But politics is politics - and memories are convenient.  

Obama may be willing to overlook things like Biden's treatment of Anita Hill, but I'm not.

This is looking more like my original conclusion everyday.  The Old Dinosaurs in the Dem Party draft Obama to run and then put one of their own on the ticket with him so they can rule behind the scenes and avoid a Clinton presidency that they feel would diminish their power.  It's Bush/Cheney all over again.  

To others, quite possibly to some in the media--the base who they can ill-afford to alienate, it seemed coy and Obama was too cute by half ("that's all you're getting" *grin*). And I don't know about others, but I don't much like for anyone to call me at 3 a.m.. Hillary can handle those 3 a.m. calls, but not I.  And while we may have doubts about Obama's ability to field them, we know now that he can make 3 a.m. calls.

I just can't see him bringing in the votes of folks who are uncertain about Senator Obama. I also think that the rollout for this was horrible on so many levels.

For one, they allowed people to speculate that Senator Clinton had a shot and then leak that she wasn't even vetted. Why not make that crystal clear weeks ago?

Secondly, why use technology that is meant to get the kids all excited to communicate one of the most conventional candidates possible? I feel like I just received an e-mail letting me know my 8-track is available for pick up.

Thirdly, they let this drama play on for too long. I was actually impressed that the Obama camp was able to do this dance for as long as they did, but they over played their hand and the media let the cat out of the bag. Frankly, they should have broken this by Wednesday of this week at the latest.

Think what you want about Biden, and I think that given Obama's stubborn and wrongheaded unwillingness to pick Hillary Clinton and put a lock on the election, Biden was the best choice politically that Obama was willing to make

While it was the best choice politically --- basically, for the history books, when Americans look back at this historical election campaign 30-50 years from now --- picking Joe Biden will not guarantee him a win in November, like Hillary would have.

I also do not think this roll-out "was the best veep roll-out EVER," especially considering that a majority of people have said they received the message at the unearthly hour of 3AM in the morning.

To me, as a staunch supporter of Hillary, the DIG is plain to see at her. (the 3AM ad)

PLUS the fact that Hillary:

• was not even vetted or allowed to make a case to his selection committee;
  
• or Bill, two of the most notable figures in the party, were not consulted on the picking process;
  
• was not personally told by Barack Obama himself that she would not be picked;

The fact that Hillary (and Bill) are actually going to HIS convention to raise him up as the 'best choice for President' is also stomach-turning, in light of these recent developments.

In fact, it was just yesterday, that despite that trashy and shameful hit-piece against her in the New York Times, Hillary still said she would do everything she can to get him elected.

Barack Obama should be ashamed of himself, seeing his recent behavior and lack of initiative/judgment.

The mid-week gaffe by McCain about his many mansions, while it probably delayed the announcement, helps too since the WWC, poorest member of the senate Biden can be favorably compared to the out of touch elitist McCain.  Double those economic royalist points if Mac does indeed go with Multiple Choice Mitt for his VP.

More likely, the Obama team was fine-tuning the technical side of the release for such a long time (for no really good reason) that the traditional media finally got tired of being jerked around and ran with what they had at midnight.  Once the Obama team realized they weren't in control of the information anymore, they sent out the text message.

The text message ploy was not a bad idea, but the Obama folks dropped the ball on it in a very public manner.  No runs, no hit, one big error.

what makes you think that Obama had chosen Biden by Monday.

This looks more like a gigantic cluster** to me.   The campaign had settled on Kaine (or Bayh...but probably Kaine) because he was the best candidate to reinforce the themes of the campaign ('change' -- specifically running against the "same old Washington politics") while providing an electoral college advantage.  

But then the impact of the Paris/Britney ad 9and controversy) started showing up in the internal (and then externam) polling -- and showed that Obama had huge problems -- and that Kaine only exacerbated those problems.   So the campaign went looking for a VP candidate who could "re-assure" voters.  

Hillary was the obvious choice, but either because of internal opposition, and/or reluctance/demands from Clinton, no agreement was reached.  It was getting late, and Biden was probably the best person who was "reassuring" enough and willing to be the VP.  

Kos obviously wrote that post just before Bayh was told it wasn't him and the cat ran out of the bag.  That is some bad timing.  I mean - brilliant timing.

personally, based on his past few months of posts, i'm leaning towards option two: he's just really, really stupid. unfortunately, as ron white has noted, you can't fix stupid.

obama's choice of biden is, at best, underwhelming. hence, the need to announce it in as stealthy a way as possible, in the (ultimately) futile hope that no one will notice, until the convention, when it will be too late to nominate clinton for president.

As bad as Kerry's big midnight speech.

• on a Friday night
  
• before Biden was 'officially' announced as the pick

Biden's got a colorful and tainted history, which will all come to surface in the coming week(s). He's made lousy decisions, said horrible things, and made ludicrous claims in all his 35 years of 'experience.'

Wait till the GOP, McCain campaign and 527 groups rev up their engines and really dig into their archives and crank up their advertising bureaus. Now they know their target.

And they've already hit the ground running.

Given that, the timing was for one reason only: to allow the McCain campaign virtually no time to start its oppo ads before the big Springfield event. That's the only reason for the way it unfolded. And since we see an ad is now already up, the last thing Obama could have was a week's worth of negative ads against Biden before the convention.

In this sense, the orchestration was masterful.

Seems like the Obama campaign can't handle a simple press conference.

After this long, game-show style 'reveal' build up, how to make the announcement and get some good publicity?  Schedule a press conference for 3pm, with you and your new best buddy veep pick.  Just before said presser, sent out the long awaited test message.  Then step in front of microphones saying what a fine person you are about to introduce and how well you will work together.  And then, let the veep choice speak.  Sit back and watch the Friday news cycle bloom out your message.

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