Originally posted by BackFire
The difference is that that's not ALL Biden will do, he'd actually be helpful to Obama in governing.
Because he has 30 more years exp. than Obama.
Obama will be doing what he does best: giving colorful speeches, and Biden will be the man behind the curtain.
Originally posted by BackFire
How would Palin help McCain at all?
Alaskan oil?
Originally posted by BackFire
What weakness does she alleviate?
Other than being a lot more with the times, none really.
Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Because he has 30 more years exp. than Obama.Obama will be doing what he does best: giving colorful speeches, and Biden will be the man behind the curtain.
Alaskan oil?
Other than being a lot more with the times, none really.
Biden will be helping tremendously in foreign affairs, everything else Obama will likely handle himself. While giving colorful speeches.
Let's not pretend that McCain doesn't have extreme weaknesses of his own - he's admitted that he's pretty weak on what's become the most important issue: The economy, and so logically he should have picked someone who would help him there, like Romney. Instead, he chose someone to get some women voters and who will look pretty wandering around the white house.
Originally posted by Quiero MotaReagan Bush?
Because he has 30 more years exp. than Obama.Obama will be doing what he does best: giving colorful speeches, and Biden will be the man behind the curtain.
Originally posted by Quiero Motanon-retrievable.
Alaskan oil?
Originally posted by Quiero Mota1. Only to appeal to voters
Other than being a lot more with the times, none really.
Originally posted by BackFire
Biden will be helping tremendously in foreign affairs
Helping? More like doing it for him.
Originally posted by BackFire
Let's not pretend that McCain doesn't have extreme weaknesses of his own - he's admitted that he's pretty weak on what's become the most important issue: The economy, and so logically he should have picked someone who would help him there, like Romney. Instead, he chose someone to get some women voters and who will look pretty wandering around the white house.
Picking her was to help get him elected, and if he wins, her other purpose will be being his key to ANWR.
Originally posted by Quiero MotaOkay, what the ****?
Helping? More like doing it for him.Picking her was to help get him elected, and if he wins, her other purpose will be being his key to ANWR.
Tony Blair was younger than Obama is now, a basic outsider of UK politics, and he's going down as one of Britain's best prime ministers.
Originally posted by lord xyz
Okay, what the ****?Tony Blair was younger than Obama is now, a basic outsider of UK politics, and he's going down as one of Britain's best prime ministers.
"Experience" and "age" don't mean the same thing. JFK was younger than Obama is now, and still knew politics a million times better.
Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Helping? More like doing it for him.
I don't think so. I can't imagine Obama not handling foreign affairs himself. Biden will likely act as a very powerful adviser.
Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Picking her was to help get him elected, and if he wins, her other purpose will be being his key to ANWR.
I know, but that's really not enough. It's as if McCain has forfeited the economy, and that's quite mind boggling.
It also allows one to question McCain's judgment once more. As they say, the first executive decision a president makes is picking a vice president. And McCain has chosen someone to succeed him should something happen to him who has less experience than his opponent whom he's been going after for lacking experience. It's just very strange.
Originally posted by BackFire
I don't think so. I can't imagine Obama not handling foreign affairs himself. Biden will likely act as a very powerful adviser.I know, but that's really not enough. It's as if McCain has forfeited the economy, and that's quite mind boggling.
It also allows one to question McCain's judgment once more. As they say, the first executive decision a president makes is picking a vice president. And McCain has chosen someone to succeed him should something happen to him who has less experience than his opponent whom he's been going after for lacking experience. It's just very strange.
Interesting pick. I think Strangelove posted this before:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/the_vp_case_for_gov_sarah_pali.html
It could be a plus or a terrible terrible minus.
Jindal was a Congressman for 3 years, having 6th months gubernatorial experience. So I'm not really getting how he would be more experienced than her. And as noted executive experience is more relevant than legislative experience, to an executive office.
At the end of the day the people are voting for no.1 not no.2; I don't see how much political points one will get for saying the VP pick is too inexperienced to be President. It may hurt McCain but if anything I think it will draw attention to the top of the ticket.
And I agree with the poster who wrote before that both Obama and McCain's VP picks have nullified or weakened one of their core arguments "Change" or "Experience." Anyone who thinks that Biden being entrenched in Washington for 30 years doesn't weaken the "Washington outsider" argument is looking through rose-colored glasses.
I think it does look quite clearly like a desperate grab at disaffected Clinton voters. And at that I don't think it will work.
It is much more of a "story" than Biden was. Everyone knew it was Biden before apparently even Biden, I don't know if anyone picked Palin.
PS From her speech it seems she's a better orator than McCain...
Originally posted by xmarksthespot
And I agree with the poster who wrote before that both Obama and McCain's VP picks have nullified or weakened one of their core arguments "Change" or "Experience." Anyone who thinks that Biden being entrenched in Washington for 30 years doesn't weaken the "Washington outsider" argument is looking through rose-colored glasses.I think it does look quite clearly like a desperate grab at disaffected Clinton voters. And at that I don't think it will work.
It is much more of a "story" than Biden was. Everyone knew it was Biden before apparently even Biden, I don't know if anyone picked Palin.
PS From her speech it seems she's a better orator than McCain...
Originally posted by xmarksthespotWell the fact is, Washington hasn't made Biden into a Washington insider. He still commutes by train from DC to Wilmington, Del. every night that he works in the Senate. He knows the name of every worker on that train home. His estimated net worth is $100,000-150,000. It's uncanny how Washington hasn't become him.
Anyone who thinks that Biden being entrenched in Washington for 30 years doesn't weaken the "Washington outsider" argument is looking through rose-colored glasses
wow.
I'm not going to lie, I was at a party tonight, and I'm still a little buzzed, so I probably won't be able to absorb this fully until tomorrow. I agree with the general assessment that this was a desperate choice by McCain. Should the Republican ticket win, Palin won't help with governing at all. The only thing she helps do is stave off the Obama offensive in Alaska, which is only 3 electoral votes anyway. She doesn't appeal to Hillary supporters in any real way, other than the double X chromosome.
It honestly seems like a dumb choice.
Originally posted by StrangeloveI'm aware Joe Biden has the lowest net worth among the US Senators and that he rides the train home, geography of his constituency obviously been beneficial in this regard. I'm aware that he comes from a working class family etc etc.
Well the fact is, Washington hasn't made Biden into a Washington insider. He still commutes by train from DC to Wilmington, Del. every night that he works in the Senate. He knows the name of every worker on that train home. His estimated net worth is $100,000-150,000. It's uncanny how Washington hasn't become him.
That doesn't change that having the the #2 on the ticket as a Senator of 35 years, and a failed presidential candidate twice over himself, blunts "the message of change." In choosing Biden, Obama clearly went for someone who would bring the benefit of experience, particularly in foreign policy, in the face of polling showing voters were wary of his lack thereof. This coming at the cost of diluting the "change" part of "hope and change."
For example, in watching Obama's acceptance speech I recall one part about energy policy. "Washington's been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them." and this seemed to ring hollow when Biden has been there for all thirty of them.
Saying Biden doesn't blunt the Obama campaign's "change" or "Washington outsider" attacks is as silly as saying choosing Palin doesn't blunt the McCain campaign's "experience" attacks.
That being said a big difference is that Biden brings more tangible benefits to his ticket long-term, despite Palin being more newsworthy in terms of impact.
Well, I see where you're coming from, but I disagree on your point that just because Biden has been in the Senate for 35 makes him a "Washington insider." Does it in a way diminish the "outsider" quality that Obama had? Sure. But it's even more ludicrous that McCain is trying to cast himself as an outsider despite his decades in DC. At least Obama-Biden isn't casting illusions on their collective record. They readily admit, and indeed highlight how Biden's time in Washington hasn't changed him.
Apparently even the Alaska GOP isn't happy with the Palin choice.