Aruspicy

It has apparently become conventional wisdom that whoever Obama picks as VP, it can't possibly be anyone who has already been assigned a speakers slot at the convention. The reasoning, as far as I can divine it, goes like this:

1. There is a speaking slot reserved for the VP.
2. No person could conceivably speak twice at the Democratic convention.
3. Thus, anyone already assigned to a speakers slot is ipso facto not going to be the VP nominee.

I call bullshit.

In the first place, I don't see any reason why someone couldn't speak twice. It would be a departure from what has been done in the past. So what?

But there's also a covert assumption here that strikes me as pretty implausible. That assumption is that the speaking schedule could not possibly be modified. But why couldn't it be? No reason that I can see.

As a matter of fact, it seems to me that the conventional wisdom has the significance of the schedule precisely backwards. When I look at the speaker's schedule, what it suggests to me is that the pick is likely to be Biden, Bayh, or maybe even Richardson. This is because all three are already set to speak on the same day the VP nominee address is scheduled. Which means, among other things, that moving any of them into the VP speaking slot wouldn't require much schedule shuffling.

Thursday vp auguration blogging

First of all, and speaking as a Michigander, if the GOP wants a chance at my vote then they'd better pick my man Mitt. That's all there is to it.

As for the Democrats, I'm starting to root for Biden. He's not perfect, and isn't much likely to deliver Virginia, but he and Clinton are the only plausible candidates who give me the impression that they could step into the vice presidency and do something with the job. Biden is good for talking to constituent groups, and, more importantly, will be a forceful advocate for a sane approach to national security.

He's probably not the best possible choice on the politics, but choosing him would have a couple of tactical benefits. First, a Biden choice would help Obama defend himself against the charge that he lacks experience. Say what you will about Biden, he's been in Washington for a long time and knows how to operate there. Second, Biden is very effective at responding to GOP attacks. The McCain campaign has been throwing a lot of mud and they're going to keep doing it. Obama has been taking the high road and is going to keep doing that. Fair enough, but the Obama campaign needs somebody to crawl down in there to call out the McCain campaign when they lie, and Biden would be exceedingly good in that role.