"Liberals could learn a lot from old man Biden"

[iverglas]

http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/liberals-could-learn-a-lot-from-old-man-biden/
"The Voice of Young Liberal Democrats", i.e. the Liberal Democrats party in the UK:
http://www.libdems.org.uk/
I imagine that many US Democrats feel a fairly strong affinity for that party and its policies.

At the latest democratic debate last night once again it was the rank outsider Joe Biden who impressed me the most. His arguments, that were at the same time compelling, intelligent, clear and original displayed just the kind of thinking required in the White House. His statement that he was running not against Hillary but to be leader of the free world and his thirty some years on the Senate foreign relations committee shows that he understands the responsibility to act responsibly that the President of The United States has to the world and not just to his own people if he wants to ensure peace on Earth.

On complex international issues, Joe Biden has the depth of understanding to be creative and cogent. British liberals could learn a lot his arguments and would do well to listen to him. In trying to present a clear alternative to Labour and the Conservatives we too need to have the same courage to present ideas that break the mold of convential wisdom and attack the heart of an issue.

... The genius of Biden’s answer <on Iran> was to take the reasoning for why an attack would be a terrible idea out of the abstract and emphasise how it would affect the personal safety of people living in the States.

By contrast the Lib Dems statements on Iran have implored the US government to show restraint and have talked about how threatening force is not the best way to dissuade the Iranians. ...

As a Canadian, I'm not at all impressed by a candidate for the US presidency referring to the holder of that office as the leader of the free world -- it's both outdated as political rhetoric (and offensive to whoever is being excluded from "the free world") and plain offensive to the rest of "the free world", since we really are not interested in having any US president as our leader. We don't elect your president, s/he does not get to claim to lead us.

One of several quibbles I have with Biden. He is nonetheless my choice for your next president -- and I would hope that international opinion does matter to those who are picking the person who will apparently regard him/herself as the leader of us. ;)

[PatSeg]

1. Thanks for the International perspective

Too often we tend to live in a bubble in the U.S., but thanks to the Internet, we can get a broader view of the world and our place in it.

[iverglas]

4. and what other current candidate

has had his picture taken with a Canadian??

I think the pic is copyright:
http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?nbc1=1&navtyp=CAL====283740&ym=200707

Senator Joe Biden is seen with 18 year old Alyssa Stea of Ontario Canada following his departure from a taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on July 31, 2007 in New York City
Headline: Senator Joe Biden, Seth Rogen and Elijah Wood Visit "Late Show With David Letterman" - July 31, 2007
Venue: Ed Sullivan Theatre
Location: New York City, New York United States
Date: July 31, 2007

[Frances]

2. I thought Biden did well too

I like the long primary season because it gives me a chance to see how a candidate handles him/herself over the long term.

When DUers start attacking one candidate or the other, I don't like it.

I much prefer positive energy to negative energy.

[pacalo]

3. We need someone who can *think*, not memorize stale talking points

or chimpishly convey messages from an earpiece. Biden did show that he can think/debate on his feet, but until you pointed it out, I never thought about how our global friends felt about the phrase, "leader of the free world". It must be terribly offensive, considering you cannot choose the "leader of the free world", & particularly because of the shameful behavior of this anomalous administration. Maybe you could post this at Biden's campaign site?

[iverglas]

5. heh

I managed to get myself on Edwards' email list ... may as well be on Biden's!

I should do ... and buy a T-shirt or something while I'm at it, since I can't actually give any of 'em money. I say: if they want to be my leader, they should take my money! ;)

[PatSeg]

6. Good Zinger!

:rofl: