I see Patricia Madrid has launched a balloon, but unlike her opponent, Congresswoman Heather Wilson, this one's not filled with hot air. (Sorry; I can't resist puns, especially when they're accurate.)
For those of you who haven't checked out the banner on the right, Patricia Madrid is a Democrat running in New Mexico's First Congressional District. Currently the seat is held by Heather Wilson, a Tom DeLay crony who's managed to convince Albuquerque's blue voters she's purple. Despite her claims of moderation, she's voted with Bush, DeLay, and the rabid right-wing Republicans (okay, I love alliteration too) right down the line.
In fact, Bush was just in town, raising money for Heather and providing some pretty photo ops. Those of you who've been following Bush's diving poll numbers know fewer and fewer Republican candidates are willing to stand anywhere near Bush when there's a telephoto lens in the vicinity. But Wilson's scared. Patricia Madrid is a great candidate, one who is genuinely liked by the voters of New Mexico. She doesn't have to pretend to be purple; she's a true blue Dem.
And Bush owes Heather Wilson, big time. (Yeah, Cheney and his oil cronies too.) Heather's voted against royalty relief limits for oil companies, she's voted against increased fuel efficiency standards, she's voted FOR drilling in the ANWR, and voted FOR the Energy Bill that subsidized oil companies. (Right, "subsidies for oil companies" is not an oxymoron in Heather's world.)
In fact, the League of Conservation Voters named Wilson to its prestigious Dirty Dozen list on account of her filthy voting record. (She shares the list with Katherine Harris, Rick Santorum, and others.)
Not only is Heather Wilson's balloon filled with hot air, it's polluted hot air, full of climate-affecting carbon. She's accepted almost $400,000 in contributions from oil and gas companies. It's hard to vote responsibly on the environment when you're stuffed in the back pocket of oil companies.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Madrid has done her best to clean up the filthy air Wilson has helped create. As Attorney General, she's interpreted the federal Clean Air Act in the strictest way possible, in fact, the state of New Mexico joined a lawsuit against the EPA for violating its own Clean Air Act by rewriting the rules to allow utility companies to increase emissions.
Patricia Madrid's balloon, which she launched to raise money for her campaign against Heather Wilson, is scheduled to come down at midnight June 30. It's almost full—the aim was to raise $7000, and she's raised $6,655.04 already. ($.04?! Which one of you did that?)
You can read about Patricia Madrid's campaign here and you can help fill the balloon here. (If you're an oil company executive, however, you may wish to contribute to the other campaign. Patricia Madrid plans to say no when you ask for favors once she's in Congress.)
