In a development that may be raising the proverbial pucker factor for Governor Bill Richardson and his Democrat cronies here in New Mexico, the Feds have indicted Ruffin Poole, top aide and legal counsel to former North Carolina governor, Mike Easley. Poole, who was known as "Little Governor" for his control of access to Easley and the levers of power in North Carolina during Easley's term, has been hit with 51 federal counts of extortion, bribery, racketeering, mail fraud and money laundering. The WRAL-TV website says:"Easley isn't named in the indictment, but observers said the level of detail in the 64 page indictment show that investigators have interviewed witnesses extensively and might have made deals with some as they continue to work on the case." Meanwhile, out here in the Land of Encashment, uh, Enchantment, Big Bill is up to his eyeballs in a state financial scandal which New Mexico news sources are reporting may have cost the state more than $200...(Read Full Post)