by Rick Pearson
DES MOINES—Harking back to his days as a public defender, Democrat Joe Biden delivered what he called his "closing argument" today for the Iowa caucuses in his bid to move on and play another day in the presidential playoffs.
"I want all the caucus-goers in this great state to close their eyes and imagine if their candidate is president of the United States, not in a year, but this very instant," Biden told several hundred people at a rally at a downtown Des Moines brew pub.
"Are they confident if their candidate is president this very instant that they have the sure-footedness, a state enough hand to know exactly what they would do in Pakistan? To know exactly what they would do, not generically, exactly what they would do in Iraq?" Biden asked.
Biden, a Delaware senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has focused on his international relations skills throughout the campaign. But with the turmoil in Pakistan following the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, he has put foreign affairs at the forefront of his bid to try to finish in the top four in Thursday night's caucuses.
Biden said resolving international challenges, including getting U.S. troops home from Iraq, is paramount in dealing with domestic issues, where money spent on a war could be used to help finance his plans to expand health care coverage at home.
"Are they ready?" Biden asked of his rivals. "Are they smarter than their secretary of state? Are they more informed? Because, ladies and gentlemen, I think this country is great and I am ready to lead."
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Comments
Did he ever make his starting push?
Did he write that speech or plagarize it?
Posted by: Terry | January 1, 2008 8:47 PM
Sen. Joe Biden is absolutely correct when he says that Sen. Clinton doesn't even understand the basics when it comes to Pakistan.
In the last week she claimed that President Pervez Musharraf is up for election NOW when he was elected--fairly or unfairly -- as president six months ago.
Apparently Sen. Clinton did not know that it is a parliamentary election, not a presidential election, that is coming up in Pakistan.
And she said it not once, but two different times--in a Dec. 28 CNN interview on CNN ("If President Musharraf wishes to stand for election, then he should abide by the same rules that every other candidate will have to follow") and on a Dec. 30 ABC "This Week" interview, when asked if Musharraf should step down, responded: "He could be the only person on the ballot. I don't think that's a real election."
In addition, she stated that Pakistan is "not a country that has had a history of peaceful successions"--which is news to any U.S. diplomat who has served there.
So much for her vaunted "experience" and ability to lead "from day one." Could someone please buy her a map?
Posted by: Martin Edwin "Mick" Andersen | January 1, 2008 9:48 PM
As I look @ the postings about the Republicant candidates,never see any dribbles from Terry and the other sheep.
Always a comment about the Dems.
What's the problem,to embarrassed to comment on your fellow losers?
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 1, 2008 10:34 PM
Did he ever make his starting push?
Did he write that speech or plagarize it?
Posted by: Terry | January 1, 2008 8:47 PM
Terrence, back off my guy Joe. Rove (Bush's Brain) sold us an inarticulate, incurious, dry-drunk for a president. Don't you have buyer's remorse? I would, only I didn't vote for the idiot, ever!
Posted by: dusty | January 2, 2008 2:29 AM
The Republicans on this site trash him, because they fear the possibility of their lightweights, namely Gomer Pyle Huklebeee and Flip Flopping Romney, facing Biden on any stage.
I am from the Illinois and I voted for Obama and helped to put him in the Senate. Since winning that election he has done nothing noteworthy except run for president(unless you call voting present something). Oh, there is one exception to what I just wrote- his stance on immigration. He voted for the first Kennedy-McCain immigration bill that wanted to make immigrants, who've entered illegally, citizens after a 48hour record check.(What was that about and what was he thinking?)
Frankly, I still can't believe that a person of his inexperience feels he is qualified to be POTUS given national and world events. I believe Obama suffers from the audacity of hubris- not hope.
Edwards has a great wife, but he couldn't deliver his homestate of SC in 2004 for Kerry. He too lacks the national and international experience.
Hillary has been talking about Musharraf's name being on a ballot- when it's not. Guess being First Lady and Senator from NY isn't enough to give you the necessary experience either.
Joe Biden is a good person, who has a wealth of experience, and who knows how to bring people together. As he says, he knows all the players. He knows them by name, and more importantly they know him and trust him.
Biden 2008! I don't care who his running mate will be - Obama, Clinton, Edwasrds,he can train them. Maybe even McCain if his party throws him to the curb.
Please Iowa, Biden 2008! The msm gets its cues from corporate America. They sold us down the river when they backed Bush in 2000 and called the election early. They did it again when they backed Bush in 2004, saying he won the debates against Kerry when Bush often couldn't make a coherent sentence; continuously playing the Swift Boat Ads for free any chance they had; not questioning the results from Ohio. Look what the msm helped to create. Don't let them do it again.
Biden 2008!
Posted by: BJ | January 2, 2008 6:11 AM
Dusty,
At least you back the grown-up. However, why hasn't he made a dent in the polls?
Crazy Duck,
I'm still undecided on the GOP side. I know I won't back any dem/socialist.
Posted by: Terry | January 2, 2008 7:11 AM
We need Joe Biden in the White House now more than ever. We need his wisdom, experience, and passion to guide us during these times. We don't need a state senator with 2 years experience on the national level and we don't need a candidate who claims international experience by virtue of her marriage to a former POTUS. Joe Biden is the candidate for change as he knows how to build consensus and work with both sides - something we haven't seen in the White House for some time. Joe Biden '08!
Posted by: Lisa T., Plano, TX | January 2, 2008 8:21 AM
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Posted by: Raving Loon | January 1, 2008 10:34 PM
You realize, of course, that no self respecting conservative or Republican is going to answer your post on the merits. Doing so would be an admission that one is a "sheep."
As for sheep, go look in the mirror. You blindly follow your party ideology without ever subjecting it to critical scrutiny that is overdue it. And you are the one who resorts to name calling because you can't use logic to back up your claims once your phony pseudo-liberal ideology fails you. You, of all people, need an extra dose of Woolite before you bleat for the camera.
Posted by: John W. | January 2, 2008 9:09 AM
It makes me sad this Candidate doesnt get the publicity he deserves, and so desperately needs to win this election.
It makes me even sadder, is publicity is what wins elections - not policies.
Posted by: Christina | January 2, 2008 9:17 AM
Wake up people you will not get far with your vicious attacks on each other.Most people are sick of this approach. I happen to be a Republican/Independent and I for one am sick and tired of the hatred that is spewed out at every opportunity.But Sen.Biden is the most qualified and the most moderate and would be the one Democrat to bring unity to America.
Posted by: Paul Jaeger | January 2, 2008 9:30 AM
Crazy Duck,
I'm still undecided on the GOP side. I know I won't back any dem/socialist.
Posted by: Terry | January 2, 2008 7:11 AM
The answer I expected!!!!
As for sheep, go look in the mirror. You blindly follow your party ideology without ever subjecting it to critical scrutiny that is overdue it. And you are the one who resorts to name calling because you can't use logic to back up your claims once your phony pseudo-liberal ideology fails you. You, of all people, need an extra dose of Woolite before you bleat for the camera.
Posted by: John W. | January 2, 2008 9:09 AM
And which party is still looking for WMDS?
Get a life Clarence.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 2, 2008 10:15 AM
"Always a comment about the Dems.
What's the problem,to embarrassed to comment on your fellow losers?"
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 1, 2008 10:34 PM
Loon,
That was an amazingly dumb thing to say.
Who among the democrat Swamp bloggers is doing critical commentary of the Dems? Certainly NEVER you. Off the top of my head I can't think of any one.
Posted by: Freddie Engels | January 2, 2008 12:45 PM
Yes, Sen. Biden is the most qualified by far of all the democratic candidates. Yes, he is a moderate with a much better chance of winning the presidential election. And yes, he would change the landscape with bold but safe new policies. If the Iowans want hoopla, let them vote for one of the untested, much less qualified, glitzy, media savvy stars... It keeps amazing me how easy it is to fool people with good intentions I am sure, but fool anyhow. We live in a time of quick fixes, short attention span and adrenalin power. Too bad.
Posted by: JM Wersinger | January 2, 2008 2:07 PM
Dusty,
At least you back the grown-up. However, why hasn't he made a dent in the polls?
No mon, no fun--I guess.
Posted by: dusty | January 2, 2008 3:19 PM
My vote is for Biden. If he was a republican or Independant I would still vote for him. If the polls gave him less than 1%, I would still vote for him.
Our vote is the one thing that corporate America cannot take away from us. Do not let the corporate American ran media or polls decide who should be president. Let your heart and mind make the choice.
At the end of the day, no matter what party you belong to, we are all fellow Americans. Nobody will ever agree on all issues. Yet, we are graced with the fortune of living in a country where political lines do not start civil wars. When Katrina struck, did anyone ever consider what political party someone belongs to when they lent a helping hand? Of course not! We are all Americans, vote for who you believe would be the best for OUR country.
My prayer is that God graces US with a true leader in this difficult time.
Posted by: Carla | January 2, 2008 5:18 PM
Is it true what I am hearing about a "Biden Shift?" Repubs reregistering to vote Democratic on caucus night, and voting for Joe? I guess that's one way to keep HRC out of the oval office. I can't wait for January 3rd.
Posted by: Lori | January 2, 2008 6:37 PM
To all Iowan's standing for Joe Biden Jan 3, thank you. And, please know that there are many of us who are standing with you all around the country (& the world). You can be proud to be caucusing for the greatest candidate both parties have to offer. Again, thank you
Posted by: Cynthia | January 3, 2008 1:37 AM