Is Joe Biden the anti-Cheney?

It's the soundbite heard 'round the (political) world. Democrat Joe Biden suggested that his young running mate Barack Obama would be tested by international foes within the first six months of his administration, much as a young John Kennedy was tested by the Soviets in the Cuban missile crisis.

Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. ..We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we are going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.

Biden, who has a reputation for shooting off his mouth, didn't stop there.

He's gonna need you -- not financially to help him -- we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right.

Republicans were quick to exploit the gaffe. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, colleague and traveling sidekick to John McCain, thanked Biden at a rally in Bensalem, Pa., this morning. "Thank you for reminding us the way the world is," he said, and for reminding voters that "there's never been a candidate for president of the United States more tested than John McCain." Even the first-term governor of Alaska Sarah Palin weighed in, saying the White House is no place for "on-the-job training."

All of this suggests that Biden would be a far different vice president than Dick Cheney. In some sense, Biden is the anti-Cheney -- all talk, no stealth.

Cheney, known in some quarters as Darth Vader, specialized in influence from within. Using a team of legal talents, he steered President Bush to approve domestic wiretapping, keep documents and witnesses out of congressional hearings and authorize torture techniques for terrorist suspects.

Will Biden, like Cheney, keep his counsel to the president confidential? Or will his verbal excesses sour President Obama on even listening to him?

Obama might take a few pointers from Bush, who told Cheney not to talk so much in meetings where both of them were in attendance. Or at least that's what Oliver Stone says in his new movie "W."

We asked Barton Gellman, a Washington Post reporter whose just-released book "Angler" offers a vivid portrayal of Cheney's style, to compare the two politicians. His take:

Cheney has been the West Wing equivalent of a black hole, emitting nothing. Joe Biden emits, emotes, speculates, hypothecates. If he's the next vice president, we're in for some fun.

-- Johanna Neuman

Comments

[katherine]

I think America deserves a media that will question Biden on these comments. I think it is a matter of journalistic integrity and of grave concern to our national security. I live in Brooklyn and experienced Sept. 11th. I was terrified when I heard Biden's comments. Why would he say this now? Why would a man with his foreign policy credentials say this? His comments were so specific that it didn't seem like mindless wandering. I certainly hope that if Obama is elected, Biden's predictions do not come true.

[Steve]

Inexperienced far left liberal president that is exactly what this economy needs to finish it off.

[jillina]

You cut off the part where Biden said that Obama has a spine of steel and would be ready for anything that would happen.

[Billy]

Please, please question Mr. Biden more , Im worried about another terror attack
and Im counting on Mr. Obama to prevent it, Mr Biden brought up about his experience, it makes me nervous.

[nick]

Why don't people think?

The next president will face a massive challenge in his first 6 months. Does anyone doubt this?

The current president is dealing with about 6 massive challenges NOW (Economy; Russian/Venezuelan cooperation; Iraq; Afghanistan; Iran; Cleaning out his desk)

Biden's not saying Obama WILL CAUSE a disaster, but that something will happen. How could this be untrue?????? Morons.

what does biden mean? why would he say such a thing? what does he know? why would he say such a thing that could be so easily exploited by his opponents?

...is he a liability?

[budee budinski]

what does biden mean? why would he say such a thing? what does he know? why would he say such a thing that could be so easily exploited by his opponents?

...is he a liability?

[Rachel]

We are in a crisis right now. There will be more crises, domestic and international. And, any new American president will be tested.

If McCain thinks he will not be tested by international crisis if elected, he’s out of touch. McCain will be tested even more because the world sees him as the lackey of the Bush Administration.

According to a lifelong conservative Republican, Ken Adelman:

“When the economic crisis broke, I found John McCain bouncing all over the place. In those first few crisis days, he was impetuous, inconsistent, and imprudent; ending up just plain weird. Having worked with Ronald Reagan for seven years, and been with him in his critical three summits with Gorbachev, I’ve concluded that that’s no way a president can act under pressure.”

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/georgepacker/2008/10/not-quite-colin.html

[Dr. Billingsgate]

Biden brings to mind what the late country-western singer, Hank Snow, said to a heckling drunk at a Grand Ole Opera concert that I attended, "Will some one put a saddle on that jack-ass and ride him out of here."

[sam]

Biden is a smart guy I'm very to help elect someone that has the balls in this country to be honest with us

[Dan]

I think no matter who the changing of the guard turned out to be, if anyone was planning an attack they would obviously wait until someone new gets in office when things are potentially less stable in the U.S. It doesn't matter if it's Obama or McCain.
I think Biden was pretty foolish for saying things like this.. .as if to scare the public into voting for Obama, or any other motive... it just doesn't make sense to say things like this, especially pre-election...very poor choice.
I would still much rather see Obama in office though. Regardless of what happens we can't afford to have another war-mongering rich old white guy in office. Einstein himself said it is insanity to do the same thing and expect a different result.

[KarlChilders]

Gaff? Where is the Gaff? The rupiglicans try to make every word that comes out of Biden's mouth a gaff. The truth is not a gaff. God all mighty, thank you if he is the Anti-Cheney.

[David B]

nick:
So your insult to every reader as being a moron is the answer.

Big Joe's message was quite clear:
If Obama is elected, he will be tested with an international crisis that will paint him in a bad way with his constituents. Simple. Clear. Probable?
Probable!
He did not even mention John McCain in the sentence.
What he DID say, moron, is that electing Obama, will (probably) cause ANOTHER crisis.
Clear, simple.

[BitterBierce]

What "gaffe?" Since when is it a gaffe to speak what has a very high probability of being the truth?

EITHER candidate will be tested within the first six months - there already are too many pots near the boil-over point; at least one is sure to erupt.

And while I'm not a fan of either candidate, I think cool, calm Obama has at least as good a chance of dealing with a crisis as hot-tempered and irresolute McCain. Throw in the respective running mates as VP watching their back, and Obama-Biden clearly trumps McCain-Palin.

If Biden is the anti-Cheney, Palin is Cheney with bigger boobs and smaller brains.

[nick pitti]

he's just pointing out how we're heading towrds and inevitable crisis. he does run his mouth too much, but it's true. and i for damn sure would rather have Obama dealing with it, than an uptight old man.

[yappy]

Nick:
The first voice of reason that I've heard all day long wrt this sound blip.

Most of the time I too wonder where peoples' heads are at these days. Of course a new President, regardless of who it is, will be tested. GWB was tested on the fabled 01-09-11... The difference that I can see is the Biden is prognosticating this publicly, something I would expected a public official to do, and not privately hoping that people won't notice the test.

GWB hasn't faired all too well with the numerous crisises that have popped up during his tenure, but even he has managed to keep the country alive -- if ever there was a president that could have completely destroyed the country it was GWB.

One last point from far out in the outfield that has itched me for a while now. I also wish to preface this with the statement that 'I am not fully aware of McCain's record as a public servant or as a military man". That being said, I wonder why it is that everyone seems to feel that McCain's expereince in Viet Nam qualify him as a better CommanderAndChief, than Obama, if/when in warring times? It would seem to me that since he was captured, his actual military quality might not be all that great. He was caught, he failed his mission. I'm not trying to slander McCain, or degrade him in any way, but just because I own an NRA card doesn't mean I know how to use a gun very well, just because I am in the military, that doesn't mean I understand everything that is going on, just because I got captured, maybe it shows that I know less about war than I thought I did.
McCain served his country with distinction and honour, something nobody can take from him, but that alone doesn't make him an expert.

[Robert Singleton]

McCain's reaction to Biden’s comment (and the Bill Ayers flap) reminds me of a small yappy dog that finds a mouse in the house, barks hysterically, runs around the house knocking over furniture, and finally brings you the mouse, and looks at you as is to say: "See what I saved you from?"

[mark payton]

Great to see that the new (and improved?) LA Times is aligning itself with typical Fox News FUD: Fear, Uncertainty and Doom.

Where is the Gaffe again?

[n00w]

Two points:
1. Nominations. These are taking ages. When 9/11 arrived, the Bush admin had not even named all the officials responsible for homeland security, and it was more than 6 months after the election. Regarding this, McCain would be in the same situation. Maybe Obama would be more challenged, for any symbolic reasons you can imagine, but I believe that McCain would be challenged the same way, and I wouldn't trust him more or less than Obama in facing the situation. USA is an organized country. White House officials are already briefing Obama's team very seriously with potential risks and useful strategic means.
2. Iran. In a recent interview, Bush said the first file ready on his desk for his successor would be that country. Iran pres. Ahmadinejad challenged the USA in a surprising speech during the recent UN congress meeting one month ago. I wouldn't be surprised if it would be there. As second challenge I would list Russia, because they have recently proven to use test methods in order to check reactions. I would advise them all to be careful with Obama. He sure isn't the weak-hearted some people wou!d believe, possibly even less than Pres. Bush himself.

Why wont they tell use they don't rape children? We need to know!

[Pete]

What gaffe? It's the truth. An American president must be prepared to have his mettle tested at any time. What will Obama do? Some terrorist will think that liberals are too weak to respond militarily. Well, I have news for you. There are a lot of liberal veterans like me. Charity, which is the trait that makes us liberals, and military strength are not mutually exclusive. Just because we have hopes and dreams of a better world, just because we prefer to exhaust all avenues of negotiation before committing the lives of our young soldiers to war, does not mean we lack resolve. Veterans who are liberals are this way either because we believe that is what Jesus taught or because we believe it is part of the Constitution we swore to defend. Just because I'm a liberal doesn't mean I don't know how to defend myself.

[RueDee]

No gaffe! Whoever is elected president will be tested and need the support of the American people.

[Czarna Jama]

This was no "gaffe"! Mark Payton is absolutely right, and we can expect Russia to be involved in the first foreign affairs testing of the next President. The Central and East European cauldron was powerfully snuffed during the Cold War, but we have had a peek at what can happen, in this case the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Russia is an extremely wealthy, aggrieved nation facing demographic implosion and needing to expand by retrieving its recently-lost empire. Its former satrapies are failing politically, while its adversaries are either traditionally passive and economically subservient (EU), or over-extended militariily and economically stressed (US). The historical circumstances could not be better for Russia, helped by formidable allies, to re-establish its hegemony over its old sphere of influence. The people in the middle, e.g. Poland, are asking whether the West will betray them again. What will the new President do?

[Lisa W]

Cheney will shoot Bush in the back, then assume the Presidency.

Afterward, he will declare Martial Law in the good ol' USA.

And steal a trillion dollars of future Americans' money. Oh wait, they already did that.

Then, the World Banks will attempt to form a coup and run the world's economies. Oh wait, they already did that.

And you are scared of what?

Both future presidential candidates plan to bomb Iran. And attack Russia and South America. That's that.

[Daisy]

Nah...'We the People' are enough to bring America down -- who needs terrorists? Yes we can! Keep printing that money, keep expanding that government, and don't bother to pay down the debt. (You will really be left with "change" in your pocket.) And we all know how brilliant government officials are - so let's expand, expand, expand. If you liked Pres. Bush, you will love Obama and the Dem (filibuster-proof) Congress. Don't believe me? Google "George Bush and Liberal".