Western Democrat

Meanwhile back at the ranch: Gubernatorial Edition

Gubernatorial is a wonderful word meaning pertaining to governors. Governors do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to good government, though they generally get less press these days than senators and, of course, presidents, unless they are very good or very bad.

While the Senate contests in the West this year offer excitement and good pickup opportunities, the gubernatorial elections present a much more settled picture, with one notable exception.

Nationally 28 Democrats and 22 Republicans hold governorships. In the West the totals are seven for the Democrats (AZ, CO, MT, NM, OR, WA, WY) and six for the GOP. Nationally, there will be eleven gubernatorial contests on November 4, 2008. Six of those seats are currently held by Democrats and five by Republicans. Three of those eleven contests are in the West, namely in Montana (D), Utah (R), and Washington (D).

In Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, a star among Western Democrats, is looking strong. When Time magazine did a lengthy piece on The Democrats’ New Western Stars (Jan. 19, 2007), it was Governor Schweitzer’s photo they led with. Click here to watch Governor Schweitzer explain how elections are won in Montana.

In Utah, the GOP has held the governorship for 24 years, and Republican Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. will be hard to beat.

In Washington, however, the contest promises to be exciting, because Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire won a squeaker in 2004, complete with recounts and a court case.

Washington is a fairly Blue State. Though potentially a swing state, it has put its electoral votes in the D column in the last five presidential contests and is represented in the Senate by two Democratic Senators. Six of the nine House members from Washington are Democrats. In addition to the governorship, both chambers of the state legislature are controlled by Democrats. All politics is local, as the saying goes, but national trends--war, recession and an unpopular Republican in the White House--will be important, too. Click here for Governor Gregoire’s own website.

Leo Brown | April 27, 2008 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Meanwhile back at the ranch: Gubernatorial Edition | TrackBack (0) Governors, Montana, Utah, Washington

The Passing of a Giant

Cal Rampton (November 6, 1913 – September 16, 2007), three-term governor of Utah (1965 to 1977), is a model of what Western Democrat hopes to stand for. Here are a few of the tributes that marked his passing last month.

President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... said the three-term Democratic governor was "a man of good will" who leaves behind a "heritage of honor."

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Rampton told him recently that the biggest challenge now in public service is the lack of civility. Huntsman, a Republican, recalled Rampton saying just weeks before his death on Sunday, "The system has become too darn mean."

Rampton is credited with bringing Utah into the modern era after taking office in 1965, especially in education and tourism development. "All the modern issues we deal with today got their kick-start with Governor Rampton," Huntsman said.

Party Chairman Wayne Holland said, "The Guv" serves as a model when he tries to recruit young candidates to run for office, both for his leadership ability and his perseverance, since Rampton ran and lost a half-dozen times.

Holland said he, Rampton and some other Democrats were meeting recently at The Alta Club, when one Democrat started griping about what they felt were dirty political attacks from Republicans, and asked when Democrats were going to respond in kind.

Rampton slammed his fist on the table and bellowed in his gruff voice: " 'Integrity! Integrity is what we're about,' " Holland said. " 'We may win or we may lose, but we'll never lose our integrity.' "

He … was the governor that modernized state government both financially and organizationally… Rampton was the first 'modern' governor. He streamlined state government, aggressively marketed the state to create jobs and go after the Winter Olympics….Every governor since Rampton should be very grateful to Cal Rampton because Utah state government is much more manageable today than it was when he became governor in 1964.

Republican Governor Norm Bangerter served as House speaker during the Rampton administration. He said, "I think Cal Rampton was a major catalyst in helping establish Utah as an economic factor."

During his administration the state made significant investments in public education at all levels. For more than 40 years Utah's public universities and colleges have benefited from Rampton's vision.

That model of hands-on governance was very much Cal Rampton, and I think it's, again, why people across all ideological, partisan and religious divides found him to be a governor they could support and vote for…

Leo Brown | October 21, 2007 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: The Passing of a Giant | TrackBack (0) Governors, Utah

The ultimate Western Democrat ticket

Awhile ago, this was mentioned here.  (I'm extending off the good idea..thanks Leo!) Summary? 

That presidential tickets are often either one of two combinations - balance or reinforcement.  Kerry picked Edwards to balance him out, both regionally and personally.  Clinton chose Gore to reinforce him, both regionally and issue-wise.

There is only one serious Western Democrat in the race for president and that is Bill Richardson.  Now, I'm going to admit I'm a big fan of his but that isn't my point.  It is that in 2008 we could have potential to deliver a knock-out blow to the entire Western GOP and paint the way truly for progressive western dominance allied with the traditional Democratic bloc (coasts and upper midwest).

The key is reinforcement.  Instead of picking a easterner to balance him (if he was the nominee for that matter, IF) Bill Richardson should take Leo's advice and pick Janet Napolitano, the governor of Arizona.

You may say never!  But look at this great poll that Kos pointed out today:

A new statewide survey shows that if the Senate election were held today, the Republican incumbent would be defeated by Gov. Janet Napolitano – that is, if Napolitano would choose to run for the seat. The Democrat governor cannot seek a third term.

Not surprisingly, the poll by the Behavior Research Center shows Napolitano the favorite of 78 percent of Democrats, versus 11 percent for McCain. But the governor also would pick up 20 percent of Republicans and 47 percent of independents who make up nearly 28 percent of Arizona’s registered voters.

If they went head to head, Napolitano would get 47 percent of the vote, compared to 36 percent for McCain, according to the poll.

Now, that head to head match up result is pretty damn astounding. 

Think about it again.  A Richardson/Napolitano ticket (even against McCain possibly) would take both New Mexico AND Arizona.  That's not where it ends, either.

Napolitano is considered to be a very successful Governor, in fact she enjoy sky high approval ratings.  So does Richardson here in New Mexico.  That combination of two extremely popular red state (!) Democratic governors could have crossover appeal like nothing else. 

Also - the Hispanic/Woman factor would provide an immense amount of change additive to the ticket itself.  Contrast that against the possible GOP combinations shows a pretty clear sense of America.

Western electorate - that's putting all the Western swing states on the map (including possibly Montana and Wyoming) and maybe making Texas competitive.

If we really try and imagine a new electoral future for the Democratic Party we could do it with one swift blow. 

Now, there is the ultimate Western Democratic ticket.

Landon Mascareñaz | August 22, 2007 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) Permalink: The ultimate Western Democrat ticket | TrackBack (0) Arizona, Governors, New Mexico, Presidential Politics, Regionalism, The Big Strategy

Results? You probably elected a Democrat.

Bill Ritter gets to work:

A jubilant Gov. Bill Ritter signed his first bill into law today, creating a way for about 300,000 Coloradans to receive state assistance in buying discount prescription drugs.

"It’s the law," said Ritter as he placed five bill signing pens down and rose from  the table.

Ritter said that he pledged on the campaign trail to not only seek long-term solutions to health care, but to take immediate action to lower health care costs for the 17 percent of the state’s population without health insurance.

"We all know people who at one time or another have delayed filling a prescription, taken less medication than a doctor prescribed or didn’t fill a prescription at all because of costs," he said. "Today, we make the costs of prescription medications for hundreds of thousands Coloradans more affordable."

Senate Bill 1 will allow Colorado residents who lack health insurance to pay a one-time $20 fee to participate in program to buy discounted prescription drugs through the participating pharmacies. The program kicks off Sept. 1, and up to 10,000 types of prescription drugs could be sold at whole-sale prices, providing participants savings up to 80 percent.

Now, how's about that for results?  Bill Owens vetoed this same measure twice and it clearly enjoys the mandate of the voters.  Nothing like a Western Democrat moving in to seize the will of the people for the advantage of all.

Landon Mascareñaz | February 5, 2007 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) Permalink: Results? You probably elected a Democrat. | TrackBack (0) Colorado, Governors

Governor Bill Ritter's Remarks About Denver Securing the DNC

Newly elected Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado issued a press release following DNC Chair Howard Dean's announcement that Denver will play host to the 2008 Democratic National Convention:

OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY, JAN. 11, 2007

Contact:

Evan Dreyer, 720-350-8370

GOV. RITTER PRAISES EFFORTS TO SECURE 2008 CONVENTION

Gov. Bill Ritter today praised the hard work of many people to secure Denver’s bid for the 2008 Democratic National Committee.

“The convention will have a significant economic impact not just on Denver, but it will have a ripple effect across the entire state and the West,” Ritter said. “This will be great for Denver and great for Colorado.”

Ritter said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and the entire host committee led by Elbra Wedgeworth deserve much credit for their tenacity and commitment.

“A major reason we were able to compete against a city like New York and ultimately win this convention is because Denver made important investments in infrastructure,” Ritter said. “We have the hotels, restaurants, convention space and other facilities to accommodate events like this. This puts us on the national stage and the world stage.”

kencamp | January 11, 2007 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Governor Bill Ritter's Remarks About Denver Securing the DNC | TrackBack (0) Colorado, DNC, Governors

Governor Richardson's Statement on the DNC Convention

Courtesy of Heath Haussamen, here is Governor Richardson's statement on the selection of Denver as the site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

“This isn’t just a win for Denver and Colorado, but for the whole mountain west. From Montana to New Mexico, the west is the most fertile ground for Democrats. The Denver convention in 2008 will only further these efforts.”

Today's announcement by DNC Chair Howard Dean, coupled with the decision to move the Nevada caucuses to the front, only boosts Governor Richardson's potential Presidential campaign.

kencamp | January 11, 2007 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Governor Richardson's Statement on the DNC Convention | TrackBack (0) Colorado, DNC, Governors, Nevada, New Mexico

Ritter fills cabinet

Fmr. Colorado Governor Lamm says it best (or worst):

"Appointing people is like eating mushrooms out of your backyard," Lamm said. "You really don't know how it turns out until you've done it."

I'm still not quite sure how that works out. But I think I understand where he is going with it.

Bill Ritter is assuming command in Colorado by appoint people to fill the highest cabinet positions. As the Rocky Mountain News lays it out:

Bill Ritter, who will become the first Colorado governor in more than 30 years without any legislative experience, tapped three former state department heads when filling his Cabinet. In addition, he named three appointees who served in Denver's city government, including two former mayoral candidates.

Veteran politicos say it's good Ritter's Cabinet will be experienced because the governor-elect's only political experience comes from serving as Denver's district attorney.

Experience does matter. But it's not just any experience - sometimes it should have direct relevance to the issues at hand. Ritter campaigned hard on renewable energy for Colorado and I'm glad he went with an old hand to oversee the forthcoming development:

Among Lamm's appointments was attorney Harris Sherman to run the Department of Natural Resources. Sherman was just 33.

Sherman is 64 now and has been selected by Ritter to oversee the same department.

"Harris is a close personal friend, so I'm not very objective, but it's a brilliant appointment," Lamm said.

"You have to bring in new blood, but in this area, with natural gas booming, talk of oil shale development and water problems and everything moving so fast, Harris is the best person to hit the ground running."

I think with the Democratically controlled legislature and now controlling the Governors mansion, we might just see tons of progress coming out of Colorado. I've been talking with many people in the area and they are pretty much convinced everything is on the rise. I took the light-rail on New Year's, enjoyed the bustling downtown (got snowed on HEAVILY days before) and was generally really impressed with Colorado. The older I get, the more I enjoy it. The place has nowhere to go but up.

Let's get the Convention there and keep this momentum rolling.

Landon Mascareñaz | January 8, 2007 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Ritter fills cabinet | TrackBack (0) Colorado, Governors

The New West Project

This is wonderful:

The New West Project, headquartered in Denver, will conduct research and develop strategies to secure and exploit recent Democratic gains in the Western states, party sources said.

At least four Western governors - Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Bill Ritter, Colorado's governor-elect - are expected to lead the group's advisory council, the sources said. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado and other members of Congress will provide "strategic guidance."

Reid confirmed the creation of the new organization, which he said would "build upon the leadership of people such as governors Napolitano, Richardson and Schweitzer" and "work to focus attention on the West."

This is a high level group. Consider the Western Strategy in play, my friends. It is wonderful to see this sort of institutional arrangement that will only benefit our local, state and national candidates long term. It looks like part think tank, part strategy firm, part communications development - all aspects that will be welcome by the plethora of candidates that will be running these next few cycles to take advantage of our our new promise out here in the west.

The best part of the article? The quote from an unnamed "Western Democrat":

As an example of what the new organization may do, the Western Democrat said that political professionals would analyze such questions as "the difference between first- and second-generation Hispanic voters, ... what motivates them and how we communicate with them," as well as "why a recent transplant from California, who has voted Republican all her life, is now voting for Democrats."

Good question, "Western Democrat" - it just leaves me amazed to see our namesake invoked so strikingly in an article. Methinks the author of the article, John Aloysius Farrell , might just be an reader of our humble site. If so, thanks for the article John - we'll be watching for you in the future.

It's great to have a new project designed for this express purpose and examining the multitude of new questions that are arising from the new political climate in the West. Now, if any of those people involved in the project are paying attention it would behoove them greatly to include netroots and blog outreach as an element of the project. You see, since major political focus has been absent from the West for awhile the netroots and blogosphere have been proliferating and recruiting top candidates all over the place. It would be an essential element of any plan that you should put together.

I'm excited.

Here's the The New West Project!

Landon Mascareñaz | December 6, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: The New West Project | TrackBack (0) Arizona, Colorado, Demographics, Governors, Legislatures, Local Government, Montana, National Leadership, Nevada, New Mexico, Policy Issues, Regionalism, Statewides, The Big Strategy, Urban/Rural Divide, Utah, Wyoming

Post-Election Statehouse Roundup

To quote Buffalo Springfield, "there's something happening here". Post-election, Western Democrats have made great gains in the states, building strong majorities in the legislatures and taking or retaining several governorships. Here's a look at the numbers, courtesy of NCSL.

Arizona

Pre-Election

Senate 12-18 Republican majority

House 21-39 Republican majority

Post-Election

Senate 12-18 Republican majority

House 28-32 Republican majority

Pickups

Senate – stays the same

House - +7 seats

Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano was overwhelmingly re-elected.

California

Pre-election

Senate 25-15 Democratic majority

Assembly 47-32-1 (Ind.) Democratic majority

Post-Election

Senate 25-15 Democratic majority

Assembly 48-32 Democratic majority

Pickups

Senate – stays the same

Assembly - +1 seat

Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected.

Colorado

Pre-Election

Senate 18-17 Democratic majority

House 35-30 Democratic majority

Post-Election

Senate 20-15 Democratic majority

House 39-26 Democratic majority

Pickups

Senate – +2 seat

House - +4 seats

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter was elected Governor.

Idaho

Pre-Election

Senate 7-28 Republican majority

House 13-57 Republican majority

Post-Election

Senate 7-28 Republican majority

House 19-51 Republican majority

Pickups

Senate – stays the same

House - +6 seats

Republican gubernatorial candidate C.L. “Butch” Otter was elected.

Montana

Pre-Election

Senate 27-23 Democratic majority

House 50-50

Post-Election

Senate 26-24 Democratic majority

House 50-49-1 (Ind.) Democratic majority

Pickups

Senate – -1 Seat

House – stays the same

Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer is up for re-election in 2008.

Nevada

Pre-Election

Senate 9-12 Republican majority

House 26-16 Democratic majority

Post-Election

Senate 10-11 Republican majority.

House 27-15 Democratic majority

Pickups

Senate – +1 seat

House - +1 seat

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibbons was elected.

New Mexico

Pre-Election

Senate 24-18 Democratic majority

House 42-28-2(Ind.) Democratic majority

Post-Election

Senate 24-18 Democratic majority

House 42-28 Democratic majority

Pickups

Senate – stays the same

House – stays the same

Democratic Governor Bill Richardson was overwhelmingly re-elected.

Oregon

Pre-Election

Senate 17-11-2(Ind.) Democratic majority

House 27-33 Republican majority

Post-Election

Senate 17-11-2(Ind.) Democratic majority

House 31-29 Democratic majority

Pickups

Senate – stays the same

House - +4 seats

Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski was re-elected.

Utah

Pre-Election

Senate 8-21 Republican majority

House 19-56 Republican majority

Post-Election

Senate 8-21 Republican majority

House 19-56 Republican majority

Pickups

Senate – stays the same

House – stays the same

Republican Governor Jon Huntsman is up for re-election in 2008.

Washington

Pre-Election

Senate 26-23 Democratic majority

House  56-42 Democratic majority

Post-Election

Senate 32-17 Democratic majority (not since 1965)

House 63-35 Democratic majority

Pickups

Senate – +6 seats

House - +7 seats

Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire is up for re-electionin 2008.

Wyoming

Pre-Election

Senate 7-23 Republican majority

House 14-46 Republican majority

Post-Election

Senate 7-23 Republican majority

House 17-43 Republican majority

Pickups

Senate – stays the same

House - +3 seats

Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal was overwhelmingly re-elected.

kencamp | November 22, 2006 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) Permalink: Post-Election Statehouse Roundup | TrackBack (0) Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Governors, Idaho, Legislatures, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Room to Grow in the West

Western Democrats did well in 2006. Here is a link to some helpful maps. Particularly noteworthy were pickups in Montana for the U.S. Senate and the Colorado for governorship, plus four pick-ups in the House of Representatives. And we won the office of Secretary of State in the swing states of New Mexico and Nevada. (Think Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004 for the importance of this). But we could have done better, and in 2008 we can. For the Senate in 2008 think Colorado and New Mexico. There is still room to grow in the West.

But returning to 2006, Senate pickups in Arizona and Nevada were possible. Governor’s mansion pickups were possible in Alaska, Nevada and Idaho. Additional House pickups were possible in California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming. And we didn’t win the election for Secretary of State in Colorado. These races were close enough to be considered competitive. Several of the competitive House districts in 2006 could be just as competitive in 2008.

So while we are still basking in the warm glow of victory, let us ask ourselves, what could we do better? Any campaign can be critiqued, but I think the biggest factor is that we were outspent. Jack Carter was outspent four to one in Nevada. The GOP and the Club for Growth poured a ton of money into ID-1. The national GOP was spending much more in CA-4 than the DCCC was. And so it went in many districts. Meanwhile Hillary Clinton spent $30 million defeating token opposition in New York. Now I understand that each candidate can raise his or her own funds, and the national committees carefully decide where to spend scarce resources, but more seed money in planting season and more money at harvest time would go a long way in the West. Something to think about for 2008.

Leo Brown | November 21, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Room to Grow in the West | TrackBack (0) Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Governors, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Senators, The Big Strategy, Washington, Wyoming

Course change out West

Salt Lake Tribune:

After the Republican landslide of 1994, Democrats spent six years in a Western political wilderness. But since 2000, Democrats regionwide have hacked into the Republican majorities.

A Tribune analysis of U.S. House results shows that Democrats have narrowed a 20-point GOP edge in 2000 to a slim 48 percent to 47 percent deficit in 2006. In three states - Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico - Democrats have turned their red states blue, winning a majority in the House races.

In 1996, the eight states in the Rocky Mountain West sent 18 Republicans and four Democrats to the House. When Congress convenes next year, there will be 11 Democrats and 15 Republicans representing the Western districts.

Democrats now control five of the eight governorships and, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, picked up seats in five of the eight legislatures in 2006.

"All the way from Canada to Mexico you're seeing blue," says New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

And, guess what? If Kerry had won those three states where Democrats beat Republicans in house races in 2006, he'd be President. Take that Ohio. And Florida.

Emmett O'Connell | November 20, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Course change out West | TrackBack (0) Congress, Governors, The Big Strategy

Advice for our favorite governors

Over at Bill Richardson for America, I just posted the following comment under What advice do you have for the Governor? The context is the presidential campaign of 2008. This advice would also work for Brian Schweitzer.

Decide if you are going to run for president in 2008.

If the answer is yes, plan to raise serious money every month starting in December. Do this painful chore honestly and carefully. If the answer is no, be thankful you don’t have to do this and can concentrate on other important things.

Lose some weight. It is easy to gain weight during a campaign. This goes for most Americans and most candidates, but Harry Reid and Barack Obama are thin enough already. Look fit, tanned, and relaxed over the holidays.

If you decide to run, throw your hat in the ring fairly early, perhaps in January or February. Those leading the pack right now have the luxury of waiting. Have a gracious exit strategy if your campaign doesn’t take off. Being governor is a lot more fun than being president anyway.

Remember, America is tired of red vs. blue and wants someone who can bridge divides. If you are so fortunate as to be elected, you should govern from the center. This means not only the center of the political spectrum; it means the center of American values. In the cliché it means truth, justice, and the American way. You have to articulate what that means to you in your own words. When America has lost its way at home and in the world, we need to return to the wisdom of the founding fathers and other Americans, great and small, who have preceded us. Study their words of wisdom and weave them into your own story. Have faith, have humility, and be yourself. This is good advice whether you run or not.

Leo Brown | November 11, 2006 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) Permalink: Advice for our favorite governors | TrackBack (0) Governors, Montana, New Mexico, Presidential Politics

Victory, my friends.

We won big last night. We've gained a solid majority in the House and we stand on the verge of taking the Senate. We have a woman Speaker of the House and Democratic control for the first time in 12 years.

That is all fine and good, but let's look at where we won out here in the West (minute snipping occurred):

Arizona's 5th: Harry Mitchell (D) 51 percent, J.D. Hayworth (R) 46 percent

California's 11th: Jerry McNerney (D) 53 percent, Richard Pombo (R) 47 percent

Arizona's 8th: Gabrielle Giffords (D) 54 percent, Randy Graf (R) 42 percent

Colorado's 7th: Ed Perlmutter (D) 55 percent, Rick O'Donnell (R) 42 percent

That's just races that are already decided. Here in New Mexico, we're still waiting on the Madrid-Wilson dead heat, among others across the nation.

But let's not forget what also happened last night:

Democrats made solid gains in governorships across the country, taking Republican posts in Colorado, Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio and retaining every seat they held in 14 states...

Who was the chair of the Democratic Governors Association? Oh that's right: Mr. 68%, Governor Bill Richardson:

Richardson was clobbering challenger John Dendahl with nearly all of the votes counted. He was leading with 68 percent, well on his way to passing the mark of 60.2 percent of the vote posted by Democrat Jack Campbell in 1964. This gives him a place in history as New Mexico's winningest governor.

What a day, what a year. I'm excited for the future of our party and our country. As Madam Speaker Pelosi said last night:

"From sea to shining sea, the American people voted for change," declared Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the hard-charging California Democrat in line to become the nation's first female House speaker.

"Today we have made history," she said, "now let us make progress."

Here, here.

Landon Mascareñaz | November 8, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Victory, my friends. | TrackBack (0) Congress, Governors, National Leadership, New Mexico, The Big Strategy

Tester leading...

Of course, the big story in the West is that Jon Tester is leading Conrad Burns. As of 9:30 Mountain Time, he's up 49% to 48% leading by less than 2000 votes, out of nearly 400,000 cast.

In the US House, Democrats won Arizona-5, Arizona-8, California-11 (goodbye Pombo!), and Colorado 7 (Perlmutter). It's still too close to call in California-4 (Brown/Doolittle), New Mexico-1 (Madrid/Wilson), Washington-8 (Burner/Reichert), and Wyoming at-large (Trauner/Cubin). DailyKos has a Western election results tracker.

In the governor's races, Democrats won in Colorado and Oregon - but lost in Alaska, Idaho, and Nevada.

Kari Chisholm | November 8, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) Permalink: Tester leading... | TrackBack (0) Arizona, California, Colorado, Congress, Governors, New Mexico, Senators, Washington, Wyoming

Fearless predictions

Fearless predictions anyone?

The convention wisdom is that the Democrats will take the House, getting more than the required fifteen seats, and pick up six or seven governorships. Senate control is a toss-up, but the Democrats will gain several seats.

The big gains will be in the East and Midwest, but the West and South will contribute as well in the House, Senate, and governors’ races.

Current projections indicate no incumbent Democratic House member, senator, or governor will be defeated.

Will tomorrow be a big wave or a smaller one?

Any predictions for your favorite candidate(s)?

Leo Brown | November 6, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Fearless predictions | TrackBack (0) Congress, Governors, Senators

Gibbons and Titus in Nevada

In Nevada Republican Jim Gibbons was holding a comfortable lead over Democrat Dina Titus when a series of explosive scandals rocked his campaign. Without going into the most controversial and explosive one, there are two others.

His former (illegal) housekeeper has spoken out.

And some of his “earmarks” had been kept secret.

Now the Green candidate has thrown his support to Titus.

Titus is closing the gap.

Definitely a race to watch tomorrow.

Nevada is a battleground state with two competitive House seats, a Senate seat, the Governor, and the Secretary of State as important contests.

Leo Brown | November 6, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Gibbons and Titus in Nevada | TrackBack (0) Governors, Nevada, Republicans

ID-Gov and ID-01: Winnable Races for Democrats

I know I've been throwing out a lot of love to Idaho lately, but Democrats in that state are running strong and part of the party's resurgence in the West. New polling shows that the Idaho Governor's race and the 1st Congressional District race are both statistical dead heats.

For the first time since the early 1990s, the outcome of a statewide election appears in doubt with just 10 days to go.

An Idaho Statesman/Today's 6 poll says races for governor, 1st Congressional District and school superintendent are essentially tied.

[...]

In the governor's race, Republican U.S. Rep. Butch Otter leads Democratic newspaper owner Jerry Brady by a single percentage point. Republican state Rep. Bill Sali has a 2 percentage point lead over Democratic businessman Larry Grant for the congressional seat that runs from West Boise north to Canada. In the race to oversee public schools, Democrat Jana Jones leads Republican Tom Luna by 3 percentage points.

The key here is that for the first time since the early 1990's Democrats are running strong and poised to win seats that they haven't controlled in years, and all of this is happening in one of the reddest states in the union.

So since it's late in the game to be donating money, if you live in Idaho (or on the border in eastern Washington or eastern Oregon), please do what you can to help these candidates get out the vote. These races are going to be won by a superior ground game and they need all the volunteers they can get. That's not to say that races in Washington and Oregon aren't important, but we need to help our neighbors when we can.

To volunteer, please contact:

Grant for Congress
Brady for Idaho
Jana Jones for Superintendent of Public Instruction

kencamp | October 29, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: ID-Gov and ID-01: Winnable Races for Democrats | TrackBack (0) Congress, Governors, Idaho, Statewides

A National Party No More

I stumbled across this article earlier today and I thought it had a ton of pertinent information for Western Democrats.  The thesis of the article is that this election will herald the first non-southern majority in quite some time (if the Democrats win, that is).  The author argues that 2006 will see final alignment towards the Democrats that the Northeast and uppermidwest has been waiting for:

Five states within this rectangle have three or more Republicans in jeopardy: Connecticut, Indiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Democratic candidates in Iowa, Illinois, New Hampshire and Wisconsin are also competitive.

The author also notes that in the West another re-alignment is occurring:

Meanwhile, Republicans are even struggling to hold seats in some distinctly red portions of the country, including eastern Washington, western Idaho, central New Mexico, southeastern Arizona and Wyoming...

Turning westward, Colorado's Bill Ritter is pulling away from Republican Rep. Bob Beauprez, and Dina Titus has been handed a late-campaign windfall in Nevada courtesy of two brewing scandals involving Republican nominee Jim Gibbons. If Mr. Ritter and Ms. Titus both win, the number of Democratic governors in the eight interior West states will jump from four to six. In 2001, there were none.

The final part of the article gives the credit where credit is due:

Ms. Pelosi was raised in Baltimore, but the district she represents is in Berkeley, Calif. Mr. Reid hails from Nevada, and Mr. Richardson is governor of New Mexico. These three Westerners are hoping that January 2007 will be a month filled with moving boxes and moving speeches hallmarking the end of the Republicans' 12-year congressional and gubernatorial reign.

I remember a couple of years ago, Zell Miller published his book "A National Party No More" and concluded that the Democratic Party was not competitive around (and was not representative) of the nation.  How about these apples, Zell?

Where he (and other happy pundits) were so quick to surmise the demise of the Democratic Party around the country, the 2006 election will most likely showcase the suprising lack of strength of the GOP outside of the former Confederacy.  The GOP should be asking itself these questions right now - Can we remain a viable party just catering to the intensity of our southern bloc?  Does the possible success the Democratic Party will show on November 7th highlight the effectiveness of combining progressive issues and good governance in all regions of our country? 

These are serious questions that will haunt the GOP for the next two years.  As I've argued before (and have seen many others argue) that only if the Democratic Party uses this unique opportunity we've been given in 2006 can we forge a new majority in this country that will sustain positive progress among our people and our nation.  I also happen to smile a little bit at the traditional media's awakening that perhaps the GOP isn't as national and broad as it makes itself out to be.  Hopefully, a greater understanding of the latter, combined with good fortune of the former will be in the stars for our party.

It's funny how in two years, the picture can look so different.

Landon Mascareñaz | October 27, 2006 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) Permalink: A National Party No More | TrackBack (0) Congress, Governors, Regionalism, The Big Strategy

Brady leads in Idaho for governor

A short two years from not even fielding a candidate against a sitting Republican Senator, things sure have turned around for Democrats in Idaho. Their man in in the lead (or pretty damn close):

In one of the most Republican states in the country, a new poll released yesterday shows that Democrat candidate Jerry Brady has closed a 19-point gap and now is within the margin of error against his Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter, in the race for Idaho Governor. The poll conducted by Goodwin Simon Victoria Research shows Jerry Brady with a 42-40 lead over Congressman Otter among likely voters.

"This poll clearly indicates that Jerry Brady's 'Idaho Is Not for Sale' message is resonating with the voting public," DGA Chair New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said. "Protecting public lands is an important issue to Idaho voters, and they know Jerry Brady shares their values and is on their side."

No matter which way you sliced it, this is way better than a 99 percet loss in a statewide race.

Other coverage:
43rd State Blues: Democrat Leads in Idaho Governor's Race!
Red State Rebels: Brady pulls ahead

Emmett O'Connell | October 26, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Brady leads in Idaho for governor | TrackBack (0) Governors, Idaho

NV-GOV: Gibbons' Nannygate

Nevada Gubernatorial candidate Congressman Jim Gibbons has some questions to answer after it has been revealed that he knew of his former housekeeper/babysitter's immigration status and yet still employed her. From KLAS TV in Las Vegas:

The woman, Patricia Pastor Sandoval, says she worked for the Gibbons' for years and the family occasionally made her hide in the basement to keep her illegal status a secret.[...]

Pastor Sandoval says one reason she is talking about her previous relationship with Jim and Dawn Gibbons is because of the statements Gibbons has made during his campaign about getting tough with illegal immigrants. After all, she was an illegal herself.

Pastor Sandoval, who is Peruvian, says she entered the U.S. in 1984 by hiding in the trunk of a car as it crossed over from Tijuana. She got a job cleaning the sprawling house on the outskirts of Reno. When the Gibbons family bought the house in 1987, she stayed on.

In the beginning, she says no one asked about her legal status, but it became abundantly clear the Gibbons family knew she was not here legally since they often asked her to hide when certain people came to the house.

So what does the Gibbons campaign do to answer the questions surrounding the employment of an illegal alien? That's right, they follow the GOP playbook and blame it on the Democrats.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Jim Gibbons campaign issued its own statement in anticipation of the Channel 8 I-Team story. The scathing letter blames this controversy on Democratic candidate Dina Titus and accuses her of trying to focus the campaign on matters other than the issues, and of maliciously attacking personal reputations.

The statement did not address whether the story told by Patricia Sandoval is true or not.

Jim Gibbons needs to answer the tough questions and let the voters of Nevada know if he is a hypocrite who talks tough on illegal immigration and then employs illegal immigrants. But rather than tell the truth, Gibbons prefers to smear Democrats. His willingness to scapegoat Dina Titus for his own ethical problems shows that he doesn't have the character to be Governor of Nevada.

If you're in Nevada, visit Dina's website and sign up to volunteer. And if you're outside Nevada please contribute to Dina Titus' campaign. 1 hour a day of volunteering can make a difference and every dollar helps to keep the culture of corruption from infiltrating state government.

kencamp | October 25, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) Permalink: NV-GOV: Gibbons' Nannygate | TrackBack (0) Governors, Nevada

What races are you interested in?

Two weeks to go. What contests are you interested in? What are you doing to help your favorite candidates?

Has anything changed for you since this post?

Leo Brown | October 24, 2006 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) Permalink: What races are you interested in? | TrackBack (0) Congress, Governors

National GOP coming after Richardson...New Mexico voters yawn.

The national GOP Governor's Association is taking aim at Richardson, proving how out of touch they are:

A national Republican group is launching a television campaign ad today focusing on Democratic New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's potential presidential aspirations.

The ad, sponsored by the Republican Governors' Association, makes an issue of Richardson's travel to other states, including Iowa and New Hampshire which hold early presidential contests.
At one point, the ad asks the question -- quoting -- "What is he doing? Running to be president or governor of New Mexico?"

In case they didn't know, Dendahl has been trying this line of attack for awhile, without much traction. In fact, most New Mexicans are receptive to the idea of their Governor taking the next step:

Richardson won't say, if elected, whether he would serve out a second term. "After my re-election, I will sit down with my family and advisers and decide what the next political steps will be," he said during a Sept. 20 interview with the Journal.
Dendahl said Richardson is "lying" and expects the governor to use New Mexico as a frog does a lily pad— "to jump off it for a presidential run." He cites Richardson's out-of-state travel. The governor has been out of New Mexico about 200 days since taking office, a pace that has increased in 2006 as he has stumped for candidates around the country as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.
But many New Mexico voters don't seem bothered by his presidential aspirations. Fifty-four percent of them rated Richardson's chances of winning as good or very good in a recent Journal Poll.

I never really understood that line of attack anyway. I mean, why wouldn't people from a state be proud to see their favorite son or daughter advance on the national stage? It doesn't make much sense, if you ask me. Being from multiple states, hell, I'd support anyone from California, Oregon, Colorado or New Mexico that ran for president if they were a competant leader, effective at getting things done or proposing a bold agenda for the national party. The closest I would come to being upset would being sad that they were leaving the state where they made positive changes. Maybe someone else could explain it to me.

I hope Republicans waste a lot more money like this heading towards the election.

Landon Mascareñaz | October 20, 2006 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) Permalink: National GOP coming after Richardson...New Mexico voters yawn. | TrackBack (0) Governors, New Mexico

Cutting Taxes for the Right New Mexicans

Joaquin over at The Plaza (Bill Richardson's campaign blog) showcases some new economic incentives the Governor is proposing. The main focus is tax cuts for working families, veterans and people that invest in New Mexico. Some highlights (I used ellipsis to designate snipping, check the post to read the whole package):

WORKING FAMILIES Working Families Tax Credit - the centerpiece of the Governor's tax-cut package, which is modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. This tax credit will reward work, and help working families--who earn between $11,000 and $36,000. As many as 139,000 taxpayers will benefit by an average of $180 per return...

MILITARY AND MILITARY RETIREES...
Tax Cuts for active-duty military - exempting military pay from state income taxes, which means an average of $1,340 in tax benefit to 7,000 New Mexicans...

BUSINESS-ECONOMY...
Gross Receipts Tax Deduction for Hospitals - Most of the hospitals affected operate in small, rural areas and on the front lines when it comes to caring for those most in need. This tax cut will allow more money that can be invested in local jobs, technology and direct patient care.

Gross Receipts Tax Relief for Mutual Funds - an incentive for investment management firms to bring well-paying financial services jobs to New Mexico.

Angel Investment Credit - an incentive for New Mexicans who invest in high-tech, start-up companies.

Now I know that tax cuts aren't the natural red meat for Democrats around the country. But isn't that the point? In Chain Reaction: The impact of Race, Rights, and Taxes on American Politics (Norton, 1991), the authors argue that

The tax revolt was a major turning point in American politics. It provided new muscle and new logic to the formation of a conservative coalition opposed to the liberal welfare state. The division of the electorate along lines of taxpayes versus tax recipients dovetailed with racial divisions...The tax revolt provided conservatism with a powerful internal coherance, shaping an anti-government ethic, and firmly establishing new grounds for the disaffection of white working- and middle-class voters from their traditional Democratic roots.

It is wonderful to see Democratic politicians such as Richardson using the language of taxation to advance a progressive and electorally successful agenda. Since working families have a higher marginal propensity to consume, the state of New Mexico will even see greater rewards from this system. Too often in national or local politics, conservative Republicans use the language of the tax revolt to mobilize white working or middle class, decades after the true revolt occurred. That is because the language is power (your money, your freedom) and Democrats have often neglected to speak the language effectively.

I look forward to the day where national Democratic politicians challenge the GOP along these lines in a highly publicized way and ask them to come out against tax cuts for working families and veterans while supporting those for millionaires.

Landon Mascareñaz | October 18, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) Permalink: Cutting Taxes for the Right New Mexicans | TrackBack (0) Governors, Local Government, National Leadership, New Mexico, Policy Issues, Statewides

Taking Back The States

As I was reading John Nichols' article, "Repainting Statehouses Blue" in this week's issue of The Nation, the following paragraph stuck out in my mind:

Governors are not merely potential presidential contenders, however. They also have a hand in determining how federal electoral contests turn out. Control of statehouses gives a party organizational and structural advantages in everything from the drawing of district lines for Congressional seats to presidential politics, as was illustrated to the dismay of Democrats by Florida Governor Jeb Bush in 2000 and Ohio Governor Bob Taft in 2004. That's one of the reasons Democrats have been frustrated by their relatively weak position in the states in recent years.

The greater our Democratic majority in state legislatures and the more Gubernatorial seats we pick up, the greater the opportunity for Democrats to gain organizational and structural control of our democracy.

That's why the work that Democratic Governors Association Chairman, Governor Bill Richardson, is doing is so important. This year, Governor Richardson has been traveling far and wide across our country, stumping for Democratic candidates for governor and incumbent Democratic governors. These steps are necessary to ensure that the next Democratic nominee for President of the United States has the infrastructure in place to not only make a run, but to win the Presidency.

That's why it's so important that you go to Governor Richardson's ActBlue page and donate to one or more of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates. The future is at stake.

kencamp | October 11, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Taking Back The States | TrackBack (0) Governors, New Mexico, The Big Strategy

Governor Richardson to the Rescue, Again

Cross-posted at Daily Kos.

Someone check to see if he's a Governor by day and a superhero by night...

Whether a failed test or not, now that North Korea has appeared to have detonated a nuclear bomb, let's see how long it takes the Bush Administration to "cut and run" (to use the current Republican vernacular) from its "stay the course" (see previous parenthetical comment) policy of outsourcing American foreign policy responsibilities to China.

Once again, Governor Richardson is prepared to be the adult in the room and has offered his diplomatic services to his country. And unlike George W. Bush who skipped out on his National Guard service, Bill Richardson has answered the call every time his country has needed him.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson says, as a former U.N. ambassador, he's willing to talk with North Korea on its nuclear program.

[...]

"I would do it, but only if the (Bush) administration asks," Richardson, a Democrat, told the newspaper in a telephone interview. "What makes more sense right now is someone directly connected to the administration going. That would be more useful."

In an ironic twist of fate, embattled Rep. Heather Wilson agreed thatGovernor Richardson should be a part of any delegation to have discussions withNorth Korea.After all, Wilson can't argue with Richardson's record ofsuccess in foreign relations. And as I've pointed out before, there are onlytwo men (both Democrats) who have successfully negotiated with the North Koreangovernment: former President Jimmy Carter and Governor Bill Richardson.

Memo to George W. Bush: Bill Richardson is the best hope to help clean up the mess you've created in your negligence to engage with North Korea.

kencamp | October 11, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Governor Richardson to the Rescue, Again | TrackBack (0) Governors, New Mexico, Policy Issues

Is "a clear thinker" like "a heckuva job"?

You know Bob, you should keep inviting really unpopular presidents to campaign and fundraise for you.

"There's no doubt in my mind that he'll make a great governor for the state of Colorado," said the president.

Or how about this gem for ol' Both Ways Bob:

President Bush called Beauprez "a clear thinker."

Beauprez tried to nail down Ritter on some plea bargains regarding illegal immigrants in a recent debate:

Republican Bob Beauprez on Tuesday assailed Democrat Bill Ritter's record as a prosecutor, saying his approval of plea bargains that kept immigrant criminals from being deported calls into question his ability to lead the state.

"Why should the people of Colorado trust you to exercise good judgment on things like economic development and education and health care?" Beauprez asked during a debate that featured one of the sharpest exchanges to date between the two gubernatorial candidates.

Ritter blasted back in a well-formed and framed tone, underscoring Bob's blurring of how the system works:

Ritter fired back, saying, "I think the next governor of the state ought to have something more than a cocktail-party familiarity with the criminal justice system."

Federal immigration officials, Ritter said, told him they didn't have the resources to deport illegal immigrants convicted of felonies. He blamed Congress for not giving immigration authorities the funding necessary to do their job.

"I've never seen a single instance where you stood up on behalf of law enforcement ... to provide the resources to do this," Ritter said.

This may be of interest to most Western Democrats, showing how cultivating support among different types of individuals that live in the west can make the difference:

Eddie Kochman wanted to make absolutely sure Bill Ritter understood sportsmen's issues before he backed him for governor - so he arranged for Ritter to go fly fishing with him on his property near Fairplay earlier this summer. Much to his surprise, he discovered the former Denver district attorney is an accomplished fisherman.

"We didn't talk politics," said Kochman, the retired head of the state fisheries program. "He caught several fish that day. He's a damn good fisherman."

That was enough to convince Kochman that Ritter understood sportsmen...

Ritter's opponent, Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez, has tried to appeal to sportsmen by highlighting his opposition to gun control. But many sportsmen are upset with Republican-backed policies they blame for emphasizing oil and gas development at the expense of wildlife.

"It's the roads and all the activity that comes with drilling," said Kochman. "It pushes the animals out and affects breeding and calving. Fragmentation of habitat is a major threat."

Beauprez has recently been pushing a proposal to replace elk and mule deer habitat disrupted by energy development with new habitat, especially in northwestern Colorado, home to some of the largest migratory herds in North America. Under his plan, public and private funds would be used to create "off-site" habitat away from the drilling.

"Sportsmen are seeing development in the areas where our most treasured wildlife is," said John Marshall, a spokesman for Beauprez. "This is a group that's traditionally Republican, and they feel strongly that Republicans ought to be out in front of this."

However, Beauprez's plan has been met with derision from many sportsmen. They question if elk can be simply redirected from their accustomed habitat.

"It's ludicrous; we got a good chuckle over it," said Duke Cox, president of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance, a Garfield County group that is critical of gas drilling. "It would be great if you could give elk vouchers to relocate."

Beauprez has been a strong supporter of both oil and gas and the mining industries in Congress.

Last year he backed a change in mining laws that would have transferred thousands of acres of wild Colorado land into private hands. That bill outraged dozens of sportsmens' groups, prompting more than 40 state hunting and fishing organizations to band together to oppose the measure. The bill passed the House by two votes, but was killed in the Senate.

Clear thinker, indeed.

Bob Beauprez: supporter of oil and gas interests above public land, re-director of elk, back-slapper of Bush and cocktail-party quarterback of the criminal justice system.

Give me one reason why this guy should be governor of Colorado and I'll give you 10 why Ritter should win in a landslide.

Landon Mascareñaz | October 4, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Is "a clear thinker" like "a heckuva job"? | TrackBack (0) Colorado, Governors

Bill Richardson Enters the Blogosphere

I'd like to give a big Western Democrat welcome to Governor Bill Richardson whose blog, The Plaza, went live today. Though specifically focused on New Mexico and his 2006 re-election campaign, and rightly so, I want to recommend that Western Democrat readers visit the blog, register for an account and take part in the discussion. Governor Richardson is the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and he needs to hear from us Westerners about the issues that matter most to us.

From going to Yearly Kos and sponsoring a blogger breakfast, to meeting with bloggers in Washington, South Carolina, and other states, and sponsoring the Governor Forecast and posting on MyDD, Governor Richardson has shown his willingness to engage the netroots in discussion on the vital issues of our day.

So please visit The Plaza and make your voice heard. Governor Richardson is one of the key players here in the West, and I have no doubt he's going to continue to play a big role in the political future of our region.

Disclaimer: I am the founder of Washington for Richardson, and a contributor at America for Richardson.

kencamp | September 28, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Bill Richardson Enters the Blogosphere | TrackBack (0) Governors, New Mexico

Western Roundup

A brief smattering of Western news, for those inclined.

First off, John Ensign is in another world:

Most of the country (Iraq) is pretty positive.

He's also speaking truth:

Yes. Our (GOP) behavior (on fiscal issues) has been wrong.

Richardson and right-winger Dendahl can't agree to debate :

The two camps had talked about an Oct. 15 debate but they couldn't agree on the terms. Dendahl wanted the debate televised live, but the governor's campaign argued that giving Dendahl an hour of air time would be a disservice to voters.

Richardson also lays out a fairly comprehensive position on Iraq:

I would set a timetable for withdrawal. I would couple that with a political solution of the three ethic groups forcing them to have a political solution. There is no military solution. Specifically, I would divide up the oil revenue, the cabinet ministries and force them to come up with a new political framework. I would also study Senator Biden's federation [proposal]. I think that may be ultimately the right solution.

In the same article, he clearly endorses the 50-state strategy:

I am on Dean's side. I think what Howard Dean is doing makes sense.... That is what we should concentrate on. The DNC's role is to rebuild the state Democratic party. For instance in New Mexico ... because of the DNC we have 4 extra full-time campaign workers that have been there. That is helpful.

Governor Napolitano is slaughtering her competitors among independents and well, everyone else:

A statewide poll released Tuesday found Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano with a 2-to-1 lead over Republican challenger Len Munsil, with the incumbent making deep inroads among Republican voters and attracting support from the vast majority of independents surveyed...

Napolitano held a 4-to-1 lead - 72 percent for Napolitano, 18 percent for Munsil, 3 percent for Hess, 7 percent undecided - among independents surveyed and had backing from 62 percent of voters overall in Republican-leaning Maricopa County (Phoenix) and 68 percent in Pima County (Tucson), a Democratic stronghold.

Bill Ritter is setting up for be the next Governor of Colorado in a landslide:

Less than two months before the election, Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter (D) has jumped even further ahead in Colorado's gubernatorial race. He now leads Republican Representative Bob Beauprez 50% to 34%. Ten percent (10%) are undecided.

So if all the undecideds swing to Beauprez, Ritter still wins. Sweet.

Back to New Mexico, where Dendahl is calling Bill Richardson a "vengeful, ruthless man." Constructive.

In Nevada, the first gubenatorial debate between Titus and Gibbons was declared even (and pretty ruthless). Although, Titus got in this good shot:

Titus then popped Gibbons with a reference to his now-famous speech in Elko last year, when he plagiarized paragraphs from an Alabama politician's speech and complained about "the three-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippie, tie-dyed liberals" for their opposition to the war in Iraq.

'In my classes, congressman, if you plagiarize, you get an F.'

That's it for now, I may update later. I'll leave you with a Richardson quote that may resonate with everyone here:

My view is that the West is the future of the democratic party - Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah.

Landon Mascareñaz | September 28, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) Permalink: Western Roundup | TrackBack (0) Arizona, Colorado, Governors, Nevada, New Mexico

Richardon enjoying a winger to boost his numbers

A while back I put forward the theory that the more crazy, and in need of watering, a Republican was out there, the better a good, coyote smart, Western Democrat would do.

Case in point:

Since John Dendahl (Mr. Latinos are drunks himself) came forward as the Republican nominee for governor in New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's poll numbers have climbed. Richardson has become the 7th most popular governor in the country, liked by nearly 70 percent of New Mexico's citizens.

Emmett O'Connell | September 24, 2006 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) Permalink: Richardon enjoying a winger to boost his numbers | TrackBack (0) Governors, New Mexico, Republicans

Blog of Enchantment

For those that are interested, I've been pointed in the direction of an exciting new location in the blogosphere.

Bill Richardson's website now has a working blog:

http://blog.billrichardson2006.com/

While the blog is still in it's early stages, you can already create a profile and start posting diaries. It says quite a bit that the campaign has put together a blog of this quality that allows such direct user interface and connection.

I'll also give props to those that put together the Guv's website - it's clean, very New Mexican and contains quite a bit of content for a man running for re-election at 65% approval rating.

I'm looking forward to seeing some Western Dem readers on that blog - I'll be posting as Frontier Democrat, my handle on DailyKos as well.

Let's keep some energy on the blog because you know the campaign's watching to make sure people like us use it. If you're a Richardson fan (I won't pretend to admit I'm not), head on over and start posting. If you're not, check it out anyway during this election season and learn some more about the man and what he has done for New Mexico.

See ya'll there.

Landon Mascareñaz | September 19, 2006 | Comment on This Post (12 so far) Permalink: Blog of Enchantment | TrackBack (0) Governors, New Mexico, Statewides

Schweitzer Challenges NY Millionaire to Debate (video!)

Updated below: We've now got video! See below...

Montana, like many other states, is facing a "TABOR" measure that would decimate public services. The TABOR measures are funded largely by a reclusive New York millionaire named Howie Rich.

So, our man Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) has challenged Howie Rich to a debate in Montana. From his statement:

“Out of state millionaires have no businesses imposing their will on the hard working people of Montana,” said Governor Schweitzer. “Howard Rich and his wealthy buddies won’t even reveal who is funding their campaign. I invite them to come to Montana, tell us who they are and what their shady initiative is all about.”

Governor Schweitzer continued, “Mr. Rich has clearly seen Manhattan, New York – maybe he should meet me in Manhattan, Montana. As a rich world traveler he has probably seen the Kremlin, maybe it is time for him to meet the folks of Kremlin, Montana. It is appalling that big money fat cats would use our state as a testing ground for their ridiculous agenda. They need to stop hiding behind their money and be straight with the people of Montana.”

Nice work, Brian. Keep us posted.

There's more coverage from the Billings Gazette.

Update - the video

Video from Howie Rich Exposed. Hat tip to Loaded Orygun.

Kari Chisholm | September 13, 2006 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) Permalink: Schweitzer Challenges NY Millionaire to Debate (video!) | TrackBack (0) Governors, Montana, Policy Issues

Asking Congress to get something done

From the Albuquerque Tribune:

AUSTIN - Accusing Congress of abdicating its responsibility to control immigration and secure the U.S.-Mexico border, Gov. Bill Richardson and three other border-state governors have signed a letter urging federal lawmakers to pass comprehensive immigration reform before the end of the year.

Richardson, fellow Democrat Janet Napolitano of Arizona, and Republicans Rick Perry of Texas and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California signed the letter Friday at the close of the two-day Border Governors Conference.

They joined the governors of six Mexican states in signing a joint declaration on issues ranging from tourism and trade to education and border security. They pledged to share information about human, drug and arms trafficking, and to work together to prevent agricultural terrorism and ensure high food safety standards.

In their letter to House and Senate leaders, the governors said: "We urge you to get back to work and pass legislation that puts the interest of taxpayers first and solves this crisis once and for all."

It is interesting how you can get all the border state governors to agree on the framework, along with governors from another country and you can't get elected representatives in Congress to do anything except grandstand and play to special interests.

The chances of anything getting done regarding this issue are next to none before the 2006 election. The GOP will play up the open border as an issue but their credibility on this issue is severely hampered by the fact that even though they controlled both houses and the presidency, they achieved next to nothing for the American people.

Wes