SENATOR JOE BIDEN (DE) is simply the gift which keeps on giving. Just when you are starting to feel sorry to be a Republican, complete with members of the supposedly "serious on national security party" seemingly tripping over one another in order to support defeatism in Iraq, Biden opens his mouth and trashes his fellow 2008 Democratic Presidential contenders.

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards are not safe from Biden's attacks. In an interview preceding a story by Jason Horowitz of The New York Observer (I found this linked at www.foxnews.com this afternoon, and thus cite it accordingly), Biden has the following nuggets of insight:   

• Obama - "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
• Clinton - “From the part of Hillary’s proposal, the part that really baffles me is, ‘We’re going to teach the Iraqis a lesson.’ We’re not going to equip them? OK. Cap our troops and withdraw support from the Iraqis? That’s a real good idea.”......" “Everyone in the world knows her. Her husband has used every single legitimate tool in his behalf to lock people in, shut people down. Legitimate. And she can’t break out of 30 percent for a choice for Democrats?"
• Edwards - "I don't think John Edwards knows what the heck he is talking about."...."like so much Fluffernutter out there." (referring to Edwards' position on Iraq).

THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET OUT OF THE GATE! This guy actually ran for President before (1988), and should, theoretically, know what he's doing. However, he seems to be trying a new dynamic and using a "slash-and-burn" tactic against members of his own party. I guess the Democrats do not have an equivalent to Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment ("Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican)."

BIDEN SIMPLY DOES NOT GET IT. Not on the war, not on presidential campaigns, and not on much. Hugh Hewitt does not refer to him as "Slow Joe" for nothing. Behind all the rhetoric - and believe me, I want him on the air 24/7 because he makes our case for free - is a typical defeatist Democrat who cannot be trusted while at war.
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AL FRANKEN DECLARED HIS CANDIDACY FOR Norm Coleman's Senate seat in Minnesota today. Yawn! However, Coleman's teetering on the edge of being a defeatist Republican is certainly not helping his fundraising chances. A position on the resolutions may not hurt him in a run against Al Franken, as Republicans aren't likely to cross over to vote for Franken and his "withdraw now" stance in Iraq. However, Coleman needs to get his act together and fast! Good thing he's a dynamic fundraiser and terrific campaigner because he'll need to beat the DFL machine here in Minnesota, complete with its surrogates in both major newspapers and each Minneapolis/St. Paul TV station, along with the out-of-state Hollywood money. I'd say Franken doesn't have a chance, but we are 8 1/2 years removed from electing Jesse Ventura governor.
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MOLLY IVINS DIED TODAY at age 62 after a third bout with breast cancer. She was a passionate liberal, although mean-spirited in her hatred of both President Bushes. R.I.P.
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NOT TO TOOT MY OWN HORN, but did I not call the Timberwolves' loss to Sacramento tonight? At least, the Gopher men's basketball team won against Northwestern - first time in 7 tries.