Biden’s Moment
Today Joe Biden will talk to more Americans at once than he has ever before. Yes, he is a national figure. Yes, he is a family face to any politico. Yes, many Americans do know who he is. But, really, the everyday exposure regular Americans who do not have politics as their hobby have to Joe Biden is in the form of an appearance on Meet the Press or in a soundbite on the news.
Tonight, he speaks to them for an hour as a potential Vice President. How will he craft his speech? What will he talk about?
Other vice presidential candidates’ themes have varied, depending on the circumstances of the day.
In her 1984 acceptance speech, Geraldine Ferraro noted the historic nature of her selection, describing America as “the land where dreams can come true for all of us.”
One of the most memorable vice presidential acceptance speeches was Hubert Humphrey’s 1964 attack on Sen. Barry Goldwater as out of the mainstream, saying most Democrats and Republicans voted for civil rights and Social Security, but “not Senator Goldwater.”
“After a while, he had the crowd saying ‘Not Senator Goldwater,’ ” Goldstein said. “It became a participatory, festive, raucous sort of speech.”
Goldstein said he could see Biden trying to attack Republicans in his speech, but in a nice way. He’ll strike a balance as someone who can work across the aisle while pointing out the problems of “his friend” McCain, he said.
“His style is not to take the low road,” Goldstein said. “It’s to attack the other side but to do it in a pleasant, friendly manner.”
The best Vice Presidential speechs of the last 16 years were Al Gore’s. He mixed in the biographical with the attack dog. The speeches of Lloyd Bentsen, Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle, John Edwards, Jack Kemp and Joe Lieberman were immediately forgettable. But Al Gore’s two speeches left an indelible impression. I expect Joe to follow the template of Al Gore. Will it be memorable? Tonight we will find out.
hypothetically…markell wins the dem primary, obama wins presidency, minner appoints carney to senate.
in time carney runs for senate seat. who would you vote for in that race…carney, beau biden or o’donnell?
First, I disagree that the GOP would nominate O’Donnell again in 2010. Castle will run. And I disagree there will be a primary between Carney and Biden.
But let’s assume there was. I have no idea who I would vote for between Carney and Beau. I would have to see that campaign to decide. But there is no way in hell I vote for Castle or any Republican to federal office for the rest of my life. Never.
“But there is no way in hell I vote for Castle or any Republican to federal office for the rest of my life. Never.”
Way to toe the party line there DD.
Mike,
Republicans cannot be trusted to run a government efficiently and competently, for they do not believe in Government. That is why they bankrupt the federal government with their massive and wasteful spending on pork barrel programs and bridges to nowhere. They want to so thoroughly bankrupt us so that we can no longer afford government. Remember Grover Nordquist: “we want to make government so small that it can drown in a bathtub.”
Given that, no Republican can ever be trusted in elected office, ever.
Now, if there is a party realignment, and Republicans adopt Democratic ideals of helping people through a competent and efficient government, then, maybe, I will vote for a Republican. But I don’t see it happening.
That is not party line, that is common sense.
Unless, like me, you believe that that the phrase “competent & efficient government” is an oxymoron, that distrust of government should be the norm (and was for our founders) and that (like our founders) it is not the job of government to “help people”
“The policy of the American Government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining them, nor aiding them in their pursuits.”
-Thomas Jefferson
If Biden had great confidence in his ticket, why is he running for the Senate? Senators Johnson and Lieberman played that game.
Goldwater knew that his chances were nil but but played the more honorable position. John Edwards did the same thing in 2004.
Does this mean that Edwards has more political integrity than Biden?
I don’t know why anyone would expect Biden to have any political integrity or take an honorable position. This is Biden we’re talking about.
Ugh…what a bullshit argument, Art.
Integrity has nothing to do with it, and I question if you know what the word means.
But thanks for your concern.
I’m all for questioning our government’s motives, Mike. Open government is something you will not find under a McCain administration; he’ll keep on pushing the unitary executive thing…
Integrity isn’t an important character trait?
I have my doubts about open government under Obama too. He doesn’t exactly take criticism well, and is currently trying to use the DOJ to silence political speech aimed against him. That’s something liberals would be up in arms about if Bush tried it.
Of course it is!
But the silly argument that running for a senate seat while being the vp nominee has nothing to do with integrity, you know, since there is nothing immoral or unethical about it.
Art’s just trying to conflate….trolling.
Informing the DOJ is proper protocol when 527s violate federal law. Hell, Fox even refused to air the commerical!
It has nothing to do with free speech, it’s about integrity.
VC:
“But the silly argument that running for a senate seat while being the vp nominee has nothing to do with integrity, you know, since there is nothing immoral or unethical about it.”
No, but it does show a lack of confidence and a cravenness to hold on to political power no matter what.
If you say so.
But why should I believe in what you say?
Thanks for the concern.
Not long AFTER he has his moment, his opponent will have hers.
Republican Senatorial candidate Christine O’Donnell will be on Larry King Live tonight at midnight!