What's Joe Biden like?

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stray S
stray Aug 26, 2008 16:27:14
Replying to handofdave

I thought he was selected so he could attack the republicans (something Biden is very, very good at) while Obama gets to keep his image clean. I didn't consider the race thing. Anyway, its all a bit odd to us non-US that the other name on the ticket is that important as the VP doesn't have any powers at all, unless Obama dies of course. Although, yeah, there does seem to be a worryingly large amount of US liberals convinced that Obama will get assassinated.

What bugs me about the Obama campaign thus far is it's drift towards the middle ground away from its original platform. Of course, it was (as all democratic policy) hardly left wing by out of US standards, but it was carrying a lot of the more of what are considered the extreme left wing voters than usual for a democratic candidacy. Now they're pissed, particularly by the FISA vote. Didnt Biden vote against that ?

Theres a myth in world politics about the 'third way' that cites the success of the UK labour party as its example. This is bollocks, the reason Labour won and have held power for so long is primarily a result of the Tory party becoming completely fucking insane and totally unelectable. The fact that the two parties here are becoming indistinguishable will pretty much guarantee that the Tories have more than a good shout of winning next time round.

Whereas our left wing voters are more than likely going to still vote for the lesser evil, the impression I get of the activist left wing voters in the US is that they'll protect their principals over all other things and vote for some completely unelectable independant rather than sacrificing their beliefs for Obama. Obviously I'm no expert, if my analysis is totally wrong please correct me.

H handofdave
handofdave Aug 26, 2008 18:00:40
Replying to stray

stray wrote:
I thought he was selected so he could attack the republicans (something Biden is very, very good at) while Obama gets to keep his image clean.
True enough as well. Biden was a strategic choice.

Anyway, its all a bit odd to us non-US that the other name on the ticket is that important as the VP doesn't have any powers at all, unless Obama dies of course.
Well, we've seen in the last eight years how a VP can throw his weight around the White House. Bush would be lost without Dick Cheney... It's arguable that it's actually the former Halliburton CEO who's been in charge for the last eight years, not Bush.

What bugs me about the Obama campaign thus far is it's drift towards the middle ground away from its original platform. Of course, it was (as all democratic policy) hardly left wing by out of US standards, but it was carrying a lot of the more of what are considered the extreme left wing voters than usual for a democratic candidacy. Now they're pissed, particularly by the FISA vote. Didnt Biden vote against that ?
It's Bill Clinton all over again.

Theres a myth in world politics about the 'third way' that cites the success of the UK labour party as its example. This is bollocks, the reason Labour won and have held power for so long is primarily a result of the Tory party becoming completely fucking insane and totally unelectable. The fact that the two parties here are becoming indistinguishable will pretty much guarantee that the Tories have more than a good shout of winning next time round.
The Republican party here have been completely insane and unelectable... by my standards. But clearly, there are plenny'O voters out there who put the present administration in... twice... and would again. And they just might do it with McCain, it's a real possibility.

Americans are not the most rational people. I hate to admit it, but it's true.

Whereas our left wing voters are more than likely going to still vote for the lesser evil, the impression I get of the activist left wing voters in the US is that they'll protect their principals over all other things and vote for some completely unelectable independant rather than sacrificing their beliefs for Obama. Obviously I'm no expert, if my analysis is totally wrong please correct me.
It's not as true now as it was in the 2000 election, when Nader took away the deciding percent that would have put Gore in office. Except for all but the most militant lefties, that is regarded now as a monumental fuck up that shouldn't be repeated.