His last week in office has been a busy one for the corrupt soon-to-be ex-governor of New Mexico. He was in the news for his North Korea pandering trip. A lengthy article in last Sunday's ABQ Journal detailed his shady dealings in state government, his corrupt cronies, his receipt of campaign contributions for governor (pay-to-play) and his run for president and the previous and ongoing federal investigations. Tuesday brought a setback in his crony/campaign contributor's efforts to establish a new casino in central Albuquerque when the state fair commission failed to make a decision due to lack of a quorum (seems like those that missed the meeting figured they didn't need the grief, especially since the local neighborhood residents didn't want any part of it). And yesterday Richardson's head of the state Dept. of Public Safety directed that the state's DNA database of criminals be moved from the APD to state police offices in Santa Fe in spite of opposition of the incoming governor, the Democratic AG, legislative leaders of both parties, prosecutors and defense attorneys, victims advocates, etc. They took the computer server to SF but the paper files remain behind until they are inventoried (something like 70,000). Seems that the head of DPS, who is out of a job in just over 48 hours, wants to have work for cronies left behind in Santa Fe. No matter, the new governor will move everything back to ABQ on Monday morning.
So it looks like King Bill's last decision will be the Billy the Kid pardon. Any guesses on what he will do??
NM list PING!
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Billy was also known as Henry Antrim after his mother remarried. He was called Kid Antrim, and just “The Kid” for most of his career. “Billy the Kid” came into use within a couple of months of his death.
Turns out the alleged claim to fame, that Billy was left handed was false, the result of developing a reverse negative [or glass plate] on the only photo known to exist of him [check the Winchester]. He’s actually small potaotes. He kiled maybe six men, possibly ten, not the twenty-one he’s given credit for. John Wesley Hardin is credited with 41 [excluding, according to Hardin and the folks back then, Blacks, Mexicans and Indians].
Henry McCarty. Another New York boy makes good [born in Hell’s Kitchen].
Sounds like Crazy Bill is trying to outstupid the jerk in Floriduh, can’t remember his name, the orange guy, who dropped the charges against long time corpse, Jim Morrison of the Doors. Today’s politicians are such blithering idiots.
Is that what they called slot machines back then? (Sounds more truthful than the modern vernacular.)
He was a murdering thug. I simply don’t get any admiration at all for the guy.
The WSJ has a poll up on their site. The question is if King Bill should pardon Billy or not. So far a total of 2,088 have voted. 78.4% say No and 21.6% say yes. Personally I think all of this is a great waste of time and effort when the state is facing a $400 Million shortfall in the next budget.
A lot good a pardon will do for the Kid now. Forget it, its a DEAD issue.
Another politician trying to wedge himself a place in history.
I’m wondering Dave - since Susana Martinez isn’t in favor of it can she undo the move once she’s in office? Do you know?
Pinging Rogle - do you know?
Weird.
Update:
Richardson to announce Billy the Kid Pardon Decision on National TV. Governor will make the announcement Friday morning on Good Morning America.
Read more: ABQNews: UPDATED: Richardson Announcing Billy Pardon Decision on National TV
http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/abqnewseeker-mainmenu-39/26118-640am-wall-street-journal-weighs-in-on-billy-pardon.html#ixzz19eIeVeHW
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I would not go on, but I routed out one of my most prized books. You and others may be well aware of the history of Billy, more so than I. Anyway......
Gunsmoke In Lincoln County.
Phillip J. Rasch.
University of Wyoming. Laramie, Wyoming.
Distributed by Western Publications. Stillwater, Oklahoma.
1997.
It was John Tunstall, 25 year old Englishman that was said to have treated Billy as a human being. Tunstall's ranching enterprize rivalled the other faction in Lincoln, NM. It being the Dolan, Ryan, Murphy faction. When Tunstall was murdered in 1878, Billy said he would kill every last one involved. He took part in about five killings including Sheriff Brady, a Dolan confederate.
To cut a long story short, Billy killed Deputy Bell, while awaiting hanging. Bell treated Billy decently and played cards with hin. Poor Bell did not deserve to die. No pardon for Billy. Dolan and his gang including a dark and mysterious figure called "Campbell", shot down Huston I. Chapman, a lawyer who was trying to wrap up Tunstall's estated.
A long ramble but I guess I got fired up. (chuckle).
In the end, Richardson did NOT pardon Billy the kid.