M.C.'s daughter in Brooklyn, NY.
"Even vaguely opening his ears to Elizabeth Warren ..."
Vaguely is what Linda Sherry said. Does this bad choice of word reflect spirit and intent? That's NOWHERE near good enough. Biden or any other serious candidate will have to listen to Sen. Warren far more than that.
By the way, unless VP Biden is actually reading comments submitted by NYT readers, why keep writing about him if he hasn't actually decided to run and formally announced his candidacy?
It's getting a little tedious.
"Even vaguely opening his ears to Elizabeth Warren ..."
Vaguely is what Linda Sherry said. Does this bad choice of word reflect spirit and intent? That's NOWHERE near good enough. Biden or any other serious candidate will have to listen to Sen. Warren far more than that.
By the way, unless VP Biden is actually reading comments submitted by NYT readers, why keep writing about him if he hasn't actually decided to run and formally announced his candidacy?
It's getting a little tedious.
2
It's good to be reminded of Biden's past which, as we remember from high school Shakespeare, is prologue to the future. I like VP Biden but he has just as much dirty linen as the Clintons. The only totally clean campaigner from my vantage is Bernie Sanders, a true progressive. "Feel the Bern."
8
As one pundit put it, "Joe Biden is a gaffe machine." Should he be the Democratic nominee the Vice President would be one flub away from blowing the whole shooting match for the Democrats. "That's a bunch of malarkey" will get you limited style points in a critical debate.
Factor X in this campaign is Liz Warren, the Okee from Muskogee. Unlike Trump she was not born with both a silver spoon and a silver foot in her mouth. She knows what it is like to tumble through the barrel of hard times. Somewhere in the pit of the Democratic stratagem there is a force holding her back. I wonder what it is!
Factor X in this campaign is Liz Warren, the Okee from Muskogee. Unlike Trump she was not born with both a silver spoon and a silver foot in her mouth. She knows what it is like to tumble through the barrel of hard times. Somewhere in the pit of the Democratic stratagem there is a force holding her back. I wonder what it is!
3
Banking ties?
You're talking about the man responsible for making student loans non-dischargeable in bankruptcy, about the man whose incompetence has created a brake restraining the entire American economy. Debt, friction, destroyed young lives.
Banking ties? Is that all?
You're talking about the man responsible for making student loans non-dischargeable in bankruptcy, about the man whose incompetence has created a brake restraining the entire American economy. Debt, friction, destroyed young lives.
Banking ties? Is that all?
6
Biden is too dishonest to be president. If you are willing to plagiarize political speeches to get elected and law school papers in order to pass then there is a fundamental problem with authenticity and honesty. Biden is also a loose cannon, the Anita Hill travesty, the crime bill and his hurtful finance reforms that benefited the big banks. No thanks.
7
Hilary is 100% unelectable. The Democrat party has become so radicalized they cannot prevent themselves from nominating Hilary.
As a Republican, those two statements make me very happy. Go Hilary, go Hilary.
And go GOP!
As a Republican, those two statements make me very happy. Go Hilary, go Hilary.
And go GOP!
1
Exsqueeze me Mr. Republican reader of the NYT, Hillary is spelled with 2 l's and she will certainly beat any of the clowns you have to choose from. Thank you.
4
In the dictionary, under the word "radical," it says "see Republican."
3
How exactly is a candidate who beats every GOP candidate in general election match-ups "100% unelectable?"
You are in some serious denial but I'm sure she appreciates your enthusiastic support.
You are in some serious denial but I'm sure she appreciates your enthusiastic support.
2
Hillary & Co. are even more corrupt than Biden is. There are loads of links to Wall Street.
For example, Bill Clinton "magically" received $1.5 MILLION for a little UBS Q&A nonsense!! This is far more than the super exorbitant amounts of his speeches. BTW, 11 of the 13 highest "just happened" to be when she was Secretary of State. They were $500,000 to $750,000 EACH!! Plus, there also were HUGE amounts of other "donations", etc. from UBS.
This followed the time when UBS met with Secretary of State Hillary regarding clients whose activity had to reported to the U.S. Government. "Somehow", the percentage got chopped super drastically! Furthermore, wouldn't the Treasury or Justice Departments normally handle such matters? Why was she even involved? ;)
Hillary is the clear Democratic choice to extend its splendid history of rampant corruption, lies, deceit, etc.
This time is her time.
Hillary for President!
For example, Bill Clinton "magically" received $1.5 MILLION for a little UBS Q&A nonsense!! This is far more than the super exorbitant amounts of his speeches. BTW, 11 of the 13 highest "just happened" to be when she was Secretary of State. They were $500,000 to $750,000 EACH!! Plus, there also were HUGE amounts of other "donations", etc. from UBS.
This followed the time when UBS met with Secretary of State Hillary regarding clients whose activity had to reported to the U.S. Government. "Somehow", the percentage got chopped super drastically! Furthermore, wouldn't the Treasury or Justice Departments normally handle such matters? Why was she even involved? ;)
Hillary is the clear Democratic choice to extend its splendid history of rampant corruption, lies, deceit, etc.
This time is her time.
Hillary for President!
2
You don't seem to understand the key note speaker circuit. First off, Trump was paid 1.5 milllion dollars for a speech by the Learning Annex. Google it. The vast majority of key note speeches are booked through the Harry Walker Agency. This same agency that reps Bill Clinton ALSO reps Bill O'Reilly, Dick Cheney, Shimon Peres, Deval Patrick, Olympia Snow, Kofi Annan, Shaquille O'Neal and hundreds of other political figures, pundits and sports stars. Anyone who might be "inspirational" to large groups of people.
The Clintons are A list speakers and command a high price but plenty of other politicians are making speeches for $100K - $250K, George Bush had raked in nearly 30 million from paid speeches by 2011. The very same GOP politicians declaring their outrage that the Clintons make so much money are making paid speeches themselves or will when they leave office.
It's a free country, if a college or other organization wants to hire someone to inspire their students/workers for a ridiculous price, it's their choice. Those who seem to have some moral problem with it should write their congressperson and tell them to make paid keynote speeches illegal. Until then, like the faux email scandal, it's nothing but a partisan non-story.
The Clintons are A list speakers and command a high price but plenty of other politicians are making speeches for $100K - $250K, George Bush had raked in nearly 30 million from paid speeches by 2011. The very same GOP politicians declaring their outrage that the Clintons make so much money are making paid speeches themselves or will when they leave office.
It's a free country, if a college or other organization wants to hire someone to inspire their students/workers for a ridiculous price, it's their choice. Those who seem to have some moral problem with it should write their congressperson and tell them to make paid keynote speeches illegal. Until then, like the faux email scandal, it's nothing but a partisan non-story.
4
Mr.Biden said that for credit industry to get his support, the bill “needed to put women and children first". Next thing you know his son is working for them. The credit industry certainly put one of his children first with a 6 figure salary.
4
Another Biden problem would be the Anita Hill question. Many women held that against him and probably still do. I do.
3
New York and Delaware, along with Connecticut, are home to the biggest financial institutions in the US. Clinton vs Biden is like banks vs credit card corporations. Forget both and go with Sanders.
7
Wall Street owns our corrupt politicians, Corrupt courts, judges, law firms, etc., all thanks to a handful of "folks" who don't care about anything except exploiting this blatant corruption. Biden's Delaware …. part of the problem, not the solution, the Wall St./ Washington DC corridor, where Credit Suisse is the bank doing the "arms dealing" for Boeing, Lockheed, etc. Someone needs to break the cycle or the dye is cast for decades. That is Sanders.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/business/how-delaware-thrives-as-a-cor...
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/business/how-delaware-thrives-as-a-cor...
14
I'm detecting a pattern. Just about every NYT article about Biden is negative, or is about why he shouldn't run/can't win. To me he is a very viable alternative to Clinton, who comes with a lot more baggage and negative feelings.
7
“Even vaguely opening his ears to Liz Warren” could endear him to activists..."
Biden has a meeting with Warren and that's supposed to endear us to him? It takes solid, consistent effort over decades on the behalf of working people to win that, and the only Dem candidate who can lay claim to that is Sanders.
“As vice president, I certainly cannot think of a single instance that [Biden] was hostile [to financial reform]” said Mr. Dodd.
And there I think we've hit upon the single criteria with which the Times deems a politician to be a "classic progressive Democrat" - one who shows no hostility to progressive issues.
That's okay. Whenever I see the Times and the rest of the corporate media circling the wagons to fend off Sanders' challenge to the business-as-usual status quo, it strengthens my resolve to donate and work for his campaign. And every campaign commercial I see for Hillary or the other Republicans strengthens my resolve to vote for Sanders in the primaries, and if he doesn't get the nomination, I'll stay home election night.
Biden has a meeting with Warren and that's supposed to endear us to him? It takes solid, consistent effort over decades on the behalf of working people to win that, and the only Dem candidate who can lay claim to that is Sanders.
“As vice president, I certainly cannot think of a single instance that [Biden] was hostile [to financial reform]” said Mr. Dodd.
And there I think we've hit upon the single criteria with which the Times deems a politician to be a "classic progressive Democrat" - one who shows no hostility to progressive issues.
That's okay. Whenever I see the Times and the rest of the corporate media circling the wagons to fend off Sanders' challenge to the business-as-usual status quo, it strengthens my resolve to donate and work for his campaign. And every campaign commercial I see for Hillary or the other Republicans strengthens my resolve to vote for Sanders in the primaries, and if he doesn't get the nomination, I'll stay home election night.
7
We've lost so much already. Corporate America has our democracy in a strangle hold and the dems have been complicit. Obama ran against the big money consensus and while he's done a great job of fighting on many issues, he's been party to the biggest problems facing our democracy. Sanders is the only candidate that sees this consensus weakening and is truly rising against it. All the other candidates running with the dems will hand out liberal candy while continuing to support the corruption of democracy by allowing further income inequality and the loss of civil liberties. I'm not sure they have choice in that; they are simply in it too deep not to compromise. At the very best, we will be hanging in limbo with the likes of clinton or biden, and it doesn't seem like the majority of Americans can afford to wait. Perhaps most importantly, unless we regain some semblance of political and social health in the US, we will have a very hard time turning to face and do our part in the most pressing issue facing modern times- our ability to adapt and change the tide of environmental degradation. I understand and have been in the compromise stance- the retain the white house and supreme court balance stance- for a while, but looking at the challenges ahead I've changed my tune. I don't think we can afford it. We need definition. Sander's allowed me to see that as possible.
9
I'd take Hillary or Joe over ANY Republican on the stump. A Republican presidency would be an outright catastrophe for most Americans, whether they choose to believe it or not, and it would be even worse for women, minorities, workers, students, and soldiers.
1
Biden has nothing to add to the debate or the presidency. He is a less intense establishment candidate than Hillary. But he is establishment nevertheless and nowhere near the progressive Bernie Sanders is. He will only be a spoiler.
Just say no, Joe. KA
Just say no, Joe. KA
6
So what, if Mr. Biden's thinking has changed! It shows he has brains.
If someone has the same values, opinions and thoughts through his whole life, he has not learned a thing. As a friend of mine said; we live to learn, it is the meaning of life.
If someone has the same values, opinions and thoughts through his whole life, he has not learned a thing. As a friend of mine said; we live to learn, it is the meaning of life.
6
after what Biden did to Anita Hill, aiding in the installation of the odious Clarence Thomas onto the Supreme Court, is that who we as Democrats are going to throw our first woman president under the bus for? I don't think so. Biden needs to go away.
10
Biden reached out to Warren not because he harbors delusions he can peel her away from Bernie, but because he knows she could end his candidacy with one sentence.
9
Well, as long as we are all dreaming, my dream ticket would be Sanders/O'Malley. Sanders could do one or two terms and by then the American public would be probably very much in love with O'Malley. Both these men have sterling credentials. Hard to believe that a man who's ideas and principals are favored by 70% of the American public could not get elected. I think not. Bernie is a classic "dark horse." He grows stronger each day and his appeal is universal, my word for someone who when you get to know him, you consider him your friend.
3
NOT O'Malley! He was a pretty bad governor. Great hopes for him, but they didn't pan out.
2
Oh, for heaven's sake: Take this paragraph and insert "Hillary Clinton" where it says "Biden" and you have an equally truthful statement:
"But if Mr. Biden decides to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, his Senate reputation as a friend to financial institutions could be a significant obstacle, especially if he wants to make inroads with the party’s liberal base, which has become increasingly skeptical and often passionately hostile to anything connected to Wall Street."
The deliberate undermining of VP Biden as he considers a run for President is not lost on any discerning reader. In many respects--and in most that matter--Joe Biden is HIllary Clinton's superior: honestly, integrity, a proven ability to work with Congress on both sides of the aisle to pass progressive legislation; lack of excessive baggage; a willingness to be accountable and straightforward about mistakes and miscalculations. As many have pointed out in recent days: Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton share most policy positions but policy goes nowhere if you haven't the trust of your constituents and colleagues and when you have shown yourself--as HIllary Clinton has--to be entirely disinterested in collaboration or compromise. A Clinton presidency is an invitation to 8 more years of obstruction and toxicity in Washington. Joe Biden could--and I expect, would--finally break that pattern.
"But if Mr. Biden decides to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, his Senate reputation as a friend to financial institutions could be a significant obstacle, especially if he wants to make inroads with the party’s liberal base, which has become increasingly skeptical and often passionately hostile to anything connected to Wall Street."
The deliberate undermining of VP Biden as he considers a run for President is not lost on any discerning reader. In many respects--and in most that matter--Joe Biden is HIllary Clinton's superior: honestly, integrity, a proven ability to work with Congress on both sides of the aisle to pass progressive legislation; lack of excessive baggage; a willingness to be accountable and straightforward about mistakes and miscalculations. As many have pointed out in recent days: Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton share most policy positions but policy goes nowhere if you haven't the trust of your constituents and colleagues and when you have shown yourself--as HIllary Clinton has--to be entirely disinterested in collaboration or compromise. A Clinton presidency is an invitation to 8 more years of obstruction and toxicity in Washington. Joe Biden could--and I expect, would--finally break that pattern.
4
@Michelle Wilbert: Couldn't agree with you more.
The delusions of Hillary's fan base notwithstanding, there is no candidate more status quo than Hillary Clinton. And, yes, what about the Clinton's banking ties? And why aren't we hearing more about THOSE ties? Why the double standard???
http://www.thenation.com/article/bill-clinton-great-deregulator/
The delusions of Hillary's fan base notwithstanding, there is no candidate more status quo than Hillary Clinton. And, yes, what about the Clinton's banking ties? And why aren't we hearing more about THOSE ties? Why the double standard???
http://www.thenation.com/article/bill-clinton-great-deregulator/
5
First of all, Biden is way more conservative than Clinton. She was ranked the #11 most liberal Senator. Biden was #33.
Biden authored the 1994 Crime bill that #blacklivesmatters is so up in arms about. He's known for his "tough on crime" legislation that resulted in the mass-incarceration of blacks so he'll have a tough time getting their vote.
Biden behaved disgustingly at the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing. He was the chairman and completely discounted Anita Hill's testimony that she was sexually harassed, he handed over the gavel and let the old boys club ridicule and besmirch her because he wanted to get Thomas confirmed.
For that alone, I couldn't support him, though there are plenty of other reasons not to. You need to do some research and stop putting Biden on a pedestal. He's a likeable man on the surface, but he has serious flaws that when exposed would make him much less appealing.
I hope he chooses to spend time with his family and keep the public's memory of him untarnished.
Biden authored the 1994 Crime bill that #blacklivesmatters is so up in arms about. He's known for his "tough on crime" legislation that resulted in the mass-incarceration of blacks so he'll have a tough time getting their vote.
Biden behaved disgustingly at the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing. He was the chairman and completely discounted Anita Hill's testimony that she was sexually harassed, he handed over the gavel and let the old boys club ridicule and besmirch her because he wanted to get Thomas confirmed.
For that alone, I couldn't support him, though there are plenty of other reasons not to. You need to do some research and stop putting Biden on a pedestal. He's a likeable man on the surface, but he has serious flaws that when exposed would make him much less appealing.
I hope he chooses to spend time with his family and keep the public's memory of him untarnished.
2
Democrats seem to have no idea where they stand with American's. They are in for a big surprise.
9
So for the Democrats we have Sanders, Clinton, and Biden. By the time any of them would be elected and really doing their job (give it 2 years from now) they are old people. All three are dreaming of eternal life and not grasping that at age 75 you are physically, intellectually, and emotionally very much on the way down.
Then we have, for the Republicans, The Donald expecting a massive victory so he can build more apartments. He is 70 years old next year.
America please get your act together.
Then we have, for the Republicans, The Donald expecting a massive victory so he can build more apartments. He is 70 years old next year.
America please get your act together.
7
You don't know anyone in their 70s who isn't experiencing cognitive decline. That's a pity.
4
RERUDOLPH: U r an ageist, disparaging the elderly for no rational reason except that they r older. Well, I don't know whether u read the papers, or r versed in world history, but u for ur edification, there was a French statesman by the name of Charles de Gaulle who returned to power in France as President when he was well into his sixties, granted independence to Algeria via a referendum when he was almost 70, and settled definitively the "guerre franco francaise" by issuing a blanket amnesty to his worst enemies, who had tried to kill him 31 times, the counterterrorist OAS, when he was tiptoeing on the thin edge of 80.So much or your spurious insinuation that those past 70 r over the hill.When I hear the young deride the old, as if being young was a guarantee of immortality or a very long life, I think of Frank Bora. Bora was the police chief in Sands Point in Port Washington in the 1920's through the 1930's. According to my late father, who knew him because he was a fellow Mason, Bora was an athlete, a great politician and police chief, and what we would call today, " a health nut."Then one day he dropped dead of a stroke! He was 41."Comme ca!".So, the next time u think of saying anything derogatory about those over 70, and feeling good about urself because u r so much younger, remember Chief Bora.The next moment is never promised us.To believe otherwise is a dangerous assumption.
5
Regarding Biden's stances: The problem with the modern Democratic Party is that it is splintered into so many interest groups with micro-agendas, that no candidate can possibly satisfy the demands of each and every faction.
Lyndon Johnson once scolded Hubert Humphrey, "Would you rather be right or win?"
If some of Mr. Biden's past votes don't pass muster with some of the segments that make up the party--well too bad--if he becomes the candidate, are these people NOT going to vote for him and thereby potentially put a Republican in the White House?
Oh, they already did that in 2000--by voting for Ralph Nader, these dreamers
gave us George W. Bush (just go over the 2000 voting tabulations in New Hampshire and New Mexico--Florida wouldn't have mattered one whit in 2000 if the purists had been smart instead of ideological in either of these 2 other states).
Lyndon Johnson once scolded Hubert Humphrey, "Would you rather be right or win?"
If some of Mr. Biden's past votes don't pass muster with some of the segments that make up the party--well too bad--if he becomes the candidate, are these people NOT going to vote for him and thereby potentially put a Republican in the White House?
Oh, they already did that in 2000--by voting for Ralph Nader, these dreamers
gave us George W. Bush (just go over the 2000 voting tabulations in New Hampshire and New Mexico--Florida wouldn't have mattered one whit in 2000 if the purists had been smart instead of ideological in either of these 2 other states).
5
Biden's record shows more than big bank support. That's one strike. But one should not forget his role in getting the Supreme Court as it is today by what he did to Anita Hill and getting Clarence Thomas to pass muster. That's another strike. A third strike would be his campaigning with "borrowed" material.That should be enough to reject him for any important role.
9
Blaming Biden for justice Thomas is a real stretch.
2
Another old shoe! We deserve better!
It needs to be remembered that U.S. Senators have two responsibilities: looking out for the interests of the U.S. and looking out for the interests of the State that elected them. At times these interests are incompatible. The importance of the State's interest was enshrined in the debate and compromise that led to defining the role of the U.S. Senate in the Constitution. The high population States get to choose Congressional representatives on the basis of population; and every State gets two Senators - from California to Delaware to protect its interests. Indeed, to ensure this, Senators were originally chosen by State Legislatures elected by well-to-do men. What Biden did as Senator, even though very unpalatable to me, was what every other Senator does and has always done. What is more important and what is most telling is what Biden has done since he left the Senate. Focus on this!
3
Biden as Presidential candidate is a non-starter, thought up by the same losers who handle the policies and procedures of Obama and his failed Administration. It's yet another attempt to spin Obama's legacy to the positive using any tool available. Do they really think anyone wants Obama's 3rd Term?
2
So democrats don't like banks or rich people? Hmm? Then what do we do about Hillary Clinton, and Chuck Schumer?
10
Vice President Biden"s close ties to the financial industry made me skeptical of his credentials long before he was picked as a running mate by President Obama. The long serving senator from Delaware-maybe that says it all-certainly isn't the only democrat unwilling to bite the hand that feeds him (like Schumer and wall street). His brilliant smile and hands on approach to women's issues may help him overcome his past. But then again he won't be debating Paul Ryan if he does make it that far.
1
I've really had it with the ageism reflected in some of these comments--"old people with old ideas?"--and with those who simply dismiss Bernie's chances without reference to facts...Have any of you actually listened to him speak to a crowd of 20,000? Have you heard him respond without hesitation to any questions thrown at him, with directness, humor and charm? He's not holding his finger in the air to check which direction the wind is blowing before he responds. Those of you who say he's not perfect--surely everyone has a skeleton in the closet--may not have listened too closely yet. The reason he doesn't have to hold his finger in the air to test the wind is that he has always been motivated by principle, and he's not in bed with big money. As a consequence, he is freed to simply consider every question on its merits and do the right thing, without hesitation. His brain is sharper than that of the other candidates combined. Bernie has a record of years of compassionate public service that have brought him experience and wisdom. He is committed to using that selflessly and humbly for the benefit of those in need. Now, how again is his age a problem?
25
@Gerhild: Beautifully said.
The commenters who disparage the candidates on the basis of age demonstrate an astonishing level of ignorance and, unfortunately, not much else.
The absurdity to say people are too old. Please. By this rubric, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg's retirement is long overdue. She should throw in the towel post haste! World renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking should too. After all, he's (gasp) 73! Now that's one over-the hill physicist. We should just put them all out to pasture without delay.
Yes, we need the younger generation to get involved and there isn't a better place to start than at the bottom. And when they finally work their way up the ladder and reach the top of their profession they will find they are no longer young. After many years of toil and hard work they will have achieved two of the most crucial elements they didn't have when they started all those years earlier: wisdom and experience.
And, one would hope, a little less hubris.
The commenters who disparage the candidates on the basis of age demonstrate an astonishing level of ignorance and, unfortunately, not much else.
The absurdity to say people are too old. Please. By this rubric, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg's retirement is long overdue. She should throw in the towel post haste! World renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking should too. After all, he's (gasp) 73! Now that's one over-the hill physicist. We should just put them all out to pasture without delay.
Yes, we need the younger generation to get involved and there isn't a better place to start than at the bottom. And when they finally work their way up the ladder and reach the top of their profession they will find they are no longer young. After many years of toil and hard work they will have achieved two of the most crucial elements they didn't have when they started all those years earlier: wisdom and experience.
And, one would hope, a little less hubris.
3
According to the article, Biden supported the interests of credit card companies, "before he was freed from representing the interests of his home state."
Is the veep a lapdog? The electorate should just give him a pass because he had to do the bidding of his corporate overlords?
Unfortunately for the amiable appearing Biden, alpha dogs are more fashionable this election season.
His negatives are as debilitating as Mrs. Clinton's, and that's worrisome.
I really hope the Democrats can field a winning candidate this election.
The Supreme Court is at stake, so I intend to vote for the eventual Democratic candidate, whoever that may be.
Is the veep a lapdog? The electorate should just give him a pass because he had to do the bidding of his corporate overlords?
Unfortunately for the amiable appearing Biden, alpha dogs are more fashionable this election season.
His negatives are as debilitating as Mrs. Clinton's, and that's worrisome.
I really hope the Democrats can field a winning candidate this election.
The Supreme Court is at stake, so I intend to vote for the eventual Democratic candidate, whoever that may be.
6
Joe Biden/Elizabeth Warren....both honest people...dedicated to public
service...this is the best ticket for POTUS in 2016
Trump is running amok as a GOP candidate...but his party is not GOP..
it is The Trump Party...which targets...any candidate regardless of
party affiliation...he is running amok...and getting away with it..the media
gives him free air time...
But Trump is not going to win against Joe Biden/Elizabeth Warren..
Trump would not win if Sanders/Warren were the ticket..
I believe if Elzabeth Warren were announced as running mate for either
Biden or Sanders...that Warren would decimate Trump...very quickly.
service...this is the best ticket for POTUS in 2016
Trump is running amok as a GOP candidate...but his party is not GOP..
it is The Trump Party...which targets...any candidate regardless of
party affiliation...he is running amok...and getting away with it..the media
gives him free air time...
But Trump is not going to win against Joe Biden/Elizabeth Warren..
Trump would not win if Sanders/Warren were the ticket..
I believe if Elzabeth Warren were announced as running mate for either
Biden or Sanders...that Warren would decimate Trump...very quickly.
8
Anyone but Hillary!
4
And the smear campaign on Biden begins before he even enters the race! Where's the article on Hillary's banking ties? No one at the times ever seems to mention them; which is weird because of all the candidates she's the one with the STRONGEST banking ties.
According to the Huffington Post, "Clinton, the former secretary of state and New York senator, leads all candidates, with $432,610 from big banks' executives, employees and their spouses. This includes banks like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldmans Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, UBS, Barclays, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank."
According to the Huffington Post, "Clinton, the former secretary of state and New York senator, leads all candidates, with $432,610 from big banks' executives, employees and their spouses. This includes banks like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldmans Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, UBS, Barclays, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank."
6
As long as the Left keeps denying that ties to money are actually incredibly necessary to answer the almost unlimited monied interests on the Right, they will never find their way back to reality, keep sitting at home on election day, sulking in "principle," and keep losing elections - all with almost unfathomably tragic consequences to the nation
We tear down our Power Leaders, as does the Right. Result: no power leaders, no Party Unity, poor messaging, and few wins on election day, resulting in more years of Right Wing horror for the nation.
Someday, the Left may wake up and realize their "principles" are methodically destroying any hope for their children's future, or even their own. Until then, we who are the rationally minded will keep getting swept aside by the rampaging neocons and crazies in the clown car that repeatedly work to drive this nation iver the edge of a cliff.
I am a far Left Progressive - but I am a Realist too. It's Political War out there, and the Left plays to lose every time.
We tear down our Power Leaders, as does the Right. Result: no power leaders, no Party Unity, poor messaging, and few wins on election day, resulting in more years of Right Wing horror for the nation.
Someday, the Left may wake up and realize their "principles" are methodically destroying any hope for their children's future, or even their own. Until then, we who are the rationally minded will keep getting swept aside by the rampaging neocons and crazies in the clown car that repeatedly work to drive this nation iver the edge of a cliff.
I am a far Left Progressive - but I am a Realist too. It's Political War out there, and the Left plays to lose every time.
2
Far worse than his banking ties is Mr. Biden's long career as the nation's leading Drug Warrior. In the '80s, when Reagan was apparently not going far enough, Biden wrote and was the lead sponsor of the legislation to create the office of the Drug Tzar. In 2003, he did the same with the Rave Act. His unflinching leadership in funding violent drug war actions in other countries and locking up millions of Americans at home makes Biden one of the least palatable options for 2016. Here's hoping he retires in January 2017 and that others continue to work to undo all of the damage he did.
4
This is background noise. People will gravitate to Biden because 1) his last name isn't Clinton, 2) he's likable and experienced and 3) he's electable. They will be repelled not because of some minor baggage like this, but rather that 1) he's old and 2) he has a tendency to get Athlete's Tongue.
4
Biden is nothing special. If this is the alternative to HC the dems are a baseball team trying to sign a washed up veteran for lack of backing and developing new talent. In short, this is bad management.
3
OK, so he is in it all up to his neck. However compared with the rest he has the following
1. An unusual degree of honesty
2 . Level headedness
3. Demonstrated kindness
4. Ability to get on and get things done
5. Frankness which will give Trump a run for his money, trump would bowl Hilary over
6. Is a known entity and as pollsters know it is only when things are very good or very bad (pre Obama and pre Carter) that voters go for change. That doesnt apply here. Voters will go for stasis. That is Biden.
Got my vote Biden. I am just a bit worried about the pairing with my other hero Elizabeth Warren. Together too old and too left of center. He needs someone young, very young, an tough and intellectual. And not a token woman or minority. Regardless of race or gender, young, tough and economically supersmart centrist .
1. An unusual degree of honesty
2 . Level headedness
3. Demonstrated kindness
4. Ability to get on and get things done
5. Frankness which will give Trump a run for his money, trump would bowl Hilary over
6. Is a known entity and as pollsters know it is only when things are very good or very bad (pre Obama and pre Carter) that voters go for change. That doesnt apply here. Voters will go for stasis. That is Biden.
Got my vote Biden. I am just a bit worried about the pairing with my other hero Elizabeth Warren. Together too old and too left of center. He needs someone young, very young, an tough and intellectual. And not a token woman or minority. Regardless of race or gender, young, tough and economically supersmart centrist .
Scientella —Uh, "an unusual degree of honesty" you say? You must not be aware that Joe has had a substantial problem with plagiarizing speeches and law school papers. This is all on the record and what derailed his first run for president in the 80's. Sorry but Joe is not honest.
If we only had a candidate who hasn't sold his soul to the banks and the truly big coin behind them. We do Bernie Sanders.
10
I'd rather vote for Biden, with Warren (or Sanders!) hopefully running as VP, than for Clinton.
Biden is not the only senator with ties to financial institutions. As a matter of fact, I would like to see one who is not. I'd rather have someone who from time to time "puts his foot on his mouth" than someone who believes and acts as she is above the law and everybody else.
Biden is not the only senator with ties to financial institutions. As a matter of fact, I would like to see one who is not. I'd rather have someone who from time to time "puts his foot on his mouth" than someone who believes and acts as she is above the law and everybody else.
3
But the Repubs are not going to bring this up so it won't be an issue in the gen'l election. More of a problem: Biden's plagiarized speeches when he last ran for President and his failure to stand against the war in Iraq which the American people have FINALLY turned against.
3
The entry of Biden into the race will mean dividing the vote of Clinton and Sanders and the result will be Clinton winning the Democrat primary. I suspect that is the plan. The powers that be have already anointed Clinton.
Please explain how she has been anointed really.
We the people have not even voted.
Am I incredibly naive?
We the people have not even voted.
Am I incredibly naive?
There are at least two sides to everything. Lenders shouldn't get a pass but neither should profligate borrowers.
3
The Times continues to disparage Joe Biden, and shows its favorite, Hillary Clinton, in bright lights. Clinton has more banking and Wall Street connections than Biden has ever had, and is by far the worst of the Democrat candidates.
10
Hillary is no better in selling out to Big Banks, but she is more crafty. She supported the bankruptcy bill, but managed to miss key votes that could be used to hold her accountable:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/clinton-and-the-bankruptcy...
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/clinton-and-the-bankruptcy...
4
Could the media at least let Biden make his decision before tearing him down as a candidate?
6
Ah, Biden and his Wall Street connections.
Unlike Hillary, who was out in the Hamptons this past week raising money from the common people.
Unlike Hillary, who was out in the Hamptons this past week raising money from the common people.
12
"Unlike Hillary....."
or Walker, Carson, Kasich, Cruz and the rest of the clowns in the GOP circus bus kowtowing to Koch, Adelson and the rest of the owners of RepubliKorps.
or Walker, Carson, Kasich, Cruz and the rest of the clowns in the GOP circus bus kowtowing to Koch, Adelson and the rest of the owners of RepubliKorps.
1
dfokdfok - Unlike Hillary... there's a great deal to be said for those two words. If she's doing the same thing as those dastardly Republicans she is still just as wrong, or don't you think so?
I would vote for a Biden/Warren ticket. Quite enthusiastically, actually. He's got the political appeal, she's got the brains. Let's do it.
7
@Dean-Warren would have to be pretty inauthentic to run as Joe's VP. They are miles apart on finance regulatory legislation and trade. I would think that Warren will jeopardize her progressive bonafides the second that she supports an old guard establishment politician like Joe Biden.
2
Biden, while I think he is a decent man has made political moves in his career that put him definitely right of Warren. Warren will not forsake her well earned reputation for taking on banks and Wall Street to help out Biden. He needs her, she doesn't need him.
The Times attack dogs are going all out to get Joe Biden. RUN JOE RUN. They want to keep you out because you are the threat to Hillary Clinton not SOCIALIST Bernie Sanders who cannot get elected President. In case anyone forgot The Times endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2008 for the Democratic nomination.
Looks like the Clintons are getting their money's worth from the $100,000 contribution their Foundation made to The Times Neediest Fund. Looks like they can expect another big check this year.
Too bad comments like this will never get published.
Looks like the Clintons are getting their money's worth from the $100,000 contribution their Foundation made to The Times Neediest Fund. Looks like they can expect another big check this year.
Too bad comments like this will never get published.
8
So which side is Joe Biden for Wall St. or Consumers?
Please don't run Joe,you'll make the democratic party start looking more like(or similar) to the republican party.
Please don't run Joe,you'll make the democratic party start looking more like(or similar) to the republican party.
6
And his stance on the Wikileaks issue? I thought so...like Hillary he condemned our greatest ally ever: Assange.
6
I work in a bank. I manage infrastructure projects,
All of my co-workers are completely alienated by the left and progressives. I guess if some in my industry are bad apples then all of us are deemed evil.
Police, medical profession, private colleges, religion, corporations, pharma - on and on -- all alienated by the current left.
No problem - all you have left are artists, unions and others who suck from the teat of society.
All of my co-workers are completely alienated by the left and progressives. I guess if some in my industry are bad apples then all of us are deemed evil.
Police, medical profession, private colleges, religion, corporations, pharma - on and on -- all alienated by the current left.
No problem - all you have left are artists, unions and others who suck from the teat of society.
6
John, You write that, "I guess if some in my industry (Banking) are bad apples then all of us are deemed evil. Actually, anyone who has had dealings with banks know that the entire barrel is rotten.
Out of curiosity, does the NYT do any political reporting that is not opposition research dumps? Between this, the "Biden's friends think he's too old," and the Rubio non-story, it's been a pretty laughable summer for the Grey Lady.
11
First a reminder to commenters: the debt fairy did not put that debt onto poor innocent credit card holders statements, the credit card holder did. Biden's baggage as a shill for financial companies is a minor subplot to the real problem with his run for the presidency, his main problem is that he is a gaffe machine par excellence. Liberals gleefully mock Trump and say over and over it is their wish Trump gets the nomination, well that is exactly what the Right says about Biden. If you think the mocking of "W" Bush is bad for him being stupid, you ain't seen nothing yet if Biden runs.
10
I'm glad this article mentioned Biden's support for the 2005 bankruptcy "reform" act. Paul Krugman wrote about this in 2005:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/08/opinion/the-debtpeonage-society.html
To quote Professor Krugman, "any senator who votes for this bill should be ashamed." Joe Biden not only voted for this bill, he stood on the senate floor and spoke in favor of it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/08/opinion/the-debtpeonage-society.html
To quote Professor Krugman, "any senator who votes for this bill should be ashamed." Joe Biden not only voted for this bill, he stood on the senate floor and spoke in favor of it.
16
America desperately needs another Theodor Roosevelt, a bully who loves his fellow Americans and is fully capable of beating the other bullies back into a hole...
If you are a nice fellow incapable of winning even a single domestic dispute with your spouse and believe that the wealth could by created by the financial speculations on the Wall Street, don’t apply for a job...
The wealth is created on the Main Street and safely kept for our retirement in the banks. If the bankers really could create the wealth on their own, all of us could quit a job right now...
If you spent your political carrier sharing a bed with the Wall Street guys, please, take an early retirement. You have already inflicted enough harm upon your country.
$18 trillion and counting...
If you are a nice fellow incapable of winning even a single domestic dispute with your spouse and believe that the wealth could by created by the financial speculations on the Wall Street, don’t apply for a job...
The wealth is created on the Main Street and safely kept for our retirement in the banks. If the bankers really could create the wealth on their own, all of us could quit a job right now...
If you spent your political carrier sharing a bed with the Wall Street guys, please, take an early retirement. You have already inflicted enough harm upon your country.
$18 trillion and counting...
8
So banking ties could hurt VP Biden!
What about Madam Neo-Con ties to every cartel we have: Banking, Wall Street, big phamra, Oil, insurance?
We never heard a word of concern from The Daily Clinton-formally NY Times-about Hilarious Clinton guzzling money from all of them, for years.
Or this is another desperate attempt by The Daily Clinton to discourage VP Biden from running.
What about Madam Neo-Con ties to every cartel we have: Banking, Wall Street, big phamra, Oil, insurance?
We never heard a word of concern from The Daily Clinton-formally NY Times-about Hilarious Clinton guzzling money from all of them, for years.
Or this is another desperate attempt by The Daily Clinton to discourage VP Biden from running.
2
Joe Biden, O'Malley and Bernie have zero chance. Hillary Clinton has been running since 2008 and she has the support lined up.
1
So Biden's "banking ties" may hurt him?
What about Hillary's corruption, cronyism and criminal behaviour ties?
What about Sander's ties to a failed ideology that has at its core Marxist tenets completely at odds with reality?
What about Hillary's corruption, cronyism and criminal behaviour ties?
What about Sander's ties to a failed ideology that has at its core Marxist tenets completely at odds with reality?
1
I just hope that the press (talking to you NYT) spends as much time analyzing THIS liberal populist trend as it has the Tea Party "movement" over the last few years. This is the real deal, folks - it ain't a bunch of phony, anti-intellectual, racist evangelicals.
1
Biden could win. Hillary? Probably not. Sanders? Be serious. All these guys have connections to somebody with money. Every last one of them.
1
The only candidate (party does not matter) not owned by the criminal bankster cartel is Bernie Sanders. Banksters learned long ago that bribing politicians pays huge dividends and eliminates the risk of every going to prison.
10
I wish Steve Eder could be assigned a story on Secretary Clinton as we can never get any factual articles on the leading Democratic nominee from the NY Slimes. All we get is finely minced red meat from the legions of mini-me men that NY Slimes hired from Politico if the topic is a Clinton. The articles should never be fawning but should not contain the little boy reporters' personal animosities either. This article struck the right balance and was informing.
Nice article filled with political nuggets this news junkie did not know. How about using facts when writing about all of the candidates?
Nice article filled with political nuggets this news junkie did not know. How about using facts when writing about all of the candidates?
Judging by the NYT's articles and opinion pieces there are only three people running for the Presidency, Clinton, Trump, and sometimes Sanders.
2
Biden's ties to the banking industry pales in comparison to Hillary's involvement with the Clinton Foundation
1
It's interesting how quickly the media jumps on past records to justify or undo campaigns that might not have even been announced. Sure, they are a factor, but hey: please tell me about any candidate that doesn't have some sort of past record, some sort of positioning he or she wishes they hadn't taken.
You can say they've "evolved," or come to their senses, or realized the error of their ways. What you can't say is that anyone is totally bereft of some statements or personal history they wish had not come to light.
Of all the candidates, Sanders is the most pristine, and consistently coherent over the course of his long career. But I'm sure, as he rises in the polls to challenge Clinton, oppo researchers are digging fast and furiously into his past.
At some point, a voter has to decide how much an "evolution" is authentic. But voters also have to realize that previous support of issues near and dear to the hearts of those they represent is not a bad thing.
We have representative government, don't we? Why wouldn't a Biden sponsor legislation that benefits those voters and industries that he represents?
You can say they've "evolved," or come to their senses, or realized the error of their ways. What you can't say is that anyone is totally bereft of some statements or personal history they wish had not come to light.
Of all the candidates, Sanders is the most pristine, and consistently coherent over the course of his long career. But I'm sure, as he rises in the polls to challenge Clinton, oppo researchers are digging fast and furiously into his past.
At some point, a voter has to decide how much an "evolution" is authentic. But voters also have to realize that previous support of issues near and dear to the hearts of those they represent is not a bad thing.
We have representative government, don't we? Why wouldn't a Biden sponsor legislation that benefits those voters and industries that he represents?
4
Progressives do not hate the financial community, but despise the heads I win- tails you lose mentality that is pervasive among the corporate community.
Not one bankster was prosecuted by an administration that ran claiming populist themes. Eric Holder is back at a firm that represents the interests of the very people he failed to prosecute. Joe Biden was the 2nd in command during this disasterous misadministration and that will be hung around his neck like the Scarlet Letter should be run.
Biden, like Ms Clinton, represents the Democratic Party that has systemically sold out the working people of America by allowing and supporting Republican-lite policy.
Not one bankster was prosecuted by an administration that ran claiming populist themes. Eric Holder is back at a firm that represents the interests of the very people he failed to prosecute. Joe Biden was the 2nd in command during this disasterous misadministration and that will be hung around his neck like the Scarlet Letter should be run.
Biden, like Ms Clinton, represents the Democratic Party that has systemically sold out the working people of America by allowing and supporting Republican-lite policy.
7
Contrary to popular media portrayals the discussion among the various supporters of Democratic presidential candidates is spirited and for the most part respectful. Senator Bernie Sanders supporters are respecting his lead in being respectful of Hillary Clinton personally but are unstinting and vigourous in sharpening the policy differences between Senator Sanders and Ms. Clinton.
On balance most Sen Sanders' supporters view a potential run by Vice President Biden as a positive. The 14% of possible democratic voters supporting a potential run by Mr. Biden are unlikely to convert to Hillary Clinton should he decline to make a bid. If these Biden supporters viewed Ms. Clinton as a viable alternative they would be supporting her while awaiting his decision.
But both Mr. Biden and Ms. Clinton have a similar problem as establishment national political candidates; they are one servant who by virtue of the Citizens United dominated campaign finance enviroment who are torn bewteen two "masters" voters and SuperPACs and big money donors.
Ms. Clinton and Mr. Biden are going to avoid another embarrassing political defeat in 2016 they and the Democratic Party will have to choose honor the voters whose votes they sought or betray the voters for the SuperPACs and big money donors whose interest are irreconcilbly and diametrically opposed. The Democratic Party is being forced by a populist tsunami to accept the new political paradigm;
YOU CAN'T BE THE SERVANTS OF TWO MASTERS...
On balance most Sen Sanders' supporters view a potential run by Vice President Biden as a positive. The 14% of possible democratic voters supporting a potential run by Mr. Biden are unlikely to convert to Hillary Clinton should he decline to make a bid. If these Biden supporters viewed Ms. Clinton as a viable alternative they would be supporting her while awaiting his decision.
But both Mr. Biden and Ms. Clinton have a similar problem as establishment national political candidates; they are one servant who by virtue of the Citizens United dominated campaign finance enviroment who are torn bewteen two "masters" voters and SuperPACs and big money donors.
Ms. Clinton and Mr. Biden are going to avoid another embarrassing political defeat in 2016 they and the Democratic Party will have to choose honor the voters whose votes they sought or betray the voters for the SuperPACs and big money donors whose interest are irreconcilbly and diametrically opposed. The Democratic Party is being forced by a populist tsunami to accept the new political paradigm;
YOU CAN'T BE THE SERVANTS OF TWO MASTERS...
1
What's needed now is someone with the perspective, focus and credibility of Warren. Sanders is the closest. Clinton is the farthest. Biden is only slightly closer than Clinton. At the end of the day, both Clinton and Biden have long been tools of the privileged elite and maintainers of the status quo.
1
joe's PR people will put out the spin to act like he now cares about regular people and not taking care of billionaire bankers!!!!
2
As a supporter of Senator Warren's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I don't think Vice President Biden's reputation as a advocate for consumer protection is seriously compromised.
As president, I'm confident Joe, Bernie, or Hillary will have a different constituency: those who favor a continuation of Obama policies, remembering that Barrack forms coalitions, establishes consensus and actually wins elections.
Progressives shouldn't demand purity when a Democratic victory in 2016 ensures a rollback on Reganonmics and other draconian measures, limiting workers' rights, during the '80's.
Ask the 11,000 workers of the Professional Air Traffic Controls Oraganization about Reagon's union busting when he took office and immediately fired them in 1981. They would welcome a Biden, or a Sanders, or a Clinton administration.
The worst thing we could do is to bicker among ourselves and take our eyes off the prize: A continuation of progressive policies in 2017.
As president, I'm confident Joe, Bernie, or Hillary will have a different constituency: those who favor a continuation of Obama policies, remembering that Barrack forms coalitions, establishes consensus and actually wins elections.
Progressives shouldn't demand purity when a Democratic victory in 2016 ensures a rollback on Reganonmics and other draconian measures, limiting workers' rights, during the '80's.
Ask the 11,000 workers of the Professional Air Traffic Controls Oraganization about Reagon's union busting when he took office and immediately fired them in 1981. They would welcome a Biden, or a Sanders, or a Clinton administration.
The worst thing we could do is to bicker among ourselves and take our eyes off the prize: A continuation of progressive policies in 2017.
5
George Washington was once a monarchist. Abraham Lincoln was a Unionist who would have left millions enslaved if a compromise could have stopped southern states from seceding. If we couldn't change our point of view, we'd all be married to our high school sweetheart.
Mr Biden has had intimate relationships with big banks and credit card companies, but I want to hear what he has to say now.
Mr Biden has had intimate relationships with big banks and credit card companies, but I want to hear what he has to say now.
2
The comments by some here that anyone who challenges Hillary Clinton is now on the NYT 'hit list' is quite disingenuous. After all, was it not the NYT that with its investigative reporting proclaiming in a head line - and that not so long ago - that Hillary was under 'criminal investigation', a term that made everyone either break out in joy or cringe depending on party affiliation, and one they then had to take back?
As a voter who clearly preferred Obama over Hillary the last time around, I will vote in the primaries for a Democrat that has the greatest chance to win the general election, no matter what their supposed baggage is. And that, in my opinion will be neither Biden nor Sanders.
The only horror show for this country would be the election of any of the 100s of wannabe presidents in the Republican Klown Kar, resulting in further decisions akin to the Citizens' United in a future Supreme Court that would reign supremely arch-right for decades to come. It would also give us a few more wars abroad by the ones who only let the children of others give their life for the supposed protection of our homeland.
As a voter who clearly preferred Obama over Hillary the last time around, I will vote in the primaries for a Democrat that has the greatest chance to win the general election, no matter what their supposed baggage is. And that, in my opinion will be neither Biden nor Sanders.
The only horror show for this country would be the election of any of the 100s of wannabe presidents in the Republican Klown Kar, resulting in further decisions akin to the Citizens' United in a future Supreme Court that would reign supremely arch-right for decades to come. It would also give us a few more wars abroad by the ones who only let the children of others give their life for the supposed protection of our homeland.
6
Those concerned about Biden's bank ties should read yesterdays's NYT piece on Amalgamated Bank, owned by unions and making loans to Democratic PACs (including Hillary's).
If Biden throws his hat in he wlll push Clinton to the background, making it easy for Sanders and Clinton will be pushed to the third place in the primaries. That is why the corporate media, which is interested in the candidacy of Clinton is trying to dissuade him by all these bogeys. Actually Clinton is much closer to financial institutions than Biden or even the Republican candidates. There is none among the candidates who is so Wall Street friendly - rather, Wall Street chummy if I may say so. Above all Biden has more pleasing manners than Clinton and is more liked by the Democrarts than Clinton. The only candidate who doesn't have any relation with these financial institutions is Sanders and he does not depend on their charity for his campaign. Of all the candidates he is the most reliable and the one who, we can be sure, will not be a puppet of the money bags.
V.M.Mohanraj, India
V.M.Mohanraj, India
4
If the discussion is really about the best way for Biden to get the nomination, he should sit on the sidelines and hope that Clinton and Sanders reach an indecisive standoff and then offer himself at the convention as a compromise nominee.
1
"“When you are a senator from a state with a lot of credit-card and financial interests, you have a different constituency than when you are vice president.”
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THIS?:
"MBNA executives and employees contributed roughly $200,000 to Mr. Biden’s campaigns from 1989 to 2010, making the company his largest corporate donor."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THIS?:
"MBNA executives and employees contributed roughly $200,000 to Mr. Biden’s campaigns from 1989 to 2010, making the company his largest corporate donor."
2
Clinton should pre-emptively tag Biden for her running mate. It would flaunt convention and solidify the democratic base. Biden has proven himself to be an invaluable vice-president and his presence would smooth the Obama to Clinton transition.
Then when the GOP impeaches her (which that invariably will) Biden can be president anyway.
Then when the GOP impeaches her (which that invariably will) Biden can be president anyway.
The Clintons play too much of a Republican-type game to allow Joe Biden to join the chase proper. He does not, and would not, deserve the dirty tricks that would be thrown his way.
We need an viable alternative to Hillary (FACT), but stop... I know the media are against him, I know the media do not support him, I know he is not part of the establishment in the sense that he does not allow himself to be bought and sold, but we already have a viable alternative to Hillary. You know his name NYT, if only you would only print his name more often, if only you would report and state his case without prejudice- if only you were not part of the problem...
That name is, Bernie Sanders.
You are part of the problem NYT. Sorry.
We need an viable alternative to Hillary (FACT), but stop... I know the media are against him, I know the media do not support him, I know he is not part of the establishment in the sense that he does not allow himself to be bought and sold, but we already have a viable alternative to Hillary. You know his name NYT, if only you would only print his name more often, if only you would report and state his case without prejudice- if only you were not part of the problem...
That name is, Bernie Sanders.
You are part of the problem NYT. Sorry.
13
Well, someone should certainly ask him about being a "friend of Angelo" and getting cheap mortgages to acquire real estate while he was a regulator of the industry. But, of course, Chris Dodd never answered for that either.
We're the dumb ones.
We're the dumb ones.
1
Being a Liberal myself I think Biden would be a good President. He is likable and funny. He would be for the people and not for big money and special interest groups. I dont think his banking ties would hurt him. We need a funny guy in there again like Jimmy Carter. Remember his brother Billy Carter drinking all that beer? That was funny. Mr Obama just wants his 17 months left to run smoothly so he can get that 2 billion dollar library in Chicago. This is why he is always giving in to Putin and the special interest groups. Keep the peace. Did you know Putin sent 2 big bombers off the California coast on the 4th of July to wish Obama a happy 4th. What if we sent 2 bombers of the coast of Russia on May day. They would of never came back. I say lets vote in Mr Biden he would be good for this country.
1
OMG, enough with the criticisms of Biden. Let him get in the race and we'll see how he stacks up against Hillary Clinton, not to mention the likes of Trump and the other Republican ciphers.
3
It's good news indeed for Joe Biden if this is the best muck that can be created after 40+ years of public service. Not to mention recycling that story about his "F" on a college course which he repeated successfully and got struck off his record.
Let's see ... what else have we got. Aha, yes, a presidential bid in the 80s that the eventual nominee lost decisively to Repubs, and another in 2008 which was won by Obama, his biggest supporter today. Now this, unconvincing innuendo by association, something along the lines of Delaware = business friendly = Biden bad.
None of this clutching-at-straws-say-it-ain't-so-Joe can slow Joe Biden's momentum. The real question then is, what will? Extending the suspense for one. There's only so long you can keep the chatter going before people lose interest. Even this single finger touch-typing supporter is getting tired of coming to the Senator's defense.
What's that saying again? There's a tide in the affairs of men. It's almost high tide for Joe Biden. Run Joe! The country needs you.
Let's see ... what else have we got. Aha, yes, a presidential bid in the 80s that the eventual nominee lost decisively to Repubs, and another in 2008 which was won by Obama, his biggest supporter today. Now this, unconvincing innuendo by association, something along the lines of Delaware = business friendly = Biden bad.
None of this clutching-at-straws-say-it-ain't-so-Joe can slow Joe Biden's momentum. The real question then is, what will? Extending the suspense for one. There's only so long you can keep the chatter going before people lose interest. Even this single finger touch-typing supporter is getting tired of coming to the Senator's defense.
What's that saying again? There's a tide in the affairs of men. It's almost high tide for Joe Biden. Run Joe! The country needs you.
3
What! A candidate other than Hillary receiving scrutiny in the Times? I didn't think it possible.
Wake up call: Bernie ain't perfect either, and once the media take off their kid gloves more people will wake up to the fact that representing a White gun state is quite different from governing a diverse nation.
Wake up call: Bernie ain't perfect either, and once the media take off their kid gloves more people will wake up to the fact that representing a White gun state is quite different from governing a diverse nation.
1
I and others have pointed out that the myth of "good old Joe Biden" has been undermined by his support for the Bank Reform Act, a sop to banks and credit card companies which ultimately made it difficult if not impossible for struggling families to file for bankruptcy and get on their feet again. Many lost their homes, and in a sense lost their lives because of the passage of this act which JB was wholeheartedly in favor of. Add to that his son Hunter's willingness to work for the same corporate interests which have harmed so many consumers. O never should have selected Biden as his running mate in 2007-8, since he knew of his record as an "enemy" of the working and middle classes. Add to that Biden's weakness for plagiarism and his reluctance to give anything but the absolute minimum to charity each year, while he benefits from all those freebies as v.p. and you have a typical Washington politician , feathering his own nest at the expense of the general public.No wonder DT is so popular,
2
"John, email our Biden/Credit Card opposition research package over to Eder at the Times. He'll write it up exactly as we'd want him to"
2
Style wise, I like Biden, his smile, his manner. He gives marvelous eulogies, one thinks of the one for Ted Kennedy, but there are many others. He is probably too old to be President. And while he is more sincere and far less greedy than Hillary, he is no liberal and he is not poor after a lifetime in politics. And as this article points out he is in the bankers pockets, or at least they will remind him he once was. But again so is Hillary and much deeper. The nation needs a noisy president one who can daily man the bully pulpit. Oddly the only one running who is noisy is Trump, and who knows what he would really do or what he really believes? I will vote for Sanders his beliefs are the closest to my own. Given the choice; I would support Biden over Hillary, if only because he strikes me as more sincere in his packaging. A noisy Biden could beat Trump. Hillary would lose to him, and I think Trump is going to be the Republican nominee.
4
Time to be realistic. Bernie Sanders cannot raise the money to be competitive. Hillary Clinton is fatally wounded by her unbelievably stupid and selfish choices. All the FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) being thrown Biden's way by the New York Times and other mainstream media is almost definitionally short-sighted. The Democrats are going to need a candidate in the fall of 2016. If it can't be Hillary or Bernie, you're stuck with Joe. So let's make the best of it, focusing on his strengths.
2
It is well that Vice President Biden should be called to account for his actions regarding the credit card industry and the bankruptcy laws - Mrs. Clinton should also answer for that. They are a blot on consumer fairness. Many Americans would be better off if they did not employ credit cards to buy things they couldn't afford in the first place and then be subject to almost ruinous interest rates in a time of negligible inflation. I might have three very low rate cards but I never carry a balance and use them only for Internet purchases and paying some fees, such as for this subscription. I was also in the same trap but thankfully dug my way out and am a lot better off because of it.
1
Strange world that we live in.
If MBNA had been operating in China and had given work to the son of a leading member of the ruling authorities there in exchange for that member of the authorities supporting MBNA’s interests, it might be pursued under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Yet back home it seems that in the case of Biden and MBNA and his son, this is Washington business as usual.
Is it any wonder that Trump has such appeal in the face of such corruption.
If MBNA had been operating in China and had given work to the son of a leading member of the ruling authorities there in exchange for that member of the authorities supporting MBNA’s interests, it might be pursued under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Yet back home it seems that in the case of Biden and MBNA and his son, this is Washington business as usual.
Is it any wonder that Trump has such appeal in the face of such corruption.
2
Although one could argue he rightly represented the interests of his constituents, the truth remains, I can no longer support Joe Biden or his willingness to become President.
To me his greatest fault was his promulgation of the "Biden Crime Bill" that turned America into a Communist secret Police/ Prison state.
I had thoughts of forgiveness, but not on this.
Don't run Joe Biden. Thank you.
To me his greatest fault was his promulgation of the "Biden Crime Bill" that turned America into a Communist secret Police/ Prison state.
I had thoughts of forgiveness, but not on this.
Don't run Joe Biden. Thank you.
1
This is the second story in 10 days in which the Times has seen fit to warn Biden with its headline. The first was: "Joe Biden’s Role in ’90s Crime Law Could Haunt Any Presidential Bid". A pattern is developing.
1
I like the idea of Biden/Warren ticket. She could be Obama's Biden in Economic affairs, and get schooled on foreign policy while serving. That would pave the way for a 2020 win for Warren if Biden were to choose not to run for reelection.
Biden/Warren 2016!
Biden/Warren 2016!
3
Resentment rises within when ever the violins start to play as the music preys on our emotions because it is said that one of Beau's last wishes was for his dad to run for president.
It has ONLY been three months since Beau's untimely passing.
Biden is more of the same old same old that the American people are clearly saying that they have had enough.
My condolences to the Biden family.
It has ONLY been three months since Beau's untimely passing.
Biden is more of the same old same old that the American people are clearly saying that they have had enough.
My condolences to the Biden family.
1
Reading through these comments I'm struck by the number of people who smell media conspiracies at every turn. The Times is in the pocket of Hillary! The Times hates Bernie! Not only hates him but is SCARED of him!
Come on people. It's all so silly. Give it a rest until the primaries. Until then it's all just noise.
Come on people. It's all so silly. Give it a rest until the primaries. Until then it's all just noise.
2
Biden does not have to have positions as left as Sanders to be viable. Biden has positions similar to Clinton's without all her lying and baggage. She said she used a private server as not to have to carry two devices (LIE.) She said she turned over all work emails. They did not include the Blumenthal emails (LIE.) She said no classified contents (LIE.) Of course she has a great history of lying. Think of Bosnia snipers. Will one of her hallucinations get us in another war? Suppose she sees all the kids at the Easter Egg roll and imagines they're an army. She declare war on some country. Remember vast right wing conspiracy? New flash Hillary: If your husband prefers the company of other women (who can blame him?) it's not the fault of Republicans. Hillary seems very unbalanced mentally
Candidates can not be frenemies like Hilary and Bernie, they should fight, so Biden will become a worthy competitor.Obama has wisely moved his stakes on Biden's card too.
Seems to me whenever a politician remarks about "campaign donations from MBNA employees" - omitting references to the corporate entity, something sinister is afoot.
How come no one points out that year long holiday, helped by Biden, where banks raised their credit card rates sky high before they would no longer be allowed to do so. My perfectly fine card went from 7.99 to 18.99 per cent rate overnight. Some went to 23 and 25 per cent. The rates are now in the category of break a leg Louie.
To those commenters who keep saying that Democratic voters need to hold their nose and vote for someone they despise who is primarily only interested in keeping things running smoothly for the 1%, on the argument that having a Democratic president appoint the next Supreme Court justices overrides all other concerns, I say you have it backwards.
Yes it is critical that a Democratic appoint the next Supreme Court justices, and that is why the DNC should stop right now trying to cram a candidate that many Democrats cannot stand and will not vote for down their throats. If the Democrats lose the presidential election, it will be because the Democratic establishment refused to listen to their voters, and instead insisted on trying to strong-arm them into submission. Hillary Clinton is unlikable, untrustworthy, entitled, arrogant, and does not have the interests of the middle class at heart. People can see that, and they're not going to vote for her. It's as simple as that. You can't force them to vote for her.
If the Dems lose the Presidential election, it will be because the Democratic establishment refused to listen to its voters and failed to get behind a candidate that addresses their concerns. Playing top-down politics is not going to work this time. Democracy is supposed to work from the bottom up, and that is what American voters are demanding this time.
Yes it is critical that a Democratic appoint the next Supreme Court justices, and that is why the DNC should stop right now trying to cram a candidate that many Democrats cannot stand and will not vote for down their throats. If the Democrats lose the presidential election, it will be because the Democratic establishment refused to listen to their voters, and instead insisted on trying to strong-arm them into submission. Hillary Clinton is unlikable, untrustworthy, entitled, arrogant, and does not have the interests of the middle class at heart. People can see that, and they're not going to vote for her. It's as simple as that. You can't force them to vote for her.
If the Dems lose the Presidential election, it will be because the Democratic establishment refused to listen to its voters and failed to get behind a candidate that addresses their concerns. Playing top-down politics is not going to work this time. Democracy is supposed to work from the bottom up, and that is what American voters are demanding this time.
4
Mr. Biden may indeed have a problem in terms of his Wall Street ties. The irony, however, is that if anyone has a populist credibility problem and strong ties to Wall Street it's Hillary and Bill Clinton.
More and more Democrats are becoming tired and fed-up with the "inevitability," the obfuscation, the manufactured, co-opted, so-called "progressive" populist agenda of the Clinton campaign. But now, that "inevitability" has begun to evaporate. Hillary Clinton's campaign march to the White House is starting to show major cracks in the façade with poll numbers showing significant drops in popularity while Bernie Sanders continues to rise in Iowa polls. Why? Because people smell something's not right about Hillary and her message and they're looking very intently at the alternatives, like Sanders, O'Malley, Chaffee, and the possibility of Joseph Biden joining the race.
As for the DNC, they better rethink their myopic fixation on Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee and listen to the growing discontent among the electorate. If they stubbornly stick with this losing horse the Democrats may well risk losing the election.
I just love that photo of Hill on stage beaming alongside Lloyd Blankfein who, along with all the other CEO's on Wall Street, really should be serving time in a Federal penitentiary. It speaks volumes.
http://billmoyers.com/2014/11/12/hillary-clinton-wall-streets-pick-2016/
http://www.thenation.com/article/bill-clinton-great-deregulator/
More and more Democrats are becoming tired and fed-up with the "inevitability," the obfuscation, the manufactured, co-opted, so-called "progressive" populist agenda of the Clinton campaign. But now, that "inevitability" has begun to evaporate. Hillary Clinton's campaign march to the White House is starting to show major cracks in the façade with poll numbers showing significant drops in popularity while Bernie Sanders continues to rise in Iowa polls. Why? Because people smell something's not right about Hillary and her message and they're looking very intently at the alternatives, like Sanders, O'Malley, Chaffee, and the possibility of Joseph Biden joining the race.
As for the DNC, they better rethink their myopic fixation on Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee and listen to the growing discontent among the electorate. If they stubbornly stick with this losing horse the Democrats may well risk losing the election.
I just love that photo of Hill on stage beaming alongside Lloyd Blankfein who, along with all the other CEO's on Wall Street, really should be serving time in a Federal penitentiary. It speaks volumes.
http://billmoyers.com/2014/11/12/hillary-clinton-wall-streets-pick-2016/
http://www.thenation.com/article/bill-clinton-great-deregulator/
3
Joe Biden is just as poor a candidate as HRC.
He voted for the Iraq war... that alone should disqualify him from any liberal votes.
He lacks leadership skills.
And his ties to credit card companies only mean we have one more puppet thinking about running for president.
He voted for the Iraq war... that alone should disqualify him from any liberal votes.
He lacks leadership skills.
And his ties to credit card companies only mean we have one more puppet thinking about running for president.
3
Thanks to their nonsensical purity tests and their juvenile need to fall in love, progressives have already emphatically turned their backs on Hillary Clinton, the best bet women, minorites, and the disadvantaged have to protect the precious gains they've made under the Obama administration. Now it looks as though Joe may very well not meet their standards either. Idealists are such useful idiots. For instance, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov could never have succeeded in neutralizing and then liquidating the moderates without them.
3
Problem is MERS is straight out of Delaware, and brought death to a ton of families and especially 50,000 Veterans which represented 100% of the Dept of VA borrowers that applied for "The President Making Home Affordable" HAMP & VA HAMP!
Over at the Dept of VA they were not just allowing veterans to die waiting for an appointment, but they also watched as 100% of those requesting a review never were reviewed and instead all were illegally foreclosed with forged title (crime) and violating 4th Amendment Rights of all 50,000 families.
This Administration did not get the bad news at 6:00 because the Attorney General was on retainer by Freaking MERS! I cannot believe we are here 7 yrs after the financial nuke that got the Fed Chairman watching this theft and the Vice Chairman who was also watching were the two choices the alleged few trillion dollar Rothschild family told Obama he could place in that position.
Back to Holder, who is the stupidest Attorney General ever or he the most corrupt because he went 6 1/2yrs not knowing what Wells Fargo was doing with 1.3 million of Washington Mutual Bank loans. Holder had to know because I wrote him 100 email about it and Lynn Szymoniak filed a lawsuit about government insured being illegal foreclosed.
Look we are talking about over $264 billion at least owed to the US taxpayers and Eric Holder ain't called me to say boo. I provided Holder with forgeries, not from a 16yr old crack dealer so the FBI was not interested!
Over at the Dept of VA they were not just allowing veterans to die waiting for an appointment, but they also watched as 100% of those requesting a review never were reviewed and instead all were illegally foreclosed with forged title (crime) and violating 4th Amendment Rights of all 50,000 families.
This Administration did not get the bad news at 6:00 because the Attorney General was on retainer by Freaking MERS! I cannot believe we are here 7 yrs after the financial nuke that got the Fed Chairman watching this theft and the Vice Chairman who was also watching were the two choices the alleged few trillion dollar Rothschild family told Obama he could place in that position.
Back to Holder, who is the stupidest Attorney General ever or he the most corrupt because he went 6 1/2yrs not knowing what Wells Fargo was doing with 1.3 million of Washington Mutual Bank loans. Holder had to know because I wrote him 100 email about it and Lynn Szymoniak filed a lawsuit about government insured being illegal foreclosed.
Look we are talking about over $264 billion at least owed to the US taxpayers and Eric Holder ain't called me to say boo. I provided Holder with forgeries, not from a 16yr old crack dealer so the FBI was not interested!
My impression is that Sanders and Clinton would continue to tear down the per-Obama American way I knew and loved and Biden would not. What happened to Democrats like John Kennedy he would set a goal of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to earth before the end of a decade. One who understands American elitism, not meaning the American people are elite, but recognizing that America has presented, and should continue to present a unique environment where capable person can make the most of their abilities.
Joe Biden seems more of that type to me.
Joe Biden seems more of that type to me.
1
Joe Biden's history of support for the same credit card banks whose policies have harmed American families for decades should be enough reason to disqualify him from entering the 2016 Presidential race. As Americans work to recover from a recession imposed upon them by the actions of banks and billionaires who gambled and needed to be bailed out by the US taxpayer, it is unacceptable to think that a politician with such a history of supporting these banks would enter the race now. Excusing Biden's Senate record of doing the will of credit card banks because he represented Delaware is an interesting argument that leaves out the fact that he also represented millions of families whose economic lives were damaged by the same predatory banks that were giving him money. In 2008, banks and billionaires almost brought this economy down. To think that a politician who consistently represented their interests in Washington at the expense of the families he should have been representing might enter the race now is unfathomable. It may be interesting for the pundit class to ponder the possibilites, but real American families have had enough of banks and billionaires, and the politicans they have bought to do their bidding.
1
The democratic party should go with the candidate that stands the best chance of winning the general, that candidate is Mrs. Clinton. I am far from a Hilary supporter, but I realize that Sanders (or Biden, or anyone else, really) would fare worse than Hilary against whomever the republicans nominate (rest assured, it will not be Trump). Ginsberg is ancient, and the next president will be in the position the pick her replacement. For that reason, and that reason alone, all that matters is that the democrats pick the candidate with the greatest chance to win and, unfortunately, that's Hilary. Hilary and Biden might have ties to wall street, yes, but so what? This country is much better off when a democratic president, ties to wall street and all, is picking the heads of the executive departments and agencies, the federal circuit judges, the members of the NLRB, etc., etc....
If the heart and soul of the Democratic Party still dwell on -- or even near -- Main Street, rather than Wall Street, the best thing that could happen now would be for Vice President Biden and Sen. Warren to hold a joint news conference on Labor Day, "feel the Bern" and endorse Sen. Sanders.
3
Joe Biden is just what the Democrats need right now--a candidate who can run to the right of Hillary Clinton.
Um, yes because Clinton is so liberal and there is a pent up demand in the Democratic Party for a conservative democrat. Not so much. And Biden and Clinton have nearly identical legislative voting records. And the reason he met with Warren was definitly not to send a signal that he would run as centrist democrat.
1
Another odd example of the skewed election coverage in the Times. Little about Biden's overall record -- has he or hasn't he been a friend of the American worker? A complete absence of perspective -- how does he compare to the Republlcan candidates?
You aren't out to inform, you're out to dig dirt, and as a consequence your election coverage has so far been abysmal, lacking in scope, perspective, and basic fairness.
You aren't out to inform, you're out to dig dirt, and as a consequence your election coverage has so far been abysmal, lacking in scope, perspective, and basic fairness.
13
@ Josh Hill
You're talking about their coverage of Clinton surely?
You're talking about their coverage of Clinton surely?
In addition to the aforementioned concerns, there is another thing that concerns me about Biden's potential run for the presidency. A number of years ago he admitted to plagarizing some materials for his speeches. In today's hyper-critical environment, I'm concerned that this will come back to haunt him.
1
As long as he didn't plagiarize classified materials, I'll take him over Hillary all day.
That's really old news; it goes back to 1987 and the 1988 presidential race. I hope we can all concede that we all grow over the course of almost three decades. I don't think the Biden we saw in 1987 is the Biden we see today. Is he perfect? Far from it -- but who in politics or Washington is? Also, I blame Biden's staff as much as him for the stolen material in his speeches. They were just plain lazy. No national politician comes up with his or her own speeches alone. Unlike President Obama, many are almost uninvolved until they review the script right before delivering it. So yes, he's ultimately responsible for what he says, but he's not solely responsible. If those practices of unattributed "borrowing" stopped, I can move on.
@debra–The plagiarism derailed his first presidential run. He plagiarized more than one speech and the NY Times did an investigative piece after he was caught plagiarizing a speech from a British politician and found that Biden had a pattern of plagiarizing begining in law school. It's a serious problem for him.
2
Five largest banks of America are standing for each Democratic candidate (it would be surprising if major financial corporations are not trying to influence the elections in America), the only one who really does not have relations with them is Bernie Sanders. He really honest candidate who deserves the trust and support.
24
Once upon a time, banks were Main Street, not Wall Street. The games the Federal Reserve Bank plays with interest rates drove the banks into the arms of Wall Street.
7
It's hard to forget that Joe Biden was the senator from MBNA. As much as any senator he made it very difficult for the middle class to file bankruptcy when faced with credit card debt. He was none too kind to those saddled with medical bills either. Biden was not only a weak consumer advocate - he was on the other team.
13
Biden has a long history of putting his foot in his mouth. What would make anyone think that he wouldn't do more of the same in yet another campaign for President, thereby sabotaging his chance of winning?
3
I'm wondering if Biden has considered that the real race for the democratic nomination has been set: Clinton vs. Sanders. Quite a rivalry has developed amongst Sanders and Clinton supporters. And despite what the media portrays, the race between the two front runners is competitive. At this stage of the game, neither Sanders or Clinton supporters want Biden in the race. This leaves only about the 15 percent that Biden currently polls of voters who are not happy with Clinton or Sanders. There is not enough of the pie left for Biden. He is coming to the table too late.
54
Yes, but Clinton is likely to crash out the race. So, the Democratic machine needs an alternative to Sanders.
RJS -
Your analysis makes sense. Of course Joe is looking too late and has been effectively crowded out by HRC et al. And à propos of the article, he was in fact known as the Senator from MBNA. But what any analysis built on current poll rankings and financial backers fails to consider is the potential of the current leader's collapse. Read: Sec. Clinton's email server, and all related issues.
Bernie Sanders - like it or not - is essentially in the same position Gene McCarthy was in late '67 - early '68, a stalking horse for a yet-undeclared candidate with considerable gravitas, but one for whom an entry would be deemed fratricidal unless the presumed nominee faltered along the way, as did LBJ. At which point - if deemed bad form in some circles - Robert F. Kennedy stepped in and in no time was at the head of the pack . . .
And of course, no one would claim that HRC has faltered - yet - but "faltering" is another matter. To the point that the electorate and Demo. Party leaders at the state level in particular would take Joe's entry into the race as a massive infusion of fresh air. That and Joe as nominee - the proverbial battleship turned around - would have real coattails, down the ticket across the county. (Or leave a broad wake on which others could ride: pick your metaphor.)
In contrast, leaders whose endorsements will be critical understand that HRC's focus-group oriented campaign looks only to her own election, without a coattail in sight.
Your analysis makes sense. Of course Joe is looking too late and has been effectively crowded out by HRC et al. And à propos of the article, he was in fact known as the Senator from MBNA. But what any analysis built on current poll rankings and financial backers fails to consider is the potential of the current leader's collapse. Read: Sec. Clinton's email server, and all related issues.
Bernie Sanders - like it or not - is essentially in the same position Gene McCarthy was in late '67 - early '68, a stalking horse for a yet-undeclared candidate with considerable gravitas, but one for whom an entry would be deemed fratricidal unless the presumed nominee faltered along the way, as did LBJ. At which point - if deemed bad form in some circles - Robert F. Kennedy stepped in and in no time was at the head of the pack . . .
And of course, no one would claim that HRC has faltered - yet - but "faltering" is another matter. To the point that the electorate and Demo. Party leaders at the state level in particular would take Joe's entry into the race as a massive infusion of fresh air. That and Joe as nominee - the proverbial battleship turned around - would have real coattails, down the ticket across the county. (Or leave a broad wake on which others could ride: pick your metaphor.)
In contrast, leaders whose endorsements will be critical understand that HRC's focus-group oriented campaign looks only to her own election, without a coattail in sight.
It appears that Bernie Sanders' steady rise in the polls is making those who own the government so nervous that they've sent Democratic Party hacks scurrying to find another candidate to do the job that Hillary appears increasingly unable to do: insure that the desires of corporate and financial elites continue to be catered to. Joe Biden has proven that he can be trusted to do just that, and they've got him saddled up and ready to go. What a surprise.
94
From my perspective, it's that Biden is more electable than Sanders, who is unlikely to win the primary or, if he does, the election (the previous commenters comparison to Adlai Stevenson was apt). And Mrs. Clinton as you say seems unable to do the job. I'd rather have Joe Biden, who despite what this article says about his record has basically been a decent guy who cares about regular people, than a Republican.
Biden like HRC represents the Democratic Party machine and that's the last thing we need for a president in 2016.
The Democratic Leadership Council sold their soul to the Corporate State, spawning Clinton with NAFTA and now Obama with the TPP.
Americans have had enough of puppets for the Corporate State!!
The Democratic Leadership Council sold their soul to the Corporate State, spawning Clinton with NAFTA and now Obama with the TPP.
Americans have had enough of puppets for the Corporate State!!
1
"Saddled up" is an apt descriptive term - since he appears to be the Democratic dark horse candidate should he jump in now.
Wow, Biden gets the Dodd-Frank thumbs up on banking probity. What's next, the Joe Lieberman stamp of approval on Health Care?
23
Of course he WAS corrupt. But would he continue to be corrupt if elected to the highest office?
That is the modern calculus of Presidential elections and it applies to nearly everyone running.
That is the modern calculus of Presidential elections and it applies to nearly everyone running.
7
I'm afraid that that the major banks registered in Delaware are criminal operations and their credit card operations resemble "loan sharks". Not only are they criminal operations, but when caught, they pay a small penalty which is paid for by their shareholders. Big Banks in this country have no system for holding miscreants accountable. The top executives are not only highly paid but also receive incentive bonuses based on how much they can steal from customers.
I can't support Joe Biden because he has ignored these facts.
I can't support Joe Biden because he has ignored these facts.
59
Biden's banking ties aren't the only problem. He was associated with the Democratic Leadership Council, which was designed to pull the Democratic Party back from its supposedly excessive liberalism. He's part of the problem, not part of the solution.
84
Democratic Leadership Council wasn't that created by Bill CLINTON !!
Truman, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Bush (41). They were all vice-presidents first. Gore missed by 300 votes. The most reliable way to win the presidency is to have a vice-president run.
4
Bad history: Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson succeeded dead presidents, were then elected. Ford was never elected president or vice, having been appointed vice, succeeded a president who felt compelled to resign, then LOST the election. Before GHW Bush, the last VP elected president right after service as VP was...Martin Van Buren. Like Bush, he was defeated the next time. Nixon lost when running as a sitting VP. Eight years later he won a squeaker, after the Dems under Johnson had the worst conventions ever. Nixon got nominated after Geo. Romney put his foot in his mouth and Nelson Rckefeller diddled over getting in the race. If Biden doesn't diddle, he could have a good shot.
26
UM, yeah. Gore won.
18
Times should stop editorializing in news columns. First it was the criminal justice bill, designed to do something about set-em-free judges, now it implies anything that might please the banks is bad for the nation and that Biden was in the pocket of a significant credit card issuer. I am more interested in hearing what Biden thinks is critical, now.
31
Well, if Joe is going to run, he needs to get some better photos of himself than the corny one that keeps running with these NY Times trial balloon articles where he is stroking his chin thoughtfully.
I can't believe he is agonizing over this decision. I can only assume a few Democratic party officials are not big Hillary fans and smell blood in the water over her email server "crisis", or "scandal", or whatever nonsense words are being chosen now to describe what is not a big deal in the long run. Unless more than one email is found where she says she put secret Saudi money in a Swiss bank account for her own personal use, she is going to weather this thing just fine. Lots of political officials have used personal email servers besides her.
As for Mr. Biden, he is a dear, sweet man and a solid Democrat, but the American public has had 2 good, long looks at him running for President, and in neither one of them was there anything more than a mild amount of interest.
The other possibility is that his people see this as a way to pull Mr. Biden out of a serious depressive psychological slump due to the tragic death of his son, Beau in late May. Get better, Joe. Know you are loved, serve the President up to the end, then retire and write a great memoir. You've earned a few victory laps in a long career full of heartache and triumphs.
45
In those two previous campaigns the Vice President wasn't nearly as well known nor as well-liked as he is now. He doesn't have Hillary's baggage and would likely do far better in the general election than the widely (if somewhat unfairly)reviled Mrs. Clinton.
13
Well, Stu, there is one small problem - does anyone remember the role he played in the Clarence Thomas hearings? Women do - Anita Hill was treated abominably and the Vice President was part of the lynching. Yes, we remember. Now, that's baggage.
3
@Stu—uh, actually both Joe and Hillary travel with lots of baggage. Joe may be better liked becuase of his affable perosonality but he has a lot of baggage.
1
I've been waiting for this given how many commenters have previously discussed wanting Biden to run. He and Hillary sponsored the bankruptcy legislation enacted in 2005. In addition, I don't think him being a Senator from Delaware is an excuse for supporting the credit card industry. I'm sure many consumers in Delaware were harmed by credit card companies headquartered there.
Biden's appointments for regulatory agencies, financial and others, would not be any better than Obama's or Clinton's, if she was elected. I really don't understand the enthusiasm for him running, except that people like his personality. Many people liked W, too, because he seemed "down to earth."
Biden's appointments for regulatory agencies, financial and others, would not be any better than Obama's or Clinton's, if she was elected. I really don't understand the enthusiasm for him running, except that people like his personality. Many people liked W, too, because he seemed "down to earth."
39
Joe also has another problem that will certainly be revisited, which is his plagiarism that derailed his run for president in the 80's. Joe has a history of confabulation and because of this he won't even get the nomination should he run. I hate to say it but I think the only reason Biden is considering running is that he is counting on his opponents treating him with kids gloves because of the death of his son. He has possibly more baggage than Clinton.
12
"History of confabulation"? Based on what? That one instance of plagiarism from decades back would constitute "baggage" only if Jesus was his lone opponent in the primaries.
9
@Stu–you have it wrong. It wasn't just one instance (look it up). Joe also acknowledged plagiarizing law school papers as well. And do not minimize his plagiarizing his speech from that British politician. That was embarrassing and serious and speaks to his honesty or lack thereof. Joe has a record of voting that isn't congruent with his rhetoric either. He is a poor presidential candidate. He shouldn't run. He won't win.
1
I like Joe Biden but he is no Progressive. I expect that he would continue to be big banks best friend.
60
Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat but he will destroy the chances for a Democratic presidency.
Joe Biden is from Delaware, incorporation capital of America, so what would anyone have expected him to do in and for a state that gets thousands of jobs from just that use by American business.
And Hilary Clinton is still going to be the nominee unless maybe, maybe, maybe Joe Biden gets in, but even then probably yes she will be.
This isn't about being right on every last issue. It is not about passing an Elizabeth Warren test. It is not about hating banks and bankers. It is not about the this and that the that that's most left.
This is about the winning the White House because if to lose it is to lose everything --the entire government and the entire federal judiciary including the Supreme Court.
Remember Adlai Stevenson? Remember George McGovern? Remember their landslide losses? Well most of you are not old enough to remember either but I am AND SO IS BERNIE SANDERS WHO IS PUTTING US ON THE ROAD TO SUFFER THE EXACT SAME POLITICAL EXTINCTION.
This isn't about being right; or should I say being left. It is about winning because if you lose the White House you lose everything, everything, everything.
Say that in your prayers every night you on the left because if you persist in left wing purity you will rue the day there is a 7-to-2 Republican right wing majority on the United States Supreme Court -- not for four years but for for the next 30.
Joe Biden is from Delaware, incorporation capital of America, so what would anyone have expected him to do in and for a state that gets thousands of jobs from just that use by American business.
And Hilary Clinton is still going to be the nominee unless maybe, maybe, maybe Joe Biden gets in, but even then probably yes she will be.
This isn't about being right on every last issue. It is not about passing an Elizabeth Warren test. It is not about hating banks and bankers. It is not about the this and that the that that's most left.
This is about the winning the White House because if to lose it is to lose everything --the entire government and the entire federal judiciary including the Supreme Court.
Remember Adlai Stevenson? Remember George McGovern? Remember their landslide losses? Well most of you are not old enough to remember either but I am AND SO IS BERNIE SANDERS WHO IS PUTTING US ON THE ROAD TO SUFFER THE EXACT SAME POLITICAL EXTINCTION.
This isn't about being right; or should I say being left. It is about winning because if you lose the White House you lose everything, everything, everything.
Say that in your prayers every night you on the left because if you persist in left wing purity you will rue the day there is a 7-to-2 Republican right wing majority on the United States Supreme Court -- not for four years but for for the next 30.
65
Adlai Stevenson? George McGovern? Sorry, but they were in a different time and place where the political/ideological extremes of each party and the Republicans in particular, barely existed. Along with the massive increase and influence of big money, lobbyists and special interest groups essentially now controlling the governments agenda, it would seem, for the most part, the American public have had enough and Sanders and his policies now represent a realistic practical option.
49
Imagine all those Delaware jobs that might have been in jeopardy if the Bankruptcy Bill hadn't passed! Someone please explain the connection to me.
5
Well, OK, calm, down. How did you get from "he will destroy the chances for a Democratic presidency" to "Hilary Clinton is still going to be the nominee" and forget that Sanders has pledged to support the eventual democratic nominee? He will be voting for Clinton in November 2016.
But yes, your point about the extremely dangerous place we are in terms of remaining a federal republic with some semblance of democracy would indeed be quite threatened by any republican winning with control of the house and senate and nominating at least 1 if not 3 conservatives to the Supreme Court. If that comes to pass the coup that Reagan started will be complete.
But yes, your point about the extremely dangerous place we are in terms of remaining a federal republic with some semblance of democracy would indeed be quite threatened by any republican winning with control of the house and senate and nominating at least 1 if not 3 conservatives to the Supreme Court. If that comes to pass the coup that Reagan started will be complete.
17
Good to see that the Hillary hack machine, this paper included, are going full throttle.
41
@DS–Why is Biden's record off limits? These are the facts. And you know, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
15
Hillary, Sanders and Biden have two things in common: they're old people with old ideas. Let's move on.
10
Bush is old, trump is old, so I can't possibly imagine who you are proposing we "move on" to.
Governance should be a long-term steady hand on the wheel, has little to nothing to do with being old.
Governance should be a long-term steady hand on the wheel, has little to nothing to do with being old.
8
The Republican party is made of prehistoric ideas. Let's keep that clear.
22
Trump is older than most people realize. He will be 70 before the election of 2016 takes place.
23
What? Elizabeth Warren "generated" populist energy and now Bernie Sanders is "running on it?" Bernie is speaking for millions of Americans who know a skunk when they smell it. Populist energy isn't "generated." It finally bursts out of the authoritarian constraints ruling elites construct to defeat it.
166
Vice President Biden could get more done because of his 40 years of experience in the Senate. If he chose Warren as his Vice President, assuming she accepts, I think that would be enough of a reassurance to the progressives that Biden will be their advocate. So if it's about winning, the Vice President has a better chance than Mrs. Clinton.
But if it came down to Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Clinton, Bernie has got my vote. The McGovern analogy ignores the changes in the American demographics of the last 40 years. The Republicans are self destructing with Trump as its front runner. Even Bush managed to offend Hispanics and Asians, whose votes he will need to win the White House. So, if Bernie wins the Democratic nomination, I think he can win. The Republicans best chance at winning is by having the Democrars nominate Mrs. Clinton. It's hard to imagine people voting for somebody they don't trust.
But if it came down to Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Clinton, Bernie has got my vote. The McGovern analogy ignores the changes in the American demographics of the last 40 years. The Republicans are self destructing with Trump as its front runner. Even Bush managed to offend Hispanics and Asians, whose votes he will need to win the White House. So, if Bernie wins the Democratic nomination, I think he can win. The Republicans best chance at winning is by having the Democrars nominate Mrs. Clinton. It's hard to imagine people voting for somebody they don't trust.
And just how did Hunter get that job , fresh out of college, with MBNA ? it just happened to coincide with MBNA lobbying Joe in the Senate to pass a favorable bill to the company and horrific for consumers . Inquiring minds would like to know. Joe protected MBNA, and I was left as a customer to suffer their anti-consumer tactics which nearly left me broke. What do you say , Joe ?
53
" ..came home to work for a bank", I was just thinking: can't the boy do some decent work, like engineer or Dr, scientist....
Sigh.
Sigh.
5
Richard, are you and all your relatives doing "decent" work? Are you all engineers, doctors and scientists?
Joe Biden wasn't representing the ordinary people of Delaware. He was representing the banking industry of Delaware. Like all the candidates except Sanders and Trump, he'll represent his largest donors. And I wouldn't choose Trump to manage a convenience store, let alone the nation.
135
The Dems are forgetting Healey’s First Law Of Holes: When in one, stop digging. This crazy, I repeat, CRAZY, over-reaction to Hillary's emails and early poll numbers are absurd. The Dems might as well nominate my local dog-catcher, if they choose to nominate Joe Biden. Or Bernie Sanders. Gawd! Hillary's abilities and credentials beat them both like a rented mule. Hillary is tempered steel at this point in her career, and she will make a great counterpoint to the Republican lunacy of the last 20 years. I want a president with the cunning of Machiavelli. And she has that...in spades!
33
judgeroybean-- If you want Machiavelli, the ends justify the means, I'd think you'd be much happier with Trump.
8
So you prefer cunning to honesty and truth? I'll take Bernie Sanders anyday over Hillary and her triangulated attempts at governance.
41
@Judge Bean: Please enlighten us as to how Hillary's credentials (or, for that matter, her abilities) best the Vice President's.
4
I doubt Biden could win my vote over Bernie Sanders. I've seen him debate, and run a campaign, and I don't believe he'll be strong enough on big money no matter who his V.P pick would be. I doubt he'll stop the TPP or Keystone pipeline. Either way, I'd welcome him into the race to prove his stuff, and welcome a debate on the issues.
31
Generally when I want to read Hillary Clinton's press releases, I'll head over to her campaign website.
108
Anyone who potentially challenges Hillary is on the NYT hit list.
59
"...Hillary is on the NYT hit list". That part of your comment, Phil, is true.
6
@Phil: So why does The Times provide employment to professional Hillary-hater Maureen Dowd?
10
Not only is he way too old at 74, he has been around way too long, but it is pretty clear that his record on the people who tried to sink the economy and middle class was pitiful. The lame excuses offered by more lame democratic establishment is typical of why people are sick of this same old same old
22
I actually admire the energy of these people. But it does the raise the question where the younger democrats are.
3
No doubt the spheres of finance and governance are too entangled, but it would be wrong for VP Biden to be singly rejected for a much larger situation. Joe Biden never lost sight of daily life for families like his own, blue-collar workers from Scranton, and he remains a union supporter at a time when organized labor is a convenient political scapegoat. If Biden is emotionally up to a campaign, his platform is worth considering.
25
And whatever you want to say - he hasn't personally enriched himself the way the Clintons have. He doesn't have what it takes to be president - but he seems at least to have some humility.
15
"he hasn't personally enriched himself the way the Clintons have"
His family certainly has: his brother James was part of a 1.5 bln contract for housing in Iraq despite very thin experience in construction. The same brother teamed with Hunter, his son, to market securities for Ponzi looter Allen Stanford. Hunter was named in 2014 as a board member to a Ukrainian energy company to provide, among other services. "transparency." The announcement was made the day after Biden visited the Ukraine. This followed his long and lucrative tenure as a lobbyist. Kleptocracy is alive and well here.
His family certainly has: his brother James was part of a 1.5 bln contract for housing in Iraq despite very thin experience in construction. The same brother teamed with Hunter, his son, to market securities for Ponzi looter Allen Stanford. Hunter was named in 2014 as a board member to a Ukrainian energy company to provide, among other services. "transparency." The announcement was made the day after Biden visited the Ukraine. This followed his long and lucrative tenure as a lobbyist. Kleptocracy is alive and well here.
5
Long ago, somewhere in 2002 or so, I went to the local Charlotte office of then-Senator John Edwards. I talked to his area director Kevin Monroe.
I politely asked him to forward my advice to Senator Edwards. I suggested him to vote against the Iraq War authorization.
I asserted that he would look unpatriotic for a couple of years but that later he would be in the controlling position with the time working for him and with the doors to the White House widely open.
I was wrong. Mr. Edwards wasn’t as smart as he wanted us to believe.
If you don’t understand the big picture you cannot chose the best direction either…