Political Punch

The fact that Biden is ranks 576th out of 596 is not a badge of Honor in a Capitalistic society. To me our leaders should be people of means, having obtained a certain wealth my hard work and ingenuity in the private industry. The fact that he hasn't achieved smacks of a certain aggorance. "Those that can do - do and those that can't dictate to those who can." America is not a socialist society, though Biden would like it to be so he can take more from those that do and give it to those who don't!

Obama will make only those changes approved by Nancy Pelosi. Everything will have to be placed in her in basket and answered when she has the time. She is a busy lady. Running a nation is hard work.

Come on everyone. The last perfect person was crusified! OBama and Biden are good men who want to change the direction of this country. Why in the name of heavens does the media have to highlight the negatives???? The division in this country is NOT caused by the citizens it's caused by the 24/7 news media. Do us all a favor and start focusing on the issues: alternative energy; good paying jobs; peace for all humans beings and restoring our good name around the world!

Mary Anne, why is Biden a crook? Can you back up your claims? And if it is because he has taken some contributions from lobbyists (that doesn't make him a crook), he is not alone, and don't think that Republicans haven't done the same thing....

Oh yes, I can see how Obama is going to change everything after accepting a VP like the crook Biden! Obama is such a hypocrite and I hope he loses big time to mcCain in November! We don't need him and we don't want him!

You're leaving out the obvious here. Everyone said that Obama couldn't possibly run for president without taking lobbyist and PAC money because there was no way he could raise enough money. NO ONE EVER RAN FOR HIGH OFFICE WITHOUT TAKING THE LOBBYIST AND PAC MONEY BEFORE. There was no one at all that Obama could have chosen who didn't take lobbyist money because OBAMA IS THE FIRST. He proved that it was possible. All of the possible VP and President choices on both sides except Obama took that money. It's the way it's worked in Washington forever and it the reason change is needed. Somebody has to be first but you don't single out lone Joe Biden and say he's bad when every other person in Washington is doing it the time honored way except Obama. Welcome aboard Joe. We're mighty glad to have you with us!

McSenile should choose Hillary!

Then at least 50% of the idiots posting here would be happy!

Whine, whine, waah, waah!

Get over it!

Obama/Biden '08!!!!!!!!

Who cares what he did before. Lobbying was how 8% of politicians got bribed. Biden doesn't need lobby (non corporate/oil) money with Obama. The people will donate!

"Obama made $4M last year"...according to McCain-who thinks that $5M is the "rich" floor - Obama is only "Upper Middle Class"!

Just so you know, I voted for W in 2000. I was a FL resident at the time too. I encourage everyone to look back at the last 8 years and judge objectively whether we can accept this kind of Administration ever again.

Anyone who thinks Mccain will run this country any different than W isn't doing their homework. Mccain is on a war path, he even said at a town hall that he agreed with reinstating the draft. The war was wrong from day one and he won't admit that. Enough of this Republican garbage.

We may not agree with Barack Obama on everything. I didn't agree with W on everything in 2000. However his policies (yes he has them, go to his website it's quite clear) are a step in a bold new direction.

We cannot afford to live off the Middle East or any other country for oil. Our economy is in shambles because of this.

We need affordable health care for our families. As a NY resident, I love Hillary Clinton myself. I would never consider voting for Mccain out of spite for Obama. Hillary stood for univeral health care for all. Mccain doesn't. Obama does, or at least affordable health care to anyone who seeks it.

The choice is obvious. Vote for Obama/Biden '08. If you don't know about Obama, go to his website. But don't take what the Republicans say at face value. They are quite good at lying to the public as George Bush has demonstrated.

Do the homework.

The Obama's made over $4,000,000 last year and purchased a house worth 1.6 million. They are not hurting. They send both their daughters to exclusive private schools. They can afford to vacation at a private beach in Hawaii. All of this fine -- and sounds some what previledged to me. Anyone know how much they donate charity?
Posted by: Gracie | Aug 24, 2008 1:04:56 PM

1) There are no private beaches in Hawaii, they are all public. My family has vacationed in Hawaii as well, and my family is solidly middle class. Hawaii is not something exotic.

2) He donated $240,000 to charity in 2007.

Susie: Beau is the Delaware attorney general and a captain in the Army National Guard. McCain's son, Jimmy, 18, a Marine Corps enlistee.

You serve where the military feels you're best suited.

Biden has a son leaving for Iraq--- he is an attorney who will be in an office over there "JAG".

McCain has a son that deployed to Iraq who is in the Marines. He served on the streets --- not some cushy office.

The mcCains are Americas truly dysfunctional family. Can Amercia really feel good about having them representing the entire country? These rich out of touch socialites have no clue about real hard working Americans

Joe Biden works as a senator and his wife works as a teacher at a junior college! They both worked hard all their lifes. Mccain played around, graduated at the bottom of his class, an got to graduate, because his Dad,grandads possitions! He didn't do notthing in military school but womanize. Than blamed his POW days on his adultry with the Rich Cindy Mccain that distroyed his first marriage. Cindy Mccain didn't have to work either for a liveing. Her and her dad plum forgot her half sister who is angry and upset because cindy keeps saying she's the only child. Should I go on! She got into perscription drugs that she stole from those charity people. Never went to jail for theift like us ordinary people would. Should I go on? She lied about meeting mother treasa, and the way her baby was adopted. So don't ever put down hard working people like the Bidens who in america has a modest liveing they worked hard for and compair them to Rich people like the mccains who can't even figure out how many homes they actually own and even forgets they have one that they fail to pay taxes on for several years.

The report from the quoted source, The Center for Responsive Politics, says Biden has gotten that amount since 1989. That's 1989. 19 years not 11 years. Over the course of NINETEEN years Biden has gotten $344,400, $18,126 per year.

Joe Biden's son is in the military, headed for Iraq. Mitt Romney has fewer sons than McCain has mansions... 5 to be exact. But every one of Romney's adult sons has shunned military service like the plague. Let's hope Romney is chosen to accompany McCain on the Wealthy Elitist Express.

Biden was an excellent choice! Why can't republicans (including the press) ever talk about issues? Arguing in these blogs are fun and interesting but they don't change minds. Anyone who is interested enough in politics to read these things have already made up their minds. And the trolls that say things like, "He's lost my vote NOW" are tranparent. So why can't we argue issues instead of lobbyist? (Which McCain has more of than anyone)

Senator Biden's son serves in the military and is leaving for Iraq.

Its so sad that there are so many idiotts trying to tear down Obama and Biden because they are doing well financially. What makes it really sad is that these idiots are defending super rich McCain, who needs no defending. And all you dummies defending the megarich, check your own bank accounts, im sure they dont match up. So that really makes you look stupid defending the defenseless when youre struggling to pay your mortgage. Obama and Biden are two of the only senators whose money was obtained by their hard work alone, in short . . . they actually earned the money they have. And the real American people are smart enough to know the difference.

The Center for Responsive Politics report says Biden has gotten that amount since 1989. That's 1989. 19 years not 11 years. Over the course of NINETEEN years Biden has gotten $344,400, that's $18,126 per year. John McCain has taken $1,158,455 over the same period. You tell me, who has a lobbyist problem " Joe Biden or John MCain?

Someone tell the Republicans that Biden isn't wealthy because they are all out in force this morning talking about Binden's 10 million dollar estate in Delaware.

yawn

Joe is gonna have to go on a lobbying fast. Cold turkey, Joe! Those days are THROUGH.

This is exactly why Obama was chosen to LEAD the party. The plan is to CHANGE Washington - and we started with Biden. He's on board lock-stock-and barrel.

If you want a team that is going to crucify all existing politicians - well, you need to look elsewhere. Our plan is to lead the politicians to a more honorable and productive mode of operation. We'd like fix our government, not behead those who currently serve.

Get this: McCain's campaign manager CURRENTLY takes money from corporations and foreign countries (including Iran) in exchange for using his access to influence politicians. It has been widely reported that Mr. Black conducts his lobbying business on the campaign trail with McCain - literally from the back of McCain's bus. If a client from Iran gets him on the phone, Mr. Black can literally just turn to McCain and ask: "This one's worth $500,000 to the RNCC - should we do it?" But of course, a former POW would NEVER consider doing anything underhanded!!

So the questions that remains: How does Biden stack up against Charlie Black? Will Biden be taking calls from international clients on the Obama campaign bus like Charlie does (even to this day)?

Kate Henry -
"Obama, on the other hand, is a young man with a wife and children who he hopes to put through college one day. He is earning a living and saving for his future. He doesn't have the privilege that McCain has."

The Obama's made over $4,000,000 last year and purchased a house worth 1.6 million. They are not hurting. They send both their daughters to exclusive private schools. They can afford to vacation at a private beach in Hawaii. All of this fine -- and sounds some what previledged to me. Anyone know how much they donate charity?

Did Obama even donate any of the proceeds from his books to Charity?

Did Michelle Obama donate any of her salary (that increased from $100,000+ to over $300,000+) after Obama became a Senator and earmarked a million dollars to the hospital were she in employed?

By the Bush/Cheney/Mccain definition of torture - Mccain was not tortured in Vietnam. The old Mccain was against torture. The new Mccain stands by as Bush/Cheney changed the definition. A definition that now classifies his experience in Vietnam as legal and fair.
hmmmmm.

Marylou -

When You Speak You Are Referencing The John McCain of 2000. This Man Claiming To Be That Same McCain is "FLIPPER" JOHN MCBUSH say and do anything Thing to get elected!!

Here's an interesting quote:
"I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president. . . . In truth, I'd had the ambition for a long time." (Worth Fighting For, by John McCain).

Now...what was it he said to the VFW about Obama? Oh yeah. "Behind all of these claims and positions by Senator Obama lies the ambition to be president."

Nobody is holding McCain's wealth against him, just saying he is a hypocrite to say things like "a celebrity like Obama doesn't have to worry about budgeting for his family," while he is obviously much, much richer.

"McCain walks the walk while Obama just talk talk talks."

So, McCain doesn't exactly need the money from the sale of his books, does he? He has his sugar mama to pay for anything his heart desires.

Obama, on the other hand, is a young man with a wife and children who he hopes to put through college one day. He is earning a living and saving for his future. He doesn't have the privilege that McCain has.

>ranks 576th out of 596 Members of the House and Senate

Huh? Last I knew there were 435 members of the house and 100 members of the senate. Who are the other 61 members? Even if you count the non-voting delegates there aren't 596.

Marylou -

Great post you made:

McCain walks the walk while Obama just talk talk talks.

Senator McCain has donated the royalties from every one of his five books to charity. In addition, since 1991, he has donated the increases in his Senate salary to charity - because he opposed the Congressional pay increase at that time and pledged not to accept them.

Now that's true Change and definitely a Leader We Can Believe In!

Marylou -

Great post. And so true.

We have The Hero vs The Zero.

McCain walks the walk while Obama just talk talk talks.

Senator McCain has donated the royalties from every one of his five books to charity. In addition, since 1991, he has donated the increases in his Senate salary to charity - because he opposed the Congressional pay increase at that time and pledged not to accept them.

Now that's true Change and definitely a Leader We Can Believe In!

And to make things worse for the Obama-Biden ticket, I read today that Biden has NEVER met with a lobbyist during his entire Senate career!

What a loser!

Meanwhile, John McCain has at least 60 telecom lobbyists working for his campaign.

John McCain knows where its at - while Obama is such a poseur he had to vacation in Hawaii - where over four million Americans a year go - with his paltry four million from books he had to write all by himself - McCain is savvy enough to have other people pay for his vacations, like trading political favors for flying to Charles Keating's private digs in the Bahamas on Keating's private jet.

That's the kind of experience America needs.

Women - Know your place! McCain 2008!

McCain's Vietnam story is overshawdowed by the atrocities of what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan...turn the page

We are in 2008 not the 60's let's move on to the present day and stop detainees from being tortured TODAY and vets returning home from being neglected and disgarded. It's time for TODAY'S Iraq and Afghanistan SOLDIERS trials to be in the frontal lobe of our collective conciousness and on the front page of all newspapers everyday until they COME HOME! MOVE ON-LIVE IN THE PRESENT.

Biden + 30 years of a 6-figure income = poor ??

A moron on economics needs some book writing lessons from "the first, clean articulate" Hopey.

Nice ticket: One has-been and a never-done-anything wanna be.

Hopey / Dopey 08

Obama, the new generation liberal and Biden, the old school liberal. Tax and spend and appeasement. Now supported by a majority liberal Congress. If this is the future, this will complete the the demise of America.

NO WAY on this planet OBama earned any scholarships, they were "minority" scholarships - period.
And if you believe he did you probably believe there are 57 states and the Japs dropped a nuke on Pearl Harbor, just like zerO does.

Brandon: "DL you keep using McCain's wealth against him. THIS IS AMERICA! That used to be the American Dream."

I though working your way to the top, "From Rags to Riches", used to be the American Dream. In my days it was.

But we are not alone in thinking that. Several leading figures on the Right and in the Republican Party also have said that not having earned your money on your own but just inherited it from your wife is a *very serious problem* and *disqualifies* you from becoming President. Glenn Greenwald has collected quotes from Rush Limbaugh; Ann Coulter; Sean Hannity; Michelle Malkin; John F. Cullinan from the National Review; VP Cheney; Taki Theodoracopulos from the American Conservative; Joseph Farah and Rabbi Smuley Boteach from World Net Daily. I'm sure there are more.

They believe that living on the inheritence of your wife is despicable and they think it's unmanly, it makes you a ‘kept man’.

I don't think so. I only think that people shouldn't throw stones when you're living in 7 (or more) glass houses.

George: "But what about earlier? McCain's never been a rich guy, never had a rich family. He didn't grow up rich."

I think having an Admiral as a father and a grandfather does not exactly equal ‘blue collar working class’. Do you?

For once strangely I find myself agreeing with both Democrats & Republicans. Both sides are way off their campaign rockers. Shove them both aside and vote for simple Constitutional values for once. My vote is going for Chuck Baldwin from the Constitution Party in 2008.

I find it a bit specious to use the rich label on McCain. Sure, he married a rich wife, and has come into some money after many years in the Senate. But what about earlier? McCain's never been a rich guy, never had a rich family. He didn't grow up rich.

John Kerry was/is worth more by himself than John and Cindy McCain combined. How can the Democrats hold wealth against McCain, then? What about all Obama's rich Hollywood friends?

Does anyone seriously think that if Obama had stayed in the Senate as long as McCain has been, that he wouldn't have the same personal wealth as McCain has now?

I doubt McCain was as well off at Obama's age as Obama is now.

Eitist in Obama case is his HARVARD edcuation. he believes Mcccain is not as ecuated as him and so he should win. But His ego made his choose Biden.

Do the mAth

What number is bigger, 18 million (HRC votes) or 5,000 (JRB votes)? I am sure if you were in the senate for 143 days you can answer that. Obama could not set aside his ego for his Country.

I hope the women and men of the DNC show their disssatisfaction with the DNC by unregistering their names from the Democratic Party list. Become Independents, republcans, anything. Just make sure the DEMS see that number of registrations go down.

This is a slap in the face of women. Even Kennedy who hated Johnson recognize he could not just ignore voters who supported his opponent and make him his VP.

Re: "DL you keep using McCain's wealth against him. THIS IS AMERICA! That used to be the American Dream."

I agree! But the Republicans used Kerry's wealth against him and called him elitist. Now they are trying to do the same to Obama, but it won't work.

McSame and his wife's beer money will not buy them the White House.

Obama/Biden 08

dl: Obama isn't calling for more responsibility. Michelle is. LOL

Actually, when I hear Obama talk I can't help think that JFK is rolling in his grave.

JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."

Obama is trying to buy voters and pandering to every group but the rich.

dl: Thanks for the info on Biden re his eyesight keeping him out of Vietnam.

well

I know one candidate is calling for personal responsibility ...

the other is talking about ...threatening more war and not saying anything about President Bush's withdrawal plan from Iraq.

seems hi spriorities for financials are being written by charlie black and phill gramm (literally)

the same guys who gave us deregulation , the enron loophole and ...well brought us the economic plan we have had for 8 years.

how's that worked for ya?

Peach like most ...bad eyesight I believe.

whose for cutting a few billion out of the welfare program each year?? anyone??

He sent the phone message to his followers at "3 am". Helloooo....remind you of anything? What a symbolic slap in the face to Clinton. Elitist Obama must have thought that us Americans are too stupid to pick up on that.

I'm done. I'll be voting for the candidate with integrity this year....that person is John McCain! The Democratic Party can kiss my _____

This is going to be verrry intersting!

you know guys, if we had a government that reduced its spending, we wouldnt have to raise taxes as much.... im just saying...

dl -

What was the medical reason that Biden got out of serving in Vietnam?

tim

it's both.

seriously? nobody wants to mention the fact we spend WAY TO MUCH money?? seriosly? all you wnat to do is talk about raising taxes?

dl -- seriously? Are you seriously telling a woe-is-me story about Obama? His mother remarried an oil executive, and he went to Indonesia. He returned to the US and lived with his grandparents, who are also wealthy, and went to the most exclusive school in Hawaii. Then off to Ivy league schools.

When has Obama been poor and destitute, when?

Do you really think that milatary families are wealthy? Get this, they are not; growing up, the McCain never owned a home. If you think he grew up with a silver spoon, then why didn't he live on a trust fund? Nope, instead, as rich and spoiled as you say he is, this "KFed" joined the military, and risked his life for YOU. Spent 5 years in a POW camp.

Yep, that's spoiled, that's elitist.

Are you kidding us with all of this?

Even now, the McCain's are dedicated to service. His son, Tim, could also live a paris Hilton life, but he, too, goes into the military, risking his life, for YOU.

Spoiled? Elitist? Kfed?

are you absolutely out of your mind?

If this is what Obama love will do for you, you can have it. McCain has defined everything pure about patriotism and service.

Obama has defined selfishness, ego, and fraud.

Brandon

we can't lower txes for everyone...and anyone who tells you we can ...

is lying.

wow... its a spending problem guys, not a taxing issue... wow

Brandon I agree ...

you lower middle class taxes...after a 40 year increase on that group at half the rate of the top 5% of income earners in this country...especially in the last 8.

This is not redistributing wealth...

this is fixing the redistribution that has been going in the oppostite direction for decades...but especially in the last decade.

and the numbers prove that.

a healthy economy is not built on trickle down economics... that is trick...

and finally it may not get to work to fool people.

There is a burden on this country...and the weight should hit those who reap it's rewards the most first (and I am one of those people)...especially when they have seen a half pace increase as they have seen in the Bush edmin and the years before.

dl:

KFed????

When did KFed ever serve in the military? KFed certainly would not have lasted all of those years as a POW given the cushy existence he's had thus far.

I see many similarities between McCain and John Kerry, possibly, but KFed?????

Peach and Brandon

McCain's injuries and his service to his country is admirable...

but we have lots of heroes that should not be President of the united States.

Just an FYI Biden was rejected for service for medical reasons like many people.

Obama earned ...yes earned those scholarships as he was living in a modest apartment with his grandparents.

Sorry the POW thing is admirable but it does not take away that theguy HAS NEVER had financial worry in HIS LIFE.

He has never had financial responsibility that would make him worry about his kids...or his parents...

He has no idea...and it makes sense when you look at his similarity to the other trust funsd President.

He and Bush have one big thing in common besides almost all of their policies.

They were both wealthy kids whose dad's got them into schools and were taken care of for the most part.

Might be why GWBush doesn't think about the middle class..

and please please don't say that he did.

that same mentality ans story and life experience with economics is the same one that forms John mcCain's decision making process...

only John mcCain has never lived off his own money...he lives off Cindy's Dads.

The phrase is "raked it in" not reaped it in.

Hey dl -

What a did your buddy Biden do to get out of going to Vietnam?

The left excorciated Cheney for getting draft deferments -- what was Biden's excuse?

Maybe if he'd served his country the way McCain did he wouldn't be able to walk without a limp either and then he certainly wouldn't be gaining your admiration by hauling his own trash.

dl -

It may have escaped your notice that McCain can't even shake hands normally, let alone haul stumps to the dump like Biden.

and Brandon remember Obama just paid off those student loans.

Brandon -- Very good point.

Obama can pretend all he wants that his grandmother was poor, but she was a high ranking employee of the largest bank in Hawaii. I serious doubt they were on food stamps. But it makes for a good story and suckers buy it every time.

Obama went to the most expensive prep school on the island and it wasn't with scholarship money. You're being played.

Biden is the same age as Cheney, didn't serve in the military, and has had life threatening medical problems.

Thus far, I haven't heard Republicans go after Biden on those issues the way the libs went after Cheney. Interesting contrast...

Brandon

the reason nothing is getting done is because of Bush and partisanship...
even with that Biden has gotten unbeleivable amounts authored , created and passed

and has been ppraised by everyone over the past few months for doing so

so read will you.

and I mean everyone...from the white house to pelosi to rove... to Obama...to hillary

they ALL have said Biden should be commended for getting stuff done ...when no one else is.

Decent America:

Yes, Biden really did say that about Clarence Thomas. Thomas was already sitting on the second highest court in the country and was widely respected (until the libs got through with him) and Biden had the gall to say Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court because he's black.

hahah, looks like this is a great place to go to stock up on McCain point! Who's winning? How many do you need to buy 7 houses?

and did you see what HJohn mccain's brother said about how the "men in their family never really took care of the financial matters"

makes sense now huh?

how can you make decisions on the weight of this economy when you don't know what that weight can be like...in any scenario?

McKFed

"2 guys 2 houses"

dl I know it's all they got but eventually they will need a more compelling argument than that.

decentAmerican

everyone wants the American dream

and it's great when someone gets rich.

Obama's rich... he earned it.

He also knows what a student loan application looks like, a mortgage payment, food stamps, a tax form, medicare forms and application to care for a mother and grandmother and grandfather...

and he doesn't have a staff to do that.

You see i am prettyy sure John mcCain has never had to do any of that...and that is the issue.

It's not that he has 7 homes...or I should say HIS wife and father in law that he divorced into...has 16 actually literal "homes"...

but that he never has to know how many he has because he never has had to.

That is the point.

Joihn mcCain was the kFed of his day.

OMG, Peach, did Biden really say that about Clarence Thomas? I know he has said some doozies, but we have yet to scratch the surface. If he feels that way about thomas, Lord knows he must feel the same about Obama. And didnt' Obama just say that he didn't think that Thomas was fit to be in the Supreme Court?

I smell trouble, and it smells good!

McCain should just say "we just had a president with a vice-presidential babysitter. It's time for a grownup."

You all need to look at who has gotten a historically large amount of bills and legislation passed through this broken congress over the last year.

YeaH ...that'd be Joe Biden.

This team is going to kick a$$!

and that is lucky for Hillary she needs Obama to win to keep her senate seat (that's not spin)

Biden has been in the pocket of credit card compaines for year. Everyone knows that Delaware is a paradise for Credit card companies.

And you know how much Americans, especially lower and mid income Americans, just LOOOOOOVE credit card companies.

you really need to give up on the "house" issue. No one is going to find fault with anyone living the American dream, that is what we all want, right? Especially an American like McCain who has paid his dues for this country, living in squalor for 5 years in Vietnam for the sake of our freedom, at the same time Biden was playing old Washington politics as senator.

Obama Biden

2 guys...2 houses.

Reading Biden's racist statements, it's like being a racist is a resume enhancer for Democrats.

"That Barack Obama is the beneficiary of vindictive and unfair campaign against Hillary Clinton by the media. This fact lingers on many voters minds as the general election nears."

How sad but true. Obama was the media darling when he was running against Clinton, but look how fast they abandoned him for McCain.

Most of us are appalled at the ostentatious wealth of the McCain's and their condescending attitude toward real Americans, but the Nantucket crowd laps it up. They want to be like him, so they suck up to him.

Biden is the poorest financially of any Senate member. Meanwhile, the McCain camp is busy counting the houses of Mitt Romney. It's up to 4 houses, but may be more.