The picture of then-Senator, Joe Biden (with coffee pot in hand,) has been consistently posted along with a quote for many mornings within Kula's Morning Reaction series. It is what prompted the origin of this series to focus upon the transitions and daily activities of the other Executive Office holder: Vice President-Elect, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
Today's Menu Specials:
- Math a la Modus Operandi.
- "A-lito" Salad with Begrudgment Dressing.
- Inaugural Smoothies.
As always (just over the bump), I start you off with a quote from The Gentleman to mull over with your morning Joe.
24 MAY 2007 --
Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. about why he was supporting the Iraq War funding bill after a timeline for troop withdrawal that was part of the initial bill -- and vetoed by President Bush -- was removed:
"I believe as long as we have troops in the front line, we're going to have to protect them. We're going to have to fund them."
-- Vice President-Elect, Joe Biden
::::: APPETIZER :::::
This part of the reason why we have a national debt that's tripled on W.'s watch - Conservative reporters can't do basic arithmetic.
On Monday The Washington Times ran their column of The Washington Rumor by John McCaslin in which he argues that the new job of Vice President will offer Mr. Biden and his wife a substantial wage increase. At first glance, this would seem to be conciliatory story, but the problem quickly shows itself to be true. His math's off.
The rundown of salaries for the executive and legislative branches, as of Jan. 1, 2008: ... Vice president: $221,100.
...
The couple's 2007 joint tax return lists a total income of $319,853, all but $66,546 (Mrs. Biden's teaching salary) earned by the senator.
In summary:
$319,853 (Combined income)
-$66,546 (Dr. Biden alone)
--------
$253,307 (Senator Biden's income) > $221,100 (Reported V.P. Salary)
The story, meathead, would have grabbed you more readers had you simply included the byline of:
"Biden, Nation's Second-Least Paid Congressman, Expecting Paycut as New V.P."
And yet, why should I make it so simple for him to do the reporting. He gets paid more than I do to stay on top of Mr. Biden's activities. So by the same logic: McCaslin > Patch. /snark
::::: MAIN COURSE :::::
"To coin a phrase, in the spirit of the vice president-elect, you can't always get what you want, but you get what you need. Did someone say that before?"
The quote was from 4 December 2008 and uttered by Supreme Court Justice, Samuel Alito, who made at least a pair of tongue-in-cheek remarks eluding to past embellishments made by Mr. Biden.
Without explaining the reasons for his snipping at Mr. Biden, Justice Alito recounted (in an Associated Press article published on the same day) only one, specific item as justification for his jeering. He explained that what bothered him about the next Vice President was his questioning practices during the Justice's confirmation hearing three years ago.
"[Senator Biden] became quite agitated about my supposed connections with a sinister Princeton University alumni group...that took up virtually his entire time during the first round."
The "sinister" Princeton group referred to is the Concerned Alumni of Princeton or CAP Group. It has been described by fellow alumni as an organization run by conservative Princeton graduates with the focus on ceasing (or at the very least, limiting) the number of women applicants to the university and returning it to a male-only school as it was before it instituted coeducation in 1973.
Justice Alito stated in the first paragraph of Page 7 in his Personal Qualifications Statement prior to the Committee's convening that he didn't recall ever having any involvement in the CAP Group.
Concerned Alumni of Princeton: This was a group of Princeton alumni. A document I recently reviewed reflects that I was a member of the group in the 1980s. Apart from that document, I have no recollection of being a member, of attending meetings, or otherwise participating in the activities of the group. The group has no current officers from whom more information may be obtained.
So to summarize: Alito proclaims he's not a misogynist, despite having ties to a chauvinist Ivy League Alumni Club; and he's not a grudge-keeper, but will poke fun at the next Vice President for a mistake he made in 1988 and paid for ever since; and he's also not anywhere near as conservative as Robert Bork or Clarence Thomas, despite writing in 1972 that he believes "racial and ethnic quotas should not be allowed and that the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion."
Yes. Throw the stone since you're quite the moral authority, Justice Alito. I'm calling this narcissistic blather out for what it is: One, sure way to get your name in the papers when you think that being a Supreme Court Justice has become one big ennui.
::::: DESSERT :::::
Traditionally, the Vice President is sworn in first. Some may know this. What may not be so well known is that the oath a Vice President takes is different than the one the President takes. From the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies enjoy the wording Mr. Biden is expected to echo on the 20th of January 2009.
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
::::: THE CHECK ::::::
Thank you for patronage here at Joe's Inn!
Alito... McCaslin... "So help me..." And you?
See you next time.