Who would participate in a Joe Biden Group?

[PatSeg]

A number of us have wondered why there is no Biden Group at DU and then realized it is because we haven't started one. We need a minimum of ten people to actively participate in a group to discuss Senator Biden's experience, qualifications, and campaign. I know there are a lot people out there who are still "on the fence" and are looking for information on all the current candidates. I think a group devoted just to Joe Biden could be beneficial to anyone who is looking to make an informed decision in the upcoming primaries.

Anyone interested???

Thanks!

[evlbstrd]

1. Joe Biden would.

But not I.

[woodsprite]

3. Me. I know I'm not the only one from DE on here. n/t

[PatSeg]

6. I've noticed quite a few comments from Delaware folks

and they've all been positive. Who better to give us a clearer perspective on Senator Biden?

[Stop Cornyn]

4. lol -- my thoughts exactly.

[PatSeg]

9. Delaware too???

I like your taste in senators! I'm currently from CA and am very proud of Barbara Boxer.

[napi21]

2. I'd love to join. I still think Biden should be in the top tier and I have

a difficult time understanding why he's not!

[PatSeg]

7. You're not alone

I've heard that comment more than I could count. I am so tired of the media picking OUR candidates. That is our job, not theirs.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

5. I would nt

[Moderate Dem]

8. I would

I'm a big fan of Biden. He's the most knowledgable Democrat in the Senate on defense, IMO.

[murbley40]

10. I will!!

Joe biden is both my senator and my choice for president!

[PatSeg]

11. He was my choice long before he was running

though I kept an open mind as to the other candidates. Thus far, they've only made me more of a Biden supporter.

[demommom]

12. Hooray!! Thank you for starting this.

I am very interested. Tell us what to do next.

[PatSeg]

14. Well this is the first step

We need ten members with donor stars to agree (Incidentally I became a donor so we could start a group). Once we have ten, we agree within the thread what the mission statement will be and then we email our suggestion to one of the moderators.

Any and all input in support of such a group is welcome. We all have so much to contribute, and I think our combined efforts will be beneficial to those seeking more information about Senator Biden and his campaign. I personally love the stories from the Delaware members.

[slipslidingaway]

13. I'll give you an 'R' for more exposure...

Good luck!

[PatSeg]

15. Thanks, we need to focus some light on the lower tiered

candidates, so that every vote is the result of informed decisions. There is too much at stake this time.

[slipslidingaway]

23. YW, and I agree there is SO MUCH at stake this time! nt

[Adelante]

16. I'll sign up

I'm very bad at participating in these groups, but I will drop in, if that's okay.

[PatSeg]

17. I haven't participated in any groups, but I think it is important

that all the candidates are represented. I noticed that Chris Dodd doesn't have a DU group either, which is a shame. He is a highly underrated candidate and deserves some exposure. Meanwhile, the firefighters seem to be aware that he is running. They must know something!

[Adelante]

19. I'm sort of stuck here in GDP - I rarely go elsewhere on the site

Yes, Dodd certainly snagged a nice one.

[PatSeg]

20. Me too, I'm such a pathetic political junky these days.

It wasn't always that way. I actually had other interests and even read non-political books. Seems like a hundred years ago, sigh. I try to take a break now and then, but it barely lasts a day! I really should clean house - maybe later..............

[Debi]

18. I am 'on the fence' but think there should be a group dedicated to each

candidate running for president - so I'm in.

[PatSeg]

21. Exactly

If we're to make an informed decision, we need to hear from all the candidates and their supporters. The debates often focus primarily on the front runners, as if they are the only ones running. It is very frustrating.

[saltpoint]

22. I'm in the John Edwards group, but would drop by for visits to a Joe Biden group if

you good people will have me.

Biden's a good man.

[PatSeg]

25. You're "good people" as well

I always enjoy reading your remarks - you are fair and open minded wherever I find you.

[saltpoint]

26. Well, thank you, tsegat01, and if you folks do fire up a Biden group,

I'll drop by now and again.

Should I bring a casserole?

Or some Sam Addams?

[PatSeg]

32. Oh Sam Addams, by all means!

Will make it more congenial!:toast:

[saltpoint]

50. And more regional, too. I could no more bake an edible casserole

than repair a rocket ship.

Sam Addams it is!

[PatSeg]

55. That's okay, most casseroles aren't edible anyway

Whereas Sam Addams is always drinkable!

[saltpoint]

69. Yep. I think the Sam Addams would be the better choice and have

bought a case of it to celebrate our choice!

[PatSeg]

72. Its good to prepare ahead of time

though I wonder if you would have bought the case anyway!!!!

[saltpoint]

73. I will neither confirm nor deny that point!

On Joe Biden: I would like him to do some more extensive traveling and get his message out at the town halls and cafes and so on that he's doing effectively in Iowa.

On a more selfish note, I'd like to hear and see him in person. I think if more people had seen John Kerry and John Edwards in person in 04, there'd have been many fewer Bush voters.

Romney is an automaton in public. A lot of our Democrats are loads better in person than they are on the evening news.

[PatSeg]

78. My first laugh of the day! Outloud that is!

Old fashioned, hands on politics still seem to be the most effective, unless you're a dud. Romney is a very attractive candidate, but there is no substance there.

[saltpoint]

88. Exactly. Romney is kind of a department store mannequin -- the ones

tasteful people adorn in the latest fashions -- but the thing doesn't walk or talk or feel anything.

Also I have a mental picture of Romney as a vampire. Well-groomed in the daylight but a macabre freak who haunts foggy backalleys by night, his fangs slowly extending under a blurred moon. . .

... he'd probably run into Bill Frist, out killing kitties.

[PatSeg]

91. Well, that's the 2nd outloud laugh of the day!

Your mental picture took immediate root in my mind (are you a Vulcan by chance?). Now I'm picturing Bill Frist in a white lab coat and he is the Re-animator.

[saltpoint]

92. LOL! It sure is fun having fun at the Republicans' expense.

[PatSeg]

98. Yeah, we should enjoy it whilte its still legal!!!

[saltpoint]

99. LOL!

[PatSeg]

103. Oops, gotta stop laughing

I think the Humor Police are at the door!

[saltpoint]

104. O god, that's not the humor police. That's Michael Chertoff!

Quick! Hide the Dylan CDs!

[PatSeg]

105. Skeletor at MY door?

Its okay, I hid Dylan behind the Joan Baez al............aw shit! What was I thinking? There's gotta be some Dean Martin around here somewhere!!!

[saltpoint]

106. Dean Martin! Yeah. Good idea. Make it Dean Martin.

Good god, now that you mention it, the last time I saw a Dean Martin album was, oh, I don't know...

... maybe the Civil War? Grant had just taken Vicksburg . . .

[PatSeg]

108. Ironically, my son owns one!

He has a very diverse taste in music - everything from Beethoven to Bare Naked Ladies. The Dean Martin really threw me though.

I'm thinking maybe Frank Sinatra, but we may have used that as a Frisbee!

[saltpoint]

110. LOL! Yep. I'll take Frank through the Kennedy years but after that

I'm out the door pronto.

Your son has great eclectic tastes in music.

[PatSeg]

111. Sadly he wasn't really a very good singer

He had a rather arrogant personality and wasn't attractive either???

My son and I agree on some music. We both love Celtic music and Simon and Garfunkel, but he doesn't care for Cat Stevens or Joan Baez. My daughter introduced me to Queen years ago, but she can't stand the Celtic music. We all HATE rap!

[demommom]

29. I for one would be glad to have you drop in.

[saltpoint]

31. demommom, thank you, and if you're going to be around also,

then we can have us a conversation about great Democrats, and Joe Biden is certainly one of those.

[PatSeg]

33. YOU should be running for some office!

I hadn't thought about it like that, but actually Joe Biden does represent my image of the Democratic party, at least the way it used to me.

[saltpoint]

51. Biden does have a true spirit and he's shared it with Democrats a long time.

There's a generosity to him, a big-pictureness.

I flee in terror each January since Dubya's been in office when the State of the Union address comes on. I can't bear the tortured speech and propaganda. With our Democrats, it would be different. I'd stay in, rip the phone out of the wall, and listen attentively and respectfully. His detractors on DU would be forced to admit that Biden's no fool and that his addresses to the voters would be thoughtful and purposeful and well-delivered.

[PatSeg]

60. I watch and suffer every year

It is so painful watching this man speak as our president, but somehow I am compelled to watch and listen, like a person compelled to face their worst nightmare. Perhaps I need a constant reminder that this is real and I must never, never forget this shameful moment in history.

In contrast I can picture Biden speaking to the nation and the world with strength and dignity, and lord knows he'll ALWAYS have something to say. I think the many apathetic and different among us will actually wake up and take an interest in our government.

[saltpoint]

70. A strong point. Whoever follows Dubya in the Oval Office will have

the distinct opportunity of re-connecting people with the higher expressions of public service, including the State of the Union Address.

I bet Joe Lieberman makes no attempt to lay a smooch on Joe Biden's cheek.

And agree with you that a lot of people currently unattached to the meaning of the ceremony of the presidency will be rejoined to its importance.

A case cannot be made that Joe Biden is not of that caliber of public servant.

[PatSeg]

74. I've seen a transformation in people around me

I am around a lot of young people and in 2004 most of them were clueless. They'd ask me who to vote for (first presidential election) and they didn't even know who was running! They didn't know Rumsfeld from Gonzales. One college student didn't even know what the State of the Union address was. Many of those same kids now are tuned in and they're finally getting the education in government and political science that they should have gotten in high school, most of it from the Internet and The Daily Show.

So I will give George credit for ONE thing. His disastrous presidency woke many people up and they are now taking an interest in politics. I know I've learned more in the past six years, than in my entire adult life.

Oh, and one teacher at the local community college has gotten his students hooked on West Wing. I don't know him, but I love him!

[mrigirl]

77. tsegat01

I am one of those young people! After watching firsthand what President Bush has done to our country I have become so enraged and appalled that I became interested in politics. The first time I actually went to the polls to vote was in 2000 for Gore. As a younger adult I am paying close attention this time to the race and Biden so far- in every category -seems to be the most qualified.
mrigirl/demma

[PatSeg]

81. My son's first election was Gore vs Bush as well

He was up every night following the ever changing results, sometimes waking me up to give me the latest news. He's been interested in politics ever since, though not nearly as much as me. The first time he saw Joe Biden on TV in 2004, he said to me, "why isn't HE running for president?" He doesn't follow everything the way I do, but one day he told me that he relies on me for political info. And I rely on him for technical advice when it comes to computers. Nice trade off!

Well at least Bush is turning Americans into Americans again! Nixon did that too, but Bush is doing a MUCH better job at it.

[saltpoint]

89. That's right -- we need to ask more of our high school students and

college kids before we hand out diplomas. I don't think it's asking too much for them to know their state's two U.S. Senators and maybe a majority of the names of the Justices of the Supreme Court.

Every U.S high school kid should be driven on a bus to DC and made to read and consider the Address at Gettysburg at the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial just across the way.

If they don't understand why those two things are extremely, extremely essential to our country's history, I don't think they should be permitted to graduate. It ought to be reflexive knowledge.

If you run into that junior college teacher who got his students hooked on the WEST WING, please tell him thank you. That was state of the art television writing, and a crucial history lesson, too.

[PatSeg]

95. They should know at least as much as any legal immigrant

has to learn to become a citizen. When I went to HS, many year ago, political science and civics was required in order to graduate. Fortunately my grown children have managed to self-educate themselves in spite of their formal education.

And geography! What ever happened to geography?

I told the young man to convey to his teacher my sincere admiration and gratitude. What a brilliant way to get hooked on politics and to see the upsides and the downsides. West Wing was among the best TV shows I've ever seen, and as such I'm surprised it lasted seven seasons. It was the first TV series I purchased. The second was Firefly. Politics and SciFi oddly enough compliment one another.

[saltpoint]

96. Yes. What DID happen to geography?

My mother's mother -- we're goin' way back here -- learned to spell it as an acronym for

"Greg Eastwick's old granpa rode a pig home yesterday."

Right off the bat, it sounds like a pretty good time.

Map-reading is almost a vanished pastime. I'd love it if school curricula would be a bit more insistent that high schoolers know more geography.

I think your purchase of the WEST WING is a winner. What a great cast, and great script, too.

[PatSeg]

102. I dunno

Maybe we should ask that chick from South Carolina! Seems there is a shortage of maps among "U.S. Americans"???

Do you remember "A rat in the house may eat the ice cream"?

Who needs a stinkin' map when you have a GPS?

West Wing is highly addictive. My daughter hasn't seen it, so we're planning a marathon when her fiance arrives. Its his favorite show as well and he can quote long passages from memory. Oh its going to be a really good time!

[saltpoint]

107. That's sounding to me like a really good time at your house, and I

like the strategy on the WEST WING. A big marathon.

Don't advertise your address, though, or all 100,000-plus DUers might drop in and join you.

[PatSeg]

109. As long as they bring the BEER!

[jillan]

44. You will be our guest of honor!

[saltpoint]

49. Then I'll have to behave myself. Darn. I hate having to do that.

Thanks, pirhana. Except anyone invited to a Joe Biden party gets to honor those who've supported him for many decades. Right now people aren't taking him seriously as a contender for our nomination. Just my take, but I think that's a miscalculation. We'll see. Yes, I'd love to visit y'all on a Biden site at DU.

[PatSeg]

61. And a welcome guest you'll always be whether you

behave or not.

I think it IS a miscalculation. It is easy to ignore a lower tiered candidate and dismiss him as nonthreatening, but Biden has been persistent and determined. He's had years to prepare for this and learn from his past mistakes and the mistakes of others. Meanwhile, he doesn't seem to be "handled". He truly is his own man and doesn't appear to succumb to the advice of political strategists.

[saltpoint]

71. Yes. To his great credit, he's actually unhandable. I don't think he

can be contained.

He rides the train into work and he does his own reading.

Bush, by contrast, is subliterate and pays with Legos.

[PatSeg]

76. That's it!

Can you imagine some Terry Mcauliffe telling Joe Biden to avoid a certain topic with this particular group?

I'm not so sure about the Legos - that requires patience and eye/muscle coordination, unless he just throws them at the dog!

[saltpoint]

90. LOL! "...unless he just throws them at the dog." LOL!

[Skittles]

24. there should be a group for Mr. Biden

absolutely

[PatSeg]

34. Well we have enough responses

It is up to the moderators once we submit a mission statement. I took a nap, so I'm a bit bleary right now. When I clear my head, I'll come up with a rough draft.

[jberryhill]

27. Do we get special weighting

Because Delaware is a small state?

Like maybe one person for every zip code?

I got 19808 covered.

[demommom]

30. I have 19956 covered.

[PatSeg]

35. Absolutely

But mostly because you gave us Joe Biden!

[Inuca]

28. I'll drop by n/t

[NCarolinawoman]

36. This North Carolina "Clarkie" would sign up.

Like WesDem, I don't participate too much in the candidate groups, but I would certainly pay some neighborly visits. I like Joe. :) He deserves his own group.

[girl_interrupted]

38. tsegat01..question, I got a call from Rasmussen about Biden

I think its the 1st time I have ever been polled by anyone! I was so surprised. I'm a registered Democrat. I visit the Rasmussen site to check the poll numbers. Not registered there, dont receive any emails from them either. Most of the questions asked were about Biden and whether I would vote for him over Romney, Rudy, etc, republican candidates. Anyone else get a call like that?

Anyway I'm uncommitted right now, so I would definitely drop by and learn as much as I can.

[PatSeg]

40. That is very interesting

I went to their website and don't see anything reflecting that kind of questioning. It would be interesting to see if anyone else got a phone call like that.

[PatSeg]

66. Still thinking about your question

and I wonder if it was a bogus call and possibly not from Rasmussen at all. I guess the conspiracy side of my brain won't shut down! Still wondering though, what the point of the questions were.

[PatSeg]

45. Yes he does

All the democratic candidates should be represented here, so people can have a place to post events and discuss their views. It is more important than ever that we make an informed decision in this election.

[ribrepin]

37. Joe Biden is my favorite

and I would drop by. I have loved his comments about Rumsfeld.

[PatSeg]

42. I loved the way he made John Ashcroft sweat in a senate hearing

about "why we don't torture".

[jillan]

46. My favorite was when he wore that cap to the Alito hearings

I laughed my a** off!

(Alito was a member of a club at Princeton that discriminated against women)

[PatSeg]

47. What a trip!

I LOVE it!!!!

[jillan]

39. Very interested!!

[PatSeg]

41. I knew you'd be interested

It was you who inspired me to move forward on this. I was waiting until you got on board before I came up with a rough draft for the mission statement.

[jillan]

43. I just posted a long post to you at our other Biden site!!

pm me with what you came up with.

[PatSeg]

48. Misson statement

The rules require that I post a Mission Statement and get supporters approval. I tried to keep it short and simple. Please feel free to make any suggestions you might have. My brain is getting tired, so it wasn't as eloquent as I would have liked!

"The mission of the Joe Biden Supporters Group is to provide a single place at DU to post information and updates about Senator Biden’s campaign, and to share our own perceptions and opinions. We would like the opportunity to discuss his career and qualifications with others who view him favorably even if they are still in the process of deciding who they will support.

We feel all the Democratic candidates should be represented at DU and would like to have an opportunity to discuss our views in our own group, as well as in the general forums."

Thanks to all of you who responded!

[murbley40]

54. Fine With me!

[murbley40]

56. I am really excited about this.

[Forkboy]

52. You can count me if it helps.

Not a big Biden guy but there should be a forum for the people who are into him.

[murbley40]

59. Thanks

[cbear70]

53. I would too...thanks!! eom

[justinrr1]

57. Im interested

Go Joe!

[murbley40]

58. justin;

Hey! Where have you been . Not seen you here for a while.

[PatSeg]

62. I submitted the suggestion for the Biden Group

to the administrators.

[ripple]

63. I wouldn't, but K & R just the same n/t

[SaveElmer]

64. Biden is not my top choice, but think he would make a good candidate...

If he won the nod. I've always admired him...so would certainly stop by to extol him from time to time.

[PatSeg]

65. Thanks, we have some great candidates

They all deserve proper exposure. Our decisions in this election will have long ranging consequences and those decisions should be "informed" ones. Thanks for responding!

[PatSeg]

67. Thank you all for making this an active and civil thread

I didn't expect so many positive responses and encouraging remarks. Thanks to Pirana for inspiring me to be more outspoken!

[murbley40]

68. kick

:kick:

[MADem]

75. I always thought he was running for SECSTATE, but I can get behind that idea.

All the Democratic candidates should have groups--I mean, really. With all the vicious shit out on the regular forums, it might be nice to retreat to a haven where the discussion is mature and measured for a change. I'll give you the old R, too, to keep this afloat...

[demommom]

80. kick

:kick:

[PatSeg]

82. Good old Chris Matthews started that Secretary of State

crap. Once he latches onto an idea, he WON'T let it go. Matthews knows that Biden is a credible statesman and probably thinks he's paying him a compliment, but Joe Biden really IS running for president.

Thanks for the R. Joe Biden does deserve a "vicious-free" group. They all do.

[MADem]

85. No, he didn't. I thought that when he declared, frankly. Well before Chris piped up.

And I still think it. I don't think he is running for VP, and I personally do not get the sense that he's "In it to win it." YMMV, but that's been my take since he announced.

That said, ya never know what could happen. It's a long road that has no turns. Frontrunners can stumble, look at Gary Hart as an example. Stuff can happen to change the dynamic.

As for Biden, he's not stupid by any stretch. He has no small amount of diplomatic knowledge and talent. And he has a brain that looks at all the options, and I think he's smart enough to take counsel, which is a talent in and of itself.

He's actually a very engaging fellow in a small group, personable and interesting. He likes to talk, but hey, don't we all.

[PatSeg]

86. Definitely not VP, that's for sure

I can't see him relegated to the shadows. He tends to be bigger than life.

Few like to talk as much as Biden, but he really has a lot to say! I don't "zone out" when he speaks, which I can't say for many.

Actually the frontrunners are the most likely to stumble, as they're always in the public eye. The smallest misstep and its "breaking news". This is going to be a long campaign with many opportunities to screwup.

[dugggy]

79. Sign me up! Biden has the most in-depth foreign policy knowledge

of all running for president in 2008. May be McCain is close.

[demommom]

83. kick

:dem:

[PatSeg]

84. Sadly McCain has lost his way

I used to actually like him, but he is out of control now. I think Bush/Rove messed with his mind back in 2000, and he's never fully recovered.

[mrigirl]

87. kickin it!

[Auntie Bush]

93. I'm interested and would check in now and then. I'd like to know

more about Biden...so would my husband. I'll give him the information.

[mrigirl]

97. Auntie Bush

If you haven't already you should check out Sen Biden's website- JoeBiden.com
It has a quite a list of issues that are important to Biden and are quite important for us as a nation to fix. You should read it when you have a chance. Every possible issue is listed there and Biden has extremely detailed and quite impressive ways to turn this country around in the right direction. It blew me away!

[Auntie Bush]

117. Thanks, I'll check that out.

Maybe I'll send the site to hubby in hopes he'll read it. However, he hates forms and won't participate. Maybe this will get him going because he does like Biden from watching TV but doesn't know anything about his platform...same here.

[PatSeg]

100. So are you the resident political junkie?

My grown children tend to rely on me for their political updates, but I know they'd do it on their own if I was less involved. They are too inquisitive to be apathetic.

Thank you for responding! Hopefully we'll have a group soon, but meanwhile this thread has been a real treat and I've gotten to meet some really great people.

[illinoisprogressive]

94. I like Biden but, am supporting Obama. my husband has Biden as his #2

[PatSeg]

101. I'm originally from Illinois

but live in California now. At least I went from one blue state to another. Thank you for Dick Durbin, as well as Obama! I love Dick Durbin.

[lizk]

112. Please Sign Me Up!

I've been supporting Senator Biden for the past year.  A new
Biden DU group would be a big plus so we can discuss his
positions and help further his candidacy.  Thanks. 

[PatSeg]

113. Thanks! Welcome aboard

Hopefully, the group will be as pleasant and civil as this thread has been. I've met some really great people in the last 24 hours.

[demommom]

116. kick

:kick:

[PatSeg]

114. The group has been added to the list!

And is open for business. Please bring your ideas, opinions, and sense of humor! And coffee - I'm still trying to wake up!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1688506http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1688506

[PatSeg]

115. Oops, there's a glitch

The thread is locked. I'll try again in a few minutes.

[PatSeg]

118. Okay, its working

I shouldn't try and do anything on the computer before my second cup of coffee!

[demommom]

121. Alright now!

:woohoo: :bounce: :applause: :grouphug:

[Catchawave]

119. I like Joe and would visit your group to catch up on the news

without all the nonsense being thrown at the threads :D

:toast:

[PatSeg]

120. I know what you mean

I don't mind valid criticism, but the bashing and slurs are nonproductive.

The group is open now, but it may be a while before everyone wakes and gets involved. Then I'll be at work, sigh.

"Catchawave"? Surfer?

[Bucky]

122. I'm leaning toward Biden. He's just not closing the deal with me.

On the other hand, no one else is even getting close.

[demommom]

123. What is it that is keeping the deal open?

[PatSeg]

124. And that's probably a good thing

It is wise to consider all the candidates and their qualifications before committing to one. Too many people choose a candidate for relatively superficial reasons. My support of Joe Biden wasn't made quickly or easily. I've been following him for three years and thus far find him the best choice.