Studies suggest that nearly 50% of Bernalillo County residents needing mental health or addiction treatment services are not getting the help they need because of gaps in New Mexico’s behavioral health care. Untreated behavioral health conditions have led to increased and sometimes tragic interactions with law enforcement, over incarceration, overuse of hospital emergency and inpatient services, and unnecessary suffering on the part of patients and their families.

“SHE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED”

It should come as absolutely no surprise that behavioral health services in New Mexico are limited. Bernalillo County residents can give a big thanks and shout out to our former Republican Governor “She Who Shall Not Be Named” who was in office for a full 8 years and who almost single handedly destroyed New Mexico’s behavioral health care system. The single cruelest thing that former Republican Governor “She Who Shall Not Be Named” did was when she ordered an “audit” of mental health services provided by nonprofits in New Mexico. She did so based on questionable information. The audit eventually devastated New Mexico’s behavioral health care system.

In June 2013, under the direction of the former Republican Governor, the Human Services Department (HSD) cut off Medicaid funding to 15 behavioral health nonprofits. In 2014, more than 160,000 New Mexicans received behavioral health services, with most of those services funded by Medicaid. After the audits were completed, the former Republican Administration said that the outside audit showed more than $36 million in over billing, as well as mismanagement and possible fraud.

In early 2016, following exhaustive investigations, Attorney General Hector Balderas cleared all 15 of the healthcare providers of any wrongdoing and exonerated all of them of fraud. Even though the New Mexico Attorney General found no fraud and cleared the nonprofits of fraud, the damage had been done to the nonprofits. With the Medicaid funding freeze, many of the 15 nonprofits could not continue and just went out of business leaving many patients without a behavioral health service.

After a full 5 years, the behavioral health care system has made some progress in being restored.

https://www.petedinelli.com/2020/07/28/nm-suicide-rate-highest-in-country-a-long-road-ahead-before-behavioral-health-system-restored/

BERNALILLO COUNTY BEVHAVIORAL HEALTH TAX FOR SERVICES

On February 26, 2015, the Bernalillo County Commission approved a 1/8% gross receipts tax increase on a 3-2 vote to fund new behavioral and mental health services to improve access to mental and behavioral health care services in the county. The tax generates approximately $20 million annually.

When enacted, the county commission announced the intent for the tax was to invest the funding “in proven ways to better manage the high cost of addiction, homelessness and mental health problems”. According to a county commission announcement, “these issues impact families throughout the community and drive up the cost of public services, especially at the Metropolitan Detention Center.” The gross receipts tax costs shoppers one cent on a $10 purchase of goods and services.

https://www.bernco.gov/uploads/files/BH%20news%20release%20PDF.pdf

The 1/8th% gross receipts tax was enacted to be used for the purpose of providing more mental and behavioral health services for adults and children in the Albuquerque and Bernalillo County area. The intent is to provide a safety net system for those in need of mental health not otherwise funded in New Mexico.

In 2015 when the Bernalillo County Commission approved the tax, it failed to develop a plan on how all the money would be used, including not identifying services to be provides, location of facilities and qualifiers to obtain the services offered. As a result of having no spending plan or identifying priorities, the tax was collected but not spent. Since enactment of the tax in 2015, the tax has generated $91.6 million. Bernalillo County approved $20 million toward Behavioral Health Initiative projects with $70 million in tax revenue having accumulated but not spent. But that began to change.

The county has earmarked the bulk of what it has amassed for one-time expenditures. Those expenditures include $30 million for a new crisis triage center, $12 million for supportive housing and $4 million for the Bernalillo County CARE campus, formerly known as the Metropolitan Assessment and Treatment Services center, or MATS. The renovations to the CARE campus when complete will create an outpatient behavioral health clinic and living room space for peer-to-peer counseling sessions.

NEW SYTEM TO AWARD FUNDING

The Bernalillo County Commission established the Behavioral Health Initiative representing a significant step forward in local efforts toward addressing and preventing the mental health, substance abuse, addiction, and homelessness crisis in Albuquerque/Bernalillo County and the middle Rio Grande region of New Mexico.

In November, 2019, County Manager Julie Morgas Baca asked the Bernalillo County Commission to approve a resolution that permits “stakeholders, providers, community members, staff, commissioners, or other interested parties” to propose behavioral health service ideas through a website. Up until now, only county staff had been authorized to propose behavioral health service ideas. All program appropriations will require final approval of the County Commission.

According to Bernalillo County Manager Morgas Baca:

“I just really think it needs to be opened up, and we need to realize there’s a lot of people out there who have real life experience. … I want to solicit their input to see how much of a difference we can make in addition to what we’re already doing.”

On Tuesday, November 12, the resolution passed by a 5-0 vote unanimous vote.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1391385/c

In November, 2019, the Bernalillo County Commission approved a resolution that permits “stakeholders, providers, community members, staff, commissioners, or other interested parties” to propose behavioral health service ideas through a website. Up until then, only county staff had been authorized to propose behavioral health service ideas. All program appropriations are required final approval of the County Commission.

Under the new ordinance passed, each idea from stakeholders, providers, community members, staff and commissioners will go through a vetting process. A county commission appointed committee ensures each proposal meets the criteria for an expenditure based on the behavioral health tax language approved by voters. A separate subcommittee of stakeholders and subject matter experts will also review the idea and recommend the next steps.

Links to news sources are here:

https://www.bernco.gov/county-manager/news.aspx?2db258aa42a04430b8b8a83f4c866d4ablogPostId=0b8d62dfaab34851990ee817818ece04#:~:text=The%20Bernalillo%20County%20Department%20of,startup%2C%20and%20expansions%20of%20behavioral

https://www.petedinelli.com/2019/12/18/a-day-late-but-not-a-dollar-short-behavioral-health-tax-collected-but-few-programs-funded-leadership-void-created-with-departure-of-hart-stebbins/

$10 MILLION AWARDED

On Oct. 15, 2019 he Bernalillo County Commissioners (BCC) voted and approved funding of up to $10 Million out of the behavioral health tax. The county typically awards contracts based on established areas of focus. In the past, priorities have included mobile crisis teams and programming for at-risk youth. The new funding approach of asking community input is much less narrowly defined. County officials said that a total of 47 providers ultimately submitted proposals. The county is funding 11 of the private providers at varying amounts by contract lasting up to 3 years.

On December 9, 2020, the Bernalillo County Manager Julie Morgas Baca announced the award of the $10 million allocation to help support local providers for capital, startup, and expansions of behavioral health services. According to a news release:

“This allocation of funding will provide an opportunity for behavioral health providers to expand or develop services that are not otherwise funded and address a gap in the behavioral health continuum. Funds will be available for up to three years and are non-recurring after that time. These programs will be closely monitored by the Department of Behavioral Health Services and aim to measure causal relationships between service delivered and short-term and long-term outcomes.”

The expansion of behavioral health services, while also incentivize the providers to create sustainable, effective linkages between service providers and the people they serve, will improve patients’ access to preventative and chronic care services. The creation of these linkages can help develop and support partnerships between organizations that share a common goal of improving the health of the people and the community in which they live. The expansion will also promote improved outcomes for persons living with a behavioral health diagnosis, a more knowledgeable public, and increased referrals to appropriate services.”

Links to the county news release and news report are here:

https://www.bernco.gov/county-manager/news.aspx?”>https://www.bernco.gov/county-manager/news.aspx?

https://www.abqjournal.com/1529983/county-awards-10-million-for-behavioral-health-ex-money-will-help-providers-add-or-upgrade-facilities-and-cover-certain-costs.html

The $10 million in behavioral tax funding is the very first-time awards have been made to private providers since the county called on local providers to identify and offer services that are needed in the behavioral health care system.

The 11 providers sharing the $10 million award include:

A New Day
AMI Kids
ARCA
Children’s Grief Center
Crossroads for Women
Endorphin Power Company
First Nations Community
Healthsource
Los Puentes Charter School
NM Veterans Integration Center
Recovery Services of New Mexico

According to executive director Jade Richardson Bock for The Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico, the funding wll be used to:

“expand even further and to meet the demand caused by the COVID pandemic, caused by overdoses, DWI deaths, cancer, heart attack (and) all of the tragic causes of death that affect our citizens.”

Crossroads for Women, which provides housing and other support to formerly incarcerated women, will buy a new property to accommodate its growing programs.

ARCA will use its money to help clients recovering from an acquired brain injury, any type of brain damage that happens after birth from a wide variety of causes. The money will go toward a planned intake and assessment facility that the nonprofit’s leaders say will help bridge the gap between acute injury care and the possible return to independent living. The center will include bedrooms for temporary stays, therapy areas and more, said Michele Cody, ARCA’s chief development officer.

ENDORPHIN POWER COMPANY

The Endorphin Power Company (EPC) outlay of $195,000 of the behavioral health tax is very noteworthy of the awards in that the allocation essentially embodies the spirit, purpose and intent of the behavioral tax. The mission statement of the Endorphin Power Company says it best:

“To provide single occupancy, transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness as a result of substance abuse. [It provides] a safe, clean and sober living environment where people become part of a healthy community and are encouraged to set and reach goals. The Endorphin Power Company see substance abuse and homelessness as both an individual and social problem. [The] goal is to address that problem on both levels at once. We want to contribute to the greater good of local and global communities by promoting the benefits of healthy-living, healthy connections and environmental consciousness. We seek to cultivate an environment in which individuals and communities foster health, happiness, and awareness through the “Four Pillars” of education, exercise, community and service to others.”

https://www.endorphinpower.org/about-us/

EPC is arguably the most sought-after transitional living facility in New Mexico. It offers a very unique program designed to help individuals dealing with addiction and homelessness. The EPC program also offers intensive case management and therapy for those in need of it and want it without being forced. EPC also operates a community center, fitness center and a step-down housing triplex to help clients with their transition process while also building a rental history (if necessary).

EPC has operated out of an old church located at 509 Cardenas Dr, SE, in Albuquerque’s International District, but that is about to change. Executive Director Jeffrey Holland announced a $3 million new facility at the location. EPC will demolish its “community building” and build a new facility that will offer a place for its live-in clients to get everything they need, from counseling to social support to physical fitness programs in one place, while also further extending its reach into the larger community. According to Holland, people who do not live on the premises there could come to see therapists and attend support group meetings or simply walk in from the street for help navigating the city’s larger social services landscape.

Executive Director Jeffrey Holland had this to say:

“[The Endorphin Power Company is in] a high need area … We want to reimagine the idea of a communal building. … We all know what ‘community centers’ look like, with basketball courts and that stuff, but have we ever thought of an idea of a ‘community services’ building?”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYIS

Although it took a little over a full year to allocate and distribute the $10 Million in accumulated funding of behavioral tax revenues, the long wait was worth it and so was the process. When Bernalillo County announced the new process to award funding, it generated an exceptional amount of interest from mental health care providers throughout the city. When the county held its first meeting to explain the proposal process, so many people showed up to the hearing room that the fire marshal had to be called to intervene. The county proceeded to reschedule the meeting for a later date and held the meeting at a larger venue.

Despite the pandemic, 47 providers ultimately submitted proposals to the County all of which had to be reviewed and analyzed. This is how government is supposed to work. Bernalillo County Government and taxpayers can take great comfort to know that the county is indeed spending the behavioral health tax on programs that will reach those that are in need of it the most.

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S IGNAUGURAL ADDRESS:

Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris. Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, McConnell, Vice President Pence, my distinguished guests and my fellow Americans, this is America’s day.

This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope of renewal and resolve through a crucible for the ages. America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge. Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.

We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

From now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible to carry out the peaceful transfer of power, as we have for more than two centuries.

As we look ahead in our uniquely American way: restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we can be and we must be.

I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And I know, I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation. As does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

I’ve just taken the sacred oath. Each of those patriots have taken. The oath, first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people who seek a more perfect union.

This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we’ve come so far. But we still have far to go. We’ll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.

Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we’re in now. Once-in-a-century virus that silently stalks the country. It’s taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice, some four hundred years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

The cry for survival comes from planet itself, a cry that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear. And now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity, unity.

In another January, on New Year’s Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper, the president said, and I quote, “if my name ever goes down into history, it’ll be for this act. And my whole soul is in it.”

My whole soul was in it today. On this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment, hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward, reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we’re all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial and victory is never assured.

Through civil war, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward. And we can do that now. History, faith and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos.

This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. And unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when we’ve acted together.

And so today at this time in this place, let’s start afresh, all of us. Let’s begin to listen to one another again. Hear one another see one another, show respect to one another. Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

My fellow Americans. We have to be different than this. America has to be better than this. And I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as was mentioned earlier, completed amid the Civil War, when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet we endured, we prevailed.

Here we stand looking out in the great mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand, where 108 years ago, at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today we marked the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected to national office: Vice President Kamala Harris. Don’t tell me things can’t change.

Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace. And here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground.

It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever.

To all those who supported our campaign, I’m humbled by the faith you’ve placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree so be it. That’s democracy. That’s America. The right to dissent, peaceably, the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation’s greatest strength.

Yet hear me clearly: disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans. All Americans. And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Many centuries ago. Saint Augustine, a saint in my church, wrote to the people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor and yes, the truth.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Look, I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand, like my dad, they lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering, can I keep my health care? Can I pay my mortgage? Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you, I get it.

But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don’t look like look like you or worship the way you do, or don’t get their news from the same sources you do. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we’re willing to stand in the other person’s shoes, as my mom would say, just for a moment, stand in their shoes. Because here’s the thing about life. There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days, when you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand. That’s how it has to be. That’s what we do for one another. And if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree.

My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we’re going to need each other. We need all our strength to to persevere through this dark winter. We’re entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as One Nation. One Nation.

And I promise you this, as the Bible says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We will get through this together. Together.

Look, folks, all my colleagues I served with in the House of the Senate up there, we all understand the world is watching, watching all of us today. So here’s my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested and we’ve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. And we’ll lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.

We’ll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security. Look, you all know, we’ve been through so much in this nation. And my first act as president, I’d like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those who we lost this past year to the pandemic. Those four hundred thousand fellow Americans, moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors and coworkers. We will honor them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be. So I ask you, let’s say a silent prayer for those who’ve lost their lives, those left behind and for our country.

Amen.

Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, America’s role in the world. Any one of these will be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we’ve had. Now we’re going to be tested. Are we going to step up? All of us? It’s time for boldness, for there is so much to do. And this is certain, I promise you, we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.

Will we rise to the occasion, is the question. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must. I’m sure you do as well. I believe we will. And when we do, we’ll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America. The American story. A story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. It’s called American Anthem. There’s one verse that stands out, at least for me, and it goes like this:

The work and prayers of a century have brought us to this day.

What shall be our legacy? What will our children say?

Let me know in my heart when my days are through.

America, America, I gave my best to you.

Let’s add. Let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our children’s children will say of us: They gave their best, they did their duty, they healed a broken land.

My fellow Americans, I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath before God and all of you. I give you my word, I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. I’ll defend our democracy. I’ll defend America and I will give all, all of you. Keep everything I do in your service, thinking not of power, but of possibilities, not of personal interest, but the public good. And together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us. The story that inspires us and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history. We met the moment. Democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch, but thrived. That America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forbearers, one another and generations to follow.

So, with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time. Sustained by faith, driven by conviction, devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America.

A simple majority of members of the House of Representatives was all that was required to pass the one Article of Impeachment charging Führer Trump with the high crimes and misdemeanor and sedition. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has yet to forward the article of impeachment to the United States Senate for a trial and a vote to convict.

A two thirds vote to convict is required to convict. In the United States Senate The final vote therefor would have to be 67 to 33. The United States Senate is split evenly with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, but Democrats are in control the Chamber with Vice President Kamala Harris having the power to break any tie meaning all 50 Democrat Senators and 17 Republican Senators would have to vote to convict. Upon conviction, the Senate by a simple majority vote can bar Führer Trump from ever holding any elective office again.

SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL’S ASTONISHING SENATE COMMENTS

A mere 24 hours before President Joe Biden is to be sworn in as the 46 President of the United States, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had this to say on the Senate floor the last full day of Führer Trump’s presidency:

“The last time the Senate convened we had just reclaimed the capitol from violent criminals who tried to stop congress from doing our duty. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people. And they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like. But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation, not even for one night. We certified the people’s choice for their 46th president.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/19/mcconnell-trump-provoked-capitol-attackers-460372

COMMENTARY

It is clear that Trump is the first fascist ever elected President of the United States who put himself above the law and his own country and who has no respect for our constitution nor free elections. Trump’s strongest and closest allies and supporters need to come to their senses and the realization that Trump is a traitor to his own country, to them, to all of us and to our democracy. Attempting to set aside the vote of the American people was an attempt to undermine our very democracy. It was a coup d’é·tat that failed.

The Senate trial should be very short and should last just a few days. The evidence should consist of the United State Senate seeing and hearing Führer Trump’s January 6 speech followed by all the video coverage of the insurgents breaking into the capitol building. Footage of house and senate members cowering in fear and then being swept to secured locations to remind them they were victims of an insurgency. Evidence of the 6 people who were killed as well as injuries to the capitol police should be presented.

What is shameful and disgusting is that what unfolded on January 6 was an attack on our country, our very democracy, by an elected President of the United States who lost his election for a second term and then attempted a COUP D’É·TAT of his successor who won not only the electoral college vote but the popular vote.

Let’s hope McConnel and at least 16 other Republican Senators along with all 50 Democrats will vote to convict Führer Trump of the one article of impeachment for “willful incitement of insurrection”. But that is not enough. The United States Senate needs to bar him from running for office ever again. If inciting a violent mop to storm the United States Capitol and to commit sedition to hold onto power is not enough to convict the facist, then what the hell is?

The extent of the physical damage is to the United State Capitol is easily repaired. The damage to our democracy by Führer Trump and his coup d’é·tat that failed will take years to recover from.

Führer Trump’s January 6 Speech Was Insurgency To Overthrow Government; Senate Must Vote to Convict And Prohibit Trump From Holding Office

In 2017, then State Auditor Tim Keller campaigned to be elected mayor on the platform based in part on promising to bring down the cities skyrocketing violent crime rates and murder rates. Candidate for Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller had this to say about the city’s high crime rates at the time:

“It’s unfortunate, but crime is absolutely out of control. It’s the mayor’s job to actually address crime in Albuquerque, and that’s what I want to do as the next mayor.”

2021 BEGINS WITH 7 MURDERS IN 18 DAYS

As of January 18, 2021, there have been 7 homicides recorded in the city, close to one every other day. Only one of the 7 cases has resulted in an arrest. On Monday, APD released details on all 7 homicides. A link to a news report is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1537603/woman-shot-killed-off-east-central.html

During the week of January 11, APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said APD believes new crime-fighting programs are working to bring down violent crime and had this to say:

“We have our Gun Violence Reduction Unit, we have our Street Crimes Unit, we now have the VIP program, that’s shown to be very effective on the intervention side. So, we really need to tackle this from every angle. … It’s reasonable [to believe the city will see homicides will go down in 2021] … We’re really shooting for that. … We need to get these guns off the streets and arrest these guys and keep them behind bars.”

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/2021-off-to-violent-start-in-albuquerque/5982418/?cat=500

Technology is also playing a role with the investigation of gun violence. APD has implemented the “Shot Spotter Gunshot Detection System” which is part of APD’s Real Time Crime Center. The device alerts APD officers when a shooting occurs in certain areas of the city so they can be dispatched to the scene.

APD VIOLENT CRIME PROGRAMS INITIATED 2019

In 2019, Mayor Tim Keller reacting to the spiking violent crime rates, announced 4 programs in 9 months to deal with and bring down the city’s high violent crime rates . Those APD programs are:

The Shield Unit
Declaring Violent Crime “public health” issue,
The Metro 15 Operation and
The “Violence Intervention Plan” (VIP Program).

This blog article is a discussion of all 4 programs with an emphasis on updating progress made with the VIP program. The VIP program is viewed as having the biggest potential to bringing down violent crime.

THE SHIELD UNIT

In February 2018 the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) created the “Shield Unit”. The Shield Unit assists APD Police Officers to prepare cases for trial and prosecution by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office. The unit originally consisted of 3 para legals. It was announced that it is was expanded to 12 under the 2019-2020 city budget that took effect July 1, 2019.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1325167/apd-expands-unit-that-preps-cases-for-prosecution.html

DECLARING VIOLENT CRIME “PUBLIC HEALTH” ISSUE

On April 8, 2019, Mayor Keller and APD announced efforts that will deal with “violent crime” in the context of it being a “public health issue”. The program is intended to deal with crimes involving guns in an effort to bring down violent crime in Albuquerque. Mayor Keller and APD argue that gun violence is a “public health issue” because gun violence incidents have lasting adverse effects on children and others in the community that leads to further problems.

APD is tracking violent crime relying on the same methods used to track auto thefts, weekly reports summarizing shootings, refining policies, and learning from best practices used by other law enforcement agencies. One goal is for APD to examine how guns are driving other crimes, such as domestic violence and drug addiction.

METRO 15 OPERATION

On Tuesday, November 26, Mayor Tim Keller held a press conference to announce a 3rdOn program within 9 months to deal with the city’s violent crime and murder rates. At the time of the press conference, the city’s homicide count was at 72, matching the city’s record in 2017. Before 2017, the last time the City had the highest number of homicides in one year was in 1996 with 70 murders that year. As of Friday, December 17, 2020 there have been 75 homicides in 2020.

Keller dubbed the new program “Metro 15 Operation”. It is part of the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) Keller announced on November 22. According to Mayor Keller and then APD Chief Geier the new program is designed to target the top 15 most violent offenders in Albuquerque. In other words, it’s the city’s version of the FBI’s 10 most wanted list. According to Keller, the top 15 will be identified by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. Once a violent offender is caught, another violent offender will be added to the list.

“VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PLAN” (VIP PROGRAM)

On November 22, Mayor Tim Keller announced what he called a “new initiative” to target violent offenders called “Violence Intervention Plan” (VIP). The VIP initiative was in response to the city’s recent murders resulting in the city tying the all-time record of homicides at 72 in one year. Mayor Keller proclaimed the VIP is a “partnership system” that includes law enforcement, prosecutors and social service and community provides to reduce violent crime.

The VIP program is modeled after the City of Oakland’s “Operation Ceasefire” and developed with the help of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. The goal of the VIP program is to reverse the spike in gun violence that has left hundreds injured or dead.

The 4 major components of the VIP program are:

LAW ENFORCEMENT: APD was “restructured” to create a first-of-its-kind “Violence Intervention Division” with its own Commander. The division is designed to make cross-functional partnership as productive as possible.

PROSECUTION PARTNERS: Prosecutors from all systems including the Attorney General, District Attorney, US Attorney and Office of Superintendent of Insurance will collaborate to share information and make sure cases are going to the appropriate teams and courts.

SOCIAL SERVICES: The City has always funded social services aimed at violence reduction. However, for the first time Family and Community Services is specifically working with the community to identify the most effective evidence-based violence reduction strategies, and requiring providers to work together in the Violence Intervention Program.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS: The City will reach out to community partners, including the Bernalillo County Community Health Council, that are dealing with the causes and effects of violent crime to work together on this program.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/mayor-keller-touts-new-plan-to-tackle-violent-crime/5561150/?cat=500

https://www.abqjournal.com/1394576/city-launches-violence-intervention-program.html

On August 18, Mayor Tim Keller introduced his Violence Intervention team and said in part:

“This isn’t about Power Point slides or interesting analysis. … This is about trying to get these people not to shoot each other. …This is about understanding who they are and why they are engaged in violent crime. … And so, this actually in some ways, in that respect, this is the opposite of data. This is action. This is actually doing something with people. This is not just running reports and I think that’s a marked difference with what the city has done in the past.”

According to Keller vulnerable communities and law enforcement will be working together and building trust has proven results for public safety. The goal of the team is to find crucial common ground, build new relationships, and significantly reduce gun violence in our neighborhoods.

The four individuals introduced as part of the program are:

Jerry Bachicha, Violence Intervention Program Manager
APD Commander Luke Languit
Tonya Covington, Division Director of Rapid Accountability
Angel Garcia, Social Services Coordinator

All 4 work as a team to deliver “custom notifications” to people affected or involved with gun violence in an effort to get them help so they can avoid further involvement with violent crime.

UPDATE OF “VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM” (VIP)

It has been over a year since Mayor Keller and APD announced the Violence Intervention Program (VIP). On December 27, an update on the success of the VIP program was given where APD Commander Luke Languit , Social Services Coordinator Angel Garcia and Program Manager Gerri Bachicha were interviewed. A link to the full report is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1530537/city-program-sends-personal-message-about-gun-violence.html

HOW THE VIP PROGRAM WORKS

According to APD Commander Luke Languit, the VIP Program process first starts when they consult with law enforcement partners in the FBI and the District Attorney’s Office about whom to approach. Almost all of those chosen to be approached are involved in criminal groups or gangs. Some of the people selected for an “intervention” have been victims of crimes while others were at the scene of a shooting or were otherwise connected to the violent crime.

VIP Program Manager Gerri Bachicha had this to say about those selected for the program:

“Mostly these are all group-involved folks who have been harmed through gun violence and are, according to statistics, more likely than other people in our community to be harmed again through gun violence, or even killed, or to maybe end up in jail because of gun violence. … We want to intervene in that cycle so they don’t have to live that type of life anymore.”

According to VIP Social Services Coordinator Angel Garcia, an intervention is then scheduled once a person is identified for the VIP Program. APD Commander Luke Languit goes to a person’s house that have been identified to perform what is called a “customs” visit. The person is presented with a letter personalized outlining their criminal history. The person is told they could face more serious legal consequences, or get seriously hurt or killed, if they continue to engage in gun violence. According to Garcia, the VIP program offers to connect them with resources they might need, such as job training, food banks, rental assistance or help getting into school.

LIMITED PROGRESS REPORTED

On December 27, VIP Program Manager Gerri Bachicha said that there has been progress made with the program. According to Bachicha, 74 interventions have been conducted since late March and none of those people interviewed and counseled have been reported for committing a gun crime, or any other crime at least that they know. Notwithstanding, Bachicha said the VIP program will monitor those brought into the program for a long time and said:

“We know that it’s not falling off within six months, but we need to continue to track that to see if it falls off within a year, within a year and six months, within two years, and then we need to increase our ability to lengthen that.”

Bachicha said the VIP program will be considered successful if shootings decrease overall in the City. Reviewing the data reflects that shootings decreased in in the last few month of 2020, but there were more shootings in 2020 than in 2019. Shootings in the few first weeks of January are up.

SORTING OUT WHAT’S WORKING DIFFICULT

With at least 4 major crime-reduction initiatives going on across the city it is difficult to tell which are actually bringing down violent crime if at all. However, an attempt will be made. VIP Program Manager Gerri Bachicha put it this way:

“Sorting that out, what correlates to which program, what really helped, what really worked, that’s going to be important research going forward. … We are going to be partnering with [the University of New Mexico] for some of that research. It’s going to take a lot of research, and it’s going to take a couple of years to have enough data to look at those correlations.”

The city did issue grants to two entities to help with the VIP program of reaching out to help those identified for the program. Youth Development Inc. (YDI) received a$468,090 and the University of New Mexico Young Hospital Children’s Health Center received $264,910.

During last year’s January 2020 legislative session, $10 million was asked for to start the VIP program across the state with $2 million of that to go to Albuquerque program, but the funding failed to make it through the 2020 session.

SOBERING STATISTCS

The cities record breaking number of murders for the last 3 years are only a small part of the city’s overall violent crime problem. The crime statistics that gage the success or failure of the city’s programs must include not just actual murders but the arrest rates and high violent crime rates. For that reason, those statistics merit review.

HOMICIDES SPIKE DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS

In 2018, during Mayor Tim Keller’s first full year in office, there were 69 homicides. In 2019, during Mayor Keller’s second full year in office, there were 82 homicides. Albuquerque had more homicides in 2019 than in any other year in the city’s history. The previous high was in 2017 when 72 homicides were reported in Mayor Berry’s last year in office. The previous high mark was in 1996, when the city had 70 homicides. The year 2020 ended with 76 homicides, the second-highest count since 1996. The decline dropped the homicide rate from 14.64 per 100,000 people in 2019 to about 13.5 in 2020.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1534762/homicide-numbers-high-despite-pandemic.html?amp=1

HISTORICALLY LOW HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATES

For the past three years during Mayor Keller’s tenure, the homicide clearance percentage rate has been in the 50%-60% range. According to the proposed 2018-2019 APD City Budget, in 2016 the APD homicide clearance rate was 80%. In 2017, under Mayor Berry the clearance rate was 70%. In 2018, the first year of Keller’s term, the homicide clearance rate was 56%. In 2019, the second year of Keller’s term, the homicide clearance rate was 52.5%, the lowest clearance rate in the last decade. In 2020 the clearance rate has dropped to 50%. Of the 75 homicides thus far in 2020, half remain unsolved. There are only a dozen homicide detectives each with caseloads high above the national average.

ARRESTS

The number of arrests for the four years of 2016-2019 are as follows:

2016: 14,022 total arrests made
2017: 13,582 total arrests made
2018: 15,471 total arrests made
2019: 15,151 total arrests made

FOUR YEAR TOTAL OF ARREST MADE BY APD: 58,226

Editor’s Note: Statistics for 2020 unavailable

VIOLENT CRIME

In 2018 during Mayor Keller’ first full year in office, there were 6,789 violent crimes, 3,885 Aggravated Assaults and 491 Non-Fatal Shootings.

In 2019, the category of “Violent Crimes” was replaced with the category of “Crimes Against Persons” and the category includes homicide, human trafficking, kidnapping and assault. In 2019 during Keller’s second full year in office, Crimes Against Persons increased from 14,845 to 14,971, or a 1% increase. The Crimes Against Person category had the biggest rises in Aggravated Assaults increasing from 5,179 to 5,397.

2020 VIOLENT CRIME STATS

On Monday, September 21, 2020, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) released statistics that revealed that overall crime in the city is down slightly across all categories in the first six months of 2020 as compared with the first six months of 2019. Crimes against persons are all violent crimes combined and include murder, deadly weapons assault and injury and rape. The decreases in “violent crime” from 2019 to 2020 was a decrease by only 21 crimes or a 0.28%. Over a two year, it decreased 4%. According to the FBI statistics released, there were 7,362 crimes against persons reported in the first six months of 2020 and there were 152 more in the second quarter than in the first.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It was very difficult to keep a straight face when Mayor Keller said in describing the “Violence Intervention and Rapid Accountability Diversion Programs”:

“This is about trying to get these people not to shoot each other. … This is about understanding who they are and why they are engaged in violent crime. …”

What Keller was attempting to describe was VIP program professionals reaching out and sitting down with violent criminals to discuss their propensity to murder and to stop them from committing another violent crime. Good luck with that! Violent repeat offenders who have killed are more likely than not going to change their violent ways with interventions. Violent gang members usually take some degree of pride in taking a life, with some having a tattoo of a tear drop under their eye.

VIP Program Manager Gerri Bachicha said that 74 interventions have been conducted since late March, 2020. She added that none of those people in the program who have been interviewed and counseled have been reported for committing a gun crime, or any other crime that they know. That’s all fine and good, but 74 interventions is not even a drop in the bucket when it comes to the cities arrests, homicides and violent crime that are in the thousands.

To be perfectly blunt, what the VIP outreach program is doing is what is done by state probation officers who manage thousands of convicted violent felons a year, including those convicted of armed robbery, murder and rape. The efforts being made by the VIP program are commendable with a very idealistic approach being taken to try to intervene and provide counseling and direction.

In 2017, Candidate Tim Keller campaigned to get elected Mayor on the platform of implementing the Department of Justice (DOJ) mandated reforms, increasing the size of APD, returning to community-based policing and a promise to bring down skyrocketing crime rates. Mayor Keller no doubt sincerely thought he could do a better job than his predecessor and he could actually make a difference. The truth is, he has not and crime in the city has only become worse since Tim Keller has taken office, especially in terms of violent crime.

In order to have any real success, all 4 programs Keller initiated IN 2019 need to be ratcheted up way beyond where they are today, otherwise they will continue to fail. The VIP program will have to be increased with hundreds of interventions, not a mere 74, otherwise it will have very low or no impact on violent crime. Working with the state probation office would in all likely help to identify those the VIP program are trying to reach.

A link to a related blog article is here:

Mayor Tim Keller’s Record Of Broken Promises, Failures And High Murder Rates As He Seeks A Second Term

On Tuesday, January 19, at 12:00 noon, the 60-day New Mexico Legislature will begin. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham released a proposed $7.3 billion budget plan on Monday, January 11. The released proposed budget is a zero-growth budget. It keeps spending levels flat for the coming fiscal year that starts on July 1, 2021. The 2021-2022 budget authorizes one-time expenditures aimed at fortifying businesses and families hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 19, the Legislative Finance Committee will unveil its own spending plan. During the session lawmakers will use the Governors proposed budget and their own to come up with a new budget bill during the session. The New Mexico legislature is required by law to enact a balanced budget with no deficit spending and with a reserve fund.

HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE BUDGET

The major highlights of the proposed $7.3 billion budget released by the Governor are as follows:

$475 million for additional pandemic relief for New Mexico.
$893.1 million in total fund money for behavioral health support across all state agencies.
$193 million for the continued rollout of early childhood education and care investments.
$5.1 million for youth, adolescent, and young adult suicide prevention.
$151.2 million to maintain K-5 Plus, Extended Learning Time (ELTP) & Career Technical Education and Community School Programs.
$26 million to continue on the promise for tuition-free education at one of New Mexico’s public colleges, including $4 million for a pilot program for students that lost the lottery scholarship.
$25 million to restore and revitalize the tourism economy.
$10 million from the General Fund for broadband expansion across New Mexico, which should be bolstered by significant funding from capital outlay.
$4.5 million for investments in cybersecurity for state agencies and public education institutions.
$2 million for innovative grid modernization projects.
$6 million for the Secretary of State to fund local elections.

Links to related news and sources quoted are here:

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/gov-lujan-grisham-releases-73b-budget-proposal/5975118/

http://www.nmdfa.state.nm.us/uploads/files/DFA%20Home/2020/FY21%20Executive%20Budget%20Recommendation.pdf

ONE TIME SPENDING ALLOCATIONS

The Governor’s proposed budget contains one-time major expenditures as follows:

The $475 million listed for pandemic relief efforts. This includes tax relief and cash assistance for essential workers
The $10 million listed to expand a state broadband network that has come under scrutiny with many residents working and attending school from home.
The $25 million listed for a new state tourism campaign
$80 million fund for school districts with the lowest-income students
$60 million for school districts with tribal land, military bases or other tax-exempt lands within their boundaries.

A $20 million transfer from the new “early childhood trust fund” created in the 2020 legislative session to expand the number of prekindergarten slots statewide and provide home visiting services to an additional 1,700 or so New Mexico families.

The one-time major expenditures of $600 million would come from drawing down New Mexico’s mandatory cash reserve fund. Notwithstanding the drawdown, there will be upwards of $1.8 billion left in cash reserves which is 25% of total state spending.

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/01/06/gov-lujan-grisham-releases-fy-2021-executive-budget/

COURT RULING ON EDUCATION REVISITED

The additional $80 million and $60 million for education is a direct result of the 2018 state court actions of Yazzie v. State of New Mexico and Martinez v. State of New Mexico where the state was sued for failing to provide public school students with a sufficient education as mandated by the state’s constitution. The lawsuit challenged the state’s arbitrary and inadequate funding of public schools as well as its failure to provide students with the programs and services needed to be college, career and civic ready. The lawsuits alleged that the lack of necessary monitoring and oversight deprived students of the resources and services they need to succeed, particularly low-income, students of color, including Native American, English-language learners, and students with disabilities.

http://nmpovertylaw.org/2018/07/judge-rules-new-mexico-violated-public-school-students-constitutional-right-to-sufficient-educational-opportunities/

ANOTHER COVID RELIEF PACKAGE POSSIBLE

On November 24, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called a one-day special session as the state was confronting spiking COVID infection and death rates. New Mexico received more than $1.2 billion under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). On Tuesday, November 24, the New Mexico lawmakers passed a bipartisan coronavirus relief bill that provided a onetime $1,200 check to all types of unemployed workers and up to $50,000 for certain businesses.

The total approved expenditure was for $330 million and a total of $319 million was unspent funds the federal CARES relief funding previously assigned to New Mexico. An additional $10 million in state general funds were allocated for Covid 19 testing and tracing efforts.

The Special Session bill allocated $100 million to support businesses with 100 or fewer employees. The New Mexico Finance Authority distributed the grants which were up to $50,000. Businesses in the hospitality and leisure industry, which are the businesses severely harmed financially by New Mexico’s public health orders, would were given priority.

Another new COVID-19 relief package could also be passed during the opening days of the 60-day 2021 legislative session that starts January 19. Top-ranking Democratic lawmakers have said it could include expanding a tax break for low-income families and other measures. The new COVID-19 relief package could be passed early in the legislative session. It could include expanding a tax break for low-income families and other measures.

WHAT NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET

The $7.3 billion budget recommendation for the fiscal year that starts July 1 would not provide salary increases for state employees and teachers, but some State Police officers could get raises under an already approved plan.

The Governor’s proposed budget does not include more funding for road construction and repairs around New Mexico.

AVOIDING MAJOR BUDGET CUTS

The Governor’s overall proposed budget avoids major cuts primarily because Governor Lujan Grisham in September ordered state agencies to prepare for 5% spending reductions in the 2021 Legislative session. The state’s revenue streams have improved due to federal relief measures and a modest rebound in oil and natural gas prices, making major budget cuts unnecessary.

In a statement released, Governor Lujan Grisham described her budget plan as fiscally responsible and she said it would maintain funding for necessary state programs and services. In the released statement, Lujan Grisham had this to say:

“Amid great adversity, I recommend a fiscally responsible budget while maintaining essential funding for our public education moonshot, for the innovative economic diversification and opportunity New Mexicans expect, for the community, public safety, and much more. … The pandemic and economic uncertainty may have disrupted our forward momentum in job creation, child wellbeing improvements, and various other policy emphasis areas, but we are ready to bounce back quickly and robustly. This budget recommendation is our first step to position New Mexico to prosper in a post-pandemic world.”

Links to related and quoted news coverage are here:

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/gov-lujan-grisham-releases-73b-budget-proposal/5975118/

https://www.abqjournal.com/1535055/nm-governor-proposes-7-3b-budget-plan-more-pandemic-relief.html

GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAMS MAJOR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

On Wednesday, January 13, a mere 5 days before the 2021 New Mexico Legislative session begins, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham outlined her legislative priorities that she wants the legislature to enact.

According to a written statement issued by the Governor, her legislative priorities in a nutshell are as follows:

1. The legalizing recreational use of marijuana for adults. This failed in the 2020 session and has a good chance of passage in the 2021 session. Lujan Grisham has said in the past legalization of marijuana will create a new industry and could boost state revenue and promote job creation.

2. Repealing the state’s 1969 anti-abortion law, now largely unenforceable because of the 1971 United States Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade decision in which the Court ruled with a 7 to 2 decision that the Constitution of the United States protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction. Now that the Supreme Court has a 6 to 3 conservative majority the chances that the US Supreme Court will reverse Roe v. Wade have increased dramatically. If that happens New Mexico’s 1969 anti abortion bill will once again become law. The repeal attempt failed in the 2020 session, but has a better chance of passage in the 2021 session.

3. Establishing a “clean fuel standard” to reduce emissions.

4. Boosting distributions out of New Mexico’s largest permanent fund to expand early childhood programs. The legislation is a proposed constitutional amendment that would also require voter and congressional approval.

5. Revising the state procurement code to promote spending within New Mexico and to help businesses owned by Native Americans, minorities and women to secure state contracts and to promote spending within the state.

6. Liquor license reform efforts. Lujan Grisham wants to provide a lifeline to restaurants by allowing alcohol delivery and broadening the state’s tightly controlled monopoly on liquor licenses.

7. Urging lawmakers to support budget changes aimed at delivering more money to school districts that serve low-income communities.

8. Overhauling a state program that provides loans to small businesses and nonprofit groups struggling amid the pandemic.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2021-01-13/new-mexico-governor-announces-priorities-for-legislation

https://www.abqjournal.com/1535770/lujan-grisham-unveils-legislative-priorities.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

As a result of the 2020 election, Democrats maintain substantial majorities in both the New Mexico House and Senate. Eleven of the Senate’s 42 members will be new and it will be their very first legislative session under new leadership. The biggest change that resulted from the 2020 elections is that primary challengers ousted some of the Senate’s long time and conservative Democratic leadership.

For decades, a conservative coalition of 5 conservative Democratic Senators along with conservative Republican State Senators controlled the New Mexico Senate. The 2020 June primary toppled the most powerful legislators of them all in Senate: Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith and Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen. Clemente Sanchez of Grants, and Senator Gabe Ramos of Silver City, and Richard Martinez of Espanola were also voted out of office. Of the five conservative Democratic State Senators targeted by progressive groups, only Gallup’s George Munoz survived.

The change in the Senate make up has resulted in a clearly more progressive chamber. The NM Senate was often referred to as the chamber where House progressive legislation went to be killed and die. As a result of the defeat of the 5 conservative Democrat Senators, the authorization and taxation of recreational cannabis, the repeal of the state’s 1969 anti-abortion law and a proposed constitutional amendment to tap more money for education from the state’s permanent state trust fund for education is now better than ever. All 3 of the initiatives were always opposed in one form or another by the 5 conservative Democrat State Senators.

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/legislature/new-mexico-governor-announces-priorities-for-legislation/

Not surprisingly, the Governor is placing a major emphasis on economic recovery and education. The emphasis on economic recovery is no doubt associated with the impact of the corona virus on the state’s economy and the decline in oil and gas production revenues that resulted in a special session two months after last year’s session to deal with a major deficit. The emphasis in education is no doubt related to the landmark state court education ruling of Yazzie and Martinez where the state was sued for failing to a basic education in reading, writing and math to students.

Based upon the Governor’s proposed 2020-2021 budget as well as her priorities for the 2021 Session, and changes in the Senate leadership, the 2020 New Mexico legislative session promises to be another consequential session that will have a major impact on the state for years to come.

In 2020, Dinelli Blog Had 105,793 Total Reader Views, 70,208 Total Blog Visitors; Thanks For Viewing And Visiting; Onto A Better 2021 New Year! PLEASE WEAR THE DAMN MASK!

On the Morning of January 6, Führer Donald Trump spoke to thousands of his upset and angry supporters in Washington, DC in front of the White House before the Congress was to scheduled to vote and accept the electoral college vote as mandated by the United States Constitution and electing Joe Biden President. For weeks prior, Trump and his supporters had been proclaiming January 6, 2021, as a day of reckoning. A day to gather in Washington to “Save America” and “Stop the Steal” of the election he had lost to Biden, but which he still maintained that he had won by a landslide. Führer Trump spoke for over one hour and ginned up his supports. The link to a transcript of the entire speech is here:

https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-speech-save-america-rally-transcript-january-6

HIGHLIGHTS OF SPEECH

In the interest of brevity, the following excerpts of the speech with time notes and editor’s notes are offered for consideration:

Donald Trump: (02:44)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Trump begins his speech complaining about the media not showing the sizes of the crowd.

“… We have hundreds of thousands of people here, and I just want them to be recognized by the fake news media. Turn your cameras please and show what’s really happening out here because these people are not going to take it any longer. They’re not going to take it any longer. … they came from all over our country. … The media is the biggest problem we have as far as I’m concerned, single biggest problem, the fake news and the big tech. Big tech is now coming into their own. We beat them four years ago. We surprised them. We took them by surprise and this year, they rigged an election. They rigged it like they’ve never rigged an election before. …

Hundreds of thousands of American patriots are committed to the honesty of our elections and the integrity of our glorious Republic. All of us here today do not want to see our election victory stolen by emboldened radical left Democrats, which is what they’re doing and stolen by the fake news media. That’s what they’ve done and what they’re doing. We will never give up. We will never concede, it doesn’t happen. You don’t concede when there’s theft involved.”

Donald Trump: (04:42)

“Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore and that’s what this is all about. To use a favorite term that all of you people really came up with, we will stop the steal. Today I will lay out just some of the evidence proving that we won this election, and we won it by a landslide. This was not a close election. … Almost 75 million people voted for our campaign, the most of any incumbent president by far in the history of our country, 12 million more people than four years ago. I was told by the real pollsters, we do have real pollsters. They know that we were going to do well, and we were going to win. What I was told, if I went from 63 million, which we had four years ago to 66 million, there was no chance of losing. Well, we didn’t go to 66. We went to 75 million and they say we lost. We didn’t lose.”

Donald Trump: (06:08)

By the way, does anybody believe that Joe had 80 million votes? Does anybody believe that? He had 80 million computer votes. It’s a disgrace. There’s never been anything like that. You could take third world countries. Just take a look, take third world countries. Their elections are more honest than what we’ve been going through in this country. It’s a disgrace. It’s a disgrace. … We will not let them silence your voices. We’re not going to let it happen. Not going to let it happen.

Crowd: (07:11) : Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump!

Donald Trump: (08:09)

I hope Mike [Pence] is going to do the right thing. I hope so. I hope so because if Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election. All he has to do. This is from the number one or certainly one of the top constitutional lawyers in our country. He has the absolute right to do it. We’re supposed to protect our country, support our country, support our constitution, and protect our constitution. States want to revote. The States got defrauded. They were given false information. They voted on it. Now they want to recertify. They want it back. All Vice-President Pence has to do is send it back to the States to recertify, and we become president, and you are the happiest people.

Donald Trump: (09:08)

I just spoke to Mike. I said, “Mike, that doesn’t take courage. What takes courage is to do nothing. That takes courage,” and then we’re stuck with a president who lost the election by a lot, and we have to live with that for four more years. We’re just not going to let that happen. Many of you have traveled from all across the nation to be here, and I want to thank you for the extraordinary love. That’s what it is. There’s never been a movement like this ever, ever for the extraordinary love for this amazing country and this amazing movement. Thank you.

Crowd: (09:44) We love Trump! We love Trump! We love Trump!

Donald Trump: (09:59)

By the way, this goes all the way back past the Washington monument. Do you believe this? Look at this. Unfortunately, they gave the press the prime seats. I can’t stand that. No, but you look at that behind. I wish they’d flip those cameras and look behind you. That is the most amazing sight. When they make a mistake, you get to see it on television. Amazing, amazing, all the way back. Don’t worry. We will not take the name off the Washington monument. We will not. Cancel culture. They wanted to get rid of the Jefferson Memorial, either take it down or just put somebody else in there. I don’t think that’s going to happen. It damn well better not. Although with this administration, if this happens, it could happen. You’ll see some really bad things happen.

Donald Trump: (10:54)

They’ll knock out Lincoln too, by the way. They’ve been taking his statue down, but then we signed a little law. You hurt our monuments, you hurt our heroes, you go to jail for 10 years and everything stopped. Did you notice that? It stopped. It all stopped. … .

Donald Trump: (11:25)

We’re gathered together in the heart of our nation’s Capitol for one very, very basic and simple reason, to save our democracy. Most candidates on election evening, and of course this thing goes on so long, they still don’t have any idea what the votes are. We still have congressional seats under review. They have no idea. They’ve totally lost control. They’ve used the pandemic as a way of defrauding the people in a proper election. But when you see this and when you see what’s happening, number one, they all say, “Sir, we’ll never let it happen again.” I said, “That’s good, but what about eight weeks ago?” They try and get you to go. They say, “Sir, in four years, you’re guaranteed.” I said, “I’m not interested right now. Do me a favor, go back eight weeks. I want to go back eight weeks. Let’s go back eight week.” We want to go back, and we want to get this right because we’re going to have somebody in there that should not be in there and our country will be destroyed, and we’re not going to stand for that.

Donald Trump: (12:34)

For years, Democrats have gotten away with election fraud and weak Republicans, and that’s what they are. There’s so many weak Republicans. … .

EDITORS NOTE: Trump talks about the “strong republicans” who have helped him.

The weak Republicans, they’re pathetic Republicans and that’s what happens. If this happened to the Democrats, there’d be hell all over the country going on. There’d be hell all over the country. But just remember this. You’re stronger, you’re smarter. You’ve got more going than anybody, and they try and demean everybody having to do with us, and you’re the real people. You’re the people that built this nation.

You’re not the people that tore down our nation.

Donald Trump: (13:45)

The weak Republicans, and that’s it. I really believe it. I think I’m going to use the term, the weak Republicans. You got a lot of them, and you got a lot of great ones, but you got a lot of weak ones. They’ve turned a blind eye even as Democrats enacted policies that chipped away our jobs, weakened our military, threw open our borders and put America last. …

If they don’t fight, we have to primary the hell out of the ones that don’t fight. You primary them. We’re going to let you know who they are. I can already tell you, frankly.

Donald Trump: (14:39)

But this year using the pretext of the China virus and the scam of mail-in ballots, Democrats attempted the most brazen and outrageous election theft. There’s never been anything like this. It’s a pure theft in American history, everybody knows it. That election, our election was over at 10:00 in the evening. We’re leading Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia by hundreds of thousands of votes, and then late in the evening or early in the morning, boom, these explosions of and bullshit, and all of a sudden. All of a sudden it started to happen.

Crowd: (15:25) [inaudible 00:15:25]

Donald Trump: (15:35)

EDITORS NOTE: At this point, Trump talks about Mitt Romney and his defeat and concession.

… America is blessed with elections all over the world. They talk about our elections. You know what the world says about us now? They said we don’t have free and fair elections and you know what else? We don’t have a free and fair press.

Donald Trump: (16:25)

Our media is not free. It’s not fair. It suppresses thought. It suppresses speech, and it’s become the enemy of the people. It’s become the enemy of the people. It’s the biggest problem we have in this country. No third world countries would even attempt to do what we caught them doing and you’ll hear about that in just a few minutes. Republicans are constantly fighting like a boxer with his hands tied behind his back. It’s like a boxer, and we want to be so nice. We want to be so respectful of everybody, including bad people.

We’re going to have to fight much harder and Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us. If he doesn’t, that will be a sad day for our country because you’re sworn to uphold our constitution. Now it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy.

After this, we’re going to walk down and I’ll be there with you. We’re going to walk down. We’re going to walk down any one you want, but I think right here. We’re going walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators, and congressmen and women. We’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.

Donald Trump: (18:16)

We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated, lawfully slated. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. Today we will see whether Republicans stand strong for integrity of our elections, but whether or not they stand strong for our country, our country. Our country has been under siege for a long time, far longer than this four-year period. We’ve set it on a much straighter course,

EDITORS NOTE: Trump at his point goes into great detail what he perceives to be his accomplishments as President and why it’s important that he remain President.

So we’ve taken care of things. We’ve done things like nobody’s ever thought possible. And that’s part of the reason that many people don’t like us, because we’ve done too much, but we’ve done it quickly. And we were going to sit home and watch a big victory. And everybody had us down for a victory. It was going to be great. And now we’re out here fighting. I said to somebody, I was going to take a few days and relax after our big electoral victory. Ten o’clock, it was over. But I was going to take a few days.
… .

Donald Trump: (22:36)

Today, we see a very important event though, because right over there, right there, we see the event going to take place. And I’m going to be watching, because history is going to be made. We’re going to see whether or not we have great and courageous leaders or whether or not we have leaders that should be ashamed of themselves throughout history, throughout eternity, they’ll be ashamed.

And you know what? If they do the wrong thing, we should never ever forget that they did. Never forget. We should never ever forget. With only three of the seven states in question, we win the presidency of the United States.

Donald Trump: (23:59)

I want to thank the more than 140 members of the House. Those are warriors. They’re over there working like you’ve never seen before, studying, talking, actually going all the way back, studying the roots of the Constitution, because they know we have the right to send a bad vote that was illegally got, they gave these people bad things to vote for and they voted, because what did they know? And then when they found out a few weeks later… Again, it took them four years to devise history. … .

Donald Trump: (24:57)

But I want to thank all of those congressmen and women. I also want to thank our 13 most courageous members of the US Senate, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Ron Johnson, Senator Shadowless, Kelly Loeffler.

EDITORS NOTE: Trump proceeds to identify all those members of congress that have stood by him.

Donald Trump: (27:19)

As you know the media is constantly asserted the outrageous lie that there was no evidence of widespread fraud. You ever see these people? “While there is no evidence of fraud…” Oh, really? Well, I’m going to read you pages. I hope you don’t get bored listening to it. Promise? … The American people do not believe the corrupt fake news anymore. They have ruined their reputation.

Donald Trump: (27:57)

We don’t have a fair media anymore. It’s suppression and you have to be very careful with that. And they’ve lost all credibility in this country. We will not be intimidated into accepting the hoaxes and the lies that we’ve been forced to believe over the past several weeks. We’ve amassed overwhelming evidence about a fake election. This is the presidential election. Last night was a little bit better because of the fact that we had a lot of eyes watching one specific state, but they cheated like hell anyway.

Donald Trump: (31:50)

Look, I’m not happy with the Supreme Court. They love to rule against me. I picked three people. I fought like hell for them, one in particular I fought. … Let them rule the right way, but it almost seems that they’re all going out of their way to hurt all of us, and to hurt our country. To hurt our country.

Donald Trump: (32:40)

I read a story in one of the newspapers recently how I control the three Supreme Court justices. I control them. They’re puppets. I read it about Bill Barr, that he’s my personal attorney. That he’ll do anything for me. And I said, “It really is genius,” because what they do is that, and it makes it really impossible for them to ever give you a victory, because all of a sudden Bill Barr changed, if you hadn’t noticed. I like Bill Barr, but he changed, because he didn’t want to be considered my personal attorney. And the Supreme Court, they rule against me so much. You know why? Because the story is I haven’t spoken to any of them, any of them, since virtually they got in. But the story is that they’re my puppet. That they’re puppets.

Donald Trump: (33:41)

Today, for the sake of our democracy, for the sake of our Constitution, and for the sake of our children, we lay out the case for the entire world to hear. You want to hear it?

Crowd: (34:04) Yes!

Donald Trump: (34:06)

In every single swing state, local officials, state officials, almost all Democrats made illegal and unconstitutional changes to election procedures without the mandated approvals by the state legislatures, that these changes paved the way for fraud on a scale never seen before. And I think we’d go a long way outside of our country when I say that.

EDITORS NOTE: At this point, Trump goes on to makes a series of false accusations of election fraud in various states including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. The allegations were the same false narratives made by his lawyers in state and federal courts to contest the election results in those states. At least 60 cases in state courts and federal courts were filed contesting the election counts and virtually all the cases were dismissed by the courts because there was no evidence of election fraud and the cases dismissed. At least two of the cases reached the United States Supreme Court and the court upheld the lower courts dismissing the cases.

Donald Trump: (40:50)

You will have a president who lost all of these states, or you will have a president to put it another way, who was voted on by a bunch of stupid people who lost all of these things. You will have an illegitimate president, that’s what you’ll have. And we can’t let that happen. These are the facts that you won’t hear from the fake news media. It’s all part of the suppression effort. They don’t want to talk about it. They don’t want to talk about it.

Donald Trump: (42:49)

And just like the radical left tries to blacklist you on social media, every time I put out a tweet, even if it’s totally correct, totally correct. I get a flag. I get a flag. And they also don’t let you get out. On Twitter, it’s very hard to come on to my account. It’s very hard to get out a message. They don’t let the message get out nearly like they should, but I’ve had many people say, “I can’t get on your Twitter.” I don’t care about Twitter. Twitter is bad news. They’re all bad news. But you know what? If you want to get out of message. And if you want to go through big tech, social media, they are really, if you’re a conservative, if you’re a Republican, if you have a big voice, I guess they call it shadow ban. Shadow ban. They shadow ban you and it should be illegal. I’ve been telling these Republicans get rid of Section 230.

Donald Trump: (44:39)

Two months ago, we had a massive crowd come down to Washington. I said, “What are they there for.” “Sir, they’re there for you.” We have nothing to do with it. These groups, they’re forming all over the United States. And we got to remember, in a year from now, you’re going to start working on Congress. And we got to get rid of the weak congresspeople, the ones that aren’t any good, the Liz Cheneys of the world, we got to get rid of them. We got to get rid of them.

EDITOR’S NOTE: At his point, Trump becomes extremely critical of US Representative Liz Cheney, and former Georgia Governor candidate Stacy Abrams and then goes on with his accusations of election fraud in Georgia and Arizaona

Donald Trump: (01:02:31)

So, I mean, I could go on and on about this fraud that took place in every state and all of these legislatures want this back. I don’t want to do it to you because I love you and it’s freezing out here, but I could just go on forever. I can tell you this…

Speaker 1 to Trump: (01:02:52)

We love you. We love you. We love you. We love you. We love you. We love you. We love you. We love you.

Donald Trump: (01:03:03)

So when you hear, when you hear, “While there is no evidence to prove any wrongdoing,” this is the most fraudulent thing anybody’s… This is a criminal enterprise. This is a criminal enterprise and the press will say, and I’m sure they won’t put any of that on there because that’s no good, do you ever see, “While there is no evidence to back President Trump’s assertion,” I could go on for another hour reading this stuff to you and telling you about it. There’s never been anything like it. Think about it, … .

Donald Trump: (01:03:56)

It’s a disgrace that the United States of America, tens of millions of people are allowed to go vote without so much as even showing identification. In no state is there any question or effort made to verify the identity, citizenship, residency, or eligibility of the votes cast. The Republicans have to get tougher.

You’re not going to have a Republican party if you don’t get tougher. They want to play so straight, they want to play so, “Sir, yes, the United States, the constitution doesn’t allow me to send them back to the States.” Well, I say, “Yes, it does because the constitution says you have to protect our country and you have to protect our constitution and you can’t vote on fraud,” and fraud breaks up everything, doesn’t it?

When you catch somebody in a fraud, you’re allowed to go by very different rules. So I hope Mike has the courage to do what he has to do. And I hope he doesn’t listen to the RINOs and the stupid people that he’s listening to. It is also widely understood that the voter rolls are crammed full of non-citizens, felons and people who have moved out of state and individuals who are otherwise ineligible to vote. Yet Democrats oppose every effort to clean up their voter rolls. They don’t want to clean them up, they are loaded. And how many people here know other people that when the hundreds of thousands and then millions of ballots got sent out, got three, four, five, six, and I heard one who got seven ballots. And then they say, “You didn’t quite make it, sir.” We won. We won in a landslide. This was a landslide.

Donald Trump: (01:05:43)

They said, “It’s not American to challenge the election.” This is the most corrupt election in the history, maybe of the world. You know, you could go third world countries, but I don’t think they had hundreds of thousands of votes and they don’t have voters for them. I mean, no matter where you go, nobody would think this. In fact, it’s so egregious, it’s so bad, that a lot of people don’t even believe it. It’s so crazy that people don’t even believe it. It can’t be true. So they don’t believe it. This is not just a matter of domestic politics, this is a matter of national security. So today, in addition to challenging the certification of the election, I’m calling on Congress and the state legislatures to quickly pass sweeping election reforms, and you better do it before we have no country left. Today is not the end. It’s just the beginning.

Donald Trump: (01:06:37)
… .

We must stop the steal and then we must ensure that such outrageous election fraud never happens again, can never be allowed to happen again, but we’re going forward. We’ll take care of going forward. We got to take care of going back. Don’t let them talk, “Okay, well we promise,” I’ve had a lot of people, “Sir, you’re at 96% for four years.” I said, “I’m not interested right now. I’m interested in right there.”
… .

Donald Trump: (01:10:05)

Looking out at all the amazing patriots here today, I have never been more confident in our nation’s future. Well, I have to say we have to be a little bit careful. That’s a nice statement, but we have to be a little careful with that statement. If we allow this group of people to illegally take over our country, because it’s illegal when the votes are illegal, when the way they got there is illegal, when the States that vote are given false and fraudulent information. We are the greatest country on earth and we are headed, and were headed, in the right direction. You know, the wall is built, we’re doing record numbers at the wall. Now they want to take down the wall. Let’s let everyone flow in. Let’s let everybody flow in.

Donald Trump: (01:10:52)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Trump at this point talks about the Wall he intended to build at the Mexican boarder,

… .
As this enormous crowd shows, we have truth and justice on our side. We have a deep and enduring love for America in our hearts. We love our country. We have overwhelming pride in this great country, and we have it deep in our souls. Together we are determined to defend and preserve government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Donald Trump: (01:11:44)

Our brightest days are before us, our greatest achievements still wait. I think one of our great achievements will be election security because nobody until I came along, had any idea how corrupt our elections were. And again, most people would stand there at 9:00 in the evening and say, “I want to thank you very much,” and they go off to some other life, but I said, “Something’s wrong here. Something’s really wrong. Can’t have happened.” And we fight. We fight like Hell and if you don’t fight like Hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.

Donald Trump: (01:12:21)

Our exciting adventures and boldest endeavors have not yet begun. My fellow Americans for our movement, for our children and for our beloved country and I say this, despite all that’s happened, the best is yet to come.

Donald Trump: (01:12:43)

So we’re going to, we’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, I love Pennsylvania Avenue, and we’re going to the Capitol and we’re going to try and give… The Democrats are hopeless. They’re never voting for anything, not even one vote. But we’re going to try and give our Republicans, the weak ones, because the strong ones don’t need any of our help, we’re going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.

Donald Trump: (01:13:19)

So let’s walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. I want to thank you all. God bless you and God bless America. Thank you all for being here, this is incredible. Thank you very much. Thank you.

INFLAMATORY REMARKS INSIGHTING

The most inflammatory remarks and call to his followers to lay siege to the capital are clear and unmistakable and are worth repeating:

“We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn’t happen. You don’t concede when there’s theft involved. … Our country has had enough. We’re not going to take it anymore.”

“We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated, lawfully slated. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. Today we will see whether Republicans stand strong for integrity of our elections, but whether or not they stand strong for our country, our country. Our country has been under siege for a long time, far longer than this four-year period. We’ve set it on a much straighter course.”

“And after this, we’re going to walk down there, and I’ll be there with you, we’re going to walk down … to the Capitol and we are going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women. … And we’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them. Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong.”

“You’re the real people. You’re the people that built this nation. You’re not the people that tore down this nation.”

Now it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy.”

…

So we’re going to, we’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue … , and we’re going to the Capitol and we’re going to try and give… The Democrats are hopeless. They’re never voting for anything, not even one vote. But we’re going to try and give our Republicans, the weak ones, because the strong ones don’t need any of our help, we’re going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.

So let’s walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. I want to thank you all.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Trump did not join the walk down Pennsylvania Avenue with the mob he just incited. Instead, he returned to the White House and watched on TV in the White House residence as the rioting, vandalism and killing occurred in the capitol. He waited hours before his staff urged him to do a video telling everyone to go home and that he loved them. No remorse and no condemnation.

FÜHRER TRUMP’S FOLLOWERS DID WHAT HE ORDERED

Soon after Trump spoke, his supporters believing all Trumps lies that the election was rigged, when it was not, went to the United States Capitol to protest. The Congress had already begun the process of counting and certifying the electoral college vote. A mob was able to breach security and successfully enter the building, where one person was shot and later died.

Hundreds of pro-Trump protesters pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they engaged with officers in full riot gear, some calling the officers “traitors” for doing their jobs. About 90 minutes later the domestic terrorists got into the building and the doors to the House and Senate were locked. Shortly after, the House floor was evacuated by police. Vice President Mike Pence was also evacuated from the chamber, he was to perform his role in the counting of electoral votes. Some of the terrorists had even started to chant “HANG MIKE PENCE, HANG MIKE PENCE”.

The protesters first breached exterior security barriers, and video footage showed the domestic terrorists gathering and some clashing with police near the Capitol building. A number of Trump terrorists climbed up the side of the Capitol building to gain access. Windows were broken to gain access. Protesters roamed the interior of the building and went to the House Chamber and congressional offices and did property damage. In the end, 6 people died, one domestic terrorist shot and killed by capitol police with one capitol police officer succumbing to his injuries.

Within 7 hours after protestors took over the Capitol building and after they were evacuated from the building, the Congress returned to work and about 4:30 am in the morning on January 7, President Joe Biden was elected the new President of the United Sates. The final electoral college vote was Joe Biden 306 electoral votes, Donald Trump 232 electoral votes.

IMPEACHED FOR A SECOND TIME

On Wednesday, January on 23, Führer Donald Trump became the first President of the United States to be impeached twice. The bi-partisan vote was 232 voting YES to impeach (222 Dems and 10 Republicans) to 197 Republican Representatives voting NO with 4 Republicans not voting.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will forward the article of impeachment to the United States Senate. As a result of Senate rules, the Senate will have to delay a trial and a vote to convict until after January 20 when President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris take their oaths of office.

The article of impeachment against President Trump is for inciting his followers to storm the United States Capitol. The one count article of impeachment accuses Trump of “willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States ” while Congress was counting the Electoral College votes and to stop the vote and declare Trump the victor. The article states that Mr. Trump “willfully made statements that encouraged, and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/impeachment-democrats-introduce-articles-trump/

ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT

The Article of Impeachment is short and reads as follows:

RESOLUTION

IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS

RESOLVED, That Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and mis-demeanors and that the following article of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate:

Article of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States of America in the name of itself and of the people of the United States of America, against Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, in maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for high crimes and mis-demeanors.

ARTICLE I: INCITEMENT OF INSURRECTION

The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ‘‘shall have the sole Power of Impeachment’’ and that the President ‘‘shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors’’. In his conduct of the office of President of the United States—and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed- Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States, in that:

On January 6, 2021, pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Vice President of the United States, the House of Representatives, and the Senate met at the United States Capitol for a Joint Session of Congress to count the votes of the Electoral College.

Shortly before the Joint Session commenced, President Trump addressed a crowd of his political supporters nearby. There, he reiterated false claims that ‘‘we won this election, and we won it by a landslide’’.

He also willfully made statements that encouraged—and2 foreseeably resulted in—imminent lawless action at the Capitol. Incited by President Trump, a mob unlawfully breached the Capitol, injured law enforcement personnel menaced Members of Congress and the Vice President, interfered with the Joint Session’s solemn constitutional duty to certify the election results, and engaged in violent, deadly, destructive, and seditious acts.

President Trump’s conduct on January 6, 2021 was consistent with his prior efforts to subvert and obstruct the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election. Those prior efforts include, but are not limited to, a phone call on January 2, 2021, in which President Trump urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to ‘‘find’’ enough votes to overturn the Georgia presidential election results and threatened Mr. Raffensperger if he failed to do so.

In all of this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coordinate branch of government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

UNITED STATES CONSITUTION PROVSIONS ON IMPEACHMENT OF A PRESIDENT

Article II, Section 4 of the United States Constitution provides:

“The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

The United States Constitution contains a number of provisions that are relevant to the impeachment of a President and other federal officials. Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 grants the sole power of impeachment to the House of Representatives; Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 assigns the Senate sole responsibility to try impeachments.

Article I, Section 3, Clause 7 of the US Constitution provides:

“Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.” In other words, the sanctions for an impeached and convicted individual are limited to removal from office and potentially a bar from holding future office, but an impeachment proceeding does not preclude criminal liability.

Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the US Constitution provides that the President enjoys the pardon power, but it does not extend to cases of impeachment; and Article II, Section 4 defines which officials are subject to impeachment and what kinds of misconduct constitute impeachable behavior. Article III does not mention impeachment expressly, but Section 1, which establishes that federal judges shall hold their seats during good behavior, is widely understood to provide the unique nature of judicial tenure. And Article III, Section 2, Clause 3 provides that trials, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by jury.”

Link to cited source:

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S4-1-1/ALDE_00000282/

SENATE MUST CONVICT AND BAR TRUMP FROM EVER HOLDING OFFICE

A simple majority of members of the House of Representatives was all that was required for impeachment. Now that the one Article of Impeachment is passed officially charging Trump with the high crimes and misdemeanor and sedition, it will now be forwarded to the United States Senate for a vote. The United States Senate is split evenly with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, but Democrats are in control the Chamber with Vice President Kamala Harris having the power to break any tie.

Normally, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the impeachment trial of a sitting President, but Trump will be out of office when his trial will be held. Vice President Harris will become President of the Senate, and it may be her who will preside over the impeachment trial. A two thirds vote to convict is required to convict. The final vote therefor would have to be 67 to 33, meaning all 50 Democrat Senators and 17 Republican Senators would have to vote to convict. An impeachment trial could not begin under the current calendar before Inauguration Day, January 20 after Trump leaves office.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The Senate trial should be very short and should last just a few days. The evidence should consist of the United State Senate seeing and hearing Führer Trump’s January 6 speech followed by all the video coverage of the insurgents breaking into the capitol building. Footage of house and senate members cowering in fear and then being swept to secured locations to remind them they were victims of an isurgency. Evidence of the 6 people who were killed as well as injuries to the capitol police should be presented.

What is shameful and disgusting is that what unfolded on January 6 was an attack on our country, our very democracy, by an elected President of the United States who lost his election for a second term and then attempted a COUP D’É·TAT of his successor who won not only the electoral college vote but the popular vote.

It is clear that Trump is the first fascist ever elected President of the United States who put himself above the law and his own country and who has no respect for our constitution nor free elections. Trump’s strongest and closest allies and supporters need to come to their senses and the realization that Trump is a traitor to his own country, to them, to all of us and to our democracy. Attempting to set aside the vote of the American people was an attempt to undermine our very democracy. It was a coup d’é·tat that failed.

The same goes for the clown car full of the Republican House and Senate members who initially sought to seek to set aside the 2020 victory of Joe Biden by voting not to certify the electoral college vote. Their conduct likewise is nothing less than in insurrection or rebellion against the United States and are democratic form of government. They too should be removed expelled by the House and Senate and if not voted out of office by their constituents. What is so damn discussting is that there are way too many Senate Republicans that still defend Trump and will not likely vote to convict out of fear of his followers or even being retaliated against by Trump.

Fascist Trump needs to be convicted by the United States Senate so that Trump can be removed from office, lose his lifetime pension of $200,000, his $1 Million in yearly travel expenses. What is far more important, a conviction by the United State Senate mist include a vote to bar Trump from being able to run for office and barred from holding any office again in the United States.

The extent of the physical damage is to the United State Capitol is easily repaired. The damage to our democracy by Führer Trump and his coup d’é·tat that failed will take years to recover from.

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