I'm not sure I understand that (snide) remark but I'm guessing it has something to do with the fact that I don't pretend to hide behind any sort of ... what's your word for it? ... on-line anonymity?

:)

Now, THAT was laugh-out-loud funny. You are a real card and you ought to be dealt with! :)

Let' see if I'm understanding your rules of the road correctly. You're OK with snide remarks as long as they are not also condescending?

Or, is that you're just now declaring that you will no longer use the snide remark, whether it's condescending or not?

Or ... What are you saying?

And yet another little passive-aggressive slam.

This is getting really tiring, Liz. If you can't converse with me without inserting a condescending or otherwise snide remark, I'm not interested in chatting with you further. That level of discourse is fine at the HuffPo, where it's nothing but a 24/7 foodfight, but I come to this board for civil discussion.

You really shouldn't pay so much attention to my condescending attitude. Really ... you're as sensitive as most of those silly progressives. :)

Actually, Liz, I'm a rather bright and extremely well-educated (not to mention well-read) individual. And I'm getting a little tired of your condescending attitude. So how about you try a slightly friendly approach, because the what-you-don't-seem-to-understand tactic doesn't fly with me. Just saying.

"To be clear, here we are allowed to express our opinions but we are not entitled to our own facts."

All the more reason to express opinions as opinions, not facts, which is the point I had made.

Please bear in mind that while you may see Biden as some kind of extraordinary veep, others do not. I'm one of them. I don't see him doing anything any other veep doesn't typically do.

It seems you have some difficulty discerning fact from opinion.

To be clear, here we are allowed to express our opinions but we are not entitled to our own facts.

While you're thinking about that, here is something for your reading pleasure...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-clemons/biden-dances-the-tough-da_b_653630.html

For clarification, this is an opinion piece, peppered with countless facts. :)

You do realize that your statements of fact are nothing more than your opinions, right?

This administration has the same policies and is doing the same things, only we're getting attacked on the homeland. NYC just escaped an attack owed only to a bomb's failure to ignite, same as the case of the Underwear Bomber. "Dumb luck" appears to be this administration's counterterrorism policy.

That is simply not a sound basis for judging success. You really do have to factor into the equation everything else the last administration did to endanger America and Americans, at home and certainly abroad.

The fact that no innocent people died is the first, foremost and ONLY consideration that concerns me..

Anything else is subject to interpretation.

Michale.....

Errr... you might wanna get a look in the mirror, there, Liz: "Most importantly, a Biden vice presidency is value-added, in ways most people don't begin to wrap their minds around. Dick Cheney, on the other hand, added no value at all."

'D

That is simply not a sound basis for judging success. You really do have to factor into the equation everything else the last administration did to endanger America and Americans, at home and certainly abroad.

Those policies DID keep Americans safe and provided valuable intel about terrorist movements...

You can decry the methods..

But you can't argue the results.

Nothing succeeds like success...

Michale.....

I don't hate the man ... I actually quite liked him back when we was defense secretary in what seems like eons ago.

But, Vice President Cheney gave his boss very bad advice on any number of issues. He was less interested in instituting policies at home to protect America and Americans than he was with promoting and executing an extremely dangerous foreign policy. And, on that score, many Repbulicans worth their salt would agree.

Dick Cheney, on the other hand, added no value at all.

Com'on Liz.. You may hate the man, but at least be fair.

You have to realize that 80%-90% of the legislation and counter terrorism activities that came down the pipe were pushed by Cheney.

Activities that kept this country safe and resulted in ZERO terrorist attacks on US proper.

Hate the Devil all you want, but give the Devil his due.

CB

Biden adds comic value: I'll definitely give him that. 'D

Ooooooo Yer gonna burn for that one! :D

Michale.....

While Biden and the rest of us are quite aware of the traditional role played by the vice president, he took the job anyway. That's because his role in this administration is anything but traditional.

As far as powerful vice presidents go, Biden and Cheney would rank right up there, but for vastly different reasons. Most importantly, a Biden vice presidency is value-added, in ways most people don't begin to wrap their minds around. Dick Cheney, on the other hand, added no value at all.

I'm thinking of a Home Alone version of Animal House.

However, I believe this is quite important and don't want it to get buried...

So, with my sincerest apologies to Liz, I would like to shift tracks, since we seem to ALL agree that Biden is a great guy that EVERYONE (myself included) would love to sit down and have a beer with...

Of course, I wouldn't have a problem with sitting down with Pelosi or Reid or even Obama, if there is beer...

"mmmmmmmmm {gurgle gurgle) Beeeeeer...."
-Homer Simpson

:D

Anyways, moving on...

The CBO predicts an increase in our public debt from $7.5 trillion at the end of 2009 to $20.3 trillion at the end of 2020 if Obama's fiscal 2011 budget is implemented. As a percentage of gross domestic product, the debt will rise to 90% from 53%.

Employers are not hiring because they know they will soon be paying not only higher taxes but also more health care costs or penalties. Depreciation allowances for investment in equipment will be lowered from $250,000 to $25,000, which means businesses will do less investing.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/540837/201007191905/Illinois-Failures-Go-Nationwide-Under-Obama.aspx

Now, I ask you...

Is this any way to run a country???

Michale.....

I am thinking either RISKY BUSINESS or WEIRD SCIENCE! :D

Michale.....

That's like parents heading out for vacation and instructing the teenagers not to throw any parties while they're gone.

Soooooooooo true, Michale. And I know so many old hippies just like me. In many ways, I'm going through my second hippiehood; in other ways, I'm becoming a slightly-to-the-right-of-Dick-Cheney conservative. A year and a half with Obama in office will do that to a body. 'D

That's a perfect description of how I've always perceived him.

I will be meeting with at least one senator while I'm away, but unfortunately for everyone, I am sworn to secrecy, and am angling for an official interview later, so you'll all just have to wonder about that. I will say, for the record, it's not Senator Feingold.

I know who. 'D

Any suggestions as to previous columns (from about the past year) I should run while I'm away? Any favorites, anyone?

I vote for something about the Tea Partiers, if you have any earlier stuff. Or something about the Founders. Or Hippies. Or Glenn Beck. Or puppies. I'd check your list except that it's so early in the morning that I'm not awake enough to absorb information.

When are you going to Vegas? Or are you there already? Can you play one of those super-duper slot machines for the board, and if you win, split the millions between us all? 'D

I'm going to go WAY way out on a limb here, and predict Liz is going to like this column.

:-)

"GOOD CALL!!!"
-Jim Carrey, LIAR LIAR

:D

CB,

as we old hippies used to say.

Ya know, it just occurred to me..

You are the epitome of the slogan that, when people are young and idealistic, they are Democrats. When they grow up, they become Republicans. :D

CW,

I should also say I'm not going to be very vigilant about answering comments here while I'm gone, so everyone BEHAVE YOURSELVES! Heh.

{{{{Michale looks around nonchalantly, whistling innocently..}}}

:D

Michale.....

LizM is in basic agreement with Chris1962.

I think I need a vacation...

Heh.

Actually, I agree with pretty much all of it. This is indeed the reason Veeps were created. And Joe Biden is such an authentic down-ta-earth guy that even if you disagree with everything he says, I bet you could still sit down and have a beer with the guy and he'd have you rolling in the aisles with laughter, just with the stories he could tell.

I'm wondering why there isn't at least a video of the Biden speech, myself, though.

I will be meeting with at least one senator while I'm away, but unfortunately for everyone, I am sworn to secrecy, and am angling for an official interview later, so you'll all just have to wonder about that. I will say, for the record, it's not Senator Feingold.

Any suggestions as to previous columns (from about the past year) I should run while I'm away? Any favorites, anyone?

I should also say I'm not going to be very vigilant about answering comments here while I'm gone, so everyone BEHAVE YOURSELVES! Heh.

-CW

I like all your columns! :)

But, this one was extra special. We could all use more Biden, all the time.

Unfortunately, the media will do their usual smash up job of ridiculing him at every opportunity. And, so I have to wonder if it's such a good idea for him to be out front and center so much.
I'm kidding!!! :)

I would like to know, though, why it's next to impossible, apparently, to find a transcript or video of this J-J Dinner.

Have a wonderful time at the Netroots convention, stay away from all computers ... and, don't forget to kick Russ Feingold in the shins for me should you run into him ... or any other similar type self-righteous pompous progressive! Oh, I kid Senator Feingold ... and the progressives. :)

We'll miss you while you're gone!

This is precisely why God created veeps. Veeps are supposed to do and say the stuff that's a little too undignified, or partisan, for the president and the office to engage in.

I've always loved Joe Biden; not his politics, but just the guy that he is. He's such real people, as we old hippies used to say. Waaaaay too chatty at times, and prone to gaffes, but in a good way. Like a Crazy Uncle Joe kinda way. And I've always loved the passion he exudes, regardless of what the subject matter. He's always giving his 100%.

Which made me literally LOL when I came across this article today, featuring Biden still hard at work, trying to patch things up between the White House and Nancy Pelosi, after Gibbs angered her to no when he spoke about the House being in play:

Biden Declares Pelosi More Powerful than Obama, VP
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/07/biden-declares-pelosi-more-pow.html

ROFL. Gotta love him.

:-)

-CW