As if Obama doesn't have enough on his plate. Mama Obama is getting kids enrolled in school Monday, Barack is headed to DC, there's a war in the Mideast, and the economy is on the verge of a 1930's fall. So, what else could happen? Don't ask. But you might add the Bill Richardson "pull out" to the mix; however, considering the big picture Riachardson's departure is no big deal.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, chosen in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state. Say what? Potential corruption from a political figure? Tell me it isn't so. And by the way, did James Carville have some insight on this when he wrote an article this weekend about potential Democratic scandals?
"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," Richardson said Sunday in a report by NBC News. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."
He said he plans to continue in his role as governor. "I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country." So, did Obama ask for this or did Richardson volunteer it?
Who knows, but this we do know.
Obama is the first president in American history to lead the nation when in obvious decline. Obama will face hard choices about how much of what America does can be afforded any longer; the next four years may be the worst possible time for hugely expensive healthcare reforms, a generous helping hand to the world's poor or a new military surge in Afghanistan.
In 2009 the US national debt will surge by $2trillion: some 70 per cent of gross domestic product. In these circumstances the questions must be: What can we cut? Where can we pull out? What can we stop doing that we're doing now? Mr Obama's fight will be with the forces of economic protectionism, with anti-immigrant sentiment and with organised labour feather-bedding, pension protection and job protection. But first, and underlying all these scraps, Obama will have to find a way of being honest with Americans about their country's fall from predominance.
Who wants to hear that? So, in light of the big picture, Richardson's pull out is no big deal.
About the Author:
As a spiritual-futurist, I interpret current events in light of possible macro-universal forces at play leading up to 2012, but not limited to it.