Richardson got pummeled on Meat The Press

[stevedeshazer]

It was painful. A solid hour of nonstop bludgeoning and BR didn't handle it very well. Timmy brought up every single radical right White House generated talking point, and Richardson obviously wasn't ready for it.

I like Richardson a lot, but this was definitely not his finest hour. He was evasive and far too conciliatory to Tim the Swine.

Richardson's responses reminded me of when Michael Dukakis was asked what he would do if his wife was raped and murdered by Bernard Shaw. If you are old enough to remember, Dukakis answered that he opposed the death penalty. Instead, he should have been outraged at the line of questioning and thrown it back in the interviewers face.

Richardson didn't fight back as he should have, and let Timmy the Corporate Minion pound him into pulp.

To say the least, this will not help Richardson and one can only hope that because this was Memorial Day weekend, very few people saw this public corporate lynching and Richardson will come back wiser and feistier than he showed this time.

That was flat-out embarrassing.

[rucky]

1. He's more of a policy guy than a politics guy.

Too bad that's not as valued in the mainstream (or the beltway).

[acmavm]

2. Do you really see Richardson as a viable candidate?

See, I figure he's one of the one's who will drop by the wayside sometime late this year or early next year.

I have never found and 'substance' to the man. Nothing that would put him out ahead of anybody, except maybe Joe Biden.

[Warpy]

4. I live in his state

and there are things I admire him for and things I could strangle him with a smile on my face for.

I'd rather see him as Secretary of State. I think he's one of the few people who could undo some of the damage the present illegal administration has done.

That's his real area of expertise.

[gaspee]

19. Agreed 100%

I think any eventual dem prez should immediately appoint him sec of state.

[stevedeshazer]

7. Yes

Realistically, with his experience I think he's Presidential material just as much as any DLC'er. He's more experienced than Clinton, Obama, or Edwards.

I suspect he's trolling for the VP spot on the ticket.

It's tough to run from a state with such a small population as New Mexico, because he just won't have the base support as someone from New York or other more populous state.

I like the guy, I really do, but he didn't do himself any favors today. If he'd cracked back on Russert's line of interrogation instead of going along and backtracking on all the right wing talking points it could have been quite different and he would have got some positive spin.

Instead he got in a hole and kept digging. I was unpleasantly surprised.

[Clark2008]

17. Well, he does have far more foreign policy experience than any

of the three front-runners.

Problem is, I'm not exactly sure what his policies are.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Gotta have charisma. Not Richardson's forte, which is why he'd make a good VP.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

9. No charisma... like Cheney?

:hide:

[WinkyDink]

21. Cheney picked himself, IIRC!

[William769]

5. I did miss it & from what you have said, I'm glad I did.

I like Richardson, that would have ruined my day.

[Evergreen Emerald]

6. I totally disagree! I thought he did great

In fact, I thought Timmy-boy came off as obviously biased in his questioning with an agenda. Had he questioned Cheney as relentlessly as he did Richardson, perhaps he could have presented Cheney as he really is: a bigfatliar. And although relentless, it was obvious that he was blowing things out of proportion just to find controversy.

The questions were sometimes so ludicrous. When he went on and on about the mother who was complaining that he got her son's date of birth wrong--that was over the top. "will you apologize?" For God's sake! I can't believe anyone would hold that against Richardson who answered it wonderfully.

When Timmy-boy was quoting Richardson about a 1988 statement, it was evident that Timmy-boy had an agenda. Even the football fan quote was obviously taken out of context.
I thought Richardson came across as intelligent, caring, and human. He (gasp) admitted mistakes in his 24 YEARS of service to this country. I thought Timmy-boy came across as grasping at controversy where none existed.

Viability as a candidate: he has the most experience of all of the candidates. I wish he were viable.

[stevedeshazer]

12. I agree to the extent that Russert was over the top

He flat-out ambushed Richardson with Republican talking points, but I don't agree that Bill did very well answering them.

The sign of an effective candidate is controlling the terms of the debate. Pig Boy Russert led him around by the nose. Bill should have punched back.

He didn't.

[Cha]

39. timmypotatohead always has had

the ge agenda..he does his masters proud. What I can't figure out is why America puts up with his ass for so long?

[ellenfl]

8. gov gilmore wasn't treated like that on stephanopoulos.

it seems little is changing . . . dem candidates have closet skeletons paraded out and repug candidates get softball questions from the corporate media shills.

ellen fl

[MissWaverly]

27. Gov Gilmore gives me a chill

I am sure you noticed that he's crying out for more tax breaks for the wealthy, looking to be Prez rich tax break II

[screembloodymurder]

10. He was ambushed.

I've never seen Tim so ruthless. The MFer throws Bush softballs, but beaned Richardson with hard fastballs. If I were a Dem, I'd refuse to interview with the biased, right-winged, ass-kisser.

[OzarkDem]

18. Dems are held to a higher standard by MSM

wish it were otherwise, but that's the reality. If you're going to run, you have to be prepared for the crap they throw at you. Sure its unfair, but there's not much we can do.


That's why I find the Dems in Congress caving on Iraq for fear of news media & public opinion. They'll never win or get control of their message if they don't fight the news media.

[dogday]

36. Bingo

You are correct....

[BlooInBloo]

11. Damn - I was starting to like him more & more too.

[johnfunk]

13. Tim Russert = (Rush Limbaugh + Father Coughlan) - the charm

Russert is the biggest thought criminal in the "Beltway press."

I can only hope this Memorial Day that he rapidly continues to gain weight leading to a major myocardial infarction or stroke that will permanently remove him from the air.

Yes, I mean it. I only wish illness, cancer and pain on "Little Rush"... er, "Little Russ," the prime media enabler for the worst, most malicious, and homicidal elements in American "politics" today.

[karlrschneider]

14. I got the same impression. He bungled it big time.

Come off like a dissembling wuss and it's a shame because I think he's basically a good guy.

[hedgehog]

15. I like Richardson.

He seems to be bright, articulate, have his heart in the right place a sly sense of humor. He actually thinks about the question before answering. My only problem with Richardson is that this year we have an abundance of riches. I've seen too many primary campaigns where the good guys wipe each other out leaving the mediocre Establishment candidate to take home the roses.

I expect that the candidate will be chosen at the convention after some tight negotiating for votes. Who knows? Maybe that's where Richardson's experience as a diplomat will let him really shine!

[helderheid]

16. I'm still mad at him about the election fraud issue and his shutting down the vote count in NM n/t

[sandnsea]

20. Has a Republican never flubbed an answer?

Why do WE perpetuate the ridiculous right wing smears against our own party. It's absolutely insane. I dismiss everything you have to say because you did that.

[stevedeshazer]

26. I'm a Democrat

Not a cheerleader. :)

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stevedeshazer]

33. Look, just put me on ignore, okay?

I don't call you names and insult you when I disagree. I'd appreciate that small bit of respect.

Have a nice day.

[sandnsea]

34. That was a good interview as well

I'd be happy to put you on ignore. I tend to not have any respect for people who are willing to lie about a Democrat in order to push their own agenda, or an alternative candidate. It's sickening.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Raven]

22. I wasn't impressed and I wanted to be! He didn't look Tim R

in the eye most of the time when he was answering questions and that bothered me. The campaign ad, however, was fabulous! BR definately has the resume and a great sense of humor!

[stevedeshazer]

24. I love his ads, they are brilliant.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

23. Poor Bill Richardson, he even squirmed over which baseball team he supported.

It was hard to watch.

[Sapphire Blue]

25. For those who didn't see the show, you can judge for yourselves; watch it online @

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608


IMO, Richardson did not do well at all.

[napi21]

29. I thought the subject that did the most damage to him were the

stats Russert read off that NM is 48th & 49th in the country in a lot of areas. People without health care, kids not graduating from HS....I can't remember them all, but BR as the Governor sure didn't look like a very good leader! His only response was that it's better now than when I got there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. I disagree

I thought Richardson did a fine job. Russert was an ass. Richardson answered his questions respectfully.

[sandnsea]

38. I thought he did well too

He was very calm, factual, and countered every assinine comment Russert made. I think this is just more primary bullshit.

[depakid]

31. Democrats need to either boycott that show altogether or

be ready to hand that smarmy little weasel his ass on a platter.

Believe me, the democrat who finally stands up to Russert and his ilk will gain a LOT of populist milage out of it.

[NastyDiaper]

32. I think the right thing to do was to push aside the talking points.

And he did that.

[sandnsea]

43. Speaking of right wing talking points

Isn't it funny that someone uses right wing talking points while bashing a Democrat for not standing up to right wing talking points. :crazy:

[NastyDiaper]

44. It was most clear on the 'US/MEX fence'. As though whether...

...or not you support such a monument to ignorance can frame your entire position on immigration. Russert seemed utterly confused that Richardson wanted to stop the flow, without a stupid fence, then get real about moving people from the 'the shadows' into society.

Otherwise we are going to hand the next generation a language-based, impoverished, aging and demonized refugee class. Are the wingers that stupid? Or do they simply want a home-grown class of people they can piss-on and shoot-at?

Richardson gets it. He's an experienced pragmatist who does not get tripped up by talking points or punditry. People should listen and read his stuff.


So ya, :crazy:

[sandnsea]

46. I agree

Which is why I think the attacks against his interview are ridiculous, just like the right wing attacks against Dukakis were.

[judaspriestess]

35. Dems have to walk a fine line unfortunately

lets say Mr. Richardson did stand up to that swine tim pussert. His answers would be completely taken out of context and replayed over and over like they did to Howard Dean as if he was some kind of crazy guy. cnn would replay the clip(s) every thirty seconds.

[BattyDem]

37. I'd pay good money to see Timmy try that shit with Gore!

:evilgrin:

On edit: Or even Wes Clark. :-)

[JNelson6563]

45. That's right, Gore would say something

and turn the topic back to where he wanted it. So would Howard I-don't-answer-blind-quotes Dean.

:toast:

Julie

[Omphaloskepsis]

40. This isn't relevant to the conversation.. But.

"Meat The Press" Fantastic typo.