Jan 25, 2008

The SF New Mexican coverage of Udall's visit

Sue Vorenberg, formerly of the Albuquerque Tribune is now at the New Mexican. Welcome to Santa Fe, Sue!

She has a story in today's issue about Udall's visit to LANL in which she quotes some of our blogger's comments about a previous AP story covered here on Udall's visit:

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Udall_defends_controversial_funds_vote_in_talk_at_LANL


"The questions and comments were very supportive," Udall said. "When you look at the vote, I was voting for the future of the labs, for the future jobs, for the $600 million."

Still, on an independent blog where lab employees often vent — at lanl-the-rest-of-the-story.blogspot.com — anonymous comments about Udall's visit ruled the day.

"I voted for lab funding before I voted against lab funding before I voted for lab funding. I'm a strong supporter of LANL. Vote for me in the Senate election," one anonymous contributor wrote.

"This visit is so obviously political that Udall's campaign should be charged for the time he spends using the (National Security Sciences Building) auditorium to pander for LANL votes," another wrote of the Q-clearance-only auditorium where Udall addressed the lab, which precluded news media representatives from attending.

"There's about 6 people in the audience. A well attended event," another anonymous poster said. "Some good questions are being asked, though. The Idiot has no answers."

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tom Udall wasn't even subtle about his campaign stop on Thursday at the NSSB. I'm surprised he didn't go all the way and start handing out "Udall for Senate" bumper stickers near the end of the meeting. Not that anyone who works at LANL would dare put one on their car.

I predict this guy will get well under the normal Democratic vote percentage from Los Alamos County come November.

Anonymous said...

"With the changing times, it's important for Los Alamos to branch out into new areas as the nation's scientific and technological needs evolve, which is the main undercurrent in the funding issues, Udall said." (SF New Mexican)


I agree with you, Mr. Udall. LANL desperately needs to branch out. However, after Thursday's meeting it's become clear to me that you have absolutely no idea how to help with this mission. It takes more than just fuzzy-headed talk and wishful thinking.

It's also becoming clearer to me than LANS doesn't really wants to see LANL broaden the lab's mission. There is nothing in it for the LLC corporate partners if they go down this path.

Anonymous said...

Yea, I wasn't impressed at ALL with Udall's Q&A session.

Anonymous said...

This should be interesting to fellow readers:

http://www.doeal.gov/MOContracts/docs/RequestForInformation/RFI-2%20FINAL%201-23-08.pdf

Enjoy the future

Anonymous said...

Tom,

We will not forget.

Anonymous said...

"Tom,
We will not forget".said
1/25/08 9:10 PM

Ooohh! Look at my hands shiver with fear. Like Los Alamos really matters when it comes to a State wide vote.

--T U-can-kiss-it

Anonymous said...

Was it just me, or did it appear that Mikey was trying to speed up Udall's departure near the end of the Q&A?

I liked the question from the lady who pushed back on Udall when he mentioned his desire to beef up the US math & science educational "pipeline". Why beef up math & science education, she replied, when those who are already in the field can't seem to find secure jobs even with the national labs?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Damiani's comment:

http://www.lamonitor.com/cgi-bin/storyviewnew.cgi?075+OpinionEditorial.2008125-4933-075-075007.Lead+OpinionEditorial

Frank Young said...

Could you please send me an email telling me how you linked directly to that article. I still haven't figured out how to do that for LA Monitor articles.

Anonymous said...

US state wants to tax TVs, video games to fight fat, fund education

A Democratic lawmaker in New Mexico wants to tax televisions and video games to raise funds to fight childhood obesity and improve education in the state, officials said Friday.

"I have asked our legislative council service to prepare the "Leave No Child Inside" bill and am hopeful that it will be ready for me to introduce on Monday," educator-turned-lawmaker Gail Chasey told AFP.

"Leave No Child Inside" -- a play on the federal education initiative "No Child Left Behind" -- is backed by grassroots environmental group, the Sierra Club.

"The bill proposes levying a one-percent excise tax on the purchase of TVs, video games and video game equipment and would create the 'Leave No Child Inside' fund to receive those revenues," Michael Casaus of the Sierra Club told AFP.

The author and sponsors of the bill, who include dozens of other organizations besides the Sierra Club, according to Casaus, expect to raise four million dollars (three million euros) a year through the tax.

The items that would be taxed have been carefully chosen because of their links to obesity and poor school performance, the Sierra Club says, citing medical studies.

Around one-quarter of New Mexico's children are obese or overweight, and just over half finish high school, said Casaus.

"The goals of the bill are to improve the academic performances of our kids, to promote a more healthy lifestyle and to provide our children with outdoor learning experiences, using our state parks and public lands as classrooms," he said.

According to a study cited by backers of the bill, hands-on, outdoor study leads to better grades among students, including in mathematics and science.

Another study has shown a 27-percent improvement in the science test scores of students who participate in outdoor education programs.

Earlier this week, a high school in the US state of Georgia launched another unique initiative to boost the math and science grades of students.

Creekside High School near Atlanta offered students money to attend remedial classes in the two subjects for 15 weeks and a monetary bonus for maintaining a "B" grade average afterwards.

Anonymous said...

Tom Udall is Nancy Pelosi's poodle. As a senator, he will do as he is told and will shut up, just as he has as a representative. He has no leadership, or even a willingness to stand up for his district. I would prefer Manny Aragon - at least he stays bought!

Anonymous said...

Do you realize how much it costs to run for office? More than any honest man could afford.
-Montgomery Burns