Rep. Torres Small

The tricky positioning for Campaign '20 continues for southern NM Dem Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small. This time she is risking alienating her own party as she walks the political tightrope by voting against a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022:

It’s time for the federal minimum wage to be raised, but in a way that considers the unique factors of each region’s economy. What works in places like New York City or Seattle doesn’t always work in more rural areas like the ones I represent,

That's sure to appeal to some of the conservative rural areas of the sprawling district but it's in Dona Ana County--Las Cruces--where the Torres Small bread is buttered. Her win by nearly 18,000 votes in that liberal county powered her to victory in '18 over Republican Yvette Herrell.

The standing of Torres Small among Dems is strong but that doesn't mean she is completely immune to a primary challenge from the left. Her vote on the minimum could force the issue. It seems a Dem trying to hold on to the southern seat is fated to make both sides mad.

THE LIGHTS OF ALBUQUERQUE (CONT.)

We always enjoy hearing from reader and old friend Carroll Cagle. He was a leading voice of La Politica when he authored the Inside the Capital column once distributed to newspapers across the state. He earned his political stripes at the knee of the late legendary NM Senator Clinton P. Anderson whose staff he served on in the 1960's.

Today he writes of the nonpolitical--of the 1969 song "Albuquerque"--recorded by Glen Campbell but never released. We found a live version of Glen performing it and posted it to the Friday blog. Carroll writes:

Joe, Thanks for letting all of us know about the song, “Albuquerque.” I have loved Glen Campbell’s songs since his earliest successes. These include “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” which also mentions Albuquerque, but I never had heard or even been aware of the “Albuquerque” song you posted.

As you and probably many readers know, Glen headed to Los Angeles in 1960, straight from Albuquerque, and became a much-sought-after “session man” whose impeccable guitar work appeared on albums by, among others, the Beach Boys, Ricky Nelson, Nat King Cole, the Monkees, Nancy Sinatra, Merle Haggard, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. He also toured with the Beach Boys.

Although your headline for Campbell’s “Albuquerque” song says, “Lights of ABQ,” there actually was a lovely song entitled “The Lights of Albuquerque,” written by Jim Glaser.

And, not least, there is another obscure version of a song entitled “Albuquerque” by none other than Neil Young, from his “Tonight’s the Night” album, also available on YouTube. A quirky Albuquerque, as it were.

Whereas politics, as important as it is, can jangle the soul, music both soothes and uplifts it.

Nice job putting it all together, Carroll. As you say music soothes the soul. A. K. Anderson, also reacting to Glen's song, really drives the point home. The song's theme is of a mortally wounded solider getting attention from medics and as he does he recalls the lights of ABQ:

Hi, Joe, Thanks so much for including that Glen Campbell song on your blog. So poignant for me as my cousin is at Presbyterian dying. You can be sure if he dies tonight (or tomorrow or the next day or whenever) we will light the lights of Albuquerque for him for certain! Thanks again!

What can I say? Except that your note is uplifting and humbling. No paycheck can match that. I thank you and your cousin, Mr. Anderson.

Here's Jim Glaser who takes us out today with "The Lights of Albuquerque."
 
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