Money Votes in AmeriCo

I’ve got an idea: let’s just eliminate the whole voting process. Everyone

knows how tainted voting is. Fewer and fewer people do it and those who do cheat constantly and then corrupt public figures lie about the

results (somehow, Republicans believe this and don’t question that Republicans hold all the power). Let’s replace that sham

system with the way it really works: those with money win. After all, to some of our fellow citizens, money IS speech, which must mean

they believe the ones with the most money have the greatest right to speak (and those without money better shut up). Those same folks

believe private property rights trump all others (good-bye, Endangered Species Act, passed

under the suddenly-too-liberal Nixon).

So, let’s get out of the way of those who are corrupt enough to buy access and those who

are corrupt enough to sell it. We’ll call it Free Market Democracy in the New and Improved AmeriCo! mjh

ABQjournal: Chávez Tops $1.1M

in Race to Stay Mayor By Jim Ludwick, Journal Staff Writer

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has raised more than $1.1

million for his re-election effort.

That’s more than four times as much as City Councilor Eric Griego, who has reported

monetary contributions totaling nearly $265,000.

And it is roughly $1 million ahead of Council President Brad Winter, who has

raised $154,000 in his bid to unseat Chávez.

ABQjournal: Wage Opponents Top Backers in Spending By Olivier

Uyttebrouck, Journal Staff Writer

Three groups opposing a proposed minimum wage initiative spent a total of $206,048 as of

Friday, topping supporters’ expenditures of $137,483, according to reports filed at the City Clerk’s Office.

The initiative

on the city’s ballot Tuesday calls for an hourly minimum wage of $7.50 for regular workers and $4.50 for tipped workers at businesses

with 11 or more employees.

The Albuquerque Minimum Wage Committee, which supports the initiative, reported total contributions

of $81,669. The three opposing groups raised $225,471.

Blunt’s fundraising propels him

to Republican leadership role BY MATT STEARNS AND DAVID GOLDSTEIN, Knight Ridder Newspapers

In a move of unusual

perceptiveness, Blunt – himself a man of modest means – began sending contributions from his own campaign coffers to 21 Republicans

throughout the country running for Congress for the first time.