Now that the Democratic contest for President is in its last throes, it is time to play the time-honored parlor game called “Guess the Veep.” Over the next six to eight weeks, expect to hear many names bantered about, along with the strengths that each name would bring to the ticket. The whole exercise is sort of like the NCAA basketball tournament pools. Everyone is a genius and has the inside scoop until the games start being played. Having said that, I thought it was time to show off my genius. 
I saw an interview today with Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) and it only strengthened what I have thought for a few months now. Joe Biden should be the Democratic nominee for Vice-President.
I will not bore you with link after link, just google Biden and Iraq.(and also watch the video above…) Nearly everything that the man has said would come true about the quagmire has happened. He has the foreign policy vision and experience that is strongly needed to help undo the mess that has been created by the Bush Administration.
More important, he’s not going to take any of the White House’s crap. We all saw our esteemed President make a political attack on the Democrats while in a foreign land this week. (Hmmmm… isn’t that the same thing that ended the Dixie Chicks careers?) He made a cheap shot that compared Senator Obama’s position on Iranian talks with Nazi appeasement.
Enter Senator Biden who put out the following statement -
“The President said that a willingness to talk to adversaries like Iran is a ‘foolish delusion’ and alleged that those who advocate engagement offer ‘the false comfort of appeasement.’
“If the President really believes that, I assume that the first thing he will do when he gets home is to fire his cabinet. His own Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State favor negotiations with Iran.
“For example, Secretary Gates said just yesterday: “We need to figure out a way to develop some leverage… and then sit down and talk with them. If there is going to be a discussion, then they need something, too. We can’t go to a discussion and be completely the demander, with them not feeling they need anything from us.” [Washington Post, May 15, 2008]
“Secretary Rice last year repeatedly called for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program:
February 25, 2007: “We’re leaving open the track of negotiations because the best way to resolve this would be for Iran to come to the table.” [Quote from Sec. Rice, Fox News Sunday]
October 12, 2007: “The whole purpose… is to convince Iran that the best way to achieve its stated goal of civil nuclear power is to engage in negotiations… the United States has made it clear that [if Iran suspends enrichment] we would reverse 28 years of American policy and engage fully in discussions with Iran… about anything Iran wants to put on the table. I would close by saying I think the question is not, as I’ve been asked sometimes, ‘why will the United States not talk to Iran?’ The question really is: ‘why will Iran not talk to the United States?” [Quote from Sec. Rice, Press Conference with Sec. Gate in Moscow]
“And of course, this is a President who made a deal with Libya’s leader Qadafi and writes polite letters to Kim Jong Il in North Korea.
Ouch! Mr. President, that pain that you feel is Senator Biden’s foot in your ass. I am cheering from the rooftops. For too long, Democrats have taken this crap, and not really fought back. And frankly, it has cost us elections.
I would put Senator Biden on the national ticket any day of the week and twice on Sunday. The man knows his stuff and isn’t going to put up with these bullshit attacks. An attitude like that is how you win elections.
Are you listening Senator Obama?
9 responses so far ↓
James // May 18, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I love Joe, too. He would be a kick ass VP.
That Girl // May 18, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I couldn’t agree more SMD. Joe Biden has the knowledge, the experience, and the mouth we need in the next Administration (and the whole gray-haired white man thing would be good balance too). I’ve long admired Biden for the fact that he says it like it is and doesn’t play the games the media like to play. I had hoped he would be Senate Majority Leader when the Dems took over. Lord knows he would have done a better job than Reid.
I’ve worked some with Biden and his staff. Few know that Biden provided critical leadership on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and without him VAWA would not have happened and would not have been renewed through the years. He has provided critical leadership on that issue. I heard a speech he gave in DC on domestic violence and he talked about bullies and how they are weak and pick on those who are not strong enough to stand up to them. He made all the men in the room think about the fact that men who beat women are truly the weakest among us - they’re just dumb bullies. Biden has spent much of his career fighting the bullies through his work on DV and I’d love to see him in the position to help Obama fight off the bullies in Washington!
Obama/Biden 2008!!!! Change is coming!
Political Junkie // May 19, 2008 at 7:47 am
While I think Sen. Biden would be a great choice for VP, I think his knowledge would be best served as Sec. of State…read his bio and you will know why. What about Richardson for VP..is it crazy of me to think Bill would pull in the hispanic vote? I bet we can all agree that it should NOT be Hillary.
lillingtondemocrat // May 19, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Biden or Webb would be good. We definaately need an older experienced guy but does anybody really vote for a president based on the VP?
southernmaledemocrat // May 20, 2008 at 12:41 am
^Not really. But my support of Biden ( or anyone else) isn’t related to the electoral math at all.
I just think Biden would complement Obama VERY well and be a great Veep or Sec. of State.
Also - while I am posting, I heard an interesting rumor this evening. John Harwood of the NYT was on Charlie Rose, and said that Gov. Bobby Jindhal of Louisana may be a credible choice for McCain, to help answer the natural advantage the Dems will have on diversity.
(I am sure I slaughtered the Gov’s spelling) While I don’t really agree with much of Jindhal’s politics, the guy is a sharp cookie and that would be a masterstroke by McCain.
Political Junkie // May 20, 2008 at 10:55 am
Gov. Jindhal was Jay Leno’s guest a couple of weeks ago - right after his name was floated out there in media land as the old man’s VP. He pretty much said thanks for the compliment, but no thanks, he had work to do in his state - so we’ll see. He struck me as the non-McCain man for sure…yes, SMD, the Gov. is a very sharp cookie and would help the ticket so let’s hope he wants to continue to be Governor.
That Girl // May 21, 2008 at 9:49 am
I’m not so sure about Webb. Having lived in Virginia and having supported Webb, I think he is good for the Senate. However, the Webb/Allen race was UGLY and I don’t think Obama needs to take on the Webb baggage at this point. Mind you, it’s not anything legitimate, but just the kind of stuff the GOP loves to harp on. Webb has written fiction books and some of them contain some very graphic sexual scenes - the GOP loved pointing that out in VA, thankfully it didn’t help their cause. In lots of ways, Webb won the VA Senate seat simply because George Allen ran one of the most moronic campaigns ever seen. Just when you thought he couldn’t screw anything else up, Georgie did. Hmmm - maybe the ability to screw things up to a tremendous magnitude just comes naturally for second generation politicos names George who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth…..
Redneck // May 26, 2008 at 8:21 am
I think the VP generally doesn’t matter - see Quayle v. Bentsen.
However, with McCain’s age and questions about Obama, I think it could matter a little more this year.
Remember, people thought Cheney brought experience to junior’s ticket.
I think Biden should be President. Otherwise, Secretary of State. He just doesn’t bring anything to the race except baggage.
Webb is battle tested (democrats need to be dirtier than we are generally willing to be) and a former R - which used to cause me much angst. Richardson is conceptually good but I think he’s too nice. Not willing to sling the mud like a veep candidate needs to. He could bring latinos but probably won’t and has great foreign policy experience but isn’t a vet so he doesn’t counter anything on the mccain ticket.
Biden for Veep? The SMD Called It « The Southern Male Democrat // August 23, 2008 at 3:29 am
[...] me while I do a little victory lap. Just over three months ago, I said that Senator Obama should pick Senator Biden for Vice-President. I am glad that the Democratic nominee followed my sage [...]