Joe Biden

Joe Biden, Democratic candidate for President is not considered a front-runner for the nomination. However, from what I have learned about the candidates he may have just as much viable experience as those top tier contenders. Biden, an Irish-Catholic from Scranton, Pennsylvania touts himself as a devout family man who uses public transportation to leave Washington every night to see his wife of 30 years.

In 1972 Biden lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident. After their deaths he acted as a single dad, raising his two sons. According to his biography, this has made him sympathetic to the plight of single parents and he has continued to fight for them ever since.

Although Biden is not considered a front-runner, his website is interesting if nothing else. His background is different from many of the other candidates and he promotes himself on a personal level rather than on a political level. He speaks about how he quotes poetry on the senate floor. He says that he started reading and reciting poetry while a child to help him overcome a debilitating stutter.

Biden also says that the most cruel crime is that of abused women. He says that his proudest piece of legislation is the Violence Against Women act which he helped pass to stop the abuse of women.


Besides his interesting background and noteworthy causes, Biden has an admirable stance on the global energy crisis. Biden believes that our dependence on foreign oil defeats the purpose of those who we are opposing in the middle east; that our dependence on them for oil encourages and supports many terrorist and fundamentalist organizations.

According to his energy plan, Biden says that past the war in Iraq, comprehensive energy and climate change policy should be the country’s first national security priority. He says that climate change poses a major threat to millions of people living in coastal cities that could be displaced. This is an interesting position because many candidates are vocal about the importance of environmental issues whereas Biden makes it a priority.

One issue that is becoming increasingly important to the student population is the energy crisis and how to improve our environment. I think that Biden’s emphasis on finding new ways to deal with the energy crisis makes him a candidate that more people (especially students) should pay more attention to.

Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson, two-time governor of New Mexico is running for the Democratic nomination for the 2008 election. He may be considered a second tier candidate behind Clinton, Obama, and Edwards—he just may not know it.

Running under the slogan “Real Experience. Real Accomplishments,” Richardson often touts his experience as a governor as well as congressman, Secretary of Energy and a US ambassador to the United Nations. My only question is if he truly has so much experience why have so few people heard of him?

Although he may be known in the Southwest as well as in diplomatic circles for his work in many government agencies it seems that few people in the general electorate have a clue who he is.

While writing this blog I usually know a bit about each candidate before I research him or her. In Richardson’s case I really had no clue who he was or what he had done. The only think that I have heard of Richardson is his commandeering nature during Democratic debates. He usually interrupts the commentators and remarks how he has freed people from Guantanamo Bay and negotiated ceasefire in Darfur. Although those are definitely important accomplishments his boisterous declaration of them during the debates comes off as boastful and almost pathetic.

One thing that Richardson speaks quite a bit about on his campaign website is his dedication to improving jobs and the economy.

During his time as the governor of New Mexico, he claims to have restored fiscal discipline to the government. He also created 80,000 jobs in New Mexico. This is an impressive statistic that could implicate how he would help to improve the employment field in future years.

With many students (myself included) graduating in May, there is a feeling of uncertainty when thinking about finding a job. If we had a president who could guarantee that there would be more jobs by the time that people graduate it would give those who work hard and pursue higher education and better jobs could have some reassurance that their hard work will pay off.

Richardson may not win the nomination, however I think that he is talking about issues that students care about. Of course Iraq and universal health care are important issues I think that candidates need to have strong stances on issues that are important to young Americans.