Friday, May 01, 2009
One Biden Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest
On the 101st day of the Obama administration, it became transparent for all to see why Barack Obama selected Joe Biden as his running mate.
Yep, it took the vice president's interview on the "Today" show for it all to come together (and it had to be "Today" -- the number one morning show). When the president has been projecting calm in the face of the swine flu (uh, H1N1 virus) outbreak, what does his Number Two do?
He tells people not to go into confined spaces -- like subways, airplanes, etc. Indeed, he says "I would tell all members of my family." Ah, just what the public needs to hear: "Stay away from trains and planes!" Basically, stay away from anything that transports large masses of people engaged in economic activity (including business travel).
Just the message needed during a recession -- especially for a city like New York which has both subways AND 20-some cases of the flu strain! Panic them all into not going into work -- or not traveling around the US (as the EU has already suggested!
Barack Obama -- who thinks three steps ahead of everyone else -- must have realized what a problem Joe Biden might present. So, why not use the man's foot-in-mouth disease to one's own advantage?
Why keep Biden around? In one word -- insurance.
Sure, Biden is good for an occasional tactical maneuver like helping reel in Arlen Specter into the Democratic fold. But, he has a much more important (to Obama) value -- terrifying anyone who thinks about what it would be like if Biden actually became president.
Just as Democrats never dared do anything that might risk George H. W. Bush leaving office prematurely -- with Dan Quayle as his VP -- it looks like Joe Biden is providing Barack Obama with a perfect insurance policy! Heck, the fact that Biden has been around Washington for so long, yet still manages to say truly embarrassing things actually makes him more potentially dangerous were he to become president! Yes, even more dangerous than Quayle back in '89!
Seemingly, two terms of Bush-Cheney was enough for the American public. Going beyond just ending eight years of Republican rule, voters went further and decided to end more than two centuries of white males in the White House. The savvy Obama didn't just pick Biden to "balance" the ticket in November; he picked the one white male in the Democratic Party guaranteed to terrify people who actually contemplate him becoming president!
Figure that each time Walking Gaffe-man Joe Biden opens his mouth, Obama's own personal popularity increases! At this point, even if the unlikely happened and Republicans managed to take back Congress in 2010, there's no way that they would try to impeach Obama (as they did Clinton).
Are you kidding? They would want to make Joe Biden president about as much as someone would want to make Bruce Banner angry! !
Labels: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Swine Flu
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Loving the Veep
As an American, I'm proud that Barack Obama is my president. However, as a journalist and part-time comic, I am ecstatic beyond words that Joe Biden is vice-president. Thank you, Lord, oh thank you!!
Can you imagine how many international incidents he would initiate on one trip abroad had he -- as his equally gaffe-prone wife suggested this week -- been appointed secretary of state?
(As an aside, Obama will have to get a little bit of humor on these matters. But it's obvious he was trying to set an appropriate tone among White House staff on the first day. But, Joe Biden, a la Jason Sudekis -- God bless him!!! -- couldn't quite play along!)
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Can you imagine how many international incidents he would initiate on one trip abroad had he -- as his equally gaffe-prone wife suggested this week -- been appointed secretary of state?
(As an aside, Obama will have to get a little bit of humor on these matters. But it's obvious he was trying to set an appropriate tone among White House staff on the first day. But, Joe Biden, a la Jason Sudekis -- God bless him!!! -- couldn't quite play along!)
Labels: gaffe-watch, Joe Biden
Thursday, January 08, 2009
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Every cliche has a certain amount of truth in it. And Machiavelli was right when he wrote in The Prince, "it is best to be both feared and loved; however, if one cannot be both it is better to be feared than loved."
Barack Obama is one of most beloved American president-elects that have come along in some time. And it is an affection that stretches across the world -- from the Africa of his father's birth to the euphoric Europeans and likely parts of the Middle East.
A problem exists though that it is unclear if anyone in his party truly fears him. And this week showed why it's necessary for Obama to show his ability to be an SOB pretty soon -- or his own party may well be responsible for causing his great plans to fall around him. In short, Obama might want to start channeling his inner Dick -- as in "Cheney," someone who didn't give a damn whether people loved (or even liked) him. It was enough that he was feared -- or even hated -- just as long as he got his goals accomplished.
That's a lesson Obama might want to absorb, because things are starting to get a bit dicey: After a month of near-universal praise for presenting mature, "adult" nominees for his Cabinet, the last couple of weeks produced some warning signs that Obama's inner circle might want to pay attention to.
1) Obama did Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a favor by supporting his decision not to seat any Illinois Senate appointee of Gov. Blagojevich. Problem is -- the Senate majority leader is supposed to be helping the president (or president-elect). Worse, Harry Reid is quite possibly one of the worst poker-playing politician in the world (ironic, given that he represents a state in which sits Las Vegas).
Reid has been completely outsmarted by Blagojevich -- and the Democrats end up looking like they want to keep an honorable, qualified black man out of their elite country club.
2) Sen. Dianne Feinstein threw a snit-fit over Obama's selection of Leon Panetta as CIA director.
As Rich Galen points out, Feinstein wasn't upset over Panetta's qualifications or experience with intelligence matters:
3) As we've discussed before, Joe Biden -- Obama's own running mate, essentially tosses his president-elect under the bus, publically declaring that it was a "mistake" not to show appropriate deference to the Senate.
This sort of behavior is unacceptable for a new president. While the Burris matter is essentially pure Senate business, Obama has to realize how much it is undermining the Democratic Senate majority -- even before any legislation has passed.
Similarly, while it may have been a breach in etiquette not to let Feinstein know about Panetta ahead of time, this sort of pique -- from both her and Biden is simply unacceptable. If Obama doesn't start throwing some elbows and kicking some behinds in his own party, reminding people that he scored the biggest presidential majority for a Democrat since Johnson -- he will be seen as weak.
And where weakness is sensed, the permanent wolves of Washington will strike.
Obama can't underestimate the ability for Congress -- even run by his own party -- can instill wounds from which it is difficult to recover. Don't take my word for it: Perhaps Obama might have thought to ask Bill Clinton at Wednesday's "President's Luncheon" how long it took Clinton to recover from what Sam Nunn did to him on the gays-in-the-military issue mere weeks into Clinton's first term.
Not only did Nunn win, he effectively exposed Clinton as someone ill-prepared to play the Washington game.
If Obama doesn't demonstrate a harder edge with allies who wonder off the reservation -- perhaps even deliver a a healthy "STFU" to Biden at some point -- those aforementioned permanent wolves will be ready to pounce at their earliest opportunity.
After all, there's another cliche that has some merit to it -- "Nice guys finish last."
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Barack Obama is one of most beloved American president-elects that have come along in some time. And it is an affection that stretches across the world -- from the Africa of his father's birth to the euphoric Europeans and likely parts of the Middle East.
A problem exists though that it is unclear if anyone in his party truly fears him. And this week showed why it's necessary for Obama to show his ability to be an SOB pretty soon -- or his own party may well be responsible for causing his great plans to fall around him. In short, Obama might want to start channeling his inner Dick -- as in "Cheney," someone who didn't give a damn whether people loved (or even liked) him. It was enough that he was feared -- or even hated -- just as long as he got his goals accomplished.
That's a lesson Obama might want to absorb, because things are starting to get a bit dicey: After a month of near-universal praise for presenting mature, "adult" nominees for his Cabinet, the last couple of weeks produced some warning signs that Obama's inner circle might want to pay attention to.
1) Obama did Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a favor by supporting his decision not to seat any Illinois Senate appointee of Gov. Blagojevich. Problem is -- the Senate majority leader is supposed to be helping the president (or president-elect). Worse, Harry Reid is quite possibly one of the worst poker-playing politician in the world (ironic, given that he represents a state in which sits Las Vegas).
Reid has been completely outsmarted by Blagojevich -- and the Democrats end up looking like they want to keep an honorable, qualified black man out of their elite country club.
2) Sen. Dianne Feinstein threw a snit-fit over Obama's selection of Leon Panetta as CIA director.
As Rich Galen points out, Feinstein wasn't upset over Panetta's qualifications or experience with intelligence matters:
The issue with Panetta is that Obama announced the nomination without taking the time to inform the incoming Chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that this was about to happen.So, Feinstein helps provide the media with headlines showing a fellow Democrat's ire with Obama choosing Panetta. (In fairness to Feinstein, she is one of the few outspoken Democrats trying to get Reid out of the mess he's created for himself on the Roland Burris matter).
3) As we've discussed before, Joe Biden -- Obama's own running mate, essentially tosses his president-elect under the bus, publically declaring that it was a "mistake" not to show appropriate deference to the Senate.
This sort of behavior is unacceptable for a new president. While the Burris matter is essentially pure Senate business, Obama has to realize how much it is undermining the Democratic Senate majority -- even before any legislation has passed.
Similarly, while it may have been a breach in etiquette not to let Feinstein know about Panetta ahead of time, this sort of pique -- from both her and Biden is simply unacceptable. If Obama doesn't start throwing some elbows and kicking some behinds in his own party, reminding people that he scored the biggest presidential majority for a Democrat since Johnson -- he will be seen as weak.
And where weakness is sensed, the permanent wolves of Washington will strike.
Obama can't underestimate the ability for Congress -- even run by his own party -- can instill wounds from which it is difficult to recover. Don't take my word for it: Perhaps Obama might have thought to ask Bill Clinton at Wednesday's "President's Luncheon" how long it took Clinton to recover from what Sam Nunn did to him on the gays-in-the-military issue mere weeks into Clinton's first term.
Not only did Nunn win, he effectively exposed Clinton as someone ill-prepared to play the Washington game.
If Obama doesn't demonstrate a harder edge with allies who wonder off the reservation -- perhaps even deliver a a healthy "STFU" to Biden at some point -- those aforementioned permanent wolves will be ready to pounce at their earliest opportunity.
After all, there's another cliche that has some merit to it -- "Nice guys finish last."
Labels: Barack Obama, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Biden
Friday, October 03, 2008
Musings from Bickerstaff
Posted by Isaac Bickerstaff
I am in Washington, DC today. It is a city pulsating with politically anxious members of Congress, polemical lobbyists, peripatetical bureaucrats, and the chattering class. No good deli, but I do enjoy being here.
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I am in Washington, DC today. It is a city pulsating with politically anxious members of Congress, polemical lobbyists, peripatetical bureaucrats, and the chattering class. No good deli, but I do enjoy being here.
Before commencing my musings, allow a comment on the debates. The biggest loser of last night's debate was Mitt Romney. His over- funded star was eclipsed by Sarah Palin. Expectations were very low and although she appealed mainly to the base; I thought she did a great job. " Nice to meet you. Can I call you Joe?" was a great start. The folksy intonations may not impress we East Coasters, but calls made to Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan confirmed my suspicions of who she was really talking to in America. Job well done, Governor. You prep well. Mission accomplished.
And let me give a shout out to Joe Biden. You are right about Iran. And I am a parent too. I understand your emotion when you choke up about losing your wife and daughter.
Now to Bickerstaff's thought on our times. The Congress shall pass an $850 Billion bailout today. It is rife with incentives to alienate all and push our National debt to another trillion. Many culprits are being pointed to and I would like to add to that heap. Sen. Graham, Rep Leach, and Rep Bliley ( the three blind mice)....... Thank you for the legislation deregulation that really caused all of this mess. Thank you Republican Majorities who said this would be a good idea. For those unaware of this masterpiece, here is the short version " To enhance competition in the financial services industry by providing a prudential framework for the affiliation of banks, securities forms, insurance companies, and other financial service providers and for other purposes"
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 allowed commercial and investment banks to merge and also buy insurance companies. Does Bickerstaff need to show why this is a bad idea? In a point of I told you so, I wrote it was a bad idea then but everyone was so giddy over the high tech boom, that why shouldn't business' all get together? The good times will last forever.
Thank you, President Clinton, for signing it into law. Your fundamental understanding of the protections of Glass-Steagal blow a flat saxophone note. And to all the Wall street lawyers, lobbyists, cap managers, fund and bank heads... A big Bronx cheer to you also.
One final piece of harrowing thought. Sen Phil Gramm, author of Gramm-Leach -Bliley, is the same guy advising John McCain on economics. Sleep well friends.
.
.
Labels: financial meltdown, Joe Biden, Phil Gramm, sarah palin
Sarah Wins Expectations...Joe Wins.
As I said earlier, the Sarah Palin who showed up Thursday night couldn't possibly be as bad as the caricature she had become. Palin came across as a mixture of folksy cheerleader for John McCain and, yes, edgy barracuda going after Obama. Biden controlled his gabbiness, while connecting McCain to the unpopular Bush in a way that Palin wasn't able to decouple.
The governor started out wobbly, gained confidence in the middle -- even when the talk turned to Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel -- but sort of petered out as the debate concluded. Her non-polished approach clearly got under Biden's skin as the debate wore on. However, any annoyance that he may have demonstrated -- which could have turned off voters, he turned around at the very end when asked what he would do if something happened to a President Obama and his very closing comments where he teared up.
It's rather ironic that we live in an age where a male candidate tearing up is a sign of emotional strength -- where it would be weakness in a female candidate. Palin could have done herself much better had she recognized that moment. It would have cemented her role as the more human, less professional politician. Instead, against all odds, Biden had the most human moment. I watched on CNN where they had a people-meter divided by men and women. The women's line rocketed up at that moment (and the men weren't too far behind, actually).
She was strongest on the issue of energy independence and going after Obama-Biden on the "voting against the troops" issue and "your plan is the white flag of surrender." Biden deflected those attacks a couple of times, but Palin was relentless.
Considering how many debates Biden has been over the years -- in 2007-08 alone -- you've got to give Palin credit for holding her own. She wasn't in any way wiped off the floor by Biden. She certainly belonged on the same stage -- something that will undoubtedly be assuring to Republicans demoralized after a full week of Katie Couric interviews.
Palin's performance may not turn around numbers that have been trending in an Obama direction in the last few days, but she did, to use Rich Lowry's phrase, save her "political brand."
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The governor started out wobbly, gained confidence in the middle -- even when the talk turned to Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel -- but sort of petered out as the debate concluded. Her non-polished approach clearly got under Biden's skin as the debate wore on. However, any annoyance that he may have demonstrated -- which could have turned off voters, he turned around at the very end when asked what he would do if something happened to a President Obama and his very closing comments where he teared up.
It's rather ironic that we live in an age where a male candidate tearing up is a sign of emotional strength -- where it would be weakness in a female candidate. Palin could have done herself much better had she recognized that moment. It would have cemented her role as the more human, less professional politician. Instead, against all odds, Biden had the most human moment. I watched on CNN where they had a people-meter divided by men and women. The women's line rocketed up at that moment (and the men weren't too far behind, actually).
She was strongest on the issue of energy independence and going after Obama-Biden on the "voting against the troops" issue and "your plan is the white flag of surrender." Biden deflected those attacks a couple of times, but Palin was relentless.
Considering how many debates Biden has been over the years -- in 2007-08 alone -- you've got to give Palin credit for holding her own. She wasn't in any way wiped off the floor by Biden. She certainly belonged on the same stage -- something that will undoubtedly be assuring to Republicans demoralized after a full week of Katie Couric interviews.
Palin's performance may not turn around numbers that have been trending in an Obama direction in the last few days, but she did, to use Rich Lowry's phrase, save her "political brand."
Labels: debates, Joe Biden, sarah palin
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Hey, Joe. Sarah Smile.
Considering that there have hardly ever been lower expectations for a vice-presidential debate (not even Dan Quayle was in this territory), I predict that Sarah Palin will actually do "OK" tonight. She won't seem like some blithering idiot and will, instead, come across as a more down-to-earth person next to the polished experienced super-pol, Joe Biden. That doesn't mean that the public might want her more as the next vice-president. It just means that she won't quite fill caricature that she has become (or "has become her").
That said, here's a clip from a movie soon coming to a multiplex/straight-to-video/bootleg store near you:
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That said, here's a clip from a movie soon coming to a multiplex/straight-to-video/bootleg store near you:
Labels: debates, Joe Biden, sarah palin, vice-presidential pick
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Obama-Biden Debate Scheduled...
Following Biden's chastising Obama campaign for its ad attacking McCain's lack of computer skills. Oh, and Biden and Obama disagreed on the AIG bailout too.
In fairness, McCain also disagreed about the AIG bailout -- with himself.
One of these presidential tickets will actually win folks.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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In fairness, McCain also disagreed about the AIG bailout -- with himself.
One of these presidential tickets will actually win folks.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Labels: Barack Obama, financial meltdown, Joe Biden, John McCain, markets
Monday, August 25, 2008
As Gaffes Go...
...you can do worse than "Barack America." (In fact, if I were the Obama campaign, I would embrace the slip-up and go with it -- a la, "Barack America -- F**k Yeah!") Introducing Joe Biden as the "next president," though is a little worse.
Meanwhile, McCain's "pro-Hillary as VP" ads are something of a stroke of genius.
Hillary tries to denounce them. But it sure keeps the conversation going for a couple more days.
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Meanwhile, McCain's "pro-Hillary as VP" ads are something of a stroke of genius.
Hillary tries to denounce them. But it sure keeps the conversation going for a couple more days.
Labels: Barack Obama, democratic national convention., Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Biden This Time
The Delaware senator is Obama's veep say CNN and Fox.
Give Vladimir Putin an assist on this one. The Russia-Georgia conflict once again put foreign policy front and center. McCain took advantage of it. Biden's helps Obama on the international experience part of the portfolio.
One potential downside: Once again, it's two senators running on the Democratic ticket. There's no one with executive experience. That gives McCain an opening to go with either Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty.
UPDATE: There are all sorts of cases for and against Joe Biden as VP. Andrew Sullivan has several. Here's what endeared me to Joe Biden in a very narrow sense: He delivered the line of the primary season when he assessed Rudy Giuliani thusly:
That should also be a lesson for the McCain campaign: Be more judicious on the P.O.W. references.
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Give Vladimir Putin an assist on this one. The Russia-Georgia conflict once again put foreign policy front and center. McCain took advantage of it. Biden's helps Obama on the international experience part of the portfolio.
One potential downside: Once again, it's two senators running on the Democratic ticket. There's no one with executive experience. That gives McCain an opening to go with either Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty.
UPDATE: There are all sorts of cases for and against Joe Biden as VP. Andrew Sullivan has several. Here's what endeared me to Joe Biden in a very narrow sense: He delivered the line of the primary season when he assessed Rudy Giuliani thusly:
"Rudy Giuliani... I mean, think about it! Rudy Giuliani. There's only three things he mentions in a sentence -- a noun, a verb, and 9/11. There's nothing else!"Ideology and partisanship aside, this appealed to me as a part-time stand-up comic. Expertly and succinctly delivered. Well-played, Sen. Biden, well-played. The fact that the target of his sarcasm happened to be my least favorite candidate in the GOP field was just icing on the cake. (The link above also contains footage of reporters asking Biden about the statement later. His body language is as equally hilariously dismissive of Rudy.)
That should also be a lesson for the McCain campaign: Be more judicious on the P.O.W. references.
Labels: Barack Obama, Joe Biden
Monday, August 18, 2008
Veep Stakes
Yes, it's true: RT has been comparatively quiet over the last week or so. The summer doldrums have hit ye olde blogger and I'm taking it relatively easy. Not going anywhere, but not burning myself out posting for the sake of posting either.
[And, yes, congratulations, Michael "Flipper" Phelps -- and thank you for giving us something other than politics or Brett Favre to talk about.]
Anyway, it's not like the next couple of weeks won't have more than enough material for politics.
Thus, this is sort of like an open thread -- but with a specific focus:
Who will be Barack Obama's vice presidential choice?
I say Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (with Joe Biden as a potential dark horse/surprise).
RT-ers, say what?
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[And, yes, congratulations, Michael "Flipper" Phelps -- and thank you for giving us something other than politics or Brett Favre to talk about.]
Anyway, it's not like the next couple of weeks won't have more than enough material for politics.
Thus, this is sort of like an open thread -- but with a specific focus:
Who will be Barack Obama's vice presidential choice?
I say Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (with Joe Biden as a potential dark horse/surprise).
RT-ers, say what?
Labels: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Tim Kaine, vice-presidential pick
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Paging Joe Biden
Remember how this little, um, Kinnock-off-the-old-block deep-sixed a certain loquacious senator's 1988 presidential bid?
Well, guess where the McCain campaign has gone for "inspiration" -- the British Tories of thirty years ago.
Stay away from British campaigns, guys. Inevitably, something gets lost in translation.
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Well, guess where the McCain campaign has gone for "inspiration" -- the British Tories of thirty years ago.
Stay away from British campaigns, guys. Inevitably, something gets lost in translation.
Labels: Joe Biden, John McCain
Friday, April 20, 2007
Some Pander, Please, With A Side Dish of Conspiracy
How wonderful that Democratic presidential candidates treate black audiences with such maturity and intelligence, as evidenced here by Joe Biden's Thursday address at Al Sharpton's National Action Network conference:
And how many administration officials went on Imus -- as opposed to Democratic Senators, including Joe Biden?
Speaking of 1994, does Biden also think that the Rwanda genocide -- which Bill Clinton did nothing to stop that year -- also "didn't happen accidentally"?
(Thanks to long-time RT observer ERA for the heads-up.)
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Joe Biden, who followed the former president to the podium, jokingly thanked him for warming up the audience and said he'd also "warmed up the presidency" for him.Oh, really? So the administration intentionally whipped up Hurricane Katrina?...gave Cho the weapons and mental sickness to go kill 30-some people...encouraged Sudan Muslims to go slaughter the blacks in Darfur?
Biden, the Senate Foreign Relations committee chairman, called for military action to resolve the killing in Darfur and promoted his plan for peace in Iraq that would divide the country along ethnic lines.
He said Republicans - from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to President Bush and White House political adviser Karl Rove - had "wallowed in the politics of polarization."
"I would argue, since 1994 with the Gingrich revolution, just take a look
at Iraq, Venezuela, Katrina, what's gone down at Virginia Tech, Darfur, Imus.
Take a look. This didn't happen accidentally, all these things," he said.
And how many administration officials went on Imus -- as opposed to Democratic Senators, including Joe Biden?
Speaking of 1994, does Biden also think that the Rwanda genocide -- which Bill Clinton did nothing to stop that year -- also "didn't happen accidentally"?
(Thanks to long-time RT observer ERA for the heads-up.)
Labels: Al Sharpton, Democratic 2008 Presidential, Joe Biden
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Bye, Bye Biden
Everyone knew that Joe Biden's mouth would get him in trouble: With the Observer site crashing because of so many sites linking to the story, take the excerpts from the TPMCafe:
I would have thought there might have been one or two other African-Americans who were articulate and bright and clean before Obama -- but that's just me.
Well, at least Biden didn't rip this line off from Neil Kinnock, so I guess there's progress.
UPDATE: Thank you, Gawker!
UPDATE II: Josh Marshall links to an actual soundfile of Biden's comments. The audio lends some ambiguity, but the phrase "first sorta mainstream African-American" still sounds patronizing -- and forget about the whole "articulate" stuff. However, this Commenter at Kevin Drum's blog accurately -- and, ahem, articulately summarizes the "articulate" problem.
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The first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy..."“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
But—and the “but” was clearly inevitable—he doubts whether American voters are going to elect “a one-term, a guy who has served for four years in the Senate,” and added: “I don’t recall hearing a word from Barack about a plan or a tactic.”
I would have thought there might have been one or two other African-Americans who were articulate and bright and clean before Obama -- but that's just me.
Well, at least Biden didn't rip this line off from Neil Kinnock, so I guess there's progress.
UPDATE: Thank you, Gawker!
UPDATE II: Josh Marshall links to an actual soundfile of Biden's comments. The audio lends some ambiguity, but the phrase "first sorta mainstream African-American" still sounds patronizing -- and forget about the whole "articulate" stuff. However, this Commenter at Kevin Drum's blog accurately -- and, ahem, articulately summarizes the "articulate" problem.
Labels: Barack Obama, Democratic 2008 Presidential, Joe Biden
