Richardson Calls it as it is…

Picture Courtesy of Bill Richardson for President

I’m beginning to really like Bill Richardson. I like his in your face approach and telling it like he sees it. By no means is he a candidate for President that will continue the mistakes of George Bush but he tells you exactly what and how to end the Iraq War.

Bill sat down with the Associated Press on Wednesday and spoke his mind on many issues but he was pretty clear on where he stands on the troops involvement under his administration if elected President. You need to read the whole piece to get the gist of what I’m getting at but come back here for the rest of this piece. Over at the New York Times they have this interesting read on Bill Richardson…

Richardson: US Troops Add to Iraq Unrest
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 19, 2007
Filed at 5:59 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson on Wednesday called for the U.S. to end the war in Iraq, arguing that the troops exacerbate the sectarian violence and the billions spent could be used for health care and other needs.

''We're a nation that spends $5.5 billion in cancer research -- that's two weeks of the Iraq war,'' Richardson told The Associated Press. ''It shows the misguided priorities.''

''We are being bled dry by an invasion that is costing us $500 billion so far -- $500 billion,'' he said, stressing the cost. ''And it's detracting from American security objectives in dealing with terrorism, with nuclear proliferation, with energy independence.''

In an hourlong interview with AP editors and reporters, the New Mexico governor argued that all combat and non-combat troops should be removed from Iraq because their presence is only contributing to violence instead of bringing security.

''There's no question there's tribal and ethnic hatreds,'' Richardson told The Associated Press. ''But when those tribal and ethnic hatreds are fueled by American policy of hostility, then you make the situation worse.'' - New York Times

I have to agree with the Governor that tribal differences in Iraq will be there no matter who’s troops are stationed in Iraq. What draws my attention to the comments today by the candidate is that he will end our involvement in Iraq, and nobody will stop him from pulling our troops out of the wasted policies of the “Mo Money” for me and my buddies war.

One thing that is certain, the next President of this nation will have to fix many problems that the Republican lead Congress ignored. The gravy train that leads directly to the United States Treasury will no longer have a dotted line through “Friends of Bush/Cheney” before being spent on behalf of the American people.

From the other side of the political game we call Presidential elections, the Republicans and the leaders in the party are riding shot gun on the Bush nightmare. “Fight them over there or fight them here.” is a joke. When Bush changed the battle front away from Afghanistan he lost his poker bluff. Mitt and Rudy are just sitting down at the big boys table of poker and they are about to lose their shirts politically.

Bill Richardson is talking the talk and people are listening from both sides of the aisle once more. The Governor has some interesting points and if given the time to speak about his positions and people willing to read them, he has a damn good chance of being the next President of the United States.

Papamoka