Space Politics

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Richardson withdraws Commerce nomination

January 4, 2009 at 1:55 pm · Filed under White House

When President-elect Barack Obama announced last month the nomination of New Mexico governor Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary, many in the space industry cheered, given comments in the fall about making sure the Obama Administration would be pro-commercial-space. However, in a stunning development Sunday, Richardson has withdrawn his nomination, citing an unspecified investigation into a company that does business with the state. Richardson told NBC News that while he believes the investigation will find no evidence of any wrongdoing by him or others in his administration, “the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.” Richardson will remain New Mexico governor.

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9 Comments »

Bad News For Commercial Space? - Transterrestrial Musings wrote @ January 4th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

[...] Foust is already on the case, with [...]

Burst wrote @ January 4th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

Are there other pro-space people who could be nominated for commerce? Very nice work, you got this story out before any of the major news sites.

Jeff Foust wrote @ January 4th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

Burst,

Thanks, but I think MSNBC (whose story about Richardson’s withdrawal is linked to in the post) qualifies as a “major news site”!

As for a replacement, no word yet on who might be considered, and where they might stand on commercial space–if they’ve even given the subject any thought.

Rand Simberg wrote @ January 4th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Yes, space-centric people would like to think that Richardson was chosen for his views on commercial space, but that likely had almost nothing to do with his selection, and it won’t for the next nominee, either.

Charles Lurio wrote @ January 4th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

Rand, nobody I know ever thought that Richardson was “chosen for his views on commercial space.” But since he had expressed support for it, that was a plus for those of us who do care, multiplied by his presence in DC on the Obama cabinet

Now, even if he still speaks positively about commercial space, even if he does occasionally ‘call in’ from Albuquerque, he will not be ‘plugged in’ in nearly the same way that he would have been.

Bob wrote @ January 4th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

Some of the goofier people in the space blogosphere want to link up Richardson, commercial space, and even Jim Oberstar, though.

Rand Simberg wrote @ January 4th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

Rand, nobody I know ever thought that Richardson was “chosen for his views on commercial space.”

I got a comment to that effect on my blog today. I should have said some space-centric people…

John Malkin wrote @ January 5th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

is on the short list for Richardson replacement. Kansas has a long history of commercial and military aviation and space related companies but I don’t think she has made any public statements that would indicate her position on space exploration.

John Malkin wrote @ January 5th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

I think I had a typo in the link above anyway the start of the sentance is CBS News is reporting Kathleen Sebelius…