She takes Bush's money, loves him for 21 months of her term, then professes "independence." Another GOP enabler of this vicious dullard. Wilson tried to destroy Clinton in 1998 and actually wept in the House over what she would "tell the children" about Janet Jackson's nipple, for God's sake. It would be nice if she actually gave a shit about the actual rule of law and the carnage in Iraq. Scratch a "moderate" Republican and you get a Republican.

Everyone, period, including the Democrats.

As in the last couple of elections, the media is once again trumpeting Heather's "independence" and painting her to be a moderate. As a New Mexican who has witnessed her career in the House, I know better!

She votes consistently with Bush (over 90% party line) and only moves to the center either when 1) it will make good copy for her re-election campaign, or 2) when the GOP needs a "moderate" to trot out to oppose or contrast with some far-right legislation. The sound-bite is always good, but her vote hardly ever is. Check her voting record and who donated to her campaigns, and then tell me how moderate she is.

I get to vote for Wilson or Madrid in a few months.

The wierd thing is that Madrid is the first credible candidate Wilson has ever faced. For example, last time the democrats put up a guy, Richard Romero, who's claim to fame is being a public school administrator. Our schools suck. We'd have rather voted for a child molester because the molestor only wrecks one kid at a time.

The democrat base here in ABQ always votes against Wilson and thereby make the race semi-close. They show up and vote predictably every year. Madrid needs to court the disenfranchized conservatives. We're no longer served by the republican party.

I'd love to vote for Madrid, but am worried that she will be just another democrat mouthpiece. I'll take a republican mouthpiece over a democrat one every time.

Madrid can win my vote, and a horde of other votes, by coming out in clear support of the individual right to bear arms. Us NM conservatives love hunting more than we hate Bush. We really really hate Bush.

On the other hand, if Wilson says "Impeach Bush" then Madrid doesn't have a prayer of winning.

Tyler-

Interesting that you move the debate to guns.

I am a far left Democrat, but I can read the Second Amendment. You do have the right to bear arms. In fact, the Second Amendment guarantees that you have the right to have one gun of some kind. It does not guarantee you the right to have two guns or handguns or automatic weapons, etc. If you have one gun, then your right to bear arms has not been infringed. Reading anything else into the Second Amendment is just as wrong and evil as claiming that it does not give people the right to bear arms.

My personal preference is for a law that allows you to have an unlimited number of single-shot long weapons with no registration of any kind. If we can agree that that comports with the requirements of the Second Amendment, then there is common ground to be explored. If not, we fight about guns forever.

BTW, there is NO right to hunt. I don't support prohibiting hunting, but it is a point worth making.

Listen, Deadeye -- NO ONE IS GONNA TAKE YOUR DAMNED GUNS. This is a complete non-issue, and I wish to God people would quit trotting it out as an excuse to support the Big Tough Republicans (the ones who are afraid that terrorists are hiding under their beds).