Biden Redux

Days Until Bush Leaves Office = 685

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Joe Biden will be in Des Moines for a breakfast event at a café not far from our house this coming Saturday, and I’ll be there.

Doesn’t ring a bell? Okay, throw this in to the mix: Senators on both sides of the aisle have hammered out new language for a non-binding resolution opposing the Bush administration’s plans to escalate the role of US combat forces in Iraq, and Majority Leader Harry Reid is working on when to schedule the vote for a third run up the hill.

Any guesses? Like, maybe, the vote will be called for Saturday, leading the conscientious senator from Delaware to put his day job ahead of presidential campaigning and cancel his trip to Iowa?

Yeah, probably.

But, if a miracle occurs and the event does come off, I’ll be interested to hear Biden talk more about Iraq. His policy proposals on ending the war are detailed, well known, and unusually thoughtful and comprehensive. Most intriguing, Biden goes beyond the “when” and “how” of ending US military involvement in Iraq, and asks “what” happens after that (as an aside, I’m thinking there has got to be a better answer than John Edwards’ “I don’t know”).

Full account to follow, assuming the event happens as scheduled. In the meantime, here are some links with background info on Biden’s war proposals:

Boston Globe Op-Ed Piece, February 27, 2007
Plan for Iraq
No More Troops