Why I Love Joe Biden

by: Tim C.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 at 12:16:01 PM EDT

With just a few supporters and aides, Joe walked into the State House and right into a fourth-grade class on a tour, and immediately engaged with them. His aides, about to head up the stairs and briefly hoping that they could drag him along with them, soon sighed and gave up. As minutes ticked by, the message trickled up to his supporters (partly via me) that Joe was downstairs talking to kids, and a bunch came down to stand around with signs as if they'd planned to do so all along.  The press stayed upstairs waiting for the formal event; meanwhile, Joe was happy as could be taking question after question from ten-year-olds in an impromptu town hall meeting in the lobby of their state capitol, on a field trip he had gleefully hijacked from their unprotesting teachers.

Some politicians are helplessly drawn to TV cameras. Joe Biden is helplessly drawn to talk to people.

Come by any time, Joe.

Be the Change You Wish To See In New Hampshire

by: KrisSchultz

Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 21:56:18 PM EST

Now is our chance to make that change happen right here at home. Groups in Concord, Manchester, Portsmouth, and other areas of the Granite State have posted a number of service projects that need an extra hand.

Whether it's time, money, or even blood that you can give, you will find a way that best fits how you can contribute - you could even adopt a homeless pet.

On Grasping At Straws, Or, We've Got Biden Right Where We Want Him

by: fake consultant

Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 17:09:28 PM EDT

Oh My God You Have To Vote For Me, is the McCain response, because we can't afford someone who will be tested in office.

As it turns out, Joe Biden is the smarter guy in this argument, a few calm words are in order...and I'm here today to offer a response that will set McCain's foolishness right back on its heels.

So let's get to it.

Josh Marshall nails it!

by: Peter Sullivan

Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 15:40:47 PM EDT

"All of the things they said about Barack Obama in the TV, on the TV, at their rallies, and now on YouTube ... John McCain could not bring himself to look Barack Obama in the eye and say the same things to him ... In my neighborhood, when you've got something to say to a guy, you look him in the eye and you say it to him."

After the election, in the interests of national reconciliation, I imagine Obama and Biden may allow McCain to make special non-custodial visits to his testicles.

--Josh Marshall

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/a...

VP Debate Open Thread

by: Mike Hoefer

Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 21:00:09 PM EDT

Last time I was here Obama won Iowa, will tonight be as good a night?

Beer, Wings, Chips... This is your debate Open Thread!

Open Thread: Fast & Furious Edition

by: Jack Mitchell

Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 11:14:12 AM EDT

This is an open thread.

Joe Biden speaks to New Hampshire at a Town Hall in Nashua

by: Brian P. Clark

Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 00:33:36 AM EDT

Senator Joe Biden was in Nashua, New Hampshire today and motivated the crowd at the Nashua Community College.

The crowd of over 500 felt the urgency as the days tick away toward November 4th. This election is different. We can no longer sit back and wait for others to make it better. This election is about us; each one of us; you, me, and our neighbors coming out and talking to each other about how we can change the world ourselves. This is new.

Senator Biden knows the change we need. You know the change we need. It's clear and it includes addressing the healthcare crisis, the energy crisis, the housing crisis, the education crisis... how many crises can we take all at once? We need solutions that make sense for all hard working Americans, like those below, who came to hear about this change.

We need you to motivate. We need you to get involved. We need you to talk to your neighbors in New Hampshire and spread the word. Without you, we cannot reach out to everyone it will take to win this crucial state. It's going to be close here in New Hampshire, real close. There are so many Independents, Republicans, and Democrats that want the change Barack Obama and Joe Biden will bring. You can bring that change too! Come to your nearest Field Office. Undecided voters are waiting. They need to hear from you. Our problems won't get solved without you!

Dan Quayle in a pantsuit

by: Peter Sullivan

Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:37:40 AM EDT

Sen. Obama chose Joe Biden to be his running mate, a smart, seasoned, and honest statesman, respected by both Democrats and Republicans and trusted by leaders abroad.

John McCain chose Dan Quayle in a pantsuit.

The choice of Sarah Palin, the undistinguished governor of a thinly populated state with no real accomplishments, is nothing more than a crass political move. Evidently, the McCain team has seen one too many silly "puma" story on Fox or CNN, and believes that simply putting a woman on the ticket will score political points.

Obama chose someone who will help him govern effectively. McCain went for cheap political points. That says everything we need to know about the choice we face in November.

Obama's VP Decision Near?

by: gradysdad

Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 21:10:02 PM EDT

NBC News reports Obama was at veep vetter Eric Holder's office in DC for the second day in a row.

According to those reports, Kaine, Bayh, Sebelius and Biden are on the short list with Kaine perhaps the leading contender.

Interesting tidbits:  Kaine, Obama, and their wives all attended Harvard Law School.  Both Kaine's and Obama's mothers were born in El Dorado, Kansas.

Kaine has reportedly cancelled an appearance for which he was scheduled tomorrow.

It's a 2 person race, but we must not forget the issues that are still there

by: Evan Carlson

Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 15:11:27 PM EST

Hundreds of U.S. Marines have been killed or injured by roadside bombs in Iraq because Marine Corps bureaucrats refused an urgent request in 2005 from battlefield commanders for blast-resistant vehicles, an internal military study concludes.

PR: Prominent Dodd and Biden Supporters Endorse Obama

by: Sleeping Giant Stirs

Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 18:08:34 PM EST

MANCHESTER, NH-In the wake of Senator Barack Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses, key supporters of withdrawn candidates Senator Joe Biden and Senator Chris Dodd announced today their support for Senator Obama.  Citing Obama's ability to unify the country around a vision of positive change, the group of 9 prominent Granite Staters lauded Obama as the best candidate to win in November and build a coalition for change.

"By winning the Iowa caucuses, Barack Obama didn't just make history, he also laid the foundation for the future of our party and our country," said former New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman and Dodd New Hampshire Campaign chairman Joe Keefe.  "Obama built a consensus for change among Democrats and Independents and even some Republican; and in the process he inspired thousands of people to engage in the process for the first time.  That's how we'll win the White House in November; and more importantly, it's how we'll end decades of division so we can finally govern effectively."

The announcements come as Obama continues to build momentum in New Hampshire just three days before Primary Day.

The following prominent Granite Staters endorsed Obama:
Dan Calegari, Deerfield - Former NH Field Director for Gary Hart '84; Veteran of five NH Presidential Primaries; Small Business Owner; Member of Senator Dodd's Steering Committee
Pat Clark, Tilton - Democratic Activist
Jim Craig, Manchester - Former New Hampshire House Minority Leader
Representative Mike Farley, Manchester - Former John Kerry '04 NH Steering Committee Member, Secretary of Manchester City Democratic Party, Democratic Activist, Member of Dodd's Steering Committe
Joe Keefe, Manchester - NH Democratic Party Chairman and former Chairman of Senator Dodd's State Steering Committee
Quentin Keefe, Manchester - Owner of Commercial Street Fishery; President, Regency Mortgage Company
Chris Kennedy, Manchester - NH State Senate Legislative Aide, veteran of the 2006 NH Senate Democratic Caucus Field Operation for the Lakes Region
Joe Sullivan, Manchester - Manchester Ward 12 Democratic Committee, Retired Teacher
Anna Tilton, Marlborough - Co-Chair of Cheshire County for Dodd; Cheshire County Register of Probate; 2nd Vice Chair (and former Chair) of Cheshire County Democrats

Biden hearts Obama? Bill too, maybe?

by: Sleeping Giant Stirs

Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 21:26:31 PM EST

But ended up Off The Bus

Beverly Davis http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Des Moines-
-snip
Dennis Kucinich started what may add up to the critical mass Obama needs for a win or strong second-place showing in the Iowa caucuses, when Kucinich encouraged his supporters - few though there are in this frozen state - to join the Obama forces on caucus night, if Kucinich doesn't have enough voters to be viable.
-snip

The Biden national and state campaign honchos met at 4 p.m. Monday in a Des Moines attorney's office to discuss their strategy and decide if they would encourage their non-viable voters to choose either Obama, Edwards, or Hillary Clinton's caucus contingents.
-snip

...Offthebus chatted with one of the Biden's national consultants who wanted to remain anonymous:

"A decision will be made tomorrow about who we'll encourage our supporters to stand behind if we aren't viable in a precinct. Right now, I'd guess Obama gets our support because we're more inline with his vision of foreign policy than any of the other candidates, and besides, we like him and how he's run his campaign."

"Is Biden angling for a Secretary of State position in an Obama Administration?"

The Biden consultant told Offthebus, "Well, Joe would make a great Secretary of State, wouldn't he?"

Biden's son, Joseph R. Biden, III is the current Attorney General for Delaware. Should Joe Biden resign his seat and accept a major post in the next Democratic Administration in Washington, his son is positioned to replace him in the U.S. Senate.
-snip

Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed, "We've heard that Richardson may also be telling his supporters to caucus for Barack if they aren't viable. Nothing definitive but there's a trend going on," she added with a smile. Ah, that's an understatement.

All of this off-the-record conversation and backroom pol talk could be nothing or something.

But the fact that the rumors are flying and top aides are willing to discuss their thinking with Offthebus, albeit without disclosing their names, is still enough smoke to detect yet another spark that could ignite a fire under the Obama campaign's fortunes in the Iowa caucuses.
-snip

None of the campaigns I spoke with - on or off the record - are prone to hand their support over to John Edwards, who is busy today flying around the state for his final push to win - and therefore, survive until New Hampshire, where his poll numbers continue to fall far behind either Clinton or Obama.

Don't ask me for any salt, I just used my last grain.

Reasons to Vote Against Giuliani, McCain, Romney, Huckabee etc.

by: littleton9

Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 16:42:26 PM EST

(Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate (for a party whose
registered voters are 6% of the US population) to oppose
the war in Iraq and even Ron Paul defends criminal megathievery
by the oil companies. kucinich.us)
(None of us has the right to judge anyone. While we pray
that God will change the hearts and minds of all of those
who have harmed others, we remember their record
as we decide for whom to vote.)

REASONS TO VOTE AGAINST CLINTON
http://www.bluehampshire.com/showD...
REASONS TO VOTE AGAINST OBAMA
1. He supports continued violence in Afghanistan.
2. He supports nuclear expansion
3. President Carter has asked that
we not vote for Clinton or Obama.
27 REASONS TO OPPOSE GIULIANI
1 Giuliani as mayor of New York was a criminalizer of homelessness. Some
30,000 or more people live in the sewers and subway caves of Manhattan and other boroughs, while billionaire Bloomberg, who like Giuliani was allegedly elected mayor in a city which is 83%
Democratic, has not ameliorated the situation.
http://www.thestreetspirit.org/

2 Giuliani was part of the 911 conspiracy, and was involved in
hasty disposal of the WTC remains. As Loose Change says,
he supervised the closing off of the crime scene while
he shipped all the evidence out for overseas burial. He also arranged
to remove gold from Bldg Number 7
before demolition.
http://video.google.com/videop...

3 Giuliani is a profiteer from the 911 slaughter, and his diversion of
911 victim monies has caused lawsuits
to be filed against him.
http://today.reuters.com/news/...

4 Giuliani has promoted the illegal and violent wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and is considered by Haaretz to be the best
of the candidates for the Olmert regime.

5 Rudy's wife as mistress was receiving illegal taxfunded security protection.

6. Under Giuliani's regime, the New York Port Authority gave away
the profits from public property to exploiters such as billionaire Larry Silverstein.

7 Mayors have not had the presidential training that governors, representatives , senators
have had.

8 Even after Giuliani got prostate cancer (probability theory would
say his cancer was caused by animal products) he
was still promoting carcinogenic cows' milk
for the American dairy lobby. http://www.notmilk.com

9. Giuliani's administration was a snuffer of civil liberties
http://www.aclu.org

10. While poster does not think that 3 marriages disqualifies
Giuliani as a presidential candidate, many other Americans do not agree.

11 Giuliani's unionbusting through
encouraging past illegal immigration
into NYC was also done to
buttress high NYC rents.

12. Giuliani is a chickenhawk which
means he wants the children of
the poor to be cannon fodder though
he has never served.
http://www.nhgazette.com

13. Network news anchors have played tape of Giuliani abusing
over and over, like a stinging scorpion, a talk show caller and
ferret pet owner
who was questioning Giuliani's legislation.
http://www.oliverwillis.com/20...
listen to the tape

14. Giuliani's abuse of Ron Paul in the presidential debates
was the vicious display of a pack dog for war profiteers.

15 Giuliani supports torture which
he defines as 'enhanced interrogation
techniques'.

16. Giuliani appointed Bernard Kerik
who was invested in tasers to
Homeland Security. Because of
this corruption Kerik lost, but
the replacement is worse. Kerik's
tasers have in police hands killed nearly 250
Americans and 17 Canadians said an Arizona Republic
study and the CBC. A wheelchair bound woman
died after tasered 10 times.

17. Giuliani's SC campaign head
has been indicted (as NH's Republican
Party head went to jail.. though
Rove who designed his crimes did not)

18. Giuliani's third wife
worked for US Surgical, a company
which tortured dogs in lab research.

19. NYC Firefighters have endorsed
other candidates because Giuliani's
failure since 1993 to get inter agency
radios between firemen and police
was a factor in firemen's deaths at
WTC

20. Giuliani's prostate cancer
status is a further disqualifier

21. He is almost totally estranged from
his grown children, one of whom
joined an Obama group on a major
website.

22. Giuliani advances global heating
with the purchase of full page
NY Times ad, which takes untold
thousands of trees.

23 from Leeland O White

Rudi Guilliani is the former mayor of New York during the 911 era. He is also former United States Attorney who prosecuted Ivan Boesk who was able to keep one billion dollars for stealing from the stock market many more billions and Mike Milken, the Junk Bond deal, who also stole about the same amount and got to keep much, much more.

24
http://www.closeindianpoint.or...
GIULIANI ALWAYS FOR SALE
Indian Point nuclear power plant owner hired Giuliani firm

25. Giuliani tried to cancel the
mayoral election of Sept. 2001.

(Every Republican candidate except Ron Paul
supports the illegal genocide in Iraq)

Controversial areas for fundamentalist Republicans
are Giuliani's support of gay and
abortion rights, for confiscatory gun
laws
his support of gay rights and abortion

26. Giuliani is behind the drive to split California's
electoral vote.

27. Giuliani has a prosecutor's mentality, having
prosecuted (sought to punish) over 10,000 cases.

SOME OF THE MANY REASONS TO OPPOSE ROMNEY

Despite having collected more
money from Mormons, from his
own private equity firm, Romney
is in only single digits among Republicans, who are 6% of the
public. Less than 1% of Americans
support Romney.

1. Romney tried to bring back governmental murder into the
abolitionist state of Massachusetts. http://www.amnesty.org
2. Romney is a warmonger He wants 100,000 more Americans
placed on the altar ofr Likud bloodshed and BP Exxon Shell
murder in Iraq, but he doesn't want any of his 5 sons
to be among them.
3 Romney's Bain Capital has been trying to get support
for Huawei, a Chiense computer firm bidding for Pentagon security
contracts

4. Romney also participated in
a canned hunt in Georgia in 2006,
one to which all Republican governors
were invited.
5. Less well known is Romney's investment as the cofounder of
a private capital equity group ... in war profiteer, animal agony
and global heating industries.
6. Romney is a member of a church which denies women rights,
creates sheepish support of violent earth authority. This church has
given him much money.
7. Romney has hired the professional mudslinger who in the SC
primary campaign lied about McCain, saying he had fathered a black
child.ortion
8. Romney would let lawyers
decide whether or not he acted
in a warmonger manner with Iran
9. Romney would lock up those
who use medical marijuana.
10. Romney's treatment of his dog, putting him on the roof
for a several hundred mile trip is well known.

MIKE HUCKABEE

Mike Huckabee calls himself
prolife though he has murdered in the name of the state
of Arkansas executing
prisoners as Arkansas governor
(as did Bill Clinton)..
though he promotes
the wars in Iraq and though he promotes
hunting and fishing, the serial stalking
and suffocation of God's creatures

JOHN MCCAIN

John McCain has supported every violent and illegalwar in which our elected and unelected
leaders have involved us.

He has refused to apologize to the women in the light
bulb factory he was bombing as he was shot down.

*
He has a 0% environmental voting record.
*

EVERY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
with the exception of Ron Paul supports
continuing the criminal violence in Iraq.

Pete Seeger re the drowning of Marines
at Camp LeJeune (and metaphorically re Iraq):

We're waist deep in the Big Muddy
and the damn fool says to push on

-Pete Seeger-

Biden, Edwards, Obama, and Richardson Bow Out of Michigan

by: Jennifer Daler

Tue Oct 09, 2007 at 16:20:33 PM EDT

There has also been trouble with Florida, and it's turning into a controversy. Will this hurt the Democratic Party nationally? Is there any other way to end the primary "leap frog" we've been seeing?

Watch Democrats Rhetorically Embrace "Public Financing"

by: inevitibility

Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 14:27:27 PM EDT

It's Hillary's answer to Norman Hsu, it's Biden's answer to earmarks.

Feisty gravel points out we have public financing yet no ones taking it.

So far only Edwards has accepted.

ACTION ALERT! The Biden-Brownback-Boxer Vote

by: Evan Carlson

Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 10:57:49 AM EDT

CLICK HERE to sign the petition below and Senator Biden's full letter is after the break.

I stand with Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), John Kerry (D-MA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Chuck Shumer (D-NY), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-AR), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Gordon Smith (R-OR), and Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) in calling for a political solution in Iraq that allows to draw down troops without leaving a bloodbath behind.

I urge Congress to pass the Biden-Brownback-Boxer amendment to create a federal system in Iraq, as their Consititution provides, that gives each region of the country control over the daily lives of its citizens, and securing the support of the United Nations and Iraq's neighbors for this plan.

The President has clung to the idea that a strong central government will emerge in Iraq that will pull the country together for five years.

It's not working.

It's time for a change.

Obama and Biden Help Vets

by: Sleeping Giant Stirs

Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 17:19:14 PM EDT

If injured servicemembers are discharge without recognition of the injuries, they will have an uphill battle to seek treatment from the VA. The potential for disaster for the "undiagnosed" is real.

Previous conflicts have turned out injured personnel that have succumbed to one or many of the following: severe depression, alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide. Some wounds never heal, especially if left untreated.

Please read: The Silent Scars of Battle

Letter to fellow Senator's, asking for support. As published in The Swamp
Obama: Stop personality-disorder discharges By Jim Tankersley

September 19, 2007
Dear Colleague:

In July, we filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would place a temporary moratorium on the use of personality disorder discharges for those service members who have served in a combat zone. We urge you to join as a cosponsor of this important bipartisan measure.

On June 21st we wrote with 22 of our colleagues to Secretary Gates expressing our deep concern over continuing reports that personality disorder discharges have been implemented inappropriately and inconsistently. In mid-August, Dr. David Chu, Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, responded to our offices without addressing two key requests in the original letter: that DOD conduct a thorough review of all policies related to the use of this discharge; and that the military establish an independent review board to address any questionable cases. Instead, this response suggests that the Department does not believe this issue requires further examination. Dr. Chu writes: "The Department is confident in the effectiveness of the current process."

We do not share Dr. Chu's confidence. Therefore we are seeking to halt this practice until Congress can be assured that adequate safeguards are in place. Our offices continue to receive and attempt to resolve questionable cases in which service members who appear to be suffering from combat-related psychological injuries are instead facing an administrative discharge for a personality disorder. We believe that even one case of an improper diagnosis and discharge for a personality disorder is too many. Over the last six years, Defense Department records indicate that over 22,500 personality disorder discharges have been processed -- an average of 10 service members discharged each day. We owe it to our fighting forces to ensure that air-tight procedures are in place to guide this serious and lasting diagnosis.

This amendment is offered as another step in our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of the Department of Defense's mental health services and care. This temporary moratorium is a commonsense safeguard to ensure a proper review and revision of current DOD policies. The amendment also gives the DOD flexibility by granting an exception to the moratorium in those cases in which a service member provides false or misleading information, or omits information about past criminal behavior during the recruitment or enlistment process. The moratorium would be lifted after the DOD reviews its current policies, ensures it is following standard clinical diagnostic practices, and establishes an independent review board to ensure that service members who have received this diagnosis may seek a review.

We hope you will join us in this worthy bipartisan effort. If you have any questions about this amendment, please contact Mark Linton in Senator Obama's office at 8-5553; or James Pitchford in Senator Bond's office at 4-6844. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Barack Obama
Christopher S. Bond
Barbara Boxer
Joseph I. Lieberman
Patty Murray
Claire McCaskill
John F. Kerry
Joseph R. Biden
Tim Johnson
Bernard Sanders

Campaign Tracker

by: gradysdad

Wed May 16, 2007 at 20:56:45 PM EDT

A Precedent for Cutting Funding and Ending the War in Iraq

by: Jon Bresler

Sat Mar 03, 2007 at 08:54:39 AM EST

Librarian 1: It's possible that you were watching the Tucker Carlson show on MSNBC.  The following excerpt comes from the January 22, 2007, transcript:

TOM CURRY, MSNBC.COM NATIONAL AFFAIR WRITER

"Now, there are Democrats, certainly in the House, and maybe in the Senate as well, who are ready to cut off funding, and say that that`s the only way to end the war. If you look at history -- I mean, the interesting thing, if you go back to 1973 and the Vietnam War, in May of 1973 the Senate voted to cut off all funding for the Indo-China war. Among those voting to cut off the funding on that day, May 13th, 1973, were Joe Biden, who was a freshmen senator back then, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and two Republicans who are still in the Senate, Ted Stevens of Alaska and Pete Domenici of New Mexico."

Based on our research, it appears that Tom Curry's statement about Senators Joe Biden, Robert Byrd, Ted Stevens and Pete Domenici is partially correct.  First, the May 13, 1973, date appears to be incorrect.  On May 13, 1973, the Case Church Amendment was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  However, Biden, Byrd, Stevens and Domenici were not members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at this time so they didn't vote for the Case Church Amendment on May 13.

That being said, the full Senate voted on the State Department's appropriation bill that included the Case Church Amendment on June 14, 1973.  There was not a separate vote on the Case Church Amendment on that day, only a vote on the entire appropriations bill that included this amendment and many other unrelated provisions.  On June 14, Senators Biden, Byrd, Domenici and Stevens all voted for the appropriations bill.  It's possible that Tom Curry of MSNBC was referring to this vote.

We have attached a PDF file to this message that contains a New York Times article from that day.  The article contains the complete roll call vote on the second page.  In addition to Biden and Byrd, Senators Ted Kennedy and Daniel Inouye voted for the bill (both are still serving in the Senate).

Finally, a few weeks later, on June 29, 1973, Congress approved a compromise with President Nixon on the funding of U.S. combat activities in Indochina, agreeing that the bombing in Cambodia could continue until August 15. After that date spending for military action in any part of Indochina would be subject to Congressional approval. The agreement was embodied in amendments to two general emergency appropriations bills.

According to the official Congressional Record, Senators Byrd, Domenici and Stevens all voted for the compromise bill (H.R. 9055) on June 29, 1973.  However, Senators Kennedy and Inouye voted no.  In addition, Senator Biden did not vote on the compromise bill passed on June 29.

Sincerely,

The Digital Reference Team/KD
Library of Congress

I have a pdf of the article but can't figure out how to share it.

Joe Biden, a man with a plan?

by: mikes

Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 23:14:17 PM EST