Holy Sh!t Batman...Orange Snow!

Yes, that's right...Orange Snow.

It smells bad, too.

And they say it's oily.

Here is the article about the funky snow in Russia...

Makes me feel a hell of a lot better about the white stuff all over my place, it may have been here since the week after Thanksgiving, and it may be here until June yet, but it isn't some unnatural color, and I am not afraid to let my kids go out and play in it.

Orange snow??? Yikes.

Maya Angelou: Molly Shook the Walls With Her Clarion Call

It is not my policy to copy complete works and paste them, but Molly Ivins has gone, and was beautifully eulogized by the incomparable Maya Angelou. Below is her work in its entirety, with my thanks to The Washington Post, the best newspaper in America...LTS.

Molly Ivins Shook the Walls With Her Clarion Call

by Molly Ivins

(Special to the Washington Post)

Up to the walls of Jericho

She marched with a spear in her hand

Go blow them ram horns she cried

For the battle is in my hand

The walls have not come down, but they have been given a serious shaking.

That Jericho voice is stilled now.

Molly Ivins has been quieted.

The writer and journalist, dearly loved and admired by many, hated and feared by many, died <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013101767.html> of cancer in her home on Jan. 31, 2007.

The walls of ignorance and prejudice and cruelty, which she railed against valiantly all her public life, have not fallen, but their truculence to do so does not speak against her determination to make them collapse.

Weeks before she died, she launched what she called "an old-fashioned newspaper crusade" against President Bush's announcement that he was going to send more troops to Iraq.

She wrote, "We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. Every single day every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. We need people in the streets banging pots and pans and demanding, 'Stop it now!' "

Years ago there was a fundraising gala for People for the American Way, and Molly Ivins was keynote speaker. I was a loyal collector and serious Ivins reader, but I had not met the author. Another famous journalist, who was to have introduced her, had his flight canceled in a Southern city. Norman Lear, founder of the organization, asked me to introduce her. I did not hesitate. I spoke glowingly about Ms. Ivins for a few minutes, then, suddenly, a six-foot-tall, red-haired woman sprang from the wings. She strode onto the stage and over to the microphone. She gave me an enveloping hug and said, in that languorous , and accent, "Maya Angelou and I are identical twins, we were separated at birth."

I am also six feet tall, but I am not white. She was under 50 when she made the statement, and I was in my middle 60s, but our hearts do beat in the same rhythm. Whoever separated us at birth must know it did not work. We have been in the struggle for equal rights for all people since we met on that Waldorf Astoria stage. We have laughed together without apology and we have wept when weeping was necessary.

I shall be weeping a little more these days but I shall never forget the charge. Joshua commanded the people to shout and the walls came tumbling down.

Molly,I am shouting,

With two voices,

Walls come down!

Walls come down!

Walls come down!

Dumb and Dumber: Idiot Stoners in Hot Water

Boy I tell you, I have done some wild things in my life, but I have apparently never smoked what these kids have gotten into....

Yesterday the city of Boston was effectively shut down because of these two guys. Apparently they were being contracted for a marketing campaign for Adult Swim on Cartoon Network and were using guerilla marketing tactics, by placing electronic devices around the city that lit up and showed cartoon characters, like Spongebob, giving the one finger salute.

City officials were concerned at first that it was a terrorist attack, but then began a search for stoned pranksters. They found these two geniuses, Sean Stevens and Peter Berdovsky. At their own press conference, facing reporters eager to give us their side of the story, they said they would only address the topic of hairstyles of the 1970's.

Dudes, listen. Pot is supposed to simultaneously open your mind to new ideas and limit your ability to manifest them. It is a whole new world out there, and leaving suspicious packages and devices around a major metropolitan era could land you in Gitmo. But, if it was attention you wanted, well you got it! Next time, try baking cookies.

Introducing Richardson Brings Hope

I would like to invite you all to join me at our new grassroots site for supporters of Governor Bill Richardson for President....

Richardson Brings Hope

We are concerned Americans who believe that this great nation must move beyond the clouds of fear and shadows of division and into a new tomorrow of hope and promise – and the destiny of the American dream.

These extraordinary times call for extraordinary leadership. We yearn for a peacemaker. We need to believe in honesty and promise and honor in our government. We need to believe once more in our dreams – as individuals, and as Americans. We need to believe in hope again.We need Bill Richardson.

Richardson brings hope and hope is the American dream.

Molly Ivins, Greatest Columnist on Earth, Dies

I am almost too sad to write this.

Molly Ivins, the greatest political columnist on the planet, has left us.

Last year she revealed she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the details can be read here.

I just want to say that my heart is broken, my hero is gone. Molly is why I write what I write. Molly inspired me continually, and I will miss her so badly.

The world has lost a brilliant, witty, wonderful woman.

Scalia On Gore v. Bush: "Get Over It"

In his own dismissive style, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, when asked recently about the Gore v. Bush case in 2000, where the Supremes ruled that counting all the votes would impinge on Bush's civil liberties (as for the rest of us, well, we don't count) said, "It's water over the deck, get over it!"

The flippant remark was made at Iona College.

I am among the many Americans who will never "get over it." That act was nothing less than a coup, and delivered unjustly control of the government to the hands of a corporate puppet, determined to suck every penny from the treasury of the United States, and as much oil from the middle east as possible. I think we can get it back, but it is going to require a great deal of strength and committment from our people.

Get over it...doesn't that tick you off too?

NY Post Slurs With "Sombrero" Remark

Earlier this week The New York Post put out an article (well for them it was substantive, but it was no more than a blurb) with the headline "N.M. Gov Throws Sombrero Into Ring," the author clearly afraid to attempt to spell New Mexico and Governor. Many bloggers around the political circles have expressed outrage and shock at this apparent slur against Richardson, a Hispanic man.

I think it is pretty tasteless, but we do have to remember that this is the New York POST, hardly a beacon of journalistic integrity. But can you imagine if they had allowed the headline of "Hillary Clinton Tosses Apron into the Ring"? Or perhaps even, "Barak Obama Chucks Spear into the Ring," what consequences would have come from one of those two scenarios?

We are in an unusual position this election cycle with a great field of diverse and inspiring candidates, and each one has something unique to offer, but the NY Post didn't mention any of the amazing things Richardson brings to the race, like an incredible record of public service, a brilliant executive mind who manages to make progressive changes and still manage the public funds with unquestionable restraint and responsibility. A man of such stellar diplomatic abilities that he is able to secure peace accords, nonproliferation treaties, and hostage releases around the globe, earning him four nominations for the Nobel Prize for Peace.

So, say what you want about a sombrero, but this man brings us something really special, the ability to get a democrat in the White House who makes liberals and conservatives happy. It's all about the Win Win, right?

Bill Richardson Announces Exploratory Committee

The day I have waited so incredibly long for has arrived....

Richardson for President

That is the link to the website for Governor Bill Richardson's exploratory committee, which launched this morning with an announcement on the website, and on This Week with George Stephanopolis. The campaign website is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! Great visuals, wonderful video. I especially enjoyed The New Mexico Comeback video, which illustrates the many MANY accomplisments that Richardson has made as Governor.

On a personal note, I would like to introduce you to a website that is under construction but set to be full of content by next Friday, January 26th, Richardson Brings Hope. This website is a grassroots effort, created by members of the Richardson blog community, including myself and my wonderful husband Charles, Jeff Gulko and Ken Bulko (no relation, amazingly enough...) of America for Richardson, Michelle Lindsey of Colorado for Richardson, with the wonderful technical support of our dear friend Murthi Nemani and outstanding graphic design of Ryan Paiva. We are very proud of this website, and will be even prouder when it is done! So take a sneak peek, but don't forget to come back.

I would also like to apologize for being a lazy blogger lately. You may notice that this entry lacks photos...well the reason for that is my frankenputer died. I think I wore it out. Poor old Frank, hopefully he is not beyond resuscitation. I had to switch over to a borrowed laptop to work this week, and right now I am writing from the spare bedroom of my grandmother's home, as the result of being stuck in Albuquerque for the night. Yet another snowstorm has left me stuck, and my husband and children are 30 miles away and I miss them too much.

So, keep tuned to Liberaltruthsayer for updates on the Richardson campaign, and don't forget to drop by the official campaign website Richardson for President and the grassroots website Richardson Brings Hope!

I just got a nice big cup of joe, and read the news...Denver has been selected by the DNC for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Congratulations Denver! Your neighbor to the south is coming up (me! lts!!) and we will have a party!!!

Richardson Brokers Cease Fire in Sudan

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Gets Commitment for 60-Day Cease-Fire in Darfur Region of Sudan

KHARTOUM, SUDAN – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced that he has secured a commitment from Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al Bashir to agree to a 60-day cessation of hostilities in the Darfur region to allow for a new political process under the Darfur Peace Agreement and the auspices of the African Union and the United Nations. Governor Richardson also spoke this week with rebel leaders who said they would agree to a cease-fire. If all parties follow through with the cease-fire, the A.U. and the U.N. will convene a Peace Summit on March 15 under the framework of the peace agreement.

Governor Richardson also secured the following commitments from President Al Bashir:
· Agreed not to have the National military aircraft painted in white markings normally reserved for international organizations.
· Agreed that government forces would attempt to improve security conditions in all areas of Darfur with special emphasis on El Geneina, and would provide protection to food and other humanitarian convoys.
· Agreed to expedite procedures for entry visas for all humanitarian aid workers as well as goods. He also agreed to terminate the requirement of exit visas for humanitarian aid workers.
· Agreed to allow and facilitate travel by journalists from all over the world to Darfur.
· Governor Richardson and President Al Bashir reiterated that gender-based violence and such crimes must be condemned and prosecuted regardless of which party or organization was responsible. President Bashir said he would welcome a significant contribution of female members to the AU/UN hybrid operations. In addition the Justice Minister offered analyze and extend existing efforts to support Sudanese women against all gender-based violence.


Joint Press Statement on the conclusion of the visit by Governor Bill Richardson to the Sudan
7th – 10th January 2006

H.E Bill Richardson Governor of New Mexico accompanied by a delegation sponsored by and including members of the Save Darfur Coalition, the leading United States-based Darfur peace advocacy organization, conducted a visit to Sudan to discuss ways to secure peace in the Darfur region of Sudan and the protection of all civilians and other non-combatants. The Governor and the delegation visited EI Fasher and Nayala in Darfur, for meetings with internally displaced persons in Darfur, rebel groups that are signatories to the (DPA) as well as those which are not as of yet, international agencies, the United Nations, and humanitarian aid as well as the Wali of North Darfur and the Deputy Wali of Southern Darfur States and held meetings in Khartoum with H.E President Omer Hassan Al Bashir,Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr. Ali Ahmed Karti and a number of high ranking Sudanese officials.

Both sides agreed that ending the conflict in Darfur is Sudan's and the international community’s highest priority. Peace, they agreed, can only come through a political settlement that is joined in by and addresses the needs of all parties, on the basis of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) of 5 May 2006 reiterating their support for preserving Sudan's territorial integrity and the importance of respect for Sudan's sovereignty.

Both sides agreed that there was a compelling need for a comprehensive cease-fire to launch a political process based on the DPA that would lead to a durable end to the conflict as soon as possible. Both agreed to a 60-day cessation of hostilities by all parties within the framework of the DPA, accompanied by a start in African Union/United Nations diplomatic efforts, within the framework of the DPA, to begin narrowing the gaps between the non-signatories, including government approval of a field commanders' conference attended by the African Union and United Nations. This would be followed at the appropriate moment by an African Union/United Nations – sponsored peace summit, again in the framework of the DPA, no later than 15 March 2007. Simultaneously, both agreed that the UN needed to expedite as quickly as possible the provision of UN personnel agreed in Addis Ababa and further specified in Abuja in November 2006. President Bashir re-affirmed his commitment to continue to facilitate the deployment of UN personnel and equipment consistent with his agreement with the Secretary General of the UN on Phases II and III, including the eventual conclusions of the Tripartite Committee as stipulated in the DPA.

The two sides noted that Governor Richardson had secured a commitment from commanders of the Justice and Equality Movement and of the Non-Signatory Front to participate in a process including a 60-day cease fire agreement within the framework of the DPA. Governor Richardson and Save Darfur Coalition expressed their grave concern to all parties with whom they met about continuing and increasing attacks on civilians and other non-combatants.

They reiterated that gender-based violence and such crimes must be condemned and prosecuted regardless of which party or organization was responsible, noting that Governor Richardson and the Save Darfur Coalition emphasized the need in all their meetings for implementing mechanisms to ensure that "zero tolerance" policies towards gender-based violence be applied in practice, quickly and robustly. Governor Richardson noted with appreciation President Bashir's commitment to welcome a significant contribution of female members to the AU/UN hybrid operations. Both sides expressed their grave concern at allegations of gender ­based violence by United Nations personnel in South Sudan.

Governor Richardson and the delegation also met with the Under-Secretary of Justice, the Rapporteur of the Advisory Council for Human Rights and Dr. Attigatt who presented a briefing on Sudanese Government efforts to institutionalize protections for women. The Governor and the delegation accepted the offer to work with the Ministry to analyze and extend existing efforts to support Sudanese women against all gender-based violence.

President Bashir and Governor Richardson also agreed that more light needs to be shed on the full situation in Darfur. President Bashir agreed to allow and facilitate travel by journalists from all over the world to Darfur.

The two sides underscored the need to disarm all armed groups, including the Janjaweed, pursuant to the provision of the DPA, and further agreed not to have the National military aircraft painted in white markings normally reserved for international organizations.

President Bashir agreed that government forces would attempt to improve security conditions in all areas of Darfur with special emphasis on El Geneina, and would provide protection to food and other humanitarian convoys. They also agreed that humanitarian aid agencies have greatly assisted the Government and people of Sudan by providing much needed emergency and development aid in Darfur and other parts of Sudan. President Bashir agreed to expedite procedures for entry visas for all humanitarian aid workers as well as goods. He also agreed to terminate the requirement of exit visas for humanitarian aid workers. President Bashir noted with satisfaction the strong statements by the Save Darfur Coalition to rebel commanders condemning attacks by their members on humanitarian aid operations and agreed to initiate an ongoing dialogue with the Save Darfur Coalition aimed at ending the violence in Darfur and on achieving a political solution to the crises.

The two sides agreed to apprise African Union Special Envoy Salim Ahmed Salim and United Nations Special Envoy Jan Eliasson of these developments, so that the African Union and United Nations will facilitate the commanders meeting and launch the political discussion and to maintain regular communication assessing progress on these important initiatives to identify areas of difficulty on which further engagement may be necessary to ensure rapid progress and durable outcomes.

Both sides agreed that an improvement of relations is in the mutual interest of both countries.

Richardson in Darfur

Bill Richardson Tours War-Torn Darfur Region in Sudan, Holds Meetings with Top UN Officials & Key Leaders of African Union and Rebel Forces to Push for Peace

Richardson to meet again with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir Wednesday

EL FASHER, SUDAN- Governor Bill Richardson today saw first-hand the human toll taken by the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan as he toured a relocation camp and spoke with citizens forced from their homes and villages by war. The Governor visited the As Salaam IDP (internally displaced persons) Camp in El Fasher, home to more than 43,000 people, mostly women and children.

“The spirit and character of these people in the face of such personal tragedy is remarkable,” said Governor Richardson. “When you realize there are 65 official IDP camps filled with hundreds of thousands of people, you begin to see the true extent of this crisis.”

Governor Richardson also received a briefing from top United Nations officials in Sudan and met with the Commander of the African Union peacekeeping forces, Major General Luke Aprezi. General Aprezi expressed his frustration that the relatively small numbers of AU troops cannot provide adequate security for the 65 IDP camps as well as serving as observers and running patrols to protect civilian activities such as gathering firewood.

“The AU urgently needs more troops,” said Governor Richardson. “It is difficult to find sufficient numbers of Africans to act as peacekeepers, so I will continue to push President Al-Bashir to accept a hybrid force that can truly make a difference.”

In addition, the Governor urged several field commanders from different rebel Sudanese forces to do their part to reduce violence against women and humanitarian workers and to undertake efforts to restore peace and stability to their region and throughout Sudan.

“From what we saw today it is clear the situation in Darfur is deteriorating at an alarming rate,” added the Governor. “Every group involved in this conflict, the rebels, the UN, and the AU, has an obligation to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and protect women from becoming victims of sexual violence.”

Governor Richardson is scheduled to meet with President Al-Bashir tomorrow morning before returning to New Mexico.

“Our first meeting on Monday was positive,” said the Governor. “I look forward to meeting with the President tomorrow to try to make additional progress toward peace in the Darfur region.”

Bill Richardson Asked to Travel to Sudan

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Governor Richardson has been asked to travel to Sudan to help persuade the country’s government to accept a peacekeeping force in the war-torn Darfur region.
The request comes from a Washington, DC-based group, the Save Darfur Coalition.
A Richardson spokesman, Pahl Shipley, says the governor is honored by the request and would like to help.
Shipley says Richardson is consulting with the State Department, the Sudanese government and the United Nations.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has rejected a UN Security Council resolution that provides for beefing up the poorly funded and equipped 7,000-troop African Union force to about 22,000 peacekeepers under UN leadership.

News from the Snowy Mountaintop

Yes it is snowing up here in Edgewood, already. We weren't supposed to get hit until tonight, so their estimation of up to 2 and a half feet of snow for us may be conservative. But, since I worked all weekend and didn't have access to my blog I have plenty of work to do. Thank you to Mr. LTS for posting for me on Saturday night.

So on to the political news...

Buh-Bayh!
Saturday brought the announcement that Evan Bayh has opted out of the race for El Jefe 2008. Bayh cited long odds and much needed work to be done in the Senate, and LTS agrees. No Senator should be running for President this time, we need your full attention on the legislative needs of our nation. (Listen to your friend LTS Hillary, you want to stay in the Senate...did you get my subliminal tapes yet???) Senator Bayh, we would love to have you come on over to Team Richardson!

Edwards In

Here is news of no surprise at all. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has committed to run in 2008. Edwards is my second choice in the race at this point, but probably mostly because of lust....yes he is hunkalicious. I also think he will be the candidate to beat in the primary, despite the media's current obsession with Barak Obama. (Senator Obama, did you get my subliminal tapes yet???)

Richardson Woos New Hampshirians

Or is it New Hampshirites? Somebody help me with this one. Governor Richardson embarked on an exploratory trip to New Hampshire before he makes his decision to officially enter the race. (Governor, I am working on a set of tapes for you, too. runrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrun)
On this trip Governor Richardson put up his dukes and took on John McCain, presumably the leader of the Republican pack, and his proposal to send more troops to Iraq. Said Richardson, at a stop at Anselm College, "It makes no sense. There is no military solution. There’s got to be a political solution.” He said that McCain's proposal would foment sectarian violence.

Richardson, with his foreign policy prowess in top form this week, proves time and again that he is the candidate (presumed candidate anyway) with the goods. We need a leader who will work for peaceful solutions to international disagreements, rather than one who will always eschew diplomacy and opt for a military solution to conflict. Bill Richardson is well respected internationally, and has the wisdom and presence of mind to return that respect.

Republicans Untenable Positions

The republican candidates for president in 08 are out there making my job easy and more amusing with their brilliant political statements. Newtie is making the case for limiting free speech, and to that I say kudos Mr. Newtie. Kudos. Keep making asinine statements like these. While you are at it, why don't you adopt some other popular ideas, like an 8 pm curfew for people, martial law, and a ban on that radical "rock and roll" business.

Meanwhile John McCain is out there promoting the idea of escalation in Iraq. Again with the populism. Go John Go!

It is a great day to be a liberal with high speed internet access and a rich appreciation for irony.

Guide helps Richardson in New Hampshire

From the Albuquerque Tribune

An experienced political guide is leading Gov. Bill Richardson on a 14-stop tour of New Hampshire this weekend as Richardson considers whether to run for president in 2008.

Dick Bouley, 68, has been greeting Democratic presidential candidates to that key primary state since he told John F. Kennedy in 1960 that he planned to be a teacher. He has worked for several, including Jimmy Carter, Bruce Babbitt, Tom Harkin and Dick Gephardt.

"If he (Richardson) runs for president, I'd be very interested," said Bouley, now a Concord, N.H., lobbyist. "He's got the best résumé and he has tremendous experience."

Bouley is the kind of activist Richardson will need to enlist in key primary and caucus states if he runs, especially in New Hampshire with its emphasis on hand-to-hand campaigning.

Rice Rejects Talks with Iran, Syria on Iraq

So this is what passes for foriegn policy with the Bush administration? More of the same seems to be the Prez's course in Iraq and in global affairs: isolate, demagogue, and failed military operations. I certainly hope that we can look forward to a Bill Richardson v. Condi Rice race in 2008...he will mop the floor with her on this...

Read more...

Russell Shaw on 2008

Columnist Russell Shaw has weighed in on the 2008 race and the pop culture fascination with Senator Barak Obama. In yesterday's Huffington Post Russell opines..."Enough With Obama Already: We're Electing a President, Not A Personality" and says about Governor Bill Richardson, "I'll tell you someone the Dems could nominate who does have the experience. That would be popular New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Valuable gubernatorial executive experience running a growing and complex state? Right where he is. Valuable national executive experience? Was Energy Department Secretary under Clinton. International diplomatic experience? Was the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. During his 14 years as a Congressperson, (as compared to Sen. Obama's two years).he garnered significant foreign policy knowledge."

Click here to read more....

North Korea Talks Must Make `Measurable Progress,' Hill Says

EXCERPT

Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Six-nation talks on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program must make ``measurable progress'' when they resume at the weekend in Beijing, said Christopher Hill, the U.S. assistant secretary of state.
``Our purpose is to achieve denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,'' Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator, told a briefing in Washington yesterday. ``There were indications that the DPRK, the North Koreans, would be prepared to deal in specifics at the coming round.''

MORE

Tomorrow, in advance of the six party talks, Governor Bill Richardson will meet with a North Korean delegation, at the request of the North Koreans, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Says Governor Richardson, "We have an opportunity to end this crisis and bring stability to the Korean peninsula. I will press the North Koreans to start dismantling their nuclear weapons.''

Amazing. An American politician willing to engage in one-on-one talks with an adversary? This is precisely the reason why I am hopeful of a Richardson run for the White House. We need, desperately, to abandon our nation's current foriegn policy, which is isolation, demagoguery, and destabilizing regions through childish rhetoric and ill-advised, if not outright criminal, military action.

Governor Bill Richardson to Meet with North Korean Delegation in Santa Fe

Governor Bill Richardson to Meet with North Korean Delegation in Santa Fe

North Koreans request meeting with Governor to discuss upcoming six-party talksSANTA FE, NM - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will meet with two top North Korean officials this Friday, December 15, in Santa Fe. The North Koreans asked for the meeting with Governor Richardson to discuss the upcoming multi-lateral talks regarding the North Korean nuclear weapons program.

The so-called six-party talks include North Korea, South Korea, China, Russia, Japan, and the United States. They are scheduled to resume Monday, December 18, in Beijing, China. Two diplomats from the North Korean Mission to the United Nations, Minister Kim Myong Gil and First Secretary Song Se Il, have been granted permission by the US State Department to make the visit to Santa Fe.

“While I will not be acting as an official representative of the administration, I am pleased to do whatever I can to help increase understanding between our two countries and help move the 6-party talks forward,” said Governor Richardson. “I believe we have an opportunity to use diplomacy to end this crisis and bring stability to the Korean Peninsula. I will press the North Koreans to start dismantling their nuclear weapons.”

The North Korean delegation will arrive in New Mexico Friday morning and meet with Governor Richardson in the afternoon at the Governor’s mansion. "We have reached a critical crossroads in the effort to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons," stated Dr. K.A. Namkung, Governor Richardson's senior advisor. "The North Koreans' visit to Santa Fe this week will hopefully help move the talks forward."

Governor Richardson has dealt extensively with North Korea during his tenure as US Congressman, US Ambassador to the United Nations, and Energy Secretary. He has traveled to North Korea five times, most recently last October. This will be the second North Korean delegation to travel to Santa Fe to meet with Governor Richardson. The first visit took place shortly after he took office in January, 2003.

The 2008 Presidential Hopefuls, LTS Musings

Of course I will say up front that I support Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, for the nomination, should he run (fingers crossed here!) but these are my thoughts on the contenders...

Bill Richardson (will start with him because it is my blog!) ... Smart, savvy, tremendous leadership. Great foriegn policy experience. A little on the unknown side, but that is changing daily. Four Nobel Peace Prize nominations. Great foriegn policy experience. Brilliant but with a sense of humor. Also, his hispanic heritage will help him in places that are considered pretty red, like Florida and Texas.

Hillary Clinton...My whole life I have waited to support a woman for the presidency. I just don't know that this time is it. I think she is brilliant, and I love her husband, but the CW says she is pretty polarizing. Not so crazy about the company she has been keeping lately, as in Newt and Rupert, and sure don't like the way she jumped on the "Bomb Baghdad Bandwagon".

John Edwards...What is not to like? Charming, easy on the peepers. Smart, great bio. He is probably my second choice.

Tom Vilsack...Vilsack rhymes with Dukakis. So does Kucinich.

Evan Bayh...who? wha?

Al Gore...I love you Al. I really do. You have done more to raise awareness about the growing environmental crises than anyone else has even tried to, and we all owe you a debt. But I am not sure I can forgive you for not fighting the coup of 2000. Of course if you are nominated I promise to love you again.

John Kerry...If anyone was ever wronged by American politics it is John Kerry. Kerry should be hailed as a hero and a noble man, but people who were too cowardly to ever have served in combat on their own painted him as a coward. I hate that. I am proud that I supported him in 2004, and I am angry that he has been so ill-defined. That said, I wish he had come back swinging against those swiftboaters. I don't see him running this time.

Barak Obama...what is not to love about this guy? Well, not much, but I would like to see him get a little more experience. I think that if he runs and gets the nomination he will be nailed for his lack fo experience. But I would love to see a Richardson/Obama ticket!

Those are my thoughts for the morning!

Governor Richardson's Speech on Immigration

Thank you all very much. Gracias, Lisa. Muy bien hecho! Foreign service- a student after my own heart.

I am very sure you will continue to make New Mexico Proud. And by the way, the answer is “Christmas”. For those who don’t speak “chile”, that means both red and green chile.

Thank you also Professor Lotrionte. I am very familiar with your distinguished career and I am grateful that your organization sponsored my appearance here today.I come here today as a border state Governor, and a Hispanic-American who knows that our nation can no longer afford to ignore the issue of illegal immigration. I come here as a Democrat who believes my party has an obligation as the new majority party to pass comprehensive legislation to reform our immigration laws. And I come here as someone who believes it’s time for our leaders to tell the simple truth about this – and every other – issue. Today, there are over 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Most are law abiding, except for the fact that they have entered this country illegally. And almost all have come here to work -- to build a better life for themselves and their families, just as previous generations of immigrants have done.

Eleven million people living in the shadows is a huge problem, and we need to address it intelligently and thoughtfully -- and urgently. If Congress fails to do so, it will only get worse, and the demagoguery about it which we have heard so much of recently will only get louder.

As the California-born son of an American father and a Mexican mother, I have known immigrants all my life and I know why they come to America. And as Governor of New Mexico I have known the problem of illegal immigration all too well – we live with this issue every day in my state. Like it or not, these people have become part of the fabric of our economy and our culture. They have broken the law to enter our country, but they are here -- there are millions of them building and cleaning our homes and offices, picking and cooking our food, caring for our children. These men and women are here illegally, but they work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to the communities they live in.

Eleven million people living in the shadows is a huge problem, and we need to address it intelligently and thoughtfully -- and urgently. If Congress fails to do so, it will only get worse, and the demagoguery about it which we have heard so much of recently will only get louder. America needs to SOLVE this problem, not tear itself apart over it.

I believe the American people are better than the demagogues think we are, and that the voters proved it on November 7th. The most extreme candidates lost across the country. Seventy percent of Hispanic citizens voted Democratic, and most non-Hispanics also rejected the divisive politics of the anti-immigrant extremists. I hope that the Republican right-wing learned its lesson and that sensible Senators and Congressmen from both parties can now come together and address this real problem with real solutions. I also hope that President Bush, whose rhetoric has been moderate on this issue, will now step up and lead a bipartisan comprehensive reform effort.

Think for a moment about the quality of life for an undocumented worker. No protection from unscrupulous employers. No job benefits. No health care, no pension, no Social Security, no workers compensation, no Medicare or disability insurance. Yet – despite what some people would have you think -- almost all of these workers pay taxes, including Social Security and Medicare taxes. Because in order to find work they must either use someone else’s Social Security number or make one up. Since they will never collect benefits, these illegal workers are subsidizing our Social Security and Medicare trust funds with their payroll taxes. And those who are not paying into Social Security and Medicare are working under the table, and are at even greater risk of being exploited. No minimum wage, no safety standards, no over-time, no protection against sexual harassment or even sexual abuse.

Many workers change jobs every few months because their employer finds out that their Social Security number is invalid or belongs to someone else. Most undocumented immigrants come to the United States to work low-wage jobs which few Americans want, such as picking crops or cleaning toilets. Our economy creates demand for at least 400,000 new low-skill illegal immigrants per year, but only about 140,000 are allowed to enter legally. When demand and legal supply are so out of line, the pressures for illegal immigration are enormous. And let’s not forget what kind of lives the vast majority of illegal immigrants were living in their home countries – what propels them to come here in the first place.

Economic opportunity and upward mobility in Mexico and Central American countries are limited, and half of all Mexicans live in poverty and a fifth live in extreme poverty. When there are hundreds of thousands of relatively good paying new jobs available every year a few hundred miles to the north the result is completely predictable.

Yes, we are talking about people who knowingly have broken the law. And they should be held accountable, like all lawbreakers. But we also are talking about people who are economic refugees, and who contribute significantly to America’s economic success and to the economic and political stability of their home countries – with the billions in remittances they send home to their families every year.

If we’re going to tell the truth we’ll admit that entire sectors of our economy rely on these laborers – construction, restaurants, and agriculture, for example. Without them, many American businesses simply could not continue to function. By some estimates, undocumented workers account for fully 2% of our national economy.

11 million lawbreakers is a daunting number – and more arrive every day. Such widespread disregard for the law is corrosive of our civic culture, and must not be allowed to continue. A nation of laws cannot allow millions of undocumented immigrants to live in the shadows and hundreds of thousands more to enter the country illegally every year. For decades politicians have passed laws on immigration with a wink and a nudge, with no intent of following through and making sure those laws were enforced. For far too long, the immigration debate has been about electoral politics, not about policy. We need more honest leadership than that. We need to stop exploiting the immigration problem, and start solving it. We need to pass realistic laws and then enforce them rigorously.

Despite the campaign rhetoric, I refuse to believe that most House Republicans really favor trying to round up 11 million people, separating them from their children who are citizens, and deporting them en masse. But that’s what the bill they passed in the House of Representatives on December 16, 2005 would require. Americans don’t want that and I believe the results of the 2006 elections prove it.

Only in a few races for local office in communities that have been dramatically transformed in recent years by illegal immigration was anybody defeated for public office because they supported a moderate approach to the problem. Certainly no congressional or gubernatorial candidate was defeated for that reason. I got almost 70 percent of the vote for Governor this year in New Mexico – 15 percent more than in 2002 when I was first elected, and New Mexico is a swing state. This is after I implemented a policy to grant drivers licenses without regard to legal residency. As a result of this policy we got the percentage of uninsured drivers down from 31 percent to 12 percent.

New Mexicans want our roads to be safe and the driver who rear-ends them to be insured. We want our highway cops to focus on catching drunk drivers, not illegal immigrants. The Federal government has failed to deal with illegal immigration, forcing state governors to deal with the consequences of this failure. Governors must promote public safety and ensure that all residents of the state -- welcome or unwelcome, legally here or not -- are productive, self-supporting, and law abiding contributors to our community.

But treating illegal immigrants like human beings won’t make the problem go away. We also need to face up to the problem, and that begins with better border security. Last year I declared a State of Emergency along our border with Mexico because the situation there had gotten out of hand. Nobody was addressing the issue in Washington, D.C., and crime, drugs and lawlessness were out of control. I also was the first Governor to meet President Bush’s request to send National Guard troops to the border, because the situation is a national security concern as well.

Al Qaeda took decades to find a way to hit America hard and terrorists are still out there, probing, plotting, and preparing for their next attack. I know that full well from my diplomatic experience. If there’s a way for them to get into this country and attack us again they will find it. We need to stop them, and border security is essential to doing so.

I believe in recognizing the reality of the immigration problem and addressing it head-on. I reject both the cheap rhetoric we heard in this year’s campaign, AND I reject the fears of some Democrats that taking action will cause our party political harm. We should seek a bipartisan solution to the problem of illegal immigration, and I believe such a solution is at hand. We have a unique opportunity to deal with this issue in 2007 and if we let it pass we might not get another opportunity for years to come.

Illegal immigration has doubled in the past ten years and if it is not addressed it could double again in the next ten years. Think of the demagoguery we will hear then! So I am calling on the Democratic Congress to act swiftly to work with the President and solve this problem. And it can be solved by taking four realistic steps -- securing the border, increasing legal immigration, preventing employers from hiring illegal workers, and providing a path to legalization for most of the 11 million illegal immigrants already here.

Securing the border must come first – but we must understand that building a fence will not in any way accomplish that objective. No fence ever built has stopped history and this one wouldn’t either. The Congress should abandon the fence, lock, stock, and barrel. It flies in the face of America as a symbol of freedom.

This is what we should do: immediately put enough National Guard troops at the border to keep it covered until we can secure it with Border Patrol officers. That should take no longer than three years. If it takes another year, let’s do it.

Second, we must hire and train enough Border Guards to actually cover the entire border. I have spent a lot of time at the border and I know we cannot secure it with a fence, but we can secure it with enough trained Border Patrol officers. I propose doubling the number of Border Patrol agents from approximately 12-thousand to 24-thousand. That would secure the border. And you could more than pay for it with the funding for the first segment of that ill-advised fence between, Mexico and the United States. Real security, real results, at a fraction of the financial or political cost.

Third, we should give the Border Patrol the benefit of the best surveillance equipment available to our military. And, as suggested by Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a leader on immigration issues, we should implement a system of “informant visas” and cash rewards for aliens who provide law enforcement with information on human traffickers and document forgers. We should establish a “fraudulent documents task force” to constantly update law enforcement and border officials on the latest fraudulent documents being marketed for entry into the United States.

Finally, we have to work closely with the Mexican government. Illegal immigration is, at its root, primarily an economic problem: Mexicans need jobs and incomes, and Mexico benefits greatly from illegal immigration to the United States. It is a safety valve for their unemployed, and a major source of revenue in their economy, from the money illegal workers here send home.
Under present conditions, the Mexicans just don’t have enough incentive to give us the help we need at the border. Mexico needs to do more to stem the flow.

But if we create a reasonable guest worker program and provide a path to legalization for illegal immigrants already here – as I will discuss in a moment -- there is every reason to expect Mexico to do its part to create more jobs in Mexico and to help us with border security. The Mexicans, after all, also suffer great harm from the lawlessness at the border, from drug smuggling and the simple misery of people trying again and again to get into the United States illegally. But don’t expect the Mexican government to do anything if we’re going to talk about building a Berlin-style wall and deporting millions of Latinos.

Two weeks ago I met with Mexican President Calderon and he told me he is willing to do work with us to stop illegal immigration – if the United States is willing to address the crisis honestly and realistically along with him. If we refrain from building the fence (which, as I have said, is a waste of money anyway), I believe that the Mexicans would to step in with real efforts to help us patrol the border more effectively. We need to build a special relationship with our neighbor to the south, so that we can jointly patrol the border, and work together on creating more jobs for Mexicans at home in Mexico.

President Bush needs to address this issue with Mexico aggressively and realistically. He needs to use his last two years to turn President Calderon’s good intentions into good efforts. One of the reasons for my meeting with President Calderon was to pitch a plan to develop border infrastructure to move goods through the free-trade zones along the border, revitalizing communities on both sides of the border and creating much-needed jobs.

This kind of action takes face-to-face diplomacy- something this country has been far too reluctant to engage in lately. I believe many problems can be solved by facing them head-on, face-to-face. My entire career has been based largely on that principle.Earlier today, I was very proud to stand with Secretary General Insulza of the organization of American States, who has appointed me as a Special Envoy to the OAS for Hemispheric Relations.

I will work on special assignments in Latin America at the request of the Secretary, with a special focus on economic development and immigration. It would be my goal to demonstrate to OAS member states that they have an equal responsibility to solve the immigration problem, and work together on many important issues.

Once the border is secure we must make it possible for employers to meet legally their unskilled labor needs. Raising the minimum wage to $7.50 dollars an hour will motivate more Americans to fill some of these jobs, but most low-wage jobs will still need to be filled by immigrants – because there simply are not enough Americans who want them. If the US economy needs these workers, it is in our national interest to let more of them come legally, by increasing combined legal quotas for temporary and permanent taxpaying immigrants to 400,000 workers per year. To keep families together, we also should double the number of family member visas, from 480,000 to 960,000.

We also need to improve the efficiency and transparency of our legal immigration machinery, which is plagued by long delays and huge backlogs. We need clearer procedures and more rapid and efficient processing of immigration petitions, so that fewer people will seek to evade the legal process, and more can be admitted legally. The McCain-Kennedy legislation passed by the Senate this year provided an excellent framework for a guest worker program: pay an application fee, undergo a medical examination and a background check, the initial work period would be three years and it could be extended for up to three more years, if you’re out of work for more than 45 days you must return to your home country or last country of residence, you can change employers, but if you break the law you must leave.

Those are realistic and sustainable requirements. The number of guest workers allowed at any one time must be based upon the needs of the US economy. The goal must be to meet demand for jobs that go unfilled by American citizens, and no more. Increasing the minimum wage will help, but we must make certain that no American loses a job because of a guest worker program. Enforcement of our minimum wage laws also must improve: any employer who pays less than the minimum wage to any worker must face both high fines and a high probability of getting caught. We also must expand employment-training for low-wage American workers.

We also need a national system to reliably and instantaneously verify the legal status of every job applicant and worker. We cannot stop illegal immigration if we continue to look the other way on illegal employment. We need a national, non-duplicable electronic worker identification document to be used exclusively for employment purposes. Such a system must come with legal protections against it being used to discriminate in hiring practices, as well as privacy safeguards. After the institution of such an ID system, employers will have no excuses: those who knowingly hire undocumented workers must face serious and certain penalties. Those who hire illegal immigrants are law-breakers too, and like illegal immigrants themselves, they must be held to account for breaking the law.

Finally, there is the question of the status of the 11 million illegal immigrants who are here today. The legislation passed last December by the Republican House of Representatives was a monument to demagoguery. It actually proposed making felons of 11 million people and rounding them up for deportation. Clearly, this would be impossible to do. The number of illegal immigrants is five times the number of inmates in all American prisons combined. Our economy could not stand the shock of losing all these workers, and our national conscience would not countenance arresting millions of men, women and children. We did this to Japanese Americans in 1942, and we rightfully regret that abandonment of basic American decency.

So the choice is clear: either we leave 11 million people in limbo and let them be joined by millions more, or we devise a path to earned legalization. You certainly can’t enact a guest worker program without dealing with the millions already here, and the economic reality is that the demand for workers will be met with immigrants one way or another. Providing a path to earned legalization is not amnesty, albeit some will call it that. Let them:

Fear mongers spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to call it amnesty -- and the American people saw through it. Polls show that large majorities of Americans favor providing illegal immigrants a path to legalization Still, the path to legalization should recognize that laws have been broken. The presence of most of them benefits this country, but there must be accountability.

Almost all illegal workers pay into the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds. By legalizing them, they all will. And to be legalized, they should be required to pay any other back taxes they owe. They also should pay a fine for breaking the law. And they must learn English and have a clean record. If they meet all of these requirements, we should say, “Welcome to America. You’re now a legal worker. Just remember, you’re our guests and you must continue to follow these rules, and those that don’t will face the consequences. And with instantaneous worker verification in place, we’ll be able to do it.

Finally, let me return to the subject of family. Our Constitution states unambiguously that if you are born in the United States you are a citizen of this country and you are guaranteed equal protection under all of our laws. It’s estimated that more than 50% of all illegal immigrants have children who thus are citizens of the United States. If we required their parents to leave what would become of the minor children? Would they be made wards of the state somehow? They cannot be required to leave along with their parents. This is one of the reasons why I believe the legislation was passed in the House without any intent of it ever becoming law – which is transparently dishonest leadership. And I believe the proponents of immigration reform have nothing to fear from those who have resorted to such tactics.

The voters are fed up with that kind of politics and they are fed up with the failure to address pressing problems like illegal immigration. Most Democrats in the House of Representatives voted against the Republican bill to criminalize illegal immigration and Democrats are now in charge of the House. A bipartisan majority in the Senate passed the McCain-Kennedy bill. That majority grew larger on Election Day. And President Bush supports a guest worker program and a path to legalization. The new political lineup in Washington means that Congress has the numbers to pass a comprehensive immigration reform law next year which the President will sign. We have a historic opportunity to solve a problem that is tearing our country apart. We must not miss this chance.

The Democratic Agenda for the next Congress is an excellent one – raise the minimum wage, get lobbyists out of the business of writing legislation, allow Medicare to negotiate for the lowest possible prescription drug legislation, enact all of the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and change the course of our Iraq policy. Immigration reform must be added to the top of that list. The Democrats won the election and the price of leadership is doing what’s right for America.

Thank you very much.