LA Times article on Joe

[gateley]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-biden18-2009aug18,0,2588210.story

Pretty objective with the exception of the "gaffe" crap, but to be fair, that's the meme that's out there. Anyway, here it is:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-biden18-2009aug18,0,2588210.story

[PatSeg]

1. I'm reading the first one

I'm glad the White House is going to use Joe to help advance health care reform. I just wrote something the other about it being a waste to squander his talents.

I love for Valerie Jarrett said about Joe, "We all have to have our words clarified at times. That's part of what makes the vice president so endearing. Everyone says, 'Oh, my gosh. I could have said that.' And the press tends to overblow it. We wouldn't change him one bit."

[PatSeg]

2. Oops, there was only one article

I saw two links and thought there were two.

Very good article.

[gateley]

3. So did you read it twice?

[PatSeg]

5. Oh yes, of course

I'm not too bright!

[gateley]

4. That's one of the things that attracted me to him in the first place -- that

he said what was on his mind. He was so DIFFERENT from ALL the others, including Obama (except for Gravel, maybe). And I understood his intent behind some of the things that were blown so out of proportion. They just dissect every syllable and swoop in and start screaming and beating the drum. It's whack.

[PatSeg]

6. Same here

Back in '04, I was on political overload and then I heard Joe speak. What a refreshing difference. My son isn't nearly as political as I am, and he was won over after listening to him for five minutes. Like Bill Clinton, Joe has the ability to connect with people regardless of political preferences, though I have to say I trust Joe more than Clinton.

[gateley]

7. I never connected w/Clinton like many others did -- just a gut feeling.

And stuff I learned about him during the campaign reinforced my beliefs. Although I DO believe he's got a good heart, just like so many other people (Joe included - I'm thinking about the cc bill in DE) able to convince themselves that what they're doing is right and end up believing it.

I think I remember you saying that about your son -- smart family, Pat!! I'd like to believe my parents would have liked him, too.

Edit to add I had a gut feeling about Edwards since he ran w/Kerry, but between the two, I'd trust Clinton WAY before I'd trust Edwards.

[PatSeg]

8. Oh Edwards had "phony" written all over him

I couldn't believe people couldn't see it. I'd watch and listen to him and think, "He's lying". Further examination indicated his actions didn't match his rhetoric. The final straw was dragging his wife around on the campaign trail knowing her cancer had returned. I don't care if she was willing or not. What kind of husband does that to his wife and mother of his children?

I guess some people's blind ambition knows no bounds. I remember Fred (here) talking about meeting him in person and he was a really rude, nasty guy.

[gateley]

13. Oh yeah! I remember Fred relaying that incident, too! No surprise to us. nt

[PatSeg]

14. Guess he couldn't keep that fake Hollywood smile

on his face forever. People in North Carolina had his number. Even if he had run for the senate again, he probably wouldn't have gotten elected. Elizabeth should have kicked his ass out a long time ago.

[gateley]

15. When I moved to NC it was just before Kerry named him as VP candidate --

so I asked around and nobody had anything nice to say about him. Quite the opposite! But, like you, it was more than that -- just a feeling that it was BS -- and we could see through it.

Interestingly, I started MAYBE giving him a break when Elizabeth said what a good man he was, because I was so very impressed by her. Same with Michelle -- something she said about O made me willing to look at him through different eyes. Different situation, though -- I was mostly down on Obama because he was running against Joe, so when I was able to look at him for who he was, I liked what I saw. With Edwards, I just never liked HIM since I first saw him.

He has surprised me a lot so far -- much stronger and more in charge than I thought he'd be. I understand that "strong" and "in charge" aren't necessarily the best adjectives to describe him during this health care brouhaha, but I feel much more confident of him than I ever thought I would.

Between Joe and O, we're in good hands...

[PatSeg]

16. I was very skeptical of Obama in the beginning

I was determined not to get sucked into the hype and his early debate performances weren't very impressive. I thought he had potential, but didn't appear ready yet. As the campaign progressed, he started to display more confidence and eventually he appeared "presidential". He has surpassed any expectations I had. I don't think we can know what kind of president a candidate will be until they are actually in office and I don't think they know either.

I have never seen a president so cool and in control all the time. I have a feeling FDR was like that and look at the challenges he had to face. He seemed to thrive on big problem solving.

"Joe and O" - has a nice ring to it!

[jillan]

9. It seems like alot of gaffes are being made these days...

and interesting enough, none is coming from Joe.

[PatSeg]

12. Was thinking the same thing today

A lot of "What she/he meant to say was............" coming out of the White House. They seem to have a message problem lately.

[jillan]

10. Thanks gateley! I was just thinking today how I desperately needed

a Biden fix! ahhhh - much better :P

[livvy]

11. Good article! I enjoyed that. n/t