Joe Biden over the weekend made a gaffe of rather historic proportions for a Vice President, and yet the mainstream media seemed to treat it as a trivial incident.
Joe Biden: Human Gaffe Machine Ticks Off Russia
He gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal that was released on Saturday, which had Russian officials seeing red. Here’s one of many quotes that the Russians did not appreciate.
Russians…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 suggested that Russia will be so weak in the coming years that the country will have to make concessions to the United States and the West in the future. How very diplomatic for a politician.
The full interview is available here. Biden is not responsible for the incendiary title, “Biden Says Weakened Russia Will Bend To U.S.,” but the content of his interview sure lead one to believe that he is making such a statement.
In the interview, he gave some more delightfully insulting insights such as:
It won’t work if we go in and say: ‘Hey, you need us, man; belly up to the bar and pay your dues…It is never smart to embarrass an individual or a country when they’re dealing with significant loss of face. My dad used to put it another way: Never put another man in a corner where the only way out is over you.
I’m no fan of Russia, but somehow, I don’t think it’s the Vice President’s place to call a country with nuclear weapons that is of vital strategic importance to U.S. foreign policy a “weak” and “withering” country. It’s not smart to compare a very poweful country to a drunk at the bar who can’t pay his bar tab.
That doesn’t seem like good diplomacy, if you ask me.
The Russian news agency stated yesterday that they were “perplexed” by Biden’s remarks. They rightfully asked why Biden was making comments that seemed so contrary to Obama’s stated position that he wanted to “reset” relations with Russia.
Seriously, Obama, this is your second in command?
July 27th, 2009 at 10:15 am
If Sarah Palin is stupid, then Joe Biden is a parking meter.
Dennis Miller – Vegas show May of 2009
July 27th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I gave him the nickname – Gaffe Biden.
So President Obumbler and Gaffe Biden.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Joe Biden just pulls things out of his butt. Between him and Barry, they have about half a brain.
The MSM and the Liberal will never admit these 2 clowns are…..well clowns. Number 2 does not know his it the VEEP. Number 1 is a race card player.
Does anyone know if Biden did anything in the Senate except run for president the last 20 years? I see him as a John Kerry, who served in Vietnam, type. Just there because they have right but not really doing anything.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:38 am
We’re only six months in, and already he’s made an ass of himself more times that I can count.
Something tells me, a few more of these incidents and he’ll be replaced by Hillary…
July 27th, 2009 at 10:44 am
“It’s not smart to compare a very poweful country to a drunk at the bar who can’t pay his bar tab.”
well … in fairness it is russia
joe biden is BY FAR my favorite member of the current administration. he is certainly partisan, but he may actually be the most honest person in the obama administration.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Good ole Uncle Joe.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:57 am
also, i have some experience with russia. i have been there several times, and studied the russian culture and language for four years.
my impression is that especially clinton and to a lesser extent bush 2 made a horrible mistake by not making russia our ally. clinton basically ignored russia after several years of excellent work by bush 1, and by the time bush 2 got in, putin was in charge.
biden is actually correct, russia is in trouble and also very proud. they have a choice, be our friend or be china’s friend. putin is going with china because we have not been very nice to russia since 1992.
however, the russian people like americans. they think we expect too much too soon, and perhaps that we are too informal yet falsely polite … but basically they do like us. the chinese and russians are friends of convenience only.
were i in charge i would push to get russia in nato … yes, actually in nato … i would try to make them our partner. i would make visas for russians easy to get, encourage russians and americans to marry and try to get them to agree to vast joint ventures as equal partners … all in a strategic move to block the chinese.
the chinese think the russians are poor barbarians with resources. the russians think the chinese are sub-humans with money.
plus … as a selling point to you men … think milla jovovich … i know i know … the russian men are not that hot when you factor in the drinking and smoking … but maybe if we had an influx of 20 million russian women some of my sistahs here would lose a little weight …
sometimes tough love is necessary … plus i am already married so … it would not affect me
July 27th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Lisab, there is already a very large influx of Russian women in America. They are the women of choice at most, ahem, gentlemen’s establishments because they are so tall and blonde and pretty.
Not that I know from personal experience
I agree we should engage Russia and make it our ally. I disagree with Biden’s approach on making friends, however…
July 27th, 2009 at 11:14 am
“…the world is changing before them and they’re clinging to something in the past that is not sustainable.”
This sounds like what the Obama administration is doing right now?
Wasn’t it Putin himself that warned Obama not to choose the path of Socialism? And didn’t a journalist for Pravda recently write an article about the American people meekly accepting the slide into socialism being pushed by the Obidiot?
Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. Take a time-out Joe.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am
yeah, the “natasha trade” is sad. many of those women are very well educated by the way. russian prostitutes are second to none in advanced degress.
my experience is that russian women are very pragmatic at a young age — say by 20, much more so than i was at that age.
if they have the chance to make a bunch of money by taking off their clothes, they will do it.
how much better would it be though if they became the wives of american men, and american women married russian men? not that i am knocking other eastern europeans by any means … i would invite them all to nato too … and if we pay a few billion to straighten out the problems in georgia … it would be money well spent.
putin is a problem, he is a cold war veteran, but … if we honestly approached russia as a full partner, not as the poor bum that needs us, i think they would happily join us. key word being “honestly”. they are not stupid, and in general far better educated than people in the usa.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:40 am
This may sound treasonous, but with Russia’s dwindling population and Obama’s intention of making white people in this country into an inconsequential minority, if I were Putin and Medvedev, I’d make an offer to all white Americans to emmigrate to Russia.
I can’t for the life of me, look at Africa and South and Central America and see how this country will prosper in the future. Russia, after years of Communism and now quasi socialism, is sitting better than both of those continents.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:52 am
remember that mexicans are white.
there is some speculation that the dems want to open the borders, hoping to use minority voters to maintain control. i think they are likely to be very disappointed.
mexicans are not african americans. they do not like being compared to african americans. they certainly have no intention of being a perpetual voting block for the dems in exchange for welfare.
they want jobs. they want the amercan dream … albeit with tacos … and they are happy to work for it. if the gop just opened the doors just a little bit, you could get most of the mexicans. you might have to eat a little crow … but … it could be done.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:58 am
to get the mexican vote, i think you could make a deal with mexican american leaders along the lines of:
a.) new immigrants have to learn english
b.) only legal immigration allowed from now on
c.) amnesty for those who are willing to have one family member join the army.
d.) a legitimate work visa program for those who want to work, but not become citizens
e.) no more anti-mexican rhetoric
July 27th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
That sounds like a workable plan but I would also add the following:
1. Disqualified from collecting welfare for at least 10 years.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Technically they may be white but I do believe they have their own box to check when filling out an application that asks: Race? They are also considered minorities and are eligible for special considerations. So let’s say they are white with an *.
That said, I believe they have their own country just south of the border and need to abide by our laws if they want to immigrate. Immigration sets quotas where x amount of each nationality can enter the country. I think 20 million (Illegally) is a bit beyond the quota.
I know that there are many people of all nationalities that are hard working, tax paying Americans, but the fact is that this country was settled by Europeans that built it up to what it is today. Those same people magnanimously opened the doors for every other race and religion and are now being told that they don’t matter much any more.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Fly, you just reminded me – in order to stay here with all the conditions above, Lisa’a and mine, you must speak passable english. When in Rome.
Plus, we need them to fund social security. Seriously, our demographics suck especially if you are now under 55. Chances are you will get about 50% of the so called promise. That bothers me to no end since I have contributed more than $100,000 to social security during my working lifetime.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
flyingmonkey,
well … sometimes you must bend political absolutes to reality. that is why my suggestion comes both with an option to simply work legally … and not be a citizen — which i think most would choose … and a way for some to stay … serve in the military and we call it even, the old … ok, prove you really want to be a citizen … serve the country.
obviously it is all pie in the sky, i mean it just as an example of how the gop could make this work.
we could even put an economic zone along the border where american companies could legally hire mexicans at lower wages … but any mexican caught outside that zone gets booted immediately, no trial nothing.
July 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Alright I’m done with Joe Biden he’s an idiot and I’m done with this, because they should just assume he’s going to say something bad. Now in a couple months or maybe right before the 2012 election I’ll make a top 10 joe biden gaffs.
July 27th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Biden is repeating what was written in the New York Times a year and a half ago about Russia:
http://revisionistreview.blogspot.com/2008/01/policy-statement-from-cryptocracy.html
July 27th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
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July 27th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Biden says what’s what, and that’s the job of the VP.
August 1st, 2009 at 7:51 am
Liberals ran around saying, “If you vote for McCain she’ll be a heartbeat away from the presidency” referring to Sarah Palin. My response is, “Yeah, and…?” This Biden is a real moron man, the elevator don’t go to the top floor. Liberals made fun of former President Bush and created the term Bushisms to make fun of him, where are they with biden, they have 4 more years of money making ahead of them! biden makes former President Bush look like an illustrious speaker!
August 7th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
As a russian living in US for a pretty long time I can say that most americans make a huge mistake thinking that russians and other nations think like them. Russians have very irrational minds in comparison to americans. They still value material goods far less than an average western person despite “westernization” of Russia during last 20 years. It gives them certain amount of freedom to die for an idea being poor and weak:) It is true russian ecomony has been pretty weak for many years. Living in Soviet Union I clearly remember that we ate shit for dinner and were poor as church mice. Were russians soldiers worse than americans that time? I don’t think so. I mean don’t underestimate russian only because their economy is weak. We never give up. And as regards millions of us living abroad…you know, if mothership calls… I hope you uderstand me.