Gov. Bill Richardson Among Nation's Unemployed

Bill Richardson, a man with many formers in his title (as in former Governor of New Mexico, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, and former Energy Secretary), shared with Imus today his current status.
 
“I’m in Washington, DC, trying to earn a living,” said Richardson, who still resides in Santa Fe, but travels around the country for speaking engagements. “You know all those boring speeches I always used to give for free? Now I’m getting paid for it.”
 
With his various credentials, Richardson was more than qualified to comment on almost all of this morning’s major news stories, starting with the nuclear disaster in Japan. In his view, Tokyo Electric Power Company “really screwed up,” by not using enough coolants in their nuclear power plants, and by lacking a backup plan for auxiliary power.
 
“This is a great country, Japan, and it’s going to have to make a massive shift into renewable energy because 30 percent of their energy is nuclear,” Richardson said. Despite its small physical size, Japan has a huge economy, and he believes they will ultimately bounce back.
 
But to do so, they must make some real changes to their energy supply. “Less reliance on nuclear, more on solar, and wind, and natural gas, and renewables,” Richardson said.
 
Japan has no access to oil or natural gas on its own soil, and relies almost entirely on OPEC and other countries for its power. Given Japan’s technologically innovative nature, Richardson opined, “I believe they’re going to move rapidly with strong science and environmental efforts—not just to clean up, but to develop new sources, cleaner sources.”
 
The catastrophe in Japan has sparked discussion in the U.S. about its own nuclear power options. “This is an opportunity to have a real debate, not just about nuclear, but the safety of our energy portfolio,” Richardson said. “Look at the issues relating to the oil spill. Look at the mining disasters of coal in West Virginia. Look at the pipeline explosion in California.” Investments in America’s energy infrastructure must be made, in Richardson’s view, before it’s too late.
 
And before time ran out on the interview, Imus asked what advice Richardson would given Obama on the situation in Libya if he were still Ambassador to the UN.
 
“We need to intervene in cases of massive humanitarian problems,” Richardson said, “The Libyan people, I think, were about to be massacred.”
 
So long as there are no American troops on the ground and we remain partnered militarily with NATO, Richardson believes the mission will be successful. He had no real answer to the “Why Libya?” question, saying only that the Arab League asked us to get involved, and that Libya is among the top 10 oil producing countries in the world.
 
“I’m not saying you intervene specifically for that,” Richardson said. “But Libya does have energy interests…this is not an insignificant country. I think our involvement is justified in a limited way.” The endgame, as he sees it, is the removal of crazy Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and the installation of a government elected by the people.
 
As he floats around trying to secure permanent employment, Imus guessed Richardson was regretting having stabbed Hillary Clinton in the back to endorse Obama.
 
“Remember when you threw her under the bus?” Imus asked his guest, who showed little interest in taking that particular trip down memory lane.
 
-Julie Kanfer


Comments

[Canada Doug]

Well the Imus show has a ban(I THINK) on Canadian email
SO I will use this Forum while we get the snow off our protest sign
It's the reason Imus is leaving New York City...he's a scared!!!!!

While the Wheels are falling off the World...Imus is talkin bout slamming hamsters...oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1