Thread: Gov. Bill Richardson Talks to Don Imus

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005 ... 1155.shtml

Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 10:11 a.m. EST
Gov. Bill Richardson Talks to Don Imus

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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told Don Imus Friday morning, "I’m going to duck your question,� regarding talk he may running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.

Richardson added that he is more worried about winning re-election as Governor.

But the popular Democrat appeared like a candidate on MSNBC’s "Imus in the Morning� show plugging his new autobiography, "Between Worlds: The Making of an American Life,�

Books are often used by candidates use to establish their national political credentials.

Richardson was less coy, however, on the nation’s immigration policy, noting that his declaration of a border emergency in his state this past summer has "had good come out of it.�

The former secretary of Energy, ambassador to the U.N. and four-time candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize disclosed that just three days ago he met with Michael Chertoff, the secretary of Homeland Security, who assured him of more border agents to beef up those already present along the four distressed border counties in his state and the construction of an additional detention facility to handle the overflow of undocumented detainees.

NewsMax Magazine recently featured Richardson in its October edition cover story, "Fighting the Border War.� [For details Go Here Now]

The son of a Hispanic mother and an Anglo father, Richardson confessed his empathy with the plight of many of the 12 million illegals already in the U.S., noting that fanciful plans to deport all of them has been estimated to cost the taxpayers a staggering $200 billion.

Richardson told Imus that he favored dealing with the issue "realistically,� bringing the illegals "out of the shadows and into the mainstream.�

"We’re not talking amnesty or citizenship,� Richardson qualified, advising rather that he favored some kind of guest worker program. He praised President Bush for his leadership on the matter.

But he emphasized that it was time for the federal government to take the burden away "from the states and the nation’s mayors.�

"They are being made to deal with what is a federal problem,� Richardson added.

In his new book, Richardson relates that growing up in Mexico as the son of an American banker and a Mexican mother, who enjoyed an occupation as a bank secretary, gave him a unique outlook.

"My dual heritage helps explain why I celebrate difference,� he writes, adding that his background of straddling two worlds helped him become a negotiator.

Richardson noted to Imus that the story of his life as recounted in his new tome is representative of the nation's increasingly multicultural future. "All Americans with a bi-cultural background, I think, relate better as human beings.�

Richardson said that his own early formative years, dealing with different cultures and different languages taught him that it is always "important to negotiate, work things out. And all this has an input to diplomacy.�

On that subject, Richardson referred to his most recent trip to North Korea where he said he studious went "beyond the usual talking points� with officials in that communist country that has been rattling its nuclear saber.

He went away from the current round of meetings - last week - with the strong impression that the North Koreans were "showing flexibility,� and exhibited a "better tone.�

Returning to one of the resounding themes of his book, Richardson said that the number of Hispanics was "growing in every state.�

"We’re looking at the growth of a giant in our political system,� he added, noting that Hispanics are already officially 13 percent of the population, "and if you add the 12 million undocumented, it’s closer to 20 percent.� Richardson further pointed out that New Mexico was 40 percent Hispanic.

On a personal note, Richardson recounted a difficult upbringing – "My father never spoke to me.� Furthermore, he confessed, my "mother would only speak to me in Spanish.�

"It was hard to please my father – there was a large age difference,� he recounted. "Then there was living in Mexico. What saved me was baseball. I loved Number 7, Mickey Mantle.�

"Baseball got me out of a conflicted environment,� Richardson said. But unfortunately, an injury at 18 or 19 - from throwing too many curve balls - ended his fledgling career on the mound. "I was actually scouted once.�

Richardson recounted that his very first political involvement was running for president of his fraternity at Tufts University. He won. He then recalled hearing the late Vice-president Hubert Humphrey speak on the subject of poverty. "I was hooked.�

Staring out in his adopted state of New Mexico, Richardson lost his first contest, but went on to serve seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"New Mexico gave me an unbelievable opportunity,� Richardson summed up.

The non-candidate seemed pleased when Imus complimented him, saying, "In New Mexico even the people who don’t like you, like you...�

But whether or not the popular governor takes center stage by tossing his hat in the presidential race, he is quick to emphasize in his book that in his opinion his beloved New Mexico is already prominently displayed in an important emerging big picture.

"I believe New Mexico is what this country is going to look like in twenty or twenty-five years, let alone fifty years, with a minority population constantly growing and with quality of life issues coming to greater prominence. I believe New Mexico is a microcosm of what this country wants to be in the future.�

Richardson confessed his empathy with the plight of many of the 12 million illegals already in the U.S., noting that fanciful plans to deport all of them has been estimated to cost the taxpayers a staggering $200 billion.

Now where did this worthless man pull this number out from. Could be his _ _ _ .

If some of you remember. I told you the times I have meet this man. Oh the arrogance of this man. The times I was on stag with him. I wanted to puke. I never saw a man as arrogant in my life.

Richardson told Imus that he favored dealing with the issue "realistically,� bringing the illegals "out of the shadows and into the mainstream.�

"We’re not talking amnesty or citizenship,� Richardson qualified, advising rather that he favored some kind of guest worker program. He praised President Bush for his leadership on the matter

BS Richardson. You still as full of something as you used to be.