Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

For Biden, No Portfolio but the Role of a Counselor [there will be discrete assignments over time,”]
New York Times ^

Posted on 11/26/2008 6:47:37 AM PST by Sub-Driver

For Biden, No Portfolio but the Role of a Counselor By HELENE COOPER

WASHINGTON — The day before Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s birthday last week, Barack Obama surprised him after lunch with candlelighted cupcakes. Within hours, the photograph of the president-elect and his running mate, smiling over the dessert, was on the evening news.

The photograph, circulated by Mr. Obama’s office, was meant to project unity, confidence and camaraderie. But while Mr. Obama has moved quickly to assemble his White House staff and the beginnings of a cabinet, he is lagging behind even the chronically late President Bill Clinton in bringing clarity to the role his vice president will play.

So far, Mr. Biden has not been given a defined portfolio, the way Al Gore was given the environment and technology in 1992. And Mr. Obama’s aides say they do not expect Mr. Biden to assume the kind of muscular role that Vice President Dick Cheney has played over the last eight years, although he is expected to put out a number of fires.

“I’m sure that there will be discrete assignments over time,” said David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the president-elect. “But I think his fundamental role is as a trusted counselor. I think that when Obama selected him, he selected him to be a counselor and an adviser on a broad range of issues.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Delaware
KEYWORDS: 2008veep; bho2008; biden; vpbiden
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last
Poor old Joe, given nothing to do...........
1 posted on 11/26/2008 6:47:38 AM PST by Sub-Driver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Biden has risen well past his level of competence.


2 posted on 11/26/2008 6:49:38 AM PST by BigBobber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
B. Hussein 0bama has a two letter acronym to describe Biden....
S.O.L.
3 posted on 11/26/2008 6:51:08 AM PST by IMissPresidentReagan (Join me now in the NEW Reagan Revolution, to bring Conservatism BACK! www.reaganaction.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

What the heck. He still gets to go to the Senate when he feels like it, and see all his buddies, and he doesn’t have to vote unless its a tie, so no political fallout. I don’t know why, but I suspect this is a role that suits Ol’ Joe to a t.


4 posted on 11/26/2008 6:53:33 AM PST by ichabod1 (You won't know obammunism is here until it puts a boot in your (fat) bottom.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IMissPresidentReagan

“B. Hussein 0bama has a two letter acronym to describe Biden....
S.O.L. “

Math wasn’t your best subject was it?


5 posted on 11/26/2008 6:57:40 AM PST by DieNarrin (Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

“Joe Biden...... Role of a Counselor”
We are near the end times.


6 posted on 11/26/2008 6:59:01 AM PST by Carl LaFong (I'm Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DieNarrin

I believe it’s a clever reference to Biden’s claim that a three letter word can sum up the election: j-o-b-s.


7 posted on 11/26/2008 7:02:09 AM PST by XavierLarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
"For Biden, No Portfolio but the Role of a Counselor [there will be discrete assignments over time,”]"

I told you he was just a "token" to get the white vote the day obama picked him...."Token Joe" Biden.
8 posted on 11/26/2008 7:05:27 AM PST by FrankR (Where's Waldo ([W]here [A]re [L]egal [D]ocuments [O]bama? (i.e. birth certificate))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
Poor old Joe, given nothing to do...........

If you think ole Joe will be a wallflower...think again. He will get in his licks and it won't be pretty for the magic los negroes!

9 posted on 11/26/2008 7:08:50 AM PST by RVN Airplane Driver ("To be born into freedom is an accident; to die in freedom is an obligation..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DieNarrin

That was a take off of Biden’s three letter J-O-B-S comment.


10 posted on 11/26/2008 7:09:54 AM PST by IMissPresidentReagan (Join me now in the NEW Reagan Revolution, to bring Conservatism BACK! www.reaganaction.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: FrankR

Token Joe may get the last laugh. I figure it was a cold calculation on his part that this was the only way he’s ever going to get to be president. Not that he’d be wishing for anything bad to happen to that one.


11 posted on 11/26/2008 7:10:02 AM PST by ichabod1 (You won't know obammunism is here until it puts a boot in your (fat) bottom.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

I am tentatively giving Obama good marks for recognizing that certain people are idiots.


12 posted on 11/26/2008 7:25:53 AM PST by Williams (It's The Policies, Stupid.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Biden is simply the 0nes assasination insurance.


13 posted on 11/26/2008 8:08:28 AM PST by hamburglar (The result of spreading the wealth around is spreading unemployment around.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Biden will be cast aside to live out his days in the attic of the Naval Observatory. His crackerness having accomplished its mission of keeping white, union Democrats from bolting to McCain.


14 posted on 11/26/2008 8:09:47 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (All hail the Obamasiah! Kneel before Obamohammad!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

***The candidates’ wives, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, hit it off immediately when they first met, aides said. And Mr. Biden’s grandchildren and the Obama daughters had a sleepover with pizza, popcorn and DVDs one night during the Democratic convention in Denver.***

Ah, so that’s what the fuss was about concerning the sleep-over. It was made to appear that Michelle was SUCH a busy mother, but she took time out to have a sleepover for the Biden grandkids. (Yeah, sure, in a hotel which provided all the food, etc.) Now, it’s being used to make 0bama’s and Bitemytongue’s wives appear close.

Anyone here remember when Hillary and Tipper Gore were just gaga about each other according to lib media? And ended up not speaking to each other?

Also, we were told that Biden was chosen as V.P. because he was a specialist in foreign affairs. But now he’s just an “advisor” to 0bama.


15 posted on 11/26/2008 8:32:24 AM PST by kitkat (THE DAY WE LOSE OUR WILL TO FIGHT WILL BE THE DAY WE LOSE OUR FREEDOM.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

How about “Court Jester”!


16 posted on 11/26/2008 8:54:18 AM PST by zavvone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

You notice how he’s almost completely disappeared since Election Night. We’ve heard far more about Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton than we have about Joe the Bummer.


17 posted on 11/26/2008 8:55:45 AM PST by hunter112 (We seem to be on an excrement river in a Native American watercraft without a propulsion device.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

If there’s a new Federal Building to open or a head-of-state dies, Joe will be there.


18 posted on 11/26/2008 8:58:12 AM PST by AU72
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
“I’m sure that there will be discrete assignments over time,” said David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the president-elect.

There are always the funerals of foreign politicians where an official US Government Mourner will be required.

19 posted on 11/26/2008 9:05:24 AM PST by Oztrich Boy ("Real thanksgiving happened over a month ago" - canadagirl@metronewsone)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

He’s going back to the traditional VP role of doing nothing. I recall some story of a Vice President back in 1800s, having so little do, moving away from DC and opening a Saloon.


20 posted on 11/26/2008 10:26:20 AM PST by Chet 99
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson