The Rumble in Columbus: Veeps Attack!

[derspiess]

I don't think he's really that stupid.  Certainly not as much as Republicans claim he is.  If he was a Republican they'd simply say he was a "straight talker".

If he were a Republican he'd have been ravaged by the press and forcibly retired by the time of Gaffe #2 or #3-- whichever those were.

STAND UP, CHUCK!!

[lustindarkness]

STAND UP, CHUCK!!

My favorite one.

[merithyn]

I don't think he's really that stupid.  Certainly not as much as Republicans claim he is.  If he was a Republican they'd simply say he was a "straight talker".

If he were a Republican he'd have been ravaged by the press and forcibly retired by the time of Gaffe #2 or #3-- whichever those were.

STAND UP, CHUCK!!

Exactly! Just like they did to Quayle! Oh wait.. I mean Bush Jr! Oh wait...

[garbon]

I don't think he's really that stupid.  Certainly not as much as Republicans claim he is.  If he was a Republican they'd simply say he was a "straight talker".

If he were a Republican he'd have been ravaged by the press and forcibly retired by the time of Gaffe #2 or #3-- whichever those were.

STAND UP, CHUCK!!

Exactly! Just like they did to Quayle! Oh wait.. I mean Bush Jr! Oh wait...

Odd choices. Both of those individuals had political careers that lasted about 2 decades.

[Ed Anger]

Incidentally I love this image of Biden terrorising the electorate, one voter at a time:

If that sheriff who I think it is, he got tossed from his job for assaulting one of his female deputies.

[merithyn]

Exactly! Just like they did to Quayle! Oh wait.. I mean Bush Jr! Oh wait...

Odd choices. Both of those individuals had political careers that lasted about 2 decades.

That was my point. Both were Republicans known for their gaffes and mistakes when speaking off the cuff, and yet neither were drummed out of politics or any particular race for that matter.

[garbon]

Exactly! Just like they did to Quayle! Oh wait.. I mean Bush Jr! Oh wait...

Odd choices. Both of those individuals had political careers that lasted about 2 decades.

That was my point. Both were Republicans known for their gaffes and mistakes when speaking off the cuff, and yet neither were drummed out of politics or any particular race for that matter.

Both had careers notably shorter than Biden's. 

That said I agree with you that making gaffes isn't really an issue if people still continue to like/respect the politician.

[merithyn]

Both had careers notably shorter than Biden's. 

That said I agree with you that making gaffes isn't really an issue if people still continue to like/respect the politician.

One can't really claim that two decades is "short" for a career, though, especially in politics where a four-year stint could be all one gets. 

[CountDeMoney]

Joe Biden is good people.

[garbon]

Both had careers notably shorter than Biden's. 

That said I agree with you that making gaffes isn't really an issue if people still continue to like/respect the politician.

One can't really claim that two decades is "short" for a career, though, especially in politics where a four-year stint could be all one gets. 

Depends on where the gaffe factor comes in. Isn't Quayle most famous for gaffes near the end of his career?

[merithyn]

Depends on where the gaffe factor comes in. Isn't Quayle most famous for gaffes near the end of his career?

I thought he was pretty well-known for them throughout his career. They just became more pronounced when he hit The Big Game as VP.

[garbon]

Depends on where the gaffe factor comes in. Isn't Quayle most famous for gaffes near the end of his career?

I thought he was pretty well-known for them throughout his career. They just became more pronounced when he hit The Big Game as VP.

I don't know. I was only born towards the end.

[derspiess]

Depends on where the gaffe factor comes in. Isn't Quayle most famous for gaffes near the end of his career?

I thought he was pretty well-known for them throughout his career. They just became more pronounced when he hit The Big Game as VP.

He didn't have nearly as many as Biden.  I can only think of two off the top of my head, plus several urban legends attributed to him.

And you mentioned Dubya-- it's not like he was going to fire himself.

[Razgovory]

Depends on where the gaffe factor comes in. Isn't Quayle most famous for gaffes near the end of his career?

I thought he was pretty well-known for them throughout his career. They just became more pronounced when he hit The Big Game as VP.

He didn't have nearly as many as Biden.  I can only think of two off the top of my head, plus several urban legends attributed to him.

And you mentioned Dubya-- it's not like he was going to fire himself.

Really, you do a comparative study?

[Sheilbh]

That said I agree with you that making gaffes isn't really an issue if people still continue to like/respect the politician.

I actually think it makes people like a politician more as long as they're charming, funny or understandable and they've give some impression of solidity and substance - like Bush or Biden or Ford (I think).  The only people who moan about it look like dicks.

It's quite helpful for the politician, because if they've got that reputation it means they really have to fuck up bad for a gaffe to cause them serious damage.

Sometimes gaffes can be an issue though mainly if they point to a larger truth/indicate what the politician's really thinking ('47%', 'clinging', 'you're likeable enough', 'that one') - or if they expose you as entirely unsuited to any position of responsibility (Palin).