VANISHING ACT

A lot of reporters were looking forward to asking Gov. Bill Richardson at a press conference this afternoon about the CDR/GRIP grand jury. One TV station reportedly was even running promos about that.

However, right after announcing a new solar facility in Belen and taking a few questions about that project, Richardson announced the conference was over and bolted out of the room, ignoring questions about the grand jury.

Ironically, the new solar project will be part of the Rancho Cielo project, right off a planned new interchange off I-25. That interchange prompted news stories a couple of years ago because the developers, RS Investments, now known as Coast Range Investments contributed $75,000 to Richardson's 2006 re-election campaign.

Richardson might think questions about this will go away if he just ignores the questions. But I don't think so.

Here's the official news release on the new solar production facility:

Governor Bill Richardson Announces Signet Solar to Build Production Facility in Belen Creating 600 Jobs

SANTA FE-Governor Bill Richardson today announced Signet Solar will build the company’s first North American solar panel production facility in Belen. The first phase of the plant will bring 200 high-wage jobs to the state and is scheduled to begin operations in 2010. Signet’s long-term plans call for expansion and the creation of a total of 600 jobs.

“As Governor, I’ve been dedicated to making New Mexico a national leader of renewable energy and the creation of green jobs,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “At a time of economic uncertainty, this project will create hundreds of jobs and reaffirm New Mexico as a clean energy state and major player in our nation’s effort build a new clean energy economy.”

The Signet facility will produce large area thin-film silicon photovoltaic modules for commercial rooftop and ground mounted solar power systems. The first phase of the plant will have an annual production capacity of 65MW — enough to power approximately 20,000 homes. Long-term plans call to increase production capacity to 300MW per year with a 600,000 square foot production facility.

“New Mexico was an obvious starting point for Signet Solar’s expansion into the growing US renewable energy market,” said Rajeeva Lahri, Signet Solar’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Under Governor Richardson’s leadership, New Mexico has demonstrated commitment to renewable energy through public-private partnerships, leveraging its skilled workforce and world class research institutions.”

The 75-acre facility is situated 30 minutes south of Albuquerque on Rancho Cielo, a Coast Range Investments property in Belen. Signet will be the first company to set up manufacturing in the 6,000 acre Rancho Cielo master planned industrial and residential community. Rancho Cielo plans to use Signet panels on a 700 acre solar farm designed to meet the majority of power requirements of the Rancho Cielo community.

“Partnering with Signet Solar, we are excited about bringing such high quality jobs to Belen and the possibility of creating a sustainable green city in New Mexico,” said Jim Foster, Managing Partner of Coast Range Investment.

Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Signet is the first mover in large area silicon thin film silicon PV technology. Signet began shipping product to customers from its first plant near Dresden, Germany in October of this year. The company has already installed several commercial rooftop and ground mounted systems in the region. Signet’s large-area thin-film silicon PV technology will bring down the cost of solar power and can be used for solar farms, large commercial installations, building integrated photovoltaics and remote habitation.

THE GRIP GRAND JURY

The federal investigation into the Beverly Hills financial firm that won a $1.5 million contract with the state after contributing to political action committees associated with Gov. Bill Richardson is starting to get some national attention.

Here's the Bloomberg story, which on Monday broke the news that a federal grands jury is hearing evidence. The Washington Post followed suit. Here's my own story, which admittedly doesn't break any new ground.

The conservative National Review blog comes out and asks the question, "Could President-elect Obama soon have to look for a new commerce secretary?"

My feeling, at this time is that Richardson will be confirmed, but the Republicans will make him sweat at the hearings. Between this and the Wen Ho Lee issue, Richardson might pine during the hearings for the good old days when his biggest worry was spatting with the state Senate.

DOMENICI'S PRESS OFFICE GOES DARK

Chris Gallegos, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici's longtime (20 years-plus!) press guy just sent what's probably his last press release announcing his office is "going dark."

He attached a spoof press release that was sent to the Domenici staff four years ago.

From: Letourneau, Matthew (DOMENICI)
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 3:28 PM
Subject: NEWS: Domenici Press Office Goes Dark

NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST CONTACT: MATT LETOURNEAU

APRIL 23, 2004 (202) 224-7098

DOMENICI PRESS OFFICE GOES DARK

Press Staff Issues No Press Releases

WASHINGTON – For the first time in memory, the Press Office of U.S. Senator Pete Domenici did not issue a single press release today.

The successful experiment was considered by many to be impossible.

Chief of Staff Steve Bell had ordered the press office to cease and desist sending out releases in order to see what the impact on the Earth’s equilibrium would be.

Thus far, aside for emotional and physical problems affecting Press Secretary Chris Gallegos, no major changes in the Earth’s atmosphere have been reported.

However, Gallegos, a fifteen year veteran of Domenici’s staff, is showing signs of trauma. Today alone, he lost a substantial amount of blood, and was seen staring at pictures of Domenici as a child, as well as exhibiting signs of belligerent behavior, such as yelling “It ain’t a desert, its paradise!” at the television when a CNN report featuring FLETC-Artesia referred to the area as a desert.

“We’re worried about Chris,” said Deputy Press Secretary Matt Letourneau. “This is new for him. Instead of eating, Chris writes press releases. We’re just not sure where he will be getting his nourishment today.”

It is not known whether the Press Office will resume its policy of blanketing New Mexico with press releases Monday.
--30--

A GOOD WAY TO START OFF THE WEEK

If the little devil on my left shoulder made me play that Charles Manson song on Sound World last night, the little angel on my right should is making me post this.

(Actually, thanks to my old friend J.D. Haring, who used to play music around here under the name of Malix, for turning me on to this.)

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, December 14, 2008
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M.
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell
101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell@ksfr.org

OPENING THEME: Let it Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres
Big Shoe Head by Buick MacKane
Madhouse by Barrence Whitfield & The Savages
We Are Rising by Mudhoney
Sylvia Plath by The Rockin' Guys
Black Gang Coffee by Mike Watt
Dirty Hands by The Black Lips
U.S. Blues by The Harshed Mellows

Drunk Guy on the Train by Deadbolt
Night Train by James Brown
Phantom Train by Charlie Pickett
Angel Baby by Roky Erikson
Sherlock Holmes by The Dirtbombs
Shiney Hiney/You're All I Want For Christmas by The Fleshtones
Sneaky Jesus by Chuck E. Weiss
There's a New Sound by Tony Burrello

Teenage Prostitute by Frank Zappa
The Warlord by Mike Edison & The Rocket Train Delta Science Arkestra
Coffee Train by David Thomas & The Wooden Birds
Mussolini vs. Stalin by Gogol Bordello
99th Floor by The Fuzztones
Wrestling Rock 'n' Roll Girl by Lightning Beat-Man
Jailbait by Andre Williams & Green Hornet
The Holy Spirit by Rev. Lonnie Farris
Jingle Bells by The Electric Prunes

Rake at the Gates of Hell by Shane MacGowan & The Popes
La Llorna by Beirut
Crying by TV on the Radio
Better Off Alone by The Black Angels
People Say I'm No Good by Charles Manson
My Beloved Movie Star by Stan Ridgway
Can't You See I'm Soulful by Eleni Mandell
CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis

HE MAY BE A LAME DUCK, BUT HE SURE CAN DUCK!

Here's a story about the incident CLICK HERE.

THE SANTA FE OPRY PLAYLIST

Friday, December 12, 2008
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Fridays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell
101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell@ksfr.org

OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens & The Buckaroos
SPECIAL!!!
RAIL RUNNER TRAIN SONG TRIBUTE
Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotton
Rock Island Line by Devil in a Woodpile & Jane Baxter Miller
Take the "A" Train by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
Choo Choo Cha Boogie by Louis Jordan
Stop the Train by Mother Earth
Night Train to Memphis by Roy Acuff
Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash
Glendale Train by The New Riders of the Purple Sage
A Train Robbery by Levon Helm

Waiting for a Train by Jerry Lee Lewis
The Train Carrying Jimmie Rodgers Home by Iris DeMent
The Brakeman's Blues by Jimmie Rodgers
Love Train by The Yayhoos
I've Been to Georgia on a Fast Train by Billy Joe Shaver
Train Round the Bend by The Velvet Underground
Railroad Shuffle by Jerry J. Nixon
Lightning Express by The Everly Brothers
Lamy Train Ride by Tom Adler

New Delhi Freight Train by Terry Allen
The Train Song by The Flying Burrito Brothers
Railroad Bill by Dave Alvin
Train Kept a Rollin' by Johnny Burnett & The Rock 'n' Roll Trio
Morning Train by Precious Bryant
Hobo Love Song by Split Lip Rayfield
I'm a Hobo by Danny Reeves
Big Railroad Blues by Cannon's Jug Stompers

I Heard That Lonesome Whistle by Townes Van Zandt
Ramblin' Man by Hank Williams
Slow Train Comin' by Bob Dylan & The Grateful Dead
Last Train from Poor Valley by Norman Blake
Love in Vain by Robert Johnson
Train of Life by Roger Miller
Train Song by The Holmes Brothers
Down There by The Train by Tom Waits
CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets

Steve Terrell is proud to report to the monthly Freeform American Roots Radio list

TERRELL'S TUNEUP: CHRISTMAS CDs

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
December 12, 2008

Note: I didn't actually do a column this week, but I contributed these reviews to the Christmas music review section.

Little Steven’s Underground Garage Presents Christmas a Go Go by Various Artists (Wicked Cool Records) On the heels of Little Steven’s Halloween a Go Go compilation comes this pretty diverse Christmas collection featuring lots of good old guitar rock, a smattering of gritty soul, and even a couple of Golden Throats-style novelties.

Keith Richards does a decent job on Chuck Berry’s way-overcovered “Run Rudolph Run,” while The Chesterfield Kings sound acceptably like The Rolling Stones aping Chuck Berry on “Hey, Santa Claus.” (It’s actually a Chesterfields original.)

The Brian Setzer Orchestra breezes through “Santa Drives a Hot Rod” with their signature neo-swing treatment. And a reconstituted Electric Prunes fuzz up “Jingle Bells,” declaring Christmas “the most psychedelic time of the year” with “all those colored flashing lights. A guy flying around in the sky with animals. Elves. And then there’s those bells.”

Those of us who are into these sorts of guilty-pleasure treasures should love Joe Pesci’s “If It Doesn’t Snow on Christmas” (He’s funny. Like a clown.) and Soupy Sales’ “Santa Claus Is Surfin’ to Town.” (If you have to ask who Soupy Sales is, look him up on YouTube.) And there’s a goofy melding of “Silent Night” and “Norwegian Wood” by a group calling itself “The Fab Four.” If you like the Phil Spector “wall of sound,” there’s plenty of that, the best of which is Spector survivor Darlene Love’s “All Alone on Christmas.”

But the real delights of this album are a couple of Southern-fried Santa songs by soul shouters Rufus Thomas (“I’ll Be Your Santa, Baby”) and Clarence Carter (the double-entendre heavy “Back Door Santa”) as well as a Bob Seger rarity “Sock It to Me, Santa,” which sounds more like an ode to fellow Michigander Mitch Ryder than to Mr. Claus.


* Stocking Stuffer by The Fleshtones(Yep Roc Records) I can’t believe that just a few months after releasing one of my favorite albums of the year, Take a Good Look, The Fleshtones — that veteran garage rock (or as they call it, “super rock”) band from Queens, New York — are back with another album. This time it’s a Christmas album. There are 11 quickies here in a fast-moving shebang that lasts less than a half-hour.

The songs include “Christmas With Bazooka Joe” (bubble-gum music in the truest sense); “Champagne of Christmas”; “Six White Boomers,” a yuletide tribute to AC/DC (boomers, as an Aussie voice explains at the start of the song, are kangaroos); and, of course, “Super Rock Santa.” Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” isn’t a very original choice as I mentioned in the Christmas a Go Go review. But The Fleshtones make the best of it.

I do dig the Joe Meek/Del Shannon “Runaway” organ in the opening number “Hurray for Santa Claus.” The last song, “In Midnight’s Silence,” is actually a religious song. True, the band sounds like Catholic schoolboys who have slowed it down under threats from a ruler-yielding nun. But Stocking Stuffer still sounds supercool.

LEAVE THE CAPITOL!

I had to split from my office at the state Capitol this afternoon about 3:30 p.m. or so due to an envelope containing white powder found at the governor's office about an hour before.

Read my Web bulletin at The New Mexican site HERE

The guy first who told me about the situation, KOB reporter Gadi Schwartz, later was quarantined and forced to be scrubbed and bleached. Gadi reported that he got to show in Bill Richardson's personal shower. Big Time!

Ironically on Wednesday — a day before the envelope arrived at the Roundhouse — I asked Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos about the governor receiving a white powder in the mail. This was because a Rhode Island news Web site erroneously had reported Richardson among the governors to receive such a package. Gallegos said Wednesday the publication must have heard about a similar 2005 incident at our state capitol.

No word yet whether the powder is toxic or not.

ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDUP: DRUGS FROM FRANCE

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
December 11, 2008

Four years before Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested for alleged corruption, he and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson were partners in a deal involving exports from France.

But it’s not as sinister as it sounds.

Blagojevich, according to a Nov. 5, 2004, report in this newspaper, had arranged to buy 300,000 flu vaccine shots from Aventis Pasteur’s manufacturing plant in France. Richardson arranged to piggyback on that deal and purchase 150,000 doses for New Mexico.

The two governors announced that plan at a teleconference. New Mexico reporters were invited to listen in at the Governor’s Office.

I missed that event. But I was one of only two reporters to attend a news conference about six months later in which Richardson welcomed Eliot Spitzer, then running for governor of New York. Spitzer was in town for a $500-a-ticket fundraiser at the home of his friend, art-gallery owner Gerald Peters. The main thing I remember about that event was Spitzer joking about the large marble table in Richardson’s Cabinet Room.

“Where does King Arthur sit?” quipped the later-to-be-disgraced Spitzer.

Spitzer resigned in March after The New York Times exposed his involvement with a prostitution service.

Blagojevich is still governor — as of Wednesday evening as I write this — despite his arrest on multiple charges of corruption, including a scheme to sell, to the highest bidder, the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Obama on Wednesday called on Blagojevich to resign as governor. Previously he called upon Richardson to resign as governor of New Mexico — to become U.S. Commerce Department secretary.

In fairness to Richardson, who served two terms as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, he’s met with many governors, the overwhelming majority of which have not ended up in crazy scandals.

But we in New Mexico should be grateful to Blagojevich. Not just for the flu shots, but for whipping up an alleged corruption scheme that makes Robert Vigil and Manny Aragon seem like amateurs.

Looking out for No. 2: Most of the media speculation about who Lt. Gov. Diane Denish might choose for her replacement has centered around State Auditor Hector Balderas, state Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, and Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments. That is, assuming Richardson is confirmed as commerce secretary and Denish moves on to the Governor’s Office.

But, according to one Roundhouse rumor, a dark horse might be high on Denish’s list for lieutenant governor: Veterans Affairs Secretary John Garcia.

Garcia, as keen observers might recall, is the one cabinet member who appeared with Denish at that Albuquerque news conference when the talk of Bill Richardson becoming commerce secretary first broke. Those hoping for Garcia’s appointment speculate Republicans in 2010 might nominate Heather Wilson for governor, who is likely to stress veterans’ issues. Garcia on the ticket could help blunt that, his fans say.

Garcia is a Vietnam vet who served from 1969 to 1970. He was deputy chief of staff for Gov. Bruce King and later secretary of the Economic Development Department. Prior to his time in state government, Garcia’s headed the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

Denish, who appointed a transition team Wednesday, consistently has said it’s too early to be talking about her choice for lieutenant governor.

Speaking of the Commerce appointment: A former Richardson press aide this week wrote a column for McClatchy Newspapers about the governor taking on the new position, predicting big things for both Richardson and the Department of Commerce.

The writer is Richard Parker, who worked for Richardson during his congressional years.

Despite his former employment by Richardson, Parker said in his piece that “I am no cheerleader for Richardson.” He says he endured “several years of contentious coverage of him for the Albuquerque Journal.”

But he does sound a little like a cheerleader here.

“Ambitious even for a politician, Richardson will likely seek to transform the job and position himself as the most public Cabinet figure in righting the domestic economic disaster and transforming international trade. In doing so, he will form ties here and abroad that may ultimately write his biography in political history as a senior statesman, if never a president. As a result, more people may be affected by the new secretary than any other Cabinet figure.”

Parker wrote, “Richardson is as much a realist as a careerist. It seems likely that he has arranged with the president-elect to lift the commerce post out of obscurity and into an ‘A’ position, effectively and even formally alongside state, defense, treasury and others. And that means activism. Further, when you consider the other economic appointments, none is as capable, or likely willing, to be a public point man as Richardson.

“As an ambitious politician he may be able to get to the vice presidency, say, but more likely emerge as an elder statesman, probably with a lot of cushy, corporate board seats, too.”