Since day one after losing the 2020 Presidential election, Der Führer Former President Trump has claimed without evidence that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Trump has also periodically attacked former Vice President Mike Pence for certifying the Electoral College results on January 6, 2021, after hundreds of Trump supporters violently stormed the United States Capitol in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Biden as president and took over the House Chamber to stop of the process.

On January 29, 2022 “Der Führer” Trump angerly lashed out at a rally in Conroe, Texas against the ongoing criminal investigations in New York, Georgia and Washington. Trump went so far as to call on his supporters to stage mass protests if he is “mistreated” by prosecutors, ostensibly meaning if he is charged or indicted for crimes. Trump said:

“If these radical, vicious, racist prosecutors do anything wrong or illegal, I hope we are going to have in this country the biggest protest we have ever had in Washington, D.C, in New York, in Atlanta and elsewhere, because our country and our elections are corrupt.”

Trump also said he would “consider” pardoning defendants charged in connection with the January 6 , 2021 Capitol riot if he returns to the White House and said:

“Another thing we’ll do, and so many people have been asking me about it, if I run and if I win we will treat those people from January 6 fairly. … And if it requires pardons we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.”

DER FÜHRER TRUMP WANTED PENCE TO OVERTURN ELECTION

On January 30, Der Führer Trump issued an explicit public statement that his intent on January 6, 2021 was he wanted then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, making clear Trump’s goal was not to resolve disputes over electoral votes but to have Pence declare Trump the winner. Trump became angry after Republican Main Senator Susan Collins said on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos” that “ambiguities” in the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which governs the counting and the certification of the presidential vote, were “exploited” on January 6, 2021. Collins went on to say that lawmakers “need to prevent that from happening again.” Collins is leading a group of 16 senators on the reforms.

Der Führer Trump had this to say in a statement:

“If … Vice President [Mike Pence] had ‘absolutely no right’ to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan Collins, are desperately trying to pass legislation that will not allow the Vice President to change the results of the election? … Actually, what they are saying, is that Mike Pence did have the right to change the outcome, and they now want to take that right away. … Unfortunately, he didn’t exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!”

MIKE PENCE REBUKES DER FÜHRER TRUMP

On January 6, 2021, Trump urged Vice President Mike Pence to use his constitutionally mandated position overseeing the counting of the Electoral College votes in the Capitol on January 6, 2021 to stop Joe Biden’s victory from being officially certified. Trump wanted Pence to either reject states’ votes or send them back to be reconsidered. Pence refused, saying he did not believe he had the authority to do so.

The 2020 election certification was stopped when a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to scuttle the certification, including some who were chanting “KILL MIKE PENCE”. Outside the capitol gallows had been erected with Pence’s name on it.

Trump continued attacked Pence during the riot, tweeting:

“Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/president-trump-wrong-mike-pence-rejects-claim-overturned-election-rcna14952

On February 4, 2022 Former Vice President Mike Pence, while giving a speech at the ultra-conservative Federalist Society event in Florida sharply rebuked Trump for suggesting he had the ability to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Pence called the idea “un-American.” Pence speech was about the need for conservatives to remain true to the Constitution and reject efforts to consolidate power at the federal level.

Pence told the audience:

“I understand the disappointment so many feel about the last election. I was on the ballot. But whatever the future holds, I know we did our duty that day. The truth is, there’s more at stake than our party or our political fortunes. If we lose faith in the Constitution, we won’t just lose elections — we’ll lose our country.

Under the Constitution, I had no right to change the outcome of our election. And Kamala Harris will have no right to overturn the election when we beat them in 2024.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/592878-pence-breaks-with-trump-i-had-no-right-to-overturn-the-election

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/president-trump-wrong-mike-pence-rejects-claim-overturned-election-rcna14952

https://www.kob.com/national-news/gop-censures-cheney-kinzinger-moves-to-pull-out-of-debates/6380416/?cat=500

CHENEY AND KINZINGER CENSURED BY DER FÜHRER TRUMP REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

On February 4, 2022 the Republican National Committee (RNC) party, meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, enacted a resolution formally censuring US Republican Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. The resolution claims that the two lawmakers were “participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse” from their membership on the House select committee.

The Republican National Committee Resolution formally censures Cheney and Kinzinger and states in part that the Republican Party:

“shall immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party. … [Their behavior] has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the Conference.”

The resolution claimed Cheney and Kinzinger, the only Republicans on the nine-member select committee investigating the Capitol riot. The resolution states:

“[Cheney and Kinzinger] are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse, and they are both utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes.”

Ahead of the censure vote, Cheney fired off a strong statement slamming Republican leaders. Cheney had this to say:

“[Republican leaders] … have made themselves willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election. … “I do not recognize those in my party who have abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump. … History will be their judge.”

Kinzinger for his part accused his colleagues of allowing “conspiracies and toxic tribalism [to] hinder their ability to see clear-eyed.”

The inclusion of the language “legitimate political discourse” in the resolution drew immediate condemnation from Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney and she said in a tweet:

“This was January 6th … This is not ‘legitimate political discourse.'”

Cheney also tweeted a video depicting violent confrontations showing rioters violently clashing with police at the Capitol, spraying officers with chemical irritants, and attacking them with flagpoles and, in at least one instance, a hockey stick.

Cheney said the punitive measure marked “a sad day for the party of Lincoln.”

The House Select Committee has conducted interviews with close to 400 individuals. Those interviewed have included members of Trump’s inner circle to organizers who helped plan the “Stop the Steal” rally on the morning of January 6.

Cheney and Kinzinger have played significant roles in the House select committee’s probe of Trump’s activities before and during the riot at the Capitol last January. They are the only two Republicans on the committee resulting in condemnation of fellow Republican lawmakers and party officials who alleged they are enabling an unfair investigation led by congressional Democrats.

The move to censure Cheney and Kinzinger is the first time the Republican National party has censured an incumbent congressional Republican with a formal resolution backed by its members. When the resolution was introduced Friday to all 168 RNC members, it was described as a motion “to no longer support [Cheney and Kinzinger] as members of the Republican Party.”

Several Republicans, including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the 2012 presidential nominee, have criticized the motion to censure Cheney and Kinzinger. Both were among 10 House GOP lawmakers who voted to impeach Trump last year for his role in inciting the Capitol riot. Romney had this to say:

“Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol. Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost.”

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/politics/liz-cheney-adam-kinzinger-censure-rnc/index.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/04/rnc-censures-liz-cheney-adam-kinzinger-for-investigating-jan-6-pro-trump-riot.html

CHRIS CHRISTIE BREAKS WITH TRUMP

On February 6, Republican former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaking on ABC’s This Week broke sharply with Donald Trump and refuted Trump’s repeated assertion that Mike Pence had the authority as vice president to refuse the certification of Electoral College ballots from states where the Trump has made baseless claims of wide-scale election fraud. Christie sided with Mike Pence when he said:

“The actions the vice president took on January 6 spoke loudly, and I’m glad that he’s finally put words to it. I don’t know why it took him so long, but I’m glad that he did. … Let’s call this what it is. January 6 was a riot that was incited by Donald Trump in an effort to intimidate Mike Pence and the Congress into doing exactly what he said in his own words last week—overturn the election. “

With respect to the resolution that censured Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), Christy had this to say:

“This is just a majority of 168 people. And the RNC, most of those folks, were put into place over the course of the four years by Donald Trump. And so, it’s certainly Ronna Romney McDaniel is carrying water for Donald Trump in this regard. And so, let’s not make it bigger than it is.”

https://www.newsweek.com/chris-christie-rips-trumps-response-pences-jan-6-remarks-immature-1676604

https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/593026-christie-rnc-chair-carrying-water-for-donald-trump

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/chris-christie-riot-donald-trump-b2008821.html

MITCH McCONNEL AND OTHERS

On February 9, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized the Republican National Committee (RNC) for censuring Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. He also took sharp issue with the RNC suggesting that the January 6 Capitol riot was “legitimate political discourse.”

McConnell told reporters:

“It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next. … That’s what it was.”

McConnell also said:

“Traditionally, the view of the national party committees is that we support all members of our party, regardless of their positions on some issues. … The issue is whether or not the R.N.C. should be sort of singling out members of our party who may have different views of the majority. That’s not the job of the R.N.C.”

Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas put it this way:

“I don’t think you can kick out of the party everybody you disagree with, or it’s going to be a minority party.”

Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, the House Republican Conference chairwoman, had this to say:

“Republicans have been very clear, we condemn the violence on January 6. We also condemn the violence in 2020 as violent criminals attacked federal buildings including parts of Washington, D.C.”

Many Republican lawmakers have said that the censure needlessly divided the party ahead of a challenging set of elections shadowed on the Republican side by former President Donald Trump and his continued insistence on false claims about the 2020 election.

Links to quoted news sources are here

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/02/08/mcconnell-capitol-riot-violent-insurrection/6710131001/

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/us/politics/republicans-censure-mcconnell.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The fact that it took Mike Pence well over a year to take issue with Der Führer Trump is truly pathetic given that the rioters could very have easily killed him, not to mention other Senators and Congress people. Pence appears to have grown some degree of a backbone perhaps because he wants to be President himself. The enactment to the censure resolution establishes without question that Trump still has a strangle hold on the Republican Party.

On November 3, 2020, President Joe Biden was elected the 46 President of the United States. Biden won the popular vote securing 51.1% of the popular vote (79,693,395 votes) to President Donald Trump’s 47.2% of the popular vote (73,708,217). President Elect Biden also won the electoral college, securing 306 to 232 electoral votes.

President Biden won the electoral college by the exact same vote Trump won the electoral college over Hillary Clinton. When Trump won the electoral college and not the popular vote, he declared he had won by a “landslide” even though Clinton had won the popular vote by over 3 million votes. Not this time. Trump lost the popular vote by 6 million votes and the electoral college by 74 and by Trump’s own measure he lost in a landslide to Biden.

It is clear that Trump is the first fascist ever elected President of the United States who put himself above the law, his own country and his own party. Trump has no respect for our constitution nor free elections. His view is that the only votes that count are those that are cast form him, a lesson he probably learned from Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s strongest and closest allies and supporters need to come to their senses and the realization that Trump is a traitor to our 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. He and his supporters belong in jail, yet he continues to do whatever he can to undermine our free elections.

Simply put, “Der Führer Trump” is who he is: a fascist hell bent on destroying our democracy and the Republican party needs to change its name to the “Der Führer Trump” Party.

Rudolfo Carrillo is a native New Mexican and was the news and music editor at Weekly Alibi from August 2015 until March 2020, where he used the pen name “August March” to write about Albuquerque culture, history and politics. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico’s fine arts program. As well as being an award-winning writer, Carrillo is a painter and sculptor. His recent work was currently on exhibit at Six O Six Gallery at 606 Broadway Blvd. SW. Carrillo’s award-winning writing and analysis have been featured at international academic conferences and in notable literary journals as well as local media outlets like the Albuquerque Journal. In late February he will present work written for this site at the 43rd convocation of the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association. His latest creative writing can be read at Infinity Report with the link here: http://infinityreport.blogspot.com

EDITOR’S DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this guest article are those of Rudolfo Carrillo and do not necessarily reflect those of the political blog www.petedinelli.com. Mr. Carrillo was not compensated for his guest column.

“That’s All We’ve Got: Observations from a Pandemic Featuring a Small White Poodle

The Snowy Earth

As winter reaches its tipping point here at this desert outpost in the northern hemisphere of a planet known as Earth—check your handy Farmer’s Almanac, folks, Feb. 3 is smack in the middle of it all, perched halfway between a gloriously dark solstice and and enticingly bright equinox—it’s worth noting that our civilization of hairless apes is just about to enter year three of a global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a collection of proteins and ribonucleic acids that has already proven deadly to human life and economics.

Yesterday afternoon, I heard an old-timer at Ghetto Smith’s proclaim to the lone employee working the self-checkout, “It’ll never snow in this goddamn town again.” When friends of mine out on the other side of the Great Plains ask me what it’s like to have such warm weather this time of year, I tell them it is just like Mars; it hasn’t rained in ages. This morning when it finally started snowing, I was genuinely startled.

THE TROUBLES

Meanwhile, the high rate of violent crime in Albuquerque has persisted. Endemic poverty, addiction and ignorance—all supported by institutional racism and the carceral state—continue to take their toll, urging violence from the desperate and dispossessed as weary and law-abiding, though sometimes privileged citizens bear the weight of years of oppression, suppression and cultural mismanagement by the capitalist patriarchy.

I also started making art again, rejoining a community that I had sorely missed. I thought that small progress would mark my last 25 or so years with subtle meaning and inspiration.

A BANDIT AMONG US

But the thing that really changed me forever was the nearly two years I spent caring for an old dog that I named Bandit. He died a couple of weeks ago, and through his passing I came closer to realizing what was important about life than any of the tests, experiences or observations that I made sly comments above could ever equal.

I cared for Bandit as he declined through the fall and winter of 2021. At some point he grew frail and I had to carry him around, something that he liked quite a bit. But we both know the end was near and so each excursion into the yard, each feeding time or blanket time became a ritual of love and acceptance for both of us, I think.

PROFOUND BLINDNESS

When Bandit died, I felt empty and angry. I was angry at the animal rescue that had led us to him for being less involved in his health care than they originally promised. Raging against their lack of human compassion led nowhere; I believed that they were blind to their own random cruelty; they were enthralled by their supporters in the press who were aghast that anyone would criticize a local charity in such uncompromising terms.

I’m okay with all of that because without these sources of disappointment and conflict, without the situation’s own frailty—expressing itself through the whole process Bandit and I went through during a plague year and beyond—I would never have known this little soul, would never have had the opportunity learn again about the unconditional love, patience, kindness and loyalty an animal can engender in a human.

A REAL VISION

And in that great irony, in his untimely death in the teeth of a system that could not bear such beauty, there is hope for me. I hope that I will overcome my disdain for the sadness and disorder that fills up the world around me and which I described so archly at the beginning of these proceedings. I believe it will take positive, proactive decisions and actions from community members like me, who have a real voice, to improve the life and health of this city.

Put aside the sutras, the inky pages where you think the truth lies. Get out of the shelter and find your place in the new world even as snow—as white as Bandit’s beautiful coat—blankets the town for the first time in ages.

On February 1, 2022 New Mexico Political Reports published the following article entitled “Bills to address Yazzie/Martinez court ruling advance” written by reporter Robert Nott with the Santa Fe New Mexican:

“The House Education Committee approved a trio of bills to fund programs to help Native American students succeed in school.

In the Senate, three Democrats have filed Senate Memorial 12, which asks the state Public Education Department to develop a “comprehensive plan” to address the needs of the student groups tied to the Yazzie/Martinez case and then annually report to the Legislature about the plan.”

The link to the New Mexico Political Reports article is here:

https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2022/02/01/bills-to-address-yazzie-martinez-court-ruling-advance%ef%bf%bc/?mc_cid=21ff84b79b&mc_eid=d03b0979c3

YAZZIE V. STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND MARTINEZ REVISITED

On Friday, July 20, 2018, Santa Fe District Court Judge Sarah Singleton ruled in the case of Yazzie v. State of New Mexico and Governor Suzanna Martinez that the state of New Mexico was violating the constitutional rights of at-risk students by failing to provide them with a sufficient education. The District Court ruling came after a two-month trial that concluded in August, 2017. Nearly 80 witnesses testified during the bench trial.

The consolidated lawsuit was filed by the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The Plaintiffs argued that the New Mexico public schools are inadequately funded.

In a 75-page decision, the court rejected arguments by Governor Susana Martinez’s administration that the education system is improving and for that reason it does not need more funding. The Court found that the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) did not do the best it could with the funding it has given by the legislature to the education system.

The Court ruling centered on the guaranteed right under the New Mexico Constitution to a sufficient education for all children. The lawsuit alleged a severe lack of state funding, resources and services to help students, particularly children from low-income families, students of color, including Native Americans, English-language learners and students with disabilities.

BLISTERING COURT RULING

State District Judge Sarah Singleton pulled no punches with her decision.

The Judge found that it was clear that many New Mexico students were not receiving the basic education in reading, writing and math they should be receiving in our public-school system. As a matter of law, Judge Singleton wrote the “lack of funds is not a defense to providing constitutional rights.”
In her blistering written opinion, Judge Singleton wrote:

“[The evidence presented at trial] proves that the vast majority of New Mexico’s at-risk children finish each school year without the basic literacy and math skills needed to pursue post-secondary education or a career. … Indeed, overall New Mexico children rank at the very bottom in the country for educational achievement. … The at-risk students are still not attaining proficiency at the rate of non-at-risk students … and the programs being lauded by [the Public Education Department] are not changing this picture.”

According to the judge’s ruling, in New Mexico, at the time, 71.6% of the state’s public school students come from low-income families, and 14.4% are English-language learners. Further, 14.8 percent of students have disabilities, and 10.6 percent are Native American. Judge Singleton addressing proficiency rates for Native American students said that in the previous 3 years, those students’ reading proficiency was at 17.6% and their math proficiency was at 10.4%.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1200069/questions-surround-ruling-on-nm-education-funding.html

Judge Singleton faulted the lack of access to technology in rural districts. The Court also found that New Mexico does not have enough teachers and that New Mexico teachers are among the lowest paid in the country and stated:

“The evidence shows that school districts do not have the funds to pay for all the teachers they need. … [An example is] Gadsden, one of the better performing school districts in the state, has had to eliminate over 53 classroom positions and 15 essential teachers since 2008.”

Judge Singleton ruling addressed the state teacher evaluation system implemented by the Martinez Administration by saying:

“[The teacher evaluation system] may be contributing to the lower quality of teachers in high-need schools. … In general, punitive teacher evaluation systems that penalize teachers for working in high-need schools contribute to problems in this category of schools.”

The Court wrote that she was not persuaded by the Martinez Administration’s arguments that no new funding is needed because at-risk student performances are improving.

A spokeswoman for the state Public Education Department at the time announced that the State decided to appeal the ruling. However, soon after assuming office on January 1, 2018, Governor Lujan Grisham decided the state would not appeal the case, work to increase funding for public education and changes to the system but committed to an aggressive defense of the case to achieve a dismissal.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, provided the following statement after the court ruling:

“For too long, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and her administration have abandoned their responsibility to kids and public schools. This ruling confirms what parents and educators know—that New Mexico children are deprived of the essential resources, including qualified teachers and support staff, they need. This deprivation is especially severe for those at risk and in need of additional supports—English language learners, Native American students and those in poverty. The ruling also calls out the governor’s obsession with testing over teaching.”

“In New Mexico, it would take $228 million to get public school funding to what it was before the Great Recession, and average teacher pay in the state is nearly 10 percent lower than what it was in 2009. We call on the state to use this ruling as a long-overdue opportunity to overhaul its broken school funding system to ensure all New Mexico children are afforded the public education they deserve and are entitled to. Voters will be going to the polls in November to elect leaders committed to investing in public education.”

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/judge-rules-lack-of-sufficient-education-for-all-nm-students-violates-constitutional-rights/4997869/?cat=500

https://www.petedinelli.com/2018/07/23/governor-martinez-legacy-illiterate-children-and-a-pizza-party/

DENIAL OF MOTION TO DISMISS FILED REPUBLICAN MATINEZ ADMINISTRATION

On June 29, 2020 Santa Fe 1st Judicial District Judge Matthew Wilson denied the State of New Mexico’s “Motion to Dismiss” the public education case of Yazzie v. State of New Mexico.

The state’s attorney Taylor Rahn argued that the Public Education Department has met the court’s expectation to make substantial changes by an initial deadline. Rhan argued that the State increased public education funding to the extent that it makes up 46% of the state budget. State Attorney Rahn noted the legislature has increased at-risk funds substantially, teacher recruitment has been improved and major educational evaluation systems, such as teacher evaluations, have been improved. Rhan argued:
“The point of the injunction was to be a catalyst for change and that change has occurred. Continuing to exercise oversight for traditional executive and legislative functions is not required, because we got the message”.

Plaintiff’s Attorney Ernest Herrera, counsel for the Martinez plaintiffs, argued:

“Any of the state’s supposed fixes are really just promises to act. … Continuing jurisdiction of this court is necessary to ensure implementation. … This is about changing the system and not just about how much money is going into it.”

Judge Wilson agreed that the state’s Public Education Department has made significant progress since the 2018 ruling but said the court has yet to see long-term education reforms by the state. Judge Wilson ultimately agreed with the Plaintiffs contention that the state’s changes have not been enough. In deciding to deny the Motion to Dismiss, Judge Wilson ruled:

“The court agrees with the plaintiff’s counsel that to dismiss this action now while implementation and compliance are merely in their initial stages would undermine the years of work by this court and the parties and leave the children of New Mexico in an educational system that may be below constitutional standards”.

Judge Wilson also ruled that the plaintiffs’ counsel can investigate whether the state is complying with the judgment. Judge Wilson also denied a Plaintiff’s motion to require a detailed plan on implementation of changes to the state’s education system.

After the court’s denial to dismiss the case, Governor Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said the governor would work to continue improving New Mexico schools and further said:

“Just as she was prior to today’s ruling, the governor remains committed to a comprehensive restructuring and reform of New Mexico’s public education system that continues to address the systemic shortfalls outlined by the original lawsuit. ”

As a result of the court’s denial of the motion, the state’s Public Education Department was required to comply with an examination into what it is doing to ensure an adequate education for low-income families, students with disabilities, English-language learners and Native American students.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1471109/judge-denies-states-request-for-dismissal-in-education-lawsuit.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

After well over three and half years since the July 20, 2018 landmark ruling of Yazzie v. State of New Mexico and Governor Suzanna Martinez, it is long overdue that funding is now being provided in bills to fund programs to help Native American students succeed in school. The blunt truth is it will take years for the state to get on track, perhaps a decade or more to implement all the changes mandated.

The original court opinion was a confirmation of what went on for the full 8 years of the prior Republican Administration. Three and half years since the July 20, 2018 landmark is still not enough time to turn things around and pull the education car out of the ditch and make the necessary repairs.

The biggest accomplishments of the 2019 Legislative session were the dramatic increases in public education funding, creation of the Early Childhood Department (CYFD), the mandates to Children, Youth and Families and Public Education departments, not to mention raises for educators and increasing CYFD social workers by 125 were clearly the biggest accomplishments of the 2019 Legislative session.

The passage House bills 87, 88 and 90 providing more than $70 million to tribal entities to help offer culturally relevant lesson plans and access to virtual and after-school programs for those students will no doubt be a major step in bringing the state into compliance with the Yazzie v. State of New Mexico, Martinez landmark ruling.

On Tuesday, February 1, candidates for federal and state offices filed their required paperwork with the New Secretary of State’s Office to seek their respective party nomination on the June 7 primary election. On the June 7 primary ballot will be the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor , Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Auditor and all 3 of New Mexico’s Congressional races with newly drawn congressional districts.

This blog article is a report on those who have been identified as qualifying for the June primary.

GOVERNORS RACE

Not surprising, only incumbent Governor Mitchell Lujan Grisham filed for the Democratic nomination for Governor seeking her second term. However, the number of candidates running for the New Mexico “Der Führer” Republican Party nomination went from 7 to 5 candidates.

DEMOCRAT INCUMBENT GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

Governor Lujan Grisham (61) was born and raised in New Mexico. Lujan Grisham previously served as the U.S. representative for New Mexico’s 1st congressional district from 2013 to 2019. Lujan Grisham served as the state Secretary of Health from 2004 to 2007 and as Bernalillo County commissioner from 2010 to 2012. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. In 2016, Lujan Grisham was selected as the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She won the Democratic nomination for governor of New Mexico in 2018 and defeated Republican Steve Pearce on November 6, 2018 in a landslide.

Lujan Grisham’s priorities during her first term have been dealing with the Corona Virus pandemic, public education reform, funding from K thorough 12 and college education funding, rebuilding the state’s mental health care system destroyed by her predecessor, creation of the “Early Childhood Department”, revitalization and funding of the “Children Youth and Family Department”, increase funding for law enforcement to deal with crime and enactment of anti crime measures just to mention a few.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR

Virtually all 5 of the Republican candidates for Governor are right wing conservatives. All 5 have the same philosophy of government as former President Trump and State Republican Party Chairman Steve Pierce. Those filing for the New Mexico “Der Führer” Trump Republican Party nomination for Governor are the following 5:

1. FORMER KRQE METEOROLOGIST MARK RONCHETTI

On October 27, TV Personality and KRQE weatherman Mark Ronchetti announced he is running for Governor. Ronchetti ran for United States Senator in 2020 and lost to Ben Ray Lujan. Ronchetti has already hired Republican political consultant Jay McCleskey who is known for his slash and burn tactics and defamation of candidates. There is no doubt that Ronchetti knows New Mexico as long as it’s on a green screen. It’s likely an inaccurate forecast that he will be elected Governor with absolutely no knowledge as to how government works.

2. REPUBLICAN NEW MEXICO STATE REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA DOW

On July 7, three term Republican State Representative Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences announced that she is running for the Republican nomination for Governor. In her announcement, she vowed to address “hard truths” related to the state’s high unemployment rate, low education rankings and chronic child welfare issues. She is a former early child care professional. Dow in her announcement immediately attacked Governor Lujan Grisham and described the governor as a “power hungry” career politician whose policies have hurt New Mexico and said:

“As a state, we have never experienced more dire conditions than we are currently struggling through right now.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2415471/sanche-zjoins-gop-field-for-governor.html

One hard truth that Dow no doubt wants to forget about is that on January 13, 2022 it was reported that the ethics charges filed against Dow with the New Mexico Ethics Commission are going forward after “probable cause” was found to support the allegations that Dow violated state laws on financial disclosure and governmental conduct.

According to District Court pleadings filed, the New Mexico Ethics Commission last year subpoenaed Dow’s financial records and scheduled her deposition which is allowed under the law. Dow contested the agency’s demand for her sworn testimony. The Ethics Commission went to court to enforce the subpoena. The ethics commission secured a court order from State District Court Judge James T. Martin of the 3rd Judicial District compelling Dow to produce the financial documents and appear for her deposition. Dow refused to comply with the court order, did not produce the financial documents and failed to appear for her scheduled deposition. The Ethics Commission went back to court to get a court order.

In August, State District Court Judge James T. Martin issued another order finding Dow in Contempt of Court and making findings that Dow violated the earlier court order by failing to appear at a scheduled deposition and not producing financial documents that had been subpoenaed by the Ethics Commission. Judge Martin found that the failure to produce the documents and to appear for the deposition “lacks a justification.” Judge Martin ordered fines of $50 a day until she complied with the court order for a deposition. According to the court filings, Dow paid $4,115. The amount paid included reimbursing the State Ethics Commission for costs incurred when she did not appear at the scheduled deposition.

The link to full Albuquerque Journal article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2460915/documents-dow-failed-to-obey-court-order-in-ethics-case-ex-im-not.html

3. FORMER REPUBLICAN BERNALILLO COUNTY CHAIR AND FINANCIAL ADVISER GREG ZANETTI

On June 14, Republican Greg Zanetti announced his campaign. Zanetti is a former Bernalillo County Republican Chairman and a former New Mexico National Guard Brigadier General who now works in the business of “wealth management.”

Zanetti has said in the past that he does not intend to get vaccinated for covid and has yet to say if he has since been vaccinated. On February 2, it was reported that U.S. soldiers who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine will be immediately discharged, saying the move was critical to maintain combat readiness. The Army’s order applies to regular Army soldiers, active-duty Army reservists and cadets unless they have approved or pending exemptions. All of the U.S. military services have now begun disciplinary actions and discharges for troops who have refused to get the mandated coronavirus vaccine with as many as 20,000 unvaccinated forces at risk of being removed from service. Former Brigadier General Zanetti needs to disclose it he would have carried out orders to have his troops vaccinated or be discharged from the New Mexico National Guard.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-military-troops-discharged/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-discharge-soldiers-who-refuse-covid-19-vaccine-2022-02-02/

With respect to Governor Lujan Grisahm, Zanetti had this to say:

“We had this autocratic governor come down and impose all these rules where we shut down businesses, locked down the kids, we shut the state down, and as the facts changed and we learned more about COVID, she didn’t adjust.”

Surprisingly, Republican conservative Zanetti is trying to distance himself from Der Führer former president Donald Trump and said:

“This isn’t about Donald Trump. It’s not about one person, it’s about a bigger message.”

Ostensibly, Zanetti did not get the memo from New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Steve Pierce that the Republican Party in the state and nationally are very much in lock step with Der Führer Trump.

It is so damn laughable that Zanetti calls Lujan Grisham an “autocratic governor” who imposes and enforces rules. Zanetti is a retired New Mexico National Guard Brigadier General and he will likely bring his personal version of being an “autocratic governor” to Santa Fe. Brigadier General’s give out orders and demand that those orders be followed or suffer the consequences.

The biggest perception that Zanetti is going to find difficult to overcome is that it is very doubtful to believe that a “wealth manager” will understand the needs and concerns of the average New Mexican, many which live in poverty and live pay check to pay check on the minimum wage, something Zanetti opposes to increasing.

4. REPUBLICAN SANDOVAL COUNTY COMMISSIONER JAY BLOCK

On April 18, 2021 Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block announced he is running for the Republican nomination for Governor. Block is a retired lieutenant colonel who spent 21 years in the Air Force and moved to Rio Rancho in 2015. Block has fully aligned himself with former President Der Führer Donald Trump, even though Trump has disparaged the military and called those who served and died in World War II losers. In his announcement he said he is in favor of defunding abortion services and restoring qualified immunity for police officers. In his announcement video Block said:

“This is a movement of shared values. … It’s time Michelle Lujan Grisham is out of office so we can start a new era of prosperity for New Mexicans.”

Block got downright nasty with his remarks about the Governor when he said:

“Michelle is proud of where New Mexico stands today. Michelle is proud New Mexico ranks last in education. Michelle is proud New Mexico ranks first in child poverty.”

What Block is very ignorant about is exactly why New Mexico ranks last in education and first in child poverty. Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham inherited both from her Republican predecessor Susana Martinez. Over 8 years, Martinez destroyed the state’s public education system resulting in the land mark decision Yazzie vs Martinez mandating sweeping reforms now costing millions to repair our public education system. Martinez made cuts in child care assistant programs with the cuts making things even worse for children living in poverty.

Yazzie v Martinez was brought by a coalition of parents, students, lawmakers and others in 2014 and charged New Mexico had not done enough to address the needs of Native Americans, English-language learners, disabled and low-income students and that children were deprived the constitutional right to a basic education. As a result of the State Court ruling, the 2019 legislature approved a whopping $3.2 Billion public education budget, a 16% increase over the previous year’s budget, out of the total state budget of $7 Billion. Included in the budget was a $500 million in additional funding for K-12 education and increases in teacher pay. The 2022 legislature is increasing funding for education and teacher pay even more and by millions. In particular more than $70 million in spending is pending in the 2022 session to tribal entities to help offer culturally relevant lesson plans and access to virtual and after-school programs for those students.

Under former Republican Governor Susana Martinez, the Children’s, Youth and Family’s Department budgets were slashed, hundreds of social worker positions that dealt with child abuse cases went unfilled, abused children fell through the cracks and youth programs were eliminated that acted as a safety net, all for the cause of resisting tax increases which Republicans always oppose even for critical essential services. Republicans always advocate the slashing of budgets and reducing the size of government to avoid any and all tax increases, even if for essential services.

A major priority of Governor Lujan Grisham was the creation of a new “Early Childhood Department” that commenced on January 1, 2020. The new department focuses state resources on children from birth to 5 years of age. A major goal of the new department, coupled with other investments, will be more New Mexico children growing up to secure gainful employment as adults who don’t require government services.

Block should not be “proud”, to use his word, when he makes a fool of himself on the issues of child education and child welfare issues, things he knows absolutely nothing about.

https://www.koat.com/article/race-for-governor-of-new-mexico-heating-up/36974820

5. REPUBLICAN ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVIST ETHEL ROSE MAHARG

To quote Maharg’s web page promoting her candidacy for Governor:

“Ethel Rose Maharg is running for Governor to breathe life into New Mexico. Ethel is pro-life, without exception, from conception to natural death. And, she wears it like a badge of honor, it is who she is. Ethel believes in LIFE. Ethel believes that to breathe LIFE into New Mexico we must capitalize on our strengths. No one wants to bring a new business with good jobs to a state where politicians and elected officials complain about being at the top of the bad lists. It’s time for bold leadership. Bold leadership that is willing to make the right decision, not the popular or political decision. Bold leadership that understands the challenges everyday New Mexicans face. Bold leadership that will fight everyday for New Mexico. Bold leadership that will breathe LIFE into New Mexico.”

https://mahargforgovernor.com/

It is more likely than not that the United States Supreme Court will reverse in June the landmark case of Roe v. Wade setting aside a woman’s right to choose and leaving it up to the individual states to decide the issue. Last year, the New Mexico legislature repealed the New Mexico law making abortion a crime. If Roe v. Wade is in fact reversed, you can expect a Governor Ethel Maharg to advocate making abortion a crime in New Mexico and providing “bold leadership” back into the dark ages of woman’s rights and not caring if abortions are performed with a coat hanger, which should be her campaign lapel pin.

STATE PARTY CHAIRS REACT TO GOVERNOR CANDIDATES

New Mexico Der Führer” Trump Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce, who lost to Governor Lujan Grisham four years ago in a landslide, said any of the Republican candidates can beat Lujan Grisham in the November 8 general election and said:

“This governor has damaged New Mexico’s economy, its businesses and its education system. … We need strong conservative leadership, and we are confident that we will see a Republican in the governor’s office next year.”

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Jessica Velasquez said Lujan Grisham is in strong position to win reelection and had this to say:

“None of the GOP candidates for governor have a plan to lead New Mexico and instead of offering up concrete policy proposals, they continue to pander to extremists with empty rhetoric.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2466468/5-republicans-seek-nomination-to-challenge-lujan-grisham.html

OTHER OFFICE FILINGS

The other offices on the June primary are as follows:

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Democrat Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, and educator, is the only Democrat who filed for Lieutenant Governor seeking a second term. He and Governor Lujan Grisham will run as a team ticket.

Democrat Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, 43, was born and raised in New Mexico and is from Silver City. Morales was an educator at Grant County public schools before entering politics. From 1995 to 2000, Morales was a special education teacher in Silver City. From 2000 to 2005, he was the special education and transition coordinator for the Cobre School District. Morales was later an educator/administrator at Gila Regional Medical Center. Morales is a long-serving volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Grant County.

As a State Senator, Morales served in the New Mexico Legislature on the Legislative Finance Committee for 11 years. Morales sponsored legislation to create a universal, state-level single-payer healthcare system for New Mexico.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howie_Morales

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR LUIUTENANT GOVERNOR

There are 3 Republicans identified as running for the nomination of Lieutenant Governor and they are:

1. Former Republican Land Commissioner Pat Lyons.

Pat Lyons is a former chairman and commissioner of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. During his 2003-2011 tenure as Land Commissioner, Lyons faced criticism after he orchestrated a swap of 7,205 acres of state trust land in White Peak, an area highly valued by hunters, for 3,330 acres of a fellow rancher’s land. Sportsmen roundly criticized the deal, pointing out that it put prime hunting land off-limits, and after the state attorney general investigated, the Supreme Court ruled the swap illegal in 2010. A 2010 audit by the New Mexico Auditor’s Office found that Lyons’ Land Office had mismanaged or wasted millions of dollars of taxpayer funds. In his 2018 campaign for another term as Commissioner of Public Lands, Lyons used a list of Land Office lessees from his time in office to solicit donations from them, which drew allegations that such appeals invited the risk of special favors to lessees Lyons would be in charge of regulating if he were elected. A significant portion of Lyons’ campaign funding came from the oil and gas industry, and Chevron paid $2 million to a mostly oil-funded PAC that supports Lyons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_H._Lyons

2. APS School Board two term member Peggy Muller Aragon

Muller-Aragon is a member of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education in New Mexico, representing District 2. Muller-Aragon assumed office in 2015. Muller-Aragon’s current term ends on December 31, 2023. Muller-Aragon ran in a special election to the U.S. House to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District. Muller-Aragon withdrew before the special Republican convention on March 27, 2021. Muller-Aragon was first elected to the school board on February 3, 2015, after defeating former incumbent Kathy Korte. Muller-Aragon was the target of a recall effort in September 2015, but the petition to recall her was withdrawn due to lack of legal representation. At issue was her participation in a unanimous vote to buyout former Superintendent Luis Valentino’s contract amidst a number of controversies. She was also accused of refusing to listen to her constituents and instead answering to New Mexico Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.

https://ballotpedia.org/Peggy_L._Muller-Aragon

3. Former Doña Ana County Commissioner Isabella Solis.

Solis was elected as a Democrat to the District 4 seat on the county commission in 2016, but switched party affiliations and became a Republican in 2019, weeks after she lost a bid for Las Cruces mayor.

https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2021/10/06/isabella-solis-announces-run-lieutenant-governor-new-mexico/6021464001/

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Two Democrat Candidates for Attorney General have filed and will be running against each other for the nomination. They are first term New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colon and Second term Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez. Colon was elected Auditor to a 4-year term in 2016 and decided not to run for a second term while District Attorney Raul Torrez was elected to a second 4-year term in 2020.

Gallup-based attorney Jeremy Michael Gay is seeking the Republican nomination for Attorney General.

STATE TREASURER

There are 2 Democrats and 1 Republican seeking their party’s nominations for State Treasurer and the candidates are:

Democrat and former two term Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya, 44, is running State Treasurer to succeed Democrat State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg who is now in his second term and cannot run for reelection this year.

Democrat Heather Benavidez, a former municipal and magistrate judge who oversees state treasury programs including investment and savings accounts for people with disabilities. She has been endorsed by State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg.

Republican Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya is seeking the GOP nomination for State Treasurer.

STATE AUDITOR

There are two Democrats running for New Mexico State Auditor.

On June 20, 2021, Democrat Zack Quintero, 30, a UNM law school graduate, announced he is running for State Auditor. He is New Mexico’s State Ombudsman and he ran for Albuquerque City Council and narrowly lost the runoff in 2019 to incumbent Isaac Benton.

Democrat New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner,Joseph Maestas, 60, is also running for State Auditor. Maestas is serving on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission which will change from a 5 person elected commission to a 5 member governor-appointed board in 2023. Maestas has served on the Española City Council, as mayor of Española and as a Santa Fe city councilor. He lost a previous run for the Public Regulation Commission and an attempt three years ago to become Santa Fe’s mayor.

No Republican nor Independant has filed to run for State Auditor and therefore the winner of the Democratic Party nomination on June 6 will become the next State Auditor by default.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/prc-commissioner-former-ombudsman-running-for-new-mexico-state-auditor/article_47c8ac1e-e967-11eb-8b30-abf2f31a1b95.html

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES

Those who have filed for New Mexico’s 3 Congressional seats are as follows:

DISTRICT ONE

Newly drawn Congressional District 1st covers much of the eastern party of Albuquerque, most of Rio Rancho, the East Mountains and a part of Roswell.

Democrat United States Representative Melanie Stansburyis running unopposed for her first full term. Stansbury is a former Albquerquerqu area state representative who replace congresswoman Debra Haaland when she was appointed Secretary of the Interior. Stanbury won a special election last June.

There are 4 Republican running to oppose Stansbury and they are:

1. Michelle Garcia Holmes who is a retired APD police officer. Garcia Holmes ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2018 and lost a run for Congress in 2020 to Deb Haaland, before Haaland’s appointment as U.S. secretary of interior. She also ran for Mayor in 2017.

2. Louie Sanchez, a salesman and investor who first announce he was running for Governor and is now running for congress. Sanchez owns a firearms store and shooting range and is NOT the Albuquerque westside city councilor of the same name just elected to the City Council on November 2, 2021.

3. Nurse practitioner Jacquelyn Reeve.

4. City planner Joshua Taylor Neal also are seeking the GOP nomination in the First District.

DISTRICT TWO

District 2 was the entire southern New Mexico but was redrawn to include much of the Albuquerque West Side, South Valley and parts of the Barelas neighborhood in addition to southern parts of New Mexico.

Republican Representative Yvette Herrell of Alamogordo is unopposed for the New Mexico Der Führer Trump Republican Party nomination. She is a staunch supporter of “Der Führer” Trump and has yet to concede that President Joe Biden was elected in 2020.

Democrat Las Cruces City Councilor Gabe Vasquez and Darshan Patel, a physician who works in Lea County, are seeking the Democratic nomination in the 2nd Congressional District.

DISTRICT THREE

District 3 was the entire northern portion of New Mexico but was redrawn to include stretches from Farmington and Santa Fe and into the conservative oil patch south east portions of New Mexico including Hobbs.

First term Democrat US Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez is unopposed in the primary.

The Republican candidates are Alexis Martinez Johnson, an oil and gas engineer living in Santa Fe, and Jerald Steve McFall, a farmer from Angel Fire.

Alexis Martinez Johnson lost to Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez two years ago. Republican Jerald Steve McFall lost to Democrat Ben Ray Lujan, Jr.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2022-02-01/new-mexico-congresswomen-governor-await-challengers

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

With the candidates filing their necessary nominating petitions and filing of the necessary paper work for the June primary with the Secretary of State, the 2022 midterm elections have officially begun.

Select your candidates, get involved, donate if possible and please vote.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, 49, suffered a stroke on Thursday, January 27, underwent brain surgery and is expected to fully recover. According to a statement issued by his office, Luján experienced dizziness and fatigue early Thursday morning and checked himself in to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe. He then was later transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.

The link to the full statement is here:

https://www.lujan.senate.gov/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-hospitalization/

Lujan was diagnosed with a stroke in the cerebellum which is located in the back of the brain affecting his balance. “Decompressive” surgery was performed to relieve pressure on the brain. Very little more was given by UNM Hospital because of federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) rules governing privacy rights of patients.

THE DOCTORS GIVE THEIR TAKE

KOAT 7 health expert Dr. Barry Ramo had this to say:

“In the spectrum of strokes, this is an unusual type of stroke. The cerebellum is a fundamental structure in the brain. It has to do with coordination has to do with vision, has to do with speech has to do with movement. … The recovery time depends on how much damage has occurred as a consequence of the stroke. … There are many things in Senator Luján’s favor. One is his youth, and he’s otherwise been healthy. The fact that they did the surgery, and the surgeon feels that he’s going to have full recovery is excellent news.”

https://www.koat.com/article/us-senator-ben-ray-lujan-hospitalized-stroke/38954454

Dr. Pierre Fayad , the chief of the vascular neurology and stroke program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said patients generally recover well from strokes in the cerebellum. Fayad had this to say:

“Barring complications such as infection or bleeding … recovery can take from a few weeks to a couple of months. There may be a need for acute rehabilitation to restore balance and brain functions. … Hospitalization may last a week to 10 days, but … every case is different. … [A patient recovering] could have some balance issues, but overall, damage to the cerebellum can be quite forgiving. … The severity of the damage is affected by the size of the injury, the location, the kind of stroke and other factors. … There can also be swallowing and vision problems and weakness in facial movement.”

According to Dr. Fayad, the surgery is performed on the back of the head to relieve potential pressure on the brain. Typically, a piece of the skull is removed and damaged brain area will also be taken out if necessary. The surgery reduces swelling to prevent the impact of compression on the brain. Dr. Fayad said barring complications such as infection or bleeding, recovery can take from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the need for rehabilitation to restore balance and brain functions.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/u-s-sen-ben-ray-luj-n-suffers-stroke/article_32cf7308-83a2-11ec-b4c6-53d25e89f100.html

Adán Serna, a spokesman for Senator Luján said he has been able to talk with staff and he hasn’t suffered any paralysis or loss of speech.

Links to other quoted news source material are here:

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/sen-ben-ray-lujan-hospitalized-with-discovered-stroke-/6376916/?cat=500

https://www.abqjournal.com/2466367/u-s-sen-ben-ray-lujan-undergoes-surgery-following-stroke.html

IMPACT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S NATIONAL AGENDA

National news outlets were quick to report Senator Lujan’s hospitalization mainly because it could have a major impact on President Joe Biden’s national agenda. Proxy voting is not allowed in the United Sates Senate, which is evenly split, with 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats who are joined in caucus by two independents and with Vice President Kamala Harris who would vote in case of any tie. Luján’s absence will have an immediate impact if he’s not able to return in time for any votes.

The most immediate impact of Lujan’s absence from the Senate is Biden’s appointment for the replacement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer who has announced his retirement. Biden has already begun the vetting process to find a nominee and has said he will nominate the very first black woman to the United States Supreme Court. At least 12 woman are under consideration. Biden has said he will announce his nomination by the end of February. An extensive illness and recovery time could hinder Luján’s role in the appointment of a new justice.

On January 26, Luján release a statement on the retirement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Luján encouraged the U.S. Senate “to move swiftly in confirming a new Supreme Court justice that reflects the full diversity of our nation, and I look forward to working with President Biden to do so.”

Get well soon Senator Ben Ray Luján Jr, and best wishes.

NEWS UPDATE

It is being reported that Senator Ben Ray Luján will not be back to work in Washington for at least 4 weeks, throwing President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court pick and lagging legislative agenda in doubt. Routine Senate business is already being rearranged as the Senate Commerce Committee announced it would be postponing consideration of some of Biden’s executive branch nominees because the panel, on which Luján is a member, needs all Democrats for the votes.

https://www.kob.com/news/with-one-senator-absent-biden-and-democrats-agenda-at-risk/6377877/?cat=500

January 29, 2022 it was widely reported by numerous national news agencies that “Der Führer” former President Donald Trump angerly lashed out at a rally in Conroe, Texas against the ongoing criminal investigations in New York, Georgia and Washington. Trump went so far as to call on his supporters to stage mass protests if he is “mistreated” by prosecutors, ostensibly meaning if he is charged or indicted for crimes. Trump said:

“If these radical, vicious, racist prosecutors do anything wrong or illegal, I hope we are going to have in this country the biggest protest we have ever had in Washington, D.C, in New York, in Atlanta and elsewhere, because our country and our elections are corrupt.”

Trump also said he would “consider” pardoning defendants charged in connection with the January 6 , 2021 Capitol riot if he returns to the White House and said:

“Another thing we’ll do, and so many people have been asking me about it, if I run and if I win we will treat those people from January 6 fairly. … And if it requires pardons we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.”

FBI ASSISTANCE REQUESTED

On Sunday, January 30, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis who’s investigating whether Donald Trump and others broke the law by trying to pressure Georgia officials to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential election victory, asked the FBI for security help after Trump lashed out. Willis wrote a letter to the FBI office in Atlanta asking for a risk assessment of the county courthouse, where her office is located, and government center. She also asked the FBI to provide protective resources, “to include intelligence and federal agents.”

Willis last year opened an investigation into any potential attempts to improperly influence the 2020 general election in Georgia by Trump and his associates. A special grand jury is set to be seated May 2.

In her letter to the FBI, Willis wrote:

“My staff and I will not be influenced or intimidated by anyone as this investigation moves forward. … I am asking that you immediately conduct a risk assessment of the Fulton County Courthouse and Government Center, and that you provide protective resources to include intelligence and federal agents. … It is imperative that these resources are in place well in advance of the convening of the Special Purpose Grand Jury. … We must work together to keep the public safe and ensure that we do not have a tragedy in Atlanta similar to what happened at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

FBI spokesperson Jenna Sellitto confirmed receipt of the letter and said the agency supports local, state and federal and local law enforcement agencies to maintain public safety and said in part:

“Our efforts are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity. … As we do in the normal course of business, we are gathering information to identify any potential threats and are sharing that information with our partners.”

Wyoming Republican US Rep. Liz Cheney, the who is vice chair of the select House committee investigating events surrounding the January 6 2021 riot, in a tweet on January 31 blasted Trump for his rhetoric and said this.

“Trump uses language he knows caused the Jan 6 violence; suggests he’d pardon the Jan 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy; threatens prosecutors; and admits he was attempting to overturn the election. … He’d do it all again if given the chance.”

Republican South Carolina United States Senator Lindsey Graham, normally a staunch supporter of all that is Trump, called his suggestion of pardons for the January 6 defendants “inappropriate” and said on CBS’s “Face the Nation”:

“No, I don’t want to send any signal that it was okay to defile the Capitol. … There are other groups with causes that may want to go down to the violent path that these people get pardoned.”

Republican Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire also said on CNN’s “State of the Union” he doesn’t think the January 6 capitol rioters should be pardoned and said:

“Folks that were part of the riots and frankly the assault on the U.S. Capitol have to be held accountable. There is a rule of law.”

The links to quoted source material are here:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-suggests-he-might-pardon-jan-6-defendants-if-he-n1288218

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/30/politics/fulton-county-da-fbi-letter/index.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/31/atlanta-da-fani-willis-asks-fbi-for-security-help-after-trump-calls-for-protest.html

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-georgia-fb-security-help-48a4d34e5f84b7d878334b21e7fe66ca

“DER FÜHRER” TRUMP REVEALS HE WANTED PENCE TO OVERTURN BIDENS ELECTION

On January 29, Der Führer Trump issued an explicit public statement that his intent on January 6, 2021 was he wanted then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, making clear Trump’s goal was not to resolve disputes over electoral votes but to have Pence declare Trump the winner. Trump became angry after Republican Main Senator Susan Collins said on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos” that “ambiguities” in the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which governs the counting and the certification of the presidential vote, were “exploited” on January 6, 2021. Collins went on to say that lawmakers “need to prevent that from happening again.” Collins is leading a group of 16 senators on the reforms.

Der Führer Trump had this to say in a statement:

“If … Vice President [Mike Pence] had ‘absolutely no right’ to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan Collins, are desperately trying to pass legislation that will not allow the Vice President to change the results of the election? … Actually, what they are saying, is that Mike Pence did have the right to change the outcome, and they now want to take that right away. … Unfortunately, he didn’t exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!”

Trump’s claims that bipartisan efforts to reform the law proves that vice presidents have the power to overturn elections is simply another lie to promote Trump’s big lie that the 2020 election was rigged and that he won it. Constitutional experts told ABC News that what Trump and his allies sought was to expand the role of the vice president beyond ceremonial and to have Pence essentially disregard millions of Americans’ votes.

Rebecca Green, co-director of the election law program at William and Mary Law School, also told ABC News:

“There has never been the kind of pressure that Mike Pence experienced on Jan. 6, 2021, before. … [It] would be extremely illogical for the system to instill that much power in sitting vice presidents, particularly since sitting vice presidents are so regularly on the presidential ballot.”

The links to quoted source material are here:

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-suggests-pence-overturned-2020-election/story?id=82581412

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-mike-pence-overturn-election-1674410

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-suggests-pence-overturned-2020-election/story?id=82581412

DER FÜHRER TRUMP WANTED VOTING MACHINES SIEZED

The New York Times reported that then-President Donald Trump was directly involved in efforts to use national security agencies to seize voting machines after his 2020 election loss. Trump went so as to press his lawyer Rudy Giuliani to make inquiries while Trump advisers drafted two versions of a related executive order.

The New York Times cited 3 people familiar with the matter. According to the Times, reported Trump directed Rudy Giuliani to call the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to determine whether it could legally take control of voting machines in key swing states.

That effort came amid 2 previously reported attempts to seize the machines. Trump’s outside advisers pressed to have the Defense Department confiscate the voting machines and Trump also asked Attorney General Bill Barr whether the Justice Department could take them.

According to the Times, Trump brought up the prospect of the Justice Department seizing voting machines during a November meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr. Trump reportedly told Barr that his lawyers told him the machines could be seized, but Barr immediately rejected the suggestion.

“During a Dec. 18 Oval Office meeting the Times described as “dramatic,” disgraced general Michael Flynn and conspiracy-pushing lawyer Sidney Powell reportedly presented Trump with a draft of an executive order instructing the military to seize the machines. Trump summoned Rudy Giuliani, who said the military had no grounds to seize them, because, again, there was no actual proof of any significant election fraud. Trump ultimately sided with Giuliani.”

“Trump was intrigued by the idea of the Department of Homeland Secuity seizing the machines, after plots to have the Justice Department and the military seize them had been nixed. Trump asked Giuliani to call up the department’s acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli to see if the DHS could indeed commandeer the state-run machines. He did so, and the answer was no.”

Both the New York Times and CNN reported Trump’s advisers drafted a second version of an executive order directing the DHS to take control of voting equipment. The first version, reported last month by Politico, called on the Defense Department to take the machines.

Links to quoted news source material are here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/us/politics/donald-trump-election-results-fraud-voting-machines.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-pushed-government-seize-voting-machines-1293232/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-directly-involved-plans-seize-voting-machines-reports-2022-02-01/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

On November 3, 2020, President Joe Biden was elected the 46 President of the United States. Biden won the popular vote securing 51.1% of the popular vote (79,693,395 votes) to President Donald Trump’s 47.2% of the popular vote (73,708,217). President Elect Biden also won the electoral college, securing 306 to 232 electoral votes.

President Biden won the electoral college by the exact same vote Trump won the electoral college over Hillary Clinton. When Trump won the electoral college and not the popular vote, he declared he had won by a “landslide” even though Clinton had won the popular vote by over 3 million votes. Not this time. Trump lost the popular vote by 6 million votes and the electoral college by 74 and by Trump’s own measure he lost in a landslide to Biden.

It is clear that Trump is the first fascist ever elected President of the United States who put himself above the law, his own country and his own party. Trump has no respect for our constitution nor free elections. His view is that the only votes that count are those that are cast form him, a lesson he probably learned from Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s strongest and closest allies and supporters need to come to their senses and the realization that Trump is a traitor to our 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. He and his supporters belong in jail, yet he continues to do whatever he can to undermine our free elections.

Simply put, “Der Führer Trump” is who he is: a fascist hell bent on destroying our democracy.

A link to a related blog article is here:

Der Führer Trump’s Failed January 6, 2021 Coup d’é·tat Remembered; President Joe Biden Denounces Trump As Threat To Democracy