Biden appeals to Senate on Iraq

[PatSeg]

<To borrow a phrase from the world of sports, Joe Biden left it all on the field this morning.

In a passionate hour-long speech on the Senate floor -- the presidential candidate’s first in three months -- he argued for passage of legislation that mandates a political solution in Iraq, one premised on allowing a decentralized, federal style of government with the development of separate, semi-autonomous states.

In an oratory that separate times at times was soaring, pragmatic, wry, and sonorous, the Delaware Democrat maintained that there can be no military situation to the turmoil that grips the country. And that given the growing momentum for pulling troops home, efforts must be made to force warring tribes and factions to the bargaining table.>

snip

<Biden’s amendment has drawn support from senators across the spectrum such as Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.). The question will be whether he can muster the 60 votes needed to force a vote on the proposal on the Senate floor.>

Article by James Oliphant, for the Baltimore Sun: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/biden_appeals_to_senate_on_ira.html

[Inuca]

1. Good article, great speech

at least the part of it that I managed to see. There are some interesting comments associated with the article as well. I am really curious how this will play next week. The list of current cosponsors is intriguing, to say the least.

[PatSeg]

5. I just posted a video clip

of it. Richardson was smiling. It sounds different when you actually see the reactions and hear the audience's laughter.

[Joe for Clark]

2. Biden is a good speaker - he kind of goes out there sometimes

but he is good overall - and I think he is basically right. He is smart anyway.

Kerry made a good speech the other day. If he was a little more that way a few years ago he would be president now.

I will not believe any american party would willfully screw the US for a political objective - I understand that has happened recently. I know they really just want to keep their jobs. But I would equally say those "wannabe" republicans are not real republicans. I can't figure out what the hell they are - sure not conservative. Real republicans have a voice of opposition - that maybe I don't agree with - But I recognize the fact that there needs to be two voices heard - so that the best truth will emerge.

My god - those bastard neocons base their belief system on the peloponisian wars over 2000 years ago - they really do. You know how strange that really is?? They forget - how it turned out - from from their point of view - not too well. They should read books all the way thru - and not just clift notes.

Joe

Joe

[PatSeg]

3. They always seem to forget, dont they?

Maybe they're thinking, "well, this time will be different". OR as you say, they didn't read the books to the end. It really boggles the mind.

[Joe for Clark]

6. I think they all got a C- in history.

You know if I even get a C+ in my program I get kicked out??

And these assholes are running our country???

I don't think so - not for long anyway.

Joe

[PatSeg]

7. They're too busy rewriting it

to actually study it!

[jillan]

4. Lots of talk about it earlier today.

He was on fire.

Hutchinson and Brownback got up to promote his plan :)Both Repugs.

They will continue on Monday.

This could be interesting because there is so much support for this plan, and even
Crocker was saying at the hearings that Iraq is doing this on their own.

Biden was saying that Condi & the UN would have to be the ones to oversee this...

and I was so impressed because he said that he welcomes debate. He wants to hear from his collegues how his plan could be even better.

[Joe for Clark]

8. I give Biden a lot of credit - there are some republicans I give

credit to.

It is funny - I don't really know if I could vote for a Hagel cause of some issues - but I respect him.

I don't need to agree with everything to respect someone. I just may not vote for them.

Hagel should not resign - I sure don't agree with him sometimes - maybe a lot of the time - but I know we are better off because of the voice.

We are one country and our disputes between us as a people- need to stay between us as a people.

Those people know this Iraq thing is wrong - they know - do they forget they are americans first????

Joe

[jillan]

9. I have been worried about who will take Hagel's place.

If it's bsh's buddy, that will not be a good thing.

[Inuca]

13. Seems like Kerrey will not run

I hope he is a tease, and will change his mind. Else, it seems it is the ex-agriculture secretary or that yourng local prosecuter who is even worse, and I will regret even more that Hagel decided he had enough.

[ginchinchili]

10. It would be foolish to ignore a voice that's finally talking pragmatically

on how to go forward in Iraq. What the hell else are we going to do? Biden's plan is the best way forward in an impossible situation, but doing nothing amounts to the continuing murder of thousands, maybe as much as a million people.

Thanks, tsegat01, for sharing this. I'll check out the video clip. It's always a pleasure to cross paths with you and read your posts.

[Joe for Clark]

11. I do want Hagel to stay where he is.

I don't believe in a lot of what he stands for - but I sure do respect his opinion- and that is a lot more than I can say about a lot of people in this congress.

At least he says what he means. That is a lot.

Joe

[PatSeg]

12. He does seem like the real deal

Nothing pretentious about him at all.

[Joe for Clark]

17. I think hes been to the show -

I trust people to do the right thing with other lives that have "been to the show".

Really saw it.

I have no issue with Hagel - he earned the right to be there.

I don't have to agree with him on everything to know he earned the right.

I have really big questions of people that haven't "been to the show" sending little kids to their death - with having no understanding of it at all.

Joe

[Inuca]

14. Too late for that

I mean Hagel.

[PatSeg]

18. His speech about Iraq a while ago was a stunner

Hopefully he will end up back in government in the future. Hey, maybe HE should be Secretary of Defense!

[Joe for Clark]

19. II think he needs to stay - he is a reasonable man in an

unreasonable time.

SOD - put Clark in there- I think the kids trust him - and this army better be made whole real, real soon.

Joe

[Inuca]

21. He announced he will not run next year

so he will be out soon. Too bad, really. Same as you, I do not agree with many thingshe stands (and votes) for, but he is trustworthy and has personal integrity, both are increasingly rare commodities in both parties. As for SOD: as far as I know Clark does not qualify, since he has not been out of the military long enough. That's what I heard others say at least, I do not really know the rules.

[PatSeg]

22. Clark would be an excellent choice

He is very reasonable and thoughtful, but sadly he hasn't been a civilian long enough to qualify.

[Joe for Clark]

23. That can be changed,

We are a democracy. The children of Jackson.

Joe

[Inuca]

27. Which speech are you refrring to?

The one this past week (which I did not see) or an older one? Just curious...

[PatSeg]

28. When Hagel was talking to the senate

and said this was tough and if his colleagues couldn't handle it, they should sell shoes. It was an amazing speech and coming from a republican was pretty remarkable.

I found the video at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZCeUhLkGto

[Inuca]

29. Ah, the old stuff

remarkable is an understatement. Coming from any politician, no matter the party affiliation. Self-destructive too, I guess...

[PatSeg]

16. Likewise

You always have something of significance to say and we're both agree about the "pragmatic" aspects of this race.

[Inuca]

15. Do you guys that follow Biden more closely

know anything more about the response this is likely to get in the Senate? In other words, is there a chance that it will get the famous 60 or will it be another exercise in futility and frustration?

[Think82]

20. we'll have to see...

but a number of republicans endorse this bill (Hutchison, Brownback, and others) keeping my fingers crossed that common sense may rule the day in the senate....

[jillan]

24. I think Kerry has signed on to it, Boxer has - not really sure

who else.

Hopefully Biden will do a good job framing this debate - because that is what it all comes down to.

[Inuca]

26. Yep, I knew about Boxer & Kerry

which combined with Brownback and Hutchinson make quite an interesting combo.

[jillan]

25. Talking about it in Texas - got a nice write-up

They're all a-buzz because rubber-stamp Hutchinson signed on to a Democrats proposal.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5155241.html