Joe Biden is saving President Obama’s political skin says Maureen Dowd -- Irish American VP the real star of the Obama administration she claims
By: Patrick Roberts | Published Monday, January 7, 2013, 9:15 AM | Updated Monday, January 7, 2013, 9:15 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 benchShe 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
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.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.
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.
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?
Smyrnian | Jan 08, 2013, 08:16 PM EST
Sean - you really do sound like a jerk.
anglo-norman | Jan 08, 2013, 07:59 PM EST
seanomelb- Grow up son
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.
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.
rbrochard | Jan 08, 2013, 04:53 AM EST
haha
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!
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?
Smyrnian | Jan 07, 2013, 08:10 PM EST
Peterson- yes it's that bad!
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.
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.
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.
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.
TisEyerish | Jan 07, 2013, 11:23 AM EST
Ah now Maureen, Obama can't be that bad... can he?
Fran Connor | Jan 07, 2013, 11:09 AM EST
Obama is the one who will not negotiate. He believes himself to be the king, not the president. How 'bout all those spending cuts he agreed to! He actually believes there is no spending problem. Free (to the recipients) Obamaphones - to help people find jobs, as if they want one. What's next, free Obamacomputers?
whiteycat | Jan 07, 2013, 11:01 AM EST
Biden is certainly more able to speak with both sides. but comparing obama to Spock is bad.obama is not rigid her is frigid. Has no sense of fairness. All politicos lie sometimes but obama lies all the time.
handsome68 | Jan 07, 2013, 10:49 AM EST
If one wanted to know anything about the columns of Maureen Dowd, one can read the NY Times. Why do youse liberal omadhauns regurgitate things from another newspaper, anyway? Oh yes, I forgot, -- the NYT is another vehicle for youse liberal omadhauns.
handsome68 | Jan 07, 2013, 10:23 AM EST
carollover | Jan 07, 2013, 09:14 AM EST "Obama SHOULD have disdain for Congress" And vice versa. Everything you say about Congress can equally be applied to Obama. If your definition of a mandate is that all of the Presidents wishes should automatically be granted then I can see where you stand. Did you think Bush should have had no opposition to his decisions also?
kelauggie1 | Jan 07, 2013, 10:23 AM EST
Obama has caused the issues that need cleaning up, and then refuses to negotiate at all to do so. How could anyone expect to work with a buffoon like that. And if the clown Biden is saving this presidency, there isn't much to save.
carollover | Jan 07, 2013, 09:14 AM EST
Obama SHOULD have disdain for Congress....you cannot negotiate with obstinate, obstructionist Tea Party types like Eric Cantor who refuse to recognize that American voters gave our President an overwhelming mandate...332 electoral votes and 53% of the vote is a resounding victory. They act like THEY won. This is why the Republican Party is slowing strangling itself. These extreme wingnuts turn on anyone like Chris Christie who tries to work with Obama to get things done. I wish Obama would be more like Christie sometimes and be more blunt about how they refuse to address our problems and are more concerned with some perverse ideology than being practical and pragmatic and gettings things done.
seanfer7 | Jan 07, 2013, 09:07 AM EST
Congress is a club house and Joe has been there for years Obama was new member and couldn't have built up relationships
Kabala0957 | Jan 07, 2013, 08:28 AM EST
If this true, how come the Fical Cliff and no Grand Bargain? Please, Ms. Dowd has been off the key for many years.