Harnessing Biden’s considerable talents and containing his flaws will be an ongoing challenge for Obama. But Democratic insiders say the appointment of tough-guy Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff—and the administration’s need to forge a governing coalition that includes some Republicans—has brought Biden’s upcoming role more clearly into focus: He'll play the good cop. Full Story »
Posted by Kaizar Campwala
A great news analysis that envisions Joe Biden's VP role as kind of venerable envoy to Congressional Republicans and GOP staffers. Predictions are backed by anecdotal and factual evidence and good quotes. Overall a readable, entertaining piece, written in that almost colloquial Washington journalese that only a publication like the Politico can tastefully pull off.
“You can’t just have a guy like him at loose ends, he’d go crazy,” said a Democratic consultant who knows the affable, bright and mercilessly quotable soon-to-be ex-chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. “They need to keep him busy. Nobody over there wants him getting into the Secretary of State’s [business].”
“Mercilessly quotable” — well said.