Barack Obama's Selection of Joe Biden as His Running Mate

Barack Obama has picked Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. I think it was a good choice, although it shows that all this "change we can believe in" and "we are the ones we've been waiting for" stuff was basically a lot of hooey. Joe Biden has been in the US Senate since Obama was ten years old!

The other finalists were Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. If Obama really took his slogans seriously, he would have picked Kaine, who seems to be the closest to Obama in terms of his political philosophy, but, also like Obama, doesn't have a whole lot of experience. (You can read more about him here.) Obama could have announced at the same time that he would want Biden to be his Secretary of State. Of course the strongest candidate would be Hillary Clinton, but then the ticket would get kind of crowded, with Bill Clinton on it too.

In a somewhat lighter vein, I received an e-mail message today from Barack Obama. Here are a few excerpts:

'The Democratic convention starts today, and my new running mate Joe Biden and I recorded a message about what we all need to do next. ... I'd like you to watch this special message -- and I have a request. We have our team, and this week the eyes of the entire country will be on our movement. Now is the time to take the next step and own a piece of this campaign. Watch our video message and make a donation of $5 or more today: ..."

I made a donation (not my first!) and I watched the video. It bore a strong resemblance to a sales-pitch from a couple of used-car salesmen, or perhaps a skit on Saturday Night Live.
And what about Obama calling Biden his "new running mate"? If that is the case, then who was the old one? Michelle? Hillary? When a man is on his first wife, he usually introduces her as "my wife," not "my new wife". Sometimes even if she's not his first one. I believe in "change" but not in changing the meaning of phrases.

Come to think of it, the Democratic ticket's first joint appearance in Springfield, Illinois, did bear a resemblance to a wedding:

Something old (Biden)

Something new (Obama)

Something borrowed (the old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, where the rally was held.)

and

Something blue (the State of Illinois).

Well, "new" running mate or not, Biden and Obama are off and running!