Life in the reality warp...

[jducoeur]

I seem to be the only person I know who actually rather likes the choice of Biden as VP nominee. It's smart on a lot of levels, adding someone who I think provides good balance to the ticket, and even more importantly balance to the potential Administration. No, it's not the choice that the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party would have chosen -- which is exactly why I approve, and exactly why it was smart. Yes, he's a Washington insider -- *someone* had damned well better be, if they want to get things done. I may want refom, but it's only going to happen if they know how to work the system, very effectively; otherwise, they'll just get steamrollered by the entrenched interests.

And frankly, this afternoon's speeches were fun to watch. Biden definitely isn't the beautiful speech-maker that Obama is (he certainly lived up to his reputation there), but he had fire and spirit and the willingness to be politely ruthless that is absolutely needed if they're going to win in November. It was what I wanted to hear; moreover, it was what I *expected* to hear. Everyone's been fretting about "Oh, my god -- McCain is catching up in the polls!" Of *course* he was -- he's gone on the hard offensive, while the Obama campaign played rope-a-dope for a while. I think that ended today, with a Biden speech that was uncompromising, full of delicious sound-bites, and frankly made some damned good points.

One thing that only occurred to me today: the Democrats have just hurt Romney's chances of getting the VP nod. Their message was substantially focused on painting McCain as rich and out-of-touch, contrasting with two Democrats who come from much less exalted circumstances. Romney would just make that contrast worse -- not just two white guys, but two very *rich* white guys. The Democrats would be all over that, and I have to expect that the Republicans know that it's a danger...

Comments

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

You have an excellent point.

But I think McCain would have been nuts to pick Romney anyway.

I suppose he's gonna lose Massachusetts anyway, but that would cinch it.

Romney's religion is as big an issue as Obama's race, McCain's age and Biden being an older white guy.

McCain has to go outside the box now. If he picked Jindal, I would vote for him. But he can't, because it would alienate his party.

[johno.livejournal.com]

Part of the VP candidates job is to be the attack dog. Obama can now get back to talking about change and his plans, while Biden can do all the nasty talk.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

There are a number of things I like about Biden. At the top of the list is the fact that he owns one (1) house, in his home district. Since that's Delaware, it's close enough to DC that her commutes. On Amtrak.

[laurion]

I think Biden's a smart choice as well. Connects with blue collar workers, originally from PA (swing state), plenty of inside experience and military grounding.

Considering the Reps. pushed Bush as the 'president you'd most want to drink a beer with' in the past few elections, I'm really not surprised that the Dems are turning the tables and painting McCain that way; especially as it further distances him from their populous base. Big Business may be the economic help the Republicans need, but it won't get them the Joe Sixpack votes. That's why they used the 1-2 combination of Bush and Cheney to get both sides.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

I also think Biden's an excellent choice: A guy with a compelling personal story and tons experience who's gone to work on public transit every day for the last 35 years (though presumably that stopped yesterday). What choice would have been better for defusing any claim that the Democratic ticket is inexperienced and elitist?

[new-man.livejournal.com]

I don't know a lot about Biden, but I have to admit my initial reaction was a negative one. I think it's a poor political choice for a lot of the reasons you think it's a good choice.

Obama's been losing his base. There are a lot of people who saw him as this great reformer, and every step he's taken towards the middle has disillusioned them and -- in some cases -- just made them say "Screw it; this is all politics as usual and not voting for anyone". I don't know if Obama-as-Outsider was a political strategy that would have ultimately carried the day, but I can certainly credit it as the initial reason why people were excited about him.

Biden doesn't balance out Obama's ticket. They're both intellectual liberals from Northeastern states (yes, I know Obama grew up in a variety of places and is currently a resident of Chicago, on the other hand, the place he seems to be associated with most is Harvard). Obama would be wise to stay away from the "rich and out of touch" line of attack; it's ludicrous to see two men who each are in the top 10% of American wealth slugging it over who has less money as an indication of their knowledge of the 'common man'.

[doubleplus.livejournal.com]

I'm firmly in the progressive wing, and I'm okay with Biden. He doesn't excite me, but excitement was the area Obama had firmly covered. There are people I would have liked better, but he's better than almost anyone who was seriously talked about in the past couple of weeks. His support of the bankruptcy bill was heinous, but overall his positions and the things he's worked for in the Senate have been quite good.

My friend Jane Hamsher (http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/24/denver-let-the-madness-begin/) writes from Denver that a gathering of bloggers 'agreed there was something to be said for a guy who united people behind a rallying cry of "at least it's not..."' ;-)

[dreda.livejournal.com]

Hmm - I think it's a very smart choice, and I'm pleased.