As early as 2012, Joe Biden's influence as a Vice-President was being noted; Obama handed

[emmaverybo]

him several critical assignments and he proved not only a loyal supporter, but a highly effective
negotiator. This article is but one of many which point out how Biden transformed the office to become a key player in the West Wing. It was not merely out of personal friendship that President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom:


From the fiscal cliff to gun control to Afghanistan, Scranton's favorite son has transformed himself from affable gaffer to West Wing powerhouse.

Barack Obama just can't get enough out of Joe Biden these days. And anybody who's been following Biden's steady ascent in stature over the last several years -- from gaffe-happy presidential contender to one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history -- couldn't be less surprised.

Perhaps the only surprise at all is that, in contrast to a year ago, it took Biden quite this long to become the president's point man on the latest round of fiscal talks. The exact reason for the delay is not clear. Perhaps it is that, only a week and a half ago, Obama had called on his vice president to lead a commission to expedite recommendations on a truly serious national issue, gun violence (as opposed to the present trumped-up issue, fiscal reform, which requires only the smidgeon of political courage necessary to depart from ideological rigidities). Maybe Obama wanted to keep his veep's powder dry for that.

Or maybe it is just that, in the awkward pattern of political dance partnerships that have emerged over the last couple of years, whenever Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner fail to execute -- as they did after the "Plan B" debacle -- it's Biden and his old Senate colleague, Mitch McConnell, who step into the spotlight. The Biden-McConnell duo didn't cut it during last year's cliffhanger over the debt limit, of course. But in a sign of just how important a figure the vice president has become in Washington, Biden's absence until now has been one reason that Republicans doubted Obama's seriousness about cutting a deal, my colleague Chris Frates reported last week.


https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/12/joe-biden-the-most-influential-vice-president-in-history/266729/

[sandensea]

1. He should've been the nominee in 2016, darn it

I liked Hillary; but as the very effective vice president to a successful and popular president, he would've been the obvious choice.

Oh, well.

[shanny]

3. I agree. He would have been a good candidate in 2016.

Oh, well.

[MiniMe]

4. Biden's son had just died

It would have been hard for him to run then, for him.

[sandensea]

8. True - and I don't blame him.

So much of history is written by these unfortunate twists of fate.

[shanny]

2. I'm not willing to wager anything on this

"... whenever Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner fail to execute -- as they did after the "Plan B" debacle -- it's Biden and his old Senate colleague, Mitch McConnell, who step into the spotlight.

[Skya Rhen]

5. The sheer ignorance of some progressives on Twitter who try to portray Biden as a useless sidekick

to Obama. These are the same ones who try to convince others that Biden just carried the title and was inconsequential. Perhaps their narrative is intentional or perhaps they just do not care to enlighten themselves (Google???) in order to push their inexperienced candidate.

Either way, history shows what great a role Biden played in the Obama-Biden administration and most of America is very much aware of this. History can be denied but it cannot be re-written.

Biden was a heartbeat away from taking over. He was ready then and he is ready, now, to assume the role of President of the United States.

[emmaverybo]

11. Skya Rhen, this is not a hyperbolic tribute, but simply the truth, as best as it can be rendered.

[NYMinute]

6. K&R nt

[Scurrilous]

7. K&R

[Gothmog]

9. K&R

[Cha]

10. Thank You for this, emmaverybo!

Biden has the experience and the qualifications to be POTUS.. and right now the polls to beat trump.

Which is numero uno to me

[emmaverybo]

12. They are everything. Let us hope we do not self destruct through ignorance, willful or not. These

polls suggest the tremendous appeal Biden has across voting constituencies and regions. This appeal
is not, in its breadth, matched by any other candidate, nor are his qualifications.