Tuesday, May 08, 2007

My Lunch with Gov. Bill Richardson


New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson is a guy who's got the chops to be president. He was a 7-term Congressman. He was Bill Clinton's Ambassador to the United Nations and his Secretary of Energy. He's sat at the negotiating table with the North Koreans, the Palestinians and the Israelis. He's extremely charismatic and has a killer smile. He's downright likable. He just might be the smart, highly qualified guy you'd like to have a beer with.

But Gov. Richardson is not your father's Democrat. He's pro-choice, pro-guns, pro-business and believes the rich get socked with too much taxes. "If you tax the rich too much they'll become destitute," he said. And that's what I like about this guy. He marches to the beat of his own drum.

I joined the Governor for lunch at a friend's office Tuesday as part of a group of about a dozen influential New Yorkers who came to hear the 2008 presidential hopeful discuss the issues and hold an intimate Q&A. Richardson spoke freely and candidly about the Bush administration, the challenges America faces today, and how his 6-point plan makes him the best candidate for the job.

First and most important on his list is the Iraq war. In a break with all the other Democratic candidates, he seeks a complete pullout of US troops by the end of this year. He promises a diplomatic approach that would engage the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds in building a coalition government. He believes Iraq should be secured by a Muslim peacekeeping force. "I believe in diplomacy first and then using force second, unlike our president who believe in shooting first and then using diplomacy second."

The other positions he discussed, on subjects ranging from energy and the environment to education, health care and jobs creation, are well documented and can be explored on his website. Rather than regurgitate them here, let me just say he makes an awful lot of sense and brings a creative, sincere approach to the process. Talking with him is like talking with a real guy, not a political automaton. Washington could use a fresh thinker like Richardson. He talks of his political "fate" in no uncertain terms when refering to the 'big event' that will likely thrust him into the "first tier" while bouncing one of the current front-runners into the second. Though he cannot articulate just what that event actually will be. Pretty trippy stuff, but you get the sense that he truly believes in his own brand of karma.

Readers of this blog know of my staunch support of Al Gore and my prediction that he will enter the race by October. I asked Richardson if he thought Gore would run, and if he would leapfrog to the head of the pack if he did. The Governor joked that "I don't want him to run!" Actually, I don't think he was joking at all. He said Gore would be a "formidable" opponent, but that he didn't think (read: hope) he would run. That said, should The Goracle continue to lambaste Bush and sound the global warming alarm from afar and not toss his hat into the ring, I could easily throw my support to the affable Governor from New Mexico. Take a look at Richardson. He could very well be the Dems' dark horse candidate.


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. As you may know, Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've finalized a scholarship with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; and grants with Columbia University, American Film Institute, NY Women in Film and Television, the Independent Feature Project, and the Nantucket Film Festival. Other initiatives will follow. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to incredible rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and more. In its first weekend, its gross-per-screen finished second to Spiderman 3. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

69 comments:

Anonymous said...

Andy, come on----get on board and support the Constitution and endorse Ron paul for President. Im an Independent and I hate the Republican party, but I support Ron Paul because he supercedes political party. He's a Constitutionalist who opposed the war from the start, he's against the Patriot act, against National ID cards and wants the traditional non-intervention with other countries. HE ALSO IS GOING TO PHASE OUT THE IRS!!! He said he would eliminate INCOME TAX! How could you NOT support this man?? He's just about the ONLY one running who does not have puppet strings attached to him. Ron Paul for President America!!

Anonymous said...

Gov. Richardson is indeed a formidable candidate with lots of good ideas. If former VP Gore runs (and I hope he will!), I think a virtually unbeatable ticket would be Mr. Gore and Mr. Richardson--geographically, politically, and ideologically well-balanced! A combination like that would be unstoppable!

Anonymous said...

To the first person who sent a comment: As long as Ron Paul is a Republican, I would never vote for him. Actually he has no place in the current extreme religious right wing Republican Party. If you vote for him, that means you agree with the Republicans. No way.

I like Gov. Richardson and his views. He is well spoken and has a great deal of experience on the world stage.

Democrats have a great field this time around and I am sure anyone of them will do a fine job.

Anonymous said...

Ron Paul is definitely a qualified candidate. I'm glad that someone brought him up here. I would vote for Ron Paul.

We need new blood to change Washington. The current gaggle of Democrats won't cut it. The current gaggle of Republicans, except for Ron Paul, won't cut it either.

The main stream media wont give Ron Paul the appropriate amount of attention, because they are in love with Shillary and Barrack Osama Obama.

Anonymous said...

RON PAUL IS RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN.

WAKE UP! YOU GET THE PARTY HE RUNS WITH.

WHAT IS IT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT HOW POLITICS WORK???????

Anonymous said...

Hey Andy,
Check out this candidate who thinks poor people have less money than rich people and that we should end the war immediately by cutting off the $

http://kucinich.us

Anonymous said...

I’m a huge Richardson fan. But I don’t think you’ll tax the rich into pecuniary difficulties. What many will do is simply move money offshore. A recent OECD study is update to work done during the Clinton era…

http://www.oecd.org/document/28/0,2340,en_2649_201185_36789980_1_1_1_1,00.html

…hints at the size of the problem. For one thing, the Cayman Islands is the fifth largest banking center in the world! Imagine how much your taxes would drop if all that offshore money was brought back into Western democracies and taxed. Remember, this is all portfolio, income-generating capital, so even the US’s low fifteen percent capital gains taxes doesn’t “bring it back.” So much fo their complaint that US taxes are “too high.”

Senator Max Baucus is a leader in the effort to get the offshore banking centers to share information. Other politicians should get on board. The IRS found that over two million credit / debit cards are used in the US whose bills are paid for from these accounts.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0203/28/ltm.08.html

…imagine if you had an offshore credit card financed and paid off with tax free money to spend an anything you wanted.

The offshore centers will share information about a crime, but tax evasion is not a crime there. A clever loophole, they use to justify keeping their client’s money out of its rightful jurisdiction.

Of course, you can count on the Bush administration to do the wrong thing. One of their first acts was to pull support for the global effort to bring this capital back into the tax regimes (and they screamed at Clinton for supporting foreign lobbyists!) The leader in the US is The Center for Freedom and Prosperity Tied to the Heritage Foundation…

http://www.freedomandprosperity.org/index.shtml

….of course they go on and on about “the Reagan legacy” but what they support is rich folks running their capital out of the US tax collector’s hands, illegally.

Even as the US government realized the extent of terror organizations hiding their money – post 9/11 – the Bush administration hasn’t taken the simply, profitable step of denying banking and market access to the off shore centers. Don’t ever believe them when they say they’re doing everything they can.

Sen. Richardson, And all the rest of the candidates should pick up the mantle of forcing offshore centers to show who the rightful owners of offshore nominee and trust accounts are. And make them pay their fair share.

Anonymous said...

Richardson is a Hispanic chauvinist which became clearly visible during the Dem debate. His other responses were not well thought out and had little substance. And his concern for the rich who will become destitute if taxed is pathetically laughable. How can you mention him in the same breath with Gore, Ostroy? Or how can you rate him as the choice above Edwards?

Anonymous said...

Working Americans like lower taxes. So do I. Lower taxes benefit all of us, creating jobs and allowing us to make more decisions for ourselves about our lives.

Whether a tax cut reduces a single mother’s payroll taxes by $40 a month or allows a business owner to save thousands in capital gains taxes and hire more employees, that tax cut is a good thing. Lower taxes allow more spending, saving, and investing which helps the economy – that means all of us.

Real conservatives have always supported low taxes and low spending.

But today, too many politicians and lobbyists are spending America into ruin. We are nine trillion dollars in debt as a nation. Our mounting government debt endangers the financial future of our children and grandchildren. If we don’t cut spending now, higher taxes and economic disaster will be in their future – and yours.

In addition, the Federal Reserve, our central bank, fosters runaway debt by increasing the money supply – making each dollar in your pocket worth less. The Fed is a private bank run by unelected officials who are not required to be open or accountable to “we the people.”

Worse, our economy and our very independence as a nation is increasingly in the hands of foreign governments such as China and Saudi Arabia, because their central banks also finance our runaway spending.

We cannot continue to allow private banks, wasteful agencies, lobbyists, corporations on welfare, and governments collecting foreign aid to dictate the size of our ballooning budget. We need a new method to prioritize our spending. It’s called the Constitution of the United States.

-Ron Paul

Michael said...

Hey anonymous - What does Richardson's Hispanic ancestry have to do with your baseless accusation that he is a chauvinist? It seems that, sadly, racism still exists even in the Democratic party.

And after Edwards' horrible performance in his debate with Dick Cheney I don't see how anyone can still support him. With his perfectly coifed hair he'd fit in better on dancing with the stars than as leader of the free world.

Anonymous said...

So called free trade deals and world governmental organizations like the International Criminal Court (ICC), NAFTA, GATT, WTO, and CAFTA are a threat to our
independence as a nation. They transfer power from our government
to unelected foreign elites.

The ICC wants to try our soldiers as war criminals. Both the WTO and CAFTA could force Americans to get a doctor’s prescription to take herbs and vitamins. Alternative treatments could be banned.
The WTO has forced Congress to change our laws, yet we still face trade wars. Today, France is threatening to have U.S. goods taxed throughout Europe. If anything, the WTO makes trade relations worse by giving foreign competitors a new way to attack U.S. jobs.

NAFTA’s superhighway is just one part of a plan to erase the borders between the U.S. and Mexico, called the North American Union. This spawn of powerful special interests, would create a single nation out of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with a new unelected bureaucracy and money system. Forget about controlling immigration under this scheme.

And a free America, with limited, constitutional government, would be gone forever.

Let’s not forget the UN. It wants to impose a direct tax on us. I successfully fought this move in Congress last year, but if we are going to stop ongoing attempts of this world government body to tax us, we will need leadership from the White House.

We must withdraw from any organizations and trade deals that infringe upon the freedom and independence of the United States of America.

-Ron Paul

Anonymous said...

Michael,
Of course racism still exists in the Democrat Party.

* How many times does Robert "KKK" Byrd have to be re-elected for you to figure that out?

* Al Sharpton is always in the DNC Primaries

* Hillary Clinton turns on the fake accent every time she is surrounded by minorities

* Senator Biden is always captured on video/audio making inappropriate comments about minorities

* New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin wants a 'chocolate city'

* There has never been a black cabinet member of any Democrat US President.

* Any black cabinet member of a Republican US President is immediately labeled a "sellout" or "uncle tom" by Democrats.

How many examples do you need?

Anonymous said...

The war in Iraq was sold to us with false information. The area is more dangerous now than when we entered it. We destroyed a regime hated by our direct enemies, the jihadists, and created thousands of new recruits for them. This war has cost more than 3,000 American lives, thousands of seriously wounded, and hundreds of billions of dollars. We must have new leadership in the White House to ensure this never happens again.

Both Jefferson and Washington warned us about entangling ourselves in the affairs of other nations. Today, we have troops in 130 countries. We are spread so thin that we have too few troops defending America. And now, there are new calls for a draft of our young men and women.

We can continue to fund and fight no-win police actions around the globe, or we can refocus on securing America and bring the troops home. No war should ever be fought without a declaration of war voted upon by the Congress, as required by the Constitution.

Under no circumstances should the U.S. again go to war as the result of a resolution that comes from an unelected, foreign body, such as the United Nations.

Too often we give foreign aid and intervene on behalf of governments that are despised. Then, we become despised. Too often we have supported those who turn on us, like the Kosovars who aid Islamic terrorists, or the Afghan jihads themselves, and their friend Osama bin Laden. We armed and trained them, and now we’re paying the price.

At the same time, we must not isolate ourselves. The generosity of the American people has been felt around the globe. Many have thanked God for it, in many languages. Let us have a strong America, conducting open trade, travel, communication, and diplomacy with other nations.

- Ron Paul

Anonymous said...

The talk must stop. We must secure our borders now. A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked. This is my six point plan:

1. Physically secure our borders and coastlines. We must do whatever it takes to control entry into our country before we undertake complicated immigration reform proposals.
2. Enforce visa rules. Immigration officials must track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays their visa or otherwise violates U.S. law. This is especially important when we recall that a number of 9/11 terrorists had expired visas.
3. No amnesty. Estimates suggest that 10 to 20 million people are in our country illegally. That’s a lot of people to reward for breaking our laws.
4. No welfare for illegal aliens. Americans have welcomed immigrants who seek opportunity, work hard, and play by the rules. But taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, and social services.
5. End birthright citizenship. As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. illegally will remain strong.
6. Pass true immigration reform. The current system is incoherent and unfair. But current reform proposals would allow up to 60 million more immigrants into our country, according to the Heritage Foundation. This is insanity. Legal immigrants from all countries should face the same rules and waiting periods.

Anonymous said...

The biggest threat to your privacy is the government. We must drastically limit the ability of government to collect and store data regarding citizens’ personal matters.

We must stop the move toward a national ID card system. All states are preparing to issue new driver’s licenses embedded with “standard identifier” data – a national ID. A national ID with new tracking technologies means we’re heading into an Orwellian world of no privacy. I voted against the Real ID Act in March of 2005.

To date, the privacy focus has been on identity theft. It was Congress
that created this danger by mandating use of the standard identifier (currently your SSN) in the private sector. For example, banks use SSNs as customer account identifiers because the government requires it.

We must also protect medical privacy. Right now, you’re vulnerable. Under so-called "medical privacy protection" rules, insurance companies and other entities have access to your personal medical information.

Financial privacy? Right now depositing $10,000 in your local bank will generate a “suspicious activity report” to the federal government.

And then there’s the so-called Patriot Act. As originally proposed,

* Expanded the federal government's ability to use wiretaps without judicial oversight;
* Allowed nationwide search warrants non-specific to any given location, nor subject to any local judicial oversight;
* Made it far easier for the government to monitor private internet usage;
* Authorized “sneak and peek” warrants enabling federal authorities to search a person’s home, office, or personal property without that person’s knowledge; and
* Required libraries and bookstores to turn over records of books read by their patrons.


I have fought this fight for many years. I sponsored a bill to overturn the Patriot Act and have won some victories, but today the threat to your liberty and privacy is very real. We need leadership at the top that will prevent Washington from centralizing power and private data about our lives.

Anonymous said...

We must stop special interests from violating property rights and literally driving families from their homes, farms and ranches.

Our country’s founders would roll over in their graves if they saw the takings clause in the Fifth Amendment used to justify booting people out of their homes for the profit of private developers and tax-hungry local governments. The Supreme Court’s Kelo decision said government power could be used to condemn private homes and churches to benefit a huge pharmaceutical corporation and a large property developer.

Today, we face a new threat of widespread eminent domain actions as a result of powerful interests who want to build a NAFTA superhighway through the United States from Mexico to Canada.

We also face another danger in regulatory takings: Through excess regulation, governments deprive property owners of significant value and use of their properties – all without paying “just compensation.”

Property rights are the foundation of all rights in a free society. Without the right to own a printing press, for example, freedom of the press becomes meaningless. The next president must get federal agencies out of these schemes to deny property owners their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property.

- this and the previous 3 posts are Ron Paul

Anonymous said...

3:28,
Ron Paul is not fat, plus he is the one candidate from either party that cares about the country and the constitution. All the rest just want the power, except for Al gore - he's going to get in it for the food.

Anonymous said...

10:36,
John Edwards is not rich because he is successful, he is rich because he is 'studying' the difference between the rich and the poor.

Just like the reason he took the job at the elitist Hedge Fund. To quote John himself, "I went to a hedge fund because I wanted to learn about poverty."

His latest excuse for his 28,000 square foot house? He is studying the difference a larger house will make on Global Warming.

What an a$$hole. He's just one of a zillion hypocritical democrats out there.

Anonymous said...

God, why is America so stupid??? Ron Paul is a REAL Republican, the majority of Republicans in office now and running are not REAL Republicans, they are bought and paid for Neo-con elitists who are trying to imperialize America. There is NOTHING wrong with REAL, TRUE Republican values and policies. Did you know that non-intervention with other countries is a long-time Republican policy, but yet most Republicans now are pro-war and want to rule the world by attacking other countries when they have done NOTHING to us. Ron Paul voted AGAINST Iraq from the start, he is AGAINST the Patriot Act, he is AGAINST abolishing Habeas Corpus, he is AGAINST the IRS, he is AGAINST the Federal Reserve, he is AGAINST the CIA, he is AGAINST big government, he is AGAINST National ID cards, he is AGAINST regulating the internet----my god, do I really need to continue? Ron Paul is the classic example of where political party does NOT matter. Look people, do your research, read the old traditional Republica party policies. They are very Constitutional and American. Ron Paul is a true Constitutionalist. He will do NOTHING that violates the Constitution. Having this guy in office will be like having one of the first Presidents we ever had in office in the late 1700's early 1800's. Do you think I like the Republican party? My God, NO. Are you kidding me? They are the biggest bunch of criminals this country has ever had and they all should be in prison. See people, what you dont realize is there really isnt that much difference between Republicans and Democrats, regardless of what we are told by the media or by politicians themselves. I always have liked the phrase "they are one party with two heads". That's the PERFECT way of describing it. Ron Paul stands alone. Ron Paul is a libertarian. Some media outlets are lying and saying "the Republicans in last weeks debate are pro-war". LIE! Ron Paul has been against Iraq from day one---and even the Democrats dont even like hearing that, even though they "claim" they are against the war too, because some of them were FOR the war from the start and there's nothing they hate more than a Republican who was against it from the start. Obama was the ONLY one against Iraq from the start...the others were for it at one time, and now they say they are against it just for their campaign. Hilary is the biggest flip-flopper that ever lived. Do research people. Learn about the old traditional Republican policies and learn about Ron Paul. My God people, he's going to END income tax!!!!!! Know why? because income tax is UNCONSTITUTIONAL, thats why! He is against the war, against the Patriot Act and he will END income tax!! What else do you need to vote for a man than this????? Stop equating Ron Paul with the modern day Republican. They are NOT Republicans nowadays, they are NEO-CONS. Read about Neo-cons too while youre at it. You will find out that Neo-con (which is short for Neo-conservative, Neo meaning "new") are actually AGAINST liberty and freedom. That is one of the reasons they CREATE issues that do NOT exist and blame it on liberals so people will hate liberals and so THEIR agendas can be advanced and supported by Americans. Example: O' Reilly's "war on Christmas"---which doesnt exist. Create an issue, LIE about traditional values being attacked and blame it on liberals so America can then hate liberals and hop on board the Neo-con train. See how it all works now? Ron Paul is NOT a Neo-con, he is a TRUE Constitutional American. Anyone who keeps saying "yes, but he's still a Republican" simply has not picked up a book and looked online at what Neo-conservatism is, or they think that today's Republicans are the same as the Republicans of the past. Look up Leo Strauss---read about him, then you'll learn about the REAL modern day Republican and why Ron Paul is NOT one of them.

Anonymous said...

the person above who posted all the Ron Paul dialogue---way to go. I forgot to mention that Ron Paul is very against eliminating the middle class and he is avery strong advocate for bringing back the value of the dollar. The dollar is now worth only 4 cents. He will change that. Good job anon from above!

Anonymous said...

If Andy is smart and REALLY wants America to be great again, he will get off this Republican/Democrat kick, and vote for the PERSON who will make America great again----vote for the PERSON, not the PARTY. I HATE George W Bush and his whole criminal administration----but this is NOT a Republican/Democrat battle----it's a NEO-CON/ true American battle. Ron Paul is NOT a Neo-con-----regardless of his party---he is the one who will make things great again. Dont attack ME---read about this, study Ron Paul, learn about him. Dont be an asshole and character assassinate me just because you might not like what Im saying. Research this and investigate WHO these candidates are. the WORST thing you can do is get your news about these people FROM THE MEDIA!!!! Research it yourself! NOBODY---Republican OR Democrat will get this country BACK to greatness like Ron Paul can. Why do you think he's being totally IGNORED by the media? BECAUSE HE'S A TRUE CONSTITUTIONALIST and he's a THREAT to Neo-cons who basically RUN the country! thats why!!! Andy, get off the "political party" wagon and hop on board the TRUE American values party. Go to You Tube, watch clips of Ron Paul---read books, go to websites---get the word out. Tell everyone you know to vote for Ron Paul, and if he doesnt make the ticket----write him in!!!!

Anonymous said...

i am the one who posted the above 3 posts. To see who I am and what i stand for, go to my site:

www.realtruthonline.blogspot.com

there you'll see what Im no Bush lover, or Republican lover but you'll clearly see that I fully support Ron Paul.

Anonymous said...

i meant to say, "there you'll see THAT im no Bush lover..."

Anonymous said...

9:53 Are you crazy?

Since John Edwards was born into and raised in poverty and he is now a multi-milliionaire, he then has to be considered a successful workman.

And, he has never said that Americans should not be rich; he has said that ALL should have the opportunity to become rich and all should have a comfortable life.

Anonymous said...

As a nine year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol, I could never endorse a candidate such as Bill Richardson. His views on immigration are totally unacceptable. Based upon my experience, I have always believed that mass Illegal Immigration, not terrorism, is the biggest threat to the future of the United States. The border is far from being secure and the thousands of illegal aliens that pour across our southern border are becoming increasingly bold and non-compliant. This is undoubtedly due to all the encouragement and support they receive from apologists and racist organizations such as MALDEF, LULAC, MEChA, AILA, ACLU, etc. The sheer number of criminal aliens that we apprehend would shock every American citizen if the truth were told. Ask any working FIELD AGENT, and you would be told that we need "Comprehensive Enforcement Reform" which would include more agents, cameras, sensors, air support, marine support, canine support, and Fences. The border wall would be a GREAT asset used in conjunction with other technology and would definitely work well to hinder illegal entries. Politicians such as Richardson often say that a wall would not work. Of course a wall would not be the end-all solution, but it would be a very effective tool to help us control the border. Politicians and illegal alien activists don't work along the border on a daily basis, so it's quite amusing to hear them state their opinions on border security.

P.S. Here is a link to the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center located in Cameron County, Texas. All the inmates that have notations such as, "Hold for BORCAP," "Immigration Detainer," or similar wording included in their charges, are illegal aliens. Those are just the ones that we've had the chance to interview! So many new criminal aliens come in each day, that we don't have time to get to the rest of the inmate population. So here's a little taste of the truth...

http://www.co.cameron.tx.us/eagle/HTML/Inmates/ICURRENT.HTM

Anonymous said...

Ostroy,
Your little story about your lunch with Richardson seems to be going over real well in this thread. Maybe you should go to lunch with Ron Paul instead?

I bet you tried to go to lunch with Gore, but you couldn't pull any food out of his tight grip. Tell us about his diet again, that was wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Re: Ron Paul

Rep. Ron Paul is from Texas and is a former Libertarian. He is against the Iraq war and is an isolationist regarding foreign policy. Why on earth should anyone have lunch with him?
In a newspaper article from Utah, Ron Paul is better suited to be a talk show host than a president. And this coming from most likely a GOP editor!

Dear God, do we need anyone else from Texas when you have given us GW Bush and Tom DeLay? Please see it in your infinite wisdom to choose another state, just not Florida, and sent this country a true savior of democracy rather than corruption.

Anonymous said...

hey anonymous 4:31pm-----WHO CARES where Ron Paul is from? Ive told people a million fucking times, in Ron Paul's case, home state and party is superseded by the FACT that that he is AGAINST the war and has been from the beginning, he's against the Patriot Act, he is against the IRS and INCOME TAX and he's against the Federal Reserve. He's a TRUE constitutionalist and will get this country back to where it needs to be. Ron Paul is NOT against intervention overseas when it is NECESSARY for us to be there. Ron paul is against America being the world's police and getting our fucking schozes involved in every fucking problem and conflict in the entire world. Why dont you READ about Ron Paul and stop getting your "facts" from FAUX News or some other dumbfuck station that is trying to blackout Ron Paul??? Im sick and tired of people talking about Ron Paul as if they have studied him longer than 5 seconds!

Anonymous said...

I'm with Anonymous 4:31. Remember Bush said he was a "compassionate conservative" and a "uniter not a divider." He's from Texas, don't you know?

4:31 says: "Rep. Ron Paul is from Texas and is a former Libertarian" which means he probably lies like Bush and remains a Libertarian at heart and switched only to have a better chance a being elected.

Anonymous said...

Bush switched positions; Romney has switched positions; McCain has switched positions; Rudy has switched positions and Paul will switch -- well, he has switched from Libertarian to Republican. The Republicans cannot be trusted - they are either wishy-washy or liars. However, the results are the same.

Anonymous said...

1:27 AM

Being irrate will not win readers over to Ron Paul.

Ron Paul himself has not shown up on the radar for candidates. At this point, ranting for Ron Paul is pissing in the wind. The media doesn't even mention his name, and I'm taking the Big three, CNN, and MSNBC, since Fox News is not allowed in our home.

Libertarians are bank-rolled by republicans in many instances. Be careful where you put your loyalties.

Anonymous said...

"Be careful where you put your loyalties."

The Democrat party is sooo much better than Republicans and Libertarians.

As the Democrats start tightening their noose on the socialist police state they dream America can become, we have liberals on this blog attacking Ron Paul because he is the ONLY presidential candidate that is a constitutionalist.

Democrats in Congress have DONE NOTHING since controlling both houses. Now they are about to attack the first amendment:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110010072

I guess McCain-Feingold was not enough of an assault on the First Amendment, prepare for more...

Meanwhile, in the Big Brother state of New York, the Democrats are growing their DNA database to continue tracking more of the sheep that keep electing them to power

Anonymous said...

9:18 You're either brain-washed or brain-dead. Bush/Republicans have made the greatest assault against the Constitutiion in our history and deprived us of our Constitutional rights, some of which the Dems are trying to get back for us. And, many or the assaults were in the name of a war which was started based on lies to the American people. The Dems BARELY control both houses, which should be evident to a normal person, and what they can do is limited. The BIG UGLY BROTHER is this administration. And, while we're at it, the crazy right fringe of the Republican Party has decided the First Admendment and Second are the same so they shoot others to express their opinions -- like killing doctors who perform legal abortions. HOw's that for being a Big-Brother-type? Repubicans and Libertarians are different in name only.

red rabbit said...

Where to begin...? Ok an anonymous poster upthread stated

"* There has never been a black cabinet member of any Democrat US President."

That's just patently false.

*Robert Weaver served as Sec. of HUD under LBJ.

*Patricia Harris served as both Sec. of Health and Human Services AND Sec. of HUD under Carter.

*Alexis Herman - Sec. of Labor
*Mike Espy - Sec. of Agriculture
*Ron Brown - Sec of Commerce
*Hazel O'Leary - Sec. of Energy
*Rodney Slater - Sec. of Transportation
*Jesse Brown - Sec. of Veterans Affairs
*Togo West - Sec. of Veterans
The seven names listed above served under Clinton.

I like Bill Richardson. I agree that his qualifications are impressive and he's well-respected around the world (already that makes him a better pick than anyone else running). But I have a hard time getting around the whole Wen Ho Lee debacle.

Anyway, Andy, I just wanted to mention that I dragged my husband and two sons (+ 1 girlfriend) to see Waitress on Mother's Day and it broke our hearts. My boys are both over 21 and they admitted that, left to their own devices, they would've never seen this film. They've always thought Aliens was the quintessential Mother's Day film.

Peace and love to you and yours.

Anonymous said...

At the Debate of Dem. Candidates:

"Williams: Governor Richardson, you were one of the last people on this stage to call for the resignation of the attorney general, Attorney General Gonzales. When asked by a journalist why you were taking so long to make up your mind about this, you replied, quote, 'It's because he's Hispanic. I'm honest.'

Is that the right way to make personnel decisions?

Richardson: That's how I felt.

Now, what I said, too, Brian, was that I wanted to await Alberto Gonzales's testimony before the U.S. Senate, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

He hadn't had a chance to fully explain why, number one, he'd politicized the Justice Department: number two, ... "

When the non-Hispanic Wen Ho Lee was charged, Richardson was not so eager to give him any kind of a break. Wen Ho Lee was fired at once by Richardson. Richardson did not even offer the legal consideration that he was innocent until proven guilty.

Do we want a president blinded by loyalty to "his own people" and heartless in his care for others?

red rabbit said...

I personally do not feel ANY comraderie with Gonzalez. But, as a Latina, I do understand the hesitation Richardson feels. Maybe its progress when nonwhite officials inspire the same disgust that the white guys have been responsible for for decades.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone provide any ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the Legislative branch completely controlled by Democrats?

The only accomplishment, that I can recall is the minimum wage increase, which Nancy Pelosi made sure did not include her Samoa Tuna constituents.

Before we know it, it will be September 2007. Democrats have claimed that President Bush had enough time to stop 9/11 during the first 8 months of his administration. Will these liberals measure the Democrat-controlled House and Senate to the same level of expectations?

Anonymous said...

1:23 What is your problem? You wrote the same dreary points on this very blog several days ago. Are you projecting your own inability to "get a point" and thus think you have to keep repeating yourself so others will "get" what you're saying. We read it the first time, someone responded and most think you're STILL off-base.

Anonymous said...

Here's an accomplishment:

Yesterday (5/16/2007) House Democrats unveiled a plan to rewrite the House rules so that Congress can increase taxes and government spending without having to vote. The House voting rules on tax increases have been in place for 185 years, and little 'ole Nancy and her party want to yank the rug right under all that history. And why? What are Democrats so eager to spend money on, if not on national defense (as they refuse to fund the troops in Iraq)? And who do they want to raise taxes on? Well that would be the rich, because after all they have no right to keep the money that they rightfully earned...

The power of the purse is perhaps the most sacred power that Congress has, and Democrats are going to completely betray that trust by allowing money to be tossed around with absolutely no accountability. At a time when everyone (Democrats and Republicans) is fed up with ridiculous spending in Washington, this is exactly what our country does not need. Thanks but no thanks Democrats. You have demonstrated a hypocritical lack of sense and leadership time and time again, and you sure as hell will not be using any of my tax dollars without a proper vote

Anonymous said...

8:37 Who among the rich are you talking about who have rightfully earned their money? Are you talking about the Enron crowd, the Bush family, the Haliburton group, or even back to the Rockefellers and railroad barons? Or, perhaps the corporate CEO's who are hiring illegal aliens to save a buck at the expense of American workers? Or are you talking about John Edwards, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, almost everybody in Hollywood and a countless number of other extremely rich Democrats who believe in helping others not so fortunate and thus in need. You know, like the Bible says: "Feed the poor?" And, "Love thy neighbor". And if you're not religious think on the wise truth that our country can only be as strong as its weakest link.

Anonymous said...

5:58 pm,
You don't have to tell me about helping others. Study after study shows that conservatives give more to charity than liberals.

The 'rich' are those who pay taxes - the top 50% of incomes in America. Most of 'the rich' who will pay for reckless Democrat and Republican spending are not barons, nor Rockefellers.

And by the way, George Bush donates a hell of a lot more money to charity than John Kerry does. If you don't believe this, simply check the financial records they both released in 2004. Kerry made more and gave less.

You seem to think Hollywood and liberals do all the giving. You are so blinded by your hatred and jealousy of people who are more successful than yourself.

Anonymous said...

5:58,
Please name one person in Hollywood or in the Democrat party that gave all of his/her Bush Tax cut to charity? Not even Bill Clinton did this and he railed against not needing or wanting his tax break.

Anonymous said...

6:44 The Republicans may indeed contribute more to charities because they can then deduct it from the taxes which they hate. Not only that, donating makes them look good and wins them support and praise in their communities, churches, towns and businesses. It also is a huge boost to their egos when they pause to help out the "poor slobs who haven't made it " or "can't cut it"; and, they hope it is then obvious to others that they, themselves, have made it and "cut it." If you help the poor through taxes you get no glory or recognition Nobody knows. And how many Republicans are out building houses like Jimmy Carter, or helping AIDS victims in Africa like Clinton? I can't think of one. So please don't brag about Republican's genenoristy, altruism or loving kindness. It's just not there. Yet, you keep doing it. We've read your same old refrain many times before. Aren't you the one who says you support a Third World family?

Anonymous said...

I was driving near Louisiana just a week or 2 after Hurricane Katrina. The highways going to Louisiana were packed with cars, trucks, emergency supply vehicles. I literally saw hundreds of Bush/Cheney bumber stickers on cars from all over the country. I didn't notice a single Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker. I guess all the liberals and Kerry voters were out saving something more important, because they weren't going to New Orleans.

Anonymous said...

Who gives to charity?
By John Stossel
Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Americans are pretty generous. Three-quarters of American families give to charity -- and those who do, give an average of $1,800. Of course that means one-quarter of us don't give at all. What distinguishes those who give from those who don't? It turns out there are many myths about that.

To test them, ABC's "20/20" went to Sioux Falls, S.D., and San Francisco. We asked the Salvation Army to set up buckets at their busiest locations in both cities. Which bucket would get more money? I'll get to that in a minute.

San Francisco and Sioux Falls are different in some important ways. Sioux Falls is small and rural, and more than half the people go to church every week.

San Francisco is a much bigger and richer city, and relatively few people attend church. It is also known as a very liberal place, and since liberals are said to "care more" about the poor, you might assume people in San Francisco would give a lot.

But the idea that liberals give more is a myth. Of the top 25 states where people give an above-average percentage of their income, all but one (Maryland) were red -- conservative -- states in the last presidential election.

"When you look at the data," says Syracuse University professor Arthur Brooks, "it turns out the conservatives give about 30 percent more. And incidentally, conservative-headed families make slightly less money."


Researching his book, "Who Really Cares" (LINK: http://www.arthurbrooks.net/), Brooks found that the conservative/liberal difference goes beyond money:

"The people who give one thing tend to be the people who give everything in America. You find that people who believe it's the government's job to make incomes more equal, are far less likely to give their money away."

Conservatives are even 18 percent more likely to donate blood.

The second myth is that people with the most money are the most generous. But while the rich give more in total dollars, low-income people give almost 30 percent more as a share of their income.

Says Brooks: "The most charitable people in America today are the working poor."

We saw that in Sioux Falls, S.D. The workers at the meat packing plant make about $35,000, yet the Sioux Falls United Way says it gets more contributions of over $500 from employees there than anywhere else.

Note that Brooks said the "working" poor. The nonworking poor -- people on welfare -- are very different, even though they have the same income. The nonworking poor don't give much at all.

What about the middle class? Well, while middle-income Americans are generous compared to people in other countries, when compared to both the rich and working poor in America, Brooks says, "They give less."

When asked why, many say, "I don't have enough money to spare." But it's telling that the working poor manage to give.

Finally, Brooks says one thing stands out as the biggest predictor of whether someone will be charitable: "their religious participation." Religious people are more likely to give to charity, and when they give, they give more money -- four times as much.

But doesn't that giving just stay within the religion?

"No," says Brooks, "Religious Americans are more likely to give to every kind of cause and charity, including explicitly nonreligious charities. Religious people give more blood; religious people give more to homeless people on the street."

And what happened in our little test? Well, even though people in Sioux Falls make, on average, half as much money as people in San Francisco, and even though the San Francisco location was much busier -- three times as many people were within reach of the bucket -- by the end of the second day, the Sioux Falls bucket held twice as much money.

Another myth bites the dust.

John Stossel is an award-winning news correspondent and author of Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel--Why Everything You Know is Wrong.

Anonymous said...

8:21 Those Bush stickers represented cars owned by people who were trying to get back to their homes to try to start a life again. They hadn't had the chance to take those stickers off since the main job was to survive.

As for Republicans giving more to charity not doubt about it for the reaons explained by Anon.940above. Right off they tithe to get themselves into heaven and to keep peer-acceptance in their church community. Then the rest is for tax deductions, bragging rights, ego-satisfaction and to support charities that advance their political agenda.

Anonymous said...

David Sirota -- JOHN STOSSEL IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR is one among many articles about stossell's lack of integrity and his biased right-wing-libertarian obsession.

Sirota writes in his article:

"Stossl,, in many ways, is exactly why I wrotemy new book HOSTILE TAKEOVER - to strip bare the opportunists, shills and half-wits who dominate our political debate and show them for what they really are: pathological liars.

. . . how could one of the major networks eimploy a person with such disdaion for the truth and then call him a 'journalist'? It's a good question but Stossel hasmade a nice career behaving this way. For instance, Stosselhas tried to deny the scientific consensus surrounding global warmning, despite 928 peer-reviewed scientific papers on global warming published between 1997 and 2003 all concluding that global warming is rea, and human caused."

You get the idea. Stossels comments are not to be trusted or relied upon. It's a long article which you can google to reaad it all.

Anonymous said...

9:29,
Is donating blood tax deductible?

9:57,
There is no scientific consensus surrounding global warming. Plenty of scientists that once believed man has an effect on Global Warming, have recently changed their opinions. Check the URL below if you need to know who they are:

http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/global-warming051607.htm

Also, can you explain how man is causing the EXACT SAME GLOBAL WARMING effects on MARS??? I believe the common denominator between the global warming of both Earth and Mars, is the FACT that the Sun is warming.

Can you provide any studies that show liberals donate more of anything to the poor than conservatives donate?? The only reason liberals want charity via taxation is because liberals like to use other people's money for charity.

Anonymous said...

9:29 There are more extremely wealthy Democrats than there are Republicans. Therefore more Democratic tax dollars go to help the poor that those of Republicans.

How many scientists have travelled to Mars and benefited from on-site studies of the causes and effects of global warming? Since I think you probably don't know I'll tell you: None.

Anonymous said...

11:58,
How many scientists have traveled to the Sun, Jupiter, or Saturn to learn that they are gaseous entities?

Since I think you probably don't know I'll tell you:
NONE

Believe it or not, we can actually learn things without physically being there.

Anonymous said...

Keeping Americans informed about the true slaughter that continues unabated. Many new stories are added every single day. Illegal aliens want amnesty with no penalties and no requirements. Join together and stop this madness.

http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/13336930/detail.html

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070509-105234-6493r.htm

http://www.klas-tv.com/global/story.asp?s=6499353&ClientType=Printable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpomTIkv0V8

Anonymous said...

GORE IS A SLUG

that is all.

Anonymous said...

Here's more illegal alien information:

http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=3289942&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.4.1

Anonymous said...

Illegal Mexican sells marijuana to kids in his ice cream truck. You can't make this stuff up.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/driver_76765___article.html/police_truck.html

http://www.newschannel5.tv/2007/5/25/970276/Ice-Cream-Truck-Driver-Arraigned-

Anonymous said...

Another illegal alien drunk driver kills 4-year-old boy:

http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/2007053065/Illegal-immigrant-pleads-guilty-in-wreck-that-killed-4-year-old-boy/

Anonymous said...

Woman killed by illegal alien in CA. Who says that illegal aliens don't do significant damage to this country?

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_149051551.html

Anonymous said...

Star college athlete killed by illegal alien drunk driver. Starting to see a pattern yet?!

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=56739

Anonymous said...

Anonymous wrote: Star college athlete killed by illegal alien drunk driver. Starting to see a pattern yet?!

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=56739

Yes, you prejudiced nitwit, I do see a pattern. It's you sending us al this meaningless crap. Hey BTW, a middle aged white executive killed a kid in a drunk driving accident last week. In fact, there was a few instances like this this year. I say we thrown all rich white businessmen out of the country as a result.

Oy, if only you could see just what a moron you are.

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, the personal attacks begin. Just pointing out the fact that illegal aliens, people who shouldn't be physically present in the United States, are killing way too many Americans. You're right 2:04, I'm prejudiced against illegal aliens and mass illegal immigration into the United States. I've been in the immigration enforcement business for years, so I know what I'm talking about.

Anonymous said...

2:04

Why are you angry at the facts? All of those articles simply point out what's been happening in America. Throwing rich, white businessmen out of the country would be great if they committed a crime and they were in the country ILLEGALLY.
I'd be shocked if television news ever did a comprehensive report on the number of Americans killed by illegal aliens each year.

Anonymous said...

2:04, Here's another one for you. Illegal aliens are killing Americans faster than I can type.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/KTVKLNews20070620_fatal.21f4c863.html

Anonymous said...

Mother loses 2-year-old to illegal alien drunk driver. Read her letter and tell her that immigration enforcement is meaningless crap.

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/homeland.php?id=1095200

Anonymous said...

Wow, this was one from last year. An illegal alien from Honduras killed a nine-year-old with an axe.

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=80692

Anonymous said...

3:49, your entitled to your opinion but the facts remain the same. Illegal immigrants, people who don't have the RIGHT to be here, are responsible for way too many serious crimes. Of course, American citizens commit crimes against other citizens, but illegal immigrants are simply adding to our problems. And let's face it, Mexican and Central American illegal immigrants are committing an alarming number of these crimes. Again, your silly statement about throwing all wrestlers out of the country simply defies logic. I don't believe that most wrestlers are in the country illegally.
You have NO rational argument to defend illegal immigration so you naturally resort to charges of racism, bigotry, etc.
Do you think that all illegal immigrants should be granted amnesty? Do you think that people should be allowed to enter and reside in any country in the world without permission?

Anonymous said...

3:49
This is a link to the Cameron County Jail in Olmito, Texas. Any inmate with the words, "Immigration Detainer," "Hold for BORCAP," "Border Patrol Detainer," or similar wording in their charges are illegal immigrants. Many inmates have not even been interviewed by immigration agents because so many new inmates arrive each day. See for yourself what's been coming into the country at will.

http://www.co.cameron.tx.us/eagle/HTML/Inmates/ICURRENT.HTM

Anonymous said...

Yup, illegals. Just doing the killings Americans won't do. Johnnymac.

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