by Andrew Malcolm
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico has a suggestion for many of the people who work for him in state government there.
The boss of the state thinks they ought to pack their bags now or by the holidays, leave the Land of Enchantment and hike up to Iowa's sleeping fields and snowy roads to help him get yet another job: President.
According to the Associated Press, the two-term governor has asked his appointees and other state employees to help out with the intense door-to-door, phone-to-phone process of organizing for the Jan. 3 Iowa Democratic caucuses. If Richardson, who hasn't exactly been surging in the polls, doesn't do well then, his hopes of winning the Democratic nod seem slimmer than he is. And he'll be stuck in Santa Fe.
Getting the hint from their boss, several administration officials have already left for the Hawkeye State. Others will soon follow. "I've got quite a few friends in Iowa," says Environment Secretary Ron Curry, "so I am looking forward to going back up there and campaigning hard enough to keep my butt from freezing."
Also maybe to protect his butt back home.
Andrew Malcolm writes for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times' political blog.
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Simple abuse of authority here. This man is not a good choice.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | December 7, 2007 8:48 AM
Wow, Chuckman actually makes a very valid point and one that I happen to agree with. This is an abuse of authority and isn't it illegal? Perhaps not in New Mexico, but it seems to me in Illinois if a government official coerces government employees to campaign or donate they get into trouble for that (though it happens in Illinois all the time anyway).
At one time, I thought Richardson would be a good presidential candidate. He usually came across as sincere, intelligent and experienced. He even cut taxes when he became governor of New Mexico. But he has veered into LaLa Loony Left Land during his presidential run and no longer says intelligent, experienced things. Oh well.
Posted by: John D | December 7, 2007 9:15 AM
Any time a Republican criticizes a Democrat, that Democrat should simply say, "at least I didn't ignore warnings before 9/11, let a US city be destroyed, or start a war that has cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. When you guys make up for those mistakes, get back to me."
Posted by: Paul | December 7, 2007 11:46 AM
"NO BILL AMERICA NEEDS TO CALL IT QUITS FOR THE YEAR AND TAKE A HIKE UP TO MARTIN LUTHER KINGS MOUNTAIN."
WE MIGHT BE HERE AFTER THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DONE WITH US, OUR NATIONALITY, OUR 1ST, 4TH, 14TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. WE MIGHT BE HERE AFTER DICK CHENEY GOES TO CONGRESS AND JUST TELLS THEM HOW SORRY THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO WANT TO IMPEACH HIM FOR LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND COMMITTING TREASON BY SELLING OUT A CIA COVERT AGENT WORKING ON WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN A CLANDESTINE WAY.
YOU SEE GEORGE BUSH FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT CLANDESTINE WAS IN HIS ROSE GARDEN SPEECH.
YOU COULD TELL HE DIDN'T WANT TO USE THAT WORD. THAT SO IMPEACHABLE WORD.
BUT AMERICA SHOULD JUST TAKE OFF THE REST OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL.
CAGE THAT VOTE OR WE ALL MAY GO TO PRISON! GET THAT MONEY, OTHERWISE BLACKWATER WON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO CONDUCT MARSHALL LAW EXERCISES ANYLONGER IN LOUISIANA.
WE SHOULD GO TO LOUSIANA AS THEY ARE ALL GETTING KICKED OUT ON DECEMBER THE 15TH. THE BULLDOZERS ARE COMING, AND THEY AREN'T GOING TO IOWA!
Posted by: Roger Morris | December 7, 2007 3:17 PM
State employees were not targeted. Everyone from NM who had contributed to his campaign or volunteered for him before were asked to help some happened to be state employees. state employees who had never been involved with a Richardson campaign before were not asked.
Posted by: Ben Thompson | December 7, 2007 9:27 PM