Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

[Miroslav]

So they're saying it's Biden.. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/...ate/index.html

Logical pick, one that was fairly expected. Helps balance out the critical concern of experience level in Obama's administration. He will also take the gloves off and go toe to toe with McCain's side, which will obviously be needed. Thoughts?

[MJDub]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

Epic Pick

[thesightless]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

shit picked piss as running mate

[MJDub]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

^ So you agree it's a fitting pick too.

[toasty]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

For reasons I've posted about many times prior, I'm a little surprised that he went with a guy that in effect the consummate Washington insider, but if he's going to pick an insider, I literally couldn't be happier with Biden. Dude is the chairman of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, outranks McCain in terms of experience by 10 years, is smart as a whip and a straight shooter. He can deliver a cutting attack with a smile as well as anyone, has a background that will appeal to swing voters, and is just a likable guy, IMO. I'm amped.

My money is on Romney for McCain's VP, and I think Biden will compare very favorably with him in a head-to-head debate. I do wonder if McCain's pick is contingent upon who Obama picked, or if he's already made up his mind...

[88Mariner]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

I got word that biden cancelled his class at my law school, so I presumed he was the dude at that point.

I think biden is an excellent candidate. And I think if Barack wins, Biden would make an excellent vp-to-pres in 4-8 years.

[superdave]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

I agree that it was a good pick for Obama. Biden has the experience and has that "straight shooter" personality that some like and others don't. My experience seeing Biden speak and in interviews is that he has strong opinions and shares them. Biden at times is irritating with his approach and personality, but it could work in an Obama admin.

My big reservation with Obama has been the experience issue. Bush was speaking of change in 2000 and being a Washington outsider and look where that got us. Cheney and Powell were supposed to be the experience to help Bush in his Presidency. I doubt it's a repeat of 8 years ago, but we'll have to see. I think Obama would be smarter and more in control than Bush has been.

[runningman]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

Sounds like another Cheney type backing a newbie... Doesn't sound like change to me at all.

[88Mariner]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

experience is a lot. but judgement is everything. I just was thinking about this as i was watching fox news. you elect someone for thier ability to make rational and soundsjudgements, not solely experience.

[ddr]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

i like it alot.

i have always liked biden, regularly appears on the Bill Mahr show and i have always liked his views.

good pick.

[Miroslav]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

For reasons I've posted about many times prior, I'm a little surprised that he went with a guy that in effect the consummate Washington insider,

Sounds like another Cheney type backing a newbie... Doesn't sound like change to me at all.

You both hit upon an interesting point... Obama has run under a campaign of change - changing Washington, changing insider-dominated politics, etc. His choice in Biden, while very reasonable to me, also seems an admission that:

1. A push for change from the outside only goes so far; then you need real influence.

And that probably means ultimately relying on the very Washington insiders you deride. In other words, those who expect Obama to achieve the levels of change he's been promising are likely to end up sorely disappointed.


2. Obama flat out lacks the experience to get elected on his own merit.

And he knows that it's a real liability with the public - especially in foreign policy. Just look at the recent poll numbers that pretty much all show McCain closing the gap - and fast. His ability to deepen the bench with varsity players like Biden is particularly crucial to his election.

[toasty]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

Sounds like another Cheney type backing a newbie... Doesn't sound like change to me at all.

I guess the primary difference between the two is that Cheney is evil incarnate, while Biden is like your goofy uncle who tells dirty jokes before you're really old enough to hear them.

[superdave]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

I guess the primary difference between the two is that Cheney is evil incarnate, while Biden is like your goofy uncle who tells dirty jokes before you're really old enough to hear them.

I think your confusing Bush with Biden.

[MJDub]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

Biden's bit about McCain not knowing which kitchen to talk in was great. His "drop dead gorgeous" comment was also pretty funny.

Senator LOLseph Biden - LOLz We Can Believe In

[toasty]

Re: Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as VP

You both hit upon an interesting point... Obama has run under a campaign of change - changing Washington, changing insider-dominated politics, etc. His choice in Biden, while very reasonable to me, also seems an admission that:

1. A push for change from the outside only goes so far; then you need real influence.

And that probably means ultimately relying on the very Washington insiders you deride. In other words, those who expect Obama to achieve the levels of change he's been promising are likely to end up sorely disappointed.


2. Obama flat out lacks the experience to get elected on his own merit.

And he knows that it's a real liability with the public - especially in foreign policy. Just look at the recent poll numbers that pretty much all show McCain closing the gap - and fast. His ability to deepen the bench with varsity players like Biden is particularly crucial to his election.

I hear what you're saying, but:

On your first point, Biden is a Washington insider, but I don't really view him as dirty and/or beholden to special interests, which is really the focus of Obama's call for change (at least when he's talking about the need for fresh blood in Washington). Obama's platform calls for increased transparency in government, the reduction of the influence of lobbyists and special interests, and a heightened focus upon ethics. Biden is certainly not new to Washington, but I don't think of him being on the wrong side of any of those issues. Accordingly, although there's a certain obvious disconnect between calling for "change" while tapping one of the most senior members of the Senate, when you look at the underlying rationale behind Obama's opposition to Washington insiders, there are people that are a lot less senior who would have made him look like much more of a hypocrite (e.g., Hillary Clinton).

On the second point, I think it overstates the importance of a VP as an affirmative basis for voting for someone. Everything I've ever seen suggests that while a bad VP choice can hurt you, people tend to vote for the top of the ticket, so a great VP choice isn't likely to seriously raise your stock. It does reflect a pragmatism on Obama's part in recognizing that having a guy that is extremely experienced and a known commodity will likely allay the concerns that some voters might have about him, but I think it is an overstatement to say that "Obama flat out lacks the experience to get elected on his own merit." He's still going to rise and fall on his own abilities.

My opinion, FWIW.