Biden: Second Chance for The Everyman

I can live with Biden too.  Not my first choice but hardly the worst choice.

I called my Mom this morning at 7am. She’s a Hillary supporter (not a dead-ender) and she was thrilled with Biden as VP. Makes her “more comfortable” with Obama. Fine.  Whatever.  If it has this effect on my Mom then I know it is doing the same for a lot of older Dems like her and that is GOOD. Hell, that is GREAT. Biden's personal story is pretty amazing and he is so much more of a “straight talker” than McSame.

Biden will rip McSame and his VP a new one!

I can definitely live with that.  :)

 I watched Biden on MTP, I was yelling from the kitchen while making breakfast, Go Joe! Biden for VP!

So, I am sure I can live with this pick! My mom is happy about it too, she says "we get change + experience, it is how we win!"

I remember seeing him say on the daily show that he basically just assumed he came from coal miner stock and that he actually didn't.

 

To me the most interesting comparison is between JFKs pick of Lyndon Johnson to reassure voters that he wouldn't be controlled by the pope. Today that seems absurd and that is because JFK ran and won.

 

Check it out:

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/23/9127/43677/140/573466

I hate that as the Senator fromd Delaware he has been Mr. MBNA. But beyond that: he's done so much good with his position and has a record that any democrat would be proud of IMO.

MOST important: Joe Biden has the stature to hurl zingers that will cut down the McCain ticket and be instantly credible. He's the guy who could say "Rudy Giuliani, he just needs a noun, a verb, and 9/11" and get away with saying that about the hero of 9/11 because (1) it'd been true and (2) he has the stature and history and most of all the audacity to cut through the bullshit.

I also like what it says about the Obama campaign: they know they have to get back to trending upward and they know they need to go offensive and Joe Biden is a fighter. Of all the names constantly mentioned: only Hillary Clinton would play ball as hard IMO.

Barack Obama needs that right now. He needs a candidate that has the stature to deliver the punches with him; and that is what Joe Biden will do for him.

Right now the Republicans anticipated this and were out with an ad and have succeded with Mr. Ron Fornier the AP dude who wanted to work for McCain in saying this was a weak choice: the convention and the rally today will answer that charge. And the Obama camp will have a rebuttal to that ad up by end of day.

The houses flap has shown the Obama camp understands that Schmidt/Rove & Co. have made this a street fight and Joe Biden means Barack Obama is reaching for the brass knuckles IMO.

I have a lot of hope that every day of this convention will be a repudation of McCain-Bush poliices and defining the Republican ticket. Joe Biden will help to do that because he speaks definitvly and authortativly: and for all his gaffes you come away liking the guy.

I'm very happy with this pick: for not only political reasons but governing priorites as well.

Oh Al...I can go about my daily tasks now that you've chimed in--brilliantly as usual!

I saw you come online a little while ago, so I knew you were getting ready to chime in...so I couldn't leave the computer until I had read, rec'd, and tip'd your post!  (Sending it to all my peeps...and linking it on my own blog...)

Yes, this is gonna be good...PLEASE all the chicken littles--stay away!

Field Hands have work to do!!

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

 

As I mentioned on the previous thread, this may be the first VP pick that will make a difference in the election since LBJ.  And I don't think Obama wants Doyle to use the shock collar too much.

I think he will want Biden to go off on tangents, or even counter his own thinking, from time to time.  It reinforces the theme he is more interested in competence hen ideology.

Plus, this puts a lot of pressure on McCain.  This may ruin Romney's chances.  Think about it.  Too people either born to ro married into wealth aginst two self-made men.  Obama and Biden actually represent the American dream.

Great post Al - and great picture!

The more research I'm doing since I woke up - the more I'm liking this pick.  I had posted a link to this video at the end of the last thread, but since folks might miss it there, I'll repost it here (it's a must-watch):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1op8vwF5UA

Joe rips into McCain and Bush on the Iraq war.  I am looking forward to this for the next couple of months:

Every time, we must ask them the question:

"Then what? Then what?"

KD

I think people are going to be surprised how good a choice Biden is, and not for the obvious reasons.

Obama is above all a pragmatist. If the country isn't ready yet for that three point shot, then we have to work to get it ready, not sit around in our beautiful loser ivory towers whining because he took the two-point shot.

Go Obama-Biden!

I was saying to my husband last night that Biden would make my mom and probably a good segment of older Dems more comfortable with Obama.

I hate his Iraq vote but if he puts Penn and Ohio back into serious play I can live with it (have to anyway ;-)).

Thank you for the info in your post Al. It was good to read about his personal story and does make him much more appealing than the impression I had of him before.

I am pretty happy with this choice.  The more I learn about Joe Biden the more I like him.  Great analysis as usual.  You are on top of your game lately.

Great video!!  Thank you for sharing that.  I'm sending it out to friends and family.

Give 'em hell Joe!!

Fighting For Change: Obama/Biden '08

Wisdom.  My respect for this campaign team keeps growing - and my admiration for Biden increases, the more I read about him.  Thanks, Al, you prepared us for this, and I think we'll all come to understand the wisdom of this action.  McLame is in real trouble!!!

Lots of Cabinet positions available, to give those 'three pointers' a chance to gain national attention.

I hate his Iraq vote but if he puts Penn and Ohio back into serious play I can live with it (have to anyway ;-)).

If anything, he moves PA solidly into our column and moves FL closer to us; according to Nate over at 538, older voters love him.  (And calling PA a "swing state" was a bit of a stretch already; the only pollster to show it as one is Rasmussen, and he hasn't had it as closer than Obama +3 in the past few months.)

I'm feeling good about this choice; I'd rather have had Schweitzer, but Biden will make a terrific VP (and Chris Dodd will make a terrific Foreign Relations Committee chairman).

Not that the deadenders will care, but Biden has a phenomenal record in getting the federal government behind helping women who have violence in their lives. It goes back to 1990 and includes the original and expanded Violence Against Women Act, the proposed International Violence Against Women Act, and a proposal to network lawyers with women who are getting hurt by their husbands and partners.

Grassroots feminist activists who are involved in domestic violence work know this.

More here: http://www.dailykos.com/user/maineiac

I just submitted Al's post at DIGG so if you're registered with them, go DIGG IT!  I think the more people learn about Joe Biden, the happier they will be with Obama's choice. 

It's nice to see everyone so contented.  Moms and kids.  Hillary supporters and people who had been hoping for Schweitzer or Chet "not the one with the floozy" Edwards.  Looks like we're all going to just get along.  Yay. Peace out.

His daughter was also killed in the car accident.  His two sons were critically injured, but survived.

My wife is thrilled, and I think the logic is "we have change covered".  Biden sends a nod to folks who might feel uncertain, that are nervous about committing to a new course.  And I think that as far as Biden's previous support of the war, Obama is saying "Hey, a LOT of people supported this lousy war."  It's the ones that came around and started banging their fists at the ineptitude and yelling, "Now what!?!" that this pick will appeal to.  Not a "Neener neener I told you so", but a ticket that says "Now what?"

And an elbow-thrower on the team was always something we needed.  Go Joe!  Make us proud, man, make us proud.

I LOVE this site - the place to come for stability and positive insight.  Thanks to everyone.

I have enjoyed Biden, particularly his many appearances on Meet the Press.  He can clearly think, and he's a straight talker.  How many politicians can claim both? 

Obama needs someone who knows every broomcloset on the Hill.  Biden gives Obama a right hand man that knows the guy and has his number.

My grandparents LOVE Joe Biden.  He gets amazing poll numbers from Seniors...think of all those appearanced on Sunday shows.

Came here first thing this morning! Well, first thing after I woke up after my 3 am text message. Biden is not a choice that made me jump around the room with glee when I got my confirmation text, but I can certainly see his positives.

And its not Hillary Clinton, which was my number one criteria.

Anyone else going to need a nap today because of lack of sleep last night?

Excellent commentary on a very good, decent man. A change leader like Obama must also connect with the roots of a tradition of change. Biden connects well with the blue collar, working class, unionist, liberal tradition of the party of Roosevelt and Kennedy. I might add that his age and silver hair will be reassuring and give a boost with the senior demographic that has been leaning to. And he is about the most glib, knowledgeable, and readily impassioned attack dog around.

I am especially looking forward to how McCain tries to work his lame experience argument now. Plus the meter and alliteration is good Obama Biden, sounds solid to me.

So many great thoughts in this and the previous post.  The idea of the 3 am call is terrific, but folks getting burned up about how the traditional media pegged this, is being weak-kneed to say the least.  Was Joe my first choice? No, I woke up dreaming that Chet Edwards was on the ticket.  But, what I like about this is that Obama is yet again demonstrating that HE is the man in charge.  Biden is HIS choice.  He likes the guy--obviously.  Barack's Irish side fits nicely with Joe's Irishness. This is a consummate demonstration of Obama's supreme confidence that he is in charge.  Biden is NOT Obama's foreign policy guru--but somebody who will not be afraid to tell Obama that he's wrong--and Obama is clearly capable of standing and saying, Joe, you're wrong. Obama chose and equal, not a superior nor an inferior.

Obama also OWNS Joe's ass for all of the racist ideations (as Al put it) that Biden has spewed. Obama is brilliantly putting race on the table with this choice--we now get a free public course in how to move white folk along in their evolution into a fully multiracial society.  Biden can talk to white folks about his screw-ups and talk (or Obama can talk explicitly or implicitly about Biden's screw-ups) about how, while he is NOT a racist, racism has infected him.  He can talk about how he is still growing as an AARP member.  And he can bring a lot of white folk--including avid Obama supporters--into a post-racist (not a post-racial) America.

The more I let this sink in, the more I love this pick.  It means there is NO explanation, no introduction, no proof of his capabilities needed.  It means--as we have seen the last week--that the Obama campaign is ready to turn on the switch and bring the A game right away, without any warm-ups.  It will set the McCain people back as others have mentioned because Biden has his own traumatic story and has a more illustrious Senate career than McCain. Biden has no presidential ambition post Obama' terms, meaning it keeps the future wide open for Warner, Kaine, Chet Edwards, Schweitzer, possibly Sebelius, and all the other up and coming anti-Clintonian Dems.

This is going to be some seriously fun theater.

My 87 year old mother who voted for Hillary and then converted to Obama also enthusiastically approves. No wonder the AP (A-holes Personified) is in spin overdrive because this choice diffuses the experience issue for a lot of people.

I also had hoped for a Washington outsider. Like Terra above it reminds me of Kennedy choosing Johnson, but it seems to me that the reason then was for Johnson's legislative system experience. With Johnson, Kennedy had someone with the knowledge and skills to help push new law through Congress. I think this can only help domestic policy.

Ironically with foreign policy, Biden will help Obama in the election due to the public perception of him. But I'm skeptical about Biden's contributions helping to take us in the completely new directions we need to go in foreign policy.

Not only did he vote for the AUMF, but he wimped out in his committee chairmanship at the time:

The Democratic Party, even in its role as loyal opposition, should be doing its utmost to raise the difficult questions. Instead, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, under the chairmanship of Democratic Senator Biden, organized two days of hearings, notable for the absence of critical voices. Such hearings are worse than nothing, creating a forum for advocates of war, fostering the illusion that no sensible dissent exists and thus serving mainly to raise the war fever a degree or two.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20020819/falk

 

Love the Joe Biden pick.  Let's keep pumping out the positives on Joe Biden - the YouTube of him taking it to McCain on the war and the surge and mocking McCain for saying he had "courage" to back the surge, for starters.  Joe Biden talking about Pakistan.  A compilation clip of Joe Biden's best one liners.  I'm loving Joe Biden.  It's on to victory!

i like it-- I had been hoping for Schweitzer, but I agree with the comments above-- it's a smart move-- since the text came this am, I've already received an email from my aunt in Virginia who's spoken with some of her older neighbors who had been worrying about whether Obama is ready for the job-- they are THRILLED with Biden as the VP choice (echoing Christi's experience with her mom).

In addition to his sponsorship of Violence Against Women Act and other related legislation--- Biden also co-sponsored legislation requiring insurance companies to provide parity in coverage for mental illness. 

He's also going to be one of the best possible hatchet men for Obama.  Apparently McCain campaign is already running an ad showing Biden praising McCain and talking about Obama's lack of experience from the debtates.  Can't wait to see the counterpunch from our team!

 I got the email at around 2am Pst. No text yet, no worries. People over at BO.com are complaining about it. So trivial.

This was a one-point free throw from Obama, the single safest choice he could have made.

And it was aimed squarely at the half of the party that supported Clinton.

It marks the palpable end of the "change" portion of the race, as we get down to the Kerry map and try and swing a couple of states our way. Folks, it was always moving in this direction. Obama is nobody's fool.

He went for a white, hawkish, 60-something, corporatist, Meet the Press, deep blue establishment east coast insider - who just happens to be a great debater, a certified political hit man, and a close personal friend of Hillary Clinton who refused to endorse Barack Obama out of respect for her.

As Al says (amidst his requisite Clinton-hating shots), Old Joe Biden is acceptable to the widest possible swath of the Democratic base, possesses a personal story that is compelling, is an energetic political terrier, and can leverage his gritty pre-MBNA roots to good effect in the geographic areas where Obama is weaker than we'd like. He'll hammer McCain without conscience or compunction - even though he urged Kerry to choose Johnny Mac as his veep, and is buddies with the GOP nominee.

Plus, this really solidifies Delaware! (Kidding, just kidding).

This is one professional politician we've added to the ticket - old school, non-change, insider, totally connected. Does he take the age, war, and DC insider cards off the table? Only a little bit - the race is still about the top of the ticket. After all the tarted-up "suspense," Old Joe Biden may be something of a let-down for some. I can feel that. But don't get too low. I still think he was a safe and fairly wise choice.

Take the free throw. Take the single point.

Now deliver the greatest speech in recent U.S. political history (or thereabouts) - the stakes are that high. We need the bounce. That's the real three-point toss this week. I think he can do it. It's all about The Speech.

This young at heart grandma is dancing for joy. For weeks I've been thinking it was not just seniors who were holding back but also those who look for a symbol of wisdom and experience projected in a grandpa. While not healthy, often true.

Biden is the perfect balance. And, he is ready on day one to take on all the junk to be thrown our way. It may be a three pointer after all.

(In basketball mode right now as the USA women go for gold with four members from the TN Lady Vols.)

I took a deep breath and went over to the BO site to see what picture they had put up!  I can't believe people are complaining because they didn't get their text message or that it was late.

Can you imagine MILLIONS of texts and emails going out at the same time?  The cell phone carriers probably choked.  (Of course, I got MINE at exactly 3:02 AM...ha-ha)

I think it's brilliant that since the MSM leaked the news early, that the O-man decided to ride the "Ready at 3 AM" meme!

I am LOVIN' the Biden pick!!  LOVIN' It!

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

 

Indeed, I think that this can work.

More, I dont' think that there will be the rivalry that there was between Kennedy and Johnson.

Biden's somewhat more traditionally hawkish forgien policy positions/posturing will help put older US folks more at ease.

The senior vote will be solidified by this choice--as will the Catholics.

In the end, I appears that the Obama camp were pretty conservative in their selection of Biden.  Honestly, I really thought that it was Schweitzer, and I still think that he may have been a better choice.

However, the Obama campaign doesn't need to spend crucial time introducing Biden to the US public--that would not have been the case with Schweitzer.

Lastly, I think that Biden's working class back-ground is crucial--and it doesn't appear that he cut ties with the working classes of America because he was driven to cash-in.   Biden experienced a tremendous loss of his wife and young daughter, a loss that would have pulled down many people to the point to where they could never rise again.

In the end: a conservative, less risky choice for VP.  Thiis choice will solidify the usual Democrat base.  Given that Obama has a funny name and is bi-racial, I think that this is a solid choice.

At least it is not Hillary or Bayh.  Could have been much worse.

Aside: I can understand the Obama camp's desire to get email adresses and phone numbers--but the text message thing was a bit ham-fisted and awkward.

I didn't get the email until 5:17am.

If they were trying to make a point with the 3:00am meme, it should have been made more clearly, and consistently.

On cell phones--the e-mails from my kids' schools go out in such a way that they arrive hours or days apart; this is particularly funny when you get the snow-emergency closing notice 2 days late. (Fortunately the middle school took a sensible "forget the no cell phones rule--if you have one, go get it from your locker, call your parents, and give it to a cell-phoneless classmate" approach, and the elementary school preferentially called everyone who didn't take a bus.) I imagine the 62262 list was much longer than my local middle school's.

 

I quite like Biden. This is the anti-Quayle pick--someone confident enough that a supercapable veep won't overshadow him. I think it also changes the narrative in a couple of useful ways: Changing Washington was never going to involve storming it from without, tossing out every politician, and replacing them with local guys. You need to show a willingness to work with people who know the ropes and also see a need for change. And on the war, I opposed it but never thought Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld would be as stunningly incompetent in its prosecution as they were--turning this into a "Neener neener we were right and you were wrong" referendum on 2002 and 2003 is not the way to look like the Better Start to the New Millenium team that I want. The future is a much better sell than the past. Frame McCain and whomever as the last gasp of those who'd like to do the Cold War and Vietnam over a few more times because they can't picture anything else, and Obama Biden as the team that will deal with the new challenges of a new century in a new way. 

Incidentally, on paper the military has been completely on board for preparing for the future style of conflict. Add in the donation gap from overseas servicemembers, and the military could swing Dem.

When it comes to foreign policy experience and expertise Joe Biden can pee on John McCain's bald pate from a very great height. His selection is also a strong play to the old-fart/centrist/working-class demographic. I wonder what the counter-gambit will be? Lieberman?

+'s and -'s up front. So, if Obama flies butterfly and stings like a bee, then Biden will run like a bull and kick like a mule ? I like it.

amk

Steven H - The logistical nightmare of sending out X million cell phone text messages is gigantic. You can't do it all at once. I got mine two-and-a-half hours after others did (and I was signed up in February) and, as I said above, it took at least four hours, maybe more, for all of them to get out.

In any case, not many people were awake between 1 and 6 a.m., so I don't think it impacts anything that you and others got yours in the five a.m. hour.

I'm digging Biden and thinks he'll definitely move some states to our column.  Little ole IA goes blue for sure with this ticket!

FWIW, I am officially over the BO website, holy crap the Chicken Littling going on is god-awful.   Freaks.

I appreciate Al's articulate "Rocky" meets "West Side Story" weaving of troop rallying prose, but... I honestly didn't know if I'd vote this November to begin with. I live in New York, and if Obama were in trouble there I would vote, but if he has a comfortable lead, which is likely, then... to bring about change, the greater Cosmic Coup, I didn't know if my efforts might be better served in other pursuits that November night. I don't totally discount voting, like many folks I know, and I understand compromise (heck I voted for Bill Clinton, once, when it was a closer race), but neither do I think it's the be all and end all within the context of a one-party system, that is, at best, a one-party republic that uses Democracy as an alibi. What I love about America doesn't have a whole lot to do with that republic, but rather with the struggles of it's peoples, and other forms of life, with that one-party republic. And I know feel that there are many ways (all valid & needed, including those who work in electoral politics) to help foster the fruition for all life that so many of us still seek.

Onto Mr. Biden... Whilst Al was rallying the troops to wisely focus on the good, and the possible, instead of dwelling on the downside of things, he touched, in typical Giordano balance and integrity, on the many things that make Biden so difficult a pill to swallow for so many of us. I stress both "many", and "difficult" in a heavy manner here. I understand in the context of this drama that he was a better choice than Hillary Clinton, to be sure, but if the two of them were the final candidates standing in the primarys I can't say I would have supported Biden over her....not to say I would've supported her over him. I probably would have respectfully abstained. Most likely, eventually the stink of this choice will wear off, and I will probably vote for Obama. I certainly would have with a bettter "third-point" choice. But I don't know know for certain that I will precisely because of what this says, not about his poor choice, but about Mr. Obama's integrity. And doubting the level of that (not it's existence- just how much & how big, or how limited it is), which I've done and still do even moreso now, is not a good feeling.

I don't feel this was a wise tactical choice. I feel, no matter how well or poor Biden does in his role, that overall it was in a large vibrational sense, a terrible, terrible move to make with somethings so major and important. I am more than dissapointed, and can think of few choices that would have been worse...Clinton being one. And the worst thing about her is what she represents regarding both the insider power structure and her personal megalomanical self-centeredness. How far away, and much better is Joe Biden in either My lasting vision of Joe Biden was actually was forged ths year during the debates when he would smugly, and enormously inappropriately, make snide condescending remarks regarding Kucinich and Gravel. He roots may have been what they were, but his bevaior now smacks of the worst kind of privledged, rich white boy arrogance. He is a man who knows where the power lies, and he personifies the arrogance and ruthlessness used to pertuate those things. The best things that I like about what Obama may represent were in such contrast to Clinton, and folks like Biden, that it is one stark, and darkly unsettling contrast that Obama has sought to bring forward here.

In all honesty I hope that some higher good is served by this choice, and that a pragmatism that makes me uncomfortable in it's scope still plays out to a happier ending of having the more sane wing of the party that Obama represents preside after the election. I am just saddened that if this really is what it takes, that, well, this kind of sinking is what it takes. I'll keep reading Al's work, because I know he won't pul any punches regarding Biden...lord his happy troop rallying little essay carried bushels of honest light shining into why he was hoping so hard for that three pointer. And because Al touches a cord with some of my past, and frankly with how poorly I feel about this thing now, not that I ever felt anywhere near as great as most folks around here, I'd like to feel some rallying sense of goodness about winning. I hope I haven't been robbed of that. Bill Clinton was my absolute least favorite candidate the first time he ran, and against my vow to never work in Democratic party politics again I grudingly worked as a disgruntled and critical Jerry Brown supporter in hopes of derailing Clinton. When I won I felt no hope, or joy, just the knowledge that the evil of the lesser wings of the one party was no on top. And that relief diminished to the point of me not pulling the lever for him the second time around. I want to be able to (in fact I think it's minimum requirement almost for me) to bother to vote because I feel a sense of something other than mere relief. I'd like to feel any small part of good about it. I could feel that about Obama as opposed to Clinton. I don't feel that at all about Biden. I hope the game is merely tied now Al, because what I saw happen is Obama ignored an easy three pointer (a three pointer that was tatically a slam dunk) that would've sent the finish to the history books with the poetic momentum that is maybe the best part of what he offers...that drama of hope and change...I now see now making a graceless lousy deflected pass off to one of the least capable bench warming schlubs on the team, while so many other player were wide open with clear lanes to the hoop. One who repersent the worst part of the game, and is detriment to the team, but one who somehow ended up on the floor and near the basket at the end of the game. That schlub headed for the hoop about to commit an offensive foul and/or toss an airball, and divine intervention had an opposing player fall into him (representing the total buffon level that McCain inhabits) commiting a foul that sent him to the line. He blows the first shot, but a poorly executed second free throw falls in, and we win by one. What we gain is victory, but what looms much larger I'm afraid is what we lost in the way we won...and if I'm not mistaken how we play the game, win or lose, is the bottom line of what this is all about. Blessings!

The more I LOVE this pick.

IMO, Obama impressed me more with picking Biden because beyond all the chatter of the DC pundits about foriegn relations, this after all is really about governing. Biden will help navigate Obama's proposals through congress, the aim should be at the end is to get things done.

 I am loving the quotes Al posted from the Repub's, Ouch for McDraft is right!

I signed up to attend Camp Obama for field organizer training (even tho, I was trained during the primaries), They wanted my resume, I haven't used a resume in years, had to go digging for that one, lol. I have committed to volunteering in NV for 5 weeks! We will turn NV Blue!!! Very excited and fired up!

pragmatic and insightful discussion.

amk

Dear Tom W. 

I entirely disagree with your assertion that this is the end of the change theme and full-bore recourse to the same old politics of the Gore/Kerry map.  You suggest and others have been explicit (and I agree) that this is a pragmatic choice.  But to suggest that pragmatism--Obama's most fundamental characteristic--is the end of Change is absurd and simply not based on the facts. Biden is VP nominee, not President.  Obama, as I have said above, owns Biden, making Obama even more in charge than if he had a potential lackey like Kaine.  This is Obama asserting himself.  And Obama, having already established Change and Hope as his rallying cry will only add muscle, be it institutional knowledge or a blocking back, to the ticket.  Two Irishmen on the ticket is also pretty cool, from my perspective!!  So, buck up, Tom, and enjoy the fact that YOU got a 3 am call!

I am happy with the Biden pick. Though no one is perfect, I have always intuitively liked him and that means as much to me as an intellectual and analytical view of his politics. My Hillary-supporting (and Indian-American, by the way) husband is quite pleased with Biden. As is my 18-year old daughter, who supported him in the primaries before she came around to Obama. Biden can please a range of people.

I just got my e-mail message about a half-hour ago, even though I have been on the e-mail list since February.

I am a lurker here but decided to give it a go. How can Tom W declare change has ended because of the Biden pick when he was pushing for Hillary all along? It seems to me that with certain sectors of the democratic party Barack is dammend if he does dammend if he doesn't. They arm chair second guess instead of getting out there and fighitng--eitehr by hitting the pavement or by repeating the talking points (like the right wing do) no matter what instead of trying to tear our candidate down. If Obama loses it will be because we let it happen--by harping, harping harping and thinkign we know better.

Rant over.

Tom -

We shall see if your (wishful?) thinking that we're back to the old Electoral College map again comes true or not.

Specifically, we shall see in Colorado, Virginia, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, and Iowa (states won by Bush last round), and perhaps others as well. There are still multiple paths for Obama-Biden to win without Ohio or Florida (although the pick helps in both, too.)

Let's also see which Joe Biden comes out of the starting gate today. Underneath that insider crust there's the rebel of two and three decades ago. See "Second Wind of the Cuckhold" by the protagonist in The World According to Garp for details!

What concerns me today is a salient article I found at McClatchy about Barack's "pomposity" which I have discussed here:

http://stephencrosehome.blogspot.com/2008/08/obamas-pomposity-problemm-u...

Actually Biden helps him here. So does McCains gift of HOUSES as a campaign issue.

 

Obama is the first presidential candidate since Bobby Kennedy that I’ve been excited about.  Even still, I dutifully checked out the other people vying for the nomination when the IAFF broadcast its forum in March of last year.  That was when I first learned about Joe Biden and he became my comfortable second choice.  (I sent an email to the webmaster asking them to make Biden’s appearance available again so people can see for themselves what made me like him so much.)

I was never happy with him for not endorsing Obama, but I can get over that now.  Still I was really pissed at him for echoing Clinton’s blather about Obama not being ready, but John McCain was ready.  I’m interested to learn how he manages to compensate for that tactic.  I want to learn why Biden thinks that it’s okay now to be Obama’s running mate.  I dislike that the McCain camp now has that video to use against Obama, but if that’s all they have, then I suppose it’s not horrible.

Thanks, Al, for your analysis of why he is such a good pick.  I didn’t know that Biden didn’t talk to lobbyists.  That makes him seem more like a natural fit for Obama.

And thanks, Karen Desmond for the link to that video, too.  It reminded me just why I liked him in the first place, and eased my concern about his vote for the war.  I’d forgotten his “What now?” speech.

Glad we don’t have to wait anymore.  The 3am call tickles me.  I like that this campaign has a sense of humor.

I read early this AM, somewhere, that the Obama campaign cost was $1 million to deliver the text messages.

That's 10 million messages at $.10 per. Or 20 million at $.05. Emails are free. But text messaging no.

However. As we're all seeing, the message delivery had a rough labor. So while the pundits knocked this as a gimmick yesterday, none of them picked up that this was a dry run for the general election, and none grabbed the collection of potential donors idea. Nor did these geniuses understand that this will be the ultimate technological ground-up method for communicating with your congressmen once Obama is in office. This is how he's going to change Washington. The mere fact that he used the 3 AM meme Who's going to pick up the phone? shows a message that goes beyond a humorous reference to the ad.

 

This is still Obama's game. Biden is the junior partner, albeit a very bright and able one. Change doesn't mean throwing out all the old. Biden will be a good complement, and maybe, only for one term. It's very possible that a second Obama term would bring in a new VP (Biden will be 70 and not a Presidential option in 2016) who can be groomed to continue the changes we hope Obama will begin. In 2008, Biden is useful. A VP choice matters little unless the slate wins in November. Biden helps that goal.

On to November

Two Men---Two Houses

To cite Sarah Vowell on the issue of voting for the lesser of two evils: "Yes, you should vote. Less evil is progress." 

I really don't understand the lack of a perfect candidate caveats. And will note the issue seems to bedevil the Dems (focussing on the issues where they disagree with the candidate) more than the Reps (focussing on the issues where they agree with the candidate). That fall in line vs fall on each other meme seems to have some teeth.

Obama needs someone that he can trust and laugh with. Michelle is his wife but she's no political insider. Obama compartmentalizes his life. His wife and girls are his private sanctuary and Michelle will protect that. If Biden does one thing: make Obama laugh, it will take the pressure off without having to spend a week at the beach. That's incalculable for keeping your spirit up. They will have some raucous fun; you can tell they like each other (even though some know-nothing reporters are saying this was simply a decision of the head. I dont buy it.)

And then there's the matter of O nabbing smokes on the lawn behind the VP's house. With Secret Service protection.

It seems to me that this is part of the calculation.  Not the biggest, but a very real factor when it is time to govern.  Biden took office in 1973.  I'm certain he knows a thing or two about how to get things done in the Senate.

Look folks, it's not that I don't embrace "change" - it's that I see it as a political slogan surrounded by absolutely killer campaign tactics (the real story of Obama '08). So to the extent it can put a Democrat in the White House in January, it's all change I can believe in. I think Obama's made a tactical decision to begin pushing populist meat-and-potatoes economic policy, a big swing away from his broad change mantra of Iowa. We need that old-fashioned liberal politics in this race. Good for him!

Al, would I like a radically changed map - sure, it'd be great to see it all blue. Why? Because public policy would be better for more Americans. I just don't think it's possible this year or in the near future. I want to win. To my way of thinking, it was always going to be a fairly tightly focused election. Clearly, the Biden pick is Obama's tacit admission of that.

He's also the best Clintonite pick not actually named Clinton - the next-best politics 101 choice for the half of the party base (including liberals like me) that didn't embrace Obama in the first six months of this year.

PS - I didn't get my 3 a.m. call. It didn't work!

Now...onto that big speech, it's the real test this week. It needs to be new, fresh, economic, populist and aimed at the Democratic base.

David Brooks is happy to have his "everyman".  Chris Matthews was just given an Irish Catholic from Scranton.  Others were just handed a quote machine.  Beltway reporters are DELIGHTED with this pick.  Yeah I know there is new media in this day and age, but don't kid yourselves underestimating the value the DC echo chamber still has.

Obama's goal is to be elected President.  Personally, I can't stand Biden's self-interested grandstanding and failure to stand up against the war, but I'm not the DC media or the average voter.  As an idealist I'm not happy at all with the pick, but as a realist I can't think of a better choice in terms of increasing Obama's odds of being elected.

That's what I think of Biden. A lot of people had different first preferences, but Biden was their second choice, so they can rally around.

And none of the Clinton dead-enders can make the claim that she's more experienced than Biden, so that narrative is DOA. I think we would have heard a lot of that with a three-point shot pick and I am sick of it.

think of who he'll be replacing come January. Indeed, Dick Cheney. Talk about a huge improvement!

While it's not an exciting choice, it's a solid one. First and foremost, he is undoubtedly qualified to be president. There is no one, Republican or Democrat, who will dispute that. And as a Congressional veteran, he'll excel at shepherding Obama's legislation through Congress in a way a Schweitzer or Sebelius never could.

Finally, he'll be a great help in getting Obama elected. The most important reason why Obama's not running above 50 percent in the polls is that a lot of people don't yet feel "comfortable" with him. It's fear. He's new on the national stage, relatively inexperienced in national politics, and people worry whether he'd be "too much change". That's ultimately why I think Obama didn't go for the three-point-shot: most people are already convinced he wants to bring change, no need to reinforce that with his running mate. I believe Biden, an older, vastly experienced guy, will alleviate a lot of people's fears and go a long way in helping Barack getting elected.

At the start of the Democratic primaries, I loved Obama, REALLY  liked Biden and was OK with Richardson and Dodd as potential nominees.  I am so relieved he went with a white older guy and that it is a well known guy makes it better so those who don't follow politics that closely will not go for the "safe" McCain choice.  And I can't say I don't like the Irish connection as well!

I got my 3 a.m. text from Barack and really liked the way the announcement was written in a hip text language.  I wonder how many sleepily thought it was a bootie text and not a barack text?  :)

Has anyone noticed how the talking heads, while talking about Biden's verbal gaffes, "racial ideation" etc., keep using the phrase "wanders off the reservation" (i.e. John King 3 seconds ago on CNN - land of the tomahawk chop)?  WTF? That is so much more ironic than anything in an Alanis Morissette song.

But it's fine with me.  I got the email around 5:00am and never received the text at all, but who cares; I only just got enough coffee in me to understand English anyways.

I imagine my parents will be a little less grumpy with a Biden VP pick.  They and a lot of other 2nd generation Jewish immigrants, who made the American dream work and are confused and angry that it's dying--they love Biden.  It it may have bumped the polls noticeably, but maybe not, so the safest bet was putting it so close to the convention that if anything it'll just bolster the convention bump.  But some frustrated voters who've lost interest once their candidate dropped out of contention and who otherwise might have blown both the convention and the election might watch and, who knows, even vote.

As for the Clinton voters, I hope Hillary and Bill dig deep down and stop with the half-assed "gee I sure wish you could vote for me, but at least Obama's better than McCain--if not by much" speeches.  If they can't do that, they should just get off the stump.  She'll do a lot less damage disappearing into the Senate than she's doing fumfering around avoiding truly praising Obama.

The VP pick is a strategic choice, and is not, repeat, not, designed to make you and me happy.  It's designed to 1) create a super-surrogate goon, and 2) appeal to those who are disaffected or undecided. So the liberal or radical or general Democratic blogosphere may grumble and churn, but it don't mean much to me.  Everyone agrees Biden is at least suitable.

Again, Obama's sucking the air out of the room for McCain.  Sunday's coverage would have been staged around a convention watch anyway, but a Saturday VP pick will crowd out some of the angst-filled yammering and keep out even more of the Republican slime.

I sympathize with Tom, but personally I have become much more patient in my desire to see advancement in progressive attitudes in society and in government. (Keep in mind that Obama paved the way for a successor other than this pragmatic ticket-mate.)

Moreover, I strongly suspect that Tom, like me, will find the opportunity to vote for a presidential candidate whose stated concerns and ideals are within spitting distance of his own too rare an opportunity to pass up.

Not even vaguely a fan of the choice, but I suspect that Obama just locked up an electoral college victory with this move.

@ Joel...as a 1/4 member of the Choctaw Nation, I am HIGHLY insulted by that phrase "wandering off the reservation"...talk about racial insensitivity! It's almost the same as "that crazy Injun..."

This is exactly what Al meant above when he said re: Biden's off-the-cuff comments...it's so engrained in the American lexicon, that people often don't even realize what they're saying.  (Jim Allen excepted...he knew exactly what he meant by "maccaca"...)

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

Bets on for how long it takes Hillary to get Biden's committee assignments. For 2016.

Thanks for your overview,  Al.  As others have said, the more I read about Biden and watch videos of him this morning, the more I can see how this could work well.  Obama is cool, Biden is fiery. Both men have different but compelling family-centered life stories. It seems Biden reassures a lot of groups that Obama wants to solidify and let's not forget the vetting - I'm sure Obama's team did a good job on that and with the positive comments from Republicans maybe McCain's campaign has had their fangs pulled a bit.

Congrats and well done, Christi!  How exciting. Please keep us up on all you're doing.

For a trip down memory lane, from Biden's own mouth:

 

 

Agree or disagree, he is pragmatic in his approach. The big rap I have against him is he admits to being a Yankees fan. But then that probably won't be a big sticking point with Obama, given the long odds against the Cubs ever making the World Series. My text message came in at 2:34 am, and I was long asleep. Knowing something first is not the same as living with the consequences afterward. In this case, I can live with a healthy dose of pragmatism in our policies going foward after the last seven-plus years of smoke and mirrors.

Or as Biden himself once said: "Let's just be smart this time. I'm looking for smart."

Wow.  Just wow.

I know nothing of you, your background and life experience, but I must say you are the most UNinspiring Reverend to whom I have ever been exposed.

Please do find some cause to work on that is worthy of your attention, there are many worthy activities outside of US Presidential politics.  And I'm sure there must be some down-ticket candidates whom you can support without gagging at their stench.

But you have accomplished nothing positive or useful for mankind here at The Field this morning and I hope you reflect upon that before exposing others, who look to you for spiritual guidance, to your negative and self-righteous posturing.

Ok, Ok, I'll admit it:  I was wrong about Obama's VP pick being Jim Webb.  Good thing InTrade won't accept American credit cards. ; )

That said, I absoutley love the selection of Joe Biden!  Among all the "CW" candidates, he defintiely stood out in my mind as the best.  He'll be a help on so many fronts, I don't even know where to begin.  And it didn't hurt to learn this morning that Biden is the one choice the GOP fat-cat establishment has been quietly fearing for some time.  The idea of them browning their boxers over the Biden selection this morning makes my already-great day that much brighter!

So forward we sail, on a difficult but inevitably successful quest for the White House.  The criminal neocons are on the run; fascism is about to be purged, and, in spite of what gwbush says, the Constitution is NOT "just a goddam piece of paper."

To our battlestations, Field Hands!

Now if McTenCribs will only choose Mittens Romney as his VP, so we can start calling them "The Billionaire Boys Club"....

Here's an interesting take on August from TNR: The Obama camp leaned back to see where the McCain group would try to attack--what cards did McCain hold? What did he think was in Obama's hand? Now there's a veep pick that offsets a lot of their favored memes. (Someone's already tried Joe is the Paris Hilton of DC, but I don't see that sticking, somehow.) 

 

It's a pragmatic pick. Politics is the art of the possible, and I am quite happy to see Obama being pragmatic.

Home Run Al!  I liked the pick before this piece, now I am in love with it!  Thanks so much for the great writing you do!

Draw the opposition out to protect the arc, giving you a wide-open layup on the backdoor cut.

Strategically, I think this makes things a bit more conventional, in terms of the map - but recent polling (I know, before the convention means little) - but recent polling that showed Sen. Obama was not going to lap McSame.. Sen. Biden helps with the voters Obama hasn't won over yet.  And I think this will pretty much put McCain in the position where he's going to need to defend the entire Bush '04 map to win.

 

Ohio, Ohio, Ohio!

(or Florida)

(or Indiana and Iowa)

(or Virginia and Nevada)

(or Colorado and New Mexico and Montana and half of Nebraska)

Biden seems like an egomaniac. He is also sharp and smart.  No dullards on the Obama-Biden ticket.  He is a wise pick from a field of imperfect choices. One note in general to sentiments I sometimes read in field comments:   

When you live in a red state, some of the wishing I hear around here seems like an outright luxury. Like wanting Santa Claus to bring you a pony when all you get is a train set.

For much of America, for many of Americans you know, Obama is plenty enough left, plenty enough change, plenty enough different to plenty enough alter the landscape.  Not saying I agree with this sentiment, but I live around it and recognize the reality of it -- and this is the reality Obama has to reconcile with all the wishing.  Hence Biden. 

With the economy continuing to go south a frugal Joe Biden V. Johnny Ten Houses could be a good call.

Being upset about Biden being 'disrespectful' to Gravel? Really? The same Gravel that, without any sort of provocation, accused Obama of wanting to wage nuclear genocide against Iran? Sorry, Gravel may woo the far left with self-righteous talking points, but if there was any arrogant jackass at the debates, it was Mike.

Just another of the many reasons I dislike Biden.  I realize being on the left I don't have a voice in government or any legitmate way to redress grievences.  But still I point out one more problem with Biden..

http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/raveact/

 

The RAVE Act which threatens to squash live music and free speech was passed in 2003 when it was tacked onto an unrelated child protection bill. In 2004 there were two additional pieces of legislation considered - the CLEAN-UP Act and the Ecstasy Awareness Act - that threatened to widen the laws to prosecute anyone who holds an event and fails to prevent illicit drug use.

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) forced the controversial legislation commonly known as the "RAVE" Act through both houses of Congress as an attachment to an unrelated child abduction bill. The "RAVE" Act, also referred to as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, was introduced as an addition to the Child Abduction Protect Act of 2003, widely recognized as the AMBER Alert bill (S151). The "RAVE" Act had not passed a single committee before being attached to the AMBER Alert bill. In addition, it was so controversial when it was introduced during the 107th Congress that two Senators withdrew their sponsorship.

The "RAVE" Act makes it easier for the federal government to prosecute innocent business owners for the drug offenses of their customers - even if they take steps to stop such activity. This is a threat to free speech and musical expression while placing at risk any hotel/motel owner, concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub owner or arena/stadium owner for the drug violations of third parties - real or alleged - regardless of whether or not the promoter and/or property owner made a good-faith effort to keep their event drug-free. It applies not only to electronic music parties, but any type of public gathering: theatrical productions, rock concerts, DJ nights at your local club or tavern, and political rallies. Moreover, it gives heightened powers and discretion to prosecutors who may use it to target events they personally don’t like, such as Hip-Hop events and gay and lesbian fundraisers.

This was a one-point free throw from Obama, the single safest choice he could have made.

And it was aimed squarely at the half of the party that supported Clinton.

It marks the palpable end of the "change" portion of the race, as we get down to the Kerry map and try and swing a couple of states our way. Folks, it was always moving in this direction. Obama is nobody's fool.

He went for a white, hawkish, 60-something, corporatist, Meet the Press, deep blue establishment east coast insider - who just happens to be a great debater, a certified political hit man, and a close personal friend of Hillary Clinton who refused to endorse Barack Obama out of respect for her.

As Al says (amidst his requisite Clinton-hating shots), Old Joe Biden is acceptable to the widest possible swath of the Democratic base, possesses a personal story that is compelling, is an energetic political terrier, and can leverage his gritty pre-MBNA roots to good effect in the geographic areas where Obama is weaker than we'd like. He'll hammer McCain without conscience or compunction - even though he urged Kerry to choose Johnny Mac as his veep, and is buddies with the GOP nominee.

Plus, this really solidifies Delaware! (Kidding, just kidding).

This is one professional politician we've added to the ticket - old school, non-change, insider, totally connected. Does he take the age, war, and DC insider cards off the table? Only a little bit - the race is still about the top of the ticket. After all the tarted-up "suspense," Old Joe Biden may be something of a let-down for some. I can feel that. But don't get too low. I still think he was a safe and fairly wise choice.

Take the free throw. Take the single point.

Now deliver the greatest speech in recent U.S. political history (or thereabouts) - the stakes are that high. We need the bounce. That's the real three-point toss this week. I think he can do it. It's all about The Speech.

All that hype and anticipation -- the text message is sent in the wee hours of Saturday morning, before West Coasters are out of bed, and it is Biden?

If Obama wanted a politics-as-usual senator who voted for the war, he should have gone with Hillary and the Unity ticket -- at least it would have made her supporters happy.

Not at all the buzz and excitement I remember when Bill Clinton picked Gore.  Very disappointing. 

I was hoping that Obama would hit it out of the park, and he barely got a base hit. 

 

Nice job,Al. This back story needs more play.

Let not the perfect be enemy of the good.  We simply have to win this time around.

Biden is quick on his feet and has a great ear for the way folks really talk to one another.  And there's the fire in the belly aspect.  I'm a happy camper.

And thanks, Bill C., for the "Let's Just Be Smart" video. -- Great Biden answer on BS question re favorite Bible verse.  To the point, tough, and baloney free.)

I just heard on MSBNC that Biden will not be campaigning with Obama the next few days. Biden will be heading to Denver. I was looking forward to Bien doing his thing on the bus tour. I guess they will get to do that after?

My mother, an elderly right wingish voter, was riding an Amtrak Metroliner with me from DC to NYC about 4 years ago.  We happen to run into Biden in the club car.  My mom had no idea who he was but, when I told her he was a Democrat, she was defensive.  I introduced myself and told him I was a fan of his, blah blah blah.  He went on to chat with us for the better part of an hour about everyday stuff.  My mom was overwelmed by him and at the end of the conversation, she told him he was her favorite Democrat aside from me.  The man is so "everyday" that he disarms people the moment you meet him.  He's a perfect choice for Obama and will wipe up the floor with those holier than thou Republicans.

Al, you sound positively giddy and it's infectious! McCain got zero press in India where I was for the past 5 weeks.  I am looking forward to reading your reporting from the floor. 

 

Tom W., calling Hillary Clinton's racist campaign racist is not Hillary-hate. It is calling a spade a spade. Please do not project what your candidate was doing (using racial and sexist hatred as a political strategy) onto those who are pointing out (with the force of history, analysis, and evidence behind them) what was happening. Your proclamations to the contrary are not enough. If you will persist, please provide evidence, historical analysis, and an argument for your "opinion".   

 

BOTH of whom would have put me on the ledge. How I wish Clark hadn't of wasted his credentials in what he chose to attack McCain on with regards to the military. How I wish either Webb or Schweitzer were in their SECOND terms. How I wish Sebelius was better known. But, Biden is a solid pick. Not a 3 point one, but a solid pick.

Typing fast...it's almost 3 pm...

People still haven't gotten used to how smart Obama is...

1) He's been saying for 2 weeks what kind of VP he wants, and he got it in Biden.  If people think the O-man hasn't thought of every positive and negative possibility, they're wrong...

2) Biden being 66--besides looking and acting much younger--is a real plus.  He'll be in his mid-seventies in 2016 and will have had literally a lifetime of public service.  Biden's not one who will spend his time in the Obama Adminstration semi-running for President himself...PLUS, all of the others who tried this year, can run again 2016...maybe by that time, they'll be ready!  tee-hee!!

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

 

This is a great post, Al, and I sent it to a bunch of friends looking for more on the future VP. It's a surprising pick--I agreed with you about the three-point shot, but the drive-up-the-middle slam dunk has its advantages--something so forceful and so easy-looking is hugely demoralizing. Thanks for all the info, and I can't wait to hear from you next week. And I'm salivating for the debates--bring on Romney, Timmy P, anyone.  

The biggest constiuency Obama has struggled with is seniors, and seniors love Biden.  More pointedly, old ladies think he's hot.  They love Joe.

I think this locks up PA for Obama, and helps in OH and FL.  Biden is a fighter, and he will take it to McCain.  I really dig this pick.

 Smart is back, & it looks beautiful!! Family too!!

"A man of fundamental decency" -- nice

Obama is taking time to give a personal, moving story of Biden's history -- hitting all the right notes. "He did more than be a senator, he raised a family -- that is the measure of the man."

Savvy, smart and strong.  I'm proud to support this campaign.

 Fabulous!

Thanks Al! Thanks Barack! And thanks Joe! Looking forward to the days ahead!

He's a pitbull baby!  It's on!

I love his delivery, I love his bluntness ;-) "This may be our last chance to reclaim the America we love" OMG! Amazing!

Any ideas as to why Obama waited for an early Saturday morning to announce his choice?

Joe Biden just said:

"You sit at your kitchen table and worry about how to pay the bills. That's not something John McCain has to worry about. He worries about which of the seven kitchen tables to sit at."

The GOPers must be terrified!

This was a great choice from Barack Obama, together they have good chemistry and in my opinion they are very good speakers that will fire-up all democrats and win over many independents.

Joe Biden has me SOLD!  He is just what this campaign needed.  I didn't know that until I heard him speak.

Let's take back America people!

Fighting For Change: Obama/Biden '08!!

"We need more than a good soldier we need a wise leader"

KD

Watching the CNN coverage of Obama/Biden in Springhill, just showed the two with their two wives.  Good optics.

Also fun to watch Zen Barack sitting behind the colorful (mostly red faced) Biden holding forth about him.

You kidding? I'd vote for Obama 1,000 times (in Ohio or Michigan) if I could swing it. I am personally in total support of the ticket.

That said, I'm not one of those "our candidate knows best" types...so I may have just a small comment or two between now an November.

In terms of enthusiasm (not that it matters), Obama's somewhere between Kerry (low side) and Gore (high side) on my excitement meter - with tons of room for growth. Hell, I even signed up for the text.

And, btw, can anyone argue against Biden being the best VP choice of the last three? It's the best choice since Gore...

Yep - Jed has it on his site that Obama will be doing the rest of the