I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
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.
So it appears that Governor Bill Richardson will not be charged in the GRIPgate scandal. If Obama were to come through on his pledge to have Richardson join the administration, what would he do with Big Bill? All of the cabinet-level positions are taken. Perhaps an ambassadorship somewhere sunny?
The New York Times reported this week that only 43 percent of “500 senior policymaking positions” have been filled so far.
But all the cabinet-level positions have been filled. And, remember, Richardson was up for the position of Secretary of Commerce before he withdrew because of the GRIPgate probe.
Many presidents have rewarded political allies and big donors with ambassador jobs around the world. The Center for Responsive Politics notes that this hasn’t changed under the Barack Obama administration, which reported in May that a list of potential ambassadors “included a handful of career Foreign Service officers, but it also included several big contributors and bundlers, who, along with their spouses, have given nearly $1 million almost exclusively to Democrats since the 1990 election cycle.”
Because Richardson served as the Ambassador to the United Nations under Bill Clinton, so any ambassadorship could be seen as a step down for him. According to the last report (pdf) from the Department of State, 32 percent of ambassadorships are vacant.
Certainly a post in Barbados or Costa Rica (still available!) would signal Richardson is heading toward retiring from public life. But some could give the Guv something to sink his teeth into.
China is open. France, Italy, the Vatican? Not chopped liver!
Of course it’s our bet that Richardson never gets the call from Obama and instead finishes out his second term as Governor of New Mexico.
