Richardson Grok

Bill Richardson on TV, Tornadoes and Tiring Legislators

By Ben Ikenson, 3-26-07

In a recent column for right-wing media “watchdog” Accuracy in Media, Cliff Kincaid argues against the legitimacy of medical marijuana in a rant that reads in places like script for Reefer Madness. (Remember the kid who killed his family on Sam Donaldson’s ranch? “He was a marijuana user,” the author denounces conclusively.) Well, Kincaid also contends that billionaire activist George Soros used his clout to pull political strings here in New Mexico—i.e. Bill Richardson’s support of the recently passed medical marijuana bill. “Richardson took $50,000 from Soros and one of his pro-marijuana front groups,” writes Buzzkill Squarepants, “and successfully pressured the New Mexico state legislature into passing a fraudulent ‘medical marijuana’ bill that offers false hope to sick people.”

While the bill’s passing provides actual hope for many New Mexicans sick or otherwise, it also contributed to an exhausting week in Santa Fe. After Richardson saw this and other landmark legislation pass, tired and frustrated state officials were none too pleased to convene for special sessions on Saturday to reconsider seven other bills at the Governor’s insistence; Without addressing any, they adjourned immediately after Saturday’s session began. Perhaps a collective bout of glaucoma?

In other news, Richardson did score points with Don Imus. After trashing the Governor as a “fat sissy” in an on-air tirade, the cantankerous radio personality changed tunes when Richardson secured $600,000 from the legislative sessions for a school renovation project near the Imus Ranch.  “Speaking of the next President of the United States, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico,” Imus told listeners, “ … congratulations to him because he signed off on that appropriation to renovate that school in Ribera.” Clearly, Imus keeps his listeners, or, at least, his own backyard buddies, close to heart.

Richardson impressed another former critical persona Steve Clemons after he made remarks on Iraq and on Attorney General Gonzales on TV’s To The Point. Richardson said, “Attorney General Gonzales needed to decide if he was the nation’s lawyer, the peoples’ lawyer, or whether he was just the President’s political flack.” Writes Clemons on the Huffington Post, “Bill Richardson’s comments were excellent - and were the type of quick-hit common sense that other candidates should try out.”

Big Bill also got to try out the role of take-charge Governor after some 13 tornadoes wrought havoc in the eastern part of his state over the weekend. Along the New Mexico-Texas border, the storms destroyed more than 100 homes in small communities and injured dozens of people, many of whom are still in critical condition. Richardson declared an executive state of disaster that will bring $750,000 in state funds to restore roads, power lines, and infrastructure; he also said he’ll request federal aid.  Traveling to Clovis yesterday, following the soldiers from the New Mexico Army National Guard he sent the day before, Richardson surveyed the scene, donning the image of caring leader to distraught citizenry.

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