Biden's Audition?

Is he auditioning? His office just sent around his star moment from yesterday's Petraeus/Crocker hearings:

During questioning in yesterday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE) and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker engaged in the following telling exchange SEN. BIDEN: Mr. Ambassador, is Al Qaeda a greater threat to US interests in Iraq, or in the Afghan-Pakistan border region?

AMB. CROCKER: Mr. Chairman, Al Qaeda is a strategic threat to the United States wherever it is, in my view–

SEN. BIDEN: Where is most of it? If you could take it out? You had a choice: Lord almighty came down and sat in the middle of the table there and said ‘Mr. Ambassador you can eliminate every Al Qaeda source in Afghanistan and Pakistan, or every Al Qaeda personnel in Iraq,’ which would you pick?

AMB. CROCKER: Well given the progress that has been made again Al Qaeda in Iraq, the significant decrease in its capabilities, the fact that it is solidly on the defensive, and not in a position as far--

SEN. BIDEN: Which would you pick, Mr. Ambassador?

AMB. CROCKER: I would therefore pick Al Qaeda in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area.

SEN BIDEN: That would be a smart choice.

Comments

My my, how clean and articulate Senator Biden can be.

Posted by sa | April 9, 2008 12:30 PM

Of course.

Posted by Paleo | April 9, 2008 12:35 PM

I have been saying this from the beginning.. Obama/Biden 08

Posted by Ann | April 9, 2008 12:59 PM

Biden is great!

Posted by TEM | April 9, 2008 1:45 PM

Biden got right down to the point in this exchange. Good for him.

On further thought, his method of pushing the witnesses to actually, you know, answer his question (Lord almighty...) might be a two-edged sword. Sure, it plays well in the States, but it might not go over well elsewhere internationally among those who see the United States as continuing an old old religious crusade against Islam. (He's calling on the almighty in order to make war upon us!)

These danged intercultural complexities!

Posted by Susan Kitchens | April 9, 2008 4:05 PM

I'm with Ann: Obama-Biden 08 is a definite winner. He's smart, knows foreign policy better than anyone, is sharp on security matters, is well liked by his Republican colleagues and connects with working class voters. And he's the only one who actually generated a real plan for Iraq. A few minor gaffes here and there is meaningless; compared to Bush, he's practically William Shakespeare.

Posted by Howard B. | April 9, 2008 4:38 PM

Joe Biden has enough credentials that he doesn't have to audition to play second banana to someone like Obama! If Joe makes a slip in phrasing something occasionally it is because he is human, like the rest of us, unlike Obama who is believed to walk on water. Boy has BO hoodwinked the masses!

Wake up People! Obama is the left-wing version of Bush! He's figured out how to manipulate the younger generation to turn out for him just like Bush manipulated the evangelicals, so he can get elected. He has already demonstrated that he likes to sign on to legislation, let the others do the hard work, and then show up to take the credit when it is done. That is his MO.

If it is a choice between Obama and McCain we're staying home on election day because I don't know which one is the greater evil.

Posted by cacatua | April 9, 2008 5:08 PM

Of course he's auditioning. But I think for Secretary of State, not V.P. Obama should just give it to him. The only question then is what to do with Dodd who probably wants it too. But he can figure something out. Secretary of State Biden does have a certain ring to it.

Posted by John | April 9, 2008 6:11 PM

Excuse me Marc Ambinder, have you just started paying attention to Biden? Are we just a little bit behind in our homework? Go read his freaking biography. you're the press, you should already know that Joe Biden has always been a straight shooter, that he certainly doesn't need to "audition" for some crappy VP spot, when he's already got so much influence in the Senate. He's already way ahead of Obama in his preparedness to be president. He's actually got substance, not just ideas. I've got ideas, probably good ones, but doesn't mean i'm going to go out and run for president. It's about how you execute them. BO just knows how to win elections, (by manipulating masses) but he doesn't know how to be president. let's get real here people. America, you had your chance to elect a truly great president, perhaps the first in decades, but we willingly passed it up for some arrogant rookie with flowery language. we overlooked a man for his incredible integrity and intelligence. that's what you get for being honest in this country. so sad...

Posted by Lucy | April 9, 2008 8:30 PM

Crocker faked him out. Don't you see that "therefore"? He's saying we've already beaten the shit out of AQI and that's why I would enlist the Lord's help to squelch them in Pak. He's not saying that fighting them in Iraq was a mistake.

This is what happens when Senators ask questions. They're so fond of the sound of their own voice (Lord A'mighty right on thet there table) that they don't listen to the answers. Biden is one of the worst.

Posted by Bloix | April 9, 2008 8:55 PM

"Biden's Audition"?? Can you be any more insulting, Marc?

Posted by Ray | April 10, 2008 11:31 AM

I thought Biden was the candidate with the most experience and best combination of passion and real world knowledge of the Dems; every time I saw him (via TV) in Iowa, he impressed.

And he'd be wasted as Veep - as someone else above said, make this guy Sec'y of State.

Posted by Michael | April 10, 2008 1:29 PM

If he can't be President he'd make a great VP. For either democrat candidate he would bring the most foreign policy experience. Add this to his work on the narcotics sub committee and you have someone who knows national and international policy like no other. Over 30 years of legislative ability. Go Joe!

Posted by Des O'Dwyer | April 10, 2008 3:39 PM

Biden may be just strengthening his argument for the $150 mil he's asking for Afghanistan. He was told "we don't have the money" -- so maybe he's using Crocker's response as ammo.

Posted by MEG | April 10, 2008 10:34 PM

If Biden is auditioning for anything, I hope it's
Sec'y of State.

His talents would be wasted as VP.

He should have been our nominee - dangit!

Posted by Jillian | April 10, 2008 11:12 PM

The quote proves the exact opposite of what Senator Biden and the Loony Left is claiming. Crocker clearly says that BECAUSE we have already smashed Al Qaeda in Iraq THEREFORE -- NOW -- the highest priority is NOW in Afghanistan. That's because we have already cleaned their clock in Iraq.

So... now... What's the plan? Does Biden want to invade Pakistan and topple the fragile Pakistani government and create another Iran?

Take a look at the real Biden: www.TheBidenQuiz.com

Posted by Jon Moseley | April 11, 2008 2:26 AM

Biden is so CLEARLY Obama's choice for VP it's not funny. Elder statesman, foreign policy expert (unlike McCain he knows AQ from the Shiite militia), affable, and (sadly important after the media's despicable ratings-mongering zero-context coverage of the Wright sermons) white.

He's it. End of story.

Posted by B2 | April 13, 2008 7:04 PM