Well Biden may not be accompanying Obama on his trip but . . .

[jillan]

this is very interesting! It's from Faux, so of course it's rude....but interesting!

But Blinken was the only additional staffer authorized to make the trip, giving Biden unique access to Obama’s briefings and observations on the trip to both war zones.
;)


The rude stuff is in here:
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/19/top-biden-staffer-on-obama-trip-overseas-raising-vp-questions/

[WheelWalker]

1. That's very interesting, don't you think? Of course, you

posted it. Duh. Time for bed.

[jillan]

2. Let me age myself-----

[WheelWalker]

3. We've aged well, don't you think?

[WheelWalker]

4. I'm still laughing. Thanks for that!

[jillan]

5. I used to love that stupid show!

[WheelWalker]

11. I remember saying at the time, "Yes, it's stupid. But it makes us laugh." In those days

anything that could make you laugh was welcomed. They were "unfunny times."

[Muttocracy]

6. perhaps Biden is staying here for rapid response

after all, Biden doesn't need to visit those countries again. Obama can just tell folks there "I'm a friend of Joe Biden and Tony Blinken" :D

===

Tony Blinken, chief of staff for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was accompanying Obama as he arrived Saturday in Afghanistan, committee spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander confirmed. Biden is the chairman of that committee and Blinken is considered his closest adviser.

Alexander described Blinken’s role as standard operating procedure.

“Tony is traveling in his capacity as staff director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,” Alexander said. “Two of the three senators (on the trip) are on the committee and there is precedent for committee staff traveling with members other than the chairman.”

[jillan]

7. "I'm a friend of Joe Biden's"

Good one!

[gateley]

8. Hmmmm...

This is Obama’s first-ever trip to Afghanistan and Blinken, a former national security staffer in the Clinton White House, could provide valuable expertise, in addition to keeping tabs on things for Biden.

Regardless of whether Joe is O's VP, He (O) obviously appreciates and respects Joe's FP chops. I'm still pushing for SOS, but I'd be so proud of him as VP, naturally.

I heard Susan Rice offered as a possibility for SOS. I'm wildly impressed by her, but she just isn't ready. The difference between her and Biden on that conference call... The master and the student.

[Muttocracy]

9. I wonder if that is the reason Blinken went or Faux's speculation

Either way, yeah, Susan Rice knows her stuff but comes across very academically.

Someone on DU suggested Kerry for Sec of State given he speaks many languages, knows what he's doing. I say if not Biden, Kerry for Sec. of State.

[gateley]

10. Although I think Kerry would be a fab SOS,

I can't help but compare him to Joe. Maybe it's my Joe bias, but when I envision Joe or Kerry meeting with foreign leaders, I think Joe would have a much better dialogue with them. Kerry doesn't have that silver tongue nor the ability to make people like you even when you're dissing them. Joe does. I keep thinking of Lindsay Graham - he's like a puppy dog around Joe. He says what he's supposed to say, then Biden throws him a scrap and he just lights up.

A gift of the Blarney.

[gateley]

12. Yes - well put. Academically. Joe has PASSION. nt