Sometime late last night in Springfield Illinois, Barak Obama nominated his successor to the studied halls of presidential contenders. The Democratic nominee-in-waiting for 2012 is now revealed to be Joseph Biden, Delaware Democrat, who stands out in two different ways, both from the majority of the pack of Democratic candidates for this years Democratic Party nomination, and from the Democratic vice-presidential nominees of the last two election cycles.
In the first case, Biden, unlike most of the rest-including Obama and, for that matter, Hillary Clinton-is eminently qualified to be president.
In the second case, he is the first VP contender since Al Gore actually to have a chance not only of winning an election but of having a chance to win his party’s nomination.
Liebermann demonstrated in the 2000 election that he did not have what it takes to conduct a campaign for a national office-the killer instinct absolutely demanded by most primary voters. Neither did the foolish, foppish, narcissistic John Edwards. Nor did any of these men have what is perhaps the most important quality of all, that one most necessary to represent a major political party in a national election.
Republicans and Democrats share one important quality. When they look at a potential candidate, and they hear that candidate speak, they like to think they could easily be looking in a mirror. Liebermann-or, as a large segment of Democratic voters now call him, LIEbermann and/or Holy Joe-is far too independent to represent the wishes and aspirations of most Democrats. Edwards, truly the self-righteous one of the pair, has a different problem. He fits the image a little too nicely. Democrats do see themselves in him, but the problem is, they just don’t like what they see.
Joe Biden crosses an important bridge. He comes across as a regular guy, very much like George W. Bush, yet at the same time presents the image of a highly, in fact an eminently qualified man, much like John McCain, yet with neither of those individuals minuses.
To be sure, he is not the perfect candidate. Although he has that Everyman appeal necessary to win the general election, his biggest drawback toward winning the Democratic nomination in 2012, unfortunately, is the fact that he might in fact too easily appeal to that broad spectrum of voter. This is the true story of Obama’s rise. It was a campaign based not on experience or qualification, but on image. It was the politics of hope. Glossed over somehow is the fact that Obama’s rise in politics and to the national stage came about under the impetus of corrupt Chicago machine politics.
As this campaign season gets under way, look for Joseph Biden to be everything the Democratic Party rank-and-file could possibly hope for in a vice-presidential candidate. He will be brutal. He will give as well or better than he gets. I also have a strong suspicion that, more often than not, he will give it first.
After all, this is more than anything an audition. He has an election to prepare for, one that he might very possibly win.
Four years from now.
34 comments:
I would have prefered Webb, but Biden's a good choice. Both Lieberman and Edwards suffer from the same problem- they're way too far up their own asses to be much use to anyone else. Clearly Obama figures the ticket's only big enough for one diva.
Rufus-
I like Webb too, actually better than Biden, but he doesn't have nearly the experience Biden does. In a few years, he might be a better choice, more as the head of a ticket. I could see him maybe in 2016, after he's had a full term plus four years under his belt.
Obama made a decent choice here. It was arguably the best choice he could have made from among the Senate. Richardson might have been a better choice, for the range of experience he has (House of Representatives, State Department, cabinet secretary, and governor), plus he brings more to the table in terms of geographical balance. Still, this is a good one.
All I can say is "Hell hath no fury like most of the Democratic Party primary voters." You know, the scorned majority of Democrats that voted for Hillary Clinton, all women, genitalia to prove it or not.
As for Biden, I have to laugh about Rufus' remark about there only being room for one diva. If there is one thing about Joe Biden that everyone on either side of the aisle knows (and criticizes) is that the man is in love with the sound of his own voice. If you can tune out the snoring of the people around you to actually listen to Joe Biden, he will actually talk himself out of his own position by the end of his speech.
Hope and change. The vice-one we've been waiting for is a year career windbag Senator.
Ooooh, the Republicans are skeeered.
Nawt.
"Hi, I'm Joe Biden. These little critters here are my hair plugs. Say hello to the people, hair plugs."
(wee voice) "Hey people."
"Now, when George W. Bush called North Korea a member of an 'axis of evil' and I swore up and down that as Senate Foreign Relations committee that I was not aware of any treaty violations by North Korea, I really didn't mean for you to go back and see that I held a scathing hearing on North Korean violations of the Agreed Nuclear Framework Treaty just 2 years prior. Please, no fact checking. That's racist. Besides, as a Democrat, I'm not obligated to even give a shit if my words have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with reality. So, please, understand that when I said that Obama is unqualified to be President and that the Presidency itself is not suited for "on-the-job training," I had no idea I'd be picked to be his running mate. Isn't Obama such a nice clean Negro?"
HahaHaHa, Beam why don't you just admit you'd be carrying on like this no matter who Obama picked. Lordy.
Yeah, yeah- Biden likes to hear himself talk. But he's old enough where he's not as likely to upstage Obama. I guarantee Edwards would have made Obama's life hell by making a show of opposing him on every other piece of legislation to grandstand, Lieberman would have thrown a hissy fit the first time Obama said something that hurt his prissy little feelings, and Hillary wouldn't last five minutes as VP before she'd start holding her own state of the union addresses without inviting him. And, if he didn't let her, the psycho PUMA groupies would be committing mass suicide by overdosing on birth control pills.
With Biden, sure he'll say some- well, a lot of dumb things, but he's not going to take over the show. It really is a year for divas. I'd imagine that Obama will be carried into the convention on a couch carried by Roman slave girls. Meanwhile, John McCain will be running those bitchy ads about how pissed he is not to have been named prettiest girl at the prom by the media. They're all like contestants on America's Next Top Model.
He is hated by the Iraqis. He supports dividing the country by religion/nationality.
Who is McCain going to pick? Fred Thompson?
Ren-you never hear his name mentioned anymore, but it wouldn't surprise me. It would be a great choice if he did.
Rufus-Don't mind Beamish, when it comes to Democrats, he has a hatred that knows no bounds.
Beamish-I have to admit, this was hilarious-
"If you can tune out the snoring of the people around you to actually listen to Joe Biden, he will actually talk himself out of his own position by the end of his speech."
Biden is an insider hack. Obama would not have these foreign policy questions if he would ditch the Carterites, specifically Bresinski.
He needs a take charge executive type
ala a governor, not a party hack.
Beak-
I'm surprised he didn't pick Richardson. He would have helped in so many ways, with his level of experience in so many areas, and with the Hispanic vote and the Southwest in general.
Biden though is arguably the best choice he could have made from the Seante, possibly excepting Evan Bayh. I think Biden is really better than Bayh though. When you see him on the campaign trail, I have an idea you'll see what I mean.
The Republicans are going to have to come up with something better than hair plugs to put him down.
Pagan
Biden is an empty head who has done almost nothing since his arrival. I have a feeling the real pick may have been Wesley Clark until he made those
inane remarks about McCain's POW Status.
Wesley Clark would have been worse.
Calling Joe Biden a foreign policy expert is like calling Taco Bell a five-star Mexican gourmet restaurant.
It ain't gonna fly.
At the Tuesday-morning meeting with committee staffers, Biden launches into a stream-of-consciousness monologue about what his committee should be doing, before he finally admits the obvious: "I'm groping here." Then he hits on an idea: America needs to show the Arab world that we're not bent on its destruction. "Seems to me this would be a good time to send, no strings attached, a check for $200 million to Iran," Biden declares. He surveys the table with raised eyebrows, a How do ya like that? look on his face.
PT,
HahaHaHa, Beam why don't you just admit you'd be carrying on like this no matter who Obama picked. Lordy.
Admittedly, I have a weakness towards exploting every opportunity to make fun of idiots. It's not my fault Democrats choose to be synonymous with imbecility.
So yes, I'd likely find something wickedly funny to say about any candidate Obama picked.
Just wish it was a little harder to do so than with Joe Biden.
I feel like I'm kicking a three-legged chihuahua in the face.
Couldnt be any worse than Mccains take on foreign policy.. his little ..IRAN IS TRAINING AL QAEDA ,, umm senator there training other extremists not Al Qaeda.. Mccain..OH!!. and lets look at Mccains choice for VP,,Mitt Romney.. the evangelicals will LET Obama win because in there mind Mormons are Cultists.. This election is something to laugh at,it realy is
Shadowhawk-
You're right. It's more like a dark comedy, though. A very dark comedy.
Actually that is not entirely correct. There is evidence that Imad Mougniyeh who was an Iranian intelligence asset did in fact work
with Al Queda.
I can believe that, Beak, but that kind of thing happens all the time. Iran would have a vested interest in learning all they could about the activities of Al-Queda, and yes, there could be a bit of give-and-take, or a quid pro quo.
By and large though, the Iranians have no long-term interest in helping Al-Queda, nor vice-versa.
On the other hand, it could be a bit like the Kaiser helping Lenin return to Russia in order to destabilize the country.
None of this is what McCain was talking about though. It was a plain misstatement of fact, which Liebermann kindly corrected, right in the middle of the interview.
Bottom line, McCain mixed up the Al-Queda in Iraq terrorists with the Shi'ite brigades, including Mugtadada Al-Sadr's Shi'ite militia, leaving one with the impression that he was not aware of the difference between the two.
Did you click my link and read that PT?
Not only was it one month after 9/11 that Joe Biden, foreign policy "expert" groped his way to the idea "Hey, why don't we cut the Iranians a check for $200 million, no strings attached." He did this in the context that we needed to show the Arabs that we're not out to exterminate them.
Do the math. We're going to show the Arab world we're not out to exterminate them by giving $200 million to Persians.
Call this motherfucker a foreign policy expert. I dare ya.
Beamish-
You can go over any politicians career and find dubious statements and positions.
The reason I said Biden is an overall good pick is because of his years of experience, including but not limited to his foreign policy credentials, and because he is a moderate Democrat that will help with that important section of the Democratic party rank-and-file.
No, of course the Obama-bots aren't going to like him, but he is better off with somebody like Biden than he would be with Clinton.
Notice I've been saying he wasn't the best choice. That would be Richardson. But he, or anybody, is going to draw criticism. Obama is trying to appeal to moderate Democrats and independents, not Republicans.
Your time would be better spent worrying whether McCain might make his choice in an effort to "reach across the aisle and get things done for the American people" by choosing somebody like Joe Liebermann, and then telling you to like it or lump it, than it would be worrying over a few cherry-picked objections to the pick of the opposition party, whom you would never vote for anyway.
PT,
Don't get me wrong.
I enjoy the stinky fuck out of the Biden choice.
Now Obama has a white boy to blame for his impending loss.
If Lieberman or Romney get the Repuglican VP nod, Mccain might as well kiss his whitehouse bid goodbye.. Third time is not a fucking charm..keep us in Iraq for 100 more years.. Fuck him. i wonder which of his 7 houses he will cry at when he loses
Shadowhawk-
You might be right about Liebermann, I'm not so sure about Romeny. Fred Thompson would be his best choice.
By the way, that house thing is no big deal. I'm going to do a post about that soon. If that's the best thing they can come up with against McCain they might as well hand the keys to the White House over to him now.
Beamish-
I'm interested in who these six Democrats are you said on Sonia's blog would have been a better pick.
Just for funsies, while you're at it, answer this question. Out of all the Democratic presidents, who do you think is the best, or at least the least terrible, and why?
No fair saying something like "Jimmy Carter, because he showed everybody just how bad a Democrat is capable of being". In other words I mean best (or least worse) in the generally accepted meaning of the term.
I just want to pick that allegedly soaring intellect of yours. Shouldn't be that hard for you to come up with a sensible answer.
PT,
By the way, that house thing is no big deal. I'm going to do a post about that soon. If that's the best thing they can come up with against McCain they might as well hand the keys to the White House over to him now.
When Hillary Clinton came out last night at the convention dressed as a neon Dreamsicle, it was the official handing of the White House keys to McCain.
It's rather late in the game, (what, 180 years now?) for the Democratic Party to take on some substance.
I'm interested in who these six Democrats are you said on Sonia's blog would have been a better pick.
Hillary Clinton should have been on the ticket, and probably at the top of it.
Evan Bayh would take Ohio out of contention, and politically be a somewhat moderating force in the laughingstock leftist "Obama revolution" that Biden will most assuredly attack gaffe into coming off as sheer lunacy in the minds of the average American voter.
Ben Nelson of Kansas would have been an even more moderating force (relatively speaking, of course), and put much of the Midwest into play. Same with Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
That's five. Christopher Dodd is probably tied for sixth with a few less recognizables.
Those are the six Democrat Senators Obama would lose this election with less soundly than he will with Biden.
Just for funsies, while you're at it, answer this question. Out of all the Democratic presidents, who do you think is the best, or at least the least terrible, and why?
The least terrible Democratic President was probably James Polk, who at least understood that an America that tolerates bullshit from other nations is an America that doesn't expand territorially much more west of the Mississippi River.
"Manifest Destiny" is so Federalist in philosophy it's silly to cop it to goofy states' rights arguments justifying the Civil War.
The federal goverment CREATED or CONQUERED or BOUGHT every state that "joined" the United States after the Constitution was ratified.
Beamish-
Interesting six choices. Bayh is a little too much like Gore to suit me. They were both raised in Washington. Your other choices were better. Bayh could probably not even deliver Indiana, let alone Ohio. Biden helps him at least as much in Ohio, probably more, and also in Pennsylvania.
Polk, huh? Yeah, I actually think he was one of our better presidents, but I wasn't expecting you to pick him. For some reason I kinda thought you'd say Kennedy. Don't ask me why, because I have no idea.
Oh hell no.
Kennedy is a lot closer to the "most terrible" side of my list of Presidents.
The son of America's most ardent Hitler supporter, Joe Kennedy, takes the stage in Berlin to shake his fist at Moscow while claiming to be a jelly doughnut?
The idiot nearly touched off World War 3 with the Cuban missile crisis during one of his painkiller and amphetamine binges.
And let's not forget Kennedy's mucking with the successful Eisenhower-Nixon Vietnam anti-Communism policies, and the hell of a war that led to.
Why the hell did you think I'd pick Kennedy?
I dont know, I guess I'd seen your thought on all the others, and I figured well, he might give Kennedy points for the space program, plus he did lower taxes, or so I've heard.
PT,
I judge Presidents by their handling of Constitutionally-mandated duties. Presidents don't raise or lower taxes, they reject or approve whenever Congress passes a bill that does so.
So, my key areas of focus on a President is his actions as a Commander-in-Chief and the appointments of judges, etc. In other words, areas that actually originate from the White House.
As a President, JFK sucked in this areas.
Another way to look at this:
Had a leftist not "martyred" JFK in Dealey Plaza, he would have gone on to lose the 1964 election as backlash from his and Johnson's theft of the 1960 election (the Chicago dead voters and the non-existent Tarrant County, Texas voters...) would have galvanized the right against him.
Especially after his "leadership" in the Bay of Pigs fiasco, the Cuban missile crisis, the rise of communism in Latin America, the installation of the Baath Party in Iraq, using the FBI to monitor Republicans who were registering blacks to vote in the Jim Crow South, and on and on and on.
As a foreign policy imbecile, Kennedy ranks nigh close to Carter. As a domestic policy fascist, he's Johnson's opening act.
I pretty much agree with you about Kennedy, especially his foreign policy fiascoes. I still think the space program was a good initiative. Nobody else would have pushed it like he did. That's the only reason he ranks as high as he does with me. Without that he is a mediocre president at best.
His brother Robert was a real piece of work.
Mccain has chosen Alaska govenor Sarah Palin.. loks like Mccain threw the Repugs a curve ball.He just chose her to get the democratic womens vote.. doesnt matter tho. Mccain is still going to lose the election.
PT,
I think the space program would have come regardless of Kennedy. It's not like gun control legislation was the only thing the Democrats stole from Nazi Germany as war booty.
I agree whole-heartedly about Bobby Kennedy, but I think Joe and all of his kids are scumbags.
Beamish-
"I think the space program would have come regardless of Kennedy"
Actually, it came before Kennedy ever became president. Eisenhower started the space program in response to the Soviet Unions initiatives, beginning with Sputnik.
However, it was Kennedy who turned it into a national priority. Sure, somebody else might well have done that, but the fact is, he did it. You can't take that away from him.
By the way, Beamish, Kennedy-Johnson in '04 would have defeated Goldwater just like Johnson-Humphrey did, only probably not as badly. It wouldn't have been quite the rout it ended up being. It might have even been somewhat close. But Kennedy would have still been re-elected, by a considerably larger margin than he won in 1960.
I get a kick out of liberals waxing poetic over the prospects of a Robert Kennedy presidency. Nixon would have given him a good ass-thumping, probably along the lines of Bush versus DuKakis in '88.
PT,
I think John Kennedy's "marketing" of the man-on-the-moon race was more opportunistic than visionary. Like you said, the space program pre-existed the Kennedy administration.
Kennedy was merely President when American (and ex-German) rocket scientists were well into the prototype phase of the idea. Give him points for trusting that scientists were right about the possibility of a lunar mission, but it's not like any other President wouldn't have. It's not like he had to really fight through Congress to get the Apollo program off the ground.
In many respects, saying John F. Kennedy put men on the moon is like saying Bill Clinton stopped the dreaded Y2K computer bug.
Post a Comment