Takeover in Taos

The party coup by traditionalist Hispanics for control of the Taos County Democrats reminds me of Maoist China's old internecine bloodshed. Taos has been delivering 70%+ for Democrats consistently; so, in this one-party local democracy, wouldn't it make sense for Democrats to start fighting each other?

That it seems absurd I can say from any objective viewpoint; also, that there is an issue in the pattern of gerrymandering of seats by precinct. This, though, is much less alarming than the reports of flagrant violations of party rules and clear patterns of bias in consideration of credentials challenges.

I am waiting to hear the other side of the story, from those who actually won the vote count fairly easily, partly if not decisively due to the cumulative effect of favoritism in resolution of challenges. Maybe they think their position is unassailable; I guarantee that, in the political world, they will find they must ultimately answer the charges. They cannot sit quiet and remain confident of holding onto their victory.

Those who backed the losing slate headed by the incumbent County party head Billy Knight have not conceded and are "leaving everything on the table" in terms of potential action. I see the palette of retaliations including a challenge at the state party level, announcing an alternate county party leadership, and/or heading to the Green party and reviving it from its moribund status.

Bill Richardson is the key actor at the higher level for the next round. State party leader John Wertheim is taking the blame from some defeated elements, but if this is a rogue operation then Richardson is weaker in his control than I think. The argument goes that Richardson's crew calculates they can get a better percentage in the state's Presidential primary if Anglo liberals don't turn out. It is down to Bill to stand up for fair play when it comes to him, and one way or another it will. He should look into the issues and not shy from it.

I don't believe the argument much. I think this one is mostly about control of patronage jobs, secondarily about control of graft. Knight upset the traditionalists by showing the temerity to back someone other than the machine Hispanic candidates in two districts of the recent "non-partisan" municipal school board elections, and this was the payback. Pretty impressive, in terms of using bold power-grab methods and getting the intended result. "Virtu", as Macchiavelli called it, won out. Richardson will consider it just politics as it used to usually be, boys being boys, unless he sees a danger it will escalate and expand in significance.

Now, personally, I think the only sensible vote would have been one against the incumbent board members, regardless of any other consideration--that's how badly I think the schools are being operated. In the Hispanic community, though, the attitude is, "Well, they aren't good but they are ours." The Native American community here is certainly getting that point. Billy Knight has now gotten the point in a big way.

There aren't that many places in the US where Hispanics have such a strong political position. It's a shame their leaders here in El Norte, many of whom tout their multigenerational roots in the land here, have adopted tactics suitable for one of the so-called Banana Republics far to the south.

This could end very badly: Rebellion and mob rule have a long tradition in this town. Usually put down harshly in the end.