Donkey Tails

Favorite quote of the week: "When it comes to pinning blame, pin the tail on the donkeys." Mitt Romney


See the entire article here. 


Gotta love a guy that can make a point with humor!

Happy Landing

I grew up with a parent-taught respect for elected officials. There was a time that simply being in their presence stopped any ability to speak I might have imagined to have.

Then I entered politics.

As part of the political world I learned that, in general:1) politicians are just people who got elected instead of hired, and 2) politicians are just people with insatiable egos. 

Then I moved to New Mexico.

As a resident of New Mexico I learned that, in general: 1) New Mexico's politicians are good ol' boys that get appointed instead of elected, and 2) New Mexico good ol' boy politicians have a combined ego equal to infinity.

Oh, and one more thing, in the Land of Enchantment it's a double-edged sword to be the Governor's friend. 

One might think that being buddy-buddy with the Gov could be a good thing, but in this state it can also be a very bad thing.  It protects you, but it also puts you at risk. It pays you, but it also means you are in cahoots with the devil. I suppose that isn't a concern for some, or wasn't until recently.

Based on KRQE's Larry Barker's report last evening, being friends with our Gov can often pay VERY well and you really don't have to do much in return except be unselfishly loyal to your benefactor. Oh sure, the taxpayers are paying you, but you don't have to do a damn thing for them, it's the Gov you have to show allegiance to.

I started my life in politics star-struck, but I quickly learned how to deal with the egos, did my homework, and soon found every door open in three state legislatures and could even list several Governor's as friends. It was an amazing ride. 

And then I came to New Mexico, where I found myself on the floor of the Roundhouse in the first week of my arrival, felt the familiar rush of adrenaline, and wondered if history was going to repeat for me in a 4th state. I am grateful to say it did not. I stayed out of the Roundhouse and made my way to the sidelines.

I entered politics in my mid-20's as a wide-eyed innocent. I left politics in my late-40's a savvy, respected and effective lobbyist.

I entered New Mexico a naive and newly enchanted new resident. And I've made it my home. I will stay in New Mexico, but the enchantment has been tarnished by the unabashed shenanigans of our leadership in Santa Fe.

I love New Mexico, and I still love the political world. And although I am not on or even near the capitol floor, I am certainly standing in the halls to listen and watch.

I have made great friends and business acquaintances in New Mexico, including some great legislators.  The Governor is not included in this group of people, and I am OK with that. 

My parents taught me to choose my friends wisely. They told me that I would always be judged not only by my own actions but by the actions of those I associate with, and that some friendships just aren't worth the price. I am glad I listened.

And right now I imagine there are more than a few in our state who are wishing they had been more careful placing their allegiance, because the high of the ride is never worth the crash at the end.

But I know that I speak not only for myself, but also for my friends when I wish a safe and happy landing to those who deserve it. 

Tea, anyone?

"For the Tea Party momentum to continue in a constructive way, it will need to take at least two further steps: First, repudiate the unhinged Obama-haters and then focus its anger at fiscal irresponsibility into policy proposals instead of bumper-sticker platitudes." Read more from John Avlon here. 

OK, I'm ready to try tea again.

That is, I'm ready to try tea again after reading the article by political centrist and CNN contributor John Avlon, who not only attended the Tea Party's first convention Friday and Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee but is also author of "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America."

Tea sounds so civil, but don't let that confuse you. Civil may be the ideal, but conflict seems to be the norm. The old adage that life would be boring if we were all the same comes to mind, but even that fairly common assumption isn't everyone's cup of tea (please pardon the pun).

If nothing else, it could be a breath of fresh air to live in a  Barry Manilow-like world where everything sounds the same and is centered around love and peace and joy. But where would that leave the Adam Lambert's of the world? The Tea Party members?

I admit that every now and then I just want to scream the now-overused phrase "Can't we all just get along?", because life seems to be a constant battle between toe tapping and head banging. There is undoubtedly room for both in this world of ours, but not necessarily at the same concert.

I like the early tea party folks. They were calmer. They talked about issues that made economic common sense. They spoke with a controlled force based in reality and truth.

Some of the more recently joined tea party folks have me shaking my head, if not banging it. Where's the common sense in anything they are saying or doing? If there is any common sense in their message, it's lost in the drama of their presentation and buried in the rhetoric of their anger.

Sure, I am back to wanting to share a cup of tea - it's back on my calendar, thanks to Avlon, but it's going to be a restricted party, only open to those who are more concerned about making change to help the American people, than about name-calling and ranting and raving.

After all, tea parties have a history of elegance, grace and charm. They are dignified, respectable, calming, an opportunity for fellowship and sharing. Tea party implies etiquette and manners. Henry James wrote, "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as an afternoon tea."

Somewhere that basic premise of respectful civility has been lost with some of the tea party contingent, and that's unfortunate. But as my boss pointed out after reading Avlon's article, "The key phrase here is: "This is still very much a leaderless movement with divergent tributaries." He's so right.

Leadership is everything, and we shouldn't be surprised that things aren't going as smoothly as we might want; after all it only takes one bad lemon to spoil a freshly brewed cup of tea.

So, until a strong leader pulls us all together, maybe those of us who are not 100% there should agree to disagree - over a cup of tea, of course.

At least that would be a civil and gracious beginning.

Time to Throw the Tea Bag Out?

"People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House," that's what  former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), told 600 or so delegates of the grassroots movement assembled at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville at the First National Tea Party Convention. (Read more)

What in the world is wrong with these people? Or to be fair, that person (although it couldn't be missed that the crowd cheered).

Is this really the best way to start on a quest to unify America and bring a dignified and honorable conservatism to our political leadership?

I, admittedly a lone representative of free market herbal tea drinkers who have been watching the developing Tea Party with interest, am not impressed.

In fact, I am anything BUT impressed. I am disappointed, disgusted and right now, wanting a lot of personal distance from the Tea Party leadership. They do not represent my personal conservative values.

Not only do I know many extremely intelligent and educated people who voted for Obama (I may not agree with them, but I am not going to pretend they can't spell V-O-T-E or are not intelligent), but the reference to a test that was given decades ago to illiterate black citizens in an effort to legitimize their inability to vote legally was one of the most prejudiced comments I have heard in many years.

My son, a graduate of UCLA and one of the most honorable, responsible, and intelligent men I know, voted for President Obama. He knows how to spell V-O-T-E. He's extremely intelligent. And he's white.

And the former Congressman couldn't stop there, he had to continue with references to mandatory civics and literacy test requirements as a prerequisite for the right to V-O-T-E. Tests similar to those given in the South prior to the Johnson civil rights years. Are we really doing a U-turn? Is that honestly the desire of the Tea Party folks? If it is, I may switch to coffee.

I remember sitting with my fellow ASB officers around a square arrangement of desks at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, CA in 1972. I remember that we had been called to a special meeting. We watched in uncomfortable silence as student after student entered the room and moved to stand behind us and around the square grouping of desks and kids, since there was nowhere else to stand. These were members of the Black Caucus on campus.

I remember being afraid, and yet not. These were kids I passed in the halls every day, sat next to in class and knew from school activities. One was a fellow club member, another was an amazing athlete, the rest were students I knew, but did not know - if that makes sense. 

However, known or unknown,  there was something in the air that day, something I didn't like and couldn't identify; it seemed a bit like fear mixed with anger, but I wasn't sure. It was almost palpable and therefore almost contagious as it filled the room and I found my heart beating soundly against my chest. It was a day that changed me forever. 

These young black students were attending our ASB meeting to affirm their rights, to remind us that we live in America - land of the free, and to send a message to everyone in the school. They weren't there to demand or intimidate or call names, they were there to exercise their rights as students, as citizens, as Americans. Oh, there was a LOT of tension, it was palpable, everyone felt it, but we worked through it and around it and in spite of it.  And we all learned something that day.  

The Black Caucus read a statement. We listened. And then we responded. And they responded to us. We listened more. It was calm, it was passionate, it was tense, it was critical, but there were no junior high antics. There was a tolerant respect going both ways. We were on new territory, it was uncertain how things were supposed to go. No one knew.

It was silent in the room after they left. We had just experienced history in the making: a peaceful, respectful airing of beliefs, desires and rights.

It was the year of the Equal Opportunity Employment Act of 1972. We were on the heels of the most significant decade of the Civil Rights Movement. A lot had happened while we were  in elementary school and junior high, and now we had come face to face (literally) with the reality of what the fight had been for. 

I still have a letter from then-Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, commending me (as a member of the elected ASB officers) for my role in managing what could have become a name-calling, and even riotous, session of accusations, false pride and egos. Every member of the ASB leadership council received a letter from Governor Reagan.  

I have always wondered if the members of the Black Caucus received a similar letter. They deserved it more than we did.

The former Representative from Colorado used a different strategy at the Tea Party Convention this week. His antics stirred the troops to action; he captured the nation's attention - if only in disbelief and disgust. 

And he did more harm, in my opinion, to the future of conservative common sense and free market politics in those few moments that he spoke, then the hundreds of thousands of tea party followers could ever do - even if they were all dressed in odd attire and marching down the Mall in DC. Oh sure, it will blow over, that's the way politics work, but the memory will remain.

Maybe we are scared as a nation because of the multiple layers of issues that seem to be getting worse every day. Maybe we are looking to 2012 as more of a deadline than a movie.

Maybe we feel threatened because of something unidentifiable that is in the air and feels contagious. Maybe color truly hasn't become a non-issue for the majority of Americans as we had hoped.

And maybe all of that makes some of us return to our junior high school tendency (born from insecurity, fear and a lack of knowledge) to point fingers, talk behind backs, spread rumors and call names. I really don't know, but I do know that I don't like it or approve of it or want any part of it.

I was taught long ago that you can make a point, you can totally disarm a verbal opponent, and you can "level" the opposition without resorting to junior high tactics. It comes with maturity and it's called character. And preparation. And confidence (based in reality). And telling the truth. And sticking to eternal principles.  I know, I've experienced it. And I've used it, successfully. Many times. Although I haven’t always been proud of the fallout. Winning isn’t always fun.

It's time for the Tea Bag group to grow up. They have our attention and many of us like at least some of their conservative ideology, but we will soon lose that affinity if they don't show some maturity, clean up their act, exercise some restraint, choose their words more carefully, and have respect for the rights of American citizens of any race, color, creed or education to V-O-T-E as they choose. 

And if they can't do that, we can simply toss the tea bag out. 

I left junior high in 1969 and I don't plan to return, not even for a tea party.

Edward or Edwards? (they both have fangs)

The name "Edward" has a certain allure, especially since Bella introduced us to her white-fanged lover.

"Edward" resonates with us as someone who is true and strong and brave and pale and very, very fast, and yes, a bit strange and mysterious. There are women all over America drooling when they hear the name "Edward" (and arching their necks appropriately).

But the name "Edward" gets an entirely different reaction when you add an "s" to the end and make it "Edwards". We wrinkle our noses and shake our heads and wonder how in the world we were fooled (and what the heck he thinks he is doing in Haiti, because he certainly isn't fooling us anymore).

Interesting that the added "s" is the shape of a snake, isn't it?

John Edwards. The Kennedy-in-looks-only golden (fake tan) boy who almost stole the nation's vote and became a President, but instead fathered an illegitimate child and lied about it, repeatedly, to everyone.

I am familiar with the power of political pull. I have experienced the rush of standing on the floor of an in-session state legislature, I can understand the desire to be there.

I have watched the primping and prancing of powerful men and women as they strut (Adam Lambert, where are you when I need you) across the red carpets of their legislature (or Hollywood - whichever pays better and gets more PR).

I am a bit cynical, yes, but also a realist. It takes a huge ego to fight through the press troops, ignore the tabloids, receive the criticism and press forward in a campaign for issues you truly believe in.

But it  takes an inflated ego to swear to your supporters that you will not veer from the platform you have paid millions to publicize, all the while knowing that the minute you take office you are going to do pretty much whatever the hell you want (or the party powers-that-be dictate).

And then, as you tow the party line, over time you will learn to play the game even better, hedge your bets until the last minute, schmooze the right folks and move from the tiny newbie office at the end of the hall to that bigger office next to the party whip.

I've seen it first-hand, from beginning to end, and back again, because some people run again and again and again, and for lesser offices, or for totally unrelated offices or even better, they get appointed to a commission and it all just flows on - the power, the ego, the paycheck and perks (on the backs of the taxpayers).

Yes, there are some honorable folks in public service through elected positions and I admire them and respect them for holding true to their morals, their convictions, their character. But they are few and far between, and that needs to change (and not the "change" Obama promised or is telling us he is making).

But that's not really what this blog post is about, it's just background for the real issue which is John Edward's total infatuation with himself, his total disregard for the people he was asking to support him, his total denial of a child that he helped to create, his total disrepect for his marital vows, his total dis-allegiance to the children he had with his wife, his total disrepute as a leader in our country and his absolute dis-patriotism to America.

Talk about fangs, and not the good vampirish "Edward" fangs that have captivated a nation, but rather the extremely frightening, totally self-absorbed, "I love blood (and fame and power) no matter what the cost" fangs of a lying, adulterous, cheat.

A wanna-be President. A fake do-gooder. A briber, an extortionist, a con-man, because in the end, that's all John Edwards is, isn't it? A con-man who almost conned us all.

Shame on him.

Shame on us for not watching closer.

Shame on those who facilitated the great lie and are now making money with it.

Shame on the press for turning away from something they simply did not want to believe or have to share.

And shame on America, for still putting faith in good looks, warm handshakes, sparkling smiles and party politics.

I, for one, will be very careful how I arch my neck to see campaigning politicians from now on. I am tired of being bit by their inflated egos.

I'll take a vampire named Edward over a snake named John Edwards any day. All day.

There's something to be said for honorable fangs.

It's Not Just About Kids

The Albuquerque Public School District campaigned  for an additional $616 MILLION dollars for school projects including facilities. They convinced 70% of the voters to Celebrate Kids, by voting yes on this bond measure. And they won.

That's right, according to APS it's all about kids.Well, it isn't all about kids. It's also about taxpayers, and common sense economics, to say nothing of the other "projects" that will be funded through these millions that have absolutely NOTHING to do with school facilities.

Sure, the voters will see "face lifts" on school facilities throughout the county, but while those "face lifts" are being done, other of the bond monies will be used for miscellaneous, unidentified, unpublicized, unapproved, unspecified "projects". The bond measure was worded in such a way that the district pretty much has carte blanch in how they use these funds over and above the "master planned" facility improvements itemized and publicized so carefully for voters.

It's also possible that some of these funds will land on the bargaining table and be used to compensate teachers and staff. Not a good thing to do since the money from this bond is not guaranteed for perpetuity, and a raise in salary pretty much is. Where's the district going to get funding for projects and salaries in the future? Another bond measure? You bet they are.

I don't mean to suggest that APS was purposely deceptive, they were simply purposely strategic in their campaigning. They said what you wanted to hear. They included the information you asked about. And they were conveniently quiet, or circumspect, or very general in their comments about anything beyond the "face lifts" to your neighborhood schools. They told you what you wanted to hear, what you NEEDED to hear to vote "yes" and give them $616M.

Don't worry, you will like what you SEE, it's what you won't see that worries me. What else will our money be used for that isn't so visible to the taxpayer eye? I would venture a guess that it most certainly will not be used only for school facilities, or even only for kids. Collective bargaining, administrative perks, and other non-kid related "projects" come to mind.

Kids are important, but so are the taxpayers of Bernalillo County who already pay 25% higher property taxes than the top 10 cities in New Mexico.

And when 63% of Bernalillo county construction is school related, but we don't even graduate 63% of our kids...we need to pay close attention to where and how that $616 million dollars is spent. It's our money, you know...although we have now voted to give it to APS, without too many strings attached.

I guess the bottom line is this. Would you give a large monetary gift to your own child without knowing exactly where all that money is going? Would you give a large monetary gift to your own child to make exterior improvements on their home, when they don't have food or a healthy environment inside? I mean, nothing could be more about kids then giving money to your own kid. But that doesn't mean you would do it, does it?

Probably not. But you voted to give a HUGE amount of money to APS. So unless amazing changes happen in the teaching styles, available curriculum, and classroom environment (stemming from teacher personality and discipline, not new paint) our kids still may not graduate, but they will be more comfortable while failing.

Wonderful.

That's just not common sense at all. And in the end, it's not about kids either. It's about money.

Congratulations to APS on running a fabulous campaign.

Did You Miss Me? (Probably not, but oh well)

I admit it. I hit the wall. I felt that I was in too deep. I panicked. I overreacted. I withdrew. I quit. I went silent.

I quit blogging here.

I highly doubt that I was missed too much, but the news is that I am returning. It's time to snap my suspenders, adjust my knickers, click my heels and get back to blogging my thoughts and opinions on what's going on in the political world.

So, I'm back. Let the blogging begin, again.

And if you didn't miss me, I missed you.

So there.