Aug 23 2008

The Stars Hollow Gazette: It’s Joe Biden Open Thread

Do you really need a Joe Biden Open Thread?

Visit Random Japan instead.

21 comments

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  1. I suppose it’s not as bad as it could be.

  3. horrific bankruptcy bill that was basically written by the credit card companies????

    How “independent” is that and he is from Delaware so he must take a ton of money from the credit card companies.

    Happy to be wrong on that point.

    I like ek’s sentiment “coulda been worse” my read is that Obama is definitely shooting for the MOR vote and this pick solidifies that.

  4. and it falls flat (except amongst Biden supporters).

    Way to go, Barack!

    • Robyn on August 23, 2008 at 16:17
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  6. Do you have a good recipe for seared scallops? I was thinking of going to the upscale grocery store in Memphis to get some.

    • Edger on August 23, 2008 at 22:36
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    David Sirota was interviewed on Fox this morning about what to expect from Biden as VP….

    The Good: As the Drum Major Institute shows, Biden has a fairly progressive record on basic economic issues, and has gotten more progressive on specific issues like trade. He’s also been a strong voice opposing unilateral war against Iran. And rhetorically, he seems comfortable painting a stark contrast between Democrats and Republicans on issues.

    The Bad: He is one of the most arrogant and conceited people in Washington – one of the jokes in D.C. when I was there is that Biden uses the term “I” more than anyone else. Because of this self-importance, he consequently shoots his mouth off in ways that can undermine progressives. For example, he has made insulting racial comments about African Americans and Indians. This might not only be dredged up by Republicans, but Biden may commit additional errors in his new platform as VP nominee. Additionally, Biden is an insider’s insider, having spent most of his life in Washington, D.C. That doesn’t exactly underscore Obama’s message of change.

    The Ugly: He was one of the most ardent supporters of the credit card-industry written Bankrupty Bill of 2005, which was one of the most regressive pieces of economic legislation in the last generation. And though he cites his foreign policy experience as an asset, he used his position as one of Democrats’ top foreign policy voices to support the Iraq War.

    So, all in all, the Biden choice is a shade on the good side of mediocre, though Obama’s willingness to anoint a senator who voted for two landmark travesties – the Bankruptcy Bill and Iraq War – gives us some disturbing clues about the Illinois senator’s attitude toward the economic progressive movement and the antiwar movement. It also shows how much work those movements have in front of them – and how, in particular, the antiwar movement’s strategy of focusing all attention on Republicans has actually helped create the situation whereby the Democratic Party feels perfectly comfortable rewarding supposed Serious Foreign Policy Voices like Biden even after they voted for the war.

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