Who put Joe in charge of the lights?
posted at 8:52 am on July 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Rarely has any administration had to spend as much time issuing public corrections to statements made by a Vice President as the Obama adminstration. In fact, the White House has probably spent less time contradicting Dick Cheney than its own Veep, Joe Biden. Late yesterday, the Obama administration disavowed Biden’s apparent green light to Israel for an attack on Iran:
The Obama administration poured cold water Monday on any notion it is giving Israel the green light to attack Iran or that it is reconsidering plans to engage diplomatically with the Islamic republic.
Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview broadcast Sunday that the United States would not stand in the way of Israel in its dealings with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
But State Department spokesman Ian Kelly rebuffed suggestions from reporters that Biden could be seen as giving the Jewish state a green light to attack Iran, which it views as an existential threat.
When Obama picked Joe Biden, we laughed aloud, anticipating the cottage industry in blog posts Biden would generate. He hasn’t disappointed, either. This last weekend’s admission that the Obama administration botched its economic analysis might have been the nadir, or perhaps Biden reached that during the swine-flu outbreak, when he called public transportation a danger to people’s health. It could also have been when Biden told reporters that he couldn’t answer economic questions about Porkulus despite having been appointed to lead the program by Obama.
In this case, though, let’s recall why Obama picked Biden. After Obama fumbled his response to the Russian invasion of Georgia, Obama needed someone to give him foreign policy credibility.
How’s that working out for you, President Obama? So far, it’s working out well for us.
Blowback
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Al Frankens to the right of me , Joe Bidens to the left..
the_nile on July 7, 2009 at 9:36 AM
He’s getting awfully close to dropping below 50% approval. And we’re not even 6 months in. He’ll lose at least 10-15 points the day he announces the tax increases.
Doughboy on July 7, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Joe will make a great spokesperson for the 2011 Government Motors cars.
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Obarfy is the train driver!
blatantblue on July 7, 2009 at 9:37 AM
It could be that Joe knows that Ship Obama will sink of its own disatrous weight and that he’s readying a lifeboat for himself so that when the Red Obama goes down, he can say “I called ‘em as I saw ‘em but they didn’t listen to me. They shut me up.”
Nah…
RandyChandler on July 7, 2009 at 9:37 AM
In this case Biden was correct in what he said.
The US does not control the light switch for any other nation beyond it’s own. Sovereign countries might want another country’s agreement to their actions but,ultimately the responsibility is their’s alone.
For the President and his state department to infer that no we haven’t given a green light,when it’s not ours to give,positions them as the stereotypical arrogant Americans.
A posture the “THE ONE” vowed he would never take.
But, I forget. Everything he says has a “sell by date”.
oldernwiser on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM
.
They may talk to each other but that doesn’t mean that they listen or comprehend each other. Sadly for us all, there is no upside anywhere on the horizon for America.
Americannodash on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM
I think Hilary and Biden are working on their on coup.
ctmom on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM
How long will it take the media and the Obama flock to finally admit that this administration is taking us on an Amtrak train (yo, Joe!) to third-world-countryville?
VibrioCocci on July 7, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Remember this one?
“My Fellow Americans, I have just signed legislation outlawing the Soviet Union. The bombing begins in five minutes…”
I am convinced that this “gaffe” was not a mistake at all, but rather a signal to the Soviets. I would like to think Biden made a similar “mistake”, but I just can’t muster up the belief that they are that clever.
gridlock2 on July 7, 2009 at 9:40 AM
And I can just picture Joe walking around the Whitehouse making bird noises…
ROCnPhilly on July 7, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Joe was picked for the protection of Obama. Can anyone imagine Biden as president???
michaelo on July 7, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Actually, I hope B&B continue their magical misery tour. The more mistakes and indecision that occurs we will se further erosion of the positive polling numbers. Hopefully, is this happens some in congress may begin to seek cover and health care, cap & trade, etc. will die a quiet but quick death.
HoustonRight on July 7, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Very clever :)
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 9:44 AM
And the political pundits still worry about Palin…. Go figure. lol
joedoe on July 7, 2009 at 9:44 AM
I don’t know…
When it comes to foreign policy, Biden’s instincts seem… well, maybe not right, but more correct than Obama’s.
Sackett on July 7, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Were you being sarcastic? Soros may be qualified (in Barry’s eyes) but he’s ineligible.
Oldnuke on July 7, 2009 at 9:45 AM
In Obama news, the brand-new Rasmussen poll shows “President “Milk-It” at a new low:
“The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 33% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-six percent (36%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of –3. Those figures reflect the highest level of strong disapproval measured to date and the lowest level recorded for the overall Approval Index (see trends).”
ChrisB on July 7, 2009 at 9:45 AM
“Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgment,” -Euripides.
Not seeing much good judgment from this crew so far. Fortune is losing interest, I’m sure.
Akzed on July 7, 2009 at 9:45 AM
True dat, but the resistance is setting bombs along the tracks, and blowing up bridges. Barfy better keep his eyes open.
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 9:46 AM
2+2=16 is closer to the truth and 2+2=452. It’s still dead wrong.
Akzed on July 7, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Remember, “Stand up for Chuck?”
What a schmuck.
Every time I read about another gaffe from Don’t mess with Joe, I stand up and honor him with a moment of silence. Actually, it is a moment of snarky laughter or a shed tear depending on the severity of the gaffe, but I do stand up and honor Joe. And by honor I mean that I pray for Divine relief from this administration and all of the evil they are bringing on us.
InTheBellyoftheBeast on July 7, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Joe-Joe is the gift that keeps on giving. I think his gaffes though are not gaffes. I think he repeats what he has heard. Now whether the rest of the thugs are smart enough to use that to their advantage, I doubt it.
ORconservative on July 7, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Sounds to me like the “O” believes his own Bull Shit. He cann’t stop a free nation from doing whats in their best interest.
Rick007 on July 7, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Who will mind Biden on his trip to Georgia and Ukraine?
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Don’t you just love the ‘Fonzie’ look that Joe is trying to project in the picture !
The one big difference between Joe and ‘The Fonz’, is that Joe jumps a shark every day.
DoctorDentons on July 7, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Joe was confused and asked if Ukraine was the correct spelling of Alabama.
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Slightly off-topic:
Newt praises Obama’s Russian speech.
Now just what is Newt’s agenda/bias? (Not sure if he was still sharing a bench with Pelosi while he said it.)
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
LOL. Seriously though, Biden isn’t a liability to Obama. E. Coasters identify with Biden’s type. He’s familiar, the wise-guy, glib jokester. I think he keeps the Jews in line for sure.
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Why does everyone think that Joe Biden is worse than Obama? We know Obama wants to be the dictator. I would take a dumbo over a dictator.
mobydutch on July 7, 2009 at 10:01 AM
That picture reminds of a 70s detective show. Like Rockford, if he was 90.
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Green light. Red light. Green light…heh, my kids love that game.
vcferlita on July 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Why would Newt praise the speech?
ORconservative on July 7, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Soon I expect to see the big O appoint a “Biden Czar”.
hillbilly on July 7, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Simple answer….he’s just trying to curry favor amongst the DC crowd. I guess he doesn’t want to be “Palined.”
genso on July 7, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Front page of Drudge:
Support The DrudgeReport; Visit Our Advertisers
This just SCREAMSSSSSSSSSSS “smart power” does it not.
Absolutely clueless.
Baxter Greene on July 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Lives will be lost due to this idiot.
genso on July 7, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Where in the foreign policy manual does it say that kissing the buttocks of foreign dictators is in the best interests of the United States?
volsense on July 7, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Last night on Hannity (I say that with a brown paper bag over my head to hide my identity), Bob Beckel laughed hysterically at the idea of Palin negotiating with the Russians. (Of course, no one bothered to point out that had the election turned out differently it would have been McCain negotiating in Russia while Palin would be in Iraq not making stupid mistakes like this, but that’s another matter.) As people crucify Palin, why aren’t we asking the question of Obama’s administration: who would have made a better vice president?
Biden is a fricking joke. His one and only distinguishing characteristic in the Senate was tenure. Now, he’s a national illustration of the Peter Principle–keeping in mind that he’s been illustrating it for years.
BuckeyeSam on July 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM
I have been over on another blog commenting on the Honduran thing.
Smart power? Oh yeah. Smart. Where in the hell is the voice of reason here?
There isn’t one. Newt is praising this bull shit. The American people think O is supporting democracy in Honduras and there is no counter voice over here saying……wait a minute! you can not support Marxist rule and Democracy in the same breath. You can not give away our defense, mortgage ourselves to other countries and be a power player.
ORconservative on July 7, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Who leaves first Joe or Hillary?
I suggest Hillary and it will be for her own political gains. Obama will have no control over her time of departure.
Joe is another story. He’s a bit too dense to take a hint. The One put himself in a pickle when he brought Biden aboard.
FireBlogger on July 7, 2009 at 10:22 AM
It has nothing to do with the foreign policy manual.
genso on July 7, 2009 at 10:22 AM
AND Biden is flying around playing dress up.
ORconservative on July 7, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Obama better get his Messiah Mojo working because Biden is not the only one giving “Green lights”:
Saudis give nod to Israeli raid on Iran
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6638568.ece
The US and Israel are definitely not alone in not wanting to see Iran secure an atomic bomb and increase their power in the region.
Seems to me a “smart” President would know this and rally these powers together to force Iran into submission instead of relying on the failures of the UN and Obama’s faux superior ability of negotiation.
Submission, appeasement,and avoiding the tough issues is not strong negotiation.
Baxter Greene on July 7, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Unfortunately you are right.
Baxter Greene on July 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I’m so confused about that guy. Does he want to be President? He’s always hawking a book or something on Hannity show, and mentioning his wife–he seems like such a promoter. maybe he should take that Billy Mays guys place. He’s brainy, but weird–and been around forever. Somehow I just don’t see him as a big part of any solution.
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
ROFLOL: +100
chemman on July 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Newt is an idiot. Brillant, he may be, but he must be just book smart.
I don’t know what his game is but if he is aspiring to something he might want to take the Billy Mays suggestion.
ORconservative on July 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM
As others have said, she will be faced with the “quitting” question.
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Sheriff Joe, the gift that keeps on giving.
GarandFan on July 7, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Halliburton!
Del Dolemonte on July 7, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Newt praises Obama’s Russian speech.
Now just what is Newt’s agenda/bias? (Not sure if he was still sharing a bench with Pelosi while he said it.)
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
.
Newt is a windsock. He cherry picked. I like it when the road crews re-stripe the roads. I just don’t like being stuck behind the road crews when they’re doing it.
.
Newt sometimes is in the short term mindset. He does not always think things all the way through. I am very disappointed with Newt’s speaking up on this matter. He is jumping the shark because of the lack of details & the fact that Obama is side stepping the U.S. senate. Why doesn’t Newt recognize the underlying deception that is evolving in our very midst? I would rather he speak out in favor of the Honduran people and their constitutional rights. He should be showing his expression of shame toward Obama & the foreign policy of trying to re-insert tyrant in Honduras via Chavez.
.
Does Newt has his blinders on or is he part of it? It would be terrible hope that we need to just chalk this up to another misstep by the former Speaker of the house.
Americannodash on July 7, 2009 at 10:48 AM
What other president would schedule a trip to Russia during our Independence Day celebration?
Will Ocommie make it back in time to attend the cannonization of St. Michael?
maryo on July 7, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Given the current state of the media, I’m afraid we’ll get the usual selection from the DC end of the pool.
genso on July 7, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Exactly. Anything to make the O’man cool in the eyes of dictators. In a way, it’s kind of like a rookie trying to impress the pros.
FontanaConservative on July 7, 2009 at 10:57 AM
When Ocommie finishes with us, he will make Putin, Chavez and Castro look like rookies.
maryo on July 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM
But still, good for Joe giving the green light and al……….wait! Did I just say what I think I said???
FontanaConservative on July 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Biden’s conduct can usually be explained by someone inserting a frozen waffle into the back of his head where the stack of punched cards usually goes.
Gibbs still hasn’t learned that Biden’s waffle inserts from the front end.
viking01 on July 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM
No doubt.
FontanaConservative on July 7, 2009 at 11:02 AM
If Hillary times her departure with a national security policy disagreement with “O” she will look like a hero to her supporters (and Independents) in the wings.
They are in the wings……….waiting.
FireBlogger on July 7, 2009 at 11:03 AM
LOL
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Are you so sure that Obama “fumbled” his response? I don’t think that Obama found anything wrong with Russia’s aggression.
onlineanalyst on July 7, 2009 at 11:12 AM
My guess is that Biden is telling truth — inconvenient truth.
It’s not a matter of him being in charge of the lights, its a matter of him telling us exactly the color of light the Obama Administration is showing.
unclesmrgol on July 7, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Everything in the 0′s administration has an expiration date….Biden’s is 2012….You heard it here first….
b4lucy on July 7, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Ed,
My spouse thinks Biden is doing it on purpose :) Sabotage by playing goofy. Biden wouldn’t be trying to undermine the current Administration would he by constantly “acting” erratic? A Spy in the House of Love ;)
Dr Evil on July 7, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Biden did warn us before the election that Obama would be tested by foreign powers, and that we need to “gird our loins” for Obama’s unexpected responses.
So far, Obama has been tested by Somali pirates (bravo Navy!), North Korea (Obama did nothing), Iran (Obama took the wrong side), and Honduras (Obama took the wrong side).
Biden may have a nasty habit of opening mouth before engaging brain, but he DOES have a lot of foreign-policy experience, and he and Hillary Clinton (with advice from her husband) are probably acutely aware that Obama is a foreign-policy disaster waiting to happen. If Obama’s foreign policy becomes too disastrous, Hillary will bail out and seek her Senate seat, while Biden (who has lots of connections in the Senate) could lobby lots of Senators to only confirm a strong and competent replacement for her.
Hillary once called Obama’s foreign-policy proposals “dangerous and naive” during a televised debate. One could wonder whether she and Biden are discussing ways to neutralize Obama’s foreign-policy stupidity, and find a way to dump Obama for Biden at an opportune moment. Maybe they’re girding their loins and Biden their time.
Steve Z on July 7, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I’m not so sure Biden could even breathe on purpose despite giving it his total concentration.
Like Al Gore advanced education for Biden means knowing a pressed green button produces a food pellet while the pressed red one results in a loud buzz , a mild electric shock and less play time on the running wheel.
viking01 on July 7, 2009 at 11:47 AM
I think Biden was chosen because he`s a dufus, to deflect attention from Obama. And it appears to be working perfect.
LSUMama on July 7, 2009 at 11:49 AM
That’s what a smart President would do. But we have Obama.
On this matter, Biden is probably right. If Bibi Netanyahu thought that he really needed to take out an Iranian nuke, he would probably alert the Saudis and Iraqis, and do the deed in the middle of the night. Next morning, while Obumble eats his waffle with Michelle Ma Belle, he will hear of a mysterious cloud of Persian smoke. He will publicly call Bibi a bad boy, while Biden and Hillary privately give Bibi high-fives.
Steve Z on July 7, 2009 at 11:51 AM
We’ve got Obama and Biden. The only thing missing is Curly Joe.
Tantor on July 7, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Especially in re to Russia and the old Soviet Union. That was her area of expertise.
onlineanalyst on July 7, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Hey, I have an idea. Why not have Ted Kennedy weigh in (so to speak) on how to deal with Russia? After all, wasn’t TK attempting to undermine Reagan with the Russkies at one time?
onlineanalyst on July 7, 2009 at 11:59 AM
I keep waiting for him to start getting the Dan Quayle treatment by the media… but I’m not holding my breath.
taznar on July 7, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I have no idea why, but for some reason the picture of Nancy Pelosi that often graces the front page of HA just popped into my head…
taznar on July 7, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Another day another gaffe. I swear it’s like having Frank Drebin one heartbeat away from the presidency.
Mike Honcho on July 7, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Nearly 200 comments on this thread and nothing from my fellow Delawareans Akzed and BigD?
I guess, to us, Biden’s incompetence is nothing new. The rest of you are seeing it on the big stage for the first time.
UltimateBob on July 7, 2009 at 1:29 PM
You’re premature. President Biden won’t happen until halfway through 2010 at the earliest.
tom on July 7, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Any particular reason why joe in this photo looks like the head of the deleware mafia?
MaximusConfessor on July 7, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Just six months into this botched abortion of an “administration” and already the trolls have given up trying to defend the circus clown nature of these worthless idiot Democrats they worked so hard to get into office.
NoDonkey on July 7, 2009 at 2:37 PM
True. True. When people we having misgivings about this dazzling (not me, I was NEVER dazzled), but new candidate,
he snared Uncle Joe. (And, I doubt Obama had a shred of input into the selection.) If no one knew Uncle Joe, they were, at least made aware that he was in the senate for decades and knew the ropes, and the voters were comforted in that.
Even though I cannot stand one stinking single thing this adminstration has done, I will concede, that at the time, that was a brilliant move.
betsyz on July 7, 2009 at 3:34 PM
I agree that the most brilliant thing this “administration” has done is select Joe Biden to be VP.
And it’s been all downhill from there . . .
NoDonkey on July 7, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Newt may be a genius for all I know, but he lost me when he signed on with the Global Warming Alarmists. Anyone giving that nonsense any veneer of credibility is an enemy of prosperity and a hindrance to the well-being of our economy and our nation.
Newt would make a great weather vane, as he is always shifting with the wind.
hillbillyjim on July 7, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Obama probably signed Georgia’s death warrant, so he hasn’t stopped screwing that country just yet.
Hening on July 7, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Got Girds?
RedNewEnglander on July 7, 2009 at 4:56 PM
He’s just trying to blend in at Katie’s Restaurant or the local Home Depot.
I have to cut the guy some slack though. At least the Home Depot is actually still in existence.
UltimateBob on July 7, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Wondering if there isn’t some ‘dumb like a fox’ going on here…
Biden’s job is to inflate the trial balloons — if they fly, it’s all good — if not, it’s a hand-slap & move on to the next insanity.
The useful idiot, no?
CaveatEmpty on July 7, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Totally
fullogas on July 7, 2009 at 6:38 PM
My thoughts exactly. Life insurance.
evergreen on July 7, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Looks like Lindsay Grahamnesty has found another coat to hang on to. I believe that’s him on the far right side of the photo. Only time Lindsay has been on the far right side of anything in a long, long, time
ncjetsfan on July 7, 2009 at 7:17 PM
More like “Biden’s to the left of me, Franken’s further left… here I am… Right on right with you…”
CynicalOptimist on July 7, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Biden needs a tranquilizer dart in the arse… Nighty, Night… pleasant dreams… wake refreshed… see you in the morning….
CynicalOptimist on July 7, 2009 at 8:01 PM
My mom warned me that if I voted for McCain, I’d end up with an idiot as Vice President.
Mom was right. As usual.
uncivilized on July 7, 2009 at 8:22 PM
JohnGalt23 on July 7, 2009 at 9:11 PM
“Obama Signs Executive Order Issuing Blanket Denial of Vice President’s Future Remarks”: http://www.optoons.blogspot.com/ (July 8 entry)
Mervis Winter on July 8, 2009 at 12:48 AM
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