Veepstakes Watch: Biden

He's the lead guest on the Today Show this morning....widely praised by the Democratic blogosphere for his prosecution yesterday....had a good sense of humor about the presidential atmospherics of the hearings.....

Despite Sen. Obama's fundraiser braggadocio -- Mr. Obama gets cocky sometimes -- virtually everyone who advises him believes that he will need some foreign policy heft.

Biden told NBC's Matt Lauer that those listening to Obama yesterday "hear the exact opposite idea of John McCain."

And later, he said that Hillary Clinton shouldn't get out. "As a former president said, we should chill out."

No appreciative bump in his Intrade rating, though.

Comments

Hillbilly can't even withdraw from her own Campaign, let alone withdraw from Iraq.

With her around, the US will be in Iraq for 300 years --- long after the oil dried up.

Posted by D | April 9, 2008 8:33 AM

Obama points out that, on the biggest foreign policy decision in a generation, he's the only one that correctly predicted the consequences and the situation we now find ourselves in Iraq...and that makes him cocky?

So what does that make John McCain, who continues to mix up Shia and Sunni, and yet calls Obama naive?

What does that make Hillary Clinton, who literally fabricates tales of sniper fire as evidence of foreign policy chops?

Anyway...Biden would certainly be a good pick, but I think Richardson still makes more sense: executive experience, also has foreign policy experience (though not as much as Biden), and of course, he helps in the general (Hispanic vote; southwestern states)

Posted by Ready for change | April 9, 2008 8:55 AM

Biden is a bright guy, but he has an ego problem, he's a bad campaigner, and obviously, we need him in the Senate.

I think the better choice for Obama would be Sam Nunn: a moderate independent, a foreign policy giant, a low-key but persuasive campaigner, and most importantly, a centrist national security expert who opposed the Iraq fiasco from the start. Nunn would be like Obama's anti-Cheney and if McCain picks an idiot like Romney or Huckabee for VP, the vice presidential debate would be nothing short of an evisceration.

Posted by Klaus | April 9, 2008 9:01 AM

I think Obama would choose Biden. Biden's a better campaigner and debator than people like Webb and Strickland, and will make a better "attack dog" than those, and others, often mentioned. Plus, he has foreign policy experience and is Catholic. His downside is that he occasionally puts his foot in his mouth. But I think his positives outweigh that risk.

Posted by Paleo | April 9, 2008 9:15 AM

If you listen to Obama at a fundraiser in Cali this weekend, he finds it interesting that people think he needs a VP with foreign policy experience, since that is the one area he is confident in. He explained that because he loved overseas, visted some of the countries and knows te people and not just their leaders. He said he would look for someone with expertise in an area he is not well versed in such as energy polices. Too many posters have swallowed the convential thinking on who should be Obama' VP. And as we all are aware, convential thinking about this election year has been all wrong. I expect that Obama' choice will be unexpected. I think, he will choose someone with like a Bloomberg or Richardson. (go check out the article of Obama' fundraiser at Huffington Post)

Posted by sonya | April 9, 2008 9:39 AM

"Cocky"? You've been reading too much Mayhill Fowler.

As for Biden, he's just not anybody's VP -- wrong temperament. For Obama, a much better VP pick would be Richardson or Sebelius.

Biden should be -- and, I imagine, is -- on Obama's shortlist for State.

Posted by horizonr | April 9, 2008 9:46 AM

Biden is precisely the sort of obvious, unoriginal, DC-insider, corporate-establishment mouthpiece that screams "business as usual, no change going to happen here." If Obama picks Biden, it will completely undermine his primary point of appeal -- a new direction.

Posted by Gus | April 9, 2008 9:49 AM

Biden would indeed be a logical possibility if Obama wanted to pick an "anti-Cheney", but I somewhat doubt he will go in that direction. Basically, you can take the "complementary" approach, where you pick someone who is perceived as addressing your weak spots, or you can take the "reinforcement" approach, where you pick someone who is perceived as emphasizing the sort of political brand and message you are trying to convey to the electorate.

And since everything about Obama's campaign, and indeed his entire political history, suggests that he very much believes in the power of building and maintaining a compelling brand and coherent message, my guess is that he will indeed opt for the reinforcement approach.

Posted by DTM | April 9, 2008 10:05 AM

Biden is a great campaigner, as anyone who saw him in Iowa could attest. He is charismatic, energetic, funny and brilliant on the stump. His problem was not his candidacy. It was his campaign. He picked his sister and some other incompetents to run it, and they made one terrible decision after another as it veered into the ditch. Biden did nothing to change direction, and so proved that Obama's management skills are far better.

Richardson was not a great campaigner, not charismatic or inspiring. He is a bright man and might be a good veep, but I sure hope that Obama vets the rumors about his social life before picking him.

Posted by Susan | April 9, 2008 10:35 AM

By "foreign policy heft" do you mean "someone like Biden who voted for or otherwise supported the decision to invade Iraq," or do you mean "someone like Biden who has been involved in foreign policy for many years, irrespective of their intelligence, judgment, or policy views"?

Posted by Dave | April 9, 2008 11:48 AM

Still holding out on Obama/Clark, the one guy on the Democrats' side who can crush McCain in war hero cred.

Posted by 55 | April 9, 2008 5:03 PM

As a consumer bankruptcy lawyer, I will never, ever, ever forgive Joe Biden for his depressingly instrumental role in sponsoring and passing the truly awful bankruptcy "reform" bill in 2005.

Posted by DZ | April 9, 2008 6:11 PM

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith...

p.s. You Might Be An Idiot!

If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...

You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. Naughty Girl. :-)

Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on...

Posted by jacksmith | April 9, 2008 11:46 PM

DON'T BE DUPED !!!

Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.

But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).

I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.

You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.

Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!

As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.

Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.

If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.

The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.

I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton’s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama’s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history.

The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.

Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.

“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)

Sincerely

jacksmith...

Posted by jacksmith | April 10, 2008 12:28 AM

Isn't Biden a bit gaffe-prone? I seem to remember remarks about Indians in convenience stores...

Posted by mike | April 10, 2008 2:02 PM

what about obama/zinni?

Posted by fulano | April 10, 2008 4:11 PM

You might be an idiot if you believe Jacksmith.

Posted by EuroTrash60 | April 11, 2008 1:51 AM

All you Clinton haters......Obama is a fraud. Lot of BS in his speaches.

In my mind, he's arrogant, glib. His wife is truly a B_ _ _ _!

We know knothing about him. Wake up! If you lookback on history.....over the last 40+ years and anti-war president has never won the presidential election.

Wake up people......the best shot at McCain is Clinton. She's more of a centrist than Obama. If you are not careful, it could be 1968 all over again.

You young people drinking the kook-aid, this is not a popularity contest.....this is an election.

Posted by j mousso | April 11, 2008 10:11 AM

Another reason that Biden may be an inspired choice that I haven't seen mentioned, perhaps because it is a bit counterintuitive, is due to his gaffe early in the campaign when he condescendingly referred to Obama as "clean and articulate." As soon as Obama announces a Biden VP pick those old clips will be resurrected and tossed into heavy rotation on cable news and elsewhere and no doubt both of them will be asked to comment about it. The upside is that by doing so it may help to reassure some white voters who are worried that Obama will turn out to be the race-card playing demagogue, which Hillary and the right-wing media have tried to portray him as, that he is instead a guy who lets such minor slights roll off his back and doesn't hold a grudge against whites who sometimes say something a little politically incorrect. I think Obama tried to do a little of this when he rushed to Biden's defense on race in one of the debates.

Plus with Biden's penchant for occasionaly spouting off he serves as sort of a white counterpoint to Jeremiah Wright. Eventually Obama will be forced to stand by his man after some Biden-uttered doozy and it will underscore the message that he values loyalty and is willing to forgive and forget.

Posted by whalt | April 11, 2008 3:23 PM