The strongest Dem candidate in the general election, & the most qualified.

[ginchinchili]

Don't Democrats want to be in charge? Joe Biden has both strong liberal credentials AND the respect of Republicans, not to mention that he knows in detail all the major issues currently facing America, and he can argue them forcefully, and with wit. His experience is unsurpassed. How often do the Democrats get an opportunity to choose a candidate like this? Will we ever again? Let's show the world that we're the more intelligent Party in America and choose a winner this time.

[msongs]

1. he better start thumping his bible for public consumption nt

[ginchinchili]

2. He's not the type to wear his religion on his sleeve,

nor does he have to in this election, but he won't hesitate to make the argument that the Democrats are the Party of real moral values, an argument I've heard him make, quite passionately, I might add, and convincingly.

[1corona4u]

3. I wonder...

I'm not so sure people do get it. They are too fixated on the small shit, instead of seeing the holistic situation.

Personally, I could care less about how someone voted, what they voted for, who they confirmed, blah, blah, blah.

My priorities are;

1. Repairing our credibility, and reputation in the world.
2. Finishing up in Iraq
3. Prosecuting Bush & Co
4. Dealing with Pakistan & Iran.


Those are my big 4, and Biden can do it in a matter of a couple of weeks, after being sworn in. Those are the most critical things the next president needs to be focused on. If we can't do that first, nothing else will get accomplished. Just like Joe said, there is a BIG boulder in the road, and until we deal with it, nothing else matters. We need to deal with it, and then move on to the domestic issues.

[ginchinchili]

5. You're right. The other candidates seem to be pretending...

that Iraq is just another one of the issues, but as long as America is at war it will remain THE issue. Sen. Biden knows that. And so does 1corona4u :thumbsup:

[1corona4u]

15. They're all looking at....

"data", that suggest people's #1 issue is health care. Or the economy, depending on the poll. They're not even on my list. Not in the foreseeable future anyway. Problem is, nothing can get better domestically, until we end that war/peace keeping effort. People really need to understand that.

[bellasgrams]

6. Biden's a good man but no one can fix the items you listed

in a couple of weeks.

[1corona4u]

10. Uhm, yes, he can.

He already knows all of the world leaders, they trust him, and they will tell their people to trust him. He already has an APPROVED plan for Iraq, and he, before Bush, was the first to speak to Musharraf, and Bhutto. Joe can most definitely put all of the balls into play on the day he steps into the oval office.

On edit; of course, the longest thing to finish will be the prosecution of Bush & Co. But I think he has that in the works right this second.

[WheelWalker]

13. Ahem. Cough. Cough. It's the Elephant in the room.

[silverojo]

24. So those are your top 4 priorities?

I'm glad to see you couldn't care less about people losing their homes, and even their lives, because of this economy. Joe Biden's similar view is precisely why I'd never support him.

It's easy to sit back and play armchair foreign policy when you have four walls around you, food on the table, and a health insurance card in your wallet. But things are a lot more urgent when you're about to be evicted and your credit sucks so bad that you can't get a place to rent. Or if you've been laid off, and you're not sure how you're going to buy enough food for your family. Or if you have a child who's very sick, and you can't afford the medical treatments they need. Apparently, you're lucky enough not to be in this position--kindly give a little concern to those who are.

We need to get America's domestic issues back on track first. THEN go after Bu$hCo. Withdrawing the troops is part and parcel of working on the economy, because it will help stop all the billions of dollars currently pouring into Iraq.

The American government needs to function like an emergency room: Take care of the most urgent cases first, then tackle the less urgent ones.

People are losing their homes and dying from lack of health care. THAT should be our #1 priority, period.

[1corona4u]

32. Let me say it again...

nothing changes until we end the war. Period. It's just that simple. People are dying in Iraq too, you know? Not to mention the HUGE drain it has on the economy. Did you know that this WAR, will cost EACH of us, $30,000? did you know that? Do you have an extra 30K lying arround? I know I don't.

Oh, and by ther way, Joe Biden has proven that he can walk and chew gum, at the same time. I don't think he would blow off domestic issues while doing any of the things I mentioned above. If you think so, you clearly don't know the man, at all. He can be involved in many things all at once.

I specifically said those were MY priorities, not Joe Biden's. It's why HE gets my vote.

Now get off my ass.

[jgraz]

4. I like Biden's style, but I have some problems with his politics

He still has the taint of the Bankruptcy Bill on him, and that kind of corporatism is a showstopper for me in the primaries. That having been said, I'd happily vote for him if he wins the nomination.

[1corona4u]

7. You really should educate yourself on the bill...

seriously. It has not "tainted" him. He made a decision. Here is my ceremonial post about it;

As I have posted many, many, times on this board, Joe voted for the BK bill, for women and children. Under the old BK laws, divorced women with children were the last ones to be paid, if the deadbeat dad filed a BK. Now, they are the first ones to be paid. If you ever question why Joe votes for anything, go look at the floor statements on his website. They will clearly give you an idea of where his interest were. Not in some bank, as has been previously speculated on. There's just no denying that Joe has stood up for women's rights, in a big way. As in the violence against women act, and now, the International violence against women act. But, no "bill" will ever work for all people. There are a lot of people who respect the revisions of the 2005 BK bill. I am one of them.

My best friend is about to reap the rewards of this bill. Her X has just filed a BK, after leaving her without ANY child support, for 2 children, 8 & 6, for 4 years, and just on Thursday of last week, thought that he could get out of paying her by filing a BK. Well, it's people like him that will not be able to get away with it now. He claimed to have lost his 135K yr. job, and had protested ANY request for documentation for his current financial status. Her attorney called for deposition, forcing discovery. Then came back and filed a BK. I know for a fact that he hid money, and that he is also still working, under the table. Under the new law, he will be fully investigated by the courts.

A Senator sometimes has to vote for a bad bill, if there is something in it they truly want. I believe that was Joe's dilemma on the BK bill. But you can look for yourself, and see his financial contributions from banks from 1998, and it's not very impressive.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.: CAREER PROFILE (SINCE 1989)

Top Industries
The top industries supporting Joseph R. Biden Jr. are:
1 Lawyers/Law Firms $6,265,871
2 Real Estate $1,172,230
3 Retired $853,148
4 Securities & Investment $839,775
5 Misc Finance $499,470
6 Misc Business $462,641
7 Business Services $455,925
8 Health Professionals $382,275
9 TV/Movies/Music $364,666
10 Lobbyists $333,185
11 Finance/Credit Companies $294,650
12 Misc Manufacturing & Distributing $294,249
13 Pro-Israel $272,700
14 Commercial Banks $269,050
15 Education $249,725
16 Insurance $223,975
17 Retail Sales $186,400
18 General Contractors $175,550
19 Accountants $136,935
20 Democratic/Liberal $129,490

So, that's about a $563,000 bucks in 18 years. Or $31,000 a year in contributions. I doubt he did it for the banks, at all.



I should write to the mods, and ask them to make this post a sticky, since so many people fail to understand why he voted the way he did.



Also, frogcycle has contributed this;

Here are aspects of the supposedly onerous bankruptcy bill:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/20/pf/bankruptcy_bill/index.htm

It does not automatically throw poor people out in the street. It provides for better means tests to filter out the scam artists who repeatedly run up credit cards and then walk away from them.
It says if you have the means to pay back 25% of the debt you incurred voluntarily, you should do so.

It says if you buy a house and also run up credit card debt, you can only shield 125,000 equity in the house in the first 40 months, or if you are guilty of violating securities laws or some other crimes.

There are a lot of people who have learned how to abuse the system. I personally know more than one who who have declared bankruptcy multiple times, walked away from credit card bills, live in nice houses, and still have all the stuff they bought two or three bankruptcies ago.

If this bill is imperfect; if there are individual cases where it is too heavy-handed, there are provisions for the courts to use discretion. If the means tests need to be tweaked, or if special circumstances need to be defined for hardship cases like medical emergencies, etc. then that is where to focus. Compassion for the true hardship cases is vastly different from saying this is giving the credit card companies a "handout." The "handout" is 25% of the debt paid back over five years by those with demonstrated capability to do so. Quarrel over the ability formula if you wish, but slamming this bill in total because it may make it tougher on some of those in the grey area is simpleminded.

Those who want to keep the free ride are the ones making all the noise about this.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) – President Bush on Wednesday signed into law a bankruptcy reform bill that will make it harder for individuals to clear their debts through bankruptcy.

So, experts say, if you were thinking about filing for bankruptcy, you might think twice -- or act twice as quickly, since major provisions of the law will go into effect six months from the day the law is signed.

Individuals filing for bankruptcy usually do so either under Chapter 7 or under Chapter 13.

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your assets (minus those exempted by your state) are liquidated and given to creditors, and many of your remaining debts are cancelled, giving you what's known as a "fresh start." In 2004, over 1.1 million people filed for Chapter 7, accounting for roughly 72 percent of non-business bankruptcies.

Since many Chapter 7 filers don't have assets that qualify for liquidation, credit card companies and other creditors sometimes get nothing.

In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you're put on a repayment plan of up to five years. Any debts not addressed by the repayment plan don't have to be paid. Last year, there were 445,574 Chapter 13 filings.

Under the new law, fewer people will be allowed to file under Chapter 7; more will be forced to file under Chapter 13.

Lawmakers who favor the legislation argue that it will prevent consumers from abusing the bankruptcy laws – using them to clear debts that they can afford to pay.

But consumer advocates argue that the new law is a gift to creditors – particularly the credit card industry, which may receive $1 billion or more from repayment plans due to the expected increase in Chapter 13 filings, according to Robert McKinley, CEO of CardWeb.com.

"The bill simply doesn't balance responsibility between families in debt trouble and the creditors whose practices have contributed to the rise in bankruptcies," said Travis Plunkett of the Consumer Federation of America in a written statement.
Key changes

Here are some of the major changes for consumers under the new law:

A qualifying test: Currently, it's up to the court to determine if your case qualifies for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Under the new law, your income will be subject to a two-part means test. First, it will be subject to a formula that exempts certain expenses (rent, food, etc.) to determine whether you can afford to pay 25 percent of your "nonpriority unsecured debt" such as your credit card bills. Second, your income would be compared to your state's median income.

You won't be allowed to file for Chapter 7 if your income is above your state's median and you can afford to pay 25 percent of your unsecured debt, said California-based bankruptcy attorney Stephen Elias, who is coauthor of the book "How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy." But, he said, you may be allowed to file for Chapter 13.

If your income is below the state's median but you can pay 25 percent of your unsecured debt, you may be able to file Chapter 7, but the court can still require you to file Chapter 13 instead if it believes that you would be abusing the system by filing for Chapter 7, Elias said.

Under current law, the court has great latitude in deciding whether debtors may file for bankruptcy in consideration of their personal circumstances. Under the new law, there will be few if any exceptions made to the means test, no matter how sympathetic your case, said Leon Bayer, a bankruptcy attorney in Los Angeles.

Determining what you can afford to pay: Currently, if you file for Chapter 13 today, the court determines what you can afford to pay based on what you and the court deem to be reasonable and necessary expenses.

Under the new law, the court will apply living standards derived by the IRS to determine what is reasonable to pay for rent, food and other expenses to figure out how much you have available to pay your debts. The IRS regulations are more stringent, and to contest them means asking for a hearing from a judge, which can mean more time and expense, Elias said.

Tougher homestead exemptions: Currently, if you declare bankruptcy, the state where you file may allow you to protect from creditors some or all of your home equity. In Florida, for instance, your home may be entirely exempt, even if you bought it soon before filing. In Nevada, you may exempt up to $200,000.

The new law, however, places more stringent restrictions on the homestead exemption. For instance, if filers haven't lived in a state for at least two years, they may only take the state exemption of the state where they lived for the majority of the time for the 180 days before the two-year period.

Filers may only exempt up to $125,000, regardless of a state's exemption allowance, if their home was acquired less than 40 months before filing or if the filer has violated securities laws or been found guilty of certain criminal conduct.

Unlike most of the other provisions, the new homestead exemption rules go into effect immediately.

[1corona4u]

9. His floor stament on it;

March 10, 2005
Statement

Floor Statement: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005

Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, several years ago, when we were considering this legislation, I spoke here on the Senate floor about some important provisions that I think have been overlooked in our discussions. In my remarks today I will repeat what I said back then, in March of 2001.

We have heard a lot in recent days about how this bill lacks compassion--specifically, that it will hurt women and children who depend on alimony and child support.

Critics claim that by making sure that more money is paid back to other creditors, this bill will make it harder for women and children to get what is coming to them.

I am particularly proud of my record of protecting women and children during my career in the Senate. That record includes the Violence Against Women Act to protect women threatened by domestic violence.

I am here again today to show that, contrary to a lot of the rhetoric that has been tossed around, this bill actually improves the situation of women and children who depend on child support. It specifically targets the problems they face under the current bankruptcy system into a virtual extension of the current national family support collection system.

There may be other aspects of this legislation that we can debate: the balance between creditors and debtors, between different kinds of creditors, or between different kinds of debtors. But on the question of child support and alimony, there should be no dispute.

Because this bill strengthens the collection of alimony. Period.

Over the many years we have discussed this bill, it has earned the support of the National Child Support Enforcement Association, which represents over 60,000 child support professionals.






Now, I believe him, and why he supported it, and since he is not known to be a liar, I'm confident it's a factual floor statement.

[jgraz]

14. His statement is complete crap

That bill hurt a lot of Americans. If Biden can't come clean about his support for it, he doesn't deserve the nomination.

[1corona4u]

16. That was his floor statement, if you don't buy it, fine.

Why do you think he did it? I really don't understand people like you. I really don't. BY THE WAY, that bill has hurt NO ONE. BK's are on the rise. They are NOT going down. If what you say is TRUE, they'd be declining.

[1corona4u]

17. I am so sick of this stupid topic.

[silverojo]

25. I'm so sick of your stupid priorities

You're totally out of touch with the American people, and so is Biden. That's why he doesn't stand a chance of becoming President.

Thank God!!!!!

[1corona4u]

28. My priorities are none of your business.

I think Joe, is about to give John Boy a run for his money. Either way, I won't vote for a reformed ambulance chaser.

[jgraz]

22. And I don't understand people who want to wallow in ignorance rather than face the truth

Biden's Bankruptcy bill has hurt many, many people -- starting the the victims of Katrina:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/oct2005/bank-o08.shtml
http://thehill.com/op-eds/victims-of-nature-and-finance-2005-10-12.html

Your use of the rise in bankruptcies to support your argument is the height of mendacity. The main argument FOR the bill is that it would cut down on filings, yet it's failed at even doing that.

Here's another article of the disastrous effect this law is having on working families.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/bankruptcy_anniversary.html

Next time, please try to get yourself a little independent information instead of swallowing everything a politician tells you.

[1corona4u]

26. Well, if you knew anything about the bill,

You'd know there are provisions in place for catastrophic issues. It specifically states, that there WILL be exceptions made, and that the courts will make the decision. I suggest you go reads the bill, slanted opinion sites.


Seriously, go read the actual bill. Maybe you can get a better idea of what it really says, without all of the spin.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c109:10:./temp/~c109fh5o4w::

[napi21]

12. Thanks for posting this info. I too knew too many people who scamed

the old bankruptcy system and got away with it! I would like to see a movement to adjust the bk bill to include exclusions for medical expenses that simply cannot be controlled, but there were a lot of improvements in that bill that need to stay.

I admit, I'm a Biden supporter. He's the only candidate who at least appears to think logically, have some good ideas, and not fall victim to all the damn politically correct speak! Yea, I know he gets criticized for his words sometimes, but he speaks honestly, and I sure can live with someone who says what we've all been thinking...even IF it's not "the right thing to say"! I guess the one thing that come to my mind is when he said something about the nationality of most of the owners/operators of convenience stores. Can you honestly say you haven't noticed that too? I know I have.

[livvy]

18. I'd rather have a President who occasionally puts his foot in his mouth....

than the one we have now with his head permanently stuck up his ass.

Glad you're a Biden supporter, too!

:hi:

[1corona4u]

19. Exactly.

And while all of these people are bitching about HIS vote on it, good ole' Joe, just saved every american, $400.00 per YEAR, due to the cost increases a BK cost us all.

[1corona4u]

20. It already does........

It doesn't matter what the reason for the BK is. Medical bills are not excluded from it.

Oh, and one more thing. I have said this about 200 times too, LOL, BK's aren't the problem. They are a side effect of a bad economy, BOGUS HEALTH CARE, and a shitty pay scale. Address those issues FIRST, and there will hardly ever be a need for BK's.

[murbley40]

37. In reference to the "Indian" comment.......

He was simply saying that most of the convenience stores and Dunkin Doughnuts and the Subways in
Delaware are owned and operated by Hindu Indians. He was referencing the Indian population and how they had settled in in our state and were contributing to the state. He was right.
Furthermore,Indians in the state knew exactly what he meant and said so on several occasions. They know Joe and what he stands for.

I will concede that because I know him and they too, it is immediate to us that he did not mean anything out of order when he said this. He was actually bragging about them choosing to make their homes in our state and investing in their own busineses.

[ginchinchili]

8. I think if you'll look into who is supporting whom you'll find a lot more zeal..

in the corporate "networking" going on with the other candidates, except for Kucinich and Gravel. Biden is the 2nd least wealthy Senator worth an estimated $150,000. And the cash he has for his campaign is paltry compared to the others. I suggest following the money. It speaks volumes.

[livvy]

11. I agree with you completely.

People really should take a closer look at his website and investigate where he stands on the issues. Once I took a serious look at him as a candidate, and did some reading and listening to his thoughts, I was convinced that he was the best candidate to lead our country back on track at this time. I really don't see how any of the other candidates can do this given the highly partisan atmosphere in our country at this time.

I'm a pretty liberal liberal, and though I may wish for faster and/or more radical changes, I'm realistic enough to understand that I'm not necessarily a representative of the average American. I would say Biden is much closer to that, and so would receive more support from a wider range of viewpoints. I feel he has a broader appeal, and does not have truckload of excess baggage ripe for unpacking, sorting, and tearing to shreds.

I really believe that given the opportunity, Biden would be the leader we need right now to unite the country, stabilize the economy, reinstate our Constitutional rights, and guide us back into being a respected member of the global community.

[skipos]

21. Biden has my vote for "Most Likely to Surprise" in the primaries

I understand that he (and every Dem, imo) has votes I don't like, but he is the candidate who will get the most done. It would be nice to have a President who has the GOOD qualities of LBJ, and Biden could be it.

I said it before, but I like the fact that Biden could choose anyone for VP. Most of the other candidates would be worried about choosing a VP with perceived experience. Biden could choose Obama, Richardson, or any of the good Dem male and female governors around the US, and it would work.

[silverojo]

23. He doesn't give a damn about the poor

Therefore, I don't give a damn about him.

John Edwards 2008.

[1corona4u]

27. Yeah...

and isn't it interesting that your candidate, himself, helped to contribute to the high cost of health care, by suing medical professionals, and getting rich in the process.......

[PatSeg]

30. Edwards is a wealthy man

because of the legal fees he collected for the many class action suits he filed. One was reversed because it was based on "junk science" and the plaintiffs had to give back the money, while Edwards retained his hefty legal fees.

Joe Biden's net worth is about $150,000. He owns no stocks (conflict of interests) and is the 2nd least wealthy person in the senate. He sold his home to pay for his children's college tuition.

They both came from very humble beginnings, but they took dramatically different paths.

[readmoreoften]

38. Yeah, I'm not impressed with Biden's labor or economic record. It's middling. /nt

[gateley]

29. I agree with you wholeheartedly, ginchinchili. I feel we NEED him NOW. nt

[PatSeg]

31. I fear for what this adminstration might do in the next year

Hopefully Biden's threats will keep them in line until the next president takes office.

[ginchinchili]

36. I think a lot of us have the same fear.

Biden will do more than his share to keep Bush in line.

[Dawgs]

33. Biden's years of experience didn't keep him from voting for the Iraq war.

I think I'll pass on old Joe.

[1corona4u]

34. Oh well....

[youthere]

35. Here here!