Obama’s Bus Flattens Another
This is not the Bill Richardson I knew.
Thanks to Joe.
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Hmmm. So now 2 Democratic presidential candidates (Richardson and Edwards), are at game-over. With Dodd to come. And that’s not counting Gravel (long since there).
That leaves Obama, Clinton, Biden and Kucinich.
Hey, maybe they can have Kucinich as Commerce Secretary!
Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 1/4/2009 @ 3:55 pmI guess Bill’s sellout of Hillary did not pay off as much as he thought it would. ROFL
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/4/2009 @ 3:57 pmI think this may have more to do with Richardson’s skeletons over his party – boy days. Many rumors have abounded over the years about just what happened with which woman – that may be the actual reason why he’s toast now.
Dmac (eb0dd0) — 1/4/2009 @ 3:58 pmI didn’t hear about any of that, Dmac. Sad to hear, apart from policy differences.
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:01 pmAnd did I read that correctly, at the link?
That the FBI investigation of Richardson would be problematic?
Well…what would an FBI investigation of the President-elect and Vice-President elect reveal?
A better level of questionable associations and actions?
Really?
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:05 pmStill more contrast that shows just how clean the George W. Bush administration has actually been.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:07 pmRichardson has many skeletons, even before he started to use tanning formula and grew his beard. He, like Corzine in NJ, is a well-known speed scofflaw in his state car among other things.
Mike K (2cf494) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:10 pmYep. That “Culture of Corruption” Nancy Pelosi carries on about looks more and more like that awful “p” word: projection.
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:11 pmIt looks like those horrendous multi-page forms that the Obama administation supposedly subjected its hopeful appointees to were not only necessary, but not quite rigorous enough.
Insufficiently Sensitive (673620) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:19 pmIf Pellicano wasn’t in jail I’d believe Hill & Bill had something to do with torpedoing some revenge into this cruiser. But then, he can still take and make phone calls to pals.
Time to grow a new goatee.
DCSCA (d8da01) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:19 pmThis all harkens back to the Clinton admin and their inability go get their people through the security clearance process. All those “T”s on the credentials signifying temporary clearances and the subsequent massive reduction in size of the “T” from full-size background to type-set bottom.
the underwhelmed John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:28 pmSPQR chortled:
Ya think? 🙂
The very amused Dana (556f76) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:36 pmDarn! I meant to include [Squish!] at the end of the last one!
The very amused Dana (556f76) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:37 pmHe’s just a typical Democrat governor person.
nk (d08690) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:44 pmI’m always surprised by the surprise that politicians show when their previous “deals” land them in trouble.
“To sup with the devil requires a long spoon” is the relevant quote, I think. Samuel Johnson?
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 4:51 pmRemember how Richardson, when he first started making noise about running for Governor of N.M. in 2005, first had to clear up the matter of his claim to have been drafted by the Kansas City (now Oakland) Athletics in 1966, which has been a part of his resume for years. From the Albuquerque Journal on November 24, 2005 (via Breitbart):
Thanks, Blago. We couldn’t have flushed out Big Rich without ya.
L.N. Smithee (098396) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:26 pmDagnabit, didn’t edit the first part of my post after getting accurate info. Curse you, WordPress!
The above should read:
L.N. Smithee (098396) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:29 pmHow do you “come to the conclusion” that you weren’t, actually, a major-league baseball player?
Rob Crawford (b5d1c2) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:32 pmRob, isn’t this similar to the way that Caroline Kennedy was “dismayed” to learn she didn’t vote very often?
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:35 pmIf you weren’t there when you made the claim, you have to accept the veracity of your claim until someone disproves your claim. Then you have to accept the possibility the claim you made when you weren’t there to make it could’ve been false. But you can’t be sure because you weren’t there at the time and besides you can’t read your mind to find out if you’re fabricating or not. So your claim may or may not be true, you cannot be certain.
That about cover it?
John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:40 pmWell, there is this picture of what the article purports to be Mr Obama’s press bus. I noted with some amusement that the press rides the short bus! 🙂
The politically incorrect Dana (556f76) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:43 pm“After being notified of the situation and after researching the matter … I came to the conclusion that I was not drafted by the A’s,” he said.
This man who threw his hat in the ring to be come POTUS needed a newspaper to inform him he was never a pro-ball player??? Seriously?
Dana (137151) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:47 pmwait, didnt the dems rip the repubs for not VETTING people……vet vet vet
slizzle (4c3b4d) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:49 pmI’m always surprised by the surprise that politicians show when their previous “deals” land them in trouble.
I’m always surprised by politician’s hubris in believing their previous “deals” won’t land them in trouble!
Dana (137151) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:50 pmYou know, Dana, if they just said “hey, politics is like that,” it would be one thing. Teapot Dome, anyone?
But they get all high and mighty about “the other folks” doing the same darned thing that they are doing.
That’s different, though, I know. The “ends” are so wonderful that any “means” acceptable.
I would think that the last ten years or so have taught the public to demand honesty and accountability from politicians. But apparently, folks care more Teh Narrative.
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:57 pmAnd slizzle?
Who vetted Barack Obama? And Joe Biden?
But that’s different, apparently.
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 5:58 pmSomehow, somewhere I know Sarah Palin is responsible for this. If not her directly, then her hairdresser or maybe even her 4th grade teacher.
Where is the MSM when you need them?
Huey (99686e) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:04 pmEric Blair, maybe it’s just me but if I were to run for the most powerful position in the world, I’m pretty much going to have to assume that *every* skeleton hidden away will be exposed. How these idiots think themselves above the fray is always remarkable.
Dana (137151) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:04 pmDana, I think they read their own PR releases too much. Good Lord above, look at how BO was treated by the MSM!
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:07 pmEric Blair #26:
Who vetted Barack Obama?
Our watchdogs in the [cough, cough] mainstream media did. No really, they gave him a thorough checking out. They sent dozens of reporters to Arizona and Alaska to find out as much dirt on Barack Obama has they possibly could. You will be comfortable to know that no incriminating evidence with regards to Obama could be found in Phoenix or Wasilia.
And Joe Biden?
Why that would be Ms. Caroline Kennedy [Schlossberg], soon to be appointed Senator from the great state of New York. She assures us that there is nothing objectionable about him and that he is completely fit for the job.
JVW (bff0a4) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:18 pmgoing to have to assume that *every* skeleton hidden away will be exposed.
I think after Bill’s experience, they all think that they can get away with it – his many liasons with women were waved away by his helpful press mavens, many calling Paula Jones a “scorned woman,” the AK State Troopers insane, and Kathleen Wiley a nutcase.
Dmac (eb0dd0) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:24 pmKevin Murphy in comment 1, your comment is all to plausible to be funny. Like him or not (I am kind of neutral), Richardson probably would have been an OK Secretary of Commerce because he believes in, you know, commerce. I fear now that having a perceived moderate forced to bow out will empower the angry left to demand that Obama appoint someone from their ranks who will seek to undermine the free market system. Imagine Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary combined with a commerce secretary along the lines of a Robert Reich or a Dick Gephardt or someone of a similar bent. Kiss free trade goodbye forever.
JVW (bff0a4) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:25 pmWhoops, I meant “AS State Troopers.”
Dmac (eb0dd0) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:25 pmWhoops, I meant “
Dmac's proofreader but not named Dana (4ad088) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:36 pmASAR State Troopers.”Rob Crawford wrote:
What Richardson had implied in his bio for decades was that he was a good enough pitcher in his time at Tufts University (home, fittingly, of the Jumbos) that he was drafted by a major league team. He said that arm injuries made a baseball career impossible rather than allowing the suggestion that he wasn’t actually good enough for the bigs.
However, Richardson did actually pitch for the Cotuit (MA) Kettleers in 1967 in the Cape Cod League, an amateur league through which many major leaguers have come to the attention of Major League scouts. Notable ex-Kettleers (I don’t know what a “kettleer” is, and neither does dictionary.com) include Chase Utley of the World Champion Phillies, Jeff Kent, John Franco, and my fave, Will Clark, who in 1987 brought back winning to the S.F. Giants for the first time since the days of Mays, McCovey, and Marichal.
L.N. Smithee (098396) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:59 pmDoh!
That’s like Caroline Kennedy saying she was dismayed when she learned about her voting history. Do these people need a handler to tell them what they did yesterday?! Incredible.
Patricia (89cb84) — 1/4/2009 @ 6:59 pmSmithee….even this old washed-up ballplayer knows the difference between playing in a summer college league, or a semipro league, and being drafted, even if he didn’t play in the minors….
It’s about the same difference as this Marine would consider landing in a hot LZ, or rolling to a stop at the end of a tarmac and being greeted by the locals….
While under fire, of course….
reff (ea7aa1) — 1/4/2009 @ 7:05 pmNot to make too much of an effort to defend Richardson, but unlike football and basketball the baseball draft has something like 60 rounds and the vast majority of players never get beyond the rookie ball or Class A level. I think Richardson’s claim is that he thought he had been taken in one of the last rounds, but since he didn’t think his arm would hold up he never bothered contacting the A’s to try and work out a contract and a minor-league assignment.
My guess would be that Richardson probably knew that he hadn’t been drafted and just tried to Joe Biden his way through it, but there is some small chance that the really might have thought he had been taken at the end of the draft.
JVW (bff0a4) — 1/4/2009 @ 7:11 pmDear Patricia:
Yes, the apparently do.
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 7:18 pmDear Patricia:
Sigh. I meant to write:
Yes, they apparently do.
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 7:19 pmThat’s a hella difference from being drafted by a major league team.
Rob Crawford (b5d1c2) — 1/4/2009 @ 7:21 pmMy father always told me that it was not only more moral to tell the truth, but easier.
When you lie, you need to remember which lies you told to whom, and keep them all straight.
When you tell the truth, you only have one set of incidents to remember.
Remember Joe Biden’s exaggerations/lies about his college background? Completely unnecessarily, easily checked, and embarrassing (except they didn’t have much traction in the MSM, sadly).
But I believe—and I’m probably in the minority on this topic—that “little lies” can be an indicator of the person’s ethos. If a person will lie about something “unimportant,” what else will they lie about?
Eric Blair (3e2520) — 1/4/2009 @ 7:37 pmShort-bus Democrats ride again.
Perfect Sense (9d1b08) — 1/4/2009 @ 7:47 pmhttp://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTFlMjIzMmIyNzY2MmM3ZmU2YWUxYzk4MmIwZGI3ZDk=
Heh.
Dana (137151) — 1/4/2009 @ 9:01 pm#35 L.N. Smithee:
Me neither, but perhaps a contraction of “kettledrummer?”
Or mayhap a tinker of kettles?
Either way, an odd name for a sports team.
EW1(SG) (e27928) — 1/4/2009 @ 10:11 pm*snickers* I still say the winner is the Knickerbockers for “oddest name”.
Scott Jacobs (90ff96) — 1/4/2009 @ 10:41 pmMark owes me a new keyboard, and a new monitor (not taking chances with my shiny new 20″ Dell).
Scott Jacobs (90ff96) — 1/4/2009 @ 10:42 pmKettle corn is a different way of making popcorn.
It’s also a way to make potato chips – Cape Cod Potato Chips – slow cooked in a KETTLE. I don’t have any idea if that is the basis for the name, but I haven’t seen any better guesses yet.
daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 1/4/2009 @ 11:29 pmI’m betting that the kettle the team name refers to is one used to boil sap into maple syrup.
gahrie (146dab) — 1/5/2009 @ 7:26 amIt’s not like every time something happens to someone involved with Obama means they’re getting thrown under a bus. How does the expression even apply in this case if Richardson never even made it onto the team?
Sarlberid (92563e) — 1/5/2009 @ 7:29 amHow does the expression apply? Very simply, in actuality. The Obama camp has already begun its process of discrediting the one they previously picked. They are running away from him faster than he can run away from them. That’s all.
John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/5/2009 @ 7:33 amSarlberid wrote:
OK, so Governor Richardson was running, tie flying, shirt coming untucked, sweat beading his forehead, trying to catch the Obama bus, when he slipped, tripped and fell under the police car which was following the bus. The result is still Squish!
The sarcastic Dana (3e4784) — 1/5/2009 @ 7:37 amUm, not really.
Throwing someone under the bus means you’re dodging responsibility for something by blaming your failures or impropriety on an underling. How is that the case here? Obama isn’t the one under investigation, Richardson is. The metaphor doesn’t work at all.
Sarlberid (92563e) — 1/5/2009 @ 7:56 amIsn’t it the truth, JVW, they found the ‘non existent affair’ with Iseman; that’s going to cost them a pretty penny, they took forever to establish that Sarah’s kid was her own, they never quite figured out the Bridge to Nowhere, and Sarah’s role in shutting it down. the perky Katie apparently did no actual research, well she did meet up with Nunn & co, before ambushing the governor and carving up the interview like a turkey. the local paper, the AD News, basically threw out it’s archive on her, endorsed someone they hardly knew over her, and continues to try to run her over.
As for Richardson, his very conventional left wing positions on Central America, much like the Vice President elect, his many special envoy trips to N. Korea, Iraq, Sudan, Cuba, (right before the BTR shootdown) his nonexistent record
narciso (57971e) — 1/5/2009 @ 8:00 amat Energy and the UN. should have disqualified him but didn’t
What an odd nit to pick, Sarlberid.
The expression is a joke; to expect precision in a joke is to miss the point of a joke.
Rob Crawford (04f50f) — 1/5/2009 @ 8:18 amThe metaphor doesn’t work at all.
It’s called a vetting process – you could look it up.
Dmac (eb0dd0) — 1/5/2009 @ 8:18 am“It’s called a vetting process – you could look it up.”
Sarlberid – Obama’s vetting team fucked up. They either believed Richardson who was less than forthcoming or failed to do any independent research. Same result. Accepted and announced for the new Obama cabinet pending Senate confirmation, now under the bus.
daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 1/5/2009 @ 8:25 amFirst, referring to ‘Obama’s bus’ implies that he’s somehow complicit in this when it’s obvious that he isn’t. Pointing out intentional distortions is not being too picky.
Second, humor is predicated on precision. Good humor, anyway.
Sarlberid (b989f8) — 1/5/2009 @ 9:36 amHe’s not?
He didn’t offer Richardson the position of Commerce Secretary?
Rob Crawford (04f50f) — 1/5/2009 @ 9:44 amNo, it means that you’re abandoning someone who might cause you trouble. Thump, thump.
Pablo (99243e) — 1/5/2009 @ 11:16 amPerhaps by sacrificing Bill Richardson, the nominee who actually has some experience in doing things, they get a free pass on Hillary Clinton, who has no experience in getting anything done, and who has her own set of entangled finances, and Eric Holder, who has a history that the Democrats would be screaming bloody murder about were he a Republican.
Brilliant play!
The conspiracy theorist Dana (3e4784) — 1/5/2009 @ 11:34 amHe just got vetted. He’s not going to be Commerce Secretary is he?
Sarlberid (b989f8) — 1/5/2009 @ 12:46 pmYou’re not supposed to have a grand jury doing the vetting of your political appointments, Sarlberid.
Pablo (99243e) — 1/5/2009 @ 1:07 pmThe thing is, the vetting is supposed to be done BEFORE you offer the job…
Scott Jacobs (a1c284) — 1/5/2009 @ 1:13 pmYeah, that’s not what’s happening.
Sarlberid (b989f8) — 1/5/2009 @ 1:17 pmWho says? You can’t continue to vet someone you’ve offered a job to if you have a few more weeks before they actually take it? That sounds like something a smart person would do, to me.
Sarlberid (b989f8) — 1/5/2009 @ 1:22 pmDo you not understand the idea behind vetting?
You vet someone to make sure there are no embarrassing little surprises waiting around that will make you look like an idiot of the “You offered it to THAT guy, who is under indictment/a convicted pedophile/known to wear dead squirrels on his head for dinner” variety.
Vetting exists so that when you name someone, you can be relatively sure that no one can dig up any major dirty to use as leverage against him, or deny the nomination.
What happened here was the opposite of vetting, as any number of people on Obama’s staff could have uncovered the fact that Richardson was under indictment for, basically, handing a juicy contract to someone who gave him a lot of money.
Scott Jacobs (a1c284) — 1/5/2009 @ 1:34 pmPointing out intentional distortions is not being too picky.
Very well; then you’re an anal – obsessive git.
Second, humor is predicated on precision.
Judging by your Teutonic insistence on a strict definition for a common political expression that’s used to describe a variety of actions, you don’t seen to have any relevant knowledge on that subject, either.
Dmac (eb0dd0) — 1/5/2009 @ 2:38 pmYa see, the problem is, for most of Obama’s people, that’s business as usual.
Rob Crawford (b5d1c2) — 1/5/2009 @ 3:26 pmOf course, one problem is that Governor Richardson was one of the best of Mr Obama’s selections.
The depressed Dana (556f76) — 1/6/2009 @ 3:07 pmThen again, considering his recent experience in trading things, perhaps Rod Blagojevich would make a good Secretary of Commerce.
The South Park Dana (556f76) — 1/6/2009 @ 3:08 pmIf Obama keeps selecting headgear for donkeys, perhaps the masses will realize their mistake and partially correct it in 2010. I can dream, can’t I?
Rip van John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/6/2009 @ 3:20 pmSo true. The DNC is only on a temporary money-funded high. Cracks in the boat.
Vermont Neighbor (058354) — 1/6/2009 @ 3:56 pmOne wonders what Obama would have done if his nominee was from a state with more electoral votes.
Icy Texan (b7d162) — 1/6/2009 @ 11:42 pm