Most reasonable people would probably concede that Obama is a charismatic individual. He has used that charisma to make every effort to convince the world that he will be instrument of change in how our government conducts its business both domestically and abroad. Probably not a bad thing on a lot of fronts. If you choose to run on the message of "I'm not an insider", you lose a lot of moral high ground ground by picking a running mate that is the consummate insider. To me, it appears as if you've already caved, and have succeeded in demonstrating that you're just another suit that will say and do anything. In other words, business as usual. I also have to say that although Biden might make a decent VP, I'd have a hard time getting around the comments Biden has already made concering his running mates flaws, while making some very positive comments about your opposition. I think I've had enough of politicians, what is needed now is a leader. Admit that you don't have the experience, since the "experienced" folks have dug us into the hole we're in, and stand up for what you've said you believe in. Hire smart folks to help you execute the changes you've promised. In that respect, Obama shouldn't have to apologize for Biden. I'd hold him up a a shinging example of the tool you intend to use.

Biden is an insider, yes, but he also has a lot of experience. Obama was in a predicament choosing a running mate. If he chose another outsider the Republicans would have crucified the both of them for having no experience. Biden does bring experience to the table. No, he is not a flashy choice or media darling, but he might make the skeptical undecided voters feel a bit more comfortable concerning Obama's lack of experience. One way Biden IS an outsider is that he is Roman Catholic. This could work for or against them, but hopefully he will appeal to the Latino demographic that Obama has had trouble reaching.

Going to be hard for Obama to continue to make claims that he's an "outsider" now that he has picked one of the biggest insiders in DC. Biden brings big foreign policy creds to the table, but has more baggage than Samsonite. Also have to take into account that during the debates, Biden even went so far as to make a comment about Obama's inexperience to the effect that as President, you shouldn't need "on the job training". Hard to imagine that after a comment like that, that you would climb on board as #2. Seems to me to show that Obama's message of "change" just got blown out of the water by picking one of the old time beltway insiders, and that Biden will basically do anything to get a bigger chair. Even if you are a believer, Obama's shine is getting more tarnished as he continues to adapt to make himself look more electable. By picking Biden, he's shown he's just another shrewd politician, and we're all screwed again.

strictly from a techy-nerd-type point of view, I have serious reservations. He's in the pocket of the RIAA and MPAA to the point where he proposed in april to spend $1 billion to monitor p2p networks for illegal activity, sponsored a (thankfully dead) bill in 2002 to prevent people from running *unauthorized* programs on devices they own, and wanted the government to have backdoor access to any encryption methods (which lead directly to the creation of PGP, a pretty good thing [wink wink] in retrospect). cnet has an article on his tech voting record. That being said, the man may have redeeming qualities in other aspects of potential vice presidenternessship. If anyone can point some out, I'll have a listen.