Relevant Joe Biden
[Guest post by DRJ]
A quote from Joe Biden’s speech at the Air Force Academy today:
When Biden’s teleprompter failed, he poked fun at Obama, who’s known for relying on teleprompters for his speeches.
“What am I going to tell the president? Tell him his teleprompter is broken? What will he do then?” Biden joked.
That’s pure Biden, isn’t it? I bet Obama and his advisers would love to muzzle Joe for the next three years. There’s also this quote:
“You do it all. You’re going be asked to do more,” Biden told about 1,000 graduating cadets at the school in Colorado Springs. “You are relevant.”
He might want to work on that for the future because it’s not the most inspiring thing you can say to young graduates. But I can understand where he’s coming from. The Air Force has been vital to American military success but its involvement in the War on Terror has not been as visible in the media as it was in, for example, Desert Storm. Some may view that as a secondary role, and I’m sure Vice President Biden knows what it feels like to play second fiddle.
— DRJ
Joe broke TOTUS? ACK!
Vivian Louise (c0f830) — 5/27/2009 @ 3:23 pmThe Air Force is entering an era of crisis for it. The number of flying jobs available keeps shrinking. Unmanned aircraft are the future. FLying a UAV from a trailer at Bagram AFB in Afghanistan is not going to attract applicants to the Air Force Academy.
There are now far more pilots flying in the Army now than the Air Force. Fifty years ago, the AF declined to get involved in close air support for the Army. The result was that the Army fought to build its own air arm, a story well told in the WEB Griffin Brotherhood of War series of novels. He was there at the time. Now, the Air Force, still run by the fighter mafia, is running out of seats for pilots.
The airlines are going to be the secondary victims of this technological revolution. The are already feeling the shortage of military trained pilots.
Mike K (2cf494) — 5/27/2009 @ 3:41 pmWell, Dr. K., we can always have console cowboys piloting the planes from the ground, remotely.
Gulp.
Eric Blair (5a226d) — 5/27/2009 @ 3:49 pmDon’t let Obama hear this Tom Lehrer song, then.
Kevin Murphy (805c5b) — 5/27/2009 @ 4:58 pmTwo thoughts:
1. Good for Biden for being the only person to the left of Dick Cheney who has the stones to poke fun at Dear Leader. Sure Biden himself is a fool, but at least Obama isn’t spared some degree of ball-busting.
2. Telling the very accomplished cadets, now lieutenants, of the USAFA that they “are relevant” just shows how mired Biden (and, by extension, his party) are in the whole self-esteem movement for the young. It is, of course, a patronizing thing to tell men and women who will be protecting our nation. For all of this administration’s alleged connection with youth, their interaction with them always seems to be superficial and condescending.
JVW (fdc303) — 5/27/2009 @ 5:18 pmEven at age 86 I bet Check Yeager could kick Biden & Obama’s butts at the same time.
Knuckles (9716a0) — 5/27/2009 @ 5:43 pmThats CHUCK Yeager, a great American, (not a Czech.)
Knuckles (9716a0) — 5/27/2009 @ 5:45 pmI dunno where people get the idea that the USAF is not participating or not visible in the “artist formerly known as GWOT.”
Air Mobility Command jets haul the trash for the entire CENTCOM AO. If you can’t trust it to local trucks, it comes by C-17 and C-130. (The Obama admin’s canc of the USAF’s C-17 and the Army’s C-27 cargo planes really damages our ability to sustain projected power).
On the ground, Air Force operators accompany almost all special operations teams and quite a few conventional grunt outfits. They close the loop between eyes-on-target and precision-guided weapons. These CCs, TACPs and ETACs are as deep in the fight as SF, Rangers and SEALs (and their less-well-known brethren) get — and they get the purple hearts to prove it.
Not to mention that the JDAM or other PGW is almost always delivered by some expensive contraption that says “US AIr Force” on it and is flown by pilots (including a lot of those Academy grads).
Those of us in the other services will always make a little fun of our brothers and sisters in Air Force uniforms (digital camouflage tiger stripes? YGBSM) but it’s a joint world now and we just wouldn’t rock it quite the same way without air supremacy and all the capabilities the blue-suiters bring.
We need those C-17s and F-22s and their drivers a hell of a lot more than we need more Chevy Aveos or Dodge Calibers — unfortunately the Administration has made exactly the wrong “investment.” We need the A-10s and F-16s and the folks that fly them and keep them flying. (And they need us too).
Kevin R.C. O'Brien (82fba3) — 5/27/2009 @ 6:03 pmI have several times suggested that we should reopen the B 52 production line. There will never be another vehicle as well adapted to the JDAM weapon system and the jigs and molds probably still exist somewhere. I have my doubts about the F 22 but the A 10 and the B 52 will be workhorses for the next century until they are replaced by big UAVs. Another great airframe is the C 130, which marks 50 years in production for the same customer. Willis Hawkins wasn’t Kelly Johnson but he was close. Notice that both were at Lockheed. I was at Douglas in 1959.
Mike K (2cf494) — 5/27/2009 @ 6:15 pmHey Kevin, the blue-suiters aren’t the only swinging d**ks in the sky. We Marines have our own pilots, and ours are much bigger and harder.
Not that the Air Force doesn’t have its place, just like the Army. Sometimes sheer numbers do beat will, discipline, and prowess. So yeah, in general I’d agree that the Air Force is still relevant. But they’d be a lot more relevant if they were United States Marines.
Thanks. Just doing my bit for interservice accord.
danebramage (700c93) — 5/27/2009 @ 7:08 pmThe Marines have shown the way in air support of ground troops. One reason why the Navy fought to keep the Marine Corps in 1947 was doubt about the Army-Air Force precedent. Harry Truman, an Army artillery captain in WWI and a full colonel of reserves by 1940, was in favor of eliminating the Marines. Korea showed him the error of his ways.
Mike K (2cf494) — 5/27/2009 @ 7:12 pmNeed more AC-130’s.
Make it rain.
Pons Asinorum (03ef30) — 5/27/2009 @ 9:48 pmJVW said
Two thoughts:
1. Good for Biden for being the only person to the left of Dick Cheney who has the stones to poke fun at Dear Leader.
I hate to give Biden any credit, but that’s a good point.
2. Telling the very accomplished cadets, now lieutenants, of the USAFA that they “are relevant” just shows how mired Biden…
…It is, of course, a patronizing thing to tell men and women who will be protecting our nation.
I don’t think Biden was saying that in that self-esteem/validating/condescending way you mentioned. His own kid is in one of the branches. I think it was Mr. foot-in-his-mouth’s way of thanking them and that he appreciates their service. God knows a dem can’t actually say those words since the USA is a colonial imperialistic warmonger that should be destroyed.
And isn’t it funny that in less than 6 months how Biden is a negative/embarrassment/gaffe machine to Obama, yet in 8 years did Cheney do or say anything publicly to make Bush squirm? Biden was Obama’s first big decision. How’s that judgement thing doing you touted compared to your predecessor, Barack?
liontooth (c6d5a7) — 5/28/2009 @ 2:31 amI wonder if Gordon Brown will come to TOTUS’s funeral. I know MSNBC will be covering it around the clock. How about a $40 billion dollar wake, for the rich donors who didn’t get to go on the plane ride?
Glen Wishard (02562c) — 5/28/2009 @ 3:47 amMy niece is in the graduating class of 2009 and I was there for the veeps speech. I may not think the world of Vice-President Biden, but his speech was pertinent and valid. I then spent the evening with 3 newly minted officers. Our future is in good hands. These kids have their stuff together and we should thank the heavens that they have chosen to serve.
scarboy (709545) — 5/29/2009 @ 9:30 pmCritisize if you must, but respect the obligation these cadets have taken on. best regards-one damn proud uncle…
Scarboy – There has not been one single comment here that was disrespectful towards the cadets. Whether or not the speech was “pertinent and valid” is apparently in the ear of the beholder.
JD (abe6ab) — 5/29/2009 @ 9:37 pmjd-I did not mean to insinuate any disrespect. At this time I am very proud of my neice. After reading my post, I can understand how you took my message. I’m just very protective of my family right now. Hope you understand. best regards-scarboy.
scarboy (709545) — 5/29/2009 @ 9:49 pmMy little brother is a USAF Academy grad, so I surely understand why you are so proud. Congrats to your niece and family.
JD (abe6ab) — 5/29/2009 @ 10:05 pm