Joe Biden, the Kiss of Death
It is now official. Senator Joe Biden of Delaware has been selected by Barack Obama to be his running mate in the general election. The advantage of his doing so is not immediately apparent as the senior senator from Delaware is imbued with more negatives than positives. Preliminary data indicates that his presence is unlikely to have much of an impact, and, geographically speaking, the choice is nothing short of astounding. Biden hails from a reliable blue state so his name on a glossy button will fail to sway hearts in Pennsylvania (that he lived in Scranton until he was age 10 is something I do not think will have much of an effect), Ohio, Virginia, Missouri, Florida, and Michigan. Due to a tightening of the race, his lack of connections in battleground states is a major drawback as some electoral configurations even have John McCain in the lead. At the moment an Obama presidency appears anything but inevitable.
After the announcement, Obama boasted that their new team will “turn the page on the ugly partisanship in Washington,” but past performance suggests otherwise. The senator from Delaware’s political worldview is nearly as left-wing as Obama’s. National Journal dubbed Obama the “most liberal senator in 2007″ and bestowed a 95.5 percent rating upon him. Biden’s 94.2 percent earned him third place. The American Conservative Union confirmed National Journal’s assessment of their collective ideology. They gave the Democratic nominee a 7.6 lifetime rating (out of 100) while Biden merited a 13.0. Therefore, the vice-presidential gambit amounts to one leftist reaching out to another. Solidifying the eastern seaboard will do Obama no good as he garnered that region’s fealty long ago.
While Biden’s politicial orientation differs little from Obama’s, his essence clashes resoundingly with the campaign’s ubiquitous mantra of hope and change. There is nothing new in the perspective of a five-term Washington insider. Biden is as much a part of the federocracy as its computers, phones, and squandered funds. According to Citizens Against Government Waste, Biden’s 70 pork-barrel spending projects cost taxpayers $119 million last year. In comparison to his overfed peers, the Delaware senator’s manipulations of the budget are fairly pedestrian, but they are in keeping with the Capitol’s standard method of conducting business.
Given that Obama only had two years of experience at the national level before announcing his candidacy in 2007, the experience Biden provides him with is notable. Currently, he is chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and recently visited the Republic of Georgia in the midst of its dire crisis. That he “has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy” — a claim made on his website — is accurate. These foreign policy credentials are believed to be the chief reason why he finds himself once again in the limelight.
International relations are the upside with Biden but there is ample downside as well. Indeed, he arrives at destinations with more baggage than Oprah Winfrey. His mouth has always been his biggest enemy and he is an adept practitioner of self-sabotage. The mainstream media is aware of this eventuality and are already attempting to spin Saturday’s news in a favorable manner. Human interest pieces have proliferated. Journalists cognizant of his flaws seek to preempt conservative objections as a means of inoculating voters before the truth can become known.
Copacetic article, Mr. Chapin. Managed to see a bit of Sen. McCain on Leno just now, and he was powerful good. Curious as to just who will be McCain’s choice for V.P. Adios!
Just when I think the Democratic party cannot get any less wise, they totally redeem themselves. Once again, they’ve demonstrated the uncanny ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
It’s a tactical play that is a gamble to a certain extent, though I agree with the analysis in the Butler Report (www.butlerreport.com) that it’s a tactical move. By nailing the swing states and securing the so-called ‘Reagan Democrats’, the Dems might just pip it on numbers. Without those States and voters, it’s a lost race.
Joe Biden democrat nominee for diaper changer-in-chief voted against the 1991 resolution authorizing the use of military force to remove Saddam Hussein from Kuwait after he had invaded it. He was part of the pack of idiots who told Bush I not to finish off Saddam back in 1991.
Can anyone imagine where oil prices would be now if we had left Saddam in control of the oil fields in both Iraq and Kuwait?
I don’t see what kind of “tactical play” it can possibly be. You completely alienate a person who gained 18 million vores in the primaries for who, a guy who got less than 4,000? Jeez, he would’ve done better if he picked Tinhat Kucinich!
Its SIX Terms (not five) in the US Senate— and the AP reports he will continue his re-election campaign for a SEVENTH term in 2008.
Mr. Biden was chosen because of his abiltity to speak without thinking and not be held accountable for it. When a campaign ad comes out that uses a candidates own words to highlight his hypocracy then this is an attack ad. The press has given Mr. Biden a pass on his gaffs and attacks and they will continue to do so. In the spirit of change it is my belief that the best VP candidate for the Democrats would have been Joe Lieberman. Mr. Lieberman had the courage to reprimand a president for an indiscretion that everyone knew was wrong but few would say so. Mr. Lieberman had the courage to go against the momentum of the war in Iraq, again showing principle over partisanship. As the Obama campaign races toward the center ther would be little difference in the Lieberman views and the Obama views come October.
Clytemenstra:
AP reports he will continue his re-election campaign for a SEVENTH Senate term in 2008.)
That shows real faith in his future as Vice President.
ha
While it might be true that the Democrats don’t have the sharpest of pencils in their drawer, at least they are not like the Republican’s, who only seem to have 20 yr old empty Bic’s in theirs….
If you live in Delaware and are in the lemming party, do you cast a vote for Joe for the senate and another for Barry/Joe? Only a democrat would see the logic. Or a man (Joe) with no confidence in winning the big one.
Strange pick. On the one hand, he has experience, and is far more “qualified” than Obama to be president (but who isn’t?); however, his experience has often been voting on the wrong side of the issue (first Gulf War, Iran) and his cowardice (turning on the Iraq War and mirroring the pathetic Dem talking pts, plagiarism, etc). So overall, it’s not necessarily even a safe pick. And considering he’s not from a swing state and many other options were, Obama did the wrong this as usual. Can he throw Joe under the bus too? Bayh was a better choice, as was Nunn, Chet Edwards, et al. McCain will roll in Nov, as you noted in the closing.
When I think of statesmen I think of someone who at some point in their career make a bold, principled stand on an issue. Or took a daring and courageous action which placed him at risk. Or suffered an unwarranted and unmerciful attack on their beliefs and steadfastly saw it through to victory. There may be other traits which define the word statesman but these come pretty close.
Joe Biden is so far from this definition he would need a spaceship to even get into this galaxy. If we are going to allow the meaning of our language to be squandered in a frivolous decoration to an undeserving criminal then surely we must defend everything of value before it becomes debased by thugs and liars.
Shorter Chapin: Obama implodes by picking Democrat as running mate.
Comment from a friend who runs a national advertising agency who is very pro-Democrat…
“Obama seriously damaged his brand with the selection of Biden. Everyone sees that Obama represents change; Biden is a dusty old white guy who isn’t going to change anything. Obama should have selected Hillary — that would have won him the election.”
Biden to help in Pensylvania? Didn’t he brag in the debates that it was he that authored the original assault weapons ban? This in the state where schools might as well close on the first day of deer hunting season. Not the best way to show you’re one(two)of the home boys.
Could anyone show me how either one of these two is able to “turn the page on the ugly partisanship in Washington”? These two represent the number one and number three lefties in the senate. The only way they are going to turn the page on bipartisanship in Washington is to do what every other communist government in the world does to eliminate dissent, to round up the opposition and have them prosecuted and imprisoned. These people don’t give a rip about overcoming partisanship, any more then Nancy Pelosi and her new era of civility in the house of reps does. They are consummate con-artists that couldn’t run a hot-dog stand.
cwm – I would agree that Lieberman would have been the best choice, but he’s probably already got another VP engagement lined up…
Biden’s “foreign-policy credentials” are TOTALLY hinged on his being chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but if you look closely at his voting record and the “plans” he recommended…Yikes!! It’s one bad decision after another…
Think about it. If we had went with “Joe Biden’s wisdom”… Sadaam Hussein would still be in Iraq AND Kuwait. The troops that were sent would be unfunded and ill-equipped. The “surge” would not have taken place at all, so Al-Qaeda would still be there strong as ever. Iraq would be “partitioned” into 3 seperate countries with TRIPLE the headaches and problems (and against the Iraqi’s wishes).
I.E….the world would be a MUCH more dangerous and WORSE off place because of Joe Biden’s ability to make the WRONG decision when needed!
This is the man the foreign policy neophyte, Obambi, picks to “help” him with his foreign policy “creds”…oh, him, and of course, Michelle and his grandmother!
Can we say “unfit to command” here???
IS THERE SOMETHING I’M MISSING that gives me ANY INDICATION that these two jokers are in any way shape or form (other than the ability to game caucus states and keep a proportional lead from disappearing) ready to lead the most powerful nation on earth???
The reality boggles the mind that they are actually so close…but I have faith in the American voter to see the truth and know what is best.
Hopefully, the once great Democratic Party will get there eyes opened a bit after Nov. 3rd and the drubbing they will receive. But I won’t hold my breath…there are just too many damn excuses for them to latch onto to sufficiently explain to them why they are the PARTY OF DEFEAT…both at home in the Presidential race and in the world at large!
Does anyone know what Senator Biden’s history was vis-a-vis selective service? He was 18 yrs old circa 1960…I find zero mention of this topic anywhere. One of his boys is in the Guard/Reserve, I believe…
“These two represent the number one and number three lefties in the senate.”
Right. The same “method” puts Russ Feingold at 10th and Ted Kennedy at 27th.
I believe that Joe Biden was selected, among many reasons, particularly for his opposition to ballistic missile defense. Obama’s advisers are strongly opposed to it. Dean and Soros and friends are opposed to it. They wanted someone with perceived “gravitas” in foreign policy who is opposed to building and perfecting the missile defense shield. Biden is very far to the Left in foreign policy.
Chapin makes the statement regarding Biden:
“That he “has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy” — a claim made on his website — is accurate.” For sure. Biden was one of the key members on capitol hill during the 90′s Balkan wars that helped redefine ethnic cleansing by Bosnian and Albanian muslims as “victimology” and the non-muslim targets of ethnic cleansing…Serbs, Jews and Roma…as war criminals thereby creating the pretext for US/NATO intervention on the side of global jihad and a considerably wealthier Joe Biden.
It’s Lloyd Benson all over again.
Sam:
It’s Lloyd Benson all over again.
So is McCain going to pick Dan Quayle?
Rocketeer:
Sure, no problem. The ugly partisanship got going with the Jefferson/Adams race in 1796, so even counting only election years we recently finished with page 105.
Now we’ll do page 106.
But it isn’t likely to be the start of a new chapter, let alone a new story.
I agree Biden is the kiss of death for Obamas campaign. Biden will make this election closer than it ought to be. Biden is an old time crooked Washington insider, and this is the ‘change’ that Obama seeks? Very disingenuous. although it may have galled him, a better choice would have been Clinton, in that Clinton supporter would vote for the ticket. They are now between seeing a wretched, hideously corrupt McCain get elected, or nursing a grudge about Clinton not getting the nomination. If Obama wins, it will be a squeeker that ought not have been.
And who will the GOP nominate for VP? The stiff Romney? Some governor nobody has ever heard of? Rudy “I Picked Up my Third Wife in a Cigar Bar” Guiliani? LMFAO!!!
Wasn’t it Joe Biden who almost got kicked out of Syracuse Law School for cheating? A buddy of mine who went to SU Law said that they’re still talking about that there.
I think the commenters you refer to are ‘impudent;’ they may also be ‘prudent.’