Garling Gauge

High Praise for Joe Biden

“We can’t help it, we like the guy.”

We can’t either. This is the second write up on Sen. Joe Biden in as many days, and I’m leaving this one to others. Sent to supporters from Valerie Biden Owens, Biden’s sister, the following excerpts are commentary on Biden’s Las Vegas debate performance. If you’re undecided and are serious about getting a Democrat in the White House, give Biden a hard look.

Valerie Biden Owens discussing the campaign in Wilmington

The Nation, Ari Melber:
Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton shined in the presidential debate on Thursday night, as the leading Democratic candidates traded their sharpest barbs to date. Biden outlined the most specific foreign policy agenda, advocating a reduction of Pakistan’s military funding to force fair elections, and a new focus on eliciting support of the Pakistani middle class to counter militant extremism. He declared that he was the only candidate “on stage” to offer a regional plan since President Musharraf declared martial law, referring to a New Hampshire address last week , and stressed that unlike Obama and Clinton, he had actually voted to cut funding for the controversial Guantanamo prison.

Then Biden, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, showed voters his commitment to confront the Bush Doctrine, recounting how he “personally” warned the President that an attack on Iran without congressional authorization would lead to impeachment. … The media may be so beholden to this story about “the big two” — remember when it was three? — that what candidates actually do at debates will not be allowed to get in the way. But for voters who actually listened on Thursday, Joe Biden offered a bold and specific alternative foreign policy for the United States.
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Iowa Independent Blog
After watching Obama, Clinton and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards dust each other up in top-tier skirmishing, Biden, the Delaware Democrat and venerable senator, appeared as the steady old hand, perhaps the man you’d give the ship’s wheel to this instant.

“Who among us knows what they’re doing?” Biden asked.

Well, you …

Biden’s answers had the usual thoroughness, touches of Senate-speak, to be sure. But he stopped himself short when the penchant for long- windedness seemed about to take hold. Obama had nearly double the amount of “talk time” as Biden so in a sense the comparison of the two senators in the debate format is fantastically unfair.

In the arena of international affairs, Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, exhibited his superior stature on the issues, noting that he had spoken recently with key figures in troubled Pakistan, even before President Bush. Biden also refused to pander on the issue of merit pay for teachers. Who decides whether a teacher is meriting? It makes more sense, said Biden, the husband of a teacher, to base increased pay on whether a teacher obtains advanced degrees.
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Washington Post, Cillizza:
WINNERS:
Joe Biden: We can’t help it, we like the guy. Biden is regularly the life of these debates — launching self deprecating one-liners one minute and riffing on how he was introducing legislation before some of the candidates on the stage were even born the next. Biden is at his best when talking foreign policy and he got plenty of opportunities to do that last night. He spoke eloquently about the dangers posed by Iran and scored points on Pakistan by noting that he had spoken to both President Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto before President Bush had.

Later: Debate Fairness Complaints: Going into these events, everyone knows the deal: the candidates at the top of state and national polls are going to get the most questions directed at them and the majority of the speaking time. If you aren’t in that top tier, you have to find your own way to stand out (see Biden, Joe). Politics ain’t beanbag.

Time, Mark Halperin:
Joe Biden: B (second highest grade of all candidates) Funny, sharp and relaxed — either because he feels some momentum in Iowa or because he feels he has nothing left to lose. Best rapport with the audience of any of the candidates. Let a little bit of his inner braggart run free when talking about his foreign policy cred and resume, but was offered — and grabbed — plenty of chances to show off his best sides.

The Chris Dodd folks keeps putting out these Talk Clocks. Sadly it’s the most interesting part of the Dodd campaign.

NBC, Chuck Todd:
As for the rest of the field, Biden, again, had a good night. He keeps doing well at these debates; we’ll see if he can use this to propel himself in Iowa.

CNN Political Ticker, Emily Sherman:
Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware came out swinging for speaking time in Thursday night’s Democratic debate. His first punch went straight to the top three presidential contenders: Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of South Carolina. “This is not about experience, it’s not about change. It’s about action,” Biden said. “Who among us is going to be on day one step in and end the war?”

ABC Political Radar:
We’re seeing again why Joe Biden is a strong sleeper candidate in the race. This is a straight-ahead presentation — and he hit that out of the park…

As all of the democratic candidates discuss change, Sen. Joe Biden noted, “it’s not about change, what it’s about is action,” as he touted himself as the best candidate to put in place a plan to end the war in Iraq. Biden told supporters that he would work across party lines, but had a stern warning for the republicans. “There are things upon which I will not compromise. I am sick and tired of hearing the republicans talk about values. Give me a break,” said Biden adding, “they confuse ideology with morality.”

Fox News:
Biden once again proves he’s the most experienced foreign policy hand on the stage. On Pakistan, he says he spoke to President Pervez Musharraf and recently returned former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto even before the President did after Musharraf declared what some say amounts to martial law in that country….

Not afraid to correct an audience member on the Patriot Act and racial profiling - Biden looked very presidential as he explained the nuance of the law and stressed the importance of having a forward-looking plan for national security. While the Patriot Act has become synonymous with an infringement on civil liberties, Biden argues that it was not the Patriot Act that caused the questioner to be profiled, it would have been illegal regardless. Biden also added that Clinton and Obama voted for an expansion of Gitmo, while he didn’t. Point Biden.

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Joe is Right

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Categories: Joe Biden, 2008 Election

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