Patterico's Pontifications

8/22/2008

Obama-Biden 2008 (Updated)

Filed under: 2008 Election,Terrorism — DRJ @ 9:58 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

The AP says Obama picks Biden, and Fox News and CNN have ‘Breaking News’ banners that Biden is the choice.

ABC News reported earlier that the Secret Service had been dispatched to Biden’s home to provide protection.

UPDATE: Beldar responds to David Brooks’ ode to Biden and adds thoughts of his own.

— DRJ

UPDATE BY PATTERICO: I won’t mince words. Biden is a clown. His selection probably won’t make a difference to the electorate at large, but to people familiar with Biden, it’s further confirmation that Obama is not ready for prime time.

76 Responses to “Obama-Biden 2008 (Updated)”

  1. *buffs his fingernails against his lapel*

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  2. That’s got to be about the stupidest choice among all the choices he had.

    Can anyone explain the logic of picking the second dumbest windbag in the Senate?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  3. This is like U2 announcing a final tour, hyping that the opening act is going to be huge. Among predictions of the Stones, a Beatles reunion, and others, we get…

    The Monkees!!!!

    Let’s all dance in the streets!

    MartyH (00ac40)

  4. Can anyone explain the logic of picking the second dumbest windbag in the Senate?

    Reid was busy this weekend?

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  5. The Arrogance Ticket.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  6. VP Debate: Please explain, Sen. Biden, how u can support BHO, who does not hold your Russian view, nor your view of maintaining Iraqi stability.

    McCain has got to be thrilled at this moment.

    Ed (ddaac8)

  7. On Monday, be sure to buy shares of any company that sells teleprompters, as neither of these two can be trusted “off prompter”.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  8. Thank goodness!

    I was really worried about the prospect of Secretary of State Biden.

    Whitehall (7fd130)

  9. BS Biden a heartbeat away from the Presidency? Bambi’s insane, and he’s too stupid to be POTUS.

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  10. Congrats, Scott, you picked Biden first in the other thread. Next week we’ll see if you can go 2-for-2.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  11. heh… 6 days… 🙂

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  12. I’m glad it’s not Hillary. I think Obama-Clinton would have been difficult to beat.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  13. It would have been impossible, assuming they could avoid the squabbling…

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  14. So, does this mean that the Dems can’t attack McCain on his age now? I know Biden is only 65, but in the minds of those under 30 that is not much different than 72?
    Will Biden be allowed to speak on his own?

    lynndh (66e68f)

  15. Of cource they can still attack… They went after McCain’s wife after Sen Obama’s “Family is off limits” bit.

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  16. Now, the door is open for McCain to put Hillary on his VP short list. Wouldn’t that put a bee in Bambi’s bonnet, and make for a fun time next week in Denver?

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  17. Obama bin Biden

    Icy Truth (9e8038)

  18. I think Obama’s supporters are too invested in Obama to care who he picks but at some level they have to be disillusioned. This was Obama’s first executive decision and choosing an establishment politician like Biden isn’t something a candidate who promises to change the establishment would do.

    Further, while Biden helps Obama’s meager foreign policy experience, neither one has any executive experience. However, they both like to talk.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  19. I’ve updated the post to add links that discuss the pros and cons of Joe Biden.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  20. DRJ — 8/22/2008 @ 10:45 pm
    …they both like to talk.

    Will they have to add another day to the convention?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  21. There are a lot of speakers scheduled during the Democratic Convention, and some of them like to talk even more than the average politician. The DNC should hand out coupons for free Starbucks if they don’t want pix of dozing delegates.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  22. This pick reflects weakness on amounts to a concession on Obama’s part that he was going to lose the election on the basis of national security and foreign policy experience. He THINKS this will address those issues — this is his “Cheney” solution to the problem with his resume.

    But Biden is no Cheney.

    This is a huge wiff, and it makes no constituency in the Dem party happy.

    wls (de1532)

  23. I don’t like to brag, but I predicted it would be Biden almost 15 minutes after Drudge reported it to be fact.

    Kevin (834f0d)

  24. #17, It was a joke, but now as I kick it around…

    Think all those helpful folks in MSM who were pushing Joe Lieberman for VP on the GOP ticket will now encourage McCain to have a close look at Hillary?

    Some of their arguments were pretty good. I wonder what they would think about a McCain/Clinton ticket, with the possibility of ‘ol Slick at Foggy Bottom.

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  25. Kevin, that’s pretty damn impressive.

    Who else was Obama supposed to pick? The other folks were unexperienced and boring. Hillary seemed clearly opposed to being Obama’s veep in June, seems to hate his guts, and isn’t someone you can work with.

    Biden has a higher IQ than you, and has some experience voting for Iraq, and asking to make its civil way bona fide by tearing Iraq into three parts. In all seriousness, I can’t think of anyone better inside DC that Obama could pick. Were I Obama, I would have picked a non-politician. Some kind of brilliant business leader…

    Altogether Biden won’t hurt Obama too much. He might help if he controls himself, because he has a higher IQ than you.

    Juan (4cdfb7)

  26. Don’t pick on Kevin. It took me 20 minutes after the announcement to predict it was Biden.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  27. Ropelight, angel dust is nothing that amateurs should play with.

    Icy Truth (9e8038)

  28. Ropelight, Joe Lieberman is a patriotic badass. A true maverick in his own right.

    Hillary is… a power hungry lawyer who married the guy who became president.

    I don’t think Mccain has to do anything to get Hillary’s help behind the scenes, but the idea of Hillary at the GOP convention is something I can’t imagine even our BS MSM suggesting. It would be like nominating Lex Luthor.

    Though I actually think the CIA would do a great job if Bill Clinton were running it. He is extremely clever and effective, and those CIA people probably really love him.

    Mccain’s VP probably ought to be someone Biden’s manner is incompatible with. Palin is better than Romney in this case, because Biden would come across as a huge jerk if the person he’s thrashing is likable.

    And given all the backstabbing taking place between Hillary and Barack, it’s clear Mccain would get a lot of votes by being cynical enough to chose among women for the role.

    Juan (4cdfb7)

  29. drj, I’m still not sure it’s Biden, so Kevin is way ahead of me! Hell, I don’t even know if Obama is the nominee.

    But Obama sure showed he could make a huge overblown mess out of a very simple choice. Such a Paris Hilton-like treatment of a serious subject… I can see Paris texting Lohan to tell her that she just picked this soooper cool guy to, like, totally be her VP because he is sooo hot.

    Juan (4cdfb7)

  30. Mischief is my goal, and simply floating the idea McCain’s staff might be looking at Hillary would dominate the rap in Denver. But, this is it for me, I’m done.

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  31. I almost hope that happens, Ropelight. This election has turned into excellent fun.

    Juan (4cdfb7)

  32. Good point, Juan, we don’t know the nominee or the VP yet … and yet now it seems like yesterday’s news.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  33. I think the selection took so long because Biden was the last man standing. The others held their hands out, defensively, saying: “Dude, no way, the bloods already running down the street.”

    Biden just figured, what the hell, there can’t possibly be any room left under that bus…right?

    PC14 (ec0516)

  34. This is a great choice. Biden is one of the straightest talking foreign policy experts in the Congress. His laser perfect vivisection of the Bush Administration’s stupidity is music to the ears. He appeals to the working class. Pennsylvania, Ohio and VIrginia are probably locked up. Ka-ching!

    And…and…he won’t hesitate to skewer McCain on his thinly disguised Bush Part III BS and high horse POW nonsense which he hides behind every single time he makes a dumb mistake. It’s getting so tedious. Telling the economy or AQ that he’s a POW is not going to solve those complex issues.

    It’s a breath of fresh air really. It’s important that Obama continue working on bringing Independents and Republicans into his bipartisan approach to problems, but Joe is going to make sure the issues stay on point and the solutions real and pragmatic.

    Obama/Biden 08

    Torquil (a72029)

  35. Two words: Sarah Palin.

    Kevin Murphy (0b2493)

  36. Ah, this is wonderful.

    Obama’s decision leaked to the media several hours before his aides planned to send a text message announcing the running mate, negating a promise that people who turned over their phone numbers would be the first to know who Obama had chosen. The campaign scrambled to send the text message after the leak, sending phones buzzing at the inconvenient time of just after 3 a.m. on the East coast.

    Evil Pundit (646727)

  37. Oh and I think this means McCain is going to seriously rethink the negative ads and the phony controversy that his campaign is putting out there, because I do believe Biden will basically stomp him cold. McCain can’t hold a candle to Biden on foreign policy experience or knowledge. All he can do is have his campaign roll out his POW pics for the 4845th time. Yawn.

    Torquil (a72029)

  38. #37

    I got my text a as I was learning about it online. It was excellent.

    Torquil (a72029)

  39. Biden is one of the straightest talking foreign policy experts in the Congress.

    Biden voted for the Iraq war, but now claims he did so only after being tricked by Bush.
    Yep, that’s straight talk.

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  40. Obama sure fooled you with that “give me your number and you’ll be the first to know” lie, didn’t he, Torquil? I knew hours before you did.

    Evil Pundit (646727)

  41. So Torquil, do you work in Biden’s office or are you one of his relatives?

    JVW (d54fc4)

  42. The nutroots are ecstatic with Joe Biden? Who woulda thunk? Biden is a joke on so many levels. Count me as one who sees senators as mostly pompous, arrogant asses. Imagine Joe as POTUS? If he is so experienced, why isn’t HE heading the ticket? Oh, not enough hope, change and magic negroness there?

    I agree that McCain should pick Palin. How is she less experienced than the big Zero who heads the dem ticket? I hope Juan doesn’t go with a drab choice like Ridge or a social liberal former dem Lieberman.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  43. Tweaking on Nyquil wrote: Pennsylvania, Ohio and VIrginia are probably locked up. Ka-ching!
    — Better be prepared to go from “Ka-ching!” to ‘one out of three ain’t bad’.

    he won’t hesitate to skewer McCain
    — VP candidates are supposed to be the attack dogs. Do try to keep up.

    It’s a breath of fresh air really.
    — Maybe you should stop huffing those whippets and get some fresh air your own self.

    Joe is going to make sure the issues stay on point and the solutions real and pragmatic.
    — Yeah, that’s Obama; a pragmatist. If you count putting forth the pretense of understanding all sides of an issue, before making a bottom-line decision that falls in line with the left, as pragmatism. Who knows? Maybe you do.

    I think this means McCain is going to seriously rethink the negative ads and the phony controversy that his campaign is putting out
    What “phony controversy” would that be, torque wrench?

    I do believe Biden will basically stomp him cold.
    — Maybe he will emphasize their differences by calling McCain “unclean”.

    I got my text a as I was learning about it online. It was excellent.
    — Dude! Was it bitchin’ and gnarly too?

    Icy Truth (9e8038)

  44. Ya know, Max, I like most of your posts but this is getting a little bit tedious.

    ATTENTION, EVERYONE. JOHN McCAIN IS NOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOTNOT GOING TO PICK EITHER LIEBERMAN OR RIDGE. Any rumors to the contrary should be filed right next to “Who the hell is Chet Edwards?”.

    Icy Truth (9e8038)

  45. So how would Icy Truth counter the Biden “strengths”? I think Biden is a great choice from GOP perspective. Ok, Howard Dean or Breck Girl Edwards would have been better.

    For Veep, Romney or even Guliani would be ok with me, but the intolerant evangelicals are not enthusiastic about a Mormon. I keep seeing Pawlenty mentioned.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  46. That’s the problem, Max. Romney would be a good VP, but as an attack dog he’s weak; Giuliani would be tougher, but he has high negatives.

    Look, I like Sarah Palin (who wouldn’t?) but the truth is she has less experience than Obama. By picking Biden, Obama has sacrificed playing the ‘age card’; something his campaign has been doing sparingly if at all as it is. They knew there was limited mileage in that . . . older people vote in large numbers. McCain can’t afford to give up the ‘inexperience card’, because he knows that ‘inexperience’ added to ‘questionable judgment’ registers a body blow.

    Pawlenty is a two-term governor who is the same age as Obama, and he’s already been out there acting as spokesman/cheerleader/attack dog for McCain. He is a good choice.

    Icy Truth (9e8038)

  47. Pawlenty, snore, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, boarrrrrrring. (horrible nothingness on TV)

    It’s GOTTA BE PALIN!!!!!!!!

    Ted (429bc3)

  48. Biden — the perfect foil for Palin!

    Ted (429bc3)

  49. The 2008 Obama surge officially sputters out.
    Hillary in 2012.

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  50. Obama’s is just rewarding Biden for that clean and articulate comment that gave a boost to his campaign at the right time. Chicago politics all the way BAY-BEEEEE!!!!

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  51. Biden? Obama steps into a quagmire with no exit plan.

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  52. That Torquil really is a mental midget.

    JD (5f0e11)

  53. Didn’t Biden vote for the war after being tricked by the dummerest President EVAH, and later call for partitioning Iraq? He of the super white horse teeth and a bad comb over and a plagarist? That Biden? The one that mugs for cameras in his sleep? This is going to be fun. If there is anyone as arrogant as Baracky, it is Biden.

    JD (5f0e11)

  54. This is a great choice. Biden is one of the straightest talking foreign policy experts in the Congress. His laser perfect vivisection of the Bush Administration’s stupidity is music to the ears.

    You mean like when he voted for Iraq?

    He appeals to the working class. Pennsylvania, Ohio and VIrginia are probably locked up. Ka-ching!

    Which is why Obama gave up on Virginia in ad spending?

    Obama’s going to get Pennsylvania, but he was probably still going to get it anyway.

    And…and…he won’t hesitate to skewer McCain on his thinly disguised Bush Part III BS and high horse POW nonsense which he hides behind every single time he makes a dumb mistake.

    Biden already has a list of gaffes that could fill an encyclopedia and I don’t have the slightest doubt these will continue.

    For starters,

    According to The New Republic, in October 2001, Biden encountered a group of airline pilots and flight attendants who wanted his help in passing emergency benefits for laid-off airline workers. “I hope you will support my work on Amtrak as much as I have supported you,” Biden told them. “If not, I will screw you badly.”

    The mouth of Biden had its most recent bout with controversy a little over a year ago when he expressed fears that the United States looked like a “high-tech bully” when it was bombing Afghanistan.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13757367/

    WASHINGTON – Facing criticism, potential 2008 presidential candidate Joe Biden has been forced to explain his recent remark that “you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.”

    For a (partial) list of others, click here:

    http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NGRhNzJlMWY5NjdiNzhjMTRkYjMzNjYwOGJmYzNjMTY=

    In 1988, he had to drop out of Presidential race when it came to light he plagiarized a British socialist, but also after this exchange:

    The tape, which was made available by C-SPAN in response to a reporter’s request, showed a testy exchange in response to a question about his law school record from a man identified only as “Frank.” Mr. Biden looked at his questioner and said: “I think I have a much higher I.Q. than you do.”

    He then went on to say that he “went to law school on a full academic scholarship – the only one in my class to have a full academic scholarship,” Mr. Biden said. He also said that he “ended up in the top half” of his class and won a prize in an international moot court competition. In college, Mr. Biden said in the appearance, he was “the outstanding student in the political science department” and “graduated with three degrees from college.”

    In his statement today, Mr. Biden, who attended the Syracuse College of Law and graduated 76th in a class of 85, acknowledged: “I did not graduate in the top half of my class at law school and my recollection of this was inaccurate.”

    As for receiving three degrees, Mr. Biden said: “I graduated from the University of Delaware with a double major in history and political science. My reference to degrees at the Claremont event was intended to refer to these majors – I said ‘three’ and should have said ‘two.'” Mr. Biden received a single B.A. in history and political science.

    “With regard to my being the outstanding student in the political science department,” the statement went on. “My name was put up for that award by David Ingersoll, who is still at the University of Delaware.”

    In the Sunday interview, Mr. Biden said of his claim that he went to school on full academic scholarship: “My recollection is – and I’d have to confirm this – but I don’t recall paying any money to go to law school.” Newsweek said Mr. Biden had gone to Syracuse “on half scholarship based on financial need.”

    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4D91F3CF931A1575AC0A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

    Torquil, the Dems now have as their VP a guy who stated:

    Stephanopoulos: You were asked, “Is he ready?” You said, “I think he can be ready but right now, I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.”

    Biden: I think that I stand by the statement.

    Anon (db8e0c)

  55. and later call for partitioning Iraq?

    There’s your Ka-ching!, Torquemada. Biden’s plan would have guarandamteed the civil war you lefties were so panting for. History has already hammered him for that one.

    rhodeymark (e96855)

  56. Biden? As in “clean, articulate” Biden?

    How is this “HopeChange”? Biden is a known serial liar. Bambi is — oh, I see. Birds of a feather.

    steve miller (d2d379)

  57. I have a longer post on this that got caught up in spam comment purgatory – but I’ll keep this short:

    And…and…he won’t hesitate to skewer McCain on his thinly disguised Bush Part III BS and high horse POW nonsense which he hides behind every single time he makes a dumb mistake.

    If there’s a guy you want to skewer others for gaffes, that man is really not Joe Biden.

    http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NGRhNzJlMWY5NjdiNzhjMTRkYjMzNjYwOGJmYzNjMTY=

    Obama’s actions the last couple days (stopping ad spending in VA) also don’t seem to be the actions of a man who thinks he’s going to pick up Virgina.

    Anon (db8e0c)

  58. Icy Truth – I got your poster done already. Credited you at HotAir. Email me at rhodeymark-AT-hotmail (anyone else who wants it too).

    rhodeymark (e96855)

  59. Biden is a foreign policy expert? Bwwaaahaaaahaaaa … wheeze … waahaaahaaa.

    Whoa, I’m gonna hurt myself laughing. Biden is a windbag who impresses no one but himself and a few gullible idiots who vote for him in Delaware.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  60. this is his “Cheney” solution to the problem with his resume.

    That is right on. NRO is saying this means the REpublicans have Obama on the run and I agree there, too. This should make McCain think hard about a woman VP. In his Saddleback answers, he named Meg Whitman as one of the three wisest people he knows. I would keep an eye on her as McCain ponders his VP nomination. It would be a radical step, maybe too radical, but a woman would be a huge symbol of his willingness to think outside the box. Especially after Obama made this pedestrian choice.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  61. Two points…
    1- I think McCain’s prominent mention of the woman who founded e-bay should be thought of as a sign-post;

    2- Obama/Biden…

    They could have TV ads done by Ron Popiel,

    Announcing the New, Fantastic..

    GAFFE-A-MATIC!

    Another Drew (11dd7a)

  62. I am convinced that Baracky tried to pick someone more in love with the sound of his own voice than Baracky. In Biden, he picked the single most popmous arrogant blowhard in the Senate, who has never yet met a camera he would not mug or preen for. Convenience store owners and clean, articulate people nationwide just spit.

    JD (5f0e11)

  63. Speaking of the human malaprop machine, this old TNR profile of Biden seems particularly noteworthy at this time:

    http://www.tnr.com/columnists/story.html?id=ba9b09bb-ed01-4582-b6ec-444834c9df73&k=93697

    Unless they keep a huge muzzle on this guy, he’s bound to say something over the next few months that’s going to have the potential to do serious damage to the Messiah. They’re really playing with fire regarding this selection.

    Dmac (874677)

  64. Not to beat the holy hell out of a dead horse, but what, exactly is shiny hopey changey or new about Biden?

    JD (5f0e11)

  65. #59 SPQR I don’t know what Biden has, but I’ve seen Biden for Prez bumper stickers here in S. Fl. I assumed they were from Delaware ex-pats. All I know is Joe could be a filibuster machine and compete with the Breck Girl for self-importance. Joe personifies the typical arrogant and pompous senatorial shitehead. But then he has “gravitas” and foreign policy “experience”. How does Biden really differ much from Chris Dodd? Wouldn’t another lying jackass in Richardson at least have garnered Latino votes?

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  66. mm333 @ 9:09…
    Chris Dodd has tar all over him from the Countrywide meltdown;
    Richardson has some skeletons in his closet from his time at Energy that would rub a lot of academics really raw, among others.

    Another Drew (11dd7a)

  67. Richardson seems to have been stiffed for his treasonous switch to Obama. That was payback to Clinton for asking him to lie about Monica but he didn’t get much out of it;

    Mike K (2cf494)

  68. Mike K @ 9:24 am
    Great post. Where Richardson would land was a question mark.

    This Biden news is not surprising or different or whatever fireworks were supposed to happen. I guess I was expecting Michael Moore or someone (anyone) off the beaten path. I don’t get the big build up.

    Between the Ayers piece below and the Obama ticket, there’s much to catch up on round here. Saturday chores phhht

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  69. Between Biden & Barack, there will be more back pedaling and foot-in-mouth disease outbreaks than we’ve ever seen. Should be fun.

    Hillary’s response to the selection at Politico.

    “Asked why Clinton was never seriously considered, one Clinton aide responded with a single word: “Ego.””

    The Hillary masses are not happy with the Biden choice.

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12742.html

    Dana (084de8)

  70. So who would be best pick as attack dog to portray the dems best in negative fashion?

    And who would bring the most Puma members into McCain’s fold? I’d be happy enough with that lady exec or the guv of Alaska. Please no Huckleberry Clown populist/evangelical.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  71. Can anyone explain the logic of picking the second dumbest windbag in the Senate?

    Because choosing a liar and serial plagiarist takes the spotlight off Obama’s failings?

    Bradley J. Fikes (0ea407)

  72. Bradley, one might think so but I think they only highlight them. I’m still baffled frankly.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  73. Biden? BIDEN?

    steve miller (d2d379)

  74. “So who would be best pick as attack dog to portray the dems best in negative fashion?”

    max – Obama has been doing a great job screwing up the election all by himself. The addition of Slo Jo, I’m Smarter Than You Biden to the ticket, plus the upcoming looniness of the convention should provide high entertainment and prime popcorn munching opportunities.

    The democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  75. Selected passages from an analysis of the Biden pick, by AP writer RON FOURNIER:

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

    He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate – the ultimate insider – rather than a candidate from outside Washington, such as Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia or Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas.

    The picks say something profound about Obama: For all his self-confidence, the 47-year-old Illinois senator worried that he couldn’t beat Republican John McCain without help from a seasoned politician willing to attack. The Biden selection is the next logistical step in an Obama campaign that has become more negative – a strategic decision that may be necessary but threatens to run counter to his image.

    A senior Obama adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his boss has expressed impatience with what he calls a “reverence” inside his campaign for his message of change and new politics. In other words, Obama is willing – even eager – to risk what got him this far if it gets him to the White House.

    So the question is whether Biden’s depth counters Obama’s inexperience – or highlights it?

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

    And he talks too much.

    Icy Truth (784175)


Powered by WordPress.

Page loaded in: 0.1298 secs.