Prepare the Bumperstickers: Obama-Biden '08

(from the New York Times)

Biography
Full Name: Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
Party: Democratic
Political Office: U.S. Senator from Delaware; elected 1972; reelected 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002
Business/Professional Experience: Attorney (in Wilmington), 1968-72; Councilman, New Castle County (Delaware), 1970-72
Date of Birth: November 20, 1942
Place of Birth: Scranton, Pa.
Education: B.A., University of Delaware, 1965; J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 1968
Spouse: married (2d) Jill Jacobs, 1977
Children: sons Joseph R. III, born 1969 and Robert, b. 1970 (with first wife Neilia Hunter, m. 1966; died 1972 in auto accident with infant daughter Naomi); daughter Ashley, born 1981
Religion: Roman Catholic
Home: Wilmington, Del.
Books by Joe Biden: Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics [July 2007] About Joe Biden: What it Takes: The Way to the White House (in part, an account of Biden's 1988 presidential campaign), by Richard Ben Cramer [1992]

First elected to the United States Senate from Delaware at age 29, Joseph R. Biden Jr. has experienced personal tragedy, near-fatal illness, and multiple attempts to advance to the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue. Though neither of his campaigns for the Democratic nomination ever really took off, he was tapped as Senator Barack Obama’s running mate on Aug. 23, 2008.
Only a month after winning his first Senate election, Mr. Biden’s wife and 13-month old daughter died in a car accident, which put both of his sons in the hospital. Mr. Biden was sworn into the Senate at their bedsides. His pursuit of the 1988 Democratic nomination ended amid accusations that he lifted large portions of his remarks at a debate from a British Labor Party leader. And a few months after his departure from the race Mr. Biden collapsed from a brain aneurism, ultimately undergoing two surgeries over a few months.

Mr. Biden told The Times he had learned something different from each of the three crises in his life.

The accident taught him, he said, “to always let the people you love know you love them, and never let something go unsaid.” The aneurysm taught him that “it’s a hell of a lot easier being on the operating table than in the waiting room.” As for the 1987 race, Mr. Biden said he learned that he could pull himself back up after the crippling experience of having his character questioned, “Particularly when it’s your own fault.”

Mr. Biden is perhaps best known for his work on the Foreign Relations Committee, of which he is currently chairman. He has said he regrets his 2003 vote in favor of the Iraq invasion, but he has been a persistent and harsh critic of the administration’s war conduct. Mr. Biden is among the most ardent proponents of a three-state solution in Iraq.

Despite his emphasis on diplomacy, Mr. Biden is known for his direct – and sometimes impulsive – speech, which has often attracted criticism.

Go For The General In The General - Obama/Clark '08

In my mind, there is but one choice for Barack Obama for his running mate. That choice must be General Wesley Clark. Sure, it may be controversial, but it's a smart pick both for the short-term electoral strategy in the general election, as well as the more important question of what role the Vice-President will play in the Administration post-Darth Cheney.

Here's what Clark brings to the table:

• Raised in Little Rock Arkansas, but was born in Chicago and had a paternal great-grandfather who was a Belarusian Jew who emigrated to the U.S. to escape the pogroms
• Valedictorian of his class at West Point
• Rhodes scholar at Oxford with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics
• Master's degree in military science
• 34 years service in the Army and Department of Defense, including company command in Vietnam from 1969-1970. He was shot four times with an AK-47 but still led his company in a counterattack. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions.
• Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO from 1997 to 2000....commanded Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War

I can think of no other VP choice who brings the balance of military experience, foreign policy knowledge and moderate political philosophy quite like Gen. Clark. There are some with foreign policy bonafides (Biden, Richardson, Nunn), but they each are politicians with their own baggage and, in the case of Nunn, have odious opinions on social issues like reproductive rights and LGBT rights. Other candidates who are more appealing to the Democratic base may turn off independents and moderate Republicans and would fail to fill in the gaps (experience, foreign policy expertise) in Obama's campaign.

Clark is a moderate liberal with strong pro-environmental views, and equally strong pro-civil rights stances. He supports equal opportunity for gays in military service. He also advocates return to balancing the federal budget, reduction of the budget and trade deficits, and would nullify the tax cuts for the upper 1% which have been so ruinous to the economy overall and have ballooned our budget deficit. He has suggested providing healthcare for the uninsured by altering the current system.

Clark complements Obama very nicely while not contradicting him on any of the major policy issues an Obama administration will tackle next year. I hope that Obama discounts the hysterics surrounding Gen. Clark's appearance on Face The Nation and sees his best choice for a running mate in Wesley Clark.

And now.....you've been BarackRoll'd, son!!!!