The state of the state?

Unemployment in NM has spiked to nearly 13 percent as the sugar high of federal business loans wears off and furloughs become layoffs.

The ABQ murder spree is on track to match the record setting year of 2019. (82 murders).

Parents and kids are climbing the walls as public schools remain shuttered and classes held online, but some private schools are partially open.

A 14 day quarantine remains in effect for those coming into the state. It's probably widely disregarded but still hurting tourism and business.

COVID cases have decreased dramatically but bars and in-door restaurants remain closed in this  sixth month of virus restrictions.

Air travel is for the carefree college crowd so it's harder than ever to escape reality.

Thankfully we have the antics of our politicos to keep us entertained and distracted from dreary reality. So off we go. . .

Speculation about a potential Biden cabinet is starting to reach a fever pitch as Dems celebrate what they say was a boffo acceptance speech by the Dem presidential nominee. So we get this. . .

If MLG goes we get a new state government or at least new leadership at the top. That could mean different policy. Sources at Politico report possible picks:

Karen Bass — Housing and Urban Development or Health and Human Services
Eric Garcetti — Housing and Urban Development
Michelle Lujan Grisham — “comes up a lot” in Cabinet talks
Jared Bernstein — Council of Economic Advisers

Lujan Grisham has been mentioned most for that Health and Human Services slot. Karen Bass is a Black congresswoman from California who was sized up by Biden for vice-president.

Former Gov. Bill Richardson, who served as Sec. of Energy and UN Ambassador under Clinton, offered this on Biden:

I think he will govern like Clinton in terms of consensus-building, but he will be surrounded by a lot of Obama people. I believe he will have a free reign for six months, and then if there isn’t major, positive change, you know, the fractures in the party will start showing.

The possibility that MLG could leave for DC is being taken seriously. There is speculation that if Lt. Gov. Howie Morales is appointed Governor he will face a number of rivals for the 2022 Dem gubernatorial nomination. But maybe those putative rivals need reminding that Morales would have the office for well over a year before any primary, giving him a prime opportunity to establish credibility and statewide name ID--and raise money.

MLG has confirmed speculation that her chances of being named Biden's VP were always a very long shot:

The governor also addressed rumors about whether she was considered for the vice president job. The governor said she never spoke to the Biden campaign about the VP spot.

THE ECONOMIC VIRUS


Some will be happy if MLG bolts from the Fourth Floor. She has ardent opposition in the conservative south, as evidenced by this billboard that recently sprouted up in the Deming area:

MLG: The Economic Virus Destroying Our Future. Go to www.NMJobKiller.com

The billboard is paid for by a group called mañana.

The Governor isn't the only state politico whose name is being bandied about as a possible Biden cabinet pick. Earlier we reported that Sen. Udall, who is retiring at the end of the year, has been getting notice for the Sec. of Interior post. Now add ABQ Dem Rep. Deb Haaland to the Interior list.

Her supporters say Native American tribes would be thrilled to have her at the helm. She would be the first Native to lead the agency that has vast influence over western lands where so many tribes call home. Speculation about Haaland picked up when she delivered a strong speech, to the Dem National Convention Thursday.

Haaland is opposed for a second term by Republican Michelle Garcia Holmes who chided Haaland over the speech. She said:

Our Indigenous community hasn’t really been taken care of our by our congressional delegation. I just felt her speech was disingenuous.

COVID-19 exploded on the Navajo Reservation early this year and the number of per capita deaths there ranked among the highest in the nation.

The ABQ congressional districts is rated Solid Dem.

GOOD INFO

A Senior Alligator has this for you:

Joe: This may be of interest. A presentation from the NM Secretary of State was presented August 18 to the Interim Legislative Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee. SOS staff also referenced its upcoming August 28 Rulemaking Virtual Public Hearing to implement SB 4 enacted by the 2020 NM Special Session. A link is here.

There's lots of good info at that link, including relevant deadlines for the Nov. 3 election and info on absentee balloting.

THE BOTTOM LINES

In our first draft Thursday we misidentified a federal agency as the Department of Health and Human Resources. The correct title is the Department of Health and Human Services. And we said that "Operation Legend announced" that there is a suspect in the Jackie Vigil murder. The announcement came from federal law enforcement but not specifically Operation Legend.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020