Richardson withdraws as Commerce nominee

President-elect Obama was also questioned by the FBI.

Actually no he's not the difference so far Obama has cooperated with investigations where Bush and Chaney have just screw you talk to our lawyers. Hopefully when they leave office Bush and Chaney will be prosecuted to the full extent.

Bush is gone, he will not be prosecuted - GET OVER IT!!

Obama is surrounded by Pay to Play.  FIrst Blago, now Billy.  So much for change.  The only change we've seen so far is the number of people who have to withdraw from the incoming administraion (Valarie Jarrett, Billy, Eric Holder soon...)

Now wait a minute.....Hillary Clinton passed legislation allowing for tax deferred bonds earmarked to her contributor....a supporter who also gave $100,000.00 to Bill's so-called foundation....(disguised hedge fund).....

doyle this is actually a terrible situation for the democrats, as richardson was seen by many, including me, actually and im independent, as a fresher breath of air in washington. the democrats are setting themselves up for huge losses in the midterm elections, and with the way things are going they will hold onto the presidency but for one term.

No he isn't.  I wonder what they'd find if Richardson were as vidictive as the Clintons.  Obama would need a new SOS.

Here's the difference. Richardson opted out rather than chest thump like some Republican scummbag would have.

You can bet had he been a Republican we'd have been told this is for national security, we need to fight them there so we can make more money here, and some other crappy excuse. Or that shredder would have been working overtime.

Ironic is it not we can give tax payer money to crooks like Chalabi and failed nations like Georgia but then are holier than thou when it comes to dealing with such stuff within the country.

That's hypocrisy!

Like I said in the gas tax article,send ALL Gov. officials to DC for a pay raise conference. THEN install ONE WAY street signs leading OUT of DC while they're discussing it !

Too bad.  He was the one bright spot in the Democratic party.  I disagree with his stand on the illegals but then Obama and McCain didn't say anything to make me think they felt any different.  I agreed with him on many more things than I did either Obama or McCain and would have voted for him had I had the chance.

Neocons could do a good job!

I wish they did the same to Bush and Condi and the rest of Texan scum!

If they did, the last eight years would have been better, hypocritical lazy ass neocons with the tax cuts for the rich as if they were the middle class and the lost war in Iraq!

Mission acomplished!

Hey Alex, whats with the bigotry.  Got something against Texas?  Grouping everyone together by geography is about like... grouping them together by color.  Are you a racist?  Then stop thinking like one.  Nobody likes Bush, and if we're all lucky the neocons are on their way out of the GOP.  Its just too bad the GOP had to get hijacked and then implode because in the meantime we've handed the White House over to an inferior political ideology.  The Democrats will do intentionally what the GOP does when it doesn't follow the script - enlarge government and spend, spend spend.

It's all a diversion!  But don't take my word for it.  After all I'm just one of the peons that inhabit this world with the rest of the human race.  I'm no better than a lot of people.  But what is happening and what they are diverting our attention from has nothing to do with politics and global warming caused by human activities.  This is an impending threat that could truly destroy earth as we know it.  Don't take my word for it.  You all have computers or know somebody that does.  Take the time to google Nirubu.  You can decide for yourselves after doing some research.  When you find out and begin to wake up what will be your reaction.  Will you remain calm and think things out rationally or will you become a chicken running to and fro with no real plan on where to go.  People have to know.  Our survival may depend on what we are educated with today.

You mean Sen. Clinton actually got a piece of legislation passed? I wonder how that happened..She was running for President from the day she came to New York...We all know how that came out..

I'll bet the Clinton's are laughing their rears off on this one. Good luck Billy Boy!!!

This is amazing.

Doyle: What exactly should Bush and Cheney be prosecuted for? Keeping us safe from another 9/11 or even worse?

You know, this whole partisanship stuff just makes me sick.  The Republicans claim the Democrats are corrupt, the Democrats claim the Republicans are corrupt.  People defend Obama, people defend Bush.

Haven't you people figured out yet that if you hold political office, you're corrupt?  Just assume that any elected official has the capacity (and the temptation) to sell parts of their representation to the highest bidder.  Blago did it, Richardson did it, Bush did it, and Obama will do it. 

The only way corruption will disappear is when politics disappear, and I don't see that happening any time soon.

Geeeeee.  I wonder how many more skeletons are in PE O's closet.  Seems everyone he has been in contact with is, or has been, in some sort of ruckus.

Guess we need to keep tuned.

Drman

Get over it, right   How many loved ones did you lose in Bush's mad rush to retaliate for the attempted asassination of his 'Daddy'.  How dare you tell people who have lost loved ones to get over it.  Some things people never get over, and will hold the individual causing their loss accountable forever.  And the Ds and rest of the Rs are not innocent in this matter.  They abdicated their right and duty under our constitution  giving that power to a retarded madman.

I am not yet sure of Obama, but with the McCain/Palin ticket there was no other choice.  Matter of fact if I were Obama I would ask for a recount.  Our country and the rest of the world is in such a mess he just might want McCain to win.

I just pray that Obama can do something to rebuild our nation destroyed by the Bush administration with six of the eight years a house and senate in lock step  behind the man with no conscience.  McCain ""I voted 90% of the time with the president.

I am a D and voted Obama.  But I will never stand behind any person who has destroyed my country as has Bush, whether that person be a D or R.  It is the loyal party members that have assisted in our demise and if Obama acts in the same manner  I will not uphold his errors.

To Bill M:  When you say  nobody likes Bush," you are grouping all Americans together in your hate.  I think that President Bush has been a good president and believe that history will be kind to him and recognize that he sacrificed political popularity for national security.

Hey T. Boyce: why are folks like you just ACHING for an Obama scandal. Haven't we had enough nonsense for the last 16 years? Who knows, you may get your wish some day. But it seems there's a helluva lot more transparency here than ever existed with the Bushies. Maybe Richardson knew the news was coming out on him in which case his actions wouldn't be quite as noble. But how in the world can Obama or any politician be expected to know of stuff like this?

famous obama thoughts and comments:

I listened to Reverend Wright's sermons for twenty years, he baptized my children, but I had no idea he was a racist who hated the united STates.

I worked as attorney for Tony Rezko for awhile, but I had no idea he was doing anything illegal.

I served on boards with Bill Ayers, got earmarked money for his education ideas, and started my campaign as State Senator in his home, but I had no idea he was a former domestic Terrorist....uh.....I mean I thought he had been rehabilitated....uh...I mean he was just some guy in the neighborhood.

I knew Blagoyevich, but didn't know he was trying to sell off my vacant senate seat. We had not contact with him about it... uh....I mean I had no contact with him about it........I mean....uh....uh....we had no INAPPROPRIATE contact with him.

I knew Bill Richardson, but had no idea he might be involved in something illegal.

The idea that one or the other party has any moral authority in ethics or for that matter the basic motivation of their policy is at best humorous at worst an exercise in partisan propaganda.  Both party's indulge in pay for play and reward connected embedded power brokers when ever it is possible.  The recent picks are far from change they are a reshuffle of the deck dealing more of the same cards to the public.  They hype surrounding the new administration is rather pathetic as the new President hands are tied, he must deal with the same leaders and their love of power.  They have served him notice that ultimately they have a the power and intend to use it.  Someday the voters who believe the President is King of the USA will learn that the House and Senate ultimately hold the power and the conditions we enjoy are their responsibility.  The idea that we would see any real change when we empower the same leaders in congress and the same party structure is the biggest flim flam ever, the most pathetic part is the majority of voters buy the same line of crap every few years and reelect the same bunch of power hungry scoundrels disguised as public servants.

If there were a real ETHICS committee in Washington, 98% of Congress would go to jail for their Pay-to Play actions.

They all need to go.

Bush and Cheney are real Americans and those who attack them are the enemy within.

Presidential Impeachment 2011!!!  We already have the ammo, but we need some people of principle, ethics and morals to do the right thing.  Those qualities are absent from Pelosi and Reid.

Go USA, that was Bob M. I say a lot of things, just want to give credit where it is due.

At least Richardson is stepping aside. If there was a law broken, then let them face the consequences, if not, lets not repeat the foolishness and drag an innocent man through the mud for political gotcha.

There have been much worse POTUS than Bush Jr. Carter caused more economic damage than Bush. Wilson and the White War. Eisenhower, JFK, and LBJ in Vietnam, which is a much larger cluster f*** than Iraq and done for worse reasons. Bay of Pigs. Reagan and the South American wars, Iran Contra. Clinton and the continuation of the failed war on drugs which destabilized S America, the African Genocide, Somalia, Bosnia. All these things are bad, and were viewed as horrible actions at the time. History though has a way of softening the truth.

I have lost friends in Iraq. I lost them in Bosnia and every other little piss ant conflict Clinton got us into as well. While there is nothing that can change the fact they are gone, I will not blame Bush or Clinton for their deaths. The enemy is directly responsible and Congress along with the POTUS authorized the military actions. It is the system of violence that is the cause. We all signed up knowing that this could happen, and we did so out of a sense of honor and responsibility to our country. So I will not diminish the sacrafices of my brothers with blame or give the credit of their lives to someone else. I will remember the good they have wrought and the example they have set. I will strive to honor them as I continue for as long as I can.

And thank you Bill Richardson for stepping aside and setting a good example. Much better than Sen Jeffereson or Sen Craig or Sen Stevens.

The investigation has been in the news here in New Mexico for a while. Here's a news article from August.

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apcontract08-30-08.htm

Pay to Play. Where have I heard that phrase before? Don't tell me, it'll come to me.

Liberals so stupid..thinking  Bush and Cheney should or could be prosecuted....

Please cite what crimes?  and dont  be so dumb to think  presidents are prosecuted for losing in court over  constituational questions.... if they were  why wasn't clinton prosecuted  because he lost in several major court cases over  EXECUTED privilege claims etc...

Prosecuting the outgoing president for policies you dont like is very 3rd world...its what happens in banana republics and 3rd world hell holes.

Liberals long tradition of criminalizing policy difference continues..

darrell-473614

"famous obama thoughts and comments:

I listened to Reverend Wright's sermons for twenty years, he baptized my children, but I had no idea he was a racist who hated the united STates.

I worked as attorney for Tony Rezko for awhile, but I had no idea he was doing anything illegal.

I served on boards with Bill Ayers, got earmarked money for his education ideas, and started my campaign as State Senator in his home, but I had no idea he was a former domestic Terrorist....uh.....I mean I thought he had been rehabilitated....uh...I mean he was just some guy in the neighborhood.

I knew Blagoyevich, but didn't know he was trying to sell off my vacant senate seat. We had not contact with him about it... uh....I mean I had no contact with him about it........I mean....uh....uh....we had no INAPPROPRIATE contact with him.

I knew Bill Richardson, but had no idea he might be involved in something illegal."

We should be happy that he's the "most Brilliant man who's ever been elected President". Can't wait until he starts showing how "Brilliant" he really is, or perhaps he already has.

Who is in charge of the BO vetting process.  If this is an indication into the way BO is going to clean up Washington we are in big trouble.  BO has been brought up surrounding himself with corrupt people.  Our PE is doomed for failure because of the bad decisions he has made.  The one is up to his elbows in pay to play deals.

I say Colin Powell!!!!

Huh? A military guy for commerce?  Why not somebody who actually has had some success doing business in a world economy that is here to stay - whether we like it or not?

And like BHO has any kind of success doing business........He is successful at picking bad people to fill his cabinet though, maybe we can get him a job at an employment agency.

Unfortunatly, 99 percent of the dem party is full of lawyers...most of the rep party are business men.  Think about it, rep business men have to create a viable business to make money  (or those scum-bag stock traders can minipulate stocks to make money)

Dem lawyers dont have to create a business to make money, they can just minipulate or make new laws to get money...Al Gor and his so-called carbon Credits-B Frank manipulating laws requiring baks  in giving loans to people who cant afford them and getting kickbacks from his Fannie Mae friends. 

(You libs are all wondering why Bush isnt being prosecuted..why isnt the dems who ran Fannie into the ground and caused this economy to topple being prosecuted?)

BTW..I was chastised for calling a lib a lib, and a lib said he was tired of lib being used as a dirty word.  It got me to thinking...This comes from people who follow a party that call REps NEOCON, NAZI's, HItler, and the KKK and he is mad when I used Liberal in a bad way?

Could it be that he knows that despite the real definition of Liberal, that liberals are really more close-minded than conservatives?  Could it be that he doesn't want to face the fact that the tenets of liberailism  (Federal gov controls everything, political correctness controlling your everday life, Federal governemnt controls business and exacts high taxes, controlls peoples religon)  is more in tune with the tenets of Fascism.  Even though the libs use propaganda  by saying capitilism is fascist, when in fact it is anti-fascist.

Since libs have hundreds of dirty words they use for Reps (neocon, kkk, nazi's)  can we come up with a new dirty word for libs that sound just as bad? 

 Maybe close-minded liberal fascist?

Dick Cheney would be a great choice, too.  He is brilliant and a spirited real American business man.

Jessie Jackson Jr. is also a Democrat consideration.  He knows how to get the job done with inside trading.  He can cut right through the red tape.

spider-737231

"Why not somebody who actually has had some success doing business ... - whether we like it or not?"

Sounds like Blagojevich would be a good choice.

seems like you missed the word "success" in there.

"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said Sunday in a report by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell.

Uhh huh, innocent people get investigated all the time just for the hek of it. Is there a single person in our Government that's not dirty ?

The article didn't say HE was being investigated.  I know that doesn't fit with your agenda though does it?

Unfortunately all too many people get investigated for reasons found to be unfounded later on. And many convicted. Doesn't seem to be a day goes by without someone being exonerated by DNA after being in prison for years. But have to agree with the general sentiment - these are politicians - at least Bill is taking a higher road than Blago.

Boy, you Obamanuts just dont give up, do ya?

Would YOU resign if you knew that you wouldnt be implicated??

Dont think so....

BigTree,

It's HIS administration!  How does that fit with YOUR agenda?

It's amazing how well people can interpret the constitution when it concernss someone they don't like.  But, they go deaf, dumb, and mute when actual lives and lifetime well beings are lost, in violation of that same constitution.  One of you actually laughed because dubya has gotten off with the death and destruction he has caused, not to just a few individuals, but the whole earth.  And, you are making an issue because Bill Richardson may have done something considered a "conflict of interest."  That's real mature and moral responsibility.

The GOP needs to be held to the same high standard Nana 10, but for the record, the Dems have just as many immature partisans that will say "haha" when the GOP slips and ignore anything the left does wrong.  Politically its a zero-sum game.

 It is actually sad that finding a person that does not have a past is getting more difficult as time goes on.  The Republicans will get to laugh on this one but just wait it is a matter of time until a Republican is under heat.  We may have to find a 5 year old to run or be appointed by either party.  At least this guy had enough character to remove his name from consideration, I'm from Illinois and we have Blagojevich.

Oh good lord Nana, the whole world?  Really? 

Some people.....

And I wholeheartedly agree with you Bob M.

As a life long New Mexican this comes as no suprise. If this is the only thing this guy has done he probably is a whole lot better than the best in the current administration. Its not thought. Richardson is bad for our state and would be worse for the country. He is another holly wood type who should have been investagated a long time ago for many other things worse than than this.

Roger, you really think it was Richardson's idea to bow out?

Sorry Truth (pun intended),

people are too busy making up excuses for Obama to concern themselves with actually making a difference.

Truth,

are you going to keep spamming this post  every seed about this topic?

MedTech, this isn't about Obama. It's about Richardson. You're too busy missing the truth and trying to implicate Obama for any and everything.

What's scary is that his post applies to every seed.

Vote - All of a sudden judgement doesn't matter? As I remember, O's judgement was the reason his inexperience was not a problem.

Truth: Well, you're going to have to wait some more as most of the schmuck incumbents got re-elected in November. Don't like Congress, folks? Then look in the friggin mirror!

truth in advertising- I wholeheartley agree, It is both parties, it is our elected officials, we can vote them our of office, and we must.  Why do our citizens continue to vote for a man or woman they know to be shady.  I have two in my state, they need to be gone, both are up for election in 2012 and the people of S.C. will continue to back them.  I think at this point we have more republicans to get rid of than democrats, but thats just my opinion. I am sure others will disagree, there are many corrupt dems also. Really did you see the look on Richardsons face , when asked about these charges from his own people, ouch!!!!

I dare say one could find conflicts between the rhetoric and action of almost all career politicians.  They have been doing business as usual for so long they really do believe its okay.  Here in Illinois the governor is going about his business as though nothing is going on, in Chicago high ranking political types are indicted and convicted and the beat goes on none of the higher ups are either willing to or required to take responsibility.  Corruption has indeed become the standard.  If one wishes to see how politics particularly one party rule works take a good look at the government here, it should scare the devil out of all citizens but it doesn't seem to matter.  Now we find Governor Richardsonis in the same type of situation, is there outrage, hardly.  Partisans from both sides are posturing themselves to either defend or attack depending on their predisposition.  More interesting the best defense is to attack citing the obvious hypocrisy both demonstrate whenever they open their mouths and utter their vile partisan attacks. Partisanship makes analysis of right and wrong a bit dicey and the country suffers for it, partisanship is wrecking the country.  We should require that both party's clean up their own house, but attacking the other side is much more likely.

Carlos,

Can you show me  "Partisan" arguments in favor and supporting Bill Richardson as you claim? Please read all the post here, you will see plenty of outrage from DEMOCRATS.

Partisans from both sides are posturing themselves to either defend or attack depending on their predisposition.  More interesting the best defense is to attack citing the obvious hypocrisy both demonstrate whenever they open their mouths and utter their vile partisan attacks.

Hillary is waiting to see what truths will emerge about her misdeeds...

It would be great if Hillary's Pant Suits would disappear also! Do they not make dresses in that wide load shape ,OR can't she hide any files up the skirt without falling out !

Why do you and your type continue to spew hate about the Clintons?  Get over it and Get a life! 

Good enough for that Judas Richardson!

Is anyone really surprised??? The first pay to play was when the President Elect offered him whatever post he wanted for his endorsement. Richardson flipped and endorsed Obama. The Clinton's were betrayed probably orchestrated a skeleton out of the closet. After all isn't it really their administration.

Of course Richardson was promised a seat in the cabinet for his endorsement and now we know why he was not chosen as Sec of State. I don't feel the least bit sorry for Richardson he has made his bed and now he gets to lay in it!

It would be great if Hillary's Pant Suits would disappear also! Do they not make dresses in that wide load shape ,OR can't she hide any files up the skirt without falling out !

I apologize profusely, but I couldn't quite figure out how that fits in with the article on Governor Richardson.  Enlighten me, please.

Sooz: The Mrs. Clinton is just so Cheshire Cat these days? Gad zooks! My dear, where on earth have you been for the past 20 years? Folks in Arkansas are free to add to this number if they like.

For those who are lost in the WAY off-topic "Clintonland"....can we get back to the topic.

Good one, figure he will resign as Gov next as the investagation gets under way

Cowboy - didn't mention Party Affiliation?

1. "Richardson ran against Obama in Democratic Primary"

2. "He is one of the most prominent HIspanics in Democrat Party"

I'm sure it was unintentional for you to overlook these in article.

b - if you watch MSNBC closely when there is a negative Rep article (which is all they print) they put R - state right after their name EVERY SINGLE TIME.  You ALWAYS have to dig when it is a Dem.  Just a fact I have gotten used to with them.  It's just a shame.

Not true Wisconsin Bob, recently there was an article about Rep. Vito Fossella's DUI trial (Republican Congressman from New York City) and nowhere in the article did it state his party affiliation.  I happened to notice it because there were a lot of posters like you piously lamenting that the liberal journalists ALWAYS point out when it is a republican. I have been sensitive to the accusation ever since and have seen several other instances when a republican's party was not identified but oddly enough I have not found one democrat whose party was not identified.   So no NOT "EVERY SINGLE TIME" gee NOT EVEN THIS TIME.

...but typical.

Gee, they are all crooks. This is news? I hope the mother-#^&*&& goes to jail. Yeah, the speech in Spanish was a kick in the teeth. I keep moving North and I'm running out of it. Be in Canada soon.

I don't know many tradesman or blue collar workers who will pick fields all day for just pennies per pound. Most "Americans" demand a minimum wage at the very least. But  1landscaper, if you are willing to get here to Oregon, I know several small farmers who are willing to pay you an illegals wages. No health care available!

Actually thank God he is serving his last term.  As of 2010 he is done and it can't be fast enough for me.  He

blueinoregon, the job market dictates the wages, not the other way around. The reason these jobs pay pennies per pound is beacause thats what they can pay! To say these are jobs Americans wont do is only part of the sentence. The rest of it reads ...for those wages. If Americans want to crunch on illegal immigration, we must be willing to pay more for produce, at hotels/restaurants and for construction work done. We definetely cant have it both ways. But to assume that the poor farmer can only pay a certain amount and he HAS to have illegals do the work is naive and blind thinking.

Richardson has stated that his parents arrived in the US just hours before his birth. I have often wondered if he paid the taxpayers back for the hospital bills.

reply to "its all my fault", one can only hope..

Something ain't kosher in New Mexico....follow this investigation closely, folks.

Would you rather he spoke in your native language, and don't say english your a mut from somewhere else that learned that language. Anyone truly english would not comment with such ignorance as you have.  What are you doing to make this a better country other than running your mouth to keep races against themselves. 

blueinoregon,

Isn't it typical that liberals would use illegal aliens (IA) to make their fortunes.  No healthcare?  Are you kidding me?  Texas spent $600,000,000 on IA healthcare last year!  It's called the emergency room.  And here in my city, the illegals usually keep themn pretty full.  While we're facing increased crime on our borders, not unlike the Wild West, (due to Lib Fed policies that put Border Agents in Prison) your liberal friends are reaping the financial benefits.  Add on the insane amount Ag Subsidies (aka tax payer dollars) that they get, it makes it pretty hard to feel sorry for them.

You can forget that.  NM is a Dem State from now on.  Probably well over 50 percent Hipanic.

blueingororgan; When are you goig to get off the chronic dipstict

Look at N.O.  I live here.  What would be different?  The City flooded which had nothing to do with "Brownie" or FEMA.  That was a poor example but a common one for Bush opponenets.  The bottom line is there is not "change" in the coming administration.  It will be filled with the usual suspects but possibly worsened by the Chicago Machine.  Wake up people.

This "should" shut the liberals up..about New Orleans and Bush and republicans........the people of N.O. and Louisiana overwhelmingly voted Republican this election in landslide numbers...gee they must know something the left wing doesn't. They do!! they know who dropped the ball when Bush ask to send in National Guardsmen and help and the liberal mayor said to hold off awhile. Lousiana and N.O. are not stupid, they have learned from the past unlike many on the left aisle.

And that is the main difference. Obama has clearly run into some trouble with his appointments. However he has done all he can to insure that his people cooperate fully with those conducting any investigations. The Bush circus, on the other hand , has done everything in its power to ignore calls from investigators and hide behind 'executive privilege'. They are the ones we should be concerned with.

DC - Bush is almost gone, and we should be concerned about everything but him and his gang. We have a new bunch of corrupt people to deal with.
Obama is playing everyone by appearing 'transparent'. He knows the people are angry at what Bush did so he is spinning it to look different. The guy is a smarter crook than Bush.

Sorry, we have bigger worries.

Obama is not sworn in yet in office and so he can't use executive privilege or otherwise he would. "No Real Change" just "More of the same" I can't wait until The Clinton's throw a real wrench in his administration when the recent Bill Clinton partners come to light and Hillary must step down...Like the recent Bill helped "SO and SO" and then contibutions are made to campaigns and so on and so forth. People voted for Obama because they wanted no more Clinton's and yet we see they are in the thick of it. Bush goes home and Obama steps into the frying pan and the left think they can shield him from what he so rightfully deserves and won..the HOT SEAT!!

Seriously? You can't seriously believe Obama did all he could regarding cooperating with any investigation. His govenor try's selling his seat, his people are involved, yet we know next to nothing about any of this because of O'dummy's team of corrupt lawyers representing everyone on his staff!

The guy is a Chicago goon, his cabinet is falling apart before it's first meeting, and O'dummy has great abs. Hell of a candidate - can't wait to see you lib's eat this guy for lunch when you finally realize what an empty shirt he is and how corrupt he, Reid and Pelosi are.

Great theatre, really. Thanks.

yellowlab,

I guess the fact that the adminstration was wholly unprepared and left people to die doesn't affect you. The admistration had days and days to prepare. Bush was on vacaton with John McCain, not preparing for one of the worst storms to hit US soil. Brownie, as head of FEMA, should been on the phones with the governor and the mayors making absolutely sure they were doing what they needed to be done, he should have alterted the National Guard and got them down there even before the storm hit. It's called preparation!Brownie didn't prepare for anything and was only left to react and that is when people died.

If you are from N.O. then I am sure with the big storm coming you did everything you could to protect your family and property. You didn't just sit on your arsh and wait until after the storm was gone to board up your windows and move valuables and get the heck out of dodge. I am surprised that someone who lost so much would be so forgiving of someone who dropped the ball so badly!

Hmm, most RESPONSIBLE people I know in NO took care of themselves.

Its the Dem-led welfare staters that sat around waiting for Big Daddy to take care of them.

to yeellowlab, your right the flooding of NO had nothing to do with FEMA or Brownie but those inept org/person had Everything to do with the response to that disaster.

What makes you think the people ASKING the questions are any better. Aren't they hired by the government ?

Bob, I guess you didn't know anyone in the nursing home that died or any of the others who couldn't get out. I am so glad everyone you know was able to take care of themselves. I am sure everyone you know has the resource to just up and leave when they feel like it.

Seen Enough, I am not a moron, but perhaps you are. When the leeves were built it was known even then the were substandard and would survive a cat 4 storm. You are, greedy politicans and contractors were the real cause of so much damage and since Lousiana is a repub state that is their own fault, too.

I said right from the start that PE Obama would have had some contact with the Ill Gov. It would only make sense. Since the FBI has the tapes they know exactly who, what, when and how. I am an American and I have to have faith in the system working, if there is any unethical activity then Obama should step down. Our President, regardless of party, has to be above reproach. I may lean towards being a Liberal Democrat but I consider myself an American 1st and formost. I love this country and people which make it great.  Any President who would bring harm or disrespect to this country should be impeached!

I am sorry you feel your Republican Party is more important than being an American. I did nothing to incure your rebuke, except give my opinion. You may disagree, but you don't have a right to insult me or anyone. Everyone should be treated with some respect if for nothing eles we are all Americans.

And you calling me a moron shows respect??   LMAO

Look at my post again, dimwit....I never called you ANY names at all, but thats a typical Liberal for ya... "dont let the facts confuse the issues".

Obama is not above reproach.  His followers are just turning a blind eye.

Typical misinformed close-minded liberal fascist OREGON.  The reason why Bush should not be blamed for N.O. is because everyone knows the DEMs who have run that state for decades are the most corrupt behind Chicago.

If you know your government, we have a federal gov and a state gov...the laws state the federal governemnt cannot supercede the state government unless that state governemnt asks for help.  It's a great system and keeps us from moving to things like communism.Now, the Dem government that ran that state did not ask for help, and one could only speculate it was because they didn't want anyone to find out their corruption and money stealing.  

I saw the PBS special a full year before hurricane Katrina hit in which the N.O. governement talked about the levee's, fixing erosion, fixing levee's, what would happen if a catagory 5 hurrican hit N.O. and how to evacuate before it happened.

So one could ask you my esteemed know-it-all close-minded liberal...if they were doing that a full year before hurricane Katrina hit, and it is a documented PBS documentry that was shown on PBS...why did they not execute the plan?   One could only think was they were trying to cover their tracks, while the "chocolate city" as that corrupt N.O. mayor R. Nagin put it..drowned.

How do you blame Bush for that?

Seen enough, I really pity you. You are so filled with hate. Is that what being a repulican is about? I have read post from others like youi and you all spout hatered against Dems.  I think you would be surprised that a I am in favor of the death penalty, and the right to bear arms, although I am probably a little more extreme about it than you are, I stongly believe in capitolism, I don't favor giving out corporate hand-outs. We probably have more in common than not. But yet you feel the need to belittle me. That is the difference in our political parties, yours condems any one who has different beliefs mine tries to look at things from different prespectives, Your "If your not with us your against us"attitude will and has come very close to destroying this country.

 I often wonder if we can ever be a united country again. Your messiahs, Rush, Oreily, Coulter have brainwashed you so completely that you actually spill your venom with glee.

 I think we should divide this country Dems and Repubs, split it at the continiental divide we take the west you take the east. It's not what I want but I am deeply afraid that is where this great country is headed. If we keep focusing on the differences, we will have a civil war. Is that what you really want? If that is what you truly want, I submit that you are unamerican and even worse than the terrorist that tried to divide us on 9/11.

Some of Obama's Cabinet and ADministration picks showed diversity, but give it six months or so and see who's still around, then you can tell more about the man and his agenda. Once the cabinet meetings happen, the arguments will start and resignations will also start. I was surprised that we're already getting drop outs before presidency even begins though.

I did see that many of defense and pentagon appointed positions will stay on, at least initially. Glad to see Obama admitting Bush wasn't doing bad job of running those areas.

blueingorgeon ; You seem to forget the dem gov didn't want federal helpnor did the mayor keep smoking that chronic

Wilberta, my thoughts exactly.  And whether the investigation finds any wrong-doing or not, it's nice to see that a politician for once does the right thing and bows out rather than selfishly staying on board.

Did the right thing........Huh???? This guy ran for President for crying out loud...what a spectacle that would have been had he or say Edwards had won the Presidential nomination..neither bowed out of the primaries because of a sense of doing the right thing..Oh No!! they lost to Obama and Hillary..otherwise "What might have been"

My thoughts exactly Wilberta. I'm glad he bowed out before hand or right-wing clowns would have had a field day with this. Thank God BO had nothing to do with his running for president or it would be all over. I wish they had had the same courage when they knew we were going to war in the wrong country!

You're funny - like you think Richardson just found out about all of this? HA HA HA - no wonder Obama got elected - you folks are dumb as stumps.

Jack,
Yeah, but too much cool-aid has been passed around. No matter what corruption is uncovered, we keep voting the dems or the GOP in.

Time to clean house. When are people going to get that?

Thanks Paul, I take that as a compliment. I guess you were the one who was trying to figure out what the difference was between a pit bull and a hockey mom huh? About 200,000 dollars wasn't it?

wilberta, i find myself in agreement with you. but i do have a thought. richardson knew this was in his past. had to know something like this would raise some eyebrows. so, did he initially accept obama's offer because he thought it would be ignored or glossed over like h clinton's selling of favors via 100000$ donation to bill's charity? if my speculation is true what can we expect from the incoming administration?

GEE, if we could only get 3-400 more to withdraw,sweep up the IOU'S and favors, we could start fresh with a positive outlook !

The right thing?? LOL! ALL politicians do this. This guy is just the sacrificial lamb. They all take millions upon millions in bribes and blatantly make decisions in the bribers favor.What else is new? I think they offer one up every now and then to make themselves look good. And then, some are just better at hiding it. Who are we fooling? The entire political system is based on bribery. WAKE UP AMERICA!

Freeze America, the only impeachment that needs to take place is the impeachment of George Dubya Bush for his unholy, oil grabbing war which resulted in the deaths of our young military patriots, and the sellout of our economic base to Wall Street greed which might take 20 years to fix.  But if you had an inquiring mind, you would realize this.

Hey Anna, get a clue. What oil grabbing? We can't refine the oil from Iraq. It has different impurites that we're not set up to work with. Besides look where the oil really goes? Japan, China most of Asia. Wake up and get educated.

Sell out to wall street? Gee, seems to me and many others who aren't blinded by the medias BS that it was under Clinton that the laws were changed and Wall Street regulations dropped as well as shoving people into home loans that couldn't afford to pay them back. But yet, the sitting president gets the blame. Interesting....love the revisionist history lesson.

True AMerican, I think not. If you are a true american you would want what is best for America. Hussein Obama and his ilk are definitely not what is best for America. He's going down before the inauguration.

The article states Bill Richardson, TAPPED in December by NO Bama! I believe he was tapped LONG AGO!

Sorry Dbachrach,

Logic is not a liberals forte.

Your full of crap!  Get an education your showing your ignorant lines..

Free America-670934, please explain how Obama has anything to do with Richardson's problems? Please provide the source. Oh yes, I forgot, you don't have a source, or evidence or any reason, logic or rational just empty rhetoric.

president has final say so on everything, doesn't he, vote? ONce he selected Richardson, Richardson became part of Obama's "team". If team has problem, so does the team leader. Or, are you saying Richardson was just some guy in the neighborhood that obama knew and had no idea about this. If that's what you think, obama is looking more naive all the time

What total BS if you think that. Maybe you should reconsider your support of BHO who seems to have a radical, scandal-ridden friend everywhere he turns. You bleeping idiots that got this long-legged mac daddy elected!

I agree Benet - maybe Obama will clean up and change the country from the inside out.

LMFAO!!!

Seriously Benet?  Seriously?  

Obama has as much integrity as a wet paper bag holding an anvil.  Puuuleeeze!!!!

I agree Benet, we are seeing the change America so desperately need i.e people taking the honourable way out. I wish Blago, would be so accommodating.

Seem's it's blinded Obama haters who can't see the change staring them in their face.

What a thread this is. You three lib toolboxes even consider the fact that Barack never thought to a vetting of the Gov. ?

I can hear Barry now - "Just appoint him, whatever..... he's one of us....there, another appointment out of the way..."

All you need to acknowledge : T'is a good thing Richardson had the wherewithal to apply the breaks to this potential debacle.

How you get "an honor for the President(elect)" out of this is beyond comprehension. Good gracious....

Yo Joman - Maybe , maybe. maybe. Click your heels together three times and say "There's no place like, home there's no place like home".

First to those of you that found my post amusing... You represent a time that has passed. A time when hate and fear were the tools of control. Your laughter is not from joy but from a sardonic sense of loss. Your desire to put me in a mental institution sounds very much like something I heard someone suggest in Germany around 1939. Odd that you should echo that here.

As far as vetting Richardson, have you people seen this guy's resume? You don't get a single one of his previous positions without being vetted publically and privately. This is not a question of dereliction of duty on the part of the transition team. In fact it is a strong and clear symbol that under no circumstances will this administration allow the appearance of impropriety, no matter who you are or how much you have done for them.

I appreciate that Integrity is difficult to understand when few in the current republican party or in Christendom have ever really demonstrated what it looks like.  I will give you a clue and you can do the rest of the homework yourself. Integrity is NOT morality, rather it is your "word"  and the organization of your life to actualize it.  Instead of being glib, try for even one moment to see the truth and value of such a life condition. And you will know where we would like to take the world in the time to come.  Is that really so bad that you fear it so much?

Was attending the Church of an American hating racist for 20 years drawing the line?  Was paling around with a known terrorist whose organization killed people drawing the line?  Was doing business and accepting campaign funds from a known criminal drawing the line?  Oh and with regard to transparency, why won't Obama talk about his college friends or even list them.  Why won't he tell the media how he got into Harvard with less than a low B average in undergraduate school?  Why, as President of the Harvard Law Reveiw, did he not contribute any articles to that review. In fact, with only a 3.5 GPA, why on earth was he even picked as the President of the Law Review. Why will he not provide a list of his campaign contributors, particularly the larger ones?  Why did he back out of a promise to accept public financing for his campaign?  Benet, you are a very naive and foolish person.   With regard to the vetting process, the alleged bribe happened four years ago, after his appointments by the Clinton Administration.  But, really, Benet, you can't be that obtuse.  However, if you are, I'm sorry I brought it up because its not your fault and there's nothing you can do about it.

While I think all Christians are insane for believing in a magic Santa. I find your republican rhetoric archaic. No longer will Americans allow a small majority to tell them they are not "good" Americans simply because they do not spout the party line. That might continue to work in China, but real Americans here are not going to take that BS anymore (8 years is enough). Any American who speaks out against the policies of our Administration foreign or domestic is still an American; and any American who dares to disagree with me...guess what? Is still an American. We are the land of the free with the constitutional right to dissent.

To your other points, you are looking for an unprecedented disclosure to what end? You are proposing that a man can be retroactively declared unfit because of some event or association in his past?  Kennedy is considered one of America's great presidents and this guy was gang banging actresses and models all over the country? Did that make him any less great? This is a very long conversation but I will make it short and say that perhaps your model for what makes a man a leader is seriously flawed. And where you are looking to validate your model is equally as flawed.  While I agree a man is as he does, it is people like you that eviscerate a president because he inhaled, but maybe the fact that he inhaled makes him a great president?

It is not I that is naive. I understand the world is dynamic and that every battle plan changes when it hits that ground. Situations that are fluid (and most are) require a flexibility of mind and agenda. To not appreciate and understand this would be the very definition of naive. 

Naive, Definition: showing a lack of experience, judgement, or information...

Looks like that could be possible:

Bill - reread the article -

1. Ran against Obama in Democratic Primary

2. Is one of the most prominent HIspanics in Democratic Party

think they covered it

Except, as stated before, when it is a D they bury the information. They do that because they know most people only read the first few paragraphs. Let's see.... it first appears in paragraph 13. Yep, they covered it allright.

If he was a Republican this is how the first paragraph would have read . . .

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (R NM), tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama (R) to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a large money grubbing corporation that has done business with his state and the threat of criminal reprisals.

And every liberal on this blog would have been calling him a liar and a thief and a Bush (sorry I mean Obama) supporter.

I agree...sweep both left and right parties out and replace them with repsonsible centrist Independents who follow the Constitution and serve the people not themselves. Vote independent in 2010 for mid term elections in Congress and throw them all out and then vote Independent in 2012 for President and leave these unethical career politicians on the ash heap of history before it is our country we find on that very pile of ashes. We need great stewards of government not career seeking criminals.

Jack,
100% spot on. I have not voted for either party in decades. I did not throw my vote away like so many think. I cringed when Richy was appointed. It's a good day. Hillary next. Would it be too much to ask Obama and the rest of the goons running this Country to leave? We can start over. I would put a million Americans to work deporting and building a fence. Immigration Control Czar.

How about Pelosi? No one talks about her big supporter Starkist. You know, the one her husband holds 17 mil worth the stock? The same one that has it's factory in the American Samoas? Lucky for them that the American Samoas were exempted out of the minimum wage hike. Oh, and lucky for them that this latest bail out bill included millions for American investment in the American Samoas. All sides are crooks in the government!! They all need to be removed from office and we need to start over.

Tommy Mc,  You cannnt sweep, what isn't even there yet.  It will take a great deal of cleaning up and brooms to clean up after your buddies, Bush and Cheney.  You just wait to see what all will be revealed after their pony show leaves town.

Yeah... it seemed like those women in the hall way he was grabby ass with really liked it.

Oh, just watch the dirt start coming up on Richardson. 

Just what the stupid Repubs were waiting for. Repubs are the most corrupt party around and u luv it when u think a Dem is involved. the people who should be put in Jail are Bush, Chaney, and his cronies.

Yeah, USMC28, we all know the Clinton's, Kennedy's, Obama, and all their cronies are angels, right???

Wake up and smell the coffee, both parties are full of scumbags, and only a zombie would fall into this foney oposition game they have you in!

I'm wide awake, but what i see here is a bunch of hypocrisy from the repubs. Zombie Lmaof, at that statement. The only Zombies i see are the non-American repubs. I am quite aware that there is corruption on both sides but most of it is from the right.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names (zombies) will never hurt me!

Try that on third grader . . .

Free-America just what does ur name mean. Free what and whom? as far as i know ur free to do whatever you want. Like maybe leave the country if your so dissatisfied with it. Its people like you so called patriots who think they know what is a true AAmerican is and what is best for this country.

Where do u want me to start Seen enough.  Tom Delay, Scooter Libbey, Dick Chaney, The former attorney general Gonzalez, the cronies in Alabama who charged the former Governor with trumped up fake charges can't wait till the get Rove and everyone else involved with that case put behind bars. The list is longer shall i go on Repug.

USMC My ass,  Chris Dudd, Barney Fuanks, Nancy (36 LONG Bra Size ) PEE , Blowhardavich,Ried, Paulson, $90,000 Mr. Washington Loosiana, WE can ALL write a long list on both sides of the isle ,OH I forgot Larry toilet stall Craig, ! The bottom line is GET SOME BALLS and throw the Bastards out of office ! " SEMPER FI" What does that mean?

Bill, in USMC's, and his parties case, it would interpret "always faithful(to the party line)".

Btw, isn't always the out-of-touch likes of USMC that you find hanging out in the left ? Wow.

If you are in Politics your are around scumbags, period.

Don't any of you get it?  Hillary is 61-years-old.  She can't wait eight more years.  She's got to make sure she gets in while the Republicans are reorganizing.  So she has to dump the dirt on everyone who was in Bill Clinton's Cabinet.  That means 90% of Obama's Cabinet.  Then she will be the only viable candidate in 2012.  If the Republicans put Palin up against her, she'll be a shoo-in.

Nana, living on a grassy knoll, are ya' ?

Sounds more like she is in the book depository with a pair of binoculars overlooking the grassy knoll.

This happens to every president-elect of both parties.  They pick people for their cabinets based on known information, then the press and opponents start digging to discover more about the nominations.  They sometimes uncover facts that, even if untrue, would make confirmation difficult.

Can anybody think of any president who selected a cabinet without anyone being challenged?

It's part of the process.  Time will tell whether or not Richardson is guilty of accepting conflict of interest money for his campaign. 

Since the situation has not been resolved, and would be a distraction at a time when the country has greater issues to deal with , it is good that he has withdrawn his name.   Later, if the investigation exonerates him, he can move back into a government position.

Great idea, sigmund.

wow sparky. that is harsh.

Sorry you still have him sparky.  I can see where he's all talk and no substance.  I'm glad that they finally saw through him before it was too late for the larger part of the country.

Maybe this will start the ball rolling for your state and they can get him out of there.

Well, I agree this is good for America but probably not for New Mexico.  The Ron Brown reference is over the top, though.

with an attitude like that you DON'T live in New Mexico, go milk the cows and leave intelligent conversation to people who know how.

Hey crotch, getting rid of another crooked politician who trades on his ethnicity is a good move, both for the country and for New Mexico.  I'm surprised you can't see it.  With regard to Brown, he may have been incompetent, but no one contended he was crooked.  Give me incompetence any day.