Being that I agree with Alex's assessment of Biden being the most pompous ass there is (well, Alex said that in relation to one set of hearings), I don't understand how that repairs anything. Who wants to deal with a pompous ass?

I had to add this - it's one I hadn't heard from Biden but just read.

Wow!

Honestly, I realize you don't run against a VP candidate, but this guy does have a lot of baggage and many simmilar quotes and gaffes from plagarism to other racist remarks.

The only good thing about the pick is that it's a person of some stature that the country is, or should be, familiar with. Beyond that, I don't see how they get around what Biden said about Obama's qualifications and cleanliness.

I seem to recall that he also said the that he loves McCain and he'd even consider being McCain's running mate because the country would benefit from McCain....but I haven't researched it. It's just a slight recollection.

Edited to add:
I was thinking about why Obama would pick Biden. Yes, there is certainly some experience there. Biden, however, is a bitterly partisan individual and known to attack brutally. If Obama truly wants an "above the fray" type campaign, he picked the wrong guy. However, if he wants someone to be vicious so he can maintain his image, he picked the right guy.

Personally, I will be disappointed with anyone except Romney (whom I voted for in the primary). But this is the Obama thread.

What a disappointing choice.

Perfect, then. While all Americans of intellect and maturity should deplore and reject the lowball, frankly juevnile tactics employed by McCain of late ... they have, of course, worked. Obama has lost his lead and the race is, at this moment, a statistical tie in many polls. I think the lessons of Kerry's Swiftboating remain clear, and Obama has got to go on the counterattack.

If you need a VP to deal with that kind of campaign, Biden's indeed a good choice. I hope he savages McCain on a daily basis, and makes such interesting (and typically offensive) comments as will make news often.


It's a shame the VP choice has to come down to who can be the election attack dog rather than who should be a heartbeat from the presidency, but McCain took us down this well-trodden road ... and damn him for that.

I really don't think Obama has been on the high road either, but that's a matter of opinion, I suppose. And honestly, beyond the Obama as celebrity like Brittney and Paris, I'm not sure what's been considered even a little dirty. I suppose the main thing will be supposedly questioning his patriotism, but McCain hasn't done that, has he? As McCain has put it, he's questioning his judgement. Have other republicans been attacking? Certainly. As other dems have been attacking McCain.