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Richardson Withdrawing Nomination

January 04, 2009 2:01 PM

Facing questions about whether he played any part in a "pay-to-play" scheme, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has told President-elect Barack Obama that he is withdrawing his name as a nominee for secretary of the commerce in the pending Obama administration.

Obama accepted the news with "deep regret," according to a written statement from the president-elect. "It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time," said Mr. Obama.

Richardson is withdrawing because of questions raised by federal investigators, who have been looking into whether Richardson and his administration improperly steered state contracts towards CDR Financial Products, a Beverly Hills, Calif.-based firm founded by David Rubin, a major financial contributor to Richardson.

In 2003 and 2004, around the time CDR was awarded nearly $1.5 million in state contracts, Rubin and CDR donated $100,000 to Richardson's political action committees.

In a statement issued today, Richardson said that "a pending investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government promises to extend for several weeks or, perhaps, even months. Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact. But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."

In late December, I asked incoming White House press secretary Robert Gibbs about potential problems with the Richardson nomination. "How confident are you that Gov. Richardson and all of your proposed Cabinet nominees will clear the Senate confirmation process?" I asked.

Gibbs said that "what President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect [Joe] Biden and the Transition Team have done is put together what we think is a great Cabinet with many, many strong choices that will be able to tackle the many problems and challenges this country faces...In the case of Gov. Richardson, in the case of anybody else, I think at the end of the day you'll have a very strong Cabinet in place that's confirmed in a way that allows the President-elect to hit the ground running on the 20th of January."

-- jpt

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The Essence of our American Heritage Has Been Destroyed by Obama and Our Government
After the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, our government requested all citizens do their civic duty in being more observant and report any suspicious individuals, activities or any unaccompanied baggage or parcels.
However, when we ask our Supreme Court to do their civic duty by investigating an area of great concern whereby a political figure is committing fraud to secure the Presidential election under false pretentions, they not only refuse to become involved but state we as “ordinary citizens “ do not have the right to question Obama’s qualification or lack thereof. Conveniently passing the buck over to Congress stating they are the only ones that have the authority to impeach, knowing full well that the Democratic Congress would never take any action against Obama, since they themselves are also involved in the fraud.
I always thought any degree of criminal activity should be reported to and handled by our court system, especially when it involves a critical governmental individual. While the attempts to file suit in 9 states also fell on deaf ear by the court system, and our appeal to the Supreme Court likewise became a refusal to get involved, one should think how corrupt has our judicial branch become.
What harm would it have done to merely request the detailed documents outlined in our petition which could assure the safety and security of our country and stop the anger which is becoming pretty predominate throughout the internet by Obama’s refusal to submit these documents? The only conclusion I can reach is our entire government is aware of the fraud and is involved in the cover up since they don’t want the news to get out about Obama’s deception in circumventing our constitution, falsification of governmental documents, i.e. Presidential Certification stating he fully qualified for the position when he knew he was not, and the Selective Service Registration actually filed in 2008 but falsified to show 1980. His trips to Africa and Iraq illegally performing a function for which he was not yet appointed to! The list becomes so lengthy, I doubt if any other individual could have accomplished as much fraud in such a short period of time, yet our government opens up their arms and welcomes into their fold, an even more critical element, a potential terrorist. The Muslim radicals stating that they would find another way to destroy our country and in particular “would raise the flag at the White House”, this will be accomplished when Obama enters the White House after the inauguration. This should surely be a feather in their cap. They took an intelligent African Muslim indoctrinated him in the protocol favorable to Americans, the use of propaganda to influence the American vote, injected funding towards the new media to report one-sided commentary, disrupted our financial system as well as that of Europe by attempting to take down one of the very critical structures of our country with a mere tactic of delay convincing the political party it was the way to go until the initial impact could be felt, then provide him with top secret information about our country, outsmarting some of our most “so called political genius’s” without creating any question regarding his actual agenda, destruction of America.
The Department of Homeland Security was developed to provide more safety and security to the American people and our country yet they have not accomplished much in providing this added security since they to do not accept any responsibility to investigate the possibility of foreign infiltration by a black American/Muslim into a top level position in our government who has never received national security clearance. I am sure that will change since bribery can accomplish a lot, all of which Obama is willing to do to accomplish his ultimate goal of being our next President. While forgery can be accomplished, the more people involved the more susceptible he becomes to disclosure.
While everyone is relatively aware of the corruption that has existed in our government for a while, the magnitude of corruption prevalent now is unbelievable. It would be incorrect to say that bribery does not exist within the general public as well. Every time we provide or accept a gift for services performed or for consideration of favoring a specific product or organization,etc., we become involved in a form of bribery. It’s when that bribery becomes an issue affecting not just ourselves but a multitude of people manifesting itself to uncontrollable levels detrimental to our country.
I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that it took over 200+ years for the over saturation to take effect, thanks to the final nail placed in our coffin by Obama, with our government looking on in favor. I hope there will be enough concerned Americans, the true patriots of our country, still around that can be sure those coming after them are fully aware of the lack of integrity displayed by our political parties.
As George Washington once stated, the division into political parties could prove disastrous if not adequately controlled. He was so smart and I hope in the non to distant future our grand children will see that the 2008 political campaign will receive the discredit it deserves. Thanks to Obama, a majority of the Democratic Party and all the others involved, for they have destroyed the very essence of our American heritage and they should be labeled as traitors to their own country.
Is this the same tactic or over confidence that resulted in the 9/11 attack, never dreaming that their careless and smug attitude also attributed to the disaster by their deliberate refusal to address the issues when they first appeared and then brushed them off hoping they would just go away. Yet, they are doing the same thing now by refusing to even address our concerns which could divert a possible civil uprising instead their fear of an African American riot, their fear of the potential fallout from those of the Democratic Party involved, the monetary benefits resulting from the inaugural celebration and other influential’s banking on Obama’s victory, is given more precedence.
I thought our government consisted of intelligent individuals, but their intelligence flew out the window when the benefits to them outweighed the expense to their country. Our country is no better than any others that have sold out the freedoms of all their people in the name of power and greed.
I truly hope you are not also involved in the destruction of what was once called the most powerful nation in the world. Now we will end up being the stupidest country which was taken down by their own people with the help of the Muslim radical community.

Posted by: Joanofarc | Jan 7, 2009 2:35:46 AM

Obama is at it again, another falsified document, which this time is the selective service registration form which he was required to file in 1980. (1) The DLN number which is only a 10 digit number on the Selective Service System Registration Form shows the “08” execution date but has been changed to become an 11-digit number on the computer printout allowing for the insertion of an “8” in front of the “08” becoming ‘808”. (2) An outdated 9-year old postal date stamp was used. (3) The “no ID” check off box was marked reflecting the individual that appeared before the Post Office Agent in Hawaii did not present any form of ID. It should be investigated which Post Office and which agent was involved in executing this form. There is no other decision to make other than they were bribed into creating this false document and they should be punished accordingly. (4) The SSS Reference No. assigned to Obama was not placed on the registration form as is the procedure and (5) There is doubt as to who actually signed the form
How many more lies will be discovered if we keep digging.

Posted by: Joanofarc | Jan 7, 2009 2:33:12 AM

For allegations that McCain is not a natural born citizen, is absurd. Both of McCain's parents were natural born citizens unlike Obama. When a military family takes up residency in a foreign country as part of their military responsibility to our country, any children born would automatically be given natural born status. For anyone that disagrees with that , I say if one wishes to consider the fact that no military would ever reside in a foreign country under any circumstances due to their children being denied automatic citizenship and the classification of "natural born' status where would our country be. What a stupid and disloyal comment to make concerning those who honor their country by traveling where ever our country deems necessary. Yet you would not question Obama’s refusal to provide necessary documents to clear up any questions and could avoid a possible civil uprising which could result if he continues to refuse to prove once and for all he is who he claims to be.

Posted by: Joanofarc | Jan 7, 2009 2:03:00 AM

"Richardson probably didn't withdraw of his own volition"

It sounds like he did, actually. Though undoubtedly with some pressure.
--------------------------------------
kat,

He certainly did NOT withdraw on his own! Id he were to have done anything on his own, it would have been to NOT ACCEPT in the first place!

Posted by: Mike_C | Jan 5, 2009 10:56:19 AM

Whart happened to that vaunted Obama vetting team????

Or did they all know & figure with the media's help they could slide Richardson through ?

It's got to be one or the other!

Posted by: Mike_C | Jan 5, 2009 10:53:00 AM

Now that the Democrats are back in, the GSA will need to start looking for office space for all the special prosecutors investigating the crooks in the new government.

Posted by: red neckk | Jan 5, 2009 9:23:05 AM

Bush and the Republicans had 8 years to address any glaringly dangerous policies of Clinton - and they did nothing but make things worse.

Please, 8 years and the situation only got worse and worse. Take some responsibility - I'm surprised you're not blaming this all on JFK 48 years ago.

Posted by: pefros | Jan 4, 2009 9:40:10 PM

Thanks for the wonderful Housing MArket Clinton....
My neighbors have lost over 50% value and foreclosures are falling even harder after all these bailouts.....

Clinton rewrote all the Housing Act rules of lending and forced banks to give these loans to people who couldn't even afford A DIME TO WHAT THEY SIGNED THEIR NAMES TO... DEMOCRATS YOU WILL BE EXPOSED AND THE DECIET YOU HAVE CAUSED WILL BE AIRED OUT FOR ALL TO SEE. Obama superstar is about to disintegrate. Money won't keep everyones mouth shut, You'll see

Posted by: qudos | Jan 4, 2009 9:12:50 PM

Bush and the Republicans have left the country and the government in 'fine' shape. Billions of billions of dollars in debt with the economy in a complete mess.

Yes, indeed . . . pretty smart lot.

Given the mess, Obama will do well simply to help the nation survive. You right wing Republican Bush supporters have little to be boasting about.

Get on board and try to pull this thing towards the positive - acknowledge the mess and do something positive in your community besides carping.

Posted by: pefros | Jan 4, 2009 9:11:46 PM

I think we will have a real stupid president for the next 4 years. He can deliver a speech that someone else wrote, but that is all. I think Bush is much smarter than Obama. I m sure Bush would of never sit in an American hater church for 20 years, like Obama did.And how can he be a comender in chief, and never expirienced a day in his life in the military?

Posted by: Joe | Jan 4, 2009 7:00:47 PM

I would not doubt if there are more pay-to-play characters in Obama's administration. I still find it incredible that a person with little to no experience is able to raise over 700+ million dollars, and garner superdelgates handily to become President of United States.

Posted by: Stacy | Jan 4, 2009 6:50:53 PM

---Nothing will change with either party until we stop supporting fanstasy characters created by big $$ and the media.---

Post of the day.

Posted by: a reader in ga | Jan 4, 2009 6:40:52 PM

PEBO knows all about pay-to-play or palm-greasing political thuggery. How do you think he won the election?

So don't just hang a case on Richardson or Blago or JJ or Caroline or...! :(

They are all corrupt cronies from the same cesspool! :(

Posted by: aware2u | Jan 4, 2009 6:34:18 PM

Anyone who trusts any politicians in this nation today, Dem or Repub, is naive. They are all corrupt. time to clean house, folks. I mean really clean house.

Posted by: a reader in ga | Jan 4, 2009 6:28:43 PM

Obama is a national joke.

I am ashamed to call myself an American because of this corruption at the national level. Shame on Obama.

Posted by: Obama is a joke | Jan 4, 2009 6:11:58 PM

Chuck NM

What have you been smoking with Billyboy?? I have lived he 53 years and he is the largest piece of ----- NM has ever had. Mybe they will put him on his Chicken Train off to jail Toot Toot.

Posted by: forreal | Jan 4, 2009 5:59:52 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if the Obama team is using this for an excuse, especially since they have known about it. Maybe it's just a way for them to get who they really want-like what's being done in Illinois. I'm sure part of Richardson's backing included that he get's a cabinet position. He's just outlived his usefullness. Don't forget that Axelrod is an expert at "behind the scenes" leaks to newspapers. I think one can safely say scandals are his specialty. I'm with Belle Starr...just WHERE IS RAHM? Surely it doesn't take THIS long to bury the birth certificate.

Posted by: RL in Illinois | Jan 4, 2009 5:24:18 PM

Er ... "plotical"?

Are you going for "plot", or for "political"?

"Plotitics"? Not bad. I'd look at "non-profits". Like the Annenberg Challenge ... and smaller LOCAL ones. And especially at public-health functions supposedly PERFORMED by non-profits, large (like the U/C spinoff that paid Michelle Obama almost half a million a year) AND small (like the numerous clinics supposedly delivering health care to the American unrich.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Jan 4, 2009 5:12:00 PM

To Rod M: Better yet, vote em out!

Posted by: Fran | Jan 4, 2009 5:10:49 PM

Democrats, like the republicans, all smell like fish. Anyone with the ability to reason would know this by now. Unfortunatly, you don't need to have a brain to vote, just be a citizen. In the past only land owners were allowed to vote, as it was understood that land owners are a bit more engaged, intelligent and certainly had more of a stake in how things turned out. Now anyone can vote and they don't check your citizenship, let alone your IQ.

Posted by: Kilroy | Jan 4, 2009 5:03:55 PM

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