Posted on 07/29/2006 10:08:21 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SANTA FE, N.M. - America needs a "new realism" in its foreign policy and a concerted push for energy independence to safeguard national security, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former U.N. ambassador, said Saturday.
"What the Bush administration has failed to understand is that while diplomacy without power is weak, power without diplomacy is blind," Richardson said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.
Richardson pointed to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants, escalating violence in Iraq, the stalemate with North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs and rising oil prices as evidence that "the world around us in on the verge of spiraling out of control."
The governor's remarks came as more U.S. troops were ordered to Iraq and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice returned to the Middle East to try to broker an end to the Israel-Hezbollah violence. President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair want to send a multinational force to southern Lebanon.
"If we would have had a permanent Middle East envoy in the region, we would have been in a better position to disarm Hezbollah and protect Israel, and implement a concurrent cease-fire along with a legitimate, international peacekeeping force on the ground," Richardson said.
He called for direct U.S. talks with North Korea and Iran, objecting that the Bush approach has been to "outsource our diplomacy."
"We are Democrats and we stand for diplomacy, not threats; bridges, not walls; alliances, not isolation," he said.
Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, is seeking re-election this year and is considered a possible presidential candidate in 2008. He was a U.N. ambassador and energy secretary during the Clinton administration.
On the domestic front, Richardson said, "We need a man-on-the-moon effort to reduce our dependency on foreign oil — go from 65 percent to 20 percent by 2015."
He recommended investing in alternative and renewable energy sources, "green buildings" that use technology and materials to save energy and improved fuel efficiency of cars and trucks.
He urged Congress to approve immigration legislation that included "a path to legalization for the 11 million immigrants already here."
Snicker. That's a lot of work for an envoy. ;-)
Wow -- a one-man disarmer of Hezbollah, able to stop rockets with his bare hands while assembling a peacekeeping force.
I thought Superman was a comic book character.
Just more leftist envious blather. The left is impotent, except when they have their knee-pads on. They are good at political felacio, but when it comes to standing up for what is right for America (their antithesis), standing up AGAINST communists, dictators, tyrants (Dem looking in mirror) and other forms of the devil, they are TOTALLY USELESS TO AMERICA. So the only thing they can do, is tear down those that DO DEFEND AMERICA and its interests.
"We are Democrats and we stand for diplomacy, not threats; bridges, not walls; alliances, not isolation," he said.
Yes, Bill, you are cowards, appeasers, wimps, traitors to America, non-patriots, and the best friends our ENEMIES have ever had. Useless piles of excrement.
More calls for appeasement - Dems just don't get it.
Am I the only one who sees the total hypocrisy in this idiot's statements.
Yeah, he's running. Probably for Vice President.
I wonder if can slam vodka down as fast as Hillary and
McCain, not sure if he's qualified for higher office if he can't. ;-)
Only a master moonrat could utter the word 'realism' and associate it to the above fantasy. Having been a hereditary liberal for half of my life I can't help myself expecting just once for them to make real sense. But, it all hinges on the what the meaning of 'IS' is.
D
Democrat
Delusional
Demented
Deneutered
De End IS nigh.
Is there an opening? I'm one New Mexican voter who would like nothing more than to make this clown available for canine cop duty.
funny how all these Clintonites are experts at verything wordly... yet if you look at the current mess it's all their doing .. 8 years of their infallible policies, and Bush is cleaning up the mess.
Richardson can pretty much match any of the other "undeclareds" vice for vice.
New Mexico accounting firm Chavarria, Dunne & Lamey
http://www.cdlcpas.com/index.htm
"What the Bush administration has failed to understand is that while diplomacy without power is weak, power without diplomacy is blind," Richardson said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.
REALLY Mr. Richardson??? No kidding! Ever hear of the "Coalition of the Willing" and didn't you notice the bringing together of China, Russia, and Japan into the affair with North Korea? Notice how other countries are now quietly battling terrorism? Hmmm... wonder how that happened?? Oh, yeah! Bush used diplomacy and power, something the left fails at time and again.
Oh, that's right, your theory on "diplomacy" and multilateralism does a 180 whenever we mention your friends in North Korea!! After all, you and the other Bill did SUCH a GREAT job keeping the Stalinist in North Korea from getting nukes. Yep.. Thanks for NOTHING Mr. Richardson.
On the domestic front, Richardson said, "We need a man-on-the-moon effort to reduce our dependency on foreign oil — go from 65 percent to 20 percent by 2015."
Really!!! And who in the 90s did nothing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Who could have helped rebuild our refineries by easing the operating costs and regulations? Who allowed terrorism to flourish why they were too busy kissing Arafat's nether regions? Hint leftists, look in a mirror.
Conservatives ARE trying to reduce dependence of foreign oil (we import far less than 65 percent BTW, but leftists never let facts interfere with their propaganda). It doesn't require massive federal spending, although President Bush is spending more federal (that's tax payer) money than anyone previous on finding solutions. Yet where are your shouts of joy Mr. Richardson??? Oh, that's right "Billions for AIDS research and finding alternative energy, but not one dollar to cure Bush Derangement Syndrome" is the left's new mantra.
Our effort does not require a devastatingly expensive "man on the moon" crash program. It's called DRILLING and BUILDING REFINERIES. New wells and new refineries that are more productive and safer for all. How about also ending the "boutique blends" of Gas that idiotic leftists require for different states? Drop the formulas for gas from about 147 (though I may be low) to say...5 or less. That alone would save billions in production costs! How about lowering taxes on gas (40 cents/gallon savings to the U.S. consumer instantly with just ONE of the many taxes lifted!)
Leftist complain about petroleum companies getting huge profits, despite the left's best efforts to crush those companies, and the 3 million plus people they employ. Maybe we should let these companies invest their profits into the above..... I know, it would crush all the left holds dear.
Keep right on believing your delusions Mr. Richardson... You and the rest of the useless idiots on the left.
I think this guy was in the back row of the Metaphysics class. Back there you hear some of the words.
As an employee of a government funded energy program that saw Reagan and Bush 41 try to kill while being saved by the Bolshecrats, it took Clinton 2 years to do what they couldn't. There were no energy programs after that, everything went to the Arabs. We went from something like 40% to 60% dependent during Clinton.
Dems s&@K any way you spell it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.