Bill Richardson in Take Back America 2007 Conference

On Energy & Oil: Bush won’t follow the Kyoto treaty, but my state does

In his typical fashion, after years of refusing to admit that global warming exists, the president has started lecturing developing nations and telling them to clean up their act. Now, Mr. President, we don’t need half-hearted measures like the European agreement that just came out of the G-8 summit. The Kyoto treaty has been sitting on your desk for six and a half years. You might as well sign it now because in a year and a half, if you haven’t, I will.

On Energy & Oil: Buying carbon offsets not enough; sacrifice for common good

My wife Barbara and I both use a hybrid and flex-fuel vehicle. We’ve made New Mexico’s governor’s mansion a lot more energy efficient, including compact fluorescent lighting, low water use irrigation and ceiling fans to cut down on air conditioning. Let me tell you, on a 95-degree day in New Mexico, that is a sacrifice.

But I know we can do more, and I’ll bet that a lot of you could too. We all, when we have an Apollo program to reduce our dependence on imported oil, we have to sacrifice for the common good. We have to get rid of that dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

On Foreign Policy: Talking to your enemies can produce results, like N. Korea

With North Korea, we were able to push the North Koreans, possibly, to start reducing their nuclear threat, and we did bring home the remains of six American servicemen from the Korean War.

The situation is similar to the Middle East. This president broke Iraq. The next president needs to know how to use diplomacy to fix it. My world view is different from my colleagues. In my career, I’ve been able to get results not with harsh words but hard work. You talk to your adversaries. You listen. And with clarity comes cooperation. It’s how I have approached foreign policy. It’s how I have approached governing. And it’s how I’ll serve, hopefully, as your president.

On War & Peace: Long road ahead is hauntingly similar to 1968

I’m optimistic about our country. I’m optimistic about the Democratic Party. We have the majority in Congress. And we’re going to put a Democrat in the White House.

On War & Peace: No troops left behind at bases; green zone; or for training

I have a different view. The fundamental difference [from other candidates’ view] is how many troops each of us would leave behind. Other than the customary Marine contingent at the embassy, I would leave zero troops behind. Not a single one. And if the embassy isn’t safe, then they’re all coming home too.

So here is Bill Richardson’s position: no air bases, no troops in the green zone, no embedded soldiers training Iraqi forces, because we all know what that means. It means that our troops would still be out on patrol with targets on their back.

Clearly my colleagues in this campaign think it’s responsible to have an ongoing military role in Iraq. I respect that. They voted not once, but twice to leave troops behind. [If you believe in leaving no troops behind], you can sign our petition at notroopsleftbehind.com.