The picture of then-Senator, Joe Biden with coffee pot in hand has been consistently posted along with a quote for many mornings within Kula's Morning Reaction series. It is what prompted the origin of this series to focus upon the transitions and daily activities of the other Executive Office holder: Vice President-Elect, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
Today's Menu Specials:
- Delaware's abdicated seat for Senator brings debate and speculation.
- One man's memory of Biden's past recalls an impression made while they were living in Syracuse, NY... when Joe was a law student.
- A look at the Residence of the Vice President.
As always (just over the bump), I start you off with a quote from The Gentleman to mull over with your morning Joe.
14 DECEMBER 2003 --
Speaking to reporters after being notified of the passing of 82 year-old Former U.S. Senator from Delaware, William Roth: The creator of Roth IRA:
"It's a sad day for Delaware. This was one of the truly great figures in Delaware politics." -- Vice President-Elect, Joe Biden
::::: APPETIZER :::::
Having defeated a seventh Republican opponent for a Senate Seat in Delaware last Tuesday, Vice President-elect, Joe Biden, is expected to abandon the post he's held for 36 years. This leaves the duty of filling the vacancy to the current Governor of Delaware, Ruth Ann Minner. In her final month-and-a-half (this being the end of her second term), conjecture reigns as to who should fill the seat for at least the first two years.
Many, prominent Delaware names have turned up in the media as speculation of a successor increases. All of whom carry a significant amount of debatable points, various characteristics and potential controversy given the circumstances of being "appointed" rather than elected to the open seat.
The obvious choice to many would be Joseph R. "Beau" Biden, III. He currently serves as Delaware's Attorney General and has carried his father's National devotion to seeking criminal justice and ensuring protection against domestic abuse at the State level. However, Capt. Beau Biden is currently on deployment to Iraq along with his unit of the Delaware Army National Guard. This makes a Senate appointment difficult at best and bad timing at the worst.
Adding to the warming debate of possibly appointing "A.G.I. Joe Biden" to the vacant seat are some underlying nuances of primogeniture in having Mr. Biden's son potentially "inheriting" his father's Senate seat. Even if it amounts to nothing more than speculation, a Freshman Senator Beau Biden may find things do not go over so smoothly with new constituents, within a Senate that's overseen by V.P. Biden ("Dad") and while his better-known constituents back home (i.e.: current Delaware Democrats and progressives) may view his new position as one that was unfairly earned through favoritism.
Still, he's in Iraq. Likeliest outcome: These projections amount to nada since he'll wait for 2010.
Alternatively, Gov. Minner could choose to tap her current Lt. Gov., John C. Carney, who lost his bid to become the Democratic nominee for Delaware Governor to the State Treasurer (and now Governor-elect), Jack Markell. This too carries some controversy of preferential treatment in offering the Senate seat as a "consolation prize" for losing in the primary and that she would be offering a job to her Lieutenant.
Still, he possesses vast experiences as a former Delaware State Secretary of Finance, Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission and hails from the same area of Wilmington as does Mr. Biden. All would be helpful in an Obama Administration-allied Senate where healthcare and economic reform are likely to be its primary focuses. Add to this that he already has a base of progressive supporters in Delaware, most comprised by those who backed his Gubernatorial run earlier this year.
Another name that has come up is the current Delaware Secretary of State, Harriet Smith-Windsor who (if I may be so bold) seems to be the best choice for several reasons. She was chosen to be Secretary of State by this Governor (who is ending her final term this year), she's a superdelegate, Party chair, and has all the makings of a Senator from her educational background to the experienced elbow-rubbing of many years in the Party and among those within the Delaware government.
Plus, there are suggestions that she wouldn't keep the job past two years. Personally, I think this makes her appear more like a Senate "placeholder" (why does Lucy holding a football for Charlie Brown come to mind?) Someone there to keep the seat warm before the special election produces a succeeding Democrat in 2010. AAUGH!
There is one more scenario that could play out. Given that Vice President-elect Biden has indicated no hurry to vacate his seat, he could wait it out until the new Governor is sworn. Leaving the decision to then-Governor Markell opens up an entirely new set of possible candidates in addition to those mentioned above. In today's Wall Street Journal, Kim Strassel considers basically the same situation as I just covered for both Obama's and Biden's open seats.
No matter the outcome, what seems clearest of all is that whomever it is that's chosen to hold the Delaware Senate seat for the 111th Congress will do so for no more than two years. Come 2010 a special election will be held to find a permanent, six-term Senator that will represent "The First State". From what I've been reading in commentary on this subject, most agree: Expect Beau to come home and run for Senate in 2010.
::::: MAIN COURSE :::::
worriedgranny alerted me (and deserves full credit for doing so!) to something very heart-warming written in today's edition of Syracuse's The Post-Standard. Columnist, Sean Kirst, ran a very humanizing piece about a young Joe Biden who was then attending Syracuse Law School, raising his daughter and sons with his wife Neilia, and finding time to intervene when a young neighbor boy with a terrible stutter was being picked upon by some bullies.
As he got older, Kevin [Coyne] outgrew his speech impediment. He'd eventually become a project manager for Raulli & Sons iron works, although he never forgot that childhood incident. Tuesday, as the results of the presidential election became clear, he was among the few Americans more interested in the second spot on the winning ticket.
Joe Biden, who as a young man helped a lonely kid in Syracuse, will soon be vice president of the United States.
Some of the best parts of this article come not just within Mr. Krist's approach to that period in Mr. Biden's pre-political life (of which I have been informed he is researching now for other forthcoming essays), but from the comments that follow the piece. Some of which are from the author himself as he defends his piece against naysayers and harsh critics.
I read the piece and thought it was more than worth commenting upon both here and there. Certainly, Vice President Biden will leave a positive mark upon the office of the Executive if his past deeds and inherent nature is a prime indication.
::::: DESSERT :::::
During the commentary of yesterday's Inn talk, the question arose as to where exactly does the Vice President reside while the President calls the White House home? After a little history searching I can give you a breakdown of the basics. There will be no quiz over this material.
While the precedent for working out of the West Wing has been set for only a few administrations now, the residence for the Second-in-Command has been established since as far back as the mid-1970s.
From Ask Yahoo!:
The house, a white, brick-walled, Victorian-style home with 9,150 square feet of floor space, is located on the corner of 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. It's on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory and was originally built for the superintendent of the observatory in 1839.
The house became the official residence of the Chief of the Naval Observatory in 1928 (for this reason, it's still referred to as the "Admiral's House"). In 1974, Congress designated the house the official temporary residence for vice presidents. Before the decree, the vice president lived in temporary houses and hotels.
The Admiral's House is located at the southeast corner of 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue. The first full-time residents as members of the Executive Branch were Walter Mondale (President Carter's V.P.) and his wife, Joan, starting in January of 1977.
Currently, there is no public information about the future plans for the Biden home in Wilmington, Delaware. Most likely, it will be maintained by the Biden Family while they relocate to and reside within the Admiral's House after January 2009's inauguration ceremonies. I'll keep an eye on the news for you.
::::: THE CHECK ::::::
Thank you for patronage here at Joe's Inn!
Now, what are your thoughts about Joe's Syracuse days? Did you stand up against a bully or come to aid the victim of one? How about that house in D.C., eh? What's your take on the open Senate Seat in Delaware? Who's your pick?
See you next time.