They told me that if I voted for McCain we'd have we'd have a buffoon for a Vice President. And they were right!
...Oh, it was an idyllic setting. Nobody saw it coming. The vice president had just finished delivering the commencement address at Syracuse University and stopped by to chat with students at Bellevue Elementary School.
During the intense question and answer period, one child asked the vice president if he had ever petted a dog.
“Yeah, but guess what? I’ve got a dog that lives with me,” Biden replied. “The smartest, coolest dog in the world.”
...
“The new dog I have is only five months old and his name is Champ,” Biden told the schoolkids.
“My dog is smarter than Bo, his dog,” he jabbed.
“I think so,” he taunted. Yeah, I do.”
Let's get some feedback on the real issue confronting the nation - is Champ smarter than Biden?
Man--that's how I love to start the weak --with a mind bending question.
Powerline's Mirengoff has a good idea--the OPR office leaks to the WaPo respecting the "torture" memos violates the Dept
s regs and the Privacy act--Isn['t it time for Holder to appoint a special counsel to look into it?
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/05/023526.php
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Does Joe take the dog along with him to Home Depot?
Posted by: peter | May 11, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Champ is a German Shepherd, so I would say most likely, so. If Champ were a Border Collie, I'd say that there wouldn't even be a question!
Posted by: Kurt | May 11, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Joe has "a much higher IQ" . . . if you don't believe him, just ask him.
Posted by: Cecil Turner | May 11, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Champ likely spends less time with his nose up others' backsides.
Posted by: Rob Crawford | May 11, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Champ probably spends plenty of time with his own crotch in his mouth, Biden spends plenty of time with his foot in his mouth.
Advantage: Champs!!!
Posted by: Veeshir | May 11, 2009 at 12:53 PM
So you have a First Dog and a Vice Dog?
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 01:01 PM
Has anybody else noticed that the term "Affirmative Action" seems to have dropped out of the vernacular
Posted by: Neo | May 11, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Everybody calm down, Biden is providing imput on the Supreme Court nominee, why could possibli go wrong?
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 01:11 PM
I think the dog has a higher IQ than the Vice President
Posted by: matt | May 11, 2009 at 01:20 PM
Great, they're going to replace McKiernan with McKrystal in Afghanistan, the guy who coordinated the Somali wardlords relief fund, and was one of those who bolloxed the
Pat Tillman notification, tell me this is
accidental
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 01:46 PM
No question Champ is smarter than Biden. Hell, the dog's probably got fleas that are smarter than our Vice President.
Posted by: James D | May 11, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Answer is quite likely, plus a hell of a lot more loyal and generally shuts up when told to...
Posted by: GMax | May 11, 2009 at 01:58 PM
There is a reason they call him "slow Joe" and it has nothing to do with foot races.
Posted by: GMax | May 11, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Song Time.
"I would have given you all of my heart
but there's someone who's torn it apart
and it's taking almost all that I've got
but if you want, I'll try to love again
baby I'll try to love again but I know
The First Mutt is the cheapest, baby I know
The First Mutt is the cheapest
'cause when it comes to being lucky it's cursed
when it comes to lovin' me it's worst
but when it comes to being loved it's first
that's how I know
The First Mutt is the cheapest,baby I know.
The First Mutt is the cheapest.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 02:03 PM
It speaks volumes when the dog has a higher IQ than his "master"
Posted by: Neo | May 11, 2009 at 02:04 PM
My goldfish has a higher IQ than our VP.
Posted by: Sue | May 11, 2009 at 02:07 PM
You know what they say the difference between Biden and a
pit bullGerman Shepherd is...Posted by: hit and run | May 11, 2009 at 02:11 PM
"You know what they say the difference between Biden and a pit bull German Shepherd is..."
The dog has its own hair?
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 02:12 PM
Admit it - you can't wait till this is over and you get to read Biden's memoirs of his time in the White House.
Proposed title: "My Time on the Short Bus"
Posted by: JayC | May 11, 2009 at 02:21 PM
hit;
they're just putting lipstick on the pit bull...
Posted by: matt | May 11, 2009 at 02:31 PM
The Vice Dog eats Ken-L-Ration.
Posted by: Dave | May 11, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Narciso;
I agree. Strange choice.McKiernan has been there only a year,so this is playing like relief of command, which will hurt his career. I'm not even sure how this will play out, but Obama wants/Obama gets, damn the consequences. He now has his secret plan for to win the war, like Nixon/Cambodia, I guess.
Posted by: matt | May 11, 2009 at 02:33 PM
When I was a boy of about 10, my dog Spunky loved the man who lived next door. One day at a backyard party, that neighbor got extremely drunk. Ole Spunky sensed something was wrong. He would look at my neighbor with his head twisted, like the RCA dog looking at a phonograph.
I suspect that's how Champ feels.
Posted by: Original MikeS | May 11, 2009 at 02:36 PM
matt-
The Russians got us out of our central asian air bases and Pakistan is falling apart. "He now has his secret plan
for to winto abandon the war, likeNixon/CambodiaClinton, I guess."Posted by: RichatUF | May 11, 2009 at 02:46 PM
I am at work. Did Rush say anything about the death wished upon him at the WHCD?
Posted by: peter | May 11, 2009 at 03:04 PM
No, he spent the first hour or so,defending Cheney's aggressive defense of interrogation
and counter terrorism techniques, Beck actually spent more time on the subject, referring on how it helped his future comedy routine. It's probably best that such vile words don't get too much play; although I had to point it out when it aired. The New York Daily News, found the real crybaby in Meghan McCain's pouting
at some of the jokes directed at dear old
dad; talk about not getting the point of
the diatribe. Rush also gave a shout out to the fact that Obama hasn't even run a lemonade stand, a tipoff to a little hastle directed by a crazy hippie (is there any other kind) out beyond the greater 48.
Sending Machrystal to Afghanistan, what Janis Karpinski wasn't available, is this another diss of General Jones, this is not helpful
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 03:20 PM
I listened for the last hour afterI dropped my guests off at the airport and heard nothing. At one point he said: "There is not going to be a response" altho I really didn't hear what there isn't going to be a response to.
Posted by: Jane | May 11, 2009 at 03:22 PM
OT--my hero Rick Santelli--who I have dibs on--suggests this video on what the Fed Reserve Inspector General does NOT know where or what is happening to the Tarp money, etc.
LUN if my coding doesn't work again.
Posted by: glasater | May 11, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Champ is trainable. Biden is not.
Posted by: Barry Dauphin | May 11, 2009 at 03:29 PM
hamsters are smarter than Joe Biden.
Posted by: richard mcenroe | May 11, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Gates asked for McKiernan's resignation as well. This is turning into one more stinkaroo. McKiernan had a good reputation, and this seems very sudden. With the Central Asian base closures and problems in Pokiston, there are red flags all over on this one.
Using a special operator as Theater Commander is an unusual choice. More hearts & minds? too many civilian casualties? Too much bad publicity? This opens up a lot of questions.
Posted by: matt | May 11, 2009 at 03:39 PM
BTW, is there going to be a thread on this Holy Grail IG report, that's supposed to rebuff Cheney.
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 04:01 PM
"Bad publicity?" Read Sweetness & Light--a marine investigation established that much publicized Afghan civilian casualty report last week was a deliberate propaganda ploy by the taliban who are respponsible for those deaths.
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 04:09 PM
So you have a First Dog and a Vice Dog?
I want to help train the vice dogs.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 11, 2009 at 04:10 PM
glasater, here it is: the link.
You left off the "href" part. It should look like
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/30686650/site/14081545">the link text</a>
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 11, 2009 at 04:17 PM
"I want to help train the vice dogs."
This one is untrainable,but still,it's your carpet.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Champ and Bo think BHO and Biden don't know anything about burgers...very rare and hold everything (especially Dijon) is the way to go.
Bo also think Champ's owner is a few burgers short of a barbecue.
Posted by: ben | May 11, 2009 at 04:42 PM
The US Senate, breeding ground of champions.
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Ben,
Do you mean the Hawaiian Tofu Burger with the baby organic spring onions and a side portion of arugula? The mustard is flown in specially.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Matt,
I am uncertain what exact question or questions you have about F-16's, but my F/O from my last trip was a former F-16 jock, and I will be happy to try to get an answer from him about whatever you are looking for. Please just post your specific question on this or on any upcoming JOM post and I will see if I can get an answer. Air Force wise I work with a lot of ex-heavy folks (C-141's/C-5's/C-130's etc) but fighter wise the locals are F-15 drivers. I'm home tomorrow for a day and will keep my eyes open.
I do have a very good friend (broken family at a very early age) who was raised with no Dad but wound up as a heavy squadron C.O. He was in the interview process for I think an Air Force 1 billet, but says that during the interview with the spooks that it emerged (from the interviewers) that his long, long, lost Dad was in the Walla Walla State Pen, and that he thinks that did him in. A great boy, and he tells the story wonderfully well, (especially after libation), and is happy he didn't get the job. I can fully understand, having had to haul plenty of congress staffing flunkies on international junkets in a previous life. Ughh.
Posted by: daddy | May 11, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Elliot,
Still nothing in my inbox, but perhaps you could try via Hit's e-mail from VIMH as it worked OK with him a while back and I'll happily check that later. Hopefully that's OK with you Hit?
Posted by: daddy | May 11, 2009 at 05:17 PM
do the F-16C's have a jump seat behind the pilot that would accommodate a photographer, and would there be room for one to do professional quality photography, Daddy? Simple question. Most fighters are pretty cramped.
Posted by: matt | May 11, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Jane,
Very cool how last night, just as the Boston Pitcher was ready to fire a pitch, the stadium erupted in cheers at the last second shot in the Celt's Playoff game, and the Ump had to call Time-out as the place was going crazy. Can't find the ESPN video link but here's the blurb:
"Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima had to step off the mound when the crowd let out a roar after the Celtics Glen "Big Baby" Davis hit his jumper to win Game 4 of the NBA's Eastern Conference playoffs."
That was big fun!
Posted by: daddy | May 11, 2009 at 05:33 PM
Matt,
Question sent.
Posted by: daddy | May 11, 2009 at 05:40 PM
Report that Somali pirates getting detailed ship info from pals in England--
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.de14ef0f0ea770e907e368d800150622.401&show_article=1>Every shithole in the world can now misuse modern technology
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Clarice,
You must understand the Labour government regards the Somali community as an important part of British society.Far more important than the Gurkhas who have fought alongside us for 200 years and have earned a remarkable number of Victoria Crosses.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 05:58 PM
Charles Johnson, of LGF, has really lost perspective, with his take on the Sykes/Limbaugh fracas
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 06:00 PM
'...do the F-16C's have a jump seat behind the pilot that would accommodate a photographer...'
There is definitely a two seater (tandem) version of the F-16. Whether the 'C' can be a two seater, I don't know.
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | May 11, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Gee, PUK But we now have Gordie's make up tips, don't we?
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 06:28 PM
Gordie needs to fire the architect of his make-up tips and demand a refund.
Posted by: bad | May 11, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Clarice,
I don't know much about makeup other than trying to explain how it got there,but this seems a bit much for a middle aged man.
""1. Transparent Brush. Foam all over," reads the first note. The brevity suggests the PM is highly fluent in matters of personal beauty. For those less au fait, it refers to a face-illuminating foam.
"2. Small pot under eyes, dimple, creases, blend in," it continues. The suggestion that Brown should use an entire pot of concealer is unusual but does show a degree of self-knowledge. It raises the question that, if this is how he looks after a whole pot of concealer, what does he look like without?
"3. Clinique. Super balanced makeup. All over again, like painting a wall, and ears. Shut eyes over lids then with makeup pad smooth over liquid," the list continues. Again, telling someone to apply makeup "like painting a wall" continues the aforementioned show of self-knowledge. The instruction to "shut eyes over lids", as opposed to vice-versa, though, is puzzling.
"4. Powder terracotta Guerlain all over," the list concludes.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 06:43 PM
My goodness. PUK, perhaps if all goes nose up, he can work at Elizabeth Arden's here.
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 06:47 PM
Or be a model....
Posted by: bad | May 11, 2009 at 06:48 PM
bad,
Don't be like that,"silk purse and sows ear" and all.This">http://lifeinthenhs.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/freckly_gordon_brown.jpg">This is what he looked like before.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Says nothing about the wigs or the dainty shoes in larger sizes.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 06:57 PM
BTW the petition demanding he spends more time with his gentler side will pass 57,000 tonight.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Matt, F-16C is single seat, F-16D is two seat.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 11, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Daddy - i sent an email to you and Elliott, should that be helpful.
Remember, Elliott has two "t's"...
Posted by: hit and run | May 11, 2009 at 07:31 PM
They do fit up the occasional fighter back seat with camera equipment. This picture was taken from the back seat of an F-18 (along with some really cool video).
Posted by: Cecil Turner | May 11, 2009 at 07:35 PM
Thanks Charlie--you bailed me out once again.
Posted by: glasater | May 11, 2009 at 07:53 PM
I know, but some fighters have a small jump seat behind the pilot's. F-16C's are single seaters, but may have this for certain applications. The alternative may be that the 100th FS may have one or two F-16B's or D's for training purposes.
The whole story doesn't fit regardless, but one should have one's facts straight. The plane in the photo looked like a single seater. Canopies on the 2 seaters look different from the standard.
The photo released looks amateurish and would not look to be saleable at the White House gift shop, if that was the excuse. Then again, they will just spin it somehow else if the brouhaha continues.
Posted by: matt | May 11, 2009 at 07:53 PM
"Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima had to step off the mound when the crowd let out a roar after the Celtics Glen "Big Baby" Davis hit his jumper to win Game 4 of the NBA's Eastern Conference playoffs.
Daddy,
I missed every bit of it, I'm sorry to say.
Posted by: Jane | May 11, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Oh, come on, we all know, if you've half a mind to be Vice President, that's all it takes! Actually, looking at the last few months, that also applies to the Presidency.
Posted by: Robert Speirs | May 11, 2009 at 08:16 PM
To give Biden a TINY little bit of credit, at least he didn't name his dog after himself.
I mean, c'mon. Bo? BO? Gee, what could THAT stand for?
Biden may be a useless boob, but he's not a twisted ego vampire like Barrack "Bo" Obama.
Posted by: peterike | May 11, 2009 at 08:26 PM
When a four-star officer gets relieved 0f (or resigns from) his command there is nowhere for him to go. There are a limited number of positions for four-stars, all authorized by congress. He'll come home and retire, unless Obama and Gates want to jump through a few hoops to provide a figleaf.
My guess would be that he would very much want to retire.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | May 11, 2009 at 08:28 PM
what the fuck are you talking about
You are the MORON
Posted by: nick | May 11, 2009 at 08:31 PM
Thank you for the non-sequitur, Nick.
Posted by: ben | May 11, 2009 at 08:36 PM
Maybe nick was looking for Emptywheel.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 11, 2009 at 08:40 PM
It is quiet here tonight;(
Posted by: RichatUF | May 11, 2009 at 08:42 PM
nick = Gordie?
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 08:59 PM
Rich.it always is on Monday nights.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 11, 2009 at 09:00 PM
I just took Dr J to the subway..He came for a visit.
And look what happens while I'm busy..TSK
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 09:19 PM
Cool, Clarice! Did you do dinner?
Posted by: centralcal | May 11, 2009 at 09:26 PM
Was there any warning about the firing? This seems pretty unusual. If it is felt to be unwarranted by the senior officer corps, it will throw gasoline on Obama's relations with the military. The VA benefits issue, program cuts, and several other issues have already created strain.
It already seems there is a rift between Petraeus' strategy and the administration and other senior officers. Funny that it was Petraeus' strategy that worked against the conventional wisdom. This does not bode well for the conduct of the war.
Posted by: matt | May 11, 2009 at 09:26 PM
matt: Have you read Goldfarb over at Weekly Standard about this change in Generals? I would be interested in your (and others here) thoughts.
LUN
Posted by: centralcal | May 11, 2009 at 09:37 PM
He voted against the TAPS line in Alaska, for the War Powers Act, against the contras, against the first Gulf War, for
the first. Was the originator of FISA, the law that hamstrung us before September 11th, and the VAWA that the court found unconstitutional. Imagined a world wher Hezbollah was kicked out out of Lebanon by the US and France, visited a diner that had been closed for twenty years; plagiarized the speech of someone whose background was untterly unlike him. Whatever he was taking does it have a prescription. Was a fan of partition, in Iraq, that practice that given us the peaceful grounds of Northern Ireland,Cyprus, Palestine, Kosovo, Kashmir,
Pakistan, and has a likeminded advisor in the State Department, Samantha Powers. After 36 years in the Senate, he did not know the responsibilities of the job he was aspiring to. There's a reason Hugh Hewitt calls him Slo Jo I did ask how someone whose record was so checkered with
misjudgement could aspire to such a post, only through a mass act of prestidigitation.
The 'naif' in the debate, made a single error of transposition with the relatively little known outgoing Afghan commander.
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 09:37 PM
oh yeah, the linky thingy
Posted by: centralcal | May 11, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Yes, we did, cc.
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Joe Biden. Senator Joe Biden. Vice President Joe Biden. Spent his career failing upward.
Posted by: sestamibi | May 11, 2009 at 09:39 PM
The two-seater variants are the F-16-B and the -D
Posted by: richard mcenroe | May 11, 2009 at 09:45 PM
It seems doubly unfair, he was commander of Land Forces in Iraq, and was replaced with the much more reactive General Abizaid, then he gets his footing in Afghanistan after General Barno? and then he gets sacked; and replaced with McCrystal, who rightly or wrongly has several strikes against him, already.
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 09:48 PM
Another day, another whopper
Politico: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi learned in early 2003 that the Bush administration was waterboarding terror detainees but didn’t protest directly out of respect for “appropriate” legislative channels, a confidant of the San Francisco Democrat said Monday…"
Posted by: ben | May 11, 2009 at 09:54 PM
"He voted against the TAPS line in Alaska, for the War Powers Act, against the contras, against the first Gulf War..."
Who did?
Posted by: Danube of Thought | May 11, 2009 at 09:55 PM
DoT-
Biden, if I have my narcisolator working correctly.
cc-
Interesting take from the Weekly Standard. Not sure what to make of it.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 11, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Concerning the Goldfarb article, I have no inside knowledge, other than that such firings and shufflings usually are the purview of the SecDef, and Gates was there for the final two years of the Bush admin.
As to whether this event marks a departure from past policy, I'm not so sure. Recall that Ricardo Sanchez was rotated out after barely a year, and that was the doing of Rumsfeld/Bush. Bush/Gates also fired Adm. Fox Fallon summarily, although he was just about guilty of insubordination.
Anyway, I hope McChrystal can improve our fortunes.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | May 11, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Narciso,
Look on the bright side - he's young and available to lead the armed forces of the Republic of Texas if necessary.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | May 11, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Well, it sounds like the jury is out as to whether the changes in Generals is positive or negative.
I surely don't have a clue, that is why I rely on you folks here - to clue me in (grin).
Posted by: centralcal | May 11, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Charles Johnson, of LGF, has really lost perspective, with his take on the Sykes/Limbaugh fracas
Based on this comment I took a stroll over to LGF tonight. It's really sad what that place has become because it used to be one of my more frequently visited sites; now most of the good regulars are elsewhere. I've speculated at AoS but not here (apologies if I have; WTF I'm at the age when I'm "forgetting" certain things) that Charles was getting frozen out of a lot of musician gigs because of his politics because, let's face it, most musicians are total fucking idiots (PUK being an obvious exception). Anyway LGF is a complete embarrassment now. Well done Charles; try to stop short of Randi Andi's level of derangement.
Posted by: Captain Hate | May 11, 2009 at 10:37 PM
What if Biden thinks he did name the dog after himself?
Posted by: Barry Dauphin | May 11, 2009 at 10:49 PM
I don't really think this question has any relevance but I would like to know just one thing. Does Champ spend as much time with his nose in his masters ass as his master spends with his nose in HIS masters ass.
Posted by: kenny komodo | May 11, 2009 at 10:56 PM
I noticed that lots of the protein wisdom posters were angry with LGF and popped in for a look. I'm sorry about Charles because I really had a lot of respect for his work on the Rather business and other things as well.
I think it's easy for bloggers to burn out..
Posted by: clarice | May 11, 2009 at 11:00 PM
But is he a "clean and articulate" dog?
Posted by: Brian | May 11, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Yeah Clarice, the Rather throbbing memo put Charles on a completely different level of credibility than the likes of Thilly Thully, who has just been an attention whore. Speaking of which, AllahPubic is doing massive humble-pie consuming over his bovine twitter-pal Meghan's (apologies to poor cows for the comparison but they're significantly dumber than pigs) show of pique at the weekend media slobberfest when she didn't have enough tickets for her pals and gave a "Don't you know who the **** I am?" Poor Allah, he should've listened to good judges of character like us.
Posted by: Captain Hate | May 11, 2009 at 11:20 PM
re: makeup, my grandmother used to say, "If the barn needs painting, paint it."
Posted by: PD | May 11, 2009 at 11:27 PM
It's not just an insult to Bo. It's an insult to the office of First Dog!
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/biden-insults-presidents-dog/
Posted by: Mike Licht | May 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM
It's a shame because I really did respect Charles, not only for the Rathergate but
the Hezbollah photoshops and the whole panoply of revealing the Wahhabists in word and deed. But he has gone rather suddenly not at the level of Sullivan and Cole, who went nuts after sChiavo, or The Commissar
who apparently Rumsfeld drove over the edge
(Zampolit was taken) or Bjorn Stark, the Norwegian fellow who recanted.
Posted by: narciso | May 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM
My money is on Champ as the brighter of the two. If you are Obama, you know that you can probably safely take Champ somewhere without a leash and a muzzle. Biden? Not so much.
Posted by: Mike Myers | May 12, 2009 at 12:51 AM
This from Cecil's link which I love:
Posted by: glasater | May 12, 2009 at 02:19 AM