Saturday, September 09, 2023

What's going on in New Mexico?

From @Shayadjinn1 on Twitter, 

https://twitter.com/Shayadjinn1/status/1563083506044915713


 It has been almost 900-days of Democrat governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's unchecked emergency power in New Mexico. Let us take a look at her time as governor. 1/76 

Before the pandemic, she put out a bizarre ad where she runs through a wall. 2/76

She pulled NM National Guard troops from the border to “show Trump”. 3/76

Many of our state's Sheriffs are not big fans of her policies. MLG said it would lower suicides in the state. They are also elected, but she told them...well, this. 4/76

This is also 2020, but we're number 4 for suicides. 5/76

The governor of NM maintained some of the most strict COVID protocols in the nation. And for longer than most other states. NM ranked 48th in COVID response according to this April 2022 study: 6/76

s.wsj.net/public/resourc…
NM had breadlines. But it was just a, “Republican talking point” according to her spokesperson. Rural areas most affected. 7/76

NM closed and fined businesses. Some people defied her orders at first, as they were concerned about towns being bankrupted without Gross Receipts tax income from consumer sales. 8/76

They paid for their audacity. 9/76

New Mexican businesses got no relief from a mostly MLG-appointed state Supreme Court. 10/76

A “few” restaurants closed permanently – especially in rural NM, which relies on small business rather than big-box stores. 11/76

Sometimes it seemed like the orders could be personal issues rather than specifics. 12/76

Very personal. 13/76

Some businesses tried anyway, and kept trying. 14/76

MLG publicly shamed the people of Espanola. 15/76

NM closed schools. Some kids were so despondent. 16/76

Mental health in NM was already a problem. Now it's worse. 17/76

NM families were having a hard time balancing work and ensuring their children went to school virtually. NM established a way to enforce attendance. “Compassionately”. 18/76

As usual for NM, things don't always work out the way they were intended to. 19/76

The NM governor made sure we all stayed home. She used shame and condescending sneers to motivate New Mexicans. 20/76

She publicly posted photos of New Mexicans “caught” without masks. 21/76

She didn't stay home. Well, somehow she got expensive jewelry, anyway. 22/76

She had lavish parties (in-person “meetings” while New Mexicans were ordered home & not to have gatherings). Expensive alcohol, Wagyu beef, tuna steaks, and her dry cleaning were part of those expenditures on the NM taxpayer. 23/76

She paid her daughter out of her campaign fund money over $6000 for personal cosmetics and hairstyling. This was ultimately found to not violate ethics, somehow. 24/76

She defended herself against allegations of sexual misconduct for allegedly grabbing a male former employee's crotch. 25/76

She called New Mexicans protesting at her reelection announcement, “lizard people”. 26/76

But that was her, “taking the high road”, apparently? 27/76

New Mexicans weren't allowed to go to work, but protesting that was NOT against her in the middle of the pandemic was commendable. Apparently. 28/76

She has previously mocked rural New Mexicans in other ways. 29/76

Her spokesman called a large portion of New Mexicans a “death cult” and then another claimed that if you “think it's about” you then you've “placed that upon” yourself. 30/76

Of course, making fun of New Mexicans is just something her staff seems to enjoy? 31/76

It seems to be a theme with her staff, though. 32/76

And look at the snark in interviews. 33/76

Her rude staff got great raises during the pandemic, while New Mexicans were just trying to make ends meet, though. 34/76

When a Republican won in Southern New Mexico in 2020, former NM House Speaker Brian Egolf said: “This is the last election... map that looks like it looks now...we’ll have to see what that means for Republican chances to hold it.” 35/76

He later clarified that it had meant nothing like what he actually said: 36/76

The map was redrawn. 37/76

There was that little issue with how pandemic funds were being spent – without legislature involvement at all. 38/76

Hmmmm.... baby shower, anyone? 39/76

Her political ad was rated, “false” by... everyone. So many times. Yikes. 40/76

Planned Parenthood ran an attack ad against Mark Ronchetti, seemingly supporting MLG. They have a financial reason to want to keep MLG governor of NM. $$$ 41/76

They aired this based on a rumor. That's right – a disputed rumor. 42/76

Her CYFD got in trouble for using an encrypted messaging app to communicate. 43/76

The employees who complained? 44/76

This administration seems to have an honesty problem when it comes to CYFD though. 45/76

She put out an ad promoting “free college”, but the ad was full of inconsistencies. Again. 46/76

It doesn't add up. 47/76

Colleges took advantage of the new Opportunity Scholarship immediately, though. 48/76

Her education department linked to a p0rn page promoting this before apparently purchasing the domain to cover that up? 49/76

She recently called those who would potentially attend the Ronchetti/DeSantis rally in Carlsbad, NM, “far-right extremists”. 50/76

Last week she didn't attend a small business forum which was attended by Mark Ronchetti. He was there to listen to the concerns of New Mexican small business owners. Our current governor? No show. 51/76

She “declined to attend” even though plenty of notice was given. Why? Was it really the "schedule" or was there more to it? 52/76

Where was she? It took quite some time for her campaign to admit that she was hobnobbing with rich Democrat donors in Aspen, CO. 53/76

santafenewmexican.com/news/local_new…
Is that where the “voters are”? 54/76

Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has tested positive for COVID. She put Democrat interests before New Mexico small business interests and came home from Colorado with COVID. Did she also come home w/out-of-state donations? 55/76

Democrats have been in control of New Mexico for most of its history as a state. There have been ZERO Republican trifectas, which would have allowed for real change in our state. ZERO. Meanwhile, 60 years of Dem trifecta failures. 56/76
We are last in the good metrics, and tops in the bad ones. Last in education, last in unemployment, last, last, last.. but most recently? Last in child welfare. Again. Kids don't have a chance until we improve. 57/76

Crime is AWFUL in New Mexico. This is real. 58/76

abqjournal.com/2524724
Catch and release policies have cost New Mexicans so much. 59/76

We had fires, admittedly caused by the government's U.S. Forest Service. 60/76

Monsoon rains made this much worse by causing those areas destabilized by the fire damage to create mudslides in the “burn scar” areas. 61/76

She touted that Biden agreed that the government would pay 100% of the damages caused to NM residents. 62/76

Is that what is happening? 63/76

The state sent, “stimulus checks” to New Mexico taxpayers. But as usual, things did not go as planned in MLG's utopia. 64/76

NOW the NM governor seems to realize the bad idea it was to have an open border. 65/76

There may be other reasons she's finally realizing it (see: smuggling from Mexico). 66/76

She touted making liquor licenses easier to get during the pandemic. 67/76

Maybe that wasn't a good idea, either. 68/76

COVID caused ordering issues for many. And fraud. 69/76

COVID caused a lot of issues with employment, of course. This was handled as many things with this administration... not well. 70/76

NM is a very rural state, we already have issues with getting and keeping health care workers of all types, but particularly in specialties. 71/76

NM is going to make it worse. On purpose. 72/76

MLG is now claiming that NM has its lowest unemployment rate since 2008. That is not quite accurate, either. 73/76

MLG says that it matters who you hang around with. Did you SEE the way her employees talk to New Mexicans – how SHE talks to New Mexicans? We see her, “inner circle”. 74/76

Is there an explanation for this thread? 75/76

NM has a decision to make this election. Do we continue with the same pattern we have voted time & time again? We keep electing Dems and expecting diff results. It's time for change, NM. Stop voting for last place. Vote for our children's future. Vote Red in 2022. /end 
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, September 08, 2023

US Constitution's Second Amendment suspended in state of New Mexico by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

BY MORGAN LEE
Updated 9:05 PM PDT, September 8, 2023


https://apnews.com/article/albuquerque-guns-governor-concealed-carry-fc5b4b79bf411b8022c3ad58975724d7

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday issued an emergency order suspending the right to carry firearms in public across Albuquerque and the surrounding county for at least 30 days in response to a spate of gun violence.

The Democratic governor said she expects legal challenges but was compelled to act because of recent shootings, including the death of an 11-year-old boy outside a minor league baseball stadium this week.

Lujan Grisham said state police would be responsible for enforcing what amount to civil violations. Albuquerque police Chief Harold Medina said he won’t enforce it, and Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said he’s uneasy about it because it raises too many questions about constitutional rights.

The firearms suspension, classified as an emergency public health order, applies to open and concealed carry in most public places, from city sidewalks to urban recreational parks. The restriction is tied to a threshold for violent crime rates currently only met by the metropolitan Albuquerque. Police and licensed security guards are exempt from the temporary ban.

TRANSCRIPT:

REPORTER 1: You took an oath to the Constitution. Isn't it unconstitutional to say you cannot exercise your carry license? Gov. Lujan Grisham: With one exception. And that is, if there's an emergency and I've declared an emergency for a temporary amount of time, I can invoke additional powers. No constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute. There are restrictions on free speech. There are restrictions on my freedoms. In this emergency, this eleven-year-old and all these parents who have lost all these children, they deserve my attention to have the debate about whether or not, in an emergency, we can create a safer environment. Because what about their constitutional rights? I took an oath to uphold those too. And if we ignore this growing problem without being bold, I've said to every other New Mexican, your rights are subrogated to theirs. And they are not, in my view. REPORTER 1: Wait a minute, you're talking about the crimes, there are already laws against the crimes. So how are their rights subrogated? Gov. Lujan Grisham: But again, if I'm unsafe, who's standing up for that right? If this climate is so out of control, somebody should do something. I'm doing as much as I know to do. REPORTER 2: Madam governor, do you really think that criminals are going to hear this message and not carry a gun in Albuquerque on the streets for thirty days? Gov. Lujan Grisham: Uh, no.
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Thoughts on The Gadsden Flag by Benjamin Franklin, from @KingMakerFT on Twitter

 I see the renowned Gadsden “Don’t Tread on Me” rattlesnake flag is in the news. Let’s remove all doubt about what that flag meant to our Founding Fathers. Here is Benjamin Franklin discussing its symbolism: 


Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies.” 
“This may be understood to intimate that those things which are destructive to our enemies, may be to us not only harmless, but absolutely necessary to our existence. I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, … 
…till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. 
“The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. 
“The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. 
“The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. 
“She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age, "her tongue also is blue and forked as the lightning, and her abode is among impenetrable rocks." 

• • •

Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, August 27, 2023

Thirteen heroes

 Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Tex.

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, Calif. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, of Utah Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tenn. Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, Calif. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson, Wyo. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif. Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario, 25, Lawrence, Mass. Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Ind. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Mo. Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio



Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, August 24, 2023

The difference between lawyers and business people.

Received in email from a friend.



As an attorney, I hesitated to forward this as it can be an indictment against my profession.  But I believe there is much truth to the article below.  Very thought provoking.  Lawyers are adversarial and are trained to try to win at all costs.  It may work in litigation but does not work well when governing our nation.  Trying to win at any costs creates the polarization and hatred that now fills our country and leaves no room for common sense or legitimate debate.

 
Every Democrat presidential nominee since 1984 went to law school, although Gore did not graduate.  Joe Biden (no surprise) was at the bottom of his class.  Every Democrat vice presidential nominee since 1976, except for Lloyd Bentsen, went to law school.  Barack Obama was a lawyer.  Michelle Obama was a lawyer.  Hillary Clinton was a lawyer.  Bill Clinton was a lawyer.  John Edwards is a lawyer.  Elizabeth Edwards was a lawyer.  Look at leaders of the Democrat Party in Congress: Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer is a lawyer.  Former Senator Harry Reid was a lawyer.
 
The Republican Party is different.  President Trump was a businessman.  Presidents Bush 1 and 2 were businessmen.  Vice President Cheney was a businessman.  President Eisenhower was a 5 star General.  The leaders of the Republican Revolution: Newt Gingrich was a history professor.  Tom Delay was an exterminator.  Dick Armey was an economist.  Ex-House Minority Leader John Boehner was a plastics manufacturer.  The former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is a heart surgeon.  Who was the last Republican president who was a lawyer?  Gerald Ford, who left office 31 years ago and who barely won the Republican nomination as a sitting president, running against actor Ronald Reagan in 1976.  The Republican Party is made up of real people doing real work, who are often the targets of lawyers.  This is very interesting. I had never thought about it this way before.
 
The Democrat Party is made up of lawyers.  Democrats mock and scorn men who create wealth, like Trump, Bush, and Cheney, or who heal the sick like Frist, or who immerse themselves in history like Gingrich.  The Lawyers Party sees these sorts of people, who provide goods and services that people want, as the enemies of America.  And so, in the eyes of the Lawyers Party, we have seen the procession of official enemies grow.  Against whom do Hillary and Obama rail?  Pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, hospitals, manufacturers, fast food restaurant chains, large retail businesses, bankers, and anyone producing anything of value in our nation.
 
This is the natural consequence of viewing everything through the eyes of lawyers.  Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, which, in this case should be the American people.  Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side.  Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine.  But it is an awful way to govern a great nation.
 
When politicians, as lawyers, begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the legal system in our life becomes all-consuming.  Some Americans become adverse parties of our very government.  We are not all litigants in some vast social class-action suit.  We are citizens of a republic that promises us a great deal of freedom from laws, from courts, and from lawyers.
 
Today, we are drowning in laws.  We are contorted by judicial decisions.  We are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives.  America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast, and unchecked.  When the most important decision for our next president is whom, he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big.  When House Democrats sue America to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing.
 
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business.  Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work.  Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
 
The United States has 5% of the world's population and 66% of the world's lawyers!  Tort or legal reform legislation has been introduced in congress several times in the last several years to limit punitive damages in ridiculous lawsuits such as spilling hot coffee on yourself and suing the establishment that sold it to you and to limit punitive damages in huge medical malpractice lawsuits.  This legislation has been blocked from even being voted on by the Democrat Party.  When you see that 97% of the political contributions from the American Trial Lawyers Association go to the Democrat Party, then you realize who is responsible for our medical and product costs being so high
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, July 04, 2023

Happy Fourth of July, 2023

 Michael Smith wrote this moving account of the fate that befell many of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence: 

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the revolutionary war.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers or both, looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: ‘For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.’”


Image
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)