Biden is a great pick. He adds everything Obama is missing, including foreign policy expertise and experience.

Plus, he's an old white dude.

The guy's got skeletons that will make this a blast. Cheating anyone?

Harvard Law bossing around Syracuse Law: true in Biglaw, true in politics.

The guy is a blowhard

Co-sign 9:04. Biden is so annoying at SCOTUS confirmation hearings. He goes on and on and on....

Yeah, let's talk about skeletons. How about McCain's affair. Do you really want to go there? By the way, McCain's POW status does not translate to being a good president or experience. Wake up people.

The press is wetting themselves like a bunch of sychofantic school boys. The bias is so disgusting.

In the grand tradition of ATL commenters, I wish to suggest to 8 that you probably mean "sycophantic." I'm sorry, but I'm sort of an asshole in the morning.

7, McCain has one skeleton. You named it. Biden's can fill a grave yard. We see what has happened to Edwards and everyone remember's slick WIllie... Plus, we have that little honor code problem. While McCain is honorably declining early release, Biden is not doing his own work. I love a nasty political campaign. So I am delighted by a ticket that will entertain for weeks.

Yeah, I suck at spelling. No offense taken. I wish they had spell check on here.

Awesome pick, that Joe Biden.

9:20 - Um, McCain has way more than one skeleton. You also have:

-- Keating Five

-- shady relationships with lobbyists

-- Cindy's painkiller addiction (and painkiller stealing)

As you say, "I love a nasty political campaign."

I am happy about the Joe Biden pick and not worried about his loquaciousness.

If the Obama campaign can keep Michelle Obama muzzled, they can easily handle Biden.

@11, use Firefox and spell-check is built-in.

Since when did John McCain have an affair? The NYT alleged that something improper might have been going on with that lobbyist, but there was nothing proven. Keating 5 is McCain's skeleton.

David Brooks must be happy. Before the pick was announced, he wrote:

"Biden’s the one. The only question is whether Obama was wise and self-aware enough to know that. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/opinion/22brooks.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

13 -- none of those are skeletons. They are out and already part of the consideration of the candidate. Like reported bad earnings, the stock already reflects the problem. Biden is fresh meat for 527s and there are a lot of people that do not like him. So have at it.

Oh, this is so fun. Already, we are hearing replays that great Biden comment about BO being a clean black. Open mouth, insert foot.

Someone is going to say it eventually, so let's get it over with:

Syracuse = TTT

Widener = TTT

Have you seen the new McCain ad with Biden saying BO is too inexperienced but that he would be honored to be on a ticket with McCain? God Bless America.

The biggest impression I got from the guy comes from the confirmation hearings. As someone already pointed out, he was d-bag-level annoying.

Clinton/Bayh '12

9:40 - So true.

I think there was one clip they played on the Daily Show in which Biden, supposedly questioning the nominee, rambled on for 15 minutes - and then never asked a question.

As an originalist, I demand reform. We should return to the olden days when the second-place presidential candidate became the vice-president! Now that would be entertaining.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States#Original_Constitution.2C_and_reform

Maybe Biden couldn't get into a better law school than Syracuse, thanks to affirmative action (which he did not benefit from as a white male).

Or maybe it was his terrible grades

Biden spoke at my firm this summer and simply ripped Obama while slightly praising McCain. He then said he would never accept VP.

And, by the way, the man needs to tone down the shade of those veneers - it's blinding in person.

Lastly, Widener = TTT about 5 times over.

Haha, the candidate of "change" picks an old senator. Once again we see that B.O. is just another politician. His "change" is all rhetoric, and you folks that are drinking his Kool-aid will be sorely disappointed once again. The fact is, B.O. didn't have any great options for V.P. because of his own weaknesses and the way he has shaped the them of his campaign.

And oh my, the text messaging debacle was high comedy. The liberal media was practically wetting their pants waiting for their phones to vibrate.

Should be an entertaining few months....the Biden pick gives the Pubs plenty of ammo, that's for sure.

Anyone see the new McCain comercial where Biden flatly says that Obama isn't ready to lead but that McCain is? Uh oh. . . Obama has got some splainin to do.

29, who did you expect him to pick? someone with no experience like harriet miers?

31: Come on. If you're going to point to the worst person in the party, I'm going to pull out my "Remember Chappaquiddick" T-shirt.

31.......29 here. No. I expected Biden. As I said, B.O. really had no good choices (other than Hillary) because of the themes of his campaign and his inexperience. So he decided to try to patch up the inexperience issue, even though it will do great damage to his central campaign theme, and even though Biden comes w/ HUGE baggage.

The Republicans have dodged a serious bullet. The one Vice President selection that could have given a turbo boost to the struggling Dem ticket (seen the recent polls anyone?) was Hillary. GOP insiders are breathing a huge sigh of relief at the Biden pick....and his comments about Obama, his own problems in the past, and his Washington insider status completely undercut Obama's entire change message.

Who knew that the agent of change has been hiding in the U.S. Senate for 36 years?!

Nice job Barry....you could have won.

Biden stole 5 full pages of a law review article and put them into a paper he wrote in his first year of law school. He claims it was not a malevolent mistake, but who is he fooling?

Here's the NY Times report on it (from 1987) http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DB143FF93BA2575AC0A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

Guys in my high school picked perennial also-rans with tons of baggage as running mates all the time, it was no big deal.

- FRAT STUD

"I hate America"

-Barrack Hussein Obama

I can't choice between Davis Polk & Wardwell or White & Case.
Between these two which one has the best office out of curiosity and also salary differences?

This is not my criteria for finding which suits me but it was just for fun, if it comes down to this point I would have chosen the best office. LOL

Do any of the V5 ever have time to talk among themselves (associates) besides lunch time?

Ex: go to a bar or even go watch a game together. I know you are not there to socialize but what about after work?

I can't choice between Davis Polk & Wardwell or White & Case.
Between these two which one has the best office out of curiosity and also salary differences?

This is not my criteria for finding which suits me but it was just for fun, if it comes down to this point I would have chosen the best office. LOL

Do any of the V5 ever have time to talk among themselves (associates) besides lunch time?

Ex: go to a bar or even go watch a game together. I know you are not there to socialize but what about after work?

HOPE = JOKE

Just wait to Biden flies off the handle like Dean in Iowa

38-39. Are you really DP or WC material? Spelling and choice of threads are pretty bad. Tighten up man!

what was up with the 3 am timing of the text? trying to mitigate the damage from the 1 am leak that it was indeed biden? trying to show how young and hip he is relative to mccain by texting in the middle of the night? a reference to hil's 3am ad?

9 months ago the thought of obama waking me up at 3am was hot. this morning, it was just annoying.

Umm, 16, it's pretty well known that Johnny Mac was whoring around on his first wife prior to divorcing her and marrying a rich, blonde 20 years his junior.

WHY IS NOBODY MENTIONING THE PLAGIARISM ALLEGATIONS FROM BIDEN'S PAST, TO WHICH HE ADMITTED HE WAS GUILTY?

"Biden Was Accused of Plagiarism in Law School", A1
E.J. Dionne Jr., Special to the New York TImes
Sept. 17, 1987

"Mr. Biden eventually received a grade of 80 in the course, which, he joked today, prevented him from falling even further in his class rank. Mr. Biden, who graduated from the law school in 1968, was 76th in a class of 85."

42, it is also funny how the press is touting the text approach as great suspense and evidence of brilliant campaign discipline. They are also impressed that he can go potty all by himself.

43, old news.

3: Are you serious? I don't think John "I Married My Rich Mistress" McCain wants touch cheating on one's spouse.

Which brings to mind the best McCain staffer quote from the last week:

"The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."

First, what does his time as a POW have to do with him cheating? It must be written that they have to work that into every comment.

Second, I think its only fair that the first Mrs. McCain have to explain why she attacked John McCain's war record when she divorced him for "allegedly" cheating with the second Mrs. McCain.

Where to Republicans get off assuming that their candidates are models of chastity?

Inspired by Mr. Biden I too did my first year papers the easy way.

Inspired by Mr. Biden I too did my first year papers the easy way.

48. He does not have to. Everyone else can do it for him. And Biden's escapades are far more interesting than a man who "cheated" on his wife to marry another woman to whom he has stayed married for years. It does not excuse the cheating -- something McCain has acknowledged himself. But it makes it far more palatable than a guy who would poke the hole in his backyard fence.

Why Biden did not get into a top-ranked law school.

Citation: NY Times 1987, EJ Dionne

The file also included Mr. Biden's transcript from his days as an undergraduate at the University of Delaware. In his first three semesters, his grades were C's or D's, with three exceptions: two A's in physical education courses, a B in a course on ''Great English Writers'' and an F in R.O.T.C. The grades improved somewhat later but were never exceptional. Biden's Defense on Speeches

Did you hear the CNN reporter say that the only ones who could criticize the pick are Republicans. Duh.

I'm a conservative, but I don't understand what Biden's achievements are. Aren't their liberals like Kaine, Feingold, Seibilus (sp?) with real achievements? All it seems that Biden has accomplished is winning Delaware Senate elections and getting on Meet the Press an awful lot. Also - Obama/Biden - pretty much zero private sector and/or military experience.

As a Republican, I am thrilled by Senator Obama's pick.

This website has been dedicated to maximizing associate compensation, finding ways to get promoted to partner, getting a summer job, ensuring a steady stream of work. How can an attorney in private practice at Big Law support the BO ticket? He is pro union, raising taxes on salaries above $150K (all big law associates fit that category), raising social security threshold (no more third quarter salary kicker when you stop paying into SSA), raising taxes on big business, etc. All of this works against Big Law and their clients. If you think it is hard to find a big law job now because a slow economy means work flow slowdown, do you really think it will be better with these two guys? They want to stick it to the man. In case you have forgotten, as a big law attorney, you are "the man."

25,
As an Asian American, I think we should go back to the good old days where you have to be a WASP to be President. And I'm totally serious.

51: 48 here, but so what if everyone else does? McCain still has that same blood on his hands. And, no, leaving your wife for you mistress and then being "faithful" really isn't any better under the Victorian moral standards Republicans hold Democrats to.

Your real point is that a Republican candidate doesn't have to be a paragon of fidelity because Republicans are the party of Jesus, and thier virtue is irreprochable (see quote from my prior post). Perhaps that's the perception and it doesn't matter as a matter of politics whether that's (a) unfair or (b) untrue, but skewed public perception hardly gives McCain or his minions the high ground as a matter of morals.

16: You do realize that Cindy McCain is not the first Mrs. John McCain, right? John McCain was married to a woman named Carol (Carol McCain at the time) and started sleeping with Cindy Hensley. Now Cindy McCain.

20: I Concur. Widener = TTT. Lamont is MUCH better. Especially if you're fucking an undergrad.

Clinton/Clinton '12 !

wait so let me get this straight:

bush being a bad student = no problem

but biden being a bad student = huge problem?

morons.

58, Fine, but for me, it is not about morals. It is about sport. I will enjoy the mud dragging for its entertainment value alone. BO picked a great candidate because there are plenty inside the beltway who hate him and will enjoy bringing up all his past.

Bush was a bad student who kept taxes down on my big law comp so good president.

Plus, Bush went to Yale where everyone is smarter overall. Not everyone can be at the top at Yale. Seems that Biden couldn't even be top half at two 4 tier schools.

Biden is a great pick. He'll go off on Republicans like no tomorrow and Obama will be able to stand back and be dignified. The inability/unwillingness to attack in 2004 is why the Dems lost.

Biden sends a strong "bring it on mo fos" to the opposition without Barak having to get muddy. Nice job!

54: Are you joking about Kaine? As a Richmond resident, it would have been disastrous to see Kaine nominated. He was a poor mayor and city council member, and hasn't done anything as governor except preside over a budget deficit. He was only elected governor because the Republican nominee (Kilgore) ran such an awful campaign.

He has all the same weaknesses that B.O. has.

66: 54 here - I'm not saying I like Kaine, I'm just saying as a Gov he's done a lot more than Biden has done in 35 years of potificating at committee hearings and on MTP. At least Kaine has dominated the GOP (a trend started by Warner) - while I don't like his policy at least he's done things as a Guv.

If McCain picks Condi the Dems are in serious trouble. Thankfully, he is far too stupid for that.

67: with all due respect, I don't think you know much about Virginia politics. Kaine was in the right place at the right time. He's no Warner. Just what good has Kaine done as governor?

Re: 61 and McCain was last in his class at Navy.

Re: 64 you don't have to be smart to get in when you are the son and grandson of a congressman/ future president. Or in McCain's case when you are the son and grandson of an Admiral.

Can any DE Corporate Attorney's out there give any insight on Biden's business credentials.

I remember him doing a good job neutering SOX. I'm sure he has done a lot more to help out Corporations.

70: I like legacies. I benefited and don't begrudge anyone else that catches a break that way.

Biden's Son is the Delaware AG and he is revered by all the local powerbrokers/politico's there are no skeletons coming out.

73: Sounds like you are saying that his son will use his power as AG to protect his dad. Like father, like son.

Legacies are society's counter-balance to affirmative action.

Bush could not get through a reading of My Pet Goat without disaster happening.

75, and those of us in the middle are the ones getting screwed. Ben Folds had it right:

"Y'all don't know what it's like, being male, middle class, and white!"

76, Wow, that is really stretching it and in very bad taste. 9/11 is no joke. Best remember that because we live in a world where your boy might find himself facing the same unfathomable disaster. I don't wish that on him and can't vote for him because I really do not think he would know what to do if it happened.

71 - I benefited too, however if you "catch a break" by being a legacy or a minority you are not necessarily "smarter" as 64 says.

78: your "boy"?

64 here -- I kinda meant that as a general shout out to all the posts on this site that argue that all who attend a top 5 law school are smarter than those who go anywhere else, especially those at the bottom of the class everywhere else. That concept amuses me.

80, what's the point? your "girl"?

82, that's going to be the big convention surprise!!!

83, Hah. Good one. 80 is the PC police.

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=159713

'nuff said.

84, Obama will announce at the convention that he is a hermaphrodite son of immigrant parents with dyslexia and a penchant for buggery. He'll go on Oprah again, announce that he's pregnant, and it will be all over for Mccain.

85, I agree completely and do not see how Biden can pretend he did not say that or many other things.

As for the boy reference, as Biden points out:

I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy

1. As if BO were not elistist enough, we have someone equally, if not more, debonair.

2. As if BO were not sleek enough and had too much substance, he needs a deputy that has "poser" tatooed all over.

Also, was Biden the one who said that BO is successful because "he is the first clean-looking well-spoken black guy in politics?" Imgine the fury if either Clinton says something even remotely resembing that...

I have the sinking feeling that OB will beat Bush for the title of worst president ever.... The guy is politician through and through, has no real experience to speak of, no work ethnics, so fake, and, unlike Bush, is really meansprited (see the periodically feeling up and down remark about Hilillary) ..., and wait, was BO the one who never hesitates to paly the race card and shovel his white grandma in the closet during the primary?

nice dive into baseless political banter lat

are the page views seriously that low?

Legacy OR a minority, ha!.... Barack, like many others, is a legacy AND a minority. His father was a Harvard-trained economist (AM '65). Harvard? Economist? Yes -- imagine that.

The good news is that neither circumstance means shit. Either you can cut it or you can't. Ergo, McCain is 5th from last in his class as a double-legacy. Even Jimmy Carter, love him or hate him, was in the top 10% of the Academy.

On the other hand, Obama was president of HLR. The most affirmative of action won't put you in that position without substantial proof of competency.

McCain had his chance long ago as a maverick. Now he votes the desperate, failing, party line 100%.

McCain is the REAL AMERICAN HERO. Accept it. GOP 2008-2016.

The Biden pick smells of weakness. Talk about making up for shortcomings. The ticket would be great if it was Biden/Obama ... but this is the bizarro ticket, the inexperienced, far-left window dressing at the top of the ticket, the experienced center-left Senator who has a record of actually thinking through issues and coming to reasonable conclusions, like them or not, at the bottom of the ticket?

Biden is ready to be President, Obama is not. McCain was pulling even or even slightly ahead by getting the message across that Obama is not ready to lead. Now, every time Obama and Biden campaign together we will see the contrast between a man ready to lead, and one who is not. So we go from having to see the contrast in just three debates to virtually every day.

McCain just needs to hammer home the message that Obama, while he is by all accounts a good and popular guy, has not done anything that suggests he is up for the job of President.

If he really wants to nail it, he'll pick Sarah Palin (Alaska Gov. with 80%+ approval ratings, and who supports drilling in ANWR), who will shore him up with the conservative wing (as if that's needed), give McCain yet another look by disaffected Hillary supporters, and give yet another vehicle for McCain to push that he is the better choice on the energy issue, which is becoming THE issue in this campaign.

Biden and Gelb have been saying the most sensible things about Iraq for several years now. Too bad everyone wants to pay attention to what Biden did 20 years and more ago.

93 - Biden-Gelb was an interesting idea, though pretty much moot now, unless you still find Balkanization of Iraq preferable to a unified Iraq now that there is relative peace and security in Iraq.

I do agree, however, that at least Biden was pushing for a new way forward way before the Bush administration realized its "Stay the Course" strategy was failing. Of course, McCain was pushing for a change in strategy just as long, and his was adopted, and largely worked.

Ultimately, both McCain and Biden had it right on Iraq ... they both supported the invasion, and both came down hard on Bush and Rumsfeld when it became clear that the administration had totally screwed up post-invasion.

It is well known in DE that Beau Biden failed the bar 4 times.

It's official: Barack Obama is a political moron.

Hillary supporter here. I cannot wait to vote for McCain!!! It makes me giddy just to think about it! And the more Obama supporters get mad at me, the more I want to vote for McCain!

BTW I would not care if Hillary herself showed up on my door, shook my hand, and offered me a new car to vote for Obama - I still wouldn't do it!

heheheh

Hillary supporter here. I cannot wait to vote for McCain!!! It makes me giddy just to think about it! And the more Obama supporters get mad at me, the more I want to vote for McCain!

BTW I would not care if Hillary herself showed up on my door, shook my hand, and offered me a new car to vote for Obama - I still wouldn't do it!

heheheh

Hillary supporter here. I cannot wait to vote for McCain!!! It makes me giddy just to think about it! And the more Obama supporters get mad at me, the more I want to vote for McCain!

BTW I would not care if Hillary herself showed up on my door, shook my hand, and offered me a new car to vote for Obama - I still wouldn't do it!

heheheh

97 - 99:

Of course you're a Hillary supporter. Only a Hillary-supporting Democrat would be stupid enough to post the same message three times.

Well there's one thing we know about both Obama and Biden: they both think they are smarter than normal Americans.

Hillary would have been a terrible pick. Biden's not great, but Hillary was never in the running for his VP.

56, I can't comment on deal work, which, by the way, seems to have dried up after 8 years of Bush. But I am pretty sure Democrats are much better for Big Law litigators. Big Law will be a lot less bigger if Republican judges keep up their pace of throwing plaintiffs out of court shutting down litigation.

I just got back from the spa. My facial guy -- gay democrat -- says he won't vote for BO because he believes Hillary can win in 4 years and he thinks BO is a big old faker. Won't it be interesting if 97 ends up being part of a larger group who aren't afraid of 4 years of McCain in order to get 8 of Hillary.

103 -- it is not as though those Republic judge's are leaving the bench in Jan 09. Specious litigation of the type supported by pro-plaintiff ABA trial lawyers ought to get thrown out.

How can any biglaw associate be a Democrat? If you want to help the poor, great, do it on your own dime. Vote Republican, give to a charity, take a deduction. Everyone is better off than if Obama gets to stick his hand in each of our wallets.

106, what do you call bailing out Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Bear Sterns et al. and mismanaging the economy so that your biglaw income is devalued to squat over the next few years? I call it a hand in my wallet. True financial conservative ideals I'm for, but that is not the same as Bush and his hacks running the government for the benefit of their big oil and bank buddies. OBAMA/BIDEN ALL THE WAY IN 08!

ATL: come for the assholes, stay for their mindless Fed Soc ranting.

97: As someone who voted for Nader in Florida in 2000, I feel competent to speak to this: Just ask yourself how you will feel when Michael McConnell and Edith Brown replace John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Antonin Scalia is the swing vote.

Edith Brown Clement, that is.

--109

109 is 100% correct. The court has balance now. A Barack presidency will only keep the status quo on the court. In a McCain presidency, Breyer, Souter, Kennedy, and Roberts will be the 4 most liberal members on the bench...

True dat to 107 and 109.

DUKE '12

WHATEVER IT TAKES!

there are a lot of hillary supporters who cant stand obama. For those obama supporters who cant stand hillary its no different - except obama will get the nom but i doubt he'll get more than 1/2 of hillary's votes - he's pissed off too many. And frankly, repubs ARE NOT voting for a far left radical. MCCAIN may be riding bush's conservative tail but its not hidden that real conservatives hate mccain because they know he's not a real conservative. BUt what choice do they have radical left or mccain? Most interesting presidential election in years - no foregone winners and i think its going to be a nail biter...of course either way we are still screwed - i just hope a viable candidate comes out for 2012.

Obama picked Biden over Clinton because Biden's much less likely to have him shot.

106 - because it's about more than your personal economy, stupid.

Centrist-Liberal white male, former Hillary supporter here. I understand why BO didn't pick Hillary - the personal animosity and the scary prospect of having a suddenly-chronically-angry Bill in the white house - but in terms of experience and judgment she's by far better than Biden.

Will probably still vote for Obama, but if McCain were to nominate a centrist VP and credibly move center he'd pick off a lot of us.

Centrist-Liberal white male, former Hillary supporter here. I understand why BO didn't pick Hillary - the personal animosity and the scary prospect of having a suddenly-chronically-angry Bill in the white house - but in terms of experience and judgment she's by far better than Biden.

Will probably still vote for Obama, but if McCain were to pick a centrist VP and credibly move center he'd pick off a lot of us.

114: The answer is a 40% turnout.

Evan Bayh would've been much better. Puts Indiana in play, doesn't underscore Obama's weaknesses and doesn't come with a barrage of negative on-air comments the republicans can use.

Can't wait for the VP debate where Biden has to explain if he still believes Obama is too inexperienced to be President.

116, why? What is it about in your mind?

Biden needs buy shirts that fit him and put on an undershirt. I don't want to see his saggy boobies.

Ending the insane war (and not starting any new ones), regaining a measure of respect in the international community, global warming, energy independence, social security, affordable health care...you name it. Basically all the things that McSame and his neocon buddies don't give a crap about.

Has there ever been a UPennState Philly grad running for president?

JoePa 2012!

Between Obama AND Biden, they have a whopping 0 days of real military experience. McCAIN is the REAL AMERICAN HERO. Dems are all talk, no action. Only McCAIN knows what it takes to fight The Enemy.

Last time McSame fought the enemy he got his ass shout out of the sky, then proceeded to make propaganda films for the enemy and after which he fought the enemy for five years within his cage.

Do we need more of McSame?

123=126=angry loser

123 & 126 = winner in November!

Obama/Biden 08/12

123, I do not think that BO is going to do all you say. I agree he will try to end the war in Iraq and does not have a predisposition to starting new ones. He might make some progress on international respect due to his propensity for diplomacy. But we are doomed if someone decides to test his mettle. As someone actively involved in climate change and energy, I can honestly say that BO is out of his league on energy and Biden does not help him. Both seem equally focused on SS and health care, but it will take a level of fiscal discipline and stones on behalf of every person in Congress that is very unlikely so neither will get much done. Plus, energy, SS and health will all be very expensive to fix, at least initially. I think it will be very hard for the economy to support 1 of these initiatives, let alone 3. In the meantime, I already pay six figures in taxes, and that is without all the nickle and diming like sales tax, phone and electric bill taxes, airplane taxes, etc. I really don't want to pay anymore. If I do, the first thing to go will be the charities that currently get money from me. If the government wants to take care of everyone that is fine. But then churches should stop passing baskets, employers should stop asking for United Way donations, NYC theaters should stop asking show attendees to pony up $500 after a play in order to support Broadway Cares, the Bar should stop asking for support Legal Services for the Elderly; Habitat for Humanity should stop asking me to swing a hammer. We can't have it both ways.

97 here. Posting three times ensures maximum comment visibility. So yeah.... dumb.... like a fox!!!!

97 here. Posting three times ensures maximum comment visibility. So yeah.... dumb.... like a fox!!!!