Onetime BFFs Bill Richardson and Bill Clinton are still on the outs -- way outs

They say that elephants never forget. It doesn't look like donkeys do, either.

Back in March, two months after ending his own quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson surprised the political world by endorsing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. It was, of course, Clinton's husband who, as president, had elevated the Latino congressman's national profile by selecting him for two important positions -- United Nations ambassador and Energy secretary.

Needless to say, Richardson's lack of loyalty this time around did not go over well with the Clintons and their supporters. Longtime aide James Carville even compared Richardson to the Bible's ultimate traitor: "Mr. Richardson's endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic."

In April, Richardson explained his decision by saying he had been "very close to endorsing" Clinton but changed his mind when, to his mind, her campaign turned negative. "The Clintons should get over this," he said then.

Since then, at least one of them apparently has: In an interview broadcast this morning on National Public Radio, Richardson said he had organized a fundraiser two months ago to help retire Hillary Clinton's campaign debt. "We raised almost $250,000," he said. "She appreciated it. We talked."

But Bill Clinton, it seems, is not so forgiving.

"Have I heard from President Clinton? No," Richardson told NPR. "It could be pretty much a permanent fissure. But that’s politics, that’s OK. I did what I thought was best for the country. 

"I’m still very fond of the Clintons," he said. "I’ve reconciled with her, but with him -- he wants to keep a grudge, that’s fine with me.  I move on."

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Photo credit: Associated Press / Susan Walsh

Comments

[Crash and Burn]

Everyone,

John McCain’s bailout plan is very different plan from the one already passed and from others proposed. This would be A DIRECT BAILOUT OF THE MORTGAGE FRAUDSTERS WHO CAUSED THE CRISIS IN THE FIRST PLACE. This is the GREAT SATAN of BAILOUTS that we all feared coming. This bailout buys the MORTGAGES at INFLATED BUBBLE PRICES from the MORTGAGES FRAUDSTERS and THEN renegotiates the loans for the homebuyers instead of making the mortgage company take a haircut before renegotiating the loan. This plan would be a blatant bailing out the mortgage companies that made all of these bad loans. Upon further review, Obama’s campaign did a “what the heck” as everything proposed before this date was buying up RENEGOTIATED mortgages where the Bank had to take a haircut to at least current prices, which while morally hazardous, could at least be viewed as a pragmatic way of easing the pain of the crisis (and voters). This is not the same plan as previously passed which was to buy at renegotiated prices.

Basically this plan gives homeowners who bought to high a chance to renegotiate their loans to Uncle Sam at current prices, and then calculate the difference from the current loan and the renegotiated loan and UNCLE SAM SENDS A CHECK TO THE MORTGAGE FRAUDSTERS for the FACE VALUE OF THE LOAN. That’s right, not the current value of the mortgage, BUT THE FACE BUBLE VALUE. MCCAIN HAS THE GOVERNMENT PAYING THE MORTGAGE COMPANIES FOR THE GHOST VALUE OF THE HOUSE. THAT’S FREE MONEY TO THE FRAUDSTERS. NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Obama’s campaign couldn’t believe McCain would propose such a RIDICULOUS PAYOFF to the mortgage fraudsters before the election. MCCAINS PLAN IS A BIG FAT BAILOUT of the mortgage companies themselves, but I think BAILOUT is too weak a word, its more A GIVEAWAY, A STEALING of tax dollars to the IDIOTS who started this whole thing in the beginning. This is the WORST OF THE WORST ideas floated, and finally for all of those complaining how McCain and Obama have not been taking a stand (they’re politicians, duh), you can now see the differences even after all of the caution (can’t wait to see how many “tax incentives” to big oil are thrown in the package as well as “stimulus” to give incentives to the oil companies to drill as well).

Now you can finally see that Obama, while acting like a politician that wants to get elected, actually represents his constituents, the middle class of America, and wants to be pragmatic about this crisis while McCain represents only the greedy idiots who got us into this mess in the first place. The fact that some stupid homebuyers would marginally benefit from McCain’s plan is just political gravy for McCain. The CHOICE IS NOW 100% CRYSTAL CLEAR and there is only ONE WAY to STOP this idiocy. WE MUST STOP THE BAILOUT OF THE MORTGAGE COMPANIES BY STOPPING MCCAIN.

[jdh]

Richardson should never ever mess with the Clinton s.
I would not appoint Richardson "Dog Catcher". True leaders like the Clinton's can count their true loyal friends on one hand. Political jealousy is what keeps us from success.
Empower and support! We don't treat our leads well.