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Why Obama Picked Biden... It's the Economy, Smarty
The AP -- lead by closet Republican and newly appointed Washington bureau chief Ron Fournier -- out with an analysis that Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden as his running mate shows weakness.
Sorry, Ron and company, but I gotta disagree with that knee-jerk analysis. It is incredibly smart.
In this election, voters are saying the economy is issue number one. And when the new President is elected, unless he intends to using a completely hands-off approach to getting the economy out of its "mental recession", much of his time will be spent on domestic policy.
With a Joe Biden at Obama's side, it allows Biden to take a strong role, not just with foreign policy (Biden's strong suit) but also on the other area that needs a strong hand: the Justice Department (his other strong suit) and the Supreme Court. Biden will be instrumental -- along with the new AG -- to turn around a department that has become far too political. Remember FISA? US Attorney firings? The Patriot Act? Guantanamo? The "show trials" of "enemy combatants"?
While Obama focuses on the sluggish economy, the housing crisis, high gas prices, energy alternatives, reducing the massive budget deficits, ending the war in Iraq, catching Osama Bin Laden (before he enters the gates of hell), crafting universal healthcare, overhauling education, and the myriad other things we expect the President to do on "Day One," Obama will have a partner he can govern with -- exactly what he said he wanted, and exactly what we need.
Weak? No, grasshopper... incredibly smart and strong.
Comments (8)
I had intende to write a post of my own on this, but what the heck - this is as good a place as any to get my two cents in.
In my opinion, Sen. Biden is a reasonably safe, not very inspired choice: For golfers, a 3-iron short off the tee to the center of the fairway - takes the bunkers out of play, and avoids trouble right or left. We're going to make par. It's the shot a pro golfer plays with a 2-shot lead and 3 holes to play (Do we actually HAVE that kind of lead? No visible leaderboard in this game, and certainly a lot more than 3 holes to play). As a lukewarm Obama supporter, let me say that I'm OK with it. Biden fills my first criteria: He COULD be President, need be. By osmosis if nothing else, he has learned enough to get by if he had to. Whether he is the BEST possible qualified alternative available (I think probably not) is another question.
There are (of course) obvious downsides when you look at this in a conventional tactical sense: That's a lot of sitting Senators - two too many, by recent historical standards. There's not much of a lifeline to the 50% of HRC voters who say they won't vote for Obama. I don't much proven hands-on executive experience in there (more talkers than doers). I don't think Biden is the partisan junkyard dog that many of you have been hoping for.
Anyway, it's done. It could have been worse, for whatever real difference it might make in the final outcome (historically, not likely to be very much). Let's move on.
August 23, 2008 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
You'd probably play a 3-wood, not an iron, to give you distance without too much risk from the driver. Of course, you didn't specify which hole, what distance, what the par is. On a par 4, I'd play the 3-wood. On short par 3, it'd be a short iron.
Playing "safe" is not always without its risks. Sometimes playing too safe, gives your opponent an opening because you were a little too chicken to take the shot... to make the shot. But golf isn't played from the tee, that's where you show what you've got. The money shot is putting.
If Barack showed us what he's got off the tee -- with the driver -- he and Biden are in a good position to sink the putt.
Thanks for your perspective!
August 23, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't play golf, so I'll take your word for it.
The choice is a home run, IMO.
I don't know much about Biden, even though he only lives about 30 miles from my house. His background is great, but today is the first time I actually heard him speak. Very good speaker, very obvious political skills.
I wonder if there has ever been a one two punch ticket with TWO great speakers like this running together?
Bush II - slightly less than bad
Chaney awful, unless you are a right wing fanatic, then so so
Clinton - Great
Gore - not so great, much better now, though
Bush - bad, lifeless
Quayle - please.
Carter so, so
Heck I don't even remember his VP.
Nixon - not as bad as you think
Agnew - loved the thesaurus way too much
Ford - to many games without a helmut
JFK - Great
LBJ - Not
August 23, 2008 9:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd
August 23, 2008 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed!!
August 23, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's crucial to keep the focus on the economy, and here Biden is an asset because he can bring comfort to those who might be concerned about Obama's relative lack of experience in foreign policy. This allows the Dems to focus on what will win them the election, the economy.
“It’s the Economy, Stupid: TAKE TWO”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/
August 23, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden is much more of an assest than people tend to realize. They continue with the Foreign policy foreign policy, but like an earlier post he can........well........come close to out hillarying hillary. He didn't have much of the connections or the fundraising to compete in the primary but with his populist message he can get his word out with all the funds he needs. My mouth waters because of this ticket I tell ya, just wait and see.
August 23, 2008 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
My preference as Obama's VP would have been Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island. He has excellent foreign policy and military experience, is Catholic with working class roots, and, best of all from my point of view, he, like Obama, was against the Iraq war from the beginning. The early opposition to the war was the main reason why I voted for Obama instead of Hillary in the Pennsylvania primary in April.
All that being said, I'm pleased with Obama's selection of Biden. He's a far better choice than Bayh or Kaine. His biggest advantage over Reed is that Biden will be willing and able to play the traditional running mate "attack dog" role. We lacked such an attack dog four years ago with Edwards (who was merely looking forward to using the VP slot to run for President someday) and Holy Joe Lieberman in 2000 (who was more concerned about not offending anyone so he could perhaps run for President someday).
As an aside, as a native of Connecticut, I would love to see McCain choose Lieberman as his running mate. I don't think Lieberman would even help McCain carry Connecticut. The good people in the Nutmeg state would probably not reelect Holy Joe if he ran for reelection again.
August 25, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
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