Vice President Joe Biden has been missing in action for some time. Now we know why. Biden has run for president twice,in 1988 and 2008,and has not ruled out running a third time in 2016. But the Democrats’Harold Stassen just made a peculiar campaign move:He told a public audience that,when asked,he told Barack Obama not to launch the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. Describing the situation room,he said:
The president,he went around the table with all the senior people including the Chiefs of Staff. He said,“I have to make this decision. What is your opinion?”He started with the National Security adviser,the Secretary of State,and he ended with me. Every single person in that room hedged their bet,except Leon Panetta. Leon said,“GO!”Everyone else said “49/51,”this…
It got to me. Joe what do you think? I said,“You know,I didn’t know we have so many economists around the table. We owe the man a direct answer. Mr. President,my suggestion is don’t go. We have to do two more things to see if he’s there.”He walked out and said,“I’ll give you my decision.”The next morning,he came down to the diplomatic entrance getting in the helicopter,I believe to get to Michigan,and he turned to Tom Donnel and said…”Go.”
Knowing that,as loyal as everyone is around that table,when pressed and when books are written later that would’ve said,“I didn’t tell him to do that.”
Why would a politically ambitious climber like Joe Biden say something so self-defeating? Because he realizes his only hope for being elected president is to serve two terms as vice president. The gaffe-prone veep of a failed president seldom gets elected:ask Walter Mondale. But the vice president of a two-term president enters the race with substantial advantages. (George H.W. Bush,Al Gore.) But Obama’s presidency has been a low-tide for the nation he “leads.”Incomes and employment rates are down;government dependence is up;and American morale is barreling toward hopelessness.
The only successes he has had,which he wants to campaign on,are in foreign policy,especially Osama bin Laden’s death. Since ordering the team to go forward is the most obvious call a president could make,he has to bolster his “gutsy”call by inventing voices of dissent that begged him not to take this bold,unprecedented step.
Enter the veep.
Biden told the crowd that Obama understood “literally the presidency”was at stake,so “he pulled the trigger.”
“This guy doesn’t lead from behind,”he said. “He just leads.”
In fact,Obama dithered for 16 hours while the military waited for him to make a decision. As they pushed him for an answer,Obama replied,“I’m not going to tell you what my decision is now – I’m going to go back and think about it some more. I’m going to make a decision soon.”Ever since SEAL Team 6 did its duty,he has presented himself as a combination of Rambo,Chuck Norris,and the Lone Ranger rolled into one.
Biden and Valerie Jarrett both urged him against the mission. One is a knave,the other is a fool,and their boss is mistaken if he believes the American people believe he is either a decisive leader or worthy of the office he holds.
January 28th,2012
