Biden Bristles at Goofy Uncle Joe Sobriquet

So Vice President Biden bristles at the Goofy Uncle Joe nickname.  Can you blame him? Can you blame the American people for dismissing the President of Vice's (sic) inpolitic teasing,  too-close-to-home "jokes", odd gestures,  maniacal mirth, his numerous gaffes, his coarse cheerleading and creepy chatter at ceremonial swearing in as just Goofy Uncle Joe?

It was interesting that CNBC ran a Biden puff piece at this time.  It seems a bit early for an Obama era overview.  The lead in to the interview noting how other recent Vice Presidents have been labeled dumb or evil geniuses seemed to carry water for Biden's goofy public perception. 

Hidden in the piece were boasting that he could beat the loyal opposition and that his favorable ratings are better than Democrat front runner Hillary Clinton.

Some political participants have worried that the Republican Nomination system is rigged and that the Establishment wants to replace the candidate.  This CNBC piece may be proffering a premise that Biden is a Democrat replacement candidate in case there is a glitch in the otherwise expected Hillary coronation nomination.

The FBI continues their probe into the Clinton Emails and may start to squeeze those close to Hillary's inner circle (e.g. Huma Abedin, Cheryl Mills).  If the FBI recommends prosecutions of Hillary aides, this will be difficult to brush off as a politcal witch hunt, even if the DOJ decides  nolle prosequi.  

Hillary has also had several coughing jags, which calls into question her health. 

If in the event Hillary chooses not to stand for election (or is convinced to do so for the good of the party), Democrats will need to plug in somebody.  That could well be Joe Biden. 

It may seem stranger than fiction but a year ago who would have thought that a Manhattan real estate mogul turned reality show host may be a major party nominee for President.  Or that a 74 year old Socialist would give Hillary Clinton a primary run for her money for the Democrat nomination? This is a strange election cycle so anything could happen.

Senator Marco Rubio Answers Accusations About Senate Absenteeism

Freshman Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has not earned a gold star for attendance in his tenure in the Senate.  Rubio's run for the White House has kept him away from some Senate votes, but even prior to hitting the campaign hustings, Senator Rubio had developed a reputation for being absent in the Senate.

On the eve of the CNBC GOP Debate, the  South Florida Sun-Sentinel published an abrasive editorial demanding that Senator "Rubio should resign and not rip us off". Inevitably, this was going to be brought up during the debate.  

Former  Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) seized the the opportunity of Rubio's spotty Senate attendance at the record to make headlines by attacking his fellow Floridian with canned attacks.

But Rubio had done his homework and anticipated the attack.  Rubio rightly pointed out that during Senator Bob Graham's quixotic 2000 Presidential campaign that he missed 40% of the votes. Moreover, Senator John Kerry missed a super majority of Senate votes while being the 2004 Democrat nominee. When Rubio jabbed back at Jeb, he noted that Jeb was emulating McCain, who also missed many votes when running for President. 

Even though Rubio was well prepared for the attack about absenteeism from the media and his electoral opponent, it did not sound too scripted or wooden. Rubio also made the first foray into attacking the liberal media bias, which came to fruition by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).

Donald Trump on "If I Really Tank..."

Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump had a wide ranging sit down interview with CNBC's John Harwood at Trump Tower.

Trump entertained campaign contingencies if his campaign tanks

He sounds like a businessmen who would act to cut his losses rather than fight for things for which he believes.

FCC Commissioner Scathes Net Neutrality Politics

Ajit Pai, a Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission, has become outspoken in his objections to the political imposition of Net Neutrality by what is supposed to be an independent Federal commission.

Commissioner Pai noted that: “It’s no wonder that net neutrality proponents are already bragging that it will turn the FCC into the “Department of the Internet. For that reason, if you like dealing with the IRS, you are going to love the President’s plan." 

Many progressives have rallied around the concept of Net Neutrality thinking that it is hurting corporations and encouraging competition.  What Commissioner Pai points out is that applying Title II regulation to the internet, which was designed for railroads and Ma Bell, will stifle competition and favor behemoth businesses because of the regulatory burdens.

Congressional critics such as Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) have likened Net Neutrality as being Obamacare for the Internet, regulations sold to lower prices and improve delivery but which in reality do the opposite while making Uncle Sam the undisputed middle man.

Another alarming feature of such broad regulation by the FCC is the relative obscurity in which the rules are being cobbled together.  President Obama pressured the FCC in November 2014 about Net Neutrality.  Chairman Tom Wheeler, who had been a big Obama fundraiser, is complying but promises to make some changes in Title II to make it better.  Oh, so a regulatory schemata which was drawn up in 1934 can be tweaked to apply to the internet age.  Right. FCC Commissioner Mike O'Reilly warned the public about the dangers of forbearance as applied to Title II Common Carriers. 

There is the larger issue, however, about whether Congress ceded its legislative mantle to the FCC to strictly regulate the internet. If we hold fast to living in a constitutional democratic Republic, shouldn't our elected representatives, not bureaucrats who are unaccountable to the people (or for that matter Men in Black) be crafting such momentous law?

UPDATE 01/23/2017  President Trump is poised to name Ajit Pai as Chairman of the FCC, replacing Democrat activist FCC Chair Tom Wheeler.  Pai has been a critic of the Commission's impetus to impose net neutrality and thereby expand the FCC's role into regulating the Internet.