Richardson Sent to Calm North Korea

US envoy Bill Richardson is travelling to North Korea at Pyongyang's request on an unofficial diplomatic mission to try to ease regional tensions.

Mr Richardson, who has been to North Korea several times in recent years, said he hoped to persuade the country's leaders to "calm down a bit".

Tensions have been especially high on the peninsula since the North shelled a South Korean island, leaving four dead.

The visit comes as the South staged its biggest ever civil defence drill. Read at BBC

How Bill Clinton Secured Release of Journalists

Hillary: Seeking Journalists Release on Humanitarian Grounds

The U.S. may send Al Gore or Bill Richardson to negotiate their release. In the past, Richardson has successfully negotiated with North Korea for the release of a U.S. citizen.

Rich Guy David Rubin Gave Money to Obama Too

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee! Here we go. I knew I didn't like politics for a reason--too many rich people with their loose money. The way this reads, Obama is guilty of pay-to-play by association. Of course it doesn't say Obama's guilty of anything. It just says that Obama's campaign took money from the same guy that gave money to Richardson. But at this point, I'm really scandal weary.

ABC: President-elect Barack Obama took big money from a man at the center of a federal probe that has forced one of Obama's top Cabinet picks to withdraw.

Financial records show the Obama campaign got more than $30,000 from California financier David Rubin, the target of an investigation into donations and possible "pay-to-play" deals involving New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama's pick for commerce secretary.

Richardson removed himself from consideration for the post Sunday, saying the ongoing grand jury investigation threatened to hold up his confirmation. Richardson and Rubin have both denied any wrongdoing in the matter, which involved contributions and state business in 2003 and 2004.

David Rubin Attended Exclusive Hollywood Fundraiser for Obama

In late September, Rubin attended an exclusive Los Angeles fundraiser for Obama, held at the Beverly Hills' Greystone Mansion. Attendees gave tens of thousands of dollars which the campaign split between its own coffers, the Democratic National Committee and state-level campaign groups supporting Obama and Democratic candidates. The technique helps campaigns take in from individuals far more than the $2,300 maximum they are allowed to give to a single campaign fund.

Rubin's money went to a joint Obama-DNC fund ($28,500), the DNC itself ($26,200), and to the Obama campaign ($2,300), according to the database of campaign donations at OpenSecrets.Org. News of the federal investigation into Rubin's New Mexico dealings had broken less than three weeks earlier.

According to Entertainment Weekly's coverage of the event, Rubin sat at Table 17  one table away from Leonardo DiCaprio, "Survivor" producer David Katzenberg and comedian Chris Rock.

Was Richardson Forthcoming?

Some on the Obama team say nope, Richardson wasn't forthcoming, according to ABC.
Bill Richardson, Obama's pick to be commerce secretary, withdrew earlier today because he's being investigated.
Now comes all the blame games. But why didn't the Obama team know of the investigation beforehand? The Obama team needs to just move on-- BIG MISTAKE-- and choose someone scandal-free please. 

Bill Richardson to Withdraw as Commerce Secretary

Caught up in his own scandal, Bill Richardson, New Mexico governor and Obama's pick to be commerce secretary, is withdrawing, according to MSNBC.
Another one bites the dust. Apparently, Richardson is part of a nationwide federal grand jury investigation determining whether financial firms gave gifts to politicians in exchange for investment advice.

Bloomberg: The grand jury in Albuquerque is looking into Beverly Hills, California-based CDR Financial Products Inc., which received almost $1.5 million in fees from the New Mexico Finance Authority in 2004 after donating $100,000 to Richardson’s efforts to register Hispanic and American Indian voters and pay for expenses at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, people familiar with the matter said.

If he's guilty, which we don't know yet, good riddance. Attention politicians: Americans are weary of scandal. Maybe this scandal will replace the Blago scandal for a while. I'm tired of that one. Expect a lot of noise on this one from the republicans. Just another distraction from the big problems that we face.
Here's the rundown from the Washington Post (Dec. 13):

WaPo: A federal grand jury is investigating whether a financial firm improperly won more than $1.4 million in work for the state of New Mexico shortly after making contributions to political action committees of Gov. Bill Richardson (D).

The probe focuses on whether the governor's office urged a state agency to hire CDR Financial Products. The probe is in a highly active stage at a time when President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Richardson as his nominee for secretary of commerce, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.

The grand jury in Albuquerque is expected to hear testimony today from several key witnesses, including officials at Richard's political action committees and bankers at J.P. Morgan who worked with CDR on the state's investments.

Richardson says he's withdrawing so he won't be a distraction:

MSNBC: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.

"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said Sunday in a report by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."

Obama accepted his withdrawal:

Obama said Sunday he accepted Richardson's decision to withdraw with 'deep regret.'

"Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office," Obama said.

Richardson On Obama, Beards and Toby Keith

From Esquire, an interview with Bill Richardson, Obama's choice for commerce. I liked the beard too.

After the campaign, I grew a beard as a rebellion against those consultants who told me I had to comb my hair, shave, lose weight. I said, You know, I’m gonna do what I want now. That was a good feeling.

I named my horse after Toby Keith because I really like the guy. Genuine—that’s Toby Keith. One of the great things about him is that during dinner he’ll start singing a song. Right there. Not to perform, but to tell you what he was feeling the particular day that he wrote it.

As I’m chatting with Obama, the moderator says, “Governor Richardson, what do you think of that?” And I look at him like a deer in the headlights. I was about to say that I hadn’t heard, when Obama puts his hand over his mouth and says, “Katrina.” So I gave my four-point plan on Katrina. When I was done and the debate moved on, I looked over and said, “Thanks, you’re okay.” He said, “Nothing to it, brother.”

My mother used to insist that I go to confession almost every day when I was a kid. I’d say, “This is absurd! Let’s do it every three days. Give me time to sin!”

Obama Says Richardson Not Token Latino

Obama announces Bill Richardson as his choice for commerce secretary and said his cabinet and his staff are going to be diverse.

Here's some of what he said. I paraphrased. I'll post video when it's up.

A reporter said Bill Richardson's appointment as commerce secretary is seen by some as a consolation prize.

Obama: Commerce secretary is a pretty good job. It's a key member of the economy team. He is the best person for that job and is going to be outstanding in helping me strategize, Obama said.

With respect to more Latinos in the cabinet, I've appointed about half of my cabinet so far. When people look back at my entire cabinet and my staff, they'll say this is one of the most diverse cabinets and staffs and they have excellent qualifications.

There is no contradiction between diversity and excellence. The quote of the day.

A reporter asked Richardson about his missing beard. Obama said he missed the beard, which lent a rugged look to Richardson. "We're deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard."

Asked about the taxpayer money spent on the bank bailout, Obama said any taxpayer money is going to be properly spent starting Jan. 20. He also reiterated the need to help homeowners.
A Fox reporter is happy to be called on:

My great friend Gov. Bill Richardson:

Richardson Officially Named Commerce Secretary Dec. 3

Swamp: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will be named President-elect Barack Obama's Commerce Secretary at a Chicago press conference tomorrow.

Richardson will become the first Hispanic named to Obama's cabinet. It will be Richardson's third go round in a presidential cabinet. The 61-year old was both United Nations ambassador and Energy Secretary during the Clinton administration.

Axelrod: No Potted Plants

Obama has a press conference tomorrow, when he's expected to announce Tim Geithner as treasury secretary. Axelrod wouldn't confirm that Bill Richardson would be announced within the next day.
David Axelrod hits all the morning political shows. He says there will be no potted plants in Obama's administration and Axelrod says his advisory style won't be anything like Karl Rove's.
From Politico:

David Axelrod, incoming White House senior adviser, in his first Sunday interview since winning, tells ABC's George Stephanopoulos on 'This Week,' about the stock-market rally following leak that New York Fed president Tim Geithner (GITE-ner) will be Treasury Secretary: 'The response has been great, and it should be. Tim Geithner is uniquely qualified to do this job. He's someone who is steeped in the economy and in managing crises. ... In the '90s, he was the assistant Treasury secretary for international affairs and he handled a couple of international financial crises. And he's someone who, by both temperament and experience, is well-suited for the times we're in. We were gratified by the reaction to news of his pending appointment.'

On Geithner's involvement in the current meltdown: 'Tim Geithner was an early warning system in terms of the need for greater regulation and has been ahead of the curve on a lot of these issues. ... When you look at the history of what he's done over time, he IS the sort of person you'd want when you're facing the kind of economic crisis we have today.'

On whether Secretary of State Clinton would have the full backing of the president and a direct line to the White House: 'I think it's fair to say that all of these appointees will have the full backing of the president. That's why he's selecting them. And the one thing I can tell you from working for six years with Barack Obama -- that he is someone who invites strong opinions. He enjoys that -- he thinks it's an important element of leadership. And I think that he'll have a great working relationship with ... his entire Cabinet. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE POTTED PLANTS. ... They are going to be partners with him in governance, and he is going to encourage that. And I'm sure that that's the message that he's given to EVERYONE he's spoken to about potential positions in the administration.'

***On supporters' reaction to the relatively hawkish potential national security team (Clinton, Gates staying at Pentagon, retired Marine general Jim Jones at national security adviser): 'The president-elect was clear throughout the campaign that when he became president, that he was going to give the secretary of Defense a new mission, and that mission was going to be to wind down our involvement. Nothing has changed. And, obviously, events are moving in that direction as we speak. But our supporters can be -- and the entire nation, and the world can be assured that ... the commitments that he's made are the commitments he's going to keep.'

On his own role in the White House: 'I expect I'll do what I've done for the last six years, which is to try to help organizationally with the message of the administration. Barack Obama knows exactly where he wants to lead. I want to make sure that all communications channels are imparting that message and doing it in a way that's consistent with his vision and his values.'

AXELROD, to Chris Wallace on 'Fox News Sunday,' re Clinton in the Cabinet, and the left wing questioning that kind of change: 'There's one person who's going to set policy in this administration, and that's the president of the United States. That's true on the economy. It's true in foreign policy. And what he wants are the people ... who are most able to help advance that agenda. But the agenda will come from Barack Obama. He has a very clear sense where he wants to lead this country. The people who he's recruiting for these jobs understand what that vision is. And they wouldn't be joining the administration if they're not willing to support and advance it. And everyone who voted for Barack Obama can have great confidence that he's going to follow through on the commitments that he made.'

On the Clintons: 'Some of the obstacles that you mention have been removed. We'll probably make an announcement on some of these national security positions after the holidays. ... Let me separate that from what I'm about to say, which is that Hillary Clinton is a demonstrably able, tough, brilliant person who, ... if she were in a position such as that, would help advance the interests of this administration and this country. And that's the basis on which he would make such an appointment.'

Says he won't do the senior adviser job like Karl Rove: 'I've never accepted that comparison. My role with Barack Obama for the last six years has been to help the communications operation impart his message, his values and his vision to the American people. And I expect to continue to do that. ... My role is circumscribed to those responsibilities. I'm not trying to rebuild the Democratic Party or any of these other -- I think Mr. Rove had quite an expansive portfolio. I think mine is very focused.'

Axelrod on Fox News Sunday:

Young Scary-Smart Guy Geithner Chosen as Treasury Secretary

Hillary decided to be secretary of state. The official announcement is expected after Thanksgiving. The young, scary smart guy, Timothy Geithner, has been chosen as treasury secretary, announcement possible on Monday, and Bill Richardson has been selected to head up commerce. Larry Summers, who was the other contender for Treasury Secretary, may be considered for Fed chief. 

Michelle Obama has her chief of staff, Jackie Norris. Jill Biden also has hers, Catherine Russell. 

The Obama girls get a school, Sidwell Friends, a private school. 
NYT's conservative columnist David Brooks praises Obama's team so far. Here are recent appointments: 

Jackie Norris, chief of staff to the First Lady
Norris joined Obama’s presidential campaign in January 2007 and served as the Iowa Senior Advisor during the caucus campaign, later serving as the Iowa State Director for the successful 2008 general election campaign. Originally from Ossining, New York, Norris started her career in the office of Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter. She later served as Vice President Al Gore’s scheduler and events planner and as Director of Scheduling and Advance for HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo. Norris served as finance director for Governor Tom Vilsack’s 1998 gubernatorial campaign and as Gore’s political director for the Iowa caucuses during his 2000 presidential bid. In 2002, Norris became a classroom teacher for history and government at high schools in Perry, Ames, and Johnston, Iowa. Norris, a 1992 graduate of SUNY-Geneseo, obtained secondary education teacher certification in 2002 from Iowa State University and Masters in Political Science in 2008. Norris is the 2005 award recipient of the James Madison Fellowship and serves as Vice Chair of the Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa Freedom Fund Board. Norris and her husband John are residents of Des Moines, Iowa and have five-year-old twin boys, Hunter and Cole, and a two-year-old son, Sam.

Patrick Gaspard, Director of the Office of Political Affairs
Gaspard currently serves as the Associate Director of Personnel for the Presidential Transition Team and served as National Political Director for Obama’s presidential campaign. Previously, Gaspard served as the Executive Vice President of Politics and Legislation for Local 1199 SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, the largest local union in America, where he helped coordinate political activity and government relations on behalf of 300,000 members. In 2006, Gaspard served as the acting political director for SEIU International during the national union’s successful effort to help Democrats capture majorities in the House and Senate. In 2004, Gaspard was the National Field Director for America Coming Together. Gaspard worked for Governor Howard Dean’s presidential campaign and numerous congressional candidates, and campaigns going back to the historic Mayoral election in New York in 1989. Gaspard is a former community organizer around school reform issues. He is married with two children.

Catherine (Cathy) M. Russell, Chief of Staff for Dr. Jill Biden
Cathy Russell is a long time advisor to Dr. Biden and advocate for the prevention of violence against women, both at home and abroad. During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Ms. Russell served as Chief of Staff for Dr. Biden. Previously, she has been a Senior Advisor to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on international women’s issues. In the Clinton Administration, she served as Associate Deputy Attorney General. On Capitol Hill, she was Staff Director of the Senate Judiciary Committee and also served as senior counsel to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT). She received her J.D. from George Washington University.

Cynthia Hogan, Counsel to the Vice President
Cynthia Hogan has been a legal advisor to Vice President-elect Biden for nearly 20 years, first joining his staff in 1991 as his Counsel for Constitutional Law on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, then as Staff Director and finally as Chief Counsel, during his tenure as Chairman. During her time working for then-Chairman Biden (1991-1996), the Committee successfully passed the landmark 1994 Violence Crime and Control Act and the Violence Against Women Act. She also advised Chairman Biden during the Supreme Court nominations process for both Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Cynthia Hogan is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated in 1979 from Oberlin College and received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1984, where she served as an editor on the Virginia Law Review. She clerked for the Honorable Edward Cahn on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and was an associate at the Washington, D.C. law firm Williams & Connolly. She currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband Mark Katz and their two children.

Moises (Moe) V. Vela, Jr., Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President
Moe Vela will bring a wealth of business management skill and outreach experience to the Obama-Biden Administration. From 1996-2000, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Advisor on Hispanic Affairs for Vice President Al Gore. Most recently, Vela was the founder and a partner at The Comunidades Group, a multi-family acquisition and operations company headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Vela received a B.A. in Government from the University of Texas, a J.D. from St. Mary’s Law School, and is a member of the State Bar of Texas. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado and is a Denver Civil Service Commissioner, appointed by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Vela is a native of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and hails from a pioneer South Texas family.

The day in 100

Hillary Sending Out Mixed Signals Again

Update: Sen. Harry Reid says a new opportunity is awaiting Hillary in the Senate if she wants it.
Hillary is wavering on the Secretary of State position. 

Why is there so much drama around Hillary? I'd rather see Bill Richardson in the position. Hillary seems to come with too much baggage. 

More Obama Staff Speculation

So far we have Rahm Emanuel, chief of staff, known as "the enforcer"; Robert Gibbs, press secretary, David Axelrod, presidential adviser.

MSNBC:
SECRETARY OF STATE

Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., former U.N. ambassador and energy secretary.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 2004 presidential nominee.

Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., former chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., critic of Iraq war, retiring from Senate.

Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., member of House Judiciary Committee.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, former assistant U.S. attorney for civil rights.

ENERGY SECRETARY

Former Rep. Philip Sharp, D-Ind., president of Resources for the Future think tank.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

EPA ADMINISTRATOR

Lisa P. Jackson, commissioner of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Mary Nichols, head of California Air Resources Board.

Kathleeen McGinty, former secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Howard Dean, chairman of Democratic National Committee, physician, former Vermont governor.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

Jane Garvey, former head of Federal Aviation Administration.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of House transportation committee.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.

Mortimer Downey, former deputy transportation secretary.

Convention Preview Aug. 27

Joe Biden is the headliner.
Other speakers: 

Former President Bill Clinton; former Senator Tom Daschle; Governor Bill Richardson and Senators Evan Bayh, John Kerry and Jay Rockefeller. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Convention home state Senator Ken Salazar, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, and Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute honoring those who give so much to secure our nation’s future – veterans, active duty military and their families.

Teen Reporter Takes on the Convention

Teen reporter Anna Arena talks to Bill Richardson and others.

Richardson and Jindal on This Week With George S

Tomorrow, ABC's Jake Tapper fills in for George Stephanopoulos with two separate interviews: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (for Obama) and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (McCain).
Look out for Tapper's his anti-Obama bias.

Media Took Hillary's Bait

hillary is a sly one indeed.
instead of bringing the party together last night, she further drove her wedge and made it all about her. now the question the media is asking: can obama win the election without hillary as vice president?
yes, yes he can.
all the reasonable supporters of hillary will vote for obama. the hardcore supporters, a minority, will sit on the sidelines or vote for mccain. they're not needed.
here's another thing, superdelegates and party leaders need to be out now in full force rallying around obama.

some named as obama vice president frontrunners:

Evan Bayh: What he lacks in charisma, the telegenic Bayh makes up for in national security credentials, having served on both armed services and intelligence committees in the Senate.


Joseph Biden: A six-term senator who helms the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden, could offer the heavyweight foreign policy experience that Obama is often accused of lacking. But at 65 -- and seen as part of the U.S. political furniture -- he could undermine Obama's message of change.


Michael Bloomberg: Since ruling out his own independent bid for presidency, the current mayor of New York has been seen as a potential running mate for both Obama and McCain. For Obama, the media tycoon and former Republican would help mitigate the Democrat's problem with Jewish voters brought on by outlandish rumors that he is a Muslim, but do little to attract the white, working class vote.


Wesley Clark: This former NATO commander, who failed in his bid for the 2004 presidential nomination, was seen as a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter -- a fact that could help unite the party. But the 63-year-old's tough reputation as a no-nonsense soldier is unlikely to win much backing among party activists.


Hillary Clinton: While the "dream ticket" of a Obama-Clinton campaign could help harness Clinton's powerbase of women and white working-class Democrats, the prospect of uniting the two rivals has won mixed support. A non-scientific CNN.com poll said 60 percent of people were not in favor of the move.


Chris Dodd: A long-serving senator with solid foreign policy credentials who was previously considered as a running mate for John Kerry's failed presidential bid in 2004, Dodd presents the same problems as Biden.


Chuck Hagel: A close friend of fellow Republican John McCain -- Obama's general election rival -- Hagel's strong anti-war in Iraq stance has generated cross-party appeal and though an unlikely choice he could be seen as the man to attract wavering Republican voters.


Ed Rendell: As an outspoken Clinton supporter, a Rendell partnership could rally support for Obama and as governor of swing state Pennsylvania, he could help secure key votes, but his popularity is limited outside Philadelphia.


Bill Richardson: The New Mexico governor, who identifies himself as Hispanic, could help sway the burgeoning Latino vote in addition to lending heavyweight foreign policy credentials as a former United Nations ambassador.
more

Hillary's Revenge

many people are leaving the clinton camp for the obama camp -- there was bill richardson, bill's former cabinet members, several superdelegates, and others. but what if hillary stole the nomination? payback time. also, can you imagine all the promises and backdoor deals the clintons are making?

newsweek: Not that anyone will be sleeping with the fishes with Hillary in the White House, but with the Clintons it's business and it's personal. Just think of all the scores to settle, the grievances to indulge. Bill Clinton provided a preview this week, blaming the Obama campaign for playing the race card against him. Tricky maneuver, but perhaps the only way the former president can come to grips with his loss of standing in the African-American community, once his strongest constituency. (South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, an undeclared superdelegate who is African-American, told the New York Times this week that the black community had supported Clinton during his impeachment and that "I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way [for him] to show his appreciation.")

Bill Richardson: Clintons Clinging to the Throne

as you may recall, james carville, a clinton loyalist to his detriment, called bill richardson a traitor for not endorsing hillary. last night they faced each other on larry king. carville is pathetically petty and transparent:
part 1

part 2

part 3

Bill Clinton Blows His Cork

the clintons are still yammering about bill richardson.

SF Chronicle: In fact, before his speech Clinton had one of his famous meltdowns Sunday, blasting away at former presidential contender Bill Richardson for having endorsed Obama, the media and the entire nomination process.

"It was one of the worst political meetings I have ever attended," one superdelegate said.

According to those at the meeting, Clinton - who flew in from Chicago with bags under his eyes - was classic old Bill at first, charming and making small talk with the 15 or so delegates who gathered in a room behind the convention stage.

But as the group moved together for the perfunctory photo, Rachel Binah, a former Richardson delegate who now supports Hillary Clinton, told Bill how "sorry" she was to have heard former Clinton campaign manager James Carville call Richardson a "Judas" for backing Obama.

It was as if someone pulled the pin from a grenade.

"Five times to my face (Richardson) said that he would never do that," a red-faced, finger-pointing Clinton erupted.

oh, and please, let's not elect hillary because she withstood her husband's shenanigans. i can't believe how many times i've heard that they're voting for her because she dealt with his affair well in public.