Joe Biden on the Ginsburg Rule

Ben Sasse on DC Dysfunction

VICE President Joe Biden on Sexual Assault

VICE President Joe Biden's cognitive dissonance is rich, especially considering his own handsy public conduct.

Asides from being an odd messenger for Democrat's hands off approach to sexual assault, Biden's bluster blurted out an interesting admission.  If Ex President B.J. Clinton paid a price, was impeached and expressed deep sorry for Monica Lewinski, then it is a tacit admission of guilt.  By 1996 standards, it was a private affair and just about consensual sex between a 21 year old intern and her big boss, the President of the United States.  Hmm.

Hillary Clinton's 9/11 Collapse Raises Dem Concerns

Democrat Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (D-NY) attended a 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in New York, but left an hour and a half early. This might raise some eyebrows among news junkies and politicos in the throes of a General Election campaign in her home state at a solemn memorial.

However, as Mrs. Clinton was waiting for her transportation to arrive, videographers captured a medical episode.





Eyewitnesses reported that Hillary's knees buckled and had to be helped (carried) into the van. Reporters on the Hillary 2016 beat were not allowed to follow.  They were told, and most of the media dutifully reported that  Secretary Clinton  just "stumbled". Then the story shifted to Hillary was suffering from a minor case of heat exhaustion and was dehydrated on a 72 degree morning with low humity.

Hillary was taken to her daughter Chelseas's $10 Million flat in the Flatiron District.  After a spell, Hillary briefly appeared and claimed that she was fine on a beautiful New York late summer afternoon and was taken to her home in Chappuqua.

When this facile fabrications were not bought for long by the Lamestream Media, the campaign facilitated a statement from Dr. Lisa Beckett that Hillary has been diagnosed with a case of pneumonia related to her allergic cough. It is curious that Hillary's staffers neither presented the public with the truth (first calling the incident a stumble and then blaming it on heat exhaustion rather than the pneumonia diagnosed three days before) nor did they modify her schedule for more rest.  Hillary spoke at a New York fundraiser on Friday, in which she accused half of Donald Trump supporters to be a "Basket of Deplorables".  The Clinton campaign has postponed a September 13 Hollywood fundraiser to give Hillary more rest.

There are some reports that Democrat operatives are concerned about the whirlwind of Hillary concerns.  The dogged reports about Hillary's Health may prompt the DNC to hold an emergency meeting to "consider" a replacement in case Mrs. Clinton needs to drop out for health reasons.

Because Senator Bernie Sanders (Socialist-VT) did not concede with acclamation, there is a strong case that the number two Democrat candidate should become the party's nominee. But there are a couple of problems with this scenario.

 Firstly, Sanders announced at the Democrat convention that he was again leaving the Democrat party to become an Independent (Socialist). Secondly, if the 68 year old Mrs. Clinton has to bow out of the Presidential race, it would be really bad optics to replace her with a 75 year old.  Then there is the problem of logistics.  Sanders ran as an outsider.  Having a substitute candidate would necessitate working in close cooperation with party insiders and big money donors to retool the Democrat ticket on the fly.

Then there is the reality that rules don't really matter to Democrats when it gets in the way of winning.  Think about how ex-Senator Bob Torriccelli (D-NJ) in 1996, which he was replaced after substitute closing date by Senator Frank Lautenburg (D-NJ).  In 2000, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan (D-MO) died in a plane crash three weeks before the general election.  In that instance, voters elected a dead person so his widow Jean Carnahan (D-MO) could assume the Senatte office by appointment from the Democrats. When Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) died in a plane crash in 2002 11 days before the general election, Minnesota Democrats inserted former Vice President Walter Mondale.  But Democrats seemed to have overplayed their hand when they turned the televised Wellstone memorial into a Democrat pep rally. Mondale lost to Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN).

In Presidential politics, the last major substitution was when it became public that Democrat Vice Presidential nominee  Senator Thomas Eagleton (D-MO) had been hospitalized for severe depression and supposedly undertook "shock therapy".  This embarrassed the Democrat nominee Senator George McGovern (D-SD).  So Eagleton withdraw at McGovern's request on August 1, 1972 and Kennedy inlaw Sargent Shriver was named to be the Democrat VP. Mc Govern/Shriver went on to lose 49 states.

If Hillary did bow out from what was supposed to be a sure coronation, who would realistically replace her?  Bernie backers would be ideologically appeased if a progressive like Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) were chosen. But Warren may not have the name recognition this cycle to be a successful short notice substitution.  Moreover, her anti-Wall Street message might well cause big moneyed backers to back off.

This would leave the affable but verbally blunder bound current Vice President Joe Biden. Biden refrained from running in 2016 because he was grief stricken at the death of his son Beau. He has national name recognition, the backing of the Obama Administration, a carefully cultivate image as "Lunch Bucket Joe", but he is not known for being strident against Wall Street. That being said, Biden would be 74 years old on Inauguration Day.

In an already extraordinary election year, Democrats may well find religion in the message of this church sign.

Joe Biden on Dunkin Donuts

While Homer Simpson wondered if there was anything donuts can't do, it seems that they can not stop now Vice President Joe Biden from making jocular gaffes.

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.

Hugh Hewitt on Politics

Late Lament from Vice President Biden

Well, by keeping involved in Election 2016, Biden will be well positioned waiting in the wings--along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)-- if in the end Hillary Clinton decides to spend more time with her grandchildren. 

David Axelrod on Democrat Primary Politics

Joe Biden on Same-Sex "Stuff"

Joe Biden on Abortion

 So Natural Law is applicable only to those who intellectually adhere to it.  This sort of compartmentalization is common place among liberal Catholic politicians.  But if Vice President Biden is bidding to appeal to real Catholics in a proto-Presidential campaign, he has some soulful promises to keep.

Bursting the Bubble on Biden-Mania

In his Hot Air piece, Ed Morrissey bursts the bubble of Biden-Mania  and scrutinizes the Democrat's thin national bench for the next political cycle. But in the near term, our National Treasure Joe Bumble would be a more conventional Democrat alternative to Hillary Clinton than socialist Bernie Sanders.

But other media pundits continue to bolster a nascent Biden-Mania.

A Bit on Pope Francis' Environmental Encyclical-- Praised Be, Popey-cock or a Hot Mess?

The laity have been anxiously awaiting the release of Pope Francis’ first solo encyclical Laudato Sii,(2015) which was presumably about Climate Change.  Community Organizers  polled attendees at a DC Green Festival if they were optimistic about the upcoming bull.  Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) was chary about Pope Francis commenting on Climate Change.   Former Senator and 2016 GOP Presidential candidate  Rick Santorum (R-PA) questioned if the Holy See should use the Church's moral authority on Climate Change as there are more pressing issues facing the world.



After  La Repubblica leaked an advance copy of the Vatican document, the mainstream media was quick to report that the New World’s Holy Father unquestionably embraced man-made Climate Change and frowned upon fossil fuels. Some skeptics have quipped that Pope Francis’ pronouncement as Al Gore wearing white robe  and miter.  It also seemed to copy from Hillary Clinton’s speeches that humanity need to change to allow new beliefs, attitudes and lifestyles (para. 202).  Yet such secular caricatures ignores the several anti abortion allusions in the encyclical

Climate Change this was only a small part of Laudato Sii, encompassing only several paragraphs of the encyclical, including the unreferenced preamble. The main natural ecological section was paragraphs 165-175 which urged abandoning fossil fuels, imposing renewable energy and the urgent need to establish a true world political authority to stop pollution, manage Sustainable Development and eradicate poverty (para 175).  When reading a rough translation from the Italian of the leaked  187 page, 245 paragraph papal document, this writer took 23 pages of typed notes. The phrase "global warming" (riscaldamento globale) only appeared twice and variations of riscaldamento only appeared 10 times in the entire encyclical.




Pundits have been quick to presume that the faithful must accede to this encyclical.  However, Laudato  Sii was not a Thomistic scholastic pronouncement like the Baltimore Catechist but akin to a Vatican II document which is meant to convince and spur dialog. Moreover, if it is not centered on faith and morals, an encyclical is at best an advisory document.



A leitmotif of this encyclical is the linkage between perceived environmental crisis and poverty. Laudato Sii highlights the intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of planet.  Pope Francis postulates that there should be sustainable development in an ecological manner in tandem with a preferential option for the poor.

***

Pope Francis understands the lesson from the Genesis creation story is that humanity was created in God’s image and entrusted to grow and keep the garden of the Earth. This Jesuit Pontiff channeled his inner Franciscan through the title of Laudato Sii from the Canticle of St. Francis of Assisi which poetically alludes to  Sister Earth.

***

At times, it was a strain to discern the relation some subjects had to an encyclical supposedly about the environment. Pope Francis understands the environment holistically, so it is not just about pollution of the natural world but also social degradation. Thus the Holy Father included brief critiques of technology, labor, bioethics, economics, finance, ecology, GMOs,  anthropology, art, architecture, transportation, infrastructure, culture, trade, polity, animal testing, human trafficking, selling endangered species pelts and man’s raison d’etre as part of an integral examination of the environment. Such an collection of short treatments on diffuse issues did not read like a compendium but more like a hot mess of Popey-cock.

***

It seemed like more an encyclical on Social Justice than it did a treatment on the environment. Ironically, that may be the point. Pope Francis seemed intent on a North-South transfer of wealth as a part of environmental remediation (para. 51).  Furthermore, Pope Francis lamented that we did not use the 2008 Financial Crisis (para 189) as a time to reset the economy to a new ethical principle. Achieving progressive social justice through environmental issues.

***

While the curia certainly helped draw up this draft, the language seemed slanted to reflect Pope Francis’ animus against Capitalism with a prejudice against profit and privatization.  When listing misusing technology causing environmental degradation, leading the list was America's use of atomic bombs, followed by communism's exploits and then fascism (para. 104). Much to the chagrin on many Western Progressives, Pope Francis repeated condemns the culture of consumerism and technology which depletes precious resources.  So Climate Change enthusiasts should be willing to sacrifice their i-Phones (para. 47), their own cars (para. 153) as well as their A/C (para. 55).

Although there are several references to differences in opinion and approach to the environment, Pope Francis’ peroration refers to Christians committed to prayer who make a mockery of environmental concerns with the pretense of being realistic or pragmatic (para. 217),  This embodies progressive intolerance of dissent.  One wonders if mollifying mockery about man made climate change goes both ways, as Vice President Joe Biden just jibed that: “As hard as it is to believe, many of these same people continue to deny the reality of climate change. They also deny gravity."

 This prima facia critique of Laudoto Sii will not dwell in details about competing data disputing anthropogenic global warming, but the so called consensus is in dispute and scandal from the East Anglia hockey stick model show how data was manipulated for the profit of further investment in climate change studies.

***

 Pope Francis made clear, however,  that “The Church does not claim to define the issues scientific, nor to replace politics, but invitation an honest and transparent debate”. (para. 188).   So Catholics need not bow down to the beliefs in Laudato Sii but prayerfully consider the message and participate in the debate.  The manifold political prescriptions which the pontiff proffered were interesting and from the heart but not within his proper sphere of influence.  It is novel to stress a linkage between the poor and environmental degradation, but some of Pope Francis’ solutions of relying on renewable power will cause energy prices to skyrocket, directly hurting the poor.

While Pope Francis’ asceticism is admirable, his proscription of “Less is more” (para. 222)  is questionable for the masses, especially as a response to an asserted ecological crisis. It also leads to the prickly particular of who decides how much is enough. In Laudato Sii, Pope Francis encouraged people to do little things, like use covers instead of turning up the heat, not because it will solve problems but for a conversion of heart (para. 212).  There may be a special place in heaven for such symbolic sacrifice, but it runs counter to policy condemnation of fossil fuels and excoriating buying green credits.

This philippic against pollution, environmental and social, is certainly well intended.  The unfocused nature of the encyclical makes it challenging to catachetize among the faithful, much less the world at large. It would seem that Laudato Sii fuses Sustainable Development with Social Justice. By progressively engaging in political subjects outside of the Holy See’s spiritual authority, Pope Francis may have alienated good will among non-progressive faithful. Furthermore, the policy prescriptions in Laudato Sii seem founded on third way intellectualism, which has few real world successes and is rife for polemic exploitation. What was proposed as an invitation for honest and transparent dialog on the environment is also presented as a rush to consensus due to exigency, which stifles the discernment of unpopular opinions to “Do something now”.

There have been other Catholic teaching documents which have broached on public policy pronouncements...

***

Considering that much of Laudato Sii sounds like the Holy Father is singing from the Progressives’ hymnal, this encyclical may be used to enviro-shame opponents of radical green solutions, as the left conveniently forgets about the condemnation of consumerist culture and not valuing unborn life.

It is regrettable that Laudato Sii was not more tersely cogent to challenge the faithful on natural problems.  It was awkward to have a religious document from a spiritual leader proscribe public policy solutions (get rid of fossil fuels and opt for renewable energy) with a pastiche of spiritual anchors.

SEE MORE at DCBarroco.com

Joe Biden on Top Cops

Vice President Joe Biden attended the 22nd annual Top Cop awards ceremony in Washington, DC.  Our national treasure was in rare form by giving plaudits to the police while still joshing with them. 

Political junkies wonder if blue collar Democrats will gravitate towards Lunch Bucket Joe should the Vice President decide to try for the Oval Office in 2016.

Mining Nuggets from the Nabobs of Nerd Prom

The White House Correspondents' Dinner has been an annual event since 1921 when the press corp rubs elbows with the Administration in a social, cocktail fueled supper.  Some serious journalists, like New York Times columnist Frank Rich have refused to go to the dinner as  it "illustrates how easily a propaganda-driven White House can enlist the Washington news media in its shows."

In recent years, the White House Correspondents' Dinner has drawn increased public attention and glamour as  the guest list has grown to be "more Hollywood". The event has evolved from a humble one night affair into a  week long celebration by celebutards, power players and the press.  The WHCD attendees certainly ate well, unlike many DC Dinners of rubber chicken.

Patrick Gavin, a reporter formerly of Politico and the Washington Examiner, produced the film "Nerd Prom" (2015) which documented the pomp and circumstance of the 2014 White House Correspondence Dinner.  The title derives from the face that most of the reporters would not have been the cool kids  in secondary school, so the White House Correspondents' Dinner is a replacement prom.  

As a political animal residing in the District of Calamity (sic), I appreciate opportunities to make light of my favorite contact sport--politics.  But knowing that the press corps is overwhelmingly liberal and  the timidity of inquiries during Presidential press briefings of late, it is unreasonable to expect that the jokes would be evenly divided.  But by mining the nuggets from the nabobs of the Nerd Prom from  Celebrity in Chief President Barack Obama and keynote comedienne Cecily Strong one can discern some interesting insights.

Cecily Strong  was the keynote speaker. While Strong is a Saturday Night Live cast member, she was not a marquis name.  Strong self-deprecatingly quipped that she was the vaguely ethnic woman featured in college recruitment brochures. Strong reveled that she was the first female host of the White House Press big bash in years.  Strong also noted: “I’m also the first straight woman to host this in 20 years, so, we finally made it, straight people.".  Thus the routine was going to be packed with progressive identity politics with an emphasis on female power and gay glory.

It was clear from the material that Strong was not a Washington insider.  She wanted to play up sex scandals in the Capital City, so she segued “It is great to be here at the Washington Hilton… is something a prostitute might say to a congressman.” Then Strong pivoted to the point by musing: “The Washington Hilton you guys. If these walls could talk. They’d probably say ‘clean me.’”  Kind of funny, but when a District of Calamity denizen associates hotels with scandals,  toe sucking at the Hay Adams (by then Clinton adviser Dick Morris) and the Mayflower (where Democrat NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer rented room 941 with his Empire Club call girl) or maybe DC Mayor Marion Berry's drug bust at the Vista.  The Capital Hilton is remembered as the Hotel where President Reagan was shot in 1981. But why let reality get in the way with a funny quip.

Strong played up the progressive press pieties by jabbing that Memories Pizza from Elkhorn Indiana would not be catering because of a rumor that Barney Frank would be attending thus they could not taste that world class Indiana Pizza.  A triple play in a homage to the homosexual lobby, a fly-over country jab and massaging the egos of Nerd Prom.  Of course, the family pizza joint does not cater (but got caught up in a media made mess over RFRA and same sex weddings in INDIANA), Rep. Frank left Congress over two years ago and these media nabobs would never be caught eating pizza in public.  Strong worked in hits on Hobby Lobby being anti-women with opposing contraception (for employees of a faith based corporation), even though that was a Supreme Court decision nearly a year old. 

Some of Strong's ziggers were sharp, but her delivery was weak.  Her stand-up did not pack a strong punch (sic).  It might have hurt that she kept looking down to read her one liners, which accented her exaggerated fake eyelashes.  It seems that she could not get use of TOTUS (Teleprompter of the United States).

Strong seemed more successful when using props and slight physical comedy.  For example, Strong scourged Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL 18th) with a slide show mocking his travels and surfing while implying infidelity. That was less than courageous comedy as Schock announced his resignation six weeks ago over funding improprieties (not sexual harassment) and left town a month ago.    When Strong chose to savage Mr. Obama about being weak on ISIS, she could not utter his name but did an eye roll towards the President. 

Where Strong seemed equal opportunity in her irreverence was towards the media.  Strong zinged CNN over its Ebola obsession, MSNBC for being long winded and showing prison documentaries and lamenting over FoxNews losing viewers ("May they rest in peace") and being like a party scene from Weekend at Bernie's (1989) full of hot women and old guys. Strong did not spare NPR  or the Huffington Post's alliance with AOL.

 Initially, Strong said that she could not say anything about Brian Williams since  she worked for NBC.  But during the Shock and Aw surfing slideshow, Strong said sotto voce "Brian Wiliams, come on--you weren't there.".  The camera panned to a black female reporter who had a priceless look of disgust on her face. 

 It was telling how the room gravitates towards the camera, as Strong joked that print media was serving the tables and there was appreciative laughter.  It was funny when Strong spoke to CSPAN viewers in their native tongue "Meow".

Strong slammed law enforcement by claiming that the Secret Service it was the only law enforcement agency that would get in trouble if a black man was shot was edgy while fueling the police brutality narrative.  Strong's quip that Mr. Obama's hair had gotten so white that it could talk back to the police also reflected the racial divide and the false hands up don't shoot narrative.  

These "jokes" were delivered as there was civil unrest occurring in Baltimore, forty miles to the north. When the Mayor of Baltimore holds Orioles fans in their seats because there are rioters outside of Camden Yards, this ceased to be funny even for black satire. It  just shows how the Amtrak corridor elites are out of touch as well as pushing a progressive narrative.  

Vice President Joe Biden was the butt of several stinging observations.  Strong noted that her Amtrak experience was augmented by a Biden massage seat, alluding to his creepy tendency to manhandle women standing next to him.  Later, Strong quipped that our national treasure Joe Biden could be found in a ball pit at Chucky Cheese.  So much for the boomlet of Biden for President in 2016.

Strong was unabashed in her support for Hillary Clinton's White House run.  It seems that it was important to put a "real woman" in the White House, not a right woman like Carly Fiorina. No surprise from a celebrity waxing politically.  Strong did joke about foreign entities getting more favorable treatment by contributing to the Clinton fund. But Strong tried to be serious by chiding the press not to comment on Hillary's appearance, which garnered modest applause.  But the press has already been told how to cover Hillary and they know that going against these demands will cause them to loose access, get minders following them or be locked in a holding cell during events.

[L] Keegan Michael Keys at "Luther" the Anger Translator & [R] Barack Obama as  the 44th President 

of the United States at the 2015 White House Correspondents' Dinner 

As for President Obama, he always does well at these political-press love fests.  His writing was better than Mr. Obama's misplaced jocularity at the recent reception of Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots at the White House. 

Some feel the President Obama demeaned the office by the puckish slideshow which included a picture of the President swimming in a White House fountain. However, Mr. Obama already demeaned the prestige of the Presidency by granting an extended interview with an internet phenom whose claim to fame was bathing in a tub of Fruit Loops and milk. So when Mr. Obama opined that his new policy methodology rhymed with "Buck it", it fit right in with the vulgar values of a Daily Show and Reddit audience. 

That being said, Mr. Obama displays an odd sense of humor in public.  One wonders why he continually goes back to birther jokes-- is this a political dog whistle, a psychological perseveration or a healthy sense of humor?  And his comment that he needed as much money as the rumored $1 Billion that the Koch Brothers will contribute to the Presidential campaign in this election as he has a middle name of "Hussein" seems strange and in your face to the American electorate.  Mr. Obama's writers had a clever quip based on Bernie Sanders that: "We could put a pot smoking, socialist back in the White House-- an Obama third term.".  Is that reductio ad absurdum humor or epater le bourgeosie?

Part of President Obama's shtick was assisted through an anger translator played by Keegan Michael Key.  This skit culminated by Mr. Obama feigning losing his cool over racial issues and his "anger translator" holding him back.  This segment had been preceded by allusions to Blackish.  This obsession with race contradicts Mr. Obama's first forays  onto the public scene as a post-racial President.  More alarmingly, playing up internalized anger over racial strife seems to fan the flames of Fergusion which are now burning in Baltimore.  

The Lame Duck President could afford to take some jabs at the Presidential field.  Obama unleashed a few stingers at Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) which shows who liberal elites seem to fear.  While Mr. Obama mocked much of the Republican field, I do not recall any snide snips against Governor Scott Walker (R-WI).  Surprisingly, President Obama gave a towel snap to his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-AR NY).  Mr. Obama joked about a friend living in a van in Iowa, which alluded to Hillary in the "Scooby" Mystery Machine during her brief Iowa listening tour. This reveals the reality that there is not much love lost between the Clinton and the Obama "dynasties". 

All in all, the writing for the 2015 White House Correspondent's dinner was better than most Saturday Night Live political skits.  Unfortunately, Strong's delivery lacked a punch.  Mr. Obama showed his snarky side, which was smooth but not flattering.  Even his attempts at self depricating humor about being self absorbed were not endearing. But at least First Lady Michelle Obama let the crowd enjoy roast before these self important nabobs at the Nerd Prom are condemned to consume cake.  

No wonder some serious journalists refuse to make spectacles of themselves in self congratulatory ceremonies.  The only thing missing from the White House Correspondents' Dinner from entertainment awards shows is an array of lucite trophies beng awarded. It has been said that "Politics is Hollywood for ugly." But Patrick Gavin is right that the White House Correspondents' Dinner is not Hollywood for the ugly, it's a Nerd Prom.  The only trouble with this analogy is that Nerds are capable of making useful contributions (despite their social awkwardness), whereas today's crop of White House Correspondents seem like either stenographers for their Dear Leader or "jo-whore-nalists" for a progressive cause.

Joe Biden on American Jews

Joe Biden on Emancipation

Vice President Joe Biden is known for his egregious gaffes, his colorful metaphors as well as his uncouth social graces while in the spotlight. Last year, Biden channeled "White Men Can't Jump" for his Black History Month event.  This year, Mr. Biden hosted a Black History Month dinner at the Naval Observatory (the Vice President's official residence) in which he fused class envy with racial politics.

 It is unclear if the man who is one heartbeat away from the Oval Office is trying to outflank Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on progressive economic appeals in a fledgling bid for the Democrat presidential nomination, or if Biden is just tone deaf by once again invoking the "chains y'all" rhetoric famously used during the 2012 re-election bid.

 A fortnight ago, the media worked itself into a tizzy when it discovered the old news that Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) dropped out of Marquette University during his senior year and never graduated.  Biden makes an inflammatory and insensitive appeal and the Lamestream Media will not cover it since it's just "Joe being Joe".

It is not the conscience of the American public that needs emancipation as much as the news needs emancipation from a progressive lamestream media which will not report things which do not fit into their favored narrative.

VP's Creepy Chatter at Ceremonial Senate Swear Ins

As President of the Senate, Vice President Joe Biden has the duty to administer the oath of office to members at the start of a session (even though the Senate maintains that it is a continuous body).  Members take the official oath in groups of ten on the Senate floor, but as part of the pomp and ceremony of the 114th Congress, Senators and their families make ceremonial poses in the Old Senate Chambers in the Capitol.

Vice President Biden's Id appeared unleashed as he was administering this ceremonial duty.  When 80 year old Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) stepped to the dais to take the oath with his teenaged granddaughter Emily, the Vice President complimented the pretty teen by quipping: "I hope you have a big fence around the house!".



Mr. Biden was so pleased with his presumed piropo that he repeated the "big fence" line with freshman Senator Joni Ernst's (R-IA) daughter Libby. This was not the end of Biden's smooth moves with the Ernsts.  He addressed his colleague as Gail (her husband's name) instead of Joni.  Furthermore, the Vice President then put his arm around Libby as the oath was administered.

[L] Senator Joni Ernst's ceremonial oath, by V.P. Joe Biden  Old Senate Chambers 01/06/2105 {Photo credit: AP}

These creepy comments and  awkward encounters were not reserved exclusively for GOP families.  Vice President Biden said to four term Senator Dick Durban's (D-IL) grandson: "You've got killer eyes. The girls are in trouble.".

When first term Senator Chris Coons (R-DE) was posing for his 114th Congress oath, Vice President Biden tried to kiss Coon's daughter Margaret on the head, but she turned away.

These avuncular blurtations and clumsy socialization might have been tolerated at a family gathering with an odd old uncle, but this was a public ceremony.  Moreover, the special attention which Mr. Biden gave lovely young women was uncomfortable, if not creepy.

Remember, Mr. Biden is one heartbeat away from the Oval Office.  In addition, the Vice President is positioned to make a run for the White House on his own in 2016.  This gives the "big fence around the house" quip even more poignancy.

UPDATE 01/11/2015  While responding to a Chris Wallace's question on Fox News Sunday, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) insists that his daughter does not think that Vice President Biden is creepy.  In fact, Coons claims that Biden was just trying to help Maggie get through a day in the spotlight. Oh, by putting the spotlight on a teen by whispering sweet nothings in her ear and seeking to give her a peck on the forehead.  Sure.

h/t: Daily Mail
      New York Magazine

Is Obama Just Joking About Early Voting?

During a campaign swing in Wisconsin, President Barack Obama urged those assembled (before they left early) to go out and vote early. Mr. Obama made a slight slip of the tongue which he tried to convert to a bon mot by doing a variation of the "vote early, vote often" saw.

 

While this was probably an innocent slip of the tongue, it is worth considering the underlying message.  

Our Dear Leader, who hails from Chicago blithely brings to mind the Windy City's crooked reputation about stealing elections. Mr. Obama  claims that he was "just messing" with Chicago as that was a long time ago.  Try telling that to Jim Moynihan,  who exercised his Early Voting option in Cook County, Illinois.  However, Moynihan found that the touch screen voting machine registered all of his Republican voting choices (including for his own race) to the Democrat candidate.  The election official insisted that this was just a simple calibration error.  Moynihan cautions conscientious voters to check your ballot before submitting it. 

Lest anyone believe that the errant voting machine was just another isolated incident, consider that calibration errors also occurred in Maryland (another solidly blue state). Curiouser and curiouser. 

Donna Brazile in full campaign season fever pitch, denies in her colorful  social media quip that one can not prove voter fraud.

But in North Carolina, where Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) nis in serious electoral trouble against Republican challenger North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis (R-NC State 98), President Obama's ukase of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is creating voter fraud concerns.  There are 145 "Dreamers" who are have been found on the voter rolls in the Tar Heel State. And the Winston Salem Journal reports that there may be many more ineligible voters on the rolls. 

Another way that illicit exercise of franchise is exposed is through jury excuses.  There were scores of instances in Florida in which potential jurors were excused because they were not U.S. Citizens, yet they still managed to vote.

In Colorado, Project Veritas' James O'Keefe has shown that the new mail-in voting for elections makes voter fraud easy and seems condoned by liberal Get Out The Vote organizers to increase turnout for "their side".  As Meredith Hicks of Work for Progress put it:  “That is not even like lying or something, if someone throws out a ballot, like if you want to fill it out you should do it.”  

Alas, Election Fraud is not limited to one side.  Senator Thad Cochran's (R-MS) victory in the 2014 GOP Primary and Run-Off seem suspect, as extremely late reporting from a couple of populous counties miraculously put the seven term incumbent over the top. 

Vice President Joe Biden has been fulfilling his role as election attack dogs by scaring voters about the Tea Party to gin up liberal turnout.  For those who may feel discouraged by the last minute besmirching and the specter of election fraud--let not your hearts be troubled.  Remember what Hugh Hewitt wisely wrote:  If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat.

Joe Biden on the Tea Party

 

 Well, at least when Vice President Biden was on the 2014 Midterm elections hustings, he isn't accusing Tea Party types of being terrorists like he did three years ago.