Barring a big surprise or last-minute change of heart, the choice is likely to be Sen. Joe Biden

[seemslikeadream]

edit to change OP


Hartman just said Howard Fineman wrote this today?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26288748/

[DS1]

1. seemslikeadream wrote that hartman said that fineman wrote

Nice choice, but I'll wait for the official announcement

[seemslikeadream]

2. be my guest

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26288748/
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Within the last few hours I've spoken with two of the finalists for the role of Barack Obama's running-mate, and to two other sources who are close to the process.

My bottom line is this: Barring a big surprise or last-minute change of heart, the choice is likely to be Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

He is a lively and feisty if unpredictable campaigner with working-class roots and a street-level feel for the hot spots of the globe — which he can use to go toe-to-toe with Sen. John McCain.

"If I had to bet my life on it, I'd bet it is Joe," said one of the other contenders.

Said another, "Barack is moving toward a seasoned Beltway type, and that probably means Biden."

[AlCzervik]

3. i'll wait to hear it from Obama.

[DU9598]

4. I would be very happy

I love his work on behalf of domestic violence advocates and his foreign policy credentials are desparately needed.

[seemslikeadream]

6. God in Heaven I hope it is NOT Evan Bayh

That is all I am hoping for

[Lex]

12. Why don't you like Bayh?

I don't like or dislike him, just wondering why your feelings of dislike for Bayh are strong.

[seemslikeadream]

15. This says so much I agree with, check it out

http://www.alternet.org/election08/95225/evan_bayh:_worst_choice_for_vp_/

The son of Sen. Birch Bayh, Evan has no discernible political skills (unless "skills" include being the cure for insomnia and having a famous last name). In the decade since this prince claimed his daddy's Senate seat, he has amassed not a single significant accomplishment -- a miraculous achievement, even by Washington's do-nothing standards. If he is known at all, it is for heading a business front group called the Democratic Leadership Council, using that position to rake in corporate campaign contributions and then paying back the money with votes.

For instance, in his 2004 campaign, Bayh raised almost $1 million from the banking and financial industries, then voted in 2005 for a bankruptcy bill helping those industries intensify their usurious practices. Similarly, despite representing a manufacturing state crushed by trade-related job losses, Bayh has voted for a bevy of lobbyist-written trade pacts, including the monumentally destructive China deal in 2000.

On foreign policy, it's even worse. Bayh has been a shameless Bush parrot, infamously commending himself for being "tough and smart" after aggressively supporting the Iraq War -- the same war that U.S. intelligence agencies have said is severely weakening America's national security.

Obama selecting this corporate Frankenstein would implicitly signal that the Illinois senator's populist campaign promises are a farce. In terms of demoralizing Democratic voters, a Bayh pick would make Al Gore's 2000 choice of Joe Lieberman -- i.e., the worst vice-presidential nomination in contemporary history -- look positively brilliant.

But let's say Obama doesn't mind destroying Democratic enthusiasm for his candidacy. Let's say he is specifically looking to win a Republican state like Indiana. Even in that context, a Bayh nomination is absurd.

[mmonk]

27. Amen

[KharmaTrain]

5. My Prediction...

The Veep Candidate:

- Will have two arms and legs
- Will come from one of the 50 states (sorry Ricky Martin)
- Will be younger than Gramps
- Speaks English and can string a coherent sentence without using "My Friends"
- Will most likely be a Democrat (at least by party registration)
- Isn't a "fellow" at the AEI or Heritage Institute
- Knows how to use email and "the googles"
- Will piss off at least some DU'ers
- and will come from a state with more than 2 electoral votes...

Hey, ya think I got the stuff to be a media pundit now?

:rofl:

[seemslikeadream]

7. just tell me it won't be Evan Bayh

[KharmaTrain]

25. Magic 8 Ball Says...

Is this the third time Bayh's name has come up? He's like the Harold Stassen of short-lists.

Cheers...

[B Calm]

8. Joe Biden is a great choice. Bayh is another Lieberman!

[seemslikeadream]

9. NO KIDDING!

[Junkdrawer]

10. If it is, wonder how Joe and Zbig will get along...

:shrug:

[seemslikeadream]

11. Hopefully not well

:shrug:

[Junkdrawer]

13. Have you seen Zbig's cover editorial in Time Magazine?

Scary stuff:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1832699,00.html

[seemslikeadream]

14. Thanks

God in HEAVEN save us all

[shadowknows69]

16. Cool enough

I could definitely live with it being Biden.

[bdamomma]

18. me too.

missed Joe Biden in the Debates he was always so informative and talked about Pakistan before any of the candidates talked about them, Dodd was good too.

[Tarc]

17. yay, recycled Washington politicians are always an invigorating choice

This would be a ridiculous and fundamentally flawed choice. I'm still holding out for Clinton, but if not her, is it too much to ask for a bit of outside-the-box thinking here? Kathleen Sebelius, perhaps? Even Wes Clark or Bill Richardson would be more inspired than this undercooked milquetoast.

[MiniMe]

24. Just curious

How is Clinton any less of a Washington Politician? Biden doesn't even have a house in the DC area, he commutes everyday to Delaware.

No matter, I think Obama is in need of a veep with strong foreign policy experience. Add to that that Biden will hold his own in any VP debates. I don't think anybody has forgotten a noun, a verb, and 9-11 about Giulianni.

[Evoman]

19. Well, we know Biden likes Obama, an "African-American who is articulate

and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy".

:hide:

[gateley]

20. Honestly, you need to come up with some new material.

Or at least a snark that hasn't already been posted several times over the past few days. :eyes:

[Evoman]

22. I was just being an ass....I actually think Biden is okay.

Not my favourite guy in the world, but I don't hate him as much as other politicians.

[gateley]

26. Well, you can be this thread's official referencer to the

"clean, articulate" bit. But only one thread a day! :7

[Evoman]

29. What's funny is that I think this is the first time I've ever typed the word "Biden"

while on DU. I'm sure I can hold back....I don't very much like repeating jokes/anecdotes/assholey comments.

Maybe I'll make an exception for the articulate comment....right now I'm Biden my time until I can post it again tommorow! hehe

[gateley]

32. Ouch!

I can take lame jokes better than I can take corny!

That's so funny that it's the first time you type Biden, and lucky you, I'm all in your face! Being a Biden supporter for a long time, I think it's an automatic knee-jerk reaction. :blush:

[Naturyl]

23. Joe has foot-in-mouth disease sometimes.

But he has a good heart and I'm sure he meant nothing by it.

[Evoman]

30. Yeah, I know.

I just haven't reached my trolling quota for today :rofl:

[Radical Activist]

21. Obama campaign said any early media reports about the VP pick would likely be wrong.

So I'll take this as a sign that it isn't Biden.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. I see no reason to believe this as anything but speculation.

And disinformation.

[sofa king]

31. Harumph. Gimme Feingold!

Seriously, if they're going to pick a Senator, why not go with one who actually fought the Bush Administration the whole way?

[Greyhound]

33. Great, Mr. "I never met a huge corporation I couldn't find some welfare for" himself?

Great choice.:sarcasm:

Maybe Obama is really trying to commit suicide...:shrug:

[Pastiche423]

34. BIDEN: 'I'M NOT THE GUY'

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
As Delaware Sen. Joe Biden left his home a few minutes ago, golf clubs in tow, he was asked where he was going to be on Saturday.

Biden replied, "Here" and pointed down to his driveway.

As he pulled out of the driveway in the driver's seat of his car he then said to the press gathered near his gate, "You guys have better things to do. I'm not the guy."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/19/1276323.aspx

Whew!

[spanone]

35. on msnbc

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
As Delaware Sen. Joe Biden left his home a few minutes ago, golf clubs in tow, he was asked where he was going to be on Saturday.

Biden replied, "Here" and pointed down to his driveway.

As he pulled out of the driveway in the driver's seat of his car he then said to the press gathered near his gate, "You guys have better things to do. I'm not the guy."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/19/1276323.aspx