Quote of the Day     “Don’t let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesn’t go with it.”      –Colin Powell

TB has the idea that I can offer as good or better analysis than the talking heads on the issues of the day. Important issues, like how the wild card has affected Major League Baseball, whether Brittany got her body back without drugs, and whether the new Iphone 3g justifies the hype (it does).  Today, I weigh in on Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential running mate.

First and foremost, I enthusiastically endorse the choice.  Biden brings gravitas.  He offers experience.  He’s an old white dude.  He lends credibility to the ticket, even to some Republicans.  I was a bit surprised by the positive comments released by Dick Lugar and Arlen Specter, and a bit less by the endorsement of Chuck Hagel.  In a fight, Biden is more of a street brawler to Obama’s penchant for fencing.  As all of the TV analysts keep repeating, he brings great foreign policy credentials to the ticket which is perhaps Obama’s most vulnerable area on genuine issues.  On the whole I think he is good for Obama from an electability standpoint, but more importantly, from the standpoint of providing good counsel in the Oval Office.  

There are a few other reasons I think this choice was so shrewd and I daresay you’ll not get this from other sources.  First, Biden will be in his mid seventies by the time a new Democratic nominee is needed (assuming an Obama win this November).  At that age, there’s a good chance he won’t decide to seek the top job and this possibility may be enough to mollify Hillary Clinton and her puma supporters that she’ll get another chance (though she won’t).  Second, an Obama-Biden win will get Biden out of the Senate where he does much good work but does a lot of damage in his zeal to protect credit card companies and other corporations domiciled in Delaware.  With Biden gone, maybe we can finally get some sensible legislation passed to restrict the use of the Federal Arbitration Act and to increase consumer protection with regard to credit cards. Finally, if the Obama campaign fails, there will be no stigma attached to a candidate who would otherwise have a legitimate shot to win in 2012 such as Evan Bayh.

It sounds like McCain will choose Mitt Romney.  Check back with TB no matter who he chooses for a couple of nickels’ worth of analysis.