When did you become a Biden supporter?

[jillan]

I saw him on C-Span in 2004. He was yelling at a bunch of reporters
about the swiftboat liars.
I was amazed, and sat there cheering him on.

I have been following him ever since, becoming more impressed with time.

[Byronic]

1. Quite recently if I'm honest

I was looking around for the right candidate and he got my attention with the barnstorming IAFF speech. With some political candidates the more you look closer at them, and at their records, the more disappointed you get. Behind the wrapping, the reality is not quite so good. With Joe Biden it was the other way around. The more you examine his life and positions, the more you get to admire him.

[PatSeg]

4. My first impression of many candidates

tends to fade after a while, as I see them try too hard to not make a mistake. Their attempts to please everyone, all the time is a real turnoff for me and indicates a lack of character. I don't want another PR president.

I want a real leader, so I don't have to wake up every morning worrying about whether the world will be plunged into disaster.

[mrigirl]

2. Last year

when he was on the Bill Maher show. Bill let him speak for quite a few minutes and the audience was so hushed and hung on his every word. When he was finished he said he was running for president in "08 and the crowd went nuts. I turned and looked at my husband and said to him that here's the man that could really do it. His ideas and principles are exactly what this country needs.

[PatSeg]

5. And hopefully the country

will wake up and realize that.

[PatSeg]

3. During 2004 presidential campaign

I was becoming numb from all the political jargon and then I heard Joe Biden speak. He was refreshingly direct and unscripted. Every time I saw him on TV after that reinforced my first impression. He stood out from other politicians. So many had let me down in various ways, but Biden continued to live up to my high regard for him.

If I had any lingering doubts, his speech to the IAFF wiped them away.

[murbley40]

6. I have been a Biden supporter

for many years. I was very disappointed when he decided not to run last time. I still think it was his best chance to win.

[woodsprite]

7. Me too. I've been a Biden supporter since I could vote. That would

be -- well, let's just say that I've supported him ALL of his career ;) I would say IMO he's Delaware's Ted Kennedy - although nobody could stand in Ted's shoes. I think he's getting better with age.

[demommom]

8. I have been a Biden supporter....

since he first ran and was elected to the Senate. I remember how sad we all were when he lost his wife and baby daughter. Then how impressed we were with how he and his family handled it together. The Bidens are a great family group. They are an example of true family.

[PatSeg]

9. I love hearing the Delawarean perspective!

[ribrepin]

10. Since I saw Biden questioning Rumsfeld a couple of years ago

He looked like John Gotti shaking down some two-bit crook who had made the mistake of stealing from Gotti. I wouldn't have found that quality attractive in a politician 10 years ago, but times have changed. Then he wore that princeton hat to the Alito hearing.

[jillan]

11. I loved the Princeton cap too - but I am going to have to find a link to when he

questioned Rummy.

Glad to see you here :)
The Biden supporters finally have a place to hang out:toast:

[demommom]

12. Welcome to the Biden Group!

:hi:

[murbley40]

13. kick

[Bucky]

14. I've always liked his range of intellect and plainspoken style.

I started drifting his direction when it came clear that Clark wasn't going to run (something my fellow Clarkies seem in denial of) and when Obama and Edwards continued to fail to tickle my nards. Biden alone speaks with the convincing, intelligent confidence I believe can produce a solid out of the ball park victory in November. He has a voice I wouldn't mind listening to for the next five years. Or nine!

Don't get me wrong. Joe could still blow it (his vote for funding the war was well spun, but an irritant). Obama could still come along and wow a crowd of Republicans in the news one day and pull me back in. But right now he's the one I want to see break out of the pack.

I think I came to this position sometime in mid August.

[PatSeg]

15. His direct speaking style really struck me back in 04

My mind was numb will all the political jargon and his voice was a breathe of fresh air for me. I thought, why can't the others speak like this. I was so tired of reading between the lines and trying to figure out what they REALLY meant. You could tell their advisers were too hands-on - brought back memories of "The Candidate" with Robert Redford.

[jillan]

16. Hi Bucky - good to see you here!

[demommom]

17. Welcome to the group, Bucky!

:toast:

[Bucky]

18. Well, I'm not "in" entirely. I'm what you'd call "Biden-curious"

He's good on the stump and consistant in his policies and mature about his suggestions and passionate about his views.

But that said, I'm still waiting to hear more about his negatives before I commit, I need to see him inch up in the polls, and I need to hear him explain his vote on refunding the war a hell of a lot better than "our troops needed new armored humvee upgrades." It was an emergency supplemental targeting Iraq. There's already a legitimate funding process to armor our troops without reauthorizing the war. He needs to close the deal with me.

And I'm too damn busy covering my ass in Bush's America to do the research myself. Or at least that's the excuse I'm using this week.

[demommom]

19. kick

[ginnyinWI]

20. I've always thought he was smart, but

it wasn't until I saw him talking to some ordinary people at a meet n' greet that I saw the human side of him. He really seemed to care about people and their lives.

I'm not entirely sold on him as a presidential candidate, but I do respect him.

[jillan]

21. Hi Grandma :)

Good to see you here.

How's the baby??

[ginnyinWI]

22. I've still only seen pictures so far--

but he's doing great. His parents aren't getting much sleep, though!

[Imalittleteapot]

23. This Richardson supporter got on the Biden boat

after hearing him at one of the debates this year. I have always liked his style, strength, compassion and foreign policy expertise. His speech at the Steak Fry wrapped it up for me. He was presidential.

Have I mentioned that Kucinich is my dream candidate?

[jillan]

24. Welcome aboard!

What I always say about Kucinich - is I wish the world was the way Kucinich sees it.
A peaceful, kind world.
He has been amazing at all of the debates.

[murbley40]

25. Welcome to the biden group!!

:hi:

[gateley]

26. Since coming to DU -- and since I don't know how to find the date I joined. I'm

thinking it was the middle to end of August (I have an alarming NON-sense of time - difficult for me to judge). As a matter of fact, when I first saw this post I didn't even consider responding because I didn't consider myself a Biden -- or any candidate -- supporter.

I began watching the debates fully expecting to go ga-ga over Obama because of all the flap I'd heard, hate Hillary, and continue my dislike of Edwards even though I'm currently a North Carolinian (needless to say I dislike Elizabeth Dole, too).

My initial reaction was very favorable to Mike Gravel -- I still really really like him, was surprised to find I was underwhelmed by Obama and kind of impressed by Hillary. My dislike of Edwards continued. At that point for some reason Biden didn't stand out.

I was all over the place finding favorable points in each of the candidates -- even John Edwards! I truly thought I'd be happy with any one of them as President. AND -- get ready to groan -- I was also very interested in Ron Paul.

Sometime between then and now Biden started really standing out as someone who spoke his mind (like Gravel), had strength of his convictions, and simply more REAL than Clinton, Obama and Edwards. Then I found I was VERY impressed with most of his plans, his experience, intelligence, grasp of how the world works, thoughtful approaches, etc. Now I'm all Biden all the time and an avid supporter.

So although I can't say exactly WHEN I became a committed supporter, it's been within the last month. And my conviction grows stronger daily.

[PatSeg]

27. August 31, 2007

You can just click on your "profile" at the top of your post and it will tell you when you joined.

Your feelings are similar to mine. I really expected more of Obama and found him disappointing. He gave a great speech at the Democratic convention, but hasn't been very impressive since then. My dislike for Hillary has been replaced with a certain amount of respect, but I still don't trust her much and she doesn't inspire me at all. Much too scripted and political. Biden inspires confidence and I can picture him as an effective and strong leader, something we really need now more than ever.

[gateley]

28. Hey thanks. Now I can have an anniversary! nt

[PatSeg]

29. Whoopee!

We can all celebrate together!!!!