• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Can we lighten up on the doomsday scenarios?

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

…and a burning sense of injustice to juice the soul.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Trump makes a mockery of the legal system and cowardly judges just sit back and let him.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Don’t expect peaches from an apple tree.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

Glad to see john eastman going through some things.

People are weird.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

So many bastards, so little time.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

When the time comes to make an endorsement, the pain of NYT editors will be palpable as they reluctantly whisper “Biden.”

Mobile Menu

  • Four Directions Montana
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2024 Elections
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Politics / Richardson’s Out

Richardson’s Out

by Michael D.|  January 9, 200811:54 pm| 41 Comments

This post is in: Politics

FacebookTweetEmail

That’s unfortunate. I was an original supporter of Richardson, and I think he probably has more relevant experience than anyone in the Democratic race, foreign and domestic. I never understood why his campaign never took off.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Reading Assignment – Globalizing Labor: Lant Pritchett
Next Post: Big Story? »

Reader Interactions

41Comments

  1. 1.

    myiq2xu

    January 10, 2008 at 12:04 am

    Bill was the third most qualified of the Democrats running, at least on the basis of experience.

    The other two (Dodd, Biden) dropped out last week

    Life isn’t fair.

  2. 2.

    demimondian

    January 10, 2008 at 12:07 am

    Michael didn’t actually represent the situation entirely accurately. In this case, he might have benefited from consulting some other sources. I’m shocked, shocked, simply shocked that he let his enthusiasm get ahead of his investigation.

  3. 3.

    JR

    January 10, 2008 at 12:16 am

    It’s hard to march to victory when you shoot yourself in the foot at every step.

    Whizzer White?
    Being gay is a choice?
    Musharaff should resign?

    Sorry, but Richardson was like a giant gaffe with feet.

  4. 4.

    Pb

    January 10, 2008 at 12:17 am

    Sorry, but Richardson was like a giant gaffe with feet.

    He had feet?!

  5. 5.

    myiq2xu

    January 10, 2008 at 12:18 am

    Whizzer White?

    Byron “Whizzer” White was a distinguished Justice on SCOTUS.

    What does that have to do with Richardson?

  6. 6.

    Kewalo

    January 10, 2008 at 12:46 am

    Nice man, smart too. But boring. Sleep inducing boring.

    But smart and nice.

  7. 7.

    Tax Analyst

    January 10, 2008 at 12:54 am

    myiq2xu Says:

    Whizzer White?

    Byron “Whizzer” White was a distinguished Justice on SCOTUS.

    What does that have to do with Richardson?

    Yeah, I checked “Wikipedia” and could find no connection between Byron “Whizzer” White, the SCOTUS member and Bill Richardson. White was from Colorado, so I can’t see any Richardson attachment there. ???

  8. 8.

    Dustin

    January 10, 2008 at 1:07 am

    I never understood why his campaign never took off.

    Simple answer: $

  9. 9.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 10, 2008 at 1:07 am

    >I never understood why his campaign never took off.

    Because Democrats want someone who will take a lead pipe to the GOP?

  10. 10.

    Bill D.

    January 10, 2008 at 1:07 am

    He has no sizzle, no charisma. We all know those are the essential traits for a president to do a good job.

    Maybe he’ll be selected for the vice-presidential candidate, or if not then for a cabinet position. Way too much compentance and talent to waste.

  11. 11.

    Dustin

    January 10, 2008 at 1:09 am

    Because Democrats want someone who will take a lead pipe to the GOP?

    I’ll provide the pipe; just tell me who to mail it to.

  12. 12.

    Bill D.

    January 10, 2008 at 1:14 am

    Now if I could just learn to catch my spelling mistakes before posting, I’d show more competence at this.

    Maybe his overweight appearance also hurt him.

  13. 13.

    Kewalo

    January 10, 2008 at 1:15 am

    Yeah, I checked “Wikipedia” and could find no connection between Byron “Whizzer” White, the SCOTUS member and Bill Richardson. White was from Colorado, so I can’t see any Richardson attachment there. ???

    During one Q & A Richardson was asked his favorite Supreme Court Justice. He said “Whizzer” White. I can’t remember which “debate” it was, but that’s what he said.

  14. 14.

    r€nato

    January 10, 2008 at 1:17 am

    I watched just enough Richardson to get the impression that while he would make a fine Cabinet secretary (which he was, of course), there’s nothing about the man that screams – or even softly whispers – ‘leadership’.

  15. 15.

    Incertus (Brian)

    January 10, 2008 at 1:20 am

    If relevant experience mattered to the electorate, we’d be finishing up the second term of Al Gore right now, instead of slogging through the final months of King George the Lesser.

  16. 16.

    Apsalar

    January 10, 2008 at 1:26 am

    Richardson has all the personal charisma of, I don’t know, corn flakes. I was at a panel at Yearly Kos where he was giving a talk, and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    I’m sure there are many good places in government for him, but I don’t think he ever had a good shot at the presidency.

  17. 17.

    srv

    January 10, 2008 at 1:40 am

    In this time of Great Clash of Civilizations, Bill would make a good red shirt on Star Trek.

  18. 18.

    myiq2xu

    January 10, 2008 at 1:53 am

    I watched just enough Richardson to get the impression that while he would make a fine Cabinet secretary (which he was, of course), there’s nothing about the man that screams – or even softly whispers – ‘leadership’

    Yeah, he’s more the type that ends up in the Oval Office by accident (or assassination) rather than the type that wins at the ballot box. He doesn’t inspire people, but he doesn’t scare the hell out of them either.

  19. 19.

    Brian

    January 10, 2008 at 1:56 am

    And don’t forget his “Soviet Union” moment in the last debate.

    Watching him speak extemporaneously (spelling?) was only slightly less painful than watching Bush talk.

  20. 20.

    CraigM

    January 10, 2008 at 2:15 am

    Smart? I never, ever got that impression. Every time I heard him in the debates he sounded like a bit of a dope. And that Meet the Press appearance was like watching a puppy get offed. People looked at his resume, then back at him, and thought, is this the same guy?

  21. 21.

    Tax Analyst

    January 10, 2008 at 2:16 am

    srv Says:

    In this time of Great Clash of Civilizations, Bill would make a good red shirt on Star Trek.

    HAR! Perfect.

  22. 22.

    Ninerdave

    January 10, 2008 at 2:32 am

    Liked Richardson…then he got destroyed by Russart

    What you think of of Russert is inconsequential. Fact is, MTP is the most watched political show. How you do on his show is pretty major and not a test that’s hard to pass.

    Richardson looked like an idiot when he was on.

  23. 23.

    oh really

    January 10, 2008 at 3:52 am

    Obviously, people have different impressions of Richardson.

    Every time I saw and listened to him, he struck me as not very bright, not very articulate, and utterly lacking in a compelling rationale for running. Faced down the North Koreans. Wow. I’m impressed.

    A lot of Fredheads are absolutely confounded that everyone is not lining up behind their man. But non-Fredheads think the line looks like a parade to nowhere.

    In the cases of both Richardson and Thompsom, I can’t see why anyone would support either one.

  24. 24.

    Cassidy

    January 10, 2008 at 8:19 am

    This sucks. I hate our primary system. By the time it gets to me, I’m gonna have three choices…yay.

  25. 25.

    Kirk Spencer

    January 10, 2008 at 9:21 am

    Richardson didn’t catch fire because he’s not got the “elvis” (as my wife calls it). And he was carrying a pair of NASTY bit of recent history that made the Powers That Be uncomfortable with helping him catch fire anyway — the events that occurred on his watch while Secretary of Energy. Finally, he didn’t have a significant source of wealth (personal or contributed) with which to strike out on his own.

    You can overcome skeletons if you have the fire. You can lack the fire and still catch if your closet is empty. You can overcome lack of fire and a bony closet with enough money. Richardson lacked all three.

  26. 26.

    Bombadil

    January 10, 2008 at 9:29 am

    Cassidy Says:

    This sucks. I hate our primary system. By the time it gets to me, I’m gonna have three choices…yay.

    Hear, hear. We get “Super Tuesday” (February 5th). I’ll be doing my absentee ballot next week, but no gurantee that the people on that ballot will actually be running by the time election day rolls around.

    Question, though — what would be better? Should it be a one-day primary (everyone goes to the polls the same day, like the general election)? Or maybe a lottery method, where the names of states are drawn from a hat, and matched with a set of dates (say two weeks apart) spanning several months? Either would be better than the current method, I think.

  27. 27.

    Doug

    January 10, 2008 at 9:31 am

    I think the “looks good on paper” part of the Democratic constituency was already on board with Clinton, and that probably sucked out any energy the Richardson campaign might have had.

  28. 28.

    André Kenji

    January 10, 2008 at 9:45 am

    Simple. Democrats they don´t want people with executive experienca and appeal to the middle. They want charisma(whatever the hell that means) and flip-flopping senators(Even considering that Edwards is not a flip-flopper, but a serial liar).

    Then they lose and blame Nader or the Republicans.

  29. 29.

    Cassidy

    January 10, 2008 at 9:50 am

    Question, though—what would be better? Should it be a one-day primary (everyone goes to the polls the same day, like the general election)? Or maybe a lottery method, where the names of states are drawn from a hat, and matched with a set of dates (say two weeks apart) spanning several months? Either would be better than the current method, I think.

    I would prefer a 1-2 week primary system. Everyone in one day would be brutal, but spreading them out over a 2 week span would be acceptable, I think. It’s at least worth a shot. OTOH, a one day primary would spare us the news coverage which has been deplorable.

    While we’re at it, the BCS system needs to go away and be replaced with a tournament bracket.

  30. 30.

    ThymeZone

    January 10, 2008 at 9:53 am

    Read an editorial comment recently on this, it basically said that Richardson is a resume candidate, and voters this year aren’t voting for resumes. They want a candidate who moves them in some way, and Richardson doesn’t do that very well.

  31. 31.

    tBone

    January 10, 2008 at 9:59 am

    They want charisma(whatever the hell that means)

    If you’re a fan of Richardson, I’m not surprised you don’t know what this means.

  32. 32.

    ThymeZone

    January 10, 2008 at 10:00 am

    I would prefer a 1-2 week primary system

    Nope, won’t work and won’t happen, for reasons already explained on these pages heretofore.

    The amount of money, people. work and other assets required to carry out a pre-election and then election day effort is daunting. Compressing the schedule gives all the advantages to the candidates with big money and big resources, and the big early leads in polls. A candidate trying to get a foothold simply would not have a chance. It takes time to make a showing in a small primary, and then gain momentum, and leverage small resources and money forward into the process.

  33. 33.

    Cassidy

    January 10, 2008 at 10:11 am

    The amount of money, people. work and other assets required to carry out a pre-election and then election day effort is daunting. Compressing the schedule gives all the advantages to the candidates with big money and big resources, and the big early leads in polls. A candidate trying to get a foothold simply would not have a chance. It takes time to make a showing in a small primary, and then gain momentum, and leverage small resources and money forward into the process.

    I’m sure Dodd and Richardson agree with you. [/snark]

  34. 34.

    Bombadil

    January 10, 2008 at 10:31 am

    While we’re at it, the BCS system needs to go away and be replaced with a tournament bracket.

    Heh. We have a better shot at reforming the primary system.

  35. 35.

    ThymeZone

    January 10, 2008 at 11:25 am

    We have a better shot at reforming the primary system.

    Another thing that will never happen. You’d need a longer season, and probably games being played during finals and holidays. The schools aren’t going to engage in this, IMO. And should not. Football season is over in November, and the big bowls happen at New Years, and that’s the window of time you have to work with.

  36. 36.

    ThymeZone

    January 10, 2008 at 11:33 am

    I’m sure Dodd and Richardson agree with you.

    I’m pretty sure that just about everyone will agree, since I’m right, and it’s not exactly a big secret how this thing works.

    As for Dodd and Richardson, they’d never have had a rationale for ever getting into the race in the first place, if the schedule were compressed. Their whole presence in the pool hangs from the extended schedule and their hope of building momentum, just like all the minor candidates on both sides.

  37. 37.

    Cassidy

    January 10, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    I’m pretty sure that just about everyone will agree, since I’m right, and it’s not exactly a big secret how this thing works.

    Yup, they sure got their chance to build momentum beating out those big money candidates.

  38. 38.

    Vlad

    January 10, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    “During one Q & A Richardson was asked his favorite Supreme Court Justice. He said “Whizzer” White. I can’t remember which “debate” it was, but that’s what he said.”

    Which, to fill in the blanks, was an issue because White was in the minority on Roe v. Wade. As such, most Dems wouldn’t welcome a judge in the mold of White for one of the upcoming SC vacancies.

  39. 39.

    André Kenji

    January 10, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    “If you’re a fan of Richardson, I’m not surprised you don’t know what this means.”

    Sure, then we complain because the average voter in the South and in the West vote Republican because of charisma.

  40. 40.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    January 10, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    Read an editorial comment recently on this, it basically said that Richardson is a resume candidate, and voters this year aren’t voting for resumes. They want a candidate who moves them in some way, and Richardson doesn’t do that very well.

    Which is why we always get the government we deserve.

  41. 41.

    Charity

    January 10, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    My husband says he’s got a face for radio. WHICH I don’t think is true. (Funny, but true.) But his “WHY aren’t you voting for MEEEEEE?” thing didn’t work well. Biden at least speaks passionately from the heart, and Dodd has a bit of a statesman thing going on, but Bill hasn’t got gravitas.

    Those job interview ads he did though were hilarious. Godspeed, sir.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • zhena gogolia on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:48pm)
  • lowtechcyclist on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:47pm)
  • WaterGirl on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:45pm)
  • Sister Golden Bear on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:44pm)
  • Frank Wilhoit on Take the Fucking Win (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:44pm)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Balloon Juice Meetups!

All Meetups
Talk of Meetups – Meetup Planning
Proposed BJ meetups list from frosty

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8
Virginia House Races
Four Directions – Montana
Worker Power AZ
Four Directions – Arizona
Four Directions – Nevada

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
Positive Climate News
War in Ukraine
Cole’s “Stories from the Road”
Classified Documents Primer

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Political Action 2024

Postcard Writing Information

Balloon Juice for Four Directions AZ

Donate

Balloon Juice for Four Directions NV

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!