That’s more or less what I said, though I think it’s more like he’s a net neutral to the ticket, but that pleases me. We need not just a Democratic victory, but an effective, successful Democratic administration. Absent any wonderful VP candidate that could sew this up, it seems like a reasonable risk.
The story is told of King Philip of Macedon who sent a message to the Spartans before he attacked, telling them that they better surrender to him without a fight. Because, he said, if he conquered, he would kill all the men, enslave all the women, and burn their city to the ground. The Spartans sent back an answer that was one word long.
“If.”
Regards,
Shodan
Yeah, but I doubt Jimmy Carter would accept.
This analysis seems to assume that voters give absolutely no consideration to how effective a person would be in office when deciding whether to vote for them. Which I find very odd.
Really, it could simply come down to the ground game. That’s something that McCain has a huge disadvantage in.
You may be on the wrong side of that equation, but we shall see come election day.
It is because he called his new boss “Barack America” instead “Barak Obama.” They were correcting him, and I think he enjoyed it.
That speech had me sweating. I like Biden, but watching him there was like watching someone walk the tight rope without a net!
I think that was the first time Joe Biden had been nervous in 20 years.
Do you come off as such as insufferable douche bag in real life, Shodan?
No.
Not outside the Pit, either.
Don’t call people douche bags outside the Pit, Merkwurdigliebe. Official warning.
I am not impressed with the choice of Biden, though I have no better choices to put forward.
I only reall know two things about him. One was that he plagiarized a speech some years back, and IIRC that shot down his presidential run at the time. I’m sure the Pubs will remind us of the details. Every Fucking Day.
The other was this idiotic idea of imposing a 3-state partition of Iraq. Words fail me on how bad an idea that was. I suppose Iraq might someday divide itself up, but to imagine the US could draw the borders and build 3 nations was just looney tunes.
It won’t stop me from voting for Obama, but I don’t see as it’s a big help either.
Nope. They vote for the taller candidate.
I still kinda wish he’d gone with Sebelius. But surprisingly enough I find myself in agreement with **Diogenes the Cynic ** on this one.
Viewed from this side of the Atlantic, Biden seems to be just another well-manicured politician. Obviously he’s a man of considerable ability - you don’t get to his level otherwise - but whereas Obama has something of the air of JFK, Biden seems a bit of a blandie.
The thing that gets me about the Biden pick (which I support fully) is all the right-wing blowhards criticizing it because “how can Obama claim to be all about change when this old white guy has been in the Senate for 35 years?” (Pat Buchanan on MORNING JOE two hours ago, for example) would have been over him like stink on shit if he’d gone with Evan Bayh or Tim Kaine: “I don’t understand why Obama went with someone who has the same inadequate level of Washington and foreign policy experience as he has–if only he’d gone with an old hand like Biden or Clinton we would have to say he understands his situation, but this tells us how arrogant and clueless he is…” A bigger crock of self-serving disingenuous shit I’ve never heard (well, not this week, anyway) and I wish someone would interrupt these bloviators to point out what self-righteous hypocrites they’re being.
They’d be bloviating no matter the pick, just as you’ll get people bloviating McCain’s pick, whomever he chooses.
I have seen very long interviews with Biden. He is very smart and knows what is going on.
He comes from a state that has the predatory lenders as one of their biggest employers. he has been on the wrong side of consumers many times . However he was on the right side of the interests of his state. I wish pols could rise above the fray and do whats right all the time but in the real world it does not happen.
The interesting thing about Biden is that he has never had anyone else to be upset at him for his mouth. It’s always been him speaking for himself. But now he must know that he can’t shoot off at the mouth like back in the old days. I can imagine being your own boss for 36 years would have that effect on you.
But regardless of how he may have felt about Obama in the primaries, etc, things are different now. Maybe in the debates he really felt that Obama’s experience wasn’t adequate, but I would think that Obama’s success thusfar would be enough proof to anyone that he’s got what it takes.
Btw, I don’t see why Edwards can’t serve in an Obama administration. Obama can get away with it. it’s not like he has to tell anyone until after the election. All he did was cheat on his wife, not do something illegal. Sure, it’s too much to expect to get elected again, but Atty Gen, it’s not terrible.
As to his positions, it isn’t terribly important. As much talk there is of Cheney running the Whitehouse, I firmly believe that Bush approves of what is going on. Now maybe Bush would have turned out better had he not chosen such a bad influence. But I feel that Obama is centered enough to be able to have a different viewpoint and live with it. He doesn’t have to let Joe do anything if he doesn’t want to. But I would be willing to bet that besides being Mr. MBNA and being hawkish, Joe and Barack have a lot in common with regards to domestic policy. Just hope that Joe’s love affair with big business will be curbed.
astorian: I think he’s an inspiring speaker. His rhetoric isn’t lofty, but he’s smart as hell and he’s very interesting to listen to.
LOL!
I think the Biden choice was just to make up for Obama’s inexperience.
He has a well-established anti-gun record, so I think that will put a damper on many Republicans changing teams. He also is apparently is against encryption, file-sharing, and net neutrality. So many computer geeks won’t like him either.
I’ve also read that Biden will be a good person to attack McCain where Obama won’t, that sounds likely.
When was Biden last in a tough campaign? Has his seat in Delaware been generally safe?
Hijack: If McCain really wanted to swing for the fences, the most awesome pick ever, for sheer political impishness, would be Hillary Clinton. And you KNOW she’d take it.