Posted on 08/13/2005 11:59:04 PM PDT by Crackingham
Bill Richardson is holding court, seated at the far end of a shiny table in his modest Albuquerque office. It is Thursday, and the governor is hosting one of his regular open-door sessions — a chance for citizens to walk off the street and avail themselves of an audience with New Mexico's chief executive.
Richardson values these meetings, he said, for the knowledge he takes away and the connection they give him to the far-flung people of his state. But Richardson is a man of constant, propulsive motion, and it obviously pains him to sit still for so long. Even more painful, it seems, is having to sit with his mouth shut.
SNIP
Sometimes it is hard to tell where the governor's ministrations end and self-promotion begins. Take, for instance, that Times Square billboard featuring a larger-than-life Richardson, promoting New Mexico for tourists. Or consider his frequent out-of-state travels and appearances on national television.
"You'll hear [Republican leaders] say that Bill is so personally ambitious he cares more for himself than the state of New Mexico," said Brian Sanderoff, an Albuquerque pollster who has been sampling state opinion for nearly 25 years.
No matter. Richardson enjoys healthy voter approval ratings, with significant support even among rank-and-file Republicans.
In the last 2 1/2 years, he has slashed taxes and won the hearts of New Mexico's business leaders, shaken up the education establishment and steamrolled his critics on the left and right, all while fashioning the philosophy of what he calls "a new progressive Democrat."
"It's basically not center, not left, not right, but basically forward," Richardson explained one morning over coffee at the governor's mansion. "What works? What helps people? What solves problems?"
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
This guy is very clever. He has attacked the illegal problem by declaring a "state of emergency"---or, at least, that's the headline. Whether he does anything is irrelevant: he is now unique among ALL presidential contenders in appearing to opposed illegals. That issue is THE issue of 2008.
double negative
a new new RAT = an old RAT
-"It's basically not center, not left, not right, but basically forward,"-
He used "basically", basically twice, but, basically he's a lefty. I'm still waiting for that famous lefty intellectualism to shine. It's looking pretty dull so far.
"Whether he does anything is irrelevant: he is now unique among ALL presidential contenders in appearing to opposed illegals. That issue is THE issue of 2008."
He's auditioning for a spot on Hillary's ticket.. no matter what he says.
Putting a Latino on the ticket will soften her "border-security" platform.
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