Biden My Time in Denver (At a Really Weird Motel)

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Biden My Time in Denver (At a Really Weird Motel)

Posted Aug 24th 2008 12:30PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca

Yes, I'm here at the Democratic National Convention ... in Englewood, CO. Any advice? (More after the video.)

I'm headed to the Pepsi Center in a bit to get my credentials. My thoughts on Biden:

He's a serious, tenacious guy with a stirring biography. And he's charismatic. He had the funniest line in all the debates when he was forced to name his favorite thing about the opponent standing to his left - in this case, Kucinich: "Dennis, the thing I like best about you is your wife." He's good looking, too. Most people don't have HD, so they can't see his hair plugs. (Not being snarky, just realistic.)

The focus on his status as the "poorest" member of the Senate is, of course, totally misguided. The press and many Democrats still haven't figured out that most Americans want to be rich. That Biden is $300,000 in debt is hardly inspiring.

Also his Catholicism, another press obsession, is pretty irrelevant. The constant blather about working-class Catholic voters needing someone like Biden on the ticket is both condescending and just plain off-the-mark. That's because Catholicism isn't really a cultural identity like Judaism. (Filipino-Catholics have as much in common culturally with Irish-Catholics as Aleuts and Aussies.)

Most Catholics who self-identify as Catholic are practicing Catholics -- i.e., their Catholicism is defined doctrinally, not culturally. Most of these self-identified Catholics are likely to take issue with Biden's stand on abortion just as they did with Kerry. In other words, don't expect churchgoing Catholics to move in a big direction for Obama just because "one of them" is on the ticket.

***

ON THE PSYCHOANALYTIC FRONT:

Obama's startling introduction of Biden as the "next president" yesterday was more than a slip, make no mistake.

The anxiety Obama must be feeling since McCain's recent surge spilled out in that moment. Biden is meant to shore up the ticket's foreign policy cred (crucial since Russia's invasion of Georgia), yet Obama doesn't want people to think he depends on Biden in the way Bush depends on Cheney. (Biden will be a strong vice-president, yes, but not an above-the-title V.P. like Cheney.)

Likewise Biden's introduction of "Barack America" was a significant slip.

The campaign is still struggling with persistent nasty rumors that Obama isn't really American. Cementing Obama's love of country is high priority, hence the slip.

Or am I just over-therapied?

By the way, has anyone else noticed that spell check recognizes McCain but doesn't recognize Obama?

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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Awww, poor Mo! Ok, for the headache.... I always use pantyhose, but I'm assuming you don't have any. Take a tie, or a knee length sock, or a scarf of some kind, and tie it very tightly around your head. The more pressure the better, REALLY tight, Mo. The pressure stops the veins from throbbing, especially if it's in your temples and across your forehead. (Totally coincidently, you will look like a gypsy girl.) I hope the mop-a-palooza from yesterday didn't contribute to the headache. And you didn't ask, but for another tip? Wear those shades with a suit when you go to the convention. You will blend in with the secret service and be able to get up closer. Did you see them swarming all over Obama and Biden yesterday? Wow, impressive.

Jude at 3:27PM on Aug 24th 2008

2.
My dearest Mo,
I suffered from migraines (the real kind with all the nausea etc-not the "you kids are giving me a migraine" type)
I went to a neurologist and he prescribed a 12oz can of Coca Cola- not diet, not Pepsi-
COKE
Really helps!
and the hottest water you can stand right on your head in the shower.

(also Imitrex injections but I am assuming you aren't there yet)

Take care

Andrea at 4:10PM on Aug 24th 2008

3.
BTW-
One of my favorite trips to Denver was with my friend Lyle,
We decided to ride every escalator and elevator in Denver-
oh gosh we were crazy kids-really peachykeen

Andrea at 4:11PM on Aug 24th 2008

4. Aw Mo,

If Denver is going to be another "fishing trip," then please leave this post up. There is a lot to play with here and I would hate to see it over-ridden by one of your "Golden Oldies." It is not too hot, I don't care about Scientology and Hula Hoops just plain scare the hell out of me.

That said, please tell me you didn't actually write the title to this piece? Andrew, I could forgive--after what you did to him with the Illegal Immigration piece, but "Biden My Time?"

I hear the stampede of of Independent voters singing "Leaving on a McCain."

I know I thought Edwards was going to be the choice, but if one listened carefully, the stage whisperer in Obama's foreign policy, all along, has been Biden. I just simply assumed Biden wanted Secretary of State. Sorry for the slip.

More to come, as soon as I soak up all this...oh, I won't let Clif go there again.

JG^^

John Giza at 4:59PM on Aug 24th 2008

5. Yay, baby!!! I've been excited (did those back flips!) ever since Friday night when CNN leaked the news!!

Those Freudian slips were indeed telling. But the bottom line is that Obama made a brilliant choice.

Biden is a good man.

America has absolutely no excuse now to vote G.O.P. (Those G.O.P. ads are ridiculous, BTW. They're for people who think 1 + 1 = 11.)

Anyway, I got chills yesterday watching the speeches. Even the very human gaffes were endearing to me. Thanks for this post, babe. The hairplug comment wasn't necessary, though.

P.S. Though I'm not surprised by those provocative offers you received, just know that should you decide to indulge, you'll be singing an old "Player" hit. (How appropriate.)

And the flowers and candy grams will NOT work. Smooches.

Y.H.G.- Maybe, it depends... at 6:18PM on Aug 24th 2008

6. Aw Mo,

ADVICE:

Okay, I've been a Biden fan since '88 (Although I went with the "Duke" that year.); he didn't win but at least I got Debora Winger to wink at me at a rally.

Biden is a big Harry Truman fan. If you meet him you can:

A) Mention Harry Truman and ask in what ways he sees himself modeling that President? or...

2) Ask if he got my e-mail about wearing a gray Fedora with a black band (a la Hollerin' Harry)in New Hampshire and whether that may have handed him a Primary victory? And brought back the Post-War "HAT" as a fashion statement.

C+) Have your team (snap-snap, get on it now, snap-snap ((ow, I hate snapping my fingers))) produce a video featuring all Biden's gaffes to the backdrop of "Harry Truman" by Chicago. It would be endearing.

I think the greatest appeal of this ticket is that it is ICONOCLASTIC.

JG^^

John Giza at 7:04PM on Aug 24th 2008

7. Andrea recommends:

>I went to a neurologist and he prescribed a 12oz can of
>Coca Cola- not diet, not Pepsi-COKE

But will they allow it in the Pepsi Center?

JG notes:

>if one listened carefully, the stage whisperer in
>Obama's foreign policy, all along, has been Biden. I
>just simply assumed Biden wanted Secretary of State.

I think this means Richardson will get State. Which I
would love to see, except that it's a dead-end job so
he'll never be Pres.

dr jay at 11:19PM on Aug 24th 2008

8.
Mo,

I've been wondering when someone would finally mention the hair replacement surgery.

I recall Biden as being one of the first public figures to have this procedure "out in the open". I seem to remember that the first surgery didn't go that well and was very obvious. Subsequent surgeries went a little better.

I agree that the "hair plugs" are worth mentioning because of the great deal of media attention he received at the time, along with a considerable amount of snickering from his critics.

Now that he's "gone gray" it looks more natural. I'm just thankful he doesn't dye it. Remember Strom Thurman's unnatural shade?

Excuse me while I go touch up my roots.

Elinor Rose at 11:54PM on Aug 24th 2008

9. Since I’ve never known a time when Biden wasn’t our senator, I have come to regard his gaffes as I would those of a distant relative, who I generally like, but always manages to find a way to embarrass me whenever I run into him. I’m sure everyone has a family member like that. I don’t always agree with him, but his foreign policy experience is crucial, so I feel *slightly* less terrified knowing he’ll be VP if Obama is elected.

SGS at 8:29AM on Aug 25th 2008

10. I think you just need to breathe a little more. Maybe buy a green leafy plant for your hotel room.

I thought it was John McCain who may not be a natural born citizen - that whole Panama Canal thing. Did I dream that? Was it a hoax?

Maybe Obama and Biden slipped verbally because the air so so thin.

mo-NEEK-a at 11:22AM on Aug 25th 2008

11. Heya Mo, I like the suggestions so far...

It's all about Carbonation, Oxygenation, and Hydration!

Drink a Coke on the way to an oxygen bar, then follow up with plenty of water... in addition to the high altitude Denver also has a surprisingly dry climate, it's what makes for such good powder during ski season... oh and some ibuprofen wouldn't hurt!

BTW - Last week I kept trying to post "Obama sure is Biden his time with the VP announcement!" on this other blog and they wouldn't post my comment. What gives? It was an obviously cheesey play on words but they still should have posted it.

And finally, do you think the gypsies followed Obama over from Europe to worship and bask in his "celebrity" or do you think they are merely overzealous Clinton supporters who have given up their jobs and homes to protest the Obama nomination, known simply to them as the Obamination?

Rocca the Convention '08

FINN at 12:21PM on Aug 25th 2008

12. Aw Mo,
I should’ve known it was “Fondue Finn” who wrote that “cheesy” intro.

I prefer Glen Campbell’s “Biden Time I Get to Denver…”

“Biden time I get to Denver she'll be seething
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
She'll weep when she finds out she won’t be Veepin
But I've dropped that hint so many times before.”

Now, all I can ask for is that Jimmy Buffett sings the keynote speech.
Notice the Biden/Buffett resemblance?
Personally, I think there’s some sort of Hannah Montana thing going on.

JG

John Giza at 1:24PM on Aug 25th 2008

13. The pun is going to get real old real fast.

Mokele Mbembe at 1:44PM on Aug 25th 2008

14. Minor editorial note,

Apparently I mixed up cheesy with Chesney and got "cheesey" somehow... but anyway, don't blink Mo, this convention will be over before you know it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g

Rocca the Convention '08

"Fondue Finn" at 1:57PM on Aug 25th 2008

15. Minor editorial note,

Apparently I mixed up cheesy with Chesney and got "cheesey" somehow... but anyway, don't blink Mo, this convention will be over before you know it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g

Hopefully, Barack can remember all the good times he's had with Hillary and forget all the in-fighting and everyone can just come together as a party.

Of course, when asked to comment about party divisions at the convention, all Joe Biden could say was "What fighting? Come on, we're all one big happy family here!" and then he broke into song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq69l32DCKs

Rocca the Convention '08

"Fondue Finn" at 2:07PM on Aug 25th 2008

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.