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MLG’s reopening rainbow magically turns turquoise just in time for her re-election launch

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

Like clockwork, as embattled Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham plans to announce her candidacy for re-election, all is supposedly on track according to her reopening rainbow. All 33 of New Mexico’s counties are now in the turquoise level, which just so happens to correspond with her re-election launch scheduled for Thursday.

After the Governor’s year-long lockdown, which decimated countless businesses and drove thousands of New Mexicans into poverty, she now is asking New Mexicans to send her to the Governor’s mansion for another term.

Her controversy-driven tenure as governor has been marked with scandal after scandal after scandal. From forcing through the most far-left extreme bills through the Legislature to paying off sexual accusers and her own daughter with campaign cash, and then “misplacing” $250 million in Workforce Solutions money, she has weakened her chance of reelection day after day.

She repeatedly skirted her pandemic rules to buy luxury jewelry, used taxpayer funds for fine wine and $200/lb Wagyu beef steaks, berated local communities for not following her edicts, forced New Mexicans to stand in cold bread lines to get food and basic goods, fined churches and businesses tens of thousands of dollars for alleged non-compliance, removed the National Guard from the border and denied an immigration crisis, fired and hired cabinet secretaries on a dime, gave her staff hefty raises while New Mexicans lost everything, and now is giving away $10 million of New Mexicans’ dollars through a “lottery” to bribe people to take the experimental virus inoculation.

Now, Lujan Grisham claims “We’ve already accomplished so much to move New Mexico forward during the pandemic and beyond – but our work together isn’t done.” Despite all she has done to New Mexico, she apparently is not through with her agenda, which has left tens of thousands without options.

She will be holding a re-election kickoff at the Albuquerque Museum at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday and conservatives are prepared to protest the announcement en masse for her grievous actions during the pandemic and her discrimination against New Mexicans over the vaccine.

More information on the counter-protest to the Governor’s announcement can be found here.

MLG’s reopening rainbow magically turns turquoise just in time for her re-election launch Read More »

Conservatives holding counter-protest to Gov. MLG’s reelection announcement Thursday in ABQ

1 Comment / Action Alert, New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

On Thursday from 4:45-8:00 p.m., conservatives are coming together to protest embattled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s re-election campaign announcement being held at Albuquerque Museum on Mountain Road in Albuquerque.

At the Governor’s event, she is requiring attendees over 12 years of age to be fully vaccinated and anyone over the age of two must be masked.

“This will be a limited capacity event due to COVID-19 restrictions. You must register in order to join us in person. Registrations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and general admission tickets are sold out for now. By registering for a waitlist ticket, you will be notified as soon as spots become available. Vaccinations are required for attendees over the age of 12. Masks are requested for those older than two,” reads the Governor’s invitation.

It appears the counter-protest is in conjunction with multiple conservative groups, with Karen Larré leading the organizing. Larré previously organized a “freedom rally” in May to protest the governor’s harsh pandemic lockdowns.

Another flier shared by conservative activist Audrey Trujillo reads that the peaceful counter-protest is going against Lujan Grisham for “divisive medical tyranny” and “discrimination against the unvaccinated.”

One concerned New Mexican who lives in the Albuquerque area recently wrote a letter to the Albuquerque Museum concerned over the event’s requirements, which go against the CDC guidelines.

“It is particularly concerning that anyone over the age of 12 needs to mask and be vaccinated to enter. Children are considered at low risk for covid, both in terms of transmission, contraction and long-term effects. As a parent myself, I would not sign my child up for an experimental, non-FDA approved shot for a virus that likely would not affect them. I may reconsider once it is FDA-approved and/or research shows that it is risk-warranted. The governor has been recommending masking and vaccinating children against the advice of national experts, and by hosting her event, your organization is complicit in replicating this unethical recommendation,” they wrote.

“I have long been a patron of the museum and am shocked and disappointed that you would tarnish your otherwise upstanding reputation by hosting this event under the present conditions. I urge you to either reconsider hosting this or revising the guidelines for it. As a taxpayer, patron and one who hosts visiting guests in my business work, I will not be visiting or recommending the museum to others any longer, should this go forward. Medical discrimination in a public facility, perpetrated by a political figure that should be acting in the best interests of her constituents is not something I wish to support,” the letter continued.

For more information about the counter-protest to the Governor’s re-election event, Karen Larré can be reached at naturallyhealthykaren@fastmail.com. Again, the event is from 4:45 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 3 at the Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104.

Conservatives holding counter-protest to Gov. MLG’s reelection announcement Thursday in ABQ Read More »

Gov. MLG forcing masks on toddlers, jabs for teens to attend campaign event

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

Embattled Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is poised to formally launch her 2022 campaign for governor on June 3rd at the Albuquerque Museum on Mountain Road in Albuquerque.

However, for fans of the scandal-ridden governor to get through the door, attendees must both be fully vaccinated and wear masks, which goes against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

In the invite for the event, Lujan Grisham’s campaign writes, “New Mexico has accomplished so much — but we’re not done yet.”

The Governor also tweeted out an invitation video to the 2022 campaign launch, saying, “You’re not gonna want to miss this.”

New Mexico we have some very exciting news! On Thursday, June 3rd at 6 pm I’d like to invite you to join us for a special event. Visit https://t.co/uIuymCa3q4 to learn more! pic.twitter.com/IchZkcfMit
— MichelleLujanGrisham (@Michelle4NM) May 27, 2021

One concerned New Mexican who lives in the Albuquerque area recently wrote a letter to the Albuquerque Museum concerned over the event’s requirements, which go against the CDC guidelines.

Lujan Grisham already has two Republican challengers, including Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block and businesswoman Karen Bedonie.

Gov. MLG forcing masks on toddlers, jabs for teens to attend campaign event Read More »

Gov. Lujan Grisham named as likely 2024 candidate

6 Comments / News, Politics / By John Block

Embattled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has been under constant fire over her scandal-ridden administration. Everything from her Children, Youth, and Families Department deleting government documents under her direction to $250 million “missing” funds from the Department of Workforce Solutions, which the Governor’s office called “minuscule.”

She used $62,500 in campaign funds to pay off her alleged groping victim and then used over $6,000 in cash to pay her daughter for styling and cosmetology, which are not appropriate campaign expenses.

Lujan Grisham repeatedly skirted her pandemic directives, including having a shuttered jewelry shop open up so she could buy luxuries while no one else could and businesses closed for good. She feasted on $200 per pound Wagyu beef steaks and fine wine with her expense accounts while New Mexicans were forced to stand in hours-long freezing bread lines for food and necessities.

While New Mexicans were standing out in the cold, her office claimed they were just “Republican talking points,” adding that “The state is not forcing anyone to stand in a crowded line, as you suggest.” That was not true, per the countless photographic pieces of evidence proving the contrary.

Lujan Grisham gave tens of thousands of dollars in raises to her staff while New Mexicans sat in line for unemployment.

She constantly shut down and reopened counties using a nonsensical “red to green to turquoise” system, which forced businesses to reopen at limited capacity then close down entirely again and again. This resulted in some of the highest unemployment numbers in the country, and New Mexico small businesses died.

Lujan Grisham punished people of faith, forcing them to close down operations. Those who did not comply with her edicts were fined tens of thousands of dollars and taken to court. All of this scandal is just the tip of the iceberg for Lujan Grisham, who has done whatever she can, by any means, to advance her career and the far-left agenda.

But now, according to Politico, she’s on the list of possible 2024 presidential candidates, appearing next to names such as Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Stacey Abrams, and others.

Politico claims Lujan Grisham “improved” her “national standing” from her response to the virus. Ballotpedia also listed Lujan Grisham as a potential 2024 presidential candidate.

She would first need to win re-election in New Mexico in 2022 despite her laundry list of scandals and improprieties while serving as governor.

Two Republicans have already filed to run against her, including Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block and businesswoman Karen Bedonie.

Gov. Lujan Grisham named as likely 2024 candidate Read More »

Gov. MLG points fingers as ethics board probes her $6K payments to daughter for cosmetology

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

On Wednesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s campaign brushed off a State Ethics Commission complaint made by Piñon Post editor John Block over her misuse of government funds for cosmetology visits by her daughter, Erin, who was paid $1,040.00 last October. Her campaign claimed the complaint was “frivolous and sexist.” The campaign cited an 11-year-old case of corrupt former Gov. Susana Martinez, who also allegedly used campaign cash for “styling.”

New Mexico Secretary of State reports show that Martinez spent $1,385.00 for “styling” on August 16, 2010. Neither was the expense made to Martinez’s relative, nor was it explicitly revealed through that relative that it was for styling and cosmetic purposes, a violation of state law.

Erin Grisham did, indeed, disclose the purpose of her involvement with the campaign. She wrote very clearly that the purose of her involvement with the campaign was as a “[s]tylist and cosmetology consultant for Michelle Lujan Grisham for Governor Media,” which according to state statute 1.10.13.25(B)(2) NMCA and the Secretary of State’s own guidance, violates state law.

“These routine political expenses were for the governor’s speech and 14 other events she addressed for the Democratic National Convention in August 2020,” Jared Leopold, Gov Lujan Grisham’s campaign spokesman. “This type of event preparation expense is a common and necessary political expenditure for politicians of both parties.”

But now more evidence has come out revealing that Gov. Lujan Grisham’s campaign not only paid Erin Grisham $1,040 in October 2020 for “media preparation.” According to the Secretary of State’s website, Lujan Grisham made four additional payments to her daughter for “media preparation” totaling up to $5,043.

The payments began on August 17, 2017, for $643.88, May 14, 2018 for $2,080.00, October 10, 2018 for $1,920.00 and on March 5, 2020 for $400. The amount of donors’ money expended from the campaign to Erin Grisham now totals $6,083.88 and counting.

Gov. Lujan Grisham was not speaking in front of the Democrat National Convention in 2017 or 2018. To any reasonable everyday New Mexican or even one who holds a public office, spending over $6,000 for cosmetology purposes in four years is out of the ordinary. This pattern of spending, regardless of who is doing it, is not appropriate for a so-called public servant.

Gov. MLG points fingers as ethics board probes her $6K payments to daughter for cosmetology Read More »

NM Ethics Commission investigating Gov. Lujan Grisham for misusing campaign funds

7 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

On Thursday, the Piñon Post’s editor, John Block, filed a New Mexico Ethics Commission complaint against New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for misuse of campaign funds by paying her daughter Erin Grisham, a cosmetologist, $1,040 for “media preparation.”

Lujan Grisham’s daughter revealed on her LinkedIn profile that she acted as a “[s]tylist and cosmetology consultant for Michelle Lujan Grisham for Governor Media,” which according to state statute 1.10.13.25(B)(2) NMCA and the Secretary of State’s own guidance, violates state law.

An excerpt from the complaint:

According to an April 13, 2021 filing by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s gubernatorial campaign to the New Mexico Secretary of State (SOS), the governor paid her daughter, Erin, through an entity listed as “Beauty By Erin Grisham” $1,040 for “media preparation” on October 13, 2020 (Exhibit A).
Lujan Grisham’s campaign did not report that Erin Grisham’s services include hair and makeup, neither of which falls in the scope of what is permissible as a campaign expense.
…
Per state statute, “Personal use of campaign funds is any use of funds in a campaign account to fulfill a commitment, obligation or expense of any candidate or legislator that would exist regardless of the candidate’s campaign or responsibilities as a legislator.” 1.10.13.25(B)(2) NMCA
SOS Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s 2020 Campaign Finance Reporting Guide further affirms that “Hair, nail, or make-up expenses” are not permissible campaign expenses (Exhibit C).
…
Gov. Lujan Grisham’s daughter Erin has no apparent specialties in any field relating to media preparation, such as public relations or any other area that could be attributed to “media preparation,” such as speechwriting or digital media. On her LinkedIn profile, Erin Grisham explicitly states her relation to the Lujan Grisham campaign as the “[s]tylist and cosmetology consultant for Michelle Lujan Grisham for Governor Media.” This admission by Erin Grisham on her professional profile proves that the $1,040 for “media preparation” cannot in any reasonable terms be explained away as media preparation other than styling and cosmetology, which are explicitly barred as an expense, per state law (Exhibit B).

Block said, “Gov. Lujan Grisham’s flagrant abuse of state law is a slap in the face to the countless hard-working New Mexicans who play by the rules. While we are expected to follow her edicts, at every corner, she has broken state laws by misusing discretionary funds for wagyu steaks and booze, paying off her alleged sexual abuse victims with campaign cash, and now openly defying the Secretary of State by funneling her donors’ funds to her own daughter for salon visits.”

“New Mexicans are sick and tired of being played for fools while our politicians do whatever they want with no consequences. No public servant—no matter if they serve on a local school board or as the chief executive—should be above the law, which is why this ethics complaint is so important,” Block added.

On Thursday, the Ethics Commission confirmed its acceptance of the complaint, writing in an email that it “meets the requirements for administrative complaints set forth in 1.8.3.9(A)(2) NMAC and will be forwarded to the respondent(s).” The Ethics Commission noted that Lujan Grisham’s campaign has been notified of the complaint and that her use of funds is being investigated.

The Piñon Post has found additional payments adding up to $6,083.88 since 2017. A full report on the additional payments will come in due course.

NM Ethics Commission investigating Gov. Lujan Grisham for misusing campaign funds Read More »

New Mexico GOP kicks off Amarillo convention with remarks from SD Gov. Kristi Noem

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, Politics / By John Block

The Republican Party of New Mexico began the first night of its 2021 convention in Amarillo, Texas. The press was prohibited from covering the event dubbed “Operation Freedom/Positive Change for New Mexico.”

However, according to accounts from inside the event, the first night’s speaker, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, started the event with a bang.

In her speech, Noem is reported to have said, “I know your governor. I worked with her in congress. She was mouthy then too.”

She also is reported to have told the audience, “Republicans, get over yourselves. Work together and stop getting your feelings hurt.”

After her remarks, the New Mexico GOP posted on Twitter, “Thank you @KristiNoem for speaking at Operation Freedom tonight. Your words and leadership are inspiring to us, New Mexicans.”

Thank you @KristiNoem for speaking at Operation Freedom tonight. Your words and leadership are inspiring to us, New Mexicans. pic.twitter.com/2t6S3YxcKE
— Republican Party of New Mexico (@NewMexicoGOP) May 15, 2021

The second day of the event on Saturday is set to have an all-star lineup of Republicans, including Texas Republican Party Chairman Lt. Col. Allen West, Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson, who represents Amarillo, New Mexico’s Second District Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, and Republican nominee for the First District in the special election state Sen. Mark Moores.

Kimberly Skaggs, the Party’s executive director and the county chair for the Doña Ana GOP told the Santa Fe New Mexican “We didn’t get to make the decision; our governor made that decision for us,” referring to mass gathering restrictions under the state’s public health order.

Ronald Solomon, a pro-Trump merchandise vendor at the event told the New Mexican, “Actually, you’ll see a big cleansing in the party of all these Republicans in name only — RINOs as we call them — coming up next fall,” He added, “If these people somehow think they’re going to survive this, they’re going to be destroyed. As a matter of fact, that’s why I made my ‘It’s RINO season’ T-shirt with President Trump in a hunting outfit with his rifle.”

New Mexico GOP kicks off Amarillo convention with remarks from SD Gov. Kristi Noem Read More »

Biden repeatedly calls New Mexico just ‘Mexico’ in latest series of gaffes

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

On a Tuesday virtual call with American governors, Joe Biden repeatedly called New Mexico just “Mexico” while addressing the vaccination efforts across the country. According to Breibart News, the governors involved were Janet Mills (D-ME), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Spencer Cox (R-UT), Tim Walz (D-MN), Charlie Baker (R-MA), and Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM).

Biden asked embattled Gov. Lujan Grisham how the weather was in “Mexico.”

Throughout the call, he repeatedly referred to New Mexico as just “Mexico,” but finally corrected himself while addressing Lujan Grisham at the end of the call.

During a CNN interview last week, Alisyn Camerota mistakenly said Lujan Grisham was the governor of “New York,” but she did not correct her.

WATCH Biden’s New Mexico gaffe:

Biden repeatedly calls New Mexico just ‘Mexico’ in latest series of gaffes Read More »

Lujan Grisham gives cabinet secretary raise while many New Mexicans remain unemployed

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics, Uncategorized / By John Block

On Saturday, it was reported that embattled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was accused and later settled $62,500 in campaign cash for sexual assault, gave her energy secretary, James Kenney, an 8% raise, adding up to $12,480. That boosts Kenney’s salary from $156,000 to $168,480, making him the highest-paid member of Lujan Grisham’s cabinet. Kenney is responsible for overseeing the Governor’s “Green New Deal” implementation by creating anti-energy laws to cripple the oil and gas industry.

Nora Sackett, Lujan Grisham’s spokeswoman, said the Environment Department “has been tasked with ensuring the health and safety of workers and customers statewide, including carrying out tens of thousands of rapid responses, running the state’s wastewater surveillance testing program, and coordinating with businesses to ensure safe practices and establish mobile testing programs, all of which Secretary Kenney coordinated and executed.”

Sackett is referring to the Governor weaponizing the Energy Department to close down establishments and fine businesses for alleged non-compliance with her extreme public health orders that have locked the state down for over a year. One establishment in Grants was fined $60,000 at the start of the pandemic while churches had $5,000+ fines, and O’Reilly Auto Parts in Santa Fe was fined $79,200.

The news of Kenney’s pay boost comes just days after Kenney gave an employee, Justin Garouette, an ex-staffer on porn actor-turned state Rep. Roger Montoya’s campaign, a $32,000 raise.

The raises come just three months after it was discovered the Governor’s office handed eight of her own staff members raises totaling $92,000 over the past year, a 10% bump on average, far outpacing the raises more broadly granted state employees.

The raises were as follows:

Comm. Director Tripp Stelnicki ($18,600), Director of Boards and Commissions Melissa Salazar ($12,000), Chief of Staff Teresa Casados ($10,800), Chief of Staff Matt Garcia ($10,600), Cabinet Director Dominic Gabello ($10,600), Policy Advisor Diego Arencon ($10,000), Director of Cabinet Affairs Caroline Buerkle ($10,000) and Director of Legislative Affairs Victor Reyes ($7,500).

New Mexico’s unemployment rate is 8.3% and is the third-worst in the nation. It is also at its worst point in 30 years, outpacing even the Great Recession following the housing bubble crash of 2008. State employees generally did not get raises in this year’s budget, while teachers received a 1% raise.

Lujan Grisham gives cabinet secretary raise while many New Mexicans remain unemployed Read More »

Tucker Carlson rails against ‘deeply mediocre, dumb’ Gov. Lujan Grisham

23 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

Washington D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser appeared alongside embattled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on CNN on Wednesday, where they discussed Lujan Grisham inviting the mayor to the Democrat Governors Association despite D.C. being constitutionally barred from being a state.

Also discussed was Bowser’s extreme ban on dancing at weddings, with an order saying, “dancing and standing receptions are not allowed.” Bowser defended her ban on dancing, saying she was “absolutely considering opening more activity.”

Lujan Grisham applauded Bowser for the ban, saying in New Mexico, “if you’re socially distanced, and you’re wearing a mask, and you meet the other requirements with our level of vaccinations,” people are allowed to dance. She added, “I want to give the mayor, uh — it takes courage to be really clear about what constitutes high-risk activities and behaviors.”

Tucker Carlson of Fox News railed against the measure, calling it “stupid and crazy” while dubbing Bowser an “ayatollah” in determining whether people could dance at weddings.

Carlson blasted Lujan Grisham as “deeply mediocre” and “dumb” for applauding Bowser’s buffoonery.

WATCH: