My father was kind of a senior level dude in the DoD back in the day. Biden used to called my father, and this isn't how things are supposed to work (insert lot of paperwork). A sitting Senator direct dialing my dad! The first time he called he wanted something.
I kid you not, a plane for a military base in this district. Not that actually flew, but one to just "showcase."
My father was pretty mad, but alas when a sitting Senator asked for something, they tend to get it. Biden got his plane.
But then he just kept calling.
I'd argue there are maybe like 10 people in the world that know more about the use of air power than my father. Maybe not even ten!
Biden kept calling, and this was in the late 80s, to ask a ton of questions. What about this? What about that? How do we do this?
My father, who is not a liberal, came to think that Biden was maybe the most educated person in DC. He asked around and nobody else was calling anybody to ask questions. The folks that know what my dad knows you can count on a hand or two. He jokes that folks should pick up the Federal Yellow Book and maybe call somebody on this or that before they open their mouths.
Biden did.
I got this "soft" spot for Joe. I literally can't wait for the debate. Paul Ryan IMHO knows not so much. I am something of a "wonk" in my day-to-day life, and Ryan isn't a policy wonk. He is a media created hack that couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag. Biden is going to "own" the guy. I just can't wait!