Of the candidates who have announced, I think Bill Richardson has the best credentials.

[generaldemocrat]

Current Governor of New Mexico, former UN Ambassador, former Secretary of Energy. The first position is explicitly executive, the second one gives him foreign affairs creds, and the third one gives him creds on a leading issue of the day (energy).

He's not a demagogue and he hasn't been handpicked by the corporate media, but I'd say that this guy hands-down has the best skill-set and experience of all those who have announced thus far.

Discuss.

[Clark2008]

1. Agreed.

At least he has some foreign policy experience that's worth a damn.

I can't say that about most of the people who have announced so far: one has some good ideas, but hasn't really implemented anything, one has followed the pack to her detriment and the other has none to speak of, and, when he has tried to implement something, it's been fatally incorrect.

[skipos]

2. I agree, but credentials aren't everything

How will being hispanic help/hurt? We haven't had a pretty chubby in decades (since Taft?). Does he have that "likeable" personality? If he adds New Mexico to the Kerry evs, he has 13 to go.

In addition to what you mentioned, the fact that he is a governor, and can definitely make a purple state blue, certainly is appealling. What's with all the senators in the 08 mix? And they either come from states we easily win (IL, NY, CT) or states we will never win (NC).

[Clark2008]

3. Well, Clinton wasn't exactly svelte.

:7

[5X]

4. Bigot much?

[skipos]

9. I am

hispanic and I wasn't offended by my post. What are you saying I should be offended by?

[5X]

11. I was more offended by the chubby part.

You can take your own offense at your leisure.

[skipos]

14. Relax.

We haven't had a President as chubby as Richardson in decades.
We haven't had a female President ever.
We haven't had a black President ever.
We haven't had an openly gay President ever.

Those are facts, and not meant to hurt your feelings. There is no harm in discussing the implications, both positive and negative, of candidates' non-political features.

[janx]

7. He has a very likeable personality.

He's very serious when it's called for, but he has an unassuming charm and dry wit that can be hilarious.

[MADem]

10. Hispanic is helpful because it's a substantial minority in the US, and there ARE bigots out there

who are not ready to vote for an person of African heritage or a female, but they'd readily vote for a person of Mexican heritage with an anglo last name. They can handle "Hispanic Lite." Right or wrong, that's some bitter truth.

And as for weight, another Bill, Clinton, was OBESE when he ran--but he had a charming smile, chose well-cut suits, and came across as a regular guy fighting the scale, like so many others--it ended up being a PLUS for him.

And he knows how to diet when he has to....that guy has probably gained and lost as much weight as Oprah.

[Mrs. Overall]

5. I like the fact that his mother is Mexican and that he was raised

in Mexico City (born in Southern CA). Also, his wife is Nicaraguan. I think an Hispanic candidate will bring significant insight to the Democratic debate.

[MADem]

6. Watch Bill drop twenty five pounds in the next year! He always does that when he runs!

Now, that's superficial, but the amount of weight he loses will tell us how serious he is about this--when he's 'in it to win it' he sheds those pounds.

And you're right, he has tremendous experience. And he's also incredibly PERSONABLE. He has a "regular guy" quality that draws people to him. You know that fucking idiotic queston they always ask: Which presidential candidate would you rather have a BEER with? (I despise the question--I always read it as "Who do ya wanna get shitfaced with and tell lies and fish stories to?") Richardson would probably win that poll hands down. He has the "regular guy" aspect going for him--not "rich prissy boy masquerading as a fake cowboy regular guy" but REAL, genuine, regular guy. And the Hispanic heritage ain't gonna hurt him, either.

If we voted based on qualifications, demonstrated abilities and experience, the 00 and 04 races wouldn't have been close. The "X" factor (personality, likeability, charisma...oh, and cheating!) always comes into play in these contests.

[Ian David]

8. Didn't he erase all the electronic voting machines so they couldn't do a recount? n/t

[Orangepeel]

12. how do you recount votes that weren't recorded?

I never understood this criticism. Nobody with any sense can deny that New Mexico's vote was fucked up in 2004. But the problem was that votes were lost by the machines. If the machines kept accurate records, there wouldn't be a problem and we wouldn't need a paper record. The machines didn't keep accurate records. Recounting them would have done the same thing that recounting in Florida in 2006 did. Nothing. You can't recount votes that disappeared.

Richardson gets a lot of shit for not supporting a recount effort strongly enough. And, if somebody wants to hold him responsible, that's his or her right.

But I don't. I have a friend who works for the Democratic party in New Mexico who watched paper ballots being recounted until Thanksgiving and says that Richardson did what he could do. When nothing more could be done, he worked for the bill that fixed the problems.

[Cameron27]

15. "how do you recount votes that weren't recorded?"

Excellent question. Hope you get some answers, because I'd like to know myself.

[applegrove]

13. Agreed. But Al Gore & Clinton are close in the creds department.

[generaldemocrat]

16. Al Gore: Yes, Hillary: No n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

17. I think he does, too, credentials-wise

but he's got some 'splainin' to do about a few things.

[quinnox]

18. Hillary has mucho creds

she was in the White House and privy to all the decision making at the highest level.