Gov. Bill Richardson's diet leads the Washington Whispers column at U.S. News and World Report. Down 30 pounds, he's trying to lose another 10 -- unhappily: "I get cranky." Still, says Richardson, the only Hispanic in the 2008 race, "I'll tell you what. My horse is happy about my diet."

That diet also led CNN's Candy Crowley's take on Richardson, whom she calls an "Energizer bunny." Whatever. Could you bother asking a question about Iraq?

We sifted through a whole bunch of blogosphere stuff, found lots of folks lauding him for approving medical marijuana (we won't link to all of them; they're pretty repetitive), and sifted through to bring you only the best:

The Gawker blog continues to be amazed at how Bill O'Reilly chided Richardson last week for pulling out of a Nevada debate. His comment: "You know, we've been really, really kind to Bill Richardson, so he's got some 'splaining to do." With that, the Gawker says, O'Reilly revealed that he "subconsciously associates the potential first Hispanic President of the United States with Ricky Ricardo. That's the most awesome kind of racism, all nice and deeply-ingrained."

Columist Martha Rosenberg writes at YubaNet.com that New Mexico just put Louisiana on the spot, with Gov. Bill Richardson signing a bill outlawing cockfighting. That leaves Louisiana the only state to permit it. "Efforts to ban cockfighting in Louisiana have gone over like a dry Mardi Gras," Rosenberg writes. Oh, and their supporters are just as passionate as ours:

"It's a way of life in our area," said Sen. Nick Gautreaux (D-Meaux) who explained with tears in his eyes that cockfighting could lead a young man away from a life of crime and degeneracy and toward a more productive existence. (He did not say "other" degeneracy.)

Pretty soon we won't be able to go "alligator trapping" or "kick back at a crawfish boil," agitated Rep. Troy Herbet (D-Jeanerette) employing the "what's next?" argument so popular in blocking humane legislation. "Those animals suffer just like a wounded gamecock does."

Richardson, along with Howard Dean, is a featured speaker at the National Jewish Democratic Council's conference in Washington, D.C., on April 23-25, 2007. Other "leading presidential contenders" are mere invitees.

The National Journal moved Richardson up a notch, to fourth, in its Iowa rankings, thanks largely to Al Gore dropping off a cliff and partly to his record on tax cuts. But then it throws in this: "Still... the merits of the "rumors" aside, shouldn't this story have been, er, put to bed by now?"
That inspired blogger Stephen of The Thinkery to write this:
"The longer he waits to address this issue directly, the worse it gets. Now he has to defend himself against not only rumors that he behaves inappropriately, but also a misunderstanding of those rumors that allows his opponents to place him exactly where male Democratic candidates always get placed. Richardson better wise up, or he won't have a chance to be partially vetted before withdrawing his name this time around."

Blogger William K. Wolfrum thinks Richardson should be president because he banned cockfighting, made bolo ties official and Pluto a planet. He also contends New Mexico is "bizarre, nearly totally uninhabited state."

Blogger X Curmudgeon today endorsed Richardson, citing his foreign policy experience, penchant for getting things done and having been married for 33 years -- something he's got a leg up on when it comes to McCain and Giuliani.

Posted by knelson at 02:21 PM | Permalink

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