Biden re. Obama on top-level bailout call: "He was in total frigging command!"

[BeyondGeography]

Great piece by Alter on Biden re. his relationship with Obama. These two are going to be an amazing team.

Includes this little gem:

Biden says Obama reminds him of Bill Clinton in his "confidence, cognitive ability, judgment" and intellectual security—that he can listen and absorb advice without having to prove he's the smartest person in the room, a critical leadership skill. He says he experienced an "epiphany" during a recent conference call on the bailout bill with Bob Rubin, Paul Volcker, Warren Buffett, Paul O'Neill, Joseph Stiglitz, Larry Summers and Laura Tyson. "He comes on the call and says, 'Well, folks, sorry I'm late. I've got four questions.' He was in total frigging command! Here's a 47-year-old guy in one of the most complicated economic dilemmas anyone has had to face since 1929 to '33. And it was like, 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' I called him afterward and said, 'You sold me, sucker!' "

Would the relationship prosper over time? The history in Democratic White Houses is mixed. JFK grew weary of the needy narcissism of LBJ, who felt patronized by the Camelot crowd. Clinton and Gore fell hard for each other, then fell out over the Lewinsky scandal. Biden expresses no doubts about this one. He says he and his wife, Jill, have bonded with the Obamas. "I know that he knows I would never, ever undercut him." The words are emphatic and carefully enunciated: "I have never undercut anyone in my life. And I'm comfortable enough in my own skin that I don't need to be recognized."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/162295/page/1

[BlooInBloo]

1. People who support Obama - it's a good thing.

[elleng]

4. Bloo, its a good thing

for ALL OF US! BOTH Dem P and VP candidates UNDERSTAND!

[glowing]

2. But we recognize you Joe.. AND you Rock!!! Obama is lucky that you agreed to come along for the ride

[cali]

3. Great story. Is Stiglitz an Obama econ advisor? That would be

a very good thing.

[blonndee]

5. Joe said "friggin?"

OMG. I love him even more. That's great! :rofl:

[BlooInBloo]

7. I like it when he says "malarkey"!

:rofl:

[Blondiegrrl]

6. That's wonderful! But I'm not surprised. Based solely on their

joint appearances, the photos to me are proof enough that Obama and Biden (and Michelle and Jill) get along famously.

What a great team we have!

[sandnsea]

8. God that just makes me cry

I feel like I've been in the desert for 40 years and I've got the water in my hands and I'm pulling it to my mouth...

[ErinBerin84]

9. heh

"The righteous anger connects Biden to John McCain. He says the two men often confided in each other. "Some, including in my own family, think I'm being too protective of an old friend," Biden says. He doesn't think McCain has sold out his principles because he was never a maverick to begin with."

[democracy1st]

10. K & R

[kikiek]

11. I think they will be great together. Unlike Palin who is already undercutting McCain!

[frogcycle]

12. That's my Joe

[eshfemme]

13. "You sold me, sucker!"

LOL, am I totally weird to think that Joe Biden's utterly adorable for saying that to Obama?

[democrattotheend]

14. What's cool about the Obama/Biden dynamic is that Biden has no reason to undercut him

He'll be too old to run for president in 8 years, and it's unlikely that he would get the nomination if he ran again 4 years from now in the unlikely event that they lose. It's likely that VP will be the highest office he ascends to barring the unthinkable, and I think he knows that and is comfortable with that.

[MindMatter]

15. I believe almost all leaders can be put into one of two groups

1) they surround themselves with sycophants who will spend every waking our praising the great leader's wisdom.

or

2) they surround themselves with the most capable people they can recruit and expect those people to bring their own expertise and judgment to the table.

I have worked for a bunch of people over the years, and each of them fit very clearly into one of these camps. Think about the people ou have worked for. Are there any exceptions?

Clearly Obama is of the later camp. Clearly McCain is of the former.

[Waiting For Everyman]

16. Neither one are "glory riders".

They have substance, and don't need to. :)