Talk Elections

In the news today, after they mentioned that Romney picked Ryan, they delved into his biography and how it shaped him. And it reminded me a lot of Joe Biden.

Irish-Catholic, experienced tragedy early in life, joined Congress at an early age, quickly became knowledgeable in their relative field, and with a desire to gain publicity for further career advancement.

This describes any politician.

Broadly, like you touched on, the two men are similar. The biggest similarity they have is the tragedy in early life. Congress' revolving door allows many young politicians to stay in the game for a while, and most politicians who have experience on their side on the Hill are knowledgeable in their relative field. But, once we examine the two men in more detail, it's evident that they are quite different.

I'll admit that I'm looking forward more to the Ryan-Biden debate than the Obama-Romney debates, though.

I'm looking forward to that debate too. I want to see Biden give Ryan a noogie.

I've seen him compared to JFK more than Biden. Younger Catholic rising star with a young family entering the White House (Well sorta). He still had tragedy, his brother dying.

The person who made that comparison should have their tongue and hands removed so they don't ever speak or write such nonsense again.

Wouldn't Ryan need to be a secret adulterer too?

On that count, I wouldn't be surprised. This guy is so thoroughly unvetted, he's going to make Palin's private life look like Mitt Romney's.

Wow, that reeks of wishful thinking on your part. I wouldn't be surprised if he was as clean and boring in his private life as Romney is.

Well they're both Catholics elected at an early age to Congress, but so were the Kennedys.

Not at all. You can tell Biden knows how to party. Ryan not so much.

...Biden doesn't drink alcohol.

Doesn't mean he doesn't know how to have a good time. Paul, on the other hand, appears to be perpetually in pain.

Fair enough. Generally when people say party, they mean drinking, or at least in my experience.

He's somewhat like a younger Biden (Biden '88?), but Obama picked Biden for two reasons:

1. He appeals to blue-collar voters, especially in Pennsylvania; this probably helped Obama a bit in the Midwest. Ryan, though also a Midwestern guy, probably doesn't have the same appeal; unlike your cool uncle Biden, Ryan is...a nerd (not necessarily a bad thing, mind you).

2. Biden was meant to counteract Obama's inexperience due to being a long-time Senator with foreign policy experience (remember, the 2008 election was about Iraq at first). Ryan has no foreign policy record, but despite his age, can help Romney govern (again, not in a way that I'd like a president to govern, but...), and has knowledge on economic matters.

The best comparisons to each, in my opinion, are Lyndon Johnson for Biden (meant to shore up an area the candidate was weak with--white Southerners and blue-collar Midwesterners, respectively), and Jack Kemp for Ryan (congressman who is effectively the intellectual leader of the party).

Ryan hasn't run for statewide office before, but he's been in the national spotlight for years. His name recognition among the public is low, but the political press know who he is. Also, I'm confident that the Romney campaign has thoroughly investigated his personal life; this pick doesn't compare to the panicked and unplanned manner in which McCain chose Palin.

You need better experience.

Doesn't Biden not drink because he's a recovering alcoholic, or am I making that up?  I recall hearing that in the 2008 campaign.

No, just no.

Not sure about him personally, but I know his family has a history of alcohol abuse, so that might be it.

Some people can't drink alcohol -- diabetics, people with gout...