The Three "B's" Of Joe Biden (Wizbang)

Over the weekend, I found myself slightly miffed at my colleague Lorie Byrd. On Saturday, she wrote a piece about a certain video featuring Joe Biden about 20 years ago. I had planned on writing about it Sunday morning, and felt a certain sense of proprietary interest -- after all, it had been shot in Claremont, New Hampshire, and I feel like I should have "first dibs" on any New Hampshire stories.

Anyway, Lorie did her usual superb job, and my idea set aside.

But not for long. There is a wealth of information to be gleaned from that short video clip about the man who wishes to be one heartbeat from the presidency, and I think that I can mine even more from it than Lorie did.

But first, the video:

Wow.

What this shows us is how Joe Biden reacts when he is challenged: he tends to resort to what I call "three B's."

The initial question is how he did in law school.

First up, he Bullies.

"First up, I think I have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect."

Assertion of superiority. Dominance. "I'm smarter than you are; how dare you question me!"

Next, he Blusters.

"I went to law school on a full academic scholarship, the only one in my class..."

"I ended up in the top half of my class..."

"I won the international moot court competition..."

"I was the Outstanding Student in the political science department..."

"I graduated with three degrees..."

The problem is that his Bluster ends up flowing into the third "B:" Bullshit.

Fact: Biden attended law school on a partial, needs-based scholarship.

Fact: he graduated 76th out of a class of 85.

Fact: he now says he was "considered" for the Outstanding Student in Political Science.

Fact: He graduated with two degrees.

The only thing that is remotely true is the Moot Court competition, where he was part of the winning team.

So, what does this tell us about Joe Biden?

Well, I will freely admit that judging a man's entire character based on a minute or two of 20-year-old video is armchair psychology of the most amateur sort, and I'm hardly an expert, but I think it is borne out by other observations:

When Joe Biden feels threatened, he reacts at a gut level and lashes out at his challenger, and will do whatever it takes to claim superiority -- even making up credentials and honors to which he is not entitled. in order to silence his critic.

In other words, when he gets angry, he just plain makes shit up. The more worked-up he is, the less you can believe what he can say.

Now that I think about it, though, perhaps this is the best argument for putting Biden in as vice president. The two primary duties of the veep are to preside over the Senate, voting only in the event of a tie, and "inquiring daily as to the health of the president."

Biden's already in the Senate, so effectively this would nullify most of his voting privileges. And Obama is young and healthy (at least according to the one-page summary of his health issued by his doctor), so the likelihood of Biden ascending to the presidency are pretty slim. Making him vice-president might actually be the best thing for America.

But damn, it seems like a hell of a price to pay. Especially since his current term (he's been in the Senate for almost 36 years, well over half his entire life) is up this year, and I don't know if Delaware, like Texas and a few other states, allows him to run for both his Senate seat and vice-president at the same time, so there's a good chance he'll be out of office either way come next January.

And good riddance.

Comments (13)

Delaware being a Dimo state... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Michael | August 25, 2008 7:50 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Michael:

Delaware being a Dimo state will re-elect this ahole, the Rep has no chance there...Delaware likes to pay taxes.

Posted on August 25, 2008 07:50

Great Googly Moogly, what a... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by langtry | August 25, 2008 9:37 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

langtry:

Great Googly Moogly, what a Pr*ck!

I could barely sit through his arrogant tirade without wanting to yank my earphone plug out of my computer.

Posted on August 25, 2008 09:37

To me, the bottom line is; ... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Eneils Bailey | August 25, 2008 9:58 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Eneils Bailey:

To me, the bottom line is; you don't send fools and/or boys in to do a adult's job.

Posted on August 25, 2008 09:58

Joe can't run for both offi... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by OLDPUPPYMAX | August 25, 2008 10:20 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

OLDPUPPYMAX:

Joe can't run for both offices? Evidently he believes he has stolen enough over the years to be able to retire comfortably. Either that or he has already been set up as the next MBNA board member with lots of salary and perks and no duties.

Posted on August 25, 2008 10:20

I know I'm repeating myself... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by P. Bunyan | August 25, 2008 11:10 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

P. Bunyan:

I know I'm repeating myself, but being a bullshitter is a requirement for that job...

Posted on August 25, 2008 11:10

Making him vice-pr... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Mac Lorry | August 25, 2008 11:22 AM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)

Mac Lorry:

Making him vice-president might actually be the best thing for America.

The best thing for America is if he loses both his senate seat and his bid to become VP. I'm not sure about senate rules, but I assume that even if Biden were to regain his senate seat in 2010, he would lose his seniority. Given his age and loss of seniority, he would never regain chairmanship of any important senate committee. Now that would be good for America.

Posted on August 25, 2008 11:22

I'm not sure about... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by OregonMuse | August 25, 2008 12:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

OregonMuse:

I'm not sure about senate rules, but I assume that even if Biden were to regain his senate seat in 2010, he would lose his seniority.

Did John Kerry lose all his senate seniority when he ran for president back in 2004?

Posted on August 25, 2008 12:21

There is a 4th B. Baldness.... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by WildWillie | August 25, 2008 3:15 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

WildWillie:

There is a 4th B. Baldness. ww

Posted on August 25, 2008 15:15

The Thunder Run has linked ... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by David M | August 25, 2008 3:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

David M:

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 08/25/2008 A short recon of what's out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

Posted on August 25, 2008 15:19

Bullies.Blu... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by MagicalPat | August 25, 2008 3:54 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

MagicalPat:

Bullies.

Blusters.

Bullshit.

Bingo

Posted on August 25, 2008 15:54

Sadly, they're prepping his... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by LenS | August 25, 2008 7:17 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

LenS:

Sadly, they're prepping his seat for his son, who recently won the State AG's job.

Posted on August 25, 2008 19:17

Excellent job, Jay! I think... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by Lorie Byrd | August 25, 2008 11:26 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Lorie Byrd:

Excellent job, Jay! I think another place to mine for Biden material is the many confirmation hearings he has participated in. He is a bombastic character assassin, talking almost the entire alloted time leaving the person testifying to ask "Was there a question in there?"

Posted on August 25, 2008 23:26

Mac Lorry - he wouldn't los... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by MikeW | August 26, 2008 5:03 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

MikeW:

Mac Lorry - he wouldn't lose his seniority if that happened. Seniority is on the basis of time in office, not start date. Same applies to the many congressmen who lost their seats then got them back.

As for Kerry, he never resigned from the Senate. Much like Bush, he campaigned while serving in another office. Had he won, he'd have resigned before inauguration.

Posted on August 26, 2008 05:03