News New Mexico

Some New Mexico citizens will go to the polls tomorrow

For fundamental philosophical reasons thousands of citizens in the State of New Mexico refuse to declare themselves a member of EITHER the Democratic or Republican party.

Some refuse because they do not want to be branded. Others want to resist the conflicts of interest inherent in party politics. Still others are truly independent and chose to evaluate every candidate on an issue by issue basis.

The two major political parties in New Mexico have an answer to these types of citizens, those who refuse to join either “major” party. And their answer is this: “You will have NO say in the primary processes.”

Is it un-democratic to ban certain citizens from voting in the primary of their choice simply because they refuse to join a political party? Of course it is.

A second question comes to mind. What interests are served when voters are denied the right to vote in the primary of their choosing? The answer is simple. By squeezing all other potential competitors out of the election processes, it serves the polarized interests of BOTH partisan Democrats and partisan Republicans.

Don’t look for this rule to change anytime soon. Though it is regrettable that some citizens will be denied a voice tomorrow, there are some organizations that some people simply do not want to be associated with, no matter what the cost. And like everything else, true political independence has its price.

Connect the Dots - Are We Really All Stronger Together?

Earlier this year the Wall Street Journal chronicled the ascendancy of public unions in America. Read more:

The threats of insolvency in distant places (like Greece, Spain, and......California) should serve as a red flag for all of us. It doesn't take much to connect the dots. Look at the plight of Gov. Steve Christie in New Jersey.

At the end of the 19th century labor unions were absolutely necessary to improve working conditions. Unfortunately, for the last five decades of the 20th century too often labor unions held their employers, creditors, and stockholders hostage until unsustainably high wages and benefit concessions were extracted. Gradually business and job destruction followed. These days in states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois labor unions have essentially priced many businesses right out of the global markets and themselves right out of jobs.

Americans are now seemingly surrounded by reports of ballooning state and federal budget deficits. Are there dots to be connected?

There is a certain win-lose brand of adversarial thinking prevalent in the minds of virtually all labor union negotiators. When labor unions brought General Motors to its knees everyone lost. With public labor unions there is actually no end user-customer to satisfy. Bad service and products don't matter. In the end, the negotiating adversary is the taxpayer's representatives.......the politicians. The warning signs are everywhere.

The Rains in Spain Fall Mainly.....

Spain's ruling party is starting to feel the wrath of the citizens as it comes to grips with the realities of a debt rating downgrade. It might be starting to play out like a "Greek" tragedy. Read more:

Is This Supposed to be "Funny?"

Wow! Comedian Bill Maher might have crossed some fundamental lines with one of his recent comedy routines.

Is this supposed to be funny? Watch and read here:

Joseph Phillips on Rand Paul

Columnist Joseph Phillips explains all of the things Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul hasn't figured out.

Become American Again

Columnist Star Parker quotes Lincoln and also uses some modern examples to illustrate what is missing in our leaders today. Read more:

Damn! The Oil is Still Gushing Into the Gulf

The "top kill" method failed and BP is faced with shifting gears again.

WSJ Editorial - Obama's Nuclear Power Breakthrough

Three and a half months ago President Obama pointed the proper direction for U.S. energy policy. In the wake of the BP oil spill in the gulf, this subtle policy shift back in February (not the shift that will be a short-lived reactive offshore drilling policy switch made earlier this week) holds the only logical high-technology solution to the U.S. energy dilemma.

We cannot help but be reminded that in just fifteen years France shifted away from foreign dependence on imported oil (1973-1988) and converted to a country that now gets nearly 80% of its power from nuclear energy.

So, with all the handwringing over the nasty gulf oil disaster, battery technology leaping ahead, and hybrids and plug in cars just around the corner, one can only wonder how long it is going to take before all Americans encourage our president, regardless of party affiliation, to unite behind the only common sense long range national energy strategy. Read more:

Denish versus Martinez?

State Democratic Party officials anxious to assist the Diane Denish campaign for governor are behaving more and more as if they believe Republican Susana Martinez of Las Cruces will be the winner of the GOP gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. After it became clear that the Martinez' campaign coffers were bolstered by Texas businessman Bob Perry and his wife Doylene Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales inferred there was something unseemly about the support. News New Mexico is making plans to engage in a complete vetting and detailed reporting of all the sources of funding by both winners of Tuesdays gubernatorial primary races in an effort to help voters understand how much money each candidate has raised and what the primary sources are of their funding. Read more:

Filmmaker Oliver Stone Continues His Adoration of Hugo Chavez

Last year filmmaker Oliver Stone said Hugo Chavez was energetic and principled and he held wishes that President Obama would spend time with the dictator. Now the Oscar winning director is writing a documentary on Chavez called "South of the Border." Read more:

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