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BILL IS BACK

My buddy Bill Richardson, who was not of presidential timbre but still admired, nonetheless, is out from under the threat of a federal investigation.

Gov. Richardson’s Future Is Again Talk of Santa Fe

It is great to see him back in circulation. And ready to roll in a new capacity, if asked. His term limits him to the next 14 months as NM governor.

Prior to being elected governor, Richardson served in the Clinton administration as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary. Richardson has also served as a U.S. Congressman, chairman of the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. He was the major negotiator with North Korea and still has contacts with that country.

He has wide experience and is a great guy. And he knows how to fight the good fight. We need all the happy warriors we can get.

Labels: Richardson

TAINTED

Bill Richardson has withdrawn from his nomination as Commerce Secretary.

A good thing he didn't win the nomination for President which I supported for awhile.

It is a good lesson in shallow partisanship. I just liked the cut of his jib. The spirit in his presentation. Pretty shallow.

He became an early casualty of the primaries for me.

I liked that he got some recognition from Obama, albeit in a fairy harmless and ineffective position.

This is a good demonstration of the Obamas' intention to keep things squeaky clean.

This is not a new thing, actually. It has been around for awhile. He had not cleaned it up in time as he should have. I am sure he got asked to step down.

In any case it is a good thing.

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RICHARDSON

I am happy to see Bill Richardson as the Commerce Secretary.

I once supported him for President but he blew it. Not presidential timbre. Yes, that is how you spell it. Look it up. We had a session on it.

I wasn't for him at State either. The Hillary thing blew him away. So evolutionarily correct.

So, he sits at Commerce and will be great on the economic team. The only Hispanic so far.

He is a good guy.

I do have one thing I want though. I want him to grow the beard back.

It is perfect for him.

Barba hermosa!

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GREAT SPEECH

I am not a speech listener. I have yet to hear the entire Obama race speech.

But I sat through this one riveted.

Bill Richardson does a real stem winder endorsement.

He could have sent it in by mail but this is a major rhetorical effort and very exciting. Emotional.

Labels: Democrats, obama, Richardson

BILL COMES OUT FOR BARACK

No. Not that Bill,

My first choice, Bill Richardson, did the endorsement thing early this morning.

Good Friday indeed.

Richardson Endorses Obama

I think that this is a really good thing.

Richardson can help a lot both with voters who liked him but also with superdelegates with whom he has a very high schmooze factor.

It also turns the page on all the stuff about Obama's preacher.

Religion.

The sure fire way to get your electoral hands burned.

A lesson for Obama.

Labels: Democrats, obama, politics, Richardson

BILLS DUE

I am still an admirer of Bill Richardson.

I enjoyed this post-campaign update in today's NYT.

No Longer in the Race, Richardson is a Man Pursued

He has a quiet dignity and grace which I really admire.

So, it turned out that he was not presidential timbre (timber? remember that discussion?) but that is what primaries are for. Only one person can win.

On the other hand, that makes him an extraordinary asset for the person who does win.

He is knowledgeable, articulate, kind, caring, compassionate, and he has been around the course.

I really believe that he has no axes to grind other than what is best for the country.

I also like the way he says the candidates have dealt with him.

Very nice.

Proud to be a Democrat.

I bet that he will have a plum job in either a Clinton or an Obama administration.

Labels: Democrats, politics, Richardson

SECOND BILLING

I am saying goodbye to Bill Richardson today.

It was he that I loved first and best.

Until I didn't anymore.

Richardson Said To Be Dropping Out

But I still deeply respect him and wish him the best.

They say that he has been angling for Vice.

If so, I will vote for him.

And also, if that is so, he is in a bit of a squeeze. Who will he throw his weight with?

The results of the Primaries is not obvious.

Interesting.

Labels: Democrats, politics, Richardson

BROOKS DOES A SULLIVAN

I don't know why conservatives (the good ones) like Obama so much but they really really do.

The Obama-Clinton Issue

And David Brooks makes very good points here whereas Sullivan is simply anti-Clinton and will not be reasonable although his Atlantic article was throughly analytical of Obama and balanced than his daily tirades.

I think that Brooks has done the better job and he actually has an impact on my own view.

I agree that the presidency is like a bacterium and that the candidate with the least wounds does the better job.

In my time I have seen the impact of presidents with strong character (FDR and EJC along with HST). But I have seen some who have gotten sick in office and never recovered. (RMN, JEC)

I don't know whether Obama is it or not.

I am still cautious about his readiness.

Nevertheless, I am happy and proud to belong to a party that has not three but, perhaps, five people who would be up to the job (Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Richardson and Dodd).

Choosing among the best is a wonderful opportunity.

Look at the sad choices if you have the misfortune to be registered Republican.

Labels: hillary, obama, politics, Richardson

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

I got cool to Bill Richardson last week but I am blowing a bit warmer today.

This article in Salon has the detail.

The Democratic Don Quixote

I don't think the headline is apt.

I just don't think that he is ready for prime time in that slick way that 'they' have to have.

He is a drip dry candidate. He keeps getting back on the beach and the water runs off. Then he gets going again.

Nothing seems to phase him.

There is also no doubt that he got sandbagged in the Meet the Press debacle. Tim Russert is a weasel.

But so be it.

I don't see anyone else I like.

From what I saw of the little tapes, I see Clinton as slippery and Obama as callow.

The rest can go to the back of the line.

Labels: politics, Richardson

OUT

I am off Richardson.

Turn the thumb the other way, Bill.

I like him.

But he has done some really creepy shit over the last couple of weeks.

The biggest disappointment was his appearance on Meet The Press last Sunday.

I have watched some of the tape. Flop sweat.

If he cannot defend himself there then he is toast.

I like the guy. I have sent some money.

One word. Squandered.

Here is a rundown from Daily Kos about his cratering numbers. When you are falling within the second tier, you are not doing very well.

Damn, Richardson's star has nearly collapsed these past six weeks. His embrace of Roe dissenter Justice White because he was a football player, and his subsequent ignorance as to the decision (he thought it took place in the 80s) was embarrassing. His use of right-wing talking points to describe Democrats was infuriating:

"Democrats, whenever we have a solution, we want to tax," Richardson said. "I'm different. I'm a tax cutter."

His appearance on last Sunday's Meet The Press was an epic flameout, unable to handle Timmeh's questions. And no, you can't be both a Yankees fan and a Red Sox fan. The sports gods and common decency do not allow it. But on the more substantive matters, a candidate who can't handle a tough interview doesn't deserve to be president.

After six straight gains in the Daily Kos straw poll, his support cratered this in May, from 13 percent to 8. It was clear the flirtation many had with him (including me) was over.

Richardson's efforts to break into the top tier have taken a serious hit. On the other hand -- and this might be a lagging indicator -- he has crawled up from "asterix" territory to the 6 percent range in the Iowa, NH, and Nevada aggregate polls. Another month will tell whether his debate and MTP messes have further impacted his candidacy.

I still think that Obama has too many crosses in his photo ops.

Hillary is beyond the pale. Still dancing on both sides of the war line. Talk about 'slick Willy'.

I might go for Gore if he was going.

No on John Edwards. He has been out of the game too long. And he was hardly in it.

So.

I am available.

Who wants to buy my early California vote?

Labels: Democrats, politics, polls, Richardson

HE DECLARES

Bill Richardson has formally declared to be a candidate for President.

Richardson Presidential Campaign

Take a look at the video.

I have money riding on this candidate. Join up.

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BILL ≠ HILL

So far, the magic doesn't rub off for me.

But you can't help admiring him/them for trying.

In a New Role, Senator Clinton’s Strategist in Chief

Although, come to think of it, I might vote for her to get him.

But I don't think it would be the same.

She is just not on my page right now.

I have a new Bill.

Labels: Bill Clinton, politics, Richardson

LINK

I forgot to give you the link to the Richardson for President homepage.

They had so many viewings of the new commercials that the site collapsed for an hour or more.

They raised a lot of money too.

I gave them some more.

Labels: election, politics, Richardson

NEW ADS

Add 'risk taker' to the job description.

Bill Richardson takes a chance with new test ads to let people know who he is and what he has done.

Pretty good resumé.

A lot of people like the ads.

I am one of them.

Labels: politics, Richardson

BILL R AD

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OPENING DAY

Richardson to Hit Airwaves

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DOLLAR BILL

OK.

I gave some money to Bill Richardson today.

My values are consistent with my pocketbook.

My money is now where my mouth is.

It won't get him all the way there but it will help.

I am sure that there will be more as we go along.

It feels good to be back in it again.

Incidentally, I gave the money to Richardson's campaign through Move On so that it has a progressive tilt and spin.

I will never, ever give money through the Democratic National Committee even if they did get rid of that bastard Terry McAullife. Checkbook Terry.

He ran the whole thing as a financial campaign and let the grass roots dry out and die.

I trust Howard but not the DNC.

And, MoveOn is a lot more toward my progressive outlook.

They also can kick some serious ass. They are not faint hearted.

If you want to donate to any of the primary candidates you can at

https://political.moveon.org/donate/donate.html

Labels: Democrats, Richardson

BILL R.

Today's LATimes has a great feature on Bill Richardson who is in North Korea today, probably succeeding at some world peace stuff that other candidates have no grasp of whatsoever.

While they are campaigning, he is doing the work of the world, the nation and his own state.

I know that sounds grandiose but it is the simple truth.

Richardson content to start slow in White House race

You should read this.

He has a world of experience. He has been all over the country. He is an executive!

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ON THE ROAD

So Bill Richardson does some quiet campaigning for peace in the world.

I really like this guy.

And the bushie's even approve of it!

Richardson on diplomatic trip to N.Korea

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RICHARDSON ON THE ISSUES

Bill Richardson on Iraq, North Korea, and Energy

It would be amazing if he was able to bring 'remains' back from North Korea.

He has heavy diplomatic experience there (and a lot of other places as well)

I would love to see it. Not because of the 'remains' so much as that he would be able to pull it off.

Bill Richardson.

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