Arianna Huffington: Joe Biden Should Resign
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I understand Arianna’s point. Joe Biden opposes escalating the Afghan war but do we want everyone taking a page out of Sarah Palin’s quitter’s playbook whenever they disagree on something? Every politician will tell you that in order to play the game one must first have a seat at the table. Taking yourself out of the picture to make a statement is a childish and unproductive use of one’s energy. I would rather have him there to be the voice of reason than becoming just another demagogue standing on the sidewalk throwing pebbles at the windows.
Look what happened to the Bush administration. First they got rid of Colon Powell for being a voice of dissent. From there they went after US Attorneys and anyone else who didn’t play ball. What if Colon Powell had found a way to be heard rather than leaving affairs to the tender mercies of Cheney/Rumsfeld? Powell did EXACTLY what Arianna is recommending to Biden. Do we really want to go down that path again? The only thing we stand to get out of that strategy is yet another memoir. This emotional statement of principle Arianna suggests will play directly into the hands of those who want the escalation to proceed unimpeded. There has to be a better way.
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Ms. Huffington is wrong to suggest the Biden resignation. The decision to make such a bold sacrifice belongs to Vice President Biden and only him. Frankly, her suggestion doesn’t appear to be clearly thought out. Biden’s opposition to escalation is a very important issue but there are many other issues that I want him to be a part of. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.