When my state finally has its primary I will write in the name of Joseph Biden as a statement of protest and so I can clearly and proudly claim that I voted for the very best candidate during the primary of the 2008 presidential election, though our national primary will be effectively over by then. I am angry and distraught over the ignorance shown by the Democratic Party once again, and their willingness to sacrifice their Party and their nation in order to nominate the candidate they determine to be the most celebrity-like.

Democrats had the ideal candidate in Joe Biden. His intellect was unmatched, and he not only believed in moving the Democratic agenda forward, he had the experience, the network of legislators, and the determination to get it done. He's a man of unparalleled ethical standards. Republicans could not dismantle his presidential bid for having done hard drugs or unscrupulous business arrangements for the sake of furthering his career. He's spent his entire life living the family values that Republicans can only pay lip service to. I honestly believe that many Democrats are turned off by his clean living, lending credence to the Republican's charges that the Democrats lack strong moral standards. He is not a particularly wealthy man, worth about $150,000, and has more in common with the average American than any other candidate. He lost his first wife and a baby daughter when he was 29 to a drunk driver and, as a result, he commuted to Washington everyday so that he could spend his evenings with his sons who were also hurt in that crash. He is the only candidate who had a real plan to get us out of Iraq, one that wouldn't further alienate his Party from the military--a very significant dynamic that the Democrats never seem to consider--and in fact, would have redefined the Democratic Party in the minds of our military personnel, something that will be impossible for Clinton or Obama. Biden's got a personal stake in Iraq's outcome: his son will soon be deployed there. He is an interesting, funny, and compelling man who is creative and quick on his feet. He would have come out of any debate with any Republican candidate looking like a winner just as he did the Democratic debates. Neither Obama nor Clinton have the same impact when they debate, and in a debate on foreign policy with, say, John McCain, they will be dangerously vulnerable. Obama would have to be arguing points that he's only read about. The Republicans could not have diminished Joe Biden's popularity in a general election by attacking his foreign policy or national security credentials because he knows more and has more experience in foreign affairs than any of the Republican candidates. He attracts Independents and moderate Republicans. He is the surest thing to victory that the Democrats had and the Democrats cast him aside for much weaker, riskier, candidates. And there is no upside to having done so.

I'm so profoundly disillusioned by the stupidity of the Democrats that I no longer consider myself a member of the Party. No, I'm not signing up with the Republicans. If that was to be my reaction over the latest Democratic debacle than I wouldn't have been so strongly in favor of Joe Biden. In fact, that's the point: The Democrats had to win this election and we can't afford to take any more chances--we really can't. But the Democrats can't adequately analyze the political climate and so we will lose again.

Since I know we can't afford to lose again, but the Democrats don't, I'm parting ways with the Party. On this fundamental point we are on very different pages. They suffer from the same malignancy suffered by the Republicans: they're unable to care about this country, only their own petty obsessions, and are handicapped by a very dangerous naivete and gullibility. Biden could have been to the Democrats what Reagan is to the Republicans, except with a legitimate legacy, not a fabricated and hyped legacy like Reagan's. He could have really brought a sense of unity to the country, and no one is in a better position to begin repairing the damage our nation's credibility has suffered under Bush. In fact, he already knows most of the world's leaders. There wasn't a better qualified candidate than Sen. Joseph Biden and the Democrats passed him up for either a man with zero international experience and credibility during a time of war and low international reputation, not to mention lots of history and associations that gives the Republicans plenty of ammunition to sink his candidacy during a general election, or a woman who would accept the Party's nomination with higher disapproval ratings than any other candidate in recent history, including George W. Bush, and is perceived as a very divisive and crafty politician. Democrats insist on losing and I refuse to be a part of it. America's demise continues and is, unfortunately, well-deserved.

and will write his name in as a statement of protest. I am angry and distraught over the ignorance shown by the Democratic Party once again, and their willingness to sacrifice the Party and the nation in order to nominate the closest they can get to a celebrity. Democrats had the ideal candidate in Joe Biden. His intellect was unmatched, and he not only believed in moving the Democratic agenda forward, he had the experience and the network to see to it that the necessary work got done. He's a man of unparalleled ethical standards. Republicans could not accuse him of doing hard drugs or unscrupulous business arrangements for the sake of furthering his career. He's spent his entire life living the family values the Republicans can only talk about. I honestly believe that many Democrats are turned off by his clean living, lending credence to the Republican's charges that the Democrats lack strong moral standards. He is not a particularly wealthy man, worth about $150,000 and has more in common with the average American than any other candidate. He lost his first wife and a baby daughter when he was 29 to a drunk driver and, as a result, he commuted to Washington everyday so that he could spend his evenings with his sons who were also hurt in that crash. He is the only candidate who had a real plan to get us out of Iraq, one that wouldn't further turn the military against the Democratic Party, and in fact, would have won many over to the Party. He is an interesting, funny, and compelling man who is creative and quick on his feet. He would have come out of any debate with any Republican candidate looking like a winner just as he did the Democratic debates. The Republicans could not have diminished his popularity in a general election by attacking his foreign policy or national security credentials because he knows more and has more experience than any of the Republican candidates. He attracts Independents and moderate Republicans. He is the surest thing to victory that the Democrats had and the Democrats cast him aside for much weaker candidates.

I'm so profoundly disillusioned by the stupidity of the Democrats that I no longer consider myself a member of the Party. No, I'm not signing up with the Republicans. If that was to be my reaction over the latest Democratic debacle than I wouldn't have been so strongly in favor of Joe Biden. In fact, that's the point: I want the Republicans to lose and we can't afford to take any more chances--we really can't. But the Democrats can't adequately analyze the political climate and so we will lose again. Since I know we can't afford to lose again, but the Democrats don't, I'm parting ways with the Party. They suffer from the same malignancy suffered by the Republicans: they're unable to care about this country, only their own petty obsessions. Biden could have been to the Democrats what Reagan is to the Republicans, except with a legitimate legacy, not a fabricated and hyped legacy like Reagan's. He could have really brought a sense of unity to the country, and no one is in a better position to begin repairing the damage our nation's credibility has suffered under Bush. In fact, he already knows most of the world's leaders. There wasn't a better qualified candidate than Sen. Joseph Biden and the Democrats passed him up for either a man with zero international experience and credibility, and lots of history that gives the Republicans plenty of ammunition to use against him, or a woman who would accept the Party's nomination with higher disapproval ratings than any other candidate in recent history, including George W. Bush, and is perceived as a very divisive and crafty politician. Democrats insist on losing and I refuse to be a part of it.

All the evidence I've seen demonstrating the dedication, the energy, the passion, the patriotism, the intelligence, the experience, the ideas, the integrity, and the honesty of this man seems endless and it just blows my mind. I didn't start out liking Joe Biden any more than any of the other candidates. What essentially did it for me was the endless barrage of examples of Joe doing, doing, doing...I couldn't ignore it! It just got to the point that to support any other candidate, ANY other candidate, over Joe Biden would be counter intuitive. It would mean I was supporting someone else for the wrong reasons, and my own personal integrity won't allow me to do that.

Joe Biden is a godsend to the Democratic Party and to the United States of America. The day Joe Biden is elected president, not sworn in but elected, the world will see it as America turning the corner on its ugliest stretch of detrimental influence on ourselves and the world and a major step toward coming to our senses. No other candidate would have as immediate and profound an impact on our credibility because it will be clear that we elected the right person for the right reasons. He's not the rock star--an American outcome that would surprise few--or the spouse of a former popular president--again, a typical and predictable outcome of American pop culture--but simply the most qualified person running. Joe Biden is already known and respected, and in a few cases feared no doubt, by leaders, elected and otherwise, all across the world. The world would start to get the idea that America is starting to make sense again. I just hope America IS starting to make sense again. Time will soon tell.

Please consider supporting this candidate.

When Americans are speaking in general about their ideal president, we end up describing someone like Joe Biden. But then the neo-American in us kicks in and we allow ourselves to surrender, weak-kneed, to the artifice that is shaped by the best facades money can buy. We swallow the eloquent words, carefully crafted for just the right response, to the background of orchestrated sincerity. The ad is repeated again and again until the candidate replaces it with their next 60 seconds of manipulation. All we build up in side ourselves as we mature as human beings, the things like integrity, honesty, our trusty skepticism, our insistence on substance, our willingness to weigh and analyze, all goes out the door for the easy catch phrase and a pearly white smile. America is melting into a shallow puddle and we allow the rich and powerful to stomp right through us.

Whatever strengths possessed by the other candidates, Biden has in greater abundance, all except for one, money. Our financial success is destroying us. I pray that we can overcome our stupidity before we elect another incompetent power monger.

Unless you want to classify pulling out of Iraq as a mandate for change. In this election "change" is defined as a new approach toward government, not just "different from Bush." No candidate can discuss the details involving the Middle East meltdown we're involved in to the extent that Joe Biden can. It would be unwise for us to nominate someone based on the assumption that he or she is smart therefore they'll figure it out once they get into office. If you had to undergo surgery for a life or death procedure would you choose a surgeon who doesn't really know the specifics about the problem or how to conduct the surgery but because he or she is smart they can figure it out while you're cut open on the operating table? Common sense will dictate the answer to that question.

There are 3 ways to approach Iraq: 1)a continuation of the Bush strategy, 2)just pulling out and let the chips lie where they fall, or 3) Joe Biden's plan. None of these 3 approaches are without problems, big problems, but Biden's is the most realistic way of getting us the hell out of Iraq without leaving total chaos in our wake. The fact that Joe Biden had the backbone to stand up and offer a detailed plan like this while the rest of our elected officials just sat around hoping it would all just go away demonstrates, demonstrates, what a real, strong, stand up guy he is. It's the kind of take charge action we should be looking for in a leader.

There is so very much at stake in this election. We can shape our respective candidates in an endless array of ways to make them look good to the rest of us who may not be enthralled with them, but if we are going to be honest with ourselves Sen. Biden is the candidate, Democrat or Republican, who is really the most qualified to step into the Oval Office on day one and start getting down to the people's business. It's not Hillary Clinton, whose candidacy would set off a new round of America's us against them divisive politics, while her PR team is running around trying to create her image as being more than it is, e.g., planting questioners so that she can give her prepared answers. It's not Barack Obama, who simply lacks the qualifications if only because he lacks the experience--and experience is essential for tackling our current set of problems our nation faces; we shouldn't pretend otherwise. It's not John Edwards who, too, lacks the necessary experience to tackle the monumental challenges our country now faces, despite his fiery passion. All 3 of these candidates would probably do a fine job under different circumstances. Obama will probably have that opportunity in the future, but he has to pay his dues first. The logical choice for the Democrats during this primary is Sen. Joe Biden.

Sen. Biden is very smart, he's quick on his feet, he's honest, he's arguably our country's foremost foreign policy expert in government today, and he already knows most of the foreign leaders, already earning the respect of the international community. He would serve our country with honor and distinction. He knows what it's like to suffer personal tragedy. He has a personal stake in Iraq's outcome because he's got a son in the military (I believe it's the Army Reserves) who is supposed to go to Iraq next year. He is the only candidate running who isn't a millionaire. He doesn't deal with lobbyists (probably why he's only worth about $150,000). He has the unquestionable respect of both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate (which will be pivotal for enacting real change in the next administration, not just rhetorical change), and he's a different kind of politician, in the best sense. In a word, he's one of us. He's not running on hype. He doesn't have any big name celebrities raising millions of dollars and stumping for him. He doesn't have gimmicks, he doesn't attack his fellow Democrats, he doesn't make excuses. He's simply a man with an exceptional mind and the experience to know how to use that mind. His particular experience gives him the anti-venom for every predictable attack the Republicans will use against any Democratic nominee. No other candidate can make that claim the way Biden can. And he's got passion. The fire is burning in this man's belly. For Biden it's not about being the #1 big-shot. He wants to take on the Republican challenger so that he can then get our country that has been so long adrift back on course. He's got all the tools and he's dying to put them to use to end the hemorrhaging we've been undergoing for a dangerously long period of time. This, my friends, is no time to take chances.

If you want Iraq, health care, our energy policy, education, and our nation's respect and credibility to really, really, be changed in a way that Democrats have been longing for for an inordinate period of time, please consider supporting Sen. Biden for President of the United States. He needs your support now.

Trying to defeat opponents through character assassination, and I'm not implicating Sen. Obama. I'm referring to some of his supporters.

I guess people think he should have said, in a discussion about civil rights, that he'd offer Obama a position as treasury secretary. Of course then it would have just sounded odd and not really make sense. Biden actually responded in the most appropriate way, rather than some contrived inappropriate way. Racism is a hydra-headed beast that knows no bias. Joe Biden is a good decent man who towers above those who would try to soil him with their own...well, you get the picture.

Your perspective is twisted to the point of snapping. Do not blame Joe Biden for people's inability to pay their bills. Bankruptcy is a grossly inefficient way to pay for medical bills. Health care reform is the way to deal with our difficulty in paying medical bills. In case you haven't noticed, our country is in debt to the tune of about 9 trillion dollars, and despite Dick Cheney saying deficits don't matter, they really do. We can't just throw money at every problem that comes up because contrary to American belief, there are limits to how much money our government can spend. Really. Criticize Biden for his vote if you want, but don't blame him for people's inability to pay their bills, medical or otherwise.

Biden voted in favor of bankruptcy reform and yet all the Democratic candidates have been totally mum on this issue. If it was really the burning issue you make it out to be, why isn't Edwards, Clinton, or Obama leading the charge to save the middle class from our current bankruptcy laws? It's because it's a red herring. You know it, I know it, and hopefully the readers of this thread know it. Biden makes such a strong candidate and has so few weaknesses that you feel the need to make something out of nothing because he threatens your candidate, who isn't even addressing this obsession of yours, and it doesn't matter who your candidate is because none of them are addressing it. Out of all the debates, it hasn't been mentioned once, not even the Utube debate when the people got to ask the questions. If this issue is so important, why are you supporting a man or woman who ignores it? Instead of promoting bankruptcy reform, you're just using it to attack Joe Biden, which exposes your fraudulent use of this issue.

Here's an idea! The Democrats are currently in power in Congress. Let them write up new legislation. I'm certain President Biden will be more than happy to oblige his Party by signing it into law. Problem solved. Now try some other angle of attack, because obviously this is not an issue that voters are up in arms about, unless they're desperate to find something to criticize Joe Biden on. Face it, he's better qualified than your candidate and has a better chance of winning, and winning big, in the general election, because the few people who really are concerned about bankruptcy law knows that if Biden gets the nomination he'll win the presidency, the Democrats' majorities in the House and Senate will increase, and if Democrats want the bankruptcy laws changed, it's a done deal. Problem solved. You might as well attack him for getting hair plugs from when he had surgery for a brain aneurysm. I've seen that too.

It's important that we be as objective as possible in deciding who to support in this primary because there is so much at stake, and it behooves us to avoid the temptation to assume the Democrats already have this election in the bag. Candidates that fall into that mindset often do so at their own peril.

We've been witnessing all kinds of polls, but during the general election all bets are off. And as if it's not tough enough to have just Democrat against Republican, there's serious speculation that Michael Bloomberg and Chuck Hagel are going to run as a ticket. You might consider, for example, which Democratic candidates would be hurt the most by that in the general election and which would weather it the best. And we can't ever forget the kind of brutal Republican attack awaiting whichever candidate we choose. It will be very, very ugly, because the Republicans are feeling some desperation.

I'm sure many of you feel as I do that the Bush Administration has caused us to fall way behind in the development of alternative forms of energy and ways to make serious reductions in our nation's greenhouse gases. This is an example of what we'll continue to sacrifice if our candidate loses in the general election, because it will take a Democrat to give alternative energy research and the reduction of gases that contribute to global warming the priority it requires. We really can't afford to put this off any longer.

And of course there's Iraq. If a Democrat fails to get elected, the Iraq War will continue and Bush's Iraq agenda will continue to be forced down the throats of Iraqis and Americans alike. The Republicans want to make our presence there permanent, another insane foreign policy faux pas that will further threaten our national security and our credibility in the world. More of our soldiers will die, more innocent Iraqis will die, and our money that should be going toward things like health care and education will continue to evaporate with nothing but death and destruction to show for it. That has to end.

If the Democrats fail to win the White House our health care system will continue to be a source of national shame. A small group of people will continue expanding their bank accounts while the rest of us either go without the health care we need or we go broke paying for it.

The issues that need addressing are too numerous to mention here, but I'm sure you all get my drift. So, please be mindful of the consequences should we fail to win another presidential election. It might mean throwing your support behind another candidate if your personal favorite has weaknesses that might make for a risky prospect in the general election. How broad is your candidate's appeal? How strong will your candidate appear in the presidential debates? What would the effect be on your candidate, if any, should we have a terrorist attack during the campaign? And if Bloomberg runs? Try your best to think outside the box on these issues, and anything else you might consider pertinent.

Just wanted to put this out there because it's extremely important and should always be kept in mind during this primary. Peace.

he voted in favor of bankruptcy reform and yet all the Democratic candidates have been totally mum on this issue. If it was really the burning issue you make it out to be, why isn't Edwards, for example, leading the charge to save the middle class from our current bankruptcy laws? It's because it's a red herring. You know it, I know it, and hopefully the readers of this thread know it. Biden makes such a strong candidate and has so few weaknesses that you feel the need to make something out of nothing. Your own candidate isn't even addressing it. If this issue is so important, why are you supporting a man who ignores the issue (besides the fact that he had previously voted in favor of it himself)?

Here's an idea! The Democrats are currently in power in Congress. Let them write up new legislation. I'm certain President Biden will be more than happy to oblige his Party by signing it into law. Problem solved. Now try some other angle of attack.

he has a lot of good strategic reasons for asking Obama to be his running mate: 1.) he's very bright and has good fresh ideas; 2.) he'd fully solidify the support of all Democrats; 3.) creates a balance of old and experienced/young and fresh; 4.) it would inspire a greater number of African American's to get out and vote; 5.) it would negate any racial misconception about Biden due to a few ill-chosen words; 6.) it would give Obama the experience he currently lacks to be president and groom him for the presidency with the potential of keeping the WH occupied by Democrats for at least 16 years (Biden couldn't have a better student and Obama couldn't have a better instructor); 6.) it would secure Illinois, w/its large number of electoral votes; 7.) it would give us our 1st African American VP; 8.) they would make such a damn impressive team that our country couldn't resist. The Republicans wouldn't have a chance.

Well, it's not as much of a stretch as it sounds. No, she won't actually be stumping for Biden, but her big, well-publicized entrance into this primary further heightens the circus like quality that is taking hold. Obama has Oprah in his corner, queen of daytime tv. Hillary has hubby Bill and now Babs. And while Hillary and Obama are taking swipes at each other, the Republicans are just going nuts. Now it's looking like Giuliani had been visiting his mistress complements of the tax payer. That should go over good with Republican church goers who hate paying taxes. Edwards, the millionaire trial lawyer, is now the working man's candidate. Oh, and Kucinich has fairy godmother,Shirley McClain, helping him out by writing about his run-in with a flying saucer. Thanks, Shirley.

This would all be great fun if so many people's lives weren't at stake. But there are lives at stake and our nation's future is on the line. I think a lot of people are failing to be amused by the current pea shooting free-for-all that's taking place and are looking for alternatives. Joe Biden is increasingly being seen as the serious alternative, because these are serious times for our country. There is a buzz going round in Iowa and it ain't the latest edition of Billarygate.

And when you throw it around like that in any situation that doesn't appeal to you, it diminishes the meaning of the word making it less effective when the word is really called for; in effect, you aid fascism. Bush has done the same thing with that word, and many others, like liberty and freedom.

I also find it intellectually dishonest to try and discount Sen. Biden's candidacy for a vote he cast on something no other candidate is talking about. The country has higher priorities. Furthermore, in case you forgot, the Democrats are in charge. There doesn't seem to be a mad rush to pass new bankruptcy laws, probably because the Democrats in office know that a.)there are more important matters at hand, and b.)most Americans feel that we should all be responsible for our own debts--what a concept.

It's a very complicated bill and could use some cleaning up. All the Democrats have to do is write new legislation, pass it, and get President Biden to sign it, while he takes a moment off from working on getting our soldiers safely out of Iraq before more die or get their limbs blown off, and as he twists Republicans' arms to get them to give health care to all citizens, and to revitalize our lagging education system, ... need I go on? Perspective is everything.

This stuff about the bankruptcy bill that Biden voted in favor of is nothing but a red herring thrown out there to distract people from seeing what a truly fine president Sen. Biden would make. He's very smart, knows people and the world he'd be playing such a big role in, he's a genuinely decent and ethical man, and I'd venture to say that he'd probably get more done--things we need doing--than anyone else running. Now, if you don't want to vote for him because you want to be able to walk away from your fiscal irresponsibilities and a bill he voted for now gets in your way, that is your prerogative. And naturally you're free to criticize him all you want. Just keep in mind that your classless exhibition of sophomoric swiftboating, e.g., "It's fascism," contrasts sharply with the man who is the target of your weak aspersions. He wouldn't return your insults because it's not in his nature, and he has far more important things to deal with.

When the two front runners are Senators Clinton and Obama, one has to seriously wonder. I realize no one likes to read anything negative about the candidate they support, but these two talented senators each have a serious flaw that could very easily give the Republicans another presidential victory.

Sen. Clinton's problem is the baggage thing. Yeah, we've heard it all before, ad nauseum, but we deny it at our Party's, and our country's, peril. There is not one candidate who comes close to having the detractors that Hillary Clinton has. I saw a bumper sticker on my way home from work yesterday that read "Anyone But Hillary," and I'm not making that up. I've gotten several emails, jokes about Hillary. I've seen a cartoon video clip someone made. I hear it at work.Today I came across a Hillary nut cracker in a catalog. The animosity is palpable. There's not one other candidate that I hear anything like what I hear about Sen. Clinton. As it is now, the Republicans have very little to run on, and would just love for Hillary to win the nomination so that their Party would finally have something to get excited about. Why handicap the Democrats chances of winning the White House back after 8 years of the worst president in our nation's history? Why hand the Republicans a stick to beat us with? There are more qualified candidates if we just look all of them over objectively, and ignore the idiot news media.

Sen. Obama's problem is his lack of experience. His supporters either say that he does have the experience or that it's not important. He stated recently that his foreign policy experience consists of 4 years he spent overseas from ages 6 - 10. Clinton's campaign is having a field day with this, and so will the Republicans. Imagine a campaign ad were they show scenes of our military in battle in Iraq and Afghanistan, and at the end of the ad the have Obama saying that his foreign policy experience ended when he was 10 years old. It would be the Republican's campaign mantra: 9/11 - no foreign policy experience; Iraq - no foreign policy experience; Afghanistan - no foreign policy experience. Need I mention the political strife in Pakistan--a Muslim country with a nuclear arsenal? I guarantee the Republican will remind us. Again, why take this serious, unnecessary risk? He's already made a few rookie mistakes in his campaign. Such mistakes are costly in the general election. This highlights another area where he has limited experience. I'm a fan of Sen. Obama. He's young, smart, and will get the experience he needs to become president. He'll have my support in 8 years. But he's not ready and, again, there are more qualified candidates that won't put our November victory at risk. We just can't afford to gamble this one away.

I know nothing will put this issue to rest, if for no other reason people are increasingly looking to Joe Biden as a viable alternative to the bickering 3 of the "top tier," and this makes their waning supporters nervous, so naturally the attacks will continue, but some perspective on the issue of the bankruptcy bill is in order. Some of this I borrowed from something I posted earlier.

Though not everything in the bankruptcy bill can be applauded--what Republican originated bill doesn't have problems?--but I'd like to think I'd have voted in favor of the bill even knowing that it might end up hampering my future presidential aspirations. I probably would have voted the same way Sen. Biden did because 1.)we desperately needed bankruptcy reform; 2.)the bill helped save many small business owners, and god knows they can use some help in this current corporate-dominated economic climate; 3.)Joe Biden doesn't deal with lobbyists which, unlike the "top tier" candidates, is why he doesn't have much campaign cash, and what he does have is all coming from ordinary Americans, so the decision to vote in favor of this bill wasn't so he could stuff his pockets w/corporate cash; 4.)the Republicans were in charge and in order to get anything done you sometimes have to go along with bills that you aren't in total agreement on; 5.) Joe Biden is not one to sit on his hands doing nothing waiting years for the political tide to turn. If you want to criticize him for that, go ahead. Personally, I respect people of action, and often there are things in bills that legislators don't like, but they vote for the bill for the things they do like. That's democracy in action. Improvements can always be made later. When it comes to a president, I like someone who is strong, determined, and knows more than one way how to move the ball forward.

The bankruptcy laws that were in place were rife with loopholes that were being abused to the point that bankruptcy turned into a safety net for the financially irresponsible. This particular bill began in 1997 and wasn't completed until 2005, being worked on by Democrats and Republicans alike. As I already mentioned, there were problems with it. Some were addressed and some weren't. To be fair, Sen. Biden did support several amendments that he thought were necessary. His detractors would have you believe that this wasn't the case. For example, he voted in favor of Durbin's Amdt #112 - to protect disabled vets from means testing in bankruptcy; yea on Durbin's Amdt #110 - to clarify that the means test does not apply to debtors below median income; yea on Harkin's Amdt #66 - to increase the accrual period for the employee wage priority in bankruptcy; nay against Santorum's Amdt #128 - an attempt to link minimum wage increase to "business incentives and assistance"; yea on Kennedy's Amdt #69 - to amend the definition of current monthly income; yea on Schumer's Amdt #42 - to limit exemption for asset protection trusts; yea on Durbin's Amdt #49 - to protect employees and retirees from corporate practices that deprive them of their earnings and retirement savings when a business files for bankruptcy; and several others, including an amendment offered by Republican Sen. Talent to deter corporate fraud and prevent the abuse of State self-settled trust law, a good amendment that Obama voted against, Dodd voted for, and Hillary didn't bother to vote on at all.

It's obvious that this was a very complicated process. Bankruptcy law has been a work in progress for the majority of time our nation has been a work in progress. The law needed to be revised since, I believe, the early '70s when the last bankruptcy bill was passed. On the 2005 bill, Biden made the effort to understand all the intricacies and voted accordingly. Almost all of the other senators voted up and down Party lines. Sen. Clinton didn't vote on several of the amendments, everything else she voted along Party lines, as did Obama. Now in addition to the amendments voted on mentioned above, there were amendments Sen. Biden voted for that were introduced by Republicans and voted against that were introduced by Democrats. Being a pragmatist Biden tends not to vote in favor of measures that are better dealt with by other means, and he's been consistent in this approach throughout his career. That's just the way he is; he's a complicated man who likes to deal with things in a straightforward manner. I, for one, am genuinely impressed with the fact that 1.)he refused to just play obstructionist by simply being against everything, even though there was political risk involved, because bankruptcy reform was needed, and 2.)he had the intelligence and energy to understand the nuances of everything that was being presented and voted based on that understanding, rather than the much, much easier route of voting down Party lines, like Clinton and Obama, and most Republicans did. Kudos for Sen. Biden for that. Our country would be so much better off if all of our legislators were like that. But his critics on this blog would prefer to have our government just keep playing partisan pingpong like we've been doing since, at least, Ronald Reagan.

One last point: it's important to keep in mind that every time someone files for bankruptcy a lot of hard working people end up paying for it. If you think it simply comes out of the billions of dollars made by large corporations, don't kid yourself. Corporations balance their expenses, including bankruptcies, with the money they're taking in. In other words, the consumer pays. I don't know about you, but I can't afford to pay much more for the things I need. Small business owners really get hurt. It's much harder for them to adjust their prices to make up for the bankruptcy losses because their larger competitors can price their product in ways that will drive the small business owner out of business. It's hard enough for the small business owner as it is. We're talking about everything from local vendors, small privately-owned local banks and savings and loans, roofing companies, privately owned water and gas distributors, local grocery stores, local car dealers, I could go on endlessly. These struggling small businesses create a lot of jobs, particularly in smaller towns and cities.

I've read posts where people were making the case for Sen. Biden that his vote on the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 was to protect jobs in his state of Delaware with the banks and credit card companies. I personally don't think this was the case because I don't think employment with the banks and credit card companies in Delaware would be affected whether the bill was passed or not. And they certainly aren't backing his run for president, perhaps it's because they know him and know they can't expect any special favors should he become president. They are more likely to back the Republicans.

For the record, I personally think Joe Biden would make one damn good president. He's tough, compassionate, and--this is important--he looks at the whole, big picture, and that's imperative to our nation's success during these complicated, challenging times. I know everyone won't agree with his vote in favor of the 2005 Bankruptcy Bill, and that's understandable, but it's important 1.)to know why he voted as he did; 2.) to recognize the effort he put into understanding the bill and its multitude of amendments; 3.)to put his vote into proper perspective. To discount this guy because of this bill is, in my opinion, a poor way of prioritizing what we weigh in making a judgment on who is best qualified to take over the presidency in 2008.