On the other hand he can be dead serious when grave situation dictate and can act swiftly concisely and without emotion 911 is prime example of how he kept his head and did what was constitutionally expected of him.
He is also a prime example of how to get your family involved in politics without exploiting them and because of this they have remained interested and engaged in the process into adult life and IMHO his grand children will as well.
He made the campaign trail of 2004 of interesting and fun for his grandchildren and a family time as well. Lynne and Mary have both written about this in their books in different ways.
How many Americans are aware and here I blame the MSM of what a dedicated family man the VP is faithful and true to his High School Sweetheart. He has never been a politician to cry foul when she or his daughter Liz is challenged or criticized politically they have pursued careers that are in that field in one way or another and because of this have to defend their position themselves. In this he does more favours for the feminist movement that any rabid demo could ever do and in fact when people like Obama cry foul when his wife is criticized they IMHO do more harm to women's rights and the very thing that they would say their own party supported in regards to women than any republican or conservative politician ever does.
bttt for the VP