This week I pulled out of my mailbox a video entitled Obsession. Apparently, it's being sent to every registered voter in swing states. It is a series of clips of anti-Islamic-related material, and the purpose of it is to engender mindless and irrational fear. Produced and paid for by the Clarion Project, this month alone, 28 million videos have been distributed.

Clarion is a 501(c)3 ( think SwiftBoating), and is legally prohibited from endorsing a candidate, even by implication. This video is clearly being used to influence a political campaign, and is now the subject of a lawsuit. Clarion had to remove an endorsement of McCain from its Web site. At the end of the video, it is stated, "Use this as your voting guide when you go into the voting booth on election day." I will. I will vote for real change, against lying, hatemongering John McCain.




At last I understand what a "community organizer" is. Barack Obama worked as a community organizer for the organization ACORN. His job was to train people to shake down and intimidate banking executives to give favorable loans to otherwise unqualified applicants. This practice contributed to the current financial meltdown we are experiencing. Your average New Mexican letter writer may be looking forward to the promised Marxist utopia under Obama, but I and most Americans aren't.




On Sept. 18, Sen. Barack Obama made a historic and successful visit to Española. Northern New Mexico is a pivotal area in a battleground state that may determine the outcome of this high-stakes election. Despite a very warm day and long wait, Obama did not disappoint. His remarks before a crowd of 10,000-plus were about the unfolding financial crisis.

He also sent a message to Northern New Mexico and Hispanic voters at large — "Flex your muscles"! In other words, get out and vote your numbers. Great message! I was very proud to host this memorable event and provide a brief welcome. I want to thank our city staff who helped prepare our city for the event; all law-enforcement agencies that provided security; emergency personnel who responded to almost 40 heat-related medical situations; and the Obama campaign team. Que viva Obama!




Chris Rock really cut to the chase when he stated on CNN: "It's simple, vote for the guy with one house." Barack Obama owns one house and one car, but according to Newsweek, John McCain owns at least seven houses and 13 cars.

Why does it matter? It matters because I don't want a president so far removed from the lives of ordinary people that he thinks our economy is basically sound. I don't want a president with seven houses who has voted seven times against raising the minimum wage.

I don't want a president who thinks it's OK to subsidize big oil companies or send American jobs overseas or allow corporations to shelter billions of tax dollars in Bermuda.

I don't want a president who owns 13 cars but refuses to support a G.I. bill for the heroes who have risked their lives in the war he voted for.




In his Sept. 30 column, "'Flex muscles?' C'mon Obama, lend an ear," Orlando Romero says he couldn't "stand four more years of Republicans and this Congress."

Memo to Mr. Romero: Democrats are the majority party in "this Congress" (both houses).




If you're an Obama supporter and anti-war Santa Fean who wants us to get out of Iraq, is it clear to you that Obama will commit more troops to Afghanistan? Will this then be "the right war," and will you condone his actions? Why will you accept this expansion of the endless Middle East war? What makes you think that Obama, who until recently was also anti-war, and who has absolutely no military experience whatsoever, knows what he is doing in this regard?

Will you join him, enlist in the military, put your life where your vote is and go fight in Afghanistan and perhaps Pakistan? If not, then why will you vote for him, if you're really an anti-war Santa Fean? If you're a veteran, or more importantly on active duty, do you honestly believe Obama is fit to be commander-in-chief?




Sixty American Nobel laureates have taken the unprecedented action of explicitly endorsing Obama for President. They recognize that we are faced with immense scientific challenges, foremost of which is how to provide energy to sustain the growth of our economy without destroying our planet. We in New Mexico have the scientific infrastructure to contribute to solving these national and global problems.

The Nobel laureates endorse Obama's scientific plan, which includes a true national commitment to science education and a doubling of the federal investment in research and development. New Mexico needs these policies. When such a diverse and pre-eminent group of American scientists articulates profound concern for our future, and explicitly endorses Obama as the best candidate to keep us safe and prosperous in the coming century, it is time to take notice. Our country, and our planet, cannot afford to ignore these pressing scientific issues.




Why are Democrats afraid to embrace the foundation of their most notable achievements? It was liberals who advocated for and established Social Security more than 70 years ago. It was liberals who advocated for and established Medicare and Medicaid to provide adequate health coverage for the elderly and needy, and equal-rights laws for all races and genders; for minimum wage.

It was liberals who advocated for and established financial regulations to protect the citizenry during and following The Great Depression. And it was the "Compassionate Conservatism" group that dismantled these regulations and brought us to our present financial meltdown.

Enough! Let us embrace progressive liberalism and denounce the regressive compassionate conservatism that has led us to our current disastrous situation. We owe it to ourselves and the generations to follow.




At 72, John McCain is too old to be president. I know. I'm 72, and I'm too old to be president. At this age your memory starts going. You need more naps. The future is shorter than it used to be. John McCain and I were born during Franklin Delano Roosevelt's second administration. We are quaint old relics of a bygone time. Our views are backward, not forward.

Sen. McCain should spend his remaining years working for the poor and reading to his grandchildren. He and I are both, well, elderly.




We are in a critical moment of "choice" for America's destiny as a country. As individuals, in the intensity of a crisis point, we may feel that the next step we take will lead toward either life or death. Our country is going through the same thing. We need to surrender all of our past beliefs, prejudices and the habitual thinking that has brought us to this crisis — all that has produced the illness, the pain, and the lack of hope.

Individuals in crisis need to surrender themselves, allowing Nature to exert itself. We need to let in what is right, just and good, allowing wisdom to work through our bodies and spirits. I pray that the people of our country will surrender to God and His will and let Him cast our votes for the one who will bring us less violence, peace and a more loving country.


Other races crowd political field

I almost wish I hadn't heard the live debate on KUNM between Carol Miller, Dan East and Ben Ray Luján. It would make casting my vote in this congressional race much easier. However, once I had the opportunity to compare the experience, expertise, and positions of the three candidates, I was left with no choice but to vote for Miller, an independent.

When health-care reform is one of the top national issues, it makes sense to vote for a candidate with a master's degree in public health who has served Clinton and Reagan as a policy adviser on health-care issues, and has 13 years experience as an EMT. Carol Miller is the best-informed candidate, has good answers for New Mexico and is amazingly well rounded in her life experience.




Northern New Mexico (Santa Fe and vicinity) has developed a peculiar political system marked by one-party domination and a form of patrimony, viewing public office as a kind of property inherited from one's father or ancestor.

Hence, Ben R. Luján, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representative in the 3rd Congressional District, is the son of the speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Luján is opposed by Republican Dan East and independent candidate Carol Miller.

Jerome Block Jr. is the Democratic candidate for the Public Regulation Commission in District 3, which includes Santa Fe. His father is a former member of the PRC and its predecessor body.

Lacking a Republican nominee, Block's only opponent is Rick Lass, the Green Party candidate.

If we should support the apparently best-qualified, our votes would go to John McCain, Dan East and Rick Lass.




The Rick Lass Campaign for Public Regulation Commission has brought together people of all political persuasions.

We recognize the importance of electing a well-qualified person to this important position.

The PRC is a five-member commission with responsibility for regulating corporations in our state. It reviews applications for utility rate increases.

Rick Lass will represent the citizens of New Mexico in his consideration of the issues facing the commission.

Rick Lass is a graduate of St. John's College and has lived in the state since 1984.

He has worked in the state Legislature to make improvements in our electoral system. He is founder of the organization Voting Matters. A vote for Rick Lass will be a vote for the most-qualified candidate for the Public Regulation Commission.

If you cast a straight-party vote, be sure to fill in the oval opposite Rick Lass for Public Regulation Commission on the ballot. Make your vote count for Rick.