Avuncular.
I just learned that word. It means, "In the manner of an uncle, in benevolence, affection, or good humor."
That's always how Joe Biden has struck me. He's like that uncle you see at family functions who's always good for a laugh or humorous story. Maybe he'll occassionally get a little off-color, but that makes him all the more likeable. His down-to-earthness and unpretentiousness is endearing. In the end, you are probably glad he's your uncle and not your dad, but that's just because if he were your dad you probably just wouldn't like him as much.
But the thing about Joe Biden that gets lost is that the guy is smart. Really smart. One of the best minds in foreign policy in all of Washington. And the man can give one hell of a fine speech as well. I remember years ago sitting in the audience at the Florida Jefferson Jackson Dinner listening to him speak, and you could hear a pindrop in there, people were that captivated.
So that's what burns me on no end when I hear Republicans mock Biden as being some sort of incomptent, clueless dolt. (The irony of that perception from the right cannot be any thicker considering who the last Republican president was). The man's been in civil service since his 20s and people want to make him out to be a bumbling idiot. Sure, he might lack something of a "filter" in some of his off hand remarks (i.e. "This is a big fucking deal"
, but personally I think that's one of the awesome things about him.
