"The only North he ought be worried about is Northern New Mexico," quipped a veteran GOP operative upon learning the news that Big Bill may again be called to diplomatic service by the bizarre government of North Korea. But a top D spun right back that Big Bill has had past success with the North Koreans, did not initiate the latest call, they did, and if he can help head off nuclear confrontation he should be allowed to do so without political nitpicking. "This is welcome news for him. Maybe some R's are upset that it may take the focus off his problems with the jet plane purchase and the speeding issue. But it reminds New Mexico that it has a governor who commands respect outside of the state," spun our D informer.

The Guv's office low-keyed the announcement and noted they would take their cue from the Bush Administration in going forward with any meeting in North Korea. The controversial $5.5 million planned jet plane purchase was not completely forgotten in the midst of the North Korean announcement Wednesday. KKOB-AM radio newsman Larry Mohlenbrink and I wondered aloud before a radio interview whether the new jet will be in service in time to take the New Mexican entourage on the Korean diplomatic mission. I don't think the turboprop would make it," mused Larry.

ELI'S COMING; HIDE YOUR KIDS

Meanwhile, up in northern New Mexico Eli Chavez, who turned on Big Bill after the Guv opposed his bid for the ABQ Congressional seat, tells the Rio Grande Sun in Espanola he will launch an independent bid for Guv next year. The political gadfly unleashed a stream of invective against the Guv that reveals the hurt: "I call him 'Governor Greed,'" Chavez said. "He is a greedy bloodsucker. He's chewed up New Mexicans and spit them out and doesn't look back. "Look at that airplane. All I can see is it flying to Iowa and New Hampshire," Chavez said, tying together the state's planned purchase of a new jet with Richardson's rumored presidential ambitions." If there's no children reading the blog today, click here for the full piece.

SOMETIMES CRIME PAYS

It's one of the stinkiest cop scandals in state history, the infamous APD evidence room scandal whose perpetrators go unaccountable and unprosecuted. And the stench keeps getting worse. Two former employees of the room have been busted for forging drug prescriptions--This, mind you, in no way relates to the evidence scandal. It's just two wayward villians. At least that's the spin from the powers-that-be.

New APD Chief Ray Schultz has his hands full. How can he restore trust in light of the ongoing scandal? Longtime APD critics continue to haunt him too. Take this missive from a Web site called realcrimes.com.which was regularly updating what they deem APD misbehavior. They are passing around this April 17, 2001 entry: "Deputy Chief Ray Schultz announced that eight to ten APD officers faced punishment for a 1999 plot to illegally steal premium satellite television service by downloading computer software that allowed them to reprogram subscription cards. Schultz stated that none of the officers would be dismissed, but would be “reminded that they shouldn’t do things like that. Sound familiar?

HIGHEST OF THE HIGH

At least the chief can afford to take the heat. It turns out he is now the highest paid city employee, pulling down over 123K a year. KOB-TV's Neil Simon has been running the numbers and has the other highest paid city workers.

Keep the politics coming. Email your comments, news, complaints or whatever else is on your mind. I look forward to hearing from you.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
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Somebody wake up Eric Griego and Judy Espinosa. If the two heavyweights in the ABQ Mayor's race keep it up they may be a factor in the Oct. 4 face-off after all. First, Mayor Marty misfired on voter ID, accusing Winter of being against it, then the state GOP implied that the mayor stole their e-mail database and, by God, someone was going to pay for such a high crime and misdemeanor, if it indeed it actually happened. Hey, isn't that the same e-mail list that some R's accused State Sen. "Lightning" Rod Adair of wrongfully getting his hands on a year or so ago? Well, that was then and this is now. The GOP says it's launching an "internal investigation" into the maybe disappearing database. Maybe they can start by talking with Rod. Not that Mayor Marty was too worried about the GOP charges, not unless he and his dog Dukes crawled into GOP headquarters in the middle of the night and lifted the disc. If he did, someone call the Washington Post, we've got ourselves a Watergate, or is it Riogate?

Whether the mayor was "gifted" the GOP list or not, he has plenty of other things on his plate. Chief among them is getting his campaign back on solid footing after sending repeated volleys Winter's way on voter ID, only to see them deflected back on him by the "free media." Not that anyone other than you and I and other junkies noticed. Mr. & Mrs. Albuquerque are on siesta and to Hades with anyone, especially a bunch of politicians, who try to butt in on their summertime fun. But in La Politica boys will be boys. And girls will be girls. Which bring us to the subject of ABQ GOP State Rep. Justine Fox-Young.

MICKEY'S FOX
Rep. Fox-Young
If anything revealing has come out of the amateur hour of campaigning of late, it's young Ms. Young's defense of fellow R Brad Winter. Remember, the Fox-Young's of the world, affiliated as they are with the breakaway GOP faction led by lawyer-lobbyist Mickey Barnett, are a leading indicator of which way the wind is blowing at Mickey's place. And that's not as predictable as you might think. Remember legalizing drugs? In any event, Justine gave a vigorous defense of moderate Winter's stance on voter ID panning Mayor Marty for daring to question the city council prez. And for those of you who need a weatherman (or a blogger) to know which way the wind is blowing, here's the forecast. The Fox-Young defense of Winter signals that the Barnett- Weh-Dendahl-Adair-Thompson-Youngberg-Foley-McCleskey-Rogers-Young faction is ready to play ball with the man they tried to obliterate just two years ago when he was challenged for his council seat by one Barnett-backed Patrick Milligan.

DIVIDE AND TIE?

Mayor Marty has a nice share of R's who shop at his store. He does and he will continue to try to divide the GOP as best he can because the key to the magic kingdom belongs to the contender who can unite one of the two major parties behind his candidacy. Obviously, the Republican National Committee and its various local acolytes have taken an interest in unseating Dem Marty as a prelude to taking on Big Bill next year. While the attacks against the mayor escalate, Mr. Warm and Fuzzy, AKA, Brad, is unseen. But he's not paying for this shindig--the party is--and the last we heard he who has the gold rules.

So there you have it. The Democrat mayor trying to hang on to his R's, the moderate R Brad embracing his former foes and neither candidate hitting on all cylnders. Is that what they mean by "politics makes for strange bedfellows?" Someone throw me the covers, this is too weird to watch.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
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Heads up all you aspiring young politicos. Don't get scared away from campaigns by the crazy personalities, odd hours and iffy pay. The payoff is still there if you're lucky enough to play for the winning team. For inspiration just take a look at the crop from the NM Bush-Cheney 04' campaign.

Shawn Sullivan, former NM GOP deputy director and Bush 04' senior field director, is now a senior advisor to an assistant secretary of defense. Scott Jennings, who was pulled into NM from Kentucky as NM director of Bush-Cheney, is now associate political director at the White House. Ken Spain, former Bush NM communications director, is now deputy chief staff for Rep. Mike Conaway of Midland, TX. Sara Lister, a Bush-Cheney deputy director, is back running Sen. Pete's PAC and also fundraising for ABQ mayoral hopeful Brad Winter. And Scott Darnell, Chris Atencio and Alexis Valdez, all former NM field Directors for "Victory '04," are working as field directors for the NM GOP.

Even controversial and hot button political player Jay McCleseky landed himself a nice plum job. The former Republican National Committee consultant for the Bush campaign is now the RNC regional political director for the Southwest. One of th alumni tells me "it's safe to say most of us will b back ont he campaign trail nextyear." And why not. To the victor go the spoils. Indeed.

HEATHER'S PAY HIKE

Being a U.S. Rep still isn't a bad way to bring down a sizable paycheck. And apparently ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson thinks her constituents understand. She was the only New Mexico Rep to vote in favor of a recent pay raise. Dem Rep Udall and the GOP's Pearce declined the extra cash. The raise passed on a 263-152 vote and will hike the salaries of House members and senators by about 1.9 percent to $165,200. If Heather is running scared in 06,' she isn't showing it.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

For some bizarre reason voter ID has become an issue in he ABQ mayor's race. The ABQ Tribune's Erik Siemers and I talked about it resulting in his dispatch explaining the political ins and outs on this first headline grabber of the 05' campaign.

Meanwhile, Trib political reporter Kate Nash wonders about proposals in Washington to regulate blogs and bring them under the wing of the Federal Election Commission. So do I and we get together on it in her latest column.

What's up in your corner of New Mexico? Let us know. Your e-mails are always welcome. There's a link at the top of the page.

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