Biden: Transition Prep Happening On Capitol Hill

Speaking to a crowd in Ohio today, Sen. Joseph Biden briefly turned his focus to what happens after the election and, in the process, provided a peek into what the Obama campaign is currently doing on Capitol Hill to prep for a potential victory.

"We cannot wait until Barack is elected," said the Delaware Democrat. "I've been talking to the leadership in the Senate. We need in the next three months to do what Barack is proposing. "

Biden then went on to list two meta-priorities for a hypothetical Obama administration: enacting legislation to buoy the middle class -- "Everything we propose in the economy is targeting the middle class. Not because we think it is fair, but because no country grows economically when the middle class is sinking" -- and restoring American credibility abroad.

The Obama-Biden ticket has been diligent in making sure that a transition process to the White House -- should the Senator win the election -- be as smooth as possible. As the Huffington Post reported last week, the campaign has already set up units of six-to-eight people to handle vetting and policy papers for each government agency. Biden's remarks suggest they are taking similar steps to deal with Congress.

It is one of those looking-ahead moments that campaign's are loathe to admit, for fear that they will be criticized as presumptuous. But it should not come as too much of a surprise. A high-ranking Democrat on the Hill acknowledged that the presidential campaign and congressional leadership have been in regular touch, "as exemplified by what happened in the bailout." But he did not specify what the current conversations concerned.

It should be noted that leading Obama's Hill-relations effort is Phil Schiliro, Congressman Henry Waxman's former chief of staff and one of the most well regarded behind-the-scenes operators in the party.

"He is one of the most veteran Hill staffers in our party," said the aide. "If you talk to anyone on the house side he did a tremendous job running Waxman's office."

Comments

[Lulliloo]

Regardless of the Iraq war being justified or not, the brilliant "invasion war" part was totally negated, and turned into a total disaster because there was no planning whatsover on what to do after the military phase ended.
It would be monumentally stupid and irresponsible not to prepare thoroughly for an Obama-Biden victory. There's a tremendous amount of preparation, groundwork and liaising to do.
I am very pleased that this has already been going on, superstitious "jinxes" or not.

[another t palin]

From the way the Obama Campaign has been run from Day One, I suspect these exact preparations would be in the works even if the polls showed him down by 10 at this point. They leave no stone unturned. As another poster noted a few days ago, "Obama is playing chess and McCain is playing shuffleboard."

[raskolnikov72]

that's pretty funny .. I've been saying checkers versus chess, but the shuffleboard is much funnier ...

i'm volunteering .. i volunteered for Gore and Kerry ... Obama's operation is head-and-shoulders better, more focused, and single-minded than the others .. by far.

[XME]

I'm similar to Obama in that I'm a bit superstitious. So I sure wish Biden wouldn't say things like "We cannot wait until Barack is elected." Don't jinx it Joe!!

[Okieborn]

Zip The Lip "JOE" WE LOVE YOU !!!!!!

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

I know transition teams are customary and necessary to ensure a smooth transition. However, I wish Joe would not start discussing this in public. We need to get through Nov 4th. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Transition information is on a need only basis. Joe slow your role, dude. In other words put a muzzle on it. You still my guy, but you are starting to run your mouth a little too much.

[washington31]

Can't vote for the gambling man McCain. Times are to tough and we can't afford the risk.

[dutch163]

way to go,Joe!!
I don't want to "count our chickens...."
but today I heard the VP was having heart trouble
I thought "oh no Joe"
then laughed..it was only cheney..LOL
I already have them gone apparently in my mind

[shel3364]

Even tho McCain's chances are waning, he should be doing the same.

[Smirk]

Yes, he should because the next POTUS will have to hit the ground running. Given the current conditions, he cannot take the risk of slapping together a team at the last minute.

[Indieguy]

McCains chances are swirling in the bowl.

[AllenD]

Cicling the drain as we speak :-)

[dutch163]

he is..he has a former lobbyist with links to saddam hussein doing it!!

[Bluejay00234]

:)

[suvbaby]

May the Good Lord Bless you and Barack on our road to VICTORY!!!

[nellie]

Blessings blessings and more blessings on these two.

EVERYBODY VOTE.

[mmystical]

Barack / Biden I love you guys.

[liseworks]

OBAMA / BIDEN :

Ready BEFORE Day One !!!!

[vegas9999]

Any family members included? http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/15/biden-routes-campaign-cash-to-family-their-firms/

[HappyDae]

I keep looking for the magic wand that the next administration is going to wave. What do you folks think will happen? Governing is hard work. Even this ridiculous "rob from Peter to pay Paul" won't happen overnight. And the only ones to support you will be the Pauls, not the Peters who built this nation.

Dae Powell
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com

[Blink2X]

Golly..maybe we should all just roll up in a ball and die. Maybe we should ask the Republicans to stay. It is going to be a real job undoing the multiple messes this last crew has left us. If you don't feel up to the task maybe you should find another country where the lemondrops grow on trees.

[Indieguy]

It's the Peters that have been robbing the Pauls for the last 8 years. And it's mainly a bunch of Peters that trashed our economy with their greed, disregard for banking regulations and unethical behaviour. Not to mention the Peters in the WH that allowed it to happen with a "wink and a nod" oversight.

[conservativesoncrack]

If your defintion of Peter is anything other than the working class you got it all wrong...

[nellie]

We're already robbing from the Peters, the middle class.

Paul, the corporate titans, have had a good run, and they've stolen just about everything there is to steal.

Time for honest working people to get a break.

[NOLAMoCity]

Slaves built this nation. Generations of free labor built this nation. The native Americans were here enjoying their sacred land and then "they" came along. Don't be so self-righteous. Choosing not to admit something or living in denial, does not change the facts.

I guess that's the republican way. Sarah Palin thinks the "Troopergate" report released by the Alaskan legislative committee completely and unequivocally exonerates her. So, either republicans are absolutely insane or the biggest liars and swindlers in the history of the world.

Even the war that you're so proud of was all based on lies and deception. And people's loved ones died. You should all be ashamed. But being ashamed would require two things republicans can't seem to muster...
1. The ability to speak the truth, and
2. A conscience that would allow you to give a rat's ass

[HappyDae]

Slaves built this nation? How many slaves wrote the Constitution? What twisted logic is this? No logic at all -- just hatred. I don't know you, so you might be a slave or a Native American. If you are either, I would personally apologize to you for the harsh treatment given you by many of the early colonists.

To assume that all the colonists treated other races inhumanely, however, is wrong and shows a similar mentality you attribute to others. Remove the beam in your own eyes before looking for motes in those of others.

This nation was built through the intelligence, service and sacrifice of bold, religious and dedicated men and women. Some were even Loyalists who supported the mad King across the water.

What war is anyone proud of? The Revolutionary War? The Civil War? The two great world wars? Viet Nam or Korea? Kuwait or Iraq? No sane person is proud of war. The pride exists for those who served the cause of freedom, our own or that of other nations.

Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com

[Cil]

Sorry, but I don't get it.

I read today that the result of the TROOPERGATE ISSUE was resolved as
follows:

Sarah Palin was found to be within her rights to fire her employee, BUT
IT WAS FOUND THAT SHE HAD DEFINITELY ABUSED HER POWER BY
TRYING TO GET HER EX-BROTHER-IN-LAW FIRED!

IS THIS THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION?

[Grannysue]

Oh yea, well Sarah's bringin down the sled team for AK and their going to sled it to D.C. in the Northwest territory, just as soon as they win, ya betcha ya.................LOLOLOLOLOL

[chroipahtz]

"Sen. Biden:

Don't go counting your chickens before they hatch. This thing is not over yet."

It's more like... making sure there's a chicken coop there for when the chickens do hatch.

[Smirk]

Exactly. Good analogy.

[nellie]

All the same...

EVERYBODY VOTE!!!

We need a mandate.

[philosopherkingtomas]

- Unlike Bill Ayers, G. Gordon Liddy is a convict. A federally-convicted felon, he spent four years in prison before (incredulously, no doubt) being pardoned by Jimmy Carter.

The significance is this - Liddy is a close friend of John McCain's.

What's really sick is Liddy hosts a popular talk show from a DC-area radio station. The entire right wing pals around with domestic terrorists.

[PeaceOnEarth62]

amen

[nellie]

I think there is another important difference. Obama did not seek out or choose Bill Ayers, or choose to know him. He ended up in the same room by happenstance. There is no friendship between the two men.

McCain, on the other hand, has chosen a friendship with Liddy.