John Block

After MLG ‘apologizes’ for demeaning Españolans, her press secretary hits mayor as ‘self-righteous’

A little over two weeks since Gov. Michelle Luján Grisham issued an “apology” to the citizens of Española for scolding them over their mask-wearing habits, now her press secretary, Nora Sackett, is getting her back in the line of fire.

Grisham’s criticism of Española, as Piñon Post first reported on, went as follows:

“Last week, I traveled to Northern New Mexico, and in traveling to Northern New Mexico, I went through Española. I saw a lot of activity in Española and traveling through Main Street going North. I didn’t see a single mask, not one. Not in a parking lot, not in a grocery store that we passed, not at a convenience store, not at a gas station, not by someone in a car, not hanging on a rearview mirror, not on a wrist, not as people were walking, nowhere! Not one. The only masks I saw were in the car I was in, and we have to do better than that because if we don’t, we cannot successfully introduce risk.”

The Governor’s apology, which some have noted as back-handed, read, “My comments were taken as a lack of respect for Española and the work the community has done to fight this virus. I apologize for making that impression. That was not my intent, and I take responsibility for the way my words were conveyed and heard.”

“It is true that I did not see any masks that day on my way through town north and south, but that doesn’t mean I should have made the point that I did in the way I did it. If my intent was to highlight where we can improve and what we can do better, and it was, then I could have communicated that in a different way, and I should have,” she continued.

But on Monday, Gov. Lujan Grisham’s press secretary Nora Sackett took to Twitter to blast the Española mayor and him not wearing a mask while taking a photo at an event. She wrote, “Every media outlet that covered the mayor of Española’s self-righteous op ed will now also cover his flagrant hypocrisy and violation of the public health order, right?” 

The condescending comment toward Española Mayor Javier Sanchez, who called out the Governor, which prompted her apology, may reflect the true feelings the Lujan Grisham administration has for Española’s mayor and thus the people of Española.

Even people claiming to be the Governor’s staunchest defenders took offense to Sackett’s comment, one writing, “I’m behind our gov 100% but you totally come off as aggressive and unnecessarily antagonistic. Read the room. Stick with policy.” 

It is unclear if the Governor’s office will issue yet another apology for the clear disrespect for Española mayor, but the comments do appear to reflect the opposite of what the previous “apology” was supposed to mend.

Could a ‘predatory’ bill like CA’s SB-145 reducing penalties for sodomizing minors ever come to NM?

On Friday, California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom, an acquaintance of New Mexico’s Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, signed a bill, S.B. 145 lowering penalties for offenders having oral or anal sex with a minor, giving California’s judges to have a say

According to The Hill, “The law previously in place in the state allowed judges to decide whether a man should be placed on California’s sex offender registry if he had voluntary vaginal intercourse with someone 14 to 17 years old and was no more than 10 years older than the person. The bill expands that same discretion in regard to voluntary oral or anal sex. 

The measure won’t apply when a minor is under 14, when the age gap is larger than 10 years or when either party says the sex wasn’t consensual, the AP noted.” 

However, the bill’s official Senate analysis is more clear: 

Exempts a person convicted of non-forcible sodomy with a minor, oral copulation with a minor, or sexual penetration with a minor, as specified, from having to automatically register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registry Act if the person was not more than 10 years older than the minor at the time of the offense, and the conviction is the only one requiring the person to register. 2) Specifies that a person convicted of one of those specified offenses may still be ordered to register in the discretion of the court, if the court finds at the time of conviction or sentencing that the person committed the offense as a result of sexual compulsion or for purposes of sexual gratification

The bill’s analysis also notes an argument going against the bill would be as follows: 

“SB 145 exempts persons convicted of non-forcible voluntary sodomy with a minor, oral copulation with a minor or sexual penetration with a minor from having to automatically register as a sex offender if the person wasn’t more than 10 years older than the minor at the time of the offense. According to the Child Advocacy Center, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Additionally, approximately 20% of victims of sexual abuse are under the age of eight. This is absolutely unacceptable; as Californians, and law enforcement partners who are on the front lines called to sexual assault and domestic violence cases, laws like SB 145 will only enable pedophiles to prey on children closer to their age.”

California Democrat Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales said, “I cannot in my mind as a mother understand how sex between a 24-year-old and a 14-year-old could ever be consensual, how it could ever not be a registrable offense. We should never give up on this idea that children should be in no way subject to a predator.” 

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) also tweeted after Newsom signed the bill into law, “As a parent I’m appalled that last night our governor signed a law maintaining a 24-year-old can have sex with a 14-year-old and it not be considered predatory.”

“An adult who commits ANY sex act on a minor 10 years younger must be registered a sex offender,” he added. “Law must be changed.”

So, the question remains for people in other states, including New Mexico: could such a bill, which loosens criminal penalties for pedophiles, be passed in my state? 

According to NOLO, the laws governing statutory rape in New Mexico are as follows:

In New Mexico, it is illegal for an adult (someone 18 or older) to have sex with a minor (someone younger than 16), even if the sex is consensual. Those who break the law have committed statutory rape, even if the child agrees to or initiates the activity….

First degree criminal sexual penetration includes oral, anal, or genital sexual intercourse or penetration (however slight, with an object or body part) with a minor who is younger than 13 years old. The offense is a first degree felony, punishable by up to 18 years in prison, a fine of $15,000, or both. (N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 30-9-11, 31-18-15 (2018).)

Fourth degree criminal sexual penetration includes sexual penetration with a child who is 13, 14, or 15, when the defendant is at least 18 years old and at least four years older than the victim. The crime is a fourth degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in prison, a fine of as much as $5,000, or both. (N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 30-9-11, 31-18-15 (2018).)

Criminal sexual contact with a minor includes sexual touching between a minor who is younger than 13 and a defendant of any age. Criminal sexual contact with a minor is either a second or third degree felony, depending on the type of touching involved. Penalties for second degree criminal sexual contact include at least three years (and up to 15 years) in prison, a fine of up to $12,500, or both. Third degree criminal sexual contact is punishable by up to six years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. (N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 30-9-13, 31-18-15 (2018).)

Although New Mexico’s laws currently appear to protect children, the late notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who owned “Zorro Ranch” in Santa Fe County, never was on the state’s sex offender registry despite a guilty plea in Florida a decade ago. Despite one Democrat Rep. calling for action to ensure there are no loopholes for sex offenders in the future, no measure has passed yet. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham nor any Democrat elected leader has publicly commented on California’s new bill.

The increasing leftward shift in New Mexico, especially with this past primary election, where moderate Democrat members of the House and Senate were ousted by more “progressive” opponents, this could mean more policies like those of California’s Newsom could come to the state if Democrats win in November.

Although no members have spoken of proposing such extreme measures as California’s S.B. 145, a strong conservative majority of pro-family representatives in either chamber of the New Mexico Legislature can stand as a bulwark against any measure putting the state’s children at risk. 

Sizeable pro-Trump crowd counter-protests tiny Rio Rancho BLM demonstration

On Saturday, patriots gathered in solidarity to support President Donald Trump at a counter-protest to a left-wing event in Rio Rancho held by a group called the “Black New Mexico Movement.” The leftist event, starting at 6:00 p.m. MDT, was supposedly meant to protest “systemic racism” and “police brutality.” Counter-protesters lined up at 4400 Southern Blvd. SE to patriotically demonstrate. 

The fringe event featured a handful of people holding “Black Lives Matter” flags, signs, and other signage. According to reports from the event, one speaker made their remarks while a “F**k Donald Trump” rap song played in the background. 

Despite the counter-protest to the leftist event being canceled, it still garnered more support than the Black New Mexico Movement demonstration, with people coming from all around to back up the President.  

Even the far-left student blog run through the University of New Mexico, the “Daily Lobo” noticed the sizeable crowd out in support of the 45th President, writing, “There are a significant number of counter-protesters here.”

KOB 4’s Patrick Hayes was covering the event for his network and shared a video of the American Flag-holding, patriotic counter-protest playing the National Anthem. During a standoff between the far-left Black Lives Matter group and the patriotic, American Flag-carrying group, one patriot scolded the leftist mob. He said, “get in your Soros paid for car” and leave, referring to the billionaire hedge-fund manager who has financed most left-wing groups in the country through his various foundations and dark money groups. 

The patriots also chanted “USA,” and later, the pro-Trump group, “Cowboys for Trump” rode in on horseback as the counter-protesters cheered. Soon after, Rio Rancho Police showed up to calm the mood. According to one report, the Black Lives Matter protesters with the Black New Mexico Movement asked the Rio Rancho Police for an escort off the site, ironic, due to the Black Lives Matter movement supporting the defunding of the police.

The pro-Trump counter-protesters thanked and shook the hands of the Rio Rancho Police Department officers as they walked by and as the event slowly began to disband.

Earlier Saturday, another patriotic event, also having Cowboys for Trump’s presence, organized hundreds of people in Española, which was described by participants as a massive success.

‘Back the Blue’ freedom ride scheduled for Saturday in Española

On Saturday, there will be a “Back the Blue” freedom ride to support Law Enforcement co-hosted by April Salazar and Audrey Trujillo.

The ride is listed as a “family-friendly community event,” which will “be honoring our men and women in blue, first responders, and our armed forces. We are Americans and we will be standing for our Constitutional rights.” 

The ride begins at 11:30 A.M. MDT, then a peaceful protest will follow featuring “prominent law enforcement speakers, music, networking, voter registration, and more.” 

Thousands of people from all across the state have been invited, and the patriotic, pro-Law Enforcement event is expected to garner a large audience both for the ride and for the event itself. 

The event details, according to the Facebook invite are below: 

11:00 am Riders (bikes, vehicles, horses) will gather at 923 North Riverside Dr NM 87532 (property adjacent to Pizza 9)

Freedom Ride/caravan will start at 11:30am

The Ride will end at 923 North Riverside Dr NM 87532 (starting location) where we will have a peaceful protest.

Bring your cars, trucks, bikes, horses and ride with us as we make a bold statement. Bring your signs, banners, and flags to show support and stand for your issues/grievances. Wear a blue or patriotic shirt if you can. Then join us after as we honor our law enforcement, first responders and then get to hear from a variety of great speakers.

The link to the Facebook event for more information can be found here. 

President Donald Trump endorses Yvette Herrell for Congress in CD-2

On Thursday afternoon, President Donald J. Trump endorsed former state Rep. Yvette Herrell, nominee for Congress in New Mexico’s Second District.

“Yvette Herrell (@Yvette4Congress) is a proven fighter for New Mexico! She strongly supports our Brave Law Enforcement, Life and the Second Amendment. Strong on the Border and Trade, Yvette has my Complete and Total Endorsement! #NM02,” wrote the President. 

Herrell retweeted the post and wrote, “Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump! It’s an honor to have your endorsement, and I look forward to partnering with you in Congress to continue the Great American Comeback! #nmpol #NM02

The Republican Party of New Mexico wrote, “Xochitl Torres Small has consistently voted against President Trump despite running as a self-described “moderate.” We must elect @Yvette4congress and restore conservative values to Congress and New Mexico.” 

Herrell faces incumbent Democrat Rep. Xochitl Torres Small in the November 3 General Election. President Trump won the District by 10 points in 2016 and Torres Small voted with the Democrats in her party to impeach Trump on two counts in December of 2019. Torres Small also votes with Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi 95% of the time, according to ProPublica.

Millionaire NM House Speaker Egolf owes $10k in back taxes while taking $350k in CARES Act funds

On Thursday, the Republican Party of New Mexico sent out a press release showing a tax lien document revealing that Santa Fe state representative and Democrat Speaker of the House Brian Egolf owes over $10,000 in federal back taxes. 

Even worse, Egolf applied for and accepted up to $350,000 in federal stimulus funding in April from President Trump’s CARES Act while owing thousands of dollars to taxpayers. The CARES Act funds were meant to help suffering businesses get through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce wrote, “With Democrats in charge, Santa Fe liberals like Brian Egolf have raised taxes on hard-working New Mexicans by hundreds of millions of dollars,” 

“But the top New Mexico House Democrat won’t pay his own taxes, going back to even before he was elected speaker. Speaker Egolf should step down and pay back what he owes the taxpayers in full.”

“Speaker Egolf has led Democrats in jamming through the largest tax increase in state history not once, but twice—all while he owed thousands of dollars in federal taxes,” Raye Byford, Republican candidate for House District 47, said. “New Mexico deserves better than a hypocritical Santa Fe politician who says one thing and does another. I join Chairman Pearce in calling for Speaker Egolf to step down and make good on his debt to the taxpayers.”

Speaker Egolf, a Santa Fe lawyer, whose house is worth over $1 million, and his net worth is estimated in the millions.

According to the Republican party of New Mexico release, “Since becoming speaker in 2017, Egolf has led House Democrats in ramming massive tax increases through the legislature—including two which were the largest in state history at the time they were passed. In his first year as speaker, Egolf led New Mexico House Democrats in passing the largest tax increase in state history out of the House at $350 million. In 2019, Egolf and House Democrats doubled down and once again passed the largest tax increase in state history that was eventually signed into law—this time $580 million.” 

ABQ City Council rejects measure asking Legislature to strip away gun rights

On Wednesday, the Albuquerque City Council came to a decision not to pass an anti-gun resolution that would have sent a proposal to the legislature requesting they strip the “firearms pre-emption clause” from Article II, Section 6 of the state constitution. The measure would ask for the revision to the article of the Constitution to be put on the ballot for voters’ approval.

The anti-gun measure, which would have potentially allowed cities like Albuquerque to pass whatever restrictions on guns they would like, would offer citizens no protection, and subject them to extreme restrictions on their constitutively protected right to own a firearm. 

According to the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, “Only five states — CT, HI, MA, NJ & NY, all bastions of gun control — have no preemption law or constitutional protection.  Preemption ensures uniformity in state gun laws wherever you live, work or travel so that law-abiding citizens don’t unknowingly run afoul of confusing and conflicting local restrictions.”

The measure failed on a vote of 4 to 5, with Council Members Klarissa J. Peña, Brook Bassan, Cynthia Borrego, Trudy Jones, and Don Harris all opposing the measure. The resolution’s sponsors, Diane G. Gibson and Isaac Benton, as well as Pat Davis and Lan Sena, supported the failed measure.

Massive MAGA crowd gather on chilly ABQ day at ‘Hispanics for Trump’ HQ, signaling red wave

On Wednesday, a massive red wave of support showed up for the third day of the New Mexico “Women for Trump” bus tour in Albuquerque at the Hispanics for Trump headquarters. Hundreds of President Trump supporters showed up in support of the Make America Great Again plan to turn New Mexico red (Republican) in November.

Despite the chilly 44-degree weather, patriotic conservatives came out holing American flags, wearing MAGA hats, and other Trump gear, signaling massive support for the Republican agenda in the Land of Enchantment. 

The Democrat Party of New Mexico or the Joe Biden campaign have not held any such event nor have their zoom calls appeared to rile up their base. 

President Trump vowed to win New Mexico in 2020, and the President’s campaign team has consistently highlighted the state, especially during the Republican National Convention, where three speakers hailed from New Mexico. 

The Women for Trump bus will also stop at the Rio Rancho campaign headquarters at 11:00 P.M. MDT on Wednesday. 

Anti-Hispanic hate group triggered after poll shows 53% oppose removing Oñate statues in NM

On Monday, the Albuquerque Journal released results of a poll it did through local pollster Brian Sanderoff’s firm, Research & Polling Inc., asking whether New Mexicans agreed or disagreed with the removal of Don Juan de Oñate statues. 

“While 53% of those queried said they oppose renaming public buildings or removing statues of Oñate, 27% said they support doing so. The remaining 20% were evenly split between “mixed feelings/depends” and “undecided/didn’t know/wouldn’t say,” reports the Journal.

All categories polled, based on gender, age, and political party, age, and education level all had a majority opposing the measure to tear down Oñate monuments.

“Among Hispanics, 28% supported removing statues while 54% opposed it. Anglos expressed similar opposition: 24% supported their removal and 53% opposed it. Sanderoff said Native Americans were polled, but because they make up such a small percentage of likely voters – 4% – the group was too small to report on statistically,”  the Journal explained.

The Journal interviewed far-left “The Red Nation” chair Elena Ortiz, who tried to brush off the results, which her group, closely tied to domestic terrorism, disagreed with. “Human beings, human societies evolve and begin to change and really strive to make communities safe welcoming inclusive places. … We’re not trying to erase history; we’re trying to contextualize it, and we’re trying to reframe the narrative,” she said. 

The poll comes in the wake of Oñate statues being ripped down across the state, from one longtime standing statue in Alcalde to the La Jornada sculpture garden on the Albuquerque Museum grounds. Violent “The Red Nation” agitators have weaponized the issue to attempt to take down historical landmarks and even defaced statues. Some of the targets include the obelisk sitting in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, a bronze statue of Don Diego de Vargas in Santa Fe’s Cathedral Park, a statue of Catholic Priest Fray Angélico Chávez, and other such statues. 

In July, The Red Nation hate group held an anti-Semitic, Hezbollah-tied rally in Albuquerque, where they held vulgar signs and hated on the people of Israel, screaming at onlookers “F**k you” while they held Palestinian flags. 

The Red Nation hate group wrote in a racist, now-deleted blog post, “the ‘Hispanic’ or ‘Spanish American’ racial identity was a fiction created to make New Mexico appear ‘white enough’ to join the U.S. since both identities privileged a European or Spanish heritage even if the population was mixed or descended from detribalized peoples. New Mexico’s statehood was delayed until 1912 because white Anglos felt the territory did not possess a white majority, so a new ‘race’ of whites had to be created.”

It is clear why the majority of New Mexicans do not support canceling Spanish history and culture, and that is because the opposition to erasing the rich Hispanic culture in New Mexico is closely tied to bigotry and erasing Spanish heritage. 

Sign the petition to bring the Don Juan de Oñate statue back to its rightful place in Alcalde.

‘Campaign suppression’: Leftists vandalize, steal GOP political signs as Election Day nears

On Sunday, Max Walker of Santa Fe started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for him to rebuild after leftists destroyed his homemade Donald Trump signs, which were ripped to shreds by a lone vandal he caught on camera taking off the sign.

Walker’s GoFundMe page is called “Stop campaign suppression,” and looks to raise funds to buy new signs and better surveillance to catch the hoodlums destroying his private property. As of Monday at 8:50 A.M., the page has raised $92 of the $500 goal.

Across the state, other Republican political candidates have been faced with left-wing vandals destroying their signs. Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) has faced multiple attempts by violent leftists supposedly aligned with the militant hate group Black Lives Matter, which has written, “F*ck Trump” and “BLM” on the signs.

Sen. Gregory Baca (R-Belen) has also faced vandals taking to his signs, in apparent support for his opponent, Democrat Paul Baca. The gangbangers painted over the name “Greg” and wrote “Paul” above it. 

Sen. Baca said of the incident, “The opposition has resorted to criminal activity to dissuade our campaign, but we will prevail. Your vote counts!” Others have reported their signs, specifically their Trump signs, being stolen in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other places in the state.

The fascistic approach Democrats and leftists have taken to rip down opposing viewpoints is nothing new. In 2016 during President Trump’s first campaign for the presidency, vandals repeatedly destroyed and stole signs in support of President Trump all across New Mexico. In some cases, vandals cut out the “T” and “P” in the signs or stole them altogether.

During the 2018 midterm elections, leftists defaced Republican political signs, either by ripping them to shreds, slapping racist stickers displaying divisive things like “White Male Republican” on them, cutting out letters, or plowing the signs down with vehicles.

With the election is a little under two months away, Republicans will have to be much more vigilant of the “tolerant” leftists with a penchant to suppress support for Republicans by taking down their free speech, even if by force. 

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