Countdown: Governor Bill Richardson And Words Of War
By Logan Murphy Friday Oct 12, 2007 5:18pm
On Friday's Countdown, after covering Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez's scathing comments about President Bush and the handling of the Iraq debacle, Keith Olbermann interviewed Democratic presidential contender, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Richardson contends, as he always has, that there is no military solution in Iraq, setting himself apart from Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama who who will promise to bring the troops home by 2013.
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Richardson: "....and the conclusion is there is no military solution to this war, there's a political solution and we're losing that window. This is why I am for getting all of our troops out, every single one. No residual forces. Within eight months to a year, as rapidly as possible according to what our military believes is most effective and safe for our troops. But this - we're losing time to create a political settlement and you can't have that political settlement in Iraq, or a Muslim peace-keeping force headed by the U.N., or a rebuilding of Iraq until all of our troops are out. And Senator Clinton wants to keep 75,000 there beyond 2013, so does Senator Obama. The issue is do we end the war now, or do we want to just change the mission as some in the Democratic primary want to do?"
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I like Richardson and he seem sincere, but he really needs a better PR person. He could be the Democrats Huckabee and enter the top-tier easily if he got his message out there a little more.
VIDEO: Governor Bill Richardson And Words Of War
Richardson contends, as he always has, that there is no military solution in Iraq, setting himself apart from Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama who who will promise to bring the troops home by 2013.
without implimenting a draft we will not be able to maintain any troops in iraq. i favor complete withdrawal from this illegal invasion otherwise is unacceptable to the American public. what do they (those who want to stay indefinitely) plan to do, keep the current troops already in iraq to infinity? bush has already made slaves of the troops and treats them as disposable fodder. bush has no consciencous about abusing others for his delusional bastard folley.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is not to be trusted any more than Hillary Clinton or the others. Politicians running for office will say anything to get elected depending where the wind is blowing on a given day. Politicians rarely keep their campaign promises. The Democrats in Congress are the latest to fall victim to campaign promises, oops, I mean, lies. Its better sometimes to elect the person who makes the least amount of promises. Now, that's a new one, hey?
Mr. XXXX @ 3:
And who would that be, in your estimation, pray tell????????
Diogenes @ 4:
My post above stands as is with no clarification. My comment was in response to Bill Richardson's answer to Keith Olbermann. All, I can say in response to your question, is that history has shown that politicians often come way short of meeting their campaign promises. Reagan did not reduce government spending, while, George H.W. Bush raised taxes after saying he would not. Clinton failed to reform healthcare or address the issue of gays in the military with any satisfaction for all included. The Democrats have not gotten the troops out of Iraq but have increased more spending for the war.
Sanchez seems to border on dirty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Sanchez
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Why is it the front runners are less for a complete pull out of Iraq , because obama wants troops in Iraq to protect " our interest " , so does Hillary . Only Kucinich and Richardson want a COMPLETE pullout .
I believe Kucinich's conviction , but Richardson seems somewhat contrived and desperate, plus he knows damn well , he doesn't have a snowball chance in hell to win .
And Kucinich is a slightly bigger snowball?
I am depressed beyond words that the blatherocracy of the corporate media have annointed Hillary as the Democratic candidate. She has a frightening DINO record and a lame line of policy -- especially in Iraq.
No wonder so many are chasing Al Gore to run..
Keith always rocks with the interviews. Richardson for secretary of state
prfb @ 10:
I agree with that statement regarding Hillary Clinton....you said it very well.
Yeah for Governor Bill Richardson.
We need Bill Richardson as president in 2008. He can re-build relationships that are so badly needed around the world.
Remember Busholini looked into Putin's eyes? Yeah, he saw his own reflection. Putin figures if Busholini can act like emperor of the world than so can he.
May the world survive another 464 days.
Richardson for President - the one with experience and who can bring a change to Washington.
CD @ 7:
I'm sure he's one of Rush's phony soldiers now. Right CD.
Mr. XXXX @ 6:
Following your logic, we might as well vote for Bozo the clown for president. Oops, we already did... #43 - the boy Bush.
Sanchez was Rumsfeld's scapegoat for the Abu Graib (apologies if spelled incorrectly).
hehe
If Senator Clinton would like to to continue the disaster that is Iraq, then Chelsea should enlist immediately. If anyone still supports this war they should put their money where their mouths are and send their children immediately.
tbsa @ 18:
Yes! well said... we do need more troops, super troops! but no lesbos and Gays!
Greg @ 14:
WTF?
I said he bordered on dirty that's the result of his vauge connection to the Abu Ghraib scandal. At no time did I ever write any thing that could be misconstrued to mean "phony soldiers".
Richardson's relegation to 2nd tier status because of his lack of flash is the element of this campaign about which I'm most aggravated. He's a smart guy and his list of qualifications is a mile long.
I agree Brianish. Richarson would be a great president.
He has had a couple of minor miss-steps (not being informed on GLBT issues, waiting out on Gonzales, but finally denouncing him, etc.)
He is a smart guy and can learn. He also is a guy that "even the bad guys like." He personally got some hostages released, negotiated successfully w/ Saddam Hussein, etc.
Really the kind of man who would be able to turn things around. I hope, even if he does not get the top spot, that he is a major player in the next administration.
He also has the best energy plan.
NM leads the country in alternative clean energy and sensible growth.
There should be a distinction between 'I am in favor of getting all our troops out by 2013' and 'I promise'.
You can't promise anything you have no control over, or have all the details.
Richardson has a good plan, what we really need is a Richardson/Kucinich ticket. (I don't care which one has which job)
Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 25:
The two best candidates that the propaganda spreading media loves to ignore.
Give up the hail mary pass Richardson. You are not going to get the nomination. Help build on our senate majority, a race you can and most likely would win.
Coffins draped in flags @ 26:
The best candidates rarely win and sometimes even a chimp slips through.
I wonder how this "New Cold War" idea is playing to the base (and all Americans). That was a short-lived "peace".
Putin/the Russians wouldn't be bahving so if BushCo. weren't such assholes. I like the idea of Russia being an obstacle to American Imperialism: China too. Of course, none of it would be necesarry if it hadn't been for 7 years of Bush.
At this juncture, I'd like to quote my favourite all-time C&L comment, from Chuck:
"They don't hate you for your freedom, they hate you because you're an asshole." (dedicated to Bush)
* great spelling-- my bad
george bush has tarnished the idea of listening to one's gut, but for a long time now I've had a gut feeling that Richardson would make the best president. I am so sick and tired of "flash," as that term is noted above, and although I have problems with Richardson vis-a-vis the 2004 election, I think we need someone with more substance than style in the White House. I think he's the most qualified and the least likely to compromise his agenda.
I just want someone in there who will do the job without letting his/her personality get in the way.
Edwin @ 29:
Good choice of quote :)
"New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Richardson contends, as he always has, that there is no military solution in Iraq, setting himself apart from Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama who who will promise to bring the troops home by 2013."
That's a false parallel. Both Obama and Clinton understand that we have major permanent airbases in Iraq, billions of dollars worth of equipment, and a pResident who has NO willingness to change that whatsoever, and in fact intends to attack Iran.
So, suggesting that this is about a 'military solution' is just bunk. They both recognize that the likelihood of immediate withdrawal is ZERO. And also, they both recognize that Richardson's chance of having to solve this problem are basically NIL.
So, as with Kucinich and Ron Paul, it's EASY to talk the talk so long as you have very little chance of having to walk it.
Ruthless People @ 27:
I agree with you on that, but the Dems who are already running have a good chance of winning as well.
"First SurveyUSA Polling on U.S. Senate Race in New Mexico...Steve Pearce is stronger than Heather Wilson across the board, and that Don Wiviott is registering decent numbers considering he's never run before and he just begun his primary race several months ago."
"Now to Republican candidate Heather Wilson, Congresswoman from New Mexico's 1st Congressional District:
"Wilson loses to Udall by 18 points...,
loses to Richardson by 27 points...."
http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/2007/10/fi...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/12/MNG4SOLOS.DTL
In that interview, Richardson said in response to the "breaking" of the U.S. Army, that he would increase the size of the army by several divisions. . .What for? So we can really get our Imperialism on? Sorry, he lost me already.
Mullah Omar seems to be back in business.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinen...
Thank God for Richardson. He's a diplomat. He's an executive. He's demonstrating leadership on this issue. There's no way we can maintain the huge bases and the Vatican sized embassy in Iraq!! Put yourselves in the shoes of the Iraqi people. If a country invaded and destroyed your country, killed thousands if not hundreds of thousands of your fellow countrymen, destroyed your economy and set off a violent civil war - would you want that country keeping 75,000 troops in your country? How about a Vatican sized embassy? The answer is no - no country would want that!!
The troops will be sitting ducks for insurgents and our presence will only inflame the civil unrest. Our presence there would be a continuation of the occupation - so the "war" and the needless deaths of American troops would continue.
shano @ 22:
My impression on that one was that he genuinely just misspoke or misunderstood the question.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8998
I believe Richardson is a good man with good ideas.....but I agree he should either get the a job in the next admin..or make a run for the Senate...He probably would make a very good Sec State....
I like Richardson, and I have from the start.
He seems to have the one quality that is sadly lacking in
other candidates, and is certainly lacking in the current
president. I think that he has the ability to grow into the job.
The presidency has overwelmed GW's limited intellect,
and imagination, he is no more capable now than he was
on the day he was appointed. Most sucessful presidents
have evolved while in office, and those who could not or did
not, were mediocre at best. I fear that the same may be true of HRC and some of the other Democrats. The Republican side is just four more years of war and tax cuts
so there is little there that would lead one to believe, any
one of them would be any better than Bush.
The sad part is that Richardson can't seem to seal the deal
with any one other than the voters in his home state.
Alas, the ability to raise money, and manipulate the press coverage of the campagin will once again have more to do
with the final outcome of the election, than qualifications
or vision. The press wants a horse race between HRC and
Rudy, and they are going to get it come Hell or high water.
What a sham. What a shame.
Gore / Richardson 2008
There is a simple solution to the entire problem of a "shortage" of troops: re-define the mission to match the available resources. That's what the Publicans always want to do when it's time to cut taxes--find some program they hate that they will willingly cut.
It cuts both ways.
i don't trust any one of them. hillary is such a polished politician that after she has consulted her various consulting groups, she comes out with what is most opportune for the occasion. Obama is still a bit too green to take on the big boys on the other side. richardson is a politician through and through. there has to be a knowledge among the bottom feeders that they don't have a snowball's chance of getting the candidacy and yet they traipse on. do they still envision winning??? though kucinich is my candidate, i surmise that unless hillary really does something to screw it up, she will win not only her party's nomination, but the presidency as well. i only hope she selects judiciously her running mate: obama, a black manwho is wise beyound his years but i fear he needs a bit more seasoning, kucinich, an outspoken say it like it is candidate of the people, richardson, a long time politician and a latino who will call on any chip necessary which might give him an edge, or edwards, a good man but who still has some growing to do. he should listen to his wife a little more. in essence any one of these candidates would run circles around the clown in office now or any of the charlatans put up as candidates by the gop. it should be a no contest, but lest we forget we are dealing with the military and their families, the one-toothed wonders of the hearland, and finally, the snake-handling religious right fanatics. in view of that this will be a race. And that said, in the absence of Gore, and the hopelessness of kucinich, i will vote for the candidate the dems elect which in all likelihood will be hillary. i only hope that once she achieves that office that she will act upon good conscience and not what her think tank says she say and do.
Coffins draped in flags @ 13:
Bill Richardson has the diplomatic experience and knows the players. I don't think anyone else will be able to get us out of the quagmire called Iraq -- or to stop an attack on Iran.
He needs our support. It ain't over till the fat lady sings.
vtpeace
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