Roundhouse
Richardson’s pain = ethics reform gain?
Another good-government advocate is weighing in on a potential silver lining coming out of Gov. Bill Richardson’s decision to withdraw his nomination to be the nation’s next commerce secretary and remain as governor instead.
Matt Brix, policy director for the Center for Civic Policy, tells the Independent he’s hopeful that the ongoing federal investigation into how [...]
Richardson battles the politics of perception
Gov. Bill Richardson’s charmed political life — he’s arguably New Mexico’s most successful politician ever as well as the nation’s most prominent Latino politician — has at least temporarily lost its charm. And his career is on the ropes pending the outcome of a federal investigation into pay-to-play allegations. But could the current scandal provide him the perfect opportunity to get back up and fight on?
What Richardson won’t say reveals more than what he does say
Guv hires prominent criminal defense lawyer to represent him in CDR investigation
Gov. Bill Richardson refused to answer a question Monday on whether he’d hired a lawyer. But the Associated Press (AP) is reporting that the governor has hired Peter Schoenburg, a prominent attorney who specializes in white-collar crime, to represent him.
Richardson sends e-mail to supporters noting his ‘great sorrow’
Gov. Bill Richardson sent out an e-mail to supporters explaining his decision to withdraw his name from consideration for the job of U.S. commerce secretary. The e-mail comes one day after the announcement, and curiously, it was sent from the long-defunct Bill Richardson for President committee.
The e-mail hit the familiar themes that we have seen [...]
Guv drops a bomb on New Mexico politics
Since October 2007, New Mexico politics have been in a state of flux as the transition to the post-Pete Domenici era unfolded at the same time that the progressive takeover of American politics shifted the makeup of the state’s congressional delegation and Legislature. Bill Richardson dropped another bomb on New Mexico politics on Sunday when he withdrew his nomination to be commerce secretary.
Richardson fallout begins to take shape
Gov. Bill Richardson’s withdrawal as U.S. commerce secretary-designate is more than a one-day story. It’s a game changer for New Mexico politics. To better flesh out the immediate impact, NMI talked with both a prominent local pollster and a University of New Mexico political scientist.
Richardson hoped to be cleared quickly
The Obama transition team knew about the federal investigation that ended up derailing Gov. Bill Richardson’s nomination Sunday as U.S. Commerce Secretary. But Richardson was hoping for a faster-paced inquiry that would clear his name in time for confirmation hearings, his spokesman told the Independent on Sunday.
Denish says Richardson has merely ‘postponed’ his departure
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish doesn’t appear to have given up on the idea of becoming governor of New Mexico before the 2010 election.
Pointing out that President-elect Barack Obama says he looks forward to Bill Richardson’s “future service to our country and in my administration,” Denish is characterizing Richardson’s withdrawal of his commerce secretary nomination as [...]
Richardson’s staying put in N.M. called a ‘blessing in disguise’
House Speaker Ben Lujan said Sunday that Gov. Bill Richardson’s decision to stay in New Mexico instead of departing to become the U.S. commerce secretary is a “blessing in disguise.” That’s because the 112-member Legislature convenes in less than three weeks and has a very tall order: balance the state’s books. The state of New Mexico is looking at a budget gap for this year estimated at more than $450 million.