Forget the Sink, he’s got the kitchen table!

So the ticket was announced with two days going into the convention. Joe Biden, the Senator from Delaware is barak Obama’s Vice Presidenal running mate. I took the time to watch yesterday’s announcement from Illinois, and I have to say I came away from that event confident that Barack made the right choice. I like Joe Biden and given the options Obama was mulling over, I’m just glad that he didn’t buckle to the pro-Clinton pressure. I’m sure the Republicans were on their knees, praying for a Clinton VP selection because I’m sure they’ve got archives of attack ads they’ve been stockpiling to fire at Hillary that are now virtually useless. The one thing that disqualified Hillary as an option was her ‘kicthen sink’ tactics during the primaries. She not went too negative, but supplied the other side with ammo that will be used against Obama during the campaign. That alone is just cause to write her off the list. I really think Obama made the right choice by choosing Biden and to prove that I present the follwoing reasons:

1. Biden is one of the few members of congress who is not a millionaire… so he ain’t one of the club.

Biden, or O’ Biden as they sometimes call him, has a net worth of between $100,000 to $150,000. He took out a second mortgage to send one of his children to college. He goes home to Delaware each night by train. He owns one home. His wife is a school teacher. He once sold cars for a living. He comes from a blue collar background. Basically, Biden is a lot closer to the average everyman that McCain is trying to make himself out to be. This brings more authenticity to the Obama/Biden ticket, which I am sure will worry McCain & Co.

2. Biden’s expertise in the Senate provides a knowledge to get things done in a divided gauntlet known as the house. Biden knows how to get things done and get bipartisan support.

You didn’t think that Obama had a magic wand to make all the blue dogs and repugs fall in line with his agenda did you? Biden’s experience in the senate is a crucial addition to his efforts. This will not only help mend the party and help unify democrats but help with the house and senate when trying to pass legislation. Republicans admire Joe and some have even come out and said so when congradulating him on nomination

Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said in a statement: “Joe Biden is the right partner for Barack Obama. His many years of distinguished service to America, his seasoned judgment and his vast experience in foreign policy and national security will match up well with the unique challenges of the 21st Century. An Obama-Biden ticket is a very impressive and strong team. Biden’s selection is good news for Obama and America.”

Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana said in a statement: “I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on his selection of my friend, Senator Joe Biden, to be his vice-presidential running mate. I have enjoyed for many years the opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy.”

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania: “No one on the Democratic side knows more about foreign policy than Sen. Biden. He’s been an articulate spokesman on the subject. He also knows about domestic policy. He’s been a leader on crime control.”

I don’t know about you, but that screams unity in the senate to me.

Source: Boston.com

3. Obama was in desperate need of an attack dog, and with his reputation for his outspoken verbal assaults on the senate floor… Biden is by far the right person for the job.

Judging by the speech he gave yesterday… he seems to be relishing the opportunity to smack the piss out of McCain at any opportunity! Just check out this nice timbit Biden said in Illinois yesterday:

That’s the kind of smackdown response Democrats want to see, and Biden is going to be the kind of running mate to provide it.

It was Biden who delivered what I believe may have been the best single line of the whole campaign up till now (and the one that helped blow Rudy out of the water): “Every sentence out of his [Giuliani’s] mouth consists of three things — a noun, a verb, and 9/11.”

For this reason, McCain is going to have to be careful who he selects for a running mate. Biden is a fierce debater and if he sends a softie like Ridge or Libermann to a VP debate, Joe is going to pick his teeth with them and take their lunch money without breaking a sweat. You have to remember it was Biden who was the most outspoken at the Democratic debates before he dropped out, so his presence makes McCain’s decision that much more difficult unless they want to watch their guy get a complete ass kicking during the VP debate.

4. With Biden on the ticket, Obama has someone with extensive foreign policy, national security, and a real depth of experience. This provides the ticket with balance.

As Barack said yesterday during his speech, “my VP has got to be able to push back on me, not a yes man. He has to be my last and best adviser.” In Biden, there’s no doubt he’s got that. I’m pretty sure this man’s resume, expereience and overall presence has some Rethugs shaking in their boots. Biden just came back from a quiet trip to Georgia, where talked to their President and came home with a request for humanitarian aid. From the beginning, he’s been on board with Civil Rights, including Rights for women. This kid of experience will go a lot way with many demographics which I think Obama felt was more important rather than targeting one specific state.

5. Obama was not connecting (according to polls) with older women and needed help in this are because they are the most reliable voting block in elections.

Biden does extremely well with this group and “working families” as well. His work with the “Violence Against Women” Act makes him well known with the a women’s rights activist groups and again popular with them and many other demographics.

I can go on… but you get the point. Joe Biden might not be the perfect selection, but after watching yesterday’s speeches and mulling over some information on the guy… I came away with a renewed hope that had been fading after the barrage of McCain’s slanderous attack ads. This was perfectly times now with the party revamped and excited going into this week’s convention, which should be very interested to check out. I have every intention of watching both conventions, see how both of them present themselves and try to make their cases for the future for America and the world. If anything, it should be very interesting!

Peter