Remember Lloyd Bentsen?

[kennetha]

This pick reminds me a bit of the Lloyd Bentsen pick by Michael Dukakis.

Bentsen was a true Democratic heavyweight, who was chosen by Michael Dukakis to help answer the "Is he ready?" question on behalf of Dukakis. Bentsen certainly brought a LOT to the ticket. And he delivered one of the most memorable lines every delivered in presidential or vice presidential debate when he smacked down that lightweight Dan Quayle.

BENTSEN: Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.

LIke Bentsen, Biden is no doubt a democratic heavyweight. Like Bentsen to Dukakis, Biden has deeper knowledge of world affairs than Obama.

In some ways, it's not surprising that Obama chose someone like Biden -- just like it wasn't surprising that Dukakis chose someone like Bentsen.

But like Dukakis, there's a little bit of a danger that the Obama will suffer in comparison with Biden, at least in some way. As with Dukakis and Bentsen, it sort of looks like the more experienced politician who is more ready to be president is playing second fiddle to the less experienced, less ready politician.

Of course, Dukakis was, let's face it, a terrible candidate. Obama is definitely no Dukakis on that score. In the litany of things that hurt Dukakis -- looking like a light weight smiling snoopy in that silly hat in that tank, his robotic debate performance, and taking the Willie Horton attack on the chin -- suffering in comparison with the gravitas and dignity of Bentsen was way down on the list of things that did Dukakis in. But it was definitely one of the things that did help do him in.

[LaurenG]

1. This in no way resembles Benson in my opinion!

I am pleased with this ticket.

GoBama/Biden!

[kennetha]

13. I'm not displeased

But I don't think it does much one way or the other. Biden doesn't hurt. But I don't think it's exactly an electrifying choice. Hillary would have been electrifying.

[book_worm]

2. Umm, but Obama is no Dukakis.

[kennetha]

3. And thank god for that!

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bidenista]

5. Obama and Dukakis do not belong in the same sentence.

Or, for that matter, paragraph, chapter, or book. Please. DUKAKIS?!

[kennetha]

6. But you just put them in the same sentence!

Thus you refute yourself!

[Overseas]

21. Thanks to you !

[Pab Sungenis]

7. It's a fair comparison.

In 1988 the big Democratic candidates either bowed out or self destructed: Cuomo, Hart, Biden. We got the Best of the Rest in Dukakis.

2008, our best choices opted out early on: Gore, Dean, Clark. Obama, while a very inspiring speaker and a very intelligent man, was almost everyone's second choice.

I think he'll give a hell of a campaign, and will (God willing) win and be a hell of a President, but it doesn't change the fact that, like Dukakis, he started out a second stringer.

[depakid]

11. If the campaigns act the same and sound the same...

Let's just hope there's no Lee Atwater

[Windy]

8. Bensten made ONE great quip in a debate. Bensten is no Biden

Biden is an attack dog with gravitas. He will wipe the floor with any running mate the McCain puts forward.

Bentsen went up against Dan Qualye for God sakes!

Yes, please give it a rest.

[kennetha]

10. Give what a rest?

Thinking?

Are you suggesting that Bentsen wasn't a democratic heavyweight? Or what?

[Moochy]

12. Or what

that would be my guess.

[salonghorn70]

25. Disagree On Bentsen

I loved Bentsen. He was a Texas Democrat who brought all factions of the Texas Democratic Party together. Bentsen was a heavy weight. By the end of the campaign many were saying they wished that Bentsen was the Presidential candidate.

[Gato Moteado]

9. look at bush/cheney ticket...a retard on top of the ticket with....

....the older, more experienced (albeit evil) guy on the bottom of the ticket.

didn't hurt them none. they got in twice....unfortunately for mankind.

[zuzu98]

14. Bentsen was a gentleman

I worked on an event during a Dukakis/Bentsen visit to St. Louis. Mr. Bentsen was unfailingly polite, shook hands with the volunteers and took the time to say "thank you" to us. I remember one time he was headed downstairs from their rooms and herded the waiting volunteers -- who had stepped aside to let him go ahead --into the elevator with him (much to the dismay of the Secret Service). He made small talk and put everyone at ease.

[GarbagemanLB]

15. "McCain has a lifetime of experience. Obama has a speech in 2002."

Is it really any wonder she wasn't picked?

[kennetha]

17. This isn't a thread about Hillary

But you know Biden said pretty much the same thing during the primaries -- at least the part about Obama. He even said he'd be honored to run "with or against" John McCain in 2005.

[rucky]

16. Bentsen should've been at the top of that ticket.

[kwenu]

18. Bentsen was legendary but I don't really see the Obama/Biden comparison here.

[Honeycombe8]

19. The problem was Dukakis. He was a dork. I couldn't believe he was the Dem nominee.

That was a huge mistake.

[kennetha]

20. Agreed

Huge mistake. We lost a quite winnable election to a quite beatable candidate because we chose -- well, a dork is a good word for it.

As an avid Hillary supporter still fears we're making a somewhat similar mistake. Not that I think Obama is a dork. Far from it. But I think he needs some seasoning before he's really ready to be prez. If you ask what in Biden's experience has prepared him to become Vice President and also ask what in Obama's experience has prepared him for the Presidency, you'll get very different answers.

But hey, Obama has much greater upside and tremendous impressive innate gifts. So I'm hoping for the best.

[Stagecoach]

22. Along these lines

I get so tired of the MSM comparing this race to 1988 and likening Obama to Dukakis. It's not even close. For starters, Obama has a lot more charisma & personality than Dukakis could ever dream of having. There wasn't anything with Dukakis to get excited about. If anything, this race reminds me more of 1996 when Clinton took on Dole; with the difference being Clinton was an incumbent.

[Arkana]

23. Dukakis had the charisma of wet lettuce.

Obama does not have the same problem.

This pair reminds me so much of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in "Men in Black" I can hardly believe it.

[kennetha]

24. Don't insult wet lettuce

[WinkyDink]

26. Bentsen looked like an OLD 67; Biden is a YOUNG 65.

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. Wuuh Wuuuh Wuuuh

[OmahaBlueDog]

28. Great minds think alike

I said about the same thing (not as well) last night:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6711124