June 05, 2012
A Gaffe at West Point - Biden's Commencement Address
Vice-President Joe "Oh my, what am I sayin'" Biden gave this years commencement address at the United States Military Academy - West Point. It is not unusual for speeches at our nation's military academies to contain praise for a president's policies and this was no exception. Joe listed several changes made since "President Obama and I came to office." He ended the war in Iraq and announced the same for Afghanistan was one example. The rest of the speech was filled with platitudes, anecdotes and well deserved praise for America's military. There was only one instance where the old Joe Biden, prone as he is to placing his foot in his mouth, reverted to form. Apparently he forgot he was speaking to an Army crowd. Delivering praise to "some of America's most gifted security professionals" tracking down Osama bin Laden, he added, "And in one of the most incredibly daring raids,(which he opposed by the way) they delivered justice to the architect of a harmful ideology ... They got him." He didn't say they were U.S. Navy Seals but you can bet 99% of the West Point audience heard, "Go Navy!"
Posted by warrenpeterson at June 05, 2012
04:11 PM | Email This
1. A day without stupidity from Sideshow-Joe Biden is not complete. He never fails to deliver.
Two words America should hold in dread:
president biden.
2. GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d8JM6Qt064&feature=related
3. It's a gaffe to praise one branch of the military before another? I'm not sure whether you're sadly cynical or partisanly hyper-critical -- or both.
4. But there is one certainty, Bruce, and that is that you continue to be clueless. Ever watched an Army-Navy football game? Probably not, as an elitist like you is most certainly a chartreuse "X-BOX" soccer dork.
5. Biden is true to his form, the court jester pretending to be a statesman.
6. With Biden's quotes, you can't make that stuff up. I'll miss Joe when he leaves the scene, even though I seriously hope that his profile decreases significantly after he leaves 1600 Pennsylvania Ave after this November.
7. I don't recall Nixon ever going to one, but I remember Agnew giving a commencement speech there as well as Rummy (I think- give me a break, it was 40 years ago).
They certainly could tell the difference in the branches of the services.
8. Looks like someone @3 needs their diaper changed. I'll cut him some slack, though....his side is not having a good week. THANK GOD.
9. @Bruce,
You obviously haven't had any kind of association with a single member from any of the branches of the Armed Services. There's a certain pride that they have for their branch. It's like going to a Yale commencement and speaking of the great accomplishments of Harvard grads. This isn't cynical or hyper-critical, it's common sense. Seems that both you and "Oh No" Joe have something in common, lack of the common sense. Why they let this guy speak in public is beyond me.
10. I would bet that at least 99% of them are also aware that activities like that raid are just about always joint-service type affairs. I'm sure all of them knew that the 160th was very involved, that Rangers made up part of the QRF and likewise that Air Force assets were present as well.
I'd be surprised if any of them felt insulted.
11. Unfit, no, this is nothing like your Harvard/Yale analogy. When the Vice President (or President, or Defense Secretary, or Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc.) speaks publicly, his national rank is more relevant than the parochial interests of the specific group to which he is speaking. It is perfectly natural to refer to one of the nation's -- and the military's -- greatest recent achievements.
Also, this is not analogous to Harvard/Yale, as the Army and Navy report through the same chain of command and often work together. Of course I know there is a rivalry (OMG! they even oppose each other in football!), but that doesn't mean they can't be proud of each other. Frankly, if anyone in the Army isn't proud of the Navy's performance in getting Bin Laden, that person should be given an immediate dishonorable discharge.
12. @11
I think a DD would be kind of harsh.
No, REALLY harsh.
13. KDS @6
Technically speaking, Biden resides at the Naval Observatory grounds and not 1600 Penn Ave. Just saying.