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From Governor Richardson
Dear Friend,
It is with great pride, understanding and acceptance that I am ending my campaign for President of the United States. It was my hope that all of you would first hear this news from me and not a news organization. But unfortunately, as with too many things in our world today, it's the ending of something that garners the most intense interest and speculation.
I knew from the beginning that this would be an uphill climb. When I entered the campaign, it was clear that we, as Democrats, had the most talented field of candidates in my lifetime running to change the direction of our country. And in the end, one of them will.
Despite overwhelming financial and political odds, I am proud of the campaign we waged and the influence we had on the issues that matter most to the future of this country.
A year ago, we were the only major campaign calling for the removal of all of our troops within a year's time from Iraq. We were the only campaign calling for a complete reform of education in this country, including the scrapping of No Child Left Behind. And we were the campaign with the most aggressive clean energy plan and the most ambitious standards for reducing global warming.
Now, all of the remaining candidates are coming to our point of view. I am confident that the next President of the United States will implement much of what we've been urging for the last twelve months, and our nation and world will be the better for it.
There are so many of you who gave so much to this campaign. For that, I will be forever grateful. Running for president has been, at times, humbling and at other times, exhilarating. I have grown and learned a great deal from the experience, and I am a better person for it.
Also, because of your close friendship and support throughout the ups and downs of what is a very grueling and demanding process, I have never felt alone.
Running for president brings out the best in everyone who graces the stage, and I have learned much from the other candidates running. They have all brought great talents and abilities to the campaign.
Senator Biden's passion and intellect are remarkable.
Senator Dodd is the epitome of selfless dedication to public service and the Democratic Party.
Senator Edwards is a singular voice for the most downtrodden and forgotten among us.
Senator Obama is a bright light of hope and optimism at a time of great national unease, yet he is also grounded in thoughtful wisdom beyond his years.
Senator Clinton's poise in the face of adversity is matched only by her lifetime of achievement and deep understanding of the challenges we face.
Representative Kucinich is a man of great decency and dedication who will faithfully soldier on no matter how great the odds.
And all of us in the Democratic Party owe Senator Mike Gravel our appreciation for his leadership during the national turmoil of Vietnam.
I am honored to have shared the stage with each of these Democrats. And I am enormously grateful to all of my supporters who chose to stand with me despite so many other candidates of accomplishment and potential.
Now that my time in this national campaign has come to an end, I would urge those who supported my candidacy to take a long and thoughtful look at the remaining Democrats. They are all strong contenders who each, in their own way, would bring desperately needed change to our country. All I ask is that you make your own independent choice with the same care and dedication to this country that you honored me with during this campaign. At this time, I will not endorse any candidate.
Now I am returning to a job that I love, serving a state that I cherish and doing the work of the people I was elected to serve. As I have always said, I am the luckiest man I know. I am married to my high school sweetheart. I live in a place called the Land of Enchantment. I have the best job in the world. And I just got to run for president of the United States.
It doesn't get any better than that.
With my deepest appreciation for all that you have done,
Bill
Governor Bill Richardson
The Governor's Mansion
Santa Fe, New Mexico
With the Republican nomination wrapped up, Republicans voted in great numbers for Obama in the Democratic Party caucuses today. All that is certain is that most if not all of these voters in traditional Republican states will vote for McCain and do not want Hillary Clinton. Obama will spin this as more evidence that he will take Republican votes in November. This is his massively delusional political speak, moving Democrats toward certain destruction in November.
That people would have the audacity to claim that the most liberal senator in the US Senate will draw Republicans is the biggest joke Republicans have played on Democrats in twenty-five years. That the Democratic Party is so delusional shows the difference between the silly Democrats and serious Republicans in this and every other election in the last twenty-five years.
In one Democratic Party caucus on the Eastside of Washington's Seattle area, three high school seniors claimed they were in the right caucus, admitted that they had been Ron Paul voters, plan to vote for McCain, but voted for Obama. These young Republicans realized that in many caucuses, the vote could be small enough that they could affect the outcome and there would be nothing that would affect McCain. So they were voting for Obama at the Democratic Party caucus. They were allowed to come in and vote about thirteen minutes late. So it went, for certain, all over the two caucus states. Voters for Republicans in November lined up for Obama, the certain loser in November. In fact, Obama has a lead over McCain only due to the undecideds. Many will come back to McCain or will not vote in November once the handwriting is on the wall. And that is if anyone is foolish enough to consider the polls at all accurate.
Lancaster County Democrats designated 53 caucus locations, and was the last county in the state to caucus. The proceedings were just beginning at 6 p.m. Officials said they saw a number of registered Republicans changing their party affiliation at polling sites "just to participate in the process." This will prove nothing in Republican states. Until the Fall, of course.
PLEASE provide those links here to share with TX so they are duly warned.
I am amazed how "O" is receiving endorsements from MAJOR unions when he labeled THEM as "special interest" groups; that was probably before T. Kennedy help him win them over! Here's what was commented by "O's" campaign manager (O will swear that he didn't say any of this):
Link
How IRONIC, since "O" is getting major endorsements from Unions now less than 60 days ago when he was attacking other candidates about them.
Now...Here's the information from Chicago Tribune:
Link
"O" has much to respond to, however he refuses to debate (claiming fatigue- there have been 18); "O" has had ONLY ONE 'one on one' debate with Hillary Clinton, and that does not allow questions regarding their political candidacy to be thoroughly examined. A travesty, especially when this is supposed to be a democracy!
I miss Bill Richardson and John Edwards, however since neither are available to beat the pants off "O", I'll support Hillary.
Why has he not endorsed Hillary? Her husband appointed him to two cabinet posts during his presidency. Where is the loyalty? Answer: My opinion is that rather than respond as a man of character and loyalty, Bill Richardson had chosen to behave like a coward who is afraid to endorse a candidate he fears may not win.
You have so far remained silent as to your endorsement for the Democratic nominee for President. After you withdrew from the race I was forced to look long and hard at the remaining candidates. Senator Clinton has been more aggressive in adopting your plans to withdraw from Iraq, and has adopted your language of having to have an Apollo program to address climate change.
Senator Obama's brilliant plan is to reexamine nuclear power; a non starter since no one want the plants or the waste in their states. But it's not a surprise that he is a nuclear advocate since he's in bed with Excelon.
Senator Obama has also made a big deal about his pledge not to take money from lobbyists and pacs. But the record clearly shows (as reported in the LA Times last year) that he is raking in lots of money from state lobbyists, corporate special interests, and the law firms that represent them. You should not allow yourself to be associated with a candidate who claims to be running on hope and change, but plays the same old games. The last candidate that ran on change (and ducked debates as well) was George W. Bush.
Senator Clinton has proven herself to be a steadfast advocate for the rights of women, children, and the middle class. Her healthcare plan will cover everybody (I would like to see her take a stand on lowering malpractice insurance premiums, as that is the single greatest factor driving up healthcare costs), and she is thinking more broadly on clean energy, the Green Economy, independence from foreign oil, and national security. You were the first to make the connections of those issues, and the first to have concrete plans to act on those connections. I believe that it is Senator Clinton who has most willingly embraced this view.
Now that the media is rabid to crown Senator Obama the winner it is vital that you give Senator Clinton your endorsement, lest the legacy of your platform be lost to his weightless rhetoric.
I and am sure others are disgusted by the immature comments of the anonymous "User from Fort Stewart, GA" - now that's cowardly.
Anyhow, we can only hope John Edwards will be brave enough to endorse a woman who is strongly qualified and experienced now.
You are supporting a man who clearly has racist issues - and do not think for a moment that you have to be White to be racist. African Americans are equally racists - ask any Asian like me and you will know.
If Mr. Obama is Mr. Clean, ask him to explain the following:
a) Why he or his wife have yet to apologize to Mrs. Clinton for her statements related to "Keeping her house" ? He wants to pretend they are clean - is that playing fair? What Mr. Clinton did had nothing to do with her.
b) Obama refuses to distance himself from his Priest Wright I do not think he is Rev. doesn't even deserve to be a Priest - what kind of institution accepts and allows such behavior from a Priest? And do not go all Democrat on me by bringing the Rep. Priests into the mix - I thought the Democrats had higher standards - so you (Dems) claim.
c) Mr. Obama has mentioned things about both Mr and Mrs. Clinton on Larry Kings Show which if he had any ethics would have clearly refrained to do. After all he is the candidate of Change and wants to cleanup Washington and seems to have holier than thou attitude - someone ought to tell him Actions speak louder than Words. So far all I have heard from him is a lot of gas.
Reason why he will never disown Wright is because he does not want to lose home base support from African Americans by appearing to be weak.
Reason why you seem to be backing despite your own states approval of Mrs. Clinton is because you probably made a deal with him and/or you are under the false impression that Mr. Obama will prevail in this election.
Mr. Obama openly accuses the Clintons about throwing the kitchen sink at him at a venue where he cannot be questioned in terms of facts - where and when did either of the Clintons say or imply that? On the contrary, both the Clintons are under pressure because they cannot afford to critise Mr. Obama right or wrong on issues or otherwise without appearing to be racist.
Watch CNN and you will see they are all afraid of the race issue - they would probably lick the ground on which Mr. Obama walks on - give them some time and you will see they will crucify him.
Race has become an issue in this election - but it is only helping Mr. Obama and hurting Mrs. Clinton's chances.
Bottom-line is all of you are cut from the same cloth and have sold your souls, ethics and consciences to gain one objective - power.
Mr. Obama talks about neither Clintons want to or like to lose and CNN keep airing it? Ask the man you are supporting if he would like to lose? From where I come from, when you point a finger there are 4 pointing back at you,
Given all the flaws of the Clintons - they are a known entity - you know they may have personal issues but they also truly are good people and have a sense of doing the avg. American good, it could be because of their guilt, regardless the Avg. American will be served better by them.
Can you be so sure about Mr. Obama? It is often a mistake to back the most popular horse in a race because it could just turn out to be a pace-setter. You are the best judge for your actions and maybe you made a mistake, maybe you made a calculated move.
If I were you, I would look to see who and what am I supporting and clearly Mr. Obama does'nt seem to be the best choice for USofA. People think he is Mr. Fix-it-all, 4 years from now, I would like to ask who do they trust and did he deliver if he ever gets elected, which is highly unlikely. Even if he gets the nomination with the help of the likes of you, the Republicans will eat him for lunch. It would be a big mistake to assume they will get afraid to play dirty, Wrigh issue will surface along with a lot more Dirt of Mr. Clean and the Country will see right or wrong how Clean Mr. Clean really is.
Read my lips - Mr. OBAMA WILL NEVER BE THE PRESIDENT OF USofA - not in 2008/2009.
Also, you totally rock that beard! Keep up the good work!
the greatgul
You chose wisely and I thank you for your courage. The easy thing would have been to choose Senator Clinton, but you chose to look forward instead of backward.
Now that Barack has won the primary and is doing well poll wise in the general we can all work harder to ensure his success.