Yesterday, I got the Obama email that I (and whoever signed up for the email notification) would be the first to know who Obama's VP choice was. As we all know, Edwards is Out. Webb has declined and the mainstream press has their favorites guesses. Yet poor Richardson nary gets mentioned.
I'm not thinking this is a bad sign for him because I think Obama wants the announcement to be a "Holy Crap! Really? " Surprise (Not to mention, not giving the McCain camp any more of head start on the VP bash than need be). Yet, last Tuesday the paper of city which the Democratic Convention will be held, spoke out.
On August 5th, In a Denver Post editorial about who Obama should pick for VP:
"We think there's only one direction to go.
The first test of a vice president is whether he or she is qualified to serve in the top job should the occasion arise. Richardson clearly leads all other Democratic contenders by that standard. "
Yesterday, the Albuquerque Journal 2nd the motion albeit a little lukewarmly so:
"... Obama should take note of the fact Richardson's résumé runs deeper than most politicians. It made him a formidable presidential contender and gives him a serious shot at a top position in an Obama administration. Perhaps even No. 2...In the final tally, his record of service to the nation and the state merit a close look should Obama set up shop on Pennsylvania Avenue."
I'd never heard of a major newspapers weighing in a VP choice before chosen(crazy speculation fests..of course) but for the last month or so, I've been saying somewhat of the same thing. He is indeed a good fit.
The other contenders? Hillary..don't get me started. Chris Dodd, well...bless his heart. Joe Biden, who WOULD round out the ticket, has too many years of consistently sticking his foot in his mouth and is seen as "Old School" (and lord help us if they make him as secretary of state). Sibelius, Bayh, Kaine all great choices but just not what he needs to balance the ticket. You could regard those three as state clinchers but I don't see us winning Kansas plus the Hill army will be pissed to high heaven, I think Obama can win Virginia without Kaine and that leaves Bayh's state..could we pick up Indiana? Of course, there the other choices out there of the mainstream media picks(see mainstream press guesses link) but listing all could make this post even longer and most likely dreadfully dull.
At the very beginning of the Presidential Political season, I wasn't too keen on Bill Richardson. I didn't dislike him, he just didn't do anything for me. I remember when mentioned to me as a VP choice early on, I just nodded to myself and said "uh-huh...yeah, not gonna happen." One, he wasn't all that dynamic, two I thought the Clinton legacy(or perhaps even the whole Wen Ho Lee thing) would taint him, Three, Of all the white liberal outrage for minorities getting there fair share and allegiance to see more political seats diversely filled, it seems the Latino camp always gets screwed on the national level.
In the last year, he's made no gaffes, we've seen nothing taint him(even Carville's voodoo curse and Judas rant didn't stick) and his surprise endorsement of Obama on March 21st, just when Obama needed him the most, did nothing but raise my opinion of him. Maybe it was the beard or that he crossed the Clintons for what he believed, or even maybe for the first time I heard him give a speech that didn't make me yawn but rather fired me up, I just started looking at Bill Richardson in a different light..
Looking back on his career he has all the makings of just where Obama is lacking (And hey it doesn't hurt he's been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize like 5 times.) His foreign affairs experience is exceptional. He's been entrenched in it since Nixon (staff member for Senate Foreign Relations Committee and working for Kissinger State Dept.)
Once elected to congress his main focus was Foreign Relations and in '96 tussled with Saddam Hussein to negotiate the return of captured Americans. Then there is the US ambassador job for the UN. He secured the release of Hostages in the Sudan as well as other work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These experiences were tremendously helpful in just this past year when he negotiated a cease fire in Darfur. He's even made some headway with Kin Jong Il.
Beyond being loyal to his Hispanic community-known fact but little heard-he's also made great headway with our relationship with the American Indian community.
"as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Native American Affairs in the 103rd Congress (1993–1994). While in the House, Richardson sponsored bills such as the Indian Tribal Justice Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments, the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act, the American Indian Agricultural Resource Management Act, the Indian Dams Safety Act, the Tribal Self-Governance Act, the Indian Tribal Jurisdiction Bill (commonly known as the “Duro Fix”) and the Jicarilla Apache Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act....Richardson created the Director for Native American Affairs position in the Department in 1998, and in January 2000 oversaw the largest return of federal lands, 84,000 acres (340 km²) to an Indian Tribe (the Northern Ute Tribe of Utah) in more than 100 years. Richardson also directed the overhaul of the Department's consultation policy with Native American tribes and established the Tribal Energy Program." wiki
As popular Governor(re-elected with almost 70% of the vote -- and with almost 40% of the Republican vote*)is viewed generally as moderate, "The Cato Institute... has consistently rated Richardson as one of the most fiscally responsible Democratic governors in the nation." wiki
Also, having experience as a Secretary of Energy whilst the nation is blanketed by a energy crisis is a something to tout. He's already presenting a Energy Policy Forum on behalf of Obama today. He's been in the game for a very long time but with a Teflon like ability not seem like the Old Washington Guard.
Even if they do label him as not an agent for "change" metaphorically, him as VP( Besides the Obama as President) is the biggest concept of Change America has seen since it's inception: The first Latino Vice President under the first African American President (I know a lot of the feminists want a woman as VP but come on what is more astounding? A woman as VP or a Latino?) .
There lies the problem with Bill Richardson as VP choice. Will America freak out having two minorities on the ticket? I'd hope not but even I am not that naive to think that all of the sudden racial transcendence will prevail.
I just think that even the most racist person alive can't discount the fact that McCain and who ever he picks as his VP is going to make their life worse not better so they'd vote for any Democrat so they, the voter,can put food on the table***
If he does become the VP running mate, Dave Chapelle gives a sad unjustly justification for Richardson as a VP choice for Obama: as "insurance".
Of course, I don't agree, but this is what he said a while back.
"I could be the first black president. I mean I don't think anyone would hurt me; some people might want to hurt me, but I don't think they'd touch me. Because my vice president would be Mexican for a little "insurance." I mean you can shoot me, but you're just gonna open up the border."
Although IF this idea had any basis of truth and the proposed ticket got elected, we'd see Lou Dobbs change careers pronto become Obama's Body guard himself- which I'd like nothing better than to get that fat pompous racist bastard off the air.
Anyways, we should know in about 10 days or so but Obama Camp if you're listening:
***I am hoping the Obama camp thinks this too so they will overlook the fear that they need a white person at his side to ease the public minds. In fact I'm betting on it. Literally. Which was pretty hard to do knowing Politics well enough that historically most Candidates would nod at Richardson as a choice and say to themselves..."uh-huh...yeah, not gonna happen." and ultimately pick the Safer Bet.
1 comments:
not only do they look good together, but I was watching him on CNN talk foregin policy, and damn he knows his stuff.
Post a Comment