Biden? Yeah, That Works.

[babylonsister]

Biden? Yeah, That Works.

Well-connected Washington insider Steve Clemons has already reported that signs point to Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate. Now comes this tidbit, coutesy of the Washington Post's Shailagh Murray: Tony Blinken, the Biden foreign policy adviser who accompanied Obama on his overseas trip, left Washington to go on vacation late last week. Destination? Hawaii.

The timing of Blinken's trip isn't clear. Maybe he got there after Obama left. Or maybe he really was on vacation. (The article doesn't explore this possibility, although perhaps Murray was just being coy.) But keep in mind that Blinken is married to Evan Ryan, who was Biden's deputy campaign manager. (Note: See updates below.)

If Biden is the choice, I think it would speak well of Obama's judgment. Biden has a deep and impressive resume: Not only is he the guy who orchestrated the defeat of Robert Bork back in the 1980s, but he can also claim among his legislative accomplishments the Violence Against Women's Act, which is no small feat. He's smart, articulate, and is a bona fide expert on foreign policy: In other words, he's certainly capable of assuming the presidency in an emergency, which is really the most important criteria of all.

Biden's record is not without blemishes: He supported that awful Republican bankruptcy bill--most likely out of parochialism, since Delaware is home to the credit card industry. His performance in the Clarence Thomas hearings was as bad as his performance in the Bork hearings was good. Still, Biden has shown genuine foresight and courage in his career, perhaps most memorably as an early advocate for American intervention in the Balkans. Overall, his voting record is strongly progressive.

The other downsides to Biden are primarily political: He has a habit of straying off message and making impolitic comments, like the time he referred to Obama as "articulate" and "clean." Anita Dunn, Dan Pfeiffer, and the rest of the communications team had better keep antacid handy. But that implusiveness is also one of Biden's strengths: He speaks directly and bluntly, giving him an undeniable air of authenticity. Delaware, of course, is not a swing state. But Biden, who grew up in a working-class family, has always been adept at speaking to voters gripped by economic anxiety. As Paul Krugman notes today, that's exactly what the Obama campaign needs right now.

more...

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/08/18/biden-yeah-that-works.aspx

[Egnever]

1. Nice I agree

I think Biden compliments Obama well. I also think he could be a very effective VP on the world stage.

If in fact he is the choice. We are in for a sweet 8 years !

[yodermon]

2. He's also the Least-Wealthy member of the Senate

so a great contrast to McFerragamo's.
Can easily combat the "elitist" crapola.

[Egnever]

3. Amazing considering his long stay there.

[Qutzupalotl]

6. I guess he's pretty "clean" himself!

That dovetails with Obama's emphasis on ethics in government.

[yodermon]

8. your sig is shocking and hilarious

lol

[PatSeg]

11. Okay

Your poster sums it all up perfectly!!!

[Qutzupalotl]

28. Thanks. Have a larger version:

....it was just to obnoxious for a DU sig line. :)

[PatSeg]

31. But perfect for this thread!

:yourock:

[Debi]

12. That pic is priceless!

:thumbsup:

[blondeatlast]

22. Love the sig pic! nt

[chiefofclarinet]

36. NICE!!!

Great sig pic. And I <b>SO</b> agree! I would love to have a Obama/Biden ticket. (that would be my second and first choice respectively)

Plus, if Biden gets the VP position, I can reuse my Biden '08 poster. All I need to do is put a "Vice" next to "President." (and I should locate an Obama '08 poster somewhere too...)

[AlCzervik]

42. Isn't that Bernie Sanders?

[JohnnyCougar]

44. I thought he was second to least.

Either way. I also heard he doesn't live in Washington, and that he commutes there from Deleware every day.

[NightWatcher]

4. didnt he also vote for the IWR? How many electoral votes might Delaware bring in?

I was thinking a Kaine/VA connection would have helped the cause more.

Biden doesnt do too much for me.

[Thrill]

5. The bankruptcy bill was bad. But that won't keep him from getting VP

He won't back down from a fight. Remember when he said Rumsfeld doesn't know what the hell he's talking about?

[bdamomma]

7. well Thom Hartmann just said Howard Fineman has heard from

an insider that it is Biden, I will wait for the official word.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. At this point I just want it to be over.......

But, you got to admit the Obama team can keep a secret and keep us guessing.

Almost any of the VP choices have their good points and bad points but any of them
are heads above John McCain.

[gateley]

10. A couple of great, quick videos at the link. nt

[Eurobabe]

13. Joe is REAL. I'm keeping my fingers crossed

for an Obama/Biden ticket.

[Stop Cornyn]

14. Of course, I'd still vote for Obama/Biden, but I would lose confidence in the campaign and direct my

political contributions to other democratic races.

Among all Democratic candidates, Biden's vanity campaign was the most heavily funded by lobbyists.

If the corporate abuse of the middle class is an important issue for you (as it is for me), Biden is among the worse Democrats Obama could pick.

[MarjorieG]

17. Insiders preferred Biden for competency over Clinton, who received more of the corporate nasties.

[jillan]

15. How dare them? They called Biden 'articulate'.

Lol.

[gratefultobelib]

16. I trust the judgement of Obama and his team.

[Schema Thing]

18. Also, he's not rich by McCain standards

[antigop]

19. It won't work 8 years from now -- his age will be an issue if he runs for Prez. n/t

[babylonsister]

20. I never thought of that; he'd be seasoned though.

;)

[Debi]

26. Why? n/t

[antigop]

27. because 8 years from now he will be 73. n/t

[Debi]

29. Is there an age limit on being President?

Biden will be no less intelligent and sharp witted at 73 than he is today at 65.

[antigop]

30. at 73, he would be older than Gramps McCain is now

Now if you don't think that's a problem...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/us/politics/24mccain.html

[Debi]

32. Ageism sucks

and shouldn't be practiced.

[antigop]

33. Just pointing out the reality. n/t

[Debi]

35. You mean perpetuating the myth - there is no reason that Biden (if he's VP)

couldn't run in 2016. His being 73 is not a good reason. Even with folks like you that think that's 'too old'.

[dbmk]

37. There is a difference

Between personally thinking that 73 is too old - and thinking that it might be an issue with the general voter.

Of course it must considered on a case by case basis. But at 73 it would be a legitimate concern, I'd say. (If only one of many)

[Debi]

39. And you are (obviously) welcome to hold that discriminatory belief

and continue to be part of a society that believes that a Presidential candidate's chronological age is a 'legitimate concern'.

:hi:

[dbmk]

45. Hold on..

There is a big difference between saying "He is 73, he is to old to be President. Period."
... and saying "At that age and in the 4 - possibly 8 - years to come, problems regarding health and mental acuity is not exactly unheard of. Especially given the pressure of the job. I am going to have to consider and scrutinize that in more than I would have, had he been 40 or 50."

Of course that is a legitimate concern. As long as it is not a criteria set in stone.
Anything else would be denying reality.

Never have had to really weigh that question though. Since the WWII, the first prime minister of Denmark was 65, and everyone since has been between 48 and 53 when they took the office of prime minister, as far as I can tell. The loosing candidates has been more or less in the same range.

But I would never rule anyone out based on the numbers on their birth certificate alone.

[antigop]

41. I posted a link to a NY Times article. I'm not perpetuating anything.

If you think this won't be an issue eight years from now, then I suggest you THINK about it.

[chiefofclarinet]

38. Does that matter?

Did anyone say Biden was going to run in 2016 after 8 years as VP? Unless you've heard something I didn't, Biden did not say he would run again. If he got VP, he might endorse the next young Democrat with national experience instead of running. The vice president does not have to run for president.

[antigop]

43. Ideally, it would be nice to have a VP who would run for prez in 8 years.

8 years from now Biden would have great name recognition -- something very helpful in a run for prez.

But he would be the oldest person ever trying to get elected as a first-term president.

[Dinger]

21. Maybe It Works, But It Doesn't Rock

I'm still hopin', till I can't any more. Good luck to everyone!

[TexasObserver]

23. Joe's The Man

I think he's just what Obama needs.

The VP has to be able to pass the MSM judgment first: "Is this person VP material?"

The MSM will answer YES, moreso than many of the other possible VPs.

The VP has to be able to pass the middle voters judgment second: "Does he look presidential?"

The public will answer YES.


Once the VP has passed those two standards, his job is to attack the opposing nominee for president, and to respond to some of the opposing team's shady schemes. Biden will do that. I don't see Bayh or Kaine bringing that important skill.

[1776Forever]

24. Joe is all right with me for sure! Go Joe! A very good match for Obama!

Get it on - Obama Biden 2008!

:bounce:

[Cha]

25. Obama is "articulate"..I wish

I were. I didn't see the "clean" comment but clean is good:)

Don't care what paul krugman thinks, though..he's sure as hell not always right.

[dogindia]

34. "im not the guy" abc news

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/biden-on-obamas.html

[goodgd_yall]

40. Fuhgeddabowdit

He's not "the guy."

[saltpoint]

46. I think this piece is useful in a lot of ways.

Thanks for putting this up for us, babylonsister.

The intrigue around the vice presidential nominee selections is great fun for political junkies. We don't get to do this but too few times in our lifetimes. This year is an open election on both sides, so it's especially fun now.

It's interesting that the points of praise for Biden now are getting such well-deserved and expected attention in the media -- a level of attention they withheld when we had all 8 candidates on the early debate stages.