Special Election in 14th
Congressional District Saturday March 8th
Voters in the February 5th primary will have two ballots for Congress
in the 14th Congressional District, which covers most of
Warrenville. Serious candidates in the 2 Democratic Primaries are
businessman/scientist Bill Foster, 2006 candidate John Laesch and
attorney Jotham Stein. One primary will be for the Saturday(!)
March 8th special election and one for the November general
election. Since this is an open seat, Democrats will have
to quickly unite behind the winner of the primary and work hard between
February 5 and March 8th.
Bill Richardson for President
This is the final article about Democratic Presidential Candidates
running in the February 2008 primary. You can read about all the
candidates in previous articles kept at
dupagedemocrats.org/donkey. Bill Richardson is the governor of
New Mexico, and has previous experience in Congress, as Secretary of
the Department of Energy, and as ambassador to the UN. As a
diplomat, he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five
times. He writes, “I can bring a country together that is divided
and partisan -- and restore civility to the political dialogue.
My background, experience and record enable me to bridge gaps, achieve
political solutions, restore America's moral leadership abroad, heal
partisan divisions and solve problems at home. We need to build
an America where all families can live and prosper in safe and vibrant
communities. We need a government that is ethically clear and
truthful.”
Bill Richardson, Diplomat
Bill has gone toe-to-toe with some of the world's toughest characters
-- Saddam Hussein, North Korean generals, Burmese military leaders,
Sudanese President al-Bashir and Fidel Castro -- to name a few.
Presidents, Secretaries of State, and Prime Ministers soon came to know
Bill as the go-to guy for tough hostage negotiations. In 1994, Bill was
on a fact-finding mission in North Korea when he learned that the North
Koreans shot down a U.S. Army helicopter that had strayed into their
airspace. President Clinton asked Bill to stay in North Korea until he
got the soldiers out, and he went right to work. After days of tense
discussions and stonewalling by the North Koreans, the world learned
that pilot David Hilemon died when the helicopter went down, but that
Bobby Hall, his co-pilot, was fine. Richardson refused to leave North
Korea until he secured Hilemon's remains, and Bobby Hall was released a
few weeks later. Governor Richardson knows the Middle East, and
he knows diplomacy can work there -- he has done it before. Bill's
understanding of the Middle East, and his belief in international
diplomacy, have come together to form Bill's plan for Iraq. He knows
that the only way to begin to stabilize Iraq, and the entire region, is
for all American troops to be withdrawn. Once we are completely out of
Iraq, then the hard diplomatic work must begin Governor
Richardson's diplomatic missions have given him valuable first-hand
experiences in some of the world's most dangerous places -- and in
areas that America must focus on as we move deeper into the 21st
century.
Energy and Climate
Richardson is calling for a New American Revolution -- an energy and
climate revolution, with the following points. Details about each
point are on his web site:
richardsonforpresident.com/issues/energy
• Cut Oil Demand: 50% by 2020,
• Create New Efficiencies And Energy Sources in the
Electrical Sector: 50% by 2040
• Dramatically Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 90%
by 2050
• Lead By Example and Restore America as the World's
Leader
• Get It All Done Without Breaking the Bank
• Invite the Oil Companies to Become Energy Companies
Americans need energy to get to work, we need heat and electricity in
our homes, schools and workplaces. We are hurt by unpredictable energy
price cycles, and by our nation's energy policy failures. The way out
of the cycle is to create competition, to support energy productivity,
new technologies and alternative fuels. And everyone -- every American
-- must make an effort to make us energy independent and combat global
warming. Our national security and our planet depend on it. It's about
creating a new energy economy here in the United States, and doing it
quickly, with broad, bold strokes. It's the way to a bright, strong,
prosperous future for the United States -- and for the world.
Civil Liberties
As Congressman, Ambassador, Secretary and Governor of New Mexico, Bill
Richardson has been a champion of civil rights, equality, freedom and
the rule of law. As President, Bill Richardson will continue to fight
for and protect the rights and freedoms that make America so great.
Immigration
Richardson is committed to enforcing our borders and pushing for
immigration reform. We need tough, effective border control and
building a fence will not increase security; only more border patrol
manpower will. He believes in realistic immigration reform that
requires undocumented workers to earn their legal status through paying
fines for illegally crossing the border, learning English, paying
taxes, and obeying our laws.
Education
Improving our schools has been central to my work turning around New
Mexico. As Governor, Richardson worked hard on behalf of teachers,
investing in higher salaries and expanded benefits for those who have
given our communities so much.
Environment
Throughout his career in public service, Richardson has been fighting
for conservation because he understand the importance of protecting our
most valuable natural resources. He has been honored to be recognized
as an Environmental Leader of the Year by the National Environmental
Trust, the National Wildlife Federation, and Vanity Fair magazine for
our work in New Mexico. As President, he will do even more to protect
our environment, just like he did in New Mexico.
Delegate Candidates
Besides voting for the preference for President, voters in the February
5th Democratic Primary will also get to vote for candidates for
delegate to the Democratic National Convention. I am running as a
Richardson delegate in the 14th Congressional District, and I greatly
appreciate anyone who chooses to vote for me (whether or not you vote
for Richardson).
Feedback
It is welcomed and appreciated
maurygoodman@dupagedemocrats.org