My Choices vs. Obama's
If I was running and people said I was weak, I would pick the Incredible Hulk. If they said I was stupid, I would pick Stephen Hawking. If they said I was boring, I would, of course, choose Snoop Dogg.
Together, we would offer a whole package, a team people could count on to bust heads, crunch numbers, or smoke bodaciously phat doobies while rapping about the ladies.
But if anyone wants to second guess Obama's choice, all they have to do is look at that thing called history. The last two democratic Vice Presidential nominees were chosen for awfully weak reasons. Edwards was chosen to help deliver the South, which he completely failed to do. Lieberman was chosen, as we now know, because at the time Al Gore was just acting incredibly stupid.
On the other hand, the successful Republican veeps have been chosen because they filled out one specific glaring weakness in the resume of the prospective candidate. Cheney was chosen for his foreign policy expertise (and probably because he scared George W. into hiring him.) Bush's father was chosen by Ronald Reagan for - that's right -- his foreign policy expertise.
Biden's a much tougher candidate than either Cheney or Bush I. After countless years spent sweating it out on campaign trails and fighting off rabid GOP attack dogs on the Hill, he's going to come out swinging hard in this race. He's going to be a formidable opponent.
Some of the press, and the AP especially, are already scolding Obama for picking a seasoned pro. They say it only underscores Obama's weakness on foreign policy. They also say by choosing a politican with a long and accomplished resume, he is betraying his principles of being an agent of change.
That's ridiculous. He picked a pro to fill a hole in the lineup, which is what any great manager would do. Coincidentally, Obama also chose someone who is tough, smart, and at times pretty entertaining. Maybe not as entertaining as Snoop Dogg, but still.
It's a solid move. One that should reassure us about Obama's ability to make tough, smart decisions. It shows he is able to learn from history. It shows he is not too proud to have someone by his side who, on some issues, is more experienced than he is. It shows that he is worthy of our support.
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Republicans just lost the fight, they brought a gun and Obama brought the Abrams Tank...
takes a strong man to choose a strong vp. go obama/biden 2008!
Excellent post Toby. I agree with all of the points you raised and articulated so well.
What the AP overlooks is that VP is a political pick. The cabinet appointments are operational picks. It's all irrelevant if you don't win so the idea is to pick a VP who will help to put them both on PA Avenue. Obama made a great choice.
He needed someone like a Rendell or Biden who could connect with white blue collar workers AND who would scare the hell of out of the GOP. Biden is a FIERCE competitor. Moreover, he has an outstanding record in the Senate and he is a man of very modest means (his net worth is under $150K). He also knows what McCain will say before McCain does.
Biden's ferocity is tempered with humor. He eviscerated Mayor Rudy with "a noun a verb and 911" without ever looking mean or antagonistic. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he has gained enormous insight and he has an excellent command of the facts. Neither McCain nor Mitt are going to be able to get away with much BS without having to endure a strong response from Biden.
Sure, he is going to make a gaffe now and then but he sure won't confuse Sunni and Shiia nor will he forget how many homes he owns. He also won't lose his cool like you know who.
Mr. Barlow, we are in agreement on every point but one; Biden's 35 yrs of linquistic "artistry" dwarfs Snoop's in both depth and longevity, not to mention variety. Snoop, however, might do well as head of the Agricultural Dept. All you Snoop fans put down the Bong and donate, now!, I mean it man......
Foshizzle!
A very astute choice by Obama! In the unfortunate world we live in, the selection of V-P is more important than ever. I've no problem whatsoever with Joe Biden taking over the Presidency should anything, God forbid, happen to Barack Obama. Now...it's time to get these two men elected and in the White House! I haven't been this excited since Robert Kennedy ran! Obama-Biden '08!
Sorry, I'm just not excited about this VP pick AT ALL.
After months and months of thinking we're going to get an all new, complete overhaul of the crappy way Washington is run -- we get a guy who's been in Washington for 36 years. Since Nixon was president. Since "Gunsmoke" was on TV. Since Nissan was known as Datsun. Since computers were the size of barns and used cobalt to communicate. Since the Colts were in Baltimore playing the LA Rams. And since the Carpenters were the top pop group on the radio.
When Biden talks about Washington being a mess, won't he be part of the problem? When Barack mentions "Change You Can Believe In", won't Biden be the antithesis of change? When we all decide we're going to bring a fresh new face to the old way of doing things, won't Biden's 66 year old wrinkled look blow that out of the water?
No, I'm not enthused about this at all. But, I'm holding out hope that something dramatic may still happen.
You're not getting it, and you're pounding the ageist view into the ground, but that's OK.
If Obama is going to have any chance at all of changing things in Washington, he's going to need somebody who knows how to navigate it. And Biden fits the bill. Jimmy Carter tried what you're suggesting, and he got eaten alive.
And it's not going to be Biden's face up there, it's going to be Obama's.
Toby,
You are entertaining and this is a strong smart piece of writing. Absolutely right in my view. Obama couldn't have done better. On to the convention and victory in November!
Obama/Biden 08
Chosing Biden is the equivalent of Obama announcing to the world... i don't know what I'm doing so I'm going to pick a Washington D.C. insider to tell me what to do while I rehearse my lines for the show I'm about to put on at the convention. Obama isn't a leader, he's an actor.
No, Reagan was the actor, Obama is a leader.
Wahwahwahwah. Substitute "Hillary" for "Biden" in your post, and it's no less true.
If cars ran on bitterness, you could solve our energy crisis overnight.
I think Biden is a smart choice and another great desicion by Senator Obama.
I disagree with this spin, "He picked a pro to fill his weaknesses".
I think he looked for just what he said he wanted--a VP who brought his own strengths into the WH and who would be a candid, honest and intelligent adviser TO THE PRESIDENT.
I think Obama is confident that he's perfectly able to be the guy at the center, listening to a variety of input and coming to a wise decision..
He doesn't need anyone to "fill in the gaps". (Even with his decades of experience in government, Biden--like so many others--made the wrong call on Iraq).
Obama has judgment, brains, and the confidence to surround himself with "the best", not the worst, and not feel overshadowed by comparison.
Obama / Biden '08 -- what a great team!
I think you're right. Biden is strong enough to argue a foreign policy position against whatever Obama's position is.
However, that assumes winning in November. Biden doesn't help. Clinton would have. I think. Maybe I'm wrong.Thought I was once. I was only incorrect.
clinton would have dragged the ticket down thus insuring a rethug win in November. Obama made the right choice. Deal with it.
I agree; Biden is an excellent choice. They will make an excellent team, a WINNING team. Which is pretty much the first priority, right - anyone remember WINNING?
Joe can kick repub a$$ (which frankly will be enjoyable to watch) and Obama can take care of business on his end.
Yet another example of how Obama actually THINKS about his decisions before he makes them. Hmmmmm...this will take a bit of getting used to after 8 years of "shootin' from the hip"
GREAT CHOICE
To quote some great Americans who died Sept 11th...
"Let's roll!"
I agree, the Democrats needed an attack dog in this election, someone that can pursue the GOP with aggressive determination, something that Obama is sometimes reticent to do. I think Biden is the Ying to Obama's Yang, and can compliment him in a presidential administration. Was Biden the best choice? Maybe, maybe not, but he was the best choice right now, in terms of someone that matched up with Obama well.
Well Toby, you got it right - Obama did just what politicians do. Unfortunately, we all got on his bus cuz he told us he wasn't going to do the political thing. This vp pick sucks. Hope for a new way is now dead. What was wrong with a R. Feingold, Hagel, or Bloomberg. Where's the bravery? We are craving something different our here, and Obama just showed us that's it's gonna be more of the same. The outsider DC platform is over and we just got screwed.
I'd say don't through in the towel just yet. Wait till he announces his cabinet and I can almost guarantee that's were you're going to see these guys. If you think about it, picking Biden was a brilliant move because folks focused on "whose in the White House" will overlook the fact that Obama can put some serious change agents in his cabinet who can effect much needed change in critical government institutions like health, defense, education, etc., and also forward progressive-thinking actions to his White House for his approval. And it takes the heat off guys like Hagel and Feingold who would get a drubbing in the press for their stances if they were on a VP ticket but will basically avoid major scrutiny as a cabinet pick.
It's a tight rope to walk at this stage - you can't be "too different" otherwise folks get too uneasy with you and vote for that they feel more comfortable with. So I think Obama is making the right decision here.
"Different" IS Joe Biden. (How is Feingold any more "different " then Biden?)
Talk about a REAL "straight talker"...Biden has always called em' like he sees em'.
Joe Biden is the perfect pick and compliment to Barack and vise versa. As a life long Democrat I couldn't be happier about Obama's wise choice.
GO Obama-Biden!
What was wrong with Hagel or Bloomberg? Are you joking?
LewisR
I am sorry but I very strongly disagree with you. The people you mentioned are no more of change agents than Joe Biden. Look: Biden, though a long term Senator, is still not of the DC insiders. He commutes to work by train everyday. He has shunned lobbyists. He is an independent think not afraid to speak his mind. For all those reasons he is an excellent choice as Obama's partner.
What was wrong with Hagel or Bloomberg? Are you out of your mind? Could you live with a right wing president (Hagel) if for some reason Obama couldn't govern? More of the same? You're full of it. I'm delighted with Biden.
Hagel would have been a great pick. Seriously.
O has dumped the Change theme. Obviously.
That's OK, but now he's got a new problem. If he's not about Change, what IS he about?
Obama made the right move. And a change is gonna come.
Competence and Leadership.
Well, heII, after Bush that would be a change too.
His theme is still "Change!"
With Biden he gets to move America forward with a strong sail and keel.
At least its not the the Hillary motto of "Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, oh yes, did I forget ME !!!" slogan she had been spouting.
Have you helped your millionaire candidate pay off her debt yet? Or are you still blaming Obama for not paying her bills? If you wanted her to win so badly, its a shame you couldn't pay her bills for her with campaign contributions! With 18+ million of you, each of you can send her ten dollars each, that way she won't need another grade-schooller to sell his bike and send her the proceeds.
Ann, Ann, the bitter angel of doom! Can always count on you for a negative viewpoint.
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