More on Biden and the 'I' word

Posted: Friday, November 30, 2007 10:37 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security, Joe Biden

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
Below is a partial transcript of Biden campaigning yesterday in New Hampshire, where he said that he would move to impeach Bush if he unilaterally attacks Iran.

QUESTIONER: “I have a great fear that say you’re elected as the nominee of the party. Next August sometime during the summer, Dick Cheney and George are going to bomb Iran."

BIDEN: "Legitimate concern."

QUESTIONER: "What can you do about it?”

BIDEN: “I am not one, who if you’ve observed me for some time, I am not one who’s engaged in excessive populist rhetoric. I’m not one that pits the rich against the poor. I’m not one who’s gone out there and made false threats against presidents about, and god love him he’s a great guy, I’m not Dennis Kucinich saying impeach everybody now. But let me tell you, I have written an extensive legal memorandum with the help of a group of legal scholars who are sort of a stable of people, the best-known constitutional scholars in America, because for 17 years I was chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

"I asked them to put together [for] me a draft, which I’m now literally riding between towns editing, that I want to make clear and submit to the Untied States Senate pointing out the president has no authority to unilaterally attack Iran. And I want to make it clear, I want it on the record, and I want to make it clear, if he does, as chairman of the foreign relations committee and former chair of the judiciary committee, I will move to impeach him."

[APPLAUSE]

...

SECOND QUESTIONER: " ... I say this not to fan flames, and not to sound like a raving lunatic. You did mention something about impeachment, if George Bush does something regarding Iran. I say this as a strategic or tactical question. Do you think it would be useful now to forward an impeachment motion as a signal to the world that we're headed in the right direction?"

BIDEN: "It’s a valid statement to make. It is not as clear constitutionally that articles of impeachment would lie absent his action, which is crystal clear if he acted without congressional authority in Iran. It is arguable constitutionally whether some of the action he has taken thus far amount to high crimes and misdemeanors that could be in fact proven.

"So it makes it difficult. But beyond that, it is counterproductive. Let me make it clear what the impeachment case I made is. I think the best deterrent is for the president to know, even at the end of his term, we would move and move to follow through with that so his legacy would be marred for all time if he acted in what was clearly, clearly an impeachable offense. In the absence of that, what happens is, and you’re gonna think I’m joking about this. I’m not. If you’re gonna impeach George Bush you better impeach Cheney first. Not a joke. Not a joke."

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Comments

I have a solution that will make everyone "feel" better. Liberals love to rewrite history. Let's just go back and scratch out "lying about a blow job" on the Clinton impeachment and write in "bombing the Serbs without UN or congressional approval"
Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 11:19 AM)

*************************************************

Funny, I didn' know that a blowjob was so dangerous. Correct me if I am wrong, but how many people died because a philanderer got a little "head" and lied about it? Not a fraction as many as those that died because a mental midget and his apologists lied about wmd's to go to war with someone who wasn't a danger to the America.
But maybe I am wrong, the knob jobs in Tn. must literally blow your mind.

Jimmy Chicago IL (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 1:06 PM)

As one who will most likely (but not a given) vote for a republican I have to say that Biden is the only candidate in the dem field that has any crossover appeal. I don't know how others think they can spew venom about Republicans to the degree they do then think they will appeal to us as people when they need our vote. We are still 50 percent of the vote.
Sane in UT (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 11:59 AM)
*****************************************************

Correction, Republicans make up at most 1/3 of the electorate, Dems 1/3 and indies 1/3. I think it is more like R-25% D-25% I-50%

Jimmy Chicago IL (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 1:11 PM)

President Bush and Vice President Cheney should be impeached for a multitude of crimes... waiting for these two war criminals to take us into a conflict with Iran is needless. Impeachment for the lies that took our Nation into the Iraq debacle is adequate.

Coy Reese, Shady Spring, West Virginia (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 1:18 PM)

Lynne-I like Joe but saying my opinions are drivel...I JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE A STRONG LIBERAL OPINION and I could care less what you think.....NAHNAHNAHNAH. I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I. STICK AND STONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

juan,ft lauderdale, fl (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:06 PM)

for those of you who support joe biden here's our phrase, 'NO MORE BIDING YOUR TIME FOR A LEADER TO APPEAR, HE'S HERE; STOP BIDING, VOTE BIDEN FOR POTUS. the main issues by the polls are iraq & economy. the two are inseperable as $2.4 tril projected for iraq in next 10 years! this doesn't count the flood down effect on economy for gas prices and accompanying 3.6% inflation rate eating our money for goods and services. what the repub. used to call trickle down economics is now a flood eating away the household budget. biden is clearly the only candidate with a iraq plan and a global experience to handle iraq, pakistan,iran, afganistan, and subsequently the economy itself to stop this flood. stop biding, vote joe biden.

karlos (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:13 PM)

R. Merrell - Starting impeachment hearings today would not be too soon.

Then quit your whining, get on the phone with Nancy P., and get her to do it! Either that, or shut the h*ll up! You whiney little liberals need to actually do what your say your going to do before anyone with an ounce of brains will even start to listen to you.

And when Nancy P. tells you to take a hike, your complaint will be with her! Then you can whine on these boards day after day about how bad Nancy is.

I'd like to see a vote on impeachment in the HofReps, because then whiney people like Mr. R.Merrell here may finally get the message that they are nothing but left-wing nuts that no one cares about. You might get 30 votes, TOPS, in the house for impeachment. Probably more like 10.

Patrick Fenke, Ft. Worth Texas (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:14 PM)

Funny, I didn' know that a blowjob was so dangerous. Correct me if I am wrong, but how many people died because a philanderer got a little "head" and lied about it?

Jimmyboy in shytown

About 3000 and some change Jimmyboy. That's how many died on US soil because your guy Billy was too busy screwing the help rather then doing his job.

Hope this helps you understand.

Mark, Indianapolis IN (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:20 PM)

Sara has a very good point about Richardson's support in Iowa. If I remember correctly, he was one of the first candidates on either side to start advertising in Iowa, so his name recognition might be greater than Biden's has been, particularly with those who don't follow politics very closely.

That being said, I do know people who think either Richardson or Biden would be the best choice because of their superior credentials. If these people consider them mostly interchangable, then it would be pretty easy for them to jump from Richardson to Biden if they think Biden has a good shot at being this cycle's "darkhorse" candidate.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:21 PM)

"What really looks like Joe is trying to do is to pick up a few left-wing-nut-job votes. Sorry Joe, those votes are going to Hillary."

Lyle, with this statement you prove yourself truly uninformed. As a liberal, I can tell you, the "left wing nut jobs" by and large can't stand Hillary. To her she is, to quote Obama, "Bush-Cheney light." Anyone who knows anything about politics knows the far left is for Kucinich and Edwards. Have a look at DailyKos if you want proof.

More importantly, the candidate with the most widespread appeal is definitely Joe Biden. He is heads and shoulders above anyone from either party and clearly has momentum in Iowa. Go Joe!

Erin M, Jacksonville Beach, FL (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:23 PM)

Gregg, Georgia:

If I was Bush, I would bomb the sh*& out of Iran on my way out of the door on November 5, 2008 and tell you to k&** my a** Just out of spite because I'm tired of your whining.

What a lovely thing to say. And what a lovely person you must be. God bless you.

MEG (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:40 PM)

Gregg, Georgia - if it weren't for people with IQs that match the latitude of Georgia, nobody would care what GWB did except law enforcement officials.

Thanks for being so special.

Geographer (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:13 PM)

Sane in UT

You're right about Joe's cross over appeal, but neither Democrats or GOP represent 50% of the country. They each represent about 1/3, and the remaining third is Independent, or no party voters.

maggie SF, CA (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:17 PM)

Carrie, Sarah, or Molly or other Iowans:

All of us who blog here are obviously very interested in politics. I'm wondering--are the upcoming caucuses in your state the dominant topic of conversation in your area? Are they generating as much interest in Iowa as they are on this blog? It would be interesting to know what the level of participation by voters in the state is/will be. Would a large turnout benefit any specific candidate? Any thoughts?

Dot, Illinois

Yes and No. It depends on the group. Where I work it is a hot top among those of us who are active in politics, when I'm at an event at my daughters school, if it comes up, it usually is a comment from a parent (usually a mom) about how sick they are with the whole thing.

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:21 PM)

I could care less what you think.....NAHNAHNAHNAH. I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I. STICK AND STONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

juan,ft lauderdale, fl

Juan,

I think you mean you could not care less. Stating "I could care less what you think" means that you do care to a degree, otherwise you would not be able to care even less.

English is important. (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:27 PM)

One problem: Joe Biden is a Senator, he can't move to impeach anyone, that must come from the House of Representatives.

cc Huntsville AL (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:38 PM)

"I do know people who think either Richardson or Biden would be the best choice because of their superior credentials. If these people consider them mostly interchangable, then it would be pretty easy for them to jump from Richardson to Biden if they think Biden has a good shot at being this cycle's "darkhorse" candidate. Carrie, Eastern Iowa"

I don't doubt there are many people who still think Richardson is one of the most qualified, I once thought he was most electable donated to his campaign, and supported him. but as a candidate he was very disappointing. Eventually I couldn't convince myself he wasn't doing that bad in debates or on the stump, and Biden kept impressing me. I switched support in mid July, long before Richardson's "gay is a choice", God wants Iowa caucuses first, etc etc.

Gov. Richardson does have a great resume, and he has support, but he had a lot more support (actual committed supporters) in June than he does now. What is interesting is the number of people who are leaning Richardson, because of poll numbers. They think he's the only alternative to the "top three". I agree that many of these "leaners" will have no trouble going elsewhere, and Biden is the logical choice.

There are some supporters who believe he will get out of the war immediately, and trust that he isn't pandering on this issue. But Richardson is too smart to leave first and then try diplomacy, when US leverage is gone.

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:39 PM)

Patrick F- you must be confusing whiny little liberals with CHICKENHAWK/TOETAPPING REPUKS, DEFERMENT DICK AND MOMMY/DADDY BAIL ME OUT AGAIN GET ME OUT OF THIS STINKING VIETNAM I'LL DO BETTER PROMISE!

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:48 PM)

Patrick Fenke, Ft. Worth Texas: Wow! Expecting the President and Vice President to comply with their Oath of Office, uphold and abide by the Constitution, not lie to the public nor exempt themselves from compliance with the law by issuing "signing statements" somehow morphes into a "whiney liberal" agenda ? Conservatives should be outraged that this President has ignored the Constitution and the Bill of Rights whenever those founding documents and concepts do not suit their situational ethics. Joe Biden is absolutely right. The President does not have the power to declare war (in this case, seemingly being considered by the Bush administration). That power, per the Constitution, rests with the Congress. Hopefully, Congress will never again relinquish that power to the Executive Branch. Otherwise, we're in for more human and financial disasters like Iraq.

R.Merrell (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 4:16 PM)

Clinton's hummer caused 9/11? Darn. I always thought it was the Bush administration ignoring that memo that oultined bin Laden's desire to attack America.

I feel quite foolish now. Thank you, Mark, for pointing out that facts just can't be trusted.

Truly precious.

Roger, Oakland CA (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 4:43 PM)

About 3000 and some change Jimmyboy. That's how many died on US soil because your guy Billy was too busy screwing the help rather then doing his job.

Hope this helps you understand.
Mark, Indianapolis IN (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 2:20 PM)

Typical. I suppose you place no blame on Bush for ignoring the warnings given just prior to the attacks? It's always all Bill's fault, isn't it?

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 5:01 PM)

Joe Biden is a senator, he can not move to impeach anyone; that power is reserved to the House of Representatives. Joe could vote to remove an official after trial in the Senate.

cc Huntsville AL (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 5:23 PM)

Kucinich was right to say Biden is a little too late with impeachment.
Oh and by the way Kucinich is not one of those candidates who keep spinning that Iran is a nuclear threat !In fact he is totally against an attack on Iran.

I'm sorry but what your hearing from most of these candidates is political BS.
First of all your vote may not even be counted, because those machines once again are rigged .
Guess nobody reads the news.

Maybe you all should ask yourselves a couple of questions when your thinking of voting for those career politicians like Hillary or Biden .
Everyone made fun of Ross Perot and his big ears and charts but guess what folks he was spot on when he said that NAFTA," which was Bill Clinton bill,"was going to create a big sucking sound from the vacume that will suck up our jobs and send them overseas.
You didn't listen then and obviously the way I see you all leaning,,your not listening now either.
Well good luck to ya when you get what you deserve,,keeping the status quo in our corrupt government.

Kucinich has a clean record and he's an honest man whose ideas for this country make a lot of sense but like Perot you make fun of him and you don't listen to his message and forget the media they all but black him out because they are all part of this corrupt system and god forbid if an hoonest man were president .So why don't you like Kucinich is it because he doesn't fit your picture of what your president should look and sound like,,he's short of average looks and he's a vegan and that's not your style,,just like Perot with the big ears and charts .
History will repeat itself and you will see in hindsight as with Perot that Kucinich was right all along and once again you will have voted for style over content .

Now the last question you should ask yourselves about these wonderful honest career politicians.
Why when they knew as we all did that Bush's two elections were rigged didn't they immediately act to correct our voting system and turn to paper ballots and not these machines that can be rigged ?
Do you think just maybe their all corrupt and don't care because your vote doesn't count anyway !

BTW Joe Biden said this war can't be stopped before 2013. Now do you believe that too ?

Linda R. (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 6:14 PM)

Linda R. -

"BTW Joe Biden said this war can't be stopped before 2013. Now do you believe that too ? "

Really? When and where? I have never heard him say that but if you provide the proof I will certainly believe you.

And, could Kucinich supporters stop saying that those that don't support him do so because of the way he looks. Dukakis got the nomination and he was short with a unibrow and I voted for him.

Elizabeth Sullivan, San Diego, CA (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 6:33 PM)

Kucinich is a freak radical. So are his supporters. Dennis is not God, nor perfect, so the sooner you all realize that, the sooner you can get on with the business of picking a real candidate, that can win, like Biden.

Bite Me (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 6:40 PM)

BTW Joe Biden said this war can't be stopped before 2013. Now do you believe that too ?

Linda R.

Linda you are mistaken. Read the debate transcripts it was not Biden, it was Clinton, Obama and Edwards who said they couldn't promise to be out of Iraq by 2013.

Biden never said the war couldn't be stopped before 2013, and he never said hew would stay there until 2013. You need your facts straight.

Support Kucinich if you like, it is your right, but don't make false statements about the other candidates.

Jen IC, IA (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 7:35 PM)

One problem: Joe Biden is a Senator, he can't move to impeach anyone, that must come from the House of Representatives.

cc Huntsville AL

That doesn't mean he can't get articles drawn and encourage there filing by a sympathetic congressman. It's a simple concept.

Molly, Iowa City (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 7:37 PM)

Biden really stepped in it this time. He's been trying to show himself as a middle of the road kind of guy. Now he's out on Nut Job Lane with impeachment talk.

Willy Wyley (Sent Saturday, December 01, 2007 11:58 AM)

Typical. I suppose you place no blame on Bush for ignoring the warnings given just prior to the attacks? It's always all Bill's fault, isn't it?

My, my. Someone feels put out. When all else fails, try to change the subject. Typical.

Bill Clinton was more concerned about having parties in the White House then he was about taking care of America's business. He's the one that ignored the warning signs. How many attacks on the US, and US assets, did he ignore all through the '90s? All of them. What did he do about those attacks? Nothing. The terrorism threat could have been sidetracked if Bill had paid more attention to it and less attention to harrassing the interns.

Bill Clinton never took his job seriously. It was all about him and his huge ego. So when people say that his bopping the help didn't cause any great harm to this country, then those people are just plain wrong. Clinton never worked for the American people, he worked for his own pleasure and his own ego.

If you want to talk about Bush's inadequacies, feel free to do so. But Clinton did more harm to this country then Bush could ever do.

Andrew Collins, Big Rapids MI (Sent Saturday, December 01, 2007 12:12 PM)

Joe Biden is the only viable candidate, with all of the qualifications and years of experience dealing in all aspects of the political arena, capable of winning the White House back for the Democratic Party. Hopefully, and with good faith that there is still intelligent life out there somewhere, he will be chosen the Democratic nominee, which I am confident would lead to the ultimate victory, the White House. I shutter to think that someone like Hillary Clinton, even worse…Barack Obama, could potentially take the democratic nomination – neither of which IMO would ever be capable of winning the general election let alone actually perform the duties of POTUS to the high degree of certainty and standards I know Joe Biden would. I believe Joe Biden is the only candidate who has his heart and soul firmly planted in the best interests of our country and the American people and I, for one, am not willing to leave any room for doubt or reservation this election - there is just way too much at stake! I am proud to support Joe Biden - all the way.

independent, fl (Sent Saturday, December 01, 2007 5:06 PM)

If Bush bombs Iran pre-emptively or wages war aggressively then he deserves to be impeached. We live in a Constitutional Republic not a Monarchy and no president has the power to wage war against the will of the people. Its sad that it took a NIE report to embolden someone to stand up. Better late than never.

Thomas (Sent Wednesday, December 05, 2007 6:45 PM)

Joe is right, and all the other candidates know it. Hopefully, so will the caucus members in Iowa. A Biden/Obama ticket would suit me just fine. I'm looking for a realist in the White House, and thats Biden.

Larry Brown, Birmingham, Al (Sent Friday, December 07, 2007 8:47 PM)

>"Gregg, Georgia:
If I was Bush, I would bomb the sh*& out of Iran on my way out of the door on November 5, 2008 and tell you to k&** my a** Just out of spite because I'm tired of your whining."<

Well, you see Gregg from Georgia, that's the problem with Republicans. They tend to be willing to bomb people simply out of spite. That's not really a very sound foreign policy, now is it?

Larry Brown, Birmingham, Al (Sent Friday, December 07, 2007 8:54 PM)

Gregg, Georgia......do you wake up at night thinking about Bush, just to find that your hand is down your pants? Sounds to me like you could be Bush's Monica Lewinski, go get 'em tiger!!!

Gregg loves Dubya, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:20 PM)

Hey SANE, CALIFORNIA.......dude, you live in California.....SANE and CALIFORNIA are oxymorons, and you are just a flat out moron. Why don't you go help Gary Condit finish hiding Chandra's remains in that conservative home base, you call California!

Why don't you go deal with San Francisco first and then talk to us about how a COUNTRY should be run.

California Day Dream, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:25 PM)

my heartfelt thanks joe, you are a true american, and i am proud to know that you as a true leader as well, are actually looking out for the welfare of our country, rather than the sorrowful experience these last eight years have been. i know we as the american people have been sleep walking thru this blunder of an administration, and it is scary to think that we were almost going to allow this team to take us thru another abomination of a war in iran. thank you for having the vision to be vigilant enough to gather the constitutional experts and make your actions and intentions known to the corruption minded leadership we are now enduring! those that profited from this current religious and civil war will have to live with them selves, and their lack of consciences im sure is what allows them to sleep at night, while our kids are fighting in a war started by dick cheney (the us) and dying in a war that was there for hundreds of years before we interfered and unfortunately will remain long after we finally leave.
mr. biden, you are a true hero in every sense of the word, action and deed! GOD BLESS YOU!

jan voght (Sent Friday, December 14, 2007 3:17 PM)

To Answer Dave in Tn,
Bill could not have possibly been impeached for bombing Serbia which was done as a NATO action in concert with other NATO countries to defend the Republic of Kosovo from genocide and it was a completely legal action that had the consensus of multiple allied nations. Where was the consensus for the Iraq war? The "Coalition of the Willing" was more like a Coalition of the Coerced consisting of mainly Eastern European countries and former Soviet republics that desperately want to join NATO and believed it was their only ticket in. Where are the Weapons of Mass Destruction that were our sole reason for invading? Bush and Cheney are War Criminals. They should be arrested and tried before the Hague.

Mark, Manassas, VA (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 4:11 PM)

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