Why is Biden "unelectable"?

For the life of me I can't figure this one out.

He's probably the most traditionally "presidential" candidate we have. Smart, articulate, experienced and good looking.

Is he too honest? Of course that should be a considered a good trait, but apparently it's a negative in today's political climate.

Any ideas?

Apparently an 18 year old can think clearly enough to kill or be killed for the military but they can't be allowed to drink a beer.

I think many of us have had it with the control freaks.

Just because he speaks w/ authority and w/ intelligence???? Don't we want a President that comes across this way??? Do you want another Goergie????? I sure as hell don't!!!!!!

I believe you dropped your collection of question marks and exclamation points in the post above. I've done you the favor of collecting them and returning them to you in my subject line. You're welcome.

Thanks for making me laugh.

That alone is good enough reason not to allow it. By the way, does anyone know how old Laura was when she had her hit and run accident?

Biden is a control freak because he doesn't want people under 21 drinking? You're going to have to do better than that. You might as well say that any politician who takes a stand on anything is a control freak. You must be under 21.

It will never happen. No politician will touch it, and risk having MADD air a commercial saying "Candidate X wants to kill more teenagers!" It just won't happen, so it shouldn't be focused on. Biden was dumb to have taken the bait.

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Biden got angry because Russert wouldn't let him speak very much. He got less then double digits of talk time. Russert- the weasel- got the most! And of course the top three- what else is new?????

Biden is the chairman of the foreign relations committee, and his IRAQ POLITICAL SOLUTION PASSED YESTERDAY by a 3-1 MARGIN (this is huge) and Russert almost completely ignored him on foreign policy issues. I can't believe Biiden didn't call him out MORE. He was too polite, if anything

18 - if you are old enough to vote, old enough to go to war - then you are old enough to drink.

But somethings are more important to me than the drinking age.

to take the youth vote away from Dems.

instead of lowering the drinking age.

The number of drunk driving accidents and, of course, fatalities were much higher when 18 year olds are allowed to drink. I'd rather hear you argue that 18 year olds shouldn't be allowed to join the army, which brings up another point. your argument loses its bite during times of an all volunteer army, like we have now. No one is making them join the military. Biden is right. Once again he takes a stand on what's right rather than what sounds cool or popular. That's what good leadership is all about.

He's been there too long. He's perceived by many of us as part of the problem. He talks a good game, but doesn't seem to follow through with the votes.

Lately, I admit, he's cut back on the bloviating, and he's honed his message. But, he has made some dreadful votes which have hurt millions of Americans and benefited the big corporations, a fact that won't sit well in this day of "fed-up"-ness. Truly, after last night's dreadful performance by the pack, Biden seemed to be the lone voice of reason for me (DK notwithstanding, but with serious problems of his own).

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He's been there for every important issue from the Nixon impeachment, civil right crisis, the Vietnam war, the Iran-Contra scandals, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the re-unification of Germany, the fall of communism in Soviet Union, and 9/11 and more. He's seen a pres resignation, pres election by the Supreme Court. He's traveled to war zones in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and was vital to stopping Milosevic's genocide in the Balkans. He also stopped Bork from getting on the Supreme Court.
Is that enough qualifications or do you want more?????? You want someone with hardly any experience running the show??? I certainly don't!!!!! he's not a good ol' boy like everyone thinks.

I have no idea how people wouldn't vote for Biden

I don't know either! It makes perfect sense to me. You should buy his book- Promises to Keep. I learned alot about him, his career, and personal crisis. The man's a damn saint. No one can see it! Or really wants to. They just want to make fun of his hairplugs from his brain surgeries! Amung other things.

If we were electing someone on quality alone, rather than all the stupid superficial crap that most politician parade around the country with, this man would be our next president. And I believe he'd make a damn good president, too.

This is one of the scariest times in our nation's history. There's the real threat of terrorism (as opposed to the politically convenient imagined threats); there's the Iraq war which, if not handled carefully, could turn into a full blown regional war, if not a world war; there's the threats to our Constitution and our personal liberties; there are serious threats to our economy looming in the near future; there's a critical need to redesign our health care system and our education system. We need someone smart, experienced, dependable, and someone who not going to fuck around when our country's future is at stake. This guy is the only one who truly convinces me that he's up to the task. I just wish Democrats would wake up and see what they have in this Joe Biden.

It's just that he's running against a rock star, the wife of a popular president, and a man handsome enough to be a male model...

Wes Clark isn't running, so I don't know who you're talking about. :hi:

and pray that the American people don't base their votes superficially on sound bites and magazine covers. If they do, we may be in for another rocky four years.

Edwards: Like what he says, but can't shake sleazy image. Double-talk about his children being okay with gay marriage even when Daddy isn't bugged the shit outta me. Will not promise to be out of Iraq.

Obama: Not a leader. Too namby-pamby and still not really telling what he thinks. Will not promise to be out of Iraq.

Hillary: Don't get me started. Will never get out of Iraq. Obnoxious laugh hiding...who even knows. Projects insincerity and dumbing-down her speech-patterns (to me) to give image of strength.

Biden: Tells it like it is, pretty or not. Experience. Smart. Ready to go.

Kucinich: Love him, wish to God he was our president and will almost certainly vote for him in Primaries.

Gravel: Happy to have him in the pack.

Dodd: Maybe VP choice for someone would be better?

He and Dodd are there to insure that Hillery gets the nomination. If I am right we will se this in the Iowa caucus that the Dodd and Byden votes will caucus with Hillary if Edwards or any of the others gets too close to winning it.
The same thing that happened to Dean when Gephart and Clark people went to Kerry.

Neither Biden or Dodd are my own favorites. But it is disgusting that they are automatically relegated to the "second tier" in favor of candidates with far less experience -- and far fewer actual accomplishments -- on their resumes.

These guys have been through political wars that many younger people don't even remember. And they have won many elections.

It's typical of how the media has descended into the Entertainment Tonight version of politics.

I totally agree. This seems so much like a popularity contest from high school. The media has purposely ignored Dodd and Biden and have pumped up the top 3.

:applause:

You completely nailed it Armstead.

Bravo!

I'd vote for either one over the other candidates at this point. But I'd like to see their support grow. My final vote in the primary isn't going to be necessarily my favorite. I'll be looking at who has a chance and decide from there.

On edit: I just reviewed Biden and Dodd's voting record and decided I will not vote for either based on their Y votes on DOMA. That's a non-negotiable for me.

foreign policy" while discussing immigration? Ooof. Whenever he starts looking really good, he says something dumb--he's an unreliable performer. Otherwise, he's very electable, I think.

Biden is the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee who had an INCREDIBLY important senate resolution passed yesterday (which you're candidate did not vote on) and Russert almost completely ignored him in the foreign policy section of the debate.

bumbled the answer about immigration and he knew it. That's why he said it - he was making fun of himself.
He was laughing when he said it. Like when Kucinich didn't know what to say and said 'or you can vote for someone tall.'

Just one of those moments.

Granted Under the old rules it was easier to stiff your creditors. now it is more difficult. also under the old rules you could stiff your kids Too. now even the credit cards have to wait for you to pay your child support. That was Biden's contribution. I don't agree with the whole bill myself. remember at the time it was impossible to be a Democrat. one had to compromise. Biden shows he can work with repubes. and as president he will turn the tables to where the repubes have to compromise with him.

...all those people who use this as an excuse not to vote for the best candidate we have.

Biden 08!

People declare bankruptcy all the time to get out of their repsonsibilites. My husband busts his ass and pays support UP THE ASS unlike alot of fathers out there. We would have a hell of alot more money if he didn't but you know what- he's reponsible and a great dad. I hate assholes that don't pay support like they're supposed to!!!! Good for the credit card companies that don't get paid until child support is paid!!!!!

http://www.regrowhair.com/hair-transplant-surgery/hair-transplant-like-senator-joe-biden/
"Q- I have a large bald area in the crown (top/back) with more hair in the front, but still thinning with a high hairline. I am concerned that a hair transplant in my case will show significant improvements in the front but I’ll still have a large bald spot on top/back.

Here’s an example of my concern about hair transplantation - Sen. Joe Biden. He looks like he’s had a hair transplant (if you compare now to old photos) and looks pretty good in front. But when his head is tipped forward, the top and back are quite sparse compared to the thickness of the front… that does not look natural. I would think a U.S. senator could afford the best hair restoration procedures so this is concerning me.

This is what I’m afraid of. Thoughts…? Joey"

for aneuryrisms back in the 90's and almost died. He was found on the floor in a hotel room by one of his aides. His first one ruptured and he survived the surgery only to throw a embolism in his lungs after the surgery. Six weeks later they took the 2nd one out of his brain. So if his head looks a little wierd, give the guy a break!!! He had to have hairplugs because his hairline was a mess from the surgeries. My mom had brain aneuryism surgery and I've seen firsthand what it does to your skull and hair- So LAY OFF THE HAIRPLUG DIGGS!!!!!!!

...and stay at his regular day job cashing MBNA checks...

He's on a blood thinner to prevent future clots.
So what you're saying is that a young 50 something should just stay home because he's at risk??? Tell that to my mom who had brain aneurysm surgery in Febuary and was on her feet giving a 2 hr recitation from memory in April. Kiss my Biden ass staying home to be w/ family!!! My mom went back to work full time in April and had made a complete recovery just like Biden.

The man has no hair. If he did get a hair transplant - then I hope he gets his money back.



look at that. No hair.

and pull the face forwards to get in. Literally pulling your face down at the temporal portion near your forehead/ear area.Sometimes patients have difficulty growing hair back at that spot, or it's all uneven and messed up. My mom was lucky. it all grew back right.

Why is it even an issue?

Even if he did have them - who cares? Is that going to change the outcome of Iraq? Get healthcare right? Help climate change?

Thank you mrigirl for bringing some knowledge into a very immature discussion.:yourock:

Guess my healthcare knoweledge is good for something for Biden's defense over this ridiculous topic!!!!

I suggest you take some time an rethink how you go about judging people. There really are more significant characteristics than a person's hair. Trust me on this one.

Now who has the best hair naturally?

This really affects the state of the country and the world!

There are some issues on his record that may not appeal to some of the base and his ties to the insurance and banking industry with Delaware HQs might be not so good down the road.

We shall see...

In fact, I think, should he become our nominee, he would be an extremely effective candidate against whatever guy the Republicans push (reluctantly) out onto the stage.

I like Biden a lot. I didn't start out that way. He tells the truth and I think he will appeal to a far broader section of the voting public than people tend to think.

President Joseph Biden.

It sounds very, very, good to me.

I would love to see him in a debate with Romney or Guiliani.

my dear Ellacott.

You found anybody yet who can outtalk Joe Biden?

Thing is, he also has great depth behind the words.

No smoke. No mirrors. Just experience, knowledge, passion, and ideas.

The only time I watch Fox Sunday Morning is if Biden's going to be on. It's hilarious to witness him handling Chris Wallace.

He actually has the experience we need right now. The rest of the candidates are young enough to go for it at a later date.

He's the best bet the Democrats have against any Republican running, that includes Guiliani, The Actor, The walking manikin, and Newt. The Democrats would finally have someone more appealing to the average Jane or Joe than anyone the Republicans have running. He could go toe to toe with any of them better than any Democrat running. If the Democrats want to win this election, Biden is the one.

Let me guess... the KOSby kids?

widest crossover potential. If that were my only criteria, I'd be supporting him.

what those reasons are, however, escapes me.

It's a proven formula... You have to go back to 1960 to see a candidate other than a southern white male win the presidency...

in states outside the sun belt. They believe in things like government, etc.

We need a change.

eom

We need to look at the post we are responding too and the post that post was responding to.

I just want a winner....

Who's your choice if I may be bold enough to ask?

I started out as an Obama fan because I think it would be a redemptive moment but I am impressed by Hillary's tenacity... She has this "focus" and discipline that served her husband so well in his campaigns...

In any case I just want a winner...

You seem like a smart guy- Why wouldn't you consider Biden???? You know he's more than qualified!!! If we can get enough Dems to realize this he may have a chance.

All our candidates are acceptable to me...

The worst Democrat is better than the best Republican...

I like Biden...He seems authentic...I'd be lying if I said I did like his bankruptcy vote but what's done is done and it's not a deal breaker, but it was important to me...

has decided Richardson isn't ready and who really likes Dodd and is actually very impressed with some of the speeches Biden has made about Iraq and poverty.

So, my order of folks now is Dodd or Biden, but I could vote for Obama with enthusiasm and for Clinton for revenge. I actually think Obama's lack of experience is a good thing. He has less baggage. And being a good prez is an attitude, not a resume.

But I like that fact that Dodd, Biden, and Clinton aren't afraid to be the adults in the room and I think we need an adult who understands policy, respects the process and takes it seriously.

to become a Democratic president? I don't buy it.

It will be very difficult for him to catch up...

He is running a good race, and makes you wonder if he hadn't had those initial problems in 1988 whether he might not have beaten Bush I that year...

How controlled he is and how they miss his gaffes.

Saying his previous gaffes led people to discount him from the beginning...so is starting further back

"Unelectable" was probably the wrong word, but the implication by the MSM is the same.

I'm ready to give up HRC, OB and JE for lent....

What do we expect from our leaders?
Especially our President?

1) Intelligence
2) Experience in ALL phases of government
3) Strength
4) Respect from world leaders
5) Diplomacy
6) Command of issues
7) Solutions to problems that face our nation
8) Honesty
9) Integrity
10) Respect and trust from his peers
11) Respect and trust from the people who follow him

There is only one candidate running today who meets all of the criteria above. Our next President:
Joseph Biden

Please watch my video I produced in support of Joe. Send it along to family and friends and ask them to do the same.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OtGCaqOdIJ4

..sure he occassionaly talks a good game but when the chips are down he votes with this donor's wallets...

and he was having massive ha's for weeks and almost didn't give that speech. Not that that is any excuse mind you- Biden has admitted to that gaffe. He also was in the middle of the Bork hearings and was on a ridiculous schedule and didn't have his close ready that day. Biden is not a plaigarist!
And as far as the law school b.s.- he forgot to write the source down at the bottom of each page on his Legal Methods Paper and only did at the end. Typical freshman rookie mistake. Biden is not a cheater!!!!!

Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Dodd and come back here and tell me that he enables corporations.

The plagerism was a smear campaign against him.
Congratulations - you believe a RW talking point.

He did plagarize and he IS owned by MBNA...but you keep telling yourself those are RW talking points..:eyes:

the media ignores him though. It's actually frightening that they are ignoring the best candidate we've had in a long time.

I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist but this makes me consider an organized effort to shut Biden and Dodd out of this process.

lol, I've been thinking subtle conspiracy for months. Yesterday a monumental Iraq War amendment that Joe Biden authored passed with 29 republicans getting on board, and it wasn't even mentioned at the debate.

I just knew that Russert would include that in the debate. I was surprised when he didn't.

Before Joe ever got to speak the first word, she let everyone know that she signed on yesterdayand she said it was slightly different. She did that to take the attention it might get in the debate away.

He basically made out with Joe before and after the debate. Hopefully others will follow.

The MSM conspiracy is based on the "horse-race" mentality because it is good for ratings. They use polls that don't mean much and turn them into something meaningful. It's a tail-wagging the dog- situation...

It was good seeing him get some airtime. I wish Chris would have asked him less about Hillary and more about Biden the candidate.

Biden's right, most of the candidates don't really have an understanding about Iraq.

but it's hard to argue that any other Democrat is more electable than Biden in a general election. That's why it's so important that we give him all the support we can now, so he DOES make it to the general election.

didn't ya see it? I have no idea how one can watch these debates and not vote for Biden. I simply don't get it. I feel like everyone was watching a diff debate from me.

Sometimes people hear and see only what they want to.

He has the ANSWERS to the most fundamental probsof the day. Please vote for Biden! I have no idea how others who are informed and watch these debates could possibly vote for anyone else!

and he did it without being antagonistic -
He didn't whine about her votes, her fundraising - the usual stuff - instead:


But nobody wants to talk about it. At tonight's debate in New Hampshire, I finally thought somebody had the stones. Senator Joe Biden was included in a discussion about whether or not Senator Clinton's past attempt to pass health care reform as First Lady would make it difficult for her to do so now. (It was a totally valid question from the moderator, Tim Russert, who also brought up the important issue of dynasty and the White House.) Biden's answer was pretty close to what I was thinking: "I think it's a reality that it's more difficult, because there's a lot of very good things that come with all the great things that President Clinton did, but there's also a lot of the old stuff that comes back."

Bingo!

He doesn't have the flying head start of Clinton, Obama or Edwards

He is extremely smart but sometimes can be full of himself or stick his foot in his mouth (ie "clean & articulate").

But I'm supporting him for 2 reasons. I think he has some great ideas about Iraq. Iraq was a country whose borders were created by foreigners and lumped together ethic groups that do not get along with each other. Plus, he's my homestate guy so it's not like my vote for another candidate in the primaries will make a difference.

Biden could use a contribution before the end of Sept... I made my donation...

I just bought a house :cry: I'm officially really really poor

things have completely changed on DU for Biden

by Korporate Kapitalist AmeriKa...

Follow the money and it ain't going to Biden...

The corporate money is going to:

Surprise!!!!

hillary
Obama
Edwards (<-- mostly trial lawyers though -- I LIKE trial lawyers except for DA's)

to step it up and as another Biden supporter said "and make it a Primetime campaign".

He still has no name recognition.
People don't know him because he has no 30 second soundbites - no message of hope or change that people identify with him.
Doesn't even have a campaign slogan.

These things are not his fault. He needs stronger management.

The Media do not like Hilary but she has a machine than can can
stand their ground against the Media. The Clintons have accumulated
a lot of power over the years. Elites like Hilary,

If the Media do not like a candidate , the only way they can overcome
it is with a huge machine or a huge grassroots following.

Biden is the type of candidate that can appeal across the board.
he is a manly man. Chris Matthews and his panels are accurate
when they say the Democrats put up candidates lacking in appeal.
"Geeks, Dorks,--Mondales, . This does not mean they are bas people.
They can be very smart people. TeeVEE is still the medium through
which the public learns about a candidate. Terrible but true.
American voters like manly men. Instead of going into a rage,
pwehaps we should take a lot of things into consideration when
offering candidates.

He had him on before and after the debate.

Had him on when Biden broke down about Iraq.


And you are right - Biden can win in the General Election.

Top Three initially overshadowed anybody else. In addition to having the largest war chests, it is history making that Obama and Clinton are serious candidates and could become President. Edwards is the safe white guy. Looking at our history, it IS exciting that an African American and a woman have a viable chance to be the first in the oval office. We've come a long way in a short time. And all three bring valid contributions to the table.

If Obama, Clinton and Edwards WEREN'T part of the equation and we had Dodd, Gravel, Biden, Kucinich and Richardson, it's interesting to imagine what the situation would reflect then. Each of them, too, is a viable candidate and each could assume the role of President and do well (my opinion, natch).

Wonder what the media focus would look like if that were the scenario. Hmmmm.

So I don't think it's that Biden ISN'T electable (or any of the B Team for that matter), I think it's just been the that the focus has been on the Dream Team and for many people, that's all they are basing their opinions on.

Since this has begun, and more people are exposed to the other candidates, it seems as though people are beginning to resonate with what the others are presenting, the numbers are starting to change.

I don't think it's a done deal yet, it's a process.

It's an insult to any of the candidates for us to hear they're 'unelectable' and just assume that's a correct statement of the situation.

and can't raise enough money. Although I think he's by far the best Dem candidate, he has some skeletons from being a Senator for so long too.

And I think he'd be a great President. But he does tend to speak incautiously sometimes.

Then there was the "plagarism" thing, and even Jon Stewart showed Biden in an enormously hypocritical moment once. When Biden was asking Ruth Bader Ginsberg questions during her SCOTUS nomination process, Stewart showed him praising her for refusing to answer questions about current issues. Then Stewart showed Biden criticizing John Roberts for refusing to answer questions about current issues during HIS nomination. It was hilarious, although it showed Biden in an embarrassing light.

When people are in office for a long time, they do make occasional mistakes, they are human after all. That's all I was saying. Again, I am a BIG Biden fan, but hey, the truth is the truth.

and northern Dem candidates have had a harder time becoming President than southern Dem candidates for the last few decades.

Those aren't MY reasons he is unelectable, but I could see someone making that claim. Then again, we haven't had a female, black or hispanic Presidential nominee from a major party in the history of the US. Things change.

Kerry was a northern Senator (bad combo for Dems) and he didn't become President.
In the electoral college, southern Gore still outperformed northerers Dukakis, Mondale and Kerry.

He's not my choice. I disagree with him on Iraq, and I have some issues with him on a few other things.

He's as electable as anyone else, though, and he's a better choice than HRC or Obama.

he appeals to the swing voter, or could capture a majority in a national election. Granted, I could be totally wrong. There is also a skeleton in his closet that I would rather not have to defend in a GE.

does that count?

it's probably not a very good case to make.

ticket, or Biden-Feingold.

There'd be some sizzle to either one of those on the demographic charts, IMO.

And for a little added punch, what about Biden-Boxer?

My two favorite senators and it is catchy too!