Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Richardson Endorsement for the Right Stuff

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) formally ended his campaign for president. The good news is that he remains on the Illinois ballot for the February 05, 2008, ballot. For the past two weeks, the media has given him so much attention because they are all curious about a potential endorsement. Not endorsing anyone is the smart move. That is exactly what Gov. Richardson has decided to do for now -- not endorse any Democratic candidate for president.

Instead, he chooses to continue endorsing the issues and priorities that his campaign raised first a year ago. The South Carolina debates proved that the remaining three Democratic candidates have adopted and maintain Gov. Richardson's positions. Once everyone argued vehemently against everything that are in the best interests of the public trust. Now those interests are an accepted part of the discussion:

  • ending this war -- now,
  • developing policies for greater energy independence, bringing Americans home from the Mideast -- now,
  • developing policies for greater energy independence,
  • creating universal health care,
  • improving education,
  • providing scholarships for public service.
Gov. Richardson is enjoying the job he loves as governor of New Mexico (and the only Democratic candidate to campaign throughout the year with executive experience) yet it sounds like he never left. He has successfully influenced the Democratic platform in important ways:
  1. It is the sign of a genuine leader.
  2. It is the sign of a person who knows how to initiate real change.
  3. It is the sign of the best person for the job!
His name is on the Illinois Primary ballot. People can still vote for him (and his delegates)!

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Sunday, January 13, 2008

Registration Continues to Vote Early, Vote Often

Early voting (i.e., 2005 Illinois House Bill 1968, 10 ILCS 5/19A) for the February 5 (aka Tsunami Tuesday) Illinois Primary begins Monday, January 14, 2008, and ends Thursday, January 31, 2008. Voting registration continues during a grace period through January 22.

The General Primary Election is February 5. The ballots will include candidates for U.S. Senate, Representatives in Congress, and State Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly. With the exception of Cook County, primary voters will elect precinct committeemen. Chicago voters will elect ward committeemen. Referenda could appear on the ballots as well. All voters will elect delegates to the National Nominating Conventions. They can either declare a party affiliation or request a nonpartisan ballot only.

Early voting in
St. Clair County is easy. In almost all cases, the early voting centers will be different from the voters' regular polling place. Absentee voting laws in Illinois remain in place, and it has already begun. Information on the locations of early voting centers and absentee ballots should contact their county clerks and other election authorities across the state.

There are safeguards in place to eliminate fraud. Voters casting an early ballot must do so in person and display a valid identification (i.e., a current driver's license, a state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph). This requirement is stricter than other identification requirements for casting a ballot on Election Day. Anyone voting during the early voting period cannot vote again on Election Day, and all ballot counting occurs after the polls close on Election Day.

Voting is a responsibility and a privilege for American citizens. Every eligible voter should submit a ballot. In the Democratic Party, the field of candidates will look like it is limited to just two or three candidates. Primary voters need to remember that their candidate is still on the ballot, and they can still vote for the person. For example, Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) has
ended his campaign. That will not stop the more informed voters from wisely casting their ballots for him.

The
Board of Elections has all the information.

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Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Bill Richardson Remains on the Ballot

Gov. Bill Richardson ends his presidential campaign today after the New Hampshire Primary. Of all the candidates, he has the best resume with the most impressive qualifications for the oval office.

He portrayed his campaign as a job application for president, and ran clever ads that showed a bored interviewer unimpressed with his dazzling resume. The commercials helped fuel his move to double-digit support in some early state polls, and advisers argued he was poised to move past former vice presidential nominee John Edwards for the role of third-place challenger.
Unfortunately, New Hampshire voters and people with too much money choose to listen to lots of pretty talk from an arrogant politician selling snake oil public policies about change that will not measure up in the long term. It is rather oxymoronic for a status quo Chicago Machine politician to pitch change. Not so long ago voters fell for the campaign rhetoric from a Hollywood actor with an excellent speaking style and very bad policies.

The good news is that Bill Richardson remains on the Illinois Democratic Primary ballots. People can still vote for him!

A vote for Bill Richardson is an intelligent vote in the best interests of this country.


A vote for Barack Obama is a vote against democracy.

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Friday, January 04, 2008

Bill Richardson Remains Viable

There were five activists from Illinois that spent the week in Iowa to support Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential campaign. The amazing experience proved that nothing is set in stone. He remains a presidential candidate, quite viable, electable, in fourth place, and in New Hampshire.

History is consistent when it comes to the political arena (i.e., inevitable change). Also, MSM headlines are filled with half truths & whatever looks good in print.

Gov. Richardson really did accomplish a lot in Iowa since he had the resources to run a very competitive campaign. He mobilized nearly 20,000 voters and took 7 percent of the caucus-goers in the first round. The unique nature of the Iowa caucus process and the unexpectedly large turnout meant that he could not maintain all of those votes into the final round.

The five Illinois voters traveled to Iowa to meet Gov. Richardson and listen to him in person. They also had the wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with members of his cabinet and his staff. He is now the only 2nd-tier candidate to continue and has been in New Hampshire since 3 a.m. today. Even after a very full, very long day yesterday, he scheduled events all day today including a television interview.

The lesson learned from Iowa is that the 2008 presidential race is still very fluid. The New Hampshire voters are re-thinking their positions in light of what happened last night. For them, what happens in Iowa stays in Iowa. New Hampshire voters do their own thing. It is a completely different audience. Suddenly, inevitable is not so inevitable anymore.

Gov. Richardson made the Final Four. The MSM might even broadcast more of his responses during tomorrow night's debate. Without a doubt, he is the best person for the job.

History has proven that change without experience never works. The results are worse than before. Voters in the past have kept senators on The Hill -- where they belong -- to earn the generous salaries taxpayers provide them. Two of the presidential candidates have now returned to their jobs. Unfortunately, Illinois has to continue playing the waiting game and has yet to see any bang for it's Obama buck.

Bill Richardson deserves the Party nomination.

Illinois taxpayers deserve a refund.

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