"Let's Make a Deal with Sen. Joe Biden" - from Sirotablog

[jean]

http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/06/lets-make-deal-with-sen-joe-biden.html

Let's Make a Deal with Sen. Joe Biden

from David Sirota

Sen. Joe Biden (D) is continuing his self-serving, arrogant and conceited attack on DNC Chairman Howard Dean, this time telling Don Imus that "The Democratic chairman does not speak for me, an elected United States senator. No party official speaks for me anytime, anyplace, under any circumstances. And I think the rhetoric is counter-productive."

All good Democrats and progressives should make a deal with Biden: he can continue stabbing his own party in the back with impunity for his own self-promotion, and say his party doesn't speak for him. In exchange, Biden should agree to never, ever claim to speak for Democrats.

Remember, this is a Senator who (among other things) led the fight to pass the bankruptcy bill, voted against limiting the interest credit card companies can gouge consumers with, voted against limiting predatory lending, voted against protecting consumers when their identity is stolen, voted for the Iraq War and voted to confirm Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. This says nothing about him perpetually floating his name for President, even though the last time he ran, he got caught pathetically trying to plagiarize people's speeches.

Is it a deal, Joe? We won't speak for you, as long as you never, ever try to claim your record is representative of us. Sounds pretty fair - and believe me, in the long run, the Democratic Party would be getting the better end of the bargain.

Sources:
Biden attacks Dean and Democrats again:
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-06-14-voa32.cfm
Biden leads the fight for the passage of the Bankruptcy Bill:
http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/001551.html
Biden votes against limiting credit card interest rates:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00020
Biden votes against limiting predatory lending:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00022
Biden votes against protecting consumers when their identity is stolen:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00021
Biden votes for the Iraq War:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237
Biden votes to confirm Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00002
Biden caught plagiarizing speeches:
http://www.famousplagiarists.com/politics.htm#biden

[ElectroPrincess]

1. We have to hit this Bozo where it really hurts - defeated in next election

I know Biden has been a Senator from Delaware seemingly since "Jesus was a Corporal" but he's gone too far. I wish there was some way that we could help the good Democrats of Delaware REPLACE this a**hole with a REAL Democrat. That would be justice.

[IChing]

3. He's just changing as you can see here......

http://www.allhatnocattle.net/bidenourtime400x71<2>.jpg

[illbill]

2. Oh give it a rest...

Biden is the best thing the Dems have right now.

[jean]

4. Please list a few reasons why Biden is the 'best thing' we have?

Thanks.

[illbill]

6. Ok.

They are easily noticeable if you read some of his transcripts from speeches on foreign relations. Additionally, read his Democratic Convention in 04 speech. Oh yeah, having a general sense of what he has done for the Dems prior to bashing Dean, it would help your analysis.

[jean]

7. hey, it's not mine - you need to talk to David Sirota about his analysis

of Biden.

You can go to his blog and comment on this article here:
http://www.davidsirota.com/

[ElectroPrincess]

8. I'll take a stand and say that he's a DINO, war profiteer and

general horse's a**. He's the worst kind of vacillating, posturing "gutless wonder" democratic leader.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Read his transcripts from speeches on Foreign Relations?

The man voted for a War he, for certain, knew was based on lies.

He man has no foreign relations skills.
He's a poseur, pure and simple.

[LTRS]

12. Maybe he should stick to speeches on foreign relations

then. And I'm sorry, given they way he VOTES I'm just not all that interested in what he SAYS. In fact, I think he should STFU. His pandering to corporations, and non-stop criticism of other dems is why we lose.

[CTLawGuy]

13. any actions or votes you could point to?

Even the Devil can quote scripture.

[elehhhhna]

14. Speeches/smeeches! It's how he VOTES that counts.

[priller]

16. The problem with Biden is

that while he sometimes does make good speeches and says the right things, when it comes down to his *ACTIONS*, he dissapoints all the time.

As Atrios refers to him, Joe Biden, D-MBNA.

[bicentennial_baby]

22. Speeches don't mean shit...Votes speak volumes

Biden sucks...face it.

[chalky]

5. Were you missing your sarcasm smilie?

n/t

[wyldwolf]

10. uh.. yeah

1. Biden is by no means my favorite, but he is absolutely correct in what he has said here.

2. I think if you held up the bad points of any politician's record, you'd shy away from them speaking for you. That would include Howard Dean.

3. Yeah, Biden has a spotty record in some areas, but how many senators don't? Guess it's ok unless you piss off Dean supporters.

3. David Sirota? Been known to stretch the truth on occasion. Not shooting the messenger here, but I would rather a less self serving writer bring the goods on a Democrat if that must be done.

4. I don't recall any Democrat, Biden included, claiming that he/she speaks for us. So what kind of deal is Sirota proposing?

[burythehatchet]

11. Its a deal

and I used to be a fan.

[CreekDog]

15. Joe Biden looks out for Joe Biden

That pretty much explains everything he's done the past 20 years.

If he were my Senator, I would still vote for him instead of some Republican, but not because I like him.

Dianne Feinstein also looks out for herself pretty well and that's more important than any other issue I can find.

[burythehatchet]

19. I put Feinstein in the same catagory as well.

[Flubadubya]

17. Right wing pundits love Joe Biden...

Anytime there is a slot for a "Democrat" on a talking head show, you can bet the chances are it is Biden. Wolf Blitzer just loves him... along with Joe Lieberman and Dianne Feinstein. Anytime he has to pair up a Rethug with a Dem, Joe-Joe is usually sitting right there.

Why do you think they trot him out so much? Well, I'll tell you... because Wolfie and his ilk don't want no stinkin' REAL Democrat on their shows, they only want the DINOs so they can further shore up their right-wing talking points. And, oh boy, Joe B. doe not disappoint! :puke:

[JaneQPublic]

18. Apparently Biden doesn't mind letting Neil Kinnock speak for him.

Of course referring to the plagiarism charges that led to Joe dropping his presidential bid in the 80's:

http://www.famousplagiarists.com/politics.htm#biden

[Cassandra]

20. My email to Biden

Howard Dean speaks for me, you do not. You could have; I was very impressed by your eloquent defense of the filibuster, but your votes for the Iraq war, Ms. Rice, and the bankruptcy bill tell me that you have no interest in speaking for me, a moderate 30-year Democrat before the GOP started dragging the terms of debate to the far right. You have already lost my primary vote for president; you are too easily bought.

[indypaul]

21. The last thing we need is,

lessons in forming a circular firing squad.
If we don't make progress in the 2006 elections
and return to a leadership position in Congress,
forget all about 2008. The opposition is giving
us every opportunity to make that change possible.
"As you go through life,
make this your goal.
Keep your eye on the donut;
not the hole."