The big news of this weekend wasn't John McCain's War Mongering, Anti Abortion, Flip-Flopping Political Stump Speech performance at the so called Faith Forum on Saturday.
The big story was this news that Lynn Sweet reported on:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/08/biden_an_obama_vice_president.html
Joe Biden is now in Georgia on a fact-finding mission, on behalf of his Senate Foreign Relations committee. He should return in a couple of days.
At the same time Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham are also in Georgia, at the request of the McCain campaign. Obviously, Biden's plans were discussed and coordinated with the Obama campaign before he left. This is probably why there have been last minute changes in schedule.
We are at a most critical stage of the campaign, IMO. Hopefully, if Biden's trip is without problems, he will return, report to the Senate and could be named VP by mid-week.
Meanwhile the Lieberman-Graham trip will seem political. There is potential for a huge bump on naming Biden as VP. This wouldn't occur with Evan Bayh, about which there is a new article suggesting a conflict of interest with his wife.
Barack's week long Presidential performance to the Middle East/Europe didn't boost his poll numbers because he didn't follow it up with the naming of an experienced Natl. Security VP. Now there will be a chance to tie everything together going into the Convention. The Clintons would "back down" and Democrats would be United.
First, for this to happen, the young supporters of Obama would have to ease up a little and understand that this is what Barack must do. If not, there is still a chance that everything can fall apart at the Convention.
Obama/Biden 08
The only sure ticket to victory
The following could have been a perfect opportunity for a Media person to write a nice story Predicting Obama would name Biden, based on available facts.
Since noone in the Media chose to do so, I will do their work for them. This is why I have such little respect for the Media:
Who fits the VP requirments of Obama better, based on what Barack said on MTP, Joe Biden or Evan Bayh:
1. Person of Integrity - Biden is the name that comes to mind. Barack really respects Joe.
2. Can step in to be President - Of Course Biden who has 35+ years of National experience.
3. Will tell Obama when he is wrong - easy answer is Biden. That is one of the criticisms the media gives against Biden, yet Obama insists that this is an asset (is Obama giving it away?)
4. Who can better carry the message of Change: Some may disagree, but Biden has been about change for 35 years. Evan Bayh has been status quo, being a Senator from Republican Indiana.
5. Expertise in one area that could help Obama: Hands down Biden being the most respected person on National Security.
Result: Joe Biden wins 5-0.
Other considerations are that a Senate seat would be lost with Bayh, but probably not with Biden.
Also Biden is popular with the age 60+ group, the most reliable voting block and the group that Obama always has done poorly with as has emphasized Change. Biden could give Obama Florida, besides guaranteeing PA and helping with Ohio, where he is popular with working class, besides age 60+ voters and Independents. Biden is a National Candidate. Obama has promised to compete in all 50 states, not just VA and IN. Biden would help everywhere and thus boost Obama's poll numbers giving him further momentum. The downside from the media is that he would make mistakes. However, if the poll numbers go up, the Media will quickly Shut Up.
Also as everyone would agree, Biden is the best at being an Attack Dog on McCain and Romney, just as he proved to be with Rudy Guiliani. The only fear is that he will be TOO GOOD and overshadow Obama. However, as Obama proved from his trip abroad, that is pretty hard to do. Obama is confident about himself and knows how to handle Biden. Joe hasn't made any mistakes in the past 17 months and has followed the Team Obama script since the end of May.
Also, Biden has a compelling personal story. He has commuted to Washington from Delaware since 1972 since his first wife and baby were killed in an auto accident. Americans have sympathy for a good story.
Finally, Obama said that noone will know his choice until he tells us.
That means Obama is keeping his choice under the radar and people like Bayh and Kaine are just smoke screens to distract the media.
From: Valerie Biden Owens [mailto:valeriebidenowens@joebiden.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 3:12 PMSubject: Joe weighs in on the crisis in Georgia
Dear Gerald,
I'm sure you have been following the disturbing news regarding Russia's aggressive military tactics in Georgia, begun during the start of the Olympic Games. I wanted to make sure you were the first to read Joe's take on the situation.
Joe penned an op-ed on Georgia for the second time since April, this one in the Financial Times – just now up on their website. In it, titled "Russia Must Stand Down," he outlines the potential consequences of Russia's actions:
By acting disproportionately with a full scale attack on Georgia and seeking the ouster of Georgia's democratically elected President Mikheil Saakashvili, Moscow is jeopardizing its standing in Europe and the broader international community – and risking very real practical and political consequences...
Joe identifies what the next steps need to be for all parties involved and clearly summarizes what we could be facing if things do not change – fast:
The only hope for preventing this crisis from becoming a calamity for Russia's relationship with the west is for Moscow to immediately ceasefire, pull back its forces and agree to negotiations brokered by the international community – all steps that the Georgian government has agreed to. If the fighting continues, this moment could emerge as a turning point in the west's relationship with Moscow, and deny Russia the international standing it seeks. That is not the future the United States or Europe want – but it is the future Russia may get if it does not stand down and live up to its responsibilities as a force for progress.
Read the full op-ed here. Once again, Joe and Senator Lugar of Indiana were ahead of the curve on this critical issue. In April, they wrote an op-ed in the Washington Times that highlighted what a crucial region of the world this is. In that piece, "Stand up for Georgia," they said:
Georgia has done its part by refusing to overreact and continues to seek a diplomatic solution. The time has come for the trans-Atlantic community to show unity and commitment.
You can read their remarks in full here. As always, please do not hesitate to share your opinions on this or anything else that matters to you. We appreciate hearing from you. I'll continue to pass along Joe's thoughts on this developing situation.
Sincerely,
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