Change and Experience-- An Unbeatable Ticket!

by: rpritchard

Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 18:17:11 PM CST

Act on January 1st

by: rpritchard

Sun Dec 30, 2007 at 12:07:16 PM CST

Biden Holiday Song!

by: rpritchard

Tue Dec 25, 2007 at 12:10:29 PM CST

Everyone else supports Federalism-- Why doesn't Bush?

by: rpritchard

Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 18:29:35 PM CDT

            Almost two years ago a bold and courageous man stepped forward, and amongst the political maneuvering and jostling, presented an in-depth political solution for Iraq.  Though an intense political whiplash was sure to follow, Joe Biden put policy before politics and called for a federalist system of government to be instituted in Iraq.  For the past several months, Sen. Biden has championed his plan saying that the only way to end the cycle of self-sustaining sectarian violence is to separate the fighting sanctions and create three semi-autonomous regions.  Each region, one for the Sunnis, on for the Shiites, and one for the Kurds, will be granted strong, local control.  The people of the states will finally have control over the issues they have been killing one another over for the past 2,000 years.  Biden believes that once local control is granted for issues such as marriage and divorce laws, police organizations and education the violence will subside.  A limited central government will then be able to function with three main purposes: control the boarders, deal with foreign relations and spread the oil wealth fairly based on population.  Just as expected, the criticism was harsh.  Many oppose the plan, saying it simply will not work; federalism in this day in age is not right for Iraq.  People argue: “We shouldn’t impose federalism on the Iraqis.  They already have an elected government; just let it be.  We have no right to force this on a nation’s people.  No one supports the plan anyway.  Biden is simply misguided.”  It is not at all uncommon to here people say, “Sen. Biden’s plan is going nowhere.  The Iraqis don’t support it, the American people don’t support it, and even Biden’s colleagues don’t support it.  What is he thinking?”  Though these points seem valid from afar, they become very hollow when examined more closely.

            While a certain someone (George W. Bush) still refutes the capabilities of the Senator’s proposal, many other big names support the idea of federalism in Iraq.  From big foot columnists, to United State Senators, and to even Iraqi leaders themselves, support has swelled for Joe Biden and his political solution for Iraq.  At one time the argument that the Biden plan had no support could have been looked at as a decent point.  Today it has turned into a bold face lie.  Countless endorsements have been issued in just a short time.

Many top columnists and big names in the media business have come out to support Joe Biden’s political solution.  George Packer has recently written an extensive post in “The New Yorker”, praising Biden heavily.  He can be quoted as saying “Federalism is the most realistic political option available”, and “I’m glad that Biden is pushing his idea…it’s the only exception to paralysis and polarization in Washington.”  Furthermore, Edward P. Johnson and Michael O’Hanlon wrote a piece in USA Today on Oct. 5^th.  Within the piece they note that, “Rather than continuing to place all our hope in Baghdad, it is time to do what Sen. Joseph Biden (DE) and a majority of his fellow senators have been pushing of late: build on that local progress by advising Iraqis to consider a form of federalism.”  The praise continues with people like Michael Hirsh of Newsweek and Randy Scholfield of the Wichita Eagle.  Hirsh has supported a federalist solution time and time again.  On April 26^th, 2007, Hirsh stated in an article of Newsweek that, "Joe Biden is dead right on Iraq.”  Continuing, Hirsh had other kind words calling Biden himself, “…far and away the most experienced foreign-policy hand among the Democratic candidates…”  People like Hirsh and Packer and O’Hanlon are just a few of the many big feet who are coming around to the conclusion that Biden is in fact “dead right”!

Amongst the growing support, a groundbreaking decision was made on September 28^th, of this year.   The United States Senate, for the first time since the war began, voted in a bipartisan fashion to rebuke the Bush Administration’s policy in Iraq and said a new track must be taken.  By a vote of 75-23 the Senate voted to pass Joe Biden’s political solution in Iraq and by doing so said that George W. Bush is wrong and will be wrong if he follows the current strategy.  Joe Biden was the first person, on either side, to bring both Democrats a Republicans together.  With the help of 49 Democrats and 26 Republicans, Sen. Biden told the President to stop this ridiculous policy and move in the direction of federalism.  Proponent of the plan, Sen. Barbara Boxer has said, "Our chairman has come forward with a vision of how this thing can end up in a place where people will stop killing each other, and yet keep together the country of Iraq, to do the things a country has to do.”  Other current and former Congressional leaders agree.  Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), has supported federalism saying “Federalism is already at work…This will work.”  Brownback feels so strongly about that he helped Biden make history once again as the two of them, Republican and Democrat, cruised the Presidential campaign trail together, both as candidates and held a forum to discuss and support federalism in Iraq. While the political atmosphere back home is important, the security of Iraq will ultimately come down the progress made in their government itself.  Thankfully, a consensus may in fact be in the works.

The most important component of any political solution for any nation in any circumstance is the acceptance of the nation’s people.  It is argued that America cannot force any proposal on Iraq.  People say it is not America’s place to change the dynamics of the nation.  Combatants of federalism say if the Iraqis and their leaders don’t support it we can’t act on it.  Well, I agree whole-heartedly with them.  We ought not force anything on anyone; the catch to that however, is that Iraq has come around to the idea of federalism.  It has been adopted into their Constitution.  Leaders of that nation support the idea.  It has been endorsed by countless Iraqi leaders.  To have a consensus in Iraq is perhaps the most monumental feat anyone could have accomplished and Sen. Biden did so with his political solution.  President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, has endorsed the plan saying, “I agree with Senator Biden. I think the resolution passed by the Senate is a very good one. Those who criticize it didn’t read it carefully. If read carefully, one finds that every article insists on the unity, security, prosperity and national reconciliation of Iraq.”  He went on by asking “his brothers of Iraq” to work together to institute the plan and to live by it.  Those who combat the plan have not only read it, but they clearly have not heard the Iraqis themselves speak!  Another Iraqi politician, Ammar al-Hakim, Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council leader, has reiterated support for federalism recently by saying, “Federalism is one way to accomplish this [peace] goal."  

Though it is always great to have the kind words of columnists and the endorsements of Senators, the most lucrative of all backings comes from Iraq itself.  As the nation embraces Senator Biden and his plan for peace, it will become easier and easier to act on his plan.  People are supporting the plan.  People are supporting Joe Biden.  People understand that the only way to end this war responsibly, without it metastasizing in to a regional war, is to listen to the Senator and introduce federalism to Iraq.  Joe Biden has the vision and foresight to lead this nation into a brighter future.  He has the experience to hit the ground running in 2009.  And above all else, he has the political will to introduce a tough piece of legislation to end an atrocity.  Though not originally popular, Joe Biden has swayed Democrats and Republicans alike and convinced them, like any competent President could, that his path is the right path; federalism is the right path.  Joe Biden is the right man for 2008!

First newspaper to endorse....Endorses Biden

by: Mark Langgin

Sun Oct 21, 2007 at 17:22:51 PM CDT

From over at MyDD:

Today The Storm Lake Times, a paper based in northwestern Iowa, endorsed Joe Biden for president. It's the first endorsement of any paper, let alone one from Iowa, of this presidential cycle. The editorial movingly cites Biden's personal story and his foreign affairs expertise as key reasons for their endorsement. 

Drop the Partisanship People!

by: rpritchard

Sat Oct 13, 2007 at 13:29:37 PM CDT

I'm a Democrat and I am worried.  In the beginning of the year I couldn't wait for 2008.  I couldn't wait for a Democrat to take office and turn this nation around.  I knew it wasn't a matter of if, but when.  Unfortunately, the tides have turned.  American citizens are sick and tired of the partisan bickering in Washington.  They are tired of waffling politicians who promise one thing, but don't deliver.  It is evident in the polls.  Only 11% of Americans approve of the job the Congress had done.  Only 10 months into a Democratic lead Congress and the nation already wants us gone.  If we are going to win the White House, we need to clean ourselves up and stand at attention.  We need to get our people to do their jobs and serve the American public.  The biggest challenge we face is partisanship.  Though it may be the Bush Administration’s fault America and our leaders are so divided, it is our job, as Democrats, to fix the problem.  There was a time, not long ago, that Republicans and Democrats worked together, ate together, discussed issues together.  We need to return that era of respect and goodwill and leave the partisan stabs behind.  The only way we are going to move this nation forward before 2008 is by getting Republicans to vote for Democratic bills.  The only way to do that is to show respect and integrity.

As voters in a democracy, we have a voice and we must stand up and use that voice.  If we are going to end the division in Washington, we need to show our leaders that we are willing to work with Republicans.  We shouldn't criticize a fellow Democrat when he or she reaches their hand across the aisle and asks for a Republican's support.  Just yesterday, Joe Biden, a liberal Democrat, and Sam Brownback, a conservative Republican, came together and held a town hall meeting to share a plan to end the war in Iraq.  Though the two Presidential candidates share nearly no political opinions, they do share one, and that is how to get out of Iraq.  Because they came together and showed unity, they were shunned by the bases.  Democrats have called Joe Biden "too conservative" and Republicans have criticized Brownback for working with a "liberal".  This however, baffles me.  When you build a bipartisan consensus things can actually get done.  We need to stop questioning Joe Biden and all other Democrats when they try to build bipartisanship.  Just recently, Joe Biden enticed 26 Republicans to vote for his federalist solution for Iraq.  He called it the "first ray of hope" while a fellow blogger, desmoinesdem, criticized Biden saying it "annoyed " him and that Joe Biden was out of line because he "threw Senate Republicans a life raft".  The only thing Joe Biden did was be the first person to be able to convince Republicans to publicly rebuke George W. Bush and his policies in Iraq.  Besides, the only people who need a life raft are the Democrats.  I hate to say it, but it's true.  We have been too dead set against compromise to end this war.  If we are going to win the General Election in 2008 we are going to have to 1.) Begin to end the war by adopting the only political solution with the ability of overriding a Presidential veto and that would be Joe Biden’s and 2.) We need to nominate a Democrat with a history of bringing people together.  That is Joe Biden. 

As Democrats, we must remember, in General Elections we rely on the independent vote.  Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton, who is currently leading in all of the early states, does not appeal to independents.  During the 1990s, when Clinton gave her began effort to achieve Universal Healthcare, $100 million was spent on the Harry and Louise campaign alone.  This idea of Universal Healthcare is still called HillaryCare by many Republicans and the term was used in the latest Republican debate, not to mention the fact that Clinton's name alone was brought up six times.  Candidates like Clinton are much too partisan to win in a general election.  She will energize Republicans and alienate independents.  Nominate Clinton and we will lose.  Nominate Joe Biden, a man with a solid record going back 35 years, and we Democrats will take back the White House!

A New Kind of Surge

by: rpritchard

Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 17:15:34 PM CDT

    Forget about any surge you have heard spoken of over the past summer.  I'm not talking about a military surge in Iraq, or a diplomatic surge for the Middle East; the only surge I'm talking about is the surge of support Joe Biden has created in Iowa.

    Over the past few months, Joe Biden has amassed thirteen state legislator endorsements in the state of Iowa, including that of House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy.  This is more than John Edwards, Bill Richardson and just two short of Barack Obama.  The only candidate with more endorsements than Biden is the so-called "foregone conclusion", Hillary Clinton.  Based upon these facts, one could argue Joe Biden is a top-tier candidate. This is an argument I am willing to make. 

    While his numbers remain low, Joe Biden is one of only two candidates who have increased their percentages throughout the election.  Going from roughly 1% in the polls to upwards of 8%, Joe Biden has increased his support eight-fold.  Once more, the only candidate matching Sen. Biden is Mrs. Clinton.  Though she may be leading in Iowa right now, she ought to have her eyes set steady in her rear-view mirror.  Joe Biden is racing up on the inside.

      Criss-crossing the state of Iowa, Joe Biden has been more active in the state than any other challenger.  As the holidays creep up, Sen Biden has just begun an eleven day visit to the Hawkeye State, connecting with Iowans at every stop.  Attendance at Biden events has swelled.  Early on, perhaps 15-20 people might have shown to watch the Senator speak.  Now a days, events may include anywhere from 200-400 attendees.  

    Now that Joe Biden has laid the groundwork, Iowans are beginning to listen.  Americans are beginning to listen.  With the combination of experience, foresight and charisma Joe Biden is surging in Iowa and around the nation.  His federalist solution for Iraq has gained traction, passing the Senate by a margin of 75-23.  The senator has recently laid out a plan to fix social security as well as education and protecting retirement savings. All I have to say is this:  Clinton, Barack, Edwards, watch out.  Biden is moving on up!

Someone Worth Fighting For...

by: ArmyWife

Fri Aug 17, 2007 at 16:59:19 PM CDT

Link

I found this photo and wept because my husband is going to Iraq for fifteen months and I know this could be me. On any given day, out of 455, someone could come to my door and make me a widow.  I look at this woman and I can barely breathe.

A Military Wife's Campaign Diary

by: ArmyWife

Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 18:59:38 PM CDT

My name is Carissa Picard.  Although I am an attorney, I have been staying at home with my two sons, ages 3 and 6, for the past five years.  My husband is a warrant officer in the United States Army.  He just finished a year-long tour in Central America and is going to Iraq in early 2008.  As a result, we have less than a year together before he has to redeploy.  Nonetheless, in June, I drove from Fort Hood, Texas, to Des Moines, Iowa, to help promote Senator Joe Biden's candidacy (at my own expense and with my husband's full support).  This is my blog about my experience with the campaign and the people of Iowa.

Biden in Emmetsburg: Make Hope and History Rhyme

by: IowaVoter

Tue May 29, 2007 at 23:25:17 PM CDT

History says, Don’t hope

On this side of the grave, 

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave 

Of justice can rise up

And hope and history rhyme.

                     Seamus Heaney

Hot on the heels of Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden charmed a crowd of 110 guests at the home of Senator Kibbie tonight.

If the caucus were tomorrow, he might win Emmetsburg.

Quoting Irish poet Seamus Heaney, Biden said the goal of the 2008 election will be to get the US out of the hole dug by the Bush government.  He said Iraq is the biggest boulder on the road to the future.

 More . . . .

2008: Ranking the Democrats

by: Chris Woods

Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 16:53:51 PM CST

1. Hillary Clinton
2. Barack Obama
3. John Edwards
4. Bill Richardson
5. Chris Dodd
6. Tom Vilsack
7. Joe Biden
8. Wesley Clark
9. Dennis Kucinich
10. Mike Gravel

Let me add a couple of things to the questions or things they are talking about in their descriptions of each candidate.  It seems that they frame Clinton's problem as one of responsibility or the ability to appear genuine.  Iowa Democrats, in my opinion, are looking for a genuine candidate who is able, ready, and willing to admit mistakes.  John Edwards and Barack Obama easily have that advantage over her -- and I'm pretty sure some Iowa Democrats are already holding that against her.

Chuck Todd and Marc Ambinder are looking for some staff beyond Nevada to impress them some more and prove that he is everyone's second choice.  Here's some nice news that I have heard: former Iowa Democratic Party Field Director Brad Frevert has joined Richardson's campaign as his go-to guy for Iowa field operations.  Frevert's an Iowa-boy, and worked with Jesse Harris (who is Vilsack's field guy), so we know he's got Iowa field knowledge coming out the wazoo.

They note that Chris Dodd is basically raising lots of money because he's got a cushy position as Chair of the Senate Banking Committee.  It is true, but he's also taking leadership on restoring Habeas Corpus.  That'll give him a little edge with which to hold on to some grassroots activists.

Finally, we get to Vilsack, and this is the question I have to ask: Does the endorsement of Barack Obama by Tom Miller and Mike Fitzgerald really mean anything?  Todd and Ambinder seem to think that's bad news, as do the folks over at CityView's Civic Skinny.  Now, maybe because I'm young I might be a bit naive about Iowa politics, but do Miller and Fitzgerald really have that big of a following in Iowa that their endorsement would swing Iowa voters to Obama?  I don't believe that for one bit, but I guess I have to keep inserting the naive bit just in case.  Both Miller and Fitzgerald have been around in state Democratic politics forever and neither were indebted to Vilsack at all, so I don't think there was a lot of pressure for Vilsack to lock up their endorsement.

And let's not forget, Tom Miller endorsed Joe Lieberman in 2004 and Lieberman didn't even make it to the caucuses.  I'm not saying Obama won't make it to the caucuses (he will) but Miller seems to endorsed based on how well you're doing early on in the race, not simply based on issues.

Finally, Joe Biden will be back in the state this weekend (or is supposed to be, but it looks like Sen. Reid might be scheduling a vote for Saturday), so I think we'll officially be able to gauge Iowan reactions to his campaign after he's been here as a serious candidate.

Anyway, what're your thoughts on the rankings?  And if you haven't already, make sure to vote in the poll on the left side of the page.