Biden Trip to Georgia Stokes VP Chatter (WaPo)

[jefferson_dem]

Biden Trip to Georgia Stokes VP Chatter

By Shailagh Murray
RENO, Nev. -- The Barack Obama vice-presidential sweepstakes has entered its breathless final phase.

Word is the presumptive Democratic nominee hasn't placed final phone calls to any of the top contenders and the notoriously tight-lipped campaign won't discuss who is on Obama's short list, or drop any hints as to when the big news might hit.

So it may or may not be a coincidence that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, two presumed top prospects, appeared on Sunday news programs this morning. Further stoking the Kaine flame, Obama is scheduled to campaign in Virginia on Thursday.

But the most curious recent development was Sen. Joseph Biden Jr.'s trip to Georgia this weekend. Obama campaign officials said the fact-finding mission wasn't their idea, but they did confirm discussing it in advance with Biden's office.

As of late last week, the Delaware senator was set to spend the weekend at home with his family. His senior foreign policy aide, Tony Blinken, left for Hawaii on vacation. But then on Saturday morning, Biden's office announced the senator was headed for Tbilisi.

According to Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander, Biden spoke to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday, and on Wednesday, the Georgian embassy conveyed to the Foreign Relations chairman that Saakashvili wanted Biden to come as soon as possible, as the former Soviet republic sought a ceasefire with Russia.

<SNIP>

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/17/biden_trip_to_georgia_stokes_v.html

[nsd]

1. It sure does look like Biden.

Until today I thought Bayh was more likely, but now it clearly seems like Biden is the guy.

He returns from Georgia on Monday. He has a couple of days to get over jet lag. They make the formal announcement Thursday morning.

[saltpoint]

2. If I'm the leader of a nation under strife and Joe Biden walks into my

office, I plan to listen to what he has to say, as opposed to Condoleezza Rice walking into my office, about whom I could care less based on her abysmal track record to date.

I just bet this visit by Biden is stoking veep chatter.

I think it's extremely warranted, too.

How refreshing to have an ADULT representing us abroad.

[Muttocracy]

3. Whoever Obama picks for VP and Sec of State and Defense,

They're going to have to be cleanup crew on top of diplomats.

If Russia actually does pull back from Georgia early this week, I say we take all the credit - see, send Condi and have McCain and Bush giving speeches, and stuff gets worse. We send a Democrat over to Georgia and things settle down. :D

[gateley]

8. I like that! The Repubs stoked the fire, the Dems put it out! Good one, JIOOU! nt

[DesertFlower]

4. if he's not VP,

i hope he'll be secretary of state.

[Tutonic]

5. Sorry to go off topic--but can you impagine how McCain will react

if Biden is the VP?! And Bush asked him to go to Georgia? How does McCain explain that?

[gateley]

9. Bush didn't ask Biden to go to Georgia -- it was

the President of Georgia who asked Biden to come.

And I think if Biden is VP, the Reps will be nervous.

[PatSeg]

46. I hope so

Anything that makes republicans nervous, makes me very happy.

Just ask Rudy!!!

[wisteria]

6. Explain to me why Biden is such a great choice? Besides his foreign policy experience

what does he offer? He wasted time talking about his Princeton days when he was suppose to be doing a serious job questioning Alito. Oh, and wearing the ball cap during the questioning was a nice touch. And, he voted with the credit card companies and his vote helped pass the bankruptcy bill that has hurt many middle and lower income Americans.And, his candidacy really didn't stir up much enthusiasm for him.

[saltpoint]

7. wisteria. I love ya tons but you're dramatically short-changing Joe

Biden here, IMO.

Let me ask who you want instead.

[wisteria]

18. You are correct that I obviously don't care for Biden, but as to other choices none

stike me as negatively as Biden. He certainly does not represent a progressive ticket.
Oh, and I luv you a bunch too.

[Think82]

22. Violence Against Women Act, Bosnia, Iraq federalism, AIDS, environmental legislation,Crime bill

Biden has been the author or main player in a lot of positive legislation over 35 years. He knows how to get things done. He also kept Bork off the Supreme Court when he was Chairman of the judiciary Committee. He was prescient about Pakistan, and the Georgia/Russia conflict. He reassures voters worried about Obama's experience and judgment. He's a great attack dog.

He also votes with Barack 94% of the time.

Anything else?

[wordpix]

23. I like Biden and agree with your points, too.

[wisteria]

28. All well and good, but he isn't the only Democrat to have accomplished things and been right on

issues. And, it is speculative that he can reassure voters worried about Obama's experience. His mouth and his self promoting ways may worry Democrats and give ammunition the the Republicans. Hey, I wouldn't mind having a beer with the guy, but I don't care for him as VP. Of course it is not our decision to make, Senator Obama will chose who he will.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

24. He had a big brain operation in 1988. Is then when he was wearing a baseball cap?

Arlen Specter wore a cap after his brain surgery. Maybe Joe did too.

Of course he also probably wore a cap when he got hair-plugs, so maybe it was then.

[wisteria]

29. No, this was during the Alito hearings. He was showing off with his cap on. n/t

[Muttocracy]

39. Biden didn't go to Princeton - weren't the questions about a group Alito was in there?

and the next day Biden was apologizing to clarify he wasn't anti-Princeton or something.

I agree it was a dumb thing to do.

[jwirr]

10. Which committee is Biden on? He could legitimately be going for

that reason.

[Muttocracy]

13. yes, pres of Georgia invited him as chair of Sen. Foreign Relations Cmte

He's also senior Dem. and former chair of Judiciary (before he chaired SFRC).

[Think82]

14. He is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

[gateley]

11. Did you guys catch this statement:

"Word is the presumptive Democratic nominee hasn't placed final phone calls to any of the top contenders..."

Yikes! I assumed they already knew what was going on! Nothing like springing it on someone the last minute!

[wordpix]

21. "Nothing like springing it on someone the last minute!" I think Obama probably doesn't know who yet

either. He will probably decide at the convention.

[PatSeg]

47. I don't know about that

I think it has already been confirmed. I think that is just to add to the unbearable suspense.

[peoli]

12. "but they did confirm discussing it in advance with Biden's office."

That's it.

[gateley]

15. Could be. Or...

Maybe Biden just wouldn't have done it if Obama felt it would have reflected poorly on him somehow (although I don't quite know what I mean by that.)

[Muttocracy]

16. it's possible Biden just doesn't want to step on Obama's toes or interfere

with the campaign in any way. VP or not, the last thing Biden wants is a president McCain.

[arewenotdemo]

20. yep

[saltpoint]

17. I love the angles this thread is considering. Great post, jefferson_dem.

One thought is Condi. I wonder what she thinks of Biden's being tapped for this trip?

[Muttocracy]

38. Condi is probably just counting down the days to her peaceful retirement

at some think tank or shoe outlet mall or whatever. She's probably glad she's not there the same time as Biden.

[Barack_America]

19. Or it could mean that he's the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Oh wait, he IS!

Obama can't choose his VP soon enough!

[unfaithful_servant]

25. Oh please

Are you telling me all those Georgians are going to switch to voting for the Dem because a Washington insider cracker is visiting their state?

What a colossal waste of time and DNC funds. Someone needs to show me the evidence that proves rejecting women voters and sending Biden to Georgia is going to put a Dem in the WH.

This is beginning to look like a nightmare amateur hour. No wonder corporate sponsors are jumping on board. They realize their money will be helping push Dems into the electoral abyss for years to come.

Someone tell me my party hasn't lost its collective mind.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

26. This is a beautiful post.

I don't know if it's a goof, a troll-post, a parody, sincere, or what.

But it's haunting in its verve... really selling the bit.

[PBS Poll-435]

27. Wow....I totally agree.

It is actually kind of haunting.

It really needs to be preserved and shown in a museum exhibit.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

32. Savor it while you have the chance

unfaithful_servant will be gone in a few minutes. (Is currently holding court in another thread about how Obama's only in it for the money.)

[Eurobabe]

40. I smell pizza with extra toppings.

yummy.

[PBS Poll-435]

44. Delivered

And in under 30 minutes :D

[Eurobabe]

45. yeah MODZ!!!

[TwilightGardener]

31. Best unintentionally funny post EVAHHH!!!

[dansolo]

30. Wouldn't this be more likely a hint towards Sec. of State?

I don't recall Vice-Presidents typically engaging in foreign policy.

[flamingdem]

33. Biden should be a good mcshredder nt

[flamingdem]

34. Wait, wait, wait, I do not believe the nominee is not informed at this late date!

Why would they leave it to the last minute when the nominee has to prepare?

quote:
Word is the presumptive Democratic nominee hasn't placed final phone calls to any of the top contenders

[gateley]

35. I posted the same thing upthread -- Yikes! nt

[flamingdem]

36. I think we're right! Obama's campaign is organized, not last minute imo nt

[gateley]

37. I've been wondering if the Georgia situation is making him

shuffle his priorities around -- focusing more on Biden, Clark, Richardson, than maybe he would have otherwise. Though they're organized, this might have thrown a wrench in the works. So that statement may be accurate. But tempus fugit! Gotta bite the bullet and get on with it then move forward with the decision.

[flamingdem]

41. I'm guessing that Georgia will be a non-issue by November... who knows? nt

[gateley]

42. Could be -- but as you say, who knows?

There's plenty of other dicey situations around the globe, too. What's going to happen in Pakistan now that Musharraf has stepped down, for example?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

43. Why doesn't Tony Blinken go to Myrtle Beach instead!

:grr: