Oct 9, 2008 6:26pm

Oh, That Joe! (No. 24 in a Series) — Biden Suggests McCain/Palin Meet With College Debate Team

Fresh off his vice presidential debate last week with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden suggested Thursday at a campaign stop in Missouri that Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Palin might want to get some advice from a title-winning college debate team.

"I understand that, earlier this year, your debate team won the Missouri state championship here at William Jewell," Biden said at William Jewell College in Liberty. "I bet John McCain and Sarah Palin right now wish they had asked you for some tips."

Thunderous applause ensued from the Show-Me state supporters packed into the school gymnasium.

"I could use a few myself," Biden then acknowledged.

The Delaware senator, an avid sports fan, has been saying since his return to the campaign trail Wednesday that, were the debates a best-of-five series similar to the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs, then after the three debates conducted thus far, the Democratic ticket would already have emerged victorious.

"Now I may be prejudiced, but if this were the baseball playoffs, then I would think this series is over," the loquacious Blue Hen quipped earlier Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo.

- Matt Jaffe

User Comments

Ah, NOW I see. The Oh, That Joe! series is not about gaffes, it’s simply about great Biden lines.
Yes, Biden is a fine, funny, and honest man.
(none of that can be said about McCain or Palin btw who are operating from the gutter these days)

Posted by: greta | October 9, 2008, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm

I think it’s simply a matter of time.
After a year or two Palin will be as good as Dan Quale.
And McCain will be silent.

Posted by: kevin | October 9, 2008, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm

I wonder if there were a solar flare, would the micro chips in that Stepford Wife’s head short-circuit?

Posted by: Joe V | October 9, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm

Biden was speaking in the heartland of Jesse James. Whether true or not, the song says Jesse took from the rich and gave to the poor. Doesn’t sound like the way the Federal government operates under Bush and McCain where they take from the poor and give to their base– the rich.

Posted by: bhciapol | October 9, 2008, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm

I love it!
Joe gets 2 digs in at McCain: you’re going sleazy because you’re losing and btw YOU’RE LOSING!

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm

These “Oh that Joe” items have changed from where Joe puts his foot in his mouth to Joe saying something negative about McCain and Palin. Hmmmm….

Posted by: Zank | October 9, 2008, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm

Remember McCain declaring that this mortgage bailout was “His plan, Not Obama’s plan, Not Bush’s plan but HIS PLAN!”
Today in an interview he stated that “his plan” had previously been proposed by Hillary Clinton.
And even on that, he was wrong on.
“It’s wrong to suggest the new McCain plan is what Senator Clinton proposed ,” said Clinton spokesperson Kathleen Strand. “She and Senator Obama are focused on helping struggling homeowners and holding bank lenders responsible. . . Senator McCain’s new plan calls for bailing out and rewarding irresponsible bank and mortgage lenders, while sticking taxpayers with the bill”

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm

Go Joe!!
You and Obama have won the debates so far hands down.
We know which ticket is in the bets interests of America
Obama/Biden 08

Posted by: Mark | October 9, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm

I must say, I love Joe Biden.
Bill Clinton:
“I love Joe Biden and America will too.”
Joe Biden and Obama are a fantastic team.

Posted by: gold ole JOE | October 9, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm

The stock market is crashing… everyone from here to Asia is considered about the economy and what is John McCain talking about:
1. William Ayers
2. A 300 billion dollar housing proposal that would save the banks and screw the taxpayer.
Stop talking about Ayers and go read a book about the economy already.
I’m not paying 300 million to save your rich friends.

Posted by: vbywest | October 9, 2008, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm

If Palin had said this than Jake Tapper would have a deadline like “Palin rips Biden-Obama”, why is this being classified as a gaffe when he clearly blasted grandpa and his granddaughter?

Posted by: timothy | October 9, 2008, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm

Joe is clueless. Palin killed him and look great doing it. Bad Botox Biden is a joke!

Posted by: ubu1991 | October 9, 2008, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm

Joe Badin is always a barrel of gaffes!

Posted by: IndieVisible | October 9, 2008, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm

“I’m not paying 300 million to save your rich friends.” vbywest:
That was 300 billion, not million and if you own stock, a home or earn a paycheck you like the rest of us have just paid for a few rich people, some poor people that should not have been loaned money and even some on Obamas campaign since he seemed to get many dollars from freddie and fannie. The end result is that stuff happens and this stuff can be laid at the feet of our politicians, including Obama.

Posted by: david | October 9, 2008, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm

But as long as we’re on the subject, McCain’s associations continue to be increasingly interesting as well.
We’ve known for a while that McCain has befriended a convicted felon who advised his supporters on how best to shoot federal officials, used the money of a convicted criminal to help buy a house, befriended a radical anti-Catholic televangelist, befriended a radical anti-American televangelist, was a long-time associate of Charles Keating, and hired for his campaign the publisher of a Confederate nostalgia magazine who has described Nelson Mandela as a “terrorist.”
This week, we also learned about McCain serving on the board of the extremist U.S. Council for World Freedom, where he worked alongside Iran-Contra figures, and a eugenics researcher studying “white superiority.”

Posted by: touche | October 9, 2008, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm

The Cook Political Report is also amping up their predictions of Democratic gains in the House and Senate next month. In the latest updates, Charlie Cook now says Democrats are positioned to win between six and eight Senate seats and 15 to 25 House seats. “At this stage, the most relevant question would seem to be: ‘How big will the train wreck be for the Republican Party up and down the ballot in November,’” writes Charlie.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm

palin just said Pladimir Vutin at a rally lol

Posted by: Don | October 9, 2008, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm

I love Joe.

Posted by: El_Pajaro | October 9, 2008, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm

McCain and Palin need to see Palin’s witch doctor preacher…he missed a few!

Posted by: linda n carolina | October 9, 2008, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm

Alaskan Supreme Court rejects 6 GOP legislators attempt at stifling the Troopergate report.
Ooo-deee-lolly!
I wonder what distraction McCain Palin will cook up.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm

What’s a blue hen? Is that some kind of inside joke?

Posted by: Mike | October 9, 2008, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm

Come on Jake. The market is crashing, the economy is falling apart, McCain is agreeing with supporters’ frenzied rants (see TPM) and you’re talking empty Biden lines? You must be feeling fatigued from this campaign.

Posted by: Debbie | October 9, 2008, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm

Joe Biden:
“Sarah Palin says, ‘You know, I was in second grade when Joe Biden was elected to the United States Senate at age 29,’” he said this afternoon. “That’s true, but she was in sixth grade the last time John had a new idea.”

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm

“What’s a blue hen? Is that some kind of inside joke”
The Fightin Blue Hens are the mascot of the University of Delaware, hence the application to Biden.
There are really “blue” hens with blue plummage.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm

McCain’s plan, he so proud of, is such a bad deal for the taxpayer I’m really amazed. Paying the bank 100% for the bad mortgage, it’s rewarding bad behavior.
The strange thing… Why don’t I hear any republican from the house or senate complain.
If Obama proposed this plan he would have been slammed as a an economic nitwit anti capitalist, communist…

Posted by: CLabs | October 9, 2008, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm

LOL, Biden twisting the ol’ knife…

Posted by: Reality-based | October 9, 2008, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm

“All he does is make stuff up and pass it off as if he’s an expert on the subject.”
Speaking of which, can anyone tell me why Palin is considered the foremost expert on energy issues in the nation as McCain called her?

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm

“McCain’s plan, he so proud of, is such a bad deal for the taxpayer”
Today he was so proud of his plan he mistakenly gave Hillary Clinton credit for coming up with it.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm

Enough from the fabulist Biden…I love that he thinks he is such a great debater…he makes things up on the spot…
See you in Lebanon with NATO!
FDR on TV in 1929—
McCain voted for it, too! sounds good, right guys? He is like the “that’s the ticket” Lovitz character for Pete’s sake!
Palin would be skewered if she made those gaffes (not that she hasn’t gaffed)
when will people acknowledge that Biden is a known, caught, liar?
Why do people excuse his inventions?

Posted by: Wade | October 9, 2008, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm

“when will people acknowledge that Biden is a known, caught, liar?”
John McCain after getting nailed for his bomb Iran singing stunt told the American people it was a private joke between him and a Navy vet buddy.
He in fact sang that in front of a crowd at a fundraiser. It was such a hit with the psycho base that his intro song for the next month of rallies was Barbara Ann.
So let’s talk about lies, Wade.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm

greta…these days?
thats the republican modus operandi darling…find the slimiest gutter , sling the most vile stuff they can. where do they get it? well ,most of what they do (being nasty and vile) comes naturally to them.

Posted by: bah | October 9, 2008, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm


Today he was so proud of his plan he mistakenly gave Hillary Clinton credit for coming up with it.

I complained McCain for lack of plans.
But.. this plan is just strange.
If he told us he would buy back the mortgage at today’s market value, that means sometimes 20% of the original value, it made some sense…
The banks CEO’s are laughing their pants fall off.

Posted by: CLabs | October 9, 2008, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm

Thanks Ryan. I was unaware that Biden was an athlete. What sport did he play?

Posted by: Mike | October 9, 2008, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm

I thought the same thing–that Palin either had never been in an actual debate (which we all know is false, since she debated when running for governor) or else she just deliberately chose to ignore the accepted format because she couldn’t compete. As a former high school and college scholarship debater, I can tell you that she would have been laughed off the podium in any forum I’ve even seen. I was astonished when both the media and public thought she did OK–what she did was make a campaign stump speech, which we all know she is capable of doing. She didn’t debate.

Posted by: Mara | October 9, 2008, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm

Mike,
I am not aware of a Biden’s sports career in college but surely you are aware that alumni commonly refer to themselves by their school’s mascot.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm

Jake,
With list of friends Obama had, I wonder he could get any clearance working for a defense contractor, how is he going to become the PRESIDENT?
to apply for clearance “associations” is a BIG questions, so how would Obama pass the test…just wondering.
Could you find out?

Posted by: frieda | October 9, 2008, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm

Senator Joe Biden is one of the reasons I am voting for Obama/Biden ticket. With Senator Obama’s intelligence and Senator Biden’s knowledge in foreign affairs, this is a winning ticket for me. Senator McCain and Sarah Palin are a joke! He is old, old, old–(I am 68 yrs old) and acts and looks it. Itwas very apparent in the last debate-(My Friend, got pretty tiresome!) And for Palin–I cannot for the life of me, find ONE THING that I look for in someone leading our country–Her language, winks–what can I say! Too cutsy-acts like one of those high school girls who was always smiling while being mean–We need intelligence and wisdom and leadership for our country and that is Obama/Biden!!!

Posted by: lola | October 9, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm

John McCain failed to list that he was a board member for US Council for World Freedom on mandatory Congressional disclosure forms for groups outside of government was involved in.
Who was the US Council for World Freedom?
Why they were part of the Iran Contra scandal providing arms to right wing death squads.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm

Biden seems like a pretty good guy. His team and Democrats in general have been hurt by the ACORN scandal. The Dallas Cowboys were just a few of the fraudulent names on their voting rolls. Seems they used the names of many deceased Americans for the same purpose. ACORN doesn’t dispute the charges.

Posted by: Indy | October 9, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm

Touche…that’s why McCain never brings up or comments about Ayers or Wright.He has a questionable past and then there’s Palin, a story in it’s self.During a rally in OH today someone asked McCain how Obama could get this far, and then refered to his “associations”. McCain just stood there and then changed the subject.

Posted by: Bea | October 9, 2008, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm

“His team and Democrats in general have been hurt by the ACORN scandal.”
Not at all.
“The Dallas Cowboys were just a few of the fraudulent names on their voting rolls. Seems they used the names of many deceased Americans for the same purpose.”
Yes and anyone who falsifies voter registration forms should be prosecuted.
“ACORN doesn’t dispute the charge”
Actually they do in various instances.
ACORN is not responsible for the actions of a few in its organization.
If that were true, the Republicans party is obvious a criminal organization given how many Republicans members of Congress have been indicted or convicted in the last 5 years.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm

McCain is doing very badly among Hispanics struggling to get 30%.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm

As a DEM – I care about the Economy, Health Care, the war – AND -
Ayres, Wright, Rezko, Raines, ACORN -
WHY does obama know so many corrupt guys???????? America needs to know the TRUTH – before it’s too late – this guy is scary!

Posted by: Molly | October 9, 2008, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm

Molly joins the “legions” of self described Democrats who are against Obama.
One wonders why so few self identified Republicans show up here even though Republican talking points are posted regularly by self identified “Democrats”.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm

Am I missing something here? How are witty jokes gaffes? Tapper is this just can excuse to cover Biden since the media keeps ignoring his stump speeches except to take out the parts he criticizes Palin or McCain.

Posted by: TRW | October 9, 2008, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm

The recent McCain rally is an example of a right wing crowd egged on by the right wing media to the bewilderment of their actual candidate.
They were screaming at the poor man for red meat.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm

“Yes, Obama does scare me. Yes, McCain has some past issues but not like BHO has currently. Just look into his associates in Chicago, organizations he belonged to and those he helped get funding”
So to recap, William is scared by Obama working on education reform with a guy who set bombs when Obama was 8 and a group that helps register people to vote that is having some problems with its workers.
McCain actually belonging to (and hiding by not disclosing it on mandatory Congressional disclosure forms) group that was anti-semitic and was a key part that involved arms trading between Iran and right wing death squads? Not so much.
And that’s BEING A BOARD MEMBER of a group that did ARMS DEALS with IRAN.

Posted by: Ryan C | October 9, 2008, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm

Why does ACORN hand over fraudulent registrations? Because thats the law. They seperate the ones they believe are questionable and mark them, but the law states that any registration they collect no matter what, has to be turned in. Four years ago, there was a huge scandal in Nevada because a Republican group was doing registrations there and throwing out all the ones where people registered as Democratic. The laws are written to prevent just that type of fraud.

Posted by: Mike | October 9, 2008, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm

Senator Obama was happy when the Congress passes legislation to bail out the big financial institutions but is on a NO NO role when it come to helping the American family staying in their homes. Guess those Americans families did not put thousands of dollars in Obama’s campaign fund. Money talks for Obama. He and his democrats are responsible for the mess. He has no idea what works in the financial world of big business. Maybe he should call in Tony Resko for advice.
PERHAPS EVERY AMERICAN ADULT SHOULD BE MADE TO MAKE A PLEDGE—LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS. BE RESPONSIBLE.

Posted by: Marla | October 9, 2008, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm

McCains proposal sounds like a democratic proposal to buy the homes (pay the banks) and allow the people to continue to live in them. What this does is it keeps the prices of houses high. A lot of people have all of their assets tied in in their homes and rely on that money for retirement and other expenses like college for kids. Keeping the price of the hosuing stock high is a good thing for main street.
Now, if one has a vested interest in the economy of the US collapsing, one might want to raise objection.

Posted by: hosing or housing | October 9, 2008, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm

If one had a vested interest in America collapsing one might want the home market to collapse. Watch what Obama does. Every mose is designed to undermine America.
The crew Obama hangs out with Rev. Wright, Ayers, ACORN, all want a new America – a fair America. Fair for whom one might ask?

Posted by: follow the money | October 9, 2008, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm

Chris Mathews had a great point on today’s show when he pointed out – how Bush ran ads to make Clinton look un-American – given the fact he visited Russia as a student. It appears this is a standard GOP strategy when behind. The de-Americanize card! It’s clear McCain cannot run on the economy.

Posted by: jburke | October 9, 2008, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm

One might argue that Clinton was un-American. He is the one who created the rust belt with his export the jobs at any price policies – especially NAFTA and the deals he did with the Chinese.
I would kind of like a few politicians who like (they do not even have to love it) America and American – for a change. I do not get that feeling from Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reid, or Obama.

Posted by: follow the money | October 9, 2008, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm

Marla
“Senator Obama was happy when the Congress passes legislation to bail out the big financial institutions but is on a NO NO role when it come to helping the American family staying in their homes.”
By giving the banks 100% the mortgage?
Sounds very bad deal….
I think the bank should be thankful if they get the bad mortgage back at today’s market value.

Posted by: CLabs | October 9, 2008, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm

Why did the markets around the world all collpase at the same time? This is a blog about Jolting Joe Biden. I wonder if he has an answer?
Could it be that some one of our creditors decided to cash in around the globe all at once. The SNL skit that has emerged, point to Soros. Other likely candidates include mid east oil money or the Chinese. Which of those would like to sway the election so that they could install their own governments in the US? Soros and mid east oil are on that list.
It will be interesting to see how this play out.

Posted by: follow the money | October 9, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm

“One might argue that Clinton was un-American. He is the one who created the rust belt with his export the jobs at any price policies – especially NAFTA and the deals he did with the Chinese.”
NAFTA = Papa Bush.
Chinese trade deficit sky rocketed under Baby Bush.

Posted by: CLabs | October 9, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm

“McCains proposal sounds like a democratic proposal to buy the homes (pay the banks) and allow the people to continue to live in them. What this does is it keeps the prices of houses high.”
No… He plans to give back the banks 100%, that’s stupid. He didn’t say buy back the homes at market value.
And it’s not working. You can’t keep prices of houses artificial high… remember our basic economic rule: supply and demand

Posted by: CLabs | October 9, 2008, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm

“Why did the markets around the world all collpase at the same time? ”
If I had stocks I also jumped ship. The mortgage crisis is hitting the rest of the world because foreign banks lend much money to US banks.
In Europe the country Iceland is almost broke, all banks are nationalized…
In Asia Chinese, Japanese banks … all are having troubles.

Posted by: CLabs | October 9, 2008, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm

The wrold wants Obama to win, the media says Obama will win, but the world markets collapse.
Just the facts

Posted by: geevill | October 9, 2008, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm

Are not the people who plan and write the very words McCain and Palin say the same who gave us Bush and Cheney. Steve Schmidt was a spokeman for Cheney. And it’s not far fetched to think the vp is deeply involved in current GOP strategy.
Divide and scare – didn’t we just have eight years of this.

Posted by: jburke | October 9, 2008, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm

Clinton was the guy who pushed the legislation through and claimed it was the crown jewel of his administration. The fact the Bush I started the legislation is further proof that the Clintons sold out big time. One does not make $100 million on charm and a bright smile.
Propping up the housing market in the US is exactly the solution that a good democrat would produce. It saves the people.
McCain and Palin are not Bush. Bush hated McCain constantly badgering him about the way the war was being fought, campaign finance (back in teh bad old days when the Republicans had all of the money), and all of the reforms McCain pushed with the democrats. Who would you trust with your kids, Biden or Palin?

Posted by: follow the money | October 9, 2008, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm

Some on called in all of their chips around the world.

Posted by: follow the money | October 9, 2008, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm

“Palin & her husband: with an 83% approval rating in Alaska”
Her approval rating is currently 68% and going down.
Todd Palin is about to be implicated with improperly using his wife’s office in Troopergate.
Oh and he belonged to a group that wants to secede from the US..

Posted by: Ryan c | October 9, 2008, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm

Is anyone actually supporting the nut job trooper who traisered his own step son? I think Palin’s husband did exactly the right thing. If some one threatened a member of my family, I would use everything at my disposal to get his gun taken away from me. This is the trooper who was drinking in the squad car.
I think this improves everyone’s opinion of Palin’s husband – a great guy who helps with the kids and loves his wife. What a contrast with those in Washington.

Posted by: follow the money | October 9, 2008, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm

Obiden ties everything to sports….really getting tired of his style….and gaffes.
NO BAMA, NOT NOW, NOT EVER.

Posted by: Hope, Change, Hate, Nobama '08 | October 9, 2008, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm

Absolutely love Biden!

Posted by: Katy7540 | October 10, 2008, 1:59 am 1:59 am

John McCain has shown through his past actions that he has absolutely no concern whatsoever for the wellbeing of middle-class Americans. When taking that into consideration, just how do you think he will handle the current financial disaster our economically battered nation is in today? For an answer to that question, one must look to the past, specifically McCain’s disgraceful involvement in the Keating Five savings-and-loan scandal that decimated our economy, not to mention millions of hard working American’s life savings, in the late 1980’s.
Even though he was absolutely disgraced publicly and the Senate Ethics Committee admonished him for his deplorable actions, John McCain still continued his fervor for rampant deregulation that caused the cascading savings-and-loan collapses in the late 1980’s and the current credit crisis destroying our economy today.
Millions of honest, hard working Americans had their life savings wiped out when one savings-and-loan after another went down because of the criminality of repugnant swindlers such as Charles Keating. Charles Keating is a convicted felon who greedily defrauded millions out of their life savings, while at the same time he donated more money to John McCain’s campaign than any other contributor in the nation. And what did John McCain do when he learned of Keating’s arrest? He illegally tried to use his power and influence to keep his good friend and single largest campaign contributor out of jail.
McCain’s involvement as the key figure in the Keating Five scandal is a window into his past, present, and future disregard for middle-class Americans. I urge all decent Americans who are sick and tired of being treated like second class citizens by the reprehensible corporate elite on Wall Street and their enablers such as John McCain, to take a look at KeatingEconomics

Posted by: Jack | October 10, 2008, 6:04 am 6:04 am

Personally I like my presidents to not associate with known criminals, have unquestioned integrity and be able to pass a simple background investigation.
On Jeremiah Wright,Obama’s Father Figure
“I seek daily to imitate his faith” ~ Obama in a letter 5 Feb 2007

Posted by: CrystalD | October 10, 2008, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

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