Dear Governor Richardson;
I’ve just watched your stirring endorsement of Barack Obama for President on C-SPAN (in rerun). And I wanted to thank you. You’ve helped add an uplifting tone to the Easter weekend news cycle. And, one hopes, you’ll help the Party wrap up this bruising primary season. It is, as you have said (more eloquently than I ever could), time for that.
I have not been your biggest fan over the years, though there’s no point in belaboring the details here. And you did make sure that the Rio Grande Gorge was one of the first stretches of river in the nation to gain Wild & Scenic designation, and that was good. I would also have liked it better if you’d've endorsed Obama for President sooner than you did. It could have been very helpful had you campaigned in El Paso. And anyplace else along the Rio all the way down to Brownsville, too, for that matter. But nothing to be done about that now.
Now, it's time to look forward to the new century, not back to the last one.
I know it goes against your grain to burn a bridge. And you have done that in deciding not to endorse Hillary Clinton for President on the basis of the past, but instead have endorsed Barack Obama with an eye to the future. It was the right thing to do, and it took some guts. It must have been tough breaking the news to the other Big Bill. I commend you in endorsing while so many other officeholders are still holding back. This long-time constituent of yours wants to go on record affirming that you have done the right thing. That is, to say "Thanks, Big Bill!"
And: Welcome aboard. Obama supporters all contribute what they can. Your energy and oratorical skills will be a real asset to the campaign. Oh, and is there anything you can do to convince Congressman Udall and Senator Bingaman to join in? And: Let’s all do what we can to make sure New Mexico - the tightest of swing states - ends up in the Obama column next November!
Sincerest thanks,
"Land of Enchantment"
POSTSCRIPT
To my fellow Kossacks (if you’re not from New Mexico):
Obama Hates Your State
In thanking Governor Richardson for his endorsement, Obama just said (again, in rerun!) that New Mexico is one of the nation’s most beautiful states. That sure sounds like he’s saying that your state is NOT one of the most beautiful states. Why does he hate his home state, Illinois? And he said it at an appearance in Oregon - home of the Steens Mountains and Silver Falls and Timberline Lodge. Shouldn’t all Oregonians be offended?
I thought about writing a snarky diary, with that as the lead. But I’m weary of all the vitriol flying around. Pat Buchanan, for example, is so incensed about Reverend Wright’s "incendiary language" that he hasn’t uttered a word against immigrants ever since that story broke. But I don’t even feel like ridiculing him today. It’s been a rough week. And so, I figured I’d just throw this silliness in at the end of my diary.
I’ve been thinking about writing the superdelegates I’m a constituent of. And here, one of them already endorsed before I got around to it! But I really should get to the others, beyond thanking my state's Governor. And you can, too. Here's a link to help you do so --- should you wish to do it that way. I think I'm going to try and short, handwritten note on stationery. Sent to the in-state field office during the Congressional Easter break.
No matter what you worship, springtime is a season of hope. So it’s a good time to write to your representatives about speaking out to draw this primary season to a close. Since it’s the Congressional Easter break, you might even be able to find an opportunity to tell them in person.