Comments on: Speaker Lujan calls lawmaker ‘racist’

By: cmechels

cmechels — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:14:47 +0000

This exchange serves as an example of why we NEED open conference committees. It is in these meetings that "horse trading" takes place, with secret deals getting approved that could not pass the legislature.

Ben Lujan is a POS, who used "racist" to slander Smith. Like Jews who yell "anti Semetic" whenever you try to talk about their murderous actions in Palestine. A way to stop/deflect a conversation on the merits of an issue.

Lujan is, sadly, my Representative, so I am very familiar with him. I find him quite sleazy, with many "favors" for his friends, and turning up to block progressive legislation, such as effective campaign finance reform. A corrupt example of the "patron" system.

Lujan is an example of the worst kind of NM politician, and our failure to deal with it. Until we deal with him, and the corruption, we will remain mired at the bottom of most measures of effective government.

By: cmechels

cmechels — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:14:47 +0000

By: cmechels

cmechels — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:14:47 +0000

By: cmechels

cmechels — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:14:47 +0000

By: frankstein

frankstein — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:58:38 +0000

Speaker Lujan should be asked again, why he was making a claim of racism. The only way I could see what John Arthur Smith said as racist, is if Speaker Lujan thinks that the words, “cloud of suspicion,” are racially charged by the convictions of prominent hispanic former elected officials Robert Vigil, Michael Montoya, and Manny Aragon, whose actions also were under a cloud of suspicion. If that's what the speaker is getting at, then that would suggest he believes those prosecutions to be racially motivated as well.

The bottom line is that when the Speaker of the New Mexico State Legislature makes a claim of racism, that claim has to be looked at seriously. in this case, it's hard for me to take the speaker seriously, and raises the question of who the real racist is here?

By: Hemingway

Hemingway — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:24:48 +0000

Mr. Ben Lujan should resign and go teach at his self serving The Ben Lujan Leadership and Public Policy Institute at New Mexico Highlands University. He has sold his soul to lobbyists like Suncal! His antics as Speaker of the House are frustrating for New Mexicans. The House needs new responsible leadership!!!!!!!!!!!

By: JoMa

JoMa — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:07:41 +0000

Wonder how much that “constituent” donated to Lujan's campaign? Seriously, does anyone think they would get a private “low cost” financing deal from the state *without* being “one of the boys?

We get the kind of government we deserve.

By: Hemingway

Hemingway — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:22:47 +0000

Smithism and Lujanism should be driven out of the Roundhouse. Lobbyists control them totally, and they Senator Smith and Representative Lujan work hard for their campaign money while New Mexicans suffer! Show me the money is their mantra!!!!!!!!!

By: Bubelo

Bubelo — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:02:21 +0000

So who is the “private developer”? Why won't the “New Mexico Independent” publish that name? Are they not as “independent” as they say they are?

By: kmcdevitt

kmcdevitt — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:29:51 +0000

The more I learn about our legislature, the more petty, childish, incompetent and self-serving they all seem. It's no wonder nothing ever seems to get done. Between the infighting and the overweening influence of the Church, it's a wonder the state functions at all.