Democrat presidential candidates keep missing the target(GOP) and are shooting at each other.  The best way is to present their solutions to the problems facing this country, and let the voters decide which is the best candidate.  Mudslinging does bring results.

Richardson like any other seasoned experience executive in government or the private sector has had wins and losses in his career, however, the wins outweigh the losses.  At DOE he successfully negotiated lower oil prices for Americans and brought efficiencies to the department.  Improved American - North Korean relationships, negotiated for American lives with success, a proven diplomat and experienced executive.  It is true that Richardson seems to promise solutions to almost every problem he encounters but he seems to embrace big sky to ground optimism about everything.  One thing our country needs now is someone who is positive and has a big sky optimism about the future.  

Also Richardson does not talk like a professional politician, talks like a regular person with all the nuances and mistakes.  And speaking of mistakes, Richardson is down right honest.  He will tell up front that he is not perfect and made his share of mistakes and continue to make mistakes, just like he did in the Meet the Press interview. To me that is refreshing to hear from a politician, personal honesty.

To Richardson's credit has put New Mexico, a poor and small state on the right track for the future, in the next five years the seeds of investment will have taken root deeper in the soil of prosperity.  The senior Republican Senator from New Mexico respectfully stated that Richardson has done more for New Mexico than any other Governor in recent history. Richardson has increased investment and brought good jobs in high tech, aerospace, nano-technology, space travel, solar and wind power and entertainment imaging.  He has this knack of coming of coming up without of the box with ideas, like the Hero's Card, man to the moon effort to energy independence, removing all the troops, or a Treaty to control fissionable material among countries.

When it comes to the case, can Richardson get elected?  Richardson is the only Democrat that can appeal to moderates and conservatives more so than any other Democrat running.  Based on the last to Presidential elections, the Democrats just cannot do the math.  They fail to appeal to moderates and conservatives and always focus on Northeastern and California liberal voting blocks to carry them through and ignore the conservative Western and Southern states, the NRA crowd, military families, and conservative and moderate Latinos, Blacks and White voters.  The truth to the matter is, the Democrats need to grow their base towards the right and center if they wish to cull enough votes to have a reform mandate otherwise, more of the same.  Without Richardson on the ticket, the Democratic party prospects look dim in 2008 or slim pickings without a voter's mandate for 2008 reform.  As for Joe Biden and his attack tactics at the debate, Richardson is to gracious to counter-attack, and Biden should already know that such tactics will only harm his cause as well as the Democratic party in the long run.

Richardson like any other seasoned experience executive in government or the private sector has had wins and losses in his career, however, the wins outweigh the losses.  At DOE he successfully negotiated lower oil prices for Americans and brought efficiencies to the department.  Improved American - North Korean relationships, negotiated for American lives with success, a proven diplomat and experienced executive.  It is true that Richardson seems to promise solutions to almost every problem he encounters but he seems to embrace big sky to ground optimism about everything.  One thing our country needs now is someone who is positive and has a big sky optimism.  
Also Richardson does not talk like a professional politician, talks like a regular person with all the nuances and mistakes.  And speaking of mistakes, Richardson is down right honest.  He will tell up front that he is not perfect and made his share of mistakes and continue to make mistakes, just like he did in the Meet the Press interview. To me that is refreshing to hear from a politician, personal honesty.

To Richardson's credit has put New Mexico, a poor and small state on the right track for the future, in the next five years the seeds of investment will have taken root deeper in the soil of prosperity.  The senior Republican Senator from New Mexico respectfully stated that Richardson has done more for New Mexico than any other Governor in recent history. Richardson has increased investment and brought good jobs in high tech, aerospace, nano-technology, space travel, solar and wind power and entertainment imaging.  He has this knack of coming of coming up with outside of the box with ideas, like the Hero's Card, man to the moon effort to energy independence, removing all the troops, or a Treaty to control fissionable material among countries.

When it comes to the case, can Richardson get elected?  Richardson is the only Democrat that can appeal to moderates and conservatives more so than any other Democrat running.  Based on the last to Presidential elections, the Democrats just cannot do the math.  They fail to appeal to moderates and conservatives and always focus on Northeastern and California liberal voting blocks to carry them through and ignore the conservative Western and Southern states, the NRA crowd, military families, and conservative and moderate Latinos, Blacks and White voters.  The truth to the matter is, the Democrats need to grow their base towards the right and center if they wish to cull enough votes to have a reform mandate otherwise, more of the same.  Without Richardson on the ticket, the Democratic party prospects look dim in 2008 or slim pickings without a voter's mandate for 2008 reform.  As for Joe Biden and his attack tactics at the debate, Richardson is to gracious to counter-attack, and Biden should already know that such tactics will only harm his cause as well as the Democratic party in the long run.

I would agree with one of the writers before Me, I to think that our best and most ready to be President candidate's are going to be looked over,like the right wing nuts did in the last two runs for this office,Biden and Richardson in that order maybe with two terms could make some repair's in this country's direction,after the two bafoons who have screwde it up so badly.

After everything is said and done in this election, a few insightful folks may soon recognize the Iraq War as the most serious thing threatening the future of the USA. I hope your readers have read New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's op/ed piece from the Washington Post on how and why we must get out of Iraq, from 14 days ago.If not, here it is, in full, after a few introductory remarks by me:

There is a much larger scale confrontation with Bush from the candidates regarding the Iraq War and the problems it is continuing to cause, after six years of Halliburton and Brown and Root and Blackwater corporate kleptocracy. Only one candidate, it is abundantly clear to me, is really slamming the truth and providing the logistics and rationale for ending this disastrous war: Bill Richardson. This article was printed in the Washington Post 14 days ago, and please take the time to read it:

_______________________

Why We Should Exit Iraq Now

By Bill Richardson
Saturday, September 8, 2007; A15

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have suggested that there is little difference among us on Iraq. This is not true: I am the only leading Democratic candidate committed to getting all our troops out and doing so quickly.

In the most recent debate, I asked the other candidates how many troops they would leave in Iraq and for what purposes. I got no answers. The American people need answers. If we elect a president who thinks that troops should stay in Iraq for years, they will stay for years — a tragic mistake.

Clinton, Obama and Edwards reflect the inside-the-Beltway thinking that a complete withdrawal of all American forces somehow wouldbe “irresponsible.” On the contrary, the facts suggest that a rapid, complete withdrawal — not a drawn-out, Vietnam-like process —would be the most responsible and effective course of action.

Those who think we need to keep troops in Iraq misunderstand the Middle East. I have met and negotiated successfully with many regional leaders,including Saddam Hussein. I am convinced that only a complete withdrawal can sufficiently shift the politics of Iraq and its neighbors to break the deadlock that has been killing so many people for so long.

Our troops have done everything they were asked to do with courage & professionalism, but they cannot win someone else’s civil war. So long as American troops are in Iraq, reconciliation among Iraqi factions is
postponed. Leaving forces there enables the Iraqis to delay taking the steps to end the violence. And it prevents us from using diplomacy to bring in other nations to help stabilize and rebuild the country.

The presence of American forces in Iraq weakens us in the war against al-Qaeda. It endows the anti-American propaganda of those who portray us as occupiers plundering Iraq’s oil and repressing Muslims. The day we leave, this myth collapses, and the Iraqis will drive foreign jihadists out of their country. Our departure would also enable us to focus on defeating the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11, those headquartered along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border — not in Iraq.

Logistically, it would be possible to withdraw in six to eight months. We moved as many as 240,000 troops into and out of Iraq through Kuwait in as little as a three-month period during major troop rotations. After the Persian Gulf War, we redeployed nearly a half-million troops in a few months. We could redeploy even faster if we negotiated with the Turks to open a route out through Turkey.

As our withdrawal begins, we will gain diplomatic leverage. Iraqis will start seeing us as brokers, not occupiers. Iraq’s neighbors will face the reality that if they don’t help with stabilization, they will face the consequences of Iraq’s collapse — including even greater refugee flows over their borders and possible war.

The United States can facilitate Iraqi reconciliation and regional cooperation by holding a conference similar to that which brought peace to Bosnia. We will need regional security negotiations among all of Iraq’s neighbors and discussions of donations from wealthy nations — including oil- rich Muslim countries — to help rebuild Iraq. None of this can happen until we remove the biggest obstacle todiplomacy: the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq.

My plan is realistic because:

It is less risky. Leaving forces behind leaves them vulnerable. Would we need another surge to protect them?

It gets our troops out of the quagmire and strengthens us for our real challenges. It is foolish to think that 20,000 to 75,000 troops could bring
peace to Iraq when 160,000 have not. We need to get our troops out of the crossfire in Iraq so that we can defeat the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11.

By hastening the peace process, the likelihood of prolonged bloodshed is reduced. President Richard Nixon withdrew U.S. forces slowly from Vietnam — with disastrous consequences. Over the seven years it took to get our troops out, 21,000 more Americans and perhaps a million Vietnamese, most of them civilians, died. All this death and destruction accomplished nothing — the communists took over as soon as we left.

My position has been clear since I entered this race: Remove all the troops and launch energetic diplomatic efforts in Iraq and internationally to bring stability. If Congress fails to end this war, I will remove all troops without delay, and without hesitation, beginning on my first day in office.

Let’s stop pretending that all Democratic plans are similar. The American people deserve precise answers from anyone who would be commander in chief. How many troops would you leave in Iraq? For how long? To do what, exactly? And the media should be asking these questions of the candidates, rather than allowing them to continue saying, “We are against the war . . . but please don’t read the small print.”

The writer is governor of New Mexico and a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Biden is a gas bag from a small failing insignificant state that I'm ashamed to be residing in.

i cant understand if bidens words are his or some britisj politions

Biden is in it for the matching money before he retires and Richardson is what he's always been-- a hack.

Correction: Richardson is a political hack and like most Dems running has never had a real job in the private sector-- has just lived off taxpayers

Ron Paul makes all of the Democrats look like a bunch of fools.  You guys are laughable.  Dems don't have a clue.

Richardson is the best person for the job. Biden on the other hand is a PROVEN LOSER. He lost his chance in 88 because he spouts off at the mouth a little too much without regard to consequences (remember his Duncan Doughnuts comments during his reelection bid in `06?) Now, I don't deny the Senator's intelligence and his own experience on foreign policy matters; but do we need another president as arrogant and haughty as Bush. In a word: NO! Biden exudes arrogance, especially in the AARP forum. His harsh criticisms will only serve to highlight the positive tone of Richardson's campaign and boost the Governor's numbers. What a waste of time for Biden.

Oh, by the way:
"I have watched Richardson be MIA as the head of DOE and again as govener.  I can not belive any one considers him a real canadate. He is just lookong for his next job to be missing from"
Well put!!

Gerry, Anchorage, Alaska has it right. I'm from N.M., and our "Governator" has been more notable for disappearing from the state when there are problems than really trying to solve the questions.
I don't know if there are any statistics for it, but I'm sure N.M. would rank near 50 on the graft and theft by government employees if there were.

I'll be completely honest. As a republican, the candidate i fear the most in the upcoming election is without a doubt joe biden. His foreign policy experience is incredible, and he actually has a plan for anything the Republicans can throw at him. Plus, he is a great debator

Senator Biden comment about Richardson is correct! Yes he,s low in the polls but he,s been in the arena for some time now unlike alot of you with the snappy comment ! All I have to say is get your sheild and get in the damn arena if you think it is so easy. He is the only one that has come up with a practical plan for the Iraq, Will it work? Who knows, but it,s still a plan I haven,t heard anybody as of yet with a plan. Except the current plan, and nobody seem,s to like it except those who are ordered to implement it and of coures, those who are in denial that it isn,t working. Senator Richardson, McCain,Bush and Reagan are those who allowed the Immigration problem in this country, so wake up people and use your heads about your future it,s your future and your ultimately responsible for those you elect, So if you really want this WAR to come to an end then put pressure on those who represent you else stay in the peanut gallery and let the media referee for you remember their all trying to keep their jobs too!

Democrats are going to need a tough canidate in the general election to be able to stand up to and bring out the truth  to whoever the republican nominee is. I believe this proved that Joe biden can do it.

If Senator Biden has his eyes on the VP nomination (which I doubt, he being more the Secretary-of-state type) then he knows that Gov. Richardson is ideologically and geographically Senator Clinton's logical choice.

Gov. Richardson is NOT Presidential material,  and thank God for Biden and others are speaking out.  Nonetheless,  former Senator JOHN EDWARDS is more Presidential than all the other candidates combined.

Mark, thanks for the info about why the candidates attack each other. Trying to learn more about Biden & Richardson. Do you think they change their views on the war to see if the poll numbers change? Noticed you said concerned about low numbers. Enjoyed reading all of the comments too.
1st time voter in 2008.
Elizabeth G.
http://BookTestOnline.com

It is about time that Biden or someone calls Richardson on his exagerations and outright lies.  
He bounces all over the place and contradicts himself most of the time. His plan about social security credits for working moms or non working moms did not even make sense. His record as Govenor of Nm is not that outstanding.  The last govenor we elected  will leave us a mess that will take years,if ever to clean up.  
Go Joe!!

And to VoteAmerican: I  am a lifetime Delawarean.  I am very proud to live in Delaware; it is far from a failing insignificant state.  If you are so ashamed to live here, why don't you leave?

George in Laurel,
Hi Neighbor, I live in Delmar. I support Joe Biden  100% and think it is well past time for the war of the north and south in Delaware to end.  Your statetment is not completely accurate.  Yes, Joe's strongest support comes from the northern part of the state,mainly because in the south you disagree about guns.Also the Northern part is more populated.  Joe is not anti-gun;only assult weapons. As for not doing anything for lower Delaware,that is not accurate either.  Lower Delaware benefited from his "cops" bill and his Violence Against Women Act,and most recently he secured funds for a program to help pregnant teens in the Laurel area,to mention only a few.   You should really go to his Senate website and read what he has done.  Go Joe and Go Wildcats!

Biden did Say something like ,  What has changed to make you think that Hillary can pull the support from the other side that is needed to pass a healthcare plan?

I would love to see Clinton in white house maybe we will have things running smooth as we did with Bill clinton.

Biden's criticism of Richardson was mild, but accurate. I wonder how many people from NM who are upset watched the debate or read the transcript. (available on Iowa Public Television website)He essentially said that there is a difference between pulling together a health care plan in a state with two million people than a country of 300 million.  Does anyone not understand the truth of that statement? When Judy Woodruff tried to get him to say Richardson wasn't qualified, he declined the opportunity, and said "I'm saying he's a great govenor. He's a great governor..."

Sen. Biden is the most qualified candidate from any party to be President. Sen. Harkin saved the most glowing introduction for Biden at the steak fry. Go to youtube and watch Biden's speech, which includes Harkin's introduction, the other candidates choose not to include Harkin's introduction, and it's obvious why. Harkin said "Joe Biden is without question, without question the leading voice in the United States Senate when it comes to foreign policy. As chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joe Biden has the persuasion of power, but Joe also has the power of  persuasion. He's one of the few Senators who can actually change peoples minds especially when it comes about what to do in Iraq. Nearly two years ago he called for a three way parition of Iraq. Critics said it would never work. Well today defacto the Iraqis are doing it themselves.And this is not the first time that Joe Biden was way ahead of the crowd with his intellect and ideas. Friends lets give a great Iowa welcome to Senator Joe Biden of Delaware."

Virginia Delaware Biden said "Lets be frank about this. What's changed to make you think that Hillary is going to be able to pull together 15% of the republicans to join her? ... So the truth is we've got to get to the point. They may be able to do it, but this gets down to a simple basic proposition. I don't question the integrity of a single person on this stage. But what's the record of being able to get folks in those red states to vote for this stuff? Folks, think about it, there is no possibility of getting anyone of our plans unless you get 15 or 20% of the republicans to join us, unless you're going to give us 100 Democrats."

Thank you Sara

I think its natural for Joe to attack Bill.  When you are trying to run as "the candidate of experience" and there's a former UN ambassador running as well, you have to highlight your differences quickly and decisively before support that you need to catch the front runners is swept away.  Its smart campaigning and smart politics and the same pragmatism that is characteristic joe.

Biden has my vote because he was among the first politican who questioned Bush's War even warned us about Bush's failed War strategy. Joe Biden has come up with a plan that can get us out of this War. I don't think any of the other candidates get it there either lite Bush's or totally ignorant of the war and think they can just pull out in a month. I also think it was the right thing Biden did about not trying to take the money away from this War. We have brave young men out there fighting this War and we need to make sure they have the equipment that is needed while they are still there they are risking their life's out there and until we can bring them home you can't put them at risk. I know some people think don't finance this war then the War is over. The war is not like a light switch, and if you think it is then get our men home then you turn off the light.

Go Joe! I believe he is one of the most strongest Democratic candidates. Sincere, honest, and knowledgeable, and blunt. These are the exact ingredients for a phenomenal Presidency. Too bad he;s not getting the media attention he deserves. Biden may hold the solution to many of the problems are country is facing, and here we have the media focusing on the most provocative, "controversial", figures who are flimsy......

Go Joe! I believe he is one of the most strongest Democratic candidates. Sincere, honest, and knowledgeable, and blunt. These are the exact ingredients for a phenomenal Presidency. Too bad he;s not getting the media attention he deserves. Biden may hold the solution to many of the problems our country is facing, and here we have the media focusing on the most provocative, "controversial", figures who are flimsy......

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