Alright, But Not A Rock Star

Obama Picks Biden

OK, I'm going to have to lay it all on the table now. I am not a fan of Barack Obama. I was a Hillary supporter. And I did not receive a text message!!! What's THAT about?? Nada. Not even the text that supposedly went out a couple of hours AFTER the media got wind of it. That's where I'm coming from. . . . 

I thought . . . if only Obama would pick a VP candidate who would make me feel like we are taken care of, in good hands, protected, but also politically sexy in that way that gives us the feeling we're in the presence of greatness. Especially with all that build up! Nothing less than greatness was going to make me feel better about voting for Barack Obama.

And so it is . . . .  Nothing is going to make me feel good about voting for Barack Obama. I am underwhelmed. Except that John McCain is the alternative.

It's funny, though. It's not like I don't like Joe Biden. He is a very impressive senator and was a respectable presidential candidate. And I love his foreign policy, well the parts of it I know. He was the smartest guy in the country on Iraq for a while.  Richard Holbrook respects him.

But here's the kicker. Our next president has to have good foreign policy ideology, policy, and execution.  Biden is good on the policy, no doubt. Probably good on the ideology, but I'd have to learn a bit more to know for sure. But execution - well, it won't be up to him. And I don't believe he'll even be a strong enough influence over that. That's the kicker.

The reason I wanted Obama to pick a rock star (at least a foreign policy rock star) is because I believe that Obama will be too soft and indecisive and accommodating and patient when it comes to world politics. I worry that he will try to please all parties involved and will not see real threats for what they are.  I believe Obama needs someone who has the gravitas to actually affect presidential decisions. I don't believe Joe Biden will have that kind of influence. I just don't.

HOWEVER, John McCain scares me more. I believe that his shortcomings would be even more detrimental to American and world safety. He overreacts. For the man (yes, man, not person, man) who will have the power to send bombs flying, overreaction is not the characteristic I'd ever choose.

Barack Obama is sharp. If he listens to good advice, if he acts swiftly when that is warranted, we will be in goods hands. And, of course, there is domestic policy - Obama beats McCain in every category. The Supreme Court justices McCain might appoint . . . that alone is enough to make me lose sleep.

Biden is a good man. A respectable man. A smart man. He is Catholic and has a lovely family. He has suffered personal loss. He has a great sense of humor. He has a lot going for him that makes for a good candidate and might attract some of the votes Obama wouldn't attract on his own (read, Catholic and working class white voters - not sure Biden will have any affect over the Catholic Latino vote).  I really like Joe Biden. And, if he does have the power to make Obama really listen to him, my worries will be allayed.

If.

Obama has already disappointed all his naive supporters who believed he was some kind of different candidate, would make some kind of different president that would have such a fresh look at this old game of politics that America and the world would be aright again. Maybe naming a moderate, 36-year veteran of Congress won't shock them, then.

Of course, what I really believe is that an Obama-Hillary ticket would have carried the day for Democrats and would have secured the presidency.

So, what will all the Clinton voters do? Especially the women who might not be diehard Democrats? What will they do? Will Hillary and Bill's Convention speeches convince their supporters to support Obama and is that what it will take? Stay tuned. . . .