Richardson: If congress doesn't investigate, I will as president.

[seasat]

Richardson issued a press release today condemning the Bush administration on torture and criticizing congress for not doing enough. He's been a very consistent supporter of human rights throughout his career. He and Kucinich were the only two that said in a recent debate that national security should not always come before human rights in foreign policy.

SANTA FE, NM-- New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson today issued the following statement regarding the Senate Intelligence Committee hearings on the destruction of CIA videotapes of interrogation techniques used against a terror suspect:

"It is imperative that Congress get to the bottom of the CIA torture tapes scandal. The American people deserve to know whether laws were violated and whether the President was directly involved in illegal activities. Torture is a black and white moral issue. A failure to act decisively in this case will be an unacceptable failure of leadership.

"Thirteen months after winning back the House and Senate, the Democratic Congress simply has not done enough to remedy this administration's blatant disregard for the Constitution and laws of the United States. They failed to block an Attorney General nominee who equivocated on torture. They have taken no action on the International Criminal Court. They have implemented no mechanism, such as a Special Prosecutor, to provide for high-level accountability. They failed to restore habeas corpus. They have done literally nothing to enforce the Constitution and/or any of our laws against torture.

"America's reputation, liberties, and moral leadership continue to be assaulted by Vice President Cheney and President Bush. If this Congress again fails to get to the bottom of these outrages, I will begin serious investigations as President on January 20th, 2009. We can and must find out who is responsible. If necessary, there will be prosecutions. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW

[Warpy]

1. I live in NM, so I already know Richardson's executive style

and like it very much. He can get things done.

Reading stuff like this makes me like him even more. I just wish people would start to look beyond the rumpled packaging at the very smart and capable man underneath it.

[FSogol]

7. I like him also. He is very pragmatic and would get more done

as President than all of our other worthy candidates, IMO.

[jillan]

2. How did Obama and Clinton vote on Mukasey? Anyone know?

Biden voted NO.

Was is that the 2nd tier candidates get it?

[seasat]

3. Easy, Richardson and Biden have the most experience and know the score.

Here's what Richardson said about Mukasey:

"Judge Mukasey disqualified himself by refusing to acknowledge what the world has known for centuries: that waterboarding is torture and torture of any kind violates U.S. and international law. Alarmingly, Judge Mukasey already has shown a startling willingness to allow politics to influence his opinion regarding one of the most basic American principles -- human rights.

[jillan]

8. Seasat - Make sure you look at this -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3824664&mesg_id=3824664

Just a reminder that there is still hope for our country ;)

[seasat]

10. I remember that from 2004

I started off as a Bob Graham supporter. However, I'm realistic and know that the dynamic is different this time. Richardson and Biden are both foreign policy experts and have seen their popularity shift based on the importance of the Iraq war. The economy is now a bigger factor in both races. What they both need is a big fall by Clinton to really move up at the last minute. I've noticed in the cross tabs of most of the polls that Richardson and Biden rank pretty high on voter's opinion of their experience. Surprisingly , Clinton is ranked the highest of all Democrats on experience by supporters. If she suddenly falls out of favor with those voters that value her experience, either Richardson or Biden could be second choices.

Both Richardson and Biden, in the next two debates, need to emphasize their experience in dealing with the economy. If I was advising those two, I'd tell them to focus more on those aspects instead of foreign policy. Right now, the concerns about the economy play more towards Clinton since voters associate her with the strong economy during Bill's tenure. Richardson and Biden need to point to their plans and achievements in that area and subtly play against the lack of experience by the other candidates. They need to make the voters think about who they would want to be president in the middle of a bad recession, an experienced candidate with a record of dealing with those issues or candidates with little record.

[jillan]

15. Richardson should be able to score some points there, being a governor.

Biden will probably continue to talk about foreign affairs.......

[Imagevision]

5. Both Clinton and Obama did not vote at all on Mukasey >

Surprisingly neither cast a vote (Yay or Nay) link below
http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00407#name

[proudmoddemo]

4. A good idea:

And I am glad that Governor Richardson is proposing that. We must hold people accountable for their actions, or our democracy is in peril.

[Kucinich4America]

6. Richardson just took another step up the ladder, as far as I'm concerned.

Unfortunately he also painted a bulls-eye on his back from those who pushed the Mukrazy confirmation (in order to ensure that torture continued)

[blm]

9. Best statement I've heard from him. Open government is THE ISSUE that effects all other

issues. More Democrats need to wake up and stop supporting closed government lawmakers.

[bunnies]

11. I like Bill Richardson very much but...

I just cant envision him winning the GE. Especially given the current climate of the country re: immigration.

[seasat]

12. Disagree, I think he would be strong on that issue

Most polls show that only about 20% to 25% of the public agree with the Tom Tancredo view on immigration. A large majority agree that illegal immigrants should be given a path to citizenship. They also want increased border security and punishment for employers of illegal immigrants. Those are three of the major points of Richardson's detailed plan on the subject and points of all Democratic candidates.

Richardson has more knowledge and experience on the issue than anyone else in the race. Because Shrub Inc wasn't doing enough about immigration reform, Richardson declared an emergency in his state. That freed up the NM national guard to work to borders. He also convinced Mexico to destroy a shanty town on the border that was being used as a way point by drug runners. In addition, he's been the OAS special ambassador on immigration.

I think that we'll hurt ourselves if we shy away from the issue, no matter who our nominee is. The polls show the public wants a sensible humane reform. When they polled on the McCain immigration reform, they found that 30% favored it, 15% opposed it because they though it was too liberal, and 28% opposed it because they though it wasn't liberal enough.

I think that when we've tried to soften our stances on issues like this in the past, we've lost more votes than we've gained. The Tom Tancredo wing is going to vote for the Repug or an independent (if McCain gets the nod). We don't have a shot at that vote even if we echo their rhetoric. We'd be better off sticking to our principles.

[bunnies]

13. wow.

Thanks for that info. I wasnt aware of what he'd done for NM... or of the shanty town. Knowing that I guess I'd only wish he'd seem a little less 'gentle' in his presentation.

[bklyncowgirl]

17. As a border state governor Richardson can speak from experience dealing with the issue

He won't just mutter whatever the politically correct mumbo jumbo du jour the Democrats are throwing out. He's been dealing with this issue for years and could blow any Republican who natters on about building walls right off the stage with a big dose of reality.

[emmadoggy]

14. Richardson starting moving up on my list a few weeks ago.

I've been torn between him and another candidate for the last couple weeks. This certainly gives him another uptick in my book.

There are issues where I disagree with him - mostly the death penalty, gun control and crime issues, and on trade (I think? I've seen somewhat ambiguous info on that.) I'm for single-payer health care so his health care plan is not that appealing to me, but I did see a recent quote from him that he is "warming" to the idea of single-payer, so at least he is open.

Where he really shines (and gets little credit, it seems), is on his plan for Energy/Global Warming. His is the toughest and most aggressive. I also like his Iraq plan, and his immigration stance. And experience? Well, I think he is far and away the most qualified of all the candidates (despite all the hoopla from the Hillary camp about her having the "MOST experience". And the fact that most poll respondents think she does? :wtf: )

Quite frankly, Richardson seems to get even less attention and press than Kucinich these days. Lately, it seems to me like he is almost a forgotten candidate. I'm hoping he can have a decent showing here in Iowa so he can garner some more attention and hopefully stay in the race.

I'm very pleased to see this announcement from him.

[slipslidingaway]

16. This is what our country needs, if this had been done in the 80's

or 90's we might have a very different nation now. Quite a few of my Republican relatives and friends also feel that they need to be held accountable. It is not about party, it is about our future and what is right.

"NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW"

:)

[blm]

18. Amen.

.

[MethuenProgressive]

19. Only Bill Richardson will bring our troops home before 2013

www.2013IsTooLate.com

(Kooch says he will too, actually)