Feliz Navidad

I would like to wish all my readers and family a Merry Christmas. This time of year is an important period for family and friends to reconnect, share and enjoy each others love and company. We must also remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His birth brought the necessary love for mankind to flourish in peace and prosperity.

I will enjoy tamales, menudo, turkey and all the trimmings this Christmas here in New Mexico. Luminarias, manger scenes, and midnight mass are all set; may you and yours enjoy your traditions as well. I thank God for being born in this state and being able to share a rich and common culture with many people from Silver City to Raton, Las Cruces to Santa Fe, Roswell to Gallup and all the many communities that are thriving in this beautiful land. We are blessed to be New Mexicans and from the "bottom of my heart" like the song, Feliz Navidad!!!

State of Limbo: Hispanics, GOP, and Immigration

After a night of reading American political theory I rode the Chicago Red Line train to the next block or two and ate breakfast at this mom n' pop diner I like. In the kitchen the were the owners working and taking orders while a couple of Mexican cooks fired up my eggs and bacon. When I walked back to my apartment building our groundskeeper Hector was outside salting the sidewalks. Everyday I encounter numerous Mexicans working here legally or illegally for all I know. As an American who respects the Constitution and all the laws of this great country I cannot argue that these hardworking people did break our law and are living here illegally. As a New Mexican with centuries of Spanish ancestry I am sympathetic to my brothers and sisters here working for bad pay but better than what it would be in Mexico, Central and South America; they are working at a level that most Americans simply refuse.

In the latest New York Times/ CBS News poll, 8 percent of Republican Primary voters named immigration or illegal immigrants as the most important issue facing the nation, right behind the war and tied with the economy. A party that was gaining more and more Hispanic voters in the past eight years is now making it hard for Hispanics to vote Republican especially when we hear the anti-immigrant, racist anger fueled by many in the party. I am very upset that the Republican dark horse candidate Gov. Huckabee who seemed to attract the most potential Hispanic Republican votes accepted the founder of the Vigilante racist group, Minuteman Project Jim Gilchrist's endorsement; Huckabee called Gilchrist's endorsement "providence".

Gov. Huckabee and the rest of the GOP candidates, not including Sen. McCain, are using hard line rhetoric and policy towards the immigration issue to attract the votes of the racist, ignorant wing of the Republican party. Their rhetoric and ingenuity they displayed at the Univision debate on Sunday has solidified many Hispanics votes this fall. It will take someone with a practical, compassionate, and moderate stance toward to immigration to attract the Hispanics back to the GOP. I believe that man is Sen. John McCain, he certainly has my support.

I in no way condone illegal immigration, but one must see that our system is set up to be broken. Our economy partially depends on the cooks, busboys, field workers, maids, janitors, and construction workers who are here illegally. If the racist Republican voters want to ship all illegal men, women, and children back to their native countries I say let them, then they will see the true impact they make on our everyday lives. If we want to fix the immigration problem we have fix MEXICO, it is that simple. Their unstable economy, corrupt government, and shared NAFTA policy is the root of our immigration problem. We have laws for immigration, lets enforce those to the fullest extent first. We must make our immigration up to date and efficient and offer a clear path to citizenship to those who have been here contributing to the American Economy and way of life.

AHD

Final Exam Time

I have had about six hours of sleep the past two days;I simply can't sleep. I am constantly reading for exam preparation, reading the other blogs, getting distracted by friends and downtown Chicago, then I feel guilty and get back to the books. I will be home in Las Cruces Saturday night, everything will finally come to a momentary break. My younger brother Zach who played for the mighty Bulldawgs as safety and kicker is having his team banquet which the family is attending on Sunday along with the Ms. Teen New Mexico Pageant at Hotel Encanto on Sunday. Isaac's (otra hermano) girlfriend Katie Arnold is Ms. Teen Las Cruces and we know she will win the crown, tiara whatever it is.

So a busy start upon my arrival. I will probably meet the Governor and some dignitary at the end of the month at a Horse Endurance ride being hosted in Las Cruces. Also look out for a new business by A.H. Diaz & Company in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, or Santa Fe; I have to travel to Santa Fe and seek information concerning licenses. I also look forward to heading back up to the ranch for some long needed physical work on the beloved land we call New Mexico.

I must finish reviewing political, economic, and historical writings before my mind drifts back home again. hasta luego-

AHD

Gore, Golden Statues and Medals

Today Mr. Gore recieved his Nobel Peace Prize. I don't know why but it is hard for me to take this man seriously when I see so much disdain in his heart. No medal, no oscar, no Hollywood indoctrination will ever make you Jesus or President Mr. Gore.

AHD

Chavez and his raw end of a deal with Democrats

Mayor Chavez I look at it this way... you have been politically screwed by Sen. Schumer (NY) of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee by making it clear the blue boys back East would rather support ultra liberal Rep. Udall as their candidate! Oh and there is that part time Governor/Cowboy(rolling my eyes)/Presidential hopeful Bill Richardson who has so much political weight(it shows) that caused everyone in the state to speculate his entrance into the Senate race in a couple months; remember fellow speculator Rep. Udall who jumped in the race then jumped out of the race then jumped back in! I still think the Governor may show his true carpetbagging colors and screw Udall by getting in the race officially in February. So do not get down Mr. Mayor, let the Democrats and Republicans chew each other up for the next year and your raw end may not taste that bad after all.

P.S

If you want a good laugh watch Rep. Wilson try to be Southern when she visits real Republicans down near Texas way. We all heard about her little visit with the Cervantes family this past summer, we know who she really is.

AHD

Our History, Our Future

“Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan”…in the tranquil morning of December 7th one could hear the pulse of the ocean waves and see the glistening sun that God had blessed upon Pearl Harbor that fateful day. It was the calm before the storm, the sun would be blocked by the war planes of Japan and the shadow of war, sacrifice, and death was cast upon the American people for four arduous years.

I am one of the remaining Americans who do not forget Pearl Harbor and the 2,350 servicemen we lost that tragic day, I will forever “Remember Pearl Harbor”. Their legacy is one of sacrifice to all Americans who continue to fight for liberty, democracy, and individual rights. Pearl Harbor is a constant reminder to all generations of America that the enemy will go to great lengths to defeat our great nation but the soul of this nation will not be defeated and will not cease to cowardly attacks. The Islamic extremists of the Middle East are now finding this fact to be true; the September 11th atrocities wounded our country but galvanized our conviction.

Our nation’s leaders must be faithful to the fundamentals of the constitution and liberties that so many men and women have given their lives for. They must be responsible with our military capabilities and use diplomacy to the fullest extent. We can never allow the development of totalitarian regimes that deprive innocent individuals their natural rights. We are not charged to export our principles to every end of the world but we must preserve democracy where it has root.

The dead of Pearl Harbor and World War Two died not for our nation but what our nation embodied; the principles of natural rights, liberty, egalitarianism, individual rights, and the opportunity to pursue happiness. I ask you today to take a couple moments from your busy workday to remember the past and envision what we can be tomorrow. United like our past generations, we can overcome our struggle with evil and be victorious.

“With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.”

-President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Aaron Henry Diaz

Good News About Iran, Don't Relax Just Yet

The recent National Intelligence Estimate regarding Iran’s nuclear program is excellent news for our country and the international community. It eases the growing tension between Washington D.C. and Tehran by giving both countries a new opportunity to use foreign diplomacy as opposed to a third military front. Anytime diplomacy can work, make it work.

But with this good news we must not forget what the report also validates; Iran did indeed have a nuclear weapons program that they had tried to conceal from the United States and the United Nations. Iran is capable of reviving this program and if we as an international community soften our established stance towards their nuclear aspirations we very well could be involved in a third military front.

In order to prevent Iran from their nuclear ambition we must include diplomacy of discipline and incentive while remaining united as an international community of democracies. Our world leaders must balance the urgency to rush into war and resist from turning their heads the other way. Iran and the United States have an arduous path towards a stable relationship, but it is a relationship we must develop.

AHD

Hey New Mexico

So the past month has been extremely busy for me. My studies here at Loyola have kicked into full throttle with finals coming up. I am actually finding myself struggling in a history class for the first time. I apologize to my readers for my absence but school comes first. I simply have not had the energy to write about our beloved New Mexico politics. I will write more thoughts on the Ranchers proposal that opposes wilderness in Dona Ana, The Republican Senate primary, Congressional District 2 Democratic primary, and thoughts on the GOP and Immigration. I'll be in New Mexico this coming Christmas for about three weeks so I should have ample time to write on these subjects. If any of you have any suggestions or would like to write a column about young New Mexicans and politics please email me, aaronhenrydiaz@newmexicopolitico.com. Also I have a news update, I will be graduating early in about one year, December 2008, so count on seeing me back in the political scene in Dona Ana and Santa Fe! Feliz Navidad!

AHD

Why I dislike carpetbaggers

The secret is out! New Mexico has the best culture, cuisine, natural wonders, and more importantly to our carpetbagging socialist adversaries, political opportunity. The election of Governor Richardson galvinized the importation of ultra-liberal ideology and other carpetbagging individuals to our pragmatic state. The Democratic party has been taken over by liberal enviromentalists, social progressives, and plain ol' ultra liberals with a bounty of money and time. This change in the Democratic party has spurred some in my own family to leave the party which they have been loyal to for years. There is no longer enough room in the Democratic party for conservative, moderate, and libertarian leaning people to have a true voice in their party. The common people are being drowned out by the carpetbaggers money, time, and liberal whinning. New Mexico is not a priority for these people who are driven by idealism and ambition. They will do more harm to our state in a year than what the patron did in the last 90 years! Liberal politicians like Nathan Small, Oscar Vasquez Butler, Bill McCamley, Tom Udall, and others must be monitored and defeated.

AHD