Bill Richardson

posts about #billrichardson more →
American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
Obama To Get Two Puppies, At Least One More Scandal
So Much For Secretary Richardson
Hillary Clinton Is Not Getting Involved In Her Seat, But She's The Only One Who Isn't
It's Going To Be An Oprah-guration!
Caroline May Be The Only One Who Doesn't Want Hillary's Senate Seat
Speculative Cabinetry Redux: Clinton, Geithner and Richardson To Come On Board
The Obama Administration Gets An Injection Of Estrogen
Will Rahm Emanuel Turn The Obama-McCain Meeting Into A Dance-Off?
Liberals, Palin Would Like The Senate To Take Out the Trash

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Diziet_Sma
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
This is bad; but boy, will they have a story to tell when they get out.
Reply

Diziet_Sma was starred Diziet_Sma was unstarred

MilointheMeadow
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
Just got home and I could not believe this headline when I saw it on the NYTimes website. I'm so angry, I just want to shake out of sheer helplessness. Vanguard Journalism is one of my favorite productions, and I really love their correspondents.

All I could do was read the article, and say "GET THEM OUT! FREAKING GET THEM OUT OF THERE, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE??" And it makes me even more angry that we've been dicking around in Iraq for so many years when there is obviously a very hostile world threat in North Korea.

*steam coming out of my ears*
Reply

MilointheMeadow was starred MilointheMeadow was unstarred

squeaky yet unclean
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
as dumb as the whole "world police" policy is, I doubt invading North Korea could make things any worse for the people living there.
Reply

Laulau
06/08/09

@debaucherie: Sigh. I would have said the same thing about Iraq, but looks like I was wrong.
Reply

Laulau was starred Laulau was unstarred

bananaprincess
06/11/09

what nonsense!@Laulau:
Reply

bananaprincess was starred bananaprincess was unstarred

SomeAuthorGirl
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
This is one situation that the much-maligned Bill Richardson can be of service. He is no small shakes as a diplomat with the North Koreans. He brought a plane full of them to Santa Fe, New Mexico for god's sake. What a strange circus that was.

I imagine (hope) that there is a lot going on behind the scenes right now diplomatically with China. This is a question of our people with the right relationships lining up the right people in the region to say "yes."

God willing it is true that Lee and Ling will be kept in a "for show" prison. There are few places in the world today where people suffer more than in North Korea. This hurts my heart in so many ways, not just because of our journalists but for the people of NK who have no effective international advocacy.
Reply

SomeAuthorGirl was starred SomeAuthorGirl was unstarred

muppetprincess
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
I'm still confused as to how they were captured. From the article I read it didn't appear that they were in North Korea, but rather that they were in South Korea near the border and captured. Can someone please explain what happened here? Thanks.
Reply

muppetprincess was starred muppetprincess was unstarred

Sputnik_Sweetheart
06/08/09

@muppetprincess: I thought they were at the NK-China border. And at this point, I don't think anyone knows if they actually crossed the border into NK. It is a little he said-she said right now.
Reply

Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred

RainbowBrite
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
I'm confused because I haven't been following this story that closely. Did these women actually cross the border into North Korea, or were they filming on the South Korea side of the border?

I obviously don't think someone should be sentenced to 12 years hard labor for an illegal border crossing, but if they did indeed cross into N. Korean land, then they really are subject to that country's fucked up legal system.

Anyone know the truth?
Reply

RainbowBrite was starred RainbowBrite was unstarred

NefariousNewt
06/08/09

@RainbowBrite: They were in China, actually, along the China-NK border, doing a piece on the plight of refugees from NK. There is every suspicion that the they were on the China side of the border, and not in North Korea as the government claimed. Which would not be unusual.
Reply

NefariousNewt was starred NefariousNewt was unstarred

Santos L Halper
06/08/09

@RainbowBrite: They crossed over on the Chinese side. Since N. Korean and China have relatively genial relations, there isn't as much security at that border, making it likely that they did cross over accidentally.
Reply

Santos L Halper was starred Santos L Halper was unstarred

whatsername
06/08/09

@RainbowBrite: Using my Palinometer (mah gut), I'd say they were probably abducted from South Korea. But that's my gut, and nothing else. I just don't see why two journalists who are obv well versed in the intricacies taking this risk, AND the sabre rattling of North Korea looking for some leverage is too coincidental.

But, the Palinometer is unreliable.
Reply

whatsername was starred whatsername was unstarred

RainbowBrite
06/08/09

@Santos L Halper: Hmmm looking at a map the border between North Korea and China is a river, so I doubt they'd be able to cross accidentally.

@NefariousNewt: Yeah, after looking into it more, it looks like everyone is claiming they were on the Chinese side, and the cameraman has film to back it up.

Basically, it looks like a he-said, she-said and I don't really believe the North Korean government. But if they DID cross over, I mean, WTF. That's a realllly bad idea.
Reply

RainbowBrite was starred RainbowBrite was unstarred

whatsername
06/08/09

@whatsergem: Yes, I continue to be dumb. My point is though that I think they were prob taken from another country into North Korea.
Reply

whatsername was starred whatsername was unstarred

NefariousNewt
06/08/09

@RainbowBrite: That may be why even China has become exasperated with them. We might find it awkward to invade North Korea, but don't think China wouldn't if they thought they could without drawing too much ire from the world.
Reply

NefariousNewt was starred NefariousNewt was unstarred

Laulau
06/08/09

@NefariousNewt: Why would that piss people off? (Genuine question.) China's not my favorite regime in the world, but North Koreans have endured horrible suffering. I'd think bringing the government down would be a mark in China's favor. (Of course, I made another comment about the terrible consequences of overturning Sadaam Hussein's pretty horrific regime, so I guess unintended bad consequences are to be kept in mind.)
Reply

Laulau was starred Laulau was unstarred

Jello Mix
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
In return, North Korea may demand that an envoy visit and discuss its nuclear program.

All they want is a friendly conversation about how bad-ass they are, guys. Is that too much to ask?
Reply

Jello Mix was starred Jello Mix was unstarred

whatsername
06/08/09

@Jello Mix: Seriously, a country surreptitiously acquiring nuclear weapons capability is DEMANDING that their nuclear program be discussed?!
Reply

whatsername was starred whatsername was unstarred

RosietheRiveting
06/08/09

@Jello Mix: Perhaps they're just ronree and possibly kidnapping two American journalists and putting on a show trial is just their way of reaching out.

I vote we exchange Alec Baldwin for Euna Lee and Laura Ling. He did swear he was going to move to Canada a while back...and NK is sort of like Canada. Except not.
Reply

RosietheRiveting was starred RosietheRiveting was unstarred

CollegeCamel
06/08/09

@RosietheRiveting: NO! We need Alec Baldwin around for 30 Rock! Send that stupid brother of his, but DON'T DEPRIVE ME OF JACK DONAGHY!!
Reply

CollegeCamel was starred CollegeCamel was unstarred

NefariousNewt
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
It must be nice to be a tiny country with the power to annoy and irritate so many bigger countries.
Reply

NefariousNewt was starred NefariousNewt was unstarred

Nancy Sin
06/08/09

@NefariousNewt: Seriously. I do NOT get how N. Korea is consistently off the hook.

Well, I do get it to some degree ($, politics, the safety of S. Korea), but it just burns my ass when we're off 'liberating' other countries that this sort of thing is going on. With our citizens no less.
Reply

Nancy Sin was starred Nancy Sin was unstarred

NefariousNewt
06/08/09

@Nancy Sin: It's odd, because we are still technically at war with North Korea; all we ever signed was a glorified cease fire agreement. The amount of patience and restraint we've shown in the last 50-plus years is rather remarkable, given how often they poke us with their sticks.
Reply

NefariousNewt was starred NefariousNewt was unstarred

RosietheRiveting
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
Where the hell is China in all this? Aren't they supposed to be able to wield some sort of power over Pyongyang?

And what exactly is a not-real prison like? Because I'm guessing it's going to suck as much as a "real prison."

My thoughts and best wishes go out to Lee, Ling, and their families.
Reply

RosietheRiveting was starred RosietheRiveting was unstarred

Lymed
06/08/09

@RosietheRiveting: A not-real prison is probably a lot worse than a U.S. prison, but not nearly as horrific as an actual N. Korea prison. I can't begin to imagine the torture and deprivation that likely occurs in a N. Korea prison.
Reply

Lymed was starred Lymed was unstarred

Sputnik_Sweetheart
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
There was a lot of yelling and obscenities in my car when I heard this on the radio this morning. It is so frustrating what North Korea has been able to get away with over the years, kidnapping Japanese and South Korean citizens, letting their citizens starve, and now this. The situation is so bad there, and I have a feeling that it is going to get worse better it can get better. In fact, the consensus among many NK defectors is to increase sanctions against NK and starve them out. Very sad.
Reply

Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred

Santos L Halper
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
Alright Al Gore/Current TV, time to lift that veil of silence and try to do something about this. I presumed that the silence was to keep from influencing the trial negatively, but since there has now been a negative outcome anyway, isn't it high time to start talking? I mean, you're Al Gore. Don't you have some sort of influence?
Reply

Santos L Halper was starred Santos L Halper was unstarred

Lymed
06/08/09

@Santos L Halper: They may be under advice to remain silent while negotiations begin to release the journalists. I believe the silence had less to do with the actual trial and more to do with "foreign relations" related to getting the journalists released.
Reply

Lymed was starred Lymed was unstarred

morninggloria
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
What we should do is negotiate their release, promising to send someone to talk to them about their nuclear program, and then send a team of 1980's era professional wrestlers, like Macho Man Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts. The team of diplomatic wrestlers would spend the meeting flexing, posturing, flexing, and ending sentences with "YA HEAR ME, BROTHER?"

It would be hilarious while it was going on, but I can't imagine it ending well.
Reply

morninggloria was starred morninggloria was unstarred

Jello Mix
06/08/09

@morninggloria: We can always send the puppets from Team America: World Police was a back-up plan!
Reply

Jello Mix was starred Jello Mix was unstarred

morninggloria
06/08/09

@Jello Mix: I just don't understand how North Korea expects to be taken seriously, what with all of their tomfoolery and shenanigans and ne'er-do-well-ism.
Reply

morninggloria was starred morninggloria was unstarred

Jello Mix
06/08/09

@morninggloria: They are kind of a global joke, aren't they?
Reply

Jello Mix was starred Jello Mix was unstarred

Spaceman Bill Leah
06/08/09

@morninggloria: Man, that would be an awesome reality show. Each week the wrestlers travel to a new location to mediate a conflict, whether it be about domestic issues, business contracts or international disarmament. Hilarity ensues.
Reply

Spaceman Bill Leah was starred

squeaky yet unclean
06/08/09

@Jello Mix: they would be, if they weren't armed to the teeth.
Reply

morninggloria
06/08/09

@debaucherie: We'll just have to send highly advanced indestructible robots who look and act like wrestling stars of the 80's.
Reply

morninggloria was starred morninggloria was unstarred

whatsername
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
are very unlikely to be sent to a real prison, since there they would learn too much about things outsiders are not supposed to know.

Shit. This is the most unsettling part in a story peddling unsetlling
Reply

whatsername was starred whatsername was unstarred

Kate is a sleepy Kate
06/08/09

In reply to American Journalists Sentenced To 12 Years Hard Labor
I'm sorry, but can we just drop a big damn bomb on North Korea already and end this? Please? We're going into a new cold war, and I'm fairly sure that the North Korean government is crazier than the Soviets ever were.
Reply

Jello Mix
06/08/09

@Kate wishes she was Karen O: Let's not kill all the North Korean citizens because they happen to have an asshole government.
Reply

Jello Mix was starred Jello Mix was unstarred

hortense
06/08/09

@Kate wishes she was Karen O: The government may be insane, but there are many people there who are suffering already as a result. It's very sad.

You (and everyone) should watch the documentary "A State Of Mind." It's a fascinating look at the country through the lives of two young gymnasts.
Reply

hortense was starred hortense was unstarred

sarah0220 (please don't take my star)
06/08/09

@Kate wishes she was Karen O: I'm not trying to be mean, but it's early and I can't formulate thoughts very well. I HATE comments like this, I understand that you're exaggerating (I hope at least) but like Jello Mix said, it's their government that sucks, the citizens are suffering too.
Reply

Laulau
06/08/09

@Jello Mix: Seriously, the poor North Koreans suffer enough already.
Reply

Laulau was starred Laulau was unstarred

Ailatan
06/08/09

@Kate wishes she was Karen O: please think about what you say before you post it.
Reply

Ailatan was starred Ailatan was unstarred

Pocahaunted
06/08/09

@Kate wishes she was Karen O: Oh yes because the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were complete humanitarian and political successes, and didn't cause untold years of damage both to people and the environment.

Nuclear aggression, it's the way forward.
Reply

Pocahaunted was starred Pocahaunted was unstarred

LadyFabulous
06/08/09

@Kate wishes she was Karen O: Wow, seriously? And I thought the head deskery would start a little later on Monday morning...
Reply

LadyFabulous was starred LadyFabulous was unstarred

RedHotz
01/06/09

In reply to Obama To Get Two Puppies, At Least One More Scandal
Love this Megan. I wasn't sure what I was gonna do without CH and this really helps.
Reply

RedHotz was starred RedHotz was unstarred

Earlier threads | All threads | Show hidden threads | Show featured threads only | Start a new discussion