BIDEN HIGHLIGHTS ELECTABILITY

[PatSeg]

<“I believe, at the end of the day, one of the major issues for the people of Iowa to consider me, and the other candidates is, our electability nationwide,” Biden told a crowd in Des Moines. Will we be able to go into those 30 states we’ve consistently lost the last eight years and be able to generate genuine support and have an opportunity to compete in 15 of those states? You cannot govern this country merely by winning the same 20 states plus one. That will give you enough electoral votes, but it will not give you the mandate you need.”>

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/09/13/360531.aspx

[Taverner]

1. I like Biden

Not sure I'll vote for him, but damn he's good to have on our side.

Kind of like Gravel with recognizability.

[PatSeg]

2. I hate that Gravel is treated as a joke

His history in the senate is quite impressive and is rarely brought up. In 1971 he was instrumental in ending the draft by filibustering legislation that would renew it. Five months!!! Finally Nixon gave up and the draft expired in 1973.

How many men owe a debt of gratitude to this man who is now portrayed with so little respect?

[Taverner]

3. I agree - Gravel would be my "conscience choice"

Although I donated to Kucinich, I would rather have Gravel as my President. Salty Old School Liberal like my ex-Congresscritter, Pete Stark.

[PatSeg]

4. Salty Old School Liberal - I like it

There are so few left these days!

[Taverner]

5. Yep. Biden is another one.

We need more of them!

[PatSeg]

6. Though not quite so "old" or "salty"

Patrick Leahy is my favorite in the old and salty category.

[Taverner]

14. Leahy and Ted Kennedy definitely

Biden's on his way - but that's a good thing.

Like they say, "if you're not outraged then you're not paying attention."

[PatSeg]

15. I wonder if any of our younger senators

will ever reach that status or is an era passing?

Okay, gotta ask - Why the Diet Mountain Dew?

[Taverner]

16. Why the dew?

I love it - I drink it like water

[PatSeg]

19. Oh, I thought

there was some joke I was missing!

[Taverner]

17. Most of the old salty reps and senators weren't always that way

Gravel was very positive when a Senator from AK. He led a one-man filibuster that eventually brought down the Nixon administration. Acts of heroism in Congress like that usually bode well.

My guess is the ones who become the heroes aren't always the ones you'd think. No one would have thought Howard Dean would have done what he did.

[PatSeg]

21. Gravel's five month filibuster

against renewing the draft was an amazing moment in senate history, but has been largely forgotten. And he inserted 4100 pages of the Pentagon Papers into congressional records. He was a primary player in bringing down Nixon and ending the Vietnam War.

[sufrommich]

18. I like him too.

I do hope he gets more serious attention as the primaries get closer.

[jillan]

7. Biden picked up a huge endorsement in Iowa today.

Biden seems to be on a roll.

[PatSeg]

8. It's been a good week for him

[jillan]

9. I am glad he is saying that.

He has been way too humble on the campaign trail. Everytime I hear his say
"If I get elected" I want to scream.

Go get 'em Joe!

[PatSeg]

10. But he has a reputation for being a bit cocky

so I think it is best to be a tad humble here and there.

[jillan]

11. A Senator that is moved to tears out of frustration on national tv

is a very humble man, imho.

He does have a reputation for being cocky and for having a big ego, but
when I compare him to everyone else on the Dem ticket - I see him more in
the middle of the ego category.

[PatSeg]

12. I like him the way he is

He has enough ego to be president, but he is clearly humble as well.

[gateley]

13. Well stated, Joe. nt

[redqueen]

20. Is Biden the only candidate so far to criticize Boehner's remark?

[Inuca]

22. No

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/boehners-small-price_b_64259.html

Also on Kos

[redqueen]

23. Who, Kerry? I meant current candidates...

[Inuca]

24. Me bad

for some reason I though you said "senator". Nevermind...

[redqueen]

26. No worries...

:hi:

[PatSeg]

25. Interesting question

Surely others would criticize him? Why don't you post the question as its own thread and see if the other candidate's supporters have the answer?