I don't think that what happened in the CRADAs had anything to do with Bill Richardson. There was a big push at the time to spin off defense technology to the American private sector so as to help shore up U.S. competitiveness. I was surprised to see then that most of the participating firms were large ones that were not so interested in the questions of what would be good and not for the health of the American manufacturing industry and its workforce.

So, it was happening a lot. Bill Richardson, though, said at an interesting DNC Fall Retreat a couple of years ago that his interest in trade and the international economy was low -- that he preferred to talk about foreign policy.

This was about two years ago he said that, which I think should have raised some red flags when he was being considered for the job that I think Leo Hindery should have gotten -- and if not Leo, then others who have a better feel for what it will take to re-organize a domestic social contract in this country.

best to you both, Steve Clemons