Dean/Richardson?

[jsw_81]

What does everyone think about a Dean/Richardson ticket? Governor Bill Richardson would not only be the first Hispanic-American to run on a major party ticket (increasing our vote totals in key swing states that have large Hispanic-American populations), but he would also bring an enormous amount of foreign policy experience to the ticket. His outstanding resume includes:

Governor of New Mexico
Secretary of Energy
Ambassador to the United Nations
U.S. Congressman

I think putting Richardson on the ticket would be a brilliant move by Dean, and it might even be the key to the whole election. What are your thoughts?

[La_Serpiente]

1. That would be a great ticket

but I don't know if their views are ensync or compatible. Last time I checked, Richardson wanted the war, although I am not sure. :shrug:

But Richardson would get a lot of Latino votes, I know that.

[Sean Reynolds]

2. No.

Richardson has said many times that he'd not run as VP. He promised the people of New Mexico.

[jsw_81]

3. Promises can be broken

Bill Clinton promised the voters of Arkansas that he wouldn't run in 1992. The rest is history.

[Sean Reynolds]

4. Yes, but didn't you ever learn to not break a pomise?

I don't think Richardson would put his career on the line. IF Dean/Richardson lost in 2004, I doubt NM would elect him back to office.

[Diego360]

5. Richardson is a maggot

His role in the persecution of Wen Ho Lee revealed his true character.
Everytime I see his smug fat face, I wanna put my fist down his throat.

[StatBabe]

6. Richardson would certainly add some balance to the ticket...

Everytime that I have seen Bill Richardson speak, I have been very impressed with his poise and his ability to present his views without it turning into a partisan slugging match. As much as anything else, Dean has been painted as this flaming liberal (which he really isn't!), and Richardson on the ticket would help offset this misconception. My impression of Bill Richardson is that he is a very moderate Democrat, and I think that the earlier poster was correct about Richardson offering support for the war. To me, this is not a "bad thing" because Clinton started clamoring for Saddam's head back in 1998. There is a certain amount of consistency in Richardson's view in this regard, and I don't believe that consistency is ever a "bad thing". Besides, where one stood on the war before it broke out is one thing. Once we invaded, one's opinion about the war became moot--we're there now, and regardless of what each of us may have thought about the war, I think that we all want to see the best possible outcome in the end.

Also, with respect to Richardson's role as governor of New Mexico, from what I understand of New Mexico, its fiscal situation is actually much better than most states--this, too, is beneficial since Bill Richardson actually signed a tax cut into law so that he cannot be "tarred and feathered" as a typical Democrat that just wants to pass more taxes on everyone. In the case of the tax cut in New Mexico, Bill Richardson defended it by saying that they HAD to cut taxes in order to compete with adjacent states that had lower tax rates. This, too, shows how reasonable and well-grounded the man is.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi StatBabe!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tedoll78]

7. I like Richardson tons.

But he's promised..

Anyway.. at least he can deliver New Mexico's 5EVs to us; he won the state's governorship with about 65% of the vote, if I recall correctly. Given the close margin with which Gore won it last time, we'll definitely need his help there.

[jsw_81]

8. But it's more than just New Mexico

I'm talking about Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and several other swing states with large, growing Hispanic populations. Maybe even Texas!

I did a google search and found that Gore won the Hispanic vote by about 62-38 last time. If Dean/Richardson can push that up to about 70-30 (and I'm sure they will), we could be looking at a pretty decisive Democratic victory in both the electoral college and the popular vote.

[tedoll78]

14. You bet!

No matter how much he denies ever wanting or accepting the spot, if the nominee wants him, I'd guess it's well-worth a shot of asking him. He'd be a huge asset to the country, his presence on the ticket could very well earn us another 3 to 5% in the general election, and (with a good performance) he could lock the Hispanic community as Democrat-oriented for an entire generation. He as a VP nominee would definitely be worth looking at.

[caledesi]

9. Bill Richardson would be a good running mate. I recently ran

a poll asking who would be Dean's VP if Dean got the nomination and included Bill Richardson as one of the choices. He has always impressed me.

[patricia92243]

10. ARE DEAN AND RICHARSON'S PERSONALITY COMPATQBLE ....

In this day and time the veep does a lot more work than they did in times past
.
The very first thing to consider is if the two work well together.

Everything else is a moot point until this is established,

[Cascadian]

12. While I agree Richardson was not perfect...

Whille I think Bill Richardson was a definate pro-DINO politican, I must reserve respect for hm with the fact that North Koreans wanted speak to him as opposed to Colin Powell who probably would not have given them the time of day. I think he could be useful for some diplomatic position somewhere. Maybe in Cuba to restore ties. Who knows?


John

[GalleryGod]

11. Rotisserie League At It A-gain!

:tinfoilhat: :puffpiece: :boring:

[Diego360]

13. More on Richardson's Moral Cowardice

Just some links of interest:
Salon
Particularly blameworthy, in retrospect, was Energy Secretary Bill Richardson,who fired Lee two days after the Times story ran and awarded one of his principal accusers, Energy Department counter-intelligence investigator Notra Trulock, with a $10,000 bonus for a job well done.

quarterly-report.com
It was Richardson who ordered that Dr. Lee be kept in solitary confinement. For 279 days, Dr. Lee was denied bail and was held in extraordinary harsh conditions -– leg shackles when outside his cell and solitary when he was there. He was continually monitored 24 hours a day. It took Richardson five months before he allowed Dr. Lee to have reading materials, longer exercise periods, and more frequency visits with his family.

Judge Parker's Apology to Wen Ho Lee
Although, as I indicated, I have no authority to speak on behalf of the Executive Branch, the President, the Vice-president, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of the Department of Energy, as a member of the Third Branch of the United States Government, the Judiciary, the United States Courts, I sincerely apologize to you, Dr. Lee, for the unfair manner you were held in custody by the Executive Branch.