We were watching Biden getting the Medal of Freedom, with distinction

[question everything]

and wondered whether he should have been our candidate.

But then I dismissed the idea, concluded that the yahoos wanted Trump, wanted to flip their fingers at the world regardless of who the other candidates - in both parties - were.

My spouse, however, wondered whether Biden would have carried those states where the margin was very small. And I immediately thought - Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania should have been a sure winning for Hillary; Biden is from Scranton, Hillary's father was form Scranton. Yet, it was a voter from that area who said that "a man should have the job of a president..."

Biden may have also carried Michigan, with his famous quip: GM is alive while bin Laden is dead..

On the third hand, yet, Biden has a long record where many gaffes, votes and expressions could have come back to haunt him. He was not a good candidate, though I considered him back in 1988 and in 2008 before he dropped. Also, I don't think that he would have carried women and minority voters. Not that Hillary excelled with them. Last year a woman friend of mine expressed her disgust with Biden after she watched a documentary about Anita Hill and the way Biden treated her. I kinda remember something like that from the actual hearings in 1992.

Even with his heartfelt farewell talk yesterday, it was getting a bit too long.

As I've posted here weeks ago - time to look forward. Whining about how we were robbed and cheated - yes, we were - is not going to help us with 2020, not to mention 2018.

But I think that both he and Obama can offer wise observations and suggestions.

The main goal - I have said it since I noticed the young age of the Republicans in the clowns care - is to actively visit communities across the country and recruit young Democrats to run for City Halls, School Boards, Boards of Supervisors and other elected offices.

Time to leave 2016 behind and plan for 2018.

[yeoman6987]

1. So proud. Only democratic person in 40 years

Only Reagan, pope john Paul II and Colin Powell have received distinction in decades.


Congrats Vice President Biden!!!!!!!

[question everything]

3. Yes, I wondered, why Reagan? And who gave it to him? (nt)

[yeoman6987]

5. Bush papa did

Obviously we all know why. Bush was very involved in Iran contra or I believe so that bush rewarded him for being either ignorant or deceitful during the proceedings. Basically for saying I have no knowledge of anything.

[Kingofalldems]

4. Pope John Paul II was not a republican.

He did say what he believed however, he certainly wasn't passive aggressive.

[karynnj]

2. You can never know the path not taken

I actually wondered if this award was as much for the fact that Obama clearly tipped his preference for a Clinton run, when a popular sitting VP would have been a likely candidate - as the obvious respect and affection. Not to mention, so many things that Biden did were done quietly in support of Obama - with Biden never grabbing the credit. (Think of it: Obama has gotten national and international awards and affection, HRC got the nomination and the many many speeches from Obama, Michelle and almost the entire party, Kerry as Secretary has received many prestigious awards in the last few months - but - other than Obama's praise and very affectionate comments, Biden has not received awards commensurate with the quality of the job he has done.)

As to gaffes -- that is his assigned fault by the media. Yet, if pushed I could compile a list of comments - that COULD have been labeled gaffes from ANY prominent politician whose many comments are recorded.

I do agree that we need to go forward - just as we painfully did after both 2000 and 2004. We need to rebuid the local parties and address the issues of people in many states that were traditionally ours. We win only if we can inspire people, have them know our leaders hear their concerns and that we are on their side. (Here - the contrast of 2009 to 2017 should be sobbering for many who did not vote.)