Vice President Biden addresses DNC delegates in St. Louis last week. (Photo Credit: AP / Jeff Roberson)
by Mike Memoli
With President Obama enjoying a low-profile vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Vice President Biden has the temporary role as the leading voice of the administration this week.
This morning Biden addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Indianapolis, offering an upbeat assessment of the situation in Iraq (and perhaps a preview of what the president will say upon his return next week). Biden has since moved on to Toledo, Ohio, for an event meant to highlight what the administration sees as good news with regard to the automobile industry.
Having spent much of August on his own vacation, Biden made a conspicuous return to the headlines Friday with a preaching-to-the-choir speech at the Democratic National Committee meeting in St. Louis. It was there that the vice president predicted his party would retain their Congressional majorities after November's elections.
"If it weren't illegal, I'd make book on it," he said of his prediction.
Biden also blasted the Republican Party's agenda as the Bush administration record "on steroids," while saying the American people were only beginning to appreciate what Democrats have accomplished.
Still, he conceded that the polls have yet to reflect what he feels in his gut. Part of that is a reflection, he argued, of the fact that most Americans aren't focusing on politics at this point, and won't begin to until after Labor Day. But his main cause for optimism was that the American people would see this election as a choice.
"The choice is not between Democrats and the Almighty. It's between Democrats and the Republican Tea Party," he said.
The remainder of Biden's schedule this week includes a mix of policy and politics. While in Ohio today he'll also headline a finance event for Gov. Ted Strickland (D), who welcomed Obama just last week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he'll be at the White House focusing on two of his main prerogatives -- the implementation of the Recovery Act and his Middle Class Task Force.
Thursday he travels to the politically significant state of New Hampshire for a Recovery Act announcement. Expect in the weeks ahead to see similar travel by Biden, seen as secret weapon in reaching out to working class voters.
Comments
Joe Biden is one of the most likeable political figures in America (especially compared to The Dick Cheney), which is why everytime the Wingnuts try to bash him it backfires in their face.
Posted by: Rob | August 23, 2010 4:18 PM
Great! The Joe is back. Can't wait to hear what he is going to say. He's always entertaining with the way he puts his foot in his mouth.
Joe, please tell us how well the recovery act is working to the middle class. We should all thank this administration for not making us all unemployed, and not taxing us to death. That's the attitude of the current regime.
Posted by: Free to Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | August 23, 2010 4:23 PM
I had not noticed that he was missing.
Posted by: ornery | August 23, 2010 4:24 PM
Mr. Vice President,
We are still awaiting all of those "shovel ready jobs" to keep unemployment at "under 8%". I do hope you explain the failure of your and President Obama's claims when you received almost a trillion dollars in stimulus money.
Could it be that the stimulus bill was just a political payback to the unions and the far left!
Posted by: Pat H | August 23, 2010 5:12 PM
Posted by: Free to Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | August 23, 2010 4:23 PM
*********************
Free to Watch Cartoons,
The Recovery Act wouldn't have even been necessary had Republicans not tanked the economy by giving unfunded deficit producing tax cuts to Billionaires, Mega Corporations and Big Oil, and started a $ trillion dollar war (Iraq) for no reason, Skippy.
I hope Biden continues to talk about it too, seeing as how the Recovery Act saved this country from going into a full blown Bush Depression. And especially since elected Republicans agree with him on that..
Republicans Privately Praise Recovery Act for Creating Jobs in their Home States and Districts.
.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/09/stimulus-foes-see-value-in-seeking-cash/
.
Posted by: Rob | August 23, 2010 5:33 PM
I agree with Joe, most people aren't focusing on politics right now, they're fighting foreclosure, looking for a job or taking a cut in salary, furlough days and cuts in benefits just to hold on to their jobs. Yeah Joe, the people are a little busy right now with other things, like survival. I'm sure when the time is right the people ponder all the "change" that has come their way and vote accordingly.
Posted by: vla | August 23, 2010 5:44 PM
Ah Rob, the recovery act hasn't done anything except keep overpaid government workers in their useless jobs and proped up their bloated pensions and benefits that are double what the private sector receives. Theft by deception Robbie. It's past time for your afternoon nap.
Posted by: Free to Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | August 23, 2010 5:51 PM
Go, Vice-President Biden, tell it like it is!! Don't let those obstructionists or revisionists of the Republican-Libertarian-T,Baggers get away with any more of their lies, distortions and fear-mongering. Reel-off President Obama's and your's, accomplishments, from Affordable Healthcare to Financial Reform. The Party of No wants to reverse those good steps forward, toward a healthier and less financially-strapped nation and take us back to the heady days of Bush&Cheney. The heady days of Bush&Cheney and the Depression they caused, regardless of the refusal of Corporate America, and their, bought and paid for, Press, to call it a Depression.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 23, 2010 6:03 PM
I'm glad to see Biden has changed his tune on Iraq from three years ago. I'm more happy that BO kept the Bush plan in Iraq and saw it thru to its success.
What part of the Bush economy did Biden have a problem with - 73 consecutive months of economic growth or 42 months of full employment?
I'll take the Republican Teay Party over the Democrat-Socialist-Rearendrammers.
Trickled On Rob,
If the democrats and their accomplices at Fannie and Freddie hadn't tanked the economy the Spendulus wouldn't have been necessary and Obumbles wouldn't be president. BO is putting the car, that democratic policies put in ditch, over the cliff.
Posted by: Terry | August 23, 2010 6:43 PM
As Biden rightly proclaims the success of the Iraq surge, here's a look back at what the Flatliners said 3 1/2 years ago.
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl6Zc-kKdko
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18227928/
Posted by: Terry | August 23, 2010 6:50 PM
The vacationer-in-chief is hobnobbing with the wealthy socialites again on Martha's Vineyard, and the loons probably still think he's for the average American.
10% unemployment, foreclosures at an all time high and he goes golfing.
What a putz.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | August 23, 2010 7:16 PM
And he is still a clueless idiot. He better go back to wherever he was!
Posted by: John D | August 24, 2010 8:37 AM
Joe Biden seems to be a nice guy that many Democrats and Republicans like. But the big issue that for this election cycle will be the economy (It is the Economy Stupid"). As those on the Left and Right, many on this site, continue blame each other for the financial meltdown, nothing seems to be improving. In fact it may even be getting worse. This morning more bad economic news was released with the decline in housing numbers. Sales of existing homes in the Chicago area nosedived 25.1 percent in July as temporary tax breaks expired. And nationwide the decline was 27 percent. The whole Chicago are was hit with declines with sales falling 22.9 percent in Cook County, 35.8 percent in DuPage County, 29.6 percent in Lake County, 18.6 percent in Kendall County, 19.8 percent in McHenry County, and 29.9 percent in Will County. Medium prices of existing homes also declined fro a year ago. Regardless how much the Apologists on the Left will try to spin this story and play the name calling and blame game, those figures are very, very bad. And unless there is a major turn around in the economy, employment and housing, the Democrats are going to be in for big time trouble in November. They are currently the Party In Power and will catch the blame whether earned or not. And the Republicans will gain seats in the congress and state legislatures by nothing special they did but by default. There are major changes coming in November.
Posted by: depot jim | August 24, 2010 10:57 AM
@ Terry..Keep repeating lies and then it will be true. Fannie and Freddie the reason for the economic meltdown?? You are sooooo wrong. They had their part, but to be so simple in your understanding undermines any argument you make. But that is the Republican way. Maybe if the inspectors go to Fannie and Freddie's offices, they will find WMD's. Right? Keep repeating the lie.
Posted by: ugggh | August 24, 2010 11:32 AM
John D calling someone a clueless idiot......that's rich. Go look in a mirror. Any time Biden speaks the truth about something the thin skinned Republicans don't like, they spin it as a "gaffe".
Posted by: Tim | August 24, 2010 12:59 PM
Paulo - Tan Man Boehner went golfing 119 times last year alone, and almost always picked up PAC money at every outing. Yet, you never said one word against him whenever he went golfing - why aren't you consistent?
Posted by: BC | August 24, 2010 1:44 PM
Tim, Geographically Stupid Little Johnnie D is truly the expert when it comes to seeing a "clueless idiot". After all, he sees one every morning when he looks into the mirror.
Posted by: BC | August 24, 2010 1:46 PM
Ugghh,
I forget to include the policies of the 1993 HUD, and the language put into Gramm-Leach-Billey Act to expand mortgages to those who couldn't afford them Thanks for reminding me.
Posted by: Terry | August 24, 2010 8:08 PM
HEY UGGH, (did I spell it right?) Barney the FRANK tries some CYA, (well its a metaphor...)
Barney Frank Comes Home To The Facts
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=544627&obref=outbrain
For years, Frank was a staunch supporter of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the giant government housing agencies that played such an enormous role in the financial meltdown that thrust the economy into the Great Recession. But in a recent CNBC interview, Frank told me that he was ready to say goodbye to Fannie and Freddie.
"I hope by next year we'll have abolished Fannie and Freddie," he said. Remarkable. And he went on to say that "it was a great mistake to push lower-income people into housing they couldn't afford and couldn't really handle once they had it." He then added, "I had been too sanguine about Fannie and Freddie."
When I asked Frank about a long-term phase-out plan that would shrink Fannie and Freddie portfolios and mortgage-purchase limits, and merge the agencies into the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for a separate low-income program that would get government out of middle-income housing subsidies, he replied: "Larry, that, I think, is exactly what we should be doing."
NOW, Barney just RESIGN you piece of sh.....
Posted by: Free To Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | August 27, 2010 3:09 AM