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My Rahm Reunion
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The Left Hates Us
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Such a Dynamic Duo
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The Continuing Crisis
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Calvin Coolidge: His Times Are Our Times
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The Current Crisis
Joe Biden, Presidential Candidate
Now seems to be the ideal time for the gaffable one to give it another try.
WASHINGTON — When Vice President Joe Biden rolls into a room to talk politics, frankly I am ready to laugh. He is, for me, the gaffable Joe Biden. Remember when he told the perky Katie Couric that during the great stock market crash of 1929 President Franklin Roosevelt immediately “got on television” to reassure the American people. Joe apparently reassured Miss Couric; yet others in the audience who knew their history and recognized his gaffe got a huge laugh at Joe’s expense. The president in 1929 was, of course, Herbert Hoover, and there was no television. Or what about the gaffable Vice President declaring, “The number one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be as Barack says, a three-letter word, jobs, j-o-b-s, jobs”? Good old Joe!
One could fill an entire chapter of a book with Joe’s gaffes, possibly a whole book, possibly a whole bookshelf. By the way, for to those of you who rely on Wikipedia, you will find just one gaffe attributed to Joe in his entry. Yet I must admit I like old Joe.
Even when he speaks acerbically his tongue has no sting. In fact, when he does he invariably pauses to come up with a propitiating grin. I remember when he was Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee he grilled some Republican nominees with the utmost stringency, but he rarely meant it. On the occasion of Ed Meese’s nomination for Attorney General he was particularly sharp. Afterwards he greeted Ed and Ed’s formidable wife Ursula in the hallway and put his arm around Ed to show his stinging language was not personal. Ursula lit into him with the disdain that only a lady of quality can muster. Joe withdrew like an injured pup. He is not built for combat, only for BS-ing. Later his questioning of Judge Samuel Alito moved Mrs. Alito to tears. Once again he was shocked. Joe is really a lot of fun, at least for those who do not take his guff seriously.
That is why when it was reported this week that a CNN poll conducted with ORC International found a significant number of Democrats ready for a candidate that was not Barack Obama I thought of Joe. Fully 27 percent — slightly more than one in four — Democrats queried affirmed that they “think the Democratic Party should nominate a different candidate for president in 2012.” Joe, this is your chance. You have always wanted to be Numero Uno. You have put your name forward more than once. Now is the time to leap to the defense of your country, even if you did get five deferments from you draft board and in 1968 were disqualified from future disruptions of your schedule for asthma. Asthma, why did you not think of that earlier?
Actually I thought Joe would grasp the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 before he was caught plagiarizing British Labour Party Leader Neil Kinnock’s recollections of an early life spent in the cruel Welsh coalmines. He even claimed Kinnock’s relatives as his own. And oh yes, there was that revelation of earlier plagiarism that Joe committed in law school. He released a 65-page file obtained from Syracuse University College of Law, containing his transcript and the details of his plagiarism. He released it, arguing that it reinforced his claim that the plagiarism has not been “malevolent.” It did disclose that he had filched fully five pages from a law review article “without quotation or attribution” for his 15-page paper. The file also disclosed that he graduated 76th out of 85, and that in his undergraduate days he got C’s or D’s in his first three semesters, with an F in ROTC.
There was one other revelation that appeared about Joe at this time. He claimed to be active in the civil rights and antiwar movements. That too was garbagespiel. During his run for the presidency in 1987, a transcript surfaced of his 1983 speech to the New Jersey Democratic State Convention wherein he rang out with, “When I was 17, I participated in sit-ins to desegregate restaurants and movie houses.” He gassed on, “And my stomach turned upon hearing the voices of Faubus and Wallace. My soul raged on seeing Bull Connor and his dogs.” This too he later quietly disavowed. Joe Biden of the raging soul — I like that.
Still, I say, I like Joe. Today writers at the The American Spectator, National Review, and the Weekly Standard are inveighing against him for apparently endorsing the brutal abortion and sterilization operations that go on in China pursuant to its one-child policy. Yes, I will agree, Joe’s regard for human rights in China appeared insouciant during his tour there. But one has to remember: Joe does not mean it. His spokesman later said he found the policy “repugnant.”
Yet, you might say, why should he run for the Democratic presidential nomination? Well, I am finishing a book, and my researches indicate that all leading Democratic candidates for the presidency suffer these blots on their records. I call it the Chappaquiddick Dispensation. Ever since Teddy Kennedy eluded justice at Chappaquiddick, a scandal that would otherwise kill off a candidate can easily be transcended, thanks to the complicit national media. That is called the Taranto Principle. The press gives the Democrat a pass, and the rogues on the Democratic side proliferate. Joe is a rogue, but so are most of the other potential Democratic candidates. So Joe, I say here is your chance. Think of the scandals in President Obama’ past. Against Joe, Obama is toast.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (56) | Leave a comment
More Articles by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
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The Bishop| 9.1.11 @ 6:37AM
Mr. Tyrrell, I agree that the Vice President is rather amusing, on and off his high horse. But I also think he was offered the Number Two spot by the Anointed One as simply another layer of Presidential protection. What assassin, in a saner moment of reflection, would take the chance of a President Biden?
Conrad Spiracy| 9.1.11 @ 7:41AM
I'm not worried. Ol' Joe is so bumbling, so incompetent, so thoroughly entertaining that he would be a dog on a leash for the legislative branch.
He could never pretend to make such convincing-to-the-hard-left pronouncements as the Petulant-Child-In-Chief.
I think it would be entertaining.
GO JOE!
SpiralArchitect| 9.1.11 @ 6:46PM
Joe is an American. He is not driven by the desire to see or better yet implement the demise of this nation.
albert constantine jr.| 9.1.11 @ 8:30AM
I had a neighbor who was both a veteran of Pearl Harbor as well as Iwo Jima. When Schindler’s List came out, he opined that the only thing that keeps such a thing from happening to us was our ownership of guns (the NRA and Marine Corps stickers on my truck revealed me as a fellow traveler). Despite having arrived at that conclusion as a result of his life experience, he loved Biden, despite his repeated efforts to disarm the law abiding population, as well as the US throughout the Cold War. This affection likely largely stemmed from the former Senator from Delaware fawning over the vets at the Memorial Day parade.
Similarly, many colleagues in the Fraternal Order of Police would fall over themselves to vote for him, despite his labeling them “brain dead” before other unions, and his support of judicial nominees who repeatedly spat on law enforcement (along with his opposition of those judicial nominees who supported both the Constitution and those who serve and protect).
Such was the cognitive dissonance of some of the voters of Delaware who elected Biden again and again. They seemed to prefer a US Senator who would bring home pork, flatter and schmooze them, despite the fact that he was wrong on almost ever issue important to them and lacking in integrity, tact, temperament, taste and talent. While I too believe Obama selected him for VPOTUS as both assassination insurance and to serve as someone who makes Obama look good by comparison, as someone who has endured life in a Biden fiefdom for too long, I must register my objection to Mr. Tyrell’s suggestion.
SpiralArchitect| 9.1.11 @ 6:48PM
So, you prefer Obummer. Interesting.
albert constantine jr.| 9.4.11 @ 10:35PM
No, I don't prefer Obama. If I was given a preference based only on the current officeholders, both would be removed from office, and by right of succession, Boehner would step into the office.
LowrSlowrDelaware| 9.15.11 @ 1:23PM
Mr. Constantine:
You are so right. Joe Biden is the Teflon Politician. He had good teachers: The Kennedys.
Jack in Wi.| 9.1.11 @ 6:56AM
I would think a lot of Democrats are thinking of replacing Obama at the top of the ticket. I don't think 2 of his key people like Biden and Clinton would be the solution. They have Obama hung around their necks. More likely some big name Democrat from out of politics, perhaps some liberal billionare.
Mike D.| 9.1.11 @ 9:44AM
Won't happen, the Black Klan Coalition(formallyknown as the CBC) would revolt if the Muslomarxist was dumped. They are stuck with him.
Doctor Right| 9.1.11 @ 12:16PM
Well if they DO decide to dump Obama, Jack, they're NOT going to nominate Ron Paul, so don't get too excited...
Occam's Tool| 9.1.11 @ 1:35PM
Doctor Right, Paul is the hardest of Lefts on Israel and the US Military. One can but hope he gets nominated by Obama as VEEP. That would be a VERY interesting political move....hmm.
Al Adab| 9.1.11 @ 2:05PM
Now that would be an interesting (machiavelian) move. American Unity and bi-partisanship proven for all to see.
Remember the almost McCain-Lieberman?
Jack in Wi.| 9.1.11 @ 3:24PM
Dr. Wrong: Ron Paul is going to be the Republican nominee. He isn't running the Democrat ticket. Are you going to vote for the new Democrat candidate if ron wins the Republican nomination. We all know he will be a huge Israel firster like Obama. the best thing this country could do for itself and for Israel is cut all aid to Isreal and the rest of the Middle East and let them solve their own problems. Is Israel going to be forever carried on the backs of the American taxpayer?
The latest estimates of a team of economists on what Israel has cost the USA since 1948 is between 3 and 6 trillion dollars. It was published in a report published by the Council for the American National Intrest dated august 19th. That cost includes direct grants, forgiven loans, intrest, special deals, tax breaks, huge oil prices because the Arabs screw us because of Israel, and much more. It is time for your homeland to be set free to pay it's own bills and spill it's own blood. This report does not calculate the huge costs of the Iraq and Afganistan wars or the huge war machine we keep all over the world to be ready to do Israel's bidding.
chuck| 9.1.11 @ 7:44PM
DOCTOR Ron Paul is never, ever in a million years going to be the Republican nominee. Period. The end. Ain't gonna happen.
That clear enough for you?
chuck| 9.1.11 @ 6:57AM
BiteMe would certainly more entertaining and less destructive.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 9.1.11 @ 7:07AM
The entire column resembled a Joe Biden gaffe. Now give me a hug!
Mimi| 9.1.11 @ 7:35AM
If it was only Joe with all the gaffs it would be one thing this whole "CREW" is incompetant!
Please let the next administration be professional and competant and let the clocks run on time.
As Harry Truman said...."The buck STOPS here at my desk" WE failed in 2008 to VET....Racism was dying on the vine....the lingering guilt gave Obama a million passes.
Hope we learn by this mistake!
This time we must choose well and carefully.
Joe Biden is a drop in the bucket compared to all the screw-ups we have witnessed....and more to come!
POST American| 9.1.11 @ 7:54AM
---As the Globalist RC sellout and TREASON OP
finishes off its 4 decades in the making agenda
---in the US, crooked smiles from BOTH 'part' --ees.
------SO keep a goin'
----------GMO nachos n' Fukishima fallout
--------------Just keep a goin'...
CESC| 9.1.11 @ 11:42AM
Does any reader of this site EVER understand what this idiot (post american) is trying to say? His posts are always undecipherable and moronic.
MOS was 71331| 9.1.11 @ 11:51AM
I think you're being a bit unfair. You have to be able to understand a post to conclude it's moronic, and I, too, have no idea what POST American is trying to say.
MOS was 71331| 9.1.11 @ 11:55AM
Look at PA's 10:15 post, and then explain it to me.
Occam's Tool| 9.1.11 @ 1:36PM
Guys, guys, guys---for PA it might be therapy. He never attacks anyone else, and it might be helping him. Be kind---it will demonstrate your Faith.
Dan Mathewson| 9.1.11 @ 5:29PM
I think he's the unfunny version of Mr. Doubletalk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfQVaQfbR7s
daddio| 9.1.11 @ 12:08PM
I thought this was just a spam bot.
Anthony| 9.1.11 @ 8:08AM
This moron is a living testament of how dangerous the leftist whores in the MSM are.
They have excused and covered for this fool for decades, such that he never went away, and has been rewarded for longevity rather than competence.
And now we have Obozo and Bitme. America cannot take many more mistakes if we are to survive as America.
2012 is the year that saves America, or ends it.
Mike D.| 9.1.11 @ 9:27AM
Yep, a true pure blood witless dolt in the flesh. This form of life could only exist in a coddled media protected leftist political environment.
Dan Hirsch| 9.1.11 @ 9:38AM
Actually, reflecting on the Taranto Principle, applying the law of supply and demand yields the following construct:
1. Due to the MSM's failure to drum misbehaving Democrat officeholders out of their offices, Democrats' perceived cost of misbehavior goes down. This reduced cost increases the supply of misbehaving Democrats.
2. Due to the MSM's success in drumming misbehaving Republican officeholders out of their offices, Republicans' perceived cost of misbehavior goes up. This increased cost decreases the supply of misbehaving Republicans.
SO, given 1. and 2. we end up with an ever-increasing percentage of misbehaving Democrats, an ever-increasing supply of well-behaved Republicans.
Through time as the number of miscreant Democrats grows and the number of miscreant Republicans shrinks, the MSM will have to either change to more balanced scandal reportage OR scandalize ever-shrinking Republican misdeeds while trivializing ever-growing Democrat misdeeds.
Recognize this MSM behavior? I say it's pretty obvious. Think it'll ever change? Doubt it. They never change. Democrats are still pushing policies from the late 1800's that had already shown to be clear failures in the early 1900's. Heck, FDR was late to the socialism party. And our little President is way late to the FDR policy.
Didn't he suggest railroads as the way to the 'future?' Isn't that an 1830's innovation?
Windmills? Innovation from the 1300 or 1400's?
Sheesh....
Don't tread on me.
emilio lizardo, PhD| 9.1.11 @ 1:48PM
Word
daddio| 9.1.11 @ 12:09PM
He's the crazy uncle in the attic. Long past time for him to retire gracefully to the old folks home and spend his days rocking on the front porch regaling the other inmates on his "achievements".
coal carrier| 9.1.11 @ 8:14AM
Gallup just reported an 11-point drop in the approval rating for Obama by women voters. Sorry Mr. Tyrrell but smiling Joe will take one for the team and resign. Creating a vacancy for Madam Hillary. After all she is battle hardened. She did dodge bullets upon exiting the chopper.
bluecollarbytes| 9.1.11 @ 8:16AM
Of course there's no question that Obama is the Democrat nominee. Replacing him is out of the question when the black community is nearly 100% behind him.
When I think of Joe Biden, I think along the lines of lies rather than 'gaffes'. Joe is a Liar, generously translated as a penchant for verbal boo boos. Joe wasn't 'mistaken' telling Couric about TV in a time of no-TV. He was just on a roll, lying his way through an interview- the answers of which K. Couric was only all to happy-sappy to accept.
Mike D.| 9.1.11 @ 9:41AM
Agree, the Black Klan coalition would never stand for him being replaced, they are stuck with him and they know it.
JimH| 9.1.11 @ 8:27AM
I even have a slogan:
Biden. His Time!
autoacct628| 9.1.11 @ 9:13AM
"Joe Biden. Hey, he can't be any worse...."
CESC| 9.1.11 @ 11:43AM
But he can be just as bad.
ncatty| 9.1.11 @ 9:33AM
Biden cultivates a blue collar image despite being a US Senator since age 30, and a lawyer before that.
POST American| 9.1.11 @ 10:15AM
-----Biden his time -while Biden us along
--thru the BILL GATES-----into planned
'SSS--US---stain--a---bill---IT---he'
as the Globalist RED China sellout,
TREASON and EUGENICS OP finishes
us off.
Remember kiddies --we ARE the ITs.
------------------WE REALLY ARE---------------------
Ground Control| 9.1.11 @ 10:56AM
Ol' Joe may be gaffable and affable, but just because someone smiles while stabbing you in the back does not mean he is not stabbing you in the back. However, Mr. Tyrrell may have a subliminal point. If Biden runs in the primaries against his boss O'Bozo, the revolt itself may be enough to sink the Democrats in the next election, not just for the White House, but the Biden-O'Bozo coattails may drag the Senate Democrats down into the sewer along with the rest of the Party.
Robert Foster| 9.1.11 @ 11:08AM
Ever wonder why Obama chose Biden as his running mate? Obama chose someone who would make Obama look good in comparison. We may now be at the point where Obama is making Biden look good.
Hollywood Hick| 10.6.11 @ 8:26AM
You beat me to it. The comparison. Obama always points at Bush - but at least Bush was self-confident enough in his own abilities to choose a smart VP.
Al Adab| 9.1.11 @ 11:31AM
It might work to Conservatives advantage to finance and encourage a Biden campaign. The press would enjoy disparaging him and might turn some of their attention from the GOP contenders. The real worry though is Mrs. (sic) Clinton should she decide to contest the nomination.
W| 9.1.11 @ 11:41AM
I read that Biden graduated 91 of 96 from Syracuse Law School, and that he received a "warning" because he wrote a term paper based on plagiarizing from some law review articles. It seems Joey did a cut and paste job by retyping sections from different articles, and showed no creativity by retyping it in his own words.
We don't know Obama's school rank, or if he wrote anything. He was president of law review, but this was an elected, political job, and not the same as Editor of Law Review. Editor is the real deal.
There is an article on the net written by Michelle Obama about racism at her college, which is barely comprehensible.
Peter McGrath| 9.1.11 @ 12:08PM
My enduring memory of Biden was his opposition to Reagan's strategic confrontation with the Soviet Union. Biden was wrong - flat out wrong - on every single big foreign policy debate from the late '70's to the early '90's. He supported the seditious "Nuclear Freeze" movement, opposed every effort by Reagan to upgrade our nuclear deterrent, stood arm-in-arm w/ Kennedy in opposing efforts to resist communist movements in Central American and Africa - the dude was a real peace-nik, and dumb as a bag of rocks to boot.
No - he was not - and is still not, endearing. His shallowness is matched with a crassness and venality that run very deep.
His betrayal of Robert Bork was especially appalling, and further exposed Biden for what he was and is: a Left-wing hack, ACLU ass-moocher.
Joe a "swell guy"? Nope, I'm not buying it.
One hopes that Mr. Tyrrell's tongue is firmly pressed against his cheek as he suggests otherwise.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.1.11 @ 12:22PM
Emmett,
Joe Biden is the ultimate I I
(Impeachment Insurance) VP.
That simple.
Read my book: "America Alone Said NO" at amazon kindle store now....or available in PDF on your e-mail at
www.americaalonesaidno.com
J.C.Eaton| 9.1.11 @ 1:19PM
Dear Mr. Tyrell, your writing is mostly perspicacious, usually edifying, and always provocative. Occasionally it is even comical; not today. Joe Biden is a bilious, lying, cowardly, and utterly stupid piece of humanity. He is not fit to hold the reins of Ichabod Crane's horse. You do your dear readers no service by including today's paeon[sic] in your fine magazine. Best,
LarryK| 9.1.11 @ 2:43PM
Who said, "If bullshit was gold, Joe Biden would be a billionaire."
Merlin| 9.1.11 @ 4:00PM
I believe that it was NR that had Biden cartoon about 30 years ago. Ted Kennedy and Biden were in an oarless rowboat somewhere in Foggy Bottom swamp. The name on the boat was
"Biden My Time."
Now is the time, Joe.
Al Adab| 9.1.11 @ 4:43PM
Robert Blakemore in the Washington Times today calls for the impeachment of Obama. President Biden anyone?
shipley130| 9.1.11 @ 8:52PM
That's a tough choice.
MOS was 71331| 9.1.11 @ 11:41PM
It's impossible to successfully impeach a Democrat, no matter how much he deserves it. Republican senators were willing to convict Nixon in 1974, but Democratic senators wouldn't convict Clinton in 1999 when the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Chuck in Northern VA| 9.1.11 @ 5:16PM
Let Biden be Biden. The whole world needs a good belly laugh, especially the unemployed who vote for the Democrats.
David| 9.1.11 @ 8:16PM
No way Biden, Hillary, or any other dem runs against Bam Bam. If they did win the nomination, they are sure to lose the general election as most blacks would be so p'd at him/her they would stay home on election day.
shipley130| 9.1.11 @ 8:51PM
Mr. Tyrrell,
Just the thought of Joe Biden gives me the willies. I'm pretty sure that if Biden was ever elected as POTUS, my eyes and other body parts would start bleeding. That's not to be taken in a biblical context, only medical context.
Buck Ofama| 9.2.11 @ 2:45AM
Biden: "I don't think about the things I think about."
POST American| 9.2.11 @ 4:11AM
-----------------BOTTOMLESS LINE-------------------
---Sub-MIT ROME-knee ---Rick Pair----Heee
AND Joe 'Bide-in'
= Glow-ball-ism n' USURY n' TREASON
n' have ---crooked, crooked smiles one and ALLLLLL.
robert Miller| 10.6.11 @ 10:39AM
thank you for coming up with the appropriate word describing joe's grin.
i have been looking for that word for years!!!
Bob Miller