General Discussion

SixthSense

(829 posts)

12. Biden was a good choice actually

Thu Dec 29, 2011, 02:13 PM

Dec 2011

He brought political experience that Obama didn't have, and specifically foreign policy experience, which Obama didn't have at all.

A VP is supposed to be in the background - the office has only one power of consequence under the Constitution (chairing the Senate), and other than that the person has no job other than to step in to the Presidency as an alternate.

A VP who was more active would make it more difficult to perform his primary role. Ideally you want a VP who hasn't pissed anybody off so that if a transition does need to be made it can be done smoothly. If your VP is an active political combatant then he will have much more difficultly pulling the country together in the wake of a disabled or deceased President.

The other thing you want in a VP is that he doesn't look like a more attractive option to anybody than keeping the current President. I used to refer to Dan Quayle as life insurance, back in the day.

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Biden has proven to be a poor choice for VP [View all] quinnox Dec 2011 OP

(cough) bullshit AtomicKitten Dec 2011 #1

+1 n/t wryter2000 Dec 2011 #3

+2 n/t Amaril Dec 2011 #16

+3 liberal N proud Dec 2011 #20

+4 surfdog Dec 2011 #24

+5 bluerum Dec 2011 #25

+6 Thumper79 Dec 2011 #32

+7 independentpiney Dec 2011 #34

+++++++++ karynnj Dec 2011 #38

Please don't blame this kind of crap on "Clinton people" MADem Dec 2011 #104

I should have been clearer - I did not mean the people actually associated with Clinton, but many karynnj Dec 2011 #130

If they continue to behave in a divisive and destructive fashion, they really are MADem Dec 2011 #148

There is likely no one more annoyed and angry at this than Hillary karynnj Dec 2011 #152

I am pretty confident that no one on our team funded that stupid robocall effort. MADem Dec 2011 #153

Biden was the one in contact with Bhutto and Musharraf before Bush was - his foreign policy gateley Dec 2011 #134

Agreed - Biden has proven himself time and again... rosesaylavee Dec 2011 #175

+8 Tarheel_Dem Dec 2011 #39

+9 Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #41

+11 A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2011 #51

+ 12 nt Kahuna Dec 2011 #64

+13 OutNow Dec 2011 #70

+14 Liberal In Texas Dec 2011 #76

ROFL Mr Dixon Dec 2011 #97

Best Response of all!! JoePhilly Dec 2011 #126

+13 jberryhill Dec 2011 #151

+ 18 Lord Helmet Dec 2011 #156

+19 tammywammy Dec 2011 #159

+20 Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #167

21, here. Biden's a frickin' god. byronius Dec 2011 #180

Unrec. How the VP handles his job is largely contingent on FSogol Dec 2011 #2

The "Draft Hillary" PsyOps CakeGrrl Dec 2011 #4

My observation is air-tight ProSense Dec 2011 #17

Apparently so air tight it's cut off your oxygen. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #83

Do not lump her with RW libertarians and Republicans, please. You are making Hillary respecters juajen Dec 2011 #162

I don't believe that's true - TBF Dec 2011 #170

+1 mopinko Dec 2011 #30

4 years later and they still can't accept that their dream is over. MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #179

And a new low has now been set on The DU. Ikonoklast Dec 2011 #5

TWO posts today that have made me long for that UNREC, as well--both about Obama, too. MADem Dec 2011 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Dec 2011 #75

I miss the unrec. sarcasmo Dec 2011 #154

No RZM Dec 2011 #6

Joe Biden - Major Iraq War promoter... soryang Dec 2011 #35

Biden was not "major Iraq supporter" any more than Hillary was karynnj Dec 2011 #43

Biden pumped for the second Iraq invasion on prime time every chance he had. soryang Dec 2011 #192

Except President Obama's FP cred now stands admirably on its own. CakeGrrl Dec 2011 #36

I assume Bo will be next in the anti-Obama bash fest? tridim Dec 2011 #7

Dayum JustAnotherGen Dec 2011 #11

Heh-heh FSogol Dec 2011 #45

nope quinnox Dec 2011 #52

Already has its own thread... October Dec 2011 #55

Except the Democrats are NOT struggling uphill and the Republicans are self-destructing. randome Dec 2011 #8

Doesn't this belong with the other Obama bad/Hillary good junk? abbeyco Dec 2011 #9

serious question Enrique Dec 2011 #10

Al Gore is well known for quinnox Dec 2011 #58

Sadly, he lobbied for NAFTA. nt Union Scribe Dec 2011 #93

Biden was a good choice actually SixthSense Dec 2011 #12

+1 onenote Dec 2011 #50

Yeah, I heard Number One Job is to not make The Boss look bad! I think Biden has played gateley Dec 2011 #136

IIABDFI A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2011 #13

I disagree. Joe Biden is an excellent person but he also understands his role as VP. Poll_Blind Dec 2011 #14

mccain wasn't a "gimme" only in the sense that the entire general election was a "gimme" unblock Dec 2011 #28

So you realy think MClame had a chance?? quinnox Dec 2011 #31

McCain got 9 million more votes than Gore did eight years earlier onenote Dec 2011 #59

no problem, because I totally disagree with you quinnox Dec 2011 #63

He was no worse than chimpy. He lost because he was up against a much better candidate. onenote Dec 2011 #67

You apparently don't realize that it was BIDEN who urged OBAMA to run in the first place? MADem Dec 2011 #15

I thought it was Dubin who said that karynnj Dec 2011 #47

You might be right. Or Chuck Schumer. Or maybe both. MADem Dec 2011 #79

I think either Daschle or Durbin told him to run. Tatiana Dec 2011 #121

Daschle! That's the man! MADem Dec 2011 #149

Unrec treestar Dec 2011 #19

first, the veep choice is probably entirely irrelevant to a president's electoral chances. unblock Dec 2011 #21

This message was self-deleted by its author LaurenG Dec 2011 #22

Oh, wow! Are you telling me that Biden is the Vice President? MineralMan Dec 2011 #23

Joe Biden is the one positive in the Obama administration JDPriestly Dec 2011 #26

THIS JOE BIDEN? > > lamp_shade Dec 2011 #27

+1 Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #44

Perfect! Thanks for finding/remembering that. nt babylonsister Dec 2011 #80

That's Our Joe!!!! stlsaxman Dec 2011 #168

Too bad you didn't start your first sentence with "I think..." or "I believe..." lunatica Dec 2011 #29

I'm not a huge Biden fan, but... MilesColtrane Dec 2011 #33

Agree - I AM a huge Biden fan but solely from a political approach, not a good move. Plus, gateley Dec 2011 #137

I love me some Joe. Sky Masterson Dec 2011 #37

Dick Cheney otohara Dec 2011 #40

I Rec'd this thread Viva_La_Revolution Dec 2011 #42

whatever n/t quinnox Dec 2011 #46

Cool.. does it show it in the stats? Ichingcarpenter Dec 2011 #68

where does this nonsense come from? nt bowens43 Dec 2011 #48

Probably the same source pushing the "Hillary is behind the robocalls" meme. lamp_shade Dec 2011 #62

A dark and smelly place, perhaps? nt MADem Dec 2011 #107

Remember his other first choice? Tim Kaine? Ichingcarpenter Dec 2011 #49

Ten Random Americans.... CherokeeDem Dec 2011 #53

My husband and I agree. It was definitely Obama's first mistake/disappointment for us. Peregrine Took Dec 2011 #54

I agree quinnox Dec 2011 #72

Neil KinnocK. MADem Dec 2011 #111

Bwah! gateley Dec 2011 #138

good grief he has done fine JCMach1 Dec 2011 #56

Anyone who thinks Biden is an ineffective and weak presence PatSeg Dec 2011 #57

I think you nailed it -- "hasn't been paying attention". nt gateley Dec 2011 #139

As a VP, he keeps a low profile PatSeg Dec 2011 #150

I wish we still had UNREC. kestrel91316 Dec 2011 #60

Don't be coy. Tell us who Obama should have picked (other than HRC) and who should take Biden's spot onenote Dec 2011 #61

I'm not trying to be coy quinnox Dec 2011 #69

I'm sorry, but that's a cop out. onenote Dec 2011 #122

As I said in my OP, one positive reason would be the excitement generated quinnox Dec 2011 #127

Have to disagree - the OP was NOT specific with critcisms of Biden at all! Didn't cite gateley Dec 2011 #140

"Hillary is simply the most prominent name being mentioned right now..." Really?!?!? stlsaxman Dec 2011 #172

ever hear of Robert Reich? quinnox Dec 2011 #178

Why didn't you say that in the first place?!?!?! stlsaxman Dec 2011 #185

Furthermore ladies and gentlemen > > lamp_shade Dec 2011 #65

Since I couldn't unrec this load of tripe, I rec'd that link! nt MADem Dec 2011 #112

More DU silliness Trajan Dec 2011 #66

He's still smarter than most. schmice Dec 2011 #71

And he was right when he advised Obama not to surge in Afghanistan. Sadly, his advice gateley Dec 2011 #141

I see Pumas are back in style krawhitham Dec 2011 #73

Incorrect quinnox Dec 2011 #74

'Why Edwards supporters should consider Hillary' Ichingcarpenter Dec 2011 #77

wow, no I don't quinnox Dec 2011 #85

I did a search Ichingcarpenter Dec 2011 #102

You are correct, Bidden shouldn't be Obama's vice president. Yavapai Dec 2011 #78

You left out a few cliches. Dewey Finn Dec 2011 #95

So Dewey, if I may ask, Yavapai Dec 2011 #125

I disagree. Biden is a real person who represents working class America. VPs are usually... slackmaster Dec 2011 #81

+1 ThomWV Dec 2011 #144

Well Sarah! Max4Congress Dec 2011 #82

Okay, Max, I'm moving to the 36th District in TX just to vote for you! You're obviously gateley Dec 2011 #142

Who is Sarah? I need a post number to see what you are referring to. juajen Dec 2011 #163

Not really a person Max4Congress Dec 2011 #190

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Dec 2011 #84

...voting is a popularity contest, yes...nt Union Scribe Dec 2011 #90

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Dec 2011 #92

That would have been a better argument Union Scribe Dec 2011 #100

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Dec 2011 #110

It's just for future reference Union Scribe Dec 2011 #119

You just made the deadline for worst post of 2011 grantcart Dec 2011 #86

LOL. Tell the class what you really feel, my friend..... cliffordu Dec 2011 #91

I feel honored quinnox Dec 2011 #101

lol grantcart Dec 2011 #124

What's with the vehemence in the replies? Union Scribe Dec 2011 #87

Thanks for the defense, but its nothing really quinnox Dec 2011 #105

I'd agree with a previous poster who suggested it might have been more prudent gateley Dec 2011 #143

Yo, Yavapai Max4Congress Dec 2011 #88

Max, I do somewhat agree with what you say. Yavapai Dec 2011 #128

You don't always get what you want, but you often get what you need. Max4Congress Dec 2011 #191

There is so many things in error in your OP that I cannot take the time cliffordu Dec 2011 #89

A general piece of advice to those missing un-rec Union Scribe Dec 2011 #98

Thanks for the advice. cliffordu Dec 2011 #129

What do you think they're doing by mentioning they miss the unrec? lunatica Dec 2011 #173

I only agree with this for one reason--none of which is what you stated justiceischeap Dec 2011 #94

Yours is the best post in this thread musiclawyer Dec 2011 #174

Not only do I love Joe I would enthusiastically support him for the 2016 nomination should he totodeinhere Dec 2011 #96

He'll be 73 in 2016 justiceischeap Dec 2011 #103

No, it's not ageism to say that. It will depend on how Joe feels and a lot of other factors. totodeinhere Dec 2011 #106

Obama seems to have aged in the past three years treestar Dec 2011 #114

Meanwhile Republicans are fucking scary ass crazy, FrenchieCat Dec 2011 #99

nice to see you too frenchie quinnox Dec 2011 #108

I also disagree with the OP as I indicated upthread. But that's no reason to cast personal totodeinhere Dec 2011 #109

Why make it so personal? nt Union Scribe Dec 2011 #115

I think some of the more devoted Obama supporters take things very personally quinnox Dec 2011 #116

And not just in this thread, that's the other weird thing. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #117

Agreed quinnox Dec 2011 #118

Disagree 100%. I LOVE Joe Biden! (unrec) Greybnk48 Dec 2011 #113

The only better choice Obama has made was Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State. undeterred Dec 2011 #120

President Obama has already asked Biden to run with him in 2012 and Joe said: YES. Tx4obama Dec 2011 #123

You couldn't be more wrong. nt gateley Dec 2011 #131

Couldn't Disagree More DeathToTheOil Dec 2011 #132

whaaat??/? eShirl Dec 2011 #133

You punks git off my lawn! Bucky Dec 2011 #135

I sure do miss the "Unrecommend" feature, this post reminds me why. ThomWV Dec 2011 #145

Well, he's no Dick Cheney, that's for sure slay Dec 2011 #146

This message was self-deleted by its author slay Dec 2011 #147

No, he hasn't. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2011 #155

Huh? Joe Biden is great! (as VP) FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #157

I wouldn't advertise your ignorance of Biden, if I were you. Honeycombe8 Dec 2011 #158

You obviously know nothing of Biden tammywammy Dec 2011 #160

I disagree. Biden is one of the few Obama appointments that I don't loathe. If Biden goes, we'd... JVS Dec 2011 #161

I think that we need someone in the position who isn't divisive... Fearless Dec 2011 #164

Where in the fuck is the god damned unrec! lonestarnot Dec 2011 #165

Sez who? Lil Missy Dec 2011 #166

Biden is not the problem here. sendero Dec 2011 #169

t3 spanone Dec 2011 #171

your most erudite, sourced, and thought-out editorial... LanternWaste Dec 2011 #176

are you complementing that empty screed against Biden? CreekDog Dec 2011 #189

But he's going to be VP for 4 more years, isn't he? MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #177

Maybe quinnox Dec 2011 #181

I can. He's in. MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #186

Joe Biden took a tough and thankless job really, and with no BootinUp Dec 2011 #182

virtual unrec it is quinnox Dec 2011 #183

I think he has been a wonderful, thoughtful and effective VP WI_DEM Dec 2011 #184

And pray tell, why would Hillary want to be VP anyway? Beacool Dec 2011 #187

OP is saying Biden hasn't done anything and nobody knows who he is CreekDog Dec 2011 #188