According to the AP:
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat running for president, will lead a U.S. delegation to North Korea this month to discuss the return of the remains of missing servicemen, the White House said on Tuesday.
It's physically painful for me to praise President Bush, but this is the reality-based community so I've got to suck it up and say it: it took guts to reach across the party line and tap someone running for president for the opposite party to lead a delegation to North Korea.
But Bill Richardson is the right person to do it.
Richardson has experience negotiating directly with North Korea in the past. In fact, his efforts in North Korea earned him one of his four Nobel Peace Prize nominations. When the North Koreans were getting nowhere negotiating with the USA last year, they sent a delegation to visit Richardson in New Mexico for tips on how to make progress with the Bush Adminstration. A breakthrough in those negotiations came soon after.
Gov. Bill Richardson is doing amazing things inside and outside New Mexico. He just signed a law to legalize medical marijuana in New Mexico because he's not going to let running for the White House stop him from doing what he thinks is right, no matter how controversial. How much does it rock to see a candidate with courage rather than just safe talking points?
He's transforming New Mexico into a leader in alternative energy and stem cell research, despite the fact that it's one of the poorest states in the country. He also balanced the budget and cut taxes, after getting reelected by a record margin.
He's also got a plan for his first 100 hours in the White House that's worth a look. I'll write on that tomorrow.