07-28-2009, 09:08
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#1
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 583
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Diplomacy, Thy Name is Biden
On the bright side, this is one more thing that President Obama can apologize for later on in his administration.
Bandy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...701154_pf.html
US Vice President Biden hits nerve in Russia
By LYNN BERRY
The Associated Press
Monday, July 27, 2009 12:16 PM
MOSCOW -- An interview U.S. Vice President Joe Biden gave to an American newspaper was front-page news Monday in Moscow, where his characterization of Russia as a weakened nation hit a raw nerve.
Biden said Russia's economic difficulties are likely to make the Kremlin more willing to cooperate with the United States on a range of national security issues.
"I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold," he said in an interview to The Wall Street Journal published Saturday.
Biden's comments appeared to catch the Kremlin by surprise, coming less than three weeks after President Barack Obama said on a visit to Moscow that the U.S. wants to see a "strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia."
"It raises the question: Who is shaping U.S. foreign policy? The president or members of his team, even the most respected ones?" said Kremlin foreign policy adviser Sergei Prikhodko.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Monday downplayed suggestions that Biden was setting a different U.S. policy from that laid out by the president.
When asked whether Obama thought Biden had gone too far in his remarks, Gibbs said the president stated his views on Russia during his recent visit and the vice president agrees with those views.
Gibbs said both leaders believe Russia will do its part to improve relations with the U.S.
Most Russian newspapers put Biden's interview on their front pages Monday, with headlines casting doubt on Washington's commitment to forge a more constructive relationship with Moscow.
"Joe Biden unexpectedly returned to the rhetoric of the previous Bush administration," the newspaper Kommersant wrote.
Moskovsky Komsomolets said Biden, with his "boorish openness," showed what the Obama administration really thinks about Russia. "We should respond to the Yankees in the same way," the newspaper wrote. "Any other language, unfortunately or fortunately, they do not understand."
The papers jumped on Biden's comments about Russia's demographic and economic problems.
"They have a shrinking population base, they have a withering economy, they have a banking sector and structure that is not likely to be able to withstand the next 15 years, they're in a situation where the world is changing before them and they're clinging to something in the past that is not sustainable," Biden said in the interview.
Some newspapers and commentators noted that Russians say the same things about themselves. The question, they said, was why Biden made the comments so quickly after this month's summit by Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev, and after Biden's own trip last week to Ukraine and Georgia, former Soviet republics whose growing ties to the West are deeply resented in Moscow.
Sergei Rogov, director of the government-funded USA and Canada Institute, was quoted in Kommersant as saying the interview was aimed in part at addressing criticism in the U.S. that the Obama administration was too soft on Russia.
Some commentators said it was wrong to see Biden as diverging from the policy set by Obama, as suggested by Prikhodko.
Biden was most likely expressing Washington's "Plan B," said Vladimir Milov, a former deputy energy minister who now heads his own think tank. If the Kremlin proves unwilling to compromise, the United States was likely to reduce relations to a minimum and push Moscow to the periphery of world politics, Milov wrote in the online Gazeta.ru.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an apparent effort Sunday to reassure Moscow, saying on NBC "Meet the Press" that the administration considers Russia to be a "great power."
"Every country faces challenges," she said. "We have our challenges, Russia has their challenges. There are certain issues that Russia has to deal with on its own."
__________________
“Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place then come down and shoot the survivors.”—Hemingway.
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bandycpa is offline
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07-28-2009, 12:38
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#2
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Area Commander
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,952
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It seems the one hour lecture Putin gave to Zero has had no effect, or has it?
Could gaff-a-day Biden be calling the shots? Sec of State's comment was vanilla icing over something found floating in a toilet, IMHO.
This administration seems to be out of touch with many things, it's self for starters.
RF 1
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Red Flag 1 is offline
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07-28-2009, 16:15
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#3
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Guest
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Biden provides us with immense amusement, and every king needs a court jester. However, I think there is insight to be derived from what he says. Either he has no filter between brain and mouth and is telling us what's really going on behind the scenes, or he is being used to add complexity (confusion) to our diplomacy? Can Obama be so irresponsible in our international relations to let Biden mess with them without a plan. I wish I knew.
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07-28-2009, 18:19
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#4
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Area Commander
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,557
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Someone better hit Joe’s Reset Button. Biden’s remarks run 180 degrees counter to his boss’s public statements in Moscow earlier in the month.
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ad.php?t=24001
The former Co-President is in damage control mode:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,2961977.story
The fallout is entertaining:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...ussia-remarks/
And THEY had the gall to make fun of George Bush?
__________________
“This kind of war, however necessary, is dirty business, first to last.” —T.R. Fehrenbach
“We can trust our doctors to be professional, to minister equally to their patients without regard to their political or religious beliefs. But we can no longer trust our professors to do the same." --David Horowitz
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incarcerated is offline
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07-28-2009, 18:59
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,816
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Keep talkin', Joe!
You tell 'em!
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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07-28-2009, 19:33
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 11 miles from Dove Creek, Colorady
Posts: 3,924
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Craziest Veep ever.
After the election, I told my wife to watch what this screwball does.
She thinks I'm psychic now.
__________________
"...But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive."
Shakespeare - Henry V
Lazy Bob Ranch
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Utah Bob is offline
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07-28-2009, 21:36
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 5,888
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Utah Bob... your last comment really is unfair to 'screwballs'
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Opinions stated in this post are solely those of the author, and in no way reflect the opinions or policies of The Department of Defense, The United States Army, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, The Screen Actors Guild, The Boy Scouts, The Good, The Bad, or The Ugly. These opinions are provided purely as overly sarcastic social commentary and are not meant to be used for mission planning or navigation.
"Make sure your own mask is secure before assisting others"
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Box is offline
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07-29-2009, 00:16
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#8
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Quiet Professional (RIP)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Carriere,Ms.
Posts: 6,922
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brush Okie
Is it me or should any article about Biden be in the comedy section? Oh wait he is the vice president. Perhaps we could put a new section here. Call it the Oh crap section.
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B.O., is right..........  All Bidens comments belong in the comedy section...... 
Big Teddy 
__________________
I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney
SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
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greenberetTFS is offline
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07-29-2009, 07:55
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 11 miles from Dove Creek, Colorady
Posts: 3,924
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy L-bach
Utah Bob... your last comment really is unfair to 'screwballs'
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True. A quick check reveals that the American Society of Screwballs (ASS) have stated that Biden is not a member of their organization.
He did apply but was told he was over qualified. 
__________________
"...But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive."
Shakespeare - Henry V
Lazy Bob Ranch
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Utah Bob is offline
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03-18-2010, 04:01
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#10
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Area Commander
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,557
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...ck_and_li.html
'Hey guys, they were GOLF tips': VP Joe Biden quips on Tiger Woods, St. Patrick and Liz Cheney
BY Leo Standora
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, March 18th 2010, 4:00 AM
Vice President Biden, fresh from his controversial trip to the Middle East, unleashed a barrage of one liners in Washington on Wednesday that made some folks wince.
Oh, yes - he also made another boo-boo.
Biden asked for God's blessing for the late mother of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen during a White House celebration of St. Patrick's Day - except the elderly lady is very much alive.
"God rest her soul," uttered Biden as he introduced Cowen and President Obama.
He quickly caught himself and noted that it's Cowen's father who is no longer living. Of the prime minister's mother, Biden said, "God bless her soul."
Later, the vice president talked about his trip to the Radio & Television Correspondents Association dinner in Washington.
"I love to travel but it's great to be back in a place where a boom in housing construction is a good thing," he grinned.
He got more laughs describing Washington speak.
"Deep background means you'll be quoted in Game Change (a new book on the 2008 campaign); senior White House official means Rahm (Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff); reconciliation means war."
About being photographed with Tiger Woods, he said "Hey guys, they were GOLF tips."
On St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland, he said "St. Patrick made that up - that's why he's the patron saint of Fox News."
Singled out for a special skewer was former Vice President Cheney's daughter.
"Liz Cheney has been on a tear lately. Now she's questioning whether Tom Brady is a real Patriot," Biden said to laughter and applause.
Even Biden's dog was fodder for fun.
"You can see he's a Democratic dog - he's biting the hand that feeds him," he said.
__________________
“This kind of war, however necessary, is dirty business, first to last.” —T.R. Fehrenbach
“We can trust our doctors to be professional, to minister equally to their patients without regard to their political or religious beliefs. But we can no longer trust our professors to do the same." --David Horowitz
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incarcerated is offline
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03-18-2010, 04:30
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Eastern Panhandle, WV
Posts: 719
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Biden reminds me of a company commander we had in B-1-7. He was adjusting the fan belt on his car but neglected to turn off the engine. The fingers on his right hand ended up a bit shorter. He liked to keep his hand in his pocket after the incident. Guys would go out of their way to salute him. "Stumpy", as we called him, was always good for side-splitting laughs.
So it is with the VP. Whenever he's on the news, I stop what I'm doing to see what blisterheaded thing he's saying. He never disappoints.
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Green Light is offline
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03-18-2010, 08:26
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#12
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Northern Neck Virginia
Posts: 1,138
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Pray nothing happens to BHO. Imagine a President Biden and a Vice President Pelosi.
OMG... 
__________________
v/r,
LarryW
"Do not go gentle into that good night..."
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LarryW is offline
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03-18-2010, 09:29
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Ft Bragg, NC
Posts: 1,126
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Remember how much non stop mockery, Dan Quail got. He was nothing to Biden and you hardly every hear the MSM talking about his gaffs.
__________________
If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.
Samuel Adams
It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government.
Thomas Paine
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Max_Tab is offline
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03-18-2010, 11:09
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#14
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,816
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You better look deeper into the succession.
You would have to get down to number six or so to see any real improvement, unless you really want a President Pelosi, Byrd, Clinton, or Geithner.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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03-18-2010, 12:18
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#15
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Quiet Professional (RIP)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Carriere,Ms.
Posts: 6,922
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryW
Pray nothing happens to BHO. Imagine a President Biden and a Vice President Pelosi.
OMG...
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Just what are you trying to do scare the shit out of me!!!!!!!!.............. 
Big Teddy
__________________
I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney
SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
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greenberetTFS is offline
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