Democrats Nominate Richardson To Lead 2004 Convention

The Albuquerque Journal (subscription required) ^ | July 28, 2003 | Jennifer Peter, The Associated Press

[CedarDave]

July 28, 2003

Democrats Nominate Richardson To Lead 2004 Convention

By Jennifer Peter The Associated Press

   BOSTON   —   Democratic Party leaders nominated New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be chairman of their 2004 national convention on Monday, a move to appeal to Hispanic voters increasingly targeted by Republicans.
    "I think it's a recognition that Hispanics are major players in the presidential race," Richardson said in an interview with The Associated Press shortly after the announcement.
    He added, "I think there's going to be strong initiatives accompanying this appointment for the Hispanic community."
    Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe announced the nomination at a news conference also attended by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
    Richardson's appointment "reflects the diversity of our party, the strength of our party," Pelosi said.
    The nomination of Richardson   —   a former Congressman, energy secretary and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who is the highest-ranking elected Hispanic official in the country   —   is a response to demands from the Hispanic caucus of the Democratic National Committee.
    The convention chairman usually is named in the weeks prior to the convention, set for Boston next July, and the party's nominee would have input on that decision.
    But Democrats have been under more pressure to address the needs of minority groups, particularly the fast-growing Hispanic population believed to be a swing group this election cycle.
    Richardson said that "the message to Hispanic voters has to include economic empowerment issues and not just immigration and civil rights."
    As for impact the high-profile job will have on his home state, Richardson said, "I'm very honored for myself and New Mexico and I'm going to make sure that New Mexico has a strong presence at this convention so that the state can get more investment, more tourism and we've already started planning to have a very strong physical presence in Boston."
    New Mexico has a prominent place in the primary calendar in 2004, holding a Democratic caucus on Feb. 3, when several states have contests just a week after the New Hampshire primary.
    Also Monday, Alice Huffman, president of the California NAACP, was nominated to head the convention committee, which could address concerns of black Democrats that they are taken for granted by the party.
      —    —    —  
    Associated Press reporter Matt Mygatt in Albuquerque, N.M., contributed to this report.

All content copyright ABQJournal.com and Albuquerque Journal

[CedarDave]

Didn't see this posted.

[My2Cents]

Good Hispanic name, "Richardson."

[clintonh8r]

Taco Bill....

[eureka!]

"Good Hispanic name, "Richardson.""

Don't worry, the presstitutes will make his Hispanic heritage known. Tells me the Rats are worried about the GOP's inroads. "Free Estrada" should be the GOP's rallying cry. Hehehehe.....

[Sender]

Rush was talking about this today. He said he wonders if Dean will jump up and call Richardson 'reckless and irresponsible' because Richardson stresses tax cuts. Tee hee.

[Dan from Michigan]

Richardson will be president someday. Count on it.

[My2Cents]

I understand Mel Martinez (HUD Secty.) has been all over Spanish language media (TV/radio) talking about the obstruction of Estrada. It's apparently working.

[FITZ]

Good Hispanic name, "Richardson."

It's as hispanic as "Fox".

[FITZ]

Richardson will be president someday. Count on it.

I'm pretty sure you're right. He's a hispanic version of Bill Clinton.

[Blue Screen of Death]

It's as hispanic as "Fox".

But not quite as Hispanic as "Fujimori".

[eureka!]

Re#7 Cool. Now we need Marin to take on Boxer in California. The traditional Hispanic family is GOP in ethics/morals etc. They belong in the GOP. Same for the blacks. Same for anybody that believes in this country's founding principles and their own self determination.....

[Diddle E. Squat]

aka Governor Krispy Kreme.

Currently welcoming about a dozen runaway Yellow Bellied Tax Suckers(aka Texas Senate Chickens)...

[goldstategop]

Bill Richardson... He slashed taxes, signed a Shall Issue CCW bill into law, and has welcomed business to New Mexico. And he's a Democrat! You gotta wonder what Howard Dean and John F. Kerry think of this fellow.... He's "too right wing" for the Democratic Party.

[CPT Clay]

I thought he would be a Vice presidental candidate. I guess not in '04.

[Dan from Michigan]

Yep. He's tied to Bill Klinton. That satisfies the Dem leadership.

He's a governor. Governor's become presidents.
He's Hispanic. Unlike blacks, Hispanic dems win statewide in some states.(Wilder was only black dem to do it). It would be a 'first'.
He signed a CPL bill(twice). He's at least as pro-2a as Bush(who's not great). Possibly better.
He cut taxes.
From a 'country state. It's hard to paint that elitist label on him.

2008? 2012? 2016? Especially if Hillary loses in 2008. 12 years is a long time for one party.

[Dan from Michigan]

I don't think he'll want the Veep curse.

[Quix]

I still think this guy is real bad news.

Some sort of wolf in quasi sheep's clothing.

NM is a strange place in a list of ways [no, not just because I'm here LOL] . . .

But what has this guy done to get so much grooming for kingship by the puppet masters?

My dad would say he's been great for NM. And he certainly knows how to sound nice. But Dillbo had a silver tongue too. That it was forked still doesn't seem to matter.

[PhiKapMom]

Richardson will not be President -- too much baggage and this Country will not elect someone who let Nuclear Secrets walk out of Los Alamos! Just because he is pro-2nd amendment means diddly to National Security in most folks minds!

We do not need another Clinton-lite -- the man who tried to give Monica a job at the UN!

Unbelievable!

[CPT Clay]

He doesn't have what it takes to be the president. Will he throw his hat in the ring against the Hildabeast?

[goldstategop]

I suspect he won't get the nod since he is insuffiently radical for those who run the Democratic Party.

[Starrgaizr]

Richardson -- the man who personally interviewed Monica for a UN job. Perfect. Richardson is a fool, like most people Clinton surrounded himself with.

[Starrgaizr]

E. The U.N. Interview and Job Offer

On Friday morning, October 31, Ambassador Richardson and two of his assistants, Mona Sutphen and Rebecca Cooper, interviewed Ms. Lewinsky at the Watergate.

According to Ambassador Richardson, he "listen[ed] while Mona and Rebecca were interviewing her."

On Sunday, November 2, Ms. Lewinsky drafted a letter to Ms. Currie asking what to do in the event she received an offer from the U.N.(649) She wrote:

"I became a bit nervous this weekend when I realized that Amb. Richardson said his staff would be in touch with me this week. As you know, the UN is supposed to be my back-up, but because VJ [Vernon Jordan] has been out of town, this is my only option right now. What should I say to Richardson's people this week when they call?"

Phone records reflect that, at 11:02 a.m. on November 3, a three-minute call was placed to Ms. Lewinsky from the U.N. line identified in State Department records as Ambassador Richardson's.

Ms. Lewinsky stated that she believes she spoke to Ambassador Richardson, who extended her a job offer.

According to his assistant, Ambassador Richardson made the decision to hire Ms. Lewinsky. Ms. Sutphen testified:

"I said, are you sure; and he said, yeah, yeah, I'm sure, why. And I said . . . are you sure, though you don't want to talk to anyone else . . . . And he said, no, no, I think it's fine; why don't you go ahead and give her an offer?"

Ambassador Richardson and Ms. Sutphen both testified that Ms. Sutphen, not the Ambassador, extended the job offer to Ms. Lewinsky.

When the President was asked in the Jones deposition whether he knew that Ms. Lewinsky had received the offer of a job at the U.N., he testified: "I know that she interviewed for one. I don't know if she was offered one or not."

[Political Junkie Too]

So the Democrats play the race card once again.

-PJ

[My2Cents]

I agree with you 100%, and I've been saying the same thing for years. The GOP doesn't need to pander to the Hispanic or Black communities on "racial/ethnic" issues, but needs simply to talk about economic freedom and opportunity, about traditional values, school choice, law enforcement concerns, etc. Those issues would resonate in those communities, I believe, but no Republican has ever tried.

[CedarDave]

Here is an op/ed piece in the ABQ Journal that gives another perspective on his "tax cuts":

Friday, July 25, 2003

Governor Raids Piggy Banks, Gambles on Startups
By John Dendahl For the Journal
    Is he a tax cutter or a piggy bank breaker?
    Gov. Bill Richardson got the national publicity he wanted earlier this year by pushing former Gov. Gary Johnson's personal income tax reform through the Legislature. On top of local stories, there was favorable mention by Rush Limbaugh and the ads New Mexico taxpayers bought in Times Square and national publications.
    Devils always being in the details, most of this much-needed tax relief lies in the future. Unfortunately, a number of legislative sessions lie between now and then. There's plenty of time for a governor and a Legislature dominated by his party (make that "her party" if Richardson splits and leaves the governor's chair to Lt. Gov. Diane Denish) to undo the tax cuts if ends cannot otherwise be met.
    Meanwhile back at the ranch, the ends already won't meet. Financial chicanery was only a few days behind the tax reform legislation. Our piggy banks are under assault.
    First to go was the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Fund, the money New Mexico receives from the global settlement of litigation against cigarette makers. The Legislature created this fund to be invested and earn money in the future for such programs as extracurricular school activities, health services and research into the impact of smoking.
    Poof — it's largely gone. Senate Majority Leader Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, sponsored a bill that puts about $155 million of that money, over four years, into the General Fund, and at the disposal of the governor and Legislature to spend. Some permanent fund.
    Next, Richardson got the Legislature to amend the law governing investments of the Severance Tax Permanent Fund to permit speculative equity investments in New Mexico companies. The Albuquerque Journal has reported that $29 million is about to go into: Mesa Semiconductor ($15 million), Eclipse Aviation ($10 million) and PowerWAN ($4 million).
    PowerWAN isn't yet even a New Mexico company, but rather a five-person company in Minneapolis that is expected to start an operation here. Mesa Semiconductor is a management buy-out of the Philips Semiconductor plant in Albuquerque, which Philips planned to shut down. Eclipse, which is developing an executive jet airplane, has generated a lot of excitement, but I would consider an equity investment in the company to be a dice-roll.
    In 1987, I was a member of the State Investment Council, which oversees investments of these permanent funds. I worked hard to get conservative Republican legislators to agree that investment of a small fraction of the Severance Tax Permanent Fund in venture capital pools represented reasonable diversification.
    That's a far cry from making speculative investments in specific companies. Venture capital pools are managed by people with expertise in evaluating the prospects of new companies. Most of their investments crash, but some succeed spectacularly. The pluses and minuses frequently add up to fine overall rates of return.
    Richardson now has New Mexico in the venture capital business, and his directorship in his brother-in-law's scandalously failed company, Peregrine Systems, comes to mind. Does the State Investment Office have the talent to compete with experts in, say, Silicon Valley? Richardson is about to bet $29 million that it does. I think it's a bad bet that New Mexicans shouldn't be making.
    On Sept. 23, a few of us will go to the polls to vote for or against another permanent fund raid. This raid is a proposed amendment to the state Constitution to raise the annual distributions from the Land Grant Permanent Fund. If approved by the few voters who show up to vote, another $75 million or so a year will be available for the governor and Legislature to spend.
    Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., started out opposed to this Land Grant Permanent Fund raid, but turned 180 degrees after some Richardson arm-twisting. Because Domenici has rarely seen a project in New Mexico he didn't like to spend public money on, this is hardly the surprise of the year.
    But the real piggy bank buster is Richardson. Don't bet the grocery money on ever seeing his vaunted tax cuts. Unlike the government in which Domenici serves, New Mexico's is constitutionally required to have a balanced budget. To achieve that, the Legislature will undo the tax cuts long before it stops the spending orgy.

(Dendahl is former NM Republican Party Chairman)

Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal

[mass55th]

Between his appearances on TV and with his running the '04 convention, when does he have time to be Governor? The people of New Mexico are getting ripped off big time.

[mass55th]

"I still think this guy is real bad news. "

I agree. There's a reason the North Koreans asked to meet with him...and it probably isn't a good reason.

[CedarDave]

No matter what you may think, Richardson is no fool. He is smart and very politically savvy. He has consolidated power in NM like no governor before him. He demanded resignations and has replaced EVERY board, commission and regents member down to the lowliest staffer with his own appointees, even those not scheduled to be replaced due to staggered year appointments. He tried to do the same with judges, but got slapped by the courts. Lots of institutional history went by the wayside because the new appointees, no matter how good individually, have to come up to speed with their new jobs. If a Republican had tried that, there would have been hell to pay, but he got away with it with just a minor slap on the wrist from the ABQ Journal in a couple of editorials that went largely unnoticed.

Clinton was/is very bright but got easily distracted by the perks and the icing that went with the office. Richardson is a very hard worker who doesn't lose his focus on what he wants to accomplish. He will probably end up fighting Hillary in 2008 for the Dem nomination, and likely come out on top.

[CedarDave]

And, BTW, although I intensely dislike his actions as described above, I have respect for the man (unlike Bill and Hillary), and have no trouble with his personality -- in other words he doesn't make me want to shut off the TV (or worse) when he is speaks. He will make a formidable opponent for the Republicans in 2008.

[Quix]

Not at all surprised.

[ladyinred]

Taco Bill....

You are killing me here! What kind of Mexican name is Richardson?

[Starrgaizr]

OK, I confess that my only opinions of him were shaped by UN/Energy where he was forced to pretend he liked and agreed with Clinton. He reminded me of a Sandy Berger, a relatively warm man but hopelessly in over his head and being played for a fool. Perhaps it was just the environment in which he had to work.

[mewzilla]

He will probably end up fighting Hillary in 2008 for the Dem nomination, and likely come out on top.

Oh, I don't know. Once a Toon butt-boy, always a Toon butt-boy. He'll do what he's told.

[Quix]

Good point.

Has our culture become SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DELUDED about right and wrong generally that perceptiveness and discernment have virtually ceased even among many conservatives and Christians?

My Dad's not normally blind about most things.

[CedarDave]

See my #25 and #28

[Chad Fairbanks]

His real name was 'Richardsonez', but he changed it in order to be able to compete in the White Man's World...

[BillyBoy]

"Under my leadership, we had the biggest breach of security fisaco in the nation's history!!"

"Bring Back Bill!" "Bring Back Bill!" "Bring Back Bill!"

[BillyBoy]

>> His real name was 'Richardsonez', but he changed it in order to be able to compete in the White Man's World... <<

His father is a rich WHITE American buisnessman, but if you have a drop of Spanish blood, you're an "oppresesd person of color", of course.

[EGPWS]

You gotta wonder what Howard Dean and John F. Kerry think of this fellow.... He's "too right wing" for the Democratic Party.

GOOD! A little competition will make for a great run!

[EGPWS]

Has our culture become SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DELUDED about right and wrong generally that perceptiveness and discernment have virtually ceased even among many conservatives and Christians?

Yes.

[Mulder]

Interesting for a couple of reasons.

First, Richardson was in the Klinton regime. This could be an indicator that Hitlery is running.

Secondly, he signed a CCW bill in New Mexico. Does this mean the dems are waking up to the fact that most Americans support the 2nd amendment?

[concerned about politics]

Yeh, but Democrats feel Mexicans are less than worthy for the supreme court. They need to keep the blacks and mexicans "in their proper place."

[Nathaniel Fischer]

It belonged to the former holder of the Governor's Social Security number.

[woodyinscc]

Under my leadership, we had the biggest breach of security fisaco in the nation's history!!"

"It was almost expected from Shelby, a conservative who had made clear he believes Richardson should resign. But a broadside from Sen. Robert Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat with 48 years in the Senate, stunned the hearing room. "You have shown an extreme contempt ... of this Congress," Byrd lectured Richardson, who had spent 14 years as a congressman from New Mexico before becoming ambassador to the United Nations and two years ago energy secretary. Byrd told Richardson he had made numerous assurances, but had not followed through. Another rub: Richardson didn't show up for a hearing on the Los Alamos problem last week, angering senators. "You've had a bright and brilliant career. But you will never again receive the support of the Senate of the United States for any office to which you might be appointed. It's gone. You've squandered your treasure," Byrd said."

[Regulator]

His father is a rich WHITE American buisnessman, but if you have a drop of Spanish blood

Most Spaniards are lily white. Cuz' they're Europeans...except for the Moorish types in southern Spain.

Why Spanish blood in any melanin category should qualify you for some sort of sympathy is beyond me. They had a hideous empire which elicited the phrase "Spanish Cruelty" across the lands they conquered. They weren't "oppressed", they were the Opressors! Maybe it's sympathy for the Devil...

[Im Your Huckleberry]

So the Clowns have picked the Ringmaster.

Excellent.

I can't wait to watch this fiasco. This is election is going to handily upstage the ass-whoopin' Mondale got in 1984.

I truly can't wait for this election. The uber-radical, uber-left are going to have a meltdown right in the middle of the convention, you just know it. It'll make the Wellstone "Nuremburg Rally" look tame - truly tame - that'll seem like high-school theatrics compared to the full blown midnight Nazi rally that the Dem psycho-left will unleash at this convention. I'm telling you, all that will be missing will be the torchlight procession. Other than that, I wouldn't even be surprised to see the burning of an effigy of Bush.

Meanwhile the DLC will be holding their heads in their hands and watching their entire national prospects go up in flames for the next fifty years.

I'm buying the big, mondo-size, Orville Redenbacker package of microwave popcorn. This is gonna be some entertainment.

[FreeLibertarian]

Thanks for the op/ed piece by Dendahl, I missed it in the Journal.

I don't agree with Dendahl, New Mexico has to attract non-governmental businesses. We badly need the jobs and sometimes you have to gamble to succeed. IMO this piece sounds like sour grapes on Dendahl's part.

The PowerWAN concept is especially interesting and fits well with some of my companies abilities, this is a growing market with huge potential. Eclipse Aviation is making good progress and has a good chance of hitting the right niche at the right time. Mesa Semiconductor is in a field that is very close to being ripe.

[gop_gene]

Richardson will be president someday. Count on it.

Then I sure hope he spruces himself up--the guy looks like a slob. He always looks unkempt to me.

[FITZ]

Those issues would resonate in those communities, I believe, but no Republican has ever tried.

Reagan didn't race pander and he had a far greater percentage of both the black vote and the hispanic vote than either Bush has had. He brought them in through the issues.

[FITZ]

Richardson will not be President -- too much baggage and this Country will not elect someone who let Nuclear Secrets walk out of Los Alamos!

He's very much like Clinton only quite a bit sharper ---just as ambitious and I think he's going to go for the presidency. He knows that pretending to be conservative will bring in quite a few votes --- he learned from the Clintons.