Manny Aragon
First, Senator Pete Domenici hires a criminal defense lawyer. Now, former NM Senate leader Manny Aragon is indicted by the feds and charged with stealing $700,000 in connection with the construction of the ABQ Metro Court. Being a political legend just isn't what it used to be.

At a time when they should be basking in glory, Aragon, 60, and Domenici, 74, instead find themselves calling on survival skills first honed in the early 70's in the formative stages of their careers and left to rust as foes faded away. The pair went about amassing power with an outward insouciance, but with an inner fire only rarely revealed. Now, as the song says, "the end is near" and the poignancy of the downfall seeps deeply into your pores, like spring pollen after a warm shower.

Reflections aside, what's next? Will be there more indictments, or is this it? At ABQ CBS affiliate KRQE-TV where I spent part of the afternoon offering analysis on the fallout of the indictments, they were reporting that federal sources said more charges could not be ruled out as the investigation also touched upon the construction of the Bernalillo county District Courthouse. The speculation that has made the rounds these many months had included possible indictments of several prominent lobbyists and maybe even a judge or two. There were some breathing easier Thursday, but they apparently should not completely relax. We’ll see.

Read the indictments and plea bargains here. There's exhaustive mainstream media coverage. Here's the big picture. And here's a piece on the three plea bargains, including that of former ABQ Mayor Ken Schultz. How did it play on TV? Reports are here and here. Don't know all involved? Find out more here.

THE REACTION

As for the aforementioned political fallout, most observers I talked with did not think the charges, so widely expected, would do much to take the heat off Domenici or ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson who are embroiled in the U.S. Attorney scandal because of phone calls they made to then-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias; phone calls he said were made to pressure him to speed up the Aragon indictment, but which they say were innocent inquiries.

"I think it's a pox on both their houses, both Democrats and Republicans," offered NM TV news dean Dick Knipfing as he and co-anchor Erika Ruiz scurried to deliver the late afternoon story. "Much of the 'oomph' was taken out of the indictments by the controversy preceding them," added the anchor who has been on the state beat since '63.

"No immediate political advantage for anyone," curtly commented longtime NM Republican player and former CBS News reporter Kurt Lohbeck.

"Maybe there's a short term advantage for Pete and Heather, as it shifts the focus to corruption among Democrats, but the U.S. attorney story is not going away," summed up Democratic analyst Harry Pavlides.

One of my legal beagles, after reviewing the indictments, called the Feds case strong. "It's an intricate paper trail case," he said. But we wondered together whether it will be the law or politics that will ultimately decide this case when it goes to a jury.

PARTY STATEMENTS

NM Democratic party chairman Wertheim was quick to link Pete and Heather to the Manny bone, just in case. "If these allegations are true then the individuals should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I only hope that Pete Domenici's and Heather Wilson's attempted political manipulation of these indictments has not played into the defense attorneys' hands. If these indictments do not lead to convictions, Wilson and Domenici will be to blame." Wertheim spun.

Republicans, who have had a target on Manny's back for decades, celebrated his indictment. "It’s tangible evidence that the cancer of public corruption has existed far too long in New Mexico. As was widely suspected, it involved some elected officials. Today’s actions are long overdue."

That statement came from the party's acting executive director, not party chairman Allen Weh who has been dragged into the Iglesias controversy and could find himself testifying before the Senate Ethics Committee in the months ahead as it investigates Domenici.

Other politicians noted that the Aragon case could be completely settled by this time next year, taking it off the table as an election year issue, but still leaving the Dems with plenty of U.S. Attorney TV attack ads.

THE SIDEBARS
Ex-Mayor Schultz
The black humor made the rounds too. "Manny will share a jail cell with Robert. Manny will bring the green, Robert the red," offered one wag pairing Aragon with ex-Treasurer Vigil who was also charged with corruption by the feds and will soon start serving time.

The indictments would have normally been greeted with shock, but because talk of the investigation has been underway for over a year, the announcement, sent out by news release, was anti-climactic. But the amount of the alleged thievery--over $4 million--did get everyone's attention.

Some state senators gathered in Santa Fe for the special session thought the case might provide impetus for ethics reform that died in the regular session, but how pending legislation would have stopped this alleged caper is unclear. (In fact, in an ironic twist, ethics bills were gutted by the Senate in the immediate aftermath of the Aragon indictment. See the story below.)

One of the saddest aspects of Thursday's announcement was the government plea deal with former ABQ Mayor Ken Schultz in which he admitted to taking kickbacks. The city has had a pretty good ethical record over the years and even though Schultz was mayor long ago (1985-89), his admitted guilt cast a shadow over Government Center. Schultz, now a Republican, was a Democrat when he started out as a member of the ABQ City Council, garnering a reputation as a populist. He used his ownership of a Buick dealership to build name ID through omnipresent TV commercials and to win the mayor's office. The former Marine, approaching 70, went into lobbying after finishing a stint as mayor during which he earned kudos for advancing the city economically, but it will be this first felony guilty plea by any city mayor and whatever sentence Schultz receives that will now be his tainted legacy.

THOUGHTS ON THE DAY

Pete Domenici in '84 presiding intensely as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and energetically bouncing across New Mexico, seemingly owning the state. Manny Aragon in '99 filled with passion for the working man, lording over the floor of the state Senate and delivering yet another stemwinder. Ken Schultz with wife Diane on his arm, smiling ear to ear as they kick-off the first mayor's charity ball in '86. Those are some of the images in my memory as I write to you of these lions of politics. Those images will now be much harder to summon. When I do, instead of warm nostalgia, I will feel loss.

DATELINE SANTA FE

Love is rarely in the air in the competitive atmosphere of the Roundhouse, but we'll settle for compromise, and that's what we got Thursday as the state Senate, on the third try, finally was able to meet and go to work. They even hammered out a compromise on a road bill, saving face for Big Bill who too hastily called the special session. Ethics bills, however, remain a bust. The House will now have to meet to ratify the Senate action on the three bills from the Governor that the Senate approved Thursday. After that, it appears everyone agrees that the lawmakers go home. For good. Finally.

SADIE'S LAMENT

Four year old Sadie Rittenberry, granddaughter of Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, was right at home during one of the recent Senate meetings of the special legislative session that immediately adjourned. In fact, Sadie, daughter of Di daughter Suzanne who lives in Oklahoma, was rumored to have reacted to the Senate action by whispering: "Grandma, they don't play very nice."

No, they do not Sadie, but perhaps if you let them share your sandbox, they can learn...

News, comments? Email me from the link at the top of the page. As always, thanks for stopping by.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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The indictments at the center of the national controversy over the firing of David Iglesias as NM U.S Attorney have come down. As widely expected, former NM Senate powerhouse Manny Aragon was indicted on corruption charges in connection with the construction of the ABQ Metro Court building. Former ABQ Mayor turned lobbyist, Ken Schultz, has made a plea agreeement with the federal government.

GOP NM Sen. Pete Domenici and ABQ GOP Congresswoman WIlson called Iglesias in October causing Iglesias to accuse them of trying to get him to speed up the indictments. Iglesias was fired in December. More later..

The NM Senate is trying to figure out what to do. They are in recess after coming together shortly after noon in the special session which they have twice previously adjourned. Here's the latest.

And from the New Mexican's Terrell: "The Senate just voted to recess until 2:30 p.m. According to some senators, they probably will consider at least a couple of bills today. Sen. John Ryan, R-Albuquerque, noted that due to absences there are only 17 Dems and 17 Republicans here today. With a couple of conservative Dems jumping ship, there wouldn’t be the votes to pass some of the governor’s bills." More to come...

Where's a blogger to begin!? With a new email that has surfaced in the Iglesias affair, raising questions whether White House political boss Karl Rove was directly involved in the firing of Iglesias as NM U.S. Attorney? How about with the breaking news that the federal General Services Administration may have been skewing its work to help at-risk Republican congressional reps, including ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson? Or should we start with the third attempt by the NM Senate, set for today, to try to convene and begin a special session? Or, perhaps we start with Big Bill Prez developments? Or the new radio ad attacking Iglesias? How can such a small state generate so much political news day after day, year after year? Pretty incredible, isn't it? But enough navel gazing, let's blog....

First, that brief email written by Senator Pete Domenici's longtime chief of staff Steve Bell to White House political boss Karl Rove raising questions as to whether Rove was directly involved in the firing of David Iglesias as NM U.S. Attorney. Newsweek magazine broke the story. Domenici's office is refusing comment as is his newly hired lawyer. Bell's email thanks Rove, but it is not clear for what. Getting rid of Iglesias or for just considering the names Domenici was sending over to the White House for consideration to replace Iglesias? Stay tuned.

Now to Heather and the semi-obscure General Services Administration (GSA). Only it isn't going to stay obscure. At congressional testimony Wednesday it was detailed how in January of this year Karl Rove political aide Scott Jennings may have crossed the line and gave a political briefing to regional directors of GSA on how they could help endangered Republican congressional reps, reps like ABQ's Wilson who was placed fourth on the list of those who needed help. The agency is responsible for awarding billions of federal contracts and maintaining government buildings.

As you can see in this video, the GSA director was royally roasted on Capitol Hill for the alleged political chicanery. She sweated all the way. No testimony was elicited on what favors, if any, Wilson may have received from GSA, but the night is young.

WHERE'S THE BEEF?
Iglesias
Back to Iglesias. Sometime attorney for the NM GOP, Pat Rogers, excoriates Iglesias in an op-ed piece, again saying his firing as U.S. Attorney was justified because he failed to prosecute voter fraud cases in the '04 presidential election year. Jokes about voter fraud are as old as New Mexico, but should the public accept the argument of Rogers and fellow GOP lawyer Mickey Barnett that such fraud is and was widespread today? How can they when they have yet to see convincing evidence of such activity? And where was the prosecution of voter fraud during the eight years Ronald Reagan was President in the 80's. We had a Republican U.S. Attorney then. Was he looking the other way too, as Rogers, Barnett, Bell, Domenici, and Wilson charge Iglesias?

HITTING BACK

Last week the Dems put up a radio ad going after Pete and Heather for their attempts to get Iglesias axed. Now a GOP front group is out with a radio ad of their own blasting fellow R Iglesias. A Democratic party spokesman says it's an example of the R's "eating their own." But Pete, and more so Heather, can't let the charges against them go unanswered as both are being weakened by the week.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...

Is the third time the charm? The NM Senate meets at noon today to decide, for the third time, whether to adjourn or begin the special session called for over a week ago by Governor Richardson. The House has already passed the special legislation he requested. With at least five Dem senators not expected to in Santa Fe today, wall-leaners say we could have a third adjournment and see the Senate come back next week to try again. On the other hand, public pressure is growing for them to meet and vote up or down on the Guv’s bills. If a Republican senator or two sees it that way, the chances improve for an actual session today. We’ll update the story this afternoon.

BOOSTING THE SPACEPORT

Looks like Big Bill will be having another rally for that Spaceport tax, and it will be this afternoon in Las Cruces. He added the rally to his southern swing late Wednesday. The election to raise the Dona Ana county gross receipts tax a quarter cent to help finance the nearly $200 million Spaceport is next Tuesday. Check out our Tuesday blog for the latest on the campaign.

LOBO BOOSTING AND BASHING

Earlier this week we strayed off our usual beat and onto the basketball court to give notice to an emailer who called paying the new UNM Lobo basketball coach nearly $1 million a year "insanity." I agreed, saying former Lobo Coach McKay received big bucks and he couldn't deliver. But reader Jesse Dickson sure didn't agree.

"While 300k is certainly a lot of money to the average wage-earner, McKay most certainly did NOT make "big bucks" relative to his peers. The fact that you didn't include average salaries for Division One coaches suggests that you weren't thorough enough to seek them out...You should have stated explicitly that "big bucks" referred to "Joe Monahan's" opinion, and not the generally accepted norm for a base salary at the D1 level." And again, I'm talking about Coach McKay. So wrote Dickson.

Actually, wasn't McKay's package worth something like half a million bucks? Anyway, our viewpoint did receive support, even from a Lobo Club member.

"Our club is dominated by salesmen...They are susceptible to the hard sell and the over-promising that we have seen too often. This would be laughable were it not for the amount of money we are now paying. You are correct. This is New Mexico not New York. I would also say this is New Mexico not Texas. The academic reputation of Texas Tech was not enhanced by the hiring of Bobby Knight. I fear that new UNM president (David Schmidly) has shown a susceptibility to hype when he was Tech president and now here with the Alford hiring." Wrote our loyal Lobo.

Political passion obviously has nothing over the sports world.

IF I WERE PRESIDENT...

Big Bill has announced what he would do as President of the USA during his first three days on the job. The first day, he would get out of Iraq. The second, he would announce a plan to drastically cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil. On the third day, the issue would be global warming. What about day four? He didn't say, but we would bet it would be abandoning that painful diet that would have helped make him President.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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"If anyone thinks this is going to be a 60-40 vote for either side, they're thinking wrong." So said one insider working feverishly in Dona Ana county this week to win approval of a controversial quarter cent gross receipts tax boost to help finance the construction of a nearly $200 million Spaceport. It's a pet southern NM project of Governor Big Bill and his economic development chief Rick Homans. Election Day is April 3.

The question everyone is asking is: Will it pass? It appears so, but it is not a done deal and the vote could be very close. My sources tell me the only professional polling on the issue was done in January and it showed only 53% support for the tax with 42% opposed.

"This will come down to turnout. The polling concludes that campaigning would not make much of a difference; only a small pool of people will bother to vote and their minds are basically made up," reported one in-the-know player.

The Governor's fingerprints are all over the election as the Victory Group, the campaign arm of Butch Maki and Associates, a Big Bill favored lobbyist, is running the campaign for the tax. There is no organized committee fighting the issue, but there is always a significant constituency against raising any tax.

There are about 96,000 registered voters in Dona Ana where turnout for any election is notoriously low. My experts say 10 to 15% will vote on the Spaceport tax, giving us a turnout of between 10,000 and 14,000.

A turnout skewed with older voters who are more anti-tax could kill it, and that in turn would kill the Spaceport. But the pro-tax campaign is determined, canvassing door-to-door, doing direct mail, setting up a Web site and identifying and getting their voters to the polls. Preliminary analysis of the 2,000 early and absentee votes cast give them reason, they say, for "cautious optimism."

But the opposition is not shy. Private citizen Greg Lennes, working it hard, blogs in that he is for the Spaceport, but against the tax.

"Residents should vote a resounding “No” because it is unfair. If the Governor and the wealthy Spaceport tax proponents have their way, the increase of one quarter of 1 per cent for the Spaceport would result in a new tax rate of 7.375% for Las Cruces. Albuquerque has only a 6.87% rate. The new Spaceport will benefit all of New Mexico especially Albuquerque. Although this regressive tax is imposed on persons engaged in business, the tax burden is passed directly to consumers and residents on fixed income." Argues Lennes.

A COUNTY DIVIDED
Chairwoman Perez
The Spaceport tax would raise about $6.5 million a year to help construct the nearly $200 million project which has already received approval for $115 million from the Legislature, but it has proved politically divisive as reflected by the five member Dona Ana County Commission which agreed to call the vote at the request of the state.

Although Democrat Bill McCamley is outspoken in support of the tax he has been unable to bring aboard fellow Dem commissioners Oscar Vásquez Butler and Dolores Saldaná-Caviness. Vásquez Butler calls the tax "corporate welfare" for Virgin Atlantic which plans to use the site and is owned by British billionaire Richard Branson. Saldaná-Caviness has said she is neutral. Democrat and new Commission Chairwoman Karen Perez came with an election shocker when, after supporting placing the tax on the ballot, she said she is urging it be voted down because, among other things, an environmental impact statement has not been completed. GOP Commissioner Kent Evans and the chairman of the Dona Ana county GOP both favor the tax.

Big Bill will be in El Paso and Las Cruces Thursday, but our insiders say his Cruces visit is not specifically to campaign for the tax. The Guv previously held a big rally for the tax, but has relied on Homans to bring this one home. If he does, the onetime candidate for ABQ Mayor will have a major feather in his political cap. If he doesn't he might find himself grounded, along with the Spaceport.

YOU GO, GUV

Sources in the know and who usually are not out of line in spinning us, say a poll done for the Governor shows 58% of the public favors Bill calling the special session of the NM Legislature which has devolved into chaos with the Senate refusing to meet. They try for a third time Thursday.

The results ring true as the Governor remains exceptionally popular in the state and most voters give him the benefit of the doubt. Still, 58% is not overwhelming and while chief executives are usually the winners in short-term political battles, it is the long-term relationship with the Legislature that could end up costing him. That is, if the relationship isn't cut short by the Guv ascending the national political ladder.

DOMENICI NEWS

Senator Domenici's role in the U.S. Attorney scandal is back in the headlines with the announcement that Attorney General Gonzales' liaison with the White House will take the Fifth when she testifies before the Senate. Monica Goodling has a connection to Domenici's effort to oust then-NM U.S. Attorney Iglesias.

JOE SAYS IT AIN'T SO
Carraro (wide awake)
Get the wet noodles out and give me ten lashes. I guess ABQ GOP State Senator Joe Carraro should do the honors because it is our error concerning him that forces this mea culpa. The photo we posted Tuesday showing Senator Joe "napping," as we put it, was taken AFTER the state Senate had adjourned the special session, not during the few minutes it lasted. Apparently some of his constituents didn't take to the pic and emailed and phoned Joe and told him to get to work.

As the veteran lawmaker explained: "I wasn't napping. I was thinking; thinking that I would have bills in the special, but to pass them would take more than an up or down vote. My bills would require debate..my package on ethics that would totally eliminate gifts from lobbyists--not just the $250 limit proposed; eliminating campaign contributions from anyone doing business with the state, rather than limiting it to $2300; and opening closed conference committees so all legislators and the public know what is in legislation..."

OK, Joe. Take a nap. You've earned it.

Send your news and comments via the email link at the top of the page. We use all the relevant news, and the comments from time to time.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Get used to it. New Mexico will likely gain no new seats in the U.S. House for the next thirty years. That's the surprising conclusion of political guru Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia. New Mexico's House delegation went from two to three in 1982, and has been static since. If Sabato has it right, the next generation of New Mexicans, despite witnessing steady growth in state population, will gain power in the House only through seniority, not additional reps. But neighbouring Arizona and Texas over that long period are projected to make solid gains because their rate of growth will remain higher than ours. Colorado is in the same boat as NM picking up no seats through the 2030 census, according to Sabato.

Meanwhile, ABQ Mayor and aspiring Governor Marty Chavez proclaims: "Heather Wilson will no longer be elected in New Mexico." The mayor's bravado may be justified by the ABQ GOP Congresswoman's Wilson's recent problems, but didn't Marty just get done predicting that Patricia Madrid would narrowly defeat Wilson? And didn't he have trouble predicting that his plan for a $270 million street car would be killed by citizen wrath?

There is a way Marty could raise the odds on having his latest prediction come true--by running against Wilson. But he won't, citing the grind of the job and the constant fund-raising.

For the record, I am quoted recently in Congressional Quarterly as saying "the first casualty" of the U.S. Attorney scandal is Heather's hopes for a U. S. Senate seat. While I think it harms those chances greatly, I meant to say her Senate hopes could be the first casualty. With NM Democrats having such a weak bench at the Congressional level, even a damaged Heather could still be a threat.

There may be emotion involved in the mayor's hit on Heather. Remember, she supported R Brad Winter in the '05 ABQ mayor's race. But Chavez retains much of good will with ABQ Republicans. His proposal this week to cut taxes is a reminder why. Trouble is, Democrats, who he needs to nominate him for Governor in '10, might want to use that tax money for other purposes. But then there is a race for mayor in '09 for Marty to consider, just in case.

HEATHER'S HEADACHES

It's not just the U.S. Attorney scandal giving Heather headaches. The still no-end-in-sight and ultra-unpopular war, which almost cost her her seat last year, still looms large. She is out with a lengthy explanation of her vote against a narrowly approved House measure to begin the withdrawal of American Troops. "It was an odd bill. It spent money to fight a war while attaching strings to virtually ensure we lose it. She declares.

Of course, many military and other experts believe the war is long lost. When will R's fearful for their re-elections start peeling away from the White House and Congressional leadership? Perhaps if the troop "surge" proves ineffective.

FRAUD ON THE PUBLIC?

Columnist Ruben Navarrette hits hard for ex-NM U.S Attorney David Iglesias.

"One of the most distressing aspects concerning the eight fired U.S. attorneys is what happened to David Iglesias of New Mexico, and what it tells us about how allegations of voter fraud have become a proxy for anxiety over illegal immigration...First, try this: Whenever you hear the phrase "voter fraud," substitute "surging Hispanic political power."

SPECIAL UPDATE

Here's a video report on the talks conducted in Santa Fe Monday to get the going nowhere, do-nothing special session of the Legislature moving. And here's Terrell of the New Mexican ripping into Big Bill. "...he’s out of state all week. Apparently he wants to be in Santa Fe about as much as the state Senate."

And on the Governor's secretive scheduling practices and just announced Wednesday interview on Comedy Central: "Funny how we find out the governor’s whereabouts from entertainment (network) press releases well before the governor’s office or his campaign staff informs us."

Somebody call Ticketmaster. I want a ringside seat for Round Two.

PAY OR NO PAY?
Senator Carraro (napping)
Just what is the elongated special session of the NM Legislature costing us? I blogged Monday that it would be about $50,000 a day, according to news reports. But ABQ GOP State Senator Joe Carraro has a different take.

"The session hasn't cost anything yet--we haven't passed the feed bill. Senators are understanding that we probably won't get paid since we haven't stayed. House members can get paid for time worked--if they choose to--by having leadership go before the Legislative Council and ask that interim committee funds be diverted to pay for time spent at special session that would then also include payment for staff present at special session. Since we are not getting paid there is no pressure for us to have to put in a full day of passing bills." Explains Carraro.

Well, we'll see if in the end the lawmakers don't in fact vote themselves a "feed bill." But it's not just the money; lawmakers are paid to act, not adjourn. Yes, the Governor screwed up by calling the session, but take an hour and vote up or down his program and go home. Paid or not, that's what the Senators are elected to do.

It was the Governor out campaigning for president that really teed off many senators and giving impetus to the multiple adjournments. But it hasn't stopped Big Bill from pursuing the Dem prez nomination with ardor. With the end of the first quarter around the corner, he's making a last minute push for more money to show that he is in the campaign to stay. Finance reports will be filed in a couple of weeks, revealing who has mojo and who doesn't.

THE BOTTOM LINES

As you can see from the photo posted, photog Mark Bralley caught Senator Joe napping during the prelude to Saturday's brief Senate meeting. Rumor has it that he had cooked meatballs and sausage for twenty the night before and was justifiably exhausted.

News, comments? Send them our way via the email link at the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Sen. Tim Jennings
The exit door light to end the ongoing wrangling between Governor Richardson and the New Mexico Senate is flashing red and clearly labeled "compromise." Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico are not so patiently waiting for the parties to go through that door and veteran observers and legislative watchers expect them to do so by the end of the week. If they don't, it will be a pox on both of their houses with both taking hits, but perhaps the legislative body more at risk because it is the Governor who has the microphone and is better able to spin public opinion.

" I expect the Senate to finally meet, and vote on a couple of the Governor's proposals and quickly adjourn. At least, that's my optimistic scenario," is how a political Alligator of long-standing summed up what most were thinking.

And there was a glimmer of just that kind of compromise from Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez:

"The Senate would have considered two measures -- the domestic partnership bill and highway financing package -- had it remained in session. He said there was "kind of a consensus" between Senate Democrats and the Richardson administration to deal with those measures." Reported the AP.

The Senate Saturday adjourned for a second time in a week, refusing to consider the special agenda sent down by the Governor and already approved by the House. State law forces them to reconvene Thursday, unless the House joins them in adjournment. House Speaker Ben Lujan, as he did so well in a similar showdown in 2003, is keeping the House in line for the Governor. He will stand firm.

The first adjournment was supported by all the Republicans and eight of the majority Democrats; only three D's--Roswell's Tim Jennings, Deming's John Arthur Smith and ABQ's Lopez-- supported the second adjournment which won by just one vote--18-17.

The trio of rebels will be coming under intense pressure to let the Senate convene, but with it unknown who will show up for the next Senate meeting, it's hard to say whether their votes will again be the crucial ones.

STALEMATE SUMMARY

Everyone has now made their point in this power struggle--the Governor and the House by insisting that New Mexico needs to do more on issues they see as vital to moving the state forward--and the Senate by doing what it is supposed to--using their saucer to cool the hot tea sent over by the House. Unfortunately, in the wake of a tiring 60 day session, emotion, not reason, has prevailed. But we don't live in a dictatorship, so it will not be the mercurial judgment of a Governor, a lone senator or a state representative that will end this showdown; as always, it will be the three branches from this government tree--Governor, Senate and House--bending in unison. With the special costing us $50,000 a day, it's about time for the bending to begin.

HEADING NORTH
"Chuby" Tafoya
Now we give you more political intrigue from as we take you to Taos county where over the weekend Thomas "Chuby" Tafoya ousted Billy Knight in a high-profile battle for chairman of the Taos County Democratic party. He was already head of the area Young Democrats.

"The Young Democrats became the leaders of the old democrats," is how Taos blogger Bill Whaley scored it.

And how about this: nearly 200 delegates and spectators turned out for the Taos battle Saturday. For sure, La Politica is alive and well in the storied Spanish North.

NM TWISTER VIDEO

Graphic and spine-chilling video of several of a swarm of highly-destructive tornados that struck the eastern part of our state Friday. Big Bill declared a state of disaster for the affected counties of Curry, Quay, and Roosevelt after touring the most devastated parts of Clovis Sunday afternoon. Complete coverage is here.

A MILLION FOR MEDIOCRE?

This email struck a nerve: "There's a new definition of insanity in New Mexico--paying a UNM basketball coach nearly $1 million a year."

Ritchie McKay also pulled down big bucks, so this has a ring of truth. Will the Lobos ever make the Sweet 16 in the NCAA? Probably not. Why? Because this is New Mexico, not New York. Expectations in Lobo Land remain unrealistic, but when haven't they?

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Governor Richardson snapped a wet towel at state Senators who dissed him Saturday morning by adjourning the special session for the second time. The Senate will apparently be forced back sometime next week. How long is this stand-off going to last, and at what cost? AP coverage here.

Here's full Fourth Floor reaction to the Senate pan job, and below that is more coverage of the do-nothing session.

“The Governor is very disappointed that the Senate chose to continue to shirk its responsibility to the citizens of New Mexico,” said Gilbert Gallegos, Communications Director. “While we had a tremendous regular session the fact of the matter is there were critical, time sensitive issues that remained unaddressed -- which is why the Governor convened the special session. The House recognized this and did the people’s business. Certainly local governments recognize this. Victims of domestic violence recognize this. Civil rights advocates recognize this. Proponents of ethic reform recognize this. It seems the only people who don’t recognize it are certain members of the Senate who would rather make a political statement than take care of business.”

“The Governor is not giving up and expects the Senate to address these issues. The House debated the bills, amended them and passed solid legislation. The Senate may have temporarily avoided their work today but they will have to come back. This is not over.’”

The Capitol
A recalcitrant New Mexico Senate, refusing to bend to the will of Governor Richardson, briefly met Saturday and again voted to adjourn the special session first called by the Governor a week ago. But it appears they will have to come back Thursday to be in compliance with state law. The messy special is now inflicting political damage on both the Guv and the senate and the bills to pay for the do-nothing special come to some $50,000 a day. The Journal's Trip Jennings comes with this Roundhouse bulletin:

"The Senate voted to adjourn shortly before noon Saturday, bucking Gov. Bill Richardson's wish for the second time that it stay to take up work passed by the House earlier this week.

The Senate can stay adjourned until Thursday, when it must return and decide either to adjourn again or finally take up the work Richardson has asked the Legislature to complete in this special session."

The New Mexican's Terrell says the Senate managed to adjourn with only a one vote margin and that not all 42 Senators made it to Santa Fe:

"There first was a voice vote to adjourn, when Senate President pro-tem Ben Altamirano ruled for the “nays.” But on a roll call the Senate voted 18-17 against the ruling...Senators Altamirano, Michael Sanchez, Bernadette Sanchez and John Grubesic —all of whom voted to adjourn last Tuesday—changed today, voting to stay. The fate of the special session is up in the air. House Speaker Ben Lujan said Friday that the House would come back Sunday or Monday." He reported.

Legislative observers say the best way to get out of this mess is to have the Senate take quick up or down votes on the Governor's agenda and then adjourn. But resentment and anger between the Fourth Floor and some rebellious Senate Democrats now appear to be getting in the way of rationality. More as it develops....

I found this wording from the Governor's office reacting to the work of the state House quite interesting.

"The stage is set for the Senate to return to work and give an up-or-down vote to these important initiatives. I plan to meet soon with the Senate leadership to discuss the next steps.”

Aren't these kind of statements usually boated with optimism? Not this one. Governor Richardson seems to be looking to avoid the ultimate embarrassment of the Senate simply adjourning again when it reconvenes Saturday, and also preparing the public for a loss if he does get the senate to give his bills an an "up or down vote." The special has been such a mess that just getting the Senate to vote on his program, even if they firmly reject it, will be some kind of victory for the Governor. It has been a long, long time since we have seen Bill Richardson so vulnerable. And he did it to himself, wrapping himself up in both a presidential campaign and an unnecessary special legislative session. As the old saying goes: "A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."

(We'll post a weekend update here on the special session)

IGLESIAS WATCH

Finally, someone (thanks, MSNBC's Chris Matthews) has asked ex-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias directly if he has any future political plans.

Matthews: Are you a good Republican?

Iglesias: I still am, believe it or not.

Matthews Are you interested in a Republican political career in New Mexico?

Iglesias: No. I'm not.

Matthews: Are you interested in becoming a Democrat?

Iglesias: (laughing) I'm not interested in that either.

The entire video is here. Iglesias indicates he is lining up a private sector job, not necessarily as an attorney.

THE READERS BLOG

Checking the end of the week mailbag we find this comment from a political veteran about our ongoing speculation about who the Democrats will get to run against ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson next year.

"This story ( the U.S. Attorney) has yet to peak, I'm not sure any future candidate would show his or her cards so early in the scandal. (Why should they?) Don't worry, one will emerge... Look for a conservative Hispanic who appeals to Anglos and has his or her own money and has the ability to raise money out of state...I know that (Dem U.S. House) Speaker Pelosi will pour a tremendous amount of national party resources into the state in a year. It will be a slow bleed for Rep. Wilson. It will be tough on her because she is so used to playing offense; without an opponent she has no one to attack. A cornered grizzly is very dangerous, the smart contenders are keeping their distance. Sorry Joe."

Well, there's nothing for me to be sorry about. It's no skin off of my nose if the Dems choose not to field a candidate early, except, of course, the loss of juicy blogging material. As for the purported "smart contenders" keeping their distance, if they are afraid of the "grizzly" now, wait until she emerges from her cave. They'd be better off learning how to handle a hungry bear today.

PETE'S POSITION

And if you're inclined to equate weakness at the ballot box for NM GOP U.S Senator Pete Domenici with his lower approval numbers we blogged about Thursday, the inimitable ABQ South Valley Alligator Andrew Leo Lopez writes: "It is folly to equate disapproval with the same at the ballot box. Pete wins by his usual 72.0%. Flip side applies too. Marty Chavez had very high approval as ABQ mayor in his first term and bombed in Albuquerque when he ran for governor in 1998. Approval or disapproval on street is not equivalent to same at ballot box."

I'm not as sanguine about Pete's numbers as Andrew. There is a correlation between the approval rating and what a candidate polls Election Night. Look at Bush. They manged to get him up to 50% before the '04 election , and that's about where he finished with real voters. Also, Pete does not usually win by his "usual 72%." He won in 1996 and 2002 with 65%. As for Marty, he could have easily won re-election as mayor if he was up in '98. But voters applied a different standard to him when he sought higher office, and his performance as mayor was not transferable.

IN DEFENSE OF LEMMINGS
the lemming
Roswell GOP State Rep. Dan Foley has a well-known barbed tongue, but Wednesday, as he ached with exasperation over the Governor calling the Legislature into special session, the House Minority Whip, inadvertently we are sure, maligned the little rodent known as a lemming. Here's how he ripped into supine House Dems who, unlike their Senate counterparts, stayed in session and went to work on Big Bill's special agenda.

"You guys are lemmings. If he told you to head off a cliff, you'd run with him and away you'd go."

Foley may have a point in his attempt to characterize House D's as mostly unquestioning followers of Big Bill, but as we learn from Wikpedia, their behavior , contrary to popular myth, is not "lemming-like."

"While many people believe that lemmings commit mass suicide when they migrate, this is not actually the case. Lemmings will often migrate in large groups and as a result some lemmings will occasionally be pushed off cliffs or drowned in bodies of water simply by the press of their compatriots."

So, if we're picking members of the animal kingdom to describe the personalities of our beloved solons, let's get it right.

For House Dems, we would suggest their behavior is akin to a school of fish in a large aquarium. When Big Bill taps on the glass, they swim together with fear-inspired ferocity. For the House R's, we'll settle for the mundane, but oh so fitting 'bull in the china closet' analogy. Over in the Senate, it is a rebellious group of Dems who threaten to derail the entire special session. Let's dub them the Wild Palominos, after the horse our Native American friends would capture on the wide-open plains, break in and then ride to hunt, but good luck to anyone trying to tame the likes of Jennings, Smith, Sanchez, et al. But then our Governor is the "Big Dog," as in "Let the Big Dog Eat First."

Maybe the bulls and the Palominos will move over for him, but we wouldn't bet our lemmings on it.

I'm Joe Monahan, reporting to you from Albuquerque, NM.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Domenici
The first signs of the political damage being caused by the U.S. attorney scandal to New Mexico's venerable senior senator have emerged in March 12 Survey USA poll, showing Domenici, for the first time ever in the poll, seeing his approval level drop below the 60% mark. That's down from a 64% approval rating in mid-February in USA (MOE +-4%). According to the poll, Pete wins approval of 57% of the electorate, but his performance is disapproved by 35%. The U.S. attorney scandal has been headline news in NM since Feb. 28 when then-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias conducted a news conference. Fifty-seven per cent approval would be fine for most politicians, but Domenici is not any politician. As a headline in the Santa Fe Reporter recently put it, "the saint is tainted."

The political pros would have liked to have a different survey. The USA poll, done for KOB-TV, uses automatic phone calling and does not screen who picks up the phone. But it is a general indicator of the trend, and right now the trend is not Pete's friend. The survey shows Domenici suffering a considerable drop-off in female support. Whether this poll and others to come encourage some notable Dems to weigh a race against the Senator who is seeking a seventh six year term next year remains to be seen. Another question hanging heavy in the air is what political damage is being done to GOP ABQ Congresswoman Heather Wilson who won her race last year by less than 900 votes.

PURSUING HEATHER

If the national Dems can find the time to cut radio ads attacking Heather Wilson for her role in the U.S. Attorney scandal, (airing in morning drive on 770 KKOB-AM) why can't they get a member of the U.S. House to file a formal complaint against here to get an official ethics investigation going? Such a complaint is required in the House, unlike the Senate where a "preliminary inquiry" of Domenici is underway by the Senate Ethics Committee. I asked a veteran Dem political operative to give us the lowdown.

"The Democrats are feasting on the news cycle. This story has legs that keep growing. They probably feel they should come with the complaint when everything calms down and they need to rekindle the fires. I do believe the complaint will come," assessed our Dem operative.

That could be, but some Dems remain nervous as Heather has had a streak of serendipity her entire rough and tumble political career. She is also playing hardball on this, repeatedly saying her controversial October phone call to Iglesias was "entirely appropriate." He says it was an effort by her to speed up indictments in a federal corruption case.

Also, it is Senator Domenici absorbing most of the political damage thus far as the news concentrates on the communications he and his staff made with Justice and the White House about getting rid of Iglesias. So far, no Heather e-mails have surfaced, the operative theory being that Domenici carried water for her in their joint effort to oust the prosecutor.

But with the scandal exploding daily, there remains that pesky question that puts state Democrats on the defensive. Where's your candidate? One by one they are mentioned and one by one they drop like flies. The Democratic party here says it is not their responsibility to recruit a candidate, and they are living up to that statement. How about if we give it a fresh stab?

THE NOMINEES ARE...
Isaac Benton
How about ABQ City Councilor Isaac Benton? He has shown himself to be a calm and involved councilor, is a successful architect, and at 56 is not too old for the task. An added bonus: Benton speaks fluent Spanish and was elected in a traditionally Hispanic district. He doesn't have to run for re-election until '09, so he could take a risk-free run at Heather. He calls the prospect "interesting."

The first candidate we came up with was former NM Land Commissioner Ray Powell, Jr. who, like Benton, mused about it, but did not jump at the idea. Democrats, though, have reason to be jumpy. Wilson is an accomplished campaigner and they will need a first-tier candidate to take her on, scandal or no scandal.

If Heather ever did give up the ABQ congressional seat, there are plenty of Republicans lined up to replace her. Names like Sheriff Darren White, State Rep. Justine Fox-Young and PR guru Doug Turner, to mention just a few. Of course, the Dems might not have as tough a time recruiting as they are if it were an open seat. The most likely scenario for a vacancy is Domenici deciding to retire and Heather going for the Senate gold.

THE COMING SHOWDOWN

The subpoenas are authorized, and the showdown between Congress and the White House looms.

HALF-BAKED SESSION

Here's the latest from the AP on the half-baked special session of the NM Legislature. The House has the ovens on, but they remain dark in the Senate. Things will heat up all over the Roundhouse come Saturday when the Senate, by law, will be forced back into session. Big Bill returns from the prez trail Thursday, and he responded Wednesday to his critics: "Some Republicans made similar complaints before the regular session – that Governor Richardson could not simultaneously be a strong chief executive and run for President. Yet they were forced to admit when the session concluded that it was among the most productive in state history. This special session can be equally productive, if legislators focus on the work at hand.”

WHO'S SMOKING WHAT?

Some emailers said we were smoking the funny stuff in regard to our Tuesday blog of Wilson and Domenici's opposition to the re-election Sunday of Bernalillo county GOP Chairman Fernando C de Baca. But we think it's them toking too much of the dream weed. How about Heather directly telling the wife of C de Baca that she was not supporting Fernando? When asked why not, a reliable source said she quipped: "It's a free country."

As for Pearce and Heather not caring who chairs the county or state parties, that is downright hallucinatory. Of course, they care. Of course, they face a possible competition for an open senate seat. Of course, they could end up fighting for a Senate vacancy before the GOP central committee. And, of course, the Alligators have it right...again. Don't say we didn't tell you and remember, our agenda is to serve you, not the factions.

News, comments, political gossip? Send it our way via the email link at the top of the page. We're interested in all of it.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Democrat Bill Richardson doesn't often find himself having much in common with President Bush, but they were both in the same sorry spot Tuesday as the great Constitutional tradition of checks and balances took hold in their respective senates, setting the stage for showdowns they stand a good chance of losing. In Santa Fe, the Senate stuck its collective thumb in the eye of the Governor refusing, on a 24-14 vote, to stay in special session as he had ordered. In Washington, the President was refusing to have his staff honor soon-to-be-issued subpoenas in the U.S attorney scandal, threatening to turn a firestorm into a conflagration.

Even though Big Bill has repeatedly pulled rabbits out of his hat, this time the wall-leaners sense it could be different. While the House did abide the Guv's wishes and went to work on the special agenda, all of which they approved in the regular session and most of which the senate rejected, at best it seemed only some face saving measures might emerge at the last minute to end this donnybrook.

There is no constitutional crisis, only a crisis in the Governor's judgment. He went politically tone-deaf when, after a quite successful regular session, he insisted on a special. The Constitution says the Senate will have to go back into session by Saturday because the House will not adjourn. Most of Bill's bills may make it over to the Senate by then where they can be decided, or where the Senate could again vote to adjourn.

LOSING INTEREST?

The powerful chief executive didn't win any brownie points from the 38 senators (four were absent) with news that he would not even be around to guide his agenda, opting instead to stick to a West Coast fund-raising schedule for his presidential campaign. That Bill was unwilling to cancel his prez plains spoke volumes to the exhausted and grumpy lawmakers, and to the New Mexican electorate too.

Still, the Fourth Floor put on a brave face and issued this statement in reaction to the Senate's decision to immediately adjourn : "Governor Richardson is encouraged that the House continues to work on this important agenda for the people of New Mexico. It appears the Senate will have to reconvene by Saturday to begin its work."

The Guv sounded there like he holds the high cards, but does he? He could use the veto threat on bills already passed, or warn Senators of consequences when they hit the campaign trail for re-election next year. But does he really want to go there, with members of his own party who control both chambers and who have done so much to give him so much success? Could he be sure it would work and that there would not be retaliation against him? And remember he needs them for the sake of his prez ambitions.

In 2003, when he faced a similar situation, Governor Richardson, with the help of House Speaker Lujan and his own considerable charms used on a recalcitrant Senate, was able to rebottle the spilled milk, but this time with fewer legislators willing to look the other way when he butts up against those hallowed checks and balances, he might be advised to give himself a reality check and try to end this as gracefully as possible. Ditto for President Bush.

BUT WHO WILL RUN?

They'll be the first ads in the nation for the '08 political cycle and they will target our very own Heather Wilson. The New York Times (Register) has the story on the radio ads that we in the 1st Congressional District will soon be hearing, as the GOP's Wilson is scored for her role in the U.S. Attorney scandal. The radio ad demands that Heather release phone records of her contacts with then-U.S. Attorney Iglesias. This ad comes 20 months before the election and demonstrates the power of the scandal. But the Dems still have no candidate to run against her! It is one of the biggest political holes in state politics. Who will fill it?

IGLESIAS WATCH

His foes are doing their best to paint former NM U.S. Attorney David Iglesias a bumbler and an incompetent in an effort to offset his charges that Senator Domenici and Congresswoman Wilson called him in October to pressure him to speed up indictments in the investigation of the ABQ Metro Court and caused him to be fired when he refused. Trouble is, good news about Iglesias keeps popping up. Take this, from the big document dump from Justice Monday night.

And today Iglesias penned this op-ed piece for the New York Times in which he again takes a bite out of Pete and Heather. He concludes the op-ed saying: "President Bush addressed this scandal yesterday. I appreciate his gratitude for my service — this marks the first time I have been thanked. But only a written retraction by the Justice Department setting the record straight regarding my performance would settle the issue for me."

Iglesias has played his hand well, hitting back at each and every charge. This party goes on.

SHUTTER THE CAMERAS?

Should you just consider ending the red-light program and cut your losses, Mayor? The alternative? More cops writing more tickets at speedy intersections,.

JUICY STUFF

From Cindy Adams of the New York Post:

I AM a fan of New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson, whom I knew when he was here as Bill Clinton's ambassador to the U.N. Smart, tough, doesn't shirk a fight, he's also a delicious dinner partner. Anyway, as our maybe first Latino chief of state, Bill is in the cast of thousands running for president. However, I mentioned he secretly figured he could better nail the No. 2 spot. Richardson called after I printed that. He clearly wants it known he's clearly running for the top job. Clearly. OK by me, hon. I love you. I'm a friend. It's just that three - three - Dem apparatchiks told me that. Separately. On different occasions. Reporting it was what he, Richardson himself, told them."

Send your news and comments via the email link at the top of the page, and thanks to all my advertisers. Please take advantage of their services and support your blog.

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Gideon Elliot
There's a shake-up to report in the race for chairman of the NM Democratic party. A third candidate has emerged who could play a role in deciding whether former State Rep Mike Olguin or ABQ attorney Brian Colón takes the prize when the D's central committee confabs in Las Cruces April 28th.

The new contender is 27 year old New York native Gideon Elliot, a former party staffer and a "progressive" Dem whose candidacy is seen by some observers as more of a threat to Colón, the theory being that the 36 year old Colón would be more likely to share supporters with Elliot than would the 57 year old Olguin whose appeal is to longtime D's and party regulars.

The Elliot candidacy emerged at an ABQ party meeting last week where one of our Alligators was on hand to supply this account.

"Olguin spoke of his rise up in NM politics, his tenure as a state legislator, his tenure as party vice-chair under Diane Denish, what he accomplished as Socorro County Chair and what he does now, including his lobbying. Next up was Brian Colon...Those in attendance were mostly in favor of Colón. What no one expected was the THIRD candidate...heads turned as Gideon Elliott, former party staffer came down. He gave a speech full of enthusiasm away from the microphone. He knew the issues and was well received." Reports our on-the-scene Gator.

Will Gideon split the Bernalillo County progressives and give Olguin the chairmanship? Olguin hopes so. He thinks his strength in rural NM is solid. Colon's backers say he appeals as much to the party's center as Olguin and will not be harmed. The campaign is on. Stay tuned.

THE FERNANDO-PEARCE FACTOR
Rep. Pearce
What does the political future of southern NM GOP Congressman Steve Pearce have to do with Sunday's re-election of Bernalillo county GOP chairman Fernando C de Baca? Quite a bit say my Republican Alligators. They, and I, wondered why Senator Domenici and Congresswoman Wilson were so public in their opposition to the re-election of C de Baca when the county GOP central committee re-elected him. We blogged Monday that the independent minded Fernando has not won friends with GOP behind-the-scenes players like lawyers Pat Rogers and Mickey Barnett, but for Wilson and Domenici to risk political capital on defeating him, the insiders say there had to be a more important reason. And they say that reason could be the United Sates Senate.

The line of reasoning on this one says that Domenici and Wilson want a party leadership favorable toward Wilson as she eyes replacing Pete in the senate, either next year if Pete drops his bid for re-election or down the road. C de Baca is now thinking about running for state party chair and if he took it over the insiders say Pearce would be better off. They wanted to stop him in his tracks Sunday, but were stunned when C de Baca pulled off the win.

Control of the party is important in the event that the state central committee is called on to fill a vacancy on the GOP ticket as happened when J.R. Damron last year withdrew from the Governor's race and was replaced by John Dendahl. While insiders think the possibility of Domenici running in next year's June primary and then vacating the seat and having the central committee name Heather as his replacement is more unlikely in the wake of the U.S. attorney scandal, they say the possibility should not be ruled out. Even if the hand-off scenario is far-fetched, the state chair controlling the party apparatus can influence the senate race in other significant ways. And so can the chairman in the state's largest Republican county.

Which brings us back to Steve Pearce. Like Heather, he too wouldn't mind serving in the World's Most Exclusive Club and would like to have friends in high Republican places. On Sunday, one of them stayed right where he wanted. If C de Baca chooses to challenge NM GOP Chair Allen Weh in May we could see a repeat of the drama between supporters of Pearce and Wilson. Clearly, the battle lines for the power and the glory of the United States senate are being drawn with sharper knives. Don't say we didn't tell you.

NOT THAT SPECIAL?

It's Special Session '07 kicking off today. Here's the agenda sent down by Big Bill. We set the stage for the action to come in Monday's blog as questions continued about the Guv's decision to call a special. His political timing, for the first time in a long time, seems out of sync. His agenda for the special is not critical to the functioning of the state and the senate, in particular, could cause him major embarrasment if it balks and moves to end the session quickly. He also looked out of touch by being on the Prez campaign trail in Texas Monday. Critical lawmakers were asking if the stuff he wants is so important, why wasn't he at his capitol office taking calls and meetings? If the Governor is not going to act like his special session agenda is his all-consuming concern, he can't expect the Legislature to.

COUNT HIM OUT

The chances of David Iglesias trying to resurrect his political career on the back of the U.S. attorney scandal are slim to none, say insiders who know Iglesias. They are addressing casual speculation that Iglesias, who spilled the beans on Senator Domenici and ABQ GOP Congresswoman Wilson, could pull an outlandish move by switching to the Dems and running against Heather. But Iglesias and his wife are fervent anti-abortion advocates, a position that would not sell well with the Dems, not to mention other conservative positions he would have to overcome to make the switch work. Iglesias ran a close race in the 90's for attorney general, losing to Patricia Madrid who in turn lost narrowly to Wilson in '06.

MORE IGLESIAS

Igleisas has been torn limb-to-limb by Domenici, Rogers, Barnett and company for his record on handling voter fraud cases in New Mexico, but the Washington Post comes with the news that the Justice Department didn't see it that way in 2005 and heralded him for his work in this area. And as we have blogged, whether Iglesias was good or bad, it comes back to the Domenici-Wilson phone calls and whether he was fired for not speeding up indictments at their request.

DOCUMENT DUMPING

There was another big document dump by Justice last night on the firing of the U.S. attorneys--3,000 pages worth.

WHO'S NEXT?

And who will be the next U.S. Attorney? That issue has been delayed as a result of the scandal but one thing is for sure--NM Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman will be fully consulted on the pick. The position requires Senate confirmation and the Dems control that body. Having Bingaman's stamp of approval would avoid any nasty confirmation fight. By the way, did you know that Jeff was once attorney general of New Mexico? He was elected in '78 and went on to win his Senate seat in '82.

Send your news and thoughts via email from the link at the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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There's plenty of back-channel grumbling by NM legislators in the wake of Big Bill's decision to call the 112 lawmakers into a special session beginning Tuesday. The question now is whether the Governor has his ducks in a row for a successful special, or whether he has taken an unnecessary gamble and is about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The first signs of trouble came as senate Dems caucused with just minutes left in the regular session when most were bleary eyed and exhausted from the nearly around-the-clock lawmaking of the past two days. Some mentioned personal or business plans that would now have to be put on hold, perhaps making them less friendly towards the Guv's special session agenda. Not only that, they argued that they had already passed much of what he had sent.

In private conversation several Democratic senators signaled their displeasure with the Governor who they say is trying to make the Legislature a campaign office for his 2008 presidential ambitions. The first public warning of trouble came from Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia of Las Cruces who told the Sun News: "He doesn't understand that the votes are not there, but he's going to spend the taxpayers' money to bring us back here."

Reached late Sunday, Garcia's tone had softened as she told me she is not saying there shouldn't be a special session, just that there is much work to be done to get the votes for the items on the Guv's special session agenda. She said she is fully supportive. On the other hand, Senator John Arthur Smith of Deming told the AP that "some members would not be receptive" to more time in Santa Fe.

Overall, the feeling in the political community was that the Governor and the Legislature had a good run, passing a hefty amount of legislation that is popular with the public and that a special session poses the risk of turning lemonade back into lemons.

A SPECIAL TRAIN WRECK?

Of special concern is that domestic partnership bill which died in the Senate and would have allowed heterosexual or homosexual couples to register their domestic partnerships with county clerks, securing all the rights of married couples. Governor Richardson says it will be on the special agenda. Will social conservatives rise up, pressuring lawmakers to kill the bill and causing special session gridlock? The critics said the bill takes the state too far to the left and is an effort by Richardson to secure gay Democratic Prez primary votes. They also claim he is looking for a couple of million in campaign contributions from the gay community.

They offered similar reasoning for his insistence on GRIP II, saying the road measure can wait a year, but, again, campaign money from contractors and developers beckons, an issue that arose in the final days of the regular session. The Guv's supporters label the assertion ludicrous, saying our wide-open roads must be attended too to keep our economy moving and that GRIP II also provides money for an important road for the Spaceport.

A couple of second-tier ethics bills passed the regular session, but not the biggie which would limit campaign contributions to $2300 for statewide candidates. Cynics fired away over the weekend, pointing out that it was none other than Big Bill who set the record for taking huge individual contributions--many over $75,000--and who can well-afford to support limiting such donations now that he is no longer going to run for statewide office. They also pointed out that Richardson did not voluntarily limit his contributions, despite facing no significant opposition and went on to raise $13 million for his '06 Guv run. In light of this they question his moral authority to harangue lawmakers for limits.

Among the arguments Richardson backers make is that all the politicians are guilty of using the campaign system for their own purposes and it's time for them to act together to clean it up.

Lingering resentment that the corruption of ex-Treasurers Vigil and Montoya was being laid at the desks of the legislators was also keeping this measure bottled up.

Also lingering is the question of how much Bill will be around to guide the special session. His detractors claim he could have gotten GRIP II and the rest of his other pet bills approved if he was not distracted by his national campaign.

THE LONG VIEW

The Governor's prez candidacy loomed large over the '07 session and because he did not veto lawmakers' capital outlay projects--they passed over $600 million worth--they accommodated him by passing bills with national sex appeal--a cockfighting ban, approval of medical marijuana and a renewable energy program--but his push for even more could make him look like the overweight guy who can't pull himself away from the dinner table. Also looming, but far from the Guv's mind, is the future. His long shot bid for the presidency could well be over by the next legislative session, leaving him a lame-duck Governor and a defeated presidential candidate to boot. What he has built can also be torn down.

Big Bill exclaimed that the session was the "most productive in state history." Maybe, but it was not a landmark session where we will look back at a particular piece of legislation and say that changed the state in a big way. Still, the Guv and the citizen legislators deserve credit for working well together. It would be too bad if the special session goes sour and ruins that memory.

DIGGING ON DAVID

They're digging deep on David Iglesias. The former NM U.S. attorney who shook the political scene with his charges that NM Senator Pete Domenici and ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson applied political pressure to get him to speed up certain federal indictments, is profiled in-depth in the Sunday New York Times. The ABQ Journal also comes with an Iglesias piece focusing on his critics.

The CBS Evening News did a lengthy interview with Iglesias Friday in which he answered one of the questions I've had. Did he know about Senator Domenici's ongoing efforts to get rid of him when Domenici called him in late October asking about those indictments? Iglesias tells CBS he was not aware of the skullduggery. The latest national developments on the scandal are here.

Rarely, if ever, have Wilson and Domenici had trouble with the local media, but Friday Domenici's staff would not permit him to be interviewed by KOAT-TV as he appeared at an awards dinner. What will he say next year to TV debates with his Democratic opponent? Meanwhile, Wilson has twice met the media recently to discuss issues, but each time they have turned the questioning to the U.S. attorney scandal. And the official investigations haven't even started yet.

FERNANDO'S TRIUMPH
Fernando
Was the re-election Sunday of Bernalillo County GOP Chairman Fernando C de Baca a sign that the hierarchy of the party---namely Domenici and Wilson--are starting to lose their grip? Some Republicans think so. The two Congressional representatives threw their considerable weight behind C de Baca's opponent, (People there report that Domenici staffers were on hand to vote against C de Baca. Wilson was public in her opposition to the incumbent chair) but came up short at the county central committee meeting. That gave rise to speculation that C de Baca just might renew his consideration of running for state chairman next month against another Wilson-Domenici favorite--current chair Allen Weh.

C de Baca, re-elected for a two year term, has not been an automatic ally of Domenici chief-of- staff Steve Bell, lawyer-lobbyist Mickey Barnett or GOP attorney Pat Rogers, all who have played prominent roles in GOP politics. Supporters of the independent C de Baca say R's here have the same problem as the R's in Washington--trying to keep power for the sake of power and rewarding a clique of consultants with contracts whether they are successful or not. Domenici and Wilson will need all the support they can muster for their re-elects next year. The C de Baca victory is a warning shot fired across their bow, and perhaps a sign that rank and file R's not attending the convention are also looking for the party to reform.

THE BOTTOM LINES

A funny sidelight to that GOP meeting Sunday was a letter going around that charged a staffer for C de Baca with leaking information to none other than your little ol' blog and how that was reason enough to oust Fernando. But now that Fernando has won, we welcome all heretofore wary and wannabe Republican leakers to come aboard. It might actually be good for your political career. Come on, Heather. Let's dish that dirt.

Heather, or anyone else, can email me from the link at the top of the page. We welcome your news and comments.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Despite calling it "the most productive session" in state history, NM Governor Bill Richardson wants more, and is going to take a gamble and call the Legislature into special session starting at noon Tuesday. By most accounts, the past 60 days in Santa Fe were productive with a lengthy list of accomplishments for the Guv and the lawmakers to brag about. But the Governor wants remaining items on his agenda approved and will risk a special session where the politics can be unpredictable. All this to get what he wants before taking off on the 2008 presidential trail. More later...

Domenici
You don’t hire a high-powered criminal defense attorney for nothing, so it's no surprise to hear that NM Senator Pete Domenici's defense is swinging into action and will soon be noticeable at a newsstand near you. At the heart of the debate, as we have repeatedly blogged, is that phone call Domenici made to then-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias and whether it was a call in which Pete pressured Iglesias to speed up federal corruption indictments that might have benefited the re-election campaign of his protégé, ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Sources say it will be Iglesias's version of that phone call he dramatically retold before the Senate Judiciary Committee will come under harsh scrutiny from the Domenici camp.

"There are several issues with the call; Iglesias's version of the timeline is one of them. Does Iglesias have that right? Maybe not. Also, his contention that Pete called him at home; it appears he was called on his Justice Department cellphone. Domenici didn't know where Iglesias was when he made the call." Reports a Senior Alligator of La Politica.

Those are just a few tidbits being strewn around for the Alligators to munch on as they await a meaty defense and the effort to turn the tables on Iglesias. The effort to paint him as a bumbling incompetent will continue by Republican operatives, but critics are asking whether it matters if it was a bumbling and incompetent U.S. attorney who was unethically pressured by a U.S senator or one with a stellar performance record. In the end, if Domenici can't call into question the veracity of Iglesias's version of that phone call, he is going to take a hit.

Until now, the main point casting Iglesias's testimony on the phone calls from Domenici and another from Rep. Wilson into doubt is that he did not report them to his superiors at Justice. He said he fetlt loyalty to Pete and friendship toward Heather and did not want to hurt them with allegations that they crossed the ethical line.

HEATHER'S CALL

Heather also made a controversial call to Iglesias. There is no word of her hiring a lawyer yet, and no word either on any member of Congress filing an official complaint against her as is required to get an ethics investigation going. The Senate Ethics Committee has begun a preliminary inquiry into Domenici's actions.

Some insiders are saying Wilson may have been misled by campaign scuttlebutt into thinking there were already "sealed indictments" in the courthouse investigation case when she made her now famous mid-October call to Iglesias during a pitched battle with Democrat Patricia Madrid. In that call, Iglesias has testified that Heather inquired about "sealed indictments."

"Were there sealed indictments when she made that call? If there were none, why was Iglesias so freaked about her asking? In his senate testimony he compared sealed indictments to the secrecy of the military's nuclear launch codes, but if there were none at the time she called, Heather can make Iglesias out to be a hype artist.

But that still leaves on the table the issue of those phone calls and whether unethical pressure was applied by Domenici and/or Wilson to get the prosecutor to speed up the indictments said to involve at least one prominent Democrat, former state Senate leader Manny Aragon. Domenici's high-priced lawyer and his associates have begun chipping away at Iglesias's version of events, but they are absorbing political damage as the case refuses to get out of the headlines.

MORE ON MICKEY

Political observers were taken aback when GOP lawyer-lobbyist and former GOP national committeeman Mickey Barnett revealed that FBI agents had complained to him about the performance of Igleasias. What were government officials doing complaining to a private lawyer? Insiders are now wondering whether they were retired agents or active duty agents that Barnett was hearing from. Barnett could get to answer that question himself in the media and/or before the Democratic Congress.

ON THE HILL...

Thursday we blogged that '04 Bush campaign manager Scott Jennings would be one of those testifying before Congress on the Iglesias affair. He is now a deputy political director under Karl Rove at the White House. According to news reports, his testimony and that of other White House officials before Senate Judiciary are on hold. Meanwhile, there was new information on just when Bush political guru Rove became involved in the U.S. attorney firings and it seems a lot sooner that first indicated.

SMOKING GUN?
Attorney Rogers
One political veteran says he sees the proverbial "smoking gun" in the dismissal of Iglesias. He says it is the news that the Justice department did not add Iglesias's name to the list of U.S. attorneys who would be fired until November 2006, after the election.

"It's confirmed that Domenici, Barnett and (GOP attorney) Pat Rogers were in Washington in June '06 complaining about Iglesias and the complaining by Domenici goes back to 2005, but the fact that Iglesias's name was not added to the list of those to be fired until November 15, 2006, after the election, gives credence to the view that it was his failure to return the courthouse indictments that cost him his job. It's the smoking gun," contended our veteran.

Well, it may be a gun, but whether it's smoking or not will be a subject of contention in the weeks ahead. Pete can argue that he asked that Iglesias be fired well before he was placed on the list and well before his October call and that Justice did not get around to putting him on the hit until mid-November. Justice Department emails confirm Iglesias was not put on the firing list until November 15, 2006, after the Domenci-Wilson October phone calls.

VOTER FRAUD?

Was it really Iglesias's failure to address voter fraud that had his fellow Republicans ready to dump him. The New York Times doesn't think so.

READER BLOGGING PART II

Our readers continue to contribute their thoughts on this big political story via email. "To hear Heather say that she called Iglesias but didn't pressure him is like saying she put the joint in her mouth but didn't inhale," wrote one reader, reminding us of the brouhaha over Clinton smoking pot, but not inhaling.

Another reader is back with what some may consider outlandish speculation that evangelical Christian Iglesias will switch to the Dems and run against Heather in '08:"

"I was recently told to fully expect in the coming months to hear he is switching political parties and that Big Bill's political machine has already geared up the spin machine to make him a star and that he will either run for office or receive a significant appointment from Big Bill. If any of this is true I hope you and the other local media who have been making a big deal out of Heather and Pete will do the same with Iglesias. I won't bet on it however." Offers reader Gary Simpson.

Well, don't bet against us, Gary. Iglesias running for Congress as a Democrat seems a real longshot, given his conservative views. Would the Dems embrace him? But we're entertaining every possible angle, even if some of them seem straight out of the Twilight Zone. After all this is New Mexico politics.

LEGISLATURE '07

The frantic rush and down-to-the-wire action is underway at the Merry Roundhouse. We're on the eve of destruction, er, I mean adjournment...You think it would be more with the amount of the state surplus, but a tax cut package worth around $94 million is now on Big Bill's desk. And he's signed our state's new $5.6 billion budget, a nearly 11% increase over last year. Did yours go up that much?...You want a payday loan bill? You got a payday loan bill. How about a Tilapi fish bill? What in the name of Saint Andrew were they doing wasting their time on this with only hours to go in a session? It stunk the whole place up and the fish died.

I'll put a brief wrap up Saturday when the Legislature adjourns and have a complete report on Monday. Don't forget to email me your news and comments from the link at the top of the page. See ya' soon.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Things could change radically in New Mexico politics in the coming months, or they could stay much the same. Most of it depends on one man, NM senior GOP Senator Pete Domenici. If he survives the uproar over the firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias , does not call it quits and his health holds, he will be on the he trail for another term in '08 and a likely winner. The betting odds are Pete will go for the repeat, but because of recent events they've come down and that has sparked fevered speculation over the future of the Pete Seat and whether NM Governor Bill Richardson just might end up in it.

The insider odds makers stake it out this way. Pete becomes a no-go in early '08 just as the Dem prez nomination is being decided in the first primary states. Bill is coming up short, abandons the prez trail and announces for senate. Any other Dem in the race or thinking about it clears out in favor of the Guv who, speaking of odds would be the heavy favorite to take the win against any R, including U.S. Reps. Wilson or Pearce.

But what about becoming vice-president or secretary of state? That is a problem. How could Big Bill know if he was going to be considered for such positions by the likely nominee early in '08? And if he had a shot at one of those posts, would he want to get involved in a senate bid? Well, we're not saying there's a perfect scenario, just a lot of them.

HOW MANY REASONS?

The Iglesias affair climbed all the way to the top of the political food chain Wednesday, with White House spokesman Dan Bartlett being pressed for reasons on why Iglesias was given the ax. Here's the Bartlett laundry list.

"They looked at his managerial responsibilities and what they had found in a review process that was undertaken at the Department of Justice, that they felt that he was not managing the office as well as it should be; there was issues about his lack of leadership on key committees that prosecutors, U.S. attorneys serve in capacity for the Attorney General. He served on a key immigration subcommittee, and they felt like he didn't possess leadership skills there and fulfill that job in a way that he should have.

"And, also, they took into consideration the complaints that they were fielding from local officials about the lack of prosecution of cases, and the fact that he had lost a high-profile case, (the trial of ex-Treasurer Vigil) when I think 24 or 25 counts were thrown out by a jury against the government. It was a devastating loss for the government."

Sounds like Bartlett threw in everything but the kitchen sink. But that phone call Domenici made in October asking Iglesias if indictments in the courthouse investigation would be coming still hangs heavy in the air. Did it or did it not cross the ethical lines established by the senate? Meanwhile, Iglesias told KRQE-TV Wednesday he considers the Vigil prosecution a success since Vigil was given a prison term of over three years.

SUBPOENA POWER

Scott Jennings, Bush's '04 NM campaign manager and now a deputy political director under Karl Rove at the White House, will be asked to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. If he does not voluntarily agree, he could be subpoenaed.

IS IT A SCANDAL?

We've used the word "scandal" to describe the U.S. attorney story. Others have used the more mild "controversy." Here is a dictionary definition of scandal: "

1. A publicized incident that brings about disgrace or offends the moral sensibilities of society: a drug scandal that forced the mayor's resignation.
2. A person, thing, or circumstance that causes or ought to cause disgrace or outrage: a politician whose dishonesty is a scandal; considered the housing shortage a scandal.
3. Damage to reputation or character caused by public disclosure of immoral or grossly improper behavior; disgrace.

I think by this definition we are safe using the scandal label, but it is still a bit uncomfortable because there is no criminal activity alleged, at least not yet, and we often associate criminality with scandal. But the definition says that does not have to be the case. Is there a word between controversy and scandal we should use?

HELPFUL OR HURTFUL?

She may be right that politics is holding up passage of a bill in Santa Fe to reform the state's housing authority system, but is Lt. Governor Denish helping or hurting by getting involved? It might just harden House Speaker Lujan's opposition, but he could sorely use any kind of ethics victory in his column.

THE BLOGGING READERS

Some insightful emails lately from the blog readership, so let's get a couple out there. First, reaction on the state's tough new anti-smoking law and our quip that it could cause some bar fights. An ABQ reader says:

"Any bar owner is a fool if he really believes that some kid who is working his way through college won't be saying in court five years later that he and his friends deserve compensation because they were exposed to secondhand smoke in violation of the law, and that the bar owner made fun of the law and laughed about how it couldn't be enforced, and boasted that he would do whatever he pleased and no one could ever stop him, and that he didn't give a damn about health fears, etc. Over time, the smoking ban will ease into place-- bar owners who are too stupid to enforce the smoking ban won't survive in the modern litigious world. Around the country, that is the vision for real enforcement -- not calling the cops or starting fights in bars.

Here's an email from a politico aimed at supporting Heather Wilson's contention that she called U.S. Attorney Iglesias in October, not to pressure him into speeding up indictments in the courthouse investigation, but because she had received a phone call from a constituent who believed Iglesias was "intentionally" delaying such indictments.

"To get higher office, Iglesias would need some Dem support, or, at the very least, only mildly aggressive Dem opposition. Iglesias would be pilloried as rabidly partisan if he released indictments of prominent Dem's anywhere near an election. Therefore, he would hold the indictments until well after the election, then he could have the best of both worlds--Dem's would remember his forbearance and Repub's would see him as anti-corruption. He could (and would) hold onto his job no matter what--Bush would never fire a Hispanic Repub US attorney. (Senator) Pete and (Congresswoman) Heather had aggressively supported Iglesias, regarded this political calculation as a cynical betrayal, and called him and said so. Iglesias overestimated his support...He wasn't as invincible as he thought, and was publicly fired."

Iglesias has said he has no immediate future political plans. Right now he's looking for a job. And even if Iglesias was stalling the indictments for political reasons, it is still a problem for an elected politician to pressure him for action. Did Wilson pressure him? It's the salient question. Iglesias told KRQE last night he considered Wilson's contact with him "absolutely prohibited."

STILL MORE READER BLOGGING

Here's ABQ South Valley reaction to our Wednesday blog on the Dems trying to find a candidate to take on ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson next year:

"Who's Terry Brunner? Has he ever been elected to anything? He may have the inside track with the delegation as a member of (Senator) Bingaman's staff, but he's not the Dem's strongest horse by far. There are other names that sound stronger --James Lewis, Kari Branderberg, Eric Griego, Martin Heinrich, and I am sure there are others. I hope the Democratic party doesn't try to pull an inside selection job like the GOP did with (Guv candidate) Dendahl. A primary might be good for the Democrats to get the best candidate instead of the insiders pick. In the meantime, the state party and current elected officials like the AG, Governor and party leaders should keep the pressure on Wilson and Domenici."

For the record, Terry hasn't been elected to anything, although he once sought a state legislative seat.

Thanks for the comments, Send them via the email link at the top of the page. You can let me use your name or not.

MY BOTTOM LINES

With an over-the-top writing style, sources known as my "Alligators" and a breathless approach to all things political, I am an easy target for satire. And a good dose of it comes from syndicated NM columnist Ned Cantwell...Want to be on national TV? Good luck...

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Bush & Domenici
The Senior Alligator who told us that the U.S. attorney scandal was going to be like "Chinese water torture" had it right--only Tuesday it was more like a deluge. The story exploded with the Administration releasing to Congress emails that confirmed what most suspected; politics, not performance, played the crucial role in the dismissal of NM U.S. attorney David Iglesias and NM Senator Pete Domenici was up to his bocce balls in the scheming. If Democrats play it right, the emails could provide impetus to a just begun Senate ethics inquiry of Domenici as well as one that could begin in the U.S. House to examine the role of ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson in Iglesias's firing.

The emails more or less prove that Justice had at least misled Congress when it said the prosecutors were let go for performance reasons. Congressional headhunters will be after offenders at Justice and the White House. But what about Domenici and Wilson? I asked veteran Democratic political consultant Harry Pavlides for his best thinking on the matter.

"It's all about the phone calls they made to Iglesias in October and whether they asked him to speed up the indictments in the courthouse investigation. The emails could pave the way to show that those calls were unethical--that they were meant to interfere with he course of a federal investigation. But the Democrats are in danger of getting sidetracked. The public isn't concerned if Domenici called the President or Karl Rove; they are interested in whether there have been ethics violations. If they stray too much from that message, it will benefit Wilson and Domenici. You might say, "it's the phone calls stupid." weighed in Pavlides.

That courthouse investigation Pavlides referenced is said to involve prominent Democrats who, if indicted in October, could have given a big boost to Heather's re-election prospects. The indictments remain pending.

Other Gators agreed with Pavlides that while the emails reveal that Domenici even talked to President Bush about Iglesias, to deliver maximum political damage it all has to be linked back to those famous phone calls of Domenici and Wilson that Iglesias testified before Congress about and prove, Iglesias charges, that Domenici violated senate ethics rules.

MICKEY AND STEVE: THEY'RE BACK
Mickey
The seemingly ubiquitous NM GOP lawyer-lobbyist and member of the U.S. postal service's board of governors, Mickey Barnett, made an appearance in email document dump. One shows him asking the White House in June '06 to set up a meeting with Justice so he could go after Iglesias. Barnett raised eyebrows recently when he revealed that FBI agents complained to him about Iglesias's performance.

Barnett was also a key player in that other recent NM Republican Movida. He, along with Domenici chief of staff Steve Bell, helped give birth to the Republican Guv candidacy of John Dendahl last year.

Barnett was excoriated by Republicans in 2004 when he fielded primary candidates against fellow R's in legislative races and was ousted by his party as GOP National Committeeman, but the Administration emails show Barnett and Bell continue to steer NM GOP politics as readers of this blog are well aware. Remember, we don't tell you how we would like it to be, we tell you how it is from the top political sources in NM and the USA.

As for Bell, the emails put his relish for political battle under the spotlight. After Iglesias was fired, the deputy White House counsel, William Kelley, wrote in a note that Bell was “happy as a clam.” Another e-mail said Domenici was “not even waiting for Iglesias’s body to cool” before getting his list of replacements to the White House. All this earned Pete another brutal editorial from the New York Times.

FRUSTRATED DEMOCRATS

Even as the emails gave Washington Dems new ammo, Pavlides, in the game for over 35 years, as well as other Democrats, continued to lament their lot regarding Rep. Wilson, expressing upset that there is still no Dem candidate running against her, or even a first-tier contender waiting in the wings.

"You can't brand a candidate with a cold branding iron; you need to strike when the iron is hot. By not having a candidate they have already let things cool down; the need to get the fire going. Heather should be worried about an opponent; right now she can say or do what she wants to. Democrats can't depend on Washington. They have to do it here. " Pavlides argued.

In an interview with the Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, your blogger was quoted as saying that the NM Dem party "was not doing its job" when it comes to the 1st Congressional district. Party executive director Matt Farrauto fired back in an email saying, "It is candidates that are missing that opportunity, although there are a lot of people chomping at the bit to run. But the missed opportunity is not an albatross that should be tied around the Democratic Party's neck. Apply your logic to the national level. The (national Democrats) could be said to have not done their job because there was no presidential candidate in 2005 to capitalize on the scandals and policy failures of the Bush Administration."

So declared Director Farrauto who works for outgoing party chairman John Wertheim who was handpicked for the position by Governor Richardson whose chief political aides are Dave Contarino and Amanda Cooper. Just in case you disgruntled Dems need some names to call.

After 38 years of failing to win the Democratic majority district, Matt's argument was falling on deaf Alligator ears as they pointed to Wilson's Tuesday morning appearance on KKOB-AM radio where she said her phone call to Iglesias was "entirely appropriate," again claiming that a constituent had contacted her expressing concern about the pace of the courthouse investigation and that's what prompted her call to Iglesias. There was no Democratic candidate around, however, to challenge her and ask the obvious questions.

--Who was that complaining constituent? Will you ask that they allow their name to be released and also show their initial correspondence that prompted your call? How is it appropriate to ask about a case whose disposition could have a dramatic impact on your re-election chances? And do not House ethics rules prohibit the kind of contact you initiated?

Heather could have all the right answers, but the Dems can't be sure until they have a credible contender to press her. Perhaps they are content to wait for a House investigation which may or may not happen.

Besides not having a prominent candidate able to respond to Wilson and weave themselves into the news narrative, the critics, who see a political party's role as developing and recruiting candidates, also pointed out that a hopeful in the arena today could be raising thousands of dollars in contributions from the liberal blogs and others reinvigorated about taking Wilson out after her narrow '06 victory.

MORE WATER TESTING
Terry Brunner
In that Roll Call piece, Terry Brunner, state director for NM Dem U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, said he is weighing a run for the Wilson seat. Here's a PDF of the article. Brunner told me Tuesday he received calls about the article, but he is not ready to commit. Lke the many other names being floated, he did not sound close to any decision.

Republicans are hoping the status quo will continue. One seasoned member of the party of the elephant took a shot at the Dems with this reasoning: "The Democrats can't get anybody to run against Heather because they can't find anyone in a position to challenge another candidate's ethics. They all have baggage and it would come tumbling out if they attacked her."

So what about Pete? He's up for a re-elect in '08 too. As we have blogged, the likely Dem game plan there is to wear the 74 year old down with investigations and more days like Tuesday that make him consider retirement. There are other scenarios as well which I will blog about soon.

A CASE FOR CANALES

Ask and you shall receive. In doing our profile of Robert Aragón and his candidacy for chairman of the Bernalillo county Dem party, we mentioned his opponent, Ana Canales, and reported we were unable to reach her. Today Ana emails in on her candidacy:

"I am a Hispanic woman originally from Texas...I decided to make New Mexico my home and have done so for the past 15 years. I am the executive assistant to Secretary Stuart Ashman in the Department of Cultural Affairs, was appointed by (Democratic) Chairman Wertheim to the Affirmative Action Committee and am serving as secretary of the Democratic Women of Bernalillo County. I was on Governor Richardson’s re-election campaign..In these three short years, I have been more visible than some people who have lived here all their lives...My goals for the party are...election protection, help the state House candidates and of course, fundraising. "

Thanks, Ana. By the way, Mel Aragón was Robert's uncle, not his grandfather as we initially blogged Tuesday.

LEGISLATURE! LEGISLATURE!

How's this for a modern twist. Big Bill signs a bill very tough on smoking tobacco in public places on the same day the House approves a bill that allows the medical use of pot. Hey, who is going to enforce that smoking measure? Are bar customers going to call the cops on each other? in some New Mexico saloons, they may have to hire more cops to stop the fights, not the smoking.

As for the rest of the Legislature, it is breaking fast in the final days. The hard working trio of Steve, Walt, Heath and others have you covered. Rumor has it they are kept going by a big pot of spaghetti and meatballs that Steve Terrell continuously refreshes with strong seasonings that awaken the senses. Just don't put any medical marijuana in it, fellas. There's enough hallucinating at that Roundhouse already.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Let's talk politics Thursday morning at 9 a.m. on the state's largest radio station, 770 KKOB-AM, as I join morning host Bob Clark for context, analysis and perspective on all things La Politica.

Email your news tips and comments to the link at the top of the page. I'm Joe Monahan inviting you to join me again soon.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
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They've seen the peaks and valleys of the political life, but there is one constant in the history of the Aragóns of Albuquerque--they don't give up. Today, even as the most famous member of their clan--former state senate powerhouse Manny Aragon--is threatened with a possible federal indictment--Robert Aragón, a cousin to Manny and a onetime state rep, has emerged as the favorite to become the new chairman of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party.

Speaking from his ABQ law offices where the soon-to-be 50 year old conducts "a small practice," Robert Aragón told me he is confident of victory when county Dems convene April 14 to elect new leadership, and he doesn't expect cousin Manny to be an albatross.

"I love my cousin. He is a good and decent man, but I am not Manny. Anyone who knows us is aware that that our politics differs. We are two different individuals."

Those political differences, Aragón said, are simple. "Manny is liberal and I am more centrist."

ROBERT'S ROOTS

The Aragóns are known as hardball political players, but they have been backbenchers since Manny left the senate. Robert's dad, Bennie Aragón, was a leader in the state House in the 70's. Robert's uncle, Mel, was an ABQ city councilor in the 70's and lifelong Democratic power broker. His sister, Margaret Aragón, was married to ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez. Last year, Robert's nephew, young Dominic Aragón, ran in the Dem primary for an ABQ West Side House seat, a race won by Moe Maestas.

At one time it was Robert who represented a new generation. He was appointed to the House in 1979 to fill the vacancy created when his father, then-Rep, Bennie Aragón, took a position in the administration of Governor King. Robert was barely 21 and became one of the youngest House members ever. His House career ran until '86 when he was defeated by fellow ABQ Dem Dan Silva who still holds the seat.

Aragón describes himself as having been "extremely active" in party affairs since his last political play--an unsuccessful run against the late GOP ABQ Congressman Steve Schiff in '92.

"I want to build a party of inclusion, to bring together the young and old, the progressives and the centrists. We won last November, but a lot of it was due to anti-Bush sentiment. I want to help build a party people vote for." He said.

Robert insists his days of seeking political office are over. But would he be a front man for his former brother-in-law, Mayor Marty Chavez, who he partnered with in practicing law and with whom he still has a close relationship?

"Party rules are clear, and I helped write them. A county chair will stay neutral in contested primary races. I will adhere to the rules," he asserted.

Aragón, of course, was referring to the nascent battle for the 2010 Dem Guv nomination brewing between Chavez and Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish. Has he talked to Di and asked for her support?

"I plan to talk with her after the legislative session. She is very busy. I am a longtime fan. You will see my name on her list of contributors." Aragon told me.

LOOKING AHEAD
Manny Aragón
While saying he would be neutral in a Marty-Di match-up, Aragón is taking sides in the race for NM Dem Party chair which will be decided at the end of April. That battle to replace John Wertheim features ABQ attorney Brian Colón and former Socorro state Rep. Mike Olguin.

"I think Brian is the frontrunner, but if Mike is successful I will work with him to build a strong party," He offered.

Ana Canales, a progressive Dem who was a Wesley Clark prez backer and later a John Kerry supporter, is also running for chair. While the well-known Aragón is the front runner, insiders point out that a couple of years ago state Senator Linda Lopez was ousted as Bernalillo county chair by the progressive wing, so don't count Canales out. Aragón is working the liberals hard, trying to persuade them his candidacy should not be anathema to them.

Like Colón, Aragón is tight with Big Bill, leading to speculation that he is supporting both of them in their bids, but the Guv is not expected to make any public declarations. Based on Aragón's musings, Denish would not seem prone to oppose him. She has worked hard to build bridges to Hispanic Dems and an open fight would not serve her well. Also, there is increased speculation that Mayor Chavez is not as committed to the Guv race as Di and that other offices could still attract him.

Some argue that the emergence of Aragón is a step back to the politics of the past and that it keeps the party shadowed by the ethical concerns of cousin Manny. But others maintain that the politically tested and pragmatic Robert Aragón will send the message that the majority party is serious about maintaining its grip on power, a subject that his storied family is well-acquainted with.

NEWS RATINGS IN JEOPARDY

The news is no match for Alex Trebek. The host of Jeopardy led KRQE-TV to a narrow February ratings victory over the 6 p.m. newscasts on KOAT-TV and KOB-TV. CBS affiliate KRQE also continues its domination of the important 10 p.m. news, garnering a 21% share of the audience watching TV at that time, compared to 14% for both KOAT and KOB.

A GRIPING LAWMAKER

Not everyone at the Roundhouse is impressed that things are running relatively smoothly. One veteran lawmaker emails in: "For the past four sessions the leadership was accustomed to having the Governor set the agenda and work hard with staff to see it delivered. With the Governor gone or preoccupied most of the session, there was never an agenda and very little lobbying or energy devoted to the significant issues like health care, education, water and spending."

Well, if you are running for the Dem prez nomination getting rid of cockfighting, increasing the minimum wage and sexy renewable energy legislation is significant. And so it goes...

Email your news and comments from the top of the page. I'm Joe Monahan reporting to you from ABQ NM.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Chair Saavedra
Nice try, Santa Fe. But passing a state budget with a whopping 11 percent increase and sending historic minimum wage legislation to the Governor is just not enough to get you the lead story on this little ol' blog or in those other places where they still use ink to spread the blues. The political news cycle has become all-U.S.-attorney-scandal-all-the-time. But because we're nostalgic types, for old times sake we'll start out this Monday covering the final week of the NM legislative session. We won't dither too long at the Roundhouse. Just below we re-enter the house of pain occupied by Iglesias-Wilson-Domenici and an ever growing cast.

Since Big Bill stopped being Big Bully, the wheels of the Legislature have been grinding away with unusual ease. It's like a prix fixe dinner where you know what's on the menu and exactly what you're going to pay. Still, it showcases the Guv's penchant for diplomacy and how it can work in Santa Fe as well as in distant lands ruled by dictators. This diplomatic mission still has five days left, but it appears the 112 hostages (legislators) will be released and there will be no train wrecks.

The turning point may have been the Guv's give on last year's veto of a slew of building projects for the lawmakers. They restored the projects this year and the Guv agreed, making sure to eat his crow out of sight. As we approach the end game, the aforementioned whopper of a budget has been approved, the minimum wage bill soon will be, the cockfighting ban is a done deal and a renewable energy bill has made it through. Quite a record. Maybe Bill should run for President more often.

The quote of the session came when House Appropriations Committee Chair Kiki Saavedra quipped, "I'm scared too" after GOP ABQ Rep. Justine Fox-Young warned that the big budget could mean a future tax increase if oil and gas revenues fall. Well, being scared and having the fear of God (or the electorate) put into you are obviously two different things. In the early rounds, young Ms. Young was joined by 19 of her R colleagues in voting against the$5.65 billion budget, but by this weekend that little yell had turned to a whimper and the House passed the budget without debate. Without debate? Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico could indeed come to rue the day of the too big budget, but they are not going to listen to Republicans or Democrats who cry "we told you so" because in the end none of them did.

THAT BOX OF PANDORAS
Chairman Weh
The U.S. attorney scandal continues to unfold, creating a state of blogging bliss heretofore only approached when Jeff Armijo tried to become state auditor. But Jeff turned out to be a piker compared to David Iglesias. The former and fired NM U.S. attorney has, to use the inimitable words of former NM Governor Bruce King, opened "a box of pandoras." In that Greek myth (and also Bruce's) greed, vanity, slander and envy are let out of Pandora's box and unleashed on the world, leaving only hope inside. But hope that this affair will end sooner rather than later seems as likely now as Hercules showing up at the Downs at Albuquerque to clean the stables.

A good scandal, like a soap opera, needs fresh characters. And this weekend we got a boatload. Among those making stage debuts were GOP lawyer-lobbyist Mickey Barnett, Republican attorney Pat Rogers, GOP Chair Allen Weh and ABQ attorneys Randi McGinn and Paul Kennedy. Mickey emerged in the Sunday New York Times which also featured an interview with your blogger. (Now I can retire.) He said that FBI agents had been complaining to him about the performance of Iglesias. That leads to the question of why the FBI would complain to Barnett and not Justice. Was it because he has long standing ties to Senator Pete Domenici and White House political guru Karl Rove and the agents wanted political pressure put on Iglesias? It seems it's a question for the bloodhounds on the Senate Ethics Committee who have started a "preliminary inquiry" into the Iglesias firing and whether Domenici and ABQ GOP Rep. Heather Wilson tried to have him speed up indictments of Democrats being investigated in connection with the construction of ABQ Metro Court.

Rogers, a longtime political associate of Barnett and Wilson, revealed to McClatchy Newspapers that he had lunch with Iglesias before the November '06 election and complained about the lack of indictments in the corruption probe; indictments that could have helped Wilson in her tight race with Dem Patsy Madrid. And Chairman Weh told McClatchy that he put the arm on Rove to fire Iglesias at an '06 White House Christmas party. But after saying that, Weh later told the AP the decision to fire Iglesias had already been made by the time he whispered in Karl's ear. But Weh also confirmed he had spoken with a "liaison" to Rove as early as 2005 about dumping Iglesias.(Late Sunday McClatchy reported that Rove says he may have forwarded such concerns about Iglesias to the U.S. attorney general.)

The Rogers-Weh-Barnett cameos in this affair point to an orchestrated political effort to speed up indictments and to get rid of Iglesias if he didn't. Democrats say the effort peaked with pressure filled and unethical phone calls to Iglesias in October by Domenici and Wilson. Pressure from non-government sources to fire Iglesias is not the big deal. They have no official power over him, although they will now probably be dragged into official inquires. For Domenici and Wilson, who are part of the government, the issue of how they responded to the complaining is all-important. Meanwhile, the Justice Department, which has been insisting Iglesias was fired for performance, not political reasons, is looking more and more like a guy with egg on his face, with a leading Democratic senator now calling for the head of Attorney General Gonzales.

INVESTIGATION NEWS
Attorney McGinn
Also via the NY Times, we learn that trial attorney McGinn is defending one of those being investigated in the courthouse probe. The article did not say who she was defending. Former Dem State Senator Manny Aragon is known to be a primary target. In yet another sign that things ain't what they used to be, Democrat McGinn showed no hesitancy in taking a poke at Pete. “It’s given the public a look under the halo of St. Pete,” said McGinn of the scandal, invoking the moniker often used to describe the state's senior senator.

As for the senator, he was in no mood to spar with anyone. By week's end when he conducted a news conference with NM radio reporters, he had settled on a brief statement explaining that he would not be taking questions on the scandal. You can hear the weariness in his voice, and you can hear the clip here.

While McGinn was poking Pete, GOP attorney Kennedy confirmed that he is the lawyer for an accountant who went to the FBI to report the alleged courthouse shenanigans and which implicated prominent Democrats. That was news to New Mexico.

And it is future news of the corruption case that R's are hoping will quell this disturbance for Pete and Heather. Their ray of hope scenario has the feds announcing big-name indictments in the case soon, detailing an outlandish rip-off scheme so shocking it has voters asking: "David who?" But with aggressive counselors like McGinn on the warpath, the courthouse caper case will be portrayed as a Kangaroo Court convened to give the bum's rush to a bunch of Dems. Somebody call Orville Redenbacher. We need extra popcorn for this one.

YES, THERE'S MORE

What else can we say? Plenty, but we know you have a life so just a little more. How about the story line that Iglesias is an ungrateful reprobate who turned out to be an incompetent? Well, Iglesias was given a big break by Domenici and Wilson, but Republican political consultant Jeff Gardner says the congress folks did not sink their hooks into him until well after he paid his own dues, making the argument that while Iglesias was groomed by the GOP bigwigs, he wasn't incubated by them.

How about some more on the political chess game this scandal has put into play? You would need Bobby Fisher to figure it all out, but I pulled up a chair anyway with New York Sun reporter Ryan Sanger to figure out whose kings are under attack and whether escape is still possible. One name we did not mention who may want to play is that of former U.S. attorney John Kelly who was pushed into political oblivion when he lost to Heather in 2000. But he came back for a visit Sunday in the pages of the ABQ Journal. Is Kelly's Irish up enough to try to corner the Queen again? He joins a long list of possibles.

THE ODD COUPLE

Did we forget Steve Pearce? You know him; the guy who is supposed to stand as much of a chance of replacing Pete in the U.S. Senate as Phil Griego does of stopping a cockfight. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the future. The southern NM GOP congressman popped up with none other than Big Bill over the weekend, touring the ABQ veterans hospital and promising to ease the pain of those who fought for their country. Wasn't that Heather who also toured the hospital a couple of days earlier all by her lonesome? Just who is the front runner now for the GOP Senate nomination for Pete's seat? (If it becomes available, of course.)

Now, we're not saying Bill and Steve are knocking back shots together at The Bull Ring, but this is the second time the duo has been seen hamming it up for the statewide TV cameras, the first being earlier this year when they pledged to work together to fight the meth epidemic. What better way for an ultra-conservative Republican to soften his image than appearing with his centrist Governor in a bi-partisan lovefest? Hey, we're not going to hold it against them. After the news of late, we're glad to see a couple of fellas in politics actually having some fun.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Because you made it all the way down here, you deserve a juicy tidbit. Adam Feldman of Kentucky will be named the new executive director of the NM GOP, replacing Marta Kramer who recently left. What a time to come aboard!

Want in on the action? Drop an email from the link at the top of the page. Desea el politica vivo del la!

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Heather
Can Heather Wilson dodge another bullet? Republicans see a glimmer of hope, but Democrats are naysaying speculation that no member of the U.S. House will come forward as required to file an official complaint against the ABQ GOP congresswoman with the ethics committee and launch an investigation into her role in the U.S. attorney scandal.

"There are a couple of hundred Democrats and I am sure you will get one to do what has to be done," said a Democratic veteran.

Probably so, but no one has yet. We know for sure it won't be House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer who told the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call that he believes Wilson's actions need to be investigated, but he won't be the one asking.

"I think the House ought to take it under consideration. Am I going to file a complaint? The answer is no. It has been my consistent position that the ethics committee has a responsibility...when issues are raised in the public sphere...I would hope they would do that.' Hoyer said.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Heather shouldn't start breathing easier. "Congressional sources say that fellow lawmakers may file a complaint with the House Ethics Committee." Reports the paper.

Unlike Senator Domenici, Heather says she has yet to hire a lawyer to handle any case that results from the charges leveled by former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias who told Congress this week that both of the prominent Republicans tried to get him to speed up indictments in the investigation of the construction of the ABQ Metro Court and other projects. But she could easily be getting some free legal advice. Her husband, Jay Hone, is an an attorney.

PETE AND THE PRESS HEAT

Senator Domenici, long a favorite of the ABQ Journal, did not get a break this week when the state's largest newspaper editorialized that there should be an independent counsel hired to investigate ethics charges against Pete and Heather or probes by the congressional ethics committees. The Journal, however, was cordial compared to the editorial page of the New York Times (registration) which Friday scorched New Mexico's senior senator.

"Americans often suspect that their political leaders are arrogant and out of touch. But even then it is nearly impossible to fathom what self-delusion could have convinced Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico that he had a right to call a federal prosecutor at home and question him about a politically sensitive investigation." Opined the Times.

THE BOTTOM LINES

ABQ City Hall insiders say the head of the city's cultural services department, Velia Silva, has resigned after some behind-the-scenes the controversy. Silva served as field director for Mayor Chavez's '05 re-elect. Look for more on that story in the days ahead...Thanks to my readers for all their emails and encouragement this week which helped us cover the Iglesias story...And a tip of the blog hat to photog Mark Bralley for his extra efforts in keeping us supplied with some cool photos. Have news or a comment? Email it in from the link at the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Sen. Domenici
More shock waves buffeted our Enchanted Land Wednesday as stunned observers tried to absorb the news that New Mexico political icon Pete Domenici has been forced to hire a criminal defense lawyer to defend himself before his colleagues in the U.S. attorney scandal.

One Republican, slack jawed in disbelief that the legendary Senator Domenici had been forced so far on the defensive, declared: "Pete hiring a criminal lawyer is like putting graffiti on the Washington Monument."

But as soon as the news was digested, criticism poured forth over Domenici's choice of lawyers. Lee Blalack is the same attorney who defended disgraced Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham who was convicted of bribery and other charges and is now serving eight years behind bars. Domenici was immediately subjected to a berating for his hire by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee where the juices are already flowing over the possibility that Domenici could be subjected to a competitive race next year, or in their wildest dreams, forced to retire early.

Domenici hired his attorney Febraury 28, just prior to bombshells being dropped by then-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. Now that the ethics case is moving forward, Domenici can no longer hold back on a public announcement.

Domenici's lawyer has solid credentials, but his association with Cunningham was just what the senator did not need, coming as it did on the heels of sworn testimony by former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias that Domenici had crossed the ethical line and pressured him to speed up indictments in a federal investigation to benefit Domenici protégé, and ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Domenici is the subject of a preliminary inquiry by the Senate Ethics Committee and Wilson is expected to be subjected to the same treatment soon for her phone call to Iglesias.

There is a weird irony to Domenici hiring this particular lawyer, as was pointed out by the Washington Post: "Blalack, a partner in O'Melveny & Myers LLP's Washington office, is an experienced defense lawyer. As attorney for Cunningham, who is serving a sentence of more than eight years, Blalack dealt with one of the federal prosecutors who was later ousted, Carol S. Lam of San Diego."

SCANDAL MANAGEMENT

Domenici's scandal management has not earned high marks from the political Alligators who say his initial reaction to go into the bunker was wrong. They also faulted his weekend statement in which he said he didn't know anything about contacting Iglesias, only to admit later that he had made the October phone call. Now the tie-in to Cunningham.

"Domenici and his staff are not used to being on a war room footing. He has not had a serious challenge for thirty years and the rust is showing. Whether he will bring in some fresh faces to help out (besides the lawyer) is a question being raised," informed one Potomac Alligator.

Domenici's hasty legal hiring signaled that he was ready to fight the charges, but also meant he was not able to stop the investigation from beginning. His family and friends have to be concerned that the high-stress battle to come could take a toll on the 74 year old Domenici whose health of late has been stable, but can still be frail.

That fancy lawyer is going to cost Pete Plenty of money too. Insiders say he should be able to use his campaign funds to pay for him or start a special fund.

HEATHER IN THE HOUSE

While Pete was lawyering up, over in the House the powers-that-be were letting Heather know that the lions would soon be released on her too. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer volunteered that Wilson's alleged strong-arming of Iglesias to help out her election should be investigated. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is making her their latest poster child for Republican corruption, featuring her prominently on their Web site. However, Heather was receiving some support from House Minority Whip Roy Blunt who tried to damp down expectations for a probe, arguing Wilson did nothing wrong.

There's divergent views on what consequences Senator Domenici and Rep. Wilson could face from ethics inquires that are beginning to take shape on Capitol Hill, but one thing is certain--politics will play a crucial role in how rough things get.

There are two paths we could go down. The most punishing is described by a former top Democratic House lawyer Stanley Brand who tells the Journal and Washington Post that Wilson could conceivably be the focus of an obstruction of justice investigation by an independent counsel that could result in criminal penalties. On the other hand, another expert told U.S. News and World Report Domenici doesn't face much peril.

"I would strongly doubt that any disciplinary authority would touch this with a 10-foot pole unless you had clear evidence that he crossed the line," says Leonard Gross of the Southern Illinois University Law School. The potential violation, he said, is known as "conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice," but it's a fairly murky standard.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between, but most important for the majority Democrats is that Wilson and Domenici are tied up for months with investigations that will preoccupy them as they prepare for re-election. From a national perspective, our experts say making Domenici and Wilson national causes "keeps the momentum" going that the Dems have on the Republican corruption issue.

OTHER STUFF

For you ethics junkies, here's a complete rundown on the rules of the House and Senate that are at the center of the Domenci-Wilson-Iglesias imbroglio.

And here is an update on the overall investigation by the Senate Judiciary Committee of the entire u.s attorney scandal.

MY BOTTOM LINES

This scandal has mutated as fast as a cockroach zapped with radiation in a sci-fi movie. Last week seems months ago and an ending seems out of reach. New Mexico politics has irrevocably changed. Senator Domenici, an icon who is as much a state symbol as the Zia on the NM flag, has been brought down from the mountain. That he hired a lawyer to defend his ethics before the body he has served in longer than any other New Mexican is an emotional jolt to those of us who have been here any length of time. Generations of New Mexicans helped make Domenici into what he has become and have taken delivery of the results. It can continue. But it will never be the same. Never.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

In riveting testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday former NM U.S. Attorney David Iglesias performed like a trick dog doing back flips as Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led him through a series of questions that laid the groundwork for ethics investigations of GOP Senator Pete Domenici and ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Committee Republicans were mild in their pursuit of Iglesias, seeming to signal no strong opposition to having the Senate Ethics Committee move ahead with a probe of Domenici's actions.

(The key moments of Iglesias's testimony can be seen here.)

A House judiciary subcommittee was treated to a similar Iglesias performance Tuesday and the ethics committee in that chamber is expected to be prodded into an investigation of Wilson. Domenici and Wilson now must prepare for the prospect of being pinned down for months, dealing with what has now arguably become the most controversial episode involving the New Mexico congressional delegation in state history.

The gravity of Iglesias's statements accusing the senator and Wilson of putting undue pressure on him to speed up indictments in a corruption case involving state Democrats hit home since this was sworn testimony, not a political statement.

And Iglesias put flesh on the bones of his key intimidation accusation. He explained that Domenici called him at home, not the office, in late October 2006 asking if indictments were going to be issued soon in the courthouse construction investigation. Also adding a new dimension to the intimidation argument was the revelation that Domenici chief of staff Steve Bell--the "Shadow Senator"--first came on the line to tell Iglesias Pete wanted to speak with him.

It reminded one Alligator of that scene in Godfather II where Michael Corleone reacts to a murder attempt at his home. "In my home, where my children sleep!" Raged Michael. And Iglesias noted that he was in the bedroom of his home with his wife when the senatorial call came. The conversation ended, Iglesias said, with Domenici hanging up the phone when he was told by Iglesias that indictments would not be coming before the November election. "I felt sick afterward." Iglesias testified.

THE DOMENICI DEFENSE

Domenici argued in a statement issued after the Iglesias appearance that the former prosecutor had failed to make his case that he was being pressured.

"Mr. Iglesias confirmed that...my words did not threaten him, nor did I direct him to take any course of action...I asked Mr. Iglesias about timing of the investigation, neither I nor those who overheard my side of the brief conversation recall my mentioning the November election to him. When I was first asked, in response to a chorus of questions, about whether I pressured or threatened Mr. Iglesias, I responded that I did not know what he was talking about. Today he testified that he “felt violated.” I still do not know what he is talking about. In his own testimony, Mr. Iglesias confirmed that nothing I actually said was threatening or directive. I did not pressure him..." Domenici contended.

Who was that who overhead the conversation? Just Bell? Or was there someone else who can corroborate? The definition of being threatened or intimidated is not cut and dry either. The very act of calling him to ask about the indictments, especially at home, was enough for Iglesias. It would be interesting to know if Iglesias, at the time of the October call, knew of Domenici's ongoing effort to have Justice fire him beginning in September of '05. If he had, it would not take a hammer over his head to make Iglesias feel intimidated by the powerful senior senator. But it was the atmospherics that Iglesias pointed to as the foundation of the intimidation. The call to his home, Bell importantly announcing that the senator had complaints about him and wanted to speak with him and the abrupt hanging up of the phone by Domenici were the events that Iglesias believed amounted to undue pressure. That's plenty for the Senate Ethics Committee which has opened a "preliminary inquiry."

It's true that Domenici often hangs up the phone abruptly. How do I know? I interviewed him many times in the 70's for radio programs and he did it then. If that alone were the problem,
Pete would be off the hook. But it isn't.

On another point, the AP reported last week that it asked Domenici if he had "contacted" Iglesias after Iglesias first told the public of Domenici's October phone call. "I have no idea what he's talking about." Responded Domenici. In his statement last night, Domenici says that response was to "a chorus of questions about whether I threatened or pressured Mr. Iglesias," not whether he had contacted him.

Domenici was accused of lying when he admitted over the weekend to making the phone call to Iglesias. Critics pointed to his previous statement to the AP of "I don't know what he's talking about." Unless the AP report is erroneous, Domenici's latest statement has him applying his answer to a different question than the news agency reported it asked.

HEATHER AND THE SEALS
Rep. Wilson
There was a new twist when Iglesias discussed the call Rep. Wilson made to him October 16th, two weeks before the Domenici call. He said Heather inquired about "sealed indictments" in the courthouse case. "She had been hearing about sealed indictments. What can you tell me about sealed indictments? Red flags went up. We cannot talk about sealed indictments." Iglesias testified. He then said he told Wilson that prosecutors sometimes use sealed indictments in national security cases. "She was not happy with that answer." Iglesias told the senators.

How did Wilson learn of "sealed indictments?" Were there news reports of "sealed" indictments? Not that we are aware of. The federal grand jury proceedings are secret. Did someone in Iglesias's office tip her off? Or did Iglesias just not hear right? The courthouse indictments are expected to be announced within weeks, but earlier predictions on the timing have not been accurate. Meanwhile, the same citizens group that filed an ethics complaint against Domenici did the same with Wilson.

THE IGLESIAS PROBLEM

If Iglesias "felt sick," after that call from Domenici, why didn't he immediately call his superiors at Justice and tell them he was being strong-armed? It's a failure Iglesias has admitted to and Tuesday he said it was due to the "loyalty" he felt to Domenici who had recommended him for his job. Why didn't he report Wilson for her errant call? Because, he said, he considered her a friend. Was he more concerned with losing his job than doing his job by reporting the calls? And was he embarrassed to admit that before the nation? It's reasonable speculation. Iglesias was fired by Justice December 7, after repeated calls from Domenici that dated back to September 2005. He then turned on Domenici and Wilson with a vengeance.

PETE & THE WHITE HOUSE

The only good news for Pete and Heather Tuesday was the Scooter Libby verdict coming down during the Iglesias testimony and diverting, if only momentarily, attention from their own problems. But it didn't last long. Demonstrating how the scandal has grown from a toddler to a teenager in a matter of days, the subject of Domenici and Iglesias came up at the White House briefing. There, a spokesman was asked if the Senator had informed the White House about his desire to get rid of Iglesias. The spokesman confirmed that he had. Now the question is what reasons Pete gave the White House for wanting Iglesias out.

These and other issues provide plenty of nourishing fodder for the ethics enforcers to munch on and determine what, if any, specific House and Senate rules may have been violated. That's not good for Wilson and Domenici because it could mean ongoing news stories as the investigation progresses. They can be expected to do all they can in the coming days to have any probes conclude rapidly. But in a reversal of fortune, they no longer have power over events. The Democrats control the Congress.

BY THE WAY

Another reason was offered by the Justice department Tuesday for Iglesias getting the ax. A spokesman told the House subcommittee that Iglesias was out because "he delegated" too much responsibility to his deputy. Iglesias maintains the ax came because he refused to speed up the indictments.

THE POLITICAL LINE

On the political front, the state Democratic party released a statement focusing on Heather and Pete's insistence that it was constituent complaints that led them to contact Iglesias about the courthouse corruption case.

"Wilson’s and Domenici’s initial attempts to stonewall the media only highlighted their guilty conduct. Domenici and Wilson finally admitted in written statements that they phoned Iglesias. Although their statements seem waffling and inconsistent, both Wilson and Domenici disingenuously blame constituents for prompting them to violate congressional ethics rules." The party blasted.

Democrats weighing in on the scandal think it's pretty simple. They say Wilson panicked when she found herself down in the polls in mid-October and called Iglesias in the hope of speeding up the courthouse indictments which she believed would name several Democrats and give her re-election a badly needed boost. Wilson had made the ethics of her Democratic opponent, Patricia Madrid, a major campaign issue.

The Democrats story line has Wilson upset that her phone call did not get the expected results and that she called Domenici and Bell and asked them to call Iglesias. According to this theory, they did, and, as they say, the rest is history.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Speculation on the future of Domenici and Wilson was rampant as Iglesias named their names. I fielded calls from the Los Angeles Times (article here) and Congressional Quarterly as well as a number of my readers. As the frenzy built, the Alligators pondered all conceivable angles. Would Senator Schumer and company try some friendly but firm persuasion to convince Pete not to seek another term next year? If Pete does retire, what Democrats will emerge? Is Heather's hopes for the Senate now hopeless in light of Iglesias's sworn testimony? What about getting re-elected to the U.S. House? And will we have some polls soon showing where Pete and her stand post-scandal? KRQE-TV did an Internet poll last night that showed 67% of the respondents thought Domenici and Wilson's behavior in the Iglesias affair was inappropriate.

So it went on what was an historic day; a day in which the earth shifted under our feet and changed the assumptions under which the fine art of La Politica is practiced.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Former NM U.S. Attorney David Iglesias went before the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning and detailed phone calls made to him by Senator Domenici and Congresswoman Wilson, calls he said were improper. He said Domenici actually called him at home, adding to the intimidation factor. Details are here. Links to view the testimony are linked below.

HERE IS A LINK TO VIEW TODAY'S SENATE TESTIMONY OF FORMER NM U.S ATTORNEY DAVID IGLESIAS AND HERE'S ANOTHER. IT BEGINS AT 8 A.M. NEW MEXICO TIME (10 A.M. EST) HOUSE TESTIMONY IS SET FOR NOON NEW MEXICO TIME (2 P.M. EST) AND CAN BE VIEWED HERE. I WILL UPDATE DEVELOPMENTS AS THEY OCCUR TODAY.
Domenici & Wilson
Trying to pull a rabbit out of her hat on the eve of congressional testimony that could inflict severe damage on her, ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson came out from behind her stone wall Monday night, but whether she produced a rabbit or laid an egg is debatable. And whether her statement encouraged the Democratic majority in Congress to aggressively pursue ethics charges against her is the proverbial $64,000 question.

In a statement released to the Washington Post, Wilson, after days of no comment, admitted what everyone suspected--that she had indeed called U.S. attorney David Iglesias just prior to the November election to ask about a federal corruption investigation involving at least one prominent Democrat. But, she asserted:

"I did not ask about the timing of any indictments and I did not tell Mr. Iglesias what course of action I thought he should take or pressure him in any way. The conversation was brief and professional."

Wilson told the Post that she had received constituent complaints about "the slow pace of federal prosecutions in corruption cases" and that she was even told by one unidentified constituent that "Iglesias was intentionally delaying corruption investigations."

And in a statement that is sure to cause strong reaction, Wilson added: "I thought it was important for Mr. Iglesias to receive the information and, if necessary, have the opportunity to clear his name...If the purpose of my call has somehow been misperceived, I am sorry for any confusion."

Several top Dems last night immediately shot back that it is not Wilson's role to act as supervisor of the U.S. attorney, a function of the executive branch and said her version of events stretched credulity.

"Who was the unidentified constituent? Is there really one? And who were all these other folks supposedly complaining? She says she was looking out for Iglesias's own good, not looking for him to speed up indictments that would benefit her politically? This story seems far fetched, like something her opponents could have a field day with." said one Dem veteran.

BATTLE GOES TO THE HILL

Those opponents will be front and center today as Iglesias and other U.S. attorneys fired by the Bush administration go before two congressional committees--the Senate Judiciary Committee beginning at 8 a.m New Mexico time and then a House judiciary subcommittee at noon our time. Links to view the testimony are at the top of the blog.

While Wilson was trying to take air out of the Iglesias balloon, times remained tough for NM GOP Senator Pete Domenici with word coming that the Senate Ethics Committee is in receipt of a complaint from Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility alleging Domenici violated ethics rules when he made his October call to prosecutor Iglesias. Like Wilson, Domenici claims he made no attempt to speed up indictments related to corruption in building the ABQ Metro Court building and other projects. He apologized for the call, but that wasn't enough to stop the slow wheels of a senate ethics probe to start turning. In a statement that offered no encouragement to the Pete camp, Ethics Chair Barbara Boxer noted that anytime a legitimate complaint is filed against a senator it begins a preliminary inquiry and that such inquires can lead to more expansive investigations.

It's hard to believe that an ethics investigation of Wilson isn't far behind, calling into question the political futures of the state's two most prominent Republicans. Amy Walter with the Cook Political Report, summed up the situation this way for the Post.

"You're having an impact on the Senate race either way-- whether he (Domenici) stays or not."

And handicapper Walter said an inquiry into Wilson's actions could impair Wilson's "outsider" reputation. "It calls into question those skills," she said.

Here in NM, one of my Senior Alligators said if probes are launched expect them to go on for a long, long time. "Joe, it will be like Chinese water torture, with the largest drops falling on Wilson."

STARTLED DEMS

The startling turn in events has stunned NM Democrats who are beside themselves in trying to pinpoint a first-tier challenger for Wilson and also look for a suitable candidate to replace Domenici who they now see as possibly reversing his decision to seek an unprecedented seventh term.

Names were being floated by the bucketful, but none quite rose to the top-level. For example, state Treasurer James B. Lewis, a solid vote getter, but he's now in his 60's. Eric Griego, a former ABQ city councilor, energetic and informed, but seen as perhaps too far left. ABQ City Councilor Martin Heinrich, a thoughtful politico, but perhaps too liberal as well. There is yet to emerge a "jump off the page candidate" where you would say: "That person could beat Heather." Another problem is the reticence of many of the new generation of politicians; they seem risk averse, wanting a sure thing.

The recruiting crisis may solve itself if Wilson's situation in Washington continues to deteriorate; a first level candidate would likely materialize or one of the candidates already mentioned would be able to overcome a critically wounded Wilson. Meanwhile, the failure of the state Democratic party to effectively recruit candidates is coming home to roost as a challenger could already be on the field making political hay and raising money.

MORE DOMENICI NEWS

Besides Heather breaking her silence, another major development came in the Iglesias story Monday when it was revealed that Senator Domenici had been making phone calls to Justice as far back as September 2005 urging that Iglesias be booted out. His office said it was concern about such issues as immigration and the border and Iglesias's poor prosecutorial record that prompted the action.

Defenders of the senator seized on the Iglesias record, but they shot wide of the mark. In fact, federal statistics don't reflect an inability for Iglesias' office to move quickly on cases. In 2001, when Iglesias took over, the data shows a median of 4.6 months for a criminal case in the New Mexico office to move from filing to disposition (dismissal, guilty plea, or trial). In 2005, that time had dwindled to 3.7 months.

Besides, it is not the Iglesias record at issue; it is whether pressuring phone calls were made just weeks before the November election to speed up indictments that would benefit Wilson's re-election bid. The R's are on stronger ground when they fault Iglesias for failing to report the allegedly pressuring calls when they were made, not after he was fired December 7th.

Republican insiders tell me that it was actually Iglesias's investigation of voter fraud from the 2004 election and his findings that it was not widespread in New Mexico that upset some top Republicans and led to the crusade against him, not other issues. The failure to speed up the indictments, they say, was the straw that broke the camel's back and led Domenici, with the prodding of Wilson, to get Justice to finally dump him.

Both Wilson and Domenici are low on ammunition and the mood in Washington seems decidedly unfriendly. The furor over their actions is compounded because the first subpoenas the Dems have issued since taking over Congress are in connection with the dismissal of Iglesias and several other U. S attorneys. It is their first taste of red meat since taking power and it is Wilson and Domenici being served up to a ravenous press and public.

MEDIA ANGST

We're covering all the angles on this biggest of political stories, including the media angle. It was no mistake that Domenici released his version of events and an apology in an exclusive statement to the ABQ Journal late Saturday. The paper has a record of being friendly toward him. But times have changed and other media are not prone to look the other way in this Internet age. Bill Dupuy, news director of Santa Fe public radio station KSFR-FM, slammed Domenici's press office.

"Your staff has done you a disservice in the way they disclosed your statement about the Iglesias affair. They selectively released your statement first to the Albuquerque Journal, at least 12 hours in advance of releasing it to the rest of New Mexico's press and, by extension, to the rest of your constituents. That left me...and the balance of your constituents, to discover through an Internet search we had been left out. Your statement wasn't distributed to all until I personally raised the question Sunday morning." Fired off newsman Dupuy in a letter to Domenici.

It's just one example of the changed atmosphere. Pete's press office has been slow to engage critics of their boss and their boss has suffered for it. If a blog or outlet is not deemed as giving favorable coverage, they are shut out. But the blogs nationally and locally are helping to frame the coverage in other media. And that's the way it is.

THE "L" WORD

Several readers chime in that the media and blogs are ignoring Senator Domenici's initial statement on the Iglesias affair which they say catches him in a lie. When first asked about whether he called Iglesias he told the AP: "I have no idea what he's talking about."

But then over the weekend Domenici admitted calling Iglesias and apologized for the phone call. Was it a "lie?" Well, this is politics. More on this is here.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Our Monday blog said Dem Senator Jeff Bingaman and Dem Rep. Tom Udall seemed a "bit off their game" because Los Alamos Labs lost a major contract to design a new nuclear warhead and their reaction to it was muted. That drew this rebuttal from a D.C. insider:

"Udall & Bingaman have always supported the Lab, even in the wake of recent controversy. However, they have been consistent in their positions that this program may not be the best idea for the nation. In Udall's case, he wanted congressional hearings on this project because DOE's team concluded a study saying our current supply of warheads was fine. They said the life of our warheads are likely twice as long as previously . Plus, how are we going to pay for it? Wasn't this decision a little premature?"

What?? Automatic support of every Los Alamos Lab project is not imprinted on a gene implanted in every newly elected New Mexico congressional rep? I'll be...

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Sen. Domenici
That apology by NM GOP U.S. Senator Pete Domenici was like a fig leaf that covered the most vital parts, but left plenty of skin exposed for Democratic marksmen if they choose to continue the hunt. But Domenici has acted and that's a start. Still twisting slowly in the wind is ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson who continued to stonewall reporters Friday, but will soon face the pickaxes of the majority U.S. House Democrats who will begin chipping away at both that wall and Wilson. (Iglesias is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday at 8 a.m. NM time and before a House subcommitee at noon NM time.)

The Pete apology, unprecedented in his 34 year senate career, came Sunday as former Republican U.S. Attorney David Iglesias prepared to tell the nation Tuesday that the senator and ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson pressured him in two separate October phone calls to speed up indictments in the corruption investigation of the construction of the ABQ Metro Court building and other projects; an investigation targeting former state Democratic powerhouse Manny Aragon.

Domenici's apology (his complete statement here) followed advice offered to him on your Friday blog by a senior Democratic Alligator who speculated that such an apology could call off the dogs starting to bark for an ethics probe of Domenici. He admitted to making the call and inquiring about the probe, but maintained he applied no unethical pressure on the prosecutor to come with indictments.

"The worst case scenario for Pete is senate Democrats trying to convince him to retire or face an ethics probe. If they choose not to do that, then they will be content to let Pete go and focus their wrath on Wilson who is much more vulnerable anyway. There is a big reservoir of goodwill for the senator. He has drawn down the water here, but it may be enough to get him off the hook," offered our seasoned source who first floated the apology option.

Can it be said that Domenici, 74, cut and ran when it came to Heather? They are really in separate boats as Iglesias is saying they made separate pressure-filled phone calls to him just weeks prior to Heather's re-election which nearly ended with her defeat. How could Pete have helped her? By stonewalling with her and going down for the count? Loyalty is one thing; suicide is another. One question that could be pursued is whether Domenici and Wilson communicated with each other before placing any calls to Iglesias. Meanwhile, there are already reports that a citizens group is ready to file an ethics complaint against Wilson and Domenici if Iglesias names them Tuesday.

ET TU, HEATHER?
Rep. Wilson
With Domenici out of the closet on his phone call, will we be hearing something similar from Heather? And what will Iglesias now tell Congress about those calls? He told the Washington Post he "accepted" Domenici's apology, even though it was not offered specifically to him. Will his Tuesday testimony before a House subcommittee soften Pete's involvement and harden Wilson's? After all, it was Wilson, not Domenici, seeking re-election and who would have directly benefited from courthouse indictments. That will make it all the more plausible to her congressional foes that she used a heavy hand that could be the basis for an ethics investigation, and Democrats hope, the end of her congressional tenure.

CONGRESSMAN IGLESIAS?

There was a political story line gaining traction over the weekend regarding any political ambitions of Iglesias who is not, as we blogged last week, a native of Gallup, NM, but of Panama who was raised in Gallup. We quoted the jokers last week who ribbed that perhaps he might switch from R to D and run for Wilson's seat in '08. Lo and behold, the Alligators started surfacing to tell of Iglesias actually making feelers on that front or, depending on who was doing the talking, the Dems making overtures to him.

With the state Democratic party doing such a poor job in recruiting for the congressional seats, the Iglesias speculation took on an air of believability as incredulous as it may seem on the surface. How badly Heather is damaged will determine the number of potential candidates.

WHAT ABOUT MANNY?
Aragon
And what about Manny Aragon? Once again the former state senate leader finds himself smack dab in the middle of La Politica. He is widely reported to be the target in the alleged courthouse caper. The legal beagles say Manny's lawyers have been given a gift horse and can and should argue that any indictments would be grounded in politics not the law.

There was also the race card in play, with some ABQ South Valley operatives noting that if it is finally determined that Wilson made a phone call that crossed the line it would not help her cause in some heavily Hispanic wards that still have warm feelings toward Manny. But what about Pete? "He is not the one they will be after," explained one operative who recounted how Heather tanked in the Valley last November, winning her seat by a district wide total of less than 900 votes. Domenici's seat in '08 is not yet in play by a first-tier Democrat.

Unless Wilson makes a move, we all await Tuesday and I-Day--Iglesias Day--to see if he delivers more surprises and also to assess the mood of the majority subcommittee Democrats. You don't have to be psychic to sense that we could be closer to the beginning than the end.

JOLLY STEVE PEARCE

If you're keeping score--and who isn't?--GOP southern NM Congressman Steve Pearce was the winner of the PR derby in one of the most memorable weeks in state delegation history.

While two of the three R's in the delegation were consumed with Iglesias, Dems Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman were not scoring any points either as the latest blow to Los Alamos Labs had them looking a bit off their game.

We noted Pearce's quick statement last week denying any contact with Iglesias which kept the focus squarely on Wilson and Domenici. On Friday the conservative lawmaker struck a note of odd jocularity. He offered commentary on the brewing scandal and its entertainment value, comparing it with the Anna Nicole Smith saga. What was more striking was Pearce not offering any strong remarks in defense of his two colleagues, but then there could be a U.S. senate seat up for grabs someday soon and someone is going to have to get the Republican nomination.

Pearce has always been the media stepchild among the three GOP NM reps, but with Wilson looking very much like damaged goods and Pete disheveled as well, Pearce's stock, unlike those in the Dow Jones industrial average, was definitely on the rise last week.

THE BOTTOM LINES

ABQ Journal columnist Jim Belshaw felt this fouled-up pic from the New York Times was too good to pass up and he passed it on to us. The headline writer will definitely be put on probation for this one. The Repubs are probably saying not so fast, that's what it really looks like...We haven't intentionally neglected the 2007 NM Legislature; it's just that the compelling political stories have been elsewhere as capitol reporter Walt Rubel notes: " With apologies to NASCAR fans, covering the New Mexico Legislature is a little like watching a stock car race. For those who aren't big fans of the sport— it's pretty dull until there's a crash. And, there haven't been many yet this session — a little rubbing is all." Writes Rubel.

We still have two weeks for some pile-ups, so stay tuned.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Moving to fend off calls for an ethics investigation, New Mexico GOP Senator Pete Domenici Sunday admitted he called U.S. Attorney David Iglesisas before last year's election to ask about a corruption investigation involving at least one prominent Democrat, but he denies he pressured Iglesias to speed up indictments in the case. Here are the money paragraphs in the senator's statement which you can read in its entirety at the Washington Post.

I called Mr. Iglesias late last year. My call had been preceded by months of extensive media reports about acknowledged investigations into courthouse construction, including public comments from the FBI that it had completed its work months earlier, and a growing number of inquiries from constituents. I asked Mr. Iglesias if he could tell me what was going on in that investigation and give me an idea of what timeframe we were looking at. It was a very brief conversation, which concluded when I was told that the courthouse investigation would be continuing for a lengthy period.

In retrospect, I regret making that call and I apologize. However, at no time in that conversation or any other conversation with Mr. Iglesias did I ever tell him what course of action I thought he should take on any legal matter. I have never pressured him nor threatened him in any way.

The Washington Post news story on the Domenici apology is here. And the report from the ABQ Journal is here.

Iglesias has also charged that he was called by ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson just prior to last year's election and pressured by her to speed up the courthouse investigation indictments. Unlike Domenici, Wilson has refused comment. We'll have more on our Monday blog.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Domenici & Wilson
Pete Domenici and Heather Wilson circled their wagons Thursday as former NM U.S. Attorney David Iglesias continued to strafe the landscape with political gunfire, announcing that he will reveal the identities of the two members of the NM congressional delegation who he claims unethically interfered with the workings of his office. And while Iglesias's guns continued to blaze, a subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee was giving him a platform, announcing that Iglesias and other fired U.S. attorneys will be subpoenaed and will testify Tuesday afternoon in D.C. Iglesias is widely expected to publicly name Wilson and Domenici as the intimidating callers, setting in motion an unpredictable series of events that could see the melodrama either fizzle or accelerate and reshape the state's political future in dramatic and profound ways.

Those hoping for a backdown from Iglesias lost that hope when he took to the air of KRQE-TV in ABQ late Thursday and announced that not only will he name the names, but that he is also "reviewing possible documents that I may take to the House for their review" in an effort to prove that improper congressional phone calls took place. The only good news for the beleaguered Domenici and Wilson camps was that Iglesias revealed there was no tape recordings of the mid-October conversations in which he asserts he was pressured to speed up indictments in the investigation of the construction of two Bernalillo county courthouses; an investigation involving prominent Democratic politicos. Those indictments, Iglesias says, will come at the end of March. (Complete TV interview here.)

STALKED ON THE HILL

Domenici and Wilson were stalked on the Hill throughout the day by the national press and the blogs, threatening to set off one of those Washington feeding frenzies that ends badly. Finally tracked down late in the day by the AP, the veteran senator gave a classic non-denial denial: "I don't have any comment. I have no idea what he's talking about," Domenici said. And Wilson told the same news agency in her now familiar aloof manner: "You should contact the Department of Justice on that personnel matter." It was immediately noted across a vigilant blogosphere that this too was not a denial that a call was made.

But House Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers and subcommittee chair Linda Sanchez will not be as easily dismissed by Wilson as the news agencies and the bloggers. There was a growing sentiment in the state political community that of the two, Wilson is in much deeper trouble than Domenici, not that Pete has a walk in the park.

Supporters of the two fear that once Iglesias names them before the nation and charges them with unethical conduct, the now majority Democrats will move quickly for an ethics probe that could be devastating for Wilson, who was only re-elected in November by the slimmest of margins. Already she is bleeding from the charges by fellow Republican Iglesias who was fired by Justice December 7 and worked his last day this week. Insiders say if an official ethics probe is launched the headlines provoked could actually end Wilson's career in the House and forever dash her hopes to eventually replace Pete in the senate.

Washington insiders told me that the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is well aware of and monitoring the Wilson-Domenici-Iglesias triangle. Pelosi was a vigorous supporter of Patricia Madrid who Wilson defeated. And how's this for an ironic twist. The chairwoman of the subcommittee that will hear Iglesias's testimony Tuesday is a Hispanic woman, holding similar views to the Hispanic woman Wilson barely defeated in November--Patsy Madrid.

SMELLING BLOOD; MOVING IN?
Rep. Park
With Wilson already pinned down by the Iraq war and her close re-election, state Dems were renewing their interest in finding an '08 challenger. The names of ABQ state Rep. Al Park and ABQ state Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino made the rounds. And that will probably be just for starters, if Washington Democrats have their knives properly sharpened. No one has announced for Pete's seat, but I did receive an email from one Jim Hannan, who described himself as a "candidate for U.S. Senate, 2008." He called on Domenici to disclose if he asked the Justice Department to fire Iglesias, and if so, why. Hannan did not return a phone call or email inquiry and did not say whether he is a Democrat or Republican.

For Domenici, the risk from the Iglesias grenades was seen as less threatening to his '08 re-election because of the large amount of political capital he has stored. His supporters, perhaps engaging in some wishful thinking, were spreading the word that the whole Iglesias affair would blow over, that it is insider baseball and that the general public really doesn't care.

But others with a more pragmatic bent were already devising exit strategies for Pete from this embryonic scandal. This analysis actually came from a senior Democratic Alligator:

"Pete should consider apologizing. It would be plausible for him to say he was calling to check on progress in the U.S. attorney's office in light of the complicated trial of ex-Treasurer Vigil and wanted to make sure the office was able to handle the courthouse probe. He could say his remarks might have crossed the line and he apologizes. It could be his best chance to move on. Otherwise, this could imperil him. He has a stellar ethical record. This endangers his legacy. If he stays in his bunker the Democrats may drag him out. It could get ugly and undignified. He needs to abandon the bunker and end it, preferably before Iglesias goes national on Tuesday," analyzed our Senior Alligator.

Pete may indeed want to move quickly, as already new ground is being plowed on his alleged phone call. McClatchy newspapers Marisa Taylor is now reporting that her sources are saying Domenici did in fact make the call and was quite aggressive when he phoned.

HARDBALL FOR HEATHER
Iglesias
Wilson has the same option as Pete, but the House atmosphere is much different than the relatively friendly air Pete breathes with his longtime senate colleagues. Wilson has few, if any friends, in the Democratic majority. Still, she might be able to minimize the incident by taking the same line as Pete and downplaying its importance in the overall scheme of things.

But there wasn't giddiness among New Mexico's Democratic D.C. staffers for nothing this week. They know, no matter what, that the 30 second campaign TV spot indicting Wilson on ethics is a done deal.

Another option for the R's is an effort to destroy Iglesias's credibility via rough questioning Tuesday from the GOP minority congressmen and again when he appears before the senate. But press and public sympathy is heavily with the fired U.S. attorneys, and the Bush administration, which fired all of them, is polling at extremely low levels. Iglesias is also showing a much bigger appetite for dealing with the media than he did during his tenure as U.S. attorney. He has been seemingly everywhere, including NPR.

Truly, Iglesias is turning the tables on the state's two most prominent Republicans who now look threadbare in front of the Democratic majority on Capitol Hill. It is political theatre and spectacle of the highest order with no end yet in sight as the relevant congressional bloodhounds are just starting to sniff. For Pete and Heather fans, it's Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." But for the Democrats and Iglesias, the more appropriate play of the bard's is a "Comedy of Errors" of which there appear to have been many in this latest entry in the never ending book of La Politica.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Larry Gomez was named Acting U.S. Attorney for NM Thursday, amid the Iglesias controversy. Gomez was deputy U.S. attorney...ABQ criminal defense attorney Jason Bowles will reportedly interview for the U.S. attorney job with Attorney General Gonzales this week. He just may get the job, as applicants are not flooding in, not with this mess going on. I asked yesterday if he was a Democrat or Republican since he was an assistant U.S. attorney during the Clinton years. I got my answer from a legal Alligator: "Bowles is no Democrat. After clerking for Bobby Baldock, a conservative judge even for the conservative-tilting Tenth Circuit--and his stint at the U.S. Attorney's Office, he began doing legal work for the Republican Party." So Bowles is a true-blue R and as I recall Domenici long ago recommended Baldock for his judgeship. Now it makes sense.

Alligators, legal beagles, and insiders. We need your tips to continue bringing you the latest. Please email your info from the mail link at the top of the page. You can remain anonymous, just not ill-informed. All of today's blog photos by Mark Bralley.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Iglesias
Outgoing New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias dropped a political bombshell Wednesday, sending heavy shrapnel flying toward GOP ABQ Congresswoman Heather Wilson and GOP Senator Pete Domenici. The question now is what will be the reverberations from a probe of Iglesias's explosive charges of improper intervention in his office by two members of Congress who he refused to name because he said he feared retaliation. But Iglesias, according to Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), met with his staff the day before he made his revelations public and is willing to appear under subpoena before the Senate Judiciary Committee and “tell his story” under oath. The Committee is investigating Justice Department dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys, including Iglesias. Meantime, a U.S. House committee is expected to vote today on issuing subpoenas to the ousted prosecutors, including Iglesias.

Iglesias, 49, says two members of Congress called him in mid-October to ask about the status of indictments in the federal investigation of the construction of two Bernalillo county courthouses, indictments that Iglesias said the two congressional members seemed eager for. "They were fishing around for information in terms of the status of the investigation...They were fishing around for a timetable. Those are things I'm prohibited from talking about...I didn't give them what they wanted," Iglesias told the Washington Post. He also said he regrets not reporting the calls as required by Justice policy.

Former Democratic state senator Manny Aragon's name has been linked to the probe, as well as that of other Democratic politicos. At the time Iglesias said the calls were made, Wilson was locked in a tight battle with Democrat Patricia Madrid in which ethics was a major issue. Iglesias says he now believes he was dismissed by Justice because he did not announce indictments in the courthouse case prior to the November election, an announcement that would have been a political boost for Wilson.

THE MAKING OF A BOMBSHELL

Congressional questions about ongoing cases are supposed to go through the Justice Department's Office of Legislative Affairs to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The U.S. attorney is a political appointment, (Bush appointed Iglesias) but he is expected to keep politics out of the law. A member of Congress pressuring a U.S. attorney would at the least be a significant ethical violation.

At a morning ABQ news conference called to discuss his firing and his future plans, Iglesias again defended his performance in office and said despite Justice's denials, his firing was political. But it was several hours later that the bombshell exploded. It came from a phone interview Iglesias conducted with Marisa Taylor of McClatchy newspapers in which he charged that two members of Congress called him in mid-October to inquire about the federal investigation. Why didn't he also announce this before local reporters? Probably to assure maximum national impact.

Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, GOP Congressman Steve Pearce and Dem U.S. Rep. Tom Udall quickly denied talking with Iglesias. That left Domenici and Wilson, but they refused to comment to either McClatchy, the Washington Post or the blogs. It was left to Justice to fire back at Iglesias saying again that he was ousted for performance related reasons, not politics. The spokesman termed Iglesias's charges "flatly false." It was a similar Justice statement over his job performance made before senate judiciary earlier this month that pushed Iglesias over the edge. In an email to a friend and picked up by this blog on Monday, he reacted by calling his firing nothing less than "a political fragging." Iglesias confirmed the accuracy of our report at his Wednesday news conference.

So what members of Congress called Iglesias in mid October? We first reported in December the insider speculation that Representative Wilson was upset that no indictments had come down in the courthouse case during her campaign with Madrid. Domenici was cited as having the same feelings by the legal insiders, but nothing about direct pressure being placed on Iglesias by them was being mentioned. Clearly, however, they are the pair Iglesias is clearing a trail toward.

THE BATTLEFIELD AHEAD
Sen. Schumer
Dem Senator Schumer, a member of Judiciary, wasted no time pouncing on the red meat thrown his way by Iglesias, announcing on the senate floor that the charges were "very serious” and calling Republican Iglesias "a man of integrity.“ California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein signaled her agreement, setting up future sworn testimony by Iglesias and a possible political donnybrook the likes of which the NM congressional delegation hasn’t seen in years

Reaction across the political spectrum was swift and furious.

"He (Iglesias) went suicide bomber, for sure. He blew up whatever political career he had in the Republican party, but he is extremely upset with the allegations that he was dumped because he did a bad job. Also, he may be having a tough time getting a new job, adding fuel to this fire," said one attorney familiar with the ins and out of the drama.

Iglesias's last day on the job was yesterday. He said he has several job offers in the private sector.

Whatever Iglesias's motives, it is now up to the Democrats in Washington to determine how much hardball they want to play. First, will they ask him to disclose the names of the members of Congress at the center of this storm? Will they then try to determine if Iglesias has any proof of those alleged phone calls; a call log, tape recordings or other witnesses? Would a mention of a particular congressional representative by Iglesias launch official ethics probes? According to Washington insiders, the answer to that last question is "yes." Obviously, such ethics probes would have major political ramifications for any congressional member involved.

"If Iglesias were to point directly at Heather or Pete it could light a fire under the Democrats and get them out on the playing field with strong challengers. The allegations aren't criminal, but they are unethical and they surely have political force," offered up an Alligator in the know.

One wag was already suggesting that Iglesias switch parties and run against Heather. Mama Mia!

REPLACING IGLESIAS

Playing against this backdrop is another drama; the one over who succeeds Iglesias. Senator Domenici initially sent four names over to the White House, including that of '06 GOP attorney general candidate Jim Bibb and private ABQ attorney Charles Peifer. But sources in Washington are now telling me that those names are off the list; Bibb for the obvious reason that he is a politician and the White House is being accused with trying to pack U.S. attorneys' offices with political players. The reasons given to me for Peifer apparently no longer being in contention varied.

In another bizarre development in this saga, ABQ criminal defense attorney Jason Bowles, who defended ex-Treasurer Robert Vigil on federal corruption charges, is said by sources in Washington to be under consideration to replace Iglesias! Bowles, 36, teamed with well-known Democratic attorney Sam Bregman to win a mistrial in Vigil's first trial. In the retrial, Vigil, with Bowles by his side, was convicted of only one count of corruption out of two dozen. Bowles is a former assistant U.S. attorney serving during the Clinton years. Is he a Democrat? If so, it's even more weird.

There has been speculation that another reason Iglesias is gone is because the White House, Domenici and Wilson were unhappy with his performance in the Vigil case as well as his reluctance to announce the courthouse indictments prior to the November election.

There is also talk that the White House could turn to an interim appointment because of the mess surrounding the Iglesias departure. Deputy U.S. Attorney Larry Gomez is being mentioned as a possible if that route is taken.

Finding a suitable candidate for a job that may last less than two years (a Democratic President in '09 would name their own prosecutor) and one that is now a political pinata is no easy task, but something will have to be done, whether interim or permanent, and that is expected within days, if not sooner.

ISOLATING HEATHER?
Rep. Pearce
The Alligators were besides themselves over the statement of Rep. Steve Pearce quickly denying that he was one of those congressional reps who Iglesias is saying made improper contact with him before the election.

"Did he really have to issue a statement right away? It could be read that Pearce was isolating Heather as the one who made the call." Argued one political veteran.

It's no secret that both Wilson and Pearce have their eye on the Domenici senate seat if and when it becomes available, so fairly or not, all actions of the two are going to be weighed in that context, this imbroglio being the latest example.

As for Pete, one Alligator put it this way: "It appears he is going to at least get some powder burns. Schumer and the Democrats could try to leverage this by putting pressure on Pete to retire. The D's control the senate by only one vote. If they could turn this into an embarrassment for Pete, they will. But if he decided to call it quits, well, that would be different. We'll have to wait and see if this is as big a deal as the Democrats would like it to be," said our legal beagle.

New Mexico Democrats were salivating over the prospects, noting that it is Republicans fighting with each other, with Dems investigating the charges, not leveling them.

THE BOTTOM LINES

At the Roundhouse, that controversial bill to provide a big tax credit to Sithe Global to build a coal-fired plant on the Navajo Nation was permanently tabled by the House Energy Committee yesterday. Las Cruces are Rep. Joni Gutierrez had voted to bring the credit back to life, but yesterday joined with the other committee Democrats and voted to table the proposal. We blogged this one last week noting widespread environmental opposition and the radio ads that were run against the bill.

This is the home of New Mexico politics--www.joemonahan.com. We're #1 in readers, #1 in advertisers and #1 in scoops! (Hey, if we don't tell you, who will?) Send your news and comments from the email link at the top of the page.

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