Sunday, July 28, 2019

Baltimore Sun Editorial July 28, 2019 Trump Vermin

In case anyone missed it, the president of the United States had some choice words to describe Maryland’s 7th congressional district on Saturday morning. Here are the key phrases: “no human being would want to live there,” it is a “very dangerous & filthy place,” “Worst in the USA” and, our personal favorite: It is a “rat and rodent infested mess.” He wasn’t really speaking of the 7th as a whole. He failed to mention Ellicott City, for example, or Baldwin or Monkton or Prettyboy, all of which are contained in the sprawling yet oddly-shaped district that runs from western Howard County to southern Harford County. No, Donald Trump’s wrath was directed at Baltimore and specifically at Rep. Elijah Cummings, the 68-year-old son of a former South Carolina sharecropper who has represented the district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1996.
In pointing to the 7th, the president wasn’t hoping his supporters would recognize landmarks like Johns Hopkins Hospital, perhaps the nation’s leading medical center. He wasn’t conjuring images of the U.S. Social Security Administration, where they write the checks that so many retired and disabled Americans depend upon. It wasn’t about the beauty of the Inner Harbor or the proud history of Fort McHenry. And it surely wasn’t about the economic standing of a district where the median income is actually above the national average. No, he was returning to an old standby of attacking an African American lawmaker from a majority black district on the most emotional and bigoted of arguments. It was only surprising that there wasn’t room for a few classic phrases like “you people” or “welfare queens” or “crime-ridden ghettos” or a suggestion that the congressman “go back” to where he came from. 
This is a president who will happily debase himself at the slightest provocation. And given Mr. Cummings’ criticisms of U.S. border policy, the various investigations he has launched as chairman of the House Oversight Committee, his willingness to call Mr. Trump a racist for his recent attacks on the freshmen congresswomen, and the fact that “Fox & Friends” had recently aired a segment critical of the city, slamming Baltimore must have been irresistible in a Pavlovian way. Fox News rang the bell, the president salivated and his thumbs moved across his cell phone into action.

As heartening as it has been to witness public figures rise to Charm City’s defense on Saturday, from native daughter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young, we would above all remind Mr. Trump that the 7th District, Baltimore included, is part of the United States that he is supposedly governing. The White House has far more power to effect change in this city, for good or ill, than any single member of Congress including Mr. Cummings. If there are problems here, rodents included, they are as much his responsibility as anyone’s, perhaps more because he holds the most powerful office in the land.
Finally, while we would not sink to name-calling in the Trumpian manner — or ruefully point out that he failed to spell the congressman’s name correctly (it’s Cummings, not Cumming) — we would tell the most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval Office, the mocker of war heroes, the gleeful grabber of women’s private parts, the serial bankrupter of businesses, the useful idiot of Vladimir Putin and the guy who insisted there are “good people” among murderous neo-Nazis that he’s still not fooling most Americans into believing he’s even slightly competent in his current post. Or that he possesses a scintilla of integrity. Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.

Monday, July 1, 2019

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Sam Donaldson Speaks

This week Sam Donaldson, the venerable ABC News White House Correspondent, was the interviewee during a session I moderated at Oasis in Albuquerque.

We had a blast!


For a good 90 minutes the stories roared like the mighty Rio Grande.

Discussion topics ranged from our early day media experiences (Sam in El Paso, your scribe in Taos) to memorable and teaching moments during Sam's lifetime of traveling the globe in search of truth, justice and the American Way.

We talked about Watergate, the Carter and Reagan presidencies (and presidents), and a whole lot more.  

As best we could tell, only 4 folks got fed up with our meanderings and left before it was all over.

Their loss.

By the way, Oasis has some great programming for folks who are looking to spend some time living and learning.   Give them a Google.   Oasis Albuquerque - you'll find them. 


Thursday, May 30, 2019

Russia is watching

Lest we get all hung up in all the jibbing and jabbing about impeachment, collusion, and all the rest.

The former FBI Director, one Robert Mueller, said on May 29, 2019:



“I will close by reiterating the central allegation of our indictments — that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election.  That allegation deserves the attention of every American.”  

Are our elected officials in charge of election operations doing what they should be doing to enhance voter security?   Or, are they waiting "for someone else" to act?

Just wondering?    

Is the media going to ask any of those elected officials about that?  


Monday, May 27, 2019

Nuevo Vidanta

Our May getaway was spectacular.

A) We didn't hear too much about El Trumpo (the TV only received CNN International, a number of FOX stations, RT (the Russian American network), and gobs & gobs of Mexican TV stations.

Well, were were in Mexico - the lack of ABC, NBC, CBS, might have been a retaliatory reaction to El Trump vs Mexico - one never knows down there, one never knows.

Anyway, we spent the better part of 2 weeks at Vidanta - a massive (and growing) adult version of Disneyland on Banderas Bay.  It's wonderful.

There was apprehension, some had told us, "once you get in, you're a captive"!  Not true - if one chose to go elsewhere, take a cab - and it's easy.  The challenge- "wanting to go elsewhere".

There ar multitude of restaurant choices on site. Entertainment, golf, pools, wandering about in a neatly manicured man-made jungle.

What is missing, is the "real Mexican environment" feel. My guess is, Vidanta figured long ago that Americans and Canadians aren't all that comfortable with the "Mexican feel" - and the thouands of Mexican who will take summer holiday there in June and July are looking for escape.

Good for all.

Here are a few pictures of our adventure with our multi-year (30 or so) traveling companions - The Mathers!


Havana Club



The grounds



A pool


Another pool


Finding the way





And, George Clooney has found work as a doorman, seen here saying "hasta" to the Mathers!

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Russians Spying

 I'm just wondering.

Having returned from a week on the high seas of the Caribbean, I've spent some time catching up on a report issued by this fellow Mueller.

Now, I haven't read it...and don't intend to.  I'll just do like the majority of Americans who care, and listen to talking heads on TV to keep me on the straight and narrow!

I'm assuming that the President of the United States, and the republican leaders in Congress and across the country are rising to proclaim that the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming - protect the wives and children. The Russians are coming!

I'm counting on them to get fired up because the communists are infiltrating our good land.

Oh wait?

What?

They ain't said nothin!

Didn't they get all fired up with Hillary had some e-mail problems and the security of the country was threatened because she was using an electronic device that could have been hacked - and our secrets could be stolen?

I don't think there was ever any proof of that, just some hollering. 

But, in 2016, all those Ruskies did was infiltrate and compromise the bedrock of our democracy, the election.

But, what about those Hillary e-mails?  We need to investigate what happened.

Jeez, Louise!

And now, the little guy from North Korea is meeting with Vlad.

Oh my, oh my.














Monday, April 1, 2019

The People's People

Well...well...well...

Here we are, about 18 months away from "the most important election in the history of the republic" - aren't they all - and, as Jackie Gleason said in his long ago TV series, "Away We Go"!

But a way is hard to find.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the republican from Kentucky, as a story in Politico says is:

"faced with his own reelection and defending a tough GOP map in 2020, has no incentive to work with House Democrats on their domestic agenda.

A Senate blockade will deny Democrats tangible winds to tout on the campaign trail, while keeping vulnerable Senate GOP incumbents from having to take difficult votes.  Republicans are also intent on shielding President Donald Trump from potentially awkward veto fights on legislation that polls well."

To which I say, a fine kettle of fish.

Who's looking out for the country, when the elected politicians are, first and foremost, looking out for themselves? 

The cynic in me says votes are taken, for the most part, based on what our elected folks think is best (better) for their own political future - and the folks back home, be damned.

What's happened to the people's representatives in government?  Does it still exist - or is that a bit of fiction that I read about in school?

Hey, folks - we're out here - think of what's good for the country - not your political future.  


  


Monday, March 25, 2019

Onward to 2020


Good Morning New Mexico!

It's time to get on with it and start telling the story of a presidency that is failing to fulfill the American dream for so many people. 

This, as the powers that be should continue their inquisition into his wrongdoings. 

People all across this country are hurting.  Farmers in the Midwest, those who drink water in Flint, factory and blue-collar workers throughout the rust belt – and our neighbors and extended family who must rely on Medicare, Medicaid, government cheese, and SNAP to feed their kids, all need our help.

The best way, to help, kick that miserable guy out in 2020 and begin to Make America Proud Again.   

We need it, our neighbors need it, the world needs it. 
  
Maybe, maybe the media – or what’s left of it – will spend more time telling the story of the heartache of middle America – instead of the latest poll results from some unknown college or biased polling organization. 

We need fewer live shots from a front rooms in Iowa where 5 people are eating cream corn and butterscotch pudding – listening to another candidate drone on and on. 

And, we don’t need anyone to have any more town halls -or debates.

And, some left wing, liberal, hippie pinko can’t be the nominee.   It’s going to take a middle-of-the roader - who tilts a little toward the left - to carry the day.


Sunday, March 10, 2019

Hot Seats

As the New Mexico legislature reaches toward the end of the 60 day session comes this headline in The New Mexican - a Santa Fe based newspaper that does a great job of covering the news:

New Mexico Senate nixes school bus air conditioners 



You have got to be kidding me!


There are arguments that such decisions about air conditioners on school busses should be made at the local school board level. 

I'm wondering, does New Mexico state law, or federal law  require that a school bus to have a heater?

Isn't it the same thing?

Come on people!

I can see the lawyer advertising already.  Has your child suffered from excessive heat, unable to concentrate on home work after a 1-hour to and from school?  If so, Call 1-800-HOT-KIDS. We're here to help!  

That's more than can be said about members of the New Mexico State Senate!

Start the chant: 

Cool The Kids   Cool The Kids   Cool The Kids 

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Another empty

A few weeks ago I posted a picture of a near-empty shopping center at Wyoming and Montgomery.

Well, add to the mix of almost vacant retail -  Eastdale Shopping Center - Eubank and Candelaria.


A shop that sold professional football attire used to be here, as was a place that sold the fixin's for homebrew, and on the corner was our favorite pool supply place.   

There are still a few stores (behind the camera shot) - a Family Dollar, Albertson's Market, around the corner is a Starbuck's, and there's a pet food place, too, I think.  And, a dance studio and a nail salon.  And, a Whataburger in the middle of the lot. 

What's going on?  Has the population base changed so much that former bustling centers are no longer able to serve the nearby residents?  Or, are the residents going to a WalMart that's a few miles away?  Or have the landlords gotten so greedy they've hiked the lease payments and nobody can afford to stick around. 

Inquiring minds want to know!

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

News Expose

Have you ever noticed that nearly all of the media expose stories that appear on the telly and in publications are centered around alleged misdeeds in government organizations, or by the people who work in the public sector?

Corruption at (insert public agency here)!  See the story tonight!

How come misdeed stories are very seldom, if ever, centered around wrongdoing at stores and services from the private sector?  I'll bet there are more mistakes, and people in the private sector get away with more shenanigans, than all the public institutions. 

Just look at the car commercials - who has the time (or ability) to read the fine print or understand the disclaimers.  And, just try to get those deals we see on TV when it is negotiating time at the dealership.

Oh wait, the TV stations make thousands (if not millions) in advertising from the dealers - and the government agencies don't spend like that.

Well, now, there's that!

And, another thing -

"We'll show you tonight how your tax dollars are being spent!"

Don't the reporters pay any taxes?  Are they different that the rest of us?

Shouldn't the reporters in those promos say,

"We'll show you tonight how our tax dollars are being spent!"


Friday, February 8, 2019

Antelope Wells - Border Crossing in Isolation


Having traveled much of New Mexico in my many years on this planet, there remained the mystery of the boot heel.

That’s the little square part of New Mexico that borders the Republic of Mexico and the State of Arizona.

Antelope Wells – a notorious place these days because of border crossings, deaths and border wall discussions.

I need not say much about Antelope Wells – there’s not much there.  A US/Mexico border crossing that’s open from 10 to 4 – and not much else.

My friends, you need not believe my words, but do believe a picture.

What I have here is a picture I took of New Mexico 81, the 45 mile long road between Hachita and Antelope Wells. And this is pretty much the view for that entire stretch of road.

There are no gas stations, no water stops, no Circle K, nothing but open spaces and a ribbon of highway.

Occasionally there is someone riding a bike or on a hike.  

Antelope Wells is considered a southern terminus of the 3,100 mile long Continental Divide Trail that starts in Canada.


And, now, it is notorious for being a border crossing.

Who've ever thunk that?

Monday, February 4, 2019

Bowl On

So, the big bowl game wasn't very exciting - unless you're a NE Patriot's fan.

I was wearing yellow, and hoped the LA Rams would do better...but you know, in the grand scheme of things, what the heck.

Political followers (like me) are a bit more wrapped up in what is happening to our country, flailing about waiting to see what lie gets told next by the orange face.

Now, don't get me wrong - I absolutely respect the office of the President of The United States.  I was fortunate enough to visit there during the time Jimmy Carter served.  It was a meeting held in the cabinet room.  I remember it well, even this many years later. 

It was an honor to be there and spend time with the POTUS.

It would still be an honor to visit The White House - as an institution.  There is so much history there.  It is a shame the present occupant doesn't understand what it's all about.  And, it's not all about money - which seems to be the biggest thing in his life.

SAD!

That said, we must forge ahead as a country, and as a state - look for the openings that come with each new day - and hope the new days bring brighter lights.

During the telecast of the game, there was a commercial that I hope you had a chance to see.  It was paid for by Albuquerque's own Jeff Bezos (he of Amazon fame, and owner of The Washington Post).

Here is the ad that promotes healthy journalism>

There are certainly times when the darkness of non-responsive government officials needs the light of day.

But, I firmly believe, not every document, every phone call, every text message should be subject to an inspection, just for the heck of it.   A number of government institutions are overburdened by the requests.  We as taxpayers are having to pay the salaries of folks who are going through boxes and messages to find memos, notes, records of events that might have happened years ago.  There needs to be responsibility that rides with the requests for information.

Responsibility!

Doesn't the President of the United States have a responsibility to tell the truth?

Apparently not this one! 




Monday, January 28, 2019

Bridges versus Walls


“There are 2 kinds of people in the world.  

Those who build bridges, and those who build walls.  

America has always favored the builders of bridges.”

Jack M. Campbell
Governor of New Mexico
September 10, 1965

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Dedication
Taos, New Mexico

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Happy Cabinet

The Washington Post printed this photograph Saturday morning.  Those happy faces belong to members of President Trump's cabinet who were assembled along the porch of The White House when POTUS (President Of The United States) threw in the towel on his grand scheme to get money for that wall.

.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Lobbying Advice for Movie Industry

Shooting films, commercials and TV series in Albuquerque and New Mexico has been a real home run.

Let's not spoil it!

There's a great deal of talk in the halls of the merry roundhouse up in Santa Fe about the level of commitment there is for development of the "movie" industry in the Land of Enchantment.

There have been some spectacular winners in the last few years that have helped make our state and its communities a "little Hollywood". 

Think Breaking Bad.

Think Better Call Saul.

Think No Country for Old Men.

Think The Lone Ranger.

Those are just a few of the productions that decided to "shoot" in New Mexico. 

There is consternation in the capital because most production companies benefit from a fund of money that provides rebates for certain expenses that occur during those shoots.

And the aim is at the "liberal elite" big time movie houses who produce the films.

"Why should we line the pockets of the rich?"

Well, I know of a couple Albuquerque based businesses that are benefiting from those rebates.  A couple are spectacular successes that continue to hire folks to drive trucks, edit in a darkened studio, or serve a doughnut at the craft services tent.

Folks, those are our fellow New Mexicans who are working, they're paying taxes every time they cash a check - and we should be thankful.

They're working.

The movie industry would do well to focus their lobbying attention in Santa Fe on the impact these shoots have.

Tell the lawmakers about the store owner or restaurant operator in Las Cruces that sold something to or made a meal for Clint Eastwood.

Tell the lawmakers about the real estate deal that just went down when one of those visiting Hollywood types decided to buy a house.

Show the lawmakers a picture of the parking lot at I-25 Studios, when a production is underway and there's no place to park because of all the folks that are working.  Check the license plates on those vehicles.  Nearly all from New Mexico.

It's a good story.  It's not just the Hollywood elite that are benefiting from the movie project.  (And so what if it is, they're still spending lots of dough in our towns.)

It's all of us that benefit from "the movies"!


Raley's, Walmart, Hastings packed up & left


This at at the intersection of Wyoming & Montgomery.

Time was when the "Hobby Lobby" store was occupied.  HL moved up the street into a vacant property that once housed a K-Mart.  The K-Mart closed.  Before Hobby Lobby, it was a WalMart.  There are other WalMart's within 2 miles. 

In the middle, Hastings.  Remember, they sold books & videos.
They just went bye-bye.

And, on the far right once was a Raleys Supermarket - then they pulled out of town and in the process the grocery store went away.  Then it was the Thomasville Furniture and most recently it's been filled with Halloween Spirits. 

With all the talk of economic progress - it's hard to look at these empty buildings.  

One wonders - the future holds?  

This photo looks like some of those abandoned in an out-of-the-way place in America. 

There's talk every day about the decay of rural America.  Well - it's all relative.

I've said, folks left Roy for the big city of Las Vegas - and folks left Las Vegas for Santa Fe and Albuquerque - and folks are leaving Albuquerque for Dallas, Denver, Phoenix.

What's missing in this photograph?  A tumbling tumbleweed!

Wait 'til March. 


Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Ze Plane New Mexico needs ze plane

Many of us recall the beginning of Fantasy Island - when the plane arrived carrying the new island guests.

Ze Plane...Boss..Ze plane

Well, New Mexico needs ze plane!

For that reason I offer the following unsolicited (and maybe unwanted) advice for the new Governor of New Mexico:


GET AN AIRPLANE

As much as you hate flying in them, figure out some way for some state agency to own and operate, and at your disposal an airplane with multi-engines and pressurized and capable of carrying at least 8 passengers.  

Now, I'm not talking about some National Guard, Game & Fish, Transportation Department survey plane.  I'm talking about a King Air.  It could safely get you from Santa Fe to any location in New Mexico in an hour or less, and get you to adjoining state capitals in less than two hours.   

Selling that jet might have been appropriate when Susana took over – but she should have replaced it.  New Mexico is just too big to drive from one corner to the other in one day. 

Besides, the Governor needs to have some class!

When I was just a lowly TV reporter in the days of Governor Cargo and Governor King, they made frequent use of a plane operated by the Oil Conservation Commission.  It was a Beechcraft Queen Air - with the tail sign 834-Quebec.  Don't ask why I remember, I just do.

It was not pressurized.

I have a story about that airplane.   I always made it a habit of flying in the co-pilot seat (because I liked it, and probably because the pilot wanted a little more weight in the front of the plane, to better balance it for takeoff, flight and landing.

Anyway  we were headed home.  The passengers in the back of the plane were pretty chatty, and the pilot didn't like that.  He turned to the cabin, faced the passengers and warned of possible thunderstorms ahead. He advised he's be climbing to a higher altitude.

There were no thunderstorms. 

The additional altitude would reduce the amount of oxygen, which reduced the bodily functions and often times brings about a bit of drowsiness.  

The pilot then turned to me, suggested we don the oxygen masks - and he proceed to climb to a higher altitude.  All the while it got quieter and quieter in the cabin behind us.

As we descended into Santa Fe the drowsiness wire off and all was right with the world.  

Here’s my suggestion about the type of plane our Governor should be traveling the state in (pardon ending the sentence with a preposition!)  They’re still in production today.  Not this plane, it's too old and in a museum - but this type of airplane.



The U.S. Air Force purchased a standard Beechcraft King Air with a special VIP interior, designated as the VC-6A, to support President Lyndon B. Johnson and his family. The aircraft was faster and more agile than other light transport aircraft and featured full pressurization for comfort at high altitudes. Other special features included all-weather navigation, de-icing equipment and reversible propellers that allowed the aircraft to land on very short runways.




Go Shopping!

Monday, January 7, 2019

Unsubscribe time

As part of the 2019 cleaning, I'm going through the process of "unsubscribing" to a number of the e-mails.

It seems to me there is something asunder here.

When it comes time to sign up to receive the electronic messages, notifications are sent almost immediately, followed by the messages.

However, when it's time to "unsubscribe" there is a note that indicates it may take up to 20 days to unsubscribe.

Wonder why that is?   Isn't it all done by bots and algorithms?

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Woof..Woof..Woof

The clarion call for fans of the University of New Mexico is, holding the thumb against the 2 middle fingers, pointing the "pointer and pinky" into the air and yelling

Woof ...Woof...Woof

Then, I thought about it.  

The UNM mascot is a lobo.

From a PBS story:

In 1893, a bounty hunter named Ernest Thompson Seton journeyed to the untamed canyons of New Mexico on a mission to kill a dangerous outlaw. Feared by ranchers throughout the region, the outlaw wasn’t a pistol-packing cowboy or train-robbing bandit. The outlaw was a wolf.

Lobo, as locals simply called him, was the legendary leader of a band of cattle-killing wolves that had been terrorizing cattle ranchers and their livestock. Known as the “King of the Currumpaw,” Lobo seemingly had a mythical ability to cheat death, eluding the traps that ranchers had set for him throughout the countryside.

It was up to Seton, a naturalist as well as a professional animal trapper, to exterminate this “super-wolf.” The ensuing battle of wits between wolf and man would spark a real-life wilderness drama, the outcome of which would leave a lasting effect on a new and growing movement in America: wilderness preservation.

Hmmmmmmmm!

So, maybe I've been wrong all along.  Maybe the call isn't "Woof...Woof...Woof" -  it's "Wolf...Wolf...Wolf".


In Dreamstyle Arena - The Pit - on Saturday night, January 5, 2019 - the University of New Mexico Lobos played host to the University of Nevada - Reno --- Wolfpack!

The New Mexico Lobos sent the Nevada wolves packin!

It was the first defeat for "the wolfpack" from that Nevada city this year.

Woof...Woof...Woof!

Our New Mexico wolves had best be ready...'cause I think those Nevada wolves are going to be really hungry when the Lobos visit the Biggest Little City in the World, in about a month!

Image result for reno nevada

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Mr. Trump, not everyone!

There's a report out today that Donald Trump says everyone wants border security except for  "drug dealers, human traffickers and criminals." 

You've opened your mouth, or twitched your fingers again, and guess what, you're lying!

"Everyone" - would include me, and some of my friends.     

Well, I'm not a drug dealer, human trafficker or a criminal - nor do I think my friend are.

We all want "Border Security", but we don't want the wall - or anything that looks like it!

Go play golf!

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Watch No More - Switcheroos

When the cold weather restricts outside activity - and the political winds are swirling about - those of us who are interested in (or care about) the happenings in our governments are sentenced to watching a continuing stream of talking heads on TV.

Some of those heads are program hosts.  Some of those heads are our elected leaders.  Some of those heads are paid to be there.

With nothing taken into consideration about who gets paid, and who doesn't - I offer this word of advice.

These people are full of it - and more often than not their appearance is cause for me to do the switcheroo.  In no particular order, these folks have said enough:

#1 switcheroo - Rick Santorum.  This former United States Senator is so full of it.  His lips are tinged with the behind of POTUS.  He just needs to shut up and go home!

#2 switcheroo - POTUS.  'nuff said.

#3 switcheroo - Bernie Sanders

#4 switcheroo - Elizabeth Warren

#5 switcheroo - Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity - although I've never watched them.

#6 switcheroo - Ari Fleisher

And, most of the local talk radio hosts.







Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Happy News Year 2019

It's a new year, and a fresh start in our lowly Land of Enchantment.

I'm going to try harder to post stuff on a much more regular basis - some of which will be meaningful to you - some of which is just on a whim - and some which hopefully will result in civil discourse about our times, our people, our state, our city and our country.  Even our world.

To start the discussion - and I promise this won't be the sole purpose of these entries - I present for your information, a story that has appeared on Bloomberg News.

Believe me, it's worth reading.  Very interesting - and more interesting to me because some of my kinfolk come from this part of the world...

Happy New Year!