Oh, That Joe! (No. 20 in a Series) — Biden Discusses ‘His Kind of Politician’
EmailAt a Thursday rally on the banks of the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., near the town of his childhood, Scranton, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., explained where he got his fighting spirit, invoking late, legendary local congressman Rep. Daniel J. Flood, D-Pa.
"My grandfather used to tell a story about Dan Flood when he was campaigning early on, I don’t know if it was apocryphal or not," said the loquacious Blue Hen lawmaker.
Flood, a former Pennsylvania congressman who died in 1994 at the age of 90, resigned under an ethical cloud after pleading guilty to taking payoffs. He was known for steering millions of dollars towards social programs that benefited schools, hospitals, and society’s most needy.
A Shakespearean actor in his youth, his New York Times obituary noted that he "spoke with mellifluous tones, was a sartorial dandy who was known for his waxed mustache and often referred to as ‘Dapper Dan’ on Capitol Hill."
So, continued Biden, Flood "was at a bar — not that we have any bars around here — he was at a bar and Dan Flood got in a little bit of an argument, a guy gave him a hard time, made fun of his cape," Biden recalled.
Flood, with a flair for flamboyance, sported a handlebar moustache and took to wearing a cape in his later years.
But he wasn’t backing down from a fight.
"And Dan Flood just gave a straight left and a right hook and it was over and he went right on having his beer, nothing to it."
"That’s my kind of politician, man," Biden said.
"All the national press says Biden, ‘Where’d you get your energy, where’d you get your fighting spirit?’ Just come on home and you’ll know where I get my energy here, from all of you," Biden told the crowd of roughly a thousand.
Unfortunately Biden has not continued the Pocono politician tradition of donning a cape.
– Jake Tapper and Matt Jaffe
CPAC: Romney Struggles to Convince Voters 
Obama Backs Off Birth Control Battle?
And now for something completely different…
Good ol Biden. It’s nice that he can provide some comic relief during times like this.
Oh… he’s not joking…. never mind.
Posted by: Diamond Lou | September 25, 2008, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
Why isn’t Biden in Washington monitoring the Capital Hill meetings?
Isn’t he the SENATOR with the 36 years of experience that everyone is constantly bragging about?
He should know a lot about how the economy got so bad, he and his buddies at MBNA.
Posted by: Lee | September 25, 2008, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
McCain has been praying for a chance to debate Obama, the chance comes & he goes to Washington to hide. Hero my @ss.
Posted by: geevill | September 25, 2008, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
McCain is a coward he should return the $86m he took from the tax payers now or debate Obama.
Posted by: Chan | September 25, 2008, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
Poll numbers go down from
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0-1
-2
-3
-4
What does McCain do, change the story line by doing what he does well, throw in the wrench.
Posted by: geevill | September 25, 2008, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
Is this the second in command for the democrats! How Frightening!! Never knew how dumb he really is! Should have paid more attention in the debates, but when you get 3-5% of the vote you are as relevant as Kuchinich “sp” or Nader. Obama must have been under the influence when he selected Mr. History!
Posted by: robert | September 25, 2008, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm
Can you imagine if Gov. Palin was out there telling her crazy family stories and hanging out on football fields and making gaffe after gaffe after gaffe what the press would do to her?
Even you Libs who have the press on your side, completely, have to agree with this….they’d scream dump her…yet Biden gets pass after pass. Where’s Hillary in all this? I heard she’s taking over on Oct. 5.
Posted by: Debra | September 25, 2008, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
I’m glad I’m a thinker
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 25, 2008, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
What is with these senators Obama and Biden not being in Washington doing what they get paid to do. The President had to call Obama to Washington … no wonder Obama and Biden are in favor of the Democrats give-a-way program .. they are doing their work for their pay either!!
Posted by: Francisco Cardenas | September 25, 2008, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
Palin is such a Vessel
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 25, 2008, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
Obama is just a Jr. Senator and it was over his pay grade to show up this morning (he was cramming in his hotel room). He’s now flown out of Washington and is going to MI for a debate with himself….who do you think will win? I love his “call me if you need me line.”
Posted by: Debra | September 25, 2008, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm
“He should know a lot about how the economy got so bad, he and his buddies at MBNA.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Where was Flood born?
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 25, 2008, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
Like I said, Sarah is such a vessel for…
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 25, 2008, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Please go watch Katie Couric interview with Palin. Believe me – it is worth your time. Then comment on Joe Biden’s gaffe – he may just look like not such a bad choice.
Posted by: Michelle | September 25, 2008, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm
Sarah Palin is an empty vessel. She can’t answer a simple question even if her life depends on it.
Posted by: geevill | September 25, 2008, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
Man, this guy knows how to campaign. Classic retail politics. He’s cooking along beneath the radar, but really making contact with folks. I’ve been hearing from PA locals that everyone’s loving him.
It’s turned out to be a perfect environment for him – nobody really cares about his gaffes, and he can just go out hammering McCain and winning hearts and minds.
Palin, on the other hand, is fading. Her Couric interview shocked a lot of people. Wow, that was painful. She’ll still draw the right wing fruitcakes, but at this point those folks would follow a cardboard cut-out.
Posted by: Tungsten | September 25, 2008, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
Biden cried today for the third time during this campaign. (Yes, I know about the tragedy 36 years ago.)
What’s with these weepy Democrats?
Posted by: Jan | September 26, 2008, 12:01 am 12:01 am
ok so now i get why during the dnc nomination bidens son asked us to take care of his dad lol…
and some of you have the nerve to criticize palin? pleaseeeeeeeee!
Posted by: colorado | September 26, 2008, 12:34 am 12:34 am
i know what, obama can debate biden.
Posted by: colorado | September 26, 2008, 12:46 am 12:46 am
Who just loves this campaign? Rollercoaster galor.
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 26, 2008, 1:40 am 1:40 am
Republican veep pick Sarah
Palin brings her extensive
ignorance of national and
world affairs to the job.
Biden brings buffoonery and
entertainment.
In the prevailing political
environment Palin’s ignorance
seems to be winning voters
over to the Republican side.
Biden’s comedy has not been
effective in attracting new
voters.
The shrewd political
strategists that we are, we
are calling for Biden’s
expulsion from the Dem ticket
without further delay.
Obama/Clinton ’08
Posted by: anon | September 26, 2008, 2:08 am 2:08 am
Free Market Terrorists, can afford to hide Tainted milk. Terrorists LOVE Deregulations. Remember 9/11. And now Capitol Terrorists, will take advantage of Deregulations. McTerror, Shelby, and Bush act as if ‘Oh Well’. Our Constuction companies can rebuild. Just like Iraq. Nothing gets done. But they can raise energy and gas prices. I bet we will be offering some other country help, for Black Gold. At least they gave us a boost on Wall Street.
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 26, 2008, 2:16 am 2:16 am
To PP:
John McCain was born in PANAMA.
There’s more question about his eligibility to be POTUS than Barack’s.
Posted by: ES | September 26, 2008, 2:27 am 2:27 am
ES
John Mccain was born on a military base which is considered us territory case closed!
Posted by: staniam | September 26, 2008, 4:40 am 4:40 am
Mrs. Pelosi now claims she aims to ram through the bill. She is shouting that the GOP must relent and join in. Not a chance. “No deal,” is the way to guard the people’s cash. The Democrats are working with George Bush and Hank Paulson. The Republicans in the House (the Senate crowd is pointless and feckless) are working with the people. It is the world turned upside down — with the Grand Old Party marching arm-in-arm with Main Street, and the class warrior Democrats gamboling with the Wall Street Interest. Obama fell into the deal ambush (see below, on Fox tonight), and now he must take the campaign stage claiming that a grotesque, imperial, unprecedented and endlessly ramshackle Goldman, Sachs fantasy of a deal is good for the country. And John McCain can stand on the same campaign stage and mumble sincerely that thrift, cautious, reform, transparency, modesty, honesty are the new day for the McCain administration.
Posted by: HERO | September 26, 2008, 5:17 am 5:17 am
If only the ghost Dan Flood could come back just gave Schmidt and Rove a straight left and a right hook and it would be over and then Dan would go right on having his beer, nothing to it.
Now Steve Schmidt is going around throwing out words now like “in a political predatory fashion” Now This is coming from Schmidt’s mind this is how he thinks. Biden is too much of a gentleman but Dan Flood is old school he would have hit Schmidt with a left Jab “Who you calling a Wolve Schmit? Whats my name Schmidt” Now I can see Schmidt trying to duck and calling Dan “You Piranha!” Then Dan throws a right hook hitting both Schmidt and Rove. “Wrong answer Schmidt. Dans the name Dan Flood!” Rove would faint. Schmidt would fall. Dan would finish his beer at a bar that looks like a lot of bars across American. Whats worse Biden recalling Dan Flood or the Schmidt and Rove creating terrifying images to scare everyone?
Posted by: RFK | September 26, 2008, 7:35 am 7:35 am
His kind of politician, the ones that get caught taking payoffs and are forced out of office…says a lot.
Posted by: samhiguchi | September 26, 2008, 9:19 am 9:19 am
LOL, at this point in the game its all about telling the sheeple what they want to hear. Seems no doubt that Obama/ Biden are clearly the lesser of the two evils and about the only logical choice we have seeing as prtty much everything out of McBushes mouth lately is a proven LIE. We have had l;ies for the last 8 years, we do need something different to set things right.
Jiff
Posted by: JIff Saunders | September 26, 2008, 9:31 am 9:31 am
Did Dan Flood double as Frank Costanza’s lawyer?
To ES, give up the ghost, dude. In 1790 Congress declared any person born to two US citizens at home or abroad is deemed to be a natural norn citizen of the US. McCain could have been born in Timbuktu or Nairobi or Antarctica, it doesn’t matter as long as his parents are both US citizens.
Congress first recognized the citizenship of children born to U.S. parents overseas on March 26, 1790, under the first naturalization law: “And the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens.” (See ref. for the Act of 1795)
Posted by: Woody | September 26, 2008, 9:52 am 9:52 am
Looks like Joe is getting his share of the bailout–requesting over $50 million in earmarks for his state.
Posted by: riley | September 26, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am
“And Dan Flood just gave a straight left and a right hook and it was over and he went right on having his beer, nothing to it.” “That’s my kind of politician, man,” Biden said.
must be why the anti-war protestors caused so much damage in MN.
Posted by: rita | September 26, 2008, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Did I read right. Only one thousand people at Biden’s campaign? And Palin drew 60,000 in Lady Lake Florida. What happened. Obama’s crowds are getting smaller and Biden is lucky he can draw them. McCain had eleven thousand in Green Bay and Obama drew six thousand. And I love those inflated CNN and Washington Post’s polls making it look like Obama is leading. Are they kidding? Obama couldn’t lead a horse to drink.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | September 28, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
ES: You are so wrong about McCain. Panama belongs to the US and besides that once your inducted into the military you become a citizen automatically. In question is Obama’s citizenship. If he was born in Hawaii what hospital was he born in. The government can get access to those records immediately. I understand he was born in Kenya but only registered here. Those records are available too. But Why aren’t Obama’s talked about. McCain’s citizenship was stated on television months ago.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | September 28, 2008, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm