In culminating moment, Biden is vice president

[bemildred]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., a career senator whose foreign policy expertise, Washington savvy and sharp-witted style won Barack Obama's supreme trust, became the 47th vice president of the United States on Tuesday.

The 66-year-old Delaware man, often long on words and never short of opinions, became the nation's second-in-command on a day of profound change. He is now a heartbeat from the presidency, an influential counselor to President Obama, and one of the government's main ambassadors to other global powers.

Joe Biden's swearing-in moment was, fittingly, second billing to Obama's. But the significance was not lost, and will soon be felt; Biden's ascendancy ends the contentious and consequential eight-year run of perhaps the most powerful vice president ever, Dick Cheney, who saw the job differently than Biden does.

With the world watching, Biden raised his right hand and took his oath of office from Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens. In traditional form, Biden swore to defend the Constitution against all enemies and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office.

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[uppityperson]

1. The way he came walking in, with that big grin, he was something.

BIG swagger and shit eating grin, "hey, look what we get to do today, ain't life GRAND!" sort of thing, while laughing to himself also.

Congratulations Vice President Biden!

[bemildred]

2. I've had my differences with Biden, but I trust Obama's judgement.

He served Obama way the heck better than Lieberman did Gore.

[uppityperson]

3. Indeed he did and will. I trust Obama's judgement also.

He made me laugh, watching him today, which was a good break from the tears.

[weezie1317]

10. I melt when he flashes that grin!

[sakabatou]

13. Better than Cheney's snarl any day.

[madrchsod]

4. joe`s going to be a smiling pit bull of a vice president

[Swagman]

5. and remember what the alternative was : Sarah Palin !.........

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[laconicsax]

6. Robinette?

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Probably his mother's madien name..as in John Fitzgerald Kennedy

[jillan]

9. Bingo!

[jillan]

8. Yay Biden!!! As Harry Reid called them today - the dream team.

[WheelWalker]

12. Isn't life just so specially sweet

for the Biden Brigade tonight!

[nannah]

11. my favorite biden moment was his grace under fire response when his wife

made the revelation on Oprah's that he had been given a choice between sec of state and vp. I liked his smile and look.

[bdamomma]

18. me too, but he handled it well.

[InvisibleTouch]

14. Why is he 47th VP, and Obama is the 44th President?

Just curious. Presumably several past Presidents switched Veeps midstream?

[lostnfound]

15. I can think of one right away - - Nixon had Agnew and Ford. nt

[RubyDuby in GA]

16. FDR had 3 different VPs.

John Nance Garner from 1933 until 1941, Henry A. Wallace until 1945 and then Harry S Truman.

That helped bump up the count.

[bdamomma]

17. All the best to Vice President Biden, he really looks good as VP.