"I think what the vice president meant to say was the same thing that many members have said in the last few days," said Gibbs, "and that is, if you feel sick, if you are exhibiting symptoms, flu-like symptoms, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, then you should take precautious, then you should limit your travel."

ABC reporter Jake Tapper then said, "With all due respect, and I sympathize with you trying to explain the vice president's comments, that's not even remotely close to what he said."

Gibbs responded, "I understood what he said. I'm telling you what he meant to say."

This prompted loud laughter through the press room as Gibbs maintained a straight face...

During his appearance on NBC's "Today," Biden did not say that he recommended against traveling only for family members who are sick. One reporter asked Gibbs if the statement from Alexander "misrepresented what the vice president had to say."

Gibbs answered, "I think the vice president misrepresented what the vice president meant to say."

--

"I think the vice president misrepresented what the vice president meant to say."

Classic.

Is it true his Secret Service code name is "Insurance?"

The fact he was talking about his -own- family aside, the reason this is a big deal is that he contradicted Obama's position on the H1N1 media scare. i mean, virus.

I think they trot him out when they need a distraction from more pressing matters.

Shawn I believe you're being overly generous thinking Obama will win in 2012. Let's wait and see what the numbers are in 2010.

What I am wondering about here, why would Biden be so concerned about his and his family's health? Doesn't he travel on taxpayer paid aircraft for security reasons? We all know that he did not fly on a commercial airliner when he was just a lowly Senator from Rhode Island. All he did was add more depression on an already depressed industry or maybe he has an agenda to have the government take over the airline industry, the same way that Obama and him took over the banking and car industries

Biden is clearly too stupid to know when to shut his pie hole or whether his pants are on. I'm becoming concerned, though, that there's a kernel of truth here--like, maybe, Biden sat in on some threat evaluation briefing on this issue???

I agree that Biden said a very stupid thing, in which no on, not even his worst detractors on this blog, could imagine Obama being so dumb or thoughtless as to utter. It is good that May has arrived and Biden can reprise his 'I'm going home to polish my golf game up' line that he used last fall.

During the Presidential primaries and campaign, I cautioned about the number of years in politics,the Senate or experience being crucial to electing a President, if the character, intelligence or temperment of the man or woman wasn't first rate. I wasn't thinking of the perennial 'also ran' Biden, but he reinforces that feeling that Obama in judgement and wisdom, was and is miles ahead some of those he ran against. I just wished he had made a more inspired choice for Veep. And Hillary Clinton had just finished a bruising primary contest in which she made some unfortunate and witless remarks about Obama.

"He is an embarrassment and a potential loose nut in an otherwise well-oiled machine."

Can you elaborate on this?

When it comes to Joe Biden, two words concern me a lot: presidential succession.

Dems always called Dick Cheney, "Darth Vader."

Does that make Biden, "Jar Jar Binks?"

We have gone from the 'Vice president of torture' to the 'Vice President of panic'.

I disagree. I think Hillary will be the most underexposed Sec. of State the country has ever seen. She will do this to remain "detached" from the goat rodeo of the administration. Obama's numbers will take a hit then the mid-term elections start rolling around.

Hillz will resign from the office due to policy differences late next year or early 2011. She will then spend her campaign running ads of Obama bowing to Saudi kings, showing deficit spending, and his nuanced position on prosecuting those involved with enhanced interrogation. In essence, she will say "This is what happens, when you let the media pick your leader for you"

She will crush him in the primaries.

If he weren't so ideologically dangerous, he might be considered a harmless, old fuzzball, kind of like Admiral Stockdale, but without the military heroics and stuff.

Hey, don't be dissin' Admiral Stockdale. I guess you weren't, but I want to remind everyone that Stockdale was one badass war hero.

However, he committed the one unforgivable sin in America - he looked bad on TV.

With Hillary as Veep, Obama would not be able to obtain life insurance.

The real question to me is "what's the over/under on Gibbs being out before the first of June?"

Vice President Jar Jar Binks. Good call SATerp!

Yes. Now that you mention it, I can see the resemblance: http://dragondroppings.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/jar-jar.jpg