Many of us had noticed that Joe Biden was a nasty piece of work long ago.
I have often wondered whether Biden was the main figure behind the post-2008 beat-down of Sarah Palin. IIRC, the Vice-Presidential debate took place before the full media mockery began with the Tina Fey "Russia" quote... Palin was clearly still seen by the voters as both charming and capable - and Joe had to somehow go out on stage and debate her without looking like his usual egomaniacal, condescending self.
I believe it was David Axelrod who later described the match-up as: “She was like a fireworks display in full technicolor,”... “And he was kind of your standard vice-presidential candidate.” I'm sure that nobody was more aware of the disparity than Joe. The post-election badgering of a failed candidate was rather unprecedented, AFAIK, and it always seemed to have a personal edge to it. Initially I thought that was coming from McCain and his swampy minions - or maybe Obama - but now I'm thinking that Joe was the bully who was most likely involved - via his crime family.
You really may be on to something there. That is just the kind of person I have always seen him as.