U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., who was in town Monday to trumpet a new veteran’s bill, said as much.
“People know that we need a change,” he said, adding, “I think it makes good sense to have someone who knows the system.”
I am not sure I agree. Yes, Joe Biden has experience on foreign affairs and is skilled in the ways of Washington, but do these qualities really help the ticket get elected? Of course these qualities will be useful when it comes to governance. In the election, however, they mainly serve to underscore Obama's shortcomings in FP experience, however unintentionally. Biden also will undercut the "change" argument even if he does not own a house in DC. On the other hand perhaps the choice demonstrates Obama's understanding of his own flaws and the need to overcome them. I have no doubt that Joe Biden would be a capable president and will hold his own in the VP debate, but I am not convinced he adds anything more electorally (actually he probably adds less) than Hillary Clinton, who would also be a capable president. We'll see how this all pans out.
Another interesting angle to this choice is how it will affect McCain's. The conventional wisdom, and I think I agree, is that this lowers Pawlenty's stock. He is viewed as too bland and the thought is he would be eaten alive in the VP debate with Biden. I am not sure the VP debate has ever swayed an election, and I think McCain (according to reports) values loyalty, so Pawlenty may not be out of this. I think Romney should probably be out, unless McCain doesn't mind being made to look foolish. Romney relentlessly attacked McCain during the primary, and the fact that he is a multimillionaire is probably not helping his case given McCain's recent gaffe. And I think we should all be on the lookout for Sen. Hutchinson.
1 comments:
Obama is picking a VP ... not using the VP selection as an election tactic.
The VP should be able to twist arms to get Congress to enact the President's legislation -- Biden can do that ... can Pawlenty, Romney, Canter, Ridge, Hutchinson, Lieberman do that ?
Biden also brings years of Foreign Policy know-how. If you watched any CSPAN coverage of the Foreign Relations Committee hearings, you could tell who knew things ... Lugar and Biden for sure ... Obama had some good moments, but Coleman was a RoveRobot mouthing Bush's talking points ... the best was when Boxer schooled Coleman on the Constitution during the Bolton confirmation.
Once again, ask the question, what expertise can McCain's VP offer (Lieberman has the knowledge but his bias toward Israel affects his judgment.) That should be a MAJOR concern considering how off-cock McCain went during the Georgia crisis.
Biden offered a plan for separating Iraq into regional entities with a central government ... it never was accepted by Bush. McCain's Iraq plan that he announced in November 2005 required integrating the military forces and Bush didn't accept that either. Just this week, the LA Times reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government has no intention of folding in the Sunni Awakening Councils into the Iraqi military. ... what we have now is an American occupation with the various groups in a standdown mode ... it looks to me that Biden's plan would have provided greater security for the Sunnis and that McCain's plan has been totally rejected by the Iraqis ... and now that al-Maliki is demanding a timetable for American troop withdrawal ... McCain is the big loser ... Biden's plan could have provided more long term security in the region.
Obama picking Biden shows that he wants someone who will offer candid advise … not be a yes man. The pick took a little courage … but then again, Obama has spoken highly of Lugar and took Chuck Hagel with him to Iraq. I think Obama will reach out to Republicans.
We should be very concerned about McCain … who is pulling the strings ? The man has flipped on so many issues that you have to wonder what he really stands for. McCain will pay attention to foreign matters, but who will take care of the domestic ? Have fear that more Monica Goodling and Mike Brown’s will be the norm in a McCain administration.
Hutchinson is a possibility but I don’t think she really wants it but then again does anybody ever say no. She has been a determent on Veterans issues and is not really a good speaker. She might confirm some votes from women that are angry at Obama, but once the Dems start talking the economic issues that may change things. With a Republican Governor in Texas that would keep the Senate seat in the Republican column.
I think it is Pawlenty … he’s inexperienced, not really loved by the hardcore MN-GOP, but he’s the only one left standing. It shows how weak the GOP bench is … after 8 years, everybody is tired.
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