Republican Ruminations and Bill Richardson at Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner 2007 with my husband's Republican relatives in Nevada gave me great hope for the 2008 presidential elections.

Last year at the Thanksgiving family gathering, my husband's uncle, a retired Army veteran, West Point attendee, and Goldwater-style Republican, strongly praised Sen. John McCain as the next President of the United States. And he dismissed potential Democratic candidates as radical and grating (Clinton), superficial (Obama) or not worth consideration (all the others).

This year, the subject of politics was studiously avoided by the entire clan for hours after we arrived. Finally, at dinner, I was seated next to family patriarch Uncle Jack. And after chit-chat about turkey, stuffing and homemade cranberry sauce, I casually asked, "So, John McCain still your man in 2008?"

After an awkward, table-wide silence, Uncle Jack looked down at his plate, and half-sadly lamented, "Well... I'm not so sure about John McCain anymore... "

"Oh?" I gently pressed.

"But... but, you know, all the Democrats have flaws. They all do!" he shook his head.

"What Republican do you like, then. Mitt Romney?"

"No, not Romney. That religious thing... although Kennedy turned out OK, I guess," he quietly remarked.

Uncle Jack looked me in the eye, "All the Republicans have flaws, too. They all do... both parties. Ron Paul seems OK. I like some of what he says. But we need to find a way to gracefully leave Iraq... "

I stayed silent, stunned by his admission that the Iraq War has gone irretrievably awry.

Uncle Jack then shook my worldview when he firmly announced, "I like Bill Richardson. He's got experience and he understands foreign relations. He's got the best resume... Didn't he hold some positions during the Clinton administration?"

"Yes, he did," I replied. "He was Energy Secretary and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. under Clinton."

"I like Bill Richardson. He's the only candidate who understands the needs of the West... " Uncle Jack flatly stated, more to himself that to the twenty others of us giving thanks in Reno over mashed potatoes, giblet gravy and two turkeys (deep-fried and barbecued).

And in admiration of his courageous openmindedness, I admitted for the first time... here at About.com or anywhere... that I, too, may cast my 2008 primary vote for Bill Richardson. And for exactly the same reasons!

Stunned by our agreement, we moved the conversation beyond politics back to children and grandchildren, football and the weather.

I left last night with the unexpected insight that if Uncle Jack and I could agree, maybe... just maybe... the great partisan divide in our country can yet be healed.

(Postscript: I also learned yesterday that among my husband's Reno relatives is a newly outpsoken liberal renegade, Werner, who has been arguing with Uncle Jack, his father-in-law, about politics during 2007. I want to publicly thank Werner for bravely speaking truth to power. His example reminds us liberals that we CAN reason with conservatives, one conservative at a time.)

(Photo of Gov. Richardson at the Nov 15, 2007 debate: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

Related Reading
Profile of Gov. Bill Richardson, 2008 Presidential Candidate
Bill Richardson - Cumulative Report Card for the Debates
Bill Richardson - Donor Info and Fundraising Statistics
Profile of Barbara Richardson, Political Spouse

Bill Richardson's Plan to Make America a Clean Energy Nation
Bill Richardson's Rousing Speech at the DNC Winter 2007 Meeting