Biden, Ignoring 3/4 of his VP Tenure, Says Sharing Power With Republicans Is a Good Thing

[babylonsister]

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/biden-sharing-power-with-republicans-is-a-good-thing-923669/


December 7, 2019 2:07PM ET
Biden, Ignoring Three-Quarters of His Vice-Presidential Tenure, Says Sharing Power With Republicans Is a Good Thing
“I’m really worried that no party should have too much power,” the presidential candidate said
By Peter Wade


During an interview with reporters on his “No Malarkey” campaign bus in Iowa, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden expressed concerns about Republicans possibly getting “clobbered” in the upcoming election mainly because of President Donald Trump.

The candidate said he’s held back on his “ass-kicker” side because he knows the American people want someone who can get things done and work with the other side.

“I mean look, everybody, anybody who knows me in politics including Trump knows they’re not going to be able to screw around with me. Not a joke,” Biden continued. “But that’s not what this is about. I think what the American people want to know is how am I going to make their life better.”

Biden went on to say that he thinks it’s important to have a political balance and the possible lack thereof concerns him. “I’m really worried that no party should have too much power,” Biden said. “You need a countervailing force. You can’t have such a dominant influence that then you start to abuse power. Every party abuses power if they have too much power.”

snip//

Republicans, meanwhile, used Trump’s first two years in office to ram through absolutely everything they could, including trillions in tax giveaways to corporations and the rich, despite having only the slimmest of Senate majorities.

For Republicans, “sharing power” is only important when Democrats have control — and Biden should know that better than anyone.

[BeckyDem]

1. Nonsense. The Republican Party must be crushed and every seat must be fought for until they are

as marginalized as possible. They are corrupt to the core and have proved that under Trump like never before.

[babylonsister]

2. WE agree, but not everyone does apparently. nt

[BeckyDem]

3. Yep. Frustrating as hell too.

Our survival from climate change alone should be the motivator to get rid of them in the Senate.

[thesquanderer]

44. Right. I could see Biden's point of the other party weren't, e.g. racist, homophobic, and cruel.

There may be value in two strong parties, but not if one of them is currently a step away form the nazi party.

[BeckyDem]

61. Their efforts on gerrymandering, their contempt for the rule of law, they are solid in the camp

of the thieves of WS. Look at them on climate change, and look who they pander to,the fake christians, the bigots, they will deny the civil rights of anyone who is even slightly different than they are.

[LonePirate]

4. Do he and his supporters realize shared power means nothing gets done? How is that good for us?

Joe, it is time to drop out.

[beastie boy]

8. We've had nearly 250 years of shared power. Did nothing get done?

Are you suggesting a dictatorship as the future model for America?

If not, please tell me how it is possible to not share power and remain a democracy.

[LonePirate]

10. What power was shared during the New Deal? Dems ruled DC and got things done.

The same goes for the first two years (well some of the first two years) of Obama’s first term.

[beastie boy]

14. The power of free elections whose consequences are binding. And

the powers of the Legislative and Judiciary branches of government as a check and balance to the executive branch.

And the main reason Trump has not assumed dictatorial powers is the system of shared power with the aforementioned checks and balances.

EVERYBODY in the US government must share power in one way or another. Biden is the only one who has openly articulated and strongly advocated this fundamental principle.

[LonePirate]

17. You are misinterpreting what he is saying, possibly because the truth is too terrifying.

He is talking about sharing power with Republicans via divided control of government (Dems in the White House and Repubs in Congress and Supreme Court). That is the deathknell for any reforms and changes Dems want to make while empowering Republicans who simply want to maintain their tax cuts and prevent Dem policies.

[BeckyDem]

18. Thank you. +1

Biden's own words here are clear and disturbing to me. He is concerned the Republicans will get clobbered in 2020 so he is holding back since Dems should not have too much power. Or once again, Biden will have to re-explain what he himself meant? Pffft.

[beastie boy]

21. Where in the article does Biden say what you are sayin?

Show me what you call "the truth". I would like you to provide a quote before you suggest I am terrified of it.

The last I checked, what Biden said was this: “I’m really worried that no party should have too much power,” Biden said. “You need a countervailing force. You can’t have such a dominant influence that then you start to abuse power. Every party abuses power if they have too much power.” No mention of any particular outcome of power distribution between the branches.

BTW, how in the world, if the election dictates certain outcomes in power distribution between the branches, does ANY president, under ANY circumstances, have an option to ignore it? What you are advocating is Trumpism. What gets you so upset about Biden is, that he is spelling out in approving terms the fundamental truth about the principles of representative democracy that governs us all.

[Autumn]

24. Problem is, the fundamental truth about the principles of representative democracy that

governs us all... no longer works, the Republicans have killed it. They will have the country they want and desire and damn the people they supposedly govern all to hell.

[pangaia]

33. Absolutely on the money !

[beastie boy]

36. You are throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Of course the principles of representative democracy work! Is your TV on? Are you aware of the reason Trump is being impeached as we speak? Are the elections coming up in 2020? Are we having a dictatorship (which apparently is being advocated by some in this thread) that doesn't tolerate the principles of representative democracy?

be careful of what you are wishing for. Like I said before, the road to Trumpism is paved with careless dismissals of the principles of representative democracy.

[Autumn]

37. Horse hockey. I see Dems being able to do their job, only because they took the house.

Otherwise you would see nothing being done by the Republicans about wanna be dicktaiter Trumps crimes. WTF do you see Republicans doing in your pretend Republican ? All I have seen them do is harm people, our country and erode this so called representative democracy. It takes two side to protect this democracy. What have the Republicans done to protect it and work within it's framework?

Explain how you and Joe are going to get the fucking republicans to work with him. Big difference between Dems who when they have had the majority have never behaved as dictators but bent over backwards to be fair and decent, and Pukes but nice job getting the Republican talking points out there.

[beastie boy]

41. "Horse hockey" is such a powerful argument, isn't it?

Once again, you are taking a very short-sighted view of American democracy. And I am not about to become a fascist to stop a fascist.

You certainly are not going to get the fucking republicans to work with you if you advocate, like the fucking Republicans do now, "my way or the highway". This attitude is the enemy of democracy, and you don't defend democracy by destroying it. It takes people like Joe (and, historically speaking, parallels can be drawn with heroes like MLK, who always had his hand extended to his adversaries, or Mandella, who refused to take revenge on the white minority when he came to power, or Gandhi, who died trying to get Hindus and Muslims together) who,regardless of the resistance across the isle, has his hand extended to them for the sake of the country.

[Autumn]

45. How well did it work out with Joe and Obama working with the Republicans I believe it was the

Republicans who have gotten away with the "my way or the highway" How long did the Dems extend their hands and where are we now? Ask Merrick Garland.

Again. How do you see Biden working with these Republicans? On climate change, on immigration, on human rights and protections that they are eroding daily? There is no MLK, there is no Mandela and there is no Gandhi. Any activists now are covered by the media for 5 minutes and it's on to normalizing Trump and they fade away with the wind.

So how do you see Biden working with them?

[beastie boy]

50. Joe and Obama presided over one of the most consequential periods in American history

It worked out extremely well for them, despite the resistance across the isle.

If you think anyone could have done any better for the Democratic Party and the American people by refusing to work across the isle, you are deluding yourself.

I see Biden continuing along the same line of unquestionable success.

[The Valley Below]

40. Thanks for speaking sense.

[LonePirate]

29. The article says Biden wants "political balance." What exactly do you think that means?

It does not mean Party A respecting the ability of Party B to craft and enact laws and regulations.

[pangaia]

34. repubs are at the point where they do N OT want any political balance.

they are the enemy of the people, democracy and the usa.. just like hitler, mussolini and trump

[beastie boy]

38. Traditionally, "political bnalance" means the balance between the three branches of government

What exactly did you think it means?

BTW, unrelated to your header but related to the text of your post, this is not a black and white issue. The ability of Party B to enact laws is directly proportional to the outcome of the elections. Enacting laws in a multi-party system by definition precludes Party B from DICTATING laws. Call me old fashioned, but I would like to keep it this way.

[Autumn]

39. That traditional "political balance" is stone cold dead and buried. Has been for sometime. nt

[beastie boy]

43. If this is what you think, you are advocating a dictatorship.

Sorry, not in my country!

[Autumn]

46. I'm advocating nothing. If you don't see that you aren't paying attention to what is going on.

Walk out of your bubble and see what the Republican have been doing and what Trump does daily. What have the Republicans and Trump done for this representative democracy you think is still vibrant and thriving?

[beastie boy]

48. You stated, and I quote: "That traditional "political balance" is stone cold dead and buried."

You are absolutely advocating against representative democracy. You are talking about the fundamental principle that is at the core of our political system. If you declare this fundamental principle of checks and balances dead, you have nothing that stands between democracy and dictatorship. Of course, you are wrong. The aforementioned political balance is alive and well. But your categorical denial of its existence is a sure sign that you gave up on it, leaving exactly what kind of a political system to replace it?

[Autumn]

49. I'm pointing out what the Republicans are and what they are doing. What political balance is

alive and well? Are the Republicans working within the system that our founders set up? I think 200 bills on Mitch's desk that he won't bring up to a vote say no. They have the Executive branch, Part of the Legislative branch, the Senate, they are packing the Judicial.

Republicans don't care if they shit on the Constitution. Republicans believe that their goals are so important that nothing should stand in their way. Goals like ignoring climate change, halting immigration and effectively ending asylum by desperate people and sending them back to die . The Republican Senate and the head of the DOJ are hiding crimes and covering for the most vile human to ever sit in a branch of our government, they are packing the courts with RW nut jobs that will enforce their view . They can't be bothered to work within the system that has served us better than any system has ever served a people — because they are afraid "they won't get what they want if they rely on a Democratic Congress to work with a Republican president." Now you want to tell me that that this magical "political balance" is alive and well?

You can't even answer the question of how will Joe be able to work with Republicans. Because we all know that they won't work with him. Obama is proof of that.

[beastie boy]

53. That's advocacy against representative democracy if I ever heard one.

The political balance that is alive and well despite your sentiments is the balance between the three branches of government. But we've covered this already.

Now tell me, what do you foresee for America if the Democrats, like the Republicans, refuse to work across the isle? Let me guess: no more gridlock, the legislation that you favor passes without a hitch, the country unites behind your views 100%. But to make this happen, the views of the opposition will need to be ignored. And please don't tell me Republicans already do this. I am not a Republican, and I don't ever want to look like one.

[Autumn]

57. How absurd. If you think Republicans don't already ignore the views of the opposition

you are ignoring current events. The republican party will not have this magical epiphany and reach out and work with Joe.

[LonePirate]

51. "Checks and balances" has nothing to do with "political balance"

Checks and balances describes the acts of the three co-equal branches of our government reviewing and balancing the actions of each other so that one branch does not become omnipotent. It is essentially the distinct delegation of powers afforded to each branch via the Constitution.

Political balance is the act of all (or both, in the US) political parties having equal or shared power. Our representative democracy, can during any election, greatly strengthen or diminish the power of either political party in the legislative or executive branches, depending on the election. Any balance of political power, or lack thereof, is afforded by the voters, not by the Constitution. Congress and the White House will always have equal governing powers by the Constitution; but it is the voters who determine how much and what kinds of powers (or political balance) the parties hold.

If you have been in a coma for the past decade or so, Republicans do not believe in political balance and since 45 was elected, they certainly do not believe in checks and balances. As for representative government, the Republican Party has been attacking our representative democracy (and voting rights) since 1964.

Biden is advocating political balance, not the constitutional balance of powers between the three branches. Granting Republicans any semblance of political balance will effectively prevent and terminate anything Democrats want to do as afforded to them by the Constitutional powers voters have given them. Biden is wrong for advocating this and so is anyone who supports him as it is effectively shouting to the world that you want Republicans elected. If that is the case, why are you at DU?

[JudyM]

47. WTH? That's patently absurd.

[Act_of_Reparation]

11. Equivocate much?

[beastie boy]

15. Huh? How so?

[Act_of_Reparation]

60. By using ambiguous language to refute a premise no one is really promoting.

No one is suggesting the Republicans be excluded from government. The question is whether or not the current crop of Republican congressmen will work with a Democratic executive. There is no reason to expect they will. If Joe Biden wants to solidify confidence in his ability to lead, he should be talking about how he's going to function as an executive with the GOP stonewalling his every proposal.

[pangaia]

16. most of what has 'gotten done' is due to liberal, progressive thought.

PLUS the current cast of repubs is a world evil and MUST BE stamped out...

[LonePirate]

30. Thank you! I appreciate your concise and lucid words here.

[brutus smith]

9. Agree

Joe still thinks it's the 20th century.

[emmaverybo]

52. I think he knows much more about government in the 21st century than most people as he was

a heartbeat from the presidency 2008-2016 in an administration led by a liberal and progressive president 0bama, who was also a constitutional scholar. Biden was an active VP working on current issues—Post-war Iraq, gun control, violence against women.

He also played an important role in getting Obama’s Recovery Act passed and In promoting the ACA, policies that can hardly be called backwards looking.

[getagrip_already]

27. shared power does not equal ceding power......

The current crop of republicans are the issue, not the 2 party system. That has worked and could work again.

I don't want to live under one party rule, even if its mine. I have a very good feeling I would be minimized and sacrificed in the name of fealty.

As would most members here eventually.

Power corrupts. We are not above that.

[beastie boy]

5. Having to choose between incendiary rhetoric and pragmatic respect for due process,

Biden chooses the latter. No shit!

Because we have all seen what incendiary rhetoric does to America. No wonder Biden draws so many Americans to his candidacy!

[Autumn]

23. "Incendiary rhetoric"? Is that what you call what the Republican have done? Is that what

packing all the courts with RW loons and use signing statements to undo everything decent they can? Rescinding all of Obama‘s environmental executive regulations. Refusing to bring over 200 bill up for a vote, giving Putin everything he wants and setting Russia up in everything Putin wants. Insulting the press, women, and Democrats in vile ways. Rolled back consumer privacy protections banning ISPs from selling your browsing data. Pulled back Obama-era protection for women in the workplace. Senate Republicans conspiring with Russia, working with the President to obstruct and hide his treason and crimes. They allow him to ask Russia once again to interfere in another election to keep him in power. One would need hours and pages to list what the Republican that Joe thinks will be delighted to work with him have done in remaining silent while they abet Trumps abuse of powers.

Is that really what you call incendiary rhetoric?

And Joe thinks that they will work with him. Where the hell was he at most of the time Obama was in office? Those fucks in the Republicans party have to be destroyed.

[pangaia]

6. I agree 100%. We have Democracy, so we definitely should have Communism as a counterbalancing force.

[Magoo48]

7. Hell no, not these Republicans.

Each and every one is an accomplice in the massive national tragedy that is the 45 presidency. So, tell me, Joe, how does one work with that/them? Anyone speaking for Joe on this one?

[Ponietz]

12. Without justice there is no place at the table for truth-murdering scofflaws

[George II]

13. Not your headline, but the writer of the article's headline is grossly misleading and false.

[turbinetree]

19. Let's ask Merrick Garland what he thought and thinks of power sharing with Republicans

[Gothmog]

20. Time will tell

Link to tweet

[pangaia]

35. iowa is NOT "the usa." It is a white farm state in the middle of the great plains...

[emmaverybo]

56. And Biden will do great in SC, which you can not call a "white state."

[brutus smith]

22. Joe needs to watch the Impeachment hearings

Not one, one, will side with the Dems. You're out of touch Joe.

[Hav]

25. Yes, checks and balances and

not a one party rulership is a good thing. It's what a majority of voters would agree with, on the state level as well. R Govs and Senators in blue states and vice versa weren't a rarity.
He literally said no party should have too much power. If you disagree with that, imagine Trump with supermajorities in the House and the Senate.

[Loki Liesmith]

26. Great way to distort what he said. Bravo.

[jalan48]

28. That's a bunch of malarkey Joe.

[TwilightZone]

31. RS columnist, ignoring 3/4 of the electorate...

doesn't understand that there are more than just Democrats voting in presidential elections.

Biden is running a general election campaign. Has been since the start. That's why most of his ire has been targeted at Trump and not his fellow Democratic candidates.

[redqueen]

32. Yeah, no.

We need a clear majority, Joe.

[The Valley Below]

42. You wanna keep the House, flip the Senate, and take the White House?

Then vote for Joe.

He will not only beat Trump like a drum, but will also have the longest coat-tails.

[SWBTATTReg]

54. Sharing? Why haven't the republicans been sharing? Why does it have to be us all of the ...

time that do the right thing? This is BS and the republicans proved it quite well this time around by passing a donors only law cutting their cuts big time w/o any democratic input what-so-ever. Zero! Where in the hell has Biden been? I agree w/ the poster here, sharing power is only a one way street w/ the republicans (there is NO sharing).

[JoeOtterbein]

55. Another rookie mistake by Joe?

This one is so naive, that it is almost unbelievable.

[LanternWaste]

58. Hence, Biden's strong polling position. Unbelievable, indeed.

I'm sure Bernie will surge one day.

Fingers crossed in faith-based prophecies, amiright?

[Raven123]

59. Exactly. That's how we got Merrick Garland on the SCOTUS .. oh, wait

[Uncle Joe]

62. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread babylonsister.