Oh, That Joe! (No. 37 in a Series) — Joe ‘Lights Out’ Biden?
EmailSen. Joe Biden, D-Del., Thursday came to Williamsport, Pa., home of the Little League World Series, just a day after his favorite baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies, won their first title since 1980.
He also came just hours before his Republican rival Gov. Sarah Palin addressed voters in the same town.
In Florida the past few days, home of the Phils’ Fall Classic opponent the Tampa Bay Rays, Biden made no mention of the Series (unlike the man at the top of the ticket, who shaded his advocacy for the Whiz Kids when he was in Tampa), but back in Phils country, Biden sounded off on it.
While Biden missed the Fightin’ Phils victory due to his late night flight from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Louis, he told the crowd at Lycoming College that his wife Jill was there at Citizens Bank Park to witness the Phils’ triumph in person.
"My wife Jill is from suburban Philadelphia," said the Democratic vice presidential nominee. "She is the most rabid Philly fan, most rabid Flyer fan, most rabid — any team in Philadelphia. I gotta tell ya, my wife, I’m on the campaign trail, she says, ‘Joe, I’m going to the Series.’
"So, on Monday night, in the rain, hair matted down, sitting outside soaking wet, she sat through the whole deal," testified Biden. "And went back, she went back to, uh, to the game last night and was there."
Game 5 started on Monday evening but was suspended in the sixth inning due to torrential rain in the Philadelphia area, the first suspended game in Series history. It resumed last night with the Phils tied 2-2 with the Rays in the bottom of the sixth.
"And my, my wonderful wife, who has her doctorate in education, is a school teacher, is, looks like — I mean, you wouldn’t expect her to be a great fan," said Biden of his spouse, who teaches English at Delaware Technical and Community College.
"My wife was on — if you know anything about Philadelphia radio, WIP radio in the morning, sports talk," Biden said of 610 WIP, Philly’s well-known sports talk radio station, known for its opinionated hosts and call-in shows for the City of Brotherly Love’s vocal fans. "Turn on, I hear today, my wife is on WIP this morning on sports talk.
"And she’s talking about Brad Lidge," Biden said, noting Phillies closer Brad "Lights Out" Lidge, who was a perfect 48-for-48 this season in converting save opportunities, finishing off the Rays in the top of the ninth last night with a strikeout of Eric Hinske.
"Worries me a little, Sister," quipped Biden to Sister Anne, Biden’s former grade-school teacher, who was at the rally. "That must have given her an idea, because when I called her to say, ‘look,’ she said, ‘Joe, you have to do what this campaign needs, what Brad did that night. Lights out tonight. Lights out. Lights out Lidge.’
"Well, let me tell you something, I’m not going to be able to live up to that," Biden warned Keystone State supporters on a more serious note. "But I tell you what, here we are in Pennsylvania, in a battleground state. And let me tell you this — the truth of the matter is this state is going to make the gigantic difference in who the next president of the United States of America is."
– Matt Jaffe and Jake Tapper
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Is there a point to all this blather? You are wearing some of us down, Jake. Please, write something… anything… meaningful.
Posted by: jcarob | October 30, 2008, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
Isnt’ interesting, how the media just glowed over Obama’s “urgent” (after a few days) visit to his Grandmother in Hawaii, and Obama saying “if you can’t take care of your family, you can’t be expected to take care of your country”.
yet, Obama just totally IGNORES his “other” grandmother (you know, the African american side) and brother in Kenya, who are living in squalor, and his aunt, who is living in poverty in our own backyard in Boston! Why is he ignoring his familY? Now, what did obama say about taking care of your family and country? LOL!
Why is Obama not taking care of his dad’s side of the family? Oh, that’s right, he is expecting the rest of us to, under his “redistribution plan”.
How low will this man have to go before you O supporters see the light?
meanwhile, Americans in Israel vote overwhelmingly for McCain. What do they know that the Jews here in the US don’t? dont you think the American Jews should be more informed about Obama?
Two words: “Khalidi tape” . What are they trying to hide?
Posted by: liberati | October 30, 2008, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
Speaking of granny “tute”… or is it “toot”? After the O-man’s dire predictions for dear old granny and his having to rush off to Hawaii around the time that Judge Surrick was getting ready to render an opinion, I must say I was very concerned for her well being. But now that Judge Surrick has said it doesn’t matter if Barack is a citizen or not, it appears that granny has made a miraculous recovery. Still, nobody at ABC News seems to be in the least concerned any more about her health and welfare. Why is that?
Posted by: jcarob | October 30, 2008, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
Actually, with all due respect jcarob, Judge Surrick didn’t make any judgement on Obama’s mysterious absence of a birth certificate, he merely stated that Berg didn’t have standing to make this claim. This is of course, outrageous, because if an American citizen can’t question the qualifications of their candidate to be President, then who can? Who can be held accountable for protecting our Constitution? The whole thing is truly sad and frightening.
But, as Obama says, our Constitution is “flawed”. This puny Obama, a man of absolutely no accomplishments, has the nerve to say that our constitution, written by our founding fathers, is flawed.
amazing, the nerve of this man…
Posted by: liberati | October 30, 2008, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
Shame on you Barack Obama.
- This is my favorite from Hillary Clinton, angry that Obama uses lies about NAFTA to derail her surging campaign in Ohio.
Posted by: young_voter | October 30, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
jcarob
I used to like the xfiles too!
Posted by: Mike NC | October 30, 2008, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
“Still, nobody at ABC News seems to be in the least concerned any more about her health and welfare. Why is that?”
ROFLMAO.
Ben Smith wrote an article today about the whackjob emails he gets demsnding that he cover some crackpot theory.
Posted by: Ryan C (That One) | October 30, 2008, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm
Shame on you Barack Obama. Shame on you.
- This is also my favorite from Hillary Clinton, angry that Mr. Obama refuses to give Florida voters a chance to get their voices heard and their votes counted.
Posted by: young_voter | October 30, 2008, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
Boy, you guys are pretty desperate dragging up somebody’s grandmother who is quite old and just toppled over and broke her hip. And gossipping rumours about aunts and other relatives. It truly is pathetic.
Posted by: pefros | October 30, 2008, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
“Judge Surrick didn’t make any judgement on Obama’s mysterious absence of a birth certificate, he merely stated that Berg didn’t have standing to make this claim. This is of course, outrageous, because if an American citizen can’t question the qualifications of their candidate to be President, then who can”
Surrick, it seemed, was not satisfied with the nature of evidence provided by Berg to support his allegations.
Various accounts, details and ambiguities from Obama’s childhood form the basis of Plaintiff’s allegation that Obama is not a natural born citizen of the United States. To support his contention, Plaintiff cites sources as varied as the Rainbow Edition News Letter … and the television news tabloid Inside Edition. These sources and others lead Plaintiff to conclude that Obama is either a citizen of his father’s native Kenya, by birth there or through operation of U.S. law; or that Obama became a citizen of Indonesia by relinquishing his prior citizenship (American or Kenyan) when he moved there with his mother in 1967. Either way, in Plaintiff’s opinion, Obama does not have the requisite qualifications for the Presidency that the Natural Born Citizen Clause mandates. The Amended Complaint alleges that Obama has actively covered up this information and that the other named Defendants are complicit in Obama’s cover-up.”
The lesson as always? Right wingers lie.
Posted by: Ryan C (That One) | October 30, 2008, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
pefros
i agree they are despeate and a little off!
Posted by: Mike NC | October 30, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
“has the nerve to say that our constitution, written by our founding fathers, is flawed.”
Our founders Constitution only allowed white male land owners to vote and allowed slavery. They debated including a bill of rights for fear some anti-liberty morons in the future would claim those were the only right the people retained (sound familiar)
Are right wingers really so ignorant?
Have they never had history or heard of the Great Compromise?
Posted by: Ryan C (That One) | October 30, 2008, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
“meanwhile, Americans in Israel vote overwhelmingly for McCain. What do they know that the Jews here in the US don’t”
Expat Jews in Israel tend to be much more religious and vote accordingly.
There are roughly 45,000 expat Jews and they tend to vote absentee mostly in NY which will be blue.
American Jews favor Obama 3 to 1 over McCain much as they have other Democratic candidates.
Posted by: Ryan C (That One) | October 30, 2008, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
4th in a Series: What You Missed WHile Jake Obsesses About Biden: The Economist endorses Obama. Strongest endorsement since they endorsed Reagan. 700,000 American readers. Michelle Bachman, who was doing very, very well before she went bonkers, is now trailing in MN 45 to 43. Sam Zell is thrilled that his paper is getting so much publicity – hasn’t happened since he took over. Obama commercial tops the World Series in viewers. Now, how is that Alien?
And do you EVER plan on correcting the mistake from Haaretz?
Posted by: Mara | October 30, 2008, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
liberati
It wouldnt mean anything to me If Obama had sat with Ayers or not… Ayers has a past most people do.. He is now a teacher and by all acounts a good person now days! The whole Ayers issue means nothing to me.
EVERY Word Obama spoke on the stage has been reported in the LA Times…
I find this line of attack on Obama very stupid and insulting to Jewish Americans we are not stupid we are not going to be lead by fear!
Obama 08
Posted by: Mike NC | October 30, 2008, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
“The crowd cheered Palin’s remarks on national security issues, but they were less enthusiastic about her take on the World Series.
“So glad to be here in your beautiful hometown here in Pennsylvania, and I am thrilled to be here in the home state of the world champion Philadelphia Phillies,” Palin said.
Erie residents being a mix of Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates fans, several responded with loud boos, while others rewarded Palin with blank stares.”
Posted by: Ryan C (That One) | October 30, 2008, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
Red Blooded American
Wether you like it or not Obama will be your President! He will also be your God Sean Hannity’s Prsident!
Obama 08
Posted by: Mike NC | October 30, 2008, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
Notwithstanding the lack of concern for granny on the part of the koolaid drinkers here assembled, I am puzzled as to how the lady can be at death’s door one minute and receiving an outpouring of sympathy from the well wisher collective and then be not worthy of a footnote in the next minute, once the citizenship crisis had passed. Since ABC News expressed such concern on GMA and even in the many blogs of its stalwart correspondents, it would seem only right that someone make an inquiry or perhaps even pay a visit to granny to see how she’s doing. Don’t you agree? I have a feeling, though, that granny is in lock down, just like Auntie and Uncle Omar.
Posted by: jcarob | October 30, 2008, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
the silent majority is sitting on its hands waiting to vote on the 4th and like with nixon and bush, will quietly elect mccain. you heard it here.
Posted by: ron | October 30, 2008, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
YAY PHILS!!!
GO OBAMA!!!!
Posted by: Ed from MA | October 30, 2008, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
The silent majority voted Republican last time and got badly burned. They’re not stupid enough to vote Rebublican again (as the polls clearly show), despite the truly desperate attempts by McCain’s gang to demonize the Democrats.
8 years was enough! The electorate is about to rightfully boot the Republicans out of office.
Democratic landslide win!
Posted by: pefros | October 30, 2008, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
“A growing number of voters have concluded that Senator John McCain’s running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, is not qualified to be vice president, weighing down the Republican ticket in the last days of the campaign, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
All told, 59 percent of voters surveyed said Ms. Palin was not prepared for the job, up nine percentage points since the beginning of the month.”
Posted by: pefros | October 30, 2008, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
According to NyTimes/ CBS newspoll John Kerry should have been president in 2004.
Posted by: Greg h | October 31, 2008, 12:15 am 12:15 am
Its simple – he visited his grandmother the sametime he was telling young people to visit their grandmothers in Florida, in order to encourage them to vote Obama.
Heard it on the BBC.
: )
Posted by: Echo21 | October 31, 2008, 10:31 am 10:31 am
I’m not sure why Obama’s grandmother’s being brought up in these comments so much, but for anyone who’s had an older relative die gradually of one of the common old-age diseases — it’s not fast. It can be, if something sets in and goes quickly, but otherwise your doctor can pretty reliably tell you “it’ll be three weeks, two months at the most” or “death’s imminent, she might last the rest of the week”.
There’s no “citizenship crisis”. There’s just an elderly relation who’s dying in a manner that reflects the deaths of loved elders in every single American family. If you’ve not been through this heartrending carousel of assisted living and old age homes, you’ll become familiar with how it works soon. It’s not something to criticize.
Posted by: Grace | October 31, 2008, 11:11 am 11:11 am
What an idiot. ‘Nuff said…
I don’t know anyone from Delaware, but I think I would really have to question the intelligence of the majority of its’ voting population…. (sorry)
Posted by: tjp8 | October 31, 2008, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
What an idiot. ‘Nuff said…
I don’t know anyone from Delaware, but I think I would really have to question the intelligence of the majority of its’ voting population…. (sorry)
Posted by: tjp8 | October 31, 2008, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
As a Phillies fan and a registered Democrat, let’s go Phils and let’s go Joe!
Posted by: Sean Devlin | November 2, 2008, 1:03 am 1:03 am
And also, no one else wants to comment on the content of this article, the fact that the vice-presidential nominee is a fan of the best team in baseball?…my Philadelphia Phillies!
Posted by: Sean Devlin | November 2, 2008, 1:05 am 1:05 am