Joe Biden Quotes of the Week

#1: Ted Kennedy

"In an astonishing and totally unexpected way he ended up playing a part in every critical moment of my adult life ... He crept into my heart and before I knew it, he owned a piece of it." (8/28/09, Boston memorial service)

A teary-eyed Joe Biden gave a stirring eulogy of Ted Kennedy, who sat next to him for nearly 36 years in the U.S. Senate. He relayed stories of the inspiration he took from Kennedy and said that he wouldn't be where he is today if it weren't for "Teddy." There was a unique way about the senator, Biden said, where it "was never about him" but "always about you." Over the years, he changed the lives of millions through his bold action, his friend added. Even McCain, who disagreed with Kennedy on "almost everything," gave a few kind words at the service. McCain told CNN: "Ted Kennedy had this unique way of doing hand-to-hand combat on the floor of the Senate. And as soon as we stopped our speechmaking, he'd come over and put his arm around you and make everybody appreciate that we had our differences, politically, but personally we could be friends and work together as colleagues and friends for the good of the country." He also added that, had Kennedy been on Capitol Hill the past few weeks, a lot more progress would have been made on health care. So far, he says there have "not been serious negotiations."

#2: Little League

"So many of you parents here have given so much and sacrificed so much for your children to be here on this glorious day." (8/30/09, South Williamsport, PA)

On Sunday, Biden visited South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he was inducted into the Little League Hall of Excellence. Apparently you need to become a vice president to receive such a high honor... Or perhaps it was just his "values of fairness, courage and dedication to something much larger than himself" that earned him the spot, as Little League International CEO Stephen Keener put it. And, of course, everyone knows Biden loves baseball. The NHL's Chris Drury was also inducted into the Hall of Excellence on the same day.

#3: The Importance of Health Care Reform

"We've debunked about a dozen myths so far -- from the outlandish 'Death Panel' claims to the idea that we're eliminating Medicare benefits. But the biggest myth of all is that our health insurance system is just fine, that there is no serious need for reform. I heard one opponent of reform in congress say and I quote, 'This is not a major issue among the American people.' Nothing, nothing could be more further from the truth."  (8/31/09, online video)

If there's one thing Obama has always loved, it's getting people involved via viral videos. Now he's asking the American people to speak up at Whitehouse.gov and make the case that health care is an important issue. It seems shocking that anyone would suggest it's not important, although many critics in the purple states are saying that Obama has too much on his plate. They're saying they're not quite ready for so much change right now. However, presidential polls continually reaffirm the fact that the president is never as popular later on in his presidency as he is at the beginning, so if he truly wants health care reform, it's wise of him to pursue it sooner, rather than later. It would also be wise for him to take a more bipartisan approach to the issue and move to pass things both sides can agree upon, rather than holding out for a Nancy Pelosi-esque, "All or Nothing" stand-off.