Storm Lake Times, first newspaper to endorse Biden

[PatSeg]

“We have seen all the Democratic presidential candidates, except for two, up close and personal: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson.

“Biden is our choice for the nomination for the powerful personal story he shares, for his deep knowledge of international affairs, and for his long record of exemplary service in the U.S. Senate.”

“We like Biden because he has been tried privately and publicly, and came out of it all a stronger man. His wife and young child were killed in an auto accident. He faced death with a brain aneurism but survived it. Anyone who has been through what he has gains a perspective that will serve him well in the most trying of jobs.”

“Biden is astounding with his sheer command of world politics and conflict. He has distinguished himself by offering the only workable plan to get us out of harm’s way in Iraq. ”

“He advocates a loose federal system under which the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds would each control their own territory, somewhat similar to the notion of American federalism. He would remove American troops to a safe distance in friendly environs — Kurdistan and Kuwait, to name two — and let the Iraqis solve their own problems.”

“Biden is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Nobody, including the president, has a firmer grasp of international affairs.”

“That’s what we need right now: someone who can restore the good name of the United States of America around the world, who can hold the torch lighting the way of liberty and human rights throughout the world. Biden is that man. ”

“He has a world view of America, a desire to restore our core values of freedom with shared responsibility, and a pragmatic view of foreign relations that seeks to bring nations together to find solutions short of misguided and ineffective wars.”

“We stand with Joe Biden because he has all the professional skills and, more importantly, the personal strength to get the job done unlike any other candidate.”

http://www.stormlake.com/editorial.htm

[frogcycle]

1. kudos to them

could not have said it better myself

with all deference to the highly hyped hope and idealism of a couple of other candidates, our country has been put in such a state of disrepair on just about any topic one could name, we are sorely in need of an Executive who will assemble a team to tackle problems, develop plans, and then execute against those plans. Not glamorous, not Camelot, just roll-up-your-sleeves and fix it. Many of the candidates have great ideas, great plans to tackle many issues. I think Biden is the one most likely to be open to embracing any and all ideas. As he says whenever he discusses his proposal re federalism for Iraq, "if somebody has another plan, let's hear it." Rather than claim he is all-knowing and will work magic - doing what Nixon did with his phoney "secret plan" to end VN - he just says 'here's a concept, many support it in Iraq and neighboring countries; let's start the ball rolling toward something other than the sitzkrieg'.

Biden is our best hope as a country for navigating the rough international waters bush has created for us, and his heart is in the right place regarding populist domestic policy. He'll give people like Edwards, Gore, Richardson, Kucinich jobs if they want them and actually listen to them. The candidates now in the Senate too, except we may need to keep some of them there.

Biden is the candidate I would be the most thrilled to meet personally. Not the bs 'have a beer with' metric - but more of a 'this guy has been there and done that and is still a regular Joe. What stories he can tell!'. Hey, there's a slogan!


I have met various celebrities - that's sort of cool for a few seconds. Shake their hand, say "I liked your movie" or whatever. Fine.

The ones who just stick in your mind, though, are the ones who don't just have a good pr firm and money - it's the ones who have really been there and done that. I spent an evening - dinner and messing with a flight simulator - with Gene Cernan - the last man to set foot on the moon. I chatted with senator Paul Simon waiting for a flight to board. I shook hands with Muhammad Ali. I met Al Rappa, the bassist from Haley's Comets of Rock Around The Clock fame, still going strong at 78 at the time. Of all the candidates, Biden is the one I'd be most thrilled to add to that list.

[ginchinchili]

4. You give a pretty eloquent endorsement yourself.

I'm thrilled to see this much-deserved recognition. Thank you for sharing , Tsegat01. Maybe enough Democrats will start giving this guy another look and realize what a gift we have in our midst. The paper's endorsement hits the nail on the head. If people only looked at who was best qualified to serve our nation at this point in time, Joe Biden would be our front runner.

[PatSeg]

23. I don't know how it is in Iowa, but

people here pay attention to newspaper endorsements. Before an election, I check out the Sacramento Bee, as they give excellent summaries on the candidates and issues.

[ginchinchili]

27. I would venture to guess that Iowans pay more attention to such endorsements

than the majority of states. They are fully aware of the important role they play in our process and make a genuine effort to be as informed as possible so that their choices are based on a good understanding of the candidates. You have to do more than just have a good spiel to impress Iowa caucus goers. That's one of the reasons why the Iowa caucus is so important in the national primary process. They serve as a reliable screening process and help us to tune in.

[PatSeg]

30. I think you're right

I'm so glad we have the Iowa Caucuses. It actually allows the country to get a serious focus on the candidates, instead of all the media glitz.

[ginchinchili]

31. Agreed. Once again, I think the media is doing our country a disservice...

...by not making a better effort to inform Americans on all the candidates so that we can make the best choice for our nation. They would have us believe that there are only 3 candidates in each Party.

[PatSeg]

32. And the fact that they focus on superficial aspects of the

race instead of the core issues that are so important. They are truly becoming more and more irrelevant all the time.

[gateley]

19. The endorsement of a small newspaper can mean more than that of a NYT

as those doing the endorsing are supporting the PERSON they believe the candidate to be, as opposed to the politics of who 'can' win, who has the most money, etc. This is the message of the people.

Thank you, Storm Lake Times, for recognizing the contributions and healing this man can bring to our country.

[PatSeg]

22. Plus with Joe Biden speaks,

I learn something - a lot actually. He truly stands apart from the rest.

That IS a slogan and a good one.

[liberal N proud]

2. Biden campaigns in Storm Lake

Growing up near there, I don't remember that paper endorsing anyone. But I haven't lived there for nearly 30 years.

[PatSeg]

24. Really?

That's very interesting.

[jillan]

3. May this be the first of many papers in Iowa to endorse Biden.

:toast:

[demommom]

12. Alright Now!!

:woohoo: :toast:

[ginchinchili]

5. kick - this needs to be read.

[Rhythm and Blue]

6. Good for him.

With a paid circulation of 3,200, this is one of Biden's bigger coups so far.

[ginchinchili]

7. Perhaps you prefer the more corporate-backed approach.

That way you can bypass the real people and get an imbecile in the White House for 2 terms. There are, however, downsides to that.

[Rhythm and Blue]

8. Certainly not.

This is, as I said, one of his bigger coups. Small-town newspapers often are more trusted by their readers than big-city ones. If he manages to convince a good number of the podunk newspapers in Iowa to support him, he'll have a chance to place a respectable close fourth in Iowa. That might position him well going into New Hampshire. If he gets a reasonably close second-place finish there (and if Hillary doesn't win Iowa), then he might have a chance.

[ginchinchili]

13. Please accept my apology.

I've just gotten so frustrated with our politics, and what I see as a lack of genuine reason to the point that I don't always recognize it when I see it. Sorry. You're right.

[Rhythm and Blue]

15. No problem. I should have elaborated more in my first post,

it does kind of look like sarcasm.

[PatSeg]

25. I read it as intended, as I know Iowa is not

a densely populated state. You're right, small newspapers in the Midwest can be very influential and the locals are probably more likely to trust them than the big newspapers.

[demommom]

9. Sorry misunderstood.

Go Joe!:patriot:

[demommom]

10. Kick

[demommom]

11. Kick

[Think82]

14. KICK!!!!

[demommom]

16. Kick

[Think82]

17. KICK again

[Adelante]

18. Hey, congrats!!

Very cool :toast:

[monmouth]

20. What a great post, and let's face it, for an old lady like me, the guys a hunk..

Okay, I said it and I'm glad. I don't want ugly, goofy or nerdy, I want handsome Irish Joe...

[PatSeg]

26. Ah, so it isn't just me!

Must be a generational thing, but even my daughter finds him handsome.

I wouldn't vote for someone because he "looks" like a president, but he does and it is the icing on the cake.

[monmouth]

33. Wonder if Joe would be embarassed if he read us....sigh...

[PatSeg]

34. He's a guy

I'm sure he enjoys the flattery as much as the next guy.

[jillan]

29. Agreed!

Especially in tsegat's picture.

[PatSeg]

36. You're all HEART(S)

:rofl:

[Nutmegger]

21. Big R&K for Biden.

:kick:

[bigwillq]

28. Congrats to Biden.

:bounce:

[PatSeg]

35. Its nice to be first

and Joe Biden really earned this one!

[ginchinchili]

37. It will be interesting to see if other news papers follow suit

It seems inevitable, but then I'm a little biased.

I really do believe that there is some upward momentum going on for Joe. I just hope not too little too late.

[PatSeg]

40. I don't think so

I think by being in the shadows, Biden has avoided a lot of slings and arrows directed at the front runners. Actually I think things are going perfectly. Consider me the resident optimist!

[CrispyQ]

38. Another Biden supporter here.

This is great news!

I think Biden can get both sides to work together better than any of the other candidates. He is a true statesman.

I can't wait for my Biden for President sticker to get here!

[PatSeg]

41. Mine should arrive any day now

Took me a long time to find magnetic ones like we had for Kerry. I have four coming!

[Think82]

39. and here is the abc interview:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3756981

[PatSeg]

42. Thanks

It was a really good interview. I'm going to watch it again.