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Talking the talk

Gov. Bill Richardson hit a couple of Latin American diplomacy themes this week. On Tuesday, he had an op-ed in the Miami Herald dissing President Bush's recent tour. "(T)he disturbing images are likely to remain with us for quite some time. The burning of U.S. flags and Bush effigies amid thousands of angry protesters reflects an increasingly dangerous level of anti-American sentiment in our own hemisphere."

What would he do about it?

"To reduce both illegal immigration in this country and anti-American populism in Latin America, the United States must re-engage with all of Latin America. We must work with reform-minded governments to alleviate poverty, promote equitable development and cultivate a better quality of life. We need to strengthen energy cooperation in the region while we foster democracy and fair trade."

Hi, Hugo

During his Texas run-around Monday, Richardson said the White House focuses way too much on the Middle East and not nearly enough on Latin America. Were he the president, he said, he'd meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as part of a broader Latin American policy plan.

He also said he'd tear down the border wall. "It's bad policy," he said. "It was done to get election votes."

Holy smokes! Doing something to get election votes? Who would do that?

Don't go there

Richardson also had a fund-raiser in San Antonio on Monday and, oh, dear Lord, said he wants Texas to move up its primary to Feb. 5. For the record, that's nine months before the election.

Honoring César Chavez

The Sin Fronteras Organizing Project, an El Paso group that helps migrant workers, will give Richardson one of its Sembrador del Bien awards at its annual dinner March 29.

According to the group: "The award honors outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions highlighting their value and concern for human life. . . . They have not turned their backs on `the least of us.' "

He's no Lance Armstrong

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford invited presidential candidates from both parties to spend some time huffing, puffing and pedaling across his state in the Family Fitness Challenge.

Sanford says he's inviting fellow Republicans and rival Democrats to take part in a 70-mile bike ride or a 5K walk May 5.

The invitations haven't been sent, but don't wait for Richardson to pull on some bike shorts.

"It's obviously a nice and important thing for Governor Sanford to do," said Lachlan McIntosh, Richardson's South Carolina campaign manager. "It certainly would be equally encouraging if Governor Sanford reached out to some of these leaders to help him solve South Carolina's unemployment problems and find health insurance for the thousands of South Carolina working families that don't have it."

What a difference a day makes

Last month, radio shock-jock Don Imus bawled that Richardson had neglected a pet project in his part-time home of Ribera, and told off Richardson and some of his staffers in unflattering terms.

Fear not, though. All's well again after the governor put $600,000 in state funds to turn the former Ribera school into a community theater. Now Imus is praising Big Bill for keeping his word.

During his Monday broadcast, the Mouth That Roared called on President Bush to resign, then said: "Speaking of the next president of the United States - Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico - congratulations to him because he signed off on that appropriation to renovate that school in Ribera."

And Bill? In a statement, he called the affair "a simple misunderstanding."