Advice to NM Democrats: Hang together or hang separately

We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.
Benjamin Franklin

This post came up as a result of Barbara Conyers posting on Democracy for New Mexico blog. Barbara was voicing her concern over Governor Bill Richardson's amassing nearly three million dollars for his political machine. Ms. Conyers questioned why there was a need to have such a separation from the New Mexico Democratic Party. It is a good read and raises some valid concerns.

The Governor's office responded with a rather wordy screed, penned by Amanda Cooper, the Governor's Political Director. Ms. Cooper's rambling post made a call for unity and attempted to explain how the machine was effecting positive changes not only within New Mexico but in other states as well. I'm still scratching my head over what it all meant.

So, Barbara,

You are thus far silent on this. Is Amanda Cooper putting words in your mouth or is she accurate regarding her assessment of your 'meeting' with her? I, for one would like to hear from you. Are you silent out of agreement or out of compulsion?

Now, on to Governor Richardson and his machine via Ms. Cooper,

My primary concern is that it appears we Democrats have two options to choose from when we are making our decision to become active in the party:

1) We can join up with the NM Democratic Party or,
2) We can go with the Governor.

This separation does not bode well for our State or more specifically, for the Democrats currently in office who most definitely have bulls eyes painted on their foreheads by the Republicans.

Changing the topic but, only for a moment, I am also concerned at the Governor’s recent remarks regarding bloggers. Instead of embracing bloggers as a natural means of support and exploiting their talents, he seems content to ignore the march of progress and appears intent on locking himself in the proverbial tower. Why would he make such a categorical dismissal of all bloggers when he opined about lack journalistic integrity? Has anyone told him that bloggers aren't neccessarily journalists? Despite his concerns over blogging, can he honestly say he trusts networks like FOX and the brow-beaten Main Stream Media (MSM) to report the news? He has to be aware who is controlling the MSM's purse strings.

Is he really convinced the MSM is covering news in a 'Fair and Balanced' way or, was this a symbolic olive branch being handed to the press as a calculated means of winning them over. Is this overture an attempt to assuage their collective egos just in case he does decide to make run at the presidency in '08? I really don’t care whether he has decided to run or not and I would certainly throw all my effort into helping him make that dream come to fruition. I am nonetheless concerned that he is choosing to toss bloggers on the metaphorical grenade as it were.

Governor Richardson has worked to cultivate a public perception of himself as a forward thinking man of vision, I am just floored that he would ignore the power of the internet. He gained nothing by treating bloggers with veiled derision after making a rhetorical remark impugning blogger integrity. Does he really think they are simply going to go away?

I've always seen Bill Richardson as a leader with an eye toward the future and receptive to change. However, his hero worshippers aren't doing him any favors when the behave like 'yes-men.' What he needs are trustworthy, capable people who care enough reveal what he doesn't want to hear. It is evident that his most trusted associates have dropped the ball regarding the following reality; bloggers are here to stay. They are effecting local & national perspectives whether he likes it or not. Moreover, they are a wild card he would be well advised not to dismiss.

To dismiss bloggers is as short sighted as the French were when they built trenches in preparation for the Nazis in World War II. The technologically superior Nazi's blew past the archaic line of defense in their Blitzkrieg in 1940. Rest assured, the Republican, Neo-conservative political machine is alive and well. They are preparing to destroy whoever gets in their way. Governor Richardson has two choices; He can use bloggers or he can fight them but he cannot afford to ignore them. You fight misinformation with information.

I strongly suggest the Governor gets up to speed. He's a smart man and I admire him but I cannot understand how he is developing his own political machine completely disregarding the Democratic Party that worked so hard to help get him into office. This action has only served to raise eyebrows from two factions;

1) Old-style Democrats who have operated according to tradition and,
2) New-style Democrats who are daily improving their connections and developing vast networks thanks to the internet.

Undoubtedly, the Governor has a fancy, high-tech machine. But he’s going to need a road to drive that machine on in order to reach his destination – that’s where the old-style Democrats come in. He is also going to need some high-tech fuel to run that machine – that’s where the New-style Democrats come in.

Please Governor, bring us together.