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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Joe Biden is saving President Obama’s political skin says Maureen Dowd -- Irish American VP the real star of the Obama administration she claims

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Joe Biden is saving President Obama’s political skin says Maureen Dowd -- Irish American VP the real star of the Obama administration she claims

Posted on Monday, January 07, 2013 at 07:18 AM

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Joe Biden and Barack Obama speak to the press
(Photo: Washington Blade)

Joe Biden is the real star of the Obama administration says New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd.

The Irish American VP has the ability to schmooze and to get along with Republicans, which President Obama seems unable to do, she writes.

“Obama radiates contempt at Congress for not being a bunch of high-minded, effective people, and for expecting him to clean up its mess.

“Biden is a realist. He understands lawmakers’ limitations, motivations and needs. He leans right in and speaks — and speaks and speaks — their language. That’s who he is. And he believes, as creaky and unwieldy as the system is, that it still has integrity."

Biden, Dowd writes, is “fresh from his deal-making triumph with Mitch McConnell,” on avoiding the fiscal cliff.

Biden, she said, “seemed more like an indispensable partner to the detached president who loathes dealing with Congress — a capable, genial Captain Kirk balancing out Obama’s brilliant but rigid Spock.”

Read more: It’s time for the GOP to get a new playbook & use its powerful young bench

She quotes historian Michael Beschloss who said on Twitter, “Biden did for the president on Capitol Hill what J.F.K. was always too wary to let the experienced L.B.J. do for him.”

Dowd says Democrats have lost faith in Obama’s ability to negotiate and that he needs Biden desperately.

“His inability to engage the politicians here has been a real liability,” one Democratic lawmaker complained.

Biden, Dowd writes, “can spread everything out on the table and negotiate his way through all of his former colleagues’ shortcomings, weaknesses, fears and frailties.”

Joe Biden, she concludes, has a valuable skill: “He knows how to stoop to conquer.”
It is an interesting take from America’s most influential columnist and sets the tone for this White House in the next four years.

Reading it, you have to think a presidential run in 2016 is not completely out of the question for Joe ‘Safe Hands’ Biden.

Read more: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aims to back to work this week See more: Irish in US Politics

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seanomelb | Jan 09, 2013, 05:45 PM EST

One only has to listen to the rantings of some GOP congressmen and senators to understand their hatred of Obama and most of them reside below the Mason/Dixon line. Maybe Anglo and Smynian are cupboard racists like their GOP/Teaparty friends.

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McNamara31 | Jan 09, 2013, 11:49 AM EST

@Chuck E. Arla ...This GOP is not your fathers GOP. The cracker extremists of the party have taken over to the dismay of any level headed republican. All one had to do is to have watched the GOP primaries (which I did) to see that this is fact.The only candidate with intelligence and a clear world view was Jon Huntsman and he couldn't get beyond 1% with the extremists in the party.

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Chuck E. Arla | Jan 09, 2013, 10:10 AM EST

Sean O'Melb, You state that, "The Republican Congress is devoid of principals (sic)" Have you researched the prior occupation/credentials of every GOP Senator and Representative? I know there are many lawyers, doctors, small business owners, etc. I guess we'll take your word for it that there aren't any school principals. Now, about your cranial research into brain sizes...here I'll have to question your qualifications. BTW isn't the President 50% wwhite and 50% black?

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Smyrnian | Jan 08, 2013, 08:16 PM EST

Sean - you really do sound like a jerk.

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anglo-norman | Jan 08, 2013, 07:59 PM EST

seanomelb- Grow up son

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seanomelb | Jan 08, 2013, 07:03 PM EST

The republican congress are devoid of principals and would rather see America fail. Their hatred of a black president is ever present in their little brains.

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Athcliath 1963 | Jan 08, 2013, 11:44 AM EST

To Handsome68, The word is "AMADAN" please refer from butchering the Irish language with your shanty Irish drivil. "Youse" are just coming across as the real "AMADAN" on this forum.

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rbrochard | Jan 08, 2013, 04:53 AM EST

haha

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stanchaz | Jan 08, 2013, 12:26 AM EST

Obama doesn't need saving, Maureen. What needs saving is this country-- saving from the TeaPartyPublican crazies in the Congress --- who want to "drown government in a bathtub" ,and refuse to govern responsibly. THOSE guys in Congress are the ones who need a bath- 'cause they STINK to high heaven!

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caseuoffspring | Jan 07, 2013, 10:31 PM EST

If you really believe this rubbish about Joe Biden from Maureen Dowd you are as much of a bafoon as Joe is. Isn't there anyone in Ireland who believes in the American Constitution?

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Smyrnian | Jan 07, 2013, 08:10 PM EST

Peterson- yes it's that bad!

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seanomelb | Jan 07, 2013, 05:21 PM EST

The teaparty types below are having a field day. Most Americans got the message and voted Barack back into office. read and weep losers.

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Smyrnian | Jan 07, 2013, 01:50 PM EST

IC worships at the altar of Maureen Dowd; it's a slobbering love affair that is embarrassing to witness.

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Springfield9 | Jan 07, 2013, 12:53 PM EST

Maureen Dowd adores any opportunity to slobber over the Annointed One and Plagiarism Joe. BHO is not, culturally speaking American in any sense. Joe couldn't strat a fire with 2 sticks and a blow torch.

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TisEyerish | Jan 07, 2013, 11:55 AM EST

There are no "stars" in this administration, or among any of our politicians. America is sinking and we, her people, are really doing nothing to stop it. It's frightening.

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