Ron Fournier’s “analysis”:
Analysis: Biden pick shows lack of confidence
By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press Writer Sat Aug 23, 2:12 AM ET
DENVER – The candidate of change went with the status quo.
In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness — inexperience in office and on foreign policy — rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.
***The picks say something profound about Obama: For all his self-confidence, the 47-year-old Illinois senator worried that he couldn’t beat Republican John McCain without help from a seasoned politician willing to attack. The Biden pick is the next logistical step in an Obama campaign that has become more negative — a strategic decision that may be necessary but threatens to run counter to his image.
Hrmm. That isn’t the kind of reaction I remember when a certain young man eight years ago chose a seasoned veteran as his running mate. Let’s flash back. CNN, 25 July 2000:
GREENFIELD: Oh, very clearly, it sends a signal that “I may be the governor of Texas, you may not know of my foreign policy credentials, but just as I surrounded myself with people like George Shultz and Henry Kissinger and Brent Scowcroft and Colin Powell, I’m picking as my running mate somebody who knows the world stage.”
In fact, I rather suspect that Dick Cheney has met more world leaders during his tenure as defense secretary than Governor Bush has. It’s an interesting kind of way that you put a No. 2 person on the ticket who is more credentialed in the international arena, but that’s what happens when the governor is the presidential nominee. There’s no other choice. And I think it is a clear signal this is somebody with some seriousness of purpose.
PBS:
VIN WEBER: It’s a great testimonial to Governor Bush that he feels secure reaching out to a person of such great stature, and it’s a testimonial to Dick Cheney that he’s still willing to go back and contribute some more to government.
***The most important thing about the selection of a vice president is not the vice-president himself but what it says about the presidential candidate that did the choosing. And that’s why I think this is not only a great choice substantively for the country but I think it’s a good choice politically because people who are looking at George W. Bush outside of Texas for the first time are seeing the first real governing decision that this prospective president has made – and that’s what the choice of a vice president is – it’s your first really governing decision — reflected a tremendous stability, a tremendous amount of judgment. It reflected putting conventional political considerations like ideological balance or geographic balance behind you and putting ahead of you somebody who has serious experience in the legislative branch of government foreign policy, the business sector, somebody who clearly can walk in and be President of the United States tomorrow and everybody would be comfortable with it.
Republican names a running mate with lots of experience- a sign of wisdom and good judgement and a sense of being secure.
Democrat names a running mate with lots of experience- a profound lack of confidence.
Go liberal media!
*** Update ***
More on the disgraceful Ron Fournier here.
