Joe Biden Tells Democrats To 'Keep The Faith' And Says 60 Seats Wasn't Really A 'Blessing'

[jefferson_dem]

:popcorn:

Joe Biden Tells Democrats To 'Keep The Faith' And Says 60 Seats Wasn't Really A 'Blessing'
Christina Bellantoni | January 26, 2010, 2:01PM



Vice President Joe Biden told key members of the Democratic National Committee's National Finance Committee and National Advisory Board today to "keep the faith," promising that President Obama still stands for "real change" and saying that 60 Senate seats wasn't all it was cracked up to be, anyway.

"When we had sixty votes there was the expectation left, right, and center that we could do everything we wanted to do, which was never realistic. Never," Biden told the crowd of about 100 people. "Yes it's had a practical impact, but I'm not so sure what a blessing 60 votes was."

Biden said at the event, held at the Mandarin Hotel in Washington, that reports of the Democratic party's demise are "premature." TPMDC was the pool reporter for the event.

"It's time everybody take a deep breath, take a deep breath, let's put this in perspective. Yeah, we took a hit and the frustration was aggravated by the fact that Teddy's seat was lost," Biden said. "That makes it sound more profound than it is."

Biden said that when they had 59 seats in the Senate "no one though that somehow we were destined to fail ... Nobody thought we would not be able to get anything done.

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/joe-biden-at-dem-fundraiser.php

[Jennicut]

1. Because 60 votes involved conservadems (and Lieberman). And we should get rid of the flibuster.

Which Biden talked about already.

[catbyte]

6. Actually, we should keep the filibuster

only in the form it used to be in--opponents to a bill having to actually disrupt business and tie up the floor for days on end with no sleep. The Senate is a bunch of pansies. Sissies. :grr:

Bring back the real filibuster and let the public see just what kind of slime the GOP is now.

Diane

Anishnabe in MI

[hlthe2b]

9. yes.. but they should do away with procedural filibusters...

that is damned ridiculous.

[roguevalley]

14. I personally feel that had any of our guys and gals had been vertebrates, sixty

is a godsend. but that's just me.

[rudy23]

2. I think they sincerely believe that 50 seats is no blessing either.

How can Democrats be expected to pass corporate legislation with a majority?

[JVS]

3. It wasn't a blessing because it exposed conservadems for the pieces of shit they are.

[pleah]

11. +1

[closeupready]

4. This is one of the stupidest comment he's ever made.

It's as though he's wishing for minority party status again, and I can only guess why, but I presume because then they can promise their constituents everything in the world, and come home empty-handed (to the delight of their big money campaign financiers) but still say, "I tried, but they wouldn't let me! Damn Republicans! But I'll keep trying, just give me more money, get me re-elected!"

[Jennicut]

12. Joe is not stupid, just unfiltered.

What good is 60 when it is a fake 60?

[Cha]

5. I like his advice about

staying strong..in so many words. Crumbling is not an option.

[hlthe2b]

7. Not realistic when we were dependent on DINOS and Lieberman

the rat... But, it would have been realistic to turn over the ridiculous filibuster rules, rendering the whole point moot.

[blitzburgh55]

8. Thank you Joe

now, let's not let the reTHUGliCONs get control again.

[Clio the Leo]

10. Levity is hot. NT

[damntexdem]

13. There were never 60 seats.

At best, there were 59 plus LIEberman -- who was no blessing. In reality, there were considerably fewer.

[AlinPA]

15. 52 won't be a blessing in November either. DE,NV,AR,ND,PA,CO,IN,IL...

[troubledamerican]

16. Joe Biden quote: to Alberto Gonzales

"You're the real deal."

Google it.

Avoid vomiting directly on your keyboard.

[hulka38]

17. The party insiders were the ones who kept pumping up the "wait 'til we have 60" meme.

If they had 63 they'd say "We needed 64. 63 wasn't all it was cracked up to be by you guys" The positive of all this is it should show all rational Democrats what our party is. The frustrating part is that too many Democrats even now refuse to pull their heads out of that dark place and see the light.

[Raven]

18. Since when, Joe? That's not what you guys were saying when

you were pleading for money for Martha Coakley. Then, that 60th vote was critical to the future of the world! I wish these folks would get their message straight and stay on it.