Thursday, June 24, 2021Political Potpourri: Heinrich's Puzzling AG Endorsement; Manny's Trump Embrace Deepens And APD Union Boss On Why ABQ Already Has 60 Homicides This Year Insiders, Alligators and others who ponder such matters are still baffled over that early endorsement of Dem attorney general candidate Raul Torrez by Sen Martin Heinrich. Torrez, the BernCo DA, is in a blood feud for the '22 AG nomination with State Auditor Brian Colón. Sure, Heinrich styles himself a leader of the progressive left and Colón is a moderate but why make well-known enemies for no apparent reason? Maybe Martin's bored with his day job and wants to moonlight as a political Hefe? BernCo Sheriff and ABQ mayoral candidate Manny Gonzales is betting the ranch that being associated with Donald Trump is not a make or break issue in his race against Mayor Tim Keller. City campaign finance reports show that Gonzales has hired Trump acolyte and national media consultant Phillip Stutts who heads Go Big Media. Stutts will be working with GOP political consultant Jay McCleskey who Gonzales has also hired. The mayor's race is officially nonpartisan but look for Keller and company to do their best to paint Manny into a Trump corner. As ABQ records its 60th homicide of the year putting it on track for an all time record, we asked Shaun Willoughby, president of the APD officers union (APOA) to offer his explanation for the wave of violence: The increase in crime we are experiencing across this country is directly related to the lack of respect for law enforcement, the defund the police movement and the liberal agenda that keeps criminals out on the streets instead of behind bars. We have allowed officers to become enemy number one in this country, and as a result we are seeing people leave the law enforcement profession in mass droves and there is no one in line to replace them. The media has told our youth that it’s not a profession to be revered, so why would young people consider becoming a police officer now? Then we have judges, district attorneys, mayors, and governors across the United States, more focused on keeping criminals out of jail then on how to keep people safe in their homes. This crime wave will continue until people start to speak up, get engaged, and support law enforcement to do their job and then value the job they do for our communities. That's a cogent argument but how about some counterpoints? Email them in. AN AMBASSADOR AND LAMB
Joe, we in the Española Valley received good news when it was announced that Ken Salazar of Colorado has been nominated to be Ambassador to Mexico. Ex-US Senator Salazar's family is from the Española area with dozens of Primos in his family line living in the Hernandez area. Ken Salazar has visited both countless times to visit with his New Mexico family. Hooray for Ken and his extended family. That reminds us that it's about time for a summer run to Española. The bad news is that Angelina's is no longer open so no more lamb costillas. We'll have to look for another spot for that delicacy--if there is one--or else it's back to the chicharrones. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021 |
|
