home

What's Holding the Announcement Up?

I've been offline running around doing convention things all day and all they say on TV is "any moment now." What's the hold-up?

And, it may or may not be Joe Biden. There are other serious contenders and until it's announced, keep in mind that everything you are reading is opinion only.

< Friday Night News Dump Open Thread | Twenty-Twenty-Twenty Four Hours To Go Open Thread >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Jeralyn (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by cmugirl on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:37:31 PM EST
    If it's Biden, do you need us to send you anything?  Kleenex, chocolate, Xanax?

    Chocolate Ice Cream (Or Flavor Of Choice) (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:47:00 PM EST
    Whenever I feel sad, a scoop of Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice-cream, with a dollop of kahlua cream, does it for me. (Lord knows I did that when Hillary suspended her campaign)

    Or, I usually go for a run -- about 20-30 mins -- when I've got a lot of frustrations or anger on my mind

    Ice-cream and running. Those are my suggestions.

    Parent

    Ah (none / 0) (#16)
    by cmugirl on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:49:10 PM EST
    Chocolate ice cream - A man after my own heart!  (Maybe you could "run" to get ice cream!)

    Parent
    LOL. Good thing... (none / 0) (#24)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:57:42 PM EST
    the nearest Trader Joe's or Whole Foods are several blocks away. Makes it much easier to run there and run back with the ice-cream.

    Parent
    and (none / 0) (#43)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:35:47 PM EST
    Ben & Jerry's "Cake Batter" is evil.  Sinfully, deliciously, obsessively evil.

    There must be a Support Group somewhere, yes?

    :-)

    Parent

    Support group... (none / 0) (#47)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:43:08 PM EST
    for B&J's Cake Batter fans? Probably not.

    But, for those who self-medicate/console with ice-cream? I could start one. We will talk it out over tubs of ice-cream, and then we'll go for a 20-30 minute run ;)

    Parent

    ah (none / 0) (#54)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:52:00 PM EST
    I have a home gym with an elliptical machine, a treadmill and a variety of balance balls and weights (with a wonderful trainer who visits three times a week), so my daily torture routine is quite complete.

    heh

    Parent

    I apologize in advance, then (none / 0) (#61)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 06:34:23 PM EST
    It's surprisingly good.  Just think of those times Mom was making a yellow cake with chocolate frosting and you dipped your finger in the bowl or licked the spoon when she wasn't looking.

    Also think of Homer's face when you mention the word "doughnut" and you'll get an idea of how I'm feeling right now just writing about it.

    I hope you enjoy it.

    (and, yes, I have some in my freezer right now)

    :-)

    Parent

    Ben & Jerry's "Half-Baked" (none / 0) (#58)
    by stxabuela on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 06:20:00 PM EST
    is Teh Awesome!  I'm hypoglycemic, so I can only have a couple of bites--but I'd eat a whole pint by myself, if I could.

    Parent
    smelling salts! (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:25:53 PM EST
    Just kidding, but not by much.

    Parent
    It could be that.... (5.00 / 5) (#5)
    by p lukasiak on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:38:49 PM EST
    ...when Biden's family arrived, they decided to stage an intervention... ;)

    Funny. Would make a great video. (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by oculus on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:41:40 PM EST
    Biden's from Scranton, so. . . (none / 0) (#14)
    by andgarden on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:47:52 PM EST
    Obama's VP announcement has been delayed (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by Josey on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:57:53 PM EST
    to capitalize on McCain's house gaffe. And the media is playing along. Not one word about Michelle's role as hospital official, directing contracts to minorities, including a big Obama donor.
    Shhh....

    From the National Review (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Upstart Crow on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 06:21:54 PM EST
    Grass Roots for Barack   [Byron York]

    Hey! Guess what? I just got my email from Barack!

    But it wasn't about that. Instead, the Obama campaign wants to remind me that -- guess what -- John McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns. From campaign manager David Plouffe:

        If somebody asked you, you probably wouldn't have to think about it.

        But when a reporter asked John McCain how many houses he owns, he stumbled and said, "I think -- I'll have my staff get to you."

        If you're like the millions of people who are struggling to keep up with their mortgage, you might have a different perspective.

        Not only does John McCain have trouble keeping track of all his houses, he looks at record gas prices and a crippling foreclosure crisis and thinks the economy is fundamentally "strong." And last weekend he said anyone making less than $5 million a year isn't rich.

        This is the side of John McCain his campaign wants to hide.

        So yesterday, we launched a TV ad to show everyone how out-of-touch John McCain is with the economic realities of regular Americans.

        But if we're going to get the truth out, it's going to take all of us working together to make it happen.

        Watch the ad and write a letter to your local newspaper exposing the real John McCain:

    But what if I'm no good at writing letters to my local newspaper? Well, just click here:

        Our online tool will help you reach out to your local community and share your views with your friends and neighbors. To begin, just enter your zip code in the box above -- then click Participate. We'll provide you with talking points on how out-of-touch McCain is to help you write your letter and guide you through the process.

    And guess what? They're really helpful. Just look at these talking points:

        John McCain defines rich as making $5 million or more. By McCain's logic, you're middle class if you're making $3 million per year. Do you think that's middle class?

        John McCain thinks "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." For who? With the mortgage crisis taking people's houses and gas prices rising, just who is McCain talking about?

    Now, the campaign advises you to "use your own words" in writing these letters to the editor. But with such great talking points, don't you think some of them might show up in this latest expression of true grass-roots enthusiasm for Obama?

    Parent

    George Obama, Barack's Half-Brother (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:02:17 PM EST
    CNN's reporting on him now. He does look like Barack; they had the same father. He definitely doesn't live in a million-dollar home though, or commute in a jet with his name on it.

    HEADS-UP TO ALL: Hillary's coming up on CNN; she's responding to the suggestions in that trashy hit-piece in the New York Times today.

    What's Holding the Announcement Up? (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:02:58 PM EST
    they are waiting for the planets to align.


    waiting for the light (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by DandyTIger on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:08:26 PM EST
    to come down from above. :-)

    Parent
    Mark L (5.00 / 0) (#39)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:28:53 PM EST
    I deleted your insulting comment to Obama. Watch it, please.

    Who watches cable news (besides us) (none / 0) (#53)
    by catfish on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:50:44 PM EST
    I really hope it's only people who know cable news is a joke.

    Parent
    TL or OCD (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by txpolitico67 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:40:59 PM EST
    Come on now!  You guys are feeding this CRAZY narrative.

    Let's have an open thread on WHY ink for printers is SOOO high?  I have NEVER got that.  $50 for an ink cartridge??  

    OR let's talk about how gas is going down (all of a sudden).  Is it to make the republicans look good?

    No more VP talk.  I think we are feeding the Obama campaign with all this.  Makes me think of that everyone is developing a compact set of neuroses over all this.

    I am ordering Domino's and having cocktails!!

    seriously (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:47:13 PM EST
    these Waiting Threads are some of the funniest on TalkLeft I've seen in quite a while.  People are letting loose and showing their sense of humor and it's fantastic!

    Great way to blow off steam, bond, commiserate and, quite simply, get a good laugh.

    And, yes, the gas prices going down IS a ploy to help the Republicans as we move from Summer into Fall.  I anticipated it happening months ago.  But I thought it would come only after McCain made a public plea on behalf of Everyday Americans -- perhaps even surrounded by some when he said it -- for the oil companies to do it.

    Although there still IS the Republican Convention and, who knows?, it could happen there.

    Parent

    try Keith at 10 for a genuine nonpartisan hoot. He (none / 0) (#64)
    by Christy1947 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 08:44:40 PM EST
    has also gone around a strange and wonderful bend, with a long bit about the truly goofy MSM stakeout of all possible vp candidates, pizza deliveries, youghurt mixing, and a ditsy take on the McC house story blended in to all the staked out entrances on all the staked out houses. Look at it for the absurdity of MSM and the house story and just lean back and roar freely at the shameless stupidity of it all. i haven't had such a free laugh on any political subject since. .  a very long time. A moment of freedom. We can fight again tomorrow but there's a laugh out there waiting for you, in a place you don't usually find it. forget the text. warm up the chuckle.

    Parent
    Frankly This is Getting Weird (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by WakeLtd on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 06:00:06 PM EST
    Just announce it already! This is getting to be like some "trendy" marketing roll-out of a new game-player, or the last Harry Potter book. You know,  the stores open at midnight, and the fans camp out in the mall  parking-lot.

    My guess... (none / 0) (#1)
    by p lukasiak on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:36:12 PM EST
    ...is that their mass text messaging program ran into a glitch.

    lol, they broke the cell network n/t (none / 0) (#4)
    by DandyTIger on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:37:51 PM EST
    That Would Be Hilarious (none / 0) (#34)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:08:00 PM EST
    After all the drum-beating to this "much-anticipated moment," they realize that they cannot roll out their message as widely and quickly as they imagined. Talk about anti-climactic; a premature ejaculation, if you will.

    Parent
    I think you're right (none / 0) (#40)
    by tnjen on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:29:26 PM EST
    ..seriously. CNN's King was talking about how an aide was saying stuff about different ways of getting it out or even breaking it up by time zone. They've broken it and now they're trying to figure out how to fix it. Our text messaging/cellphone infrastructure isn't designed for such a giant burst of data at once so it really wouldn't surprise me if they didn't screw it up.

    Parent
    apparently all top people on the list (none / 0) (#2)
    by DandyTIger on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:37:26 PM EST
    have been told. Not picked notified. Picked notified and accepted. And no surprise, no one bothered to say anything to Hillary one way or the other. I'd still call this rumor, but it sounds about right.

    Jeralyn (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:40:35 PM EST
    have you got your post ready about Biden? Or are you hoping against hope that it won't happen and gonna deal with it when it's announced?

    I'll say one thing for the Obama campaign. It has produced good comedy lately.

    The Media, GOP Rapid-Response Are Ready (none / 0) (#19)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:51:56 PM EST
    I've heard that various media outlets and the GOP/McCain campaign rapid-response teams are ready for all possible picks.

    They have video packages, write-ups and graphics ready the moment the announcement is made.

    Sort of like how they have obituaries prep'd and ready to go for very famous celebs, politicians and all presidents.

    Parent

    You know they're going to be playing the (none / 0) (#20)
    by MarkL on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:53:40 PM EST
    "articulate and clean" comment if it's Biden.
    What a let down that will be!
    I'm sticking with my prediction of Bayh.

    Parent
    no post ready on Biden (none / 0) (#38)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:27:02 PM EST
    I'll want to give it serious consideration.

    Parent
    Can someone fill me in? (none / 0) (#8)
    by MarkL on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:43:02 PM EST
    Is there a definite time for the announcement scheduled?

    According to Obama (5.00 / 6) (#11)
    by Chisoxy on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:46:09 PM EST
    it's "wouldnt you like to know". Not sure if that's EST or Central.

    Parent
    I think I'll have an "old-fashioned" (none / 0) (#13)
    by MarkL on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:47:23 PM EST
    to celebrate the hope and change VP selection.

    Parent
    well, if it doesn't happen ... (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by p lukasiak on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:50:02 PM EST
    ...before 7PM eastern (when the network news ends on the east coast), they'll probably wait to announce it at the rally scheduled for noon in springfield tomorrow.

    ...the best part will be trying to figure out which Biden family member has the biggest hangover at tomorrow's photo-op....

    Parent

    Heard Jessica Yellen(?) report this (none / 0) (#49)
    by zfran on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:43:42 PM EST
    evening that the reasons the campaign is waiting is to first keep the momentum going towards the convention on Monday, and that america's attention span is not long and if they had announced earlier in the week, they may have already lost interest, and third, so that there wouldn't be alot of time for the networks to go over negatives of his nominee going into the convention!!! Take that for what it's worth, but that's what she reported about an hour or so ago.

    Parent
    no definite time (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by mary kate on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:50:24 PM EST
    has been given.  No advance warning has been issued.  Like a thief in the night will come the text message announcing the day of our Vice-Chosen One.

    I suspect they're not going to spill until tomorrow.

    Parent

    now THAT'S (none / 0) (#44)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:38:23 PM EST
    a laugh out loud comment!

    As long as there aren't any elves involved, we're good.  Those pesky buggers always gave me the creeps.

    (shiver)

    Parent

    Joe Biden was hung by the chimney with care (none / 0) (#63)
    by lilburro on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 06:47:29 PM EST
    hoping Obama would soon be there...

    Parent
    It's like the Rapture (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by ap in avl on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:57:47 PM EST
    It will happen in the "twinkling of an eye".  

    The Far Christian Right understands this.  Maybe Obama's still trying to win them over.

    BTW, that crap used to scare the Jeebus out of me when I was a kid.

    Parent

    nope n/t (none / 0) (#9)
    by DandyTIger on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:46:06 PM EST
    Wear out people (none / 0) (#10)
    by waldenpond on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:46:07 PM EST
    Well, at least this will serve to wear out any hoping it might be Clinton... is she? could she be?  it might be.. yippee!  oh it couldn't be?  it's not?  oh well, life goes on.

    Clenched jaws, angry keyboarding, all that drinking.... the info will be a great release when it's heard (if it's heard as it is the weekend and people have better things to do)  We're going riding. :)

    Another question: which is the (none / 0) (#15)
    by MarkL on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:48:25 PM EST
    best waiting thread today? I just got online, and don't know where to start! I can tell people are really, really excited to hear the news!

    Try the first one (none / 0) (#23)
    by chrisvee on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:57:31 PM EST
    I think that's where the Blob for VP discussion was.

    Parent
    Maybe the Dem leaders (none / 0) (#21)
    by eleanora on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:54:11 PM EST
    are panicking over the polls and desperately trying to get him to offer it to Hillary after all? That's all I can figure, otherwise this just seems like an extended reality-show build up...

    "Who will the next Apprentice be? Find out when we come back [zoom in on Donald Trump's face and pointy hand], "You're hired!"

    you bet the Dem Leaders (none / 0) (#51)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:49:27 PM EST
    are panicking, but perhaps enough SDs have moved from Obama to Hillary and they're trying to stave off a full-fledged revolt to have him accept VP and make her the Nominee?

    Hey!  Anything could happen.  (but probably not that)

    Oh well.

    Parent

    I actually feel sick (none / 0) (#22)
    by Lil on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:56:09 PM EST
    I have this funny fantasy that Obama et. al. are sitting around having drinks and having a good old time, while the country is on pins and needles. Doesn't make me like him very much.

    On pins and needles without healthcare (none / 0) (#55)
    by catfish on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:58:37 PM EST
    and watching their neighborhood getting foreclosed upon. There is something sickening to this - along with special plane and presidential seal.

    He could use this extra attention to highlight economic issues.

    Parent

    WPVI (none / 0) (#33)
    by chrisvee on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:03:31 PM EST
    in Philly did a segment on Biden and claimed he was 'in seclusion' today and that 'says a lot'.  They also claimed an 'air of anticipation.'

    CNN.com Live (none / 0) (#36)
    by lansing quaker on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:09:34 PM EST
    I'm obsessed with it because Reggie Aqui is my future-ex husband... you know, once marriage for me is legal in my State.

    But anygay, there's now a lot of roaming activity in front of Biden's house.  Heh.  But maybe reporters are just bored.

    I don't know why I keep it on.  It's grotesquely fascinating.  

    I Was Watching That Too (none / 0) (#41)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:33:12 PM EST
    After a while, I kinda felt really weird, looking at this brick house so intently. ... And hopefully, a future President Obama will fight for your right to marry whoever you choose (as all Democrats should) -- Mr. Aqui included. =)

    Parent
    They're holding it up (none / 0) (#42)
    by scribe on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:34:00 PM EST
    to further twist BTD's knickers.  He's been all bent out of shape with an "are we there yet?" thing going on all afternoon, and I think Camp Obama knows this and is stringing it out just to make BTD suffer.

    Seriously, I think they are milking both the media anticipation and the "don't know how many houses" for all its worth, and using the "Delay" to keep the press talking.

    And talking.

    And talking.

    Me, I'm more concerned about a US airstrike killing over 76 civilians, including about 50 kids, in Herat province, Afghanistan.  Of course, you won't find it on any of the happy news channels in the US - I heard about it on German radio about 11 this morning.

    Coalition forces bombarded the Azizabad area of Shindand district in Herat province on Friday afternoon, the ministry said. Nineteen of the victims were women, seven of them men and the rest children under the age of 15, it said.

    But, according to the military, none of those dead were civilians....

    Riiiight.

    Jeralyn: Here's An Idea For A Future Posting (none / 0) (#45)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:38:57 PM EST
    Courtesy of CNN/Wolf Blitzer

    • Would a future Obama Administration/White House be a very secretive one, considering how they're now stringing everyone and the media along; and behaving very coy with smart-alecky responses to queries.

    • On a side note, I'm now realizing why I've been able to watch The Situation Room today without the urge to drive a steak knife through my eyes and ears. Jack Cafferty isn't there to babble and whine away, or slime Bill or Hillary.


    Not a good thing to anger the press............... (none / 0) (#67)
    by SueBonnetSue on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 10:01:15 PM EST
    Without their continued adoration of Obama, he could be in trouble.

    Parent
    after all this waiting (none / 0) (#48)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 05:43:39 PM EST
    and "suspense" (irritation perhaps?), if it isn't someone worthy of all the build up, what are the chances of the Media turning on Obama and letting him have it for wasting their time?

    I've heard that they're already getting fed up with his inaccessibility to the Press and, after this, one wonders how they may end up responding.

    It may not be the way Obama and his campaign's flow charts and graphs anticipate.

    Just a thought.

    yep (none / 0) (#65)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 09:53:12 PM EST
    before we found out it was biden, they were talking about how this could all blow up in his face if he picked someone safe like Biden.

    Parent
    I wonder if their thinking... (none / 0) (#57)
    by Jerrymcl89 on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 06:01:38 PM EST
    ... is to break into the Olymics with the announcement? I guess that would catch more eyeballs.

    and perhaps (none / 0) (#62)
    by ccpup on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 06:38:09 PM EST
    piss more than a few people off?

    If nearly half of the people in that now infamous Pew Poll from a couple of weeks ago are sick of Obama, interrupting their Olympic Coverage after a long week at work for him to introduce his VP Pick ain't gonna help matters.

    And, besides, can his ego really be that big?

    Wait, don't answer that.

    :-)

    Parent

    The reason for the delay is simple (none / 0) (#66)
    by SueBonnetSue on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 09:59:01 PM EST
    The longer Obama waits the more cell phone numbers and email addresses come into the campaign.  The longer he waits, the more contact numbers/email addresses he gets.  

    It's the same reason he moved his acceptance speech to the stadium, he gets more people's contact information AND more volunteers for his campaign.  

    I'm sorry, but his campaign is being run by amateurs.  They sure aren't the old "War Room".  They're fussing about who is the richest candidate for President, (let's face it, most candidates for President are rich) while voters are turned off by these silly teases and delays.