tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24946442.post3601890690619263869..comments2023-07-07T01:53:48.487-06:00Comments on What's Wrong With This Picture?: Little Miss SunshineM.G. Bralleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083864482181744657noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24946442.post-30474556524809403942009-03-06T10:46:00.000-07:002009-03-06T10:46:00.000-07:00Thanks for all the links to my posts. My appreciat...Thanks for all the links to my posts. My appreciation also goes out to you and Chedd for the video and other coverage at the Legislature. I know it's hard work. You two do it quite well.<BR/><BR/>That said, I want to quibble with your statement about those "who think that their particular interests, in their particular issue, is of vital importance to the exclusion of others."<BR/><BR/>Ethics and campaign finance reform measures are very much the interests of the majority of New Mexicans who have seen the corrosive effects of big money in the Legislature and beyond. Such measures have been considered carefully by two task forces whose members are highly respected and knowledgeable about the issues involved. Twice, excellent and well thought out recommendations emerged from the task forces. <BR/><BR/>Moreover, ethics and campaign finance bills very similar to those being considered today have been introduced in the Legislature since 2007. These are not new proposals and the arguments have been made on both sides many times over.<BR/><BR/>I find it hard to believe that you sincerely believe a rambling and mostly irrelevant monologue about antelope herds by Sen. Jennings in Senate Rules was worthwhile at a time when the public is hungering for action on the ethics bills awaiting debates on their merits. As anyone who follows the legislature knows, Sen. Jennings is famous for these time-wasting dissertations that function to help keep discussions about bills he doesn't like at bay.<BR/><BR/>I am also well aware of the differences between the Senate and House, and that the Senate is set up to be a much more deliberative body. My beef is that I'm not hearing enough reasoned debates about the important issues in the Rules Committee and elsewhere. I'm too often hearing overly long deliberations about antelope herds and other minutia. <BR/><BR/>I also object to your view that I "demonize" legislators when I point out what they are doing and speculate, based upon any number of considerations and facts, on why they are doing what they are doing.<BR/><BR/>If you're looking for some demonization and fact bending to criticize, I suggest you consider the long-running and often fact-challenged attacks on ethics and campaign reform measures and those who advocate on their behalf that are tossed out by Joe Monahan and his anonymous "alligators." <BR/><BR/>Old Joe has been gleefully trumpeting his approval of keeping the status quo money games and entrenched power blocs in place for many moons. And he has often used slurs and innuendo to do so. At least be fair when you're engaged in what could be seen by some as "demonizing" at least one blogger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com