My Two for One Candidacy of Change and Experience

IRAQ

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have said that all the candidates have about the same position on Iraq. Well, that is just not true. I would pull all of our troops out as quickly as possible. I would not leave any combat troops behind. They all would leave troops behind indefinitely -- up to 75,000 by some estimates. That is a serious difference; American lives hang in the balance.

Over the past few days, General David Petraeus has stood up and clearly stated his position on the war to the American people. I respect him for doing so. He is doing the best he can to support the George Bush-Dick Cheney position on Iraq. The problem is that the position is disastrous. There is no longer a military solution to the debacle in Iraq. Numerous independent reports confirm the obvious: we are not making real strategic progress. Our troops are dying in the midst of a civil war. The Iraqis will not take the necessary steps toward political reconciliation until we make it clear that we are leaving their country for good.

Unlike General Petraeus, some of my opponents in the race for the Democratic nomination have been less forthcoming about their positions. At the ABC presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa, I asked the other candidates point blank: How many troops would you leave behind? 25,000? 50,000? 75,000? For how long would you leave them?

I did not get an answer. I am still waiting -- and so are the American people. We got into this mess in Iraq because we did not pay enough attention. We did not scrutinize exactly what our leaders were telling us. Now is the time to debate these matters in detail, not after we have picked our nominee. I have laid out my plans explicitly. Unlike some in this race, you know where I stand. Our troops have performed magnificently, but they have become targets in a civil war. We must get all of our troops out and get them out now. I believe any plan short of this unnecessarily risks extending a tragic war. Only when all of our troops are out can the diplomatic work begin to reconcile the parties, rebuild the country, and stabilize the region.

I am the one candidate in this race with a straightforward plan to end this war and the international experience to make it happen.

EDUCATION

Education is the key to our country's future. It may not be a sexy topic, but it should be one of the top issues discussed in this presidential campaign. We can no longer turn our backs on the needs of our public schools and teachers. We must once and for all get rid of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). In many urban areas of this nation, nearly half of the students don't graduate from high school on time. That is unacceptable in America! When I am president, we are going to bring real help to our public schools. Pay higher wages to teachers. Create math and science innovation academies so our kids can compete in the 21st century. As president, I will set a national goal- American students will be #1 in the world in math and science within 15 years.

President Bush promised to be the education president. That promise got about as far as his promise not to run an arrogant foreign policy. NCLB has been a failure because like everything else the Bush administration does, after the photo-ops, the policy got stuck in a drawer and forgotten about. Well, we cannot afford to forget about our children. Schools that are in trouble need help, not punishment. That is the basic problem with NCLB -- it hurts the schools that most need help. Few things motivate me more to serve as President of the United States than the opportunity to lead on the issue of education.

HEALTH CARE

The quality of life for your child should not depend on how much money you make. Health care is literally a life and death issue for large segments of our country. We have a moral obligation to act. My plan would guarantee affordable coverage for every American. The plan will achieve its goal without creating new levels of bureaucracy. Anyone can choose to keep his or her own coverage if so desired. For veterans, I will create a Heroes' Health Card to provide the care they need. We cannot afford to fail on health care -- we need a president with a record of getting things done. In New Mexico, I offered coverage for every child under the age of 12. My "Insure New Mexico" initiative expanded health insurance for working families. I increased the number of immunizations and doubled the number of school health clinics for children. Universal coverage is not merely a pipe dreamv -- I will implement it. I am the candidate with a record of results.

Comments

[preed407]

BR is the most logical in 3 areas salient to the populace in 2008. Energy, Foreign Policy and Health Care are particularly on the minds of the 2008 voter. He is also the only candidate who can cross party lines to be elected in 2008.

[frank67]

I support Governor Richardson. I support Representative Kucinich. I support John Edwards. My heart is for Kucinich, but practically, I favor Richardson. Regardless, I'll support the Devil as long as he's a Democrat.

[poopdeck]

I favor the withdrawal of all troops from Iraq but your plan is a prescription for certain disaster. There are at least 200,000 U.S. civilians working in Iraq today. If you become president and on your first day in the White House you do not order and assist in their speedy evacuation from Iraq BEFORE any troops leave, an increasing number of killed U.S. civilians will begin to dangle from bridges across the Tigris and Euphrates not only in Fallujah and Baghdad but in other Iraqi cities as well. The American public will be denouncing you, Sir, and rightly demand your impeachment. You, President Richardson will have to halt the withdrawal of troops or, worse, send the army right back in. Your plan as it stands now is pure demagoguery.

[dora rice]

pull out and not one troop left behind. Bush made this chaos and we have to admit to the world that a bunch of special interest guys got us into this unholy situation. We don't have to stay there for 10 years because of it.
Let's get out and do damage control as much as is possible after their disastrous decicisions. Let's admit it was wrong and move on. We don't leave chaos behine. Bush left chaos behind. Let him be tried for his war crimes and convicted to save faith in the world.

[dunlow]

Hillary is a paper tiger. Once the voters have
their say, we won't be talking about her. Iraq
might do for America what Afghanistan did for
the Soviet Union. We must stop throwing our
resources on an effort that is less than noble
anyway. Our actual effort concerns controlling
the natural resources of other countries.
Richardson's position is both right and honorable.

[deminmo]

I have some concerns about campaign financing, how the candidates get their funding. It seems there is a lot of questions regarding this issue. Where do you stand on this, Mr. Richardson? We will have a military presence in Iraq for many years, because of 2 things:
1. The occupation has destabalized the goverment as well as starting a civil war.

2. Al Qaeda will continue to gain strength and our oil interest would be threatened.

[jwsub28]

Well Bill Richardson might have those ambitions, but the reality is that it will not happen. Tonight the president will tell us that not only is the surge working but we are going to set up permanent base in Iraq. Now this is going to go over really well in the middle east. Way to go Bushy!! Can this guy get a brain at any point in his administration. He put his puppets in to take the heat and answer the questions from congress this week, and now he is going to tell us "oh by the way we are never going to leave." This is going to be a massive mistake. They keep adding up, mistake after mistake. Does he actually think that these crazy people are going to let this happen quietly? Sure we have bases in Korea, but this is a totally different war and more soldiers will be killed. I bet the violence goes up big time. There is a reason that Bush lost every business he tried to build, he is not capable of running anything much less this country. His term can't end soon enough for me. I feel like I am in the twilight zone.

[pmprescott]

I'm a teacher in New Mexico and I support Bill Richardson. There are so many frustrated voters who are waiting for a Democrat to show some backbone and stand up to Bush/Cheney and do what we all want -- which is to get out of Iraq. He has not said that there would be equipment left behind, or that it would be easy, but it's more of what I want to hear and the 70% of the American public that is against this war than what the other candidates are saying. I haven't always agreed with everything Bill has done in the six years of his governorship, but he has my respect and my vote for as long as he's running. I'm voting for someone with backbone!

[twasbrillignslithy]

Govenor Richardson,
Had you run in the last presidential election I would have voted for you. The most experienced, good record on environmental issues, etc. But that you believe being gay is a 'choice' shows that you are lacking either a well-rounded education or an open mind. I couldn't vote for you now. You're too late.

[iskelton]

Gov. Richardson,

I, too, wish you well in your candidacy. I also hold out hope that, in the event you are not the party top choice, you would reconsider your stated plan of declining a VP slot to return to your important job governing NM. The country needs you more. It will take 30 years to reverse all the damage. I feel we need a slam-dunk ticket and that Gore/Richardson is that ticket. Your leadership would guarantee 16 years of experience AND change. Best of luck!!

[justinoguy]

NONE running can stand in the shadow of Ron Paul for being Right in his goals as president.Read his position on the laws passed in this country of late. Look into his voting record. ALL the candidates are part of the dialectic except Ron paul.I have been watching this country spiral down for 40 years. I have watched as the politicians blamed the "Silent Majority" for failing to communicate their wants prior to a "Bad Bill" being passed, back 30 plus years ago, anyone remember THAT dodge? NOW, we have the internet & we have virtual instant communication. HOW can THEY explain away passing the Patriot Act? How can THEY explain away all the things that have destroyed our freedoms? The only way they can do it to tell us, ITS TYRANNY stupid, sit down & watch us rule you.Vote for Ron Paul, or get more of the same. BILL Has no clue how to read the Constitution. His "Programs" sound nice, BUT, education IS a local issue. The Fed has NO business in it, anywhere.
Ron Paul will eliminate so many illegal, unconstitutional, alphabet agency federal agencies WE will have a chance to prosper! Stop stealing all our monies & let us KEEP the fruits of our labors! Elect Ron Paul!

[gems]

Dennis Kucinich and you governor are my favorites.
Best luck to you both.
Gemma

[RLMcKee]

OK, that's added to my "dream team" list now:

President: Al Gore
Vice President: Barrack Obama
Majority Leader, Senate: Hillary Clinton
Speaker, House: Nancy Pelosi
UN Ambassador: Bill Clinton
Secretary of State: Richard Lugar
Secretary of Education: Bill Richardson
Secretary, Health & Human Services: John Edwards
Attorney General: Patrick Leahy
Secretary of the Interior: Dennis Kucinich
Secretary of Agriculture: Dick Gephardt
Secretary of Commerce: Chris Dodd
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: John McCain
Secretary of the Treasury: Michael Bloomberg
Secretary of Defense: Chuck Hagel
Secretary of Labor: John Kerry
Secretary of Homeland Security: Joe Biden
Secretary, Housing and Urban Development: TBD
Secretary of Transportation: TBD
Secretary of Energy: TBD

[pablopianos]

I like Bill Richardson. He does have experience and he has been successful as New Mexico's governor.

But when will any candidate discuss the financial burden this nation is carrying?
As of this writing, the dollar is again devalued.

Our children and grandchildren will end up having to deal with this enormous debt. But it is incredulous to realize that the cause celebre for starting this diasterous war was for a long-term base in the Middle East.

When will we wake up? I don't know. After barrages of news and opinions, there are still 27% of Americans who believe Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11.

Democracy can work when there are enlightened voters who get off their asses and vote. However, the key word here is "enlightened", not propagandized.

[Purple Girl]

I must admit I have not been astatic about any particluar candidate. I praise your foresight to use this forum for your ideas. I agreed with everything you have discussed in this post.
I feel you have the leadership and the experience to be an assest to our country in any role.
Not only our nation,but all around the world an immediate turn around is needed. But not just person can do it, nor from only one perspective. We are not just electing a president we are electing Leaders from all areas.
Personally, as a long time Dem, I want to meet our next Interdisciplary Team respnosible for the Care Plan of our future and those who will follow in our path.
This teams first order of business should be the dismantling of this administration. This will lend itself to opening more doors at one time- nationally & globally. WE must regain our identity to work with the world in the goal to solve problems (and not create them). Our problems need to be eliminated on multi faceted planes.
The Executive branch should no longer be in the hands of one or two people. The Exuctive branch should be the Cabinet and the Pres only their spokes person.