Discretionary Submission

For Secretary of Commerce, Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) renounced his nomination. “It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time,” said President-elect Obama. “I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.”

Richardson’s decision is appropriate. His guilt or innocence is irrelevant. During this calamitous period, America cannot afford partisan noise. Partisan noise consumes solutions. America needs solutions.