Some stories just can't be clipped
Gov. Susana Martinez had difficulty discussing issues this week while at the National Governors Association winter meeting.
"I was in D.C., and all they asked about was my hair," Martinez said today to Stuart Dyson, grizzled reporter for Albuquerque television station KOB.
It was Dyson who broke the story of a Santa Fe hair stylist declining to book the governor because she opposes gay marriage.
Martinez, 52, said she had not been to that particular stylist in 10 months.
The governor's staff reports that, after the stylist rebuffed her as a repeat client, Martinez received offers from many others who would be thrilled to cut and color her locks.
Dyson (below) has been a reporter for more than 30 years. He also worked for three years for the state Senate.
He knows the news business and he understands politics. But how certain stories get most of the attention is something he still cannot account for.
Suffice it to say that he saw nothing special about his 80-second story on the governor's once but not future stylist.
A hard worker, Dyson churned out two other stories the day he reported on the stylist. But, it seems, only one of his pieces commanded attention from America's governors.
MARTINEZ ON POLITICKING
Aside from her grooming, Martinez talked today about a range of issues, including campaigning. She spoke during a 10-minute news conference after she signed a bill to give a property tax break to more veterans.
Has she pushed certain legislators to retire?
"Oh, no," Martinez said.
She also said she had not and would not use her office to assist in campaigns. But, of course, her political organization is another matter.
Through it, she can use her clout to help legislative candidates who share her beliefs.
SPACEPORT, IN BLACK AND WHITE
Legislators in February declined to pass a law that would have prevented space travelers' from suing manufacturers and suppliers in cases of negligance at Sportport America.
Martinez said the legislators' stand had made the Spaceport "less competitive" with similar operations sprouting around the country, including Florida, Texas, Virginia and Colorado.
"Unfortunately, special interest groups take care of themselves," Martinez said of the decision in New Mexico not to block lawsuits against space companies.
Legislators would not appreciate Martinez's loaded language. The "special interests" she referred to could have other names, such as tourists and consumers.
If Ford makes a defective vehicle, it is liable in the courts to drivers and passengers. Legislators say the same standard -- not a double standard -- should apply to manufacturers in the nascent space-travel industry.
Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, is a graduate of New Mexico State University and has been a supporter of most legislation to help the Spaceport. He said he hoped it would blossom into a tourist draw for southern New Mexico.
But Griego (right) voted against shielding Spaceport manufacturers from lawsuits. A government that looks out for businesses but not consumers is not doing its job, he said.
Griego is among at least a half-dozen state senators who will not be back in 2013. He is running for Congress in the New Mexico's 1st District, based in Albuquerque.
It is sad that the Governor is denying her attempts to rough up the state Senate. According to reports elsewhere, she is trying to dump several senators from her own party in the primary. In the case of one seat, she has sent her messengers to let the local party officials know they need to discourage 2 locals that were preparing to run, as she is recruiting Pat Lyons daughter to run. And now she is even attempting to interfere with the senators ability to elect their own leaders, as she is attempting to get support to remove the level-headed Minority Leader Stuart Ingle. In other words, she has no respect for the concept of 3 independent branches of government, and wishes they all answered to her.
Posted by: Suzy | 03/01/2012 at 11:00 AM