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:
- Workman's Pie with Torture a la "No"'d.
- Stacked Media with Fries and a Soda.
- Soft Serve "Vice" Cream
As always (just over the bump), I start you off with a quote from The Gentleman to mull over with your morning Joe.
4 OCTOBER 2007 --
Senatorial press release on his continued stance against torture and to enact the National Security with Justice Act:
"We need to send a clear message – to the Administration, to the foreign partners with whom we must cooperate to effectively combat terrorism, and to concerned individuals all over the world – that torture of detainees is unacceptable and is not permitted by U.S. law. Period."
-- Vice President-Elect, Joe Biden
::::: APPETIZER :::::
More contrasts are coming out between Cheney and Biden (as illustrated by the comic book insert to the right.
However, people are still looking for hints about what Joe Biden's Vice Presidential role might be. Well, it's looking like it may be about labor.
Politico reports that not only is the appointment of Jared Bernstein as Mr. Biden's economic pointman a step toward a focused involvement in labor issues, but that his Senatorial ties to labor groups and unions like AFL-CIO suggest a strong heads-up to defining the role of the next V.P.
One area that seems to be shaping up as a Biden emphasis is labor policy. Thea Lee, assistant director of public policy at AFL-CIO, says she has gotten strong indications from "various sources" in the Obama transition that Biden will be a point-person for their concerns.
"We certainly have gotten that impression, unofficially," Lee said.
That's the kind of impression to give with 10.3 million people unemployed at a national average of 6.3%. Duties of job creation and getting people to work may be coming to the office of the Vice President.
Could this be the move to pass the The Employee Free Choice Act? That would be quite a change in the role of V.P. indeed; but as the Politico story also pointed out, I've compiled an easy list to reference of differences between the V.P. Offices of Biden and Cheney:
-- COMPARISON BETWEEN EXPECTED VEEP ROLES -- V.P. "Duty" | Biden | Cheney |
Receives Personal Daily Security Briefings | no | yes |
Will Attend Senate Caucus Meetings | no | yes |
Has an Office Outside the House Floor | no | yes |
Plans to Run for President After 8 Years | no | no |
Last Person the President Speaks to Before a Decision | no | yes |
Intends to Attend Every Meeting Invited to | no | yes |
Will Hold Halloween Parties at #1 Observation Circle | yes | no |
CONDONES THE USE OF TORTURE ON PRISONERS | no | yes |
::::: MAIN COURSE :::::
As of yesterday, Vice President-elect Biden has an official Press Staff. Which means I'll be attempting to contact them directly for information on Mr. Biden's activities and to arrange email or telephone interviews.
I've placed the short article mostly intact below, discussion follows.
Time magazine Washington bureau chief Jay Carney will be Biden's communications director and Elizabeth Alexander will be his press secretary. The Obama-Biden transition office on Tuesday also named Annie Tomasini as Biden's deputy press secretary.
Carney, a former White House correspondent, covered the collapse of the Soviet Union during the early 1990s and was aboard Air Force One on Sept. 11, 2001.
Alexander, a Biden aide since 2006, worked in Biden's Senate office, as well as for former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe, then-Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.
Tomasini worked for Biden's Senate office and presidential bid.
In addition to the reporting, Mr. Biden released the following statement in conjunction with these appointments.
This talented group will bring a tireless work ethic and dedication to the Obama-Biden Administration.
I have long admired Jay Carney’s astute understanding of national affairs as well as foreign policy matters. I am certain that his counsel and leadership will be invaluable in the years to come.
Elizabeth Alexander brings energy and broad experience in communications, most recently leading my press shop in the Senate and on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Annie Tomasini has been an integral and loyal part of the press operations in my Senate office and recent campaigns and I look forward to having her continue on in my office.
On paper all three of these picks read as good ones; but I have a couple of small contentions with the choice of Carney as comms. director. Here's why.
He leaves Time Magazine after 20 years of service and after proving himself to be the reason to Mark Halperin's rhyme. But this isn't about making an official switch from the center to the left. It's about a raise, answering a call to duty and increased exposure (or decreased if the scaling back of the V.P. role actually happens). All of which work well for Jay.
Something else to which we should remain mindful: Carney's wife is ABC news's national correspondent, Claire Shipman, where the network has already come out with a statement clamping down on rumors that Mr. Carney's appointment to within the West Wing could cause a conflict of interest on the part of ABC or Ms. Shipman.
As for Ms. Alexander and Tomasini, I could find no photos or biographical information of significant revelation at this time. That doesn't necessarily mean there isn't any, just that it's not as easy to track down at this time. Once I get more information, I'll add it to the menu.
::::: DESSERT :::::
I've seen it used it a lot in many columns and articles discussing the Vice Presidency in researching Joe's Inn, but I wanted to know from where it originated. I'm talking about the nickname: "The Veep".
Well, leave it to wikipedia to offer the answer:
[Alben W.] Barkley was popularly known as "the Veep". His young grandson, Stephen M. Truitt, had suggested this abbreviated alternative to the cumbersome "Mr. Vice President." When Barkley told the story at a press conference, the newspapers printed it, and the title stuck. Barkley's successor as vice president, Richard Nixon, declined to continue the nickname, saying that it had been bestowed on Barkley affectionately and belonged to him. However, the term has continued to be used as shorthand for Vice-President.
Because "Tricky Dick" is such a step up in monikers.
::::: THE CHECK ::::::
Thank you for patronage here at Joe's Inn!
We're getting ready for cooking up tomorrow's menu of goodies. So see you next time.