Silence Is Golden, Joe

When Vice President Joe Biden announced his decision not to run for President in 2016, he stated that while he wouldn't be running, he wouldn't be silent. We're beginning to wish he'd shut up, too.  Yesterday on Minnesota Public Radio, Biden threw cold water on the idea of the President nominating a progressive Justice to replace Antonin Scalia:

“The Senate gets to have a say. In order to get this done, the president is not going to be able to go out, nor would it be his instinct anyway, to pick the most liberal jurist in the nation and put them on the court...There are plenty of judges who are on high courts already who have had unanimous support of the Republicans. This should be someone who, in fact, is a consensus and whereby we can generate enough support to get a person passed.”

So Biden has already decided that the obstructionism by the Republicans should be rewarded with the nomination of a "consensus" candidate, who no doubt would be well to the right of the four progressive Justices already on the Court (and who the Rethugs would block anyway).  Thanks for the help, Joe. It's no wonder that he's beloved by the likes of Republicans like Sen. Lindsey "Huckleberry Butchmeup" Graham and former (Vice) President Dick "The Dick" Cheney, who received this accolade from Biden recently:

“I can say without fear of contradiction there’s not one single time there’s been a harsh word in our relationship.  And that’s what I think is most desperately missing today in Washington, D.C.  I don’t remember, Dick, you questioning anybody’s motive... You have been a great asset to this country and the way you have conducted yourself is a model to anyone in high public office.” (emphasis added)

What utter nonsense, after almost seven years of The Dick taking every opportunity to harshly slam Biden's boss, President Obama, on everything from Iraq and terrorism to domestic policy. Once again, ol' backslapping Joe reverted to his harrumphing Senate gentleman's club speechifying ("My dear friend, the distinguished Senator, who has just vigorously applied a hot poker to my backside...."), reality be damned.

If you can't say something that reflects the views of the overwhelming majority of the party you imagine you represent, just shut up.