"Vive la Emperor" - courtesy of NM Defamation Suit.com
Critics of Governor Bill Richardson seem to believe we are witnessing the waning days of Empire. Unfortunately, reports of Mr. Richardson’s political demise are premature.
The governor has suffered abysmally low poll numbers since pay-to-play allegations ended his bid to escape the last two years of his current term by becoming U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Since the victory in November of Republican Susana Martinez, Governor Richardson has shown disdain for the will of the electorate and the rabble’s repudiation of his legacy by allowing his minions to name large public works in his honor, by squirrelling away his political appointees into protected civil service positions, and by squandering every last dime of federal stimulus money before he leaves office. (some links require subscription)
Months ago, I wrote that Bill Richardson was finished and that he was destined for well-deserved oblivion. Unfortunately, that was wishful thinking. I am loath to agree with that twit Ellsworth Toohey, but I am now obliged to recognize that Mr. Richardson is far from finished.
Since March, Mr. Richardson has been mentioned as being in the mix for the lucrative position of chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, which pays $1.2 million a year. The governor is not interested. According to his spokesman, Mr. Richardson plans to “live in Santa Fe and drive around the country visiting Major League ballparks.”
Governor Bill Richardson
Right. You don’t give up a large salary and an opportunity to hobnob with Hollywood starlets to watch a few ball games and remain in the political hell-hole that is Santa Fe unless you are up to something.
What could that be?
Mr. Richardson knows he has zero chance of getting U.S. Senate confirmation to anything in the Obama Administration. President Obama paid his political debt to the governor for stabbing Hillary Clinton in the back at an opportune time by not allowing Mr. Richardson to be indicted by a federal grand jury — despite the conclusion by U.S. Attorney Greg Fouratt that pressure from the governor’s office resulted in a corruption of the procurement process and a $1.4 million consulting contract for CDR Financial. Fortunately for the governor, U.S. Attorney Eric Holder and New Mexico Attorney General Gary King have shown no interest in pursuing that unpleasantness any further. Mr. Richardson, apparently, has escaped the prospect of adjoining cells with Manny Aragon.
So why turn down the movie job and why stay put in Santa Fe? Mr. Richardson has shown no interest in the United States Senate. He could have had the seat now occupied by Tom Udall when Pete Domenici retired, without lifting a finger.
What else is there? Green-chile cheeseburgers at The Shed?
No – try revenge and restoration.
Governor-Elect Susana Martinez
The governor made no secret of his displeasure with the attacks upon him by Susana Martinez and the Republicans during the recent campaign. Over the past two years, he has also made no secret of the fact that he has thought about running for governor again in 2014.
Question: What New Mexico Democrat has any chance to defeat Bill Richardson in a 2014 Democratic primary for Governor?
Answer: No one.
Republicans would be foolish not to operate under the assumption that the 2014 race for governor has begun, and that Bill Richardson will be the Democratic nominee. Mr. Richardson is a talented and resilient opponent. Needless to say, he will be far more formidable than Diane Denish.
What to do? First, in order to have any chance in that election, Republicans need to address their increasingly poor performance in Bernalillo County, where Democrat get-out-the-vote efforts resulted in Ms. Martinez receiving only 50.9% of the vote against Ms. Denish’s 49%, in a strong Republican year. Three straight Republican congressional candidates — Jon Barela in 2010, Darren White in 2008 and Heather Wilson in 2006 — failed to carry Bernalillo County. Prior to those three elections, Republicans Manuel Lujan, Steve Schiff and Heather Wilson carried Bernalillo County for thirty-eight consecutive years. Susana’s 40,983 state-wide margin over Diane will dissipate quickly if Republicans cannot get their house in order in the state’s most populous county.
Napoleon at Elba
In addition, Governor-Elect Martinez needs to follow the example of Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry by making a practice of exposing the disastrous record of the prior administration. Mayor Berry did not attack Mayor Martin J. Chávez in a personal manner after winning his election, but he has done an effective job of consistently talking about the mess he inherited upon taking office, including such items as Mr. Chávez’ many secret side agreements with his union cronies.
Day after day, week after week, the mayor has documented Marty’s misfeasance at every appropriate opportunity. At one point, Mr. Chávez may have contemplated a restoration. Now, you can stick a fork in him.
The Martinez administration needs to recognize that the war has begun. Bill Richardson has not been shipped off to St. Helena. He is at Elba, plotting his return. The glory of the Hundred days and the reconquest awaits.
Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo was a near thing. But for the wet ground on the battlefield, the French artillery would have carried the day, and Bonaparte would again have been the master of Europe.
Governor-Elect Martinez and Republicans would be ill advised to be complacent.