Having Lunch with the Vice President...Give me your best shot.

[brooklynite]

Next week, I will be attending a private lunch with VP Biden (about 20 guests). I will probably have a few minutes to chat, so please give me your best strategic point to make.

Please don't tell me to say: "Don't abandon the Democratic Base"; it's too blury a comment, and he's going to be of the opinion that what the Administration is doing isn't abandoning the base.

Also, don't propose something that's outside the mainstream. "Medicare for all" isn't going to happen in this environment, and the Health Care debate is over. Give me something he's actually going to have to think about for a minute.

So, what's your best advice?

[Scuba]

1. Prosecute the criminals on Wall Street. Ignore those in gardens. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. I 2nd that.

All financial laws on books should be enforced immediately, and we need an Attorney General with integrity and honesty.

[quinnox]

2. wow, how did you get to have lunch with VP Biden?

n/t

[TBF]

16. Cash.

My husband was invited to a luncheon with Mitt Romney recently and it was actually pretty inexpensive in the scheme of things. Of course my husband is a dem and said "I wouldn't pay that to meet Obama". He is also cheap ...

[in_cog_ni_to]

Large donor....as posted last week.

We're lucky We have brooklynite and Warren Buffet on our side! :)

[sad sally]

46. Money talks, poor people walk n/t

[frazzled]

3. Well, my (pathetic) advice is, for what it's worth is ...

Choose a topic Biden himself is interested in (say, high speed rail or some aspect of foreign policy) and ask him a question he can really answer or make a suggestion you think will actually be useful. E.g., What is the status of high-speed rail projects initially funded by the stimulus? Or: The US is in a difficult jam negotiating the Israeli-Palestinian situation. Do you see any way forward with a role for us to remain honest brokers?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Raise taxes on the top 2% to at least Clinton rates

Preferred Reagan, and tax every trade in WS like many other economies do.

[sabrina 1]

5. Maybe if you brought a copy of the latest poll on cuts

to any of the Social Safety Net programs, SS, Medicare and Medicaid and asked him why they are even mentioning these programs in terms of the deficit, since they had nothing to do with it and most people know that. These are issues that relate directly to everyone's lives. Most people have family members, parents, grandparents, children etc who depend on those programs and the minute people hear any mention of 'cutting' or 'fixing' them to 'bring down the deficit' they know they are being lied to. The causes of the debt are by now, well known. The Democrats need to stick to those causes in terms of any cuts. The public is with them on ending the wars, making everyone pay their fair share, including the wealthy.

One other thing, the payroll tax holiday is a very bad idea. Why did they do that when unemployment is so high? Did they not know that this could create a funding problem for SS that was not necessary?

Edited to add OP which provides the poll numbers on the above-mentioned issue:

jtown1123 (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-23-11 04:12 PM
Original message
Bipartisan Poll Shows All Voters Strongly Oppose Social Security and Medicare Cuts

Some Highlights from the Poll:

A recent National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare poll shows that voters across all party lines share unprecedented unity in their views on deficit reduction. By a margin of 50%, Americans across all ages do not support cutting Social Security and Medicare to reduce the deficit.
Key findings of the bi-partisan poll include:

• Voters oppose cuts to Social Security and Medicare in any Super committee proposal by a 50-point margin.

• 82% of Democrats, 73% of Independents and 58% Republicans, a majority, oppose cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

• 72% of self-described fiscally conservative voters oppose cuts to Social Security benefits.

• 68% of self-described fiscally conservative voters oppose cuts to Medicare benefits.

• 54% of all voters, including 42% of Republicans, would punish their Member of Congress for voting for cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

• 40% of all voters, including 48% of Independent voters, would punish President Obama for supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

• The majority of voters (71%) favor gradually raising the cap on wages.

• Younger voters are more likely to oppose raising the retirement age than seniors are.

• The majority of all voters favor raising taxes on the wealthy over making cuts to Social Security and Medicare, including:
o 94% of Democrats
o 82% of Independents
o 64% of Republicans

Link to the PDF of the Poll: http://www.ncpssm.org/pdf/poll.pdf

and http://www.ncpssm.org/pdf/poll_executive_summary.pdf

H/T to DUer jtown1123

[Scuba]

11. +1

[Harmony Blue]

6. This is tough but how about?

Tax credits for companies that are pro environment?

[RT Atlanta]

7. Bush tax cuts must be allowed to expire

Dont let the country be held hostage again.

During the 90s, when the rates were higher, we saw the best post WWII economy in this country.



Oh yeah, end the two fucking wars - any thought to how much $ that'd save which could be invested here, at home?

[trueblue2007]

26. i agree -- STOP THE BUSH TAX CUTS. and get the jobs bill passed !!!!

gets jobs going. jobs in every state means $$$$ to businesses nearby. everyone wins !!

[Whisp]

8. How is Obama and his family doing in this toxic timeframe?

Are the kids okay? Do they hear some of the awful things that 'democrats' say about their dad/parents?

Maybe not the last part, but something on the personal side.
I would love to hear that he is sleeping well and still laughing regularly with his family.

[Wait Wut]

32. That's the kind of stuff I want to know.

I wanna know everyone is okay. I worry most about the kids.

[ellisonz]

49. I think Michelle does an excellent job making sure they're too busy with school and learning...

...to hear the invective leveled at their father.

Michelle Obama - One Heck of a Mother!

[Whisp]

52. queen mama :)

I love her and am so happy Obama has someone like that on his side.

[Angry Dragon]

9. Mr. vice-President the polls out right now say that the great majority

of Americans do not have any confidence in Congress nor the federal government as a whole.
The people feel that elected officials think they are above the law, don't have to listen nor account
to the people that elected them, and that the democrats are allowing admitted torturers
run around loose. Sir, what is your response??

[DURHAM D]

10. Suggest he watch every video available from Elizabeth Warren.

She knows who we are and what is going on our here.

[cally]

67. I would bring up the Warren quotes on the how the rich made it

with help from all of us. Mention that the populist approach resonates with both the tea party and the Dem base. I would ask why the admin. allows it's advisers to publically ridicule it's base and shows such disdain and the Republicans listen to theirs. I don't get why any admin would allow their staff to do that.

[closeupready]

12. If Obama is powerless, what can his VP do?

I'm told over and over again here that Obama has no power to do anything whatsoever about anything, so therefore, it stands to reason that Biden doesn't either.

So I'm not sure what to suggest.

I guess you could suggest that war is expensive, and when those wars are unnecessary, we are throwing money away that could be used to strengthen the domestic infrastructure, or even pay down debt.

[leftstreet]

17. +1

[JohnnyRingo]

13. Make sure he's not considering leaving

Beside the fact that I really like Joe Biden and think he's been a proper and impactive VP, I'm afraid his departure will be seen on a certain network as abandoning a sinking ship. I don't know if he's planning such an exit, but there have been rumors. Biden has to know we need him there in 2012.

Good luck, and congrats.

on edit: I don't have any clue how this can be brought up in a diplomatic fashion. Perhaps it should be more a statement than a query.

[WillyT]

15. Also On The Bush Tax Cuts...

Since the Bush Tax Cuts are set to expire in 2012, they will once again become a campaign issue for the 2012 Presidential Election.

The Republicans will once again say that this is no time to raise taxes on the "Job Creators".

The President and VP need to respond with proper framing and turn this around on the Republicans.

They need to remind the electorate that the only reasons these tax cuts were passed in the first place, was that the Clinton Administration had left the country in SURPLUS, and that these cuts were to be TEMPORARY in order to infuse the economy with more money/investments. They were even extended TEMPORARILY for another two years in the theory that this might help in the middle of the Great Recession.

We've tried it their way, and obviously it as not worked. It is time for this experiment to end.

The Republicans will try to frame it as a "Tax Increase", but this must be countered with the fact that this cut was designed to be temporary and was only allowed to pass because of that.

Hell... if I had my way... I'd let them expire AND, add a TEMPORARY 5% to 10% increase on top of it!

It too would be temporary, but it would be tied, "chained" if you will, to both employment rates and the deficit. The more people are employed, the more people are well paid, the faster the deficit comes down, and the sooner these increases expire.

Just a thought.

And tell him "hi" for me.

:D

:hi:

[lame54]

18. Fight Motherfucker Fight

[Blue_Tires]

19. I can sum up the best advice in one task:

Start reading Democratic Underground -- Follow the advice and analysis of the most-respected posters and contributors...

[WillyT]

25. Ooo... I Like That Idea...

:D

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[Blue_Tires]

27. They way I figure they have everything to gain and nothing to lose...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. If you're allowed.......TAKE PICTURES!

What a wonderful opportunity!

Have a great time.

This is historic!

[TBF]

21. Tell him to hire Carville - he's slimy but he gets politics and he may be the only

one who can get Obama re-elected.

[dionysus]

ROFL.. just what we need, put gollum in charge of the campaign!

:rofl:

[TBF]

34. I'm telling you - that guy knows what he's doing.

Bill Clinton got impeached and kept right on going. He doesn't take crap from republicans either. I know he's funny looking, but he's smart.

[WillyT]

38. Yep...

Some people need to watch some doc: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+war+room&aq=0&oq=the+war+r

:hi:

[dionysus]

57. he's married to a high profile repub pundit.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. Just like he got Hillary elected? BULLSHIT!! n/t

[Whisp]

42. he'll have to clear that with Mary first...

wonder what she would say:

'''Yes, Jimmy. Do It. Sabotage! hahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!''

[csziggy]

22. Ask him to tell the President to FIGHT for what Democrats have always supported

And stop backing down.

Also ask him how his children and Jill are doing? Has Beau recovered fully from his stroke? Where has Jill been - I haven't seen her on the news in years!

[Kat45]

60. I saw Jill in the past week or so on Leno or Letterman, I forget which. n/t

[csziggy]

63. I barely watch any network TV these days

And haven't watched late night since Johnny Carson retired.

But it's good to hear that Jill Biden is still out there. Thanks!

[Missy Vixen]

23. Ask him if he regrets his stance on the credit card legislation

Ask him if he has any idea how it affects the average American.

Thanks.

[onestepforward]

24. He needs to hit the road like Obama

to push for the jobs bill. I'd love to see him out there :)

[Frustratedlady]

28. Ask him why someone in this admin. doesn't have a special with, say, Rachel...

where charts are shown (from a reliable source) to back up who got us into this mess (unfunded wars and prescription drug program). It should also show exactly what the stimulus did, number of real jobs (not census-type)that have been created since 01-09, and even how much fraud they have uncovered/prosecuted since 01-09...Medicare and nursing home fraud, off-shore tax evasion, over-charges of no-bid contracts, etc. Then, show the dollars lost in the bank bailouts, how much was paid back and how much is still owed, followed by how many of those involved were prosecuted and how much was recovered/paid in fines.

We see a little here and a little there, but they could fill a 2-hour program on what they walked into and what they've done to correct the problems. Let your mind add to the list...there are many, many other areas that need exposure.

Just sayin'.

[CoffeeCat]

29. Ask Biden how WE can help him...

...and others in government--expel the toxic, corporate interests that
have overtaken our government and corrupted out politicians!

I'd like to know what WE can do to help them.

What do they need from us?

[a kennedy]

45. OMG CoffeeCat..... that is just an outstanding response......

the ol' Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country" thing.......OMG...... that's it..... find out what we can do for them.

[loyalsister]

48. There ya go!

Also thank him for what good he has done.

[dawg]

30. No increase in the Medicare age! Not under any circumstances.

This should be a non-negotiable line in the sand.

To compromise this away would be bad policy, bad politics, and bad economics.

[immoderate]

31. Slip him a joint, then wink. No words needed.

--imm

[The Straight Story]

33. My only message would be: Stand. Don't cave, don't give an inch. Fight for our ideals

Cause no one wants to support someone who won't make the unpopular choices because they are scared of what others might say.

[EFerrari]

36. I hope you get your money's worth. n/t

[fascisthunter]

72. lol... awesome!!!!

[stlsaxman]

37. Make MediCare a "buy-in" program for any individual. untie health care from employment and watch...

the job market sky-rocket! If employers didn't need to offer "insurance" in a job package, and job-seekers didn't hold out for coverage- they'd take any reasonable wage.

Hopefully you can put it more succinctly than i did just now but....

Thanks for asking for ideas, brooklynite! give Joe a big hug for me/us!

(this is a BFD!)

On Edit- nevermind.... (just read your post again) oh, well- have fun!

[RagAss]

39. Tell him to make it "Cool to be a Liberal !"

[s-cubed]

40. Here are mine:

1. Prosecute the banksters AND the regulators who enabled them.
2. Allow the Bush tax cuts to expire, even if it means raising taxes on middle class.
3. Let people know - clearly and simply, like Warren - exactly what he stands for, what he is willing to really fight for.
4. Call out the republicans for their lies.
5. Stop using republican framing - it's a trap.
6. When Obama gives a speech, he needs to look directly at the camera, to stop looking everywhere BUT the camera.

[Warren DeMontague]

41. Legalize, regulate, and TAX pot. Now.

Guess what? That IS the mainstream.

[a kennedy]

43. Just want to say brooklynite, how do you rate??? holy crap....

a lunch with the Vice President??? wow..... and I'm so nervous just thinking about it, I don't even know what to ask. Can you just hug him for me??? :blush: :blush: :blush:

[proud patriot]

44. I'd ask him what keeps him inspired that things for middle class

Americans will get better. what keeps him going? ya know :shrug:

[applegrove]

47. Tell him Dems should be naming the GOP as the party of bad information in this information age.

[ellisonz]

50. Ask Joe How His Pontiac Firebird is Doing!

[coalition_unwilling]

51. Why haven't investigations and\or prosecutions of the Bush Junta

ensued for war crimes and crimes against humanity? Or are you and Obama just a big fucking joke? (On second thought, the second question's answer was and is self evident, based on Biden's conduct as Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.)

[SmileyRose]

53. K and R Am grateful you asked.

My biggest concerns are the financial predators who caused all this and are still doing business as usual.

No idea what question to pose, or what plea to make - but that's my biggest concern.

Pharms are now refusing to make desperately needed lifesaving drugs because the rich fucks with the say so refuse to do so if the profit margin isn't high enough. When pure greed has gotten to the point where even after the crash the top most of the top most would rather let us die, literally, it's just gone way too far.

[LWolf]

54. Okay:

Dump Arne Duncan and appoint a real educator. Dump the neo-liberal education agenda and turn reform over to the real experts: educators.

Universal, public, not-for-profit, national health CARE. NOW.

Dump NAFTA/CAFTA in favor of fair trade based on environmental and labor standards.

That's a good start.

[sarcasmo]

55. Close the tax loopholes for corporations and don't' back down on taxing the uber wealthy.

[Glimmer of Hope]

66. I would say this too while pounding the table.

[randome]

56. Ask him if the CIA has done a risk assessment...

...of the consequences of climate change. If not, get going on it. If so, can that be used to spur an industrial renaissance in this country? Put us in the forefront of making the technology that will keep the planet going.

[BlueIris]

58. How do you feel, several months out, about the Osama bin Laden mission?

If you don't think the verb "feel" is going to fly, you could ask him for his thoughts. And no, I don't mean, "Admit it was a huge mistake," or "Assassination is evil, even if it's a terrorist!!" or "Show us the photos and stop calling me a deather!!!"

I just want to hear more about what a high ranking member of government thinks of the OBL op at this point.

[MaggieTheVoter]

59. Tell him to watch the voting machines next year...

....we still don't have the protection of auditable paper ballots nationwide, so tell him to watch out. With all the other voter disenfranchisement going on, I fear voting machine problems may be ignored at our party's peril.

The Obama campaign gave this issue lip service in 2008 but in reality had people on the ground that ignored obvious problems and trusted some of the worst machines. I know there were reports of campaign people who kicked real election integrity experts in the teeth when they tried to warn the campaign of trouble.

All that said, the Obama campaign was REAL lucky regarding the voting machines in 2008; maybe in '12 they won't be so lucky. There are a lot of big swing states still using the worst machines. For example 85% of voters in Pennsylvania have NO paper ballot of any kind to back up their vote. It's all trust in paperless electronic machines.

So please tell our VP to watch his back when it comes to voting machines, especially Direct Recording Electronic ones.

[MilesColtrane]

61. I would ask him to try to expose the President to more voices, opinions, and ideas from...

outside the beltway, particularly concerning the economy.

"The Bubble" will continue to limit Obama's effectiveness to lead and may result in a defeat in 2012.

[Lithos]

62. Tell him

1) Thank you for DADT and for it's end.
2) The administration needs to distinguish themselves as being somehow different than the GOP concerning the economy. Appeasement as practiced makes them indistinguishable and vulnerable in the next election.

And if you can

. The administration needs to do more for lower class women who are losing access to basic healthcare due to the GOP's tie of abortion to funding matters. (The cuts to Planned Parenthood, etc.)

[AverageJoe90]

64. "Mr. Vice President, what's your opinion on cannabis legalization?"

[Ilsa]

65. Reverse the 2006 legislation on the USPS, and they'll be fine again without service cuts. nt

[Drew Richards]

68. Crabcakes...tartar sauce or ketchup

[Motown_Johnny]

70. not ketchup. Maybe a mustard sauce....

[Motown_Johnny]

69. Why has manufacturing declined so much if free trade is good for us?

Isn't it true that free trade has damaged this country? Higher unemployment and lower wages for those lucky enough to have a job have also reduced the taxes collected to support things like social security, medicare and education.


Isn't it true that workers who only make a dollar or two an hour will never have the buying power to purchase products manufactured where the workers make fifteen or twenty dollars an hour? Won't these workers just purchase products from other countries where the workers only make a fraction of what Americans make?


I can go on and on but I think that by now you must see where I am going with this.

[B Calm]

71. I would bring up returning back to fair trade and dump the free trade

crap that has cost the working class middle class status.