Biden VP Talk Reflects Worries About Obama

Long-Time Delaware Senator, Former Presidential Candidate Can Address Obama's Biggest Weaknesses

(AP)  Sen. Joe Biden's emergence at the center of speculation about who will be Barack Obama's running mate may say more about Obama's challenges in the presidential race than it does about the final selection.

Obama is keeping his decision quiet, but his staff in Chicago and party activists are buzzing about Biden, in large part because he can address two of Obama's biggest weaknesses - his lack of experience, especially on world affairs, and his reluctance to attack his opponent.

Obama plans to appear with his newly selected running mate Saturday, with the pick announced via text message to supporters. Obama also is believed to be considering Govs. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana.

But Biden is at the center of much speculation now. Biden, 65, first was elected to represent Delaware in 1972. Obama was 11 at the time; half the people living in the U.S. were not born when Biden arrived on Capitol Hill. He is a curious front-runner to join a ticket headed by Obama, who prevailed during the primaries by making the case that he is an outsider who can bring change to Washington.

Biden has a compelling personal story: His wife and daughter were killed in a car accident a few weeks after he was first elected, but two sons survived serious injuries in the crash. Biden commuted home to Wilmington daily to care for them, a practice he continues to this day. The oldest son, Beau, is now Delaware's attorney general and a National Guard member whose unit is being deployed to Iraq in October.

Biden got another scare 10 years ago, when two brain aneurysms kept him out of the Senate for several months.

This week Biden returned from a trip to the former Soviet state of Georgia that he made at the invitation of the embattled country's president, a well-timed reminder of the value he could bring to Obama's ticket.

Fighting between Georgia and Russia has only increased the sense that Americans will turn to the candidate they believe will be a strong international leader.

Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, brings a military background and a leading role on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Obama only has served three years in Washington, but Biden is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Polls suggest the race between Obama and McCain is tightening, and Obama is responding by stepping up his attacks in speeches and commercials targeted to key states. Obama has never been entirely comfortable going negative, but Biden is always ready for a fight.

Obama could have been describing Biden when he said in a speech Tuesday that he wants his running mate to be "somebody who is mad right now" about the state of the economy, an independent spirit who will speak out when Obama's wrong and help him through major issues.

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VP Hot Sheet: CBSNews.com Tracks Veepstakes Buzz:
McCain's Top 10 Contenders
Obama's Top 10 Contenders

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During the Democratic primary, when he also sought the presidential nomination, Biden often made the most memorable impression in debates even though he was barely registering in the polls. He got big laughs for accusing Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani of mentioning three things in every sentence - "a noun, a verb and 9/11" - and also leveled barbs at Obama, questioning his experience.

He said he didn't think Obama was ready to be president yet, saying it's "not something that lends itself to on-the-job training." He offended some blacks when on the first day as an official presidential candidate he tried to compliment Obama as "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean."

Biden dropped out of the race after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.

[realpatriot1]

nokoolaid,

Obama''s aides say that h decided last week. The other day he referred to his VP as "he".

It''s not Hillary.

[ragnar30066]

Obama has asked his long time partner, Oliver Hardy to be his running mate.

[blkpresident]

Hope it''s not too late to ask L. Douglas Wilder to join the Obama ticket. Obama-Wilder ''08 baby!!!

[thisandthat1]

I think Biden has long ago been promised the position of Sec of State. I wouldn''t be surprised if Barack surprised everyone and named Hillary ....

[love234ameri]

JFK might have held his nose while selecting LBJ, but if you do your homework, JFK was a do nothing preisent; he only got elected because of his father''s money which came from illegal activities. His father was pro-Hitler, so the Kennedys are no blessing to America. But LBJ, tho he inherited the war, pushed the Civil Rights Acts thru Congress whereas no other individual could have done so, not Kennedy as president. So you minoities (non whites, females, etc.) have to thank LBJ, that TEXAS man who did this for you, one of the greatest acts of recent presidents. LBJ was far more a greater presient that JFK. Both were womanizers, but then most Democrat men are.

[ioweign]

Obama has asked his long time partner, Oliver Hardy to be his running mate.

Posted by ragnar30066 at 10:12 AM : Aug 21, 2008


McCain and Diem Pho Nyugen in ''08

[bigwhtpony]

''in large part because he can address two of Obama''s biggest weaknesses - his lack of experience, especially on world affairs, and his reluctance to attack his opponent.''

His LACK OF EXPERIENCE - ESPECIALLY on WORLD AFFAIRS.
And that''s just the tip of the iceberg with this guy. He is, without a doubt, the weakest dem candidate I''ve ever seen to make it this far.

[bigwhtpony]

but the Democrats must win to save America from herself. Posted by nokoolaid at 09:49 AM : Aug 21, 2008

BLAHAHAHA.....Republicans are saying they must win to save America from bedwetting liberals! :)

[bigwhtpony]

McCain and Diem Pho Nyugen in ''''08
Posted by IOWEIGN at 11:16 AM : Aug 21, 2008

Ubama and Ho Chi Minh in 2065!

[ioweign]

Obama has asked his long time partner, Oliver Hardy to be his running mate.

Posted by ragnar30066 at 10:12 AM : Aug 21, 2008


McCain and Diem Pho Nyugen in ''08

[vastr-wcon]

Biden and hussein share many characteristics. For example, they are both so lacking in honesty and ethics they blatantly plagiarize the words of others.

The many, many plagiarized speeches of Biden have been well documented. While at Syracuse Law School, Biden plagiarized a law review article in a class paper he wrote. He has not only plagiarized Americans, but British politicians as well, such as Neil Kinnock, then-leader of the British Labour Party. He''s a true international plagiarizer.

In his mediocre law school, Biden was only able to graduate 76th in a class of 85 - i.e., he was in the lowest 10.5%! Of course, while campaigning, he claimed falsely to have graduated in the "top half" of his class. A plagiarizer and a LIAR!

hussein is so mentally deficient from extensive drug use he even has to plagiarize his hollow platitudes. (His mental deficiencies appear to rival those of Biden.) His many plagiarized speeches have also been documented, including his theft of words from a speech by Deval Patrick, from Robin WIlliams'' movie Man of the Year, and others. Like Biden, hussein also has been caught in many lies.

Yep, the character of these two is as pathetic as it gets - they deserve one another. America deserves neither.

[ioweign]

His LACK OF EXPERIENCE - ESPECIALLY on WORLD AFFAIRS.
And that''''s just the tip of the iceberg with this guy. He is, without a doubt, the weakest dem candidate I''''ve ever seen to make it this far.

Posted by bigwhtpony at 11:21 AM : Aug 21, 2008

And Johnnie has 20 years in the military and 26 in Congress - he is more like a poster child for Uncle Sam since he has been at the Federal trough all that time - some accomplishments...

[bigwhtpony]

The O-man is an eloquently tailored empty suit. No resume, no accomplishments, no experience, no original ideas, no understanding of how the economy works, no understanding of how the world works, no balls, nothing but abstract, empty rhetoric devoid of real substance.

He has no real identity. He is half-white, which he rejects. The rest of him is mostly Arab, which he hides but is disclosed by his non-African Arabic surname and his Arabic first and middle names as a way to triply proclaim his Arabic parentage to people in Kenya. Only a small part of him is African Black from his Luo grandmother, which he pretends he is exclusively.

[johnnyzmee]

"he (McCain) is more like a poster child for Uncle Sam"

Ummmm... that is supposed to be a BAD THING??
The election is for President of the UNITED STATES. Being a "Poster Child for the US" can only be a HUGE plus.

Unlike Obambi who is a "Poster Child for America Haters"

Obambi is running for President of the "Blame America First Club"

[dnsallday]

Cindy McCain%u2019s lies are beginning to mount almost as fast as John McCain%u2019s are.

The Christian Science Monitor called the campaign out on it.
I thought the lies she told about her plagiarized family recipes and then the lies about the supposed cookie recipe incident were kind of silly but this is a bit more disturbing to me because it involves her daughter.

That%u2019s just sad, and on the heels of the other story about the sisters Cindy McCain refuses to acknowledge, it%u2019s becoming downright bizarre.

The latest embellishments come from the McCain camp. Cindy McCain has repeatedly referred to herself as an %u201Conly child.%u201D

This week came news that she actually has two half sisters.

The McCain campaign had also put out the story that Mother Teresa %u201Cconvinced%u201D Cindy to bring home two orphans from Bangladesh in 1991.

Mrs. McCain, it turns out, never met Mother Teresa on that trip. (After the campaign was contacted by the Christian Science Monitor, the campaign revised the story on its website.)

I%u2019m actually a bit surprised by this, but I really shouldn%u2019t be, considering the woman has been caught in massive lies before, like stealing from her own charity to support her drug habit for starters.

All of these lies start to add up and you really have to wonder what else Cindy McCain and the McCain campaign are lying about and why.

I guess when you have a big corporation that being in Government can really help a lot.

[dnsallday]

bigwhtpony ......
One more name to add to the list of insecure, frightened and jealous losers, working hard to earn her McCain Frequent Liar miles from the campaign, so she can get some free McCain hats and t-shirts.

[dnsallday]

John McCain is more than happy to deposit his Social Security check each month even as he calls the program a disgrace.

[londoninny]

Like Harry Reid, I can''t stand John McCain either. John McCain is the Great American Fraud and the Neocon Trojan Horse. McCain has no intellectual curiousity about the transcendant cultural movements in this country and the world. He approaches everything from the perspective of a Cold War Warrior and his Neoconservative sponsors, many of whom should be in jail for Treason.

[londoninny]

Like Harry Reid, I can''t stand John McCain either. John McCain is the Great American Fraud and the Neocon Trojan Horse. McCain has no intellectual curiousity about the transcendant cultural movements in this country and the world. He approaches everything from the perspective of a Cold War Warrior and his Neoconservative sponsors, many of whom should be in jail for Treason. Unfortunately, I think what John McCain needs is a respected intellectual with experience to tear him apart and illustrate to the American people just how *** wrong he is. BIDEN is that man.

[element51]

truthmatterz...Maybe you can help me. You mention in one of your posts that McCain "deposits his social security check." I am on social security and if I work I can only earn a max of 400 per month or they will take my benefits away. Since McCain is employed, as a United States Senator, with the salary and all the benefits, why does he get social security? I think I read somewhere that he gets his Senate pay, military retirement and social security. Am I missing something here? Looks like the Senator is feeding at the public tete like a new born piggy.

[realpatriot1]

St. Louisman,

The Presidency is a job that lends itself to on the job training because no one knows the job before they have it.

There are 2 Senators running and neither one is any better prepared than the other. McCain has more longevity as a Senator but neither one has had to manage anything, let alone the federal government.

Obama''s experience as a community organizer is closer to a management position than anything McCain has done in the last 30 years. Look at all the financial difficulties and staff changes with his campaign.

[hungry1968]

Unlike Obambi who is a "Poster Child for America Haters"

Obambi is running for President of the "Blame America First Club"

Posted by Johnnyzmee at 11:40 AM : Aug 21, 2008





You''re one of those "I say Obama hates America, therefore it must be true" people, aren''t you?

Or perhaps you could offer up some of what you consider to be "Obama''s anti-American rhetoric" as proof of your position?

[semperfi2008]

It doesn''t matter what strategy Obama tries or which candidate he picks as his running mate, he cannot win in November. In the parlance of software development, he is vaporware, a term meaning that you get promised the world but nothing you thought you bought is ever delivered. You end up throwing the whole project in the trash and starting over from scratch. That''s what the DNC will have to do after the election -- reinvent their party. Good luck with that!

[random_radar]

The ideal president would be one who accomplishes nothing. Whenever presidents do something, the nation suffers.

In that respect, Obama might be the ideal candidate. We could live our lives in peace and freedom while he presides quietly in the whitehouse.

[semperfi2008]

It has been proven throughout history that inexperience, coupled with incompetence, combined with a giant ego are perfect ingredients for disaster. If John McCain is elected president, there are some people who won''t be able to sleep at night. If Borack is elected president -- NO ONE will be able to sleep at night.

[metroduck75]

Reality Check for Team Obama.

Now matter WHO he picks as VP, the VP will outshine him, Unless his picks his own wife.

[metroduck75]

Only Obama''s Supporters believe he is the Messiah, the 2nd coming.

[creeper00]

Great "change" there, Barack.

[wellhell3]

Obama''''s experience as a community organizer is closer to a management position than anything McCain has done in the last 30 years. Look at all the financial difficulties and staff changes with his campaign.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by realpatriot1 at 12:43 PM : Aug 21, 2008

Obscamma''s position as a community organizer using the Alinsky methodology to teach people to hate their government is enough for me. Alinsky was nothing but a pinko commie. And Obscamma''s ties to anti-American groups is notorious! ACORN, ALINSKY, JOYCE FOUNDATION, WOODS FUND (funds anti-American groups, including the PLO), DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.

NO THANKS! NO some anti-American shill in the White House!

[wellhell3]

Obscamma will never pick a VP that has more experience or competence than he does. It would allow him to look like the smirking chimp first grader he is.

[semperfi2008]

It doesn''t matter who Obama picks as his running mate or what strategy he pursues, he cannot win in November. If the DNC had half a brain, they would select HRC as the nominee. At least she would give McCain a good fight. In the parlance of software development, Obama is "vaporware", a term meaning that what you thought you bought is nothing like what you get. In the end you end up throwing the whole project in the trash and starting over --- Just like the DNC will have to do after the election

[zykracosmos]

First of all, the absolute gutter talk by the rightwingers in here completely reassures me about voting Democratic this year. There''s no way I want my fingers on the same lever any one of these people touched. About the VP pick, Hillary seems to be out because of the big shadow she and Bill cast. Sebelius will be rewarded as a cabinet appointee, maybe education. Kaine''s value is limited to a few extra votes in Virginia, while giving up a valuable senate seat that may not automatically go back to the blue side, and he has no experience either, just a big mouth. Bayh is like a clone, and he''s not "mad right now." He doesn''t show the drive, just the same cute-look that Edwards had that won''t translate to a win in November. Biden, on the other hand, while playing into the "I need a big brother" appearance people are already snickering at, would, in fact, bring a very strong partnership to the campaign strategy, and he really does have the crucial experience in foreign policy that immediately cancel''s out McCain''s advantage. Biden''s foreign policy positions actually make sense! I''ve wanted Biden to be the pick for months, before he climbed the ladder. I hope it happens.

[zykracosmos]

Furthermore, Sebelius as a VP pick would automatically make half of Hillary''s supporters jump ship to McCain in retribution.

[zykracosmos]

And more... if people think *** Cheney is Bush''s hatchet man, wait till they see Biden go to work.

[downsteamjim]

I would like to see Obama and Biden in a reality TV show. The goal would be to see who is the more self righteous and pompus horses but t.

[downsteamjim]

P.S. I hope I didn''t offend any horse lovers.

[c0mm0n_sense]

The youngest of Barack Obama%u2019s half siblings has told of his shame about living in a shack and existing on a dollar a month whilst his brother plans to become the most powerful man in the world.

With the Democratic Convention in Denver just days away, Italian Vanity Fair magazine tracked George Hussein Onyango Obama to a 6ft by 9ft wooden shed in Kenya.

The difference in the men''s lifestyles could not be more dramatic. Mr Obama, 47, travels the world with an army of bodyguards, whilst his brother defends himself with his own bare hands on the rough streets of Haruma, a Nairobi shanty town.

%u201CIf anyone says something about my surname, I say we are not related. I am ashamed,%u201D George told the magazine.

"No-one knows who I am. I live here on less than a dollar a month.

"I live like a recluse, no-one knows I exist."

George, at 25 the youngest of Obama%u2019s father%u2019s seven children, has met his famous big brother just twice.

He was just five when Mr Obama visited Kenya for the first time in 1988 and made a special trip out to his mother Jael%u2019s shanty home.

[dasfarg]

Sources say the international bankers and financiers will install Al Gore as the Prez (bumping Obama out) and billionaire NYC Mayor Bloomberg the VP for either party. Both will continue the agenda to privatize the US government, programs, infrastructure and jobs for big $$$ profits as the economy tanks and currency goes down. Gore has about 100 superdelegates in his back pocket to prevent anyone candidate to get the number needed to be nominated. That is the plan for him to step in and appear above the fray and take advantage of popular discontent, confusion and chaos at the convention.....

[dasfarg]

Sources say the international bankers and financiers will install Al Gore as the Prez (bumping Obama out) and billionaire NYC Mayor Bloomberg the VP for either party. Both will continue the agenda to privatize the US government, programs, infrastructure and jobs for big $$$ profits as the economy tanks and currency goes down. Gore has about 100 superdelegates in his back pocket to prevent anyone candidate to get the number needed to be nominated. That is the plan for him to step in and appear above the fray and take advantage of popular discontent, confusion and chaos at the convention.....

[c0mm0n_sense]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1047399/Barack-Obamas-half-brother-discovered-Kenya-living-dollar-month.html

[liberty_1776]

Those aneurysms must have short circuited Biden''s brain. I have always wondered why people in Delaware vote for him. Now I know it is because they feel sorry for him and his family. Still, it seems reckless to elect someone to Congress due to pity or tradition. Joe Biden is an embarrassing person. He says and does a lot of ridiculous things that people in Delaware should be very embarrassed about.

[ragnar30066]

Obama needs a VP who shares his values, his commitment, his vision of the future.

Vladimir Putin.

[shameonbush]

Joe Biden is brilliant. This would be an excellant choice for Obama. Biden has always impressed me with his tenacious personality. I feel confident with Biden.

[armydog2]

Actually Biden is a good choice, he has foreign policy experience,which you all claim Obama does not have.Obama/Biden 08 they will win cause the USA is fed up with the republicans and all their corruption.

[obamaisaho2]

Pick a Plagarizer to buck up a Coward and Racial Hypocrite.

Go Obama-Biden - right down the toilet bowl where the two of you belong.

LOL.

[obamaisaho2]

When Americans put 1 and 1 together and sees what kind of colossal anal retentive Joe Biden is, and knowing what they know about Stepin Fetchit and his wifey, friends and advisers, with the exception of the brain dead, the Hollyweirdos and Flakes like Scarlett and Kate Walsh, and the true believers who would have marched if Hitler was a Dem, they''ll run as far away from these two cowards as humanly possible.

[byethepeople]

"...the true believers who would have marched if Hitler was a Dem..." (Posted by obamaisaho2)

But Hitler wasn''t a Democrat. He was right-wing fascist, like you!

[luvienne]

Mccain''s political team of karl Rove operatives are the ones who slandered Mccain in his previous bid for president. This time Bush gave Mccain the go ahead with a pat on the head. Good boy.