Shocker: Biden Mum in Wisconsin (Not Really)
[Guest post by DRJ]
Vice President Biden took no questions at a campaign appearance in Wisconsin, and he gave no answers either:
Via GatewayPundit:
Joe “Bite-Me” Biden traveled to Wisconsin yesterday to campaign with far left Progressive Russ Feingold (D-WI). Smokin Joe ordered a custard at a popular custard stand in Glendale during one of their stops. When Biden asked Kopp’s Frozen Custard stand owner how much he owed him, the owner responded:
“Nothing, just lower our taxes.”
Fat chance.
An embarrassed Joe Biden ignored him and walked away.
MORE: Eric Blair links Biden’s response — calling the taxpaying custard store manager a “smartass” for asking the Vice President to lower our taxes.
I’m pretty sure this is a “big f***ing deal,” isn’t it?
— DRJ
UPDATED — John Hinderaker on the significance of Kopp the Custard Man:
“UPDATE: Biden thought Kopp was being a “smartass” for suggesting that the Democrats should lower taxes.
Everyone involved laughed it off, but a serious point lingered. A simple way to think about the Democratic Party is, you’re the human being, they’re the tapeworm. Yet they claim a weird sort of parasite’s moral superiority over you: if you point out that they have their hand in your pocket, you’re a “smartass.” The Democratic Party needs to be torn, root and branch, from our public life.”
We’re all Rick Santelli now.
I’m not sure Joe Biden was precisely “mum” about this:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/06/26/biden_calls_manager_who_told_him_to_lower_taxes_a_smartass.html
Classy guy. Classy administration.
Eric Blair (c8876d) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:01 pmOh, my. Thanks Eric. I added it to the post.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:08 pmIs the custard stand owner named Joe? So we can have the next Joe the —-?
kishnevi (9e06eb) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:11 pmhaiku hope slowjoe
ColonelHaiku (181d1a) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:12 pmtry chicken fat ripple or
the lasagna chip
If only the Journolist was still around so everyone could pass dirt on the owner and make sure the peons learn their lesson.
MU789 (959170) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:23 pm“An embarrassed Joe Biden ignored him and walked away.”
Without paying, if I know anything about liberals.
😉
Dave Surls (b23ce7) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:28 pmI’m on Biden’s side in this. I would have dropped the ice cream on the counter and told the smartass where to put it. When I go for ice cream, I go for ice cream, not some jackass trying to get hisself on YouTube.
nk (db4a41) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:40 pmnk – Of course you’re with Biden.
The little people are never permitted to tweak their betters.
Public officials > proffesional degree > plain joe.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:49 pmnk,
It was a campaign appearance by a sitting Vice President. I don’t think that’s the same thing as getting an ice cream.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:53 pmFair enough, DRJ, but it’s still at best only good for a “Heh”.
nk (db4a41) — 6/26/2010 @ 6:59 pmAgreed.
Heh.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:00 pmAnd if you listen to the banter, the owner was trying to tell a joke (though I am sure that he would appreciate his taxes being lessened).
Some might say that Biden himself was joking (though I would ask from whom he plagiarized his humor, but that’s me). I think BIden should have whipped out his wallet and said “Hey, let me stimulate this store directly! And I thought I was creating or saving jobs when I was scooping!” People would have laughed, including the owner.
More seriously, since we are supposed to Respect Teh Authority with this administration, I would toss out two words:
Right? It would have cost Biden nothing. What’s the thin skin for? Oh, I forgot, he has a high IQ:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyEqyYUGk4I
And don’t forget how he puffed himself up with lies about his own excellence. Jeez.
I’m sure he is much more humble and careful now in front of cameras, right?
One heartbeat away from the Presidency, folks.
Eric Blair (c8876d) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:03 pmAnd nk, with great respect, I would submit that the owner wasn’t trying to get hisself on YouTube. Biden’s entire LIFE is about getting in front of a camera.
Eric Blair (c8876d) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:05 pm“I would have dropped the ice cream on the counter and told the smartass where to put it.”
Nah.
If you were Biden, first you would take 35% of the guy’s income, tell him it’s for his own good, THEN you would tell the “smartass” where to put his ice cream cone.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
In this country you have a RIGHT to peacefully assemble to petition the government for a redree of grievances, including making a verbal petition at your own custard stand.
Somebody might want to point that out to the vice-clown.
And, nk, if the custard stand owner took the custard back…that wouldn’t be the same as a Bill of Attainder.
Dave Surls (b23ce7) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:05 pmHow dare a citizen petition the government for redress! What are we, some sort of constitutional democracy or something?
JVW (8aff2c) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:05 pmBiden and Obama are such a perfect ticket–clueless, entitled, arrogant, both of ’em equally. What assholes.
Kevin Stafford (abdb87) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:06 pmI know for a fact NK once stabbed a sitting Vice President for much less than that. Joe was lucky today
Gazzer (dd9e24) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:16 pmD bad. R good. Me talkee the walkee. Me good boy. No disagree with party line.
Not in this lifetime, assholes. Bite me.
nk (db4a41) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:19 pmwhat’s a custard stand? Custard sounds very tasty I think I’m better off not knowing. I wonder if they make amaretto.
happyfeet (19c1da) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:22 pmFrozen custard is good. I think it’s richer than frozen yogurt but healthier than ice cream. My favorite is sorbet but I don’t think there are any sorbet stores.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:24 pmnk will side with any public
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:26 pmservantmaster over a regular citizen regardless of wther the master is a D or R.nk,
I don’t think Republicans are always better than Democrats. I voted for Ann Richards. Then again, that was probably the last time I voted for a Democrat.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:26 pmoh wow I gets to have me some tasty custard but I’ll have to get there by 8 cause that’s when it closes… I think I’ll do that on the 12th maybe when my sister is here
happyfeet (19c1da) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:27 pmMr. Bidden used the business as an opportunity for a photo-op to help a fellow Dem. The owner is well within his rights and decorum to make his statement.The look on the Vice-presidents face from making a cone to the owners statement shows the arrogance and hubris of Mr. Bidden,hopefully this piece of excrement will be gone by 2012.
mike191 (b1a6f0) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:28 pmDRJ – I voted for Lieberman over Wieker. And that was also the last time I voted for a Democrat for a state or national office.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:28 pm“When I go for ice cream, I go for ice cream, not some jackass trying to get hisself on YouTube.”
nk – Not if somebody stops you to ask for proof of citizenship along the way. Then you gotta bust a cap in his ass.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:32 pm“Me good boy.”
That’s what the Dems like to see. Compliant citizens who willingly hand over their income and treat the Godlike liberals with proper respect.
One of these days they’ll be providing forehead-knuckling lessons…at taxpayer expense, of course.
Dave Surls (b23ce7) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:33 pmI did vote last November for a Democrat for a local office because I thought she could be trusted. She turned around and was invlolved in an attempt to steal a Board of Ed election just two days after the election day.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:34 pmGuess what that means for my future voting patterns in local elections.
haiku think slowjoe
ColonelHaiku (181d1a) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:35 pmplagiarized Neil Kinnock
for that term “smartass”
Disgusting. I’ve watched this clip twice, and the custard shop owner did not deserve the way he was treated by that arrogant son-of-a-bitch Biden. It was a graceful gesture with a little jovial banter, albeit truthful.
Recovered Demoholic (50c3e3) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:36 pmI’m sorry, DRJ. Forgot that this was your thread and not Dave Surls’s.
nk (db4a41) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:38 pm“Public officials > proffesional degree > plain joe.”
We all have our little hierarchies…
Citizen > Slime mold > Child Molestor > Bureaucrat > Elected Official
Dave Surls (b23ce7) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:40 pmgood thing that custard
ColonelHaiku (181d1a) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:41 pmbidness owner not in wheel
chair Biden make stand
Under the NK/Etheridge Doctrine, Biden had every right to manhandle the hapless shopkeeper for merely posing a question. Also, could have confiscated his cell phone with nary a repercussion. It’s the law!
Gazzer (dd9e24) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:42 pm“One of these days they’ll be providing forehead-knuckling lessons…at taxpayer expense, of course.”
Dave – Forehead-knuckling is a fading tradition. We need to preserve it and see it more often.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:44 pmGazzer – Biden should have grabbed him by the neck and demanded to know who he was. Would have been justified under the nk/Etheridge doctrine.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:45 pmLast I heard, this blog welcomed different opinions or at least tolerated them. Patterico started using “Civility Rules” on his threads but that’s not for me. I don’t think adults need lots of rules to know how to treat other people.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:47 pmAh, well, DRJ …
SPQR (26be8b) — 6/26/2010 @ 7:55 pmNow, DRJ, that works both ways.
And I am certain that nk would never actively defend a jerk like Biden, who is all about entitlement, dishonesty, and exerting power over those with less power.
Perhaps ironically, I think that nk is trying to speak up for civility. He simply feels, I think, that the shop owner was rude. Sounds good, but Biden lost any civility credit in the political world long, long ago. His treatment of Clarence Thomas during the confirmation hearings is a great example of quality of that individual. Not to mention his antics prior to his inexplicable elevation to Vice President.
Anyway, it was a political photo op in the first place. Just as one person might expect civility in public discourse, I expect politicians–especially career politicians—to be clever about television cameras and political opponents.
Eric Blair (02a138) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:27 pmIt does work both ways, Eric.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:37 pm________________________________________
I’m on Biden’s side in this. — Comment by nk
Merely coincidental that Biden also is a liberal.
Personally, it seems to me that both the manager and Biden were being good-naturedly flippant about what they said to each other. But if one wants to really get a glimpse behind the facade of people like Joe FDR-gave-fireside-chats-on-TV Biden….
Without paying, if I know anything about liberals. — Comment by Dave Surls
Mark (411533) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:38 pmCivility can be a wonderful thing, and I think that we all can agree that we need more of it. Truly.
Eric Blair (02a138) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:39 pmYou must respect Biden’s AUTHORITAH !!!
JD (53a6ca) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:44 pmBiden tried to use the shop owner to make a political point. The shop owner outsmarted Biden by making his own point, politely.
Elected leaders often think of the public as some passive entity to be manipulated. This particular member of the public had another idea. He gave Biden a badly needed dose of reality.
That’s democracy in action, and it’s healthy.
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (fb9e90) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:46 pmDo I have to, JD? I want to respect the office of the Vice President, but I cannot forget what John Nance Garner said about it.
Biden? I don’t respect his person at all. I am still outraged that he was selected for the Vice Presidency.
Eric Blair (02a138) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:47 pmDid evil Mr. Custard guy know Biden was coming, and did he know Biden was going to ask him a stupid question? I could almost agree with nk if all of the above was “yes”, along with knowing what stupid question Biden was going to ask him. Absent that, it is pretty much standard nk contrarianism, as it appears his recent trend is to simply disagree, make assertions, and say bite me.
JD (53a6ca) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:48 pmMaybe the shop owner had a higher IQ than Biden, Bradley.
Eric Blair (02a138) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:48 pmWhat do mushrooms, cow patties, sweaty gym socks, day lillies, 2×4’s, jellybeans, and puddles of mud have in common?
JD (53a6ca) — 6/26/2010 @ 8:50 pmI updated the post with thoughts from John Hinderaker.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/26/2010 @ 9:09 pm“When I go for ice cream, I go for ice cream, not some jackass trying to get hisself on YouTube.”
Why not give the assume the best of the small business owner rather than the worse that he simply had a once in a lifetime opportunity to make his voice heard by none other than the Vice President of the United States? Why assume it was cheap usury of an opportunity?
How many of us just dream of such an opportunity – not because we have any thought whatsoever of being on You Tube, but to actually express personal dismay at what is taking place in our country?
The shop owner is a small business owner and if anyone is getting hammered by regs and taxes now, it’s them.
I’m disappointed that Joe Biden was rude and obviously not terribly concerned about this citizen. Instead of thinking of himself (as evidenced by his embarrassment), he should have respected the citizen enough to thank him for his thoughts and concern. Biden threw away an opportunity to connect with a voter and engage with the every man. His reaction spoke volumes.
Dana (1e5ad4) — 6/26/2010 @ 9:20 pmDana, the shop owner is too stupid to know what he needs.
Deranged Uncle Joe and Propeller Head need to do so for him.
Any resistance makes him a bad name
HeavenSent (a9126d) — 6/26/2010 @ 9:41 pmif either of you had shown up at a shop i ran, i’d have pointed to the sign that says “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.” and told you to GTFO.
hows that for some must see TV?
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 6/26/2010 @ 9:45 pmMeh. Why not
give theassume the best of the small business owner rather than theworseworst…HeavenSent,
The fact is: If the proprietor had instead answered with only, “Nothing, you don’t owe me anything.”, then Joe Biden would have been touting the small business owner as proof of the Recovery Act working, proof that we needed a stimulus, blah, blah, and would have seized upon the exchange as a great P.R. moment.
Dana (1e5ad4) — 6/26/2010 @ 9:49 pmtrue dat, so let me say that the president, the vice president, the speaker of the house, and all the rest of them, plus their supporters here, and elsewhere, can gently place their puckered lips on my anal orifice…..
is that civil enough for you?
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 6/26/2010 @ 9:56 pmOh, I don’t like politicians at all. I was talking about us voters. Politicians like it when we argue and call each other names.
Eric Blair (02a138) — 6/26/2010 @ 9:59 pmAs the embodiment of the “Peter Principle” Slow Joe thinks every word out of his mouth is a bon mot, or rapid riposte. He is a serial blurter and never engages his brain before opening his yap. I read somewhere that he later told the shop keeper, in an aside, That he was “Just kidding.” That Joe, God love him, such a kidder. Except, it is more likely one of his
Gazzer (dd9e24) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:01 pmbabysittershandlers told him how dozy he looked. Again.this is one of those places you really need to see the median not the mean
happyfeet (19c1da) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:06 pm#57, excellent statistical point
When looking at the right, or left, side of a distribution tail averages don’t make sense b/c a few data points distort heavily.
HeavenSent (a9126d) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:08 pm“How many of us just dream of such an opportunity”
I met Gerald Ford once, but instead of demanding that he lower my taxes, all I could think to say was “How come you keep falling down all the time?”
Another great opportunity squandered.
Dave Surls (b23ce7) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:19 pm#59, He was making a tackle.
HeavenSent (a9126d) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:21 pm______________________________________
Civility can be a wonderful thing
Most certainly. For instance, why hasn’t Biden gotten some helpful tips from his predecessor of the previous White House run by liberals/Democrats? A guy who was trustworthy, reliable, sensible. Truly down-to-earth. A winner of a Nobel and Oscar, no less!
BTW, I think the peculiar (some may even say weird) way that Al Gore once walked up to George W Bush and his lectern during a nationally televised debate was incorrectly interpreted at the time as Gore’s way of intimidating Bush. Nah! Gore is any number of things. But he isn’t a flake and fraud.
Mark (411533) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:22 pm
“He was making a tackle.”
You have to admire the grit of a man who repeatedly tries to tackle Air Force One.
Dave Surls (b23ce7) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:33 pm“You have to admire the grit of a man who repeatedly tries to tackle Air Force One.”
At least it reduced his time on the golf course. FORE!!!!!
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 6/26/2010 @ 10:40 pm‘Listen, Ha-Nozri,’ the procurator spoke, looking at Yeshua somehow
nk (db4a41) — 6/27/2010 @ 1:44 amstrangely: the procurator’s face was menacing, but his eyes were alarmed,
‘did you ever say anything about the great Caesar? Answer! Did you?…Yes
… or … no?’ Pilate drew the word ‘no’ out somewhat longer than is done
in court, and his glance sent Yeshua some thought that he wished as if to
instill in the prisoner.
To speak the truth is easy and pleasant,’ the prisoner observed.
`I have no need to know,’ Pilate responded in a stifled, angry voice,
‘whether it is pleasant or unpleasant for you to speak the truth. You will
have to speak it anyway. But, as you speak, weigh every word, unless you
want a not only inevitable but also painful death.’
No one knew what had happened with the procurator of Judea, but he
allowed himself to raise his hand as if to protect himself from a ray of
sunlight, and from behind his hand, as from behind a shield, to send the
prisoner some sort of prompting look.
‘Answer, then,’ he went on speaking, `do you know a certain Judas from
Kiriath, [22] and what precisely did you say to him about Caesar, if you
said anything?’
‘It was like this,’ the prisoner began talking eagerly. The evening
before last, near the temple, I made the acquaintance of a young man who
called himself Judas, from the town of Kiriath. He invited me to his place
in the Lower City and treated me to…’
‘A good man?’ Pilate asked, and a devilish fire flashed in his eyes.
‘A very good man and an inquisitive one,’ the prisoner confirmed. ‘He
showed the greatest interest in my thoughts and received me very
cordially…’
‘Lit the lamps…'[23] Pilate spoke through his teeth, in the same tone
as the prisoner, and his eyes glinted.
Yes,’ Yeshua went on, slightly surprised that the procurator was so
well informed, ‘and asked me to give my view of state authority. He was
extremely interested in this question.’
‘And what did you say?’ asked Pilate. ‘Or are you going to reply that
you’ve forgotten what you said?’ But there was already hopelessness in
Pilate’s tone.
`Among other things,’ the prisoner recounted, `I said that all
authority is violence over people, and that a time will come when there will
be no authority of the Caesars, nor any other authority. Man will pass into
the kingdom of truth and justice, where generally there will be no need for
any authority.’
‘Go on!’
‘I didn’t go on,’ said the prisoner. ‘Here men ran in, bound me, and
took me away to prison.’
I think the manager is a victim of not knowing his audience – ironically, smilin’ Joe doesn’t seem like a jokey kind of guy, especially when the joke’s on him. I do applaud the manager for having the guts to say it though.
Biden needs a refresher course on how to work the little people. Or maybe the 101.
em (017d3c) — 6/27/2010 @ 5:57 amWasn’t the little guy talking truth to power? I thought all good liberals liked that?
spook (7f46d4) — 6/27/2010 @ 7:10 ammaybe slowjoe have
ColonelHaiku (181d1a) — 6/27/2010 @ 7:47 amnaomi wolf teach how be
a man like algore?
Maybe he should have charged him twenty billion each for the cones and when asked why say, “Its for the children, and besides it will stimulate the local economy.”
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/27/2010 @ 8:40 amTrue story follows, take time to read. I remember as it if it was yesterday. I was walking through the quad at the University of Illinois in Champaign IL as a freshman with a friend of mine. Dan Walker, a guy who was running for governor (and oddly enough he was walking the length of Illinois as part of his campaign) was just finishing an appearance and was shaking hands with students. I shook his hand. He went to shake my friends hand — my friend just stuck his hands in his pockets. Dan Walker stuck his hand out again in font of my friend, my friend just shook his head no. Dan Walker then sticks his hand out one more time and says “Come on, shake hands”. My friend said “No, I don’t shake hands with politicians”. I’m standing there a little amused, but probably more dumbfounded that my friend (of a non-American ethnic heritage) wouldn’t do the simple act of shaking someones hand. But then Dan Walker, instead of ignoring the comment, said very clearly (and this is an exact quote) “That’s ok, I don’t shake hands with jerks either”. I am now convinced there is something in the makeup of these politicians that they just cannot let a comment go. FYI, Dan Walker lost the race in 1972. Perhaps, hopefully, Biden will lose in 2012 some 40 years later.
Charlie (03643a) — 6/27/2010 @ 8:58 amAnd he eventually went to prison, as I recall, one of the last four governors to do so
ian cormac (7bb4f2) — 6/27/2010 @ 9:13 amYes, but for some shady business dealings, after he had left office. Unlike Ryan and Rod.
nk (db4a41) — 6/27/2010 @ 9:20 amKoop’s Custard Man should have told Biden to “bite me” after Biden called him a smart ass.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 6/27/2010 @ 9:41 am“No, I don’t shake hands with politicians”.
You can safely shake hands with pols…as long as you wash your hands with lye soap after you’re done.
Making sure all your vaccinations are up to date is also advisable.
Dave Surls (5c81b6) — 6/27/2010 @ 9:44 amCharlie wrote:
What I like about this comment is that Mr. Walker clearly included himself in the generic designation of “Jerks.”
Hmmm.
Eric Blair (02a138) — 6/27/2010 @ 9:46 am“If you don’t shut up, lay back, and learn to enjoy it… you’re just a troublemaker, and we’ve got no time for you”
And typical of dumb people to lash out like that when they’re embarrassed- what a schmuck Joey Plugs truly is.
Reaganite Republican (6836b1) — 6/27/2010 @ 10:03 amHis treatment of Clarence Thomas during the confirmation hearings
Exactly why he deserves no respect for this incident. This guy has lied so often about his infamous exploits that he can’t even keep track of them anymore – and that howler about being shot at in the air (i.e. snowstorm) was a shameful example to set for our military. Even worse, you’d think this douchebag would’ve learned from Obama’s humiliation when he asked Joe the Plumber abotu his taxes going up. How dare he speak to his betters that way!
Dmac (ab1849) — 6/27/2010 @ 10:55 amI’m pretty sure that the ice cream vendor didn’t bring the cameras with him. This was a political stunt. Like the idiots who have to get a Philly cheese steak every time they campaign in Penn.
If you don’t want to be harassed with questions about our disasterous fiscal policy, you shouldn’t run for high office. Biden, Bush, Obama, Palin… these people do not get to have 100% normal lives. They want high power and will be given many policy requests when they are in public.
This was a classy way of doing it, too. Let the guy have his ice cream for free, and a reminder that small businesses like ice cream vendors, the major employer of our nation, are helped by lower taxation.
There’s nothing jackass about telling Biden you want lower taxes. He’s not really above us, you know.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 6/27/2010 @ 11:26 amIt’s just additional proof that this crop of politicians needs to get retired.
Vivian Louise (643333) — 6/27/2010 @ 3:21 pmBiden would have had a far wittier retort if only Neil Kinnock had been told off by a custard store owner.
SPQR (26be8b) — 6/27/2010 @ 3:58 pmI scream you scream we
ColonelHaiku (181d1a) — 6/27/2010 @ 4:25 pmall scream for ice cream frozen
custard not so much