Governor Richardson issued a demand for real answers from all candidates on how many troops they will leave behind, and for how long. The governor's position on ending the war is clear. He has been calling for complete and immediate withdrawal of all our troops from Iraq since the beginning of the campaign. In the most recent debate, he asked the other major candidates a simple question: how many troops would you leave behind and for how long? Neither at the debate nor since then have we heard an answer.

It's time for straignt answers. Sign the petition now and demand clear answers from all candidates on how many troops they would leave in Iraq and for how long.

Discussion sparked by Governor Richardson over his fellow candidates' straightforwardness on Iraq has been going on in earnest. Blogger Matthew Yglesias joined in last night:

I think Bill Richardson is asking good questions:

In the most recent debate, he asked the other major candidates a clear question: how many troops would you leave behind and for how long? We have yet to hear an answer.

All the major Democratic candidates say they are eager to end this war, and they all say they don't believe there is a military solution in Iraq. Why, then, do they maintain that we must leave an indefinite number of troops behind for an indeterminate amount of time to work hopelessly towards a military solution everyone says doesn't exist?

Richardson, as he points out, stands for a complete withdrawal from Iraq -- the only policy that can reasonably follow from the premises that Clinton, Obama, and Edwards have all joined him in endorsing and the only one that lives up to the promises all three have made to end the war. I'm not sure many liberals have really grasped how absurd it is that we seem destined to witness a 2008 campaign in which both major party nominees support continuing the war. Nor do the Clinton/Obama/Edwards camps seem to have given serious consideration to the fact that their general election adversary will probably find it relatively easy to ridicule this "end the war, but keep fighting it" stance the Democrats have all adopted.

Kos (of Daily Kos) expressed frustration over the issue as well:

Richardson asks the question that none of the front-runner candidates want to answer:

...It is time to get a straight answer from all the other candidates: how many troops would you leave behind? For how long?

... Why would they dodge? It's not from fear of alienating the Democratic primary electorate. The clearer the stance on getting the hell out of Iraq, the more applause they'll get. It can't be from fear of alienating the general electorate. Independents want out of Iraq just as badly as Democrats. And it can't be from fear of alienating the war mongers. Those 25% dead-enders aren't abandoning their GOP heroes.

So what can it be?

The only thing that makes sense is fear of alienating David Broder, Joe Klein, and Tim Russert. You know, the Very Serious People...

"How many troops will you leave behind in Iraq."

Anything above the security detail for the US embassy in Baghdad (all U.S. embassies in the world have Marine guards) is one troop too many...

But if nothing else, can we please just get a clear answer to that damn question?

Sign the petition now and demand straight answers from all candidates on how many troops they would leave in Iraq and for how long. To read Governor Richardson's most recent statement calling on Congress to de-authorize the war immediately and bring our troops home, click here. And for more complete information on Governor Richardson's plan to end the war in Iraq, click here.

Last night, the New Mexico conservation community-at-large held a fundraiser for Governor Richardson outside Santa Fe at the historic La Capilla Vieja Ranch at La Cienega. The event brought together clean energy advocates, animal protection advocates, conservationists, hunters, anglers, and elected officials involved in all sorts of environmental issues with Governor Richardson, who has accomplished so much to protect what makes New Mexico the Land of Enchantment. Jim Baca, New Mexico Natural Resource Trustee for the governor and former State Land Commissioner, attended this event, and then shared photos from it at his blog, Only in New Mexico:

Enviros for Richardson

This was the landscape for the big fundraiser the New Mexico Conservationists and such held for Governor Richardson's Presidential campaign in Santa Fe on Thursday evening. This photo pretty much says it all about why we were there...

This is Nathan Small, Steve Capra and Dave Parsons of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance bending the Governor's ear.

This is Jean Ossorio, protector of wolves, from Las Cruces thanking the Governor for his support of Wolf reintroduction...

I had the honor of giving the Governor an award from New Mexico Conservationists.

To learn about Governor Richardson's record and position on environmental issues, click here. To find out about upcoming Richardson for President events near you, click here.

Speaking of upcoming events, the Odessa American Online reported today that Governor Richardson will be speaking at this evening's Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Installation Banquet in Odessa, Texas:

The Installation Banquet will be at 7:15 p.m. at the MCM Grandé Hotel FunDome. Richardson is slated to speak at 8 p.m. For information, call the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at 338-7892.

Then, Governor Richardson will be spending this weekend in New Hampshire. From Cosmo at New Hampshire Presidential Watch:

Governor Bill Richardson returns to the Granite State this week for "Presidential Job Interviews" in Londonderry, Milford, Plymouth, Canterbury and Dover. The Governor's stops will also include the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, Oktoberfest in Danbury and the Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Since July 1 st, Governor Richardson has held forty-two "Presidential Job Interviews" and other public meetings across New Hampshire, with another seven scheduled for this visit.

For complete details about these events, just check out Cosmo's blog.

Finally today, many have been talking about where things are in this presidential primary campaign season. At Iowa Independent and at his own blog, John Deeth commented on Governor Richardson's candidacy in his "Labor Day Look at the Presidential Race":

Labor Day is traditionally seen as the start of campaign season, but in the 2008 presidential race, the campaign is well under way on both sides. And caucus night approaches at double speed, as the days move forward on the calendar and as a yet-uncertain caucus date moves backward. As Iowa pauses for a three-day weekend to wrap up the summer, it seems like a good time for Iowa Independent to wrap up the campaign so far...

Richardson has moved up in the polls to a steady number four in Iowa after running the first, and by consensus, best TV ads. He has played on the "job interview" theme of the ads in appearances throughout the state and this week publicly set the goal of finishing third or better in the caucuses.

At The Blue State, Chief Editor Todd noted the latest Time Iowa poll results, as well as the overall trend going on in the Hawkeye State:

• (POLL) Iowa Democrats (Time): Edwards - 32%, Clinton - 24%, Obama - 22%, Richardson - 13%.
• (POLL) If you look at the numbers on a graph, Bill Richardson is surging faster than any other Democratic candidate in Iowa.

Just yesterday, Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen made similar remarks:

In Iowa, Richardson has moved from 1 percent support in the state to a middle tier all his own. That's more movement than any other Democratic candidate has seen this year...

A growing number of activists believe he puts together an impressive package. He notes in his stump speech that Clinton talks about experience, and Obama talks about change, "and with me you get both."

...and Richardson seems to love retail campaigning. He's done more than 50 town meetings, including his often lighthearted talk-a-thon here Tuesday night.

Governor Richardson is in a strong position this Labor Day weekend, and he'll continue to rise up through the fluid Democratic field, as described by Todd Beeton of MyDD yesterday afternoon, and meet or beat his goals in the upcoming caucuses and primaries.

And that's a wrap for this week. It's been a great pleasure and honor to write these Round Ups this summer, and I'm sad to say that this is the last one I'll be authoring. From now on, I'm just another devoted supporter of Governor Richardson. So for the last time, I urge you to check out these blogs and others! 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