A conservative Catholic Pope and Big Bill is not a match made in Heaven. Last year the Guv suffered a setback when John Kerry lost NM and many Dems assigned a share of the blame to the Catholic church. Some church leaders urged Catholics here not to vote for Kerry because of his position (pro choice) on abortion. Is the same in store for our pro-choice Guv as he advances his Prez ambitions? NM Lobbyist Bill Jordan, a Catholic with a theology background, has our analysis:

"Democrats should be worried about the selection of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope. He intervened in last years election when he wrote a letter to Catholic bishops telling them that communion should be denied to any supporter of abortion. He specifically mentioned "the case of a Catholic politician consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion laws." That...may have cost Kerry NM because many Catholic voters in the north left their presidential vote blank."

It appears Big Bill will need all his diplomatic skills to avoid a fate similar to Kerry's as he searches for Catholic votes. He seems to know it. In a controversial move, he gave state workers time off to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

THE WERTHEIM OPTION

There's no announced challenger to NM Democratic Party Chairman John Wertheim, but when members of the party's Central Committee meet in Socorro Saturday insiders say there will be rumblings about Wertheim's possible candidacy for attorney general. "If he runs for AG, he will be forced to give up the party chairmanship. It doesn't seem fair that he gets to keep the position if he is going to us it to launch his campaign," reported one source on deep background.

Fair or not, Wertheim is unopposed for another year at the party helm where he was placed with the blessing of Big Bill who also hired John's wife for a nice job in Santa Fe. Wertheim has let his name be floated for the AG spot, but has not said he is running. But he is a carrier of the political bug, having twice sought the ABQ congressional seat. Big Bill legal counsel Geno Zamora and ABQ State Rep. Al Park are both in for AG, with a long list of other Dem possibles.

ABQ MONEY CHASE

When we blogged yesterday of those money reports for ABQ Mayor Marty and his opponent, ABQ City Councilor Eric Griego, we wondered where mayoral candidate Judy Espinosa's report was as well as those of city councilors' seeking re-election. Veteran ABQ Journal reporter Jim Ludwick informs that the reports filed were those required of elected city officials. Official campaign reports from all candidates will not be due until later in the year.

So, how come no reports from elected councilors Sally Mayer, Tina Cummins and Dem Miguel Gomez, who are all up for re-election? You mean they did not raise a penny in the first three months of the year? Apparently not. However, Ludwick, on the City Hall beat for five years now, reminds us that each city councilor has a $5,000 annual "discretionary" fund, more than enough to get some "communication" going without having to officially start the money chase. (Councilor Cadigan reported his contributions)

Mayer has a tough re-elect ahead. Cummins, if she goes, will apparently have it easier as she has no announced opponents.

JEFF'S SPECIAL TREATMENT

Sen. Bingaman
ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson is being pounded this week in radio ads for voting for the new, tougher bankruptcy law. The MoveOn PAC made the anti-Heather buy, but their spot fails to mention that NM Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman voted for the very same bill. The PAC claims: "Our ad campaign will serve notice to politicans in both parties." Of course, it does not. Aren't most of these "PACS" partisan political groups that have more interest in the next election than watchdogging for the public? Just asking.

Send me your notes, comments and news via email from the link at the top right of this page.

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

Heather
After she raises a bunch of bucks from his visit next month would ABQ GOP U.S. Rep Heather Wilson please put a word in with VP Dick Cheney in support of our NM air bases? We don't feel like living in ghost towns. The renewed talk of shutting down Kirtland in ABQ is enough to make the plunging stock market look like economic progress.

Insiders report Heather has indeed lined up Cheney for a May fundraiser as she prepares for yet another re-election cycle. Didn't the last one just end? It comes at a tricky time for the tenacious and studious Congresswoman who last year dispatched her Dem opponent in a landslide. Dems have been hammering her to reject the Bush proposal to allow individuals to invest their Social Security taxes in the currently disliked and distrusted stock market. Heather has stayed firmly neutral, although she appeared to reject the notion back in 98'.

But perhaps in a sign that she is not completely tone-deaf to the situation, she has taken a high-profile and decided turn to the left on proposed Medicaid spending cuts, loudly defending the state-run health program for the poor. Wilson voted for a round of Medicaid cuts before apparently changing her mind. She did not explain her switch. Could it be a prelude to her throwing in the towel on the stock market/Social Security proposal which is unpopular in all polls? There's no immediate pressure. The Dems have no definite candidate for Heather to face in 06.'

EAST MOUNTAIN INTRIGUE: PART TWO

Some Republicans took "NM Politics with Joe Monahan" to task over our report that former D.C. Heather Wilson staffer, Republican Karin Foster, may be eyeing a race against GOP freshman ABQ State Rep. Kathy McCoy. Our critics have been getting personal too, but we wouldn't be here if that made us back off from doing our best to tell the real inside stories of NM politics.

Foster reportedly says she will not make the run next year but, according to State Rep. McCoy and Washington sources, Foster has indeed seriously weighed a candidacy.

Here's how McCoy put it in an email: "Joe, this surfaced early in the recent (Legislative) session. At that time, I asked Karin directly whether it was true. She said she wanted to run at some point, but not in the immediate future."

So, according to Rep. McCoy, Foster told her she wants "to run at some point." And Washington sources reaffirm that Foster told Congressional staffers last year that she was going to run.

WHY IT MATTERS
Barnett
So why does it matter that a GOP political unknown contemplates a challenge to an incumbent R state Rep? Because it addresses the current status of the wing of the NM GOP led by lawyer/lobbyist Mickey Barnett. Remember, it was that wing that last year fielded primary opponents against several Republicans causing major party disruption and generating coverage of the strife in major NM media. McCoy trounced her Barnett-faction opponent in the 04' primary. Her predecessor, Rep. Ron Godbey, also held off a Barnett backed challenger.

The important question for NM politics is will it happen again? Some insiders feel the Barnett wing, hit hard by Mickey's loss for re-election as GOP National Committeeman and the Legislative retirement of ally Joe Thompson, has had its last hurrah when it comes to primarying fellow Republicans. They further speculate that the vociferous response to the McCoy report and the possibility that Foster would be a Barnett backed contender may be a result of the GOP finally trying to exercise some discipline and heal a party that was torn asunder. But for the healing to begin, the hurting has to be stopped.

IT'S STILL A FREE COUNTRY

To the politicians trying to make the reporting of this story a motive for personal attacks, I again paraphrase the late, great Harry Truman: "I never give them hell. I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell."

BOTTOM LINE

You may have seen the late and legendary lobbyist Pancho Padilla quoted here Monday as saying, "I won the Legislature." It should have read, "I own the Legislature." The error was due to a Starbucks induced caffeine overdose combined with a 300 mile drive to Dona Ana County during which I experienced several interesting hallucinations which someday I hope to have explained. Meanwhile, thanks to the many readers who pointed out the Pancho error.

Send me your notes, comments and news via email from the link at the top right of this page. See you tomorrow.

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

UNM
The media revolution may or may not be televised but it will be blogged. At a discussion at Big Bill's UNM Poly Sci class Friday, top students quizzed a panel of media mavens with questions that showed they are not impressed with big media, are skeptical of what they read everywhere and give certain blogs as much credibility as other media. I was peppered with questions that kept me on my toes so I thought I would share my answers with you, my loyal readers, to give you a long overdue primer on what guides us around here.

HOW DO YOU REGULATE WHAT YOU BLOG?

I was trained as a journalist and describe myself as a hybrid--a reporter/blogger. I am not here to talk about personal lives, personality disorders, call people names, create rancor or attempt to kick them when they are down. I am here to cover the process and the game that we all love and know as "La Politica." I do use anonymous sourcing but I strive for a 99% accuracy rate.

A newspaper reporter, in most instances, needs sources to give their names. We need that kind of reporting. On a story of significant consequence, dealing with public policy etc., I will invoke the named source rule for my blog. But if it has to do with a politician seeking a office or most of the other stuff we specialize in, I will go with my very reliable sources, most of who have been in politics for decades and, if you are a regular around here, you know that they rarely get it wrong. When they and I do, the email hits. That's the beauty of the Web.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CONFLICTS-OF-INTEREST?


It's a great question. I blog as a sideline because, like you, I am fascinated by politics. My main biz is public relations and consulting. I disclose that at the top of the blog. I seldom blog about an issue or cause that I am working on because often it is not connected to politics, but if I do I disclose my interest. Again, those who know me are aware that over the years I have consulted for Republican, Democratic and Green candidates. What I try to bring to you is my experience, insight, and perspective, plus polticial news that is not covered in other media. This is "NM Politics with Joe Monahan," not a newspaper or TV newscast.

I believe my readers need to know when I am professionally involved in something and making comments or predictions about it so they can weigh that. But most of the time it simply will not come up. For example, I am involved in a public affairs issue dealing with casinos in southern NM. If I blogged politics related to it, I would mention my association. In the past, I have disclosed here political candidates that I have consulted with including Manuel Lujan, Martin Chavez, Roberto Mondragon, Dave Cargo and others. If you think I may be biased because of it, that's your right. Also, I am not a politician. I am not blogging to further a political career for myself or anyone else. I am a registered Independent. I vote for candidates from all parties.

WHY DO IT?

Another good question. When I started this in October of 2003 I was often asked how I was going to make money. And I said I had no idea, that I was doing it because I like to write and friends had asked me to send them my stuff. It grew from that. I received advertising and am proud to say this is one of the few blogs anywhere that generates a profit.

My bottom line is I think I have something to give and something to receive. The "give" is my knowledge of NM politics learned over three decades and the great sources that report to you through me. I'd like to think it has given some pep to the NM political community and, on occasion, made a small contribution to better public policy. The "receive" is just the joy of being involved in politics in the state we call home.

ARE YOU AWARE OF YOUR READERSHIP?

Indeed, I am. It's no small pressure on you when you have the top reporters in the region and in Washington and New York looking at your stuff, as well as top politicos everywhere, plus a general readership that is highly-informed. As the blog grew, along with the references to it in the local and national press, I realized that sometimes I can be too casusal and that a responsiblity has developed here. I am just one blogger, but I do my best to meet that responsibility. In the end, blogging is about all of us, the blogger and the reader, having fun and sharing the subject that delights us: politics. When it ceases to be that, it will be time to move on.

Thanks to the students from the class of 06' and beyond for the great questions. It was a real-eye opener. And thanks to the participants: Larry Ahrens of KAGM, 106.3 FM ABQ, David Miles of the ABQ Journal, Lorene Mills of NM public TV and Mark Evan, state editor of the Associated Press. Big Bill presided, letting it be known that he reads and listens to everything everyone says and writes. He then concluded the class by offering all the panelists high-paying jobs in Santa Fe. (Not really).

GOODBYE, PANCHO PADILLA

We have been talking about him a lot here lately; the most famous lobbyist in the history of the New Mexico Legislature, Frank "Pancho" Padilla. His name arose because of controversy this past Legislative session involving another lobbyist. Now word comes that Pancho passed away last week at the age of 85. "He was truly a legend," commented a current Santa Fe and Washington lobbyist. "He was a liquor inspector before he became a lobbyist for the liquor industry and made his famous, or infamous comment."

That comment, that will ring thru the ages, was: "I own the Legislature," said in the midst of a heated debate over a contemplated change in the states liquor laws. He was evicted from he lawmakers sight because of it. But Pancho never did get out of the game, still hanging in Santa Fe this session and sharing political history with friends in ABQ at the Barelas Coffee House.

Pancho Padilla, a name surely engraved in the permanent record of La Politica.

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