Politics The Contenders: Bill Richardson
posted by on January 4 at 14:00 PM
Sure, November 2008 is nearly two years away, but it’s apparently never too early to declare one’s intention to run for president, and thus it’s never too early to get to know the people who might be the next leader of the free world. This month we’ll be taking a brief look at them.
Bill Richardson
Party: Democratic
Age: 59
Status: Undeclared
Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, is one of those lucky prospective presidential candidates who finds himself unburdened by a 2002 vote on the Iraq War. Richardson did serve seven terms in Congress, but none of them covered 2002, when John Edwards, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and others voted in favor of invading Iraq. Richardson has been critical of the war’s conduct and now advocates a pullout. He recently called McCain “dead wrong” in his support of a troop surge.
Richardson was Bill Clinton’s secretary of energy, and brings that experience to his repeated promotion of energy independence. He also served, in 1997, as Clinton’s ambassador to the United Nations. In 1995, Richardson had a famous sit-down with Saddam Hussein in which he secured the release of two American hostages. In 2004, he became the first hispanic chairman of a national Democratic nominating convention. And in 2003, after he was sworn in as New Mexico’s governor, he became the only hispanic governor in the United States. Here’s a YouTube video about his hostage-rescuing heroics:
As governor, Richardson made New Mexico the first state to provide life insurance for National Guard soldiers called to active duty. From his platform as leader of a border state, he’s also been sharply critical of the Bush administration’s immigration policy. And he has a thing for flying: He’s pushed to make New Mexico a hub for private space tourism and has come under criticism for arranging to purchase a $5.5 million jet with state money (he counters that is wasn’t just for his use).
Another potential rallying point for critics: Richardson has been named as the likely source of leaks to the press about Wen Ho Lee, the Los Alamos nuclear scientist who was suspected of espionage but ultimately cleared of any wrong-doing. (Also: He claimed for nearly 40 years to have once been a major league baseball draft pick, but has since admitted that’s not true.)
In 2000, Richardson was rumored to be on Al Gore’s short-list for Vice Presidential running-mates, and in 2004 he was rumored to be on John Kerry’s short-list too. Now the rumor is that he’s going to put himself on the list of presidential candidates, perhaps this month.
Richardson was born in California, but grew up in Mexico City. He moved to Massachusetts at age 13 to attend high school, played baseball at Tufts University as an undergraduate, and then got a masters degree at Tufts in Law and Diplomacy. He met his wife, Barbara Flavin, in Boston. She now sits on a number of charity boards, including the New Mexico Immunization Coalition.
Richardson is pro-choice, has backed civil unions in New Mexico, and supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who are already in the U.S., paying taxes, and learning English.
(With research help from super-star intern Sage Van Wing)
Previously: John Edwards and John McCain.
John Edwards knows a lot about poverty, after all, he’s helped throw a lot of people into it with:
- his co-sponsorship of H-1b visas,
- his support for illegal aliens,
- his vote for MFN-China
but what about stuff like iraq war and the patriot act?
well, he voted for them too
About the only thing you can say for Edwards is, he spent so much time running for president that he didnt have time to do more damage as senator
You’ve got to ask yourself - ‘what did he do, with the power he had, when he had it?
But Sir Spamalot, I thought we were talking about Richardson??? Edwards is SO yesterday!!!!
Why are you posting on undeclared candidates before writing about those who've already declared, Eli?
Give me your top picks for the next candidates, Doug, and I'll consider them. I'm alternating days between Republicans and Democrats.
but edwards was mentioned in this article
thus, i spam a lot
For more about Richardson and his politics, visit billrichardsonblog.com .
I don't write this blog, but I've had it bookmarked for a while, and it always has something interesting to say.
I'm not sure what you mean by "top picks".
Why not post those who've filed with the FEC and/or have made official announcements? That would be Edwards, Kucinich and Vilsack for the Dems and McCain and Romney for the Repubs, I believe.
Once you've gone through those, then post the likes of Richardson, Biden, Guiliani, etc.
Richardson is the qualified compromise and an electable candidate when compared to an alienating Clinton and novice Obama. Will the Demo's realize this and back him? I don't think so, and as a consequence, I am pretty sure there may be an excellent chance we'll experience an additional four years of a Republican in the executive's seat.
---Jensen
Richardson is the qualified compromise and an electable candidate when compared to an alienating Clinton and novice Obama. Will the Demo's realize this and back him? I don't think so, and as a consequence, I am pretty sure there may be an excellent chance we'll experience an additional four years of a Republican in the executive's seat.
---Jensen
Doug: Romney is up next, so you'll be happy about that. But as for going by who has already declared... The whole declared/undeclared thing is a bit of a charade. I'm going by who is most interesting to me on any given day, sorry.
Just give Kucinich his props, man!
do your part to fight election fatigue! otherwise we'll be talking about the '12 candidates before the first primary of '08 rolls around.
Richardson is an interesting candidate, but I think he is ultimately unelectable.
I suspect (and this is admittedly purely supposition) that this country is more likely to be willing to elect an African-American than a Mexican-American. To compound the racial issue, Richardson having grown up, in part, in Mexico will alienate him from a lot of voters. And the same jokers who Swift Boated Kerry and mocked Gore for inventing the internet will crucify Richardson's name for the silly baseball draft lie. It is a stupid little thing like that that can cost an election.
That being said, I like the guy a lot. I think he is a shoe-in for any number of important cabinet positions, if he's interested (assuming a Democrat wins). He certainly has the qualifications to be something much more than governor of NM, but he'll never be president.
As an aside, I think it is very cool that we have a pretty diverse slate of potential Democratic candidates: Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Richardson, as well as the usual white guys. I, for one, will cheer the day we elect someone who is not a white male as president.
Richardson is too ugly to be president. And too fat.
Can I say that about a male politician? Or is it sexist?
too ugly and too fat ???
so so homo - to, too, two lightweight to take seriously as a political commentator
not sexist - just to inane and too vapid
I think it's the "I'm a former major leaguer... uhm, wait, JUST KIDDING?" that's going to do him in.
No, Sidney... what I mean is this: I don't think Americans will vote for someone who isn't telegenic for president anymore. Remember how we heard, during 2000, that Americans "spend so much time with the president," in our living rooms on TV, his voice on the radio, that charming, affable, good-looking have an edge?
Reagan beat Carter.
Reagan beat Mondale.
Dukakis lost to Bush.
Clinton beat Bush.
Clinton beat Dole.
Bush... beat... Gore. (Sort of.)
Bush beat Kerry.
And isn't part of the reason Obama is getting so much play... his looks?
SAVAGE Wrote:
"And isn't part of the reason Obama is getting so much play... his looks?"
You betcha, Dan. Sex appeal sells well in politics too. It certainly is one of the reasons we have seen an increase in the last 15 or so years of former athletes and entertainers joining
into the fray.....however if it is
McCain -vs- Richardson, as far as looks are concerned, I'll give it Richardson.
One thing about Richardson, he is likely the only national politician in the US who is capable of successfully engaging the North Koreans.
--- Jensen
Gov. Richardson is well known in NM for creating jobs for his cronies and friends -- such as an adminstrative job for a auto mechanic with no prior experience. After you see this from report from an Albuquerque TV station, you'll agree that he's just another sleaze bucket politico:
http://www.krqe.com/video/expandedbiglocal.asp?RECORD_KEY[VideoBigLocal]=ID&ID%5BVideoBigLocal%5D=3793
Chip, Bill Richardson is incredibly, tremendously popular in my home state. My parents were horrified at the idea that he might end up as VP in 2004, because it meant that he couldn't be reelected in 2006 and carry out further reforms and initiatives in New Mexico. Given the landslide reelection, they weren't alone. Besides, every mayor, county commissioner, governor, and president gives jobs as patronage. That won't hurt him in the least. I honestly think ethnicity will be the biggest negative.
Dan's original comment, sadly, hits it. (No pun intended.. I think.)
While I don't find Richardson unattractive nor attractive, he looks like "a guy", which isn't what the U.S. likes as presidential candidate material.
UNLESS...
"Queer Eye For The Candidate Guy"!
There's money to be made out of this, you know. Here is a free idea for The Stranger. I don't care to take any credit for it. Now make it happen.
Richardson has a problem keeping his fly zipped. Seriously, look into it.
On the other hand, I actually think that helps him. Voters like alpha males who get a lot of play. Look at Clinton.
Chip & Gitai - I read your posts with interest. I know he is popular in NM and I like his record. BUT, Richardson and staff and appointees were at an event in which I was involved. He was awful to them, and in front of others. This can't be an isolated incident - right? And, NM must be aware. I lost respect for him completely.
Witnessed It, I really don't think it matters. Clinton's staffers and appointees were subject to streams or horrific invective first thing every morning. They called them "Clinton quakes." All the same, those staffers didn't mind. They knew it wasn't personal, and that his agenda was such that they were happy to work for him. I have a feeling Richardson's staffers are the same.
I realize I'm coming late to this conversation, but Richardson's declaration prompted me to check out this posting.
About him being too ugly and too fat - I don't think that's true. I think he's Clinton-esque in his looks and weight. A little chubby, but kind of cute if the personality is a attractive.
I think Obama's looks will eventually work against him. After people get used to seeing him on tv, they'll start too think he's TOO pretty - anyone that attractive can't be smart too, right? Richardson also has the name working for him. Despite his ethnicity, he's got more of a stereotypical American name, not one that sounds an awful lot like 'merika's enemies.
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