Disqus - Latest Comments for pari

Re: Choice of Vilsack risks agribusiness as usual

pari — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:05:58 -0000

Thank you for this piece, Gwyneth and Mark; It's one I care deeply about.

I was tremendously dismayed by Vilsack's selection. It's consistent with what the President-elect has done so far -- mainly picked middle of the road folks rather than "activists" -- I hope my worries are not founded.

Food -- its security, production and quality -- is THE national issue. It supercedes "terrorism" and any other bugaboo out there including "the economy." It affects absolutely everything and as a nation we're simply not paying enough attention to it.

Re: Our jaded reporters think New Mexico is pretty darn corrupt — but are they right?

pari — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:46:19 -0000

I think it's both, Marjorie.

If anything, we want our reporters -- at least some of them -- to be hounding our politicians to stay on the straight and narrow. We want them to root out corruptions and misuse of funds.

I also think that the corruption here, overall, is small potatoes. There's a lot of it, but it doesn't have the same huge impact that we see in other states. We're mainly talking about petty graft and mismanagement rather than millions or billions of dollars. That doesn't make any of it right, it just makes it less newsworthy or possible to detect.

Nepotism, skimming off the top, awarding contracts to friends and family -- we've got our share. And I hope those dirt-digging reporters find the worst offenders so that the smaller ones think twice before robbing from an already poor state.

Re: NMI Q&A with… Claudia Medina

pari — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:19:58 -0000

I'm glad you're doing this series. Our state is blessed with a high number of incredible people within a relatively small population pool.

Please give us more of these leaders, artists, creative thinkers, doers . . .

Re: Will newspaper failures cripple watchdog journalism?

pari — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:47:43 -0000

Oh this is a difficult one, isn't it? I don't think the Press has to be in newsprint to be valid, however, in depth reporting doesn't lend itself easily to the internet. Most electronic writing is short, bullet pointed, with many pictures.

Text heavy articles are challenging enough to read in print, let alone online.

So some of the demise of good journalism may be an artifact of the technology, one that may have a future solution. Certainly linking to other info sources can be helpful there -- much better than footnoting in print.

News rooms have been cut tremendously during the last couple of decades. That, to me, is the main problem. Almost all news sources have opted for more "entertainment" and less substance. This may be because there aren't enough competent journalists to do the work (bare bones staff) or the priorities of the publishers. I don't know.

I do know that ever since 9/11, I haven't trusted most "mainstream" media for my information. When we went to war with Iraq, I started getting my information from several different sources online: BBC (yeah, I know), Le Monde, MSNBC and McClatchy. I now read those less regularly and hang out at the "left-leaning" blogs such as Crooks and Liars, Talking Points, Huffington, Salon and Daily Kos. I feel more informed . . . much more than I would by subscribing to the Journal.

Re: Can we get some contrarians, please?

pari — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:12:31 -0000

Thomas,
You're correct about the Journal's circulation, however, I'd love to know the actual numbers. New Mexico is a large and diverse state, but as evidenced in the last election, much of its demographic and political leaning has changed.

I don't think the Journal reflects that shift.

That's all.

Re: Local microlender get some national publicity

pari — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:14:41 -0000

"Small is beautiful," is exactly right and I think in the coming years it'll be even more appropriate. Schumacher really nailed it.

Re: Can we get some contrarians, please?

pari — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:20:15 -0000

I can't bring myself to subscribe to the Journal anymore. I tried but it was so milquetoast and fatuous I'd get angry -- for all the wrong reasons -- every time I read it.

I hate to think of ABQ as a no-paper town, but if Lang persists in not giving the majority of Albuquerqueans what they crave in a paper -- at least an attempt at balance -- I'm worried that's exactly what's going to happen.

Re: Fresh off getting its conservative clock cleaned, Freedom’s Watch calls it a day

pari — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:15:44 -0000

R.I.P. hate mongers.

Re: Chicago writer calls Bill Richardson ‘Secretary of Bloodsport’

pari — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:14:42 -0000

I'm right there with you, Thomas. This isn't news; it's silly make-an-issue-because-it's-a-slow-news-day or I'm--too-dense-to-write-about-important-things-like-the-economy "journalism."

Re: N.M.’s judge evaluation program leaves voters in the dark

pari — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:08:38 -0000

It would be wonderful to have more details. Since we don't often have an opportunity to study the judges in action, additional paragraphs -- maybe even a page or two -- would be extremely helpful.

Re: New Mexico’s improbable dragon slayer

pari — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:54:24 -0000

Hey, you raise some good points. I've never particularly liked Fox and haven't followed her career as closely as you obviously have. Thanks for the additional info.

You may be right about the straight Obama-Democrats as well.

The one thing that happened with this election is that it has made me follow politics in general much more consistently.

These next few years are going to be fascinating.

Re: TODAY’S TOP STORIES: New rules for APD, a minimum wage hike in Santa Fe, and big chile news too!

pari — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:50:20 -0000

Hooray for the NM Chile Institute! They do spectacular work and are definitely not recognized for the half of it.

I hope our chile industry thrives in spite of foreign competition and the many difficulties of growing this quintessentially NM crop.

Re: Diane Denish is mum on her likely transition to governor’s office

pari — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:48:09 -0000

I've always had the sense that Denish would be an excellent governor if given the chance. Looks like she's going to get it. I hope she's as intelligent and pragmatic as she appears to be. If so, we're in good hands.

Re: Patricia Madrid’s competition for Interior Dept. nod looks tough

pari — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:04:13 -0000

I'm very glad she'll have competition. She never struck me as the kind of intelligent that Obama needs and wants in his cabinet. Madrid also hasn't been an outspoken protector of the environment so it seems like it would be a lousy fit.

Re: New Mexico’s improbable dragon slayer

pari — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:20:22 -0000

Congrats to Karen. I think we're not giving Giannini enough credit here though. Even if her campaign was minimal, she was very well known among parents in her area and beyond. I think she's been doing grass roots campaigning without ever realizing it.

I've met Karen at the school where at least one of her children goes and can say she is absolutely passionate about education and parent involvement therein.
The contacts she made via the PTA and other organizations couldn't have hurt.

And Justine Fox-Young was perceived as mean-spirited and absolutely in the pocket of traditional, old boy, Republicans.

Re: Joe Lieberman keeps chairmanship; Tom Udall reportedly supports him

pari — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:41:31 -0000

I agree with JOD2. I think the Democrats are taking an unnecessary and, frankly, a stupid risk by embracing Lieberman. He hasn't supported many of the Demo programs during the last few years and shows no remorse for cozying up to the same old Bush policies as manifested by his pals McCain and Palin.

I thought both Udall and Bingaman were smarter than this.

When will we see our Congress show true courage of conviction?

Re: How will Bingaman decide on Lieberman? New Mexico’s soon-to-be senior senator isn’t exactly saying

pari — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:41:30 -0000

You may be right. It's moot now, isn't it? I just heard that Lieberman is keeping his chairmanship.

I can't tell you how disheartened this makes me. The man acted reprehensibly and is being rewarded for it.

Re: How will Bingaman decide on Lieberman? New Mexico’s soon-to-be senior senator isn’t exactly saying

pari — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:46:07 -0000

JOD2
I respectfully disagree. I think Bingaman's decision will be thoughtful and well reasoned.

It also will probably not be what I want. I want Lieberman cast out of the caucus completely. His record of voting with the Democrats is less than impressive and I think he'll be a major impediment to getting things done once Obama takes office.

But the Democrats seem intent on keeping him -- though the whole 60 seat issue is a stupid reason to reward him for his extremist views -- and that's the reason he'll stay.

It aggravates me no end, but I won't blame Bingaman for the incredible pressures to keep this turncoat and opportunistic politician in a position of power.

Re: Publisher’s Note

pari — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:14:23 -0000

Trip,
Thanks for the clarification. I'll be sad to see Denise Tessier leave; she's a wonderful writer and brought some very interesting articles to the publication.

Will there still be the op-eds? I have one I'd love for you to dump, though I know it's important to represent opposing voices <g>.

Re: Publisher’s Note

pari — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:58:44 -0000

So, this is an interesting letter. I wonder what it means? Will there continue to be full-time quality coverage in NM? If so, who is staying and who is leaving? Will there be a place for commentary?

Inquiring minds -- and this regular reader -- want to know.

Re: GOP women’s group board quits en masse after Stirman refuses to quit

pari — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:45:58 -0000

Well, those women showed courage. There are fine Republicans and there are bigots. The same goes for the Democratic Party. But to stand up, to fight against pure and horrid stereotypes is truly an example for us all.

Thank you, former member of the RPOC and RWOOC!

Re: Opinion of one

pari — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:33:27 -0000

First we have Sarah Palin claiming that it's a violation of her First Amendment rights when the media criticizes her (or, as I would claim, actually shows her w/o spin) and now we have people reacting to an opinion piece as if it's a "hit" job.

What ever happened to civil discourse in our society? How did we go from disagreement -- often heated -- to name-calling and rock-throwing?

I have read pieces in NMI that have pissed me off. I've read comments that have angered me.

But, in one case, I had quite a good chat with someone who held an extremely different view than I did and I learned a lot. It may not have had the effect that the other person wanted, but I was open to another opinion.

While I respect Tom Lang, I doubt he would have a similar conversation . . . or be open to honestly considering another POV.

So, David, when are you going to do that piece you mentioned here?

Re: Behind The Albuquerque Journal endorsements

pari — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:25:33 -0000

Denise,
I am sooooooooo happy you and David at the NMI now.

Thank you for explaining this process so cogently. I've always had the feeling that this was how it worked at the Journal. Anyone who has read the paper for years and is even slightly media savvy would've found the predominant pattern.

One of the things I like about the NMI is that the voices here are heard -- even when a reader may disagree.

Re: E&P predicts Obama landslide based on newspaper endorsements tally

pari — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:11:27 -0000

Let us hope E & P is right. I'd love to see a victory that in no way can be disputed.

Re: Legislative upsets loom as possibility in the Obama era

pari — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:43:45 -0000

Again I'll write . . . Snyder has run one of the ugliest campaigns I've ever seen. I hope it doesn't serve her well. I'd like to see a new era, one when politicians spend more time talking about what they'll do to improve conditions and represent ALL of their constituents than throwing nastiness at their competitor.

I think this positive approach has been more in evidence with Eichenberg and it's going to pay off tomorrow.