Kerry completes a ride, but motorists were still fuming back in New Mexico

Presidential candidate John Kerry noted on his web site last week he “completed one of the most incredible journeys of my life. In the fifteen days following the Democratic convention, on our “Believe in America Tour,” John Edwards and I traveled over 8,180 miles, through 22 states on 43 buses, 17 train cars, 7 helicopters, 3 airplanes, and even one boat” – but not everyone was happy.

The Santa Fe New Mexican and The AP reported on August 13 Kerry’s whistle-stop tour through New Mexico left Bill Carlis and other drivers wondering what happened to their vehicles.

Carlis’ truck, parked the previous week at the Amtrak lot in downtown Albuquerque, wasn’t there when he returned from a trip to Philadelphia on Monday evening (the 23rd).

He had no warning that the Secret Service had it towed when Kerry, John Edwards and their families arrived by train Saturday. The group spent the night before heading west the next day.

“The whole thing was unbelievably disconcerting,” said Carlis, who had no easy way to get home to Silver City after finding that his truck was gone. He had to make arrangements and pay $106 to get his truck back.

Eight to 10 cars were towed from the Amtrak lot, according to the company that moved the cars for Albuquerque police and the Secret Service.

Angelo Padilla, manager of the towing company, said “Just about everyone who walked in the door” was upset about getting back from vacation and finding their cars not there.

Carlis said he doesn’t blame the Kerry campaign but faults Amtrak. “They were totally nonchalant and indifferent to our turmoil… People were fuming,” he said.

Carlis had asked before parking his car last week whether it was okay to leave it there. He said Amtrak employees told him yes. A local Amtrak employee referred questions to a spokeswoman in Oakland, Calif., who couldn’t be reached for comment.

Carlis filed a complaint and said an Amtrak official planned to issue a voucher to make it up to him.

Bush can ensure victory in New Mexico in Three Steps:

1. In Albuquerque or Farmington give a speech about how the EPA has a responsibility to protect animals, but should do so rationally and responsibly and not at the expense of the people of New Mexico by draining precious resevoires and jepordizing future water supplies. Speak how water policy will be as important as energy policy and should be developed now! From there Seg into how the Natural Gas of New Mexico as a clean fuel has an important role to play in the energy policies of the future.

2. In Los Alamos Stump (pun intended) on his Wildfire speech and point out how he wants to stop our forests from going up in smoke by sensible forest management, rather than shrugging off modern wildfire as a "natural" part of the ecosystem. Hold up the Native Americans in praise for their stewardship of their lands. Thank the men of the Mescalero Apache tribe for risking their lives each summer around the country fighting wildfires. Also thank the citizens of New Mexico for their support of science and the Federal Lab systems, ensure them this long standing role as a backbone of research is one that will only expand under his leadership.

3. In Las Cruces(My home town! Given in spanish which he speaks well) Talk about how the family is the core, and how he believes faith based and community organizations, ones own neighbors and family can help those in need better than welfare and the federal government. Speak to how he would like to promote the family, the values of the people of New Mexico. Thank those members of the military throughout the state protecting our freedom. Thank the citizens of the state for providing much research, and land for training our soldiers and developing new sources of security like Missile Defense. Thank New Mexico for its largely un-publicized and important role in space exploration. Lastly thank New Mexico for Green Chili!

When in New Mexico be seen eating a Green Chili Cheeseburger at the Owl cafe (preferably in San Antonio). Be heard conversing in spanish. Wear a bolo tie or no tie. Do not reference Texas, no matter how badly you want to talk about your ranch in crawford. Do not talk about immigration at all ever. And try not to make any Aggie jokes, wrong aggies anyway... but do talk about Brian Urlacher and Notah Begay.

-- l8s
-- jrawk

LOL!! Something similar happend to my hubby and me in Ft. Lee NJ back in 1981. We'd gone camping in VT for the weekend with a friend, and left our car parked on the street in front of his house. It was legal parking, so we didn't think anything about it.

We returned on Sunday night, and the car wasn't there. Hubby called the police and reported it stolen. That's when they informed him that it was towed because it was parked in a No Parking zone. When hubby told them where it had been, and that it WAS a legal parking place, they informed him that during the weekend, the former police chief's funeral had been held at a nearby church and the police put up No Parking signs along the street. Of course, we'd never have known that because we weren't in town. Nevertheless, we had to pay $50 to get the car out of impound, and go out to West Hell NJ to spring it!

"Eight to 10 cars were towed from the Amtrak lot, according to the company that moved the cars for Albuquerque police and the Secret Service."

"...pay $106 to get his truck back"

Amendment V

"No person shall be ...be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."

Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21 (1991) — State officers may be held personally liable for damages based upon actions taken in their official capacities.

Soldal v. Cook County, 506 U.S. 56 (1992) — State or local officials who stand by or protect an unlawful eviction or seizure are liable for damages under 42 USC 1983.

Unless I received proper compensation promptly for the towing charges, I would sue and own the Alburqueque police officer's involved with the "SS" pensions, homes, savings accounts, children's college education money, and garnish their wages for their unlawful behavior.

Then I would file a federal suit against the "SS" for being deprived of my property without due process.

Didn't the Nazi's have a secret police with "SS" as the acronym?

Yes he is a Navajo who has gone on to become a Pro on the PGA. He actually went to college and played on the team with Tiger Woods and has won tournaments. Anyone from New Mexico who makes it into national light becomes a State Hero. New Mexico sometimes has an inferiority complex, although secrectly they love being overlooked or mistaken for a Mexican territory.

Hillerman is one of my favorite writers. I would encourage you to read through the entire series featuring the Navajo Tribal Police. You will learn much about the culture of North West New Mexico.

Easy reads, there are three movies made from the books as well. 1 Hollywood movie starring Lou Diamond Phillips, and 2 PBS movies from the Great Performances show. None of them despite being filmed on location actually capture the true character of the area. The tried hard, but even with a Native American cast they really didn't quite get it right.

-- lates
-- jrawk

Now I don't want to start a flame war, but we had a saying growing up for those days when you were nearing 110 degrees. It went like this:

Las Cruces so far from heaven, so close to El Paso.

We were literally taught in school to not like Texas, but Texas is so big and generally obstinent (and I must confess I am now a Texan living in Austin) that they have not even noticed a rivalry with New Mexico. It is a one way unrequitted bitterness which only ascerbates the situation.

This is not a history lesson, though it sounds like one. You should recognize that the history about to be laid out is one of legend, tradition and stories told by old men out on porches. Accuracy or actuality is not important anymore... Also it is my theory, many may not share it, the further North and the further west you go in the state the less I have found New Mexicans subscribe.

Here is my story:

Thus it begins, the Rio Grande created a geography of two sides, and much followed from that. In old american history the tigua, the comanche, and other Texas Tribes used to raid the Pueblo and Navajo taking any unfortunate soul who could not get inside and pull the ladders up as a hostage.

As territories of Mexico one became independant before the other. Thus placing us on opposite sides of a war once again. There were many attempts by Texan "armies" to take Santa Fe and the Mexican state of New Mexico.

Upon Annexation there was a bitter battle as to the lines of Texas and New Mexico. Many Texans really thought the western lines of Texas should follow the Rio Grande North to Colorado. (some further) This as you will see never really died.

As the "great war" came, Texas fought on the side of the south, New Mexico on the side of the North. There was one civil war battle fought at Glorietta in Northern New Mexico.

As agrarian states New Mexico being upstream led to many bitter negotiations over water and West Texas.

Come the railroad New Mexico aggravated Texas by winning the Gadsden Purchase. Not only did we get that sliver of land but it came with bonus silver and uranium mines.

As Texas boomed with oil, New Mexico remained New Mexico. A little known chapter is one where a group of Western Counties in Texas threatened to seceed to New Mexico to avoid Texas Taxes. They were of course encoraged.

A Texan will often regard a New Mexican as a Mexican. This turns even more sour if you are hispanic (which for disclosure I am not by blood, but may be by geographic proximity.) It is easily forgotten by a Texan that you and your family may have been living in New Mexico for 1000 years, where as he is actually from Michigan and moved to Houston in 1975 to avoid the growing rust belt.

Then there is football... you have a rivalry, we are a laughing stock used by UT as a 75-0 warm up each season. They fool people into going to the game by billing it as UT vs Aggies and forgetting to tell that it is the New Mexico State Aggies.

Lastly there is always a few too many Texans who in winter abuse our mountains wearing jeans, chaps and a cowboy hat skiing far to fast in what is generally regarded as the "Texas Death Wedge."

Thus the one way rivalry exists and festers. There is rarely a poll, or stat or forbes list where New Mexico places above Texas. They are our obnoxious more successful brother in law who flaunts their wealth. We would care less exept they visit so often on the Holidays.

Thus Bush should not flaunt his Texas heritage as it will sour many to think of giving Texas one more feather in her cap. The good news is, as much as a New Mexican may flinch to pull the lever for a Texan, they would become downright ill to pull it for a North Eastern Blue Blood Trust Fund Baby like the type that infect and have fully spoiled Santa Fe.

-- lates
-- jrawk

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