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:
- Biographer over easy for Biden.
- Working the phones, au gratin.
- Eye candy.
As always (just over the bump), I start you off with a quote from The Gentleman to mull over with your morning Joe.
AUGUST 2007 --
From the book Promises to Keep by Joe Biden:
"With power and privilege, I was taught, come responsibility to treat others with respect and fairness."
-- Vice President-Elect, Joe Biden
::::: COCKTAILS :::::
USA Today ends the speculation as to what exactly Delaware's State Attorney General, Beau Biden's, Christmas Gift will be.
Iraq-bound [Captain] Beau Biden, Delaware's attorney general, has ruled out taking any current appointment to the U.S. Senate seat now held by his father, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, adding to speculation about who will replace the senior Biden.
Looks like it's going to be a Governor-appointed, seat-warmer for two years, without a doubt. Now the questions that remain will be:
- Who will make the appointment: The current or incoming Delaware Governor?
- Who will be taking the seat: An insider or a n00b?
Think on the options while I prepare your meal.
::::: APPETIZER :::::
Jules Witcover author of Crapshoot: Rolling the Dice on the Vice Presidency and several other Democrat-leaning political books, has been signed on to be the author for a future biography on Vice President-elect Joe Biden according to the New York Times.
The book is to be published by William Morrow, a subsidiary of Harper Collins. The biography has an anticipated release date by the fall of 2010. I'll be working to get an advance copy come that year's summer.
Point of fact, Mr. Witcover served as editor for a related book: Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama.
::::: MAIN COURSE :::::
Monday means manning the phones for both Executives-elect. Mr. Biden spoke with several world leaders on Monday according to the AP as released via press release through the Change.Gov website.
Reportedly, the Vice President-elect spoke via telephone with:
* Colombian President Álvaro Uribe [Likey discussion was about the U.S.-Columbia Free Trade Agreement
* The E.U.'s High Representative for the Common Foreign & Security Policy Javier Solana [Likely discussion was about the Euro-Dollar stability issues and a chance to glean inside information handed over from the G20 Meeting where the E.U. Presidency was represented by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain]
* Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili [Likely topic... Russia and NATO]
* Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis (or is that Stockard Channing?) [Likely discussion was about the proposed extension of "Visa-free entry" for Greeks to the U.S. (i.e.: workforce)]
* Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero [Likely discussion over confirming information from Mr. Solana as mentioned above]
All of these calls (plus the three that President-elect Obama made that same day) suggest that Mr. Biden's influence and background in foreign relations are indeed being utilized. My thinking is that this is a "tiding over" until the Secretary of State appointment is made since the need to get on top of foreign relations during these early stages of the transition is critical to the long-term influence of the coming Obama Administration.
What do you think? Not enough spice?
::::: DESSERT :::::
Just thought you'd like a little sweet stuff to finish out a slow news cycle.
::::: THE CHECK ::::::
Thank you for patronage here at Joe's Inn!
I took the last few nights off to clean up the Inn and order some new ingredients. The stores are full and I'm online to cook up some great items for the next few weeks.
It was a pleasure to fill in for Morning Reaction and I want to thank everyone for your insights there. Thanks for the few nights off.
See you next time.