AP Headline: "Biden Pick Shows Lack of Confidence"

[liberalpragmatist]

Aaargh. Ron Fournier's "new AP" strikes again:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Veepstakes-Analysis.html

Analysis: Biden pick shows lack of confidence

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 23, 2008

DENVER (AP) -- The candidate of change went with the status quo.

In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness -- inexperience in office and on foreign policy -- rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.

He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate -- the ultimate insider -- rather than a candidate from outside Washington, such as Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia or Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; or from outside his party, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska; or from outside the mostly white male club of vice presidential candidates. Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't even make his short list.

<snip>

So the question is whether Biden's depth counters Obama's inexperience -- or highlights it?

After all, Biden is anything but a change agent, having been in office longer than half of all Americans have been alive. Longer than McCain.

And he talks too much.