It is not inconceivable that Governor Bill Richardson's support of Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton may have cost him the Vice Presidency. Richardson, who achieved his level of eminence in the party largely because of appointments by Bill Clinton, is on what can only be properly construed their shit list. Barack Obama cannot pick Richardson -- even if he just is the most qualified Democrat in the country -- because it would irritate the Clintons (Averted Gaze). And at this tenuous point in time Obama cannot be seen as antagonizing the Clintons, who's support is critical, and who both will have prominent places at the Democrat Convention. So Bill Richardson, whom this blog supported in the primaries, is kind of fucked.
From The LATimesBlogs:
"Former Clinton strategist and outrageous talk-show guest James Carville likened Richardson's well-timed shift in allegiance to a historic act of betrayal that occurred many, many election cycles ago and helped create Easter. Bill Clinton was reportedly livid over Richardson's switcheroo.
"Well, today on the very same stage in Espanola, New Mexico, there stood the defeated Democratic senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, dutifully campaigning as promised for Obama. And right there too was Richardson.
"Clinton said all the right things all right. She smiled. She waved. She thanked her longtime friend Richardson, albeit simply for 'being here today.'"
Also, interestingly, Richardson directed caucus support away from former Sen. John Edwards in Iowa. Governor Richardson is a brilliant statesman who has dealt with tyrannies -- a solid qualification considering the present state of the world -- that would have made America proud as Vice President. An Obama-Richardson ticket would have been formidable in the Rocky Mountain West (And southwestern states like Nevada and New Mexico). It is truly unfortunate that something as ridiculous as his personal relations with the Clintons should keep him out of even the second tier of Obama's choices for running mate.
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