NM Gov. Bill Richardson To Be Cleared of Federal Probe August 27, 2009
Posted by Nick Azer in : Bill Richardson, Obama, private sector , add a comment
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a prominent private space advocate and President Obama’s initial choice for Commerce Secretary, will be cleared of the federal probe that derailed his nomination to the Commerce Dept., according to an Associated Press report.
At the time of Richardson’s withdrawal from the commerce appointment in January, Obama said “I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.” Now that he’s finally cleared, Richardson is sure to be appointed somewhere in the near future.
His original Commerce appointment had a space tinge to it: Richardson’s flagship economic project in New Mexico has been Spaceport America.
Obama has voiced support for private space (“Amplify NASA’s reach” with commercial efforts and “unleash the genius of private enterprise to secure the United States’ leadership in space”), and with the Augustine commission‘s recent grim assessment of Constellation’s future, the development of private space could be taking a leading role in American space efforts soon—and Richardson will probably be at the forefront of it:
“Here’s what I want to be sure of … that the Obama administration is pro-commercial space … that the administration is pro-space, pro-government space, pro-commercial space.” -Bill Richardson, when asked about a potential role in the Obama administration last year
Keep a close eye on Richardson, as I’m confident Obama has space-related plans for him; and those plans could have a significant impact on the future of NASA.
A Theory: Obama Waiting for Gov. Bill Richardson, to Nominate Him as NASA Administrator? May 4, 2009
Posted by Nick Azer in : Bill Richardson, NASA, Obama , 1 comment so farPresident Obama has gone a long time without naming a new NASA administrator, with many at NASA growing nervous and some (including Sen. Bill Nelson) puzzling over what the delay is for:
“There is some political center that is slow walking this, and I don’t know what it is, who it is or why.” -Sen. Bill Nelson, as reported by Florida Today (via SpacePolitics.com)
As leading administator candidates have been dropping off the list left and right, few strong candidates seem to remain.
After Nelson’s “slow-walking” comment, I got to thinking about what events in the near future Obama could possibly be waiting for, and remembered a series of events and Obama comments from this past January…
Back in January, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was Obama’s choice for Commerce Secretary, but withdrew from consideration due to a “pay-to-play” investigation that Richardson underestimated the duration of (video).
At the time, Obama stated that he expects to have Richardson back at some point:
“Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Gov. Richardson’s decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.” -Barack Obama’s statement regarding Richardson’s withdrawal
As the video linked above of Richardson’s additional comments and other sources suggest, Richardson and Obama believe the investigation will eventually come out in Richardson’s favor, at which point Richardson would be clear for an appointment somewhere.
Richardson’s space credentials are strong, as are his political ones. With things not going so hot for Richardson as Governor of New Mexico since the withdrawal, he’s probably also eager to move on to something new. Things do appear to be progressing to a degree (April 29th article) in regards to the investigation.
Obama is mysteriously waiting to nominate a NASA administrator…the investigation into Bill Richardson may be waning soon…and Obama stated he expects Richardson to be back , presumably once Richardson is cleared enough of wrongdoing to ease his acceptance by Congress—which, by the way, is now also effectively filibuster-proof anyhow (thanks to Sen. Arlen Specter’s recent defection).
Could Obama simply be waiting for Richardson’s storm to blow over, in order to nominate him as Administrator?
President-Elect Obama names Bill Richardson (Space Commerce Supporter) U.S. Secretary of Commerce (News) December 4, 2008
Posted by Nick Azer in : Bill Richardson, Current News, Obama, private sector, Spaceport, Virgin Galactic , 1 comment so far
One small step by Barack Obama; one giant leap for the private space boom?
Today, President-Elect Barack Obama officially announced Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico as his choice for Secretary of Commerce; Richardson is an outspoken supporter of the idea of private space commerce.
Here’s a few telling quotes from Richardson on space, this first one being from a 2006 USA Today article about the spaceport he initiated construction of in New Mexico during his terms as governor (Spaceport America):
“”Richardson says he told his aides: “Go after the big one. Go after 5,000 jobs and something to be remembered for. Go after [Sir Richard] Branson and the spaceport. Politicians are known for talking about 9/11 and gloom and doom, and I like to infuse people with visions of the future and space. It’s bold and risky, but people turn on to that.”‘”
-”New Mexico goes a little pie in the sky with spaceport idea“, by Kevin Maney, USA Today
‘Infusing people with hopeful visions’ is definitely in the Obama style, and in his case, Richardson was using the private space industry’s possibilties to do that. A preview of future Obama policy, perhaps?
Next is a quote from a Space.com article by Leonard David from late November 2008 about Richardson’s space enthusiasm, as it relates to his then-rumored candidacy for the Commerce post:
“Richardson was asked about any possible post he might play in an Obama White House. The New Mexico governor played it a little coy, but said:
“Here’s what I want to be sure of … that the Obama administration is pro-commercial space … that the administration is pro-space, pro-government space, pro-commercial space,” Richardson observed.
Richardson said that “it’s in the interest of our national space industry that commercial space could properly develop … so I will be an advocate wherever I am … hopefully here, still as governor of New Mexico … you never know.”"
-”Obama Vetting Bill Richardson, Space Enthusiast” by Leonard David, Space.com
So the man who stated he will be a commercial space advocate ‘wherever he is’ and that believes in ‘infusing people with visions of future and space’ is now the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, being essentially in charge of guiding the administration’s economic policy.
For anyone interested in the development of a private space boom, this is a dream scenario, and a strong indicator that Obama is very serious about some of the things that he stated in his detailed campaign space plan:
“In achieving this vision, Obama will reach out to include international partners and to engage the private sector to amplify NASA’s reach. Obama believes that a revitalized NASA can help America maintain its innovation edge and contribute to American economic growth.”
-Barack Obama’s space plan
Just how much could the private space boom “contribute to the American economic growth”? Here’s another quote from the USA Today spaceport article which gives you an idea:
“[New Mexico] should understand this is a long-haul investment,” says space business analyst Charles Lurio. “Spaceflight is poised for explosive market growth — analogous to PCs (in the 1970s). But exactly how that growth occurs, and in what form, is as uncertain as it was for PCs in the ’70s.”
“Explosive market growth”, analogous to the now-ubiquitous PCs? That sounds like something America could use right now, and with Obama’s appointment of dedicated industry supporter Richardson, it sounds like it’s something we could be starting to see in the very near future. :)