Biden's Speech

Not bad, not great.  He doesn't come across as a robo-pol--but there was nothing memorable in the text.  I think the video and his son Beau's introduction were more compelling. I liked the part about his mother. The kitchen table stuff was pretty standard fare. And the attacks on McCain were curiously abstract and lacked the humor or wit you would hope for from a guy like Biden. That was pretty disappointing.  It just seemed like another forgettable speech written by speechwriters. A missed opportunity.

I haven't listened yet to the Clinton speech, and I may not.  i just want to be done with the Clintons.  I'm afraid all the hype surrounding the Mile High Stadium hooplah tomorrow will lead to unfulfilled expectations.  We'll see.

Comments

[Guy Fawkes]

Overall grade: B

Content: B-/C+ - he could have attacked John McCain in a much more articulate, forceful way, although he did attack somewhat substantially. Also, the pandering/testicle-grabbing about Georgia was unwelcome to my ear.

Delivery (most important, I think): A-

Biden has the rare gift in his political personality of appearing genuine and speaking from (what appears to be, anyway) his heart. Even with his rough edges, I expect he's won some wavering people over tonight with his sincerity, and gentle masculinity. Plus he feels like someone you've known your whole life, and when coupled with (the MSM's narrative of) Obama's "otherness" that's a potentially big asset.

He's a good pick for this ticket in terms of style points, and may indeed end up helping. He will wreck whomever McCain picks in the VP debate. (If anyone watches, that is.)

[Jack Whelan]

B is a fair grade.

The Georgia thing rubbed me the wrong way, too. Both sides are in the wrong, and this assumption that Georgia is a guileless victim in this affair is preposterous.

I agree that he's likable and that of all the possible v.p. choices discussed he was the best because he will help BO the most to win.

But as the Georgia remark points out, he's so tied in to Beltway thinking that you have to wonder how much of an asset he'll be in delivering the more important meta-message, which is supposed to be about change. I'm assuming still Obama is sincere about that.