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Biden Rips Bush Administration
September 03, 2008 7:19 AM
ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: While Republicans congregate in the Twin Cities striving to keep their hold on the White House, Barack Obama's running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., sharply criticized the Bush administration Tuesday while delineating the changes Democrats would demand if they rise to power.
"In an Obama-Biden administration, we will not have an attorney general who blatantly breaks the law," Biden said at a town-hall meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida, his voice at times drowned out by applause. "We will not have a president who doesn't understand the Constitution. And I will not be a vice-president who thinks he's not part of any of the three branches of government."
Biden ripped the Bush administration for wasting a chance to unite the nation in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
"George Bush and his administration are going to be judged harshly by history," said the Delaware lawmaker. "Not for the mistakes they made, but for the opportunities to unite America and the world they squandered."
Now, Biden said, he and Obama are determined to take control of the West Wing, noting that he would not have agreed to share the Democratic ticket had he not known Obama's commitment to sticking to his values.
"Have you figured out what is worth losing over?" he said. "Because if you have not, it's just raw ambition. Barack understands what is worth losing over."
The McCain campaign responded to Biden's comments by using the veep nominee's own words against him. McCain's team referred back to when Biden, while campaigning in the Democratic primary, said that Obama was "not ready" for the presidency.
"Six months ago Joe Biden's description of an Obama administration was littered with questions of inexperience," said McCain spokesman Ben Porritt. "Today, Biden has been tasked with carrying the water for Barack Obama who has voted in favor of taxes 94 times in three years and has claimed that making decisions on the tough issues is 'above his paygrade'. Barack Obama has zero foreign policy experience, is not a credible voice on U.S. relations abroad, and as John McCain and Joe Biden agree, is just not ready to lead."
Earlier Monday, addressing a crowd in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Biden also preached the importance of this election in terms of the Supreme Court, noting that the next administration might appoint as many as three new justices.
"The single most important domestic decision that a president gets to make on his own or her own is the Supreme Court," he said.
Looking to the future but with one eye on the past, Biden also promised that an Obama-Biden government would go through Bush administration data with "a fine-toothed comb" and pursue criminal charges if necessary.
"If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation," he said, "they will be pursued, not out of vengeance, not out of retribution - out of the need to preserve the notion that no one, no one, no attorney general, no president, no one is above the law."
On Tuesday, the vice presidential nominee continued his 48-hour swing through the Sunshine State with stops in Ft. Myers and Sarasota.
September 3, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (96)
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Did he come up with this on his own or copy it from someone else?
Posted by: david | Sep 3, 2008 7:42:14 AM
Instead of being concerned about a Biden plaguerism, maybe you should jump on the bandwagon to "coverup for the Palin mistake" made by the buffoon McCain, the POW freak who has been programmed by his vietnamese captives to say "my friends, my friends" over and over again.
Sara "Pow"lin ty is a gift that keeps giving as more and more is being revealed about her.
Everybody can spin it as best they can, but bottom line...McCain and she both used poor judgment, he in his selection, and her in her acceptance.
It won't last, and for McCain, she was never intended to last, just an instrument to further his campaign.
"He" it appears would rather jeapardize the security of our country rather than lose an election.
Posted by: MyAudacity | Sep 3, 2008 7:59:28 AM
You go BIDEN! Keep pushing the message that we don't need another four more years of the same crap! Obama said it right, EIGHT IS ENOUGH!!!!!
Posted by: Renee | Sep 3, 2008 8:03:02 AM
When Biden talks, I'm not sure if I'm getting a speech or a stand-up comedy routine.
Posted by: Frank P | Sep 3, 2008 8:08:02 AM
The personal Palin story is overshadowing a much more significant piece of news:
"We learned last week that John McCain really wanted to choose his very good friend, Joe Lieberman, for VP but caved into pressure from the religious right. McCain will save his Lieberman pick for the Supreme Court — sorry evangelicals but you’ll have no leverage on Maverick McCain by then. Your Vice President will have no power in the process and a Democratic majority will happily confirm pro-choice Lieberman to the Supreme Court!”
Please understand the debate about abortion is essentially over. It may have become clearer to some during Lieberman's address to the convention last night. It takes a little while for this profound reality to sink in.
Posted by: Thoren | Sep 3, 2008 8:09:00 AM
Rodney -
Again, consult history...if you're so concerned about the Chinese angle look no further than the "Lippo Group" and President Bill Clinton and his wife. Do a little research, I'm sure you'll find it interesting to see just how "Billary" sold us down the river to the Chinese government
Posted by: J | Sep 3, 2008 8:13:13 AM
well if clinton had done his job in the first place there never would have been 9/11 we were he was offered osama bidladen and we didnt take him then
Posted by: tim abbey | Sep 3, 2008 8:13:37 AM
The future of our country and the world is at stake both free and communist. Our country has been under dire straights the last 8 years as the Republican Party morphed into the corporate socialist party. Embracing fear and religion as a means of obtaining and retaining power. Wealthiest citizens get the least amount of tax burden on a percentage scale. This so called trickle down economics is exactly that nothing more than a trickle that seldom reaches beyond the tax loopholes and out sourcing of US Jobs here at home. Trickle down economics does not work in a capitalized system whose main goal is the bottom line. As with any governments system there must be fair and just rules without loopholes. Some regulation of the market is required to keep the playing field level. Let the individual to make the most of them selves.
Our political system is one of how much money can a lobbyist throw to a party or politician that the average citizens have lost any clout as far as being abused by various industries. Insurance is a big one in particular, Of course Big Energy (Oil) another fine example. There is no lobbyist for us the citizens. Even though our politicians are supposed look after our best interest. The system itself has shown us that one party or another cannot do what is required when given an extended stay in office.
I did like Barrack Obama’s speech in particular about the creation of 5 million jobs here at home in the development of Oil alternative energy. If you think about it our current economy is as close to the depression as you can get teetering on the edge. During that time in history it took a massive government policy that created the modern highway system, Hydro electric dams putting Americans to work in America to take us out of it.
Our country has limited supplies of oil as we all know. Most of which is threatened every time there is a Hurricane in the Gulf. Other sources in Alaska do nothing for our oil supplies here in the states as most is exported for corporate profits.
By building a new energy infrastructure as Barrack Obama has proposed would indeed provide the millions of jobs needed to bring our economy to thriving once again. Wind farms as a start indicated by Boom Pickens Plan generating 20% of our countries electrical power, Natural Gas reserves in this country are proven to sustain the country for at least 118 years. Drilling for gas is far less impact on the environment burning natural gas is 100% cleaner than oil and it can be used to power motor vehicles both gas and diesel with minor conversions, can be easily sold at service stations for far less then a gallon of gas. This phase of the plan will provide jobs in every sector from machinist, to heavy equipment operators, laborers, sales, and service persons electronics manufacturing, trucking and transport industries, an infinite number of industries would thrive. As this is being established other alternative can be fine tuned such as Hydrogen with no need for storage tanks but create the gas on board the vehicle as needed directly from water. Nuclear power is another example of power that will provide an ever growing number of jobs to complete the transfer from oil to new energy.
This initiative is as great as going to the moon and more important as our country will have no wealth if we give it to the middle east to power our country if we continue this road of oil for energy and not take the lead in a new energy source our country is destine to fail.
Everyone likes hope not many recognize it when it is present; opportunities show themselves most people procrastinate and miss the opportunity. This is an investors saying opportunity waits for no one.
So before you right off hope and stay on a course that is proven a misguided course really think long and hard about it especially if you have children and care about their future.
V-MAN
Posted by: V-man | Sep 3, 2008 8:13:49 AM
and those trashing Biden
you obviously have never listened to the fact that he gets the details on almost every major policy issue we face.
Mccain has a tough time on second follow ups and Palin obviously can't answer first questions...as we see they don't allow her to be interviewed outside of a supervised People magazine interview...EVER.
the "hail Mary" isn't the choice...it would be the prayer that a 72 year old man who survived a type of cancer which has a reoccurence rate that goes up exponentially the more you have it...
john mccain has had it multiple times.
Posted by: dl | Sep 3, 2008 8:14:46 AM
I like this speech! Obama and Biden sound like good Americans to me, with a lot of good ideas for this country.
Posted by: Arthur | Sep 3, 2008 8:15:19 AM
and tim abbey
if AFTER they actually attacked us...George W had done his job we would have gotten OBL...and if McCain had actually been smart and not some dumb blind cold war hawk...and pushed for us to go into the war...
not just voted for but oversaw the PR effort on the Comm that he, Lieberman and Scheunneman had run
we would not have gotten distracted by a STUPID war...
Posted by: dl | Sep 3, 2008 8:17:27 AM
can we ask what Mccain thinks of China getting the oil contract out of Iraq?
please.
better yet can we ask Palin even...since the press does not seem toget to ask her ...anything.
Posted by: dl | Sep 3, 2008 8:19:01 AM
I would be careful sen biden, we are looking into your and obambi's past and are coming up with some good information. I wish i could see the look on the unexperienced one's face when he received his first intelligence breifing, uh oh uhm um oh urgh. all you have to do is look at the past and present democratic leaders to understand why this country looks weak to the world, alway's running, dodging, and hiding the truth.
Posted by: Eagle Eye | Sep 3, 2008 8:19:47 AM
I did not know Obama had values.
Posted by: Loyd | Sep 3, 2008 8:20:12 AM
"In an Obama-Biden administration, we will not have an attorney general who blatantly breaks the law.
_____________________________
But Obama & Biden are already in cahoots with Chicago thugs Rezko.
How soon would they pardon Rezko to get one of their criminal leaders back.
Posted by: CC | Sep 3, 2008 8:21:21 AM
I really don't understand the polls. They show Obama/McCain running about neck and neck. How is that possible?
Last night, NBC News said that 7 out of 10 Republicans (that's 70% of Republicans) think George Bush is doing a good job (gag!). Then how is it that his approval rating is only 34%?
Since McCain is just another carbon copy of Bush, why isn't he polling at the same level?
I'm totally mystified why the Obama/McCain polls aren't 65%/35% or thereabouts.
Posted by: Hiram | Sep 3, 2008 8:21:44 AM
dl -
So, say after 9/11 we simply took a wait-and-see approach...do you think the terrorists would have just said, "Oh, okay, time out, the American's need a time out. Stop the jihad." You obviously know nothing about how to win a fight - and hey, no one likes a fight, but you better know how to defend yourself or you're toast. Take a boxing class, see how long you're opponent gives you to catch your breath before he decides to pummel the crap out of you. Write from reality, not emotion.
Posted by: J | Sep 3, 2008 8:23:37 AM
Read the text carefully. At the beginning Biden will unite the country in the last section he will create disention. Typical trash talk.
Why can we stick to issues ahead not behind.
Posted by: W | Sep 3, 2008 8:25:40 AM
"Have you figured out what is worth losing over?" he said. "Because if you have not, it's just raw ambition. Barack understands what is worth losing over." - Plugs 2008
To a democrat liberty and freedom are worth loosing - because it gets in the way of socialism. They hate ambition and self determination. They want a nation of zombies so that a massive nanny state can take over and control our lives. I say screw that! Get the government out of my way.
Country first, McCain/Palin 08
Posted by: Norman | Sep 3, 2008 8:27:10 AM
If the Republicans are trying to play the gender card, it certainly is working on me. I've been a Democrat all my life. I was sickened by the way Democrats treated Hillary, and I am sickened by the way they are attacking Sarah Palin. Why do I owe loyalty to a party that clearly shows little respect for women? I realize the Republicans are trying to exploit the anger of Democratic women. At the same time, I applaud the fact that Republicans don't seem to have a problem with a woman in the White House. Conservatives have treated Palin with far more respect than many Democrats treated Clinton. I was going to stay home in November. With the nomination of Sarah Palin, I will cast my vote for the Republicans.
Posted by: Another Sarah | Sep 3, 2008 8:27:38 AM
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