Biden's assets

[IDoDis]

You are right. You can't please everyone, all the time.

If it was me, I would have moved my kids to DC 36 years ago, and had an extra couple of hours a day with them, and saved the money on the commute.

But he's free to waste his time and money however he sees fit.

I hope I haven't been paying for that train trip for the past 36 years though.

Uh.... yeah, like Palin paying herself per deim to stay at her house and not commute? What a double standard.

 

[LuvDuke]

Biden's house is worth $2.5 million. I don't know too many in the middle class who own homes worth that much money.

Sarah and Todd Palin.

 

[LuvDuke]

Not really referring to pleasing everyone, just that the same posters that knock him for not having BILLIONS... would turn around and knock him if they found out that he did.


Yeah he started commuting 3 DECADES ago just to impress us, just shtick.

Someone with that kind of foresight should be at the right hand of the president.

 

[MeetMrsMasters]

I think Joe Biden is a genuinely good guy but it blows my mind to think that some of you are defending him by saying "Oh he uses political contributions to pay for his train ride to Deleware everyday." I don't care if it is legal or not. It should be illegal. That's another reason why we should have further campaign finance reform. If I lived in Deleware, I wouldn't want to know that my campaign contributions paid for his train. I'm sure many will say it's fine but it doesn't sit well with me.

Oh and I'm voting for Obama-Biden.

 

[elan]

That's a pricey commute! Also, I know that senators and congressmen have excellent health care plans, but I am not sure that they include hair plugs and full mouth crowns. I am also wondering if he had a little botox.

Weren't you thinking of some plastic surgery?

Good Lord, if someone had made such remarks about Sarah you'd be calling them a sexist.

I'm don't know if he had anything done. But why exactly would it matter?

 

[FayeW]

I think Joe Biden is a genuinely good guy but it blows my mind to think that some of you are defending him by saying "Oh he uses political contributions to pay for his train ride to Deleware everyday." I don't care if it is legal or not. It should be illegal. That's another reason why we should have further campaign finance reform. If I lived in Deleware, I wouldn't want to know that my campaign contributions paid for his train. I'm sure many will say it's fine but it doesn't sit well with me.

Oh and I'm voting for Obama-Biden.

Some senators have car service/drivers that probably cost more than Joe's train ticket. Others will choose to pay to maintain an apartment or hotel while they are in Washington. These costs are part of the cost of them doing their jobs.

I find it interesting that bsnyder considers Biden's 36 years in Senate as "feeding at the public trough", yet Republicans generally espouse John McCain as having "devoted his life to public service". The double standard that is being applied to two men who have devoted nearly all of their adult lives serving their country is enlightening, to say the least.

 

[MeetMrsMasters]

I think you can devote your life to public service while not using campaign money to pay for your train ticket...but hey, that's just me. hahaha kidding. Regardless though, I don't live in Deleware and they seem to be okay with it so I'm not that concerned over it.

I think Biden and McCain are good people. I think McCain just decided that he wanted to be President so bad that he changed many of his core principles. Along the way, that cost him my vote. Not that Obama is a great choice either.

The one year that I would have seriously voted Libertarian and they Libertarians nominated Bob Freakin Barr. Ugh.

 

[Laura]

birth certificate and BAPTISM RECORD.....what are you trying to say with both of these things??????.......i would imagine that maybe he is NOT a US citizen. Or Maybe he WAS NOT BAPTIZED, and May realy be a muslim extremist!!......give me a break!!!!

Well, his birth certificate has been released:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

Considering Obama's mother's religious beliefs (or lack thereof), Obama wasn't baptized until he was an adult. I don't know if he would have a baptismal record, but I don't think it would be that important.

Some senators have car service/drivers that probably cost more than Joe's train ticket. Others will choose to pay to maintain an apartment or hotel while they are in Washington. These costs are part of the cost of them doing their jobs.

I find it interesting that bsnyder considers Biden's 36 years in Senate as "feeding at the public trough", yet Republicans generally espouse John McCain as having "devoted his life to public service". The double standard that is being applied to two men who have devoted nearly all of their adult lives serving their country is enlightening, to say the least.

It is.

 

[cruizie]

Dawn - I cannot believe that you are insinuating that Biden has hair plugs. Really??? Now, if he paid for those plugs, I may really have to question my judgement on voting for him/Obama b/c last I looked, he had a bald spot you could land a plane on!! That truly epitomizes bad judgement - I paid X amount of dollars for plugs and don't I look great (from the front, I can't see that back so it must not exist)?! I imagine Sarah Palin pays quite a bit for those shiny highlights but that is totally different than these invisible hair plugs.

 

[shelly3girls]

Uh.... yeah, like Palin paying herself per deim to stay at her house and not commute? What a double standard.

I personally think they are both wrong but Palin's was significantly less money if I remember correctly. I also don't understand why Biden chooses something that is 2.5x as much as a very similar alternative.

 

[FayeW]

I think you can devote your life to public service while not using campaign money to pay for your train ticket...but hey, that's just me. hahaha kidding. Regardless though, I don't live in Deleware and they seem to be okay with it so I'm not that concerned over it.
.

I have a question about the campaign money. Is it raised from donations or is there a portion that is alotted to each senator from tax payers?

If it is raised by donations, and there is transparency that the campaign fund will pay for the senators' transportation and/or additional living expenses, then I really don't see what the problem is. If his supporters want to donate some money to help him to continue to do his job and serve his constituents, that really is their choice.

 

[shelly3girls]

Weren't you thinking of some plastic surgery?

Good Lord, if someone had made such remarks about Sarah you'd be calling them a sexist.

I'm don't know if he had anything done. But why exactly would it matter?

I have to agree with you there. It is wrong on both sides. I have seen many different posters around here referring to Palin in terrible ways using derogatory names. It is wrong on both sides and I do not understand why every thread turns into it.

 

[mom2rb]

Wow, that is extremely disturbing to me. Someone his age making over $300,000/year only has a net worth of that. I looked up his tax returns and even 10 years ago he made over $200,000. I realize he will get a pension but this seems completely irresponsible to me. What about taking responsibility and funding your own retirement? What am I missing here? There must be something I don't realize.

I can tell you about my dad. He had two sets of children. He has been raising kids for 40 years. His youngest two are now in college. Almost all of his money has gone to his kids. A few years ago he finally was able to start thinking about his future retirement. Now half of what my step-mom makes goes into retirement and the rest goes to pay for my brothers' education. He doesn't owe on anything except his house and none of his kids ever took out a school loan. He has put us first his whole life.

I believe Joe Biden had children with his second wife. That makes perfect sense to me that he wouldn't have as much saved as someone that didn't start over.

 

[shelly3girls]

Does anyone know if the original $300,000 number is correct? If he has a $2.5 mil house with a $700,000 mortgage then he still had $1.8 mil in value for his house. For Biden to have $300,000 in net assets he would have to be in debt $1.5 mil. He did state that his house was his only investment. Does he ignore the house?
I hope I can get a reasonble response here. I am not trying to be snarky, I honestly want to know.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn - I cannot believe that you are insinuating that Biden has hair plugs. Really??? Now, if he paid for those plugs, I may really have to question my judgement on voting for him/Obama b/c last I looked, he had a bald spot you could land a plane on!! That truly epitomizes bad judgement - I paid X amount of dollars for plugs and don't I look great (from the front, I can't see that back so it must not exist)?! I imagine Sarah Palin pays quite a bit for those shiny highlights but that is totally different than these invisible hair plugs.

I am not insinuating that Joe Biden has hair plugs, I am stating it emphatically. Here is the evidence. I remember when he had it done. His head looked like a doll's head with "rooted" hair. He went from "mostly bald" to having a bald spot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1j0FS0Z6ho&feature=related

 

[Christine]

I personally think they are both wrong but Palin's was significantly less money if I remember correctly. I also don't understand why Biden chooses something that is 2.5x as much as a very similar alternative.

For what it's worth, people in my office travel from D.C. to Philly all the time, for business (these are federal goverment employees). The use the Acela train EACH AND EVERY TIME even though the regular train takes about 30 minutes longer. The federal government pays for this, amazingly so, even though they won't let you fly business class if you travel overseas (they used to let you). I'm not sure what the difference is in these two trains as I have not used both, but if the feds allow their employees to use Acela, there must be some sort of reason. I think I'll have to ask around.

 

[DawnCt1]

Weren't you thinking of some plastic surgery?

Good Lord, if someone had made such remarks about Sarah you'd be calling them a sexist.

I'm don't know if he had anything done. But why exactly would it matter?

I think anyone who wants plastic surgery should have plastic surgery if they have the money to pay for it. If his total liquid assets only equal one year's salary at the age of 66, I am not sure it was a wise decision. Everyone looks better with hair. The teeth were a distraction however.

 

[shelly3girls]

For what it's worth, people in my office travel from D.C. to Philly all the time, for business (these are federal goverment employees). The use the Acela train EACH AND EVERY TIME even though the regular train takes about 30 minutes longer. The federal government pays for this, amazingly so, even though they won't let you fly business class if you travel overseas (they used to let you). I'm not sure what the difference is in these two trains as I have not used both, but if the feds allow their employees to use Acela, there must be some sort of reason. I think I'll have to ask around.

I could be wrong but I thought it was only 10 minutes. Really, the train is not my issue anyway. This is something small in my opinion compared to the bigger issue that I have questioned above. I would be very interested in hearing an answer to that question if anyone knows. Honestly, none of this would cause me to vote for or against someone but given that personal finances are important to me I was curious. It seems strange to me that someone his age has net assets equal to one year of income. In fact that was a personal financial goal for myself by the time I reached the age of 30 not 60.

 

[Disney Doll]

I believe Joe Biden's net woth is around $300,000, far less than the other 3 candidates. He is not terrible wealthy.

You know what...I don't really believe that is his net worth. I cannot fathom that a 60-something year old man who has been in national politics as a Senator, with a wife who is in the education system, isn't worth more than $300K. My guess is that there are assets that are in his wife's name only and so forth for financial or protection reasons. My friend's father owned a business so all their personal assets were in her mother's name only, so on paper it looked as if her father had no personal assets. This was done to protect the personal assets in the event that her father/the business got sued, then the personal assets would not be lost as well.

 

[Disney Doll]

Yep, according to this article, Biden has very little net worth (I don't think this article includes the value of his home):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400305_pf.html

Well, the value of his home is part of his net worth, so if it is not included in that number, then that number is incorrect.