Where Is Biden????

[WiffenPoof]

This is a serious question.

My first choice for President was Joe Biden. I felt, at the time, that the issues we were facing were so profound that we needed someone with the most experience to right the ship of state.

I might add that, while I supported Biden, once Obama got the nod, I fully supported his run to the Oval Office. In addition, you can imagine how happy I was that President Obama chose Joe for the VP spot. I felt that this was a winning team.

My question is this...
I understand the necessity of being loyal to the President when you are the VP. However, I have followed Joe Biden's career for a long time. He is a champion of the middle class and has very strong Democratic principles. He has always been a strong fighter for Dem causes. Is he having any influence on the President? I simply cannot imagine that Biden supports (in his heart) some of the decisions of the President.

Please don't make this into a bash Joe Biden thread.

I thought that President Obama indicated that Joe would be a part of all the decisions made in the WH.

I simply don't understand the role that Joe is playing. Does he have the President's ear?

-PLA

[DesertFlower]

1. i heard he's working with the senate

trying to get things done.

i was happy when obama chose him as VP. he's experienced and has been around a long time. i think he's also very liked by most.

[phleshdef]

2. Biden is the one that engineered the tentative tax deal with McConnell.

And he has been meeting with Dem leaders on and off for a few days now. Biden is right in thick of it.

[gateley]

9. "Engineered" or maybe made the deal Obama wanted him to? Just a thought. nt

[phleshdef]

11. Right, Joe Biden is just a puppet.

Stop playing stupid games. Biden is just as much as in on this as everyone else. You don't have to like it but thats how it is.

[gateley]

13. Biden toes the line - he's loyal to Obama and understands his role as VP --

And I just proffered a possibility, but if you want to insult me rather than talk, if I'm playing stupid games, then I guess we don't need to have further discussions. My loss, I'm sure, as I'm stupid and could undoubtedly learn from your wisdom.

See ya. :hi:

[phleshdef]

14. You offered something that you pulled out of your ass.

Biden negotiated this deal, one on one, with McConnell. There is no getting around that.

[denbot]

3. Interesting question..

I would love to hear what Biden really thinks about how Obama is handling the GOP.

[CakeGrrl]

4. He's supporting the President and having discussions with Congressional Dems

If you want "Biden unplugged" to see if he's just going through the motions and thinks Obama sucks the way some of DU does, good luck getting that scoop.

[Hawkowl]

5. The former Senator from MBNA?

The author of bankruptcy reform? The Chairman of the judiciary committee that put Clarence Thomas on the SC?

You can't see Biden's hand in Obama's administration? Really?

[WiffenPoof]

6. Yeah...I've Heard It All Before...

I can't honestly defend some of the positions he has taken. However, I've always found him to be genuine and sincere.

-PLA

[Hawkowl]

10. Of course he is

And I'm not being snarky about it. He is genuine and sincere, because that's his job. Giving money out to the rich is also his job. He cares about people, but like Obama, he cares about himself and his family more. There is no over riding principle or moral code. The rethuglicans have it easy because their overall moral code is easy: GREED.

I'm beginning to think that the ruling Dems are worse because they PRETEND to have principles, then simply sell the people out while blaming the people for being ungrateful.

I am genuinely sorry for your disillusionment.

[gateley]

12. When they were talking about how many in Congress were millionaires, you

know who wasn't? Biden. He was the second "poorest" Senator in the Senate. He truly has been in public service.

My take on that action is he did it because that's the largest employer in his State and he was able to get some good stuff included in the bill as well. I don't think he liked it (projection and conjecture on my part) but did it because of the number of jobs it might affect had he not.

I'm sorry you can't see past that and into the real person.

[Hawkowl]

15. Actions

I don't give a shit about the "real person". I care about his "real actions". Screwing people over in bankruptcy, trashing Anita Hill, and now helping Obama sell tax cuts for millionaires is all anyone needs to know about "the real" Joe Biden.

At best he is brainwashed into believing he must help the rich people or else they won't throw any crumbs to the peasants who make everything. Sheesh.

[gateley]

16. Self Delete -- Never mind. Not worth it. nt

[gateley]

8. ....

:boring:

[gateley]

7. Me, too - Biden was my first choice for many of the same reasons as yours

with special emphasis on his foreign affairs experience. (Bhutto and Musharraf calling Biden before calling Bush, for example - he knew all the players and had experience with them.)

I thought Biden/Obama could be a good ticket - Joe with his experience, Obama getting his chops then getting elected POTUS in 2016 (I had it all figured out :7)

When Biden didn't make the cut I spent a lot of time making up my mind on whether to back Obama or Clinton. For various reasons I chose Obama and the more I got to "know" him (in his own right rather than an opponent of Biden's) I really got behind the guy. I was thrilled when he won the nomination and ecstatic when he chose Joe for VP (I'd assumed he'd be SOS and offering him the VP gig proved to me Obama was as smart as I thought!)

I even thought this might be better than Biden/Obama because of the effect Obama had around the world, and we needed to mend our rep after Bush/Cheney had truly made us look like Ugly Americans.

I think Joe DOES have Obama's ear as was evidenced when, at Joe's urging to NOT build up in Afghanistan, he put his decision on hold until he sought additional input. Of course he made the wrong decision and listened to the Military, but the fact that he respected Joe's opinion enough to give it another look indicates to me he DOES have influence. A problem may be that Obama's surrounded himself with "experts" who he may feel have more of an insight into certain areas than Joe. I, of course, disagree. :7

Joe's a team player and intensely loyal, so he's going to support Obama, but I agree that he's probably unhappy or uneasy about some of the decisions Obama's made.

Joe's there, and you know he tells Obama what he feels. Maybe in the future he'll heed his advice more.