Who won the Berry, Chavez, Romero debate?

Clearer I think is, who lost. That would be, voters. Every time
I watch a "debate", the feeling returns, there must be a better
way to compare and contrast candidates and issues.

The format allows false victories.
For example; blogger Monahan,
a former Chavez Campaign
Communications Director,
reports on a "defining moment"
in the debate. The defining
moment was nothing more than
Chavez dragging a red herring
across the train and getting away
with it.

Monahan wrote;

"... RJ Berry asked Mayor Chavez why city police do not adopt the more aggressive policy of the Bernalillo County Sheriff in ferreting out possible illegal immigrants ... Chavez quickly responded by enumerating how murder, auto theft and other crimes have risen dramatically in the areas where the tougher policy toward immigrants is in effect. Besides blowing a big hole in Berry's argument, ..."

There was no hole blown in Berry's argument, big or otherwise.

Rising crime rates in the County can not be causally connected to the policy toward immigrants. It is a marginally better argument than saying there are higher crime rates in the county because their uniforms are tan, and the city's are dark blue. The uniforms may be tan and blue and, there may be higher crime rates in the county, but the two are not causally related; one simply cannot argue that crimes rates vary according to the color of uniforms.

The format didn't allow Richard Romero to point to the video tapes that are now up on the internet, of Chavez' underlings "shaking down" the Bodes for their refusal to honor mayoral requests for special consideration (all "allegedly" of course).

The video, link, is of ducks looking like ducks, walking like ducks,
and quacking like ducks.

I would say Chavez scored big, though he should not have scored at all, when he was pointing to the openness and transparency of state government. In particular, it sounded great when he pointed to the Inspector General's and Audit Offices "he created". The audit office in particular, did a great job of auditing the contract mismanagement involving the mayor's crony's nephews landscaping company. Yet, apparently, no heads rolled over the incompetence bordering on corruption, link.

Romero brought up the current scandal over Councilor Ray Garduno's transparency bill, currently under "consideration" by the City Council. link. Garduno argues that the bill is being stalled at the behest of "the administration". Romero brought it up, but was unable to keep it on the table long enough to score any points.

Chavez scored more points when he attacked Berry over his decision, apparently, to not release his tax records. Monahan wrote;

"But what (Berry) ... gained, he lost when Chavez tore
into him for not agreeing to release his tax returns.

"I know it's not comfortable, but the public has a right
to now. That's open and transparent government."
Chavez nearly gloated."

It isn't open and transparent government at all. Berry released all of the information that the law requires him to release. If the public has "a right to see Berry's tax returns" then that right would be underscored by law; it is not.

Never the less, Berry lost points on the issue, and will continue to loose points for as long as Chavez pounds on the specious argument, "the public has a right to know".

The election will turn on misleading voters on important issues and on misleading voters on the importance of issues. Chavez will score points with an ignorant electorate with his now thoroughly discredited attack on Berry's not being a business man, link. He will score points with an ignorant electorate on Berry's apparent decision to keep his private life, private.

Romero with continue to loose points because he will not play his trump card; his promise to tell the truth, link, while Chavez continues to make points by playing fast and loose with the truth. He will never be asked to explain his abdication from "Founding Father" of Character Counts! Albuquerque. Chavez will never be asked to explain why the Ethics in Public Service Act, the culmination of a process he claims credit for beginning, was allowed to die in committee, link.


Kudos to KOB TV for a very professional presentation, link.

But again, a disappointing evening overall for an ignorant electorate.




photos Mark Bralley