See Huff Post for more: “WASHINGTON — As vice president, Joe Biden will oversee an Obama administration effort to find ways of building up the ranks of the middle class, that ambiguously defined segment of society most Americans identify with.
The task force will include four Cabinet members as well as other presidential advisers, the Obama transition team announced Sunday.”
Showing posts with label Joe Biden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Biden. Show all posts
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Monday, December 01, 2008
President-Elect Barack Obama Introduces Foreign Policy Team Today - Video
President-Elect Barack Obama just introduced his Foreign Policy / National Security Team today in Chicago . At the helm is Vice President-Elect Joe Biden, and the real surprise for some, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State, then Eric Holder as Attorney General, Susan Rice as Ambassaor to the United Nations, Ret. General Jim Jones as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Arizona Governor Janet Nepolitano as Director of Homeland Security.
That Clinton is there at all is a testiment to Obama's determination to have a strong voice and a rival in that position. It's also speaks to the Clinton hunger for power and recognition in the 21st Century. In other words, to continue to be a relevant player on tbe World scene. It also marks the return -- however indirectly -- of former President Bill Clinton to the White House. Say what you will, but this is the first former President to have been returned to the White House to help serve a new President. It makes Bill within easy access to President Obama and strengthens Obama's hand on the World Stage: he's got someone considered by some to be the "President of The World" on his side.
Will former-President Clinton upstage his Secretary of State wife? Well, a little bit, but that will be tempered by the fact that the Clinton's do work as a team -- they're a couple. The entire "affair" will be fun to watch.
If you're keeping score regarding these appointments today, we have three women, two African American, and one Republican and all well-qualified. Not bad for a day's work, President-Elect Obama.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Barack Obama : American Stories, American Solutions
This is the "informercial" which I watch and had to say I was moved by it. It was less about Barack Obama than it was about different people in America and their common stories. It wasn't what I expected; much better. But I was looking for Barney Smith. Remember him? He was the man who, at the Democratic National Convention, said "They've got a plan to help Smith Barney, but what about Barney Smith?"
Thursday, October 23, 2008
GOP Conservatives For Barack Obama
Many Republicans are coming over to the side of Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden and in this video some of them explain why. Personally, I think Governor Palin really wants to be an Obama supporter. (Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for spotting this video.)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Is Sarah Palin Stabbing John McCain In The Back?
After much study, I've come to the conclusion, which I present in this video:
..that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is stabbing Senator John McCain in the back. Often, Palin has approved of views that were taken by Senator Barack Obama, causing McCain to rein her in with a press statement that makes the campaign look like a keystone cops routine.
Consider how Palin has went against McCain in these following examples.
1) Pakistan - Palin favored the Obama-Biden assertion of going into that country to "get" a known terrorist even if that government would not cooperate.
2) Bankruptcy - Palin favors the Obama-Biden approach of allowing the homeowner to be protected against losing their dwelling after filing for Bankruptcy.
3) Korea - Palin agrees with the current action of the U.S. dropping Korea from the state terrorist list, even as McCain opposes this. Obama also backs the Bush Administration action.
4) Palin Administration - Governor Palin has referred to the McCain - Palin ticket as the Palin - McCain Administration.
The evidence for my assertion rests in Palin's past. In the way she treated Alaska GOP boss Randy Ruedrich when both were on the powerful Alaska Oil and Gas Commission. While both Palin and Ruedrich received campaign assistance and in Palin's case had ties with Evergreen Resources, which was seeking a drilling contract and needed the commission's approval, Palin implicated Ruedrich, causing him to resign from the commission. But the act elevated her status and some contend that it powered her successful run for Alaska Governor.
..that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is stabbing Senator John McCain in the back. Often, Palin has approved of views that were taken by Senator Barack Obama, causing McCain to rein her in with a press statement that makes the campaign look like a keystone cops routine.
Consider how Palin has went against McCain in these following examples.
1) Pakistan - Palin favored the Obama-Biden assertion of going into that country to "get" a known terrorist even if that government would not cooperate.
2) Bankruptcy - Palin favors the Obama-Biden approach of allowing the homeowner to be protected against losing their dwelling after filing for Bankruptcy.
3) Korea - Palin agrees with the current action of the U.S. dropping Korea from the state terrorist list, even as McCain opposes this. Obama also backs the Bush Administration action.
4) Palin Administration - Governor Palin has referred to the McCain - Palin ticket as the Palin - McCain Administration.
The evidence for my assertion rests in Palin's past. In the way she treated Alaska GOP boss Randy Ruedrich when both were on the powerful Alaska Oil and Gas Commission. While both Palin and Ruedrich received campaign assistance and in Palin's case had ties with Evergreen Resources, which was seeking a drilling contract and needed the commission's approval, Palin implicated Ruedrich, causing him to resign from the commission. But the act elevated her status and some contend that it powered her successful run for Alaska Governor.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
John Russo - Oakland's Top Lawyer On Biden Palin Debate
I sat down with Oakland's Top Lawyer John Russo just a day after the Vice Presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and to talk about who won the debate, and what Palin's assendency says about American Government and Culture.
We have a difference of views and it centers on the idea that Palin did a terrible job -- my contention. Russo says that in debates one must "hold their ground" make sure their point is gotten across. He says she did that.
My point was that she just repeated talking points and failed on many occasions to answer questions Gwen Ifel asked of her.
What do you think? Watch the video and let me know here.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Friday, October 03, 2008
BIDEN SCORES BIG DEBATE WIN AGAIN PALIN
Senator and Democratic VP Candidate Joe Biden basically ate Governor and GOP VP Candidate Sarah Palin alive at the "first and only" Vice Presidential Debate. I had the pleasure of watching the debate at a special event held by The Bay Area Democrats at the offices of McKinsey and Company in the Bank of America building in San Francisco.
I will share video of the impressions of viewers, but my firs take is that Palin came in with well presented canned lines that more often than not did not match the question that was asked. But the fact that the words were well-presented seemed to be enough for some people, leading me to a great concern for America's collective desire to want to think critically about anything.
Biden gave an awesome and commanding performance. His 36 years of Senate experience came to bear on the debate and he presented himself well, giving a civics and foreign policy lesson to America.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Believe me, the Malkin outrage is NOT about Ifill.
Seriously. It may be to distract people from issues again, or it may really be the soft bigotry of low expectations being heaped on the rookie Governor before her national debate debut as some have suggested. Are Malkin and her ilk just readying their excuses, or really trying to torpedo McCain by undermining Palin's confidence? One thing I know, it's not what they want us to hear:
it's NOT about Gwen Ifill.
I realize that any number of proud social conservatives have expressed reservations over Palin’s readiness and/or suitability for the position of Vice President. But it behooves us to grant Governor Palin her time in the limelight, to approach the evening with as open a mind as is possible as we focus on the issues important to the voters - the economic bailout being considered by congress, deregulation, Iraq, taxes, and health care to name a few obvious issues more important than the fact that Gwen Ifill a moderator and managing editor of "Washington Week" and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" on PBS also aspires to be author.
It’s not time to distract us by creating false controversy about the moderator. But since even McCain says it's not about Gwen Ifill:
...so why are the most visible, infamous right wing pundits so exercised on the eve of the debate? Is it as simple as an attempt to lower expectations? Is that fair to Palin and her running mate? Is that even plausible?
Will Ms. Ifill present more rigor than Charlie Gibson or Katie Couric? Probably so. The late Tim Russert might have been rugged in this sort of context. Why are the right-leaning pundits so concerned about Gwen Ifill? Why are they making this about people, not issues? And even if she is up against a more experienced, worldly debater in Senator Joe Biden, she’s been prepping for weeks; it’s show time!
Was Malkin jealous of Ifill's opportunity? We know she opposes multiculturalism, she makes that plain on her blogsite. Was she hoping Palin would face somebody less experienced as a moderator, such as David Letterman -- or Jon Stewart?
it's NOT about Gwen Ifill.
I realize that any number of proud social conservatives have expressed reservations over Palin’s readiness and/or suitability for the position of Vice President. But it behooves us to grant Governor Palin her time in the limelight, to approach the evening with as open a mind as is possible as we focus on the issues important to the voters - the economic bailout being considered by congress, deregulation, Iraq, taxes, and health care to name a few obvious issues more important than the fact that Gwen Ifill a moderator and managing editor of "Washington Week" and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" on PBS also aspires to be author.It’s not time to distract us by creating false controversy about the moderator. But since even McCain says it's not about Gwen Ifill:
Will Ms. Ifill present more rigor than Charlie Gibson or Katie Couric? Probably so. The late Tim Russert might have been rugged in this sort of context. Why are the right-leaning pundits so concerned about Gwen Ifill? Why are they making this about people, not issues? And even if she is up against a more experienced, worldly debater in Senator Joe Biden, she’s been prepping for weeks; it’s show time!
Was Malkin jealous of Ifill's opportunity? We know she opposes multiculturalism, she makes that plain on her blogsite. Was she hoping Palin would face somebody less experienced as a moderator, such as David Letterman -- or Jon Stewart?
Much ado about nothing.
We arguably learn more about a candidate from a slightly adversarial interviewer (or moderator) than we would from somebody lobbing easy questions. Governor Palin is something of an unknown on the national political scene in the U.S., and the campaign has not to this point made her very available for interviews or press conferences. This is her chance to shine - and I, for one, expect her to do a creditable job in the spotlight. This is not her first debate; anyone ready to be Vice President surely has to be ready, willing, and able to handle questions from a PBS moderator in a controlled situation.SENATE VOTE ON BAILOUT BILL TODAY - MARKET WAITS
Today is the next critical step in the road to the passage or failure of The Bailout Bill. This is the day the Senate takes up the matter of the legislation with Senators and presidential candidates Barack Obama, John McCain, and Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden expected to attend for the voting process.
According to the Huff Post, the new version of the bill has tax reductions in it to gain more Republican support than the last version.
The vote takes place tonight.
Average Voters Don't Get It
What's upseting to me is how many people just plain don't understand the problem we face. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said it best when he observed that "Commerce could stop", and Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed that “Everything that is happening in the economic and financial sphere has started in the United States. This is a real crisis that all of us are facing," the former president told a government meeting in Moscow.
“And what is really sad is that we see an inability to take appropriate decisions. This is no longer irresponsibility on the part of some individuals, but irresponsibility of the whole system, which as you know had pretensions to (global) leadership."
What's galling is that Americans don't seem to understand how their finances are tied to Wall Street and the World Economy.
According to the Huff Post, the new version of the bill has tax reductions in it to gain more Republican support than the last version.
The vote takes place tonight.
Average Voters Don't Get It
What's upseting to me is how many people just plain don't understand the problem we face. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said it best when he observed that "Commerce could stop", and Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed that “Everything that is happening in the economic and financial sphere has started in the United States. This is a real crisis that all of us are facing," the former president told a government meeting in Moscow.
“And what is really sad is that we see an inability to take appropriate decisions. This is no longer irresponsibility on the part of some individuals, but irresponsibility of the whole system, which as you know had pretensions to (global) leadership."
What's galling is that Americans don't seem to understand how their finances are tied to Wall Street and the World Economy.
Monday, September 22, 2008
When they own the information they can bend it how they want
"Me and all my friends," says John Mayer, "We’re all misunderstood.They say we stand for nothing and there’s no way we ever could." That sort of cynicism needs debunking, as Mayer knows. There's nothing false about hope, and what the future brings us depends largely on what we dare to believe - and do - in the present.
Here's a new video tribute, set to Mayer's music.
Barack Obama inspires that hope.
Here's a new video tribute, set to Mayer's music.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Inexperienced Sarah Palin Protected By McCain Staff - Gets Easier Debate Format
The whiners that the McCain staff is comprised of got a wish from their grossing and hand-wringing over the upcoming debate GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Gov. Sarah Palin has with Democratic VP Candidate Senator Joe Biden.
Concerned that a "free-wheeling" debate format would allow the far more experienced Joe Biden to chew the very inexperienced Palin, the McCain staffers whined for and got an easier format for her.
Concerned that a "free-wheeling" debate format would allow the far more experienced Joe Biden to chew the very inexperienced Palin, the McCain staffers whined for and got an easier format for her.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Sen. Joe Biden Rips Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin in Landhorne, PA
Barack Obama picked not only the most experienced person in the Senate to be his running mate, but perhaps the most passionate one as well. In this campaign stop at Landhorne, PA, Biden reminded all Americans of the problems we've faced over the last eight years of the Bush Administration: lost jobs and a lost self-esteem.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Barack Obama and Joe Biden May Look At Criminal Charges Against Bush
VP candidate Joe Biden said to the Guardian UK that if he and Barack Obama are elected, they would look at the allegations against George Bush that could lead to criminal charges.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Palin's selection as McCain's VP candidate raises questions - lots of questions.
According to Paul Kane, writing at WashintonPost.com, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog group. McCain is proud of his recent opposition to earmarks, though. Is that not what he wants from his Vice President, too?
Well, you could point out that Palin has also decried earmarks, citing her opposition to a $223 million bridge in Alaska. "As governor, I've stood up to the old politics-as-usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists, the big oil companies, and the good-ol'-boy network," she said on Friday, yet she favors fostering those same big oil companies desires to drill in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Is that really standing up to big oil and politics as usual?
Wasilla, a town of under 7,000 people, did not receive any federal earmarks in the first few years of Palin's term as mayor, but after she checked off on the retention of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, an Anchorage-based law firm that lobbies in D.C., the earmarks started rolling in. The account was handled by partner Steven W. Silver, the former chief of staff to Senator Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican Senator, coincidentally indicted in July on charges of accepting illegal gifts. Is that McCain's idea of standing up to special interests and the good old boy network in D.C., or Palin's?
In FY 2002, Wasilla took in $6.1 million in earmarks, on the heels of the $15 million rail project, in 2001 intended to connect Wasilla with the town of Girdwood, where Senator Stevens has a house. Is Sarah Palin really all that worried about change, or is she a savvy Republican working the system for all it's worth?
Sarah Palin, who would possibly be in line to become President, was once been a member of a group that advocates secession from the United States. Is that who we want as our potential Commander in Chief?
How much do you know about Sarah Palin, and what motivated McCain to pick her? Do you think there's likely more to it than pandering for women's votes? Naturally - there must be, right? I think we'd all like to learn more about this first-term Governor. So follow the money.
Meanwhile, in the interest of fairness, I'd like you to meet Joe Biden, too.
read more | digg story
Well, you could point out that Palin has also decried earmarks, citing her opposition to a $223 million bridge in Alaska. "As governor, I've stood up to the old politics-as-usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists, the big oil companies, and the good-ol'-boy network," she said on Friday, yet she favors fostering those same big oil companies desires to drill in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Is that really standing up to big oil and politics as usual?
Wasilla, a town of under 7,000 people, did not receive any federal earmarks in the first few years of Palin's term as mayor, but after she checked off on the retention of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, an Anchorage-based law firm that lobbies in D.C., the earmarks started rolling in. The account was handled by partner Steven W. Silver, the former chief of staff to Senator Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican Senator, coincidentally indicted in July on charges of accepting illegal gifts. Is that McCain's idea of standing up to special interests and the good old boy network in D.C., or Palin's?
In FY 2002, Wasilla took in $6.1 million in earmarks, on the heels of the $15 million rail project, in 2001 intended to connect Wasilla with the town of Girdwood, where Senator Stevens has a house. Is Sarah Palin really all that worried about change, or is she a savvy Republican working the system for all it's worth?
Sarah Palin, who would possibly be in line to become President, was once been a member of a group that advocates secession from the United States. Is that who we want as our potential Commander in Chief?
How much do you know about Sarah Palin, and what motivated McCain to pick her? Do you think there's likely more to it than pandering for women's votes? Naturally - there must be, right? I think we'd all like to learn more about this first-term Governor. So follow the money.
Meanwhile, in the interest of fairness, I'd like you to meet Joe Biden, too.
read more | digg story
Friday, August 29, 2008
Barack Obama Speech, Joe Biden, Fireworks Show Mark Event - Video
This video captures the amazing end of the Senator Barack Obama speech, with the emergence of Senator Joe Biden and an unexpected but stirring fireworks show. More videos to come.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Joe Biden Speech, Barack Obama Surprise Entrance At DNC
This is a video of the dramatic entrance of Senator Barack Obama just after Senator Joe Biden finished his acceptance speech.
Denver Mall, following Biden & Bill Clinton
Following the speeches on August 27th, 2008, at the Democratic Nominating Convention in Denver, the 16th Street Mall was buzzing. Here are three snapshot.
First, a quick clip of some vendors who knew their product was best viewed after dark:
Next, a teenage activist from Philly in to take part in counter-protests expresses concerns about the police presence and behavior. (Dark; think of it as an audio segment...)
She told me her parents are worried, but that she calls her mother every day.
Lastly, a conversation with a Denver resident as we rode the free mall shuttle. He's delighted with the fact the convention is "here" and thinks the political process benefits from being done right out in front of people. He also has some observations about Senator Joe Biden in the wake of Biden's acceptance speech.
First, a quick clip of some vendors who knew their product was best viewed after dark:
Next, a teenage activist from Philly in to take part in counter-protests expresses concerns about the police presence and behavior. (Dark; think of it as an audio segment...)
She told me her parents are worried, but that she calls her mother every day.
Lastly, a conversation with a Denver resident as we rode the free mall shuttle. He's delighted with the fact the convention is "here" and thinks the political process benefits from being done right out in front of people. He also has some observations about Senator Joe Biden in the wake of Biden's acceptance speech.
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