This first year of his Presidency looks like it has taken a toll on him.
Hah:
While both the president and first lady enjoy higher favorability ratings than either of their predecessors did early in their first terms, the same cannot be said for the current vice president. Only about half of Americans (51%) say they have a favorable impression of Joe Biden — comparable to the 55% who felt favorably toward Al Gore in April 1993 and lower than the 58% favorability rating Dick Cheney received in July 2001.
Biden’s favorability has slipped 12 points since January, when 63% offered a favorable impression of him on the eve of his inauguration.
It’s Friday, we’re hours away from the weekend, so how about a little humor and an open thread. Talk about whatever you want.
(Just a heads up, one four letter word is used)
Democrats on the national level are proving over and over that they can’t do simple math especially when it comes to jobs. Remember Nancy Pelosi’s Armageddon type numbers in terms of monthly job losses nationally if the Stimulus Bill had not been passed? If not, let me remind you.
Well, Lord Dark Helmet, (aka, God’s gift to Republicans, Crazy Uncle Joe and Vice President) thought it would be wise to criticize Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s comments from Tuesday’s Republican response to the president that Republicans and Democrats view the economy. Except, surprise surprise, not only did he get his exagerated numbers wrong about job loss in Louisiana, people are actually gaining jobs in Louisiana. Much to Vice President LDH’s surprise I’m sure. (Sorta like the time he was surprised to forget the name of Recovery.gov. That stellar footage is below the fold.)
Via KLSA News 12:
“But what I don’t understand from Governor Jindal is what would he do?,” asks Joe Biden while on the Early Show.
And That rhetorical question to Governor Jindal on the CBS morning show, was followed with this. “in Louisiana there’s 400 people a day losing their jobs, what’s he doing?” asks Biden.
But that claim is wrong, if you look at the numbers from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. “In December, Louisiana was the only state in the nation besides the District of Columbia, according to the national press release that added employment over the month,” says Patty Granier with the Louisiana Workforce Commission. According to her, not only is Louisiana not losing jobs. “The state gained 3,700 jobs for the seasonally adjusted employment,” Granier said of the most recent figures.
(Read more after the leap)
Two things jump out at me today as we come close to the close of “Hope Day 3″ and approach our first “Hope Filled Weekend”. Both come from Obama water carriers Politico.com. Well, they just carried it during the campaign, but when he’s pushing their reporters to the side when they ask questions, they’re all of the sudden getting a little antsy.
“Ahh, see,” he said, “I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can’t end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I’m going to get grilled every time I come down here.”
Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee, William J. Lynn III, Obama turned more serious, putting his hand on the reporter’s shoulder and staring him in the eye.
“Alright, come on” he said, with obvious irritation in his voice. “We will be having a press conference at which time you can feel free to [ask] questions. Right now, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to you guys – that’s all I was trying to do.”
Rich, just rich! I mean, c’mon. Since when has an elected official, let alone a president been able to escape a questions that easily? There’s no such thing as a “visit with reporters” when you’re President. You always have to be on, be prepared. I found the whole exchange very humorous.
(Read more after the leap)
It’s only “Hope Day 3″ and already Joe Biden is being compared to a Mel Brooks movie character.
It won’t be long before Yakety Sax is his background music.
Over the weekend Sharrod Brown, a Democratic Senator from Ohio, appeared on ABC’s “This Week” and appeared to blame President Bush for being partly responsible for the conflict that is taking place between Israel and Hamas right now.
Brown: “But I’m hopeful that with a new president — you know, you look at President Bush is now in a pretty weakened state, and countries around the world know that. I’m hopeful that as this transition comes, as we look to January, that strong presidential leadership can make a difference here.”
Does Senator Brown actually think that the inauguration of Senator Obama on January 20th will lead to a more peaceful and stable situation in the Middle East? Certainly the period surrounding a presidential transition can give rise to more unrest in certain regions of the world. But I think the world knows by now that President Bush, for whatever other flaws he may have, is not someone who tolerates terrorism by radical Islamic groups.
If anyone is being tested during this transition period it is probably Senator Obama. The incoming Vice President, Joe Biden, declared during the campaign that shortly after taking office a crisis will occur somewhere in the world to test the resolve and strength and skills of the new president. Of course, the current conflict between Israel and Hamas does not have as its focal point the US Presidential transition, there are other political and historical factors far more important than the recent U.S. election at play here. But if the transition has anything to do with the conflict, it seems that Senator Biden, and not Senator Brown, has the more likely explanation.
One wonders what liberals will be able to complain about after January 20th. There will be no more President Bush to blame for the problems of the moment. I’m sure they will think of something, but the “Bush’s fault” line was a nice line for them when they wanted to short-circuit a careful explanation of their opinion.
As for the ongoing developments in the Middle East, I strongly support Israel’s decision to take decisive action against Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has not chosen to adopt peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve the problems that it is facing. It is simply unacceptable for any organization, group, or country to continually assault a neighboring country day after day while violating basic standards of morality and international laws of warfare.
Benjamin Netanyahu makes the case for Israel’s actions much more eloquently here:
*UPDATE* – Here is the direct link to the Zogby Ziegler media poll that goes along with the video below.
Think that’s crazy? Check out some of the alarming stats they found in the Zogby poll they commissioned after the leap.
Mark Kilmer over at Red State wrote a hilarious parody of what it must have been like when the Biden’s dropped in on the Cheney’s yesterday for their meeting. It’s priceless. As you read it, you can easily see SNL’s Jason Sudeikis reprising his role as Joe Biden and acting this out. Too good!
DOORMAN: Mr. Vice President, Mrs. Cheney, the Bidens are here for the tour of the Naval Observatory.
LYNN CHENEY: Show them in, jeeves.
JOE BIDEN: Pardon me, but Jilly and I have taken the liberty of letting ourselves in.
JILL BIDEN: I don’t much like these drapes.
JOE BIDEN: I’m a working class guy, Jill. We’ll buy new ones at Scranton Draperies & Curtains, where I was born, in Scranton, PeeAy.
JILL BIDEN: Don’t much care for Scranton, PeeAy.
JOE BIDEN: The people of Scranton, bless their little hearts, are all morons. Like the vice president, most dangerous people in the history of American history.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: The campaign’s over, Joe.
JOE BIDEN: Oh, I meant what I said, alright. You’re a dangerous man, Dick Cheney. I’m carrying Red Peas and a Crucifix. I’m Roman Catholic, you know, just like the Pope, bless his heart, who doesn’t know historical church doctrine on dangerous men, bless his heart.
(Read the rest after the leap)
How dare someone in the media actually do their job and question the Obamassiah! Didn’t this reporter know she was supposed to let Joe off easy and not ask any tough questions? Well, Joe get’s pretty testy about it and then questions who wrote her questions for her. Stay classy Joe. Stay classy.
But wait! There’s more!
The Obama campaign has officially cut off WFTV from any future interviews or events!
(Read more after the leap)
