Oct 17, 2007

Gov. ignores lab questions

http://www.lamonitor.com/articles/2007/10/16/headline_news/news01.txt

CAROL A. CLARK Monitor County Editor

SANTA FE-At a reception Monday for women voters, presidential candidate Bill Richardson avoided questions about the precarious situation facing Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

Questions have lingered since Richardson, in his role as New Mexico governor, sent a letter to eight Senate and House Appropriations Committee members Sept. 26 speaking out against a proposed 3.2-percent cut in the budget of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which funds LANL and Sandia National Laboratories. The following day in New Hampshire, in his role as a presidential candidate, Richardson issued a proposal calling for a 53-percent cut to the NNSA portion of the budget.

With budget uncertainties threatening job cuts for laboratory employees and adversely affecting the townsite, Richardson missed an opportunity to clarify his position and reassure the people of Los Alamos.


Following complaints to Katie Roberts, deputy communications director for the Richardson campaign, she offered to e-mail a response on behalf of Richardson. Her response was not received by press time.

[...]


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This sends a pretty clear message that LANL's $300M funding cuts are real, and have been endorsed by both parties, now that Domenici has been sidelined. I imagine that LANS is planning to carry out a full 25% staff reduction this FY.

Anonymous said...

Remember who is running for Prez.

Anonymous said...

Night approaches and LANL has been abandoned by all. The wolves are now coming in for the kill. This sheep has grown far too fat, slow, and lazy over the years, so it has little hope of escaping from the vicious pack that approaches. Our sheperds, LANS management, are asleep on the hill after a night of wine and debauchery. They'll find the bones of the sheep picked clean in the morning.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately for us, there is no scenario where Los Alamos as a community or LANL as an institution can do any good for Richardson.

There are many scenarios where LANL can hurt him, e.g. another scandal - if he were foolish enough to risk any political capital.

Not saying he is ethically right or wrong on this one, just that he would have to be insane to stick his neck out for LANL.

Anonymous said...

10:23: "Night approaches and LANL has been abandoned by all."

Well, Richardson was never a friend to LANL, so no loss there. Even when he was NM third district rep. he hated LANL. He continued to show that bias as DOE secretary when he lied about his involvement in the WHL debacle, and used his power to force a completely undoable set of new regulations on LANL (he later found out the truth when his own DOE said they couldn't comply). Richardson is a very dim bulb, but a malicious one.

Anonymous said...

"Not saying he is ethically right or wrong on this one, just that he would have to be insane to stick his neck out for LANL." - 8:12 PM

Yeah, standing up for the citizens of your state would be bad form for Richardson. Better to kick them in the groin and then leave them in the gutter. Not saying he is a lying political whore, just that a politician like Bill who won't stand up for his citizens isn't worth the shit on my shoes.

Anonymous said...

Why do you have shit on your shoes? Don't you watch where you are walking?

And are you suggesting that Bill R shouldn't watch where he is walking, just like you?

Anonymous said...

Poster 9:15 PM, I do try to watch were I walk, but the shit is stacked two feet thick around most parts of LANL these days. It's impossible to avoid!

Anonymous said...

9:15 PM - why don't you just stfu. YOu clearly are an AD (or other manager) trying to clear the road for more road apples to fall for you to pick up and claim victory for doing rite by the Lab and DOE. Just like Wallace, Seestrum and Bowles. Woo hoo.

Anonymous said...

"Yeah, standing up for the citizens of your state would be bad form for Richardson. Better to kick them in the groin and then leave them in the gutter. Not saying he is a lying political whore, just that a politician like Bill who won't stand up for his citizens isn't worth the shit on my shoes."
--10/17/07 8:58 PM

OK. Mr. Bill did the same thing for his constituients when he was our Congressman. Ask any of the RIFees and you'll see. So why should anyone be surprised now?

Anonymous said...

9:48 am: You have been posting on several threads saying something like "you must be an AD" or "shut up, AD." I'd guess you don't speak English as a first language and REALLY hate your AD. Try not to be so transparent.