It was the top topic on the weekend’s Blank Page. Regardless of whether you support Senator Obama or not, do you think his choice will help or hinder his efforts to get the White House?
25
Aug
08
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BBC World Have Your Say 
I am a supporter of Obama. This time also he did really a great job. Biden is the best choice for VP. Now Democract have a strong team of both experience and change. I am hopeful that Obama will be the next President of USA and Biden will be the VP. Good luck Mr. Obama and Biden.
He did a good job in my opinion. An old conservative looking white guy, exactly what the superficial on-the-fence voters need to push them to the right side [well, left actually 😉 ].
It’s funny now to watch the elephant-camp cry and moan about socialist this, liberal that. They know they have no chance so they’re pulling out all the cheap shots and apocalyptic scenerios.
I am happy with his choice. However, McCain’s group was quick to pull out a video of the primaries where Biden states that he “does not think Obama is ready for the presidency”. It’s just another example of the Democratic party destroying itself because of conflict between its members. Both its members and its supporters (diehard Hillary fans) need to grow up, accept the loss, and start backing Obama so we don’t serve another presidency to the Republicans.
Since it is part of American culture beginning with our Founding Fathers to engage in negative campaigning, thus introducing labels, and slurs, the one with the best campaign will get it right, or wrong depending on your viewpoint.
To reassert my position on the blank page, a running mate should bring something new to the ticket. He should an asset. Obama has again great leadership. Over and again, critics have argued about his limitation in strategic foreign relations issues. Picking the Senate Chairman on Foreign Relations is a great decision. I am convinced that Obama and Biden will make a good partnership.
yes Obama made the right choice and thanx heaven he didn’t pick up Hillary Clintonand now it would be interesting to see MCcain’s choice and then gues what its gonna be the greatest political clash
now its sure that its time for the change we can believe
@ Keith. The Mccain’s camp is out hunting for negativity and therefore hold to any straw. What is amusing is that Obama has proven otherwise. He holds no rancor for Biden who said he is not ready for the presidency. Picking Joseph Robinette Biden sends a clear message that Barack Obama is ready to lead the free world.
Whether Obama got it right or not, the results of the elections will determine that.
I think Biden is the best choice because of his debating skills. He supplements Obama who is too professorial to get his message accross to small-town America.
You now have a lot of independents and former Hillary supporters who do not want a conservative Supreme Court that would overrule Roe-Wade, who would not want more tax breaks for the super rich and less social security and more expensive health care for themselves, who still are inclined to vote for McCain.
Biden is able to exlain what a disaster McCain would be for them in the language they understand. The mere fact that Biden has been chosen as Obama’s running mate won’t lead to more support, though. We’ll have to await the convention and the subsequent debates.
Well, it’s going to be a landslide Mccain win now. Hillary will work to support Mccain behind the scenes so she can run again in 2012. Her supporters will feel betrayed, and like little children many will vote for mccain so that Hillary can run against him in 2012. Congrats to Mccain. it’s going to be a landslide. To extreme liberals are NOT going to win red states. Get used to President Mccain.
Senator Clinton has shown an amazing ability to mobilize and galvanize an estimated 18 million democratic votes during the primaries. Certainly a strong, and brilliant politician with great credentials. I commend her success. Regretably, she ran a very contentious, and bitter campaign against her rival Senator Obama that poisoned a collaberative team to run for the Presidency. We need not highlight those pointers it will simply take to many spaces here. Senator Obama has shown true Statesmanship, respect, and integrity throughout the campaign. He shut into orbit with his message, leadership skills, brilliance on the issues that impacts the lives of the modern American. He was against the war, he wrote a brilliant article in the FT before the serious meltdown of the sub-prime market in the US, he has fought for Veteran Beneifits, and many more issues. Senator Joe Biden complements his vision for America, and bolsters his foreign policy initiatives. It has been argued that Senator Biden was very critical of Senator Obama leadershi skills during the debates. A plausible argment can be made for Bush Sr. and Reagan when he sought Bushes vp nomination for the White House. Reagan argued that Bush’s Economic policy was “Vodoe Economics”, yet they became a team to when the national elections. Biden brings tremendous experience, respect, and sound judgement. McCain is a carbon copy of George Bush’s domestic, and foreign policy – a deadly missile.
@ Sylvester
It was Bush that said that Reagan’s economic policies were “voodoo economics” but you are right, he later became Reagan’s VP, and later elected as VP. However, Reagan didn’t have a Hillary Clinton type person involved with such an entitlement mentality, as well as the entitlement mentality of her supporters.
It’s funny that people think Obama even has a chance. Gonna be a huge landslide.
Biden was a better choice than H. Clinton, but he is a wind bag and stands exactly where he angers me with all his talk against guns, conservative court choices, and his dead arguements regarding Iraq.
He would have been far better off with Colin Powell, Sam Nunn or Evan Beyh.
I sure like Barak Obama, but he has nothing to offer except making one mistake after another. Hope for change was keen with Carter and Bill Clinton, but they were disasters. Virtually all our problems came from the seeds that Carter and Clinton sowed.
We really need a person who really has a link with the military, and is realistic enough to understand most of our really pressing problems are national security, and environmental. Barak will be a gathering collection of disappointments just like Carter and Clinton. Obama is smart a great talker, but has not proven to be a consensus bender and cooperation producer. He thinks our enemies are not as bad as they are and blames it all on Bush. That is no way to start dealing with the world…….We are in big trouble and need a guy who understands the basics.
troop
I hope when McCain picks his running mate, WHYS would ask did McCain get it right?
@ Steve, I’m no expert of American politics but suggesting because Hilary Clinton was overlooked, she and her supporters would work for McCain’s election is kind of funny. Maybe a conspiracy theory. If indeed she worked behind the scenes to elect McCain, what are the chances that she would win her party’s nomination in the first place in 2012 or even defeat him? Variables.
Its hard to tell what the effect of Joe Biden will be. We know that he did not do very well with his own attempt to become the Democratic nominee. However, he has vast foreign policy and judicial experience (having previously headed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and currently being the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee).
On the positive side (for Obama), Senator Biden is clearly popular in Delaware, having being elected consecutively for six terms. He is a Pennsylvanian by birth and should be able to ensure that Pennsylvania stays Democratic (which it probably would have anyway because of a high African-American voter base in Philadelphia). In addition, his experience should help innoculate Obama from the charge that his administration, should he be elected, would be inexperienced in foreign policy.
On the negative side, Senator Biden probably will not be able to help Senator Obama win over the female “Hillary voters” and will not necessarily appeal to Latinos either. Now, at the moment, Senator Obama is leading Senator McCain among Hispanics by a two to one margin – however, it should be remembered that many Latinos preferred Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. A lot could depend on if John McCain can find a vice-presidential nominee that is appealing to Hispanics – perhaps a former governor (other than Jeb Bush – the Bush name would KILL the campaign).
Another problem is that Senator Biden has already expressed a negative opinion about Senator Obama’s experience in public – basically stating that Senator Obama is not qualified for the presidency. He also expressed a positive opinion about John McCain so it will be difficult for him to “turn both opinions around”. In contract, it will be very easy for the Republicans to keep turning Biden’s words against Obama and also to imply that people are really electing the far less popular Biden. An attempt to cover Senator Obama’s inexperience might instead highlight it.
Overall, I think that Senator Biden will neither significantly add nor detract to the Obama/McCain race. Vice presidential candidates can shore up the voters in certain areas (ie: Lyndon Johnson giving John Kennedy Texas in the 1960 election) but do not get enough publicity (unless they make a major gaffe), to really attract a great deal of undecided voters.
Let’s see who John McCain chooses – it could be a Christian conservative to shore up his right wing or a woman to appeal to embittered “Hillary” supporters. Another great choice would be Senator Joseph Lieberman – a former Democrat turned Independent who ran with Al Gore for the presidency in the infamous 2000 Election. I just hope that he does not choose another establishment White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP)!
@ Troop
I wouldn’t worry about an Obama presidency, he has no chance of winning. He’s not only got to fight against Mccain, but he’s also got to work to try to get the Hillary supporters, who feel she’s entitled to be the president. If Obama wins, it means HIllary needs to wait at least 8 years to run again, and that’s presuming Biden doesn’t become the frontrunner for the democrats.
I don’t see how anyone thinks the Clinton supporters would want Obama to win. She can run again in 4 years if Mccain wins. Never underestimate what people with entitlement mentalities will do. Obama is going to be completely destroyed in the election. He has NO hope of winning.
@ Nelsoni
Never underestimate a narcissist. If for some reason Clinton got busted supporting Mccain, she would just run as an independent in 2012. She wants to be president, if Obama wins, it’s as good as over for her. She will be 8 years older, could have health issues, it is 4 years from now or never. her supporters want her to be president just as badly.
Obama’s only real hope for winning is if mccain picks a liberal (especially pro choice ) running mate, which will anger the christian conservatives. if he picks a conservative, he will win by a large margin.
@ Steve, I have pop corn by my side with chilled coke while watching the soap opera ” america decides 2008″. November is not far away.
hello everyone,
i dont know if he got it right but i want him to win.now by choosing Senator Joseph Biden if he gets some advantage and achieves sucess in the upcoming elections then i would certainly cheer for him.But i am all for Obama.
Allez-Obama!!!
Unlike the Republicans of the past few decades who only put forth puppet candidates who have only name recognition as their primary attribute, and know other people will be pulling their strings, the democrats usually offer a candidate who is politically suave and not an actor or son of a former president who served the 3rd term of an actor. Obama is one of them. You are not going to see Biden become a Dick Cheney.
The only VP pick that might matter is McCains as it is a very good likelihood that he may not make it through his term due to his age and health. That is unless people who feel that “race isn’t and issue” in this race also want to admit that Obama is in danger of not making it through his term also?
I think Biden was a poor choice. He is a clumsy speaker and adds what exactly … Delaware?
Obama’s weakness is his limited experience. Has he ever held a laboring job? What business did he start or guide? What branch of the military did he serve in?
Obama’s strength is his political savy, intelligence and charm. He needs to convince swing voters that his strengths will overcome his weaknesses.
Obama will emphasize POSSIBILITIES.
McCain will emphasize SECURITY.
Positively, these are the best two choices I have ever had.
@ Steve
Steve, I have read your posts with intrigue.
You main argument is that McCain will win Obama because of the “Hillary factor”–her desire and that of her supporters for her to run again in 2012 and become president. Now, you must have recognized that what you are insunating is unprecedented. Just in case you didn’t, then I throw it out for your consideration.
However, what I am really interested in is to hear your arguments on the issues as to why voters will elect McCain over Obama by a landslide. Let’s take the most pressing of issues:
— the Economy
* including the housing melt-down
* including inflation and diminishing wages (financial security)
* (add your other stuff)
— America’s security
* including the war on terror (Afghan & Iraq)
* including America’s role and credibility on the world stage
* (add your other stuff)
Of course, there are other important issues. Feel free to throw them in as you make your case.
There is little as unfortunate,
as the look of an Obama
supporter at midnight, when
all the ‘change’ turns to pumpkin.
We can spin this many ways, but the fact remains, Biden is old-school and old-politics. He is not change. Because, he is not change it appears as a slight on Mrs. Clinton. This choice makes for a good question—If Mr. Biden’s old-school is okay for VP, why not Mrs. Clinton’s? Is this the ego and cockiness of Mr. Obama? Or are their some substantive reasons for choosing Mr. Biden over Mrs. Clinton? I would assume, considering Mr. Biden could not get nominated on his own, the risk of choosing Mr. Biden over Mrs. Clinton is to big of a risk to take.
This is really not about substance—it is about keeping up appearances! These ‘appearances’ will cost Mr. Obama the election.
i think what is forgotten here, is that it is not the vp choice that wins or looses the battle.
steve,
i would not be so gleeful. mccain will have to sonvince plenty of people that he is not entereing senility. how many houses do i own, my friends??????
mccain is not going to select a liberal and that might actually annoy the centrist republicans.
we need a change from 8 years of working for the pockets of the ultra rich. i am doing wel, but i prefer to see the lower middle class to do well. who cares if billionairs get one million more?
Barack:
somewhat got it right!
Dennis
@ Jens
Mccain is considering pro-choice VP candidates. That will anger red state voters. That’s about the only way Mccain can lose this. Obama made himself unelectable. he has NO chance in hell to get elected in the red states. You need the red states. It’s that simple.
Brian,
HE has held laboring jobs. He has not always “drank his mild from the government’s bosom” (an adapted version saying we use at work to describe the people who came into the job straight from the military.). Obama owned his own legal practice, was a professor, and did a plethora of other things that build leadership, brainstorming, critical thinking, and troubleshooting skills. It would require one to look up instead of assuming.
Guess what the things are a president needs from day to day. Ability to talk intelligently. He needs to be convincing and likable. Last he needs to be right over experienced.
@ Biden as a pick
Abraham Lincoln was known for putting people in his cabinet that were his political rivals. He said he would rather have people that were willing to be right over agreeable.
Can anybody name the person who was chastised for calling for time tables, talking to North Korea, Talking to Iran, and calling the gas tax holiday non-productive (like every economist in the country agreed with.)?
steve,
we need only one red state mor than last time and mccain and the bush politics have finally been defeted. oh well of cause the diebolt machines build by good repaublicans could throw some spannners in the works.
No I don’t, but this doesn’t mean I will jump camp as is being suggested, because I’m not excited about Biden.
I think people who think McCain can undo everything Bush did and improve our standing internationally, while cutting taxes and doing nothing for us domestically is delusional.
The most unfortunately part of selecting Biden is trying to maintain Obama’s theme of “change” and “hope”. I am not delusional about Obama’s lack of experience. Biden is a DC insider and not by any stretch of the imagination selected solely to compensate for Obama’s short comings.
As was pointed out by Brain earlier, Obama represents possibilities and McCain is another extension of Bush. If ever, there was a reason to take a chance on the risky bet on a person with the clear plan for improving our conditions intead of the candidate who wants to stay the course in hopes that it works out…. it’s now.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080825/news_1m25elisa.html
Oh lord, red staters will look at this, and realize that they won’t be voting for Obama. So the DNC is going to have the child of a deported illegal immigrant speak about how sucky our immigration laws and that they shouldn’t be enforced. That’s so going to win the red states. It’s like the democrats want to lose this election.
steve,
put it into perspective. her mother lived here for over 18 years…….almost half her life, while working for minimum wages etc, just so that you and i can have a cheap comfortable life? the the family get’s ripped apart. yes she was illigal, yes she should have deported back a long time ago.
BUT don’t we have something called compassion…..who gains anything by ripping the family apart.
@ Jens
Do you think Europe would be compassionate to me if I decided to illegally move to and work there?
So if I steal something, and just don’t get caught fo ra really long time, everything should be okay, and I shouldn’t have to go away due to my crime?
Again, this soft on crime approach doesn’t go well with red staters. if you want mccain to win, then do stuff like this. It’s almost hilarious watching the democrats shoot themselves in the foot. It’s like they want to lose!
I guess the person who illegally came to the US should have thought about that before breaking the law.
Kind of like it would completely suck if I got in trouble for drinking in Saudi Arabia, or in trouble for bringing a bible there. But I know there are rules, and consequences for breaking them, so if you have a problem with the rules, don’t go there.
@Steve,
As if the red staters would vote Democrat anyway. The Dems could put God as their candidate, but because God represents the Dems they would not vote for the person.
steve,
i think many countries in europe would be compassionate in such a case, after 18 years of having lived there….. but then i have only lived there for 36 years……and have probably no experiance about european sentiment at all.
i agree illigel immigration is wrong, and trust me i have been through the mill of naturalization already twice and now i am going through it the third time. i am not for an amnesty at all, i am pretty hard line on that. but ripping a family apart, who has been here for over 18 years does not serve this country or any other country well. if anything critizese the inadequecy of the immirgation, police etc burocracy. she should have been deported 18 years ago.
this is what i hate about the republicans, nothing but MONEY counts, nevermind over how many bodies and moral issues you have to step. screw the entire nation, so that the top 1% gets more wealthy. i am probably within the to 5% income wise, but i have not sold my soul to the god of money or any god for that matter.
This notion that Democrats want to loose, is off-kilter. It could simply be that Democrats are less willing to sacrifice principles for the sake of winning elections.
It is the inherent nature of what it means to be progressive, liberal and modern. Liberals will generally have a harder time winning elections and seeming cohesive when the very nature of their principles is to be inclusive and open to multiple ideas—which is by definition less cohesive.
@ Julie P
So if the red states are going to vote republican, how can Obama win?
See my point people? OBAMA WILL LOSE IF HE DOESNT WIN THE RED STATES.
@ Julie P
LOL– some red states would vote for a dem if the GOP had a black candidate as their rep…. maybe not, if the black candidate wore a white rob and pointy hat.
This notion that Democrats want to lose, is off-kilter. It could simply be that Democrats are less willing to sacrifice principles for the sake of winning elections.
It is the inherent nature of what it means to be progressive, liberal and modern. Liberals will generally have a harder time winning elections and seeming cohesive when the very nature of their principles is to be inclusive and open to multiple ideas—which is by definition less cohesive.
@Steve,
No one thought Kennedy would win either, until we vote in November all anyone is doing is making a guess.
GOP courts Latinos on immigration
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/08/gop_courts_lati.html
This is the ad running in radio stations all over the country. Please, let’s not be hypocritical. The GOP is doing the same thing as the Dems. They’re all catering to the hispanic vote. Obama is prancing around young hispanics and McCain is posing for pictures with them.
@Julie P
I completely agree with you. Until November, everyone will be speculating. The polls can show McCain is in the lead or Obama is leading. You can manipulate anything with statistics. I understand Steve’s point, regarding Obama’s liberal stance. However, people may be more inclined to vote for a democrat this election after the last eight years of W. I am not sure who would be the better president but I know McCain with be another W, just older.
@Angela,
In statistics margin errors of 3 to 4 mean that there the margin of error is so large you could drive a semi-truck through it. We’ll know on November 5th who will be our next president.
Julie P,
the margin of error is such an interresting meassure. it all depends how random you selct your random sample of random people…….
unfortutatly the margin of error for this country has become very narrow after the last 8 years of leadership. we cannot afford to get it wrong this time.
Joe Biden is very important for the time between now and the election. Biden is articulate and a fine orator who can match Barack in energy and scope. He is older and 36 years in the Senate provides a sound footing for those whose greatest fear is change that may not preserve continuity with the past. Both have backgrounds that mirror one another despite the efforts of journalists etc. to paint the matter otherwise. Biden has a comfortable ability to engage discussion on a level that those of us in the neighborhood bar or barber shop find reassuring. I would have made a less cogent choice. For one, I had listened to Joe Biden only in the context of congressional hearings. I would have therefore place him in the company of John Kerry who I admire, but who never could find the period to his oratory. Once I heard him I am convinced that the choice was the correct one. Whatever the appraisal we cannot tolerate as a nation any more movement in the direction we have been taking. Its time for everyone, especially Hillary Supporters, to conclude that nothing in a Republican agenda is going to forward the interests of women or anyone else.
@Jens,
I’m not worried about a thing.
julie p
i wish i could share your optimisme
Biden is okay, but I admit I would have preferred someone more unconventional like Colin Powel or a woman (Hillary would have sealed the deal but would have made Obama look weak). I too think that Biden is a “wind bag” like another person commented but he’s better than say Joe Lieberman who I feel is another kind of “bag”; one I would rather not mention out loud.
Did Obama get it right? Well, if Colin Powel was right then no, but if there is no right then yes. How’s that for an answer?
I too am concerned about McCain winning. I hate to say that I would abandon my country if he does but after 8 years of Bush…I’m feeling like the US no longer represents my beliefs….at all.
@ Steve
It is disappointing that you did not even take 1 sec to respond to my earlier post. I thought for a second that you may have been interested in substantive reasoning and logic, instead of chasing baseless assumptions. Maybe I had too high an impression of you. Or maybe you needed a day to prepare your response. In that case, I will check back tomorrow to see what you say.
I did notice, however, from your responses to everyone else that you have dropped Hillary from your vocab. That is good for a start.
Elect Obama and you will see the USA go down the same route as UK. Dont make this fatal error, appeasers will never win but only make the enemy stronger. The UK is now a third world country thanks to weak left wing government. Most of UK hope USA is not stupid as we were and will vote Mccain. When next election in UK it will wipe out all left wing Labour politicians. The only people who wnat Labour to win are those who get free hand outs. DONT make the same mistake as UK
Obam made the right hoice, the only choice to see the Demograts through and save this world and America as well. Good luck Obama, Biden and America.
The choice was directed by God I bet because he knows what will save this world.
Obama is machine-tooled for The White House. In that sense the public will get what they vote for.
I was talking to my friend’s little girl, and she said she wanted
to be President some day.
Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked
her, “If you were President,
what would be the first thing you would do?” She replied, “I’d give
houses to all homeless people.”
“Wow…what a worthy goal,” I told her.
“You don’t have to wait until you’re President to do that. You can come
over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I’ll pay
you $50. Then I will take you over to the grocery store where the
homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward a new
house.”
She thought that over for a few seconds while her Mom glared at me,
then looked me straight in the eye and asked, “Why doesn’t the homeless
guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?
And I said, “Welcome to the Republican Party.” Her parents still aren’t
talking to me.
Motor mouth Biden ,standing by, was for once, speechless.
ultima,
the little girl has a point and a very BIG one. why does the homless guy not get a job. I have one and so do the majority of people. the argument that i should work for his upkeep is what is wrong with the left loony bin collection o democrates. yes help people, but help them to get on their feet and become tax paying mebers like everyone else. it is unhealthy to live off handouts, when you are able to work.
If Obama wins his bid for the White House it will be a handsome win that will resonate with the American Dream that ” all men are born equal”. It is not only America thet needs CHANGE (for the better) but the rest of the world, for sure. Besides he seems vibrant , dynamic and very innovative to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
@ Saravan
Well said, but not “if”, “when” Obama wins.
Since American election season Obama is pointing out the Iraq war and blaming to president Bush just for his presidential ego. He has no American idealism, no super power spirit, no experience and super power political skill. He already declared that he wants to talk with Osama Bin Laden or terrorists including appeasement policy to extremist strong anti American Iranian president. Actually that is not his idealism or policy that mean he doesn’t want to attack any Islamic for any reason. That would be more than enough to stop him in time. Also he is voicing for change the super power foreign policy for strengthen the power of terrorists , Iran, communists including all anti American nations in this universe.
Almost 232 years now America is still rich and going strong with its superpower status in this universe, by and because of historic drafters of constitutions and historic former White American presidents including president Bush. Current US foreign policy is super power foreign policy. How could be Obama voicing for change this historic super power policy ? Actually current US economic downturns is nothing concern with super power foreign policy which also is nothing concern to Iraq war, there is another fact. Obama says he is an American but he doesn’t know the nature of super power and it policy, also still he doesn’t know why president Bush waged war on Iraq ? He just closed his both eyes, hears and just pointing the Iraq war and voicing for change. Every former White American president including president they all have American Idealism and super power political skill. Obama can’t lead to a nation with high profile.
If he is elected, Iran will be succeeded its nuclear program and Iran will strongly tie with Russia, China, North Korea including all anti American nations in this world and Iran will become super power in Middle East at the same time US will loose its influence on Middle East. That would be sunset time of super power imminent. If all American have great knowledge and high philosophy they will stop him in time.