The more I read about Senator Joe Biden the more I like the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.
He just wrapped up a two-week tour of Iowa, a must for any Presidential contender, and recently came under fire for remarks against Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer.
I don't think I've ever set foot in a Wal-Mart, but Mr. Biden is calling the private sector to task for the well being of other Americans. If a company is going to profit off cheap labor then they have a responsibility to provide for healthcare for an obviously essential workforce.
Of course the right will have none of this and Mr. Biden might as well have burned a flag. By attacking a venerable institution in the right wing psyche Biden has been dismissed as a Democrat snob who's out of touch with the American people.
Pssh.
I like Biden. I want to see more of him. I want to know what you think about him, too.
In fact, I think we should create our own fantasy Democratic party! Who would we nominate for Pres, Vice Pres? Who'd serve on the President's cabinet?
This could be fun and you don't have to work on Monday so play along. NOW.
I've liked Joe Biden for years. His knowledge of the Iraq mess and criticism of Bush has been impressive.
ReplyDeleteHe's my first choice for the next president.
Never been in a Walmart?
ReplyDeleteWell you're just so precious and special!
An article at TomPaine.com referred to an op-ed piece by Biden in the Washington Post, in which he lays out a five point strategy for holding Iraq together. It includes dividing the country into semi-autonomous Sunni, Shia, and Kurd areas, with central government handling things like national defence and divvying up oil revenues, and so forth. Whether you agree with it or not, it's an intelligent, practical strategy.
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, when Bush was asked about Iraq strategy, he prattled on about helping the Iraqis achieve a democratic society, and said, "That's the strategy."
As many have pointed out, that's not a strategy, that's a goal. Strategy is a game plan to achieve your goal. That a war president doesn't seem to understand the difference is pretty frightening.
It includes dividing the country into semi-autonomous Sunni, Shia, and Kurd areas, with central government handling things like national defence and divvying up oil revenues, and so forth.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, segregation. That's "intelligent" and "practical"???
The misconception as far as the Wal-Mart issue is concerned is that the liberals actually give a damn about the common person. The real deal is that the libs are far more concerned about the unions under the guise of giving a damn about you. Why else do you think they focus their energies on Wal-Mart and not similar stores which are union shops, but have non-union employees?
Furthermore,
ReplyDeleteAs many have pointed out, that's not a strategy, that's a goal. Strategy is a game plan to achieve your goal. That a war president doesn't seem to understand the difference is pretty frightening.
Pardon me. I was edumacated in the Mississippi public school system, exactly when did it becom necessary for a president to divulge war strategy to the public?
President: THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
ReplyDeleteVP: BILL RICHARDSON
State: RICHARD HOLBROOKE
Special Iraq Envoy: JOE BIDEN
Defense: LEE HAMILTON
UN: CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUN
HLS: GARY HART or TOM KEANE or JANE HARMAN