Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Word Is: Scientists are Frustrated with Anemic Energy Discussions!

Nuclear Power Can Increase Performance and
Efficiency in the United States.


Humans consume 15 trillion kilowatts of energy worldwide every year, and by 2040 that number will double to 30 trillion as developing nations build infrastructures and create better lives for their "energy poor" citizens.

James Conca, is the director of the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center and Institute of Energy and the Environment, which is operated by NMSU.

In this AUDIO INTERVIEW, Conca says we are running out of fossil fuels and we need to look at a more efficient, and reliable, three-part energy mix, including fossil, renewables, and nuclear power.

He says we've been dawdling too long, "the country should have started developing alternatives after the 1973 oil embargo."

Conca has co-authored The Geopolitics of Energy: Achieving a Just and Sustainable Energy Distribution by 2040 with Judith Wright. The book, is designed like a magazine, and is easily read in two to three hours. It asks the question "What future do you want, environmental degradation or environmental stewardship?

Conca and Wright suggest if alternatives are not brought online quickly, fossil fuel use will also increase and more than double Carbon Dioxide emissions with all it's unwanted health and enviromental side effects.

They say the solutions must be in place by 2010 to be effectively serving the world's expanding population in the next thirty years.

The book suggests by 2040 the world must have:
  • 3 Million Wind Turbines
  • Solar Arrays totaling 3 trillion kWhrs/year
  • 1,700 new nuclear reactors
  • Biofuels from algae, cellulosics and high-efficiency biomass
  • 3 trillion kWhrs/year from other alternatives including wave, tidal and bio gas.
The authors say the increasing efficiency and return from nuclear energy, the small footprint, the lack of Carbon Dioxide emission, the small amount of waste generated and the the ease of handling, has led to a resurgence of nuclear power worldwide.

Clearly, the U.S. has abdicated its leadership role in nuclear energy and it needs to become involved again. France is already 80% nuclear. It's clean, safe and efficient and it generates more power than solar.

It's time to start building power plants. One plant, in Southern, New Mexico can replace 52% of the state's coal powered energy.

Congress needs to cancel their summer recess and work on developing sustainable energy policies for the future. But, they WON'T. I hope they at least turn the lights out on their way home to denial.

Photo Credits: MG Bralley

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Word Is: Even Judges Can Make Mistakes.

Sgt. Paul Heh
When Elton John Richard, an Iraq War Vet shot and killed a would-be burglar, he believed he was defending his family. Now he sits in a Springer, New Mexico prison cell. He was sentenced to two years and ordered to pay $500 a month to the family of Daniel Romero by State District Judge Robert "Pat" Murdoch.

On Friday, a motion to amend Richard's sentence to probation will be heard in court.

Barring a sentence change, Richard and his family cling to hope that Governor Bill Richardson will grant some form of clemency. APD Senior Sgt Paul Heh, acting on his own time, has gathered 500 signatures on a petition asking the judge to change the sentence.

We talked to Mr. Heh, in the St. Java Coffee shop on the outside of the the parking garage of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse on Thursday morning.

"Reserved for Sgt. Paul Heh: Meeting With the Guys to Talk About the Thing!"
reads the sign on top of Heh's favorite table. The 21-year veteran cop tells us he spends countless hours in the cafe shop in between his manadatory court appearances to testify against people he has cited and arrested. Usually DWI drivers.

In this AUDIO INTERVIEW Heh says almost everyone he talked to about Richard agreed to sign the petition. He says, "most people say they would have done the same thing in a similar situation."

Heh told us he respects Judge Murdoch, but believes a "wrong has been done." Heh says the judge made a mistake and that Richard was trained to defend his family and acted out of self defense.

The petitions are symbolic and cannot be presented to the Judge hearing the motion, but Heh says he'll give them to Richard's family.

Heh says he won't stop at collecting signatures.

"I'm not done with this. I will not rest until this man is out of jail, and his life restored," vowed Heh. He says he'll personally write the Governor to ask for a full pardon.

We'll monitor the courtroom, and report live on 770 KKOB Friday morning as soon as the judge announces his decision on the motion.

The Word Is: Former Governor Coming Out of Political Exile!

Garrey Carrauthers
The former New Mexico Governor says he's speaking out politically again because he's Ed Tinsley's friend, and because he thinks the state's republicans are on a roll this year.

Garrey Carrauthers told correspondent Mark Bralley that voters in New Mexico have a big choice to make when they decide who will replace retiring Sen. Pete Domenici. He says the contrast between Steve Pearce and Tom Udall is big.

In this AUDIO INTERVIEW Carrauthers says he believes ethics reform in the state will take up to seven years. He reminds us that it took twenty years to ban cockfighting in New Mexico.

Monday, June 16, 2008

The Word Is: The Price of Freedom is High!

Photo: MG Bralley
Retired Air Force Colonel George E. "Bud" Day spent Saturday in Las Cruces and delivered the keynote address to the state's Republican Party delegates. Day is Presidential Candidate John McCain's former Hanoi Hilton cell mate.

Day told the crowd McCain is the smartest candidate in 100 years and believes he has the integrity to be a great president.

Before speaking to the delegates Day talked to Correspondent Mark Bralley.

In this AUDIO INTERVIEW Day talks about being shot down while certifying a new combat pilot and about spending time with McCain during the Viet Nam War. Later he criticizes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's position on the Iraq War and blames speculators and the democratically controlled congress for high gas prices.

Col. Day holds every significant combat award and is the nation's most highly decorated officer, as well as the most decorated since General Douglass MacArthur. We learned more about Day's nearly seventy military decorations and honorable service to the country here.

Tomorrow former Governor Garrey Carruthers talks about ethics reform in the state possibly taking seven to eight years to implement.

The Word Is: Perot Has New Charts!

Former independent presidential candidate Ross Perot is back with his charts talking about the U.S. Economy.

Perot says, “The American people must wake up and face the reality that promises made in the past will soon bankrupt this nation."

Check out the info here: http://perotcharts.com/

The site is being launched as an alert and appeal for American citizens to inform themselves about federal government spending. Perot said, “The U.S. national debt reached $9.4 TRILLION on April 30, and it is increasing by more than $1 billion every day. We are leaving our children and grandchildren with debt they cannot possibly pay.”

PerotCharts.com consists of three major components: a video featuring Ross Perot discussing the purpose of the website, a blog where new charts and other information are posted daily for study and comment, and a narrated chart presentation explaining the economic problems our country faces.

Perot says his website is not affiliated with any political party or candidate, and most of the data and research for the charts is gathered from official government sources.

“The economic crisis facing America today is far greater than anything since the Great Depression,” said Perot. “Our federal government continues to spend us deeper into debt. The American people must get directly involved and demand an end to deficit spending. This website will provide information for citizens to do just that.”

Like the economic charts Perot employed in his 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns, which served as snapshots of complex economic issues presented in simple terms, PerotCharts.com features the latest official government figures about the real conditions of our economy for everyone to see and consider. The site is designed to be a reservoir of information about the economy, and provides an accurate look at where the money comes from and where it goes.

“We simply cannot wait any longer to do something about runaway deficit spending,” Perot said. “This website addresses a number of issues, and we will add more in the coming weeks and months. But there is a common thread running through all of them. We cannot solve these problems unless we have the ability to pay for the solutions. Getting spending under control is the first step in that process.”

To see the charts visit: http://PerotCharts.com

Sunday, June 15, 2008

The Word Is: Republicans Want To Win More Seats In the Legislature Before Redistricting

New Mexico’s Republican Party held its state convention in Las Cruces this weekend. Some 339 delegates and about 100 guests attended the event to confirm the five Electoral College elector-nominees, and elect 29 national convention delegates and alternates and national committee people.


A record number of delegates registered to become a national delegate. We've listed the winners at the bottom of this post.

Attorney Pat Rogers was selected to replace retiring national committeeman George Buffet, and Rose Tripp, from Socorro, was easily re-elected to her post as national committeewoman.

But, not everyone was happy in Las Cruces!

Albuquerque delegate Patrick Marron was escorted out of the meeting by the Sergeant at Arms after challenging the leadership. In this AUDIO INTERVIEW he says he simply raised a question, during a lull in the meeting, about not being allowed to take photos and record the event.


Sunday night I talked with the party’s chairman, Allen Weh about the incident.

“Other state’s run their conventions by Robert’s Rules,” said Chairman Allen Weh. “Not ours. This convention was run by the chairman’s gavel.”

Later Sunday evening a party leader told me he thought the move [by Weh to remove Marron] was a “little heavy handed and unnecessary.”

But Weh disagreed, “It’s my bat, my ball, and he [Marron] struck out.”

Lon Waters and Bonnie and David Murphy, all from Albuquerque witnessed Marron being tossed out. They told the LAS CRUCES SUN he was not being disruptive.

[Monday Update - 9am] We've learned Marron also shouted and caused a commotion during Sen. John McCain's keynote address at New Mexico's Veteran Memorial Park on Memorial Day in Albuquerque.

"They kicked him out because he was trying to ask a question," said Bonnie Murphy, who said she was shocked and distressed at the upset, which left her feeling left out of the process. "We kind of quieted down. If we left, we'd lose our votes."

Weh contends he was keeping the meeting moving forward and that Marron wasn’t on the agenda and had no right to ask a question or challenge the leadership’s ruling.

"They should communicate to us, instead of throwing out a representative who was calling for a point of order," Waters said. "It certainly was an education."

Jeff Wright, state field director of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's presidential campaign, was also closed out of the meeting.

[Monday Update - 9am] GOP Communications Director Scott Darnell says Wright was only prohibited from attending a State Central Committee meeting. Darnell says delegates and members of the public who are not members of the committe are not allowed. We'll have more on this later.

"What we want is the beginning of a recognition that the Republican Party has gone far afield," said Wright, who also wore a sticker supporting U.S. Senate candidate Steve Pearce. "It's not about the man, it's the message. The Republican Party is damn near about to go off the tracks."

For now, the GOP will focus on trying to elect U.S. Senate Candidate Steve Pearce to the Senate and win all three congressional seats.

State Representative Dan Foley, who will give up his house seat, after losing in the primary, tells What’s The Word in this AUDIO INTERVIEW that the republicans will also focus on picking up additional house seats in the state legislature before the next congressional redistricting.

Foley also told us that he doesn’t believe Governor Bill Richardson will call a special session this summer.

“He doesn’t feel like getting kicked in the teeth,” said Foley, who believes the Governor has a better chance for his Health Solutions program to be approved in the next general session after four conservative legislators leave the house.

The crowd also heard from Rep. Heather Wilson, Steve Pearce, Ed Tinsley, Darren White and Dan East.

Heather Wilson went first as the senior republican congressional representative. In her ADDRESS Wilson said New Mexican’s will elect Republicans to the courthouse, the roundhouse and the White House. She told the crowd, “I’m 100% behind Steve Pearce.” She says as a party they’re unified to help Illinois keep their junior senator.

U.S. Senate Candidate Steve Pearce, who trails Democrat Tom Udall in early public opinion polls told the crowd, in this SPEECH, that Udall is “wrong for New Mexico,” and says Udall opposes the nuclear mission at Los Alamos National Labs.

Ed Tinsley, who faces Harry Teague in November isn’t worried about any Democratic Presidential Coat tails. Tinsley told the crowd in this SPEECH, that there would be “no Obama Tsunami in the 2nd Congressional District.” He wants to protect private health care, but make it more affordable. He says Teague wants to cut funding to the troops to end the war.

1st Congressional Candidate Dan East will face Ben Ray Lujan. East said in his ADDRESS it’s important to reinvest in America’s infrastructure.

Darren White, who faces Martin Heinrich, kept his SPEECH short and to the point. White says it will take a lot of sweat equity to win. White, recognized Wilson's accomplishments in the Air Force, as a Rhodes Scholar, and congressional rep. White says, "I have some big pumps to fill." He urged the crowd to come together to win the election.

State GOP Communications Director Scott Darnell told the Las Cruces Sun the party is outpacing Democrats in voter registration and fundraising, and decided to bring its convention to Dona Ana County to extend its platform to Hispanics in an area

"We feel we can make great gains in Las Cruces," Darnell said. "It's fertile ground for us."

On tomorrow’s blog we’ll feature the convention’s keynote speech from retired Air Force Col. George "Bud" Day. He was Sen. John McCain's cellmate during his imprisonment in Vietnam and a supporter of the presumptive Republican nominee and the war.

Plus we’ll hear from Photo Journalist Mark Bralley about his impressions of the meeting and the party's relationship with the media.

Audio collected and contributed to What’s The Word by MG Bralley


This is the list of GOP Delegates:
CD1
Elaine Miller
Sam Widner
Ken Zangara

Alternatives
Jay Hone - Bernalillo
Ruben Pacheco - Bernalillo
Jim White - Bernalillo

CD2
Phelps Anderson – Chavez
Will Cavin – Chavez
Pamela Wolfe – Dona Ana

Alternatives
Gloria Tacker - Socorro
Isaac Chavez – Dona Ana
Marybeth Pirrone – Dona Ana

CD 3
Barbara Damron – Santa Fe
J.R. Damron – Santa Fe
Kari Edenfield - Sandoval

Alternatives
Brian Tgelaar - Sandoval
William Davis – Santa Fe
Jack Fortner – San Juan

At-Large
Senator Pete Domenici - Bernalillo
Heather Wilson - Bernalillo
Steve Komadina - Sandoval
John Yates, Jr. -Eddy
Nina Martinez – Santa Fe
Harvey Yates, Jr. - Bernalillo
Bob Carter – Lea
Jon Berela Bernalillo
Frenando C. de Baca - Bernalillo
Holm Bursum - Socorro
Ceil Levatino – Dona Ana
Don Tripp - Socorro
Gayla Mcculloch – San Juan
Cecilia C. de Baca - Bernalillo
Pat Rogers - Bernalillo
Allen Mcculloch – San Juan
Jo Mitchell - Bernalillo
Paige Mckenzie - Bernalillo
Phil Archuletta - Terrance
Dmesia Padilla - Bernalillo

Alternatives
Joyce Pullen - Bernalillo
Rowena Baca - Socorro
Karen Bayless – San Juan
Robert Perea - Bernalillo
Cecilia Martinez Salazar – Rio Arriba
Dan Darnell – San Juan
Bob Cornelius – Lea
Stu Spillar – Lea
Dana Feldman - Bernalillo
Charly Tipton - Bernalillo
Angie McKinstry - Bernalillo
Rusty Regan - Bernalillo
Sally Ryan – Santa Fe
Lee Gonzales - Bernalillo
Veronica Rodriguez – Los Alamos
Daniel Enriquez - Bernalillo
Chris Livingston - Bernalillo
Joanne Morrissey – Santa Fe
Joe Thorton - Lincoln
Kevin Kouri – Dona Ana