Joe Klein discusses Biden

[jillan]

Joe Biden's Quest
Wednesday, Jul. 18, 2007

July 19: Here are highlights from a feature article on Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden which currently appears in TimeMagazine online, by Joe Klein. Mr. Klein is the author of the best seller, “Primary Colors,” and writes a regular column, “In The Arena” for Time Magazine.

“The waitress came rushing out of the diner in Manchester, N.H., with a guest book for Joe Biden to sign and stayed to tell a story. Her name was Michelle Griffin, and she had just returned to work after being ill for two years. Her husband was working two jobs. They were putting two daughters through college. They had no health insurance.

“There were times when I thought we wouldn’t make it …” she said, and tears filled her eyes. Biden put his hands on her shoulders and she shuddered into deep sobs. He hugged her. “I don’t understand why people on welfare get health care and we don’t,” Griffin said after a while, and Biden replied, “because the system is screwy.”

“At his next house party, he devoted his entire speech to the war. Most candidates try to rid themselves of Iraq in a sentence or two. Not Biden. “We have all sorts of problems and opportunities, but there’s a big boulder sitting in the middle of the road—it’s Iraq,” he told the crowd. “And even if we solved Iraq tomorrow, the Middle East will still be in chaos.” He continued in detail about his proposed Iraq solution: partition of the country into a loose federation of three states to de-fuse the regional crisis.

“And this, sadly, is Biden's substantive liability. Democrats want to hear only one sentence about Iraq: I'll get out as soon as possible. They're not so interested in the nuances of partition plans and mine-resistant vehicles. They are, as always, besotted with domesticity. Their iconic voter is Michelle Griffin, in tears over health insurance, and, yes, it is time we did something about that.

He offered the best of all possible reasons—to speed lifesaving, mine-resistant armored vehicles to the war zone. Biden’s message—that foreign policy is complicated, that Iraq and its consequences can’t just be wished away, that a supple alternative to Republican overseas bullying must be found—is the most important of 2008. And it is the reason Joe Biden still adds real value to this campaign.”

read the entire article at link
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1644834,00.html

[Like It Is]

1. Biden's Problem.

The average voter is too dis-engaged to care about or understand the implications of a speedy withdrawal from Iraq. Biden has the right plan but Bush has the office and is unwilling to listen. Biden is the best candidate but the average voter doesn't understand that. Hillary, Obama and Edwards don't belong in the same league with him. What a shame.

[jillan]

2. I agree. Sometimes I wonder if Biden is not moving ahead in the polls because

he is too deep. He can take any topic and discuss it in full detail.
Unfortunately people don't want that. They seem to prefer empty slogans - sound bites.

A friend of mine told me the reason he thought Biden would never win is because
he makes too much sense.

People would rather vote for Robert Redford in the movie THE CANDIDATE, where he has the right look, says the right things.
But then gets elected and has no clue what to do next.

:cry:

[Jai4WKC08]

4. Yep

I don't even agree with Biden's partition plan, but at least he's thinking his way thru the problem, and making what seems to be an honest attempt to explain the complexities of the situation... even when it's not what his audience might want to hear.

It's basically the same problem we had in our 2004 nomination process. Poll after poll said that domestic issues were all the typical Democratic primary voters cared about. Too bad general election voters don't agree. I fear we'll suffer the same results in 2008.

[Jillian]

3. Insightful article. n/t

[Colobo]

5. Biden can be an excellent VP