WOW !!
The second tier was wiped out !!

Richardson tonight ?

It's smarter for Dodd and Biden NOT OT ENDORSE before NH and possibly Super Tuesday

The next debate will be MUCH smaller !!

sigh....thank you Biden, good luck in the future.

Unfortunate. The most-qualified Democratic candidate gets no support. The senator with years on the foreign relations committee is overlooked, even as the nation is entangled in multiple conflicts and even more problems are on the horizon.

I'm concerned that the Democratic Party is shortsighted and that the Republican Party will follow suit.

That's a shame.  Biden and maybe Edwards are the only good choices on the dem side.

why

Thank you for leaving! But please keep up your work in your endeavors to our country. God speed.

Biden just conratulated Barack even HRC did. She was classy about it and she even mentioned republican converts. Only Edwards didnt conratulate the winner. He even claimed victory.
Edwards is just a jerk. We need a united democratic party.

A shame.

Really regret that Biden has withdrawn.  He is a class act, and would have made an excellent President.  Good luck, Joe, and thanks for your service to our country.

Too bad that Biden dropped out but you have to get votes to continue to get money so it's probably for the best. He make one hell of a fine VP though if he was willing to give up his seat in the SEnate for that job. I still think that the big loser tonight was Clinton. She HAS to win NH now or go back home and bake cookies, a thing she did not want to do in '92 and presumably still does not want to do.

really shocked obama won iowa.  what exactly is the attraction to a first term senator who if you close your eyes sounds exactly like hillary.  after all this time i still have no idea what is so attractive about his postions. IOWA?

You'd have to be a nitwit to vote for Biden. Anyone that did certainly has a political tin ear.

I'm heartbroken. Biden was the most qualified and our best hope for the future. I'm hoping the nominee has the good sense to make him VP or Attorney General.

Say it ain't so Joe! Say it ain't so! You are my favorite candidate and I really really wanted to be able to vote for you in my primary and in the election. Damn the media for not giving you the attention you deserved.

I am so sorry to see The Great Senator leave, unfortunately his qualifications and integrity is just too much for the short-sighted democrats from Iowa; what a real loss for the national party.  God Bless You Joe, thank you for your service.

It's a shame. Apprenatly dems don't want to win the white house back. Republicans did a great job. The difference in repub and dem turnout was because the Republicans caucased for Obama. They are praying. he is a guarentee for a republican victory.

"You'd have to be a nitwit to vote for Biden. Anyone that did certainly has a political tin ear.
Rod Holliday, Henderson NV (Sent Thursday, January 03, 2008 11:38 PM)"
------------------------------------------
This "nitwit" was looking forward to proudly voting for him In Illinois.
Well, this nitwit was hoping to be able to vote for him in Illinois.  

Biden did just as well for the Democrats as Duncan Hunter did for the Republicans. That's something for him to build on.

Biden is, as always, a class act.  



He deserves better.



Methinks we will see a lot more of him in about a year...

I can't believe that one state (out of 50) has so much power.  Now none of us elsewhere get to vote for Joe Biden.  This system needs some reform when the media and the pollsters can shape the race before any votes are ever cast.  Iowans, you cast aside one of the best tonight.

Greasy Joe a good rep of the democrats. Only if you accept the fact that the entire democrat party is dangerous to America.

"You'd have to be a nitwit to vote for Biden. Anyone that did certainly has a political tin ear.
Rod Holliday, Henderson NV (Sent Thursday, January 03, 2008 11:38 PM)"
------------------------------------------
This "nitwit" was looking forward to proudly voting for him In Illinois.
Well, this nitwit was hoping to be able to vote for him in Illinois.  

Dot, Illinois (Sent Thursday, January 03, 2008 11:46 PM)

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Dot, Illinos.... Senator Obama was my first choice and Senator Biden was my close second....I am very sad to see him drop out.... I wish it could be Richarson, Clinton or Edwards.......who dropped out

So disappointing - I really thought he'd make a strong showing tonight.

Joe Biden is a good man.  He has lots of experience, intelligent.

In this atmoshpere of lofty rhetoric and pie and the sky fal de rah, a man of his character and what he would bring to our country did not stand a chance.


When you look at the great Joe Biden and then at the winners...men like Huckabee and Obama...it makes one wonder just where our country is headed.

We are in a heap of trouble that's for sure.  But why should we be surprised...these are the voters who "supposedly" voted for a nut case like George Bush...TWICE.


I agree with who ever said, Godspeed Joe Biden.  Go back to the Senate and keep an eye on the inexperienced Huckabee and Obama.

We're going to need you more than ever, Joe, with a steady experienced hand to keep  one of these guys from totally messing up our foreign relations and our country in general.

Biden is just one of the more honorable people to have graced us with running for democratic office this year. Too bad we aren't set up to have a ruling council of advisors. Take all the democratic candidates, put them in a room and make them deal with the issues and hammer out new, vital policies to deal with America's and even the world's problems.
I mean, we do want answers to big oil, big business, terrorism, America's decline in the world eye, illegal aliens and the economy. Let them all fix it or never say they weren't given a chance. Perhaps a group will have the balls to make the tough choices needed. Like to get us OFF an oil based economy. Lets lead the world again, NOT follow it.

I wish everyone would take the time to research their candidate like I did Senator Biden.  After years of watching Senator Biden in action on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee it was clear to me that he had more experience than any of the candidates.  There now is no other with such experience, who has such a common sense approach to the issues we face today.  Remember, not a single other candidate out there talked about Pakistan before Bhutto was killed.    I hope the rest of the nation can figure out which one of the candidates left is proactive and doesn't wait for the next crisis to spin us out of control.  It's too late now to wake up and smell the coffee, but then I guess we spilled the coffee right here in Iowa.Go New Hampshire!!  

Micheal, Independents went for Barack by 41-17 over Hillary.Republican's, as it stands Now, would have No chance against the Democratis nominee next Novemeber.There will be a LANDSLIDE VICTORY by Barack Obama in about 10 month's. Bank on It.
Soundly Rejected was the continuation of Bush-Clinton Dictorial Politics of America.You have now taken the 30% category away from the religous right.70% & no doubt growing want CHANGE WE CAN BELEIVE IN.Hillary's message in the Heartland of America fell on Deaf ears. It's only the start, but, just sit back & watch.

Having studied 15 GOP and DNP positions on Education, I thought Biden had the best ideas. I know that Education has not received hardly any play regarding the debated topics, but I hope it gets more attention in coming weeks. If so, I hope that Biden's educational plans will have an influence on the remaining candidates, GOP and DNP alike.
Excellent education in our country is a long-term solution that can help solve other problems. Rather than continually treat the symptom, find the cure. Education starts in supportive/loving homes, second with quality school professionals, and third with legislators who listen and support the experts (parents/families & school professionals) in carrying out effective policy. Sorry, I'll get off my Education stump!

1%? Biden got only 1% of the votes? Thats about 2300 people for an entire state. That amount of people would fit in a high school gym.

This country needs the practical, pragmatic thinking of Joe Biden.  What kind of electorate ignores his kind of much-needed experience in favor of candidates spouting off catch phrases like "change" and "hope."  In my opinion, being President is about knowing what to do in a time of crises and not about hoping for things to turn your way.  It's a shame I won't even get to cast a vote in support of Joe Biden.

Again, why does a small state with no diversity have so much of an impact on our presidential elections??

I am greatly saddened that I won't have the opportunity to vote for Biden.  But I'm not surprised.  The American people don't vote for the best or most competent candidate.  Our current President is evidence of that.  My only hope is that the winner will have the good sense to ask Biden to serve as secretary of state.  He'd do an excellent job.  

ll Minneapolis Mn:  You said it best, Joe Biden is a Class Act.  I'm proud to say that as far as politicians go, he has earned my respect.  I wish him the best of luck on his future endeavors.

Thank you Joe!!!  Not just for your bringing issues to the forefront, but or everything you do or us in the Senate!  God bless you, your family, and all the best to you in the future.

Wayne, please don't get off that stump!  I am an eduacator in Iowa, and am a Biden supporter and caucased for him this eve.  Pay no attention to the traitors to our once great nation that supported the idiotic "No Child Left Behind" Republicans, who obviously have no idea about education or properly getting the information our youth need to be competitive in our evolving world.  To ensure a better nation and youth, reject these idiots hell-bent on destroying public education began via a real President, Thomas Jefferson (a real patriot) to get them to understand our government and world as a whole, so we can compete and become a 1st world nation again.  This is from an educator in one of the top ranked states in the nation for over 100 years.  My hope, troubling as it seems, is we will move away from the garbage we have seen for too long (7 years at the very least!) and create a nation our young people can be proud of, because, sad to say, they feel little pride at the moment,

The Arcane rules in Iowas Open Cacus doesn't give a good reading of who was for Joe and who was for everyone else.   The front runners wanted to destroy the second teir and they did just that tonight.  The best speech I have heard from Obama was tongiht after his win but I have heard dozens from Joe Biden.  

I guess the American Public can only understand one word at a time "hope" or "change" or occasionally "9/11" or "Iraq".  Joe Biden understood more about these things than any other canidate but the american public couldn't hear the reason that Jow Biden possessed.

For everyone that is actually speaking bad about Joe aster he has politely pulled out should really be introspective about that anger and seek professional help as soon as possible.  

I hope for america's sake that VP Biden becomes a choice in novemeber.  I am happy enough with any of the top three if Biden is ok with running with them.

By the way Iowa now blows in my book.

Biden had no chance thanks to the unfair media

This is why I left the Democratic Party. if you won't nominate Joe Biden who would win the General election by 80% vote  then your party is failing.

The GOP will take the white house...garunteed.

I guess if you talk about how it's the MEDIA'S FAULT, the block your comments, as they have done to me all night!!!!!! JOE was the best thing we had, and they IGNORED him. I hate MSNBC, CNN, and all the others!!!!!

Biden said he's not interested in the VP position because of the overshadowing Bill Clinton. However, that seems to have been in the context of Hillary's now-evitable inevitability. If Obama gets the nomination, I think his role as VP would be more enticing to him. Joe would be an amazing president, and he'd be a dream VP.

Biden would have made the best president. a great loss. I hope not TOO great, as I don't want america to lose its footing at home and abroad. however, without Biden, I'm afraid.

A couple of quick points.

First, to Lisa Truesdale who thinks Biden only got 1% of the vote.  Lisa, I'm afraid you're misinterpreting the election returns.  Democrats don't tally votes at their caucus.  They tally delegates.  Biden received 1% of the total delegates that will go on to the county and state party conventions.  These delegates will then select the 57 delgates who will go to the democratic national convention next summer.  Biden's low delegate count may be misleading to those who don't understand the quirky caucus system the democrats developed in Iowa.  You are only eligible to win delegates in a precinct if your candidate meets a viability threshold (typically 15% of the total number of people who show up on caucus night).  In my precinct I was a Biden precinct captain.  A total of 468 people showed up in my precinct to caucus.  That meant each candidate needed to have at least 70 supporters in attendance to be "viable" or eligible to get delegates (15% of 468).  Biden only had 46 supporters in my precinct (10% of the total number in attendance).  He didn't attain viability and therefore he received no delegates even though he had 10% of the people present in my precinct.  It's a quirky system I know.  But I just didn't want people to think Biden only had 1% of the total caucus participants in his corner.  He simply had problems getting past the viability threshold in most precincts, but he certainly had more than 1% of the total number of caucus participants.

My second point is to Keo in San Diego who wonders why such a small state with no diversity has such an impact on our presidential election.  Do you see the irony in your question?  We just voted for Barack Obama and you want to complain about our lack of diversity as if that somehow prejudiced Joe Biden.  Come on, you may want to rethink that one.

Third point.  If you poll the candidates, they prefer the retail politics of New Hampshire and Iowa.  Despite the record amount of cash spent by the leading front runners here in Iowa, it would be absoultely impossible for someone like Biden or Dodd to compete if a national primary system was adopted or if one of the larger states such as California went first.  A few small states at the outset levels the playing field so that the process isn't limited to just the millionaires.  Frankly, Biden couldn't compete if the first primary was in California.  He could barely afford to buy any ad time here in Iowa.

Lastly, I too am saddened by the departure of Joe Biden from the race.  We just lost the most experienced foreign policy expert in the field.  The man who gave us the only plan to bring plitical stability to Iraq so we could bring our troops home quickly and honorably.  The man who led the fight to keep Robert Bork off the Supreme Court.  The man who gave us the Biden Crime Bill, the Violence Against Women Act, and the renewed Civil Rights Act.  We passed on experience for a message of "hope".  I tell you, I could use some of that "hope" now.  I "hope" whoever wins the democratic nomination has half the wisdom, judgment, knowledge and experience that we just passed on because whoever that nominee is, I'll be voting for him or her in November.

After Biden's exit, I am a Democrat hoping for McCain. Why?- because I'm tired of the Clintons and I'm repelled by novices that will be thrown around by the CIA and the interests.

I've looked it up, Iowans watch more TV than 90% of the average American (who ever she is). Iowans rank near the top in obesity, produce 83% fewer college graduates in their state than the national average, read less etc., all nice God fearing people, I am certain.

But why on earth do those folks get first crack at the primary pageant? And the outcome of these primaries supposedly sets the tone and gives directions for the other 49 states? Lord or Darwin help us!

The demographics are hardly representative of most of America  and Iowans usually don't figure prominently in the serious business of running our nation, except in the early days of January once every four years. Their short-lived prominence when the presidential  primaries get out of the block is nothing short of grotesque.  

Iowans have neither earned through monumental feats or extraordinary accomplishments, or through divine intervention, this privileged and exalted position of setting the direction of the rest of the presidential primaries. Iowans know best? How? Somebody please explain this to a foreigner.  

Granted, in six month from now who will really care? But the tragedy of loosing some of the most thoughtful and experienced candidates this early in the race (Biden and a few others) to undeserving populists, thus depriving the rest of us of the opportunity to vote for these folks, is tragic.

Americans usually get the politicians they deserve as the last election clearly has shown. Why should it be not so this time around? If the quality of the voters in Iowa is a harbinger of things to come, I fear for my chosen country. I can't vote because I am not a citizen and the way things have been going I don't plan to be come one anytime soon. I've always hated politicians in power because in order to get there you have to sell your soul to the devil first.  
Hans


Hans

Biden was stuck with 1% because of that ill-advised 15% cut off first step. If Republicans had that, McCain and Thompson would be in the 1-4% range too. But republicans are smarter, they don't cut the knees of their own candidates.

Biden was obviously the most qualified candidate.  But he's a middle-class guy with middle-class supporters.  

But Obama spent $9 million on TV ads, three times the $3.2 million Edwards spent.  

And the shrinking middle class just doesn't have that much extra money to spread between two candidates.  

The Bush administration has utilized enough Enron-esq and Halliburten-esq tactics to last me a lifetime.  Let's hope money doesn't buy this election for either party.

Dems candidates are a bunch of useless political whores - all of them. None have any core beliefs, principals or serious intentions to represent the people of this country.
Media can not be faulted here for Biden's farewell. Media is playing off a Democratic Clintonian machine and the machine chose the candidate already (that word inevitability comes to mind). Obama has zero credentials: not a statesman, not someone who can point to an accomplishment or 2 in his undistinguished careers in the state legislation or the Senate (1 year???). What does he bring to the table, besides promises wich will no doubt be empty?
Change? What change!!! Dodd, Kucinic, Biden - just faces in the crown amid a theatrical event called "The 2nd coming of a Clinton".
As far as "Joe" goes, what i have seen of him is just your typical appeal to a generic and baseless hatred of Bush - that's it. Do you know where he stood on Iraq all these years? Do you remember where he stood on WMDs and what he thought should be done about them?
sure, you don't.

This country just lost the greatest statesman to cross the presidential path in a very long time. It is a great shame Joe Biden won't be the leader of our country.  He stands by principle, integrity, he brings hope and promise for a better world and he has prescience in world affairs.  Fortunately, he will still be chair of the foreign relations committee.

Right now I am very sad for the loss, but I am proud of how Joe ran his campaign with dignity and grace.

Kato

Well said as always.  My hope is that there will be a place for Senator Biden(if he wants it) in any Democratic administration.  Frankly, I am not sure where I go from here--I will support the nominee of the party whomever that will be, but as for my state's primary, I'm not sure what I will do.

I'm going to miss seeing Biden in this race.  He was my top choice for many reasons.  Joe Biden was a breath of fresh air during the debates and offered answers that were thorough and showed his experience (as well as his wit)  We'll miss you Joe.   THANKS for all you have done and will continue to do in the Senate.    

Last week David Brooks said if the Dems want to win in '08 they should nominate either Biden or Dodd.  People respect them on both sides of the aisle.

This Bidenite is going to be really pissed if the Dems lose in November.

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