Some Biden coverage from the NYTimes...

[saltpoint]

Most of you probably saw this, but just in case, here it is:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/politics/09biden.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Great photo of Joe Biden in the article.

[PatSeg]

1. Thanks

That is a great photo of Biden. He looks so relaxed and comfortable, even though he's been on the go 24/7.

[saltpoint]

6. He's looking very modest there, which belies his brains and gutsiness.

He's always been one of the great definitional Democrats, IMO.

I want him in some very influential capacity in our next government, whether in the Oval Office or as Sec. of State...

[gateley]

2. Thanks OC! What I wouldn't give to be at one of those little cafes! nt

[saltpoint]

7. Hi, gately. Same here. Those small cafe venues in Iowa is where Joe could

make a name for himself -- they're the booths and tables of his wave of supporters I'm still predicting will propel him into one of the top three positions in Iowa, with Edwards and Obama the other two, and that one female candidate fourth or fifth.

I recall all the chatter about how the averqage voter saw Bush as a regular guy -- one they'd want to have a beer with. These days they might be re-tinking that first impulse. The question now is, "Is Goerge W. Bush the kind of guy you want to destroy a sovereign nation with?"

But Joe Biden has always been the kind of guy you'd want to share a cup of coffee with, at a diner next to that Amtrak station while he's waiting for the morning commuter line into DC, or out in NW Iowa, where the corn and the cows and outnumber the coffee-drinkers.

If Biden is to be heard in this campaign (and the TIMES is doing its part), the voters who made the wrong call on Dubya need to make a few good calls this time.

[PatSeg]

9. I'm with you on your predictions so

If your wrong, we'll be wrong together!

Sharing a cup of coffee with Joe Biden is a lot different than with Bush. There would be some stimulating conversation.

[saltpoint]

10. LOL! Yes. Stimulating conversation indeed. And in ENGLISH to boot!

[PatSeg]

11. What a concept!

We are so used to gibberish, I don't know how we'll respond to a president who actually speaks clearly and intelligently. I'm sure we'll adjust very quickly though.

[saltpoint]

13. Excellent description ("We are so used to gibberish...") That's Bush in a

nutshell.

[PatSeg]

16. Emphasis on "NUT"

Something is not right about the guy and it is scary having him in a position of so much power.

[lyonn]

3. Here is another thanks OC!

It is unreal how Biden doesn't clarify his statements and the media makes it big news. He gets a bill passed that is the only one pertaining to Iraq and it is barely mentioned, almost a ps (post script).

Being older than Biden I completely understood the "clean" comment. In the "old days" that was how parents described a daughter's date if he was nice and polite, the type parents prayed their daughter would date, oh well.

[jillan]

4. Wow - we have an Edwards and an Obama supporter looking out for us.

Thank you!

[saltpoint]

5. Hi, pirhana. I'm an old school Democrat -- up late with other volunteers,

unpaid but wildly dedicated, stuffing literature into envelopes, answering the phones, pounding a few yard signs into the highways and biways of the country.

I think Edwards will contend for the nomination, but I think Biden and Obama will too, and maybe Richardson. Also What's-her-face.

The TIMES piece is not all positive, but it's never slanderous, and generally, the image presented of Joe Biden is one of a hell of an engaging and qualified soul.

[PatSeg]

8. Most of the articles I've read about Biden

have contained more positives than negatives. If a candidate gets any attention from the media, there will be some negative observations - comes with the territory. People like poor Chris Dodd rarely gets any negative press because he rarely gets ANY press.

[Froward69]

12. and hard working

"I just flew in from Washington" boy are my arms tired... the last part was a tired old joke but works!

[jillan]

14. That piece in the Times was kind of depressing. While it mentioned alot of the reasons why I

support Biden, it was a reminder how far he has to go to catch up with the frontrunners.

What was interesting was that you posted it here, and an Obama supporter that I chat with emailed me the same article.
That's the part of DU that you don't see very often.

That is great that you are so involved in your area and that you are doing it *now*.
I usually volunteer my time when it gets closer to the actual election. I probably should be doing more locally for Biden.
This is McCain country. And the Dem nomination is going to Hillary - so far.
Thanks OC - you made the little wheels in my brain start turning. :think:

[saltpoint]

15. Agree that the article is not all roses, but its overall tone is respectful and

positive -- I came away from it thinking the reporters did not want to be accused of pimping for a candidate on one hand, or ripping one to pieces on the other.

TIMES coverage can be over-the-top on formal distance between reporter and reader sometimes. Maybe not Bob Herbert or Frank Rich, but many of their field reporters are that way. It's ok, since we kind of know what we're getting into when we pick up a copy of the paper, but at the same time, I have always loved Joan Didion's essays from the New Journalism school, where she is much more present in the account and much less the dry, distant analyst.

Didion does her analyzing in people's face, by and large.

Agree with you that there is significant ground to make up for Biden, but believe that he will do it. If John Edwards cannnot be the next president I want Biden to be. In fact I'd greet a ticket of those two -- in either order -- with screams of elation.