Biden's heartache, past burdens can't defuse heart, ideas

There's one knock you always hear on Sen. Joe Biden:

He talks. A lot.

The Democratic presidential candidate has been called "verbose," said to be prone to "blathering" and "known for loquacity."

But ask him about that day in December 1972, a week before Christmas, six weeks after he was elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29. Ask him about when a drunk driver slammed into a car his family was riding in, killing his wife, Neilia, and 13-month-old, Naomi, and leaving sons Beau and Hunter hospitalized for months.


Then he does something very un-Biden-esque. He clams up.

"I just don't ... it's hard to talk about. It's just hard ..." Biden trails off, pauses for several seconds, and clears his throat. His wife, Jill, looks on patiently.

"Whenever you talk about it, you relive it. It doesn't matter whether it was a day ago, a month ago or, in my case now, 34 years ago."..................

..............It's a brief window into the heart and mind of a candidate who will spend hours pontificating upon his experience in foreign affairs and issues press releases that propose complicated and detailed policies.

He's a senator who has more than once been called a braggart, yet now speaks in passing - if at all - of the wreck that could have put his life in shambles. Nor does he speak of the brain aneurysms that nearly killed him weeks after he dropped out of the 1988 presidential race following accusations that he used plagiarized portions of a campaign speech. The dropout was a blessing in disguise, said Biden's wife, Jill, whom he married in 1977. Reaching the top may have killed him, as the aneurysm occurred the day before the New Hampshire primary.

"I always say things happen for a reason, and even though it was a very painful thing to go through, I know in my heart that Joe would not have lived through that," she said.

read the entire article at
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071123/NEWS/711230387

I have one thinng to say;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XberX_t-WvI


Well, that, and that he is a genuine person.

is truly, genuinely, a GOOD person.

I was of the school that dismissed him as that blow-hard prince of verbosity, and thereby assumed he had nothing of substance to offer.

I also assumed he was shallow, self serving, and in the game only to stroke his ego.

My estimation of the man has undergone a 180.

I am now convinced he entered public life to be of service. I am convinced he has strength of conviction and will risk disagreement and judgment in order to forward what actions he sincerely believes will benefit the people. I am convinced that he is the best person in the mix to help our country at this critical, fragile time.

When asked about the tragedy of the loss of his wife and daughter, I've heard him say that similar tragedies - and worse - happen to people every day. He does not call attention to it and feels he doesn't deserve any special consideration because of it. I agree, except in that this had to have played a large part in shaping who he is today.

I just gently encourage those who haven't made a decision yet, to give this man an opportunity to let you know who he is and what he stands for, and how he can lead us into becoming whole again. Please, just really listen. Gaffes and all. :7

Of all the candidates, if I consider who would make me most comfortable with the world situation (the one Bush has made such a mess of), I find that I think of Biden.

I don't necessarily agree with him across the board. Actually, maybe not on a lot of things. But the man is undeniably smart and experienced. Unlike the front runners, he has the benefit of many, many years working through many of the issues we're now facing again.

Things could change, or my primary in February could be entirely moot -- who knows? But right now I certainly understand what you're saying.

I used to like John Edwards until I saw that he decided to include an explicit reference to his wife's health as part of his campaign ad that was shown on TV in Iowa.

If there is one thing that everyone knows about John Edwards - it's that his wife has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Why he feels it is necessary to bring this up in a 60-second campaign spot is something that makes me ask questions about his character.

Maybe one of the reasons that Edwards is behind Obama in recent polls - even in Iowa.

Unfortunately, Barack Obama does not have the stature and experience to beat Giuliani, Romney or Huckabee in 2008. That's why we need a BIDEN-OBAMA ticket.

that if more people really new about Senator Biden, his accomplishments, his great political mind and experience, he would be right up there with fund raising and attention. It seems that a lot of people still don't know him, and/or what his stand on issues are, or what he would do about them (and I blame the media for most of that).

The other day I was at get together with about 25 people. A couple hours in to the evening I asked if everyone wouldn't mind if I popped in a DVD that I produced, "Joe Biden: An American President"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtGCaqOdIJ4

When the DVD finished everybody in that room was ready to vote for Joe. Most of the people never heard of him. There was a veteran there who was crying and asked me for a copy (which I made for him).

These are the reactions I see everyday. We truly have a great man who wants to make a difference and lead the free world. I really hope the American voter doesn't blow it again.

I say Joe Biden, and people say; who? It just amazes me when they say that....

is certainly good for that. In fact, it was a part of my shift in thinking...and I can't thank you enough for waking me up. When he is saying; "it matters profoundly"...that really got to me...you can tell it came from his heart.

and keep passing it along to the masses, and ask them to do the same.
Best,
JDS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtGCaqOdIJ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUC8LeZ1hM4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HcXkLbRIWw

Seriously, I'm over it. I was very happy before I found this place. Crawled into a hole after 2004 and stuck my head in the sand like an ostrich. So I'm here now, one toe tepidly in the water, but I really don't want to care about politics again. I don't want to be disappointed and struck down dumb again. Still, I come here and find anger and laughter, sorrow and joy, dejection and optimism - and a little 8 minute film of Joe Biden that makes me cry. And makes me want to care. Something about him makes it feel safe to hope again. Thank you so much for sharing this. I've sent it to all my apathetic democratic ostrich friends, hoping they too will look up long enough to see.

Bidenite?

Understand that I'm a bit leery of making commitments..(just ask my last few partners in marital unbliss). But I am going to take the leap and donate something, buy a bumper sticker or a t-shirt, sign up for emails, embed his video :-) And will definitely start tracking him (not to be confused with stalking). I have a strange feeling that Joseph Biden is going to play a HUGE role in the world over the next few years, even if he doesn't end up doing so as President. He just seems destined for a larger, more pivotal role in the overall scheme of things. Like a superhero.. sent to right the wrongs and all that..

speaking of my video "Joe Biden: An American President", I thank you.
I'm glad it had an affect on you. Keep passing it along.
Best,
JDS

instead of crying over the video - I would have noticed it was under your same SN. 'The American President' is absolutely one of, if not THE best, video portraits I have ever seen. Biden is lucky and blessed to have you on his side and you are uniquely talented, JDS. A pleasure and honor, thank you for such a beautiful piece. (I watched your others, too, and howled over the comical candidates!)

I understand exactly how you feel. 2004 was devastating and I really wanted to give up. We have a lot of really good candidates, but none of them really instill any hope in me except for Joe Biden. I've never felt this way before about a political candidate. There is something truly unique about him. He stands out from the rest.

My new son-in-law was a hard sell and now he's quoting Biden. He even compares him to President Bartlett on West Wing (our favorite TV show).

...to continue this, please go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=152x19539

I will never understand why Biden hasn't used this video as an ad.

"Something about him makes it feel safe to hope again."

Beautifully put, and expresses my feelings as well. Thank you! :hug:

Life has been so dismal and depressing for so long. I really want to believe it can and will get better.

I have noticed that almost everything Joe Biden says sounds like he is a smart guy.

So I can imagine it must have been real hard for you to pick out just a few quotes.

:kick: