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Richardson is crazy

Terence Samuel, writing for the American Prospect online, contends that Gov. Bill Richardson is certifiably crazy for asking his fellow Dem candidates to take the be-nice-to-everyone pledge. Samuel, who regards Richardson's presidential race as "tragically ignored," writes:

"He is asking Democrats not to talk trash about other Democrats. That puts him firmly in the fantasy wing of the Democratic Party. Talking trash about each other is what Democrats do. They're not about to stop now."

No, he's a rock star

Lesley Clark, writing for the McClatchey Newspapers' Washington bureau, says that Richardson is a rock star in the Spanish-language media but has watched some prominent Hispanics latch onto Hillary Clinton's campaign.

"(S)heer political calculation and loyalty to Clinton and her husband are trumping ethnic ties," she writes, "as Hispanic Democrats such as longtime National Council of La Raza leader Raul Yzaguirre and 2004 Kerry campaign co-chair Jose Villarreal have signed up with the New York senator."

Richardson protests that he's not running as a candidate for Hispanics and that it's still a tad early - like, 21 months early.

"Obviously, the big rock stars are gobbling the attention, but we've really gained momentum in recent weeks," Richardson said.

Everyone's a critic

Jones of the Nile - a Cambridge, Mass., blogger - critiqued Richardson's presidential Web site and found it a bit dreary. Looks too much like the Dallas Cowboys Web site, he says. (Who knew?) Besides that, he writes:

"The newsroom is just one press release or news clip listed after another, with no real organization thrown behind them. The presentation here is sad, and if the communications staff (who are listed on the side of the page) have any wits about them, they should revamp this area so that it can compete with the sites of other candidates."

He also wonders whether the site should bother mentioning Richardson's position on cockfighting, given that it might not be worth letting people know that New Mexico still allows it.

Vote "yes" for roosters

That said, a blogger named Vassmer posted on "Daily Kos" his own thoughts on Richardson and cockfighting. "It is unfortunate Gov. Richardson has fence-sat on the issue for so long. It is a right-or-wrong moral issue. No one has to `study' it. I am getting ticked off by politicians who can't or won't think on their feet because they must do a `market analysis' on the issue first.

"However, I will give Richardson the benefit of the doubt - this time. He may have been acting on his ambassador nature. You just don't shoot your mouth off, because it could mean WWIII."

More talk, less war

Richardson scored an op-ed in Saturday's Washington Post, urging more diplomacy in dealing with Iran.

"No nation has ever been forced to renounce nuclear weapons, but many have chosen to do so," he wrote. "The Iranians will not end their nuclear program because we threaten them and call them names. They will renounce nukes because we convince them that they will be safer and more prosperous if they do that than if they don't. This feat will take more than threats and insults. It will take skillful American diplomatic leadership."

Function over form

A blogger named Kansasr writes on "Daily Kos" that he saw Richardson at the Broward County (Fla.) Democratic Executive Committee's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner over the weekend and walked away impressed.

"The man isn't flashy, which, unfortunately in today's political environment, makes him a second-tier candidate. It's unfortunate that we tend to value form over function in our political candidates. I found a lot to consider in listening to Governor Richardson."