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Richardson named one of nation’s worst governors
Gov. Bill Richardson (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Gov. Bill Richardson is one of the worst governors in the nation, a Washington watchdog group said today, calling him one of 11 governors who “pride their self-interests over their states’.”
The new report, from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), represents the second time the group has gone after New Mexico politicians. In 2007, the group listed former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson – all Republicans – as three of the 22 most corrupt members of Congress.
The group primarily targeted GOP officials in 2007, and on its current list nine of the 11 governors are Republicans. Richardson and the scandal-plagued New York Gov. David Patterson are the two Democrats to make the list.
CREW charged that Richardson has:
• “Used state investments to benefit political allies.”
• “Allowed pay-to-play scandals to plague his administration.”
• “Rewarded close associates with state positions or benefits, including providing a longtime friend and political supporter with a costly state contract.”
• “Failed to make state government more transparent.”
You can read the full report on Richardson here.
Many of the charges center on scandals involving Marc Correra and the state investment scandal, and around the now-closed federal GRIPgate probe into allegations of pay to play involving CDR Financial products.
The governor’s spokeswoman, Alarie Ray-Garcia, was quoted by The Santa Fe New Mexican’s Steve Terrell as saying CREW’s report “is ridiculous considering Gov. Richardson has led the way for ethics reform in New Mexico. It’s also difficult to take it seriously since it relies almost exclusively on the Albuquerque Journal as its source.”
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It is interesting to speculate who Denish would like to see as a running mate. If she wants to distance herself from Richardson, she probably isn’t rooting for Colon as a running mate. With Colon’s ties to Richardson, Colon would be a drag on the Demo ticket.
I would say the other Guvs on the CREW list certainly fit the Richardson mold and tend to validate their methodology. Ahhhnnoldd and Rick Perry are certainly fitting peers to Bill in terms of ego, waste, corruption, etc.
Richardson was so blinded by his political ambitions and his desire to land a position of some note with the Obama administration, he stretched the boundaries of the law, and maybe even broke some. It is a good thing that the media and investigative reporters kept probing – that was the only way that he has been held accountable. For all those persons who were trampled by his bullish style, well, “what goes around – comes around”.
I should point out an article I wrote in 2008 about CREW and questions about their potentially partisan roots and their failure to do research that was necessary to back up their claims against Pearce that year:
http://www.nmpolitics.net/index/2008/09/group-again-assails-pearce-despite-letter-clearing-him/
“Denish is her own person and has never been a “protégé” of Richardson.”
That remains to be seen; if not a protégé, then what exactly? complicit, compliant, or complacent?
It is unfortunate for the citizens of New Mexico that, “being her own person” never included standing up against rampant corruption and incompetence.
If you liked Richardson, you’re going to love Denish/Colon.
Thanks That One, you called it to a turn. It was a good epitaph for Richardson and good riddance after his term is up. I hope his political career is over and never rears its head again.
This would be the best thing that could happen for the people, other than maybe ousting Obama.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Richardson was a lousy Congressman from the north; abandoning his constituents at one of the most critical moments in their lives in exchange for his UN Ambassadorship appointment. He was a lousy DOE Secretary under Bill Clinton; subjecting the nation to the farce of the Wen Ho Lee fiasco. But then we go ahead and vote him is as Governor anyways, apparently not caring much about his past record of self service rather than public service. And though he received two presidential appointments during slick Willy Clinton’s tenure, he even stabs him in the back in strategic move to line him up for a juicy presidential appointment under the Obama administration. In the mean time as Governor of our largely rural and poor state he drains the public treasury with tax cuts for the rich, a jet plane for his pleasure, eight years of Government mansion parties for the rich and famous, and all the while lining his campaign coffers with the proceeds of ill gotten pay-for-play proceeds involving one taxpayer funded scheme after another. And all along we were expected the spots on this leopard to somehow change?
Denish/Colon – I like the sound of that. There would be so many skeletons we could associate Richardson to. Wedum, I’m not sure where you have been, but Denish has been lockstep with Richardson for seven and a half of the last eight years. Only recently has she made an effort to go it alone, especially after she realized what political poison Richardson has become.
Denish represents more of the same.
Too bad Brian Colon has been so close to Richardson, serving as treasurer of the Moving America Forward foundation and as party chair during Big Bill’s era. Diane Denish has tried to keep her distance from Richardson, so she’d better hope that voters keep Colon off the ticket…
jiv… doesn’t know squat about Denish. She is her own person and has never been a “protégé” of Richardson.
The state will see a distinct turn for the better with her governorship, starting with more bipartisan cooperation and an emphasis on teamwork.
Well this is some good news! Maybe the country is waking up and seeing the light. It is about time he was classified for his ineptitude.
All that is left now is to see how this reflects on his protégé Diane Denish. She is trying her best to disassociate herself from Richardson, but she is still the lackey he used in every part of the government legislature, and she went along with it passively.
Cry me a river for Governor Richardson. So much the potential. So little the results. His staff indicated he wanted to stay in NM after his term is up. I would not put money on that bet.
We can only pray New Direction. Imagine if we allowed Democrats to redistrict? Then we would have rampant problems, even more so than now.
I’m a bit surprised that they listed Heather Wilson as being one of the most corrupt congress members. I would like to see their report on her. Pearce I can believe.
Sigh….when will we wake up from this 8 year nightmare?? I guess this sinks his chances of getting that Motion Picture Association of America top job. How pathetic the response from his spin team blaming everything on the ABQ Journal…..it’s always someone else’s fault…can’t own up to anything.
No wonder Diane Denish is knocking herself out to distance herself from him….the question is how effective will she be? I’m guessing not very…prepare for a GOP takeover of the gov’s chair.
Wow, what a shocker! Anybody ever had a clue about this before the article?
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