So, You're Wondering Why Biden Isn't Among the Top Tier?

[Steely_Dan]

I would not normally cross post or even repeat a post. However, lately there have been a couple of threads on the subject of why Joe Biden is not among the top tier.
You want to know why?

Just invest two minutes of your time for a great American. It is the least you can do for all he has done for us.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x76642

-P

[faithfulcitizen]

1. Yes, as a matter of fact I was (nt.)

[K Gardner]

2. This is good, and very relevant given the topics that have

been discussed recently. It really is a shame.

[1corona4u]

3. BINGO.

[Steely_Dan]

4. You are seeing...

Biden at his best. Imagine him in the Oval Office. He wouldn't take shit from anyone. No one, I mean no one, is going to cross him. This is leadership...this IS a President. The Republicans would never know what hit them.

-P

[ginchinchili]

8. Amen. I saw this clip earlier today, and I shared in his frustration.

When Americans are speaking in general about their ideal president, we end up describing someone like Joe Biden. But then the neo-American in us kicks in and we allow ourselves to surrender, weak-kneed, to the artifice that is shaped by the best facades money can buy. We swallow the eloquent words, carefully crafted for just the right response, to the background of orchestrated sincerity. The ad is repeated again and again until the candidate replaces it with their next 60 seconds of manipulation. All we build up in side ourselves as we mature as human beings, the things like integrity, honesty, our trusty skepticism, our insistence on substance, our willingness to weigh and analyze, all goes out the door for the easy catch phrase and a pearly white smile. America is melting into a shallow puddle and we allow the rich and powerful to stomp right through us.

Whatever strengths possessed by the other candidates, Biden has in greater abundance, all except for one, money. Our financial success is destroying us. I pray that we can overcome our stupidity before we elect another incompetent power monger.

[Steely_Dan]

9. Geeze...That was great!

You really have a way with words. Incredibly well written. Let's hear some more.

-P

[Steely_Dan]

11. Damn...I just had to come back...

after a second read. Great stuff. I'm blown away. You state it as "matter of factly" as it can be stated.

-P

[ginchinchili]

17. Thank you, Paige. I'm just very, very frustrated with this country of ours.

We would do better if each Party went into a circus and randomly chose a clown. I don't know why we go through all this trouble and expense to end up going into the voting booth on election day holding our nose and pulling a lever. Or, I guess it would be touching a screen now. No more hanging chads. Just untraceable computer glitches.

[1corona4u]

18. Yeah, I was thinking about that today....

wondering if we have a chance at all...

[ginchinchili]

20. It's still not impossible. We have to believe.

[Joe the Revelator]

5. I love Joe Biden

No lie.

[gateley]

6. It IS about the money - and that's tragic in our country. Makes us no better

than those countries we read about where the 'powerful' buy their way into office.

That's not applicable to our candidates, but the parallel I draw is that if you don't have the big bucks, you don't exist. It's just wrong.

This is from a WaPo article:

"Indeed, advisers to some of Biden's better-performing Democratic competitors believe that if the Delaware senator had real money and a serious organization in Iowa, he could pose an actual threat."

Money. It's always the money.


Edit to add WaPo link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/15/AR2007121501317.html

[Steely_Dan]

7. If you wait...

about two-thirds of the way into the video...Biden says: "Because NO special interest group can count on me!" He does not have to answer to anyone but the American people. Do you want corporations and the media to choose your next President? Or do you want 'we the people' to make that choice? I'm tired of corporations running our government. It's about time we have an adult run the country. Biden speaks truth to power. (Damn, I'm fired up.)

-Paige

[AndyTiedye]

13. No Special Interest Except Perhaps the CREDIT CARD COMPANIES

Can you say "Bankruptcy Bill"?

[Steely_Dan]

16. Yeah...You're Right...

and they are really pouring the money into his campaign, right?

-P

[ginchinchili]

19. Can you say fatuous moron?

Follow the money. What does that mean to you? The candidate who has the most to gain by embracing special interest groups, but is willing to sacrifice his bid for the presidency if it means doing so, and you single him out as the sell out. Whew. I'd say your analytical skills have fallen out of the hole in your head.

[Steely_Dan]

22. LOLOLOLOLOL

Stop...You're killing me.

-P

[youthere]

44. You might want to do a little research to see which of our candidates are

actually being sponsored by the credit card companies...it may surprise you.

on edit: here's a good place to start
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?Ind=F03

[annie1]

10. Long live. and God Bless.

[Steely_Dan]

12. Uh...Welcome to DU?

[annie1]

14. lol. sorry. i just love him. (biden) :D.

[Steely_Dan]

15. Well, You Are...

in good company.

-P

[saltpoint]

21. I think were Joe Biden to run for a top government post in Europe, he would

be listened to and elected.

I think what's missing is not a particular component in Biden or in Biden's campaign, but in the capacity of U.S. citizens to listen to wise people.

And it is a long-standing and dangerous tradition.

It's anti-intellectual to prefer George W. Bush to Al Gore, or Bush to Kerry. While Ike got to be the war hero, he was not really in Stevenson's league intellectually.

Too many Americans really do think the president should be someone they'd like to have a beer with.

Walt Whitman said in order for there to be great poets, there must first be great audiences. The same's true for presidents and voters, IMO.

Biden has earned his keep and further honors. It's the voters who need to get their heads out of their asses.

[ginchinchili]

23. I'd say "ditto," but for some reason I don't like that word. How about "bravo!"

I'm afraid you're absolutely right. I wonder which beer drinking buddy we're going to elect next?

[saltpoint]

25. Hey there, ginchinchili. Well, Senator Biden has 18 days to go.

A lot can happen out there on the frozen plains in almost 3 weeks.

John Kerry was able to rise from the ashes to fly over the Hawkeye State. I don't think it's out of the question at all that Biden could do the same.

It would certainly not be a bad decision by Iowa Democrats.

[ginchinchili]

31. I agree with you, Old Crusoe. At lot of Dems aren't satisfied w/the front runners...

and a lot of Dems like Sir Biden. The two sentiments could ignite into something really extraordinary for the good Senator, and us.

[saltpoint]

34. Haven't seen the latest polling, but the last batch of numbers that came in

showed a large "shiftable" percentage in the race, with no one candidate really dominating.

[PatSeg]

24. That is so sad and yet so true

The people are responsible for the government we have now. Uninformed voters were buying into the hype and looking for personality, not substance. Many of those people who watch junk TV and mindless blockbuster action movies, pick our leaders, often against their own best interests.

[saltpoint]

26. Hi, Pat. Yes. "...against their own best interests." That's the hinge right there.

I'm hoping whichever of our 8 candidates wins the White House he or she can reverse the downward, dumbing-down trend.

Biden is the kind of candidate who would thrive in a Jeffersonion democracy. Post-Bush, he has to struggle unreasonably against a lot of complacent, lazy voters.

[PatSeg]

28. Hi there- I often wonder how bad does it have to get before people

wake up? Do we need another Great Depression for people to wake from their consumer-driven mindset? My parents' generation lived it and as a result they were very politically aware. My generation lived through Vietnam and Watergate and are often the most vocal about the Iraq war. What will this younger generation take away from all this? My kids are very aware, but a lot of comes from me and the energetic discussions we have.

Complacency probably scares me more than anything.

[superkia]

27. Why is it that everyone gives out free passes to the candadites...

that spewed the propaganda and lies about Iraq and Saddam like Bush did to push an illegal war with NO evidence? If you look back, Biden had some pretty good statements after 9/11, about Saddam and Iraq when we all no that they were not connected in any way. I like that he is a straight shooter but even in 2004 he was still saying that he supported the war and it was the right thing to do, it seems him and most of the others didnt seem to really change their propaganda agenda until later knowing they were heading into a run at the office.

Why do so many Americans ignore the deadly facts of what took place and except these people as good decision makers and wanting to give them more power? The candidates use the excuse that they didn't know and all of you sheeple say dardy dar...okay boss. Dennis Kucinich was on the floor and speaking out back in "2002", telling them all that the war was about oil, it was illegal to go and that there was absolutely no evidence for war. As much as you all don't want to admit it, you have become sheep and brainwashed and are ignoring the facts in a critical time in our country. Our children's futures are at stake here and I wish people would ignore the tv and look at facts.

Please tell me why they ignored the facts and went ahead and supported the agenda at hand with Bush and the rest of the corrupt ones, how does that make you want them in control of policy? What was their agenda? Why do they continue to act like its Bushs fault and that he duped them, they didn't know? That tells you who they are and who or what is important to them. It certainly wasn't one that was for good reason for us or the world. The elite benefited from it but we all continue to suffer.

Please, everyone open your eyes before its YOUR vote that ends up destroying the country and our children's future, this is no game, forget about your favorite American Idol presidential candidate, this is reality not tv.

[1corona4u]

29. Well, for starters....

he didn't "support the war" in 2004 for the purpose of keeping it going. He supported sending more troops because he wanted those already there to have MORE support on the ground. Also, I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would say Saddam didn't need to go.

I thought this was going to be a long drawn out response, but I really don't see anything else in your post that is based on a fact, and worth addressing.



PS. Dennis Kucinich is not God. Talk about a sheeple mentality...

[superkia]

39. I dont know if you were a Biden fan back in 2004 and followed...

him then, but he was spewing the propaganda that Bushco was about Saddam, Iraq and al-Queda, so to me I cant respect him because he was also speaking of troop levels, why would I forget about the propaganda coming out of the other side of his mouth?

Dennis Kucinich wasnt my first choice, I believe he is speaking out on the issues that are of most important to me and that is why I support him.


And as for your added comment, I'm not sure what its purpose was but...okay! :thumbsup:

[Steely_Dan]

32. Interesting Post...

I assume that you are for Kucinich. Would that be a correct assumption?

-P

[superkia]

38. The ones that voted for the war showed me they were corrupt or...

stupid, either way I wouldn't want that kind of person to control my children's future.

[ginchinchili]

33. Nominate Kucinich and you elect another Republican to the White House.

Sorry, but that's the inescapable truth.

[superkia]

40. You must be right because your facts are dead on!

[jillan]

30. "NO special interest group can count on me"

Follow the money -

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?Ind=E01

It's not in Biden's pocket!

[Steely_Dan]

35. Great Post

The link is very telling. I'm going to bookmark it.

Thanks!

-P

[WheelWalker]

41. Pardon my Kick!

[Steely_Dan]

36. Kick...

[democrat2thecore]

37. GREAT clip! THANK YOU for the post to the thread! -nt

[murbley40]

42. kick

[WheelWalker]

43. Kick kick.

[nickinSTL]

45. I like Biden more and more...

as the campaign goes on.

Just about makes me want to replace the Kucinich sticker on my car.

However, I DID donate to Biden this week. I know that his showing well in Iowa could be crucial for the success of his campaign, so despite my financial troubles, I did.

If Biden is still in the race Feb.5, I expect to vote for him. I still like Kucinich (and have kept his sticker because I think a lot of what he says needs to be heard), but Biden has moved into the #1 spot for me.

[PatSeg]

49. You're in good company!

:hi:

[youthere]

46. Kicking

[mentalsolstice]

47. Kick!

I'm still undecided, but Biden is in my top two...

[youthere]

48. kicking again!

[murbley40]

50. and once more!1