With a Full Heart...

Friends ~

My opportunities to post here on the blog have been sporadic over the past several months, as I have been serving as the Colorado Grassroots Director for our campaign, a position which kept me incredibly busy...and a position and opportunity which was an incredible honor, and for which I am profoundly grateful. I am now leaving this position to focus on other campaign-related projects. Below is my statement on my departure as Grassroots Director...

~ Michelle

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For many years I have known and believed that Bill Richardson was the one person - the one candidate - who could truly restore hope and the American dream to our great nation. Having the honor and joy of being a part of this great and glorious campaign is an extraordinary blessing, journey, and adventure. And I am committed 100% to electing Bill Richardson the next President of the United States.

Last October, I had the great honor and privilege of founding and launching the Richardson for President movement here in Colorado. From day one, I have been inspired by the commitment, enthusiasm, and dedication of our wonderful supporters and volunteers. Your spirit and support have helped to launch one of the great and inspiring grassroots campaign movements in this country.

Founding Colorado for Richardson, and launching, organizing, shaping, and building this wonderful and inspiring grassroots movement has been one of the supreme and incredible honors of my life. And so it is with a heavy yet ever-hopeful heart that I now step down as the Colorado Grassroots Director. The outstanding event with Governor Richardson in Denver this past Monday was my last event as the director of our grassroots movement here in Colorado.

There are a number of reasons that led to my decision, but none of which I bore you all with. I have complete faith and confidence, though, that this is the right the decision. This is the right thing. And this is the right time.

This was a very difficult and very emotional decision for me. There come times and moments in your life when you have to walk the plank of change - and you know that you must - and that the time is right. Reaching the end of the plank, you have to jump. It's uncertain, but it's your future, and you know that it's the right thing and that it's what you must do. And you have to summon your courage and your strength to take that plunge into the future...and hopefully, always, with hope, optimism, and grace. I hope, with a full heart, that this is what I am now doing.

I'm extraordinarily proud and honored to have been involved in this campaign from the very beginning - since last summer. And I am certainly, by no means, leaving the campaign - but rather my role with the campaign is shifting and changing. My gift in life is writing and I look forward to hopefully being able to further use that gift to help Governor Richardson and our national campaign. As the Founder of Colorado for Richardson, I will certainly remain a strong and active member of the Colorado for Richardson organization and as a Colorado liaison for our grassroots campaign. I will also continue to run the Colorado for Richardson blog. It looks like I may also be doing some surrogate speaking for the campaign, so perhaps I will see some of you on the trail! I'm also looking forward to launching two national grassroots campaign efforts that I have long wanted to get out there to the public: a Young Americans for Richardson organization...as well as a humanitarian outreach effort which I hope will have a very positive and impactful effect - The Difference Makers - you can check out the preliminary parking page on www.TheDifferenceMakers.com

I'd like to take a brief moment now to thank some of the extraordinary and wonderful people - and friends - who have entered my life through this campaign, and whose work on this campaign is effecting tremendous and positive change and success:

My best friend, Cara Valente Compton of New Mexico - an immensely talented woman with an extraordinary spirit. An amazing blogger and online warrior and one of our campaign's crown jewels. Thank you for your friendship.

The remarkable Amanda Cooper, Governor Richardson's tireless Deputy Campaign Manager, who first introduced me to the Governor last year in Albuquerque.

Our awesome National Grassroots Director Jeff Gulko, whom I first met online last fall. What a huge responsibility you have, but an awesome job you're doing. And to Mara, Jeff's terrific right-hand goddess. You guys are great!

Also at Campaign HQ - Ben Chao, Dan Sena, Pahl Shipley, Charles Compton, and Joaquin Guerra. Joaquin - I still can't believe that you, Amanda, and I spent an hour and half jammed on that crowded elevator on election night...definitely something I don't think we'll ever forget. If that's not campaign bonding, I don't know what is! :)
Also to the terrific Josh McNeil our campaign's Nevada communications director - a great guy doing a great job. We're going to win Nevada!

Fellow State Grassroots Leaders - Ken Camp, Ken Bulko, Kristin Neville, Bentley Davis, and Marsha Kelly - we've been in this together from the beginning. You guys are outstanding and working with you has been an honor.

My incredible grassroots regional coordinators and leaders here in Colorado - Tim Kubik, Bridget Cassidy, Jonathan Marks, Karen McKinnon, and Hannah Angst - Working with you as we built this grassroots team and effort here in Colorado has been a supreme honor and privilege and I know I'm leaving this organization in brilliant and capable hands.

To my good friends with whom I had the honor and joy of working with as we founded the awesome site Richardson Brings Hope (www.RichardsonBringsHope.com) - Cara Valente Compton, Charles Compton, Jeff Gulko, Ken Bulko, and Marsha Kelly. Bill Richardson does bring hope to this campaign and to our country. I believe that our special site made an impactful difference and I thank you for including me. -- And Jeff & Ken, I still think we sound like a law firm: Gulko, Bulko, and Lindsey. :)

And finally - and most of all - to Governor Richardson. Thank you for your support, approval, and encouragement of my efforts here in Colorado. It is with your spirit of hope, inclusion, and optimism that I tried to build and shape our grassroots movement here. I've heard it said that "a campaign is its supporters" - and while in many ways that's very true, a campaign is also and most importantly its candidate - and you are the only candidate who can truly restore hope, optimism, and the American dream to our country. I'm here. I will continue to work on your behalf and on behalf of our campaign. I support Bill Richardson for President. And I Believe.

Thank you all. Working as the Colorado Grassroots Director has been an extraordinary honor and experience. With a full heart, I turn over the reigns of our Colorado grassroots organization to our awesome Denver Co-Coordinator Tim Kubik, who I know will be an outstanding Grassroots State Coordinator. I will still be here and will be supporting your efforts every step of the way, Tim.

I look forward to stepping now into the next phase of my journey with our campaign. I look forward to keeping in touch with all of you and to continuing working with you until the day we see Bill Richardson inaugurated as the next President of the United States.

We're going to win this thing - and we're going to change this country!

Richardson for America ~ I Believe!


-- Michelle Lindsey


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Michelle Lindsey
Colorado Grassroots Director
Bill Richardson for President

Michelle@RichardsonBringsHope.com

"Richardson is the only thing between Clinton and coronation."

Op/Ed columnist Kevin Hassett has written a piece which grades the performances of each candidate in last Thursday's debate.

His take on Governor Richardson:

Bill Richardson: It seems that every primary season some governor comes out of nowhere to steal the nomination. Richardson showed in this debate that it might well happen again. He was genuine and tough, the kind of guy who could pull the troops out of Iraq without looking wimpy. If he has a couple of more debates this good, money will start flowing his way. (Grade: A+)


If the Democratic primaries continue along the path they began last week, then Richardson is the only thing between Clinton and coronation.


To read the column in its entirety:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_hassett&sid=aVfHmPSs.KAU

Our thoughts and prayers are with Elizabeth Edwards...

I was deeply saddened today to hear the news that Elizabeth Edwards' breast cancer had returned. She is a brave and extraordinary woman and an inspiration to so many people around the world - myself included. I have great affection and respect for Mrs. Edwards and my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.



Governor Richardson has issued the following statement:

“Barbara and I send our thoughts and prayers to Elizabeth and John as they deal with this latest challenge. Elizabeth has been an inspiration and role model to all of us with her courageous and very public fight against breast cancer. I am hopeful and optimistic that Elizabeth will continue to win her fight. In the meantime, we should all redouble our commitment to supporting efforts to find a cure for breast cancer.”



I'd like to invite and encourage everyone to please visit the following sites to help the support the fight against breast cancer:

www.Komen.org

www.LiveStrong.org

www.TheBreastCancerSite.com

Richardson Rocks Nevada

The season-opening Nevada Forum came and went... And one candidate stood out from the pack. Governor Bill Richardson was able to encapsulate over a quarter-century of public service, leadership, peacemaking, and visionary wisdom into brief opening and closing statements, and answers to 3 three questions -- and, what's more, he did it with integrity, humor, and dialogue brimming with intelligence, wisdom, and pragmatism.

If the American people can't watch - and truly listen - to this man and not come away thinking that Bill Richardson is one of the most qualified, best suited candidates for the office of President of the United States that this country has ever seen, then the folks must be wearing earplugs and be looking through the wrong lenses. Governor Richardson's performance in the Nevada Forum was the first of many such events that will continually serve to illuminate this truth to the voters.

For while the other candidates can merely talk about their ideas, Bill Richardson has actually accompanied his ideas with action - and that action has achieved extraordinary results.

The other candidates are talkers - Richardson is a proven leader of achievement, wisdom, and vision.

...and, oh yeah, he's Batman.*


Watch Governor Richardson's performance at the Nevada Forum:

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmAJsKPNt30

Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92DVIfuA7dM

C-SPAN: http://www.cspan.org/watch/cspan_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2



*Courtesy of Jon Stewart's assessment of Governor Richardson.

Governor Richardson to visit Denver!!!

From CBS in Denver and the AP:

Presidential Hopeful Richardson To Visit Denver

(AP) DENVER

New Mexico governor and presidential hopeful Bill Richardson will visit Denver next week to launch his campaign in Colorado.
Richardson has formed a presidential exploratory committee, the first step in an official run for the Democratic nomination.
Richardson is in his second term as New Mexico's governor. He represented New Mexico in the U.S. House of Representatives for 15 years and served as the United States ambassador to the United Nations. He's also served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy.
Richardson is scheduled to arrive in Denver on Wednesday to announce the formation of his Colorado campaign team. He hopes to raise more than $100,000 at the fundraiser.

USNews.com: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Bill Richardson

From USNews.com's Washington Insider:

10 Things You Didn't Know About Bill Richardson

By Danielle Burton
Posted 1/29/07
Compiled by the U.S. News library staff

1.William Blaine Richardson was born on Nov. 15, 1947, in Pasadena, Calif. He grew up in Mexico City before moving to New England to attend boarding school (Middlesex, outside Boston), where he was a star baseball pitcher. His father, Will, was a banker, and his mother, Maria Luisa Zubiran, a secretary and homemaker.

2. He received a bachelor's degree from Tufts University in 1970 and a master's from its graduate school of international relations, the Fletcher School, in 1971.

3. Richardson was elected to the House of Representatives (representing the Third Congressional District in northern New Mexico) in 1982. He served in the House until 1997.

4. He was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1997 to 1998. The Albuquerque Journal reported that on his first day as ambassador, he introduced himself to the translators who work during the U.N. proceedings. For one, it was "the first time in her 27-year career that an ambassador had ever spoken to her except to complain."

5. He was the secretary of energy under President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2001. The president noted during the nomination process: "If there's one word that comes to mind when I think of Bill Richardson, it really is energy."

6. Richardson was elected as governor of New Mexico in 2002. During the campaign, he reportedly shook 13,392 hands in an eight-hour period, setting a world record (at one point held by Theodore Roosevelt). He was re-elected in 2006.

7. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times (1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001) for his diplomatic work and his concern for human-rights abuses. He has also helped to negotiate the release of hostages in a number of countries, including Iraq and North Korea.

8. During his career, Richardson has taught at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, the United World College in Montezuma, N.M., the University of New Mexico, and New Mexico State University.

9. His likes are said to include baseball, boxing, the Rocky movies, cigars, reading, and Chinese food. He was selected as the most valuable player in the annual congressional baseball game three times.

10. He has been married to Barbara Flavin (his high school sweetheart) since 1972.

Richardson Eyes the White House

The Albuquerque Journal is running a five-part, in-depth series on Governor Richardson, with the installments appearing each Sunday for five consecutive weeks.

The first part ran last Sunday and can be found here:
http://www.abqjournal.com/richardson/531607nm01-21-07.htm?lrail

The second part, which ran this Sunday, can be found here:
http://www.abqjournal.com/richardson/533643nm01-28-07.htm

Richardson makes first campaign stop

Governor Richardson campaigns in Nevada!

From the Reno Gazette-Journal:

Acknowledging the importance of Nevada's role in the 2008 presidential election, New Mexico governor and Democratic hopeful Bill Richardson made Reno his first official campaign stop Saturday since announcing he was creating an exploratory committee.
"I want to be the first candidate for president who has accepted invitations to Nevada's two debates; the first one (Feb. 21) in Carson City and the health care forum in Las Vegas" on March 24, Richardson told a crowd of about 50 supporters at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Richardson, who announced his exploratory committee a week ago, is planning a grass-roots campaign and expects to visit all of Nevada's 17 counties.
"I'm not after big-name endorsements, just votes," Richardson said.

To read the article in its entirety: http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/NEWS/701280373

From the AP and Yahoo News:

Richardson accepts Nevada forum invites

RENO, Nev. - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson sought to separate himself from a crowded Democratic presidential field as he campaigned Saturday in Nevada.

Richardson became the first Democrat to accept an invitation to appear in two candidate forums in the state — Feb. 21 in Carson City and March 24 in Las Vegas. He also pledged to campaign in all 17 Nevada counties.

"I know I'm the underdog, but I'm going to outwork the other candidates," Richardson told more than 50 supporters who greeted him at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
"Nevada is going to be a critically important state because of its early caucus. I'm going to campaign very hard, door to door. I'm after voters, not big endorsements," he added.

Richardson pointed out that he's the only Democratic candidate who hails from the West.
"I'm a fellow Westerner," he said. "The main issues today require someone with the background and heart, and I believe I have the best qualifications."
Richardson said he's proud of his heritage but is not running as a Hispanic in a state that is nearly 23 percent Hispanic.
"I think it's a growing population, and I'll fight for every vote," he said.

To read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070128/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail_1

RICHARDSON ENTERS PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Richardson Enters 2008 Presidential Race

From ABC NEWS

Jan. 21, 2007 — The field for the Democratic presidential nomination got still more crowded this morning, with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announcing he will take the first step in a run for the White House by forming a presidential exploratory committee. Richardson followed the announcement with an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week."

"The next president must be able to make us energy independent, must be able to make schools better, create jobs, give the American people, every American, a fair shot," said Richardson. "To get that done, you need real-life experience. All I'm saying is, a lot of these folks can make speeches about all these things. I've actually done it."

Read the story:

http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/Politics/story?id=2810224&page=1

Watch the interview:

On ABC:

http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/Politics/story?id=2810224&page=1

On YouTube:

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj3QFQ4IxxA

Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKHXmAuSACk

ATTENTION COLORADANS!!!

I'd like to invite all Colorado supporters of Governor Richardson to join the Zanby meet-up group:

http://colorado-for-richardson.groups.zanby.com/

I look forward to meeting all of you and working together to elect Bill Richardson the next President of the United States!!!

Thanks!!!

Questions: Michelle@RichardsonBringsHope.com

Richardson surpasses Obama on fundraising site ActBlue

Since Governor Richardson announced his candidacy on ABC this morning, the ActBlue fundraising site has been inundated with enthusiastic supporters inspired to pony up the $$$ to help bring hope and promise back to America through a Richardson presidency.

In just over 24 hours, upwards of $40,000 was donated to the Richardson Exploratory Committee -- surpassing the donation sum for Barack Obama!

The Richardson for President movement is on fire -- it's here, it's real, it's now -- and it's worth your commitment, your dedication, your contribution, your effort, your energy, your passion, and your belief.

Please visit ActBlue to donate to the Richardson for President Exploratory Committee:
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/richardson

RICHARDSON TO ANNOUNCE WHITE HOUSE RUN

Gov. Bill Richardson plans to take first step toward White House run

WASHINGTON (AP) -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson intends to say Sunday that he is taking the first step toward the Democratic presidential nomination, several officials with knowledge of his plans said Friday. The former congressman, U.N. ambassador and Energy Department secretary is hoping his extensive resume will fuel an insurgent campaign to become the first Hispanic U.S. president. He plans to announce Sunday that he will soon file the papers to create a presidential exploratory committee, the officials said. Richardson's office did not immediately return a call for comment.
The governor is scheduled to appear Sunday on ABC television's "This Week."
Richardson brings a wealth of experience in international affairs that has extended even into his governorship of a small but politically important swing state. He's hosted talks on North Korea's nuclear program in New Mexico and most recently traveled to Sudan this month and met with the country's president to press him for an end to the bloodshed in Darfur.