[From Colorado Luis, a tale that should be of interest to us all.]

One side

Director’s Update

The Super Slab was sold as a tax-free way to solve our transportation woes. A private — and secret — group of investors would fund the project. It would be a Super Highway stretching from Pueblo to Fort Collins. …

[T]he ?200 affected? landowners turned out to be more like 75,000 and they were outraged that a for-profit entity could condemn their land without any governmental oversight or citizen input. These people were the true heroes. They were farmers and ranchers, people who wanted to get away from the city, people who owned land they were deeding to open space and others. They organized county groups spontaneously. They organized meetings of 1000 people, list serves, and brought over 1000 people to the capital to testify against the bill. According to the state police, this was the largest group of people to show up and testify on a bill ever.

Some pundits have dismissed these folks as just NIMBY?s ? Not In My Back Yard ? and there is some of that (who would want a superhighway in their backyard?) but there was also a lot of thoughtful concern about turning so much power over to a private for profit company.

The fact remains, the people in the highway zone spoke loudly and clearly ? they did not want the Super Slab ? and the legislature listened.

The other side

TRn: Colorado Senate committee defers action on Front Range Toll Road bill

But a major campaign of opposition to the project developed out of a poisonous and unscrupulous website with hysterical public meetings, letterwriting, overblown newspaper reportage, vilification of supporters, culminating in a demonstration at the Capitol of 600 to 800 people. …

Under [the 1882] statute – details of which are something of a mystery – companies filing a claim for an easement apparently have the right to install utilities such as waterpipes, telephone lines, electric transmission lines, gas lines… and tollroads. The early statutes permitted hundreds of private tollroads to be built, only one of which survives – Pikes Peak Toll Road to the top of a mountain. …

Most important the noisies must be told: you have your rights, and they will be respected, but you won’t decide this matter. The mob doesn’t rule here.

Somebody wants to use that old law that is continually used to steal public resources (OK, buy for cheap or condemn), to build a privately owned toll road as an alternative to a publicly owned Interstate. Free Market Madness.

While the project is on hold, remember to be eternally vigilant. Every single day someone is looking around and saying, “hey, I can make some money here.” And they are looking in our backyards, at our public lands and our sacred spaces, for a quick profit before they move on to destroy something else. mjh

ABQjournal: Vocal Protesters Object To Bush Social Security Plan
By Miguel Navrot, Journal Staff Writers

Demonstrators riled over a proposed Social Security overhaul gathered to chant and yell Tuesday morning as President Bush made his pitch to Albuquerque.

Authorities reported no arrests, and the demonstrations remained peaceful.

“Worst. President. Ev-errrr,” chanted dozens on Civic Plaza [mjh: my source said there were about 50 protesters], walking in a circle. Uniformed officers and sheriff’s deputies, plus civilian-dressed security, stood by, only asking protesters to stay behind the yellow tape. …

Tuesday’s protest began on the sidewalk of the U.S. District Courthouse on Lomas NW, where motorists were urged to honk in favor of their opposition. Across Lomas, a smaller, pseudo-counter demonstration group gave their approval of Bush.

“Well, we just think that Bush is doing a wonderful job by privatizing Social Security,” said a woman who identified herself as “Iona Millions” of the irony-steeped group Billionaires for Bush. Studded in rhinestones, Millions and fellow Bush backer “Mr. Warbucks” said Bush’s proposal would go far in “supporting our Wall Street brokers.”

“Our stocks in Halliburton, Bechtel and General Electric have done wonderfully,” Millions said. “So what if a few people had to die in the process?”

From the federal courthouse, the demonstration moved to Civic Plaza for an hour more of high-decibel Bush denunciation.
—–
Headline on the front page of the Albuquerque Journal:
Bush Makes His Case

Headline writers have a lot of power. Many people skim the paper, noticing photos and headlines more than reading the paper. So, it isn’t just semantics to quarrel with “Bush MAKES His Case.” Not so — he presents his case, he tries to make his case (and, apparently, succeeds with the headline editor). Put that headline in a huge font under an inspiring photo of Bush and you tell a different story.

Inside, on the editorial page, cartoonist Trever marries Schiavo to Social Security to suggest the Democrats are brain-dead on the later. Hmmm. So far, Bush has put ONE SINGLE idea forward repeatedly: personal, private, individual accounts. Even the White House admits those will do NOTHING to shore up Social Security. Bush said at a press conference that he wasn’t going to put any ideas forward because the first idea is always shot down. That’s Leadership: rouse the rabble, frighten the masses, offer a sham. Worst. President. Ever. mjh

SENATOR JEFF BINGAMAN
SPEAKING ON SOCIAL SECURITY: A CRISIS?

Wednesday, March 23, 7:00 PM
UNM Law School, Room 2401

Stanford Drive, north of Lomas, south end of golf course
All are welcome ? bring your friends

The Albuquerque Tribune: Local

U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, a Santa Fe Democrat who opposes the idea of private accounts, on Monday announced he will have four town hall meetings across the state next week specifically aimed at discussing Social Security.

Udall will hit Rio Rancho’s Meadowlark Senior Center at 10:30 a.m. Monday and TVI’s Montoya campus auditorium at 7 that night. That will be followed with a trip to Española on March 29 and Taos the next day.

“We need to improve the long-term outlook of the Social Security program,” Udall said in a news release. “My concern is that if we divert payroll taxes to private accounts, we do nothing to improve solvency.”

ABQjournal: Del Norte Wins ‘Perfect Prom’

Del Norte students thought they were attending a regular St. Patrick’s Day assembly Thursday but were surprised when representatives from the Air Force gave them $20,000 to put on the “Perfect Prom.”

Del Norte junior Erin Whitaker’s entry was randomly chosen out of 80,000 for the Air Force’s annual “Perfect Prom Sweepstakes.”

“She was just randomly picked,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Dominic Bartholomeo, who presented the check.

The contest aims to get high school students around the country to think about participating in alcohol-free proms. It is sponsored by the Air Force and StudentAware, a group that promotes safe proms. …

The entire grand prize package totaled more than $70,000, Bartholomeo said.

“I’m very proud of our school,” said Del Norte principal Rebecca Almeter. “We found out about (the award) two weeks ago, but we wanted to surprise the students.”

Whitaker said she entered the sweepstakes because she wants her school to have a safe and sober prom. But will other students keep to that goal?

“We’ve got some OK ones. We’ve got some crazy ones, too,” said a smiling Whitaker. “But we’ll be OK.”

$70,000 should buy a pretty decent prom — or a year’s wages for 70 workers in prom dress factories overseas. It’ll really go far if you’re not buying booze or drugs (bring your own).

Let me ask all my Republican readers something. Jim, what do you think of THE AIR FORCE doing this?

Seriously, everybody, as noble a purpose as this is, WHY is the Air Force involved. Is this recruitment in disguise? Are the only hand-outs acceptable to the Radical Right going to and coming from the military? mjh

Arctic Senate Vote

Below is a list of U.S. Senators and their votes on the Cantwell amendment to keep Arctic Refuge drilling from the Senate Budget Resolution.

A “y” indicates the person voted for the Cantwell amendment and for Arctic Refuge protection.

A “n” indicates the person voted against the Cantwell amendement and against Arctic Refuge protection.

Please call your senators on Thursday, March 17, 2005, to tell them thank you or to express your outrage: 202-224-3121

[mjh: follow the link above for the full list; this abridged list includes the Republicans and Democrats that voted against their parties.]

State Party Senator Vote on Cantwell
AZ R McCain Y
ME R Collins Y
ME R Snowe Y
MN R Coleman Y
OH R DeWine Y
OR R Smith Y
RI R Chafee Y
VT I Jeffords Y
HI D Akaka n
HI D Inouye n
LA D Landrieu n

Update 3/17/05:
[mjh: As a native Hawai’ian, my heart breaks.]

Democratic Sens. Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka were joined by Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., in the coalition with 48 Republicans to override an attempt by other Democrats and moderate Republicans to remove a provision in next year’s budget that would allow drilling in the refuge.

Inouye and Akaka said that they believe their votes represent the position of a majority of the native peoples in the region. Both senators have a history of voting to support the Inupiat Eskimos, some of whom want the refuge opened to oil and gas exploration and drilling, although environmental groups said that support has been waning.

Inouye has said that since Hawai’i is an oil-dependent state, it is imperative that new oil deposits be found and developed to ensure a steady access to meet the state’s energy needs.

Hawai’i senators help open Arctic to drilling

Update 3/18/05:
[mjh: follow the money]
Opensecrets.org–Money in politics data

Update 3/19/05:
[via The Daily Outrage]

The Nation | Blog | The Daily Outrage | Ari Berman

Democrats Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana handed Bush a huge victory–and the environment a huge loss–this week by voting to open up Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil drilling. The Hawaii delegation made a shrewd political compromise: they’d support the ANWR provision if Alaska’s Ted Stevens co-sponsored a bill recognizing Native Hawaiians as indigenous peoples. Mary Landrieu, on the other hand, is the darling of her state’s oil and gas interests, who contributed $303,000 to her 2002 campaign. Before the vote, a Kerry staffer told me that Landrieu would vote with her fellow Democrats. Apparently, there’s nothing quite like stabbing your own kind in the back.

ABQjournal: 3 More Indicted In Gay Man’s Beating By Jeremy Pawloski, Journal Staff Writer

Deputy District Attorney Shari Weinstein, who presided over defendant Isaia Medina’s arraignment Friday in District Court, said Maestas suffered a broken nose, facial injuries, a concussion and lung injuries from “aspirating on his own blood” when he lost consciousness during the attack. …

Weinstein said in court that Medina was the “most culpable” of the six males charged in the beating, and that Medina, by his own admission, “straddled the victim” as he repeatedly punched Maestas in the face. …

Medina’s sister, Brandie Ulibarri, 26, said outside court that her brother “never starts fights” and that it hurts her when the issue of him being prejudiced against gays, or anyone else, comes up.

“He has lots of bisexual, gay and lesbian friends, so I don’t think that’s the issue with him,” she said.

But Weinstein said during the hearing that all of the defendants psyched each other up in the car ride to La Quinta, exhorting one another to “(mess) up the faggots.”

The three men newly charged in connection with Maestas’ beating are:
Joseph Cano, 18;
Jonathan Valdez, 20; and
Paul Montoya, 20, all of Santa Fe.

Each is charged with one count each of aggravated battery, conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and criminal damage to property.

Previously charged in the case:
Isaia Medina;
David Trinidad, 17;
Gabriel Maturin, 20.

Trinidad is charged in his indictment with one count each of aggravated battery, battery, conspiracy and criminal damage to property. The District Attorney’s Office has said it intends to seek adult sanctions against Trinidad although he is 17.

All six men charged in the beating that put James Maestas, 21, in the intensive care unit at St. Vincent Hospital for over a week will be prosecuted under New Mexico’s “hate crimes” statute, the state Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.

[previous related entry: mjh’s Blog: Evil Among Us]

ABQjournal: Bill Saying N.M. Marriage Must Be Between Man and Woman Advances to House By Kate Nash, Journal Capitol Bureau

Sen. William Sharer said his bill aims to provide the best the state can for its children.

“Ninety percent of the men in prison today don’t have a dad,” he said. “Obviously, they have a father, but they don’t have a dad. And that’s where I’m coming from, how can we help those guys have a dad?”

It has always struck me as a ridiculous lie that letting two people of the same gender marry weakens marriage. But even that argument isn’t as stupid as the one above. How is denying two loving people their legal rights going to translate into dads for delinquents? Are homosexuals actually to blame for dads abandoning their progeny? Isn’t this really a problem with heterosexuals? Maybe they shouldn’t be allowed to marry (or required to adopt a convict).

Let’s not forget that Republicans (1) don’t give a damn about people in prison unless they have some comforts to be stripped away and (2) don’t legislate social change (ha!). mjh

MARRIAGE BILL VOTE

Here is the Senate’s 25-12 vote Wednesday approving a measure (SB 597) to define marriage as a contract between a man and a woman.

Voting yes, in favor of the measure, were 17 Republicans and eight Democrats. Voting against the bill were no Republicans and 12 Democrats. Not voting or excused were one Republican and four Democrats.

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES
Rod Adair (Roswell)
Vernon Asbill (Carlsbad)
Mark Boitano (Albuquerque)
Joseph Carraro (Albuquerque)
Kent Cravens (Albuquerque)
Dianna Duran (Tularosa)
Clint Harden (Clovis)
Stuart Ingle (Portales)
Gay Kernan (Hobbs)
Steve Komadina (Corrales)
Carroll Leavell (Jal)
Steven Neville (Aztec)
William Payne (Albuquerque)
Leonard Lee Rawson (Las Cruces)
John Ryan (Albuquerque)
William Sharer (Farmington)
H. Diane Snyder (Albuquerque)

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES
Carlos Cisneros (Questa)
Joseph Fidel (Grants)
Tim Jennings (Roswell)
Richard Martinez (Espanola)
Mary Kay Papen (Las Cruces)
Lidio Rainaldi (Gallup)
Bernadette Sanchez (Albuquerque)
James Taylor (Albuquerque)

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO
Dede Feldman (Albuquerque)
Mary Jane Garcia (Do?a Ana)
Phil Griego (San Jose)
John Grubesic (Santa Fe)
Linda Lopez (Albuquerque)
Cisco McSorley (Albuquerque)
Gerald Ortiz y Pino (Albuquerque)
John Pinto (Tohatchi)
Shannon Robinson (Albuquerque)
Nancy Rodriguez (Santa Fe)
Michael Sanchez (Belen)
Leonard Tsosie (Crownpoint)

DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING
Ben Altamirano (Silver City)
Pete Campos (Las Vegas)
Cynthia Nava (Las Cruces)
John Arthur Smith (Deming)

REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING
Sue Wilson Beffort (Sandia Park)