Joe Biden???
 

Just wondering.......Why did Barrack Obama choose Joe Biden when had chossen Hillary Clinton he would surely have increased his chances to be our next President??? Was it that his ego was just to big or does Hillary have hopes for 2012???

Re: Joe Biden???
 

As much as I strongly supported Hillary, I feel that Obama made a good choice with Biden because of his long history with international relations. Sure sounds like a good match to me.

My only concern is what Hillary has up her sleeve; sure do hope that she supports the DNC effort with no "sour grapes" to weaken the party.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

It sounds like Hillary has and will support Obama, but why.......she must want to run in 2012. If he wins he would want a second term and that would leave her out. Wouldn't it??

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Yeah...my thoughts also. I just can't figure out what's in it for her??? Maybe some appointment. Or maybe help with her campaign debt..

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Rab! Are you talkin' to yourself? LOLOL 1rnfl Sorry, just teasing.

I agree with Barb. Biden was a great choice both for Foreign Affairs and being the Pitbull he can be when he wants to be. :bigthumbsup:

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Joe Biden has a good reputation. He is outspoken where Obama can be overly considerate. Biden is a man of faith being a strong Catholic (although most Republicans believe Catholics aren't Christian?). Biden appeals to the working man. Obama has been criticized for not having enough experience domestic and foreign, for being too young and for being black. Biden is the perfect balance. Obama has made a wise choice. Most importantly, Obama was right about Iraq. He is showing great leadership potential. Both Obama and Biden are strong supporters of the Middle Class. Bush and the Republicans have been raging a highly successful war on the Middle Class for eight years. It is time for a change!

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Since when don't Republicans think Catholics are Christian??? That's a new one. If Biden is such a strong Catholic, why is he pro choice?

Re: Joe Biden???
 

I don't think Dem's have a choice but to like him (Biden). They will say he has all that foreign relations experience. In reality, he is a thirty year political hack who has made a living on the taxpayers and he is a two time loser for President. They should have stuck with Hillary and the baggage car that follows her around.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Excuse me?? Speaking for all of us, are you JJ??

I Guess You Can't Win
 

JohnnyM says that Joe Biden is a "thirty year political hack" and a "two time loser". Those who are supporting the Republican side have said that Senator Obama is too young and too inexperienced to be President. So he picks a respected Senator who may be the best qualified member of the Congress on foreign relations as his choice for vice president and his choice is pilloried. Sometimes a person simply can't win.

Too bad that our discussions here can't address the issues that will effect us all when one or the other candidate is elected rather than shallow personal attacks. Negative advertising may be what the political operatives are telling John McCain he has to do to win, but no one is forcing any of us to follow that advice.

Anyone wish to discuss the positions of the candidates on issues like fiscal policy, foreign relations, the economy, the war in Iraq, or some other issue of importance to us all? Start a new thread in the Political Forum.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

There are many Catholics that are very liberal! I say thank God for them!!!

Re: Joe Biden???
 

VK, just because Biden can name all the heads of state does not make him the so called mentor for the inexperienced Obama. What has Joe Biden accomplished in thirty years? Worse than that he is unknown to many people on the street. You are being quite disingenuous as there is plenty of negative attacks coming out of Obama's camp. What's with the 70,000 seat football field to announce his acceptance speech? I guess the convention center where all his peons spoke just wasn't big enough to carry all that ego with him.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Can't believe I am posting in political...but, here goes.

Back to the original question, I believe that Obama picked Biden (aside from his qualifications) for chemistry reasons. Perhaps Hillary might have brought more votes but the chemistry between Obama and Hillary (with Bill looming in the shadows) might not be good. So, Obama picked someone he is comfortable with.

McCain may face the same choice....pick a running mate he knows and is comfortable with or the most politically expedient choice without the chemistry (e.g. Romney).

Any Real Issues To Discuss??
 

If discussion of how many heads of state can be named or the size of the venue for an acceptance speech helps anyone really reach any conclusions regarding the candidates, I'd be disappointed in this group. I know that kind of banter doesn't help me decide.

How about this for something more meaningful to debate...

In the past eight years the federal treasury has moved from a balanced budget to annual spending exceeding revenues so dramatically that a deficit of almost $10 trillion dollars has resulted. The U.S. has become the largest debtor nation in the world by a significant measure. John McCain says he will continue the fiscal policies of the past eight years and has made further tax cuts an important plank in his campaign platform. Barack Obama on the other hand has presented a variety of campaign proposals without clearly delineating how they would be paid for. Adoption of such proposals would also further increase the deficit. Some financial experts have opined that neither candidate can fulfill their campaign promises without further increases in the deficit and that either dramatic spending cuts or significant increases in tax revenues will be necessary to begin to reduce the deficit.

Which candidate appears the more likely to begin the process of the necessary fiscal discipline needed to return the sorely needed balance to the costs of the federal government? Which one should we entrust to resolve the U.S. fiscal crisis for the next four years?

Re: Joe Biden???
 

This forum is not worth ruining friendships. Whoever gets in, God Bless him and the United States of America.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Personally, I would have been happy if Obama had picked Hillary. But, many of my friends and family really do not like her. I think Joe Biden may have been a safer pick.
One person said to me, "With Joe Biden on the ticket, I'm a little closer to voting for Obama."

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Villages Kahuna, I agree with you!

Unfortunately, for most people an election is a popularity contest. To intelligently analyze the issues takes knowledge, some insight into the problems and some very serious and unemotional thought. Most people do not critically read---other than the sports page---and don't want to think too much. They would rather sit by the boob tube and watch and listen to sound bites, be fed by "news" reporters reading from a script written by someone else, or listening to talking heads who have their own agenda.
Address the issues? You've got to be kidding! That takes mental energy.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

I agree. Being from New York, where she is very popular, I'm a Hillary fan. But to many people she's a turn off. Picking Biden probably increases the chances of garnering votes from independents.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

There are many Catholics that are very liberal

Yes, like my mother in law for example. She also says she would vote for a chimpanzee if it meant keeping the Dems in power. Nothing like putting some thought into your vote huh? ;D

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Oh yeah, and Obama picked Biden because he needed a set of balls to do his dirty work for him.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Sid, that's kind of smart but I think Obama may have more testicular fortitude than you are giving him credit for. We shall see.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Boy Sid, I love to see you in a debate with Senator Obama. You're so articulate. 1rnfl

BTW, I'm Catholic and Pro Choice. Go figure! :dontknow:

Re: Joe Biden???
 

You are probably correct but.....
Obama has an underlying thug-type personality that he keeps bundled up so noone can see it hence the Biden choice. There are youtube videos where you can watch and listen to BHO change into an entirely different personality than what we see in the news. When he isn't concentrating on how he speaks and acts he becomes, like I said, thug-like. Many people have commented on his lack of communication skills without a prompter and speechwriter, underneath, he is just another streetwise punk, IMHO.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

btw....I am catholic too, atleast brought up and still believe a lot of....but I am pro-choice and gay....Go figure!!!! ;)

:yikes: :yikes: :yikes:

1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl

But no offense to anyone!!! Gosh I do open my mouth too much sometimes...but that is what this place is for....

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Kahuna,

I like your style of trying to get away from the demonizations and instead, discussing issues. Here's my take on this topic:

Yes, the national debt has increased over the last 8 years, but a large part of that was the Bush administration's support for a typically Democratic agenda - more entitlements (prescription drugs for the elderly) and more education expenses (No Child Left Behind). Yes, the war played a big role too, but one must be intellectually honest and admit that Dems supported it as well. (Recall that it was the Clinton administration who first pushed for regime change in Iraq, and that Al Gore, in early 2002 was one of the first to call for a "final solution" for Saddam. Also recall that most Dems in Congress voted for the war.)

The other piece of the puzzle regarding debt is revenues. The simplistic view is that the tax cuts resulted in the debt growing. However, this ignores the fact that tax receipts went up significantly after tax cuts were enacted - giving credence to the notion that lower taxes do stimulate the economy thus creating higher overall revenue collected by the government.

So, where does this leave us in terms of this election. Obama, if nothing else, wants to be more of a Democrat than his predecessors with even more spending. So, that means more outflow. However, he wants to also raise taxes ... but only on the "rich" (I've heard that line before). So, somehow this top 2 percent or whatever of the population will be responsible for supporting all of the increased spending that he proposes (not to mention the tax "cuts" that he is dangling in front of the naive who think he will actually do that ... I'm still waiting for the middle class tax cuts that Clinton promised). Also, this tax increase will somehow be done without hurting the economy. If I didn't know better, I'd say that Obama's degree is in alchemy.

That's not to say that I'm letting McCain off the hook on this issue. He says that he wants to keep all of the Bush tax cuts intact. Perhaps this balance of tax cuts on the various economic classes is exactly precise in terms of providing optimal stimulation to the economy, but I personally would like to see him take a more open view on perhaps jiggling with the rates for different groups. However, at least McCain seems pretty good from the spending perspective so even if he does nothing on the income side of the equation, he likely won't do much damage on the expense side. The same can not be said for Obama.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

I thought Jay Leno's comment was funny...Biden has 30 years experience in Washington and he and Barrack together now offer 31 years experience.......badda....bump...ta bump.....tish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTK :joke:

Re: Joe Biden???
 

If Hillary got the Dem nomination, would she have picked Obama as her running mate?

When, if ever, did the nominated person pick their closest rival as their VP?

I like Hillary very much (and supported her) but why does Obama "owe" her the VP position?

I don't get it.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Your 2nd question first, it's not unknown to happen. The two most prominent "recent" examples are Kennedy/Johnson and Reagan/Bush.

As to whether she would have chosen him, had the primary been that close, it's possible. I agree that Hillary was not "owed" the slot, but this was a very, very unusual primary race and Obama was/is a very unusual candidate. I thought there was no way she would get the nod, but that was because of Bill. Had Hillary been any other female Dem with similar or more extensive credentials and similar primary results, she would have had a better shot. Could be wrong, tho.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

How can you be a strong Catholic and be for abortion like Biden.
Time to talk to your confessor.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

I do not think anyone said they were FOR abortion...please do not put words in our mouths...however what we said was that we were FOR a woman having a choice. Everyone is entitled to make their own decisions, their own choices and have their own belief system. We are not put on this earth to judge, condemn or dictate...we are here to love and live our own life and have our beliefs. Women and Men should be allowed to choose what they want with their own bodies. This is not pro-abortion. I also do not think that Mr. Biden is pro-abortion and has never stated so. He simply believes that we are in America...land of the FREE....meaning...FREE to make ones own choices.

My opinion on abortion for myself is my OWN business....no one should tell me how to believe or act. I believe in PRO-CHOICE....

Re: Joe Biden???
 

:agree: Cassie! Well said.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Good job, Cassie!!

So well said.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Thank you for your support Ladies....I got a little fired up! Thankfully it was morning and not the late afternoon after 2 for 1's! I might not have been so nice!! ;)

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Bless you benj!! Rebublican, Democrat, Jewish, Christian, Black, White...and everything in between!!!! Freedom is Freedom!

OH....why can't we just all get a long! ;)

Should It Be A Key Issue?
 

Maybe it's because I'm male that I ask this question, but...

Should the candidate's position on pro-choice or pro-life be the litmus test that supercedes their positions on all the other issues facing the U.S.?

Remember, I asked should it be, not would it be?

Re: Joe Biden???
 

Absolutely not...IMHO....there are many other issues in the world and in this country that are far more important. Plus even if they tried to fight Roe Vs Wade....it would be a mighty fight! So NO let's focus on other issues that need immediate attention....

The point was that someone decided to put words in our mouths....saying we were pro-abortion versus pro-choice...and there is a big difference.

;D

Re: Joe Biden???
 

We were talking about Biden being a good CATHOLIC.
Has nothing to do with FREEDOM.
If you are a good Catholic, you are not pro-choise.

Re: Joe Biden???
 

There are many catholics in this world that are indeed pro-choice. So you have the right to say that I am NOT a good Catholic because I am pro-choice....know one has the right to do that.

Also....I am sure there are MANY other reasons you will find about me that in your opinion makes me a BAD Catholic....but again it really is not any of your business...

Re: Joe Biden???
 

I agree with Cassie. We are not running for office. I'm a Catholic and I am completely Pro-Choice. It is none of your business.

What I really don't like is the message this unwed pregnant seventeen year old sends to the young girls of this country. Very accepting parents and a gunshot wedding great! Now watch the rise in unmarried teen pregnancies. Can you just imagine if this was Obama's daughter! :yikes:

I guess it's Country First, Condoms Second (or not at all if it was up to Sarah Palin.)