Kicking the Sleeping Dog

If you're like us you're sick to death of Iglesias this, Iglesias that. The coverage is non-stop and well... overblown by a political agenda and a 24 hour news cycle. Now, The Eye doesn't generally take a look at this type of thing. We're really focused on what happens here in Albuquerque and EVERYONE has already said just about EVERYTHING that can be said about this waste of ink and airtime.

However, (you knew this was coming) we received an interesting article that appeared in the Albuquerque Journal way back in 1995, back when David Iglesias received his White House Fellowship. Apparently the process involved a series of questions designed to test an applicant’s ability to think on their feet and to determine what kind of person they were.

The most striking answer came when Iglesias was asked the greatest lesson he learned as a child.

"The greatest lesson he learned as a child?

Simple. "Let sleeping dogs lie," he says, recalling a particular childhood experience.

As a curious child growing up in Panama, he explains, he wondered how his dozing dog would react if he blew in its ear. The answer came with a price -- a permanent scar -- but the lesson wasn't lost on the youngster. " (ABQ Journal - Subscription Required)

Let sleeping dogs lie... This state has long been known for its patron system, a form of favoritism that is often indistinguishable from public sector corruption.

The sleeping dog here in New Mexico is public corruption. It sometimes seems innocuous and often looks to be slumbering, but that rabid dog wakes the moment you're not looking and chews up your favorite shoes and your wallet. Disturb that sleeping dog and it will fight back and leave you scarred for life.

As a child, Mr. Iglesias learned his lesson well. Leave that dangerous hound alone even when you have evidence gift wrapped and placed on your desk. Form a task force, give assurances, but never, never disturb its slumber.

Unfortunately, that's the attitude adopted by New Mexicans since the founding of our fair state and has its early roots in our Spanish Colonial Period. That hound or its pups guard our state and local governments and have a voracious appetite when it comes to our tax dollars.

The Eye is all about kicking our local rabid pup. A U.S. Attorney must have the courage to confront all sorts of criminals from mobsters to politicians. And he absolutely must be willing to not only wake that sleeping dog, but to kick it and put it down.