Looks like McCain left the keys in the Straight Talk Express.

I am suddenly looking forward to the VP debate even more

That's pretty much the reason Obama chose Biden, I think. While Obama enjoys preaching (not a dig) about hope, change and working together, Biden's a frickin' attack dog. Biden can accomplish all the dirty work of slamming into the McCain campaign while Obama keeps his hands relatively clean.

quadropheniac: That's pretty much the reason Obama chose Biden

I agree, but... that also isn't to say that Biden doesn't have other qualities that would be beneficial for our country as well. I also think his choice of Biden serves to show just how intelligent and thoughtful Obama is about the choices he makes.

If I may join this lovefest...

Obama/Biden is a great ticket.

It is a winning ticket.

I don't think Biden will be afraid to go after the moose killer at the debate.

"We're sorry, this video is no longer available"

What a farking ripoff

the best thing i got out of his rant -

"Proposals need to pass the 2 word test. Then what?"

I can't wait for the VP Debate. :)

Des Moines Register debate on Dec 13, 2007 - Joe Biden was characteristically decisive, bright, articulate, great fun, and highly experienced and knowledgable in foreign relations, but is seen by detractors as verbose and a foot-in-the-mouth loose cannon.

NBC News/Philadelphia Debate, October 30, 2007, moderated by Brian Williams, Tim Russert - Perhaps jealous of Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, who recently spouted clever one-liners at the Republican debates, Joe was hilariously relentless in his attacks on Giuliani, dubbing him "probably the most underqualified man since George Bush to seek the presidency."

ABC News/Iowa Debate, August 19, 2007, moderated by George Stephanopoulos - Dodd and Biden both made good points in the ABC-Iowa debate, and had excellent moments. They're both outstanding, loyal Democratic senators of long-standing. And both presently chair powerful Senate committees. Apparently, though, Democrats have decided that neither will be the party nominee for the 2008 presidential race.

CNN-YouTube Debate, July 23, 2007, moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper - Joe Biden's witty candor and colorful honesty brought entertainment to the masses during the debate, and he made important points in the process.

PBS-Howard University debate, June 28, 2007, moderated by Tavis Smiley - Sen. Biden's odd, off-the-wall remark about he and Obama having AIDS tests was absurdly comical, especially when the camera panned to Obama's eyes bulging in horrified disbelief.

DNC Winter Kick-Off Meeting, February 1-3, 2007 - No one doubts that Sen. Biden, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and with more than 3 decades in the Senate, comprehends policy complexities, and could credibly inhabit the White House. The problem is that... well, he's Joe Biden. Foot-in-the-mouth, hogging-the-camera, yakking-incessantly, close-to-lobbyists Joe.

All that puff and bluster would still be effective if not for "The Surge". I too have grave misgivings about what the hell is going on in Iraq and what our point is over there; but the fact is that "The Surge" has essentially gelded the issue in this election.

This is a late parrot: "We're sorry, this video is no longer available"

What a farking ripoff

I am glad I came back to this and the video was available again.

I've always liked Biden, and know I like him even more

Compelling.

He will kick their ass on the torture policies too.

Il Douchey: but the fact is that "The Surge" has essentially gelded the issue in this election.

Which is why we're withdrawing our troops from Iraq even now.

As much as Biden's gaffe-prone nature may bite him...

If that's the kind of game he's gonna bring to Debates, Palin is going to have to bring more than one of Bush's speech writers.

Mark my words. There isn't going to be a VP debate. There almost wasn't one in 04' because Dick didn't want one. The Dems would have been better off without it. Dick made John look like an idiot like Biden would do to Palin. McCain knows it would be just as bad or worse, so why would he do it?

There's no way that tramp from Alaska will be able to keep up with Biden, he will crush her.

Il Douchey: All that puff and bluster would still be effective if not for "The Surge". I too have grave misgivings about what the hell is going on in Iraq and what our point is over there; but the fact is that "The Surge" has essentially gelded the issue in this election.

He can easily rip into the claim that "THE SURGE" is the reason things have gotten better in Iraq. There's about half a dozen different things that all have had significant effect, the surge being only one.

People accept that the surge is the primary reason that things have calmed in Iraq as I've yet to see the mainstream media report on Awakening Councils, Money actually getting paid out to what remains of the Iraqi bureaucracy, the Sadr Militia Ceasefire, literally paying off Sunni insurgents (not my favorite one, but sure, why not?), and just the Iraqis starting to take care of their own.

Every time I hear 'OMG the surge worked!' I want to bite off my hand in autocannibalistic fury. The situation is so bloody complicated that just adding 'more troops' was never going to stabilize Iraq. More was done, but showcasing that would undermine the claim that "WE" are winning Iraq. Iraq is winning Iraq.

Wow! From that video I can clearly count 37 hair-plugs!

I don't hate Biden as much now.

Exodus2001: Mark my words. There isn't going to be a VP debate. There almost wasn't one in 04' because Dick didn't want one. The Dems would have been better off without it. Dick made John look like an idiot like Biden would do to Palin. McCain knows it would be just as bad or worse, so why would he do it?

But wouldn't keeping Palin out of the debates hurt their image as well? I would think that it would reinforce the idea that Palin has no real substance.

Interesting comments about how the surge wouldn't work. Especially when compared to Obama's recent comments.

Breunthor: Exodus2001: Mark my words. There isn't going to be a VP debate. There almost wasn't one in 04' because Dick didn't want one. The Dems would have been better off without it. Dick made John look like an idiot like Biden would do to Palin. McCain knows it would be just as bad or worse, so why would he do it?

But wouldn't keeping Palin out of the debates hurt their image as well? I would think that it would reinforce the idea that Palin has no real substance.

But she is against abortion. That's all they need.

i think it would be worse for the right to not have a debate, unless of course they pull the, "oh she's taking care of the baby/family" spin which sadly, would work on a lot of very ignorant people

The thing you have to worry about in a Palin/Biden debate is him being seen as attacking her because she is a poor defenseless hockey mom. All the shiat the republicans said about how horrible it was for Hillary to use the sexist card has now been conveniently forgotten, by both the media and the American public with its gold fish-like attention span

jobskee: Interesting comments about how the surge wouldn't work. Especially when compared to Obama's recent comments.

The surge, by itself to the exclusion of all other potential effects, didn't. More was going on.

punta_gorda_allstar: i think it would be worse for the right to not have a debate, unless of course they pull the, "oh she's taking care of the baby/family" spin which sadly, would work on a lot of very ignorant people

She will most likely induce labor on the day of the debate or the day of the election to be an attention whore. 1/2 kidding.

robot monkey: the best thing i got out of his rant -

"Proposals need to pass the 2 word test. Then what?"

I think when they are debating and they bring up the "Surge" that's all they have to say. "Then What?" What are we going to do now? It's culled some of the violence, but they have no idea how to leave without the country imploding. He said "There is no policy", there isn't and he needs to hit that point over and over.

jobskee: Interesting comments about how the surge wouldn't work. Especially when compared to Obama's recent comments.

I think people that are saying the Surge "worked" are missing the point entirely.

Breunthor: I would think that it would reinforce the idea that Palin has no real substance.

Her record as governor and mayor, along with her strong personality and family values, is enough to carry her.

Brettster808: I don't think Biden will be afraid to go after the moose killer at the debate.

She may pull a Hillary and just break down and cry, which may work on a lot of stupid people.

Il Douchey: All that puff and bluster would still be effective if not for "The Surge". I too have grave misgivings about what the hell is going on in Iraq and what our point is over there; but the fact is that "The Surge" has essentially gelded the issue in this election.

"The Surge", by itself, in a bubble, did not "work" -- if it did, we would be celebrating the return of all our troops from Iraq. The presence of additional troops in key sectors may have been a catalyst for other successes in the region, but to attribute all the recent success in Iraq on the mere presence of more troops does a disservice to the entire process.

ExJerseyGirl: Her record as governor and mayor, along with her strong personality and family values, is enough to carry her.

Which is sad, don't you think?

Someone shop Biden's head on Palin's body, that I may fap to it.

ExJerseyGirl: Breunthor: I would think that it would reinforce the idea that Palin has no real substance.

Her record as governor and mayor, along with her strong personality and family values, is enough to carry her.

What if they give her a foreign policy question? Her record as governor and mayor, along with her strong personality and family values, is not going to help her.

Jugs vs. Plugs 08! I just hope the debate is articulate and bright and clean.

Regarding all of this "The Surge Worked!!®" business:

No one I know of ever disagreed that pouring a shiatload *more* heavily-armed troops into the country was gonna reduce the number of deaths *while they were there*. It doesn't require a brain surgeon to realize that if you put a cop on every streetcorner, crime will go down...until they leave.

The POINT of the surge--which was only supposed to last a few months--was SUPPOSED to be to give the Iraqi government a bit of time to get their shiat together and take over control of their own country, since we farked up their infrastructure. THAT still hasn't happened. It's just now starting to, a bit, but that doesn't change the fact that we've lost another $100 billion and several hundred more troops' lives in the process.

Think of it like the Big Dig--yes, eventually they'll finish the damned thing, but it still went many years and gobs of money over budget/schedule, disrupting the entire region. And in this case, thousands of lives "over budget" as well.

So it's been a "success" in the same sense that burning down your house is a "success" if your goal was to rid yourself of termites.

ibegyurpardun: The thing you have to worry about in a Palin/Biden debate is him being seen as attacking her because she is a poor defenseless hockey mom. All the shiat the republicans said about how horrible it was for Hillary to use the sexist card has now been conveniently forgotten, by both the media and the American public with its gold fish-like attention span

That's when you say "Well, she called herself a Lipstick Pit Bull, so we assumed she would be able to handle herself in a debate."

Exodus2001: What if they give her a foreign policy question?

Who is going to ask her a foreign policy question?

I don't think there will a debate and the only speaking she is doing are prepared statements.

Cinead: He can easily rip into the claim that "THE SURGE" is the reason things have gotten better in Iraq. There's about half a dozen different things that all have had significant effect, the surge being only one.
People accept that the surge is the primary reason that things have calmed in Iraq as I've yet to see the mainstream media report on Awakening Councils, Money actually getting paid out to what remains of the Iraqi bureaucracy, the Sadr Militia Ceasefire, literally paying off Sunni insurgents (not my favorite one, but sure, why not?), and just the Iraqis starting to take care of their own.
Every time I hear 'OMG the surge worked!' I want to bite off my hand in autocannibalistic fury. The situation is so bloody complicated that just adding 'more troops' was never going to stabilize Iraq. More was done, but showcasing that would undermine the claim that "WE" are winning Iraq. Iraq is winning Iraq.

That's why I put "The Surge" in quotes. I agree that the reality is much more compliex than the narrative (as usual). But I think it's safe to say that, generally speaking, we prefer sound bites to nuanced analysis. Windbag Biden's endless bloviation is harder to diegst than "The Surge worked".

/The Surge did work...to take the issue of the table.

Cinaed: He can easily rip into the claim that "THE SURGE" is the reason things have gotten better in Iraq. There's about half a dozen different things that all have had significant effect, the surge being only one.

One thing I have not often heard mentioned, is the fatigue of the Iraqi people. They are sick and tired of the death and carnage. Hundreds of thousands, if not over a million iraqi people have died in this war, many more have been injured, and millions of refugees have fled the country. Quite simply, few are enthusiastic about fighting anymore.

To bad for him the surge has worked and Iraq is achieving stability that couldn't and wouldn't have happened if he would have gotten his way. Even Obama has reluctantly admitted this.

Good speech though.

Nothing to worry about.

Yankees Team Gynecologist: Brettster808: I don't think Biden will be afraid to go after the moose killer at the debate.

She may pull a Hillary and just break down and cry, which may work on a lot of stupid people.

Based on what I've heard about her so far she's more likely to pull a McCain and start swearing at Biden. Crazy moose hunting crusader woman probably didn't get the nickname Barracuda from being very emotional. I'm almost looking forward to the VP debate more than the Presidential ones.

Those who think the surge worked fail to recall why there was there was a surge. The surge was supposed to provide breathing room for political reconciliation. They have the former and the latter has not materialized and there's no sign that it will.

The military component worked and the political component is a flop with no end in sight. Biden was right on the mark and there's no disconnect when Obama says the military has accomplished their end of the plan.

Cinaed: Il Douchey: All that puff and bluster would still be effective if not for "The Surge". I too have grave misgivings about what the hell is going on in Iraq and what our point is over there; but the fact is that "The Surge" has essentially gelded the issue in this election.

He can easily rip into the claim that "THE SURGE" is the reason things have gotten better in Iraq. There's about half a dozen different things that all have had significant effect, the surge being only one.

People accept that the surge is the primary reason that things have calmed in Iraq as I've yet to see the mainstream media report on Awakening Councils, Money actually getting paid out to what remains of the Iraqi bureaucracy, the Sadr Militia Ceasefire, literally paying off Sunni insurgents (not my favorite one, but sure, why not?), and just the Iraqis starting to take care of their own.

Every time I hear 'OMG the surge worked!' I want to bite off my hand in autocannibalistic fury. The situation is so bloody complicated that just adding 'more troops' was never going to stabilize Iraq. More was done, but showcasing that would undermine the claim that "WE" are winning Iraq. Iraq is winning Iraq.

The dems must rely on these so called "half a dozen other things beside the surge" or they automatically lose the argument. does it ever occur to you that the surge actually caused the other things to come about? Awakening= we're getting our asses kicked by the best fighting force on the earth, and now there's more of them, so we had better wake the fark up. Iraq is winning Iraq= hey they're not just screwing around and are really gonna stay until the job is finished this time, so we have the resources to rebuild. How come dems praise our troops in pretense, but then discredit what they've done to some awakening?

If the surge worked why aren't oil companies rebuilding Iraq's oil infrastructure? They're not. They're signing oil deals with factions, but it's paper, not investment.

The only investors are suckers: US taxpayers dumping money into an unsafe investment.

The smart investors are holding off until there's a real oil/power deal between the factions: (Sunni/Saudi, Shia/Iranian, Kurdish, and Turkish)

ExJerseyGirl: Her record

What record?

ExJerseyGirl: family values

What family values?

ExJerseyGirl: Exodus2001: What if they give her a foreign policy question?

Who is going to ask her a foreign policy question?

I don't think there will a debate and the only speaking she is doing are prepared statements.

I agree.

Exodus2001: ExJerseyGirl: Breunthor: I would think that it would reinforce the idea that Palin has no real substance.

Her record as governor and mayor, along with her strong personality and family values, is enough to carry her.

What if they give her a foreign policy question? Her record as governor and mayor, along with her strong personality and family values, is not going to help her.

Or a question involving any national issue, on which she has no experience. She's basically a Canadian mayor.

wxdroid: The dems must rely on these so called "half a dozen other things beside the surge" or they automatically lose the argument.

Damn us for relying on what was actually offered at the time as justifications for the surge.