I Thought That Made Him Rich?    Jonah Goldberg [The Corner]

Ryan Lizza has a profile of Joe Biden in the New Yorker. Frankly, I barely  finished it. Normally, I think Lizza’s worth reading, but everything Biden tells Lizza in the one-on-one interview seemed like things I’d heard him say on C-Span a million times. I did, however find this bit amusing:

Biden happens to be one of the least wealthy members of the Senate, although his family’s joint income was more than three hundred thousand dollars last year. (His wife, Jill, has a Ph.D. in education and teaches at Delaware Technical & Community College.) His relatively straightforward tax returns and uncomplicated financial situation made the process easier. “All these years and you still have no money,” Obama said to Biden, teasingly.

I thought Barack Obama considers people who make more than $250,000 to be rich? I guess that only applies to normal people like plumbers and the like. Senators who only make a third of a million a year have “no money.”

posted on the Corner:  10/20 08:32 AM

To say Biden is either a Terrible or Genius pick implies that the choice mattered, which – in this unique election year – it really did not.

Obama’s candidacy is so historic, his political chronicle so polarizing, and his persona so massive, that Biden is quite beside the point. Obama could have chosen just about anyone; November’s result will turn on other realities.

I think Biden is a great pick … for the McCain campaign.  Biden has run for president a few times and has never caught on in his own party.  He dropped out after Iowa this time around. 

And when we speak of foreign policy experience, in Biden’s case we are really speaking of his serving many years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with precious little useful to show for it. 

Biden’s greatest role was on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he trashed originalist nominees and promoted extreme activists.  McCain & Company should hammer this.  Biden has spent 30-years radicalizing the judiciary.   

 I am really surprised.  I think it’s a bad choice.  Which I’m happy about, but Wow, what a poor choice.  Obama’s camp seems to get dumber by the minute. 

Biden’s foreign policy acumen will only call attention to Obama’s lack.  People who like and respect Biden will be saying it should be Biden-Obama, not the reverse.   

And Biden’s huge ego and propensity for Big Talkie-Talkie will be like extra sprinkles on the buttery frosting on the super rich cake of Obama’s endlessly ebulient speechifying.  At first people will eagerly eat it up but then come the inevitable stomach aches.  And regret.  Plus, Biden is sure to get carried away and commit some major gaffes (he always does – wait and see).

I’m sure Biden will give a great speech at the convention, but I don’t think he will bring many Undecideds or McMaybes to the table, so ultimately What Good Is he to the ticket?