Chairman Weh
He was to be a temporary chair, brought in to heal the wounds of a bloody intra-party rift, the impact of which is still being felt in the NM Grand Old Party. But Allen Weh will be around longer than he might have even thought, as tomorrow R's are expected to ratify him for a full term as state GOP chair.

Weh has drawn mixed grades in the year he has led the party since the ouster of Ramsay Gorham at the hands of a faction led by lawyer/lobbyist Mickey Barnett. The R's did deliver the state for Bush, but their performance has been dismal in fielding contenders for governor, senator and mayor of ABQ. Weh promises all of that will change. One can only hope so. New Mexicans deserves a two party state.

A proposal the R's will debate Saturday would give the chairman more power by allowing him to remove county GOP chairs in "extraordinary circumstances such as public support of a Democrat in a contested election." The state chair would have to have the support from other R's to do it, but it would strengthen his hand. But maybe the R's can worry about getting some of their own candidates first, before worrying about people straying to the other side.

BIG BASE DAY

Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis is recommended for closure. The rest of NM's bases are safe.

DEMS: WE'RE HAPPY, REALLY HAPPY

We hit a raw nerve when we blogged Thursday that not everyone at NM Dem Party headquarters was happy with Big Bill's order dispatching paid NM Dem Party staffers to campaign for L.A. mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa. Top D operatives Matt Farrauto and Amanda Cooper, among others, begged to disagree. Amanda said "everyone" was "excited" and asked me who was the source of the heresy. Well, without disclosing the source, suffice it to say they have an accuracy rate of 99%. And I will spare further angst and not even mention the Dem who I am told expressed the upset.

Meanwhile, Matt says I am behind the times; that political parties routinely deploy staffers out of state. They do, but for nonpartisan mayor races? After all, Villaraigosa and his opponent, Mayor Hahn, are both Dems, (although I did call Hahn an R in my initial report.)

In any event what this illustrates is that NM Dem Party politics is in a delicate phase with Big Bill seeking re-election here and simultaneously running for Prez. Questions will be raised about how party resources are used by folks who simply see things differently or, believe it or not, support someone else for Prez.

BILL AND THE BLOGS

Meanwhile, Big Bill and other politicos are showing their unease with bloggers in general as they see the media universe shifting under their feet. Recently, before the nation's top newspaper editors in San Francisco, the Guv compared blogs, with their "low standards" and open opinions, to Fox News. He then threw an amusing bouquet to ABQ Journal publisher Tom Lang, saying Lang would "be the first to know" when he was ready to announce for president. Tom, I think you may want to get another scoop from the Big Guy. That "news" is as tasty as day-old bread.

That's all for now. Gotta run. Fox News is asking for my resume. Back here Monday with a fresh sack of La Politica.

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

Villaraigosa
Big Bill has given the order: Get to L.A.! The order went to several paid NM Democratic Party staffers as Dem Hispanic candidate Antonio Villaraigosa opened up an 11 point lead over incumbent Mayor James Hahn. Our insiders report there was some grumbling heard at party headquarters over the Guv's order, but Big Bill rules the roost and off they will go.

"About five staffers were shipped out to L.A. It is unusual for paid staff to be assigned work in another state and it did not sit well with everyone. But he is the governor and they are not going to say no to him," whispered an insider D.

Big Bill casts a wide net. If Villaraigosa wins next Tuesday he would be positioned to help the Guv in his 08' Prez bid. California is the mother lode of Hispanic votes, support Big Bill will need if his Prez bid is going to get any ballast in the years ahead.

BOB'S JOB

Bob Schwartz will have to quit his good paying state job if he becomes an official candidate for he GOP nomination for attorney general. That's the word from insiders who tuned into our blog yesterday where we broke the Schwartz news. "The law says a state employee seeking a state office has to give up his state employment," said one lawyer who eyed our piece. Of course, Schwartz could be testing the waters and get out before officially getting in.

A top GOP consultant also reacted to our report saying he felt Schwartz would be the frontrunner for his party's nomination, despite his ties to the Dem Guv. "He has the name ID and I don't see any other significant candidates," opined our veteran politico, who also cautioned that "Schwartz beating the Democratic candidate is a whole other story."

PAYING UP FOR PEARCE

When it comes to re-election, he's probably safer than a virgin in a house of eunuchs, but that's not stopping southern NM GOP Congressman Steve Pearce from passing the collection hat. Pearce played host to two big fundraisers this week in D.C., including one for the oil and gas industry which is prominent in his district. The other thousand a plate deal was for banking heavies. This was big national money pumped into the Pearce coffers, but there was a vague NM connection: one of the fundraisers was held at the "Tortilla Coast" restaurant.

Pearce had 59k in the bank before he started his lucrative week. No Dem has yet announced a challenge to the second term Rep, who is recovering from bad press he got when his press secretary plagiarized material for an opinion column under Pearce's name. One sarcastic Dem emails in with this revised take on an old saying: "Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one, except Steve Pearce."

THINGS TO COME

The NM GOP has its sate convention his weekend, Mayor Marty will announce his bid for re-election Saturday and tomorrow the feds announce whether any of NM's military bases are on the hit list for closure. How can we keep up?. Only one way. I will post a Friday blog, even though I am sworn to a four day work week here by the AFl-CIO. But when La Politica calls, we answer. Actually, we are such junkies it can be a whisper and we are in full gallop. See you back here tomorrow for our special, bonus Friday blog.

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

Bob Schwartz
He has a nice, cushy state job as crime adviser to Big Bill. And he's pretty lucky too since Bob Schwartz is a Republican in a Democrat administration. But Schwartz is a restless soul and announced Tuesday he will be undoing his comfort zone and seeking the GOP nomination for NM attorney general next year. Here's the take, direct from one of our Alligators on the scene:

"Schwartz told a group of Sigma Chi alumni that he is running for attorney general. He made the statement at their luncheon in Albuquerque. Not sure how he will be received, especially after working for Richardson," penned our GOP Gator.

Schwartz, a former two term Bernalillo County district attorney, ran a close second for ABQ mayor four years ago. He has heavy name ID in the city, not much statewide. He may have competition for the GOP nomination. Insiders say ABQ attorney Nelson Spear is also eying a run. Working for Big Bill may have strengthened Scwartz's D credentials, but it may be a hindrance when the maverick politico seeks all GOP votes next June.

Whoever gets the nomination will be the underdog against the Dem who will emerge from a crowded field already off and running. Finally, will Schwartz be able to keep his good-paying job with Big Bill, even though the Guv has several Dem friends seeking the top legal post? Stay tuned.

EXPENSIVE FUNNY BONES

Here's one completely relatable to the common man in New Mexico. NOT. It turns out Big Bill's campaign fund paid $12,000 to a couple of comedy writers for that funny send-up he did at the recent Washington Gridiron dinner. Please Big Bill, if you need jokes in the future, save your money. Just read aloud some of the political headlines from our Enchanted State. That will have America laughing in the aisles. Meanwhile, twelve grand for comedy writers has them groaning from Bayard to Bloomfield.

THE MEDIA BEAT

Running a TV station isn't what it used to be. It takes a ton of dough to keep them and their news departments going, not to mention fending off competition from digital video recorders and the internet. For those reasons and more, Emmis Communications a mid-sized company, is looking at selling its 16 TV stations, including ABQ CBS affiliate KRQE which it acquired from Lee Enterprises a couple of years ago. May ratings sweeps are now underway. KRQE is a close second to KOB-TV in the 10 p.m news race.

KAGM-FM morning man Larry Ahrens, confirms that GOP Santa Fe City Councilor David Pfeffer is making the rounds and eying a possible run for the R nomination to take on incumbent Dem U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman. "He's a recent convert to the R's, has been chatting up GOP party activists and will form an exploratory committee in the very near future" reports Larry, who adds, "Alligators are everywhere!" Indeed they are Larry. And they swim the fastest in the waters of their beloved La Politica.

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

$10 Million Man?
Will Big Bill be the $10 million man? It's a question being bandied about as the Guv begins in earnest his money hunt in preparation for his 2006 re-election bid. "One recent event he held had ticket prices at $5 grand a pop. I expect there will be many others like it," commented one politico monitoring the action. (That fundraiser was held by NM gambling magnate Paul Blanchard). Big Bill raised over $8 million when he snared the Guv's job in 02'. A number of those contributions came back to haunt him in the form of news reports that some cash givers received favorable state treatment. In fact, Big Bill was forced to return several big donations when it appeared the donors received direct state benefits for their contributions. For 06', the Guv has so far raised about $3 million.

As he sets out on another record money raising binge he again runs the risk of accepting dough from sources that expect more than a half-hour chat on the Fourth Floor.

BIG BILL PACS IT IN

Meanwhile, word comes to us that the Guv's PAC, Moving America Forward, is being disbanded. Some thought he would be using it as a vehicle for his 2008 Prez bid. Now, we are told all money will flow to the re-elect fund. Any leftovers from that cannot be used directly for his Prez bid, but the law is loose enough that he will still be able to get mileage out of it on the national stage. As for Moving America Forward, it was to entice Hispanic voters to vote Kerry. But figures, which are disputed by some, show Bush actually increasing his Hispanic vote by 9% in 2004. Not exactly a PAC success story there.

If you're thinking $10 million is a ridiculous amount of money for a race in a state with a population of less than two million, you have a lot of company. But the Guv will argue that national Republicans are going to rough him up with big dollars and he is going to have defend himself. Still, the epic amount of cash being raised for political ads in one of the poorest states in the nation leaves our La Politica with quite a sour taste.

HEATHER'S ETERNAL CAMPAIGN

For Heather Wilson the TV ads never end. And here we go again. Several groups opposed to Bush's proposal to privatize a portion of Social Security have cut Spanish language ads that target just two GOP Reps--Bill Thomas, (R-CALIF), Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and our every own Heather, whose ABQ district has a 43% Hispanic population. The ads started running this week.

There are also English ads running against Heather who has yet to take a clear position on whether individuals should be allowed to invest their Social Security taxes in the stock market. NM's Udall is firmly against. The GOP's Pearce favors a pilot program.

PATSY'S PROBLEM

Dems are baiting Attorney General Madrid to be Heather's next victim and if they keep stroking her ego she just may bite. But most objective political pros I speak with are not optimistic that Madrid would do any better than Richard Romero who was embarrassed by Wilson in two, 10 point landslides. Some of Madrid's backers are now talking her up for other races. As we've reported, some pros say the gutsy move would be for Madrid to directly challenge Lt. Guv Denish in the Dem primary. But in an apparent effort to squash any talk of a Bill-Di split, the Denish folks are mailing me first edition bumper stickers for the 06' campaign that say, "Richardson-Denish, Moving NM Forward." For the AG, avoiding political exile never looked tougher.

THE BLOG EXPLOSION

The New Mexico political blogosphere is still growing. ABQ Tribune political reporter Kate Nash wraps us up today as she takes a look at the latest additions. Kate has a nonconformist edge. Who goes from the ABQ Journal to the ABQ Tribune? Can blogging be just ahead?

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Have some news, gossip, intrigue about NM politics? E-mail me from the link at the top of this page and let's keep the news of La Politica flowing.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
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Nuclear Option
Despite pleas to make the peace, Pete is ready to go nuclear. That's the inside word as the U.S. Senate inches closer to a showdown over whether to lower the number of votes from 60 to 50 needed to get Bush's controversial federal appellate judge picks in place. A senior GOP Alligator at the ABQ Old Town Thursday lunch for VP Cheney where Pete was in attendance has the inside scoop: "During his talk, Pete thanked Cheney for being ready, if necessary, to cast the deciding vote to end Democrat filibusters over judges. It was clear that the senator will be voting for the "nuclear option" if it comes to that, informed our source.

It's called the nuclear option because if the majority GOP makes it just 50 votes to end a filibuster, it would be a radical change to the rule of the senate and unleash all kinds of consequences.

Domenici and other "moderate" R's have been getting pressure to tell their brethren to back off. Here's an example in the Capitol hill newspaper "Roll Call" from political junkie Norm Ornstein:

"The fate of the Senate now rests in the hands of a handful of Republicans who have been great figures of the Senate,
each will be judged by history on their choice in this matter. They include Pete Domenici of New Mexico.

Through most of his 32 years in the body, Domenici has fulfilled...promise of being an institutionalist. But now comes the real test.

The Senate is on the verge of meltdown over the nuclear option, an unprecedented step that would shatter 200 years of precedent over rules changes and open up a Pandora's box of problems..." opines Ornstein.

But judging from our insider's report, Pete is ready to let the nuclear trigger be squeezed, If it comes to that. Stay tuned.

THE VEEP'S CLOSED DOORS
Cheney
Maybe I'm an old school, but I don't remember the Prez or VP coming to NM and having no contact with the general public or press. But so it was at that Cheney lunch for ABQ GOP Rep. Heather Wilson at which over $200 grand was raised for her campaign kitty. Thanks to my on scene Alligators, I can report that the speeches were rather boring, with Cheney starting off with Social Security and then riffing on national security and terrorism.

But Domenici's statement was real "news" because of the tension back in D.C. There should be at least a pool reporter allowed at these events, and there should be protests from the media if there isn't. Oh, I forgot. We're at "war" and we do this in the name of "security." If you did not cough up the $1000 for the lunch, here's the meal you missed: salad, pork roast, squash medley and dessert of cheesecake with cherries and caramel sauce. No booze at the event.

JUDGING THE GRAND JURY

I received a number of responses to my plea for help to determine what discretion, if any, a judge might have if a group of citizens petitioned for a grand jury investigation into the ABQ police department evidence room scandal. I had speculated that he might have some and it turns out I am probably correct. First, the law:

"... a grand jury shall be ordered to convene by such judge upon the filing of a petition...signed by not less than the greater of two hundred registered voters or two percent of the registered voters of the county."

Yes, the petitions mandate a grand jury, but a legal beagle with experience at the district attorney level, tells me the petition language must be specific and ask for something in the jurisdiction of the court. "It just can't be a broad brush statement. There has to be a specific probe requested," our beagle reports. So, it seems if citizens did craft a narrow and specific petition for a grand jury for the APD evidence room affair they could get one. How come no one has?

NO COPYCATS, PLEASE

Let's go back to D.C and that plagiarism scandal out of GOP Rep. Steve Pearce's office. His press secretary Jim Burns copied portions of a think-tank article and passed it off in NM as original Pearce thinking. Burns is 52 and has been around the block. What was he thinking? As a former Hill press secretary myself (early 80's, Rep. Manuel Lujan) I don't have much sympathy. All Burns had to do was rewrite the relevant sections in Pearce's style and tone.

Some commentators are closing ranks behind him, but from this corner the U.S. Congress and its constituents deserve better. There are plenty of other jobs for the wayward press secretary, but they should not be on Capitol Hill. As for Pearce, this is his third press secretary in the last year or so. Time to tighten things up.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Around here, we never plagiarize, we just mangle the English language. The latest example is when I referred to the critics of Sen. Bingaman who called him "disinterested" in the job. How about "uninterested" write my critics...And did I say "empanel" a grand jury last week when I should have said "impanel?" Guilty again, but constantly repenting .

Thanks for tuning in today. Let's get together again tomorrow for more from the wonderful world of La Politica.

Have some news, gossip, intrigue about NM politics? E-mail me from the link at the top of this page and let's keep the news of La Politica flowing.

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