NATIONAL: Grassroots Politics from the Center-Right

 
 
 

Blind Leading The Blind

Posted by: Christian P. Milord | 08/24/2008 10:04 AM

Can Sen. Obama be this dense? Apparently, by choosing Joseph R. Biden as a running mate, he figured it could ease his youth and inexperience deficits, and enhance his foreign policy credentials. Obama also tapped Biden in order to appeal to working class, Catholic swing voters in the Northeast that previously supported Hillary Clinton.

To his credit, Sen. Biden has overcome personal family tragedies, and some major health issues. That can be humbling and it can test one's mettle and values. Moreover, he understands Congress and the legislative process, and has had some bipartisan successes. However, two gaffe prone lawyers on the Democratic ticket does present a number of downsides.

First, Obama and Biden aren't real change agents. The primary changes that these two politicians would foist on Americans would be an expansion of redundant federal programs and higher taxes to finance their vision of a nanny state. Both men can talk up a storm and nuance issues to death, but have they ever made tough decisions that benefited American ideals?

Shafting the taxpayers and reducing our liberties is not what most folks would consider to be tough decisions. Next, Obama and Biden generate plenty of sound and fury, but they don't have real jobs like most Americans they claim to represent. Their government positions have been funded by public dollars. How can Sen. Biden ever hope to change a broken Washington if he has spent 36 years as an insider?

Third, Biden hasn't managed, or governed a city, county, or state as an executive. He hasn't worked for a real business, or run a business, yet he thinks he understands the needs of working Americans.

Fourth, Biden often discusses issues related to the armed forces, yet he didn't serve in the military, so he doesn't truly understand military concerns. All of theses minuses also apply to Sen. Obama. What we have here is a case of the blind leading the blind.

Presidents have to make several tough calls based on character, experience, and the national interest. Obama and Biden are accustomed to talking and winding their way through a Congressional bureaucratic maze. That does not prepare them to make critical decisions in the realms of domestic and foreign policy.

Fifth, in the sphere of foreign relations, Biden usually prefers diplomacy over confrontation. He has been correct on some policies regarding the war on terror, but he has often been wrong on Iraq. He promoted a partition of Iraq into Kurdish, Shia, and Sunni regions, yet most Iraqis have opposed that regressive plan.

Sixth, on judicial matters, Biden seems to agree with judicial activism in our courts. He needs to go back and research the separation of powers between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

The role of judges is to interpret the law, render opinions, and exercise judicial restraint regarding the law. Judges can suggest that the executive and legislative branches study certain laws, but their job is not to change laws. Indeed, judicial activism runs counter to the rule of law and ignores the will of the people.

Finally, what we have on the Democratic ticket are two conventional politicians with plenty of narrow experience debating and discussing the law. That may be essential for practicing, or teaching law, but it's a far cry from presidential leadership. The Obama/Biden micromanaged economic plan also hampers competition and free enterprise, and resurrects class warfare.

The Obama/Biden agenda of change, and their distrust of business would continue to stifle a struggling economy, and reduce the freedoms of hardworking Americans. That in turn could weaken our standing in the world, and jeopardize our national security. Two self-serving liberal lawyers in the White House, who are out of step with most Americans, could be a disaster waiting to happen.

,

CATEGORY: Obama Watch

Select a Red County Blog

MEET THE LOCAL EDITOR
 
 

Community: Get Involved

Blogpen Login RSS Feeds Daily Dose
Please Enter Your E-Mail Address


Ballotpedia Wiki Judgepedia Wiki Sunshine Review Red County Twitter Feed