Joe Biden update: Empty weekend after lots of shoveling stuff

After a very busy, short week of breaking ground for the cameras in several states, Vice President Joe Biden is taking the entire weekend off. Sort of. Here's his official White House schedule:

WEEKEND GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
Saturday June 13, 2009 and Sunday June 14, 2009

Vice President Biden will be in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday June 13th and Sunday June 14th. No public events are scheduled.

In two busy days this week, the VP was in three states, shoveling dirt at groundbreakings to call public attention to the hundreds of construction projects the administration says are now underway to stimulate the economy.

The last event was in Kalamazoo, Mich., of all places, for some widening of I-94 so people can flee that Michigan community quicker in these difficult economic times. (Word also has it that through the magic of videotape, Biden will talk on "Meet the Press" on Sunday.)

Besides the vice president and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the K-zoo event also attracted the Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow. Each said they were happy to be there and delighted at the wonderful work President Obama's economic program is performing.

Someday someone should add up the afternoons'-worth of salaries and travel and security expenses of public officials at such publicity events. That money could count as significant economic stimulation too as well as part of the next generation's debt load.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[Tim Bartik]

"The last event was in Kalamazoo, Mich., of all places, for some widening of I-94 so people can flee that Michigan community quicker in these difficult economic times."

Mr. Malcolm: I happen to be a resident of Kalamazoo. Could you please explain what the point is of your gratuitous and ignorant insult? Is it supposed to be funny?

For your information, Kalamazoo happens to be doing better than the state of Michigan. Kalamazoo has a much more diversified economy than southeast Michigan, which is so dependent on the auto industry.

For that matter, at least in terms of unemployment, it's doing better than the LA metro area. According to the BLS, the April 2009 unemployment rate in Kalamazoo was 9.7%. The April 2009 unemployment rate for the LA metro area was 10.1%. Obviously almost all the U.S. is suffering from the current recession, but Kalamazoo is hardly some unique economic basket case.

You might also note that Kalamazoo is the home of the Kalamazoo Promise, under which all graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools are guaranteed up to 100% of tuition paid at Michigan public universities and community colleges. Kalamazoo is committed to improved higher education access for all. Perhaps the Kalamazoo Promise might provide a useful model for California.

[DAG]

I'm a former Michigan native and couldn't agree more about the pointless publicity events. The state is held captive by Democrats who couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag. The residents are too stupid to go with someone else on the chance that the person might be more likely to change things for the better. Levin, who has been in office since 1979, seems like a great candidate to mix things up and improve Michigan's economy right?

So, in these tough times road construction projects will save our economy. How? By enraging the people who actually still have jobs and drive to work on roads that are being worked on. They'll get so worked up that they'll need to seek mental health services and buy de-stress products. That's when the real money starts flowing.

[Pearl]

Meanwhile the North Koreans are well..... busy. To say the least. geez......

[k morgan]

oh yes all those jobs he is creating...hahaha...i hear biden's staff has greatly enlarged do to his continous gaffs..what a clown he is.

[steve rodriguez]

No more Bush jokes, he's gone!

Obama is off limits to jokes, can't touch him! (Nothing negative).

Biden is the new scapegoat for the Lib media!

[Jay]

Hey Tim you said the following:
"You might also note that Kalamazoo is the home of the Kalamazoo Promise, under which all graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools are guaranteed up to 100% of tuition paid at Michigan public universities and community colleges. Kalamazoo is committed to improved higher education access for all. Perhaps the Kalamazoo Promise might provide a useful model for California. "

Guess what? Calfornia tried this before and it has been a disaster. How many folks start college and never finish? What have you gotten for your costs? Nothing. Think about it.

[farlane]

I agree Tim. It's funny that someone in a state like California that's staring the end of its agriculture in the face due to lack of water would mock another state grappling with transformation.