my reaction to the Biden pick

On the plus side:

• he is a foriegn policy machine - his advocacy for action in Darfur has been exceptional
• his law & order record is powerful - he has been forceful in challenging the way the Constitution has been abused
• his faith & where it leads him:

"The animating principle of my faith, as taught to me by church and home, was that the cardinal sin was abuse of power," he said in an interview with the Monitor. "It was not only required as a good Catholic to abhor and avoid abuse of power, but to do something to end that abuse."

"I was raised at a time when the Catholic Church was fertile with new ideas and open discussion about some of the basic social          teaching of the Catholic Church," Biden says. "Questioning was not criticized; it was encouraged."       

• his net worth -  $100,000-$150,000 -  is closer to most Americans than recent candidates
• he is family guy - takes the train home every night while in the Senate
• old people just love him
• his wife Jill is an educator - now an English professor at the Delaware Technical and Community College, has been  a reading specialist, an English high school teacher and a teacher in a mental health institution.

on the negative side:

he is..um..ah..a wind bag at times - as the NYPost put it:

Blowhard Could Be Just What Obama Needs

That said, his core approach to this election is summarized in this quote:

I refuse to sit back like we did in 2000 and 2004. This administration is the worst administration in American foreign policy in modern history — maybe ever. ... Every single thing they’ve touched has been a near-disaster.

I am a big fan of the pick (after I took my name out of consideration).  I agree with Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE):

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.

Comments

[Heidi Renee]

I just can't wipe the smile off my face this morning. The more I find out about him the more I like him - and I SO can't wait for him to wind bag on McCain! It's gonna be a fun 10 weeks!