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Is it just me or does it seem like Richardson isn't as much in the spotlight anymore.  His campaign certainly seems to be losing steam.  Maybe he should get himself back to NM and the concerns of this state.

Give it up Billy, you only have 3% of the votes and that's pitiful!

does richardson in his own video say word one en espasgnol?

After everything is said and done in this election, a few insightful folks
may soon recognize the Iraq War as the most serious thing threatening the future of the USA. I hope your readers have read New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's op/ed piece from the Washington Post on how and why we must get out of Iraq, from 14 days ago.If not, here it is, in full, after a few introductory remarks by me:

There is a much larger scale confrontation with Bush from the candidates
regarding the Iraq War and the problems it is continuing to cause, after six years of Halliburton and Brown and Root and Blackwater corporate
kleptocracy. Only one candidate, it is abundantly clear to me, is really
slamming the truth and providing the logistics and rationale for ending this disastrous war: Bill Richardson. This article was printed in the Washington Post 14 days ago, and please take the time to read it:

_______________________

Why We Should Exit Iraq Now

By Bill Richardson
Saturday, September 8, 2007; A15

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have suggested that there is little difference among us on Iraq. This is not true: I am the only leading Democratic candidate committed to getting all our troops out and doing so quickly.

In the most recent debate, I asked the other candidates how many troops they would leave in Iraq and for what purposes. I got no answers. The American people need answers. If we elect a president who thinks that troops should stay in Iraq for years, they will stay for years — a tragic mistake.

Clinton, Obama and Edwards reflect the inside-the-Beltway thinking that a complete withdrawal of all American forces somehow wouldbe “irresponsible.” On the contrary, the facts suggest that a rapid, complete withdrawal — not a drawn-out, Vietnam-like process —would be the most responsible and effective course of action.

Those who think we need to keep troops in Iraq misunderstand the Middle East. I have met and negotiated successfully with many regional leaders,including Saddam Hussein. I am convinced that only a complete withdrawal can sufficiently shift the politics of Iraq and its neighbors to break the deadlock that has been killing so many people for so long.

Our troops have done everything they were asked to do with courage &
professionalism, but they cannot win someone else’s civil war. So long as
American troops are in Iraq, reconciliation among Iraqi factions is
postponed. Leaving forces there enables the Iraqis to delay taking the steps to end the violence. And it prevents us from using diplomacy to bring in other nations to help stabilize and rebuild the country.

The presence of American forces in Iraq weakens us in the war against al-
Qaeda. It endows the anti-American propaganda of those who portray us as occupiers plundering Iraq’s oil and repressing Muslims. The day we leave, this myth collapses, and the Iraqis will drive foreign jihadists out of
their country. Our departure would also enable us to focus on defeating the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11, those headquartered along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border — not in Iraq.

Logistically, it would be possible to withdraw in six to eight months. We
moved as many as 240,000 troops into and out of Iraq through Kuwait in as little as a three-month period during major troop rotations. After the
Persian Gulf War, we redeployed nearly a half-million troops in a few
months. We could redeploy even faster if we negotiated with the Turks to open a route out through Turkey.

As our withdrawal begins, we will gain diplomatic leverage. Iraqis will
start seeing us as brokers, not occupiers. Iraq’s neighbors will face the
reality that if they don’t help with stabilization, they will face the
consequences of Iraq’s collapse — including even greater refugee flows over their borders and possible war.

The United States can facilitate Iraqi reconciliation and regional
cooperation by holding a conference similar to that which brought peace to Bosnia. We will need regional security negotiations among all of Iraq’s
neighbors and discussions of donations from wealthy nations — including oil- rich Muslim countries — to help rebuild Iraq. None of this can happen until we remove the biggest obstacle todiplomacy: the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq.

My plan is realistic because:

It is less risky. Leaving forces behind leaves them vulnerable. Would we
need another surge to protect them?

It gets our troops out of the quagmire and strengthens us for our real
challenges. It is foolish to think that 20,000 to 75,000 troops could bring
peace to Iraq when 160,000 have not. We need to get our troops out of the crossfire in Iraq so that we can defeat the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11.

By hastening the peace process, the likelihood of prolonged bloodshed is
reduced. President Richard Nixon withdrew U.S. forces slowly from Vietnam — with disastrous consequences. Over the seven years it took to get our troops out, 21,000 more Americans and perhaps a million Vietnamese, most of them civilians, died. All this death and destruction accomplished nothing — the communists took over as soon as we left.

My position has been clear since I entered this race: Remove all the troops and launch energetic diplomatic efforts in Iraq and internationally to bring stability. If Congress fails to end this war, I will remove all troops
without delay, and without hesitation, beginning on my first day in office.

Let’s stop pretending that all Democratic plans are similar. The American
people deserve precise answers from anyone who would be commander in chief. How many troops would you leave in Iraq? For how long? To do what, exactly? And the media should be asking these questions of the candidates, rather than allowing them to continue saying, “We are against the war . . . but please don’t read the small print.”

The writer is governor of New Mexico and a candidate for the Democratic
presidential nomination.

smith is onto something---richardson's 'resume' campaign is reasonable, intellectual .... but most voters act because of emotion.  besides, has richardson proposedideas worthy of his experience?  maybe--in proposing--along with kucinich and gravel--a complete pullout from iraq, within 6 [now 9?] months.  but is he as good on health care as kucinich?  hmmm....  richardson wants to leave behind 'no child left behind', okay, but overrall, is he inspiring?  still, i think he would be a good president... but...can he win enough votes?

the sales figures are intersting, proof that yet another 'resume' campaign is going down in flames, esp. as the candidate seems unwilling to change his losing strategy?    hmmm....yet i think he'd make a good presifdent.....if he could get the votes.....

 

Major donor and covicted thief, Hsu, was arrested in Grand Junction, CO. yesterday. Interesting that there is no mention of him in this paper. NOTE: This story did not hit the wires until today but you will find it on our homepage. ~ Web Desk

only richardson has actual executive experience and actual foreign policy experience.  while any Democratic candidates would be a chage from the Republicans---and almost anyone a change from Bush--clinton is an avowed moderate taking money from DC lobbyists and very unlikely to change at all...  so WHOSE slogan is unreal?   hmmmm....

“Iowa, for good reason, for constitutional reasons, for reasons related to the Lord should be the first caucus and primary,” Richardson told a labor group in Iowa.

Oh no Mr. Bill oooooh. Can anyone honestly say Mr. Bill is a good presidential candidate? If so I would like to hear from you and maybe you can explain why.

joe sonneman, why would you think Mr. Bill would "make a good president" when everything that comes out of his mouth is garbage?

well, i still think Richardson would make a good president, but is doing enough to get enough votes?  union endorsements went to edwards especially, clinton, and ....Dodd.  the firefighters--who last time helped kerry beat dean in iowa--went for Dodd.  ???  well, maybe richardson will do well in nevada..??

a collection of comments from others...

okay, but ...   ???  not much meat to this article?

One more day of summer, a little luck, the right phone booth to put the super hero costume on, and vala:

"Never fear the underdog is now Here."

Rock on, Bill R.

Graham Noble and John Sanchez, "Donaldo" is not my name. Donado Coviello is not an a.k.a.: my passport, drivers license, marriage certificate, Social Security card, ect. ... all say so. The web ed. chose not to post my response explaining what ever complaints I had against Governor Richardson I told him to his face. My comments about "fake" names referred to "Ben Dover" and "Sandy Beach." My response to you two is "If you have complaints about the Governor have the courage to tell him in person or directly." Otherwise don't give me a hard time for having the huevos to talk to the Governor and the Governor for being willing to listen.

Yes, John Sanchez, it is. Pretty sad, huh?

It's too bad one of the only ways we get to see candidates talk about how they're going to represent us is in the debate format.   It's way to easy to go for the one-upmanship, us-vs.-them vibe to take precedence as oppose to any actual discourse on issues. 

Donaldo, is that an a.k.a?   Anyway, nothing fake about me or my comments.  I will apologize if you can get me a baseball card with Bill's face on it. Bill is a great and experience talker, nothing more.  As a voter, I have been very very disappointed by Bill and those he has appointed to manage state government!!!

In the meantime, I am saving my money for a change at a flight from the spaceport!!!

The more experience they have (clutters their view with things, that are NOT the little people) the less qualified they become in politics.

Get RID of the old Scumbag politicio, and trade for a fresh new one at every earliest opportunity.

"What is in the Richardson character that can "fix" his (Bush's) mess as opposed to Obama?" How about … leadership, courage, evenhandedness, openness, forgiveness and diplomacy for starters.

George Bush has been in office for over six years. It can now be said that he has experience. Yet he is largely viewed as incompetent and many believe that his presidency will be judged harshly. It seems that he has not learned or grown in the job. He surrounded himself by very experienced people. They, too, are reviled for their failures. So much for experience.

We have had a number of very experienced "modern" presidents: Richard Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, Bush One. I don't count Eisenhower or the Governors -- Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush Two -- as having the depth of experience of a Nixon, Johnson, Ford, or Bush One.

People who support Bill Richardson tout his experience, as does he, as the reason he should be President as opposed to Obama who, they say, has no experience. Putting experience aside for now, what is it about Mr. Richarson's character that spells presidential as opposed to Obama? How are they different as people and why would Richardson lead better than Obama. As Bush leaves the WH he will leave a troubled nation behind him for someone else to "fix." What is in the Richardson character that can "fix" his mess as opposed to Obama?

As far as I know Governor Richardson (aka Ambassador Richardson/Secretary Richardson) is the only candidate for President that has spoken out not only against torture but he alone has challenged the NSA blanket dragnet wiretaps on American citizens. Unlike the ultra-pro-Israeli Clinton, Richardson presents a balance foriegn policy view of the MiddleEast. And for the record ... I am amazed how the New Mexican will bend over backwards to allow fake named people to post trashy comments about our Governor.

It's simple: We have 48 years experience to show that, if the Dems don't choose a governor, they'll be beat. Over, and over again. They never learn! And a northeastern senator such as Hillary? What part of 1988 and 2004 doesn't the Democratic Party understand?

Mr. Bill had his "A" game alright. He was awesome, he was amazing, he was astonishing, and he finally made Hil admit she would leaves many troops in Iraq for years, and made B.H. Obama look like the greenhorn kid he is. But, alas, he will not win anything as the race is already decided. But I still hold out hope for the "Dream Team" of Hil and B.H. Obama to win the nomination, but it appears Hil is looking way past the nomination and to the general election with her more hawkish and business-friendly rhetoric. But boy that is going to make the Daily Kos and Cindy Sheehan wing of the party very upset.

John all the points you make are true. But then look at Obama or Clinton and one could say the same thing about how they have been running the country. The country doesn't look to be in much better shape than NM under their watch. Nor NY under Rudy's. Seems to me we have a field of experienced screw ups.

Mr. Coan; save your self some embarassment...come in for a landing! This guy couldn't lead a camel to water!

You are correct Mr. John Sanchez! Some get caught up in his so called "experience". It's like saying Michael Vick is an "experienced" pet owner.

A public education system that is still a mess, a long list of political appointments and election staff with highly questionable backgrounds, no military experience, a state crime lab that is vastly over-worked and back logged, and lets not forget the MLB career he boasted about....yeah sure, I would vote for him. Try running things in NM first Bill, then maybe you can visit DC as a tourist.

Gov Bill did well, too, on his 'scrap it' response to 'no child left behind;. too bad he then went on .....and on....and on.... nor does Clinton [h] have executive experience. and stephanopolous ought to measure the 6-8 m0onths withdrawal from Jan 20 2009.and not imply 6-8 month from mid-august means 'by december [2007], yes? oh well. Now if Bill would listen to Edwards and Kuchinich on health care.....

We've all seen how Presidents change over time, for example the hair gets gray.

So long as that bottle doesn't empty, $Bill has no worries.

Nice to see him on his A game. Maybe he still has a chance. I hope so, because the Dems are going to get beat by Romney or Guliani if Richardson isn't the one. Everyone loves to dwell on Clinton and Obama, conveniently forgetting that America has not elected a senator who did not have gubernatorial or vice-presidential experience in 48 years (Kennedy). Why on earth would you believe it would be different this time?

Obama has what, less than 3 years experience as a senator? Clinton has the largest advanced disapproval rating of any "top tier" candidate in history. Edwards hasn't been in office in over 3 years, after serving only one term. These folks are un-electable.

Diane Rivera: Are you even a Democrat? If not, then your opinion on who the Dem's candidates ought to be is really irrelevant.

A 4th place finish in Iowa would not be bad. It would be good. I like 1) Hillary, 2) Obama, 3) Richardson. Edwards is not someone who is electable. He had his chance and I think that was it. Move on.

Did this fool serve in the military? Many Generals agree with him? He's a fool.

August 6, 2007. Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones focused on the stage presence of the candidates:
"Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is the precise opposite [of Kucinich]. Despite his Southwestern home, he effects a folksy but quintessential urban persona that would be right at home in a crowded, street-corner deli."
I'd love to see this view get wider play.

August 6, 2007. Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones focused on the stage presence of the candidates:
"Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is the precise opposite [of Kucinich]. Despite his Southwestern home, he effects a folksy but quintessential urban persona that would be right at home in a crowded, street-corner deli."
I'd love to see this view get wider play.

No, the 'low-key' aspect of the Richardson campaign is because it focuses on experience ...like most 'resume' campaigns, this appeals mostly to logic .... but people vote mostly on emotion.  

However, he has gotten elected several times before, so maybe there is something to this.  And he did not make any serious or semi-serious mistakes [like Obama refusing to take side on Barry Bonds, hours before Bonds hit 756].  He has not been singled out as Clinton has, for taking DC lobbyist money....

An old saying in chess is, a winner in chess is the person who makes the next-to-last mistake."

But this assumes here, that THREE other candidates will make serious mistakes.  No, this is noot really a strategy of success, just one of emphasizinf the experience which history suggests voters may not care about [see failed campaign of Elliot Richardson, no relation?].

What total nonsense, this Bob Anderson Article. I was there in 2003 at that War Protest in the New Mexico Capitol. There weren't 5000 people standing in the governor's office. That is impossible. 5000 people in the entire capitol would fill every hall elbow to elbow like sardines. Maybe 500 were there, mostly outside the Capitol at the east entrance, and nobody seemed angry at all that the Governor wasn't there.

Richardson wouldn't claim to have written lyrics with Bob Dylan. This is meanspirited, absurd, and largely specious nonsense. One has to wonder what Anderson's motivation is doing this. I have a longer comment at Counterpunch which should be up soon, I hope, and encourage New Mexicans with some affection for the truth in these matters to write in as well, as widely as possible even to other papers where a real battle for truth is being waged on the editorial pages of America, because this story is going to get wideplay among media pundits who are in favor of continuing the Iraq War. Would they be publishing such specious nonsense if Richardson were not so eloquent and effective in his criticism of the War and the idea to end it through Congression deauthorization?

I doubt it.

Stephen Fox

But he got a ground rule double.

Roy Streit, I challenge you to document your statement or it is a fairy tale. I won't tell you what I call people who say fairy tales.

I was surprised Big Bill didn't do better. I think he missed a chance to hit a home run. But he got a ground rule double.

Mike Valdez  - I challenge you to document your 3:25 statement. Until you do I'm calling it a bald face LIE. I will not state what I call someone who spreads a bald-face LIE. IFyou can document it, turn your evidence over to the authorities so they can prosecute Big Bill.

his advisers must be getting paid a pretty penny

Don, and why not? It is the NM taxpayers money.

All I can say is that his advisers must be getting paid a pretty penny.  If after the debate and Sunday's debacle they keep telling him that he is doing well.  It's a modern day version of the "emperor's new clothes."  What a disaster.  "I shouldn't have done this I shouldn't have said that - I'm a Yankee fan, I'm a Red Socks fan!  Mr. Russert grilled him like a Swordfish with a citrus herb vinaigrette.

and took responsibility for his actions, a sign of an honest man.

Mr. Bill did not take responsibility for being near the bottom of the lists in several catagories. But he was flip flopping like a fish out of water.

Certainly Richardson did not look presidential material, in my opinion. And, there is no doublt that he has baggage. And, just lately the audit by the Legislative Finance Committe in which he apparently circumevented or is trying to circumvent the State Personnel System. The State Personnel System was implemented in thed early 1960's just to prevent what he is doing.

I believe Bill came across as a real person and so did my mother. He stated his qualifications and took responsibility for his actions, a sign of an honest man.

boy was he bad yesterday--was he tired or what ??? I have always thought he would make a national splash--but he was AWFUL !!!!!!!!

He was flipping and flopping and He doesn't look very presidential. He looks like Fred Flint stone, [].

I miss Bill Frist and his insider trading scandal.
I miss Ken Delay and all of his scandals.
I miss Rudy Guiliani and his "I was there come 9/11"
I miss Newt Gingrich and his accusations of misconduct.
I miss Brownie
I miss Rumsfeld
I miss all the WMD talking points.

But, most of all I mis my brother and sisters who are in Iraq fighting a useless war for the oil companies and all who invest in them.

..I miss My Country!

Who is this guy? I was working at LANL when Pork Chop Bill was the head of DOE. He rushed to a conclusion concerning the Wen Ho Lee incident and an innocent man was railroaded into solitary confinement. Richardson is just another politician, and a small player, at that. New Mexico loves to pretend he's anywhere near a contender for the presidency. This is all a just a marketing strategy by Richardson to become a household name so he can further his own aspirations.

I will miss this story about the fallen Marine, as well as his fictional baseball story too. lol!

He respects noone or he would'nt have mentioned it in the first place. You're right Eli, Bill Richardson is a liar []

Our Gov./CEO Bill Lopez Richardson is a Liar and used a Fallen Marine to further his Ego Centric Motives. Richardson should be ashamed of himself and apologize to the Fallen Marines Family and to the entire US Military for his selfish actions. Eli Chavez, Progressive Independent

The Governor did the right thing when he decided not to mention the incident again. The mother has stated that she was uncomfortable with the coverage of the incident. Governor Richardson did the right thing with the additional death benefit funding. Mrs. Miller should be pleased with his actions.

Dr. James J. Lehman

Bridgeport