The Democrats Have a Viable Candidate; Governor Bill Richardson

Purists Should Consider This Candidacy , Serously, and Soon!

Xomba Readers may recall an article I wrote recently about an unappreciated, unheralded candidate for the U.S. Presidency, an honest man, an experienced diplomat and negotiator, democratic Governor of New Mexico, Governor William "Bill" Richardson".
Governor Richardson is not viewed by the media, nor the Democratic party as a prime contender for the presidency. Why, you ask? Because at one point in his career, he did the right thing.

During the period when Richardson, then Secretary of Energy, under President Bill Clinton, had oversight of Los Alamos National Laboratory, one Wen Ho Lee was accused of stealing nuclear secrets, and selling them to the Chinese. Wen Ho Lee eventually pleaded guilty to one count of downloading classified data from the computers at the Los Alamos weapons lab, data which was then sold to the Chinese. Our government, always proper, felt compelled by the likelihood of an unpleasant scandal, to drop the other 58 counts, thus allowing Lee to avoid the potential life sentence,this for "Violating the Atomic Energy Act and for stealing nuclear secrets with the intent of harming the U.S."

Wen Ho Lee pleaded guilty to one felony count of improperly downloading Restricted Data. In return, the government released him from jail and dropped the other 58 counts of illegally downloading classified data from the computers at the Los Alamos weapons lab, of which 39 counts, as i have mentioned, would have carried a life sentence

Lee charged that his Chinese ethnicity was a primary factor behind his prosecution by the government. After Mr. Lee's sentencing, investigators were able to fully examine the evidence against Mr. Lee. This was never done by the FBI and access by Federal Prosecutors was not allowed.

In keeping with the Governments desire to avoid an unpleasant, inter-national incident, Judge James A. Parker offered an apology to Lee for what he called "abuse of power", while reiterating that Lee did plead guilty to a "serious crime." Then Secretary of Energy, Bill Richardson, had oversight of Los Alamos National Laboratory at the time and effectively ordered Lee's firing; he is likely to have been the source who leaked Lee's name to reporters.

I'm reminded at this time of Joseph Wilson, who similarly did the right thing, and similarly was punished.

On the general subject of Governor Richardson's presidential bid, let us compare his credentials with those of our current President, and with those of the front-running presidential candidates. America currently is in the worst straits since the founding fathers created this great land. Our current administration has brought us to unparalleled turmoil, having launched a "pre-emptive strike" against a relatively helpless , a relatively innocent third world nation. Our president steadfastly refuses to "negotiate with terrorists", and the lack of communication is exacerbating the already heinous situation. In this writers view, the administration views most of the Arab world as "terrorist" and is only comfortable singing with the President of Japan. When he must confront Russian diplomats, he becomes ill. When Iranian are scheduled to speak at the U.N., their visas are delayed, their speaking, canceled.

Governor Bil Richardson is an experienced negotiator. That's what he does. In 1997, Clinton appointed Bill Richardson to the post of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Richardson served there until 1998. Richardson spent a little more than 14 years in Congress. As a congressman, he kept his interest in foreign relations. He visited Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, India, North Korea, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Sudan to represent U.S. interests. In 1995, he traveled to Baghdad with Peter Bourne and engaged in lengthy one-on-one negotiations with Saddam Hussein to secure the release of two American aerospace workers who had been captured by the Iraqis after wandering over the Kuwaiti border. He became a member of the Democratic leadership, where he worked closely with Bill Clinton on several issues.

Governor Bill Richardson promotes an orderly withdrawal from Iraq, coupled with dialog, to include Syria, and Iran. The withdrawn troops he says should be re-deployed to Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. Richardson has consistently opposed increase of troops in Iraq, because he says, such increase will only cause more sectarian violence. Richardson promotes, rather reconciliation talks with with three ethnic groups - Muslim, Arab, European. He favors diplomatic solutions, and economic sanctions. He promotes an orderly withdrawal from Iraq, coupled with dialog, to include Syria, and Iran. The withdrawn troops he says should be re-deployed to Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. He believes that the largest current threat to world order is the ever increasing threat of weapons of mass destruction.

Governor Bill Richardson, former Secretary of Energy, has strong views on energy, and conservation. This Governor of New Mexico says, ".. all Americans should love the land, and preserve the environment." He espouses alternative energy sources. He believes that within 15 years, we should be importing only 10% of our oil needs. The current figure is 65%, imported.

In summation then: what do the leading candidates have to offer? They claim they want accountability, yet they preserve systems that promote corruption. They have curtailed the special interest groups, but are far from eliminating them. "Bundling" is insidious, and continues at the present time

Mrs. Clinton has failed to fill the shoes of President Bill Clinton, who many felt was among the greatest of U. S. Presidents. Rather, she has wandered off, on her own, in silly, feminine posturing. Sometimes it becomes difficult to take her candidacy seriously. Barack Obama, left to his own devises, would seldom discuss any issue, save the racial issues, which city dwellers such as myself find old and tiring. He has mob connections. He admits to using cocaine.
Both these candidates, Hillary Clinton, and Barack O'Bama, possess charisma, but little more.

And yet when an articulate, well versed, experienced candidate, Governor Bill Richardson, comes on the scene, none seem to notice.