The American Spectator

But other times one wonders how hard he has thought about policy. Discussing the 2000 energy crisis in western states, he says, “I was surprised by the economists’ general view that the market should be allowed to perform and correct itself.”

The book concludes with the chapter “2020 Vision.” Richardson pictures a world magically transformed by his policies. Energy efficiency soars while energy prices fall. Carbon levels in the atmosphere drop while alternative energy investments actually pay for themselves. Oil dependence becomes a thing of the past. America is loved and admired again as other countries follow in our greentastic path.

In his utopia, “You feel better about yourself. Your church is full of talk of stewardship enacted, not stewardship envisioned.”

Even better, “You feel like a moral person — someone who cares about our planet and helps protect it.”

As I write this, Richardson is in the low single digits in polls both nationally and in the key primary states. It’s tempting to dismiss Leading by Example as a pipe dream.

Then again, Richardson is often touted as a vice presidential pick. He may yet get the opportunity to get in our faces about his vision for many years to come.