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For a Presidential candidate who wants a lot of change Sen Obama sure picked a strange person to help him. Joe Biden may be a nice guy, but he certainly isn't the guy to change anything in Washington. He is being billed as the Scranton PA guy who knows working people, really?

He moved away from Scranton when he was 10. He grew up in suburban New Castle, Delaware where he went to a private college preparatory school (hey did you read that in the paper about six pack Joe) before going to the University of Delaware and then to Syracuse for a law degree. He became a Senator in 1973 at age 30 and has been there ever since. In other words he is 66 years old and has spent 38 of them (one of the longest periods in history) as a legislator..ye gads he never had a real job, but he sure as heck is about as much of a Washington insider as it is possible to get. He entered the Senate four years after he was admitted to the bar.

His father was an automoble salesmen (mine too). Biden received five student draft deferments for the draft the first coming in late 1963 and the last in early 1968, at the peak of the Vietnam War. In April 1968, he was reclassified by the Selective Service System as not available for service due to having had asthma as a teenager (me too except I didn't get that re-classification and coincidently I went into the Army in May 1968, perhaps I filled his slot who knows).

He indeed has spent much of his career on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a Committee mind you.

Like I said he may be a very nice guy, I hope so because he has made a career of being on the public payroll. Of course, he is not unique in this respect, there are plenty of Senators and Congressmen in both parties who have done so or would like to, something that was never the intent of the Founding Fathers.

So, we have a ticket that comprises a short term Senator with no record of doing much of anything, not even making yes or no decisions in the Illinois legislature and a long term (6th longest in history) Senator who is about as far away from the average guy as you can get and has never worked outside of government and they are going to change the country...and I bet they will too.:rolleyes:

This election is so much fun to watch......

After watching things this past week, it's like Joe Biden is in the rumble seat or trunk of this election machine.... Everything in the news and talk shows is about McCaine Palin, or more accurate Palin / McCaine verses Obama......

Even today, when Joe Biden spoke to the media, he was almost screaming... I swear, every time I hear this man, he sounds like he's going to burst a vein and stroke out in front of everyone.......

think you are 100% right....

Who should he have picked, in your opinion?

Biden was actually my first choice in the primaries.

He's got ten more years experience than McCain in foreign policy. That, and we are of course in a unique situation being in two wars. If we are lucky, Bush won't start any more on the way out.

yaaarrrgg;974375 wrote: Who should he have picked, in your opinion?

Biden was actually my first choice in the primaries.

He's got ten more years experience than McCain in foreign policy. That, and we are of course in a unique situation being in two wars. If we are lucky, Bush won't start any more on the way out.


Perhaps this expereince deal is overrated, Clinton was elected President with no foreign policy expereince.

QUINNSCOMMENTARY;974414 wrote: Perhaps this expereince deal is overrated, Clinton was elected President with no foreign policy expereince.


I largely agree. However at the same time, we weren't in the middle of two wars when Clinton was elected. Foreign policy was my top issue in this cycle (or at least was back in January). Since half of the next administration's job will be solely tasked with cleaning up the mess Bush is leaving behind.

That doesn't mean Obama/Biden or Biden/Obama are interchangeable though, in position, of course

If Biden were at the top of the ticket, someone like Obama would make no sense as a VP choice. The reason is that Obama built up a movement from the ground up, and has proven a unique ability to communicate and inspire by actually winning the game and raking in record donations. It's truly really remarkable that be beat Hillary ... and every one else. I didn't think it was possible, and was proven wrong,. However, had Obama not won the primaries, I'd be skeptical that there was anything remarkable about him in regards to being a "great communicator" like Reagan. Not winning would pretty much undercut his main argument ... because the skeptics would rightly ask "if he's so great at communication', why didn't he win?" .

So had Biden won, making a choice of a losing Obama as VP would be a bad choice.

Likewise, McCain picking Palin as VP ... extremely reckless and politically motivated.

QUINNSCOMMENTARY;974414 wrote: Perhaps this expereince deal is overrated, Clinton was elected President with no foreign policy expereince.


Clinton had been a governor. Executive experience is huge. It's odd when you look at this race and see the youngest of the four(Palin) is the only one with executive experience other than what McCain got in the military.

What scares me the most about Obama and Biden is that they are both ATTORNEYS trained and experienced in taking any position they are paid to take.

Curious thread for someone who thinks negativity is drivel.

I knew you wouldnt disappoint me, most people are fairly predictable.

Youre no exception.

You seem like that guy in traffic that gives someone the finger and then when the gesture is reciprocated you want to beat them up for giving you the finger.

Clint;974529 wrote: Clinton had been a governor. Executive experience is huge. It's odd when you look at this race and see the youngest of the four(Palin) is the only one with executive experience other than what McCain got in the military.

What scares me the most about Obama and Biden is that they are both ATTORNEYS trained and experienced in taking any position they are paid to take.


Exactly

If Biden were at the top of the ticket, someone like Obama would make no sense as a VP choice.


Very good point, but one has to wonder why it is supposed to make the sense the other way around.

Likewise, McCain picking Palin as VP ... extremely reckless and politically motivated


Politically motivated yes, reckless I'm not so sure, risky yes.

Nomad;974577 wrote: Curious thread for someone who thinks negativity is drivel.

I knew you wouldnt disappoint me, most people are fairly predictable.

Youre no exception.

You seem like that guy in traffic that gives someone the finger and then when the gesture is reciprocated you want to beat them up for giving you the finger.


Not exactly sure what you are saying, if you are referring to the Biden info I posted that is simply a reflection of the facts good or bad as you perceive them. The point being that either party can apparently position a candidate without regard to the facts. When he was announced it was all in the news that the Democrats were picking him to appeal to the workers of PA and similar states, I was pointing out that he has no connection with such people and never had.

Let's face it there is no person in the world fully qualified to be President from day one, there is no way to get that experience. What is needed is a person who knows how to look at all the facts, make judgements, listen to qualified advisors on specific topics, weigh the risks and alternatives and make a decision. (and think strategically beyond the next election - a qualification escaping every President except perhaps Lincoln)

There are a few positions that come close to training people in those skills, the military, a corporate executive and governor of a state (the more experience the better). A pure politician spending years trying to legislate and align with one party or the other as the primary loyalty is not one of those experience based positions strictly speaking.

QUINNSCOMMENTARY;974787 wrote: Very good point, but one has to wonder why it is supposed to make the sense the other way around.


I had hoped my post explained that, but perhaps it was not clear. If someone wins the contest, that in itself is proof of something unique.

Didn't "slow Joe" get about 90,000 votes in the primaries, when Hilary got what was it, 18 million...?

And Obama chose Biden....? Biden is a bag of hot air, yelling about everything, yet saying nothing of substance about anything.....

Sure some will say, Palin wasn't even in the primaries, so McCaine should have chosen Romney or someone safe, but he didn't, he proved once again he's the leader of the pack, and he chose Palin, who is now stealing the spotlight from everyone, getting the rath of the media which taking away the spotlight from Obama, who in they're eyes can do no wrong..... McCaine has surrounded himeslf with strong men and woman of character, while Obama has for 20 years surrounded himself with terrorists, America bashing preachers, and felon slumlords who swindled millions out of Chicago to do community organizing, which ended up being build substandard welfare housing, that had to be condemed or torn down soon after.........

Frankly, if I have to listen to Obama try and put a sentence together without a teleprompter many more times, and sound like anything but annoying with all the um's, aaa's, a,a,a,a's, and hesitations trying to figure out how to play it as he goes, because he knows nothing , I think I'll jump off my roof.....

Snidely Whiplash;975520 wrote: Didn't "slow Joe" get about 90,000 votes in the primaries, when Hilary got what was it, 18 million...?

And Obama chose Biden....? Biden is a bag of hot air, yelling about everything, yet saying nothing of substance about anything.....

Sure some will say, Palin wasn't even in the primaries, so McCaine should have chosen Romney or someone safe, but he didn't, he proved once again he's the leader of the pack, and he chose Palin, who is now stealing the spotlight from everyone, getting the rath of the media which taking away the spotlight from Obama, who in they're eyes can do no wrong..... McCaine has surrounded himeslf with strong men and woman of character, while Obama has for 20 years surrounded himself with terrorists, America bashing preachers, and felon slumlords who swindled millions out of Chicago to do community organizing, which ended up being build substandard welfare housing, that had to be condemed or torn down soon after.........

Frankly, if I have to listen to Obama try and put a sentence together without a teleprompter many more times, and sound like anything but annoying with all the um's, aaa's, a,a,a,a's, and hesitations trying to figure out how to play it as he goes, because he knows nothing , I think I'll jump off my roof.....


Slow Joe?

You know I saw an interesting article on the psychology of people, with respect to intelligence and the perception of intelligence.

Dumber people tend to make the mistake of seeing other people as dumber than themselves.

Smarter people tend to make the mistake of seeing other people as just as smart, if not smarter than themselves.

I will make no deductions.

yaaarrrgg;975529 wrote: Slow Joe?

You know I saw an interesting article on the psychology of people, with respect to intelligence and the perception of intelligence.

Dumber people tend to make the mistake of seeing other people as dumber than themselves.

Smarter people tend to make the mistake of seeing other people as just as smart, if not smarter than themselves.

I will make no deductions.




LOL....

This was a good article, made me chuckle....



Obama picks Slow Joe Biden

Posted by Dan@Minuteman1 on Saturday, August 23, 2008 5:11:03 PM

So Obama has finally made his decision and has picked Slow Joe Biden, the plagiarist, as his VP running mate. And I’ve heard that it’s because of Biden’s foreign policy experience. Please, give me a break. Personally, I would have bet that Biden would have been the last choice. Guess that shows what I know. I mean really, how is anybody supposed to take Slow Joe any more seriously than Obama. Let’s face it, the only difference between these two is that Biden is old and white and Obama isn’t. The theme for this ticket should be, "Dumb and Dumber, Leaders of the Free World!" Sounds like a great bumper sticker, doesn’t it? Has anyone ever been able to take Biden seriously about anything? His tenure in the Senate says much more about the intelligence, or serious lack thereof, of the Delaware voters who keep sending him back to Washington than it does about any brilliant political abilities he may be thought to possess. Let’s face it here, the list of any major or significant legislative accomplishments that can be directly attributed to Biden is of about the same length as the list that can be attributed to Obama. This guy does nothing in the Senate but collect dust!

What is there exactly that voters are now supposed to see in Obama that wasn’t there before he picked Biden? How is this choice supposed to have a positive impact in changing voter’s minds about Obama’s sorry lack of judgement? And what are the voters supposed to come to expect these two to do that will in any way be considered as positive "change" for the future of this country? Neither seems to be willing to do what is necessary to help those struggling today under the weight of increasing food and fuel bills. All that can be expected is an increasingly dangerous approach to foreign policy, an over dependency on a corrupt United Nations and a further advancement of a socialist agenda that will lead to an even larger and more out of control Federal Government than we already have. If Obama thought that by picking ol’ Slow Joe he was going to pacify criticism of his obvious lack of experience I think he missed the boat on that one. I just don’t think that’s going to happen for anyone who still thinks that experience is important. Because for anyone who has ever witnessed the great Biden intellect in action it makes no sense and you would think that most folks must really be scratching their heads over this one. Facts being what they are this guy has the I.Q. of an ice cube. I just don’t understand how this is supposed to add an air of experience to this ticket or increase Obama’s chances of getting elected. Give me a break! Biden himself has been known to have voiced some pretty harsh criticisms regarding Obama’s major lack of experience. So what, now we’re supposed to believe him when he starts talking up all the great abilities and skills Obama would bring to the Presidency? Someone is living in a dream world!

I like Biden a lot. His passion and compassion are out there for any and all to see. I've watched him on CSpan, debates, and interview shows and like what I see. He's smart, quick, and unafraid to say what he thinks. If our ideas aligned, which they don't, I'd be proud to have him as my President. I'd feel much more comfortable with Obama as president if Biden were pulling the strings.



Unfortunately they're both bad for the USA.

I thought Joe Biden was a coach.

This guy is always an instant from coming unglued, I swear... :-2 This guy is Obama's anchor for international security...??? The guy doesn't have a clue, his own words tie him up in knots that can't be undone........ I feel really bad for the old guy, he sounds so angry and kinda passionate about some things, but just rants on and on with no answer to anything.....?

I would be scared to death to have this guy in the white house....

From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

(KALISPELL, MT.) - Joe Biden demanded to know more from John McCain about his plans for Iraq beyond a declaration of victory.

“I’ve never heard John utter a word about what he's going to do after. After, quote, he establishes victory in Iraq,” said Biden aboard his campaign plane today.

“What's he going to do about Syria? Turkey? Iran? Saudi Arabia? What's he going to do to have some reason to believe whatever is worked out, that Iraqi's neighbors are going to sign on to it? And tell me, how is it possible to have a long term stable, stable Iraq, free and open without some regional understanding of Iraq's independence?”

Then, Biden was asked if he still supported a tripartite plan for Iraq, which would divide power up amongst religious sects of Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis.

For those who know and have covered Biden - who has never been accused of being at a loss for words - they won't be shocked to hear that his response to that one question lasted 13 minutes.

Biden said that he believed the Iraqi government and the Bush administration are currently working such a plan out – adding that Iraq could be divided up into more, or even less, than three areas.

“I said there's a half a dozen ways you can implement this plan. I don't have any -- it wasn't three areas, it doesn't have to be five, it can be two, it can be seven. But there's got to be a way where we finally, if you have peace, [say] ‘Hey, I'm a Shia. I'm not going to kill your Sunni family. And you don't have to worry the Kurds are going to come and get you, because the Kurds are basically with you.’"

Biden called on international involvement to provide stability in order to enforce peace in the region.

“Barack and I -- I have laid this out in painful detail for two years as Barack has. That's why we've called for a regional conference. That's why we talked about the need to bring the permanent five of the United Nations [Security Council] in to give the imprimatur to this. To make it clear to Iran, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, hands off. Hands off. Whatever deal the Iraqis work out, you've got to stand by.”

Biden, dressed in a blue polo shirt and khakis, then defended Barack Obama over criticism that Obama does not have enough experience with foreign policy.

“Come on. It's time that we had people who understand, understand what's going on in Iraq. Not just sloganeering. Not just sloganeering. And the irony is, the guy who supposedly has the least experience among us, Barack Obama, got it right fourteen, fifteen months ago. He said, ‘Look, let's transfer – let's be as responsible getting out as irresponsibly we were getting in.’ And then he said we need a timeline here. And you're going to go ahead and hand off authority gradually to Iraqis, and what are you going to do? You're going to pull out American combat forces.”

Biden, who is currently chairman of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, argued that Obama’s suggestion coincides with plans currently being made in Washington and Baghdad, which Biden expects on his desk in the next month.

“If reports are correct, and my information is based on the State Department and others, what is Maliki demanding? And what is Bush agreeing to? A timeline to draw down American combat troops. A gradual hand off of police authority and military authority to the Iraqis. Who's the only guy, major figure in America who's standing outside that agreement? John McCain. John.”

“So what I, what confuses me and it does confuse me about John McCain and Sarah Palin's position on Iraq is, tell me the end of the story, John. Victory sounds wonderful. We're all for victory. What do you mean by victory?”

In an e-mail, McCain campaign spokesman Ben Porritt told CBS News, “Senator Obama is the only one who continues to advocate an unconditional withdrawal in Iraq, contrary to the Iraqi plan, and contrary to the advice of our generals on the ground. We now know that he stubbornly sticks to this position because the Obama-Biden ticket doesn't believe victory in Iraq is possible. This explains why Senator Obama tried to legislate failure, opposed the surge, and voted against funding for our troops in harm's way--a vote that no amount of rhetoric can explain.”


Here's the plan Joe...... Do you have a computer....? http://www.singularity2050.com/2007/09/ ... -iraq.html