Have you ever served as a handler for someone who could go off into left field in public?

[EFerrari]

I have. It could be hilarious and nerve wracking and awkward and more intricate than staging a ballet that everyone was supposed to think just *appeared* there spontaneously.

What cracks me up a little about the Obama / Biden thing is that usually, both men will have handlers around them to help them stay on task and representing as they want to / should. It's just that this time, Obama had to act as Biden's handler and that is the stuff of comedy, really, when your boss has to take care of you.

It also shows a good deal of thoughtful teamwork. Obama can wear any hat (I bet he can make coffee at the drop of a hat) and I betcha he expects the same from the people around him. TG for grown ups. :)

But, being a handler can be a strange little gig and when the president steps into the role, a funny one and one that shows how much he can be trusted to give back to the team what they give to him. Cool.

[sutz12]

1. Do you mean other than my own child?

;)

J/K...yes it does seem that Barack has an abundance of "adult" in him. Long overdue in his current position.

[EFerrari]

7. LOL! "Teamwork" is the more diplomatic description.

:)

[midnight]

2. I will look for this event because I have yet to actually see it.

But I have read another account of it, and I like the way you have thoughtfully explained the event that is being discussed. Thanks for your insight.

[pnwmom]

4. It was just Biden making a lame joke and Obama not cracking a smile.

Apparently he tapped Biden on the elbow while people around them laughed -- perhaps to keep Biden from saying anything more -- but that was very hard to see.

[kimmerspixelated]

3. Good observation!

Obama gives the impression there's nothing he can't handle...and I certainly hope it's going to ring true! Do we have superman in the WH?

[EFerrari]

8. It doesn't really matter as long as he has some powers.

that just look super. A guy that can avoid ripping his wife's too long skirt through ten balls is a super hero in my book!

:)

[pnwmom]

5. I have and I wish tapping someone on the elbow would have done the trick. n/t

[BattyDem]

6. Obama knew who Biden was when he picked him.

Joe's a good guy, but let's face it, he sometimes speaks before thinking it through.

I have no problem with what he said yesterday, but I can understand why Obama would have been a little uncomfortable. However, I don't think he was furious or was insulting to Biden, as some have suggested, I just think he wanted to move along and put the whole thing behind him. However, I think he ended up making it worse. It's funny ... if he had simply cracked a little smile, it most likely would have been a non-story ... but because he looked so stern, the story was about Biden being a "naughty boy" and Obama looking ticked off, LOL!

As I said in the subject line: Obama knew who Biden was when he picked him. If it bothered him, he should have offered the job to someone else because they've still got at least four years together. They're a good team. They work well together, there's obviously a mutual respect and they seem to understand each other. They'll be fine ... no matter who's doing the handling. :-)

[EFerrari]

9. Yep. They'll be fine and we sure like our drama. :-)

[BattyDem]

10. "No Drama Obama" ... no more

LOL! :D

[Uzybone]

11. Its not the first time

remember"rhetorical flourishes"?

And it wont be the last. Joe Biden is big boy, he knows when he is off base and doesn't mind being reigned in. I love those 2 guys.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. As posted in the thread which I suspect started this ........

Is this link to a video of the event.

http://www.truveo.com/Raw-Video-Obama-Biden-Swear-In-Senior-Staff/id/320387202

Allow the video to load fully (takes a bit of time) then advance to the 10:45 point or so.

Here's what you see:

Biden was unprepared to administer another oath. (Why was that???)

He made the "what? again?" remark. It seemed more like a nervous stall. But whatever. He was looking for the text of the oath he was to give and didn't have/find it. He (more nervous stalling) made the crack about Roberts.

Meanwhile, off camera to Biden's and Obama's right (the left as you watch the video), someone has the text of the oath. Biden did not notice the person. Obama did. Obama touched Biden's arm to show him where the text carrying person was.

End of story.

[EFerrari]

14. I'm not meaning to criticize that thread at all. It just occured to me

that I "minded" someone 'way more troubly than Joe Biden for years, on and off camera, and that you get into a rhythm. It's just part of the deal you make to work with the people you work with.

I had a hand signal to remind Doug to smile because he didn't smile naturally, he had to be prompted. When I went out with him to his gigs, I used it 5-10 times a night. Little things like that. Little nods or shakes of the head, little touches and verbal cues. Making sure the next situation is under control in every way, from the taxi to the runway to the dressing room to the mic to figuring how close the press or public might get and what could go wrong. It's a funny kind of job. Stuff no one else is meant to see but that must be somewhat visible.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. I did a stint as president of an international organization and had a handler

I WISH I still had one. He took very good care of me ... and my predecessors .... and successors.

[theboss]

13. Biden is unhandlerunable

My prediction is that his public appearances are going to be down to nothing within a year.

[EFerrari]

15. Maybe. He can be very charming, though. Maybe the New Kids on the Block

will take it on as a challenge. I'd be tempted, that's for sure. :)

[theboss]

16. I think he will have specific duties on a small scale

I can't believe he is going to be in front of CNN cameras often though.

[ThomWV]

20. I think his very able self will have specific duties on a LARGE scale

[EFerrari]

21. Joe Biden is, in himself, an incredible resource and Obama is lucky to have him.

And, there's the small social stuff that most people need help with, especially when they have so many other things to attend to.

[mitchum]

18. No, but ms mitchum certainly has

[EFerrari]

19. It's good to be in good hands, isn't it?

:)

[Forkboy]

22. Yeah. Me.

:)

[EFerrari]

23. That's called "double dipping" iirc.

:)

[sohndrsmith]

24. having given birth to and raising small children (one with an

attention disorder), yes. It's the hardest job I'll ever love.

Funny, when I read the headline for your post, the first thing I thought of was Sarah Palin. That would be bloody torture... my kids, even at their most frenetic and miserable were more mature, intellectual and reasonable than she is - on a good day. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating. She may have had a few good minutes here and there...

(shudder... !)

Biden is like a lovable puppy, sort of, (to me) and it's different. He seems to have nothing but good (or at least honorable) intentions.

I think Obama might be harder for a "handler" than Biden, because Biden wears his heart on his sleeve and you don't have to guess what he's thinking. Obama probably isn't as verbal, and likely several steps ahead of anyone trying to figure him out. But even so, I don't think it would be a bad job with either of them... they're both reasonable, gracious individuals. That goes a long way.

[lonestarnot]

25. :)