We need Joe Biden running

There are around 20 candidates running for president in 2008. Obviously, only one will garner each party's nomination. As we go through 2007, most will fall by the wayside and end their campaign. Some will fail to get the necessary financial backing. Some won't develop the name recognition. Let's hope Joe Biden isn't one of the early drop outs. Not that I agree with him on any policy issues. Rather I want him in the race because if nothing else, he makes the race more entertaining. His proclivity to speak before he thinks makes him stand out from the usual politician who considers how every last word will be interpreted by each constituency before speaking. In the last year he has bragged how Delaware being a former slave state would help his campaign and made silly remarks about immigrants from India all working at convenience stores. Here is the latest example of Biden speaking about fellow presidential candidate, Barack Obama:

Mr. Biden is equally skeptical—albeit in a slightly more backhanded way—about Mr. Obama. “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

Is he saying that all the other black men he has met are either inarticulate, not bright, unclean, or just not nice looking? Over a couple decades ago, we made fun of sports reporters who would refer to a black athlete as articulate since that made the assumption that all others were not. A guy who has served in the senate for over 30 years and is running for president should be held to a slightly higher standard than a goof covering sports for local television.