Arianna Explains Why Joe Biden Should Resign On CNN's The Situation Room (VIDEO)

Arianna appeared on CNN's The Situation Room, along with Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tx.), to explain why she is advising Vice President Joe Biden to resign from the Obama administration.

Biden has become increasingly skeptical about the effectiveness of General McChrystal's plan to substantially increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and Arianna argues that the best way he could impact this decision is by resigning over his disagreement with it.

Arianna also asked Congressman Paul if he thought that the classic way of framing American politics, as a battle between the left and the right, has become obsolete.

WATCH:

Comments

[miastella]

Again I say, "What is Arianna's personal issue with Biden? The entire concept of resignation to prove a point is Ghandi. . . long gone. Let's look at what works in this day and age and quitting is never the answer!!! Sarah Palin proved that. Even Al Gore isn't a main stream influence; he has no power except in the fringe and the university crowd which isn't changing our views on ecological issues let alone educating new generations coming up. Ask most kids who Gore is and they'll say "Who?" You really want Biden and his views marginalized like that? What year is Arianna in? 1960 something?

[jade7243]

Sometimes you just have question a person's motives.

Why this? Why now? What would the holder of such an opinion have to gain?

[LightningJoe]

I usually like your opinions, Arianna, I really do. But this one is wak, and does the Reich's work for them. The Reich's work is to throw up big distraction after big distraction, to prevent movement on the Left's priorities -- such as for instance making sure Pakistan's nukes continue to be Pakistan's nukes; rather than the Taliban or Al Quida's nukes.

I truly hope that Biden is listening to sense when he opens his mouth about his half-formed concepts concerning the exercise of global power, and I do wish that you yourself would take a breath, step back, and consider what's in all of our best interests.

To use your own later-regrets analogy, how are YOU going to feel later, if you succeed in turning the public's attention and force to a get-out-of-there tack, and later, after Pakistan falls to the Taliban, we start getting nuke explosions at container ports?

Or do you REALLY trust our government to continue batting 300 in the terror sweepstakes?

[PetrBuben]

Joe Biden shouldn't resign.
Occupation crazy war in Afghanistan should be ended immediately, cost so far $230 billion.

Genocidal occupation war in Iraq should be ended immediately. It cost $690 billion so far...., 1-3 million iraqi civilians dead.

US military budget of $1 trillion a year should be cut by 50%, immediately.

http://CostofWar.com
http://newsrecord.wordpress.comRead More

[jentilpet]

sorry,the word was "Cowardess",Adrianna,is umbfounded that a man we all know to be honest,that as soon as he says anything that hits the truth button,we suddenly[not I ] everyone becomes "pious?'now that Biden disagrees,which a vice-president should do,afterall maybe Adianna can tell us what exactly a vice-Pres "does do"..doesn't she care who went along w/ Bush/Who & what passivity[ies] helped destroy America's financial resources,while Bush walks away "free&easy? doesn't bother her that many "have" "quit?"because they're not "man" enough to stand up for what they believe in?Is Arianna saying we should indulge this insipid notion that a Vice-pres..just pick-up & go?Is that the way she was raised.[ when one is confronted by a contraversey,they just stamp their feet& pout?Is this such a catastophic issue,for her mentality to handle w/ such un american thoughts,I thought our country was about Honesty?And NOW?of all times to hear such idle reporting?

[ahsregusted]

Yeah, this sort of comment and position will always get attention.

More importantly, why doesn't Wolf Blitzer--who jumped the shark about '94, RETIRE?

I'm tired and irritated with his efforts at maintaining the illusion of relevancy and his IQ will never go beyond room-temperature, anyway. Next to Bush, he seemed fake-smart. Now he's genuinely dumb, and for what seems like 24 hours a day, seven days a week, too...

[AKaurora]

I apprecite the odd differing point of view on occasion; however, I reserve the right to disagree. While everything anyone does eventually comes down to choice, in this particular case, the choice was pretty much made when Biden ran for the VP. There is a huge constitutional hierarchy dependent on President, VP, Speaker of the House, Senate Pro Temp, etc. Spiro T. Agnew resigned because of a crisis due to criminal behavior and this was the deal worked out -- the infamous "Nolo Contendre." Otherwise, unless there is a severe health issue that cannot wait until the next election, the VP should remain in office, the office for which he was elected. As for Biden being silenced :) Oh, c'mon. Biden is exactly where Obama needs him to be.

[vm12608]

Ms. Huffington: Do you really think the VP should quit whenever he or she does not agree with a policy of the President? I am sure you do not just as I am sure (or at least hope) you do not support exclusionary politics of the us against them ilk and the - if you don't agree with every policy in the platform you can't be in the party - theory of politics as practiced by right wing Republicans. I am a huge fan of yours (since you stopped being Repub) and of the Huffington Post; however, may I just say, this type of posturing is not worthy of you.

[bswell]

I think Arianna is playing the Devil's Advocate and calling attention to an important issue. I, however, voted as much if not more for Biden as for Obama and would be very unhappy to see him go. Also, this call for resignation verges a little too much on cute and coy.

[jentilpet]

Arriananna,living up to her ancesteral "Greek Tradegy" has taken this to riduculous hieghts! If anyone "ever" went against the "mentality thinking" of Bush,we'd be in a better place..The Afganjstan gov is supported by "drug Czars!},thus the Czars are free to distribute,while "the so-called war on drugs" are a lie! ,They allow drugs in..These men who discussed this issue on [?] I think msnbc] named plenty of politicians who[just last mo. "quit!",but this is the Vice-President,all knowing w comes to the "DIE-Namics" of war.."we should just "take-them "OUT" said one.." Instead McCrystal makes it "Crystal clear this is "his" war!!He wants to win a war that has nothing to do w/ legitimacy..should he have 150thousand?500,ooo? NO,Zero! Take that money the Afganistan so called gov't has since it's "drug money" keeping that country..keep our soul-diers home...Biden has the utmost respect from Obama,these aren't silly disagreements,likened to a mere debate..it gors deeper,Arianna has much to learn about how she "couches" her literary wording! "Resigning?"really,if God forbid anything happened to our Pres..who does she "imagine" would be pres? The VICE...This is blood money,besides the money "WE" need & have gotten us in this cataclysmic mess to begin with! Now,the point McCrystal's making,is a viet-nam mentality..uncomparible,in that is was a "Mock-War!something the media never admits! they hide the truth anyway! While McCrystals seniority rules his head,his soldiers will die for "Drug Money?"

[Kalevr1]

Ok, I understand Arianna's point but do we want everyone taking a page out of Sarah Palin'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 descent. 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. There has to be a better way.

[Kalevr1]

oops. Make that voice of dissent. :)

[Ian Kang]

Resigning based on principle is a noble act, not a childish one. And voices of reasons are useless if no one listens, even if they are in a position of power.

[LightningJoe]

Good point about Sarah, Kalevr1. No one would want to imitate the Conservative Deather Drama Queen, who values good governance so little she quit when it got hot, so she could get her money-making book out the door. We would hardly want Biden to follow her example. And it would also crank up the heat of the Reich's commentary, as they start to think they've won the policy debate.

BAD IDEA, to get out of the region, abandoning two countries who (rare in the Middle East) like us, even if they don't wholly trust us (and no wonder about that, as schizo as our foreign policy is).

BAD IDEA to abandon friends in dire straights against insurgents intent on taking over, on claiming Pakistan's many nukes for their own use, likely against us.

Think for yourself, and include in your considerations, a deep reluctance to have your children vaporized unexpectedly in their home.

[voxpop4]

I agree with Joe biden...no more troops as sitting ducks in a shooting gallery...but use drones and special forces, and air power. Hit their training camps , leaders and destroy poppy fields...put Taliban out of $$$$ business. Arianna..please you are a bright woman, VP Joe cant resign..just let him keep whispering in Pres. Obama's ear!

[stryker]

Maybe Arriana forgets why Obama chose Biden--he didn't want a yes man. He wanted someone who would challenge him. There is nothing wrong with that. Saying Biden should resign is dumb. Imagine the field day the righties would have with that--Obama can't even get along with his personal choice for VP! Biden may sway Obama on Afghanistan, he may not. But I would rather he be there to ask the questions. You want someone to follow blindly, go look for a republican.

[sposton]

Arriana makes some sense but Biden will never resign.

[hokuspokus]

I like it.

There is far too much "go with the flow" attitude in American politics, especially on the Democratic side. People simply concede all their principles to follow perceived trends. That is one of the reasons we are in the messes we are in now.

What Arianna is doing is equivalent to what the Nobel Committee did to Obama, she is blowing the smoke and mirrors away and forcing Biden to take a real stand on their principles. Obama and Biden can't say that there is no other options, that their course is made for them and that militarism is inevitable. They are being made aware that there are other paths they can take, so if they choose to go forward, they are committing themselves knowingly to that course of action.

People are going to die. Americans. Afghans. You always have a choice, you may not like the options, but the choice is always there. Biden's choice now is whether or not to be part of the war machine, since it doesn't seem to matter if it is being driven by a Democrat or Republican. Tough choices, but Biden's got to make them, and this decision will show what he is made of.

[jade7243]

Either someone's been blowing smoke in your face, or you think you can score points by blowing smoke up someone's Versace skirt.