Joe Biden should stay in the Senate

oh he's definitely got less of a chance than i do of winning that office. 99% of senators shouldn't even try.

One of the readons Bayh's pollster gave for him dropping out is that people actually RESENTED his experience.

Doesn't bode well for the Bidens and Dodds of the world. If true, it points to one brother from Illinois, though.

i was just thinking that, that having a body of work to criticize is actually an impediment rather than an advantage.

Especially when the people who have been running the country (not Bush, but his advisers) were supposed to have the right experience to keep him from crashing the bus.

Record or lack of record, you're going to get hit. But with a record, especially a Senate record, where you have to vote against things on procedural matters more than you do on princiiples, is a veritable cornucpoia of things to criticize. Oftentimes the key is finding what resonates the best, not just what kind of pisses people off. Research dudes are fun to talk to.

right, and if you vote against something with an acronymic name that spells "Puppy Lovers" because it had a provision that built a baby rapist factory in Loveland TX, then you're known as the guy who hates puppies (and is likely a gay athiest, and quite possibly an Auburn fan at that). it's just too easy. I want the CEO of some mad-hated company to run and just tell people to suck it as he's been making all the real decisions for years anyway.

You guys have stumbled upon the very simple reason why Senators dont become Presidents---the Congressional Record.

And seriously, some people are just better suited to the Senate. Shit, I'd rather be a powerful US Senator for 25 years than have some maddening four or eight year run as president.

Ted Kennedy has exerted approximately 1 BILLION times more influence and impact on this country than both of his brothers combined yet nobody is building him a monument or putting his fat head on a coin.

JFK
LBJ

... and both Clinton and Bush had their records as governor carefully scrutinized. Bush's education "successes" (a total... um, red herring) in Texas were a centerpiece of portraying an image of competent conservative compassion.

Spin is spin is spin. And attacks and defense will occur if the public record reflects service in the senate or a state capitol.

Having said that, Biden is crazy if he thinks he is getting double digits in any of the NH, Iowa or Nevada primaries.

JFK was 46 years ago, LBJ was reelected as the sitting president.

And sure Clinton and Bush's gubernatorial records were scrutinized but an Executive Record and a record of Legislative voting are two totally different things. To put it simply: The American people are too stupid or lazy to understand the nuances of legislative voting.

Lawmaking is the political equivalent of sausage making.

(cough)Clinton(cough)

I like Biden and wish he was electable.

Exactly. Being the Governor is like being president of your state.



Big Time. Strangely much more effective as a Senator than anyone would have thought, especially when her first term was all Repub-controlled.



I like Smiley Joe, and think that having a thoughtful president would help, but his entire make up is better suited for The Senate. Also, since his kid just got elected AG of Delaware, I would think his candidacy is more an ego/ideas candidacy...he's not going to want to win, because he's not up for re-election...He wants to wait to leave the senate until his son can waltz into his seat.

i could see biden as a good veep pick, he's got foreign policy experience and he's not terribly offensive.

We talked about that a little bit here when Warner was still in the picture.

I actually just watched this segment on MSNBC, and though they are arguing cart v. horse, I like both these dudes.

Biden, cos, well, he's Biden. and he will get trounced, because big campaigns like this are about message discipline and he has exactly zero. He sounds like Kerry without the lurch looks and ham fisted attempts to be hip.

And Graham, despite his complicity in the Clinton Impeachment (which, let's face it was used to make him famous enough to make a Senate run) seems like a genuinely interesting dude, who has his constituents and the country's best interests in mind...which is about the best thing you can say about any senator of either party.

Watch it again... although I've liked him in the past, on this MTP he was all about administration talking points... wouldn't answer questions being asked of him, instead spinning it into white-house-speak. He has been independent-minded (which I take to represent "has his country's best interests in mind..."), I didn't see that this morning.

I agree, Harry. In recent years Graham has been an independent-minded voice separate from the administration (especially on that torture deal), but today he was carrying their water for them.

I admittedly didn't watch this witha fine toothed comb (or whatever mixed metaphor you want to use) but I would think he was carrying McCain's water...which may or may not be the administration's water, depending on the day. Remember, Graham was McCain's man in SC in 2000 and will be again in 2008.

(Not saying he is right, just making a small point of order)

Biden patted Graham on the shoulder as if he was telling him he knew those were just talking points and that eventually Bush will be out of here.

That was much more eye-roll inducing nattering coming out of Graham's mouth than I've heard some other times in the past.

More troops. More troops. More troops. Then the Iraqi moderates will suddenly all be safe, secure and the Middle East will blow Abe Lincoln.

Bull.

Where's Chuck Hagel when you need him....