Democratic Underground - Not silent on the Patriot Act. Even criticized in '03

Here's his press release from 2003:

SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Attorney General Patricia
Madrid want New Mexico to join the long list of communities that oppose controversial
provisions in the U.S. Patriot Act.

Governor Richardson and Attorney General Madrid urged the New Mexico Legislature,
which will convene Monday in a special session, to pass a similar resolution opposing
many provisions in the Patriot Act.

“It is important, especially now that Congress is evaluating the impact of the Patriot Act,
that we send the message that New Mexico opposes the infringement of civil rights and
liberties,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “The United States can fight the war against
terrorism without eroding America’s precious freedoms.”

And from a couple of days ago:

On Sunday, Richardson pledged that if elected, he would seek to overhaul the Patriot Act, the law pushed by Bush to expand law enforcement authority in the name of fighting terrorism.

Richardson also gave a near-failing grade to a Supreme Court that has veered to the right following the confirmation of two Bush appointees to the court, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

"No. 1., we will not eavesdrop on our citizens without a court order," he said.

He is also one of the first candidates to call for closing Guantanamo and has called for closing all CIA secret prisons.

He is tough on sentencing for violent criminals and I disagree with him on the death penalty. He has moderated his views on those issues since the survey you link to from 11 years ago. NM only has 2 inmates on death row, none have been executed since he became governor, and both were convicted before he became governor. He did push through legislation legalizing medical marijuana. NM, with his support, also became the first state to grant immunity to anyone that reports or is the victim of a drug overdose. He did support a bill that gives a life sentence to anyone convicted of sexually molesting a child under 9 where it involved penetration. However, I can agree with that tough sentence.

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