Governor Richardson truly shined at yesterday's ABC News debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The governor's debate performance has drawn praise from all over the Internet. He “led the debate” on Iraq, he “adroitly handled the issues” and “rose to the occasion and to the presidential level.” He was “strong on education,” “assertive,” “endearing,” and “fiestier” than ever before.
At Liberal Values blog, Ron Chusid wrote “if anyone can be declared the winner it would be Richardson.” I'll cover the rest of the chatter about the governor's debate performance in just a minute, but first, let's take a quick look at some non-debate discussions going on.
Jobsanger detailed and praised Governor Richardson's economic policy platform, which he unveiled last week:
I think he's definitely got the right idea with his economic plan…
Unlike his opponents, Bill Richardson has experience both in Congress and as the chief executive of a state. He fully understands what it will take to put our economy on the right track, and how to get it accomplished. Here are some of the highpoints of his economic proposal:
- Get our troops out of Iraq and leave NO residual forces behind.
- Repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
- Slash Congressional earmarks and corporate welfare.
- Eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax that squeezes the middle class.
- Establish a Rural Jobs Tax Credit for employers in less-populated areas.
- Give a tax credit to employers paying above the prevailing wage.
- Promote “green jobs” in renewable energy.
- Double and make permanent the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit.
- Establish an Angel Investor Tax Credit to promote investment in hi-tech industries.
- Hire 100,000 new math and science teacher's to increase our children's competitiveness.
…
- Create incentives for “green building”.
- Protect the rights of workers by defending collective bargaining.
- Index the minimum wage to the rate of inflation.
This sounds like a very good start to putting the American economy back on the right track. It not only helps workers, but it does so without penalizing small businesses…
If you're still not sure who you will support for president in 2008, I urge you to go to Richardson for President and see what this truly qualified and innovative candidate has to offer.
To watch Governor Richardson announce his economic policy plan in the address he delivered last week at the IBEW Local 405 Hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, click here, and to read the transcript of that speech, click here. And, you can find out more about Governor Richardson's policy platform on jobs and the economy here.
Also late last week, Governor Richardson made a stand against the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, which has taken to intimidation tactics against states trying to provide relief for those in severe pain due to illness or injury. Many blogs and other media outlets have applauded Governor Richardson's actions on this issue, including TalkLeft, John Deeth Blog, and Pete Guither at Salon.com. Guither wrote:
Governor of New Mexico (and Presidential candidate) Bill Richardson is not allowing his state to simply be scared by the DEA's bullying (or to use that as an excuse to not implement its medical marijuana law).
He's directed state officials to continue to work toward finding a way to implement the law, and has written a letter to the President urging him to end the “White House Office of National Drug Control Policy's misguided priority and wasted resources spent to intimidate states trying to implement medical marijuana programs.”
At both Iowa Independent and his own blog, John Deeth had this to say:
Bill Richardson is taking on the federal government and backing his state's medical marijuana law, in perhaps the strongest stance yet by a major presidential candidate on the issue.
In his letter to the White House, Governor Richardson said:
At a time when the scourge of meth is coming across the border, and cocaine and heroin use continues to ravage our communities, the federal government should be cracking down on real criminals—not people who are trying to help those in pain.
Click here to find out more about this, and to read all of Governor Richardson's letter to President Bush.
The governor is maing a trip to Nevada this week, and he'll be in Northern Nevada on Wednesday, according to the Carson City Democrats:
This past Sunday, Governor Richardson made his case for being the one candidate that will bring both experience and change to Washington DC. The ABC Debate allowed Richardson to make the case for his 2 for 1 candidacy. This Wednesday (August 22), the candidate of experience and change will be in Northern Nevada…
The issues most likely to be highlighted by the Governor's visit this week? Value of unions, the economy, education, and western issues.
Governor Richardson is making a speech to the Nevada AFL-CIO just after 11:00 AM, and participating in the Brookings Institute/UNR Candidates' Forum at University of Nevada, Reno, at about 2:00 PM, and then he'll wrap up the day with a Meet & Greet at Fernley High in Fernley, Nevada at 6:30 PM. See the Carson City Democrats' post for more details about these events.
The Reno Gazette-Journal has more on this Wednesday's Candidates Forum at UNR:
As students and citizens of Reno seek more information about the pressing issues facing our next President, The Brookings Institution and the University of Nevada, Reno are hosting two Opportunity '08-Nevada forums this week: a Republican issue forum today, and a Democratic issue forum on Wednesday, Aug. 22. Presidential candidates U.S. Sen. Joe Biden and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson are scheduled to participate in the forum on Wednesday, August 22.
The Candidates Forum will begin with Senator Biden at 2PM, and then Governor Richardson will speak at about 3:00. Check the Opportunity '08 website on Wednesday for links to watch the forum live online.
On to the debate. Heath Haussamen said one of Governor Richardson's first great moments was near the beginning of the debate when moderator George Stephanopoulos asked if Senator Obama was too inexperienced to be a good president, or if Senator Clinton was too divisive to be an effective president:
While others squabbled about whether Obama represented change or inexperience, Richardson stayed above the fray. “You know, I think that Sen. Obama does represent change. Sen. Clinton has experience,” he said, while making a balancing gesture with his hands. “Change and experience. With me, you get both.”
This response prompted much applause and laughter from the audience. At the Des Moines Register, coloumnist David Yepsen echoed Governor Richardson's statement:
He represents both change — because he¹d be the first Latino president — and experience, because he¹s a governor, former congressman, diplomat and Energy Secretary.
Later, the candidates were asked about the role faith and religion played in their lives, and in their decision-making as elected officials. On the Daily Kos Live Blog for the debate, several commenters praised Governor Richardson's response to this important question:
KimHynes:
Richardson had a great response about prayer being a private thing and Presidents should not wear religion on his or her sleeve.DKinUT:
I want a clear cut answer like Richardson gave…religion should not be worn on a sleeve and it will not affect my decision-making. Next question.
On the issue of education, Governor Richardson was right on the mark yet again, and as Katharine Q. Seelye noted on The New York Times' political blog, The Caucus, the audience knew it:
Bill Richardson gets the biggest applause on his education answers, particularly raising teacher pay and his “one-point plan” to “fix” No Child Left Behind by scrapping it…
Governor Richardson truly took over the debate when the War in Iraq was brought up. Heath Haussamen wrote:
Richardson then took charge of the debate by directly challenging Clinton and Biden. Both said they would leave residual troops behind but withdraw all combat troops. He asked how they would protect the non-combat troops left in the country without the presence of combat troops.
Another New Mexico politics blogger, Joe Monahan, agreed:
[The governor] took over the debate by defending his call for an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq and demanded to know what his rivals meant by keeping “residual troops” in the war-torn nation.
At The Corner on National Review Online, Rich Lowry took note of Governor “Richardson's excellent question about how he would protect the residual forces in Iraq in the absence of combat forces.” Steve Terrell wrote in the Santa Fe New Mexican that Governor Richardson clearly brought “his 'A' game” to the debate:
At one point, Richardson directly challenged Clinton and Biden. “With all due respect, I'd like to ask Sen. Clinton, Sen. Biden, you're saying you're going to leave residual troops behind. I don't know, is it 25,000, 50,000, 75,000?” Richardson said. “You're also saying, I think, Sen. Clinton, that all combat troops should come out. Now, for the noncombat troops, how are they going to protect themselves? My point is that by taking them all out, all our troops are no longer targets. And then al-Qaida and the insurgents, both that see American troops as their prey, will now turn on each other.”
Commenting on Chris Cilliza's Debate Roundup on his WashingtonPost.com political blog, The Fix, wirro expressed confidence in Governor Richardson's Iraq plans:
He did put pressure on the Biden and Clinton to explain why keeping forces in Iraq is a good idea and I don't think they could justify it. As far as the issue about how fast you withdraw, that's just a logistical problem and I think Richardson has shown too much competence in his career to do anything reckless. He just feels you need to keep the timetable as short as practically possible and leaving it open ended is just a way to kick the problem down the road without committing to any particular action.
Viewers everywhere commented on all the post-debate analyses about how impressed they were with the governor's performance:
wirro:
With this performance and his double-digit polling in both Iowa and NH, I think it's time to start including him in the top-tier.Jeremy:
I think Richardson is thoughtful and statesmanlike… I say that as a concerned voter yearning for a thoughtful president who can bring an intelligent approach to foreign policy… On all counts, Richardson has a strong record – much stronger than Clinton, Obama or Edwards. He is also an extremely accomplished negotiator and very respected worldwide…Chet Swanson:
Richardson with by far the most experience and with detailed, clear plans for for change gives us what Clinton and Obama lack. I recently heard him speak in our small Iowa town. Most people who heard his in depth plans for America decided to support him.
Miss the debate? Click here to watch the highlights and click here to read the debate transcript, courtesy of ABC News.
And that's a wrap for today. Be sure you check out these blogs and others, and do your part to spread the message of Richardson for President. Set the record straight when others out in the blogosphere get the facts wrong. Write your own diaries. Pass these links and others like them along to your friends and family. This is your opportunity to participate in politics and help the campaign!
Until next time,
Alison