DISQUS

Check out more commentary and a photo slideshow of the Obama event at Espanola at Democracy for New Mexico:

http://tinyurl.com/4mb4qe

http://tinyurl.com/4qbpxf

"the question of whether Heinrich worked as a lobbyist has dominated the debate over the past week."

Well, only in some quarters and with some writers.

about that given our current leadership crisis in Washington. (Sorry, I had to continue here as I hit post early by mistake on the first part.)

Talk about beating a dead horse. I haven't noticed that the local electorate is up at arms about Heinrich's long-time advocacy for the common good and the environment. This is a non-story and yet NMI has now published three articles on it at a time when voters need to know about the issues, not the latest talking point memo issued by the Republicans.

I thought the mainstream media was doing a poor job on covering issues and the incredible policy challengers we face now and in the near future, but now I'm beginning to think that the so-called "new media" isn't any better.

Another point: haven't you found anything that might merrit a closer look in Darren White's background and job performance. How about a probe about what really caused him to quit his cabinet position with Gary Johnson. Something about a slew of cops voting no confidence on his leadership. Voters might want to know abo

So if what you say is true, why isn't the White campaign requesting records and taking legal action? Just keep spinning, Jim. We all know where you're coming from on this. By the way, how are the lawsuits against Darren White and the lawbreaking of the Sheriff's Department going? Like the latest polling?

So if what you say is true, why isn't the White campaign requesting records and taking legal action? Just keep spinning, Jim. We all know where you're coming from on this. By the way, how are the lawsuits against Darren White and the lawbreaking of the Sheriff's Department going? Like the latest polling?

No, actually, you have to prove he did something wrong. You can't merely assume it. The burden of proof is on the accuser. I'm sure if there were any proof of wrongdoing, White's campaign would have dug it up by now and you'd be parroting it here.

And why should anyone take our opinion on this seriously? You have strongly implied that Heinrich is pushing the agenda of eco-terrorists. Sorry, Jim, your credibiity on this issue is low, to say the least.

People know Heinrich and his passionate work for good policy. Using the terms "eco-terrorist" and "slick lobbyist" in relation to Heinrich is laughable, desperate and inaccurate, as you well know if you let yourself admit the truth instead of spinning to help White.

No, actually, you have to prove he did something wrong. You can't merely assume it. The burden of proof is on the accuser. I'm sure if there were any proof of wrongdoing, White's campaign would have dug it up by now and you'd be parroting it here.

And why should anyone take our opinion on this seriously? You have strongly implied that Heinrich is pushing the agenda of eco-terrorists. Sorry, Jim, your credibiity on this issue is low, to say the least.

People know Heinrich and his passionate work for good policy. Using the terms "eco-terrorist" and "slick lobbyist" in relation to Heinrich is laughable, desperate and inaccurate, as you well know if you let yourself admit the truth instead of spinning to help White.

I don't think the Dems are buying anything. They're showing up to listen because there's finally a prominent conservative out there who gets that there's an emergency at hand, even if he doesn't really define it completely and even if his proposed solution is sorely lacking in many respects. A Republican backing wind power, even if for his own gain, is a story. Any awakening on the part of Rs should be applauded by Ds. But that doesn't mean they're now embracing what Pickens is about.

I don't think the Dems are buying anything. They're showing up to listen because there's finally a prominent conservative out there who gets that there's an emergency at hand, even if he doesn't really define it completely and even if his proposed solution is sorely lacking in many respects. A Republican backing wind power, even if for his own gain, is a story. Any awakening on the part of Rs should be applauded by Ds. But that doesn't mean they're now embracing what Pickens is about.

I do know that equality to all is offered by the U.S. Constitution and I am not enjoying that equality due to the religious beliefs and prejudices of "conservatives" AND the "neocons" who manipulate them. McCain may have been a conservative once, but he is a neocon now.

The point is that the primary challenges to civil liberties are not related to guns or religion at this time but to free speech, privacy and equality for all.

No, I don't believe rural voters have any better idea of what's going on with the economy, health care and jobs because too many hold the view that those in power for the last 8-10 years have nothing to do with creating these problems.

The higher taxes are on future generations thanks to Rs running up a massive deficit with spending for their cronies, an unjust and unnecessary war and and granting huge tax breaks to the wealthy and subsidies for the corporations. Obama's plan would cut taxes for working people, not rich Republican elites. A safety net to ensure our security and the granting of certain rights like access to healthcare that every developed nation has except us do not equal socialism.

Conservative policy dictates that help for those in need, as you claim, is "socialism." Therefore, when the economy continues to experience serious upheaval or even collapse, as many minds more informed than myself on financial matters predict, those folks will be on their own, starving in the street. Maybe a thousand points of light will help them, but the Rs will not.

I do know that equality to all is offered by the U.S. Constitution and I am not enjoying that equality due to the religious beliefs and prejudices of "conservatives" AND the "neocons" who manipulate them. McCain may have been a conservative once, but he is a neocon now.

The point is that the primary challenges to civil liberties are not related to guns or religion at this time but to free speech, privacy and equality for all.

No, I don't believe rural voters have any better idea of what's going on with the economy, health care and jobs because too many hold the view that those in power for the last 8-10 years have nothing to do with creating these problems.

The higher taxes are on future generations thanks to Rs running up a massive deficit with spending for their cronies, an unjust and unnecessary war and and granting huge tax breaks to the wealthy and subsidies for the corporations. Obama's plan would cut taxes for working people, not rich Republican elites. A safety net to ensure our security and the granting of certain rights like access to healthcare that every developed nation has except us do not equal socialism.

Conservative policy dictates that help for those in need, as you claim, is "socialism." Therefore, when the economy continues to experience serious upheaval or even collapse, as many minds more informed than myself on financial matters predict, those folks will be on their own, starving in the street. Maybe a thousand points of light will help them, but the Rs will not.

Everybody knows that the House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct is a toothless and cowardly body when it comes to policing its own. I wish the writer of this story would be half as interested in facts like those raised by commenter hemingway as he is in jumping to the defense of the ethics-challenged Pearce. Strange, that, isn't it?

Everybody knows that the House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct is a toothless and cowardly body when it comes to policing its own. I wish the writer of this story would be half as interested in facts like those raised by commenter hemingway as he is in jumping to the defense of the ethics-challenged Pearce. Strange, that, isn't it?

With the dishonest and downright hypocritical rhetoric being used every day by the McCain-Palin campaign I find it telling that the writer takes Obama to task about words. Want to be fair and balanced? Go over the verbal records of McCain and Palin with a fine tooth comb like you have with Obama and fact check what they have been saying. Document the numerous complete about-faces that McCain has taken on so many issues since he decided he needed to placate the worst forces within the GOP to have a chance for the nomination.

If "rural voters" are so concerned that Obama sees the complexities of complex issues and doesn't resort to bumpersticker sound-bite speak that they vote for McCain, I hope they enjoy it when the economy collapses due to GOP policies and they get no help because McCain et al. think government is the problem and people should pull themselves up by themselves or perish. Every election is a matter of priorities. If the "rural voters" and "independents" are still hung up on god, guns and gays, I guess they don't get what's really happening with the economy, health care, jobs and civil liberties thanks to the Republicans. If they don't see the trainwrecks coming in those areas due to "conservative" policies, maybe they really are clinging to what they find familiar in the way of refuges from reality.

With the dishonest and downright hypocritical rhetoric being used every day by the McCain-Palin campaign I find it telling that the writer takes Obama to task about words. Want to be fair and balanced? Go over the verbal records of McCain and Palin with a fine tooth comb like you have with Obama and fact check what they have been saying. Document the numerous complete about-faces that McCain has taken on so many issues since he decided he needed to placate the worst forces within the GOP to have a chance for the nomination.

If "rural voters" are so concerned that Obama sees the complexities of complex issues and doesn't resort to bumpersticker sound-bite speak that they vote for McCain, I hope they enjoy it when the economy collapses due to GOP policies and they get no help because McCain et al. think government is the problem and people should pull themselves up by themselves or perish. Every election is a matter of priorities. If the "rural voters" and "independents" are still hung up on god, guns and gays, I guess they don't get what's really happening with the economy, health care, jobs and civil liberties thanks to the Republicans. If they don't see the trainwrecks coming in those areas due to "conservative" policies, maybe they really are clinging to what they find familiar in the way of refuges from reality.

I wish someone would have asked him about this:

According to an article in the Local Energy News:

"Critics say Pickens’ energy plan is providing cover for another plan being developed by the oil baron: Pickens is hoping to pump billions of gallons of water from an aquifer beneath the Texas Panhandle and ship it to Dallas and other major cities as drinking water. The power line corridors for his wind project, to be created by seizing private property through eminent domain, would also serve the $1.5 billion water project. Other critics of his plan question the wisdom of switching our driving addiction from oil dependence to natural gas. The production of natural gas in the U.S. has been declining since 1971."

I wish someone would have asked him about this:

According to an article in the Local Energy News:

"Critics say Pickens’ energy plan is providing cover for another plan being developed by the oil baron: Pickens is hoping to pump billions of gallons of water from an aquifer beneath the Texas Panhandle and ship it to Dallas and other major cities as drinking water. The power line corridors for his wind project, to be created by seizing private property through eminent domain, would also serve the $1.5 billion water project. Other critics of his plan question the wisdom of switching our driving addiction from oil dependence to natural gas. The production of natural gas in the U.S. has been declining since 1971."

Why didn't you get a response to this from Udall or fact check it? Or do journalists now just accept the handouts of candidates as fact?

Why didn't you get a response to this from Udall or fact check it? Or do journalists now just accept the handouts of candidates as fact?

Are these the same NM Republicans who have been adoring and sanctifying Pete Domenici all these years for bringing home so much earmarked pork? They must have had a real epiphany over the last few days.

Are these the same NM Republicans who have been adoring and sanctifying Pete Domenici all these years for bringing home so much earmarked pork? They must have had a real epiphany over the last few days.

Hey riteizrite:

According to your view of the world everyone should follow the dictates of an ancient book and the prevailing values in the late 1700s. Since many of those who founded our nation were slaveowners and women were not allowed to vote back then, should we also be following those "conservative values"?

If anyone is getting a "free ticket," it's the wealthy from birth, elite old white guys who had it all to themselves until women, minorities and workers asserted and started fighting for their rights.

Hey riteizrite:

According to your view of the world everyone should follow the dictates of an ancient book and the prevailing values in the late 1700s. Since many of those who founded our nation were slaveowners and women were not allowed to vote back then, should we also be following those "conservative values"?

If anyone is getting a "free ticket," it's the wealthy from birth, elite old white guys who had it all to themselves until women, minorities and workers asserted and started fighting for their rights.

It IS a civil war of sorts. The politics just reflect that. We have conservatives trying to conserve -- that is hang onto a past and present that they believe favors them and that isn't as scary as an open-ended future. We have progressives trying to progress -- to move forward into a new and much more egalitarian and common-good-oriented paradigm because we know the complicated problems we face will require us to work together toward common goals, even across borders. The problems we are up against have changed -- and so must our tactics and solutions. Hanging on to what was may comfort some, but it is a luxury we can no longer afford.