Yes, we need the U.N.

…like a fish needs a bicycle. (Thank you Ms. Steinem)

Richardson, you are so out of touch. The U.N. has lost it's way for quite some time now. Read the papers.

Bill Richardson wants to introduce Republicans to "basic reality"? Here's some basic reality, Bill, you've got as much chance of becoming President here as you do in Iran.

Sure you feel a need to defend the UN since you were a former ambassador, but to blindly ignore the UN's ongoing impudence to act and anti-American views is ridiculous.

This is a very tricky subject. The UN is the right vehicle for these kinds of issues but at the same time it has been startlingly incapable of action.

The world needs a body like the UN to take control of issues that affect the countries of the world rather than letting a single country like the US or any other sponsor their individual approach to solving a global problem. Only by using it and trying to improve it will it come to be what is necessary - by attempting to ignore it or regard it as useless, its very important role is being undermined. This is irresponsible at best, and given the failure of foreign policy decisions over recent years from one particular country, the need for a body like the UN has never been more obvious.

Richardson is not my candidate of choice, but he makes a convincing argument to vote for him. Mitt Romney supports a North American union, which every good Democrat knows would mean the final blow against the good reputation of the US.

Thank You Governor Richardson. It is certainly refreshing to know that ONE CANDIDATE actually knows what he is talking about.

More refreshing is that this one Candidate was a former UN Ambassador for the US. We need more international savvy like yours in the White House. As it seems the Democrats have just ingnited another fire in the Middle East whilst the Bush fires are still blazing.

VOTE RICHARDSON 2008 for Peace, Common Sense, International Diplomacy and Experience and an end to the Iraq War, and the Pakistan, Iran and Turkey dissention.

Of course the UN is needed. Just because we don't get our way on every issue, or every vote; doesn't mean that the UN is useless. I am aware that our finacial support for the UN is astronomically more than other nations, that is our fault. We need to insist that other nations contribute their fair share. Our over funding doesn't mean that our opion in the world is more important than let us say Zambias. Turning our back on the world will come back to haunt us.

the BEST thing i can say about the U.N. is that the organization and ALL, i repeat ALL of its members are corrupt.. if THEY really cared about world peace they would immediately relocate to Darfur, Tehran, Bagdad, Cuba, Tel Aviv, Mogadishu or Moscow…and PLEASE take Richardson and Halfbright with you…OUT of OUR COUNTRY

What an excellent Vice-Presidential Candidate.

that guy with the name mitt is a failure, failed as governor and won´t get a chance to fail as president, give it up and save the donor´s money

People should listen to this man. He has the breadth and diversity of experience that NONE of his opponents in either party can match.

Kerry was #4 in the polls before he shook up the race. . .I expect Bill to do the very same.

We don't need the UN, Bill, and we don't need you either.

Yeah. Look at the great job they're doing in Africa. WORTHLESS.

finally, cnn agrees with me

I disagree with Mr. Richardson. If I were alive 40 years back, then I might have agreed. The United Nations at its current state is in total dissary. Like I've said before on this issue. Look at those poor nations in Africa which the U.N is trying to subdue. They must have been there for YEARS, and still there is no sign of progress. Also, the United Nations is trying to dictate some of our policy. OUR policy. I find this behavior totally unacceptable. This great Republic will do just fine without the help of the U.N. The U.N is full of countries that are and will always be Hypocrites. Just look at China and Russia…

The UN does have a valuable role to play. It's just unfortunate that it is institutionally so incompetent and corrupt to be taken seriously in accomplishing that role. Many people mistake Republican disregard of the UN as a belief that we don't need it. If the UN could do its job and not be so incredibly corrupt, I'd be all for it.

OMG….watch 20/20 tomorrow - Stossel is going to talk about global warming..this time….the other side gets to be heard….since I have to discuss Richardson….is he still running?

Shortcomings of the UN? … that's an understatement; they haven't done anything. They don't do anything and are corrupt. So, Im a fan of abolishing the UN.

No, we don't. I'm quite sure we can converse with other nations and engage in rigorous diplomacy without the United Nations.

I agree with Romney about the U.N especially when they are talking about a globe tax and having to get permission for exploring for oil, mining, terrorism supects and so on. It is a sad day when we need permission from any one that can't even help the people of the poor countries and I think that we need to keep our money in our government and maybe send the U.N. to Iran or Cuba.

No we do not! Wake up Richardson!

No, Bill, we don't.

The UN is useless organization of unelected officials and not in the best interest of the United States.

Let them push their third world socialist global agenda without our taxpayer money or membership.

You cannot change the world, but you can change your self.

Local change is the answer, not global. Progress happens from the ground up, not the sky down.

The UN is a waste of taxpayer money.

Why do we need an inept organization to address peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, and climate change issues? Just think how much more we could accomplish with the tax dollars wasted by the UN..

Sensible Americans to the Republican Party: We DON'T need you.

No, we don't. I'm quite sure we can converse with other nations and engage in rigorous diplomacy without the United Nations.

Posted By Mike, NY : October 18, 2007 10:32 pm

–HA! Don't make me laugh….like the rigorous engagement with an isolated Iraq….no that wasn't enough we had to put boots on the ground. I agree will Gov. Richardson the U.N. is necessary not to say that there aren't major deficiencies but I think that is partly because it doesn't have the full backing of the US.

UN Failures: Somalia, Darfur, Yugoslavia (until the US intervened), Vietnam, Kosovo, Middle East, Sudan, Liberia, North Korea, Iraq putting totalitarian regimes on the human rights council, AIDS in Africa, starvation and famine in Africa, Cambodia, pollution.

UN successes….I'll have to get back to you.

How the heck is Romney qualified to call the UN a failure? Last I checked, he is ZERO education or experience dealing with international affairs or foreign policy (like most posters on these, and many other, blogs).

Typical. We need out of the UN. It is bad news and always has been. Look at the latest United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is the biggest giveaway of American sovereignty and resources since Jimmy Carter’s Panama Canal Treaty. And look at what French president Sarkozy recently said that The United Nations should avail itself as an instrument for a "new world order of the 21st century,". We all know the UN was established to work toward on world government. PERIOD. EXCLAMATION POINT!

Bill Richardson is a large (no pun intended) joke!

Van

Bill Richardson has more international and global warming experience than any other Candidate. And I agree that the U N is absolutely necessary for solving the world problems. It may not be perfect and have some corruption but if you believe it Democratic process then this is the institution to support and work cooperatively with. Our own government is not perfect either and some of our citizens were involved in the UN Oil for Food Scandel. Each and every US citizen is responsible for our U S government and for our effect on the United Nations Institution. Be informed citizens. It appears to me that Republicans have worked to destroy our Democracy Process in America and are doing everything possible to destroy the Democratic Process in the UN. The world does need to work together. There are so many problems to deal with.