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Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Largely absent from all the media coverage about the growing threat from North Korea in the last few days is one longtime player in the situation: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
He’s been the most successful American at negotiating with the North Korean government for a long time. But his stature has taken a big hit because of the ongoing probe into allegations of pay to play in his administration, which cost him the commerce secretary nomination earlier this year.
So, with the North Koreans testing a nuclear weapon, firing off short-range missiles and holding two American journalists, where’s the governor?
Richardson’s office hasn’t yet responded to a request for comment, but the short answer is that, at the very least, he’s playing a much-reduced role compared to his involvement in past incidents with North Korea. Richardson and the North Koreans have such a strong relationship that, in recent years, he has been one of the few American politicians who has been to the rogue nation, and representatives of the North’s government have traveled to Santa Fe to meet with the governor.
Before the recent nuclear incident erupted, Richardson appeared on one national television show to discuss the journalists being held there. In addition, his office said he discussed North Korea with President Barack Obama during Obama’s recent visit to New Mexico.
But, beyond that, there hasn’t been much visible activity by the governor in the situation.
The escalation in the North’s nuclear activity is certainly a test for the president. TIME Magazine says Obama has “no good option” in dealing with the current situation. The real fear appears to be that the North could allow terrorists to get their hands on nuclear material.
If the situation continues to escalate, will Obama be forced to call in Richardson for help, despite the political risks? Or will the North Koreans do what they did during the Bush administration years and bypass Washington to talk to the governor in Santa Fe?
Or will Richardson remain largely uninvolved?
Time will tell.
