I know there is a "2008 Democrats" thread and I will come right out and say it that I am creating this thread to raise awareness of the candidate that I think is the best not just for the Democrats but of all of the 2008 candidates. I feel that Bill Richardson has gotten lost in Obama mania, Hillary's machine and the Edwards' family cancer. Mods if you feel this should be combined into the "2008 Democrats" thread please do so. I know that too much of the country Obama is the most popular candidate but I do think his lack of experience should be considered. There is no denying his charisma and that he has captured the imagination of the country but at the sametime his lack of experience shouldn't be overlooked. He was an 8 year state senator and hasn't even served one full year in the Senate. Barack Obama could prove to be an incredibly capable politician but at the moment we are talking about someone who's political career has been almost solely at the state level, with no foreign policy experience or experience working in the executive branch. Hillary Clinton certainly has the experience but at the sametime is so divisive that she will face opposition from energized Republicans and possibly even dissafected Democrats who resent her imperious style. Edwards' experience is also limited having been a one term Senator and a Presidential candidate along with a VP candidate but other than that having been a trial lawyer working primarily on tort cases. He also has no foreign policy experience or experience working in the Executive branch. Edwards while being an excellent speaker and charismatic also could be potentially divisive as his "two Americas" theme is an appeal to class warfare. Richardson has outstanding experience in the Executive branch as a cabinet secretary. He has also served in Congress and has greater foreign policy experience than almost any candidate out there as UN Ambassador and special envoy to such hot spots as North Korea. As a governor of a state he has more executive experience in office than the other candidates who have spent almost their whole careers as legislators. He also has a good record as governor and been able to show both fiscal discipline while improving the economy and infrastructure of New Mexico. One other thing that is overlooked about Richardson is that he has proven he can work with Republicans and has the respect of many Republicans including the current Admin. which is sending him as special envoy again to North Korea. A Richardson presidency could help to heal many of the political divides that beset this country. Finally his Hispanic heritage shouldn't be overlooked. So much attention has been paid to Barack Obama being black but from the last census the largest and fastest growing minority group are Hispanics and many of the problems that beset us now like immigration and relations with Latin America are issues that Richardson's ethnicity could help address. All of the Democratic, and Republican, candidates have their strengths but also have many weaknesses. If you look at their records though Richardson to me is the best one and it is unfortunate that that record has largely been lost in the buzz and money machine that is the 2008 election. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X0juSJ-y9xg"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X0juSJ-y9xg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
i could vote for richardson, depending on who he faced in the general. if it were mccain or romney, i'd give it serious consideration. however, my father-in-law, who's more libertarian than conservative, spent some time at the NRC, and was very unimpressed w/ richardson as energy secretary.
A lot of people like Richardson, myself included. There is no doubting his experience, but he has zero charisma. Have you ever watched him give a speech? I think he'd make an excellent choice for secretary of state in an Obama administration.
He said he was going to do something about the environment with laws etc., I honestly hope whoever becomes president does something about it because I dont feel like moving up north when water covers hundreds of miles of land.
Having driven across MN in the winter, I think you have plenty enough space for anything you can possibly think of. The entire state seems to be as empty, flat, and open as the Texas panhandle.
Yeah, cabinet members and advisors design and implement policy. Leaders have to get the support of legislators and, by extension, their voters, who are too bored and selfish to listen to a good plan, or resume, rather than a good, stirring, ego-boosting speech.
It sounds like you are only familiar with the South and West of MN which is virtually indistinguishable from Iowa. Much of MN is actually woods, lakes and rugged coastlines. The Lake Superior Coast looks like Maine or the Oregon coast.
au contrare. his perormance as the Sec of Energy was abysmal. he demonstrated a lack of competence and integrity. he intentionally leaked to the NYT and WP that WenHo Lee was a spy under investigation for espionage for China. WP did not take the bait, but NYT initiated a public trial on WHL. In the end, at the trial, the US could not produce any evidence as to ===what secret, if any, was stolen by WHL In the trial, the Federal dismissed all espionage charges against WHL, and publically lashed out against the Clinton's administration for their dispicable acts against WHL
^ I stand corrected and agree that the Wen Ho Lee situation was an embarrassing black mark on his career. That said I would still say that he has better experience in the executive branch than any of the other candidates.
Even though I've been hard on the Paulites I admit I'm supporting a candidate with about as long of a shot of winning his parties nomination. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/st01RB6mLcs"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/st01RB6mLcs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
I have always been a big Richardson guy and I agree he would make the best candidate since he is very level headed and connects to most americans. I will be voting for Rudy if he gets the nod for that matter McCain but if one of those crazy evangelicals or that Mormon gets the nod I'll vote for any dem not named Clinton.
