Some gracious quotes from Kerry about Vice President Elect Joe Biden

[beachmom]

Kind of weird since it is in the Scaiffe owned Pittsburgh Tribune Review, but still really nice:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/zito/s_600626.html

Joe Biden, gritty guy

...

In an interview by e-mail last week, John Kerry stated that he has great respect for his longtime colleague: "Joe and I have been in the trenches, and I really think that's when you learn the measure of a guy. He's resilient and he's determined. There's grit there. This is a guy who learned the ropes in the Senate from some real giants."

Biden ran two of the most contentious Senate committees with rare bipartisan skill, Kerry says, adding: "That tells you a hell of a lot about him. That he was asked to deliver the eulogy for (South Carolina Republican) Strom Thurmond tells you just how much Joe is and was respected across the aisle."

...

During the presidential campaign, Scranton, Pa., became a mini-epicenter of the political world because Biden once lived there, as fellow Sen. Bob Casey still does. Casey credits Biden with making sure that he was on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a feat even John Kennedy was not able to pull off in his freshman year.

"That was all Biden," Casey says.

Last February, Kerry was stuck with Biden and Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., in a chopper that made an emergency landing in the mountains of Afghanistan. A snowstorm had forced them down and they played cards to pass the time.

"I think between the cold and the conversation, Joe and I forgot who was winning," Kerry recalls. "But I think the smart money is on him."

Very classy of Kerry.

[JI7]

1. i saw a more humble side of Biden this election

and i now know why Kerry likes him so much. i remember reading that Kerry talked to Biden almost every day.

[PresidentObama]

2. One of my favorite scenes from Denver was Biden racing over to shake Kerry's hand.

You could tell both respected each other greatly.

I look forward to the Obama-Biden administration working with Senator Kerry as the SFRC chairman.

January couldn't come quick enough ;)

[Muttocracy]

3. seriously! I wonder when Biden is officially stepping down

I read a rumor on the DE Senate replacement that Biden would be waiting until closer to Jan 20 to resign. Maybe that's because the majority is so slim and maybe the new Congress can pass some things between Jan 3 (or whenever the new Senators are sworn in) and Jan 20.

I would think Biden or Kerry would have some hearings on India as soon as they're back in session. Maybe under the circumstances Kerry would go ahead as chair.

[karynnj]

4. Those are nice comments

As to Casey's comments, both Kerry and Casey also joined the SFRC as Freshman - as did Obama.