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:
- Faux-Seaborn Styled Crow's Feet Poppers.
- Vegas Rolls Stuffed with Handmade Biden Fluff & Retort Garnish.
- Homemade Egg Nog - Seasoned to Taste.
As always (just over the bump), I start you off with a quote from The Gentleman to mull over with your morning Joe.
25 JUNE 2008 --
– Excerpt from a hearing held in Washington, District of Columbia of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee entitled, "A New Strategy for Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan":
"We can’t keep jumping from one crisis to the next, relying on exceptional diplomats and military officers to save us from disaster. We need a new strategy, to set the relationship on a stable course."
-- Vice President-Elect, Joe Biden
::::: APPETIZER :::::
It has been announced (in the show's schedule) that on Sunday, 21 December, This Week with George Stephanopoulos will air the first Sunday interview with the next Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden. Also, on the Sunday one week earlier, the show will feature Arizona's Senior Republican Senator, John McCain.
Anyone else notice that the amount of attention Mr. McCain's received since the election is tantamount to what Mr. Biden received during the election? (i.e.: active indifference.) Elections have consequences.
::::: MAIN COURSE :::::
A story that was circulated on Sunday by the Las Vegas Sun reported that Mr. Biden will be excluded from Senate Democratic lunches (a staple activity that Vice President Cheney -- for the past eight years -- undertook as an unprecedented, direct involvement in the Legislative Branch via the Senate's Republican counterpart).
Anecdotally, this will also be the first time in 36 years that Mr. Biden will not be privy to internal Senate activities, and signals an open acceptance in the shifting of his duties toward the Executive Branch while displaying a departure from the perceived "4th Branch" activities of his predecessor.
In reporting this news, however, the story created some controversy in its presentation. Responses to the article suggested an attempt to portray this turn of events as an act of ostracizing Mr. Biden from the Senate rather than reporting its prevailing message: The promotion of a joint effort by both congressional leaders and the office of the Vice President-elect to recalibrate the balance of powers to the office of the Vice President.
An Obama-Biden Transition Spokesperson, Elizabeth Alexander, replied to the story with the following comment.
"Vice President-elect Biden had no intention of continuing the practice started by Vice President Cheney of regularly attending internal legislative branch meetings -- he firmly believes in restoring the Office of the Vice President to its historical role. He and Senator Reid see eye to eye on this."
HuffPo. covered this story last saturday, but only the the extent that the L.V. Sun was running with the piece. Commentary was spare and (from my perspective) unimaginative. I will summarize both my own thoughts and those of other sources concerning this story with the following comment.
Let the be no question about it: Any passing misgivings toward Vice President-elect Biden's activities are being taken seriously and are beginning to receive direct responses from the Transition Team. Sharp work.
::::: DESSERT :::::
The better half of the Second Family, Jill Biden, has continued to teach since the election but the focus will change as the collegiate term wraps up for the year. Since the fourth of November and their tour with the Cheneys of the Queen Anne or "Admiral's" houses, Mrs. Biden and her husband have been contacting past Vice Presidents and spouses to get ideas for its decoration prior to taking up residence.
As reported by The Standard, many are the options for how the Biden's may choose to adorn the home that past occupants consider as, "... ideal for raising children and entertain grandchildren."
"[Tipper] Gore spoke to Jill Biden after the election. 'She called me about this impending move, and she was very excited and honored about it,' Gore says. 'Her main concern, of course, is that it lends itself to family living. The great thing is that it can be exactly the way you want it.'
Delaware living will be coming to Washington, D.C.
::::: THE CHECK ::::::
Thank you for your patronage here at Joe's Inn!
What do you think of the Biden's house-warming plans? Any expectations for McCain or Biden or Sam Seaborn George Stephanopoulos? How about those misgivings from the Senate to the media?
See you next time.