. Lopez was unceremoniously dumped from her spot as chairwoman of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party and replaced by party liberal and oldtimer Marvin Moss.

"It was the Dean supporters who did did her in. They packed the precinct and ward meetings leading up to the county convention and they did Linda in," reported an Alligator in attendance at the weekend confab. "The post has lost its glamour. Just what does the county chair do? Not a whole lot," added our on-the-scene Gator.

But whatever the chair does, Linda Lopez will not being doing it. By any measure that is a setback. She has repeatedly been mentioned as a possible candidate for higher political office, everything from Guv to mayor, but her detractors are now saying she was unable to hold on to a relatively minor party post. That gladdens the hearts of her rivals, including friends of Light Guv Diane Denish who are tired of being taunted by the Lopez clan for keeping Linda off the ballot when the two sought the Dem nomination for Light Guv in 02.' Oh yeah, Big Bill isn't crying in his beer about this one either.

BUTCH PHONES HOME

It takes a lot to rouse Santa Fe political pro Butch Maki, the low-key lobbyist and major friend of Big Bill. But our report Tuesday on his plans to start a phone company to serve the Navajo Rez did the trick. Maki picked up the instrument he hopes to spread to far-flung reservation areas to tell us his critics have gone overboard when they charge that a bill on Big Bill's desk would be a sweetheart deal for Butch and former Qwest honcho John Badal.

Maki declared: "Joe, there are no black helicopters on this one." The start-up company, Sacred Wind, will raise venture capital from private sources and will not be solely funded by the $15 million Rural Extension Fund paid for by Qwest customers, Maki said. The new company, Maki said, will be extending phone lines to Navajos in need previously identified by Qwest. Maki said the $5 million it will get from the Rural fund will be used for that purpose. The firm would make money by identifying other Navajos lacking phone service and tapping into federal phone fees set up for that purpose. The bill does call for eventually abolishing the Qwest Rural Extension Fund, but Maki says that's an issue for the Public Regulation Commission, not him. He is hopeful Big Bill, who he pledges fealty to, will sign the measure allowing the company to go forward.

POPE POLITICS

It's not always easy representing super-liberal Santa Fe in the Congress, but Dem U.S. Rep Tom Udall might have gone a little too far in trying to cater to his base when he released this reaction to the death of the Pope:

"While not everyone agreed with everything he said or did, Pope John Paul's influence on the world has been pervasive and powerful. But whatever opinions people have made about individual positions the Pope has taken, few could fail to be moved by the courage of his life story, or the kindness of his personality."

Come on Tom, how about: "Sad to hear the Pope died. May he rest in peace." Sometimes the simple way is the way out.

TO THE BIRDS...AGAIN

Most of the bird watchers who chided me for identifying the birds to the left in last Thursday's blog as canaries also opined that they were parakeets. Well, they have birdseed all over them to. Here is what we think is the definitive word in this email:

"They are Conures, a South American variety of parrot. I own one.
Your Humble Servant, Hugh Soule"

Thanks Hugh. I especially like that "humble servant" part, as I probably should serve up the humble pie for being a bit of a "birdbrain" on this one.

To humble servant and the not so humble, thanks to all for tuning in. It's good to have you along for the ride which resumes right here in this space tomorrow.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

The Friday deadline for Big Bill to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature looms large for those with a direct stake in the action. One measure opponents are trying to make the Guv squirm over (H.B. 256) would have his former Congressional staffer and now lobbyist Butch Maki set up a phone company with ex-Qwest executive John Badal to provide phone service on the Navajo reservation. The critics are railing that this one is a sweetheart deal; that the money for the new company called "Sacred Wind" would come from a fund previously paid into by Qwest customers to provide rural New Mexicans with phone service. That fund currently has $15 million in it that would be used by Maki & Co. The fund for rural New Mexicans would dry up because Qwest would no longer be required to put money in it. Hey, who said it's easy being Guv?

ON THE MEDIA BEAT
Nicole Brady
Downtown at the studios of KOB-TV, fresh-faced Nicole Brady is lining up new make-up kits as she prepares to become co-anchor for the new 4 p.m. newscast that channel 4 will unveil soon. She will co-anchor the broadcast with veteran Nelson Martinez. Insiders ask why not weekend anchor Kim Holland? Outsiders say: youth must be served.........Kate Nash can't seem to make up her mind. But her bosses at the ABQ Journal and Tribune don't seem to mind. The talented 28 year old is switching sides...again. After a two year stint with the Journal in Santa Fe, Nash will go back to where she was when she jumped ship--the Tribune. The Spanish speaking political junkie will replace Shea Andersen as the Trib's chief political reporter. She will remain in Santa Fe. Another Kate will be her boss, managing editor Kate Nelson, who reminds us that while there are two Kates, one is princess and the other is queen. Guess who's which......

Those of us seeking political news on the radio dial must be served as well, but there isn’t much to go around. The longtime exception and still going strong is the 5 p.m. news on KUNM 89.9 FM which dishes up a full half-hour of real New Mexico news, not just the blood and guts. Reporter Tom Trowbridge in Santa Fe is one of the contributors to the University of New Mexico public radio outlet. Worth checking out while your engine is idling.

Corrections, complaints, compliments and other communication is always welcome here. Email me from the link provided at the top right of this page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
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And so it begins. Big Bill will visit New Hampshire, the first Prez primary state, as he undertakes his long and perhaps long-shot odyssey of becoming President Big Bill. The Manchester Union Leader notes that that our Guv will speak to Carroll County Dems June 8 and then take a side trip to Manchester where he will speak at a "Latino Summit." But the Guv's camp is not all that thrilled with New Hampshire nor first caucus state Iowa. They think those lily white areas may not be the most fertile ground for the man who hopes to be the first Hispanic Prez. They are working hard to get an early western primary to offset any disappointments they encounter in the first big two tests. But some politicos think the Big Bill campaign could be underestimating his appeal in the little two. "He is best at one-on-one and that's what these early states are all about. He could be blocked on the ethnic factor, but it is worth his while to invest time and effort there and see if the personality that has won him his races the West can warm them up there," analyzed one D.C insider following the embryonic 08'campaign.

Back here in River City, an insider R commented: "I have to give it to him. He has cleared the field for his re-election next year, letting him go to New Hampshire with little public heat."

BATTLE OF THE GUVS
Gov. Rendell
Besides clearing his re-election path here, the Guv managed to get himself elected chairman of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA). No small accomplishment, but it makes him a bigger target too. Evidence of that is the recent fit over his forcing out of longtime DGA executive director B.J. Thornberry, who reportedly clashed with Big Bill chief of staff Dave Contarino. Now, Pennsylvania Guv and possible 08' Dem Prez contender Ed Rendell is moving to place one of his own, Penny Lee, in the powerful post. It got so hot that Big Bill decided not to name a replacement as he is entitled to do but instead turn the matter over to a search committee.

A blog reading Gator at the upper levels of the Democratic National Committee chips in: "The Guv and his staff may have gotten ahead of themselves on this one. They got rid of Thornberry, but are set to lose on the replacement. That could mean Bill will not have as easy a time using the DGA as a tool for his presidential bid."

And so goes the behind-the-scenes, down-in-the-trenches warfare that is part of the chase for the biggest prize of them all.

THE CANARY CAPER

When we blogged last Thursday that ABQ cops would "song line canaries" if the investigation into alleged stolen evidence got tough, we ran a photo of what we thought were singing canaries. But the blog birdwatchers were out in force chirping away that the photo did not feature canaries. I won't argue with them, but I am running another photo here that shows many varieties of the canary. And if they are not canaries, I will eat birdseed. By the way, what kind of birds were those in Thursday's photo?

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM, one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
Not for reproduction without permission of the author