I am indifferent to him as a politician. He's always struck me as a typical Beltway hack. But if he brings some toughness to the campaign, more power to him…
I am indifferent to him as a politician. He's always struck me as a typical Beltway hack. But if he brings some toughness to the campaign, more power to him and Obama for choosing him. At least he's not the odious Evan Bayh.
He’ll be head-and-shoulders better than Edwards and especially (YIKES!) Lieberman were in 04 and 00.
The best thing about Biden is actually his personality – although it has some rough edges and drawbacks, the (admittedly rotten) media loves him and appreciates how entertaining he is. He already acquitted himself extremely well in his first appearance as VP candidate with Obama.
And like you, I think he really will put extra fire in Obama’s personality too. Barack’s been holding back out of fear of “alienating” people, Biden will hopefully show him how to connect with some ‘oomph’ while retaining his finer qualities.
Will Biden be free as VP from the credit card and other companies that have directed his career as a Delaware senator?
Depressing. Not a pretty picture of Obama today on Democracy Now!:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/25/rick_macarthur_you_cant_be_president
FW–
Did you catch the “debate” between Dennis Perrin and Glenn Greenwald. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/radio/2008/08/22/singh_perrin/index2.html
Perrin’s best line was in accusing Greenwald’s hope that that it was possible to reform the Democratic Party from within was analogous to thinking you could reform the mafia from within. Here’s the excerpt:
DP: But I think the difference between you and me is that you really do think the Democrats can be redeemed on some level, at least they’re more redeemable perhaps, than the Republicans are, I think that’s your argument, whereas I think that both are so far gone that we have to start thinking of other means to change things.
And there’s no pre-designed way to do that. That happens when people get together, they share interests, they talk about their lives, they get involved politically at the grass roots level, and then things take shape. Things begin to evolve, and that’s when change really occurs.
GG: Right, and like you said, I think that is the debate, as to whether or not that sort of change is most likely by using the existing Democratic Party structure as a vehicle for that change, or working outside the structure…
DP: I’ll put it this way,
GG: …is easier.
DP: I’ll put it this way, it’s like, trying to the Democratic Party is like trying to redeem the Mafia from within it. I mean, you could find better Dons and better Godfathers, and people who are maybe not as crazy or violent as other Mafia Dons, but you still got the Mafia.
It’s not a perfect analogy, but it’s probably more true than not. This interview with McArthur reinforces the point. What American poltics is about right now is competing families/factions within th e power elite vying for power. The whole thing is hopelessly bent.
It could be that Obama’s caution in the shortrun is necessary in order to get hold of the levers of power, and that once he has them, he’ll be able to swing the great momentum of state on a slightly healthier course. But even if that is his hope, it’s not likely that he could succeed. But that’s all we have to hang our hats on until something emerges from the grassroots to demand a shift of priorities.
The question that I have not had answered yet is what is most deeply driving Obama? I’m sure there are many layers of motivation, as with all of us. But which layer will win out?
Forestwalker:
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
*sigh*
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