Here's the Worst Things the GOP Could Find on Bill Richardson

[JPZenger]

The following is a rather interesting link. The GOP did a great deal of research and tried to find the worst things they could on Bill Richardson. The result in a very long but rather innocent list of things, such as seeking publicity for himself at the Democratic Convention and using State money to hire a chef.

I'm shocked, just shocked.

http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=6801

[JPZenger]

1. Primary Will Only Last 3 Weeks

It is very disturbing that in 2008, the primary election season will only last 3 weeks. From the New Hampshire primary to the date when most of the states will hold their elections will only be 3 weeks apart. Therefore, it is extremely important to donate early to the candidate of your choice, because after February 2008, it will be all over.

http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/

[TygrBright]

2. Yeh, it's pretty pathetic. But believe me, they're not showing...

...all their cards. They'll keep a couple up their sleeves in case he starts showing some real momentum. The problem with being Goob of New Mexico is that New Mexico is pretty much a third-world enclave when it comes to politics-- nepotism, cronyism, influence-peddling, etc., were all the standard order of business here until fairly recently, and there's plenty of hangovers still floating around.

No matter how carefully the Goob tried to keep his own hands clean and work to reform the system, it's like an old friend used to say: "You work in the septic business, you're gonna end up with shit on yer shoes."

And remember, they're past masters at two techniques they will surely bring to bear if Richardson starts to look like a serious threat: Making vastly overblown cases out of comparatively minor or even entirely irrelevant matters; and making stuff up altogether.

Believe me, this is just a shot across the bow. They haven't even unlimbered their guns yet.

presciently,
Bright

[bigtree]

3. depends on which slime they choose to run on their side

right now they're all hiding their stones on the other side to protect their glass house

[JPZenger]

4. Just Harry Truman

Yes, it is tough rising up in a situation with tough politics. For decades, Harry Truman was tarnished for having risen up through the corrupt political machine in Kansas City. There was never any evidence of personal political corruption - but people just assumed that he must be corrupt because he was allied with the local political boss. When that boss (Pendergast) died, President Truman ignored all his advisors and went to his funeral.

[Czolgosz]

6. They're holding back. There has been more dirt revealed on DU than at that Repub website, but

there is no need to recount it here.

It is safe to say that Richardson has no more, nor any fewer, skeletons in his closet than - say - Hillary or Biden. He's a good enough guy (too conservative for my taste is my chief objection), but he is neither someone who jumps to mind as a candidate with a spotless past nor a candidate who cannot overcome the dirt they could dish on him.

We should focus on the candidates' records and values, not the Repub dirt (unless the dirt is such that it would mar the viability of a candidacy).

[bigtree]

8. It's questionable who really cares the same as you on all of that

skeletons are only effective when first sprung on folks, then they see them for what they usually are . . . old bones.

[Dr Fate]

5. I like Bill Richardson okay. He's not my fave- but I like him fine.

He follwed Edwards in sticking to FOX news- I think that was a wise move- and it was his little message to me: "Hey- I'm on your side-I cant stand those bastards either!"

[seasat]

7. I'm bookmarking it, those interest group ratings are useful.

I was intending to scan the League of Conservation Voters site the other day to try to compile their ratings on our candidates now I don't have to for Bill Richardson. Thanks GOP! ;)

This shows that the Repugs consider Bill Richardson a serious threat.

Do they have similar sheets on our other candidates? It helps to know the Repug attack points ahead of time.

[Czolgosz]

9. The Repubs have an attack-a-Democrat feature to their website called "Meet the Dems."

Ironically, their complaints about Edwards and Dodd just confirm what great candidates they are. Here's a sample:

Meet John Edwards (D-NC) ... RUNNING TO THE FAR LEFT:

New York's Senior Senator, Charles Schumer Calls Edwards "Furthest To The Left." Sen. Schumer: "Right now, he is the candidate furthest to the left." (PBS's "The Charlie Rose Show," 2/1/07)

MSNBC's Tucker Carlson: "He Has Come Out With The Most Left-Wing Platform Of Any, I Think, Viable Democratic Contender In 30 Years. Are People Noticing This?" (MSNBC's "Tucker," 1/31/07)...

NBC's Tim Russert Said Edwards "Has Flanked To Hillary's Left." Russert: "On the other hand, John Edwards, who ran for vice president in 2004, David, has flanked to Hillary's left. He has said, 'I voted for the war, I was wrong. I apologize,' words that Hillary Clinton will not use. Secondly, he is saying t hat we should have an immediate withdrawal of 40 to 60,000 troops and people who are in the Senate and the House now should be considering ways to stop this war, perhaps through funding." (CNBC's "Tim Russert," 1/27/07)

Edwards' First Campaign Promise Was To Raise Taxes. NBC's Tim Russert: "Would you be willing to raise taxes in order to help pay for this?" Former Sen. Edwards: "Yes. We'll have to raise taxes. The only way you can pay for a health care plan from 90 -- that costs anywhere from $90 billion to $120 billion is there has to be revenue source." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 2/4/07)...

Edwards' Voting Record Was Already Liberal Enough; Matching Those Of Senators John Kerry, Ted Kennedy And Hillary Clinton... Edwards' Voting Record Received Liberal Ratings From Interest Groups And The National Journal:

In 2003, Edwards' Voting Record Earned Him The Title Of Fourth Most Liberal Member In The Senate. With a composite score of 94.5%, Edwards ranks above Sen. Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Boxer (D-CA) in liberal voting scores for 2003. (Richard E. Cohen, "How They Measured Up," The National Journal, 2/28/04)...

During Edwards' Six-Year Term, The National Right To Life Committee Consistently Gave Him The Lowest Possible Rating. (National Right To Life Committee Website, www.nrlc.org, Accessed 2/13/07)

Edwards Agreed With The AFL-CIO 97 Percent Of Time. (AFL-CIO Website, www.aflcio.org, Accessed 2/13/07)



Meet Chris Dodd (D-CT) ... A New England Liberal

Dodd Supported By Nation's Most Liberal Activist Groups:

Liberal Group Americans For Democratic Action Gave Dodd A 100 Rating In 2004 And 2005. (Americans For Democratic Action Website, www.adaction.org, Accessed 8/23/06)

Dodd Received A Higher Ranking Than Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy In 2005. (Americans For Democratic Action Website, www.adaction.org, Accessed 8/23/06)

In 2004, Dodd Was Given Extraordinarily High Approval Ratings By Notoriously Liberal Organizations Based On His Voting Record For The 108th Congress. (Almanac Of American Politics 2006 Website, www.nationaljournal.com, Accessed 1/23/07)...

In 2006, Dodd Received A 100 Percent Approval Rating From NARAL. (National Abortion Rights Action League Website, www.prochoiceamerica.org, Accessed 2/15/07)...

Dodd Voted In Favor Of An Amendment That Would Affirm That The Supreme Court's Decision Legalizing Abortion In Roe V. Wade Was Correct And Should Not Be Overturned. (S. 3, CQ Vote # 48: Adopted 52-46: R 9-41; D 42-5; I 1-0, 3/12/03, Dodd Voted Yea)...

In 2004, Dodd Voted For Higher Taxes For Increased Education Spending. (S. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #35: Rejected 46-52: R 0-51; D 45-1; I 1-0, 3/10/04, Dodd Voted Yea)...

In 2001, Dodd Voted To Reduce Bush Tax Cut By $448 Billion And Increase Education Spending By $224 Billion Over 10 Years. (H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote # 69: Adopted 53-47: R 4-46; D 49-1, 4/4/01, Dodd Voted Yea)...

Dodd: "A Fool's Paradise Describes Nothing As Aptly As Our Iraq Policy Today." (Sen. Dodd, Prepared Remarks At Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing, Washington, D.C., 1/11/07)

Dodd Accuses Conservatives Of Creating A False Pretense For War. "The premise for that Iraq war was based on theories cooked up in the neoconservative salons of Washington; on falsehoods; and on deliberate misrepresentations at the highest levels of our government. The result was to create a false pretense for war." (Sen. Chris Dodd, Remarks At Providence College, Providence, RI, 10/12/06)...

Dodd Doles Out Blame. Dodd: "We've arrived at this moment with a series of misplaced priorities and wrongheaded decisions that has been almost mathematically perfect in its consistency. The projects of Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war on terror are all tainted with the litany of one bad choice after another." (Sen. Chris Dodd, Remarks At Providence College, Providence, RI, 10/12/06)...

Dodd Proposed A Bill To Prohibit Escalation By US Military Forces In Iraq. "I have introduced legislation today that will prohibit the number of troops in Iraq from exceeding the current force levels without an explicit authorization from Congress." (Sen. Chris Dodd, Congressional Record, 1/16/07, p. S601)

"Dodd ... Said He Wanted ... The Measure To Say Flatly That The Number Of Troops In Iraq 'May Not Exceed The Levels' In Place ...The Suggestion Failed, 15-6." (Anne Flaherty, "Senate Panel Votes Against Bush On Iraq," The Associated Press, 1/24/07)

[AnnieBW]

10. The DOE Stuff

Could come back to bite him in the ass. But, considering that DOE hasn't improved their security too much since * and his toady Spencer Abraham came in, they can't tar and feather Richardson with it too much. Los Alamos and NNSA are total security screw-ups. (BTW, the current Energy Secretary, Samuel Bodman, seems like he hasn't drunk too much of the Kool-Aid yet. Give him time...)