Demos Warm, Coop Hot

City Prepares for Clinton Visit

(From Rio Grande Sun)

By Bill Rodgers
SUN Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, October 7, 2010 10:10 AM MDT

“Police will be taking a page from their Obama playbook when former President Bill Clinton comes to Española Oct. 14 to stump for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish.

“According to Public Safety Chief Joe Martinez, the 4 p.m. event will be watched over by dozens of local law enforcement, plus the Secret Service that travels with Clinton, but he’s expecting less commotion than when President Barack Obama visited Sept. 18, 2008, with a crowd of thousands as part of his presidential campaign.”

Demos Party for Denish

While the Peaceful Skies Coalition organizes to resist the “Invasion of the Ospreys” on Thu. Oct. 14 at Rio Grande Hall in Taos, local Demos are organizing to resist the “Invasion of Las Tejanas” on Sat.

We hear Los Barrones are throwing a free party for La Denish and Jean Richards of Seco is hosting a $100 a plate fundraiser for the besieged Democrat on Saturday. By golly the T-Party resurgence has got the Demos feeling like their knickers are all in a twist. What with an anti-onanism candidate—a reformed witch–running for Senate in Delaware and an anti-social security and education candidate in Nevada, La Martinez seems rather mild in her anti-medical marijuana stance in New Mexico.

“What?” asked a representative of PSA1136 (Pot Smokers of America, Local). “Don’t the local people understand that Susana Martinez is pro big pharma and anti-homeopathy? She’s the candidate for the USA Chamber and Corporate America. She wants to take your pot away and make you pay for pharmaceuticals.” Even my friends, who are Republicans in Taos, sometimes avail themselves of Mother Marijuana’s medicinal properties–due to depression and rising electricity rates.

“The homegrown ditch bank weed now commodified and sold as medicinal in California and Colorado is in danger of losing its special status here in the hypnotic land of enchantment,” said Flavio, who sweeps up the chaff at a local dispensary. “It may not be legal in Taos County but it is not illegal either,” said the custodian. “He shook his head. “La Martinez may be a Tejana but a doobie is a smoke.”

Gonzales to Challenge Coop

Up in Penasco, rising electricity rates thanks to KCEC have spurred Ernesto Gonzales, a former Jemez and Mora Coop CEO to announce early his candidacy for the board of trustees. After a decade of expansion, loss of millions in reserves on side ventures—propane, Internet, and Travel—Gonzales, according to campaign aides, has decided to oppose the spending spree and travel budget. Along with activists Jerome Lucero and Linda Bence, Ernesto will offer members expert testimony on Coop activities.

But Ernesto will be up against the Penasco machine run by Mother Mary, the Cheerleader, whose husband, Ambrose Mascarenas, spends as much time in airplanes flying to and fro as he does performing Mary’s honey-do list. Trustees couldn’t get a quorum this year at the annual membership meeting for the first time in fifteen years “Too many politicos like Art,” said Flavio. “The Rio Arriba pol from Ojo sets the standards and Taosenos have been disenfranchised by the outsiders.”

After giving CEO Reyes a raise, Mascarenas, Ambrose; Cordova, Francis; Duran, Chris; Jassman, Bruce; Smith, Jerry; Ortega, Bobby; Rodarte, Art; Martinez, Toby; and Medina, Manuel all voted to raise rates for members. President Bobby Ortega praises the CEO for successfully supplicating the feds and getting a $40 million Broadband grant. Now members are on the hook for another $20 million in matching funds. Only Mylet, Luisa and Martinez, Virgil voted, “NO.”

Meanwhile, the Coop lurches left and right, falling below its federally mandated margins for RUS loans, “due to adventurism in financial diversity”—contrary to the Coop’s mission, says Flavio. He whispered, “They say the travel budget for trustees is being affected.”

“Things are so bad in Penasco, the locals have taken to robbing Coop offices and beating up the clerks,” said the custodian. “Ortega and Reyes are Republicans. Manuel, Francis, and Toby claim they are Demos but we know better. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. What do they smoke? It ain’t homegrown. Maybe they got it flown in, special delivery, from La Martinez.”

“How many trustees does it take to change a light bulb?”

“None. They call Luis and he calls a lineman.”

DAUGHTERS OF JUAREZ/HIJAS DE JUAREZ

Honoring the memory of the hundreds of girls and women murdered in Juarez over the past decade and a half.

ART EXHIBIT. 22 Taos artists at the PARKS GALLERY, 127 BENT. ST. OPENING  RECEPTION SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6, 4-6 P.M. Continuing through Nov. 20. 10-5 Mon- Sat.

POETRY READING. VALERIE MARTINEZ will read her book-length poem EACH AND HER, in memory of the daughters of Juarez. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14, 3 P.M. at the  Mabel Dodge Luhan House, Morada Road. FREE. This has been nominated for the  Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Sponsored by SOMOS.

The Parks Gallery will be open noon-3 p.m.

Further information: 751-1102.