Richardson Grok
Richardson Urges States to Settle Early Primary Debate
By Emily Esterson, 8-27-07
One Upsmanship: New Mexico Governor and presidential candidate Bill Richardson told an audience in Exeter, N.H. over the weekend that New Hampshire and Iowa’s places as the lead-off primary states shouldn’t be usurped. That’s after Florida tried to leapfrog ahead of tradition—the Democratic National Committee quickly quashed Florida’s bid by saying delegates would loose their votes unless they delayed the primary by at least a week. Richardson said the one-upsmanship of states vying for the first slot isn’t helping his underdog campaign, according to the Boston Globe. Richardson told the audience he needs as much time as he can get to compete against better-financed and better-recognized rivals.
Fighting to move ahead of the pack: Richardson’s approval rating as governor of New Mexico is soaring to all time highs, while he’s struggling on the national campaign trail to bust into the top three (except in western states’ polls, where he’s got more name recognition). He noted (to that New Hampshire audience) that he’s got the same credentials as his rivals Obama and Clinton, and then some. But despite his well-rounded potentially presidential resume, he’s just a regular guy.
Lee Iacoca wisdom: Huffington blogger Mike Lyon thinks Richardson has what it takes. At least according to Lee Iacoca’s recent book, Where Have all the Leaders Gone. So Lyon applied Iacoca’s Nine C’s of leadership to the presidential candidates and Richardson scored a whopping 40 our of a possible 50 points. But one question: Should we trust philosophy of the man that brought us the K-Car?
Where’s Barbara? And just who is Barbara? Even New Mexico residents seem to occasionally wonder if there actually is a Barbara. We know there’s a Michelle (Obama) and we definitely know Elizabeth, and who could possibly miss Bill when it comes to potential first spouses. But Barbara Richardson has been all but absent on the campaign trail. Even in state politics, the first spouse keeps out of her hubby’s business. She recently granted an interview with the Associated Press and has been seen on the campaign trail around New Hampshire. Does this spell a coming out from behind the scenes?
[End of article]Please read Bill Richardson’s recently published article on how we
must reconfigure the entire US Foreign Policy, printed in the Harvard International Review, yet has hardly been noticed by any mainstream media. You could conclude that Bill Richardson is changing the nature of the debate between the Democrat candidates and improving the international focus of their dialogue, not to mention being the strongest candidate to speak for
ending the Iraq war immediately. I hope you can share this important document with your friends, colleagues, and readers. It is a very important international policy breakthrough and deserves to be read and considered by every single American, the entire diplomatic community from every nation, as well as your insightful readers! I am not officially connected to his campaign, but as a private citizen, I do recognize the importance of this statement enough to send it to you. Thank you, Stephen Fox
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New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's International Policies, from Harvard International Review
“New Realism: Crafting a US Foreign Policy for a New Century”
Governor Bill Richardson
Redacted from the Harvard International Review
US foreign policymakers face novel challenges in the 21st century. Jihadists and environmental crises have replaced armies and missiles as the greatest threats; globalization has eroded the significance of national borders. Many problems that were once national are now global, and dangers that once came only from states now come also from societies—not from hostile governments, but from hostile individuals or from impersonal social trends, such as the consumption of fossil fuels. The piece does a credible job of laying out the problems before us and arguing that the Bush Administration has not taken the appropriate measures to deal with them.
The highlights of Richardson’s plans:
First and foremost, the United States must repair its alliances. US leaders also must restore commitment to international law and multilateral cooperation.
Promoting expansion of the UN Security Council’s permanent membership to include Japan, India, Germany, and one country each from Africa and Latin America.
Ethical reform at the United Nations so that this vital institution can help its many underdeveloped and destitute member states meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Expanding the G8 to include India and China.
The US government must join the International Criminal Court and respect all international treaties, including the Geneva Conventions.”
On environmental issues, the United States must be the leader, not the laggard, in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by embracing the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, Lead the world with a man-on-the-moon effort to improve energy efficiency and to commercialize clean, alternative technologies.
Stop considering diplomatic engagement with others as a reward for good behavior.
Various efforts including ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
The United States needs to start showing, both through its words and through its actions, that this is not, as the Jihadists claim, a clash of civilizations. Rather, it is a clash between civilization and barbarity.
Closing Guantanamo
The United States also needs to pressure Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other friends in the Arab world to reform their education systems, which are incubators of anti-US sentiment.
Spend more to develop first responders and to drastically improve public health facilities, which, five years after 9/11, are not ready for a biological attack.
The United States needs to lead the global fight against poverty, which is the basis of so much violence.
Encourage rich countries to honor UN Millennium goal commitments.
Lead donors on debt relief, shifting aid from loans to grants, and focus on primary health care and affordable vaccines.
Promote trade agreements, which create more jobs in all nations and which seriously address wage disparities, worker rights, and the environment.
Pressure pharmaceutical companies to allow expanded use of generic drugs, and encourage public-private partnerships to reduce costs and enhance access to anti-malarial drugs and bed nets.
Promote a multilateral Marshall Plan for the Middle East and North Africa.
I look forward to your reply,
Stephen Fox