Day: June 4, 2015

Sam Hoff, a political science professor at Delaware State University, said, "When you think of Joe, you think of someone whose own moral fiber and strength is on public display in times of trauma." Politically, Hoff said Biden's long career in the U.S. Senate and the vice presidency has helped strengthen Democratic politics in Delaware to the point that Democrats dominate here. "Would I say that Joe is singularly responsible for the strong Democratic emphasis we see? No, not singularly," Hoff said. "But we're in a strong Democratic trend in a state, and we have been since 1992. That coincides with a large part of Joe's career."

First, America isn’t a business. Businesses exist to turn a profit, to create wealth for shareholders; that’s their only reason for being. Countries exist to preserve a cultural identity, a way of life, of which the economy is a part. Conservatives often argue that this is an abstract distinction; that, practically speaking, overseeing a corporation and deciding national economic policy are fundamentally the same. [...] Business acumen is a terrible indicator of political ability, and for obvious reasons. Business and politics are separate spheres; they require different skill sets. CEOs are despots; they don’t persuade so much as dictate and they’re more inclined to fire those with whom they disagree. Presidents live in a non-zero-sum context, where cooperation is crucial and consensus is critical. Good presidents also tend to care about different things than successful CEOs. The only metric that matters in private industry is profit; this attracts a certain kind of person and cultivates a certain kind of disposition. There are no rewards for compassion and empathy in the corporate world. But compassion and empathy are precisely what we need in a president.

"You know, Vice President Joe Biden," he said as a few chuckles emerged from the crowd, setting up the joke for him. "You know the nice thing. You don't need a punchline. I promise you it works. At the next party you're at, just walk up to someone and say, 'Vice President Joe Biden,' and just close your mouth. They will crack up laughing."

Q: Could you talk about the vice president losing his son this week? A: Heartbreaking and tragic, and our prayers are very much with Vice President Biden, with Jill. It's a tragedy no one should have to endure. Q: Why'd you tell a joke about the vice president tonight? A: Uh .... [walks away]