Bill Richardson's "Homer Simpson" Moment. Doh!

[wyldwolf]

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson attacked his Democratic primary rivals yesterday for supporting recent legislation on Iraq. One problem: Richardson himself once supported one of the bills. Compounding Richardson's problem: Ryan Lizza documents how Richardson's campaign tried to scrub his website for all references to it. Of course, another campaign had copies of the old web site. They also missed a press release still on the site touting his support for the bill.

"Note to the Richardson campaign: if you are going to change your position on Iraq and then rid your Web site of all evidence that you ever held that position, you'll want to take down every incriminating example."

http://www.tnr.com/blog/the_plank?pid=118717

[seasat]

1. Another hit piece on Ricardson from the magazine that supports the War

Ryan Lizza has definitely got it in for Richardson, because they don't want to someone with that clear of a position against the Iraq war elected. This the third hit piece in the past couple of weeks he has had against Richardson. If anyone actually reads the press release that Richardson put out, it is clear that he'd support a partial withdrawal over no withdrawal. That is just common sense. However, he quite clearly emphasizes that he would prefer a deauthorization with total withdrawal and that is what congress should do. BTW, if they are supposedly scrubbing his site, then why did they leave it his original statement in several places? It appears that the only reason they removed it from the main page was to prevent idiots like Lizza from using it in attacks by taking it out of context.

Here's what Richardson said in the opening of his press release on 5/1 regarding the veto of Feingold/Reid.

SANTE FE, NM -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today blasted President Bush’s veto of Democrat sponsored legislation that would have set a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The Governor called on Congress once again to immediately pass a resolution, under the War Powers Act, that would de-authorize the Iraq War and provide a rapid timetable for the withdrawal of US forces.

"The President is defying the will of the American people so it is time for Congress to take action that cannot be vetoed," said Governor Bill Richardson. "It is clear to all but the President that no military solution remains in Iraq. Mr. President, stubbornness is not foreign policy. The death of more than 100 U.S. soldiers there last month underscores the need to withdraw our brave men and women now. To continue with more of the same is not a strategy, it is a tragedy. The only solution is strong diplomacy and real political progress led by the Iraqis. Our troops have performed bravely, with honor and sacrifice, but it is time to get them out of the crossfire of a civil war. We need to redeploy all of our forces out of Iraq leaving no residual forces. Al Qaeda and other anti-American forces benefit from our continued presence in Iraq- it enables them to portray the US as imperialist occupiers- we need to deprive them of that propaganda. The truth is our enemies want us mired and bleeding in Iraq rather than fighting the real war against the real terrorists who attacked this country on 9/11."

Governor Richardson stated that only Congress has the authority to authorize war, and can also vote by resolution to de-authorize the war- which would require the military to remove all American troops from Iraq. Such a resolution does not require a Presidential signature and would therefore not be subject to veto.

[rinsd]

2. I like Richardson but this was bush league politics.

I don't doubt that Lizza hates Richardson.

But attacking your opponents on something you also supported while making a sloppy coverup means he's not ready for primetime.