OPEC: $100 a Barrel a Fair Price for Crude
U.S. Ready to Borrow for IMF
From CNBC.com - The United States would be ready to support the extension of the European Financial Stability Facility via an extra commitment of money from the International Monetary Fund, a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday. "There are a lot of people talking about that. I think the European Commission has talked about that," said the U.S. official, commenting on enlarging the 750 billion euro ($980 billion) EU/IMF European stability fund. "It is up to the Europeans. We will certainly support using the IMF in these circumstances."
"There are obviously some severe market problems," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "In May, it was Greece. This is Ireland and Portugal. If there is contagion that's a huge problem for the global economy." Read full story here:
Harbison: We the People
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| Jim Harbison |
TEA Party members will be tracking legislative actions against their political promises. Liberal members of these elected bodies will also be monitored. Those that want to increase the size of the government, erode our Constitutional rights, nationalize private businesses, and continue the spending that increases the national debt will be targeted for defeat in the next election cycle. No one person can tract the activities of all the elected officials nor should they try. A more sensible and realistic approach, using military terminology, is to “divide and conquer” all those who oppose our Constitution and our capitalistic economic system. This type of strategy will enable many people to individually track a single issue, organization, or elected or appointed government official and report back to the larger political action group. There are sufficient conservatives and TEA Party members willing to pursue this strategy. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind about the influence of the TEA Party and politicians across the entire political spectrum should be cognizant of it. The 2011 local elections afford conservatives an opportunity to significantly change the direction of the City Council. There will be three City Councilors (Silva, Small, Connor) and the Mayor up for re-election. It is time for us to elect individuals that want to preserve the culture, history and traditions of Las Cruces, encourage job growth, and insist on improved financial stewardship of our tax dollars. Those who continue to advocate more government, social and economic programs (means taxpayer funded) will be shown the exit door in November. 
“We the People” will no longer allow our elected officials “who know better than us” to create policies that infringe on our individual rights or govern without our input and consent.
The TEA Parties throughout the State of New Mexico are organizing a rally to coincide with the opening session of the State legislature on January 18th. Their intent is to inform the legislators, new and old and all parties, that there is a major political force that will hold them accountable and demand fiscal responsibility be returned to the State of New Mexico and the National government as well. I would encourage conservatives and TEA party members to participate and remind our representatives that they were elected to protect and serve us. While our government isn’t perfect, most of us believe it is the best in the world and that it only requires an occasional “tweaking” and not the massive changes advocated by the current administration. If you do not support the total transformation of America or our well proven economic system get involved and work to insure your elected official works to preserve and maintain the unique form of government that makes so many people around the world want to become Americans.
Aggie Women's Hoops Falls 58-49 To UNM
bleedCrimson.net ReportThe New Mexico State women's basketball fell to in-state rival New Mexico 58-49. The Aggies trailed by just three points at 47-44 with 8:32 left to play but would only score five points the rest of the game. Danisha Corbett scored a career-high 22 points hitting five three point shots.
New Mexico would take a one point lead at 29-28 after a layup by Jasmine Patterson but Danisha Corbett would answer with 39 seconds left to give the Aggies a 30-29 lead at the half.
The Lobos would push the lead out to seven points at 51-44 with 7:13 left to play and neither team would score for the next three minutes until Jessica Kielpinski would hit one of two free throws to put the Lobos up 52-44. The Aggies would close to within five at 54-49 after a pair of free throws from Tabytha Wampler but the Lobos would score the game's final four points to take the contest 58-49.
Lauren Taylor paced the Lobos with 14 points while Porche Torrance added 12. The Lobos got nine points from Amanda Best and Caroline Durbin.
Tabytha Wampler scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds but struggled from the floor hitting just 3-of-11 shots. The Aggie trio of guards Jasmine Lowe, Kaitlyn Soto and Andrea Chenier scored just five points combined going 1-for-15 from the field. Erica Sanchez scored a career-high nine points but all nine came in the first half.
The Aggies fall to 5-3 on the season and return to action on Sunday as they host Cal State-Northridge.
NM budget problems could eliminate prep athletics
From the Santa Fe NewMexican.com - With Santa Fe Public Schools facing a large budget shortfall, the issue of how it will affect athletics is beginning to percolate. Cuts to next year's school budget are projected to be around $13 million, and SFPS athletic director Skip Hemperley said the district could severely reduce his budget — or possibly eliminate the department. Hemperley emphasized that all options are being considered. "As it was explained at a meeting in the fall, everything is on the table," Hemperley said. "So it's a true aspect that they will take look at it (eliminating athletics). So, it's possible." The athletic department budget for the 2010-11 school year is $999,999, which is less than the $1.3 million allocated for 2009-10 and $1.8 million in 2008-09. The budget encompasses funding for all sanctioned high school and middle school sports programs, as well as coaching stipends, transportation and equipment. SFPS already eliminated funding for bus transportation for middle school athletic events in May, and middle school athletics have faced elimination for the past two years. One option the school district explored the past two years — developing an intramural middle school program with the City of Santa Fe — is no longer possible, Hemperley said, because the city is in a budget crunch as well. Read more
Work at spaceport halts for plan changes
From the Las Cruces Sun-News - By Diana M. Alba DALBA@LCSUN-NEWS.COM - LAS CRUCES - Spaceport America officials have halted construction of a building at the site, as they rework its architectural plans. A spaceport official said earlier this year that the 16,000 square-foot, dome-shaped aircraft rescue and firefighting building was slated for completion in December. But Rick Homans, executive director for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, recently halted construction in order to redesign its interior. Homans contended the problem is a minor one in the larger scheme of the $212 million spaceport construction. "We face challenges on the construction site every day, and this is just one of the many challenges," he said. "Quite frankly I'm surprised at the level of attention it's receiving because it's regarded as a minor issue internally that has no impact on our budget or timetable." Construction on the overall spaceport is slated to be finished in 2011. Homans said some additional expense could be incurred during the redesign, but it's expected to be small and will be drawn from contingency dollars. Read more
State worker assaults TV reporter on video: “This is not public property; this is state property.”
From Capitol Report New Mexico - Back on Tuesday, Nov. 23, a state worker grabbed at the camera of KOB-TV reporter Gadi Schwartz (left) while the reporter shot videotape outside the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Building in downtown Santa Fe. During the fracas, the state employee fell down and one of his associates told Schwartz to leave the premises, saying, “This is not public property; this is state property.” A security guard later tried to evict Schwartz from the vicinity uttering the same phrase. Schwartz was covering a story concerning the discovery of bones by a construction crew outside the PERA Building and had earlier spoken to a member of the Santa Fe Police Department on camera about the discovery. Schwartz tried to explain that he had permission from the police officer to shoot video of the scene but the state employee insisted that Schwartz leave, as did a security officer who arrived after the state employee fell to the ground while attempting to grab Schwartz’ camera. News of the tussle came out last week but today, the Santa Fe New Mexican posted the actual video of the incident. Read more
Watchdog group raises alarm over "payday loans" and mainstream banks
From the New Mexico Independent - Increasingly, mainstream banks are offering products similar to payday loans — short-term, high-interest loans secured by a pending paycheck — according to a consumer group that called on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to stop the practice. Banks including Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank are giving customers advances on their paychecks, typically for a fee of $10 per $100 borrowed, which translates to an annual percentage rate of 120 percent or higher, if repaid in under one month, according to a report by the Center for Responsible Lending. “These products ensure that many borrowers will end up trapped in cycles of debt,” the report stated. “Unless the OCC and other bank regulators take action with regard to bank payday loans, these products will likely proliferate throughout the banking industry as financial institutions look for new sources of fee income.” Read more
NM Democrat party chairman plans listening tour of state
From KRQE-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Democratic Party of New Mexico chairman Javier Gonzales is planning a statewide listening tour. Gonzales will be on the road this month and into January. The tour began Wednesday with stops in Milan, Gallup and Silver City. The chairman plans to meet with Democratic Party leaders across New Mexico, along with members of the state central committee, elected officials and party activists to solicit suggestions after the November general election. Gonzales says the tour also will provide him with the opportunity to thank supporters and volunteers. Read more
Hays Commentary: Palin by comparison
From NM Politics.net - Commentary by Michael Hays - Reagan grew up during the Depression, worked hard, mixed easily with people of all sorts. He majored in economics and sociology, got a job in broadcasting, then became a prominent Hollywood actor in B-grade movies, including “Bedtime for Bozo” and “Knute Rockne, All American.” Raised a New Deal Democrat, he led the Screen Actors Guild; working as a GE spokesman, he became a Republican. He entered politics, became a successful, two-term governor of the state with the largest and most diverse population and economy, and then became a successful, two-term president. By comparison, Palin knew no economic hardships, never worked hard, and knew or mixed easily with few people different from her. Her college education in communications was haphazard, but she got a job in broadcasting. She entered small-town politics as mayor of a small city and later became governor of state with a small, mainly white, population and with a small economy funded largely by federal money and corporate royalties. She quit after two years with relatively little to show for her tenure. The big difference: Reagan knew, respected and liked people (his friendship with Tip O’Neill, the Democratic Speaker of the House who opposed much of his legislation, was legendary); had a working knowledge of domestic and foreign issues; and demonstrated geniality, good sense, and self-confidence. Palin is his opposite in these respects. She describes
herself as a “pit bull with lipstick;” she remains indifferent to knowledge or nuance about national issues; and her sense of grievance and her resentments motivate her attitude toward, and attacks on, those who question or criticize her or her views. Reagan is Reagan, and Palin is no Reagan. Reagan was a charismatic political leader who worked with political friends and foes alike. Palin is a charismatic demagogue who uses political power to reward friends and punish enemies. In real life, Reagan was an extrovert, a nice guy. Palin is a narcissist, and nasty. Read more
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