WHERE'S PATSY?

Joe Monahan quotes some alligators today saying that Attorney General Patricia Madrid is once again a likely contender to run against incumbent Republican Rep. Heather Wilson for Congress.

This goes along with a story this week in Roll Call, a Washington D.C. paper specializing in coverage of the U.S. Congress, by Josh Kurtz, a Santa Fe Reporter alumn who is now Roll Call's political editor.

Unfortunately you need a subscription to read the whole story.

But here's how it starts out:

"If Democrats fall short in their efforts to recruit New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid into the race against Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) next year, they may have to blame their failure on the political trajectory of the state's governor, Bill Richardson (D).

"In the Land of Enchantment, most Democrats are convinced that if a Democrat retakes the White House in 2008, Richardson will either be the next president, vice president or secretary of state.

"So the question of who serves as his lieutenant governor has become a topic of intense discussion -- something that may explain why Madrid is contemplating running for that post in 2006 instead of for Congress, even though there already is a Democratic incumbent in the No. 2 slot.

"Nevertheless, Democrats in Washington, D.C., are becoming increasingly optimistic that the heavily recruited Madrid ultimately will choose to challenge Wilson. And a key Madrid political lieutenant hints that an announcement could come as soon as this week."

I can't vouch for Josh's claim that most Democrats here think Richardson will be on the national ticket or get a cabinet position in 2008. (Remember, the Democrats have to win for the latter to come true.) But I do think most everybody here believes Richardson will try.

Here's another notable section:

Madrid ... has prided herself on her independence from Richardson, and is the rare Democrat in New Mexico who has not shown complete fealty to the powerful governor. Madrid, in fact, is close to a potential rival to Richardson in the next presidential race, former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), though that is just one source of the tension between her and the governor.

Richardson has been mum on the prospects of a bloody primary fight between Madrid and Denish. But his formidable political team is likely to aid Madrid if she challenges Wilson - in part for the political bounce Richardson would get if he helped knock off a perennial (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) target.

Of course Richardson's formidable political team wasn't enough to carry New Mexico for John Kerry last year ...

The story even mentions the Vigil/Montoya scandal and how it might affect a madrid campaign:

"... Republicans in New Mexico, who are unlikely to find viable challengers to Richardson or Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) next year, now have one new factor going for them: the twin indictments late last month of the current Democratic state treasurer and his predecessor for allegedly taking kickbacks from investment firms seeking to do business with the state. ...

"Roxanne Rivera, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico GOP, said Republicans cannot believe that Madrid did not know about the corruption in the treasurer's office. She predicted that voters would punish Democrats up and down the ballot in 2006.

"This scandal is more far-reaching than anyone realizes," she said.

"But a top Democratic strategist in New Mexico said the party has a ready response for anyone who attempts to tie Vigil's woes to other leading Democrats.

"At the same time you have Vigil, you have Tom DeLay," the strategist said ..."

ROUNDHOUSE ROUND-UP: WHEN WE GET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
October 13, 2004

Nobody is doubting former Supreme Court Justice Paul Kennedy’s qualifications to serve as special counsel to the legislative panel considering the possible impeachment of indicted state Treasurer Robert Vigil.

But Bob Johnson, director of New Mexico Foundation for Open Government said Kennedy is dead wrong about the state Open Meetings Act.

Earlier this week the House impeachment subcommittee held one session in closed-door executive session — which Johnson said was a violation of the act.

Johnson pointed out that the only situation that allows an executive session is to discuss pending or threatened litigation.

Kennedy told reporters that the pending litigation involved was the federal criminal case against Vigil — which grew even more serious Wednesday when a grand jury brought 19 new extortion counts against him.

When Kennedy’s answer was printed, Johnson called me to explain that the exact wording of that part of the act is, “Meetings subject to the attorney-client privilege pertaining to threatened or pending litigation in which the public body is or may become a participant.”

“Unless the Legislature is going to become part of the criminal case, this is a violation of the Open Meetings Act,” Johnson said.

House Majority Leader Kenny Martinez, D-Grants, a member of the panel, told me Wednesday that any executive sessions will be kept to the minimum.

Another member, Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces told me that not all the panel members support having closed-door meetings.

Anonymous calls: Sinister new implications related to secret testimony in the impeachment proceedings arose last week when I received a call from a guy who didn’t want to give his name but wanted to share some gossip, or “word on the street” about the Vigil case.

I’m not sure which street this came from, but the word there, according to the caller, is that Vigil intends to bring up dirt on lawmakers during any impeachment hearings.

Perhaps this rumor was sparked by the fact that Vigil’s lawyer subpoenaed campaign finance reports from several politicians, including legislators.

But the thought crossed my mind: Could this be the reason for taking Vigil’s deposition outside the view of the public?

Certainly there’s no evidence that this is the reason for all the talk about making all the evidence available to House members — but nobody else.

I’d like to believe Kennedy and panel members when they say their only concerns are tainting potential witnesses and potential jurors in the criminal case.

But if these sessions are held behind closed doors and the testimony kept from reporters and interested public members, that suspicion will be out there.

Philadelphia story: During the impeachment panel’s first meeting last week, Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, spoke about court documents implicating Vigil in an alleged kickback scheme. “You don’t have to be a Philadelphia lawyer to understand this,” Larranaga said.

The next day, the subcommittee hired Kennedy, who happens to have been born in Philadelphia. A sheepish Larranaga told me that he was just using a figure of speech.

(For new developments in the Treasurer scandal CLICK HERE and HERE.)

One of our 50 (state capitols) is missing: It was surprising to read an article in The Salt Lake City Tribune about Gov. Bill Richardson and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman’s joint announcement of their proposed early Western-state presidential primary.

“On Tuesday, Utah's Republican and Democratic legislative leaders, chairmen from both major parties and the governor and several staffers flew to Albuquerque for a news conference,” the story said.

I was there. But I could have sworn I was in Santa Fe.

"THERE'S NO STOPPING PAT ..."

Looks like the special session of the Legislature is about to shut down. I've got way too much to do to pay any attention to music biz press releases. But this is disturbing enough that I have to share in its entirety:

PAT BOONE CELEBRATES HIS 50TH YEAR IN SHOW BUSINESS WITH MULTIPLE-GENRE ALBUM RELEASES PLANNED


Legendary crooner Pat Boone celebrates 50 years in music in 2005 and 2006 with releases planned in multiple genres ranging from country to gospel to R&B to Latin to Celtic. In 2005 alone, Mr. Boone has released and album of patriotic songs, American Glory, a collection of country tunes, Ready to Rock, and a soon-to-be classic gospel album, Glory Train: The Lost Tapes, released in September to qualify for Grammy and Gospel Music Association consideration.

Given his youthful appearance and demeanor, it's hard to believe that Pat first topped the charts back in 1955 with a cover of Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame." Over the years, Pat maintained his pop icon status by continually surprising people with his innovative and original take on covers (remember 1997's In a Metal Mood?) and original tunes.

Pat is still knocking 'em dead at radio (and video), as well. The singles "NASCAR Time" and "Thank You, Billy Graham," are accumulating impressive airplay at stations and outlets around the country while his song "Still Waters Run Deep" has been a smash with the 'stepping' crowd in Chicago. "NASCAR Time," the lead track from his upcoming country album, Ready to Rock, is Pat's tribute to America's favorite pastime and all its major racetracks, at which Pat has made several appearances this year alone.

"Thank You, Billy Graham." is a star-studded homage to America's pastor, Billy Graham. The video, which is included with every copy of Pat's gospel album, Glory Train: The Lost Tapes, features contributions from Bono, Leann Rimes, Michael McDonald, Andre Crouch, and tv talk-show host Larry King.

There's no stopping Pat as he rolls into his 51st year of performing. 2006 heralds the release of a love song collection entitled Hopeless Romantic. The ballad-heavy album will feature "Waltz for the Lonely," a song he wrote with guitar great Chet Atkins that includes Atkins' last recorded performance before his death. Hopeless Romantic also includes "You Make My Life a Song", co-written with Paul Williams as Pat's 50th anniversary present to Pat's beloved wife, Shirley. The first single "Still Waters Run Deep" is already a radio hit at AC and Urban formats.

His Spring 2006 release, We Are Family, will be a twist on the Frank Sinatra "Duets" concept featuring covers of R&B classics recorded with their original performers. Included are performances by Smokey Robinson ("Tears of a Clown"), the Four Tops ("I Can't Help Myself"), Kool & the Gang ("Celebration"), KC & the Sunshine Band ("Get Down Tonight"), Sam Moore ("Soul Man"), Sister Sledge (on the title tune), Earth, Wind & Fire ("That's the Way of the World"), Ray Parker Jr. ("A Woman Needs Love") and what Boone calls the piece de resistance, with James Brown doing "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Lest he not touch a genre with his talent, Pat also penned a rap song he performs with rap legend, Kool Moe Dee.

Boone's calling this effort "my big finale, a musical fireworks display," and insists he intends to stop touring next year - though he knows better than to say "never." "If something comes up that I need to do after that, of course I can do it," he says. "But I do consider this just a giant thanks and farewell."

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, October 9, 2005
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M.
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell

OPENING THEME: Let it Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres
I Wanna Hotdog For My Roll by Butterbeans & Susie
Hotdog (Watch Me Eat) by The Detroit Cobras
Stop Breaking Down by The White Stripes
Rich by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
No Regrets by The Von Bondies
Baby Let Me Take You Home by The Animals
Your Momma by BigUglyGuys
Nutbush City Limits by Nashville Pussy
Hanky Panky by Tommy James & The Shondells

Chariot Wheels by Nancy Apple & Rob McNulty
Tied Up by Cordell Jackson
Red Hot by Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs
Livin' For the City by The Dirtbombs
Captain Kelly's Kitchen by Dropkick Murphys
Mississippi Boll Weevil by North Mississippi Allstars
The Saga of Jesse Jane by Alice Cooper
The Bucket by Kings of Leon
Incense & Peppermints by The Strawberry Alarm Clock

The Chain by Fleetwood Mac
Dreams by Yo La Tengo
What Makes You Think You're the One by Twilight Singers
Silver Spring by Fleetwood Mac
Landslide by Smashing Pumpkins
Tusk by Fleetwood Mac

Laughin' and Clownin' by Sam Cooke
Stranded by Van Morrison
City in the Sky by The Staples Singers
Find Me Now by The Reigning Sound
Star Bodies by The New Pornographers
Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon by The Jefferson Starship
CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis

I DO NOT CRUISE FOR TRANSVESTITES IN AN EXPENSIVE SPORTS CAR

My friend Dana sent me the link to this amazing E-Bay auction.

Indeed, sometimes the stories behind the auction are better than the actual product being auctioned.

(This one's not going to be up for long so you'd better CHECK IT OUT FAST)

NO OPRY PLAYLIST

As I mentioned earlier, I didn't do The Santa Fe Opry last night. I was being held hostage in this big round building.

I did escape my captors in time to hear most of the show, hosted last night by the ever capable Laurell Reynolds.

She did a great job as usual, though she played a couple of songs that I almost certainly wouldn't have -- "Cook Yer Enchiladas" and "Brother to the Bear" by Steve Terrell. I'm not sure, but this might be the first time "Brother to the Bear" -- based on a story an inmate serving a life sentence told me 20-some years ago -- has ever been played on the radio.

Anywho, you can find what kept me from my radio show -- my recent contributions to the ongoing Robert Vigil saga -- HERE and HERE.

I'll be back at KSFR for Terrell's Sound World 10 p.m. Sunday.

Now go give some money to the KSFR fund drive!

IMPEACHMENT PROCESS STARTS, HANG ON TO YOUR PENS

You can find a lovely photo of me chewing on a pen with my story about the new House panel looking at the possible impeachment of State Treasurer Robert Vigil in today's New Mexican.