On this Saturday morning I received my own 3:00 a.m. phone call, along with everyone else who had signed up for Barack Obama's text message that would officially announce his choice for VP: "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee..."
For die-hard Hillary Clinton supporters who had still hoped against the odds that Obama would choose her, it was like opening an old wound. Many have been busy in the blogosphere overnight, again threatening to shoot themselves (and the rest of us) in the foot by voting for McCain in protest. I hope they come to their senses between now and November. We cannot afford four more years with a Republican in the White House. And perhaps this can serve as a lesson: You can't launch the kinds of vicious attacks that Hillary threw at Barack during the primary season and then expect to be rewarded with the #2 job.
Yes, it would have been nice to have a woman on the ticket, but it would have had to be the right woman. And, with all the mud that the Republicans have already been slinging at Obama, he's better off with a running mate who carries a little less baggage.
Sure, Biden has had his gaffes and blunders, but so has everyone else in the world. On the positive side, Biden fills the biggest holes in Obama's resume: long-time experience in Washington along with expertise in foreign policy and national security.
Biden also has populist appeal, which could compensate for the right-wing accusations of Obama as "elitist". At least on paper, they appear to complement each other well. And the image of these two tall, strong, articulate men standing together to bring hope and change to Washington will be a formidable one for the McCain campaign to address, even if McCain were to select his own tall, strong, articulate running mate (for instance, Mitt Romney).
Furthermore, Biden isn't shy about fighting back against the competition. We all loved it last year when Biden described Rudy Giuliani's own short-lived presidential candidacy: "There's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, and a verb, and 9/11."
And now he'll be taking on the McCain machine: A noun, and a verb, and POW? That's too easy. But he'll think of something.
I don't think there could have been a "perfect" choice for Obama's VP slot, but then there never is. All things considered, I think Biden is probably the most solid choice we had this year.
And hopefully this strong ticket will be strong enough to withstand the attacks of the right-wing smear machine.
If not, this mess that our country is in will only get even worse.
Now repeat after me, everybody: "Yes we can!"
http://www.maryshawonline.com
Mary Shaw is a Philadelphia-based writer and activist, with a focus on politics, human rights, and social justice. She is a former Philadelphia Area Coordinator for the Nobel-Prize-winning human rights group Amnesty International, and her views appear regularly in a variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites. Note that the ideas expressed here are the author's own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Amnesty International or any other organization with which she may be associated.
I just had to laugh at that one. Joe Biden, East Coast Establishment pol that he is, having populist appeal? Where? The Hamptons? This was nothing more than a cowardly seleciton by Obama. Change we can believe in?
I could go on and on but I won't. This just sucks.
by
Mike Germain (1 articles, 15 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments)
on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 9:05:05 AM
Of the many possible alternatives, Barack Obama made a very astute and well-considered selection in Senator Joe Biden. I agree that we need to have a woman on the ticket again ... in either spot ... but in this case Sibelius needs more experience outside her home state and Clinton has way too much baggage. Biden, of course, assures the Delaware votes and this is the principle negative about him. The rest is a story of a true liberal and progressive Democrat, a razor sharp wit and intelligence, an unequalled grounding in national security and foreign affairs, and the ability to stand up to and demolish the McCain-Rove smear machine!
As for the dude (above) who responded thoughlessly and with what must pass for amateur typing and reasoning abilities, go vote for McCain. You fit right in!
JB
by
James Brett (86 articles, 95 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 96 comments)
on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 10:10:31 AM
I second your comments James. Can't think how to add to them except to give this link with a video clip of a 5 min speech Biden gave in the Senate castigating the Bush adm. on Iraq.
I highly recommend that people watch it and pass it on.
Dog Art Today: Joe Biden: Tramp in the White House?
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Anyone still caught in the left/right paradigm that is falsely set-up to deluded fools deserves everything you get.
Yes we can - continue illegal wars
Yes we can - to continue whitewash 9/11
Yes you can - continue genocide
Yes you can - continue a Police State
Yes you can - drive us into depression
When are you people going to wake up? When are you going to stop believing in illusions?
I guess never. For whatever reason, you'll continue to think that it makes a damn bit of difference which one is going to lead you.
They'll lead you all right - straight into Hell.
Fools, complete unmitigated fools.
What the hell has Obama done except stab everyone in the back since he locked down the nomination? Yet you keep hoping against hope that, what? He really doesn't mean what his actions and words say?
I can tell you why, because that's who the elites wanted in as their card-board cut-outs for you fools to put all your false hope in.
We haven't got a chance of surviving what's coming with idiots writing articles like this. A whole nation, hell, a whole world, it's not like other nations leaders aren't in on this game. You think a crime as large as 9/11 couldn't be pulled off without the complicity of international bankers who have bought-off them off?
Wake up! Look through the Looking Glass, you are living in a real life Matrix and this false right/left, Democratic/Republican paradigm is the web you're stuck in - break free or we'll never have a chance.
And even if (the worst) doesn't (happen) what the hell good is it to vote on machines that you can't trust? Which is another example of just how stupid most people are. There have been 50 studies on E-voting and everyone of them have said conclusively that you might as well place your vote on a bubble, yet, without a peep from the masses, you blindly place your vote knowing this, for a candidate that is unworthy.
No wonder it was so easy for this government to blow-up 3,000 people on 9/11 in broad day-light and still have a populace kiss their ass. You're idiots. We live in a nation of compete idiots. Murderers kill you, steal your liberties, money, jobs, land and you praise them. If that isn't a definition of idiots please tell me what is?
Offended? Put-off by my insults?
I don't care. You're killing me with your idiotic belief in a system that has been corrupted to it's core. I see no reason to try to persuade anyone with the brain-power of a pee-shell with gentle words when their actions are destroying everything of beauty there is left. Stop being idiots and I'll relate to you on that level. Otherwise you deserve no more respect than you're getting from the false prophets you follow are giving you.
At least I'm not telling you any lies. And it will be most likely why you'll despise me. Not because I pull no punches, it's because you'd rather be lied to. You'd rather believe things that aren't true because it makes you feel better, for a little temporary false hope.
Go ahead, keep believing in "change you can believe in", when there's no "change" there, it's an illusion. With every disillusionment you keep hoping against hope that what you've heard and seem isn't really there.
Buildings blow-up in front of you and you believe they fell, because that's what you were told to believe.
Steel melts from burning furniture and you believe it, because that's what you were told to believe.
A plane crashed into the Pentagon, even though you can't see it, but you believe it did, because you were told it did. It vaporized.
I'll tell you what "vaporized", your commonsense, courage and critical thinking, if you had any to begin with.
You're told Obama has to move more to the "center" when that statement alone makes no sense, but you believe it to be true - why? It makes about as much sense when Pelosi tells you impeachment would "hurt the party."
When what we need and in what every poll taken shows that people need and want progressive policies, how does moving to the right - center is right - is going to help Obama get elected? The logic of this escapes me, but not you Obamabots. Like slap-happy lemmings you believe this tripe.
We want an end to war, they increase them, because we don't matter and than we turn around and place the same people back in office - scratch that, we don't place them, others place them and give us the illusion we had some say in it.
We want the borders closed - they open them.
We want the same health-care rulers get and are told it would be bad for us.
We don't want NAFTA, CAFTA - they expand and praise these treaties.
We want companies held responsible for spying on us - they let them go.
And your precious Obama isn't going to want any of the things we want and most of you fools will still vote for him.
Well, guess what? It's a set-up. There's a very good chance he won't get in. Not that it matters. But what would it do to further disillusion and already disillusioned electorate to have their champion fall to another stolen election? Do you think the powers that be would care if you're up-set? Hell no! They're salivating over the chance to unleash their Dogs of War on us. What could possibly hasten tyranny faster than a collapsed economy and another stolen election?
But pay no attention to these rantings from a madman. I must be crazy wanting to hold those responsible for 9/11 accountable instead of supporting them. Let me go beat myself in the head with a ball-peen hammer until I'm as dumb as most of the people in this God-forsaken country and I too will line-up to vote for your false leader.
by
Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 51 diaries, 2028 comments)
on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 11:47:20 AM
And why exactly does Joe Biden want to give "one billion" dollars to the former Soviet Republic of Georgia? Just mind-boggling. Why are we even in Georgia in the first place? Is it about the Caspian oil and gas pipeline? Or, is it about keeping us safe from Iran's non-nukes?
FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:
Barack Obama wants to give one billion American dollars to the Republic of Georgia for reconstruction efforts. The United States is already providing humanitarian assistance… as it should. This would be extra. The proposal actually came from Senator Joseph Biden, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, who is also rumored to be on Obama’s shortlist for V-P.
Biden went to Georgia last week and came back saying the Russian invasion of its neighbor is quote “one of the most significant events to occur in Europe since the end of communism.” end quote. Biden’s vowing to work with the White House to get legislation passed so that the U.S. can start spending that money as soon as Congress reconvenes.
Hey it’s not like we aren’t already spending a few bucks overseas. $700 billion a year on imported oil… 200 billion a year on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tens of billions to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure.
Now it’s time to start boxing up hundred dollar bills and sending them to Mr. Saakashvili who started this whole dust up with the Russian bear? Give me a break.
We’re almost ten trillion dollars in debt… with 63 trillion in unfunded liabilities for our own entitlement programs like medicare and social security… an estimated 500 billion dollar deficit for next year. Our own infrastructure is falling down around our ears… I mean come on… I’m sure the Georgians are very nice people… but we’re busted over here.
Here’s my question to you: Should American taxpayers spend $1 billion for reconstruction in the republic of Georgia?
Glad I read yours before I started typing. You've got it. Nothing more to be said. Obama wasn't saying much before he locked up the nomination. Lots of Sound, no Fury, still signifying Nothing.
Everything he'd hinted to support, he bailed.
Vote Third. Say something!
by
Angelo (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 203 comments)
on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 6:34:10 PM
What a surreal night into morning that was. I was holding my breath all week -hoping against hope that Barack did not chose Clinton. I had watched Countdown and Keith was flipping back and forth between all the homes of the possible VP choices. Biden was a riot with his Cheshire grin and delivering bagels to the reporters and being off the cuff about the possibility of his being the one. "I'm not the guy," he kept saying. He was all tongue in cheek.
I was standing by the computer at about 10 something when the announcement came in that the Secret Service was on the way to Biden's home. It was Biden!!!!!!!!! and I have to say-after holding my breath and crossing everything I had that it wasn't Clinton-I went a little crazy-delirious, actually, doing a little soft shoe, etc. and stayed up a few hours to watch the take on the two of them together.
I finally got to sleep about 2 A.M. and then the really strange stuff happened. I had a dream-very clear-easy to remember of Biden and Obama and they were laughing and talking together and then there was Joe with all that white hair, wizened and powerful in Revolutionary garb-a la WASHINGTON (Delaware) and Obama (born in the Islands-challenging McCain to a duel a short time ago -exotic?) as Hamilton...they both winked at me and Joe said, "Hey, want a bagel, baby?" and I woke up. I got up 4AM and started googling Barack and Hamilton and everything I googled came up with them together. WHAAAAAAAAAAT? There was even a site where an ALEXANDER HAMILTON was a major Obama supporter. Then there's Joe and DELAWARE?
Well, I must say-as someone who believes in reincarnation that I was rocked out of my socks. Could it be that the Founding Fathers are here with us-watching over us and taking back this country from the evil empire that had usurped it??? What a dream! Yeeeeeee hah! Let's make it come true .
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Raffie Azariel (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 39 comments)
on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 9:54:06 PM
I appreciate your work Ms. Shaw. But I regret to say that many Americans are voting for Obama out of fear. If you really look at his record he is merely the flip side of the same coin. This false left-right paradigm. Our moral compass is badly broken. If Obama and Biden truly cared about America, both of these men would already have demanded a re-investigation into 9/11 and the illegal and horrid wars that followed which have bankrupted this once great country of ours. Otherwise the tyranny will only continue and you can kiss this county goodbye.
by
Munich (1 articles, 82 quicklinks, 13 diaries, 1014 comments)
on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 11:47:38 PM
9 comments
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