Bill Richardson for VP - who's with me?

[Hawkeye-X]

Here's my reasoning:

1) He's got the experience - was in the Clinton administration as the Secretary of Energy and was the Ambassador to the UN.

2) Strong foreign policy credentials - Even Chimp begged him to help calm the North Koreans down.

3) He's Hispanic - He'll bring in the Latinos.

4) Strategic location - He is the governor of New Mexico, and really reflects the Mountain West which is now VERY ripe to turn blue. (That includes Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Montana - a total of 22 electorate votes which could very well swing to Obama). He may even help bring in Texas and its 34 electorate votes.

5) He endorsed Obama even he waited long enough for Clintons to stop their childish behavior and used the endorsement to help Obama.

I could add more, but I think the top 4 is reasonable enough, so he has my full endorsement as VP of Obama's

[Condem]

1. Alot of people at the Daily Kos!

[jasmine621]

24. He lost me when he sold out HRC. nt

[slinkerwink]

2. Oh, hell, no. Richardson's got a zipper problem, and that's why his campaign floundered

since the top-notch donors refused to give him money.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. Link? I need to see that for myself - and check to see if he was vetted on that issue.

Certainly don't want another, erm, Clinton problem here.

Hawkeye-X

[Inspired]

12. I've heard similar rumors about Richardson.

They were flying around campaign circles in Iowa for months prior to the caucus. I was really shocked because I had never heard these things associated with Richardson before.

We don't need this kind of baggage.

[seasat]

14. From a hit piece done by the Politico, Media Matters debunked it.

Media Matters has a column on both smears about Richardson and Obama by the Politico. It was piece full of innuendo and no facts. It was primary based on the fact that Richardson likes to hug people. He's was known to put men he barely knew in bear hugs and put his arm around women he just met. He broke himself of the habit after the Politico piece spread the rumor about him across the net. The Repugs have been gunning for Richardson for years. You can bet if there was any hard evidence to support that rumor, they'd have plastered it across the media by now.

Added on edit: The reason his campaign floundered was because he didn't bone up his public speaking or debate skills before he started his run. I was one of the few Richardson supporters on the DU and supported him until he dropped out. He showed an initial surge due to his resume and Iraq withdrawal plan but dropped after some bad debate performances and interviews. His Press the Meat interview was terrible at a classic level. He improved quite a bit on the stump but had lost what little early momentum he had. The polls showed that he had the lowest name recognition of the top six candidate before the primary started so he needed to make a good impression early but didn't do a good job of it. He could have really benefited from a debate coach, speech coach, and an aid that preps him with information to fit each interview.

[alteredstate]

22. It's a problem.

[shadowknows69]

3. Count me in

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I like how you think!

I think he'd be excellent too...

:hi:

[Hawkeye-X]

5. One more thing to add to his creds - Darfur.

In January 2007, at the request of the Save Darfur Coalition, he brokered a 60-day cease fire between al-Bashir and leaders of several rebel factions in Darfur, the western Sudanese region. The cease-fire never became effective, however, with allegations of breaches on all sides.

[newmajority]

7. I picked Richardson a long time ago

For exactly the reasons you listed.

Obama can't pick another Senator as a running mate, and I can't think of a governor who would be better than Richardson, under the circumstances.

[ksoze]

8. She would never pick him

after he endorsed the second place candidate. Hillary may however promise it to him and then announce someone else at the last minute.

[newmajority]

19. Your post is about 9 days late.

Or do you celebrate April Fools Day all month?

[Skink]

9. Obama already has chosen the Richardson stance on Iraq

VP please.

[napi21]

10. Nope. I guess Bill is a good governer, and he has a lot of experience,

but the voters already said they didn't want him. Get used to the facts. He wouldn't be an advantage.

[AlinPA]

11. Sounds good, except Texas. nt

[krawhitham]

13. Sure if the goal is to lose

[Hawkeye-X]

15. I absoutely love subthreads who have no description as to why they disagree to me.

:eyes:

I'd love to hear your explanation as to why you don't think Richardson doesn't make a good VP - my guess (a pure one) - he didn't back Clinton like a good Clintonbot?

[Neshanic]

30. Okay. There are about 500 other people who would be better. Did I say he was boring?

[cooolandrew]

16. Richardson does look a strong pick I say so would Sebelius and Boxer spoilt for choice.

I get the feeling latin americans would favour a woman vp as much as Richardson so upt to Obama really.

[zalinda]

17. He lost me when he wouldn't let the votes be counted

in NM.

zalinda

[AllentownJake]

18. I really want

There to be a healing ticket...which means someone who endorsed Hillary or one of the many other qualified women in the party serving as govenors or senators.

[Blondiegrrl]

20. He's definitely on my short list.

I'm still looking at the choices, though.

[Maddy McCall]

21. He's a homophobe.

[SaveAmerica]

23. Just what we need - everyone will be screaming about Mexism

;-)

[Melynn]

25. Richardson will help with the Hispanic vote

Obama could use Richardson's help with the Latino vote. I say yes to Richardson for Veep.

[Gore1FL]

26. i still am pulling for Sebelius

I think it is a better fit.

[IndianaGreen]

32. Or Janet Napolitano

Richardson will be fine as Secretary of State, assuming that Joe Biden is not offered the job first.

[crankychatter]

39. At the least she should give the Nomination Speech

I want to see her get national attention as Obama did in '04

I need to know more about her, but I suspect she'd make a wonderful president

[ElsewheresDaughter]

27. them 30 pieces of silver gotta get him something other then hung

[2rth2pwr]

28. He's about the worst debater in the party.

[Awsi Dooger]

42. A disaster

He's repetitive and boring in debates, always on the defensive even when the questioner didn't intend to put him there.

[Neshanic]

29. Some geriatrics that need some sleep without taking a prescription at the home.

"Did they say Charge? I pay damned enough for things now! What? What? Change? Change what?"

[JI7]

31. he is my top vp choice

[Beacool]

33. Hell, no!!!!

Another reason NOT to vote for Obama.

[stratomagi]

34. You gotta consider that

as a presidential contender Richardson was underwhelming. Though a fine public servant with more foreign relations cred in his pinky than a lot of folks on the hill he'd be a hard sell. Also I think that, and unfortunately so, a black man with a hispanic VP may be way too much for the voting public to take at one time. I would go with someone who wasn't another presidential candidate, I can only think of Jim Webb or maybe a southern or western governor...any ideas on that?

[anonymous171]

35. Does he really have that much pull with Latinos?

[crankychatter]

40. This is a good question

I don't know the answer

[ORDem]

36. Count me in! n/t

:kick:

[tokenlib]

37. Can't question his resume..would not be disappointed if he made it!

Based on geographical considerations, being a governor, foreign policy, and reaching out to the largest growing ethnic group in the country--he is an obvious choice.

There are few other candidates who can mark off as many boxes on the VP checklist..honestly..

Except for maybe Wes Clark..

If you had a candidate comparison chart--Richardson would have the most positives.

[crankychatter]

38. I trust Obama's judgement in this matter better than my own

but I do like Richardson as a VP choice

[mmonk]

41. Fine by me though I think Sec. Of State would be good.

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

43. Nah. If he was really an Obama supporter, he would have said something prior to California.

Too busy triangulating his future.

[LisaM]

44. No. He wanted to take Great Lakes water down to the southwest

to water that overdeveloped desert he's governor of. That was while he was still in the primaries and it pissed me off then and it pisses me of now.

Yeah, endanger the Great Lakes so you can water your golf courses. Great idea.

[ShortnFiery]

45. Sounds good to me! Agreed. eom

[Hepburn]

46. Count me in....I really like him.

Besides...with that beard he is just such eye candy! :evilgrin:

[hfojvt]

47. Richardson quickly became my least favorite

except for Clinton.

In an Iowa debate, he used the argument that economic growth would solve Social Security Funding shortfalls. Second, he argued strongly against a tax increase on those making $105,000 or more. Claiming it was a tax increase on small businesses and the middle class.

Second, I would be cautious about the fact that he's hispanic. I think that will freak some people out. Although it makes sense there with the SW, we might gain more than we lose. I guess I would be happier about it if I didn't dislike the guy. He did pleasantly surprise me by endorsing Obama.