Free Reads

 I look forward at the beginning of. each month to the new issue of The New York Review of Books.  I access the publication online through our local library's Overdrive collection of books and magazines.  A fortuitous benefit of that accessibility is that I can make use of my old color-screen Kindle Fire tablet which Amazon has crippled to prohibit direct downloads.  The library poses no such restriction, and I can even use it to borrow books with an easy work-around.

To borrow books using the old Kindle I first access the library site on my computer which allows me to borrow a book without restriction.  With the Safari browser on my Kindle Fire I then go to my library account page, select "Loans" and choose the available option to read the book online. 

I read The New Yorker the same way each week, but these days seldom find articles of interest to me.  The Review, however, always has at least a couple book reviews that are  beautifully written.  

The first article this month by Michael Greenberg, Whose Party, succinctly explores the dilemma of the Democratic Party establishment in coming to grips with the explosive growth of its progressive wing, populated mostly by adherents of the Democratic Socialists of America.  The take-down of long-time insider James Carville's scowling complaint about progressives is beautiful.

Further on in the same issue Alma Guillermoprieto brilliantly reviews several books about the life and career of everyone's favorite Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, in Fridas for Everyone.

Frida - Self Portrait

Mañana De Nuevo

Yesterday for lunch.  Today for dinner.  This new place is too convenient at just two blocks from the house.

 Today was two Carnitas Tacos (slow cooked pork shoulder, guacamole, pineapple, cilantro),  plus a can of Modelo Negra.

New In the Plaza Vieja

Making The Team

New Mexico's Democratic Party Central Committee conducted a four-day electronic election to finally choose Stephanie Garcia Richard as Deb Haaland's running mate; she took 53% of the vote. Pope Jr. got 46%, showing a significant - if not commanding - strength of the Democratic Socialists who backed the State Senator. 

Insider reports on the progress of the selection process were notably sparse.  Joe Monahan has not yet offered any analysis. 

Santa Fe New Mexican

The Battle for Democracy

 New Mexico Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury made a presentation this morning at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.  It was an upbeat pep talk in support of the Democratic race for control of the House.

Stansbury talked non-stop for about half and hour, explaining what House Democrats have been doing to combat Trump's chaos.  She also provided a succinct review of similar periods of history which were even more chaotic, and which were preludes to progressive political and social advancements.

I recall not being impressed with Stansbury's speaking in the early phase of her career, but it seems to me now she is extraordinarily articulate and communicative, with an excellent command of the facts including a thorough grounding in ecological issues. 

It seems very likely Stansbury will one day be representing New Mexico in the United States Senate.

Stansbury at Wikipedia

Who Do You Like?

The recent episode of New Mexico in Focus included a segment about the selection of a candidate for lieutenant governor by the Democratic Party Central Committee.  Primary voters made a choice earlier, but their selection, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, dropped out due to health reasons.  The discussion included supporters of the two main contenders, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard and State Senator Harold Pope Jr.

Mentioned was the fact that the leading candidates seem to have little differences in the policies they have advocated.

Not addressed was the question of why the State has to go through the expensive ritual of holding a separate primary election for Second Banana, something which only five other States require.

The Dem Gov candidate, Deb Haaland, has expressed a preference for  Stephanie Garcia Richard, and it seems pretty likely she will have her way.  Policy congruence played a part, but perhaps the addition of an Hispanic name to the ticket also trumped the appeal to the smaller Black constituency brought along by Senator Pope.

What the new Lt. Gov might actually do while in office will likely not get much attention.  The position is an historical dead-end for political aspirations.  The main objective in handling the office has been finding. ways to keep the Lieutenant Governor busy and on the sidelines. 

Coffee

Lots of choices for coffee in my neighborhood and nearby Old Town

 I like Slow Burn on Mountain Road for its nice light, good seating, quick service and good parking.