Richardson has all attributes of a dog
TOM BURGUM
Contributing Columnist
burgum@lbknews.com
Mark Twain once observed that the chief difference between a man and a dog is if you treat a dog well, the dog will be grateful. Gov. Bill Richardson has now established that he has all the attributes of a dog except loyalty.
Richardson picked Good Friday to turn on the Clintons, his long-time friends and benefactors. The Associated Press captured the moment with, “Richardson backed Obama despite his ties to Clinton and her husband, the former president. Richardson served as ambassador to the United Nations and as secretary of the Energy Department during the Clinton administration. Last month, Richardson and former President Clinton watched the Super Bowl together at the governor’s residence in Santa Fe.”
Obviously, communal Super Bowl watching was not a bonding experience.
Richardson clearly emphasized foreign policy in his endorsement. He talked of Obama’s promise of a new foreign policy, the promise of a new “Kum Ba Ya” moment among the nations of the world. Obama, in return, elevated Richardson from the status of a very good governor to that of an international statesman.
Richardson praised Obama as one “…who can bring the change we so desperately need by bringing us together…with our allies abroad.” He then warmed to the theme with, “[Obama] showed his judgment…by standing up for a new era in American leadership internationally.”
Obama, obviously grateful for his new status as international statesman, responded by referring to Richardson as an accomplished figure on the world stage who “…understands the importance of restoring diplomacy as a central part of our national security strategy.”
This heavy emphasis on foreign affairs led some cynics to think the endorsement was more driven by a desire to be secretary of state than some principled stand for party unity.
James Carville, as usual, understood very clearly what had just happened and, as usual, was not afraid to counter the saccharin analysis delivered by MSNBC, CNN and FOX.
Carville opined that, “Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the time is appropriate, if ironic.”
Of course, Richardson has his eye on secretary of state, not 30 pieces of silver. Richardson, during his appearance of FOX Sunday, claimed “I am very loyal to the Clintons” He then added, “I served under President Clinton. But I served well. And I served the country well. And he game me that opportunity.”
Richardson’s definition of loyalty is just slightly more strained than his view of what it means to “serve the country well.” He was appointed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 1997. While serving in this capacity, he represented the United States in U.N. proceedings regarding Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. In other words, he sat quietly while smarmy delegates from dysfunctional dictatorships railed against Israel and the United States for human rights violations.
In 1998 Richardson was removed from the international scene and was appointed secretary of energy. His tenure there was marked by security so lax that the government laboratories under his jurisdiction seemed to be nothing more than technical resources for foreign governments such as China. The botched Wen Ho Lee espionage investigation added no luster to Richardson’s reputation.
He also seems to harbor some ill feelings about his failed presidential bid. On FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace he said, “It shouldn’t just be Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. What about the rest of us? I got in the race.”
Richardson, of course, did get in the race. His problem was no one else seemed to notice or care. The problem wasn’t Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton — the problem was he could have held his rallies in the Boom Boom Room at some local motel and had room to spare.
Meanwhile, the man the Clintons created now appears daily on the news channels backing Obama. He offers up the same Obama bromides about a new tomorrow when all the nations of the earth will work shoulder-to-shoulder to eliminate conflict and repair the environment. Details of just how all this goodness might be accomplished have yet to be revealed. He continues to proclaim his loyalty to the Clintons while demanding that Hillary Clinton withdraw for the good of the party. He, of course, won’t answer Carville — he claims that would be getting in the gutter with him. He doesn’t seem to understand he went into the gutter when he turned his back on those whose support he had gladly accepted in the 1990s.
It is not really fair to say that Richardson has every attribute of a dog except loyalty. Dogs have many laudable attributes denied Richardson, and I offer a blanket apology to all dog owners offended by the comparison.
I also apologize to cat lovers who must feel the object of their affection is being ignored. Mark Twain, who certainly must have anticipated the likes of Mr. Richardson, said, “If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.”
Certainly true in Richardson’s case.
