Senator Joe Biden: The Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama selected his Vice Presidential running mate, fellow Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, last Saturday.  Senator Biden was this writer's choice during the primaries for the presidential nomination.  Senator Clinton was my second choice.  I based my choice on their experience and their accomplishments.

 

Now the Democratic ticket is set and I believe it is important to the country and its people to elect a Democratic administration in November.  Journalists are already promoting the Republican talking point: how can the Biden pick represent change?  The idea being presented is that he has been in Washington too long.  Anyone who has followed what Senator Biden stands for knows that he does indeed represent change: change with regard foreign policy and change in regard to the economy.

 

Senator Clinton and her husband will do their part in the November elections.  No one knows at this point if the majority of her supporters will back the Obama-Biden ticket.  The voters themselves will have to make that decision and it will be Obama-Biden responsibility to make that case.  Journalists are betting the Clintons will upset the convention and divide the party.  It is part of their on going attempt to discredit the Clintons.  (Anyone who saw Hillary's speech last night or President Clinton's speech just a few moments ago know different.  The Clintons are 100% committed to electing Obama and Biden to the White House.)

 

This week, possibly friday, Senator McCain will announce his running mate.  Then, after both conventions and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates, the American people will start making their final decision as to who they will vote for come November.  At the present time, 10-12% of voters are still undecided.  Both candidates will try to reach those undecided voters.  The running mates of Obama and McCain might sway some of those undecideds.  We'll have to wait and see who McCain picks, but one thing is sure, whoever it is, he won't be able to match up to Joe Biden, the perfect choice for Vice-President.  

John McCain's Pinocchio Nose: A Republican Symbol

The American people surely remember our inspectors in Iraq who said Iraq had no WMD stockpiled and ready to use against america or transferred to terrorists as George Bush said and in fact gave as the reason for the war and invasion of Iraq.  They also articulated that Iraq had no WMD at any time during Bush's term in office.  It is also easy to remember after our inspectors issued their report Bush and the neocons started to give other reasons for the invasion and occupation.  In other words, they told lies.

 

John McCain continued those lies on 8/26/08 according to a Fox News ticker which quoted McCain in answer to a comment by Obama.  McCain said the war in Iraq was to liberate that country --- just another lie by a neocon on why we went to war.  The neocons believe if they keep repeating the same lie over and over, sooner or later the people will believe the lie as fact.  Pretty soon Mr. McCain's pinocchio nose will be touching the ground.  The so called "straight talking express" has died a tragic death.

 

The past has always been a key to the future.  Over 50 years ago, President Harry Truman said the Republicans were a bunch of damn liars.  Well, 50 years later, they still are.  President Truman was not a seer nor did he have ESP, he just recognized a Republican liar when he saw one.  Some things never change.

Religion and Politics

Last week, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama were interviewed by the Rev. Rick Warren.  It is hard to believe that these two presidential candidates would mix religion and politics to the extent that they did, especially since religion is a private matter.  It shows how  religion has high jacked our political process.

 

The Rev. Billy Graham over the past 50 years met with many presidents and candidates for that office but never questioned their religious beliefs in public or private that we know of.  The idea that McCain and Obama was questioned about abortion 30 plus years after the supreme court decision and was even asked, "when does life begin" is frightening. 

 

Abortion is legal in the U.S. and the anti abortion people still try to convince others that those who support a woman's right to choose are advocating abortion.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  I know of no elected official who supports a woman's right to choose who has promoted abortion or is for abortion.

 

The religious right hates those laws they oppose and use religion to justify their actions.  Sadly the conservatives and the news media are still playing the abortion issue out in order to divide the country and its people.

 

As for asking the question, "when does life begin" is as divisive as you can get.  There is no common sense answer when we mix science with religion because it brings out the extreme.  Religion is personal in nature and should stay that way when it comes to politics.  This country and its people went through its best years at a time when we did not question the faith or religion of our elected officials or those running for office.

 

The last three republican presidents elected to that office ran on an anti abortion platform, but none would publicly support a constitutional amendment to reverse Roe v. Wade.  In other words their political position on abortion was to secure votes from their base to be elected to office.  That should tell how they used religion for political purposes to divide the country and its people.

Bush And Musharraf: A Losing Foreign Policy

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday, August 18 after facing the thought of impeachment proceedings.  Musharraf came to power in a military coup and President Bush embraced his leadership after the tragic events of 9-11, pouring billions of tax payers' dollars into that country in the fight against terrorism.  Mr. Bush told the American people Musharraf and Pakistan would be an ally in the fight against al Qaeda in the tribal areas where they are hiding and training along with the Taliban.

 

Our latest intelligence reports, however, not only have said that al Qaeda's operations have become stronger in the tribal areas, but Pakistan has become an unreliable ally.  Bush and Republican leaders have a history of doing business with dictators and giving them billions of dollars and over looking the sad results of that kind of relationship.

 

President Bush's reckless behavior and incompetence in fighting the real war on the terrorists who struck us on 9-11 is still being played out 7 years later.  This administration is still fighting the wrong war with the surge in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  We are still paying the price with American lives and there is still no time table for withdrawal. 

 

Mr. Bush as President and Commander in Chief has failed every reasonable test as what it takes to protect our country and our men and women in uniform.  If the resources that were committed to Iraq were committed to Pakistan at the start, almost 7 years ago, al Qaeda as we know it would be nothing but a pain today instead of the threat our intelligence people tell us they are.  Mr. Bush's War on Terror has been not only a failure, but a myth.

Biden is VP --- But What Now?

Barack Obama made the right choice.  I know what I've said before about potential veeps for Obama, but Biden was the best choice out there.  Biden brings experience, enthusiasm, and possibly most important of all, an absolutely captivating background story.  Obama, in addition to needing someone to bring experience and blue collar workers to the Democratic ticket, needed someone to play the role of the "attack dog".  We all know that the Republicans are going to go after Obama head on, holding nothing back.  Biden is uniquely positioned to hit back on John McCain and to do it with a smile.  I believe that I speak for millions of Americans when I say that I am truly looking forward to seeing Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the White House. 

But now what for Obama?  He's named his VP and the convention is coming up.  But what else can he do to assure voters that he should be the next President of the United States?  I have a suggestion.  Barack Obama should come out and name who his Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Treasury, and Attorney General will be.  Not only would it assure some uneasy voters if Obama makes the right picks, but it will also give Obama four more high profile surrogates and campaigners.  Let's look at some suggestions for these four positions:

Secretary of State: If anyone but Biden was named VP, then Biden would have to be the frontrunner for this position.  But since Biden was rightfully named the VP nominee, Bill Richardson has to now be the considered the leading candidate for Secretary of State.  In addition to Richardson's experience in foreign affairs, Richardson, if named by Obama to be his Secretary of State should he win, would be able to almost certainly deliver New Mexico, and possibly Colorado, for the Democrats.

Secretary of Defense: This is yet another position where naming the right person could help Obama immeasurably.  Who would I name?  General Wesley Clark.  Clark, despite the ridiculous attack on him by the media a few months ago, has earned the respect and trust of the American people.  Wes Clark could be yet another surrogate to go talk to white voters uneasy about Obama in Appalachia.  

Secretary of the Treasury and Attorney General: I'm not sure who would be considered a frontrunner for these two positions.  Surely John Edwards was a leading contender for Attorney General before his scandal.  Now, however, I'm not sure.  As far as the Treasury Secretary is concerned, someone like a Mike Bloomberg, who is well versed on economics, could bolster Obama's poll numbers on this election's number one issue. 

Again, why stop at the Vice-President?  Let's show the American voters true transparency by letting them vote not just on the President/VP, but the next administration as a whole.  As I've said, if Obama makes the right choice for cabinet members, he can more easily win this election.  

VP Update

NBC News is now reporting that Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine have been informed that they will not be the Vice-Presidential choice of Barack Obama.  So, on that note, I suppose that you can disregard that previous announcement.  

So I guess that leaves us with Joe Biden or a surprise pick.  We'll just have to wait and see.  

Stephanie Tubbs Jones: A Tribute

Senator McCain Steps on His Own Tongue

Republican Presidential Candidate McCain once again stepped on his own tongue when he said, "Obama tried to legislate failure in Iraq and failed to admit the surge was working."  It was McCain who tried to legislate success in Iraq over WMD when they did not exist.

 

The reasons McCain said we went to war was bogus so there can be no victory when the reason given for going to war proved to be a lie.  McCain, elected republicans and conservatives who continue to support this war in Iraq and continue to lie about why the war has to continue are a disgrace to our men and women in uniform who are still paying the ultimate price. 

 

If McCain's military experience is used to justify our occupation and war in Iraq for the next 100 years and is a window to see how he would act if elected president, that should be very disturbing to the american people and the country.

 

We have many veterans in public office but McCain is one of a few who truly have no concept of the serious consequences of committing our nation and military to unnecessary wars.  McCain is also one of a few veterans who try to talk tough to cover up their arrogance and character flaw.  Cue, what has Bush's tough talk accomplished?

 

The country and our people deserve better from the next president.  McCain's actions show he lacks the fundamentals to be president.

Stephanie Tubbs Jones: 1949-2008

I would like to send my condolences to the family of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.  I think I speak for all of us when I say that I will for always remember her enthusiasm during this primary season.  She was a woman of great accomplishment who served Ohio proudly in the Congress and will be greatly missed.