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I don't talk or write much about Joe Biden for President, because, regrettably, he can't win. But if we chose who might actually make the best President--like a Bill Clinton with a stronger moral compass--Senator Biden would win hands down. Even his fellow candidates (opponents is not the right word...aren't we looking for the best and brightest as opposed to the most marketable?) seem to agree:
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I know we've discussed Joe's unwillingness to challenge Hillary's claim as the DEM's "most experienced" candidate but it's very telling that he continues to lay off on that score. During the last debate it appeared that he was going to throw a roundhouse when he said something like "all of this talk of experience makes me chuckle, there is nobody on this
ReplyDeletestage that approaches my policy experience either foreign or domiestic". But he pulled the punch with "I am not criticizing Hillary here"
Now, how is it critical to highlight his superiority in these matters? If you ask me, it's not even impolite, it's required.
The truth is that he could have been much sharper with, say "I have a lot of respect for Senator Clinton but I believe she overstates her experience while citing her years as First Lady and I think, if they compared our records, the American people would agree".
Such a remark, coming from Biden, could very well have finished her candidacy, yes, one punch could have done it because, as you pointed out a year ago she isn't anymore than even Obama.
So why does Joe hold back?
Honestly Kev, I think he holds back out of a heartfelt notion that he doesn't want to do incalculable damage to the nominee. He is clearly more experienced than anyone in the field from either party. I think he pulls his punches because he is a good democrat, and he saves the serious mud and kicking and scratching for the republicans. I think in that sense, the reason we both admire him is because he is perhaps the closest we've seen to the great Mario. Not so eloquent, not so passionate, but with a heart of gold and the moxie to fight the good fight? I dunno. I wish it were otherwise. . .
ReplyDeleteBut then, Jack, why is he running? It's as if he is there only to protect Clinton's flank. Good Dem or not he has derided Obama on at least 2 occasions, most recently, coyly affirming that the Indonesian years are the basis of his foreign policy experience. And it could be argued that during the debates he steps in after Obama has made strong policy case dismissing his points by conflating it with the recent blather of several other candidates.
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