New Website and a Group

Hello, There! Sorry you have heard so little from me lately. I have been really busy with various things. While the posts may be back for this week, after that I will warn you that I will be out of town, so it will be mid-June before a frequent schedule resumes.

Anyway, on to what I wanted to tell you about: The newly relaunched website of Richardson for President. It has a lot of interesting new features that encourage social networking and interaction, including a groups feature.

There is also an officialVirginia for Richardson Group that you might want to join to keep up to date and probably go to some meetups. These kind of groups are so important for mobilizing support as the election gets close, so join up today and volunteer.

Job Interview

I reccomend you check out the new Richardson ads, available on YouTube. They make a point supporters already know well, but in a way that should make you chuckle.

Debate Tag Clouds

Pollster.com put together a neat thing where they made "tag clouds" of words said by candidates during the debates. Fun to look at.

Did You Watch The Debate?

This morning, everybody seems to be talking about last night's Democratic candidate debate in South Carolina. Did you get to see it? What did you think of the performances?

In case you missed it, I like the live blogging done by the New York Time's political blog, The Caucus. For the video-inclined, this YouTube user is uploading the whole thing in chunks for you to watch (which, if I were you, I would try to do before MSNBC finds out).

Immigration Address

In a comment on yesterday, I was asked if I could find a video where Bill Richardson speaks regarding immigration. I was able to find this video of him speaking on the issue at Georgetown University in December.

I hope this helps!

The Ads Begin!

Richardson is the first candidate to go on the air with tv spots for Iowa and New Hampshire - and you, thanks to the glorious internet!

View them on YouTube: "Life's Work" and "The Wall"

Identity Politics?

The Politico blogger Ben Smith reports that a recent survey of Latino voters about the 08 race:

Also, the pollster reports what I think is some serious room for growth for Richardson: less than half of Latinos know there's a Hispanic in the race, and only a quarter know it's Richardson.

This raises a couple of questions for me: First, how can we reach out to more people and tell them about the governor's story and background? Second, what will be the role of minority status play out in this year?

I feel divided on this issue. On the one hand, I am proud and excited to see a race that "looks like America" (sort of) with several groups represented. On the other hand, I hope this is the last time we have to talk about this - in the future, I would wish for an electorate/media that focused on what was inside. (On the third hand, however, I must acknowledge that personal experiences do play a big formative role and they are inevitably colored by one's overlapping group memberships...)

North Korea

As you probably know, Gov. Richardson has been off in North Korea - living up to his image as a diplomat and internationalist. I thought I would post this little blurb about the trip, from the MSNBC First Read political blog:

RICHARDSON: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is in North Korea today and tomorrow, along with NBC’s own Andrea Mitchell. "Richardson said the timing of his visit is important and will show North Korea the United States' good intentions. He said the North Koreans will understand the symbolism of a delegation that includes Anthony Principi, Bush's former veteran affairs secretary, and Victor Cha, a top adviser on North Korea. His group is expected to oversee the transfer of remains from the North Korean army to U.N. personnel. On the plane trip over, Richardson's delegation watched the 2006 movie Behind Enemy Lines II, Axis of Evil. It is a story of a group of U.S. Navy Seals who have to fight their way out of North Korea after being sent there to destroy a missile site."

Turn Up the Heat!

March 31 is the last day for this fundraising quarter. In addition to the benefit of the money itself, when these numbers get reported it is a major media thing. If Gov. Richardson does not have a strong showing, talking heads are going to say he does not have a shot; if he does do well, maybe they will start paying more attention to his progress.

The campaign is running a little program called Turn Up the Heat and they need your help to meet the goal. If you are able, please do go to the site and make a contribution.

Making the contribution online is secure, fast, and easy, and ensures that your donation will be counted in this accounting cycle.

Best Wishes to the Edwards Family

I have been unsure if I should post this here, but I have decided that it makes sense to take a break from this being a blog with a mission to promote a particular candidate and instead write something a little more personal.

As I am sure you all know by now, Senator Edwards' wife Elizabeth is again fighting breast cancer. (If you have not been following the story, read here) Edwards will continue his campaign while his wife seeks treatment - either alone being quite a task, and certainly to do both at once will be a stressful and emotional feat.

While we certainly should continue to debate on the things that matter, I think the media coverage and blog talk of if this will help Edwards get "sympathy" votes and the like is incredibly tacky and you can expect not to hear any such thing from this blog.

It is a great and noble choice to be involved in public life, and it is not easy on one's family under the best of circumstances. I personally wish the Edwards' all the best, and I hope that Mrs. Edwards health improves. I also sincerly hope that we can be respectful and use this only to raise awareness about how many women from all walks of life are struck with breast cancer each year and not as a political tool for or against his campaign.

"Blunt but Insightful"

Gov. Richardson has been making the rounds in the press lately, with appearances such as a recent visit with PBS' Tavis Smiley, which you can view here.

He also was featured on the popular radio program To The Point (which you can hear online or on several local public radio stations)

Steve Clemons for The Huffington Post describes the Olney show thusly:

Among the many blunt but insightful comments Richardson shared were that "Attorney General Gonzales needed to decide if he was the nation's lawyer, the peoples' lawyer, or whether he was just the President's political flack." [...] All in all, Bill Richardson's comments were excellent -- and were the type of quick hit common sense that other candidates should try out.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Should be Repealed

After the waffling and bungling of the matter by other candidates, Richardson wants to make clear where he stands. He does not think homosexulaity is immoral, nor does he think that "don't ask, don't tell" is working for our military.

From the AP, via KOBTV:
SANTA FE (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson says he wants Congress to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in which gay service members are required to keep their sexual orientation private.

Richardson’s comments are in response to remarks made this week by the Pentagon’s top general that homosexual acts are immoral and that the military shouldn’t condone homosexuality by allowing gay personnel to serve openly.

Marine General Peter Pace has since apologized for the comments, saying he should have limited his discussion of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Richardson says he doesn’t believe homosexuality is immoral and that people shouldn’t be judged based on their sexual orientation.

Richardson calls Pace’s remarks “unfortunate” and says the Bush administration should reject them.

When I saw him speak at the DNC meeting, one thing that surprised me was how compassionately he spoke about tolerance for the glbt community and, even more so, how intensely the crowd showed their approval. I think people are just really fatigued of hate and intolerance being considered acceptable from "mainstream" politicians. As an issue for debate, I just think it is over (not that, personally, I think it should have come up in the first place).

Technology Gets a Seat at the Table

In New Mexico, a bill supported by the governor has passed the state senate to create a cabinent office that will handle the state's technology concerns. The Department of Information Technology will "consolidate the technology needs of all state agencies within one department", according to Sen. Linda Lopez (in the Farmington Daily Times).

Several states already have such offices (Connecticut, Nevada, and Michigan, for example). Hopefully, it will not be long before we see a president who cares about these issues and can bring them to the national state as well. It seems clear that Governor Richardson is committed to that goal.

Embracing technology is just a show of sensibile, modern policy in a world that absolutely depends upon it. Science - modernity itself, really - belongs at the table in discussions about the regulations that will govern some of the most important aspects of our lives. Remember that technology policy is not just about the technology itself (though having people who understand what they are talking about would certainly help), but rather encompasses some of the enduring conversations: security, freedom, privacy, etc.

Maybe, if we had a national technology advisor working with our elected officials, we could finally draft policy that is not decades behind - and could stop talking about the internet as a series of tubes

Richardson Second in Minnesota Poll

The first straw poll in Minnesota has delivered some good news from that state: In one precinct, Richardson came in second behind Obama. Third was a tie between Edwards and Clinton. One person abstained and one voted 'undecided'. More information from someone who attended is available here.

Caucuses and straw polls like this are really neat - neighbors getting together to talk about who can best serve the needs of the community and trying to persuade one another. If you have not had a chance to observe one, you should check it out. I am hoping to get to do so sometime this cycle.

[via Washington for Richardson]

Update:
The Santa Fe New Mexican has a report of the events of the Minnestota straw poll above, including results from the rest of the state. Overall, Richardson made a very strong showing state-wide.

It's only a straw poll, but Bill Richardson took second in the Minnesota Democratic Farm Labor Party presidential straw poll. He beat everyone but Barack Obama. It was just one precinct, and Obama won in a landslide, but hey, it's a start.

In the overall poll, Hillary Clinton (324) beat Obama (323) by one vote, with Richardson (176) taking a strong fourth beind John Edwards (115). MyDD summarizes the entire caucus results here.

Pajamas Media Online Poll

I cannot say I know much about Pajamas Media, but in their online straw poll they show Bill Richardson way out in the lead of the Democratic candidates.

Not that I want to cast any aspersions on such an optimistic result, but do please remember that online polls are not representative of much, and that perhaps the only thing more surprising than the staggering 43.3 point lead they give Richardson over the second-place Barack Obama is that the third-place candidate is Al Gore who has tried and tried to assure people he is not running.

In any event, it is a fun thing and it clearly shows there are a lot of Richardson people going out there online and making it known that there is a big base of support, which is great!

Grab Some Popcorn

CNN.com has a bit up about favorite movies of major '08 candidates. Sure, they are probably calculated and well-thought-out answers, but it is still amusing to think about just what it is they are trying to say about themselves with the movies they claim to love.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It's Oscar time, so we asked some of the 2008 presidential candidates the question of the moment: what's your favorite movie?

The following are their choices and the corresponding plot outlines as described by the Internet Movie Database. Do any of the movies offer new insights into the candidates?

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona: "Viva Zapata" (1952) -- "The story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Diaz in the early 20th century."

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York: "Casablanca" (1942) -- "An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications."

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-New York: "The Godfather" (1972) -- "The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son."

Former Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina: "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964) -- "An insane general starts a process to nuclear holocaust that a war room of politicians and generals frantically try to stop."

Gov. Bill Richardson, D-New Mexico: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) -- "Two Western bank/train robbers flee to Bolivia when the law gets too close."

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Massachusetts: "Raiders of the lost Ark" (1981) -- "Renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, Dr. Indiana Jones, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the Ark of the Covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments."

Funny... nobody mentioned "An Inconvienent Truth".

Arlington Democrat to Give Radio Address

On Saturday, Arlington County Board vice-chair Walter Tejada will be giving the nationwide Democratic Hispanic radio address.

He will focus on the racist and anti-immigrant stances of some of the candidates for the Republican nomination, and how the Democratic candidates actually understand and embrace the diversity that defines America.

Full text of the address (English and Spanish) is available here.

Someone Is a Few Dollars Short of a Suit...

I know Governor Richardson has said this should be a positive campaign and Democrats should not go around attacking each other.

That said, I would be remiss as a blogger not to point out the strangest part of the "Nev-AD-ah" forum -- this exchange between Stephanopoulos and Mike Gravel (as reported by The Politico):

The second gaffe involved Stephanopoulos’s suit. It drew the attention, if not the outright ire, of the most obscure presidential candidate in the race, Mike Gravel (Gra-VEL), former senator from Alaska, who wants to replace the federal income tax with a national sales tax.

“The sales tax is not regressive; it is progressive. I’ve got a $250 suit, and you probably have got a $2,000 suit,” Gravel said to Stephanopoulos.

Then Gravel turned to the audience: “So he (is paying) more taxes than I am. The wealthy would pay more than I am.”

“Your time is up!” Stephanopoulos said to him.

“What do you mean my time is up?” Gravel said. “I am just getting started!”

And then Gravel made a public appeal for funds. “All I need is $10,000 and I can win with this thing!” he said.

So if Stephanopoulos gave him just five suits...

First Candidate Forum

Washington for Richardson posts about today's Democratic candidate forum hosted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Nevada. You will be able to view the video on C-Span.

Update:
If you would like to view the 2 hour, 3 minute long video of the forum, C-Span offers it here.

The style of the event was not a debate-type, but rather each candidate had a chance to make a statement and then answer two questions - one from host George Stephanopoulos, one from a union member.

Interesting note about the event - one prominent candidate was conspicously absent. He decided to slip in some extra time in Iowa while the competition was away.

Want to be Friends?

Are you on MySpace? The Richardson campaign has a profile up that you can "friend" - as 660 people already have.

The campaign is also on Facebook (469 friends).

There is an amusing article about the ubiquity of candidates on soical networks this year and Richardson's MySpace in particular, in the Santa Fe Reporter.