Let's Talk Sense...
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Saturday, August 16, 2003 Volume XXVIII, No. 2
Roswell, New Mexico
Readership, this date: 22,787
In this issue...
Republican Party Challenges: National and State
Prognosis for George W. Bush
Rudy Fernandez
John Sanchez
The Republican Party of New Mexico
Kudos to Patrick H. Lyons
The Republican Party of New Mexico (according to Sterling Landau)
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Prognosis for George W. Bush
A constant feature of cable news and entertainment channels is the
steady stream of trailers at the bottom of the TV screen. Their
purpose is to amplify the story going out over the airwaves or raise
questions, apparently to "help the viewer" absorb more
of the news. During the high points of the war in Iraq as well as
during the month-long afterglow, these trailers constantly asked
the rhetorical questions: "Can Bush be beaten?" "Is
there a Democrat who can win in 2004?" "Can the Democrats
avoid a Bush landslide next year?" These trailers were of course
accompanied by actual full hour shows devoted to these same questions.
We don't want to pick on cable, the major networks as well as print
media and radio ask the same kinds of questions.
As we have stated at several public appearances and speeches during
and after that time, there are hardly any dumber themes to explore
than these.
This is not to say that President Bush will not be reelected next
year, or that he will not be reelected by a wide margin. Of course
each is possible. The problem is not the positing of the idea that
Bush might be reelected, it is the advancing of the idea that he
is somehow unbeatable----at a point 16 to 18 months before the election.
When we ask people if they know what there lives will be like 16
months from now, what their financial situation will be like, what
job they will hold, where they will be living, what their personal
or professional life will be, many of them gradually realize how
silly much of the American media's commentary on this subject truly
is.
The short answer to the media is, was, and will remain for sometime:
YES, of course Bush can be beaten. You idiots. Now shut up and report
the news.
They won't of course. But you should know.
When we first wrote these words in May Bush held a 75% approval
rating. Now he has been sighted as low as 53%. More on those polls
later. Right now just remember: 100 days after his second inaugural,
following the biggest popular landslide ever, Nixon's three closest
advisers were forced to resign. Gary Hart was knocked out of the
1988 presidential race in a matter of a week in May of 1987! And
lest we think all that is ancient history, Trent Lott fell from
the most powerful post in the US Senate in a matter of hours.
There are 443 campaign days left before election day, Tuesday, November
2, 2004. In politics today that is an eternity. Intelligent people
can observe that---barring catastrophic conditions---President Bush
has a better than even chance of winning reelection next year. But
only very foolish people push the notion that his second term is
somehow inevitable. I hope that conservatives do in fact read newspapers,
magazines, books, listen to radio and yes, watch TV, especially
for the purposes of keeping up-to-date, gathering intelligence and
fully appreciating what all points of view. Toward that end some
TV shows can actually be useful. But we should be careful not to
take too many of them too seriously.
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Rudy Fernandez
Rudy Fernández will serve as the southwest regional political
director for Bush-Cheney '04. The region includes Texas, Colorado,
New Mexico, Arizona, California and Hawaii. Fernández comes
to the campaign from the Republican National Committee where he
served as the director of grassroots development. Hispanic Business
Magazine recently named Fernández one of the "100 Most
Influential Hispanics" in the United States. Before joining
the RNC Political Division, Fernández served as the RNC's
Southwest regional press secretary. Prior to the RNC, Fernández
was the press secretary for Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Fernandez is from Miami, FL.
Comment: Rudy Fernandez is a superb choice. He and Sharon Castillo worked with the Sanchez for Governor campaign last year where I got a chance to see Rudy in action. He knows New Mexico, possesses superb political instincts and is one of us----a committed principled conservative who is constantly working hard to put the best interests of our state and our nation ahead of petty politics. Our state party badly needs someone like Rudy in our region. We couldn't be happier with his appointment.
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John Sanchez
News Briefs Staff and Wire Reports
Sanchez To Chair Bush's Southwest Campaign
SANTA FE — Albuquerque small businessman John Sanchez has been
tapped to chair the 2004 re-election campaign of President George
Bush in five southwestern states, including New Mexico.
"John Sanchez will be a valuable adviser and messenger,"
said Marc Racicot, the former chairman of the Republican National
Committee who heads Bush's re-election effort.
Sanchez will chair the president's campaign in Arizona, Colorado,
New Mexico, Texas and Utah, Racicot said.
"With New Mexico being in the center of those, I'll be able
to keep my base in my home state," said Sanchez, the unsuccessful
2002 GOP nominee for governor in New Mexico.
Comment: Obviously the best choice. The selection of John
Sanchez sends all the right signals---to the party faithful, to
conservatives, to Hispanics and to people who stand for principle
over politics. This was a no-brainer.
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The Republican Party of New Mexico
Following the state chairman's election in May, my first remarks
were directed to the newly elected chairwoman, congratulating her
on her victory. In all of my communication since then (LTS..., Legislative
Update, radio shows and several speaking engagements) I have had
only positive and encouraging things to say about the state party
and its leadership. I continue to urge all Republicans to support
our state party and our chairwoman.
RPNM is hosting a fundraiser as a tribute to former Governor Gary
Johnson tonight August 16 in Albuquerque. Gary Johnson has always
been a tremendous draw for fundraising and it should be no different
now. This event should raise a minimum of $250,000 and turn out
600-1,000 faithful supporters. Please make plans to attend and contribute
generously. (Those of us in Roswell have a scheduling conflict with
a fundraiser for Congressman Pearce in our hometown at the same
time. Please show up for Steve if you can't make it to Albuquerque.)
After three months' time, however, I have to register at least a
bit of disappointment in the new chairman's first letter to New
Mexico Republicans after she took office. Rather than sending positive
signals, her very first communication with our party faithful was
a continuation of her campaign for chairman----a scathing attack
on her predecessor. That sent two bad signals: 1) She didn't realize
that the campaign was over----this is bad because she needs to be
an example for our candidates around the state, helping them pick
up on: a) when to campaign, and b) when to be gracious. 2) besides
all that, the claims in her letter were also incorrect. She alleged
that because we would need some $280,000 for the rest of this year
we are in the hole something like a quarter of a million dollars---right
now---and that the previous chair and his staff had left the party
in terrible shape.
But that is not the way the world works. No one thinks of a budget
like that. Just because someone concludes that his household expenses
(mortgage, utilities, insurance, car payments, clothing, food, miscellaneous,
etc.) will be $5,000 a month, that does not mean he has a "deficit"
of $60,000 even before the year begins. He could announce that.
But it would needlessly alarm and upset his family. That is kind
of the same thing those words from the chairman did to the Republican
Party of New Mexico's family.
Using that logic, we could say that the state party is $3.5 million
"in debt" for the cycle (2003-2004), since that is about
how much our party received in the last cycle ('01-'02)---and it
hasn't come in yet. We could announce that, but it wouldn't be right.
It would be misleading and needlessly alarmist.
I will say this again: (for about the tenth time in all media):
the election for party chair is over. Let's look to the future.
There is no reason to attack the previous chairman----even for valid
or truthful reasons, if they can be found. There is certainly no
reason to attack him falsely. Instead, what is needed is single-minded,
purposeful leadership. I am sure I speak for all New Mexico Republicans
when I say that we are willing and able to follow the leadership
of our party chairwoman and work together to win every election
in 2004. Let's get completely focused on that and stay focused on
it.
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Kudos to Patrick H. Lyons
While a number of us have been speaking out since the beginning
on the Richardson Raid on the Land Grant Permanent Fund (see www.rodadair.com),
the only figure to consistently get any media attention around the
state is our own Commissioner of Public Lands, Pat Lyons.
Pat has been the leader on this issue, and without him we would
have practically no voice at all. We owe a debt of gratitude to
Pat, and I know those of us in the legislature who oppose the raid
appreciate his leadership. As the GOP's highest elected state official
(Senator Domenici, strictly speaking, is a federal office holder)
Pat is going to carry the burden more than any other person. We
need to back him fully.
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The Republican Party of New Mexico (according to Sterling Landau)
There are "others" whose voices ring out from time to
time. Rather than let you get it from someone else, here is one
of those voices. Though a staunch and mean-spirited critic of me
and many others, we have no idea who this person or conglomerate
is. Recently he (she? they? it?) sent out some blurbs about his
(her? their? its?) favorite subject matter: the Republican Party's
fortunes in New Mexico. It seems the Landau braintrust is not high
on the state party operation. But then, to be fair, it wasn't high
on the previous party administration either. Take it with a grain
of salt. Here are the highlights from Sterling:
---"Ramsay Gorham's first fundraiser was a visit by a prominent
White House person. But Gorham didn't announce the visit until Friday
before the Monday event. Gorham was in North Carolina right up until
the Friday night before the fundraiser. Thus, she never made the
invitation calls and they ended up with only five donors, and only
12 people present, including staff. Word from an insider is the
state party lost $150 on its first fundraiser even though the guest
of honor showed up for free."
---"Another sign things are off track, Gorham is rapidly losing
control of her staff and party officials... she has had numerous
resignations, plus firings, and there is growing discomfort about
loyalty, hers to them and them to her. This is clearly evident from
comments made outside her presence."
--- "Permanent fund election. Gorham has yet to raise any money to combat the permanent fund raid referendum, leaving Land Commissioner Pat Lyons hanging out to dry. While Richardson is raising money hand over fist, Gorham has been vacationing in North Carolina.
--- "Gary Johnson has agreed to be the featured guest of the next fundraiser. Word on the street has it that in order to get Gary Johnson to agree to be part of a fundraiser, Gorham had to soften on her anti-drug positions. Many of her supporters see this as treason...."