Joe Biden misquotes W.B.Yeats poem in latest gaffe

James O'Shea is something of a gobshite. At least the Vice President could cite Yeats, unlike Robme and Lyan-Ryan. Actually I'm pretty impressed. Biden credited Yeats, unlike the thief Churchill who stole George Santayana's quote.

Preparation, Joe. Preparation. You should have brought a copy of the poem along with you. Well, perhaps next time.

To the defenders of Biden: What you are saying is nonsense. No one ever paraphrases poetry--They quote it. Or in Biden's case, they misquote it.

Joe Biden is a part of Obama's protection plan. Certain malcontents have second thoughts about removing Pres Obama from office because they realize that Joe Biden would replace him, then his many gaffes would have real consequences!

I think Mr.O'Shea had better learn the difference between quoting and paraphrasing!!!!!!!! Joe Biden is obviously a very well read man,more than we can say about most of our politicians....God Bless You JOE,you're a breath of fresh air up there on the hill.Don't let these ignoramuses get to you.J.O'R.

Joe Biden is in fact correct while the writer of this article is totally wrong. Poetry can be relayed in either of two ways, namely (a) by direct quote or (b) by paraphrasing. Joe Biden is clearly paraphrasing, and the article writer should be educated enough to recognize this by Joe's obvious ommission of the word "quote" prior to relaying the line of poetry to his listener. Instead he tells the listener of Yeat's work in the narrative mood, i.e. the usual mood employed when paraphrasing a work rather than directly quoting. While quoting a line directly always requires exactness of phrase, paraphrasing on the other hand does not and is usually employed to clarify the message rather than to deliver the line exactly as written. As a graduate of English Literature, I am very surprised to read an article by a journalist devoted to correcting another person for an error in English language useage where no error actually exists. Which leads me to the obvious question for the article writer: Is this your first gaffe, or is it just one of many?

I hope all of you are so exact and never misquote.

I can live with Joe's latest gaffe. We all know he should be in his rocking chair and that is precisely why the Democrates keep him around. When they want spin and distortion the just pull old Joe's strings. Must say, he delivers every time. Romney has a long way to go to catch up.

If you want to see a gaffe, watch the new Romney commercial on China. The graphics are a hoot! The China job gains graphic doubles in height as the over printing says their jobs increased by 25%. Come to think of it, maybe its not a gaffe, maybe they really think that we are all that stupid that we can't read.

Misquoting Yeats is Yeats' eternal punishment for writing in English. As James Joyce once said, "Writing in English is the most ingenious torture ever devised for sins committed in previous lives. The English reading public explains the reason why.”

Jim, Please let me know where and when you will be walking on water. I really want to see you do this. Anyone who could spin a story out of this...must think...they are perfect. Awaiting the invite......

Are you kidding me. How many Americans even know of Yeats never mind quoting him. I say; good for Joe.

I'm no fan of Obama or Biden, but this nit picking,

give joe a break. joe had major surguary a few years ago. he had a tumor removed from his brain. thats why he gets some slack even from the gop, so one may ask why irish news media don't do the same. you have to know this. and the gaff give me a break like some one said close enough for government work. he didn't change the meaning of the poem. your story is incredibly stupid and not worth the space on your magazine. you will have to do better there are lot's of more interesting stories out there. this one is a dud.

O'shea should be able to get a highly specialized job in any up scale restaurant,picking the fly sh-t out of the pepper!