Biden blasts McCain after warrantless-wiretap flip-flop
By Steve Benen Sunday Jun 08, 2008 10:00pm
One of the traditional roles for a presidential running mate is a willingness — and ideally, a propensity — to be an “attack dog,” going after the rival party and saying the things the candidate would say, if he or she wasn’t trying to appear above the fray.
It’s probably too soon to talk too seriously about Joe Biden’s chances of making the ticket, but if he’s auditioning for the part, and hoping to prove himself as a sufficiently aggressive pugilist, I think he’s doing an awfully good job.
We learned this week, for example, that John McCain has completely reversed course on the White House’s authority to conduct warrantless searches of Americans’ phone calls and emails. Six months ago, asked specifically whether federal statutes trumped a president’s war-time authority, McCain said, “I don’t think the president has the right to disobey any law.” Now, McCain has apparently given up on this, and embraced the Bush administration’s “sweeping theories of executive authority.”
Biden, not willing to let opportunities like these pass him by, pounced. (via mcjoan)
…Biden wrote that the FISA statute, which he helped draft, “made clear the exclusive legal steps the President must take in order to conduct national security surveillance.”
“President Bush chose to ignore the law and now it seems Senator McCain will continue this policy,” Biden writes. “Once again – there is no daylight between President Bush and Sen. McCain.”
“We all share the goal of capturing the terrorists and protecting national security and we can do that without violating the privacy of the American people,” he added. “Like President Bush, Sen. McCain is presenting the American people with a false choice — national security or civil liberties. We need a President who understands that we can have both. It’s what our values and our Constitution demands.”
First, good for him. Second, this seems to be part of a trend.
This comes two weeks after Biden went after Joe Lieberman’s latest defense of McCain’s foreign policy worldview…
Last week, John McCain was very clear. He ruled out talking to Iran. He said that Barack Obama was “naïve and inexperienced” for advocating engagement; “What is it he wants to talk about?” he asked.
Well, for a start, Iran’s nuclear program, its support for Shiite militias in Iraq, and its patronage of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
Beyond bluster, how would Mr. McCain actually deal with these dangers? You either talk, you maintain the status quo, or you go to war. If Mr. McCain has ruled out talking, we’re stuck with an ineffectual policy or military strikes that could quickly spiral out of control.
Sen. Obama is right that the U.S. should be willing to engage Iran on its nuclear program without “preconditions” – i.e. without insisting that Iran first freeze the program, which is the very subject of any negotiations. He has been clear that he would not become personally involved until the necessary preparations had been made and unless he was convinced his engagement would advance our interests.
…which came a week after Biden went after Bush for his “appeasement” talk…
“This is bullshit, this is malarkey. This is outrageous, for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, to sit in the Knesset … and make this kind of ridiculous statement.”
…which came a few months after Biden made Rudy Giuliani look pretty ridiculous on international current events, back when the former mayor looked like a credible presidential candidate.
I’m not saying Biden’s the ideal running mate. First, Biden led the way on that ridiculous bankruptcy bill, and I’ll probably never forgive him for it. Second, he eschews message discipline, and is well known for sticking his foot in his mouth with embarrassing gaffes.
That said, the more he stays on the offensive against McCain and his cohorts, the more I like him.
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7pm Pacific Time 6/9/08 Dennis Kucinich on CSPAN1 is reading Aritcles of Impeachment live.
It's a tennis tournament for the Democrats: suddenly everyone's got balls.
Imagine a Democratic candidate claiming, during an election, that he planned to BREAK THE LAW once he was in office. Wouldn't you expect a little more discussion in the news than what we're hearing now?
this is what we need biden is a bulldawg
Looks like we'll have to get the flip flops out and show up at McCain rallies to see if Republiscum can take their own medicine.
"Attack mode" needs desperately to be a trend. From all sides, from every state, don't let up on the pressure for a minute. Every day, something, anything, just get a LOT of democrat incumbents and candidates out there saying things, doing things, being in charge of the narrative for a change.
This is THE chance. The more people voting straight Democratic Party tickets, the better the chance to make REAL changes from the bottom up.
But the voices have to be non-stop from the county level, to each and every state, from the national centers of politics and power to the poorest patches of humanity. Speak to strangers in public. Tell them to vote Democratic - and have two reasons why ready when they ask. But definitely send emails to your Representatives and Senators and tell them to speak out! Finally!
Took the words right out of my mouth, he's definitely trying to catch Obama's attention. And what better way than to hammer his opponent on a flip-flop.
I love Biden, he really is a sumbitch.
Very tough.
Maybe he can take Condi's place.
MedfordTim @ 6:
Tell Nancy to take our table out of the basement and make a nice, pretty centerpiece of Impeachment.
Here's an idea for a T.V. spot to highlight McCain's flip-flops . Show a split screen with Bush talking on one side about all the issues that the old McCain was against and the old McCain on the other side explaining why he was against them . Then slowly have Bush morph into the new McCain as both sides continue talking . The final shot would be "new" McCain contradicting "old" McCain .
I always thought he'd be a good running mate.
He's got age and the foreign policy experience that Obama may lack.
I think Biden was very 'clean and articulate' when he said this. that, of course, is a reference to his unfortunate gaffe where he commented on Obama and how he came across, as they both at the time were running for president. i think Biden is a great statesman and would make a better Sec of State than he would VP, but that sort of gaffe would be exploited by the GOP and his plagiaristic past. better not to pick him. there are plenty of great choices.
biden was a hawk on the 'war on drugs'. he's 1 reason pot smokers are in prison. how did biden vote on the bankrupcy bill? he is not your friend, he's a mealy mouth government insider.
Agreed. He just needs to be able to bring his foreign policy experience to the table in Obama's cabinet. Although he wouldn't be the worst VP candidate. He is rough and gaffe-prone, but he tells it like it is.
John McCain is a scumbag
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-c...
Now It’s Really Official: McCain Loses His Maverick Status
iraqhusseinconcilable @ 10:
Good one, have you emailed the DNC?
accountability @ 9:
Sounded good to me 6 years ago...still has a nice ring to it.
I'll ask the Cand Lers a simple question. Who would you want for your foreign policy attack dog, Lieberman or Biden?
Well, as I've said before, if you're looking for a pit bull to answer Republicans attacks and let Senator Obama take the high road, I believe Senator Clinton is now available. She brings some lovely demographics to the table too.
moondancer @ 19:
Neither. I'd call back Madeleine Albright. She was excellent precisely because she wasn't an attack dog. American foreign policy now desperately requires nuance not bullheadedness. Biden has the knowledge but lacks diplomatic skill.
Peter G @ 20:
Yeah, no way Biden's on the ticket. He offers Obama nothing. Doesn't mean I dislike him (although I don't have much trust for him), but there are a lot of others out there who can bring more to the table.
Biden's mouth can't stop flapping. He's a great guy and says amazing things, but he's a human gaffe machine and Obama would spend too much time in damage control with jhim on board.
Obama should be looking at someone to offset his weaknesses. I would prefer a more idealist candidate, but Obama has that wrapped up.
Peter G @ 21:
during the clinton years, i remember madelaine pretty much wanted to bomb a lot of places.
Wanna know where Biden would be the most useful?? Senate Majority Leader, that's where. Nobody could make his colleagues toe the line like Biden. Get rid of "Spineless Harry" Reid, and put Biden in charge. Oh, and Peter G, as far as bringing back Madeleine Albright - I presume you mean the Madeleine Albright who considered the deaths of thousands of Iraqi children "acceptable". Sorry Pete, no sale on that one!
I like Biden now. and he's articulate and clean!
Old "monologuing" Joe was actually my 1st choice to be the democratic candidate, but I'd certainly take him as VP.
If Obama is serious about charting a new course in American politics, then he should avoid bringing in Platinum Card members of the Washington establishment. No to Sam Nunn, Evan Byah, Joe Biden, Schumer, etc.
How about mayor Rocky Anderson as VP? Republicans would instantly attack that pick as wacky, right up until he tore their asses off in a debate.
Biden would make a terrific VP. So would Jim Webb or Wesley Clark.
Here's another choice: AL GORE.
I know, he wouldn't take it, he's done his stint, he's created a new life outside politics. But why the hell not? He's smart as hell, he's trustworthy, he's experienced, he's respected around the world, he's been vindicated by history, he was right about the environment all along, people love him and he's an expert on military policy. He'd be a huge resource for Obama to draw on.
The novelty value alone would attract support.
jimbo92107 @ 28:
David N @ 30:
dbl quote sorry about ,
From what I have seen of Rocky he his kick ass , even if he is from a 4 letter state .
Fellas, this ain't about Biden, it's about the telecoms picking off potential adversaries to retroactive immunity one by one. We need heroes. Barry Hussein Obama, where are you now? Chris Dodd, where are you now? Somebody keep domestic wiretapping on the msm's frontburner!
John McCain flip-flop? No - he's just following the number one rule of the Republican party: powers for them bad, powers for me good
Least we not forget, Biden, of all people, as Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, should have known that we did not need to go to Iraq. Because he, Clinton and Edwards were going to run for president and didn't want to appear weak, voted to give Bush what he needed....when the country needed leaders with a spine.
I am all for Biden going after McCain now because McCain deserves it. Biden had his chance to show real leadership years ago when the country was looking for someone to stand up to Bush but Biden caved. Tell him to stay as chair of his Senate committee but grow a stronger spine.
Snowball @ 5:
To think Rove and the rest of these clowns defeated Kerry with one flip-flop add. Thanks to You-Tube and the internet, the days of the MSM "covering" for these assholes are over. As long as Obama doesn't hire any of the 0 for 8 Bob Schrum types.
I swear, McSame will be worse than Boosh and Nixon combined.
the CBS link is saying PAGE NOT FOUND
please update...I want to link to this one
The "pounce" link is dead.
Bomb-bomb-bomb-Iran!
Every day that goes by when American troops aren't being killed in Iran by the weapons we sold them is a day that Reagan's legacy is wasted!
Conservatives.. Don't let Oliver North's sacrifice to have been in vain! War in Iran NOW!
(Yes I'm being satirical.. )
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McCain would have been a great campaigner a hundred years ago, when they campaigned from the back of a train.
At every stop he could tell the people exactly what they wanted to hear.
FUCK OBAMA @ 40:
[Refers to a deleted comment]
You dont deserve to vote.
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