10 reasons Biden would be a terrible choice for VP

[funflower]

1. He's a perennial presidential candidate who has repeatedly proven his ability to repel voters.

2. He's been in the Senate since he was in about the sixth grade. I can't stand people like that.

3. He stands for nothing except "Biden for President."

4. We'll hear about his plagiarism scandal 24/7.

5. He sure as hell doesn't represent "change we can believe in."

6. He sends my BS meter into overdrive.

7. I f*cking hate his hair.

8. He does nothing to broaden the appeal of the ticket. Are we worried about bringing in New Jersey voters? Foreign policy geeks? Men having a midlife crisis?

9. Choosing Biden lets the republicans and their media surrogates call the tune. They accuse Obama of being light on foreign policy experience compared with a drunken sailor who finished nearly last in his college class despite having every imagineable advantage and Obama thinks he needs to throw away his VP nomination to meet their standard? If they frame the debate, we lose.

10. He is incapable of shutting up and playing a supporting role. He will make every effort to upstage Obama whenever he thinks it furthers his personal goals (see number 3).

[Ian David]

1. I fucking LOVE Joe Biden! Joe Biden is AWESOME!

And so is anybody else Obama might pick.

[hisownpetard]

3. Exactly. I support Obama and defer to his good judgment which he has shown to be accurate

time and time again.

[funflower]

8. I support Obama, but I defer to no one.

His heretofore good judgment makes me think he will not choose Biden.

[Clark2008]

21. Good judgment?

He's left the left's most knowledgeable foreign policy expert out of the damn convention!

How's that good judgment?

[Terranist]

19. ...

[dysfunctional press]

2. at least he thinks obama is clean and well-spoken...

for his race especially, that is.

[KittyWampus]

34. why do assholes always leave out the other adjectives, "bright" and "goodlooking", which Joe used?

[funflower]

35. I think Biden needs a haircut.

[adoraz]

4. blah blah blah

bunch of crap... no need to bash the future VP. :)

Some reasons are legitimate, but you put some there just to fill up the 10 bullet points.

Obama has already chosen his VP anyways.

[funflower]

14. Whaddya mean? I really DO hate his hair!

[adoraz]

26. lol... I don't think it is really that bad

From that angle it doesn't look that great, but I wouldn't say I hate it enough to put it on a list like this. :P

[funflower]

30. I really hated it when he used to wear it longer. Looks like he's trying to be Bono with a flag pin

Definitely an indicator of a serious midlife crisis.

[adoraz]

33. LOL! I don't remember his longer hair...

but I could easily picture that.

[funflower]

36. Just a little bit longer. I can't find a good picture, but I definitely remember it.

[TexasObserver]

59. I don't think it's Biden who having that serious midlife crisis

He's about to be the VP, and you're about to break out in hives over it.

[jillan]

42. Guess what? So does Joe.

He's always cracking jokes about it.

When the buzz was about Edward's $400 haircut, Biden would say things like he wishes he had enough hair for a $400 haircut.
Or he'd make jokes in when he was campaigning in Iowa about his head getting sunburned.

And unless you belong in a shampoo ad, I don't think dissing someone for their hair - or lack thereof - is any of your business.

[funflower]

44. Not dissing him for lack of hair. Bald is sexy. Hair plugs, on the other hand....

[jillan]

48. No different than people getting botox, or face lifts or whatever they think they need to make

themselves look better.

[funflower]

50. I like a man who is strong enough to look in the mirror w/o calling a plastic surgeon.

I'm kind of embarrassed for men who get facelifts.

Guess I'm old-fashioned that way.

[jillan]

55. I say the same about women.

Yet they get botoxed and sewn up all of the time.

So do men for that matter.

To each their own.

[starroute]

68. As I recall, Biden did have a hair transplant

It was about the same time the plagiarism scandal came out. I don't have the time to google for it not, but if I'm remembering correctly, the story should be out there.

[LibDemAlways]

5. Thanks. I'm especially in agreement with #10. He

is enamored with the sound of his own voice. Also, he's made some cringeworthy verbal gaffes including praising Obama for being a "clean" "articulate" African-American. Anyone think the corporate whores aren't chomping at the bit to revisit that one?

Just.....NO

[whirlygigspin]

6. nice

thanks for your passionate caring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aufuwMiKmE

[Terranist]

7. We'll see nonstop clips of Joe Biden supporting attacking Iraq

Before and after the 2003 invasion.

Doesn't seem like a good idea to open yourself up to attack like that.

[LibDemAlways]

10. Yep, certainly an excellent pick for the candidate who's made

"change" the operative word of his campaign. :sarcasm:

[funflower]

11. He played both sides of the fence on Iraq.

Makes it sound like the issue is just too long and complex for us non-foreign policy experts to grasp, but the bottom line is he was just fence-sitting.

[Terranist]

15. I remember first he pulled the "incompetence" card endlessly

Then he realized that that was going to net him less than 1% in a Democratic primary and he got more aggressive by using zingers against Giuliani or whatever, still with enormous coverage by MSM he performed pitifully.

He has next to no appeal to anyone outside the pundit class.

[LibDemAlways]

16. He pulls that fence-sitting crap a lot. Will go and on about why a particular

nominee shouldn't be confirmed, will state all sorts of reservations, but when push comes to shove will give the person the "benefit of the doubt" and vote "aye." He's been on the damn fence so often it's a miracle he has time for anything other than picking the splinters out of his ass.

[funflower]

24. Ol' splinter-butt.....

:rofl: :rofl:

[AdvancedProgress]

9. That's why it's going to be

Wes Clark

:evilgrin:

[funflower]

18. Clark would be a WONDERFUL choice. Someone I really admire.

Makes McCain look like the drunken sailor that he is.

[stray cat]

12. Is there any candidate someone on DU can't make a 10 reasons list for....

[marylanddem]

13. I agree.

[FrenchieCat]

17. Biden is great.......

Please stop the whining...

1. Biden wouldn't be running for President, so point 1 is moot.

2. He's been in the Senate slightly longer than John McCain. So now McCain can shut the fuck up about all of his "experience".

3. He will be standing for "Obama for President"...and Number 3 is nothing but Number 1 reduxed.

4. Let's hear about 1988. Isn't that around the time that the Keating 5 Loan and Saving scandal broke out? Yeah...let's talk about 1988.

5. In terms of Foreign policy, Biden is not close to McBush. So yeah...it's a change.

6. You BS meter sounds like a personal issue to me.

7. You hate his hair. So fucking what?

8. Foreign policy, White Men, Catholics, Pennsylvania (where he comes from), his kid being deployed, a moving personal story in losing his first wife, a life long commitment to public service, inside knowledge of Washington, with outside knowledge of Foreign policy.....Sounds like a good slice of the pie to me.

9. Whatever the tune, it's about the votes. The Corporate media will always be who frames the debate......one just has to be gifted enough to know how to ride that tide and finesse it to your advantage.

10. Biden's personal goal will be to elect Obama as President so that he can be Vice President. Sounds like something he would work for.

[funflower]

20. Biden's personal goal is to be president.

Whatever that takes.

I want someone whose personal goal is to serve the country and the world and change things for the better.

That's why I support Obama.

Wes Clark's goal is to serve the country and change things for the better.

[Naturyl]

23. You got proof of these claims?

If you don't like Biden, fine. But announcing opinion as fact is not only ineffective, it tends to mar the credibility of those doing it.

[funflower]

27. Women's intuition..... Never underestimate it. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

28. I've got that too....and I'm getting a different reading.

[funflower]

31. OK. Women's intuition plus the fact that he's run for president at least 947 times. n/t

[democrat2thecore]

54. TWICE - 1988 and 2008 --- get your facts straight. And what's with...

The Elizabeth Edwards avatar? The same Elizabeth Edwards who encouraged her cheating husband into the '08 race knowing it could doom the party? And, at the same time, making FAMILY a centerpiece of the campaign? Where's your intuition on THAT one?

[FrenchieCat]

25. I love Wes......

But I don't down Biden due to it.

Wes has his own issues in reference to "controversies" if the Republicans are going to be on the attack.


In my mind, a Charismatic Virgin Mary of the Lourdes was not vetted for this position....in otherwords, I don't think that Caroline Kennedy is going to be the pick.

[funflower]

29. The Virgin Mary.... there's any idea....white women... Catholics.... the hispanic vote.....

Nice.

[FrenchieCat]

32. But Hillary fans would be pissed.....

right? :shrug:

[funflower]

45. HRC devotees will be pissed regardless.

[hisownpetard]

51. Frenchie:

:yourock:

[dflprincess]

22. Don't forget #11

- it would be nice to have an actual Democrat somewhere on the ticket.

On the other hand, if it is Biden and "Timmy the Tool" Pawlenty is McCain's choice it will be fun to watch Biden carve Timmy up.

[napi21]

37. I started to answer each of your points individually, but decided it's not

worth my time!

[JohnnyCougar]

38. You and I have a lot in common.

Biden is perfect. With as much experience and knowledge as he has, he is still a Washington outsider. He lives in Delaware and commutes. He is also the second poorest Senator. He's not interested in personal wealth and lobbying. He's interested in serving and protecting this country.

The OP is way off the mark.

[KamaAina]

39. #7: It's a plug job

though it has gotten marginally better over the years. Imus, way back when he was funny, once referred to Biden as "a human Chia Pet"! :rofl:

edit: spelling

[funflower]

41. Yes. I think I remember noticing that at some point.

[TexasObserver]

40. He looks the part and he makes the MSM feel warm and comfy.

He'll be fine.

[funflower]

43. Anything to please the punditocracy.

:eyes:

[TexasObserver]

46. No, anything to please the voters who will decide the election.

:eyes:

[funflower]

47. Precisely.

[TexasObserver]

57. That's why the VP should be Biden.

You don't seem to place helping Obama win as very high on your list of criteria.

[democrat2thecore]

49. Biden has run TWICE. 1988 & 2008 - twenty years apart - not a 'perennial candidate' -nt

[cynatnite]

52. voting for the bankruptcy bill should be in your top ten n/t

[Top Cat]

53. Obama is not stupid and will make the best choice for the good of the party.

Please remember to keep your eye on the prize which is Jan 2009

[Sparkly]

56. He voted "yes" on the IWR.

That goes directly against Obama's main rationale against McCain.

[Thrill]

58. I doubt its Biden. I'm back to thinking its going to be Webb

[wisteria]

60. #10 is very much to the point and why I to thing Biden is not the best choice.

Of course the media is telling us otherwise- Biden being a media darling for a number of years now- we should all realize that Biden is the best choice and go along with what the media tell us to do.

[Hekate]

61. He has a sharp mind and a sharper tongue. I like that in a veep to a gentleman-prez.

Has it occurred to you that Obama is someone who is going to need a feisty attack dog watching his back? DUers have been bitching and moaning without cease that Obama is holding back too much while McSlime is slugging away. I don't think Biden is going to hold back if given the chance.

So what are you going to do if Biden is the veep nom after all? Continue to tear him down? Continue with the proud DU trad of eating our own?

Hekate

:argh:

[chiefofclarinet]

62. I'm sorry that's the way you think

I am really sorry you think of Joe Biden in this way. I don't.

Some things you say are true to a point. He's been in around in the Senate for quite a while. He's been in several rounds of primaries/caucuses. He likes to talk. He isn't a woman or minority. The MSM will attack his "plagiarism" until kingdom come.

However, I think Obama needs a counterweight as a VP. Obama's weakness of lack of foreign policy experience vanishes if Biden is VP. (Richardson also works.) Obama generally enjoys being the nice guy (though he's doing all right attacking "the son of Cain") and needs an "attack dog." (Hillary, Kerry, and many others work well here too.) Obama has a lack of experience, and an elder statesman will help those concerned about his lack of national significance. (Kerry, Dodd, and several others will work here as well.)

Sure, there are disadvantages. Biden's initial support of the Iraq war disappointed me, but he has long retracted his support due to Shrub's idiocy with its management. His support of the bankruptcy bill hurts average Americans, but Delaware has a LOT of businesses that it helped and Biden was helping them so he could stay in office. Biden makes some gaffes, but he also has made a lot of zingers. (e.g. Giuliani and 9/11) He's been in Washington a long time, but he knows how the system works and actually has a spine and will stand for what he believes.

I personally think Biden is the best choice. (I will also be happy with Clark, Sebelius, Kaine, Schweitzer, Richardson, and Kerry) However, to each their own.

[Stop Cornyn]

63. Agreed. By picking Biden, Obama says "I was just kidding about change; we need a 35 year DC insider"

[Hekate]

64. DU cannibalism. DU feeding frenzy. Ain't it grand?

:sarcasm: :argh:

Hekate

[Stop Cornyn]

65. Question re: #4 -- Which plagiarism scandal? Biden has two.

[SoxFan]

69. Bullshit

The "law school plagiarism" story has long been discredited. Biden actually asked the Delaware professional conduct committee to investigate the matter. They found that Biden was guilty of sloppy footnoting and a lax adherence to Bluebook formatting, but he did not plagiarize of commit an unethical act.

[gateley]

66. Are you trying to convince somebody? Change somebody's mind? Or just venting? nt

[Czolgosz]

67. k&r