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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Political bits

As Atrios said, Joe Biden may have just completed the shortest Presidential campaign in history.

Within hours of actually declaring his intentions for the presidency, Joe Biden says this in an interview with the NY Observer, “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.” (if overloaded, try TPM.)

(Joe Biden is scheduled to be on The Daily Show tonight.)

Meanwhile, in a WaPo blog, "Sources tell The Sleuth that the Obama camp has "frozen out" Fox News reporters and producers in the wake of the network's major screw-up in running with the erroneous Obama-the-jihadist story reported by Insight magazine."

And, just as a personal thought, if the Republicans want to filibuster the Senate resolutions on Iraq, I say make them.

The image of Mitch McConnell or whoever standing on the Senate floor reading from a phonebook to avoid debating Iraq would say more about the Republicans and Iraq than a nonbinding resolution ever could.

Later: Audio of Biden's comment: Listen and judge for yourself.

8 Comments:

  • Good point on the filibuster.

    Wow, once Biden enters a national race, he just goes nuts, huh?

    By Blogger Bravo 2-1, at 1:22 PM  

  • I’ve got the feeling the Obama camp are on target at the moment – say little and let the noise do the early work. Unlike ‘just call me Hillary’ or ‘Bill who?’ who has made her self a real target far to early.
    “if the Republicans want to filibuster the Senate resolutions on Iraq, I say make them.” It makes sense to me, just more show and tell like above.

    By Blogger Cartledge, at 2:02 PM  

  • Regarding the non-binding resolution:

    Someone suggested somewhere -- can't remember where -- that the Dems should put together a resolution -- just to get a "sense of the senate" mind you -- supporting the President's escallation plan, and make the wobbly Republicites go on record that way.

    By Blogger -epm, at 2:19 PM  

  • Re: Biden's spasm. I don't think he meant it as bad as it looks in print (as punctuated).

    “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American -- who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy -- I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

    I think the second clause was meant to reinforce the "mainstream"-ness of the man. Unfortunately, it still has a hint of bigotry -- that he's saying "Unlike the majority of blacks, Obama is a negro white America could support."

    By Blogger -epm, at 2:26 PM  

  • Copy, we all kinda knew Biden would talk himself out of the race, that at some point, he'd just blow up, but who knew it would only take hours.

    ....

    Cartledge, Obama is driving. If he was not a player, cutting off Fox wouldn't bother them at all.

    Regarding the filibuster, all they're trying to do is pass a non-binding resolution whose effect will be sheerly political/persuasive anyhow, so, why not?

    .....

    EPM, that "sense of the Senate" idea is exactly what the House Republicans did a little over a year ago proposing a withdrawal immediately resolution. And that was the one that turned so ugly. (Remembre Scmidt calling Murtha a coward?) I think doing it in the negative that way, makes it far more partisan than how they're going about it now. I think it's in the Dems interest to play themselves as the mainstream and the Repubs as obstructionist.

    Regarding Biden, I agree. I don't think he meant it as overtly racist as it reads, but I don't think you can talk about "good blacks" and "bad blacks" and use the language that has been racist code for so long like, "he's so well spoken" or calling other blacks "unclean" in any circumstance.

    Much like the George Allen thing, it's not just about what he said, it's about what it reflects in his thinking.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 2:54 PM  

  • I am happy to see Levin and Warner have come together on an anti-escalation resolution. I suppose your right about pursuing a referendum that is purely a "gotcha," Republican-esque, political scam.

    I think we're on the same page with Biden, a politician for whom I ambivalent.

    By Blogger -epm, at 11:35 PM  

  • Do we still remember when the republicans wanted to change the rules to make filibustering impossible or ineffective, or was it just a dream?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:42 PM  

  • Sometimes Biden's charm takes over me, and then he says something stupid.

    Justin, I'd completely forgotten.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 10:26 AM  

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