Bill Richardson on the N.E. Patriots...

Posted: Friday, September 14, 2007 2:20 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House

From NBC's Mark Murray

... Well, sort of. Richardson just issued this statement linking the New England Patriots spying scandal -- which cost the Pats a first-round draft pick and their coach a fine worth hundreds of thousands of dollars -- and President Bush. Does the link make sense? You be the judge...

"The President has been allowed to spy on Americans without a warrant, and our U.S. Senate is letting it continue," Richardson said. "You know something is wrong when the New England Patriots face stiffer penalties for spying on innocent Americans than Dick Cheney and George Bush."

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Comments

Yes, lets all listen to what the governor of a border state has to say whom voted against making English the unifying Language of this country. And get it right people, anything from the mouth of a democrat IS a LIE. When are they going to start telling the truth; they are against defending this country, against our military men and women, against protecting our borders and when are they going to change their party name from democrats to what they really are; Socialists.

d goodie; englewood, colorado (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:00 PM)

Makes complete sense to me. The hypocrisy of the Bush administration and the GOP as a whole is appalling. Absolutely shameless1

Joe

Joe, Ca (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:11 PM)

Put Bellichek in charge of the military actions in Iraq and send all those able bodied athletes there to fight this war on terror. Everyone who supports the war and has able bodied and of age children should have them enlist to fight. We should have an honorable return filmed and shown each evening of the returning war dead. This is a shame and disgrace to any true American that this idiot ( Bush ) can fail at every turn and think he is a chosen one. The person (Bush) talks the talk but didn't walk the walk.

Tom Edwards (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:12 PM)

Joe Ca /// Makes complete sense to me.\\\

Let me guess, shiny things confuse you.

Ert Johannson, San Jose Ca (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:18 PM)

He is poking fun at this ridiculous administration. You know, the one that cheats and breaks the rules WITH NOOOO CONSEQUENCES!!! It was a simple point made to draw attention to the issue. And it worked because Democrats and Repubs are talking about it. So, no, it wasn't apples to apples but Richardson made his point. And the statement was much more intelligent than "We're kickin' ass!"

Cooper, Dallas, Texas (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:27 PM)

Why can't we see the movie "The Path to Nowhere"? Why is the Clinton camp raising such a stew about it?

Pete Watson, Beaufort, SC (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:31 PM)

The big difference here is that the Patriots, unlike Fibber Bush, got a victory from their cheating.

John Boucher (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:34 PM)

It is easier to control the population by spying on them. Not too hard to understand Richardson's analogy (actually a thoughtful comment for a presidential canidate in this country). Warped perspectives in this country, the wealthy (both Dems and Repubs) control things and benefit while the fools argue among themselves over the inane!

just a thought (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:35 PM)

Not socialists, silly. Democrats believe in democracy and not in the wayward Republican plan.
Richardson makes sense here even if he is just saying it to get headlines.

Matt, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:37 PM)

Hey d goodie--did you read Tom Edwards's post? If you're so for defending this country, WHY THE HELL ISN'T YOUR BIG FAT BUTT OVER THERE IN IRAQ? You sure as hell sound like another rich PFC (Privileged Fascist Chickenhawk) who always expects working class and poor people to fight and die in wars.

Rich Santalone (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:38 PM)

Belichick & company obviously haven't the same
clout as The Dick Cheney & Bush have with the
investigative forces of the U.S.

spoiler John (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 5:58 PM)

What he is saying is that Bush and Cheney deliberately lied to the American people and the congress to get them to approve a war that has slaughtered our young people and god knows how many Iraqis - and they have suffered NO LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.
Is that so f--king hard to understand?

Alain James (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:01 PM)

Let 'em have it Bill! Pull all the stops . . . and be the candidate who speaks out!

Alma (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:05 PM)

Just because everyone else does it don't mean that it's ok... unless it's going over the speed limit. What a bunch of self righteous hypocrites. It's a game, and everybody cheats in sports; that's why they have "officials" in zebra suits to throw a “flag on the play”. Penalties are cheats. John Madden says coaches have always stolen signals. Perhaps we need instant replay and a booth official to correct the situation in Washington too. If they could do that and overrule the call to go to war, then make the NFL commissioner our President. As for the actual incident in New England, fining the team and coach would have been adequate (since everybody else does it). Losing a first round pick was excessive and unfair to the rest of the team and players who BTW, had no knowledge of what the coaches were doing. Players/troops are clueless and too busy wiping the snot off their faces after getting smash-mouthed during the game/war to pay attention to the strategy games the coaches/politicians play. So Richardson’s analogy should have been: fine the coaches, Bush-Cheney/ Kraft- Belichick, and support the troops/players with reinforcements/1st round draft picks.

TC (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:17 PM)

Yes Richardson is right.

We Americans are ignorant morons. We have let elitist crooks buy and manipulate the ever dimmer (stupid) population to vote against their own interest. It is all over but the sniveling, they are crooked, just watch em' cheat...

jahkneesaysuckit, denver, co. (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:36 PM)

Please read other internet sites for other points of view. Don't just hang out at sites that verify what you already "know" to be true. Maybe, just maybe you can glean some info to perhaps offer alternate possibilities. Here then is a link to the German paper Spiegel article on the foilded attack.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,504837-2,00.html

It details how the wiretapping helped foil this plot.

There are other interesting articles as well.

Leo in Chicago (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:37 PM)

Oh, yeah, watch the demos run for cover if we stopped the surveillance and we have another 911. They will be pointing at Bush saying HE DIDN'T DO ENOUGH, ITS ALL HIS FAULT!!!

Zeeeeeeeesh,

FWIW,

H

John Doe, Seattle, Wash (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:48 PM)

Go PATS!!!! All teams cheat. The Pats were stupid enough to get caught. I don't want to hear WAH WAH from other teams the Pats have beaten. It wasn't the cheating folks...it was because you were not good enough to stop them!

Steve Providence, RI (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:51 PM)

Ok Peeps I got to reply here. Most of you sound way childish and totally missed the point. Do the world A favor and Get educated.

Tr0uBle Albany, NY (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 6:56 PM)

Gee, 'd goodie' Richardson must have hit the nail right on the head to get you as riled up as you are. I suspect, that somewhere down in that black shriveled husk you call a heart there's a dawning recognition that Bush, in whom you've put so much faith, is as bad as any politician that ever slithered down Wisconsin Avenue towards the Capital.

broadsword (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 7:01 PM)

clever comment...

For those who are accusing Republicans of being liars, you are probably right, but the Democrats definitely aren't innocent.

Jack in VA (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 7:11 PM)

"Lo qué Richardson dijo es la verdad de absoult."
Jose (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 3:21 PM)

Sorry, daz spanglish, José. Properly speaking, it'd something along the lines of;
Lo que Richardson dijo es absolutamente verdad.

Thanx!

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 7:16 PM)

Jack In IL said, "something is wrong when this lunacy is news. How about something is wrong when Martha Stewart goes to jail for $50,000 and Hillary is free after $875,00o from a felon Hsu?"

So Jack, what about the $1.4 million that the thief in chief accepted from Enron and Ken "felon" Lay and never returned, or does it only count when Hillary does it? You are uninformed. As for Hill, she is returning it, or hadn't you heard?

Please, by all that is holy, don't vote next election. Not that it will matter.

Officer Jeff in Mn. (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 7:17 PM)

Someone should inform "eggman" that some of the domestic spying performed by this maladministration has _not_ been legal and has _not_ been authorized by the so-called Patriot Act.

I Am The Walrus, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 7:24 PM)

Some folks in the media just have no clue how to report on Bill Richardson.

The media reports on every little off-hand joke as though he's making some huge policy statement. C'mon people...get a sense of humor.

AND PS- having a sense of humor is not a bad thing. He's had a successful career as a diplomat, governor and Cabinet member....hardly the mark of someone who doesn't know when to get down to business.

MBW Tempe, AZ (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 7:35 PM)

Yo John Doe: How Dare you!!!! We (I) couldn't survive without Football.... My heart stopped on that comment!

Mr. Marx - Perfectly stated...

If the wiretapping was illegal, why hasn't there been a trial set forth to impeach Bush yet? Answer: Because the laws are vauge and subject to interpertation. Furthermore, if Bush has lied and you have the proof then go to court, submit your proof and use our Judicuary Branch to get rid of him. Until that happens, Bush is our President, he has not lied (inocence until proven guilty in a court of law), he is trying to defend this country from a another major attacK (and has done so successfully for over 6 years).

So, if you are a demobrat and you still lie awake at night because of this supposid lie that everyone fell for, do something about it or concentrate on supporting your demobrat candidates and win the office according to their "qualifications and track record".

And stop pretending that there aren't people out there that want to kill us at what ever cost...

Patrick, Phx Arizona (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 7:49 PM)

Hell, Bush has gotten away with lying his way into the Iraq war. His speech last night was nothing but lies. This surprises folks??? Cheney lied to stay out of the Viet Nam war, so to say that a football team got fined for cheating, get real. Richardson has it right, The President and VP can get away with the biggest lie of all, lying to the world about why we are in Iraq. The troops in Iraq are in the middle of a civil war. A football coach got caught cheating and got more of a fine then Bush will ever see for what he has done!!!

Lyn, Utah (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 8:01 PM)

Obviously it makes sense. He was using something sports related to put something political into perspective. And too all you assclowns who tried to assert that the comparison didn't work...it seems to me you had to understand the comparison to be able to explain why it supposedly didn't work- you aren't the most logical in the bunch, are you?

Ella (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 8:15 PM)

It may have been unintentional, but according to my lawyer's interpretation of the Patriot Act, there is in fact one team in professional sports that is entitled to behave as if they were neo-cons, and that team is the New England Patriots.

By right of having chosen the name of Patriots, they are entitled to water-board opposing players, kidnap the opposing teams' coaches, and spy and do dirty tricks to their hearts content. However, if they ever change their name to "Rebels," they must be prepared to be treated the way neo-cons treat everyone who dares to stand up to them.

John Doe, Orange County, CA (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 8:43 PM)

we really do hold a sports team to a higher standard than we hold our president! but then, I think most of us hold our kid's BABYSITTERS to a higher standard than we hold this president.

cage free brown (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 8:47 PM)

I think if we all were the same race it would make things much easier. We could all have the same thoughts and same goals.

hinzugerechnet Neugeborene (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 8:50 PM)

I posted it on Daily Kos under their own take, under the post "Bush Announces Bill Belichick as New Attorney General"; which is also funny as hell!

I am on the NSA List, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 9:02 PM)

Jeezus people, this is freaking funny! It´s a nice little quip, and for all the republicans who say you can´t understand that, or that it isn´t presidential... ahh even your humor is partisan. No wonder your leaders are ruining the world...

Bush and Cheney did illegal wire tapping. Nobody is questioning that, yet they remain unpunished. Come on people.

Robert (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 9:18 PM)

Is Mark Murray a Republican apologist or just out of touch? This may get a lot of play out of Rush and Hannity, but it makes sense to me. Bush and Cheney spy on everyone in America to LOSE the war on terror and the NE Patriots use it to WIN!

Marky Mark (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 10:24 PM)

1/20/09 the end of an error?

1/21/09 the beginning of:
No standards
No morals
No respect for others
No freedom of speach (unless you're a liberal)
No respect for life (unless you're an dog, 'cause if you're a fetus, forget it)
No family values
Higher taxes
More feebies for lazy people

Go Patriots!! oh, what, I forgot liberals don't underatand this word.

Al Diaz (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 10:40 PM)

The fact that the patriots were penalized for spying just furthers my opinions that america is a pit of biased individuals that look for the next person to pick. So they spied, so what! Did they plan on hurting anyone one in the process, no! But Bush does it, a man with a scarred little ego, who hides behind his position. All i got to say is f*** what the higher ups say, they can take their rules and regulations wipe their own a**es with'em.

If we start persecuting those who for one thing and not others for the same, we should start doing it to all those that violate. This includes those parents that spy on their children. Do those kids being spied pn by their parents not deserve the same respect as others. Now this may not hold the same merit as the issue at hand, but it supports the fact that Bush doesnt have the right to spy on the ciizens who put him in office and those who didnt. Where is the trust, i can tell you where it is not within the hands of those who twist the rules for their on benefit.

Who cares if the Pats spied. How did they find out they spied without spying in one way or another on them. I always thought america was supposed to be a democracy, where we trust the people. But i learned along time ago that it is more of a hypocrisy where we say one thing do another

JC (currently iraq) (Sent Friday, September 14, 2007 11:37 PM)

Of course it makes sense. Bush and Cheney have committed CRIMES that should be punished. They had a patsy rubber stamping republican congress and senate who rolled over and let the corruption party begin. Only now that Democrats have taken over is there any oversight and responsible governing. Thankfully Bush has been stopped in his tracks from doing a lot more harm to the country because the Democrats won't let him. If Bush and Cheney will just leave office without attacking Iran we will have saved the world.

Vicki, Haughton, LA (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 12:11 AM)

how ironic, we all question the dot on the back of the qb's helmet, wondering why, after how many years the radio is in the helmet, why is there a dot, and lo and behold, we have this major scandal. no, this is not a set up job.(pan to don rickles saying yes, and shaking his head no)

kevin d (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 12:54 AM)

Hahah. I love this guy. Atleast one of the presidential candidates has the guts to call out corruption and stupidity when he sees it.

Maria (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 1:32 AM)

Richard's really down to earth. He's the only democrat that's got an interesting "issues" on his website. I don't know about the republicans, I don't go there.

yoganut (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 5:56 AM)

"Does the link make sense? You be the judge..."

You bet it makes sense to me. In fact, when I read about this NFL situation that, in fact, was my FIRST thought!

Compare the situations: NFL - noticed the violation and dealt swiftly with it. US Government - noticed the (many) violations and complained. Violators not only unpunished but continuiing along their merry path.

I even posted to another blog that evidently this football team had misunderstood "The Patriot Act"...then, again, maybe they didn't.

Independent, Texas (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 7:02 AM)

....Let's Think.....
Several things come to mind in this story about Mr. Richardson:
1- He is a disgruntled Republican.
2- He Loves his country, but not necessarily her, or anyone else's, nasty spying habits.
3- He is trying hard to tell us that before the football season and the primaries are over he would very much like to take Mr. Giuliani's place on the roster.
4- Loosing a first round draft choice and several hundred thousand $$ is a small price to pay for a tape of the oponents FINGER works.

Mr. Clean (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 8:58 AM)

Daisy Gunns said
"Rule of thumb. If a Democrat says it, it doesn't make sense."

A response such as that to a valid comment is typical of the dumbing down of America. Or is it just the dumbing down of Bush lackeys?

fubar (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 10:11 AM)

Three cheers for Governor Bill Richardson. If the comparison hurts-so be it-the truth can hurt. Bill Richardson as President will come closer to uniting America and cleaning up our act and image around the globe.

Okla R, Elk City, OK (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 11:31 AM)

He speaks the truth--Bush has broken his sworn oath to uphold and defend the U. S. Constitution, which specifically defends a citizen's right to privacy and protection from unlawful search and siezure. Why isn't he being held accountable to the American people?

Citizen Mother (Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 12:51 PM)

Good job Bill R! you're back on my list of possible candidates. All men care about is football, certainly the great mass of fat assed ones who are not going to fight in Iraq. Ever.It might get their attention.

lh NYC (Sent Monday, September 17, 2007 1:42 PM)

Once again, the Republicans show their total lack of a sense of humor. If Larry the Cable Guy had said it--and he well could have--it would get roars of laughter from both sides of the aisle.

Or, gee, could all of those hostile reviews be coming from Democratic satirists who get it ...

Steve Wheelock, Springfield, VA (Sent Monday, September 17, 2007 4:27 PM)

Does anyone think Eric Mangini has never done the same thing he accused Bill Bellichick of doing? He blew the whistle on Bellichick for something all 32 teams are doing, or did do, Mangini included. His problem has something to do with him leaving the Patriots' coaching job to become the head coach of a losing team. If he wanted "wins" he should have stayed with the Patriots.

Janet from Cumberland, RI (Sent Wednesday, September 19, 2007 11:40 AM)

As a yellow dog Dem I enjoyed all the comments, left and right. Keep up the good chatter!

Edna Shirley, Lawrence, MA (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:58 AM)

Oh, Richardson is so right...I think George Bush should just leave Americans alone and let them do their thing. I mean watch the news...Amercians seem to be in perfect control over themselves..right? We don't need HIM telling us what to do and how to act! We are in control and headed in the right direction...right!? Personally, I think from here on out everyone born should get their DNA taken and put in a big data base. Rights? Americans have already had their rights taken away from the criminals...the right to walk down the street at night, the right to leave their doors unlocked, the right to let their kids walk to school in broad daylight! Bush is trying to give these rights back to Americans. God Bless him!
As far as Richardson comparing the George Bush situation to the NE Pats scandal ...WOW, that's some stretch huh? Subsequently, teams have done this for years, just not as flagrant as Belichick. I think they have proven themselves this season--Go Pats!

Andrea, Wilmington, NC (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:48 AM)

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