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The Second-Most Powerful VP Ever
Dick Cheney may have been the most powerful vice president in American history, but could Joe Biden give him a run for his money? A new profile in The New York Times Magazine declares Biden the “second-most powerful vice president in history.” Biden is Obama’s right-hand man on foreign policy. He attends the president’s daily briefing every morning with National Security adviser James Jones, has a weekly one-on-one lunch with Obama, and sits on meetings with top national-security officials. It is also his duty to settle disputes among the so-called team of rivals, so he meets at least once a week with cabinet officers like Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates, and Jones. Of course, Dick Cheney may have made his job a bit easier: “Biden point out that he benefits from Cheney’s self-aggrandizement: Biden can reduce the scope of the office to something like its historic dimensions and still be the second-most powerful vice president in history.”
aackc1
Wow... And is starting to show similar results. That answers a lot of questions.
Plantagenet
If Biden is so powerful on foreign affairs, then why did Obama ignore his advice on Afghanistan? Biden supposedly opposed putting more troops in, but Obama is going to ignore Biden and surge tens of thousands of more troops into Afghanistan to, as he now claims, "finish the job."
jaydeekay
Oh... advice = action?
Garvagh
I agree with Plantagenet, that Biden's power in foreign policy making would have shown itself as having Obama not adopt McCrytal's request for a huge increase in US forces in Afghanistan.
piktor
You are saying if Biden sneezes, Obama should catch a cold? That is truly sophisticated thinking, Plant.
DemsDeBreaks
Part of the reason Biden is the VP is because of his experience as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and his work to bring about the end of the Bosnian War, as well as his position as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He may gaffe, but he brings knowledge, experience, and intelligence to the table to compliment Obama's skill set, and Obama is smart enough to use every tool at his disposal.
McCain could not have put the same faith in Palin. She wasn't even sure if Africa was a country or a continent. And that's who the GOP thought should be #2 behind a 73 year-old (77 by his end of term) four time cancer survivor, a woman whose foreign policy consists of using the words "God," "Our Troops," and "America" in every speech, with NOTHING substantive behind the words. She's a talking head. The female version of Ron Burgundy. Or akin to Mary Hart on Entertainment Tonight, except that Mary Hart is well-traveled and has probably met more heads of state than Palin.
C'mon, GOP. Surely you have someone onboard who isn't an empty suit. Nominate Palin for 2012 if you like, but get ready to see record numbers of people turn out to vote against her. The fans on her Rogue tour are just a small percentage of the voting population. And I can't believe she got onto base at Fort Bragg "because she isn't a political figure" and then passed the hat for contributions to her PAC. I have a hard time finding Anything to admire about that woman.
Garvagh
DemsDeBreaks - - And let's not forget that Palin called for an increase in the illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank! A moron to rival George W. Bush.
flyoverland
I was guessing Spiro Agnew
AlanD2
I'm glad you like Republican criminals, flyoverland, because there are so many of them...
diamondgirl
I think Biden is a nice man, but as far as being the most powerful VP ever. I don't see it; he makes too many mistakes, although every time he does we learn the inner works of the Administration, which I find helpful. But he is a loose cannon and a flub machine...LOL
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n--Y--johnniegtrishaking78
He might be powerful but for the fact that we haven't had any significant foreign policy action. When are they going to start living up to their promises. I voted for the Obama/Biden ticket and I was very excited about seeing our government change. The only change that I have seen are not the ones that they talked about on the campaign trail.
http://www.squidoo.com/ask_trisha_king
tolatetocry
Who you trying to sell that to?
johnsmith1882
Cheney expanded the VP position to unheard-of power. He went so far as to say the VP office was beyond the Executive, rather than a part of it. He was untouchable in his undisclosed location. Scary. No VP should have that much power again.
amapola101
No, No, No, Chaney was the president. Our Ex Pres George Bush, was not really the president. He was the front facade.Chaney would have never won the presidency.Cheney,was the power,the brains, the policy maker, and President Bush was happy cracking jokes.Pres, Bush came out pres,because of the political machine and money and Bush name.Now Joe Biden has a beautiful life story.it touches your heart how he lost his wife, how he was sworn by his childrens beds,into the senate,how he found a nice, wonderful wife, and they made a new home. And he might be a wonderful guy. BUT POWERFUL VP,no Rahm Emanuel has the power. Maybe Axelrod,not even hillary,has the power up there.And as nice as JB,is There were many democrats afraid that if something happened to Pres Barack Obama, JB might become Pres. Thank goodness our president is safe, and JB,can stay VP. But he is not a powerhouse. No way Jose.!
matthewbenzor
Dick Cheney The Dictator was President "not" Vp Bush the Skull and Bones men was to drunk ..! to be president
TrueRed
I thought Biden was an inspired choice, based on his very substantial knowledge and experience in several areas, especially foreign policy and the judiciary. I still like him. I wish he didn't have gaffe disease; it undermines his strengths.
Thank you.
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