In Obama's Choice, A 'Very Personal Decision'

New York Times:

In the beginning, Senator Barack Obama was not entirely sold on Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. And Mr. Biden told friends that he was pessimistic of his chances of becoming Mr. Obama's Democratic running mate.

Over the course of two months, as the dynamics of the presidential campaign and world events shifted quickly, Mr. Biden's stock rose through one of the most rigorous vice-presidential vetting processes that Democrats could recall. It was a process in which Mr. Obama applied intense secrecy, careful pragmatism and political input from a team of internal and external advisers that have guided his campaign from the start. And it ended Thursday with a phone call from Mr. Obama, who reached Mr. Biden as he was at a dentist's office where he had taken his wife to have a root canal.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[Actionmac]

The republicans are really scared of this ticket, they have hired so many bloggers tp hit the progressive sites with negatives about Biden.

I am sure it is money well spent... Good job Obama making them spend unwisely to try to create a riff in the party.

Hey tell your masters that the old man is going to have to step up his game in being seen. mcliar can't do one appearance every two days anymore he has to get out and be seen. That's going to go over really well. Criticizedn the teleprompter and now he has to use notes to try and remember what he is suppose to say. Here comes gaffe and I didn't say that all over again. But he doesn't speak for the campaign he is just the puppet.

[OilWarsDotCom]

This county is going to be sorry it didn't have the nerve to elect Kucinich - He opposed the corporate take over of the USA - Now it will continue to occur. The only thing Obama is going to change is his underwear.­......mayb­e

[Jellybelly]

How boring HuffPo would have been if Obama had selected Hillary as his VP. No one would be arguing and fighting in the comment section.

[NTO08]

Biden's tech voting record
By choosing Joe Biden as their vice presidential candidate, the Democrats have selected a politician with a mixed record on technology who has spent most of his Senate career allied with the FBI and copyright holders, who ranks toward the bottom of CNET's Technology Voters' Guide, and whose anti-privacy legislation was actually responsible for the creation of PGP.

After taking over the Foreign Relations committee, Biden became a staunch ally of Hollywood and the recording industry in their efforts to expand copyright law. He sponsored a bill in 2002 that would have make it a federal felony to trick certain types of devices into playing unauthorized music or executing unapproved computer programs. Biden's bill was backed by content companies including News Corp. but eventually died after Verizon, Microsoft, Apple, eBay, and Yahoo lobbied against it.

A few months later, Biden signed a letter that urged the Justice Department "to prosecute individuals who intentionally allow mass copying from their computer over peer-to-peer networks." Critics of this approach said that the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America, and not taxpayers, should pay for their own lawsuits.

Last year, Biden sponsored an RIAA-backed bill called the Perform Act aimed at restricting Americans' ability to record and play back individual songs from satellite and Internet radio services. (The RIAA sued XM Satellite Radio over precisely this point.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cnet/83011357831002416338;_ylt=AgBK_melfjIHofQ3Dm.PkJEDW7oF

[Mabila]

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[Jellybelly]

Obama: I want to introduce you to the next President of the United States, JOE BIDEN.

[Actionmac]

mccain: a surge, a drill, and POW

[CtJean]

He meant in 2016

[lisak2008]

Obama/Biden '08 - Two houses. Two spouses!

[Trinidad707]

What a fraud.....­Obama minded when he wasn't even a sentaor..t­hat Hillary voted yes to go to war in 2002...Gue­ss what??/ So did Joe Biden.John Kerry too.......­..hypocrit­s!

[danoj]

ya, but they are going to spin it that Bidden said his vote was wrong and Hill never did.

[altheus10]

If you mean by "spin" that Biden truthfully appologized for the vote then you're correct, it's spin. As I recall, Hillary did finally come around to kinda of admitting some regret for the vote.

As far as your comment Trinidad70­7.... Virtually everyone voted for the War except Kucinich. What a great choice that would have been! Perhaps Obama should have chosen some unknown. That would have made for a picnic for the Republicans.

[CtJean]

That's no spin

Biden did

Hilbilly didn't

[Actionmac]

and he still minds and he is right. The reason we have timetable from bush and Iraqi leaders.

But most important the reason those that apologized for their vote for the war apologized.

We know you people are not hillary supporters we know your redumblican operatives = PUMA

[Trinidad707]

Biden's son a registered lobbyist since 2001 so much for change you can believe in! Barack???

[utd]

I'm sorry was there some sort of scandal we missed where Joe Biden did something inappropriate because his son is a lobbyist? If not, then crawl back down the slime ball hole you came from. It may seem cute to play the guilt by association game, but I can readily assure you it works both ways and your camp would not weather that storm well.

[danoj]

IDK, same as the scandle of a man owning more than one house i guess.

[NTO08]

A question for Joe at a debate:

Why are you in bed with the movie studios? Why do you shill for the RIAA?
Why do you make it impossible for people to record satellite radio programs, a service they are PAYING for anyway???:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/cnet/83011357831002416338;_ylt=AgBK_melfjIHofQ3Dm.PkJEDW7oF

[foxbat]

Satellite radio customers are paying, actually licensing, to hear the show/song, not record it. It's the same reason that you aren't allowed to make copies of software, except for backup. SR offers a different level of recording/­distributi­on capability than "free" radio. Also, the lack of commercial content, voiceovers, etc. make it ripe for piracy and licensing abuse beyond the analog airplay environment. That's a big reason why different types of rules/licensing for analog/digital broadcast exist. For an easy quick read on the issues: http://www.ipmall.fplc.edu/hosted_resources/crs/RL33538_060712.pdf or for a much longer, technical read, but with more point-counterpoint: http://www.copyright.gov/docs/carson071504.pdf or an intermediate approach: http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/archives/internet-radio-more-on-the-copyright-royalty-board-decision-on-internet-radio-music-royalties.html .

As for Biden being in bed with Hollywood, HuffPo ran an article on that two days ago: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/23/biden-supportive-of-holly_n_120795.html. If the assertion is that Biden is benefiting from his policy stances in/on Hollywood, it's a hollow argument.

Why is it that people who pay for a service, knowing what the contract is, always assume that they deserve more? These are the same ones that tap extra cable outlets or use splitters on a single line because they don't want to pay for the second outlet/line and then call to complain that the picture's fuzzy.

[BWonka]

The son who is the AG in Delaware? The son going to Iraq? Hmmm - how come Mitten's 5 sons all chickened out?

[THEhillbilly]

This is hilarious. Personal decision, my butt. There is no way the party allowed the trainee to dictate the choice of VP candidate. They chose one who will make the ticket half credible and told the speechwriters to put some glowing praise in Obama's mouth.

[c1ee]

I think it's hilarious you think you know what goes on in Obama's head.

[realitybase]

Keep smokin that reefer.... my FRIEND.

We haven't seen a more personal, playing above-the-board candidate than Obama in decades.

Go wash your mouth with soap.

[CaliTLC]

I heard that you hit your head getting out of bed this morning. Try to be more careful.

Obama-Biden 2008-2016

[NTO08]

Biden and Patriot Act...read why he actually helped bring about Bush's illegal wiretapping and other violations of civil liberties.­..



http://news.yahoo.com/s/cnet/83011357831002416338;_ylt=AgBK_melfjIHofQ3Dm.PkJEDW7oF

[scooperss]

http://www.elliscountypress.com/news/132/ARTICLE/1756/2008-05-05.html

[lisak2008]

Obama/Biden '08 - Two houses. Two spouses!

[BWonka]

Hil likes his choice - if you like her you need to do as she asks and support the ticket.

Or you can stay stuck in yesterday with mcPOW and the uncaring re-thugs.

[HatingTheGame]

Interesting that both Boosh and BO chose VPs that are senior to them, and can also act as mentors. Of course, Boosh had no clue what he was doing, and was under the total control of Cheney (I am sure he is living to regret how manipulated he's been by Darth, and how most of the things that have happened in his administration he had, and probably still has, no clue about).

BO on the other hand also chose an older person (of course, given his age, older is what he'd have to be), but Biden can be a mentor in a positive way. He's been around the DC circuit for awhile, and he's sharp and not afraid to get into a scrap (which can be good of bad, depending).

Of course, I have huge reservations about Biden's support for the bankruptcy bill pushed by MBNMA (forget the exact acronym) a Delaware credit card company. They knew that the bubble was not sustainable, and planned to make sure that all their bad credit card loans would not get Chapter 7 protection. They wanted to ensure that as many people were literally living in debtor's prison for as long as possible. That's better than getting your first born, since you get that, and the whole family and all its assets under your control/

Very insidious. Hurt working and middle class families a lot. But given the stakes, I'll suck it up.

Now FISA is another matter.

[PAposter]

Goodnight beautiful people, give'em hell.

[BWonka]

G'nite

[Coyote2]

Hi. Is this the night shift?

[suzyhein]

Where is "The Night" ;)

[Dreamers 101]

Good night to all who seek and functioning government for true democracy for the people of the US.

"Give them nothing but take everything from them"

[suzyhein]

All the world loves a dreamer!

nite

[PAposter]

Night, Dreamers.

[borderorder]

Must check out myself so equal salutations ... strange day, but I think it heralds better things ahead. Fight the good fight.

Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.
Thomas Payne

[BWonka]

G'nite.

[suzyhein]

psssssst. come over to the new main thread. their is gonna be a rumble!

[CocteausTwin]

OK before I leave this nonsense..­.

Sick of the "more comments" thing? Just hit any permalink and it will show all comments on that page. Thought when you reload the page it will only relaod the current page. Goodnight to the people who care about others, to the others go fuckyourse­lfrepeated­ly.

[PAposter]

Thanks for the info.

Goodnight Twin.

[AdLib]

G'night CT! Convention, Day One tomorrow, rest up!

[BWonka]

G'nite - to both of you :)

[suzyhein]

Nite CT

I just love the P-spot (permalink)

[psfurlong356]

Even McCain himself on CBS this morning seemed defensive about the "7 houses" question. He brought up his Father-in-law Daddy Hensely, which was a mistake, because guess what?:

John McCain Calls Convicted Felon with Ties to the Mob a "Role Model" (Daddy Hensley, Cindy's Father)

http://www.stopthinkvote.com/whatsnew/082408.html

[doctorwang]

It's interesting that no one has brought up the Bonanno crime syndicate. There are proven ties to that mob family with Cindy's family beer distribution business (oh, and with John too).

[BWonka]

I expect that O's team is preparing lots of ads like that, that will start right after mcPOW puts everyone to sleep in Minn.

[NTO08]

We care more about Biden and civil liberties.­..why is it he and Obama just don't care about FISA? See why:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cnet/83011357831002416338;_ylt=AgBK_melfjIHofQ3Dm.PkJEDW7oF

No Dem who claims to be progressive can dare support these two men...at least Hillary didn't vote for this ridiculous FISA bill Obama made lamebrain excuses for and Biden joined in...

[Dreamers 101]

OBAMA/BIDEN THE COATTAILS ARE SO LONG THEY REACH FROM ANTARCTICA CLEAR OVER TO THE NORTH POLE GRAVITAS INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!

[connorin]

Yeah! By the end of the day they will be up in the polss by like 25%!!!

[VolvoBirkenstock]

ThePodiumIsMine
bwahahaha.­...what a perfect example of how irrelevant you 'tards are. Entertaining though.
posted Aug 24, 2008 at 23:09:27

ThePodiumIsMine
Listen son, I'm a vain man. I consistently play you 'tards for fools and I wouldn't hide under other monikers, I like the admiration I receive from all right thinking people.
posted Aug 24, 2008 at 23:23:09

Why would you like receiving attention from people you consider irrelevant and " 'tards "

Could it be that you are unaccepted everywhere else you go?

Could it be that your lack of intelligence makes you a pariah on legitimate conservative sites?

Could it be that on lower brow right wing sites you are just one of many and indistinguishable from the rest?

It is obvious that you are not able to hold your own.

[Sabreen60]

Smoking!!!

[LAR1969]

"Could it be that your lack of intelligence makes you a pariah on legitimate conservative sites?"

This has always been my theory about trolls of this ilk. I feel validated.

[ChiGuy]

Biff! Socko!! POW!!!!

[MichiganJFrog]

Well done, but I doubt the bald bonehead could understand any of what you just said. To many words with more than 6 letters, and FAR to difficult of a concept.

[suzyhein]

let the melting begin.